When Written: Around 1500 B.C.
Synopsis: The book of Numbers is exactly what it says it is in the title. This historical book deals with a national census at the beginning and at the end of the book. It chronicles the punishment of the people because of disbelief and rebellion which results in the passing of an entire generation while they are wondering around in the desert for forty years. The laws written in the book of Leviticus are reviewed and some more laws are added. The death of Aaron occurs in this book. The reader will note that many things are numbered such as the sheep and cattle gained through the plunder of war. It is more apparent that God is the original mathematician and that there is meaning to the numbers found throughout the Bible.
Key Verse: The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Numbers 14:18