reason for a second count, read the pivotal chapters cited on the chart (A pivot is a turning point in a book’s structure In the case of a historical account, the change that follows a pivot may be for the better or for the worse.) According to the chart, how many major divisions comprise the book of Numbers? Study the various outlines showing this Refer to your Bible text to support these outlines For example, read 10:11-13 and 22:1, observing the geographical movements According to the chart, how much time is covered by each of the three divisions? (It should be noted here that, while the middle section covers a span of about thirty-nine years, there is scarcely any record of the events of these many years of wanderings Most of the section deals with events immediately before and after the actual wanderings This is a good example of the Holy Spirit’s selectivity as to what He inspired the biblical authors to include and exclude.) Read through Numbers again, referring to your chapter titles and the extended eight-point outline shown on the chart This will give you a good overview of the book IV PROMINENT SUBJECTS (chaps and 26) Both censuses of this book were counts of the ghting forces of Israel, not of the total population On the basis of those censuses, the total population has been estimated to be around two million.1 The people occupied a very large area as they traveled, and were miraculously fed and sustained along the way A THE CENSUSES B FINAL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE THE JOURNEY (5:1— 10:10) The rst four chapters of Numbers record the directions which Jehovah gave Moses regarding preparations for the journey as related especially to the community of the camp as a whole In chapter the instruction was, “Count the warriors of the camp”; in chapter 2, “Arrange the tribes in the camp”; and in chapters and 4, “Take care of the tabernacle of the camp.” Beginning at chapter 5, the directions are aimed at individuals within the camp Read these chapters with the following outline in mind: Put out the unclean (5:1-4) Judge the guilty (5:5-31) Separate yourselves (Nazirite vow) (6:1-27) 4 Offer gifts (7:1-88) Cleanse the Levites (7:89—8:26) Keep the Passover (9:1-14) Follow your leaders (9:15—10:10) C THE SPIES’ REPORTS AND THE PEOPLE’S UNBELIEF (12:16—13:33) Read the passage As the Israelites approached the land of Canaan from the south (Map F), Moses sent spies ahead to see what the Israelite armies would be facing God chose to use this situation as a terminal test of faith He knew what the report would be—overwhelmingly fearful from a human standpoint What God wanted to was to face the people with the ultimate in the test of their faith: Would they move on in faith into the jaws of apparent annihilation? Caleb’s recommendation was to go in and possess the land, impregnable as it seemed ... to the community of the camp as a whole In chapter the instruction was, “Count the warriors of the camp”; in chapter 2, “Arrange the tribes in the camp”; and in chapters and 4, “Take care of the. .. forces of Israel, not of the total population On the basis of those censuses, the total population has been estimated to be around two million.1 The people occupied a very large area as they traveled,... tabernacle of the camp.” Beginning at chapter 5, the directions are aimed at individuals within the camp Read these chapters with the following outline in mind: Put out the unclean (5:1-4) Judge the