Here are the laws concerning sacrifices for sins of ignorance. If they fail in one part of any of the ceremonies, they must make it up by offering this sacrifice. An example is given of a national sin, committed through ignorance, and become a habit among the people. The ceremonial observances are so numerous, and so different, that it’s easy

The beginning of this law is very encouraging. It is obvious, not only that God is reconciled to them despite the sentence He has passed upon them, but that He will give the promised land to their children despite their proneness to rebel against Him. For this law takes it for granted that there are some of them that will

God shows His particular displeasure against those who sin and make Israel to sin. God is angered by those who misrepresent Him, cast reproach upon Him, and raise problems in men's minds against Him. Those that represent serving God as despicable, sad and uncomfortable, hard and impracticable, needless and unprofitable, are essentially bringing an evil report about a good land.

We see here the power of prayer, and the delight God takes in honouring it. Here is a whole nation rescued from ruin by the effectual, fervent prayer of one righteous man. Moses in his prayer has shown a great concern for the glory of God. And now all the world shall see how God hates sin even in His

Two things God justly complains of to Moses:—(1.) Their sin. They reject, reproach, and despise Him, for they will not believe Him. Distrust of God, of His power and promise, is itself a very great sin, and at the bottom of many other sins. (2.) Their continuing in it. The God of heaven keeps an account how long sinners persist

Moses and Aaron bravely overlook the insult done them, and prove to be faithful friends to those who are outrageous enemies to them. They fall down as men astonished and even thunder-struck, amazed to see a people throw away their own mercies. Earnestly they beseech the people to stop rebelling and to be reconciled to God. Those that are true

The people listen to the report of the spies rather than to the Word of God, and imagining their situation to be desperate, lose their temper. Time enough to cry if the enemy had beaten them, and they had seen the sons of Anak at the gate of their camp; but to cry now, when nothing has hurt them, is

he majority of the spies discourage the people from going into Canaan. God has promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and the evil spies themselves admit that it is such a land. But they say the conquest of it is completely impractical, and that it is useless to attempt it. Apart from anything else, this attitude is

We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. They go right through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north. Probably they don’t go all together in a big group, so they won’t be suspected and captured, which would be a big danger if the Canaanites

Joshua is Moses's helper, but has been employed as general of the forces that are sent out against Amalek. The name by which he is generally called and known in his own tribe is Hoshea, but Moses calls him Joshua, as a sign of his love for him and power over him; and now, it seems, Moses orders others to