Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII.
Chapter XXXIII Ver. 1. THESE are the Journeys of the Children Verſe 1 of Iſrael, which went forth out of the Land of Egypt.] A brief recapitulation of the Travels of the Children of Iſrael through the Wilderneſs; whereby the wonderful Providence of God over them appears, in their Protection and Preſervation, from the time they departed out of Egypt, till they came to the Borders of the Land of Canaan.
With their Armies.] For they marched in an orderly manner, as Armies do. See XII Exod. 41, 51. XIII. 18.
Ʋnder the Hand of Moſes and Aaron.] By whom they were conducted, as the Miniſters of God, XII Exod. 1, 28, 50.
Ver. 2. And Moſes wrote their goings out according Verſe 2 to their Journeys.] Every removal which they made from the place where they were, unto another whither they journeyed.
By the commandment of the LORD.] This may refer either to their Journeys (which were by God's commandment, X. 13.) or rather, to Moſes his writing this Epitome of their Travels; of which God ordered him to give a diſtinct account. Which was no unneceſſary Work, but moſt uſeful to Poſterity; there being no Hiſtory extant in the World, as David Chytraeus well obſerves, (except that of the Birth, Life, Death, and Reſurrection of Chriſt) which contains ſo many wonderful Inſtances of Divine Providence, as this of bringing the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt, and leading them through the Red-Sea, and through the Wilderneſs. Concerning which Maimonides hath an excellent Diſcourſe, in his third Part of More Nevochim, cap. 50. the Subſtance of which is this; That it being impoſſible any Miracles ſhould continue throughout all Generations, due care ſhould be taken that the Memory of them be not loſt, but faithfully preſerved by the Hiſtory and Narration of them in future times. Now there being no greater Miracle than the Subſiſtence of the Children of Iſrael in the Deſert for Forty years; a Deſert full of Scorpions and Serpents, deſtitute of Water, uninhabited, through which no Man had been wont to paſs, (as Jeremiah ſpeaks, II. 6.) where they ate no Bread, nor drank Wine, or ſtrong Drink, XXIX Deut. 6, &c. God would have the particular places ſet down diſtinctly where they pitched in that howling Wilderneſs. That all Men might be ſatisfied (who would take the pains to examine things) by what a marvellous Providence ſuch a multitude of People were fed every day, for Forty years together; and none might be able to Cavil, and ſay, that they travelled through a Country good enough, and pitched in habitable places, where they might plough, and ſow, and reap; or where they might have Herbs and Roots for their Suſtenance; or where Manna ordinarily came down from the Clouds for Mens ſupport.
And theſe are their Journeys, according to their goings out.] As if he had ſaid, Having received this Commandment from God, this is a true and exact Account, which here follows, of their Travels from place to place.
Ver. 3. And they departed from Ramſees.] See XII Exod. 37. Here, in all likelyhood, they Sacrificed the Paſchal Lamb, and were preſerved from the deſtroying Angel, which made this place very remarkable: for Verſe 3 they ſeem to have been all ſummoned hither, to meet here as in a common Rendevouz (as they now ſpeak) to be ready to march away, when God gave the word of Command.
In the first Month, on the fifteenth day of the firſt Month, on the morrow after the Paſſover.] Which they had kept in Egypt on the Fourteenth, XII Exod. 46.
The Children of Iſrael went out of Egypt with an high hand.] XIV Exod. 8.
In the ſight of the Egyptians.] Who thruſt them out, XII Exod. 39.
Ver. 4. For the Egyptians buried all their firſt-born.] Verſe 4 They were ſo terrified with the ſudden Death of all their Firſt-born, that they preſſed them to be gone, leſt they ſhould be ſlain alſo, XII Exod. 33. And were ſo employed in Mourning for them, and giving them decent Burial, that they thought not of purſuing the Iſraelites, till ſome days after.
Which the LORD had ſmitten among them.] At midnight, between the fourteenth and fifteenth days, XII Exod. 29.
Ʋpon their Gods alſo the LORD executed Judgment.] Which ſtill more aſtoniſhed them, XII Exod. 12. XVIII. 11. 2 Sam. VII. 23. juſt as he did with Babylon afterwards, XXI Iſa. 9.
Ver. 5. And the Children of Iſrael removed from Rameſes, Verſe 5 and pitched in Succoth.] XII Exod. 37. Here they received the Command to ſet apart all the Firſt-born unto the LORD, in memory of God's ſparing them, when he ſlew all the Firſt-born of the Egptians, XIII Exod. 1, 12, 13, &c.
Verſe 6 Ver. 6. And they departed from Suecoth, and pitched in Etham, &c.] See XIII Exod. 20. where it immediately follows, That they were conducted hither by a miraculous Cloud, which ever after led them in all their Journeys.
Verſe 7 Ver. 7. And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Piha-hiroth.] So it is expreſly recorded XIV Exod. 2. Hither they were led on purpoſe, that they might ſee the wonderful Power and Goodneſs of God, in a place where they had high Mountains on each ſide of them, and the Army of Pharaoh behind them, and the Red-Sea before them. Through which God made them a paſſage, rather than let them fall again under the Egyptian Tyranny. Here is alſo the Singular Number for the Plural, in the word turned again (as was obſerved before in another word, XXXII. 25.) but the obſervation of the Hebrew Doctors upon it, ſeems to be frivolous, That with one heart they did what Moſes commanded.
Which is before Baal-Zephon, and they pitched before Migdol.] This is explained in XIV Exod. 2.
Verſe 8 Ver. 8. And they departed from before Piha-hiroth, and paſſed through the midſt of the Sea.] XIV Exod. 23. Where Pharaoh and his Hoſt were drowned; as they could not but call to mind when they read this brief Hiſtory. Which, it might be expected, would alſo call to remembrance their own diſtruſt of God, notwithſtanding which he moſt graciouſly delivered them, XIV Exod. 11, 12, &c.
Into the Wilderneſs, and went three days journey in the Wilderneſs of Etham.] Called in XV Exod. 22. the Wilderneſs of Shur: where they were very much diſtreſſed for want of Water.
And pitched in Marah.] Where God obliged them by a new Miracle, in making the bitter Water ſweet, XV Exod. 23, 25.
Ver. 9. And they removed from Marah, and came to Verſe 9 Elim, and in Elim were twelve Fountains of Water, &c.] See XV Exod. ult.
Ver. 10. And they removed from Elim, and encamped Verſe 10 by the Red Sea.] Not by that part of it, where they lately came out of it; but by a more Southerly part of it, where it bends towards Arabia. For the Red Sea, which Ptolomy calls the Arabian Gulph, runs a long way, like the Adriatick, now called the Gulph of Venice, or the Baltick Sea, as David Chytraeus obſerves. Who compares theſe three together, as much of a length; and all, in ſome places broader, and ſome narrower. This Station is not mentioned in the Book of Exodus.
Ver. 11. And they removed from the Red Sea, and Verſe 11 encamped in the Wilderneſs of Sin.] XVI Exod. 1. where Manna firſt began to rain upon them, with which God fed them forty years.
Ver. 12. And they took their journey out of the Wilderneſs Verſe 12 of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.] This and the next Station (Aluſh) are not mentioned in Exodus; becauſe nothing remarkable (it is ſuppoſed) fell out in theſe two places, as there did in the next. And they made no long ſtay there.
Ver. 13. And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped Verſe 13 in Aluſh.] The Jewiſh Doctors find ſomething remarkable here, though Moſes ſaith nothing of it. For as the Sabbath was firſt commanded at Marah, which was their fifth Station, ſo it was firſt obſerved here at Aluſh, as they fancy, which was their Tenth. And more than that, this was the only Sabbath, in their opinion, which they exactly kept; the very next being prophaned. See Selden, Lib. III. de Jure Nat. & Gentium, &c. cap. 11. & Lib. II. de Synedr. cap. 1. The Author of Sepher Coſri ſaith the ancient Tradition is, That at this place the Manna firſt deſcended, P. II. ſect. 20.
Verſe 14 Ver. 14. And they removed from Aluſh and encamped at Rephidim, XVII Exod. 1.
Where was no Water for the People to drink.] And thereby an occaſion given to the Almighty Goodneſs, to ſhew his wonderful Power, in bringing Water out of a Rock for them, v. 5, 6. And here alſo Amalek lay in wait for Iſrael, in the way when they came out of Egypt, 1 Sam. XV. 2. and ſmote ſome that lag'd behind, XXV Deut. 16. but were vanquiſhed by Joſhua in a pitcht Battle, XVII Exod. 8, 9, &c. And here Jethro alſo came to ſee Moſes, and gave him advice about the government of the People, with more eaſe both to himſelf and them, XVIII Exod.
Verſe 15 Ver. 15. And they departed from Rephidim and pitched in the Wilderneſs of Sinai.] XIX Exod. 1, 2. This was forty ſeven days after they came from Rameſes, on the firſt day of the third Month. Three days after which (viz. on the fiftieth day after they came out of Egypt) God gave them his Law from Mount Sinai. Where Moſes was called up to him, and ſtaid with him twice forty days. And was inſtructed there how to make the Tabernacle, and to ſet it up when it was made, with all the Furniture belonging to it. All ſorts of Sacrifices were ordered while they remained in this Place; Prieſts conſecrated; Laws given about clean and unclean things; and about Marriages, and Feaſts, and the Year of Jubilee, with ſeveral other things, mentioned in the Book of Leviticus. Here alſo the People were numbred; their encampment ordered; a ſecond Paſſover kept; Laws given about the Water of Jealouſie and the Nazarites, with ſeveral other Matters: And then, after they had lain here eleven Months and twenty days, they are commanded to leave this famous Station; the moſt remarkable of all other, X Numb. 11, 12.
Ver. 16. And they removed from the Deſert of Sinai, Verſe 16 and pitched at Kibroth-hattaavah.] A place in the Wilderneſs of Paran, three days Journey, from Mount Sinai, X Numb. 23. XI. 34. where there was a dreadful ſlaughter of the People, that wantonly deſpiſed Manna, and luſted after Fleſh. Yet here God was pleaſed to vouchſafe to ſend his Spirit upon the LXX. Elders, for the Aſſiſtance of Moſes.
Ver. 17. And they departed from Kibroth-hattaavah, Verſe 17 and encamped at Hazeroth.] See XI. 35. Where Miriam was puniſhed for her Envy at Moſes, XII. 1, 10.
Ver. 18. And they departed from Hazeroth and Verſe 18 pitched at Rithmah.] A place alſo in the Wilderneſs of Paran, as appears from this Book, XII. 16. and was not far from Kadeſh-barnea, from whence the Spies were ſent to ſearch out the Land of Canaan. See XIII. 26. In which place they lay a long time, I Deut. 46.
Ver. 19. And they departed from Rithmah, and Verſe 19 pitched in Rimmon-Parez.] This and the following Stages are no where elſe mentioned; and ſeem to have all been in the Wilderneſs of Paran before ſpoken of. Which was a very long Tract of Ground, from Elana, a Port in the Arabian Gulph, to Kadeſh-barnea: which, as David Chytraeus computes it, was thirty German Miles.
Verſe 20 Ver. 20. And they departed from Rimmon-Parez, and pitched in Libnah.] This and the reſt to v. 31. are places of which, as I ſaid, we no where elſe read, and ſo can give no account of them. They were all uninhabited, and out of the road of all Travellers; and perhaps had no names till they were given them by the Iſraelites; who encamped in ſo many various places, (ſometimes in Mountains, as appears from v. 23. and ſometimes in the Plain) that they might be taught, that God was alike preſent every where to protect, defend and provide for them; even there where no Man dwelt. The Jews make this uſe of their Travels here recorded by Moſes, through ſo many unknown places, by which he brought them at laſt to Canaan; to keep up their Spirits under this long Captivity (as they call it) wherein they now are, and have wandred uncertainly, from Mountain to Mountain, from Kingdom to Kingdom, from Baniſhment to Baniſhment, (as they themſelves ſpeak) till their Meſſiah come to redeem them. Which he will do when their Eyes are opened to ſee, what one of their ancient Rabbins (Moſes Hadarſchan) hath told them, as he is quoted by Paulus Fagius, That the Redeemer was born before him who reduced Iſrael into this laſt Captivity.
Verſe 31 Ver. 31. And they departed from Moſerah, and pitched in Bene-Jaakan.] In X Deut. 6. Moſes ſeems to ſay the quite contrary, that they took their journey from Beeroth of the Children of Jaakan, to Moſera. But there he may be thought to ſpeak of a different place, as Druſius notes upon thoſe words. Or if he doth not, it is no wonder if, while they wandred in this tedious Wilderneſs, they went backward and forward, from Bene-Jaakan to Moſerath, which he mentions in Deuteronomy; and from Moſerath back again to Bene-Jaakan, which he mentions here.
Ver. 32. And they journeyed from Bene-Jaakan, and Verſe 32 encamped at Horhagidgad.] This place was alſo called Gudgodah, X Deut. 7. if Moſes ſpeaks there of the ſame places he doth here.
Ver. 33. And they went from Horhagidgad and Verſe 33 pitched in Jotbathah.] Called X Deut. 7. Jotbath.
Ver. 34. And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped Verſe 34 at Ebronah.] All their removals mentioned from v. 16. to this and the next place, are an account of their wanderings in the Wilderneſs, from the ſecond year after their coming out of Egypt till the fortieth; in which time all the Congregation, above twenty years of Age, were conſumed, and buried in ſome part or other of this great Deſert.
Ver. 35. And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped Verſe 35 at Ezion-gaber.] A place on the Red-Sea, unto which they were brought before they ended their Travels, 1 Kings IX. 26. XXII. 18. It had its name from the ſnagged Rocks, like to the Back-bone, which ſtretched out a great way on that ſhore, as Bochart obſerves. Which Rocks made this part ſo dangerous, that it was forſaken in after times, and Elah frequented as a ſafer Harbor. See Lib. I. Canaan, cap. 44. It is not recorded how long they remained in any of theſe places; but it is likely a conſiderable time in ſome of them; for they ſpent Thirty eight years in theſe Removals.
Ver. 36. And they removed from Ezion-Gaber, and pitched in the Wilderneſs of Zin, which is Kadeſh.] See XX. 1. He doth not mean Kadeſh-barnea, which Verſe 36 was on the Borders of Canaan; but another Kadeſh in the Skirts of this Wilderneſs, towards the South, not far from the Port I now mentioned (which the Greeks call Elana) on the Border of Edom. Where Miriam died; and where Water was brought out of a Rock. See XX. 8, 14, 16.
Verſe 37 Ver. 37. And they removed from Kadeſh, and pitched in Mount Hor, in the edge of the Land of Edom.] See XX. 28.
Verſe 38 Ver. 38. And Aaron went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD.] XX. 23, 24, 27. XXXII Deut. 50. The Hebrew Doctors are too conceited in their obſervation, that becauſe it is ſaid of him, and of Moſes, that they died al pi (at the mouth) of the LORD; the LORD took their Souls out of their Bodies, with a kiſs. But Maimonides indeavours to make a ſober ſence of this, by making their meaning to be, that they expired with the tranſcendent Pleaſure of Divine Love, More Nevoch. P. III. cap. 51.
And died there in the fortieth year after the Children of Iſrael came out of the Land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth Month.] A few Months before his Brother Moſes.
Verſe 39 Ver. 39. And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old, when he died in Mount Hor.] He was juſt Eighty and three years old, when he and Moſes firſt went with a Meſſage to Pharaoh, VII Exod. 7. By which it appears, that they were not long in working all the Miracles in Egypt, before they brought the People forth; for now Forty years after, he was but an Hundred twenty three years old.
Ver. 40. And King Arad the Canaanite, (which dwelt in the South, in the Land of Canaan.)] See XXI. 1.
Heard of the coming of the Children of Iſrael.] Had News brought him, that the Iſraelites were Verſe 40 coming towards his Country; whereupon he went out to oppoſe them; and God gave them (as we read there) a glorious Victory over him. This ſhows, that Moſes intended in the recital of all theſe places where they had been, to bring to remembrance the moſt remarkable Paſſages of God's Providence over them: ſome of which he expreſly ſets down.
Ver. 41. And they departed from Mount Hor, and Verſe 41 pitched in Zalmonah.] We read in the XXIth Chapter of this Book, v. 4. that they journeyed from Hor, to compaſs the Land of Edom; but are not told there where they pitched, which is here ſupplyed, the name of the place being Zalmonah. Which carries in it the ſignification of an Image; and therefore here perhaps the brazen Serpent was erected. See XXI. 9.
Ver. 42. And they departed from Zalmonah, and Verſe 42 pitched in Punon.] Where Bochartus rather thinks the brazen Serpent was ſet up; becauſe after Moſes hath given us the Hiſtory of that, he ſaith, they ſet forward and pitched in Oboth, XXI. 10. which was the place of their abode next to Punon, as it here follows, Hierozoic. P. I. Lib. III. cap. 12. in the latter end of it.
Ver. 43. And they departed from Punon, and pitched Verſe 43 in Oboth.] See XXI. 10.
Ver. 44. And they departed from Oboth, and pitched Verſe 44 in Jie-abarim, in the border of Moab.] See XXI. 11. This name is tranſlated in the Margin, heaps of Abarim: which may poſſibly ſignifie many heaps of Stones, which lay not far from the Mountains of Abarim, v. 47.
Ver. 45. And they departed from Jim, and pitched Verſe 45 in Dibon-gad.] Here half the name of the firſt place is omitted; as is uſual when the names are long. This may ſeem not to agree with XXI. 12. where it is ſaid they removed from thence, and pitched in the Valley of Zered; near unto which, in all probability, was this Dibon-gad. See what I have noted there.
Verſe 46 Ver. 46. And they removed from Dibon-gad, and encamped in Almon-Diblathaim.] See XXI. 13.
Verſe 47 Ver. 47. And they removed from Almon-diblathaim, and pitched in the Mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.] We read no where, when they came to this Manſion: but, it is plain, they were not far from it, when God bid Moſes go into one of theſe Mountains, and take a view of Canaan. See XXVII. 12. But this followed their laſt Manſion; and therefore it is moſt likely this is the place mentioned XXI. 20. See there. Where I have obſerved other places mentioned v. 18, 19. of which there is no notice taken in this Catalogue. But they ſeem to have been placed where they only touched, and made no encampment in them; which is the thing of which Moſes here gives an account.
Verſe 48 Ver. 48. And they departed from the Mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab, &c.] See Chap. XXII. 1.
Verſe 49 Ver. 49. And they pitched by Jordan, from Beth-Jeſhimoth.] A place where there was a Temple, in all likelyhood, to ſome Deity: For ſo Beth denotes in many Compoſitions; as Beth-Peor (the Houſe, or Temple of Baal on the top of Peor) Beth-Aſtaroth, and Beth-Baal-berith, IX Judg. 4. And Beth-Shemeſh is often mentioned, where the Sun was worſhipped. And poſſibly Jeſhimoth may be the ſame with Jeſhimon, XXI. 20.
Even unto Abel-Shittim, &c.] Called ſimply Shittim, XXV. 1. which ſome fancy had the name of Abel added to it, (which ſignifies mourning) becauſe of that Lamentation which was made there, by ſome for the grievous Sin there committed; and by others, for the heavy Puniſhment inflicted in that place. But it ſeems to have been anciently Abel-Shittim, before this time. See there.
Ver. 50. And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes in the Verſe 50 Plains of Moab, &c.] After he had prepared them for their entrance into Canaan; he ordered the firſt and principal work they ſhould there undertake.
Ver. 51. Speak unto the Children of Iſrael, and ſay Verſe 51 unto them, when ye are paſſed over Jordan, into the Land of Canaan.] Accordingly Moſes did deliver this command unto them, VII Deut. 1, 2.
Ver. 52. Then ye ſhall drive out all the Inhabitants Verſe 52 of the Land from before you.] Not ſuffer them to dwell in the Land any longer; but either deſtroy, or expel them; becauſe they were abominable Idolaters, devoted to extermination, (XXIII Exod. 33. XX Deut. 16, 17, 18.) by whom the Iſraelites would have been in danger to be corrupted, if they were not rooted out.
And deſtroy all their Pictures.] Or their Temples, or Houſes of Worſhip, as Onkelos interprets it. But others (particularly the Hieruſalem Targum) underſtand it of the Idols, or Statues ſet up in thoſe Temples; or ſome Repreſentations of their Gods. See concerning the Hebrew word Maskith, XXV Lev. 1.
And deſtroy their molten Images.] XXIII Exod. 24. XXXIV. 13. for if they ſuffered them to remain, they might be inticed to worſhip them. Theſe were Idols, perhaps, in publick places, or private Houſes, out of their Temples.
And quite pluck down all their High-places.] They could not throw down the Mountains, upon which the People of Canaan worſhipped: but the meaning is, that they ſhould cut down the Groves which were there planted; and demoliſh all the Altars that ſtood in them. For there were no other Temples, at firſt, but theſe Groves upon Mountains; where the ancient Heathen worſhipped the Sun, Moon and Stars: unto which they thought the Mountains approached nearer than the reſt of the Earth; and therefore their Sacrifices there would be moſt prevalent. But of this I have ſaid enough elſewhere.
Verſe 53 Ver. 53. And ye ſhall diſpoſſeſs the Inhabitants of the Land, and dwell therein; for I have given you the Land to poſſeſs it.] Yet he did not intend they ſhould diſpoſſeſs the old Inhabitants all at once, but by degrees; as he himſelf ſaith in XXIII Exod. 29, 30. VII Deut. 22.
Verſe 54 Ver. 54. And ye ſhall divide the Land by lot, for an Inheritance among your Families.] Follow the directions I have already given for the dividing of the Land; after the old Inhabitants are expelled, XXVI. 53, 55.
And to the mo ye ſhall give the more Inheritance, and to the fewer the leſs, &c.] See XXVI. 54, 56.
Verſe 55 Ver. 55. And if ye will not drive out the Inhabitants of the Land from before you.] At the firſt they could not drive them all out; nor was it God's deſign, as I before obſerved. Therefore Joſhua would not attempt it, while he lived: but left ſeveral Nations, or part of them unſubdued, II Judges 21, 23. Of which he himſelf takes notice a little before he died, XXIII Joſh. 4, 7. where he warns them to have nothing to do with them; promiſing them that God would in time expel them quite, v. 5. But when the Iſraelites grew ſlothful and cowardly, and negligently ſuffered the People of Canaan to dwell among them, and made Friendſhip with them, (as they did after Joſhua and all that Generation were dead) then followed what is here threatned in the next words.
Then it ſhall come to paſs, that thoſe which ye let remain of them.] Voluntarily permit to live among you, without indeavouring to diſpoſſeſs them.
Shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your ſides.] Bring very ſore Calamities upon you; as grievous and as miſchievous as a wound made in the Eye, which is a moſt tender part; or in the ſide, when a thorn ſticks and feſters in it. Some are ſo curious, as by the firſt part of theſe words (pricks in your eyes) to underſtand their being ſtimulated to Idolatry, by beholding their Rites of Religion, and Manner of Worſhip. And the next they take to ſignifie the Effect of it, in ſharp Puniſhments, which ſhould befal them, for their forſaking God. Joſhua threatned the ſame before he died, XXIII. 13. Of which an Angel, or Meſſenger of the LORD minded them, II Judges 3. And ſo it came to paſs, as we read there, v. 14. and throughout that whole Book.
And ſhall vex you in the Land wherein ye dwell.] Make you very uneaſie, nay ſigh and groan, in the good Land which God gives you, by reaſon of their oppreſſion, II Judg. 18. IV. 3. VI. 6, &c.
Ver. 56. Moreover, I will do unto you, as I thought Verſe 56 to do unto them.] As I purpoſed to do unto them; i. e. make you their Slaves; as they were to ſeveral People whom they ſerved many years, III Judg. 8, 14. VI. 2. and many other places. Or make you flee before them; and at laſt expel you from the Land I give you.