Numbers 2:1

The Arrangement of the Tribes

2:1 ¹ The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron:

Numbers 3:14

The Numbering of the Levites

3:14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai:

Numbers 4:1

The Service of the Kohathites

4:1 ² Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 4:17-18

4:17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 4:18 “Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off ³  from among the Levites;

Numbers 9:4

9:4 So Moses instructed ⁴  the Israelites to observe ⁵  the Passover.

Numbers 11:30

11:30 Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

Numbers 14:4

14:4 So they said to one another, ⁶  “Let’s appoint ⁷  a leader ⁸  and return ⁹  to Egypt.”

Numbers 14:26

14:26 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 16:8

16:8 Moses said to Korah, “Listen now, you sons of Levi!

Numbers 16:20

The Judgment on the Rebels

16:20 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 19:1

The Red Heifer Ritual

19:1 ¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 21:21

The Victory over Sihon and Og

21:21 ¹¹ Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying, ¹² 

Numbers 24:23

24:23 Then he uttered this oracle:

“O, who will survive when God does this! ¹³ 

[2:1]  ¹ sn For this chapter, see C. E. Douglas, “The Twelve Houses of Israel,” JTS 37 (1936): 49-56; C. C. Roach, “The Camp in the Wilderness: A Sermon on Numbers 2:2,” Int 13 (1959): 49-54; and G. St. Clair, “Israel in Camp: A Study,” JTS 8 (1907): 185-217.

[4:1]  ² sn The chapter has four main parts to it: Kohathites (1-20), Gershonites (21-28), Merarites (29-33) and the census of the Levites (34-49).

[4:18]  ³ sn The verb is simply the Qal, “do not cut off.” The context calls for a permissive nuance – “do not let them be cut off.” It was a difficult task to be handling the holy things correctly; Moses and Aaron were to see to it that they did it right and did not handle the objects, that is, Moses and Aaron were to safeguard their lives by making certain that proper procedures were followed.

[9:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “spoke to.”

[9:4]  ⁵ tn The infinitive construct functions as the direct object of the preceding verb (a Hebrew complementary usage), answering the question of what he said.

[14:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “a man to his brother.”

[14:4]  ⁶ tn The verb is נָתַן (natan, “to give”), but this verb has quite a wide range of meanings in the Bible. Here it must mean “to make,” “to choose,” “to designate” or the like.

[14:4]  ⁷ tn The word “head” (רֹאשׁ, ro’sh) probably refers to a tribal chief who was capable to judge and to lead to war (see J. R. Bartlett, “The Use of the Word רֹאשׁ as a Title in the Old Testament,” VT 19 [1969]: 1-10).

[14:4]  ⁸ tn The form is a cohortative with a vav (ו) prefixed. After the preceding cohortative this could also be interpreted as a purpose or result clause – in order that we may return.

[19:1]  ⁶ sn In the last chapter the needs of the priests and Levites were addressed. Now the concern is for the people. This provision from the sacrifice of the red heifer is a precaution to ensure that the purity of the tabernacle was not violated by pollutions of impurity or death. This chapter has two main parts, both dealing with ceremonial purity: the ritual of the red heifer (vv. 1-10), and the purification from uncleanness (vv. 11-22). For further study see J. Milgrom, “The Paradox of the Red Cow (Num 19),” VT 31 (1981): 62-72.

[21:21]  ⁷ sn For this section, see further J. R. Bartlett, “Sihon and Og of the Amorites,” VT 20 (1970): 257-77, and “The Moabites and the Edomites,” Peoples of Old Testament Times, 229-58; S. H. Horn, “The Excavations at Tell Hesban, 1973,” ADAJ 18 (1973): 87-88.

[21:21]  ⁸ tc Smr and the LXX have “words of peace.”

[24:23]  ⁸ tc Because there is no parallel line, some have thought that it dropped out (see de Vaulx, Les Nombres, 296).