the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Commentaries
Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments Benson's Commentary
Census of Israel's Warriors Conducted.Chapter 2
Israelites' Camp Arrangement Around the Tabernacle.Chapter 3
Levites' Duties and Census Described.Chapter 4
Duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites.Chapter 5
Laws on Purity, Restitution, and Jealousy.Chapter 6
Nazirite Vow and Aaronic Blessing Established.Chapter 7
Offerings of the Tribal Leaders Presented.Chapter 8
Consecration of the Levites; Lampstand Instructions.Chapter 9
Passover Observed; Cloud Guides Israelites.Chapter 10
Silver Trumpets Used; Israel Departs Sinai.Chapter 11
Israelites Complain; Quail Provided, Plague Strikes.Chapter 12
Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses; Miriam Punished.Chapter 13
Spies Sent to Canaan; Report Given.Chapter 14
Israelites Rebel; Punishment of Wilderness Wandering.Chapter 15
Laws on Offerings and Sabbath Breakers.Chapter 16
Korah's Rebellion; God's Judgment and Plague.Chapter 17
Aaron's Rod Buds, Affirming Priestly Authority.Chapter 18
Duties and Provisions for Priests and Levites.Chapter 19
Purification Laws Using the Red Heifer.Chapter 20
Miriam's Death, Moses' Sin, Aaron's Death.Chapter 21
Victories Over Canaanites; Bronze Serpent.Chapter 22
Balaam's Donkey Speaks; Balaam Blesses Israel.Chapter 23
Balaam's Blessings Over Israel Pronounced.Chapter 24
Balaam's Final Prophecy and Blessing.Chapter 25
Israel's Sin with Moabites; Phinehas' Zeal.Chapter 26
Second Census of Israel's New Generation.Chapter 27
Daughters of Zelophehad; Joshua Appointed Successor.Chapter 28
Daily, Sabbath, and Festival Offerings Listed.Chapter 29
Offerings for Additional Festivals Detailed.Chapter 30
Laws on Vows and Commitments Given.Chapter 31
Vengeance on Midian; Spoils Distributed.Chapter 32
Reuben and Gad Settle East of Jordan.Chapter 33
Israel's Journey Stages from Egypt Reviewed.Chapter 34
Boundaries of Canaan Described; Leaders Appointed.Chapter 35
Cities of Refuge and Levite Towns Assigned.Chapter 36
Inheritance Laws for Daughters Clarified.
- Numbers
by Joseph Benson
THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED
NUMBERS.
ARGUMENT.
THIS book, like all the other books of Moses, takes its name from the Septuagint, or Greek interpreters, being termed by them αριθμοι , arithmoi, NUMBERS. There is, however, this difference: the names of the other four stand in our translation in the words of the original Greek, while this is rendered into English. The reason of the name is evident. The book begins with an account of the numbering or mustering of the people, which was done in the beginning of the second year after they came out of Egypt. It relates also another numbering of them above thirty-eight years after, when not three of the same persons were found alive that were in the former account, so awfully did God fulfil his threatening that, for their rebellion, their carcasses should fall in the wilderness, Numbers 14:29. Still, however, their numbers were so great that the book affords us abundant proof of the accomplishment of God’s promise to Abraham, Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude. Here are also several additional laws, relating to matters both civil and religious. Indeed, the book is almost equally divided between histories and laws intermixed: and the historical part comprises the transactions of thirty-eight years, most of which, however, took place in the first and last of those years. An abstract of a great part of this book we have in a few words, Psalms 95:10: Forty years long was I grieved with this generation; and an application of it to ourselves, Hebrews 4:1: Let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should come short of it.