36 matching verse commentaries
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The armies of Israel now begin to emerge out of the wilderness, and to come into a land inhabited, to enter upon action, and take possession of the frontiers of the land of promise. A glorious campaign this chapter gives us the history of, especially in the latter part of it. Here is, I. The defeat of Arad the Canaanite, ver. 1-3. II. The...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
At this chapter begins the famous story of Balak and Balaam, their attempt to curse Israel, and the baffling of that attempt; God's people are long afterwards told to remember what Balak the king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, that they might know the righteousness of the Lord, Mic. vi. 5. In this chapter we have,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have Balak and Balaam busy at work to do Israel a mischief, and, for ought that appears, neither Moses nor the elders of Israel know any thing of the matter, nor are in a capacity to break the snare; but God, who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, baffles the attempt, without any intercession or contrivance of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter continues and concludes the history of the defeat of the counsels of Balak and Balaam against Israel, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts; and as great an instance it is of God's power over the children of men, and his favour towards his own children, as any of the victories recorded in the book of the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Israel, having escaped the curse of Balaam, here sustains a great deal of damage and reproach by the counsel of Balaam, who, it seems, before he left Balak, put him into a more effectual way than that which Balak thought of to separate between the Israelites and their God. "The Lord will not be prevailed with by Balaam's charms to ruin them; try...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This book is called Numbers, from the numberings of the children of Israel, of which it gives an account. Once they were numbered at Mount Sinai, in the first year after they came out of Egypt, which we had an account of, ch. i. and ii.. And now a second time they were numbered in the plains of Moab, just before they entered Canaan, and of this we...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Here is, I. The case of Zelophehad's daughters determined, ver. 1-11. II. Notice given to Moses of his death approaching, ver. 12-14. III. Provision made of a successor in the government, 1. By the prayer of Moses, ver. 15-17. 2. By the appointment of God, ver. 18, &c. The Daughters of Zelophehad. (b. c. 1452.) 1 Then came the daughters of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Now that the people were numbered, orders given for the dividing of the land, and a general of the forces nominated and commissioned, one would have expected that the next chapter should begin the history of the campaign, or at least should give us an account of the ordinances of war; no, it contains the ordinances of worship, and provides that...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter appoints the offerings that were to be made by fire unto the Lord in the three great solemnities of the seventh month. I. In the feast of trumpets on the first day of that month, ver. 1-6. II. In the day of atonement on the tenth day, ver. 7-11. III. In the feast of tabernacles on the fifteenth day and the seven days following, ver....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have a law concerning vows, which had been mentioned in the close of the foregoing chapter. I. Here is a general rule laid down that all vows must be carefully performed, ver. 1, 2. II. Some particular exceptions to this rule. 1. That the vows of daughters should not be binding unless allowed by the father, ver. 3-5. Nor, 2. The...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord," in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is, I. A divine command for the war, ver. 1, 2. II. The undertaking of the war, ver. 3-6. III. The glorious success of it, ver. 7-12. IV. Their triumphant return from the war. 1. The respect...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. The humble request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad for an inheritance on that side Jordan where Israel now lay encamped, ver. 1-5. II. Moses's misinterpretation of their request, ver. 6-15. III. Their explication of it, and stating it aright, ver. 16-19. IV. The grant of their petition under the provisos and limitations...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. A particular account of the removals and encampments of the children of Israel, from their escape out of Egypt to their entrance into Canaan, forty-two in all, with some remarkable events that happened at some of those places, ver. 1-49. II. A strict command given them to drive out all the inhabitants of the land of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter God directs Moses, and he is to direct Israel, I. Concerning the bounds and borders of the land of Canaan, ver. 1-15. II. Concerning the division and distribution of it to the tribes of Israel, ver. 16, &c. The Boundaries of Canaan. (b. c. 1452.) 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Orders having been given before for the dividing of the land of Canaan among the lay-tribes (as I may call them), care is here taken for a competent provision for the clergy, the tribe of Levi, which ministered in holy things. I. Forty-eight cities were to be assigned them, with their suburbs, some in every tribe, ver. 1-8. II. Six cities out of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have in this chapter the determination of another question that arose upon the case of the daughters of Zelophehad. God had appointed that they should inherit, ch. xxvii. 7. Now here, I. An inconvenience is suggested, in case they should marry into any other tribe, ver. 1-4. II. It is prevented by a divine appointment that they should marry in...