Encyclopedia entry
Numbers
the fourth book of the law or Pentateuch. It takes its name in the LXX. and Vulgate (whence our “Numbers”) from the double numbering or census of the people, the first of which is given in chs. 1-4, and the second in ch. 28. Contents .—The book may be said to contain generally the history of the Israelites from the time of their leaving Sinai, in the second year after the exodus till their arrival at the borders of the Promised land in the fortieth year of their journeyings It consists of the following principal divisions: 1, The Preparations for the departure from Sinai. (Numbers 1:1; Numbers 10:10)
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The journey from Sinai to the borders of Canaan. ch. (Numbers 10:11; Numbers 14:45) A brief notice of laws and events which transpired during the thirty-seven years wandering in the wilderness. ch. (Numbers 15:1; Numbers 19:22) The history of the last year, from the second arrival of the Israelites in Kadesh till they reached “the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.” ch, (Numbers 20:1; Numbers 36:13) Integrity .—This, like the other books of the Pentateuch, is supposed by many critics to consist of a compilation from two or three or more earlier documents; but the grounds on which this distinction of documents rests are in every respect most unsatisfactory, and it may, in common with the preceding books and Deuteronomy, be regarded as the work of Moses. The book of Numbers is rich in fragments of ancient poetry, some of them of great beauty and all throwing an interesting light on the character of the times in which they were composed. Such, for instance, is the blessing of the high priest. ch. (Numbers 6:24-26) Such too are chants which were the signal for the ark to move when the people journeyed, and for it to rest when they were about to encamp. In ch. 21 we have a passage cited from a book called the “Book of the Wars of Jehovah.” This was probably a collection of ballads and songs composed on different occasions by the watch-fires of the camp, and for the most part, though not perhaps exclusively, in commemoration of the victories of the Israelites over their enemies.
In the Bible
24
Verses where Numbers is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 12:23
Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:
- 1 Chronicles 23:31
Whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, they were to serve regularly before the LORD in the numbers prescribed for them.
- 2 Chronicles 15:9
And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
- 2 Chronicles 17:14
These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;
- 2 Chronicles 30:5
So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it in great numbers as prescribed.
- Acts 5:14
Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
+18 more verses naming Numbers.
Scripture on Numbers
21
Entries that reference Numbers
486
See all 486 +−
- AbiramJosephJoshuaMiriamMosesNoahPentecostSarahSimeonAbelshittimAddarAdulteryAgagAgricultureAherAhiezerAhihudAhimanAhiraAhiramAinAkrabbimAlmond Tree; AlmondAlmondiblathaimAloes, Lign AloesAlushAmalekitesAmbassadorAmenAmmielAmmihudAmminadabAmminadibAmmonAmorite, The AmoritesAmramitesAnakimAnathemaAnointingArArabiaArdArditesAreliArk Of The CovenantArms, ArmorArmyArnonArodAroerAshbelAsrielAssyria, AsshurAtarothAtrothAzmonAzzanBaalThe BachritesBalaamBalakBaldnessBamothbaalBasketBath, BathingBdelliumBecherBeerBeerelimBeeroth of the children of JaakanBelaThe BelaitesBenonBeorBeredBeriahBetharamBethbaalmeonBethharanBethjeshimothBethnimrahBirthrightBlood, Revenger OfBootyBrotherBukkiCalebThe CanaanitesCarmiCartCenserChargerChemoshChildrenChinnereth, Sea OfChislonChittim, KittimCitiesCities Of RefugeCloud, Pillar OfCongregationCorbanCorianderCozbiCucumbersDathanDaughterDeuel, Or DeuelDibonDophkahDressEarringsEarthquakeEbronahEdom, Idumaea Or IdumeaEdreiEhiEldadElderElealehEleazarEliabEliasaphElidadElimElishamaElishebaElizaphanElizurElonThe ElonitesEnanEncampmentEnchantmentsEphodErEranThe EranitesEriEshcol, The ValleyEthamEthiopian womanEviThe ExodusEzbonEziongaber, Or EziongeberFastsFireFirepanFirst-fruitsFirstfruitsFoodGaddiGaddielGalilee, Sea ofGamalielGarlicGemalliGenealogyThe GershonitesGeuelGideoniGileadThe GileaditesGuniThe GunitesHaggiThe HaggitesThe HamulitesHananielHandicraftHanging, HangingsHanochHaradahHashmonahHavothjairHazerHazerothHeberHebronThe HebronitesHeirHelekHelonHem Of GarmentHepherThe HepheritesHerdHeshbonHesron, HezronHethlonHezekiahHezronitesHigh Places6813 PriestHillsHobabHoglahHorHorhagidgadHoriHow The Prophetic Gift Was ReceivedHuphamThe HuphamitesHuppimHushimIgalIimIjeabarimIshuaiIssacharIssue, RunningIsuiIthamarIzeharIzeharitesIzharJaazer, Or JazerJabbokJabeshJachinJahaz, Also Jahaza, Jahazah And JuhzahJahleelJahzeelJairJaminJashubJebusitesJediaelJeezerJehoshuaJehovahJephunnehJeshimonJesuiJesuitesJesusJesus ChristJethroJezerJimnaThe JimnitesJirjathaimJochebedJogbehahJogliJordanJotbath, Or JotbathahJudahKadesh, KadeshbarneaKedemothKehelathahKemuelKenathKeneziteThe KeniteKirjathhuzothKnifeKohathKorahLabanLaelLambsLaw of MosesLeatherLebanonLeeksLeper, LeprosyLevitesLibnahLibniMachiMachirThe MachiritesMagic, MagiciansMahlahMahliMakhelothMannaManslayerMarahMattanahMeat-offeringMedebaMedicineMelonsMeribahMessiahMetalsMichaelMidianMigdolMilcahMithcahMixed multitudeMoabMonthMortarMoserahMourningMuppimMushiNaamanThe NaamitesNahalielNahbiNahshon, Or NaashonNaphtaliNazariteNeboNehushtanNemuelNethaneelNethinimNew MoonNimrahNinevehNobahNophaNumberNurseObothOcranOgOilOnOnanOnionOxOzniPagielPalestina And PalestinePalluPalluitesPaltiPaltielParableParan, ElparanParnaehPassoverPedahelPedarhzurPelethPentateuchThe PentateuchPeorPethorPharzites. ThePhinehasPihahirothPisgahPomegranatePrayerPriestPrisonPuaPunishmentsThe PunitesPunonPurificationQuailsRameses, Or RaamsesRaphuRazorRebaRed SeaRehobRekemReubenReuelRiblahRimmonRithmahRiusahRiverRiver of EgyptSabbathSabbathdays JourneySacrificeSaltSaluSanhedrinThe SarditesSatanSeaSea, The SaltSerahSeredSerpentSethurSevenShammuaShaphatShapherShaulShebamShechemThe ShechemitesShedeurShelahThe ShelanitesShelomiShelumielShemidaThe ShemidaitesShemuelShephamShepherdShephuphanSheshaiShethShillemShilohShimeiThe ShimitesShimronShiphtanShittimShophanShuhamShuniThe ShuphamitesShurShuthelahSihonSinSin-offeringSin, Wilderness ofSlaveSodiSuccothSusiSyriaTaberahTabernacleTabernacles, The Feast OfTahanThe TahanitesTahathTalmaiTarahThank Offering, Or Peace OfferingTinTirzahTithe Or TenthTolaThe TolaitesTranceTrumpets, Feast ofUncleannessUrim And ThummimUzziahThe UzzielitesVineVophsiVowsWallsWarWater of jealousyWave OfferingWeights And MeasuresWineWitnessZaccurZalmonahThe ZarhitesZebulunThe ZebulunitesZedadZelophehadZephonZerahZeredZimriZinZiphranZipporZophimZuarZurZurielZurishaddai
Voices on Numbers
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.