Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 1
CHAPTER I.
1. In the second yeere after Israel was come out of Egypt, God commandeth Moses to number all the males of the people, from twenty yeeres old and upward. 5. The Princes of the tribes, that were joyned with Moses and Aaron for this businesse. 17. The number of every tribe particularly. 45. The summe of them all together. 47. The Levites are not numbred among the tribes. 50. but are exempted for the seruice of the Lord, about the Tabernacle.
ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, in the wildernesse of Sina…, in the Tent of the congregation: in the first [day] of the second monethmonth, in the second yeere; after their comming forth, out of the land of Egypt, saying; Take ye, the summe of all the congregation of the sonnes of Israel; according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names; every male, according to their polles. From twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one that goeth forth with the armie, in Israel: ye shall muster them, by their armies, thou and Aaron. And with you there shalbe a man of every Tribe: every man shalbe head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men, which shall stand with you: Of Reuben; Elizur, the son of Shedeur. Of Simeon; Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai. Of Iudah; Naasson, the son of Amminadab. Of Issachar; Nethaneel, the son of Zuar Of Zabulon; Eliab, the son of Helon. Of the sons of Ioseph; of Ephraim; Elishama, the son of Ammihud: of Manasses; Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. Of Benjamin; Abidan, the son of Gideoni. Of Dan; Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai. Of Aser; Pagiel, the son of Ocran. Of Gad; Eliasaph, the son of Deguel. Of Naphtali; Ahira, the son of Enan. These be the called of the congregation; Princes, of the tribes of their fathers: heads, of the thousands of Israel. And Moses and Aaron tooke these men, which are expressed, by names. And they assembled all the congregation, in the first day of the second monethmonth; and they declared their genealogies according to their familes, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names; from twentie yeeres old, and upward, according to their polles. As Iehovah commanded Moses; so he mustered them, in the wildernesse of Sinai.
And the sons of Reuben, the first-borne of Israel, were, by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, according to their polles; every male, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were six and forty thousand, and five hundred.
Of the sonnes of Simeon; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: those that were mustered of him, by the number of the names, according to their polles; every male, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were nine and fifty thousand, and three hundred.
Of the sonnes of Gad; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were five and forty thousand, and six hundred, and fifty.
Of the sonnes of Iudah; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Iudah, were foure and seventy thousand, and six hundred.
Of the sonnes of Issachar; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were foure and fifty thousand, and foure hundred.
Of the sonnes of Zabulon; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Zabulon, were seven and fiftie thousand, and foure hundred.
Of the sonnes of Ioseph, of the sonnes of Ephraim; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were fortie thousand, and five hundred.
Of the sonnes of Manasses; by their generations, according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of their names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Manasses, were two and thirtie thousand, and two hundred.
Of the sonnes of Benjamin; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were five and thirtie thousand, and foure hundred.
Of the sonnes of Dan; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were two and sixtie thousand, and seuen hundred.
Of the sonnes of Aser; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Aser, were one and fortie thousand, and five hundred.
The sonnes of Naphtali; by their generations according to their families, according to the house of their fathers: by the number of the names, from twentie yeeres old, and upward; every one, that went forth with the armie. Those that were mustered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were three and fiftie thousand, and foure hundred.
These are those that were mustered, which Moses mustered, and Aaron, and the Princes of Israel; twelve men: each one was, for the house of his fathers. And they were, all those that were mustered of the sonnes of Israel, according to the house of their fathers: from twentie yeeres old, and upward; everyone, that went forth with the armie, in Israel. Even all that were mustered, were six hundred thousand, and three thousand, and five hundred, and fiftie. But the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers, were not mustered among them.
For Iehovah had spoken unto Moses, saying; OnelyOnly the tribe of Levi, thou shalt not muster; neither take the summe of them, among the sonnes of Israel. But thou, appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimonie, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall beare the Tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they sha… minister unto it: and shall encampe round about the Tabernacle. And when the Tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it downe; and when the Tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that commeth nigh, shall be put to death. And the sonnes of Israel shall encampe, every man by his owne campe, and every man by his owne standard, throughout their armies. But the Levites shall encampe round about the Tabernacle of the Testimonie; that there be no fervent wrath, upon the congregation of the sonnes of Israel: and the Levites shall keepe the charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie. And the sonnes of Israel did so: according to all that Iehovah commanded Moses, so did they.
Annotations.
NVmbers] This name is given unto this booke, according to the Greeke title: because the first chiefe thing here handled, is the numbring of the tribes of Israel. The Hebrewes give it no other name then of the first words, Vajedabber, that is, And (the LORD) spake; or Bemidbar, that is, In the wildernesse: see the first annotations on Genesis and Exodus. And here beginneth the 34. section, or lecture of the Law: whereof see Gen. 6. 9.
Verse 1. Sinai] the mount whereon the Law had beene given, Exod. 19. by which mountaine Israel yet abode, untill the twentieth day of this monethmonth, Numb. 10. 11. 12. the Tent] or, Tabernacle of meeting; whither the people were to assemble at the times appointed, and where God met with them, as he promised, Exod. 25. 22. It is called also the Tabernacle of Testimonie, v. 43. and so the Greeke translateth it here. the first] Hebr. the one, understanding day; as in Mat. 26. 17. compared with Marke 14. 12. see the notes on Gen. 8. 13. And one is often put for first, as is noted on Gen. 1. 5. And every first day of the monethmonth was a feast, Numb. 28. 11. &c. second monethmonth] which we now call Aprill: so in Thargum Ionathan it is said, the first of the monethmonth Ijar (that is Aprill) which is the second monethmonth. In the Scripture it is named Ziv, 1. King. 6. 1. of the brightnesse and beautie of the flowers which then doe spring. But God had spoken before unto them in the first monethmonth, which is related after, in Numb. 9. 1. &c. after their comming forth] or, of their departing: seethe annotations on Exod. 16. 1. God having given them lawes for his service, in Exodus and Leviticus; doth now settle their church and commonwealth in order.
Vers. 2. the summe] Hebr. the head; which some vnderstand for heads; that is, the Rulers: but the Chaldee expoundeth it, the summe (or count,) see the notes on Exod. 30. 12. This people was numbred by Moses, three times; in the first yeere after they came out of Egypt, when every man gave a ransome for his soule; whereby their redemption by Christ was figured, Exod. 30. 11, 12. &c. & 38. 25, 26. In the second yeere, when now they were to be set in order for their encamping about the Sanctuarie, and journeying with it towards Canaan; whereof the 4. first chapters of this booke doe treat. The third and last muster was in the fortieth yeere (the last of their travell;) when all this generation being dead, their sonnes were numbred, for to receive inheritance in the land of promise, a Figure of the Kingdome of Heaven. the sonnes of Israel] the twelue tribes, Gen. 49. 1. 2. 28. So all strangers are excluded from this numbring. The Levites also were numbred apart: vers. 49. &c. families] or kindreds, which next descended of those twelve tribes; of which families, see Numb. 26. 5. &c. house] that is, as the Greeke translateth, houses: and these were the next descent of the families aforesaid. See Ios. 7. 14. Aben Esra here noteth, that it is said, the house of their fathers, because the familie of the mother, is not called a familie. everymale] whereby the females are excluded; as also all children, vers. 3. their polles] or, their skulles, that is, as the Greeke translateth, their heads; meaning the particular persons: so in Exod. 38. 26.
V. 3. old] Hebr. sonne of twentie yeeres; that is, going in his twentieth yeere; of which phrase, see the annotations on Gen. 5. 32. So all children and youths under 20. yeeres, were not in this account. upward] some of the Hebrewes limit the time, unto sixtie yeeres old: R. Menachem, on Numb. 1. but the law setteth no such limitation. that goeth forth] to wit, usually; or is able to goe forth. So all that were unable for the warre, through old age, sicknesse, or other infirmities, are not mustered here with Israel. shall muster] or, shall number; which in the Hebrew and Greeke, hath the name of visiting. This numbring of Israel signified Gods providence and care over them, which extendeth not onelyonly to their persons, but to the very haires of their heads, which are all numbred, Luk. 12. 7. And in that they are numbred or mustred by their armies, it shewed whereunto God had called them, even to fight the good sight of faith, 1 Tim. 6. 12. By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the lest; 2 Cor. 6. 7. Therefore they were to follow the Lord and his Tabernacle, going before them to fight against the Canaanites: as in our spirituall warfare, we are to follow Christ; Reu. 12. 7. & 19. 11.—14. And onelyonly males or men of strength, are mustered: to teach what wee ought all to be in Christ; even strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; putting on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devill, &c. Ephes. 6. 10, 11, 12, 13. So the Church in her travaile, bringeth forth a male or manchilde, Revel. 12. 5. Esai. 66. 7, 8.
V. 4. a man of every tribe] Hebr. a man a man of (or for) a tribe. So there were twelve Princes, besides Moses and Aaron; fourteene in all: as in the Christian church, there were twelve Apostles, besides Paul and Barnabas. head] that is, chiefe' or ruler.
V. 5. Of Reuben] understand, from the 10. verse, Of the sonnes of Reuben: and so the Greeke explaineth it, Of those of Reuben. Elizur] in Greeke Elisour. As the Patriarchs had their name significant in their owne tongue, given them upon speciall occasion, and applied some of them to spirituall use, as is to be seene in Gen. 29. 32. &c. & 30. 6. &c. & 49. 8. &c. so their posteritie had names of good notation and use; though the speciall occasions are not noted. As Elizur signifieth, The Rock (Christ) is my God: and his father Shedeur, The light of the Almightie.
V. 6. Of Simeon] Gr. Of those of Simeon; that is, of his sonnes: and so the rest which follow. Shelumiel] in Greeke, Salamiel son of Sourisadai. By interpretation, Shelumiel signifieth, God is my recompense; & Zurishadd…i, The Almighty is my Rock.
V. 7. Naasson] so the Greeke writeth him, here and in Mat. 1. 4. in Hebrew Nachshon: by interpretation Experiment; and Amninadab, My people …s…oble.
V. 8. Nethaneel] i. The gift of God: in Greeke, Nathanael; and so the name is written in Ioh. 1. 46, 47.
V 9. Zabulon] Hebr. Zebulun. Eliab] by interpretation, My God is the Father.
Helon] or Chelon; in Greeke Chailon: he hath his name of strength.
V. 10. Ammihud] Hebr. Gnammihud, written in Greeke Semioud; & so in Nū. 7. 48. the Hebrew letter Gnajin, being sounded like S after the Chaldee manner: as Begnor. Numb. 22. 5. is Bosor in 2 Pet. 2. 15 Ammihud signifieth, My people hath the Glory; and Elishama, My God hath heard.
Gamaliel] so the Greeke pronounceth him, here, and in Act. 5. 34. in Hebrew, Gamliel; that is, God is my reward. Pedahzur] in Greeke, Phadasour; by interpretation, The Rocke (Christ) redeemeth.
V. 11. Abidan] that is, My Father is the Iudge. Gideoni] in Greeke, Gadaioni, The cutter downe, a warlike name.
V. 12. Ahiezer] or, Achiez…r, The brothers help. Ammishaddai] in Greeke, Amisadai; The peopl… of the Almightie.
V. 13. Pagi…l] in Greeke, Phagaiel: by interpretation, God hath met me. The same word is applied to Christs intercession, in Esai. 53 12.
V. 14. Eljasaph] that is, God hath added: it hath affinitie with Iosephs name. Deguel] in Greeke, Dagouel; afterward he is named Reguel, Num. 2. 14. Deguel signifieth, Know God; as Reguel, The friend of God.
V. 15. Naphtali] in Greeke, Nephthaleim; and so his name is written in Mat. 4. 15. Here the order of the tribes, as the Princes were chosen out of them, may be viewed thus:
Sonnes of Leah.
1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Iudah
4. Isachar
5. Zabulun
Of Rachel.
6. Ephraim
7. Manasses
8. Benjamin
9. Dan, The 1. sonne of Billa Rachels maid
10. Aser, The 2. sonne of Zilpha Leahs maid.
11. Gad, The 1. sonne of Zilpha.
12. Naphtali, The 2. sonne of Billa.
Reuben is first, for being Israels first borne, Gen. 46. 8. Then, Simeon, his nex… brother. Levi is omitted: because that tribe was to be numbred by it selfe, not with the other, Numb. 1. 47. 49. ye… of that tribe was Moses and Aaron, chiefe numberers of the people, verse 3. Iudah, Isachar and Zabulon, were Leahs next sonnes in order, reckoned here as in Exod. 1. 2, 3. and in their precious stones, Exod. 28. Ioseph Rachels first-borne, hath the first birth-right, that is, a double portion, so o… him are two tribes, 1 Chron. 5. 1, 2. Gen. 48. 5, 6. Ephraim the younger sonne of Ioseph, is set before his elder brother Manasses, according … Iakobs disposition, in Gen. 48. 19, 20. and God made him standard-bearer, Num. 2. 18. and …ese with Benjamin the free womans children, are set before all the handmaids sonnes, as being the most noble. Dan is the first of all the bondwomens seed, both in birth, Gen. 30. 6. and in the high Priests Ephod, Exod. 28. and is one of the standard bearers, Num. 2. 25. Aser, the second sonne of Zilpha, is (contrary to the usuall order in Exod. 1. & 28.) named next to Dan, Bilhahs sonne; for he was next to his standard in pitching about the Tabernacle; Num. 2. 25. 27. Gad, as he was the first-borne of Leahs handmaid, so was he preferred to the higher place, being now joyned unto the standard of Reuben, Numb. 2. 10.—14. So Nathtali remaineth for the last place, as he was the l… of the tribes that camped about the Tabernacle, Num. 2. 29. Thus Gods wisdome appeareth in naming the tribes, according to the present occasion of their imployments: that all things might be ordered in peace; for he is not the author … confusion, but of peace; as in all churches of the Saint… 1 Cor. 14. 33.
V. 16. the called] or, the renowmed; that is, states men; such as were men of renowne for age and wisdome; and called to consult about matters of state: see Numb. 16. 2. Sol. Iarchi (on Num 7 2.) saith, these were the officers over them in Egypt. which had beene beaten for them, Exod. 5. 14. princes] or rulers. Nasi, … prince, captaine or ruler, is so named of lifting up, or easing the burdens of the people by their government, as Num. 11. 17. Exod. 18. 22. or, of being li…ted up, and preferred above the people. heads] or captaines of thousands, in Greeke Chiliarchs. … the thousands] that is, of the bands or companies, which consisted every one of a thousand men: for so the tribes were divided into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, with captaines over them, Exod. 18. 21. 25. Whereupon such a company and their generation, is called a thousand, as in Iuag. 6. 15. my thousand is poore in Manasseh, where the Chaldee translateth it my family. So Bethleem … towne, is called one of the thousands of Iudah, … 5. 2. where the Greeke (which the holy Ghost alloweth in Mat. 2. 6.) translateth the Rulers, or Governours.
V. 18. the second monethmonth] called Ziv, with us Aprill, as is noted on v. 1. So this assembling, was at the new Moone, (which signified a renewing or change of the peoples state and order,) and on the same day that God spake unto Moses out of the Tabernacle, v. 1. they declared their genealogies] of what tribe and familie every man came: or, they were genealogized, that is, were mustered by Moses and the Princes according to their genealogie and pedegree. So the Greeke translateth, they were visited or mustered. their polles] in Greeke, their heads, as in vers. 2. So after in verse 20. 22. &c.
Vers. 19. of Sinai] where the Lawes, Iudgements, and Statutes were given to Israel; there also was their order set, for encamping about Gods sanctuarie, and marching with it towards Canaan. And this also is to distinguish it from the second mustering, which was in the plaines of Moab, when all this generation was dead, Numb. 26. 3. 63, 64.
V. 20. by their generations] in Greeke, according to their kindreds: so after in v. 22. 24. &c. that went forth] or, that goeth forth with the host; that is, was able to goe forth to warre. So after
Vers. 24. Gad] he is set in the third place, (in Levies roomth, who was numbred apart, v. 47.) because Gad was ioyned with Reuben and Simeon, on the South quarter of the host, Num. 2. 10—14. All the other tribes are mustred in the order before set downe, vers. 5.—15.
V. 25. and fiftie] Gad the handmaids sonne, is the onelyonly of all the tribes, whose number endeth with fiftie: all the other are by thousands, and end with hundreds; which shewed Gods admirable providence and blessing in multiplying them after such a sort, that no odde or broken number was among all the tribes; (as when Moses blessed Ioseph, he mentioned the ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasses, Deut. 33. 17.) whereas in other numbrings, we shall finde few but broken numbers, as in the first borne of Israel, Num. 3. 43. and in those that returned out of Babylon, Ezr. 2. 1.—42. Nehem. 7. 6.—45. Here we may behold the number of every tribe, beginning at the greatest, and so in order to the least, thus;
1. Iudah 74600.
2. Dan 62700.
3. Simeon 59300.
4. Zabulon 57400.
5. Issachar 54400.
6. Naphtali 53400.
7. Reuben 46500.
8. Gad 45650.
9. Aser 41500.
10. Ephraim 40500.
11. Benjamin 35400.
12. Manasses 32200.
Iudah hath the greatest number, for he was to bee celebrated of his brethren, Gen. 49. 8. he was standard-bearer in the foremost quarter as they camped about the Tabernacle, Numb. 2. 3. His standard (Lion-like, Gen. 49. 9.) marched in the first place, as they journeyed towards the land of promise, Nam. 10. 13, 14. He had halte the first birth-right, that of him the chiefe ruler should come, and our Lord Christ himselfe concerning the flesh, 1 Chron. 5. 2. Heb. 7. 14. Here he hath valiant men of warre, moe than double the number of Benjamin or Manasses; almost twelve thousand moe than the greatest tribe.
Dan the handmaids son hath the next number to the most, for Rachels sake; for Iakobs blessing, Gen. 49. 16. and for his place in the campe, to bee standard-bearer to the rere-ward; which was the greatest quarter next Iudahs, Numb. 3. 9. 3…. & 10. 25. that the formost standard, and the hindmost, might have the greatest number of warriers. And whereas at the first Dan had but one son, Gen. 46. 23. (and so one family, Num. 26. 42.) when Benjamin had ten, Gen. 46. 21. now God so disposed that Dan should be one of the greatest in number, and Benjamin one of the least. For God is the Iudge: he putteth downe one, and setteth up another, Psal. 75. 7. The barren hath borne seven; and she that had many children is waxed feeble, 1 Sam. 2. 5.
Simeon the second patriarch, is the third in number of warriers, at this time, but before they came into Canaan, his tribe was diminished, for their sinne, exceedingly: but being now 5930…. it was at the latter muster, bu… 22200. men, Num. 26. 14. so that Moses blessing the tribes, mentioneth not his name at all, Deut. 33.
Reuben, Israels first-borne, as he lost his dignitie for defiling his fathers bed, Gen. 49. 3, 4. so here, his increase is none of the greatest, but six of his brethren have moe than he.
Ephraim, as he was blessed before his elder brother Manasses, Gen. 48. 20. so here he is increased by thousands more …an Manasseh, and more than the whole tribe of Benjamin; and his blessing continueth above his brother, Deut. 33. 17. yet Satan to hinder this, had slaine by the Philistimes of Gath, the sons of Ephraim, whiles they dwelt in Egypt, for which their father Ephraim mourned many dayes, 1 Chr. 7. 20, 21, 22. And as they trauelled in the wildernesse, his posteritie was diminished eight thousand, Numb. 26. 37.
Benjamin, as he was the youngest of all the patriarchs, so here his number is one of the least, (though at the first, his children were moe than any of his brethren, Gen. 46. 21.) Afterwards in Canaan, his tribe was almost rooted out, Iuag. 20. that he hath not without cause this attribute, Benjamin the little, Psal. 6 8. 28.
Manasses hath the last place in this count, that Iakobs prophecie might have effect, his younger brother (Ephraim) shall be greater than he, Gen. 48. 19. But God blessed this tribe in their travell thorow the wildernesse; that at the next muster, they were inreased above twentie thousand moe than at this time; whereas Ephraim his brother was not increased at all, but dimini…ed, Num. 26. 34. 37. Thus the blessings of God were distributed among the tribes, for their number, and for their order, according as in wisdome he saw meet. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: hee inlargeth the nations, and strayteneth them, Iob 12. 23.
V. 32. of Ioseph] he, as his blessing was to bee like a fruitfull vine, Gen. 49. 22. so of him by his two sonnes, here are moe warriers than any tribe had, saving Iudah. And his two sonnes, Ephraim and Manasseh, are not families but tribes, as if they had beene Iakobs owne, according to his adoption of them, Gen. 48. 5. Thus Ioseph hath a double portion, the first birthright, 1 Chron. 5. 1. 2.
V. 42. The sonnes of Naphtali] Of all the other it is said, Of the sonnes, and so the Greeke translateth this here. Some of the Hebrewes (as Baal hatturim upon this place) give a reason, which appeareth not in Moses, that Of Naphtali onelyonly he saith THE SONNES, because Naphtalies tribe had moe daughters than sonnes: and therefore in Naphtalies blessing (Gen. 49. 21.) he is resembled to a female, an Hinde let loose: Therefore also in Numb. 26. it is written of them all, THE SONNES: because the men were dead, (Num. 26. 64, 65.) but the women multiplied.
V. 44. each one was] Hebr. one man, for the house of his fathers, were they: which the Greeke explaineth thus, one man for one tribe, according to the tribe of their fathers houses were they.
V. 46. six hundred thousand &c.] a marvellous increase of seventie soules which came into Egypt, Gen. 46. 27. that so many thousands of able men (besides women and children) should in so few yeeres be multiplied, even as the starres of heaven, Deut. 10. 22. & this was the reward of faith, Heb. 11. 11, 12. Baalam looking upon them with admiratiō, said, Who can count the dust of Iakob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Numb. 23. 10. And such is the increase of the spirituall seed of Christ promised to be; that the Church shall say in her heart, Who hath begotten me these? Esai. 49. 21. For by twelve Apostles, and seventy disciples, Christs kingdome began to be preached: and that immortall seed of the word, soone begat many ten thousands of Iewes, Act. 21. 20. and many moe of the Gentiles, even innumerable, Reu. 7. 9. And here also we may observe, that whereas the yeere before, when all the tribes were first numbred from 20. yeeres old and upward, their summe was 603550. men, Exod. 30. 14. & 38. 26. now in the second yeere when they are againe numbred, and the tribe of Levi not reckoned with them, there are found the same iust number of 603550. so there were so many young men of nineteene yeeres old, as now supplied the want of the Levites, put apart for the Lords service: that Israel might s…e they should lose nothing by whatsoever was imployed in the seruice of God.
V. 49. OnelyOnly] or But the tribe; it is an exception, which the Greeke translateth thus; See, the tribe of Levi, thou shalt not muster; to wit, among the other Israelites, but apart by themselves, Num. 3. 15, &c.
V. 50. appoint] or constitute, give charge as bishops, which hereof have their name. Testimony] that is, the Tables of the Law, kept in an Arke, within the Tabernacle: Exod. 31. 18. they shall be are] according as God appointed their burdens, Num. 4. 25. 31. 36. and to helpe them for some things, six waggons were allowed them, Num. 7. 7, 8, 9. round about the Tab.] and next unto the Tabernacle, betwix… the camps of Israel and it: whereof see chap. 2. & 3.
V. 51. setteth forward] being carried after the cloud, when God removed it from place to place, Num. 10. 11.—17.—21. the stranger] any Israelite or other, that is not of the tribe of Levi. So for the worke of the Priesthood, both Israelites and Levites are counted strangers, save the seed of Aaron only: Num. 16. 40. put to death] either by men, or by the hand of God; as was Vzzah, for putting his hand to the Arke, 1 Chron. 13. 10. So in Thargum Ionathan it is expounded, he shall be killed with fire flaming out from before the Lord.
V. 52. by his owne campe] the Greeke trans…ateth, in his owne order; which is described in chap. 2. by his owne standard] in Greeke, according to his owne regiment: see Num. 2. 2.
V. 53. no feruent wrath] no punishment from God, as was in Vzzahs case, 1 Chron. 13. … charge] or, the custodie; the watch and ward, and doe the workes appointed of God: see Num. 3. 7. 8. &c. and 18. 3. This debarring of the people from the worke of the sanctuarie, and committing it to the Levites charge, shewed the separation o… of all mankinde from God, and their unworthinesse to come neere unto him or his holy things, untill they be called and sanctified of God thereunto. Which being not effected by the Law, or rudiments thereof, (for the Mount where the L… was given might not be touched, Heb. 12. 18) is now performed unto us by Christ, who … shed us from our sinnes, in his owne bloud, and … made us Kings and Priests unto God, and his Father Revel. 1. 5, 6. so that we have libertie to exter… the Holiest, by the bloud of Iesus, Heb. 10. 19.