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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Numbers, Chapter I].</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="MHC04000.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC04002.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. I.</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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Israel was now to be formed into a commonwealth, or rather a kingdom;
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for "the Lord was their King"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+12:12">1 Sam. xii. 12</A>),
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their government a theocracy, and Moses under him was king in Jeshurun,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:5">Deut. xxxiii. 5</A>.
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Now, for the right settlement of this holy state, next to the
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institution of good laws was necessary the institution of good order;
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and account therefore must be taken of the subjects of this kingdom,
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which is done in this chapter, where we have,
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I. Orders given to Moses to number the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. Persons nominated to assist him herein,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:5-16">ver. 5-16</A>.
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III. The particular number of each tribe, as it was given in to Moses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:17-43">ver. 17-43</A>.
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IV. The sum total of all together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:44-46">ver. 44-46</A>.
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V. An exception of the Levites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:47-54">ver. 47</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_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 Numbering of the Israelites.</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 in the wilderness of Sinai, in
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the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first <I>day</I> of the
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second month, in the second year after they were come out of the
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land of Egypt, saying,
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2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of
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Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with
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the number of <I>their</I> names, every male by their polls;
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3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go
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forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their
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armies.
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4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one
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head of the house of his fathers.
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5 And these <I>are</I> the names of the men that shall stand with
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you: of <I>the tribe of</I> Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
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6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
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7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
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8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
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9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
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10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of
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Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
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11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
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13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
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14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
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15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
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16 These <I>were</I> the renowned of the congregation, princes of
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the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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I. We have here a commission issued out for the numbering of the people
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of Israel; and David, long after, paid dearly for doing it without a
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commission. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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1. The date of this commission,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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(1.) The place: it is given at God's court <I>in the wilderness of
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Sinai,</I> from his royal palace, <I>the tabernacle of the
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congregation.</I>
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(2.) The time: <I>In the second year</I> after they came up out of
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Egypt; we may call it the second year of that reign. The laws in
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Leviticus were given in the first month of that year; these orders were
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given in the beginning of the second month.</P>
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<P>
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2. The directions given for the execution of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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(1.) None were to be numbered but the males, and those only such as
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were fit for war. None <I>under twenty years old;</I> for, though some
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such might have bulk and strength enough for military service, yet, in
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compassion to their tender years, God would not have them put upon it
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to bear arms.
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(2.) Nor were any to be numbered who through age, or bodily infirmity,
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blindness, lameness, or chronical diseases, were unfit for war. The
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church being militant, those only are reputed the true members of it
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that have enlisted themselves soldiers of Jesus Christ; for our life,
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our Christian life, is a warfare.
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(3.) The account was to be taken <I>according to their families,</I>
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that it might not only be known how many they were, and what were their
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names, but of what tribe and family, or clan, nay, of what particular
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house every person was; or, reckoning it the muster of an army, to what
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regiment every man belonged, that he might know his place himself and
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the government might know where to find him. They were numbered a
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little before this, when their poll-money was paid for the service of
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the tabernacle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+38:25,26">Exod. xxxviii. 25, 26</A>.
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But it should seem they were not then registered <I>by the house of
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their fathers,</I> as now they were. Their number was the same then
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that it was now: 603,550 men; for as many as had died since then, and
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were lost in the account, so many had arrived to be twenty years old,
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and were added to the account. Note, As <I>one generation passeth a way
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another generation cometh.</I> As vacancies are daily made, so recruits
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are daily raised to fill up the vacancies, and Providence takes care
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that, one time or other, in one place or other, the births shall
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balance the burials, that the race of mankind and the holy seed may not
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be cut off and become extinct.</P>
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<P>
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3. Commissioners are named for the doing of this work. Moses and Aaron
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were to preside
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and one man of every tribe, that was renowned in his tribe, and was
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presumed to know it well, was to assist in it--<I>the princes of the
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tribes,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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Note, Those that are honourable should study to be serviceable; he that
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is great, let him be your minister, and show, by his knowing the
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public, that he deserves to be publicly known. The charge of this
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muster was committed to him who was the lord-lieutenant of that tribe.
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Now,</P>
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<P>
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II. Why was this account ordered to be taken and kept? For several
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reasons.
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1. To prove the accomplishment of the promise made to Abraham, that God
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would <I>multiply his seed exceedingly,</I> which promise was renewed
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to Jacob
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+28:14">Gen. xxviii. 14</A>),
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that <I>his seed should be as the dust of the earth.</I> Now it appears
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that there did not fail one tittle of that good promise, which was an
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encouragement to them to hope that the other promise of the land of
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Canaan for an inheritance should also be fulfilled in its season. When
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the number of a body of men is only guessed at, upon the view, it is
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easy for one that is disposed to cavil to surmise that the conjecture
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is mistaken, and that, if they were to be counted, they would not be
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found half so many; therefore God would have Israel numbered, that it
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might be upon record how vastly they were increased in a little time,
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that the power of God's providence and the truth of his promise may be
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seen and acknowledged by all. It could not have been expected, in any
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ordinary course of nature, that seventy-five souls (which was the
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number of Jacob's family when he went down into Egypt) should in 215
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years (and it was no longer) multiply into so many hundred thousands.
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It is therefore to be attributed to an extraordinary virtue in the
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divine promise and blessing.
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2. It was to intimate the particular care which God himself would take
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of his Israel, and which Moses and the inferior rulers were expected to
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take of them. God is called the <I>Shepherd of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+80:1">Ps. lxxx. 1</A>.
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Now the shepherds always kept count of their flocks, and delivered them
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by number to their under-shepherds, that they might know if any were
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missing; in like manner God numbers his flock, that of all which he
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took into his fold he might lose none but upon a valuable
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consideration, even those that were sacrificed to his justice.
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3. It was to put a difference between the true born Israelites and the
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mixed multitude that were among them; none were numbered but
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Israelites: all the world is but lumber in comparison with those
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jewels. Little account is made of others, but the saints God has a
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particular property in and concern for. <I>The Lord knows those that
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are his</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:19">2 Tim. ii. 19</A>),
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<I>knows them by name,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:3">Phil. iv. 3</A>.
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The hairs of their head are numbered; but he will say to others, "<I>I
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never knew you,</I> never made any account of you."
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4. It was in order to their being marshalled into several districts,
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for the more easy administration of justice, and their more regular
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march through the wilderness. It is a rout and a rabble, not an army,
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that is not mustered and put in order.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu1_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_40"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_41"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_42"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu1_43"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by
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<I>their</I> names:
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18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the
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first <I>day</I> of the second month, and they declared their
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pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers,
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according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and
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upward, by their polls.
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19 As the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the
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wilderness of Sinai.
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20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their
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generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
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according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male
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from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth
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to war;
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21 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Reuben, <I>were</I> forty and six thousand and five hundred.
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22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their
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families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered
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of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls,
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every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able
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to go forth to war;
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23 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Simeon, <I>were</I> fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
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24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their
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families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number
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of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were
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able to go forth to war;
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25 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Gad, <I>were</I> forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
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26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their
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families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number
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of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were
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able to go forth to war;
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27 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Judah, <I>were</I> threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
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28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after
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their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the
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number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
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were able to go forth to war;
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29 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Issachar, <I>were</I> fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
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30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after
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their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the
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number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
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were able to go forth to war;
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31 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Zebulun, <I>were</I> fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
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32 Of the children of Joseph, <I>namely,</I> of the children of
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Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house
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of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from
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twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to
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war;
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33 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Ephraim, <I>were</I> forty thousand and five hundred.
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34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after
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their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the
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number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
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were able to go forth to war;
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35 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Manasseh, <I>were</I> thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
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36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after
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their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the
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number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that
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were able to go forth to war;
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37 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Benjamin, <I>were</I> thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
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38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their
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families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number
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of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were
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able to go forth to war;
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39 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Dan, <I>were</I> threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
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40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their
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families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number
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of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were
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able to go forth to war;
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41 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Asher, <I>were</I> forty and one thousand and five hundred.
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42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations,
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after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to
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the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all
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that were able to go forth to war;
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43 Those that were numbered of them, <I>even</I> of the tribe of
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Naphtali, <I>were</I> fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the speedy execution of the orders given for the numbering
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of the people. It was begun the same day that the orders were given,
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<I>The first day of the second month;</I> compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:1,18"><I>v.</I> 18 with <I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Note, When any work is to be done for God it is good to set about it
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quickly, while the sense of duty is strong and pressing. And, for aught
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that appears, it was but one day's work, for many other things were
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done between this and the twentieth day of this month, when they
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removed their camp,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:11"><I>ch.</I> x. 11</A>.
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Joab was almost ten months numbering the people in David's time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:8">2 Sam. xxiv. 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:25">Exod. xviii. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
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 mean time,
|
|
particularly by the great increase of it, for his sake who was to
|
|
spring out of Judah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+7:14">Heb. vii. 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+48:5">Gen. xlviii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was also the effect of the blessing of Joseph, who was to be a
|
|
<I>fruitful bough,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:22">Gen. xlix. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+46:23">Gen. xlvi. 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so his tribe was but one family,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:42"><I>ch.</I> xxvi. 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
Benjamin had then ten sons
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+46:21">Gen. xlvi. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:38,39,41">Ps. cvii. 38, 39, 41</A>;
|
|
|
|
and see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+12:23">Job xii. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_46"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+38:26">Exod. xxxviii. 26</A>)
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+7:9">Rev. vii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, though the church's beginning be small, its latter end shall
|
|
greatly increase. A little one shall become a thousand.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_53"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu1_54"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not
|
|
numbered among them.
|
|
48 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses, so did they.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:26">Exod. xxxii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Singular services shall be recompensed with singular honours.
|
|
Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:50,51"><I>v.</I> 50, 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+66:21">Isa. lxvi. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. When they rested the Levites were to <I>encamp round about the
|
|
tabernacle</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:50,53"><I>v.</I> 50, 53</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
The service which the Levites were to do about the sanctuary is called
|
|
(as we render it in the margin) a <I>warfare,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:23"><I>ch.</I> iv. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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