Even forty days, each day for a year. — The numbering which is recorded in chapter 26 took place after the death of Aaron, which happened on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the exodus (Numbers 33:38). Hence it follows that the year and a half which had elapsed since the exodus must be included in the forty years of shepherd life in the wilderness.
My breach of promise. — The noun which is thus rendered occurs only in one other place, viz., Job 33:10. The cognate verb, however, occurs several times in this book in the sense of refuse, disallow, or hinder. (See Numbers 30:5; Numbers 30:8; Numbers 30:11; Numbers 32:7.) The meaning here appears to be rejection or alienation.