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12. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab: which said, "We will not come up. 13. Is it a "small thing that thou hast brought 66 us up out of a land that floweth with "milk and honey, to kill us in the "wilderness, except thou make thy"self altogether a prince over us? "14. Moreover, thou hast not brought 66 us into a land that floweth with milk "and honey, or given us inheritance of "fields, and vineyards: wilt thou (i) put "out the eyes of these men? we will "not come up." 15. And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD,

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Respect not thou their offering: I "have not taken one ass from them, "neither have I hurt one of them." 16. And Moses said unto Korah, "Be "thou and all thy company before the "LORD; thou, and they, and Aaron "to-morrow: 17. And take every man "his censer, and put incense in them, " and bring ye before the LORD, every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also and Aaron, "each of you his censer." 18. And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, (k) and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. 20. And the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, 21. "Separate yourselves from among "this congregation, that I may con66 sume them in a moment." 22. And they fell upon their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all "flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt "thou be wroth with all the congre"gation?" 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24. "Speak unto "the congregation, saying,

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Get you up from about the (1) tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

(i) v. 14. "Put out the eyes," i. e. "treat " as blind."

(k) v. 18. "And stood, &c." or "And

25. And Moses rose up, and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents "of these wicked men, and touch no

thing of theirs, lest ye be consumed "in all their sins." 27. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28. And Moses said, "Hereby ye shall "know that the LORD hath sent me to "do all these works: for I have not "done them of mine own mind. 29. If "these men die the common death of "all men, or if they be visited after "the visitation of all men: then the "LORD hath not sent me. 30. But if "the LORD make a new thing, and the "earth open her mouth, and swallow "them up, with all that appertain unto "them, and they go down quick into "the pit; then ye shall understand "that these men have provoked the "LORD." 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33. They, and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34. And all Israel that were round about them, fled at the cry of them for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also." 35. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. 36. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 37. "Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take

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up the censers out of the burning, "and scatter thou the fire yonder; for

"Moses and Aaron stood in the door of the "tabernacle of the congregation. Sept." (1) v. 24. "Tabernacle," or " Tents."

"they are hallowed. 38. The censers "of these sinners against their own "souls, let them make them broad "plates for a covering of the altar: for "they offered them before the LORD, "therefore they are hallowed: and "they shall be a sign unto the children "of Israel." 39. And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 40. To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. 41. But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses, and against Aaron, saying, "Ye have killed the people of the "LORD." 42. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43. And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. 44. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45. "Get you up "from among this congregation, that I

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48. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed. 49. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

CHAP. XXII.

AND the children of Israel set forward, and pitched (m) in the plains of Moab, on (n) this side Jordan by Jericho. 2. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed, because of the children of Israel. 4. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, “Now "shall this company lick up all that are "round about us, as the ox licketh up "the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor, was king of the Moabites at that time. 5. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of (0) Beor, to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of (p) his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people come out "from Egypt: behold, they cover the "face of the earth, and they abide over

66 may consume them as in a moment:" and they fell upon their faces. 46. And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and "make an atonement for them: for "there is wrath gone out from the LORD; "the plague is begun." 47. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and behold, the plague was begun among the people and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

(m) v. 1. "In the plains of Moab, &c." This was in the 40th year after they left Egypt. Numb. xxxiii. 38. 48. B.C. 1452.

(n) "On this side," i. e. "the eastern "side, where Moses wrote."

(0) v. 4. "Beor," or "Bosor."

against me. 6. Come now therefore, “I pray thee, curse me this people, for "they are too mighty for me: perad "venture I shall prevail, that we may "smite them, and that I may drive "them out of the land: for I wot that "he whom thou blessest is blessed, "and he whom thou cursest, is cursed." 7. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8. And he said unto them, " Lodge here this

(p) v. 5. "His people," or rather " Am"mon:" this identifies where Pethor was. Kennic. Rem. 67. Pethor was in Mesopotamia. Deut. xxiii. 4. "They hired against "thee Balaam the son of Beor, of Pethor "in Mesopotamia, to curse thee."

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"night, and I will bring you word again "as the LORD shall speak unto me." And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9. And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What men are "these with thee?" 10. And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of Zip"por, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, "saying, 11. Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth "the face of the earth: come now, "curse me them; peradventure I shall "be able to overcome them, and drive "them out." 12. And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them; "thou shalt not curse the people: for "they are blessed." 13. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, "Get you into "your land: for the LORD (q) refuseth "to give me leave to go with you." 14. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, "Balaam refuseth to come with us." 15. And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor," Let nothing, I pray "thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 17. For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will "do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: "Come therefore, I pray thee, curse "me this people." 18. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his "house full of silver and gold, I cannot

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go beyond the word of the LORD my "God, to do less or more.

19. Now

So that

(q) v. 13. "Refuseth, &c." Balaam did not tell them all that God had said unto him: by suppressing, "that

he was not to curse them, for they were "blessed," he left himself open to further solicitations.

(r) v. 19. That I may know, &c." This desire to have a second communication from God after he had received one that was decisive, shewed too earnest a disposition on Balaam's part to accede to Balak's wishes, and obtain his rewards. It is accordingly reprobated 2 Pet. ii. 15. where he speaks of persons who "are

"therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also "here this night,, that (r) I may know "what the LORD will say unto me "more." 20. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, "If the men come to call thee, rise up, "and go with them; but yet the word "which I shall say unto thee, that shalt "thou do." 21. And Balaam (s) rose' up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22. And God's anger was (t) kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him: Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. 24. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crusht Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What "have I done unto thee, that thou

"gone astray, following the way of Balaam "the son of Bosor, who loved the wages "of unrighteousness: but was rebuked "for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking "with man's voice, forbad the madness of "the prophet."

(s) v. 21. "Rose up," i. e. as Mr. Shuckford understands it," of his own accord, "without waiting for their calling him." 3 Shuckf. 133, 4.

(t) v. 22. "Kindled," on account of his inclination to go with the men for the sake of their rewards, after the plain intimation he had received from God to deter him.

"hast smitten me these three times ?" 29. And Balaam said unto the ass, "Because thou hast mocked me: I "would there were a sword in mine "hand, for now would I kill thee." 30. And the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass, upon which thou "hast ridden ever since I was thine "unto this day? was I ever wont to do "so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." 31. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, "Wherefore hast "thou smitten thine ass these three "times? Behold, I went out to with"stand thee, because thy way is perverse "before me. 33. And the ass saw me, " and turned from me these three times : "unless she had turned from me, surely "now also I had slain thee, and saved "her alive." 34. And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, "I have "sinned; for I knew not that thou "stoodest in the way against me: now "therefore if (u) it displease thee, I "will get me back again." 35. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, "Go with the men: but only the word "that I shall speak unto thee, that "thou shalt speak :" So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36. And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37. And Balak said unto Balaam, "Did "I not earnestly send unto thee to call "thee? Wherefore camest thou not

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come unto thee: have I now any

power at all to say any thing? the "word that God putteth in my mouth, "that shall I speak." 39. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. 40. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

CHAP. XXIII.

AND Balaam said unto Balak, "Build 66 me here seven altars, and prepare me "here (a) seven oxen and seven rams." 2. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam (y) offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3. And Balaam said unto Balak, "Stand by "thy burnt offering, and I will go: "peradventure the LORD will come to "meet me and whatsoever he sheweth

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me, I will tell thee." And he went to an high place. to an high place. 4. And God met Balaam; and he said unto him, "I have "prepared seven altars, and I have "offered upon every altar a bullock " and a ram." 5. And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return unto Balak, and thus thou "shalt speak." 6. And he returned unto him, and lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7. And he took up his parable, and said, "Balak the king of Moab "hath brought me from Aram, out of "the mountains of the east, saying, "Come, curse me Jacob, and come,

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"the rocks I see him, and from the " hills I behold him: lo the people shall "dwell (2) alone, and shall not be reck"oned (a) among the nations. 10. Who

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can count the dust of Jacob, and the "number of the fourth part of Israel? "Let me die the death of the righteous, "and let my last end be like his." 11. And Balak said unto Balaam, "What hast thou done unto me? I "took thee to curse mine enemies, and "behold, thou hast blessed them alto"gether." 12. And he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak "that which the LORD hath put in my "mouth?" 13. And Balak said unto him, "Come, I pray thee, with me unto "another place, from whence thou

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good? 20. Behold, I (b) have received "commandment to bless; and he hath "blessed, and I cannot reverse it. "21. He hath not beheld iniquity (c) "in Jacob, neither hath he seen per

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verseness (c) in Israel: the LORD his "God is with him, and the shout of a "(d) king is among them. 22. God "brought them out of Egypt; he (e) "hath as it were the strength of an uni

corn. 23. (g) Surely there is no en"chantment against Jacob, neither is "there any divination against Israel: "according to this time it shall be said "of Jacob and of Israel, "What hath "God wrought! 24. Behold, the peo"ple shall rise up as a great lion, and "lift up himself as a young lion; he "shall not lie down until he eat of the

66 mayest see them: thou shalt see but "the utmost part of them, and shalt not 66 see them all: and curse me them from "thence." 14. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15. And he said unto Balak, "Stand here by thy burnt offering, "while I meet the LORD yonder.' 16. And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Go "again unto Balak, and say thus." 17. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, "What hath the LORD

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(z) v. 9. "Alone." "As a distinct pe"culiar people, not confounded or mixed "with other nations." This separation the better enabled them to trace from Abraham to Joseph and Mary the genealogy of Jesus Christ. So in his last blessing to the tribes (Deut. xxxiii. 28.) Moses says, "Israel then shall dwell in "safety alone." And is not this prophecy fulfilling at this very day? Are not the Jews, though scattered over the whole world, still a distinct nation? And is there any other people so scattered, and yet so unmixed? A strong proof that this is God's prophecy, and the accomplishment his doing.

(a)" Reckoned among," or "united or "confounded with."

(b) v. 20. "Have received command"ment," or "am commanded. 2 Hales, 221."

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prey, and drink the blood of the slain." "25. And Balak said unto Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless "them at all." 26. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, “Told not "I thee, saying, "All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?" 27. And Balak said unto Balaam, "Come, I pray

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(c) v. 21. "Iniquity," and " Perverse"ness," i. e. (probably) "Idolatry," and a turning to false gods." Bp. Patrick and Archbishop Kidder. Not that they had been free from all sin, but that they had continued stedfast to the worship of Jehovah, the only true God."

(d) "A king," or "their king," i. e. "God. 2 Hales, 224." According to Deut. xxxiii. 5. "He (viz. God) was king in "Jeshurun," i. e. "Israel."

(e) v. 22. "Hath as it were," or "is to "them as." 2 Hales, 224.

(g) v. 23. "Surely, &c." or "Surely "enchantment shall not prevail against "Jacob, nor divination against Israel: in "due season it shall be said, &c." See 2 Hales, 224.

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