The Book of Numbers, known in Greek as Arithmoi (Gk. Ἀριθμοί) or by its Hebrew title the Bəmīḏbar or In the Wilderness, the Bəmīḏbar derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the Hebrew people, one recounted near the beginning of their sojourn in the desert and the other toward the end of the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness (chaps. 1 and 26). This book, the fourth book of the Pentateuch, continues the account of that journey which began in the Exodus and briefly describes the experiences of the Israelites for a period of approximately forty years, from the end of their encampment at Mount Sinai to their arrival at the border of the Promised Land. Numerous legal ordinances are interspersed in the writings, making the book a combination of law and history.
The Book of Numbers divides neatly into two parts. In the first part, the first preparations for them to enter the land given to them by God, unfortunately, comes to a tragic end, when scouts are sent forth to survey the land God promised them (chp. 13–14). Upon the return from that reconnoiter mission, the people are so disheartened by the description of the native inhabitants (Num 13: 27-33) and the seemingly impossible task that lies in front of them that they refuse to enter the land. While noting that the land was, indeed, “flowing with milk and honey,” the inhabitants were various formidable tribes, because the Anakim or Nephilim, who inhabited that land, were seen as giants or the fallen ones. Gripped with fear, the people rebel against Moses and Aaron, and they would not listen to reason. God became angry with the people He had saved from their plight in Egypt, yet Moses appeals to God for clemency (Num 14:13-19). This results in the divine decision, which was to doom that entire generation to pass away, save Caleb, in order to allow another generation to take their place and be given the opportunity to enter the land.
After the death of the first generation, a second census is taken (Num 26: 1-51). Once again preparations were undertaken to enter the land. In this case, however, the birth of that new generation suggests that, this time, those preparations would not be in vain. The book ends with the Israelites situated across the Jordan River, outside the land of Canaan with this final verse, “These are the commandments and decisions which the Lord commanded the Israelites through Moses, on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan opposite Jericho” (Num 36:13). Facing confrontation with the Moabites, their last enemy, the Book of Numbers underscores a chief theme of the Pentateuch when taken as a whole: the people anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promise of the land.
Nature and dignity 