BU Blog | Numbers and Deuteronomy

Moses wrote Numbers between 1440 and 1400 B.C. The book’s Hebrew name Bemidbar, means “in the wilderness.” Its English title comes from the Latin Numeri, for the two censuses taken of the Israelites.

Numbers covers the years between the second and fortieth years of the Israelites’ wandering, between their receipt of the law in Exodus and Leviticus and their entrance into the Promised Land in Deuteronomy and Joshua. The book offers more specific instructions about the new Jewish religion, specifically the feasts that were to be observed. Whereas Exodus recounts the early life of Moses and his divine calling as the leader of the Israelites, Numbers portrays him as an experienced leader who had grown to love his people so much he begged to be blotted out of existence if their sins could not be forgiven.