B. C. the dedication of the Tabernacle; and God speaketh unto
Moses from the mercy-seat.
The Passover enjoined. A second time allowed for those Num.is.
who could not observe the first.
Jethro (called also Hobab) brings his daughter Zipporah, Exod. xvi.
with her two sons, Gershon and Eliezer, who were left
with him, to his son-in-law Moses; and, having congratu-
lated him and the people on their deliverance from bondage,
openly avows his faith in the God of Israel. By his advice,
Moses appoints magistrates to assist him in the decision of
minor causes.
Moses still complains of the weight of government, and
God appoints him a court of seventy elders to assist him.
The people having lived lately, as it should seem, almost
entirely upon manna, now hanker after flesh, the more (as
it should seem) from the apparent impossibility of procuring
it: the Almighty, however, to display his power, sends then
a flock of quails, of which they eat with so much eagerness,
and to so great excess, that it produces a pestilence amongst
them, and many die and are there buried.
Aaron and his sister Miriam raise a sedition against Mo- Num.
ses, but God rebukes them, and justifies him.
From Kadesh Barnea, in the wilderness of Paran, twelve
men are sent as spies to view the land of Canaan, who, on
their return, bring, suspended on a branch between two, a
cluster of the grapes, which appears to have been of extra-
ordinary size, with pomegranates and figs: at the same
time, ten of them represent the inhabitants as giants, and
the cities as very strong; and, therefore, utterly discourage
the Israelites from attempting to subdue them: but Jo-
shua and Caleb, the two faithful spies, animate the peo-
ple to go up at once; and, God being with them, they
make no doubt but they shall succeed. The people, how-
ever, murmur, and refuse to go, in consequence of which Numb, xir.
they are condemned to wander forty years in the wilderness,
till all that generation should die, except the two faithful
spies just mentioned. A few of the people then change
their mind; and, venturing upon the attack without a di-
vine sanction, are defeated and slain.
In this part of the wilderness they continue many days,
and perhaps some years, for we read of seventeen encamp-
ments only during thirty-seven years. And it was here,
probably, that the insurrection occurred, of Korah, Dathan,
and Abiram, who were swallowed up, with all their com-
pany, by earthquake; and the discontents afterwards rising
on account of this judgment, produced a plague far more
extensively fatal.
The people come to the wilderness of Zin, in the begin- Num. xx. 1.
ning of the fortieth year after their leaving Egypt. Here
Miriam died; and a few months after, Aaron, her brother,
died, on Mount Hor, aged 123; and was succeeded by his
son Eliezer.
B. C. Here also, not only do the people murmur again for want
of water, but Moses is guilty of speaking "unadvisedly with
1452 his lips," in striking the rock to produce it for them. The
people are punished with fiery flying serpents, and saved
by looking to a brazen one.
Numbers
2-13.
Ps. cvi. 33..
Num. xxi.
About the end of this year, all those who had been pro-
hibited from entering Canaan being dead, the Israelites pass
over Zared, and come to Mount Pisgah; from whence they
send messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, requesting
a passage through his country: but he sends an army to at-
tack them, as does Og, king of Basan; both, however, are
defeated, and their land possessed by Israel.
The Israelites then encamp in the plains of Moab, when Num. xxii.
Balak, the king, sends for Balaam to come and curse Israel,
which he appears willing to do, but is prevented, and com-
pelled to bless them. But by his wicked advice, the Moabitish
women are employed to seduce Israel to idolatry, which,
by the judgment of God, costs the death of 24,000 persons.
In the plain of Moab, by divine command, Moses numbers Num, xxvi.
the people, from twenty years old and upward, being 601,730,
besides 23,000 Levites; and orders are given for parting
the land by lot among them.
The case of the daughters of Zelophehad, and the law of
inheritances.
Moses drawing near his end, after blessing the tribes by
the spirit of prophecy, ascends Mount Nebo, to view the Deut. xxvii.
promised land, and there dying, at the age of 120, is suc-
ceeded by Joshua.
Here ends the history of the Pentateuch, or five Books of Moses,
containing (according to our translators) the history of nearly 2553
years from the creation; or, according to Dr. Hales, of 3803.
The Book of Joshua begins in the 41st year after the Exodus.
§ V. FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES TO THE APPOINTMENT
Joshua being confirmed in his government, sends spies to
Jericho, who are received, and carefully preserved, by
Upon the tenth day of the first month (answering to April
30), Joshua and the Israelites pass dry-shod through the
Jordan, the waters being miraculously divided for them.
Next day, the rite of circumcision is renewed; and three
days after this, is celebrated the first passover in the land of
Canaan. From this time the daily manna ceaseth.
Jericho being surrounded seven days successively by the
priests bearing the ark, is entered upon the last, by the walls
falling down flat; and the inhabitants are put to the sword—
except Rahab and her family.
Soon after this, the Israelites are smitten before Ai, on
account of Achan's sin, on the discovery of which he is
stoned and burned, with all his family and property. After
this, Ai is taken by ambushment, and utterly destroyed.
The blessings and curses of the law recited on mounts
Gerizim and Ebal.
The kings of Canaan combine against Israel, only the
Gibeonites, by a crafty league, save their lives, but are de-
voted to the menial service of the tabernacle.
Five kings of Canaan besiege Gibeon, but Joshua raises
the siege, and pursues them to destruction, the sun and
moon standing still, until his victory is complete.
From the autumn of this year, the Israelites till the land Exod. xxiii.
of Canaan, and from this time the Sabbatical years are
reckoned.
Joshua, now grown old, is commanded to divide all the Josh, xiii.
land, west of Jordan, among the tribes not yet provided for.
The remaining kings of Canaan, with whom Joshua had
now warred six years, unite all their forces, but Joshua de-
feats them by stratagem, and thus obtains possession of their
several territories.
He next proceeds to root out the giants from the hill Josh, xiv.
countries, and having got the whole land (with some excep-
tions) into his possession, divides it among the tribes, and
the land has rest from war.
The first Sabbatical year, whence the Jubilee years are
reckoned, every fiftieth year.
This year the tabernacle is set up in Shilo (a city of
Ephraim), where it continued 328 years.
Josh. xvi.
Josh. xxi.
Josh. xxiii.
Josh, xxiv.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
are sent back to their possessions on the other side of Jordan;
after which, Joshua gathers together all Israel, exhorts
them to obedience, briefly recites God's benefits, renews the
covenant between them and God, and dies at 110 years old.
After the decease of Joshua, and the elders who outlived Judges i
him, there succeeds a generation of men, who, forgetful of
the divine benefits, marry with the remnant of the idola-
ters, and worship their idols. This introduces a system of iii. 1, &c.
anarchy and confusion, in which every one does "what is
right in his own eyes;" and thus originated all the crimes
and disorders related in the five last chapters of the Book Judg. xvii.
of Judges; namely, the idolatry of Micah, and of the chil-
dren of Dan, &c. at which the Almighty being highly pro-
voked, gave them up into the hands of Cushan, King of Judg. i. 12,
Mesopotamia; this lasted, however, for eight years only.
Othniel, son-in-law to Caleb, defeats Cushan, avenges Judg. iii.
Israel, and gives the land rest forty years from that time.
Othniel dying, the people again fall into sin, and are
given into the hand of Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen years;
1325 but Ehud avenges Israel by stabbing Eglon, and the land
has another forty years rest and peace.
After the death of Ehud, Israel relapse to their old sin, Judg. iv. v.
1305 are given into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan, twenty
years; but are rescued by Deborah and Barak, and again
enjoy a similar interval of rest.
Israel again sinning, are delivered into the hands of the
B. C. Midianites, but are in a singular manner rescued by Gideon,
who procures the land another like interval of rest, and is
1245 offered to be made king, but refuses: yet, after Gideon's
death, Abimelech, the son of his concubine, assumes that
rank, after murdering seventy of his brethren; but after
reigning three years, he is mortally wounded by a female
After his death, Tolah, Jair, Jephthah, and several others,
successively judged Israel, in different parts, and for dif-
1117 ferent intervals, until at length Sampson arises, whose mira-
culous strength, and marvellous exploits, are fully related
and generally known; as also Jephthah's rash vow.
The Israelites, as should seem, without sufficient autho-
rity (see our Exposition of 1 Sam. iv.), take up arms against
the Philistines, and carry the ark with them; but the ark
(as Eli feared) is taken, and the news of that event is fatal
to old Eli; who, at the age of ninety-eight, falls from his
seat, and breaks his neck.
On the other hand, the ark being carried into the temple
of Dagon, proves fatal to their god and to themselves; in-
somuch that, after seven months of successive calamities,
they are glad to send back the ark, with presents: but it
proves no less fatal to the men of Bethshemesh, many of
whom are punished for the improper manner in which they
treated it.
Judg. x.
to xiii.
Judg. xiv.
Judg. xi.
30-40.
1 Sam. iv.
Samuel, however, excites the people to national repent- 1 Sam. vii.
ance, in consequence of which they are emancipated from
the Philistines, and prosper during all the government of
Samuel. But as he grew old, his sons, who were of 1 Sam. viii.
a far different spirit, provoke the people to request a king;
in which they persist, notwithstanding Samuel's remon-
strances. The Almighty not approving of this measure, is
displeased with their request, and gives them Saul-a
young man of most promising appearance, but perverse in
heart. He is, however, secretly anointed, and afterwards
publicly proclaimed at Mizpeh, and again at Gilgal.
§ VI. THE REIGNS OF DAVID AND SOLOMON.
David, the son of Jesse, born.
Saul being rejected of God, Samuel is sent to Bethlehem
to anoint David to be his successor.
Saul hates and persecutes David; but his son, Jonathan,
loves him as his own soul, and in every possible way pro-
tects him.
David fearing Saul, flies to Achish, king of Gath, who, 1 Samuel
some time after, making war against Saul, proposes taking xxviii.xxix.
1055 David to war with him; but is providentially prevented by
the jealousy of the Philistine princes.
Saul seeing the army collected by the Philistines, is
greatly alarmed; and Samuel being now dead, applies for
counsel to the witch of Endor, who raises an apparition
B. C. (real or pretended) of the dead prophet, who predicts his
discomfiture and death, which happen accordingly, on the 1Sam..
1055 following day.
Three days after, an Amalekite brings to David Saul's
crown and bracelets; but David finding that he had raised
his hand against the Lord's anointed, and, at least, hastened
his end, he orders the Amalekite to be slain, and composes
a funeral ode for Saul and Jonathan, his son.
2 Sam. ii.
1 Chron.
xii. B.
Upon this, having asked counsel of God, David goes up
to Hebron, and is anointed king of Judah, at 30 years of age;
at the same time, Abner, Saul's general, carries Ishbosheth, 2 Sam. ¡i. ¿.
one of Saul's surviving sons, to Mahanaim, and proclaims
him king over the rest of Israel.
After two years, in which several skirmishes occur be- iii. 22—27.
tween the two armies, Abner deserts to David, and is kindly
1048 received by him, but treacherously murdered by Joab, Da-
vid's general: soon after this, two of the servants of Ishbo-
sheth murder their master on his bed, and bring his head to
David, who orders them instantly to be slain, for their
treachery and treason.
All the captains and elders of the twelve tribes coming 2 Sam. v.
now to Hebron, anoint David the third time, and make him
king over all Israel.
David, with all Israel, marcheth to Jerusalem against the
Jebusites, and taking the fort of Zion, calls it the city of
David; and making Jerusalem the seat of his kingdom,
reigneth there over all Israel thirty three years.
1 Chron.xi.
2 Sam. v.
6-9.
The ark of the covenant being this year brought from the 2 Sam, vi.
house of Abinadab, at Kirjath-jearim, is placed in Zion with
great solemnity, the priests singing the 68th Psalm.
David now dwelling in a house of cedar which he had
built, in perfect peace, intimates to Nathan the prophet, his
desire to build a house for God; but is answered, that being xvii. xviii.
a man of war and blood, the Lord would not accept of this
from him; but that he should have a son, Solomon, who
being a man of peace, should build the house.
While Joab goes to war against the Ammonites, David
stays at Jerusalem to enjoy his ease, and is there tempted to
commit adultery with Bathsheba: to conceal this crime, he
also basely plans the death of Uriah, her husband, and then
takes her to wife.
Nathan, in the name of the Lord, severely reproves Da- 2 Sam. xii,
vid's conduct; denounces the death of the illegimate child,
with heavy judgments on himself and family. David bit-
terly confesses his sins, and composes the 51st Psalm, which
remains a monument of sincere and deep repentance.
Bathsheba now become David's wife, bears him another
son, who is named Solomon, and also Jedidiah.
But the troubles denounced against his family immedi- 2Sam. xiii.
1030 ately break out. Amnon, his eldest son, deflowers his sister
Thamar; and Absalom, in revenge, kills his brother Amnon.
1025 For this, Absalom is obliged to fly from his country for three
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