Annotations.
AVenge the vengeance] or, Revenge the revenge∣ment [unspec 2] of the sons of Israel, that is, take venge∣ance for the Israelites wrong and injurie upon the Midianites, who vexed Israel with their wiles, and beguiled them in the matter of Peor, Numb. 25. 17, 18. The Lord, to whom vengeance and recom∣pence belongeth, Dent. 32. 35. (and would not therefore have men avenge themselves, Rom. 12. 19) commandeth this vengeance for his peoples sake, many of whom he had formerly slaine for sin∣ning with the Midianites, Numb. 25. 9. and now turneth his hand against their enemies, because he is the avenger of all such, 1 Thess. 4. 6. Therefore he calleth it here, the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel; but Moses calleth it the vengeance of Iehovah, vers. 3. And the commandement is given to Moses the Magistrate, the Minister of God, a revenger to exe∣cute wrath upon evill doers, Rom. 13. 4. Mi∣dianites] in Greeke, Madianites, the posterity of Midian the son of Abraham by his wife Keturah, Gen. 25. 1, 2. Why these were now punished rather than the Moabites (their partners in sinne,) is tou∣ched on Numb. 25. 17. gathered unto thy peo∣ples] that is, die and be buried: See the Annotati∣ons on Numb. 20. 24. and Gen. 25. 8.
Vers. 3. to render] or, to give the vengeance of [unspec 3] Iehovah, which phrase the Apostle useth in 2 Thess. 1. 8. giving (or rendring) vengeance on them that know not God. That which in vers. 2. was called the vengeance of the sonnes of Israel, is here named the vengeance of the Lord, as being executed by his word, and for the injury done unto him; for he that toucheth his people, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zach. 2. 8. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, the vengeance of the people of the LORD.
Vers. 4. A thousand of a tribe a thousand] that [unspec 4] is, of every tribe a thousand; in all, twelve thousand, vers. 5. which was but a small company in respect both of the six hundred thousands of Israel, Numb. 26. 51. and of the nation of the Midianites, gover∣ned by five Kings, vers. 8. But there is no restrain: to the Lord, to save by many, or by few, 1 Sam. 14. 6. And this small number was chosen, that the victo∣rie might be acknowledged the Lords; as after this he said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine owne hand hath saved me, Iudg. 7. 2.
Vers. 5. there were delivered] in Chaldee, there [unspec 5] were chosen; in Greeke, they numbred.
Vers. 6. Phinehas] the zealous Priest, who had [unspec 6] formerly slaine Cozbi the Princes daughter of Mi∣dian, Num. 25. 7.—15. holy instruments] Hebr. instruments (or vessels) of holinesse: hereby the Arke and things belonging thereto may be meant, as appeareth by Numb. 14. 44. Or, because the Arke was but one, and he speaketh here of moe instru∣ments, the trumpets may be understood: and so to reade it, the holy instruments, that is, the trumpets, &c. for and is sometime used by way of explicati∣on for that is, or to wit, as is noted on Gen. 13. 15. But to understand hereby the Vrim and Thummim, or Golden plate (as some do) is unprobable, because they were not in the hand of Phinehas, but of Elea∣zar, who was the high Priest, Numb. 27. 21. and 20. 26. trumpets of alarme] to blow an alarme, that they might be remembred before the Lord their God, and saved from their enemies, according to the law and promise in Num. 10. 9. and practise in ages following, 2 Chron. 13. 12, 14, 15. Thus had they both Gods commandement, and the signes of his presence and aid, to sanctifie their ex∣pedition.
Vers. 8. beside those] or, with those that were [unspec 8] slaine; for the Hebrew gnal often signifieth with, as in Exod. 35. 22. Levit. 14. 31. Deut. 22. 6. and o∣ther-where. five kings] called else-where Princes and Dukes of Sibon, Ios. 13. 21. But Sihon the Amorite being slaine before (Num. 21. 23, 24.) these Dukes of his now reigned as Kings, & fought against Israel, and were overcome by faith which subdueth kingdomes, Hebr. 11. 33. The Antichri∣stian Amorite (the Beast) hath twice five, that is, ten Kings, as hornes on his head, which make warre with the Lambe (Christ,) and the Lambe overcom∣meth them, Rev. 17. 12, 14. and 19. 19.—21. Balaam also] they killed among (or with) those that were slaine of them, as is expressed in Numb. 13. 22. which also is added in the Greeke version