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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Sacrifices for Sins of Ignorance. (b. c. 1490.)
SACRIFICES FOR SINS OF IGNORANCE. (B. C. 1490.) We have here the laws concerning sacrifices for sins of ignorance; the Jews understand it of idolatry, or false worship, through the error of their teachers. The case here…
Doom of Presumptuous Sinners. (b. c. 1490.)
DOOM OF PRESUMPTUOUS SINNERS. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The general doom passed upon presumptuous sinners. 1. Those are to be reckoned presumptuous sinners that sin with a high hand, as the original phrase is (Numbers 1…
The Law Concerning Fringes. (b. c. 1490.)
THE LAW CONCERNING FRINGES. (B. C. 1490.) Provision had been just now made by the law for the pardon of sins of ignorance and infirmity; now here is an expedient provided for the preventing of such sins. They are ordere…
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (b. c. 1490.)
KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. An account of the rebels, who and what they were, not, as formerly, the mixed multitude and the dregs of the people, who are therefore never named, but men of distinc…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 16:12-22
Here is, I. The insolence of Dathan and Abiram, and their treasonable remonstrance. Moses had heard what Korah had to say, and had answered it; now he summons Dathan and Abiram to bring in their complaints (Numbers 16:1…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 16:23-34
We have here the determining of the controversy with Dathan and Abiram, who rebelled against Moses, as in the next paragraph the determining of the controversy with Korah and his company, who would be rivals with Aaron.…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 16:35-40
We must now look back to the door of the tabernacle, where we left the pretenders to the priesthood with their censers in their hands ready to offer incense; and here we find, I. Vengeance taken on them, Numbers 16:35.…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 16:41-50
Here is, I. A new rebellion raised the very next day against Moses and Aaron. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and wonder, O earth! Was there ever such an instance of the incurable corruption of sinners? On the morrow…
The Blossoming of Aaron's Rod. (b. c. 1490.)
THE BLOSSOMING OF AARON'S ROD. (B. C. 1490.) Here we have, I. Orders given for the bringing in of a rod for every tribe (which was peculiarly significant, for the word here used for a rod sometimes signifies a tribe, as…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 17:8-13
Here is, I. The final determination of the controversy concerning the priesthood by a miracle, Numbers 17:8-9. The rods or staves were brought out from the most holy place where they were laid up, and publicly produced…
The Service of the Priests and Levites. (b. c. 1490.)
THE SERVICE OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES. (B. C. 1490.) The coherence of this chapter with that foregoing is very observable. I. The people, in the close of that chapter, had complained of the difficulty and peril that th…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 18:8-19
The priest's service is called a warfare; and who goes a warfare at his own charges? As they were well employed, so they were well provided for, and well paid. None shall serve God for nought. All believers are spiritua…
The Priests and Levites Provided For. (b. c. 1490.)
THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES PROVIDED FOR. (B. C. 1490.) Here is a further account of the provision that was made both for the Levites and for the priests, out of the country. I. They must have no inheritance in the land; on…
The Ashes of Purification. (b. c. 1471.)
THE ASHES OF PURIFICATION. (B. C. 1471.) We have here the divine appointment concerning the solemn burning of a red heifer to ashes, and the preserving of the ashes, that of them might be made, not a beautifying, but a…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 19:11-22
Directions are here given concerning the use and application of the ashes which were prepared for purification. they were laid up to be laid out; and therefore, though now one place would serve to keep them in, while al…
The Death of Miriam; The Water of Meribah; Moses and Aaron Reproved. (b. c. 1453.)
THE DEATH OF MIRIAM; THE WATER OF MERIBAH; MOSES AND AARON REPROVED. (B. C. 1453.) After thirty-eight years' tedious marches, or rather tedious rests, in the wilderness, backward towards the Red Sea, the armies of Israe…
Ambassadors Sent to Edom. (b. c. 1452.)
AMBASSADORS SENT TO EDOM. (B. C. 1452.) We have here the application made by Israel to the Edomites. The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel now lay encamped was through the country of Edom. Now, I. Moses…
The Edomites Refuse a Passage to Israel; The Death of Aaron. (b. c. 1452.)
THE EDOMITES REFUSE A PASSAGE TO ISRAEL; THE DEATH OF AARON. (B. C. 1452.) The chapter began with the funeral of Miriam, and it ends with the funeral of her brother Aaron. When death comes into a family, it often strike…
Arad Subdued. (b. c. 1452.)
ARAD SUBDUED. (B. C. 1452.) Here is, 1. The descent which Arad the Canaanite made upon the camp of Israel, hearing that they came by the way of the spies; for, though the spies which Moses had sent thirty-eight years be…
The Brazen Serpent. (b. c. 1452.)
THE BRAZEN SERPENT. (B. C. 1452.) Here is, I. The fatigue of Israel by a long march round the land of Edom, because they could not obtain passage through it the nearest way: The soul of the people was much discouraged b…
The Removal of the Camp. (b. c. 1452.)
THE REMOVAL OF THE CAMP. (B. C. 1452.) We have here an account of the several stages and removals of the children of Israel, till they came into the plains of Moab, out of which they at length passed over Jordan into Ca…
Sihon and Og Overthrown. (b. c. 1452.)
SIHON AND OG OVERTHROWN. (B. C. 1452.) We have here an account of the victories obtained by Israel over Sihon and Og, which must be distinctly considered, not only because they are here distinctly related, but because l…
Balak Sends for Balaam. (b. c. 1452.)
BALAK SENDS FOR BALAAM. (B. C. 1452.) The children of Israel have at length finished their wanderings in the wilderness, out of which they went up (Numbers 21:18), and are now encamped in the plains of Moab near Jordan,…
Balak's Second Message to Balaam. (b. c. 1452.)
BALAK'S SECOND MESSAGE TO BALAAM. (B. C. 1452.) We have here a second embassy sent to Balaam, to fetch him over to curse Israel. It were well for us if we were as earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwith…