The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 49

'and for the Levites in pe.rticuln.r, shows everywhere the hand of the general accus- tomed to handle great bodies of men.-Ce.re is taken to put on record the rea.s01& for the separation of tlie Levites to the service of the tabernacle. By primitive custom e. certain sanctity was attributed to the first-born. The act of God in pass- ing over the first-born of Israel in Egypt established an additional claim upon the first-born thenceforward (cf. Exod. xiii., also eh. xxii. 29, &c.). To have required the personal service of the eldest son of every house would have been inconvenient. Better let the tribe of Levi be substituted, and let them minister to Aaron their brother; an arrangement facilitated by the circumstance that tke Levites were nearly tLe ea.me in numb.er as the first-born. (The equation is not without its difficulties. But there is great doubt ae to who exactly were meant by the "fin,t-bom." Till that is settled it is too soon to charge the narrative with error.) It was needful to state very dis- tinctly the reason for the separation of a whole tribe to sacred service. The tribe thus separated had to be supported by their brethren, besides being disabled for doing their share of military and other public service. The Israelites would be unlike the rest of mankind if they did not, by and by; grudge such a great expenditure. They are to be reminded that the separation of the Levites was in liquidation of a prior claim, and took place by way of accommodation to their convenience. When money or service is asked for religious or charitable objects there are sure to be grumblers, and it is very expedient to fortify the demand with a clear statement of the reasons.-B. Ver. 4.-" Strange fire." There are various kinds of "fire" used in the service of God which, if not as hateful in his sight as that ofEered by Nadab and Abihu, are "strange." There is a fire which is a_ppropriate and acceptable, because kindled by God; all others are "strange fire, which he commanded not" (Levit. x. 1). E. g.- I. ILLEGITIMATE ZEAL, as seen in every kind of persecution (see Luke ix. 51-56). Yet e. writer on the origin of the Inquisition quotes the passage in justification of the burning of heretics: " Lo I fire the punishment of heretics, for the Samaritans were the heretics of those times" (Prescott's 'Ferdinand and Isabella,' i. 319, n. ). See Gal. iv. 18. But let the zeal run in the path marked out for it by Christ towards enemies (Matt. v. 44), backsliders (Gal. VJ. 1), or heretics (James v. 19, 20). II. UNAUTHORISED SERVICES; whether ofEered by unauthorised persons, as Korab, who yet had the true fire (eh. xvi. 17, 18), or Saul (l Sam. xiii. 9-14), or Uzzie.h (2 Chron. xxvi.); or by God's servants, but in ways alien to his minrl (Illus., Uzzah, 1 Chron. xiii. 9, 10 ; xv. 13). Such are the "voluntary humility" and " neglecting of the body" condemned in Col. ii. 18-23, and all similar austerities. The fire God npproves must be presented by accepted worshippers in an appointed way. Ill. SUPERSTITIOUS DEVOTIONS. These may be presented through Christ" the way," and yet marred by ignorant fears of God, or unworthy fancies, or errors intertwined with God's truth in the many ways known to ancient or modem superstition (l John iv. 18; v. 13-15). IV. ARTIFICIAL EMOTION. We need never dread the emotion caused by God's own truth, used in legitimate ways. Truth is like solid fuel that ought to keep up e. glowing heat, whether of a.Jann (Acts ii. 37 ; xxiv. 25) or of joy (Acts ii. 41). But emotion excited ape.rt from the communication of appropriate truth may be disastrous; or at best like e. blaze of straw, soon leaving only blackness and ashes. All such "strange fire" tends to the injury, or even the destruction, of the ofEerers (John iv. 24). To worship God in truth we must ourselves be "accepted in the beloved," enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and must present spiritual sacrifices kindled by his own celestial fire of love.-P. Ver. 4.-A mortal sin. "And Ne.dab and Abihu died before the Lord," &c. I. WHO THEY WERE THAT COMMITTED THIS SIN. Sons of Aaron j elder sons, in whom, therefore, e. greater sense of thoughtfulness and responsibility might have been expected. They had also been duly anointed and consecrated. They could hardly plead ignorance and inexperience in the things of God. They had nothing else to do than attend to the tabernacle. They knew, or ought to have considered, that Jehovah had le.id down instructions, even to the minutest points, as to what the priests were to do. It is a warning then to all who stand among peculiar privileges 11nd enjoy greater light, e. g. 1 those who live in a household where there is piety  THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [ah, lV. 1-49.