Numbers
Numbers is set in the desert of the Sinai. The authorship of the first five books of the Old Testament is often attributed to Moses, but multiple authors and editors are likely (see Exodus and Deuteronomy).
1-4. God, through Moses, orders a census of the Israelite community. Israelites over twenty years of age number 603,550. The Levites are told to be in charge of the tabernacle (portable church), and that anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. The Levites are also counted in the census. They number 22,000. People with skin diseases (presumably leprosy) are isolated.
5. God, through Moses, devises a test for suspected unfaithful wives. They are to be brought to a priest where he will give them 'bitter water' to drink that 'brings a curse'. If they have been unfaithful their abdomen will swell and they will miscarry, while if they have been faithful all will be well. There are abortifacient herbs that are decidedly bitter that will accomplish this, no curse required.
6-11. Commands for different tribes concerning sacrifices, offerings, and cleanliness rituals. The Israelites complain again that things were better in Egypt, that in Egypt they had plenty of fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, but all they have here is manna. They complain that they want meat. God replies that he will give them meat, so much in fact that it will come out of their nostrils and they will loathe it. God brings a wind that buries the camp six feet deep in quail, yes quail, and then strikes the Israelites with a plague for good measure. Silliness. I note that there always seems to be plenty of meat for sacrifices, which is presumably eaten by the priests.
12-15. God makes a woman's skin leprous for questioning Moses' relationship with God. Moses sends a group to explore Canaan. When they return they report large fortified cities and abundant food. The Israelites, having neither a city to live in nor abundant food, complain that it would have been better if they had died in Egypt. God, again, wants to kill them all for complaining, but instead, sends a plague and kills the group that reported what they saw. God decrees to Moses that a man found gathering wood on the Sabbath day should be stoned to death. The abuse of the Israelites by their own religion continues.
16-18. A group of Israelites rise up against Moses saying that he has gone too far and treats them like slaves. God splits the ground beneath their feet and the earth swallows them up. Despite this, more Israelites rebel and God brings a plague on them and kills 14,700. God confirms that the priests and their families can partake of all the fine meats, breads, fruit, wine, and tithes that are offered to him. The people suffer, rebellion is met by death, God indulges His passive aggressive pathology, and the priests help themselves.
19-24. Ordinances on who's clean, who's unclean, why, and for how long. The Israelites complain there is no water. God commands Moses to strike a rock with his staff and water gushes out to quench their thirst. The Israelites complain about lack of food and water. God sends venomous snakes to bite them and many die. Nothing that God supposedly does is done with grace.
25-28. Men who indulged in adultery with Midianite women and bowed down before other gods are put to death. God makes a pledge to Eleazar of lasting priesthood for his zealously driving a spear through an Israelite man and a Midianite woman. God decrees that all Midianites must be killed. Genocide. God anoints Joshua as Moses' successor.
29-36. Moses wages war on the Midianites. Every Midianite man is killed, their women and children are taken, their goods plundered, and their towns burned. Moses is angry at his generals. He asks why they spared the women. Moses decrees that all the boys and women be killed, but they can keep the virginal girls for themselves. The spoils are distributed. Moses and Eleazar the priest take all the gold. Keeping the virginal girls for themselves is a euphamism for rape and sexual slavery. Moses' character is defined here very clearly. It is quite astonishing that Christians consider Moses to be a hero, and the Bible is a template for a virtuous life.
My 'favourite' quote from Numbers is 'The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love, and forgiving sin and rebellion'. Breathtaking hypocrisy. Moses is a monster by any reading of Numbers.
Back to Leviticus. Forward to Deuteronomy.