Numbers (Heb. bamidbar)
The fourth book of the Pentateuch, which has 36 chapters, gets its Hebrew
name from the phrase bemidbar sinai, "in the Sinai wilderness," that appears
in the opening verse. The book relates what befell the Israelites during
their time in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land, from a year
after the Exodus until Aaron's death in the fortieth. It describes the
journey from the Sinai Wilderness to the encampment in the plains of Moab,
the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron, the spies incident, the rebellion of
Korah, the prophecies of Balaam the non-Israelite prophet, Joshua's
appointment as Moses' successor, the war with Midian, and the settlement of
part of the nation in Transjordan. The book also contains many laws, such as
further laws of purity and impurity, festivals, vows, and the Passover
sacrifice. The journey through the wilderness, with all the events that took
place, contributed much to the forging of the tribes of Israel into a
single, unified nation. Hence the importance of the book to Jewish
tradition.