The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

[World 2515] [Moses 82] [Redemption from Egypt. 2] The Book of NUMBERS. (Book Numbers)

CHAP. I.

ON the first day of the second month, the Lord provided for the pitching of their camp, as on the first day of the first month, they had begun to erect the Tabernacle. First the people are numbred from twenty years old and upwards, and their sum amounteth to 603550. men; of all which number, only two men enter the land. The Levites are not reckoned in this sum, nor with this reckoning; and accordingly they fall not under the same curse with the others, of not entring into his rest. Not a man impotent through old age in Israel.

CHAP. II.

THeir Camp is pitched, and the Sanctuary set just in the middle of it; for Religion is the heart of a State. The Levites pitch next unto it in a quadrangular body round about it, at a certain distance. The whole body of the army pitcheth at an other distance about them, in the same form, and 2000 cubits distance from the Tabernacle: every side of the square carried its several colours; Judah, a Lion; Ephraim, a Bullock; Reuben, a Man; Dan, an Eagle. Compare the description of Christ dwelling in the middest of the Christian Church, Rev. 4. 4. The Ark, the strength of the Lord, Pitcheth before Ephraim and Benjamin, and Manasseh, Psal. 80. 2.

CHAP. III. IV.

THE Levites taken for the first-born of Israel, and so interessed in every family among them. The first-born had been Priests till the consecration of the Levites, now that function must be confined to that Tribe. The Levites ingaged to their service from nine and twenty years old compleat, or thirty currant till fifty. Our Saviours age at his en∣trance into his Ministry, Luke 3. 23. answereth to this type.

CHAP. V. VI.

A Law concerning uncleanness and offences, that the Camp might continue in purity, and unity, chastity and unchastity tried miracu∣lously. The Law concerning Nazarites, the only votaries of the people. The Congregation to be blessed by the Priests, in the name of the Trinity.

CHAP. VII. VIII.

THE Princes offer to the Sanctuary, and more ordinances are given about it. That they offered not till they were ordered into their standards, is plain by the order and method of their offering. The Le∣vites to be five years probationers at the Sanctuary before they take their office, Chap. 8. 24. compared with Chap. 4. 23.

CHAP. IX. from Ver. 15. to the end. And CHAP. X. to Ver. 11.

BEfore the reading of the fifteenth Verse, the Reader is to suppose a Passover to be kept the fourteenth day of this second month, al∣though the keeping of it be not expresly mentioned, but only hinted; for on the fourteenth day of the first month, which was the proper day for the Passover, some men because they were unclean could not observe it, and upon their acquainting Moses with their case, he presently gives them a warrant, to keep it the fourteenth day of the next month, which they did no doubt accordingly, although it be not in plain terms

related. For the occurrences mentioned in the Book hitherto, came to pass in the first thirteen days of the month, [save only the offering of the Princes, which indeed began before the fourteenth day, but continu∣ed [World 2515] [Moses 82] [Redemption from Egypt. 2] beyond it; notwithstanding the Holy Ghost would conclude the sto∣ry of their offering all together,] and on the fourteenth day, those that had been unclean at the proper time of the Passover, kept the Passover by a new ordinance, so that the order of the story of this new Passover, is most genuine and proper here; but Moses could not relate the thing, but he must relate the occasion, namely because some could not keep it at the right time, therefore he giveth the story of the right time here, which as we shewed before, lieth properly between the tenth and ele∣venth Chapters of Leviticus.

From the fifteenth Verse of this Chapter to the eleventh Verse of the tenth Chapter, there is mention of two special things; namely the dwel∣ling of the cloud upon the Tabernacle, and the making of the silver Trumpets; which however they were indeed somewhat afore this time, [for the Cloud descended, and the Trumpets were made before the four∣teenth day of this month,] yet are they brought in here as relating to the removal of the Army, which is mentioned in Chap. 10. vers. 11. for then the Cloud was taken up, and the Trumpets were sounded.

EXODUS XVIII.

BEtween the tenth and eleventh Verses of the tenth of Numbers, as in its proper place and order, cometh in the story of Jethro, con∣tained in the eighteenth of Exodus, as may be evidenced by these obser∣vations.

First, That that story lieth not in its proper place in the Book of Exo∣dus, may be concluded upon these two or three reasons; first, because there it is said, Jethro took burnt-offerings and sacrifices for God, ver. 12. Now as the story lieth there, the Law for burnt-offerings and sacrifices was not yet given. 2. It is said, that Moses sate to judge the people, and made them know the Statutes of God, and his Laws, vers. 13, 16. Now as the story lieth there, the Statutes and Laws are not as yet given to Mo∣ses, and he himself knoweth them not. 3. The chusing of Judges and Elders, which was upon Jethro's counsel, was not till their departing from Sinai, Deut. 1. 7, 8. And now as the story of Jethro lieth in the book of Exodus, they are not as yet come to Sinai; therefore that that story is misplaced as it lieth there, there is evidence sufficient. There remaineth only to see why it is laid there out of its proper place and where is the pro∣per place to lay it; the former may be resolved upon, by looking back up∣on the curse that God denounceth upon Amalek, in the 17 Chapter: I will put out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven: And the Lord hath sworn, that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to gene∣ration, ver. 14, 16. Now that the Holy Ghost might shew that Jethro who dwelt among the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 15. 16. did not fall under this curse, he bringeth in the story of his coming into Israel, in the very next place after that curse is related; not thereby to conclude strictly that his coming was at that very time assoon as the curse was denounced; but to shew that he once came, and so avoideth and escapeth that curse.

Now that the proper place of that story is this that we have mention∣ed, may be evidenced by these particulars: First, that Moses himself tel∣leth, Deut. 1. 7. that their choice of Judges, which was by Jethro's coun∣sel, instantly upon his coming, was so near their departure from Sinai, which is metioned Num. 10. ver. 11. that the warning of their departure was given him before. 2. That the murmuring of Aaron and Miriam against Zipporah Moses wife, [which in all probability was upon her first coming among them, and their converse with her or instantly after,] is set after their departure from Sinai. 3. That the departure of Hobab or Jethro from them at Sinai, is joyned so near to the place where we sup∣pose this story of his coming is to be laid, as that but a few Verses come between; and compair that story with the latter end of Exodus 18. and it will help to confirm this place to be the proper place of its order.

CHAP. X. from Vers. 11. to the end.

[World 2515] [Moses 82] [Redemption from Egypt. 2] THE Cloud is taken up on the twentieth day of the second month, and the Camp removeth from Sinai to the wilderness of Paran; three days journy. In the 35 Verse of this Chapter, the letter Nun is written the wrong way in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when the Ark set forward, and so is it also in the first Verse of the next Chapter in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they became as murtherers. In the former is hinted, as the Jews observe, Gods gracious turning back towards the people; in the latter the peoples ungracious turning away from God.

CHAP. XI.

AT their first incamping after Jethro's departure, Moses findeth an occasion to chuse Judges and Elders, to help to bear the burden with him; and therefore the 24, 25, 26. Verses of Exodus 18. are to be reputed coincident with this time. The Sanhedrin chosen by Moses and indued with the Spirit by God; six of a Tribe made up the number, and two over, and these two were Eldad and M••dad, who were written for Elders, but the lot cast them out, that there might be but seventy: yet did the Lord honour them with the Spirit of Pro∣phecy.

CHAP. XII.

ZIpporah Moses wife called a Cushite, for Arabia was the land of Cush, for her sake Aaron and Miriam begin to rebel against Moses autho∣rity; for which Miriam is struck with Leprosie, but Aaron is not, be∣cause he was the Judge of Leprosie, and could not be tainted with it. Their sin causeth the Cloud of glory to depart, as the sin of the golden Calf had done before; there Aaron had a hand in the sin also; Moses vindicated by God himself; It is said, They removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran, ver. 16. that is, they marched and pitch∣ed in that wilderness: see Chap. 10. 12.

CHAP. XIII.

THEY are now come not very far from the South-point of the land of Canaan, [compare Ver. 26. and Deut. 1. 2, 19.] and Moses at the desire of the people, Deut. 1. 22. sendeth twelve men to spy the land: Sethur the man for the Tribe of Asher, ver. 13. his name is in number 666.* 1.1 and in signification hidden or mystical; it is toward the end of the year Stilo veteri, when they search the land; for grapes and figs are then ripe, vers. 20.

CHAP. XIV.

THE decree and oath in Gods anger, that they should not enter into his rest, cometh forth, and beginneth to seize upon some of them; for the ten men that caused the people to murmur died by the plague: as they were forty days in searching the land, so the people must wander forty years ere they came to enjoy it; that is, eight and thirty years and an half to make up the year and half that had passed since their coming out of Egypt to be forty: and in that time must all the men that were numbred at Sinai, [the Levites excepted] be consumed in the wilderness; and here is mans age cut short again, as it had been at the Flood and building of Babel.

PSAL. XC.

UPON this sad decree of God against the people, and upon his cutting short mans age, Moses maketh the nintieth Psalm, [whose proper order is coincident with this story,] and there sadly sheweth how they were consumed by Gods anger for their impieties: that now mans

age is come to seventy or eighty years, from those hundreds that men lived before, &c.

CHAP. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX.

[World 2516] [Moses 83] [Redemption from Egypt. 3] THE place where the people murmured upon the return of the spies, was Kadesh Barnea, Numb. 13. 26. & 32. 8. Deut. 1. 19. This place was called Rithmah before, Numb. 33. 18. compared with Numb. 12. 16. & 13. 26. and it may be it was so called from the Juniper-trees that grew there: as 1 Kings 19. 4. but now named Kadesh, because the Lord was there sanctified upon the people, as Chap. 20. 13. and Bar∣nea, or the wandering son, because here was the decree made of their long wandering in the wilderness. Here at Kadesh they continued a good space before they removed; for so Moses saith, Ye abode in Kadesh many days: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the days that ye had made abode, namely at Sinai, as ver. 6. and so they spent one whole year there, for so they had done at Sinai: and whereas God bids them upon their murmuring to turn back to the Red-sea, Deut. 1. 40. his meaning was, that at their next march whensoever it was, they should not go forward towards Canaan, but clean back again towards the Red-sea from whence they came.

[Moses 84] [Redemption from Egypt. 4] And so they do, and so they wander by many stations and marches [Moses 85] [Redemption from Egypt. 5] from Kadesh Barnea now, till they come to Kadesh Barnea again, some seven [Moses 86] [Redemption from Egypt. 6] or eight and thirty years hence. Their marches mentioned in Numb. 33. [Moses 87] [Redemption from Egypt. 7] were these; from Kadesh or Rithmah to Rimmon Parez, to Libnah, to [Moses 88] [Redemption from Egypt. 8] Rissah, to Kehelathah, to Mount Shapher, to Haradah, to Makheloth, to [Moses 89] [Redemption from Egypt. 9] Tahath, to Tarah, to M••••hcah, to Hashmonah, to Moseroth, to Horhagid∣gad, [Moses 90] [Redemption from Egypt. 10] to Jotbathah, to Ebronah, to Ezion Gaber, to Kadesh again in the [Moses 91] [Redemption from Egypt. 11] fortieth year. And thus whereas it was but eleven days journey from Ho∣reb [Moses 92] [Redemption from Egypt. 12] by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea, Deut. 1. 2. they have now [Moses 93] [Redemption from Egypt. 13] made it above three times eleven years journy. The occurrences of all [Moses 94] [Redemption from Egypt. 14] this time were but few, and those undated either to time or place; some [Moses 95] [Redemption from Egypt. 15] Laws are given, Chap. 15. Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebel, Chap. 16. [Moses 96] [Redemption from Egypt. 16] Korah for the Priest-hood from Aaron, as being one of the Tribe of Le∣vi; [Moses 97] [Redemption from Egypt. 17] and Dathan and Abiram for the principality from Moses, as being of [Moses 98] [Redemption from Egypt. 18] Reuben the first-born. An earth-quake devoureth them, and all theirs, [Moses 99] [Redemption from Egypt. 19] and a fire devoured the 250 men that conspired with them; only Korahs [Moses 100] [Redemption from Egypt. 20] sons escape, Chap. 26. 11. and of them came Samuel, and divers famous [Moses 101] [Redemption from Egypt. 21] [Moses 102] [Redemption from Egypt. 22] singers in the Temple, 1 Chron. 6. 22. &c. Aarons Priest-hood that was [Moses 103] [Redemption from Egypt. 23] so opposed is confirmed by the budding of his withered rod, and upon [Moses 104] [Redemption from Egypt. 24] [Moses 105] [Redemption from Egypt. 25] this approval, divers services for the Priests are appointed, Chap. 17. & 18. [Moses 106] [Redemption from Egypt. 26] & 19. and so we have no more occurrences mentioned till the first day of [Moses 107] [Redemption from Egypt. 27] [Moses 108] [Redemption from Egypt. 28] their fortieth year. They went under four or five continual miracles; [Moses 109] [Redemption from Egypt. 29] as the appearing of the Cloud of glory, the raining of Manna, the fol∣lowing [Moses 110] [Redemption from Egypt. 30] [Moses 111] [Redemption from Egypt. 31] of the Rock or the waters of Horeb, the continual newness of [Moses 112] [Redemption from Egypt. 32] their cloaths, and the untiredness of their feet; yet did they forget, and [Moses 113] [Redemption from Egypt. 33] were continually repining against him that did all these wonders for them. [Moses 114] [Redemption from Egypt. 34] [Moses 115] [Redemption from Egypt. 35] They repined when they came out of Egypt, that they must come out of [Moses 116] [Redemption from Egypt. 36] Egypt, Exod. 14. 12. They repined when they came near Canaan, that [Moses 117] [Redemption from Egypt. 37] [Moses 118] [Redemption from Egypt. 38] they must go into Canaan, Numb. 14. and so they repined all the way be∣tween. [Moses 119] [Redemption from Egypt. 39] Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee, &c. Deut. 32. 6.

CHAP. XX.

[World 2553] [Moses 120] [Redemption from Egypt. 40] ISRAEL is now come to Kadesh Barnea again; an unhappy place, for there they had been eight and thirty years ago, and received the doom of not entring into the land: and the same doom falleth upon Moses and Aaron there now, It is said, They came into the desert of Zin to Kadesh in the first moneth, but nameth not the year; for it referreth to the decree made in that very place of forty years wandering, and this is the first month of the fortieth year, and so Numb. 33. 8. and Deut. 2. 7, 14. make it undoubted. Miriam dieth at Kadesh, and is buried there, being a great deal above 120 years old.

The people murmur here now for water, as they had done here before about the land; and the Holy Ghost by a most strange word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

most sweetly sheweth their confusedness. They had lain here a whole twelve-month at their being here before, but then no want of water, for the rock or the waters of Horeb had followed them hither, but how [World 2553] [Moses 120] [Redemption from Egypt. 40] that was now departed is not expressed.

Moses and Aaron are excluded Canaan for not believing the Lord, and not sanctifying him before the people; their particular fault is diversly guessed at, it seemeth to me that it was this; What say they, ye rebels, must we bring water out of this rock, as we did out of Horeb? Is all our hopes and expectation of getting out of the wilderness come to this? We never fetched you water out of a rock but once, and that was because ye were to stay a long time in the wilderness, and that was to serve you all the while, as we have seen it did by experience. Now that water is gone, and must we now fetch you water out of another rock? O ye rebels, have you brought it to this by your murmuring, that we must have a new stay in the wilderness, and a new rock opened to yield you water for your long stay as Horeb did? Are we to begin our abode in the wilderness anew now when we hoped that our travel had been ended; and so we shall never get out? And so he smote the rock twice in a fume and anger. And thus they believed not the promise of entring the land after forty years; and thus they sanctified not the Lord in the sight of the people to incourage them in the Promise, but damped them in it; and thus they spake unadvisedly in their lips, and so they were excluded Canaan. It was a sign that the Promise aimed at better things then the earthly Canaan, when the holiest persons in all Israel are debarred from coming thither from Kadesh Barnea, they turn back toward the Red-sea again, as they had done before, Deut. 1. 40. because Edom would not now give them passage.

Aaron dieth in Horhagidgad the first day of the fifth month, and is la∣mented all that month.

CHAP. XXI.

SOme Canaanites are overcome; here appeareth some glimpse of the performance of Gods promise, but the people turning clean back again, they begin to murmur. Here the strange word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ver. 5. and the scornful word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, used for Manna, sheweth their scorn∣fulness and fuming: Seraphim, Nehashim, fiery Serpents, or Serpents of a flame colour sting the murmurers; and the brazen Serpent lifted up and looked at cureth them: a figure of better things to come, Joh. 3. 14. This brazen Serpent seemeth to have named the place Zalmonah, Num. 33. 42. that is, the place of the image; and the coming up of the Serpents upon the people, seemeth also to have named the place there about Maaleh Akrabbim, The coming up of the Scorpions: See Josh. 15. 3.

From Zalmonah they remove to Pimon, to Oboth, to Ije Aharim by the border of Moab; they are forbidden to invade Moab, Deut. 2. 9. They pass the valley Zared; and here all the generation numbred at Sinai is clean gone, Deut. 2. 14. They coast along Moab and Ammon, and so to the other side Arnon, Deut. 2. 13, 18, 24.

In Numb. 21. ver. 14. there is this Geographical quotation taken out of the book of the wars of the Lord which describeth that part of the Coun∣try thus, Vaheh in Suphah, and the brooks of Arnon, and the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab. This Book of the war of the Lord, seemeth to have been some Book of remembrances and directions written by Moses for Joshua's pri∣vate instructions in the managing of the wars after him; see Exod. 17. 14, 16. It may be this Book was also called Sepher Jasher, liber rectus, or a directory for Joshua from Moses, what to do and what to expect in his wars; and in it Moses directs the setting up of Archery, 2 Sam. 1. 18. and warrants him to command the Sun, and to expect its obedience, Josh. 10. 13.

From thence they come to Beer, where the seventy Elders of the San∣hedrin by Moses appointment, do bring forth waters by the stroke of their staves, as he had done with the stroke of his Rod; this great work and wonder, and this great priviledge bestowed upon so many of them, maketh all the people to sing for joy.

Sihon and Og conquered; It is now six and twenty generations from the Creation, or from Adam to Moses, and accordingly doth Psal. 136. rehearse the durableness of Gods mercy six and twenty times over, be∣ginning [World 2553] [Moses 120] [Redemption from Egypt. 40] the story with the Creation, and ending it in the conquest of Sihon and Og: The numerals of the name Jehovah, amount to the sum of six and twenty.

CHAP. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV.

BAlaam cannot curse Israel, but curseth Amalek their first, and Rome their last enemy: He foretelleth that Israel shall be so prosperous and happy, that he wisheth that his end might be like theirs. He returns to his own place, Chap. 24. 25. that is, saith Baal Turim, He went to hell, as Acts 1. 25. He went not home to Syris his own Country, but he went homeward, and by the way falls in with Midian, and giveth them the cursed counsel to intangle Israel with their Daughters and Idolatry. Israel is yoked 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to Baal Peor, not only to the Idol, but to the women; the old generation of wicked Israel is utterly gone, and this new gene∣ration that must enter Canaan, begins after their fathers with such courses as these: there died for this sin 24000 men: viz. 23000 by the plague, 1 Cor. 10. 8. and 1000 by the hand of Justice.

CHAP. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX.

THE people are numbred that must go into Canaan, as those had been that came out of Egypt: One family of Simeon that had gone into Egypt is extinct, namely that of Ohad; a Prince of Simeon had been chief actor in the matter of Peor, Chap. 25. 14. It may be that utterly rooted out his stock. Divers Laws given.

CHAP. XXXI. XXXII.

MIdian destroyed, though Abrahams children; Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, have thereby the quieter setling beyond Jordan, when they say, We will build us Sheepfolds and Cities, Chap. 32. 6. and when the Text saith they did so ver. 34. it is to be understood that they took course for such buildings, for they themselves went over Jordan, and were in Canaan wars seven years.

CHAP. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI.

ISraels two and forty stations from Egypt to Jordan; the borders of the Land; the Cities of the Levites; the disposal of Zelophohads daughters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: 666.