Understanding the Numbers in the Book of Numbers

• The book of Numbers has three major interpretive issues, with one of them being the cohesion and unity of the material within the book.
• The longest discussion and debate within the book of Numbers revolves around understanding the numbers mentioned in the book.
• The issue of large numbers is not only present in the Torah but also in the Former Prophets.
• In Numbers chapter 1, Moses was commanded by the Lord to number the fighting men, excluding the tribe of Levi.
• The 12 tribes of Israel were counted, including the sons of Joseph who were divided between Ephraim and Manasseh.
• The numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500, as mentioned in verse 21 of Numbers chapter 1.• The numbers in the first four chapters of Numbers appear to be rounded, with most being in the hundreds, but Moses knew about single digits, as seen in Chapter 3, where he speaks of 22,273 firstborn men to be ransomed.

• The numbers in Numbers Chapter 1 seem to be actual numbers, as Moses lists the total of men who were numbered: 603,550, and the arithmetic adds up correctly when adding up the 12 numbers listed.

• There are four ways to interpret these numbers: 1) they have no historical connection and are merely literary, 2) they are literal, 3) the term "thousand" (Hebrew: "eleph") has a different meaning in this context, and 4) they are a combination of the above.

• The third option, re-translating "eleph" to mean something other than a thousand, was popular in the 19th and 20th centuries but is no longer widely accepted, as it doesn't work within the context of the census.

• The majority of Jewish and Christian traditions take these numbers as literal and precise, as God commanded Moses to take the census and the numbers are listed exactly.

• The second option, taking the numbers as literal but referring to David's army, not the Israelites in the wilderness, is problematic because it doesn't match the biblical account of the census.

• If the numbers are taken as literal, the population of Israel would be approximately 2.5-3 million people, which is difficult to reconcile with the biblical claim that Israel was the smallest among the nations.

• The biblical text itself suggests that these numbers may not be taken at face value, with statements like Deuteronomy 7:7, which says God chose Israel because they were the smallest among the nations.

• The re-interpretation of "eleph" to mean something else would result in 598 military units or clans, with approximately 5,500 fighting men, but this raises questions about why 5,500 men would need 598 generals or chiefs.

• The internal problem with this re-interpretation is that Moses adds up the numbers, and if "eleph" means something else, the total number should be 598, not 603,550.

Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:

• Evangelical commentators have moved away from a literal interpretation of the numbers in the Bible, particularly in Numbers 1 and 26, due to the impossibility of the Israelites supporting a large population in the wilderness.

• One approach is to understand the numbers as symbolic or representative, rather than literal, based on the context of ancient Near Eastern literature.

• In ancient Near Eastern literature, kings would often use exaggerated numbers to describe their armies and conquests, a practice known as "aggrandizement of numbers."

• This literary device was used to convey the greatness and glory of the king, rather than to provide an accurate numerical account.

• Some commentators, such as Allen, argue that the numbers in Numbers 1 and 26 should be understood as deliberate hyperbole, meant to convey the power and presence of God in the midst of His people.

• This interpretation is based on the understanding that the original audience would have understood the numbers as symbolic, rather than literal, and that the numbers were meant to convey a sense of God's provision and care for His people.

• The wilderness experience, as described in Deuteronomy 8, was a miraculous time in which God provided for the Israelites' needs and slowed down natural processes of decay, making it possible for them to survive in the wilderness.

• The issue of the numbers in Numbers 1 and 26 is not about the literal accuracy of the numbers, but about how to understand them in their literary and historical context.

• Other commentators, such as Dennis Cole and David Fouts, have also argued for a symbolic or figurative understanding of the numbers in Numbers 1 and 26.

• The debate about the numbers in Numbers 1 and 26 is not about the trustworthiness of Scripture, but about how to interpret the text in its ancient context.

• The discussion of the numbers in Numbers 1 and 26 is also related to the issue of the "jealousy ordeal" in Numbers 5, which involves a process for determining whether a wife has been unfaithful to her husband.

• The ordeal involves a ritual in which the wife drinks "bitter water" and, if she is guilty, will experience physical consequences, such as swelling of the abdomen and wasting of the thigh.

• The purpose of the ordeal is to maintain purity within the camp of Israel and to deal with sin, even when it is undetected.

• The ordeal is distinct from similar practices in ancient Near Eastern literature, and is based on God's concern for purity and justice within His people.

• The issue of the jealousy ordeal is also related to the concept of marriage and the Torah, as discussed in the Dictionary of the Old Testament Pentateuch.