A well known statement made by the Israelites concerning manna – we loathe this light bread – is found in this chapter. God’s response is pretty well known too, I imagine; fiery serpents came into the came and many people died. At the command of the LORD, Moses puts up a bronze serpent on a pole.

This is not a good chapter in the life of Israel. Miriam dies at the beginning, Aaron dies at the end, and in between Moses is judged by God and told he will die before entering the promised land. Throw in Edom coming out with a small army against them for good measure.

A sacrifice was required to produce the water of purification. More details are given here for who is clean and who is uncleaned.

God returns to giving instructions, as we see here with the details of what the priesthood costs and the benefits of service to Aaron and his descendants.

There are three things kept in the ark of the covenant/ ark of testimony. The 10 commandments written on stone tablets, a jar with an omer of manna, and Aaron’s staff. Aaron’s staff is not actually in the ark, but kept with it in order to remind the Israelites who God has chosen to do his work. Here is that story.

This is a longer chapter but very exciting so it goes by quickly. Korah, a descendant of Kohath, gets a group of men together who challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron. They agree with Moses’ plan to have both stand before God and let him choose (which he had already done).

This chapter almost feels out of place. The children of Israel have just rebelled against their leadership and God, and have been condemned to spend the next 40 years in the wilderness. Then he goes back into giving instructions about making offerings and emphasizes the importance of obedience; but the instructions are for that next generation that is being raised up.

A group of 12 went into the land to scope things out. 10 of the 12 bring back reports of walled cities and strong men that look like giants so the congregation of Israel decides to appoint new leaders that will take them back to Egypt. This is where the 40 years in the wilderness is mentioned for the first time.