6<\/strong>. As valleys are they spread forth<\/em> ] As<\/em> wadies that stretch themselves out<\/strong>; beautifully watered glens stretching away into the distance. Like the three following, it is a simile of luxuriant prosperity.<\/p>\n As lign-aloes<\/em> &c.] Heb. ’ahlm<\/em>. But this word elsewhere denotes a fragrant perfume brought from the far east (Psa 45:8<\/span>, Pro 7:17<\/span>); the tree or plant which yielded it was not indigenous in Palestine or the neighbourhood. See next note.<\/p>\n As cedar trees beside the waters<\/em> ] But cedars do not grow beside water; see art. ‘Cedars’ in Hastings’ DB.<\/em> <\/em> i. On the other hand cedars (not aloes) are spoken of as planted by Jehovah (Psa 104:16<\/span>). It is therefore possible that the words ‘which Jehovah hath planted’ and ‘beside the waters’ have been accidentally transposed. If so, Dillmann’s conjecture ’lm<\/em> ‘palms’ for ’ahlm<\/em> would be very suitable, since palms grow beside water (cf. Exo 15:27<\/span>).<\/p>\n As gardens by the rivers side – <\/B>Balaams language reflects the famous artificial gardens along the banks of his own river, the Euphrates.<\/P> As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted – <\/B>The latter words contain an apparent reference to Paradise (compare Gen 2:8<\/span>). The aloe, imported from China and the far distant east, furnished to the ancients one of the most fragrant and precious of spices; compare Psa 45:8<\/span>; Pro 7:17<\/span>,<\/P> As cedar trees beside the waters – <\/B>i. e., as the noblest of trees branching forth in the fairest of situations: an image of majestic beauty, as that of the last verse was of rare fecundity.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 6<\/span>. Lign aloes which the Lord hath planted<\/B><\/I>] Or, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched; for it is the same word, ohalim<\/I>, which is used in the 5<\/I>th verse. But from other parts of Scripture we find that the word also signifies a species of tree<\/I>, called by some the sandal<\/I> tree, and by others the lignum<\/I> or wood aloes<\/I>. This tree is described as being eight<\/I> or ten<\/I> feet high, with very large leaves growing at the top; and it is supposed that a forest of those at some distance must bear some resemblance to a numerous encampment. As the word comes from the root ahal<\/I>, which signifies to spread<\/I> or branch out<\/I>, and therefore is applied to tents<\/I>, because of their being extended<\/I> or spread out<\/I> on the ground; so when it is applied to trees<\/I> it must necessarily mean such as were remarkable for their widely-extended branches; but what the particular species is, cannot be satisfactorily ascertained. By the Lord’s planting<\/I> are probably meant such trees as grow independently of the cultivation of man<\/I>. – Nullis hominum<\/I> cogentibus<\/I>; or, as Virgil<\/I> expresses it, <\/P> Sponte sua quae se tollunt in luminis oras<\/I>.<\/P> VIRG., Geor. ii., 47.<\/P> <\/P> “Such as sprung up, spontaneously<\/I> into the regions of light. <\/P> As cedar trees<\/B><\/I>] Gabriel Sionita<\/I>, a very learned Syrian Maronite, who assisted in editing the Paris Polyglot, a man worthy of all credit, thus describes the cedars of Mount Lebanon, which he had examined on the spot: –<\/P> <\/P> “The cedar<\/I> grows on the most elevated part of the mountain, is taller than the pine<\/I>, and so thick that five men together could scarcely fathom one. It shoots out its branches at ten or twelve feet from the ground; they are large, and distant from each other, and are perpetually green. The cedar distils a kind of gum, to which different effects are attributed. The wood of it is of a brown colour, very solid, and incorruptible if preserved from wet<\/I>. It bears a small apple, like to that of the pine<\/I>.”<\/P> <\/P> De la Roque<\/I> relates some curious particulars concerning this tree, which he learned from the Maronites of Mount Libanus: “The branches grow in parallel rows round the tree, but lessen gradually from the bottom to the top, shooting out parallel to the horizon, so that the tree is, in appearance, similar to a cone<\/I>. As the snows, which fall in vast quantities on this mountain, must necessarily, by their weight on such a vast surface, break down these branches, nature, or rather the God of nature, has so ordered it, that at the approach of winter, and during the snowy season, the branches erect themselves, and cling close to the body of the tree, and thus prevent any quantity of snow from lodging on them.”<\/P> <\/P> Mr. Maundrell<\/I>, who visited Mount Libanus in 1697, gives the following description of the cedars<\/I> still growing there: –<\/P> <\/P> “These noble trees grow among the snow, near the highest part of Lebanon, and are remarkable, as well for their own age and largeness as for those frequent allusions to them in the word of God. Some of them are very old, and of a prodigious bulk; others younger, and of a smaller size. Of the former I could reckon only sixteen<\/I>, but the latter are very numerous. I measured one of the largest, and found it twelve<\/I> yards and six<\/I> inches in girt, and yet sound<\/I>, and thirty-seven<\/I> yards in the spread of its branches. At about five or six yards from the ground it was divided into five limbs, each of which was equal to a great tree.” – Journey from<\/I> Aleppo to Jerusalem<\/I>, p. 142.<\/P> <\/p>\n Valleys<\/B> ofttimes from a small beginning are spread forth fir and wide. Others, as the brooks<\/I>, or rivers<\/I>, as the word signifies, which stretch out and disperse their waters into several channels, and sometimes farther. Are they spread forth, i.e. the Israelites last mentioned. As gardens by the rivers side<\/I>; pleasant and fruitful, and secured by a fence. <\/P> Trees of lign-aloes; <\/B>an Arabian and Indian tree, of a sweet smell, yielding good shade and shelter both to man and beast; such is Israel, famous among the nations, and not only save themselves, but yielding shelter to all that join themselves to them. <\/P> Which the Lord hath planted; <\/B>which are the best of the kind; such as not man, but God, might seem to have planted, as the best of all sorts are ascribed to God, as the trees, hills, cities, of God<\/I>, &c. Compare Psa 104:16<\/span>. <\/P> As cedar trees, <\/B>which are famous for growth, and height, and strength, and durableness, whence Solomons temple was built of this wood, 1Ki 6:9<\/span>,10<\/span>. <\/P> Beside the waters, <\/B>where trees thrive best. <\/P> <\/p>\n 6. As the valleys<\/B>Hebrew,<\/I>“brooks,” the watercourses of the mountains. <\/P> lign aloes<\/B>an aromaticshrub on the banks of his native Euphrates, the conical form of whichsuggested an apt resemblance to a tent. The redundant imagery ofthese verses depicts the humble origin, rapid progress, andprosperity of Israel.<\/P><\/p>\n As the valleys are they spread forth<\/strong>,…. Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Nu 2:3<\/span> and this may denote the lowness of the saints and people of God in their own eyes, and their largeness in themselves; and especially when the place of their tents shall be enlarged, and the curtains of their habitations be stretched forth in the latter day; and also their fruitfulness, meads, and valleys abounding with herbs and flowers, as the churches of God do with the fruits of the Spirit, grace, and righteousness, and with plants of the Lord’s right hand planting. Some render it as brooks and torrents of water, so the Targum of Jonathan; which diffuse and spread themselves, and on the banks of which stand beautiful trees in goodly order:<\/p>\n as gardens by the river’s side<\/strong>: laid out in a delightful manner, full of flowers, plants, and trees, and well watered; like to these, in several spots, were the people of Israel formed into several camps; and to these may the churches of God be compared, who are distinguished and enclosed by sovereign grace, full of trees of righteousness of the Lord’s planting, watered by the river of divine love, and from Christ the fountain of gardens; see So 4:12<\/span>:<\/p>\n as the trees of lign aloes, which the Lord hath planted<\/strong>: which are not planted and raised by the art and industry of man, but grow up without culture, as the mere produce of nature, under a divine providence; these are called lign wood or tree aloes, to distinguish them from another sort of aloes, which are no other than plants; but these are what the Indians call Calambra or Calembac, and, physicians Xyloaloes and Agallochium, and are of a very aromatic and fragrant scent. This tree is said to be about eight or ten feet high; at the head of it is a large bunch of leaves, which are thick and indented, broad at bottom, but growing narrower towards the point, and about four feet in length; the blossom of it is red, intermixed with yellow, and double like a pink; from this blossom comes fruit, round like a large pea, white and red; the juice of these leaves is drawn out by cutting them with a knife, and received into bottles; the smell of the wood is exquisite w. P. Martyr x speaks of a trunk of lign aloes, which being cut, a sweet savour proceeds from it. It may be observed what Isidore y remarks, that it grows in Arabia, as well as in India, and so might be well known to Balaam. And to these the Israel of God may be compared for their fragrancy, being clothed with the righteousness of Christ, all whose garments smell of or like these aloes, Ps 45:8<\/span> and having the graces of the Spirit of God in them, the smell of which is preferable to all spices, and they themselves are signified by the same, So 4:10<\/span>:<\/p>\n and as cedar trees beside the waters<\/strong>; which are tall and high, large and spreading, durable lasting, to which the righteous are compared,<\/p>\n [See comments on Ps 92:12]<\/span>.<\/p>\n w See Calmet’s Dictionary, and the Supplement to Chamber’s Dictionary, in the word “Aloes”. x Decad. 1. l. 2. y Origin. l. 17. c. 8.<\/p>\n (6) As gardens by the rivers side.<\/strong>It is probable that the allusion may be to the Euphrates, although the definite article is not prefixed to the word nahar <\/em>(river) in the Hebrew. (Comp. Isa. 7:20<\/span>.)<\/p>\n As cedar trees beside the waters.<\/strong>-The difference between cedars which grow beside running water which their roots can reach, and the ordinary type of cedars which throw out their strength in lateral branches is illustrated in Eze. 31:3-4<\/span>, where the proud Assyrian is compared to a cedar having his top among the thick boughs <\/em>(or, the clouds), which the waters made great. (Comp. Psa. 1:3<\/span>; Psa. 92:12<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 6<\/strong>. <\/strong> As the valleys <\/strong> Well watered by brooks. <\/p>\n As gardens <\/strong> Still more lovely than the verdant and flowery valleys. <\/p>\n Lignaloes <\/strong> Aloe-trees abound in Eastern Asia. On account of their fragrance they are highly prized for the preparation of incense and unguents. See Joh 19:39<\/span>. Although this tree is rare in Chaldea or Syria, it is reasonable to suppose it was known to Balaam or he would scarcely have mentioned it as he does. <\/p>\n The Lord hath planted <\/strong> Extraordinary trees are described as “the trees of Jehovah.” See Psa 104:16<\/span>.<\/p>\n Num 24:6<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>As the valleys, <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> Struck with the beauty and regularity of the Israelitish camp, Balaam elegantly compares them to spacious vallies, <\/em>stretching out to a great length; and to beautiful gardens <\/em>laid out along the banks of a river, and adorned with rows of stately trees. “The expression of Balaam,” says the celebrated Scheuchzer, “will appear natural to those, who have ever seen a fine extent of country from the top of a mountain. The prophet, from the summit of mount Peor, beheld the whole camp of the Israelites, arranged according to the disposition which had been made of them by the command of God himself, and separated into what might be called streets. He discovered, as in perspective, the tribes in general, and each one in particular, disposed in the most beautiful order; and he very justly compares the spectacle to those rivers <\/em>which spread themselves through a province, and have gardens <\/em>upon their banks: a plan not only useful and pleasant, but even sometimes necessary. Hence, it happens, that in the hottest countries of Europe, and even in those which are temperate, we see along the sides of lakes and rivers an agreeable scene of gardens, vineyards, verdant meadows, nay, and often fine houses, which are usually inhabited in the summer-time, in order to the being less incommoded by the heat. In these sweet spots the water continually sprinkles the plants, and you always breathe a refreshing air. If we transport ourselves in idea into the Asiatic regions, we shall see that this situation becomes more necessary, in proportion as we advance towards the equator. The road which Balaam had taken along the Euphrates was, doubtless, one of these fine long chains of gardens, such as that which one sees betwixt Padua and Venice.” The expression, as the vallies are they spread forth, <\/em>may be rendered, as streams of water are they extended. <\/em>We have before observed, that the original word nachal, <\/em>is used both for a valley, <\/em>and a stream; <\/em>(see chap. Num 13:23<\/span>.) but the context clearly gives the preference to vallies. <\/em>Houbigant, in order to keep up what he justly calls the correspondence of the sentences, renders it after the Samaritan, Such are the shady vallies; such the gardens by the<\/em> river side; such the trees, <\/em>&c. Balaam, says he, compares the camp of Israel to pleasant vallies and delightful groves, an appearance of which the orderly disposition of the tents exhibited. <\/p>\n As the trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> There were two sorts of aloes; one an odoriferous tree growing in India <\/em>and Arabia, <\/em>called by Pliny , the lign, <\/em>or wood-aloes: <\/em>this is that which is often joined with myrrh in Scripture; as it was of a fragrant smell, and, as Calmet has observed, frequently used in the East as a perfume. The other is a purgative plant. Parkhurst says, the ahalim, <\/em>are trees <\/em>or plants <\/em>of the aromatic kind, so called from their wide shadowing <\/em>branches or leaves for ohel <\/em>signifies a tent. See Pro 7:17<\/span>. Son 4:14<\/span>. Which the Lord hath planted, <\/em>means only which grew of themselves; without culture, without art, solo Dei nutu, <\/em>as Bochart expresses it: so Psa 104:16<\/span>. The cedars of Lebanon <\/em>are said to be planted by God, <\/em>because they grew there most stately, without the art of man; nullis hominum cogentibus, <\/em>as Virgil speaks; see Georg. 2: Num 24:10<\/span>. These, in common speech, we call the productions of nature; but what we vulgarly ascribe to nature, the Scripture language, with more truth and propriety, ascribes to God; for the productions of nature are nothing else than the effects of the Divine power and energy, operating either immediately, or by the mediation of inferior agents, in a certain uniform order which he himself has established. With respect to the cedars, <\/em>every one knows the esteem in which they were held by the ancients, as well for their fragrancy, as on other accounts. Salmasius assures us, that the Greeks always made it a point to burn this wood upon their altars. All these metaphors Balaam makes use of to celebrate the present and future prosperity of the Israelites: a prosperity, the same of which was about to spread itself among all the neighbouring nations, as the perfume of these odoriferous plants is everywhere disseminated by the winds. <\/p>\n Num 24:6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, [and] as cedar trees beside the waters.<\/p>\n Ver. 6. As the trees of lign aloes.<\/strong> ] An odoriferous sweet smelling tree, growing in Arabia, which is said to be a country so sweet that swine cannot live in it.<\/p>\n As the trees of lign aloes, &c. Some codices, with The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read “as tents which Jehovah hath pitched”. <\/p>\n as gardens: Gen 2:8-10, Gen 13:10, Son 4:12-15, Son 6:11, Isa 58:11, Jer 31:12, Joe 3:18 <\/p>\n as the trees: Ahalim, “lign-aloe trees.” This tree, which grows in the East Indies, is described as being eight or ten feet in height, with a stem the thickness of a man’s thigh. At the top grows a large tuft of jagged and thick leaves, thick and indented, broad at the bottom, but growing narrower towards the point, and about four feet in length. The blossoms are red, intermingled with yellow, and double like cloves; from which comes a red and white fruit, of the size of a pea, oblong and triangular, with three apartments filled with seed. The tree has a very beautiful appearance; and a forest of them is said to bear a resemblance to a numerous encampment. Psa 1:3, Jer 17:18 <\/p>\n which the: Psa 104:16, Isa 41:19 <\/p>\n as cedar: Psa 92:12-14, Eze 31:3, Eze 31:4, Eze 47:12 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Num 2:34 – so they 1Ki 4:33 – the cedar tree Son 4:14 – trees Eze 19:10 – she was<\/p>\n As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, [and] as cedar trees beside the waters. 6. As valleys are they spread forth ] As wadies that stretch themselves out; beautifully watered glens stretching away into the distance. Like the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 24:6”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4461\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
<\/P> Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"