Numbers 1

Numbers 1:1

OF Sinai] In that place of the wildernes that was neer to mount Sinai; which was the twelfth mansion of the Israelites, where happened all that which is set downe from hence to the 11 verse of the tenth chapter of this book.

in the Tabernacle] Not in the door of the Tabernacle, in the presence of the people (as at some other times) but in the holy of holies, whereof more particular mention is made, Chap. 7. 8, 9.

second moneth] Which containeth part of Aprill, and part of May.

Numbers 1:2

Take yee the summe] There was one numbring of the people before this, and another after it, three in all; the first is that of Exod. 30. 11, 12. and chap. 38. vers. 25. when they were called, and numbred for contribution to the building of the Tabernacle, when every one gave half a shekel for an offering to the Lord, as a ransome for his soule; figuring thereby the redemption of Christ: the next numbring was that of this place; which was done, not onely that the number of the people might be known, but that they might be the more orderly disposed, and placed about the Tabernacle: and the third and last was in the last yeer of their travell, viz. the 40. when the former generation was worne out; for there was not a man of them remaining except Joshua and Caleb whom Moses and Aaron numbred in the wildernesse of Sinai, Numbers 26:63,and 64. their posterity was numbred for possession, and partition of the land of Canaan: and this was in the plaines of Moab, Numbers 26:3,and 63.

of the children of Israel] None were numbred but the Israelites, though there came with them out of Egypt a mixed multitude of people, that were not Israelites; nor all that were so, but onely such as were able for warre, women, children, sicke persons, and decrepit old men being omitted; of which sort it is like there were not many, since at their coming out of Egypt, there was not a feeble person among their tribes, Psalms 105:37. Some suppose they were not numbred, because God had promised an innumerable multiplication of them as of the stars, Genesis 15:5. and (which much more overreacheth all reckonings of Arethmetick) as of the dust of the earth, Genesis 13:16. which seemeth to have warrant from these words, But David took not the number of them from 20. yeeres old and under, because the Lord had said, he would increase Israel like to the starres of the heavens. 1 Chronicles 27:23.

poll] In Hebrew, their skulls, for their heads; their heads for their bodies; their bodies for their persons; by a Synecdoche; the meaning is, man by man.

Numbers 1:3

Ʋpward] How far upward is not specified; but the Jewes began the account at 20, and ended at 60.

Numbers 1:4

head of] Who was the first-borne of his tribe, lineally derived by succession from one of the Patriarchs the sons of Jacob, from first-born to first-born, by a direct line of descent.

Numbers 1:5

stand with you] That is, Moses and Aaron, and assist you when you number the people.

of Reuben] The tribes were ranked partly by seniority, partly by dignity of their birth; first the issue of Jacob and his wives, then those that came of the handmaids; and of the wives, first the sons of Leah, then of Rachel.

Numbers 1:11

Benjamin] Benjamin is named before those who were elder then he, because they were the sons of hand-maids.

Numbers 1:16

renowned] For their wisdome, gravity, and goodnes, and so meet to be Statesmen, and to stand for their tribes in any common consultation, or resolution, that might concern them.

Princes] Or Captains, or Governours.

Numbers 1:18

declared their pedegrees] Shewing every man his tribe, and his ancestors, whereby they might the better observe the rules of marriage in their tribes, the redemption of their estates, and might observe the fulfilling of the predictions of them, Gen. 49.

Numbers 1:21

of the tribe of Reuben 46500] Though Reuben were the Arch-Patriarch, Jacobs first-born, the beginning of his strength, and the excellency of dignitie of power, as he stiles him, Genesis 49:3. (for that had been the priviledge of his birth-right, had he not forfeited it by his incestuous incontinence with Billah his fathers concubine, Genesis 35:22.) yet since he committed that offence, he foretold him that he should not excell; which may be meant divers wayes, and particularly by reason of the paucity of his tribe; whereby he is over-numbred by all his brethren but three, Gad, Asher, and Benjamin; and so some part of the curse of incest, Lev. 20. 20. came upon his posterity.

Numbers 1:22

generations] The word here is of a larger acceptation then a family, or houshold; for it may comprehend the descendent off-spring, which may people a whole province, or countrey: for to instance in the tribe of Judah, there were of them that were sit for warre 74 thousand, which, with all the rest not reckoned in the muster, will be much too many for one house or family, and enow to store divers townes with a sufficient number of inhabitants.

Numbers 1:27

threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred] Prophane infidells will not beleeve that one man should have so great an increase in 250 yeers space; but how easie was it for him to multiply one into so many, in so many yeers, who out of nothing made all things in six dayes space? Gen. 1. See Annot. on Exod. Chap. 1. vers. 12. This is the greatest number of the progenie of any of the tribes, whereby it appeareth that Judah had the preeminence, not onely of dignity royall, but of multitude of his off-spring above the other tribes; to which may be added that from his tribe descended the Saviour of the world, called the lion of the tribe of Judah, Revelation 5:5. with reference to this Patriarch compared to a Lion, Genesis 49:9. Numbers 24:9. and that very fitly, because of the courage of that tribe. See Annot. on Gen chap. 49. vers. 9.

Numbers 1:37

of the tribe of Benjamin thirty five thousand and four hundred] In the 46. of Gen. 21. his sons are reckoned more; as here the descendents from him are fewer then of any of the Patriarchs; there is a tyde and an ebb in the multiplication of families, as God pleaseth to enlarge or contract their numbers; so that he who at first might be called great Benjamin for his many children, is now but little Benjamin, Psalms 68:28. in respect of the smalnesse of his increase, and at one time this tribe was neer to a nullitie, Judg. 21. 3.

Numbers 1:46

six hundred thousand] A very great multitude from 70. persons which was all the stock, from whence it multiplied in Egypt. Genesis 46:21. See Annot. on vers. 27.

Numbers 1:47

But the Levites] They were exempted from these musters, being consecrated and separated for the service of the Sanctuary; for which cause they were to encampe about the Tabernacle next unto it; vers. 50. yet that it might appear it was no losse to serve the Lord, (though wicked worldlings think otherwise, Job 21:15. Malachi 3:14. Amos 8:5.) when their tribe was kept out of the accompt, the number was no lesse; for at a former computation, the Levites numbred with the other Tribes about a yeare before this, the totall summe was 603 550; Exodus 38:26. and now at this time just the same number, the Levites left out; yet were the Levites numbred afterward, but neither with the rest of the Tribes, but by themselves, nor from twenty yeares old and upward, as for the service of warre, but from a moneth old and upward, Numbers 3:15. with reference to the Sanctuary; either for service to it, or maintenance from it; and that Gods blessing might appeare in the multiplication of that Tribe, as well as in the rest.

Numbers 1:51

stranger] Whosoever was not of the Tribe of Levi, (in respect of this office or service) was a stranger, but in respect of offering incense, he that was not of the seed of Aaron, (though a Levite) was a stranger, Numbers 16:40.

put to death] So also Chap. 3. vers. 10. either by humane punishment, or divine vengeance, as 2 Samuel 6:6. Numbers 16:32.