Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Author's preface -- Editorial preface -- Abbreviations -- Main bibliography : commentaries, books, and articles -- Introduction. Contents -- Redaction -- Sources -- Religious contribution -- Numbers and history -- Theological postscript -- Text and commentary. The dimensions of the community -- The distictiveness of the Levites within the community -- The community as a priestly theocracy -- The structure and dimensions of the priestly hierarchy -- Levitical service within the priestly hierarchy -- Priests and the purity of the community -- Priests and restitution -- Priests and the ordeal -- Priests and Nazirites -- Priests and the blessing of the community -- The community's commitment to the priestly theocracy -- Divine revelation in the community -- The purification of the Levites -- Observing Passover -- Means of guidance on the journey- the cloud -- The signal for the journey-the silver trumpets -- The beginning of the journey -- Hobab and the ark -- Disaffection at Taberah -- The gift of quail at Kibroth-hattaavah -- Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses -- Reconnaissance of the land -- Rejection of the land and defeat at Hormah -- Additional cereal and drink offerings -- Offering the first fruits -- Inadvertent offenses -- Gathering sticks on the Sabbath -- Tassels of remembrance -- The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram -- Korah, Dathan, and Abiram-the aftermath -- The dues of the priests and Levites -- Purification of the unclean -- The exclusion of Moses and Aaron -- The journey around Edom -- The death of Aaron -- Canaanites defeated at Hormah -- The desert snakes -- The Transjordanian journey -- The defeat of Sihon and Og -- The story of Balaam -- Apostasy at Shittim -- The second census -- The second Levitical census -- The daughers of Zelophehad -- The commissioning of Joshua -- The list of offerings -- A woman's vows -- The Medianite war -- The settlement of Reuben and Gad -- The wilderness itinerary -- General guidance about the occupation -- The boundaries of the land -- The Levitical cities -- The cities of refuge -- the case of the daughters of Zelophehad resumed -- Indexes.