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70 Numbers Bible Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Numbers Bible? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Numbers Bible (Religion). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Exodus    Numbers in the Title (Something in the Title)  
1 In Numbers 1 (in the New American Standard Bible), the men had to be at least how old to fight in the Israelites' army?
Answer: 20

Numbers 1:44-46 in the New American Standard Bible reads:
"These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father's household. So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, even all the numbered men were 603,550."

Interestingly enough, Jewish tradition suggests that a boy becomes a man when he turns 13 years old. However, regardless of whether 13 is the beginning of adulthood or not, the LORD clearly didn't consider the males mature enough to fight in wars until they were at least 20. I actually find this really interesting. As an American, I honestly think that the Bible has a better idea regarding the age of sending people to war than my country does (the American age is 18).

Numbers 1 goes on to say that the LORD exempted the Levites from being in the army or being numbered because He gave them the special responsibility of caring for His tabernacle.

Question submitted by Ceduh
  From Quiz: Numbers is Number Four
2 Numbers derives its less frequently used name, "Wayyedabber" - "And He Said" -from the first few words of the book, "And the Lord spake..." To whom was the Lord speaking?
Answer: Moses

Moses, or Moshe, was the man whom God had chosen to lead his children out of captivity in Egypt. Moses is generally understood to have written this book, as well as the other first four books of the Holy Bible, commonly referred to as the "Pentateuch".
The book follows the 11-day journey that became a 40-year agony for the nation of Israel, largely due to their unbelief and complaining. The numbers involved are the two numberings of the people; first, of the generation that left during the Exodus, and second, of the generation that grew up in the wilderness and eventually conquered Canaan.
There are over 80 places where it states the Lord spoke to Moses in this book.
  From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Numbers
3 At the beginning of chapter XIII, the Lord instructs Moses to send a number of men to spy out the land of Canaan. How are these men to be chosen?
Answer: One from each of the twelve tribes will be sent.

The verse reads "Send thou men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man..." By sending a man from each tribe, Moses assures that all of the people are represented.
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
4 The Lord spoke to Moses and asked him to regulate the duties of the Levites. At what age did the Lord tell Moses that Levites could retire from performing in the Tent?
Answer: Fifty

The Lord allowed an early retirement for the Levites after their purification and dedication, allowing them to become ritually clean. The Levites had their clothes washed and purified themselves, while Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to the Lord. In being pure, the Levites were able to work under the Tent of the Lord's presence.

"From the age of twenty-five each Levite shall perform his duties in the Tent of my presence, and at the age of fifty he shall retire." (Numbers 8.24-25)
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
5 On which day of which month did the Lord speak to Moses in Numbers 1:1?
Answer: first day of the second month

Numbers 1:1 "And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt."
    Your options: [ first day of the second month ] [ third day of the fourth month ] [ second day of the first month ] [ fourth day of the third month ]
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
6 The name of the tribe appointed over the care of the tabernacle.
Answer: What is Levi?

Numbers 1:50.
Because of their zeal for the Lord at Mt Sinai involving the golden calf, the tribe of Levi was given the responsibility for care of the tabernacle. They were not numbered with the rest of the Israelites for the army and were not given any land for an inheritance because the Lord was their inheritance.
    Your options: [ What is Judah? ] [ What is Levi? ] [ What is Zebulon? ] [ What is Manasseh? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
7 "Bemidbar," the Hebrew title of the book we call "Numbers," means what?
Answer: In the wilderness

The Hebrew title comes from the first line of the book: "And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinaļ ... " The Greek Septuagint used the name of Numbers, and this is how the title has come down to us in the English version. In both chapters 1 and 26, the Israelites are "numbered" via a census, and this probably accounts for the title's origin.
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
8 Who was Aaron's firstborn son according to Numbers 3:1 (King James Version)?
Answer: Nadab

His other sons were, in order from oldest to youngest: Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

We later learn in Numbers 3:4 that Aaron's oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, died because they offered "a strange fire". The Bible (King James Version) also says that they were childless.

Question submitted by ilona_ritter
  From Quiz: Numbers is Number Four
9 The book of Leviticus only covers a time frame of about a month, but the book of Numbers covers a time frame of much longer duration. Approximately how much time is represented by the book of Numbers?
Answer: 39 years

Ahh... If you read the answer to the first question, you probably got this one right.
Covering a time that probably ran from 1444-1405 B.C., it records Israel's movements from Mount Sinai to their arrival in the plains of Moab (Jordan) in the fortieth year of their wanderings.
Whenever they were encamped and not traveling, their tents probably occupied several square miles, since according to the figures given in chapters 1 and 26, their population was over 2 and 1/2 million people!
  From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Numbers
10 In the Soncino edition of the Bible, how does the Lord describe the spies in Numbers XIII?
Answer: As princes

The end of Numbers XIII:2 states "...every one a prince among them". The Hebrew word, "Nasi", is translated in the Soncino edition as "prince", and in some Christian translations as "leader". Regardless, it is clear that the twelve spies were not ordinary men, but the best of each tribe. In modern Israeli Hebrew, the word "Nasi" means "president".
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
11 In a passage involving the Lord talking to Aaron, the Lord says "Children shall be bought back at the age of one month for the fixed price of _________ pieces of silver according to the official standard." How many pieces of silver is this?
Answer: Five

This passage taken from Numbers 18.16, was said to Aaron when the Lord entitled Aaron to any special contributions that were not burned as sacrifices to the Lord.

"Everything in Israel that has been unconditionally dedicated to me belongs to you." (Numbers 18.14)

"Every first-born child or animal that the Israelites present to me belongs to you. But you must accept payment to buy back every first-born child, and must also accept payment for every first-born child animal that is ritually unclean." (Numbers 18.15)
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
12 Complete this verse from Numbers 7:26 (KJV): "One golden spoon of ten ___________, full of incense."
Answer: shekels

A shekel was a unit of currency and weight for the ancient Hebrews.
    Your options: [ shekels ] [ coins ] [ dollars ] [ gold pieces ]
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
13 Aaron and his descendants.
Answer: Who were given the priesthood?

Numbers 3:10
Aaron's family were given a perpetual priesthood in Israel and were the only ones allowed to enter the holy place and most holy place in the tabernacle.
    Your options: [ Who were the commanders of the armies of Israel? ] [ Who were given the priesthood? ] [ Who were given the choicest land? ] [ Who were cut off from Israel? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
14 Numbers 21:14 mentions "the book of the wars of the Lord." Where can we find this book today?
Answer: It does not exist today

No copy of this book survives today, and it is unknown who wrote it or why it was never preserved and included in the Hebrew canon. Other lost books mentioned in the Old Testament include the Book of Jashar (mentioned in Joshua) and The Acts of Solomon (mentioned in Kings).
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
15 The title of the book, "Numbers", refers to what in the story of the Israelites' journey?
Answer: Census data: the number of men of a certain age

The title "Numbers" refers to two censuses. In Chapter 1 of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, the Lord directs Moses to count the number of men of age 20 or greater, as the Israelites start their journey to the Promised Land. The second survey account occurs in Chapter 26, as the Lord tells Moses and Eleazar to count the new generation, 38 years later. The numbers were of men who were age 20 and over, and the census would reflect the fighting strength of the Israelite army. The results were 601,730 and 603,550 men respectively, according to "Atozmom's Blog" which cites the census numbers of each tribe of Israel and the totals. Atozmom points out how close the two numbers were. He comments that God had replaced the body of Israelites in those years, as the human body replaces cells over the years. I reflect that God now had a new body of chosen people, with the same history and ancestry. They would move more certainly toward the Promised Land than the former body did, with Joshua leading and God directing.

Question submitted by Allison03
  From Quiz: Numbers is Number Four
16 On the day of the Sabbath, how many male lambs (without defects) is one supposed to bring as an offering?
Answer: Two

The Lord commanded Moses to instruct the Israelites on the various food offerings that they must present at various times during the calendar year. These offerings included Regular offerings, Sabbath offerings, Harvest Festival offerings, Festival of Unleavened Bread offerings, New Year offerings, Day of Atonement offerings, and Festival of Shelters offerings.

On the day of the Sabbath, "offer two one-year-old male lambs without any defects, two kilogrammes of flour mixed with olive oil as a grain-offering, and the wine offering. This burnt-offering is to be offered every Sabbath in addition to the daily offering with its wine-offering." (Numbers 28.9-10)
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
17 Who is Caleb's father?
Answer: Jephunneh

Numbers 13:6 "Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh."
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
18 This was the age of a man entering into the service of the tabernacle.
Answer: What is 30 to 50 years?

Numbers 4:34-35
The work of the tabernacle was given only to the Levites as a perpetual responsibility. Only men of a mature age were permitted on a rotation basis. In modern Israel there are Levites preparing for the restoration of temple worship.
    Your options: [ What is 20 to 50 years? ] [ What is 30 to 50 years? ] [ What is 20 to 40 years? ] [ What is 25 to 55 years? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
19 "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be glorious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." What are these verse from Numbers called?
Answer: The Aaronic Benediction

Found in Numbers 6:24-26, these words are still used as the benediction in many modern Christian liturgical churches. The Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9--"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
20 According to Numbers 18:1-3 (King James Version) who was in charge of the tabernacle?
Answer: The Levites

The Levites were the priests, which is why they were in charge of the tabernacle. Aaron, Moses's brother, was a Levite. The Levites descended from Levi, one of Jacob's sons. According to Numbers 18:3, the Levites had no inheritance of land. This was because, as priests, they were spread out among the other tribes.

Question submitted by ilona_ritter
  From Quiz: Numbers is Number Four
21 According to Numbers 4:3 (and later throughout the chapter), what age did a male have to be in order to qualify for the priesthood serving in the tabernacle?
Answer: 30-50 years old

This may have been ordered to ensure the maturity of individual priests as well as to prevent a type of "priest-for-life" mentality. Also, as a priest aged, it would have naturally become harder for him to perform as he had formerly, and the top age limit may have been implemented to provide eventual respite.
  From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Numbers
22 How does Moses complete his instructions to the spies?
Answer: Be of strong courage, and bring back the fruit of the land.

The spies set out at the time of the "first-ripe grapes". Moses instructs them to bring some of this fruit back with them, "as a tangible confirmation of their testimony", according to the Soncino commentators.
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
23 How many clans did the tribe of Levi originally consist of?
Answer: 3

Originally, the tribe of Levi consisted of the clans of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Numbers 26.57)

"Their descendants included the subclans of Libni, Hebron, Mahli, Mushi, and Korah." (Numbers 26.57)
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
24 This is the first place that the Israelites stopped at when they left the wilderness of Sinai.
Answer: What is Paran?

Numbers 10:12
Hebron is a city in Israel, Succoth was one of the stopping places when the Israelites left Egypt as was Migdol which was by the Red Sea.
    Your options: [ What is Hebron? ] [ What is Paran? ] [ What is Succoth? ] [ What is Migdol? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
25 When the twelve spies were sent to Canaan, how many returned with a good report?
Answer: two

The other ten spies discouraged the Israelites from taking the land, resulting in another 38 years of wilderness wandering. Caleb was among those who gave a good report of the land.
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
26 The spies return after forty days with a cluster of grapes. How do they transport the fruit?
Answer: Tied to a pole and carried by two men.

The cluster of grapes was so very large that two grown men were required to carry it (Numbers XIII:23). The image of two biblical figures in robes and sandals, carrying a cluster of grapes on a pole between them, is the symbol of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
27 How long is a person unclean when he touches a dead body?
Answer: seven days

Numbers 19:11 "He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days."
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
28 This is the number of elders appointed to help Moses lead the Israelites.
Answer: What is 70?

Numbers 11:16
The Israelites had just complained to Moses about the manna and how they thought they had it so great in Egypt. Moses talks to the Lord and asks why he got stuck with this bunch of crybabies. The Lord decides to give Moses some help by using the elders to assume some leadership responsibility.
    Your options: [ What is 80? ] [ What is 70? ] [ What is 90? ] [ What is 60? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
29 Who rebelled against Moses, attempting to seize the priesthood, only to be swallowed by the earth?
Answer: Korah

The story is told in Numbers 16. Korah led 250 men to oppose Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" (16:3). The Lord, however, sent an earthquake to open the earth and swallow the rebels.
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
30 The spies give a positive report of the land itself. How do they describe it?
Answer: It is a land flowing with milk and honey.

The initial report of the spies is glowing. "(they) showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him (Moses), and said 'We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it'". (Numbers XIII:27)
In modern Israel one can find businesses from restaurants to travel agents that call themselves "Milk and Honey".
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
31 How old was Aaron the priest when he died?
Answer: 123

Aaron the priest died on the journey from Egypt to Moab. When the Israelites left Rephidim, they travelled to Mount Hor where Aaron would pass away at the age of 123:

"At the command of the Lord, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor. At the age of 123, he died there on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites had left Egypt." 33.38
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
32 According to Numbers 20:11 where did Moses get water from?
Answer: rock

Numbers 20:11 "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice; and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also."
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
33 Why was Moses prohibited from entering Canaan?
Answer: For the manner in which he brought water from the rock

Moses was instructed by God to bring forth water from the rock. "Take the staff," said the Lord, "and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water" (20:8). But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it, and he took the credit for the miracle: "'Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?' Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank" (20:10-11). As a consequence for this sin, God declared, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (20:12). It was Aaron, not Moses, who fashioned the golden calf. Though Moses did marry an Ethiopian, he was not punished for it.
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
34 Once the tabernacle was constructed, how did God lead the Israelites through the wilderness?
Answer: pillar of cloud by day; pillar of fire by night

Numbers 9:15 and 16 says, "And on the day the tabernacle was lifted up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony; and at even (evening) there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night."

If we read just a little further, we see that when the cloud or fire stopped, the people encamped around it and when the cloud or fire moved, so did the people as they followed it.
  From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: Numbers
35 Despite their positive report of the land, ten of the spies have a negative report about one aspect of the land. What is their complaint?
Answer: The people that dwell in the land are fierce.

"Howbeit the people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified, and very great; and moreover we saw the children of Anak there". Despite the initial, positive report of the spies, they soon begin to describe the land as a fearsome place. "And they spread an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel..." (Numbers XIII:32)
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
36 In Numbers 21:33, who is the King of Bashan?
Answer: Og

Numbers 21:33 "And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the King of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle of Edrei."
  From Quiz: Pick a 'Number'
37 This is the fruit that the Israelite spies carried out of the promised land when they returned to the camp of the Israelites.
Answer: What are grapes, pomegranates and figs?

Numbers 13:23
The ten spies wanted to show the people how great the fruit of the land was but then they also had to tell how big the giants were. Because they emphasized the negative instead of the positive the people rebelled against God and became afraid. Instead of getting their promised land at this time they were sent back into the wilderness for forty years.
    Your options: [ What are grapes, oranges and apples? ] [ What are grapes, pomegranates and figs? ] [ What are apples, oranges and figs? ] [ What are pomegranates, figs and oranges? ]
  From Quiz: Numbers Jeopardy
38 What object did Moses hold up, which healed the people when they looked to it?
Answer: A Brass Serpent

In Numbers 21, the Israelites murmured against God and were punished by fiery serpents. They fell sick from the bites, but were healed when they looked toward the brass serpent Moses raised: "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived" (21:9). Later, however, the Israelites began to actually worship this serpent as an idol, and King Hezekiah had to destroy it: "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan" (2 Kings 18:4). For Christians, the raising of the brass serpent is a type of Christ's being raised up on the cross for the healing of the lost. Christ Himself interprets the symbol in this manner in John 3:14.
    Your options: [ The Ten Commandments ] [ Aaron's Rod ] [ The Ark of the Covenant ] [ A Brass Serpent ]
  From Quiz: Book of Numbers
39 Two of the spies oppose those who speak badly of the land. What are their names?
Answer: Joshua and Caleb

Caleb is of the tribe of Judah, while Joshua is of the tribe of Ephraim. They are appalled by the "evil report" given by the other ten spies, and "rent their cloths". "And they spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: 'The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it unto us - a land which floweth with milk and honey'". (Numbers XIV:7-8)
  From Quiz: Spies in the Promised Land
40 In assigning cities to the Levites, how many cities did the Lord allot the Levites for refuge in the case that they should accidentally kill someone?
Answer: Six

The Lord commanded Moses to tell the Israelites how to divide the land fairly so that the Levites could have cities to live in and pastures to sustain food supplies. The Israelites were to be told the following:

"The pasture land is to extend outwards from the city walls 450 meters in each direction, so that there is a square area measuring 900 meters on each side, with the city in the middle. You are to give the Levites six cities of refuge to which a man can escape if he kills someone accidentally. In addition, give them forty-two other cities with their pasture land, making a total of forty-eight." (Numbers 35.4-7)
  From Quiz: Hardship and Rebellion... Numbers
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