<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Book of Numbers (from Greek Ἀριθμοί, Arithmoi; Hebrew: בְּמִדְבַּר ‎, Bəmiḏbar, "In the desert (of)") is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fourth of five books of the Jewish Torah . The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is probably due to a Priestly redaction (i.e., editing) of a Yahwistic source made some time in the early Persian period (5th century BCE). The name of the book comes from the two censuses taken of the Israelites . </P> <P> Numbers begins at Mount Sinai, where the Israelites have received their laws and covenant from God and God has taken up residence among them in the sanctuary . The task before them is to take possession of the Promised Land . The people are counted and preparations are made for resuming their march . The Israelites begin the journey, but they "murmur" at the hardships along the way, and about the authority of Moses and Aaron . For these acts, God destroys approximately 15,000 of them through various means . They arrive at the borders of Canaan and send spies into the land . Upon hearing the spies' fearful report concerning the conditions in Canaan, the Israelites refuse to take possession of it . God condemns them to death in the wilderness until a new generation can grow up and carry out the task . The book ends with the new generation of Israelites in the Plain of Moab ready for the crossing of the Jordan River . </P>

Where does the book of numbers get its name