Nu 26

       24,000 people have just died. Phinehas’ zeal stopped the plague. What next? Take a census.

       Numbers 26 is the resulting census of all who can go to war. Before you fear you’ll be bored to tears with bean counting, give it a read. You’ll find some narrative tidbits and refreshers.

       Remember Dathan, Abiram and Korah? Remember that they rebelled and were swallowed by an earthquake? Look at verse 11. Korah’s children weren’t wiped out. That might be an important clue some time.

       How about Er and Onan? There’s a story in itself. That’s in Genesis 38. It’s not rated G.

       What was the name of the man who had no sons? Zelophehad’s daughters were granted the inheritance and a new rule was established. (Feminists and readers of Jane Austen should take notice. The old English concept of “entailment” is antibiblical, hence the anger we feel at the injustice the Misses Bennett may suffer.) This concept is so important that the story of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah is repeated in Numbers 27 and 36 and Joshua 17 and I Chronicles 7.

       Next, Nadab and Abihu are referenced. Even though they died for their sin, they are still remembered generations later.

       Verses 64-65 tell us that there are none of the first generation of wilderness walkers except for Caleb and Joshua. Their faith and confidence in God brought them out of the wilderness into the promised land. That’s a great way to end a chapter.

Nu 16: prelude to a plague

         16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

       Korah was the grandson of Kohath. The Kohathites were assigned specific duties around the tabernacle (Numbers 4). From what Moses says in response, Korah and his followers weren’t content with their role as Levites (caring for the tabernacle articles); they wanted the priesthood also. Moses stands up for Aaron: what is Korah’s problem with Aaron?

       The rebellion grows to 250 leaders in the congregation. Dathan and Abiram are Reubenites. (On is a Reubenite. He is only mentioned in this verse in the whole bible.) It appears that they have a separate but simultaneous quarrel with Moses.

            4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

       What does it take you to fall upon your face? Granted, this may be a common display in certain cultures. It’s not common in the US, at least not in Vermont.

       I found the phrase “fell upon” and “face” and its derivatives ~29 times in the Bible. In each case, profound emotional circumstances surround it. It shows worship, awe, horror, humility, wonder or extreme gratitude. In verse 4 above, it seems that Moses' display is a mix of horror and fear for what is likely to come.

       Moses fell on his face more than once. I linger on this thought because one of my desires in “opening the Old Testament” is for you to see these characters as real people with passions and foibles very like our own.

       I truly believe Moses loved these people. Like crazy. How often has he interceded for them? He once killed a man for the injustice he perceived (Exodus 2). He gave up a promise of an amazing heritage in order to talk God out of destroying Israel. Even when pushed to the brink of suicide, Moses pulls it together to continue to lead.

       Misunderstood and maligned, slandered and accused, Moses nevertheless does everything he can to guide and protect the children of Israel from stupidity in its many forms.

       I don’t wish to wax political in a bible study, but here is one thing for certain: when I see a would-be leader, if that man or woman has this kind of heart for a nation, that person will definitely draw my consideration. May our loving God raise up those kind of men and women in our lifetimes.