THE SECOND GENERATION:

ADMONITIONS

Lesson 12 for the 19th of December, 2009

 A NEW CENSUS
THE THE CENSUS
TRIBE CENSUS NEXT TO
ON SINAI JERICHO
REUBEN ─ 46.500 43.730
SIMEON ─ 59.300 22.200
GAD ─ 45.650 40.500
JUDAH + 74.600 76.500
ISSACHAR + 54.400 64.300
ZEBULUN + 57.400 60.500
MANASSEH + 32.200 52.700
EPHRAIM ─ 40.500 32.500
BENJAMIN + 35.400 45.600
DAN + 62.700 64.400
ASHER + 41.500 53.400
NAPHTALI ─ 53.400 45.400
LEVI + 22.000 23.000
625.550 624.730
 ORGANIZING THE LAND

A second census was

made to share fairly the
conquered land.

“The land is to be allotted to them as an

inheritance based on the number of names. To a
larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a
smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its
inheritance according to the number of those
listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.
What each group inherits will be according to the
names for its ancestral tribe. Each inheritance is to
be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller
groups”. Numbers, 26: 53-56
 ORGANIZING THE LAND
Against any cultural norm, God was equitable in dealing
with inheritances.
The land must always be possession of the family:

The estate passed to

the sons.
If they had no sons,
then to the daughters.
If there were no direct
heirs, then to the
brothers.
If there were no
brothers, to the uncles.
If there were no uncles,
to the closest relative.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Before Moses died, he looked for
a suitable leader for Israel, so
they could enter Canaan. He
raised his request to God.

“so that the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without
a shepherd” (Numbers, 27: 17)
He showed the same
compassion that Jesus would
show later to the people.

“When Jesus landed and saw

a large crowd, he had
compassion on them, because
they were like sheep without
a shepherd” (Mark, 6: 34)
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Moses didn’t suggest a
candidate. He put that choice
in God’s hands.

Why should Moses hand out the position to

Joshua in front of the congregation?

What does this expression mean: “And

you shall give some of your authority to
him” (Numbers, 27: 20)?

Moses spoke face to face with

God, but Joshua couldn’t do
that.

How should Joshua consult God to lead

the conquest?
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
The religious obligations are
reminded to the new generation.

Daily sacrifices (Numbers, 28: 1-8)

• In the morning and in the afternoon.

Weekly sacrifices (Numbers, 28: 9-10)

• Sabbatical sacrifice.

Monthly sacrifices (Numbers, 28: 11-15)

• New moon (starting a month)

Annual sacrifices (Numbers, 28: 16-29: 40)

• Passover.
• Weeks (Pentecost)
• Trumpets.
• Day of atonement.
• Tents.
 RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION VOWS
“This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the
LORD or takes an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he must not
break his word but must do everything he said”
(Numbers, 30: 1-2 NVI)

A vow is a commitment
before God.
An oath commits us to
something before other
people.

“It is better not to vow than to make

a vow and not fulfil it” (Ecclesiastes, 5: 5) Should we keep a
vow even if it’s
“Then will I ever sing praise to your name
against God’s law?
and fulfil my vows day after day” (Psalm 61: 8)
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION VOWS

Vow of a man Vow of a woman

He was bound to Widow or

his vow. Single Married repudiated

If her father heard If her husband If the vow was prior to the
the vow and was heard the vow and husband’s death or the
quiet, she was was quiet, she repudiation, the laws for
bound. was bound. married women were applied.

If her father If her husband

disapproved of it, disapproved of it, If the vow was done later, then
she was exempt she was exempt she was bound to her vow.
from keeping it. from keeping it.

If her husband disapproved the vow after approving it

earlier, it was considered a sin for the husband’s part.

“It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only

later to consider his vows” (Proverbs, 20: 25)
 MILITARY ORGANIZATION
Reuben and Gad tribes
asked to remain at the
west of the River
Jordan, without
entering the promise
land. How harmful
could that be?

How was that

situation
solved?

“People get along by speaking” (Spanish proverb)

MILITARY ORGANIZATION

How implicated in
God’s work are
we?

Apart from fighting for their own

land, the sons of Manasseh –and
Reuben and Gad– didn’t act in a
selfish way.
They were willing to go with their
brothers to conquering Canaan,
with all their warriors.
“In reviewing our past history,
having traveled over every step of
advance to our present standing, I
can say, Praise God! As I see what
the Lord has wrought, I am filled
with astonishment, and with
confidence in Christ as leader. We
have nothing to fear for the future,
except as we shall forget the way
the Lord has led us”.

E.G.W. (Life Sketches, cp. 31, pg. 196)