NUMBERS ( Lat. Humeri, Gk. 'ApiOgot, Arithmoi, Ileb. B(•nidbur, in the wilderness, the fourth word of the book), BOOK Or. The fourth book of the Pentateuch. It consists of thirty-six chapters, and receives its common name 'Numbers' from the repeated references to the 'numbering' of the people which it con tains. It is not a separate work, but constitutes a division of the group of six books—Peutateuch and Joshua—now designated by scholars as the Ilexatcuch (q.v.). The sources in the book are precisely the same that are found in the other divisions of the Pentateuch, viz. (a) the his torical compilation designated as JE (see ELOHIST AND YAIIWIST) ; ( b) the Priestly narra tive, including portions of the Priestly Code (see LEVITICUS ; IENA TEUCH) ; together with (c) the usual additions and editorial insertions of the group of writers who welded these constituent elements into a consistent whole. The book in its present form falls naturally into three main sec tions: (a) i.-x. 10; (b) x. (c) xx.-xxxvi. The first section embraces: (I) the census of the people (1.-ii.) ; (2) series of ordinances for the Priests and Levites (iii.-iv.), including general and specific duties, positions among the tribes, and census of Levites; (3) various laws—leper, marital jealousy, nazirite (v.-vi.) ; (4) dedica tion of altar (vii.) ; (5) miscellaneous ordi nances with illustrative eases (viii.-x.10). The second section contains: ( 1 ) the wanderings ( x. 11-2S) ; (2) revolts against Moses by the peo ple. Aaron, and Aliriam (xi.-xii.) ; (3) spies sent
to Canaan (xiii.-xiv.) ; (4) various ordinances (xv.) ; (5) rebellion of Borah with story of Aaron's selection (xvi.-xvii.) ; (6) ordinances for priests and people (xviii.-xix.). The third section embrace,: (I) continuation of narrative of traditional history in the wilderness (xx. xxi.) ; (2) story of Bataan (xxii.-xxiv.) ; (3) story of cult of Baal-peor (xxv.) ; (4) second census ( XXVi.) ; ( 5 ) groups of ordinances with his torical setting and illustrative cases (xxvii. xxxvi.).
The Book of Numbers thus furnishes an admir able illustration of the method pursued by the Hebrew compilers in combining various historical sources and in using the Priestly Code (from which all the legal portions of the look are taken) as historical material to illustrate and confirm the religious point of view of the later editors and the theory upon which they base their historical narrative, which carries the com plete religious organization of Israel hack to the days of Sloses. See HEXATEUCH.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Besides the commentaries of DillBibliography. Besides the commentaries of Dill- mann, Strack, Bennett, and the forthcoming ones of Baentsch and Gray, and the introductions to the Old Testament by Driver, Conlin, Wilde hoer, Kuenem and Kautzsch, consult Addis, Docu ments of the nerateuch (London, 189S) ; Car penter and Battersley. The Tlexateuch (London, 1900).