Numbers 10
DOYLY
a Chap. 2. 3. b Chap. 1. 7. c Chap. 4. 4.
Numbers 10:3
- — blow with them,] With an equal and continued sound: to “blow an alarm,” is to blow with an interrupted, or broken and quavering sound. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 10:17
- — the sons of Gershon &c. — set forward, bearing the tabernacle.] This was after the first, and before the second, camp: which seems to be a contradiction to the
order of the march fixed in chap. ii. 17, that the tabernacle, with the camp of the Levites, should set forward between the second and third camps. But this apparent contradiction is reconciled a few verses below, where we find, that, though the less sacred parts of the tabernacle, the outside tent and its apparatus, set out between the first and second camp; yet the sanctuary, or Holy of Holies, with its furniture, the ark and the altar, did not set out till after the second camp, as the direction required. And the reason of the separation is assigned, ver. 21, that those, who bore the outside tabernacle, might set it up, and thus prepare for the reception of the sanctuary. No forger or compiler, who lived when these marches had wholly ceased, and the Israelites were fixed in the land of their inheritance, would have thought of such a circumstance as this. Dr. Graves.
The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark. Before CHRIST 1490. of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 10:25
- — the rereward] All the rest of the people, who were not a part of the four camps, before mentioned; all under twenty years of age, who were not able to go forth to war; all the mixed multitude, that came with them out of Egypt; and all the unclean persons, who were shut out of the camp; came after this hindmost standard of the children of Dan. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 10:29
- — Moses’ father in law.] This word may refer either to Raguel, who is supposed to be Jethro, and then it is rightly translated “father in law;” or it may refer to Hobab, and be translated “brother in law.” Jethro being returned to his country, Hobab, his son, stayed with his sister, Zipporah, whilst Moses continued near Sinai, which was not far from Midian. He now proposed to return home, on the Israelites being about to quit that neighbourhood: but Moses was desirous that he should accompany them to the promised land. Bp. Patrick. 31. — forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp &c.] He being a borderer on this wilderness knew every part of it: and could advise them how to secure their camp, (for the cloud only directed them where it was to be pitched,) how to defend themselves from the neighbouring people, and to provide themselves with such things as they wanted. Bp. Patrick. Hobab may have been of great use to the Israelites, with respect both to guiding their parties to wells and springs in the desert, and to giving them notice where they might find fuel. But besides this, the sacred history expressly mentions several journeys undertaken by detachments of the Israelites, while the main body remained still: so in chap. xiii, we read of a party sent out to reconnoitre the land of Canaan; in chap. xx, of the messengers sent from Kadesh to the king of Edom; in chap. xxxi, of an expedition against the idolatrous Midianites; of some little expeditions in the close of chap. xxxii: and more journeys of the like kind were without doubt undertaken, though they are not particularly recounted. Moses, foreseeing this, might well beg Hobab to accompany him, not as a single Arab, but as the prince of a clan, to supply conductors for these detached parties, while the body of the people, and the cloud of the Lord, continued stationary. Harmer. — thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.] By reason of thy knowledge and experience, thou mayest be a good direction for us. Bp. Hall. We are informed that guides are now necessary for travellers in these deserts. A Hybeer is a guide, from the Arabick word hubbar, to inform, instruct, or direct, because the Hybeers are used to do this office to the caravan, travelling through the desert in all its directions. They are men of great consideration; knowing perfectly the situation and properties of all kinds of water, to be met with on the route; the distances of wells; whether occupied by enemies or not, and if occupied, the way to avoid them with the least inconvenience. It is also necessary to them to know the places occupied by the Simoom, and the seasons of their blowing, in those parts of the desert: likewise those places occupied by moving sands. The Hybeer generally belongs to some powerful tribe of Arabs inhabiting these deserts, whose protection he makes use of, to assist his caravans, or protect them in time of danger. Bruce.
Numbers 10:32
- — the same will we do unto thee.] We will give thee some part of the possession, which God shall bestow upon us. Accordingly Hobab accompanied Moses; and he and his posterity were settled among the Israelites in Canaan, Judg. i. 16; iv. 11. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. 33. — and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them] Leading them, as a general is said to lead his army, though he be not in the front, but in the midst, whence he issues his orders. Dr. Wells.