Bible Commentaries
Numbers 10

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Verse 2

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.

Verse 3

door = entrance.

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

Verse 5

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

Verse 7

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

Verse 8

sons. Compare Leviticus 1:5 .

Verse 9

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 10

solemn days = appointed seasons. Between Numbers 10:10 and Numbers 10:11 comes in the account of Jethro, Exodus 18:0 . See Deuteronomy 1:7-14 , where the choosing of judges takes place after Horeb, but is recorded in Exodus 18:0 before Horeb.

Verse 11

twentieth day, &c. See App-50 .

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

Verse 12

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.

Verse 13

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

Verse 14

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 .

Verse 20

Deuel, called also Reuel, Numbers 2:14 .

Verse 21

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

Verse 29

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

Verse 33

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

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

Verse 34

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

Verse 35

(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 .

Verse 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 .

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 .