from that it being one of the most difficult and obscure Passages of the whole Pentateuch But still here is nothing proved That Moses wrote this Book called The Wars of the Lord appears not And granting it to be true it is nothing to the purpose For why might not Moses cite a Book of his own Writing as well as another and later Author And what if Moses did write the Wars of Amalek must he therefore write that of the Amorites Warring against the Moabites before he was concerned with them also These kind of pretences may amuse some that are not given to Thinking they can never prevail with them that consider duly Obj. X. 'T is pretended that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses but rather of him And that because Moses is generally mentioned by the Writer as a third Person And besides that we find Moses is commended in the Pentateuch Numb 12.6 8. Deut. 34.10 And if we take him for the Writer of those Books we must suppose him also to have commended himself which will hardly be granted in a Man of so great Humility and Wisdom as Moses was I answer 1. As to the Pretence that Moses is not the Author because he speaks of himself as of a third Person then it follows That whoever does in his History or Work mâ—ntion himself as Moses in these Books is supposed to do he cannot be the Author of that Book or Relation This wou'd be to conclude too much And yet if this Proposition be not true tâ—â—â— Objection hath so far as it goes no manner of force in it That he cannot be the Author of a Book that mentions himself as a third Person may be affirm'd indeed easily but can never be proved If this were admitted we must discharge several Authors of the Books of the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament also and then we must not believe that Julius Caesar wrote the Commentaries that go under his name or Josephus that part of his reputed Works where he speaks of himself as of a Third Person 'T is hardly credible that the Objectors can believe the Consequence of this Objection and I think there is no fear if they should that any indifferent Person shou'd believe with them 2. As to the second Part of the Objection That we cannot suppose that Moses wou'd commend himself nor consequently that he shou'd write the Pentateuch where he is commended I answer That this Objection whatever may be inferr'd from it does not conclude that Moses was not the Author of these Books For 't is not impossible for a Man to write an Encomium of himself But let us consider the Matter more closely 'T is said indeed that the Man Moses was very meek above all the Men which were upon the face of the Earth Numb 12.3 This is said upon occasion of what was said against him by Miriam and Aaron They spake against him very sharply Upon which 't is said And the Lord heard it Moses is not said to take notice of it himself He was not like to give any just offence nor apt to fall into anger when others reproach'd him It follows Now the man Moses was very meek c. I do not see what there is in these words unbecoming Moses Here 's no boasting or pride no shadow or foot-steps of it He had a just occasion to mention that he had neither provoked these angry persons nor did he highly resent the reproaches they followed him with He might say this well enough and ascribe due honour to God who had wrought this Temper in him The best Man in the World may well be allowed to defend his own Innocence and to own the great Things which God hath done for him The Objection will lie against Job against the Psalmist against St. Paul as well as against Moses if a good Man may not lawfully upon any occasion speak well of himself For what follows in v. 6 7 8. where Moses is preferr'd to any other Prophet 't is certain that they are the Words not of Moses but of God himself And well might he write what God himself said upon this occasion especially when it tended so much to justifie his Divine Mission upon the credit whereof the success of all his Ministry intirely depended The Sin of Moses is related Numb 20.12 and the Punishment inflicted on him on that account The relating of this is as strong an Objection against another Person 's writing these Books as what is nam'd above is against Moses For supposing another Person had been the Writer that Writer must be suppos'd not onely to relate what we read Numb 20. but to repeat it frequently also Obj. XI It is pretended that Moses cannot be supposed to be the Author of those words Exod. 6. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies These are they which spake to Pharaoh King of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt These are that Moses and Aaron v. 26 27. 'T is suppos'd that Moses wou'd not write thus of himself I answer 1. That he may well be suppos'd to write as a Third Person as hath been shewed before And then 2. Allowing him to write for the sake of Posterity and not onely for the Persons of that present Age of which there can be no doubt He may well be granted to be the Writer of these words concerning himself and Aaron who were both greatly concerned in the Matters related afterwards Obj. XII The Author of the Book call'd Tractatus Theologico politicus mentions some other Books written by Moses and wou'd thence inferr by a way of reasoning peculiar to himself that Moses was not the Author of the Pentateuch He mentions the Book of the Covenant Exod. 24. This Book he says contains very little viz. Those Precepts onely which are found from Exod. 20.24 to chap. 24. And he allows that Moses wrote the Book of the Law of God Deut. 31.9 which Joshua afterwards enlarged viz. with the Relation of the Covenant which the People enter'd into in his Time Josh 24.25 26. And because we have no Book that contains at once the Covenant of Moses and that of Joshua he concludes that this Book of the Law is lost He grants that Moses wrote a Book of the Law and gave it to the Priests with a Command that it shou'd be at a certain time read unto the People which cou'd not therefore be the Pentateuch that being too great a Volume to be read at one Solemnity He grants also that Moses wrote the Song mentioned Deut. 32. And this Book of the Law containing part of the Deuteronomy and this Song is all that he will allow him to have written and left to Posterity I answer 1. I am willing to grant that the Book of the Covenant might not contain more than three or four Chapters of Laws And let it
from being idle that he is not onely employed in the main and greatest business but does it with all his Power and Might It requires the whole Man and the greatest Application that is possible 9. Let there more work c. Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men 13. Your daily tasks Heb. A matter of a day in his day i. e. so much as is expected every day 14. The officers of the children of Israel who were Israelites See v. 6. 15. Vnto Pharaoh And not unto the Task-masters who were set over them upon a presumption that Pharaoh did not allow of their oppression and out of hopes that he would redress it 16. In thine own people i. e. In the Task-masters They do not here charge Pharaoh 21. To be abhorred Heb. To stink i. e. We are rendred vile in the sight of Pharaoh 22. Vnto the Lord Who was alone able to help them in their Calamity 23. Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all Hebr. Delivering thou hast not delivered CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT God reneweth his Promise of delivering the Israelites out of Egypt Of the name JEHOVAH Moses is again commanded to go unto Pharaoh Of the Families of Reuben Simeon and Levi. 1. THEN the LORD said unto Moses Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh for with a strong hand shall he let them go and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land 2. And God spake unto Moses and said unto him I am the LORD 3. And I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them 4. And I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers 5. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage and I have remembred my covenant 6. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am the LORD and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their bondage and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments 7. And I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians 8. And I will bring you in unto the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am the LORD 9. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage 10. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 11. Go in speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt that he let the children of Israel go out of his land 12. And Moses spake before the LORD saying Behold the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me how then shall Pharaoh hear me who am of uncircumcised lips 13. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt 14. These be the heads of their fathers houses The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel Hanoch and Pallu Hezron and Carmi these be the families of Reuben 15. And the sons of Simeon Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman these are the families of Simeon 16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations Gershon and Kohath and Merari And the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years 17. The sons of Gershon Libni and Shimi according to their families 18. And the sons of Kohath Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Vzziel And the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years 19. And the sons of Merari Mahali and Mushi these are the families of Levi according to their generations 20. And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife and she bare him Aaron and Moses And the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years 21. And the sons of Izhar Korah and Nepheg and Zichri 22. And the sons of Vzziel Mishael and Elzaphan and Zithri 23. And Aaron took him Elisheba daughter of Aminadab sister of Naashon to wife and she bare him Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 24. And the sons of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph these are the families of the Korhites 25. And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Pâ—tiel to wife and she bare him Phinehas these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families 26. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies 27. These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt these are that Moses and Aaron 28. And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt 29. That the LORD spake unto Moses saying I am the LORD speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee 30. And Moses said before the LORD Behold I am of uncircumcised lips and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me 1. WITH a strong hand i. e. Being thereunto compelled with severe Judgments V. c. 3. v. 19 20. 3. God Almighty Or God All-sufficient V. Gen. 17.1 God gave unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob great proofs of his Almighty Power and many promises also of the Land of Canaan But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them It is not said That this name was not known to them See Gen. 22.14 Nor can the words be understood of the Letters of the Name but it is by my name JEHOVAH was I not known c. By this name must be understood that which it doth signifie JEHOVAH denotes not onely God's Eternal Being but his giving of Being to other things and especially the performing his Promise Now Abraham Isaac and Jacob had received Promises but enjoyed not the thing promised The time was now come in which God would bring to pass what he had promised and now they should know that he is the Lord V. Isa 49.23 c. 52.6 c. 60.16 The knowing him by his name JEHOVAH implies the receiving from him what he had promised before He is not called JEHOVAH till he had finished the Creation Gen. 2.4 The doing of that which He before decreed and promised speaks Him to be JEHOVAH See Exod. 20.2 This Interpretation agrees exactly with the Context For in the very next words God lets them know that he would make good his Promise which is expressed
mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation 28. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son and Aaron died there in the top of the mount and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount 29. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead they mourned for Aaron thirty days even all the house of Israel 1. IN the first mouth viz. Of the fortieth Year after they came out of Egypt ch 33.38 and when the Generation of Men who were fit for Battel were consumed Deut. 2.14 Miriam She was Sister to Moses and Aaron and a Prophetess also Exod. 15.20 Micah 6.4 2. There was no water The Water which came out of Horeb and had supplied them in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.4 now they draw nigh the promised land fails them Exod. 17.6 3. Chode Exod. 17.2 When our brethren ch 11.33 6. Fell upon their faces See Chap. 14. v. 5. 8. The rod i. e. That Rod with which Moses wrought his Miracles in Egypt which is called his Rod v. 11. and it is probable was lodged in the Sanctuary v. 9. For Moses is said v. 9. to have taken it from before the LORD 12. Because ye believed me not c. It may be matter of enquiry wherein consisted the sin of Moses with which Aaron is also charged as consenting to it In answer to which it is to be considered I. That the very Letter of God's command was broken First In that Moses smote the Rock with his Rod and smote it twice v. 11. whereas he had received no such command from God but was commanded to speak to the Rock v. 8. that the People might see how easily God could supply their want of Water Whereas in the Waters of Horeb he was indeed expressly required to smite with the Rod as well as to take it Exod. 17.5 6. For though he were here commanded to take the Rod yet that does not imply that he was to smite with it as appears from the following Instances Exod. 8.5 6. with ch 9.23 and ch 10.13 and ch 14.16 Secondly In speaking to the People which Moses had no Commission to do and not to the Rock which was expressly commanded v. 8 10. II. That this open breach of God's Command was committed in the sight and face of the Assembly v. 8. hence are Moses and Aaron charged for not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel v. 12. III. Moses was also guilty of some degree of Unbelief and distrust of God's Power and Veracity as appears from v. 12. compared with v. 10. Must we or can we as the Vulgar hath it fetch water c. which seems to intimate a doubting Vid. Gen. 18.13 and too much Anger and Commotion of Mind They provoked his spirit so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips Psal 106.33 And as the degrees of these sins were known to God onely so it is certain upon the whole they were guilty of that which is elsewhere called Trespass and Rebellion Numb 27.14 Deut. 32.51 To sanctifie me c. i. e. By your ready and absolute Obedience to my Command to own my Sovereignty as well as Veracity in the presence of the Children of Israel 13. This is c. Ps 106.32 Meribah That is Strife And he was sanctified in them i. e. In Moses and Aaron by punishing their Disobedience See Levit 10.3 Ezek. 38.16 22 23. 14. Befallen us Heb. Found us 16. An Angel See Exod. 3.2 17. The King 's high way i. e. The Common Road of all Travellers See v. 19. and ch 21.22 21. Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border Though he refused this yet he did not deny them Victuals and Water for Money as they passed by him See Deut. 2.28 29. 22. Kadesh Ch. 33.37 Mount Hor This Mount was upon the Coast of Edom v. 23. Hence the Horims might have their Name to whom the Children of Esau succeeded in Seir Deut. 2.12 And hence Seir was called an Horite Gen. 36.20 24. Word Heb. Mouth 25. Take Aaron c. Ch. 33.38 Deut. 32.50 26. Of his garments viz. Of his Priestly Robes This implied the devesting him of his Office as the putting them upon Eleazar his Son implied the succeeding of Eleazar into his Father's Employment and Dignity Isa 22.20 21. 28. Aaron died there Deut. 10.6 and ch 32.50 This happened in the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month when Aaron was an hundred twenty and three years old ch 33.38 39. The Death of Aaron shews the Insufficiency of the Levitical Priesthood Heb. 7.23 24. 29. Thirty days See Deut. 34.8 CHAP. XXI The ARGUMENT The Israelites get a Victory over the Canaanites They murmur and are thereupon destroyed with fiery Serpents They are upon their Repentance healed by a Serpent of Brass They remove to a Place called Oboth and after other Removes they come to Arnon and thence to Beer Some other Removes Sihon and Og are over-come by the Israelites 2552. 1452. 1. AND when king Arad the Canaanite which dwelt in the south heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners 2. And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand then I will utterly destroy their cities 3. And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroyed them and their cities and he called the name of the place Hormah 4. And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red-sea to compass the land of Edom and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way 5. And the people spake against God and against Moses Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness for there is no bread neither is there any water and our soul lotheth this light bread 6. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and much people of Israel died 7. Therefore the people came to Moses and said We have sinned for we have spoken against the LORD and against thee pray unto the LORD that he take away the serpents from us and Moses prayed for the people 8. And the LORD said unto Moses Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it shall live 9. And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived 10. And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in Oboth 11. And they journeyed from Oboth and pitched at Ije-abarim in the wilderness which is before Moab toward the sun-rising 12. From thence they removed and pitched in the valley of Zared 13. From
hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good 20. Behold I have received commandment to bless and he hath blessed and I cannot reverse it 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel the LORD his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them 22. God brought them out of Egypt he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn 23. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel according to his time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought 24. Behold the people shall rise up as a great lion and lift up himself as a young lion he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain 25. And Balak said unto Balaam Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all 26. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak Told not I thee saying All that the LORD speaketh that I must do 27. And Balak said unto Balam Come I pray thee I will bring thee unto another place peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence 28. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor that looketh toward Jeshimon 29. And Balaam said unto Balak Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams 30. And Balak did as Balaam had said and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar 1. BVild me here seven Altars Balaam appointed this for the Worship of the true God as appears from v. 4. But herein was blameable that he would have Altars erected in the high places of Baal where now he was ch 22.41 Such were they who feared the Lord and yet had their Sacrifices in the houses of the high places They are said to fear the Lord and serve their own Gods 2 King 17.32 33. Besides this though his number of Sacrifices were not reproveable see Job 42.8 1 Chron. 15.26 2 Chron. 29.21 yet the multiplying of Altars hath a bad name in the Scriptures Hos 8.11 3. Stand by c. Attending upon the Service and expecting success He went to an high place Or he went solitary The Marginal reading is confirmed by the Chaldee and is preferible to the other For Balaam was in an high place before ch 22.41 and Solitude now best complied with the End of his going which was to meet with a Divine Revelation 6. He stood by See verse 3. 7. Parable The word signifies not onely a Similitude or figurative Speech but a weighty Sentence and such as deserves great esteem and regard and so it doth in this place East A place noted for Southsayers Isa 2.6 9. I see him Or I have seen him Balaam had been taken by Balak into the high places that he might thence see and Curse the Israelites which Course proved ineffectual Shall dwell alone i. e. They shall not sojourn in a strange Country as they have done in Egypt but be possessed of a Land of their own And shall not be reckoned among the nations They shall be a peculiar and separate People from the rest of the Nations both in their Religion and Laws and also shall be under a more special Care and Providence of God Exod. 19.5 Levit. 20.24 26. Psal 148.19 20. 2 Sam. 7.23 Psal 76.1 2 3. Ezra 9.2 Esth 3.8 Deut. 11.12 10. The dust The seed say the Greek very agreeably to the sense of the word here God promised Abraham to make his Seed as the Dust of the Earth and not to be numbred like that Gen. 13.16 and this Promise was repeated to Jacob Gen. 28.14 Fourth part i. e. One Camp or Squadron which consisted but of three Tribes and was with that respect the fourth part For thus they were divided by God's Command Numb 2. And perhaps more than this did not fall within his view See chap. 22.41 Me Heb. My soul or My life Death of the righteous i. e. Such a death as those die who are in Covenant with God and obey his Precepts 13. Shalt not see them all Lest he should be dismayed at the sight of so great a number 14. Pisgah Or The hill See Deut. 3.27 and 34.1 16. Put a word Ch. 22.35 19. God is not a man that he should lye c. That is God will make good his Promises and particularly that of bringing this People into the promised Land he not being like a Man who for want of Veracity or Power performs not his Promise 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel That is Whereas it might be hoped by the Enemies of the Israelites that through their default they had forfeited all right to God's Promises he adds He hath not beheld c. It is weakly inferred from these words that God sees no sin in his own People and it is in it self a great untruth That he hath not knowledge of their sins no Man can affirm nor ought any man to say that he approves or will not punish them For I. God hath declared otherwise He said unto Moses I have seen this people and behold it is a stiff-necked people Exod. 32.9 with Deut. 9.13 14. And by the Prophet he said unto the whole Family of Israel whom he brought out of Egypt You onely have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Amos 3.2 II. This cannot be the sense of these words for then Balaam would in vain have given Counsel to draw the Israelites into sin that they might be destroyed of which see an account chap. 24.14 The true sense of these words is next to be inquired after and it is this That God would not give up the Israelites to destruction for their sins which were not like the sins of the neighbouring Countries which were now ready to be destroyed for them He hath not beheld may be rendred in the Present Tense He doth not behold and Neither hath he seen Neither doth he see The word which we render Iniquity is observed to signifie an Idol in other places See 1 Sam. 15.23 Isa 66.3 And the Ancients understood it of Idolatry as is evident from the Vulgar Latin and Onkelos and our Church understands this place in the same sense as may be seen in the Book of Homilies The LORD is God c. i. e. Instead of any Image or Idol which was not now among them God is with them as their King giving them Victory and matter of Triumph See 2 Chron. 13.12 with Numb 10.9 compared with Josh 6.16 1 Sam. 4.5 22. God c. Ch. 24.8 When Philo the Jew cites this passage where 't is said God brought them out of Egypt he does it to this sense That God did put an end to the many Calamities in Egypt and bring their great numbers thence as One Man De vit Mosis
the LORD and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt in the first day of the fifth month 39. And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 40. And king Arad the Canaanite which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan heard of the coming of the children of Israel 41. And they departed from mount Hor and pitched in Zalmonah 42. And they departed from Zalmonah and pitched in Punon 43. And they departed from Punon and pitched in Oboth 44. And they departed from Oboth and pitched in Ije-abarim in the border of Moab 45. And they departed from Iim and pitched in Dibon-gad 46. And they removed from Dibon-gad and encamped in Almon-diblathaim 47. And they removed from Almon-diblathaim and pitched in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo 48. And they departed from the mountains of Abarim and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho 49. And they pitched by Jordan from Beth-jesimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab 50. And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 51. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan 52. Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their pictures and destroy all their molten images and quite pluck down all their high places 53. And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell therein for I have given you the land to possess it 54. And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families and to the mo ye shall give the more inheritance and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit 55. But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you then it shall come to pass that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell 56. Moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you as I thought to do unto them 2. By the Commandment of the LORD These words may well referr both to their Journeyings which were directed by God Exod. 13.21.14.2 Numb 10.13 and to Moses his description of them in this place which tended to the rendring the History the more credible and to perpetuate the Memory of God's miraculous Works and special Providence 3. Departed from Rameses Exod. 12.37 Here follows an account of Two and forty Mansions reckoning Rameses the place from whence they set forth for one 4. Vpon their Gods See the Note upon Exod. 12.12 6. From Succoth Exod. 13.20 8. Passed through Exod. 15.22 9. Came unto Elim Exod. 15.27 10. By the Red-sea i. e. Upon the Shoar of it 11. Wilderness of Sin Exod. 16.1 14. Rephidim Exod 17.1 15. Wilderness of Sinai Exod. 19.1 Hither they came in the third month after they came out of Egypt and stayed here near a year viz. to the twentieth day of the second month of the following year Numb 10.11 12. 16. At Kibroth-hattaavah i. e. The graves of lust See ch 11.34 This was in the Wilderness of Paran ch 10.12 and three days Journey from their last Mansion v. 33. 17. Encamped Ch. 11.35 18. Rithmah This place was likewise in the Wilderness of Paran ch 12.16 near Kadesh-Barnea ch 13.26 30. Encamped at Moseroth Deut. 10.6 and the Note upon that place 31. Bene-jaakan Called Beeroth of the children of Jaakan Deut. 10.6 See the Note on ch 32.3 32. Hor-hagidgad Called Gudgodah Deut. 10.7 33. Jotbathah The same with Jotbath Deut. 10.7 35. Ezion-gaber This lay on the Shoar of the Red-sea 1 King 9.26 36. Wilderness of Zin Chap. 20.1 Which is Kadesh That is it was at Kadesh where they pitched There was a twofold Kadesh viz. Kadesh-barnea which was the fifteenth Mansion See verse 18. and in the South part of Canaan chap. 34.4 Josh 15.3 and in the Wilderness of Paran chap. 12.16 And Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin of which mention is made here This was upon the Borders of Edom chap. 20.14 towards Ezion-gaber and the Red-sea chap. 2.8 37. Kadesh Ch. 20.22 Mount Hor See ch 20.22 23. the same with Mosera Deut. 10.6 See the Note on that place 38. Aaron Chap. 20.25 Deut. 32.50 40. King Arad Chap. 21.1 c. 41. Hor Chap. 21.4 44. Ije-abarim Or Heaps of Abarim This is called Iim being absolutely taken verse 45. 49. Abel-shittim Or the Plains of Shittim See chap. 25.1 51. When ye are Deut. 7.2 Josh 11 12. 52. All their pictures All those Images and Representations upon what Material soever they were wrought which were worshipped or designed for such an use See Deut. 16.22 with Levit. 26.1 High places i. e. All Groves or Chappels for Worship which were generally in high places See Deut. 12.2 54. Ye shall divide Chap. 26.53 and the Note on verse 55. Give the more inheritance Heb. Multiply his inheritance Give the less inheritance Heb. Diminish his inheritance 55. Pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides Josh 23.13 Judg. 2.3 i. e. They shall torment and mischief you as Pricks and Thorns are wont to do CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Of the Borders of the Land of Canaan The Names of those Men who were to divide it 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel and say unto them When ye come into the land of Canaan this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof 3. Then your south-quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom and your south-border shall be the out-most coast of the salt-sea east-ward 4. And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Abrabbim and pass on to Zin and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea and shall go on to Hazar-addar and pass on to Azmon 5. And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt and the goings out of it shall be at the sea 6. And as for the western-border you shall even have the great sea for a border this shall be your west-border 7. And this shall be your north-border from the great sea you shall point out for you mount Hor. 8. From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad 9. And the border shall go on to Ziphron and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan this shall be your north-border 10. And ye shall point out your east-border from Hazar-enan to Shepham 11. And the coast shall go down from
5.6 To what hath been said I add That when Josephus mentions thâ—s passage that is related Deut. 1.1 and which we translate on this side Jordan he expresseth it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. about or near Jordan which he presently after opposeth to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. beyond Jordan Joseph Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. This is sufficient to justifie our English Version and to render this Objection void of all power and force it plainly argues in the Objectors great Ignorance or something worse Obj. II. It is pretended that Moses could not write what we read Gen. 36.31 These are the Kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any King over the children of Israel These words must be written 't is pretended by one who liv'd after there were Kings in Israel which was long after the Death of Moses I would willingly give this Objection its full strength before I answer it And I find a late Writer hath done it to my hand in his Prolegomena to his Commentary on Genesis printed at Amsterdam 1693. The substance of what he says is as follows Eight Kings are reckon'd up succeeding each other There were not more than so many Generations or Persons generated from Jacob to Obed the Grand-father of David But from Jacob to Moses there were but four reckoning Moses for one Then he tells what some answer viz. That Moses fore-knew that there would be Kings over Israel Deut. 17. But then he does not think it credible that God should reveal to him how many Kings and what their Names shou'd be that were to reign in Edom. He cannot think it a Prophecy He tells us of some-body but 't is with a Nescio quis who affirms these Kings reign'd in several places at the same time He concludes as if he had been retain'd against Moses Si candide hic agere licet c. That if he may deal candidly 't is best to own that the nine Verses from v. 31. to 39. were added by some-body he might here have put another Nescio quis who liv'd after the Kingdom establish'd in Israel Before I go any farther I will grant what he says of the Descents from Jacob to Obed and from him to Moses I will grant the Words are not a Prophecy and that these Kings reign'd successively one after another but will by no means allow that these words are not the words of Moses I will fully answer the Objection and shew the false Reasoning of this Author in the following Particulars 1. He might have spar'd his pains in computing the Descents from Jacob to Obed and Moses as things nothing to the purpose He wou'd I know insinuate by it that there was not time enough from Esau to the times of Moses for so many Kings to reign successively and that therefore Moses cou'd not give us this Relation This he should have consider'd better before he had given up the place From the Marriage of Esau to the Death of Moses are no less than 345 years Here 's room enough for eight Kings successively And that there are so many years in this space I need not prove 'T is evident and no Man can deny it Let any Man look over the Kings of Judah and begin where he will and he 'll soon find space enough here for these eight Kings to succeed each other though they had been successively Father and Son which they whom Moses mentions were not 2. 'T is very unfairly done to reckon from Jacob to Moses and Obed and thence to insinuate that there cou'd not be so many Generations from Esau to the Times of Moses who is suppos'd to give this Relation This is perfect Practice and Artifice We might have looked for it from a Deist or a Disciple of Mr. Hobbs but not from one who pretends to be an Advocate for Moses as this Author does Two ways the unfairness of this Practice may be discover'd 1. From hence that he cannot but know that there is a great difference in these things The Descents are more frequent in some Families than others as the Persons marry sooner or later as their eldest and first-born Sons live or die in their minority c. Who does not know that St. Matthew reckons from Abraham to Jesus but 42 Descents St. Luke 56. From Salathiel to Joseph in St. Matthew are reckon'd but 12 Generations but in St. Luke the Generations from Joseph to the same Salathiel as is supposed at least are no fewer than 21. Nor is there in all this any great Difficulty Admitting Salathiel in each place to be one and the same Person And where several Lines are drawn from the same Head of a Family there is very often a great difference in the number of Descents And the Generations from David to Joseph may well differ in St. Matthew and St. Luke when 't is remembred that they are reckon'd by Solomon or by his Brother Nathan ' Twou'd be too great a Digression or else 't were very easie to give a very large and clear account of this matter 2. It is very unfairly done to insinuate that there being but so many Generations from Jacob to Obed and Moses therefore 't was not probable there shou'd be such a Succession of Kings from Esau 'T is true Jacob and Esau were of an Age but he conceals something of moment They were not so when they marry'd Esau marry'd when he was forty years old but Jacob staid till he was near fourscore before he marry'd Here is near 40 years difference which is of great moment in this matter This Author in his Appendix affirms I will not answer for the Truth of it nor is this a place to dispute it that Jacob marry'd Leah in the 85th year of his Age. And for what he knows Moses might be near 120 years old when he wrote this Relation of the Kings of Edom. Upon the whole matter here is space enough for these Successions Joseph died when he was 110 years old and yet he saw Ephraim's Children of the third Generation Gen. 50.23 26. 3. Though here be space enough for these eight Kings though they were Father and Son yet we have no Cause to believe they were Father and Son but just ground to believe they were not And if they were not then might the less time serve for their Succession to one another We have these grounds to believe they were not Father and Son That 1. They are said to be of divers Cities or Places from each other One of Dinhabah his Successor of Bozrah a Third of the Land of the Temanites 'T is not very likely that the next Heir shou'd live in another City or Country and at a Remove from his Predecessor 2. 'T is not said upon the Death of a King that such a one his Son reigned in his stead But when Bela died 't is said that Jobah the Son not of Bela but Zerah reigned in his stead To him succeeded Husham of
the Land of Temani To him Hadad the Son of Bedad To him Samlah of Masrekah To him Saul of Rehoboth To him Baal-Hanan the Son of Achbor c. So that the succeeding King might for what this Author knows be as old or older than his Predecessor and then a very little space might serue for eight Kings to succeed each other in the six last Kings of Judah where Father was succeeded by the Son took up not above 56 years 4. That Moses knew there wou'd be Kings over Israel is unquestionable from Deut. 17. where he delivers Laws concerning that matter This being one of those three things that were made known to him but were not to take effect as Maimon well observes till they were in possession of the Land of Canaan Maimon H. Melach c. 1. The giving up these nine Verses is a thing of most dangerous Consequence At this rate this Author may give away more of the Holy Writings when he pleaseth And then we shall be sure of nothing For who the Author of them is he says not nor can the Reader know from our Author whether he were an inspir'd Author or not Nor does he give any just cause why any Man shou'd insert these nine Verses here had they not been written by Moses from the beginning I am sure he can give none To what hath been said I add That Moses himself was a King over Israel and then the Kings that reigned in Edom before Moses was King may well be said to have reigned before any King over the Children of Israel Moses had the title of King He was King in Jesurun Deut. 33.5 Nor was it a bare title He was really a King as appears from the Pentateuch This is proved at large by Mr. Selden de Synedriis l. 2. c. 1 2. This alone is a just and full Answer to the Objection which was sufficiently answered before So far are we from being forced to part with nine Verses at once that we are under no difficulty at all 'T is plain that when Moses came out of Egypt that Edom was under Dukes Exod. 15.15 These cou'd not be the first sett of Dukes mention'd Gen. 36.29 30. For they were Horites and if they were the second sett v. 40. then were the eight Kings dead before Moses was King in Jesurun After all these eight Kings might be Horites called Horim Deut. 2.12 whom the Children of Esau dispossessed and succeeded for any thing that appears They are said to have reigned in the land of Edom and so the Horite's Land was when Moses wrote these words but not to be descended or come from Esau as is expressly said of the following Dukes v. 40. This account agrees with the Context We have an account just before of the Dukes of the Horites the Children of Seir in the land of Edom v. 21. Though these are said to have been Dukes in the Land of Edom yet they were not descended from Esau but from Hori in the Land of Seir v. 30. And then there 's no ground to believe the eight Kings were descended from Esau because they are said to have reigned in the land of Edom since the Dukes in the land of Edom were Horites and did not come from Esau Besides the 4th of these eight Kings is said to have smitten Midian in the Field of Moab v. 35. If by Midian be meant the person so called Gen. 25.2 then there can be no doubt of this matter For then these eight Kings cou'd not be the Posterity of Esau but Horites they might be Gen. 14.6 and then they had finished their Reigns before Moses was King in Jesurun Obj. III. The Writer of the Pentateuch gives names to Places which did not belong to those Places till after the time of Moses and therefore Moses could not be the Author of the Pentateuch at least as we now have it Here they instance in Hebron and Dan. 'T is pretended that Hebron was not so called till after the time of Moses Josh 14.15 with chap. 15.13 Nor Dan neither as appears from Judges 18.29 I answer 1. And first as to Hebron And here 't is to be consider'd what Joshua says on this occasion He does not say it was not called Hebron before that time His Words are these The name of Hebron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before was Kirjath-Arba chap. 14.15 i. e. It had formerly another name more than that he says not For what appears it might be call'd Hebron in the time of Moses Here 's no inconsistence at all the Hebrew which we render before admits of great Latitude Sometimes it denotes a long time before and we render it of old Psal 102.26 Elsewhere where we render it afore-time it signifies a long time before as Nehem. 13.5 But we render it in old time Deut. 2.20 Moses and Joshua were Contemporary and well might the City be call'd Hebron in the time of Moses though it were in old time call'd Kirjath-Arba We have an instance to this purpose beyond all exception Bethel of old time was called Luz Judges 1.23 and yet it was called Bethel long before the time of Moses Gen. 28.19 Hebron was a very ancient City and it is not for nothing that this is remark'd Numb 13.22 And though it were of old time call'd Kirjath-Arba yet even in the time of Joshua and after the Remark chap. 14.15 Hebron it is call'd as by the name it was most commonly known by When 't is call'd the City of Arba it follows and it seems to be by way of Explication which supposeth it most known by the following Name Which City is Hebron Josh 15.13 Again Kirjath-Arba which is Hebron v. 54. Had not Hebron been the common and famed Name of it it shou'd rather have been Hebron which is Kirjath-Arba See chap. 20.7 and 21.11 They must have a great inclination to drop Moses who will be mov'd by such a slight pretence as this 2. As to Dan the pretence is less than for the other if it be possible For who can assure me that Dan Gen. 14.14 is the same with that Judges 18.29 And if it be not then is the Objection just nothing at all Besides if it were the same place the same answer might be given as to the Case just before But alas Dan is an older Name than these Objectors seem to be aware of as the River Jor-Dan intimates for part of its Name it had from a place call'd Dan. And this is I think placed beyond controversie if we consider what Josephus relateth on this occasion who must be allowed in a matter of this nature to be of greater authority than these Modern Objectors He tells that Abraham fell on the Assyrians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. about Dan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. For so the other Fountain or Spring-head of Jordan is called Antiq. l. 1. c. 10. He that was willing to give away the nine Verses from Gen. 36. will not allow any force in this
once The Author above-named was under no necessity of parting with this place He was too forward to part with his Divine Author when he was content to drop him upon so slight a ground To which I add the words Exod. 23.11 But the seventh thou shalt let it rest and lie still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the poor of thy people may eat or and the poor of thy people shall eat and what they leave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beast of the field shall eat Where again the first word which is a preterperfect hath the sense of a future as much as the following which is really and grammatically so Obj. VIII We read Gen. 22.14 And Abraham call'd the name of that place Jehovah-jireh as it is to this day in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen These are supposed not to be the words of Moses but of a later Writer It is pretended that this place was Mount Moriah in which the Temple was afterwards built and that it was not call'd so before such time as the Temple was built and therefore this cou'd not be written till that time which was long after the Time of Moses It is farther pretended that it is not likely that Moses shou'd write those words In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen because the Writer of those words affirms that That proverbial Speech was used in his Time To which I answer 1. I am not concern'd whether this were the very place that was afterwards call'd Moriah or not 'T is enough to my purpose that it is not call'd Moriah even in this place Whatever affinity Men may fansie between Jehovah-jireh and Moriah 't is certain they are not one and the same Name Here 's nothing proved and we are not obliged to regard groundless Imaginations and that is all we have here offer'd to us 2. Nor is there any thing in the following words but what is very agreeable to the Time and Age of Moses For why might not this proverbial Speech be in use from the Days of Abraham to the Time of Moses Here is space enough from the Time of Abraham to that of Moses for such a Saying to become a common Saying or proverbial Speech If a later Writer might say As it is said to this day why might not Moses say it as well I confess sincerely I do not see in this Objection any thing that hath the least appearance of weight in it And shou'd have been asham'd to mention it were it not incumbent upon me in this matter to lay the Objections I meet with fairly before the Reader Obj. IX The Author of the Leviathan roundly affirms that Moses cou'd not be the Author of those words Numb 21.14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord what be did in the Red-sea and in the Brooks of Arnon But he offers no reason for this Opinion of his and therefore I do not think my self obliged to take any farther notice of him in this matter However I find that Spinosa offers something like a Reason for this Opinion and as near as I can guess here lies the Argument That Moses wrote a Book of the War against Amalek by God's Command he says is evident from Exod. 17.14 But it does not from that place appear in what Book he wrote it But in Numb 21. he adds a Book is cited call'd The Book of the Wars of the Lord and in this Book says he without doubt the War against Amalek and the several Journeys of the Israelites which were written by Moses as we find 't is said Numb 33.2 are related Hence he seems to insinuate that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses but by some other hand who cites the Writings of Moses And that therefore the Pentateuch was on this account rather written of Moses than by Him This is the most that I can make of the Pretence of this obscure Writer and after all I can see very little that needs an Answer The Place I grant is obscure and difficult but that does not prove it was not written by Moses The Place is consider'd in the following Notes to which I referr the Reader However having this Occasion offer'd me that I may not seem to neglect any thing for the farther satisfaction of the Reader I shall endeavour to explain the Matter related in Numb 21. and then shew how vain this Pretence is First As to the Matter related thus it is The Israelites had receiv'd a Command not to distress or disturb the Ammonites or Moabites in their Possessions God declaring that he wou'd not bestow their Land upon them Deut. 2. It is the business of Moses to shew that the Israelites had not broken that Law It is true it might be pretended and was pretended afterwards in the days of Jephthah that they had broken it Because upon the Conquest of Sihon and Og 't is certain that the Israelites had taken possession of those Lands which sometime belong'd to this People whom they were forbid to disturb But 't is to be consider'd that these Lands were at that time in the possession of the Amorites who had dispossessed the Ammonites and Moabites I will not so far make a digression as to shew who were the Possessors of these Lands from the Time of Abraham I shall content my self in shewing the design of Moses in this relation And that was 1. To shew when the Israelites came to the River Arnon they found it to be the Boundary or Border between Moab and the Amorites This he affirms v. 13. and confirms it out of a known Book in those Times call'd The Book of the Wars of the Lord v. 14. 2. To prove that the Country which the Israelites took from Sihon and which did formerly belong to the Moabites was quite lost from the Moabites in the time of a former King before Balak This is affirmed v. 26. And therefore Israel found Sihon in full possession of this Country This he also proves from some known and acknowledged Sayings at that time that serv'd to preserve the memory of the fact Whether it were in some Song or contain'd in some Commentary of Facts that were passed I enquire not v. 27 28 c. The words seem to imply that the victorious Amorites did express their Triumph on the score of their Victory over the Moabites in those terms which the Text lays before us This account of the design of Moses and his way of gaining that design will easily give the Reader to understand that these words must needs be obscure and difficult because we are not acquainted with the perfect History of those Times nor with the Memorials of Facts that then had hapned Secondly I proceed to shew the great Vanity of the foregoing Pretence I might very well premise that the Proofs that Moses wrote not these Books had need be very clear or else we are guilty of great Vanity in admitting them And this is far
in the last days 22. With Bilhah By which means he lost his Birth-right ch 49.4 26. In Padan-Aram Except Benjamin as is plain from what goes before CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT The Wives and Children of Esau He removes to Mount Seir. The Dukes which descended from him The Sons and Dukes of Seir. Kings of Edom and Dukes 1. NOW these are the generations of Esau who is Edom 2. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite 3. And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter sister of Nebajoth 4. And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz and Bashemath bare Reuel 5. And Aholibamah bare Jeush and Jaalam and Korah These are the sons of Esau which were born unto him in the land of Canaan 6. And Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all the persons of his house and his cattel and all his beasts and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7. For their riches were more then that they might dwell together and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattel 8. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir Esau is Edom. 9. And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir. 10. These are the names of Esau's sons Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau 11. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman Omar Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz 12. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife 13. And these are the sons of Reuel Nahath and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 14. And these were the sons of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon Esau's wife and she bare to Esau Jeush and Jaalam and Korah 15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau the sons of Eliphaz the first-born son of Esau duke Teman duke Omar duke Zepho duke Kenaz 16. Duke Korah duke Gatam and duke Amalek These are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom these were the sons of Adah 17. And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son duke Nahath duke Zerah duke Shammah duke Mizzah These are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 18. And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife duke Jeash duke Jaalam duke Korah these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah Esau's wife 19. These are the sons of Esau who is Edom and these are their dukes 20. These are the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah 21. And Dishon and Ezer and Dishan these are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman and Lotan's sister was Timna 23. And the children of Shobal were these Alvan and Manahath and Ebal Shepho and Onam 24. And these are the children of Zibeon both Ajah and Anah this was that Anah that found the mâ—les in the wilderness as he fed the asset of Zibeon his father 25. And the children of Anah were these Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah 26. And these are the children of Dishon Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran 27. The children of Ezer are these Bilhan and Zaavan and Achan 28. The children of Dishan are these Vz and Aran. 29. These are the dukes that came of the Horites duke Lotan duke Shobal duke Zibeon duke Anah 30. Duke Dishon duke Ezer duke Dishan these are the dukes that came of Hori among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31. And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king over the children of Israel 32. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah 33. And Bela died and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead 34. And Jobab died and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead 35. And Husham died and Hadad the son of Bedad who smote Midian in the field of Moab reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Avith 36. And Hadad died and Samlah of Masrekahreigned in his stead 37. And Samlah died and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead 38. And Saul died and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead 39. And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died and Hadar reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Pau and his wife's name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mezahab 40. And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau according to their families after their places by their names duke Timnah duke Alvah duke Jetheth 41. Duke Aholibamah duke Elah duke Pinon 42. Duke Kenaz duke Teman duke Mibzar 43. Duke Magdiel duke Iram These be the dukes of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession he is Esau the father of the Edomites 1. THE Generations We have here an Accomplishment of what was foretold ch 25.23 and of what was promised ch 22.17 2. His Wives Who had several Names as well as he See the Note on ch 28.9 and ch 26.34 The daughter of Zibeon i. e. Grand-child of Zibeon referring it to Aholibamah And thus is Anah here distinguished from him mentioned v. 20. the one being the Brother the other the Son of Zibeon Compare v. 24. the Greek here and v. 14. 3. Bashemath See ch 28.9 4. Eliphaz Probably the same who is mentioned in the Book of Job or his Ancestor 6. Into the Country i. e. He left Canaan and went into another Country or Land and that was Mount Seir v. 8. 8. Seir So called from a Man of that name v. 20. God gave this place to Esau Deut. 2.5 Josh 24.4 11. Teman Job 2.11 12. Timna She was the Sister of Lotan the Son of Seir v. 20 22. Amalek Whence came the Amalekites great Enemies to Israel Exod. 17.8 16. 15. Dukes These Dukes mentioned from this to the 19th Verse are to be taken for the Heads of the Families from Esau 16. Korah He is not mentioned among the Sons of Eliphaz v. 11 12. and probably was his Grand-child 20. Seir the Horite Whose Race is here mentioned because of the Affinity between his and Esau's Family who succeeded the Horites in the possession of their Country Deut. 2.12 with verse 22. 24. Found the Mules in the Wilderness Mules are said to be ingendred of Horse and Ass and Anah is from these words supposed to have found the way of gaining these Creatures by committing them together when he fed the Asses of Zibeon
Israelites did lie under in Egypt and the great Hardships which they met with there of which we have an account in the remaining part of that Chapter and afterwards Chap. 5. III. The Persons by whose Ministry this Deliverance was wrought and under this Head is to be reckoned the account we have of Moses of his Birth and of his wonderfull Preservation and of his Divine Mission Ch. 2 and 3. and Power given to him to do wonderfull Works As also that of Aaron his Brother ch 4. and 6. IV. The Assurance which Moses received of his Success in this Undertaking ch 6. V. The Wonders which were wrought and the Plagues inflicted upon Pharaoh King of Egypt and upon his People to induce them to believe the Divine Mission of Moses and Aaron and to let the Israelites go out of Egypt And we have a particular account of these wonderfull Works to the end of the Eleventh Chapter These wonderfull Works deserve a special Consideration They were wrought to procure a belief of the over-ruling Power of the God of Israel and that Moses and Aaron were sent by him The Works themselves were above the Power of a Creature And though the Sorcerers and Magicians of Egypt were able in some measure to imitate some of the first Works of Moses ch 7. yet were they forced quickly to give out and to own the unimitable Power of God And when they inflicted Evils they were destitute of Power to remove those Inflictions ch 8. v. 7 8. The Magicians of Egypt could not produce so much as Lice out of the Dust of the Earth ch 8.18 't was above their Power and for the swarm of Flies which were sent upon the Egyptians the place where the Israelites dwelt was by the wonderfull Providence of God exempted from them ch 8.22 Thus it was also in the Murrain it did light on the Cattel of the Egyptians but not upon that which belonged to the Israelites ch 9. The Plague of Boyls succeeded which was so grievous upon the Egyptians that the Magicians themselves could not stand before Moses v. 11. The Hail with Thunder and Fire came next but this grievous Plague fell upon the Egyptians onely the Israelites felt it not v. 26. A grievous Plague from the Locusts followed and that was followed by a thick Darkness which affected the Egyptians only the Israelites enjoying Light as before And lastly the Death of the First-born which sell onely on those of the Egyptians and from which the Israelites were excused ch 11. After this wonderfull manner did God think fit to effect and bring to pass the Departure of the Israelites out of Egypt This was a most signal Blessing to that People and never to be forgotten And as God thought fit by Moses to transmit to Posterity the History of the Facts relating to this Matter so he appointed a Festival and a very Solemn one to be annually kept by the Israelites in remembrance of it and appointed the Month in which this Departure happened to be for the future observed as the first of at least the Ecclesiastical year The Israelites are often put in mind by Moses and the succeeding Prophets of this Deliverance and it is made use of as an Inducement to their Obedience to the Law given them afterwards Exod. 20.2 And that they might not forget this Deliverance they were afterwards obliged to keep up the remembrance of it once every Week on their Sabbath-day Deut. 5.15 And besides all this to perpetuate the memory of this Deliverance the first-born of Man and Beast are to be separated or set apart Exod. 13. Of this Departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and of the Solemn Festival appointed for a Memorial of it viz. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened-bread and the rites thereunto belonging we have an account ch 12. and 13. When the Israelites Went from Egypt God took care of them and directed their Journies by a certain Pillar which in the Day appeared as a Cloud and as Fire in the Night ch 13.21 22. And whereas the Egyptians were so hardy as to pursue them God miraculously saves the Israelites by giving them a passage through the Red-Sea and drowns the Egyptians which followed them ch 14. In memory whereof we have a Solemn Hymn or Song of Moses ch 15. I will now represent the Facts that were consequent upon this Deliverance The bitter Waters of Marah were made sweet by Moses ch 15.25 And when the People wanted Bread they were miraculously supplied with Quails and Manna ch 16. And when they wanted Water they are supplied with it from a Rock in Horeb. When they were assaulted by Amalek they prevailed whiles Moses held up his hands in memory of which Victory an Altar is built ch 17. Next follows an account of the coming of Jethro of his Reception by Moses and the Counsel he gave him ch 18. And now were the Israelites come to the Wilderness in Sinai in the third Month after they were come from Egypt And here God gives them the Law and that he does in a manner that was very solemn and awfull Moses goes up into a Mountain where God instructs him what he should say to the Israelites the better to prepare them for receiving the Law and returns their answer unto God He is sent down to them again to sanctify them and warn them And God sent him a third time with a charge to them to keep their distance The Mountain was in a smoke and God descended on it in Fire and it quaked and the People were terrified chap. 19. This was a fit time and place for them to receive their Law They had a little before received many proofs of the Power of God and of his care of them which might dispose them to Obedience to God's Law They were in a Wilderness a place of recess and leisure They were freed from the Slavery of Egypt and from the Idolatrous Examples of the Egyptians On the other hand they were short of Canaan and so not diverted by Wars with that People nor acquainted with their filthy Practices and idolatrous Rites nor rendred dull and stupid by the Plenty and Prosperities of that Land And therefore was this a most fit season for this Solemnity 'T was God's great care that his People should neither imitate the People of Egypt whence they came nor of Canaan whither they were going This he told them elsewhere by Moses After the doings of the Land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt and after the doings of the Land of Canaan whither I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their Ordinances Levit. 18.3 To have given this Law in Egypt might have been too soon and to have done it when they were possessed of Canaan might have been too late Here they are placed between both intirely delivered from Egypt and unacquainted with Canaan and consequently the better disposed to receive God's Law And whereas they had been miraculously brought out of Egypt
the birth and preservation of Moses of the Wonders wrought in Egypt of the Israelites most miraculous deliverance thence of their travel in the Wilderness and the wondrous things which happened there If we be taken with the knowledge of Laws here we shall find that which will entertain us also For besides the moral Precepts in which all Mankind are concerned we have an account of the Laws of the Israelites by which they were to be governed in their own Land And tho' it be true that these judicial Laws were given to the Hebrews and that they were concerned in them and that other Nations must be governed by the Laws of their several Countries yet certain it is that the Justice and the Equity on which these Laws are founded and which they recommend are worthy the consideration and imitation too of other Nations And if inquisitive persons think it worth their while to look into the Laws of Sparta and Athens of Rome and other Kingdoms and Commonwealths certainly they must judge the Laws of Moses which came from God himself are well worthy their looking into and their serious consideration Again if Religion or the way of worshipping God and the Holy Rites and Ceremonies thereunto belonging will entertain us we have here some account of that also and a farther afterwards and of the Persons appointed to minister in Holy Things of their Vestments Separation and solemn Consecration to their Office Or lastly If our Curiosity leads us to consider curious Mechanism or the Work of the most able Artificers we have an account of the Structure of the Tabernacle of its several parts and dimensions of its Instruments and Utensils and the curious Work made use of about that and the Priest's Holy Garments Secondly Here is also to be found a Symbolical Representation of better things to come For several Matters related here are Symbols and Types of something else which was to be revealed in the days of the Messias which does mightily enhanse the value of these Relations and which exalts them above the rate of other Relations It would be too long to dilate upon Particulars I shall onely observe that the Redemption of the Israelites from Egypt was a great Symbol and Type of Christ's far greater Redemption of Mankind And that the Structure and Frame of the Tabernacle was a Type also of Evangelical Things And whoever will take the pains to compare what Josephus says of the parts of the Sanctuary and the mystical meaning thereof with what is said by the Divine Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews on that occasion will be farther convinced of the truth hereof Thirdly This Book lays before us a lively Idea of God's special Providence and Care of his People and consequently lays a great foundation for Piety particularly for Obedience to his Precepts and trust and affiance in him under all Events Moses is preserved notwithstanding all Arts used to destroy him The Israelites live and increase under the severest hardships The Bush is burnt with Fire but not consumed All the Wit and Malice and Power of Men cannot defeat God's Counsels nor destroy the People whom he will preserve They whom God will save Man cannot destroy They are safe who are under his protection He can find Meat and Drink for them in a barren Wilderness While they obey and follow God they are safe And therefore our greatest Care and highest Wisdom is with all imaginable care to do the Will of God and then to trust to him for a supply of our Necessities and a defence against our Enemies and a certain relief under our most pressing straits and difficulties And all this is powerfully recommended to us from the Matters laid before us in this Book of Moses called Exodus NOTES ON THE Book of EXODUS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT The Names of the Sons of Israel who came into Egypt They multiply there when oppressed by a new King The Midwives obey not the King who commanded them to kill the Male-children of the Hebrews after which the same Command is given to the People of Egypt 1. NOW these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt every man and his houshold came with Jacob. 2. Reuben Simeon Levi and Judah 3. Issachar Zebulun and Benjamin 4 Dan and Naphtali Gad and Asher 5. And all the souls that came out of the loyns of Jacob were seventy souls for Joseph was in Egypt already 6. And Joseph died and all his brethren and all that generation 7. And the children of Israel were fruitfull and increased abundantly and multiplyed and waxed exceeding mighty and the land was filled with them 8. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt which knew not Joseph 9. And he said unto his people Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier then we 10. Come on let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to pass that when there falleth out any war they join also unto our enemies and fight against us and so get them up out of the land 11. Therefore they did set over them task-masters to afflict them with their burdens And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities Pithom and Raamses 12. But the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew And they were grieved because of the children of Israel 13. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor 14. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar and in brick and in all manner of service in the field all their service wherein they made them serve was with rigor 15. And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives of which the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah 16. And he said When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see them upon the stools if it be a son then ye shall kill him but if it be a daughter then she shall live 17. But the midwives feared God and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them but saved the men children alive 18. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said unto them Why have ye done this thing and have saved the men-children alive 19. And the midwives said unto Pharaoh Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women for they are lively and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them 20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplyed and waxed very mighty 21. And it came to pass because the midwives feared God that he made them houses 22. And Pharaoh charged all his people saying Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river and every daughter ye shall save alive 1. THESE are the names God had promised to Abraham that he would exceedingly multiply his seed Gen. 15.5 And by comparing the number of those that went into Egypt with the number that came out thence we may
Zipporah his daughter 22. And she bare him a son and he called his name Gershom for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land 23. And it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage 24. And God heard their groaning and God remembred his covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. 25. And God looked upon the children of Israel and God had respect unto them 1. A Man Called Amram Exod 6.20 Numb 26.59 A daughter of Levi Her name was Jochebed and she was Amram's Father's Sister Exod. 6.20 The Family of Israel was as yet small and the Law of Marriages not yet given This was afterward forbid Lev. 18.12 2. A goodly child A beautifull Child Heb. 11.23 Act. 7.20 See Joseph Antiqu. l. 2. c. 5. 4. His sister viz. Miriam Exod. 15.20 5. The daughter of Pharaoh Called Thermuthis by Josephus 6. This is one of the Hebrews children She might very well thus judge not onely because he was circumcised as the Hebrews were but because she saw him thus exposed for fear of being discovered and killed according to the King's Command 7. His sister Who had placed her self so as she might see what became of her Brother 8. Go She was the more inclined not onely because the Child was beautifull but because she had none of her own as Josephus tells us 10. Her son Her adopted Son as the Vulgar hath it She called his name Moses i. e. Drawnout from a word that signifies to draw out See Ps 18.16 Josephus likewise tells us That Moses even among the Egyptians did signifie one saved from the Waters 11. Grown Not onely in Stature of which v. 10. but in Strength and Years He was now full forty years old Act. 7.23 12. He slew the Egyptian His example is not to be imitated by us who do not know what his Authority was However Moses supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them Act. 7.25 13. The second day i. e. The next day Act. 7.26 14. A prince Heb. a Man a Prince A ruler and a judge Act. 7.27 16. Priest Or Prince It is very possible he might be both Priest Prince also See Gen. 47.22 17. Drove them away Them i. e. not the Daughters it being the Masculin Gender in the Hebr. but the Flocks or some Servants who were under these Daughters 18. Reuel their father Reuel was Jethro's Father and their Grandfather And Jethro was also called Hobab See Numb 10.29 Judg. 4.11 It is usual in the Scripture to call the Grandfather Father See Gen. 24.48 V. M. B. Israel Concil in Exod. qu. 1. 21. Zipporah his daughter i. e. The Daughter of Jethro See the Greek v. 16. 22. Gershom Ch. 18.3 the former part of which word signifies a Stranger in the Hebr. 24. Covenant Gen. 15.14 and 46.4 25. God had respect unto them Heb. Knew them God had a mercifull regard to them See the Chaldee and Psal 1.6.31.7 CHAP. III. The ARGUMENT Moses keeps the Flock of Jethro and comes to Horeb. The burning Bush not consumed Moses is appointed by God to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt Of the Name of God The Message of Moses God fore-tells the Event or Success of his undertaking 1. NOW Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian and he led the flock to the back-side of the desart and came to the mountain of God even to Horeb. 2. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and be looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed 3. And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burnt 4. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said Moses Moses And he said Here am I. 5. And he said Draw not nigh hither put off thy shooes from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground 6. Moreover he said I am the God of thy father the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God 7. And the LORD said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their task-masters for I know their sorrows 8. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large unto a land flowing with milk and honey unto the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jeâ—â—sites 9. Now therefore behold the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them 10. Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt 11. And Moses said unto God Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt 12. And he said Certainly I will be with thee and this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt ye shall serve God upon this mountain 13. And Moses said unto God Behold when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me What is his name What shall I say unto them 14. And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM And he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you 15. And God said moreover unto Moses Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you this is my name for ever and this is my memorial unto all generations 16. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob appeared unto me saying I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt 17. And I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites unto a land flowing with milk and honey 18. And they shall hearken to thy voice and thou shalt come thou and the elders of Israel unto the king of Egypt and you shall say
12. That thou Ch. 22.29 and 34.19 Ezek. 44.30 Set apart Heb. Cause to pass over i. e. Thou shalt not reckon it thine own but God's Vid. Levit. 27.32 13. Of an Ass Of unclean beasts Numb 18.15 The Ass is named that creature being very common among them Jud. 10.4 and 12.14 And the Ass therefore seems named here as a most common Beast and comprehending other Creatures that were not fit for Sacrifice And Philo the Jew when he mentions this Law reckons Horses Asses and Camels and such-like de Sacerdot Honor. l. Lamb Or Kid vid. ch 12.3 14. In time to come Heb. To morrow Vid. Matt. 6.34 16. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand and for frontlets between thine eyes See verse 9. Hence the Jews understanding these words literally took up a custom of using their Phylacteries Matt. 23.5 which they wore on their Hands and Foreheads These were made of Skins of a clean Beast in which were written four Tracts or little Sections of their Law viz. Deut. 6.4 to the end of v. 9. Exod. 13.1 to the end of v. 10. Exod. 13.11 to the end of v. 16. Deut. 11.13 to the end of v. 21. 18. Harnessed Or by five in a rank i. e. They went in good order and having their Loins girded See ch 12.11 19. The bones of Joseph Vid. Act. 7.16 God will c. Gen. 50.25 Josh 24.32 20. They took c. Numb 33.6 21. The LORD Numb 14.14 Deut. 1.33 Nehem. 9.19 Psal 78.14 1 Cor. 10.1 He is called the Angel of God ch 14.19 And it is supposed that he is the Son of God it being said that they tempted Christ in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.9 And Philo the Jew thinks it credible that a certain invisible Angel accompanied the Cloud as the Conductor of the People Whom says he we may not see with bodily eyes Vid. Phil. de Vit. Mos l. 1. And there is ground for this opinion of his from the place compared with ch 14.19 where it is said And the Angel of God which went before the Camp of Israel removed and went behind them And the Pillar of the Cloud went from before their face and stood behind them 22. The Pillar The Pillar of a Cloud and of Fire seem to be but one Pillar ch 14.19 20 24. Spread as a Cloud by day and having the appearance of Fire by night for the guidance of the People CHAP. XIV The ARGUMENT The Israelites are directed in their Journey Pharaoh pursues them The Israelites are much afraid Moses endeavours to quiet them The Angel and Cloud remove behind the Camp of Israel The Israelites pass through the Red sea the Egyptians following them are drowned 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth between Migdol and the sea over against Baal-zephon before it shall ye encamp by the sea 3. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel They are entangled in the land the wilderness hath shut them in 4. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart that he shall follow after them and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon all his host that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD And they did so 5. And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people and they said Why have we done this that we have let Israel go from serving us 6. And he made ready his chariot and took his people with him 7. And he took six hundred chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and captains over every one of them 8. And the LORD hardned the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and be pursued after the children of Israel and the children of Israel went out with an high hand 9. But the Egyptians pursued after them all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horse-men and his army and overtook them encamping by the sea beside Pihahiroth before Baal-zephon 10. And when Pharaoh drew nigh the children of Israel lift up their eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore afraid and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD 11. And they said unto Moses Because there were no graves in Egypt hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us to carry us forth out of Egypt 12. Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt saying Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians then that we should die in the wilderness 13. And Moses said unto the people Fear ye not stand still and see the salvation of the LORD which he will shew to you to day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever 14. The LORD shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace 15. And the LORD said unto Moses Wherefore criest thou unto me Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward 16. But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry-ground through the midst of the sea 17. And I behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they shall follow them and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh and upon all his host upon his chariots and upon his horse-men 18. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh upon his chariots and upon his horse-men 19. And the angel of God which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them 20. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel and it was a cloud and darkness to them but it gave light by night to these so that the one came not near the other all the night 21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east-wind all that night and made the sea dry-land and the waters were divided 22. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry-ground and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left 23. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea even all Pharaoh's horses his chariots and his horse-men 24. And it came to pass that in the morning-watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled the host of the Egyptians 25. And took off their chariot-wheels that they drave them heavily so that the Egyptians said Let us flee from the face of Israel for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians 26. And the LORD
2.16 Zach. 7.3 1 Cor. 7.5 16. Thunders c. These were so many tokens of the great and terrible Majesty of God who therefore ought to be feared and obeyed 18. Mount Sinai Deut. 4.11 Descended Vid. v. 11. In fire Hence the Law might be called a fiery Law Deut. 33.3 19. Moses spake So terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 21. Charge Heb. contest Break through Namely by going beyond the bounds which were set See v. 12. 22. Priests Aaron and his Sons were not yet set a-part to the Priesthood as is generally supposed Yet see the Note on ch 18.12 And therefore by Priests here we may understand those who ministred in Holy things before Aaron and his Sons were consecrated And these are supposed to be the first-born ch 13.2 who are called young men ch 24.5 And what is rendred young men elsewhere signifies Ministers or those who serve 2 Kings 19.6 That come near to the LORD Who come near to minister unto the Lord. The Priest by vertue of his Office is placed between God and the People for whom he prays and offers Sacrifice unto God 23. Cannot come up i. e. They are sufficiently warned already of the danger of passing the bounds 24. Thou and Aaron Ch. 24.1 CHAP. XX. The ARGUMENT The Ten Commandments The People are in great fear Moses comforts them Idolatry is forbidden Rules concerning the Altar on which they should sacrifice 1. AND God spake all these words saying 2. I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth 5. Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me 6. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 8. Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy 9. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work 10. But the seventh is the sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid servant nor thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates 11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath-day and hallowed it 12. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 13. Thou shalt not kill 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery 15. Thou shalt not steal 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours 18. And all the people saw the thundrings and the lightnings and the noise of the trumpet and the mountain smoaking and when the people saw it they removed and stood a-far off 19. And they said unto Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die 20. And Moses said unto the people Fear not for God is come to prove you and that his fear may be before your faces that ye sin not 21. And the people stood a-far off and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was 22. And the LORD said unto Moses Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven 23. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold 24. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings and thy peace-offerings thy sheep and thine oxen In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee 25. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone thou shalt not build it of hewn stone for if thou lift up thy tool upon it thou hast polluted it 26. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon 1. ALL these words i. e. All these Precepts which follow These are called the ten Words or Commandments ch 34.28 The Hebrew which we render Words is observed to signifie Precepts See Deut. 18.19 2. I am the LORD c. Deut. 5.6 Psal 81.10 This Verse contains the Preface to the following laws and therein very powerfull arguments to gain their attention and obedience Viz. I. From the Excellency of the Person who Commands The Lord. II. His Relation to them whom he commands Thy God III. His Mercy bestowed on them Which have brought thee c. Bondage Heb. Servants 3. Thou shalt have Or There shall not be unto thee Before me Or besides me As the Chaldee and Greek render it This third Verse contains the first Commandment and teacheth that there is one God and he alone is to be worshipped saith Josephus Antiq. Judaic l. 3. c. 4. 4. Thou shalt not c. Levit. 26.1 Psal 97.7 There being Ten of these Commandments ch 34.28 This must be the second as Josephus rightly affirms See this farther proved in the Notes on v. 17. 5. A jealous God Idolatry is frequently expressed by Whoredom Deut. 31.16 Jer. 3.9 And God is said to be an husband to his People Jer. 2.2 Hos 2.19 And in proportion and conformity hereunto God's displeasure against Idolatry is expressed by Jealousy which is says Solomon the rage of a man Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance c. Prov. 6.34 This is here added to deterr Men from Idolatry And is a powerfull Argument to keep Men from the appearance and suspicion of this Sin Children That are rebellious says the Chaldee Third and fourth So long the Idolaters may be supposed to live and be punished in their Children Of them that hate me That is of Idolaters who are especially the haters of God Vid. Mor. Nevochim p. 1. c. 36. 6. And keep c. The keeping God's Commandments being the best argument that we love him 7. Thou shalt not c. Levit. 19.12 Deut. 5.11 Matt. 5.33 Thou shalt not swear falsely nor lightly and commonly but greatly reverence the Holy Name of God Not hold him guiltless i. e. He will severely punish More is understood than is expressed vid. 1 Cor. 10.5 8. To keep it holy i. e. To separate
meat-offering mingled with oyl for to day the LORD will appear unto you 5. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD 6. And Moses said This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you 7. And Moses said unto Aaron Go unto the altar and offer thy sin-offering and thy burnt-offering and make an atonement for thy self and for the people and offer the offering of the people and make an atonement for them as the LORD commanded 8. Aaron therefore went unto the altar and slew the calf of the sin-offering which was for himself 9. And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him and he dipt his finger in the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar 10. But the fat and the kidneys and the caul above the liver of the sin-offering he burnt upon the altar as the LORD commanded Moses 11. And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp 12. And he slew the burnt-offering and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood which he sprinkled round about upon the altar 13. And they presented the burnt-offering unto him with the pieces thereof and the head and he burnt them upon the altar 14. And he did wash the inwards and the legs and burnt them upon the burnt-offering on the altar 15. And he brought the people's offering and took the goat which was the sin-offering for the people and slew it and offered it for sin as the first 16. And he brought the burnt-offering and offered it according to the manner 17. And he brought the meat-offering and took an handfull thereof and burnt it upon the altar beside the burnt-sacrifice of the morning 18. He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings which was for the people and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood which he sprinkled upon the altar round about 19. And the fat of the bullock and of the ram the rump and that which covereth the inwards and the kidneys and the caul above the liver 20. And they put the fat upon the breasts and he burnt the fat upon the altar 21. And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave-offering before the LORD as Moses commanded 22. And Aaron lift up his hand towards the people and blessed them and came down from offering of the sin-offering and the burnt-offering and peace-offerings 23. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation and came out and blessed the people and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people 24. And there came a fire out from before the LORD and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the far which when all the people saw they shouted and fell on their faces 1. ON the eighth day That is From the beginning of the Consecration of the Priests ch 8.33 35. Exod. 29.30 Ezek. 43.26 27. 2. Take Exod. 29.1 For a sin-offering i. e. To expiate his own sins v. 8. The High-priest was obliged to bring a young Bullock for his sin Lev. 4.3 And it is required of Aaron here upon his entring upon his Office Whence it is evident that his Priesthood was designed for his own Expiation as well as that of the People Heb. 5.2 and 9.7 3. For a sin-offering Of the order of these Offerings See the Note on ch 8.14 4. For peace-offerings These were for the People v. 18. Here is no Peace-offering required of Aaron because part of that Offering being the Portion of the Priest and the greater part of the Offerer it could not be offered aright by Aaron who would have been both Priest and Offerer The LORD will appear i. e. The Glory of the Lord will appear See v. 6. 5. Before the LORD i. e. At the entrance of the Tabernacle 6. The glory of the LORD i. e. A visible sign of the Presence and Favour of God This was fulfilled v. 24. when by the fire which God sent and which consumed the Sacrifice He gave them assurance that he accepted the Offering See Gen. 4.4 1 King 18.38 2 Chron. 7.1 2 Mac. 2.10 11. And any such token or sign of God's favour and more especial Presence may be called the Glory or the Glory of the Lord 2 Pet. 1.17 with Matt. 17.5 Rom. 9.4 with 1 Sam. 4.22 7. For thy self and for the people In which respect the Legal Priests came short of Christ Heb. 5.3 and 7.26 27 28. 15. As the first As the Sin-offering mentioned v. 8. And he also burnt it as he did that without the Camp v. 11. For which he is reproved by Moses ch 10.16 17. 16. Manner Or Ordinance Took an handfull thereof Heb. Filled his hand out of it Beside the burnt-offering c. Exod. 29.38 This Oblation was offered beside the continual Offering that was with its Meat-offering offered every morning 18. For the people See the Note on v. 4. 21. Breasts and the right shoulder These are the portion of the Priest who ministred Levit. 7.34 Waved See the Notes on Exod. 29.24 22. Blessed them This was the Office of the Priest 2 Chron. 23.13 The form of doing this is prescribed Numb 6.23 In this Aaron was a Figure of Christ Act. 3.26 Who lift up his hands and blessed his disciples Luk. 24.50 23. Appeared unto all the people See the Notes on v. 6. 24. There came c. Gen. 4.4 1 King 18.18 2 Chron. 7.1 2 Mac. 2.10 11. CHAP. X. The ARGUMENT Nadab and Abihu for offering strange Fire are burnt Aaron and his Sons are forbidden to Mourn for them The Priests are forbidden Wine and strong Drink when they go into the Tabernacle Aaron and his Sons commanded to eat their portion of the Offerings Aaron excuseth his not Eating at this time 1. AND Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron took either of them his censer and put fire therein and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the LORD which he commanded them not 2. And there went out fire from the LORD and devoured them and they died before the LORD 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron This is it that the LORD spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified And Aaron held his peace 4. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan the sons of Vzziel the uncle of Aaron and said unto them Come near carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp 5. So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp as Moses had said 6. And Moses said unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar his sons Vncover not your heads neither rend your clothes lest you die and lest wrath come upon all the people but let your brethren the whole house of Israel
any other way So true are the words of Solomon Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14.34 This passage deserves great consideration It is not onely the Duty but the Interest of Kings and Governours to encourage Men in the exercise of true Religion and by all possible ways and means to suppress Vice and all Profaneness Where-ever a People are profane they are weak at the same time Besides that they by their Wickedness call down the Vengeance of Heaven their very Wickedness does infeeble them and render them an easie Prey to their Enemies The Israelites were strong while Innocent when they had forsaken their God they fell Let us hear what Balaam was forc'd to say before their Whoredom and Idolatry He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel The Lord his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them God brought them out of Egypt He hath as it were the strength of an Vnicorn surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel 〈◊〉 Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lion and lift up himself as a young Lion He shall not lie down till he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain Numb 23.21 22 23 24. This was the condition of Israel but alas they soon fell by their own Follies whom no Power or Malice of their Enemies could have hurt There is nothing a plainer and more incontestable Truth than this That true Religion and Vertue is not onely the Glory but the Strength and Safety of any Nation or Kingdom On the other hand Vice and Wickedness Profaneness and Discontent are the greatest Mischiefs and the saddest Presages of the Ruin of any People The History of the Israelites delivered in this Book will confirm any considering Man in this belief Here we have a Relation of their Follies and their Wandrings of their Vices and their Plagues of their Sin and Punishment They were delivered from the Egyptians and from Amalek They needed not to fear their Enemies about them They fell indeed in the Wilderness but they fell as the Jews say a drunken Man does he needs none to throw him down he falls of himself They fell by their own Lust their Discontent their Profaneness and Idolatry God grant that we when we seem to stand may take heed lest we fall X. There are in this excellent Book many other things of admirable use for the better understanding the Jewish Religion and the other parts of the Holy Writ which I have not time in this place to enlarge upon but such things they are as will entertain with great variety and delight the inquisitive and diligent Reader Such are the Law of the Nazarite's Vow concerning the Water of Jealousie The form of blessing the People The Law about a Second Passeover The Relation of the guidance of the Cloud and the Law concerning sins of Ignorance and Presumption and of the Ashes of the red Heifer The Relation of the smiting the Rock by Moses Of the Conquest of Sihon and Og The Laws concerning the stated Sacrifices and concerning dividing the Spoil Concerning Inheritances and the Marriage of Heiresses Every one of which will deserve a serious Consideration NOTES ON THE Book of NUMBERS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT Moses is commanded to number the People The Princes of the Tribes who were appointed to assist in numbring them The People of the several Tribes are numbered from Twenty years old and upward The Number of the whole The Levites are not numbred but appointed to their Office 2514. 1490. 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the tabernacle of the congregation on the first day of the second month in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt saying 2. Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel after their families by the house of their fathers with the number of their names every male by their poll 3. From twenty years old and upward all that are able to go forth to war in Israel thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies 4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe every one head of the house of his fathers 5. And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you Of the tribe of Reuben Elizur the son of Shedeur 6. Of Simeon Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai 7. Of Judah Nahshon the son of Aminadab 8. Of Issachar Nethaneel the son of Zuar 9. Of Zebulun Eliab the son of Helon 10. Of the children of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammibud of Manasseb Gamaliel the son Pedahzur 11. Of Benjamin Abidan the son of Gideoni 12. Of Dan Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai 13. Of Asher Pagiel the son of Ocran 14. Of Gad Estasaph the son of Deuel 15. Of Naphtali Ahira the son of Enan 16. These were the renowned of the congregation princes of the tribes of their fathers heads of thousands in Israel 17. And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names 18. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month and they dâ—â—lared their pedigrees after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward by their poll 19. As the LORD commanded Moses so he numbred them in the wilderness of Sinai 20. And the children of Reuben Israel's eldest son by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names by their poll every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 21. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Reuben were forty and six thousand and five hundred 22. Of the children of Simeon by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers those that were numbred of them according to the number of the names by their polls every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 23. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Simeon were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred 24. Of the children of Gad by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 25. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Gad were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty 26. Of the children of Judah by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 27. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Judah were threescore and fourteen
that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter and her belly shall swell and her thigh shall rot and the woman shall be a curse among her people 28. And if the woman be not defiled but be clean then she shall be free and shall conceive seed 29. This is the law of jealousies when a wife goeth aside to another in stead of her husband and is defiled 30. Or when the spirit of jealousie cometh upon him and he be jealous over his wife and shall set the woman before the LORD and the priest shall execute upon her all this low 31. Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity and this woman shall bear her iniquity 2. Camp There were three several Camps as may be learnt from the foregoing Chapters and as the Jewish Writers observe I. The Shekinah or Sanctuary where God was said to dwell 2 Chron. 31.2 And to be especially present with the Israelites Exod. 29.42 43. II. The Camp of the Levites who with the Priests camped round about the Sanctuary chap. 3. III. The Camp of Israel which is described chap. 2. Of this Camp are those words understood which we find Deut. 23.10 11. Leper Levit. 13.3 It was required before that he should dwell alone and that his habitation should be without the Camp Levit. â—3 46 That Law was not practicable till the Camp was setled which was now done It is certain that the Leper was excluded out of each of the Camps above named for he was to dwell alone and therefore shut out of the Camp of Israel and out of the Cities afterward 2 Kings 7.3 Issue Levit. 15.2 He that was under this pollution though he might continue in the Camp of Israel and was not confined or obliged to dwell alone as the Leper was v. 5 6 7 8 9. yet he was not permitted to go into the Levite's Camp till he was clean Levit. 15.13 14. much less might he go into the Sanctuary Dead Levit. 21.1 This was still a lower degree of Uncleanness For he that was unclean by an Issue was upon that account to bring a Sacrifice for his Atonement Levit. 15.14 15. But he that had touched a dead Body was not obliged to bring an expiatory Sacrifice but to the use of the Water of Separation onely Numb 19.12 Now though he that was thus defiled with the touch of a dead Body were excluded from the Sanctuary 2 Chron. 23.19 Numb 19.13 into which no person might enter that was in any thing unclean yet have we no cause to suppose him excluded from any of the other Camps 3. I dwell Or Am more peculiarly present 6. When a man c. Levit. 6.3 That men commit i. e. Which they are ordinarily obnoxious to or overtaken with We have a more particular account of this matter Levit. 6. 7. Confess The Confession of Sin is required in order to Pardon Prov. 28.13 Job 33.27 28. And this Confession among the Jews was made in this form of words O God I have sinned I have done perversely I have trespassed before thee and I have done thus and thus and lo I repent and am ashamed of my doings and will never do so no more Maimon H. Teshub c. 1. His trespass i. e. The thing in which he hath trespassed or injured his Neighbour With the principal Or In the principal Levit. 6.5 Fifth â—ee the Notes on Levit. 6.5 8. No kinsman Which might frequently happ'n where the wronged persons were Proselytes Priest Whom God substitutes as his Receiver Ram of the atonement See Levit. 6.6 7. 9. Offering Or Heave-offering See Numb 18.8 10. Hallowed things Such were things separated by Vow Levit 27.21 Numb 18.14 and First-fruits Numb 18.12 His Levit. 10.13 12. A trespass This is to be understood of Disloyalty to her Husband and to be interpreted by the words which follow 13. No witness c. For in such cases she was to be put to death Levit. 20.10 Joh. 8.4 5. 14. The spirit of jealousie i. e. A jealous Mind or Affection As the spirit of meekness signifies a meek spirit or temper Gal. 6.1 15. The tenth part of an Ephah Or an Omer See the Notes on Exod. 16.36 Of Barley-meal he shall pour no oyl c. This Offering of Barley-meal without either Oyl or Frankincense betoken'd sorrow and a sense of guilt It was not an Offering of sweet savour as that is called which had both Oyl and Frankincense Levit. 2.2 But this is an Offering bringing iniquity to remembrance and therefore will admit neither of Oyl nor Frankincense Levit. 5.11 16. Her Or It i. e. The Offering not the Woman of whom in v. 18. Before the LORD See the Notes on Levit. 1.5 17. Holy water i. e. Water out of the Laver Exod. 30.18 Dust This was likewise a sign of sorrow Job 2.12 See the Notes on v. 15. 18. Vncover This is likewise another token of sorrow Levit 21.10 and v. 15. And the Woman's Fidelity and Chastity being questioned the Covering of her Head betokening her Subjection and Chastity 1 Cor. 11. was fitly taken away Bitter water Though we are told by the Jewish Writers that some bitter thing was put into this Water which made it bitter yet it might be truly called bitter from the Effect of it upon the guilty to whom bringing a Curse it was bitter in the End 19. Charge her by an oath Or adjure her as the Vulgar Latin hath it See the Notes on Levit. 5.1 With another instead of thy husband Or being in the power of thy husband Heb. Vnder thy husband 21. Charge See v. 19. An Oath An Example saith the Vulgar That is a common instance in forms of Execration which do accompany Oaths Rot Heb. Fall 22. Amen Or Be it so We have Amen here twice and that perhaps with a distinct reference to v. 19. and to what follows from v. 20. 23. These curses Those words from v. 20. at least In a book So a Scroll or Parchment or small Writing was called among the Jews Deut. 24.1 Blot c. i. e. Shall blot out the Curses with the Water and when he hath done so the Woman must drink that Water which was the Receiver of these words of Execration v. 24. 24. Bitter See verse 18. 28. Conceive seed Not by the virtue of the Water which hath a contrary effect upon the guilty but by the special Providence of God 30. Set the woman See v. 18. 31. Then shall the man be guiltless c. The Jews have from hence taught that the Water would not try the suspected Woman if her Husband were not innocent himself when he brought her to this tryal CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT Of the Vow of the Nazarites and of their Offering for their Separation The Form of the Priests Blessing the People 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite
the better known to the People compare v. 26 27 28. and there receive the Spirit of Prophecy v. 25. 17. Come down Or Reveal my self as the Chaldee hath it Take of the spirit c. i. e. Impart of the same Gifts to them which were bestowed upon Moses Which does not imply any diminution to Moses and is to be understood according to the subject-matter in a Spiritual sense 18. Sanctifie your selves Or Prepare your selves and be in readiness against to morrow when you may expect Flesh 20. Whole month Heb. Month of days 22. Fish Who have a sort of Flesh 1 Cor. 15.39 23. Is the LORD's hand waxed short Or does the Lord want power Isa 50.2 and 59.1 25. They prophesied and did not cease i. e. They did hereupon for some time prophesie without intermission in token of the power which God had endued them with 1 Sam. 10.10 It does by no means hence follow that this continued with them or that they were Prophets for the future Their Prophesying whether it were predicting Futuâ—ities or eâ—plaining God's Will was in such a manner as might bâ— discerned by some visible and extraordinary Effect v. 27. and 1 Sam. 19.23 24. 26. Went not Perhaps because not in the way when the Command was given or out of modesty declining what they thought themselves unfit for or under some legal defilement which might hinder their approach to the Tabernacle or under some other restraint or impediment vid. 1 Sam. 20.26 Jer. 36.5 28. Forbid them He not having seen them about the Tabernacle verse 16. might question their authority 31. A wind Exod 16.13 Ps 78.26 As it were a days journey Heb. As it were the way of a day 32. Ten Homers That is ten Ephahs Ezek. 45.11 33. Flesh Psal 78.30 31. 34. Kibroth-hattaavah That is the graves of lust 35. Abode at Heb. They were in c. CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses God's displeasure at it Miriam is stricken with a Leprosie She is shut out of the Camp seven days The People remâ—â—â— from Hazeroth 1. AND Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married for he had married an Ethiopian woman 2. And they said Hath the LORD indeed spoken onely by Moses hath he not spoken also by us and the LORD heard it 3. Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth 4. And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses and unto Aaron and unto Miriam Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation And they three came out 5. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam and they both came forth 6. And he said Hear now my words If there be a prophet among you I the LORD will make my self known unto him in a vision and will speak unto him in a dream 7. My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all mine house 8. With him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses 9. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them and he departed 10. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle and behold Miriam became leprous white as snow and Aaron looked upon Miriam and behold she was leprous 11. And Aaron said unto Moses Alas my lord I beseech thee lay not the sin upon us wherein we have done foolishly and wherein we have sinned 12. Let her not be as one dead of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb 13. And Moses cryed unto the LORD saying Heal her now O God I beseech thee 14. And the LORD said unto Moses If her father had but spit in her face should she not be ashamed seven days let her be shut out from the camp seven days and after that let her be received in again 15. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again 16. And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth and pitched in the wilderness of Paran 1. MIriam A Prophetess the Sister of Moses and Aaron Exod. 15.20 She was principal in the fault as may be collected from this Verse as it lies in the Hebrew Text and from v. 10. compare 1 Tim. 2.13 14. And thus the Sin of Lust began with the meaner and more feeble of the People or mixt Multitude ch 11.4 Ethiopian Or Cushite i. e. Zipporah Exod. 2.21 Who was of the Land of Midian which was in the Arabian Cush See Habâ—k 3.7 compare Ezek. 30.9 2 King 19.9 2 Chron. 14.9 with ch 21.16 Isa 18.1 and Zeph. 3.10 Married Heb. Taken i. e. Taken to Wife That he had married a Stranger and not one of the Stock of Israel was perhaps the occasion of the Complaint though the Jewish Writers affirm it to be upon the account of his separating from her that he might with the greater freedom attend upon his holy Function 2. Also by us See Exod. 4.14 15 16. ch 15.20 and Mic. 6.4 Heard it i. e. Took notice of it so as 〈◊〉 punish it Though Moses such was his Meekness did not regard it 3. Very meek Ecclus 45.4 6. In a vision That is an Enigmatical Representation of something thereby signified Such was that of the Wheels and dry â—oâ—es in Ezekiel Of the Ram in Daniel c. Hence a Prophecy is called a Vision Isa 1 1. In a dream Which was generally in the Night and always when the Senses were suspended And here the Representation was frequently obscure and not easily understood Such was that of Jacob's Ladder Pharaoh's Kine c. 7. Not so i. e. He is a Prophet favoured with clearer Revelations Who is faithfull Heb. 3.2 8. Mouth to mouth c. Exod. 33.11 i. e. As one Friend speaketh to another and that clearly and not Enigmatically when one thing is represented and something else is meant as in the Instances above-named of Visions and Dreams The similitude of the LORD No Man hath seen God or can see him The meaning is That as Moses had the Will of God most plainly revealed to him so he was admitted to a greater sight of his Glory than any other See Exod. 33.22 23. 10. Leprous A fit punishment of Pride 12. As one dead The Leper was separated from the Living and defiled as the Dead 14. Shut out Vid. Lev. 23.46 with Numb 19.11 CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT Heads of the several Tribes sent to search the Land of Canaan Their Names Moses gives them Instructions Their Progress therein and their Relation upon their return 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Send thou men that they may search the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of Israel of every tribe of
might have been made once before the manner of which Water follows in this Chapter A red heifer c. This Law concerning the Water of Separation for the purifying those who were legally unclean fitly succeeds in this place for the Israelites were now in great fear that by coming near the Tabernacle they should be consumed chap. 17.12 13. Here is a way appointed to cleanse them from their legal Impurities which would have rendred their approach to the Sanctuary dangerous to them This is a Type of Christ Who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1.5 3. Vnto Eleazar Not unto Aaron but to Eleazar because Aaron being the High-priest was under the strictest obligation to shun every legal Uncleanness Lev. 21.11 12. which he who ministred in this Service could not do v. 7. Forth without the camp Heb. 13.11 His face i. e. Eleazar's 4. Sprinkle Heb. 9.13 Before the tabernacle viz. The place where God did more especially presentiate himself and the Type of Heaven into which we can onely by the Blood of Jesus hope to enter Heb. 10.19 5. Her skin Exod 29.14 Levit. 4.11 12. 7. Be unclean The same is said of him that burned the Heifer v. 8. and of him that gathered the Ashes v. 10. and of him that should sprinkle with the Water of Separation or touch it v. 21. which intimate to us the imperfection of the legal Dispensation and Typifie Christ's being made a Curse for us The red Heifer was a Type of Christ who bore our sins Isa 53.12 2 Cor. 5.21 9. Clean That is Free from legal pollution Separation i. e. Which takes away the legal impurities from men a Type of Christ's Blood which purgeth the Conscience from dead works 10. Vnclean See the Note on v. 7. Stranger i. e. Proselyte 11. Man Heb. Soul of man Seven days He that touched the Carcase of an unclean Beast was unclean onely to the Evening Levit. 11.24 13. Defileth the tabernacle That is By approaching to it in his Uncleanness he polluteth the Holy Place For Holy Things were defiled by Unclean Haggai 2.13 with Levit. 15.31 16. Slain with a sword Or any other ways slain as appears from the following words 17. Ashes Heb. Dust Running water shall be put Heb. Living waters shall be given 20. Defiled See v. 13. 22. The unclean person i. e. He that sprinkleth that Water of Separation v. 21. as well as the mentioned v. 7. and he that gathered the Ashes of the Red Heifer v. 10. CHAP. XX. The ARGUMENT The Children of Israel come to Zin Miriam dieth The People murmur for want of Water Moses smites the Rock and they were supplied with Water Moses and Aaron excluded from bringing the Israelites into Canaan Moses is denied passage through Edom. Aaron dieth 1. THen came the children of Israel even the whole congregation into the desart of Zin in the first month and the people abode in Kadesh and Miriam died there and was buried there 2. And there was no water for the congregation and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron 3. And the people chode with Moses and spake saying Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness that we and our cattel should die there 5. And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt to bring us in unto this evil place it is no place of seed or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates neither is there any water to drink 6. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them 7. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 8. Take the rod and gather thou the assembly together thou and Aaron thy brother and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes and it shall give forth his water and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink 9. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD as he commanded him 10. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock and he said unto them Hear now ye rebels must we fetch you water out of this rock 11. And Moses lift up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice and the water came out abundantly and the congregation drank and their beasts also 12. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron Because ye believed me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them 13. This is the water of Meribah because the children of Israel strove with the LORD and he was sanctified in them 14. And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom Thus saith thy brother Israel Thou knowest all the travel that hath befallen us 15. How our fathers went down into Egypt and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers 16. And when we cried unto the LORD he heard our voice and sent an angel and hath brought us forth out of Egypt and behold we are in Kadesh a city in the uttermost of thy border 17. Let us pass I pray thee through thy country we will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards neither will we drink of the water of the wells we will go by the king's high-way we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left until we have passed thy borders 18. And Edom said unto him Thou shalt not pass by me lest I come out against thee with the sword 19. And the children of Israel said unto him We will go by the high-way and if I and my cattel drink of thy water then I will pay for it I will onely without doing any thing else go through on my feet 20. And he said Thou shalt not go through And Edom came out against him with much people and with a strong hand 21. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border wherefore Israel turned away from him 22. And the children of Israel even the whole congregation journeyed from Kadesh and came unto mount Hor. 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor by the coast of the land of Edom saying 24. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah 25. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up unto mount Hor 26. And strip Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people and shall die there 27. And Moses did as the LORD commanded and they went up into
thence they removed and pitched on the other side of Arnon which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites for Arnon is the border of Moab between Moab and the Amorites 14. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD What he did in the Red-sea and in the brooks of Arnon 15. And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar and lieth upon the border of Moab 16. And from thence they went to Beer that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses Gather the people together and I will give them water 17. Then Israel sang this song Spring up O well sing ye unto it 18. The princes digged the well the nobles of the people digged it by the direction of the law-giver with their staves And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah 19. And from Mattanah to Naâ—â—liel and from Nahaliel to Bamoth 20. And from Bamoth in the valley that is in the country of Moab to the top of Pisgah which looketh toward Jeshimon 21. And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites saying 22. Let me pass through thy land we will not turn into the fields or into the vineyards we will not drink of the water of the well but we will go along by the king's high-way untill we be past thy borders 23. And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border but Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel 24. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbock even unto the children of Ammon for the border of the children of Ammon was strong 25. And Israel took all these cities and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites in Heshbon and in all the villages thereof 26. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand even unto Arnon 27. Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say Come into Heshbon let the city of Sihon be built and prepared 28. For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon a flame from the city of Sihon it hath consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places of Arnon 29. Wo to thee Moab thou art undone O people of Chemosh he hath given his sons that escaped and his daughters into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites 30. We have shot at them Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah which reacheth unto Medeba 31. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites 32. And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer and they took the villages thereof and drove out the Amorites that were there 33. And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan and Og the king of Bashan went out against them he and all his people to the battel at Edrei 34. And the LORD said unto Moses Fear him not for I have delivered him into thy hand and all his people and his land and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites which dwelt at Heshbon 35. So they smote him and his sons and all his people untill there was none left him alive and they possessed his land 2552. 1452. 1. KIng Arad Ch. 33.40 By the way of the spies There is no reason why these words should be understood of the way which those Spies went which went 38 years before this to search out the Land ch 13. They may very well be understood of the way which those Spies went which we suppose King Arad to have sent to bring him an account of the motion of the Israelites tho' the Greek understand it of a proper Name 3. Hormah That is utter destruction It is to be considered that these Canaanites were destroyed in this Encounter for which cause the Name of this place where the Victory was obtained might be called Hormah at present But then their Cities which were now devoted to destruction v. 2. were not actually destroyed till after the Israelites were come into the promised Land Jud. 1.17 4. Discouraged Or Grieved Heb. Shortened Because of the way viz. Because it was far about and therefore uneasie to them 5. Our soul lotheth Chap. 11.6 6. The LORD Wisd 16.1 5. 1 Cor. 10.9 Fiery serpents These Serpents might well be called fiery both from their Colour v. 9. and from the Effect of their venomous biting which burnt those who were bitten and because they kept aloft and were probably flying Serpents Isa 14.29 8. A fiery serpent i. e. A Serpent of a fiery Colour as appears from verse 9. where 't is expressly said that Moses made a Serpent of Brass Ezek. 1.7 Set it upon a pole That it may be conspicuous it was to be raised up on high The word we render Pole signifies a Sign and several of the Ancients render the words to such a sense as imports that this was to be set up as a sign And indeed it was a very eximious Type of Christ and particularly of his Death upon the Cross by whom we are redeemed from the Sting of Death and the Power of the Devil that old Serpent Joh. 3.14 whom God sent in the likeness of sinfull flesh and did by this way condemn sin in the flesh Rom. 8.3 9. And c. 2 King 18.4 Joh. 3.14 When he beheld the serpent of brass he lived The recovery was from God and the way very unlikely Neither the Matter or Figure of this Serpent could contribute towards healing the bitten But this was a Type of Christ who condemned sin in the flesh by the likeness of sinfull flesh We are healed by his stripes and receive the hopes of life by his death And therefore this brazen Serpent is truly called a Sign of Salvation Wisd 16.6 7. 10. And pitched in Oboth Ch. 33.43 11. Fje-abarim Or Heaps of Abarim 12. From thence What follows to v. 21. seems not to be an account of the several Stations of the Israelites of which we have an account ch 33. but of some places which they touched or bordered upon in their March and before they sent their Messengers to Sihon King of the Amorites 13. Between Moab and the Amorites Arnon as well as Heshbon was once in the possession of the Moabites but had before this been taken from a former King of Moab by Sihon possibly a former not the present King of the Amorites v. 26 28. Judg. 11.18 22. And it being now in the possession of the Amorites might lawfully be possessed by the Israelites who were Commanded not to distress the Moabites Deut. 2.9 but required at the same time to invade the Land of Sihon the Amorite King of Heshbon Deut. 2.24 14. Wherefore it is said in the book These words seem to be added here
he did acknowledge the true God with which profession as he joined Enchantments ch 24.1 so he added Sacrifices on the high places of Baal v. 41. with ch 23.2 9. God came c. i. e. God manifested himself to him or the Word of God came to him as the Chaldee What men c. This is to introduce what follows and does not imply that God did not know who they were See Gen. 4.9 10. 11. I shall be able to over-come them Heb. I shall prevail in fighting against them 13. The LORD refuseth c. This is not all which he might and ought to have said to prevent any farther importunity in this matter For God had strictly forbid him to Curse this People and assured him that they were Blessed which Declaration was sufficient to have prevented any farther Message from Moab and to have restrained Balaam from any farther inquiry in this matter 14. Balaam refuseth They ought to have said the Lord refuseth to give him leave v. 13. in order to the preventing of another Message 16. Let nothing Heb. Be not thou letted from c. 18. If Balak would Chap. 24.13 He professes himself restrained by God from which restraint he is willing to get loose as appears from the following words 20. God came See verse 9. 22. God's anger was kindled because he went This may seem strange that God should be angry with him for going when he bid him rise up and go v. 20. For the removing this difficulty it is to be considered I. That God had expressly forbid his going at the first God had said to him Thou shalt not go with them v. 12. II. That God did after this onely permit but not command nor yet approve his going God having declared himself positively v. 12. Balaam ought not to have made farther inquiry yet this he did out of Covetousness upon the arrival of more honourable Messengers v. 15. with 2 Pet. 2.15 III. His going was attended with an evil design The Angel says Thy way is perverse before me v. 32. and he seemed to go with a purpose to Curse Israel which the King of Moab expressly desired and God as expressly had forbidden v. 12. Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam But the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee because the Lord thy God loved thee Deut. 23.5 23. The Ass saw 2 Pet. 2.16 Jud. 11. Which was more than Balaam or his Servants did God thinking fit to restrain their sight 28. And the LORD opened the mouth c. This God did by his irresistible Power and no Man can think it incredible that believes that there is a God who made the World 29. Balaam said c. Balaam seems not to be astonished at the speaking of the Ass partly this may be imputed to that stupidity and hardness of heart to which we suppose him given up and partly to this That he being a South-sayer and Magician he had been used to very uncouth appearances and to things which to others would have been very astonishing 30. Vpon which thou hast ridden Heb. Who hast ridden upon me Ever since I was thine Or Ever since thou wast c. 31. Fell flat on his face Or Bowed himself 32. To withstand thee Heb. To be an adversary unto thee 34. I have sinned for I knew not c. He He makes no Confession of his Covetousness which was the faulty Principle which set him forward Displease thee Heb. Be evil in thine eyes 36. In the utmost coast See chap. 21.16 39. Kirjath-huzoth Or a City of Streets A place in the extremity of the Country of Moab See the Vulgar Latin 40. Sent to Balaam c. To feast upon the Oxen and Sheep which he had slain 41. The high places of Baal i. e. The high places set a-part for the Worship of their Idol or False God Baal See chap. 25.2 3. Thither Balak brings Balaam as to a place most advantageous for his purpose both as it was a place dedicated to Baal and for its height giving him a prospect of the Camp of Israel CHAP. XXIII The ARGUMENT Balak's Sacrifices The Words of Balaam Balaam is brought by Balak to another place His Parable He Blesseth the Israelites Balak takes him to another place 1. AND Balaam said unto Balak Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven oxen and seven raâ—s 2. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram 3. And Balaam said unto Balak Stand by thy burnt-offering and I will go peradventure the LORD will come to meet me and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee And he went to an high place 4. And God met Balaam and he said unto him I have prepared seven altars and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram 5. And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said Return unto Balak and thus thou shalt speak 6. And he returned unto him and lo he stood by his burnt-sacrifice he and all the princes of Moab 7. And he took up his parable and said Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram out of the mountains of the east saying Come curse me Jacob and come defie Israel 8. How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed or how shall I defie whom the LORD hath not defied 9. For from the top of the rocks I see him and from the hills I bebold him lo the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations 10. Who can count the dust of Jacob and the number of the fourth part of Israel Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his 11. And Balak said unto Balaam What hast thou done unto me I took thee to curse mine enemies and behold thou hast blessed them altogether 12. And he answered and said Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth 13. And Balak said unto him Come I pray thee with me unto another place from whence thou mayest see them thou shalt see but the utmost part of them and shalt not see them all and curse me them from thence 14. And he brought him into the field of Zophim to the top of Pisgah and built seven altars and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar 15. And he said unto Balak Stand here by thy burnt-offering while I meet the LORD yonder 16. And the LORD met Balaâ—â— and put a word in his mouth â—â—d said Go again unto Balak and say thus 17. And when he came to him behold he stood by his burnt-offering and the princes of Moab with him And Balak said unto him What hath the LORD spoken 18. And he took up his parable and said Rise up Balak and hear hearken unto me thou son of Zippor 19. God is not a man that he should lye neither the son of man that he should repent
Scripture represented by the flowing out of Waters Isa 48.1 Prov. 5.15 16 17 18. And many waters in the Scripture phrase are put for many people Rev. 17.15 Psal 144.7 Jer. 47.2 His king shall be higher then Agag The Amalekites were at this time a powerfull and daring People See v. 20. with Exod. 17.20 Agag was the common Name as hath been with great probability thought of the Kings of that People As Pharaoh and in after-times Ptolomy was of the Egyptian Kings and then these words foretell the great Power of the Israelites which should exceed that of their most potent Neighbours And with respect to the Amalekites also as the Israelites had in some measure overcome them Exod. 17. so they did it afterwards in the days of Saul 1 Sam. 15. and in the days of Mordecai Esther 3.1 with ch 7.10 8. God c. chap. 23.22 9. He couched Gen. 49.9 10. He smote his hands together In token of great Anger and Displeasure Ezek 21.17 and 22.13 14. Come therefore and I will advertise thee c. Or Come I will counsel thee The Chaldee so renders this Verse as that it does both express Balaam's Counsel as well as his Prediction of what should come to pass in after-times And though his Evil Counsel be not particularly set down here yet both Philo the Jew and Josephus tell us it thus viz. That Balaam upon his departure told Balak that the onely way to prevail upon this people would be to draw them into sin and to that purpose he counselled him to tempt them with their beautifull Women These were first to entice the Israelites with their Beauty and compliant Conversations and when they had entangled their Affections they were to consent to their Embraces upon condition that the Israelites would forsake their own Law and worship the God of the Moabites That this came to pass is evident from chap. 25.1 2 3. And that Balaam was the Author of this Advice is moreover confirmed from ch 31.16 where Moses speaking of the Women of Midian saith These caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Balaam is also said to have taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit Fornication Rev. 2.14 In the latter days That is In time to come 17. I shall see him but not now c. Or I do see though at a great distance what I am now foretelling A Star out of Jacob A Star a King says the Chaldee And considering what follows Shall smite the corners of Moab it may very well referr to King David 2 Sam. 8.2 Psal 60.8 and the other Kings who subdued Moab 2 King 3.4 But then the Prophecy looks farther even to the Messias an eminent Type of whom David was Jer. 30.9 Ezek. 34.23 And well may he be called a Star here who is elsewhere called The Sun of righteousness Mal. 4.2 and the bright and morning Star Rev. 22.16 And the true light Joh. 1.9 and whose Birth was attended with a Star Matt. 2. And we find that the Jewish Writers acknowledge that Balaam does here foretell of the Messias A Scepter The Chaldee renders it Messias And a Rod or Scepter being the Ensign of a Ruler is put for the Person The Messias is elsewhere called a Ruler Isa 16.1 and chap. 22.23 compared with the Greek a Governour Jer. 30.21 Smite the corners of Moab Or Smite through the princes of Moab How this was verified in David may be learned from 2 Sam. 8.2 But the Messias wrought a greater Conquest than David his Dominion was to be from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth Ps 72.8 9 10. Ps 2.8 9. He vanquished the Superstition and Idolatry that had overspread the World he did smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of his lips Isa 11.4 Now as his Person was typified by David so the advancement of his Kingdom is represented here by his Conquests also over Moab and Edom c. It is said of David that he put Garrisons in Edom and all the Edomites became David's servants 1 Chron. 18.13 and upon this account David himself said Moab is my washpot over Edom will I cast out my shooe Ps 60.8 Compare Isa 63.1 2. All the children of Seth By the Jews this is understood of all Mankind which are called the children of Seth because derived from him Nizachon pag. 70. Abel was killed and we read of no Children he had The Children of Cain perished in the Flood those that escaped and from whom all Men proceeded were the Posterity of Seth and certain it is that the Messias was to have Dominion over the World However it is very probable that this is not the meaning of the place here and that by the Children of Seth is meant some particular People either part of Moab or Ammon or some other neighbouring Country then well known 18. And Edom shall c. See the Note on v. 17. to which add Amos 9.12 and Obadiah v. 18. 19. He that shall have dominion That is David and other powerfull Kings but especially the Messias Of the city particularly of the Edomites 1 King 11.15 And the Messias shall overcome the strongest Enemies of his Church 20. The first of the nations i. e. The first of the nations that warred against Israel Exod. 17. This sense the Chaldee gives of the place And the Victory the Israelites gained over Amalek was not onely a pledge of succeeding Victories over other Enemies but over Amalek also See Exod 17.16 Shall be that he perish for ever Or Shall be even to destruction This was in great measure fulfilled 1 Sam. 30.17 and farther afterward 2 Sam. 8.12 21. Kenites A People of whom was Jethro and who were mingled with the People of Midian and Amalek and that too in very secure places which rendered them secure as if they had been seated in a Rock Exod. 3.1 Judg. 1.16 1 Sam. 15.6 22. Nevertheless the Kenite Heb. Kein shall be wasted They shall from time to time suffer among the People with whom they were joined viz. That of Midian and Amalek c. Vntil Asshur shall carry thee away captive Or How long shall it be ere Asshur carry thee away captive The Kenites who lived in the Land of Israel Judg. 4.11 were involved in the Captivity by the King of Assyria as well as they in the two Tribes in that by the King of Babylon which is also called the King of Assyria Ezr. 6.22 See 1 Chron. 2.55 23. Alas who shall live These words imply that great will be the Calamity of the Times last predicted of 24. Ships shall come from the coast of Chittim Chittim was the Son of Javan who was one of the Sons of Japhet Gen. 10.4 From him
her soul 7. And her husband heard it and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it then her vows shall stand and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand 8. But if her husband disallow her on the day that he heard it then he shall make her vow which she vowed and that which she uttered with her lips wherewith she bound her soul of none effect and the LORD shall forgive her 9. But every vow of a widow and of her that is divorced wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand against her 10. And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath 11. And her husband heard it and held his peace at her and disallowed her not then all her vows shall stand and every bond wherewith she hound her soul shall stand 12. But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the bond of her soul shall not stand her husband hath made them void and the LORD shall forgive her 13. Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soul her husband may establish it or her husband may make it void 14. But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day then he establisheth all her vows or all her bonds which are upon her he confirmeth them because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them 15. But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them then he shall bear her iniquity 16. These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses between a man and his wife between the father and his daughter being yet in her youth in her father's house 1. UNto the heads of the tribes Who were to impart it to the rest of the People whom it concerned 2. A man This denotes both the Sex as appears from v. 3. and a competent age Vow a vow unto the LORD i. e. Make a Religious Promise unto the Lord. Swear an oath c. i. e. Confirm his Vow with an Oath by calling God to witness Break Heb. Profane He shall do c. Provided what he vows be a lawful thing Mark 6.23 3. A woman Who is in Subjection as appears from what follows And therefore the Law extends to other Subjects who are not to dispose of themselves without the consent of their just Superiors A Woman is named because she is most subject Being in her father's house in her youth That is Being in the Family and under the Government of her Father and not disposed of in Marriage See v. 6 9. 5. In the day that he heareth i. e. Forth-with after it is come to his knowledge See v. 8 9 14 15. Shall forgive her Or Will forgive her i. e. Will not impute her not performing such a Vow unto her 6. She vowed Heb. Her vows were upon her 9. Every vow 〈◊〉 widow i. e. Every Vow made in her Widowhood and when she had power to dispose of her self and Actions 10. And if she vowed in her husband's house i. e. If she that is now a Widow or divorced did make her Vow during her Husband's life or before she was divorced from him This sense which is very natural distinguisheth this Law from that in the sixth Verse 11. All her vows shall stand Those Vows which she then made shall oblige her in her Widowhood 13. To afflict the soul Such are Vows of Fasting or Abstinence Levit. 16.29 15. But if he shall any ways make them void c. i. e. If the Husband after he hath by his silence established the Vow of his Wife shall by his Power and Authority over her hinder her from performing such a Vow the sin in this case shall not be imputed to the Wife who was ready to perform her Vow but to her Husband who restrained her CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT The Israelites overcome the Midianites and slay Balaam They saved the Women alive at which Moses is offended and commands them what they shall do with them and also to purify themselves Of dividing the Prey and of the Lord's Tribute out of it 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people 3. And Moses spake unto the people saying Arm some of your selves unto the war and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD of Midian 4. Of every tribe a thousand throughout all the tribes of Israel shall ye send to the war 5. So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel a thousand of every tribe twelve thousand armed for war 6. And Moses sent them to the war a thousand of every tribe them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the war with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand 7. And they warred against the Midianites as the LORD commanded Moses and they slew all the males 8. And they slew the kings of Midian beside the rest of them that were slain namely Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba five kings of Midian Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword 9. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives and their little ones and took the spoil of all their cattel and all their flocks and all their goods 10. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt and all their goodly castles with fire 11. And they took all the spoil and all the prey both of men and of beasts 12. And they brought the captives and the prey and the spoil unto Moses and Eleazar the priest and unto the congregation of the children of Israel unto the camp at the plains of Moab which are by Jordan near Jericho 13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the congregation went forth to meet them without the camp 14. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds which came from the battel 15. And Moses said unto them Have ye saved all the women alive 16. Behold these caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD 17. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him 18. But all the women-children that have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for your selves 19. And do ye abide without the camp seven days whosoever hath killed any person and whosoever hath touched any slain purifie both your selves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day 20. And purifie all your raiment and all that is made of skins and all work of goats hair and all things
ye are this day 21. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes and sware that I should not go over Jordan and that I should not go in unto that good land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance 22. But I must die in this land I must not go over Jordan but ye shall go over and possess that good land 23. Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee 24. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire even a jealous God 25. When thou shalt beget children and childrens children and shalt have remained long in the land and shall corrupt your selves and make a graven image or the likeness of any thing and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God to provoke him to anger 26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it ye shall not prolong your days upon it but shall utterly be destroyed 27. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen whither the LORD shall lead you 28. And there ye shall serve gods the work of mens hands wood and stone which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 30. When thou art in tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn to the LORD thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice 31. For the LORD thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them 32. For ask now of the days that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man upon the earth and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is or hath been heard like it 33. Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live 34. Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations by signs and by wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm and by great terrors according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes 35. Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God there is none else besides him 36. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice that he might instruct thee and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire 37. And because he loved thy fathers therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt 38. To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier then thou art to bring thee in to give thee their land for an inheritance as it is this day 39. Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart that the LORD he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is none else 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth which the LORD thy God giveth thee for ever 41. Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 42. That the slayer might flee thither which should kill his neighbour unawares and hated him not in times past and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live 43. Namely Bezer in the wilderness in the plain-country of the Reubenites and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites 44. And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel 45. These are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spake unto the children of Israel after they came forth out of Egypt 46. On this side Jordan in the valley over against Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they were come forth out of Egypt 47. And they possessed his land and the land of Og king of Bashan two kings of the Amorites which were on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 48. From Aroer which is by the bank of the river Arnon even unto mount Sion which is Hermon 49. And all the plain on this side Jordan east-ward even unto the sea of the plain under the springs of Pisgah 2. Ye shall not add c. chap. 12.32 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 It is fit to require that they should neither add to nor take from the Divine Precepts at the beginning of this Exhortation to Obedience because God had given them his Law for their Rule of Life and had annexed his Promises to their Universal Obedience thereunto 3. Because of Baal-peor Numb 25.4 c. Or against Baal-peor and his Worshippers as the Vulgar and Chaldee have it Compare Numb 25.5 and the words which follow here 6. Your wisdom It is a fruit of great wisdom to fear God and obey his Laws The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments Psal 111.10 Besides many of these Laws were such as the wiser Heathen could not but approve and did actually receive several of them into their own Laws 7. In all things that we call upon him for God shewed himself ready to hear the Prayers of his Servants upon all occasions Exod. 17.11 and to protect and defend them in all straits and dangers as appeared by the many Miracles which he had wrought 8. So righteous This speaks a Nation great For righteousness exalteth a nation Prov. 14.34 10. Thou stoodst The most aged among them were present at the giving of the Law 11. Mountain Exod. 19.18 Midst Heb. Heart which is well translated midst here not that it signifies the exact midst it is enough that it be in that in the midst of which it is said to be Of Heaven i. e. Of the Air or lower Heaven 12. Onely ye heard a voice Heb. Save a voice 14. Statutes and judgments i. e. The Judicial and Ceremonial Laws in contradistinction to the Moral mentioned v. 13. 15. Take ye therefore good heed c. They saw no Similitude when God gave his Law and are thereupon vehemently warned against Worshipping of God by any kind of Image
the copulative Particle as there is in some other places Vid. Hab. 3.11 Jud. 5.27 Exod. 15.9 and then Moses is said here to deliver the Law unto the priests and to the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. Numb ch 3. and ch 4. and unto all the elders of Israel So that the Law was delivered to the three Ranks and Degrees of Men of which the whole Congregation consisted viz. the Priests the Levites and the Representatives of the People And this Interpretation of these words will receive some confirmation from the Greek Interpreters in another place not unlike to this viz. Josh 3.3 When ye see the ark c. and the Priests the Levites bearing it There the Greek suppose an Ellipsis and do therefore render it and the Levites supplying the copulative Particle supposed to be wanting here 10. At the end c. See the Note on chap. 15.1 In the solemnity Or rather in the time as the Hebrew word signifies and as it is rendred by the Chaldee Syriack and Greek This appointed time was very convenient for this solemn hearing of the Law For it was at a time of the year when their Harvest was gathered in chap. 16.13 and they were freed from those cares and in a year when they were freed both from the Labours and from the Exactions which in other years they were liable unto chap. 15.1 2. 11. Thou shalt read This care concerned the body of the People and was discharged by the King as the Jews affirm or some other great Man when there was no King See Nehemiah 8. But then that all Israel might hear it was necessary that there should be care taken that it should be done by so many that all might hear it 13. Their children i. e. Their Posterity as appears from what follows May hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land 15. In a pillar of a cloud See Exod. 33.9 10. 17. I will hide my face from them i. e. I will remove from them the tokens of my favour and punish them as appears from the following words 19. This song i. e. The Song which follows in the next Chapter which is composed in the form of a Song that they might the more easily learn and remember it Put it in their mouths i. e. Take care that they learn it That it may be a witness for me against or among the children of Israel That is that it may be a perpetual Monitor among them of my Mercy towards and of the justice of my proceedings with them see v. 21. 22. Taught it As he was commanded v. 19. 23. He gave That is God gave as it is evident from the following words 26. Put it in the side of the ark Here it was put for the greater security and as the authentick Copy and Original was laid up in a safe place 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all c. Not that he did this all at once but either at several times or else he did it at once to the Heads and Representatives of the whole Congregation CHAP. XXXII The ARGUMENT The Song of Moses which sets forth the Divine Perfections and the Mercies of God to the Israelites And also lays before them their Rebellions and particularly their Idolatry It gives an account also of the wrath of God upon that account Moses is commanded to go up into Mount Nebo to take a view thence of the Land of Canaan and to die there 1. GIve ear O ye heavens and I will speak and hear O earth the words of my mouth 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain my speech shall distil as the dew as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass 3. Because I will publish the name of the LORD ascribe ye greatness unto our God 4. He is the rock his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he 5. They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his children they are a perverse and crooked generation 6. Do ye thus requite the LORD O foolish people and unwise is not he thy father that hath bought thee hath he not made thee and established thee 7. Remember the days of old consider the years of many generations ask thy father and he will shew thee thy elders and they will tell thee 8. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance when he separated the sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel 9. For the LORD's portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance 10. He found him in a desart land and in the waste howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye 11. As an eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth them on her wings 12. So the LORD alone did lead him and there was no strange god with him 13. He made him ride on the high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the fields and he made him to suck honey out of the rock and oyl out of the flinty rock 14. Butter of kine and milk of sheep with fat of lambs and rams of the breed of Bashan and goats with the fat of kidneys of wheat and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape 15. But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxen fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation 16. They provoked him to jealousie with strange gods with abominations provoked they him to anger 17. They sacrificed unto devils not to God to gods whom they knew not to new gods that came newly up whom your fathers feared not 18. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindfull and hast forgotten God that formed thee 19. And when the LORD saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters 20. And he said I will hide my face from them I will see what their end shall be for they are a very froward generation children in whom is no faith 21. They have moved me to jealousie with that which is not God they have provoked me to anger with their vanities and I will move thew to jealousie with those which are not a people I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation 22. For a fire if kindled in my anger and shall burn undo the lowest hell and shall consume the earth with her encrease and set on fire the foundations of the mountains 23. I will heap mischiefs upon them I will spend mine arrows upon them 24. They shall be burnt with hunger and devoured with burning heat and with bitter destruction I will also send the teeth of beasts upon
to see a foolish Nation taken into God's Church For so the Gentiles were while they served Idols and divers Lusts Rom. 1.21 22. Compare Act. 11.2 3. 1 Thes 2.15 16. Act. 22.21 22. 22. A fire is kindled c. This Verse gives an account after a figurative manner of the destruction of the Land in such words as seem to import the total consumption of it Hell signifies the lower parts of the Earth Numb 16.30 And what is rendred Earth may well be turned Land for this is a description of the destruction that God would bring upon the Land of the Israelites Compare Isa 1.7 with 2 King 25.9 24. Burnt with hunger i. e. Consumed as the vulgar renders it with hunger For a Famine like Fire does wast and consume where-ever it comes Lam. 4.8 9. Burning heat and with bitter destruction i. e. Fiery and fierce Distempers and mortal Diseases Compare Habak 3.5 and Psal 91.6 Serpents of the dust i. e. Serpents that creep upon and eat the Dust Gen. 3.14 25. Terror The dread of Death or perhaps some malignant and pestilential Disease 26 27. I said I would scatter them c. q. d. I would send them into some secret place where they should be forgotten among Men But I forbear to do that lest their Enemies who devour them should impute their Destruction to their own Valour and not to my righteous Judgment It is to be noted that fear is imputed to God after the manner of Men who refrain from doing things from that Principle Compare Exod. 32.12 and Numb 14.13 28. They i. e. Israelites and so this connects with v. 26. 29. O that they were wise c. i. e. O that they had the Wisdom to lay to heart and consider the sad Effects which will follow upon their wicked Lives 30. How should c. That is if God were on their side a very small Number would be strong enough to vanquish the greatest Force of their Enemies who are destitute of his Favour and Assistance 31. For their rock c. For the Heathens who worship Idols have not force enough to stand out against the Power of the God of Israel And have been forced to acknowledge no less See Exod. 14.25 Numb 23.22 1 Sam. 4.8 Jer. 40.3 Dan. 3.29.4.37.6.27 32. Their vine c. This verse connects with Verse 26 and contains the reason why God entertained those severe Thoughts against the Israelites viz. Because though they were as a choice Vine planted by him yet they had degenerated like Sodom and Gomorrah Compare Isa 1.10 and ch 5. v. 1 c. with the Words that follow here where their Wine or Fruit of this Vineyard which God had planted is compared to the Poison of Dragons c. 34. Is not this c. That is is not this Vengeance which I now threaten them withal though they flatter themselves in their present Impunity reserved for them and kept in store for them against the time when their Iniquities shall be full and call for it Compare Prov. 1.31 and Job 14.17 35. Their foot shall slide i. e. They shall be ready to fall At hand i. e. It will soon follow and tread upon the Heels of their Iniquity 36. For Or Nevertheless As this Hebrew Particle is rendred Isa 9.1 For here begins a new Argument as appears from the following Words speaking Comfort to the Israelites and Destruction to their Enemies Judge his people i. e. Plead their Cause Compare diligently with this Place Psal 135.14 None shut up or left Or Nothing shut up or left i. e. When they are destitute of all things and have nothing reserved or remaining Compare 1 King 14.10 and ch 21.21 and especially 2 King 14.26 37. He shall say i. e. God shall say to the Israelites Compare Judg. 10.14 38. Which did eat c. i. e. In whose service so many Sacrifices were consumed 40. I lift c. i. e. I swear which God is said to do here after the manner of Men who did it by lifting up their Hands 41. If I whet c. viz. I swear that if I whet c. 42. Drunk with blood This is a figurative Expression implying the abundance of Blood that should be shed From the beginning c. i. e. from such time as I shall begin to take vengeance c. 43. Rejoice O ye nations with his people Or Rejoice ye nations or Gentiles his people Compare Rom. 15.10 44. He and Hoshea or Joshua Joshua who succeeded Moses joined with him now in speaking the words of this Song and it is probable that for the future the care of teaching it belonged to him Compare chap. 31.22 23. 46. Set your hearts That is attend diligently and consider well and do not barely content your selves with the knowledge of these things Compare Ezek 40.4 47. For it is not a vain thing c. It is no unprofitable thing but that upon which your happiness depends Compare Rom. 10.5 50. Die in the mount Not presently but after thou hast blessed the children of Israel Chap. 33.1 51. Because ye trespassed Of the sin of Moses to which these words referr See the Note on Numb 20.12 CHAP. XXXIII The ARGUMENT The glorious Majesty of God The Blessing of the tribes of Israel None like to God The great privilege of the Israelites 1. AND this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death 2. And he said the LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them he shined forth from mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of Saints from his right hand went a fiery law for them 3. Yea he loved the people all his saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet every one shall receive of thy words 4. Moses commanded us a law even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5. And he was king in Jeshurun when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together 6. Let Reuben live and not die and let not his men be few 7. And this is the blessing of Judah and he said Hear LORD the voice of Judah and bring him unto his people let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his enemies 8. And of Levi he said Let thy Thummim and thy Vrim be with thy holy one whom thou didst prove at Massah and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah 9. Who said unto his father and to his mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his own children for they have observed thy word and kept thy covenant 10. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law they shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifices upon thine altar 11. Bless LORD his substance and accept the work of his hands smite through the loins of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise