Commentary on the Holy Bible

Vene 1. 'nelMrdtpaiumtoMo»e&~onUuJlrttday 0f the teeottd month} Am the tabernacle wma erected upon Ine firat day of the nrat month in the ueond year, aner their coming out of Egvp'i Exod. xl. IT. and thia muater of the petme wu made on the first day of the second monllL in liie Mune year t it is evident that ihe tmnsactiona rslftted IB ihe preceding book, must all have taken place in the spocs of one numlh, and during; the lime the leraelilM were encamped at mount Sinai, before they had begun their journey to the promised land.

Terae Z Take ye the mm, Slc.\ Ood having established the coiQin on wealth of Israel by just and equitable laws, ordained eveiv thing relative to the due performance of hit own irorahip} erected hia tabernacle, which was bis ChrMie, and the place of his residence, amon^ the people; and consecrated his priests, who were to minister before him: he now orders nls subjects to be mustered, 1. Tliat they might see he had not fori^otten his prointse to Abraham, but was multiplying his posterity. 2. That they mi^t observe due oraer in tlieir march toward the promiaed land. 3. That the tribes and families might be properly distinguished t that all litigations concerning property, inheritance, acc, might, in all future times, be prevented. 4. That the promise concerning the Messiah might be known to have its due accomplishment, when, in the fulness of time, God should send him firom the seeu of Abraham, throurii the house of David. And, S. That they might know weir strength for war. For although they should ever consider God as iheir protector and deten} Tetitvuneceaaary they dnuld be aoMued of their

8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zoar.

9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of H^n.

19 Of the children of Joseph: of Bphraim; Elidiama the son of Ammihud; of Mawuwi^;

Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

11 Of Benjamin; Abidsui the son of GideonL

12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai

13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocrao, -

14 Of Gad; Eliasaj^ the son of ' DeaeL

15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the eon of Enan.

16 * These were the renowned of the congre-

fition, princes of the tribes of their fiithers, heads of thousands in Israel.

17 H And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names;

18 And they assembled all the conffr^ation together on the first day of the second month, ana they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their doIIb,

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

20 i And the children of Reuben, LsraePs eldest son, bv their generations, after their fomilies, by the house oT their fathers, according Xo the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21 Those that were numbered of them, evek of the tribe of ■ Reuben, irere forty and six thousand and five hundred.

own fitness, naturally speaking, to cope with any ordinaiy enemy, or to surmouqt any common difficulties^

Verse 3. jWm twenly years old atid umeard] In tht» census do women were reckoned, nor (AUaren, nor ttramgtr; nor the Levitea, nor old men; which collectively, must have fonned an immense multitude; the Leviles alone amounted to 33,300. True-born Israelites only an reckoned; such as were able to carry arms, and were expert for war.

Verse 14. Eliaeapk ihe son of Deuel] "nia person is called Reuel, chap. li. 14. As the i daUtfi, d, is very like the ^ reek, r, it was easy to mistake the one for the other. The Septuagint and the Syriac have Reuei in this chapter; and in wap. ii. 14. the VulMie, the Samaritan, and the ArtMe have Oetw^ instead of Reuei, with whkk reading a vast number of M88. concur; and this reading is sujworted by chap. x. ver. 20. we may safely eoncludsw therefore, Sirpi DAual, not l^mjn R&ual, was the ongiml reading. See Kennuott.

An ancient Jewish rabbin pretends to solve every difficulty, by saying that " Eiiamvh was a proselvte; that before he embraced the true foitli, be was called the son of Reuei, but that'afler his conversion, he was called dte aoa of Deael." As Rdud may ba translated the breoA nf Ood, and D&uel the knmaedge of CrocL I suppoas the rabbin grounded his su^iosition on the diniBrcnt mesningi of the two words.

Verse IS. Theae vere the renownrd] Ulerally 0U eatted qf the eongr^alum — those who were summoned by i to attend. The order of the tribes in (be above tioo may be viewed thus:

2» T Of the children of * Shneoo, by their ^eneratione, after their femiUea, by the house of their fathers, those that were- numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

23 Those that were munbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thoueand and three hundred.

24 T[ Of the children of 'Gad, by their venerations, after their families, by the house oAheir fhthers, according to the number of the names, ffom twenty years old and upward, alt that were l^le to so forth to war;

of the tribe of Gad, vere forty and five thousand SUE hundred and fifty.

26 IT Of the children of " Judah, by 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 (hat were able to go forth to war;

of the tribe of Judah, loere threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

28 D Of the children of <■ Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of tiieir 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 Issachar, were fifty and four thoukand and four hundred.

30 1 Of the children of • Zebulnn, by 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 Zebulun, vere fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

32 \ Of the children of p Joseph, namely, of the children of ' Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their lathers, 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 Kphraim, were forty thousand and fire hundred.

Tens 25. f^nrty and fitt thmaand nx hundred and Jtjty\ Mr. AiiiBworth hu remarked, that Gad, the handtMauf a •OH, IB the only one of all the tribei whoae number coda with jyiy; all the olhera are by thmuandM, and end with Auiufr4p« which ahowa Ood'a admirable pro videiiM ■adUeBringnmuliiplving them bo, that no oddot brokm unmber warn amoDg all the tribe*. But aee on ver. 46.

Verae 33. TTu tribe qf EiAraim wert 40,800] Ephraira, aa be waa blpaaed beyond hia eldest brother Hanaaaeh, Oen. xlviii. 20. so here he ia increaaed by thouaanda more Ihui MnniifH'. and more than the whole tribe of Benjamin, and hia Ueaain^ continued above hia brother, DeuL xxxiii. 17- And thus the prophecy, Gen. xlviii. 19. waa ftilfilled— fttayouRS-wl &raUer(EEteitn)aAaU be greater than he (BfansMcb.) No word of Cna can poesiMy fall to lbs graaadi be alone sees the enfl from the b^nnini;^; hia tnfioite wiadom embracea all occurrenoea; ftad it ia hia provinee alone to determine what ia ri^t, liad to -predict wbM himaelf haa purpoaed la aocompliirt).

Verae 46. AU that teere immbered were 603,660] What •n aatoniahing incrMae from Mifeniy aoula that went down into Egypt, (W ilvi. 27. about 216 yeara before, whera Iftttsriy, uwy fad endured the gmieat bardahipa! But

34 T Of the children of ' Manas&eh, by their generations, after their Ihmilies, by the house of tbeu- fathon, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, alt that were able to go forth to war: -

35 Those that were numbered of them, ev£n of the tribe of Manasseb, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

36 IT Of the children of » Benjamin; by 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 i

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

38 IT Of the children of " Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house oftheir 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. Dan. were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

40 T[ Of the children of Asber, by their generations, after their families, by the house oftheir 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 Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

42 TT Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generatirau, after their families, by the house of their lathers, 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 ^nd four hundred.

44 Tf ' These are those tha,t were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, bein^ twelve men; each one was for the house of his fathers.

45 So that all those that were numbered erf* the children of Israel, by the house oftheir ththers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

46 Even all they that were numbered were ■ six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Cbd'a promiae cannot fail — they AaU beat the Hare if f^ven for multitude— mi wno can resiat hia will, wmI bring to nought hia counael 1 That a comparative view may be eaaily taken of the atate of the tribea, I ahaU prodiice them here from the first cenaua mentioned in the lirat chapter of thia book, in their decreaairtg proportion, beinnntngwilh the greateat, and proceeding to the least: ana in the second cenaua mentioned chap. xxvi. where the in' create of some, and the deertate tn others, may be eeen in one point (tf view. It may be juat remarked, thftiexcept to the case of Oad in thia chapter, and Reuben incrap. xrn. all the numbera are what may be called tehole or round number^ beginniru- with thoutande, otA ending with Atmdrede, Oad and Reuben alone ntdmg with tetui but the SeripMre generally usee round numbers, uniU and Jraetions being almost conatantly diartsarded.

l%us we find Judah the moet poputtnu tribe, and Manainfl ihe Uaat ao; the difTereiwe between ibem beoigso

J 7 T But * the Lerites after the tribe of their len were not nwnbwed amonc them. 48 For the Lobd had epokeo onto Moeea, ■aying.

49 ■ Only thoa shedt not number the trbe of Levi, neither take the sum of them amonc the children <^ Israel:

50 ' But thou abalt appoint the Levilea over

In the Mcood etamM, mentioned cbap. xxvi. 34. Judah Mill baa the pre-emiaency, and Simeon, ihe third in number before, is became the leuu Now we lee ^bo, that the little tribe of Maniu§A occupte* the aaenih place for number. Stven of Ihe tribes had on increate; five a deer eate. MajuusA had on increaae of 20,600 1 Judah, 1,900; Inathar, 9,900; Zabvitm, llOOi Jfettttnrfn, 10^200; Dan, 1,700| AmKct, 11,900.

On the contrary, tliere waa a deertOM in Reuben of 2,7T0; in Simeon, 37,100; Gad, 6,160; SphnUm, 8,000; Nt^Mati, 8,000. DecreaM in the whole, 61;020, eSeetive laen. See oa oh&p. xxvi. but t"'""*— ^ wilb the ituMiue, die decreaie was, upon the whole, tmly l,SiO.

On the eubject of these enumenUion^ and the manner in whidk this vast midtioide sprung in ■boHt./bur geoentioiu, from tatnty-Jlve pernons. Sclieucbzer ni some vahiabls, caleulatioDB, which I ahal I lake the liberty to insnl, as they ' tend to throw considerable light up<m the subject.

" Wc find in the writings of Moses three enumerations of the Jewish people, that follow each odwr pretty ekwly. Tbt first, whidi was made at their departure from Egypt,

Om year after, to eoSiSSS

If wo add to the namber nS|SIO that of the LieUet given es in Homb. lii. 3B.

aad wbleh amoantod lo, tBjno

W« shall bare forlttesnBtstal.... tOSfiSt " We find the same nnndwr, on adding that of each tribe, l^ven us in detail, which is the beat proof of the ezsctnesa of the calculation.

"I think I shall aSord the reader some degree of pleasure by presenting him, in this place, the number <^ «teh tribb aeparatdy, beginnineat their earUest ancestors. We «ball see, by this means, how fiuthfully God fulfilled the fromise ne bad made to Abraham, as well as the great udlitT of the mathematics for the ri^t understanding of the Holy Scriptures. I shall begin with a genealogical table of that JamUy, which Ood so wooderftutv blessed; and to it, I shall afterward add each separate trib& following the calculation of Acyfter <Mad). Vxm. p. And we shall see, that the JimrA generation ttkm with die Aird, produce Ae very number mentioned in die Tkkt.

f Hsnneh) Phslla 1 HesroB (Caml Jennel Jaatia Ohad JscMn Zobar Btaaul

Shnnl EsboB Erl Arodi l.AraU Jlmnsh Isbnah Isai Beilib

Ephralm fBelsli Becber Axhbct Gerah Nssman Ehl Rosh

OtUimirfJatSkhtKakA. Gen. zvi.SS.

Let us now descend lo dte particular enumeration of each tribe. Rxusaii had four sons: now if we suppose, that one of theae/oiirsonflrad/«Mfb and that ««>rl> or the other fftree had aigtU: ^^ <^ shell f nd liie nuni^-i-r Ml, fnr itmjtnt Egyptian genertiiLiiL). If \m- iilfi:T'Aur-i i-i i^j <:r, il.riteacfa amount to 166; ^OiiH<, nLiilmplLt'ilby 15. will pTC>.)uc« ^3S for the ffttrd gcii' i-n'ii. II; oruJ ikHisu ntiil<i{>livd kv 19, will make 44,175 fci fmirth; an ihoL ilm Viini, U>gether with the /iwrlA, vt iirinaku 4t;,5lJ0. We ihoil have -the same product, if cLvtn sum, -iC.riOO, Tn; (ii^u3«d by the moat probable '.i rnl -r i<r 1 I,i1i!ri n; For i:ia(E by the number 19; we iirill il.f m \ 'v.i- '^,-li7 U i iIjc:liird generation; which BUM ti«Lng tiediiciiLd fitrn lli« whin lota]^ there will remain 44,063 for ihefourih generation, whidi is exactly the number that is produced in multiplyiiig 2,440 of the third generation, by 16^ and die other 7 by 19. If we wish to make the same Calculation, with respect li the preeeding generations, i. e. divide tUBm by (he most pnmble number of clIiklICI^ we shall barc lbs foUowiag sums.

Amoimt of senerstions III. and IV, 40.M0

SiHiOM had sfr sons. ' Let us supuose that each of the three first had six children, and eacn of the three otbn shall have Ihirty^ne for the first geoHatiflK If w« multiply 31 of this number by 9, and 8 by 10, wa i^all have for ma second generation 3S9; of which nuniber, if we multiply 366 by ll7«iid 4 by t2, the third generalion will give us ^963. Let us then multiply 3,948 of these by 14, and 6<rf' them by li, and we ritalllmvefordke fouilk 66,347. ntettfrd and /esirtl^ lidded tondwr.viUBWka 69i30a

Oerthon, Levi's eldest son, had Are diildrM: let us give to one of iliese 16 childreiu and to the other 17; aod shall have 33 for the tcoond generation; 26 of vrfiieh multiplied bv 16, and 6 by 16, will produce 600 for the third. Multiply each by 14, and these will prodaca 7000; anddieUtrdond /tfurXAu^ther, 7,500.

Kohath, Levi's second son, had Xour sons, which form the first line. Give to one of them 10 sons, and 1 1 to each of the other three; for the swond generatipa diere will be 4X Uvltiply diem by 10, therewill be 430 for the Ikird; these multiplied by 19 for the fourth, will produce the numbw of 8,170. The tkUd hod fourth added together, make 6^600.

Merari, the Atrd son of Levi, bad ftro scms. Give 10 diQdren to each of them, there will (hen be 20 for the iteond generation. Now if we say that 10 of these 2D had each 16 sons, and each of the others 1^ w eiiall have 310; which multiplied hv 1% will give us 5)890 (or dm fourth, and the tv>c last togcdier, 6^200. His may be aeen by the following example:

^ha tabenwde of teatmoinr, and orer all the VMMb theroof: and over all tkiiura that belong to it; they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the t«8wIb thereof, and thejr shall minister unto it, ■and sluill encamp round about the ttu>ernacle.

51 ' And when the Is^rnacle settelh forward, the Levitea shall take it down: and when the taberiMLcle is to be pitdied. the Levi tee shall set itup: > »id the stranger that craneth nigh shaU be pot to death.

The MMU of Juda/t were Suiah, Pkarez, and ZeraJi. Bit grandMiu bjr Slulah vera Hexrcn and HemtiL Barm had two aons. SuppOM each of them had vir children, wiudi will maks 12 Ibr the fint eenerafion; to «^g4U of whom allow elghi children, and nmt to each of dwodwn; aadthenwillbelOO fertMMcondgeneration. Td 92 of thMs tbes mm 18 ehildrei^ asd 19 to the mgkt MNnt will prodhee iot the lUrd Benmdon, 1,608. If we nsD sopiMwe that 1,800 of iheM hadeMh 18 tUUren, •id that eaich of the other eight had 19, tfae,/t)urAgeneratioB will be 32,662, which added toiheprodaetof the Ifttrd^ win make the deeoendaiibi of Hexron amount to 34,360.

Hamul bad tw wotM, ilAio, multiplied 10, produce ttw numberof 20 for the teeond generation: theae nmlti- ^ied It 20 wiU mak* 400 for the iMt^ and these again by ttk winproduee KLOOiftir tba/>urA< And thua the two laM gsMratioiH win anwunt together to the Dumber ^400.

If va tlXvm fivt sons to Pfaarez, and rir to Zerdk we ifaall here II for the flret generatiom. To Art* of wnom allow 10 (3ii)dren, and 11 to the other ei^U, thia will give He lie fbr dte eeeond. To XVi of thew.give 14, and 16 to the other jte^ and 1,667 will be prodoced t«t the Mrd. CKre 17 to 1,643, and 18 to the 14 renainhtK sad for die.Aiw«lhereirinbe2&183. The IMrd and./burA added together will {mtdoee the number of 29^640.

Accordiiw to this ealculuiion, all thrae generationa will amount to the following numbera:

reiwUei aBiZaralUtai Vtwn

IssACUB bad <m wniL Stmioae Aiat Area of them had oedt JIm duUien, and thsemer too, air; we ihal] have 27 Inr Ae first generatioa. If we then imagine that of ^MB^ 19hadeaeh niiMMM, and each of the other ei^A^ l«i.theaecmdKenerati<»twillbe261. Now241 of theae, mtJtjplied by 12, will produce 2,892; and the 10 othen^ mlti^ied 13, will make 130; coiiaeaueDtly the (Ura generaiioii will amount to 3,022. If 3,018 of tbeae had eaeh 17 sons, and each of the otlier/our hod 18^ ihtjburik l^eoeratioo will be 61,378} the third mAfourA geoerationi^ then, will produce me number of 54,400.

VI. Zmutm 67,400. ZAubmhtAAntwoM. If weauppoaethattooof them bad, in all, 14 diildfen, and lbs Mtrtf, aix here will be 20 far the Jirtl generatioa. The neotid wttl produce 143, on multipfring 17 by 7, and 3bj & If we multiriy 136 by 16, and 8)7 17, the third will amoont to 2,296. By moluplyteg the Aird by 24, tbe/ourlA will give w BI^UM. The two laat will produce, together, 67,400.

Ameant of iceiHrtitloM tba ni. and IT. 45.S90 VUI. AsHBB 41,600. nie aonsof MAfT, Jtmnah, hhua, and but, multiplied by SLproduce for the

ABHNiat of fanaraiiona Ibe in. and IT. AAar and JUsMUal were aont of BerioA. m soaa mulliblied bv S, give ua for the L goaecatlM......

52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, ' every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

53 ^ But the Levites ehall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no ■ wrath upon the congregation of the dUldren of Israel; ' and the Levites shall keep the diarga of the tabernacle of testimoiq^.

54 And the children of Israel did according to an that the Lord commanded Moses, so didtEey.

Another son of Beriah had in the I. Gesflrmlion.... IL DHto malUalybyS.- ni. IMlto nuiUAly l» 10. IT. Ditto mnhlplyby IS..

Amoastof goaeratloaa tlw m. aad'lT. AH ttataa genaraUoaa addtf togtthai, awMBt to

Amount or ganeiatloaBtlwIIT. and IT. Bfhbaim 40^Ma

IL Ntto autlUpIr br 10. IIL Ditto mulUp1rISbrlS,aodebrl3. IT. Ditto amltlplr LOUThr 90, aod 19 bf 91

Amoont of feneratloaa tbe nt. and IT.

X. BxHJAMni 36,400. He had ten aona; two of whom multiplied by 9, and the other 8, by 10, will give for the in. DlKo multiply by 5 4,<SS

Amount of fcnefatione the IIL asd IV.

IT. Ditto multiply fey a4....

Aamaat oC faaeratloni tbe IIL and IT. XII. NAVfiTAU 63,400. He had 4 aona, the hatf of whom, muhiphed ly 7, and the other half by 6, gives oa for the

IL Ditto multipir 16 by 11, aad 10 by IS.. fiOO IIL Ditto moltlplr9e8lvlS.aBdetv».. 3jm IV. Ditto maltlp^bylt..... «^

Amofintor gamnrtloM tbe IIL and IT. Total number of all the Tribei. L fteabea

And indeed, without countii^ the Levites, the number of The liMalllai (NusL 1. 44.) amaaaU to SnAV The Levitoi (Num. Hi. 30.) amoaatB to S8,aiD

The whole aamber tofetber, aa above VSJBSt In the above calculation. Sdiauihztr and Bei/htr, talce for granted, 1. That from the going down to Egypt to the Exodtu, there were /our generatioDs. 2. That the first two generations had died in EgypL 3. That the promise of Grod in multif^lying them oa the alors of heaven, had taken place particularly in the two last generatiqpa. 4. Hut these two last generations alone, form the aggifntta ■uma given in the Sacred Text. 6. Tltai their ntethod ol accounting for this aggregate through the four genentiooa, isnaonly perfectly ^tural, and mathematical; butatrlctly accordant with the promises made by Ood to them, as tbasum of each trijie sufficiently proves. 6. ThaX the whole accountshows the truth of t$ediviaepn)ffiia& thegnataoeuracy of the Jewish lawgiver, and a proof of the nu^iap lion M die Sacted Writinga. r^^^rvl^

Mow li III! iMiHiiiliiil Is Utch the ■•npliiai how Owt in lo pilch Ihfir ImU, and «a UKUIcna of ihdr hiliHi' InHn, 1,1. JudaA, 1—nAar, tnl Xr«iif<>n,an

3 r Erenr moa of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far ofl' about ' the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

3 IT And on the east aide toward the rising of the sun, shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch tnrouffhout their armies; and * Nahshon. the son of Amminadab, »haJl be captain of the children of Judah.

4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, ■were threescore and foorteoi thonmnd and six hundred.

5 And those that do pitch nextuntohim »kall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel, the son of Zuar, shall be captainof the children of Issachar.

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

NOTES ON CHAPTER U. YerteS. Everyman— sltallviUh by hit ottntlandard] Coromenutors, critice, philoso^ere, and profeBsional men, have talien a Kreat deal of pains to illtiitrate ihis chapter, by shovring me beat method of encampment for auch a vaat number of men, And the manner in which they conceive the Israelites formed their camp in the wildeniesa. At Qod gave them the plan, il was doabtless, in every respect perfect; aocl fully answered die double purpose of Mnmnteitce and securi^. Sdunuhxer has entered into this Bubiect with his usual ability, and in very considerable detail. Following (he plan of ifeyAer, as in the preceding chapter, he endeavours to oacertain the precise order in which the several tribes were disposed; and as his wcwk is both sciu-ce and dear, the reader will not be displeased to meet here with a translation of all that refers to the mbjecu •CBSirciinH's Duosirnoif aso tlak of thb bncanp-

"If we form a proper idea of God, of his easeoce aixl Jiis attributes, we shall easily perceive that thiauifinite and supreme Being, -wills and executes what his divine trfp(j<m ^tpointa; in a word, we shall set that he is the God of oroer. Ulis order displays itself in the perfection, arntngement, and assemblage of all created beioga; in the, construction of the earth which we inhabit, where every dung if formed in order, number, weight, and measure; and in all bodies, grent and amall. It is eartain ibat Npah'a ark is a perfect model of riaro^ atvhitteture. The fempU ^ Sa^morii and that of EztkUl, were likewise piasterptcces in their kind. But at present, "wa are to oon- #id«r the divine arran^ment of the Israelitiab camp* tmi tlie maimer in which it was formed.

"The Israetitish army was divided into three principal divisions. Tlie Jtral, which was the least in extent, but the Btron^st and the most powerful, occupied the centre of the army; this was the Tnrone qf GatL i, e. the tab- BBHActB. lite secomi^ which was eomposea of the Priest* and LcBiUa, surrounded the first. The tiiird, and* die fiurtbest from the centre, uok in all the other tribes of Israel, who were at least about a inila from the Tabernacle. For it appears from Joeephus, iii, 4. that the nearest ajtpproarh they dared make to ilic ark, except during the Ume of worship, was a distance of 2,000 cubits. The reverenca due to the Divine Majesiv. the numerous army of the Iiraelites, composed of 601^000 soldiers, with their fcmiliea, ^ieta mode about 3,000,000 aonia, naturally demanded a considerable extent of ground. We ore not lo imagine, that all diem families pitched their tents pell meir without order, like beasts, or as the troepe of Tartaiy, and ihe eastern armies: on the contrary, their csmp was divided according to the moat exact rules. And we cannot even doubt, that their camp was laid out and the place of every division and tribe exactly assigiad by some engineers ' or osometricianB, before the army stopped to encamp, In order that every person might, at once, find his own quarter, and the road he ought to take lo reach the other lenis.

" Fourdivisioni^ which feced the four <]uarier8 of the heavens, each viih its own ensign, formed the centre of thaanav. Jopab was plaoed on the tut; sod under him

8 And hiH host, and those that were nnmbered thereof, -were iUiy and seven thousand and fonr

9 All that were numbered in the campof Jodab, were a hundred thousand, and fourscore thousand.and six thousand.and fburhandred,throughout their armies. '.These shall first set forth.

10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp cf Reuben according to their armieB: and the captain of the children of Reuben «ftatf be Ehzur, the son of Shedenr.

11 And his host, and those that were nnmbei^ ed thereof, were fort^ and six thousand and five

1 2 And those whicli pitch by him ghnll be the tribe of Simeon: and thecaptain of the children ofSimeon shall be Slielumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

13 And his host, and those, that were numbered «r them, were fifty and niua thousand and three hundred.

UThonthetribeofGad: and the captain of the 8on8ofGad«AaJ/6eEliaaaph,tbe Bonof "ReueL

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

16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were a hundred thousand, and fiftj and one thousand, and four Jiundred and fifty,

he had /cMcAoratid 2ebii/un: on die souih was BcDBSib and under him Simton and Gad; ou the west was Epb> aAlM, and under him MaTUtwh and Bmjaatin: finally, Dan was on ihe north, and he had under him Ajier aad NaphtaU- It has been pretended by some, that these foor principal divisions, were not alone diHinguisbed by their ensigns, but lhat each particular tribe liad likewise its. standard or ensign. On this subject we mu^it refer to ifae TalmndiBiB, who have gODe SO fiur as to define the co/oars, and the Jigurea or arms <^ the very ensigns. Tttev protend that on that of Judar, a Hon was painted with this inscription: ^ Rise, Lord, tti thine enemUs bt di^terteii, and lei Uuue that hate theeJUe before thee;' and thev found this description of Judah's ensini in Gen. xtix. 9- They give to Issachar an a««, Gen. xTix. 11 to Zxbuujh, a skip. Gen xlix. 13. to RxusEK, a nrer. Gen. zliz. 4. (otiiers give Reuben the,fivure qf a map) to Sikbcxn, a gitvrd. Gen. 1. K. to Gai^ a Hon,' DeuL xxxiiL 22. to npHSAiM, an unicorn, Deut. xxxiii. 17- an or to ManabasH, Deut. xxxiii. 17. a uolf to Bemjamin, Gen. xlix.?7. and a eerpcnt to Dau, Gert. xHx. 17. thou^ Others give him an eagle. In short, they pretend that Ihe ensivn at AsHEK was a handful ^ Gen. xlix. 20. and that of Naphtali a fta^, Gen. xlix. 21.

" To prove that tlie sums here are correMly added, vn have but to join together the detached numl>efi^ and see if they agree with the total. The text will furnish as wilh an example of this: there was in the quarter of Judah 186,400 ver. 9.

"AmoD^ other things we m\iit remark that rule of military tactics, which requires that the adranctd mad rear-guards should be stronger than the centre.

"In a well-regulated camp, cleanliness is rnpaiili ml indispensably necessary; this is particularly remarkable in the laraehtish army, where the most exact order wm> msintwned. Aenee «very person who had any kind of disease, and those who were reputed trncfesn, were tarbidden to enter it, Numb. v. 2, 3. Deut. xrfTi. 10.

"Those who have the health of men, mid of a wfaole army confided to them, are not ignorant, that diaeaaea may be easily produced av putrid exlialationa bam cxoementitioua matter: and that such matter will produce i* eamps^ pestilential fevers, and dysenteries. For thia retk- ■on, care Aould be always taken, that offieea, at s dia«cukce from the camp, be provided' for the eoldisi^ and also ^amx those who are sick should be separated mm the Otbera, and sent lo hospitals, to be properly treated.

"In military lacties, wo find two distmct wings srpokm of: the ri^t and the lefL The Israelitidi amy, not oidv had them on one side, as it cUBtomaiy; but on all four sides. On the easUm side, the tribe of T—iiilm forra^ the right, that of Zebulon the /e/Z, and ihax o( Judah the cen&e. On the souift, Simeon formed ifae rigitt wing, Gad the Ifft, and Reuben the centre, Towarda the

17 IT " Then the tabernacle of the eongrcFation aooll set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they en-

' aamp, bo shall they set forward, every man in hu;Blace by their standards.

18 IT On the west side tkaU be the standard of the camp of Ephraim, according to their armies: and the captain of the eons of Ephraim shall be Etishama the son of Amroihod.

19 And his liost, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thoiuaod and five hundred.

SO And by him shall be the tribe of ManEisseh: and the captain of the children of Manaa- «eh shall be Oamaliel, the son of Pedidizur.

21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty nod two thousand and two hundred.

22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shaSl be Abidan, the son of Qideoot.

33 And his host, and those tliat were numbered of them, were thirty and 6ve thousand and four hundred.

24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were a hundred thousand, and eight thousand, and a hundred, throughout their armies. 'And they dMdlcoforwardin the third raidc.

25 IT The standud of the eamp of Dan thall be OB the north side by their arniiea: 8md the captain of the children of Dan «AoU be Ahiezer, the son of AmmiBhaddai.

«n die Ttght wing, Naphtali on the left wmg, and Dan in die cmtre. Xotwithsuuidin^ this, however, the army WM not in danger of being easily broken { £w eveiy iriM being numerous Ibey wen euppoited by several ranlu, in such B manner that (he firat being broken, ttie second was capable of making ceaisUnoe i and if the second gave way, or shared ihc same fate as Uie first, it found itself supported by the third, and so on with the rest. The smiare fbrin in which die Jewidt utny was ordinarily plaoeo, was the very best for aeouriQr and dafsaoa. "nw use and tmportanee of the hoUow tguare, in militaiy tactics, is well niown.

*' For eo large a multitude of people, aod for ao nunieraua ananny, itvaanaed&il ibatall ibaneeeMaiyarUoleairflifo should be prepared beforehand,orbefouDd ready to purchase. In these respects nothing was wanting to thelsraelitas. llieir bread came down to them fnat heaven: and they had bendes an idbundaoce of every thing that oould contriUite to magnificaDce. If we may credit Joeephus, they bad amotwat tiMmpubUcvtariceU,mnAa.varietyi:^9iu^. Ant. L iii. eJ2, aect.6. Tbe tabernacle being erectea,it was placed in the midst 1^ thecamp, each of the three tnbea stretching thenuelves on the w1ngs,and leaving between tlwnasufficlentBpaoe to pass.

"It wu^ mm Joeepbua, like a well-upointed market, where every tnior was leady fin- sale in due order, and all mm» of artSBeefs sept their Ao>[mt •othaktbiacanq> mlg^t he eoondered a momdile ci^.

*'In Exod. xxxu. 27. we likewiae find that mention is made of ibe gata of the camp, ' Put every man bis sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate, throughout the camp.* From whence we may certamly conclude, that if the camp had gain, the Israelitea had also ttntinels to guard them. If this be true, we may also believe that Ihey were turrounded mA iiUreiuhviMas, or that nt toaat, Ihdr galea were defended by eome fortifications. Sagtaariiu <de Jan. Yet. c. 18. « 10.> pretends that the tabernacle was not only guarded by the Levites, but that • there were likewiae sentiada at the folM, and at the entrance « the laraditiah camps. SeeihanotetmEmd.xxzii.T]'.

"If we examine and eompara dte.emap of latael, with that of our most numeroua armies, which in theae days ars eomposed of 100,000, or of 150,000 men, we cannot but eonaider it of vast extent. The Jews say, it was 12 milea ineircumferenoe] this ia not at all imprmble, and eomequetttly, the front of each wing must be 3 nilea in extent. But taldng in the (enta, the sMdiera, and their mimerous fanilie% the beoata of borden, the eaUle, and the goods, it eartaialy must have fonoed-a veir ooaaidaraUe enclosure, modi more than 12 miles. See the notes on EmA. xK. 37. aadjud.ia ABv&«r. (Moth. Moo. p. 568.) MBigm to the Tribe of JiitfdA, A apace of 2981 eubiu in breadth and 260* in lengdi Which makee 74^ vfun onbrts.

26 And biu host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

27 And thoBe that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Ashcr: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pogiel, the son of Ocran.

38 And hk host, and those that were niunb^ ed of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29 Then the tribe of Naphtali; and the captain of the children of Naphtali sliall be Ahird, the son of E nan.

30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were RCly and three thousand and four hundred.

31 All ihey that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand, and filly and seven thousand, and six hundred, i They sliaU go hindmost with their standards.

32 Tf These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: 'all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts, were six hundred thousand three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33 But ■ the Lefites were not numbered among the children of lerael; as the Losd comr manded Moses.

34 And the children of Israel did accordiitg to all that the Lord commanded Moses: tso they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one alter their families, accord'- iag to the house of their fhthers.

" We must observe, that we arc here merely siieakinf of the ground which the soldiers of this tribe occupied, whilst re'nuuniog dote to eoA other, in their ranka, and that in this computation, (here is but one emtore eulrit allotred for each man t wherefore if we take in the arrangement of die soldiers, the tents, the neceasarv spaces, the families, the beasts of burden, and the moveables, a much larger extent of ground is rei^uisiie. All those circumstances do iMt come into Asyfker'a calculation. He eontinuea thus.

"If we make the ichno^raphy, or even the soenwraphy of the camp on this plan, in fQllowing. it we must first, in the ccn/re, form a, parallelogram. oflOO cubits long^ and 60 broad, for the couH of the Tabernacle i with an empty space all round, of SO cubiM broad. We must then plaM the oomp of the Levites towards the vi, viz.

"At the place where the camp of the Levite* eDtls, ■ ■pace mutt be left of 2,000 tquare cuhita, after which we muet l»ke the dinwiuioM of the camp of the twelve tribw.

" TbM plan w ia the main well imagined, Init it doea not ftfibrd an lehoogiaphy of wifficient extent. To cone more accurately to a pniper undertfandiog of this aubjeet, I shall txfimiw the nilea that are now in use for eneampDieDts, sbA eempore them afterward with what is laid down in the Holy Seriptures, in order that we may hereby form to ourselves an idea of the camp of God; the Krandeur and perlbotion of which, surpwted every thing of the kind ever ■eoo. I shall now mention what I am about to propose, as the foundation upon whieli I shall proceed.

"In Exodus xviii. 21. Deut. ii. IS. we find the advioe given W Jetbro to Moaea respecting polilioal government, and miutary discipline. 'Tmmdiutprovideout of all the people, able men, such as fear God, mop of truth, hating covetousnees; and place such over them, to be rulers oi thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifliei^ and rulers of tens.* (See the note on Exod. xviii. 21.) We majr very well conipare these trilmne*, or rather, these dwjarcfts, to our eotonelt; the eentvriont, or htcatonanfta, to commands, or captaint s the ipiinguagmarUt, or pentecotiianA*, to lUutenani»; and the decurion* or decOrdx*, to our »ergeanU. IVae chieb, tether they were named magiatraia or tifflcert, were each drawn from his own particular trib^ so that it was not permitted to place over one tiib^ an ofllcer taken from another. Whatever matter the decareht could not decide upon, or terminate, went to the pentKontaTdu. and from thence, by d^rees, to the heeabmartAt, to the dtHiartAt, to Motet, V>A at length to Oon himself, the sovereign head of the amy. If we divide the whole army, (such aa it was at its depsjture from Egypt) by the numliers already laid down, we shall find 600 chiliarchs, 6,000 hecatonafchs, 12,000 penlecontarchi^ 60,000 decarchs, which in all moke 78,600 offioers. Josephus ref^tates the number of them' still more exactly, by saying that there were chiefs set over 10,000, 1,000, 600, BO, 30, 20, and 10. We'fiod this regulation in Ant. Jud. lib. iii. c 4. ' Take a review of the armv, and ^>point ehoeen niters over tens of thousands; ana then over thousands; then divide them into five huadredsi and again into hundreds; and into fiftiest and set iule{s over each of tliem, who may distinguish them inie thirtiea; and keep them in order; and at last munber them hy twenties and by tens; and let there be one commander over each number, to be den<Mninated from die number of those over whom they are rulera.'

" We ought ikot to pass over in silence this division by tens; fortwice lOmaha 20: three times 10, 30; five times la 60; ten times 10, lOOi ten times 60, 600; ten times 1,000, 10,000. It was in this mannw, as is pretended, that Cangu, the first of die ereat Khams, (as he is called) and after him Tamerlan^ drew out an army, i. e. by 10, 100, LOOO^ 10,000, mentioned in Alkaxen, c v. Probably these Tartars borrowed, fcom the very Hebrews themsrives, this manner of laying out a camp. At allevents^ it is certain that nothing rowe ancient of the kind can be found, than that mentioned in the books of Moses. To distinguidi it firom that of the Cheeks and Romany we m^ with juatiea oall it the Hebrew eattiametation, or, if we ju^ it more proper, the Divine caatrtuoetatios. and consequently, the most perfect «f all. For although Moses places the pen- Ueontardu in the middle, between the hecaionardu and the fUeardtM, L e. 60 between 100 and 10; and althoui^ Josedius afterward places 1,000 between 600 and laOW, and 30 and 20, between 10 and 6^ this does not at all dennga the progiesaion by <«u which is the ftiundation of viumetie. Taeaesnbalternomcersw«reeauallyuaefhlaod necessary, as we now see thai their number, arfrom creating oonfusion, helps to maintain order, and that the more there are of them, the better is order preserved. According to the modem medtod of carrying on war, the next in rank to the generals of the army (who have the supreme command) are JUd nanhaJg ana brigadien, who command 6000 men.

"IVrearetbe^ between the cMK(ireAs,oreofon«b, and the Mthaionarchs, or captain*, Hndmtaat^ond*} and between the hKOimarAt, and the deeardu, Htutmanl-cajOaiju, and these again have under them UeutenanU and tnMigna.

" It is certain that Uiis method of distriboting an army fay Unt, and of encamping, vriuA i» vary o«teise, has &r greater advantages even with rewMCt to eqpena^ than the vary best plans of the Oreekt, Roman*, or any other anrieat aation. On this tobjeet, we have dw testimony of Smm flbvte, CMrametat & 1. artl. attle.4.arL3L

Oper. JMbA- p. 674. and B9& and fol. Aeeomlinff to ihia arrangement, each sdldicr, or, if more proper, each JbAer of a JamUy, bang thus placed by ten and fen in a straight line one after the other, might very easily name themselves Jlr*^ seeom^ Ac Each troops 'u Gke manner, might be distingutahed by iu ensigns; that of 100 might have them smaU; dtat of 1,000 ItMar; dtatitf lO^OOU atiU lasgir. Every t^eer, from dia lowest, aubaltem, to ibe gamal offioen of dw camp, and even (o the generalissimos disM* selves, had only an easy inspection ten men each; the deearth had the inapection of 10 soldiers: the h«eaionarth of 10 daardu! and the dnliarth of lOAccotonanefa. After die diiliardu, which in no troop can amount to lea, there is the chief or bead of each trm. Bad) then, enei> 1y fulfilling the datv assigned bin, we may suppose evcrr taii^ to be in gooa order, even wen die camp larger am more numerous. TTie same may be said respecting Am conientioas diat might arise among the soldierskaa wul as every thing relative to the general du^ of the eSccsi^ aa to the wbours they were to undertake, whether for striking their tents, for mukM of fortificatioD, or far nokinf «dtrenchments. Tiaa arrangement mint be eai^ leuinad in the memory, or a geneial list be Cept of tfae names qi both officers uid sotdiers, to distribute to them diair paj, and to keep exact accounts.

"It was possible in one moment to know die number of those who were either wanting, or were out of dieir renlci^ and to avoid this discvdn in future, by oUiging each man to attend to liis di^, and to keep in his raiuk. Ii; by dianee, it happsmd mt atiy one man widied to desert, or had escaped, it was easy to notice him, and infiiot on him the punishment he merited, lie enngns being distinguisned by their mark*, and the compotty being kiMn*^ It was easy to find any soldiar whatever.

" The armies themselves might have oertain natki 10 distingmsh them, and by that means tbey mi^U. at onea ascertain the pmcHi m questitHi, for «xam[4e, & 2. 7. 3. might signify the eMUft soldier, or /lAcr of a fapily, «f the teomd rmik, tn the tctam company, in dks aiird chiliad: 7. 3. 6. the haOierdier of the dedtrion. or asrgeont of the mdcrA line, in the Otnf company, of die MA diiiiad, or thousand: 6. 8. the AaeotonanAa, or captama of the ^^flh company, in ihe eighth dtUiad; 7. the MHan/u, or eolondt of the fcreniA rank; 0. finally the r»al of the whole am^. Farther, by the aune neaa^ loss, or misphunng of^ their arms might be prevanted. Acain, the soldiers might, in a very ahort time, be institictcdaAd formed to the exercise of arms, ead oecod having its nrgeant for its master: and the caariots or other carriages might easily be divided amongst several; 10 under the dtcKnon, 100 under the hteaimartk; and fay thus followiog die above medwd,.every tfam^ might be kept in good ordor.",.

'* We shalL finally, in one plate, reprnent' the whole oamp of the Israelito, in diat order which appears the most proper. For this purpose, we must eztiaet the sqtiare roou of tbs preoedinff qwcea, in erder dmt «a maj beable to assign to eadh tribe square miim, or rMOHigBhv parallelogtaiM. I therefore And for

"The tabemaele, wbieb was 100 cubits tong and flO. broad, I place in the centre <rf the camp, at the dimintif of 840 flwt frm the camp of the Leviies, whtdi ie placed eaaetly ai the same manner at deecribed in die Sacied THWtinn. I find Ibcnfore that die whole space of the camp fo 2^600,000 feet. Now, according to the manner ve bm iost divided the camp ica each tribe, the sum total beLqc 126,210,000, it follows, that the space between the teoH eontatoed 134,39(^000. It vridt EUaiKhmid, we osCilaate the.Komaa mile at 766 French fhthoms and two feel (ocnsequenUy 21,141,604 aqtmre fast to a Vtaam. wmnt mile) die Isiaelitish cao^ wUl eoomin a little mne na 12 such square miles."

It is not to be expected that Nther disqnieitiona of tfaii kind, or the accompanving diagnun can give any tfdng more than arounil ioss now the diiflg proWily was: for to pretend to minute exaetaas^ in suim eaass^ wooUi be absurd. Hie Sacred Text infinrma diat awdi and such tribes occupied the eos^ snch the tssa^ Ac. Ac bat bow thCT were arranged individually, we cannot pretend abeolutely to Mty. Scheuohior'a iwa ia mob an w« mm moreparruci Uiin any tbiog wc enn well imoffinc; Tor u ii wu loe plaa whick GimI hiMMir probably luM aown. it laust be ill e*«ry respjct what U cMtghl tu bu, lur tba cumfort aud ■■fttjr nf lUa nunaroui mulHtiidn.

As tbara are aoiM difluranem between Uw mode of dittributing the oommand of a lacye ttmj amoiiK theBriiMi, and that wad on Um t:onilnoBi, whtcb ta (iillowed by Sckeuchaer, I iball lajr 4ow* Ika ^MiWirfiag ae«la of Briikfe oa>— laadara. wWeh ■one My tUak ap^iM belter to llw precading arraiiMtneBt «f tke baehtiife amy tbaa the Mher. Tke coHmaBd oT a lu!|« anay iu ibe Brillth aarvka ia tbiu

& JJnv nnerala, win enoiBiiid dlvlrioai of Um army; (Ibeaa divMona coaalat of 9 or 3 brigadaa eadi, and may. on aa aieraae, aaionnt to 3UU0 men.)

3> Hajor jenerala, wbo command brigade*; (ihMe brigadn* coMiat affhtnS to 3000 [3500 iapeThap* tin average] aceorditi to the atwifltk «r tto laapeeiif revlflmu of whicll the brigade ii conpMed.)

4. CoioaHm in the armf, or beul«nant-eoloneh, who eomnaM ringM regimoaU; they areaarirtad In the eomnand of ihaaaregUMtHibyXbe of the reglmcata. flman-' tlon the thai there may be ao brenk i« tbedaaeendlag atale of (radattoa of nuke, as In the event of the abaeitc* ofiha abore two oOeen, hafa Uh nau bt mmtmandi]

7. Eoeign ( 1 to each coaqiuy.) lag the oaptalai 1. Commander fa ctalef> X. Leintenant-gas«nlfOoiuaaadi«g£vialoiui longing to each regtmeat la tha aarvien, aad are eutaly employed in the diaci|ilinhw and CMauandiag the mom: thcM an monaled oalKicMMft, and ttnmA wM afceraj

Major -general, brigade commander- Lie utenaai-senaral. tUvliioa commander. Qeneral in dUef, who command* the whole army>

Tbaurii I panieululy nfer the reader to the dugrui on the precdBiiw pen laktea from SclieaefaEer*B vhte, trhich ih&pe thought neceuuy to be mbjoined to bndeeoription, yet I dkiu it um proper to introduoe the fcllov iag, as it gives a general and tolerably CMrect idea (rf ihi* immMiee oaap, ia the daampcioii of vhidi the inqpind writer has been so very particular.

Hie whole may be said to consist of three campi^ vix. I. Tba camp of the Lord. 2. The camp of the Lmtht. 3. And the camp of the People. Theae, in the grand camp in the wildemeaa, eorrespmded with the BUjf ^ BoHft the Holy Blaet, utd the OiUward Court u the Temple at JeiuMlem.— See AinuwerOi.

rpHESE Also nrc the g^-rpt-r^lioiis ■■^ ^, of Aaron and Moks in Uie liay Mitf tbB Lofli> spake with Moveiia nuunt Sinai.

2 And thoBe arc the names of the boos of Aaron; Nadab the • firBt4wni, and Alrihn. Ekazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of the bods Aaron, the priests which were anointed, • whom ha

4 " Ai^ Nadab and Abihn died b^rT the L.ORD, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no rinldren: and Eleazar and Ithajuar minif K - priest's office, in the eight of Aaroo their lather.

6 * Bring the tribe of Levi near, and nesent thein before Aaron the priut, tluf they mar mmister unto him. ' '

7 And thigr shall keep his charge, and th«

livet ai Ae nme [dirase may be undantood in GeiL u. 4. vt 9. However thie may he, it it evident, that in tha g«^(«y, the family of Aaron arc alone mentitmad, probably becaiue theae belonged to the priertboodTlfMea panes by hu own bunily, or immediate (feacendants;)m gave DO nnk or privilege to them duiiDg his lifew and Idt aoihiog to Owm at hia dittth. Thiy bmae iiieananM withtbs Levitea; fron o» smoiv wtoi dtey «mv —

<AiKTge of the whole coner^fttion before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do ' the wrvice of the tabertiacle.

8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the f^arise of the children of lurael, to do the service of tfie tabernacle.

9 And (-thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given onto hnn out of the children of Israel.

10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and hia sons, ^and they shall wait on their priest's crfEce: ' and the stranger that co'meth nigh shall be put to death.

12 And I, behold, * I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the matrix among tint ehOdren of Israel: therefore the Levites fhallbe mine:

13 Because ' all the first-born are mine; "/or on the day thati smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I hallowed onto me all the firstbom in Israel, both man and beast: mhie shfdl they be: I am the Lom

14 IT And the Lobo spake nnto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 Number the children of Levi aAer the house of their fathers, by their families: " every male, from a month old and upward shalt thou number them-

16 And Moses numbered them according to the * word of the Lord, as he was commatMed.

17 r And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

IS And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; ' Libni. and Shiraei.

19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; * Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20 ■ And the sons or Merari by their families;

dtiUnguiAed. What a strong proof is dus of the oelntial oncin of hia religion! Had it oeen of man, it muat bsve had the gnuificatioa oi mmt impure paarfon for its objeet; hn^ amhitiais or awioe; mt none of dwae ever wfpiar miag the whole of his adminiatration amoiv the Isnelitc^ dmigh he bMl it eonatoiuly in hia power to nave gratified each. What an eaaential difference between the reHgionof the PmlaUutA, and diatirf' the Koran! "nie foroer ia God's woricmauhlp: the latter la a motiej mixture of all bad erafts, with here and there a portion of the heavealy fiie, atolen from the divine altar in the <Nd aad New TcstuMat^ lo gtva some niality lo the

V«ne &. Brimg Ou tribe qf Leri n«ar] llie original word S'lpn hakertb, ia properly a aacri£cial word, and signifaa du preantiDg of a sacrifice or offering to the bord. JU u eSefing, the tribe of Ltvi waa given up entirely to the eervice of the sanctuary, to be no longer Ibrir omi, but the Loni'i propertv.

YerM 7. T\e charge qf the tMoZe congregation] Tliey aholl work far the whole congregation; and, ituUad ot thiBjtnl'barn.

Verae AU the jiu/rufn«n/«] The labemarle itaelf and all iia etmtenta: aee all diwcribed ver. 25, 26, 31, 36, S7. Hie LeniUe were to peribrro the most common ana hhnriiiua oAeea. It waa their busineaa to take down, put, and ewry the tabmieele and its utensila, for it waa the.eeC of tbeir peculiar care. In a wMd, they were the Mrama of the priest*.

Verse 10. Aaron and hia ton* ehaU vaSt on thetr prietfM iifflce] It was the business of the jtrieHi to offer the different sacrifices to God: to consecrate the showbread; pour out the lifaaiionaf bum the inoenee; aprinkle the Uood of tho victima, and bteas llie people. In a word, IMr were the aervanii of God alone.

verae 12. 2 hatt taken the Levita—inetead tf aU the Jtrtt^orn\ Ti* Levites are taken for the aerviee of the awMtoarv in plan of the firat-bom. 1^ firet-hom wen drniealed to God in commemoralkm of lua alayiiw Iht AvMont of the ^{yptian^ and pfewrriiy iboee at As InlKliles. fivea dw coJtb of the Levites w«re taken

Mahli, and Mnshi These are the ftmfliea of the Levites, aeeordng to the hoose of thdr

21 % Of Gershon was the fiunily of the Libnites, and the family of the Siumites; these are the families of the Ger^onites.

22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old emd upward, even those tlmt were numbered of thedi w«re seven thousand and five

23 < The families of the Gershonites riiall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24 And the chief of the bouse of the fhther of the Gershonites be Etiasaph the son v€

25 And 'the charge of the eons of Gerdmnin the tabernacle of the congregation ektM be * the tabernacle, and ' the tent, ' the covering thereof, and ■ the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

26 And? the nanginsni of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which t* the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and * the cords of it for alt the service thereof!

27 If <! And of Kohath ttias the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izenarites, and the family of the H^roniteB,and the ihmily of the Uzzieutea: these are the fhmilies of the Kohathites.

28 In the number of all the males, fi-om a month old and upward, vere eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29 * The Ihmilies of the sons of Kohath shall IHtch on the side of the tabernacle soutltward.

30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites, ^aU be Eliza^ phan the son of Uzziel.

31 And ' their cliarge shall be t the ark, and

in place of the Jlret-bom t)f the eatUe of the rest of the Orma. — See verse 45. Several reasons h^ve been assigned, why God should

S'va thia honour to the tribe of Levi in preference to all e others, bat they do not seem to me to be conclusive. llMir leail in deMroying those who had oornipted the worshipof God, in the business of the golden cal^ Ezod. xxxii. 29, has been ihouriit a sufficient reason. A better reason is, that this was the mallat tribe, and they were quite enough for the service. To have had a rooro numerous tribe, at this time, would have been very inconvenient.

AanHLjaya Mr. Ainsworth, beiss in ha prieatbood a 9pe of Chni^all dkeae riiea we fdlfiUed in him. FVir unu Clvut God gave dUMren, Heb. iL 13. And thn are a congregation Jhel-bom, kAom names are witten in heaven, Heb, zii. 23. being of God's own will begotten by Ike word qf truth, that they should be a kind ^J^-frttUa <^ hie ertaturee, James i. 18. to whom be ako givea the firat-fnrits of his Spirit, Rom. viii. 28. These iMtl an and foUow the Lamh, being Jtret-fruita vnfti Ood and to the Lamb, Rev. xiv, 4. And Chrial AaA made u» hinge and jtrieete unto €hd and hie.f^ifher,— that we may verve him day and in hit tetMle, Rev. i. 6. — vii. IB- Verse 16. A month old andvptsard] IV males of all the nAer ttibea were numbered from twenty years and upward; had the Levitea been numbered m thia way, they would not bave haeo nearly eoual in number lo the first-born of the twelve tribes. Add to ibii^ dai «■ dicrs ittoat have been Jhet-bom of ail agea in the other tribes^ it was neeesaary that the lieritea, who were to be iheir aubetUiOee, ahouM be also of all ogee: and it appears to have been on this frround, at least partly, duu the Levites were numbered from four weeke M and upward.

Verae 16. JHbsss numbered them] Though Moses and Aann conjointly numbered the twdf tribea, yet Hoaes alone nniAiend Aa Levitea: "for as die money widi whieh die firat-bom of Israel, who ezoeeded die muubw of Levites, were redeemed, was to be paid to Aaron and hia sons, ver. 48. it was decent thai he whose advanti«e it was dmt dw mmfaer of the first-bom of Israel should as> coed, riMMld net be auihoriMtcl to take that munber bimw^'^Dadd, Inm Utbop Kidder.

ftth« table, and ■ the caodleatick, and ^ the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and i the hanging?, and all the service thereof.

32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and hone the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 T Of Merari vxu the famUr of the Mah- Ut«e^ and the family of the Mifdutes: these are the families of Merari.

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

35 And the chief of the house of the father of the Ihmilies of Merari wa« Zuriel the son of AbihaQ: ''Aw %kaXl pitch on the Bide of the tabernacle northward.

36 And ' under " the custody and charge of the sons of Merari thall be Ihe boards m the ti^rnacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the socltets thereof, and all the ves- ■els thereof and all that serveth thereto.

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

3S ^ i> But those that encamp before the tab- •maue toward the caet^ even before the taberaaele of the congregation eastward, ahaU be Mosea, and Aaron, and his sons, ' keepinz 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 commtodment.of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40 T Ana the Lord said unto Moses, * Number all the first-born of themalesof thechiklren of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41 * And thou shall 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 chiUrea of Israel.

y«m 39, Wkidi JMMOff and AaTon numbered^ llie wnd j'tfwt vadftron, "and Aaron," hu a point over each sf its letten, prtAaUy designed aa a mark of nurimutuM. Ttw word is wantlnrtnnie iSofiuirtton, iSy«ae,aDd Cm^ lUt it ia wanliikg aw ia tighl of Dr. Kamiewt MSS. and in finr of De RxmtVt. Hoaet alone, aa Hgiibigant obaervas, ie commanded lo take the number of the htmtes, ■eever.ft,!!, 4(\H>nd6l.

AU Uu maUa irere 22,000] Thia total does not agrae widi the partieulBrB; for the Ownhoiiilea were 7600, the KohsddteaSSOa the HenuiteaSaiX^ total 22,300. Several methoda tS SDlTing this difficult have been prcmoeed by learned men t Dr. Kmnicotft isihemoet Mmple. Formerly the nuibbera in the Helwaw Bible were expreeaed bv letter; and not by word* at full Ungth; and if two nearly similar letters were mtetaken for each other, many MTora in the numben must be the conaequenee. Now, it is probable that an error haa crept into Ine number of the OtrtihmUtt, ver. 22. where inattad of 7G0& we ehould read 7200, an l eapA, 600, miriit ha*e been eanly mistaken for rethy 200, eapeci&lly if Uie down stroke of the eapK had been a lilttc snorter than ordinary, whioh ia often the can in MSS. The extra 300 being aken ofT, tlia total IS jost 22,000, as mentioned in the 39th verae.

Verse 43. AU IheMnt-bom vfudea wre 22,273. Tbua m find there were 773 JM-bom beyend the number of die LevUa. These are ordered, ver. 4S, to be radeemed.- ind the redemption price is ta bejfMekmalaea^ ver. 47. sbcnt And thia money, amounting to 1366 ehekelL e<iua] to £204 16 Engli^ he took of the first-bom of Israel, nr. 60. But how was this eolleeled among 22,273 penonsl Solomon Jarehi aaya, to pravenl con* tsmkRL Moms took 22;000 dips of parohment, and wrote on mat, a tm ^Lertt mm 273 otfwi% on which he

Siajided hhn, all the first^torn among Ac d4- ren of IsrneL

43 And all the first-born males Igr the nniBlwr. <^ names, from a month old and upward, of ibm that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and

44 D And the Lord spake unto Moses, saytag,

45 * Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the childrenof Israel, and the catUt of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levitos shall be mine: I am the Lord.

46 And for those that are tobe ' redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen m the first-born of the chUdren of Israel, ■ whiu are more than the Levites:

47 Thou ahalt even take ■ five shekels a pieee bv the p(^, aft^ the shekel of the eanctoarj shalt thou take fAem.* (*'the shekel is- twenty gerahs:)

48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to b* redeemed, unto Aaron and to his boho.

49 And Moses took the redetaption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:

50 Of the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money; ■ a thoiisand three oundred 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 soo^ according to the word of the I«oBS, as the Loen commanded Moses.

2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their launifies, the house of their fathers,

3 * From thirty years old and upward even wrote Jhe^uktit; then be mixed them in a bsdtet, and eajrh man took eat one — thoaa who drew the alipa « which Jhie Atkd* were wrftten, paid Ibe awMy; tht others went f^. Thia ia a most stopid and siHy tale, ttr auch a mode of lettlement never could hsv« bseo rsaaewd to 1^ an intelligent people. It would have beaa Mdi more simple to nave paid it out of a general Amd: sad it ia very likely that in thiswv ^ expense was deftmd.

This Bueciea of redeeming of men ia referred to by 8t Peter, 1 Kpiat i. 19, 19. " Ye kntw lhat yc mot 9^ dtemed mth comtfpHbte Ihingti <u tUver and g«fa^ J^wn yottr tKtt'n amvermiion, rtetfved by tradition Jnm ymr fuiherti but, itUk the prteimu {tv "0"' wafcasMa) blood <if CAW*/, oMqfa tamh wUhmU bUmiah and wUMmml fpaty" ifv. And, it is not ihe jlra(-6oni only whirlt an thus redeemed: for be, by the graee of God, tasted death for svcav man, Hcb. ii. 9. Reader, give glory to Qod, that auch a ransom has been paid for thy soul; and se^ that redeemed from thy vain conversation; thy einp*y, fruitless, and greceleas obaervanoea, on vriiich ami bsK Wilded thy hopes of satvation; thou walk io nevMSS of life, giving thy whole soul with thankftilneas unto te Pb$i« who hath translated thee from darknen^ aad pteaai thee in the Ungdom of his beloved Son: to Hun be glory and domhiion lor ever and ever. Amea.

KOTBS ON CHAPTER IT. Verse 3. l^Vmn Airiy years old\ In chap, viil 34, Ae Lerites are ordered to enter on the service of (h» taben^ cle at (he age of tw«ai]f-Jtve years; and in I Chiron, xziii- 24. they were ordered lo commence that work at fieesgf yeara of age. How can these diffimnt times be ilfiBS ailed? 1. Ai the time of which Moses apeak* bere^As Levitiesl service was exoeedingly mere wm eonse^piMdf mtn ffiy years oM, aU Uiat enter into the host, to do the work in the taberaacle of the coogreffation.

4 If ' This tkail be the service of the sons of Kohetth in the tabernacle of the eongregation about > the moat holy things:

5 And when Ae camp setteth forward, Aaron ■halt come, and his sons, and they shall take down ^ the covering veil, and cover the t ark of testimony with it:

0 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skios. aiid sfaall spread over if a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in *tim staves

7 And upon the i table of sfaew-bread they shall spread h. cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spooos. and toe boms, Bad coTers to ■ cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and oover the same with a covering of bakers* 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 Kcs tongs, and his snu^shes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

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

11 And upon the p golden altar, they staiUI spread a clotni^blnerand cover it with a covering of badgers* skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them ina cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:,

13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a puride ^oth tberecm:

14 And ttiey shall put upon it all the vessels thereto, wheretfith they mmister about it, even the censers, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the ^ basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a coveririg of badgers* skms, and put to tne 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 forward; after that ' the sons of Konath shall come to bear t/.- * bat they shall not touch anjf holy thin«, lest they die. t These thitiga are the burden or the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle

16 T Am to the oflke of Eleasar, the son of Aaron the priest, pertam«th " the oO for die reqairad moa JUit grown, strong and *tout, to psiform it; the am therefore, or tlUrtif years, wu appointed aa the period far eomimiieiog (bu aeirice, the wt/Micr part of which probid>l7, hm intended. 2. In chap. viii. 24. Hoaea aeema tn qmtk of the aervica in a,gmerol -mj % the MWra^ wfaidi waa to be perfornie<l tne fnll-grown Le> vitea, and the leM laborious woric whion younger men might ■laiit in: hence, die age of tnaUy-Jlea ii fixed. 3. In David'a time aiu afterward, in the Jtstd taberoaeJa and tes^rie, the lahortoutiuM of the aemee no longer existed, end MOM, liPtiity years was the age fixed onnr sHLs- Titealo'eiuer into lbs woA of the sanctuary. IVraUuna mKf that the Levitea began to learn to do the aervioe at iMatjHfM, and ^atbsnng been inatnleted^ve year*, the? heg»o tne pablio aervios at Mrty, and tbua they reeonciM the two periods retbrred to above. We may well auppoat diat the *on* ^ the propftate continued a conaiderable time ander instnietiona before they ware called fiilly to exeroiae ' dwtnaelTM in the prophetie effles.

Until Jlfly yean aid] "Htia waa allowing fte«tUy ysaia ier piditio aevera aerriee. A very oonaiderateand meraiAil ocdinanoa. A preadker who devotee hia whole time and airanctl\ to the aerriee of Ihechureh of Ood from twenty liU or siHif yaais of agik ihouU hs dMB saeusad from

liglit, and the ' sweet iacense, and the * daily meat-offering, and the ■ anointing oO, and the oversight oT all the tabernaele, and of all that therein U, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels

17 ^ And the Loan spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

16 Cut ye not ofl* the tribe of the families of the Kohauites from among the Levites:

19 But thus do unto thero, that they may live, and no^die.whentheyapproaeh unto 'the most holy thincs: Aaron and nis sons ahaH go in, apd appobit them every one to bis servioe and to his burden:

20 * But they shall not go in to see when th^ holy things are covered, lest they die.

81 IT And the Lobd spake imto Moses, string,

22 Take also the sum of the sons of Qerehon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their famihes.

23 ■ From thirty years old and upward, untfl fifty jears old, shalt thou number them; all that enter in ^ to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

24 This if the service of the families <tf the Qershonites, to serve, and for ' burdens:

25 And <> they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congrega^ tioa, his covering, and the covering of the bSdgere' skins that t« above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congre^ gation,

26 And the hangings nf the court, and the hanring for the door of the gate of the cotnrt. which IS by the tabernacle and by the altar roiud about, and their cords, and all the instrumuits of their servk», and all that is made for them: sa shall they serve.

27 At the * appointment of Aaron and his sooa shall be all the service of the sens of the Qershonites, ia aU their burdras, and in aU their servioe: and ve shall appoint unto themincharga all their buroens.

28 This it the service of the families of tha sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congveenition: and their chane sAofJ be under the hand of Ithamar the son m Aaron the priest

J39 T As for the sons of Merari. theu shalt number them after their fhmilies, by the house of their fkthers;

30 ' From thir^ years old and upward, even until filly years old, sludt thou number them, every one that entereth into the < service, to do the work of the tabemaete of the congregation.

31 And *■ this is the charge of their burden, according to all their serviee in the tabernacle of the eongregatkui; > die boards of the tdwr-

hia «*nrer labour, and maintained at ihe cliarge of the aaneniary. Thia would not only be a great comfort to a wom-ootaerrantof God, but alao of great uae to the work of the mieiatry, ^ich, to be faithfully and effectually perfwmed, requirea aU ihe powers of the both; and mind of man. <Ma faUtifvl mtniabra are to be ni^ly nspeeted for their wofk'a aake, and to be aupplied with all the oenniinrini and comforts of life; but now little can they de in the public miniatry of the word, however willing to woi^ whan tb^ir eye waxes dim ana their bodily atrength fljlg^|_See oa Chw. viii. 25. Both for their own aakca, and fix die good « the church, Ihey tdiould be excuaea from a labour to which they muat M almost every way inadequate. But notwithatanding this comparative ^aotivity, dieir couoaels, advioe, ami experienc<swill ahsiLya be conaid^rsd aa a traaaun to the church of OhriaL

Verae20. When Ou holy Aingt art mtr9d[ Literallv pSu 6a&aU, when they are awallowed down; which ahowa the promptyode with which every thing, beltmgiag to the Holy of Holiea, waa put out ^ eight, for iheae myateriaa muat ever be treated with the deepest revereneei and indeed without this, they could not have boen to ibom the repreaeotativea of heavenly lealitte.,.„,_,

Iteele and tha bftrs thereof, and the piUars thereof, and Bocketa thereof,,,,

33 And the pillara of the court ronnd about, and theif Bockets, and their pina, and their corda, with idl their instrumenta, and with all their «erHce: and by rame ye ahali * reckon the instrumenta of the charee of their burden.

3S This is the eervice of the faniiUea of the MM of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the band of Ithamar the son of Aaron the prieat.

34 IT " And Moses and Aaron, and the auef of the congregation numbered the aona of the Kohathites alter their familiea, and after the houae of their fathers,

35 From tjjirty yewa old aod upward, even onto fifty years old, ererr one that entereth mto the service, for the work in ibe tabernacle of the oongrei^UiMi:, „,,

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

37 These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moaea and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lobd by the hand of Moses.,, «,

38 If And those that were numbered, of the Bona of Oerahon, throughout their fiunilies, and by the house of their fathers,

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

40 Even those ttuit were numbered of them throughout their iamilies, by the house of their fhthers, were two thousand and six hundred and ^irty..,,

41 " These are they that were numbered of the fhmiliee of the sons of Oerahon, of all that might do eervice in the tiibernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number aoeording to the commandment of the Lord.

43 From thirty yeara old and upward, even, unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle the congr^ation,

44 Even thow that were niunbered them after their Auoilies, were three thousand two

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

46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Mo&ea and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their iamilies, and after the house of their fathers,

47 ' Fran thirtv yeare old and upward, even unto fiftjr years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the coogrecation,

4S Even those that were numbered oftbem, were eight thousand and.five hundred and fourscore.

49 According to the command^^£nt of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, p every one according to his service, and according to hie burden: thus were they numbered of him, 1 as the Lord commanded Moses.