Numbers

Numbers 12: God Takes Rebellion Against His Servants Seriously Collin Leong. January 31, 2026 (v1-10) Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses (v1-2) Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married. And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.  Exp: Moses’ first wife was Zipporah , the daughter of Jethro (also called Reuel), the priest of Midian. They were Midianites. Zipporah began traveling with Moses when he returned to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. (Exodus 4:24–26) . After this, many scholars believe Moses sent Zipporah and their sons (Gershom and Eliezer) back to Midian, possibly for safety.  Later, Jethro brought Zipporah and her sons to Moses in the desert after Israel had left Egypt (Exodus 18:2–5) . This was the latest mention of Zipporah. This indicates she was not continuously present during the early stages of the Exodus but did rejoin Moses afterward....

Numbers 11: Complaints and Craving Provokes God's Anger Collin Leong. January 27, 2026 (v1-15) The People Complain (v1-3) The people complained about their misfortune, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. So the name of that place was called Teberah ["burning" in Hebrew] , because the fire of the LORD burned among them.  (v4-6) The rabble [gathering; mixed multitude] that was among them had a strong craving, and the people of Israel wept again and said "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Exp: In v5 , the reason they say the fish they ate in Egypt cost nothing , is be...

Numbers 10: God’s People Move by His Signal Collin Leong. January 24, 2026 (v1-10) The Silver Trumpets (v1-4) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Make two silver trumpets using hammered work. You shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But it they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.  Exp: In v3, is it feasible for all the ~3 million people to gather at the entrance of the tent of meeting? Obviously, it is not possible. The tabernacle’s forecourt is sized for priestly service and sacrificial traffic, not millions. The people don’t surge to the doorway; they align by camps and send representatives forward. (v5-7) When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow the alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set ou...

Numbers 9:  God’s covenant is open to all who willingly enter Collin Leong. January 21, 2025 (v1-14) Passover Celebrated (1-5) The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the 1st month of the 2nd year after they had come out from the land of Egypt, saying: "Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the 14th day of this month (1st month), at twilight, you shall keep it according to all its statutes and the rules." So Moses told the people of Israel to keep the Passover on the 14th day of the month and so the people did.  (6-8) And there were certain men who were unclean through touching a dead body, so they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron. The men said: "We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the LORD's offering at the appointed time among the people of Israel?" And Moses said to wait, so that He can hear what the LORD will command concerning t...

Numbers 8: Purification Before Service To God Collin Leong. January 20, 2025 (v1-4) The Seven Lamps The LORD told Moses to speak to Aaron, "When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand. And Aaron did so. This was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, who made the lampstand.  Exp: Though the lampstand, when lighted, will naturally shine light in all direction. However, the LORD wants Aaron to orientate the lampstand so that most of the light will shined forward , illuminating the table of showbread and the holy place.  (v5-22) Cleansing of the Levites (v5-8) And the LORD told Moses to take the Levites in order to cleanse them. He shall sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a bull from the herd and i...

Numbers 7: Dedication of God's Dwelling Place Collin Leong. January 19, 2026 (v1-89) Offerings at the Tabernacle's Consecration (v1-2) On the day the tabernacle and the altar has been set up and anointed and consecrated with all its furnishing and all its utensils, the chiefs of the tribes brought their offerings before the LORD: Exp: The consecration of the tabernacle only happens once, when the first tabernacle was completed.  (v3) Six wagons and twelve oxen - a wagon for every two chiefs, and each an ox. Then the LORD told Moses to accept them and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service. Moses gave:  (v7-9) Two wagons and four oxen to sons of Gershon. Four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari (under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron), according to their services. To the sons of Kohath, Moses gave them none, for they are in charge of the service of carrying the holy things on their shoulders. Exp: The wagons were given to Gershonites...

Numbers 6: Nazarite Vow Towards God Collin Leong. January 18, 2026 (v1-8) What a Nazirite Cannot Do (1-4) The LORD told Moses to give instructions to Israel: "If any of the people, men or women, take special vows of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the LORD, he shall  (v3-4) not drink wine and strong drink, vinegar made from wine, juice of grapes, or eat grapes, fresh or dried. He shall eat nothing produced by the grapevine , not even the seeds or skins.  (v5) no razor shall touch his head . until the time is completed for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair grow strong.  (v6-8) Do not go near a dead body, not even for his father, mother, brother, or sister, as he will be made unclean. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.  Exp:  The term “Nazarite” (Hebrew: נָזִיר nāzīr ) literally means “one who is set apart or consecrated.” (v9-12) How a Nazirite Should Do If He Is Defiled (v9-12)...

Numbers 5:  God’s Presence Requires Holiness In The Community Collin Leong. January 16, 2025 (v1-4) Unclean People (v1-4) The people of Israel must ask the leprous or has a discharge and everyone unclean through contact with the dead to leave the the camp, both male and female, so that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which God dwell. The people of Israel did so, according to what the LORD said to Moses.  Exp: In v2, the word "discharge" refers  to a bodily emission such as abnormal flows of semen, blood, or other fluids. The exclusion of people with the stated situation wasn’t about moral guilt but about ritual purity — maintaining the holiness of the camp where God’s presence dwelled.  Leviticus 15 expands on this, detailing how discharges affect ritual status, what objects they contaminate, and the purification process. (v5-10) Confession and Restitution (v5-7) When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking...