1 Lesson Three: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

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Lesson Three:

Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

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Leviticus – “about Levites” Author: Moses Purpose: to guide the Israelites in the ways of holiness, so they

would be set apart from the world and receive blessings instead of judgment as they lived near the presence of their holy God.

Date of writing: c. 1446-1406 BC, concerning events primarily around Mount Sinai, primarily for the generation of the exodus.

Key truths:o God is Holy, and He requires holiness from his people

o God’s people fail to keep the requirements of holiness

o Temporary atonement could be found in the sacrificial system

o God called His people to pursue holiness in every aspect of their lives in gratitude for the mercy He had shown them

o God offered wondrous blessings and threatened judgment so his people would repent

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Figure carrying burden – IsraelMurky stream – Israel lived in a world

where evil was a realitySpotted tunic, burden, broken notes –

the sinfulness of the chosen ones issued in the same disharmonies as those experienced by the first inhabitants of God’s good earth

Extended hands – Israel’s mission entailed a ministry to all on the earth

Figure clutches burden – Preoccupied with its own burdens, Israel was not free to minister to the needs of others

Lamb between figure and extended hands – Freed from its own burden by the atoning acts of God, Israel would be free to fulfill its mission

Manuscript message – the atonement of God was designed by Him to empower Israel “to be a blessing”

© the Bethel Series

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LeviticusLaws on Sacrifice (Lev 1:1 – 7:38)

Moses explained how the laity and the priests were to participate in a variety of sacrifices in the presence of God at the tabernacle

The Ordination of the Aaronic Priesthood (Lev 8:1 – 10:20)Moses described how Aaron and his sons were ordained to be priests for

Israel. Moses performed a number of ceremonies and Aaron andhis sons completed the ceremonies. In order to encourage priests not to violate their ordination, Moses then explained why two sons of Aaron had fallen under God’s judgment while two others had been exonerated.

Uncleanness and it’s treatment (Lev 11:1 – 16:34)Moses described how to identify and deal with ritual uncleanness.

The practice of Holiness (Lev 17:1 – 27:34)Moses revealed the far-reaching implications of Israel’s call to holiness by

touching on how to remain holy in many different spheres of life.

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Numbers – “In the Desert” Author: Moses Purpose: to call the second generation of the exodus to serve God

as His holy army in the conquest of the promised land by avoiding the failures of the past and by remaining faithful to God’s directives.

Date of Writing: c. 1406 BC, concerning events about and on the way from Mount Sinai to Moab, for those born in the desert.

Key Truths:o God fully prepared His people to serve Him and to succeed in the

conquest of the promised land.

o The members of the first generation failed to succeed because they were ungrateful for the grace God had shown them and feared the power of the Canaanites.

o God raised up another generation for the conquest of the promised land, but they also had to remain faithful to the Lord in order to succeed.

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NumbersThe preparation of the First-Generation Army (Num 1:1 – 9:14)

Through the leadership of Moses and Aaron, God prepared the first generation of the exodus with everything it needed to be a holy army ready to possess the promised land.

The failed march of the First-Generation Army (Num 9:15 – 25:18)The first generation of the exodus began the march toward the promised

land with great hope, but complaints and rebellion led to the demise of nearly the entire generation. Yet, in His mercy, God began to prepare a second generation to move forward.

The preparation of the Second-Generation Army (Num 26:1 – 36:13)God prepared the second generation of the exodus to move forward as His

holy army. God demonstrated His love for Israel by restoring their numbers and reaffirming holy leadership for the nation. He also gave instructions that would guide the people as they conquered the land.

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Deuteronomy Author: Moses Purpose: to encourage a renewal of the covenant mediated by

Moses as Israel was about to enter the promised land under Joshua’s leadership.

Date of Writing: c. 1406, about events that took place on the plains of Moab, to the second generation of the exodus

Key Truths:o The Israelites on the plains of Moab were to learn the importance of

loyalty to the covenant from the experiences of the previous generation.

o The laws of Moses were designed to benefit the people of God as they moved into the promised land under Joshua’s leadership.

o Loyalty to the covenant would be rewarded with blessings, and disobedience would be punished with curses.

o The Israelites were to renew their commitment to the covenant as they waited on the plains of Moab and after they entered the promised land.

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DeuteronomyIntroduction (Dt 1:1-4)

Moses identified himself as the mediator of Israel’s covenant renewal on the plains of Moab.

Moses First Address [the Historical Prologue] (Dt 1:5 – 4:43)The Israelites were to learn gratitude and loyalty to the Lord from their

experiences and from the experiences of the previous generation.

Moses Second Address [the Stipulations] (Dt 4:44 – 26:19)Loving loyalty to the Lord required obedience to His many laws. These

laws were His kind gift to His people. In the future, Israel was to be even more firmly committed to the law.

Moses’ Third Address [Ratification: curses and blessings] (Dt 27:1 – 30:20)Israel was to renew her commitment to the covenant in the promised land.

She was also to recommit on the plains of Moab. The wonderful blessings and fearful curses of the covenant required such commitments. Even if the curse of exile occurred, God promised to return His people to the land and to His rich blessings.

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DeuteronomyThe conclusion of Moses’ Ministry [leadership succession] (Dt 31:1 –

34:12)Moses transferred his authority to Joshua. He left God’s people with

lessons learned from the past and with high hopes for the future.

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Hammurabi’s Code

King of Babylonia 1792-1750 BC Babylon was sacked in

1531 BC Kassites ruled 400 years

and used Hammurabi’s code of laws

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Kassite Babylonia

Hittite attacks weakened the Babylonians

Babylon was sacked in 1531 BC by the Hittite king Mursilis I

Kassite dynasty lasted until 1155 BC

Nebuchadnezzar I began a period of native rule

In 729 BC Babylon was conquered into the Neo-Assyrian Empire

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Assyria

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Assyria

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History in the Law BooksAaron and his sons are ordained as priests before the Lord, in the presence of

the congregation (Lev 8)

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Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offer unauthorized worship, and are put to death (Lev 10, WCF XXI)

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God chooses the tribe of Levi to be priests for the people (Num 3, 8)

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The first passover is celebrated, a year after the departure from Egypt (Num 9)

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the congregation (Lev 8)Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offer unauthorized worship, and are put to

death (Lev 10, WCF XXI)God chooses the tribe of Levi to be priests for the people (Num 3, 8)The first passover is celebrated, a year after the departure from Egypt (Num 9)A first census of the Israelites is taken, by their clans and families, of the men

available for military service (Num 1)

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A first census of the Israelites is taken, by their clans and families, of the men available for military service (Num 1)

The Levites are not counted for the army; they will be responsible for care of the tabernacle of the testimony

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The descendents of Joseph are counted as two tribes, from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh

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603,550 fighting men are numbered from among a nation of 2,000,000

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Directions are given for the order of their encampment (Num 2)

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Directions are given for the order of their encampment (Num 2)

God ordered the Levites counted, and prescribed their duties and order of encampment (Num 3, 4)

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History in the Law BooksOn the 20th day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year (c. 1445 BC), the Israelites

leave their encampment near Mount Sinai, bound for the promised land (Num 10)

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Twelve spies are sent into the land, one from each tribe. Caleb is from the tribe of Judah; Joshua is from the tribe of Ephraim (Num 13)

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The spies report; all except Caleb and Joshua are pessimistic.

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The people are afraid and want to return to Egypt. God judges them for their disobedience: they are condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years. More, the entire generation that was delivered out of Egypt shall die in the desert; they will not inherit the promised land (Num 14)

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The people are afraid and want to return to Egypt. God judges them for their disobedience: they are condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moreover, the entire generation that was delivered out of Egypt shall die in the desert; they will not inherit the promised land (Num 14)

Korah, a Levite, leads a rebellion (Num 16)

250 men are consumed by fire from the Lord

14,700 are killed by a plague

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Korah, a Levite, leads a rebellion (Num 16)

250 men are consumed by fire from the Lord


The people cry for water; Moses is given instructions for how to get it, but strikes the rock. Judgment at the waters of Meribah (Num 20)

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Korah, a Levite, leads a rebellion (Num 16)250 men are consumed by fire from the Lord



Passage through Edom denied. Aaron dies. Victory in battle with Canaanite King Arad (Num 21)

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The people are afraid and want to return to Egypt. God judges them for their disobedience: they are condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years. More, the entire generation that was delivered out of Egypt shall die in the desert; they will not inherit the promised land (Num 14)

Korah, a Levite, leads a rebellion (Num 16)250 men are consumed by fire from the Lord



Passage through Edom denied. Aaron dies. Victory in battle with Canaanite King Arad (Num 21)

The Bronze snake erected to save the people (Num 21; John 3:14,15)

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History in the Law BooksMoses has kept a journal of the Israelites’ travels during the 40 years in the

desert (Num 33)

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desert (Num 33)

Edom’s King Balak fears the Israelites, summons a seer, Balaam (Num 22-24)

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desert (Num 33)


Israelite men seduced to idolatry by Midianite women. 25,000 die in plague sent as punishment (Num 25)

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desert (Num 33)



God orders the Israelites to destroy the Midianites (Num 31)

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desert (Num 33)




God orders Moses to take a Second census of the people before they enter the promised land, to conquer it (Num 26)

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desert (Num 33)




God orders Moses to take a Second census of the people before they enter the promised land, to conquer it.

There are 1,820 fewer men over 20 (fighting men now number 601,730) but 1,000 more Levites (23,000). (Num 26)

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desert (Num 33)





There are fewer men over 20 (fighting men now number 601,730) but more Levites (23,000). (Num 26)

Joshua, who has been Moses’ faithful protégé for the 40 years in the desert, is named his successor (Num 27)

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desert (Num 33)







The tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh want to take up land (Gilead) east of the Jordan river, and Moses allows it (Num 32)

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desert (Num 33)








Directions and preparations for the conquest of Canaan

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desert (Num 33)








Directions and preparations for the conquest of CanaanDrive out all the inhabitants

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desert (Num 33)









Destroy the rampant idolatry in the land

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desert (Num 33)









Destroy the rampant idolatry in the land

God delineates the borders of the Promised Land

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History in the Law BooksOn the 1st day of the 11th month of the 40th year, Moses spoke to the Israelites

who were poised to enter the Promised Land, recounting their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness (Deut 1:1-4:40)

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A few days later, Moses spoke again emphasizing the need for obedience to the Law (Deut 4:40-11:32)

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Moses emphasized the two-fold purpose of the Law:To bring the people into a proper relationship with God

To regulate their conduct toward orderly and beneficial Living

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Moses emphasized the two-fold purpose of the Law:To bring the people into a proper relationship with God

To regulate their conduct toward orderly and beneficial Living

In this second address to the people, Moses expounds on the principle laws. Most are set forth in the form of statutes, others as case decisions or ethical duties (Deut 5 ff; Ex 22 ff; Lev 19 ff; other)

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1 Lesson Three: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy