Westminster Annotations, Numbers · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Vers. 2. TWo] No more are here commanded, yet more were afterwards used; yea Solomon (as Josephus saith) made two hundred thousand Trumpets according to the ordinance of Moses, Joseph. Antiq. lib. 8. Chap. 2. therefore the mention of two, is no prohibition of more.
of silver] Because that metall gives a better sound then gold, and more precious then any other metall; and therefore the best for price, and use, both together.
of one whole piece] That is, of such a piece of silver as by beating out with the hammer may be sufficient, without any piecing: so was the golden candlesticke to be made, Exod. 25. 31. The fashion of these Trumpets is described by Josephus Antiq. lib. 3. chap. 11.
V. 2. thou mayest use] By make thee, and thou mayest use them, we must not understand that Moses himselfe must make or sound them, but that by his appointment they were to be made and sounded; as when we say such a Lord, or such a great man built a Castle, or a Citie; the meaning is, not that he was either Mason, or Carpenter, but that he caused it to be built, 1 Kin. 8. 43. Gen. 10. 11. And David is charged to have killed Uriah with his sword, in that he was the cause of his killing, but the deed was done by the hand and sword of an Ammonite, 2 Sam. 12. 9.
V. 3. they shall blow] That is, the Priests, the sonnes of Aaron the High-priest, vers. 8. and they shall blow, first, at the removall of the Campe: secondly, at the solemnitie of Feasts, to summon and call the people to them: thirdly, at the oblation of Sacrifices: fourthly, at the denunciation of Warre. Of their use Josephus saith, that one of them was to call the people together, the others the Rulers; and when both were sounded, both Rulers and people were to come together, Joseph. Antiq. lib. 3. cap. 11.
V. 4. are heads] That is, above the rest of tenne Tribes (as the head is above the rest of the body) whether in preeminence of site or place, or of power and authoritie.
V. 5. East part] That is, the host of Judah, and they that are under his ensigne.
V. 6. South-side] Meaning the host of Reuben, and those that are under his ensigne.
V. 7. not sound an alarme] In warres there are distinct sounds, both for marching forward, and retreating back; this alarme was for preparation to march with armes against the enemie; and it was a shrill broken sound, so distinct from all others, that they that heard it might know what is meant, and so prepare themselves for the battell, vers. 9. 1 Cor. 14. 8. therefore when the people were to be gathered for any assembly of peace, the Priests were not to sound an alarme of warre.
V. 8. the Priest shall blow] OnelyOnly the Priest must blow the Trumpet, so long as the Priesthood lasted.
V. 10. of your gladnesse] In the feast after your peace-offerings, when ye rejoyce for any blessings bestowed, or for any perill or plague removed: It was blowne also at times of present or imminent misery, for solemne humiliation, Joel 2. 15.
beginning] In the new Moone, Psal. 81. 3. rather in the new, then at the full Moone, lest it should be taken to be an honour to the Moone, because it is then most glorious; and because they counted their moneths from the first day of the new Moon, when looking backe upon the monethmonth past, they might be remembred of precedent favours from God, or of their offences against God, and so admonished of thankfulnesse, and repentance; and looking forward to the new recourse of time, might by prayers to God, and watchfulnesse over themselves, be comfortably carried on from one new Moone to another.
V. 11. the twentieth day] The Israelites kept this station at Sinai almost a whole yeare, abating about thirteene dayes; for it appeares by Exod. 19. 1. that they came thither on the third day of the third monethmonth of the first yeare; and they departed thence the twentieth day of the second monethmonth of the second yeare, as this verse sheweth.
V. 12. Paran] Paran is the generall name of a great wildernesse, of the length of eleven dayes journey, of which the wildernesse of Sanai is a part; but is taken sometimes particularly for the first part of the desert next Arabia; sometimes for the last part, next to the land of Promise, and so it may here be understood; the whole was a most barren and fruitlesse place, which made Gods maintenance of so great a number, for so many yeares together, most miraculous.
V. 13. first tooke] They first of their Campe, in the order forementioned, Chap. 2. and by the sound of the Trumpet commanded, vers. 2.
V. 17. bearing the Tabernacle] With all the appurtenances thereof, except the heavier part thereof, which was carried on waggons, Numb. 7. vers. 6, 7, 8. Which sheweth, that the Church (whereof the Tabernacle is a type or figure) is both military, and moveable, not fixed to any place.
V. 20. Devel] See Annot. on Chap. 2. vers. 14.
V. 21. Sanctuary] That is, the most precious furniture of the Sanctuary, which was to be borne upon the shoulders of the Cohathites, such as are named, Chap. 3. vers. 31.
against they came] The Gershonites and Merarites went before with the Tabernacle it selfe, according to their charge, Chap. 3. vers. 25. & vers. 35, 36. that it might be set up, against the Cohathites came with their burden of sacred utensils, or things to be used for the service of the Tabernacle.
V. 29. Hobab] Was one of the names of Jethro Moses father in law, Judg. 4. 11. who is said to have three or foure names, (Revel, Jethro, and Hobab) but here it seemes to be the name of Jethro's sonne, and brother to Zipporah Moses wife, who might have the same name with his father; and that he, rather then his father, is here meant, there be two reasons; first, because Jethro Moses father in law is called Revel, Exod. 2. vers. 18. but this Hobab is here called the sonne of Raguel, or Revel: (for the word in the Originall is the same) Secondly, because Jethro Moses father in law, was by Moses dismissed into his countrey of Midian, Exod. 18. 27. but this Hobab Moses would not dismisse, though he desired to depart, vers. 30. 31. and that he did not depart appeares in the next verse.
V. 30. not go] That is, not yet; because it appeares that his posteritie and kindred dwelled in the Land of Canaan, among the Israelites, Judg. 1. 16. & Chap. 4. 11. 1 Sam. 15. 6. so that either he was perswaded to goe with them, or else to come into the Land of Canaan after them: See the Annot. on the foregoing verse.
to mine owne land] The land of Midian.
V. 31. in stead of eyes] That is, to see about; being better acquainted with the condition of the wildernesse then they, yea then Moses himselfe, though he had lived thereabouts about fourtie yeares; because many particular passages might be forgotten, and some changed so as to need a new direction; and though they were to be guided in their journey not by him, but by the cloud and fierie pillar, Chap. 9. vers. 18. which was a generall conduct; besides that in the particular accommodation of so great a company he might advise, and direct many wayes for the best conveniencie of the people; and to this, because he holdeth his peace, it seemeth he consented.
V. 33. Mount] That is, Mount Sinai, or Horeb.
before them] Though when they encamped, the Arke was placed in the midst of the Tribes; yet when they marched forward it might be (as some hold it was at all times) carried before them: and for these three dayes journey, it must not be understood as if the Arke were before the rest of the Troopes the distance of three dayes journey; but that for three dayes space, it was carried before them, in the way they went, the cloud staying over the Arke, where God chose a station or resting place for the people.
V. 33. to search] Implieth some knowledge, which the Ark had not; some doubting and uncertainty, which God who led the Israelites could not have: this searching then is to be referred to the people, who had knowledge to follow their guide, but did not know where he would dispose of their rest.
V. 35. Rise up Lord] As Chap. 6. 23. there is a set forme of blessing the people; so here a set forme of praying to the Lord, both when they moved, and when they rested, vers. 36.