_OF THE SILVER TRUMPETS, AND THEIR USE: IN WHAT ORDER THE CAMPS OF THE ISRAELITES WERE TO MOVE: MOSES REQUESTS HOBAB TO ACCOMPANY THEM: THE PRAYER OF MOSES UPON THE MOVING AND RESTING OF THE ARK._ _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THEE TWO TRUMPETS OF SILVER— _Two_ trumpets only are ordered; for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who alone were to blow them, (Numbers 10:8.) were then but two. When the priests were more numerous, the trumpets were increased in proportion: so, in Solomon's time, we read of an hundred and twen... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE BLOW AN ALARM THE SECOND TIME, &C.— In the LXX we have the following addition, _When ye blow a third alarm, the camps that are on the west shall march: and when ye blow a fourth alarm, the camps that are on the north shall march. They shall blow an alarm for their marching._ See Wall's criti... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE CONGREGATION IS TO BE GATHERED TOGETHER— Lowman observes, that as there were no legislative powers intrusted any where in this constitution, the national revenue settled, and no soldiery in pay, all holding their estates by military service; there was no reason for new taxes: so that the He... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE GO TO WAR IN YOUR LAND— Bishop Patrick observes, that as these trumpets were to be used in summoning the armies of Israel to go forth to battle; so, previously to that, in calling the people together to implore a blessing upon their arms; as the latter part of the verse intimates, and as it is... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BEGINNINGS OF YOUR MONTHS— See on ch. Numbers 28:11. REFLECTIONS.—God gives directions here for the making silver trumpets. They must be two, each of beaten silver, and the priests alone must blow in them. The ministers of God must always lift up their voice as a trumpet, boldly and zealousl... [ Continue Reading ]
JOURNEYS OUT OF THE WILDERNESS OF SINAI, &C.— After having continued near a year (namely, eleven months and twenty days; compare Exodus 19:1 with the foregoing verse of this chapter) in the wilderness of Sinai; the children of Israel now removed from thence, and, after three days march, pitched in t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY FIRST TOOK THEIR JOURNEY— See Deuteronomy 1:6 which words are found in the Samaritan after the tenth verse of this chapter. Houbigant renders this 13th verse, _But this their first march was made according to the command of the Lord by Moses._ 14. _And in the front of the army marched,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE OTHER DID SET UP THE TABERNACLE— _The other_ is not in the text: Calmet explains it, "that the Kohathites set up the tabernacle against _they, i.e._ the priests, arrived." Houbigant renders it, _and the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sacred things, and the tabernacle was erected while t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS THE REARWARD OF ALL THE CAMPS— The word rendered _rearward,_ signifies properly, _gathering._ ףּמאס _measep,_ and so should be rendered, _gathering to it all the camps; i.e._ all the rest of the people, who belonged not to any particular camp, but to all the camps in general; namely, such a... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES SAID UNTO HOBAB— See Exodus 2:18. It has been thought by many, that Hobab was only another name for Jethro; see Exodus 18:27. But, upon a more exact survey, I should be rather inclined to believe, that Hobab was Jethro's son; who, after Jethro had left the Israelites, continued with his brothe... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE, IF THOU GO WITH US, &C.— It seems most probable, from Judges 1:16; Joshua 4:11 that Moses prevailed with Hobab, and that he settled with the Israelites in the land of Canaan. REFLECTIONS.—Hobab, when Israel was now commanded to advance, is for returning home. Hereupon Moses, his brother... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ARK—WENT BEFORE THEM— The ark was carried in the midst of the camp; see ch. Numbers 2:17 and the 21st of this chapter. The words _before them,_ in the Hebrew, signify, _in their presence; before their face;_ לפניהם _lipneihem,_ and thus rendered, there is no difficulty or contradiction. The... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE ARK SET FORWARD,—MOSES SAID, &C.— Whoever reads over the sixty-eighth psalm, will think it no improbable conjecture, that the whole psalm was sung by the Levites, as they marched along with the ark in solemn order.... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURN, O LORD, UNTO, &C.— There being nothing for _unto_ in the Hebrew, some approve the version of the Septuagint; _return, O Lord,_ [i.e. _to their rest_] _the many thousands of Israel._ The Chaldee paraphrase has it, _return, Lord, dwell with thy glory among the ten thousand thousands of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]