Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 1:53
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
53. that there be no wrath ] i.e. Divine judgement for the violation of the sacredness of the Tabernacle; cf. Num 8:19. The Tabernacle was an outward expression of a great religious ideal that of the dwelling of Jehovah in the midst of His people. But the religious ideal of the Jew fell short of the truth revealed in Christianity. The Jew strained every nerve to safeguard the awful unapproachableness of God, whereas the Christian knows that he can ‘draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace’ (Heb 4:16). For this purpose the Jewish writers represented the Tabernacle as surrounded by a cordon of ‘clergy,’ i.e. the sons of Aaron and the three Levitical families. And outside them the laity of Israel pitched their tents according to their tribes, in the positions specified in ch. 2. This arrangement is a counterpart of Ezekiel’s ideal description of the assignment of land to the several tribes round the Temple which should be built when Israel was restored from exile (Ezekiel 48).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
No wrath, to wit, from God, who is very tender of his worship, and will not suffer the profaners of it to go unpunished; whose wrath is called simply wrath by way of eminency, as the most terrible kind of wrath.
Shall keep the charge, i.e. shall suffer no stranger to approach through curiosity, or any other motive.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony,…. Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the four living creatures round the throne, Re 4:6; where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites:
that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel; that is, from the Lord, should any of them approach too near, or meddle with and touch what they had nothing to do with, or go where they should not; such wrath as came upon Uzzah for his error and transgression before observed:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony; the several things in it committed to their charge; see Nu 3:8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(53) That there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel.The word kezeph (wrath) is used to denote some immediate visitation of the hand of God, as, e.g., the plague. Thus, after the plague which broke out in consequence of the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, we read in Num. 18:5 that there be no wrath (kezeph) any more upon the children of Israel. In Num. 8:19 the word negeph (plague) is used in the same sense as kezeph is used here. (Cf. Jos. 9:20; 2Ki. 3:27; 1Ch. 27:24.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
53. That there be no wrath By the Levites encamped around the sacred tabernacle a strong guard was established for its protection, and a safeguard to keep the people from intrusion into the consecrated enclosure, and consequent destruction by the wrath of Jehovah. The spiritual lessons conveyed to us are, the great solemnity and self-examination with which we should approach the sacred mysteries of Christianity, the baptismal font and the holy eucharist, “lest we eat and drink damnation, not discerning the Lord’s body;” and also the carefulness and scrutiny of motives which should characterize every man who desires to enter the high vocation of the Christian ministry.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 1:53. That there be no wrath The service of the Levites, respecting the tabernacle, being mentioned in the preceding verses, it is here particularly enjoined, that they should pitch their tents round about it, that no man might approach nearer than was allowed, and thus incur the Divine wrath or displeasure.
REFLECTIONS.1st, As the Israelites were about to march, they must be regimented. Order in an army is of the last importance. Those who were commanded were expeditious in their work, and in less than three weeks the review, and the register, were completed. Zeal to serve God makes quick work. Every tribe gave account of the families in it; every family, of the houses; every house, the number and age of the males. And in their numbers we see the prophecies eminently fulfilled, in Judah’s increase, in Ephraim’s surpassing Manasseh, and in Reuben, though the eldest, being inferior to many others. Thus they might confirm their faith in future promises, by seeing the fulfilment of past predictions.
2nd, The sum total is exactly the same as when they were numbered before, Exo 38:26. If the Levites were then reckoned, so many of the other tribes had come of age as equalled their number; or they who died were supplied by those who were now passed their twentieth year. God’s providence continues to keep up a proportion between births and burials; and if one militant saint or minister is gone, another springs up in his stead. We may observe here,
1. How fully God accomplished his promise to Abraham. Against every human probability, faith waits patiently, and is fully answered at last.
2. All these, except two, died in the wilderness for their unbelief. Death, the wages of sin, makes dreadful havock; let us fear lest we fall after the same example of unbelief.
3. When God’s Israel shall go up to possess their inheritance in glory, they shall be such a multitude as no man can number.
3rdly, The Levites, being a kind of body-guard to the tabernacle, must not be numbered with the host. Their office was to take down and carry in their marches the holy things; nor must any of the other tribes, on pain of death, intrude into their business. Whilst each man pitched his tent under his own standard, the Levites encamped around the tabernacle, to prevent profane intrusion, and to be ready in waiting on the service. Note; 1. It must be every minister’s care to restrain the people from sin. 2. They who are called to the service of God, should have no other engagements, that they may wholly give themselves up to the work of the ministry.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
Ver. 53. Shall pitch round about. ] As the living creatures (the ministers) are between the four and twenty eiders, the congregation of the faithful, and the throne. Rev 4:4
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
pitch = encamp.
that there be no wrath: i.e. no judgment from God. “wrath” put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the judgment inflicted. App-6. Hebrew. kazaph. First occurrence.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shall pitch: Num 1:50, Num 3:7, Num 18:3, 1Ti 4:13-16, 2Ti 4:2
there be: Num 8:19, Num 16:46, Num 18:5, Lev 10:6, 1Sa 6:19, Jer 5:31, Jer 23:15, Act 20:28-31
and the: Num 3:7, Num 3:8, Num 8:24-26, Num 18:3-5, Num 31:30, Num 31:47, 1Ch 23:32, 2Ch 13:10
Reciprocal: Exo 16:34 – General Exo 38:21 – tabernacle of testimony Num 2:2 – about the Num 3:23 – General Num 3:29 – General Num 3:35 – shall Num 3:38 – toward Num 8:26 – to keep Num 9:19 – kept the Num 16:9 – separated Rev 15:5 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 1:53. No wrath From God, who is very tender of his worship, and will not suffer the profaners of it to go unpunished! whose wrath is called simply wrath, by way of eminence, as the most terrible kind of wrath.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath {i} upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
(i) By not having due regard to the tabernacle of the Lord.