Numbers (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible | BTC)

by David L. Stubbs

Publisher:

Brazos

, 2009

Overview

Numbers begins with the joyful occasion of Israel accepting the covenant at Mount Sinai and preparing to begin their journey to the promise land. But grumbling soon sets in, and the people of Israel begin a slow trajectory towards rebellion and complaining, and yet constantly encounter God’s grace—even when he disciplines them.

David Stubbs in Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible: Numbers seeks to illuminate this theme as it is presented throughout the book. He understands, as the entire series does, Numbers is Christian Scripture, and as such seeks to illuminate the meaning of the final (Canonical) form of the text. Insightful, and theologically grounded in the tradition of the Nicene Creed, this commentary does not simply explain, it interprets and explains the theology of this much under-studied book of the Bible.

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Key Features

• Contains an in-depth introduction
• Offers theological analysis of Scripture
• Includes bibliographical references and indexes

Contents

Top Highlights

“Whatever the translation, the people ‘lacked the soul’ for bearing their long and difficult journey” (Page 167)

“In sum, the serpents can be seen to be a judgment upon Israel that reveals and symbolizes their sin.^{67” (Page 168)}

“turning point in Numbers—the seventh and final rebellion of Israel before they reach the plain of Moab” (Page 165)

“they lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering.” (Page 167)

“The phrase ‘on the way’ might be translated ‘because of the way,’ that is, they were impatient or discouraged because of yet one more detour and difficulty (Milgrom 1990: 173, following Rashi).” (Page 167)

Praise for the Print Edition

Stubbs is an able guide as he focuses on the literary shape of the final form of Numbers and its theological implications for the life of the Christian church. . . . Rich and substantive. . . . A sumptuous theological feast.

—Dennis Olson, Charles T. Haley Professor of Old Testament Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary

Stubbs’s sophisticated literary approach is just what is needed to engage the interplay of law and narrative in this, the most complex book of the Torah. Moreover, his wide-ranging theological and ecclesial imagination is deeply informed by scripture and the history of its interpretation by both Jews and Christians. Stubbs has opened up the riches of a book that was effectively closed to the church, making it accessible and even indispensable for our journey with God.

—Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School

Product Details

• Title: Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible: Numbers
• Author: David L. Stubbs
• Editor: R. R. Reno
• Publisher: Baker
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 272

About David L. Stubbs

A central interest of David Stubbs’s scholarly work is the impact that different philosophies and cultures have had on the church’s theological and ethical imagination. That interest finds particular focus in his continued work on the concept of participation in Christ and sanctification in the modern Reformed tradition. His interest in theology and ethics has not been purely academic, however. David has worked in college ministries and worship leadership for many years, served as a construction manager for Habitat for Humanity, taught English in China, and participated in and led several mission service projects in the U.S., Argentina, and Mexico. Dr. Stubbs recently published a theological commentary on the book of Numbers with Brazos Press and is working on a project exploring the influence of Israelite worship on the Lord’s Supper. He is also part of the steering committees of the Systematic Theology group of the American Academy of Religion and on the editorial board of Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought. Dr. Stubbs has published and presented in areas such as sacraments, ethics, the theological ethics of Karl Barth, Christian views on war, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the impact of Anglo-American postmodernism on ethics and theology.