Números 19

Números 19

Click for Numbers Chapters 1-36 Numbers: Journey to God's Rest-Land by Irving Jensen- used by permission Source: Ryrie Study Bible THE BOOK OF NUMBERS "Wilderness Wandering" WALKING Numbers 1-12 WANDERING Numbers 13-25 WAITING Numbers 26-36 Counting & Camping Nu 1-4 Cleansing & Congregation Nu 5-8 Carping & Complaining Nu 9-12 12 Spies & Death in Desert Nu 13-16 Aaron & Levites in Wilderness Nu 17-18 Serpent of Brass & Story of Balaam Nu 21-25 Second Census 7 Laws of Israel Nu 26-30 Last Days of Moses as Leader Nu 31-33 Sections, Sanctuaries & Settlements Nu 34-36 Law & Order Rebellion & Disorder New Laws for the New Order Old Generation Tragic Transition New Generation Preparation for the Journey: Moving Out Participation in the Journey: Moving On Prize at end of the Journey: Moving In At Sinai Mt Sinai To Moab Mt Hor At Moab Mt Nebo En Route to Kadesh (Mt Sinai) En Route to Nowhere (Wilderness) En Route to Canaan (Plains of Moab) A Few Weeks to 2 Months 38 years, 3 months, 10 days A Few Months Christ in Numbers = Our "Lifted-up One" (Nu 21:9, cp Jn 3:14-15) Author: Moses Numbers 19:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Numbers 19 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Setting the stage - Numbers 15-19 occurred during 38 years of wilderness wandering, which obviously is only described in part but is largely passed over. Given the population of the first generation these years of wandering would mean there would be an average of 100 deaths per day for the next 38 years and touching a dead body brought uncleanness. Even living in the same tent where someone died made all the occupants unclean. So God in His mercy provides them a way of restoration in the form of the unique provision of the ashes of a red heifer which is the essence of the story in Numbers 19. Related Passage: Numbers 5:2-4+ “Command the sons of Israel that they send away from the camp every leper and everyone having a discharge and everyone who is unclean because of a dead person. 3 “You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst.” 4 The sons of Israel did so and sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD had spoken to Moses, thus the sons of Israel did. Irving Jensen has an excellent summary to set the context for this chapter - The section of Numbers having to do with the years of desert wanderings (Nu 15:1–19:22) opens with a reaffirmation of God’s laws which would still apply to the Israelites when they reached Canaan (Numbers 15:1-41). The next three chapters (Nu 16:1-18:32) reaffirm God’s need and choice of spiritual leaders, especially with reference to the service of the holy sanctuary. But all this time the race had been dying away, sometimes falling like flies, as in the case of the more than 14,700 who reaped the sudden judgment of God after Korah’s rebellion. Masses of dead bodies, whether dying from plague, war, or natural causes, were a common sight to the Israelites in their aimless desert wanderings. If the law as prescribed by Numbers 5:2–4 was to be fulfilled—and it had to be—the majority of the survivors, for the inevitable frequent defilement because of proximity to dead bodies, would find themselves more often outside the fellowship of the camp than inside. God was especially concerned now with the preservation and spiritual nurture of the rising generation who had not fallen under God’s judgment at Kadesh and who would soon be entering the promised land. Hence this new provision of cleansing—which also would remain as a “statute for ever” (Nu 19:10)—was the answer to the problem of the excessive presence of corpses, because of its easier and more efficient application. (EvBC-Numbers) NET NOTE: 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) Here are the key words in Numbers 19 Unclean 20x in 14v (4x as Uncleanness) - Nu 19:7; Nu 19:8; Nu 19:10; Nu 19:11; Nu 19:12; Nu 19:13; Nu 19:14; Nu 19:15; Nu 19:16; Nu 19:17; Nu 19:19; Nu 19:20; Nu 19:21; Nu 19:22 Sprinkle/sprinkling - 6x in 6v - Nu 19:4 Nu 19:13 Nu 19:18 Nu 19:19 Nu 19:20 Nu 19:21 Water - 12x in 10v - Nu 19:7 Nu 19:8 Nu 19:9 Nu 19:12 Nu 19:13 Nu 19:17 Nu 19:18 Nu 19:19 Nu 19:20 Nu 19:21 Purify/purification - 7x in 6v - Nu 19:9 Nu 19:12 Nu 19:13 Nu 19:17 Nu 19:19 Nu 19:20 Heifer - 5x in 5v - Nu 19:2 Nu 19:5 Nu 19:6 Nu 19:9 Nu 19:10 Why this chapter is important - Over a period of 38+ years, over 1.2 million people died in the wilderness because of God’s judgment. The Israelites were continually coming into contact with dead bodies, which led to ceremonial uncleanness. Therefore, the Lord provided a means of purification so that those who came into contact with dead bodies might be cleansed. The provision given for the preparation of the “water of purification” (cf. Lev 12–15).