Introduction

The English word ‘Numbers’ relates to the census of Israeli fighting men so we have chosen to rename it as ‘Census’. (Actually, there are two censuses described in this document, but the plural form of the word feels less comfortable to pronounce.) Hebrew readers call this document ‘Bemidbar’ which is the fourth word in the Hebrew text, and means ‘In the wilderness’. Some European and other translations call it ‘The fourth book of Mosheh’ (Moses).

This document tells about the descendants of Yisrael (called ‘Israel’ in older translations) for the forty years after their departure from Mt. Sinai, until they arrived at the eastern edge of the land that God has promised to give them. This document is named after the census that Yahweh ordered Mosheh to take before the Israelis had left Mt. Sinai.

Then the Israelis purified themselves and celebrated their second ‘pass-over’ festival after some forty years had passed.

Also at that time, the second census of fighting men was taken, i.e., a generation later at Kadesh-Barnea at Kanaan’s southern boundary. But from Kadesh-Barnea, none of them entered the land that Yahweh had promised to give them.

When they were still camped east of the Yarden (Jordan) River, two and a half tribes requested to be given territory on that side of the river, although they sent their fighting men ahead with the other tribes to help them conquer Kanaan.

This ‘Census’ document also records how people were often scared and discouraged as they faced hardship, causing them to sometimes rebel against Yahweh and his chosen servant Mosheh who led them. However, Yahweh’s (mostly) patient endurance of their behaviour is told here, and his faithfulness throughout their generations. It reveals Mosheh as an obedient yet humble leader who was devoted both to Yahweh and to the people he had responsibility for.

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.