Numbers has its name because it recounts two censuses of Israel during the time of Moses. Because of rebellion and disobedience, the Israelites had to wander in a desert for 40 years before entering the promised land. In this book, we find part of this pilgrimage.
| Author | Moses |
| For whom it was written | For the Israelites. |
| Chapter amount | 36 |
| Verse amount | 1288 |
| Moses | Liberator, statesman, historian, poet, moralist, and Hebrew legislator. |
| Aaron | The first high priest of the Hebrews. |
| Joshua | Leader of the Hebrews after Moses. |
| Caleb | One of the twelve sent to spy on Canaan. |
| Miriam | She who watched over the cradle of the boy Moses on the banks of the Nile River. |
| Priests | – |
| 1 - 10 | The people of Israel are in the desert of Sinai. The Law has already been given and the Tabernacle is ready. Moses counts the people and numbers the tribes. The people are informed about the type of formation the tribes should have. The Levites receive instructions regarding how the pieces of the Tabernacle should be transported. |
| 10 - 12 | The journey through the desert is resumed. The people complain saying that it has been a long time since they ate meat and that in Egypt they had an abundance of food. God becomes angry, punishes the people, but sends meat. |
| 13 | Twelve men are sent to spy on the Promised Land (Canaan). The spies say that the land flows with milk and honey. Ten of these men say that they should not enter the land, for the people are strong and numerous, but Joshua and Caleb say that the people should indeed enter the Promised Land. |
| 14 - 15 | The people do not trust in God, complain, and ask to return to Egypt. As punishment, God does not allow the complainers to enter the Promised Land and decrees that, because of this, the people would wander in the desert for forty years. |
| 16 - 20 | A disobedient and complaining group rises up, but God opens a chasm in the earth and swallows them all alive. Moses does not strictly follow divine orders and strikes the rock with his staff. Because of this sin, God does not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. |
| 21 | The people complain again against God and God sends serpents. The people repent of their sins, Moses prays for the people, and God commands to make a bronze serpent, and whoever was bitten by the serpent, upon looking at the bronze serpent, was healed. |
| 22 - 24 | While the people wander through the plains of Moab, the Moabites become afraid and the king of Moab sends for Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. An angel meets Balaam and tells him to speak only what God commanded. Balaam then blesses the Israelites instead of cursing them. |
| 25 | The people sin against God by worshiping idols. |
| 26 | Another counting of the people is made. |
| 27 - 36 | Joshua is chosen by God to lead the people in place of Moses. God says how the land will be divided. |