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Abib or Nisan.

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12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

An. Exod. Isr. 1. 3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand, in the sight of all the Egyptians.

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14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.

4 For the Egyptians buried all their first-born, m which the LORD had smitten among them: 15 And they departed from Rephi- An Exod. Isr. upon their gods also the LORD executed judg-dim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.

ments.

5 And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.

6 And they departed from P Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.

7 And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.

8 And they departed from before Pi-hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9 And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

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10 And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

i Exod. 12 37-k Exol 12 2 & 13. 4.-1 Exod. 14. 8.-m Exod. 12 29-n Exod. 12 12 & 18. 11. Isai. 19. 1. Rev. 12. 8-o Exod. 12 37.-p Exod. 13. 20-q Exod. 14.2, 9.

was a remarkable type. Mr. Ainsworth imagines that the forty-two stations, here enumerated, through which the Israelites were brought to the verge of the promised land, and afterward taken over Jordan into the rest which God had promised; point out the forty-two generations from Abraham unto Christ, through whom the Saviour of the world came; by whose blood we have an entrance into the Holiest, and enjoy the inheritance among the saints in light. And Mr. Bromley, in his Way to the Sabbath of Rest, considers each name and place as descriptive of the spiritual state through which a soul passes in its way to the kingdom of God. But in cases of this kind, fancy has much more to do than judgment.

Verse 3. From Rameses] This appears to have been the metropolis of the land of Goshen, and the place of rendezvous, whence the whole Israelitish nation set out on their journey to the promised land. See the notes on Exod. xii. 37.

HERE FOLLOW THE FORTY-TWO STATIONS.

STATION i. Verse 5. And pitched in SuccoTH] This name signifies booths or tents, and probably refers to no town or village, but simply designates the place where they pitched their tents for the first time, after their departure from Rameses.

STAT. ii. Verse 6. ETHAM, which is in the edge of the wilderness.] This place is not well known; Dr. Shaw supposes it to have been one mile from Cairo. Calmet thinks it is the city of Buthum, mentioned by Herodotus, which he places in Arabia, on the frontiers of Egypt.

STAT. iii. Verse 7. PI-HAHIROTH] See on Exod. xiv. 1. Baal-zephon, Calmet supposes to be the Clysma of the Greeks, and the Kolzum of the Arabians.

STAT. iv. Verse 8. And went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham] Called the wilderness of Shur, Exod. xv. 22.

And pitched in MARAH.] Dr. Shaw supposes this place to be at Sedur, over against the valley of Baideah, on the opposite side of the Red sea.

STAT. V. Verse 9. And came unto ELIM] A place on the skirts of the desert of Sin, two leagues from Tor, and near thirty from Corondel, a large bay on the east side of the Red sea. Dr. Shaw, when he visited this place, found but nine of the twelve wells mentioned in the text; and, instead of 70 palm trees, he found upwards of 2000. See on Exod. xv. 27. and the map in Exodus.

STAT. vi. Verse 10. Encamped by the RED SEA.] It is difficult to assign the place of this encampment; as the Israelites were now on their way to mount Sinai, which lay considerably to the east of Elim, and consequently farther from the sea than the former station. It might be called by the Red sea, as the Israelites had it, as the principal object, still in view. This station, however, is mentioned nowhere else. By the Red sea, we are not to understand a sea, the waters of which are red, or the sand

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16 And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.

1. Sivan.

A M. 2514. An Exod. Isr.

B. C. 1490.

2.

Chronology very uncertain

after they leave

Kibroth-hattaavah. till they

sert of Zin.

17 And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth. 18 And they departed from Haze- come to the deroth, and pitched in Rithmah. 19 And they departed from pitched at Rimmon-parez. 20 And they departed from Rimmon-parez, and pitched in Libnah.

Rithmah, and

21 And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.

22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.

23 And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.

24 And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.

r Exod. 14. 22 & 15. 22, 23-8 Exod. 15 27- Exod. 16. 1.-u Exod. 17. 1. & 19. 2- Exod. 16. 1. & 19. 1, 2-w Ch. 11. 34.-x That is, the graves of bust. y Ch. 11. 35. Ch. 12. 16. 1 Mac. 5. 9. Dathema.

red; or any thing else about or in it red: for nothing of this kind appears. It is called, in Hebrew, yam suph, which signifies the weedy sea. The Septuagint rendered the original by Sex pu9px, and the Vulgate after it, by mare rubrum, and the European versions followed these; and in opposition to etymology and reason, translated it The Red sea. See the note on Exod. x. 19.

STAT. vii. Verse 11. The wilderness of SIN.] This lies between Elim and mount Sinai. Dr. Shaw and his companions traversed these plains in nine hours.

STAT. viii. Verse 12. DOPHKAH.] This place is not mentioned in Exodus, and its situation is not known. STAT. ix. Verse 13. ALUSH.] Neither is this mentioned in EXODUS, and its situation is equally unknown. STAT. X. Verse 14. REPHIDIM] Remarkable for the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses, because of the want of water, Exod. xvii.

STAT. xi. Verse 15. The WILDERNESS of SINAI.] Somewhere northward of mount Sinai, on the straight road to the promised land, to which they now directed their course.

STAT. xii. Verse 16. KIBROTH-HATTAAVAH.] No city, village, &c. but a place in the open desert, which had its name from the plague that fell upon the Israelites, through their murmuring against God, and their inordinate desire of flesh. See on chap. xi. But it appears that the Israelites had travelled three days' journey in order to reach this place, chap. x. 33. and commentators suppose there must have been other stations, which are not laid down here; probably because the places were not remarkable.

STAT. xiii. Verse 17. HAZEROTH.] This place Dr. Shaw computes to have been about thirty miles distant from mount Sinai.

STAT. xiv. Verse 18. RITHMAI.] This place lay somewhere in the wilderness of Paran, through which the Israelites were now passing. See chap. xiii. 1. The name signifies the juniper-tree; and the place probably had its name from the great number of those trees growing in that district.

STAT. XV. Verse 19. RIMMON-PAREZ.] Unknown. STAT. XVI. Verse 20. LIBNAH.] The situation of this place is uncertain. A city of this name is mentioned, Josh. x. 29. as situated between Kadesh-barnea and Gaza.

STAT. xvii. Verse 21. RISSAH.] A place mentioned nowhere else in the sacred writings. Its situation utterly

uncertain.

STAT. Xviii. Verse 22. KEHELATHAH.] Utterly unknown: though some conjecture that it might have been the place called Keilah, 1 Sam. xxiii. 1, &c.; but this is unlikely.

STAT. xix. Verse 23. SHAPHER.] Where this mountain lay, cannot be determined.

STAT. XX. Verse 24. HARADAH.] Unknown. Calmet supposes that it may be the place called Bered, Gen. xvi. 14. which was in the vicinity of Kadesh.

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35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Ezion-gaber.

A. M. 2553. B. C. 1451.

36 And they removed from EzionAn. Exod. Isr. gaber, and pitched in the wilderness 40. of Zin, which is Kadesh.

37 And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

38 And Aaron, the priest, went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.

39 And Aaron was a hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.

40 And king Arad, the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

a Deut. 10. 6-b 1 Mac. 5. 4. Bean: See Gen. 35, 37. Deut. 10. 6. 1 Chron. 1. 42-c Deut. 10. 7.- Deat. 2. 8. 1 Kings 9. 26. & 22. 48. —e Ch. 20. 1. & 27. 14. fCh. 20. 22, 23. & 21. 4.-g Ch. 20. 25, 23. Deut. 10. 6. & 32. 50-h Ch. 21. 1, &c. i Ch. 21. 4.-k Ch. 21. 10.-1 Ch. 21. 11-m Or, henpe of Abarim.-n Ch. 21. 11.

STAT. xxi.

Verse 25. MAKHELOTH.] A name found nowhere else in Scripture.

STAT. xxii. Verse 26. TAHATH.] Unknown. STAT. Xxiii. Verse 27. TARAH.] Also unknown. STAT. XXIV. Verse 23. MITHCAH.] Calmet conjectures that this may be Mocha, a city in Arabia Petræa.

STAT. XXV. Verse 29. HASHMONAH.] Supposed by some to be the same as Azmon, chap. xxxiv. 4.

STAT. XXVI. Verse 30. MOSEROTH.] Situation unknown. In Deut. x. 6. it is said that the Israelites took their journey from Beroth, the wells of the children of Jaakan, to MoBera, and there Aaron died. If so, Mosera, Moseroth, and Hor, must be different names of the same place. Or Moseroth, or Mosera, must have been some town or village near mount Hor; for there Aaron died. See ver. 38. STAT. xxvii. Verse 31. BENE-JAAKAN.] Unknown. The sons of Jaakan.-See the preceding verse.

STAT. XXViii. Verse 32. HOR-HAGIDGAD.] The hole, or pit of Gidgad. Unknown. It was a place perhaps remarkable for some vast pit or cavern, from which it took its name.

STAT. xxix. Verse 33. JOTEATHAH.] Situation unknown. It is said in Deuteronomy x. 7. to be a land of rivers of waters.

STAT. XXX. Verse 34. EBRONAH.] Nowhere else men

tioned.

STAT. XXXI. Verse 35. EZION-GABER.] Dr. Shaw places this port on the western coast of the Elanitic gulf of the Red sea. It is now called Meenah el Dsahab, or the golden port, by the Arabs; because it was from this place that Solomon sent his ships for gold to Ophir, 1 Kings ix. 26. He supposes it to be about 60 miles distant from mount Sinai. Travels, p. 322. 4to. edition.

STAT. XXXII. Verse 36. ZIN, which is KADESH.] A place remarkable on account of the death of Miriam, the prophetess; and bringing water out of the rock. As this place was upon the borders of Edom, the Israelites being denied permission to pass through their land, which lay on the direct road to the promised land, they were obliged to turn to the right, to mount Hor, now called Accaba by the

Arabs.

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49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.

50 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, "When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

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54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place

o Ch. 32 34-p Jer. 48. 22. Ezek. 6. 14-q Ch. 21. 20. Deat. 32 49-r Ch 22 L s Or, the plain of Shittim. Ch. 25. 1. Josh. 2. 1.--u Deut. 7. 1, 2 & 9. 1. Josh. 3. 17. v Exod. 23. 24, 33 & 31. 13. Deut. 7. 2, 5. & 12 3. Josh 11 12 Julg 22-8 Ch. 26. 53, 54, 55.--x Heb. multiply his inheritance-y Heb diminish his inheritance STAT. XXXIV. Verse 41. ZALMONAH.] Probably in the neighbourhood of the land of Edom. Ás s tselem signifies an image, this place probably had its name from the brazen serpent set up by Moses. See chap. xxi. 5, &c. From the same root, the word telesm, corruptly called talisman, which signifies a consecrated image, is derived.

STAT. XXXV. Verse 42. PUNON.] A place in Idumea.

Nowhere else mentioned.

STAT. XXXVI. Verse 43. OBOTH.] Mentioned before, chap. xxi. 10.

STAT. XXXVII. Verse 44. IJE-ABARIM.] The heaps of Abarim. See chap. xxi. 11. Situation uncertain. It is called Tim in the following verse. As the word signifies heaps or protuberances, it probably means tumuli or small hills near some of the fords of Jordan.

STAT. XXXviii. Verse 45. DIBON-GAD.] Supposed to be the same as Dibon, chap. xxxii. 34. and to be situated

on the brook Arnon.

STAT. XXXIX. Verse 46. ALMON-DIBLATHAIM.] Situa tion not known. It belonged to the Moabites in the time of the prophet Jeremiah. Jer. xlviii. 22.

STAT. xl. Verse 47. Mountains of ABARIM, before NEBO.] The mountain on which Moses died. They came to this place after the overthrow of the Amorites. See chap. xxi.

STAT. xli. Verse 48. The PLAINS of MOAB.] This was the scene of the transactions between Balaam and Balak. See ch. xxiii. xxiv. xxv.

STAT. xlii. Verse 49. From Beth-JesIMoth even unto ABEL-SHITTIM.] The former of these places fell to the Reubenites, Josh. xiii. 15-20. The Israelites were now come to the edge of Jordan, over against Jericho, where they afterward passed.

For farther information on the subject of these different encampments, the reader is requested to refer to the map, and to the extract from Doctor Shaw, at the end of Exodus.

Verse 52. Ye shall-destroy all their pictures] masiciyotam, from no sacah, to be like, or resemble, either pictures, carved work, or embroidery, as far as these things were employed to exhibit the abominations of idolatry.-Molten images, Droon tsalemey massecotam, metallic talismanical figures, made under eertain constellations, and supposed, in consequence, to be possessed of some extraordinary influences and virtues.

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where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.

55 But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns

in your sides, and shall vex you in the land

56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

z Josh. 23. 13. Judg. 2. 3. Pan. 106. 31, 36. See Exod. 22. 33. Ezek. 28. 24.

Verse 55. Shall be pricks in your eyes] Under these metaphors, the continual mischief that should be done to them, both in soul and body, by these idolaters, is set forth in a very expressive manner. What can be more vexatious than a continual goading of each side, so that the attempt to avoid the one, throws the body more forcibly on the other. And what can be more distressing than a continual pricking-in the eye, harassing the mind, tormenting the body, and extinguishing the sight.

1. Ir has been usual among pious men, to consider these Canaanites remaining in the land, as emblems of indwelling sin; and it must be granted, that what those remaining Canaanites were to the people of Israel, who were disobedient to God, such is indwelling sin to all those who will not have the blood of the Covenant to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. For a time, while conscience is tender, such persons feel themselves straitened in all their goings, hindered in all their religious services, and distressed beyond measure because of the law, the authority and power of sin, which they find warring in their members: by and by the eye of their mind becomes obscured by the constant piercings of sin, till at last, fatally persuaded that sin must dwell in them as long as they live, they accommodate their minds to their situation, their consciences cease to be tender, and they content themselves with expecting redemption where and when it has never been promised, viz. beyond the grave! On the subject of the journeyings of the Israelites, the following observations from old Mr. Ainsworth cannot

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and
grieve him in the desert! Psalm 1xxviii. 40. All sorts of
persons sinned against God; the multitude of people very
often: the mixed multitude of strangers among them,
Numb. xi. The princes, as the ten spies, Dathan, Abi-
ram, &c. The Levites, as Korah and his company;
Miriam the prophetess, Numb. xii. Aaron the priest
with her, besides his sin at Horeb, Exod, xxxii. and at the
water of Meribah, Numb. xx. MOSES also himself, at the
same place, for which he was excluded from the land of
Canaan.

4. "The PUNISHMENTS laid on them by the Lord for their disobedience were many. They died by the sword of the enemy, as of the Amalekites, Exod. xvii. and of the Canaanites, Numb. xiv. 45. and some by the sword of their brethren, Exod. xxxii. Some were burned with fire, Numb. xi. and xvi. some died with surfeit, Numb. xi. some were swallowed up alive in the earth, Numb. xvi. some were killed with serpents, Numb. xxi. many died of the pestilence, Numb. xvi. 46. and chap. v. 25. and generally all that generation which were first mustered after their coming out of Egypt, perished, Numb. xxvi. 64, 65. God consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror, Psal. lxxviii. 33. nevertheless, for his name's sake, he magnified his mercies unto them and their posterity.

5. He had divided the sea, and led them through on dry land, drowning their enemies, Exod. xiv. He led them with a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, continually. He gave them manna from heaven daily. He clave the rocks, and gave them water for their thirst. He fed them with quails, when they longed for flesh. He sweetened the bitter waters. He saved them from the sword of their enemies. He delivered them from the fiery serpents and scorpions. Their raiment waxed not old upon them, neither did their foot swell for forty years, Deut. viii. 4. He delivered them from the intended curse of Balaam, and turned it into a blessing, because he loved them, Numb. xxii. Deut. xxiii. 5. He came down from mount Sinai, and spake with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments and true laws, good statutes and commandments, and gave also his good Spirit to instruct them, Nehem. ix. 13, 20. In the times of his wrath he remembered mercy; his eye spared them from destroying them, neither did he make an end of them in the wilderness, Ezek. xx. 17, 23. He gave them kingdoms and nations, and they possessed the lands of their enemies; and he multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land promised unto their forefathers, Nehem. ix. 22, 23. Now whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope, Rom. xv. 4." Let him that readeth understand!

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXXIV.

Verse 2. The land of Canaan with the coasts thereof All description here is useless. The situation and boundaries of the land can only be known by actual survey or a good map. As my readers cannot conveniently visit the Land. country, I refer to the accompanying map of the Promised

Verse 3. The salt sea] The Dead sea, or lake Asphaltitis; see the note on Gen. xix. 25.

Verse 5. The river of Egypt] The eastern branch of south of the land of the Philistines; and falls into the the river Nile; or, according to others, a river which is Verse 6. Ye shall even have the great sea for a border] gulf or bay near Calich. See the map in Exodus. The Mediterranean sea: called here the Great sea, to diswhich were only a sort of lakes. In Hebrew there is protinguish it from the Dead sea, the sea of Tiberias, &c. tions of water, apparently stagnant; and which is generally perly but one term yam, which is applied to all collectranslated sea. The Greek of the New Testament follows the Hebrew, and employs, in general, the word 445 area, SEA, whether it speak of the Mediterranean, or of the sea or lake of Galilee.

Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you | herit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe: with the coasts thereof:)

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3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:

4 And your border shall turn from the south d to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea, and shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass on to Azmon:

5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmons unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.

6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.

7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:

8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad: 9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border.

10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:

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11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward: 12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.

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b Josh. 15. 1. See Ezek. 47. 13, &e. -c Gen. 14. 3. Josh. 15. 2-d Josh. 15. 3. e Ch. 13. 26. & 32. 8. -f See Josh. 15. 3, 4-g Gen 15 18. Joah 15. 4-17. 1 Kings 8. 65. Isai 27. 12-h Ch. 33. 37.-1 Ch. 13. 21. 2 Kings 14. 25.-k Ezek. 47. 15. Ezek. 47. 17.

Verse 11. The sea of Chinnereth] The same as the sea of Galilee, sea of Tiberias, and sea of Gennesareth. Verse 12. The border shall go down to Jordan] This river is famous both in the Old and New Testaments. It takes its rise at the foot of mount Libanus, passes through the sea of Cinnereth or Tiberias, and empties itself in the lake Asphaltitis or Dead sea, from which it has no outlet. In and by it God wrought many miracles. God cut off the waters of this river as he did those of the Red sea, so that they stood on a heap on each side, and the people passed over on dry ground. Both Elijah and Elisha separated its waters in a miraculous way, 2 Kings ii. 8-14. Naaman, the Syrian general, by washing in it, at the command of the prophet, was miraculously cured of his leprosy, 2 Kings v. 10-14. In this river John baptized great multitudes of Jews; and in it was CHRIST himself baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and the voice from heaven proclaimed him the great and only teacher and Saviour of men. Matt. iii. 16, 17. Mark

i. 5-11.

14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance;

15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sun-rising.

16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

18 And ye shall take one "prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.

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19 And the names of the men are these: of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

22 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukkí the son of Jogli.

23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. 26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan. 27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. 28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud. 29 These are they whom the LORD commanded

m2 Kings 23. 33. Jer. 39. 5, 6.-n Heb. shoulder.-o Deut. 3. 17. Josh. 11. 2 & 19 35. Matt. 4. 34. Luke 5. 1-p Ver. 3.- Ver. 1. Josh 14 1,2-a Ch. 32. 33. Josh 14. 2, 3-t Josh. 14. 1. & 19. 51.-u Ch. 1. 4, 16.-v Ch. 13. 30. & 11 6, 21, 30, 35. £ 26, 65.

land, and such were the advantages that this most favoured people were called to possess-they were called to possess it by lot, that each might be satisfied with his possession, as considering it to be appointed to him by the special providence of God.-And its boundaries were ascertained on Divine authority, to prevent all covetousness after the territories of others.

Verse 19, &c. And the names of the men are these] It is worthy of remark that Moses does not follow any order hitherto used, of placing the tribes, neither that in Numb. i. nor that in chap. vii. nor that in chap. xxvi. nor any other; but places them here exactly in that order in which they possessed the land. 1. Judah. 2. Simeon. 3. Benja min. 4. Dan. 5. Manasseh. 6. Ephraim. 7. Zebuluin. 8. Issachar. 9. Asher. 10. Naphtali. Judah is first, having the first lot: and he dwelt in the south part of the land.-Josh. xv. 1, &c. and next to him Simeon, because his inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah, Josh. xix. 1. Benjamin was third, he had his inheritance by Judah, between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph, Josh. xviii. 11. Dan was the country of the Philistines, as may be seen in Josh. xix. 40, 41, &c. Fifthly, Manassch, and sixthly, by him his brother Ephraim, whose inheritances were behind that of Benjamin, Josh. xvi. 17. Next to these dwelt, serenthly, Zebulun; and eighthly, Issachar, concerning whose lots, see Josh. xix. 10-17. Ninthly, Asher, and tenthly Naphtak See Josh. xix. 24, 32, &c. And as in encamping about the tabernacle, they were arranged according to their fraternal relationship, see chap. ii. so they were in the division, and inheriting of the promised land. Judah and Simeon, both sons of Leah dwelt abreast of each other. Benjamin, son of Rachel, and Dan, son of Rachel's maid, dwelt next abreast. Manasseh and Ephraim, both sons of Joseph by his mother Rachel, had the next place abreast. Zebulun and Issachar, who dwelt next together, were both sons of Leah; and the last pair were Asher of Leah's maid, and Naphtali of Rachel's maid. Thus God, in nominating the princes that should divide the land, signified beforehand the manner of their possession, and that they should be so situated, as to dwell together, as brethren in unity, for the mutual help and comfort of each other.-See Ainsworth. In this arrangement there is much skill, judgment, and kindness, every where displayed.

Verse 13. This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot] Much of what is said concerning this land is pecu-fourth: his lot fell westward of that of Benjamin, in the liarly emphatic. It was a land that contained a multitude of advantages in its climate, its soil, situation, &c. It was bounded on the south by a ridge of mountains, which separate it from Arabia, and screen it from the burning, and often pestiferous winds, which blow over the deserts from that quarter. On the west it is bounded by the Mediterranean sea, on the north by mount Libanus, which defended it from the cold northern blasts; and on the east, by the river Jordan, and its fertile and well watered plains. It is described by God himself as a "good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills: a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oliveoil and honey; a land wherein there was no scarcity of bread-and where both iron and copper mines abounded." -Deut. viii. 7-9. A land finely diversified with hills and valleys, and well watered by the rain of heaven, in this respect widely different from Egypt. A land which God cared for, on which his eyes were continually placed from the beginning to the end of the year; watched over by a most merciful providence; a land which, in a word, flowed with milk and honey, and was the most pleasant of all lands.-Deut. xi. 11, 12. Ezek. xx. 6. Such was the

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The Israelites are commanded to give the Levites, out of their inheritances, cities and their suburbs for themselves and for their cattle, goods, &c. 1-3. The suburbs to

be 3,000 cubits ronnyl about from the wall of the city, 4, 5. The cities to be forty two, to which six cities of refuge shall be added, in all forty-eight cities, 6, 7. Each tribe shall give of these cities in proportion to its possessions, 8. These cities to be appointed for the person who might slay his neighbour unawares, 10-12. Of these Six cities there shall be three on each side of Jordan, 13, 14. The cities to be places

of refuge for all who kill a person unawares, whether they be Israelites, strangers or so ourners, 15. Cases of murder to which the benefit of the cities of refuge shall refuge shall extem), 22, 23. How the congregation shall act between the manslayer

not exten, 16-21. Cases of manslaughter to which the benefits of the cities of

and the avenger of blood, 24, 25. The manslayer shall abide in the city of refuge to the death of the high priest, for if he come without the border of the city of his refuge, the avenger of blood, if he find him, may put him to death, 26, 27. After the death of the high priest, he shall return to the land of his possession, 28. Two witnesses must attest a murder, before the murderer can be put to death, 29, 30.

Every murderer to be put to death, 31. The manslayer is not to be permitted to

come to the land of his inheritance till the death of the high priest, 32 land must not be polluted with blood, for the Lord dwells in it, 33, 34.

The

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Jericho, saying,

2x Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs, for the cities round about them.

3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

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7 So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.

8 And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many, ye shall give many; but from them that have few, ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

w Josh. 13, 32 & 14. 1. & 19. 51-x Josh. 14. 3, 4. & 21. 2 See Ezek. 45. 1, &c. & 48. 8, &c.-y Ver. 13. Deut. 4. 41. Josh. 20. 2, 7, 8. & 21. 3, 13, 21, 27, 32, 36, 38. z Hleb, ebore them ye shall give.-a Josh. 21. 41-b Josh 21. 3-c Ch. 25. 54. d Heb. they inherit.-e Deut. 19, 2 Josh, 20, 2—f Exod. 21. 13-g Heb. by error.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXXV.

Verse 4. And the suburbs of the cities-shall reach from the wall of the city outward, a thousand cubits round about.

Verse 5. And ye shall measure from without the city two thousand cubits, &c.] Commentators have been much puzzled with the accounts in these two verses. In ver. 4. the measure is said to be 1,000 cubits from the wall: in ver. 5. the measure is said to be 2,000 from without the city. It is likely these two measures mean the same thing; at least so it was understood by the Septuagint and Coptic, who have Sixxcus xs, 2,000 cubits, in the fourth, as well as in the fifth verse: but this reading of the Septuagint and Coptic is not acknowledged by any other of the ancient versions, nor by any of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi. We must seek, therefore, for some other method of reconciling this apparently contradictory account. Sundry modes have been proposed by commentators, which appear to me, in general, to require full as much explanation as the text itself. Maimonides is the only one intelligible on the subject. "The suburbs," says he, "of the cities are expressed in the law to be 3,000 cubits on every side from the wall of the city and outwards. The first thousand cubits are the suburbs; and the 2,000, which they measured without the suburbs, were for fields, and vineyards." The whole, therefore, of the city, suburbs, fields, and vineyards, may be represented by the following diagram.

10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

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11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. 12 h And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. 13 And of these cities which ye shall give i six cities shall ye have for refuge.

14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and

15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for

for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares, may flee thither.

16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

18 Or if he smite him with a hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

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19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. 20 But P if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

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21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him.

22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:

24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood, according to these judgments:

25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood;

h Deut. 19. 6. Josh. 20. 3, 5, 6-i Ver. 6-k Deut. 4. 41. Josh. 20. 8-1 Ch. 15. 16. m Exal. 21. 12, 14. Lev. 24. 17. Deut. 19. 11, 12-n Heb. teith a stone of the hand. o Ver. 21, 24, 27. Deut. 19. 6, 12. Josh 20. 3,5.-p Gen. 4. 8. 2 Sam. 3. 27. & 20. 10. 1 Kings 2. 31, 32-q Exod. 21. 14. Deut. 19. 11.-Exod. 21. 13-8 Ver. 12. Josh. 20. 6.

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