Bible Commentaries

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1.

two: here only two. Later, 120 (2 Chronicles 5:12).

trumpets. These were of two principal kinds: those called chazozerah, made of silver, and straight; the other, shophar, a horn. These must be distinguished. The other words are yobel, a jubilee horn (Exodus 19:16); and tako"a, the blast of a trumpet (Ezekiel 7:14).

of a whole piece = of beaten work.

use them: for four purposes: (1) assembly; (2) journeying; (3) for war; (4) for the feasts.

assembly = whole congregation: i e. in its civil character.

door = entrance.

tabernacle of the congregation = tent of meeting. App-40.

blow. Hebrew. teru"ah = a prolonged blowing.

congregation = assembly = a portion only, in its military character.

sons. Compare Leviticus 1:5.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

solemn days = appointed seasons. Between Numbers 10:10 and Numbers 10:11 comes in the account of Jethro, Ex. 18. See Deuteronomy 1:7-14, where the choosing of judges takes place after Horeb, but is recorded in Exodus 18 before Horeb.

twentieth day, &c. See App-50.

tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40.

children = sons.

took their journeys. Hebrew idiom, "journeyed for their journeyings" = set forward. On 20th of Ziph, 1490, and ended 10th Abib 1451. Lasted 38 years and 15 days.

commandment. Hebrew mouth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6; "mouth "put for what is spoken by it.

the first place. For the order of the twelve tribes, see App-45.

camp. Note distinction between "camp" and "host". Compare Numbers 2:3.

Nahshon. Compare Numbers 1:7; Numbers 2:3.

Deuel, called also Reuel, Numbers 2:14.

the other: i.e. the Gershonites and Merarites. See Numbers 10:17.

Baguel, called also Eeuel (Exodus 2:18).

mount of the LORD = mountain of Jehovah: because His glory had there been revealed.

three days. From 20-23 Ziph. App-50.

Read this verse after Numbers 10:36. See following note.

(Numbers 10:35-36) These two verses are marked Hebrew Manuscripts by "inverted Nuns", i.e. the Hebrew letter (n) inverted and used as brackets, to show that Numbers 10:35 and Numbers 10:36 are thus enclosed to show that Numbers 10:34 should follow Numbers 10:36. This is shown by the Structure:

33 | The setting forth of the ark.
35 | "Rise up, O Jehovah" } Words
36 | "Return, O Jehovah" } Spoken.
34 | The setting forth of the cloud.

There are eight of these inverted nuns. See notes on Psalms 107:23-28.

Rise up. A beautiful prayer. Compare Psalms 3:7; Psalms 7:6; Psalms 10:12; Psalms 17:13; Psalms 44:26.

These two verses are marked Hebrew Manuscripts by "inverted Nuns", i.e. the Hebrew letter (n) inverted and used as brackets, to show that Numbers 10:35 and Numbers 10:36 are thus enclosed to show that Numbers 10:34 should follow Numbers 10:36. This is shown by the Structure:

33 | The setting forth of the ark.
35 | "Rise up, O Jehovah" } Words
36 | "Return, O Jehovah" } Spoken.
34 | The setting forth of the cloud.

There are eight of these inverted nuns. See notes on Psalms 107:23-28.

Return. Either, Return, O Jehovah; or, Cause to return. Compare Deuteronomy 30:3. Psalms 14:7; Psalms 126:1. The former better. Compare Exodus 33:14-16.