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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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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. XX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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At this chapter begins the history of the fortieth year (which was the
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last year) of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness. And since
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the beginning of their second year, when they were sentenced to perform
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their quarantine in the desert, there to wear away the tedious
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revolution of forty years, there is little recorded concerning them
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till this last year, which brought them to the borders of Canaan, and
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the history of this year is almost as large as the history of the first
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year. This chapter gives an account of,
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I. The death of Miriam,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. The fetching of water out of the rock, in which observe,
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1. The distress Israel was in, for want of water,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:2">ver. 2</A>.
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2. Their discontent and murmuring in that distress,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
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3. God's pity and power engaged for their supply with water out of the
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rock,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:6-9">ver. 6-9</A>.
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4. The infirmity of Moses and Aaron upon this occasion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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5. God's displeasure against them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:12,13">ver. 12, 13</A>.
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III. The negotiation with the Edomites. Israel's request
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:14-17">ver. 14-17</A>),
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and the repulse the Edomites gave them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:18-21">ver. 18-21</A>.
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IV. The death of Aaron the high priest upon Mount Hor, the instalment
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of Eleazar in his room, and the people's mourning for him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:22">ver. 22</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu20_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu20_13"> </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 Death of Miriam; The Water of Meribah; Moses and Aaron Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1453.</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 Then came the children of Israel, <I>even</I> the whole
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congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the
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people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried
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there.
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2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they
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gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
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3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God
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that we had died when our brethren died before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>!
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4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> into
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this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
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5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to
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bring us in unto this evil place? it <I>is</I> no place of seed, or of
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figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither <I>is</I> there any
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water to drink.
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6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
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unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they
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fell upon their faces: and the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> appeared unto
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them.
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7 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou,
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and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their
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eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring
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forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the
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congregation and their beasts drink.
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9 And Moses took the rod from before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, as he commanded
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him.
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10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together
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before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must
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we fetch you water out of this rock?
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11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the
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rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the
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congregation drank, and their beasts <I>also.</I>
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12 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed
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me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,
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therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land
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which I have given them.
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13 This <I>is</I> the water of Meribah; because the children of
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Israel strove with the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and he was sanctified in them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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After thirty-eight years' tedious marches, or rather tedious rests, in
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the wilderness, backward towards the Red Sea, the armies of Israel now
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at length set their faces towards Canaan again, and had come not far
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off from the place where they were when, by the righteous sentence of
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divine Justice, they were made to begin their wanderings. Hitherto they
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had been led about as in a maze or labyrinth, while execution was doing
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upon the rebels that were sentenced; but they were now brought into the
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right way again: they abode in Kadesh
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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not Kadesh-barnea, which was near the borders of Canaan, but another
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Kadesh on the confines of Edom, further off from the land of promise,
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yet in the way to it from the Red Sea, to which they had been hurried
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back. Now,</P>
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<P>
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I. Here dies Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, and as it should
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seem older than either of them. She must have been so if she was that
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sister that was set to watch Moses when he was put into the ark of
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bulrushes,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+2:4">Exod. ii. 4</A>.
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<I>Miriam died there,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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She was a prophetess, and had been an instrument of much good to
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Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+6:4">Mic. vi. 4</A>.
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When Moses and Aaron with their rod went before them, to work wonders
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for them, Miriam with her timbrel went before them in praising God for
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these wondrous works
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+15:20">Exod. xv. 20</A>),
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and therein did them real service; yet she had once been a murmurer
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+12:1"><I>ch.</I> xii. 1</A>),
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and must not enter Canaan.</P>
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<P>
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II. Here there is another Meribah. one place we met with before of that
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name, in the beginning of their march through the wilderness, which was
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so called <I>because of the chiding of the children of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:7">Exod. xvii. 7</A>.
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And now we have another place, at the latter end of their march, which
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bears the same name for the same reason: <I>This is the water of
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Meribah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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What was there done was here re-acted.</P>
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<P>
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1. <I>There was no water for the congregation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The water out of the rock of Rephidim had followed them while there was
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need of it; but it is probable that for some time they had been in a
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country where they were supplied in an ordinary way, and when common
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providence supplied them it was fit that the miracle should cease. But
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in this place it fell out that there was no water, or not sufficient
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for the congregation. Note, We live in a wanting world, and, wherever
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we are, must expect to meet with some inconvenience or other. It is a
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great mercy to have plenty of water, a mercy which if we found the want
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of we should own the worth of.</P>
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<P>
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2. Hereupon they murmured, mutinied
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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<I>gathered themselves together,</I> and took up arms <I>against Moses
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and Aaron.</I> They chid with them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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spoke the same absurd and brutish language that their fathers had done
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before them.
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(1.) They wished they had died as malefactors by the hands of divine
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justice, rather than thus seem for a while neglected by the divine
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mercy: <I>Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the
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Lord!</I> Instead of giving God thanks, as they ought to have done, for
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sparing them, they not only despise the mercy of their reprieve, but
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quarrel with it, as if God had done them a great deal of wrong in
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giving them their lives for a prey, and snatching them as brands out of
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the burning. But they need not wish that they had died with their
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brethren, they are here taking the ready way to die like their brethren
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in a little while. <I>Woe unto those that desire the day of the
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Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+5:18">Amos v. 18</A>.
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(2.) They were angry that they were brought out of Egypt, and led
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through this wilderness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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They quarrelled with Moses for that which they knew was the Lord's
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doing; they represented that as an injury which was the greatest favour
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that ever was done to any people. They prefer slavery before liberty,
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the house of bondage before the land of promise; and though, the
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present want was of water only, yet, now that they are disposed to find
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fault, it shall be looked upon as an insufferable hardship put upon
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them that they have not vines and figs. It was an aggravation of their
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crime,
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[1.] that they had smarted so long for the discontents and distrusts of
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their fathers. <I>They had borne their whoredoms</I> now almost
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<I>forty years in the wilderness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:33"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 33</A>);
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and yet they ventured in the same steps, and, as is charged upon
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Belshazzar, <I>humbled not their hearts, though they knew all this,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+5:22">Dan. v. 22</A>.
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[2.] That they had had such long and constant experience of God's
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goodness to them, and of the tenderness and faithfulness of Moses and
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Aaron.
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[3.] That Miriam was now lately dead; and, having lost one of their
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leaders, they ought to have been more respectful to those that were
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left; but, as if they were resolved to provoke God to leave them as
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sheep without any shepherd, they grow outrageous against them: instead
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of condoling with Moses and Aaron for the death of their sister, they
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add affliction to their grief.</P>
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<P>
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3. Moses and Aaron made them no reply, but retired to the door of the
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tabernacle to know God's mind in this case,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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There they <I>fell on their faces,</I> as formerly on the like
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occasion, to deprecate the wrath of God and to entreat direction from
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him. Here is no mention of any thing they said; they knew that God
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heard the murmurings of the people, and before him they humbly
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prostrate themselves, making intercessions with <I>groanings that
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cannot be uttered.</I> There they lay waiting for orders <I>Speak,
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Lord, for thy servants hear.</I></P>
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<P>
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4. God appeared, to determine the matter; not on his tribunal of
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justice, to sentence the rebels according to their deserts; no, he
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<I>will not return to destroy Ephraim</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:9">Hosea xi. 9</A>),
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will <I>not always chide;</I> see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+8:21">Gen. viii. 21</A>.
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But he appeared,
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(1.) On his throne of glory, to silence their unjust murmuring
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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The <I>glory of the Lord appeared,</I> to <I>still the tumult of the
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people,</I> by striking an awe upon them. Note, A believing sight of
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the glory of the Lord would be an effectual check to our lusts and
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passions, and would keep our mouths as with a bridle.
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(2.) On his throne of grace, to satisfy their just desires. It was
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requisite that they should have water, and therefore, thought the
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manner of their petitioning for it was irregular and disorderly, yet
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God did not take that advantage against them to deny it to them, but
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gave immediate orders for their supply,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Moses must a second time in God's name command water out of a rock for
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them, to show that God is as able as ever to supply his people with
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good things, even in their greatest straits an in the utmost failure of
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second causes. Almighty power can bring water out of a rock, has done
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it, and can again, for his arm is not shortened. Lest it should be
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thought that there was some thing peculiar in the former rock itself,
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some secret spring which nature hid before in it, God here bids him
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broach another, and does not, as then, direct him which he must apply
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to, but lets him make use of which he pleased, or the first he came to;
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all alike to Omnipotence.
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[1.] God bids him take the rod, that famous rod with which he summoned
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the plagues of Egypt, and divided the sea, that, having that in his
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hand, both he and the people might be reminded of the great things God
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had formerly done for them, and might be encouraged to trust in him
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now. This rod, it seems, was kept in the tabernacle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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for it was the <I>rod of God,</I> the <I>rod of his strength,</I> as
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the gospel is called
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:2">Ps. cx. 2</A>),
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perhaps in allusion to it.
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[2.] God bids him gather the assembly, not the elders only, but the
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people, to be witnesses of what was done, that by their own eyes they
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might be convinced and made ashamed of their unbelief. There is no
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fallacy in God's works of wonder, and therefore they shun not the
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light, nor the inspection and enquiry of many witnesses.
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[3.] He bids him speak to the rock, which would do as it was bidden, to
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shame the people who had been so often spoken to, and would not hear
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nor obey. Their hearts were harder than this rock, not so tender, not
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so yielding, not so obedient.
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[4.] He promises that the rock should give forth water
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and it did so
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>The water came out abundantly.</I> This is an instance, not only of
|
|
the power of God, that he could thus fetch <I>honey out of the
|
|
rock,</I> and <I>oil out of the flinty rock,</I> but of his mercy and
|
|
grace, that he would do it for such a provoking people. This was a new
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generation (most of the old stock were by this time worn off), yet they
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|
were as bad as those that went before them; murmuring ran in the blood,
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|
yet the entail of the divine favour was not cut off, but in this
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|
instance of it the divine patience shines as brightly as the divine
|
|
power. He is God and not man, in sparing and pardoning; nay, he not
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|
only here gave them the drink which they drank of in common with their
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beasts
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8, 11</A>),
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but in it he made them to drink spiritual drink, which typified
|
|
spiritual blessings, <I>for that rock was Christ.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Moses and Aaron acted improperly in the management of this matter,
|
|
so much so that God in displeasure told them immediately that they
|
|
should not have the honour of bringing Israel into Canaan,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:10-12"><I>v.</I> 10-12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) This is a strange passage of story, yet very instructive.
|
|
|
|
[1.] It is certain that God was greatly offended, and justly, for he is
|
|
never angry without cause. Though they were his servants, and had
|
|
obtained mercy to be faithful, though they were his favourites, and
|
|
such as he had highly honoured, yet for something they thought, or
|
|
said, or did, upon this occasion, he put them under the disgrace and
|
|
mortification of dying, as other unbelieving Israelites did, short of
|
|
Canaan. And no doubt the crime deserved the punishment.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Yet it is uncertain what it was in this management that was so
|
|
provoking to God. The fault was complicated. <I>First,</I> They did
|
|
not punctually observe their orders, but in some things varied from
|
|
their commission; God bade them <I>speak to the rock,</I> and they
|
|
spoke <I>to the people,</I> and <I>smote the rock,</I> which at this
|
|
time they were not ordered to do, but they thought speaking would not
|
|
do. When, in distrust of the power of the word, we have recourse to the
|
|
secular power in matters of pure conscience, we do, as Moses here,
|
|
smite the rock to which we should only speak, <I>Secondly,</I> They
|
|
assumed too much of the glory of this work of wonder to themselves:
|
|
<I>Must we fetch water?</I> as if it were done by some power or
|
|
worthiness of theirs. Therefore it is charged upon them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
|
|
|
|
that <I>they did not sanctify God,</I> that is, they did not give him
|
|
that glory of this miracle which was due unto his name. <I>Thirdly,</I>
|
|
Unbelief was the great transgression
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>You believed me not;</I> nay, it is called <I>rebelling against
|
|
God's commandment,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+27:14"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The command was to bring water out of the rock, but they rebelled
|
|
against this command, by distrusting it, and doubting whether it would
|
|
take effect or no. They speak doubtfully: <I>Must we fetch water?</I>
|
|
And probably they did in some other ways discover an uncertainty in
|
|
their own minds whether water would come or no for such a rebellious
|
|
generation as this was. And perhaps they the rather questioned it,
|
|
though God had promised it, because the glory of the Lord did not
|
|
appear before them upon this rock, as it had done upon the rock in
|
|
Rephidim,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:6">Exod. xvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
They would not take God's word without a sign. Dr. Lightfoot's notion
|
|
of their unbelief is that they doubted whether now at last, when the
|
|
forty years had expired, they should enter Canaan, and whether they
|
|
must not for the murmurings of the people be condemned to another
|
|
period of toil, because a new rock was now opened for their supply,
|
|
which they took for an indication of their longer stay. And, if so,
|
|
justly were they kept out of Canaan themselves, while the people
|
|
entered at the time appointed. <I>Fourthly,</I> They said and did all
|
|
in heat and passion; this is the account given of the sin
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:33">Ps. cvi. 33</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his
|
|
lips.</I> It was in his passion that he called them <I>rebels.</I> It
|
|
is true they were so; God had called them so; and Moses afterwards, in
|
|
the way of a just reproof
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+9:24">Deut. ix. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
calls them so without offence; but now it came from a provoked spirit,
|
|
and was spoken unadvisedly: it was too much like <I>Raca,</I> and
|
|
<I>Thou fool.</I> His smiting the rock twice (it should seem, not
|
|
waiting at all for the eruption of the water upon the first stroke)
|
|
shows that he was in a heat. The same thing said and done with meekness
|
|
may be justifiable which when said and done in anger may be highly
|
|
culpable; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:20">Jam. i. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> That which aggravated all the rest, and made it the
|
|
more provoking, was that it was public, <I>before the eyes of the
|
|
children of Israel,</I> to whom they should have been examples of
|
|
faith, and hope, and meekness. We find Moses guilty of sinful distrust,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+11:22,23"><I>ch.</I> xi. 22, 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
That was private between God and him, and
|
|
therefore was only checked. But his was public; it dishonoured God
|
|
before Israel, as if he grudged them his favours, and discouraged the
|
|
people's hope in God, and therefore this was severely punished, and the
|
|
more because of the dignity and eminency of those that offended.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) From the whole we may learn,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That the best of men have their failings, even in those graces
|
|
that they are most eminent for. The man Moses was very meek, and yet
|
|
here he sinned in passion; wherefore <I>let him that thinks he stands
|
|
take heed lest he fall.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] That God judges not as man judges concerning sins; we might think
|
|
that there was not much amiss in what Moses said and did, yet God saw
|
|
cause to animadvert severely upon it. He knows the frame of men's
|
|
spirits, what temper they are of, and what temper they are in upon
|
|
particular occasions, and from what thoughts and intents words and
|
|
actions do proceed; and we are sure that therefore <I>his judgment is
|
|
according to truth,</I> when it agrees not with ours.
|
|
|
|
[3.] that God not only takes notice of, and is displeased with, the
|
|
sins of his people, but that the nearer any are to him the more
|
|
offensive are their sins,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+3:2">Amos iii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
It should seem, the Psalmist refers to this sin of Moses and Aaron
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+99:8">Ps. xcix. 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance
|
|
on their inventions.</I> As many are spared in this life and punished
|
|
in the other, so many are punished in this life and saved in the other.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That, when our heart is hot within us, we are concerned to take
|
|
heed that we offend not with our tongue. Yet,
|
|
|
|
[5.] It is an evidence of the sincerity of Moses, and his impartiality
|
|
in writing, that he himself left this upon record concerning himself,
|
|
and drew not a veil over his own infirmity, by which it appeared that
|
|
in what he wrote, as well as what he did, he sought God's glory more
|
|
than his own.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> The place is hereupon called <I>Meribah,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is called <I>Meribah-Kadesh</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:51">Deut. xxxii. 51</A>),
|
|
|
|
to distinguish it from the other Meribah. It is the <I>water of
|
|
strife;</I> to perpetuate the remembrance of the people's sin, and
|
|
Moses's, and yet of God's mercy, who supplied them with water, and
|
|
owned and honoured Moses notwithstanding. Thus he was sanctified in
|
|
the, as the <I>Holy One of Israel,</I> so he is called when his mercy
|
|
rejoices against judgment,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:9">Hos. xi. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Moses and Aaron did not sanctify God as they ought in the eyes of
|
|
Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
but God was sanctified in them; for he will not be a loser in his
|
|
honour by any man. If he be not glorified by us, he will be glorified
|
|
upon us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Ambassadors Sent to Edom.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom,
|
|
Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that
|
|
hath befallen us:
|
|
15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in
|
|
Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
|
|
16 And when we cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, he heard our voice, and
|
|
sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and,
|
|
behold, we <I>are</I> in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy
|
|
border:
|
|
17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not
|
|
pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will
|
|
we drink <I>of</I> the water of the wells: we will go by the king's
|
|
<I>high</I> way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left,
|
|
until we have passed thy borders.
|
|
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I
|
|
come out against thee with the sword.
|
|
19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the
|
|
high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will
|
|
pay for it: I will only, without <I>doing</I> any thing <I>else,</I> go
|
|
through on my feet.
|
|
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out
|
|
against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
|
|
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border:
|
|
wherefore Israel turned away from him.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the application made by Israel to the Edomites. The
|
|
nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel now lay encamped was
|
|
through the country of Edom. Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Moses sends ambassadors to treat with the king of Edom for leave to
|
|
pass through his country, and gives them instructions what to say,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:14-17"><I>v.</I> 14-17</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. They are to claim kindred with the Edomites: <I>Thus saith thy
|
|
brother Israel.</I> Both nations descended from Abraham and Isaac,
|
|
their common ancestors; Esau and Jacob, the two fathers of their
|
|
respective nations, were twin-brothers; and therefore, for
|
|
relation-sake, they might reasonably expect this kindness from them;
|
|
nor needed the Edomites to fear that their brother Israel had any ill
|
|
design upon them, or would take any advantages against them.
|
|
|
|
2. They are to give a short account of the history and present state of
|
|
Israel, which, they take it for granted, the Edomites were no strangers
|
|
to. And in this there was a double plea:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) Israel had been abused by the Egyptians, and therefore ought to be
|
|
pitied and succoured by their relations: "<I>The Egyptians vexed us and
|
|
our fathers,</I> but we may hope our brethren the Edomites will not be
|
|
so vexatious."
|
|
|
|
(2.) Israel had been wonderfully saved by the Lord, and therefore ought
|
|
to be countenanced and favoured
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>We cried unto the Lord, and he sent an angel,</I> the angel of his
|
|
presence, the angel of the covenant, the eternal Word, who had
|
|
<I>brought us forth out of Egypt,</I> and led us hither." It was
|
|
therefore the interest of the Edomites to ingratiate themselves with a
|
|
people that had so great an interest in heaven and were so much its
|
|
favourites, and it was at their peril if they offered them any injury.
|
|
It is our wisdom and duty to be kind to those whom God is pleased to
|
|
own, and to take his people for our people. <I>Come in, thou blessed of
|
|
the Lord.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. They are humbly to beg a passport through their country. Though God
|
|
himself, in the pillar of cloud and fire, was Israel's guide, in
|
|
following which they might have justified their passing through any
|
|
man's ground against all the world, yet God would have this respect
|
|
paid to the Edomites, to show that no man's property ought to be
|
|
invaded under colour of religion. Dominion is founded in providence,
|
|
not in grace. Thus when Christ was to pass through a village of the
|
|
Samaritans, to whom his coming was likely to be offensive, he <I>sent
|
|
messengers before his face</I> to ask leave,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+9:52">Luke ix. 52</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that would receive kindness must not disdain to request it.
|
|
|
|
4. They are to give security for the good behaviour of the Israelites
|
|
in this march, that they would keep in the king's high road, that they
|
|
would commit no trespass upon any man's property, either in ground or
|
|
water, that they would not so much as make use of a well without paying
|
|
for it, and that they would make all convenient speed, as fast as they
|
|
could well go on their feet,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:17,19"><I>v.</I> 17, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nothing could be offered more fair and neighbourly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The ambassadors returned with a denial,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Edom, that is, the king of Edom, as protector of his country, said,
|
|
<I>Thou shalt not pass by me;</I> and, when the ambassadors urged it
|
|
further, he repeated the denial
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>)
|
|
|
|
and threatened, if they offered to enter his country, it should be at
|
|
their peril; he raised his trained bands to oppose them. <I>Thus Edom
|
|
refused to give Israel passage.</I> This was owing,
|
|
|
|
1. To their jealousy of the Israelites; they feared they should receive
|
|
promises. And truly, had this numerous army been under any other
|
|
discipline and command than that of the righteous God himself, who
|
|
would no more suffer them to do wrong than to take wrong, there might
|
|
have been cause for this jealousy; but what could they fear from a
|
|
nation that had <I>statutes and judgments so righteous?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. It was owing to the old enmity which Esau bore to Israel. If they
|
|
had no reason to fear damage by them, yet they were not willing to show
|
|
so much kindness to them. Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing, and
|
|
now the hatred revived, when the blessing was ready to be inherited.
|
|
God would hereby discover the ill-nature of the Edomites to their
|
|
shame, and try the good-nature of the Israelites to their honour: they
|
|
<I>turned away from him,</I> and did not take this occasion to quarrel
|
|
with him. Note, We must not think it strange if the most reasonable
|
|
requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those be affronted by
|
|
men whom God favours. <I>I as a deaf man heard not.</I> After this
|
|
indignity which the Edomites offered to Israel God gave them a
|
|
particular caution <I>not to abhor an Edomite</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+23:7">Deut. xxiii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
though the Edomites had shown such an abhorrence of them, to teach us
|
|
in such cases not to meditate revenge.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu20_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Edomites Refuse a Passage to Israel; The Death of Aaron.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And the children of Israel, <I>even</I> the whole congregation,
|
|
journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
|
|
23 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the
|
|
coast of the land of Edom, saying,
|
|
24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not
|
|
enter into the land which I have given unto the children of
|
|
Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of
|
|
Meribah.
|
|
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount
|
|
Hor:
|
|
26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar
|
|
his son: and Aaron shall be gathered <I>unto his people,</I> and shall
|
|
die there.
|
|
27 And Moses did as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded: and they went up into
|
|
mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
|
|
28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon
|
|
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount:
|
|
and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
|
|
29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they
|
|
mourned for Aaron thirty days, <I>even</I> all the house of Israel.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The chapter began with the funeral of Miriam, and it ends with the
|
|
funeral of her brother Aaron. When death comes into a family, it often
|
|
strikes double. Israel had not improved the former affliction they were
|
|
under, by the death of the prophetess, and therefore, soon after, God
|
|
took away their priest, to try if they would lay that to heart. This
|
|
happened at the very next stage, when they removed to Mount Hor,
|
|
fetching a compass round the Edomites' country, leaving it on their
|
|
left hand. Wherever we go, death attends us, and the graves are ready
|
|
for us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. God bids Aaron die,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
God takes Moses and Aaron aside, and tells them, <I>Aaron shall be
|
|
gathered to his people.</I> These two dear brothers are told that they
|
|
must part. Aaron the elder must die first, but Moses is not likely to
|
|
be long after him; so that it is but for a while, a little while, that
|
|
they are parted.
|
|
|
|
1. There is something of displeasure in these orders. Aaron must not
|
|
enter Canaan, because he had failed in his duty at the waters of
|
|
strife. The mention of this, no doubt, went to the heart of Moses, who
|
|
knew himself, perhaps, at that time, to be the guiltier of the two.
|
|
|
|
2. There is much of mercy in them. Aaron, though he dies for his
|
|
transgression, is not put to death as a malefactor, by a plague, or
|
|
fire from heaven, but dies with ease and in honour. He is not <I>cut
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off from his people,</I> as the expression usually is concerning those
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that die by the hand of divine justice, but he is <I>gathered to his
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people,</I> as one that died in the arms of divine grace.
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3. There is much of type and significancy in them. Aaron must not enter
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Canaan, to show that the Levitical priesthood could make nothing
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perfect: that must be done by the bringing in of a better hope. Those
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|
priests could not continue by reason of sin and death, but the
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priesthood of Christ, being undefiled, is unchangeable, and to this,
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|
which abides for ever, Aaron must resign all his honour,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:23-25">Heb. vii. 23-25</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. Aaron submits, and dies in the method and manner appointed, and,
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for aught that appears, with as much cheerfulness as if he had been
|
|
going to bed.</P>
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<P>
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|
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1. He puts on his holy garments to take his leave of them, and goes up
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|
with his brother and son to the top of Mount Hor, and probably some of
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|
the elders of Israel with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
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They went up <I>in the sight of all the congregation,</I> who, it is
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|
likely, were told on what errand they went up; by this solemn
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|
procession Aaron lets Israel know that he is neither afraid nor ashamed
|
|
to die, but, when the bridegroom comes, can trim his lamp and go forth
|
|
to meet him. His going up the hill to die signified that the death of
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|
saints (and Aaron is called <I>the saint of the Lord</I>) is their
|
|
ascension; they rather go up than go down to death.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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2. Moses, whose hands had first clothed Aaron with his priestly
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|
garments, now strips him of them; for, in reverence to the priesthood,
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|
it was not fit that he should die in them. Note, Death will strip us;
|
|
naked we came into the world, and naked we must go out. We shall see
|
|
little reason to be proud of our clothes, our ornaments, or marks of
|
|
honour, if we consider how soon death will strip us of our glory,
|
|
divest us of all our offices and honours, and take the crown off from
|
|
our head.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Moses immediately puts the priestly garments upon Eleazar his son,
|
|
clothes him with his father's robe, and <I>strengthens him with his
|
|
girdle,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+22:21">Isa. xxii. 21</A>.
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Now,
|
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(1.) This was a great comfort to Moses, by whose hand the law of the
|
|
priesthood was given to see that it should be kept up in a succession,
|
|
and that a lamp was ordained for the anointed, which should not be
|
|
extinguished by death itself. This was a happy earnest and indication
|
|
to the church of the care God would take that as one generation of
|
|
ministers and Christians (spiritual priests) passes away another
|
|
generation should come up instead of it.
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|
|
|
(2.) It was a great satisfaction to Aaron to see his son, who was dear
|
|
to him, thus preferred, and his office, which was dearer, thus
|
|
preserved and secured, and especially to see in this a figure of
|
|
Christ's everlasting priesthood, in which alone his would be
|
|
perpetuated. <I>Now,</I> Lord, might Aaron say, <I>let thy servant
|
|
depart in peace, for my eyes have seen thy salvation.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) It was a great kindness to the people. The installing of Eleazar
|
|
before Aaron was dead would prevent those who bore ill-will to Aaron's
|
|
family from attempting to set up another upon his death, in competition
|
|
with his son. What could they do when the matter was already settled?
|
|
It would likewise encourage those among them that feared God, and be a
|
|
token for good to them, that he would not leave them, nor suffer his
|
|
faithfulness to fail.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
4. <I>Aaron died there.</I> Quickly after he was stripped of his
|
|
priestly garments, he laid himself down and died contentedly; for a
|
|
good man would desire, if it were the will of God, not to outlive his
|
|
usefulness. Why should we covet to continue any longer in this world
|
|
than while we may do God and our generation some service in it?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Moses and Eleazar, with those that attended them, buried Aaron where
|
|
he died, as appears by
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+10:6">Deut. x. 6</A>,
|
|
|
|
and then <I>came down from the mount.</I> And now, when they came down,
|
|
and had left Aaron behind, it might be proper for them to think that he
|
|
had rather gone up to the better world and had left them behind.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. All the congregation <I>mourned for Aaron thirty days,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though the loss was well made up in Eleazar, who, being in the prime of
|
|
life, was fitter from public service that Aaron would have been if he
|
|
had lived, yet it was a debt owing to their deceased high priest to
|
|
mourn for him. While he lived, they were murmuring at him upon all
|
|
occasions, but now that he was dead they mourned for him. Thus many are
|
|
taught to lament the loss of those mercies which they would not learn
|
|
to be thankful for the enjoyment of. Many good men have had more honour
|
|
done to their memories than ever they had to their persons, witness
|
|
those that were persecuted while they lived, but when they were dead
|
|
had their sepulchres garnished.</P>
|
|
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