A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Numbers · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
ANd the Lord ſpake unto Moſes in the wilderneſſe of Sinai, &c.]
This third book of Moſes is called Numbers, becauſe therein are related two ſeverall numbrings of the people, the one here in the firſt entrance of this book, the other afterwards, chap. 26. beſides many other numbrings, as of the offerings of the Princes, and of the ſeverall ſtages of the Iſraelites in their journeyings towards the land of Canaan, &c. In theſe firſt words he tells us the place and time when they were numbred, to wit, in the wilderneſſe of Sinai, and that on the firſt day of the ſecond monethmonth in the ſecond year after their return out of Egypt: In the beginning of the third monethmonth of the firſt year they came firſt into the wilderneſſe of Sinai, Exod. 19. 1. upon the very firſt day of the firſt monethmonth of the ſecond year the tabernacle was erected, Exod. 40. 17. and now on the firſt day of the ſecond monethmonth of this year this command was given for the numbring of the people: whereby it is evident that all thoſe things, which are related in the foregoing book of Leviticus, were done within the compaſſe of one monethmonth, to wit, the firſt monethmonth of this ſecond year. And if we conſider alſo that the Iſraelites went not out of the wilderneſſe of Sinai till the twentieth day of this monethmonth, into which they enterd the firſt day of the third monethmonth of the firſt year, it is manifeſt that they were in this wilderneſſe a full year within a few dayes. Now whereas it is ſaid alſo here that God gave Moſes this command for the numbring of the people in the tabernacle of the congregation, hence ſome Expoſitours inferre that God did not ſpeak now to him, out of the doore of the tabernacle, as many times he did, but within the tabernacle from off the mercy ſeat, as it is expreſſely ſaid he did, chap. 7. 8, 9.
Verſ. 2. Take ye the ſumme of all the congrega…ion of the children of Iſrael, &c.]
In Exodus and Leviticus Laws were given fo… Gods worſhip and ſervice; and here now the Lord ſettles the church and common-wealth in order. They had been once numbred the year before, the firſt year after their coming out of Egypt, when every man paid a ranſome for his ſoul, whereby their redemption by Chriſt was figured, Exod. 30. 11, 12. Now another muſter is enjoyned: 1. that they might be ſtill put in mind both of Gods faithfulneſſe in performing his promiſe, that eſpecially of multiplying them ſo exceedingly, as alſo of his power and providence in maintaining ſuch a huge multitude of people in ſuch a deſert place: 2. that the diſtinct knowledge of their numbers might be an encouragement to the people, being now to go forward againſt their enemies: 3. that as they numbred them they might withall rank them in order according to their tribes and families, to the end they might travell along in good array without tumult and confuſion: 4. to intimate how tenderly carefull God was over them, and what precious account he made of them: for thoſe things men highly eſ…eem, and for which they are ſolicitouſly carefull, they are often numbring, as we ſee in the ſhepherds often numbring their ſheep, and the rich mans telling over his coyn: yea 5. ſome adde another reaſon, to wit, that they might gather of every man that was numbred that poll-money enjoyned to be paid at their numbring for the ſervice of the tabernacle, Exod. 30. 12. When thou takeſt the ſumme of the children of Iſrael after their numbers, then ſhall they give every man a ranſome for his ſoul unto the Lord. But, as there it is noted, it is queſtionable whether that were commanded as a perpetuall Law that was alwayes to be obſerved.
Every male by their poll: from twenty years old and upward.]
So that it is ma…feſt, that neither women nor children were numbred, nor any that were not full twentie years old; the reaſon whereof was, becauſe onelyonly thoſe were numbred that were fit for the warre: yet others would have another reaſon added beſides, to wit, that none might preſume to take the full number of thoſe of whom God had ſaid …hat they ſhould be innumerable, according to that, 1. Chron. 27. 23. But David …ook not the number of them from …wenty years old and under, becauſe the Lord had ſaid he would increaſe Iſrael like to the ſtarres of the heaven.
Verſ. 3. All that are able to go forth to warre in Iſrael.]
Thoſe therefore that were by age, ſickneſſe, or any o…her infirmity diſabled for the warre, were not numbred amongſt the reſt of the people.
Verſ. 4. And with you there ſhall be a man of every tribe, &c.]
To wit, to ſee that the work was carried fairly without any wrong done to any of the tribes. We cannot ſay whether theſe hereafter named were the heads and princes of the tribes before, and onelyonly here by name appointed to this work, both to avoid contention about it, and withall that their names might be honoured in the memoriall of the work; or whether they were now choſen of God to have the preheminence, and …o be the heads of each tribe. Indeed ſome Expoſitours do conclude for certain that …hey were the heads of each tribe before, and that becauſe they take it for granted that that which is related concerning theſe men by name, chap. 7. to wit, that as princes of …ach tribe they brought their …everall offering… for the ſervice of the tabernacle, was done a monethmonth before this numbring of the people, to wit, in the firſt monethmonth of the ſecond year, on the day the altar was anointed, which they gather from the 1. verſe of the 7. chapter of this book. But whether this may be thence ſo certainly concluded, ſee the note upon the place.
Verſ. 10. Eliſhama the ſonne Ammihud.]
Numbers 7. 48. it is written Ammiud.
Verſ. 14. Of Gad; Eliaſaph the ſonne of D…üel….]
Who is called, chap. 2. 14▪ Reüel, becauſe the Hebrew letters are like one another, and often changed.
Verſ. 21. Thoſe that were numbred of them, even of the tribe of Ruben, were fourtie ſix thouſand and five hundred.]
Reubens number was l…ſſ… then any of the ſonnes of Jacob (except Gad, Aſher, and Benjamin) which may be eſteemed as an effect of that curſe denounced by Jacob, G…n. 49. 3▪ 4. that he ſhould loſe the priviledge of his birthright, the excellency of dignity and the excellenc… of power▪ becauſe he went up to his fathers bed.
Verſ. 24. Of the children of Gad, by their generations, &c.]
Gad is here reckoned in the third place, becauſe this tribe was joyned with Reubens and Simeons on the South quarter of the hoſt, Numbers 2. 10, 14. and ſo it is in the reſt.
Verſ. 27. Thoſe that were numbred of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threeſcore and fourteen thouſand and ſix hundred.]
Judahs number was almoſt twelve thouſand more then the greateſt tribe, which may well be eſteemed a part of the dignity which together with a part of the birth-right was conferred upon him, out of whoſe tribe the Meſſiah was to come, Gen. 49. 8, 9, 10.
Verſ. 33. Thoſe that were numbred of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were fourtie thouſand and five hundred.]
Ephraims number is above eight thouſand more then Manaſſehs (and yet the Philiſtins ſlew many of this tribe in Egypt, for which their father Ephraim mourned many dayes, 1. Chron. 7. 20, 21, 22.) Thus Jacobs prophecy is in part fulfilled, his younger brother Ephraim ſhall be greater then he, Gen. 47. 19.
Verſ. 37. Thoſe that were numbred of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty five thouſand and foure hundred.]
Benjamins number is of all the ſonnes of Jacob the leaſt (though at the firſt his children were moe then any of his brethren, Gen. 46. 21.) and after his tribe was almoſt rooted out, Judg. 20. no marvell therefore though it be called, Pſal. 68. 28. Benjamin the little.
Verſ. 46. All that were numbred were ſix hundred thouſand and three thouſand and five hundred and fifti….]
When all the tribes were firſt numbred the year before, there were alſo found juſt as here, ſix hundred thouſand and three thouſand and five hundred and fiftie; at leaſt, if there were ſome ſmall difference, it was under fifty (ſuch ſmall numbers being indeed uſually not ſet down in the Scriptures) yet then it is moſt probable that the tribe of Levi was numbred, which are here leſt out. And if ſo, thence it muſt needs follow that there were then at their firſt numbring ſo many young men of nine…een years of age that now were twenty years old, as made up the number of the Levites, that they might ſee they ſhould loſe nothing by whatſoever was imployed in Gods ſervice.
Verſ. 48. For the Lord had ſpoken unto Moſes, ſaying, &c.]
His numbring of the tribe of Levi by themſelves, not amongſt the reſt, ſome might think did proceed from an ambitious deſire to exalt …s own tribe; and therefore he makes expreſſe mention that it was done by Gods ſpeciall command, and that to ſhew that God had exempted them both from warres and all other ſecular imployments, and ſeparated them onelyonly to attend upon the ſervice of the tabernacle; and beſides becauſe conſequently their number was to be taken after another manner, to wit, from a monethmonth old and upward, chap. 3. 15.
Verſ. 51. And the ſtranger that cometh nigh ſhall be put to death.]
That is, whoſoever is not of the tribe of Levi▪ and this the Lord enjoyned, both to bring them to the more reverend eſteem of Gods holy things, and withall to make them ever mindfull of this, that there was no drawing nigh unto God without a Mediatour.