The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 48

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ch. iii.-T/u? f amilia of Lem get their several commissi<ms. The third and' fourth chapters of Numbers form a section by themselves, and of this 11ection the- opening verse is the descripthre title: THE GENERATIONS OF AAltON AND MosES .According to t11e idiom of the Bible, this means that the tv;ro chapters which folio,; constitute the Book of the Families of Levi (compare tl1e titles of the several sec- tions of Genesis, viz., eh. ii. 4; v. 1; vi. 9; x. 1; xi. 27, &c. ; lllso Matt. i: 1). The design of the book is to note the principal divisions of the tribe and o.llot to each its place and duties. Observe how the names of Aaron and Moses stantl where we- should have expected to find Levi's. The patriarch's fame has been quite eclipsed by that of his illustrious descendants, insomuch thllt here the tribe takes its title from them rather than from him. The book of the Levites is entitled the Book of Aaron and Moses. ' ' I. IN THIS FAMILY BOOK THE PRE-EMINENCE IS GIVEN TO AARON. The name of Moses is inscribed in the title, but his family is othervlise of no note. The noble self- denial of Moses in this matter has been much commended, and with reason. He was, superior to the ambition which seeks to build up a family at whatever cost' to the- nation. There hi. some reason to think that his sons were unworthy, Their mother was a Midianite, and seems to have had little sympathy with her husband's faith. It was otherwise with Aaron. His wife was a daughter of Amminadab, the prince of Judah a.nd ancestor of our Lord (Exod. vi. 23). Her name was Elisheba (" a wor~ shipper of God"); and as the name became a favourite one among the daughters of the priestly house (Luke i. 5), it may be presumed that she was worthy of tb~ name, the first of all the saintly Elisabeths. The sons of Aaron and Elisabeth, being the- heirs of the priesthood, took precedence of the other families of Levi, and occupied tl,e place of honour in the camp. They, with Moses, pitched their tents in front of the tabernacle, towards the east (ver. 38). Note in passing how, at this early date, the two families which were to be pre-eminent for fifteen hundred years in respect of' force of character, variety of services, and public honours are already marked out by the hand of God. On the march the prince of Judah leads the van (eh. i. 7; ii . .3, 9) ; in the encampment Aaron and his sons occupy the place of honour. In the family book of Levi the sons of Aaron and Elisabeth tl\ke precedence of all their brethren. Yet not so as to give any foothold in Israel to that sacerdotal pride which ma.de the Brahmins of India and the priests of Egypt a sacred caste, and taught the people to bow before them as demigods. I£ Aaron and Elisabeth ever read this family register, their hearts did not swell with pride. The first eentences recall the tragedy of their house. Aaron's two eldest sons, with the oil of their consecration, yet fresh upon them, sinned presumptuously, were smitten, and their names perished from Israel. Not even in the house of the godliest pair is grace hereditary. Aaron, the saint of God, and his saintly Elisabeth mourn over sons whom God baa cut off in their sin. God will endure no rival in his house. His most honoured servants must be eontent to be only bis servants, and the servants of all men for his sake. The· Bible tolerates no hero wo!"Bhip. It tells the truth about the best of men, lovingly indeed, but without extenuation. In our family registers we are not bound by the same rule. We do not occupy the throne of judgment, and may bury domestic tragedies out of sight. ~ut God is Judge, and his book, 11.l! it cannot eIT Jn its judgm':lnts, must speak without reserve, although the effect should be to "stain the- pride of all glory' (Isa, xxiii. 9). II. THE GREATER l'ART OF THIS FAMILY BOOK 113 OCCUPIED Wil'B TBE CENSUS Oil'' •rBE LEVITICAL CLANS AND TBE ALLOTMENT TO EACH OF ITS PLACE AND DUTIES. Tlie particulars falling under this head do not call for special notice here. They concur with those related in the earlier chaptel"B of this book in showing that the march o:f the tribes was performed with the moat perfect order. Never was any great multi• tude more unlike a mob than the congregation in the wilderness. Moses in Egypt lrnd shown himself a man "mighty in deeds" (Acts vii. 22). The tmdition which makes him to have led victorious armies in his /outh is probably true. Certainly the order laid down in Numbers forthe march an the camp1 for the nation in general.  THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 23