Numbers (Evangelical Press Study Commentary | EPSC)

by John D. Currid

Publisher:

Evangelical Press

, 2009

Overview

God has promised to be with Israel in the wilderness and John Currid shows how the book of Numbers demonstrates God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, despite their murmuring and rebellion. Now, in Christ, God promises to be with his people, guiding and leading them to the true promised land.

The place of the book of Numbers in the literary pattern is clear. First of all, it concludes Israel’s stay at Sinai, and it prepares the people for the march to the land of promise (1:1 – 10:10). Secondly, the book records the actual journey from Sinai to the plains of Moab, and it ends with Israel prepared to launch a campaign into the land of promise. It is telling that the final word of the book is ‘Jericho’; this anticipates the book of Joshua, in which the tribes make an assault on the land by first attacking the site of Jericho.

Key Features

• Discusses the context and composition of the book of Numbers
• Provides verse-by-verse commentary

Contents

• Introductory Matters
• Censuses of Israel (Numbers 1:1–4:49)
• Laws of Separation (Numbers 5:1–6:27)
• Offerings to the Lord (Numbers 7:1–9:23)
• The Trumpets of Israel (Numbers 10:1–10)
• To the Land of Promise (Numbers 10:11–14:45)
• Laws for the Land of Promise (Numbers 15:1–41)
• Confrontations at the Tabernacle (Numbers 16:1–17:13)
• Laws of the Priesthood (Numbers 18:1–19:22)
• To the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1–27:23)
• Laws of Offerings and Vows (Numbers 28:1–30:16)
• War and Settlement (Numbers 31:1–33:49)
• Laws of Settlement in Canaan (Numbers 33:50–35:34)
• Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 36:1–13)

Top Highlights

“Yet the truth is that a Christian cannot serve God and mammon! All things are to be brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ for, in fact, all things belong to him.” (Page 66)

“What possible purpose could a duplicate story of bringing water from the rock have? First, we need to note that the two passages bracket the entire episode of the wilderness wanderings; thus this theme forms an inclusio for the desert stories. And we also need to understand that the episode recorded in Exodus focused on the first generation of Israelites coming out of Egypt, while the account in Numbers deals with the second generation.” (Page 275)

“Yet, we do approach the throne of grace with humility and a sense of our unworthiness, for, apart from the work of Christ, we are an unholy people. And he remains a holy God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Page 61)

“After forty years in the desert, the people have not learned much, and they continue to act unfaithfully” (Page 275)

“The reality is that Miriam and Aaron want to share in the prophetic leadership of Moses” (Page 175)

Product Details

• Title: A Study Commentary on Numbers
• Author: John D. Currid
• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 479

About John D. Currid

John D. Currid is Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He received his PhD in archaeology from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. He has several books in print, including the Welwyn Commentary on Habakkuk.