John Russell

The opening verse of Chapter 20 gives us a turning point in the progress of Israel on its way to the promised land. The “Desert of Zin” plays a role in several of the narratives in the Book of Numbers, and back in Chapter 13:21, when the spies are exploring the promised land, “Zin” is used as the starting point of the mapping of the promised land, indicating it is the southern border of territory that is the “promised land.” This means at the opening of Chapter 20, the Israelites are on the cusp of moving into the next phase of the operation. We haven’t gotten to Chapter 33 yet, but there it says that the Lord had commanded Moses to list “the stages in their journey.” (33:2). By taking the specifics laid out in Chapter 33 and referencing the story as it plays out throughout Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, we can logically determine that the events in Chapter 20 take place during the 40th and final year of Israel’s wandering. 

Again, the chapter begins with “the Lord spoke to Moses,” but now Aaron is added to the team, confirming Aaron’s importance to the concepts that involve worship. This is followed up in verses 2-3, where it states “This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.” 

Chapter 18 opens with the rhythms of a phrase we are used to in the Book of Numbers, but with a new ending. So far, most of these chapters have opened with “the Lord said to Moses,” but here, in 18:1, for the first time, it says, “The Lord said to Aaron.” 

The discussion of purification concepts continues, again, taking the legal framework established in the Book of Leviticus laying out the requirements for living the holy, sanctified, sacrificial life that God seemed to expect from the Israelites, and providing practical implementation of those laws.

The discussion of purification concepts continues, again, taking the legal framework established in the Book of Leviticus laying out the requirements for living the holy, sanctified, sacrificial life that God seemed to expect from the Israelites, and providing practical implementation of those laws.