INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 20 In this chapter is an account of the children of Israel coming to the wilderness of Zin, where Miriam died, and where wanting water they murmured, Numbers 20:1, upon which Moses and Aaron applied to the Lord, who ordered Moses to speak to a rock, which should give forth w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, EVEN THE WHOLE CONGREGATION,.... Not immediately after the transaction of the above things, recorded in the preceding Chapter s; as the sending of the spies into the land of Canaan, and their report of it; the business of Korah, and the giving of several laws respec... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE CONGREGATION,.... Which was so ordered, for the trial of this new generation, to see whether they would behave any better than their fathers had done in a like circumstance, the first year they came out of Egypt, Exodus 17:1 AND THEY GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE CHODE WITH MOSES,.... Contended with him in a wrangling and litigious manner, showing no reverence nor respect unto his person on account of the dignity of his office, and the many favours they had received from him; and this at a time, when, instead of quarrelling with him, they shou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY HAVE YE BROUGHT UP THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD INTO THIS WILDERNESS,.... The wilderness of Zin, whither by various marches and journeys, and through different stations, they were at length come: THAT WE AND OUR CATTLE SHOULD DIE THERE? with thirst; they seem to represent it, as if this was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEREFORE HAVE YE MADE US TO COME UP OUT OF EGYPT,.... They represent that affair in such a light, as if they were forced out of Egypt by Moses and Aaron against their wills; or at least were overpersuaded by them to do what they had no inclination to, namely, to come out of Egypt; though they w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES AND AARON WENT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE ASSEMBLY,.... Like fugitives, as Aben Ezra; they fled from them through fear, lest they should rise and fall upon them, and stone them, as their fathers were ready to do in a like case, Exodus 17:4. It is very likely this assembly gathered about the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,.... Out of what was the token of his glory, which perhaps was the cloud, with an uncommon lustre and brightness in it: saying; as follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THY ROD,.... The rod of miracles, as the Targum of Jonathan; not the rod of Aaron, miraculous for its blossom and fruit, as some Jewish writers think; but the rod of Moses, with which he had done many wonders in Egypt, and at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and particularly by smiting the r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES TOOK THE ROD FROM BEFORE THE LORD..... Which was laid up somewhere in the sanctuary, as well as the rod of Aaron, Numbers 17:7: AS HE COMMANDED HIM; being always faithful and obedient to him that appointed him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES AND AARON GATHERED THE CONGREGATION TOGETHER BEFORE THE ROCK,.... To which they were directed, and were to speak unto; before this they gathered not only the elders of the people, but as many of the congregation as could be well assembled together: AND HE SAID UNTO THEM; Moses, who was bi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES LIFTED UP HIS HAND, AND WITH HIS ROD HE SMOTE THE ROCK TWICE,.... At first it only brought out some drops, as Jarchi conjectures, and therefore Moses smote again, when it brought forth water plentifully: the Targum of Jonathan says, "at the first time it dropped blood, at the second time... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON,.... Out of the cloud, where his glory appeared, and still continued: BECAUSE YE BELIEVED ME NOT, TO SANCTIFY ME IN THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; that Moses and Aaron committed an evil which was displeasing to the Lord is certain, but what that was is v... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE WATER OF MERIBAH,.... Or "strife": this is the name by which the water had in this place, and from this rock, was called; and which is the same name given to the place at Horeb, where a rock had been smitten, and water had flowed, as now, the first year they came out of Egypt; and to dis... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SENT MESSENGERS FROM KADESH UNTO THE KING OF EDOM,.... This country was sometimes governed by kings, and sometimes by "dukes", see Genesis 36:14. At the time of the passage of the Israelites through the Red sea, we read of the dukes of Edom, Exodus 15:15, and here, thirty nine years after,... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW OUR FATHERS WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT,.... Jacob and his twelve sons, with their children: AND WE HAVE DWELT IN EGYPT A LONG TIME; even the space of four hundred and thirty years, Exodus 12:40 AND THE EGYPTIANS VEXED US AND OUR FATHERS; used them ill, brought them into bondage, and made their lives... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN WE CRIED UNTO THE LORD,.... By reason of their bondage, and to be delivered from it, Exodus 2:24: HE HEARD OUR VOICE; their prayer to him, as the Targum of Jonathan, for help and deliverance, Exodus 2:24: AND SENT AN ANGEL, AND HATH BROUGHT US FORTH OUT OF EGYPT; one of the ministering an... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US PASS, I PRAY THEE, THROUGH THY COUNTRY,.... That being the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan, from the place where they now were: WE WILL NOT PASS THROUGH THE FIELDS, OR THROUGH THE VINEYARDS; to harm them, and injure any man in his private property, by gathering the fruit of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EDOM SAID UNTO HIM,.... The king of Edom replied to Israel, represented by the messengers sent in their name: THOU SHALL NOT PASS BY ME; through my country: LEST I COME OUT AGAINST THEE WITH THE SWORD; or with those that use the sword, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; that is, with an a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SAID UNTO HIM,.... The messengers sent by the children of Israel made answer to the king of Edom: WE WILL GO BY THE HIGHWAY; we desire no other favour but that of the public road; we propose not to go through any part of the country that is enclosed and cultivated, to do... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, THOU SHALL NOT GO THROUGH,.... Which is an absolute and peremptory denial: AND EDOM CAME OUT AGAINST HIM WITH MUCH PEOPLE, AND WITH A STRONG HAND; the king raised the militia of his country, and came at the head of a powerful army to hinder their passing into it; being fearful and jeal... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 21 THUS EDOM REFUSED TO GIVE ISRAEL PASSAGE THROUGH HIS COUNTRY,.... Notwithstanding their near relation to each other, and the fair promises Israel made: WHEREFORE ISRAEL TURNED AWAY FROM HIM: patiently bearing the refusal, and not resenting it; being ordered, as the Targum of Jonathan expres... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, [EVEN] THE WHOLE CONGREGATION, JOURNEYED FROM KADESH,.... Not directly, but after they had continued there some time, and had furnished themselves with provisions for their journey, which they bought of the Edomites, see Judges 11:17, "the whole congregation" is observed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON IN MOUNT HOR,.... When they were at the foot of that mountain, in the valley adjoining to it: BY THE COAST OF THE LAND OF EDOM; which they were still upon the borders of, and were going round it, not being permitted to go through it: SAYING; as follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
AARON SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE,.... That is, shall die, for this phrase is a periphrasis of death, and is used in common both of good and bad men, and designs death in general, without regard to persons and places men go to at death: FOR HE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE AARON AND ELEAZAR HIS SON,.... His eldest son, who was to succeed him in the priesthood, and did: AND BRING THEM UP UNTO MOUNT HOR; to the top of it, they being now at the foot of it, where the people of Israel lay encamped.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STRIP AARON OF HIS GARMENTS,.... His priestly garments, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi: AND PUT THEM UPON ELEAZAR HIS SON; thereby declaring him to be high priest in his father's stead: AND AARON SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE, AND SHALL DIE THERE; the phrase of gathering to his p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED,.... Though it must be very cutting, distressing, and afflicting to him, to part with a brother so dear to him, and who had been so many years a companion of him, and a partner with him in the care and government of the people of Israel; but it being the Lord's wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES STRIPPED AARON OF HIS GARMENTS,.... His priestly garments, which, very probably, were put on at the foot of the mountain, on purpose for the transaction of this affair, since they were not in common worn, but only when in service; the same hands that clothed Aaron with them at first, strip... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ALL THE CONGREGATION SAW THAT AARON WAS DEAD,.... Not that they saw his dead body, but they perceived by the relation of Moses, and by various circumstances, as not seeing Aaron come down, whom they saw go up, and seeing Eleazar with Aaron's garments on him, and perhaps by tokens of mournin... [ Continue Reading ]