Numbers 20

Chap. XX. ver. 1. — the desert of Zin] The southern district of Arabia Petrea was called in general “the wilderness of Zin,” which name is still given by the inhabitants of Tor to the desert in their neighbourhood. The northern and western districts were also called “Paran” and “Kadesh.” Thus the disastrous station of Kadesh, named Barnea, “Son of wandering,” to which the Israelites returned again after thirty-eight years, is said to be in the wilderness of Zin, Numb. xiii. 21; and again on their return, Numb. xx. 1; Deut. xxxii. 51; but in the wilderness of Paran, Numb. xiii. 16. While in the itinerary, or journeys of the Israelites, Numb. xxxiii. 18, it is simply called Rithmah, signifying “the wilderness,” from Rethem, which signifies “a desert place;” and properly denotes a plant, which flourishes in sandy deserts, called “Juniper,” Job xxx. 3, 4; 1 Kings xix. 4, 5; whence it is transferred to signify “a desert,” like our English word “heath,” from the plant of that name. Dr. Hales.

— in the first month.] That is, of the fortieth year after they left Egypt. Moses passes in silence the transactions of the thirty-seven years, during which the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and gives us only the first and last years of their journeyings: for, since he writes not so much in the quality of an historian as of a legislator, whose purpose it was to deliver down to posterity all the laws which he received from God, and that system of laws being completed in the first two years after they left Egypt, and no new law being delivered during the subsequent years, it did not fall in with his design to insert the history of these years in the Pentateuch. Le Clerc.

— Miriam died there.] Four months before Aaron and eleven months before Moses: being older than either of them. At the birth of Moses she was probably about Vol. I.

Numbers 20:2

2. — there was no water] We have had no mention of the Israelites from the time of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, until they came into this difficulty. There had passed six or seven and thirty years in this interval; during which time Moses had led them up and down from place to place, as God had directed their journeyings by the cloud. During this space it is probable the people had been very obedient for we hear of no discontents among them. Now they began to be refractory again, but Moses now could not so well bear it. Shuckford.

Numbers 20:3

3. — Would God that we had died &c.] By a sudden death, rather than linger away with thirst. They allude to the judgments of God upon their brethren, which should rather have deterred them from such discontented language. But nothing will alter those, who will not lay to heart and preserve in mind God’s mercies and judgments. Bp. Patrick.

Numbers 20:8

8. Take the rod.] With which Moses wrought his miracles in Egypt, called in ver. 11, “his rod.” It was probably lodged in the sanctuary; for he is said, in the next verse, to have taken it “from before the Lord.” Bp. Patrick.

Numbers 20:10

10. — Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?] Hear now, ye rebels; is it likely that we shall fetch water out of this hard rock, to satisfy your thirst? This we are required to do; but is this a thing possible to be done? Bp. Hall.

Numbers 20:11

11. — the rock] In one of the roads from the convent of Sinai to Suez there is exactly such another stone as the rock of Massah, with the same sort of openings all down, and the signs where the water run. See the note on Exod. xvii. 2. The Arabs say, that it is like-

Z Moses desireth passage through Edom, NUMBERS. which is denied him. Before CHRIST about 1453.

twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Numbers 20:12

12. — Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel.] Because ye doubted of the performance of My word; and, in a weak distrust, struck the rock twice, as not being confident of the issue, whereas ye were only bidden to speak unto the rock, to yield forth these waters. Bp. Hall. It may be inquired wherein consisted the sin of Moses, with which Aaron also is charged, as consenting to it. In answer it is to be considered, 1. That the very letter of God’s command was broken, 1st, in that Moses “smote” the rock with his rod, and smote it “twice,” whereas he had received no such command from God, but was commanded to “speak” to it, that the people might see how easily God could supply their want of water: 2dly, in “speaking to the people,” which Moses had no commission to do; and in not speaking to the rock, which was expressly commanded. II. That this open breach of God’s commandment was committed in the face and sight of the assembly; hence are Moses and Aaron charged for “not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel.” III. Moses was also guilty of some degree of unbelief and distrust of God’s power and veracity, as appears from ver. 12, compared with ver. 10: “Must we” (or can we, as in the Latin Vulgate) “fetch water &c.” which seems to intimate a doubting; see Gen. xviii. 13; and too much anger and commotion of mind: “they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips,” Psal. cvi. 33. And as the degrees of these sins were known to God only, so it is certain, upon the whole, they were guilty of that which is elsewhere called “rebellion” and “trespass,” Numb. xxvii. 14; Deut. xxxii. 51. Bp. Kidder.

— to sanctify me] That is, by your ready and absolute obedience to My command, to own My sovereignty as well as veracity in the presence of the children of Israel. Bp. Patrick.

— ye shall not bring this congregation into the land &c.] They brought them into the land of Sihon and Og; but not into Canaan, the promised land. Bp. Patrick.

This prohibition, while it was in a peculiar manner mortifying to them as leaders of the people, afforded an exemplary lesson to all Israel of the necessity of im-

into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

Numbers 20:13

13. — Meribah.] That is, strife: called Meribah-Kadesh, Deut. xxxii. 51, to distinguish it from the Meribah mentioned Exod. xvii. 7, where the Israelites were guilty of the same crime. Bp. Patrick.

This offence, so frequently alluded to in the Pentateuch, and the punishment of which Moses is represented as repeatedly deprecating, intreating to be permitted to enter the promised land, though in vain, is totally omitted by Josephus; while, in the original narrative, nothing can be more affecting than the manner in which it is alluded to. It is expressed as if the heart was weighed down by sorrow for the disappointment of its fondest hope; and, as if occasions of venting this sorrow were industriously sought, even a remote allusion or reference is enough. Yet it concerned only the historian himself; it was not to his credit, but it was that which he felt most deeply, and which he only could feel so truly. Thus we clearly perceive the difference between the genuine narration of Moses himself, and the cautious compilation of a remote historian, (although admitted to be of general veracity and integrity,) when describing the character of a legislator, whom he looked up to with reverence. Dr. Graves.

— he was sanctified in them.] Either in the waters, by the honour which He procured in bringing them again out of a rock; or in Moses and Aaron, by giving proof of His holiness and justice in the punishment of their disobedience; or in the Israelites, before whose face God’s power, goodness, and faithfulness appeared. Bp. Patrick.

Numbers 20:14

14. — thy brother Israel.] The Israelites were descended from Israel or Jacob, the twin brother of Edom or Esau. Bp. Patrick.

Before CHRIST 1453. The children of Israel come to mount Hor, where Aaron dieth. Before CHRIST 1453.

Numbers 20:19

19. — if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: ] It appears from the accounts of travellers, that this is no unusual practice on the coasts of the Red sea, in Egypt, and in Turkey. And Niebuhr mentions it as a circumstance worthy of notice, that at Cairo and Constantinople are several elegant houses where fresh water is distributed gratis to passengers. Fragments to Calmet.

Numbers 20:22

22. — mount Hor.] On the edge of Edom, but more to the north-east than Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, whence they came. Bp. Patrick. See the note on Exod. xv. 22.

Numbers 20:26

26. — strip Aaron of his garments,] Of his priestly robes. This implied the divesting him of his office; as the putting them upon Eleazar his son implied the succeeding of Eleazar to his father’s office and dignity. Moses herein acted as the minister of God, who now transferred the priesthood to another. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. XXI. ver. 1. — in the south,] Of the land of Canaan, towards the eastern angle, near the Dead sea.

— by the way of the spies,] Who had been sent by Arad to bring him intelligence, which way the Israelites marched. Bp. Patrick.

his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and 1 Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.