John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
Numbers 1:1
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS
This book has its name from the account it gives of the "numbers" of the children of Israel, twice taken particularly; which name it has with this Greeks and Latins, and so with the Syriac and Arabic versions; but with the Jews it is called sometimes "Vajedabber", from the first word of it, "and the Lord spake"; and sometimes "Bemidbar", from the fifth word of the first verse, "in the wilderness", and sometimes "Sepher Pikkudim"; or, as with Origen {a}, "Ammesph‚kodim", the book of musters or surveys. That it was written by Moses is not to be doubted; and is indeed suggested by our Lord himself, Joh 5:46 compared with Nu 3:14, and the references to it, in the New Testament, fully ascertain to us Christians the authenticity of it, as that of our Lord hinted at, and those of the apostle in 1Co 10:4. It contains an history of the affairs of the Israelites, and of their travel in the wilderness for the space of thirty eight years; though the principal facts it relates were done in the second year of their coming out of Egypt, and in the last of their being in the wilderness; and it is not merely historical, but gives a particular account of several laws, ceremonial and judicial, to be observed by the people of Israel, as well as has many things in it very instructive, both of a moral and evangelical nature.
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 1
In this chapter orders are given to Moses to take the number of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upwards, Nu 1:1; and the men that were to assist in this work, one of each tribe are mentioned by name, Nu 1:4; all which was accordingly done, Nu 1:17; and the particular numbers of each tribe are recorded, as they were taken, Nu 1:20; and the sum total is given, Nu 1:45; the Levites being excepted, who were employed about the tabernacle, and so not to be employed in military service, Nu 1:47; they encamped about that, while the Israelites pitched their tents every man by his own camp and standard, Nu 1:52.
{a} Apud Euseb. Hist. Ecclesiast. l. 6. c. 25.
Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai,.... Which is different from the wilderness of Sin, Ex 16:1; and had its name from the mountain so called, on which God gave the law of the decalogue, and where the Israelites had been encamped eleven months,
Ex 19:1;
in the tabernacle of the congregation; which had now been set up a whole month, and out of which the Lord had delivered to Moses the several laws recorded in the preceding book in that space of time,
Ex 40:17;
on the first [day] of the second month; the month Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan, which answers to part of our April, and part of May, and was the second month of the ecclesiastical year, which began with Abib or Nisan:
in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt; that is, the children of Israel, who had now been a year and half a month out of it:
saying, as follows.
Numbers 1:2
Ver. 2. Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel,.... Excepting the Levites; nor were any account taken of the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with the children of Israel, only of them; and this account was taken, partly to observe the fulfilment of the divine promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his seed, and partly that it might be observed, that at the end of thirty eight years from hence, when they were numbered again, there were but three left of this large number, their carcasses falling in the wilderness because of their sins; and chiefly, as Aben Ezra observes, this sum was now taken to fix their standards, and for their better and more orderly journeying and encampment; for on the twentieth of this month they set forward on their journey from hence,
Nu 10:11; the word for the order is in the plural number, take ye, being given both to Moses and Aaron, who were to take the number, and did, Nu 1:3;
after their families; into which their tribes were divided:
by the house of their fathers; for if the mother was of one tribe, and the father of another, the family was according to the tribe of the father, as Jarchi notes, a mother's family being never called a family, as Aben Ezra observes:
with the number of [their] names; of every particular person, whose name was inserted in a list or register:
every male by their poll; or head {b}; for none but males were numbered: the Lord's spiritual Israel are a numbered people, written in the book of life, placed into the hand of Christ, and exactly known by him, even by name; yea, all that belong to him are numbered, and the very airs of their heads,
{b} Mtlglgl "per capita sua", Pagninus, &c,
Numbers 1:3
Ver. 3. From twenty years old and upwards,.... All that had entered into their twentieth year, or, as it should rather seem, who were full twenty years of age, and all that were above it without any limitation; though some limit it to fifty, and others to sixty years, when men may be reasonably excused going to war; for to know who were fit for it seems to be a principal design of this order, as follows:
all that are able to go forth to war in Israel; who being about to journey, might expect to meet with enemies, with whom they would be obliged to engage in battle; and therefore it was proper to know their strength, and whom to call out upon occasion: Aben Ezra observes, that the phrase "in Israel" excepts the mixed multitude; those were not of Israel, and so not numbered, and perhaps not to be trusted or depended upon in war; nor were they mustered and marshalled by the standards of the several tribes; in a mystical sense, those numbered may signify the valiant of Israel, the same as the young men in 1Jo 2:14; see So 3:7;
thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies; each tribe making a considerable army, See Gill on "Ex 7:4"; these people were now typical of the church of God in its militant state in the wilderness, for which they are provided, and prepared, and accoutred.
Numbers 1:4
Ver. 4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe,.... Excepting Levi, of which Moses and Aaron were, to assist in taking the account, and to see that it was an exact and perfect one:
everyone head of the house of his fathers; and prince of the tribe he belonged to, as appears from Nu 1:16 and Nu 7:2, where an account is given of the same persons as princes of the tribes that offered at the dedication of the altar, who here assisted in the taking this account; the Targum of Jonathan calls them each a prince, as Prince Elizur, &c.
Numbers 1:5
Ver. 5. And these [are] the names of the men that shall stand with you,.... Be present with Moses and Aaron when numbering the people; not merely as spectators of the affair, and inspectors of the accounts, but as assistants in the work; each man in his tribe, being best acquainted with the families and houses in it; and these men were not pitched upon by Moses and Aaron, nor chosen by their respective tribes, but were appointed and named by the Lord himself, which was doing them great honour:
of [the tribe] of Reuben: or "for Reuben" {c}, for the taking the number of men in this tribe; and so of all the rest, see Nu 1:44;
Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Nu 1:5 the names of those several men are given, which were very proper for Moses and Aaron to know, though of little importance to us; nor the signification of their several names, given by Ainsworth and others; only, as Bishop Patrick observes, most of them show how much God was in the thoughts of those who, imposed these names on their children, several of them having in them "El" or "Eli", "God" or "my God", and "Shaddai", "Almighty" or "all-sufficient": to which may be added, that in some of them they seem to respect the Messiah, as Elizur, signifying "my God the rock"; and Shelumiel may be rendered, "God my peace"; and Zurishaddai, "my rock the Almighty", or "all-sufficient"; and Pedazhur, "the rock redeemeth": nor is there anything of any moment to be remarked, unless the order in which the several tribes are placed; and first the children of Leah, beginning with Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered, and besides, Moses and Aaron were of it; and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids; and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit with their encampments, and the form of them.
{c} Nbwarl "pro Ruben", Samar. vers. "ipsi Reuben", Montanus.
Numbers 1:6
Ver. 6. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:7
Ver. 7. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:8
Ver. 8. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:9
Ver. 9. Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:10
Ver. 10. Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:11
Ver. 11. Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:12
Ver. 12. Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:13
Ver. 13. Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:14
Ver. 14. Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:15
Ver. 15. Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. See Gill on "Nu 1:5".
Numbers 1:16
Ver. 16. These [were] the renowned of the congregation,.... The most famous and eminent among the people, for their birth and pedigree, or for their excellent qualities of wisdom, courage, and the like; or "the called of the congregation" {d}, whom God had called by name and selected from the rest of the congregation to the above service, whereby great honour was done them: Aben Ezra says, the sense is, that the congregation did nothing until they had called them; with which agrees the note of Jarchi,
"who were called to every business of importance in the congregation:''
princes of the tribes of their fathers; as Elizur was prince of the children of Reuben, Nu 7:30; the same is there said of the rest in their respective tribes:
heads of thousands in Israel; the congregation of Israel being divided into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, by the advice of Jethro,
Ex 18:21; each of these divisions had a ruler over them, and thousands being the highest number, these princes were chiliarchs, rulers or heads of thousands.
{d} hdeh yayrq "convocati coetus", Montanus, Drusius; "convocati e coetu", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Numbers 1:17
Ver. 17. And Moses and Aaron took these men,.... They doubtless sent for them, and acquainted them with the nomination of them, by the Lord himself, for such a service; and they took them with them to the place where the number of the people was to be taken:
which are expressed by [their] names: in Nu 1:16, and that as declared by the mouth of God himself.
Numbers 1:18
Ver. 18. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first [day] of the second month,.... The month Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan, answering to part of April and May: this was done on the selfsame day the Lord spake unto Moses about this affair, Nu 1:1; so expeditious were he and Aaron in doing the will of God:
and they declared their pedigrees; either Moses and Aaron, according to Aben Ezra, who inquired when they were born, because of the computation of twenty years; and then their birth was wrote down, as he says; or rather the people declared their pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, who their parents, when born, and so, of course, how old they were; Jarchi interprets it, they brought the books of their genealogies, and witnesses to confirm the birth of everyone of them, to show their genealogy according to their tribe; nor is it at all unlikely that every family and house, or master thereof, kept a register of those born to him in it, whereby their age could be ascertained as well as pedigree:
after their famines, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and upwards, by their poll: that is, every tribe gave an account of the families in it, every family what houses were in it, and every house what number of males were in it, and of what age; and such were numbered who were twenty years old and upward.
Numbers 1:19
Ver. 19. As the Lord commanded Moses,.... In this Moses and David differed in numbering the people of Israel; the one did it by an express command from God, and in obedience to it; the other without one, and against his will, 1Ch 21:17;
so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai; where they now were when this order was given, Nu 1:1; and from whence they removed the twentieth day of this month, Nu 10:11; so that in less than three weeks time, perhaps much sooner, this affair was finished; and it may be, that the place of numbering them at this time is expressly observed, to distinguish it from another numbering of them, recorded in this book, which was done in the plains of Moab, Nu 26:2.
Numbers 1:20
Ver. 20. And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son,.... Were numbered first, and next to them those of Simeon and Gad, for they were numbered according to the order in which they were to be encamped; for under Reuben's standard were Simeon and Gad, and under Judah's Issachar and Zebulun, and under Ephraim's Manasseh and Benjamin, and under Dan's Asher and Naphtali; and according to their order were the tribes numbered:
by their generations: or "their generations", the birth, descent, and pedigree of them:
after their families, by the house of their fathers: according to the families and houses to which they belonged;
according to the number of the names by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward; their names were taken down, the number of them counted by their heads, even all the males that were above twenty years of age:
all that were able to go forth to war; which phrase, as it suggests that before this age they were not reckoned able bodied men for war, in common, though some might; so it seems to except all infirm persons, by reason of age and otherwise: now in all the other account of the numbering of the rest of the tribes, the same forms of expression are used as here, only the tribe of Simeon, which is the next, these words are left out, "by their polls, every male", which being twice observed, need not be repeated, since by these instances it might be sufficiently known that the number was taken by a poll, and only of males; so that in Nu 1:23, there is nothing material to observe, or anything different from what is in this verse, but the particular sums of each tribe numbered, which stand thus: of the tribe of Reuben 46,500; of the tribe of Simeon, 59,300; of the tribe of Gad, 45,650; of the tribe of Judah, 74,600; of the tribe of Issachar, 54,400; of the tribe of Zebulun, 57,400; of the tribe of Ephraim, 40,500; of the tribe of Manasseh, 32,200; of the tribe of Benjamin 35,400; of the tribe of Dan, 62,700; of the tribe of Asher 41,500; of the tribe of Naphtali, 53,400; in which may be observed the various increase of the tribes, agreeably to divine predictions, and according to the sovereign will and infinite wisdom of God: Reuben, the firstborn, did not excel in number, six of the tribes having more in number than he: Judah had by far the greatest increase of them all, from whom the chief ruler was to come, and even the King Messiah; and in process of time was to become a kingdom of itself; Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, was much more fruitful than Manasseh, his elder, more than eight thousand being numbered of the former than of the latter, all which agree with Jacob's prophecies,
Ge 49:4; nor had they always the greatest number who had the most sons at their going down into Egypt; for though Simeon, who had then more sons than Reuben, had at this time a larger posterity; yet Gad, who had more than Simeon, had now fewer descendants; and Dan, who had but one son at that time, had now almost double the number of Benjamin, who then had ten sons: and it may be observed of other tribes, that their increase was not in proportion to the number of the sons of the patriarchs then; see Ge 46:8.
Numbers 1:21
Ver. 21. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Reuben, [were] forty and six thousand and five hundred. 46,500 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:22
Ver. 22. Of the children of Simeon, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:23
Ver. 23. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Simeon, [were] fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 59,300 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:24
Ver. 24. Of the children of Gad, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:25
Ver. 25. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Gad,
[were] forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty. 45,650 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:26
Ver. 26. Of the children of Judah, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:27
Ver. 27. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Judah, [were] threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 74,600 men. See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:28
Ver. 28. Of the children of Issachar, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:29
Ver. 29. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Issachar, [were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 54,400 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:30
Ver. 30. Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:31
Ver. 31. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Zebulun, [were] fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 57,400 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:32
Ver. 32. Of the children of Joseph, [namely], of the children of Ephraim, by their generations,.... See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:33
Ver. 33. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Ephraim, [were] forty thousand and five hundred. 40,500 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:34
Ver. 34. Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:35
Ver. 35. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Manasseh, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 32,200 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:36
Ver. 36. Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:37
Ver. 37. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Benjamin, [were] thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 35,400 men. See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:38
Ver. 38. Of the children of Dan, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:39
Ver. 39. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Dan,
[were] threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 62,700 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:40
Ver. 40. Of the children of Asher, by their generations,....
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:41
Ver. 41. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Asher, [were] forty and one thousand and five hundred. 41,500 men.
See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:42
Ver. 42. Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations,.... See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:43
Ver. 43. Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Naphtali, [were] fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 53,400 men. See Gill on "Nu 1:20".
Numbers 1:44
Ver. 44. These [are] those that were numbered,.... Or, as the Targum of Jonathan, these are the sums of the numbers; namely, those before given of the several respective tribes:
which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, [being] twelve men; for though the tribe of Levi was not numbered, yet Joseph having a double portion, his two sons are reckoned as distinct tribes; so that one out of each tribe made up the number twelve:
each one for the house of his fathers; for the tribe he belonged to, with which it might reasonably be supposed he was best acquainted, and could more readily take the number of them.
Numbers 1:45
Ver. 45. So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel,.... Of all the tribes, excepting Levi, that is, all the sums of the number of the children of Israel; all put together made the sum total given in the next verse:
by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; all in every tribe, family, and house, that were above twenty years of age, healthful and strong, and fit for war.
Numbers 1:46
Ver. 46. Even all they that were numbered,.... Of whom an account was taken, and their names set down in a book or register: were 603,550; which was exactly the number of them, when taken about seven months before this, when they were assessed for defraying the expenses of the tabernacle, Ex 38:26; so that it should seem not one person had died during that time; for though there were three that died a violent death in that compass of time, yet two of them were of the tribe of Levi, not now numbered; and the other was not an Israelite by the father's side; see Le 10:1; but it is not very probable, among such a vast number of people, that not one above twenty years of age should die in that time: some therefore are of opinion, that the tribe of Levi was numbered before, though not now; and that there was such an increase in that time among the other tribes as to equal the number of males of twenty years and upwards, in that tribe taken into the service of God, by which they were no losers.
Numbers 1:47
Ver. 47. But the Levites,.... The tribe of Levi were excepted from this muster, they being employed in a kind of warfare, and therefore not to be engaged in another:
after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them: the rest of the tribes; the reason follows.
Numbers 1:48
Ver. 48. For the Lord had spoken unto Moses,.... Not to number the Levites, when he gave him the orders to number the rest of the tribes: this is observed, lest it should be thought that this was what Moses did of himself, out of affection to the tribe he was of, and to spare it, that it might not be obliged to go forth to war when others did; not that they were forbid to engage in war, or that it was unlawful for them so to do, for when necessity required, and they were of themselves willing to engage in it, they might, as appears in the case of the Maccabees, but they might not be forced into it; they were, as Josephus {e} says, exempted from it; and so all concerned in religious service, both among Heathens and Christians, have always been excused bearing arms:
saying; as follows.
{e} Antiqu. l. 3. c. 12. sect. 4.
Numbers 1:49
Ver. 49. Only thou shall not number the tribe of Levi,.... That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, Nu 3:43;
neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel; which confirms what is before observed: now this being the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it.
Numbers 1:50
Ver. 50. But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony,.... So called from the ark in it, in which was the law of God, which was a testimony of the will of God to his people:
and over all the vessels thereof; the candlestick, table: and altars, as Aben Ezra notes:
and over all things that [belong] to it; the vessels of vessels, as the same writer calls them; for the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars of incense and burnt offering had vessels appertaining to them:
they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; carry them from place to place when needful:
and they shall minister unto it; by taking care of the instruments of it and the vessels in it, but not by doing any part of the priestly office in it, as offering sacrifice, burning incense, and the like:
and shall encamp round about the tabernacle; they were a sort of camp or army of themselves, and their station was around the tabernacle, which was a kind of royal palace to God the King of kings; so that as they were the king's legion, and to be numbered alone, as Jarchi observes, in Nu 1:49, so they were a guard about his palace, and were placed between that and the camp of Israel.
Numbers 1:51
Ver. 51. And when the tabernacle setteth forward,.... Or was about to set forward; that is, the congregation were about to journey, and take the tabernacle with them, as they always did, when and wherever they journeyed:
the Levites shall take it down; unpin it, take the boards and pillars out of their sockets, and the bars out of their places, and the whole into pieces, in order to be put into wagons prepared to carry them, of which mention is made in a following chapter;
and when the tabernacle is pitched, the Levites shall set it up; at whatsoever place the congregation encamped and took up their abode for any time: the tabernacle was pitched in the manner as tents are, when the Levites put the several parts together, laid the sockets, put in the boards and the bars, and also the pillars of the court and elsewhere, and hung the hangings upon them; and set the candlestick, tables, altars, ark, and all the vessels of the sanctuary in their proper places:
and the stranger that cometh nigh; to meddle with or touch the above things, to assist in taking down or setting up the tabernacle, or bearing any of the vessels of it: by a stranger is meant, not one of another nation, nor a proselyte, whether of the gate or of righteousness; but, as Aben Ezra interprets it, one that is a stranger from the sons of Levi, who is not of that tribe, even though an Israelite:
shall be put to death; either the sanhedrim or court of judicature shall condemn and put him to death, as the same writer observes; or he shall die by the hand of heaven, as Jarchi; that is, by the immediate hand of God, or with flaming fire from before the Lord, as the Targum of Jonathan; as Uzzah was smote, and died by the ark of God for touching it, 2Sa 5:6.
Numbers 1:52
Ver. 52. And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp,.... There were four, unless every tribe was a camp, and so then there were twelve camps, besides the camp of the Levites: the Targum of Jonathan is,
"by the house of his troop,''
the regiment to which he belonged, every tribe or camp having various troops or regiments in it:
and every man by his own standard throughout their hosts; there were four standards, and three tribes to each standard, which were placed east, west, north, and south of the tabernacle, as is at large described in the following chapter.
Numbers 1:53
Ver. 53. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony,.... Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the four living creatures round the throne, Re 4:6; where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites:
that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel; that is, from the Lord, should any of them approach too near, or meddle with and touch what they had nothing to do with, or go where they should not; such wrath as came upon Uzzah for his error and transgression before observed:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony; the several things in it committed to their charge; see Nu 3:8.
Numbers 1:54
Ver. 54. And the children of Israel did according to all the Lord commanded Moses,.... Pitched their tents by their own camps and standards; did not come near the tabernacle but kept at a proper distance from it, and did not meddle with things they had no concern, with, and which were peculiar to the Levites:
so they did; which is repeated to show how readily, punctually, and perfectly they observed the command of God with respect to this affair.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
Numbers 2:1
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 2
This chapter contains the order of the encampment and march of the tribes of Israel in their proper places about the tabernacle; the general direction for the same is in Nu 1:1; the particulars follow; on the cast of the tabernacle the camp of Judah was to pitch, and under his standard the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, Nu 1:3; on the south side of it the camp of Reuben, and under his standard the tribes of Simeon and Gad, Nu 1:10; then the tabernacle, with the camp of the Levites round it, were next, to stand or set forward, Nu 1:17; and on the west side the camp of Ephraim, and under his standard the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, Nu 1:18; and on the north side the camp of Dan, and under his standard the tribes of Asher and Naphtali, Nu 1:25; the sum total of the numbers of which camps are given, exclusive of the camp of Levi, Nu 1:32; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that all was done according to the commandment of God, Nu 1:34.
Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,.... Very probably after the number of the children of Israel was taken, of which in the preceding chapter, and when the congregation of Israel with the tabernacle were about to set forward on their journey; and therefore directions are here given for their orderly and regular proceeding in it, in what form and manner they should both encamp and march;
saying: as follows.
Numbers 2:2
Ver. 2. Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard,.... Or banner, of which there were four, as appears from the following account, under each of which were placed three tribes; and so every man of each tribe was to pitch his tent in the tribe he belonged to, and by the standard under which his tribe was marshalled, and in the rank that he was placed:
with the ensigns of their father's house; which were either lesser standards or banners, somewhat different from the great standard or banner, which belonged to the camp consisting of three tribes, and which were peculiar to their several families and houses, and distinguished one from another, like flags in different regiments; or these were signs {f}, as the word may be rendered, or marks in the standards or banners, which, distinguished one from another; so the Targum of Jonathan, the signs which were marked in their standards: but what they were is not easy to say; Aben Ezra observes, and Abendana from him, that their ancients were used to say, that there was in the standard of Reuben the form of a man, on account of the mandrakes,
Ge 30:14; and in the standard of Judah the form of a lion, because Jacob compared him to one, Ge 49:9; and in the standard of Ephraim the form of an ox, from the sense of those words, the firstling of his bullock, De 33:17; and in the standard of Dan the form of an eagle, so that they might be like the cherubim the prophet Ezekiel saw, Eze 1:10, which is not very likely, such images and representations not being very agreeable, yea, even detestable to the people of the Jews in later times, and can hardly be thought to be in use with their early ancestors: others, as Jarchi, fancy that those standards were distinguished by their colours, as our flags or ensigns are; which, if they stopped here, would not be much amiss, but they go on and say, that each was according to the colour of his stone fixed in the breastplate, so that there were three colours in every flag or standard; thus, for instance, in the standard of Judah, which is the first, were the colours of the three precious stones, on which were the names of Judah, Issachar, and Reuben, namely, the emerald, sapphire, and diamond; and so in the rest of the standards; but others say, the letters of the names of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, differently disposed of, were on those standards; but rather, one would think, the names of the three tribes under every standard were embroidered on them, which would sufficiently distinguish one from another, and direct where tribe was to pitch; but of those things there is no certainty:
far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch: a mile from it, according to Jarchi, or two thousand cubits, which is supposed to be a sabbath day's journey, Ac 1:12; and this distance is gathered from Jos 3:4, and is not improbable.
{f} ttab "in signis", Pagninus, Montanus; "sub signis", Tigurine version; "cum signis", Junius & Tremellius, Drusius; "apud signa", Piscator.
Numbers 2:3
Ver. 3. And on the east side, towards the rising of the sun,.... Which rises in the east; or of all; for, as Jarchi observes, that which is "before" is called "Kedem", the east, as the west is called "behind":
shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch, throughout their armies; the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, formed one camp, which had its name from the principal tribe Judah; and this was divided into various regiments and companies, called armies, who severally pitched under one and the same standard. It is said {g} Judah's stone was the "nophech" (which we render an emerald), and his flag was coloured in the likeness of the colour of the heavens, and there was formed upon it a lion. Issachar's was the sapphire, and his flag was coloured black, like to black lead, and there were framed upon it the sun and moon, on account of what is said, 1Ch 12:32. Zebulun's was a diamond, and his flag was coloured white, and there was formed upon it a ship, because of what is said, Ge 49:13;
and Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, [shall be] captain of the children of Judah; who had been assisting in numbering the people, and who afterwards offered to the dedication of the altar, Nu 1:2.
{g} Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.
Numbers 2:4
Ver. 4. And his host, and those that were numbered of them,.... As they had been before; and, supposing these words to be the words of God, there is no necessity of rendering them in the future, as some have observed; though they seem rather to be the words of Moses, who under every tribe repeats the number, which is exactly the same as when taken; and though it was not till twenty days after that they set forward according to their order of encampment, not one of them died, which Aben Ezra observes as a very wonderful thing;
[were] threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred; the number of the tribe of Judah were 74,600; see Nu 1:27.
Numbers 2:5
Ver. 5. And those that do pitch next unto him [shall be] the tribe of Issachar,.... Who with Zebulun, after mentioned, as placed with him under the same standard, were the brethren of Judah, by the same mother Leah, and so fitly put together, as most likely to continue in harmony and love; and being the youngest sons of Leah, and brethren of Judah, would, without any reluctance or murmuring, pitch under their elder brother's standard:
and Nethaneel, the son of Zuar, [shall be] captain of the children of Issachar; see Nu 1:8.
Numbers 2:6
Ver. 6. And his host,.... The host of Issachar;
and those that were numbered thereof, [were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 54,400 men. Which had been numbered, for it does not appear that there was a fresh account taken; see Nu 1:29.
Numbers 2:7
Ver. 7. [Then] the tribe of Zebulun,.... He pitched next; though the order of their encampment was not, as it may seem, first Judah, after him Issachar, and below him Zebulun; for Judah lay between these two, the one before him, and the other behind him; and it was Issachar that was behind, and Zebulun before, as Aben Ezra observes; they were pitched on each side of the standard of Judah, one on one side, and the other on the other side:
and Eliab, the son of Helon, [shall be], captain of the children of Zebulun; see Nu 1:9; each tribe had its own captain; nor does it appear that there was a general over those captains, that had the command of the camp, consisting of three tribes, but Moses was the generalissimo of all the camps.
Numbers 2:8
Ver. 8. And his host,.... That is, the host of Zebulun;
and those that were numbered thereof, [were] fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 57,400 men; see Nu 1:31.
Numbers 2:9
Ver. 9. All that were numbered in the camp of Judah [were] an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred,
throughout their armies,.... 186,400 men. The sum total of the three tribes, which formed that camp: this was the largest camp of them all, being near 30,000 more than Dan's, Nu 2:31, which was the next in number unto it, and therefore placed foremost, and as the vanguard to the tabernacle:
these shall first set forth; in a march, when about to journey; when they saw the cloud remove, the priests blew with the trumpets, and then the camp of Judah moved first, as Jarchi observes, and when they went out to fight, Judah went up first, Jud 1:1.
Numbers 2:10
Ver. 10. On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies,.... This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which was divided into lesser bodies, regiments, or companies, called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle, or to the right hand, as Aben Ezra interprets it; this was the right wing of the whole army. Reuben's stone, according to the Jewish writers {h}, was the "sardius", and his flag was coloured red, and there were figured upon it mandrakes. Simeon's stone was the topaz, and his flag was coloured green, and on it was figured "shechem". Gad's stone was the agate, and his flag was coloured neither black nor white, but mixed, and there was figured upon it a camp or host, on account of what is said, Ge 49:19;
and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur; see Nu 1:5.
{h} Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.
Numbers 2:11
Ver. 11. And his host,.... That is, the host of Reuben, as distinct from his camp, of which it was only a part, and of which Elizur was captain;
and those that were numbered thereof, [were] forty and six thousand and five hundred. 46,500 men; see Nu 1:21.
Numbers 2:12
Ver. 12. And those which pitch by him [shall be] the tribe of Simeon,.... Under his standard, and on one side of it; Reuben and Simeon being brothers by the mother as well as the father's side, might well be thought to agree together; and Reuben being the eldest brother, and the eldest of all Jacob's sons, Simeon would not grudge to pitch under him:
and the captain of the children of Simeon [shall be] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; of whom see Nu 1:6.
Numbers 2:13
Ver. 13. And his host,.... That is, the host of Simeon:
and those that were numbered of them, [were] fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 59,300 men; the same as in Nu 1:23.
Numbers 2:14
Ver. 14. Then the tribe of Gad,.... Who was placed on the other side of Reuben's standard, and according to the former direction he must be before, and Simeon behind; and Gad being the eldest son of Leah's handmaid Zilpah, is fitly placed under Leah's firstborn, and being the son of an handmaid, could not object to his situation:
and the captain of the sons of Gad [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Reuel: who is called Deuel, Nu 1:14. The letters r, "resh", and d, "daleth", being similar, are sometimes put one for the other, of which there are other instances, as in Ge 10:3, compared with 1Ch 1:6.
Numbers 2:15
Ver. 15. And his host,.... That is, the host of Gad, as distinct from those of Reuben and Simeon, which together formed the camp;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 45,650 men; see Nu 1:25.
Numbers 2:16
Ver. 16. And all that were numbered in the camp of Reuben [were] an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty,
throughout their armies,.... 151,450 men. Putting Reuben's host, and the hosts of Simeon and Gad together, Nu 2:13, which was much lesser than the preceding camp, being 34,500 fewer in number:
and they shall set forth in the second rank: they in journeying moving next to the camp of Judah, and before the tabernacle; for though, while encamped, the camp of Reuben lay on the south, or right side of it, yet, when marching, went before it.
Numbers 2:17
Ver. 17. Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites,.... Which reached four miles, according to the Targum of Jonathan, as did Judah's. Levi's stone, as the Jews say {i}, was the carbuncle, and his flag was coloured, a third part white, and a third part black, and a third part red, and on it were formed Urim and Thummim:
in the midst of the camp; or "camps" {k}; between the camps of Judah and Reuben, before mentioned, and those of Ephraim and Dan, which are after spoken of: the order in which they moved was this, as Aben Ezra observes; the Gershonites and Merarites marched between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben; and the Kohathites marched, and with them Aaron and his sons, between the standard of Reuben and the standard of Ephraim:
as they encamp, so shall they set forward; this is to be understood, according to Aben Ezra, not of the camp of Levi, since the standard of Judah was to the east, and the Gershonites, which were to the west of the sanctuary, and the Merarites in the north, set forward together; but of the camps of Israel, which set forward, not as they were encamped about the tabernacle, for those that were encamped on the side of it, in marching went before and behind, but as they were encamped with respect to themselves; first marched the standard of Judah, then that of Reuben, which went before, and then those of Ephraim and Dan, which followed; and besides, as each camp was pitched, so it moved; as the camp of Judah, his host marched between those of Issachar and Zebulun, and the same order the rest observed:
every man in his place by their standards, as every individual person in the several tribes were ranked under their respective banners, so they marched.
{i} Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. {k} hnxmh Kwtb "in medio castrorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version; so Ainsworth; "in medio reliquorum castrorum", Junius & Tremellius.
Numbers 2:18
Ver. 18. On the west side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Ephraim, according to their armies,.... It was in the rear or behind, consisting of his tribe, and of the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, divided into several companies, and extended four miles, as the above Targum. The Jewish writers say {l}, that Joseph's stone is the onyx or sardonyx, and his flag was coloured very black, and on it were figured for the two princes, Ephraim and Manasseh, Egypt, because they were born in Egypt; and upon the flag of Ephraim was figured an ox, because of what is said in De 33:17; and on the flag of the tribe of Manasseh was figured an unicorn, because of what is said in the same place. Benjamin's stone was the jasper, and his flag was coloured like to twelve colours, and on it was figured a wolf, because of what is said
Ge 49:27;
and the captain of the sons of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama the son of Ammihud; of whom see Nu 1:10.
{l} Bemidbar Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.)
Numbers 2:19
Ver. 19. And his host,.... That is, the host of Ephraim;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty thousand and five hundred. 40,500 men. Not his camp, but his host, or the army, which consisted only of his own tribe see Nu 1:33.
Numbers 2:20
Ver. 20. And by him [shall be] the tribe of Manasseh,.... Who though the elder brother to Ephraim, yet Ephraim was preferred to him, and had a standard given him, and his elder brother was directed to pitch by it; and this being agreeably to the prophecy of Jacob, could not well be objected to; and Benjamin, the younger brother of Joseph, being placed under the standard of a son of his, that stood in his father's room, could not be offended; and these all being the descendants of Rachel, might well be thought to agree together, and be very well pleased with their situation:
and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; the same as in Nu 1:10.
Numbers 2:21
Ver. 21. And his host,.... That is, the host of Manasseh;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 32,200 men; see Nu 1:35.
Numbers 2:22
Ver. 22. Then the tribe of Benjamin,.... He was to pitch under the same standard of Ephraim, and the other side of it from that of Manasseh; the one being before, and the other behind, and the standard in the middle; See Gill on "Nu 2:7";
and the captains of the sons of Benjamin [shall be] Abidan the son of Gideoni; of whom see Nu 1:11.
Numbers 2:23
Ver. 23. And his host, &c. That is, the host of Benjamin;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 35,400 men. The least number of all the tribes, excepting the tribe of Manasseh, Nu 2:21; see Nu 1:37.
Numbers 2:24
Ver. 24. All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim [were] an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies,.... 108,100 men. Which was the smallest of all the camps, and near eighty thousand fewer than the camp of Judah, Nu 2:9:
and they shall go forward in the third rank; and which was the first following the tabernacle.
Numbers 2:25
Ver. 25. The standard of the camp of Dan [shall be] on the north side by their armies,.... To the left of the tabernacle as encamped, and so was the left wing of the grand army; it consisted of the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, in which were several divisions and companies, whose camp also the Targum of Jonathan says reached four miles. According to the Jewish writers {m}, Dan's stone was the "ligure", and his flag was coloured like to a sapphire, and there was figured upon it a serpent, on account of what is said Ge 49:17; Asher's stone was the "tarshish" or beryl, and his flag was coloured like to a precious stone, with which women adorn themselves, and on it was figured an olive tree, on account of what is said Ge 49:20. Naphtali's stone was the amethyst, and his flag was coloured like to clear wine, whose redness is not strong, and on it was figured an hind, on account of what is said of him Ge 49:21:
and the captain of the children of Dan [shall be] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; who made mention of in Nu 1:10.
{m} Bemidbar Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.)
Numbers 2:26
Ver. 26. And his host,.... That is, the host of Dan;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 62,700 men, which agrees with the account of this tribe in Nu 1:39.
Numbers 2:27
Ver. 27. And those that encamp by him [shall be] the tribe of Asher,.... Dan had a standard given him, though the son of an handmaid, being the firstborn of the sons of the handmaids, and his tribe being a warlike tribe, and very numerous; and Asher and Naphtali are placed by him, being the sons of handmaids also, and could not but contentedly pitch by him, who was the eldest of the sons of the handmaids Naphtali being his younger brother by mother's as well as father's side, and Asher the second son of Zilpah, Leah's maid:
and the captain of the children of Asher [shall be] Pagiel the son of Ocran; the same as in Nu 1:13.
Numbers 2:28
Ver. 28. And his host,.... That is, the host of Asher;
and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty and one thousand and five hundred. 41,500 men; as they were numbered Nu 1:41.
Numbers 2:29
Ver. 29. Then the tribe of Naphtali,.... That was to pitch by the same standard of Dan, on the other side of it:
and the captain of the children of Naphtali [shall be] Ahira the son of Enan; who is mentioned Nu 1:15.
Numbers 2:30
Ver. 30. And his host,.... That is, the host of Naphtali;
and those that were numbered of them; not that some part of the tribe of Naphtali was numbered, which made up the host Ahira was captain of, but the whole of it, who were all numbered that were of twenty years of age and upwards; and the same is to be observed in all the above places, where this phrase is used;
[were] fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 53,400 men; see Nu 1:43.
Numbers 2:31
Ver. 31. All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan [were] an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred,.... 157,600 men. Consisting of his own tribe, and those of Asher and Naphtali, which make the largest camp next to Judah:
they shall go hindmost with their standards; for though, while encamped, they lay to the north, or the left side of the tabernacle, yet, when marching, they brought up the rear, and were the rear guard to the tabernacle; so that it had in its van and rear the two largest camps, which were wisely ordered for its safety: "standards" is put for "standard", the plural for the singular; for there was but one standard to a camp, unless this takes in their ensigns, of which they had many.
Numbers 2:32
Ver. 32. These [are] those that were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers,.... As the number was taken by Moses and Aaron, assisted by twelve princes of the tribe, who were now constituted captains over them, as so many hosts or armies:
all those that were numbered of the camp throughout their hosts: of the four camps, of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan, throughout the respective tribes or hosts that belonged to each of them,
[were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty; 603,550 men, which is exactly the sum total of them, as taken Nu 1:46. It is a large number, considering in how short a time, and that great part of it a state of bondage, from seventy persons, they rose unto it; but the spiritual Israel of God, consisting of his people of all nations, is a number which no man can number, Re 7:9; besides, the number of the sealed ones, of every tribe, Nu 2:4; Now this encampment of the people of Israel was an emblem of the form and order of the spiritual Israel or church of God, under the Gospel dispensation. Christ in human nature is the tabernacle, who is in the midst of his people by his gracious presence; as the heart and life of the congregation of his saints, in whom they all centre and terminate, and where he sits enthroned as King of saints; and as the Levites encamped in four squadrons next unto the tabernacle, all around it, to these answer the living creatures in Eze 1:5; which design the ministers of the word, who are in the highest place in the church, between Christ and the congregation, and are near to him, to be supplied by him; then encamped the whole body of the people of Israel by their standards, with their ensigns, to whom answer the wheels in Eze 1:15; and the twenty four elders in Re 4:4; all which show the church to be militant, and that there is an order in Gospel churches, which makes them both comely and terrible, So 6:4; and may teach every member to abide by his standard, and follow his ensign and ensign bearer, Isa 11:10.
Numbers 2:33
Ver. 33. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel,.... At this time, not among the Israelites, but by themselves, they being a camp of themselves:
as the Lord commanded Moses; Nu 1:48.
Numbers 2:34
Ver. 34. And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses,.... Formed themselves into camps, so many tribes to a camp, and over each tribe or host appointed a captain, and erected a standard to each camp, by which they pitched as directed, which is next particularly observed:
so they pitched by their standards; every tribe, and every person in the tribe, as they were ranked, pitched by the standard to which they belonged:
and so they set forward, after their families according to the house of their fathers; the camps, and the tribes in them the families in those tribes, and the houses or lesser families under them, when they marched, proceeded in this regular order, as they did on the twentieth of this month; see Nu 10:11.