Over the past two decades, the Book of Numbers has increasingly moved from the margins to the center of Pentateuchal studies, as it has become clear that it is a litmus test for many theories of this field. It describes Israel in the fictional setting of the formative desert period between Sinai and the country's border. In doing so, it addresses and reflects theologically on themes central to post-exilic Israel, including election, leadership, social organization, and land. This volume brings together 42 essays by renowned experts in their field, providing both an overview and new insights into the current state of research on the Book of Numbers. The essays cover a wide range of topics, including textual tradition and transmission, structure, narrative and literary history, contexts, and reception.
Christian Frevel is Professor of Old Testament Studies at the Ruhr-University of Bochum (Germany) and Extraordinary Professor at the Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures of the University of Pretoria (South Africa). His latest publications include History of Ancient Israel (SBL, 2023), Desert Transformations: Studies in the Book of Numbers (Mohr Siebeck, 2020) and Schulter an Schulter (Kohlhammer, 2024).
Benjamin Kilchör is Professor of Old Testament at STH Basel. His publications include Mosetora und Jahwetora: Das Verhältnis von Deuteronomium 1226 zu Exodus, Levitikus und Numeri (Harrassowitz, 2015) and Wiederhergestellter Gottesdienst: Eine Deutung der zweiten Tempelvision Ezechiels (Ez 4048) am Beispiel der Aufgaben der Priester und Leviten (Herder, 2020).
Craig A. Evans is Distinguished Research Professor at The Bible Seminary, Katy, Texas. His publications include Jesus and His Contemporaries (Brill, 1995), Jesus and His World (WJKP, 2012), Matthew (Cambridge University Press, 2012), and Jesus and the Manuscripts (Hendrickson, 2020).
