Numbers 1-5

Numbers 1‑5  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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The order of these chapters is exceedingly beautiful. In chapter 1 The people, save the tribe of Levi who were to be appointed over the tabernacle of testimony, are numbered, brought thus individually under the eye of God, and recognized after their families by the house of their fathers. In chapter 2 The encampments and order of march, together with their respective captains, are prescribed. All was divinely ordered, and ordered in relation to the tabernacle in which Jehovah dwelt. We read in Psalms 80:22Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. (Psalm 80:2), “Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us “—a prayer clearly explained by Numbers 2:17-2417Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. 18On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 22Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 24All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank. (Numbers 2:17‑24). In chapter 3 we find that the Levites were taken by the Lord instead of the firstborn of Israel, whom He hallowed for Himself on the day He smote the first-born of Egypt (vs. 13); and they (the Levites) were to be presented before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him—typical of the church being given to Christ for service. (vss. 5-10) Each of the three families, into which the Levites were divided, had both their position and service assigned to them according to the sovereign grace of God. Not one could choose for himself where he should encamp or what he should undertake. There were “distinctions of service,” but the same Lord. He commanded, and they obeyed. Chapter 4 gives the provision for the transport of the sacred vessels of the tabernacle through the wilderness. (Note that the laver is not mentioned, not being a manifestation of God in Christ) The various coverings are all typical, and prefigure the walk of Christ through the world, and hence, too, that of His people, inasmuch as He is our example. The account in detail of the burdens of the Levites follows. In chapter 5 God requires discipline to be administered according to His own nature. Holiness must be insisted upon if He dwells in their midst. Sins between brother and brother, and the sins of Israel against Jehovah (for He in His grace had married Israel), are then dealt with. Lastly, in chapter 6. we have the law of the Nazarite, concluding with the full divine blessing, administered by the priest, resting on the people. Thus, the whole camp had been numbered and arranged according to God. Corporately and individually all were in the positions to which they had been assigned.
Holiness was secured by godly discipline, and they were (typically) in a state of Nazarite separation; and the consequence was that God was able to bless His people according to the thoughts of His own heart. The lesson for ourselves is obvious.