Numbers 9

Notes on the verses

Chap. IX. Ver. 1—23. The passover again commanded.— The pillar a cloud and fire.—In order of time, this chapter evidently takes place of all the preceding; for this passover was in the first month of their second year; whereas we are expressly told, that the numbering of the people was not ordered till the first day of the second month… ((Numbers 1:1).) As the sacred historians profess not to be exact in the order of time, it is Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord.” (Ver. 11,) Houbigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, “instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb.”’]}—Bagster. Ver. 24. Twenty-five years.—(In ch. iv. 3. the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of thirty years; and in ch.

xxiii. 24. they are ordered to commence their work at twenty years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed, 1. At the time of which Moses speaks in ch. iv. 3. the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men to perform it: the age of thirty was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended. 2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way: hence the age of twenty-five is fixed. 3. In David’s time and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence twenty years was the age appointed.

]—Bagster. Chap. IX. Ver. 1. In the first month.—{The fourteen first verses of this chapter evidently refer to a time previous to the commencement of this book; but as there is no evidence of a transposition, it is better to conclude with Houbigant, that “it is enough to know, that these books contain an account of things transacted in the days of Moses, though not in their regular or chronological order.”}—Bagster. On Ver. 12. Leave none of it.—[From the Jewish passover, the heathens borrowed their sacrifice, termed Propter Viam. It was their custom, previously to their undertaking a journey, to offer a sacrifice to their gods, and to eat the whole, if possible; but if any part was left, they burned it with fire: this was called propter viam, because it was made to procure a prosperous journey.

It was in reference to this, that Cato is said to have rallied a person called Q. Albidius, who, having eaten up all his goods, set fire to his house. “He has offered his sacrifice propter viam,” said Cato, “* because he has burned what he could not eat,”——Break any bone.—We have already adverted to the practice of roasting sheep whole in the East, to which we add, that Belon says, he “met with shepherds who were roasting sheep whole. The ends which they sold to travellers, stuck upon sticks of willow tree, were taken out, and the body again sewed up.”]—Bagster. Ver. 23. They get the charge of the Lord.—Hebrew, “The watch of the Lord.” Some of the Levites were, no doubt, always placed to watch the cloud, and to give the earliest notice of its rising.