NUMBERS, BOOK OF. The fourth book in the Hebrew Canon of the Old Testament (q.v.) is called Arithmoi, because it begins by giving an account of a numbering or census of the Israelites, made in the second year of the Exodus. This title was adopted for the Vulgate (Numeri), and then for the English Version. In the Hebrew Bible the book bears the name Be-midbar, this being the fifth word in the opening verse. The con tents of the Book of Numbers are as follows : Chapters i. x. 10 deal with the first census (i.) and the disposition of the camp and the tribes (ii.), with the number and duties of the Levites (iii.-iv.), with various laws, in cluding those relating to the ordeal of jealousy and the Nazarite (v.-vi.), with the offerings of the princes of the tribes when the Tent of Meeting was consecrated (vii.), with the consecration of the Levites (viii.) and with the Passover (ix. 1-a. 10). Chapters x. ll-xx. 13 deal with the journey from Sinai to Kadesh (x. 11-xii. 16), with the sending of the spies (xiii.-xiv.), with laws relating to offerings, etc. (xv.), with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the privileges of priests and Levites (xvi.-xviii.), with the rite of purification associated with the Red Heifer (xis.), with the death of Miriam and the episode of the "waters of strife" (xx. 1-13). Chapters xx. 14-xxxvi. 13 deal with the journey of the Israelites from Kadesh to the plains of Moab (xx. 14-xxi. 35), with the story of Balak and the prophet Balaam (xxii.-xxiv.), with various episodes, including the taking of a second census, and the appointment of Joshua as Moses' suc cessor (xxv.-xxvli.), with a calendar for regulating the sacrifices for the stated festivals (xxviii.-xxix.), with the law of women's vows (xxx.), with a war of vengeance against Midian (xxxi.), with the assignment of territory east of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh (xxxii.), with an itinerary of the marches to the Jordan (xxxiii. 1-49), with laws relating to the borders of Canaan, cities of refuge, etc. (xxxiii. 50-xxxvl. 13). The Sources which were used in the compilation of the Book of Numbers were the same as those used for the books of Exodus and Leviticus (see EXODUS, and LEVIT ICUS). Chapters i.-x. 28 are from P (the Priestly Writer). Chapters x. 29-xxv. 18 are largely narrative, and for the most part the narrative portions of Numbers belong to J and E. Sections here and there, however,
are to be assigned to P (e.g., xiii. 1-17a; xiv. 26-38; xv. 1.41; xvi. 1-35; xvi. 36 [Heb. xvii. 1]-xx. 13; xx. 23-29; xxv. 6-19). Chapters xxvi.-xxxvi. may be assigned almost entirely to P. The fragments of poetry in chapter xxi. are due to E who took them from the collection of poems known as the " Book of the Wars of the Lord " (q.v.). R. Kittel (The Scientific Study of the O.T., 1910) thinks that probably in the story of the prophet Balsam (chaps. xxii.-xxiv.) we have a true description of an ancient seer. In chapter xxiv. 3-4 the ecstatic state is clearly described. " The outward eye closed, physically unconscious, the seer lies there and utters his oracle. But his inner eye is opened that he may see the face of the Almighty, his ear uncovered that he may hear His words and counsel." Kittel thinks that the oracles of Balsam are the oldest extant literary witness to an early form of a kind of Messianic hope. "They are probably the prodnct of the early monarchic period, perhaps of the reign of Saul or the early part of the reign of David, since Saul's victory over Agag seems to be still fresh in the memory of the writer, and not yet eclipsed by the greater conquests of David. The climax of the oracles of Balsam is reached where he predicts that a star shall come out of Jacob and a sceptre from Judah, which will arise and defeat the enemies of Israel. Apparently the reference is to the expected Saviour. It may be possible that the success ful David is meant, but even in that case the figure has been borrowed from the general conception of a future saviour." See Encycl. Bibl.; Carpenter and Harford Battersby; B. Baentsch, Numeri, 1903; H. Holzinger, Numeri, 1903; G. B. Gray, Numbers, 1903; C. F. Kent, Israel's Laws and Legal Precedents, 1907; A. R. S. Kennedy, Leviticus and Numbers in the " Century Bible "; G. H. Box, Intr.; O. C. Whitehouse.
NUN. An Egyptian deity. The god Nun represents the primeval waters. He was the father of the gods, existing at first alone. From him came Ra (q.v.). Ra created out of himself the god Shu (q.v.) and the goddess Tefnet (q.v.). The offspring of Shu and Tefnet were Keb (q.v.), the god of earth, and Nut (q.v.), the goddess of sky. Keb and Nut gave birth to Osiris (q.v.), Set (q.v.), Isis (q.v.), and Nephthys (q.v.). See A. Wiede mann; Adolf Erman, Handbook.