The Book of Numbers

Composition, Reception, and Interpretation

Series: 

Over the past two decades, the Book of Numbers has increasingly moved from the margins to the center of Pentateuchal studies, as it has become clear that it is a litmus test for many theories of this field. It describes Israel in the fictional setting of the formative desert period between Sinai and the country's border. In doing so, it addresses and reflects theologically on themes central to post-exilic Israel, including election, leadership, social organization, and land. This volume brings together 42 essays by renowned experts in their field, providing both an overview and new insights into the current state of research on the Book of Numbers. The essays cover a wide range of topics, including textual tradition and transmission, structure, narrative and literary history, contexts, and reception.
Copyright Year:
2026
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ISBN:
978-90-04-75427-0
Publication:
25 Jun 2026
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ISBN:
978-90-04-52986-1
Publication:
16 Jul 2026
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Christian Frevel is Professor of Old Testament Studies at the Ruhr-University of Bochum (Germany) and Extraordinary Professor at the Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures of the University of Pretoria (South Africa). His latest publications include History of Ancient Israel (SBL, 2023), Desert Transformations: Studies in the Book of Numbers (Mohr Siebeck, 2020) and Schulter an Schulter (Kohlhammer, 2024).

Benjamin Kilchör is Professor of Old Testament at STH Basel. His publications include Mosetora und Jahwetora: Das Verhältnis von Deuteronomium 12–26 zu Exodus, Levitikus und Numeri (Harrassowitz, 2015) and Wiederhergestellter Gottesdienst: Eine Deutung der zweiten Tempelvision Ezechiels (Ez 40–48) am Beispiel der Aufgaben der Priester und Leviten (Herder, 2020).

Craig A. Evans is Distinguished Research Professor at The Bible Seminary, Katy, Texas. His publications include Jesus and His Contemporaries (Brill, 1995), Jesus and His World (WJKP, 2012), Matthew (Cambridge University Press, 2012), and Jesus and the Manuscripts (Hendrickson, 2020).
Contents
Preface
Lis of Figures and Tables
Notes on Contributors

Part 1 Textual Tradition and Transmission

1 Orality and Scribalism in Numbers
 Jacqueline Vayntrub

2 The Materiality and Textuality of Numbers in Qumran and the Judaean Desert Sites
 Kirsten M. Schäfers

3 The Samaritan Tradition of the Book of Numbers
 Ingrid Hjelm

4 The Septuagint of the Book of Numbers
 Hans Ausloos

5 Ketef Hinnom and the Priestly Blessing in the Book of Numbers
 Jeremy D. Smoak

6 Reading the Biblical Balaam Pericope against the Balaam Inscription
 Erhard Blum

7 Numbers as a Scroll Composition
A Material-Historical Approach to the Pre-history of Numbers
 David M. Carr

Part 2 Structure, Narrative, and Literary History

8 Synchronic and Diachronic Relevance of Structure Signals in the Book of Numbers
 Francesco Cocco

9 Narratology of the Book of Numbers
 Josef Forsling

10 The Importance of the Scout Story and the Crisis of Kadesh in Numbers 13–14
For Understanding the Literary History of the Torah
 Fabrizio Zandonadi Catenassi

11 Numbers 1–4 and 26 and the Final Stages in the Formation of the Pentateuch
 Axel Bühler

12 Transjordan Itinerary and the Oldest Reachable Layer of the Book of Numbers
In Literary and Historical Respect
 Reinhard G. Kratz

13 Binding and Bridging in Numbers 1–10 and 26–36
 Jordan Davis

14 The Balaam Story and Its Literary History
 Jonathan Miles Robker

15 The Book of Numbers as “Fortschreibung” and Interpretation
The Murmuring Narratives as Test Case
 Walter Bührer

16 New Generation in Renewed Tradition
A Canonical Reading of the Book of Numbers
 Benedict Schöning

Part 3 Topics

17 Sacrifices and Vows in the Book of Numbers
 Christophe Nihan

18 Calendar and Festivals in the Book of Numbers
 Itamar Kislev

19 Priests and Levites in the Book of Numbers
 Lars Maskow

20 Tribes and Numbers
Israel’s Social Structure in the Book of Numbers
 Kristin Weingart

21 Wilderness in the Book of Numbers
 Jaeyoung Jeon

22 Land in the Book of Numbers
 Stephen Germany

23 Collective Leadership in the Book of Numbers
 Katharina Pyschny

24 Women Who Count – and Women Who Don’t
Gender in Numbers 26
 Ulrike Sals

25 The Theme of the Second Generation in the Book of Numbers
And Its Wider Biblical Context
 Dennis T. Olson

26 The Priestly Blessing of Numbers 6:22–27
 Jeremy D. Smoak

27 Theology in and of the Book of Numbers
 Mark A. Awabdy

28 The Archaeology of Numbers
 Assaf Kleiman

Part 4 Contexts

29 Numbers as a Part of the Torah
 Reinhard Achenbach

30 Numbers and Leviticus
 Esias E. Meyer

31 Numbers and Deuteronomy
 Ruth Ebach

32 Numbers and Joshua as Part of a Hexateuchal Composition
The Relationship of Numbers to Joshua 20–22
 Erasmus Gass

33 Numbers and Ezekiel
 Nathan MacDonald

34 Numbers and Chronicles
Quarrels about the Levites’ Status?
 Louis C. Jonker

Part 5 Reception

35 Rewriting Numbers in Second Temple Judaism
 Ariel Feldman

36 Josephus and the Book of Numbers
 Michael Avioz

37 Reflections and Refractions of the Book of Numbers in the New Testament
 Malte Cramer

38 The Book of Numbers in the Rabbinic Literature
 Alan J. Avery-Peck

39 The Legacy of Balaam in Late Antiquity
 Libor Marek

40 Origen and His Homilies on the Book of Numbers
 Agnethe Siquans

41 Augustine of Hippo, Questions on Numbers
 Walter Gross

42 The Vorau Balaam
 Rabea Kohnen and Elisabeth König
This volume would be of interest to anyone interested in the textual tradition, composition, theology, and reception history of the Book of Numbers.
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