AND. Numbers begins with "And", as all the books of the Pentateuch do. It is therefore one whole in five sections, rather than separate books. THE LORD SPAKE. Jehovah (the Covenant God) spake to His own People. He spake fifty-six "sundry times" (7. 8) in Numbers, and in thirteen "divers manners" (tw... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE. Compare Exodus 30:11; Exodus 30:12; Exodus 38:25. In Exodus, moral law (prophet); Leviticus, ritual law (priest); Numbers, commonwealth law (king). SUM. Three numberings. Exodus 30:11; Exodus 30:12 (Compare Num 38:25, Num 38:26); here; and 26. CONGREGATION. See note on Genesis 28:3. CHILD... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU AND AARON. In second numbering it is Moses and Eleazar, Numbers 26:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN. Hebrew. _'ish._ See App-14. EVERY TRIBE. Hence twelve, and, with Moses and Aaron, fourteen. So the twelve apostles, with Paul and Barnabas. fourteen.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE NAMES. The order here. five sons of Leah, three of Rachel, one of Bilhah, two of Zilpah, and one of Bilhah. See App-45 for other orders of the names. MEN. Hebrew, plural of _'Ish_, or _'enosh._ See App-14.... [ Continue Reading ]
NAHSHON. In the line of the promised seed, the father of Salmon (husband of Rahab of Jericho), progenitor of Boaz of Bethlehem (husband of Ruth). Compare Ruth 4:18.Matthew 1:4; Matthew 1:5.Luke 3:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS. according as. WILDERNESS OF SINAI (Numbers 1:1), to distinguish it from the second, which was in the plains of Moab.... [ Continue Reading ]
REUBEN. Lost his dignity in Genesis 49:3; Genesis 49:4. not many in number here. ELDEST SON. See App-45.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMEON was greatly diminished by sin in Numbers 26:4, and Moses does not mention him in Deuteronomy 33. THOSE THAT WERE NUMBERED OF THEM. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Targum of Onkelos, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, omit this clause. Compare verses: Num... [ Continue Reading ]
GAD takes the place of Levi here.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTY. Gad is the only one who has "tens", all the others "hundreds". In the case of the firstborn (Numbers 3:43) we have not only tens but units.... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAH. His number is greatest (Genesis 49:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH. "The fruitful vine" (Genesis 49:22) has two tribes (not merely "families"). Thus Joseph has "the double portion" (1 Chronicles 5:1; 1 Chronicles 5:2). EPHRAIM. Blessed first (Genesis 48:19; Genesis 48:20), is here named first, and is increased more than Manasseh (Deuteronomy 33:17). But in j... [ Continue Reading ]
MANASSEH. The lowest in number. See Genesis 48:19. Increased by 20,500 in journeying, Numbers 26:34; Numbers 26:37 (compare Job 12:23).... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE CHILDREN. So in Authorized Version, and Revised Version, but not in Hebrew text, though it is so in some codices, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Some Jewish commentators explain it as being only "the sons", because Naphtali had more daughters than sons, and in Gen 49:5... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE MEN: one man for one tribe (Numbers 1:4). MEN. Hebrew. _Ish_. App-14.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THEY. The number in Exodus 12:37 is not "exaggerated", as the number here had increased since then; moreover, the numbers here coincide with the numbers of the half-shekels, which had been contributed by them in Exodus 30:14 with Exodus 38:25; Exodus 38:26, before the tabernacle was set up. Comp... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVITES not numbered here with the nation, but separately in Numbers 3:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPOKEN. See note on Numbers 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
TABERNACLE. habitation. Hebrew. _mishkan._ See App-40.... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT TO DEATH. Probably by Jehovah. Compare 1 Chronicles 13:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
PITCH. encamp. THAT THERE BE NO WRATH: i.e. no judgment from God. "wrath" put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause) for the judgment inflicted. App-6. Hebrew. _kazaph._ First occurrence.... [ Continue Reading ]