Numbers 20

Notes

[Ver. 1. This was in the first month of the fortieth year after the departure from Egypt, comp. ch. 33.38; ver. 28 of this chapter, and De. 1.3. The intermediate thirty-seven years Moses passes over in silence. The reason of this silence may be collected thus:—Moses wrote, not for curiosity, that he might satisfy it; nor for national vanity, that he might flatter it: but for God, that he might glorify him; and for man, that he might instruct him. Moses wrote, as the historian of providence and redemption; by the one to show how the world is governed, how sin is restrained, overruled, and punished; by the other, how mercy is exhibited, sin pardoned, and holiness established. C.]

Ver. 12. [The sin of Moses and Aaron is recorded, but not particularized, unless in so far as it may be inferred from the narrative. Amongst the internal evidences of the divine mission of Moses, we must rank the unparalleled candour with which he records his sin and his punishment. No hypocrite, imposing upon others—no enthusiast, imposing upon himself—has ever recorded or admitted his own errors. The deceiving hypocrite cannot afford to let in the light. The self-deceived enthusiast has not discovered his own darkness. The sin of Moses seems to have consisted, (1) In angrily and provokingly calling the people 'rebels.' (2) In going beyond the divine command, ver. 8, merely to 'speak unto the rock,' and smiting it twice, either in anger or unbelief, or both. (3) In strange and unaccountable unbelief in the promise of God, of which he had had so many trials. (4) In the expression, 'must WE fetch water?' he seems to attribute the miracle to himself and Aaron, rather than to God. Lord! what is man! Moses thy servant, meekest of men, is chafed into unseasonable anger, and he that talked with thee face to face has fallen under thy deserved displeasure! 'Let us fear therefore, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should seem to come short of it,' He. 4.1. C.]

Ver. 16. [Kadesh, the 'holy' place or city, was originally called En-Mishpat, 'the fountain of judgment.' It is described as being in the 'Wilderness of Paran,' and also in the 'Wilderness of Zin.' Paran was the general name of a large region; Zin the specific name of a section of it. There is no trustworthy evidence to show that Kadesh and Kadesh-barnea were different. They were different names for the same place. The site of Kadesh is now marked by the fountain of Weibeh, at the foot of the hills on the eastern side of the great valley of Arabah, opposite the highest peaks of Edom. P.]

Ver. 21. [The Israelites were prevented for some reason from entering Canaan from the south, and were therefore compelled to pass along the eastern side of the Dead Sea, and cross the Jordan. The territory of the Edomites lay between the camp at Kadesh and the east bank of the Jordan. If not permitted to pass through Edom, a long, dreary, and dangerous journey must be undertaken through the desert of Arabia. Hence the message to the King of Edom, and the fair and urgent request for permission to pass through his land. When refused they were obliged to turn due south so as to sweep round the southern border of Edom. P.]

Ver. 23. [Mount Hor was within Edom. The camp of the Israelites was stationed doubtless in the great valley, at the western base of the range of which Hor is one of the peaks. The traditional tomb of Aaron still exists on the rocky summit of Mount Hor. It is a rock-hewn cave, surmounted by a small domed building. On the west it looks down into the Arabah where the encampment lay; on the east it looks into the wild and strange ravine and ruins of Petra. P.]

Reflections.—Much of our time is spent as a tale that is told, passed away in God's wrath, without anything worth remarking. And death at length makes quick and repeated inroads in families which have been long forborne. Miriam, Aaron, and Moses now die all in one year. And as it was with them, so God often writes indignation upon the death of his own people, who are saved in the Lord their God: for in the chastisement of his choicest saints he is severely strict, as, indeed, their sins dishonour him in a distinguished manner. Children readily imitate their parents in their wickedness. Bad customs and tempers cleave close to men, and show themselves whenever an occasion presents itself: and those are often ready to wish for death who are very unfit for it. Men's principal friends are often treated the worst; but the mercy and power of God are exerted for the relief of sinful rebels against him. Yet, alas! how prone are the best of men to unbelief under long or repeated trials, and to passion under great provocations! and often reproaches, just in their matter, may be very sinful in their manner. How lasting are quarrels between families and nations! and how inveterate the hatred of Edomites of the world against the church and people of God! little of earthly comforts can we hope for in our way to the Canaan above! but when believers look most beautiful on the borders of the grave, and when faith disarms death of all its terrors—when they depart deliberately and cheerfully into the joy of our Lord—how comely and how comfortable! And it is a peculiar joy to dying ministers to see the cause of God transmitted into the hands of zealous and faithful successors. But let me not bid adieu to Aaron, the saint of God, till I behold in him, as in a figure, Jesus, the great High-priest of my profession! Seasonable and divinely solemn was his call to his work! with an unmeasurable unction of the Holy Ghost, and perfect purity of nature, was he prepared for it. By his miracles; his destruction of his Jewish and Gentile opposers; by the marvellous influence of the gospel rod of his strength, is his office confirmed and ratified of God! He delivers all believers from spiritual slavery; justifies and sanctifies them; leads them up through this wilderness world; and he can well speak to their respective cases and doubts. He is our sole High-priest, and the spiritual Father of all such as are made priests unto God: and with amazing holiness, courage, labour, patience, and pity he executes his work. At the expense of his life he averted the plague of infinite justice from his unreasonable abusers: and having finished his work of obedience, he publicly and willingly, upon Mount Calvary, resigned himself unto death, leaving his robes of finished righteousness to all who believe.