SECT. V. on the Edom. Edom, as is evident from Num. xxxiv. 3, 4. and Josh. xv. CHAP. II. 1, 3. I have also observed, that Kadesh lying in the wilderness of Zin was in all probability different from Kadesh bly situated in the wilderness of Paran. But it remains further to be north-east considered, how the wilderness of Zin lay in respect to or east of mount Seir, or the land of Edom. The generality of writers do indeed make it lie to the west of Edom, and the same with Kadesh-barnea. That it was not the same with Kadesh-barnea, but a place distinct from it, the reasons above alleged, sect. v. paragr. 2, 3. seem so clear to me, that I could not but readily dissent from the opinion generally received. However there are some expressions in the sacred history, which induced me, for some time after, to look on the encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness of Zin to have been (according to the general opinion) on the west of Edom. But upon further consideration I have been induced to recede still further from the common opinion, and to think that more probable, which places the encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness of Zin on the east side of Edom, as may be seen in the map of the journeys of the Israelites. The chief motive for altering my first opinion herein was this. We read, Deut. ii. 3. that God said to Moses, Ye have compassed this mountain (viz. mount Seir, ver. 1.) long enough; turn you northward. It is plain from Num. xxxiii. 36. that the Israelites were then at Ezion-gaber. Now if the encampment of the Israelites in the wilderness of Zin (which was next after that at Ezion-gaber) was on the west or northwest of Edom, then the Israelites first marched from Eziongaber northward to the wilderness of Zin, on the west of Edom, and then (being denied passage through Edom) marched back again southwards towards Ezion-gaber, and so round the land of Edom to the east side: but as it seems not only inconsistent with the divine wisdom, to order them to march so far north on the west side of Edom, only to come back again; so it plainly contradicts the reason of the orders being given to turn northward, namely, because they had compassed mount Seir long enough. For by PART II. their march, according to the common opinion, they were put under a necessity of compassing it still longer. Which absurdity and some other difficulties are removed by supposing the encampment in the wilderness of Zin to have been on the east of Edom. 1. The Israel Hor, and ron dies. SECT. VI. Of the Journeyings of the Israelites, from Kadesh in the BOTH in Num. xx. 22-29. and Num. xxxiii. 37, 38. ites encamp we read, that the Israelites removed from Kadesh in the in mount wilderness of Zin, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge there Aa- of the land of Edom; and that Aaron went up into mount Hor, at the commandment of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month. In Num. xx. 24. the reason is expressed, why God would not permit Aaron to enter into Canaan, namely, because he rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Where that by Meribah is to be understood Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin; and that by ye is to be understood more peculiarly Moses and Aaron, is evident from Num. xxvii. 12. And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin. Whence we learn, that the occasion of Moses and Aaron's not entering into the land of Canaan was one and the same. 2. Of mount Hor. It is expressly said in the text, that mount Hor was by CHAP. II. the coast, (Num. xx. 23.) or by the edge of the land of SECT. VI. Edom. Num. xxxiii. 37. And we are expressly told, Deut. ii. 12. that the Horims dwelt in Seir beforetime; and accordingly we read, Gen. xiv. 6. that Chedorlaomer king of Elam with his confederates smote the Horites in their mount Seir. Now whether the Horites took their name from mount Hor, or the mount from them, cannot be possibly determined. But since it is plain, that places did at first take generally their names from the inhabitants, it seems not unlikely, that both the tract or country afterward denoted by mount Seir, and also the inhabitants thereof, took the names, one of mount Hor, the other of the Horims or Horites, from one Hor, of whom these were descended, and who in the more early ages of the world possessed this tract: and that although, in process of time, the name of mount Seir came to be used to denote the said tract, yet the old name of mount Hor was preserved in that part of it, where stood the mountain here so called by Moses, and on which Aaron died. Since it was the very next encampment of the Israelites, after that in the wilderness of Zin; and since, by what has been before observed, it is probable that the wilderness of Zin lay to the east or north-east of Edom; hence it will follow, that mount Hor must lie likewise on the eastern coast of Edom. Hebrew x. 6. cor reading re It will be proper here to take notice of a great difficul- 3. ty, which arises concerning the place of Aaron's death and The present burial, from comparing the two forecited places, Num. xx. text, Deut. 23-29. and xxxiii. 37, 38. with Deut. x. 6. In both the rupted, and two former places of the book of Numbers, it is expressly the true said, that Aaron died on the top of mount Hor; but in stored from Deut. x. 6. it is said, that the children of Israel took their the Samarijourney from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan, to Mosera: teuch. there Aaron died, and there he was buried. But it is clear enough from the account given us of the encampments of the Israelites in Num. xxxiii. that Mosera or Moseroth, ver. 31. was a very different encampment from that at tan Penta PART II. mount Hor, ver. 37. Great pains have been taken to reconcile these texts one with the other; but all hath been only lost labour. For it is plain from the Hebrew-Samaritan text, that Deut. x. 6, 7. is extremely corrupted by the mistake of transcribers. I have above shewn the true ancient reading of the former part of ver. 6. I shall now here set down the whole passage as it still stands, rightly preserved, in the Hebrew-Samaritan or old Hebrew text; which in English runs thus: The children of Israel took their journey from Moseroth, and pitched in Bene-jaakan (or, among the children of Jaakan.) Thence they took their journey, and pitched at Gidgad (or Hagidgad.) Thence they took their journey, and pitched in Jotbatha, a land of brooks of waters. Thence they took their journey, and pitched at Ebronah. Thence they took their journey, and pitched at Exion-gaber. Thence they took their journey, and pitched in the desert of Zin, which is Kadesh. Thence they took their journey, and pitched in mount Hor. And there Aaron died, and was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead. At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, &c. Thus stands the Hebrew-Samaritan text in the forementioned place of Deut. x. 6, 7. which as it exactly agrees with the order of the encampments mentioned Num. xxxiii. 31-38. so it is not to be doubted, but it is therefore the true ancient reading; and that the present reading in the Hebrew Chaldaic or common Hebrew text has arisen from some mistake in transcribers, or other accident. 4. Other en campments of the Is raclites. The Israelites decamping from mount Hor, continued their march round mount Seir, and pitched (as we read Num. xxxiii. 41, &c.) in Zalmonah, then in Punon, and then in Oboth. And Num. xxi. 4-10. we read, that between their decamping from mount Hor and encamping at Oboth, the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way; insomuch that they spake against God and against Moses. Whereupon the Lord sent fiery serpents among them, and they bit them, and many of them died. But upon their confessing their sin, and Moses praying for SECT. VI. them, God ordered a serpent of brass to be made, and put CHAP. II. on a pole; (supposed to prefigure the cross of our blessed Saviour, who has delivered mankind from the old serpent ;) and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld (or looked up upon) the serpent of brass, he lived. 5. Another present Departing from Oboth, the Israelites encamped at Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab, (Num. xxxiii. 44.) in the emendawilderness that is before Moab, toward the sun-rising, Num. tion of the xxi. 11. And what Moses saith, Deut. ii. 9. The Lord said Hebrew unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with text. them in battle: for I have not given thee of their land for a possession, but I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession. This whole passage immediately follows in the Hebrew-Samaritan text, that which is above cited from Num. xxi. 11. and it is very likely, that it was originally inserted here, being very apposite; though it is omitted in the common Hebrew text. 6. Of the val another present He From Ije-abarim the Israelites removed, (more northward,) and pitched in the valley of Zered, Num. xxi. 12. ley of ZeThe same may be otherwise rendered, the brook Zered, and red, and so it is actually rendered in our translation, Deut. ii. 13. emendaIndeed it is very likely, that in the valley of Zered there tion of the might be a brook, which therefore went by the same brew text. name. Moses particularly remarks, Deut. ii. 14, &c. that the space in which the Israelites came from Kadesh-barnea, until they were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; and that in that time all the generation of the men of war (i. e. all from twenty years old and upward, Num. xiv. 29.) was wasted out (i. e. dead) from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them, Num. xiv. 28–35. And when all the men of war were thus consumed and dead, then the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day. And when thou comest nigh over-against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of their land any possession, because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. Deut. ii. 16-19. Now |