The final chapters of Numbers focus on the beginning to the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise that the Israelites would inherit the land of Canaan and instructs men and women on the making of promises and vows. The Israelites have been wandering the wilderness for 40 years. They are the given the instructions to drive out all of the inhabitants, and destroy every high place, shrine, statue, and idol. There was a severe warning included in the instructions from the Lord: drive out and destroy everything, or I will drive you out of Canaan and destroy everything of yours. We are to make promises and vows with the intention of keeping them, regardless of what the consequences shall be. How often in this world, do we keep our promises to ourselves, family, co-workers and others we encounter. Before we speak, we need to take into account what we are saying and think through what those words mean.
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, “When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession go the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.” Numbers 33:51-53
Passage:
Numbers 30-36
Discovered:
- If a man vows a vow to the Lord of swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word.
- If a young woman makes a vow to the Lord in her father’s house and he hears, he can object to it and it will be void and forgiven or he can say nothing the vow will be upheld.
- If a married woman makes a vow to the Lord, her husband can object and it will be void and forgiven, or he can say nothing and the vow upheld.
- A widow’s vow will be upheld (includes divorced women).
- 12,000 men (1,000 from each tribe) went to war against Midian. They killed every male, including the kings and Balaam. They captured the women, the children, livestock and goods. When they went to war, they took the vessels of the sanctuary (ark) along with.
- The Lord was angry they brought the women and children back: all males were to be killed and all women who had laid with a man were to be killed.
- Reuben, Gad and Manasseh settled in Gilead (before crossing the Jordan) with the promise their warriors would continue to fight until all of Canaan was taken.
- Chapter 33 recounts the Israelites journey from Egypt, through the wilderness until now.
- Lord’s commandment: shall drive out all inhabitants from the land and destroy all figured stones, metal images and high places.
- Lord’s warning: if you fo not drive them out, they will be a thorn in your side and make trouble for you and I will do to you what I thought to do to them.
- Boundaries of the land were established with the remaining 9 and a half tribes taking possession.
- Tribal chiefs were selected for dividing the land: Caleb for Judah, Shemuel for Simeon, , Elidad for Benjamin, Buck for Dan, Hanniel for Manasseh, Kemuel for Ephraim, Elizaphan for Zebulun, Paltiel for Issachar, Ahihud for Asher and Pedahal for Naphtali.
- The tribes will give a portion of their cities for the Levites, 48 in all.
- The Levite cities will serve as cities of refuge for those who committed manslaughter. Those taking refuge could not leave the cities safely until the current high priest had died.
- Female heirs, daughters of Zelophadad, had to marry within their tribe so that their land inheritance would not leave the tribe.
Help me to remember:
that promises are to be kept. The Lord was beginning to fulfill His promise of the land of Canaan and wanted others to keep their vows and promises.
Lord, I ask that:
I think carefully the vows and promises I make, just as you keep your word, I should keep mine.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
the fulfillment of your promises as an example to live by.
