Hello, I'm Gary Stevens, and welcome to the History in the Bible podcast.

All the history, in all the books, in all the Bibles.

Thank you. Episode 1.19, Into the Wilderness.

The book of Exodus concludes on a triumphant note.

The Israelites are encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai.

They have escaped the Egyptians. They have their laws,

their institutions and their priests. All is right with the world. Led by God and his prophet Moses,

they shall surely take possession of Canaan, the land promised to them. The fourth book in the

Pentateuch, Numbers, is the story of how that expectation turned to them. The fourth book in the Pentateuch, Numbers,

is the story of how that expectation turned to ashes.

The slave generation will fail to meet the physical and spiritual challenges.

They will spend 40 years with their heart's desire just out of reach.

Only their children will enter the promised land.

Numbers is named after its title in the Septuagint, Arithmoi, after the census reported in its first chapter.

That name reflects a title also used by Jews in the early Roman Empire.

The modern Hebrew name is Barmeid Bar in the wilderness.

That is a much more apt description.

The first ten of its 36 chapters are set at the final encampment at Sinai,

continuing the narrative from Exodus.

The middle section of the book describes the generation-long hiatus the Israelites were forced

to take. A recurring theme of this section is the Israelites' constant complaints and minor

rebellions. They lack faith, trust and courage. Moses and God alternate in losing

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