Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 11:28
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, [one] of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
28. Joshua was not one of the seventy, but was attached to the sacred Tent as its aedituus or caretaker. Cf. Exo 33:11.
one of his chosen men ] R.V. marg. is probably right from his youth. But Joshua was still in his youth (Exo 33:11). The narrator, writing long after the event, adds parenthetically a general description of Joshua, not merely a description of what he had been at the moment.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 28. My lord Moses, forbid them.]
How often have I blindly done
What zealous Joshua did,
Impatient to the rulers run,
And cried, “My lords, forbid!
Silence the schismatics, constrain
Their thoughts with ours t’ agree,
And sacrifice the souls of men
To idol UNITY!”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
One of his young men, or one of his choice ministers, a chosen or excellent person; which may be emphatically added, to note that even great and good men may mistake and misjudge about the works of God. Or, from his youth, as the words will bear, and the Chaldee, Syriac, &c. render it. So it may be added as a reason why Joshua above others were concerned for Mosess honour and authority. He feared either schism or sedition, or that by their usurpation of authority independently upon Moses, and separately from him, his power and esteem might be lessened, as the next words show.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses,…. That waited upon him, and ministered to him, and executed his orders, especially in civil things, and was to be his successor:
[one] of his young men; not that Joshua was a young man in age, for he must be now between fifty and sixty years of age,
[See comments on Ex 33:11]; nor does the word necessarily suppose that those men were young among whom Joshua was; but choice excellent persons, the principal servants of Moses, at the head of whom Joshua was being his prime minister: the Targum of Onkelos and the Syriac version render it, “from his youth”, joining it with the word servant, as if he was the servant of Moses from his youth, or ever since he was a young man; but Moses had not been out of Midian but about two years, where he had kept his father’s sheep; however, he
answered and said, my lord Moses, forbid them; prophesying, restrain them from it, suffer them not to go on in it; he would have him exert his authority as the chief magistrate, which he thought was affected by their prophesying without his knowledge and consent; and because a word from the root here used signifies a prison, some here interpret it,
“put them in prison,”
which is a sense Jarchi mentions; but it can hardly be thought that Joshua meant that such rigorous measures should be taken, only that they should be rebuked for what they had done, and be charged for the future to be silent.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
28. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses. It is obvious that this foolish and preposterous jealousy arose from a good source. Joshua saw that Moses was so preeminent above all others, as to be justly deemed, after God, the head of the people; he feared, therefore, lest, if any portion of his superiority should be withdrawn, the grace of God would be dispelled and lost. We know, too, that almost every change is injurious, and apt to give a shock to public affairs. In asserting, then, the rights of Moses, he desired, as far as he could, to consult the welfare of all; but the excess of his zeal had some alloy in it, in consequence of the immoderate affection and love which he bore to Moses; just as it often happens to ourselves, that although our desires have a right object, they still go astray into erroneous feelings. So, then, let us learn to revere the most illustrious servants of Christ, as that God alone should be supreme; and that He, who is far above all, should still maintain His pre-eminence. And this will be the case, if we hold fast to the principle, that although “there are diversities of gifts,” yet there is but one Spirit from whom they flow; and although there are “differences of administrations,” yet but one Lord who must be served, (1Co 12:4😉 which also Paul confirms elsewhere, where he teaches us that the gifts are so distributed as that no individual should have all, but each
“
according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Eph 4:7.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(28) My lord Moses, forbid them.The motive which prompted Joshua in making this request appears to have been similar to that which led St. John to forbid the man to cast out devils who did not follow with the Apostles (Mar. 9:38-39; Luk. 9:49-50). But as the man did not cast out devils in his own name, but in that of Christ, so in this case Eldad and Medad prophesied in virtue of the spirit which rested upon them from above, of which the Holy Ghost, not Moses, was the giver. The motives which deterred Eldad and Medad from going to the tent of meeting are unknown. The history teaches the freeness and the sovereignty of the Holy Spirits influences, as afterwards did that of Cornelius, when the Holy Ghost fell upon him and upon those who were with him, previously to the reception of baptism, and they spoke with tongues and magnified God (Act. 10:44-48).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. Joshua See Exo 17:9, and the Introduction to the Book of Joshua, page 7.
My lord This title of respect is applied to Moses by Aaron in Num 12:11, and by the people in Num 32:25.
Forbid them This is the beginning of religious intolerance for nonconformity in worship.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 11:28-29. Joshuathe servant of Moses, &c. See Exo 33:11. Joshua, it should seem, thought that these men’s prophesying, or teaching in the camp, tended to make those gifts common, and to disparage Moses in the eyes of the people: or, perhaps, he thought that it tended to breed a schism, by calling the people away from the tabernacle, the appointed place of meeting, where the rest of the seventy elders were regularly assembled. Thus the disciples forbad one who cast out devils in Christ’s name, because he followed not with them; Luk 9:49-50 and it appears, from the answer both of Moses and of Christ, as if some degree of jealousy rested in the heart of Joshua, as well as of the disciples. Enviest thou for my sake? says Moses; or, rather, art thou jealous on my account? “art thou afraid that their exercise of these prophetic gifts should be a diminution of my honour?”Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, &c.”would to God that they were all inspired to sing the praises of Jehovah, to recommend holiness and religion one to another!”How excellent an answer! How characteristic of the good man! who will not only set others an example of holiness, but will rejoice to see holiness and piety prevail in the world; who will not only wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets, but will contribute, as much as he can, towards enabling them to be so: not envying the blessings which God bestows upon others; but, on the contrary, glad to see the glory of God promoted, either by himself, or any of his fellow-creatures.
REFLECTIONS.Moses obeys the divine mandate, and having told the people the words of the Lord, he gathers the elders before the tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord appears. God never fails to meet those who are found waiting upon him. As they were selected by his order, he furnishes them for their place, bestowing upon them a portion of that spirit which rested on Moses; not diminishing his gifts, but increasing theirs. Grace is an inexhaustible fountain; no man has the less, because of others who partake with him. Hereupon they prophesied. But Joshua, jealous for Moses’s honour, is ready to condemn and silence them for irregularity. Note; (1.) The gifts and graces of others are too often the occasion of envy to us. (2.) What we may think irregular for ourselves, we should not be too hasty to condemn in others. (3.) If men prophesy in the name of Jesus, and souls are edified, we should therein rejoice, though they may not follow with us. (4.) If others increase in usefulness, and we decrease, yet so as the cause prospers, we should be willing to be the last and the least. If God be glorified, that is enough.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, [one] of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
Ver. 28. My lord Moses, forbid. ] Thus, “the spirit that is in us lusteth to envy.” Jam 4:5 Nero omnium erat aemulus, qui quoquo mode animum vulgi moverint, Nero envied every man that excelled.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joshua: Exo 17:9
My Lord: Mar 9:38, Mar 9:39, Luk 9:49, Luk 9:50, Joh 3:26
Reciprocal: Exo 24:13 – his minister Num 13:8 – Oshea Num 27:18 – Take thee Num 27:20 – put some Num 32:27 – as my lord Jos 1:1 – Moses’ minister 1Ch 7:27 – Jehoshuah 1Co 4:6 – be puffed 1Co 14:5 – would
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, [one] of his {q} young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, {r} forbid them.
(q) Or, a young man whom he had chosen from his youth.
(r) Such blind zeal was in the apostles, Mr 9:38, Lu 9:44.