Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 5:3
Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
By which caution God would intimate the possibility and danger of mens being made guilty by other mens sins, and the necessary duty of avoiding intimate converse with wicked men.
In the midst whereof I dwell, by my special and gracious presence; and therefore the permission of such impurities is the greater injury and provocation to me, as being done in my sight, and reflecting dishonour upon my name.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Both male and female shall ye put out,…. Whether leprous, or profluvious, or defiled by touching a dead carcass: by this law, Miriam, when leprous, was put out of the camp, Nu 12:14;
without the camp shall ye put them; which is repeated that it might be taken notice of, and punctually observed:
that they defile not their camps; of which there were four, the camps of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan:
in the midst whereof I dwell; for the tabernacle, which was the dwelling place of the Lord, was in the midst of the camps of Israel; they were pitched on the four quarters of it; and this is a reason why impure persons were not suffered to be in the camp of Israel, because of the presence of God in the tabernacle so near them, to whom all, impurity is loathsome, and not to be permitted in his sight; and though this was ceremonial, it was typical of the uncleanness of sin, which is abominable to him, and renders persons unfit for communion with him, and with his people.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Without the camp We are not to suppose that these impure persons were left without shelter. Severe indeed, and inhuman, would this banishment of morally innocent persons be, if there were no provision made for their comfort. Pest-houses specially set apart for lepers outside the towns are found in Palestine to this day. Dr. Robinson mentions one opposite the Zion gate of Jerusalem. May it not be because all manner of spiritual leprosies and impurities are without the camp that we are to go forth thence bearing Christ’s reproach? Heb 13:13.
In the midst whereof I dwell This is the chief reason for the sanitary ceremonial and moral cleansing of the camp. It also typically enforced the practice of moral purity: “Cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 5:3 Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
Ver. 3. Without the camp shall ye put them. ] Evildoers are to be suspended, excommunicated, 1Co 5:13 which text showeth plainly the truth of this ceremony.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
put out, without the camp. Compare Num 12:14, Num 12:15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
without: 1Ki 7:3, 1Co 5:7-13, 2Co 6:17, 2Th 3:6, Tit 3:10, Heb 12:15, Heb 12:16, 2Jo 1:10, 2Jo 1:11, Rev 21:27
defile not: Num 19:22, Hag 2:13, Hag 2:14
in the midst: Lev 26:11, Lev 26:12, Deu 23:14, Psa 68:18, Isa 12:6, 2Co 6:16, Rev 21:3
Reciprocal: Lev 4:12 – without the camp Lev 15:31 – Thus shall Num 12:14 – let her be Num 35:34 – Defile not Deu 23:10 – General Jos 6:23 – left them 2Ch 26:21 – dwelt Mat 8:2 – a leper Luk 17:12 – which
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 5:3. That they defile not the camp By which God would intimate the danger of being made guilty by other mens sins, and the duty of avoiding intimate converse with wicked men. I dwell By my special and gracious presence.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:3 Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the {a} midst whereof I dwell.
(a) There were three types of tents: of the Lord, of the Levites, and of the Israelites.