Numbers 16:1-3
Korah <07141> [Korah.]
son ..... son ..... son ......... sons ...... son ...... Reubenites <01121 07205> [sons of Reuben.]
took <03947> [took men.]
As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders {yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt,} "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb {wyyikkach,} "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, {ben,} son, instead of {beney,} sons.
chosen <07148> [famous.]
assembled <06950> [gathered.]
too much ........ community <07227 05712> [Ye take too much upon you. Heb. It is much for you. all the.]
Lord ................ Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Numbers 16:1
Korah <07141> [Korah.]
son ..... son ..... son ......... sons ...... son ...... Reubenites <01121 07205> [sons of Reuben.]
took <03947> [took men.]
As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders {yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt,} "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb {wyyikkach,} "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, {ben,} son, instead of {beney,} sons.
Numbers 8:5-7
purify <02891> [cleanse them.]
Sprinkle <05137> [Sprinkle.]
water <04325> [water.]
shave <08593> [let them shave. Heb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc.]
wash ... clothes <03526 0899> [wash their.]
Numbers 12:12
Do ... let <04994> [as one dead.]
flesh <01320> [of whom.]
Numbers 12:2
Lord ............... Lord <03068> [Hath the Lord.]
spoken ........ spoken <01696> [hath he not.]
Lord ............... Lord <03068> [And the.]
Numbers 15:13-37
One <0259> [One.]
statute ........................ statute <02708> [an ordinance.]
The oblation before prescribed seems to have been a general acknowledgment from the people at large; but this was an oblation from every one that reaped a harvest: who was required, previously to tasting it himself, to offer a portion of dough as a heave-offering to the Lord. This is supposed to have been given to the priests in their several cities, and not carried to the tabernacle.
cake <02471> [a cake.]
offering ...... raised offering <08641> [the heave-offering.]
This law concerning sins of ignorance, being entirely diverse from one before considered, occasions considerable difficulty. (Le ch. 4.) Some explain that law as relating to sins of commission, this to sins of omission: others explain the one of inadvertent violations of the moral law, and the other of the transgressions of the ceremonial law: and some think that related to the whole nation, this to any one tribe; or that to the bulk of the nation, this to the rulers and elders. The Jews say, that the former law referred to such national transgressions through heedlessness, as consisted with the maintenance of the prescribed worship in the main; but that this especially respected the case of the nation, when through inattention, and the example and authority of wicked rulers, they had turned aside and committed idolatry, or conducted their worship directly contrary to law; yet through a culpable ignorance, and not in presumption. This was evidently the case under several of their kings; and the explanation seems well grounded.
done ............. prepare <06213> [if ought.]
knowledge <05869> [without. Heb. from the eyes. one young bullock.]
grain offering <04503> [with his.]
customary <04941> [manner. or, ordinance. one kid.]
priest <03548> [the priest.]
forgiven ..... unintentional ......................... unintentional <05545 07684> [forgiven them.]
one law <08451 0259> [one law.]
sins <06213> [sinneth. Heb. doeth.]
acts <06213 07311> [doeth ought.]
<07311> [presumptuously. Heb. with an high hand.]
That is, bold, daring, deliberate acts of transgression against the fullest evidence, and in despite of the Divine authority. Such conduct "reproacheth the Lord," as if his commands were needless, unreasonable, and inimical to the happiness of man; his favour were not desirable, or his wrath not to be feared: in short, as if it were more advantageous to rebel against him than to serve him. Such acts admitted of no atonement: the person was condemned to bear his own iniquity, and to be cut off.
insults <01442> [reproacheth.]
despised <0959> [despised.]
iniquity <05771> [his iniquity.]
found ... man <04672 0376> [they found a man.]
This example seems to have been evidently introduced to illustrate the foregoing law. The man despised the word of the Lord, presumptuously broke his commandment, and on this ground was punished with death.
man <0376> [The man.]
stone .... stones <07275 068> [stone him.]
Numbers 15:1
It is very probable, that the transactions recorded in this and the four following chapters took place during the time the Israelites abode in Kadesh (De 1:46.)
Numbers 12:16
After <0310> [afterward.]
Hazeroth <02698> [Hazeroth.]
The exact situation of this place is unknown. Dr. Shaw computes it to be three days' journey, i.e., thirty miles from Sinai. From this passage, it appears that the wilderness of Paran commenced immediately upon their leaving this station. Calmet observes, that there is a town called Hazor in Arabia Petr‘a, in all probability the same as Hazerim, the ancient habitation of the Hivites (De 2:23); and likewise, according to all appearances, the Hazeroth, where the Hebrews encamped.
wilderness <04057> [the wilderness.]
