June 21, 2019by walter herzberg commentary behaalotekha. I consider his commentaries on genesis and leviticus the best available commentaries on those books. The sons of aaron, the levites taken instead of the firstborn. Moses was the author of the book of numbers, which he wrote between 14501410 bc. Peter kirby surveys scholars writing on the book of numbers. The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is probably due to a priestly redaction i. This view i have presented and defended on many other grounds in my two books, the book of god and man university of chicago press, 1968 and the book of job, commentary, new translation, and special studies jewish theological seminary, 1970. Its narrative begins at the point where exodus leaves off. Apart from moses himself, other key figures in this book also feature aaron, joshua, caleb, miriam, balaam, and korah. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Nancy ganz exegetes the text, and adapts the writing specifically for childrens use. Where exodus 2531 and 3540 gives the details of the preparation of a.
English translation of the entire tanakh tanach with rashis commentary. Jewish tradition teaches that the generation of the wilderness committed an inexcusable. Maneuvering through levitical laws, bloodshed in joshua, or daniels apocalyptic visions, sincere readers often wonder what the old testament means and how it can be the word of god. Like the other books of the pentateuch, which both jewish and christian traditions attach to the name of moses, nm is a compilation of several sources embodying material from different stages of israels history. They contain gods instructions about how his people should live.
Now israel remained in acacia grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of moab. The wilderness years can be bought online, from jewish bookstores or direct from maggid here. Numbers english and hebrew edition jacob milgrom on. This hebrew bible was edited by esteemed translator and scholar, rabbi a. Word biblical commentary on numbers information on numbers frederick moriarty writes. Numbers 25 commentary commentary critical and explanatory.
Israel, having escaped the curse of balaam, here sustains a great deal of damage and reproach by the counsel of balaam, who, it seems, before he left balak, put him into a more effectual way than that which balak thought of to separate between the israelites and their god. It is in fact, what our heading calls israels failure with the moabites. The complete tanakh tanach hebrew bible tanakh online. Joined himself the word implies a forsaking god to whom they were joined and a turning to, and strict conjunction with, this false god baalpeor called baal, by the name common to many false gods, and especially to those that represented any of the heavenly bodies, and peor, either from the hill peor, where he was worshipped, numbers 23. Free online bible library jewish commentary on the bible. In rabbinic literature, the book of bamidbar is referred to as the book. The commentary itself is divided into two parts, the generations of the exodus and the generations of the conquest, which are both supplemented by additional. Numbers 25 commentary james burton coffman commentaries.
A commentary for children 9780976758228 by nancy e. The targum includes all the books of the old testament except daniel and ezranehemiah, which are written in part in aramaic. Parshas bamidbar the book of numbers teaches us a lesson in counting these divrei torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of rabbi yissocher frands commuter chavrusah tapes on the weekly portion. The importance of rereading torah reconstructing judaism. This book is called numbers because there are many lists of numbers in it. Study the bible online using commentary on numbers 25 and more. The commentary itself is divided into two parts, the generations of the exodus and the generations of the conquest, which are both. The following is an extract from rabbi sacks new book numbers. The book of numbers begins with the words and the lord spake unto moses in the wilderness of sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of egypt. The second took place at the end of the 40 years in the wilderness as the nation was preparing to finally enter the promised land. The first census list in numbers 1 introduces the first half of the book, which includes chaps. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. The whole episode is commemorated in the psalms, in which we read. Verses 48 and jehovah spake suddenly unto moses, and unto aaron, and unto miriam, come out ye three unto the tent of meeting.
If you are interested at getting your foot in the door with the book of numbers i highly suggest this book. Command the children of israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled by a corpse. A wonderful and indepthintroductory level commentary on numbers. Sep 01, 1981 a wonderful and indepthintroductory level commentary on numbers. There was a jewish tradition that the tribes flags were the colours of the 12 jewels precious stones. New international commentary on the old testament series editor. Leviticus, which interrupts the flow of narration, consists almost entirely of legislation independent of historic precedentwith the exception of lev. Search for more books and articles on the book of leviticus. It is clear from a careful examination of the material, when it is grouped as in the above analysis, that the book of numbers is a part of the same literary process which produced the pentateuch. It is largely concerned with israels forty years in the wilderness as they slowly made their way from mount sinai to the plains of moab. Includes a 52 page teaching section, with guides for teaching each chapter of the book. He has also written the most generally helpful commentary on the book of numbers.
Numbers 25 bible commentary wesleys explanatory notes. This commentary is a product of extended reflection on the problems associated with the origins, exegesis, and interpretation of the pentateuch. Designed for both jewish and non jewish readers alike, the israel bible offers a unique commentary that seeks to explain gods focus on the land of israel alongside the original hebrew text, transliteration of select hebrew verses, and the new jewish publication society translation. Gordon wenham is among the best contemporary writers of commentaries. Timothy ashley removes much of the confusion by dividing the hebrew text into five major sections and showing how each section contributes to the entire book s. When the book of bamidbar literally, in the wilderness begins, the israelites are in the wilderness, having left egypt and received the torah, and are preparing to travel to israel. List of books and articles about book of leviticus. Chapter 19, chapter 20, chapter 21, chapter 22, chapter 23, chapter 24, chapter 25, chapter 26, chapter 27, chapter. Numbers 25 new international version niv moab seduces israel 25 while israel was staying in shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. One of the children of israel zimri, the son of salu, a prince of a chief family in the tribe of simeon, numbers 25. Between the first verse of this chapter and the last verse of num. Moses and aaron decided to bring the complaint to the lord, who commanded them to take their staff, and in the peoples presence command a rock to yield water enough for the people and their livestock num. Numbers 25 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. It builds on earlier researches into priesthood, and into the murmuring motif as exhibited primarily in the books of exodus and numbers, begins the author in his preface.
This may be attributed to the authorship of a man who has recently experienced the events herein found and has more to write about than he has time to write. The jewish bible with a modern english translation and rashis commentary. We who affirm the centrality of torah to jewish life, and who seek in torah. In spite of the difficulties imposed by numbers on todays readers, the main point of the book is of immense importance for gods people in any age. We will begin by briefly surveying the traditional solutions offered by. Moses moment of greatest failure came when the people of israel resumed complaining, this time about food and water num.
Numbers 25 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Although the fourth book of the pentateuch is titled numbers in english, its hebrew name bemidbar in the wilderness is a more accurate description of its contents. The majority of modern biblical scholars believe that the torah the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy reached its present form in the postexilic period i. The book of numbers teaches us a lesson in counting. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the hebrew bible, and the fourth of five books of the jewish. Summary of the book of numbers numbers gets its name from the two censuses, or numberings, of the people of israel. The complete tanakh tanach hebrew bible the jewish. Numbers 25 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Wenham does a great job and explaining the text without getting bogged down. The book of numbers is composed of narrative, legislation, and archival records. However, it turns out that chapter 25 has everything to do with chapters 2224. The book of numbers tells the story that has two main character. Its inception dates back to the time of the second temple, and it is considered a first approach to a commentary before the time of jesus.
They are preparing militarily, hence the english name of the fourth book of the bible is numbers, since they are organizing and counting their ranks. Numbers 25 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. The condition of these two persons plainly proves it to have been a matrimonial alliance, the one was a prince, the other a princess. He commentary will serve the lay, the pastor, and the student. Like all the volumes in the jps torah commentary series, this volume is simply the best in its area. Discover librarianselected research resources on book of leviticus from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Numbers with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. It is called numbers because it contains the census of the people who wandered in the wilderness.
You can find the best commentary on numbers for you using the tools on the right side. Moses includes those who died by the execution of the judges numbers 25. A concise companion to the jewish religion by louis jacobs oxford university. The first 5 books in the bible are called the 5 books of moses. Bamidbar numbers chapter 25 parshah balak and pinchas. While israel was staying in shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The book of leviticus as well as the book of numbers follow immediately after the book of exodus. The format of the tyndale series means that this commentary is written at an introductory level. This act can never be an example for private revenge, or religious persecution, or for irregular public vengeance. Numbers 25 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Commentaries for numbers chapter 25 the israelites enticed by the daughters of moab and midian. The new ungers bible dictionary introduces the book of deuteronomy with.
They are preparing militarily, and hence the english name of this fourth book of the bible is. May, 2010 parshas bamidbar the book of numbers teaches us a lesson in counting. The book of numbers tells a story that has two main characters god and israel. The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity. The levites numbered by their families, their duties. It contains the complete hebrew text of genesis, the jpss new english translation, and an extensive original commentary that illuminates the text like a watt searchlight. These divrei torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of rabbi yissocher frands commuter chavrusah tapes on the weekly portion. Commentary on the book of numbers by matthew henry old.
The book of numbers is in many ways the least cohesive of the five books of the torah. The last book of the pentateuch, completing the five books of moses. Read numbers 25 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Yet numbers can be complicated and confusing for students, exegetes, and pastors to unravel the importace of numbers. The way the story is told sounds odd and often harsh to readers today. The jewish bible with a modern english translation and rashis commentary english translation of the entire tanakh tanach with rashis commentary. New international commentary on the old testament nicot. This is the exact same place where the israelites have been hanging out since god freed them from slavery back in exodus. Nevertheless, the book of numbers tends to be generally. Theyve been in this same spot for about a year and now theyre getting ready to start out on their journey to this land flowing with milk and honey that god keeps. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. Milgroms exhaustive commentary on numbers offers penetrating insights into this sacred book. It doesnt matter whether you read it in hebrew or english, but you must go through the five books of moses with rashis commentary.