The central character in the book of Numbers, as in Exodus and Leviticus, is Moses. He serves as God's voice to the grumbling and rebellious children of Israel. Moses' brother Aaron also plays a significant role, primarily as the leader of the priests. Caleb and Joshua stand out as courageous men willing to trust God, and are rewarded accordingly. A fascinating character by the name of Balaam emerges in this book. He is summoned by a foreign king to curse Israel, but can only respond with blessings.
Significant places include Mount Sinai, the starting point in this book. A location called Kadesh in the desert of Paran is where the Israelites camped while waiting to see if they were to enter the Promised Land. The land of Canaan is entered only briefly by twelve men, but still looms large throughout Numbers as the ultimate goal. The dominating "place" in the book, however, is the desert. A number of different deserts are mentioned, emphasizing that this was truly a desert experience for Israel.
