Numbers: A Commentary

by Martin Noth

Overview

In this examination of Numbers, Martin Noth explores the community of the twelve tribes, the organization of the Levites, various divine ordinances, and other important themes in the book of Numbers. Also included is an appendix on daughters' rights of inheritance.

The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664208417
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	05/01/2016
Series:	The Old Testament Library
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Martin Noth was a German scholar of the Hebrew Bible who specialized in the pre-Exilic history of the Hebrews. With Gerhard von Rad he pioneered the traditional-historical approach to biblical studies, emphasising the role of oral traditions in the formation of the biblical texts.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Translator's Preface	x
I.	Introduction	1
1.	Name and contents of the book	1
2.	The growth of the book (Literary criticism and history of traditions)	4
3.	The significance of the book	11
II.	Further ordinances of God at Sinai	13
1.	The organization of the community of the twelve tribes: 1.1-2.34	13
2.	The organization of the Levites: 3.1-4.49	26
3.	Various divine ordinances: 5.1-6.27	26
(a)	The exclusion of the unclean from the camp: 5.1-4	45
(b)	The restoration of misappropriated property: 5.5-10	46
(c)	The divine judgment in cases of suspected adultery: 5.11-31	47
(d)	The law for a Nazirite: 6.1-21	52
(e)	The priestly blessing: 6.22-27	57
4.	The offerings of the Israelite tribal representatives: 7.1-89	59
5.	Further divine ordinances: 8.1-9.14	65
(a)	The setting up of the lampstand: 8.1-4	65
(b)	Appendix on the organization of the Levites: 8.5-26	66
(c)	Appendix to the Passover legislation: 9.1-14	70
6.	The departure from Sinai: 9.15-10.36	72
III.	Further sojourn in the wilderness: 11.1-20.13	81
1.	Disaffection of the people in the wilderness: 11.1-35	81
2.	Miriam and Aaron against Moses: 12.1-16	91
3.	Spying out the promised land: 13.1-14.45	97
4.	Various appendices of a cultic-ritual nature: 15.1-41	112
5.	The rebellions of Korah and of Dathan and Abiram: 16.1-17.11	118
6.	The relationship of priests and Levites to the rest of the Israelites: 17.12-18.32	131
7.	Preparation and use of a special water of purification: 19.1-22	138
8.	Once again water from the rock: 20.1-13	143
IV.	Preparation for and beginning of the conquest: 20.14-36.13	148
1.	Refusal of passage through Edom: 20.14-21	148
2.	The death of Aaron: 20.22-29	152
3.	The capture of Hormah: 21.1-3	154
4.	The bronze serpent: 21.4-9	155
5.	Camping-sites on the way: 21.10-20	158
6.	The first victories east of the Jordan: 21.21-35	160
7.	Balaam: 22.1-24.25	166
8.	Apostasy to Moabite idol-worship: 25.1-18	194
9.	Another census: 26.1-65	199
10.	A precedent concerning daughters' rights of inheritance: 27.1-11	210
11.	Intimation of the death of Moses: 27.12-23	212
12.	Cultic calendar: 28.1-29.40	216
13.	The binding nature of women's vows: 30.1-16	223
14.	War of vengeance against the Midianites and the subsequent division of the booty: 31.1-54	226
15.	The first distribution of territory east of the Jordan: 32.1-42	233
16.	The stations of Israel's wanderings after the exodus from Egypt: 33.1-49	241
17.	Directions for the future allocation of land west of the Jordan: 33.50-34.29	246
18.	Levitical cities and cities of refuge: 35.1-34	251
19.	Appendix on daughters' rights of inheritance: 36.1-13	256