John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. These are the journeys of the children of Israel , etc.] Which are related in this chapter following: which went forth out of the land of Egypt : whither their fathers went and stayed, and were kept in hard bondage, but in due time were delivered from it, and came out from thence: with their armies ; in great numbers, and in an orderly manner, in rank and file, and like so many squadrons, (see Exodus 7:4), under the hand of Moses and Aaron: who were sent to the king of Egypt to require their dismission, and who were the instruments under God of their deliverance, and were the leaders of them; as of them out of Egypt, so through the wilderness, in their, several journeys here recorded.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-49 - This is a brief review of the travels of the children of Israel throug the wilderness. It is a memorable history. In their travels toward Canaan they were continually on the remove. Such is our state in thi world; we have here no continuing city, and all our removes in thi world are but from one part a desert to another. They were led to an from, forward and backward, yet were all the while under the directio 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 neares 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, an kept us all our days hitherto. Few periods of our lives can be though upon, without reminding us of the Lord's goodness, and our ow 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! Happ are those whom the Lord now guides with his counsel, and will at lengt receive to his glory. To this happiness the gospel calls us. Behold no is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Let sinners seiz the opportunity, and flee for refuge to the hope set before them. Le us redeem our time, to glorify God and serve our generation; and he will carry us safely through all, to his eternal kingdom.
Original Hebrew אלה428 מסעי4550 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 אשׁר834 יצאו3318 מארץ776 מצרים4714 לצבאתם6635 ביד3027 משׁה4872 ואהרן׃175
