Why is this Book Called “Numbers?”

Genesis . . . the beginning, the creation.
Exodus . . . the Israelite's departure from Egypt.
Numbers . . .
Why is the book of Numbers called “Numbers?”


Although the book of Numbers chronicles the Israelites as they traveled in the wilderness, I believe the title of the book, Numbers, is drawn from the fact that the book begins with a census.  Towards the end of the book, in chapter 26, another census is given.  The Israelites left Mount Sinai, traveled in the wilderness for forty years, and ended up overlooking the Promised Land at Mount Pisgah.  In chapter 1, the beginning of the their journey, there were 603,550 males age twenty and older.  In chapter 26, at the end of their journey, forty years later, there were 601,730 males age twenty and older.  There were only two men of the original number that were numbered in the final census, Joshua and Caleb.  Why, after forty years, did the population actually decrease instead of increase?

The Lord provided the children of Israel with manna to eat while in the wilderness.  They began to murmur.  They wanted meat instead of manna.  They Lord gave them what they wanted.  Their greediness and lust for more than they needed brought about a plague and many died.  I would say the Lord must have been exasperated.  He had given the children of Israel so much and yet all they did was complain and complain some more.  The Lord didn’t want to give the Promised Land to these murmuring Israelites, but instead wanted to save it for their children.

Just months after leaving Egypt, the Lord was ready to send the Israelites into the Promised Land.  Spies were sent into Canaan.  Most of them came out declaring that the inhabitants could not be driven out.  And Israel embraced their words.  How could they possibly believe there was no hope?  They had been witnesses to many, many miracles.  The Lord had shown them time and time again that he would watch over them and deliver them.  Yet they still lacked faith.  More murmuring.  They wanted to get rid of Moses and find someone to lead them back to Egypt.  They wanted to stone those who opposed them.  The Lord was angry.  Moses Prayed to the Lord for mercy.  The Israelites were spared but had to travel in the desert for forty years instead of entering the Land of Promise then.  The Lord told them they could not enter the Promised Land now.  Once again they ignored the Lord and tried to enter Canaan.  They were utterly defeated by the Amalekites and the Canaanites.  And all those, age twenty and older, except Joshua and Caleb, who lacked faith in the Lord and His power, would die in the wilderness and never see the Promised Land.


I hope we can all remember the miracles provided to each of us by the Lord.  And our faith remains strong.  Then, we may enjoy the blessings the Lord has in store for us.