mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 26.xml

<div2 id="Num.xxvii" n="xxvii" next="Num.xxviii" prev="Num.xxvi" progress="77.89%" title="Chapter XXVI">
<h2 id="Num.xxvii-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.xxvii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.xxvii-p1">This book is called Numbers, from the numberings
of the children of Israel, of which it gives an account. Once they
were numbered at Mount Sinai, in the first year after they came out
of Egypt, which we had an account of, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1-Num.2.34" parsed="|Num|1|1|2|34" passage="Nu 1:1-2:34"><i>ch.</i> i. and ii.</scripRef>. And now a second
time they were numbered in the plains of Moab, just before they
entered Canaan, and of this we have an account in this chapter. We
have, I. Orders given for the doing of it, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.1-Num.26.4" parsed="|Num|26|1|26|4" passage="Nu 26:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II. A register of the families and
numbers of each tribe (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.5-Num.26.50" parsed="|Num|26|5|26|50" passage="Nu 26:5-50">ver.
5-50</scripRef>), and the sum total, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.51" parsed="|Num|26|51|0|0" passage="Nu 26:51">ver. 51</scripRef>. III. Direction given to divide the
land among them, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.52-Num.26.56" parsed="|Num|26|52|26|56" passage="Nu 26:52-56">ver.
52-56</scripRef>. IV. The families and numbers of the Levites by
themselves, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.57-Num.26.62" parsed="|Num|26|57|26|62" passage="Nu 26:57-62">ver. 57-62</scripRef>.
V. Notice taken of the fulfilling of the threatening in the death
of all those that were first numbered, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.63-Num.26.65" parsed="|Num|26|63|26|65" passage="Nu 26:63-65">ver. 63-65</scripRef>), and to this there seems to
have been a special regard in the taking and keeping of this
account.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.26" parsed="|Num|26|0|0|0" passage="Nu 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.1-Num.26.4" parsed="|Num|26|1|26|4" passage="Nu 26:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.26.1-Num.26.4">
<h4 id="Num.xxvii-p1.10">The Numbering of the People. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvii-p2">1 And it came to pass after the plague, that the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p2.1">Lord</span> spake unto Moses and unto
Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,   2 Take the sum
of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty
years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are
able to go to war in Israel.   3 And Moses and Eleazar the
priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan <i>near</i>
Jericho, saying,   4 <i>Take the sum of the people,</i> from
twenty years old and upward; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p2.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses and the children of Israel,
which went forth out of the land of Egypt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p3">Observe here, 1. That Moses did not number
the people but when God commanded him. David in his time did it
without a command, and paid dearly for it. God was Israel's king,
and he would not have this act of authority done but by his express
orders. Moses, perhaps, by this time, had heard of the blessing
with which Balaam was constrained, sorely against his will, to
bless Israel, and particularly the notice he took of their numbers;
and he was sufficiently pleased with that general testimony borne
to this instance of their strength and honour by an adversary,
though he knew not their numbers exactly, till God now appointed
him to take the sum of them. 2. Eleazar was joined in commission
with him, as Aaron had been before, by which God honoured Eleazar
before the elders of his people, and confirmed his succession. 3.
It was presently after the plague that this account was ordered to
be taken, to show that though God had in justice contended with
them by that sweeping pestilence, yet he had not made a full end,
nor would he utterly cast them off. God's Israel shall not be
ruined, though it be severely rebuked. 4. They were now to go by
the same rule that they had gone by in the former numbering,
counting those only that were able to go forth to war, for this was
the service now before them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.5-Num.26.51" parsed="|Num|26|5|26|51" passage="Nu 26:5-51" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.26.5-Num.26.51">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvii-p4">5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children
of Reuben; Hanoch, <i>of whom cometh</i> the family of the
Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:   6 Of
Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the
Carmites.   7 These <i>are</i> the families of the Reubenites:
and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand
and seven hundred and thirty.   8 And the sons of Pallu;
Eliab.   9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and
Abiram. This <i>is that</i> Dathan and Abiram, <i>which were</i>
famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against
Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p4.1">Lord</span>:   10 And the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company
died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and
they became a sign.   11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah
died not.   12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of
Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the
Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:   13 Of
Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the
Shaulites.   14 These <i>are</i> the families of the
Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.   15 The
children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the
Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the
family of the Shunites:   16 Of Ozni, the family of the
Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:   17 Of Arod, the
family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
  18 These <i>are</i> the families of the children of Gad
according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and
five hundred.   19 The sons of Judah <i>were</i> Er and Onan:
and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.   20 And the sons
of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the
Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the
family of the Zarhites.   21 And the sons of Pharez were; of
Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the
Hamulites.   22 These <i>are</i> the families of Judah
according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and
sixteen thousand and five hundred.   23 <i>Of</i> the sons of
Issachar after their families: <i>of</i> Tola, the family of the
Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:   24 Of Jashub,
the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the
Shimronites.   25 These <i>are</i> the families of Issachar
according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four
thousand and three hundred.   26 <i>Of</i> the sons of Zebulun
after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of
Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the
Jahleelites.   27 These <i>are</i> the families of the
Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them,
threescore thousand and five hundred.   28 The sons of Joseph
after their families <i>were</i> Manasseh and Ephraim.   29 Of
the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and
Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead <i>come</i> the family of the
Gileadites.   30 These <i>are</i> the sons of Gilead:
<i>of</i> Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the
family of the Helekites:   31 And <i>of</i> Asriel, the family
of the Asrielites: and <i>of</i> Shechem, the family of the
Shechemites:   32 And <i>of</i> Shemida, the family of the
Shemidaites: and <i>of</i> Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
  33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but
daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad <i>were</i>
Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.   34 These
<i>are</i> the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered
of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.   35 These
<i>are</i> the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah,
the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the
Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.   36 And
these <i>are</i> the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the
Eranites.   37 These <i>are</i> the families of the sons of
Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and
two thousand and five hundred. These <i>are</i> the sons of Joseph
after their families.   38 The sons of Benjamin after their
families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the
family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:
  39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the
family of the Huphamites.   40 And the sons of Bela were Ard
and Naaman: <i>of Ard,</i> the family of the Ardites: <i>and</i> of
Naaman, the family of the Naamites.   41 These <i>are</i> the
sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered
of them <i>were</i> forty and five thousand and six hundred.  
42 These <i>are</i> the sons of Dan after their families: of
Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These <i>are</i> the families
of Dan after their families.   43 All the families of the
Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them,
<i>were</i> threescore and four thousand and four hundred.  
44 <i>Of</i> the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna,
the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites:
of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.   45 Of the sons of
Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the
family of the Malchielites.   46 And the name of the daughter
of Asher <i>was</i> Sarah.   47 These <i>are</i> the families
of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them;
<i>who were</i> fifty and three thousand and four hundred.  
48 <i>Of</i> the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel,
the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
  49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the
family of the Shillemites.   50 These <i>are</i> the families
of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were
numbered of them <i>were</i> forty and five thousand and four
hundred.   51 These <i>were</i> the numbered of the children
of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and
thirty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p5">This is the register of the tribes as they
were now enrolled, in the same order that they were numbered in
<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1-Num.1.54" parsed="|Num|1|1|1|54" passage="Nu 1:1-54"><i>ch.</i> i</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p6">I. The account that is here kept of the
families of each tribe, which must not be understood of such as we
call families, those that live in a house together, but such as
were the descendants of the several sons of the patriarchs, by
whose names, in honour of them, their posterity distinguished
themselves and one another. The families of the twelve tribes are
thus numbered:—Of Dan but one, for Dan had but one son, and yet
that tribe was the most numerous of all except Judah, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.42-Num.26.43" parsed="|Num|26|42|26|43" passage="Nu 26:42,43"><i>v.</i> 42, 43</scripRef>. Its beginning
was small, but its latter end greatly increased. Zebulun was
divided into three families, Ephraim into four, Issachar into four,
Naphtali into four, and Reuben into four; Judah, Simeon, and Asher,
had five families apiece, Gad and Benjamin seven apiece, and
Manasseh eight. Benjamin brought ten sons into Egypt (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.46.21" parsed="|Gen|46|21|0|0" passage="Ge 46:21">Gen. xlvi. 21</scripRef>), but three of them, it
seems either died childless or their families were extinct, for
here we find seven only of those names preserved, and that whole
tribe none of the most numerous; for Providence, in the building up
of families and nations, does not tie itself to probabilities.
<i>The barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children has
waxed feeble,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.2.5" parsed="|1Sam|2|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 2:5">1 Sam. ii.
5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p7">II. The numbers of each tribe. And here our
best entertainment will be to compare these numbers with those when
they were numbered at Mount Sinai. The sum total was nearly the
same; they were now 1820 fewer than they were then; yet seven of
the tribes had increased in number. Judah had increased 1900,
Issachar 9900, Zebulun 3100, Manasseh 20, 500, Benjamin 10,200, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.1700" parsed="|Dan|1700|0|0|0" passage="Dan 1700">Dan
1700</scripRef>, and Asher 11,900. But the other five had decreased more than
to balance that increase. Reuben had decreased 2770, Simeon 37,100,
Gad 5150, Ephraim 8000, and Naphtali 8000. In this account we may
observe, 1. That all the three tribes that were encamped under the
standard of Judah, who was the ancestor of Christ, had increased,
for his church shall be edified and multiplied. 2. That none of the
tribes had increased so much as that of Manasseh, which in the
former account was the smallest of all the tribes, only 32,200,
while here it is one of the most considerable; and that of his
brother Ephraim, which there was numerous, is here one of the
least. Jacob had crossed hands upon their heads, and had preferred
Ephraim before Manasseh, which perhaps the Ephraimites had prided
themselves too much in, and had trampled upon their brethren the
Manassites; but, when the Lord saw that Manasseh was despised, he
thus multiplied him exceedingly, for it is his glory to help the
weakest, and raise up those that are cast down. 3. That none of the
tribes decreased so much as Simeon did; from 59,300, it such to
22,200, little more than a third part of what it was. One whole
family of that tribe (namely Ohad, mentioned <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.6.15" parsed="|Exod|6|15|0|0" passage="Ex 6:15">Exod. vi. 15</scripRef>) was extinct in the wilderness.
Hence Simeon is not mentioned in Moses's blessing (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.1-Deut.33.29" parsed="|Deut|33|1|33|29" passage="De 33:1-29">Deut. xxxiii.</scripRef>), and the lot of that
tribe in Canaan was inconsiderable, only a canton out of Judah's
lot, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.19.9" parsed="|Josh|19|9|0|0" passage="Jos 19:9">Josh. xix. 9</scripRef>. Some
conjecture that most of those 24,000 who were cut off by the plague
for the iniquity of Peor were of that tribe; for Zimri, who was a
ringleader in that iniquity, was a prince of that tribe, many of
whom therefore were influenced by his example to <i>follow his
pernicious ways.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p8">III. In the account of the tribe of Reuben
mention is made of the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, who were of
that tribe, in confederacy with Korah a Levite, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.9-Num.26.11" parsed="|Num|26|9|26|11" passage="Nu 26:9-11"><i>v.</i> 9-11</scripRef>. Though the story had been
largely related but a few chapters before, yet here it comes in
again, as fit to be had in remembrance and thought of by posterity,
whenever they looked into their pedigree and pleased themselves
with the antiquity of their families and the glory of their
ancestors, that they might call themselves a seed of evil doers.
Two things are here said of them:—1. That they had been <i>famous
in the congregation,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.9" parsed="|Num|26|9|0|0" passage="Nu 26:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Probably they were remarkable for their ingenuity,
activity, and fitness for business:—<i>That Dathan and Abiram</i>
that might have been advanced in due time under God and Moses; but
their ambitious spirits put them upon striving against God and
Moses, and when they quarrelled with the one they quarrelled with
the other. And what was the issue? 2. Those that might have been
famous were made infamous: they <i>became a sign,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.10" parsed="|Num|26|10|0|0" passage="Nu 26:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. They were made
monuments of divine justice; God, in their ruin, showed himself
glorious in holiness, and so they were set up for a warning to all
others, in all ages, to take heed of treading in the steps of their
pride and rebellion. Notice is here taken of the preservation of
the <i>children of Korah</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.11" parsed="|Num|26|11|0|0" passage="Nu 26:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); they <i>died not,</i> as the
children of Dathan and Abiram did, doubtless because they kept
themselves pure from the infection, and would not join, no, not
with their own father, in rebellion. If we partake not of the sins
of sinners, we shall not partake of their plagues. These sons of
Korah were afterwards, in their posterity, eminently serviceable to
the church, being employed by David as singers in the house of the
Lord; hence many psalms are said to be for <i>the sons of
Korah:</i> and perhaps they were made to bear his name so long
after, rather than the name of any other of their ancestors, for
warning to themselves, and as an instance of the power of God,
which brought those choice fruits even out of that bitter root. The
children of families that have been stigmatized should endeavour,
by their eminent virtues, to roll away the reproach of their
fathers.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.52-Num.26.56" parsed="|Num|26|52|26|56" passage="Nu 26:52-56" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.26.52-Num.26.56">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvii-p9">52 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p9.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   53 Unto these the land shall be
divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.  
54 To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou
shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance
be given according to those that were numbered of him.   55
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the
names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.   56
According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided
between many and few.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p10">If any ask why such a particular account is
kept of the tribes, and families, and numbers, of the people of
Israel, here is an answer for them; as they were multiplied, so
they were portioned, not by common providence, but by promise; and,
for the support of the honour of divine revelation, God will have
the fulfilling of the promise taken notice of both in their
increase and in their inheritance. When Moses had numbered the
people God did not say, <i>By these shall the land be
conquered;</i> but, taking that for granted, he tells him, <i>Unto
these shall the land be divided.</i> "These that are now registered
as the sons of Israel shall be admitted (as it were by copy of
court-roll) heirs of the land of Canaan." Now, in the distributing,
or quartering, of these tribes, 1. The general rule of equity is
here prescribed to Moses, that to many he should give more, and to
few he should give less (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.54" parsed="|Num|26|54|0|0" passage="Nu 26:54"><i>v.</i>
54</scripRef>); yet, alas! <i>he</i> was so far from giving any to
others that he must not have any himself, but this direction given
to him was intended for Joshua his successor. 2. The application of
this general rule was to be determined <i>by lot</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.55" parsed="|Num|26|55|0|0" passage="Nu 26:55"><i>v.</i> 55</scripRef>); notwithstanding it
seems thus to be left to the prudence of their prince, yet the
matter must be finally reserved to the providence of their God, in
which they must all acquiesce, how much soever it contradicted
their policies or inclination: <i>According to the lot shall the
possession be divided.</i> As the God of nations, so the God of
Israel in particular, reserves it to himself to <i>appoint the
bounds of our habitation.</i> And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he
was urged to appoint one of his disciples <i>to his right hand,</i>
another <i>to his left</i> in his kingdom, acknowledged the
sovereignty of his Father in the disposal: <i>It is not mine to
give.</i> Joshua must not dispose of inheritances in Canaan
according to his own mind. <i>But it shall be given to those for
whom it is prepared of my Father.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.57-Num.26.62" parsed="|Num|26|57|26|62" passage="Nu 26:57-62" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.26.57-Num.26.62">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvii-p11">57 And these <i>are</i> they that were numbered
of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the
Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari,
the family of the Merarites.   58 These <i>are</i> the
families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of
the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the
Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
  59 And the name of Amram's wife <i>was</i> Jochebed, the
daughter of Levi, whom <i>her mother</i> bare to Levi in Egypt: and
she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
  60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and
Ithamar.   61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered
strange fire before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p11.1">Lord</span>.  
62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three
thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not
numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no
inheritance given them among the children of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p12">Levi was God's tribe, a tribe that was to
have no inheritance with the rest in the land of Canaan, and
therefore was not numbered with the rest, but by itself; so it had
been numbered in the beginning of this book at Mount Sinai, and
therefore came not under the sentence passed upon all that were
then numbered, that none of them should enter Canaan but Caleb and
Joshua; for of the Levites that were not numbered with them, nor
were to go forth to war, Eleazar and Ithamar, and perhaps others
who were above twenty years old then (as appears, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.4.16 Bible:Num.4.28" parsed="|Num|4|16|0|0;|Num|4|28|0|0" passage="Nu 4:16,28"><i>ch.</i> iv. 16, 28</scripRef>), entered
Canaan; and yet this tribe, now at its second numbering, had
increased but 1000, and was still one of the smallest tribes.
Mention is made here of the death of Nadab and Abihu for offering
strange fire, as before of the sin and punishment of Korah, because
<i>these things happened to them for ensamples.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.63-Num.26.65" parsed="|Num|26|63|26|65" passage="Nu 26:63-65" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.26.63-Num.26.65">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvii-p13">63 These <i>are</i> they that were numbered by
Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel
in the plains of Moab by Jordan <i>near</i> Jericho.   64 But
among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the
priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the
wilderness of Sinai.   65 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvii-p13.1">Lord</span> had said of them, They shall surely die in
the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb
the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvii-p14">That which is observable in this conclusion
of the account is the execution of the sentence passed upon the
murmurers (<scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.14.29" parsed="|Num|14|29|0|0" passage="Nu 14:29"><i>ch.</i> xiv.
29</scripRef>), that not one of those who <i>were numbered from
twenty years old and upwards</i> (and that the Levites were not,
but either from a month old or from thirty years old to fifty)
should enter Canaan, except Caleb and Joshua. In the muster now
made particular directions, no doubt, were given to those of each
tribe that were employed in taking the account, to compare these
rolls with the former, and to observe whether there were any now
left of those that were numbered at Mount Sinai, and it appeared
that there was not one man numbered now that was numbered then
except Caleb and Joshua, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.64-Num.26.65" parsed="|Num|26|64|26|65" passage="Nu 26:64,65"><i>v.</i>
64, 65</scripRef>. Herein appeared, 1. The righteousness of God,
and his faithfulness to his threatenings, when once the <i>decree
has gone forth.</i> He <i>swore in his wrath,</i> and what he had
sworn he performed. Better all those carcasses, had they been ten
times as many, should fall to the ground, than the word of God.
Though the rising generation was mixed with them, and many of the

guilty and condemned criminals long survived the sentence, even to
the last year of the forty, yet they were cut off by some means or
other before this muster was made. Those whom God has condemned
cannot escape either by losing themselves in a crowd or by the
delay of execution. 2. The goodness of God to this people,
notwithstanding their provocations. Though that murmuring race was
cut off, yet God raised up another generation, which was as
numerous as they, that, though they perished, yet the name of
Israel might not be cut off, lest the inheritance of the promise
should be lost for want of heirs. And, though the number fell a
little short what it was at Mount Sinai, yet those now numbered had
this advantage, that they were all middle-aged men, between twenty
and sixty, in the prime of their time for service; and during the
thirty-eight years of their wandering and wasting in the wilderness
they had an opportunity of acquainting themselves with the laws and
ordinances of God, having no business, civil or military, to divert
them from those sacred studies, and having Moses and Aaron to
instruct them, and God's good Spirit, <scripRef id="Num.xxvii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.9.20" parsed="|Neh|9|20|0|0" passage="Ne 9:20">Neh. ix. 20</scripRef>. 3. The truth of God, in
performing his promise made to Caleb and Joshua. They were to be
preserved from falling in this common ruin, and they were so. The
arrows of death, though they fly in the dark, do not fly at random,
even when they fly thickest, but are directed to the mark intended,
and no other. All that are written among the living shall have
their lives given them for a prey, in the most dangerous times.
Thousands may fall on their right hand, and ten thousands on their
left, but they shall escape.</p>
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