Numbers 26

Numbers 26:1

JIlND it came to pass after the plague. Men* tioned in the foregoing chapter, ver. 9. 17. though some fancy it refers unto all the plagues that had swept away all the former generation, except two persons. It is likely this may be done in the eighth month of the fortieth year, after they came out of Egypt. The Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saying.] As God had formerly joined Aaron with Moses, (Numb. i. 1. 17. ii. 1, iv. 1, &c.) so now Aaron being dead, he joins his son Eleazar with him, to shew that he succeeded not only in his place and office, but also in his authority*

Numbers 26:2

Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel. They had been twice numbered before this; once, before the building of the tabernacle, in the first year after they came out of Egypt, when they paid every man half a shekel towards it, (Exod. xxx. 11. 13. xxxviii. 25.) and again, when they were to be encamped, in the second month of the second year, (Numb. i. 1,2, &c.) And now, all those men who had been then numbered (thirty-eight years ago) being dead (as appears from ver. 64. of this chapter), God commands them to be numbered a third time; partly, that he might demonstrate his faithfulness to his word, in multiplying them vastly, notwith-

Numbers 26:4

Take. the sum of the people. These words arc not in the Hebrew; but some words of this kind are to be understood, that. they spake with them about numbering the people, from twenty years old and upwards, as it here follows. As the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.] He bade them k proceed according to the directions God had formerly given, in the second month of the second year, after they came out of Egypt, (Numb. i. 1.). -

Numbers 26:5

Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob. This numbering being performed as the former was, Moses uses more concise language in the account he gives of it; as he doth in the foregoing verse, and in this, and those that follow; where he sets down the number of every tribe, and the families from whence they sprung, without saying, Those tliat were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were, &c. as he <loth, Numb, i.21, &c. TJie children of Hanoch, of whom came the family of the’[Hanochites, &c] The four sons of Reuben (whose families here follow) arc mentioned both in Genesis xlvi. 9. and in Exodus vi. J4. and are here mentioned again; because he intends to set down the names both of the children and grandchildren of one of his sons, which he did not before. Vcr. 7. These are the families of the Renbeniles.] The word we translate families, rather signifies nations (gentes) or kindreds, as we translate it, Psal. xxii. 27. ♦ Vox all that sprung from those seventy persons who came with Jacob into Egypt, arc called by this name of mispecoth, which the LXX. here translate Iniioi, people; which were. divided into houses, as the Hebrews call them, and those houses into particular persons: this is plain from Josh.. vii. 14. where, for the discovery of him that had sinned in the accursed thing, God commanded the Israelites to be brought by their tribes, and then that tribe by the families belonging to it; and that family which the Lord took by households; and that household man by man. And they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.] This being compared with Numb. i. 21. it appears this tribe was less than it was eight-and-thirty years ago, by near three thousand men: for some whole households had been destroyed^ as it follows, ver. 9. Vcr. 8. And the sonsof Pallu, Eliab.] He speaks in the plural number, when there was but one son of Pallu,.which is very usual in the Scripture language: (sec Gen. xix. 29. xxi, 7. xlvi. 7. and in this very chapter, vcr. 42.) Eliab.] I|e, doth not say from him came the family of the Eliabites;.for he made only a household in the family (as we call it) of the Palluitcs. Vcr. 9. And the sons of Eliab, Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram.] The same must be observed of these, that families, did not spring from them; but they were households belonging to the family of the Palluites. Tliis is that Dathan and Abiram.] They are here again mentioned; partly to set a new brand upon them, for their insolent rebellion against Moses, and partly to shew how - the Reubenites came to be so diminished. Famous in the congregation.] Sec chap. xvi. 2. Who strove against Moses, and against Aaron, in the company of Korah.] They joined with Korah, who seem* * to have been the chief incendiary; for he is mentioned first in chap. xvi. 1. j Wlien they strove against the Lord.] Who had appointed Aaron alone to be the high-priest, and his sons to minister in the priest’s office; which these men would have usurped; - chap. xvi. 1L. where it. is said expressly, “they were ga-* • thered together against the Lord.”

Numbers 26:10

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah. These words seem to import, that Korah was swallowed up with Dathan and Abir • ram, as I have observed upon chap. xvi. 32. (Sec there.) But it must be acknowledged, that these words may receive * another interpretation, and that very natural, in this manner: * The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, (viz. Dathan and Abiram, and the rest, mentioned chap. xvi. 32.) and then the next words, veeth Korah, may be thus translated, and as for Korah (who was* the great incendiary) when that company died, i. e. he died when the company which offered incense died: for there: is in many places a defect of a word, to be supplied from the word that follows; This is a very easy construction; and agrees with the Psalmist, Psal. cvi. 17..where he mentions, only Dathan \ and Abiram’s company as swallowed up; and then adds, (vcr. 18.) " A fire was kindled in their company (r. e. in’the other company of rebels), and the flame burnt up the wickr.• cd;" viz. Korah, and those that were with him. What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men.] Sec chap. xvi. 35. lftheinterpretationnowmentionedofthe foregoing words be admitted, then Korah must be added - to the number of the two hundred and fifty men; which Moses takes’ occasion to explain in this place.. s And they became a sign.] A monument of God’s displeasure against those that affront his ministers; to give warnr ing unto all posterity not to follow their pernicious courses. Vcr. ML. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.] As those of Dathan and Abiram did; but their family conr tinned famous in David’s time: for perhaps they left their father, and departed from the tents of those wicked men;, as Moses by God’s command exhorted the congregation, (chap. xvi. 24. 26.) and they obeyed, (ver. 27.)

Numbers 26:12

The sons of Simeon after, their families, &c. His sons are reckonedup here just as they are Gen. xlvi. 10. and Exod. vi. 15. only one of them,, viz. Ohad, is here omitted; bccause,„either he had no children, or his family was extinct before this time. The first of them also, viz. Nemuel, is there called Jennie!;; and Jachin, in 1 Chron. iv.24.-is called Jarib;• thcro being some reason, in process of time, for such.altcrations.

Numbers 26:14

Noiu the name of the Israelite tiiat was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman. God would have his name stand upon record, partly to make it infamous, and partly to do honour to Phineas, who durst venture to set upon a man who had so great an interest in, -his tribe, as is mentioned in the next words, Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince.] Not the chief of the whole tribe, but of a great family in that tribe. Of a house ^among the Simeonites.] In the Hebrew the •words are, 0/ ahonse of a father. For the tribes were divided into families, and these into houses, every one of which had ahead or chief, (see the first chapter of this •book, ver. 2.) and Zimri was one of those principal persons, though not prince of all the Simeonites*. These are the families of (he Simeonites, twenty

Numbers 26:15

And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur. This is set down also, to shew how little Phineas feared the great men,.either. in Israel, or -elsewhere: for Zur is reckoned afterward as one of the kings of Midian, (chap. xxxL 8.) or princes, (Josh. xiii. 2L) He was head over a people, and vf a. chief house in jftdian.] The Hebrew word ummoth (which we translate people) signifies nations; so that if we translate these words exactly, they sound thus, he was head of nations, of a house of a father in Midian; that is, chief of divers families, who all sprung from the same father or original in that country. Ven 16. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying.] Some time after this, though not long, (as appears from chap..xxxi. 1, 2.) but a little before Moses’s death.; «

Numbers 26:17

Vex the Midianites. Among whom this pernicious contrivance was hatched: for Balak being so incensed against Balaam, that he bade him begone, in all haste, out of this country, (chap. xxiv. 11.) Balaam would not stay to propound unto him this mischievous advice which was in his head, but went to the Midianites, and there discovered it; which was the same tiling, he knew, as if he, had acquainted Balak with it, there being a great friendship between the two nations, (chap, xxxii. 4.) It is likely, also, that the Midianites were the first that advised Balaam should be sent for, which made their guilt the greater: but the Moabitcs did not escape, though (for Lot’s sake, perhaps, Deut. ii. 9.) their punishment was deferred till future times, as Balaam prophesied, (chap. xxiv. 17.) and they were also excluded, by a law made immediately after this, from the society of the Israelites, for this very fact, (chap* xxiii. 3, 4-) And smite tkem.] With the sword f as we find they did, chap. xxxi.

Numbers 26:18

For they vex you with their wiles. Have sorely distressed you by their subtle devices. Wherewith they have beguiletlyon, in the matter ofPeor.] Drawn you in to commit foul idolatry. Here Peor, which was a mountain in Moab, where Baal had a temple, (as I observed, chap, xxiii. 28.) is used for the idol itself, which was there worshipped, being a contraction of Baal-Peor; and so it is chap, xxxi/18. Josh. xxii. 17. And in the matter of Cozbi.] And into lewd filthiness with idolatrous *women. lite daughter of a prince of Midian.] By whose consent, no doubt, she went upon this wicked design; that, by her noble garb and attendance, she might the more powerfully entice the great men of Israel to idolatry. Their sister.] Whom the whole family were content to prostitute, that they might compass the destruction of the Israelites: but by sister may be meant one of the same country or nation; the same kind of language being used among them that was among the Jews; who called one another brethren and sisters (being descended from the same stock), as Christians did all those that were of their religion. Which was slain in the day of the plague.] When so; many thousands fell by the pestilence. For Peor 9 s sake.] For worshipping Baal-Peor; into which they were inveigled by the women, who invited them to a feast, and there, by their charms, excited another fleshly appetite in them, which they would not let them satisfy, unless they would both eat of their sacrifices and worship their idol; and perhaps they told them it was not lawful for them to consent to their desire, unless they would be of their religion.

Numbers 26:37

Those that were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand and five hundred. Though this proved a very numerous tribe m future times, yet, for the present, they were fewer by eight thousand than they were in the former numbering, (chap. i. 33.) which makes Moses’s prophecy, a little after this, the more remarkable, Deut. xxxiii. 17. where he makes th^ Ephraimites ten to one, in comparison with theManassites.

Numbers 26:38

The sons of Benjamin, after their families. This tribe also was under the standard of Ephraim, and therefore mentioned here together with him and Manasseh. When they went into Egypt, the sons of Benjamin were no less than ten, (Gen. xlvi. 21.) half of which either had no children, or they were all extinct before this time; for here are only five named." * Of Beta, the family of the Belaites, See.] The two first, Bela and Ashbel, are there named as they are here: but the next, Ahiram, is there called Ehi, and in 1 Chron. viii. 1. Ahara; such an. alteration doth time make in names. -Ver. 39. OfShupham,&c] He is called MuppiminGen. xlvi; 21. and Hupham is there called Huppim.

Numbers 26:40

The sons of Bela tvere Ard and Naaman. Though five of his sons were dead without issue, yet two of his grandsons, descended from his eldest son, made distinct families in Israel. And the son of one of them was called after the name of his uncle, the youngest son of Benjamin, (Gen. xlvi. 21.) whose name was Ard; and in 1 Chron. viii. 3. (by a small transposition of letters) is called Adar.;.

Numbers 26:41

There were numbered of them forty -five thousand and six hundred. This tribe was grown to be ten thousand more than they were at the last numbering, (chap. i. 37.) •

Numbers 26:42

These are the sons of Dan J. Thus he speaks, though he had but one. (See ver. 8.) OfShuham.] Called Hushim, by a transposition of letters, Gen. xlvi. 23. Just as the same tree is called almugim, 1 Kings x. 8. and almugim, 2 Chron., ii. 8. And the same city in which Joshua was buried, called Timnath- Serach, Josh. xxiv. 30. and Timnath-Cheres, Judg. ii. 9. And, to come still nearer, the same man is called Rechtim, Nchcm. xii. 3. and Cherim, ver. 15. of the same chapter. These are the families of Dan, after their families.] That is, from these Shuhamites came all the rest of the families of this tribe, which arc not here mentioned; but into which this family was subdivided when it grew very great, as it appears from the next words.

Numbers 26:43

All the families of the Shuliamites. This shews there were more than one of them who had names frbm some of the children of Shuham. Were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.] A vast number to spring from one man; when Benjamin, who had ten sons, wanted almost twenty thousand of this number: which is seventeen hundred more than were in this tribe at the last numbering, (chap. i. 39.)'

Numbers 26:44

Of the children ofAsher after their families, &c. They all retain the same names which they had when they went into Egypt, (Gen. xlvi. 17.) Only he that is here called Jcshui, is there called Ishui; and another son there nienvol, i. tiohed is here omitted; his family, I suppose, being quite extinct.

Numbers 26:45

Of the sons of Beriah, &c. Instead of him, whose family was quite lost, the youngest son of Asher (Beriah) had two families sprung from him. - ■ " r VeT. 46. And the name of the daughter of Asher wasSa-: rah.] Or Serah, as she is called, Gen. xlvi. 17. He doth not say that a family sprang from her, which Corn.Bei>. tramus (cap. 6. de Republ. Jud.) seems to think probable/ instead of some that were lost; but she was a woman, it is likely, as eminent in this tribe as any of her brethren for some virtue or other: insomuch, that the cabalists, in the ancient book Zohar, parting the heavenly region, where the soulsof holy women are, into four palaces, make four great women to be a kind of presidents of them, viz. Pharaoh’s daughter, who educated Moses; and this Serah, the daughter ofAsher; with Jochabed, the mother of Moses; and Deborah, the famous prophetess. (See Selden, lib, ii. de Jure Nat. et Gent. cap. 4.) Ver. 47/ Were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.] This tribe also fructified exceedingly, wanting but a hundred of twelve thousand more than they were at the last numbering, (chap. i. 41.) ii io (

Numbers 26:48

Of the sons of Naphtali, after their families, &c. There are four of them whose names were not at all changed since they went into Egypt. (See Gen. xlvi. 24.)

Numbers 26:50

Were forty-five thousand and four, hundred. They wanted eight thousand of their number;(Numb. i.43.) These two tribes, Asher and Naphtali, are mentioned together with. Dan, because they were encamped under his standard, (Numb. ii. 25,26, &e.)

Numbers 26:51

These tvere the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and fifty. That is, the whole number amounted to this sum-; which was but eighteen hundred and twenty less than they were when they were last numbered, thirty-eight years ago; (ehap. i. 4G.) So great was the goodness of God, and such his faithfulness to his word, that, when he destroyed all the former generation (who were above twenty years old), he multiplied their posterity so fast, in that space of time, as tomake them equal,, in a manner, to those* that went before them. • --••.;

Numbers 26:52

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. After the people were thus numbered, and every family, and the persons it contained, exactly known, then the Lord ordered as follows., iv t •’,; -..;.

Numbers 26:53

Unto these. i. e. These families beforenamed.; The land shall be divided.] i. e. The land of Canaan, into which they were going.; For an inheritance.] Not to be alienated from those families. \ F According to the number of names.] Of the persons in the several families, from twenty yeaVs old and upwards, (ver, 2.)’ So that minors, who had not attained the age of twenty years when this account was taken, the Jews say, were not to have any shaie in the land, though they were come to that age at the time of the distribution* of it among them. But those minors had possessions, as heirs of their fathers, according to the families.

Numbers 26:54

To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance. That is, order Joshua to assign them a share in the land, proportionable 4K

Numbers 26:55

Notwitlistanding the land sJtall be divided by lot?. . When it.‘was divided into so many equkl shares as there were tribes (a due respect being had to their number), they were not to choose which share they would have; but that was to be determined by lot. The manner of which they say -was this: two urns being placed before him that drew the lots, in one of which were scrolls of parchment, Containing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the other, the portions of land; he first put in his hand into the urn wherein were their names, and drew out one,‘suppose that, of Judah; and then he put his hand into tho other urn, and drew out the portion that fell to his share. Or, perhaps, there was only one urn, wherein were the several portions of land; and they began Suppose with the eldest son of Israel, viz. Reuben; and pulling out a scroll, said, This is the portion of Reuben: and so with the rest. But which soever way they proceeded there were two distributions made, one of the whole country into twelve parts; and another of each of those parts among tho several families that were in each tribe. (See Sclden de Suceessionibus ad Leges Hebr. cap. 21, 22.) According to the names of the tribes of their families they shall inherit.] This seems to justify what I now said, that they first named the tribe whose lot they would draw out; and that contained his inheritance. But, after all this, it might happen that somo of their lots w T ere too scanty for their number, and others too large: in which caseEleazar, and Joshua, and tho rest appointed for this office, (chap, xxxiv. 17, &c.) ordered some portion to be taken from those who had too much, and given to those who had too little for their families. This appears from Josh. xix. 9. where a’ portion out of the lot of Judah is ordered for Simeon; because the one was too large, and the other too.small: and the same may be said of Dan, ver. 47. *.

Numbers 26:56

According to the lot shall the possession be divided,. The first words, which we translate according to the oi he [chap. xxvi. lot, being, in the Hebrew, al pi hagoral, which literally signify according to the mouth of the. lot (which is no moro than, as the lot shall declare), the Jews have a conceit, that the land was divided, not merely by lot, but by urim and thummim, which Eleazar the priest then put on (as the Talmud describes it in Bava Bathra); and two urns standing before him, in one of Avhich w T ere the names of the twelve tribes, and in the other the names of the portions of land, he looked by the. Holy. Ghost upon the urim and thummim, and said, Let such a tribe come up; which being done, he said again, Let such a portion of land come, up for this tribe: by which means all the people (before whom this was done) were satisfied that their portion was allotted to them by God; and all cause of murmuring and contention taken away. Thus R. Solomon and others mentioned by Buxtorf in his Hist. Urim,et Thummim, cap. 3. and Martinius Mauritius in his late treatise deSortitipne veter. Hebr. cap. 29. sect. 4, 5. where he observes, how ancient the way of dividing goods and lands by lot was in other countries. But there was no need of this, solemnity; thq division of the land by God’s order, after the manner of lots, sufficiently shewing, it was not -by. man’s directions but by God’s that such a share fell to them..Between many and few.] Every tribe having its land assigned them by the lot, it was then divided among the several families, in the same manner (as these words seem to signify), and then every household had their share allotted them; according to thenumber of persons that were in them; which if. they were many, had a greater share;, if few, a less. By which means every* man had reason to rest satisfied, because such was his lot; that is, such was the good pleasure of God, who directed the lots; as.we learn from Joshua xviii. G. 8. 10. where we read expressly, that in the division of the land, he " cast lots for, them before the Lord in Shiloh," that he might order every one his portion..

Numbers 26:57

And these are they that. were numbered of the Levites, after their families. It was. fit an account should be taken of this tribe also, that it might be seen how God had blessed them, as well as the rest of the tribes of.Israel, with a numerous issue; though he had cut off,, in the.space 6f thirty-eight years, all the former generation, from twenty years old and upward. Of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites, &c,] The principal families in this tribe were three, descended from the three sons ofLevi,Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whose names were not at all altered since their coming out of Egypt until this time, (Gen. xlvi. 11. Exod*.vi. 1G.)

Numbers 26:58

These are the families of the Levites. ,The three forenamed were the principal families, divided into, those lesser families which here follow. The family of the Libnites.] Descended from Libni the eldest son of Gershon; who had another son, whose family is here omitted (viz. Shimi), though mentioned Exod. vi. 17. But in this place JVIoscs doth not give a full account of all the families of the Levites, nor is it given in exact order, because they were to have no inheritance in the division of the land; which was the reasolti that all the families of the other tribes are set down so. punctually. The family of the Hebronitcs.]. From Hebron, one of the sons of Kohath, (Exod. vi.’ 18. JS T umb. iii. 19.) The family of the Mahlites, the family, of the Mnshites.]

Numbers 26:59

" And the name of Amfam’s wife xuds Jochabed, tlie daughter of Levi. See Exod. vi. 20. Whom her mother (viz. Levi’s wife) bare to Levi in Egypt-] See this there explained. And she bare unto Amram, Aaron andMoseS, and Miriam their sister J] Who was born before Moses, if not before Aaron, (Exod. ii.4.)

Numbers 26:60

And unto Aaron was born Nadab and Abihu, Electzar and Ithamar. See Exod. vi. 23. where he tells the name of their mother.

Numbers 26:61

And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the Lord. See Lev. x. 2. and the third chapter of this book, ver. 4. But Eleazar (who was the eldest next to them) was now alive, and made highpriest; and it is likely Ithamar also, being under twenty years old, when the people murmured upon the report of the spies; and so not cut off with that wicked generation, (chap. xvi. 29.) All this is here recounted, to shew that the tribe of Levi was preserved, by the blessing of God, as well as the rest of the Israelites; though they were to have no inheritance in the land of Canaan.

Numbers 26:62

And those that were numbered of them, were twenty and three thousand, &c. So they were a thousand more than at the last numbering, (chap. iii. 39.) For they werenot numbered among the children of Israel.] But by themselves, for the reason following. Because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.] For God was their inheritance, as he told them, chap, xviii. 20, &c. And therefore they were ordered not to be numbered thirty-eight years ago, no more than now, (Numb. i. 49, &c.) The Jews arc something curious in their observations upon these words, among (or in the midst of)’ the children of Israel: from whence they conclude, that the Levites might have lands out of the bounds of the land of Canaan, though not within it, among their brethren.,

Numbers 26:63

Time are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains ofMoab, &c. By a special command of God, (ver. 1, 2, &c.)

Numbers 26:64

But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. See the first chapter of this book, ver. 1, 2, &c. so exactly were God’s threatcnings fulfilled, as well as his promises.

Numbers 26:65

For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the tvilderness. Ho had pronounced this irreversible sentence upon the whole congregation, chap. xiv. 23. 28, 29. where he swears they should not enter into the land of Canaan, because they had brought or entertained ail evil report of it. (See also Deut. ii. 14, 15.) And there tvas not a man left of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the sort ofNurijyWhom God promised to spare, because they were of another spirit, (chap. xv. 24. 30. 38.) And their survival wag as remarkable an instance of the truth of God’s word, as the death of all’the re£t.?