--- title: "Book of Numbers: Summary & All 36 Chapters · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/ description: "The Book of Numbers, a wilderness narrative in 36 chapters. Bp. Challoner’s summary of all 36 chapters, and the full text free." --- Old Testament # The Book of Numbers The Book of Numbers is the fourth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 36 chapters and 1,288 verses. [Start reading: Numbers 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/1/) Chapters 1–36: [1](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/1/) … [36](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/36/) ## About Numbers About Numbers · Wilderness narrative Numbers follows Israel through forty years between Egypt and the promised land, mixing census lists and laws with some of the Bible's sharpest stories of complaint and rebellion. Like the rest of the Pentateuch it is traditionally Mosaic and was shaped over generations. It was written to show what a whole generation's mistrust costs, and how God's patience outlasts it: the people fail repeatedly, and the promise survives every failure. The Church has always read its wandering camp as an image of her own pilgrimage. *Numbers in Bless* | | | |---|---| | Testament | Old Testament — book 4 of 46, 4 of 73 in the Bible | | Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) | | Chapters | 36 | | Verses | 1,288, as Bless numbers them | | Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter | | Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 36 chapters · 44 notes | | Catechism | 8 paragraphs cite it | Chapter by chapter ## All 36 chapters, *in brief.* Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text. 1. ### [Numbers 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/1/) 54 verses The children of Israel are numbered: the Levites are designed to serve the tabernacle. 2. ### [Numbers 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/2/) 34 verses The order of the tribes in their camp. 3. ### [Numbers 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/3/) 51 verses The Levites are numbered and their offices distinguished. They are taken in the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel. 4. ### [Numbers 4](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/4/) 49 verses The age and time of the Levites' service: their offices and burdens. 5. ### [Numbers 5](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/5/) 31 verses The unclean are removed out of the camp: confession of sins, and satisfaction: firstfruits and oblations belonging to the priests: trial of jealousy. 6. ### [Numbers 6](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/6/) 27 verses The law of the Nazarites: the form of blessing the people. 7. ### [Numbers 7](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/7/) 89 verses The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle. God speaketh to Moses from the propitiatory. 8. ### [Numbers 8](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/8/) 26 verses The seven lamps are placed on the golden candlestick, to shine towards the loaves of proposition: the ordination of the Levites: and to what age they shall serve in the tabernacle. 9. ### [Numbers 9](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/9/) 23 verses The precept of the pasch is renewed: the unclean and travellers are to observe it the second month: the camp is guided by the pillar of the cloud. 10. ### [Numbers 10](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/10/) 36 verses The silver trumpets and their use. They march from Sinai. 11. ### [Numbers 11](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/11/) 34 verses The people murmur and are punished with fire. God appointeth seventy ancients for assistants to Moses. They prophesy. The people have their fill of flesh, but forthwith many die of the plague. 12. ### [Numbers 12](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/12/) 15 verses Mary and Aaron murmur against Moses, whom God praiseth above other prophets. Mary being struck with leprosy, Aaron confesseth his fault. Moses prayeth for her, and after seven days' separation from the camp, she is restored. 13. ### [Numbers 13](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/13/) 34 verses The twelve spies are sent to view the land. The relation they make of it. 14. ### [Numbers 14](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/14/) 45 verses The people murmur. God threateneth to destroy them. He is appeased by Moses, yet so as to exclude the murmurers from entering the promised land. The authors of the sedition are struck dead. The rest going to fight against the will of God are beaten. 15. ### [Numbers 15](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/15/) 41 verses Certain laws concerning sacrifices. Sabbath breaking is punished with death. The law of fringes on their garments. 16. ### [Numbers 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/16/) 50 verses The schism of Core and his adherents: their punishment. 17. ### [Numbers 17](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/17/) 13 verses The priesthood is confirmed to Aaron by the miracle of the blooming of his rod, which is kept for a monument in the tabernacle. 18. ### [Numbers 18](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/18/) 32 verses The charge of the priests and of the Levites, and their portion. 19. ### [Numbers 19](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/19/) 22 verses The law of the sacrifice of the red cow, and the water of expiation. 20. ### [Numbers 20](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/20/) 30 verses The death of Mary the sister of Moses. The people murmur for want of water: God giveth it them from the rock. The death of Aaron. 21. ### [Numbers 21](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/21/) 35 verses King Arad is overcome. The people murmur and are punished with fiery serpents: they are healed by the brazen serpent. They conquer the kings Sehon and Og. 22. ### [Numbers 22](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/22/) 41 verses Balac, king of Moab, sendeth twice for Balaam to curse Israel. In his way Balaam is rebuked by an angel. 23. ### [Numbers 23](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/23/) 30 verses Balaam, instead of cursing Israel, is obliged to bless them, and prophesy good things of them. 24. ### [Numbers 24](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/24/) 25 verses Balaam still continues to prophesy good things in favour of Israel. 25. ### [Numbers 25](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/25/) 18 verses The people fall into fornication and idolatry; for which twenty-four thousand are slain. The zeal of Phinees. 26. ### [Numbers 26](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/26/) 65 verses The people are again numbered by their tribes and families. 27. ### [Numbers 27](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/27/) 23 verses The law of inheritance. Josue is appointed to succeed Moses. 28. ### [Numbers 28](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/28/) 31 verses Sacrifices are appointed as well for every day as for sabbaths, and other festivals. 29. ### [Numbers 29](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/29/) 39 verses Sacrifices for the festivals of the seventh month. 30. ### [Numbers 30](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/30/) 17 verses Of vows and oaths: and their obligation. 31. ### [Numbers 31](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/31/) 54 verses The Madianites are slain for having drawn the people of Israel into sin. The dividing of the booty. 32. ### [Numbers 32](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/32/) 42 verses The tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasses, receive their inheritance on the east side of Jordan, upon conditions approved of by Moses. 33. ### [Numbers 33](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/33/) 56 verses The mansions or journeys of the children of Israel towards the land of promise. 34. ### [Numbers 34](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/34/) 29 verses The limits of Chanaan; with the names of the men that make the division of it. 35. ### [Numbers 35](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/35/) 34 verses Cities are appointed for the Levites. Of which six are to be the cities of refuge. 36. ### [Numbers 36](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/36/) 13 verses That the inheritances may not be alienated from one tribe to another, all are to marry within their own tribes. Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries Coming up ## Read at *Mass.* From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Numbers is read at the principal Mass on 9 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings: | Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation | |---|---|---|---| | [Mon, Dec 14, 2026](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2026/12/14/) | St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | [Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/24/) | | [Fri, Jan 1, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/01/01/) | Mary, the Holy Mother of God | First Reading | [Numbers 6:22-27](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/6/) | | [Tue, Mar 16, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/03/16/) | Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent | First Reading | [Numbers 21:4-9](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/21/) | | [Mon, Aug 2, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/08/02/) computed | Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [Numbers 11:4b-15](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/11/) | | [Tue, Aug 3, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/08/03/) computed | Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [Numbers 12:1-13](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/12/) | | [Wed, Aug 4, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/08/04/) computed | St. John Vianney, Priest | First Reading | [Numbers 13:1-2, 25—14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/13/) | | [Thu, Aug 5, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/08/05/) computed | Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [Numbers 20:1-13](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/20/) | | [Tue, Sep 14, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/09/14/) computed | Exaltation of the Holy Cross | First Reading | [Numbers 21:4b-9](https://blessbible.app/bible/numbers/21/) | Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish. [Previous book The Book of Leviticus](https://blessbible.app/bible/leviticus/) [Next book The Book of Deuteronomy](https://blessbible.app/bible/deuteronomy/)