March 22 (Numbers 25–26; Psalm 75; John 17)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: March 22 (Numbers 25–26; Psalm 75; John 17)
Host: Crossway
Date: March 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode continues the daily journey through the ESV Bible, featuring readings from Numbers 25–26, Psalm 75, and John 17. Today’s selections highlight Israel’s grave failure with idolatry and judgment, a subsequent census in preparation for inheritance, a psalm of thanksgiving and divine justice, and the full prayer of Jesus for His followers and those who will believe through them.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Numbers 25–26: Idolatry, Judgment, and Census

• Idolatry and Plague (00:01–02:08):

  • Israel falls into sexual immorality and idolatry with Moabite women, worshipping Baal of Peor.

  • God commands severe judgment: leaders are to be executed, and 24,000 die in a resulting plague.

  • Phinehas stops the plague with an act of zeal, killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman engaged in open sin.

  • God commends Phinehas, granting him a “covenant of peace” and a perpetual priesthood.

  • The Midianites are to be struck down as a result of their role in Israel’s corruption.

    “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.” — Reader (01:15)

• Second Census and Inheritance (02:08–10:06):

  • God instructs Moses and Eleazar to conduct a census of fighting-age men for each tribe.

  • The tribes and their clan lineages are recounted, showing how many remain after the wilderness journey.

  • Notably, the text highlights the daughters of Zelophehad, foreshadowing future inheritance rulings.

  • The total count of Israel’s men of fighting age is 601,730 (excluding Levites), reflecting the losses and continuity from previous generations.

  • None from the previous generation survived except Caleb and Joshua.

  • Land is to be distributed equitably, “by lot,” among the tribes.

  • The Levites are counted separately, with their unique inheritance and responsibilities remarked upon.

    “But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall die in the wilderness.’ Not one of them was left except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” — Reader (09:55)

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Psalm 75: Thanksgiving and Justice

• Thanksgiving for God’s Nearness (10:06–10:25):

  • A psalm of gratitude: “We give thanks to you, O God. We give thanks, for your name is near; we recount your wondrous deeds.”
  • God judges in His appointed time with equity and steadies the world’s foundations.

• Warning to the Proud and Wicked (10:25–10:53):

  • God’s sovereignty is emphasized; He alone exalts and brings low.

  • The “cup of wine” metaphor for judgment upon the wicked: all must drink it to the dregs.

  • God will “cut off the horns of the wicked” and “lift up the horns of the righteous.”

    “For not from the east or from the west, and not from the wilderness comes lifting up. But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” — Reader (10:29)

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John 17: The High Priestly Prayer

• Jesus’ Prayer for Glory and Mission (11:03–12:10):

  • Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven: asks the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father.

  • He defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.

  • Jesus completes His earthly mission and asks to return to the original glory with the Father.

    “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” — Jesus (11:12)

• Jesus Prays for the Disciples’ Protection (12:10–12:52):

  • Jesus intercedes for His disciples’ unity and protection.

  • He acknowledges the challenges: “the world has hated them because they are not of the world.”

  • Prays not for removal but for their sanctuary: “keep them from the Evil One.”

  • He sanctifies them in the truth, declaring “Your word is truth.”

    “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” — Jesus (12:45)

• Jesus Prays for All Believers (12:55–13:44):

  • Extends His prayer to all who believe through the apostles’ message.

  • Core desire: “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe.”

  • Asks for the love shared between the Father and Son to be present in His followers, culminating in a vision of ultimate heavenly unity and love.

    “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory … because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” — Jesus (13:33)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Decisiveness of Phinehas’ Zeal (Numbers 25):

  • “He rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand … and pierced both of them … thus the plague was stopped.” (00:49)

• Eternal Life Defined by Relationship (John 17):

  • “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (11:12)

• On Divine Sovereignty in Judgment (Psalm 75):

  • “But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (10:29)

• Jesus’ Vision for Unity (John 17):

  • “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.” (13:01)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01 — Israel’s sin at Peor and Phinehas’ zeal
• 02:08 — Census instructions and tribe/clan listings
• 09:55 — Only Caleb and Joshua remain from original generation
• 10:06 — Psalm 75: Call to gratitude and justice
• 11:03 — John 17: Jesus’ high priestly prayer
• 12:45 — Jesus’ request: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
• 13:01 — Jesus’ prayer for future unity and witness
• 13:33 — The love and glory Jesus desires for believers

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Overall Tone and Language

The readings today are solemn but infused with the hope of restoration, justice, and unity. The language is formal, scriptural, with sharp depictions of sin’s consequence, God’s justice, and Christ’s intercessory love. The tone transitions from the severity of Numbers to the worshipful trust of the Psalm, ending with the profound intimacy and unity of Jesus’ prayer.

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Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode captures a dramatic pivot in Israel’s journey—judgment and renewal, warning and reassurance. Through Numbers, listeners witness consequences for unfaithfulness and the hope of an inherited promise. Psalm 75 reminds the community that God alone upholds the world and enacts justice. Finally, John 17 offers the deep comfort and challenge of Jesus praying for His followers’ unity, protection, sanctification, and ultimate communion with the Father and Son. It’s a powerful meditation on faithfulness, judgment, and divine love spanning both testaments.

Transcript

[Reader]

A reading from the Book of Numbers. While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.

[Cantor]

These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate

[Reader]

and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to BAAL of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, take all the chiefs of the people. Take and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel. And Moses said to the judges of Israel, each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to BAAL a peor. And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel

[Cantor]

while they were weeping in the entrance

[Reader]

of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were 24,000. And the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, said, son of Aaron, the priest has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, and that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.

[Cantor]

Therefore say, behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall

[Reader]

be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel. The name of the slain man of Israel who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri the son of Selu, chief of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their

[Cantor]

wiles, with which they beguiled you in

[Reader]

the matter of Peor and in the matter of Causbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor. After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and to Eliezer, the Son of Aaron, the priest, take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel from 20 years old and upward by their fathers houses, all in Israel

[Cantor]

who are able to go to war.

[Reader]

And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab,

[Cantor]

by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, take

[Reader]

a census of the people from 20 years old and upward as the Lord commanded. Moses, the people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt. Reuben the firstborn of Israel, the sons of Reuben of Hanak, the clan of the Hanakites of Pau, the clan of the Paluhiites of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. These are the clans of the Reubenites. And Those listed were 43,730 and the sons of Palu, Eliab, the sons of Eliab, Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram chosen from the congregation who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah when they contended against the Lord and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die. The sons of Simeon, according to their clans of Nimuel, the clan of the Nemulites of Jamin, the clan of the Jammuites of Jakin, the clan of the Jakinites of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. These are the clans of the Simeonites, 22,200 the sons of Gad, according to their clans of Zephen, the clan of the Zephonites of Haggai, the clan of the Haggites of Shunai, the clan of the Shunites of Osni, the clan of the Osnites of Eri, the clan of the Erites of Arad, the clan of the Aradites of Arieli, the clan of the Arielites. These are the clans of the sons of Gad, as they were listed 40,500. The sons of Judah were Er and

[Cantor]

Onan, and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

[Reader]

And the sons of Judah, according to their clans, were of Shelah, the clan of the Shelonites of Perez, the clan of the Perizzites of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites and the sons of Perez were of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites of Hamel, the clan of the Hamulites. These are the clans of Judah as they were listed 76,500 the sons of Issachar according to their clans of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites of Puvah, the clan of the Punites of Jashub, the clan of the Jashabites of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites. These are the clans of Issachar as They were listed 64,300 the sons of Zebulun according to their clans of Seirid, the clan of the Siridites of Elon, the clan of the Elonites of Jahleel, the clan of the Jalalites these are the clans of the Zebulunites as they were listed 60,500 the sons of Joseph according to their clans Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Manasseh of Machir, the clan of the Makrites and Machir was the father of Gilead of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites. These are the sons of Gilead, of Iiezer, the clan of the Izurites of Helek, the clan of the Helakites and of Azrael, the clan of the Azraelites and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites and of Shemidah, the clan of the Shemidites and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites. Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons but daughters, and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milgah, and Tirzah. These are the clans of Manasseh and Those listed were 52,700 these are the sons of Ephraim according to their clans of Shuthalah, the clan of the Shuthalahites of Bekr, the clan of the Bekerites of Tayan, the clan of the Taanites and these are the sons of Shuthalah of Eran, the clan of the the these are the clans of the sons of Ephraim as they were listed 32,500 these are the sons of Joseph according to their clans, the sons of Benjamin according to their clans of Bela, the clan of the Belides of Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites of Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites of Shaphupham, the clan of the Shuphamites of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites and the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman of Ar, the clan of the Ardites of Naaman, the clan of the Naamites these are the sons of Benjamin according to their clans and Those listed were 45,600. These are the sons of Dan according to their clans of Shuim, the clan of the Shuamites these are the clans of Dan according to their clans. All the clans of the Shuamites as they were listed were 64,400 the sons of Asher according to their clans of Ennah, the clan of the Amnites of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites of Beriah, the clan of the Berarites of of the sons of Bereah, of Heber, the clan of the Heberites of Malchiel, the clan of the Malchialites and the name of the daughter of Asher was Sira. These are the clans of the sons of Asher as they were listed 53,400 the sons of Naphtali according to their clans of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites of Guni, the clan of the Gunites of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites of Shilam, the clan of the Shulamites. These are the clans of Naphtali according to their clans and Those listed were 45,400. This was the list of the people of Israel 601,730. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying among these the land shall be divided for inheritance according to the number of names. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Every tribe shall be given its inheritance in proportion to its list but the land shall be divided by lot according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller. This was the list of the Levites according to their of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites of Morari, the clan of the Morarites. These are the clans of Levi, the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korathites and Kohath was the father of Amram. The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt and she bore to Ammram, Aaron and Moses and Miriam, their sister. And to Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eliezer, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. And Those listed were 23,000, every male from a month old and upward. For they were not listed among the people of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the people of Israel. These were those listed by Moses and Eliezer, the priest who listed the people of Israel in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho. But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron, the priest who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, they shall die in the wilderness. Not one of them was left except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. A reading from the Book of Psalms to the choirmaster according to do not destroy A Psalm of Asaph, A song

[Cantor]

we give thanks to you, O God. We give thanks, for your name is near we recount your wondrous deeds. At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity. When the earth totters and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah, I say to the boastful, do not boast.

[Reader]

And to the wicked, do not lift up your horn. Do not lift up your horn on

[Cantor]

high, or speak with haughty neck. For not from the east or from the west, and not from the wilderness comes lifting up. But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine well mixed, and he pours out from it. And all the wicked of the earth

[Reader]

shall drain it down to the dregs. But I will declare it forever.

[Cantor]

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

[Reader]

All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. A reading from the Gospel according to John.

[Cantor]

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you for the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence. With the glory that I had with you before the world existed, I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you. And they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me. For they are yours, all mine are yours, and yours are mine. And I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world. But they are in the world. And I am coming to you, Holy Father. Keep them in your name, which you have given Me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost, except the Son of Destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. And these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your Word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth.

[Reader]

Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world,

[Cantor]

so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me, I have given to them that they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and love them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me. Because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world

[Reader]

does not know you, I know you,

[Cantor]

and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known that the love with which youh have loved me may be in them, and I in them.