mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 1.xml

<div2 id="Num.ii" n="ii" next="Num.iii" prev="Num.i" progress="63.81%" title="Chapter I">
<h2 id="Num.ii-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.ii-p1">Israel was now to be formed into a commonwealth,
or rather a kingdom; for "the Lord was their King" (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.12.12" parsed="|1Sam|12|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 12:12">1 Sam. xii. 12</scripRef>), their government a
theocracy, and Moses under him was king in Jeshurun, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.5" parsed="|Deut|33|5|0|0" passage="De 33:5">Deut. xxxiii. 5</scripRef>. Now, for the right
settlement of this holy state, next to the institution of good laws
was necessary the institution of good order; and account therefore
must be taken of the subjects of this kingdom, which is done in
this chapter, where we have, I. Orders given to Moses to number the
people, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1-Num.1.4" parsed="|Num|1|1|1|4" passage="Nu 1:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II.
Persons nominated to assist him herein, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.5-Num.1.16" parsed="|Num|1|5|1|16" passage="Nu 1:5-16">ver. 5-16</scripRef>. III. The particular number of
each tribe, as it was given in to Moses, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.17-Num.1.43" parsed="|Num|1|17|1|43" passage="Nu 1:17-43">ver. 17-43</scripRef>. IV. The sum total of all
together, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.44-Num.1.46" parsed="|Num|1|44|1|46" passage="Nu 1:44-46">ver. 44-46</scripRef>. V.
An exception of the Levites, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.47-Num.1.54" parsed="|Num|1|47|1|54" passage="Nu 1:47-54">ver.
47</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.ii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.1" parsed="|Num|1|0|0|0" passage="Nu 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.ii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1-Num.1.16" parsed="|Num|1|1|1|16" passage="Nu 1:1-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.1.1-Num.1.16">
<h4 id="Num.ii-p1.10">The Numbering of the
Israelites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.ii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.ii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.ii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of
the congregation, on the first <i>day</i> of the second month, in
the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt,
saying,   2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the
children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their
fathers, with the number of <i>their</i> names, every male by their
polls;   3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able
to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by
their armies.   4 And with you there shall be a man of every
tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.   5 And
these <i>are</i> the names of the men that shall stand with you: of
<i>the tribe of</i> Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.   6 Of
Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.   7 Of Judah;
Nahshon the son of Amminadab.   8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the
son of Zuar.   9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.   10
Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud:
of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.   11 Of Benjamin;
Abidan the son of Gideoni.   12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai.   13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.   14
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.   15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the
son of Enan.   16 These <i>were</i> the renowned of the
congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of
thousands in Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p3">I. We have here a commission issued out for
the numbering of the people of Israel; and David, long after, paid
dearly for doing it without a commission. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p4">1. The date of this commission, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1" parsed="|Num|1|1|0|0" passage="Nu 1:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. (1.) The place: it is
given at God's court <i>in the wilderness of Sinai,</i> from his
royal palace, <i>the tabernacle of the congregation.</i> (2.) The
time: <i>In the second year</i> after they came up out of Egypt; we
may call it the second year of that reign. The laws in Leviticus
were given in the first month of that year; these orders were given
in the beginning of the second month.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p5">2. The directions given for the execution
of it, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.2-Num.1.3" parsed="|Num|1|2|1|3" passage="Nu 1:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>. (1.)
None were to be numbered but the males, and those only such as were
fit for war. None <i>under twenty years old;</i> for, though some
such might have bulk and strength enough for military service, yet,
in compassion to their tender years, God would not have them put
upon it to bear arms. (2.) Nor were any to be numbered who through
age, or bodily infirmity, blindness, lameness, or chronical
diseases, were unfit for war. The church being militant, those only
are reputed the true members of it that have enlisted themselves
soldiers of Jesus Christ; for our life, our Christian life, is a
warfare. (3.) The account was to be taken <i>according to their
families,</i> that it might not only be known how many they were,
and what were their names, but of what tribe and family, or clan,
nay, of what particular house every person was; or, reckoning it
the muster of an army, to what regiment every man belonged, that he
might know his place himself and the government might know where to
find him. They were numbered a little before this, when their
poll-money was paid for the service of the tabernacle, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.38.25-Exod.38.26" parsed="|Exod|38|25|38|26" passage="Ex 38:25,26">Exod. xxxviii. 25, 26</scripRef>. But it
should seem they were not then registered <i>by the house of their
fathers,</i> as now they were. Their number was the same then that
it was now: 603,550 men; for as many as had died since then, and
were lost in the account, so many had arrived to be twenty years
old, and were added to the account. Note, As <i>one generation
passeth a way another generation cometh.</i> As vacancies are daily
made, so recruits are daily raised to fill up the vacancies, and
Providence takes care that, one time or other, in one place or
other, the births shall balance the burials, that the race of
mankind and the holy seed may not be cut off and become
extinct.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p6">3. Commissioners are named for the doing of
this work. Moses and Aaron were to preside (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.3" parsed="|Num|1|3|0|0" passage="Nu 1:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), and one man of every tribe, that
was renowned in his tribe, and was presumed to know it well, was to
assist in it—<i>the princes of the tribes,</i> <scripRef id="Num.ii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.16" parsed="|Num|1|16|0|0" passage="Nu 1:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Note, Those that are honourable
should study to be serviceable; he that is great, let him be your
minister, and show, by his knowing the public, that he deserves to
be publicly known. The charge of this muster was committed to him
who was the lord-lieutenant of that tribe. Now,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p7">II. Why was this account ordered to be
taken and kept? For several reasons. 1. To prove the accomplishment
of the promise made to Abraham, that God would <i>multiply his seed
exceedingly,</i> which promise was renewed to Jacob (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.14" parsed="|Gen|28|14|0|0" passage="Ge 28:14">Gen. xxviii. 14</scripRef>), that <i>his seed
should be as the dust of the earth.</i> Now it appears that there
did not fail one tittle of that good promise, which was an
encouragement to them to hope that the other promise of the land of
Canaan for an inheritance should also be fulfilled in its season.
When the number of a body of men is only guessed at, upon the view,
it is easy for one that is disposed to cavil to surmise that the
conjecture is mistaken, and that, if they were to be counted, they
would not be found half so many; therefore God would have Israel
numbered, that it might be upon record how vastly they were
increased in a little time, that the power of God's providence and
the truth of his promise may be seen and acknowledged by all. It
could not have been expected, in any ordinary course of nature,
that seventy-five souls (which was the number of Jacob's family
when he went down into Egypt) should in 215 years (and it was no
longer) multiply into so many hundred thousands. It is therefore to
be attributed to an extraordinary virtue in the divine promise and
blessing. 2. It was to intimate the particular care which God
himself would take of his Israel, and which Moses and the inferior
rulers were expected to take of them. God is called the <i>Shepherd
of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Num.ii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1" parsed="|Ps|80|1|0|0" passage="Ps 80:1">Ps. lxxx. 1</scripRef>.
Now the shepherds always kept count of their flocks, and delivered
them by number to their under-shepherds, that they might know if
any were missing; in like manner God numbers his flock, that of all
which he took into his fold he might lose none but upon a valuable
consideration, even those that were sacrificed to his justice. 3.
It was to put a difference between the true born Israelites and the
mixed multitude that were among them; none were numbered but
Israelites: all the world is but lumber in comparison with those
jewels. Little account is made of others, but the saints God has a
particular property in and concern for. <i>The Lord knows those
that are his</i> (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.2.19" parsed="|2Tim|2|19|0|0" passage="2Ti 2:19">2 Tim. ii.
19</scripRef>), <i>knows them by name,</i> <scripRef id="Num.ii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Phil.4.3" parsed="|Phil|4|3|0|0" passage="Php 4:3">Phil. iv. 3</scripRef>. The hairs of their head are
numbered; but he will say to others, "<i>I never knew you,</i>
never made any account of you." 4. It was in order to their being
marshalled into several districts, for the more easy administration
of justice, and their more regular march through the wilderness. It
is a rout and a rabble, not an army, that is not mustered and put
in order.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.ii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.1" parsed="|Num|1|0|0|0" passage="Nu 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.ii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.17-Num.1.43" parsed="|Num|1|17|1|43" passage="Nu 1:17-43" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.1.17-Num.1.43">
<p class="passage" id="Num.ii-p8">17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are
expressed by <i>their</i> names:   18 And they assembled all
the congregation together on the first <i>day</i> of the second
month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by
the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.   19 As the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.ii-p8.1">Lord</span> commanded Moses, so he numbered
them in the wilderness of Sinai.   20 And the children of
Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of
the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and
upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   21 Those that
were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Reuben,
<i>were</i> forty and six thousand and five hundred.   22 Of
the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families,
by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them,
according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to
war;   23 Those that were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the
tribe of Simeon, <i>were</i> fifty and nine thousand and three
hundred.   24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations,
after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to
the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
were able to go forth to war;   25 Those that were numbered of
them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Gad, <i>were</i> forty and five
thousand six hundred and fifty.   26 Of the children of Judah,
by their generations, after their families, by the house of their
fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years
old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   27
Those that were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of
Judah, <i>were</i> threescore and fourteen thousand and six
hundred.   28 Of the children of Issachar, by their
generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and
upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   29 Those that
were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Issachar,
<i>were</i> fifty and four thousand and four hundred.   30 Of
the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of
the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to
go forth to war;   31 Those that were numbered of them,
<i>even</i> of the tribe of Zebulun, <i>were</i> fifty and seven
thousand and four hundred.   32 Of the children of Joseph,
<i>namely,</i> of the children of Ephraim, by their generations,
after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to
the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
were able to go forth to war;   33 Those that were numbered of
them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Ephraim, <i>were</i> forty
thousand and five hundred.   34 Of the children of Manasseh,
by their generations, after their families, by the house of their
fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years
old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   35
Those that were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of
Manasseh, <i>were</i> thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
  36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after
their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the
number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
were able to go forth to war;   37 Those that were numbered of
them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Benjamin, <i>were</i> thirty and
five thousand and four hundred.   38 Of the children of Dan,
by their generations, after their families, by the house of their
fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years
old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   39
Those that were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of Dan,
<i>were</i> threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.  
40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of
the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to
go forth to war;   41 Those that were numbered of them,
<i>even</i> of the tribe of Asher, <i>were</i> forty and one
thousand and five hundred.   42 Of the children of Naphtali,
throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of
their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty
years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;  
43 Those that were numbered of them, <i>even</i> of the tribe of
Naphtali, <i>were</i> fifty and three thousand and four
hundred.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p9">We have here the speedy execution of the
orders given for the numbering of the people. It was begun the same
day that the orders were given, <i>The first day of the second
month;</i> compare <scripRef id="Num.ii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.1 Bible:Num.1.18" parsed="|Num|1|1|0|0;|Num|1|18|0|0" passage="Nu 1:1,18"><i>v.</i> 18 with
<i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Note, When any work is to be done for God
it is good to set about it quickly, while the sense of duty is
strong and pressing. And, for aught that appears, it was but one
day's work, for many other things were done between this and the
twentieth day of this month, when they removed their camp,
<scripRef id="Num.ii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.10.11" parsed="|Num|10|11|0|0" passage="Nu 10:11"><i>ch.</i> x. 11</scripRef>. Joab was
almost ten months numbering the people in David's time (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.8" parsed="|2Sam|24|8|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:8">2 Sam. xxiv. 8</scripRef>); but then they were
dispersed, now they lived closely together; then Satan proposed the
doing of it, now God commanded it. It was the sooner and more
easily done now because it had been done but a little while ago,
and they needed but review the old books, with the alterations
since made, which probably they had kept an account of as they
occurred.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p10">In the particulars here left upon record,
we may observe, 1. That the numbers are registered in words at
length (as I may say), and not in figures; to every one of the
twelve tribes it is repeated, for the greater ceremony and
solemnity of the account, that they were numbered <i>by their
generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
according to the number of the names,</i> to show that every tribe
took and gave in the account by the same rule and in the same
method, though so many hands were employed in it, setting down the
genealogy first, to show that their family descended from Israel,
then the families themselves in their order, then dividing each
family into the houses, or subordinate families, that branched from
it, and under these the names of the particular persons, according
to the rules of heraldry. Thus every man might know who were his
relations or next of kin, on which some laws we have already met
with did depend: besides that the nearer any are to us in relation
the more ready we should be to do them good. 2. That they all end
with hundreds, only Gad with fifty (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.25" parsed="|Num|1|25|0|0" passage="Nu 1:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>), but none of the numbers descend
to units or tens. Some think it was a special providence that
ordered all the tribes just at this time to be even numbers, and no
odd or broken numbers among them, to show them that there was
something more than ordinary designed in their increase, there
being this uncommon in the circumstance of it. It is rather
probable that Moses having some time before appointed rulers of
hundreds, and rulers of fifties (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.18.25" parsed="|Exod|18|25|0|0" passage="Ex 18:25">Exod.
xviii. 25</scripRef>), they numbered the people by their respective
rulers, which would bring the numbers to even hundreds or fifties.
3. That Judah is the must numerous of them all, more than double to
Benjamin and Manasseh, and almost 12,000 more than any other tribe,
<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.27" parsed="|Num|1|27|0|0" passage="Nu 1:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. It was Judah
whom <i>his brethren must praise</i> because from him Messiah the
Prince was to descend; but, because that was a thing at a distance,
God did in many ways honour that tribe in the meantime,
particularly by the great increase of it, for his sake who was to
spring out of Judah (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.14" parsed="|Heb|7|14|0|0" passage="Heb 7:14">Heb. vii.
14</scripRef>) in the fulness of time. Judah was to lead the van
through the wilderness, and therefore was furnished accordingly
with greater strength than any other tribe. 4. Ephraim and
Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, are numbered as distinct tribes, and
both together made up almost as many as Judah; this was in
pursuance of Jacob's adoption of them, by which they were equalled
with their uncles Reuben and Simeon, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.48.5" parsed="|Gen|48|5|0|0" passage="Ge 48:5">Gen. xlviii. 5</scripRef>. It was also the effect of the
blessing of Joseph, who was to be a <i>fruitful bough,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.22" parsed="|Gen|49|22|0|0" passage="Ge 49:22">Gen. xlix. 22</scripRef>. And Ephraim
the younger is put first, and is more numerous than Manasseh, for
Jacob had crossed hands, and foreseen ten thousands of Ephraim and
thousands of Manasseh. The fulfilling of this confirms our faith in
the spirit of prophecy with which the patriarchs were endued. 5.
When they came down into Egypt Dan had but one son (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.46.23" parsed="|Gen|46|23|0|0" passage="Ge 46:23">Gen. xlvi. 23</scripRef>), and so his tribe was
but one family, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.26.42" parsed="|Num|26|42|0|0" passage="Nu 26:42"><i>ch.</i> xxvi.
42</scripRef>. Benjamin had then ten sons (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.46.21" parsed="|Gen|46|21|0|0" passage="Ge 46:21">Gen. xlvi. 21</scripRef>), yet now the tribe of Dan is
almost double in number to that of Benjamin. Note, The increasing
and diminishing of families do not always go by probabilities. Some
are multiplied greatly, and again are diminished, while others that
were poor have families made them like a flock, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.38-Ps.107.39 Bible:Ps.107.41" parsed="|Ps|107|38|107|39;|Ps|107|41|0|0" passage="Ps 107:38,39,41">Ps. cvii. 38, 39, 41</scripRef>; and see
<scripRef id="Num.ii-p10.11" osisRef="Bible:Job.12.23" parsed="|Job|12|23|0|0" passage="Job 12:23">Job xii. 23</scripRef>. 6. It is said
of each of the tribes that those were numbered who were able to go
forth to war, to remind them that they had wars before them, though
now they were in peace and met with no opposition. <i>Let not him
that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it
off.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.ii-p10.12" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.44-Num.1.46" parsed="|Num|1|44|1|46" passage="Nu 1:44-46" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.1.44-Num.1.46">
<p class="passage" id="Num.ii-p11">44 These <i>are</i> those that were numbered,
which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel,
<i>being</i> twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.
  45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of
Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and
upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;   46
Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and
three thousand and five hundred and fifty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p12">We have here the sum total at the foot of
the account; they were in all 600,000 fighting men, and 3550 over.
Some think that when this was their number some months before
(<scripRef id="Num.ii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.38.26" parsed="|Exod|38|26|0|0" passage="Ex 38:26">Exod. xxxviii. 26</scripRef>) the
Levites were reckoned with them, but now that tribe was separated
for the service of God, yet so many more had by this time attained
to the age of twenty years as that still they were the same number,
to show that whatever we part with for the honour and service of
God it shall certainly be made up to us one way of other. Now we
see what a vast body of men they were. Let us consider, 1. How much
went to maintain all these (besides twice as many more, no
question, of women and children, sick and aged, and the mixed
multitude) for forty years together in the wilderness; and they
were all at God's finding every day, having their food from the dew
of heaven, and not from the fatness of the earth. O what a great
and good housekeeper is our God, that has such numbers depending on
him and receiving from him every day! 2. What work sin makes with a
people; within forty years most of them would indeed have died of
course for the common sin of mankind; for, when sin entered into
the world, death came with it, and how great are the desolations
which it makes in the earth! But, for the particular sin of
unbelief and murmuring, all those that were now numbered, except
two, laid their bones under their iniquity, and perished in the
wilderness. 3. What a great multitude God's spiritual Israel will
amount to at last; though at one time, and in one place, they seem
to be but a little flock, yet when they come all together they
shall be a great multitude, innumerable, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.9" parsed="|Rev|7|9|0|0" passage="Re 7:9">Rev. vii. 9</scripRef>. And, though the church's beginning
be small, its latter end shall greatly increase. A little one shall
become a thousand.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.ii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.47-Num.1.54" parsed="|Num|1|47|1|54" passage="Nu 1:47-54" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.1.47-Num.1.54">
<p class="passage" id="Num.ii-p13">47 But the Levites after the tribe of their
fathers were not numbered among them.   48 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.ii-p13.1">Lord</span> had spoken unto Moses, saying,  
49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the
sum of them among the children of Israel:   50 But thou shalt
appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all
the vessels thereof, and over all things that <i>belong</i> to it:
they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and
they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the
tabernacle.   51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the
Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be
pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh
nigh shall be put to death.   52 And the children of Israel
shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man
by his own standard, throughout their hosts.   53 But the
Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that
there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of
testimony.   54 And the children of Israel did according to
all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.ii-p13.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses,
so did they.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p14">Care is here taken to distinguish from the
rest of the tribes the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the
golden calf, had distinguished itself, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.32.26" parsed="|Exod|32|26|0|0" passage="Ex 32:26">Exod. xxxii. 26</scripRef>. Note, Singular services
shall be recompensed with singular honours. Now,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p15">I. It was the honour of the Levites that
they were made guardians of the spiritualities; to them was
committed the care of the tabernacle and the treasures thereof,
both in their camps and in their marches. 1. When they moved the
Levites were to take down the tabernacle, to carry it and all that
belonged to it, and then to set it up again in the place appointed,
<scripRef id="Num.ii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.50-Num.1.51" parsed="|Num|1|50|1|51" passage="Nu 1:50,51"><i>v.</i> 50, 51</scripRef>. It was
for the honour of the holy things that none should be permitted to
see them, or touch them, but those only who were called of God to
the service. Thus we all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship
with God until we are first called by his grace <i>into the
fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,</i> and so, being the
spiritual seed of that great high priest, are made <i>priests to
our God;</i> and it is promised that God would take Levites to
himself, even from the Gentiles, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.21" parsed="|Isa|66|21|0|0" passage="Isa 66:21">Isa.
lxvi. 21</scripRef>. 2. When they rested the Levites were to
<i>encamp round about the tabernacle</i> (<scripRef id="Num.ii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.50 Bible:Num.1.53" parsed="|Num|1|50|0|0;|Num|1|53|0|0" passage="Nu 1:50,53"><i>v.</i> 50, 53</scripRef>), that they might be near
their work, and resident upon their charge, always ready to attend,
and that they might be a guard upon the tabernacle, to preserve it
from being either plundered or profaned. They must pitch round
about the tabernacle, <i>that there be no wrath upon the
congregation,</i> as there would be if the tabernacle and the
charge of it were neglected, or those crowded upon it that were not
allowed to come near. Note, Great care must be taken to prevent
sin, because the preventing of sin is the preventing of wrath.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.ii-p16">II. It was their further honour that as
Israel, being a holy people, was not <i>reckoned among the
nations,</i> so they, being a holy tribe, were not reckoned among
other Israelites, but numbered afterwards by themselves, <scripRef id="Num.ii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.49" parsed="|Num|1|49|0|0" passage="Nu 1:49"><i>v.</i> 49</scripRef>. The service which the
Levites were to do about the sanctuary is called (as we render it
in the margin) a <i>warfare,</i> <scripRef id="Num.ii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.4.23" parsed="|Num|4|23|0|0" passage="Nu 4:23"><i>ch.</i> iv. 23</scripRef>. And, being engaged in that
warfare, they were discharged from military services, and therefore
not numbered with those that were to <i>go out to war.</i> Note,
Those that minister about holy things should neither entangle
themselves, nor be entangled, in secular affairs. The ministry is
itself work enough for a whole man, and all little enough to be
employed in it. It is an admonition to ministers to distinguish
themselves by their exemplary conversation from common Israelites,
not affecting to seem greater, but aiming to be really better,
every way better than others.</p>
</div></div2>