The Term ‘elep (אלף)

Christopher Eames has a good aricle here on the meaning of the challenging Hebrew term ‘elep (אלף) and how that might relate to certain biblical texts.

Numbers 5:11–31

Numbers 5:11–31 is a difficult passage for many faithful interpreters. The trial by ordeal stipulated in the text seems strange to many modern readers. Hanna Lis does not resolve the issues but her treatment here is interesting both in her survey of rabbinic interpretations and in her suggestion of the purpose of the practice.

Moabite Women Seduce Israel into Worshiping Baal Peor

Atar Livneh has an interesting discussion here concerning the Moabite women who seduce dIsrael into worshiping Baal Peor (Num 31:16). What is most interesting to me is the later interpretations of the event.

Numbers 6:24-26 in Song

Michael Halcomb has posted a video of a song featuring the Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 in Greek using the LXX. Pretty cool. You can check it out here.

Samson as Nazarite

While I would not hold to many of the higher critical assumptions in this article, I found it to be an interesting discussion of Samson as a nazarite.

The Torah’s Three Explanations for Why Moses Does Not Enter the Land

Ranaan Eichler addresses the issue from a biblical and Jewish perspective here.

The "Wild" Hair of the Nazrite

Richard Lederman has an interesting post here regarding Nazarities in general and their hair in particular.

Ashes of the Red Heifer

Numbers 19 references the enigmatic cleansing practice involving the ashes of the red heifer. Joseph Weinstein argues in this post that the ashes were part of a soap mixture. Whether one agrees with the conclusion, it is an informative and interesting discussion.

Talking Animals in the Ancient World

Hedwig Schmalzgruber has an interesting article here on talking animals in ancient literature. The Bible records two occasions of animals speaking, the serpent in Genesis 3 and a donkey in Numbers 22. Strangely, Schmalzgruber does not discuss the latter.

The “Deuteroevangelium” in Numbers 21–24?

Kevin Chen has an interesting post here where he suggests that Numbers 21–24 should be considered the “deuteroevangelium” since it braids distinctive elements of Genesis 3:15, the "protoevangelium" and related Abrahamic Covenant texts. I am not sure I am convinced but it is an interesting proposal that I want to think on a bit more.

Where is the Wadi Zered?

David Ben-Gad HaCohen has a very interesting discussion here on the location of a wadi mentioned in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. I am not sure that I buy the author's final conclusions but I confess to geeking out on some of the geographical discussion.

Moses' Cushite Wife

Numbers 12 relates the familial opposition that Moses encountered over his Cushite (also spelled Kushite) wife. Sidnie White Crawford has a very interesting post here that focuses on her ethnicity, drawing from biblical texts and Jewish tradition.

Top Numbers Commentaries

Matthew Schlimm lists and annotates his top six commentaries on Numbers at Nijay Gupta's blog here.

Three Lessons from the Book of Numbers

There are at least a three lessons that I have observed while revisiting the book of Numbers. 

First, past preparation is no guarantee of future success. The Israelites made extensive preparations to enter the Promised Land in 1:1–10:10 and yet they failed to do so by making a forty-year mistake at Kadesh Barnea (13:1–14:45). This is a point that I try to drive home to my seminary students. All their ministerial preparation could be brought to nothing by failing to trust the Lord.

Second, yesterday's obedience no matter how frequent can be nullified by today's disobedience no matter how rare. I count over fifteen statements in Numbers 1–10 related to the obedience of either of Moses, Aaron, the Levites, or Israel (e.g., 1:17-19, 54; 2:34; 3:16, 42, 49-51; 4:34-37, 41, 45, 49; 8:3, 20, 22; 9:5, 19-23; 10:13) and yet a disastrous decision at Kadesh Barnea made all that obedience for naught. 

Third, God's purposes will prevail whether in the current generation or the next. In Numbers 26, we begin the preparation for the next generation, the generation that will enter the Promised Land. This is both solemn reminder and spiritual goad.  

Ataroth and the Book of Numbers

Ataroth is an obscure biblical place name (mentioned only twice in the book of Numbers) but some archaeological discoveries noted in this post shed some light on it.

Ketef Hinnom Inscriptions

Here is a pretty good article on the discovery of the Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls and the inscription from the priestly blessing (Num 6:24-26) that they contain. 

Maimonides' Interpretation of Numbers 13-14

The Jewish interpreter Maimonides had an interesting take of the well known failure of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea. In essence he argues that although Israel did fail, it was part of God's plan to have them fail, a ruse as it were to ensure that Israel would spend extended time in the wilderness. The view is fairly convoluted so you will have to read it for yourself here. By the way, I am not buying this interpretation.

Differences in Manasseh’s Genealogies

Aaron Demsky offers an interesting take on the change in Manasseh’s Genealogies between Numbers, Joshua, and Chronicles here.

The Red Heifer

Here is an interesting article on a practice mentioned in Numbers 19, the ashes of the red heifer.

The Bronze Serpent in Numbers and Idolatry

Henry Neufeld addresses the question here of whether God was commanding idolatry to look on the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:6-9.