This is the second volume of L. Michael Morales’ Numbers commentary set. I have reviewed the first volume here. Read it. Buy the book. Then read the book. Then read this book. You will want to buy both volumes because (1) they are incredible feats of academic achievement for Old Testament studies and (2) volume 1 contains the introduction and this volume contains all the remaining end bits—the Bibliography and Indices—for both volumes.
Layout
In each main section of the commentary, Morales provides:
- his own translation of the Hebrew text,
- relevant notes on the text dealing with translational and linguistic matters,
- the form and structure of the unit (drawing our attention to important inclusios, framing techniques, exegetical cues to other passages, etc.),
- comments on the passage,
- and a final explanation which draws pairs Numbers together with the rest of Scripture and our daily life and ministries.
Figures, Tables, and Baal Peor
There are five Figures and thirty Tables. Morales observes five parallels between the sin with the golden calf (Exodus 32) with the sin at Baal Peor (Num 25). He writes, “The temptations were particular for the given generations: the first generation’s challenge was to die to the life of Egypt, whereas the second generation’s challenge was to live out Israel’s vocation in the land” (249). If you’ve ever been confused about why Phinehas gets rewarded for stabbing the couple with a spear, that is because his “action… marks a reversal of Aaron’s passivity and timidness, which had led to his own complicity in the golden calf incident (Exod. 32:1–5)” (249).
Morales shows framing techniques such as inclusios and repetition within a passage and then elsewhere in Numbers to draw together theological connections. Morales compares lexical links between Exodus 34 and Numbers 25 (e.g., “prostrate yourself,” “jealous,” “whore,” “sacrifice,” “their gods,” “calls,” “eat,” and “daughters”). And from these and other parallels he concludes, “Israel’s behaviour at Shittim was a ‘wilfull pursuit of the Moabite women’ and the ensuing idolatry was ‘a deliberate crime against YHWH’” (250). There are links with the first generations rejection of the land (Num 13–14), a contrast between Phinehas’s action and the actions of Moses and Aaron (Num 20), and the law of the strayed woman (Num 5). With that last law in mind, we are able “to view the nation of Israel… through the lens of the strayed woman law, with Israel as YHWH’s wife” (252). In Numbers 25, Israel is the wife who commits adultery against her divine Husband.
The Bronze Serpent
In bronze serpent episode of Numbers 21, Morales notes that there are no statements, no “narrative closure,” telling us Moses put away the bronze serpent or that the location was given a name as a memorial of this fiery snake event (68). Israel had asked that Yahweh turn the snakes away. Instead, the Lord responded to Moses’ prayer by giving a healing remedy to anyone who was dying from being bitten. Such snakes were common in this area of the wilderness, and Yahweh had been shielding Israel from them during their journey.
However, in this Israel still found reason to complain about living outside of Egypt. But now things would be different. The “new normal” would be fiery (that is, poisonous) snakes among them. Israel, when bit, would now have to turn and look at the bronze serpent for the duration of their wilderness journey. Yet from this Israel would have more reason to daily depend on the Lord. The fact that things could always be worse would shield Israel from taking the Lord’s provision for granted and from complaining against him. Morales writes, “With good reason, this is the last complaint story of the wilderness era” (68).
Should I stay or should I go?
I’ve always found Num 22:20-22 confusing. God tells Balaam he can go with Balak’s servants (22:20) but then becomes angry that Balaam goes (22:22). But Morales writes that the real problem is found when God ends up allowing Balaam to go. Why did God let Balaam go after all? Because Balaam was bent on going. If Balaam so wanted to go, curse Israel, and get paid for it, God would allow it. But Balaam would end up blessing Israel thrice while paying for it with his life (31:8).
Morales draws out the irony of the scene between Balaam and his donkey:
With Balaam presented as an expert in the interpretation of omens, especially omens concerning unusual animal behaviour… there is no little irony in his inability to read the abnormal behaviour of his jenny, behaviour she herself must point out to him as being completely contrary to her lifelong habit (22:30). (131).
Even the Tiniest of Links
While many are likely relieved and probably surprised to see that Korah’s sons survived (26:11) the earth eating Korah and his family (16:32), Morales notes that in 4:17–18—verses I have glided over many times—Yahweh had warned Moses and Aaron not to let the Kohath clans be wiped out (or “cut off”). The notice in Numbers 26:11 reassures us of their survival. Korah’s sons did not die with him. Yahweh has kept his word from 4:17–18.
The Spoiled Milk
This is the same as in the first volume so I’ll make this brief. (1) The Table of Contents gives no details to the textual commentary and (2) Hebrew is transliterated — not helpful for scholars and laypeople will skip over it regardless.
Recommended?
Morales has written a carefully detailed commentary on Numbers that may be overwhelming to many. This is to no fault of his own, but to the neglect of the book of Numbers by the church. Numbers simply isn’t as exciting or preachable as the New Testament books. Or, maybe it is? With the level of detail Morales has mined and brought up to the surface, both academics and pastors will be able to see the riches of Numbers for themselves and pass them on. Morales leaves very few stones unturned, and those he has turned have been smoothed down enough for us to accept and delight in. This is a brilliant commentary.
Highly recommended!
Pair this with Sklar (SGBC), Ashley (NICOT), and Wenham (TOTC).
Buy it on Amazon or from IVP Books!
Lagniappe
- Series: Apollos Old Testament Commentary
- Author: L. Michael Morales
- Paperback: 736 pages
- Publisher: Apollos/IVP Books (January 14, 2025)
Other Apollos Reviews
- Exodus — T. Desmond Alexander
- Numbers 1–19 — L. Michael Morales
- Deuteronomy — Gordon McConville
- Proverbs — Paul Overland
- Hosea — Joshua Moon
- Obadiah, Jonah, Micah — Elaine Philips
- Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi — Anthony Petterson
Disclosure: I received this book free from IVP Books/Apollos. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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