Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Fury Serpenh Sent, NUMBERS XXII. BalaL Scailelh jot Balaam, ious arms of Sihon. 3.3. they went by the way o< Baslian—a name given to that district from tlie richness of the soil—now liatanea or El-Uoltein—a hilly region east of the Jordan l.ving lietween the mountains of Hernion on tlie north anil those of Gilead on tlie south. Og giant, an Amoritish prince, wlio, having opposed the progress of the Israelites, was flefeated. 34. Tlie Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not—a necessary encouragement, liig a hope of the better and more vnried fare enjoyed by a sfltU'd people; and disappointment, always the more bitter as tlie hope of enjoyment seems near, drove them to speak against God and against Moses. (1 Corinthians 10. 9.) 0. Tlic Lord sent rterV serpents among the people—That part of the desert where the Israelites now were—near the liead of the gulf of Akaba— is greatly
Infested with venomous reptiles, of various kinds, particufor Ills gigantic stature (Deuteronomy 3. 11) was calculated larly lizards, which raise themselves in the air and swing themselves fiom branches; and scorpions, which, being to inspire terror. He and all his were put to the sword.
in the habit of lying among long grass, are particularly dangerous to the barelegged, sandalled people of the East. The only known remedy consists in sucking the wound,
CHAPTER XXII.
Ver. 1-20. Balak's First Message for Balaam keFUSED. 1. Israel pitched in the plains of Moab—So called from liaving formerly belonged to tliat people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on tlie east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.
or, in the case of cattle, in the application of ammonia. The species of serpents that cau.sed so great mortality amongst the Israelites cannot be ascertained. They are said to have been " fiery," an epithet applied to them either from their bright, vivid colour, or the violent inflammation their bite occasioned. 7-9. the people came to Moses, and
3. Balak— i. e., empty. Terrified (Deutennioniy 2. 25; Exodus 15. 15) at the approach of so vast a multitude, and not daring to encounter them in the field, he resolved to secure their destruction by otlier means. 4. elders of Midian—called kings (ch. 31. 8.) and princes (Joshua 13. 21). The Midianites, a distinct people on the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel, their common enemy. 5. he sent messengers unto Balaam i. e., "lord" or "devourer" of people, a famous sooth-sayer (Joshua 13. 22). son of Beor, or, in the Chaldee form, Bosor—t. e., destruction. Pethor—a city of Mesopotamia, situated on the Euphrates. 6. come, curse me this people—Among the heathen an opinion prevailed, that prayers for evil or curses would be heard by the unseen powers as well as prayers for good, when oflered by a prophet or priest, and accompanied by the use of certain rites. Many examples are found in the histories of the Greeks and Romans of whole armies being devoted to destruction, and they occur among the natives of India and other heathen countries still. In the Burmese war. magicians were employed to curse the Britisli troops. 7. the elders of Moab and of Midian departed witli the rewards of divination—like the fee of a fortune-teller, and being a royal present, it would be something handsome. 8-14. lodge here this night, and I will bring yon word again as the Lord shall speaU unto itke, &c. —God usually revealed His will in visions and dreams; and Balaam's birth and residence in Mesopotamia, whero the remains of patriarchal religion still lingered, account
Bald, We have sinned—Tlie severity of the scourge and the appalling extent of mortality brought them to a sense of sin, and through the intercessions of Moses, which they implored, they were miraculously healed. He was directed to make the figure of a serpent in brass, to be elevated on a pol e or standard, that it might be seen at tlie extremities of the camp, and tliat every bitten Israelite who looked to it miglit Ije healed. This peculiar method of cure was designed, in tlie first instance, to show that it was the efficacy of God's power and grace, not the effect of nature or art, and also that it might be a type of the power of faith In Clirist to Ileal all who look to Him of their sins (John
3. 14, 15 ; see also on 2 Kings 18. 4). 10. the children of Israel set forward—Along the eastern frontier of the Edomites, encamping in various stations. 13. pitched in the valley lit., the brook-valley of Zared — i.e., the woody (Deuteronomj' 2. 13; Isaiah 15. 7; Amos 6. 11). This torrent rises among the mountains to the east of Moab, and flowing west, empties itself into the Dead Sea. Ije-Abarim is supposed to have been its ford. [Calmet.] 13. pitched on the other side of Arnon—now El-Mojib, a deep, broad, and rapid stream, dividing tlie dominionsof the Moabites and Amorites. 14. hooU of the wars of tlie Lord— fragment or passage is here quoted from a poem or history of the wars of the Israelites, principally with a view to decide the position of Arnon. Ar—the capital of Moal). 16. from theuce they went to Beer i. e., a well. The name was probably given to it afterwards, as it is not mentioned (ch. 33). 17, 18. then Israel sang—tills beaufor his knowledge of the true God. His real character has long been a subject of discussion. Some, judging I'rom his language, have thought him a saint; others, looking to his conduct, have described him as an irreligious charlatan ; and a third class consider him a novice in the faith, who had a fear of God, but who had not acquired power over his passions. [Hengstenberg.] 13. the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you—This answer has an appearance of being good, but it studiously concealed the reason of the Divine prohibition, and it intimated his own willingness and desire to go—if permitted. Balak despatched a second mission, which held out flattering prospects both to his avarice am', his ambition. (Genesis 31. 30.) 19. tarry also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto mc more— tiful little song was in accordance with the wants and feelings of travelling caravans in the East, where water is an occasion both of prayer and thanksgiving. From the princes using their official I'ods only, and not spades, it seems probable that this well was concealed by tlie brushwood or the sand, as is the case with many wells in Idumea still. The discovery of it was seasonable, and owing to the special interposition of God. 31-33. Israel sent megsengerg unto Sihon—The rejecthm of their respectful and pacific message was resented—Sihon was discomfited in battle—and Israel obtained by right of conquest the whole of the Ainorite dominions. 34:. from Arnon unto the Jabbofe—now the Zurka. These rivers formed the southern and northern boundaries of his usurped territory, for the border of Ammon was strong—a reason Stated for Sihon not being able to push his invasion further. 35. Israel dwelt In all the cities—after exterminating the Inhabitants who had been previously doomed (Deuteronomy 2. 34). 36. HeshlSon—(Song 7. i)— situated sixteen English miles north of the Arnon, and from Its ruins appears to have been a large city. 37-30. wherefore they that speak in proverbs—Here Is given en extract from an Amorlte song exultlngly anticipating
Tlie Divine will, as formerly declared, not being according to his desires, he hoped by a second request to bend it, as he had already bent his own conscience, to his ruling passions of pride and covetousness. The permission granted to Balaam is In accordance with the ordinary procedure of Providence. God often gives up men to follow the impulse of their own lusts; but there Is no approval in thus leaving them to act at the prompting of their own wicked hearts (Joshua 13. 27).
The Journey. Ver. 21-41. 31. Bala.-vm saddled hi* ass—Probably one of the white sprightly animals which persons of rank were accustomed to ride. The saddle, as usually In the East, would be nothing more than a pad or an extension of their conquests to Arnon. The quotation from the poem of the Amorlte bard ends at verse 28. The two following verses appear to be the strains in which the Israelites expose the Impotence of the usurpers. 39. people of Chemosh—the name of the Moabite idol ills outer cloak. God's anger wag kindled because he went—The displeasure aro.se partly from his neglecting the condition on which leave was granted him—viz., to
(1 Kings 11. 7-33 ; 2 Kings 23. 13; Jeremiah 48. 46). he—i. e., their god, hath surrendered his worshippers to the victor-
Bcdak's Sacrifices. KUMBEKS XXIII, XXIV. BalaaWiS Parables.
wait till the princes of Moab "came to call him." and because, through desire for "the wages of unrighteousness," he entertained the secret purpose of acting in opposition to the solemn charge of God. 34. the angel of the liord stood in a path of the vineyards—The roads which lead through fields and vineyards are so narrow that in most pai-ts a man could not pass a beast without care and caution. A stone or mud fence flanks each side of these roads, to prevent the soil being washed off by the rains. 38. the Lord opened the mouth of the ass—To utter, like a parrot, articulate sounds, without understanding them. That this was a visionary scene is a notion which seems inadmissible, because of the improbability of a vision being described as an actual occurrence in the middle of a plain history. Besides, the opening of the ass's mouth must have been an external act, and that with the manifest tenor of Peter's language, strongly favours the literal view. The absence of any surprise at such a phenomenon on the part of Balaam may be accounted for by his mind being wholly engrossed with the prospect of gain, which produced "the madness of the prophet." "It was a miracle, wrought to humble his proud heart, which had to be first subjected in the school of an ass before he was brought to attend to the voice of God speaking by the angel." [Calvin.] 34, 35. I Itave sinned ... if it displease thee, I '«vill get me back again—Notwithstanding this confession, he evinced no spirit of penitence, as he speaks of desisting only from the outward act. The words " go with the men" was a mere withdrawal of farther restraint, but the terms in
Jacob ; and therefore, whatever prodigies can be achieved by my cliarms, all magical skill, all human power, is utterly impotent to counteract the decree of God. 9. From the top lit., "a bare place" on the rocks, to which Balak had taken hira, for it was deemed necessary to see the people who were to be devoted to destruction. But that commanding prospect could contribute nothing to the accomplishment of the king's object, for the destiny of Israel was to be a distinct, peculiar people, separated from the rest of the nations in government, religion, customs, and Divine protection. (Deuteronomy 83. 28.) So tliat although
I might be able to gratify your wishes against other people, I can do nothing against them (Exodus 19. 5; Leviticus 20. 24). 10. who can count the dust of Jacob I—An Oriental hyperbole for a very populous nation, as Jacob's posterity was promised to be. (Genesis 13. 16; 28. 14.) the number of the fourth part of Israel i. e., the camp consisted of four divisions; every one of these parts was formidable in numbers, let me die the death of the righteous— JJeb., of Jeshurun; or, the Israelites. The meaning is, they are a people happy, above all others, not only in life, but at death, from their knowledge of the true God, and their hope through His grace. Balaam is a representative of a large class in the world, who express a wish for the blessedness which Christ has promised to His people, but are averse to imitate the mind tliat was in Him. 13-15. Come with me unto anotlter place, from whence thou mayest see them—Surprised and disappointed at this unexpected eulogy on Israel, Balak hoped that, if seen from a different poin\t of observation, the prophet would give utterance to different feelings; and which leave was given are more absolute and peremptory than those in v. 20. 36, 3T. when Balak heard that Balaam %vas come, he went ont to meet him—The higher the rank of the expected guest, politeness requires a greater distance to be gone to welcome his arrival. 38. the Avord that God putteth in my mouth, that sliall I speak—This appears a pious answer. It was an acknowledgment that he was restrained by a superior power. 39. Kirjatli-huzofh — a city of streets. 40. Balak offered oxen and sheep—made preparations for a grand entertainment to Balaam and the princes of Midlan. 41. High places of Baal—eminences consecrated to the worship of Baal-peor (ch. 25. 3), or Chemosh.
.so having made the same solemn preparations, Balaam retired, as before, to wait the Divine afflatus, he brought him Into the field of Zophim . . . top of Pisgali—a flat surface on the summit of the mountain range, wliich was cultivated land. Others render It " the field of sentinels," an eminence where some of Balak's guards were posted to give signals. [Calmet.] 18. Rise np—As Balak was already standing (v. 17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as thej may with aman. 31. He hath not belield iniquity in .Tacob —Many sins were observed and punished in this people. But no such universal and hopeless .apostasy had as yet appeared, to induce God to abandon or destroy them, the Lord Ills God is with l»im—has a favour for them, and the shout of a king is among them—Such joyful acclamations as of a people rejoicing In tlie presence of a victorious prince. 33. He hath as it were the strengtit of an unicorn—t. e., Israel Is not as they were at the Exodus, a horde of poor, feeble, spiritless people, but powerful and Invincible as a recm-A. e., a rhinoceros. (Job 3!). 9; Psalm
CHAPTER XXIII.
Ver. 1-30. Balak'.s Sacrifices. 1. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars—Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honour of Baal, the patron deity of his countr,y. It is evident, from v. 4, that tliey were prepared for the worship of the true God, altliough In choosing tlie high places of Baal as their site, and roaring a number of altars (2 Kings 18.22; Isaiah 17.8; .Jeremiah 11.13; Ilosea 8.11; 10.
22. 21 ; 92. 10.) 33. Surely there is no enchantuteitt against Jacol>—No art can ever prevail against a people who are under the shield of Omnipotence, and for wlioni miracles have been and yet shall be performed, which
1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, he l)londed his own superstitions with the Divine worship. Tlie heathen, both In ancient and modern times, attached a mysterious virtue to the nnmljer xcvcn ; and Balaam, in ordering the preparation of so many altars, designed to myswill be ft theme of admiration in succeeding ages. 30. All that the Lord gpeaketh, tliat I must do—A remarkable confession that he was divinely constrained to give utterances ditferent from what it was his purpose and Inclination to do. 38. Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor—or, Betli-peor (Deuteronomy 3. 29), the eminence oii which a temple of Baal stood, that looketh toward .Teslklmon—the desert tract in the south of ralestine, on both sides of the Dead Sea.
tify and delude the king. 3. Stand hy thy burnt offering—as one In expectation of an Important favour. Perndvcnturc the Tord will come to meet me : and whatsoever he slioweth me—i. e., makes known to me by word or sign, he went to an higli place—apart by himself, where he might practise rites and ceremonies, with a view to obtain a response of the oracle. 4-0. Gotl met Balaam—not in compliance with his Incantations, but to frustrate his wicked designs, and compel him, contrary to his desires and Interests, to pronounce tlie following benediction. 7. took up hi* parable— ^i. c, spoico under the Influence of inspiration, and In the highly poethral, figurative, and oracular st.yle of a prophet, brought me fi-om Aram—This word. Joined with " tlie mountains of tho East," denotes the upper portion of Mesopotamia, l.ying on the east of Moab. 'The East enjo.yod an Infiiinous notoriety for magicians and sooth siiycn's. (Isaiah 2.(1.1 8. How shall I curse whom God hatli not cursed !— .\ Divine blessing has been pronounced over the posterity of
CHAPTER XXIV.
Ver. 1-25. Balaam Foretelleth Israel's Happiness.
1. To seek for—I'.c.toHSC enchantments, lllsexperienco on the two former occasions had taught hlin tliat theso superstitious accompaniments of his worship were useless, and therefore he now slmpl.v looked towards the camp of Israel, either with a secret design to curse tlieni, or to await the Divine alllatus. 3. lie saw Israel abiding in Ills tents according to tlieir tribes—i. in the orderly distribution of the camp (ch. 2). the Spirit of »Jod
Balaam PropJieiieth. NUMBEES XXV, XXVI. Tarael Ifunihered.
came npon him— Before the regular ministry of the prophets was instituted, God made use of various persons as the instruments through whom He revealed his will, Hnd Balaam was one of these. (Deuteronomy 23.5.) 3. The malt whose eyes are open i. e., a seer (1 Samuel 9.
mltted the double ofl Tence of idolatry and licehtlousnesj*. *. Tl»e I.ord said unto Moses, Take all tlie heads of tlie people and hang them up—Israelite criminals, who were capitally punished, were first stoned or slain, and then gibbeted. The persons ordered here for execution were the principal delinquents in the Baal-poor outrage —the subordinate officers, rulers of tens or hundreds, before the Lord—For vindicating the honour of the tru# God. against the sun i. e., as a mark of public ignominy; but they were to be removed towards sunset . (Deuteronomy 21. 23.) 5. Judges of Israel—the seventy elders, who were commanded not only to superintend tlie execution within their respective jurisdictions, but to inflict the punishment with their own hands. (See on 1 Samuel 15.33.) 6, 7. Behold, one of the children of Israel brought a Mldianltlsh woman—This flagitious act most probably occurred about the time when the order was given, and before its execution, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle—some of the rulers and welldisposed persons were deploring the dreadful wickedness of the people, and supplicating the mercy of God to avert impending judgments, the plague—some sudden and widespread mortality. 9. Those that died In the plague were twenty and four thousand—Only 23,000 perished
9), a prophet, to whom tlie visioned future was disclosed— sometimes when falling into a sleep (Genesis 15. 13-15), frequently into "a trance." 5-1. How goodly are thy tents, O Israel !—a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetic."!] strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular range of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel, extended over the subjacent plains. G. As the valley — Heb., broolvs, the water-courses of the mountains, llgn aloes—an aromatic shrub on the banks of his native Euphrates, the conical form of which suggested an apt resemblance to a tent. The redundant imagery of these verses depicts the huml)le origin, rapid progress, and prosperity of Israel. 7. His king shall be higher than Agag—The Amalekites were tlien the most powerful of all the desert tribes, and Agag a title common to their kings. 10-14:. Balak's auger was kiiidleA against Balaam, and he smote his hands together—Tlie " smiting of the hands togetlier"' is, amongst Orienfal people, an indication of the most violent rage (see Kzekiel 21. 17
(1 Corinthians 10. 8) from pestilence. Moses includes those who died by the execution of the judges. 10-13. Phinehas . . . hath turned away my wi-ath—This assurance was a signal mark of honour, that the stain of blood, instead of defiling, confirmed him in office, and that his posterity should continue as long as the national existence of Israel, l*. Zlmrl, a prince among the Slmeonltes—The slaughter of a man of such high laiik Is mentioned as a proof of the undaunted zeal of Phinehas, for there might be numerous avengers of his' blood. 17, Vex the MIdianltes, and smite them—Tliey seem to have been the most guilty parties. (Cf. cli. 22. 4 ; 31. 8.) 18. They vex you with their wiles—Instead of open war, they plot insidious ways of accomplisliing your ruin hy idolatry and corruption, their sister—tlieir countrywoman.
22. 13), and Ignominious dismissal. 15. he took up his parable—or prophecy, uttered in a poetical style. 17. I shall see him—rather, "I do see" or "have seen him,"— prophetic siglit, like that of Abraham. (John 8. 56.) him —t. e., Israel, there shall come a Star ont of aTacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel—This imagery, in the hieroglyphic language of the East, denotes some eminent ruler,—primarily David ; but secondarily and pre-eminently, the Messiali (see on Genesis 49. 10). corners—border, often put for a whole country. (Exodus 8. 2; Psalm
74. 17.) children of Sheth—some prince of Monb; or, according to some, " tlie children of the East." 18. Edom shall be a possession—This prophecy was accomplished by David. (2 Samuel 8. 14.) Selr—seen in tlie south, and poetically used for Edom. The double conquest of Moab and Edom is alluded to. (Psalm 60. 8 ; 108. 9.) 19. Out of •Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion—David, and particularly Christ, that remalneth of the city-those who flee from the field to fortified places. (Psalm 60. 9.) HO. Amalek . . . his latter end shall be that he perish for ever—Their territory was seen at the remote extremity of the desert. (See on Exodus 17. 14; also 1 Samuel 15.) 21. Kenlte . . . nest in a rock—Though securely established among the clefts in the high rocks of En-gedi towards the west, they should be gradually reduced by a succession of enemies, till the Assyrian Invader carried them into captivity. (Judges 1. 16; 4. 11; 16. 17; also 2 Kings 15.29; 17. 6.) 23. Who shall live when <So<l doeth this T—Few shall escape the desolation that shall send a Nebuchadnezzar to scourge all tliose regions, a*. Chlttlm—the countries lying on the Mediterranean, particularly Greece and Italy. (Daniel 11. 29, .30.) The Assyrians were themselves to be overthrown—first, by the Greeks, under Alexander the Great and his successors; secondly, by the Romans. Eber—the posterity of the Hebrews. (Genesis 10. 24.) he also shall perish—i. e., the conqueror of Asher and Eber, namely, the Greek and Roman empires. 25. Balaam rose up, and went to his place—Mesopotamia, to which, however, he did not return. (See on ch. 31. 8.)
CHAPTER XXVI.
Ver. 1-51. Israel Numbered. 1. after the plague That 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 sufl Tered 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