XX. (1) THEN CAME... — It would be better to translate thus: _And_ (or, _Now_)_ the children of Israel came_ (or, _had come_)..., inasmuch as the interval of time between the events related in the preceding Chapter s and in this chapter is unknown. IN THE FIRST MONTH. — It has been commonly suppose... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS NO WATER... — Kadesh may have comprised a considerable portion of the wilderness of Zin, and there may have been a supply of water in some parts of the district and a scarcity in others; or the supply may have proved insufficient for the wants of so great a multitude; or the miraculous... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD GOD THAT WE HAD DIED... — The reference seems to be to the plague which broke out after the insurrection of Korah. The language of the murmurers is very similar to that which is recorded in Numbers 16:14, and the word _gava_ (die, or expire), which is twice used in this verse, and which occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THE ROD. — It has been supposed by some, from the fact that the rod is represented as being taken “from before the Lord” (Numbers 20:9), that the reference is to the rod of Aaron which was kept “before the testimony” (Numbers 17:10). On the other hand, the natural presumption that the rod was t... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST WE FETCH YOU WATER OUT OF THIS ROCK? — In the case of the former miracle at Rephidim the rock is spoken of only under the Hebrew word _zur_ (Exodus 17:6). Throughout the present narration the rock is invariably spoken of under the word _sela._ In Psalms 78:15, where reference appears to be made... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON. — We read in Psalms 106:33 that the Israelites “provoked (literally, _made to rebel_) his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.” Whatever was the nature of the sin thus committed, it is clear that Aaron was a participator in it with Moses. Some... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE WATER OF MERIBAH. — _i.e.,_ of strife. (See Exodus 17:7, and Note; also Numbers 27:14, where the words “in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin,” are added to distinguish the latter from the earlier miracle.) In Deuteronomy 32:51 the waters are spoken of as those of “Meribah of Kadesh.” AND... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SENT MESSENGERS FROM KADESH... — The date of the occurrence related in this and the following verses is not stated. It might be inferred frem Judges 11:16 that the message to the Kings of Edom and Moab was sent soon after the exodus, and that it was in consequence of their refusal that the... [ Continue Reading ]
VEXED US. — Better, _dealt ill with. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SENT AN ANGEL. — See Exodus 3:2; Exodus 14:19. AND HATH BROUGHT US FORTH. — Better, _And brought us forth. _... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WILL GO BY THE KING’S HIGHWAY. — It is supposed that this military road led through the broad Wady _el Ghuweir,_ which is celebrated for its excellent pasture and its numerous springs. (See Keil _in loc._)... [ Continue Reading ]
(_19_) I WILL ONLY, WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ELSE... — Literally, _Only_ — _it is nothing_ — _let me pass through on my feet. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL... — Better, _And they journeyed from Kadesh; and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto Mount Hor._ The insertion of the words “the whole congregation,” as in Numbers 20:1, probably denotes that the people were broken up and dispersed during a cons... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE. — This expression does not refer to the place of sepulture. (See Genesis 25:8. and Note.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STRIP AARON OF HIS GARMENTS. — Thus the same hands which had invested Aaron with the sacred garments were employed in divesting him of them, and, in both cases, in obedience to the express command of God. The removal of the priestly robes from Aaron may be regarded as typical of the future disan... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT UP INTO MOUNT HOR... — Some would render _to the summit of the mountain,_ and regard these words as equivalent to those which occur in the following verse, “the top of the mount;” but the same words occur in the fourth verse of the following chapter, where they cannot be thus understoo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AARON DIED THERE IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNT. — The date of Aaron’s death, as we learn from Numbers 33:38, was the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after the exodus, and his age a hundred and twenty-three years (Numbers 33:39), which accords with the statement contained in Exodus 7... [ Continue Reading ]