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Matthew Henry on Numbers 12:10-16
The cloud departed, and Miriam became leprous. When God goes, evil comes: expect no good when God departs. Her foul tongue, as Bishop Hall says, was justly punished with a foul face. Aaron, as priest, was judge of the l…
Miriam Smitten with Leprosy. (b. c. 1490.)
MIRIAM SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. God's judgment upon Miriam (Numbers 12:10): The cloud departed from off that part of the tabernacle, in token of God's displeasure, and presently Miriam became lepr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:10
The cloud departed from off the tabernacle. During this awful interview the cloud of the Presence had rested on the tabernacle, as if it were the Divine chariot waiting for the King of Israel while he tarried within (of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:11
Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee. Septuagint, δέομαι, Κύριε. In thus addressing his brother Aaron acknowledged his superior position, and tacitly abandoned all pretension to equality. Lay not the s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:12
As one dead. Rather, "as the dead thing," i.e. the still-born child, in which death and decay have anticipated life. Such was the frightful effect of leprosy in its last stages.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:13
Moses cried unto the Lord. A much harder and prouder man than Moses was must needs have been melted into pity at the sight of his sister, and the terrible suggestion of Aaron. Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. The "n…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:14
The Lord said unto Moses. Presumably in the tabernacle, whither Moses would have returned to supplicate God. If her father had but spit in her face. The "but" is superfluous, and obscures the sense; the act mentioned is…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:15
Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days. It does not say that Miriam was healed forthwith of her leprosy, but the presumption is to that effect. Not the punishment itself, but the shame of it, was to last according…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:16
In the wilderness of Paran. It is somewhat strange that this note of place should be used a second time without explanation (see Numbers 10:12, Numbers 10:33). Probably it is intended to mark the fact that they were sti…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 13:1-20
A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, and the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness, for their unbeli…
Missions of the Twelve Spies. (b. c. 1490.)
MISSIONS OF THE TWELVE SPIES. (B. C. 1490.) Here we have, I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan. It is here said, God directed Moses to send them (Numbers 13:1-2), but it appears by the repetiti…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:1-33
EXPOSITION THE REBELLION AT KADESH (Numbers 13:1-33, Numbers 14:1-45).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:2
Send thou men, that they may search the land. If this account of the mission of the spies be compared with that given in Deuteronomy 1:20-25, it may be seen in a striking instance how entirely different a colour may be…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:4
These were their names. None of these names occur elsewhere, except those of Caleb and Joshua. The order of the tribes is the same as in Joshua 1:1-18; except that Zebulun is separated from the other sons of Leah, and p…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:6
Caleb the son of Jephunneh. In Numbers 32:12 he is called "the Kenezite" ( הַקְּנִזּי), which appears in Genesis 15:19 as the name of one of the ancient races inhabiting the promised land. It is possible that Jephunneh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:16
Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. The change was from הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshea, help or salvation) to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Jehoshua—the same name with the first syllable of the sacred name prefixed, and one of the vowel points…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:17
Get you up this way southward. Rather, "get you up there ( זֶה) in the Negeb." The Negeb, meaning literally "the dryness," was the south-western district of Canaan, which bordered upon the desert, and partook more or le…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:18
Whether they be strong or weak, few or many. It would appear that Moses was guilty of some indiscretion at least in giving these directions. Whether the people were strong or weak, many or few, should have been nothing…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:20
And what the land is. It is impossible to suppose that Moses needed himself to be informed on such particulars as are here mentioned. The intercourse between Egypt and Palestine was comparatively easy and frequent (see…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 13:21-25
The searchers of the land brought a bunch of grapes with them, and other fruits, as proofs of the goodness of the country; which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are the…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 13:21-25
We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north, Numbers 13:21. See Numbers 34:3. It is pro…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:21
From the wilderness of Zin. The extreme southern boundary of the promised land (Numbers 34:3, Numbers 34:4; Joshua 15:1, Joshua 15:3). There seems to be but one marked natural feature which could have been chosen for th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:22
And came unto Hebron. This and the following details of their journey are appended to the general statement of Numbers 13:21 in that inartificial style of narrative still common in the East. On the name Hebron, and the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 13:23
The brook of Eshcol. Rather, "the valley of Eshcol," for it is not a land of brooks. Probably between Hebron and Jerusalem, where the grapes are still exceptionally fine, and the dusters of great size. They bare it betw…