Chapter XXVI
Ver. 1-51. Israel Numbered. 1. after the plagueThat terrible visitation had swept awaj' the remnant of the old generation, to whom God sware in His vi'rath that they should not enter Canaan. (Psalm 95. 11.) 2. take the axxm of the congregation—The design of this new census, after a lapse of thirty-eight j'ears, was primarily to establish the vast multiplication of the posterity of Abraham In spite of the severe judgments inflicted upon them
secondarily, it was tojireserve the distinction of families, and to make arrangements, preparatory to an entrance into the promised land, for the distribution of the country according to the relative population of the tribes. 7. these are the families of the Reubenites—the principal households, which were subdivided into numerous smaller families. Reuben had suflTered great diminution by Korah's conspiracy and other outbreaks. 10. the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Ktkrah—rather, the things of Korah. (See on ch. 16. .32-35; cf. Psalm 106.17.) 11. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not—Either they were not parties to their father's crime, or they withdrew from it by timely repentance. His descendants became famous in the time of David, and are often mentioned in the Psalms, also 1 Chronicles 6. 22. 38. 13. the sons of Simeon —It is supposed that this tribe had been pre-eminent ih the guilt of Baal-peor, and had consequently been greatly reduced in numbers.
CHAPTER XXV.
Ver. 1-18. The Israelites' Whoredom and Idolatry WITH MOAB. 1. Israel abode In Shlttlm—a verdant meadow, so called from a grove of acacia trees which lined the eastern side of the Jordan. (See ch. 33. 49.) 3. Israel Joined himself unto Baal-peor— BaaL was a general name for "lord," and Peor for a "mount" In Moab. The real name of the idol was Chemosli, and his rltesof worship were celebrated bythe grossest ol)soenlty. In partlcipatinir 'n this festival, then, the Israelites com-
Thus the justice and holiness, as well as truth and faithfulness of God, were strikingly displayed"; His Justice and holiness In the sweeping judgments that reduced the ranks of some tribes; wliilo His truth and faithfulness were manifested in the extraordinary increase of others, so that the posterity of Israel continued a numerous people. 53. the land shall be divided according to the number of names—The portion of each tribe wa* to be greater or less, according to. its populousness. 54. 113
The Levites Numbered. NUMBERS XXVII, XXVIII. Offerings to he Observed.
to many thou shalt give the more— j. e., to the more numerous tribes a larger allotment shall be granted, according to those that were numbered i. p., the number of persons twenty years old at the time of the census being made, without taking into account either the increase of those who might have attained that age, when the land should be actually distributed, or the diminution from that amount, occasioned during the war of invasion. 55. the land shall be divided by lot— The appeal to the lotdid not place the matter beyond the con-
necessary, because his death might have occurred alM>xit the time of tnat rebellion; arid esi)ecially because, as tlie children of these conspirators were involved along with themselves in the awful punishment, their plea appeared the more proper and forcible that their father did not die for any cause that doomed his family to lose their li\es or their inherilaiice. lUed in his own j>in i.e., by the ^.'oni" mon law of mortality to which men, through sin, ar«> subject.
12-17. MO.SES, BEING TOI.D OF HIS DEATH, SUETH FOR A SUCCESSOU. l-i.. The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land—Althovigh the Israelites were now on the confines of the promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of Abarim was given (ch. 33.' 47.) The privation of this great honour was owing to the unhappy conduct he had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah ; and while the pious leader submitted with meek acquiescence to the Divine decree, he evinced the spirit of genuine patriotism in his fervent prayers for the appointment of a worthy and competent successor. 16. G«<1 of the spirits of all llfesh, s«t a man over the congregation—The request was most suitaljly made to God In this character, a.s the Author of all Uie intellectual gifts and moral gnices with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.
trol of God; for it is at His disposal (Proverbs 16. SJ), and He has fixed to all the bounds of their habitation. The manner in which the lot was taken has not been recorded. But it is evident that the lot was east for determining the quarter of the country on which each tribe should be located—not the quantity of their possessions. In otlier words, when the lot had decided that a particular tribe was to be settled in the nort h or the south, the east or the west, the extent of territory was allocated to the rule (v. .>t). 57. Families of the Levites—The census of this tribe was taken ^enarately, and on a aifl'erent principle from the
rest. (Sfec Exodus 6. 16-19.) 6-3. Twenty and three thousand—So that there was an inerea-se of a thousand. (Cli 3.
39.) males from a month old and upward—(See on
ch. 3. 15.) 64. Among these there was not a man . . . numbered in the wilderness of Sinai—The statement
in this verse must not be considered absolute. P^or, be-
sides Caleb and Joshua, there were alive at this time Eleazar and Itbamar, and in all probability a considerable number of Levites, who had no participation in the popular defections in the wilderness. The tribe of Levi, having neithersenta spy into Canaan, nor being included in the enumeration at Sinai, must be regarded as not coming within the range of the fatal sentence; and there-
lS-23. Joshua Appointed TO Succeed Him. 18. Take Toshua ... a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him—A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of the Divine Spirit—the Imposition
.of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See on Genesis 4.*. 14
Leviticus 1. 4; 1 Timothy 4. 14.) 20. Thou shalt put some of thine honour upon hiin—In the whole history of Isiael there arose no prophet or ruler in all respects like unto Moses till the Messiah appeared, whose glory eclipsed all. Itut Joshua was honoured and qualified Id an eminent degree, through the special service ol the high priest, who asked counsel for him a.ftcr the judgment of L^rim before the Lord.
fore would exhibit a spectacle not to be witnessed in the other tribes of many in their ranks above sixty years of
age.
Trlbea. Cb»p. 1. Chapter
xxvi. iDcrense. Deoreaae.
CHAPTER XXVIIl.
43,7.30 2,770 .59,»)0 22,200 37,100
4-5,t>iO 40,.50O 5,1.50 7i,m 7fi,.500 1,900 54,400 64,300 9,900 57,-100 60,.500 3,100 40,.tOO 32,.500 8,000 ,32,200 52,700 20,.500
Ver. l-2\. Offerings to be Observed. 3. command the children of Israel, and say unto them—The repetition of several laws formerly enacted, which Is made In this ch.ipter, was seasonable and necessary, not only on account of their importjincc and the frequent neglect of them, but liccnusc a new generation had sprung up since their first institution, and because the Israelites wero. about to be settled In the land where those ordinances were to be observed. My offering and my bread—used generally lor the appointed olferiugs, and the import of the prescription is to enforce reguhirlty and care in their observance. i», tO. This is the bnj nt olTering of every Sabbath-There is no previous nii-ntion of a Sabbath Imrnt ollerlng, which was ad<litioiial to the dally sacri-
a'),-ioo 4.5,600 10,200 62,700 64,4<H> 1,7(K) 41,rm 5^,400 11,900 5.3,400 4,5,400 8,000
603,550 601,730 59,200 61,020
Total decrease 1,S20