The Book of Numbers is perhaps the most underread and misunderstood book in the entire Bible. Many people hear the name and assume it is just a dry list of statistics and census data — and while it does contain numbering of the Israelites (hence the name), it is actually one of the most dramatic, spiritually rich, and historically significant books in all of Scripture.
It contains stories of rebellion, miraculous provision, divine judgment, talking donkeys, and an entire generation dying in the wilderness — all because of unbelief. So when was it written, who wrote it, and why does it matter?
Why Is It Called "Numbers"?
The English title "Numbers" comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, which named it Arithmoi — meaning "numbers" — because the book opens with two detailed census counts of the Israelite population.
However, the original Hebrew title is far more descriptive. In Hebrew the book is called "Bemidbar" — meaning "In the Wilderness." This title captures the true heart of the book far better. Numbers is not primarily about counting people. It is about what happened to Israel during 40 years of wandering in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land — and what it means to walk with God through difficulty, failure, and renewal.
Who Wrote the Book of Numbers?
Consistent with the rest of the Pentateuch, the traditional and most well-supported answer is that Moses wrote the Book of Numbers.
The evidence is compelling:
- Numbers 33:2 directly states: "At the Lord's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey." — Moses himself is identified as the recorder of events within the book
- Jesus referred to the entire Pentateuch as the writings of Moses (Luke 24:44, John 5:46), which includes Numbers
- The Jewish Talmud and rabbinic tradition have always attributed Numbers to Moses without question
- The early Church Fathers unanimously affirmed Mosaic authorship of all five books of the Pentateuch
- Moses was not merely a distant historian — he was the central human figure of the entire book, present for every event recorded
One small but important note: Numbers 12:3 states "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." Some critics argue that Moses would not have written this about himself. However, this is not unusual — ancient authors regularly wrote about themselves in the third person, and Moses may have been recording what God revealed to him about his own character, or this verse may have been a brief editorial note added by Joshua or a later scribe under divine inspiration.
When Was the Book of Numbers Written?
Following the same timeline established for Genesis and Exodus, Numbers was written by Moses during the wilderness period — the 40 years Israel spent wandering between Egypt and Canaan.
Based on the 1446 BC date for the Exodus (derived from 1 Kings 6:1), the wilderness period ran from approximately 1446 BC to 1406 BC. Numbers covers events from the second year after the Exodus all the way to the end of the 40-year wilderness period — so it was likely written and compiled throughout this period, with the final form completed by Moses shortly before his death around 1406 BC.
This makes Numbers approximately 3,400 to 3,500 years old.
What Does the Book of Numbers Actually Cover?
Numbers is far richer and more dramatic than its name suggests. Here is a broad overview of its key contents:
Part 1 — Preparation at Sinai (Chapters 1–10) The book opens with God commanding Moses to take a census of all Israelite men able to serve in the military. The total comes to 603,550 men — not counting women, children, and the Levites. The Tabernacle is organized, the Levites are given their duties, and Israel prepares to march toward the Promised Land.
Part 2 — From Sinai to Kadesh: The Rebellion Begins (Chapters 11–20) This is where the drama explodes. The people begin complaining about food, longing for Egypt, and doubting God. Key events include:
- The people craving meat and God sending quail — followed by a plague
- Miriam and Aaron opposing Moses and Miriam being struck with leprosy
- The 12 spies sent into Canaan — 10 return with a fearful report, only Caleb and Joshua trust God
- The catastrophic result: God declares the entire generation will die in the wilderness and Israel will wander for 40 years — one year for each of the 40 days the spies were in the land
- The rebellion of Korah — a Levite who challenged Moses' authority — and the supernatural judgment that followed, with the earth opening up and swallowing him and his followers alive
Part 3 — The Wilderness Years (Chapters 20–21) The narrative jumps forward nearly 40 years. The old generation has died. Moses strikes the rock in anger rather than speaking to it as God commanded — and this single act of disobedience costs him the right to enter the Promised Land. The beloved Aaron dies on Mount Hor.
Part 4 — The New Generation Prepares (Chapters 22–36) The new generation — the children of those who died in the wilderness — prepares to enter Canaan. Key events include:
- The extraordinary story of Balaam and his talking donkey — a pagan prophet hired to curse Israel who ends up blessing them instead
- A second census of the new generation — remarkably similar in total to the first
- The appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor
- Laws and instructions for life in the Promised Land
Key Themes of the Book of Numbers
1. The Consequences of Unbelief The central tragedy of Numbers is that an entire generation stood at the edge of God's promise — and turned back in fear and unbelief. Hebrews 3:19 reflects on this soberly: "They were not able to enter because of their unbelief." Numbers is the Old Testament's most powerful illustration of what unbelief costs.
2. God's Faithfulness Despite Human Failure Even as Israel repeatedly rebelled, complained, and sinned — God provided manna, water, protection, and guidance. His faithfulness was never dependent on Israel's performance. This points powerfully forward to the Gospel.
3. Holiness and the Presence of God Much of Numbers deals with how Israel was to approach and maintain the presence of God among them. The detailed organization of the camp, the duties of the Levites, and the laws of purity all communicate one message: God is holy, and His people must be ordered around that holiness.
4. Leadership and Its Cost Moses bears an almost unbearable burden of leadership throughout Numbers — constantly interceding for a people who repeatedly turn against him and against God. His story foreshadows Jesus, the ultimate intercessor who bore the burden of humanity's rebellion all the way to the cross.
The Bronze Serpent — A Direct Prophecy of Jesus
One of the most striking moments in Numbers occurs in chapter 21, when Israel is again complaining and God sends venomous snakes among the people. Many die. When the people repent, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole — and anyone who looks at it will be healed.
Jesus Himself directly connected this event to His own crucifixion in John 3:14–15:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him."
This is a stunning prophetic moment buried in a book many people never read — a picture of salvation by looking in faith to the One lifted up, written 1,400 years before the cross.
What Do Critical Scholars Say?
As with Genesis and Exodus, the Documentary Hypothesis attributes Numbers to multiple anonymous editors rather than Moses, with the final text completed as late as the 5th century BC. This view faces the same criticisms outlined in previous posts — no manuscript evidence for separate sources, inability to explain the internal consistency of the text, and the growing weight of archaeological evidence supporting early authorship.
Additionally, Numbers contains extremely precise and detailed information — census figures, specific geographical locations, exact tribal arrangements — that reads far more like contemporary record-keeping than legendary storytelling written centuries after the fact. This level of administrative detail strongly supports the idea of an eyewitness author writing in real time.
What Does Archaeology Say?
The Sinai Peninsula and Wilderness Route Archaeological surveys of the Sinai Peninsula have identified locations consistent with the route described in Numbers 33, where Moses records the stages of Israel's journey in striking geographical detail.
Ancient Census Records Critics once argued that the census numbers in Numbers were impossibly large. However, the discovery of ancient Near Eastern census records — including Egyptian military and administrative documents — has confirmed that large-scale census-taking was entirely standard practice in the ancient world during exactly this period.
Edomite and Moabite Kingdoms Numbers references Israel's interactions with the kingdoms of Edom and Moab in detail. Archaeological evidence has confirmed that both kingdoms existed and were active in the relevant period, supporting the historical reliability of the narrative.
How Numbers Fits Into the Pentateuch Series
| Book | Hebrew Title | Key Theme | Written |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Bereshit — "In the Beginning" | Creation and the Patriarchs | ~1446–1400 BC |
| Exodus | Shemot — "Names" | Slavery, Deliverance, the Law | ~1446–1400 BC |
| Leviticus | Vayikra — "And He Called" | Holiness and Worship | ~1446–1400 BC |
| Numbers | Bemidbar — "In the Wilderness" | Wilderness, Rebellion, Renewal | ~1446–1400 BC |
| Deuteronomy | Devarim — "Words" | Moses' Final Sermons | ~1406 BC |
A Simple Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1446 BC | The Exodus — Israel leaves Egypt |
| ~1446 BC | Israel arrives at Sinai — first census taken |
| ~1445 BC | The 12 spies sent into Canaan — Israel refuses to enter |
| ~1445–1406 BC | 40 years of wilderness wandering |
| ~1406 BC | Second census taken — new generation prepares to enter Canaan |
| ~1406 BC | Moses completes Numbers and dies on Mount Nebo |
| ~150 BC | Earliest surviving Numbers manuscripts (Dead Sea Scrolls) |
Conclusion
The Book of Numbers was written by Moses between approximately 1446 and 1406 BC, making it around 3,400 to 3,500 years old. Far from being a dry collection of statistics, it is a deeply human and profoundly theological book — the story of a people who stood at the edge of God's promise and turned back, and of a God who remained faithful through every act of rebellion and unbelief.
It is a book of warnings, wonders, and grace — and its central message is as urgent today as it was in the wilderness three and a half thousand years ago: do not harden your heart when God speaks.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." — Numbers 6:24–26
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who wrote the Book of Numbers? Moses wrote Numbers, as confirmed by Numbers 33:2, Jesus in Luke 24:44, Jewish tradition, and early Church Fathers. Moses was an eyewitness to virtually every event in the book.
Q: When was the Book of Numbers written? Numbers was written during Israel's wilderness period, approximately 1446–1406 BC, making it around 3,400 to 3,500 years old.
Q: Why is it called the Book of Numbers? The English name comes from the Greek Septuagint title Arithmoi (numbers), referring to the two census counts in the book. The original Hebrew title is Bemidbar — meaning "In the Wilderness" — which better captures the book's true content.
Q: What is the main message of Numbers? The central message is a warning against unbelief and disobedience. An entire generation of Israelites died in the wilderness because they refused to trust God's promise. Hebrews 3–4 applies this directly to Christians today.
Q: What is the talking donkey story in Numbers? Numbers 22 records that God opened the mouth of Balaam's donkey to speak to him after Balaam repeatedly struck the animal. The donkey had seen the Angel of the Lord blocking the path — which Balaam himself could not yet see.
Q: What does the bronze serpent in Numbers mean? In Numbers 21, God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole so that anyone bitten by snakes could look at it and live. Jesus directly compared this to His own crucifixion in John 3:14–15 — one of the most explicit prophecies of the cross in the entire Old Testament.
