_THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD SUE FOR THEIR FATHER'S INHERITANCE; A LAW IS ESTABLISHED CONCERNING INHERITANCES. MOSES IS COMMANDED TO ASCEND INTO MOUNT ABARIM, THENCE TO SEE THE LAND OF CANAAN; AND, BY GOD'S COMMAND, CONSTITUTES JOSHUA LEADER OF THE PEOPLE._ _Before Christ 1452._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD, &C.— In the last register of the Israelitish families, notice was taken of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, in the tribe of Manasseh, who died without male issue, and left five daughters his only heirs, chap. Numbers 26:33. These women, being informed that the land o... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FATHER DIED IN THE WILDERNESS, &C.— In these verses we have the petition of the daughters of Zelophehad, who urged that their father dying without male issue in the wilderness, _in his own sin, i.e._ by a common and ordinary death, (not such a one as they shared who were partakers of the guilt o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD SPEAK RIGHT— God, approving their petition, passes their special case into a general law hereafter to be observed. These daughters of Zelophehad were to enjoy what would have fallen to their father's share had he been alive, because they stood in his place, and represente... [ Continue Reading ]
GET THEE UP INTO THIS MOUNT ABARIM— It appears from Deuteronomy 32:49; Deuteronomy 32:52 that these words were spoken by the Lord to Moses, after all which follows here in the Book of Deuteronomy. Abarim was a long ridge of mountains between the river Arnon and the river Jordan; one part of these mo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE LORD— The information of his approaching departure did not at all surprize Moses, who, for a long time, had been accustomed to consider death as that circumstance alone which could procure him true repose, after a life full of trouble and agitation. We find, however, Deutero... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEE JOSHUA, THE SON OF NUN— Hence it appears, that this high office of leader or judge of Israel was not to be hereditary; nor did the policy of Moses take one step to perpetuate it in his own posterity or family; a convincing proof of his disinterestedness, and one which shews him to have bee... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIVE HIM A CHARGE IN THEIR SIGHT— The substance of this charge is found, Deuteronomy 31:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT PUT SOME OF THINE HONOUR UPON HIM— There is nothing for _some_ in the Hebrew. It may be rendered, _and thou shalt give unto him of thine honour_ or _glory._ Some of the rabbis have supposed, that Moses was here commanded to communicate to Joshua some part of that _splendor,_ or _brigh... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL STAND BEFORE ELEAZAR THE PRIEST— It is the opinion both of Jewish and Christian interpreters, that none but persons of the first dignity were allowed to consult the oracle of God in this manner; so that this privilege speaks Joshua's great pre-eminence above other Israelites: for though he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LAID HIS HANDS UPON HIM, &C.— Nothing more fully shews the nature of the Jewish theocracy than this transaction. God himself appoints a governor over the state as well as the church; and whom does he appoint? Not one of the relations of Moses; not one even of the same tribe. By elevating Cal... [ Continue Reading ]