<P> The theme of descendants marks the first event in Numbers, the census of Israel's fighting men: the huge number which results (over 600,000) demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham of innumerable descendants, as well as serving as God's guarantee of victory in Canaan . As chapters 1--10 progress, the theme of God's presence with Israel comes to the fore: these chapters describe how Israel is to be organised around the Sanctuary, God's dwelling - place in their midst, under the charge of the Levites and priests, in preparation for the conquest of the land . </P> <P> The Israelites then set out to conquer the land, but almost immediately they refuse to enter it, and Yahweh condemns the whole generation who left Egypt to die in the wilderness . The message is clear: failure was not due to any fault in the preparation, because Yahweh had foreseen everything, but to Israel's sin of unfaithfulness . In the final section, the Israelites of the new generation follow Yahweh's instructions as given through Moses and are successful in all they attempt . The last five chapters are exclusively concerned with land: instructions for the extermination of the Canaanites, the demarcation of the boundaries of the land, how the land is to be divided, holy cities for the Levites and "cities of refuge", the problem of pollution of the land by blood, and regulations for inheritance when a male heir is lacking . </P> <Ul> <Li> Bemidbar, on Numbers 1--4: First census, priestly duties </Li> <Li> Naso, on Numbers 4--7: Priestly duties, the camp, unfaithfulness and the Nazirite, Tabernacle consecration </Li> <Li> Behaalotecha, on Numbers 8--12: Levites, journeying by cloud and fire, complaints, questioning of Moses </Li> <Li> Shlach, on Numbers 13--15: Mixed report of the scouts and Israel's response, libations, bread, idol worship, fringes </Li> <Li> Korach, on Numbers 16--18: Korah's rebellion, plague, Aaron's staff buds, duties of the Levites </Li> <Li> Chukat, on Numbers 19--21: Red heifer, water from a rock, Miriam's and Aaron's deaths, victories, serpents </Li> <Li> Balak, on Numbers 22--25: Balaam's donkey and blessing </Li> <Li> Pinechas, on Numbers 25--29: Phinehas, second census, inheritance, Moses' successor, offerings and holidays </Li> <Li> Matot, on Numbers 30--32: Vows, Midian, dividing booty, land for Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh </Li> <Li> Masei, on Numbers 33--36: Stations of the Israelites' journeys, instructions for conquest, cities for Levites </Li> </Ul> <Li> Bemidbar, on Numbers 1--4: First census, priestly duties </Li>

What is the bible book of numbers about