Commentary on the Holy Bible

I On the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel came out of Egypt, God commamh Moses m to 7iumber all the males of the people from twenty years atid itpzcards, who nere effective men, and able to s;o P to war, 1 — 3. A chief of each tribe is associated uith Moses and Aaron in this business, 4. the names of uhom are given, 5 — 16. Moses assembles the people, tcho declare their pedigrees according to their families, 17 — 19. The descendants of Keuben are numbered, and amount to 4^,500, ver. CO, 21. Those of Simeon, 59,300, ver. '20., 23. ThoseofGAD, 4;),6jO, rer. 24, 25. Those of Jvdau, 74,600, vtr. 26, 27. Those of Lssach An, 54,400, ver. 28, 29. Those o/Zebulun, 57,400, ler. 30, 31. Those of Evhraiu, 40,500, tcr. 32, 33. Those o/" Man A ssEii, 32,200, re;-. 34, 35. I'Aosco/'Benjamin, 35,400, ver.36,37. 3'Aosf q/" Dan, 62,700, rer.38, 39. Those q/'AsiiER, 41,500, ver. 40, 41. Those oj Naphtali, 53,400, rer. 4<2, 43. The amount of all the effective men in Israel, from twenty i/ears old and upwards, was 603,550, ter. 44 — 46. The LEvnr.s are not numbered with the tribes, because they ztere dedicated to the se7rice of God. Their particular work is specified, 47 — 54. A.M. Silt. AND the Lord spake unto Moses ]] in the second year after they were

Verse 1. The I^ord spake unto Moses — on the first day of the seeond month'\ As the tabernacle was erected upon the first clay of the first month, in the second year, after their coming out of Egypt, Exod. xl. n. and this mnsifrof tiie people was made on the first day of the second montii, in the same year; it <fc evident that the transactions related io the preceding book.

must all have taken place in the space of one month, and during the time the Israelites were encam]K'd at mount Sinai, before they had begiiu their journey to the promised

A'erse 2. Take ye the sum, &c.] God, having established the commonwealth of Israel by just and equitable laws, ordained every thing relative to llie due performance of his own

their lathers, with the number of iJieir names, every male by their

3 From * twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war iy Israel: thou anfl Aaron shall number them by their '' armies.

4 And M'ith you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his. fathers.

5 *[ And these are the name-; of tke men that shall stand w'ith you: of ilie tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

16 " These zcere the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers,

17 ^ And Moses and Aaron took these men Avhich are expressed by th&r names:

1 8 And they" assembled all the congregation together on the first dai/ of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees alter their families, by the house of their fathers, according

7 Of Juduh; Nahshon the son of Ammina- to the number of the names, from twenty years xlab. ', old and upward, by their polls.

19 As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 ^ And the children of Reuben, Israel's I eldest son, by their generations, after their fa- ' milies, by the house of their fathers, according

10 Qf the chddren of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

wofr^hip; erected his tabcrn.icley v.liich was bis throne, and the place of his. rcsiflenct, among the people; and consctrated liis pi-iests, who Mcvo to mu)i»ter before him: he now order.s his subjects to be muttered, 1. That they might see he had not fornotten his promise to Abraham, but was multiplying his posterity. 2. That Ihcy might observe due order m their inarch towards the promised land. 3. Tliat the tribes and families uiiglit be properly distinguislied; that all litigations Concerning property, inheritance, &c. might, in all future times, be prevented..4. Tlwt the promise concerning the ]\Iessiah might be known to have its due accom])lishroent, vlien, in the fulness of thue, God should send him from the seed of Abraham, through the house of David. And, 5. That they might know their strength for war. For although they should ever consider God as their protector and defence; yet it was ncces.sary Lhey sliould be assured of their own fitnets, naturally speaking, to cope with any ortlinaiy enemy, or to surmount any common difficulties.

Verse o. Fiom iu,'ai(j/ i/fars old and upn-ard] In this census no women were reckoned, nor chUdnn, nor strangers, nor the Lerites, nor old vicn; which, collectively, must have formed an immen:ie multitude: the Levites alone amounted to 22,300. True-born Israelites only are reckoned; such as More able to carry arms, and were exi)ert for war.

A'erse 14. Eliasaph tiic sun of Deuel] This person is called Jleitel, chap. ii. 14. As the T dalcih, d, is very like the 1 resh, r, it, was easy to mistake the one for the other. The Sepcui'sint and the Syriac i\a\e Reucl in this chapter; and in chap. ii..14. the Vulgate, the Snmuritan, and the Arabic, have

Deuel, instead of Reuel, with which reading a vast number of MSB. concur; and this reading is supported by chap. x. \er. 20. we may safely conclude, therefore, '?NU'"l Ddiial, not. SsiyT I'duri', was the original rexiding. See Kennicott.

An ancient Jewish Rabbin pretends to solve every ditficulty, by saying that "Eliasaph was a proselyte; that before he embraced the true faith, he was called the son of Reuel, but that after his conversion, he was called the son of Dnicl." As Rdttcl may be translated the breac/i of God, and Duucl, the kiioivlcd'j;e of Cud, 1 suppose the Rabbin grounded his. supposition on the different meanings of the two words.

Verse 15. Tliae xvcre the reno-.uned} Literally, tke callfd of the congregation — those who were summoned by name to attend. The order of the tribes in the abidve enumeration may be.viewed thus:

to the number of the names, by their polls, exory male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to

J 1 Those that were numbered of them, even u. iJie tribe of 'Reuben, xccre tbrty and six thousand and five hundred.

22 % Of the children of '' Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, ever}'^ male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

- 7 Those that were numbered of them, ez^en iof the tribe of Gad, ttwe forty and five tliousand 'six hundred and iifty. ^6 IF Of the children of "Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the

of their fathers, accorcbng to the number of the names, from tv/enty years old and upward, all

Verse 25.. Forty and fire thousand six hindred and,l\l'ti/] Mr. Airiiworth lias remarked, lliat Gad, ibe handiuaiiCs son, is the only one of 'ail the tribes wliose number ends with/^/j/: ill the others are by thousands, and end vvilh hundreds; whitii ihews God's ad;nuable providence and blessing in multiplyng them so, that no odd or broken number was among all he tribes. Bui see on ver. 46.

Verse 33. T/te tribe of Ephruim acre lOjoOO] Ephraim,

30 f Of the children of ' Zebidun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fiithers, according to the number of the 1""°^ ~'f-

31 Those that were niunbered of them, eien of the tribe of Zebuhm, zvcrc fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

32 5F Of the children of ^Joseph, name/j/, of the children of '' Kpiiraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and ujjward, all that were able to go forth to war f

of the tribe of Ephraim, Ke?-e forty thousand and five liundrod.

of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and ujiward, all

35 Those that were numbered of thcin, -.vcn of the tribe of jNIanasseh, zcei'e thirty and twc tliousand and two hundi'ed.

of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from tAventy years old and upward, all

37 Those that were numbered of them, even. of the tribe of Benjamin, zcere thirty and five thousand and four hundred..

38 % Of the children of ' Dan, by their generations, after their iitmilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,, from twenty yeais old and upward, all that were, able to go forth to war;

as he was blessed beyond his eldest brother M.inasstli, Gen..\lviii. 20. so here he is increased by Ihonsamls more than Manuiseh, and more than the whole tribe of Benjamin, and his blessing continued above his brother, Deut. xxxiii. 17..Vnd llius the prophecj-, Gen. xlviii. 1 9. was fulfilled — il's^ j/oungest brother {Kjihraim) sliali be greulir ihnr. he (Manasscb).' No word of God can possibly fall to the ground: he alone sees the end from the begiurang; his iufiuite wisdaoi ciuv- their fathers, with the number of 1 2 Of Dan; Ahiezer the Iheir names, every male by their

3 From ^ twenty years old and iipv/ard, all that are able to go forth to war iij Israel: thou ancl Aaron shall number them by their '' armies.

4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his. fathers.

16 '^ These 'H'cre the renowned of the congi'egation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, " heads of thousands in Israel.

5 *[ And these are the name.^. of tke men that w'hich are expressed by their names:

shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishania 'the son of Ammihud: of Maiiasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

wor#hi|); erected 1 lis tabem.icley v.hich was his throne, and the plate of his. rtsirience, among the people; and consecrated liis priests who veve to minister before him: he now orders his subjects to be musttrrd, 1. Tliat they miglit s,ec he had not fornotten his promise to Abraham, but was multiplying his posterity. -• "^ilial lliey might observe due order m their inavch towards ilie promised land. 3. TJiat the tribes and fainihcs mi^^Ut be properly distinguislied; that all litigations concerning property, iiiherilance, kc. might, in all futin-e times, 1)0 prevented..4. Tlr.t the promise concerning the INIfssiah might be known to have its due accomj^lisliment, vhen, iu the fulness of time, God should send him from the seed of Abraham, through the house of David. And, 5. - That they might know their strength for wsr. Ver although they should ever consider God as their protector and defence; vet it was ncces.sary Cbey sjiould be assured of their own fitness, naturally speaking, to cope with any ortlinary enemy, or to surmount any conuiion difficulties.

Verse 3. Fwin twcnly years old unci iipvami] In this census no WwHCM wore reckoned, \wr cliiUlnn, nw slruns^ers, nor the Letites, m>r old wen; which, collectively, must have formed an immen-i.e multitude: the Levites alone amounted to 22,300. True-born Israelites only arc reckoned; such as were able to c;irry arms, and were expert for war.

■\'ersc 1 k Eliasnph the son of Deuel'] This person is called Jieiiel, chap. ii. Ik As the T diilcih, d, is very like the 1 resh, r, it, was easy to mistake the one for the olhfr. The fvptrntirint and the Si/riac iiave Reuel in this chapter; and in chap. ii. 14. the Vulgate, the SmmirUan, and the Arabic, have

18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declarctl their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fiithers, accorchng to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19 As the Loud commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 ^ And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their famiUes, by the house of their fathers, according

De:wl, instead of Reuel, with which reading a vast number of MSS. concur; and this reading is supported by chap. x. \er. 20. we may safely conclude, therefore, 'jtClJ'T Ddual, not 7N1I?"l I'duii', was the original rending. See Kennicott.

An ancient Jewish KnUbin pretends to solve every ditliculty, by saying that " Eliusdjih was a proselyte; that before he embraced the true faiih, he was called the son of Reuel, but that after his conversion, he was called the son of Dcucl." As Rducl may be translated the breach of God, and Dduel, the hwwled'j;e of God, I suppose the Rabbin grounded his supposition on the dilTerent meanings of the two words.

\'erse 15. Thae were the renowned'] Literally, the called of the coii'^rcgation — those who were summoned by name to attend. The order of the tribes in the abevc enumeration may be.viewed thus:

to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to

22 ^ Of the children of '' Simoon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fiithcrs, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, e\'ery male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go tbrth to war;

23 Those that were numbered of them, evefi of the tribe of Simeon, rcere fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

24 ^ Of the children of ''Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fiithers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

-■) i[ Of the children of '' Judah, by their generations, after their fiimilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the

ttliat were able to go tbrth to war; f- 27 Those that were- numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, xcere threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

Verse 25.. Forty and five thousand six hundred and./i/'(y] Mr. Airijwortli has remarked, tliat Gad, tlie handjiiaid's son, is tile only one oi' ail the tribes wiiose number ends witb./i/zj/: all tlie otliers arc by i/iousaiids, and tad with himdixds; whieli shews God's ad:niral>le providence and blessinfj in multiplying tliem so, that no odd or broken nmnbtr was among all llie tribes. But see on ver. 46.

30 f Of the children of ' Zebulun, by their generations, aixer their fiimihes, by the house of their fitliers, according to the number of the

32 ^ Of the children of ^Joseph, namely, of the children of ''Epliraim, by ihcir generations, after their fiimilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war j

34 ^ Of the children of "' Man.asseh, by their generations, after their fiimilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the

37 Those that were numbered of them, evot of the tribe of Benjamin, 'ncere thirty and five thonsand and four hundred..

38 ^ Of the children of ' Dan, by their generations, after tlreir limiilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,, from twenty years old and upward, all that were, able to go forth to war;

as he was blessed beyond liis eldest brother Mana.-sseli, Gen. xlviii. 20. so here he is increased by thousands more than Manssseh, and more than the whole tribe of Benjamin, and his blessing continued above his brother. Dent, xvxiii. 17. •.\nd thus the prophecy. Gen. xlviii. IS.', was fulfilled — Ws^ j/ouitgest brother (Kphraim) shali be greater than he (Manassch).* No word of God can possibly fall to the ground: he alone sees the end from the beginning; his infinite wisdom ciui^

of the tribe of Dan, xvere threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 40 ^ Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their, iainihes, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

41 Those that were numbered of tliem, even of the tribe of Asher, teere forty and one thousand and five hundred.

42 ^f Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

44 ^ * These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron niimbered, and the princes of Israel, l)ei?ig twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.

45 So were all those that were numbered of tlie children of Israel, by the house of their fa-

braces all occurrences; and it is his province alone to determine what is right, and to predict what hiiiiselt' has purposed to accomplish.

Verse 46. jill that icere numbered ivere 603,550.] What an astonit.hing increase from seventy souls that went down into K^ypt, Gen. xlvi. 27. about 215 years before, where latterly they had endured the greatest hardships! But God's promise cannot fail — Thei/ shall be as the stars nf heaven for multitude — and who can rcsif-t his will, and bring to nought his counsel! That a comparative view may be easily taken of the state of the tribes, I shall produce them here from the first census mentioned in the first chapter of this book, in their deereasini; proportion, beginning with the greatest, and proceeding to the least; and in the second census mentioned chap. xxvi. fvhere the increase of some, and the decrease of others, may be seen in one point of view. It may be just remarked, that except in the case of Gad in this chapter, and Reuben in chap. xxvi. all the numbers are what may be called uholc cr rou'id numbers, beginning with thousands, and ending with hundreds, Gad and Reuben alone ending with tens; but the Scripture generally uses round numbers; units and fractions being almost constantly disregarded.

thers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

43 Even all they that were num-

bered were "six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

47 ^ But ' the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

48 For the Lord had spoken unto Moses,

49 ** Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

50 ^ But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, ■^and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

51 ^ And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up " ' be put to deatli.

52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their

Thus we find Judah the most populous tribe, and Manasseh the least ^rt; the difl'crcuce between them bring so great aj 42,400, for which no very sati.-factory reason can be assigned.

In the second census, mentioned chap. xxvi. 34. Judah still has the pre-eminenry; and Simeon, the third in number before, is become the least. Now we see also, that the little Inbe of Uliinasseh occupies the seventh place for number. Seven of the tribes had an increase; Jive a decrease, tilunasseh had an increase of 1^0,500; Judah, I, POO; Issachur, 9,i)00; Zahulon, 3.100; Benjamin, 10,200; Dan, 1,700; Asher, 11,900.

On the contrary, there was a decrease in Reuben of 2,770; in Simeon. 37,100; Gad, 5,150; Ephraim, 8,000; Naph. tali, 8,000. Decrea.ie in the whole, 61,020 effective meiJ. See on chap. xxvi. but ballanced with the increase, the d*\ crease was upon the whole, only 1,820.

tents, ' every man by liis own camp, and every man by his o\vni standard, throughout their liosts. ^r or zif. ^3 b gyj. ^]jg Levites shall pitch

round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no 'wrath upon the congregation of

the children of Israel: " and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tiibernacie of te:^timony. 54 And the chikkcn of Israel did

On the.subject of tlicsc enumerations, an«l the manner in which this vast nuiltitude sprung in about four generations from seveniy-five persons, Schenchzer lias some vaUiable calculations, which I shall take the liberty to in.sert, as they tend to throw con-iderable light upon the subject.

" ^V'e fintl in the writings of Muses, dure enumerations of the Jewish people, that follow each other pretty closely. The first, which was made at their departure from ligypt, (Exod. xii. 37.) amounted to.. 600,000 that of the Invites fjiven us in Num. iii. 39.

We find the same number, or adding that of each tribe, given us in detail, which is the best proof of the exactness of the calculation.

" I think 1 shall afford the reader some degree of pleasure by presenting him, in this i^lace, the number of each tribe separately, beginning at their earliest ancestors. We shall see, by this means, how faithfully God fulfilled the promise he had made to Abraham, as well as the great utdity of the matlifuiaties for the right understanding of the Holy Scriptures. I shall hegm with a Genealo.;ical Table of that iUy, which God so wonderfully blessed; and to it, I Miall atlerwards add each separate tribe, folloHing the calculation of Ret/her (Math. Mos. p. 222.) And we shall see, that the fourth generation taken with the third, jiroduce the very number mentioned in the Te.xt.

according to al^'that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.

Children of JaCOB by Rachel. Gen. xlvi. 22.

Let us now descend to the particular enu:neration of each Tribe. Reuben had four sons: no^v if ve supposf, that one of these four sons had seven, and that each of the other three had eight; we shall find the number 31, for the first Egyptian generation. If we afterwards suppose, that each of these 3 1 sons had fvc sons, the second generation will amount to 155; which, nuiltiplied by 15, will produce 2,325 for the third generation; and these, multiplied by 19, will make 44,175 for the fourth; so that the third, together with the /oi«v/(, will make 46,500. We shall liave the same product, if the given siun, 46,500, he divided by the most probable number of children, for example, by the number 19; we shall then have 2,447 for the third generation; which sum ■being deducted from the sum total, there will remain 44,0_r3 for the fourth generation, which is exactly the number that is produced in multiplying 2,440 of the third generation, by 18, and the other 7 by 19. If we wish to make the same calculation, with respect to the preceding generations, i. e. divide them by the most probable number of children, we jhall have the folloviing sums. Sons of Reuben I. Generation three first had six children, and each of the three others seven; we shall have thirty-nine for the first generation. If we multiply 31 of this number by D, and 8 by 10, we shall have for the second generation 359; of which number, if we multiply 355 by 1 1, and 4 by 12, the third generation will give us 3,953. Let us then multijily 3,948 of these by 14, and 5 of them by 15, and we shall have for the fourth, 55,347. The third and fourth, added together, will make 59,300. III. Levi 22,300.

Gershon, Levi's eldest son, had two children: let us give to one of these, 16 children, and to the other, 17; and we shall have 33 for the second generation: 28 of which, multiplied by 15, and 5 by 16, will produce 500 for the third. Multiply each by 14, and these will produce 7000; and the iA/Vd and /ouri/i together, 7500.

Kohath, Levi's second son, had four sons, which form the first line. Give to one of them 10 sons, and 11 to each of the other three; for the second generation there will be 43. Multiply them by 10, there will be 430 for the third; the.«e multiplied by 19 fvr iht fourth, will produce the number of 8170. The third and fourth added together, make i},600.

children to each of them, there wilV then be 20 for the second generation. Now if we say that 10 of these 20 had each 15 sons, and each of the others 16, we shall have 310; which multiplied by 19, will give us 5,890 for ihe fourt'., and the tKo last together, 6,200. This may be seen by the foilowing^ example:

The sons of Judah were Sheluh, Pharez and Zerah. His grandsons by Shelah, were Htzron and Hamul. Hezron had tH'o sons. Suppose each of them had six children, which will make 12 for the first generation: to eight of whom allow eight children, and nine to each of the others; and there will be 100 for the second generation. To 92 of these, then give 18 children, and 19 to the eight others; this will produce for the third generation, 1,808. If we then suppose that 1,800 of these had each 18 children, and that each of the other eight had 19, Ihe fourth generation will be 32,552, which, added to the product of the third, will make the descendant" of Hezron amount to 34,360.

Hamul had two sons, who, multiplied by 10, produce the number of 20 tor the second generation: these multiplied by 20, will make 400 for the third, and these again by 25, will produce 10,000 for the fourth. And thus, the two last generations will amount together, to the number of 10,400.

If we allow ^re sons to Pharez, andsij: to Zerah, we "shall have 11 for the first generation. To three of whom allow 10 children, and 1 1 to the other eight, this will give us 118 for the second. To 113 of these give 14, and 15 to the other Jite, and 1,657 will be produced for the third. Give 17 to 1,643, and 18 to the 14 remaining, and for the fourth there will be i.8,lS3. The third And fourth added together will produce the nimiber of 29,840.

According to this calculation, all these generations will amount lo the following numbers:

V. IsSACHAB 54,400. LsSACHAR had fve sons. Suppose that three of them had each fnc children, and the other tivo, six; we shall have 27 for tie first generation. If we then iuiag'ne that of these, 19 had each nine sons, and each of the other eight, 10, the second generation will be 251. Now 241 of these, multi-. plied by 12, will produce 2892; and the 10 others, multiplied by 13, will make 130; consequently the third generation will amount lo.3,022. If 3,018 of these ibad each 17 sons, and e:ich of the other /o?/r had 18, the yb!<rr/( generation will he 51,378; the third and fourth generations then, will produce a number of 54,400.

VI. Zebulon 57,400. Zebulon had three sons. If we suppose thai lico of them had in a!!, 14 children, and the ihiid, six, here will be 20 for the _firsl generation. The second will produce 143. on niultiplyins: 17 by 7, and 3 by 8. If we multiply 135 by 16, and 8 by 17, the i/iird "will amount to '2,->9G. By niu)tiplyini> the third by 24, ihe fourth will give us 55,104. The two last will jjroduce, together, 57,400.

VIII. A.SHER 41,500. The sons of Aslier, Jimnali, Jshuah and Jsui, multiplied by 8, produce fur the

Hcher and Maichiel were sons of BeviaU. Now sons multiplied by 5, give us for 1. Generation.....

Amount of generations the III. and IV. Anotlier son of Beriah had in the I. Generation.....

Amount of generations the III. and IV. All these generations added together, amount to

He had 10 sons; two of whom, multiplied bjr 9, bimI the other 8 by 10, will give lor the

In the above calculations, Scheuchzer and Reyher take for granted, 1. That from the going down to Etrypt to the I'l.xodus, there were four generations. 2. That the fiiat tvyo generations had died in Egypt. 3. Tiial the promise of God in iniiliiplying them as the stais of heaven, had taken place particularly in the two last generations. 4. That these two last generations alone, form the aggregate sums given in the Sacied Text. 5. That their method of accounting for this aggregate through the four generations, is not only per- 4 F 2 fectly natural, and mathematical; but strictly accordant with the promises made by God to them, as the sum of each Tribe sufficiently proves. G. That tlie whole account thews the truth of the divme promise, the great accuracy of the Jewish lawgiver, and a proof of the inspiration of the Sacred Writinffs.

AND the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 * Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standthe ensign of their father's house: the tabernacle of the consrrea;a-

3 % And on the east side toward the rising of the sun, shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and " Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, shall be captain of the children of Judah.

4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, "iSere threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel, the son of Zuar, shall be captain of the children of Issachar.

G And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and lour thousand and four

7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab, the son of Helon, shall be captain of tlie children of Zebulun.

8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four

Moses is commanded to teach the Israelites how theij are to pitch their tents, and erect the ensigns of their fathers' houses, \, 2. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun on the east, amounting to 180,400 men, 3 — 9. Reuben, Simeon^ and Gad, on the south, K'ith 151,450 me?;, 10 — 16. The Levites to be in the midst of the camp, I7. Epbraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, on the west, xcilh 108,100 men, 18 — 24. Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, on the NORTH, tilth I57/>00 men, 25 — 31. The sum total of the whole, 603,550, 32. But the Levites a*c wot?ncluded, 33. The people do as the Lord commands them, 34.

9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah, "were a hundred thousand, and fourscore thousand, and six thousand, and four hundred, throughout their armies. * These shall first set forth.

10 ^ On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

1 1 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

1 2 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon sliall be Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

1 3 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

1 4 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph, the son of ' Reuel.

15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

IG All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben xcere a hundred thousand, and fifty and one thousand, and four hundred and fifty,

NOTES ON CIIAP. II. Verse 2. Eveiy man — shall piicli ly his own standard] Cotftmentators, critics, philosoplier!*, and professional men have taken a great deal of pains to illustrate this chapter, bv shewing the best method of encampment, for such a vast nvjmber of men, and the manner in Which they conceive the

Israelites formed their camp in the wilderness. As God gave them the plan, it was doubtless in every respect perfect; and fully answered the double purpose of convenience and.security. Sc/ituclizer has entered into this subject with hi* usual ability, and in very considerable detail. Following the plan of Rtyhtt, as in tbe preceding chapter, h«f endeavours to

26 And his liost, aiul" those tiiat

were numbered of them, trt/r threescore and two thousand and.seven

27 And those that encamp by him s/iali be the tribe of Ashcr: and tlie captain of the cliildren of Asher shall be Pagiel the s:>n of Ocran.

28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were ibrtv and one thousand and five hundred.

29 Then the tribe of Naphtah: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shull be Afiira the son of Euan.

SO And his host, and those that were numbered of them, xvere tifly and three thousand

camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18 •[ On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Kphraim, according to tlieir armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama, the son of Ammihud.

19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, xccre forty thousand and five

20 And by him shall be the tribe of i>Ianasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh, and four hundred. shall be Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. Il 31 All they that were numbered in the

21 And his host, and those that were num-! camp of Dan li-ere an hundred thousand bered of them, xvere thirty and two thousand; and fifty and seven thousand, and six iuuiand two hundred. | dred. ° They shall go hindmost with their

22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the cap- standards.

tain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan, I 3'2 % These are those which were numbered the son of Gideoni. I of the children of Israel by the house of tlieir

23 And his host, and tliose that were num-, fathers; "all tliose that were numbered of the bered of them, xvere thirty and live thousand i camps throughout their hosts, xi-ere si.K hunand four hundred, || dretl thousand and three thousand ami five

24 All that were numbered of the camp of hundred and fifty.

Epliraim xvere a hundred thousand, and eight jj '53 But 'the Levites were not numbered thousand, and a hundred, throughout their ar- j among the children of Israel; as the Eoud mies. "^ And they shall go forward in the third ii commanded Closes.

2.5 if The standard of tlie camp of Dan shall to all that the Loud conunanded Moses: * so

be on the north side by their armies: and the; they pitched by their standards, and so they

captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer, • set forward, every one after their flunilies, ac- ascertain the i)roci?^e OT(\er ifi which the sevfral tribes were disposed; and ns his «ork is both scarce and dear, ihc Reader Will not be displeased to meet here with a translation of all that re'ers to the subject.

" If we form a proper idea of God, of his essence and his attributes, we shall easily perceive that this infinite and supreme Being, wills and executes what his divine ruisdom appoints; in a word, we shall see that be is the God of order.

cording to the house of tlieir father.s

This order displays itself in the perfection, aJTan;jement, and assemblai;e of all created beings j in the construction of the earth which we inhabit, where every thing is farmed in order, number, weiajht, and measure; and in all bodies, great and small It is certain that Noah's ark is a perfect mo(kl of naval arcliiKCtwe. The temple of Solotnon, and that of /?:ikid, were likewise niaider- pieces in their kind. But at pre* sent, we arc to consider the divine arranijemcnt of the Israel* itish camp, and the manner in which it was fornif^d.

"The Israilitisharmy \xas dividid into thr<ie princip.il divisions. The firm, wliich was the least in extent, but the strongest and the most powerful, occupied the centre of the army; this was the Throiic of God, i.e. the TABEKN'.iCLE.

Remarks on the

castrametatlon of the Israelites^

The sccotid, ivhich was composed of the Priests and Levttcs, surrounded the first. The third, and the farthest from the centre, took in all the other tribes of Israel, who were at least about a mile from the Tabernacle. For it appears from Josephus iii. 4. that the nearest approach they dared make to the ark, except during' the time of worship, was a distance of 2,000 cubits. The reverence due to the Divine Majesty, the numerous army of tiie Israelites, composed of 600,000 soldiers, with their families, which made about 3,000,000 souls, naturally demanded a considerable extent of ground. We are not to imasjine, that all these families pitched their tents pell mell, without order, hke beasts, or as the troops of Tartary, and the Eastern armies: on the contrary, their camp was divided according to the most exact rules. And we cannot even doubt, that their camp was laid out, and the place of every division and tribe exactly assigned by some engineers or geometricians, Ijefore the army stopped to encamp, in order that every person might, at once, find his own quarter, and the road he ought to take to reach the oilier tents.

" Four divisions, which faced the four quarters of the heavens, each with its own ensign, formed the centre of the army. JuD.\H was placed on the east; and under him he had Issachar and Zebuloii: on the south was Rbuben, and under him Simeon and Gad: on the west was EpHR.^lM, and under him ^lanasselt and Benjamin: finall)', Dan was on the north, and he had under him Ashcr and Nap/itali. It has been jiretended by some, that these four principal divisions, were not alone distinguished by their ensigns, but that each particular tribe had likewise its standard or ensign. On this subject we might refer to the Talmudists, who have gone so far as to define the colours, and the fgures or arms of the very ensigns. They pretend that on that of JuDAH, a lion was painted with this inscription: ' Rise, Lord, let thine enemies be dispersed, and let those that hate thi-e, flee before thee;' and they found this description of Judah's ensign in Gen. xlix. 9. They give to IsSACHAR an ass. Gen. xlix. 14. to ZebULON, a ship, Gen. xlix. 13. to Reuben, a river, Gen. xlix. 4. (others give Reuben the figure cf a man) to Simeon, a svjord, Gen. 1. 5. to Gad, a lion, Deut. xxxiM. 22. 10 EphraIM, an unicorn, Deut. xxxiii. 17. an or to MaN.A.SSEH, Deut. xxxiii. n. a wolf to BENJAMIN, Gen. xlix. 27. and a serpent to Dj\N, Gen. xlix. 17. though others give him an eagi;. In short, they pietend that the ensign of A.SIIEII was a handful of corn. Gen. xlix. 20. and that of Nai'HTALI a stag. Gen. xlix. 21.

" To prove that the sums liere are correelly added, we have but to join together the detached nunitiers, and see if thty agree wiih the total. The Text will l'u;nish us with an example of this: there was in the quarter of

" Among other things, we must remark tluit rule of military tactic.", ivliich rcquuxs that the advanced and rear-guards should be striinger than the centic.

" In a well regulated camp, cleanliness is considered indispensably necessary; this is particularly remarkable n the Israeliti.-h army, v.here the most exaot order was itiaintaincd.

Hence every person who had any kind of disease, and those who were reputed unclean, were forbidden to enter it. Num. V. 2, 3. Deut. xxiii. 10.

" Those who have the health of men, and of a wbole army confided to them, are not ignorant, that diseases may be easily produced by putrid exhalations from excrtmentitiowg matter; and that such matter will produce in camps, pestilential fevers, and dysenteries. For this reason, care shouldl be always taken, that offices, at a distance from the camp, be jjrovided for the soldiers, and also that those who arc sick should be separated from the others, and sent to hospitals, to be properly treated.

" In military tactics, we find two distinct wing;s spoken of; the right and the left. The Israelitish army, not only had them on one side, as is customary; but on all their four sides. On the eastern side, the tribe of Issachar formed the right, that of Zebulon the left, and that of Judah the centre. On the south, Simeon formed the right wing. Gad the left, and Reuben the centre. Towards the west, Manasseh composed the right, Benjamin the left, and Ephraim the centre. And on the north, Asher was on the nght uiing, Naphtali on the left wing, and Dan in the centre. Notwithstanding this, however, the army was not in danger of being easily broken; for every tribe being numerous, they were supported by several ranks, in such a manner that the first being broken, the second was capable of making resistance; and if the second ga\e way, or shared the same fate as the first, it found itself supported by the third, and so on with the rest. The square form, in which the Jewish army was ordinarily placed, was the very best for security and defence. The use and importance of the hollow S(]uure, in military tactics, is well known.

'• For so large a multitude of people, and for so numerous an army, it was needlul thai all the necessary articles of life should be prepared beforehand, or be found ready to purchase. In these respf cts nothing was wanting to the Israelites. Their bread came down to them from heaven; and they had besidts an abundance of every thing that could contribute to magnificence. If we may credit Josephus, they had amongst them public markets, and a variety of shops. Ant. 1. iii. c. 12. sec. 5. The tabernacle being erected, it was placed in the midst of the camp, each of the three tribes stretching themselves on the witigs, and leaving hetwteft them a suflScient space to pass.

" It was, says Josephus, like a well appointed market, where every thing was ready for,«ale in due order, and all sorts of artificers kept their shops; so that this camp might be considered a moveable city.

" In Exod. xxxii. 27. we likewise find that mention is made of the gates of the camp, ' Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate, throughout the camp.' From whence we may certainly conclude, that if the camp had gtdes, the Israelites had also cenlinels to guard them. If this be true, we may also tielieve thai they were surrounded luiih enn-eiichinents, or that at lei-.st, their gates were defended by some tbrtific aliens. Srgittarius (de Jan. IvS. I 10.) pretends, that the Tabeinade was not by the Leviies, but that there were likewise cenlinels at the gales, and at the entrance of the Israelitish camps. See the note on Exod. xxxii. 27.

Remarks on the

" If we examine, and compare tlie camp of Israel wilh that of onr most niiinerous armies, which in these days are composed of 100,000, or of 150,000 men, we cannot but consider it of vast extent. The Jews say, it was 12 milts in circumference; tliis is not at all improbable, and consequently, the front of earh wing must be 3 miles in extent. But taking in the tents, the soldiers, and their numerous families, the beasts of burden, the tattle, an*! the goods, it certainly must have formed a very considerable enclosure, much more than 12 miles. See the notes on i'"xnd. xii. 31. and xiii. 18. Reyher, (Math. Mos. p. 568.) as-signs to the

A space of 298f cubits in breadth and 250

Which makes 74,' 00 square cubits.

" We must observe, (hat we are here merely speaking of the ground which the soldiers of this tribe occupieil, whilst remaining; dose to each other, in their rank.s and that in this computation, there is but one square cubit allowed for each man; wherefore if we take in the arrangement of the soldiers, the tents, the necessary spaces, the families, the beasts of burden, and the moveables, a much larger extent of ground is requisite. All those circumstances do not come into Rei/- her'h calculation. He continues thus.

For the Tribe of ISSACHAR.

2n| cubits in breadth 250 in length.

140 *j cubits in breadth 325 in knirlh

For the Tribe of ZfiBlJLONj 229| cubits in breadth 250 m Itii'nh.

For the Tribe of EPHRAlMj 202i cubits in breadth 200 in length

cubit« in lenj.

ribe of cubits in leijj.

M in th

castrametation of the Israelites.

For the Tribe of.SiMEO.v.

cubits in breadth

cubits in breadth

For the tribe of DaN, 156:? cubits in breadth 400 in length

For the tribe of Asiier, 103f cubits in breadth

400 in length

For the tribe of Naphtali,

cubits in breadth 400 in length

If we make the ichnography, or even the scenography of the camp on this plan, in folioumg it. we must first, in Ijie centre, form a parallelogram of lOO cubits long, and 50 broad, for the court of the Tabernacle; with an empty space all round, of 50 cubits broad. We must then place the camp of the Levites towards the west, viz.

Length 250 cubits

To the south, the Kohathites, Num. Breadth 86 cubits

Length J 00 cubits

To the north, the Merarites, Num. Breadth 62 cubits

Length 100 cubits

" On the west, we must place icnis for Moses, Aaron, and his sons. Num. iii. 38.

Ai the place wiiere the camp o*' the Lcvitcs ends, a sf)ace must be left of 2,000 square cubits, afVer whu h we must lake the dimensions of llie camp of ihe.twelvi tribes.

'liiis plan is in ihe mam will imagined, biu it does not aflOrd an uhi.o-raphy of Hillicifiii, xieiit To coine more accurately to a proper understanuing of this subject, I shall

Bemarks on the

caslrametalion of the Israelites,

examine the rules that are now in use for encampments, and I compare them afterwards with what is laid down in the Holy Scriptures, in order that we may hereby form to ourselves an idea of the camp of God; the grandeur and perfection of •which, surpassed every thing of the kind ever seen. I shall now mention what I am about to propose, as the foundation upon which I shall proceed.

" In Exodus xviii. CI. Deut. ii. 15. we find the advice given by Jethro to Moses, respecting political government, and military discipline. ' Thou shall provide out of all the people, able mtn, such as fear God, men of trutli, hating covetousness; and place such over tliem, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.' (See the note on Exod. xviii. 21.) We may very well compare these tribunes, or rather these chiliarchs, to our colonels; the centurions or hecatonarchs, to commanders or ctiptains; the quinquagenaries or penteconlarchs, to lieutenants; and the decurions or decarchs, to our sfjeants. These chiefs, whetlier they were named magistrates or officers, were each drawn from his own particular tribe, so that it was not permitted to place over one tribe, an officer taken from another. M'hatcver matter the decarchs could not decide upon, or terminate, went to the penteconlarchs, and from thence by degrees to the hecatonurehs, to the chiliarchs, to Moses, and at length to God himself, the sovereign head of the army. If we divide the whole army (such as it was at its departure from Egypt) by the numbers already laid down, we shall find 600 chiliarchs, 6,000 hecatonarchs, 1 2,000 pentecontarchs, 60,000 decarchs, vi hich in all make 78,600 officers. Josephus regulates the number of them still more exactly, by savin"' that there were chiefs set over 10,000, 1,000, 500, 50, 30, 20, and 10. We find this regulation in Ant. Jud. B. iii. c. *. ' Take a review of the army, and appoint chosen rulers over tens of thousands; and then over thousands; then divide them into five hundreds; and again into hundreds; and into fifties,- and set rulers over each of them, who may distinguish them into thirties; and keep them in order: and at last number them by twenties and by tens: and let there be one commander over each number, to be denominated from the number of those over whom they are rulers.'

" We ought not to pass over in silence this division by tens; fortwice 10, makes 20; three times 10, '.'lO; fi\e times 10, 50; ten times 10, 100; ten tunes 50, 500; ten times 1,000, 10,000. It was in this manner, as is pretended, that Cangii, the first of the great Khams (as he is called) and after him Tamerlane, drew out an army, i. e. by 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000. meutioned in Athuzen, c. v. Probably these Tartars borrowed, from the very Hebrews themselves, this inanner of laying out a camp. At all events, it is certain that nothing more ancient of the kind can be found, than that mentioned in the books of Moses. To distinguish it from that of the Greeks and Romans, we may with justice call it the Hebrew castrametation, or if we judge it more proper, the Divine caslrametation, and consequently the most perfect of all. For ulihougU 'Moses places the penteconlarchs in the middle, between the hecatonarchs and the decarchs, i. e. 50 between I''0 and 10; and although Josephus afterwards places 1,000 between 500 and 10,000, and 30 and 20, between 10 and 50, this does not at all derange the progression by lens, uhicli IS the foundation of arithmetic. 1'liese subalttrn officers were

equally useful and i>ecessary, as we now see thai their number, far from creating confusion, helps to maintain order, and that the more there are of them, the better is ordtr j 'reserved. According to the modern method of carrying on war, the next in rank to the generals of the army (who have the supreme command) are field marshals and brigadiers, who command 5000 men.

" There are then, between the chiliarchs or colonels, and the hecatonarchs or captains, lieutenant colonels; and between the hecatonarchs and the decarchs, lieutenant captains, and these again have under them lieutenants and ensigns.

" It is certain that this method of distributing an army by tens, and of encamping, which is very concise, \\zs far greater advantages even with respect to expense, than the very best plans of the Greeks, Romans, or any other ancient nation. On this subject we have the testimony of Simon Slcidn, Castrametat. c.!. art. 1. and c. 4. art. 3. Oper. 3Iat!i. p. 514: and 596. and ful. According to this arrangement, each soldier, or, if more proper, <ach father of a famili/, bemg thus placed by ten and ten in a straight line one after the other, might very easily name themselves frst, second, &c. Each troop in like manner, might be distinguished by its ensigns; that of 100 might have them small; that of 1,000, larger; and that of 10,000 still larger. Every officer from the lowest subaltern, to the general officers of the camp, and even to the generalissimos themselves, had only an easy inspection of ten men each: the decarch had the inspection of 10 soldiers; the hecatonarch of 10 decarchs; and the chiliarch of 10 hecatonarchs. After the chiliarchs, which in no troop can amount to ten, there is the chief or head of each tribe Each then, exactly fulfilling the duty assigned him, we may suppose every thing to be in good order, even were the camp larger and more numerous. The same may be said respecting the contentions that might arise among the soldiers, as well as every thing relative to the general duty of the officers, as to the labours they- were to undertake, whether for striking their tents for works of fortification, or tor making entrenchments. This arrangement might be easily retained in the memory, or a general list be kept of the names of both officers and soldiers, to distribute to them their pay, and to keep exact accounts.

" It was possible in one moment to know the number of those who were either wanting, or were out of their ranks, and to avoid this disorder in future, by obliging each man to attend to his duty, and to keep in his rank. If by chance it happened that any one man wished to desert, or had escaped, it was easy to notice him, and inflict on him the punishment he merited. The ensigns being distinguished by their jnarks, and the company being known, it was easy to find any soldier whatever.

" The armies themselves might have certain marks to distinguish them, and by that means they might at once ascertain the person in question, for example, 8 2. T. 3. might signify tl>e eighth soldier, or father of a family, of the second rank, of the seventh company, in the third chiliad: 1. 3 5. the halberdier of the deciirion, or scijeant, of the seventh line, in the third company, of the fflh chiliad, or thousand; 5. 8. till* hecatonarchs or captains of the fifth company, in the eighth chiliad; 7. the chiliarchs or colo7ith uf the seventh rank; 0. finally, the general of the whole army. Further, by the same means, the loss or misplacing of their arms might

Remarls en the castramctatiaii

of the Israelites.

ai'.ii by liius follow lit be kept in good

\x in>tniclcd and formed to the exercise of arms each dccad

' ■iviii'j its ferjcant for its master: and the chariots or other

iiiages nii;>lil easily be divided amoDi^st several; 10 under

liie deem ion, 100 iiniler the /iicaloiinrch; iiicf tlic above inelliod, eveiy thing mi;j order."

" A\'e shall, finally, in one plate, represent the wliole camp.li' the Israclilts, in that oitlcr which appears the most prolix r. For this purpose, «e must extract the square roots of; lie preceding spaces, in order tlial «c may l)c able to assign \

lie prevented. Again, the soldiers might m a very short lime, ji Israelites caitrametation was more perfect than nny ihinff «e j can well imagine; for as it was the |)lan v.bich God himtflf I probably laid down, it must be in cvtry respect what it ouplit i to be, (or the comfort and safely of this numerous tnultij tude.

As there arc some differences bet^veen ih? mode ofdisiribnt- ] ing the comniand of a large army among tlie Ijriii.sh, and tlmt used on the Contment, which is followed by Stbeucbzcr, I shall lay down Ihe dcscaiding scale of British commanders, wiiicli some may think applies better to the preceding arangcnv.'nt olilie Israelitisb array than the other.

2. Lieut.-gtneruls, who command divisions of the army; (tl cse divisions consist of 2 or 3 brigades each, and may, on an average, amount to 5000 men).

3. Major-generals, who command brigades; (these brigades consist of froin 2 to.3000 men ['J500 is perhaps the average] according to the strength of the respective regiments of which the brigade is composed.)

4. Colonels in the army, or lieutenant-colonels, who command single regiments; they are assisted in the command of these regiments by the majors of the regimsnts. [I mention the major, that there may be no break in the descending jicale of gradation of ranks, as in the event of the absence of the above two officers, kcistlic next in command].

5. Captains who command companies: these companies (on the war e.slablishment) consist of 100 men each, and there are 10 companies in every regiment, conseq-.iently a colonel, or lieutenant-colonel, commands 1000 men broad, I place in the centre of the camp, at the distance of t 840 feet from the camp of the I.evites, which is placed exactly in the same manner as described in llie Sacred; Writings. I find therefore that the whole space of the camp is 259,(100,000 feet. Now, according to the manner we have just divided the camp for each tribe, the sum total being 125,210,000, it follows, that the space between the tents contained 134,390,000. It', with Eist-nscli/iitd, we estimate the Poman mite at TCfi French fathoms;.nd two feet (consequently 21,141,(i0 1- square feet to a Roman square mile) the Isracl-. itisii camp will contain a little more than 12 such square miles."

The Header will have the goodness to observe, that the preceding observations, as well as the following plate or diagram which was made by.Scheuchzer on the exactest proportions,

- *ould not be accurately copied here without an engraved plate, ■ w Iiich w ould have created jjreat dtUn/, though hllle more exjience, I and alitr all, the common reader could have profited no more 1 by the /)/fi/f, than he can iiy the diagram. It is not even 1 lio))cd that di-quisilions of this kind can give any thing more! than a general idea how the thing probably was: lor to ])re- | tend to minute exactness, in such cases, would be absurd. | The Sacred Text informs us that.such and such tribes occupied: the East, such the IVcst, &c. &c. but how they were arranged j individually, we cannot pretend absolutely to say.,Scheuch- |

■ zer's plan is sui:h as we may suppose judgment and skill would lay duun; but still it is very probable that the plan of the belonging to eadi regiment in the service, and are solely em]iloyed in tiie disciplining and commanding the men r these are mounted on horseback, and termed fieldofficers.

Ascending scale of ranks which every officer must pass Ihruugh. Ensign, Lieutenant, Captain,.Major,

Thousli I particularly refer the Reader to the diagram of the Israclilish camp on the preceding page, taken from.Scheuciizer's plate, which I hav- thought necesjary to be subjoined to his description, yet I think it also proper to introduce the following', as it gives a general and tolerably correct idea of this immense camp, in the description of which, the inspired writer lias been so very particular.

The whole may be said to consist of three camps, r^:. 1. The camp of the Lord. 2. The camp of the Lfvites. 3. And the camp of the People. These, in the grand cuuip in the wilderness, corresponded with the Holy of Holies, the Holy place, and the oiuxnard court of the I'emple at Jerusalem. — See Ainsworth.

The generations of Aaron and Moses, 1 — 4. 77/c tribe of Levi to minister to the Lord^ under Aaron and his sons, 5 — 10. They are taken in the place of tlie Jirst-boDi, 11 — 13. Moses is commanded to number them, 14 — 16, Gcrshoii, Koliath «W.Merari, the namesoftlie three heads of families of the Levifes, 17. 0/"Gerslion and Ids faniilij, 18—21. 7 7w> number 7500, i;. 22. Their ^VacQ, behind tite tabernnclc, westward, 23. Tlieir chief, Eliasjipli, 24. Their charire, 2,5, 26. Of Kohatli and liis familij, 27. 7V(«'/' number 8G0O, r. 28. Their YiVacc, bcbide the ialternacle, soutinvard, 29. Their chief, Elizaphan, 30. r//f/> charge, 31. The chief of the Lcvites, Eleazar, son of Aaron, 32. Of Mcnm and his family, 33. 77(c//- number G200, v. 34. Their chief, Zuriel, thcj/ shut/ pilch beside the fabtrnnc/c, nortiiward, 3."). Their charge, 35 — 37. ^^asEs and A ARO}f to encamp before the tabernctcJe, eastward, 38. The amount of all the males among the Leviles from a vionth old and upK-ards, 22,000, zer. 39. Moses is commanded to number the first-born, 40; and to take the Levites and iheir cattle, instead of thejirst-born of man and beast among the Israelites, 4 1. Moses numbers tlwfirst-born, zchn amount to 22,273, ler. 43. y/s ///e first-borti ii.ere 27.'3 more than the Lciitcs, Moses is commmided to tuhe from the people five shekels a piece for them, 44 — 47, Khich is to be given to Aaron and his sons, 48. Moses does accordinglij, and Jinds the amount of the moneij to be 1365 shekels, 49, 50, ichich is given to Aaron and to his sons, 5 1.

THESE also are the gensrations of Aaron aaid Moses in the day that the Lord spake with IMoses in mount Sinai.

2 And these arc the names of the sons of Aaron; Nachib the ' first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 Tiiese ere the names of the sons of Aaron, "the priests which were anointed, 'whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

4 "And Nadab and Abihu died before the Loud, when they offered strange fire before

NOTES ON CHAP. HI. Verse 1. Tlie generations of Aaron and 3Ioses\ Tliougli Aaroti and Moses are both mentioned here, yet the family of Aaron a4on(;, appe.-irs in the list: hence, some have thought that the word Moses, v.-as not originally in the text. (Jlher.-i think thai the words n"i"lS,-| nSxi vdlelt ioledolh, these are the j^cnerations, shoidd be renikred lliesc are ilie acts, or transactions, or tlie history of the lives, as the same phrase may be understood in Gen. ii. 4. vi. 9. However this may be, it is evident tiiat in this genealogy, the family of Aaron are alone mentioned, probably because tliese belonged to the priesthood. INIoses passes by iiis own family, or immediate descend-mls; he gave no rank or privilege to them during- his life, and left nothing' to them at his death. They became incorporated wit!) the Levites; from or amongst whom they are never distinguished. ^V'hat a strong proof is this of the celestial origin of his religion! Had it been of?naii, it must have had the gratification of some impure passion for its object; Just, ambition, or avarice: but none of these ever a]ipcar

tlie Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office, in the sightof Aarontheir father.

6 ' Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister inito him.

7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do '^the service of the tabernacle.

the Pcnlatcuch, and that of the Koran.' The former is God'sworkmanship; the latter is a motley mixture of all bad crafts, widi here and there a portion of the heavenly fire, stolen from the divine altar in (he Old and New Testaments, to give some vitality to the otherwise, inert mass.

Wrse 6. Bring tlie trilie of Levi m'Mr] The original word 3lpn hakereb, is properly a sacrificial word, and signifies die presenting of a saentice or offering to tlie Lord. As an oilering, the tribe of Levi was given up entirely to the strvice of the sanctuary, to be no longer their own, but the Lord'.s property.

Verse 7. The charge of the tehole congregation} They shall work for the whole congregation; and, instead of the JlrsC-bi'rn,

8 And they sliall keep all the instru- 1 ments of the tabcruacle of the congregation, and tlie charge of the cliil-:

J'""[~"' drcn of Israel, to do the service of the •

9 And ' thou shalt give the Lcvites unto Aaron and to his sons: tliey arc wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

10 And thou shalt ajjpoint Aaron and his sons, ^ and they shall wait on their priest's olHce: ' and the stranger that conicth nigli shall bo put to death

born in Israel, both Hian and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Loud.

14 ^ And the Loun spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai,

J 5 Numboi- the children of Levi attiU' the house of their tiithers, by their iiiniilies: ^evcry male, rtom a month old and upward, shalt thou number them

16 And Moses numbered them according to

the " word of the I.x)rd, as he was commanded L put H7 w^cL..., 17 'And these were the sons of Levi by their

12 And I, behold, "l" have taken the Levites! 18 And these are the names of the sons of from among the children of Israel instead Gershon by their famihes; ''Libni, and Shhnei. of all the tirst-born tliat openeth the matrix ji 19 And "the sons of Kohath by their tiunihes; among the children of Israel: therefore the Le- '[ ' Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. vites shall be mine: j! 20 "'And the sons of iMerari by their families;^

1.'3 Because 'all the first-born r/rc mine; '^^/o?*'' Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of on the day that I smote all the Urst-born in the ' the Levites, according to the house of their

land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the first-

Vcr>e S. All the inslrmnents] The tabernacle ilself and all its contents: see all dosciibeiJ ver. 25, '2ti —:jl — o.5 — 37. i lie Levites were to perforin the most common and laborious cfllces. It was their business to take down, put up, and €-arry the tabernacle and its utensils; for it was the object of tiieir peculiar care. In a word, tlici/ were the sen-ants of the prksls.

Verse 10. Aaron and his so}is shall ivtiit on their priest's qgtcc] It wafi tlie business of the priests to ofler the diflcrent sacrifices to God: to consecrate the.'•liew- bread: pour out the libations; burn the incense — sprinkle the blood of the ■victims, and bless the people. lu a word, they were the servants of GOD alone.

Verse 12. I have taken the Lsviles — instead of all the firsthorn] The Levites are taken for the service of the sanctuary in place of the fir^t-bo^n. "^Vhe Jiml-born were dedicated to God in commemoration of his slayin;^ the first-born of the K^yptians, and prcservinii; those of the Israelites. Kvcn the (;<//t'of the Levites were taken in place of the Jirst-born of the cattle of the rest of the tribes — See verse 45.

Several reasons have been assigned, why God should give this honour to the tribe of Levi in preference to all the others, but they do not seein to me to be conclusive. Their zeal in destniymii; those who had corrupted the woisliip of God, in the business of the goldtn calf, Exod. xxxii. 28. h is been thought a siidicient reason. A better reason is, that this was the smallest tribe, and tliey were quite enough for the service. To have had a more nwnerous tribe, at tlii» time, would have been very inconvenient.

of Christ, all these rites are fulfilled in him. For unto Christ. God gave children, Heb. ii. 13. And lluy are a congregation cf firsl-horn, whose yiaiiies are xviitten in heaven, Heb. xii. 23. being of God's own wdl begotten hi; the word of truth, that they should be « kind offirst-fndts of his creatures, James i. 1 6,

I to whom he also gives:he first-fruits of his Spirit, Rom. viii.

' 23. These u-ait on and folh'.u the Lamb, being frst-fru!:.f unto God and to tlie Lamb, Uev. xiv. i. And Christ hatli made us kings and priests un'o God and his Father, — that we may serve hiin day (ind night in his temple, Rev. i. 6. — vii. 15.

Verse 1 5. A month old and iipvjard] The males of all the other tribes were nunibeied from tivcnty years and up'u:ards; li.id the Levi'es been nuiiibered in this way, tin y would not have been nearly equal in number (o the firsi-born of the twelve tribes. Add to this, that as tliere luust have b^en first-born, oi' all ai;es in the other tribes, it was neces.sary that the L/viies, who were to be their substitutes, should be also of ullages: and it appears to have been on this ground, at least jiarily, that the Levites were numbered from four ueeks old and upwards.

Verse 16. JFoses vumbered them] Though Moses and Aaron conjointly numbered the twelve tribes, yet Mo^es alone nuiuliercd llie Levites: " for as the money with which ftlie first-born of Israel, who exceeded the nuii.ber of Levites, were redeemed, was lo be paid to Aaron and his sons, ver. 48. it was dtcent that he, whose advantage it was, that l!ie number of the first-born of Israel should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number liiuiseit^" — Dodd, from bishop Kidder.

21 ^ Of Gershon was the family of tlie Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonite.s.

22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number oi'all the males, from a month old and upward, even tliose that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five

23 ' The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites sJiall be Eliasajjh the son of Lael.

25 And *" the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be " the tabernacle, and " the tent, ' the covering thereof, and ^ the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26 And ^ the hangings of the court, and " the eurtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and ' the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27 % " And of Kohath "dcas the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and tlie family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, xvere eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29 ' The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitcli on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30 And tlie chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites, shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

Verse 39. Which Moses and Aaron mmibered] The word pnxi veahon, " and Aaron," has, a point over each of its letters, probably designed as a mark of spnriousness. The «ord is wanting in the Samarilati, Si/riar and Coptic; it is wanting also in cighl of l)f. Kennicott'i MSS. and in /our of l)e Rossi'f. Moses alone, as Iloubigant observes, is comtnanded to take the number of the Lttitcs, see ver. 5, 11, 40, 44 and 51.

"the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and ' the hanging, and all tlie service thereof.

32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest sliall he chief over tlie chief of the Levites, a?id have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 if Of Merari rvas the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

33 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari, was Zuriel the son of Abihail: ' these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36 And Umder" the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto.

37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38 ^ " But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, 'keeping the charge of the sanctuary ''for the charge of the children of Israel; and " the stranger that cometh nigh.shall be put to death.

39 ''''All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandmeiit of the Lord, througliout their famihes, all the males from a montli old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Jll the males were 122,000] This total does not agree witli the particulars; for the Gershonites were 7500, the Koiiathites 8600, the Mcraritcs 6200, total, 22,.300. Several methods of solving this ditTiculty have been propcsed by learned men; Dr. Kcnn icon's is the most simple. Formerly llie numbers in the Hebrew bible were expressed by letters,;uid not by ■u.ords at full len^ih; and if two nearly simi'ar letters were mistaken for each other, manv errors in the

40 ^ And the Lord said unto Moses, * Number all the first-born of" the males of the children of Israel, iiom a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. I

4-1 "And thou sh alt take the Levites for me, (I am the Lord) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42 And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.

43 And all the first-born males by the number of names, Iiom a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of tliem, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

4.5 " Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the childi'en of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord.

numbers must be the cnnsequence. Now it is probable that an error bns crept into ilie number of the Gtrshi.nilcs, ver. 22, where, instead of 7500, we.should read 7200, as "^ rtipli, 500, minht have been ea.sily mistalien for 1 nsh 200 especially if the down stroke of the c«^/» had been a liltle sho ter than ordinary, which is often the case in MSS. The extra 300 being taken ofT, the total is just 22,000 as mentioned in the 39th verse.

Verse 43. All the first-born males xiere 22,2'73.] Tiuis we find there were 273 first-born, beyond the number of the Levites. These are ordered, ver. 46. to be redetmed; and the redemption ])rice is to bcjhe shekels each, ver. 47. about 15s. And this money, amounting to 1365 shekels, equal to.f 204- 15 English, he took of the fir.st-born of Israel, ver. 50. But how was this collected among 22,273 persons? Rtibbi Solomon Jurchi says, to prevent contcnlion, Moses took 22,000 slips of parchment, and wrote on each, « son of Levi; aiid 273 others, on which he wrote fre sitekets; then he mixed them in a basket, and each man took out one — those who drew the slips, on which _/Jpe slukcls were written, paid the money; the others went free. This is a most stupid and silly tale, for

46 And for those that are to " redeemed of the two hundred antl threescore and thirteen of the first-. -.. born of the children of Israel, ' which _:^''"L_^_ are more than the Levites:

47 Thou shalt even take ' five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary, shalt thou take tfiem: (Hhe shekel is twenty gerahs:)

48 And thou shalt give the money, w^herewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.

49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Le\ntes:

50 Of the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money; "a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51 And Moses 'gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

sucli a mode of settlement never could have been resorted to by an intelligent people. It would have been much more simple to have paid it out of a general fund: and it is very likely that, in this way, the expense was defrayed.

This species of redeeming of men is referred to by St. Peter, 1 Epist. i. 18, 19. " Ye know that ye ivere not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but, with the precious (ti/mco aiixan valuable) blood of Christ, as of a lamb u-ithuut blemish and without spot, &.C." And, it is not ihc first-born only which are thus redeemed; for he, by the grace of God, tasted death for EVERY man, Ileb. ii. 9. Header, give glory to God, that such a ransom has been paid for thy soul; and see, that redeemed from thy vain conversation; thy em()ty, fruitless and graceless observances, on vvhieh thou hast builded thy hopes of salvation; thou walk in neniiess of life, giving thy whole.soul with tliankfulncss unto the Father who hath translated thee from darkness, and placed thee in the kingdom of his beloved Son: To Hitn be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen!

Moses is commanded to take the sum of the sons of Kohath front thirty years old and upward, I —,3. The service lohich iheij had to perform, 5 — 15. T/ie o/^i'cc i)/" Elcazar, l6. The faviili/ of }io\\&\.\\ to be continued among the

Leviiis, 17— U)- f/iei/ are not fo go into tlie Holif of Holies, 20. T7ie siiiii of the sons 0/ G'ei-shou, 21 — -23. Thescivice tlici/ htidtojicrform, C4— 27. '/V/tyy aya to Iw tinder llhamar, 28. TIte sum of the so«.s o/' Merari, 29,30. The service tlmy had to perforin, 31 —."W. The sum of all the families of Kohiith, 2750, rer. 34 — 37. The Slim of the families of GersUon 2G.-0, ver. 38 — 41. The sunt of the families q/"Mcrari, 42 — 45. The sum total of the families of Gvrihon, Kohath and ^levari, S5S0, re;-. 4G— 49-

AN D the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of V'"'"^^'!- Kohiath ti-om among the sons of Levi, their families, by the house of their

3 ^Fiora thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

4.^ "This sliall he the service of tlie sons of Kohath in the t;v1)ernac!e of the congregation, about 'the most holy things:

'5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sotv", and they sluiU take down "the covering vail, and cover tlie "ark of testimony with it:

6 And shall ])ut thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and sliall spread over // a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in ^the staves thereof.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV. Verse 3. From thirty years old] In chap. viii. 24. the Levites are oidtred to enler on the service of tlie tabernack at the a-^e of f.vertty-five years; and in 1 Chron. xxiii. 24. they were ordered to ccnin.ence that uoric at tvjaity years of age. How can these diftererit times he reconciled.? 1. At the time of which Mos€s speaks heie, tlic Le\ itical service was exceedin sjly scfff, and con.<eqiiently required \\\en J'ull grown, strong and itout, to perform if. the age, therefore, of thirty years, «-as appointed as tlie period for commencing tliis service, tlie -Mightier part of which is, probably, here intended. 2. In chap. viii. 24. Moses steni.s to speak of the.service in a general nay; the sercrc, which was to be performed by the foil grown LeVites, and the le^s laborious wurk which yonn^er.men itiij,dit assist m: hence, the ai^e o( livcnty-jhe is fixid. 3. In David's time andaflerwards, in the. //.«•(/ taberna'le and temple, the laboriousiicss of the service no longer existed, and Ifcncc, tiveiity years was the age fixed on for all Levites to enter into the work oftiie sanctuary. The Ilabbins say that Ihc I.«vites began to learn to do the service at ticenly-fivc; and that having been inslnicttd.ft'ir years, they began the public service at thirty, and tbiis they reeoncde the tU'O periods referred to above. Wc may well suppose that the ao^is of ih<.

7 And upon the ^ table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to "cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof

9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the ' candlestick of the light, " and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuftdishe.-J, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

10 And they shall put it and all tlie vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar,

1 1 And upon ' the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

prophets rontinued a considerable time under instructions before iliey were called fully to exercise Uiemselvcs in the prophetic office.

Until fifty years old] This was allowing Itvenfy years for public severe.service. A very considerate and merciful ordinance. A preacher who devotes his whole time and strength to the service of the cliurcli of God, from tvvcnly till fifty or sixty years of age, sliould be tlien excused from his severer labour, and maintained at the charge of the sanctuary. This would not only be a great comfort to a worn out servant of God, but also of great use to the work of the ministry, which, to be (iaithfuUy and efTectually performed, requires all the powers of the body and mind of man. Old fctithfiit ministers are to be highly respected for their work's..^akc, and to be siipyjlied with all the necessaries and comforts of life; but, how liitle can they do in the public ministry of the word, however wilbng to uoik, when their eye waxes dim and their bodily strength fails! — See on chap. viii. 25. Both for their own sakes, and for the good of the church, they should be excused from a labour to which they must be almost every way inadequate. I'lit notwithi-tanding this comparative inactivity, their counsels, aiivice and e\peri< nee, will always be considered us a treusure to the church oi' Christ.

12 And they shall take all the in- i! throughout the houses of their fathers, struments of ministry, wherewith they i by their families; 2. minister in the sanctuary, and put | 23 ' From tliirty years old and up-

them with a covering of badgers' skins, and' number them; all that enter in "'to i)erform the

13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

Ir And they shall))ut upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels.

service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the

24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for "burdens:

25 And "they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congre-

hanjvinff for the door of the tabernacle ol the congregation, 26 And the hanoiiiirs of the court, and the awd the ^basons, all the vessels of the altar;!| gation. Ins covering, and the covering of the and they shall spread upon it a co\ering of badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.

15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set i. hanging for the door of the gate of the court, forward; after that, "the sons of Kohath shall; which is by the tabernacle and by the altar come to bear it: ' but they shall not touch j round about, and their cords, and all the instruany holy thing, lest they die. "These things] ments of their service, and all that is made lor are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the i; them: so shall lliey serve.

16 ^ And to the office of Eleazar the son.j sons shall be all the service of the sons of the of Aaron the priest, pertaineth 'the oil for the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all light, and the '^ sweet incense, and "^the daily j| their service: and ye shall appoint unto them

meat-offering, and the " anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. I

IT ^ And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, I

1 8 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of: the Kohathites from among the Levites:

19 But thus do unto them, that they may, live, and not die, when they approach unto] ' the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall: go in, and appoint them every one to his service ' and to his burden: j

20 " But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

21 ^ And the Loud spake unto Moses, say-

22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon,

Verse 20. il'lien the holy things are covered'] Literally, J?733 bi'hitlii. when they are swallowed jIowii; wliicli sliew.s the prompt-

28 Thi.s is the service of the flimilies of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under tlie hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29 ^ As lor the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;

30 "'From thirty years old and upvard, even unto fifty years old, shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the ' service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.

31 And "this /,-> the charge of their hinden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; ' the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,

w as put out of siftlit, for these mysteries must ever be treated with the deepest reverence; an.'l indeed without thi.s, they could not itude with whicli every thing, belonging to tlic Holy ol Holies, have been to them, the representatives of h< a\enly realities

S2 And the pillars of the court round about, and tlieir sockets, and their pins, and tlieir cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall' ^reckon tlie instruments of the charofe of their burden.

33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

34 ^ ''And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

35 From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:

36 And those that were numbered of them by their famihes, were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.

37 These "icet'C they that w^ere numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that miffht

38 ^ And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,

39 From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,

40 Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their famihes, by tlie house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.

Verse 36. Tho.K that were numlered] In cbap. iii. 21, &c. we have an account of the whole number of the Levites; and here of those only who were able to scire the Lord in the aanctuary. By cojuparing the two places we find the numbers to stand thus:

41 ' These arc they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord.

42 ^ And those that w ere numbered of the families of the sons of ^M^rari, througliout their families, by the house of their fathers,

43 From tliirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,

44 Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.

45 These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered "according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers.

47 "From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that came to d© the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congrega-

48 Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five himdred and fourscore.

49 According to the commandment of the Lord they were.numbered by the hand of Moses, ' every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, ^as the I^ord commanded

13,720 unfit, bein<f either too olil or too young. W'lial an astonisliing number of nitn, all properly ecclesiastics! all performing- some service by which Cod w.is cjlorified, and the congregation at large l)cnefited! See Ainyuortli.

From this and the preceding chapter, we see the very severe labour which the Levites were obliged to perform, while the jounieyintjs of the Israelites lasted. When we consider that there was not less than 14 tons, 266/is. of melal employed in the tabernacle, see the notes on Exod. xxxviii. besides the immense weight of the skins, hangings, cords, boards, and posts, we shall find it was no easy matter to transport this moveable temple fiom place to place.

The Kohatldtes, who were 8,600 men, had to carry the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary. Ibid. 31.

I'he IMcrarites, who were 6,200 men, had to carry the boards, bars, jylllars, sockets, and aH mutters connected w'ith these belonging to the tabernacle; with the pillars of the court, their sockets, pint:, and cords. Ibid. 36, 37.

The tabernacle was an epitome of the temple: the temple and tabernacle were representatives of the church of the living God, and of the hiiinanitj/ of our blessed Lord. As God dwelt in the tabernacle and tetnple, so his fulness dwelt in the 3Ian Christ Jesus. These again were types of the Christian church, which is termed the body of Christ, Ephes. i. 23. where he dwells in the plenitude of the graces of his.spirit.

Mr. Ainsworth has a very useful iwte on the 20*li ver^e of this chapter, the moit edifying part of which I shall here lay before the Reader. He considers the tabernacle and temple not only as pointing cut the old dispensation; i\\e. annulling itf wiiich was typified by their d^'struition, but he coi^- siders also tile former as emblematical of the body of min.

" The apostle," says he, " treating of the death of the saints, uses this simjhtude: If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, wc have a building of God, a house not made ii-ith hands, eternal in the heavens. For nc that are in THIS TAUF.HN.iCLE rfo groan, being burdened, not for that we luoiild be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be srxalloiited tip of life, 2 Cor. v. 1 — \. So Peter calls his death, \.\^e putting off oiXw T.\BERNACLE, 2 Pet. i. \\. And this similitude is very fit! for, as here, in the tabernacle of Moses, the most holy things were first covered, and taken away; see ver. 20. so the soul and its jjowers are fust withdrawn from the body by death. 2. As the curtains and coverings were taken ofTand folded up; so the skin and flesh of our bodies arc pulled off and consumed. 3. As the boards of the tabernacle were disjointed and pulled asunder, so shall our bones and sinev\s: — compare Job's description of the formation of man, chap. x. 8 — 12. And Solomon's account of his dissolution, Eceles. xii. 3, 4. — 4. As the disjointed and dissolved tabernacle was afterwards set up again, Num*D. x. 21. so shall our bodies in the day of the resurrection; see 1 Cor. XV. 51— 54."

The Israelites are commanded to purify the eamp by excluding all lepers, and all diseased and unclean persons, 1 — 3. They do so, 4. Law concerning him who has defrauded another — he shall confess his sin, restore the principal, ajid add besides, o)/c dMi of its ralue, 5 — 7. If he htivc no kinaniMX to zchom the recotnpence can be made, it shall be given unto the Lord, 8. u4ll the hob/ things offered to the Lord shall be the priest's portion, 9,10. The law concerning jealousy, 11 — 14. The suspected woman's qfering, 15. She is to be brought before the Lord, If). The priest shall take holy zcater, and put in it dust from the foor of the tabernacle, 17. Shall put the offering in her hand, and adjure her, 18 — 20. The form of the oath, Q\, 22. which is to be Jtritfcn on a book, blotted out in the Oilier waters, and these the suspected person shall be obliged to drink, 2.'3, 24. The jealousy offering shall be wared before the Lord, 25, 26. The effect which shall be produced if the suspected person be guilty, 27. The effect if not guilty, 28. Recapitulation, with the purpose and design of the laie,

2 Command the cliildren of Israel, tliat they put out of the camp every

NOTES ON CHAP. V. Verse 2. Put out of the camp every lcper'\ According to the preceding plan, it is sufiiciently evident, that each camp

" issue, and whosoever is defiled by the " dead: 3 Both male and female shall ye