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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Numbers, Chapter XXVI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<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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<HR>
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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. XXVI.</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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This book is called Numbers, from the numberings of the children of
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Israel, of which it gives an account. Once they were numbered at Mount
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Sinai, in the first year after they came out of Egypt, which we had an
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account of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:1-2:34"><I>ch.</I> i. and ii.</A>.
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And now a second time they were numbered in the plains of Moab, just
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before they entered Canaan, and of this we have an account in this
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chapter. We have,
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I. Orders given for the doing of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. A register of the families and numbers of each tribe
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:5-50">ver. 5-50</A>),
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and the sum total,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:51">ver. 51</A>.
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III. Direction given to divide the land among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:52-56">ver. 52-56</A>.
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IV. The families and numbers of the Levites by themselves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:57-62">ver. 57-62</A>.
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V. Notice taken of the fulfilling of the threatening in the death of
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all those that were first numbered,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:63-65">ver. 63-65</A>),
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and to this there seems to have been a special regard in the taking and
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keeping of this account.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu26_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_4"> </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 People.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</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 it came to pass after the plague, that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake
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unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
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2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of
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Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their
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fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
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3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the
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plains of Moab by Jordan <I>near</I> Jericho, saying,
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4 <I>Take the sum of the people,</I> from twenty years old and
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upward; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses and the children of Israel,
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which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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1. That Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him.
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David in his time did it without a command, and paid dearly for it. God
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was Israel's king, and he would not have this act of authority done but
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by his express orders. Moses, perhaps, by this time, had heard of the
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blessing with which Balaam was constrained, sorely against his will, to
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bless Israel, and particularly the notice he took of their numbers; and
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he was sufficiently pleased with that general testimony borne to this
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instance of their strength and honour by an adversary, though he knew
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not their numbers exactly, till God now appointed him to take the sum
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of them.
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2. Eleazar was joined in commission with him, as Aaron had been before,
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by which God honoured Eleazar before the elders of his people, and
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confirmed his succession.
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3. It was presently after the plague that this account was ordered to
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be taken, to show that though God had in justice contended with them by
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that sweeping pestilence, yet he had not made a full end, nor would he
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utterly cast them off. God's Israel shall not be ruined, though it be
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severely rebuked.
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4. They were now to go by the same rule that they had gone by in the
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former numbering, counting those only that were able to go forth to
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war, for this was the service now before them.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu26_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_40"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_41"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_42"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_43"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_44"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_45"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_46"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_47"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_48"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_49"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_50"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_51"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben;
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Hanoch, <I>of whom cometh</I> the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu,
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the family of the Palluites:
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6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family
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of the Carmites.
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7 These <I>are</I> the families of the Reubenites: and they that
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were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven
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hundred and thirty.
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8 And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
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9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This
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<I>is that</I> Dathan and Abiram, <I>which were</I> famous in the
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congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the
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company of Korah, when they strove against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
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10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up
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together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire
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devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
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11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
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12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the
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family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites:
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of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:
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13 Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family
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of the Shaulites.
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14 These <I>are</I> the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two
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thousand and two hundred.
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15 The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the
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family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites:
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of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
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16 Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of
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the Erites:
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17 Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of
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the Arelites.
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18 These <I>are</I> the families of the children of Gad according to
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those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five
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hundred.
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19 The sons of Judah <I>were</I> Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died
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in the land of Canaan.
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20 And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah,
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the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the
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Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
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21 And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the
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Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
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22 These <I>are</I> the families of Judah according to those that
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were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five
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hundred.
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23 <I>Of</I> the sons of Issachar after their families: <I>of</I> Tola,
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the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
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24 Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the
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family of the Shimronites.
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25 These <I>are</I> the families of Issachar according to those that
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were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three
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hundred.
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26 <I>Of</I> the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the
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family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of
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Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
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27 These <I>are</I> the families of the Zebulunites according to
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those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five
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hundred.
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28 The sons of Joseph after their families <I>were</I> Manasseh and
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Ephraim.
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29 Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the
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Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead <I>come</I> the family
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of the Gileadites.
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30 These <I>are</I> the sons of Gilead: <I>of</I> Jeezer, the family of
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the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
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31 And <I>of</I> Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and <I>of</I>
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Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
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32 And <I>of</I> Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and <I>of</I>
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Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
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33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters:
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and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad <I>were</I> Mahlah, and
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Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
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34 These <I>are</I> the families of Manasseh, and those that were
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numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
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35 These <I>are</I> the sons of Ephraim after their families: of
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Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family
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of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
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36 And these <I>are</I> the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family
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of the Eranites.
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37 These <I>are</I> the families of the sons of Ephraim according to
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those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and
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five hundred. These <I>are</I> the sons of Joseph after their
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families.
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38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the
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family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites:
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of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:
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39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the
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family of the Huphamites.
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40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: <I>of Ard,</I> the
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family of the Ardites: <I>and</I> of Naaman, the family of the
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Naamites.
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41 These <I>are</I> the sons of Benjamin after their families: and
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they that were numbered of them <I>were</I> forty and five thousand
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and six hundred.
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42 These <I>are</I> the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham,
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the family of the Shuhamites. These <I>are</I> the families of Dan
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after their families.
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43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that
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were numbered of them, <I>were</I> threescore and four thousand and
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four hundred.
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44 <I>Of</I> the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna,
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the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites:
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of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
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45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the
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Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
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46 And the name of the daughter of Asher <I>was</I> Sarah.
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47 These <I>are</I> the families of the sons of Asher according to
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those that were numbered of them; <I>who were</I> fifty and three
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thousand and four hundred.
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48 <I>Of</I> the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel,
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the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the
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Gunites:
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49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the
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family of the Shillemites.
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50 These <I>are</I> the families of Naphtali according to their
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families: and they that were numbered of them <I>were</I> forty and
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five thousand and four hundred.
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51 These <I>were</I> the numbered of the children of Israel, six
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hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This is the register of the tribes as they were now enrolled, in the
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same order that they were numbered in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+1:1-54"><I>ch.</I> i</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The account that is here kept of the families of each tribe, which
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must not be understood of such as we call families, those that live in
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a house together, but such as were the descendants of the several sons
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of the patriarchs, by whose names, in honour of them, their posterity
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distinguished themselves and one another. The families of the twelve
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tribes are thus numbered:--Of Dan but one, for Dan had but one son, and
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yet that tribe was the most numerous of all except Judah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:42,43"><I>v.</I> 42, 43</A>.
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Its beginning was small, but its latter end greatly increased. Zebulun
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was divided into three families, Ephraim into four, Issachar into four,
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Naphtali into four, and Reuben into four; Judah, Simeon, and Asher, had
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five families apiece, Gad and Benjamin seven apiece, and Manasseh
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eight. Benjamin brought ten sons into Egypt
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+46:21">Gen. xlvi. 21</A>),
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but three of them, it seems either died childless or their families
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were extinct, for here we find seven only of those names preserved, and
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that whole tribe none of the most numerous; for Providence, in the
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building up of families and nations, does not tie itself to
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probabilities. <I>The barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many
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children has waxed feeble,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:5">1 Sam. ii. 5</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The numbers of each tribe. And here our best entertainment will be
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to compare these numbers with those when they were numbered at Mount
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Sinai. The sum total was nearly the same; they were now 1820 fewer than
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they were then; yet seven of the tribes had increased in number. Judah
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had increased 1900, Issachar 9900, Zebulun 3100, Manasseh 20, 500,
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Benjamin 10,200, Dan 1700, and Asher 11,900. But the other five had
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decreased more than to balance that increase. Reuben had decreased
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2770, Simeon 37,100, Gad 5150, Ephraim 8000, and Naphtali 8000. In this
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account we may observe,
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1. That all the three tribes that were encamped under the standard of
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Judah, who was the ancestor of Christ, had increased, for his church
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shall be edified and multiplied.
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2. That none of the tribes had increased so much as that of Manasseh,
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which in the former account was the smallest of all the tribes, only
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32,200, while here it is one of the most considerable; and that of his
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brother Ephraim, which there was numerous, is here one of the least.
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Jacob had crossed hands upon their heads, and had preferred Ephraim
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before Manasseh, which perhaps the Ephraimites had prided themselves
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too much in, and had trampled upon their brethren the Manassites; but,
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when the Lord saw that Manasseh was despised, he thus multiplied him
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exceedingly, for it is his glory to help the weakest, and raise up
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those that are cast down.
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3. That none of the tribes decreased so much as Simeon did; from
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59,300, it such to 22,200, little more than a third part of what it
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was. One whole family of that tribe (namely Ohad, mentioned
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+6:15">Exod. vi. 15</A>)
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was extinct in the wilderness. Hence Simeon is not mentioned in Moses's
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blessing
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:1-29">Deut. xxxiii.</A>),
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and the lot of that tribe in Canaan was inconsiderable, only a canton
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out of Judah's lot,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+19:9">Josh. xix. 9</A>.
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Some conjecture that most of those 24,000 who were cut off by the
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plague for the iniquity of Peor were of that tribe; for Zimri, who was
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a ringleader in that iniquity, was a prince of that tribe, many of whom
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therefore were influenced by his example to <I>follow his pernicious
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ways.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. In the account of the tribe of Reuben mention is made of the
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rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, who were of that tribe, in confederacy
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with Korah a Levite,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:9-11"><I>v.</I> 9-11</A>.
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Though the story had been largely related but a few chapters before,
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yet here it comes in again, as fit to be had in remembrance and thought
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of by posterity, whenever they looked into their pedigree and pleased
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themselves with the antiquity of their families and the glory of their
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ancestors, that they might call themselves a seed of evil doers. Two
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things are here said of them:--
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1. That they had been <I>famous in the congregation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Probably they were remarkable for their ingenuity, activity, and
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fitness for business:--<I>That Dathan and Abiram</I> that might have
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been advanced in due time under God and Moses; but their ambitious
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spirits put them upon striving against God and Moses, and when they
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quarrelled with the one they quarrelled with the other. And what was
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the issue?
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2. Those that might have been famous were made infamous: they <I>became
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a sign,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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They were made monuments of divine justice; God, in their ruin, showed
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himself glorious in holiness, and so they were set up for a warning to
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all others, in all ages, to take heed of treading in the steps of their
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pride and rebellion. Notice is here taken of the preservation of the
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<I>children of Korah</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>);
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they <I>died not,</I> as the children of Dathan and Abiram did,
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doubtless because they kept themselves pure from the infection, and
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would not join, no, not with their own father, in rebellion. If we
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partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall not partake of their
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plagues. These sons of Korah were afterwards, in their posterity,
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eminently serviceable to the church, being employed by David as singers
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in the house of the Lord; hence many psalms are said to be for <I>the
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sons of Korah:</I> and perhaps they were made to bear his name so long
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after, rather than the name of any other of their ancestors, for
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warning to themselves, and as an instance of the power of God, which
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brought those choice fruits even out of that bitter root. The children
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of families that have been stigmatized should endeavour, by their
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eminent virtues, to roll away the reproach of their fathers.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu26_52"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_53"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_54"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_55"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_56"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>52 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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53 Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance
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according to the number of names.
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54 To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few
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thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his
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inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of
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him.
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55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according
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to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
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56 According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided
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between many and few.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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If any ask why such a particular account is kept of the tribes, and
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families, and numbers, of the people of Israel, here is an answer for
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them; as they were multiplied, so they were portioned, not by common
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providence, but by promise; and, for the support of the honour of
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divine revelation, God will have the fulfilling of the promise taken
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notice of both in their increase and in their inheritance. When Moses
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had numbered the people God did not say, <I>By these shall the land be
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conquered;</I> but, taking that for granted, he tells him, <I>Unto
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these shall the land be divided.</I> "These that are now registered as
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the sons of Israel shall be admitted (as it were by copy of court-roll)
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heirs of the land of Canaan." Now, in the distributing, or quartering,
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of these tribes,
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1. The general rule of equity is here prescribed to Moses, that to many
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he should give more, and to few he should give less
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>);
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yet, alas! <I>he</I> was so far from giving any to others that he must
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not have any himself, but this direction given to him was intended for
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Joshua his successor.
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2. The application of this general rule was to be determined <I>by
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lot</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:55"><I>v.</I> 55</A>);
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notwithstanding it seems thus to be left to the prudence of their
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prince, yet the matter must be finally reserved to the providence of
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their God, in which they must all acquiesce, how much soever it
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contradicted their policies or inclination: <I>According to the lot
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shall the possession be divided.</I> As the God of nations, so the God
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|
of Israel in particular, reserves it to himself to <I>appoint the
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bounds of our habitation.</I> And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he was
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urged to appoint one of his disciples <I>to his right hand,</I> another
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<I>to his left</I> in his kingdom, acknowledged the sovereignty of his
|
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Father in the disposal: <I>It is not mine to give.</I> Joshua must not
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dispose of inheritances in Canaan according to his own mind. <I>But it
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shall be given to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Nu26_57"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_58"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_59"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_60"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_61"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_62"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>57 And these <I>are</I> they that were numbered of the Levites after
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their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of
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Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of
|
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the Merarites.
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58 These <I>are</I> the families of the Levites: the family of the
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Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the
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Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the
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Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
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59 And the name of Amram's wife <I>was</I> Jochebed, the daughter of
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Levi, whom <I>her mother</I> bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto
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Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
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60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and
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Ithamar.
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61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire
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before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three
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thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were
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not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no
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inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Levi was God's tribe, a tribe that was to have no inheritance with the
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rest in the land of Canaan, and therefore was not numbered with the
|
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rest, but by itself; so it had been numbered in the beginning of this
|
|
book at Mount Sinai, and therefore came not under the sentence passed
|
|
upon all that were then numbered, that none of them should enter Canaan
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|
but Caleb and Joshua; for of the Levites that were not numbered with
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them, nor were to go forth to war, Eleazar and Ithamar, and perhaps
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|
others who were above twenty years old then (as appears,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:16,28"><I>ch.</I> iv. 16, 28</A>),
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entered Canaan; and yet this tribe, now at its second numbering, had
|
|
increased but 1000, and was still one of the smallest tribes. Mention
|
|
is made here of the death of Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire,
|
|
as before of the sin and punishment of Korah, because <I>these things
|
|
happened to them for ensamples.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Nu26_63"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_64"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu26_65"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>63 These <I>are</I> they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the
|
|
priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab
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|
by Jordan <I>near</I> Jericho.
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|
64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and
|
|
Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of
|
|
Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
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|
65 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had said of them, They shall surely die in the
|
|
wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the
|
|
son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
|
|
</FONT></P>
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<P>
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That which is observable in this conclusion of the account is the
|
|
execution of the sentence passed upon the murmurers
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:29"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 29</A>),
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that not one of those who <I>were numbered from twenty years old and
|
|
upwards</I> (and that the Levites were not, but either from a month old
|
|
or from thirty years old to fifty) should enter Canaan, except Caleb
|
|
and Joshua. In the muster now made particular directions, no doubt,
|
|
were given to those of each tribe that were employed in taking the
|
|
account, to compare these rolls with the former, and to observe whether
|
|
there were any now left of those that were numbered at Mount Sinai, and
|
|
it appeared that there was not one man numbered now that was numbered
|
|
then except Caleb and Joshua,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:64,65"><I>v.</I> 64, 65</A>.
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Herein appeared,
|
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|
1. The righteousness of God, and his faithfulness to his threatenings,
|
|
when once the <I>decree has gone forth.</I> He <I>swore in his
|
|
wrath,</I> and what he had sworn he performed. Better all those
|
|
carcasses, had they been ten times as many, should fall to the ground,
|
|
than the word of God. Though the rising generation was mixed with the,
|
|
and many of the guilty and condemned criminals long survived the
|
|
sentence, even to the last year of the forty, yet they were cut off by
|
|
some means or other before this muster was made. Those whom God has
|
|
condemned cannot escape either by losing themselves in a crowd or by
|
|
the delay of execution.
|
|
|
|
2. The goodness of God to this people, notwithstanding their
|
|
provocations. Though that murmuring race was cut off, yet God raised up
|
|
another generation, which was as numerous as they, that, though they
|
|
perished, yet the name of Israel might not be cut off, lest the
|
|
inheritance of the promise should be lost for want of heirs. And,
|
|
though the number fell a little short what it was at Mount Sinai, yet
|
|
those now numbered had this advantage, that they were all middle-aged
|
|
men, between twenty and sixty, in the prime of their time for service;
|
|
and during the thirty-eight years of their wandering and wasting in the
|
|
wilderness they had an opportunity of acquainting themselves with the
|
|
laws and ordinances of God, having no business, civil or military, to
|
|
divert them from those sacred studies, and having Moses and Aaron to
|
|
instruct them, and God's good Spirit,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:20">Neh. ix. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. The truth of God, in performing his promise made to Caleb and
|
|
Joshua. They were to be preserved from falling in this common ruin,
|
|
and they were so. The arrows of death, though they fly in the dark, do
|
|
not fly at random, even when they fly thickest, but are directed to the
|
|
mark intended, and no other. All that are written among the living
|
|
shall have their lives given them for a prey, in the most dangerous
|
|
times. Thousands may fall on their right hand, and ten thousands on
|
|
their left, but they shall escape.</P>
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