Then — To wit, after many stations and long journeys here omitted, but particularly described, Numbers 33:1. Zin — A place near the land of Edom, distinct and distant from that Sin, Exodus 16:1. The first month — Of the fortieth year, as is evident, because the next station to this was in mount Hor,... [ Continue Reading ]
No water — Which having followed them through all their former journeys, began to fail them here, because they were now come near countries, where waters might be had by ordinary means, and therefore God would not use extraordinary, lest he should seem to prostitute the honour of miracles. This stor... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the Lord — Suddenly, rather than to die such a lingering death. Their sin was much greater than that of their parents, because they should have taken warning by their miscarriages, and by the terrible effects of them, which their eyes had seen.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rod — That which was laid up before the Lord in the tabernacle; whether it was Aaron's rod, which was laid up there, Numbers 17:10, or Moses's rod by which he wrought so many miracles. For it is likely, that wonder — working rod, was laid up in some part of the tabernacle, though not in or near... [ Continue Reading ]
From before the Lord — Out of the tabernacle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye believed me not — But shewed your infidelity: which they did, either by smiting the rock, and that twice, which is emphatically noted, as if he doubted whether once smiting would have done it, whereas he was not commanded to smite so much as once, but only to speak to it: or by the doubtfulness o... [ Continue Reading ]
Meribah — That is, strife. In them — Or, among them, the children of Israel, by the demonstration of his omnipotency, veracity, and clemency towards the Israelites, and of his impartial holiness and severity against sin even in his greatest friends and favourites.... [ Continue Reading ]
All the travel — All the wanderings and afflictions of our parents and of us their children, which doubtless have come to thine ears.... [ Continue Reading ]
An Angel — The Angel of the Covenant, who first appeared to Moses in the bush, and afterward in the cloudy pillar, who conducted Moses and the people out of Egypt, and through the wilderness. For though Moses may be called an angel or messenger yet it is not probable that he is meant, partly because... [ Continue Reading ]
The wells — Or, pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, not without paying for it, Numbers 20:19, but only of the waters of common rivers, which are free to all passengers. No man's property ought to be invaded, under colour of religion. Dominion is founded in providence, not in Gra... [ Continue Reading ]
By me — Through my country: I will not suffer thee to do so: which was an act of policy, to secure themselves from so numerous an host.... [ Continue Reading ]
Said — That is, their messengers replied what here follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron — So these two dear brothers must part! Aaron must die first: but Moses is not likely to be long after him. So that it is only for a while, a little while, that they are separated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they rebelled — This was one but not the only reason. God would not have Moses and Aaron to carry the people into Canaan, for this reason also, to signify the insufficiency of the Mosaical law and Aaronical priesthood to make them perfectly happy, and the necessity of a better, and to keep t... [ Continue Reading ]
His garments — His priestly garments, in token of his resignation of his office. Put them on Eleazar — By way of admission and inauguration to his office.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the sight of all the congregation — That their hearts might be more affected with their loss of so great a pillar, and that they all might be witnesses of the translation of the priesthood from Aaron to Eleazar.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses stript Aaron — And Death will strip us. Naked we came into the world: naked we must go out. We shall see little reason to be proud of our cloaths, our ornaments, or marks of honour, if we consider how soon death will strip us of all our glory, and take the crown off from our head! Aaron di... [ Continue Reading ]
Saw — Understood by the relation of Moses and Eleazar, and by other signs. Thirty days — The time of publick and solemn mourning for great persons.... [ Continue Reading ]