Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 10
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 10
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 10
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them: and thou shalt use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of the tent of meeting. And if they blow but one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey. And when ye blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute for ever throughout your generations. And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am Jehovah your God." — Numbers 10:1-10 (ASV)
Here, directions are given concerning the public notices to be given to the people by sound of trumpet. Their laws were in every case to be Divine; therefore, even in this matter, Moses is directed.
These trumpets typify the preached gospel. It sounds an alarm to sinners, calls them to repent, proclaims liberty to the captives and slaves of Satan, and collects the worshippers of God.
The gospel trumpet also directs and encourages their heavenly journey. It stirs them up to combat against the world and sin, encouraging them with the assurance of victory. Furthermore, it leads their attention to the sacrifice of Christ and shows the Lord's presence for their protection.
It is also necessary that the gospel trumpet give a distinct sound, according to the persons addressed or the intended purpose: whether to convince, humble, console, exhort, reprove, or teach.
The sounding of the trumpet of the gospel is God's ordinance and demands the attention of all to whom it is sent. (Numbers 10:11–28)
"And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses. And in the first [place] the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bare the tabernacle, set forward. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the others] did set up the tabernacle against their coming. And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they set forward." — Numbers 10:11-28 (ASV)
After the Israelites had remained for nearly a year at Mount Sinai, and all was settled regarding their future worship, they began their march to Canaan. True religion begins with the knowledge of the holy law of God and humiliation for sin, but we must go on toward perfection, in acquaintance with Christ and His gospel, and those effective encouragements, motives, and help toward holiness which it offers. They took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord (Deuteronomy 1:6–8), and as the cloud led them.
Those who commit themselves to the direction of God's word and Spirit steer a steady course, even when they seem bewildered. While they are sure they cannot lose their God and Guide, they need not fear losing their way. They went out of the wilderness of Sinai and rested in the wilderness of Paran.
All our moves in this world are only from one wilderness to another. The changes we think will be for the better do not always turn out that way. We will never be at rest, never at home, until we come to heaven, but all will be well there.
"And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses` father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which Jehovah said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for Jehovah hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever Jehovah shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee." — Numbers 10:29-32 (ASV)
Moses invites his relatives to go to Canaan. Those who are bound for the heavenly Canaan should ask and encourage their friends to go with them: we will have no less of the joys of heaven because others come to share with us. It is good to have fellowship with those who have fellowship with God.
But the things of this world, which are seen, strongly pull us away from pursuing the things of the other world, which are not seen.
Moses urges that Hobab could be helpful to them. Not to show where they must encamp, nor which way they must march (the cloud was to direct that); but to show the advantages of the places they marched through and encamped in. It is quite consistent with our trust in God's providence to use the help of our friends.
"And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days` journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days` journey, to seek out a resting-place for them. And the cloud of Jehovah was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Jehovah, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel." — Numbers 10:33-36 (ASV)
Their going out and coming in gives us an example to begin and end every day's journey and every day's work with prayer. Here is Moses's prayer when the ark set forward, Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered. There are those in the world who are enemies to God and haters of him: secret and open enemies; enemies to his truths, his laws, his ordinances, his people.
But for the scattering and defeating of God's enemies, nothing more is needed than God's arising. Observe also the prayer of Moses when the ark rested, that God would cause his people to rest. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God consist in the continual presence of God among them. Their safety is not in their numbers, but in the favour of God, and his gracious return to them, and resting with them.
Upon this account, Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people! God will go before them, to find them resting-places by the way. His promise is, and their prayers are, that he will never leave them nor forsake them.
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