Editing Book of Numbers (section)

{{Short description|Fourth book of the Hebrew Bible}}
{{other uses}}
{{Tanakh OT |Torah |Pentateuch}}
[[File:Inverted nun in Leningrad Codex1.jpg|thumb|Page from the [[Leningrad Codex]] (1008 CE), showing part of [[Numbers 10]].]]
The '''Book of Numbers''' (from [[Biblical Greek|Greek]] Ἀριθμοί, ''Arithmoi'', {{Lit|numbers}} {{langx|hbo|בְּמִדְבַּר}}, ''Bəmīḏbar''<!--It's Bəmidbar (with a shewa), not Bamidbar (with a patach)-->, {{lit|In [the] desert}}; {{langx|la|Liber Numeri}}) is the fourth book of the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the fourth of five books of the Jewish [[Torah]].{{sfn|Ashley|1993|p=1}} The book has a long and complex history; its final form is possibly due to a [[Priestly source|Priestly]] redaction (i.e., editing) of a [[Yahwist]]ic source made sometime in the early [[Yehud medinata|Persian period]] (5th century BC).{{sfn|McDermott|2002|p=21}} The name of the book comes from the two censuses taken of the Israelites.

Numbers is one of the better-preserved books of the [[Torah|Pentateuch]]. Fragments of the [[Ketef Hinnom scrolls]] containing verses from Numbers have been dated as far back as the late seventh or early sixth century BC. These verses are the earliest known artifacts to be found in the Hebrew Bible text.{{sfn|Lawrence|2020|p=58}}

Numbers begins at [[Mount Sinai]], where the [[Israelites]] have received their [[Covenant (biblical)|laws and covenant]] from [[God in Judaism|God]] and God has taken up residence among them in the [[Tabernacle|sanctuary]].{{sfn|Olson|1996|p=9}} The task before them is to take possession of the [[Promised Land]]. The people are counted and preparations are made for resuming their march. The Israelites begin the journey, but complain about the hardships along the way and about the authority of [[Moses]] and [[Aaron]]. They arrive at the borders of [[Canaan]] and send [[The Twelve Spies|twelve spies]] into the land. Upon hearing the spies' fearful report concerning the conditions in Canaan,<ref>{{bibleverse||Numbers|13:31-33|ESV}}</ref> the Israelites refuse to take possession of it. God condemns them to death in the wilderness until a new generation can grow up and carry out the task. Furthermore, there were some who rebelled against Moses and for these acts, God destroyed approximately 15,000 of them through various means. The book ends with the new generation of Israelites in the [[plains of Moab]] ready for the crossing of the [[Jordan River]].{{sfn|Stubbs|2009|p=19–20}}

Numbers is the culmination of the story of [[The Exodus|Israel's exodus from oppression in Egypt]] and their [[Conquest of Canaan|journey to take possession of the land God promised their fathers]]. As such it draws to a conclusion the themes introduced in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] and played out in [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] and [[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]]: God has promised the Israelites that they shall become a great (i.e. numerous) nation, that they will have a special relationship with him, and that they shall take possession of the land of [[Canaan]]. Numbers also demonstrates the importance of holiness, faithfulness, and trust: despite God's presence and [[Kohen|his priests]], Israel lacks in faith and the possession of the land is left to a new generation.{{sfn|McDermott|2002|p=21}}