Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
1 The children of Israel come to Zin, where Marie dieth. 2 They murmure for want of water. 7 The Lord biddeth Moses speake to the Rocke. and it should give forth water. 11 Moses smi…elt the Rocke, and water commeth out. 12 The Lora… angry with Moses and Aaron for their unbeleefe 14 Moses at Kadesh desireth passage thorow Edom which is denied him. 22 At mount Hor, Aaron resigneth his place to Eleazar his sonne, and dieth.
ANd the sons of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wildernesse of Zin, in the first monethmonth; and the people abode in Kadesh, and Marie died there, and was buried there. And there was no water for the congregation; and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people contended with Moses; and they said, saying; And oh that we had given up the ghost, when our brethren gave up the ghost, before Iehovah. And why have ye brought the Church of Iehovah into this wildernesse to die there, we and our cattell? And why have ye made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us in, unto this evill place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or vines, or of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drinke. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the church unto the doore of the Tent of the Congregation, and they fell upon their faces, and the glorie of Iehovah appeared unto them.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; Take the rod, and gather together the Congregation, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speake ye unto the Rocke before their eyes, and it shall give forth his water: and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the Rocke; and thou shalt give the congregation and their cattell drink. And Moses took the rod from before Iehovah, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered together the Church before the Rocke, and he said unto them, Heare now ye rebels, shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and he smote the Rocke with his rod twice; and much water came out, and the Congregation dranke, and their cattell.
And Iehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Because ye beleeved not in me, to sanctifie me, in the eyes of the sonnes of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this Church into the land wch I have given them. This is the water of Meribah, because the sonnes of Israel contended with Iehovah: and hee was sanctified in them.
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh, unto the king of Edō: Thus saith thy brother Israel; Thou knowest all the travell that hath found us. And our fathers went downe into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt many dayes, and the Egyptians did evill to us, and to our fathers. And we cried out unto Iehovah, and he heard our voice, and sent an Angell, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt; and behold, we are in Kadesh, a citie in the utterrmost of thy border. Let us passe, I pray thee, thorow thy countrey; we will not passe thorow the fields, or thorow the vine-yards, neither will we drinke of the water of the well: we will goe by the kings way, wee will not turne aside, to the right hand or to the left, untill we have passed thy border. And Edom said unto him; Thou shalt not passe thorow mee, lest I come out against thee with the sword. And the sonnes of Israel said unto him; We will goe up by the high-way; and if we drinkē of thy water, I and my cattell, then I will give the price of it; onelyonly without doing any thing else, I will passe thorow on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not passe thorow: And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. And Edom refused to give Israel, to passe thorow his border; and Israel turned aside from him.
And they journeyed frō Kadesh, & the sons of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor. And Iehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying; Aaron shal be gathered unto his peoples, for he shal not enter into the land which I have given unto the sonnes of Israel, because ye rebelled against my mouth at the water of Meribah.
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor. And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son, and Aaron shall be gathered and shall die there. And Moses did as Iehovah commanded, and they went up into mount Hor, in the eyes of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mountaine: and Moses and Eleazar came downe from the mountaine. And all the congregation saw, that Aaron had given up the ghost: and they wept for Aaron thirtie dayes, even all the house of Israel.
Annotations.
THe whole Congregation] to wit, of the next generation of the Israelites, when their fathers (according to the judgement threatned in Num. 14. 29. &c.) were for the most part now dead in the wildernesse, as appeareth by Deut. 2. 14, 15. Zin] or Tsin: whereof see the notes on Num. 23. 21. Betweene Hazeroth, mentioned in Num. 12. 16. and this place in Zin, where now they camped, there were eighteene other stations or resting places, whither the Israelites had come, Num. 33. 18.—36. the first monethmonth] to wit, of the fortieth yeare, after they were come out of Egypt, as appeareth by Num. 33. 38. compared with the 28. verse of this chapter, and Deut. 2. 1.—7. So this was the last yeare of Israels travel in the wildernesse: and from the sending of the Spies, Num. 23. unto this time, was about 38 yeares, Deut. …. 22. 23. and 2. 14. In all which space, we see how few things are recorded concerning Israel; and the things that are mentioned, are partly their murmurings & rebellions, by which they provoked God, & for which they were punished: partly the means of grace, reconciliation and sanctification, tought them of the Lord, to be obtained by Iesus Christ, figured by the sacrifices and ordinances which Moses shewed them; that it might appeare, that where sinne abounded, grace did much more abound, Rom. 5. 20. abode in Kadesh] about foure moneths they stayed here; thē removing to mount Hor, there Aaron died, the first day of the fift monethmonth, Num. 33. 38. This Kadesh (which the Chaldee nameth Rekam,) was either another wildernesse, or another place in the wildernesse, than that from which the spies were sent, Num. 13. 26. called Kadesh barnea, Deu. 1. 19. Chazkuni here saith, This is not the Kadesh whereof it is said, and ye abode in Kadesh many dayes, (Deut. 1. 46.) for that Kadesh is El-Pharan (Gen. 14. 6.) and is called Kadesh-barnea, and from thence the spies were sent; but this Kadesh in Num. 20. is in the wildernesse of Zin, in the border of the land of Edom. After the rebellion of the Spies, God sent the people backe againe thorow the wildernesse towards the red Sea, Num. 14. 25. (where they might renew the memoriall of their baptisme, 1, Cor. 10. 2.) and from Ezion gaber (wch is a port on the shore of thē red sea. 1 Kin. 9. 26.) they removed next to this Kadesh, Num. 33. 36. So Iephthah saith, Israel walked thorow the wildernes unto the red sea, & came to Kadesh, Iudg. 11. 16 Marie] Hebr. Mirjam; in Greeke, Mariam: she was sister to Moses and Aaron, and a Prophetesse, by whom God guided the Israelites in their travels, as it is written, I sent before thee, Moses, Aaron, and Marie, Mic. 6. 4. Of her, see Exod. 15. 20. Num. 1. 2. In this fortieth yeare of Israels travell, God tooke from them by death, Marie their Prophetesse, in the first monethmonth; Aaron their Priest, in the fift monethmonth, Num. 33. 38. and Moses their King in the end of the yeare, Deut. 1. 3. and 34. 5. When these three ministers of the Law were deceased, Iesus the sonne of Nun (a figure of Iesus the Ionne of God,) bringeth them into the promised land, Ios. 1. 1. 2. &c. so after the abrogating of the Law, our Lord Iesus Christ bringeth us into the kingdome of God, Mar. 1. 15. Rom. 7. 4, 5. 6. Dan. 9. 24.
Vers. 2. there was no water] In the first yeare, when they were come out of Egypt to Rephidim in the wildernesse, they wanted water, Exod. 17. 1. and in this last, the fortieth yeare, they wanted water againe: here God tried the children, as he had done the Fathers, and they also rebelled against him. And many things were alike in both places. That Rephidim was the tenth encamping place or station from Egypt: this in Kades was the tenth encamping place before they entred Canaan, as by their rehearsall of their journeyes in Num. 33. is to be seene. There the people in their thirst, in stead of praying unto God, contended with Moses, and murmured for that hee had brought them out of Egypt, Exod. 17. 2, 3. here they doe the same, vers. 3 4. There Moses cried unto the Lord for the outrage of the people, Exod. 17. 4. here Moses and Aaron fall downe before the Lord, v. 6. There God promised and gave them water out of the Rocke, Exod. 17. 6. here he doth likewise, v. 8. There God willed Moses to take his rod: here also he commandeth him, Take the rod. There the Lord promised to stand before Moses, Exod. 17. 6. here his glory appeareth unto him and Aaron, v. 6. There Moses by commandement smiting the Rocke with his rod, waters came out of it: here hee smiting the Rocke without commandement, waters came out. There the place was named Meribah or Contention, Exod. 17. 7. here the place is named Meribah, v. 13. That was the peoples sixt rebellion, after they were come out of Egypt, as is noted on Num. 14. 22. this was their sixt rebellion after they were come from mount Sinai, (if wee except the private murmuring of Mary and Aaron against Moses, Num. 12.) For the first was at Taberab, Num. 11. 1, 3. the next at Kibroth haitaavah, Num. 11. 24. then in the wildernesse of Pharan, Num. 14. 1, 2. after that followed the rebellion of Korah and his company, Num. 16. and after it, of all the congregation, for the death of those rebels, Num. 16. 41. now the sixt is in Kadesh.
Vers. 3. contended] chode with bitter and reproachfull words, which the Greeke translateth, reviled: see Exod. 17. 2. And oh] or, And would God. The word And, sheweth the passion of minde, out of which they spake abruptly: see the notes on Gen. 27. 28. and Num. 11. 29. wee had given up the ghost] in Chaldee, wee had and in Greeke, we had perished in the perdition of our brethren, before the Lord: whereby they seeme specially to meane the pestilence (the last plague wherewith their brethren died, Num. 16. 49.) which pest, above other judgements, commeth most immediatly from the hand of God, as David acknowledgeth, 2 Sam. 24. 14, 15. And this evill they wished, as being easier than to perish with hunger or thirst: as the Prophet also complaineth, They that be slain with the sword, are better than they that be slaine with hunger: for these pine away, stricken thorow for the fruits of the field, Lam. 4. 9. Wherefore they here use the word giving up (or breathing out) the ghost; which seemeth to meane a more easie kinde of death, than that which is by force of sword, or by hunger, or thirst, or other like violent meanes. So the Hebrewes explaine, giving up the ghost, to be a death without paine or long sicknesse.
Vers. 4. to die there] understand, that we should die there with thirst; the Greeke translateth, to bill us and our children, which words they spake in Exod. 17. 3.
Vers. 5. of seed] to sow seed in, or to plant fig-trees, vines, &c. for the wildernesse was a land of desarts & of pits, a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, a land that no man passed thorow, and where no man dwelt, Ier. 2. 6. Otherwise, had there beene commodiousnesse of place, the Israelites might have sowen and reaped, planted and gathered fruits in those 38 yeares, which they abode therein, Deu. 2. 14.
Vers. 6. from the presence] or, from the face, for feare of them, and because of their outrage: so in Rev. 12. 14. Psal. 3. 1. fell on their faces] in prayer unto God, whose glory dwelled in that Sanctuarie: so in Exod. 17. 4. Moses cr…ed unto the LORD. See Num. 16. 4. 45. appeared▪ in the cloud, as Num. 12. 5. a signe that he heard their prayer, and would save them: see Num. 14. 10. and 16. 19. 42.
Vers. 8. Take the rod] in Greeke, Take thy rod: so God spake before, in Exod. 17. 5. but here, some gather from verse 9. that it was the rod of Aaron which had budded, and was laid up before the Testimony, Num. 17. 10. Chazkuni saith, This was Aarons rod, for loe it is here written (in verse 9.) And Moses tooke the rod from before the LORD, and this was the rod of Aaron, as it is written (in Num. 17. 10.) Bring Aarons rod again… before the Testimonie, to be kept for a signe against the sonnes of rebellion: and forasmuch as Aarons rod was a signe against the sonnes of rebellion, hereupon Moses said (in verse 10.) Heare now ye rebels. Howbeit Moses rod (which is also called the rod of God, Exod. 4. 20. and 17. 9.) might be kept also in the Sanctuary: and after in verse 11. it is said, Moses smote the rocke with his rod. speake ye unto the▪ Rocke] He saith not, smite the rocke: yet in verse 11. Moses smote the rocke; and in vers. 10. he spake to the people; but it is not said that he spake to the rocke, as here he was commanded. Some others thinke, that Gods intendment in bidding him. Take the rod, was to smite the Rocke with it; and that he sinned not in smiting it, but in unbeleefe; for which he is blamed in vers. 12. it shall give forth his water] or, the waters of it: this promise of God, was that whereon the faith of Moses and Aaron should have rested. thou shalt bring forth] God was he that brought forth, and gave water to the people, as is often mentioned to his glory; He clave the Rockes in the wildernesse, and gave drinke, as out of the great deepes, and brought forth streames out of the Rocke, &c. Psal. 78. 15, 16. So in Psal. 105. 41. and 114. 8. Deut. 8. 15. Nehem. 9. 15, 20. But that worke is here ascribed to Moses ministerially, for that the waters should come out at his speaking. So in other workes of grace, the Ministers of the Word are called Saviours, Obad. vers. 21▪ for in the faithfull performance of their office, they both save themselves, and those that heare them, 1 Tim. 4 16.
Vers. 9. from before Jehovah] that is, out of the Tabernacle; for so the phrase importeth, as in Num. 17. 7. Exod. 16. 33, 34.
Vers. 10. Heare now ye rebels] As here he speaketh to the people, who was bidden speake to the Rocke, vers. 8. so the manner of his speech sheweth great passion of minde, more than at other times: and the Scripture noteth, that now the people had bitterly provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly (uttering his anger) with his lips, Psal. 106. 33. shall we bring forth water] a speech of doubting and unbeleefe, both in Moses and Aaron, as in vers. 12. God blameth them because they beleeved not in him. So before, when Moses said, Shall the flockes and the herds be slaine for them, &c. he was blamed with this answer, Is the Lords hand waxed short? Numb. 11. 22, 23. Moses was sore moved against this latter generation of Israelites, who had seene so many miracles, and their fathers perished for rebellion, and yet they were not bettered: hee might feare, lest for their sinning like their fathers, the Lord would leave them, as he after speaketh in Numb. 32. 14, 15.
Vers. 11. lifted up his hand] another signe of indignation, being joyned with smiting. twice] the doubling of his stroke shewed also the heat of his anger. Sol. Iarchi (on this place) conjectureth, that … smote it twice, because at first it brought forth b… drops, (of water) because God had not bidden him smite it, but speake unto it. much water] or, many waters. He clave the rockes in the wilderrasse, and gave drinke, as out of the great deeps, Psal. 78. 15. The unbeleefe of man maketh not the faith of God without effect, Rom. 3. 3. Moses and Aaron beleeved not God, to sanctifie him, vers. 12. yet he faithfully kept his promise, and sanctified himselfe, vers▪ 13. the Congregation dranke] Thus the Lord know his people in the wildernesse, in the land of droughts, Hos. 13. 5. And they thirsted not, when be led them thorow the desarts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rockes for them: he clave the rockes …so, and the waters gushed out, Esai. 48. 21. The … ▪ out of the Rocke, besides the refreshing which it gave unto their bodies, was also a spirituall … from that spirituall Rock Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 4. who being smitten for our transgressions, Esai. 53. with the rod of the Law, which worketh wrath, Rom. 4. 15. from him proceedeth the living water, wherewith the Israel of God may quench their thirst for ever, John 4. 10, 14. For who so beleeveth in him, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, even the waters of the holy Ghost, Ioh. 7. 38, 39. To these waters, every one that thirsteth is called to come freely, Esai. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. their cattell] that water, which was both a naturall and spirituall refreshing to the people, is given also to the beasts for their naturall thirst, because the signes and seales of Gods grace are such in respect of the use of them, to those unto whom they are sanctified of God for that purpose. So the waters of Iordan were sanctified for Baptisme, unto repentant and beleeving sinners, Matth. 3. 6. which out of that use were common waters. And now, not only the Israelites cattell, but the wilde beasts also of the wildernesse, had benefit by this mercy of God to his people: whereunto the Lord hath reference, when he saith by his Prophet, The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owles, because I give waters in the wildernesse, rivers in the desart, to give drinke to my people, my chosen, Esai. 43. 20.
Vers. 12. ye beleeved not in me] the Chaldee expoundeth it, ye beleeved not in my word. Thus unbeleefe was here the chiefe sinne, and cause of other sinnes, as before in the people, Numb. 14. so here in Moses and Aaron, who were … partners in the transgression. And this their sinne is called a rebellion against the mouth of the Lord, Numb. 27. 14. and a transgression, Deut. 32. 51. which word, as R. Menachem here noteth, implieth salfhood, as in Lev. 6. 2. it is joyned with false deniall: and the Apostle saith, Hee that beleeveth not God, hath made him a lier, 1 Ioh. 5. 10. to sanctifie me] inwardly in the heart by faith, outwardly by obedience, to doe that which I commanded; and by both to ascribe unto mee the glory of my truth and power. So when it is said, Sanctifie the Lord of hosts, Esai. 8. 13. the Apostle expoundeth it, Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, 1 Pet. 3. 15. in the eyes] the Greeke translateth it, before the sons of Israel. This seemeth to be the reason of Gods severity at this time against Moses and Aaron, more than before, when Moses bewrayed also his unbeleefe, in Num. 11. 21, 22, 23. because he now publiquely dishonoured God before all the people, (which did aggravate the sin,) whereas the former time he did it not in their eyes, but in private before the Lord. therefore] Chazkuni observeth, that this word implieth an oath. Neither indeed could Moses repentance or prayer get this sentence to be reversed: for when the Lord hath sworne, he will not repent, Psal. 110. 4. … ye shall not bring] This chastisement was grievous unto Moses, so that he besought the Lord that he might goe over, and see the good land; but the Lord was wroth with him for the peoples▪ sakes, and would not heare him, Deut. 3. 23,—26. And as God here spake, so it came to passe; for Aaron died in mount Hor, Numb. 20. 24, 28. and Moses on mount Nebo, after he had seene the land with his eyes, but might not goe over thither, Deut. 34. The Psalmist saith, Thou wast unto them a God that forgiveth, and taking vengeance on their practises, Psal. 99. 8. Moses the Minister of the Law, though he guided Israel thorow the wildernesse, to the borders of the promised land, yet could not bring the people thereinto; but Iesus (or Iosua) his successour, gave them the possession of it; to signifie, that the Law (which worketh wrath, Rom. 4. 15.) and the workes thereof (by which no flesh shall be justified, Gal. 2. 16.) cannot bring us into the kingdom of God, but Iesus Christ (who hath loved us, and given himselfe for us,) giveth us by faith the inheritance of the heavenly kingdome, Rom. 4. 24, 25. and 5. 1, 2, &c. Gal. 2. 16. and 3. 13, 14, &c.
Vers. 13. of Meribah] that is, of Contention, or Strife; which the Greeke translateth, of Contradiction; so called for a memoriall of their sinne, and for a warning to ages following, not to do the like; whereupon it is said by David, Harden not your heart, as in Meribah, Psalm. 95. 8. The same name was given to the former place in Rephidim, Exod. 17. 7. To distinguish betweene them, the Scripture calleth this, Meribah of Kadesh, in the wildernesse of Zin, Deut. 32. 51. contended with Iehovah] in that they contended with Moses, vers. 3. it is accounted as contention against the Lord himselfe, as he told them before, in Exod. 16. 8. The Greeke translateth, reviled before the Lord. he was sanctified▪ or, he sanctified himselfe in them. Though Moses and Aaron sanctified him not by faith and obedience, yet was he sanctified among the people, by the worke of his grace, in giving waters for their thirst. Or, he was sanctified in them, that is, in Moses and Aaron, as Targum Ionathan explaineth it: for by punishing their rebellion, he sanctified him-selfe in them; as it is written, That the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee. O Gog, before their eyes; where it is understood of punishment; as it followeth, And I will plead against him with postilence, and with bloud, &c. thus will I magnifie my selfe, and sanctifie my selfe, and I will be knowne in the eyes of many nations, Ezek. 38. 16, 22, 23. See also the Annotations on Levit. 10. 3. And thus …ol. Iarchi expoundeth it, in them, for Moses and Aaron died because of them; for when the holy blessed God doth judgement, &c. he sanctifieth him-selfe before his creatures; and so it is said, Fearefull art thou, ô God, out of thy Sanctuaries, Psalm. 68. 36.
Vers. 14. Edom] the Edomites, the posterity of Esais, who was surnamed Edom, Gen. 25. 30. and 36. 1. This message which Moses sent unto Edom, and all things about it following, were done by the direction and word of God, as appeareth by Deut: 2. 1, 2, 4, &c. … thy brother Israel] so the whole nation is called, because Iakob, whose name was called Israel, Gen. …2. 28. was naturall brother to Esau: and this title of brotherhood continued long after, as in O … vers. 10, …. Also the Law saith, Thou shalt not abhorre an Edomite, for he is thy brother. Deut. 23. 7… … travell that hath found us] the wearisome molestation that hath befallen us. See the like phrase in Exod. 18. 8. Nehem. 9. 32.
Vers. 15. into Aegypt] The history hereof is in Gen. 46. dwelt] Hebr. sitten, that is, continued; in Greeke, sojourned. Many daies] see Exod. 12. 40. Did evill] afflicted with rigorous bondage, and other cruelty: See Exod. 1, &c.
Vers. 16. We cried out] as is recorded in Exod. 2. 23. an Angell] This was Christ: See Exod. 3. 2. and 14. 19. and 23. 20. with the Annotations. Some of the Hebrewes understand it of Moses, because the Prophets are called Angels or Messengers, as in Iudg. 2. 1. 2 Chron. 36. 15, 16. Hag. 1. 13. in Kadesh a citie] or, by Kadesh, to wit, in the wildernesse lying neere, and having the name of Kadesh the citie, Numb. 33. 36. The Chaldee here and usually nameth it Rekam.
Vers. 17. thorow thy country] because it was the neerest way: therefore when Edom refused to let them goe thorow, they turned and passed by the way of the wildernesse of Moab, Deut. 2. 8. Iudg. 11. 17, 18. the vineyards] to rob, or make spoile of any mans goods. water of the well] that is, of the wells, or, of any well: the Greeke translateth, of thy well: Meaning either that they would not drinke without paying for it, as in vers. 19. or, that they would drinke of the rivers which were common, not of wells which were private, and digged of men for their owne use. the kings way] that is, the high-way, which is common for all to passe by, vers. 19. So againe in Numb. 21. 22.
Vers. 18. Not passe thorow me] that is, thorow my country, vers. 17. as the Chaldee explaineth it, thorow my border. See the like phrase in Deut. 2. 30. Rom. 15. 28. left I come] it is a threatning which the Greeke explaineth, otherwise I will come: See the Annotations on Gen. 3. 3. with the sword] the Chaldee expoundeth it, with them that kill with the sword; the Greeke, in warre. It had beene the dutie of Edom, to have met their brother Israel with bread and with water in the way, as God speaketh of the Moabites, Deut. 23. 4. but by this unkindnesse the Lord would have his people to see, how all worldly friends and kindred after the flesh will faile them, yea and oppose them, that their hope and strength may be in him alone, Mat. 10. 21, 22.
Vers. 19. the high way] or causey; that which before was called the Kings way, vers. 17. the Greeke here translateth it, the mountaine. the price] Hebr. the sale; which both Greeke and Chaldee translate, the price. This was so commanded of God, Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that … may eat: and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that yee may drinke. For Iehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the worke of thine hand, Deut. 2. 6, 7. without doing anything else Hebr. without a word, that is, without any thing; which the Chaldee explaineth, any evill thing (or ward.)
Vers. 20. with much people] Hebr. with an heavie people; which the Chaldee expoundeth, a great army. The Scripture confirmeth this; as that which in 1 King. 3. 9. is written an heavie (or …, people, is in 2 Chro. 1. 10. expounded a great …. This comming out was to resist Israel by force an… strong hand, for Edom was afraid of them, Deut. 2. 4. and trusted not their words.
Vers. 21. to give] that is, to suffer, or to give Israel leave to passe, as the Chaldee expoundeth it. Nor withstanding, as they went along their coast, the Edomites suffred them to buy victuals of them, as appeareth by Deut. 2. 28, 29. … aside] and went along thorow the wildernesse, and compassed the land of Edom, Iudg. 11. 18. For the Lord had charged them that they should not meddle with the sonnes of Esau, or their possession, Deut. 2. 4, 5. So Targum Ionathan here paraphraseth, they were commanded by the word of (the God of) heaven, that they should not wage warre with them, because the time was not yet come, when hee would execute … on Edom by their hands. Thus Israel suffered patiently the unkindnesse of Edom, and obeyed the Lord herein, though the way which they after went thorow the wildernesse, was very grievous unto them, and their soules were much discouraged because of the same, Numb. 21. 4, 5.
Vers. 22. mount Hor] a mount in the edge of the land of E…ora, and the next resting place which they came unto from Kadesh, Num. 33. 37. The name it selfe signifieth a mount, for Har in Hebrew is a mountaine; and Sol. Iarchi here explaineth it, a …ountaine upon a mountaine: … argum Ionathan nameth it mount Omanos.
Vers. 24. gathered unto his people] that is, die, and be buried, and his soule be among the spirits of just men made perfect, as Hebr. 12. 23. Gathering signifieth here taking away by death, as in vers. 26. and in Esai. 57. 1. mercifull men are gathered, that is, taken away: and that which is gathered, is the spirit of man, as in Psal. 104. 20. thou gatherest their spirit, they give up the ghost, and returne unto their dust. The peoples meane the Fathers deceased, as is spoken of David in Act. 13. 36. and in Judg. 2. 10. all that generation were gathered unto their fathers. So his peoples here, are Aarons godly forefathers: as David desireth the contrary, Gather not my soule with sinners, Psal. 26. 9. See the Annotations on Gen. 25. 8. rebelled against my mouth] that is against my word, as the Chaldee expoundeth it: the Greeke saith, yee provoked me. See before on vers. 12.
Vers. 26. strip Aaron] or, disaray Aaron of his garments, meaning of his Priestly robes, the garments of holinesse, which Moses had made him for …, and for beautifull glory, Exod. 28. 2. and which at his consecration to the Priesthood Moses had put upon him, Levit. 8. 7, 8, 9. So Targum Io… expoundeth it, strip Aaron of the honourable garments of the Priesthood. The taking off of these garments, and putting them upon Eleazar, signified the taking away of his office and dignity, and giving the same to another: as by a like similitude God said unto Shebna the treasurer, I will drive thee … thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee downe. And it shall be in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim, the sonne of Hilkiaeh, and I will cloath him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy gouernment …to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of …, &c. Esay 22. 15, 19, 20, 21. As by Aarons offering for his owne sins first, and then for the sinnes of the people, Levit. 16. 6. 11. 15. the holy Ghost shewed the inability of the legall Priesthood (in comparison with Christs) to reconcile men unto God, Hebr. 7. 26, 27, 28. so by this disaraying and death of Aaron, hee signified the disanulling of that Priesthood, for the weaknesse and unprofitablenesse thereof, Hobr. 7. 11,—18. When therefore the same hands of Moses, which had put on the garments, did pull them off, & now at this time for the sinne which the high Priest had committed, vers. 12. Deut. 32. 50, 51. they and all the people were taught to expect a better Priesthood of the Sonne of God, who is perfected for evermore, Hebr. 7. 28. Eleazar his sonne] This was a comfort to all, especially to Aaron the father, that the Priestly function ended not with the death of the Priest, but was derived to his posterity, and so continued thorow all ages, till Christ came, who is a Priest for ever; after the order of Melchisedek, the true Eliazar, that is, the Helpe of God; who is made, not after the law of a carnall commandement, but after the power of an endlesse life, Heb. 7. 11. 16. Wherefore to signifie the continuance of his grace and love to the Church, God promised that the Priests the Levites should not want a man before him, to offer Burnt-offerings, and to kindle Meat-offerings, and to doe sacrifice continually, Ier. 33. 18. So Aaron did behold in the cloathing of his sonne, a type of his owne, and of all Israels salvation, that his death might not be bitter unto him, but he might depart in peace, because his eyes did see (though as a farre off) the salvation of God, as Luke 2. 29, 30. shall be gathered] unto his peoples, vers. 24. and shall die] Hee that before in the worke of his Priesthood, made atonement for the people, and stood betweene the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed, Numb. 16. 47, 48. now dieth himselfe, for his own sin: an evident demonstration of the insufficiencie of the Leviticall Priesthood. Whereupon the Apostle teacheth, that they were many Priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death. But Christ, because he continueth ever, hath a priesthood which passeth not from one to another: wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them, Hebr. 7. 23, 24, 25.
Vers. 28. Moses stripped Aaron] The actions of Moses signified the effects of his ministery and Law, 2 Cor. 3. 13. Whereas therefore he unvested Auron, by reason of sinne and death which was to ensue, it shewed that no Priest who was a sinner, and under the power of death, could satisfie the justice of the Law, and avoid the wrath of God: so the Legall Priesthood now might say, He hath stript me of my glory, and taken the crowne from my head, Iob. 19. 9. Againe, in putting the priestly garments upon Eleazar, (who was before this, the Prince of the Princes of the Levites, Numb. 3. 32.) he signified, that the Law had a shadow of good things to come, Heb. 10. 1, and therefore the blessings figured thereby, should not be frustrate, but continued under hope by succession, till hee should come unto whom the right of the high Priesthood belonged, even the Branch that should build the Temple of the Lord, and should beare the glory, and sit and rule upon his throne, and should be a Priest upon his throne, and the counsell of peace be betweene them both, Zac. 6. 12, 13. …er. 33. 18. Thus the Law was a Schoolemaster unto Christ, Gal. 3. 24. It may also be observed, how among the Gentiles, their prophets and prophetesses, who did weare some ornaments and ensignes of their dignity, used solemnly to put them off before their death, as resigning them up unto God, and iudging it an unmeet thing to die in them, as appeareth by the example of Cassandra, in the Greeke Poet Aeschylus, and of Amphi…s the Prophet, in Statius Papinius, Thebaid. 7. top of the mountaine] Things that were very memorable and significative, are often noted in Scripture to be done in mountaines, as being conspicuous, remarkable, and implying high and heavenly mysteries. So the Arke of Noe rested on mount Ararat, Gen. 8. 4. Abraham sacrificed his sonne on mount Morijah, Gen. 22. 2. &c. as the Sonne of God was sacrificed on Calvary, Luke 23. 33. The Law of Moses was given upon mount Sinai, Exod. 19. the Law of Christ came from mount Sion, Mic. 4. 1, 2. and on a mountaine he preached the Gospell, and expounded the Law, Matth. 5. 1, &c. Ezekiel in a vision was shewed the city called The Lord is there, upon a very high mountaine, Ezek. 42. &c. and 48. 35. Iohn was also shewed the same citie upon a great and high mountaine, Rev. 21. 10. &c. Moses himselfe on the mountaine of Nebo, viewed all the promised land, and died there, Deut. 34. 1.—5. and was with Christ when he was transfigured, and spake of his death, upon an high mountaine, Mat. 17. 1, 2, 3. Luke 9. 30, 31. and now he was with Aaron at his death, and translation of the Priesthood from him unto Eleazar, where he also beheld the end of the Leviticall Priesthood a farre off, and so the translation of it, and of the law thereof, unto Christ, whose day he desired, Hebr. 7. 11, 12.
Vers. 29. saw that Aaron had given up the ghost] seeing is here for perceiving by knowledge and understanding, as by the relation of Moses and Eleazar, as also that Aaron came not downe with them. So Iakob saw that there was corne in Aegypt, when he heard thereof, Gen. 42. 1. Act. 7. 12. The people saw the voices, Exod. 20. 18. and sundry the like. Here also they might see the hand of God, chastifing their sin upon Aaron, who died now not only for his own transgression, but for their sakes, as Moses after speaketh of himselfe, The Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, Deut. 3. 26. yet in beholding his Priesthood continued in his son, they might also behold Gods mercy towards them in Christ, who should perfectly reconcile them unto God, when the Priesthood of the Law, which now began to die away, should utterly be abolished. they wept] that is, they mourned. For publike persons, the whole congregation mourned, as here for Aaron, so for the death of his sonnes, Levit. 10. 6. and for the death of Moses, Deut. 34. 8. thirty daies] See the Annotations on Gen. 50. 10. Mourning for the dead is honourable, and here the people mourne for Aaron thirty daies, whom they had dishonoured by rebelling against him forty yeares. So long also they wept for Moses, Deut. 34. 8. and it is the lot of many of the servants of God, to have more honour after their death, than in their life. As Mary the sister, the prophetesse of Israel, died in the first monethmonth, vers. 1. so Aaron the high Priest died in the first day of the fifth monethmonth, in the fortieth yeare after their comming out of Aegypt, when he was 123. yeares old, Numb. 33. 38, 39. His buriall also (though here omitted) is spoken of in Deut. 10. 6.