Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Numbers Ch.33 / 36 Ch.s
NU:33
* Encampments of the Israelites. (1-49) The Canaanites to be
destroyed. (50-56)
#1-49 This is a brief review of the travels of the children of
Israel through the wilderness. It is a memorable history. In
their travels towards Canaan they were continually on the
remove. Such is our state in this world; we have here no
continuing city, and all our removes in this world are but from
one part a desert to another. They were led to and fro, forward
and backward, yet were all the while under the direction of the
pillar of cloud and fire. God led them about, yet led them the
right way. The way God takes in bringing his people to himself
is always the best way, though it does not always seem to us the
nearest way. Former events are mentioned. Thus we ought to keep
in mind the providences of God concerning us and families, us
and our land, and the many instances of that Divine care which
has led us, and fed us, and kept us all our days hitherto. Few
periods of our lives can be thought upon, without reminding us
of the Lord's goodness, and our own ingratitude and
disobedience: his kindness leaves us without excuse for our
sins. We could not wish to travel over again the stages we have
passed, unless we could hope, by the grace of God, to shun the
sins we then committed, and to embrace such opportunities of
doing good as we have let slip. Soon will our wanderings end,
and our eternal state be fixed beyond recall; how important then
is the present moment! Happy are those whom the Lord now guides
with his counsel, and will at length receive to his glory. To
this happiness the gospel calls us. Behold now is the accepted
time, now is the day of salvation. Let sinners seize the
opportunity, and flee for refuge to the hope set before them.
Let us redeem our time, to glorify God and serve our generation;
and he will carry us safely through all, to his eternal kingdom.
#50-56 Now that they were to pass over Jordan, they were
entering again into temptation to follow idols; and they are
threatened that, if they spared either the idols or the
idolaters, their sin would certainly be their punishment. They
would foster vipers in their own bosoms. The remnant of the
Canaanites, if they made any peace with them, though but for a
time, would be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their sides.
We must expect trouble and affliction from whatever sin we
indulge; that which we are willing should tempt us, will vex us.
It was intended that the Canaanites should be put out of the
land; but if the Israelites learned their wicked ways, they also
would be put out. Let us hear this and fear. If we do not drive
out sin, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our
lusts, our lusts will be the death of our souls.