Numbers
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Zelophehad was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, and belonged to one of the tribes of Israel during their journey through the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. At that time, land inheritance was passed through the male line. Zelophehad died in the wilderness, not as part of Korah’s rebellion against the Lord, but due to his own sin, likely as part of the broader judgment on the generation that disobeyed God and was barred from entering the Promised Land. Zelophehad left no sons, only five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah, who boldly approached Moses, Eleazar…
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During Israel’s final encampment before entering the Promised Land—on the plains of Moab, near the Jordan River across from Jericho—the people once again lapsed into sin, despite the Lord’s continued guidance and protection. The Moabites, having failed to curse Israel through Balaam (see Numbers 22–24), turned to a more subversive tactic: leading the Israelites astray through seduction and idol worship. This episode highlights Israel’s susceptibility to external corruption, resulting in a serious moral and spiritual decline. While stationed at Shittim, Israelite men became involved in sexual immorality with Moabite women. These women lured them not only into immoral acts but…
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When the Israelites camped near the Jordan, approaching Jericho and the territory of Balak, king of Moab, he became fearful. He saw how numerous they were and had heard of their exploits—how they humbled the mighty Egyptian army and had recently defeated the Amorites. Certain that he too would be overcome, Balak turned to Balaam the seer. He sent messengers to request that Balaam curse the Israelites, hoping this would lead to their defeat and expulsion, since Balaam was known for the power of his blessings and curses. So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that…
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As the Israelites continued their journey, they encountered the Canaanite king of Arad in the Negev desert. Seeing them approach his territory, he gathered his army, attacked, and even took some of them captive. True to their pattern throughout the wilderness, the Israelites turned to God only after exhausting every other option and attempting to resolve the crisis on their own. God responded to their plea, granting them victory, but as was often the case, once the danger had passed, they quickly returned to their old ways. They set out from Mount Hor, taking the route toward the Red Sea…
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The Israelites had roamed in the desert for forty years and were now back at the scene of their earlier rebellion. When they first came to Kadesh, they had refused to trust God, and now the whole Israelite community arrived once again at the Desert of Zin. As expected, there was no water in the desert. Perhaps this is why Miriam died during this time and was buried at Kadesh. Yet the Israelite community had not learned their lesson over the course of their forty-year detour. They once again returned to their usual rebellious attitude, grumbling about the lack of…
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Perhaps emboldened by the rebellion of Aaron and Miriam against Moses, Korah assembled a group of his associates and attempted to incite a revolt. The foundation of his uprising lay in the numerous laws being delivered to the people to set them apart as holy. However, Korah and his followers believed themselves already holy and righteous solely by virtue of being chosen by God. They viewed their special status as sufficient and saw no need for continuous repentance and loathed Aaron and Moses for elevating themselves above others. Korah, a descendant of Levi through Kohath and Izhar, held the status…
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In preparation for Israel’s entry into the Promised Land, the Lord instructed Moses to appoint twelve men, one representative from each of the twelve tribes, to explore the land that He was giving to them. Among those appointed were Caleb from the tribe of Judah and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim. The journey was not merely a survey of geography or an assessment of the land’s resources; it was a call for the Israelites to finally place their trust in God. The Israelites could have used this expedition to renew their faith in the One who had delivered them…
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No sooner had the rebellion of the people been addressed (with God punishing the rebels) that a new wave of resistance emerged, this time from within Moses’ own family. Miriam and Aaron began to question Moses’ qualifications to lead Israel. They seized upon his marriage to a foreign woman as grounds to challenge his leadership, suggesting that this disqualified him from guiding God’s chosen people. In many nations today, leadership is also bound by strict eligibility criteria. For instance, in the United States, only natural-born citizens can become president. No amount of naturalisation or residency can override that requirement. In…
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Before the Israelites set out from Mount Sinai, the LORD prepared them for their journey. The tribes were numbered and organized, and the camp was arranged around the tabernacle. The Levites were appointed to care for and carry the tabernacle, and the people celebrated the second Passover. God instructed them to follow the cloud of His presence, and silver trumpets were made to signal when to move. With everything in place, the Israelites set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days, with the ark of the covenant going ahead of them to find a place…
The Jordan Valley 