A Commentary on Numbers: Narrative, Ritual, and Colonialism

This commentary reinterprets the biblical Book of Numbers as a cohesive narrative within the Genesis–Joshua corpus, proposing that it functions as a programmatic settler colonial text. Contrary to traditional views that consider Numbers a disjointed compilation, the work argues that it systematically outlines rituals, laws, and narratives designed to establish a new society in the Canaanite highlands during the late second millennium BCE. The text is analyzed as a strategic document aimed at legitimizing the displacement of indigenous populations and the formation of a distinct Israelite identity, offering insights into the socio-political and theological frameworks of ancient Israel.