Numbers 4
DOYLYChap. V. ver. 2.—put out of the camp &c.] There were three camps, as may be learned from what has gone before, and as the Jewish writers have observed. 1. The camp of the Shechinah, or of the Lord; namely, the sanctuary, with its courts, where God was said to dwell, and which are called the tents of the Lord, 2
Chron. xxxi. 2. 2. The camp of the Levites, who, with Aaron and his sons, encamped round about the sanctuary, ch. iii. 3. The camp of Israel, chap. ii, which encompassed them all. Lepers were not admitted into any of these three camps: he, that had an issue, was excluded from the two first; but might be in the camp
Restitution is to be made. The trial of jealousy. Before CHRIST 1490.
put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
Numbers 4:6
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— put in the staves thereof.] Not into the rings, for they were never to be taken out, Exod. xxv. 16. The Hebrew words signify put the staves thereof, that is, upon their shoulders: or, fit and dispose them, under the covering, that they might be laid on their shoulders. Bps. Patrick and Kidder.
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— commit any sin that men commit.] That is, which they are ordinarily obnoxious to, or overtaken with. Bp. Kidder. Any sin of frailty or infirmity, which is commonly incident to every man. Bp. Hall. In the Hebrew the words are, shall commit any sin of man: that is, any sin against his neighbour: as in Joel iii. 19; “violence of the children of Judah” is truly translated, “violence against the children of Judah.” It is plain from ver. 7, 8, that Moses here speaks of offences against their neighbours. Bp. Patrick.
— to do a trespass against the Lord.] Such offences against their neighbours, as were also offences against God; such as frauds and cheats put on men by a false oath. Bp. Patrick. The context manifestly implies, that a sin against our neighbour is an offence against God. Pyle.
— that person be guilty;] Or rather, be sensible of his guilt. See Lev. vi. 4. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 4:7
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— the continual bread] The shewbread, which stood continually in the presence of God, being renewed every sabbath. Bp. Patrick.
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— and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, &c.] Under the Levitical law, reconciliation could be obtained only by repentance, and no repentance was accepted, which did not prove its sincerity
by practical reformation. For every transgression the Law prescribed a trespass offering. Where the transgression was of a mere ritual precept, and committed without deliberation or design; when discovered, the trespass offering was sufficient alone: for this shewed, that the offender acknowledged the authority of the Law, which he had unintentionally violated. But where the transgression included any encroachment on the rights of another, the trespass offering could not be received, unless it was accompanied by a publick acknowledgment of the offence, a resignation of the usurped property, and a restitution to the person injured, if he or his heir could be found; if not, the usurped property was to be consecrated to pious uses, as the offender could not procure pardon, while he retained it. No regulation could point out more clearly the inefficacy of sacrifice, where guilt was not unfeignedly repented of, and all the advantages, which had tempted to its perpetration, renounced and resigned; and where full restitution to the injured individual did not accompany humiliation before God. Dr. Graves.
Numbers 4:10
- — put it upon a bar.] Rather, a bier; or a thing broad, and fit to carry the vessels, &c. just mentioned. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.
The Levites’ several charges about the sanctuary. Before CHRIST 1490. d Exod. 30. 34. e Exod. 30. 33.
Numbers 4:15
- — they shall not touch any holy thing.] They were to touch the staves, but not the ark, which is here meant principally by the holy thing, the word any not being in the Hebrew. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.
Numbers 4:16
- And to the office of Eleazar &c.] Though the Levites of this class had a particular governour of their own, chap. iii. 30, yet both he and they, in all their important trusts, were to be under the inspection of
the high priest’s eldest son, as their supervisor, chap. iii. 32. Pyle.
Numbers 4:18
- Cut ye not off &c.] Do not ye, by your neglect, suffer or cause to be cut off the considerable part of the tribe of Levi, namely, the families of the Kohathites, from among the Levites, by giving them opportunity to touch any of the holy things, or not sufficiently warning them, again and again, to the contrary. Dr. Wells.
The Levites’ charge, and their number. Before CHRIST 1490.
- — the bitter water] The water which shall prove bitterly afflictive and deadly to her, if she be guilty. See ver. 27. Bp. Hall.