Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 36:13
These [are] the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.
13. A subscription appended to the series of priestly laws related to have been given during the time that Israel was in the land of Moab, i.e. between Num 22:1 and Num 36:12. A similar subscription is appended, in Lev 27:34, to the laws given at Sinai. But after that subscription further laws at Sinai are collected in Numbers 1 ff. It has therefore been conjectured that both subscriptions were added by a scribe, when the Pentateuch was divided into five books.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. These are the commandments, c.] See these different terms analyzed and explained, Clarke “Le 26:15“.
THUS ends the book of Numbers, containing a series of astonishing providences and events. Scarcely any piece of history in the sacred writings is better calculated to impress the mind of a serious reader with a sense of the goodness and severity of God. In every transaction his holiness and justice appear in closest union with his benevolence and mercy. From such a Being what have the wicked not to fear! From such a Father and Friend what have the upright not to hope! His justice requires him to punish iniquity, but his mercy inclines him to pardon all who truly repent and believe in the Son of his love.
The journeyings of this people, from the time they left Egypt, exhibit a series of providential wonders. Every where, and in every circumstance, God appears: and yet there is no circumstance or occasion that does not justify those signal displays of his GRACE and his JUSTICE. The genuine history of God’s providence must be sought for in this book alone and as every occurrence happened as an example, we have authority to conclude that in every case where his own glory and the salvation of man are interested, he will interfere and give the fullest proofs that he is the same to-day that he was yesterday, and will continue unchangeable for ever and ever. Reader, are these matters ensamples to thee? Art thou, like the Israelites, come into the plains of Moab, on the very verge of the promised land? Jordan alone separates thee from the promised inheritance. O, watch and pray, that thou come not short of the glory of God. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death; see then that the sting of death, which is sin, be extracted from thy soul, that, being justified by Christ’s blood, thou mayest be made an heir according to the hope of an eternal life. Amen, amen.
“I will bring you into the WILDERNESS of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face, like as I pleaded with your fathers in the WILDERNESS of the land of Egypt. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and bring you into the bond of the covenant,” Eze 20:35-37.
“He (Christ) is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb 9:15.
SECTIONS In the Book of Numbers, carried on from Leviticus, which ends with the THIRTY-THIRD.
The THIRTY-FOURTH, called bemidbar, begins Nu 1:1, and ends Nu 4:20.
The THIRTY-FIFTH, called nasa, begins Nu 4:21, and ends Nu 7:89.
The THIRTY-SIXTH, called behaalothecha, begins Nu 8:1, and ends Nu 12:16.
The THIRTY-SEVENTH, called shelach, begins Nu 13:1, and ends Nu 15:41.
The THIRTY-EIGHTH, called korach, begins Nu 16:1, and ends Nu 18:32.
The THIRTY-NINTH, called chukkath, begins Nu 19:1, and ends Nu 22:1.
The FORTIETH, called balak, begins Nu 22:2, and ends Nu 25:9.
The FORTY-FIRST, called pinechas, begins Nu 25:10, and ends Nu 30:1.
The FORTY-SECOND, called mattoth, begins Nu 30:2, and ends Nu 32:42.
The FORTY-THIRD, called masey, begins Nu 33:1, and ends Nu 36:13.
MASORETIC Notes on NUMBERS.
The number of verses in this book is 1,288, of which is the symbol: for aleph stands for 1,000, , resh for 200, phe for 80, and cheth for 8.
The middle verse is Nu 17:20. And the man’s rod whom I shall choose shall blossom. (N. B. In our English Bibles this is Nu 17:5.)
Its pareshioth, or larger sections, are 10, expressed by the letters of the word badad, alone: The Lord ALONE did lead him, De 32:12. daleth stands for 4, repeated here, 8, and beth for 2.
Its sedarim, or Masoretic sections, are 32, expressed by the word leb, heart, Ps 51:12: Create in me a clean HEART, O God; in which word beth stands for 2, and lamed for 30.
Its chapters are 36, expressed by the word lu, O! De 32:29: O that they were wise! in which word lamed stands for 30, and vau for 6.
The number of its open sections is 92; its close or shut sections, 66; together 158; expressed in the memorial word chelkecha: I am THY PORTION; in which word koph stands for 100, lamed for 30, caph for 20, and , cheth for 8.
Though this sort of notations may appear trifling to some, yet to an upright Jew they were of much consequence. The very technical words used in such cases put him always in mind of something in which the glory of God and the happiness and salvation of his own soul were concerned. See the note at the end of Genesis, See Clarke on Ge 50:26, and see the concluding notes on the Book of Deuteronomy. See Clarke on De 34:10.
Revised and corrected for a new edition, August 4th, 1827. – A. CLARKE.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
13. These are the commandments andthe judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto thechildren of Israel in the plains of MoabThe Israelitishencampment was on an extensive plateau north of the Arnon, which,though wrested from the Moabites by Sihon and Og, still retained thename of its original possessors. The particular site, as indicated bythe words “Jordan near Jericho,” is now called El-Kouraalarge plain lying not far from Nebo, between the Arnon and a smalltributary stream, the Wael [BURCKHARDT].It was a desert plain on the eastern bank, and marked only by grovesof the wild, thorny acacia tree.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
These are the commandments and the judgments,…. The judicial laws concerning the division of the land of Canaan, the case of inheritances in it, and the cities of refuge:
which the Lord commanded by, the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel, in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho; where the Israelites had been ever since they were first observed by Balak king of Moab, and where the various things had been done recorded in the preceding chapters from that time.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The conclusion refers not merely to the laws and rights contained in Num 33:50-36:13, but includes the rest of the laws given in the steppes of Moab (ch. 25-30), and forms the conclusion tot he whole book, which places the lawgiving in the steppes of Moab by the side of the lawgiving at Mount Sinai (Lev 26:46; Lev 27:34) and bring sit to a close, though without in any way implying that the explanation ( , Deu 1:5), further development, and hortatory enforcement of the law and its testimonies, statutes, and judgments (Deu 1:5; Deu 4:44., Num 12:1.), which follow in Deuteronomy, are not of Mosaic origin.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
13. Commandments judgments Referring to all the legislation in the plains of Moab, (chaps. 25-30,) as well as the laws and rights contained in Num 33:50, to the end of the book. This conclusion in no way implies that the exposition of these laws, their further development, and enforcement by exhortations, which follow in Deuteronomy, are not Mosaic, as recent destructive criticism asserts.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Final Summary.
The final summary of the book is here given in what was probably the remnant of a colophon. The journey was over. They were safely in the plains of Moab opposite Jericho on the verge of crossing the Jordan (Num 36:13).
Num 36:13
‘These are the commandments and the ordinances which Yahweh commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.’
What this section of the book contained was the commandments and ordinances commanded by Yahweh to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan, opposite Jericho preparatory to the invasion.
So the book which began with the numbering of Israel prior to inglorious failure and expulsion from the land in unbelief and disobedience, finishes with the numbering of Israel (Numbers 26) which leads up to this triumphant example of faith and obedience. It is not accidental that after the second mobilisation the final part of the book is framed within narratives describing the faith, perseverance, determination and obedience of the daughters of Zelophehad. With a spirit like this, and a faithful and compassionate God like Yahweh, how could Israel now possibly fail?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Num 36:13. These are the commandments and the judgments By commandments, we understand the precepts relating to the worship of God delivered in chapters xxviii, xxix, 30: By the judgments, the civil ordinances, or the laws of civil policy, respecting the division of the land, inheritances, and the cities of refuge; see ch. Num 27:11 Num 35:29. Both the one and the other, which begin at ch. Num 26:13 are mixed with divers orders which God gave to Moses for the numbering of the people, for the punishment of the Midianites, and for writing the journal of the Israelites in the wilderness. By this example and observation of the law for inheritances in the Holy Land, says Dr. Beaumont, the people of God are taught to hold fast their inheritance in his promises, and that right in Christ which they enjoy by faith; that as the Father hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, (Col 1:12.) so they may keep the faith and grace, which they have obtained, unto the end. 1Ki 21:3. Eze 46:18. Jud 1:3. Heb 6:12.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
BEHOLD! my soul, in the perusal of this Chapter, how graciously the LORD watches over his people, in all their concerns. And is he less attentive now? Is his arm shortened, or his ear grown heavy? Must not the people of GOD be very dear to GOD, and doth he not watch over them for good, to guide them in all their ways, and to keep them, lest any hurt them, night and day.
Let the people of GOD learn from this Chapter how suitable and proper it must be, like the daughters of Israel, to be united only to their own tribes. And ought not every true believer in JESUS to be very attentive in the near and tender relations of life, to be united only to such as are united to the LORD? If JESUS cements the union between souls, certainly those united to him will form the truest union with each other, for they that are joined to the LORD are one spirit.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
These. This verse forms the closing Epilogue to the whole book of Numbers.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the commandments: Lev 7:37, Lev 7:38, Lev 11:46, Lev 13:59, Lev 14:54-57, Lev 15:32, Lev 15:33, Lev 27:34
in the plains of Moab: Num 26:3, Num 33:50, Num 35:1
Reciprocal: Exo 21:1 – the judgments Num 22:1 – the children Deu 4:44 – General Deu 6:1 – the commandments Isa 26:8 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:13 These [are] the {f} commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.
(f) Concerning the ceremonial and judicial laws.