Today’s reading relates the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad that they be permitted to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

I. The formal request (1-5)

II. Moses presents a history lesson to show why the request should be denied (6-15)

III. An amendment to the request (16-19)

IV. The amended request is accepted by Moses with qualifications (20-24)

V. The amended request with qualifications is accepted by the tribes of Reuben and Gad (25-27)

VI. The final contract is publicly announced and agreed upon (28-33)

VII. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, take possession of their land (34-42)

Meditation Points:

• Note in Numbers 32:5 how the request is made. It is not a demand, but a request.
• Moses (Numbers 32:6) was concerned that the two tribes wanted to be excused from battle. There are many professing Christians who never engage the spiritual enemies of God; instead they leave the hard work of witnessing and preaching the gospel to others.
• The terms of settlement are declared and witnessed in a public gathering (Numbers 32:28), making it all the more serious. The new Christian is expected to declare his faith in Christ via baptism, and he is is furthermore to confess openly his allegiance to Christ (Romans 10:9-10).

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English language Bible study guide used by Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece.

Balak had failed to get a prophet to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24), but the Midianites were able to vex Israel by enticing them to sexual and spiritual whoredoms. In consequence, God instructs Moses to destroy the Midianite nation.

1. Twelve thousand soldiers are sent out (1-6).
2. The Midianite men are killed including five kings; the Midianite cities are destroyed; Midianite possessions are taken as spoils of war; but the Midianite women and children are brought back to the camp of Israel (7-12).
3. The Midianite boys and any Midianite girl/woman who had previously had sex were killed (13-24).
4. God orders the spoils of war divided between the troops themselves and the congregation; and He expects each group to present a percentage of the spoils as an offering (25-47).
5. In gratitude for not losing any soldiers in the battle, the troops make a separate, free-will, offering worth 16,750 shekels (48-54).

Meditation Points:

We find that Balaam, the prophet who could not curse Israel, had counseled the Midianites as to how they might vex Israel (Numbers 31:8, 16).

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It’s never too late to join our comprehensive, 3-year, through-the-Bible reading program. These notes follow the daily schedule that we use ourselves at Trinity International Baptist Church in Athens, Greece. Two evenings each week we gather to discuss what we’ve read since our last meeting, and recordings of those discussions are usually available through links found along with the reading schedule. English is our language of choice for all discussions; and you’ll find a comfortable informality at every meeting.

 Chapter 29 of Numbers continues yesterday’s discussion of various feasts and offerings.

1. The feast of trumpets (1-6)
2. The day of atonement (7-11)
3. The feast of tabernacles with its eight days of sacrifices (12-38)

Chapter 30 of Numbers presents the laws concerning vows.

1. When a man vows, the vow cannot be broken (1-2)
2. When an under-age and unmarried woman vows, her father can annul the vow (3-5)
3. When a married woman vows, her husband can annul the vow (6-8)
4. A widow or divorced woman is bound to the vows she made, even though her husband is no longer around (9-15)

Meditation Points:

Regular daily and weekly sacrifices and special feast days and feast weeks provided many opportunities for the devout to worship God. Is God in your thoughts more than just at holiday seasons?

God takes seriously our vows to Him. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6)

Christ, the husband of the Church, has every right to annul our errant vows and intentions.

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1. Land for families without sons (27:1-11)

2. Moses allowed to see the promised land before he dies (27:12-14)

3. Joshua chosen to replace Moses (27:15-23)

4. Morning and evening sacrifices (28:1-8)

5. Weekly Sabbath sacrifices (28:9-10)

6. New Year sacrifices (28:11-15)

7. Passover sacrifices (28:16-17)

8. Feast of Unleavened Bread sacrifices (28:18-25)

9. Feast of Firstfruits sacrifices (28:26-31)

Meditation Points:

• Concern for perpetuating the family name
• Moses’ bitter sweet view of Beulah
• Unknowingly, Moses had been training his replacement
• Reminders of the various required sacrifices. Do we need reminders to worship God?

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