mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="Num.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="Num.xxvii" prev="Num.xxv" progress="77.56%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="Num.xxvi-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.xxvi-p1">Israel, having escaped the curse of Balaam, here
sustains a great deal of damage and reproach by the counsel of
Balaam, who, it seems, before he left Balak, put him into a more
effectual way than that which Balak thought of to separate between
the Israelites and their God. "The Lord will not be prevailed with
by Balaam's charms to ruin them; try if they will not be prevailed
with by the charms of the daughters of Moab to ruin themselves."
None are more fatally bewitched than those that are bewitched by
their own lusts. Here is, I. The sin of Israel; they were enticed
by the daughters of Moab both to whoredom and to idolatry,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.1-Num.25.3" parsed="|Num|25|1|25|3" passage="Nu 25:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. The
punishment of this sin by the hand of the magistrate (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.4-Num.25.5" parsed="|Num|25|4|25|5" passage="Nu 25:4,5">ver. 4, 5</scripRef>) and by the immediate hand
of God, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.9" parsed="|Num|25|9|0|0" passage="Nu 25:9">ver. 9</scripRef>. III. The
pious zeal of Phinehas in slaying Zimri and Cozbi, two impudent
sinners, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.6 Bible:Num.25.8 Bible:Num.25.14 Bible:Num.25.15" parsed="|Num|25|6|0|0;|Num|25|8|0|0;|Num|25|14|0|0;|Num|25|15|0|0" passage="Nu 25:6,8,14,15">ver. 6, 8, 14,
15</scripRef>. IV. God's commendation of the zeal of Phinehas,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.10-Num.25.13" parsed="|Num|25|10|25|13" passage="Nu 25:10-13">ver. 10-13</scripRef>. V. Enmity
put between the Israelites and the Midianites, their tempters, as
at first between the woman and the serpent, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.16-Num.25.18" parsed="|Num|25|16|25|18" passage="Nu 25:16-18">ver. 16</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.25" parsed="|Num|25|0|0|0" passage="Nu 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.1-Num.25.5" parsed="|Num|25|1|25|5" passage="Nu 25:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.25.1-Num.25.5">
<h4 id="Num.xxvi-p1.9">The Sin of Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvi-p2">1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people
began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.   2 And
they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the
people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.   3 And Israel
joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p2.1">Lord</span> was kindled against Israel.   4 And
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p2.2">Lord</span> said unto Moses, Take all
the heads of the people, and hang them up before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p2.3">Lord</span> against the sun, that the fierce anger of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p2.4">Lord</span> may be turned away from
Israel.   5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye
every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p3">Here is, I. The sin of Israel, to which
they were enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian; they were
guilty both of corporal and spiritual whoredoms, for <i>Israel
joined himself unto Baal-peor,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.3" parsed="|Num|25|3|0|0" passage="Nu 25:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Not all, nor the most, but very
many, were taken in this snare. Now concerning this observe, 1.
That Balak, by the advice of Balaam, <i>cast this stumbling-block
before the children of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.14" parsed="|Rev|2|14|0|0" passage="Re 2:14">Rev.
ii. 14</scripRef>. Note, Those are our worst enemies that draw us
to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. If
Balak had drawn out his armed men against them to fight them,
Israel had bravely resisted, and no doubt had been more than
conquerors; but now that he sends his beautiful women among them,
and invites them to his idolatrous feasts, the Israelites basely
yield, and are shamefully overcome: those are smitten with this
harlots that could not be smitten with his sword. Note, We are more
endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of
a frowning world. 2. That the daughters of Moab were their tempters
and conquerors. Ever since Eve was first in the transgression the
fairer sex, though the weaker, has been a snare to many; yea strong
men have been wounded and slain by the lips of the strange woman
(<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.7.26" parsed="|Prov|7|26|0|0" passage="Pr 7:26">Prov. vii. 26</scripRef>), witness
Solomon, whose wives were shares and nets to him <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.26" parsed="|Eccl|7|26|0|0" passage="Ec 7:26">Eccl. vii. 26</scripRef>. 3. That whoredom and idolatry
went together. They first defiled and debauched their consciences,
by committing lewdness with the women, and then were easily drawn,
in complaisance to them, and in contempt of the God of Israel, to
bow down to their idols. And they were more likely to do so if, as
it is commonly supposed, and seems probable by the joining of them
together, the uncleanness committed was a part of the worship and
service performed to Baal-peor. Those that have broken the fences
of modesty will never be held by the bonds of piety, and those that
have dishonoured themselves by fleshly lusts will not scruple to
dishonour God by idolatrous worships, and for this they are justly
given up yet further to vile affections. 4. That by eating of the
idolatrous sacrifices they <i>joined themselves to Baal-peor</i> to
whom they were offered, which the apostle urges as a reason why
Christians should not <i>eat things offered to idols,</i> because
thereby they had fellowship with the devils to whom they were
offered, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.20" parsed="|1Cor|10|20|0|0" passage="1Co 10:20">1 Cor. x. 20</scripRef>. It
is called <i>eating the sacrifices of the dead</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.28" parsed="|Ps|106|28|0|0" passage="Ps 106:28">Ps. cvi. 28</scripRef>), not only because the
idol itself was a dead thing, but because the person represented by
it was some great hero, who since his death was deified, as saints
in the Roman church are canonized. 5. It was great aggravation of
the sin that <i>Israel abode in Shittim,</i> where they had the
land of Canaan in view, and were just ready to enter and take
possession of it. It was the highest degree of treachery and
ingratitude to be false to their God, whom they had found so
faithful to them, and to eat of idol-sacrifices when they were
ready to be feasted so richly on God's favours.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p4">II. God's just displeasure against them for
this sin. Israel's whoredoms did that which all Balaam's
enchantments could not do, they set God against them; now he was
<i>turned to be their enemy, and fought against them.</i> So many
of the people, nay, so many of the princes, were guilty, that the
sin became national, and for it God was wroth with the whole
congregation. 1. A plague immediately broke out, for we read of the
staying of it (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.8" parsed="|Num|25|8|0|0" passage="Nu 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>),
and of the number that died of it (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.9" parsed="|Num|25|9|0|0" passage="Nu 25:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), but no mention of the beginning
of it, which therefore must be implied in those words (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.3" parsed="|Num|25|3|0|0" passage="Nu 25:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), <i>The anger of the Lord
was kindled against Israel.</i> It is said expressly (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.29" parsed="|Ps|106|29|0|0" passage="Ps 106:29">Ps. cvi. 29</scripRef>), <i>The plague broke
in.</i> Note, Epidemical diseases are the fruits of God's anger,
and the just punishments of epidemical sins; one infection follows
the other. The plague, no doubt, fastened on those that were most
guilty, who were soon made to pay dearly for their forbidden
pleasures; and though now God does not always plague such sinners,
as he did here, yet that word of God will be fulfilled, <i>If any
man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.3.17" parsed="|1Cor|3|17|0|0" passage="1Co 3:17">1 Cor. iii. 17</scripRef>. 2. The ringleaders
are ordered to be put to death by the hand of public justice, which
will be the only way to stay the plague (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.4" parsed="|Num|25|4|0|0" passage="Nu 25:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>Take the heads of the
people</i> (that is, of that part of the people that went out of
the camp of Israel into the country of Moab, to join in their
idolatries)—<i>take them and hang them up before the sun,</i> as
sacrifices to God's justice, and for a terror to the rest of the
people. The judges must first order them to be <i>slain with the
sword</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.5" parsed="|Num|25|5|0|0" passage="Nu 25:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), and
their dead bodies must be hanged up, that the stupid Israelites,
seeing their leaders and princes so severely punished for their
whoredom and idolatry, without any regard to their quality, might
be possessed with a sense of the evil of the sin and the terror of
God's wrath against them. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made
examples of justice.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.6-Num.25.15" parsed="|Num|25|6|25|15" passage="Nu 25:6-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.25.6-Num.25.15">
<h4 id="Num.xxvi-p4.9">The Zeal of Phinehas. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p4.10">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvi-p5">6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel
came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight
of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children
of Israel, who <i>were</i> weeping <i>before</i> the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation.   7 And when Phinehas, the son
of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw <i>it,</i> he rose up
from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;  
8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust
both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her
belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  
9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
  10 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p5.1">Lord</span> spake unto
Moses, saying,   11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of
Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I
consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.   12
Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:  
13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, <i>even</i> the
covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for
his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.  
14 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, <i>even</i> that
was slain with the Midianitish woman, <i>was</i> Zimri, the son of
Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.   15 And
the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain <i>was</i> Cozbi,
the daughter of Zur; he <i>was</i> head over a people, <i>and</i>
of a chief house in Midian.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p6">Here is a remarkable contest between
wickedness and righteousness, which shall be most bold and
resolute; and righteousness carries the day, as no doubt it will at
last.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p7">I. Never was vice more daring than it was
in Zimri, <i>a prince of a chief house</i> in the tribe of Simeon.
Such a degree of impudence in wickedness had he arrived at that he
publicly appeared leading a Midianitish harlot (and a harlot of
quality too like himself, a <i>daughter of a chief house in
Midian</i>) in the sight of Moses, and all the good people of
Israel. He did not think it enough to go out with his harlot to
worship the gods of Moab, but, when he had done that, he brought
her with him to dishonour the God of Israel. He not only owned her
publicly as his friend, and higher in his favour than any of the
daughters of Israel, but openly went with her <i>into the tent,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.8" parsed="|Num|25|8|0|0" passage="Nu 25:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. The word
signifies such a booth or place of retirement as was designed and
fitted up for lewdness. Thus he <i>declared his sin as Sodom,</i>
as was so far from blushing for it that he rather prided himself in
it, and gloried in his shame. All the circumstances concurred to
make it exceedingly sinful, exceedingly shameful. 1. It was an
affront to the justice of the nation, and bade defiance to that.
The judges were ordered to put the criminals to death, but he
thought himself too great for them to meddle with, and, in effect,
bade them touch him if they durst. He had certainly cast off all
fear of God who stood in no awe of the powers which he had ordained
to be <i>a terror to evil-doers.</i> 2. It was an affront to the
religion of the nation, and put a contempt upon that. Moses, and
the main body of the congregation, who kept their integrity,
<i>were weeping at the door of the tabernacle,</i> lamenting the
sin committed and deprecating the plague begun; they were
<i>sanctifying a fast</i> in a solemn assembly, weeping <i>between
the porch and the altar,</i> to turn away the wrath of God from the
congregation. Then comes Zimri among them, with his harlot in his
hand, to banter them, and, in effect, to tell them that he was
resolved to fill the measure of sin as fast as they emptied it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p8">II. Never was virtue more daring than it
was in Phinehas. Being aware of the insolence of Zimri, which it is
probable, all the congregation took notice of, in a holy
indignation at the offenders he rises up from his prayers, takes
his sword or half-pike, follows those impudent sinners into their
tent, and stabs them both, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.7-Num.25.8" parsed="|Num|25|7|25|8" passage="Nu 25:7,8"><i>v.</i>
7, 8</scripRef>. It is not at all difficult to justify Phinehas in
what he did; for, being now heir-apparent to the high-priesthood,
no doubt he was one of those judges of Israel whom Moses had
ordered, by the divine appointment, to slay all those whom they
knew to have joined themselves to Baal-peor, so that this gives no
countenance at all to private persons, under pretence of zeal
against sin, to put offenders to death, who ought to be prosecuted
by due course of law. The civil magistrate is the avenger, to
<i>execute wrath upon him that doeth evil,</i> and no private
person may take his work out of his hand. Two ways God testified
his acceptance of the pious zeal of Phinehas:—1. He immediately
put a stop to the plague, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.8" parsed="|Num|25|8|0|0" passage="Nu 25:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. Their weeping and praying prevailed not till this
piece of necessary justice was done. If magistrates do not take
care to punish sin, God will; but their justice will be the best
prevention of his judgment, as in the case of Achan, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.7.13" parsed="|Josh|7|13|0|0" passage="Jos 7:13">Josh. vii. 13</scripRef>. 2. He put an honour
upon Phinehas. Though he did no more than it was his duty to do as
a judge, yet because he did it with extraordinary zeal against sin,
and for the honour of God and Israel, and did it when the other
judges, out of respect to Zimri's character as a prince, were
afraid, and declined doing it, therefore God showed himself
particularly well pleased with him, and it <i>was counted to him
for righteousness,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.31" parsed="|Ps|106|31|0|0" passage="Ps 106:31">Ps. cvi.
31</scripRef>. There is nothing lost by venturing for God. If
Zimri's relations bore him a grudge for it, and his friends might
censure him as indiscreet in this violent and hasty execution, what
needed he care, while God accepted him? In a good thing we should
be zealously affected. (1.) Phinehas, upon this occasion, though a
young man, is pronounced his country's patriot and best friend,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.11" parsed="|Num|25|11|0|0" passage="Nu 25:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. He has
<i>turned away my wrath from the children of Israel.</i> So much
does God delight in showing mercy that he is well pleased with
those that are instrumental in turning away his wrath. This is the
best service we can do to our people; and we may contribute
something towards it by our prayers, and by our endeavours in our
places to <i>bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end.</i> (2.)
The priesthood is entailed by covenant upon his family. It was
designed him before, but now it was confirmed to him, and, which
added much to the comfort and honour of it, it was made the
recompence of his pious zeal, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.12-Num.25.13" parsed="|Num|25|12|25|13" passage="Nu 25:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. It is here called <i>an
everlasting priesthood,</i> because it should continue to the
period of the Old-Testament dispensation, and should then have its
perfection and perpetuity in the unchangeable priesthood of Christ,
who is <i>consecrated for evermore.</i> By the <i>covenant of
peace</i> given him, some understand in general a promise of long
life and prosperity, and all good; it seems rather to be meant
particularly of the covenant of priesthood, for that is called the
<i>covenant of life and peace</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.5" parsed="|Mal|2|5|0|0" passage="Mal 2:5">Mal.
ii. 5</scripRef>), and was made for the preservation of peace
between God and his people. Observe how the reward answered the
service. By executing justice he had <i>made an atonement for the
children of Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.13" parsed="|Num|25|13|0|0" passage="Nu 25:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), and therefore he and his shall henceforward be
employed in making atonement by sacrifice. He <i>was zealous for
his God,</i> and therefore he shall have the covenant of <i>an
everlasting priesthood.</i> Note, It is requisite that ministers
should be not only for God, but zealous for God. It is required of
them that they do more than others for the support and advancement
of the interests of God's kingdom among men.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxvi-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.25" parsed="|Num|25|0|0|0" passage="Nu 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxvi-p8.10" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.16-Num.25.18" parsed="|Num|25|16|25|18" passage="Nu 25:16-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.25.16-Num.25.18">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxvi-p9">16 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxvi-p9.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   17 Vex the Midianites, and smite
them:   18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they
have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of
Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was
slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxvi-p10">God had punished the Israelites for their
sin with a plague; as a Father he corrected his own children with a
rod. But we read not that any of the Midianites died of the plague;
God took another course with them, and punished them with the sword
of an enemy, not with the rod of a father. 1. Moses, though the
meekest man, and far from a spirit of revenge, is ordered to <i>vex
the Midianites and smite them,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.17" parsed="|Num|25|17|0|0" passage="Nu 25:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Note, We must set ourselves
against that, whatever it is, which is an occasion of sin to us,
though it be a right eye or a right hand that thus offends us,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.29-Matt.5.30" parsed="|Matt|5|29|5|30" passage="Mt 5:29,30">Matt. v. 29, 30</scripRef>. This is
that holy indignation and revenge which godly sorrow worketh,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.7.11" parsed="|2Cor|7|11|0|0" passage="2Co 7:11">2 Cor. vii. 11</scripRef>. 2. The
reason given for the meditating of this revenge is because they
<i>vex you with their wiles,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.18" parsed="|Num|25|18|0|0" passage="Nu 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. Note, Whatever draws us to sin
should be a vexation to us, as a thorn in the flesh. The mischief
which the Midianites did to Israel by enticing them to whoredom
must be remembered and punished with as much severity as that which
the Amalekites did in fighting with them when they came out of
Egypt, <scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.17.14" parsed="|Exod|17|14|0|0" passage="Ex 17:14">Exod. xvii. 14</scripRef>. God
will certainly reckon with those that do the devil's work in
tempting men to sin. See further orders given in this matter,
<scripRef id="Num.xxvi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.2" parsed="|Num|31|2|0|0" passage="Nu 31:2"><i>ch.</i> xxxi. 2</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>