Sacred Scripture · Old Testament

Numbers

36 Chapters · Douay-Rheims Bible · Old Testament

About This Book

This fourth Book of Moses is called Numbers, because it begins with the numbering of the people. The Hebrews, from its first words, call it Vaiedabber. It contains the transactions of the Israelites from the second month of the second year after their going out of Egypt, until the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year; that is, a history almost of thirty-nine years. (For more information, see the article PENTATEUCH in the Catholic Encyclopedia.)

Chapter Directory

  1. Chapter 1The children of Israel are numbered: the Levites are designed to serve the tabernacle.
  2. Chapter 2The order of the tribes in their camp.
  3. Chapter 3The Levites are numbered and their offices distinguished. They are taken in the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel.
  4. Chapter 4The age and time of the Levites' service: their offices and burdens.
  5. Chapter 5The unclean are removed out of the camp: confession of sins, and satisfaction: firstfruits and oblations belonging to the priests: trial of jealousy.
  6. Chapter 6The law of the Nazarites: the form of blessing the people.
  7. Chapter 7The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle. God speaks to Moses from the propitiatory.
  8. Chapter 8The seven lamps are placed on the golden candlestick, to shine towards the loaves of proposition: the ordination of the Levites: and to what age they shall serve in the tabernacle.
  9. Chapter 9The precept of the pasch is renewed: the unclean and travellers are to observe it the second month: the camp is guided by the pillar of the cloud.
  10. Chapter 10The silver trumpets and their use. They march from Sinai.
  11. Chapter 11The people murmur and are punished with fire. God appoints seventy ancients for assistants to Moses. They prophesy. The people have their fill of flesh, but forthwith many die of the plague.
  12. Chapter 12Mary and Aaron murmur against Moses, whom God praises above other prophets. Mary being struck with leprosy, Aaron confesses his fault. Moses prays for her, and after seven days' separation from the camp, she is restored.
  13. Chapter 13The twelve spies are sent to view the land. The relation they make of it.
  14. Chapter 14The people murmur. God threatens to destroy them. He is appeased by Moses, yet so as to exclude the murmurers from entering the promised land. The authors of the sedition are struck dead. The rest going to fight against the will of God are beaten.
  15. Chapter 15Certain laws concerning sacrifices. Sabbath breaking is punished with death. The law of fringes on their garments.
  16. Chapter 16The schism of Core and his adherents: their punishment.
  17. Chapter 17The priesthood is confirmed to Aaron by the miracle of the blooming of his rod, which is kept for a monument in the tabernacle.
  18. Chapter 18The charge of the priests and of the Levites, and their portion.
  19. Chapter 19The law of the sacrifice of the red cow, and the water of expiation.
  20. Chapter 20The death of Mary the sister of Moses. The people murmur for want of water: God gives it them from the rock. The death of Aaron.
  21. Chapter 21King Arad is overcome. The people murmur and are punished with fiery serpents: they are healed by the brazen serpent. They conquer the kings Sehon and Og.
  22. Chapter 22Balac, king of Moab, sends twice for Balaam to curse Israel. In his way Balaam is rebuked by an angel.
  23. Chapter 23Balaam, instead of cursing Israel, is obliged to bless them, and prophesy good things of them.
  24. Chapter 24Balaam still continues to prophesy good things in favour of Israel.
  25. Chapter 25The people fall into fornication and idolatry; for which twenty-four thousand are slain. The zeal of Phinees.
  26. Chapter 26The people are again numbered by their tribes and families.
  27. Chapter 27The law of inheritance. Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses.
  28. Chapter 28Sacrifices are appointed as well for every day as for sabbaths, and other festivals.
  29. Chapter 29Sacrifices for the festivals of the seventh month.
  30. Chapter 30Of vows and oaths: and their obligation.
  31. Chapter 31The Madianites are slain for having drawn the people of Israel into sin. The dividing of the booty.
  32. Chapter 32The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, receive their inheritance on the east side of Jordan, upon conditions approved of by Moses.
  33. Chapter 33The mansions or journeys of the children of Israel towards the land of promise.
  34. Chapter 34The limits of Canaan; with the names of the men that make the division of it.
  35. Chapter 35Cities are appointed for the Levites. Of which six are to be the cities of refuge.
  36. Chapter 36That the inheritances may not be alienated from one tribe to another, all are to marry within their own tribes.

Edition Record

Book
Numbers
Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible
Old Testament
First published at Douay in 1609
New Testament
First published at Rheims in 1582
Revision and Notes
Bishop Richard Challoner, 1749
Historical Imprimatur
James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, 1 September 1899