Numbers 11:1--14:45
people <05971> [And when.]
complained <0596> [complained. or, were as it were complainers. it displeased the Lord. Heb. it was evil in the ears of the Lord.]
fire <0784> [and the fire.]
outer parts <07097> [the uttermost.]
cried <06817> [cried.]
prayed <06419> [prayed.]
fire <0784> [the fire.]
died out <08257> [was quenched. Heb. sunk.]
Taberah <08404> [Taberah. that is, a burning.]
[the mixed.]
craved <0183> [fell a lusting. Heb. lusted a lust. the children.]
wept again <07725 01058> [wept again. Heb. returned and wept. Who shall.]
fish <01710> [the fish.]
cucumbers <07180> [the cucumbers.]
In Hebrew, {kishshuim,} in Arabic, {kiththa,} Chaldee, {keta,} and Syriac, {kati,} a species of cucumber peculiar to Egypt, smooth, of a longish cylindrical shape, and about a foot long. Prosper Alpinus says that it differs from the common sort by its size, colour, and softness; that its leaves are smaller, whiter, softer, and rounder; its fruit larger, greener, smoother, softer, sweeter, and more easy of digestion than ours. Hasselquist describes it in the same manner; and adds, that it is very little watery, but firm like a melon, sweet and cool to the taste, but not so cold as the watermelon, which is meant by the {avutichim} of the text.
manna <04478> [the manna.]
<05869> [colour thereof as the colour of. Heb. eye of it as the eye of. bdellium.]
people <05971> [the people.]
baked .... pans <01310 06517> [baked it.]
tasted <02940> [taste of it.]
weeping .... families <01058 04940> [weep throughout.]
anger <0639> [the anger.]
Moses .......................... Moses <04872> [Moses.]
afflicted <07489> [Wherefore hast thou.]
The complaint and remonstrance of Moses in these verses serve at once to shew the deeply distressed state of his mind, and the degradation of the minds of the people.
found <04672> [wherefore have.]
Carry ..... arms ...... bears <05375 02436> [Carry them.]
father <0539> [as a nursing.]
land <0127> [the land.]
me like .... kill ... immediately <02026> [kill me.]
see <07200> [let me not.]
trouble <07451> [my wretchedness.]
Two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts read, "their wretchedness." The Jerusalem Targum has the same, and adds, by way of explanation, "who are thine own people."
seventy <07657> [seventy.]
officials <07860> [officers.]
come down <03381> [I will come.]
speak ........ take part <01696 0680> [talk with.]
take part <0680> [I will take.]
bear ................ bear <05375> [they shall.]
Sanctify <06942> [Sanctify.]
wept <01058> [ye have wept.]
good <02895> [it was well.]
About a year before this, the people had been thus feasted for one day (Ex 16:13); but now such plenty was to be afforded them for a whole month, and they should use it so greedily, that at last they should entirely loathe the food for which they had so inordinately craved.
month <02320> [whole month. Heb. month of days.]
sick <02214> [and it.]
despised <03988> [despised.]
There is certainly a considerable measure of weakness and unbelief manifested in these complaints and questions of Moses; but his conduct appears at the same time so very simple, honest, and affectionate, that we cannot but admire it, while we wonder that he had not stronger confidence in that God, whose stupendous miracles he had so often witnessed in Egypt.
Lord ....... Lord's <03068> [Is the Lord's.]
That is, "Is the power of the Lord diminished?" That power which has been so signally displayed on your behalf, and which is as unchangeable as it is unlimited.
see <07200> [thou shalt.]
gathered <0622> [gathered.]
came down <03381> [came down.]
took <0680> [took.]
put ..... seventy <05414 07657> [gave it.]
From this place, Origen and Theodoret take occasion to compare Moses to a lamp, at which seventy others were lighted, without any diminution of its lustre.
prophesied <05012> [they prophesied.]
By prophesying here we are to understand, their performing those civil and sacred functions for which they were qualified; exhorting the people to quiet and peaceable submission, and to trust and confidence in the providence of God.
gone <03318> [went not out.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
lord <0113> [My Lord.]
jealous <07065> [Enviest.]
put <05414> [would.]
Lord's ....... Lord <03068> [that the.]
wind <07307> [a wind.]
brought <01468> [and brought.]
quail <07958> [quails.]
That the word {selav} means the quail, we have already had occasion to observe; to which we subjoin the authority of Mr. Maundrell, who visited Naplosa, (the ancient Sichem,) where the Samaritans live. Mr. Maundrell asked their chief priest what sort of animal he took the {selav} to be. He answered, they were a sort of fowls; and, by the description Mr. Maundrell perceived he meant the same kind with our quails.
day's journey ........ day's journey <01870 03117> [a day's journey. Heb. the way of a day. and as it were two cubits.]
That is, as the Vulgate renders, {Volabantque in a‰re duobus cubitis altitudine super terram,} "and they flew in the air, at the height of two cubits above the ground."
homers <02563> [homers.]
meat <01320> [And while.]
struck <05221> [smote.]
Kibroth Hattaavah <06914> [Kibroth-hattaavah. that is, the graves of lust.]
traveled <05265> [journeyed.]
Hazeroth ...... Hazeroth <02698> [unto Hazeroth.]
Hazeroth ...... Hazeroth <02698> [abode at. Heb they were in, etc.]
Miriam <04813> [Miriam.]
<03571> [Ethiopian. or, Cushite.]
married ..... married <03947> [married. Heb. taken.]
Lord ............... Lord <03068> [Hath the Lord.]
spoken ........ spoken <01696> [hath he not.]
Lord ............... Lord <03068> [And the.]
very <03966> [very.]
man <0120> [above.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
went <03318> [Come out.]
prophet <05030> [a prophet.]
vision <04759> [in a vision.]
dream <02472> [a dream.]
servant <05650> [My servant.]
faithful <0539> [faithful.]
<06310> [mouth.]
riddles <02420> [dark speeches.]
form <08544> [similitude.]
afraid <03372> [were ye.]
cloud <06051> [the cloud.]
Miriam ... leprous ........ Miriam ..... leprous <04813 06879> [behold.]
leprous ............ leprous <06879> [leprous.]
hold <07896> [I beseech thee.]
hold ... sin <07896 02403> [lay not.]
Do ... let <04994> [as one dead.]
flesh <01320> [of whom.]
spit <03417> [spit.]
Shut .............. brought back <05462 0622> [let her be.]
shut outside <02351 05462> [shut out.]
people <05971> [and the.]
Miriam ................... Miriam <04813> [till Miriam.]
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.]
Send ... men .................. send <07971 0582> [Send thou.]
man ... each <0376> [of every.]
leader <05387> [a ruler.]
The wilderness of Paran, says Dr. Wells, seems to have been taken in a larger, and in a stricter sense. In the larger sense, it seems to have denoted all the desert and mountainous tract, lying between the wilderness of Shur westward, and mount Seir, or the land of Edom, eastward, the land of Canaan northward, and the Red sea southward. And in this sense, it seems to have comprehended the wilderness of Sin, and the wilderness of Sinai, also the adjoining tract wherein lay Kibroth-hattaavah and Hazeroth. In this sense it may be understood in De 1:19, where, by "that great and terrible wilderness," is intended the wilderness of Paran in its largest acceptation; for, in its stricter acceptation, it seems not to have been so great and terrible a wilderness; but is taken to denote more peculiarly that part of Arabia Petr‘a which lies between mount Sinai and Hazeroth west, and mount Seir east.
Caleb <03612> [Caleb.]
Hoshea <01954> [Oshea.]
[Jehoshua.]
[Joshua.]
Hoshea <01954> [Oshea.]
Joshua <03091> [Jehoshua.]
[Jesus.]
Negev <05045> [southward.]
hill country <02022> [the mountain.]
rich <08082> [whether it be.]
be brave <02388> [good courage.]
first ripe <01061> [the firstripe.]
wilderness ... Zin <04057 06790> [from the wilderness of Zin.]
The wilderness of Zin, is different from that called Sin. (Ex 16:1.) The latter was near Egypt, but the former was near Kadesh Barnea, not far from the borders of Canaan. It seems to be the valley mentioned by Burckhardt; which, under the names of El Ghor and El Araba, form a continuation of the valley of the Jordan, extending from the Dead sea to the eastern branch of the Red sea. The whole plain presents to the view an appearance of shifting sands, whose surface is broken by innumerable undulations and low hills. A few talk, tamarisk, and rethem trees grow among the sand hills; but the depth of sand precludes all vegetation of herbage.
Rehob <07340> [Rehob.]
Rehob was a city, afterwards given to the tribe of Asher, situated near mount Lebanon, at the northern extremity of the Promised Land, on the road which leads to Hamath, and west of Laish or Dan: compare Jud 1:31; 18:28; Jos 19:28.
Hamath <02574> [Hamath.]
Ahiman <0289> [Ahiman.]
descendants <03211> [the children.]
Hebron ............. Hebron <02275> [Hebron.]
Zoan <06814> [Zoan.]
valley <05158> [brook. or valley.]
Valley <05158> [brook. or valley.]
Eshcol <0812> [Eshcol. that is a cluster of grapes.]
forty days <0705 03117> [forty days.]
wilderness <04057> [unto the wilderness.]
Kadesh <06946> [Kadesh.]
strong <05794> [strong.]
saw ... descendants <07200 03211> [saw the.]
Amalekites <06002> [Amalekites.]
Hittites <02850> [the Hittites.]
presented <03318> [brought.]
land ....... land .......... land <0776> [a land.]
stature <04060 0582> [men of a great stature. Heb. men of statures.]
saw ... Nephilim .......... Nephilim <05303 07200> [saw the giants.]
seemed liked <05869> [and we were.]
murmured <03885> [murmured.]
only ............ only <03863> [Would.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
wives <0802> [our wives.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
tore ... garments <07167 0899> [rent their clothes.]
land ......... exceedingly good land <02896 0776 03966> [an exceeding good land.]
delights <02654> [delight.]
land ........ land .... flowing <0776 02100> [a land which.]
rebel <04775> [Only rebel.]
fear ............................ fear <03372> [neither.]
bread <03899> [are bread.]
[defence. Heb. shadow.]
{Tzillam,} a metaphor highly expressive of protection and support in the sultry eastern countries. (See the Parallel Passages.) The Arabs and Persians use the same word to express the same thing; using the expressions, "May the shadow {zulli} of thy prosperity be extended." "May the shadow of thy prosperity be spread over the heads of thy well-wishers." And in an elegant distich, "May your protection never be removed from my head; may God extend your shadow {zullikem} eternally." The loftiest and most esteemed title of the sultan, says Thornton, because given him by the kings of Persia, is {zil ullah,} shadow of God.
Lord .......................... Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
fear ............................ fear <03372> [fear them not.]
community <05712> [But all.]
glory <03519> [And the.]
people <05971> [How long will this.]
despise <05006> [provoke.]
believe ........ signs <0539 0226> [believe me.]
strike <05221> [smite.]
make <06213> [will make.]
Moses said .... Lord <04872 0559 03068> [And Moses said unto the Lord.]
From this verse to ver. 19, inclusive, we have the words of the earnest intercession of Moses: they need no explanation; they are full of simplicity and energy.
<04714> [Then the.]
heard <08085> [they have.]
seen <07200> [art seen.]
cloud ................. cloud <06051> [thy cloud.]
slow <0750> [long-suffering.]
visiting <06485> [visiting.]
forgive <05545> [Pardon.]
great <01433> [according.]
forgiven <05375> [and as thou.]
now <02008> [until now. or, hitherto.]
But truly <0199> [as truly.]
earth <0776> [all the.]
seen <07200> [which have.]
tempted <05254> [tempted.]
ten times <06471 06235> [ten times.]
means see .................. see <0518 07200> [Surely they shall not see. Heb. If they see.]
servant <05650> [my servant.]
different spirit <07307 0312> [another spirit.]
Caleb had another spirit; not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit, but the Spirit and influence of God, which thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears. Therefore he followed God fully; literally, "and he filled after me:" God shewed him the way he was to take and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker.
followed ... fully <0310 04390> [followed me.]
Amalekites <06003> [the Amalekites.]
turn ... journey <06437 05265> [turn you.]
evil <07451> [How long.]
heard <08085> [I have heard.]
<03808> [As truly.]
spoken <01696> [as ye have.]
dead bodies <06297> [carcases.]
numbered <06485> [all that were.]
<03027> [sware. Heb. lifted up my hand.]
Caleb <03612> [save Caleb.]
little ones <02945> [little ones.]
said <0559> [ye said.]
enjoy <03045> [know.]
Their children, by possessing Canaan, knew what a good land their fathers had despised.
land <0776> [the land.]
wander .... wilderness ................. wilderness <07462 04057> [shall wander in the wilderness. or, feed.]
This implies, that they should move from place to place in the deserts, as the Bedounin Arabs, who have no certain dwelling, but rove about seeking pasture for their flocks.
forty years <0705 08141> [forty years.]
suffer <05375> [bear.]
number <04557> [After.]
number <04557> [the number.]
suffer for <05375> [shall ye bear.]
know <03045> [ye shall.]
thwart <08569> [breach of promise. or, altering of my purpose.]
{Tenooathi,} rather, my failure, or disannulling, from {noo,} to fail, disannul; for as they had broken their engagements, God was no longer held by his covenant.
will <0518> [I will surely.]
evil <07451> [this evil.]
men <0582> [those men.]
Thus ten of the twelve who searched out the land were struck dead, by the justice of God, on the spot. In commemoration of this event, the Jews, to this day, celebrate a fast, on the seventh day of the month Elul.
died <04191> [died.]
mourned greatly <056 03966> [mourned greatly.]
early <07925> [rose up.]
sinned <02398> [for we have sinned.]
We are sensible of our sin, and repent of it; and are now ready to do as Caleb and Joshua exhorted us. Or, though we have sinned, yet we hope God will make good his promise.
transgressing <05674> [do ye.]
succeed <06743> [but it shall.]
turned <07725> [because.]
dared <06075> [they presumed.]
This miserable people a short time ago, thought that, though Omnipotence was with them, they could not conquer and possess the land! Now they imagine, that though God himself go not with them, yet they shall be sufficient to drive out the inhabitants, and take possession of their country! Man is ever supposing he can do all things, or do nothing: he is therefore sometimes presumptuous, and at other times in despair.
ark <0727> [the ark.]
Amalekites <06003> [the Amalekites.]
Hormah <02767> [Hormah.]
