Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/6_200.lzh/6_263.TXT

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of the same blessings of grace, and promises of the
word, and have an equal right to the heavenly inhe-
ritance: Ephes. iii, 6, is the best commentary on this
passage; which contains the same mystery the Apostle
Paul was acquainted with, that the Gentiles should be
fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the Gospel; see the note there, and
Ephes. iS. I2-20. Col. iii. 11. 1 Cor. xii. 13.
Vet. 23. And it shall come to pass, that in what
tribe the stranger sojourneth, &c.] Whatsoever par-
ticular congregation or church these strangers and
sojourners (as all the Lord's people are in this world,
and even in their church-state), or those Gentiles be-
fore described, shall be nearest unto, and to which
they shall propose themselves for communion, they
shall be readily admitted: there shall ye give him his
inheritance, saith the Lord God; allow him a name and
a place; put him in the possession of all church-pri-
vileges and immunities; look upon him as a member,
a brother, a fellow-citizen, as an heir together of the
grace of life, and as equally entitled to the inheritance
of the saints in light; and for this they have the au-
thority and order of Jehovah himself.

CHAP.

In this chapter an account is given of the portions
of the twelve tribes in the land of Israel; seven to the
north of the sanctuary, Dan, Asher, Napthali, Ma-
nasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah, ver. 1--7. be-
tween which and Benjamin lay the holy portion of the
land, for the sanctuary and the priests of it, and for
the Leviten, and for the city and its suburbs,./and
for the prince, ver. 8--22. then the portions of the
other five tribes to the south of the sanctuary, Benja-
min, Simeon, [ssachar, Zebulun, and Gad, ver. 23--29.
after which the city is described by its outlets, north,
east, south, and west; by its twelve gates, three at
each point; ,by its circumference and by its name,
ver. 30--35.
Vet. 1. Now these are the names of the tribes, &c.3
That shall inherit the land; and an account is given
of the several portions of it they shall have for an in-
heritance; by which are meant, not the twelve tribes
of Israel literally, among whom the land was never so
divided as here, either in Joshua's time, or after the
captivity of Babylon-, but the Christian church, or the
~eople of Christ under the Gospel dispensation, as in
ev. vii. 4. built upon the doctrine of the twelve apos-
tles of Christ: the stranger-sojourners are not here
mentioned, who, according to the preceding chapter,
were equally to inherit with the children of Israel, but
are included; they being Israelites indeed, and fellow-
heirs, and all one in Christ, be they of whatsoever na-
tion. From the north end to the coast of the way of
Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath : the division of the
land, and the distribution of the portions, begin at the
north, and so go on to the south, by the way of Heth-
ion and Hamath; of wltich see ch. xlvii. 15, 16. and
along by Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, north-
ward to the coastof Hamath; see ch. xlvii. 17: for these
are his sides east and west; the sides of the tribe of
Dan next mentioned, and so of every other tribe;
which was measured from east to west, and consisted
of 25,000 reeds four-square, as appears from vet. 8, 20:
a portion for Dan; or, Dan one t; either one tribe,
or one portion. This tribe has its portion first assigned
it, though it was provided for last in Joshua's time,j
and not sufficiently neither, Josh. xix. 40--47. and is
left out in Rev. vii. having fallen into idolatry; but
here being provided for first, confirms what our Lord
says, that the first shall be last, and the last first, Matt.
xix. 30. and xx. 16. and shews that the chief of sinners
are received by Christ, and provided for by him, with
grace here, and glory hereafter, who come to him, and
believe in him; and that their inheritance is of grace,
and not of works.
Ver. 2. And by the border of Dan, &c.] Next to
it, just by it, closely adjoining to it; for it should be
observed, that these tribes, and their inheritances, are
contiguous to each other; which denotes the union of
true Christians, or believers in Christ, with each other;
they are members one of another, one body, one bread,
and all one in Christ; and their harmony, unity, and
concord, their comfortable communion and fellowship
with each other; especially as it will be in the latter
day, when they shall no more grieve and vex each
other, nor separate from one another; but the two
sticks shall be one in the hand of the Lord, Isa. xi. 13.
Ezek. xxxvii. 19: from the east side unto the west side;
being just in the same position as the former tribe,
and of the same measure and extent: a portion for
Asher; an inheritance for the tribe of Asher, the blessed
of the Lord with all blessings, spiritual and eternal:
and it should he known, once for all, that the portions
of the several tribes are exactly alike: true believers
have the same covenant God and Father for their por-
tion; the same Lord, Redeemer, and .Saviour, Head
and Husband, Jesus Christ; they are members of the
same body; partake of the same spirit, and his graces;
obtain like-precious faith; are called in one hope of
their calling; have a right to the same privileges and
ordinances, and will share in the same heavenly inhe-
ritance, Ephes. iv. 4, 5, 6.
Ver. 3. And by the border of Asher, from the east
side even unto. the west side, a portion for Naphtali.]
Close to the tribe of Asher and his inheritance, in the
same direction from east to west, lay the part assigned
to the tribe of Naphtali: such Christians who are
wrestlers with Godinprayer, and against their spiritual
enemies, and strive and contend for the doctrines of
the Gospel, may be designed.
Ver. 4. And by the border of Naphtali, from the east
side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.] Just

{t} \^dxa Nd\^ Dan una, Cocceius, ,Starckius; Danis tribus una, Vatablus,
Junius & Tremellius, Polanus; pro Dane portio una, Munster, Tigu-
rine version, Piscator.