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26:1 Postquam noxiorum sanguis effusus est, dixit Dominus ad Moysen et Eleazarum filium Aaron sacerdotem :
*H After the blood of the guilty was shed, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest:


Ver. 1. Shed. Heb. and Sept. "after the plague," which destroyed so many. Chal. After all who had murmured were cut off, the new progeny is numbered. S. Jerom. W.

A.M. 2553.
26:2 Numerate omnem summam filiorum Israel a viginti annis et supra, per domos et cognationes suas, cunctos qui possunt ad bella procedere.
*H Number the whole sum of the children of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their houses and kindreds, all that are able to go forth to war.


Ver. 2. Number. This was done, that the general might know what forces he could muster to attack the nations of Chanaan on the west side of the Jordan, and also in order that the lands might be properly distributed. The war lasted seven years, and the distribution of lands was not completed till some time afterwards. It is not clear that those who were not enrolled at this time, as being 20 years of age, would have any portion, except that of their fathers, allotted to them; but it seems however rational, that those who were arrived at that age when the distribution was made, would have their share like the rest. There were 1820 people fewer than in the register which was taken before, (C. i.,) thirteen months after the departure from Egypt. The Levites seem not to have been numbered with the utmost exactitude, as only five families are mentioned, (v. 58, Jans.) though there were many more, 1 Par. xxiii. 6, &c. Their numbers amount to only 23,000. C. — They had rather increased in the desert during 38 years; (see C. iii. 39,) as had also the tribes of Juda, Issachar, and Zabulon, which lay to the east; of Manasses, (who perhaps on that account precedes Ephraim) and Benjamin, to the west; Dan and Aser to the north. Nephtali proved deficient; so did likewise the tribes of Ruben, Simeon, and Gad, who were stationed to the south of the tabernacle. When they were numbered the first and the second time, (Ex. xxxviii. 25, and Num. i. 46,) they amounted to 603,550, exclusively of the Levites. Now they could only count 601,730 men fit for war. Considering their frequent disasters, it is even a matter of surprise that their ranks were not thinned still more, particularly as we are assured that all who had been numbered before, except Josue and Caleb, the Levites, and such as had kept themselves free from murmuring, had perished, v. 64. H. — In the particular accounts of the tribes, and in the names of persons, the Sept. frequently differ from the Hebrew. But the total amount agrees.

26:3 Locuti sunt itaque Moyses et Eleazar sacerdos, in campestribus Moab super Jordanem contra Jericho, ad eos qui erant
Moses therefore and Eleazar the priest, being in the plains of Moab upon the Jordan over against Jericho, spoke to them that were
26:4 a viginti annis et supra, sicut Dominus imperaverat, quorum iste est numerus.
*H From twenty years old and upward, as the Lord had commanded: and this is the number of them:


Ver. 4. Them. Heb. "commanded Moses and the children of Israel, who came forth out of the land of Egypt." The same plan was now to be pursued as formerly.

26:5 Ruben primogenitus Israel : hujus filius, Henoch, a quo familia Henochitarum : et Phallu, a quo familia Phalluitarum :
Ruben the firstborn of Israel. His sons were Henoch, of whom is the family of the Henochites: and Phallu, of whom is the family of the Phalluites:
* Footnote * Genesis 46 : 9 The sons of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu, and Hesron and Charmi.
* Footnote * Exodus 6 : 14 These are the heads of their houses by their families. The sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel: Henoch and Phallu, Hesron and Charmi.
* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 5 : 3 The sons then of Ruben the firstborn of Israel were Enoch, and Phallu, Esron, and Charmi.
26:6 et Hesron, a quo familia Hesronitarum : et Charmi, a quo familia Charmitarum.
And Hesron, of whom is the family of the Hesronites: and Charmi, of whom is the family of the Charmites.
26:7 Hae sunt familiae de stirpe Ruben : quarum numerus inventus est quadraginta tria millia, et septingenti triginta.
*H These are the families of the stock of Ruben: whose number was found to be forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.


Ver. 7. Thirty. They had lost therefore 2870 men. C. i. 21.

26:8 Filius Phallu, Eliab :
The son of Phallu was Eliab.
26:9 hujus filii, Namuel et Dathan et Abiron : isti sunt Dathan et Abiron principes populi, qui surrexerunt contra Moysen et Aaron in seditione Core, quando adversus Dominum rebellaverunt :
*H His sons, were Namuel and Dathan and Abiron. These are Dathan and Abiron the princes of the people, that rose against Moses and Aaron in the sedition of Core, when they rebelled against the Lord:


Ver. 9. Princes. Heb. "men of name in the congregation," senators. Vatab. C. xvi. 2.

26:10 et aperiens terra os suum devoravit Core, morientibus plurimis, quando combussit ignis ducentos quinquaginta viros. Et factum est grande miraculum,
*H And the earth opening her mouth swallowed up Core, many others dying, when the fire burned two hundred and fifty men. And there was a great miracle wrought,


Ver. 10. Miracle. Heb. "they became a sign," of reproach, and a memorial of God's just judgments, who caused the earth to swallow up Core and his companions alive, by a most disgraceful kind of death, to which the faithless vestal virgins were condemned at Rome, being buried alive; while those who had offered incense were consumed by fire. Many of the ancients assert that Core was also burnt, meaning perhaps by the fire of hell; to which he descended. Josep. iv. 3. — Others have thought that the children of Core were swallowed up with their father. But this is not true, with respect to some of them at least, (H.) who by a miracle of the divine grace and goodness, were preserved from joining in his sedition; (C.) while Core, his wife and servants, all concurred to shew them such a pernicious example. H. — Lyran. and the Rabbins tell us, that the children stopped to intreat their father to repent; and while the earth opened under them, God supported them in the air, and gave them the spirit of prophecy; so that they sung, (Ps. xlv.) God is our refuge, &c., or, according to others, the Ps. xli. which has their name in the title. But these accounts are to be received with caution. The Samaritan text, fuerunt in fugam, (C.) may be translated, "out of this world they fled away, (11) and the sons of Core did not perish."

26:11 ut, Core pereunte, filii illius non perirent.
That when Core perished, his sons did not perish.
26:12 Filii Simeon per cognationes suas : Namuel, ab hoc familia Namuelitarum : Jamin, ab hoc familia Jaminitarum : Jachin, ab hoc familia Jachinitarum :
*H The sons of Simeon by their kindreds: Namuel, of him is the family of the Namuelites: Jamin, of him is the family of the Jaminites: Jachim, of him is the family of the Jachimites:


Ver. 12. Namuel. N has been substituted for i, in the name of Iamuel, as it is read elsewhere, and in the Syriac, both here and 1 Par. iv. 24, where Ahod is by mistake written with r, instead of d. See also the Arab. Ken. H.

26:13 Zare, ab hoc familia Zareitarum : Saul, ab hoc familia Saulitarum.
Zare, of him is the family of the Zarites: Saul, of him is the family of the Saulites.
26:14 Hae sunt familiae de stirpe Simeon, quarum omnis numerus fuit viginti duo millia ducenti.
*H These are the families of the stock of Simeon, of which the whole number was twenty-two thousand two hundred.


Ver. 14. Families. Ahod is not mentioned, as he, probably, died without children. See Gen. xlvi. 10. M. — Hundred. Their numbers were the most reduced. See C. xxv. 9. H.

26:15 Filii Gad per cognationes suas : Sephon, ab hoc familia Sephonitarum : Aggi, ab hoc familia Aggitarum : Suni, ab hoc familia Sunitarum :
The sons of Gad by their kindreds: Sephon, of him is the family of the Sephonites: Aggi, of him is the family of the Aggites: Suni, of him is the family of the Sunites:
26:16 Ozni, ab hoc familia Oznitarum : Her, ab hoc familia Heritarum :
Ozni, of him is the family of the Oznites: Her, of him is the family of the Herites:
26:17 Arod, ab hoc familia Aroditarum : Ariel, ab hoc familia Arielitarum.
Arod, of him is the family of the Arodites: Ariel, of him is the family of the Arielites.
26:18 Istae sunt familiae Gad, quarum omnis numerus fuit quadraginta millia quingenti.
*H These are the families of Gad, of which the whole number was forty thousand five hundred.


Ver. 18. Hundred. Sept. add, "4000." This tribe had formerly 45,650. It had lost 5100.

26:19 Filii Juda, Her et Onan, qui ambo mortui sunt in terra Chanaan.
The sons of Juda, Her and Onan, who both died in the land of Chanaan.
* Footnote * Genesis 38 : 3 And she conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Her.
* Footnote * Genesis 38 : 4 And conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan.
26:20 Fueruntque filii Juda per cognationes suas : Sela, a quo familia Selaitarum : Phares, a quo familia Pharesitarum : Zare, a quo familia Zareitarum.
And the sons of Juda by their kindreds were: Sela, of whom is the family of the Selaites: Phares, of whom is the family of the Pharesites: Zare, of whom is the family of the Zarites.
26:21 Porro filii Phares : Hesron, a quo familia Hesronitarum : et Hamul, a quo familia Hamulitarum.
Moreover the sons of Phares were: Hesron, of whom is the family of the Hesronites: and Hamul, of whom is the family of the Hamulites.
26:22 Istae sunt familiae Juda, quarum omnis numerus fuit septuaginta sex millia quingenti.
*H These are the families of Juda, of which the whole number was seventy-six thousand five hundred.


Ver. 22. Hundred. Juda had increased 1900.

26:23 Filii Issachar per cognationes suas : Thola, a quo familia Tholaitarum : Phua, a quo familia Phuaitarum :
The sons of Issachar, by their kindreds: Thola of whom is the family of the Tholaites: Phua, of whom is the family of the Phuaites:
26:24 Jasub, a quo familia Jasubitarum : Semran, a quo familia Semranitarum.
Jasub, of whom is the family of the Jasubites: Semran, of whom is the family of the Semranites.
26:25 Hae sunt cognationes Issachar, quarum numerus fuit sexaginta quatuor millia trecenti.
*H These are the kindreds of Issachar, whose number was sixty-four thousand three hundred.


Ver. 25. Issachar had also 9900 more.

26:26 Filii Zabulon per cognationes suas : Sared, a quo familia Sareditarum : Elon, a quo familia Elonitarum : Jalel, a quo familia Jalelitarum.
The sons of Zabulon by their kindreds: Sared, of whom is the family of the Saredites: Elon, of whom is the family of the Elonites: Jalel, of whom is the family of the Jalelites.
26:27 Hae sunt cognationes Zabulon, quarum numerus fuit sexaginta millia quingenti.
*H These are the kindreds of Zabulon, whose number was sixty thousand five hundred.


Ver. 27. Zabulon was more numerous by 3100; so that this division had an additional strength of 13,100, while the former was diminished by 45,070 men. H.

26:28 Filii Joseph per cognationes suas, Manasse et Ephraim.
The sons of Joseph by their kindred, Manasses and Ephraim.
26:29 De Manasse ortus est Machir, a quo familia Machiritarum. Machir genuit Galaad, a quo familia Galaaditarum.
*H Of Manasses was born Machir, of whom is the family of the Machirites. Machir begot Galaad, of whom is the family of the Galaadites.


Ver. 29. Machir: 1 Par. vii. 20, we find Ezriel also mentioned. See C. xxxi. 39.

* Footnote * Josue 17 : 1 And this lot fell to the tribe of Manasses for he is the firstborn of Joseph to Machir the firstborn of Manasses the father of Galaad, who was a warlike man, and had for possession Galaad and Basan.
26:30 Galaad habuit filios : Jezer, a quo familia Jezeritarum : et Helec, a quo familia Helecitarum :
*H Galaad had sons: Jezer, of whom is the family of the Jezerites: and Helec, of whom is the family of the Helecites:


Ver. 30. Jezer, who is called Abihezer. Jos. xvii. 2. and Paral.

26:31 et Asriel, a quo familia Asrielitarum : et Sechem, a quo familia Sechemitarum :
And Asriel, of whom is the family of the Asrielites: and Sechem, of whom is the family of the Sechemites:
26:32 et Semida, a quo familia Semidaitarum : et Hepher, a quo familia Hepheritarum.
And Semida, of whom is the family of the Semidaites: and Hepher, of whom is the family of the Hepherites.
26:33 Fuit autem Hepher pater Salphaad, qui filios non habebat, sed tantum filias : quarum ista sunt nomina : Maala, et Noa, et Hegla, et Melcha, et Thersa.
And Hepher was the father of Salphaad, who had no sons, but only daughters, whose names are these: Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and Thersa.
26:34 Hae sunt familiae Manasse, et numerus earum quinquaginta duo millia septingenti.
*H These are the families of Manasses, and the number of them fifty-two thousand seven hundred.


Ver. 34. Hundred. Manasses had increased his numbers by 20,500, while

26:35 Filii autem Ephraim per cognationes suas fuerunt hi : Suthala, a quo familia Suthalaitarum : Becher, a quo familia Becheritarum : Thehen, a quo familia Thehenitarum.
And the sons of Ephraim by their kindreds were these: Suthala, of whom is the family of the Suthalaites: Becher, of whom is the family of the Becherites: Thehen, of whom is the family of the Thehenites.
26:36 Porro filius Suthala fuit Heran, a quo familia Heranitarum.
Now the son of Suthala was Heran, of whom is the family of the Heranites.
26:37 Hae sunt cognationes filiorum Ephraim : quarum numerus fuit triginta duo millia quingenti.
*H These are the kindreds of the sons of Ephraim: whose number was thirty-two thousand five hundred.


Ver. 37. Ephraim had lost 8000. H.

26:38 Isti sunt filii Joseph per familias suas. Filii Benjamin in cognationibus suis : Bela, a quo familia Belaitarum : Asbel, a quo familia Asbelitarum : Ahiram, a quo familia Ahiramitarum :
*H These are the sons of Joseph by their families. The sons of Benjamin in their kindreds: Bela, of whom is the family of the Belaites: Asbel, of whom is the family of the Asbelites: Ahiram, of whom is the family of the Ahiramites:


Ver. 38. Bela was the father of two families, v. 40. The other five children of Benjamin probably left no issue. Gen. xlvi. 21. D.

26:39 Supham, a quo familia Suphamitarum : Hupham, a quo familia Huphamitarum.
Supham, of whom is the family of the Suphamites: Hupham, of whom is the family of the Huphamites.
26:40 Filii Bela : Hered, et Noeman. De Hered, familia Hereditarum : de Noeman, familia Noemanitarum.
The sons of Bela: Hered, and Noeman. Of Hered, is the family of the Heredites: of Noeman, the family of the Noemanites.
26:41 Hi sunt filii Benjamin per cognationes suas : quorum numerus fuit quadraginta quinque millia sexcenti.
*H These are the sons of Benjamin by their kindreds, whose number was forty-five thousand six hundred.


Ver. 41. Benjamin had 10,200 added to his former number. Hence this division of the army, though hurt by Ephraim, (v. 37,) had an increase of 22,700.

26:42 Filii Dan per cognationes suas : Suham, a quo familia Suhamitarum. Hae sunt cognationes Dan per familias suas.
The sons of Dan by their kindreds: Suham, of whom is the family of the Suhamites: These are the kindreds of Dan by their families.
26:43 Omnes fuere Suhamitae, quorum numerus erat sexaginta quatuor millia quadringenti.
*H All were Suhamites, whose number was sixty-four thousand four hundred.


Ver. 43. Suhamites. Their father is called Huthim in Genesis, and also by the Sept. This branch of Dan was more numerous than formerly by 1700 soldiers.

26:44 Filii Aser per cognationes suas : Jemna, a quo familia Jemnaitarum : Jessui, a quo familia Jessuitarum : Brie, a quo familia Brieitarum.
The sons of Aser by their kindreds: Jemna, of whom is the family of the Jemnaites: Jessui, of whom is the family of the Jessuites: Brie, of whom is the family of the Brieites.
26:45 Filii Brie : Heber, a quo familia Heberitarum : et Melchiel, a quo familia Melchielitarum.
The sons of Brie: Heber, of whom is the family of the Heberites: and Melchiel, of whom is the family of the Melchielites.
26:46 Nomen autem filiae Aser fuit Sara.
And the name of the daughter of Aser, was Sara.
26:47 Hae cognationes filiorum Aser, et numerus eorum quinquaginta tria millia quadringenti.
*H These are the kindreds of the sons of Aser, and their number fifty-three thousand four hundred.


Ver. 47. Aser had an addition of 11,900; and, both together, 13,600. But they were let down by

26:48 Filii Nephthali per cognationes suas : Jesiel, a quo familia Jesielitarum : Guni, a quo familia Gunitarum :
The sons of Nephtali by their kindreds: Jesiel, of whom is the family of the Jesielites: Guni, of whom is the family of the Gunites:
26:49 Jeser, a quo familia Jeseritarum : Sellem, a quo familia Sellemitarum.
Jeser, of whom is the family of the Jeserites: Sellem, of whom is the family of the Sellemites.
26:50 Hae sunt cognationes filiorum Nephthali per familias suas : quorum numerus quadraginta quinque millia quadringenti.
*H These are the kindreds of the sons of Nephtali by their families: whose number was forty-five thousand four hundred.


Ver. 50. Nephtali, who had lost 8000; so that this division had only 5600 more. H.

26:51 Ista est summa filiorum Israel, qui recensiti sunt, sexcenta millia, et mille septingenti triginta.
This is the sum of the children of Israel, that were reckoned up, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
26:52 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens :
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
26:53 Istis dividetur terra juxta numerum vocabulorum in possessiones suas.
To these shall the land be divided for their possessions according to the number of names.
26:54 Pluribus majorem partem dabis, et paucioribus minorem : singulis, sicut nunc recensiti sunt, tradetur possessio :
*H To the greater number thou shalt give a greater portion, and to the fewer a less: to every one, as they have now been reckoned up, shall a possession be delivered:


Ver. 54. A less. God introduced among his people that equality, which was so much desired by Lycurgus, Solon, &c. The fertility of the land assigned to Benjamin, compensated for the smallness of its quantity.

26:55 ita dumtaxat ut sors terram tribubus dividat et familiis.
*H Yet so that by lot the land be divided to the tribe and families.


Ver. 55. Lot. Josue appointed commissioners, who measured the land, and divided it according to its fertility; and the portions assigned to each of the tribes by lot, corresponded with the predications of Jacob and of Moses; God so regulating the lots by his allwise Providence, in order that the people might be more convinced of the truth of the prophecies, and that no undue favour was shewn to any one by Josue, Eleazar, or by the other men in authority. He took the whole upon himself, that none might complain of their rulers. C. — Masius supposes that the different divisions of the land were written down, and placed in an urn, and that the heads of the tribes drew according to their birth. Jos. xv. 1. — The heads of families, such as Henoch, &c., (v. 5.) probably also drew lots, to know what part of territory allotted to the tribe, should fall to their share; (H.) and they parcelled out their land among their children. M.

26:56 Quidquid sorte contigerit, hoc vel plures accipiant, vel pauciores.
Whatsoever shall fall by lot, that shall be taken by the more, or the fewer.
26:57 Hic quoque est numerus filiorum Levi per familias suas : Gerson, a quo familia Gersonitarum : Caath, a quo familia Caathitarum : Merari, a quo familia Meraritarum.
This also is the number of the sons of Levi by their families: Gerson, of whom is the family of the Gersonites: Caath, of whom is the family of the Caathites: Merari, of whom is the family of the Merarites.
* Footnote * Exodus 6 : 16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi by their kindreds: Gerson, and Caath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were a hundred and thirty-seven.
26:58 Hae sunt familiae Levi : familia Lobni, familia Hebroni, familia Moholi, familia Musi, familia Core. At vero Caath genuit Amram :
*HThese are the families of Levi: The family of Lobni, the family of Hebroni, the family of Moholi, the family of Musi, the family of Core. Now Caath begot Amram:


Ver. 58. Core. Three other families are mentioned. Ex. vi. 17, &c. They were not going out to war. D.

26:59 qui habuit uxorem Jochabed filiam Levi, quae nata est ei in Aegypto. Haec genuit Amram viro suo filios, Aaron, et Moysen, et Mariam sororem eorum.
*H Who had to wife Jochabed the daughter of Levi, who was born to him in Egypt. She bore to her husband Amram sons, Aaron and Moses, and Mary their sister.


Ver. 59. Levi. Sept. "who bore these (Lobni, &c.) to Levi, in Egypt; and she bore to Amram, Aaron," &c. as if Jochabed had been wife both of Levi and of Amram, which is very improbable. It is more likely that the wives of these two bore the same name. The Heb. may agree very well with the Vulg. See Ex. ii. 1. C. — It was afterwards forbidden for a person to marry his aunt. Lev. xviii. W.

26:60 De Aaron orti sunt Nadab et Abiu, et Eleazar et Ithamar :
Of Aaron were born Nadab and Abiu, and Eleazar and Ithamar:
26:61 quorum Nadab et Abiu mortui sunt, cum obtulissent ignem alienum coram Domino.
Of whom Nadab and Abiu died, when they had offered the strange fire before the Lord.
* Footnote * Leviticus 10 : 1 And Nadab and Abiu, the sons of Aaron, taking their censers, put fire therein, and incense on it, offering before the Lord strange fire: which was not commanded them.
* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 24 : 2 But Nadab and Abiu died before their father, and had no children: so Eleazar, and Ithamar did the office of the priesthood.
26:62 Fueruntque omnes qui numerati sunt, viginti tria millia generis masculini ab uno mense et supra : quia non sunt recensiti inter filios Israel, nec eis cum ceteris data possessio est.
And all that were numbered, were twenty-three thousand males from one month old and upward: for they were not reckoned up among the children of Israel, neither was a possession given to them with the rest.
26:63 Hic est numerus filiorum Israel, qui descripti sunt a Moyse et Eleazaro sacerdote, in campestribus Moab supra Jordanem contra Jericho :
This is the number of the children of Israel, that were enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest, in the plains of Moab upon the Jordan, over against Jericho.
26:64 inter quos, nullus fuit eorum qui ante numerati sunt a Moyse et Aaron in deserto Sinai :
*H Among whom there was not one of them that were numbered before by Moses and Aaron in the desert of Sinai.


Ver. 64. Sinai, if we except the Levites. M. See C. xiv. 23. — Origen (hom. 21.) makes a very good remark on this subject. This circumcised, but rebellious people, conducted by Moses into the desert, clearly points out the Hebrews, who come to the frontiers of the promised land, but are not suffered to cross the Jordan. The uncircumcised are introduced into the land flowing with milk and honey, not by Moses, but by Josue, the figure of our Saviour, who opens heaven to true believers. "The first people is rejected, which had received circumcision, and the second is introduced, which is gathered from the Gentiles; and it is this people which obtains its father's inheritance...If Moses give any inheritance, it is not within the Jordan...it is a land fit for cattle...he does not distribute it by lot...nor can he know the merits of each. This is done by Jesus only, to whom his Father has given all judgment." H.

* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 10 : 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the desert.
26:65 praedixerat enim Dominus quod omnes morerentur in solitudine. Nullusque remansit ex eis, nisi Caleb filius Jephone, et Josue filius Nun.
For the Lord had foretold that they should die in the wilderness. And none remained of them, but Caleb the son of Jephone, and Josue the son of Nun.
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