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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Lights of the Sanctuary. (b. c. 1490.)
THE LIGHTS OF THE SANCTUARY. (B. C. 1490.) Directions were given long before this for the making of the golden candlestick (Exodus 25:31), and it was made according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount, Exodus 38:…
The Consecration of the Levites. (b. c. 1490.)
THE CONSECRATION OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1490.) We read before of the separating of the Levites from among the children of Israel when they were numbered, and the numbering of them by themselves (Numbers 3:6), that they…
The Law of the Passover. (b. c. 1490.)
THE LAW OF THE PASSOVER. (B. C. 1490.) Here we have, I. An order given for the solemnization of the passover, the day twelvemonth after they came out of Egypt, on the fourteenth day of the first month of the second year…
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire. (b. c. 1490.)
THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE. (B. C. 1490.) We have here the history of the cloud; not a natural history: who knows the balancings of the clouds? but a divine history of a cloud that was appointed to be the visible sign…
The Moving of the Camp. (b. c. 1490.)
THE MOVING OF THE CAMP. (B. C. 1490.) We have here directions concerning the public notices that were to be given to the people upon several occasions by sound of trumpet. In a thing of this nature, one would think, Mos…
The Removal of the Camp. (b. c. 1490.)
THE REMOVAL OF THE CAMP. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. A general account of the removal of the camp of Israel from Mount Sinai, before which mountain it had lain now about a year, in which time and place a great deal of mem…
Moses's Request to Hobab. (b. c. 1490.)
MOSES'S REQUEST TO HOBAB. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. An account of what passed between Moses and Hobab, now upon this advance which the camp of Israel made towards Canaan. Some think that Hobab was the same with Jethro,…
The Murmurings of the Israelites. (b. c. 1490.)
THE MURMURINGS OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The people's sin. They complained, Numbers 11:1. They were, as it were, complainers. So it is in the margin. There were some secret grudgings and discontents a…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 11:4-15
These verses represent things sadly unhinged and out of order in Israel, both the people and the prince uneasy. I. Here is the people fretting, and speaking against God himself (as it is interpreted, Psalm 78:19), notwi…
Assistance Provided for Moses. (b. c. 1490.)
ASSISTANCE PROVIDED FOR MOSES. (B. C. 1490.) We have here God's gracious answer to both the foregoing complaints, wherein his goodness takes occasion from man's badness to appear so much the more illustrious. I. Provisi…
God Promises the People Flesh; The Case of Eldad and Medad. (b. c. 1490.)
GOD PROMISES THE PEOPLE FLESH; THE CASE OF ELDAD AND MEDAD. (B. C. 1490.) We have here the performance of God's word to Moses, that he should have help in the government of Israel. I. Here is the case of the seventy pri…
The Quails. (b. c. 1490.)
THE QUAILS. (B. C. 1490.) God, having performed his promise to Moses by giving him assessors in the government, thereby proving the power he has over the spirits of men by his Spirit, he here performs his promise to the…
Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron. (b. c. 1490.)
MURMURING OF MIRIAM AND AARON. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The unbecoming passion of Aaron and Miriam: they spoke against Moses, Numbers 12:1. If Moses, that received so much honour from God, yet received so many slights…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 12:4-9
Moses did not resent the injury done him, nor complain of it to God, nor make any appeal to him; but God resented it. He hears all we say in our passion, and is a swift witness of our hasty speeches, which is a reason w…
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…
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…
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…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 13:26-33
It is a wonder how the people of Israel had patience to stay forty days for the return of their spies, when they were just ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the divine power…
The Murmuring of the Israelites. (b. c. 1490.)
THE MURMURING OF THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1490.) Here we see what mischief the evil spies made by their unfair representation. We may suppose that these twelve that were impanelled to enquire concerning Canaan had talked…
The Expostulation of Joshua and Caleb. (b. c. 1490.)
THE EXPOSTULATION OF JOSHUA AND CALEB. (B. C. 1490.) The friends of Israel here interpose to save them if possible from ruining themselves, but in vain. The physicians of their state would have healed them, but they wou…
The Intercession of Moses. (b. c. 1490.)
THE INTERCESSION OF MOSES. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The righteous sentence which God gave against Israel for their murmuring and unbelief, which, though afterwards mitigated, showed what was the desert of their sin and…
God's Answer to Moses; The Israelites Threatened. (b. c. 1490.)
GOD'S ANSWER TO MOSES; THE ISRAELITES THREATENED. (B. C. 1490.) We have here God's answer to the prayer of Moses, which sings both of mercy and judgment. It is given privately to Moses (Numbers 14:20-25), and then direc…
Death of the Evil Spies. (b. c. 1490.)
DEATH OF THE EVIL SPIES. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The sudden death of the ten evil spies. While the sentence was passing upon the people, before it was published, they died of the plague before the Lord, Numbers 14:36-…
Laws Concerning Sacrifices. (b. c. 1490.)
LAWS CONCERNING SACRIFICES. (B. C. 1490.) Here we have, I. Full instructions given concerning the meat-offerings and drink-offerings, which were appendages to all the sacrifices of animals. The beginning of this law is…