These Ten Times

Peter J. Leithart, July 12, 2006

In Num 14:22, Yahweh charges that Israel has tested Him "these ten times." Ronald Allen offers this list of 10 rebellions in his Expositor's Bible Commentary:

1. Israel's fear that Pharaoh would destroy them, Ex 14:10-12
2. Marah, Ex 15:22-24
3. Hunger in the wilderness, Ex 16:1-3
4. Disobedience to Moses concerning saving manna overnight, Ex 16:19-20
5. Disobedience to Moses concerning gathering manna on Sabbath, Ex 16:27-30
6. Rephidim, Ex 17:1-4. . . .

7. Golden calf, Ex 32:1-35
8. Taberah, Num 11:1-3
9. Grumbling at Kibroth Hattaavah, Num 11:3-34
10. Kadesh, 14:1-3

Perhaps some of these details are off, but no matter: We know that Kadesh was the 10th of a series of rebellions in the wilderness. Up to this point, the rebellions, and consequent judgments, numerically mimic the plagues: The 10 plagues of Egypt are replicated in a different form within Israel, since they have refused to acknowledge Yahweh as Pharaoh refused to acknowledge Yahweh. There is an interesting inversion of Passover - the 10th plague - at Kadesh - the site of the 10th rebellion: At Passover, Israel's firstborn sons were saved while Egypt's firstborn died; at Kadesh, the rebels worry that "out little ones will become plunder" (14:3) - that is, that the Lord will not save their little ones. In the event, the rebels become plunder and the little ones inherit the land a generation later.

Rebellions don't stop at Kadesh. In addition to these 10, there are the following:

11. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num 16
12. No water at Meribah - Moses rebels too, Num 20:1-13
13. Bronze serpent, Num 21:4-9
14. Harlotry with daughters of Moab, Num 25:1-18

Immediately after the 14th rebellion, Yahweh tells Moses to muster the people again, and that marks the end of the rebellions in the wilderness. There is a suspected rebellion by Reuben and Gad (Num 32), but this turns out to be a misunderstanding.

The numerology is interesting here: After a double Sabbath, or two weeks, of rebellions, the Lord musters Israel to enter the land.