Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, I have had to divide the study of Numbers 26 and its important census that determined the inheritances of the tribes of Israel, into eight short posts:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 7
And to complete the counting of the tribe of Levi, part 8:
(Numbers 26:60) To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. (61) And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, but Nadab and Abihu were struck dead when they offered profane incense in disobedience before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2).
(62) And those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among
the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them
among the children of Israel.
The tribe of Levi were not counted in the same way as the other tribes. They were not men of war, and were therefore counted every male from one month and older. They numbered 23,000 which was an increase of 1000 since the census taken 38 years prior to this one. They were not numbered with the other tribes because they had no part of the land of Israel divided to them and had no inheritance in it.
(63) These are those who were numbered by Moses and
Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of
Moab by Jordan across from Jericho.
After eight short posts, the numbering of the Israelites in chapter 26 of Numbers comes to an end. They were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, as instructed by God in verse 2 where they had dwelt in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho.
(64) But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses
and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. (65) For the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” And there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
In this census taken 38 years after the first census in the wilderness of Sinai, except for Caleb and Joshua, there were not any of the same people counted that were counted in the first census, for the Lord had told them they would all die in the wilderness. They all did die, except for Caleb and Joshua, whom the Lord allowed to enter their promised land because of their faith and good report of the land of Canaan, when all the rest of the spies had brought back a bad report, in spite of what their Lord had told them about it.
Note the goodness and mercy of the Lord to His people in that even after all their provocations, He raised up another generation as numerous as the previous one to which He would fulfill His promise to give them their inheritance in their promised land flowing with milk and honey. God's will shall be done always. Had the Israelites trusted and obeyed their Lord from the beginning, they would have entered their promised land much sooner. Even though their iniquity prevented the first generation from seeing His promise fulfilled, His will was fulfilled with the next generation.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 7
Chapter 26 of Numbers consisted of a very important census which determined the sizes of the inheritances each tribe of Israel would receive. Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, I have had to divide the study of chapter 26 into eight short posts, as all the names mentioned are of importance. The previous posts are linked here:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Continuing with part 7:
(Numbers 26:57) And these are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
The tribe of Levi was not numbered with the other tribes as it did not consist of men of war, but was rather devoted to God for His service. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and their families were numbered in a census.
(58) These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
From the three sons of Levi came the families of the Libnites from Gershon's son Libni; the Hebronites from Hebron the son of Kohath; the Mahlites and the Mushites from the sons of Merari--Mahli and Mushi; and the Korathites from Korah, the son of Izhar, who was the son of Kohath. In Numbers 3:18-21 we were told of more sons of Gershon and Kohath, but they are not mentioned here as having families. Gershon's son Shimei does not appear to have a family, perhaps because he either had no sons, or if he did, they died without sons, and therefore there was no family to be counted at this time. Kohath's son Uzziel was not mentioned here although we had been told previously in Numbers 6:22 that he had sons Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri, but they apparently had no families tracing their descent to him. Kohath's son Amram is mentioned.
(59) The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.
Kohath's son Amram married Jochebed the daughter of Levi, and they were the parents of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels each post may have, I have to continue the numbering of the descendants of Levi in yet another short post:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 8
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Continuing with part 7:
(Numbers 26:57) And these are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
The tribe of Levi was not numbered with the other tribes as it did not consist of men of war, but was rather devoted to God for His service. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and their families were numbered in a census.
(58) These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
From the three sons of Levi came the families of the Libnites from Gershon's son Libni; the Hebronites from Hebron the son of Kohath; the Mahlites and the Mushites from the sons of Merari--Mahli and Mushi; and the Korathites from Korah, the son of Izhar, who was the son of Kohath. In Numbers 3:18-21 we were told of more sons of Gershon and Kohath, but they are not mentioned here as having families. Gershon's son Shimei does not appear to have a family, perhaps because he either had no sons, or if he did, they died without sons, and therefore there was no family to be counted at this time. Kohath's son Uzziel was not mentioned here although we had been told previously in Numbers 6:22 that he had sons Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri, but they apparently had no families tracing their descent to him. Kohath's son Amram is mentioned.
(59) The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.
Kohath's son Amram married Jochebed the daughter of Levi, and they were the parents of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels each post may have, I have to continue the numbering of the descendants of Levi in yet another short post:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 8
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Chapter 26 of Numbers had to be separated into many short posts
because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. An important
census was being taken at this time and I want to acknowledge all the names mentioned.
Here are the previous posts:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Now continuing with part 6:
(Numbers 26:44) The children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
The census continued with the children of the tribe of Asher, his sons, Jimna, Jesui, and Beriah, and their families.
(45) Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Additionally, the Beriites from Asher's son Beriah were divided into two families after Beriah's sons, Heber and Malchiel.
(46) And the name of the daughter of Asher, Sarah.
Asher's daughter, Sarah, is mentioned here, even though she obviously was not counted in the census. She was either a remarkable woman in her own right, or as the medieval Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, claimed, "...she was an heiress; for though Asher had many sons, this was his wife's daughter by another man, who had no sons, and the inheritance was his daughter's, and therefore is so particularly mentioned..." (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible).
(47) These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.
Asher's tribe numbered 53,400 able-bodied men of war twenty years of age and older. This was a large increase of 11,900 over the census taken 38 years earlier.
(48) The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; (49) Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem, and all their families were counted.
(50) These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
The tribe of Naphtali numbered 45,400, a decrease of 8000 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older since the first census 38 years prior.
(51) These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
The total numbered in the census were 601,730 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. This was a decrease of only 1820 men since the census 38 years prior to this one. That is notable when you consider how many times the people were struck with plagues because of their disobedience and idolatry. God continued to bless them with increased numbers while in the wilderness so that even after His severe rebukes, His people were still a formidable presence.
(52) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (53) “To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance, according to the number of names. (54) To many you shall give more inheritance, and to few you shall give less inheritance; to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those who were numbered of him."
After the census was taken, the Lord told Moses that their promised land was to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance. The tribes with the larger numbers were to be given a larger inheritance, and those with smaller numbers were to be given a smaller inheritance. The size of their inheritance was to be directly related to their numbers.
(55) "Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. (56) According to the lot shall their possession be divided between many and few."
The Lord continued speaking to Moses, telling him that even though He had instructed that the larger tribes be given larger inheritances and smaller tribes smaller ones, their actual possessions would be determined by lots. By the casting of lots, God Himself would determine exactly which possession each tribe would receive, but they would be as He had previously said, larger possessions to larger tribes, and smaller to smaller.
As Blogger limits the number of labels per post, and I would like to keep all the names of each tribe together, I will stop here and continue with yet another post to end the chapter with the tribe of Levi:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 7
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Now continuing with part 6:
(Numbers 26:44) The children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
The census continued with the children of the tribe of Asher, his sons, Jimna, Jesui, and Beriah, and their families.
(45) Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Additionally, the Beriites from Asher's son Beriah were divided into two families after Beriah's sons, Heber and Malchiel.
(46) And the name of the daughter of Asher, Sarah.
Asher's daughter, Sarah, is mentioned here, even though she obviously was not counted in the census. She was either a remarkable woman in her own right, or as the medieval Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, claimed, "...she was an heiress; for though Asher had many sons, this was his wife's daughter by another man, who had no sons, and the inheritance was his daughter's, and therefore is so particularly mentioned..." (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible).
(47) These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.
Asher's tribe numbered 53,400 able-bodied men of war twenty years of age and older. This was a large increase of 11,900 over the census taken 38 years earlier.
(48) The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; (49) Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem, and all their families were counted.
(50) These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
The tribe of Naphtali numbered 45,400, a decrease of 8000 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older since the first census 38 years prior.
(51) These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
The total numbered in the census were 601,730 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. This was a decrease of only 1820 men since the census 38 years prior to this one. That is notable when you consider how many times the people were struck with plagues because of their disobedience and idolatry. God continued to bless them with increased numbers while in the wilderness so that even after His severe rebukes, His people were still a formidable presence.
(52) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (53) “To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance, according to the number of names. (54) To many you shall give more inheritance, and to few you shall give less inheritance; to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those who were numbered of him."
After the census was taken, the Lord told Moses that their promised land was to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance. The tribes with the larger numbers were to be given a larger inheritance, and those with smaller numbers were to be given a smaller inheritance. The size of their inheritance was to be directly related to their numbers.
(55) "Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. (56) According to the lot shall their possession be divided between many and few."
The Lord continued speaking to Moses, telling him that even though He had instructed that the larger tribes be given larger inheritances and smaller tribes smaller ones, their actual possessions would be determined by lots. By the casting of lots, God Himself would determine exactly which possession each tribe would receive, but they would be as He had previously said, larger possessions to larger tribes, and smaller to smaller.
As Blogger limits the number of labels per post, and I would like to keep all the names of each tribe together, I will stop here and continue with yet another post to end the chapter with the tribe of Levi:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 7
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Chapter 26 of Numbers had to be separated into many short posts because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. An important census was being taken at this time and all the names are significant. Here are the previous posts:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Now continuing with part 5:
(Numbers 26:35) These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
The tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh was counted in the previous post. Here we have Joseph's son Ephraim, and his sons Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan, and their families.
(36) And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
Only one son of Shuthelah is named, Eran, and from him came the family of the Eranites.
(37) These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.
These families of the sons of Ephraim numbered 32,500 able-bodied men of war, twenty years and older. Ephraim, and Manasseh, from the previous post, were the two sons of Joseph. Ephraim's numbers had decreased by 8000 since the census that was taken 38 years prior to this one.
(38) The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; (39) Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham, and Hupham, and all their families were counted.
(40) And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
Additionally, two families grew from the sons of Benjamin's son Bela, Ard and Naaman.
(41) These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
The tribe of Benjamin numbered 45,600 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. This was an increase of 10,200 since the census 38 years prior.
(42) These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. (43) All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
One son from the tribe of Dan, Shuham, and the family that came from him, the Shuhamites, were counted and totaled 64,400 able bodied men of war twenty years and older. Even though there was only one family within the tribe of Dan, its numbers were large and had even increased 1700 since the first census.
Once again I am forced to end this short post because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have, so this census will again be continued:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Now continuing with part 5:
(Numbers 26:35) These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
The tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh was counted in the previous post. Here we have Joseph's son Ephraim, and his sons Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan, and their families.
(36) And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
Only one son of Shuthelah is named, Eran, and from him came the family of the Eranites.
(37) These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.
These families of the sons of Ephraim numbered 32,500 able-bodied men of war, twenty years and older. Ephraim, and Manasseh, from the previous post, were the two sons of Joseph. Ephraim's numbers had decreased by 8000 since the census that was taken 38 years prior to this one.
(38) The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; (39) Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham, and Hupham, and all their families were counted.
(40) And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
Additionally, two families grew from the sons of Benjamin's son Bela, Ard and Naaman.
(41) These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
The tribe of Benjamin numbered 45,600 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. This was an increase of 10,200 since the census 38 years prior.
(42) These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. (43) All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
One son from the tribe of Dan, Shuham, and the family that came from him, the Shuhamites, were counted and totaled 64,400 able bodied men of war twenty years and older. Even though there was only one family within the tribe of Dan, its numbers were large and had even increased 1700 since the first census.
Once again I am forced to end this short post because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have, so this census will again be continued:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 6
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Continuing a chronological Bible study, started in the previous three posts:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Chapter 26 of Numbers has had to be chopped up into many short posts because Blogger limits the number of labels each post can have. There is an all-important census going on in this chapter, and all the names should be noted. Continuing:
(Numbers 26:28) The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
The sons of Joseph were Manasseh and Ephraim, and they became two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
(29) Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites. (30) These are the sons of Gilead: Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites. (31) And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; (32) And Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
From Machir, the son of Manasseh, came the family of the Machirites. Machir's son was Gilead, and the Gileadites were separated into six families after his sons, Jeezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher.
(33) And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
It appears that Hepher, the son of Gilead, had only one son, Zelophehad, who had no sons, only five daughters, but they were important enough to be named here, even though they would not be counted as able to go to war. They were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
(34) These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
The families of the tribe of Manasseh were numbered at 52,700 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. Their numbers had increased by 20,500 since the census 38 years prior to this one. Indeed Manasseh's numbers had increased more than those of any other tribe.
Once again, I have to end a short post and continue in the next because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have in each post. To continue the census:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Chapter 26 of Numbers has had to be chopped up into many short posts because Blogger limits the number of labels each post can have. There is an all-important census going on in this chapter, and all the names should be noted. Continuing:
(Numbers 26:28) The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
The sons of Joseph were Manasseh and Ephraim, and they became two of the twelve tribes of Israel.
(29) Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites. (30) These are the sons of Gilead: Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites. (31) And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; (32) And Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
From Machir, the son of Manasseh, came the family of the Machirites. Machir's son was Gilead, and the Gileadites were separated into six families after his sons, Jeezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher.
(33) And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
It appears that Hepher, the son of Gilead, had only one son, Zelophehad, who had no sons, only five daughters, but they were important enough to be named here, even though they would not be counted as able to go to war. They were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
(34) These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
The families of the tribe of Manasseh were numbered at 52,700 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. Their numbers had increased by 20,500 since the census 38 years prior to this one. Indeed Manasseh's numbers had increased more than those of any other tribe.
Once again, I have to end a short post and continue in the next because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have in each post. To continue the census:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 5
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, I've had to separate this chapter into many short posts in order to note all the important names. There is a census being taken in this chapter of all the able-bodied men of war from twenty years and older. It began here:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Now on with part 3:
(Numbers 26:19) The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Next were counted the men of the tribe of Judah. Judah's first two sons, Er and Onan, died because of their sins in the land of Canaan where they were born, and had no descendants to be counted.
(20) And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
The sons of Judah who did have families to count were Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah.
(21) And the sons of Pharez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
The Pharzites from the family of Pharez were divided into two families from Pharez's two sons: from his son Hezron came the Hezronites, and from his son Hamul, the Hamulites.
(22) These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.
The tribe of Judah numbered 76,500 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. Their numbers had increased 1900 since the first census 38 years prior to this time.
(23) The sons of Issachar after their families: Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Pua, the family of the Punites; (24) Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. (25) These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
The sons of Issachar and their families who were counted were Tola, Pua, Jashub, and Shimron. They numbered 64,300, an increase of 9900 since the census 38 years prior to this one.
(26) The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. (27) These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred.
From the tribe of Zebulun, the families of his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel, were counted and totaled 60,500, which was an increase of 3100 since the first census.
That ends this short post because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. To continue the census count:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Now on with part 3:
(Numbers 26:19) The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Next were counted the men of the tribe of Judah. Judah's first two sons, Er and Onan, died because of their sins in the land of Canaan where they were born, and had no descendants to be counted.
(20) And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
The sons of Judah who did have families to count were Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah.
(21) And the sons of Pharez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
The Pharzites from the family of Pharez were divided into two families from Pharez's two sons: from his son Hezron came the Hezronites, and from his son Hamul, the Hamulites.
(22) These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.
The tribe of Judah numbered 76,500 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older. Their numbers had increased 1900 since the first census 38 years prior to this time.
(23) The sons of Issachar after their families: Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Pua, the family of the Punites; (24) Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. (25) These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
The sons of Issachar and their families who were counted were Tola, Pua, Jashub, and Shimron. They numbered 64,300, an increase of 9900 since the census 38 years prior to this one.
(26) The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. (27) These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred.
From the tribe of Zebulun, the families of his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel, were counted and totaled 60,500, which was an increase of 3100 since the first census.
That ends this short post because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. To continue the census count:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 4
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, and all these names are of importance, I have separated chapter 26 into multiple posts. It began here:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
(Numbers 26:12) The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; (13) Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
In Part 1 in the last post, a census had begun of all the Israelite men twenty years and older who were able-bodied enough for war. It now continues with the tribe of Simeon and his sons, Nemuel, Jamin, Jachin, Zerah, and Shaul, and their families. Note that this Nemuel is not the same as the son of Eliab, from the tribe of Reuben.
(14) These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.
The census counted 22,200 Simeonites twenty years and older and able-bodied for war. 38 years prior when a census had been taken there were 59,300 of same such men (Numbers 1:23). Also notable is that there is no mention of Simeon's son Ohad (Exodus 6:15). It seems his entire family became extinct in the wilderness. Many Bible scholars believe that most of the 24,000 who died in the plague for the idolatry of Baal-peor were of the Simeonite tribe, because Zimri who showed himself to be the most depraved was a prince of that tribe (Numbers 25:14), and likely influenced those of his following.
(15) The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; (16) Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; (17) Of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
Next were counted the tribe of Gad and his sons, Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ozni, Eri, Arod, and Areli, and all their families.
(18) These are the families of the children of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand five hundred.
The census counted 40,500 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older of the tribe of Gad. Gad's numbers had decreased 5150 from the last census 38 years prior.
Again I will have to cut this post very short because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. Chapter 26 continues here:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
(Numbers 26:12) The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; (13) Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
In Part 1 in the last post, a census had begun of all the Israelite men twenty years and older who were able-bodied enough for war. It now continues with the tribe of Simeon and his sons, Nemuel, Jamin, Jachin, Zerah, and Shaul, and their families. Note that this Nemuel is not the same as the son of Eliab, from the tribe of Reuben.
(14) These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.
The census counted 22,200 Simeonites twenty years and older and able-bodied for war. 38 years prior when a census had been taken there were 59,300 of same such men (Numbers 1:23). Also notable is that there is no mention of Simeon's son Ohad (Exodus 6:15). It seems his entire family became extinct in the wilderness. Many Bible scholars believe that most of the 24,000 who died in the plague for the idolatry of Baal-peor were of the Simeonite tribe, because Zimri who showed himself to be the most depraved was a prince of that tribe (Numbers 25:14), and likely influenced those of his following.
(15) The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; (16) Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; (17) Of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
Next were counted the tribe of Gad and his sons, Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ozni, Eri, Arod, and Areli, and all their families.
(18) These are the families of the children of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand five hundred.
The census counted 40,500 able-bodied men of war twenty years and older of the tribe of Gad. Gad's numbers had decreased 5150 from the last census 38 years prior.
Again I will have to cut this post very short because Blogger limits the number of labels per post. Chapter 26 continues here:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 3
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 1
Continuing with a chronological Bible study designed by Skip Andrews:
(Numbers 26:1) And it came to pass, after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, (2) “Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel.”
In the last chapter and post, Israel had suffered a plague because of their adultery and idolatry, and 24,000 of them died. At this time, after that plague, the Lord told Moses and Eleazar, Aaron's son, the priest, to take a census of the Israelites throughout all their families to count those who were twenty years and older and able to go to war. I imagine there were some who were much older than twenty who were not able-bodied enough to go to war.
(3) And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, (4) “Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward, as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt.”
Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with the Israelites, perhaps the heads of their families, telling them to take a census of the men, twenty years and older, just as the Lord had commanded they do when they came out of Egypt, back in Numbers 1:2-3. The congregation of Israel was still in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho.
(5) Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben--Hanoch, of whom came the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; (6) Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
The census began with the oldest son of Jacob or Israel, that is Reuben, and his four sons, Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi, and their four resulting families.
(7) These are the families of the Reubenites, and they who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.
All of the Reubenites, twenty years and older, able-bodied for war, totaled 43,730. Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, made a chart of the number of each tribe at the earlier census at Mount Sinai and compared it to the present census. The Reubenites had decreased by 2770 men in 38 years. Although their numbers had surely increased over 38 years' time, they had been decreased by plagues.
(8) And the son of Pallu was Eliab. (9) And the sons of Eliab--Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD. (10) And the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign.
The son of Reuben's son Pallu was Eliab. Eliab's sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the ones who teamed up with Korah to come against Moses and Aaron in chapter 16 of Numbers. At that time the earth opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the company of 250 men who had offered improper incense, and they had become a sign to Israel that no man outside the line of Aaron, the priests, was to offer incense before the Lord. Additionally, 14,700 people had died in a plague immediately following this incident because they complained about Moses and Aaron killing the people of the Lord. This incident was repeated here to explain why there were no descendants of Dathan and Abiram to be counted. There don't appear to be any descendants of Nemuel to be counted, unless they were counted as Palluites.
(11) Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.
The children of Korah did not die in the events reported in chapter 16 of Numbers. Although we were told that "all that appertained" to Korah was destroyed, this appears to have been only those in his company that came against Moses and Aaron and offered the improper incense. We were told specifically in Numbers 16:27 that the wives and children of Dathan and Abiram joined them, but apparently the family of Korah did not.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, and because all these names are of importance, I have separated chapter 26 into multiple posts. To continue the study on chapter 26:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
(Numbers 26:1) And it came to pass, after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, (2) “Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel.”
In the last chapter and post, Israel had suffered a plague because of their adultery and idolatry, and 24,000 of them died. At this time, after that plague, the Lord told Moses and Eleazar, Aaron's son, the priest, to take a census of the Israelites throughout all their families to count those who were twenty years and older and able to go to war. I imagine there were some who were much older than twenty who were not able-bodied enough to go to war.
(3) And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, (4) “Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward, as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt.”
Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with the Israelites, perhaps the heads of their families, telling them to take a census of the men, twenty years and older, just as the Lord had commanded they do when they came out of Egypt, back in Numbers 1:2-3. The congregation of Israel was still in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho.
(5) Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben--Hanoch, of whom came the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; (6) Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
The census began with the oldest son of Jacob or Israel, that is Reuben, and his four sons, Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi, and their four resulting families.
(7) These are the families of the Reubenites, and they who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.
All of the Reubenites, twenty years and older, able-bodied for war, totaled 43,730. Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, made a chart of the number of each tribe at the earlier census at Mount Sinai and compared it to the present census. The Reubenites had decreased by 2770 men in 38 years. Although their numbers had surely increased over 38 years' time, they had been decreased by plagues.
(8) And the son of Pallu was Eliab. (9) And the sons of Eliab--Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD. (10) And the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign.
The son of Reuben's son Pallu was Eliab. Eliab's sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the ones who teamed up with Korah to come against Moses and Aaron in chapter 16 of Numbers. At that time the earth opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the company of 250 men who had offered improper incense, and they had become a sign to Israel that no man outside the line of Aaron, the priests, was to offer incense before the Lord. Additionally, 14,700 people had died in a plague immediately following this incident because they complained about Moses and Aaron killing the people of the Lord. This incident was repeated here to explain why there were no descendants of Dathan and Abiram to be counted. There don't appear to be any descendants of Nemuel to be counted, unless they were counted as Palluites.
(11) Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.
The children of Korah did not die in the events reported in chapter 16 of Numbers. Although we were told that "all that appertained" to Korah was destroyed, this appears to have been only those in his company that came against Moses and Aaron and offered the improper incense. We were told specifically in Numbers 16:27 that the wives and children of Dathan and Abiram joined them, but apparently the family of Korah did not.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, and because all these names are of importance, I have separated chapter 26 into multiple posts. To continue the study on chapter 26:
Census of Israel in the Plains of Moab, Part 2
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Israel Enticed by Daughters of Moab and Midian to Whoredom and Idolatry
Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Numbers 25:1) And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
In the past few chapters and posts, Israel was camped in the plains of Moab along the Jordan River across from Jericho. This is where they camped when Balak brought Balaam to see them in order to curse them because he feared them coming into his land. Instead Balaam, with God's words in his mouth, had greatly blessed them. Now we see more specifically that they dwelt in Shittim. "Shittiym" literally means "acacia trees", and Shittim was so named because of the abundance of acacia trees that grew there. Thanks to this wonderfully clear map compliments of Ralph F. Wilson, we see that Shittim was the same place in the plains of Moab where they had been in the past three chapters:
While they were encamped at Shittim, which would be their last station in the wilderness before they entered Canaan, it seems they began to mingle with the women of Moab, and Midian, too, as we'll soon see. They began to commit whoredom which probably meant sexually and spiritually. I still couldn't see why the old commentaries I study still wanted to blame Balaam for this, until Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, referenced Revelation 2:14, when the Lord addressed the churches, and said this:
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication."
If the Lord said it, I know it is true! That verse in Revelation shows that the whoredom was both sexual and spiritual. Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, wrote that records of the neighboring cities of the plain suggest that these people were more than just "ordinarily licentious". In his prophecy, Balaam had said that whoever blessed Israel would be blessed, and that those who cursed Israel would be cursed. Perhaps he encouraged the Moabites and Midianites to charm the Israelites by sending in their women. Matthew Henry wrote so eloquently and truthfully:
"Those are our worst enemies that draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. If Balak had drawn out his armed men against them to fight them, Israel had bravely resisted, and no doubt had been more than conquerors; but now that he sends his beautiful women among them, and invites them to his idolatrous feasts, the Israelites basely yield, and are shamefully overcome: those are smitten with his harlots that could not be smitten with his sword. Note, we are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of a frowning world."
(2) And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Indeed, we see that the charming women of Moab coaxed many of the Israelites to commit spiritual whoredom by eating things sacrificed to idols and bowing down to them.
(3) And Israel joined to Baal-peor, and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
It seems Israel wholly accepted the false god Baal-peor, so called probably because Baal was worshiped at the top of Peor. The righteous anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. No sin could be worse than idolatry. There is only salvation and life in the one true God; any other god leads only to sin and death.
Recently, I have reflected on how all people innately know that there is something larger than themselves, and they feel a need to worship it. We all instinctively know there is a God; it's just many follow false ones. Even atheists who think they don't believe in a god, believe in something, whether it's nature or something within themselves that has to be cultivated and reached at a higher level. We know there is something higher than ourselves. What makes it higher? Why do we think it needs to be worshiped? To me, it only makes sense that we instinctively know that there was a Creator God who created us and everything around us and we owe everything to Him. The egotistical part of us sometimes wants to run from that. We may listen to Satan, who whispers the same lies as he did in the garden of Eden, "Did God really say that? You won't die. God knows you can be as God." We instinctively know God; God in His mercy, gave us that innate knowledge, so that we may all accept Him. When you think about it, why would anyone go anywhere else to look for that Higher Being? What other god has ever been so historically written about and tested with such scrutiny? Why would God who wants us to seek and find Him be obscure and hard to find, as some would believe in an obscure god and believe they have found the true answer? There is none but Him, and we all know it, although some choose to reject it.
(4) And the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel."
The Lord told Moses to take all the leaders of the people and hang them up before the Lord. I don't believe as some that they were to be hung by the neck. The original word "yaqa" means "to be dislocated, be alienated" and can also mean "hang up". I think this hanging up was more to put them on display before the Lord and having them face the sun. Being in full sunshine might have been to make them public and in full view of the congregation, but it may have also been as Dr. John Gill suggested in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, "...and if it was the sun that was worshipped in this idol, as some think, they were hanged against the sun, to show that the idol they worshipped was not able to deliver them; but, in the face of it, and as it were in defiance of it, they were ordered to be hanged up." This was done to hopefully begin to remedy the situation and appease the fierce anger of the Lord.
(5) And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you slay his men who were joined to Baal-peor.”
Moses told each of the judges of Israel to kill or order to be killed his men who had joined themselves to Baal-peor. There are varying interpretations of these verses. I originally felt like the rulers were hung up in view of the people and then Moses told the judges to find the guilty ones under each one's jurisdiction and kill just the guilty ones. It might be as some suggested, that the literal heads of the people were hung before the Lord. Note the Lord said to take all the heads of the people, and Moses, in response, told the judges to slay the guilty parties. It may have been just the guilty heads were hung, or it might be that the leaders of the people were hung because they were, if not guilty themselves, at least complicit by doing nothing to rein in the behavior of the people under their charge. Our rulers are held to higher standards.
(6) And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
While the congregation stood weeping before the door of the tabernacle with Moses, because of all that was going on with the heads and the slaying of the people joined with Baal-peor, one of the Israelites actually had the audacity to bring a Midianite woman with him in the sight of Moses and all the congregation.
(7) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; (8) And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, saw this man and this Midianite woman, he took his javelin and went after the man and woman and killed them both. Phinehas was in line to be high priest, and obviously a righteous judge to follow the order of Moses to slay all those who had joined themselves to Baal-peor. Indeed, the Lord approved of this righteous act to cleanse the camp of those who had joined themselves to Baal-peor, and stayed the plague from the children of Israel. Whether this was an actual pestilence that had broken out among the people because of their physical and spiritual adultery, as the historian Josephus suggested, or a plague of death ordered by the Lord to kill all those who had allowed themselves to be joined to Baal-peor, this judgment was stopped because of the zealous act of Phinehas.
(9) And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
24,000 died in this "plague". Much attention was given by the commentaries I study to the fact that the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:8 about this incident, "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day twenty-three thousand." I personally didn't see a need to reconcile the numbers, but the commentators did, and as they did so with almost unanimity, I will consider it important enough to note here. They seem to agree that Paul spoke of the ones who "fell" as opposed to Moses counting all who died, by hanging, slaying, or some immediate plague of the Lord. I would think those who were slain by the judges would be considered fallen, so maybe the additional 1000 were those hung before the Lord before the slaying began. Any way you look at it, a great number of Israelites were killed because of their great sin of idolatry and adultery.
(10) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (11) “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I did not consume the children of Israel in My jealousy."
The Lord told Moses that it was the zeal of Phinehas that turned His wrath away from the children of Israel. It was because he was zealous for his Lord's sake. The original word "qinah" that was translated as "sake" can also mean "zeal". Phinehas acted with the zeal of the Lord; he was zealous with the Lord's zeal. The Lord knows the heart, and because of the terrible affront and disrespect for his Lord, Phinehas had jumped up and acted decisively to destroy those who had acted so irreverently. Some of the commentators I study made it a point to say that Phinehas's deed of vengeance cannot be condoned as a routine way of handling such instances, condemning revenge. Once again, I say that God knows the heart, and this was, after all, a different time when the Lord actually dwelt among His people. Phinehas could not allow such a detestable act to be done in the presence of His Lord. Now we have Jesus and the teaching that we love our enemies and do good for them and let vengeance be the Lord's. It's not that the law changed; it's that Jesus's blood now covers sin. Phinehas shed blood to cover the sin of Israel for the Lord's sake, and that was a picture of the Christ to come who would have His blood shed to cover our sins.
Note that the Lord's jealousy is not as trivial as what we think of jealousy today. We think of jealousy as envy. The Lord is certainly not envious that people look to false idols rather than to Him! As I have explored before, there are two other dictionary definitions of "jealous", "solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something" and "intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry". I believe these are the more accurate descriptions of God's jealousy for His people. God loved His people as the most loving husband would love his spouse, actually much more, and He is jealous for their fidelity, solicitous and vigilant in guarding it, because that is what is best for His people. It's not that He is envious and needs His children's love and fidelity; it's because His children need it! He loves His children and in His mercy, He is jealous and zealous to turn them back to their only source of eternal life with Him.
(12) “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace.'"
The Lord continued speaking to Moses and told him to declare that the Lord gave Phinehas His covenant of peace, as he had certainly made peace between God and His people by his heroic action.
(13) "'And he shall have it, and his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.'"
The Lord said He gave Phinehas His covenant of peace. He may have meant the everlasting priesthood, as that is what His covenant with Levi was called in Malachi 2:5--"My covenant was with him (Levi) of life and peace." Even though Phinehas was in line for the priesthood and would have it upon his father's death, here the Lord had promised him at that moment an everlasting priesthood for him and his descendants after him because of his zeal for his Lord. And because he was zealous for his Lord, he had made atonement for the children of Israel, which was the duty of the priests.
(14) Now the name of the Israelite who was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
The Israelite who was killed by Phinehas is identified as Zimri, son of Salu. The word "ab" translated as "chief" literally means "father", so Zimri was probably called a prince of his father Salu's house, one of the families of the Simeonites.
(15) And the name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a chief house in Midian.
The Midianite woman is also identified as Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was later said to be one of the five kings of the Midianites (Numbers 31:8).
(16) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (17) "Vex the Midianites, and smite them."
The Lord spoke again to Moses telling him to "vex" the Midianites. The original word used was "tsarar" and literally meant "to cramp an adversary", by implication "to besiege", and actually the Lord went on to tell Moses to smite or slay them.
(18) "For they vex you with their wiles, by which they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake."
The reason the Lord gave to slay the Midianites was because they had vexed the Israelites with their wiles, that is, with cunning methods to draw them into association and kinship with them. The Midianites had charmed and misled the Israelites into accepting the false idol Baal-peor, and in accepting the likes of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, who had been brought into their midst, but who was slain in the day of the plague that had been sent because of the worshiping of Baal-peor.
The moral of this story, or rather this historical event, as "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tmothy 3:16), is to show how easily we can be led astray by our fleshly desires. And the fact that satisfying our fleshly lusts will almost always lead to more sin and idolatry. Think about how Israel abode in Shittim with their promised land in full view. God had done so much for them, and they were finally at their destination, and yet they allowed themselves to be tempted by these women, and seemed to be happy to stay where they were. They enjoyed mingling with the beautiful women which led to committing lewdness with them, and then they were easily drawn into doing other things with them, like participating in the idolatrous feasts and eventually worshiping their god. Zimri had taken it a step further bringing a harlot boldly back to the Israelite camp. Moses and the congregation of Israel were weeping at the door of the tabernacle in sorrow and repentance for the sin they had committed and for the resulting plague. Zimri shamefully brought a harlot among them and went into a tent with her, which implies he planned on more than a casual visit. He declared his sin as Sodom, a reference to Isaiah 3:9, and gloried in his shameful act in dishonoring God.
Once we give into temptation, it becomes easier to pile on sin until the point we turn completely away from God or He turns His face from us and gives us over to our vile affections (Romans 1:26). Also in Romans 1 is the verse, "Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32). This was an obvious censure by God to those who give approval to those who sin. Not only must we be vigilant against our own temptation to sin, but we must be zealous for God and His laws. God hates the lukewarm Christian (Revelation 3:16). This is not to say that we are to go around killing sinners, certainly not! As was discussed earlier, we are in a different age where Jesus now dwelt with sinners, and is an intercessor between sinful man and a righteous God who cannot look upon sin. In the Old Testament we get glimpses of Christ through the actions of OT heroes like Phinehas here who interceded for the people and rid them of the sin in their camp. Through his zealous act, Israel was saved from the plague. Although we don't take justice into our own hands now, we have plenty of references in the New Testament that tell us not to condone sin, but to be zealous for God's laws. We love the sinner, but hate the sin. We are all sinners, and we certainly don't want to be hated and shunned for our sins, but neither should we want to be left to wallow in it and die. It's a far more loving thing to want to remove the stumbling blocks that cause people to sin, such as sinful laws like abortion on demand and homosexual marriage. Let's be zealous for things that honor God and zealous to remove things that dishonor Him!
(Numbers 25:1) And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
In the past few chapters and posts, Israel was camped in the plains of Moab along the Jordan River across from Jericho. This is where they camped when Balak brought Balaam to see them in order to curse them because he feared them coming into his land. Instead Balaam, with God's words in his mouth, had greatly blessed them. Now we see more specifically that they dwelt in Shittim. "Shittiym" literally means "acacia trees", and Shittim was so named because of the abundance of acacia trees that grew there. Thanks to this wonderfully clear map compliments of Ralph F. Wilson, we see that Shittim was the same place in the plains of Moab where they had been in the past three chapters:
While they were encamped at Shittim, which would be their last station in the wilderness before they entered Canaan, it seems they began to mingle with the women of Moab, and Midian, too, as we'll soon see. They began to commit whoredom which probably meant sexually and spiritually. I still couldn't see why the old commentaries I study still wanted to blame Balaam for this, until Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, referenced Revelation 2:14, when the Lord addressed the churches, and said this:
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication."
If the Lord said it, I know it is true! That verse in Revelation shows that the whoredom was both sexual and spiritual. Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, wrote that records of the neighboring cities of the plain suggest that these people were more than just "ordinarily licentious". In his prophecy, Balaam had said that whoever blessed Israel would be blessed, and that those who cursed Israel would be cursed. Perhaps he encouraged the Moabites and Midianites to charm the Israelites by sending in their women. Matthew Henry wrote so eloquently and truthfully:
"Those are our worst enemies that draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. If Balak had drawn out his armed men against them to fight them, Israel had bravely resisted, and no doubt had been more than conquerors; but now that he sends his beautiful women among them, and invites them to his idolatrous feasts, the Israelites basely yield, and are shamefully overcome: those are smitten with his harlots that could not be smitten with his sword. Note, we are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of a frowning world."
(2) And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Indeed, we see that the charming women of Moab coaxed many of the Israelites to commit spiritual whoredom by eating things sacrificed to idols and bowing down to them.
(3) And Israel joined to Baal-peor, and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
It seems Israel wholly accepted the false god Baal-peor, so called probably because Baal was worshiped at the top of Peor. The righteous anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. No sin could be worse than idolatry. There is only salvation and life in the one true God; any other god leads only to sin and death.
Recently, I have reflected on how all people innately know that there is something larger than themselves, and they feel a need to worship it. We all instinctively know there is a God; it's just many follow false ones. Even atheists who think they don't believe in a god, believe in something, whether it's nature or something within themselves that has to be cultivated and reached at a higher level. We know there is something higher than ourselves. What makes it higher? Why do we think it needs to be worshiped? To me, it only makes sense that we instinctively know that there was a Creator God who created us and everything around us and we owe everything to Him. The egotistical part of us sometimes wants to run from that. We may listen to Satan, who whispers the same lies as he did in the garden of Eden, "Did God really say that? You won't die. God knows you can be as God." We instinctively know God; God in His mercy, gave us that innate knowledge, so that we may all accept Him. When you think about it, why would anyone go anywhere else to look for that Higher Being? What other god has ever been so historically written about and tested with such scrutiny? Why would God who wants us to seek and find Him be obscure and hard to find, as some would believe in an obscure god and believe they have found the true answer? There is none but Him, and we all know it, although some choose to reject it.
(4) And the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel."
The Lord told Moses to take all the leaders of the people and hang them up before the Lord. I don't believe as some that they were to be hung by the neck. The original word "yaqa" means "to be dislocated, be alienated" and can also mean "hang up". I think this hanging up was more to put them on display before the Lord and having them face the sun. Being in full sunshine might have been to make them public and in full view of the congregation, but it may have also been as Dr. John Gill suggested in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, "...and if it was the sun that was worshipped in this idol, as some think, they were hanged against the sun, to show that the idol they worshipped was not able to deliver them; but, in the face of it, and as it were in defiance of it, they were ordered to be hanged up." This was done to hopefully begin to remedy the situation and appease the fierce anger of the Lord.
(5) And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you slay his men who were joined to Baal-peor.”
Moses told each of the judges of Israel to kill or order to be killed his men who had joined themselves to Baal-peor. There are varying interpretations of these verses. I originally felt like the rulers were hung up in view of the people and then Moses told the judges to find the guilty ones under each one's jurisdiction and kill just the guilty ones. It might be as some suggested, that the literal heads of the people were hung before the Lord. Note the Lord said to take all the heads of the people, and Moses, in response, told the judges to slay the guilty parties. It may have been just the guilty heads were hung, or it might be that the leaders of the people were hung because they were, if not guilty themselves, at least complicit by doing nothing to rein in the behavior of the people under their charge. Our rulers are held to higher standards.
(6) And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
While the congregation stood weeping before the door of the tabernacle with Moses, because of all that was going on with the heads and the slaying of the people joined with Baal-peor, one of the Israelites actually had the audacity to bring a Midianite woman with him in the sight of Moses and all the congregation.
(7) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; (8) And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, saw this man and this Midianite woman, he took his javelin and went after the man and woman and killed them both. Phinehas was in line to be high priest, and obviously a righteous judge to follow the order of Moses to slay all those who had joined themselves to Baal-peor. Indeed, the Lord approved of this righteous act to cleanse the camp of those who had joined themselves to Baal-peor, and stayed the plague from the children of Israel. Whether this was an actual pestilence that had broken out among the people because of their physical and spiritual adultery, as the historian Josephus suggested, or a plague of death ordered by the Lord to kill all those who had allowed themselves to be joined to Baal-peor, this judgment was stopped because of the zealous act of Phinehas.
(9) And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
24,000 died in this "plague". Much attention was given by the commentaries I study to the fact that the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:8 about this incident, "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day twenty-three thousand." I personally didn't see a need to reconcile the numbers, but the commentators did, and as they did so with almost unanimity, I will consider it important enough to note here. They seem to agree that Paul spoke of the ones who "fell" as opposed to Moses counting all who died, by hanging, slaying, or some immediate plague of the Lord. I would think those who were slain by the judges would be considered fallen, so maybe the additional 1000 were those hung before the Lord before the slaying began. Any way you look at it, a great number of Israelites were killed because of their great sin of idolatry and adultery.
(10) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (11) “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I did not consume the children of Israel in My jealousy."
The Lord told Moses that it was the zeal of Phinehas that turned His wrath away from the children of Israel. It was because he was zealous for his Lord's sake. The original word "qinah" that was translated as "sake" can also mean "zeal". Phinehas acted with the zeal of the Lord; he was zealous with the Lord's zeal. The Lord knows the heart, and because of the terrible affront and disrespect for his Lord, Phinehas had jumped up and acted decisively to destroy those who had acted so irreverently. Some of the commentators I study made it a point to say that Phinehas's deed of vengeance cannot be condoned as a routine way of handling such instances, condemning revenge. Once again, I say that God knows the heart, and this was, after all, a different time when the Lord actually dwelt among His people. Phinehas could not allow such a detestable act to be done in the presence of His Lord. Now we have Jesus and the teaching that we love our enemies and do good for them and let vengeance be the Lord's. It's not that the law changed; it's that Jesus's blood now covers sin. Phinehas shed blood to cover the sin of Israel for the Lord's sake, and that was a picture of the Christ to come who would have His blood shed to cover our sins.
Note that the Lord's jealousy is not as trivial as what we think of jealousy today. We think of jealousy as envy. The Lord is certainly not envious that people look to false idols rather than to Him! As I have explored before, there are two other dictionary definitions of "jealous", "solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something" and "intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry". I believe these are the more accurate descriptions of God's jealousy for His people. God loved His people as the most loving husband would love his spouse, actually much more, and He is jealous for their fidelity, solicitous and vigilant in guarding it, because that is what is best for His people. It's not that He is envious and needs His children's love and fidelity; it's because His children need it! He loves His children and in His mercy, He is jealous and zealous to turn them back to their only source of eternal life with Him.
(12) “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace.'"
The Lord continued speaking to Moses and told him to declare that the Lord gave Phinehas His covenant of peace, as he had certainly made peace between God and His people by his heroic action.
(13) "'And he shall have it, and his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.'"
The Lord said He gave Phinehas His covenant of peace. He may have meant the everlasting priesthood, as that is what His covenant with Levi was called in Malachi 2:5--"My covenant was with him (Levi) of life and peace." Even though Phinehas was in line for the priesthood and would have it upon his father's death, here the Lord had promised him at that moment an everlasting priesthood for him and his descendants after him because of his zeal for his Lord. And because he was zealous for his Lord, he had made atonement for the children of Israel, which was the duty of the priests.
(14) Now the name of the Israelite who was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
The Israelite who was killed by Phinehas is identified as Zimri, son of Salu. The word "ab" translated as "chief" literally means "father", so Zimri was probably called a prince of his father Salu's house, one of the families of the Simeonites.
(15) And the name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a chief house in Midian.
The Midianite woman is also identified as Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was later said to be one of the five kings of the Midianites (Numbers 31:8).
(16) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (17) "Vex the Midianites, and smite them."
The Lord spoke again to Moses telling him to "vex" the Midianites. The original word used was "tsarar" and literally meant "to cramp an adversary", by implication "to besiege", and actually the Lord went on to tell Moses to smite or slay them.
(18) "For they vex you with their wiles, by which they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake."
The reason the Lord gave to slay the Midianites was because they had vexed the Israelites with their wiles, that is, with cunning methods to draw them into association and kinship with them. The Midianites had charmed and misled the Israelites into accepting the false idol Baal-peor, and in accepting the likes of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, who had been brought into their midst, but who was slain in the day of the plague that had been sent because of the worshiping of Baal-peor.
The moral of this story, or rather this historical event, as "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tmothy 3:16), is to show how easily we can be led astray by our fleshly desires. And the fact that satisfying our fleshly lusts will almost always lead to more sin and idolatry. Think about how Israel abode in Shittim with their promised land in full view. God had done so much for them, and they were finally at their destination, and yet they allowed themselves to be tempted by these women, and seemed to be happy to stay where they were. They enjoyed mingling with the beautiful women which led to committing lewdness with them, and then they were easily drawn into doing other things with them, like participating in the idolatrous feasts and eventually worshiping their god. Zimri had taken it a step further bringing a harlot boldly back to the Israelite camp. Moses and the congregation of Israel were weeping at the door of the tabernacle in sorrow and repentance for the sin they had committed and for the resulting plague. Zimri shamefully brought a harlot among them and went into a tent with her, which implies he planned on more than a casual visit. He declared his sin as Sodom, a reference to Isaiah 3:9, and gloried in his shameful act in dishonoring God.
Once we give into temptation, it becomes easier to pile on sin until the point we turn completely away from God or He turns His face from us and gives us over to our vile affections (Romans 1:26). Also in Romans 1 is the verse, "Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32). This was an obvious censure by God to those who give approval to those who sin. Not only must we be vigilant against our own temptation to sin, but we must be zealous for God and His laws. God hates the lukewarm Christian (Revelation 3:16). This is not to say that we are to go around killing sinners, certainly not! As was discussed earlier, we are in a different age where Jesus now dwelt with sinners, and is an intercessor between sinful man and a righteous God who cannot look upon sin. In the Old Testament we get glimpses of Christ through the actions of OT heroes like Phinehas here who interceded for the people and rid them of the sin in their camp. Through his zealous act, Israel was saved from the plague. Although we don't take justice into our own hands now, we have plenty of references in the New Testament that tell us not to condone sin, but to be zealous for God's laws. We love the sinner, but hate the sin. We are all sinners, and we certainly don't want to be hated and shunned for our sins, but neither should we want to be left to wallow in it and die. It's a far more loving thing to want to remove the stumbling blocks that cause people to sin, such as sinful laws like abortion on demand and homosexual marriage. Let's be zealous for things that honor God and zealous to remove things that dishonor Him!
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