Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 4 · Chapter 1 – Chapter 4
CHAP. I. Verſ. 1. In the Wilderneſs of Sinai]
HERE God held his people, well-nigh a twelve-monethmonth. Here they received the Law, both Morall and Ceremonial: the Morall, drove them to the Ceremoniall, which was then Chriſt in figure; as it doth now drive us to Chriſt, in truth. The Ceremoniall Law, ſaith one, was their Goſpell. Wee muſt alſo paſs by Sinai, to Sion; unleſs we like rather to be carnally ſecured, then ſoundly comforted. See the notes on Exod. 19.1.
Verſ. 2. Take ye the ſumme] Hence this Book is named (in the Greek,) Numbers.
Verſ. 3. All that are able] The people perceiving, how many hundred thouſand ſtrong they were, might go on, with more courage againſt their enemies. It is an ancient cuſtome in Scotland, in caſes of importance, to command the fire-croſs to be carried; Sr. Jo. Heywood in the life of King Edw. 6.that is, two fire-brands to be ſet in faſhion of a croſs, and pitched upon the point of a ſpeare, and proclamation is thereupon made; that all men, above ſixteen years of age, and under ſixty, ſhall come into the field, to advance againſt the common enemy.
Verſ. 4. A man of every tribe] Theſe were men of renowne. Verſ. 16. To do worthily in Ephrata, is the way to be famous in Bethlebem, Ruth 4.11. It is ſaid of a great States-man, in Queen Elizabeths dayes, Camdens Eliſab.that he was in the number of thoſe few, that both lived and dyed with glory.
Verſ. 16. Princes of the tribes] Theſ… were thoſe officers over them in Egypt, (ſaith an Hebrew Dectour,) that had been beaten for them, Exad. 5.14. Now they are raiſed to great preferment. Sic per auguſta ad anguſtum, per ſpinas ad roſas, per motum ad quietem, per crucem…ad caelum contendimus.
Verſ. 17. Which are expreſſed by their names] And they are all excellent good names, and very ſignificant; hereby is teſtified to poſterity, that they forgat not the Name of their God, when they were in the iron furnace; but could ſay, as Pſal. 44.17. All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee: Though thou haſt ſore broken us, in the place of dragons, &c.
Verſ 19. So he numbred them] See the note on Exod. 30.12. At every generall muſter, they paid poll-money; See ib. verſ. 16. Such a taxation was firſt granted, in this kingdome, to Edward the third; Danicls hiſt.but in the next raign, proved of ill conſequence; the exactours receiving from the people no leſs ſummes of curſes, then of coyn; whereupon, alſo, followed the firſt and greateſt popular inſurrection, that ever was ſeen in this kingdome.
Verſ. 47. Were not numbred] Becauſe, by ſpeciall priviledg, enempted from ſecular and military employments, that they may wholly devote themſelves to the ſervice of the Sanctuary. Peter, in like ſort, muſt put up his ſword; and Timothy not intangle himſelf with the affaires of this life, that he may pleaſe him who hath choſen him to be a ſouldier, of another nature, 2 Tim. 2.4. But Timothe…s Herulus that warlike Biſhop of Alexandria, Theophilus Alexandriae Epiſcopus primus inter Chriſtiani nominis epiſcopos, arma tractavit. Socrat.Anno Dom. 467, was a gallant fellow in his generation. And ſome of Peters pretended ſucceſſours were, viri bilioſi et bellicoſi; caſt the keyes into Tiber, and took up Saints Pauls ſword, and the Imperiall habit. So have divers of their dear ſons done; as Philip, Biſhop of Beau-vi… in France; who, being taken in battell, by Richard the firſt, in a skirmiſh, had his armour he was taken in, ſent to the Pope, with theſe words engraven thereon; Vide utru… filii tui tunica ſit, vel non; See whether this be thy ſons coat or not.
Verſ. 53. Shall pitch round about] As the living creatures; (the Miniſters) are between the 24 elders, the congregation of the faithfull, and the throne, Rev. 4.
CHAP. II.
Verſ. 1. ANd the Lord ſpake] He being the Lord of theſe Hoaſts of Iſrael, Exod. 12.41. gives order for the marſhalling of them, in ſuch good array, and allcomely equipage, as made them as a city, that is compact together; both beautifull as the Moon, and terrible, as an army with banners, Pſal. 122.3. Cant. 6.10. This Balaam beheld with admiration, Num. 24.5, 6.
Verſ. 2. Far off about the Tabernacle] About it: The Emperours tent, is among his Souldiers. Xerxes pitched his tent, not only among, but above his ſouldiers, that he might look on them, when in fight, for their encouragement. So the Lord; who as he is round about his people, Pſal. 125.2. ſo they are round about the Lord, Pſal. 76.12. A people neer unto him, Pſal. 148.14. Yet not ſo neer, but they muſt know, and keep their juſt diſtance; as here, they pitched far off, about the Tabernacle; a mile off, as is gathered from Ioſh. 3.4. God, though he loves to be acquainted with men, in the walks of their obedience, yet he takes State upon him in his ordinances, and will be trembled at, in our addreſſes to his Majeſty.
Verſ. 3. And on the Eaſt-ſide] Judah encamped foremoſt. It was fit the Lion ſhould leade the way. Better an army of Harts, with a Lion to lead them on, &c. This order in their march, ſhewed the principality that ſhould continue in this tribe, till Shiloh came. Judah herein alſo was a type of Chriſt, who is the Captain of the Lords Hoaſts, Ioſh. 5.14. and of our ſalvation. Heb. 2.10. and goeth before his heavenly armies, Rev. 12.7.
Verſ. 10. And on the South-ſide] The order proceed…th, from Eaſt to South, and ſo to the Weſt, and North; according to the courſe of the Sun, and climates of the world, ſaith one. I may add, according to the courſe and progreſs of the Goſpell: which went out of Iudea, (lying Eaſt) into Greece, which lyeth South, And from thence paſſed to the Weſtern parts, the Latine Church, and ſo to us of the North. And becauſe.
Veſpera nunc venit, nobiſcum Chriſte maneto:
Extingui lucem nec patiare tuam.
CHAP. III.
OF Aaron and Moſes] Of Aaron by nature, of Moſes by education, and inſtruction. See 1 Cor. 4.15. Gal. 4.19. with the Notes there. So the Jeſuites call themſelves Padres, and require of their Novices blinde obedience, which is more then ever Moſes did.
Verſ. 3. Which were anointed] And ſo ſhould have walked, as became Gods anointed; leaving a ſweet ſmell behind them every where: but they went out in a ſtench, they fell, as if they had not been anoynted with oyle, 2 Sam. 1 21.
Verſ. 4. And Nadab and Abihu] Such a croſs had David, in his two eldeſt, Amnon and Abſalon. See the Notes on Levit. 10.1, 2.
Verſ. 9. They are wholly given unto him] Heb. they are given, they are given. So the Miniſters of the Goſpell, are called gifts, Eph. 4.8, 11. honouraries, ſuch as Chriſt beſtowed upon his Church, at the day of his Coronation, and ſolemne inauguration into his throne, at his wonderfull Aſcention.
Verſ. 10. And the ſtranger] Though a Levite, yet if not of Aarons ſeed, Num. 18.3. Heb. 5.4. Let this be thought upon by our over-bold intruders into the work of the Miniſtery.
Verſ. 13. Becauſe all the firſt-born] So they were from the beginning: but here is noted a continuance of this ordinance; when it is ſaid, that he ſanctified the firſt-born to himſelf, what time he ſmote every firſt-born in Egypt. Now, the firſt born are ſaid to be Gods, by a ſingular right, Exod. 13.2. and ſo they were types, 1. Of Chriſt, Rom. 8.29. to whom therefore we muſt give the honour, of his firſt-birth-right; all our ſheaves muſt veyle and bow to his ſheafe. 2. Of Chriſtians; thoſe firſt-born, whoſe names are written in Heaven, Heb. 12.23. who are dear to God, as his firſt born, Exod. 4.22. and ſo higher then the Kings of the earth, Pſal. 89.27. for they are Kings and Prieſts unto God, Rev. 1.6. to ſerve him day and night in his temple, Rev. 7.15.
CHAP. IIII.
Verſ. 2. OF the ſons of Kohath] Kohath, was not Levies firſt born, but Gerſhom: and yet he hath the preheminence, and chiefe charge; as of the Arke, Table, Candleſtick Altars, &c. Num. 3.31.
Verſ. 3. To do the work] The work of the Miniſtery, is, not an idle mans occupation, but a labouring even to laſſitude; compared therefore to harveſt-work, and to that of cleaving wood, digging in mine-pits, rowing with oares, &c. All the comfort is, that God that helped the Levites, to bear the Arke of the Covenant, 1 Chron 15.26. will not be wanting to his weak, but willing ſervants, that labour in the word and doctrine, 1 Tim. 5.17.
Verſ. 5. And when the Camp ſetteth forward] Which was not, till the cloud was taken up from off the Tabernacle, by the Lord. Num. 10.11, 12: who went before them. Semper memento illud Pythagoricum, foreign. Let God lead us, and we cannot miſcarry.Boetius.
Verſ. 8. And cover the ſame] It is well obſerved, that only the Ark (repreſenting Chriſt,) and the Table with ſhew-bread, (repreſenting the Church) had three coverings; all the other holy things had but two, for a covert from ſtorm and from rain. Thus, Eſay. 4.5, 6.upon all the glory ſhall be a defence.
Verſ. 13. The aſhes from the Alta… ] The fire from Heaven, was alſo carefully kept alive, Lev. 6.12. though nothing be here ſaid of it.
Verſ. 15. Leſt they dye] As Vzzah did, 1 Chron. 13.10. [The burden of the ſons of Kohath] Who as they had the honos, ſo the onus, See verſ. 1.
Fructus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus.
Verſ. 16. And to the office of Eleaz…r] Called therefore Prince of the Princes of the Levites. Num. 3.32.
Verſ. 18. Cut ye not off] i.e. Cauſe them not, by your default, to be cut off. Heed muſt be taken, that we neither give offence careleſly, nor take offence cauſeleſly.
Verſ. 20. But they ſhall not go in to ſee] The men of 'Bethſhem…ſh paid for their peeping, 1 Sam. 6.9. Search not into Gods ſecrets: hìc oportet, non rimari, Dent. 29.29. Remember that ſaying of Xenocrates the Philoſopher; Nihil intereſſe, pedeſue quiſquam, Plutarch. de curioſit.an oculos in aliena domo ponat, It is as great unmannerlineſs, to pry into another mans houſe, as to preſs into it.
Verſ. 30. From thirty yeares] The Greek hath it, from 25 yeares: for then they began to be learners, and probationers; and at 30, they ſet upon the ſervice: See Num. 8.24. In their old age, they had leave to retire.
Verſ. 32. By name ye ſhall reckon] That all might be ready and forth comming, when the Sanctuary was ſet up again. Chriſt knoweth and calleth all his by name, Joh. 10.3. not the meaneſt of them is miſſing, Ioh. 17.12.
Verſ. 44. Trhee thouſand, and two hundred] By this diverſity of number among the Levites families, God ſheweth his wiſedome, ſaith an Interpreter; in fitting men for the work, whereunto he hath appointed them, whether it requireth multitude or gifts. For to one is given by the Spirit, the Word of wiſdome; to another the word of knowledg, by the ſame Spirit, &c. dividing to every man ſeverally as he will. 1 Cor. 12.8, 12. It is reported, that in Luthers houſe was found written: Res et verba Philippus, res ſine verbis Lutherus, verba ſine re Eraſmus. Melancthon hath both matter and words; Luther hath matter, but wants words; Eraſmus hath words, but wants matter. Every one hath his own ſhare: all are not alike gifted.
Verſ. 48. Eight thouſand, &c. What a poor few were theſe to the other tribes? Gods portion is ever the leaſt.