Ordering the Book of Numbers Trivia Quiz

The Book of Numbers got its name because in the beginning, just over a year following the Exodus from Egypt, Moses is commanded to conduct a census of the exiles in the desert. He does this personally, accompanied by leaders from each tribe. The interpretation of this is that he not only makes himself known amongst the masses since prior to this he had been a figurehead, but also makes every person feel like they count (literally and figuratively).

Despite eventually having over six hundred thousand people over the age of 20, Moses conducts a full census and starts helping the Children of Israel discover their identity as a nation, and not as a rag-tag collection of exiles.

Involving the leaders from the Twelve Tribes also helps establish the organization and shared leadership, since a good leader should be able to delegate responsibility to those that they trust, as Moses needed to do.

The Israelites arranged themselves in the desert around the Tabernacle. Moses did this in order to create structure and order, while also enforcing unity and nationhood. Closest to the center were the three families of the Levites, since their main job was to participate in all of the holy works. The Gershonites were to the west of the Tabernacle, and they were responsible for the physical tent, and for guarding it. To the south were the Kohathites, Moses' people, and they were responsible for the holy relics and inner workings of the tent. The Merarites were to the north. They had the responsibility for the frame of the tent and all the ropes used. Moses and Aaron, as well as their immediate families, were to the east.

The other twelve tribes were arranged around the Levites in an outer ring, three to a side: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were to the east, where the opening was, and were the largest contingent. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad were to the south while Dan, Asher, and Naphtali were to the north. Finally, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin were to the west and were the smallest cohort.

In Numbers 3, and later again in Numbers 8, the Levites were set apart by God for service in the Tabernacle in place of the firstborn sons of Israel. Originally, the firstborn sons of Israel were meant to serve as priests, but after the sin of the Golden Calf (back in Exodus 32), the Levites remained loyal to God. As a result, they were chosen to serve in place of the firstborn of each family.

The consecration involved a purification ritual where they were sprinkled with water, shaved, and washed their clothes to symbolize spiritual cleansing. The Israelites then laid hands on them, signifying that the Levites were being offered to God in place of the firstborn, followed by sacrificial offerings. Aaron then waved them before the Lord as a symbolic presentation for divine service. They were then purified for their priestly duties.

The firstborn sons of Israel had to be redeemed as well back into their families. This tradition continues to the present-day in a ceremony known as 'Pidyon HaBen'.

The phenomenon of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night over the Tabernacle symbolized God's presence and guidance for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. This is described in Numbers 9:15-23 and was a continuation of how God had led them since the Exodus. The column of cloud or smoke covered the Tabernacle during the day, and at night, it appeared as fire, serving as both a visible sign of God's dwelling and a practical guide for the people. Whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites knew it was time to break camp and move, and wherever it settled, they would set up camp again.

Since this physical manifestation did not follow any pattern, the Children of Israel had to be ready to move at any moment as a show of their faith.

After the Israelites had been eating manna, the miraculous superfood that God provided for them each day, they became weary and dissatisfied with this food, which they then described as tasteless. They longed for the foods they had eaten in Egypt, such as fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. This dissatisfaction led to widespread grumbling among the people, and their complaints reached Moses.

Moses, burdened by the Israelites' discontent, felt overwhelmed and turned to God, expressing his frustration, even wishing he could die rather than bear the weight of the people's complaints. God responded to Moses by promising to provide meat for the people to eat, but not just for a day or two, but for an entire month, until they were sick of having meat.

A flock of quail covered the camp and people started gathering greedily. Those who craved it too much, God sent a plague which killed them off, some with the meat still in their mouths. This incident not only highlighted the use of manna as the provided physical nourishment but also served as a lesson in trusting God and recognizing his provision, as the Israelites' ingratitude led to severe consequences. Furthermore, the people idealized the foods of the slavery, not realizing that freedom is hard work for yourself, whereas slavery was hard work for others and a loss of self, even if the food was given freely. They then had to realize that while freedom requires hard work and personal responsibility, it offers the dignity of self-determination.

In Numbers 12, Moses' leadership is challenged by his two older siblings, Miriam and Aaron. They spoke against their younger brother, criticizing him for marrying a Cushite woman (possibly referring to Zipporah, but possibly also another wife of African descent). Nevertheless, the complaint about the wife was actually a cover for a deeper issue - their jealousy of Moses' status.

God immediately responded by summoning all three siblings together to the Tent of Meeting, where He personally defended Moses. God declared that while He speaks to prophets in visions and dreams, He speaks to Moses directly, face-to-face, giving him more status. God rebuked Miriam and Aaron for their challenge. He then proceeded to punish Miriam for her part in it by giving her leprosy.

Moses, the forgiving soul, prayed on his sister's behalf with the simplest of prayers: "Please heal her, O God, I pray!". God sent her out of the camp for seven days, after which she was healed and the journey resumed. Rashi said about the prayer that Moses did not need a long and elaborate prayer to appeal to God, his words simply conveyed his intention, and that was enough. This showed how humble Moses truly was, but also how deep his love for his family was.

In order to scout out the land of Canaan, Moses sends out twelve people, one from each tribe. These men were to assess the land's fertility, its inhabitants, and the strength of its cities. Among them were Joshua (from the tribe of Ephraim) and Caleb (from the tribe of Judah), who would later stand apart for their faith and honesty.

For forty days, the spies explored the land from the southern wilderness to the northern region near Lebo-Hamath. They found that the land was indeed rich and fertile, bringing back a cluster of grapes so large it had to be carried on a pole between two men, along with pomegranates and figs. However, ten of the spies gave a fearful report, warning that the land was inhabited by strong people and fortified cities, including the descendants of Anak, who were giants.

Only Joshua and Caleb remained steadfast, urging the people to trust in God's promise. They said "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey."

The sending out of the spies was a way for Moses to get the people on board with entering a new land. They had been fearful and complaining since they left Egypt, and they did not want to enter the land based on faith alone. Moses sent the spies out with specific instructions that would assess the land's military and economic viability, and hoped that the reports coming back would sway the people. Unfortunately, ten of the spies spoke out of fear, and instilled fear amongst the masses. When Caleb and Joshua spoke out to have faith, the people wanted the two of them stoned to death, but Moses, knowing that God's word would not be broken, interceded on their behalf and they managed to sway the people.

In Numbers 16, the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron is one of the most dramatic challenges to the leadership of the Children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness. This rebellion shocked the fledgling nation, as did God's response to it.

Korah, a Levite from the Kohathite clan, a cousin of Moses, along with Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben, gathered 250 well-known community leaders to challenge Moses' authority. They said to Moses: "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" (Numbers 16:3)

This challenge was not just about the leadership of the nation, it questioned the divine appointment of the priesthood, since Korah, as a Levite, wanted the specific priestly role that was reserved only for Aaron's descendants. God, in infinite wrath, wanted to destroy the entire congregation. Moses and Aaron interceded on their behalf and asked that only the guilty be punished. God agreed and the 250 rebels and their families were destroyed. A further 14,700 died of a divine plague as they whispered against Aaron and Moses before Aaron atoned for the entire nation.

An interesting note - why did the people of the tribe of Reuben also rise up against Moses? Well, if you look at the proximity in the camp, the closest to the encampment of Korah and his people were the people of Reuben, all of these to the south of the Tabernacle. Also, they were resentful of the fact that past sins had lost them the leadership status over the people.

The event of Moses striking the rock at Meribah is told about in Numbers 20:1-13 and marks a significant moment of disobedience that ultimately led to Moses, the most humble of all men, being denied entry into the Promised Land.

As the Israelites wandered in the Wilderness of Zin, they arrived at Meribah and found themselves without water. Frustrated and afraid, the people complained bitterly against Moses and Aaron, longing for Egypt and accusing their leaders of bringing them to a barren land. Moses and Aaron went before God, who instructed Moses to speak to the rock. Doing so would cause it to miraculously provide water to the masses. However, the constant complaints of the people angered Moses and, in a pique of anger, he struck the rock twice. The rock gave forth water.

Water did indeed flow out for the people, but God immediately rebuked Moses and Aaron, declaring that because they did not trust Him enough to honour Him as holy, they would not be allowed to lead Israel into the Promised Land.

Now, the reader has to understand, Moses was already not in the best frame of mind - hungry, tired, weary, constantly hearing complaints... that would be enough to break any man. However, Moses' sister, Miriam, had just passed away and therefore he was also grieving. Nevertheless, according to Rashi, the fact that Moses struck the rock twice shows that it was a deliberate act, and not just an angry reaction.

The story of Balaam and his talking donkey in Numbers 22:21-35 is one of the most unusual and intriguing episodes in the Bible. Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they approached his land. Balak feared the Children of Israel and hoped that a curse would help him keep his kingdom.

Although God initially forbade Balaam from going, He later permitted him to go but only to speak what He commanded. As Balaam set out on his journey, riding his donkey, the Angel of the Lord stood in his path to oppose him. Balaam, unaware of the angel's presence, tried to continue forward, but the donkey saw the angel and veered off the road. Balaam struck the donkey in his frustration, but the angel remained, blocking the way three times. Finally, God opened the donkey's mouth, and it spoke, asking Balaam why he was beating it.

This act (that some might call a miracle) opened the eyes of Balaam as well and allowed him to converse with the angel. This shows that even a simple donkey could see what the learned Balaam could not. Interestingly, this is only the second animal with the power of speech in the Bible, the first being the serpent in the Garden of Eden.