IX. (1) IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SECOND YEAR. — The celebration of the Passover, as recorded in this chapter, preceded in order of time the numbering of the people recorded in Numbers 1, and the other events which were connected with it. No provision had hitherto been made for the celebration of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AT EVEN. — Hebrew, _between the two evenings._ (See Note on Exodus 12:6.) ACCORDING TO ALL THE RITES OF IT, AND ACCORDING TO ALL THE CEREMONIES THEREOF. — Better, _according to all the statutes and ordinances thereof._ It is obvious that some of the directions concerning the Egyptian Passover could... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY KEPT THE PASSOVER ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY... — There is no mention here of the observance of the feast of unleavened bread for seven days, as it was enjoined in Exodus 12:18. It might not have been practicable to obtain a sufficient quantity of flour to last so large a number of people for se... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE CERTAIN MEN... — It has been supposed that the reference is to Mishael and Elzaphan, who appear to have buried their cousins, Nadab and Abihu, about this time (Blunt’s “Script. Coincidences,” pp. 66, 67,1850). If the consecration of Aaron and his sons began on the first day of the fir... [ Continue Reading ]
AN OFFERING. — Better, _the offering,_ or _oblation. _... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A JOURNEY AFAR OFF. — Or, _on a distant journey._ This is one of the ten passages in the Pentateuch in which one or more words are marked with certain dots, known as _puncta extraordinaria._ In this case these dots stand over the word _rehokah, distant._ The Rabbinical explanation is that the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO ALL THE ORDINANCES. — The word rendered _ordinances_ is in the singular number:_ according to all the ordinance_ (or _statute_). The primary reference is probably to the law respecting the Paschal Lamb. According to Jewish tradition the feast was only observed for one day instead of sev... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BEAR HIS SIN — i.e., shall be put to death. (Comp. Leviticus 24:15; Numbers 18:22.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF A STRANGER... — The law respecting the stranger is contained in Exodus 12:48.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CLOUD COVERED THE TABERNACLE, NAMELY, THE TENT OF THE TESTIMONY. — Better, _the tabernacle of_ (or, belonging to) _the tent of the testimony._ It is stated in Exodus 40:34, after the account of the erection of the Tabernacle, that the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and that the glory of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CLOUD COVERED IT BY DAY. — There is no need for the insertion of the words in italics. It was the same cloud which was “alway” over the Tabernacle during the continuance of the journeyings through the wilderness. AND THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE BY NIGHT. — Better, _and there was the appearance of fi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP... — Only one instance is recorded of disregard of the Divine direction thus miraculously vouchsafed, viz., in Numbers 14:40. It was necessary that the hosts of Israel should be always in a watchful state, and ready to obey at once the intimations given to them of the... [ Continue Reading ]
KEPT THE CHARGE OF THE LORD. — The same expression is used of Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8:35, and also in respect to the office of the Levites in Numbers 3:7, as keeping the charge of Aaron and of the congregation. It is also used of the people generally in 2 Chronicles 23:6, in regard to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO IT WAS... — Better, _And sometimes,_ &c., i.e., there were times or occasions in which, &c. So in Numbers 9:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY DAY OR BY NIGHT. — It is obvious from this verse that there must have been sentinels constantly watching by night as well as by day, whose office it was to give notice when the cloud was removed. (Comp. Psalms 134:1.)... [ Continue Reading ]
OR A YEAR. — Literally, _days_ (comp. Genesis 4:3; Genesis 40:4, and Notes). If the rendering of the Authorised Version, “a year,” is correct, as it probably is, it will follow that these words could not have been written until after the first arrival at Kadesh (Numbers 13:26), and probably not unti... [ Continue Reading ]