So the Book of Numbers is so called, because it begins with a census of the Hebrew nations. After that it describes their departure from Mount Sinai, their journey to Moab, and gives various rules for distribution of the Promised Land. Maybe it should have just been called Journey?
King Arad the Chanaanite… heard this, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, he fought against them, and overcoming them he carried off their spoils.
But Israel binding himself by vow to the Lord, said: If thou wilt deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and delivered up the Chanaanite… and they called the name of that place Horma
Aren’t we done, isn’t the Land of Chanaan the Promise Land?
I guess not since they marched from mount Hor, by the way that leadeth to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom. They went around Edom because he would not let them pass through his land.
Once again the Israelites question God, pay the price, and repent.
And the people began to be weary of their journey and labor, and speaking against God and Moses they said: Why didst thou bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters; our soul now loatheth this very light food.
Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them.
We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away these serpents from us.
Isn’t this the cycle of addiction?
What breaks the cycle of addiction?
Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said to Moses: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign; whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live. Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed.
Okay I get that prayer and a Higher Power—God—can free us from our repeated habits of behavior but what is the difference between a golden idol to worship and a brazen serpent sign to look upon and be healed?
Even though the Israelites were victorious in Chanaan they were on the move again: And departing thence they pitched their tents in Jeabarim, in the wilderness, that faceth Moab toward the east. And removing from thence, they came to the torrent Zared, which they left and encamped over against Arnon, which is in the desert and standeth out on the borders of the Amorrhites.
For Arnon is the border of Moab, dividing the Moabites and the Amorrhites. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord: As he did in the Red Sea, so will he do in the streams of Arnon.
Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up.
The book of wars of the Lord?
Israelites singing?
Once again the Israelites were looking for a free pass to cut through the land of Amorrhite on their way back to the Red Sea and Egypt or who knows where?
I beseech thee that I may have leave to pass through thy land… we will go the king’s highway, till we pass thy borders.
And he would not grant that Israel should pass by his borders: but rather gathering an army, went fourth to meet them in the desert… and he was slain by them with the edge of a sword, and they possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jeboc, and to the confines of the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites, were kept with a strong garrison.
Are the Amorrhites different than Ammonites?
So Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorrhite.
Victory Number Two but Challenge Number Three coming up!
Og the king of Basan came against them with all his people, to fight in Edrai.
And the Lord said to Moses: Fear him not, for I have delivered him and all his people, and his country into thy hand: and thou shalt do to him as thou did to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, the inhabitant of Hesebon. So they slew him also with his sons, and all his people, not letting anyone escape, and they possessed his land.
So the Israelites are three-for-three in battle and possessed three lands at one time—Chanaan, Amorrhite, Basan but apparently none were the Promised Land where God was leading them.
Now the next country in the sights of the Israelites was Moab and its leader Balac was frightened: So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots. Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me.
He asks a soothsayer named Balaam to help him: For I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shall curse is cursed.
Balaam’s response to Balac: Tarry here this night and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me. Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people; because it is blessed.
Not what Balac wanted to hear so he pressed Balaam to curse the Israelites: Delay not to come to me, for I am ready to honor thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt; come and curse this people.
Balaam’s second response reaffirmed the first that the Israelites were blessed by God and not to be harmed: I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less.
And here is where we have the talking ass. Mr. Ed’s equivalent in biblical times.
Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them and God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?
Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill…
Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? Tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.
Forthwith, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam…
Why beatest thou thy ass these three times?
Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
Balac and Balaam go back and forth; Balac asking soothsayer to curse Israel for him and the protection of his nation Moab but Balaas speaking with God would not go against God’s Will.
Balac: I sent thee to curse my enemies: and thou contrariwise blesses them.
Balaam: Can I speak anything else but what the Lord commandeth? There is no idol in Jacob (Israel), neither is there an image god to be seen in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the sound of the victory of the king in him.
And Balac said to Balaam: Neither curse, not bless them.
Compromise City here but then one more go around to make sure there is no Balac-Balaam deal.
Balac: I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou on the contrary hast blessed them three times.
Balaam: I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to utter any thing of my own head either good or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that I will speak…
A prophecy from God: A star shall rise out of Jacob (Israel) and a scepter shall spring up from Israel. Out of Jacob (Israel) shall he come that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city. Assur shall take thee captive.
Balaam rose, and returned to his place: Balac also returned the way that he came.
Day 53: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; A Talking Ass and Israel is Victorious Three Times in Battle.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Numbers Chapters 21-25
Bible Notes:
This Book is so called, because it begins with a census of the Hebrew nations.
It describes their departure from Mount Sinai, their journey to Moab, and gives various rules for distribution of the Promised Land.
Numbers Chapter 21: King Arad is overcome; Plague of fiery serpents; People healed by a brazen serpent; The Israelites reach the Arnon; They find a well; The Israelites defeat the Amorrhites; Israel dwells in the land of the Amorrhites; King Og is destroyed.
King Arad the Chanaanite… heard this, to wit, that Israel was come by the way of the spies, he fought against them, and overcoming them he carried off their spoils.
But Israel binding himself by vow to the Lord, said: If thou wilt deliver this people into my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and delivered up the Chanaanite… and they called the name of that place Horma
Land of Chanaan, the Promise Land?
And they marched from mount Hor, by the way that leadeth to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom.
And the people began to be weary of their journey and labor, and speaking against God and Moses they said: Why didst thou bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters; our soul now loatheth this very light food. Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them.
We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away these serpents from us.
And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said to Moses: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign; whoseever being struck shall look on it, shall live. Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed.
Difference between an idol to worship and a brazen serpent sign to be healed?
Brazen—shameless or impudent: brazen presumption; made of brass; like brass, as in sound, color, or strength; to make brazen or bold; brazen out /through, to face boldly or shamelessly: He prefers to brazen it out rather than admit defeat.
And departing thence they pitched their tents in Jeabarim, in the wilderness, that faceth Moab toward the east. And removing from thence, they came to the torrent Zared, which they left and encamped over against Arnon, which is in the desert and standeth out on the borders of the Amorrhites.
For Arnon is the border of Moab, dividing the Moabites and the Amorrhites. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord: As he did in the Red Sea, so will he do in the streams of Arnon.
Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up.
I beseech thee that I may have leave to pass through thy land… we will go the king’s highway, till we pass thy borders.
And he would not grant that Israel should pass by his borders: but rather gathering an army, went fourth to meet them in the desert… and he was slain by them with the edge of a sword, and they possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jeboc, and to the confines of the children of Ammon: for the borders of the Ammonites, were kept with a strong garrison.
Amorrhites different than Ammonites.
So Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorrhite.
Og the king of Basan came against them with all his people, to fight in Edrai.
And the Lord said to Moses: Fear him not, for I have delivered him and all his people, and his country into thy hand: and thou shalt do to him as thou did to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, the inhabitant of Hesebon. So they slew him also with his sons, and all his people, not letting anyone escape, and they possessed his land.
Three-for-three: Chanaan, Amorrhite, Basan
Numbers Chapter 22: Balac asks Balaam to curse the Israelites; Balaam refuses to curse the Israelites; Balac’s second message to Balaam; An angel stands in Balaam’s way; Balaam’s ass speaks; The angel rebukes Balaam; Balac shows Balaam the camp of the Israelites.
So will this people destroy all that dwell in our borders, as the ox is wont to eat the grass to the very roots.
Behold a people is come out of Egypt, that hath covered the face of the earth, sitting over against me.
For I know that he whom thou shalt bless is blessed, and he whom thou shall curse is cursed.
Tarry here this night and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me.
Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people; because it is blessed.
Delay not to come to me, for I am ready to honor thee, and will give thee whatsoever thou wilt; come and curse this people.
I cannot alter the word of the Lord my God, to speak either more or less.
Balaam arose in the morning, and saddling his ass went with them.
And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time? Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill…
Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? Tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee. But he said: Never.
Forthwith, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam…
Why beatest thou thy ass these three times?
Balaam said: I have sinned, not knowing that thou didst stand against me: and now if it displease thee that I go, I will return.
Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth?
Numbers Chapter 23: Balac’s Sacrifice; Balaam talks with God; Balaam blesses the Israelites; Balac again asks Balaam to curse Israel; Balaam again blesses Israel; Balac asks Balaam neither to bless nor curse Israel.
And Balaam said to Balac:
Return to Balac, and thus shalt thou speak
And taking up his parable
How shall I curse him, whom God hath not cursed? By what means should I detest hi, whom the Lord detesteth not?
This people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Balac: I sent thee to curse my enemies: and thou contrariwise blesses them.
Balaam: Can I speak anything else but what the Lord commandeth?
And when the Lord had met him, and had put the word in his mouth.
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor as the son of man, that he should be changed.
There is no idol in Jacob, neither is there an image god to be seen in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the sound of the victory of the king in him.
And Balac said to Balaam: Neither curse, not bless them.’
Numbers Chapter 24: Balaam prophesies prosperity for Israel; Balac’s anger against Balaam; The star of Jacob (Israel); Balaam’s prophecies of doom.
He saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him, he took up his parable…
For Agag his king shall be removed, and his kingdom shall be taken away.
He that blesseth thee, shall also himself be blessed: he that curseth thee shall be reckoned accursed.
Accursed—under a curse; doomed; ill-fated; damnable; detestable.
I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou on the contrary hast blessed them three times.
I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to utter any thing of my own head either good or evil: but whatsoever the Lord shall say, that I will speak…
A star shall rise out of Jacob (Israel) and a scepter shall spring up from Israel
Out of Jacob (Israel) shall he come that shall rule, and shall destroy the remains of the city
Assur shall take thee captive.
Balaam rose, and returned to his place: Blaca also returned the way that he came.
Sin erupts again in the children of Israel and this time twenty-four thousand pay the price.
And Israel at that time abode in Settin, and the people committed fornication with the daughters of Moab.
Upon which the Lord being angry.
Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the multitude, and taking a dagger, went in after the Israelite into the brothel house, and thrust both of them through together, to wit, the man (Zambri) and the woman (Cozbi) in the genital parts. And the scourge ceased from the children of Israel. And there were slain four and twenty thousand men.
Behold I give him (Phinees) the peace of my covenant, and the covenant on the priesthood for ever shall be both to him and his see, because he hath been zealous for his God, and hath made atonement for the wickedness of the children of Israel.
Let the Madianites find you their enemy, and slay you them, if because they have acted like enemies against you, and have guilefully deceived you by the idol Phogor.
Numbers Chapter 25: Immorality and idolatry of Israel; Twenty-four thousand die for their sins; Priesthood given to the seed of Phinees; Zambri and Cozbi; God tells Moses to slay the Madianites.
And Israel at that time abode in Settin, and the people committed fornication with the daughters of Moab.
Upon which the Lord being angry.
Phinees, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the multitude, and taking a dagger, went in after the Israelite into the brothel house, and thrust both of them through together, to wit, the man (Zambri) and the woman (Cozbi) in the genital parts. And the scourge ceased from the children of Israel. And there were slain four and twenty thousand men.
Behold I give him (Phinees) the peace of my covenant, and the covenant on the priesthood for ever shall be both to him and his see, because he hath been zealous for his God, and hath made atonement for the wickedness of the children of Israel.
Let the Madianites find you their enemy, and slay you them, if because they have acted like enemies against you, and have guilefully deceived you by the idol Phogor.
Speak Your Mind