Num 36:1

Purpose: To show that the inheritances of the LORD must be preserved intact.

Num 36:1-12: // Num 27:1-11. The proposed division of the land — suggested by the census in Num 26 — brought up a special question of considerable importance to Israel. Zelophehad, of the tribe of Manasseh, and of the family of Gilead, had died — not in any special judgment, but along with the whole generation that perished in the wilderness. He had left no sons, and his daughters were anxious to obtain a “possession,” lest their father’s name should be lost among his family. By Divine direction, which Moses had sought, their request was granted, and it became a judicial statute in Israel ever after: that daughters or — in their absence — the nearest kinsman should enter upon the inheritance of those who died without leaving sons, and should if possible raise up that would carry on the name of the one who had died.

In all such cases, of course, the children of those who obtained the possession would have to be incorporated, not with the tribe to which they originally belonged, but with that in which their “inheritance” lay. Thus the “name” of a man would not “be done away from among his family.” Nor was this statute recorded merely on account of its national bearing, but for higher reasons. The desire to preserve the name of a family in Israel sprang not merely from feelings natural in such circumstances, but was connected with the hope of the coming Messiah. Until he appeared, each family would desire to preserve its identity, and its legitimate claim to its own special portion of the Land of Promise.

Num 36:8

EVERY DAUGHTER WHO INHERITS LAND IN ANY ISRAELITE TRIBE MUST MARRY SOMEONE IN HER FATHER’S TRIBAL CLAN, SO THAT EVERY ISRAELITE WILL POSSESS THE INHERITANCE OF HIS FATHERS: The laws of inheritance meant that the land went with the man who had married the daughter who had inherited from her father — like the daughters of Zelophehad. Thus the requirement to marry within the tribe would ensure that no marriages would destroy the Divinely appointed division of the land.

The counterpart in our ecclesial life is that our marriages should not upset the equilibrium of the ecclesia. So marriages to the unbeliever, for example, are totally unacceptable.

Author: Moses (date of writing: c 1400 BC).

Period: 1440-1400 BC.

Title: “Deuteronomy” is taken from the Latin form of the Greek word Deuteronomion, the title given to this book in the Septuagint. The word means “repetition of the law.” The Hebrew title, “elleh haddebarim” (“These are the words…”), or simply “debarim” (“Words”), is taken from the first two words of the Hebrew text of this book.

Summary: Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book of the Pentateuch. It records the repetition of the law recorded in Leviticus. It was given on the plains of Moab just prior to the entrance into the Promised Land by the nation of Israel under the command of Joshua. This was Moses’ last address to Israel as a whole prior to his death. At this time only two surviving members were left out of the generation that escaped from Egypt. Therefore, this repetition of the law was extremely important to the welfare of the new generation.

Theme: God will continue to honor His covenant. Moses calls the people to obedience and reminds them that God brought them out of Egypt, guided them and provided for them whilst they journeyed in the desert. He counsels them to be careful not to follow the pagan ways of the people of the surrounding countries.

They are given further laws and statutes to assist them in their daily life. The are told of the blessings that will come through obedience (Deu 28:1-14) and the cursings that will come through sin (Deu 28:15-68).

Deu 18:15 foretells a future great prophet, and was applied by Peter (Act 3:22) and Stephen (Act 7:37) to Jesus. Jesus referred to the book through the words “It is written…” or, “You have heard that it has been said…” (Mat 5:21, etc) — showing the importance he placed on the OT scriptures, even as he began to fulfil them as the bringer of the new covenant. His insistence that he came to fulfill the law rather than destroy it is clearly given in Mat 5:17-20.

Paul places the law in perspective for us in Rom 15:4. It was written for “our instruction… that we might have hope.”

OUTLINE

I. First address: Deu 1–4

A. Events at Horeb Recalled: Deu 1:1-8

B. Appointment of Tribal Leaders: Deu 1:9-18

C. Failing faith (Deu 1:19–3:29) 1. Israel’s Refusal to Enter the Land: Deu 1:19-33 2. The Penalty for Israel’s Rebellion: Deu 1:34-45 3. The Desert Years: Deu 2:1-25 4. Defeat of King Sihon: Deu 2:26-37 5. Defeat of King Og: Deu 3:1-22 6. Moses Views Canaan from Pisgah: Deu 3:23-29

D. Moses Commands Obedience: Deu 4:1-40

E. Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan: Deu 4:41-43

F. Transition to the Second Address: Deu 4:44-49

II. Second address: Deu 5–28

A. Covenant faith: Deu 5–11 1. The Ten Commandments: Deu 5:1-21 2. Moses the Mediator of God’s Will: Deu 5:22-33 3. The Great Commandment: Deu 6:1-9 4. Caution against Disobedience: Deu 6:10-25 5. Conquest of Canaan a. A Chosen People: Deu 7:1-11 b. Blessings for Obedience: Deu 7:12-26 6. Lessons from the past a. A Warning Not to Forget God in Prosperity: Deu 8:1-20 b. The Consequences of Rebelling against God: Deu 9:1-29 c. The Second Pair of Tablets: Deu 10:1-11 7. The Essence of the Law: Deu 10:12-22 8. Rewards for Obedience: Deu 11:1-32

B. The Law: Deu 12–26 1. Worship of a holy people: Deu 12:1–16:17 a. Pagan Shrines to Be Destroyed: Deu 12:1-12 b. A Prescribed Place of Worship: Deu 12:13-28 c. Warning against Idolatry: Deu 13:1-18 d. Pagan Practices Forbidden: Deu 14:1-2 e. Clean and Unclean Foods: Deu 14:3-21 f. Regulations concerning Tithes: Deu 14:22-29 g. Laws concerning the Sabbatical Year: Deu 15:1-18 h. The Firstborn of Livestock: Deu 15:19-23 i. The Passover Reviewed: Deu 16:1-8 j. The Festival of Weeks Reviewed: Deu 16:9-12 k. The Festival of Booths Reviewed: Deu 16:13-17

2. Duties of officials: Deu 16:18–18:22 a. Municipal Judges and Officers: Deu 16:18-20 b. Forbidden Forms of Worship: Deu 17:1-7 c. Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges: Deu 17:8-13 d. Limitations of Royal Authority: Deu 17:14-20 e. Privileges of Priests and Levites: Deu 18:1-8 f. Child-Sacrifice, Divination, and Magic Prohibited: Deu 18:9-14 g. A New Prophet Like Moses: Deu 18:15-22

3. Criminal law: Deu 19 a. Laws concerning the Cities of Refuge: Deu 19:1-13 b. Property Boundaries: Deu 19:14 c. Law concerning Witnesses: Deu 19:15-21

4. Rules of Warfare: Deu 20:1-20

5. Other laws: Deu 21–25 a. Law concerning Murder by Persons Unknown: Deu 21:1-9 b. Female Captives: Deu 21:10-14 c. The Right of the Firstborn: Deu 21:15-17 d. Rebellious Children: Deu 21:18-21 e. Welfare: Deu 22:1-12 f. Laws concerning Sexual Relations: Deu 22:13-30 g. Those Excluded from the Assembly: Deu 23:1-8 h. Sanitary, Ritual, and Humanitarian Precepts: Deu 23:9-25 i. Laws concerning Marriage and Divorce: Deu 24:1-4 j. Miscellaneous Laws: Deu 24:5-25:4 k. Levirate Marriage: Deu 25:5-10 l. Various Commands: Deu 25:11-19

6. First Fruits and Tithes: Deu 26:1-15 7. Concluding Exhortation: Deu 26:16-19

C. The Inscribed Stones and Altar on Mount Ebal: Deu 27:1-10

D. Twelve Curses: Deu 27:11-26

E. Blessings for Obedience: Deu 28:1-14

F. Warnings against Disobedience: Deu 28:15-68

III. Third Address: Deu 29; 30

A. The Covenant Renewed in Moab: Deu 29:1-29

B. God’s Fidelity Assured: Deu 30:1-10

C. Exhortation to Choose Life: Deu 30:11-20

IV. Appendixes: Deu 31–34

A. Joshua Becomes Moses’ Successor: Deu 31:1-8

B. The Law to Be Read Every Seventh Year: Deu 31:9-13

C. Moses and Joshua Receive God’s Charge: Deu 31:14-39

D. The Song of Moses: Deu 32:1-47

E. Moses’ Death Foretold: Deu 32:48-52

F. Moses’ Final Blessing on Israel: Deu 33:1-29

G. Moses Dies and Is Buried in the Land of Moab: Deu 34:1-12

Deu 1:1

Heb title: “Ha debarim” = “These the words”. See Lesson, Pentateuch, Hebrew titles.

See Lesson, D source, problems.

ALL ISRAEL: Characteristic of Deut. The message of God was to the whole nation, “the whole family which I brought up out of Egypt” (Amo 3:1).

Deu 1:2

It was an 11-day journey, which nevertheless took 40 years (v 3) due to the disobedience of Israel! Such a ct: Why so long? Moses begins to explain in v 3.

Deu 1:3

The rest of Deu explains why it took Israel 40 years to make an 11-day journey…

Deu 1:6

YOU HAVE STAYED LONG ENOUGH AT THIS MOUNTAIN: The wilderness journeys were no haphazard wanderings: cp Deu 2:3 with Deu 2:7,14 — they were long enough to complete purging. (However, this “long enough” was until “20th day, 2nd month, 2nd year” of Num 10:11.)

Deu 1:22

LET US SEND MEN AHEAD TO SPY OUT THE LAND: An example of unbelief: God had already sent spies into the land, who had found it eminently suitable.

Deu 1:25

Although God approved of the request, Moses sees that request as an evidence of lack of faith.

Deu 1:26

Why did they rebel? Because they did not trust God (v 32). The rebels actually went so far as to appoint a leader to take them back to Egypt (Neh 9:17).

Deu 1:28

What a responsibility “ecclesial representatives” have!

Deu 1:36

FOLLOWED… WHOLEHEARTEDLY: Lit, “filled himself with the LORD”.

Deu 1:38

ENCOURAGE HIM: “God employs His people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, ‘Gabriel, my servant Joshua is about to lead my people into Canaan — go, encourage him.’ God never works needless miracles; if His purposes can be accomplished by ordinary means, He will not use miraculous agency. Gabriel would not have been half so well fitted for the work as Moses. A brother’s sympathy is more precious than an angel’s embassy. The angel would better know the Master’s bidding than the people’s temper. An angel would never have experienced the hardness of the road, nor seen the fiery serpents, nor led the stiff-necked multitude in the wilderness as Moses had done. ¶ “We should be glad that God usually works for man by man. It forms a bond of brotherhood, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are fused more completely into one family.

“Brethren, labour to help others, and especially strive to encourage them. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious enquirer, lovingly try to remove stumblingblocks out of his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, kneel down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees, but tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, and of the charms of communion with Christ. Aim to comfort the sorrowful, and to animate the desponding. Speak a word in season to him that is weary, and encourage those who are fearful to go on their way with gladness” (CHS).

Deu 2:5

God blesses men in temporal ways, even those unconnected with His promises.

Deu 2:10

EMITES: “Formidable, tremendous”, from rt “terrors” (sw Psa 88:15).

Deu 2:12

HORITES: “Cave dwellers”, who lived in the rose-red rock of Petra.

Deu 2:13

ZERED: “Pruning” (cp v 15n).

Deu 2:15

This was the “pruning” (which is the meaning of “Zered”: cp v 13) of the murmurers over 38 years. “His power was exerted in a way of wrath and vengeance on them, for their murmurings at the report of the spies; and therefore, it is no wonder they were consumed, for strong is His hand, and high is His right hand; and when lifted up it falls heavy, and there is no standing up under it, or against it: it smote them with one disease or another, or brought one judgment or another upon them: as the sword of Amalek, by which many were cut off, and the plague at Shittim in the plains of Moab, in which died 24,000; besides the destruction of Korah and his company, which was quickly after the affair of the spies, and the plague at that time, of which died 14,700; and thus, by one stroke after another, he went on to destroy them from among the host until they were consumed, even all of them but two” (Gill).

Deu 2:23

AVVITES: Lit “crooked ones”, with deformities resulting from genetic quirks in the races of giants (WBS 71).

Deu 3:1

Deu 3: “The journey of Israel to the land of inheritance was not without trial and difficulty. The nations through whose land they travelled were not inclined to assist. Others were violently opposed, as was Og, king of Bashan who commenced an advance against the people of God, but was repelled. Yahweh overshadowed their circumstances, and defeated Israel’s enemies. On this last day of his life, as he delivered the book of Deuteronomy, Moses recalled their remarkable history. He reminded them that [1] Og attacked Israel: vv 1-11 [2] The land was allocated: vv 12-17. [3] Eastern tribes were required to help with their western brethren: vv 18-20. [4] Joshua was exhorted to faithfulness: vv 21,22. [5] A plea to enter the Land: vv 23-29.

“What a thrilling time is would have been! The people so near the land, so confident of achieving the promises, and able to place their trust in Yahweh their Redeemer. So the outstanding exhortation of Moses to Joshua strengthened his faith, and set the means for success in the venture” (GEM).

Deu 3:11

BED: Prob, as mg, “sarcophagus” (WBS 71).

Deu 3:24

Vv 24,25: Moses made only two personal requests of God: here and Exo 32:32.

YOU HAVE BEGUN…: After 120 years, Yahweh had only begun to show Moses his greatness!

Deu 3:27

The Law — typified by Moses its giver — had to be crucified, or put to death, before “Joshua” (or “Jesus”, as in the New Testament) could enter the Promised Land. But, like Abraham, Moses the faithful man was shown the land he would later possess (Gen 13:14,15). It was wonderfully merciful of Yahweh that Moses — his eye undimmed — might be allowed such a vision of what will surely be his future glory with his Saviour and ours: an eternal in the Land of Promise, after his resurrection from the dead.

Deu 4:6

Israel, God’s “witnesses”: Isa 43:10-12.

Deu 4:10

THAT THEY MAY LEARN TO REVERE ME: ” ‘The fear of Yahweh’ is the beginning of wisdom (Deu 6:2), and this reverential awe is induced by hearing (Deu 4:2), doing (Deu 5:29), keeping (Deu 6:2), serving (Deu 6:13), and walking (Deu 8:6). Thus it is no inarticulate, superstitious awe of the unknown, but a respectful, reverential love for One who has revealed Himself in His Word, and whose goodness has been experienced in our lives” (GEM).

Deu 4:11

BLACK: Sig absence of light (cp Heb 12:18).

CLOUDS: “Whirlwind”. Cp with “tempest” in Heb 12:18. God speaks out of the whirlwind.

DEEP DARKNESS: “Murky darkness”: sig the veiling of their minds to the gospel (2Co 3:15).

Deu 4:13

ON TWO STONE TABLETS: All 10 commandments were written twice! All 10 were written on each stone: ie one copy for God and one for Israel. Both parties to the covenant had a copy (Xd 118:220).

Deu 4:16

DO NOT BECOME CORRUPT AND MAKE FOR YOURSELVES AN IDOL, AN IMAGE OF ANY SHAPE…: Thus there is little great Heb art or sculpture. Idolatry: “Any attempt to limit God, by our own definitions… is virtually to fashion Him into an image of ourselves. We need a stmt of our faith about God, but God is not confined in it anymore than He was in Solomon’s temple” (Xd 118:220).

Deu 4:23

Jewish Christians told not to forsake the assembly, nor to follow other gods (Heb 10:25; 12:25,29).

Deu 4:34

7 means of deliverance…

Deu 5:3

NOT WITH OUR FATHERS: That is, not with them only (cp Deu 29:14,15). “Not only… but also.” God’s covenant is renewed with each new generation.

Deu 5:5

I STOOD BETWEEN: Here, the mediation of Moses was to keep apart, not to bring together: cp Exo 24:2; ct Christ in Eph 2:14.

Deu 5:7

BEFORE ME: That is, that might obscure my face. Nothing should come between Israel and their God.

Deu 5:15

“Being in times past Gentiles” (Eph 2:11).

Deu 5:21

YOU SHALL NOT COVET…: The only commandment that can be broken in perfect secrecy. “Covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5).

Deu 5:22

TWO STONE TABLETS: Prob two tablets on each of which all 10 commandments were inscribed, like copies of a contract for the two parties: one copy for God (to be placed in Ark?) and one copy for the people.

Deu 5:24

THE LORD OUR GOD HAS SHOWN US HIS GLORY…: “God’s great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of Himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why He bringeth His people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who ‘do business in great waters,’ these see His ‘wonders in the deep.’ Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

“Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you” (CHS).

Num 31:1

Num 31: “Balaam predicted that a scepter will arise to destroy ‘all the sons of tumult’ (Num 24:17). As a token of this, Moses is now ordered to wage war against the Midianite men of strife. He does so thus foreshadowing the coming day of vengeance (Isa 26:9; 61:2; 63:4; Rev 11:18). This fulfills the instructions earlier given him to ‘vex the Midianites and smite them; for they vex you with their wiles’ and have ‘beguiled you’ (Num 25:17,18). The Midianites, having enticed the Israelites to unfaithfulness, now must be punished. The key verse of this chapter is v 3, with the word ‘avenge’. It is significant that in the battle, not an Israelite is lost” (Expos).

Num 31:17

EVERY WOMAN WHO HAS SLEPT WITH A MAN: That is, those guilty of the seduction in Num 25.

Num 31:18

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS NEVER SLEPT WITH A MAN: But the innocent young women are spared, who had not participated in the seductions of Num 25.

Num 32:1

Num 32: “The destruction of the power of Midian, who might have harassed them from the east, secured to Israel the quiet possession of the district east of Jordan, which their arms had already conquered. All along, from the river Arnon in the south, which divided Israel from Moab, to the river Jabbok and far beyond it, the land of Gilead and of Bashan, their borders were safe from hostile attacks.

“The accounts of travelers are unanimous in describing that district as specially suited for pastoral purposes. We read of magnificent park-like scenery, of wide upland pastures, and rich forests, which everywhere gladden the eye. No wonder that those of the tribes which had all along preserved their nomadic habits, and whose flocks and herds constituted their main possessions and their wealth, should wish to settle in those plains and mountains. To them they were in very truth the land of promise, suited to their special wants, and offering the very riches which they desired. The other side Jordan had little attraction for them; and its possession would have been the opposite of advantageous to a strictly pastoral people. Accordingly, the children of Gad and Reuben requested of Moses: ‘Let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan’ (Num 32:5).

“If this proposal did not actually imply that those tribes intended henceforth quietly to settle down, leaving their brethren to fight alone for the conquest of Palestine proper, it was at least open to such interpretation. Moses seems to have understood it in that sense. But, if such had been their purpose, they would not only have separated themselves from the Lord’s work and leading, but, by discouraging their brethren, have re-enacted, only on a much larger scale, the sin of those unbelieving spies who, 38 years before, had brought such heavy judgment upon Israel. And the words of Moses prevailed. Whether from the first their real intentions had been right, or the warning of Moses had influenced them for good, they now solemnly undertook to accompany their brethren across Jordan, and to stand by them till they also had entered on their possession. Until then they would only restore the “folds” for their sheep, and rebuild the destroyed cities, to afford safe dwelling-places for their wives and children, and, of course, for such of their number as were either left behind for defense, or incapable of going forth to war.

“On this express promise, their request was granted, and the ancient kingdoms of Sihon and of Og were provisionally assigned to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, which latter had made special conquests in Gilead (Numbers 32:39). But the actual division of the district among these tribes was left over for the period when the whole country should be allocated among the children of Israel (Jos 13)” (OTH).

JAZER: “Jazer,” or “Jaazer” (Num 21:32) was a town on the way between Heshbon in the south and Bashan in the north. It gave its name to the district, and was probably specially mentioned by the Reubenites as perhaps the township east of Jordan nearest to the camp of Israel. It is supposed to be the modern Seir — almost in a line with Jericho, east of the Jordan (OTH).

Num 33:1

Num 33: “This serves as a summary of the whole journeyings during 40 years from Egypt to the Jordan. Omitting the starting point in Egypt, and the final camp by the Jordan, there are 40 camps listed. Quite a number are not found elsewhere in Scripture, and some today cannot be definitely located. But that is not surprising. Pilgrims and travelers do not leave the kind of remains that archaeologists can use to make specific identifications. In many cases, the names given were supplied by the Israelites themselves, being derived from some small local peculiarity or crisis in their wanderings. These names, therefore, can provide a hint as to the circumstances of the Israelites at the various points of their wanderings. The chapter divides them into four stages: (1) from Egypt to Sinai (vv 1-15); (2) from Sinai to Kadesh (vv 16,17); (3) from Kadesh to Kadesh again — the 38 years of wanderings (vv 18-36); and (4) from Kadesh to Moab and the Jordan (vv 37-49). The chapter concludes with the final instructions and exhortation of Moses on the plain of Moab (vv 50-56)” (Expos).

42 stations: cp 42 generations (Mat 1:17), 42 periods of affliction (Rev 12:6; 13:5,12).

Num 33:45

Vv 45-50: . It is well known that Egypt had much reason to travel to Canaan in those days; trade, exploitation, military conquest. These routes are recorded in three different Egyptian Temples — listed in the same order as provided in the Bible, and dated to the exact period of the Israelite conquest of Canaan.