The book of leviticus as well as the book of numbers follow immediately after the book of exodus. Numbers is a complex collection of texts woven of a variety of literary genres. These foundational studies will equip you to interpret the spiritual meaning of numbers used in scripture and provide the skills necessary for you to continue this fascinating study independently. It is clear from a careful examination of the material, when it is grouped as in the above analysis, that the book of numbers is a part of the same literary process which produced the pentateuch. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a period of thirtyeight years, from the. It contains the complete hebrew text of genesis, the jpss new english translation, and an extensive original commentary that illuminates the text like a watt searchlight. The system was adapted from that of the greek numerals in the late 2nd century bce the current numeral system is also known as the hebrew alphabetic numerals to contrast with earlier systems of writing numerals used in classical antiquity. The hebrew title of the book bemidbar, in the desert is more descriptive of its contents. The book is called numbers because of the two censuses taken of. Its hebrew title, meaning in the wilderness, better characterizes the work, however, because these lists as well as the books otherwise unrelated narratives and scattered cultic legislation are all set in. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant of sinai compare 1. Book of numbers overview insight for living ministries.
The hebrew language uses their letters as numbers, and the letters are also words and concepts that can be used either literally or symbolically. Numbers with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Its popular hebrew name is bemidbar in the wilderness, so called after bemidbar sinai, the fifth and sixth words in the opening chapter, a fitting title for a book that relates the major events from sinai to the plains of moab. Until more solid evidence surfaces to the contrary, it may be assumed by analogy to the book of exodus that the bulk of the text in numbers is the literary product of moses, stemming from the fifteenth or thirteenth century b. Key things to remember about biblical hebrew numbers. The english name of the book comes from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and is based on the census lists found in chs.
The message of the book of numbers, is universal and timeless. The book of numbers is composed of narrative, legislation, and archival records. For example, jewish cabalists have analyzed the hebrew scriptures using a technique called gematria, which looks for a hidden code in the numerical equivalents of letters. The jps torah commentary series guides readers through the words and ideas of the torah. List of books in the hebrew bible believers portal. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels. It is called a book of moses because it contains the story of moses and the israelites when they wander throughout the wilderness before ending up at israel also known as canaan or palestine, where god promised they will settle the promised land. But if you are referring to the 4th book of the torah, ancient hebrew books are not titled the way we title in english. It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for numbers is the book of the service and walk of gods. The torah includes the five books of moses pentateuch, and bemidbar numbers is its fourth book, following beresheet genesis. Hebrew bible names of the bible books of the tanach. Tanakh jewish bible 24 books21 books in bold are part of the ketuvim protestant old testament 39 books catholic old testament 46 books eastern orthodox old testament 51 books original language torah pentateuch or the five books of moses bereishit genesis genesis genesis hebrew shemot exodus exodus exodus hebrew vayikra leviticus leviticus leviticus hebrew bamidbar numbers numbers. Terms in this set what is the english translation of the hebrew title of numbers. The hebrew language uses their letters as numbers, and the letters are also words and concepts that can be used either literally or symbolically 1.
Why is the number considered lucky in jewish tradition. Most of the events of the book are set in the wilderness. Moses is the central figure within the book, and in at least two instances numbers mentions him recording events by the lords commands numbers 33. What is the hebrew title for the book of numbers answers. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites. Interlinear greek interlinear hebrew strongs numbers englishmans greek concordance englishmans hebrew. Each of the torah books is named after either the very first word in that book as in genesis where the very first word beresheet is the name of the book, or the second as in exodus where it is the second word in the verse, with one exception occurring in the book bemidbar numbers, which gets its name from the fifth word. Traditionally, hebrew numbers were written using the letters, so if you look at a biblical passage in hebrew, such as psalms chapter 1 verse 3, it would be marked chapter. How does this title describe the struggle that the book depicts. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. Listen to this chapter in hebrew numbers chapter 1. Like all the volumes in the jps torah commentary series, this volume is simply the best in its area.
The letters of the alphabet are used to express numbers and to index lists of items. Numbers describes events that occurred during the nearly forty. It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for numbers is the book of the service and walk of gods people. The book was occasionally also referred to by its first hebrew word, sefer vayedaber. Most of the time, numbers 1119 occur with plural nouns. Each volume is the work of a scholar who stands at the pinnacle of his field. Like the other books of the pentateuch, its name in hebrew is taken from the first significant word in the book the fifth word in chapter 1, which also reflects its theme, the wilderness wanderings. The fourth book of the bible is the book of numbers, whose hebrew title is bmidbar, the wilderness. If jesus said that even these small marks are significant, then every word in the holy scriptures is importantincluding biblical numbers. You will learn the meaning of selected numbers, their prophetic significance, and how to apply what you learn. Its narrative begins at the point where exodus leaves off.
The greek title in the translation of the ot lxx was arithmoi ariqmoi emphasizing the lists of numbers recorded in the book 14. Isaacs presents a delightful, easytoread introduction to the ways in which numbers are utilized in the bible and. Head coverings for religious purposes, tzniut modesty or hair loss. The hebrew title is bemidbar or in the wilderness rbdmb of sinai. The greek septuagint lxx title for this book is arithmoi which means numbers, likewise the latin vulgate titles the book liber numeri or book of numbers. Numbers old testament britannica encyclopedia britannica. Led by the shechinah cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, at first they were en route to the promised. Letters of the hebrew alphabet are used to represent numbers in a few traditional contexts, for example in calendars. As it does for the rest of the pentateuch, universal jewish and christian tradition attributes the authorship of the book of numbers to moses. Hebrewnumbers wikibooks, open books for an open world. Numbers, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. It is also known as the book of numbers chomesh hapekudim, in hebrew, because it begins and ends with a detailed census of israel. Feb 14, 2017 each of the torah books is named after either the very first word in that book as in genesis where the very first word beresheet is the name of the book, or the second as in exodus where it is the second word in the verse, with one exception occurring in the book bemidbar numbers, which gets its name from the fifth word. The book of numbers derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness chaps.
The hebrew language has names for common numbers that range from zero to one million. These symbolic meanings of numbers in the bible are different from numerology, which involves looking for an occult meaning in numbers, their combinations, and numerical totals. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites spent forty years following the exodus. Every page contains the complete traditional hebrew text, with cantillation notes, the jps translation of the holy scriptures, aliyot breaks, masoretic notes, and commentary by a. On the day of atonement the second goat christ was led into the wilderness by a fit man to remove sin from all the people lev. Tanakh jewish bible 24 books21 books in bold are part of the ketuvim protestant old testament 39 books catholic old testament 46 books eastern orthodox old testament 51 books original language torah pentateuch or the five books of moses bereishit genesis genesis genesis hebrew shemot exodus exodus exodus hebrew vayikra leviticus leviticus leviticus. Book of numbers simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Numbers, hebrew bemidbar in the wilderness, also called the fourth book of moses, the fourth book of the bible. For example, the hebrew number elevenis a combination of one and ten. However, the original name in hebrew comes from the first word in the whole book, wayyedabber which means and he said. In hebrew it is not a name but the initials of the three sections of the old testament. The numbers in hebrew can be in masculine or feminine form, depending to the gender of the word. To express numbers, only the numerical system is relevant. Each hebrew letter has a number associated with it. The subject of hebrew numerology in the book of mormon has been identified as a promising field of study still open to fruitful exploration. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant. To explain that the 38 year period in the wilderness was a consequence for the unbelief of the older generation dt 1. Cardinal numbers are used for counting one, two, three, etc.
The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites spent forty. The fourth book of the pentateuch, called in the wilderness by the jews after its first significant word. The hebrew title for this book is in the wilderness, which is quite descriptive of the contents. This book is a companion to the genesis book of psalms, because the psalm number helps to convey the meaning of the number itself. Hebrew numbers on the other hand, simply add the values of each letter together and the position doesnt matter. How can numbers be used to uncover the hidden meanings of the torah.
The english title is a translation of the septuagint greek title referring to the numbering of the tribes of israel in chapters 14. However, they are generally written from largest to smallest, which in the righttoleft hebrew script, means the largest is rightmost. The latin vulgate picked up on the greek title and named the book numeri from which the english acquires the name numbers. The english title has its origin in the greek version of the old testament septuagint, where, by the way of the latin vulgate, we get the english name. The book of numbers in the bible is the fourth book in the old testament. For indexing there are two possible systems, the alphabetical system and the numerical system. Bamidbar numbers chapter 22 parshah chukat and balak. Intro to numbers biblica the international bible society. Bib phau vajlugkub alkitab biobla bibbia holy language institute learn biblical hebrew. To fill in the historical period from the exodus and sinai revelation to the preparations in moab to enter the promised land. The book of numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 b. Book of numbers simple english wikipedia, the free.
Like the other books of the pentateuch, its name in hebrew is taken from the first. Numbers, fourth book in the old testament of the bible, derives its name from the census lists at the beginning and middle of the book. Discover the fascinating world of jewish numerology in the jewish book of numbers. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. Meaning is found in many ways, and one way is in the symbolism of numbers. As you explore the ancient hebrew number system, keep these basics in mind. The alternate forms for eleven with occur only nineteen times in the hebrew bible.
1161 278 199 1435 148 574 994 914 633 593 62 373 175 1293 214 963 557 574 908 1183 866 226 74 405 1413 508 843 1407 1461