Moses thousand: Paul says twenty-three thousand, 1 Cor. x. 8. includes those that were hanged against the sun, in the time of the plague, as well as those that were taken off by it; the apostle, only those that fell by the plague. After this, an order is given from the Lord, to number the people a second time; the Levites were exempted from this number, as they were to be numbered by themselves, and at a different age. The number of the Israelites was to be taken, that it might appear, that all of the old generation that came out of Egypt, of the age at which the sum was taken, were now dead, excepting two, viz. Caleb and Joshua, as the Lord had threatened. The number of the tribe of Reuben is taken first; and the number of men from twenty years old and upwards fit for war, was 43,730, so that since the last numbering, this tribe was decreased 2,770.-The tribe of Simeon were next numbered: whose number, the number of them were 22,200: by which it appears, there was a very great decrease; so that since the last numbering there was a decrease of 37,100, which in some measure is to be accounted for, by the great number of this tribe supposed to have died of the plague, on account of fornication and idolatry. The tribe of Gad was next numbered, whose number were now 40,500; they were diminished 5,150. It is probable, this tribe being a warlike tribe, suffered very much in their attempt to enter the land of Canaan, contrary to the will of God, and were repulsed and defeated by the Amalekites.-The tribe of Judah were next numbered: their number amounted to 76,500, so that they had increased; there was an increase in this tribe of 1,900 since the last muster, which answers to Jacob's blessing, that he should be a praise among his brethren.-The tribe of Issachar was next numbered: and the number of warlike men in it, was 64,300; their increase since the last time they were numbered, was 9,900.The tribe of Zebulun were numbered next: and their number was 60,500; so that this tribe was increased 3,100.-The sons of Joseph were Manasseh and Ephraim; the number of them who were men, in the tribe of Manasseh, fit for war, was 52,500; so that the increase was 20,500, a large increase indeed!-The number of Ephraim was 32,500 there was a decrease in this tribe of 8,000; in this we see the sovereignty of the Lord.-The number of the tribe of Benjamin was next taken, which was 42,600; so that here was an increase of 10,200.-The tribe of Dan consisted of 64,400 men; there was an increase in this tribe of 1,700.-The tribe of Asher was next numbered: it consisted of 53,400 persons; so that the increase was 11,900.-The tribe of Naphtali which was last numbered: its number was 45,400, being less by 8,000, than it was when first numbered; so that the sum of all that were diminished, was 61,020 men; the sum of all increased, was 59,200, besides the 1,000 Levites. Concerning the families of the tribes, excepting Levi, they are fifty-seven in all. 1. Of Manasseh, 8.-2. Of Benjamin, 7.-3. Of Gad, 7.-4. Of Simeon, 5.-5. Of Judah, 5.-6. Of Asher, 5.-VOL. IX.-No. 115.] 2 X 7. Of Reuben, 4.-8. Of Issachar, 4.-9. Of Ephraim, 4.-10. Of Naphtali, 4.-11. Of Zebulun, 3.-12. Of Dan, 1. The total sum of all the persons in the twelve tribes, of twenty years old, fit for war, were 601,730; so that all those that were numbered thirty-eight years ago were now dead, excepting Caleb and Joshua, yet there wanted 1,820 of that number. So mindful was the Lord of his promise, and so faithful to keep it, notwithstanding the provocations of these people, to increase and multiply them, so that they had pretty near the number to go into the land of Caanan with, which they had when they came out of Egypt. The Lord commands that the land of Canaan shall be divided by lot. The Levites are numbered, not with the tribes of Israel, but by themselves, as they were at the first numbering of the tribes, see Numb. iii. And the whole number of the tribe of the Levites, or rather the whole number of the Levites, was 23,000 males of a month old, and upward: so that here was an increase of 1,000 males since the former reckoning. Upon a petition of the daughters of Zelophehad, the affair was settled, and Moses is commanded by the Lord to go up to Mount Abarim, and view the land of Canaan, and die. The reason why he must die, and not bring the children into the land of promise, is thus given by the Lord; because, or for ye, (i. e. Aaron as well as Moses) for ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin ; upon which Moses prays for the people, and for the substitution of a new governor in his room and stead. In answer to which, Joshua is nominated by the Lord; and he being presented before Eleazar the high priest, and the people, was invested with his office by imposition of hands. Moses laid both his hands on him, and from hence to the death of Moses, Joshua shared with him in the civil government, whereby he was inured to government, and made respectable among the people. The number of the Israelites being taken, and orders given to divide the land unto them, the Lord puts them in mind of the laws concerning sacrifices, and of their anniversary feasts; and this the rather, it being now thirty-eight years since these laws were first made; and since that time were much in disuse, especially some of them. Moses being about to die, he would be no more with them to remind them of these laws, and see that they were observed; and a successor of him being appointed and constituted, it may be on his account, as well as the people's, that these laws were repeated. Some directions are giving concerning vows; and men are charged to fulfil, and not break them. The Lord commands Moses to make war upon Midian, which was accordingly done one thousand of every tribe is sent, armed for war, with Phineas the priest, who was son to Eleazar the high priest, with the holy instruments, probably the silver trumpets, which were to be blown, to inspire the people with courage, such as was holy and full of zeal for the Lord's honour and glory. Christ the priest of his church and people, having made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness, goes before his people as their Captain of salvation. His presence inspires them with courage; and his divine victories, proclaimed by the sounding of the gospel trumpet, insure and assure them of a complete conquest over all their enemies. The Israelites did as the Lord commanded them, and slew the kings of Midian, and Balaam the false prophet, who was found with them; and having burnt their cities, they returned home with great prey. Moses was wroth because they had saved the women alive, who through the counsel of Balaam had been the cause of sin, and of the plague for it in Israel. He gives orders that the women and male children should be slain; and directs to the purification of the soldiers, captives, and spoil. At the Lord's command an account is taken of the prey, and a division of it is made, and given to the soldiers and the congregation; and out of each part a tribute is levied for the Lord, which is ordered by him to be given to Eleazar. Out of the children of Israel's half, one portion of fifty was to be taken, which was abundantly more than what was taken out of the part of the soldiers. The account of the prey or booty in general were, 675,000 sheep; of oxen or beaves, 72,000; of asses, 61,000; of women who were virgins, 6, 100. Out of which were given to the Lord as an heave-offering, 675 sheep; of beaves or oxen, 72; of asses, 61; of persons, 32. The half divided unto the children of Israel, consisted of sheep, were 337,600; of beaves or oxen, 36,000; of asses, 30,500; of women, 1,600. Out of which, one in fifty both of women and cattle were given to the Levites. The officers and captains of thousands and hundreds, out of gratitude and by way of thanksgiving unto the Lord, present their offering. The worth of which was 16,750 shekels of gold. The tribes of Reuben and Gad request a settlement this side Jordan; their motive for which, were the abundance of cattle which they had, and the commodiousness of this land for cattle. Moses in his answering them, accuses them of self-love and as discouraging the people; of which charges they clear themselves in the reply which they return to him. And they propose their conditions which are accepted by Moses, who orders Eleazar and Joshua and the chief fathers of the tribes, to put them in possession of the land of Gilead on the conditions specified. And which the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh again renew their promise to observe. And a grant is made by Moses of the kingdoms of Sihon and Og to the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh. An account is given of the journies of the children of Israel from their first coming out of Egypt, to their arrival in the plains of Moab by Jordan; and the names of the several places where they rested. From whence it appears, that they were led about in a wilderness, in places in it which were unknown to others, and had no names but what they gave them. The borders and boundaries of the land of Canaan are fixed by the Lord himself; and they are commanded to observe and take notice of the limits he had fixed, that they might know how far they were to go on every side, whom they were to drive out, and what they were to divide and inherit. It was about one hundred and sixty miles long, and about fifty broad. The borders of the land are thus described:-on the South, the desert of Zin; on the West, the great sea or Mediterranean; on the North, mount Hor; on the East, the salt sea, or sea of Sodom and Jordan. The salt sea, or the lake Asphaltites, which is sometimes called the dead sea, the eastern sea, the salt sea, the sea of Sodom, the sea of the wilderness, or of the plain; according to Josephus, was five hundred and fourscore furlongs in length, and one hundred and fifty furlongs in breadth, that is to say, about twenty-five leagues long and five or six broad. The Lord prescribes how the land should be divided by lot. The persons by whom the division was to be made, were Eleazar the high priest, Joshua, and one prince of every tribe, who are mentioned by name. The tribes to whom the land was to be divided, were the nine tribes, and half the tribe of Manasseh; the tribe of Levi having no part in the division of the land, cities out of the several tribes are ordered to be given unto them to the number of forty-eight; six of which were to be cities of refuge, typical of Christ, the only refuge from divine wrath. We may admire the grace of Christ in bringing up his church out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh, and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant. The whole of this book should lead us to contemplate the care and providence of Christ to his church. He will preserve his people whilst in their wilderness state, and bring them safely through to eternal glory; so that they shall sing age after age" to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his mercy endureth for ever." This book comprehends the history of about thirty-eight years, though most part of the things related in it, fell out in the first and last of these years; and it does not appear when those things were done which are related in the middle of the book. It receives its denomination from the numbering the families of Israel by Moses and Aaron, who mustered the tribes and marshalled the army of the Israelites in their passage through the wilderness. (To be continued.) LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Just Published, The Book of the UNVEILING, an Exposition with Notes. ESSAYS. No. CI. ON CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS. No. XI. IN the execution of the counsel of God the powerful reign of grace extends to the whole persons of the election of grace. There is a necessity that they should appear in this world, because Jehovah has willed it, and there is an absolute certainty that each of the heirs of grace will pass under that physical change of state, which is denominated regeneration. This important change does not take them beyond the possibility of death, but it is a gracious preparation of them to meet it. Indeed, when we consider that in the original state of man there was a perspective and promissory grant of immortal life in a state of innocency and rectitude, given to Adam on the condition of his perfect and perpetual obedience to the law; but as he brake the law by sinning against God, the penalty of it was incurred, and death is now the wages of iniquity, there is no possibility for us to evade the sentence of death passing upon us. The establishment of rectitude required ceaseless obedience to its demands, and God regards the quality as well as the quantity of work which was done by Adam. But now in the gospel, we do not proceed upon the footing of our personal works or worth, for if we did there would be no essential difference between the covenant of equity and the dispensation of sovereign grace, and we should be reduced to the same extremity by the gospel as we are through sin by a breach of the law. Our God has interposed on the behalf of his family, in the person of his Son, and what could not be accomplished on a principle of abstract justice has been by grace effected, and the character of God as a law-giver is upheld by the imputation of righteousness to his seed for their justification to eternal life. Now as God has constituted Christ and his people one, the relationship which he has founded by a federal economy in him, cannot be destroyed by any event that may now transpire. Death is inserted in the catalogue of blessings which the church has in and with Christ the Lord. It is not an uncommon thing to find true believers much concerned about dying, for the close connection of body and soul cannot be reflected upon without some emotions of mind, and the prospect of appearing immediately after their dissolution in the presence of God may and does awe the mind, although faith looks beyond the region of the dead, and brings the distant kingdom of heaven near by crediting the testimony of God in his word. The apostle John has told us, that he heard a voice from heaven, saying unto him, Write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and 66 |