Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 14

Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs · Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 14

p. 81CHAP. XIIII.

1. The Israelites weepe and murmure at the p. 82newes that the spies brought out of Canaan; and speake of returning into Egypt. … Iosua a…d Caleb labour to still and encourage them, but the Israelites would have stoned them. 11. God threatneth to destroy the people. 13. Moses intreateth for them, and obtaineth pardon. 23. The murmurers are deprived of entring into the land, and condemned to wander fortie yeares in the wildernesse, and die there. 36. The spies who raised the evill report, die by a plague. 39. The people hearing the sentence of God against them, mourne, and offer themselves to goe up; but Moses forbiddeth them. 44. Yet they presume to goe up, and are smitten by their enemies.

ANd all the congregation lifted up, and gave their voice, and the people 1wept that night. And all the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and against 2Aaron: and all the congregation said unto them; Oh that wee had died in the land of Egypt, o… in this wildernesse, oh that wee might die. And wherefore doth Iehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? 3our wives and our little-ones shall be for a prey: were it not better for us to returne into Egypt? And they said, every man unto his brother: Let us make a captaine, and let 4us returne into Egypt. And Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, before all the 5assembly of the congregation of the sonnes of Israel. And Ioshua the sonne of 6Nun, and Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. And they said unto all the congregation of the sonnes of Israel, saying; 7The land which wee passed thorow to search it, is an exceeding good land. If 8Iehovah delight in us, then hee will bring us into this land, and will give it unto us, a land which floweth with milke and honey. OnelyOnly 9rebell not yee against Iehovah; and you, feare not the people of the land, for they are bread for us: their shadow is departed from them, and Iehovah is with us, feare them not.

But all the congregatiō said, to stone them 10with stones: and the glory of Iehovah appeared in the Tent of the Congregation, before all the sons of Israel. And Iehovah said unto 11Moses; How long will this people provoke me? and how long will they not beleeve in me, for all the signes which I have done amongst them? I will smite them with the 12pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they. And Moses said unto Iehovah; 13Then the Egyptians shall heare it, for thou broughtest up this people, in thy might, from among them. And they will say to the inhabitants 14of this land, for they have heard, that thou Iehovah art among this people, that thou Iehovah art seene eye to eye, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and in a pillar of a cloud thou goest before them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now 15if thou shalt kill this people as one man, then the nations will say, which have heard the fame of thee, saying; Because Iehovah was 16not able to bring this people into the land, which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slaine them in the wildernesse. And now, 17I beseech thee, let the power of the Lord bee great, according as thou hast spoken, saying;

Iehovah is long suffering, & much in merciemercy, 18forgiving iniquitie, and trespasse: and clearing will not cleare (the guilty;) visiting the iniquitie of the fathers upon the sonnes, unto the third, and unto the fourth generation. Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquitie 19of this people, according unto the greatnesse of thy merciemercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt, even untill now. And 20Iehovah said, I have pardoned, according to thy word. But assuredly, as I live, a… 21the earth shall bee filled with the glory of Iehovah. For all the men which have seene 22my glory, and my signes, which I did in Egypt, and in the wildernesse, & have tempted me these ten times, and have not …earkned to my voice; If they shall see the land, which 23I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me, see it. But my servant Caleb, because there was another spirit in him, and hee followed me fully; even him will I bring into the land, whereinto he went, & his seed shall possesse it. (Now 25the Amalekite, and the Canaanite, dwelt in the valley:) to morrow, turne yee, and journey you into the wildernesse by the way of the red sea.

And Iehovah spake unto Moses and unto 2627Aaron, saying; How long (shall I pardon) this evill congregation, which murmure against me? I have heard the murmurings of the sonnes of Israel, which they murmure against me. Say unto them, A… I live, assuredly saith Iehovah, if I doe not so unto you, as ye have spoken in mine eares. Your carkasses shall fall in this wildernesse; and all that were mustered of you, according to your whole number, from twentie yeares old and upward, which have murmured against mee.

If you shall come into the land, concerning which I lifted up my hand, to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh, p. 83and Ioshua the son of Nun. And your little-ones, 31which yee said should be for a prey, even them will I bring in, and they shall know the land, which yee have despised.

But as for you, your carkasses shall fall in 3233this wildernesse. And your children shall feed in the wildernesse fortie yeares, and shall beare your whoredomes, untill your carkasses be consumed in the wildernesse. After 34the number of the dayes in which yee searched the land, fortie dayes; a day for a yeare, a day for a yeare, yee shall beare your iniquities, fortie yeares; and yee shall know my breach (of promise.) I Iehovah have spoken, 35If I doe not this unto all this evill congregation, that are gathered together against me; in this wildernesse they shall bee consumed, and there they shall die. And 36the men which Moses had sent to search the land, and which returned, and made all the congregation to murmure against him, by bringing up an evill report upon the land: Even the men died that did bring up the evill report of the land, by the plague, before Iehovah. 37But Ioshua the sonne of Nun, and 38Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh, lived, of those men that went to search the land. And Moses spake these words unto all the 39sonnes of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the 40morning, and went up unto the top of the mountaine, saying; Loe we be here, and will goe up unto the place, which Iehovah hath said, for we have sinned. And Moses 41said, Wherefore now doe you transgresse the mouth of Iehovah? But it shall not prosper.

Goe not up, for Iehovah is not among you, 42that yee be not smitten, before your enemies.

For the Amalekite and the Canaanite is 43there before you, and yee shall fall by the sword, for because yee are turned from after Iehovah, and Iehovah will not be with you.

But they loftily presumed to goe up to the top 44of the mountaine: but the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah, and Moses, departed not from within the campe. And the Amalekite 45came downe, and the Canaanite, which dwelt in that mountaine; and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

Anno…ations.

LIfted up] to wit, their voice, as after followeth, and as is expressed in Gen. 21. 16. she lifted up …, and wept. Or, all the congregation tooke …p, that is, received, to wit, the evill report which the spies gave of the land, Num. 13. 32. So the phrase is used, in Exod. 23. 1. Thou shalt not take up a vaine report. This latter, the Greeke version favoureth. gave their voice] that is, cried out. This manner of speech is used to signifie any loud voice, noise or crie, or any creature, or of God him-selfe; as in Psal. 18. 14. the Most high gave his voice; in Ier. …2. 15. the Lions gave their voice, in Psal. 104. 12. the fowles give the voice; in Psal. 77. 18. the skies gave a voice; in Habak. 3. 10. the deepe gave his voice; and in 2 Chron. 24. 9. men are said to give a voice, when they made a proclamation thorow Iudah and Ierusalem. So this people here openly rebelled, and uttered their evill hearts without feare, or shame. that night] Hebr. in or through that night; which the Greeke explaineth, that whole night.

Verse 2. and against Aaron] which were the 2Lords ministers, therefore their murmuring was not against them onelyonly, but against the LORD, as Moses told them, in Exod. 16. 2. 8. and as after appeareth in vers. 3. Oh that we might die] or, (Would God) that we were dead: they are words of unbeleefe and despaire, and of great unthankfulnesse: compare Exod. 16. 3. Psal. 106. 24, 25. The Greeke translateth, If we were dead: which is a forme of wishing, both in the Greeke and Hebrew tongues, as in 1 Chron. 4. 10. If thou wilt blesse me; that is, Oh that thou wouldest blesse me; so in Luke 12. 49. If it were (for, Oh that it were) already kindled; and so the Syriak version there explaineth it.

Vers. 3. to fall] i. that we should fall, that is, 3die by the sword? Here they murmure against God himselfe through unbeleefe; as David saith, They contemptuously refused the land of desire, (the pleasant land;) they beleeved not his word, but murmured in their tents; they heard not the voice of Iehovah, Psal. 106. 24. 25. were it not better] or, were it not good? The Greeke changeth the phrase thus, Now therefore it is better for us to turne backe into Egypt. So, are they not written, 2 King. 20. 20. is explained thus, Behold they are writen, 2 Chron. 32. 32.

Verse 4. Let us make a captaine] Hebr. Let us 4give a head: where by give, is meant make or appoint, as the Chaldee expoundeth it; and by head they meane a captaine or chiefe governour, as in Num. 25. 4. 1 Chron. 4. 42. and 12. 20. and as the Greeke here explaineth it. Targum Ionathan paraphraseth thus; Let us appoint a King over us for head. Of this their sinne the scripture saith, They dealt proudly, and hardned their necks, and hearkned not to Gods commandements; and refused to heare, and were not mindfull of the wonders that he had done among them: but hardned their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captaine (or made a head) to returne to their bondage, Nehem. 9. 16, 17. So their evill words and purpose, is counted unto them as the deed done. Sol. Iarchi openeth their words thus, Let us appoint a King over us; and he saith, the Rabbines have expounded this, as meaning idolatry. The same is also noted by R. Menachē, who further likeneth this sin, to theirs that builded p. 84the tower of Babylon, Gen. 11. So their sinne was against God, who is exalted as head above all, 1 Chron. 29. 11.

Verse 5. fell on their faces] as much affected 5with the murmuring of the people: and they fell downe, either to pray unto God for them, as in Numb. 16. 22. or to intreat them, not to proceed in their rebellion, as it followeth, before all the assembly. And elswhere it appeareth, that Moses spake to encourage the people, saying, Dread not, neither be afraid of them: Iehovah your God, who goeth before you, he will fight for you, &c. Deut. 1. 29. 30.

Verse 6. that searched the land] as appeareth 6in Num. 13. 7. 9. 17. rent their clothes] in signe of sorrow, for the peoples rebellion and blasphemie; for they said, the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, because he hated them, &c. neither did they beleeve the Lord their God, for all that Moses spake unto them, Deut. 1. 27.—32. Of rending garments in sorrow, see Gen. 37. 29. Lev. 10. 6. in the annotations.

Vers. 9. OnelyOnly] or, But rebell not yee; which the Greeke interpreteth, But be not yee apostates 9(or revolters) from the Lord: the Chaldee, But rebell not yee against the word of the LORD. are bread for us] or, shall be our bread, our food; that is, we shall devoure and consume them. The Chaldee expoundeth it, They are delivered into our hand. So Balaam prophesied of Israel, Hee shall eat up the nations, his enemies, Num. 24. 8. And in Psal. 79. 7. He hath eaten up Iakob, that is, consumed: and in Psal. 14. 4. They eat my people, as they eat bread. Also in Deut. 7. 16. Thou shalt eat (that is, consume) all the people. their shadow] that is, God, their defence, covert, protection; which the Chaldee expoundeth their strength; so in Esai. 30. 2. the strength of Pharaoh, and the shadow of Egypt, doe explaine one another: and shadow is used often for defence; as, the shadow of the Almighty, Psal. 91. 1. and, Iehovah thy shadow, Psal. 121. 5. and God saith, I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, Esai. 51. 16. and 49. 2. Iehovah is with us] the Chaldee explaineth it, the Word of the LORD is for our help.

Vers. 10. said, to stone them] that is, spake one 10to another, that they should stone Iosua and Caleb. An example of notorious obstinacie and outrage; and at another time, they had almost done the like unto Moses, Exod. 17. 4. So after this, Ierusalem stoned the Prophets, which spake the things pertaining to her peace, Mat. 23. 37. appeared in the Tent] the Greeke explaineth it, appeared in the cloud over the Tent of the Testimonie. This is confirmed by the like apparition, in Num. 16. 42. and Sol. Iarchi here saith, The cloud descended there. It was an extraordinary appearance, to restraine the peoples furie, and to help his faithfull witnesses.

Vers. 11. provoke me] or, despite, blaspheme, 11contemptuously provoke me. So the Apostle expoundeth this word, blaspheme, in Rom. 2. 24. from Esai. 52. 5. and it implieth also a contempt or despising, Prov. 1. 30. and 15. 5. Esai. 5. 24. not beleeve in me] in Greeke, not beleeve me; which the Chaldee explaineth, not beleeve in my word. This unbeleefe is noted as a chiefe cause of their rebellion, and so of their destruction after in the wildernesse, Deut. 1. 32. Heb. 3. 18, 19. for all the signes] though many signes and wonders had beene shewed, yet they beleeved not: so of their posteritie it is said, Though (Iesus) had done so many signes before them, yet they beleeved not in him, Ioh. 12. 37. among them] Hebr. in the midds thereof, to wit, of the people.

Vers. 12. smite them] Hebr. smite him, that is, 12the people, spoken of as one man: see vers. 15. pestilence] in Greeke and Chaldee, death: see the notes on Exod. 5. 3. disinherit them] deprive them of the land promised unto their fathers: the Greeke and Chaldee translate, destroy them. make of thee] Hebr. make thee, to a nation: the like speech God used, when they had made the golden calfe, Exod. 32. 10. The Greeke here addeth, I will make thee and thy fathers house, &c.

Vers. 14. they will say] that which after followeth 14in vers. 16. to the inhabitants] or, with the inhabitants, meaning the Canaanites; so both the one and the other people, will take occasion to blaspheme. The Hebrew word which usually signifieth unto, is sometime used for with; as in 1 Sam. 23. 23. Ezr. 2. 63. thou Iehovah art] the Chaldee expoundeth it, that thy divine presence (or Majestie) abideth among this people. art seene] or, hast beene seene eye to eye; that is, visibly, apparantly, plainly; according to the like phrase, in Num. 12. 8. mouth to mouth; and in Exod. 33. 11. and Deut. 5. 4. face to face. The Chaldee here explaineth it thus, that with their eyes they have seene the Majestie of thy glory; and by Targum Ionathan, this is referred to the giving of the law upon mount Sinai. standeth over them] as protecting them from evill; which in Targum Ionathan is explained, that they should not bee hurt with heat or with raine. Compare Exod. 13. 21, 22. Num. 9. 17, &c.

Vers. 15. as one man] that is, all of them together, 15and suddenly. the fame of thee] the hearsay or report of thee; which the Greeke translateth, thy name; the Chaldee, the fame of thy might.

Vers. 16. was not able] elswhere Moses sheweth, 16that hee had respect unto two things, by which Gods name and glory might be impeached among the Gentiles; because he could not, or because hee would not, but hated his people, Deut. 9. 28. Exod. 32. 12. And this is the first argument of Moses supplication, that Gods name might not bee blasphemed among the heathens.

Vers. 17. the power of the Lord] or, the might, as in vers. 13. that is, as the Greeke explaineth it, the power of thee ô Lord. Lord is here in Hebrew 17Adonai, which the Chaldee expresseth by the letters for Iehovah, and it signifieth My stayes, or sustainers: see the notes on Gen. 15. 2. be great] that is, be shewed to be great; the Greeke translateth it, be exalted.

Vers. 18. long suffering] Hebr. long of anger; that is, long ere he be angrie. Here Moses mentioneth that Name of God, which was proclaimed at p. 85mount Sinai, when the people had formerly sinned in making the golden calfe, Exod. 34. 5, 6, 7. in merciemercy] the Greek addeth, & true; from Ex. 34. 6. forgiving] or, as the Greeke translateth, taking away. iniquitie] in Greeke, iniquities, and unrighteousnesses, and sins; the Chaldee also addeth the word sinnes, as was in Exod. 34 7. This is the second reason of Moses request, from the nature and covenant of God. the guiltie] this word is supplied also in the Greeke version. The Chaldee paraphraseth, being mercifull unto them that turne to his Law, but not clearing them that turne not. visiting] that is, punishing; in Greeke, recompensing; see Exod. 20. 5. upon the sonnes] or children; in Chaldee, upon the rebellious sonnes. the third] in Chaldee, … the third generation, and unto the fourth generation. Thus Moses requested not an absolute pardon for all; but that God would in wrath remember merciemercy, though in Iustice he punished the chiefe transgressors.

Verse 19. even untill now] or, hitherto; as for 19example, when they sinned in making the calfe, Exod. 32. (besides other times,) at which time God destroyed them not as they deserved, but some of them onelyonly perished.

Verse 20. I have pardoned] or, I doe pardon, as 20the Greeke explaineth it, in the time present. Howbeit Chazkuni understandeth it of the time past, that God should say, he had pardoned them once, when they made the calfe; but now he would not pardon them, but execute vengeance. The former sense seemeth best, with the limitation following, according to thy word, viz. that he would not destroy them all as one man, at once with the pestilence, having respect to the glory of his Name. For which cause, he spared them at other times also, both before and after, as he sheweth by the Prophets, Ezek. 10. 8, 9. 13, 14, 21, 22, &c. Psal. 106. 7, 8. And hereupon the people after confessed, Tho… art a God of pardons, gracious, and mercifull, long s…ffering, and of great kindnesse, and forsookest the… …, Neh. 9. 17.

Verse 21. as I live] Hebr. and assuredly I live; 21and all the earth shall be filled: which is a forme of …a…h, often used of the Lord, Ezek. 18. 3. and 20. 33. and 5. 11. Whereupon it is said, And thou shalt sweare Iehovah liveth, &c. Ier. 4. 2. and where hee saith in the Prophet, I have sworne by my selfe, Esai. 45. 25. the Apostle expresseth it with these words, I live, saith the Lord, Rom. 14. 11. And the signe of an oa…h, was the lifting up of the hand; so both of them are joyned in Deut. 32. 40. I lift up my hand to … and say, I live for ever: Wherefore the oath … God here sware, is signified by the lifting up of his hand, in Psal. 106. 26. and Ezek. 20. 15. …lled with the glorie] that is, all peoples of the earth shall see and acknowledge the powerfull and just administration of the Lord, unto his glorie and honour. Compare Esai. 6. 3. and Psal. 72. 19. where Christs kingdome is prophesied of, with whose glory all the earth is full.

Verse 22. my glorie] under this, all Gods glorious works are comprehended; as powers are used for powerfull workes, Matth. 7. 22. and 11. 20. 1. Cor. 12. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 12. signes] that is, miracles, miraculous and significant workes. ten times] hereby may be meant no certaine number, but many times, as in Gen. 31. 7. Iob. 19. …. so ten is for many, in Levit. 26. 26. It may also be taken properly; for now they had sinned ten times; First, at the red sea, Exod. 14. 11, 12. then in Marah, Exod. 15. 23, 24. againe in the wildernesse of Sin, Exod. 16. 2. then twice about Manna, Ex. 16. 20. 27, 28. after that at Rephidim, Exod. 17. 1, 2, 3. then by the Calfe at Horeb, Ex. 32. at Taberah, Num. 11. 1. and againe, at Kibroth Hattaavah, Num. 11. 4. and now the tenth time by their rebellion in Pharan.

Verse 23. If they shall see] that is, as the Greeke 23translateth it, Surely they shall not see. This also is an oath, whereby God sweareth they shall not see, that is, not goe in to enioy the land, as is explained by David, in Psal. 95. 11. I sware in my anger, if they shall enter into my rest; which the Apostle openeth thus; He sware that they should not enter into his rest, Hebr. 3. 18. So, If a signe be given, Marke 8. 12. is more plainly expounded, A signe shall not be given, Matth. 16. 4. which I sware unto] that is, which I sware to give unto your fathers, Deut. 1. 35. this was the land of Canaan, Gen. 12. 5. 7. called the holy land, Zach. 2. 12. the land of Iehovah, Hos. 9. 3. the land of Immanuel, that is, of Christ, Esai. 8. 8. for it was a figure of the heavenly inheritance to bee obtained by Christ, Hebr. 11. 9, 10. therefore the keeping of them out of this land, figured also the excluding of them and of all unbeleevers out of the kingdome of heaven, Heb. 3. 12—19. and 4. 1, 2, 3—11.

Verse 24. spirit in him] or, with him; that is, 24he was guided by another spirit than the ten spies. The same is to be understood of Ioshua, as appeareth by Num. 32. 12. though not here mentioned. This other spirit, was the spirit of faith, which the Law cannot give, Gal. 3. 2. the spirit of adoption of sonnes, not of bondage to feare againe, Rom. 8. 14, 15. by the guidance of this spirit, Caleb constantly followed the Lord, & obtained the promised inheritance. he followed me fully] Hebr. he fulfilled after me: so in Deut. 1. 36. and Ios. 14. 8, 9. 14. By this manner of speech, is meant a full and constant following and obedience unto the end; the contrary whereof was in Solomon, of whom it is said, he fulfilled not after the LORD, as did David his father, 1 Kings 11. 6. and in this people of Israel now generally, of whom God saith, they fulfilled not after me, Num. 32. 11. The Greeke translateth it, he followed me; the Chaldee, he fulfilled (or accomplished) after my feare. Chazkuni expoundeth it, he hath accomplished the word after me; and compareth it with that phrase in 1 Kings 1. 14. I will come in after thee, and fulfill (that is, confirme) thy words. his seed] in Chaldee, his sonnes. shall possesse it] shall inherit it: thus both the Greeke & Chaldee do interpret it: or, shall cause to inherit it, that is, leave it to their posteritie for an inheritance; as it is written, It shall be thine inheritance, and thy childrens for ever, Ios. 14. 9. The word is also used in a cōtrary meaning, to disinherit, as before in v. 12. & so it may here be trāslated, shal disinherit it, that is, p. 86disinherit and drive out the inhabitants of it, and seize upon it, as in Ios. 8. 7. ye shall disinherit (or seise upon) the citie: and thus it agreeth with Calebs speech, If so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall disinherit them (or drive them out) as the LORD said, Ios. 14. 12. In this latter sense, Sol. Iarchi here expoundeth it, drive it out, that is, they shall drive out the Anakims and people that are therein. This promise Moses related unto Caleb, and in the name of the Lord, he sware unto him for the performance of it, Ios. 14. 9.

Verse 25. Now] Hebr. And. dwelt] or, dwelleth, 25Heb. sitteth in the valley: after in vers. 45. they are said to dwell (or sit) in the mountaine; and sitting, as it is often put for dwelling, so sometime for lying in wait, as in Ios. 8. 9. which may be meant here. Chazkuni expoundeth this place thus; that as the spies were afraid of Amalek. (Num. 13. 29.) so with them the holy blessed (God) made them afraid. And wheras it is here said, in the vally and in v. 45. in that mountaine; he accordeth them thus, that the most of them sate in the valley, & some few of them in the mountaine, & those few warred against them; and therfore it is written, WHICH SATE IN THAT MOVNTAINE, to imply that there were of them which sate in another place; or it may be they dwelt in the vally, and when they heard that the sons of Israel came against them, they went up into the mountaine, and lay in wait for them there: and wee find that sitting sometime, meaneth lying in wait, as it is written (in Psal. 10. 8.) He sitteth in the waiting place of the villages. tomorrow turne yee] The people were now in Kadesh, from whence they sent the spies, Num. 13. 26. Deu. 1. 19. & after this their rebellion, and the slaughter following, they abode in Kadesh many dayes, and then turned and journeyed into the wildernesse, by the way of the red sea, Deut. 1. 46. and 2. 1. Chazkuni here saith, Tomorrow meaneth after this time; for loe they abode in Kadesh many dayes before they began to compasse mount Seir: and it is like that (phrase in Exod. 12. 34.) when thy son shall aske thee tomorrow. journey you] or, journey for you, which some understand, to mean, for your good, see Gen. 12. 1. the way of the red sea] that is, the way towards the red sea; see the notes on Exod. 13. 17. In this red Sea the people had been baptised, 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. Ex. 14. Baptisme was unto repentance, and with confession of sinnes, and into the death of Christ, Mat. 3. 6, 11. Rom. 6. 3. so this sending them backe into the wildernesse, towards the red sea, was to humble them by repentance, that through faith in Christ they might have entrance into the Kingdome of heaven; otherwise they should perish for ever, as their carkasses perished in this wildernesse.

Verse 27. How long] to wit, shall I pardon, (as in 27v. 19. 20.) or, shall I beare with. An unperfect speech, such as men use in passion of mind, when through griefe they utter not all their words; as may be seene in Moses, Exod. 32. 32. Psal. 90. 13. in David, Psal. 6. 4. and sundry the like. which murmure] or, which cause (the people) to murmure, as in verse 36. Thus Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it, referring the congregation forementioned, to the ten spies; but the Greeke and Chaldee translate, which murmure; so in the sentence following.

Verse 28. I live] it is an oath, as in v. 21. whereby 28the Lord sweareth in his anger, that they should not enter into his rest, Psal. 95. 11. Heb. 3. 18. Num. 32. 10, 11. assuredly saith] or, the faithfull saying; see Gen. 22. 16. if I doe not] that is, as the Greeke explaineth it, surely I will doe: see before, on v. 23. spoken in mine eares] in Chaldee, spoken before me: this hath reference to their words, in verse 2. where they wished they might die in the wildernes.

V. 29. your carkasses] the Greek calleth thē Cola, that is, members, which word the Apostle also useth in Heb. 3. 17. for carkasses, or dead bodies. So in Levit. 26. 30. fall] that is, die, being destroyed of the destroyer, 1 Cor. 10. 10. mustered] numbred as able men for the war, Num. 1. This sentence was executed upon them, as is after shewed in Num. 26. 64, 65.

Verse 30. I lifted up my hand] that is, sware, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, I sware by my word: see Deut. 32. 40. and the notes before on v. 21. and Gen. 14. 22.

Verse 31. your little ones] your children vnderunder 31twentie yeares of age: see verse 3. shall know] in Greeke, shall inherit, rightly explaining the sense: for to know the land, is to enjoy the same. And so Moses relating this promise, saith, they shall possesse the land, Deut. 1. 39.

Verse 32. But as for you, your carkasses] Hebr. And your carkasses, you: where the latter you, is for explanation, to exempt their children, you or yours onelyonly.

V. 33. shall feed] or, shall be feeding; so likewise the Greeke translateth it: by feed, meaning wander as sheepe for pasture in the wildernesse: the Chaldee of Onkelos expoundeth it, tary or abide; but Ionathan saith, wander; and Chazkuni explaineth it, feed as sheepe sometimes here and sometimes there, so your sons shall remove hither & thither, till their carkasses be consumed. Thus may we understand that in the Prophet, The LORD will feed them as a lambe in a large place, Hos. 4. 16. that is, will let them wander to destruction. So in other languages, wandring is used for feeding; as in Virgil. Bucol. eclog. 2. mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agn…. fortie yeares] implying the time past also, from their comming out of Egypt: for one whole yeare, and part of the second, were now past already, when God gave this sentence against them, Num. 10. 11. beare your whoredomes] that is, beare the punishment of your sins; as the Chaldee, for whoredomes, translateth sins; though this name whoredome, is commonly used for idolatrie, Ier. 3. 9. Ezek. 16. 15. 16, 17, &c. See Exod. 34. 15, 16. Lev. 17. 7.

Verse 34. After] or, According to the number; in the Hebrew, In is used for As, or according to, as the Greeke translateth it: see the notes on Lev. 25. 15. a day for a yeare, a day for a yeare] that is, each day for a yeare, or a yeare for every day: so in Eze. 4. 6. where the Prophet in a figure bare the iniquitie of Israel so many dayes as they had sinned yeares. Hereupon in prophesies, dayes are put for yeares, Dan. 9. 24. &c. Rev. 11. 3. yee shall know my p. 87br…ch] to wit, of promise; or simply, my breaking off: that is, ye shall know and have experience by the punishment which you shall suffer, how great your sinne is in breaking promise, and disanulling your word and covenant with me, and in breaking off from me. Thus my breach may be understood, breach, or breaking with me; or from me; as, he that eateth my bread, Psal. 41. 10. is expounded, hee that eateth bread with me, Ioh. 13. 18. Or, my breach, that is, when I breake promise with you, or breake off from you, ye shall know how great evill is upon you. For when men forsake God, he also forsaketh them, and breaketh his covenant with them, that is, performeth not his promise, which is conditionall, if men continue in his faith, Deut. 31. 16, 17. Zac. 11. 10. Iude v. 5. Rom. 11. 22. The Greek translateth, ye shal know the wrath (or indignation) of mine anger: the Chaldee, ye shall know that yee have murmured against me. Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it, my breach, in that ye have broken (that is, turned away) your heart from (following) after me. This word is after used by Moses, in Num. 32. 23. Wherefore breake ye the heart, (that is, discourage ye) the sons of Israel from going, &c. & in Num. 30. 5. if her father breake (that is, disallow) her; disanul her promise.

Verse 35. have spoken] the Chaldee explaineth 35it, have decreed by my word. If I doe not] that is, surely I will doe, as the Greeke expoundeth it: it is an oath, as before in vers. 23. This sentence decreed, seised upon them, that all this generation died in the Wildernesse, Num. 26. 64, 65. & upon this occasion, Moses made the 90. Psalme, wherein he bewaileth the shortnesse and miserie of mans life; being finished now in 70 or 80 yeares; and intreateth God for mercy. And of this and other the like punishments, the Apostle saith, they happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10. 11. So we see that they could not enter in (to the rest of God) because of unbeleefe: let us studie therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall, after the same example of unbeleefe, Hebr. 3. 19. and 4. 11.

Verse 36. the men] the ten spies. made to 36murmure] and murmured themselves; as the Hebrewes signifieth both their owne act, and that which they caused in others. So the Greeke translateth it, murmured against it, unto (or before) the congregation. against him] against Moses, as in v. 2. or, as the Greeke translateth, against it; for they murmured also against the land, Num. 13. 32. and 14. 3. evill report] or, defamation: in Greeke, evil words; in Chaldee, an evill name. The word evil, is expressed in the next verse: see the notes on Num. 13. 32.

Ver. 37. the plague before Iehovah] that is, by an extraordinary plague from the hand of God: either the pestilence fore-threatned, v. 12. or some other d…ath. And before Iehovah, may mean sudden death there by the Sanctuarie, where the glory of Iehovah appeared, v. 10. as it is said of Vzza, there he died before God, 1 Chron. 13. 10. which another Prophet explaineth, there he died by the Arke of God, 2 …. 6. 7. The Hebrewes, (as Sol. Iarchi and Targum Ionathan on this place,) report these mens death to have beene by an inflammation of their tongues, and wormes issuing out of them; as a just recompence, because with their tongues they had sinned.

Ver. 38. lived] that is, remained alive, safe and in 38health. So the judge of all the earth did judgment, and would not slay the righteous with the wicked; as Gen. 18. 25. And they survived, not onelyonly the other spies, but all the rebellious Israelites, and went in and possessed the land of promise, Ios. 14: …0. and 19. 49. This sheweth the small number of Gods Elect, though many be called to the profession of the faith. The Hebrew Doctors speaking of Ier. 3. 14. where it is written, I will take you one of a citie, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, doe say, As of six hundred thousand Israelites, onelyonly two entred into the land of promise, to wit, Ioshua and Caleb; so shall it also be in the dayes of Christ. Talmud in Sanhedrin, ch. 11. wherein they beare witnesse against themselves, that they fulfilled the in…asu…e of their fathers, in rebelling against Christ, and despising the Gospell of their salvation.

Verse 40. and went vp] that is, girded their weapons 40of warre about them, and pressed forward of themselves to goe up, as Moses explaineth it, in Deut. 1. 41. For things which men endevour and are ready to doe, are said to be done by them, as Reuben delivered Ioseph out of his brethrens hand, when he endevoured by exhorting & perswading with them, that he might deliver him, Gen. 37. 21, 22. See also the annotations on Ex. 8. 18. will goe up] and fight, Deut. 1. 41. we have sinned] against Iehovah, Deut. 1. 41. Thus they shewed a kind of repentance and sorrow for their sin, which was not sincere, nor a godly sorrow; for they turned from one evill to another, and overthrew themselves.

Verse 41. Moses said] being first commanded 41of the Lord, so to say, Deut. 1. 42. the mouth] that is, as the Greeke translateth, the word of the Lord: and the Chaldee addeth, against the decree of the word of the LORD. But it] or, for it, that is, the thing which ye doe, shall not prosper, that is, not have good successe: in Greeke, It shall not be prosperous unto you. R. Menachem referreth this word It. to Shecinah, the divine Majestie which would not prosper them; and compareth here with a like phrase in Ezek. 1. 13. it went up and downe among the living creatures.

Verse 42. Iehovah is not among you] thus God 42bade him say, for I am not among you, Deu. 1. 42. The Chaldee expoundeth it, for Shecinah (the Majestie or presence) of the LORD is not among you. not smitten] in Chaldee, not broken; in Greeke, and ye shall fall before your enemies.

V. 43. from after Iehovah] in Chaldee, from after 43the service of the LORD; which the Greeke translateth, disobeying (or not beleeving) the Lord Chazkuni explaineth it thus, Because the spies made you afraid of the Canaanite & Amalekite that abide there, ye are turned from after the LORD, and are afraid to go into the land, and you trust not in him: therfore he will not be with you, if you transgresse his mouth, to goe to sight, till after 40 yeares. Iehovah will not p. 88be with you] this the Chaldee expoundeth, the Word of the Lord will not be for your holpe.

Verse 44. they loft…ly presumed.] or, tooke upon 44them by violence, with a loftie presumptuous minde: in the Chaldee, they dealt wickedly, or, turbulently. The originall word Aphal, (from which Ophel a Tower, or Fort is derived, 2 Chron. 33. 14.) signifieth lifting up, as in Abak. 2. 4. which the Apostle sheweth, to meane a drawing backe from God by unbeleese, Heb. 10. 38, 39. So here in this their presumptuous enterprise, their soules were lifted up in them, but withdrawen from God▪ And Moses explaineth this by two other words, yee pressed forward, Deut. 1. 41. and yee were presumptuous, Deut. 1. 43. The Hebrew Commentary Tanchuma, cōpareth it with another like word which signifieth darknesse, and explaineth it, they went darke (or obscure) for that they went without leau… from God: and Targum Ionathan, thus; they set forward in the darke, before day dawning▪ to which the old Latine version agreeth, translating it darkned. departed not] in Greeke, moved not. The Arkeremoved not, but at the removall of the cloud, Num. 9. 15, &c. which God not taking up, shewed thereby his dislike of their action. Moses obeying the Lord, would not accompany the presumptuous sinners: so they went without the Lord, and without the signes of his grace, or company of his ministers.

Verse 45. The Canaanite] that is, the Amorite, 45Deut. 5. 44. which was of the posteritie of Canaan, Gen. 10. 15, 16. which dwelt] or, which sate, lay in wait. discomfited them] pursued them as Bees doe, and destroyed them, Deut. 1. 44. Because they rebelled against God, and vexed his holy Spirit, therefore hee was turned to be their enemie, he fought against them, Esai. 63. 10. unto Hormah] in Greeke Herme, the name of a place, so called of the event, signifying utter destruction, or Anathema: so after in Num. 21. 3. After this discomfiture, the Israelites returned and wept before the LORD: but hee would not heare their voice, nor give eare unto them; so they abode in Kadesh many dayes, Deut. 1. 45, 46. These things which happened unto them for types, 1 Cor. 10. 11. doe shew the nature of man, of his free-will, and workes without faith, that they procure nothing but wrath from God, and destruction unto men. And as Israel carried themselves under Moses, so did they under Christ: for the Lord Iesus himselfe, & Iohn the Baptist (as Ioshua and Caleb) faithfully testified the truth of Gods promise, and perswaded the people to enter into the Kingdome of God, Mat. 3. 1, 2, 3. and 4. 17. But the Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees (like the unfaithfull spies) discouraged the people, and would neither goe themselves into the kingdome of heaven, nor suffer thē that were entring, to goe in, Mat 23. 13. but pretended worldly feares, Iohn 11. 48. Yet after they would seeme to enter by force, going about to establish their owne righteousnesse, but not submitting themselves unto the righteousnesse of God, Rom. 10. 3. so they pleased not God, but filled up their sinnes alway, and wrath came upon them to the uttermost, 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16.