Read Num 19:1-22:1 at Bible Gateway.
num 19:1-22, the law of the red heifer 2013 jun 14
num 19:1-22:1, chukat paragraph divisions and chiastic structures 2012 jun 30
num 19-20, finding messiah in the law of the red heifer 2011 mar 10
num 21-22, change of generation 2011 mar 11
the teaching tools of scripture
Last year I began to speculate that the Law of the Red Heifer of Purification might form the central axis of the book of Numbers. This year we have more of the whole book chiastic structure worked out, to the end of parashah chukat, with the Law of the Hed Heifer, a prophetic type for Messiah Yeshua, still firmly in the center:
Num 1:1-10:36 chiastic structure, The number + encampment of the children of Israel (bamidbar, naso, half behaalotecha);
Num 11:1-22:1 chiastic structure, The journey from unbelief to belief, from complaints to praise (half behaalotecha, shelah lekha, korah, chukat):
1a) Num 11:1-12:13 {px3+s+p} Coveteousness (craving for quail) + evil speaking (complaint against Moses);
1b) Num 12:14-16 {p} The leprosy of Miriam + out of the camp 7 days;
1c) Num 13:1-14:10 {p} Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan + the evil report;
1d) Num 14:11-45 {p+p} The unbelieving generation will not enter the Land;
— Num 15:1-41 {p+s+s+px3} When you come into the Land (hope) (chiastic structure through Num 18)
1e) Num 16:1-17:13, Rebellion and the rod of Aaron:
1e.1) Num 16:1-3, Korah et al gathered together against Moses and Aaron;
1e.2) Num 16:4-50 {sx3+p+s+p} Moses fell on his face … the glory of the Lord appeared at the tabernacle;
1e.3) Num 17:1-13 {p+p+s} The rod of Aaron / its miraculous sign (budded and bore almonds);
1f) Num 18:1-32 {p+s+p+p} Aaron to attend to his priesthood that no more wrath (death) come upon Israel;
CENTRAL AXIS) Num 19:1-9, Law of the red heifer without blemish + without yoke;
2f) Num 19:10-22 {p} Eleazar and the priests: rites of purification from death (sin);
2e) Num 20:1-11, Murmuring and the rod of Moses:
2e.1) Num 20:1-5, Israel gathered together against Moses and Aaron;
2e.2) Num 20:6 {p} Moses + Aaron fell on their faces at the door of the tabernacle / the glory of the Lord appeared;
2e.3) Num 20:7-11 {s} The rod of Moses / its miraculous sign (water from the rock at Meribah);
2d) Num 20:12-13 {s} Because Moses did not believe, he will not bring the assembly into the Land;
2c) Num 20:14-21 {p} Moses sent messengers to Edom + the evil report.
2b) Num 20:22-29 {s} Death of Aaron + Israel mourned 30 days;
2a) Num 21:1-22:1 {p+s+p+s} Discouragement (the way of the Red Sea) + joyful speaking (the well at Beer).
Num 11:1 to 22:1, the journey from unbelief to belief, from complaints to praise, was a journey of 38 years. It was the journey which saw the death of the unbelieving generation and the rising up of the new believing generation, their children. The change is highlighted in the strong theme which runs from Num 21:4-20. The incident begins as every other incident has in Numbers, bitter complaint when faced with a need. But it ends differently from all the others: the next instance of need is met with praise, not complaint (at the well of Beer). In between was the attack of the fiery serpents, and the healing intervention of the bronze serpent, which Jesus taught us was a prophetic type for Himself. Israel confessed their sin, and repented, and looked to the bronze serpent lifted up from the earth, and lived and did not die. This documents the change of generation from unbelief to belief, a prophetic type for our own new birth. The new generation which believed, which praised rather than complained, is the picture of the new man in Christ, who has confessed his sin, repented of it, looked to Jesus for forgiveness and healing, and then out of his new nature, offers praise to God instead of bitter complaints, and trusts in Him to accomplish His word to them.
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