Page "Book of Numbers" Paragraph 1

Numbers begins at Mount Sinai, where the Israelites have received their laws and covenant from God and God has taken up residence among them in the sanctuary.

The task before them is to take possession of the Promised Land.

The people are numbered and preparations are made for resuming their march.

The Israelites begin the journey, but immediately they " murmur " ( complain or kvetch ) at the hardships along the way.

They arrive at the borders of Canaan and send spies into the land, but on hearing the spies ' report the Israelites refuse to take possession of Canaan and God condemns them to death in the wilderness until a new generation can grow up and carry out the task.

The book ends with the new generation of Israelites in the plain of Moab ready for the crossing of the Jordan River.