Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
Chapter XXVI Ver. 1. AND it came to paſs after the Plague.] Mentioned Verſe 1 in the foregoing Chapter, v. 9, 17. Though ſome fancy it refers unto all the Plagues that had ſwept away all the former Generation, except two Perſons. It is likely this may be done in the eighth Month of the fortieth Year, after they came out of Egypt.
The LORD ſpake unto Moſes, and unto Eleazar the Son of Aaron the Priest, ſaying.] As God had formerly joyned Aaron with Moſes, (I Numb. 1, 17. II. 1. IV. 1, &c.) So now Aaron being dead, he joyns his Son Eleazar with him; to ſhow that he ſucceeded not only in his Place and Office, but alſo in his Authority.
Ver. 2. Take the Sum of all the Congregation of the Verſe 2 Children of Iſrael.] They had been twice numbred before this: Once, before the building of the Tabernanacle, in the firſt year after they came out of Egypt, when they paid every Man half a Shekel towards it, (XXX Exod. 11, 13. XXXVIII. 25.) And again, when they were to be encamped, in the ſecond month of the ſecond year, I Numb. 1, 2, &c. And now, all thoſe Men who had been then numbred (thirty eight years ago) being dead, (as appears from v. 64. of this Chapter) God commands them to be numbred a third time. Partly, that he might demonſtrate his faithfulneſs to his word, in multiplying them vaſtly, notwithſtanding all their Provocations, (for their number was within Eighteen hundred and twenty, as many as they were, at their laſt muſter) and partly, that the Land they were now going to poſſeſs, might be the more eaſily divided among the Tribes, in juſt and equal proportions.
From twenty years old and upwards, throughout their Father's houſe; all that are able to go to war in Iſrael.] All this is explained in the firſt Chapter, v. 2, 3.
Verſe 3 Ver. 3. And Moſes and Eleazar the Priest ſpake with them.] With the Heads of the ſeveral Tribes: who, it is likely, were to aſſiſt in this numbring, as they did in the former, I Numb. 4, 16, 17.
In the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, ſaying.] See XXII. 1.
Verſe 4 Ver. 4. Take the Sum of the People.] Theſe words are not in the Hebrew; but ſome words of this kind are to be underſtood, that they ſpake with them about numbring the People, from twenty years old and upwards, as it here follows.
As the LORD commanded Moſes and the Children of Iſrael, which went forth out of the Land of Egypt.] He bad them proceed according to the directions God had formerly given, in the ſecond month of the ſecond year, after they came out of Egypt, I Numb. 1.
Verſe 5, 6. Ver. 5, 6. Reuben the eldest Son of Jacob.] This numbring being performed as the former was, Moſes uſes more conciſe Language in the account he gives of it; as he doth in the foregoing verſe, and in this, and thoſe that follow. Where he ſets down the number of every Tribe, and the Families from whence they ſprung, without ſaying, Thoſe that were numbred of the Tribe of Reuben were, &c. as he doth I Numb. 21, &c.
The Children of Hanock, of whom came the Family of the Hanochites, &c.] The four Sons of Reuben (whoſe Families here follow) are mentioned both in Geneſis XLVI. 9. and in Exodus VI. 14. and are here mentioned again; becauſe he intends to ſet down the Names, both of the Children and Grand-children of one of his Sons, which he did not before.
Ver. 7. Theſe are the Families of the Reubenites.] Verſe 7 The word we tranſlate Families, rather ſignifies Nations (Gentes) or Kindreds, as we tranſlate it, XXII Pſal. 27. For all that ſprung from thoſe LXX Perſons, who came with Jacob into Egypt, are called by this name of Miſpecoth, which the LXX. here tranſlate foreign, People. Which were divided into Houſes, as the Hebrews call them; and thoſe Houſes into particular Perſons. This is plain from VII Joſh. 14. where, for the diſcovery of him that had ſinned in the accurſed Thing, God commanded the Iſraelites to be brought by their Tribes, and then that Tribe by the Families belonging to it; and that Family which the LORD took by Houſholds; and that Houſhold, Man by Man.
And they that were numbred of them were forty and three thouſand, and ſeven hundred and thirty.] This being compared with I Numb. 21. it appears this Tribe was leſs than it was eight and thirty years ago, by near three thouſand Men: For ſome whole Houſholds had been deſtroyed, as it follows v. 9.
Ver. 8. And the Sons of Pallu, Eliab.] He ſpeaks Verſe 8 in the Plural Number, when there was but one Son of Pallu; which is very uſual in the Scripture Language. See XIX Gen. 29. XXI. 7. XLVI. 7. and in this very Chapter, v. 42.
Eliab.] He doth not ſay from him came the Family of the Eliabites; for he made only an Houſhold in the Family (as we call it) of the Palluites.
Verſe 9 Ver. 9. And the Sons of Eliab, Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram.] The ſame muſt be obſerved of theſe, that Families did not ſpring from them; but they were Houſholds belonging to the Family of the Palluites.
This is that Dathan and Abiram.] They are here again mentioned; partly to ſet a new Brand upon them, for their inſolent Rebellion againſt Moſes; and partly to ſhow how the Reubenites came to be ſo diminiſhed.
Famous in the Congregation.] See XVI. 2.
Who ſtrove against Moſes and against Aaron, in the company of Korah.] They joyned with Korah, who ſeems to have been the chief Incendiary: For he is mentioned firſt in the XVI. 1.
When they ſtrove against the LORD.] Who had appointed Aaron alone to be the High-Prieſt, and his Sons to Miniſter in the Prieſt's Office: which theſe Men would have uſurped, XVI. 11. where it is ſaid expreſly, They were gathered together against the LORD.
Verſe 10 Ver. 10. And the Earth opened her mouth, and ſwallowed them up together with Korah.] Theſe words ſeem to import, that Korah was ſwallowed up with Dathan and Abiram, as I have obſerved upon XVI. 32. See there. But it muſt be acknowledged that theſe words may receive another Interpretation, and that very natural, in this manner; The Earth opened her mouth and ſwallowed them up, (viz. Dathan and Abiram, and the reſt mentioned XVI. 32.) and then the next words, veeth Korah, may be thus tranſlated, and as for Korah (who was the great Incendiary) when that Company died, i. e. he died, when the Company which offered Incenſe died: for there is in many places a defect of a word, to be ſupplyed from the word that follows. This is a very eaſie conſtruction, and agrees with the Pſalmist, CVI. 17. where he mentions only Dathan and Abiram's Company as ſwallowed up, and then adds, v. 18. A fire was kindled in their Company, (i. e. in the other Company of Rebels) and the flame burnt up the wicked; viz. Korah, and thoſe that were with him.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men.] XVI. 35. If the Interpretation now mentioned, of the foregoing words, be admitted, then Korah muſt be added to the number of the Two hundred and fifty Men; which Moſes takes occaſion to explain in this place.
And they became a ſign.] A Monument of God's diſpleaſure againſt thoſe that affront his Miniſters; to give warning unto all Poſterity not to follow their pernitious Courſes.
Ver. 11. Notwithſtanding the Children of Korah died Verſe 11 not.] As thoſe of Dathan and Abiram did; but their Family continued famous in David's time. For perhaps they left their Father, and departed from the Tents of thoſe wicked Men; as Moſes by God's command exhorted the Congreation, (XVI. 24, 26.) and they obeyed, v. 27.
Ver. 12, 13. The Sons of Simeon after their Families, Verſe 12, 13. &c.] His Sons reckoned up here juſt as they are XLVI Gen. 10. and VI Exod. 15. only one of them, viz. Ohad, is here omitted; becauſe, either he had no Children, or his Family was extinct before this time. The firſt of them alſo, viz. Nemuel, is there called Jemuel; and Jachin in 1 Chron. IV. 24. is called Jarib; there being ſome reaſon, in proceſs of time, for ſuch alterations.
Verſe 14 Ver. 14. Theſe are the Families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thouſand, and two hundred.] There was a wonderful decreaſe of this Tribe in the ſpace of thirty and eight years: For they were fewer by above thirty ſeven thouſand, than they were at the laſt numbring. See I. 23. Many of them, it is probable, being in the ſame Crime with Zimri, and the Plague falling moſt heavily upon this Tribe, whom Moſes in the XXXIII Deuteronomy, doth not bleſs.
Verſe 15, 16, 17. Ver. 15, 16, 17. And the Children of Gad after their Families.] They are reckoned here next to the Simeonites, becauſe they lay encamped next to them, under the Standard of Reuben, II Numb. 10, 11, &c.
Of Zephon the Family of the Zephonites, &c.] They are reckoned up in the ſame manner XLVI Gen. 16. only he that is here called Zephon, is there called Ziphion; and Oſni is there called Ezbon; and Arod called Arodi.
Verſe 18 Ver. 18. Theſe are the Families of the Children of Gad, according to thoſe that were numbred of them, forty thouſand and five hundred.] This Tribe alſo was leſs by above five thouſand than before, I. 25.
Verſe 19 Ver. 19. The Sons of Judah, Er and Onan.] Theſe were his eldeſt Sons, but died without Iſſue before the Children of Iſrael went down into Egypt, as it here follows. See XXXVIII Gen. 1, 2, &c.
Verſe 20 Ver. 20. And the Sons of Judah after their Families were, &c.] Now he reckons thoſe of his Sons, who made Families, which were three: as we read alſo XLVI Gen. 12.
Ver. 21. And the Sons of Pharez were Hezron, &c.] Here he numbers two of Judah's Grand-children, as he did one of Reuben's, v. 6. only with this difference, that theſe two made Families in Iſrael, which Verſe 21 his Grand-ſon did not; they being ſubſtituted inſtead of Er and Onan, who died without Children. Or rather, the Family of Pharez growing very great, there was a ſub-diviſion made of it into the other Families, who were all ſtill Pharezites, (for Pharez had no other Children but there two, to make a Family of that Name) but called by theſe two Names of Heſronites and Hamulites, becauſe the Pharezites were grown too big to be but one Family, and therefore parted into two.
Ver. 22. Theſe are the Families of Judah, according Verſe 22 to thoſe that were numbred of them, threeſcore and ſixteen thouſand and five hundred.] This Tribe was very numerous before, above all the reſt. And now this new Generation, which ſprung up inſtead of the old (who were all deſtroyed except Caleb) exceeded them two thouſand. So faithful was God to his Promiſe, that this ſhould be a moſt powerful Tribe. See I Numb. 27.
Ver. 23. The Sons of Iſſachar after their Families.] Verſe 23 He and Zebulon are mentioned next, becauſe they lay encamped together, under the Standard of Judah. See II Numb. 5, 6, 7.
Of Tola, the Family of the Tolaites.] A wonderful fruitful Family, and very valiant: there being of this one Family Twenty two thouſand and ſix hundred Men in the days of David, 1 Chron. VII. 2.
Of Pua, the Family of the Punites.] He is called Phuvah XLVI Gen. 13.
Ver. 24. Of Jaſhub.] Who is called Job in the ſame place.
Ver. 25. Threeſcore and four thouſand and three hundred.] Verſe 24 This Tribe alſo was exceedingly increaſed; Verſe 25 being near Ten thouſand more now than they were at their firſt numbring, I. 29. II. 6.
Verſe 26 Ver. 26. Of the Sons of Zebulun after their Families.] There is no change in their Names; which are the ſame without any alteration, as when they went into Egypt, XLVI Gen. 14.
Verſe 27 Ver. 27. Thoſe that were numbred of them, threeſcore thouſand and five hundred.] This Tribe likewiſe was increaſed above Three thouſand ſince the former numbring. See I. 31. And ſo the whole Camp of Judah was mightily augmented, as that of Reuben was diminiſhed.
Verſe 28 Ver. 28. The Sons of Joſeph after their Families.] See XLVI Gen. 20.
Verſe 29 Ver. 29. Of the Sons of Manaſſeh, of Machir, &c.] This was his only Son; but thoſe deſcended from him, by an uſual manner of ſpeaking, are called Manaſſeh's Sons alſo, being his Grand-ſons. Some think indeed that Manaſſeh had other Sons, which they gather from L Gen. 22. but, if he had, their Families were extinct: for none but Machir and his Poſterity had any Inheritance in the Land of Canaan, XVII Joſh. 1, 2. where the Grand-children are called his Children.
Machir begat Gilead, and of Gilead came the Family of the Gileadites.] They were not a diſtinct Family from the Machirites; but the very ſame: Machir having no other Son but Gilead. Therefore that Family which at firſt was called Machirites, were afterwards called Gileadites: or they were indifferently called, either by the one or the other.
Ver. 30. Theſe are the Sons of Gilead, of Jeezer.] Called Abiezer XVII Joſh. 2.
The Family of the Jeezreites, &c.] The Poſterity of Gilead grew ſo numerous, that his Sons made Families, Verſe 30 and not only Houſholds: So that the name of Gileadites being too general to diſtinguiſh them all, they were called, at length, by the name of his Sons.
Ver. 31, 32. Of Aſriel, the Family of the Aſrielites, Verſe 31, 32. &c.] This, and all the reſt that follow, are mentioned as the Son's of Gilead; for each of whoſe Children there was a Lot in the Land of Canaan, XVII Joſh. 2.
Ver. 33. And Zelophead the Son of Hepher, had no Verſe 33 Sons, but Daughters, &c.] Whoſe Caſe is conſidered in the next, and in the laſt Chapter of this Book: where they are ordered to have an Inheritance among their Father's Brethren, but to marry into their own Tribe. And their Poſterity, I ſuppoſe, were called after their Grand-father's name, Hepherites: for ſuch a Family there was, as Moſes tells us in the foregoing verſe.
Ver. 34. Numbred of them fifty two thouſand and Verſe 34 ſeven hundred.] If this be compared with I. 35. it will appear that this Tribe was increaſed above Twenty thouſand. Which is the greateſt Increaſe of any other; and made good the Prophecy of Jacob concerning the Children of Joſeph, XLIX Gen. 22.
Ver. 35. Theſe are the Sons of Ephraim after their Verſe 35 Families.] He is mentioned after Maneſſeh, becauſe he was his younger Brother: yet in their Encampment this Tribe had the Standard, under which Manaſſeh marched, II Numb. 18, &c.
Of Shuthelah the Family of the Shuthalites, &c.] He is mentioned firſt alſo in 1 Chron. VII. 20. Where the next Son Becher is called Bered; and Tahan, called Tahath. For time is wont to make great Alterations in the names of Perſons and Places.
Verſe 36 Ver. 36. Theſe are the Sons of Shuthelah, of Eran the Family of the Eranites.] He had, it ſeems, but one Son; whoſe Children (after the uſual manner of ſpeaking before noted) were called the Sons of Shuthelah; though they made a diſtinct Family, under the name of Eranites.
Verſe 37 Ver. 37. Thoſe that were numbred of them, thirty two thouſand and five hundred.] Though this proved a very numerous Tribe in future times, yet for the preſent they were fewer by eight thouſand, than they were in the former numbring I. 33. which makes Moſes's Prophecy, a little after this, the more remarkable, XXXIII Deut. 17. where he makes the Ephramites Ten to One, in compariſon with the Manaſſites.
Verſe 38 Ver. 38. The Sons of Benjamin after their Families.] This Tribe alſo was under the Standard of Ephraim, and therefore mentioned here together with him and Manaſſeh. When they went into Egypt, the Sons of Benjamin were no leſs than Ten, XLVI Gen. 21. Half of which, either had no Children, or they were all Extinct before this time; for here are only Five named.
Of Belah, the Family of the Belaites, &c.] The two firſt, Bela and Aſhbel, are there named, as they are here: but the next, Ahiram, is there called Ehi, and in 1 Chron. VIII. 1. Ahara; ſuch an Alteration doth Time make in Names.
Ver. 39. Of Shupham, &c.] He is called Muppim in XLVI Gen. 21. and Hupham is there called Huppim.
Ver. 40. The Sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman.] Verſe 39 Though five of his Sons were dead without Iſſue; Verſe 40 yet two of his Grand-ſons, deſcended from his eldeſt Son, made diſtinct Families in Iſrael. And the Son of one of them was called after the name of his Uncle, the youngeſt Son of Benjamin, XLVI Gen. 21. whoſe name was Ard; and in I Chron. VIII. 3. (by a ſmall tranſpoſition of Letters) is called Adar.
Ver. 41. There were numbred of them forty five thouſand Verſe 41 and ſix hundred. This Tribe was grown to be Ten thouſand more than they were at the laſt numbring, I. 37.
Ver. 42. Theſe are the Sons of Dan.] Thus he ſpeaks, Verſe 42 though he had but one. See v. 8.
Of Shuham.] Called Huſhim, by a tranſpoſition of Letters, XLVI Gen. 23. Juſt as the ſame Tree is called Almugim, 1 Kings X. 8. and Algumim, 2 Chron. II. 8. And the ſame City in which Joſhua was buried, called Timnath-Serach, XXIV Joſh. 30. and Timnath-Cheres, II Judg. 9. And, to come ſtill nearer, the ſame Man is called Rechum, XII Nehem. 3. and Cherim, v. 15. of the ſame Chapter.
Theſe are the Families of Dan after their Families.] That is, from theſe Shuhamites came all the reſt of the Families of this Tribe, which are not here mentioned: but into which this Family was ſub-divided, when it grew very great, as it appears from the next words.
Ver. 43. All the Families of the Shuhamites.] This Verſe 43 ſhows there were more than one of them, who had names from ſome of the Children of Shuham.
Were threeſcore and four thouſand and four hundred.] A vaſt number to ſpring from one Man; when Benjamin, who had ten Sons, wanted almoſt twenty thouſand of this number: which is Seventeen hundred more than were in this Tribe at the laſt numbring, I. 39.
Verſe 44 Ver. 44. Of the Children of Aſher after their Families, &c.] They all retain the ſame names which they had when they went into Egypt, XLVI Gen. 17. Only he that is here called Jeſhui, is there called Iſhui; and another Son there mentioned is here omitted; his Family, I ſuppoſe, being quite extinct.
Verſe 45 Ver. 45. Of the Sons of Beriah, &c.] Inſtead of him, whoſe Family was quite loſt, the youngeſt Son of Aſher (Beriah) had two Families ſprung from him.
Verſe 46 Ver. 46. And the name of the Daughter of Aſher was Sarah.] Or Serah, as ſhe is called XLVI Gen. 17. He doth not ſay that a Family ſprang from her, which Corn. Bertramus (cap. 6. de Republ. Jud.) ſeems to think probable, inſtead of ſome that were loſt; but ſhe was a Woman, it is likely, as eminent in this Tribe, as any of her Brethren, for ſome Vertue or other. Inſomuch that the Cabbaliſts in the ancient Book Zohar, parting the heavenly Region where the Souls of holy Women are, into four Palaces, make four great Women to be a kind of Preſidents of them, viz. Pharaoh's Daughter who educated Moſes; and this Serah the Daughter of Aſher; with Jochabed the Mother of Moſes; and Deborah the famous Propheteſs. See Selden, Lib. II. de Jure Nat. & Gent. cap. 4.
Ver. 47. Were fifty and three thouſand and four hundred.] This Tribe alſo fructified exceedingly; wanting but an Hundred of Twelve thouſand more than they were at the laſt numbring, I. 41. Verſe 47
Ver. 48, 49. Of the Sons of Naphtali after their Families, Verſe 48, 49. &c.] There are four of them, whoſe Names were not all changed, ſince they went into Egypt. See XLVI Gen. 24.
Ver. 50. Were forty five thouſand and four hundred.] Verſe 50 They wanted Eight thouſand of their number, I Numb. 43. Theſe two Tribes, Aſher and Naphtali, are mentioned together with Dan, becauſe they were encamped under his Standard, II Numb. 25, 26, &c.
Ver. 51. Theſe were the numbred of the Children of Verſe 51 Iſrael, ſix hundred thouſand, and a thouſand ſeven hundred and fifty.] That is, the whole Number amounted to this Sum; which was but Eighteen hundred and twenty leſs than they were, when they were laſt numbred, Thirty eight year ago, I. 46. So great was the Goodneſs of God, and ſuch his Faithfulneſs to his Word, that when he deſtroyed all the former Generation, (who were above Twenty years old) he multiplyed their Poſterity ſo faſt, in that ſpace of time, as to make them equal, in a manner, to thoſe that went before them.
Ver. 52. And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Verſe 52 After the People were thus numbred, and every Family, and the Perſons it contained exactly known, then the LORD ordered, as follows.
Ver. 53. Ʋnto theſe.] i. e. Theſe Families beforenamed. Verſe 53
The Land ſhall be divided.] i. e. The Land of Canaan, into which they were going.
For an Inheritance.] Not to be alienated from thoſe Families.
According to the number of Names.] Of the Perſons in the ſeveral Families, from Twenty years old and upward, v. 2. So that Minors, who had not attained the Age of Twenty years, when this account was taken, the Jews ſay, were not to have any ſhare in the Land, though they were come to that Age, at the time of the diſtribution of it among them. But thoſe Minors had Poſſeſſions, as Heirs of their Fathers, according to the Families.
Verſe 54 Ver. 54. To many thou ſhalt give the more Inheritance, and to few thou ſhalt give the leſs Inheritance.] That is, order Joſhua to aſſign them a ſhare in the Land, proportionable to the number of Perſons in every Tribe: Some of which were far greater than others, and therefore to have more Land, proportionble to the largeneſs of their Families. But this was not meaſured merely by the number of Acres, as we ſpeak; but by the goodneſs of the Soil: for a little Ground, in a rich Country, would maintain more Perſons than twice as much in a barren. So Joſephus Lib. V. Antiq. cap. 1. where after he had ſaid that Joſhua made a Diſtribution of the Land, foreign, according to the bigneſs of each Tribe; he adds, that in doing this, foreign, it was neceſſary to conſider rather the value, than the meaſure of every Portion. And gives this reaſon why the Tribe of Benjamin had ſo narrow a Portion allotted them, becauſe the Ground was ſo very fertil about Jeruſalem. foreign, This Lot was very ſtrait, becauſe of the goodneſs of the Soil.
To every Man ſhall his Inheritance be given.] That is, to every Family.
According to thoſe that were numbred of him.] According to the Account that had been now taken; not conſidering who might be born after this, (and thereby increaſe a Family) or die (and thereby diminiſh it) before the Diviſion of the Land was made. For ſeveral died, we may well think, in the Wars with the Canaanites, and others were born before the Country was conquered.
Ver. 55. Notwithſtanding the Land ſhall be divided Verſe 55 by Lot.] When it was divided into ſo many equal ſhares as there were Tribes, (a due reſpect being had to their Number) they were not to chooſe which ſhare they would have, but that was to be determined by Lot. The manner of which they ſay was this: Two Urns being placed before him that drew the Lots, in one of which were Scrols of Parchment, containing the Names of the XII Tribes of Iſrael; and in the other, the Portions of Land: he firſt put in his hand into the Urn wherein were their Names, and drew out one, ſuppoſe that of Judah; and then he put his hand into the other Urn, and drew out the Portion that fell to his ſhare. Or perhaps, there was only one Urn, wherein were the ſeveral Portions of Land; and they began, ſuppoſe, with the eldeſt Son of Iſrael, viz. Reuben; and pulling out a Scroll, ſaid, This is the Portion of Reuben: and ſo with the reſt. But which ſoever way they proceeded, there were two Diſtributions made, One of the whole Country into XII Parts; and another of each of thoſe Parts among the ſeveral Families that were in each Tribe. See Selden, de Succeſſionibus ad Leges Hebr. cap. 21, 22.
According to the Names of the Tribes of their Families they ſhall inherit.] This ſeems to juſtifie what I now ſaid, that they firſt named the Tribe, whoſe Lot they would draw out; and that contained his Inheritance. But, after all this, it might happen that ſome of their Lots were too ſcanty for their Number, and others too large: In which caſe Eleazar and Joſhua, and the reſt appointed for this Office, XXXIV. 17, &c. ordered ſome Portion to be taken from thoſe who had too much, and given to thoſe who had too little for their Families. This appears from XIX Joſh. 9. where a Portion out of the Lot of Judah is ordered for Simeon; becauſe the one was too large, and the other too ſmall: and the ſame may be ſaid of Dan, v. 47.
Verſe 56 Ver. 56. According to the Lot ſhall the Poſſeſſion be divided.] The firſt words, which we tranſlate according to the Lot, being in the Hebrew, Al pi hagoral, which literally ſignifies according to the mouth of the Lot, (which is no more than, as the Lot ſhall declare) the Jews have a conceit that the Land was divided, not merely by Lot, but by Ʋrim and Thummim: which Eleazar the Prieſt then put on, (as the Talmud deſcribes it in Bava Bathra) and two Urns ſtanding before him, in one of which were the Names of the XII Tribes, and in the other the Names of the Portions of Land, he looked by the Holy Ghoſt upon the Ʋrim and Thummim, and ſaid, Let ſuch a Tribe come up; which being done, he ſaid again, Let ſuch a Portion of Land come up for this Tribe: by which means all the People (before whom this was done) were ſatisfied that their Portion was allotted to them by God; and all cauſe of murmuring and contention taken away. Thus R. Solomon and others mentioned by Buxtorf in his Hiſtor. Ʋrim & Thummim, cap. 3. And Martinius Mauritius in his late Treatiſe de Sortitione veter. Hebr. cap. 29. ſect. 4, 5. where he obſerves, how ancient the way of dividing Goods and Lands by Lot was in other Countries. But there was no need of this Solemnity, the Diviſion of the Land by God's Order after the manner of Lots, ſufficienly ſhowing, it was not by Man's Directions, but by God's, that ſuch a ſhare fell to them.
Between many and few.] Every Tribe having its Land aſſigned them by the Lot, it was then divided among the ſeveral Families, in the ſame manner (as theſe words ſeem to ſignifie) and then every Houſhold had their ſhare allotted them, according to the number of Perſons that were in them. Which if they were many, had a greater ſhare; if few, a leſs. By which means every Man had reaſon to reſt ſatisfied, becauſe ſuch was his Lot. That is, ſuch was the good pleaſure of God, who directed the Lots; as we learn from XVIII Joſhua 6, 8, 10. where we read expreſly, that in the Diviſion of the Land, he caſt Lots for them before the LORD in Shiloh, that he might order every one his Portion.
Ver. 57. And theſe are they that were numbred of the Verſe 57 Levites, after their Families.] It was fit an account ſhould be taken of this Tribe alſo, that it might be ſeen how God had bleſſed them, as well as the reſt of the Tribes of Iſrael, with a numerous Iſſue: though he had cut off, in the ſpace of Thirty eight years, all the former Generation, from Twenty years old and upward.
Of Gerſhon, the Family of the Gerſhonites, &c.] The principal Families in this Tribe were three, deſcended from the three Sons of Levi, Gerſhon, Kohath, and Merari. Whoſe Names were not at all altered ſince their coming out of Egypt, until this time, XLVI Gen. 11. VI Exod. 16.
Verſe 58 Ver. 58. Theſe are the Families of the Levites.] The three fore-named were the principal Families; divided into thoſe leſſer Families, which here follow.
The Family of the Libnites.] Deſcended from Libni the eldeſt Son of Gerſhon. Who had another Son, whoſe Family is here omitted, (viz. Shimi) though mentioned VI Exod. 17. But in this place Moſes doth not give a full account of all the Families of the Levites; nor is it given in exact order, becauſe they were to have no Inheritance in the Diviſion of the Land: which was the reaſon that all the Families of the other Tribes are ſet down ſo punctually.
The Family of the Hebronites.] From Hebron, one of the Sons of Kohath, VI Exod. 18. III Numb. 19.
The Family of the Mahlites, the Family of the Muſhites.] From the two Sons of Merari, who were called Mahli, and Muſhi, VI Exod. 19. III Numb. 20.
The Family of the Korathites.] From the great Grand-child of Levi, VI Exod. 21. XVI Numb. 1.
And Kohath begat Amram.] Who was Grand-child of Levi, and Brother to the Father of Korah, VI Exod. 18.
Verſe 59 Ver. 59. And the name of Amram's wife was Jochabed, the daughter of Levi.] See VI Exod. 20.
Whom her Mother (viz. Levi his Wife) bare to Levi in Egypt.] See this there explained.
And ſhe bare unto Amram, Aaron and Moſes and Miriam their Siſter.] Who ſeems to have been born before Moſes, if not before Aaron, II Exod. 4.
Ver. 60. And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, VI Exod. 23. where he tells the name of their Mother.
Ver. 61. And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered Verſe 60 ſtrange Fire before the LORD.] See X Lev. 2. Verſe 61 and the third Chapter of this Book, v. 4. But Eleazar (who was the eldeſt next to them) was now alive, and made High-Prieſt: and it is likely Ithamar alſo, being under Twenty years old, when the People murmured upon the Report of the Spies; and ſo not cut off with that wicked Generation, XVI. 29.
All this is here recounted, to ſhow that the Tribe of Levi was preſerved, by the bleſſing of God, as well as the reſt of the Iſraelites: though they were to have no Inheritance in the Land of Canaan.
Ver. 62. And thoſe that were numbred of them, were Verſe 62 twenty and three thouſand, &c.] So they were a thouſand more, than at the laſt numbring, III. 39.
For they were not numbred among the Children of Iſrael.] But by themſelves, for the reaſon following.
Becauſe there was no Inheritance given them, among the Children of Iſrael.] For God was their Inheritance, as he told them, XVIII. 20, &c. And therefore they were ordered not to be numbred, Thirty eight years ago, no more than now, I Numb. 49, &c. The Jews are ſomething curious in their Obſervations upon theſe words, among (or, in the midst of) the Children of Iſrael: from whence they conclude that the Levites might have Lands out of the Bounds of the Land of Canaan, though not within it, among their Brethren.
Ver. 63. Theſe are they that were numbred by Moſe… Verſe 63 and Eleazar the Prieſt, who numbred the Children of Iſrael, in the plains of Moab, &c.] By a ſpecial command of God, v. 1, 2, &c.
Ver. 64. But among theſe there was not a Man of them, whom Moſes and Aaron the Prieſt numbred, when they numbred the Children of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs of Verſe 64 Sinai.] See the firſt Chapter of this Book, v. 1, 2, &c. ſo exactly were God's Threatnings fulfilled, as well as his Promiſes.
Chapter XXVII Verſe 65 Ver. 65. For the LORD had ſaid of them, they ſhall ſurely die in the Wilderneſs.] He had pronounced this irreverſible Sentence, upon the whole Congregation, XIV. 23, 28, 29. where he ſwears they ſhould not enter into the Land of Canaan, becauſe they had brought, or entertained an evil report of it. See alſo II Deut. 14, 15.
And there was not left a Man of them, ſave Caleb the Son of Jephunneh, and Joſhua the Son of Nun.] Whom God promiſed to ſpare, becauſe they were of another Spirit, XV. 24, 30, 38. And their ſurvival, was as remarkable an inſtance of the truth of God's word, as the Death of all the reſt.