Discover the Power of Numbers: Read the Bible in 1 Minute

Brief Summary of the Bible Book of Numbers

The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible’s Old Testament. It tells the story of the Israelites’ journey from the wilderness to the Promised Land. The book gets its name from the numerous censuses taken of the people along the way.

From the wilderness to the Promised Land: The journey of the Israelites

The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt, but God led them out of slavery and through the wilderness toward the land He had promised them. Numbers tells the story of their journey, including their struggles and failures, as well as God’s faithfulness to them.

Reading the Bible Book of Numbers in 60-Seconds or Less

• Chapter 1: God orders a census of the Israelites. Featured verse: "From twenty years old and above, all who are able to go to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number by their armies." (1:3)
• Chapter 2: The Israelites are ordered to camp in specific formations. Featured verse: "Everyone with his own standard, according to their armies; but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony." (2:2)
• Chapter 3: The lineage of Aaron and his sons as priests is established. Featured verse: "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him." (3:6)
• Chapter 4: The duties of the Levites are outlined. Featured verse: "This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest." (4:28)
• Chapter 5: Laws regarding those who have sinned are given. Featured verse: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (5:20)
• Chapter 6: The Nazirite vow and blessings are discussed. Featured verse: "Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, on this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, the Lord bless thee, and keep thee" (6:23-24)
• Chapter 7: Offerings are given to the Lord for the dedication of the tabernacle. Featured verse: "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him." (7:89)
• Chapter 8: The duties of the Levites are further explained. Featured verse: "And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel." (8:18)
• Chapter 9: The Passover is celebrated. Featured verse: "At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents." (9:18)
• Chapter 10: The Israelites travel from Sinai to the wilderness of Paran. Featured verse: "And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." (10:35)
• Chapter 11: The Israelites complain about their lack of food. Featured verse: "And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month." (11:21)
• Chapter 12: Aaron and Miriam speak against Moses and are punished. Featured verse: "And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out." (12:4)
• Chapter 13: Twelve spies are sent to explore Canaan. Featured verse: "And they returned from searching of the land after forty days." (13:25)
• Chapter 14: The Israelites rebel and are punished. Featured verse: "And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?" (14:11)
• Chapter 15: Laws regarding offerings and sacrifices are given. Featured verse: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations." (15:37-38)
• Chapter 16: Korah rebels against Moses and is punished. Featured verse: "And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow." (16:16)
• Chapter 17: Aaron’s staff is chosen by God to demonstrate his authority as high priest. Featured verse: "And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you." (17:5)
• Chapter 18: The duties of the priests and Levites are reiterated. Featured verse: "And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." (18:6)
• Chapter 19: Laws regarding purification and the red heifer are given. Featured verse: "And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin." (19:9)
• Chapter 20: The Israelites complain again and Moses disobeys God. Featured verse: "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." (20:12)
• Chapter 21: The Israelites defeat the Canaanites but complain again. Featured verse: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." (21:8)
• Chapter 22: Balak hires Balaam to curse the Israelites. Featured verse: "And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying," (22:10)
• Chapter 23: Balaam blesses the Israelites instead of cursing them. Featured verse: "And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place." (23:3)
• Chapter 24: Balaam blesses the Israelites again and prophesies about the coming Messiah. Featured verse: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth." (24:17)
• Chapter 25: The Israelites sin with the women of Moab and are punished. Featured verse: "And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand." (25:9)
• Chapter 26: Another census is taken to determine the number of Israelites. Featured verse: "These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred." (26:18)
• Chapter 27: Laws regarding inheritance and the appointment of Joshua as Moses’ successor are given. Featured verse: "And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying," (27:15)
• Chapter 28: Laws regarding daily and weekly sacrifices are given. Featured verse: "And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;" (28:11)
• Chapter 29: The annual festivals and sacrifices are outlined. Featured verse: "And on the tenth day of this seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:" (29:7)
• Chapter 30: Laws regarding vows are given. Featured verse: "Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void." (30:13)
• Chapter 31: The Israelites defeat Midian and divide the spoils. Featured verse: "And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?" (31:15)
• Chapter 32: Reuben and Gad request to settle on the east side of the Jordan River. Featured verse: "And they said, If we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan." (32:5)
• Chapter 33: A recounting of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Featured verse: "And they departed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom." (33:37)
• Chapter 34: The borders of the Promised Land are defined. Featured verse: "This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord God." (34:2)
• Chapter 35: Cities of refuge and the rules of manslaughter are given. Featured verse: "And ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares." (35:11)
• Chapter 36: Laws regarding inheritance and marriage are reiterated. Featured verse: "So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance." (36:9)

Discovering God’s faithfulness through the Israelites’ journey

The Book of Numbers may seem like just a list of numbers and laws, but it tells the story of God’s faithfulness to His people, even when they rebelled against Him. As you read through the book, you’ll see the Israelites’ failures and struggles, but you’ll also see God’s mercy and grace. Take the time to read the entire book of Numbers and discover the power of God’s faithfulness in your own life.