Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
1. Moses teacheth Israel (now ready to enter into Canaan) that God would goe before them, and destroy their enemies; … not for their righteousnesse, but for the heathens wickednesse, and for his owne oath to Abraham. 6 Because Israel was a stiffe-necked people, that had often rebelled against God in the wildernesse; as, 8 at Horeb, where they made a molten. Calfe, whiles Moseswas on the mount to receive the tables of the Coveuant: 13 for which God would have destroyed them, but that Moses intreated for them, and abolished their idolatry. 22. How Israel sinned at Taberab. Massah, Kibroth hattaavah, 23 and at Kades barnea, where they resused to take poss…ssion of the Land. 25 Moses his fasting and praser for the people.
HEare O Israel; thou art passing over Londan this day, to goe in to possesse Nations, greater and mightier than throu; Cities, great and fenced, up to the Heavens. A people great and tall, the sonnes of the Anakims, whom thou hast knowen, and thou hast heard: who can stand before the sonnes of Anak? And thou shalt know this day, that Iehovah thy God is he that passeth over before thee, a consuming fire; he will destroy them, and hee will bring them downe before thy face, and thou shalt drive them out and dessroy them suddenly, as Iehovah hath spoke unto thee. Say not in thine heart, when Iehovah thy God hath cast them out from before thy face, saying; For my justice, Iehovah hath brought me in to possesse this land: but for the wickednesse of these nations, Iehovah doth drive them out from thy face. Nor for thy justice, or for the righteousnesse of thine heart, doest thou goe in to possesse their land; but for the wickednesse of these nations, Iehovah thy God doth drive them out from thy face, and for to stablish the word which Iehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaak, and to Iakob.
And thou shalt know, that not for thy justice doth Iehovah thy God give thee this good land, to possesse it; for thou art a stiffe-necked people.
Remember, forget not, how thou provoledst to wrath Iehovah thy God, in the wildrnesse, from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, untill ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against Iehovah. And in Horeb yee provoked Iehovah to wrath; and Iehovah was angry with you, to have destroyed you. When I was gone up into the mount, to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the Covenant, which Iehovah stroke with you: and I abode in the mount fortie dayes and fortie nights; I did neither eat bread, not drinke water. And Iehovah gave unto me the two tables of stone, written with the finger of God: and on them, according to all the words which Iehovah spake with you in the mount, out of the midst of fire, in the day of the Assembly. And it was, at the end of forty daies and forty nights, Iehovah gave unto me the two tables of stone, the tables of the Covenant. And Iehovah said unto me, Arise, goe downe quickly from hence; for thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves; they have quickly turned aside our of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calfe. And Iehovah said unto me, saying; I have seene … people, and behold, it is a stiffe-necked people. Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under the heavens: and I will make of thee a nation mighter and greater than they. And I tur… mee, and came downe from the mount, and the mount burned with fire, and the two tables of the Covenant were in my two hands.
And I saw, and behold, yee had sinned against Iehovah your God, yee had made you …n calfe, yee had turned aside quickly … the way which Iehovah had comman… you. And I tooke the two tables and … them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes. And I fell downe before Iehovah, as at the first, fortie daies, and … nights; I did neither eat bread, nor … water, because of all your sinne which yee had sinned, in doing evill in the eyes of Iehovah, to provoke him to anger. For I was afraid because of the anger and hot displeasure where with Iehovah was wroth against you, to destroy you: but Iehovah hear… unto me at that time also. And Ieho… very angry with Aaron, to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also, in the same time. And your sinne, the Calfe which yee had made, I tooke, and burned it with fire, and stamped it, grinding it well, untill it was made small as dust, and I cast the dust thereof into the brooke that descended out of the mount. And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hataavah, yee provoked Iehovah to wrath. And when Iehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Goe up, and possesse the land which I have given unto you, then yee rebelled against the mouth of Iehovah your God, and yee beleeved him not, neither hearkened unto his voice. You have beene rebellious against Iehovah, from the day that I knew you. And I fell downe before Iehovah, fortie daies and fortie nights, as I fell downe, because Iehovah had said for to destroy you. And I prayed unto Iehovah, and said; O Lord Iehovah, destroy not thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatnesse, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a strong hand. Remember thy servants Abraham, Isaak, and Iaakob: looke not unto the hardnesse of this people, nor to their wickednesse, nor to their sinne. Lest the land from whence thou hast brought us out, doe say, Because Iehovah was not able to bring them into the land which he spake unto them; and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wildernesse. Yet they are thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy great power, and by thy stretched out arme.
Annotations.
IOrdan] Hebr. Iarden: a river thorow which Israel was to passe into the land, Deut. 1. 1. See Num. 34. 12. this day] that is, at this time, very shortly. Day is often used for time, as 2 Cor. 6. 2. An boure is likewise so used for time; as the last houre, 1 Iohn 2. 18. So, in that houre, Luke 10. 21. 16. At that time, Matth. 11. 25. possesse] or inherit; which when it is spoken of nations, signifieth dominion over them, Lev. 25. 45, 46. Here it may be meant also of the lands or countries of those nations, as they are said to possesse Gad, which dwelt in his cities, Ier. 49. 1.
Vers. 2. Anakims] whom the Chaldee calleth Giants. They were named of one Anak. (of whom see Numb. 13. 23.) and so the Greeke here saith, sonnes of Enak. hast heard] to wit, men say. A common report of others, and of the Israelites themselves, Numb. 13. 29, 34.
Vers. 3. he that passeth] Against feare and distrust, (such as had affected them before, Numb. 14. 1, 2, 3, &c.) hee opposeth the presence and power of God, which is the maine argument to strengthen faith, Numb. 14. 9. Psal. 56. 4, 5. and 60. 13, 14. … consuming] Hebr. eating: so Deut. 4. 24. The Chaldee translateth, his word is a consuming fire suddenly] or, quickly, hostily: see the notes on Deut. 7. 22.
Vers. 4. For my justice] The Hebrew In, is by the Greeke also here translated For, and it often noteth the cause of a thing; as Hos. 12. 13. in (that is, for) …. So in Psal. 1. 2. Deut. 2…. 16. Here he opposeth the second evill, pride of heart, against which he dealeth in all the rest of this Chapter.
Vers. 5. righteousnesse] or, uprightnes, straitnesse, equitie: the Greeke translateth it here piety; the Chaldee, truth. By naming iustice, hee excludeth all merit of workes, Deut. 6. 25. and by righteousnesse of heart, all inward affections and purposes, which men might plead, notwithstanding that they faile in action. Yet these two are the chiefe things which God respecteth in men, Psal. 15. 1, 2. 1 Chron. 29. 17. for the wickednesse] Two causes are here shewed of this worke of God; justice against the wicked inhabitants, which should perish for their sinnes; and merciemercy towards Israel, whom he would doe good unto, of grace. Thus also hee dealeth concerning the heavenly inheritance, the wicked are shut out, for their evill works, Iude v. 14. 15. But the Saints are saved by grace through faith not of workes, lest any man should boast, Ephes. 2. 8, 9. the word] the Greeke translateth, stablish the covenant (or, testament:) hereby he calleth them wholly to Gods word and promise, as Paul doth us in Gal. 3. 18. Rom. 15. 8. shewing that Iesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to constrant the fathers promises, and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for merciemercy.
Vers. 6. this good land] a figure of heavenly blessings, as is shewed on Gen. 12. 5. stiffe-necked] or, of a hard necke, that is, stubborne and rebellious: see the notes on Exod. 32. 9. to which place Moses hath reference, and from Gods testimonie there, and their sinnes then and at other times, convinceth them as being altogether unworthy: that (as another Prophet saith) they might remember their wayes, and all their doings wherein they had beene defiled; and might loath themselves in their own eyes, for all their evils that they had committed; and might know that he was Iehovah, when he had wroug… it with them for his names sake, not according to their wicked wayes, nor according to their corrupt doings, Ezek. 20. 43, 44. and 36. 31, 32.
Vers. 7. Remember, forget not] an earnest and effectuall manner of speaking, to move unto carefull remembrance: see the notes on Deut. 33. 6. against] Hebr. with Iehovah, which the Chaldee translateth, before the Lord; the Greeke, yee have rebelliously performed things pertaining to the Lord. This generall charge he proveth by many particular instances following.
Vers. 8. H…reb] or …, the mountaine where the Law was given: their rebellion there is described in Exod. 32. destroyed you] for there God said to Moses, let me alone, &c. and I will consume them, Exod. 32. 10.
Vers. 9. … the mount] called up thither of God, to receive the tables of the covenant, and other ordinances, Exod. 24. 12.—18. The time, place, occasion, end, and all circumstances, greatly aggravated the peoples sinne.
Vers. 10. of stone] the signification whereof is noted on Exod. 31. 18. finger] signifying the Spirit: as, I with the finger of God, cast out devils, Luke 11. 20. that is, with the Spirit of God, Matt. 12. 28. So it figured the worke of God in our hearts writing there his Law; as, Yee are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ, ministred by us, written not with inke, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshie tables of the heart, 2 Cor. 3. 3.
Vers. 12. corrupted.] This word meaneth the corruption of Gods service and religion▪ see the notes on Exod. 32. 7. and Gen. 6. 11, 12, 13. molten calfe] the word calfe is expressed in v. 16. This molten calfe they worshipped; and Moses said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sinne, and have made them gods of gold, Exod. 32. 8. 31.
Vers. 13. saying] Here the Greeke version addeth, I have spoken unto thee once and twise, saying; I have seene, &c. I have seene] by the Lords seeing and hearing of sinners, is often meant a due regard of their sinnes, to punish them in his anger, Deut. 32. 19. Psal. 78. 21. and 90. 8. But when he pardoneth sinners, he is said to hide his face from their sinnes, and not to see them, Psal. 51. 11. Num. 23. 21.
Vers. 14. Let me alone] which the Chaldee expounds; Leave off thy prayer before me. So in Exod. 32. 10.
Vers. 15. burned] Hebr. burning: the terrour of which sight onelyonly, might have kept them from this sinne, in that the signes of Gods presence were not yet departed from their eyes. See Exod. 19. 18. and 20. 18. two hands] both hands full with blessings of the Lord for them, if their unworthinesse had not turned them away.
Vers. 17. I took a] the originall word signifieth a purposed taking hold, and …ndling of a thing; as they that goe to warre, are said to take (or handle) the shield, Ier. 46. 9. and they that expound the Law, are said to handle it. Ier. 2. 8. So Moses did this advisedly, guided by Gods Spirit; signifying that the covenant betweene God and them was now disa…ulled and broken, and that the Law pertained not to them, except to their condemnation, for breaking the same. See Exod. 32. 19.
Vers. 18. I fell downe] the Greeke expoundeth it, I prayed before the Lord the second time, as at the first. Here Moses repeateth, how by his humble intercession, they escaped destruction, and were reconciled againe unto God. See the historie at large, in Exod. 32. 31. &c. fortie dayes] the number of dayes, and of yeeres, sundry times mentioned in the Scripture; …tion … judgement. See the …. 7. 4. sinne] the Greeke transleteth, sinne▪ respecting the manifold evill in this, and their other …ansgressions.
Vers. 19. For I was] the Greeke applying this to the time present also, saith; And I am afraid: For the Lord, though he pardoned it then, reserved vengeance till another opportunity, Exod. 32. 34. hearkened unto me] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, accepted my prayer.
Vers. 20. with Aaron] who made the calfe for them, and would have excused himselfe, but was guilty of death: see Exod. 32. 21,—24.
Vers. 21. your sinne] the Calfe is so called, as being the thing wherein they sinned. So Idols are called a sinne in Esa. 31. 7. the brooke] that came out of the Rock Horeb, which Rocke in figure was Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 4. of which they drunke, to signifie the abolishing of their sinne by Christ, upon their repentance and faith: see the notes on Exod. 32. 20.
Vers. 22. at Taberah] or, in Taberah, that is (as both Greeke and Chaldee do interpret it) the Burning: a place so called, because the people complaining there, the fire of the Lord was kindled, and consumed some of them. See the historie in Num. 11. 1, 2, 3. Massah] in English, the tentation; and so the Greek and Chaldee translate it. A place at Rephidim in the wildernesse, before they came to Horeb, ten stations from Egypt, in the first yeere of their travell; where wanting water, they tempted God, saying, Is the Lord amongst us, or no? and there he gave them water out of the Rocke, Exod. 17. See the annotations there, and Psal. 95. 8, 9. Heb. 3. 8. &c. Deut. 6. 16. Kibroth-hattaavah] in English, the Graves of lust; so translated also by the Greeke. Here (a little from Taberah forementioned) they loathed Manna, and lusted for flesh: God gave them Quailes, but they died of a plague, … the flesh was yet betweene their teeth; and … buried there, occasioned this name of the …, for a perpetuall memoriall. See Num. 11. 4—34. and the annotations there. Also Psal. 78. ….—31. and 106. 14, 15.
Vers. 23. Kadesh-barnea] where, being come thorow the wildernesse of Pharan, to the border of the land of Canaan, they were commanded of God to goe take possession. Then they sent spies, who discouraged the people: so through want of … they durst not enter, and were for it condem… 40. yeeres wandring in the wildernesse, and … ended their dayes. See Numb. 13. and 14. …. against the mouth] that is, against the … ▪ or commandement: in Greeke, yee disobeyed … word.
Vers. 24. that I knew you] the Greeke expounds … the day that he was knowne unto you. So he …deth with a generall charge of rebellion upon them, shewing hereby the impossibility of the law, and ministery thereof, to bring men unto God▪ for it causeth sinne and wrath to abound; as … 4. 15. and 8 3. Gal. 3. 19, 22. For besides these …lars, they sinned many other times in the …nesse, as is noted on Num. 14. 22. and in Psa. …. and 106.
Vers. 25. I fell downe] in Greeke, I prayed. Hee …th to speake of their reconciliation to God, which was by the prayer of Moses, as a mediatour, … figure of Christ: by whom (and not by our own deserts) we have entrance into the kingdome of God, Gal. 3. 22. 24. Rom. 3. 20,—22. and 5. 1, 2, &c. as I fell downe] to wit, at the first, as v. 18. or, which I fell downe, that is, which I said before that I fell downe. But the Hebrew asher, which, is sometimes used for as, as in Ier. 48. 8. said for to destroy] that is, said that he would destroy you. See the like phrases so expounded in Esay 49. 6. with Acts 13. 47. 1 Chron. 17. 4. with 2 Sam. 7. 5. Matt. 20. 19. with Mark. 10. 33, 34.
Vers. 26. Lord Iehovoh] in Greeke, Lord, Lord: in Chaldee, Lord God. See the annotations on Gen. 15. 2. thy people] this respecteth their adoption in Christ, and justification, 1 Pet. 2. 9, 10. inheritance] this implyeth their sanctification, unto the obedience and service of God by the Spirit: See Exod. 34. 9. through thy greatnes] in Greek, through thy great strength, as v. 29. it implyeth also his great goodnesse, and therefore is often spoken of his gracious workes for his people, 1 Chron. 17. 19. Luke 1 49.
Vers. 27. thy servants] Hee meaneth Gods oath unto them, to multiply their seed, and to give them the land for an eternall inheritance, as is expressed in this prayer before, Exod. 32. 13. So the Greeke addeth here, unto whom thou swarest by thy selfe. hardnesse] the naturall corruption, whereby the heart is hardned, that it cannot repent and beleeve the word of God; (from which, the two evils following doe flow,) Rom. 2. 5.
Vers. 28. the land] that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee both explaine, the inhabitants of the land. This reason is also alleaged in Exod. 32. 12. and Numb. 14. 16.