32:38 The act of changing the names of these cities indicates the Israelites' superiority over them (Daniel 1 and the
change of names for Daniel and his friends; and the naming of things by God in Genesis 1 and Adam in naming the
animals in Genesis 2).
32:39 Manasseh: Deuteronomy 3;13 and Joshua 13:29-31 and 17:1, 2 assume the settlement of part of Manasseh
in Trans-Jordan. Joshua 22:7 indicates this tribe had a share on the west side, too.
Numbers chapter 33
33:1-56 This chapter lists 40 places where Israel encamped between their departure from Rameses in Egypt and
their arrival in the plains of Moab. Verses 3-18 not only list the camps, but also some of the most important events
that occurred at some of them. These verses reflect the geographical material contained in Exodus 12-Numbers 12.
The central section (verses 18-36) simply lists the campsites. There are no parallels in Numbers, even though
verses 31-33 seem to relate to Deuteronomy 10:6, 7. The final section (verses 37-49) contains historical events as
well as place-names as in the first section. This list may serve as an obituary for Moses, but it also summarizes the
main themes of Exodus and Numbers. It records events that reveal God's enabling the nation to overcome great
obstacles in the past. Thus He would certainly lead them into the Promised Land. This chapter sets the background
for the laws in 33:50-36;13 which clearly deal with the land of Canaan. god's past faithfulness and leading are a
guarantee that Israel will soon be in a position to implement these laws in the land promised to the patriarchs.
33:50-56 This section deals with the command to exterminate the Canaanites and their religion. This is a familiar
theme in the Pentateuch (Exodus 23:24; 34:11-13; Leviticus 20: Deuteronomy 7). The warning in verse 55 and 56
became a reality, became they failed to exterminate the Canaanites (Judges 1, 2), and the Canaanites caused
Israel to become like them and be spewed out. This resulted in the Assyrian captivity of Israel (722 B.C.) and the
Babylonian captivity of Judah (605 B.C.). See Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:64-66; and Joshua 23:13.
Numbers chapter 34
34:1-15 This section fixes the boundaries of the Promised Land.
34:16-29 The allotment of the land was to be supervised by Eleazar, Joshua and one leader from each of the tribes.
They were named directly by God, showing the importance of the task. Only 10 tribal leaders are mentioned here,
since Gad and Reuben had already settled in Trans-Jordan. The basically began in the south with Judah and
Simeon, and ended in the north with Asher and Naphtali.
Numbers chapter 35
35:1-8 This portion deals with cities for the Levites. They received about 15 square miles or about one-tenth of one
percent of the land of Canaan. In a society where farmland was at a premium, this small fraction of the land meant
they certainly had to depend on the generosity of the other tribes among whom they lived for their well-being. They
received 48 cities listed in Joshua 21.
35:9-34 Avenger: When a man was killed, it was the duty of his nearest male relative, "the avenger of blood"
(verses 12, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27), to kill the man responsible. The Hebrew word is go'el and is translated "redeemer"
or "kinsman." He was the one who should "buy" his relative out of trouble (5:8; Leviticus 25:25, 26; Ruth 3:12; 4:1,
6, 8; Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20). The law in this context allowed the execution of the manslayer only if the deed was
deliberate. Murderers must be executed, and manslaughterers must dwell in a city of refuge until the death of the
high priest (verse 28). This law's primary concern was the provision of cities of refuge for manslaughterers (verse
15). The law also considered who was qualified for admission (verses 16-25), and then what might happen if he left
the city before the death of the high priest (verses 26-28). It prescribed the evidence required for a conviction of
murder (verse 30), and it prohibited ransom (verses 31, 32). The Levites were the permanent inhabitants of the
cities of refuge and took responsibility for admitting the manslaughterers. The death of the high priest atoned for
the manslaughterer and allowed the guilty man to return home. The function of the high priest anticipated the
ministry of our Lord, not only in His life of offering sacrifice and prayer on behalf of the people, but also in His death
(Hebrews 4-9).
Numbers chapter 36
36:1-3 Chapter 27 raised the question of the father's name dying out with his death, since he had no sons.
Therefore his land would pass to other members of his family. The rules of inheritance were altered for the
daughters of Zelophehad so that they might inherit, because they had no brothers. But another problem arose
concerning the right of daughters to inherit their fathers' land if they were to marry someone from another tribe.
Then their land would eventually become the property of that other tribe, and permanently so after the Year of
Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10). To prevent this, Moses commanded that an heiress should marry within her father's tribe
(verse 8). This would eliminate land transfers between tribes, and assure that every one of the children of Israel
shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
The last chapters of the Book of Numbers deal with the land, its distribution, its extent, and its holiness. Thus
Numbers anticipates the entrance into the Promised Land.