with 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. CHAPTER XXVI. D of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites: 16 Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites: Moses and Eleazar are commanded to take the sum of the Israelites in the plains of 17 Of P Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites. tali and his posterity, 15, 100, 48-50. Total amount of the twelve tribes 601,730 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, 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. An Exod. Isr. 40. AND it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saving a 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their father's house, all that are able to go to war in Israel. 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan, near Jericho, saying, 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. e 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. 9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. 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: h and they became a sign. 11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. 12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites: m 13 Of 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; Exod. 30. 12 & 38. 25, 26. Ch. 1. 2-b Ch. 1. 3-c Ver. 63. Ch. 22. 1. & 31. 12 33 48 & 35. 1.-d Ch. 1.1-e Gen. 46. 8. Exol. 6. 14. 1 Chron. 5. 1.-t Ch. 16. 1, 2-g Ch. 16. 32, 35-h Ch. 16. 38. See 1 Cor. 10. 6. 2 Pet. 2. 6.-i Exod. 6. 24. 1 Chron. 6. 22-k Gen. 46. 10. Exod. 6. 15, Jemuel.--1 1 Chron. 4. 24. Jarib.—m Gen. Verse 17. Vex the Midianites, &c.] See this order fulfilled, chap. xxxi. 1-20. 12,000 Israelites attacked the Midianites, destroyed all their cities, slew their five kings, every male, and every grown-up woman, and took all their spoils. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXVI. Verse 2. Take the sum of all the congregation] After 38 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, 54, 55, 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, but that he was burnt, as appears in fact to have been the case. And the earth swallowed them up, what time that com 18 These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of r 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. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. 23 Of the sons of Issachar after their families; of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites: 24 Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred. 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 Jeczerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites: 32 And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 46. 10, Zohar-n Gen. 46. 16, Ziphion.-o Or, Ezbon. Gen. 46. 16.-p Gen. 46. 16. Arodi-r Gen 38. 2, &c. & 46. 12-81 Chron. 2 3-t Gen. 46. 13 Chron. 7. 1. u Or. Phuvah-v Or, Job.-w Gen. 46. 11-x Gen. 46. 20-y Josh. 17. 1. 1 Chron. 7. 14, 15.-2 Called Abiezer, Josh. 17. 2. Judg. 6. 11, 24, 34.-a Ch. 27. 1. & 36. 11. pany died; and the fire devoured Korah with the 250 men, who became a sign. Verse 11. The children of Korah died not.] It is diffi cult 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 inspection 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 their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. Here is no mention of the children of Korah, they therefore escaped, while, it appears, those of Dathan and Abiram perished with their fathers.-See the note on chap. xvi. 30. 38 The sons of Benjamin after their families of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of d Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites: 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 48 Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeel39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuph-ites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites; amites of Hupham, the family of the Hupham- 49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of ites. 1 Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 40 And the sons of Bela were f Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman the family of the Naamites. 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. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them were threescore and four thousand and four hundred. i 44 Of the children of Asher after their families of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of b1 Chron. 7. 20, Bered-c Gen. 46. 21. 1 Chron. 7. 6.-d Gen. 46. 21, Ehi. 1 Chron. 8. 1, Aharah Gen. 46. 21, Muppim and Huppim. -f 1 Chron. 8. 3, Addar. g Gen. 46. 23.-h Or, Hushim.-i Gen. 46. 17. 1 Chron. 7. 30.-k Gen. 46. 24. 1 Verse 51. These were the numbered of the children of Israel, 601,730.] The following comparative statement will show how much some of the tribes had increased, and others had diminished since the enumeration in chapter 1. Let it be observed, 1. That among these there was not a man of the former census, save Joshua and Caleb, see ver. 64, 65. 2. That though there was an increase in seven tribes of not less than 74,800 men, yet so great was the decrease in the other five tribes that the balance against the present census, is 1,820, as appears above; thus we find, that there was an increase of 601,723 from 603,550 in the space of 38 years. Notwitstanding the amazing increase in some, and decrease in other tribes: the same sort of proportion is preserved in the east, west, north and south divisions, as before; so as to keep the division of Judah, which was always in the front or van, the largest; and the division of Dan, which was always in the rear, the next in number. But it is worthy of remark, that as they are now, properly speaking, to commence their grand military operations, so their front, or advanced division, is increased from 186,400, to 201,300. And their rear, from 157,600, to 163,200. The first division is strengthened 14,900 men, and the last division 5,600 men. The reasons for this are sufficiently obvious. Mr. Ainsworth has a curious remark on the number of families in the twelve tribes. "Here are families, "In all 57: to whom, if we add the 12 patriarchs, and Jacob their father, the whole number is 70: the exact number of the souls in Jacob's house, that went down to Egypt, Gen. xlvi. 27." In a variety of things in this ancient economy, there is a most surprising proportion kept up, which never could have been a fortuitous effect of general 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred. 51 These were the number of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty. D 52 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 53 Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54 To many thou shalt P give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. 55 Notwithstanding the land shall be · divided Chron. 7. 13.- 1 Chron. 7. 13. Shallum.-m See Ch. 1. 46. —n Josh. II 2. & 14. L o Ch. 33. 54.-p Heb. multiply his inheritance-r Heb. diminish his inheritance. 8 Ch. 33. 54. & 34. 13. Josh. 11. 23. & 14. 2. causes. But proportion, harmony, and order, distinguish all the works of God, both in the natural and moral world. Verse 55. The land shall be divided by lot] The word Sagoral, translated lot, is supposed by some to signify the stone or pebble formerly used for the purpose of what we term casting lots. The word hlot, hlot, is AngloSaxon, from hleotan, to divide or portion out, i. e. fortuitously: it answers to the Greek λes, which, some think, comes from xxx, to break; because the lot being a sort of appeal to God, ("The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole diposing thereof is of the Lord," Prov. xvi. 33.) broke off all contentions and litigations, relative to the matter in dispute. From this original division of the promised land by lot, to the children of Israel, all portions, appointments, offices, shares, or divisions, in spiritual and ecclesiastical matters, were termed lots. So, in the New Testament, the word xangos, lot, is used to signify a portion of spiritual blessedness, and evμs, a division by lot, an inheritance: and xxxpo, the lotted or appointed persons to different works, shares, &c. hence our word clergy, xλng., persons appointed by lot, to a lot, portion, or inheritance; see the case of Matthias, Acts i. 26. Persons thus appointed were by accommodation termed inheritors, because originally, when there could be no claims of exclusive right, all lands, where a wandering tribe chose to take up its residence, were divided by lot, as the promised land in the case before us. So Judah says to Simeon his brother, Judg. i. 3. "Come up with me into my lot." And as God was ever supposed to be the whole disposer in such matters, whatever fell out in the course of God's proridence, was called a lot. "This is the lot of them that rob us.' Isai. xvii. 14. "Thou hast neither lot nor part in this matter." Acts viii. 21. A lot in the promised land, was evidently typical of a place in eternal glory. "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance (angor, a lot) among them that are sanctified." Acts xxvi. 18. "Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance (pov, of the lot) of the saints in light." "Which is the earnest of our inheritance, (xxxporowers, of our allotted portion.") Eph. i. 14. "What is the riches of the glory of his inheritance," povos, allotted portion.) Eph. i. 18. As therefore the promised land was divided by lot to the believing Israelites, God determining the lot as he saw good, none of the people having any claim on, or right to it; so the kingdom of heaven is a lot given by the mere good will of God to them that believe and obey him; for as unbelief and disobedience threw 600,000 people out of the inheritance of the promised land; so none who disbelieve God's word, and rebel against his authority, shall ever enter into the kingdom of heaven. by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few. 57 And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families; of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebron ites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram. 59 And the name of Amram's wife was "Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare unto Levi in Egypt; and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. 60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. W 61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. 62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel. 63 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho. a 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there t Gen. 46. 11. Exod. 6. 16, 17, 18, 19. 1 Chron. 6. 1, 16.-u Exol. 2. 1, 2 & 6. 20. Ch. 3. 2-w Lev. 10 1,2 Ch. 3. 4. 1 Chron. 2 24-x See Ch. 3. 39-y Ch. 1. 49. z Ch. 18. 20. 23, 24. Deut. 10. 9. Josh. 13. 14, 33. & 14. 3-a Ver. 3-6 Ch. 1. Deut. See Ainsworth. These things happened unto them for examples see then, reader, that thou fall not after the same example of unbelief. was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. CHAPTER XXVII. The daughters of Zelophehad claim their inheritance, 1-4. Moses brings their cause before the Lord, 5. He allows their claim, 6, 7. and a law is made to regulate the inheritance of daughters, 8-11 Moses is commanded to go up to Mount Abarim, and view the promised land, 12 is apprised of his death, 13 and because he did not sanctify God at the waters of Meribah, he shall not enter into it, 14. Moses reghosts the Lord to appoint a person to supply his place as leader of the Israelites, 15-17. God appoints Joshua, commands Moses to lay his hands upon him, to set him before Eleazar the priest, and give him a charge in the sight of the people, 18 20. Eleazar shall ask counsel for him by Urim, and at his command shall the Israelites go out and come in, 21. Moses does as the Lord commanded him, and consecrates Joshua, 22, 23. e lophehad, the son of Hepher, the 40. THEN came the daughters of Ze- An. Exod. Iar. son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh, the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes, and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. k 5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. 6 T And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren: and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 214, 15- Ch. 14. 28, 29. 1 Cor. 10. 5, 6.- Ch. 14 30.-e Ch. 26. 33. & 36. 1, 1). Josh. 17. 3-f Ch. 14. 35. & 26. 61, 65-g Ch. 16. 1, 2-h Heb. diminished.-i Josh. 17. 4-k Exo. 18. 15, 19.-1 Ch. 36. 2. Jer. 49. 11. Gal. 3. 28. jecture. Now the plain truth is, that the masculine is, in the present printed text, a mistake for the feminine. The Samaritan, which many think by far the most authentic copy of the Pentateuch, has the feminine gender in both places; so also have upwards of fourscore of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi. Therefore all the curious reasons for this anomaly, offered by interpreters, are only serious trifling on the blunder of some heedless copyists. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXVII. Verse 1. The daughters of Zelophehad] The singular case of these women, caused an additional law to be made to the civil code of Israel, which satisfactorily ascertained, and amply secured the right of succession in cases of inheritance. The law, which is as reasonable as it is While on the subject of mysterious reasons and meanjust, stands thus. 1. On the demise of the father, the es-ings, some might think it unpardonable, if I passed by the tate goes to the sons. 2. If there be no son, the daughters mystery of the fall, recovery, and full salvation of man, succeed. 3. If there be no daughter, the brothers of the signified, as some will have it, by the names of Zelophehad deceased inherit. 4. If there be no brethren or paternal and his daughters. "1. Zelophehad's daughters, claiming uncles, the estate goes to the brothers of his father. 5. If a portion in the promised land, may represent believers in there be no grand uncles, or brothers of the father of the Christ, claiming an inheritance among the saints in light. deceased, then the nearest akin succeeds to the inheritance. 2. These five virgins may be considered as the five wise Beyond this fifth degree, the law does not proceed, because, virgins, Matt. xxv. 1-10. who took oil in their vessels as the families of the Israelites were kept distinct in their with their lamps; and consequently are types of those who respective tribes, there must always be some who could be make a wise provision for their eternal states. 3. They called kinsmen, and were really such, having descended are examples of encouragement to weak and destitute bewithout interruption from the patriarch of the tribe. lievers, who, though they are orphans in this world, shall not be deprived of their heavenly inheritance. 4. Their names are mysterious; for Zelophchad, TSELOPHECHAD, signifies the shadow of fear or dread. His first daughter, MACHLAH, infirmity; the second, y NOAH, wandering; the third, a CHOGLAH, turning about, or dancing for joy; the fourth, a MILCAH, & queen; the fifth, ¬¬¬ TIRTSAH, well-pleasing or acceptable. By these names we may observe our reviving by grace in Christ: for we are all born of the shadow of fear, (Zelophehad) being brought forth in sin, and through fear of death being all our lifetime subject to bondage, Heb. ii. 15. This begets (Machlah) infirmity, or sickness, grief of heart for our estate. After which, (Noah) wundering about for help and comfort, we find it in Christ, by whom our sorrow is turned into joy, (Choglah.) He communicates of his royalty, (Milcah) to us, making us kings and priests unto God and his Father, Rev. i. 6. So we shall at last be presented unto him, glorious and without blem ish, being (Tirtsah) well-pleasing and acceptable in his sight." This is a specimen of pious INGENUITY, which has been endeavouring to do the work of an EVANGELIST in the church of God, from the time of Origen to the present day. Verse 7. Thou shalt give them-an inheritance among their father's brethren] There is a curious anomaly here in the Hebrew text, which cannot be seen in our translation. In Hebrew, they, them, and their, you, ye, and your, are both of the masculine and feminine genders, according as the nouns are to which they are affixed; but these words are of no gender in English. In this verse, speaking of the brethren of the father of those women, the masculine termination on hem, THEIR, is used instead of the feminine, hen, governed by a benoth, daughters. So on lahem, to THEM, and Nabihem, THEIR fathers, masculine, are found in the present text, instead of 15 lahen and a abihen, feminine. Interpreters have sought for a hidden meaning here, and they have found several, whether hidden here or not. One says, "the masculine gender is used, because these daughters are treated as if they were heirs male." Another, "that it is because of their faith, and conscientious regard to the ancient customs, and to keep the memory of their father in being, which might well befit men." Another, "that it signifies the free gift of God in Christ, where there is neither male nor female, bond or free; for all are one in Christ." And so on; for where there is no rule, there is no end to con 8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel ma statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses. 12 T And the LORD said unto Moses, "Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. before all the congregation, and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. CHAPTER XXVIII. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron All the offerings of God to be offered in their due season, 1,2 The continual burntthy brother was gathered. 14 For ye Prebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 15 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. 18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man " in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and m Ch. 35. 29.-n Ch. 33. 47. Dent. 3. 27. & 32. 49. & 34. 1.-0 Ch. 20. 24, 28. & 31. 2. Deut. 10. 6.-p Ch. 20. 12, 24. Deut. 1. 37. & 32 51 Psa 106. 32-q Exod. 17. 7. r Ch. 16. 22. Hebr. 12. 9-s Deat. 31. 2. 18am 8. 20. & 18. 13. Chrou. 1. 10. t1 Kinga 22 17. Zech. 10. 2. Matt. 9. 36. Mark 6. 34-u Gen. 41. 38. Judg. 3. 10. & 11. 29. 1 Sam. 16. 13, 18.- Deut. 34. 9.-w Deut. 31. 7.-x See Ch. 11. 17, 28. Verse 12. Get thee up into this mount Abarim] The mountain which Moses was commanded to ascend was certainly mount Nebo, see Deut. xxxii. 49, &c. which was the same as Pisgah, see Deut. xxxiv. 1. The mountains of Abarim, according to Dr. Shaw, are a long ridge of frightful, rocky, precipitous hills, which are continued all along the eastern coast of the Dead sea, as far as the eye can reach. As in Hebrew, y abar, signifies to pass over, Abarim here, probably signifies passages; and the ridge in this place had its name, in all likelihood, from the passage of the Israelites, as it was opposite to these that they passed the Jordan into the Promised Land. Verse 14. Ye rebelled against my commandment] See the notes on chap. xx. 8. Verse 16. Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh] See the notes on chap. xvi. 22. Verse 17. That the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.] This is a beautiful expression, and shows us in what light Moses viewed himself among this people. He was their shepherd-he sought no higher place; he fed and guided the flock of God under the direction of the Divine Spirit; and was faithful in all his Master's house. To this saying of Moses our Lord alludes, Matt. ix. 36. Verse 18. In whom is the Spirit] This must certainly mean the Spirit of God; and because he was endued with this Spirit, therefore he was capable of leading the people. How miserably qualified is that man for the work of God, who is not guided and influenced by the Holy Ghost. God never chooses a man to accomplish his designs, but that one whom he himself has qualified for the work. Verse 20. And thou shalt put, &c.] mihodca, of thine honour or authority upon him. Thou shalt show to the whole congregation, that thou hast associated him with thyself in the government of the people. Verse 21. Eleazar the priest-shall ask counsel for him] Here was a remarkable difference between him and Moses. God talked with Moses face to face: but to Joshua, only through the medium of the high priest. Verse 23. He laid his hands upon him] As a proof of his being appointed to, and qualified for, the work. So, at the word of Joshua, they were to go out; and at his word, to come in, ver. 21. And thus he was a type of our blessed offering for the morning, 3-6. and its drink-offering, 7. The continual barat. offering for the evening, 8. The offerings for the sabbath, 9, 10. The offerings for the beginning of each month, 11-15 Repetition of the ordinances conorming the passover, 16-45. Ordinances concerning the day of first-fruits, or peate cost, 26-31. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, Mr. 1431. saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and for my sacrifices made by fire, for savour unto me, shall ye observe to me in their due season. e B. C. my bread a sweet offer unto 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burntoffering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 1 Sam. 10. 6, 9. 2 Kings 2. 15.—y Josh. 1. 16, 17.- See Josh. 9. 14. Judg. 1. 1. & M 18, 23, 25. 1 Sam 23. 9. & 30. 7.-a Exod. 28. 30-b Josh. 9. 14. 1 Sam. 22 10, 13, 15. c Deut. 3 29. & 31. 7.-d Lev. 3. 11. & 21. 6, 8. Mal 1. 7, 12-e Heb. a ansour of my rest--f Exod. 29. 38.-g Heb. in a day.-h Heb. between the two evenings Exod. 12. 6. Lord, as to his mediatorial office and divine appointment as man, to the work of our salvation; and to this circumstance of the appointment of Joshua to this work, and to his receiving of Moses' honour and glory, St. Peter seems to refer in these words, 2d Epist. i. 16, 17. "We were eye-witnesses of his majesty; for he received from God the Father, honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR HIM."-See Matt. xvii. 5. But one infinitely greater than either Moses or Joshua, is here. NOTES ON CHAPTER XXVIII. Verse 2. Command the children of Israel, &c.] It is not easy to account for the reason of the introduction of these precepts here, which had been so circumstantially delivered before in different parts of the books of Exodus and Leviticus. It is possible that the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly services, had been considerably interrupted for several years, owing to the unsettled state of the people in the wilderness; and that it was necessary to repeat these laws for two reasons: 1. Because they were now about to enter into the Promised Land, where these services must be established and constant: And 2. Because the former generation being all dead, multitudes of the present might be ignorant of these ordinances. In their due season] Moses divides these offerings into 1. DAILY. The morning and evening sacrifices; a lamb each time, ver. 3, 4. 2. WEEKLY. The sabbath offerings, two lambs of a year old, ver. 9, &c. 3. MONTHLY. At the beginning of each month, wo young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old; and a kid for a sin-offering, ver. 11, &c. 4. ANNUAL. 1. The passover to last seven days: the offerings, two young bullocks, one ram, seren lambs of a year old, and a he-goal, for a sin-offering, ver. 16, &c. 2. The day of FIRST-FRUITS. The sacrifices, the same as on the beginning of the month, ver. 26, &c. With these sacrifices were offered libations, or drink-offerings of strong wine, ver. 7. and 14. and minchahs, or meat-offerings, composed of fine flour, mingled with oil, ver. 8, 12, &c. For an ample account of all these offerings, see the notes on Lev. vii. and Exod. xii. A. M. CIR. 2553. B. C. CIR. 1451. 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. 7 And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb: "in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink-offering. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 9 TAnd on the sabbath-day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof: 10 This is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering, 11 T And Pin the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; 12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meatoffering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering unto one lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. 14 And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of a hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of a hin unto a lamb; this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering unto the LORD, shall be offered, beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. 16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt-offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: 20 And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt-offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. 26 Also in the day of the first-fruits, when ye bring a new meat-offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat-offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram: 29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, ( they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink-offerings. answers to a part of our September. In imitation of the Jews, different nations began their new year with sacrifices and festivity. The ancient Egyptians did so: and the Persians still celebrate their j9) naw i rooz, or new year's day, which they hold on the vernal equinox. The first day of the year is generally a time of festivity in all civilized nations. On this day the Israelites offered one young bullock, one ram, seven lambs, and a kid, for a sin-offering, besides minchahs, or meat-offerings. Verse 7. On the tenth day] See the notes on Lev. xvi. 29. xxiii. 24. |