Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
1 The Israelites are commanded to take vengeance on the Midianites. 5 Twelve thousand of the tribes of Israel, with Phinehas the Priest, are sent to warre. 7 They slay all the males, and the five kings of Midian, and Balaam the sonne of Beor. 9 They take the women and children captives, and the spoile of their goods and cartell, and burne their cities. 13 Moses is wroth with the Officers for saving the women alive. 19 How the souldiers with their captives and spoile are to be purified. 25 The proportion whereby the prey is to be divided. 28 The tribute levied unto the Lord of the divided prey, and given to the Priests and Levites. 48 The captaines of Israel numbring their souldiers, misse not a man, and therefore giuegive a voluntary oblation unto the Treasury of the Lord.
ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; Avenge the vengeance of the sons of Israel upon the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy peoples. And Moses spake unto the people, saying; Arme yee some men of your selves unto the warre, and let them be against Midian, to render the vengeance of Iehovah, upon Midian. A thousand of a tribe, a thousand of a tribe, of all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the warre. So there were delivered of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of a tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. And Moses sent them, a thousand of a tribe, to the warre: them and Phinehas the sonne of Eleazar the Priest, to the warre; and the holy instruments, and the trumpets of alarme in his hand. And they warred against Midian, as Iehovah commanded Moses, and they killed every male. And they killed the Kings of Midian, beside those that were slaine of them; Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five Kings of Midian: Balaam also the sonne of Beor they killed with the sword.
And the sonnes of Israel tooke the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and tooke the prey of all their cattell, and all their flockes, and all their goods. And they burnt all their cities in their habitations, and all their castles with fire. And they tooke all the spoile, and all the booty, of men, and of beasts. And they brought the captivity, and the booty, and the spoile, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the Priest, and unto the congregation of the sonnes of Israel, unto the campe, unto the plaines of Moab, which are by Iordan, neere Iericho.
And Moses, and Eleazar the Priest, and all the Princes of the Congregation went forth to meet them without the camp. And Moses was wroth with the Officers of the host, the captaines of thousands, and the captaines of hundreds, which came from the battell of the warre. And Moses said unto them, Have yee saved alive all the females?
Behold, these were to the sonnes of Israel through the word of Balaam (a cause) to commit trespasse against Iehovah in the matter of Peor: and there was a plague among the Congregation of Iehovah. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath knowne man, by lying with a male. But all the little ones among the women, that have not knowne the lying with a male, keepe alive for your selves. And you, encamp ye without the campe, seven dayes, whosoever hath killed any soule, and whosoever hath touched any slaine; purifie your selves and your captivitie, in the third day, and in the seventh day. And purifie every garment, and every instrument of skinne, and every worke of goats (haire,) and every instrument of wood.
And Eleazar the Priest said unto the men of the Armie, which went to the warre, This is the ordinance of the Law, which Iehovah commanded Moses. OnelyOnly the gold, and the silver, the brasse, the iron, the tinne, and the lead; Every thing that goeth thorow the fire, ye shall make it passe thorow the fire, and it shall be cleane; neverthelesse, it shall be purified with the water of separation: and every thing that goeth not thorow the fire, yee shall make passe thorow the water. And yee shall wash your clothes in the seventh day, and ye shall be cleane; and afterward ye shall come into the campe.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying;
Take thou the summe of the bootie of the captivitie, of man, and of beast; thou, and Eleazar the Priest, and the heads of the Fathers of the Congregation. And divide the bootie into two parts between them that tooke upon them the warre, who went out to battell, and betweene all the Congregation. And levie a tribute unto Iehovah, of the men of warre which went out to battell, one soule of five hundred; of the men, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep.
Of their halfe shall yee take it, and thou shalt give it unto Eleazar the Priest, for an heave-offering of Iehovah. And of the sons of Israels halfe, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the men, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the sheepe, of all beasts: and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the Tabernacle of Iehovah.
And Moses and Eleazar the Priest did as Iehovah commanded Moses. And the booty, the residue of the prey, which the people of the armie had made prey of, was six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand sheepe. And seventie and two thousand beeves. And sixtie and one thousand asses. And soules of mankinde, of the women which had not knowne the lying with male, all the soules were two and thirtie thousand. And the halfe, which was the portion of them that went out to warre, was, the number of sheepe, three hundred thousand, & thirty thousand, and seven thousand, and five hundred. And Iehovahs tribute of the sheepe was six hundred seventie and five. And the beeves were six and thirtie thousand; and Iehovahs tribute of them was seventy and two. And the asses were thirtie thousand and five hundred: and Iehovahs tribute of them was sixtie and one.
And the soules of mankinde were sixteene thousand: and Iehovahs tribute of them was two and thirty soules. And Moses gave the tribute, the heave-offering of Iehovah, unto Eleazar the Priest, as Iehovah commanded Moses. And of the sonnes of Israels halfe, which Moses divided from the men that warred. (Now the Congregations halfe was, of the sheepe, three hundred thousand, and thirtie thousand, seven thousand, & five hundred. And beeves, six and thirty thousand.
And Asses, thirtie thousand and five hundred. And soules of mankinde, sixteene thousand.) And Moses tooke of the sonnes of Israel halfe, one portion of fifty, of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the Tabernacle of Iehovah, as Iehovah commanded Moses.
And the officers which were over the thousands of the host, the captaines of thousands, and captaines of hundreds, came neere unto Moses. And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the summe of the men of warre which were in our hand, and there lacketh not a man of us. Therefore we have brought an oblation for Iehovah, what every man hath found of jewels of gold, chaines, and bracelets, rings, eare-rings, & tablets, to make atonement for our soules before Iehovah. And Moses and Eleazar the Priest tooke the gold of them, every wrought jewel.
And all the gold of the heave-offering, that they offered up to Iehovah, was sixteen thousand, seven hundred, and fiftie shekels, of the captaines of thousands, and of the captaines of hundreds. The men of the armie had taken spoile, every man for himselfe. And Moses and Eleazar the Priest tooke the gold of the captaines of thousands, and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of the congregation, for a memoriall for the sonnes of Israel, before Iehovah.
Annotations.
AVenge the vengeance] or, Revenge the revengement of the sons of Israel, that is, take vengeance for the Israelites wrong and injurie upon the Midianites, who vexed Israel with their wiles, and beguiled them in the matter of Peor, Numb. 25. 17, 18. The Lord, to whom vengeance and recompence belongeth, Dent. 32. 35. (and would not therefore have men avenge themselves, Rom. 12. 19) commandeth this vengeance for his peoples sake, many of whom he had formerly slaine for sinning with the Midianites, Numb. 25. 9. and now turneth his hand against their enemies, because he is the avenger of all such, 1 Thess. 4. 6. Therefore he calleth it here, the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel; but Moses calleth it the vengeance of Iehovah, vers. 3. And the commandement is given to Moses the Magistrate, the Minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon evill doers, Rom. 13. 4. Midianites] in Greeke, Madianites, the posterity of Midian the son of Abraham by his wife Keturah, Gen. 25. 1, 2. Why these were now punished rather than the Moabites (their partners in sinne,) is touched on Numb. 25. 17. gathered unto thy peoples] that is, die and be buried: See the Annotations on Numb. 20. 24. and Gen. 25. 8.
Vers. 3. to render] or, to give the vengeance of Iehovah, which phrase the Apostle useth in 2 Thess. 1. 8. giving (or rendring) vengeance on them that know not God. That which in vers. 2. was called the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel, is here named the vengeance of the Lord, as being executed by his word, and for the injury done unto him; for he that toucheth his people, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2. 8. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, the vengeance of the people of the LORD.
Vers. 4. A thousand of a tribe a thousand] that is, of every tribe a thousand; in all, twelve thousand, vers. 5. which was but a small company in respect both of the six hundred thousands of Israel, Numb. 26. 51. and of the nation of the Midianites, governed by five Kings, vers. 8. But there is no restrain: to the Lord, to save by many, or by few, 1 Sam. 14. 6. And this small number was chosen, that the victorie might be acknowledged the Lords; as after this he said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine owne hand hath saved me, Iudg. 7. 2.
Vers. 5. there were delivered] in Chaldee, there were chosen; in Greeke, they numbred.
Vers. 6. Phinehas] the zealous Priest, who had formerly slaine Cozbi the Princes daughter of Midian, Num. 25. 7.—15. holy instruments] Hebr. instruments (or vessels) of holinesse: hereby the Arke and things belonging thereto may be meant, as appeareth by Numb. 14. 44. Or, because the Arke was but one, and he speaketh here of moe instruments, the trumpets may be understood: and so to reade it, the holy instruments, that is, the trumpets, &c. for and is sometime used by way of explication for that is, or to wit, as is noted on Gen. 13. 15. But to understand hereby the Vrim and Thummim, or Golden plate (as some do) is unprobable, because they were not in the hand of Phinehas, but of Eleazar, who was the high Priest, Numb. 27. 21. and 20. 26. trumpets of alarme] to blow an alarme, that they might be remembred before the Lord their God, and saved from their enemies, according to the law and promise in Num. 10. 9. and practise in ages following, 2 Chron. 13. 12, 14, 15. Thus had they both Gods commandement, and the signes of his presence and aid, to sanctifie their expedition.
Vers. 8. beside those] or, with those that were slaine; for the Hebrew gnal often signifieth with, as in Exod. 35. 22. Levit. 14. 31. Deut. 22. 6. and other-where. five kings] called else-where Princes and Dukes of Sibon, Ios. 13. 21. But Sihon the Amorite being slaine before (Num. 21. 23, 24.) these Dukes of his now reigned as Kings, & fought against Israel, and were overcome by faith which subdueth kingdomes, Hebr. 11. 33. The Antichristian Amorite (the Beast) hath twice five, that is, ten Kings, as hornes on his head, which make warre with the Lambe (Christ,) and the Lambe overcommeth them, Rev. 17. 12, 14. and 19. 19.—21. Balaam also] they killed among (or with) those that were slaine of them, as is expressed in Numb. 13. 22. which also is added in the Greeke version here. So that either he stayed with the Midianites, when he departed from Balak, or returned from his place unto them, as is noted on Num. 24. 25. And hee died not the death of the righteous, (as he seemed to desire, Num. 23. 10.) but his iniquitie was upon his bones, though hee was the terrour of the mightie in the land of the living; yet was he broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and lay with them that were slaine with the sword, as the Prophet speaketh of others, in Ezek. 32. 27, 28.
Vers. 10. castles] or, goodly buildings, or, villages: see this word in Gen. 25. 16. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, their houses of worship or adoration, their Temples.
Vers. 12. the captivitie] that is, the captives, women and children: see Num. 21. 1. So after in vers. 19. the bootie] or, the thing taken; which being here distinguished from the captives, meaneth the beasts and cattell, as appeareth by vers. 32. and 26. the spoile] a generall word for things taken in warre, Ios. 22. 8. implying sometime beasts and cattell also, as in 2 Chron. 15. 11. and all other things, as garments, gold, silver, &c. vers. 20. 22. Ios. 7. 21. 2 Chron. 28. 15. victuals, 1 Sam. 14. 30. and the like. These all they brought unto the Governours and Congregation, to be disposed of according to the will of God, whose the victory was.
Vers. 13. to meet them] As Melchisedek King and Priest, went forth to meet A bram returning from the slaughter of the Kings, Gen. 14. so Moses the King, Eleazar the Priest, and the Princes goe forth here to meet Abrahams children returning from the slaughter of the Kings of Midian. Wherein the worke of Christ (our King and Priest) was figured: who after our spirituall warfare with the enemies of our salvation, meeteth us with his gracious Spirit, to sanctifie and blesse us, Hebr. 7. Also they went out to meet them, to provide for the cleansing of the Souldiers, wch were polluted by the dead, and might not therefore come into the campe before they were purified, Num. 5. 2, 3. and 19. 11, 12, 13.
Vers. 14. the officers] or, the Bishops of the host, as both the Hebrew and Greeke words signifie: these were the captains, as after is explained. Moses who was the meekest man on earth in his owne matters, is yet observed to have beene often angry for the Lords cause, as is noted on Num. 12. 3. And he was wroth with the officers, because upon them lay the charge to direct and governe the people in the wayes of God. Compare Acts 20. 28. … Pet. 5. 2, 3. Rev. 2. 1,—5. &c. the battell of the warre] the battell-ray (or host) of the warre: the first word signifieth warfare, as it is orderly set in array; the second meaneth the warre, fight or combat with the enemie.
Vers. 16. the word of Balaam] the doctrine of Balaam, as Rev. 2. 14. or, (as the Chaldee expoundeth it) the counsell of Balaam; having reference to that counsell intimated, Num. 24. 14. a cause to commit] or, an occasion to commit (Heb. to give) atrespasse by fornication and idolatrie, Num. 25. 1, 2, 3. The Greeke translateth, to revolt and to despise the word of the Lord. the matter] Heb. the word; in Greeke, because of Phogor: see Num. 25. 3. 18.
Vers. 17. knowne man by lying with a male] the latter explaineth the former, which sometime is used alone in the same meaning, as in Gen. 4. 1. Luke 1. 34. After it is said, knowne the lying with a male: the like phrases are in Iudg. 21. 11, 12.
Vers. 19. seven dayes] for so long did the pollution by the dead continue, Num. 19. 11. any soule] that is, any person. purifie] with the water of separation, vers. 23. the law whereof was given in Num. 19. your captivitie] that is, your captives, or prisoners; as in vers. 12. The Iewes hold, that the heathens are not polluted by the dead, or with other like legall uncleannesse, as is noted on Num. 19. 14. But in this case, when heathens are captived by Israelites, and so become their lawfull possession, they are uncleane, and to be purified, by proportion from the law in Gen. 17. 12, 13. Wherupon Iarchi here saith, Your selves and your captivity, not that heathens doe receive uncleannesse, and need to be sprinkled; but as you the children of the covenant, so your captives also which come into the covenant, and are uncleane, have need to be sprinkled. and in the seventh day] according to the law in Num. 19. 19. the signification whereof is shewed there.
Vers. 20. every garment] or, every cloth: the word implieth not onelyonly garments for mans body, but cloathes for other use; as in Num. 4. 6 7, 8. instrument] or, vessell of skin; whatsoever is made of the skin of any beast: so after, every instrument (or vessell) of wood. worke of goats haire] that is, thing made of goats haire: the word haire may here be understood, as in Exod. 25. 4. some adde, of goats skins, it may also meane any other part, as Sol. Iarchi here saith, it implieth any instrument of the hornes, and of the hoofes, and of the bones.
Vers. 21. which went] that is, which had gone: Hebr. which came; wherefore it may also bee Englished, which came from the battell: so the Greeke here translateth it; and so the Hebrew word which usually signifieth to, is by the holy Ghost in Greeke translated from, or out of, as in Rom. 11. 26. from Esay 59. 20. See the like noted on Gen. 36. 6. the ordinance] or the statute of the law; which the Greeke calleth Dicaioma, that is, the just ordinance, or righteous statute of the law. The same word Paul useth in Rom. 2. 26. if the uncircumcision (that is, the uncircumcised Gentile) keepe the ordinances (or righteous statutes) of the Law: and in Rom. 8. 4. that the ordinance (the righteous statute) of the Law might be fulfilled in us. So in Hebr. 9. 1. ordinances of divine service. Here Eleazar the Priest declareth to the people the Law which God had commanded Moses; as it was generally the dutie of Priests and Levites to teach Iakob Gods judgements, and Israel his Law, Deut. 33. 8. 10. Hag. 2. 11, 12. Mal. 2. 7. Moreover the heiffer, with whose ashes the purifying water was prepared, was expresly given to Eleazar, Num. 19. 3. &c.
Vers. 23. that goeth thorow the fire] that is, will, or may abide the fire, and not be consumed therewith. Or, that commeth in the fire. and it shall be] or, that it may be cleane. water of separation] in Greeke, water of purification: the water mentioned in Num. 19. 9. which was to bee sprinkled upon the vessels with hyssop, Num. 19. 18. after they had passed thorow the fire. goeth not thorow the fire] that will not abide the fire, or commeth not in the fire. This latter, some of the Hebrew Expositors (as Iarchi and Targum Ionathan) doe follow, and understand by things that come in the fire, such vessels and instruments as are used at the fire, kettles, spits, and the like: and by things that come not in the fire, they understand cups, platters, and such like. But the former seemeth best. thorow the water] to bee washed therewith, and not sprinkled onelyonly with that water of separation, Num. 19. By this passing thorow fire and water, the vessels had a legall purification from their ceremoniall uncleannesse; to signifie that the creatures are sanctified unto our use by the word of God and prayer, 1 Tim. 4. 4, 5. And sometime by vessels the Scripture signifieth men; and by their passing thorow fire and water, their cleansing from corruption by afflictions, and through the grace and spirit of Christ: as, I will gather you into the middest of Ierusalem, as they gather silver, and brasse, and iron, and lead, and tinne, into the middest of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it, so will I gather you in mine anger, &c. Ezek. 22. 19▪—…2. And, in a great house there are not onelyonly vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himselfe from these, he shall be a vessell unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the masters use; &c. 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21. Againe▪ Thou hast tried us as silver is txied, &c. wee went thorow fire, and thorow water, Psal. 66. 10, 12. See also Zach. 13. 9. Mal. 3. 3.
Vers. 26. the summe] Hebr. the head, that is, the summe, or count, as the Greeke and Chaldee expound it: see Num. 1. 2. So after in vers. 49.
Vers. 27. into two parts] or into halfes: Hebr. divide (or halfe) the bootie. The warre and victory being the Lords, hee divideth the prey at his pleasure, halfe to the 12 thousand souldiers, and halfe to the congregation who went not out to warre. So David made it an ordinance in Israel, As his part is that goeth downe to the battell, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuffe: they shall part alike, 1. Sam. 30. 24, 25. And to the warriers of the two tribes and the halfe that fought against the Canaanites, Iosua said, Divide the spoile of your enemies with your brethren, Ios. 22. 8.
Vers. 28. And levie] or, And heave up; which the Greeke and Chaldee translate, And separate a tribute to the Lord: by this homage and tribute, they were to acknowledge the victory to be of God, and to shew their thankfulnesse for his salvation. So David dedicated unto the Lord, silver and gold, of all nations which hee had subdued, 2▪ Sam. 8. 11. 12. And Esaias prophesieth, In that time shall a present be brought unto the LORD of hosts, of a people scattered and peeled, &c. Esay 18. 7. one soule of 500] by soule is here meant person of mankinde, and living body of beasts, as after is explained. And as the 12000 souldiers had much more of the spoile, considering their small number, than the other many thousands of the congregation; so their tribute to the Lord was much lesse by proportion, they giving but the five hundreth part, when the congregation gave the fiftieth, ver. 30. God requireth lesse of them, as their labour, service, and jeoparding of their lives, had beene greater than their brethrens.
Vers. 29. unto Eleazar] The Lord, who was the inheritance of the Priests and Levites, Dent. 18. 1, 2. and had given them the ordinary heave-offerings which the Israelites offered unto him, Num. 18. 19. giveth them also this extraordinary tribute which was levied for him. So Abram gave to Melchisedek the Priest the tithe of the spoiles which he had gotten in warre, Gen. 14. 20. And as the Levites had the tithes in Israel, and the Priests had but a tenth of those tithes, Num. 18. 21. 24. 26. 28. so is there here a like proportion allotted, whiles the Levites had the fiftieth part, vers. 30. and the Priests but the five hundreth.
Vers. 30. one portion of fiftie] or, one taken (or detained) of fiftie: so in vers. 47. of the sheepe] or, of the flocke-beasts, that is, of sheepe and of goats; for both these are implied under the name flocke; as in Lev. 1. 10. of all beasts] that is, of all manner of beasts: but this seemeth to be meant of the beasts fore-named onelyonly, and not of Camels, or other uncleane beasts; because in the particular summes after rehearsed, vers. 32.—39. there are no uncleane but Asses onelyonly spoken of. Chazkuni here saith, If thou aske why God commanded not to take a tribute of the Camels, seeing there were man) camels there, as it is written in the warre of Gideon (against the Midianites) Their Camels were without number, Iudg. 6. 5. and 7. 12. the answer is, The Scripture mentioneth those onelyonly whereof they tooke the tribute; and they tooke no tribute of uncleane beasts, save of Asses, because they are sanctified by the firstling of the Asse, Exod. 13. 13. and 34. 19, 20. which keepe the charge] or, observe the observation, keepe watch and doe the service: see the notes on Num. 18. 5.
Vers. 32. the residue of the prey] the cattell (whose numbers follow) are called the residue or remainder, either because some had beene slaine for the souldiers to eat, or in respect of the gold and silver, and other such spoiles, whereof there was no tribute levied.
Vers. 33. seventie and two thousand] that is, seventie thousand and two thousand, as was explained in the former verse. So after.
Vers. 35. soules of mankind] Heb. soule of Adam, meaning by soule, the persons; and by Adam or mankinde, the women, as after is explained. For as at the first; both man and woman were called Adam, Gen. 5. 2. so the same name is often used for both sexes, as here and in vers. 40. 46, 47.
Vers. 40. two and thirtie] So the whole number of beasts and girles (which were the Lords tribute out of the Souldiers halfe,) was eight hundred and fortie, which were given to Eleazar the Priest, vers. 41.
Vers. 47. one portion of fiftie] or, one taken of fiftie,; as in vers. 30. The particular summes (as may be gathered by the former computation) were six thousand seven hundred and fiftie sheep, seven hundred and twentie oxen, six hundred and ten Asses, three hundred and twentie soules of young women: the whole summe of them altogether, was eight thousand and foure hundred, which were taken out of the Congregations halfe, and given to the Levites. So the whole prize brought home from the Midianites, and kept for the use of Israel, was of beasts and women-kinde, eight hundred thousand, and fortie thousand: out of which the Lord tooke for his Priests and Levites, nine thousand two hundred and fortie. Thus he enriched his people with the spoiles of their enemies; and they in homage & thankfulnesse to the Lord, gave him one of five hundred out of the one halfe, and one of fiftie, out of the other halfe; as Abram gave one of ten, to Melchisedek the Priest of God, of all the spoiles that he had taken from his enemies, Gen. 14. 20.
Vers. 48. the Officers] or Bishops, as in vers. 14.
Vers. 49. in our hand] that is, in our power, under our leading and charge: wch the Greeke and Chaldee translate, with us. there lacketh not Heb. there is not numbred, or mustered, to wit, as wanting or missing: for in such musters the number is observed, of those that are absent, as of those presēt. This was a rare and wonderfull merciemercy, that twelve thousand men of Israel should vanquish so great a nation of Midian without losse of any mans life, whereas commonly the sword devoureth one as well as another, 2 Sam. 11. 25. But hereby appeareth, that precious in the eyes of the LORD, is the death of his Saints, Psal. 116. 15. and a much like speech was uttered by our Saviour; Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none, Ioh. 18. 9. Moreover, by this victory, God encouraged his people to fight the residue of his battels against the Canaanites.
Vers. 50. an oblation for Iehovah] or, as the Chaldee explaineth it, the oblation of the Lord: in Greeke▪ a gift to the Lord. This was a voluntary gift, whereas the former levie was commanded, v. 25▪ &c. hath found] that is, hath gotten in this war. jewels] or instruments, vessels. atonement for our soules] that is, for our lives which God hath spared; and that there be no plague amongst us, as Exod. 30. 12. Herein also they might have respect unto their sinne in sparing the women alive, for which Moses reproved them, vers. 14. 17. Thus though they found all alive, yet were they not proud, neither boasted of their valour, but gave the glory unto God, and in themselves they were humbled in conscience of their unworthinesse.
Vers. 51. every wrought jewell] Hebr. jewell (or instrument) of worke; that is, cunningly wrought. So as the matter was the best of gold; the forme also was the best. Chazkuni here saith; The Scripture sheweth that they brought no broken instrument.
Vers. 52. shekels] what the shekell waighed, see on Gen. 20. 16. of the captaines] or, from the captaines; that is, Moses tooke the gold of them; as in vers. 51. and 54.
Vers. 54. the Tent] the Lords Tabernacle, where it was a memoriall for them: as the like is spoken of the halfe shekels wch the Israelites gave when they were numbred, to make atonement for their soules, Exod. 30. 15, 16.