Bible Commentary

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 6. fiery serpents ] The Heb. words are both substantives, and both have the article: ‘the serpents, the fiery creatures.’ If ‘fiery’ is the correct rendering, it probably refers to their venomous bite which produced … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:6”

And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 5. our soul [i.e. appetite] loatheth this worthless bread ] They despised the manna, declaring … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:5”

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 4. by the way to the Red Sea ] Throughout the whole of the detour no encampments are named until Israel reaches the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:4”

And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah. 3. the name of the place was called Hormah ] In view of the expression ‘destroyed them and their cities,’ Hormah would seem to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:3”

And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 2. utterly destroy ] i.e. place under a ‘ban,’ Heb. rem. In the next verse the writer plays upon the word, in order to explain the name Hormah, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:2”

And [when] king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took [some] of them prisoners. 1. the Canaanite ] This is perhaps to be understood as a gentilic noun, denoting ‘the Canaanites’ collectively, in which case ‘the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 21:1”

And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, [even] all the house of Israel. i.e. When the congregation understood by the relation of Moses and Eleazar, and by other signs. So seeing is used Gen 42:1; Act 7:12. Thirty days; the time of public and solemn mourning … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:29”

And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. Verse 28. And Aaron died there] Hence, as Dr. Lightfoot has justly observed, we have an “indisputable proof that the earthly Canaan … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:28”

And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. That their hearts might be more affected with their loss of so great a pillar, and that they all might be witnesses of the translation of the priesthood from Aaron to Eleazar, and therefore … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:27”

And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [unto his people], and shall die there. 26. his garments ] the official high-priest’s vestments, with which Eleazar was robed, in token of his succession to the office; cf. Deu 10:6. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:26”