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 10:1--11:35
two trumpets <02689 08147> [two trumpets.]
The necessity of such instruments will at once appear, when the amazing extent of this army is considered. There were various kinds of trumpets among the ancients, of different forms and materials, as Eustathius shews on Homer, where he mentions six; the second of which was [stroggule,] turned up round, like a ram's horn; which he says the Egyptians used (from being invented by Osiris) when they assembled the people to their sacrifices. But in opposition to that form, Moses commands these to be made long, in the shape of those used at present. So Josephus informs us, who says they were near a cubit long; the tube of the thickness of a common pipe or flute; the mouth no wider than just to admit blowing into them; and their ends wide like those of a modern trumpet.
hammered <04749> [of a whole piece.]
assembling <04744> [the calling.]
blow <08628> [blow.]
camps <04264> [camps.]
blow ......................... sounded <08628> [ye blow.]
A single alarm was a signal for the eastward division to march; two such alarms the signal for the south; and probably three for the west, and four for the North. There appears therefore, a deficiency in the Hebrew Text, which is thus supplied by the LXX.: [kai salpieite semasian triten, kai exarousin ai parembolai ai paremballousai para thalassan. kai salpieite semasian tetarten, kai exarousin ai parembolai ai paremballousai pros bomran.] "And when ye blow a third alarm, or signal, the camps on the west shall march; and when ye blow a fourth alarm, the camps on the north shall march." This addition, however, is not acknowledged by the Samaritan, nor any other version than the Coptic, nor any MS. yet collated.
camps <04264> [the camps.]
blow <08628> [ye shall blow.]
alarm <07321> [sound.]
go <0935> [if ye go.]
opposes <06887> [oppresseth.]
alarm <07321> [then ye shall.]
remembered <02142> [remembered.]
time <03117> [in the day.]
memorial <02146> [a memorial.]
twentieth <06242> [An. Ex. Is 2. Ijar. on.]
The Israelites had lain encamped in the wilderness of Sinai about eleven months and twenty days (comp. Ex 19:1); and they now received the order of God to decamp, and proceed to the promised land: the Samaritan, therefore, introduces at this place, nearly the words of De 1:6-8: "And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount; turn, and take your journey, etc."
cloud <06051> [the cloud.]
So .... set <05265> [took.]
wilderness .......... wilderness <04057> [out of the.]
wilderness .......... wilderness <04057> [the wilderness.]
first <07223 05265> [the first place.]
The following is the order in which this vast company marched: Judah:----Issachar, Zebulun, Gershonites, and Merarites, bearing the tabernacle. Reuben:---Simeon, Gad, Kohathites, with the sanctuary. Ephraim:--Manasseh, Benjamin. Dan:------Asher, Naphtali. Among other things, it should be remarked, that, according to a well-known rule of military tactics, the advanced, and rear-guards, were stronger then the centre.
[See]
Nahshon <05177> [Nahshon.]
tabernacle .................. tabernacle <04908> [the tabernacle.]
sons ...... sons <01121> [the sons.]
camp <04264> [the camp.]
Elizur <0468> [Elizur.]
Simeonites <08095> [Simeon.]
Eliasaph <0460> [Eliasaph.]
tribe ....... son <01121> [son of Reuel.]
Kohathites <06956> [the Kohathites.]
articles .......... set up <06965> [the other did. that is, the Gershonites and the Merarites.]
camp <04264> [the camp.]
Elishama <0476> [Elishama.]
Gamaliel <01583> [Gamaliel.]
Abidan <027> [Abidan.]
camp ............... camps <04264> [the camp.]
guard <0622> [the rereward.]
Ahiezer <0295> [Ahiezer.]
Pagiel <06295> [Pagiel.]
Ahira <0299> [Ahira.]
These <0428> [Thus were. Heb. These. according.]
[Reuel.]
Lord .................... Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<03212> [come.]
Lord .................... Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
places <03651> [forasmuch.]
As the Israelites were under the immediate direction of God himself, and were guided by the pillar of cloud and fire, it might be supposed that they had no need of Hobab. But it should be remembered, that the cloud directed only their general journeys, not their particular excursions. Parties took several journeys while the grand army lay still. (ch. 13; 20; 31; 32.)
guide <05869> [instead of eyes.]
mountain <02022> [the mount.]
ark <0727> [the ark.]
traveled ..................... traveling before <05265 06440> [went before.]
resting place <04496> [a resting place.]
Rise .... Lord <06965 03068> [Rise up, Lord.]
Return ... Lord <07725 03068> [Return, O Lord.]
thousands ... Israel <0505 03478 07233> [many thousands of Israel. Heb. ten thousand thousands.]
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.]
