Numbers 17-19 PREVIEW: In Numbers 17-19, the Lord reconfirms His selection of the priestly leadership and clarifies the duties of the priest and their provision and tithes. The Lord establishes the laws of purification to keep His children clean from the frequent death being experienced in the wilderness. The Budding of Aaron s Rod - Read Numbers 17:1-13 1. Aaron s priestly authority had been challenged (see Numbers 16). Now the Lord would make it clear to all the people whom He had chosen for the priestly ministry. What did the Lord instruct Moses to collect from each of the tribes? What were they to do with those items (see vv. 1-4)? 2. A rod is a symbol of authority and power. The rods were simply sticks, dead wood, onto which the Israelites wrote the name of each tribal representative and placed into the tabernacle of meeting. What would be the sure indication that the Lord had selected a specific man from among all the twelve representatives (see v. 5)? 3. What was the Lord s purpose in having them place the rods before Him in the tabernacle of meeting (see v. 5)? 4. Moses spoke to the people and the leaders brought forth their rods (see v. 6). Where precisely did Moses place the rods (see vv. 4, 7)? What was significant about this position (see v. 4)? (See Exodus 25:22.) Numbers 17-19 Page 1
5. The next day, Moses went into the tabernacle and Aaron s rod had budded. Not only did it bud, but what else did this dead stick bring forth (see v. 8)? 6. Each year the almond tree is the first tree to bring forth fruit in the region of Israel. How is this rod that budded a picture of Jesus Christ? (See Isaiah 11:1-2, Matthew 12:38-40, 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20 23, and 1 Thessalonians 4:14.) 7. What became of Aaron s rod that budded (see v. 10)? (See also Hebrews 9:4.) 8. Upon seeing the rod of Aaron, the children of Israel overreacted. What was their response (see vv. 12-13)? Why might they have reacted this way? (See Numbers 16:32, 49.) Duties of Priests and Levites - Read Numbers 18:1-7 9. Having the role of a priest carried many blessings, but also a great deal of responsibilities. What did the Lord say to Aaron about the responsibilities that were laid upon him and his sons (see v. 1)? Numbers 17-19 Page 2
10. Although the responsibility laid upon Aaron and his sons was great, they didn t have to shoulder all the workload themselves. Who was assigned to assist them (see v. 2)? 11. All priests were Levites, but not all the Levites were priests. The entire tribe was assigned to serve the priests as the priests served the Lord by serving the people. What was the role of the Levites who were not priests (see vv. 3-4)? What was the restriction of the Levites who were not priests (see v. 3)? 12. The work of Aaron and his sons provided spiritual value to the children of Israel. What was that spiritual value (see v. 5)? 13. Aaron and his sons were assigned a significant role in the camp of the children of Israel, which came with a significant amount of responsibility and work. How were they to look upon the remainder of the Levites who were not sons of Aaron (see v. 6)? 14. How were Aaron and his sons to look upon the duties assigned to them (see v. 7)? Numbers 17-19 Page 3
Offerings for Support of the Priests - Read Numbers 18:8-20 15. Although offerings made by the children of Israel were given to the Lord, to whom did the Lord give them (see v. 8)? What were they to do with them (see v. 10)? 16. The heave and wave offerings were given to the Lord, and the Lord gave them to the tribe of Levi (see v. 11). All of the best of the oil, wine, grain, fruit (see vv. 12-13), and clean animals (see v. 15) every devoted thing was theirs (v. 14). Who in the tribe of Levi would have been restricted from partaking of these (see vv. 11, 13)? 17. Although the firstborn of both man and unclean beasts were dedicated to the Lord and were given to Aaron and his sons, they had to be redeemed (see v. 15). Explain why they had to be redeemed. How were they redeemed (see v. 16)? 18. Cows, sheep, and goats were clean animals and were used in the offerings made to the Lord. What was done to these animals as they were offered to the Lord and given to Aaron and his sons (see vv. 17-18)? Numbers 17-19 Page 4
19. A covenant of salt was symbolic of an enduring covenant because salt is durable and doesn t break down under heat. The covenant of divine provision between the Lord and Aaron and his descendants was forever. Name and describe another covenant of salt the Lord made. (See 2 Chronicles 13:5.) 20. When the tribe of Levi entered into the Promised Land, they were not going to receive land as an inheritance (see v. 20), land which they could grow produce and cattle, and provide an income for themselves. Explain how the Lord made provision for the tribe of Levi (see vv. 8-20). What was the true inheritance for Aaron and his sons (see v. 20)? Tithes for Support of the Levites - Read Numbers 18:21-24 21. The entire tribe of Levi was dedicated to serving in the tabernacle and would receive no land as an inheritance. Their provision would come directly from the Lord via a covenant of salt. The word salary is from the Middle English word salaire, from the Latin word salarium: a payment made in salt (sal) or for salt, from salaries, meaning pertaining to salt. What did the Levites receive as a salary for their work in the tabernacle (see v. 21)? 22. Approaching the tabernacle was restricted to the Levites alone. What would happen if a non-levite came near to the tabernacle (see v. 22)? Numbers 17-19 Page 5
The Tithe of the Levites - Read Numbers 18:25-32 23. The Levites, too, were to offer a tithe from their provision. What did their tithe consist of (see v. 27)? Where could the priests eat their offerings (see v. 31)? Laws of Purification - Read Numbers 18:1-22 24. According to estimates, over 1,078,000 Israelites (600,000 men, 400,000 women, 45,000 Levite men, 33,000 Levite women, plus adults among the mixed multitude) died during the 38 years of wilderness wandering. Using a 360-day year, an average of 78 people died every day. Death was a constant factor in the wilderness; therefore, these laws of purification were established. What type of animal is used to establish this purification (see v. 2)? 25. Eleazar the priest took the animal outside the camp to have it slaughtered (unlike typical burnt offerings) (see v.3). What did he do with the blood of the animal (see v. 4)? What did he do with the remainder of the animal (see v. 5)? Numbers 17-19 Page 6
26. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool were added as the animal was consumed by fire. These three materials were also used in the ritual of purification of skin disease (see Leviticus 14:1 9). Although this sacrifice was intended to purify, people involved in the slaughter (see v. 7), burning (see v. 8) and collecting of ashes (see v.10) were all made unclean until evening. What was done with the ashes of the animal (see v. 9)? 27. What was the intended purpose of the ashes gathered from this animal (see v. 9)? 28. With an average of 78 people dying in the camp daily, becoming unclean by touching a dead body was likely a regular occurrence. How did the unclean person purify himself (see vv. 11-12)? 29. The penalty for not purifying oneself after becoming unclean by touching a dead body was stiff. What was that penalty (see vv. 12-13)? Numbers 17-19 Page 7
30. If a person were to die in his tent, what did his dead body make unclean? How was it made clean again (see vv. 14-19)? 31. What happened if an unclean person chose not to purify himself according to the Laws of Purification (see v. 20)? 32. During the allotted time of uncleanness, what became of the objects that the unclean person touched (see v. 22)? 33. How is a follower of Christ purified from ongoing sin that results from being among the dead things of this world? (See John 13:10, 15:3, Ephesians 5:26, and 1 John 1:8-10.) Numbers 17-19 Page 8