Then came the children of Israel, [even] the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. Ver. 1. _In the first month._] To wit, of their fortieth year, after they came out of Egypt. For from this chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Ver. 3. _And the people chode._] Wanting both water and patience, they broke the peace with their superiors. _See Trapp on "_ Num 14:15 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? Ver. 4. _And why have ye brought up._] See how this new generation doth _patrissare_ This is but the old coccysmus of those ancient malcontents; Exo 17:2 so much the worse in these... [ Continue Reading ]
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it [is] no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither [is] there any water to drink. Ver. 5. _Neither is there any water to drink._] Thirst, a most eager appetite, enrageth their aff... [ Continue Reading ]
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. Ver. 8. _Take the... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. Ver. 9. _And Moses took the rod._] The same rod that once smote the river, to destroy the Egyptians. The same word is a savour of life to believers, and of death to unbelievers. 2Co 2:16... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? Ver. 10. _Hear now, ye rebels._] They could hardly hear, for the belly hath no ears, and their tongues scarce knew to utter any language but... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]. Ver. 11. _He smote the rock twice._] In a great heat and pang of passion. “ _Qui non moderabitur irae,_ Infectum velit esse dolor quod su... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Ver. 12. _Because ye believed me not._] Ye could not conceive, and were not very willing,... [ Continue Reading ]
This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. Ver. 13. _And he was sanctified in them._] By overcoming their evil with good; striking the rock for them, when he might justly have stricken them with utter destruction. Man's badnes... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: Ver. 14. _Thus saith thy brother._] "A brother is born for adversity"; Pro 17:17 and good blood will not belie itself. But "a brother offended is harder to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we [are] in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: Ver. 16. _Sent an angel._] This was Christ; or, as some would have it, Moses; like as Phineas is thought to be that... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink [of] the water of the wells: we will go by the king's [high] way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. Ver. 17. _We wi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. Ver. 18. _Thou shalt not pass._] As fearing what so great an army once got in might do; they are not usually so easily removed. It was therefore great injustice in Pope Julius, to excommunicate and depos... [ Continue Reading ]
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Ver. 24. _Ye rebelled._] In that ye smote the rock, and smote it twice: he spoke bitterly also to the people, ca... [ Continue Reading ]