A Theocracy!

When the priest is ultimately in charge

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it “really” means.. Let’s see where this takes us!

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Numbers 26

A long time has elapsed since Numbers 1, when Moses and Aaron took a census. The adult generation at that time has died off except for Joshua, and Caleb. I missed any mention of years passing. It’s clear that although Israel is said to have “wandered in the desert” for forty years, there must have been times when they settled at a particular location for several years.

The new census taken by Moses and Eleasar has about the same number of adult men as the first one.

It’s interesting that the land will be apportioned by “lot,” the root word for lottery. Perhaps like flipping a coin to make a decision, a random draw is a means to discern the LORD’s “will.” It’s divination without superstition, I guess.

Numbers 27

Women will get to inherit land if they have no brothers.