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and she bare unto Amram Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam 60 their sister. And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, 61 Eleazar, and Ithamar. And Nadab and Abihu died, when 62 they offered strange fire before the LORD. And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

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These [are] they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in 64 the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of 65 Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

CHAP. XXVII.

The petition of Zelophehad's daughters, and their success; Moses having notice given him of his death, prays for a successor; and Joshua is appointed.

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HEN came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph : and these [are] the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah; these, perceiving that the males only were numbered, and that the land was to be divided to them only, put in their claim for a share in their father's 2 inheritance; And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, which 3 was God's court of judicature, saying, Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons, that is, he died a natural death, to which he was liable for sin, as all other men are; he had done nothing to cut off the entail, and expose his 4 children to forfeit their rights. Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, be quite extinguished in the division of the land, because he hath no son? Give unto us [therefore] a possession among the brethren of

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6 our father.* And Moses brought their cause before the

LORD..

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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren ; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass 8 unto them.t And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall 9 cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. And if he

have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his 10 brethren. And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his 11 inheritance unto his father's brethren. And if his father

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have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses, according to which, judgment shall be given in all like cases for the future.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the chil13 dren of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt

be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gath14 ered.* For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.t

15 16 And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who hath created the souls of all, and therefore is most able to judge whose spirit is best qual ified for this office, and who can bestow a spirit answerable to so 17 great a charge, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in, guide and govern them both at home and abroad, in war and peace, and

This was very commendable in these young women; it showed great faith in God's promise to bring them to Canaan, and great respect to their father, in desiring to have his mame continued.

†This was done, Joshua xvii. 4 yet with a caution respecting their marriage, ch. xxxvi. 6.

The laws of our country, respecting inheritances, are exactly agreeable to this law or statute of Israel.

This was a range of mountains, of considerable extent, near the rivers Jordan and Arnon. Nebo was one particular mountain, and Pisgah the highest top of it.

* In Deuteronomy, we find that Moses had desired to go over, but God forbade it, and says, Thou shalt die as Aaron; probably to recommend to him Aaron's submission and sheerfulness.

+ God by this means reminds him of his fault, and of the reason why he must die here. Yet much mercy was mingled; he gave him a sight of the promised land, and the hope of things infinitely better. Upon which Moses submits; yet earnestly prays that God would take care of Israel.

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undertake the charge of them upon all occasions; that the con gregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd, in an helpless and miserable condition.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit of wisdom, government, zeal, and devotion, and lay thine hand upon him, confer author ity, and entreat a blessing on him; and fear not but I will bestow upon him a great increase of gifts, answerable to the digni19 ty and duty of his office: And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation, that they may be witnesses of this transaction, and acknowledge him as their governor; und that his own heart may be the more impressed with this 80lemnity; and give him a charge in their sight; command him to undertake the work; encourage and animate him to perform it; direct him to be faithful and diligent. (See the charge in 20 Deut. xxxi. vii.) And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient, show him respect as thy partner and successor, and cause others to do so, and impart to him the ensigns of thy 21 authority. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD; at his word, the word of God made known by Urim, shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, Joshua himself, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.*

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And Moses did as the LORD commanded him and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before 23 all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.t

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REFLECTIONS.

E learn hence, that to believe God's promises of the heavenly inheritance, and to seek a share in it, is highly commendable. These young women, daughters of Zelophehad, are commended by God for believing and claiming a share in the earthly Canaan, and for being unwilling to lose their part in it. Surely then it is fit that all should seek a better country, and be afraid of losing their inheritance there. Those speak right who

* In this respect Joshua was much inferior to Moses; for Moses never consulted God this way; he had no priest, no Urim; but went immediately to God. In this respect there was no prophet like unto Moses. As to the way in which the answers were given by Urim, (see note on Exodus xxviii. 30.) probably it was by some voice from the mercy seat that the divine orders were given; but some of the Jewish rabbies wisely say, he is on the safest side who owns his ignorance in this point."

+ This showed great integrity and humility in Moses; it was not his own son, nor one of his tribe, that he exalted. He discovered the highest regard to God's appointment, and not to the advancement of his own family.

pray to possess that; and nothing is so becoming women who profess godliness. If, as some commentators suppose, they had in their request a reference to heaven, of which Canaan was a type, they were five wise daughters indeed, and set a commendable example to those of their own age and sex, to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which is promised in the covenant of grace to all that sincerely seek it.

2. Let us learn of Moses, this man of God, to express an affectionate concern for the welfare of God's Israel, his church; and especially when it wants able and faithful pastors. Moses had been ill treated by Israel; their rebellion provoked him to speak so unadvisedly that he lost Canaan; yet he tenderly loved them, and sought their welfare. He was concerned not to leave them as sheep without a shepherd. Let us cultivate a tender concern for the church of God. It is very bad with it, when God's people are as sheep exposed to want and danger, without a guide and guard. It engaged the pity of the Redeemer when he saw the multitude in such a state, and it should excite ours or even when they have shepherds, if, as is too often the case, they are little better than none. God by his Spirit can qualify men for the work and service of his sanctuary, bring them to it, and make them successful in it. Let us view the vacancies in his churches with a compas sionate eye; and earnestly pray the great Lord of the harvest, to send forth faithful labourers into it.

3. When persons undertake public services for the church, it is decent, proper, and useful, that they should be solemnly set apart for them, and charged to be faithful in them; so Joshua was, who had great services before him for Israel. It would be proper in itself, if there was no express example of it in the New Testament ; but we have many such, where christian ministers were recommended to the grace of God, by laying on of the hands of the apostles and elders of the church. The custom of doing it to this day, and giving a solemn charge, is very proper, as it tends to make good impressions on the minds of ministers and people. It is desirable that such a custom should be maintained in the church; and it should be our hearty wish and prayer, that it may be as seriously observed, and be as useful, as it is proper and decent.

CHAP. XXVIII.

The observance of the Lord's offering's commanded; and of the continual burnt offering.

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AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the

children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, [and] my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, [for] a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due

season.

And thou shalt say unto them, This [is] the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, [for] a continual burnt of4 fering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, 5 and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; And a tenth

[part] of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with 6 the fourth [part] of an hin of beaten oil. [It is] a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet 7 savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. And the drink offering thereof [shall be] the fourth [part] of an hin for the one lamb in the holy [place] shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD [for] a drink offering. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer [it,] a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

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And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, ming10 led with oil, and the drink offering thereof: [This is] the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

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And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, 12 seven lambs of the first year without spot; And three tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour [for] a meat offering, 13 mingled with oil, for one ram; And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil [for] a meat offering unto one lamb; [for] a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by 14 fire unto the LORD. And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third [part] of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth [part] of an hin unto a lamb : this [is] the burnt offering of every month throughout the months 15 of the year. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

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