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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Numbers, Chapter II].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC04001.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC04003.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<P>
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The thousands of Israel, having been mustered in the former chapter, in
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this are marshalled, and a regular disposition is made of their camp,
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by a divine appointment. Here is,
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I. A general order concerning it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Particular directions for the posting of each of the tribes, in
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four distinct squadrons, three tribes in each squadron.
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1. In the van-guard on the east were posted Judah, Issachar, and
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Zebulun,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:3-9">ver. 3-9</A>.
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2. In the right wing, southward, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:10-16">ver. 10-16</A>.
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3. In the rear, westward, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:18-24">ver. 18-24</A>.
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4. In the left wing, northward, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:25-31">ver. 25-31</A>.
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5. The tabernacle in the centre,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:17">ver. 17</A>.
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III. The conclusion of this appointment,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:32">ver. 32</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Stations of the Several Tribes.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
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2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own
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standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about
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the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is the general appointment given both for their orderly encampment
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where they rested and their orderly march when they moved. Some order,
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it is possible, they had observed hitherto; they came out of Egypt in
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rank and file
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:18">Exod. xiii. 18</A>), but now they were put into a better model.
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1. They all dwelt in tents, and when they marched carried all their
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tents along with them, for <I>they found no city to dwell in,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:4">Ps. cvii. 4</A>.
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This represents to us our state in this world. It is a movable state
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(we are here to-day and gone to-morrow); and it is a military state: is
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not our life a warfare? We do but pitch our tents in this world, and
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have in it no continuing city. Let us, therefore, while we are pitching
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in this world, be pressing through it.
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2. Those of a tribe were to pitch together, <I>every man by his own
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standard.</I> Note, It is the will of God that mutual love and
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affection, converse and communion, should be kept up among relations.
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Those that are of kin to each other should, as much as they can, be
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acquainted with each other; and the bonds of nature should be improved
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for the strengthening of the bonds of Christian communion.
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3. Every one must know his place and keep in it; they were not allowed
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to fix where they pleased, nor to remove when they pleased, but God
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quarters them, with a charge to abide in their quarters. Note, It is
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God that <I>appoints us the bounds of our habitation,</I> and to him we
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must refer ourselves. <I>He shall choose our inheritance for us</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+47:4">Ps. xlvii. 4</A>),
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and in his choice we must acquiesce, and not love to
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flit, nor be <I>as the bird that wanders from her nest.</I>
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4. Every tribe had its standard, flag, or ensign, and it should seem
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every family had some particular ensign of their father's house, which
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was carried as with us the colours of each troop or company in a
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regiment are. These were of use for the distinction of tribes and
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families, and the gathering and keeping of them together, in allusion
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to which the preaching of the gospel is said to <I>lift up an ensign,
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to which the Gentiles shall seek,</I> and by which they shall pitch,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+11:10,12">Isa. xi. 10, 12</A>.
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Note, God is the God of order, and not of confusion. These standards
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made this mighty army seem more beautiful to its friends and more
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formidable to its enemies. The church of Christ is said to be as
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<I>terrible as an army with banners,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+6:10">Cant. vi. 10</A>.
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It is uncertain how these standards were distinguished: some conjecture
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that the standard of each tribe was of the same colour with the
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precious stone in which the name of that tribe was written in the high
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priest's ephod, and that this was all the difference. Many of the
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modern Jews think there was some coat of arms painted in each standard,
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which had reference to the blessing of that tribe by Jacob. Judah bore
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a lion, Dan a serpent, Naphtali a hind, Benjamin a wolf, &c. Some of
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them say the four principal standards were, Judah a lion, Reuben a man,
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Joseph an ox, and Dan an eagle, making the appearances in Ezekiel's
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vision to allude it. Others say the name of each tribe was written in
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its standard. Whatever it was, no doubt it gave a certain direction.
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5. They were to pitch about the tabernacle, which was to be in the
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midst of them, as the tent of pavilion of a general in the centre of an
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army. They must encamp round the tabernacle,
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(1.) That it might be equally a comfort and joy to them all, as it was
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a token of God's gracious presence with them.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:5">Ps. xlvi. 5</A>,
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<I>God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.</I> Their camp
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had reason to be hearty, when thus they had God in the heart of them.
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To have bread from heaven every day round about their camp, and fire
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from heaven, with other tokens of God's favour, in the midst of their
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camp, was abundantly sufficient to answer that question, <I>Is the Lord
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among us, or is he not? Happy art thou, O Israel!</I> It is probable
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that the doors of all their tents were made to look towards the
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tabernacle from all sides, for every Israelite should have his eyes
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always towards the Lord; therefore they worshipped at the tent-door.
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The tabernacle was in the midst of the camp, that it might be near to
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them; for it is a very desirable thing to have the solemn
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administrations of holy ordinances near us and within our reach.
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<I>The kingdom of God is among you.</I>
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(2.) That they might be a guard and defence upon the tabernacle and the
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Levites on every side. No invader could come near God's tabernacle
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without first penetrating the thickest of their squadrons. Note, If God
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undertake the protection of our comforts, we ought in our places to
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undertake the protection of his institutions, and stand up in defence
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of his honour, and interest, and ministers.
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6. Yet they were to pitch afar off, in reverence to the sanctuary, that
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it might not seem crowded and thrust up among them, and that the common
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business of the camp might be no annoyance to it. They were also taught
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to keep their distance, lest too much familiarity should breed
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contempt. It is supposed (from
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:4">Joshua iii. 4</A>)
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that the distance between the nearest part of the camp and the
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tabernacle (or perhaps between them and the camp of the Levites, who
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pitched near the tabernacle) was 2000 cubits, that is, 1000 yards,
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little more than half a measured mile with us; but the outer parts of
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the camp must needs be much further off. Some compute that the extent
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of their camp could be no less than twelve miles square; for it was
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like a movable city, with streets and lanes, in which perhaps the manna
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fell, as well as on the outside of the camp, that they might have it at
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their doors. In the Christian church we read of a throne (as in the
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tabernacle there was a mercy-seat) which is called a <I>glorious high
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throne from the beginning</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+17:12">Jer. xvii. 12</A>),
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and that throne surrounded by spiritual Israelites, twenty-four elders,
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double to the number of the tribes, <I>clothed in white raiment</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+4:4">Rev. iv. 4</A>),
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and the banner over them is <I>Love;</I> but we are not ordered, as
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they were, to pitch afar off; no, we are invited to draw near, and come
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boldly. The saints of the Most High are said to be <I>round about
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him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:11">Ps. lxxvi. 11</A>.
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God by his grace keep us close to him!</P>
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<A NAME="Nu2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu2_34"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they
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of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their
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armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab <I>shall be</I> captain of
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the children of Judah.
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4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
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5 And those that do pitch next unto him <I>shall be</I> the tribe of
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Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar <I>shall be</I> captain of the
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children of Issachar.
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6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, <I>were</I>
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fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
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7 <I>Then</I> the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon
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<I>shall be</I> captain of the children of Zebulun.
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8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, <I>were</I>
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fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
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9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah <I>were</I> an hundred
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thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four
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hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
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10 On the south side <I>shall be</I> the standard of the camp of
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Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children
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of Reuben <I>shall be</I> Elizur the son of Shedeur.
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11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, <I>were</I>
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forty and six thousand and five hundred.
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12 And those which pitch by him <I>shall be</I> the tribe of Simeon:
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and the captain of the children of Simeon <I>shall be</I> Shelumiel
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the son of Zurishaddai.
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13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
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14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad
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<I>shall be</I> Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
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15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
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16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben <I>were</I> an
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hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and
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fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the
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second rank.
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17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward
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with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they
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encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by
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their standards.
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18 On the west side <I>shall be</I> the standard of the camp of
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Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of
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Ephraim <I>shall be</I> Elishama the son of Ammihud.
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19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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forty thousand and five hundred.
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20 And by him <I>shall be</I> the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain
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of the children of Manasseh <I>shall be</I> Gamaliel the son of
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Pedahzur.
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21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
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22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of
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Benjamin <I>shall be</I> Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
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24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim <I>were</I> an
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hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout
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their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
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25 The standard of the camp of Dan <I>shall be</I> on the north side
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by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan <I>shall
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be</I> Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
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26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
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27 And those that encamp by him <I>shall be</I> the tribe of Asher:
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and the captain of the children of Asher <I>shall be</I> Pagiel the
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son of Ocran.
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28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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forty and one thousand and five hundred.
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29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children
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of Naphtali <I>shall be</I> Ahira the son of Enan.
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30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <I>were</I>
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fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
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31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan <I>were</I> an
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hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred.
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They shall go hindmost with their standards.
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32 These <I>are</I> those which were numbered of the children of
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Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were
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numbered of the camps throughout their hosts <I>were</I> six hundred
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thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
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33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of
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Israel; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
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34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so
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they set forward, every one after their families, according to
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the house of their fathers.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the particular distribution of the twelve tribes into four
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squadrons, three tribes in a squadron, one of which was to lead the
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other two. Observe,
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1. God himself appointed them their place, to prevent strife and envy
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among them. Had they been left to determine precedency among
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themselves, they would have been in danger of quarrelling with one
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another (as the disciples who strove <I>which should be greatest</I>);
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each would have had a pretence to be first, or at least not to be last.
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Had it been left to Moses to determine, they would have quarrelled with
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him, and charged him with partiality; therefore God does it, who is
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himself the fountain and judge of honour, and in his appointment all
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must acquiesce. If God in his providence advance others above us, and
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abase us, we ought to be as well satisfied in his doing it in that way
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as if he did it, as this was done here, by a voice out of the
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tabernacle; and this consideration, that it appears to be the will of
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God it should be so, should effectually silence all envies and
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discontents. And as far as our place comes to be our choice our Saviour
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has given us a rule in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:8">Luke xiv. 8</A>,
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<I>Sit not down in the highest room;</I> and another in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:27">Matt. xx. 27</A>,
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<I>He that will be chief, let him be your servant.</I> Those that are
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most humble and most serviceable are really most honourable.
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2. Every tribe had a captain, a prince, or commander-in-chief, whom God
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himself nominated, the same that had been appointed to number them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:5"><I>ch.</I> i. 5</A>.
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Our being all the children of one Adam is so far from justifying the
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levellers, and taking away the distinction of place and honour, that
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even among the children of the same Abraham, the same Jacob, the same
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Judah, God himself appointed that one should be captain of all the
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rest. There are <I>powers ordained of God,</I> and those to whom
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honour and fear are due and must be paid. Some observe the significancy
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of the names of these princes, at least, in general, how much God was
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|
in the thoughts of those that gave them their names, for most of them
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|
have <I>El, God,</I> at one end or other of their names. <I>Nethaneel,
|
|
the gift of God; Eliab, my God a Father; Elizur, my God a rock;
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|
Shelumiel, God my peace; Eliasaph, God has added; Elishama, my God has
|
|
heard: Gamaliel, God my reward; Pagiel, God has met me.</I> By this it
|
|
appears that the Israelites in Egypt did not quite forget the name of
|
|
their God, but, when they wanted other memorials, preserved the
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|
remembrance of it in the names of their children, and therewith
|
|
comforted themselves in their affliction.
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3. Those tribes were placed together under the same standard that were
|
|
nearest of kin to each other; Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were the
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|
three younger sons of Leah, and they were put together; and Issachar
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|
and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, since they were his
|
|
younger brethren. Reuben and Simeon would not have been content in
|
|
their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, is made chief of the
|
|
next squadron; Simeon, no doubt, is willing to be under him, and Gad,
|
|
the son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, is fitly added to them in Levi's
|
|
room: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, are all the posterity of Rachel.
|
|
Dan, the eldest son of Bilhah, is made a leading tribe, though the son
|
|
of a concubine, that more abundant honour might be bestowed on that
|
|
which lacked; and it was said, <I>Dan should judge his people,</I> and
|
|
to him were added two younger sons of the handmaids. Thus
|
|
unexceptionable was the order in which they were placed.
|
|
|
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4. The tribe of Judah was in the first post of honour, encamped towards
|
|
the rising sun, and in their marches led the van, not only because it
|
|
was the most numerous tribe, but chiefly because from that tribe Christ
|
|
was to come, who is the <I>Lion of the tribe of Judah,</I> and was to
|
|
descend from the loins of him who was now nominated chief captain of
|
|
that tribe. Nahshon is reckoned among the ancestors of Christ,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+1:4">Matt. i. 4</A>.
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|
|
So that, when he went before them, Christ himself went before them in
|
|
effect, as their leader. Judah was the first of the twelve sons of
|
|
Jacob that was blessed. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, were censured by
|
|
their dying father; he therefore being first in blessing, though not in
|
|
birth, is put first, to teach children how to value the smiles of their
|
|
godly parents and dread their frowns.
|
|
|
|
5. The tribes of Levi pitched closely about the tabernacle, within the
|
|
rest of their tribes,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
They must defend the sanctuary, and then the rest of the tribes must
|
|
defend them. Thus, in the vision which John saw of the glory of heaven,
|
|
between the elders and the throne were four <I>living creatures full of
|
|
eyes,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+4:6,8">Rev. iv. 6, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Civil powers should protect the religious interests of a nation, and be
|
|
a defence upon that glory.
|
|
|
|
6. The camp of Dan (and so that tribe is called long after their
|
|
settlement in Canaan
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+13:25">Judg. xiii. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
because celebrated for their military prowess), though posted in the
|
|
left wing when they encamped, was ordered in their march to bring up
|
|
the rear,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were the most numerous, next to Judah, and therefore were ordered
|
|
into a post which, next to the front, required the most strength, for
|
|
as the strength is so shall the day be. <I>Lastly,</I> The children of
|
|
Israel observed the orders given them, and did <I>as the Lord commanded
|
|
Moses,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+2:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
They put themselves in the posts assigned them, without murmuring or
|
|
disputing, and, as it was their safety, so it was their beauty; Balaam
|
|
was charmed with the sight of it: <I>How goodly are thy tents, O
|
|
Jacob!</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+24:5"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus the gospel church, called the <I>camp of saints,</I> ought to be
|
|
compact according to the scripture model, every one knowing and keeping
|
|
his place, and then all that wish well to the church rejoice,
|
|
<I>beholding their order,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:5">Col. ii. 5</A>.</P>
|
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