Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
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 connecessary, 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. Por, besides 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 therelS-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 Lrim 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.
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 ol Tering of every Sabbath-There is no previous nii-ntion of a Sabbath Imrnt ollerlng, which was ad<litioiial to the dally sacria'),-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
Total decrease 1,S20
CHAPTER XXVII.
fices, ll-l.'i. Ill tlie beginnings of your months y« slinll otfer up a burnt ofl Tering unto the Lord—Theso were held as sacred festivals; and though not possessing the ch.aracter of solemn feast-s, they were distinguished by the blowing of trumpets over the sacrifices (ch. 10. 10), by the suspension of all labour, except the domestic occupations of women (Amos 8. 5), by the celebratlcm of inibllc worship (2 Kings 4.23), and by social or family feasts.
Ver. 1-11. The DAtJGiiTERS of Zeloivieii.\d Sue for AN Inheritance. 4. Give us a possession among the brethren of our father—Those young women, perceiving that the males only In families had been registered In the census, and that in consequence of none in their household, their family was omitted, made known their grievance to Moses, and the authorities con.jolned with him In administering Justice. The case was important; and as the peculiarity of daughters being the sole mimbers of a tundly would be no unfrequent or uncommon occurrence, the law of Inheritance, under Divine authority, was extended not only.to meet all similar cii-ses, but other ca-ses also—such as when there were nochlldren left by the pro- (1 Samuel 20. .5.) These observations are not prescribed In the law, though they obtalriod in the practice of a later time. The beginning of the month was known, not by a.stronomlcal calculations, but, according to Jewish writers, by the testimony of messengers appointed to watch the first visible appearance of the new m<H>n, anil then the fact was anpounced through the whole country by sIgAil-flres kindled on the mountain tops. The newmoon festivals having been common amongst the heathen. prietor, nn<l no brothers to succeed him, A distribution of the prr)tnlse(l land was about to bo made ; and It Is interc Htlug to know the legal provision made In these comparatively rare cases for preserving a patrimony from being alienated to another tribe. (See on ch. .36. 6, 7.) 3. »>ur fntlier died in the wilderness, antl he wn« not Ui the company of Korah—This declaration might be It Is probable that an Important design of fheir Instltntlon In Israel was toglve the mlndsof that people a beit*T direction; and assuming this to have been one of the