PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers
Rayner Winterbotham [1842-1924] · 425,969 words · 472 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 301
1Lssu1·11.nee (r.>..flpilfopl", ne under full sail) of fait.b. Consider, therefore, with reepect to these la..~joU1YU'1/S- I. THAT AFTER TBE Lil!'TING UP OF THE BRA.ZEN SERPENT TBE PROGRESS OF ISRAEL WAS StTllPBISINGLY RAPID AND UNINTBRRUPTED j most markedly 80 if compared with the tedious turnings. and returnings …
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Consider once more, with respect to the well of Beer- I. THAT A WELL WAS A PERPETUAL SOURCE 011' COMFORT AND CENTRE OJI' BLESSING j hence eo many of the events of Scripture are connected with wells. Even BO in the gospel there are wells of salvation (Isa. xii. 3), from which a man may draw with joy; nor only so, but h…
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all the othor way, and in this surely there must be some typical significance. Look• ing to the lifted serpent made a great difference. All things had become new ; there was alacrity, success, gladness, hitherto lacking-a spirit and conduct altogether different. So Paul, speaking of those who are justified by faith,…
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PRELIMINARY NOTE TO CHAPTER XXII. 2-XXIV. That this section of the Book of Numbers has a character to a great extent peculiar and isolated is evident upon the face of it. The arguments indeed derived from its language and style to prove that it is by a different hand from the rest of the Book are obviously too slight …
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Balaam was interesting only as a great foe, greatly baffled ; as a sorcerer whose ghostly power and craft was brcken and turned backward by the God of Israel (Deut. xxiii. 5; Josh. xiii. 22; xxiv. 10; Micah vi. 5). To the Christian of the first age be was only interesting as the Scriptural type of the subtlest and m…
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Infamy among the Jews (cf. 1 Sam. xv. 23, "witchcraft;" Jer. xiv. 14, "divination''); but no one doubts that he played for gain the part of a soothsayer, employing with more or less of inward unbelief and contempt the arts of heathen sorcery; and it was quite natural that Joshua should recognise only the lower and m…
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EXPOSITION. Ver. 3.-Moab was sore afraid of the CHAPTER XXII. people. While the Iara.elites bad moved THE COMING OJ' BAL.U.ll'. (vers. 2-40). a.long their eastern and north-ea.stem border, Ver. 2.-:Balak the 1011 of Zippor. The the Moabites snpplied them with provisions name Balak iJi conILected with a word " to (De…
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and character of the seer. Compare the ria.y• is truly said, 110,'l'ever, that a passing illUBion ingof Sophocles(' Anti!!'.,' 1056}, rcl pal'ruto11 of this kind, while it testifies that the yap ,rii11 ~•Aapyvpov -ywoc. Apostle understood the words like all his con• Yer. 18.-I unnot go be:f:ond the word of tempomries…
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Indignation, and grief in the presence of the utmost astonishment, notoriously pro, injustice and ill-treatment is abundantly duce no efl'ect at the moment upon a mind certain. In many well.authenticated cases which is thoroughly exasperated. they have done things in order to erpress Ver. 31.-The Lord opened the eyes …
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HOMILETIOS. Vers. 2-40.--The way of Bdaam. In this section we have some of the profoundest and most subtle, as well as some of the most practical, moral and religious teachings of the Old Testament. In order to draw them out fully we may consider-I. The character and position of Balaam with regard to God and man; …
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mjluence to change the pltrposes of the Lord; perhaps even to counterwork those purposes. How often do people seek the aid of religion O{lainat God I How often do they seek for religious support and solace in doing what they must know is contrary to the moral law of God I 4. That Balak pofes,e,d,, and M d!Yubt felt,…
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be only wanted more pressing. So it is with men who do what is right, yet not from the true motive ; they do not get credit even for the good that is in them; they are always tempted afresh, because they are felt to be open to temptation 1 the world sees that their heart is with it, and puts their hesitation down to…
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though it brings awful peril to their souls; for God ie a jealous God, and the judicial consequences of our own (albeit inward and disguised) disobedience cannot be got rid of in a moment. 9. That he w/U met by Balak with honour and cererrwny and reli,gious rites; and no doubt all that happened by the way faded like…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 5, 6.-Balaam's greatness and fall. Balaam's character and history have supplied materials for many theological and ethical studies. His character and conduct, though somewhat perplexing, are not more so than those of many around us, and are full of instruction and warning. At pres…
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fl1ill not change. Hence hie repeated changes of place and new sacrifices. At length it was clear that this way was closed against him. lie is constrained to bless Israel again and again. At the close of the narrative (eh. xxiv. 10-24) he seems to be taking hie place boldly ae an ally of the people of God, But it was o…
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and danger of resisting and thus corrupting conscience. (Explain process of thie corruption, and notG natural analogies to a conscienct dulled by persistence in sin.) To try and bribe conscience is like seeking permission to sin. (Illustrate by story of Glaucns inquiring at the oracle of Delphi whether he might keep st…
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Vere. 2-4.-.Moab take, alarm. I. AN INTERESTED OBSERVER Olf AN IMPORTANT ACTION, "Balak saw all thllt Israel had done to the Amo rites." The thing wa, worth observilng in itself, that this great host of people, coming with but little notice, having no land of its own, no visible basis of operations, no military reno…
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the battle-field he could do nothing against Israel. If a man refuses to go in the right path, it is not, therefore, a matter of little consequence which of the wrong paths he chooses. One me.y take him swiftly in the dark to the precipice ; another, also doWTiward, may afford more time and occasions for retrieval. …
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the dead). The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart" (Rom. x. 6-8). Go into thy closet; retreat into the seclusion antl security of thine own heart, and meet the mighty Guide and Helper there. The God of Israel went about with his people. Jesus did not say, "Wheresoever I am, there my people are to ga…
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false religions and all corruptions of the true service of God that priests and prophets have been greedy after money. They promise spiritual things and make large demands for oarnal things; the more they get the more they promise, and the more they get t~~ m?re t~~y want. . " The priests teach for hire, and the pro…
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who had been brought in eome respects eo near to God, if he had told the whole truth. It would perhaps have eaved a eecond embaeey to him. Men are looking to the main chance even when among the eolemn thinge of God, and freeh from hearing hie voice. Balaam first of all, in speaking to God, omits from the message of Bal…
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eeeing they are blessed. What was the needful word yeeterda:, may become ueeleea to-day. The possible of one hour ~ecome, the !mpossible of the next. Jesus says, 11 Watch and pray, that ye enter not rnto temptation;" but that does not prevent him saying very soon afterwards, "Sleep on no,v, and take your reet. . . …
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II. BALA.AM WAS aOINO ON TBIB EXPEDJTION 11:VJDBBTLY FULL Olf THE DESIRES O"Ir BIii OWN HEART, All, eo far ae he could eee, was pointing in the way he wanted. He could plead God's permission, which was a very comfortable, not to say a necessary, beginning to one who wae a prophet. As be rode along, bis heart filled wit…
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the men who will have no miracles, no admission of the supernatural; and ludicrom as well as ridiculous, seeing that it is an ass, of all animals, which is chosen to speak. But that is only because we associate Balaam with the despised and buffeted animal which the word " ass " recalls to us. We may be eure that a m…
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way of ,mrighteoueneee, which you have been so clearly shown is also the way of destruction ? " IV. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROCESS IS SUCCESSFUL. 1. Balaam is enlightened at last, tut after all only partially enlightened. At last, and only when forced to it, does he become aware of the angel's presence. And now he is…
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Vere. 36-38.-Balaam and Balalc meet at last. I. BALAK's SOLICITUDE TO CON• CILIATE BALAAM AND SHOW HIM HONOUR. Ba.lak does not yet know what unhealed wounds may be in the prophet's pride, or whether that pride has been sufficiently pleased by the dignity of the second deputation and the extent of the promises it has ma…
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I. HEATHEN .ll'AITH IN THE UNBEEN, Balak in the exiremity of his fear sends be- yond the limits of hie own people, into distant Mesopotamia, to secure the help of one supposed to be endowed with supernatural gifts, in special relation to the invisible powers, able to "curse and to blesa" (ver. 6). A striking illustrati…
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when there is no genuine abhorrence of wrong-doing. 2. In the Divine compulsion under which he ie placed to punrue hie journey. "Go with the men," &c. He would fain drnw bnck, but it is too late now; he must do the work and bear the testimony thnt God has determined for him, When men are bent upon that which is evil, G…
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of the righteous. '.{'he word "righteous" Ver. 16 -While I meet the Lord yonder. ill in the plural (i:l 171?;, 8,raiwv): it may refer Rather, "11.';1d I will go and meet thus." either to the Israelites as a holy nation, n~ MJR~ 1:;,)~l· Balaam does noteay whom living and dying in the favour of God ; or or what he is…
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Ver. 23.-Enchantment, ~i• Re.ther, Arboth Moa.b. From Peor, therefore, the • augury." Septuagint, ol1uv,11µ6,. See on whole encampment, in all its length and Levit. xix. 26, where the practice is for- breadth, would lie beneath their gaze. leehi• bidden to Israel. Against J' acob, or, " in mo11. See on eh. lli. 20. …
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Ver. 7.-lle shall pour the water, or, Bleaaed ls he that blesseth thee, &c. In these •' the water shall overflow." Out of his words Bala.am seems to refer to the terms of Balalc's first messa.,,,"ll (eh. mi. 6). Far from buckets. l '7'll is the dual, "his two buckets." b:ing affected by bl~ngs and cnrsings from The…
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and the " Sceptre " of the following clalllle8 ; Destroyer of all the bee.then, i. e. of all who he speaks wholly as e. prophet, e.nd mee.ns were not J ewe. It is only in the New Testa- the.t his inner gaze is fixed upon such e.n ono, ment that the iron sceptre with which he with full assure.nee that he exists in th…
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aelvos by conquest in the south of Cana.an, Indeed the Targum of Palcsti.no makes men, and even that they had occupied the terri• tion of Italy here, and the Vu.lga.te actuall7. tory and taken the name of the original tra.nslatos "venieut in trieribus de Italil.' Kenit,is of Gen. xv. 19. This, however, is a There is…
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NOTE ON THE PROPHEOIEB OF BALAAM. That the prophecies of Balaam have a Messianic charac ler, and are only to be fully understood in a Christian sense, seems to lie upon the face of them. The Targums of Onkelos and Palestine make mention of King Meshiha here, and the great mass of Christian interpretation has uniformly…
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triumphs of defeat or of suffering; he could not think of God's kingdom as asserting itself in any other way than in the overthrow, or (better still) the annihilation, of Moab, Edom, Assyria, Babylon, Rome, the whole world which was not Israel, The sufferings of the vanquished, the horrors of sacked cities, the agon…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 41--ch. u.iv.-Balaam and his prophecies. The proJ!hecies of Balaam were the utterances of a bad man deeply penetrated by religious ideas, and inspired for certain purposes by the Spirit of God ; hence it is evident that many deep moral and spintual leeeons may be learnt from them, apart from their …
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V. TaAT DALAAM RETURNED TO ms PLACE, i. t. he went back as it seemed to his old home and his old life on the banks of Euphrates; in truth 'u he went to his own place" (Acts i. 25), for he rushed blindly on destruction, and received the recompense of death. Consider again, with respect to the say,'ngs of Balaam- I.…
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Consider again, with respect to the enterpri,se of Balaam- !. THAT BALA.ill WAS HIRED TO CURSE lsRAEL DUT WAS CONSTRAINED TO BLESS HIM ALTOGETHER (cf. Deut. xxiii. 5; Josh. xxiv. 10; Micah vi. Ci). Even so all the efforts of the world to cast infamy and odium upon the Church are turned backward, unless indeed she is u…
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fickle1 irresolute, and therefore" unstable" (James i. 8). When he does not repent it may be a sign of obstinacy rather than of laudable firmness (Jer. viii. 6). 2. They lie. Children of Satan (John viii. 44), often trained from childhood in ways of false- hood (Ps. !viii. 3), they help to undermine the foundations of …
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Balaam looks here from Moses going up into Sinai, or Elijah when he wont his day's journey into the wilderness, or Ezekiel when he heard the Lord say, 11 Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk to thee 11 (Ezek. iii. 22); above all, from Jesus, in those s6litAI], ref~eshing, blesse~ hours of which_ we …
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he was taking Balaam to the most favourable view-point. It was thought to be thi, best place for cursing, and from what Balaam now sees and says it would seem to be a very fit place for blessing. 4. And now, as Balaam looks from the top of. the rocks and from the bills, wluu does he aee1 He may have been struck even…
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a going from one room into another." Such would be the view suggested by the tenn " righteous,'' and the person expressing the wish would seem to be some studious, susceptible observer, with frequent opportunities for observation, who had been impressed by the reality and the superlative worth of the experience on w…
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or perfected saints ; but men being what they are1 God does not esteem it too great o. condescension to draw them to himself by tne promise of blessedness, high, peculiar, rich, o.nd lasting. IV. GOD GIVES HERE THROUGH BALAAM A CLEAR INDICATION OB' HOW THIS DESIRABLE BLEBSEDNEBS COMES, Israel is not only the happy peo…
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resources. He rather takes the blame to himself than to Balaam. If there be wrath in hie heart with the speaker, who, instead of cursing Israel, has blessed it altogether, he manages to conceal the wrath. He cannot afford to quarrel with Balaam the only known resource he has. He suggests, therefore, as the great cause…
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are inspired by the unchanging God himself I Changing thus, we shall get into a state partaking somewhat of God's own stendfastness; or, rather, the only change will be from good to better and better to best. Man may become such that it shall no longer be his reproach that he lies, either carelessly, ignorantly, or ma…
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and true God finds germs of faithfulness and truth in man, there he will abide and never depart. 3. There i,s strength for all r~ired servi~ and toil. "He bath as it were the strength of the unicorn ( or buffalo). " Much increase is by the strength of the ox" (Prov. xiv. 4), but an animal stronger even than the ordi…
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dices of the world. The claws of the lion rnuet not be clipped when it ie dealing with vested interests and established iniquities. As it ie not the way of the lion to make compromises with its prey, so neither must we make compromises with any evil. \Ve have nothing to do with evil, eave, in the name of the God of rig…
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Balaam's lying lips, _b?t he makes him see such visions as were customarily confined to men who were spmtually fit for them. Balaam doubtless, looking away into the distance of time from the present encampment of Israel in Moab to their future life in Canaan, would rather have seen ruin, confusion, and desolation-so…
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mind of the Christian dwell encouragingly on them. Balak eete forth the intolerant ond suspicious spirit of the world in tul ite kingdomu; nnd the world does not heed prophecies ; it does not take them to heart, else it would cease to be the world. These prophecies, though they were first spoken by a BaJ,a.am and liste…
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Not to withdraw from it powers that might better be consecrated to its service but to bri_ng to bear upon it, in the ea.use of righteousness, an energy higher and di;iner than its own. , III. THEIR MULTIPLICITY, "Who can count the dust," &c. The promise given to Abraham is gloriously fulfilled in God's spiritual Is…
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has suffered far more from foes within thnn ever it did from foes without. Christ has been wounded most "in the house of his friends." Read the history of the first three or four centuries of the Christian era if you would know to what an extent thi, hand of man may mar the fair and glorious work of God. They tell h…
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carefully for further use ; but if it turns out a failure, fling it without more ado on the dunghill. Balak acts here towards Balaam just as he might be expected to act. 2. He lays tJie whok blame on Balaam. He does not consider that the evil purposes of his own heart must needs be frustrated. Three prophecies, full …
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metrical nest, but the lion can do nothing eave destroy. You may cage it and curb its savage propensities a little, but it is not tamed; the lion-nature is there, and the smallest taste of blood will cause it to burst forth in all its fury. The lion being thus a destroyer, end nothing but a destroyer, it is needfol …
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we feel that there was not only a new teaching being diffused among men, but, above all things, a 'fU!UJ ~ • It was not only fresh thought the;r brought to men, hut a new nnd gladdemng life. IV. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIIE MANY NATIONS REFERRED T01 AS INDICATING THI EXTENT AND COMPLETENESS OF THE DOMINION. The details…
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Abraham was fulfilled: " In thy seed shBII all the nBtions of the earth be blessed" (Gen. xxii. 16, 17), The benefits the seed of Abraham conferred upon the human race did but foreshadow those of Christianity. It is the "light of the world," the "salt of the earth,'' carrying the stream of a new life over all lands, di…
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and never dream of entering through it into communion with Him who inspires it with the energy of his presence. Tribes whose life is nureed and cradled in the fairest regions of the earth are often meutally the darkest and morally the moet depraved. The worst forms of heathenim have been found in those parts of the …
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CHAPTER XXV. seems strange that so fearful an apostasy ha.d gone so far without interference on the pa.rt THE BIN OJ' lsRAEL AND ATONEMENT OJ' of Moses. He ma.y have been absent from PHINEHAS (vers. 1-18). Ver. 1.-Abode in the camp on account of the wars with the Shittim. For a considerable time; from their Amorite…
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affair, and it preparei us to learn without bestowed upon the act of Phinehl\8 see the surprise that they wero in reality the authors note at the end of the chapter. . In the of this mischief. All the congregation, .. Hebrew Bible a new section begins here. who were weeping. According to the loose Ver. 11.-While he …
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made) the excuse for deeds of murderous fanaticism, should be commended in the strongest tenns by the Almighty; that an act of summary vengeance, which we find it somewhat hard to justify on moral grounds, should Le made in a peculiar sense and in a special degree the pattern of the great atonement wrought by the Savio…
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faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness, it is clear that zeal was imputed to Phinehas for righteousnese for evermore. This being so, it is necessary in the second place to point out that the act in ques- tion (like that of Abraham in sacrificing his son) was distinctly one of moral virtue according to the s…
742 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.