tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: Of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur dthe son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel. 17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: 18 And they assembled all the congregation to gether on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. c Ex. 18. 25. Josh. 22. 14. d c. 2. 10, &c. c. 7. 30, &c. 10. 18, &c. • called Naason. Matt. 1. 4. Luke 3. 32. e Ruth 4. 20. ↑ called Reuel. c. 2. 14. are daily raised to fill up the vacancies, and Providence takes care that, one time or other, in one place or other, the births shall balance the burials, that the race of mankind and the holy seed may not be cut off and extinct. III. Commissioners are named for the doing of this work. Moses and Aaron were to preside, (v. 3,) and one man of every tribe, that was renowned in his tribe, and was presumed to know it well, was to assist in it: the princes of the tribes, v. 16. Note, Those that are honourable, should study to be serviceable; he that is great, let him be your minister, and show, by his knowing the public, that he deserves to be publicly known. The charge of this muster was committed to him, who was the lord-lieutenant of that tribe. 19 As 'the LORD commanded Moses, so he num bered them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the_tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty. fc. 7. 2. 1 Chr. 27. 16, &c. g Ex. 18. 21, 25. h Rev. 7. 4, &c. i John 10. 3. k ver. 20, &c. I ver. 2. pears, it was but one day's work, for many other things were done between this and the 20th day of this month, when they removed their camp, ch. 10. 11. Joab was almost ten months numbering the people in David's time, (2 Sam. 24. 8,) but then they were dispersed, now they lived close together; then Satan moved the doing of it, now God did. It was the sooner and more easily done now, because it had been done but a little while ago, and they needed but review the old books, with the alterations since made, which, probably, they had kept an account of as they occurred. In the particulars here left upon record, we may observe, 1. That the numbers are registered in words at length, (as I may say,) and not in figures; to every one of the twelve tribes it is repeated, for the greater ceremony and solemnity of the account, that they were numbered by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the numthe account by the same rule, and in the same method, though so many hands were employed in it; setting down their genealogy first, to show that their family descended from Israel, then the families themselves in their order, then dividing each family into the houses, or subordinate families that branched from it, and under these, the names of the particular persons, according to the rules of heraldry. Thus every man might know who were his relations or next of kin, on which some laws we have already met with did depend: besides, that the nearer any are to us in relation, the more ready we should be to do them good. 2. That they all end with hundreds, only Gad with fifty, (v. 25,) but none of the numbers descend to units or tens. Some think it was a special providence that ordered all the tribes just at this time to be even numbers, and no odd or broken numbers among them, to show them that there was something more than ordinary designed in their increase, there being this uncommon in the circumstance of it. It is rather probable that Moses having some time before appointed rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties, (Ex. 18. 25,) they numbered the people by their respective rulers, which would bring the numbers to even hundreds or fifties. Now why was this account ordered to be taken and kept? For several reasons. 1. To prove the accomplishment of the promise made to Abraham, that God would multiply his seed exceedingly, which promise was renewed to Jacob, (Gen.ber of their names; to show that every tribe took and gave in 28. 14,) that his seed should be as the dust of the earth; now it appears that there did not fail one tittle of that good promise, which was an encouragement to them to hope that the other promise of the land of Canaan for an inheritance should also be fulfilled in its season. When the number of a body of men is only guessed at, upon the view, it is easy for one that is disposed to cavil, to surmise that the conjecture is mistaken, and that if they were to be counted, they would not be found half so many; therefore God would have Israel numbered, that it might be upon record, how vastly they were increased in a little time; that the power of God's providence, and the truth of his promise, may be seen and acknowledged by all. It could not have been expected, in any ordinary course of nature, that seventy-five souls (which was the number of Jacob's family, when he went down into Egypt) should in 215 years (and it was no longer) multiply into so many hundred thousands. It is therefore to be attributed to an extraordinary virtue in the divine promise and blessing. 2. It was to intimate the particular care which God himself would take of his Israel, and expected that Moses and the inferior rulers should take of them. God is called the Shepherd of Israel, (Ps. 80. 1;) now the shepherds always kept count of their flocks, and delivered them by number to their under-shepherds, that they might know if any were missing: in like manner, God numbers his flock, that of all which he took into his fold he might lose none, but upon a valuable consideration, even those that were sacrificed to his justice. 3. It was to put a difference between the trueborn Israelites and the mixed multitude that were among them; none were numbered but Israelites; all the world is but lumber in comparison with those jewels. Little account is made of others, but the saints God has a particular property in, and concern for: The Lord knows them that are his, (2 Tim. 2. 19,) knows them by name, Phil. 4. 3. The hairs of their head are numbered; but he will say to others, "I never knew you, never made any account of you.' 4. It was in order to their being marshalled into several districts, for the more easy administration of justice, and their more regular march through the wilderness. It is a rout and a rabble, not an army, that is not mustered and put in order. V. 17-43. We have here the speedy execution of the orders given for the numbering of the people. It was begun the same day that the orders were given, The first day of the second month; compare v. 18 with v. 1. Note, When any work is to be done for God, it is good to set about it quickly, while the sense of duty is strong and pressing. And, for aught that ap 3. That Judah is the most numerous of them all; more than double to Benjamin and Manasseh, and almost 12,000 more than any other tribe, v. 27. It was Judah whom his brethren must praise, because from him Messiah the Prince was to descend; but because that was a thing at a distance, God did many ways honour that tribe in the mean time, particularly by the great increase of it, for His sake who was to spring out of Judah (Heb. 7. 14) in the fulness of time. Judah was to lead the van through the wilderness, and therefore was furnished accordingly with greater strength than any other tribe. 4. Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, are numbered as distinct tribes, and both together made up almost as many as Judah; this was in pursuance of Jacob's adoption of them, by which they were equalled with their uncles Reuben and Simeon, Gen. 48. 5. It was also the effect of the blessing of Joseph, who, was to be a fruitful bough, Gen. 49. 22. And Ephraim the younger is put first, and is more numerous than Manasseh, for Jacob had crossed hands, and foreseen ten thousands of Ephraim, and thousands of Manasseh. The fulfilling of this confirms our faith in the spirit of prophecy with which the patriarchs were endued. 5. When they came down into Egypt, Dan had but one son, (Gen. 46. 23,) and so his tribe was but one family, ch. 26. 42. 26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, according to the number of the names, from twenty after their families, by the house of their fathers, ac-years old and upward, all that were able to go forth cording to the number of the names, from twenty to war; years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred." 28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. house of his fathers. 44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of 32 Of the children of Joseph, "namely, of the chil-Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the dren of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel: 46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hun 47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their genera-dred and fifty. tions, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, m 2 Chr. 17.14. n Deut. 33. 17. o c. 25.64. p Ex. 12. 37. 38. 26. c. 2. 32. 26, 51. Deut. 10. 22. Benjamin had then ten sons, (Gen. 46. 21,) yet now the tribe of Dan is almost double in number to that of Benjamin. Note, The increasing and diminishing of families does not always go by probabilities. Some are multiplied greatly, and again are minished, while others that were poor, have families made them like a flock, Ps. 107. 38, 39, 41. and see Job 12. 23. 6. It is said of each of the tribes, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war, to remind them that they had wars before them, though now they were in peace and met with no opposition. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off. V. 44-46. We have here the sum total at the foot of the account; they were in all 600,000 fighting men, and 3,550 over. Some think that when this was their number some months before, (Ex. 38. 26,) the Levites were reckoned with them; but now that tribe was separated for the service of God, yet so many more had by this time attained to the age of twenty years, as that still they were the same number; to show that whatever we part with for the honour and service of God, it shall certainly be made up to us one way or other. 48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp "round about the tabernacle. 51 And 'when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the "stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. c. 2. 33. c. 3, 4. 1 Chr. 6. 21.6. r Ex. 38. 21. c. 3. 6, &c. 8 ver. 53. c. 10. 17-21. c. 18. 22. God's spiritual Israel will amount to at last; though at one time, and in one place, they seem to be but a little flock, yet when they come all together, they shall be a great multitude, innumerable, Rev. 7. 9. And though the church's beginning be small, its latter end shall greatly increase. A little one shall become a thousand. V. 47-54. Care is here taken to distinguish from the rest of the tribes the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself, Ex. 32. 26. Note, Singular services shall be recompensed with singular honours. Now, 1. It was the honour of the Levites, that they were made guardians of the spiritualities; to them was committed the care of the tabernacle and the treasures thereof, both in their camps and in their marches. (1.) When they moved, the Levites were to take down the tabernacle, to carry it and all that belonged to it, and then to set it up again in the place appointed, v. 50, 51. It was for the honour of the holy things, that none should be permitted to see them, or touch them, but those only who were called of God to the service. Thus we all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship with God, till we are first called by his Now we see what a vast body of men they were. Let us grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and consider, I. How much went to maintain all these (beside so, being the spiritual seed of that great high priest, and made twice as many more, no question, of women and children, sick priests to our God; and it is promised that God would take Leand aged, of the mixed multitude) for forty years together invites to himself, even from the Gentiles, Is. 66. 21. (2.) When the wilderness; and they were all at God's finding every day, they rested, the Levites were to encamp round about the taberhaving their food from the dew of heaven, and not from the fat-nacle, (v. 50, 53,) that they might be near their work, and resident ness of the earth. O what a great and good Housekeeper is our God, that has such numbers depending on him, and receiving from him every day! 2. What work sin makes with a people; within forty years most of them would indeed have died of course for the common sin of mankind; for when sin entered into the world, death came with it, and how great are the desolations which it makes in the earth! But for the particular sin of unbelief and murmuring, all those that were now numbered, except two, laid their bones under their iniquity, and perished in the wilderness. 3. What a great multitude upon their charge, always ready to attend; and that they might be a guard upon the tabernacle, to preserve it from being either plundered or profaned. They must pitch round about the tabernacle, That there be no wrath upon the congregation, as there would be, if the tabernacle and the charge of it were neglected, or those crowded upon it, that were not allowed to come near. Note, Great care must be taken to prevent sin, because the preventing of sin is the preventing of wrath. 2. It was their further honour, that as Israel, being a holy people, was not reckoned among the nations, so they being a holy tribe were not 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their | sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah tents, every man "by his own camp, and every man pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the by his own standard, throughout their hosts. son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and 53 But the Levites "shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites "shall keep the charge of the taber-six hundred. nacle of testimony. 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. CHAPTER II. The thousands of Israel, having been mustered in the former chapter, in this are marshalled, and a regular disposition made of their camp by a divine appointment. Here is, I. A general order concerning it, v. 1, 2. II. Particular tribes in each squadron. 1. In the vanguard, on the east, were posted Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, v. 3-9. 2. In the right wing, southward, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, v. 10-16. 3. In the rear, westward, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, v. 18-21. 4. In the left wing, northward, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, v. 25-31. 5. The tabernacle in the centre, v. 17. And, lastly, the directions for the posting of each of the tribes in four distinct squadrons, three conclusion of this appointment, v, 32-34. 5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand saying, 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. 3 And on the east side toward the rising of the v c. 2. 2. 24. 2. w ver. 50. c. 8. 19. 16, 46. 18. 5. i Sam. 6. 19. y c. 3. 7, 8. 31. 30, 47. 1 Chr. 23. 32. 2 Chr. 13. 10. reckoned among other Israelites, but numbered afterward by themselves, v. 49. The service which the Levites were to do about the sanctuary, is called (as we render it in the margin) a warfare, ch. 4. 23. And being engaged in that warfare, they were discharged from military services, and therefore not numbered with those that were to go out to war. Note, They that minister about holy things, should neither entangle themselves nor be entangled, in secular affairs. The ministry is itself work enough for a whole man, and all little enough to be employed in it. It is an admonition to ministers, to distinguish themselves by their exemplary conversation from common Israelites, not affecting to seem greater, but aiming to be really better, every way better than others. NOTES TO CHAPTER II. V. 1, 2. Here is the general appointment given both for their orderly encampment where they rested, and their orderly march when they moved. Some order, it is probable, they had observed hitherto; they came out of Egypt in rank and file, (Ex. 13. 18,) but now they were put into a better model. 1. They all dwelt in tents, and when they marched, carried all their tents along with them, for they found no city to dwell in, Ps. 107. 4. This represents to us our state in this world; it is a moveable state, (we are here to-day, and gone to-morrow,) and it is a military state. Is not our life a warfare? We do but pitch our tents in this world, and have in it no continuing city. Let us therefore, while we are pitching in this world, be pressing through it. 2. Those of a tribe were to pitch together, every man by his own standard. Note, It is the will of God that mutual love and affection, converse and communion, should be kept up among relations. Those that are of kin to each other should, as much as they can, be acquainted with each other; and the bonds of nature should be improved for the strengthening of the bonds of Christian communion. 3. Every one must know his place and keep in it; they were not allowed to fix where they pleased, nor to remove when they pleased, but God quarters them with a charge to abide in their quarters. Note, It is God that appoints us the bounds of our habitation, and to him we must refer ourselves. He shall choose our inheritance for us, (Ps. 47. 4,) and in his choice we must acquiesce, and not love to flit, nor be as the bird that wanders from her nest. 4. Every tribe had its standard, flag, or ensign, and it should seem every family had some particular ensign of their fathers' house, which was carried, as with us the colours of each troop or company in a regiment are. These were of use for the distinction of tribes and families, and the gathering and keeping of them together; in allusion to which the preaching of the Gospel is said to lift up an ensign, to which the Gentiles shall seek, and by which they shall pitch, Is. 11. 10, 12. Note, God is the God of order, and not of confusion. These standards made this mighty army seem more beautiful to its friends, and more formidable to its enemies. The church of Christ is said to be as terrible as an army with banners, Cant. 6. 10. It is uncertain how these standards were distinguished: some conjecture that the standard of each tribe was of the same colour with the precious stone, in which the name of that tribe was written in the high priest's ephod, and that that was all the difference. Many of the modern Jews think there was some coat of arms painted on each standard, which had reference to the blessing of that tribe by Jacob, Judah bore a lion, Dan a serpent, Napthali a hind, Benjamin a wolf, &c. Some of them say, the four principal standards were Judah a lion, Reuben a man, Joseph an ox, and Dan an eagle; 9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth. 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. a c. 1. 52. • over against. b Josh. 3. 4. c c. 1. 7, &c. 10. 14. 1 Chr. 2. 10. Matt. 1. 4. Luke 3. 32, 33. d c. 10. 14. making the appearances in Ezekiel's vision to allude to it. Others say, the name of each tribe was written in its standard; whatever it was, no doubt, it gave a certain direction. 5. They were to pitch about the tabernacle, which was to be in the midst of them, as the tent or pavilion of a general in the centre of an army. They must encamp round the tabernacle, (1.) That it might be equally a comfort and joy to them all, as it was a token of God's gracious presence with them; (Ps. 46. 5,) God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. Their camp had reason to be hearty, when thus they had God in the heart of them; to have bread from heaven every day round about their camp, and fire from heaven, with other tokens of God's favour, in the midst of their camp, was abundantly sufficient to answer that question, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? Happy art thou, O Israel! It is probable that the doors of all their tents were made to look toward the tabernacle from all sides; for every Israelite should have his eyes always toward the Lord; therefore they worshipped at the tent-door. The tabernacle was in the midst of the camp, that it might be near to them; for it is a very desirable thing to have the solemn administrations of holy ordinances near us and within our reach. The kingdom of God is among you. (2.) That they might be a guard and defence upon the tabernacle and the Levites on every side. No invader could come near God's tabernacle, without first penetrating the thickest of their squadrons. Note, If God undertake the protection of our comforts, we ought in our places to undertake the protection of his institutions, and stand up in defence of his honour and interest and ministers. 6. Yet they were to pitch afar off, in reverence to the sanctuary, that it might not seem crowded and thrust up among them; and that the common business of the camp might be no annoyance to it. They were also taught to keep their distance, lest too much familiarity should breed contempt. It is supposed, (from Josh. 3. 4,) that the distance between the nearest part of the camp and the tabernacle (or perhaps between them and the camp of the Levites, who pitched near the tabernacle) was 2000 cubits, that is, 1000 yards, little more than half a measured mile with us; but the outer parts of the camp must needs be much further off. Some compute that the extent of their camp could be no less than 12 miles square; for it was like a moveable city, with streets and lanes, in which perhaps the manna fell, as well as on the outside of the camp, that they might have it at their doors. In the Christian church we read of a throne, (as in the tabernacle there was a mercy-seat,) which is called a glorious high throne from the beginning, (Jer. 17. 12,) and that throne surrounded by spiritual Israelites, 24 elders, double to the number of the tribes, clothed in white raiment, (Rev. 4. 4,) and the banner over them is Love; but we are not ordered as they were, to pitch afar off; no, we are invited to draw near, and come boldly. The saints of the Most High are said to be round about him, Ps. 76. 11. God by his grace keep us close to him. V. 3-34. We have here the particular distribution of the twelve tribes into four squadrons, three tribes in a squadron, one of which was to lead the other two. Observe, 1. God himself appointed them their place, to prevent strife and envy among them. Had they been left to determine precedency among themselves, they would have been in danger of quarrelling with one another, as the disciples, who strove which should be greatest; each would have had a pretence to be first, or, at least, not to be last. Had it been left to Moses to determine, they would have quarrelled with him, and charged him with partiality; therefore God does it, who is himself the Fountain and Judge of honour, and in his appointment all must acquiesce, If God in his providence advance others above us, 11 And his host, and those that were numbered | the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hun- Ammishaddai. dred. 12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of "Reuel. 15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second *rank. 17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp; as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. 18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand, and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank. 25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of | 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher; and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahirah the son of Enan. 30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go "hindmost with their standards. 32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers; all those that were numbered of the camps, throughout their hosts, were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so 'they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. CHAPTER III. This chapter and the next are concerning the tribe of Levi, which was to be T Moses in the day that the LORD spake with HESE also are the generations of Aaron and 22. c. 10. 25. i Ex. 38. 26. c. 1. 46, 47. 11. 21. k Pa. 119. 6. c. 24. 2, 5, 6. posterity of Rachel. Dan, the eldest son of Bilhah, is made a leading tribe, though the son of a concubine, that more abundant honour might be bestowed upon that which lacked; and it was said, Dan should judge his people, and to him were added the two younger sons of the handmaids. Thus unexceptionable was the order in which they were placed. ⚫ called Deuel. c. 1. 14. 7. 42, 47. 10. 20. e c. 10. 18. fc. 10. 17, 21. g c. 10. and abase us, we ought to be as well satisfied in his doing it that way, as if he did it, as this was done here, by a voice out of the tabernacle; and this consideration, that it appears to be the will of God it should be so, should effectually silence all envies and discontents. And as far as our place comes to be our choice, our Saviour has given us a rule, (Luke 14. 8,) Sit not down in the highest room; and another, (Matt. 20. 27,) He 4. The tribe of Judah was in the first post of honour, enthat will be chief, let him be your servant. Those that are most camped toward the rising sun, and in their marches led the humble and most serviceable, are really most honourable. van, not only because it was the most numerous tribe, but 2. Every tribe had a captain, a prince, or commander-in-chiefly because from that tribe Christ was to come, who is the chief, whom God himself nominated, the same that had been Lion of the tribe of Judah, and was to descend from the loins appointed to number them, ch. 1. 5. Our being all the children of him who was now nominated chief captain of that tribe. of one Adam is so far from justifying the levellers, and taking Nahshon is reckoned among the ancestors of Christ, Matt. 1.4. away the distinction of place and honour, that even among the So that when he went before them, Christ himself went before children of the same Abraham, the same Jacob, the same Judah, them in effect, as their Leader. Judah was the first of the God himself appointed that one should be captain of all the twelve sons of Jacob that was blessed: Reuben, Simeon, and rest. There are powers ordained of God, and those to whom Levi, were censured by their dying father: he therefore being honour and fear are due, and must be paid. Some observe first in blessing, though not in birth, is put first to teach chilthe significancy of the names of these princes, at least, in gene-dren how to value the smiles of their godly parents, and dread ral, how much God was in the thoughts of those that gave them their frowns. their names, for most of them have El, God, at one end or other of their names. Nethaneel, the gift of God; Eliab, my God a father; Elizur, my God a rock; Shelumiel, God my peace; Eliasaph, God has added; Elishama, my God has heard; Gamaliel, God my reward; Pagiel, God has met me. By which it appears that the Israelites in Egypt did not quite forget the name of their God, but when they wanted other memorials, preserved the remembrance of it in the names of their children, and therefore comforted themselves in their affliction. 3. Those tribes were placed together under the same standard, that were nearest of kin to each other; Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were the three youngest sons of Leah, and they were put together; and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, since they were younger brethren; Reuben and Simeon would not have been content in their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, is made chief of the next squadron; Simeon, no doubt, is willing to be under him, and Gad, the son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, is fitly added to them in Levi's room: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, are all the 5. The tribe of Levi pitched close about the tabernacle, within the rest of their tribes, v. 17. They must defend the sanctuary, and then the rest of the tribes must defend them. Thus in the vision which John saw of the glory of heaven, between the elders and the throne were four living creatures full of eyes, Rev. 4. 6, 10. Civil powers should protect the religious interests of a nation, and be a defence upon that glory. 6. The camp of Dan, (and so that tribe is called long after their settlement in Canaan, Judg. 13. 25, because celebrated for their military prowess,) though posted in the left wing when they encamped, was ordered in their march to bring up the rear, v. 31. They were the most numerous, next to Judah, and therefore were ordered into a post, which, next to the front, required the most strength, for as the strength is, so shall the day be. Lastly, The children of Israel observed the orders given them, and did as the Lord commanded Moses, v. 34. They put themselves in the posts assigned them, without murmuring or disputing, and as it was their safety, so it was their beauty; 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab "the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the 'priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. 5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron, and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. a Ex. 6. 23. b Ex. 29. 41. Lev. 8. 2, &c. whore hand he filled. e Lev. 10.1, 2. c. 26. 61. I Chr. 24. 2. d c. 8. 6. 18. 2, &c. Deut. 33. 10. Mal. 2. 4. e 1 Chr. 26. 20, 22. fc. 1.50. Balaam was charmed with the sight of it, (ch. 24. 5,) How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! Thus the Gospel church, called the camp of saints, ought to be compact according to the scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place, and then all that wish well to the church rejoice, beholding their order, Col. 2. 5. V. 1-13. Here, NOTES TO CHAPTER III. I. The family of Aaron is confirmed in the priests' office, v. 10. They had been called to it before and consecrated; here they are appointed to wait on their priest's office; the apostle uses this phrase, (Rom. 12. 7,) Let us wait on our ministry. The work and office of the ministry require a constant attendance and great diligence; so frequent are the returns of its work, and yet so transient its favourable opportunities, that it must be waited on. Here is repeated what was said before, (ch. 1. 51,) The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death; which forbids the invading of the priests' office by any other person whatsoever; none must come nigh to minister but Aaron and his sons only, all others are strangers. It also lays a charge on the priests as doorkeepers in God's house, to take care that none should come near who were forbidden by the law; they must keep off all intruders, whose approach would be to the profanation of the holy things, telling them that if they came near, it was at their peril, they would die by the hand of God, as Uzza did. The Jews say, that afterward there was hung over the door of the temple a golden sword, (perhaps alluding to that flaming sword at the entrance of the garden of Eden,) on which was engraven, The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the first-born are mine: for on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine shall they be: I am the LORD. 14 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi after the house g c. 8. 19. 18.6, 7. A ver. 38. Eph. 2. 19. Heb. 10. 19-22. i ver. 41. c. 8. 16. ↑ mouth. m Gen. God appoints the Levites to attend upon them. Note, Those whom God finds work for, he will find help for. Here is, (1.) The service for which the Levites were designed; they were to minister to the priests in their ministration to the Lord, (v. 6,) and to keep Aaron's charge, (v. 7,) as the deacons to the bishops in the evangelical constitutions, serving at tables, while they waited on their ministry. The Levites killed the sacrifices, and then the priests needed only to sprinkle the blood and burn the fat: the Levites prepared the incense, the priests burned it. They were to keep not only Aaron's charge, but the charge of the whole congregation. Note, It is a great trust that is reposed in ministers, not only for the glery of Christ, but for the good of his church; so that they must not only keep the charge of the great High Priest, but must also be faithful to the souls of men, in trust for whom a dispensation is committed to them. (2.) The consideration upon which the Levites were demanded; they were taken instead of the firstborn. The preservation of the first-born of Israel, when all the first-born of the Egyptians (with whom they were many of them mingled) were destroyed, was looked upon by Him who never makes any unreasonable demands, as cause sufficient for the appropriating of all the first-born from thenceforward to himself, (v. 13,) All the first-born are mine. That was suffi cient to make them his, though he had given no reason for it, for he is the sole Fountain and Lord of all beings and powers; but because all obedience must flow from love, and acts of duty must be acts of gratitude, before they were challenged into peculiar services, they were crowned with peculiar favours. Note, When he that made us saves us, we are thereby laid under further obligations to serve him and live to him. God's right to us by redemption, corroborates the right he has to us by creation. Now because the first-born of a family are generally the faeldest sons servants to the priests, and attending before the door of the tabernacle, God took the tribe of Levi entire for his own, in lieu of the first-born, v. 12. Note, God's institutions put no hardships upon men in any of their just interests, or reasonable affections. It was presumed that the Israelites would rather part with the Levites than with the first-born, and therefore God graciously ordered the exchange; yet for us he spared not his own Son. II. A particular account is given of this family of Aaron; what we have met with before concerning them is here repeated. 1. The consecration of the sons of Aaron, v. 3. They were all anointed to minister before the Lord, though it ap-vourites, and some would think it a disparagement to have their peared afterward, and God knew it, that two of them were wise, and two were foolish. 2. The fall of the two eldest; (v. 4,) they offered strange fire, and died for so doing, before the Lord. This is mentioned here in the preamble to the law concerning the priesthood, for warning to all succeeding priests; let them know, by this example, that God is a jealous God, and will not be mocked; the holy anointing oil was an honour to the obedient, but not a shelter to the disobedient. It is here said, They had no children, Providence so ordering it, for their V. 14-39. The Levites being granted to Aaron to migreater punishment, that none of their descendants should re-nister to him, they are here delivered him by tale, that he might main to be priests, and so bear up their name who ha dprofaned know what he had, and employ them accordingly. God's name. 3. The continuance of the two youngest; Elea- Observe, zar and Ithamar ministered in the sight of Aaron. It intimates, (1.) The care they took about their ministration, not to make any blunders; they kept under their father's eye, and took instruction from him in all they did, because, probably, Nadab and Abihu got out of their father's sight when they offered strange fire. Note, It is good for young people to act under the conduct and inspection of those that are aged and experienced. (2.) The comfort Aaron took in it; it pleased him to see his younger sons behave themselves prudently and gravely, when his two elder had miscarried. Note, It is a great satisfaction to parents to see their children walk in the truth, 3 John v. 4. 4. A grant is made of the Levites to be assist ants to the priests in their work. Give the Levites to Aaron, v. 9. Aaron was to have a greater propriety in and power over the tribe of Levi, than any other of the princes had in and over their respective tribes. There was a great deal of work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only three pair of hands to do it all, Aaron's and his two sons', for it does not appear that they had either of them any children at this time, at least, not any that were of age to minister, therefore I. By what rule they were numbered, Every male from a month old and upward, v. 15. The rest of the tribes were numbered only from twenty years old and upward, and of them those only that were able to go forth to war; but into the number of the Levites they must take in both infants and infirm; being exempted from the war, it was not insisted upon that they should be of age and strength for the wars. Though it appears afterward that little more than a third part of the Levites were fit to be employed in the service of the tabernacle, (about 8,000 out of 22,000,) ch. 4. 47, 48, yet God would have them all numbered as retainers to his family; that none may think themselves disowned and rejected of God, because they are not in a capacity of doing him that service which they see others do him. The Levites of a month old could not honour God and serve the tabernacle, as those that were grown up; yet out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the Levites' praise was perfected. Let not little children be hindered from being enrolled among the disciples of Christ, for such was the tribe of Levi, of such is the kingdom of heaven, that kingdom of priests. The redemption of the first-born was reckoned from |