Numbers 24 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Numbers) Free Bible Online

Numbers 24

1 - When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 - Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 - He took up his parable, and said,"Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;
4 - he says, who hears the words of God,who sees the vision of the Almighty,falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 - How goodly are your tents, Jacob,and your tents, Israel!
6 - As valleys they are spread out,as gardens by the riverside,as aloes which the LORD has planted,as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 - Water shall flow from his buckets.His seed shall be in many waters.His king shall be higher than Agag.His kingdom shall be exalted.
8 - God brings him out of Egypt.He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,shall break their bones in pieces,and pierce them with his arrows.
9 - He couched, he lay down as a lion,as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?Everyone who blesses you is blessed.Everyone who curses you is cursed."
10 - Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
11 - Therefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor."
12 - Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
13 - 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond The LORD's word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what the LORD says'?
14 - Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."
15 - He took up his parable, and said,"Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;
16 - he says, who hears the words of God,knows the knowledge of the Most High,and who sees the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, and having his eyes open:
17 - I see him, but not now.I see him, but not near.A star will come out of Jacob.A scepter will rise out of Israel,and shall strike through the corners of Moab,and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 - Edom shall be a possession.Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession,while Israel does valiantly.
19 - Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,and shall destroy the remnant from the city."
20 - He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,"Amalek was the first of the nations,But his latter end shall come to destruction."
21 - He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,"Your dwelling place is strong.Your nest is set in the rock.
22 - Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,until Asshur carries you away captive."
23 - He took up his parable, and said,"Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 - But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.He also shall come to destruction."
25 - Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

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Numbers Images and Notes

The Book of Numbers

Numbers 14:14 - And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land: [for] they have heard that thou LORD [art] among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and [that] thy cloud standeth over them, and [that] thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Bible Survery - Numbers
Hebrew Name - Bemidhbar "in the wilderness"
Greek Name - Numbers "numberings"
Author - Moses
Date - From 1490-1451 BC Approximately
Theme - The Journey to the Promised Land
Types and Shadows - In Numbers Jesus is the Pillar of Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night

Photo of the Sinai Wilderness
Photo of the Sinai Wilderness

Summary of The Book of Numbers

The book of Numbers takes its name from the account of the census that happened two times among the congregation of Israel in Numbers 1-4 and Numbers 26. The Greek title was used even though there is really no connection with the "numberings." The original Hebrew title which means "in the wilderness," is much more accurate, because the book of Numbers is it's really an accurate history of the events that happened during the period of wandering in the wilderness and not necessarily a book about statistics. The book of Numbers seems to follow naturally after the book of Leviticus in the order of the books of Moses in the Old Testament. After the children of Israel received the laws at Mount Sinai, they began the journey as described in the book of Exodus, and they were ready to march directly into the land of Canaan. The book of Numbers reveals how the children of Israel became prepared, and went to various trials, and how they were sinful in not trusting the Lord. Their sinful ways resulted in 37 years of wandering through the harsh wilderness. The book of Numbers concludes with the children of Israel once again at the edge of the land of Canaan, where they received instructions for the conquest of Canaan and the division of the land.

Quick Reference Map
 Map of the Route of the Exodus
Map of the Possible Route of the Exodus (Click to Enlarge)

The principle divisions of the book are as follows:

Outline of the Book of Numbers

1) The preparation for the departure from Sinai (1:1-10:10). The events described here took place in nineteen days. In this time a census was taken of all men who were over twenty and who could serve in military efforts (1-4). The total obtained was 603,550 (1:46). This would indicate that the total population of the group was probably near three million. The census was followed by the cleansing and blessing of the congregation (5-6), the offering of gifts from the various tribes (7), the consecration of the Levites (8) and the observance of the Passover at Sinai (9:1-14).

2 ) The journey from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea (10:11-14:45). This section includes the account of the coming of the quail (11), the rebellion against Moses by Miriam and Aaron (12), and the fateful mission of the spies (13, 14).

3) The wanderings of the desert wilderness (15-19). As noted above, this covered a period of thirty-seven years, from the end of the second to the beginning of the fortieth year in the wilderness. Ch. 15 includes various laws and a record of capital punishment for Sabbath breaking. The rebellion of Korah (ch. 16) and the budding of Aaron's rod (ch. 17) are also mentioned here.

4 ) The history of the last year, from the second arrival of the Israelites at Kadesh till they reach "the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho" (20-36: 13). Notable sections of this are the story of Balaam (22:2-24:25), the zeal of Phinehas (ch. 25), the second census (26:1-51) , instructions for dividing the land (26:52-27: 11), the appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor (27: 12-23), various laws concerning offerings and vows ( 28-30 ), the war with Midian (ch. 31), the settlement of the tribes east of the Jordan (ch. 32), a review of the locations at which Israel had camped during their wanderings (33: 1-49), more instructions concerning the conquest and division of Canaan (33:50-34:29 ), the appointment of the cities of refuge (ch. 35) and instructions concerning the marriage of land-owning Israelite women (ch. 36).

ARCHAEOLOGY

Ancient Bronze Snake

Bronze Snake from Lachish

Bronze Snake from Lachish, Late Bronze Age

Quick Reference Maps - Numbers

The Exodus of the Hebrews

Mount Horeb

The Red Sea

Canaan Before Joshua

Kadesh barnea

Moab and Ammon

 

Numbers Resources

The Wilderness Wanderings

More About the Book of Numbers
Numbers in the Picture Study Bible
Timeline of the Ancient World
Back to the Old Testament
Back to Bible History Online
 

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online - Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Nov 25, 2024.

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