_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ Orders given to Moses to number the people, Numbers 1:1. Persons named to assist him therein, Numbers 1:5. The particular number of each tribe, Numbers 1:17. The sum of all together, Numbers 1:44. The Levites excepted, Numbers 1:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the wilderness of Sinai_ Where now they had been a full year or near it, having left Egypt about thirteen months. Compare this place with Exodus 19:1; Exodus 40:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take ye the sum_ This is not the same muster with that spoken of Exodus 38:26, as plainly appears, because that was before the building of the tabernacle, which was built and set up on the first day of the first month; (Exodus 40:2;) but this was after it, on the first day of the second month. And... [ Continue Reading ]
_That are able to go forth to war_ It would seem from this that none of the aged and infirm were numbered, as being unable to go to war. Among several other nations as well as the Jews, particularly the Romans, all who were of age to bear arms were obliged, upon some occasions, to go forth to battle... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reuben_ The tribes are here numbered according to the order or quality of their birth, first the children of Leah, then of Rachel, and then of the handmaids.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deuel_ Called _Reuel, Numbers 2:14_, the Hebrew letters _daleth_ and _resh_ being often changed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By their generations_ That is, the persons begotten of Reuben's immediate children, who are here subdivided into families, and they into houses, and they into particular persons.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Threescore and fourteen thousand_ Far more than any other tribe, in accomplishing Jacob's prophecy, Genesis 49.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ephraim_ Above eight thousand more than Manasseh, toward the accomplishment of that promise, (Genesis 48:20,) which Satan in vain attempted to defeat by stirring up the men of Gath against them, 1 Chronicles 7:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thirty-five thousand_ The smallest number, except one, though Benjamin had more immediate children than any of his brethren, Genesis 46:21; whereas Dan had but one immediate son, (Genesis 46:23,) yet now his number is the largest but one of all the tribes, and is almost double to that of Benjamin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Levi_ Because they were not generally to go out to war, which was the thing principally eyed in this muster, (Numbers 1:3; Numbers 1:20; Numbers 1:45,) but were to attend upon the service of the tabernacle. They that minister upon holy things, should not entangle themselves in secular affairs. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tabernacle of testimony_ So called here, and Exodus 38:21, because it was made chiefly for the sake of the ark of the testimony, which is often called _the testimony._ The _stranger_ elsewhere is one of another nation, here one of another tribe. _That cometh nigh_ So as to do the offices mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
No _wrath_ From God, who is very tender of his worship, and will not suffer the profaners of it to go unpunished! whose wrath is called simply _wrath_, by way of eminence, as the most terrible kind of wrath.... [ Continue Reading ]