VICTORY!!! I finished Numbers and live to tell the tale.
Wow. And I mean, Wow! This was really tough to get through. I thought Leviticus with all its sacrificial rules, purification rights and such was harsh. No no no, my friend; try three censuses and thousands and thousands of pounds of gold, silver, tin, incense, goats, bulls, pigeons, unleavened bread... It's enough to make you say OI!
I am really really curious how many people left Egpyt. The censuses put the people around 600,000 or so. That would make sense seeing as tens of thousands die each time they put a foot out of line. However, in my archeology bible, it states that probably no more than 20,000 entered into Canaan. It's possible that after the sinful generation died out that only 20,000 remained, but I just don't see this as likely. I mean, look at the numbers of Israelites that died in the conquest of Canaan. Unless the Hebrews can breed like rabbits and are endued with growth hormones, I don't see this happening.
A couple verses struck me. First, in chapter 10 it talks about the trumpets to be made and that they will remind the Lord of His covenant with Israel. I'm curious if there's any parallels here with the trumpets in Revelation? Verse 11:29 brings to mind the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14. I enjoyed chapter 12, especially when God speaks to talking to different people differently. "He sees the Lord as he is." Awesome. I also love the amazing amount of social rights that God allows to women in chapter 27. These were unprecedented and completely innovative for this time period in history! God is not repressive to women at all, he aids them and hears their cries and petitions as much as anyone else.
After I finally read the whole story of Balaam in context, it made a lot more sense and had a lot more significance than just a talking donkey. I mean, seriously, why do we take every story in the bible having to do with animals (Noah, Jonah, Adam and Eve) and turn it in to a children's story?! There's some messed up, violent, erotic, and genocidal stuff that goes on in these stories!! The bible is not a children's book. I don't know, maybe my opinions will change once I have a child... maybe...
Well, on to the last book of the Pentateuch. Maybe then I'll skip over to the New Testament, you know, just to mix it up :)
