Behind the name (taken from the Greek Arithmoi, referencing the censuses contained in Numbers) lies a deeply theological and surprisingly narrative-rich book. The Book of Numbers tells the story of the generation that left Egypt and their descendants who are on the verge of the Promised Land. In Hebrew, the book is more aptly titled B’midbar — “In the Wilderness” — which captures its tone and purpose. The book of Numbers is all about life in transition, about a people caught between a promise and a Messiah, and about how God forms a nation not just by delivering it from slavery, but by shaping it through trial, failure, and covenantal discipline.