Untitled
close
Podcast Episode

Entering the Promised Land

After years of wandering in the wilderness and what seems like way too many rebellions against Yahweh, Israel has finally arrived on the edge of the promised land. What could possibly go wrong now? And yet even here, two of Israel’s tribes rebel, repeating the sins of Adam and Eve and dividing themselves from their brothers. Join Tim and Jon as they wrap up the Numbers scroll.

Episode 9
1hr 3m
Sep 26, 2022
Play Episode
Show Notes
Episodes

QUOTE

God wants to give good gifts to his children. Those gifts often force God’s children into decisions about how or whether they will receive those gifts as they are given. The portrait of human nature over and over in the Hebrew Bible is that we either don’t want to receive God’s gifts as given, or we forfeit his gifts and take some other thing that fits into our definition of what we think is good. This story fits into that category.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh choose to settle east of the Jordan River instead of within the promised land because they see it as a good thing. This is a subtle hyperlink to the moment with Eve at the tree—once again, God’s people are seeing and requesting to take something that God has said not to take.
  • While the narrative never explicitly says that it’s wrong for Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to settle east of the Jordan, the hyperlinks to Genesis 3-4 gives us a hint that this choice won’t end well for them. When Assyria invades Israel, they are the first to go (2 Kgs. 13-20).
  • Numbers 35 reveals that cities of refuge are about far more than mercy—they prevent the pollution of the promised land. Yahweh formed humans from the ground, and when humans spill the blood of other humans, it pollutes God’s good creation and inspires Yahweh’s judgment (an extreme example of this is the flood in Genesis 7, sent in response to violence).

Entering the Promised Land

In part one (00:00-20:20), Tim and Jon conclude our exploration of the Numbers scroll with a look at Israel’s final preparations for entering the promised land. As Israel stands on the banks of the Jordan River, ready to enter the land of Canaan, the narrator’s language sets this moment in analogy to Adam and Eve on the brink of re-entering Eden (an event that doesn’t happen in the Bible but which will figuratively take place when humanity dwells on the earth at the return of the Messiah). It’s a moment rich with historical and spiritual significance.

Numbers 28-29 includes a long list of feasts and offerings that acknowledge the danger of the wilderness, remember God’s provision and rescue in the face of that danger, and anticipate even greater deliverance in the form of entrance into the promised land.

Repeating Genesis 3-4

In part two (20:20-33:50), Tim and Jon dive into Numbers 32, which opens with an immediate focus on the tribes of Reuben and Gad, who see the land east of the Jordan River (outside the promised land) and want to settle there (Num. 32:1).

This is a subtle hyperlink to the moment with Eve at the tree: Once again, God’s people are seeing and requesting to take something that God has said not to take. Understandably, Moses is angry at their lack of trust in God’s word (that the land of Canaan would be better for them than what they could see with their eyes), but Reuben and Gad remain stubborn. But they also promise to help the rest of the tribes conquer the land before settling down. Moses says that Yahweh will permit this if they are serious and keep their word.

Numbers 32:23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

This is a hyperlink to Genesis 4, when Cain murders his brother Abel. He says afterward to Yahweh that because of his sin, he knows others will find him to kill him (Gen. 4:14). Not only does the choice of Reuben and Gad replay Adam and Eve’s sin but it repeats the division between brothers that immediately follows. Instead of being a place for brothers to dwell in unity, the promised land will only be home to ten of twelve tribes, with Reuben, Gad, and half of Mannasseh staying east of the Jordan.

Failure To Trust Yahweh Brings Consequences

In part three (33:50-43:29), the guys explore the agreement Reuben and Gad make with the rest of the tribes. In the scroll of Joshua, we’re told that they uphold their end of the deal—they help the other ten tribes conquer the land of Canaan—and then they return home.

While the narrative never explicitly says that it’s wrong for Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to settle east of the Jordan, the hyperlinks to Genesis 3-4 gives us a hint that this choice won’t end well for them. Sure enough, when Assyria invades Israel, Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are the first to go (2 Kgs. 13-20).

Following Reuben and Gad’s decision, the narrator of Numbers provides a complete list of all the places Israel camped between Egypt and Canaan, the boundaries of the promised land, and a list of Israel’s tribal leaders. In the middle of these records, we find a description of the cities of refuge Israel is to create in the promised land (Num. 35).

Cities of Refuge

In part four (43:29-01:01:21), Tim and Jon conclude the Numbers scroll with a look at cities of refuge.

In Numbers 35, Yahweh commands Israel to set up cities of refuge, where people who have killed other people unintentionally—in some kind of tragic accident, for instance—can flee there to live safely away from the dead person’s family members. The underlying assumption here is that in ancient Near Eastern culture, it was common for families to demand vengeance for the death of their members, even if the death happened accidentally.

So why would Yahweh require cities of refuge?

Numbers 35:33-34 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I Yahweh am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.

Yahweh’s speech at the end of Numbers 35 reveals that these cities of refuge are about far more than mercy—they prevent the pollution of the promised land. Yahweh formed humans from the ground, and when humans spill the blood of other humans, it “cries out” from the ground (Gen. 4:10). As humanity increases in violence, it pollutes God’s good creation and inspires Yahweh’s judgment (an extreme example of this is the flood in Genesis 7, sent in response to violence).

Referenced Resources

  • Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
  • You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

  • “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
  • "Solar Cove" by Mama Aiuto
  • "Alone Time" by Sam Stewart
  • Sound design by a contributor

This episode was produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder. It was edited by Dan Gummel, Tyler Bailey, and Frank Garza. MacKenzie Buxman provided the annotations for our annotated podcast in our app.

Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Scripture References
Genesis 6
Genesis 3:6
Genesis 3:7
Numbers 13-14
Numbers 21
Leviticus 17:11
Genesis 4-5
Genesis 4
Numbers 28-29
Numbers 32
Numbers 32:6-9
Numbers 32:16-23
Joshua 22
2 Kings 13-20
Matthew 26:36-56
Numbers 33
Numbers 35
Deuteronomy 19:1-13
Numbers 35:33-34

10 Episodes

Episode 10
What Do Moses and a Rock Have to Do With Jesus?
Are numbers in the Hebrew Bible literal? Is it dangerous to adapt God’s laws? Does Israel’s conquest of Canaan justify other historical conquests? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore audience questions about the Numbers scroll. Thanks to our audience for your insightful questions.
1hr 9m • Oct 26, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 9
Entering the Promised Land
After years of wandering in the wilderness and what seems like way too many rebellions against Yahweh, Israel has finally arrived on the edge of the promised land. What could possibly go wrong now? And yet even here, two of Israel’s tribes rebel, repeating the sins of Adam and Eve and dividing themselves from their brothers. Join Tim and Jon as they wrap up the Numbers scroll.
1hr 3m • Sep 26, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 8
Joshua: The New Adam and Moses
As Moses’ death draws near, Yahweh selects Joshua to lead the people of Israel. What made Joshua uniquely qualified to lead? How does his leadership differ from Moses’? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss how the Hebrew Bible depicts Joshua as a new Adam, a new Moses, and a precursor to the Messiah himself.
1hr 5m • Sep 19, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 7
Five Women and Yahweh’s New Law
In the third movement of Numbers, five sisters approach Moses with a legal case not covered in God’s laws: Without any brothers to inherit their father’s land, their family inheritance will be lost unless women are allowed to receive an inheritance too. Yahweh agrees with these five women, setting an important precedent for not just how Israel was to engage the laws of the Torah but for later followers of Jesus as well. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the story of Zelophehad’s daughters and Jesus’ fulfillment of the law.
1hr 12m • Sep 12, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 6
Why Couldn’t Moses Enter the Promised Land?
So far in the second movement of Numbers, the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel have rebelled against Yahweh, the people have rebelled against Yahweh, and even the Levites have rebelled against Yahweh. In fact, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb are the only people that haven’t rebelled. So what happens when those closest to Yahweh fail to obey his word, too? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about Moses’ rebellion, the high cost of leading God’s people, and humanity’s deep need for a more faithful representative to intercede on our behalf.
56m • Sep 5, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 5
Yahweh’s Judgment and Mercy
God chose the Levites to take care of the tabernacle, and, within the tribe of Levi, he picked Aaron's family to have the special duty of offering sacrifices and burning incense. In Numbers 16, a Levite named Korah and 250 Israelite leaders accuse Aaron and Moses of setting themselves above everyone else. What’s going on here? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the story of Korah’s rebellion, God’s judgment and mercy, and the responsibility of the leaders God chooses.
43m • Aug 29, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 4
Twelve Spies and the Promised Land
We’re looking at a story about God’s chosen ones facing a test with fruit trees in a beautiful garden—sounds like Genesis 3, right? Surprisingly, this is a story from Numbers 13-15, with another tree and another test. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the second movement of Numbers and the choice Israel faces when they reach the border of the promised land. Will they choose to trust their wisdom or Yahweh’s?
1hr 5m • Aug 22, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 3
There Isn’t a Law For That
How do God’s people follow his will in situations where there are no explicit rules or laws given? At the conclusion of the third movement of Numbers, the Israelites don’t know how God wants them to respond to a situation. Join Tim and Jon as they explore Numbers 6-9 and how followers of Jesus today can learn to understand the will of God.
1hr 7m • Aug 15, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 2
What’s a Nazarite Vow?
Confession of sins, strange water rituals, Nephilim, and Nazarite vows—Numbers 5 and 6 might feel like a confusing mix of laws, but the scroll’s author is cleverly reminding us of the Hebrew Bible melody we first encountered in Genesis 1-9. In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about four odd laws that are part of the intricate story we’ve been following through the Torah.
58m • Aug 8, 2022
Untitled
close
Episode 1
What Made the Tribe of Levi Special?
The scroll of Numbers can be difficult to make sense of without context, and there’s a reason for that. The scroll was never meant to be understood on its own. Numbers picks up where Leviticus leaves off and mirrors the scroll on the other side of Leviticus (Exodus). To fully understand all of these scrolls, we need to read them together. Join Tim and Jon as they dive into Numbers, trace the theme of the temple, and discuss the unique role of the tribe of Levi.
59m • Aug 1, 2022
Untitled
close
For advanced bible reading tools:
Login  or  Join
Which language would you like?