SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:18
Pozo, el cual cavaron los príncipes; lo cavaron los príncipes del pueblo, y el legislador, con sus bordones. Del desierto vinieron a Matana.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 21:18
Verse 18. The princes digged the well-with their staves.] This is not easily understood. Who can suppose that the princes dug this well with their staves? And is there any other idea conveyed by our translation? The word wrpj chapharu, which is translated they digged, should be rendered they searched out, which is a frequent meaning of the root; and µtn[mb bemishanotham, which we render with their staves, should be translated on their borders or confines, from the root [ shaan, to lie along. With these corrections the whole song may be read thus:- Spring up, O well! Answer ye to it. The well, the princes searched it out.
The nobles of the people have digged it.
By a decree, upon their own borders This is the whole of the quotation from what is called the book of the wars of the Lord. But see Dr. Kennicott's remarks at the end of this chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. The princes digged the well , etc.] The princes and heads of the several tribes: the nobles of the people digged it ; the seventy elders, according to the Targum of Jonathan: by the direction of the lawgiver ; either the Lord himself, the lawgiver of his people, who pointed out the spot, and directed the princes where to dig, that is, be did this by Moses; and who, as Jarchi thinks, is the lawgiver, and not amiss: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem render the word by Scribes, in the plural number, and interpret them of Moses and Aaron: and this the princes and nobles dug with their staves; either their walking sticks, or their rods, the ensigns of their authority; with these they smote the ground, or stuck them in a soft and sandy place, upon which the waters bubbled up and flowed out. Dr. Shaw chooses to render the words, with their united applause, or clapping of hands, as the word [ç in Chaldee signifies; or it may be expressed, as by Dr. Hunt, quoted by him, by describing or marking out the figure or fashion of the well with staves. Mr. Ainsworth thinks that this well signified Christ, the fountain of gardens, and well of living waters; and the waters of it the Spirit and his graces, which are a well of living water springing up unto everlasting life; the means of which are the labours of the governors of the church, the ministers of Christ, by preaching the word, and opening the Scriptures; and such grace is worthy of a song, and to be had with joy out of the wells of salvation, ( Isaiah 12:3): and from the wilderness they went to Mattanah ; from the wilderness near Arnon, which came out of the coasts of the Amorites, ( Numbers 21:13) to a place which signifies a gift. The Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem render it, and from the wilderness it was given to them for a gift that is, the well; and so the people of God, that are called out of the wilderness of this world, and come up from it, are called to partake of the gifts and blessings of grace, which are freely given unto them of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-20 - We have here the removes of the children of Israel, till they came to the plains of Moab, from whence they passed over Jordan into Canaan The end of their pilgrimage was near. "They set forward." It were wel if we did thus; and the nearer we come to heaven, were so much the mor active and abundant in the work of the Lord. The wonderful success God granted to his people, is here spoken of, and, among the rest, their actions on the river Arnon, at Vaheb in Suphah, and other places of that river. In every stage of our lives, nay, in every step, we shoul notice what God has wrought for us; what he did at such a time, an what in such a place, ought to be distinctly remembered. God blesse his people with a supply of water. When we come to heaven, we shal remove to the well of life, the fountain of living waters. The received it with joy and thankfulness, which made the mercy doubl sweet. With joy must we draw water out of the wells of salvation, Is 12:3. As the brazen serpent was a figure of Christ, who is lifted u for our cure, so is this well a figure of the Spirit, who is poure forth for our comfort, and from whom flow to us rivers of livin waters, Joh 7:38, 39. Does this well spring up in our souls? If so, we should take the comfort to ourselves, and give the glory to God. God promised to give water, but they must open the ground. God's favour must be expected in the use of such means as are within our power, but still the power is only of God.
Original Hebrew
באר 875 חפרוה 2658 שׂרים 8269 כרוה 3738 נדיבי 5081 העם 5971 במחקק 2710 במשׁענתם 4938 וממדבר 4057 מתנה׃ 4980
