Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 25:4

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun , that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

The sense is, either [illegible: 1+ letters]. T[illegible: 1+ letters]ke, to wit, to thy self and thy assistance, all [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪ i. [illegible: 1+ letters]. the Iudges, as they are called ver. 5 Or Rulers, of the People, and in their presence and by their help, [illegible: 1+ letters]ang [illegible: 1 word], i. e. the people, now mentioned, to wit, such of them as were guilty, as was said ver. 2. And this sense seems to be favoured by the next verse, where the execution of this command is mentioned [illegible: 1 word] said unto the Iudges of Israel, whom he had taken [illegible: 1+ letters]o himself and called together, Slay ye every one his man, i. e. Each of you execute this command of God and hang up the delinquents under your several jurisdictions. Or 2. Take i. e. apprehend, all the heads, i. e. the chief, of the people, such as were chief, either in this transgression, or rather in place and power, who are singled out to this exemplary punishment either for their neglect in not preventing, restraining or punishing the offenders according to their power and duty, or for their concurrence with others in this wickedness, which was more odious and mischievous in them than in others. And then this must be necessarily limited to such heads as were guilty, which is evident from the nature of the thing, and from the words of the verse. And so these heads of the people differ as in name and title so in place and dignity from the Iudges of the people ver. 5. which may seem to note the superiour Magistrates, even the 70 Elders, which, being persons of great worth and piety, chosen by God and endowed with his spirit, most probably kept themselves from this contagion, and therefore were fitter to punish others, and the heads of the People, seem to be the inferiour Magistrates, the rulers of tens or hundreds, or the like, who as they did many of them, partake with the people in other rebellions, so probably were involved in this guilt. Now these are to be hanged up, as other malefactours and condemned persons were, Deut. 21. 23. 2 Sam. 21. 6.

To the vindication of Gods honour and justice.

(i. e.) Publickly, as their sin was publick and scandalous, and speedily before the Sun go down. But withal this phrase may signifie, that these also must be taken down about sunsetting, as other malefactours were, Deut. 21. 23.

Marginal references: Deut. 4. 3. Jos 22. [illegible: 1 word].