There are numerous theories about the authorship of the Torah. One is that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. If he did, it was strangely written, as he uses the third person to write about himself, including his own death. In addition, his Hebrew portrays different styles in different places. Perhaps, the issue is the word, "author"? If we understand that Moses is the "authority" behind the text (even modern authors do not always write every word in their books) and that the text has a long life history (over centuries) then it is possible to understand the 'conflicts' in the text. (Like two versions of the Ten Commandments with different ordering and emphasis) Using Moses for a shorthand way of saying it Mosaic is no doubt true. I also believe that the "writers" and "compilers" and "editors/redactors" are all divinely inspired. And just as we see relationships between the first three Gospels (and sometimes the Fourth) internally within the Torah texts there are melding of various more ancient traditions. [This is most easily seen reading Genesis 1 and 2.] Not unlike our own constitution (which continues to add ammendments, some to replace others), the document which we read has been made to address different situations over the long lifetime of Israel, from desert wanderers, invaders tribes, confederation, then nation, then nations, then exiles, then oppressed sojourners in their own land under foreign domination. Tent people, town people, city people. Different contexts abound and different needs for communication from One God abounds as well.
Whatever your theory of construction, it is clear that within the Ancient Covenant (Old Testament) text there are streams of concern. There are priestly concerns. There are legal concerns. There are governance concerns. There are prophetic concerns. All are variations on convenant concerns.
There are also narratives, stories which seem to be stories. Some explain. Some illustrate. Some baffle! All provide a different angle on the questions: Who is God and who are we called to be in relationship to Him?
Numbers has much about rituals. For a variety of reasons many of us are not interested in such things. Our religious culture tends to be anti-ritual. We have a basic distaste for priests and ceremonies. In the American south this is especially true. [Which may explain the allure of college football, the heart hungers for rituals.] Things like order, purity, holiness are not understood in the ancient way. Even those of us who like our religion priestly (count me in) are deeply formed (malformed?) by the Puritan ancestors. In the Revised Common Lectionary (used by most mainline denominations) there are only three readings from Numbers which ever appear. It may be the Word of God in theory, but in practice it is a mostly silent communication.
If we can suspend our distaste, we may find insights for our own world from this revelatory word from God. Numbers, after all, is inspired. As Thomas Dozeman says (in the New Interpreters Bible, vol 2) "Interpretation of Numbers requires an understanding of priestly religion." In a nutshell, the God of Numbers is not an intimate friend (like "buddy Jesus"). He is not a pal or playmate. He is an all holy, even terrifying God (see recent post, "How Dangerous is God"). There is an immense gulf between such a God and us. We are not His equals nor do we serve as His counselors. We are not His intimate friends with whom He enjoys a cup of coffee and a chat. He is, rather, creator of all that is, seen and unseen. He is the source and goal of creation. And He has chosen to bridge the gap and come among us.
Because the God Who is self-revealed in this text is Holy, Just, and Righteous, He is deeply offended by our sins. Approaching such a God is done with deep respect, even awe, fear and trembling. He may be good, but good is not nice and true good does not easily entertain the good mixed with evil mess called human being. Humanity lives in exile (since the Garden fiasco) and continues through the time of Moses to be under the dark cloud of sin and death. The rituals of Numbers are meant (by God's revelation) to provide a proper approach to the Divine. It is also intended to create rituals which insure the on-going presence of the Holy God in the midst of an unclean people.
Ever had an experience of meeting someone who is incredibly attractive in dim light from afar, but as the lights get brighter and you get closer, well, hmmm, not so much. In God's perfect sight, the things we overlook (no one is perfect) are more apparent and more glaring. Numbers is written by a someone(s) whose revelation from God wants to make that clear. And Numbers will provide insight into how Jesus is the One Mediator (see Hebrews) whose priesthood perfectly deals with that situation. Tomorrow I hope to write about clean/unclean and make sense of some issues of our own day.
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