The fourth
book of the Pentateuch is called Numbers. It describes preparation for the
departure of Israel from Mount Sinai (Num 10:10 marks the end of so-called
“Sinai Pericope” stretching from Exod 19:1 to Num 10:10). After the
departure the key moment is Israel’s refusal to enter the Promised Land
(13:1–14:45). As a result, God destines the whole generation to finish their
lives wandering in the desert; it will only be the new generation, that will
enter the Promised Land. Typical for Numbers are various lists and counts, and
the book itself can also be structured according to two censuses (cf.
Num 1:2 and 26:2), by which we get two, admittedly uneven parts.
- The Story of
the First Generation (1–25)
- The Story of
the Second Generation (26–36)
The
Numbers is a book of many genres, it includes narrative, poetry, law… The main
theme is the movement towards the Land, despite the failure of Israel.
The last
book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, is presented as a final speech of Moses to
Israel just before the people enters the Promised Land. By this, the formative
narrative and law for Israel is sealed. The narrative frame of Deuteronomy presents
Moses speaking to Israel “in the land of Moab” (1:5). Towards the end of the
book Moses gives the leadership over to Joshua, in the last chapter Moses dies.
Deuteronomy
can be structured according to the editorial notes referring to Moses’ speeches
to Israel. The core of the book is so called Deuteronomic Code (12–26)
