rians, including all the people of Syria, Mesopotamia, [ &c.; but Calmet strongly contends that by Chittim Macedonia is meant, and that the prophecy refers to the conquests of Alexander. Chittim was one of the sons of Javan, the son of Japheth, the son of Noah, Gen. x. 4; and his posterity, according to Josephus, Antiq., l. iii., c. 22, settled in Cilicia, Macedonia, Cyprus, and Italy also; and therefore, says Mr. Ainsworth, the prophecy may imply both the troubles that befell the Assyrians and Jews by the Greeks and Seleucidæ, in the troublous days of Antiochus. preceding chapter. 9. That he did seek to find out the will of the true God, by using those means which God himself had prescribed, viz., supplication and prayer, and the sacrifice of clean beasts. 10. That though he knew it would greatly displease Balak, yet he most faithfully and firmly told him all that God said on every occasion. 11. That notwithstanding his allowed covetous disposition, yet he refused all promised honours and proffered rewards, even of the most extensive kind, to induce him to act in any respect contrary to the de And shall afflict Eber] Probably not the Hebrews,clared will of God. as some think, but the people on the other side the Euphrates, from y abar, to pass over, go beyond; all which people were discomfited, and their empire destroyed by Alexander the Great. Verse 25. And Balaam-returned to his place] Intended to have gone to Mesopotamia, his native country, (see Deut. xxiii. 4,) but seems to have settled among the Midianites, where he was slain by the Israelites; see chap. xxxi. 8. THOUGH the notes in the preceding chapters have been extended to a considerable length, yet a few additional remarks may be necessary the reader's attention is earnestly requested to the following propositions: 1. It appears sufficiently evident from, the preced ́ing account that Balaam knew and worshipped the true God. 2. That he had been a true prophet, and appears to have been in the habit of receiving oracles from God. 3. That he practised some illicit branches of knowledge, or was reputed by the Moabites as a sorcerer, probably because of the high reputation he had for wisdom; and we know that even in our own country, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, persons who excelled their contemporaries in wisdom were reputed as magicians. 4. That though he was a believer in the true God, yet he was covetous; he loved the wages of unright eousness. 5. That it does not appear that in the case before us he wished to curse Israel when he found they were the servants of the true God. 6. That it is possible he did not know this at first. Balak told him that there was a numerous people come out of Egypt; and as marauders, wandering hordes, freebooters, &c., were frequent in those days, he might take them at first for such spoilers, and the more readily go at Balak's request to consult God concerning them.. 7. That so conscientiously did he act in the whole business, that as soon as he found it displeased God he cheerfully offered to return; and did not advance till he had not only the permission, but the authority of God to proceed. 8. That when he came in view of the Israelitish camp he did not attempt to make use of any means of sorcery, evocation of spirits, necromantic spells, &c., to accomplish the wish of Balak. a 12. That God on this occasion communicated to him some of the most extraordinary prophetic influences ever conferred on man. 13. That his prophecies are, upon the whole, clear and pointed, and have been fulfilled in the most remarkable manner, and furnish a very strong argument in proof of Divine revelation. 14. That notwithstanding the wicked counsel given to the Midianites, the effects of which are mentioned in the following chapter, on which account he probably lost his life, (chap. xxxi. 8,) the badness of this man's character has been very far overrated; and that it does not appear that he was either a hypocrite, false prophet; or a sorcerer in the common acceptation of the term, and that he risked even life itself in following and fulfilling the will of the Lord! 15. That though it is expressly asserted, chap. xxxi. 16, and Rev. ii. 14, that Israel's committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab was brought about by the evil counsel given by Balaam to cast this stumbling-block in their way, yet it does not appear from the text that he had those most criminal intentions which are generally attributed to him; for as we have already seen so much good in this man's character, and that this, and his love of money (and who thinks this a sin?) are almost the only blots in it, it must certainly be consistent with candour and charity to suggest a method of removing at least some part of this blame. 16. I would therefore simply say that the counsel given by Balaam to Balak might have been "to form alliances with this people, especially through the medium of matrimonial connections; and seeing they could not conquer them, to endeavour to make them their friends." Now, though this might not be designed by Balaam to bring them into a snare, yet it was a bad doctrine, as it led to the corruption of the holy seed, and to an unequal yoking with unbelievers; which, though even in a matrimonial way, is as contrary to sound policy as to the word of God. See the notes on chap. xxv. 3, 6. 17. That it was the Moabitish women, not Balaam, that called the people to the sacrifice of their gods; and it argued great degeneracy and iniquity in the hearts of the people on so slight an invitation to join so suddenly so impure a worship, and so speedily to cast off the whole form of godliness, with every portion of the fear of the Almighty; therefore the high blame rests ultimately with themselves. 699 The people commit whoredom, NUMBERS. CHAPTER XXV. . and join themselves to Baal-peor While Israel abode in Shittim the people commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, 1., They become idolaters, 2. The anger of the Lord is kindled against them, and he commands the ringleaders to be hanged, 3, 4. Moses causes the judges to slay the transgressors, 5. Zimri, one of the Israelitish princes of the tribe of Simeon, brings a Midianitish princess, named Cozbi, into his tent, while the people are deploring their iniquity before the tabernacle, 6. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, incensed by this insult to the laws and worship of God, runs after them and pierces them both with a javelin, 7, 8. Twenty-four thousand die of the plague, sent as a punishment for their iniquity, 9. The Lord grants to Phinehas a covenant of peace and an everlasting priesthood, 10–13. The name and quality of the Israelitish man and Midianitish woman, 14, 15. God commands the Israelites to vex and smite the Midianites, who had seduced them to the worship of Baal-peor, 16-18. NOTES ON CHAP. XXV. Verse 3. Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor] The same as the Priapus of the Romans, and worshipped with the same obscene rites as we have frequently had occasion to remark. The joining to Baal-peor, mentioned here, was probably what St. Paul had in view when he said, 2 Cor. vi. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. And this joining, though done even in a matrimonial way, was nevertheless fornication, (see Rev. ii, 14,) as no marriage between an Israelite and a Midianite could be legitimate, according to the law of God. See the propositions at the close of the preceding chapter. 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor. A. M. 2553. B. C. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. 40. 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 were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 And when Phinehas " the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into Verse 5. Slay ye every one his men] In the different departments where you preside over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, slay all the culprits that shall be found. Verse 6. One of the children of Israel] Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief family in the tribe of Simeon, ver. 14, brought a Midianitish woman, Cozbi, daughter of Zur, head over a people of one of the chief families in Midian, ver. 15. The condition of these two persons plainly proves it to have been a matrimonial alliance, the one was a prince, the other a princess; therefore I must conclude that fornication or whoredom, in the common sense of the word, was not practised on this occasion. The matter was bad enough, as the marriage was in flat opposition to the law of God; and we need not make it worse by repre Verse 4. Take all the heads of the people, &c.] Meaning the chiefs of those who had transgressed; as if he had said, “Assemble the chiefs and judges, insti-senting the woman as a common prostitute, as the Vultute an inquiry concerning the transgressors, and hang them who shall be found guilty before the Lord, as a matter required by his justice." Against the sun-in the most public manner, and in daylight. Dr. Kennicott has remarked that the Samaritan and Hebrew texts must be both taken together, to make the sense here complete: And the Lord said unto Moses, SPEAK unto all the heads of the people; AND LET THEM SLAY THE MEN THAT WERE JOINED TO BAALPEOR; and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, &c. gate and several others have done. In such a case this is absolutely inadmissible. Josephus positively says that Zimri had married Cozbi, Antiq., l. iv., cap. 6; and if he had not said so, still the thing is nearly self-evident. See the conclusion of chap. xxiv. The children of Israel, who were weeping] This aggravated the crime, because the people were then in a state of great humiliation, because of the late impure and illegal transactions. Verse 8. Thrust both of them through] Inspired undoubtedly by the Spirit of the God of just.ce to do God's promise to Phinehas.. A. M. 2553. 40. the tent, and thrust both of them | God, and * made an atonement for An. Exod. Isr. through, the man of Israel, and the children of Israel. the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. A. M. 2553. B. C. 1451. An. Exod. Isr. 40. 14 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, 9 And those that died in the plague were a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. twenty and four thousand. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17 a Vex the Midianites, and smite them: 18 For they vex you with their bwiles, 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. See 1 Chron. vi. 4, &c. 2 • Psa. cvi. 30.—P Deut. iv. 3; 1 Cor. x. 8.- —9 Psa. cvi. 30; Ecelus. xlv. 24; 1 Mac. ii. 54.Ecclus. xlv. 23. Heb. with my zeal; see 2 Cor. xi. 2. Exod. xl. 15; Ecclus. xlv. 24.- - Acts xxii, 3; Rom. x. 2. Exod. xx. 5; Deut. xxxii. 16, 21; 1 Kings xiv. 22; Psa. lxxviii. * Heb. 17. -y Heb. house of a father.- Chap. xxxi. 8; 58; Ezek. xvi. 38; Zeph. i. 18; iii. 8. Mal, ii. 4, 5; iii. 1; Josh. xiii. 21. Chap. xxxi. 2.- b Chap. xxxi. 16; Rev. ii. 14. this act, which can never be a precedent on any com- no more here than the promise of God, to grant him mon occasion. An act something similar ocours in and his family the utmost prosperity in reference to our own history. In 1381, in the minority of Richard both worlds. The everlasting priesthood refers proII., a most formidable insurrection took place in Kent perly to the priesthood of Christ which was shadowed and Essex; about 100,000 men, chiefly under the out by the priesthood under the law; no matter in direction of Wat Tyler, seized on London, massacred what family it was continued. Therefore the multitudes of innocent people, and were proceeding to | kehunnath olam, or eternal priesthood, does not merely the greatest enormities, when the king requiring a con-refer to any sacerdotal ministrations which should be ference in Smithfield with the rebel leader, Sir Wil-continued in the family of Phinehas, during the Mosaic liam Walworth, then mayor of London, provoked at dispensation, but to that priesthood of Christ typified the insolence with which Tyler behaved to his sovereign, knocked him off his horse with his mace, after which he was instantly despatched. While his partisans were bending their bows to revenge the death of their leader, Richard, then only sixteen years of age, rode up to them, and with great courage and presence of mind thus addressed them: "What, my people, will you kill your king! be not concerned for the death of your leader; follow me, and I will be your general." They were suddenly appeased, and the rebellion terminated. The action of Sir William Walworth was that of a zealot, of essential benefit at the time, and justified only by the pressing exigencies of the case. by that of Aaron and his successors. The priesthood alone is everlasting, and a covenant or grant of that was made to Phinehas, and his descendants. The Jews reckon twelve high priests of the race of Phinehas, from this time to the days of Solomon, nine more from that time to the captivity, (see 1 Chron. vi. 4, 15,) and fifteen from their return to the time of Antiochus Eupator, the last of whom was Onias, slain by Lysias. Ezra, the great priest and scribe, was of this line, Ezra vii. 1, 5. The family of Ithamar, uncle of Phinehas, had the priesthood for about 150 years; but it was restored to the family of Phinehas in the person of Zadok the priest, 1 Chron. vi. 50, in which it continued in the whole about 950 years. Probably the Maccabees were of the same family; but though this is not certain, there is no evidence against it. See Calmet. God therefore sufficiently fulfilled his pro Verse 9. Those that died-were twenty and four thousand.] St. Paul, 1 Cor. x. 8, reckons only twentythree thousand; though some MSS. and versions, particularly the latter Syriac and the Armenian, have twenty-four thousand, with the Hebrew text. Allow-mise; he gave to him and his descendants almost the ing the 24,000 to be the genuine reading, and none of the Hebrew MSS. exhibit any various reading here, the two places may be reconciled thus: 1000 men were slain in consequence of the examination instituted ver. 4, and 23,000 in consequence of the orders given ver. 5; making 24,000 in the whole. bably refers only to the latter number. St. Paul pro utmost temporal length that could be given of that priesthood which is, in its own nature, eternal. Here then the word by olam means, not a limited time, but what is eternal in its duration. See the note on Gen. xxi. 33. Verse 17. Vex the Midianites, &c.] See this order fulfilled, chap. xxxi. 1–20. Twelve thousand Israelites Verses 12, 13. My covenant of peace-of an ever-attacked the Midianites, destroyed all their cities, slew lasting priesthood] As the word peace implied all kinds their five kings, every male, and every grown up woof blessings, both spiritual and temporal, it may mean man, and took all their spoils. Moses and Eleazar commanded NUMBERS. to take the sum of the Israelites. CHAPTER XXVI. Moses and Eleazar are commanded to take the sum of the Israelites, in the plains of Moab, 1–4. Reuben and his posterity, 43,730, ver. 5-11. Simeon and his posterity, 22,200, ver. 12-14. Gad and his posterity, 40,500, ver. 15-18. Judah and his posterity, 76,500, ver. 19-22. Issachar and his posterity, 64,300, ver. 23-25. Zebulun and his posterity, 60,500, ver. 26, 27. Manasseh and his posterity, 52,700, ver. 28-34. Ephraim and his posterity, 32,500, ver. 35-37. Benjamin and his posterity, 45,600, ver. 38-41. Dan and his posterity, 64,400, ver. 42, 43. Asher and his posterity, 53,400, ver. 44-47. Naphtali and his posterity, 45, 400, ver. 48–50. Total amount of the twelve tribes, 601,730, ver. 51. The land is to be divided by lot, and how, 52-56. The Levites and their families, 57, 58. Their genealogy, 59–61. Their number, 23,000, ver. 62. In this census or enumeration not one man was found, save Joshua and Caleb, of all who had been reckoned 38 years before, the rest having died in the wilderness, 63-65. 4 Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. 5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites, of Pallu, the family of the Palluites : . · 6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the sons of Pallu; Eliab. a Exod. xxx. 12; xxxviii. 25, 26; chap. i. 2.Ver. 63; chap, xxii. 1; xxxi. 12; xxxiii. 48; xxxv. 1. i. 1. e Gen. xlvi. 8; Exod. vi. 14; 1 Chron. v. 1.- Chap. xvi. 32, 35. xvi. 1, 2. NOTES ON CHAP XXVI, Chap. i 3. d Ch. Chap. A. M. 2553. 40. 9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. An. Exod. 1st. This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the congregation who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: 10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men and they became a sign. 11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. of of 12 The sons of: Simeon after their families: Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites : Jamin, the family of the Jaminites of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites: 13 Ofm Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred. 15 The children of Gad after their families: of a Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites: n Chap. xvi. 38; see 1 Cor. x. 6; 2 Pet. ii. 6. Exod. vi. 24; 1 Chron. vi. 22. Gen. xlvi. 10; Exod. vi. 15, Jemud. 11 Chron. iv, 24, Jarib.- - Gen. xlvi. 10, Zohar. Gen. xlvi. 16, Ziphion. but that he was burnt, as appears in fact to have been that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the two hundred and fifty men, who became a sign. Verse 2. Take the sum of all the congregation] | the case. And the earth swallowed them up, what time After thirty-eight years God commands a second census of the Israelites to be made, to preserve the distinction in families, and to regulate the tribes previously to their entry into the promised land, and to ascertain the proportion of land which should be allowed to each tribe. For though the whole was divided by lot, yet the portions were so disposed that a numerous tribe did not draw where the lots assigned small inheritances. See verses 53-56, and also the note on chap. i. 1. Verse 10. Together with Korah] The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, Verse 11. The children of Korah died not.} It is difficult to reconcile this place with chap. xvi. 27, 31-33, where it seems to be intimated that not only the men, but the wives, and the sons, and the little ones of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up by the earthquake; see especially ver. 27, collated with ver. 33, of chap. xvi. But the text here expressly says, The children of Korah died not; and on a close in 19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites of Pharez, the family of the Pharezites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. 21 And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. the different families. A. M. 2553. 31 And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites and of She- An. Exod. Isr. chem, the family of the Shechemites: 40, 32 And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred. . 35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites of a Becher, the family of the 22 These are the families of Judah according Bachrites of Tahan, the family of the Tato those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. w 28 The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites and Machir begat Gilead of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites of Helek, the family of the Helekites : Or, Ezbon, Gen. xlvi. 16.-P Gen. xlvi. 16, Arodi. Gen. xxxviii. 2, &c.; xlvi. 12.1 Chron. ii. 3. Gen. xlvi. 13; 1 Chron. vii. 1.- - Or, Phuvah.- u Or, Job.- Gen. xlvi. 14. Gen. xlvi. 20.- - Josh. xvii. 1; 1 Chron. vii. 14, 15. y Called Abiezer, Josh. xvii. 2; Judg. vi. 11, 24, 34. spection of ver. 27 of the above-mentioned chapter, we shall find that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side and Dathan and Abiram came out—and hanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred. 42 These are the sons of Dan after their families of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. |