Read Numbers 33:1-36:13 at Bible Gateway.
num 33:1-36:13, masei paragraph divisions and chiastic structure 2013 jul 05
num 33-34, finding messiah in the journey from egypt 2011 mar 17
num 35-36, finding messiah in the cities of refuge 2011 mar 18
outline of numbers by its hebrew paragraph divisions
outline of numbers by its strong themes
teaching tools of scripture
The themes of Masei, by its hebrew paragraph divisons:
Num 33:1-39 s Journey of Israel from Egypt to the death of Aaron
Num 33:40-49 s Journey of Israel from Mt Hor to Acacia Grove
Num 33:50-56 p Israel shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and possess it
Num 34:1-15 p The boundaries of Canaan, which Israel is to inherit by lot
Num 34:16-29 p The leaders of the tribes who will divide the land
Num 35:1-8 p Cities for the Levites among the tribes
Num 35:9-34 p Cities of refuge + distinction between murder and manslaughter
Num 36:1-13 p Marriage of the daughters of Zelophehad, so that his inheritance is retained
By its strong themes:
Num 33:1-56 {s+s+p} The goal of deliverance from Egypt: to possess the land
Num 34:1-15 {p} The boundaries of Canaan, which Israel is to inherit by lot
Num 34:16-29 {p} The leaders of the tribes who will divide the land
Num 35:1-8 {p} Cities for the Levites among the tribes
Num 35:9-34 {p} Cities of refuge + distinction between murder and manslaughter
Num 36:1-13 {p} Marriage of the daughters of Zelophehad, so that his inheritance is retained
By its triennial divisions:
Num 33:1-56 {s+s+p} The goal of deliverance from Egypt: to possess the land
Num 34:1-35:8 {px3} The land the twelve tribes are to inherit / the Levites who have no inheritance will dwell among them
Num 35:9-36:13 {p+p} Cities of refuge / marriage laws, so that the inheritance may be retained
And the overarching theme of Masei, taking into account all of its lesser themes, might be said to be,
The goal of deliverance from Egypt: to obtain and retain her promised inheritance.
I have been meditating on Israel inheriting her promised land as a metaphor for salvation. Deliverance from slavery in Egypt by the blood of the Passover Lamb is the metaphor for salvation. But Israel was not only brought out of one kingdom, the kingdom of darkness, and left; Israel was brought out in order to be brought in. The goal is inheriting the promised land, i.e., inheriting the kingdom of God, where we still have a King and Law. We are now citizens and children, not slaves, not outlaws (outside the law), and not anarchists. If you are out of Egypt, hooray! Keep going, do not stop in the wilderness, even if it is the oasis of Elim, where there are twelve springs of water (twelve tribes of Israel) and seventy palm trees bearing dates (seventy nations bearing fruit). Keep going until you possess and retain your full inheritance as citizens of the kingdom of God, and children of the King!
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