Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII.
1 Two and fortie journies of the Israelites tho… the wildernesse, from Egypt to Iordan. 50 A commandement to destroy the Canaanites and their …ments of idolatire. 54 The land must be divid…d by lot.
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THese are the journies of the sonnes of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt by their armies, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. And Moses wrote their goings out, according to their journies at the mouth of Iehovah: and these are their journies according to their goings out. And they journied from Rameses, in the first monethmonth, in the fifteenth day of the first monethmonth: on the morrow after the Passeover, the sons of Israel went out with an high hand, in the eyes of all the Egyptians. And the Egyptians buried those which Iehovah had smitten among them, every first-horne: upon their gods also Iehovah executed judgments. And the sons of Israel journied from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth. And they journied from Succoth, & encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wildernesse. And they journied from Etham, and turned againe unto Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. And they journied from before Hiroth, and passed thorow the midst of the sea into the wildernesse, and went three dayes journie in the wildernesse of Etham, and encamped in Marah. And they journied from Marah and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountaines of water, and seventie Palme trees, and they encamped there. And they journied from Elim, and encamped by the red sea. And they journied from the red sea, and encamped in the wildernesse of Sin. And they journied from the wildernesse of Sin; and encamped in Dophkah. And they journied from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. And they journied from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim; and there was no water there for the people to drinke. And they journied from Rephidim, and encamped in the wildernesse of Sinai. And they journied from the wildernesse of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth hattavah. And they journied from Kibroth hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth. And they journied from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah. And they journied from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Parez. And they journied from Rimmon Parez, and encamped in Libnah. And they journied from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah. And they journied from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah. And they journied from Kehelathah, and encamped in mount Shapher. And they journied from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. And they journied from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth. And they journied from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath. And they journied from Tahath, and encamped in Tarah. And they journied from Tarah, and encamped in Mithkah. And they journied from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah. And they journied from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth. And they journied from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene-Iaakan. And they journied from Bene-Iaakan, and encamped in Horhagidgad.
And they journied from Horhagidgad, and encamped in Iotbathah. And they journied from Iotbathah, and encamped in Ebronah. And they journied from Ebronah, and encamped in Ezion-gaber. And they journied from Ezion-gaber, and encamped in the wildernesse of Zin, which is Kadesh. And they journied from Kadesh, and encamped in mount Hor in the edge of the land of Edom. And Aaron the Priest went up into mount Hor at the mouth of Iehovah, and died there, in the fortieth yeare after the sonnes of Israel were come out from the land of Egypt, in the fift monethmonth, in the first day of the monethmonth. And Aaron was an hundred and twentie and three yeres old when he died in mount Hor. And the Canaanite the King of Arad, which dwelt in the South, in the land of Canaan, heard of the comming of the sonnes of Israel. And they journied from mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah. And they journied from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon. And they journied from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. And they journied from Oboth, and encamped in Ije-Abarim, in the border of Moab. And they journied from Ijim, and encamped in Dibon G▪ And they journied from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.
And they journied from Almon-Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountaines of Abarim before Nebo. And they journied from the mountaines of Abarim, and encamped in the plaines of Moab, by Iordan neere Iericho. And they encamped by Iordan, from Beth je…imoth even unto Abel Shittim, in the plaines of Moab.
And Iehovah spake unto. Moses in the plaines of Moab, by Iordan neere Iericho, saying; Speake unto the sonnes of Israel, and say unto them; When yee are passed over Iordan into the land of Canaan, Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and all their molten. Images yee shall destroy, and quite plucke downe all their high places. And ye shall dispossesse the land and dwell therein: for unto you have I given the land to possesse it. And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: to the many ye shall give them the more inheritance; and to the few, thou shalt give them the lesse inheritance; wheresoever the lot shal come forth for him, his shall it be, according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. But if yee will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those which ye let remaine of them, shall be pricks in your eies, and thornes in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein yee dwell. And it shall be that I will doe unto you as I thought to doe unto them.
Annotations.
foreign Here beginneth the 43 Lecture of the Law, called the journies: see Gen. 6. 9.
THe journies] or the removings, to wit, from place to place, which was a signe of their unsetled estate, as not being yet come unto their rest, Deut. 12. 9. Figuring the unstaiednesse of the Church under Moses law otherwise than under the Gospell of Christ, where we which have beleeved doe enter into rest, Heb. 4. 3. Of which unmoveable state it is prophesied, Looke upon Zion the citie of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Ierusalem a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that shall not be taken downe, not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken, Esay 33. 20. The complement hereof is shewed by the Apostle, saying, that this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made; that those things which cannot be shaken may remaine: and, that we receive a kingdome which cannot be moved, Hebr. 12. 27, 28. And as here Moses reckoneth fortie two journies from Egypt to the river Iordan, over which Iosua led them into Canaan: so the Apostle (in Matth. 1.) reckoneth 42 generations from Abraham unto Christ, by whom we have entrance into the kingdome of God. with their armies] or, by their armies, being about six hundred thousand men, beside little ones, and much mixed people with them, Exod. 12. 37, 38. They are called also the Lords armies, Exod. 7. 4. and 12. 41. by the hand] under the guidance or conduct. This Asaph mentioneth to the praise of God; Thou didst lead thy people like a flocke, by the hand of Moses and Aa… Psal. 77. 21.
Vers. 2. according to their journies] or, … their journies (or removings) as the Greeke translateth, and their journies (or stations.) the mo…th] that is, the word, or commandement of Ieho…. This may be understood either of his commandement to write these journies here, or of their journyings; as it is said, At the mouth of Iehovah the sonnes of Israel journied, and at the mouth of Iehovah they encamped, Num. 9. 18. 20.
Vers. 3. from Rameses] a citie in the land of Egypt, Gen. 47. 11. See also Exod. 12. 37. the first monethmonth] called Abib, and Nisan, Exod. 13. 4. Nehem. 2. 1. answering to that which we call March. Why it was the first monethmonth, is shewed on Exod. 12. 2. the Passe-over] whereof see Exod. 12. with an high hand] in Chaldee, with an uncovered head: meaning openly, boldly, powerfully: see Exod. 14. 8.
Vers. 4. had smitten] that is, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, had killed; and the Greeke, all the dead which the Lord had smitten: see Exod. 12. 29. their gods] in Chaldee, their idols. Some understand it of the beasts which the Egyptians worshipped. judgements] in Greeke, did (or executed) vengeance: see Exod. 12. 12. and 18. 11.
Vers. 5. Succoth] by interpretation, Boothes: see Exod. 12. 37.
Vers. 6. Etham which is in the edge] in Greeke, Bouthan, which is a part of the wildernesse: see Exod. 13. 20.
Vers. 7. Pi-hahiroth] or, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate, the mouth of Hiroth: for in the next verse, the place is called onelyonly Hiroth: which seeme to be mountaines betweene which was a narrow passage, called figuratively a mouth. It was by the red sea, and there the Egyptians overtooke the Israelites, Exod. 14. 2. 9.
Vers. 8. the sea] the red sea, the waters whereof God divided, & led his people thorow it; but the Egyptians following them, were drowned, Exod. 14. 21, 22, 23, &c. three dayes journie] Hebr. three dayes way. Etham] called the wildernesse of Sh…r. Exod. 15. 22. Marah] that is, bitternesse, as the Greeke here interpreteth it: so called of the bitter waters which the people could not drinke, therefore they murmured: but God sweetned the waters with a tree, Exod. 15. 23, &c.
Vers. 9. plame trees] or Date trees: see Exod. 15. …, there] there by the waters, Exod. 15. 27. So God refreshed his pe…ple with water, in the dry and barren wildernesse.
Vers. 10. by the red sea] of this resting place there hath beene no mention before.
Vers. 11. of Sin] a wildernesse which adjoyned unto Sin, a citie of Egypt so called, Ezek. 30. 15, 16. Hither they came a just monethmonth after their departure from Rameses, vers. 3. namely in the fifteenth day of the second monethmonth: in this wildernesse they murmured for want of food, and God gave them Quailes, and rained Manna from heaven, Exod. 16. 1, 2, &c.
Vers. 12. Dephkah] in Greeke, Raphakah: putting R for D, through likenesse of the letters in Hebrew: see the notes on Gen. 4. 18. Of this place there is no mention in Exodus.
Vers. 13. Alush] in Greeke, Ailous: Neither is this station named before, but Moses intimated them, when he said, the Israelites journied from the wildernesse of Sin, after their journies, Exod. 17. 1.
Vers. 14. Rephidim] in Greeke, Rephidein. no water] therefore the people contended with Moses, and almost stoned him: God gave them water out of the Rocke in Horeb; and the place was called Massah, and Meribah, that is, Tentation, and contention. Here also at Rephidim, the Amalekites fought against Israel, and were overcome, Ex. 17.
V. 15. wildernesse of Sinai] the wildernesse of mount Sinai, Act. 7. 30. Thither they came in the beginning of the third monethmonth, Exod. 19. 1. There God gave them his Lawes, Statutes and Iudgements, Exod. 20. and 21, &c. There they sinned and made the golden Calfe, Exod. 32. Afterward they made the Tabernacle, Exod. 36, &c. Out of it God speaking, taught them how they should serve him with sacrifices, &c. Lev. 1, &c. He numbred and ordered the twelve tribes, both for their encamping about the Tabernacle, and for their journyings with it towards Canaan, Num. 1, &c. And in this place they abode, till the twentieth day of the second monethmonth of the second yeare after their comming out of Egypt, Num. 10. 11, 12.
Vers. 16. Kibroth hattaavah] that is, the graves of lust, where the people lusted for flesh, died whiles the flesh was betweene their teeth, and were buried there, Num. 11. 14,—34.
Vers. 17. Hazeroth] In this place Marie with Aaron murmured against Moses, and she was smitten with leprosie, Num. 12.
Vers. 18. Rithmah] a place in the wildernesse of Pharan, Num. 13. 1. It hath the name of Iuniper, which either grew there, or (as some of the Hebrewes thinke) because the evill tongues of the Spies which were sent from thence to view the land, (Num. 13. 3.) and brought up an cvill report thereof, were like the coales of Iuniper, (as in Psal. 120. 3, 4.) and kindled a rebellion among the people, Num. 14.
Vers. 19. Rimmon Parez] in Greeke, Rhembon Phares: by interpretation, the Pomegranate (or the lifting up) of the breach. This place is not named before: Chazkuni thinketh they came hither after God had bidden thē turne backe into the wildernesse, by the way of the red sea, Num. 14. 25. So it might have the name of the breach or slaughter which the Amalekites and Canaanites made among the Israelites for their presumption, Num. 14. 44, 45. as Perez Vzza, in 1 Chron. 13. 11. and Baal Perazim, in 1 Chron. 14. 11. were places so named of the death of Vzza, and slaughter of the Philistines.
Vers. 20. Libnah] in Greeke, Lembona: some thinke it to be that which is called Laban, in Deut. 1. 1.
Vers. 21. Rissah] in Greeke, Ressan: it is not elsewhere mentioned.
Vers. 22. Kehelathah] in Greeke, Makelath: it signifieth Assembling.
Vers. 23. mount Shapher] in Hebrew, Har Shapher; by interpretation, Faire mount: in Greeke, Arsaphath.
Vers. 24. Haradah] or Charadah; in Greeke, Charadath: it signifieth Trembling.
Vers. 25. Makheloth] in Greeke, Makedoth: it is interpreted Assemblies, or Congregations, and is thought of some to be so called of the mutinous assemblies of Korah, Dathan & Abiram, Num. 16.
Vers. 26. Tahath] in Greeke, Kataath, signifiing Vnderneath, or below.
Vers. 27. Tarah] or Therach; in Greeke, Tharath.
Vers. 28. Mithkah] in Greeke, Matheka; by interpretation, sweet.
Vers. 29. Hashmonah] in Greeke, Aselmona.
Vers. 30. Moseroth] in Greeke, Masurouth; in English, Bonds. In Deut. 10. 6. it is called singularly Moserah.
Vers. 31. Bene Iaakan] that is, the sons of Iaakan, called in Deut. 10. 6. Beeroth Bene Iaakan, that is, the Wels of the sons of Iaakan: though some thinke that was another place. Of one Iaakan, we reade in 1 Chron. 1. 42.
Vers. 32. Horhagidgad] that is, the hole of Gidgad, called also Gudgod, in Deut. 10. 7.
Vers. 33. Iotbathah] in Greeke, Etebatha: it was a land of rivers of waters, named also Iotbath, Deut. 10. 7.
Vers. 34. Ebronah] or Gnabronah, not elsewhere mentioned.
Vers. 35. Ezion-gaber] in Greeke, Gethsion-gaber, mentioned againe in Deut. 2. 8. It was by the red sea, where was a place for shipping in Edoms land, 1 Kings 9. 26. and 22. 48. Thus Israel had beene brought backe againe towards the red sea, as was commanded in Num. 14. 25. Deut. 2. 1.
Vers. 36. Zin which is Kadesh] or, that is Kades, wch the Chaldee calleth Rekam. Hither they came in the first monethmonth of the 40 yeare of their travell: and here Marie the Prophetesse, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died. Here againe the people murmured for water, which was given them out of a Rocke. And at this Kadesh they sent unto Edom for leave to passe thorow his countrey, but were denied it, Num. 20. See the Annotations there.
Vers. 37. in the edge] by the border of the land, Num. 20. 23. the Greeke translateth, neere the land of Edom.
Vers. 38. at the mouth] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, at the word; in Greeke, by the commandement of the Lord. died there] being stript of his Priestly garments which were put upō Eleazar his son: and hee died there on mount Hor for his sin committed at the water of Meribah in Kadesh, Num: 20. 24, 26. &c.
Vers. 40. King of Arad] of whom see Num. 21. 1. heard of the comming] and sought against Israel, and tooke some of them captives; but Israel by helpe from God vanquished him, Num. 21. 1, 2, 3.
Vers. 41. from mount Hor] by the way of the red sea to compasse the land of Edom, Num. 21. 4. Zalmonah] in Greeke, Selmona; which seemeth to be so named of Zelem an Image, and to be meant of that place where the brazen serpent was set up, to heale those that were stung of fiery serpents, because they had murmured against God, Num. 21. 5, 6, &c.
Vers. 42. Funon] or Phunon; in Greeke, Phinon; hereof there is no mention otherwhere.
Vers. 43. Oboth] mentioned in Num. 21. 10.
Vers. 44. Ije Abarim] that is, the heapes of Abarim; which Abarim were mountaines, vers. 47. In the verse following this place is called onelyonly Ijem, that is, Heapes.
Vers. 45. Dibon Gad] in Greeke, Daibon Gad, that is, Dibon of the Gadites: Dibon was the name of an high place and citie, wherof see Num. 21. 30. This Dibon was repaired and possessed by the sonnes of Gad, Num. 32. 34. and it is so named to distinguish it from another Dibon which was given to Reuben, Ios. 13. 15. 17.
Vers. 46. Almon] or Gnalmon; in Greeke, Gelmon diblathaim: of wch Diblathaim, see Ier. 48. 22.
Vers. 47. Before Nebo] the name of a mountain, where afterward Moses died, Deut. 32. 49, 50: and 34. 1. 5.
Vers. 48. Iordan neere Iericho] that part of the river Iordan which is over against Iericho, called therefore in Hebrew Iarden of Iericho.
Vers. 49. Beth Iesimoth] which place was allotted to the Reubenites, Ios. 13. 15. 20. mentioned also in Ezek. 25. 9. Abel Shittim] the Chaldee expoundeth it, the plaine of Shittim: it seemeth to have the name of the Shittim trees that grew there; as Abel Ceramim, is the plaine of the Uineyard, Iudg. 11. 33. The travels of Israel thorow that great and terrible wildernesse, wherein were fierie serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, Deut. 8. 15. which was a land of desarts & of pits, a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, a land that no man passed thorow, and where no man dwelt, Ier. 2. 6. signified the many troubles and afflictions through which we must enter into the kingdome of God, Act. 14. 22. The helpes, comforts and deliverances which God gave unto his people in their distresses, are examples of his love and merciemercy towards his, who comforteth them in all their tribulation, that as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so their consolation also aboundeth in Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 45. The punishmēts which God inflicted upon the disobedient, who perished in the wildernesse for their sins, hapned unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonitiō, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10. 1,—11. Heb. 3. 17, 18, 19. and 4. 1, 2. By the names of their encamping places, and histories adjoyned, it appeareth how Israel came sometimes into straits and troublesome wayes, as at Pi-hahiroth, Ex. 14. 2, 3. 10. &c. & at Zalmonah, Nū. 21. 4 &c. sometimes into large and ample roomth, as at the plaines of Moab: sometimes to places of hunger and thirst, as at Rephidim and Kadesh, Ex. 16 & 17. Num. 20. sometimes to places of refreshing, as at Elim, and Beer, Ex. 15. 27. Num. 21. 16. sometimes where they had warres, as at Rephidim, Kadesh, Edrehi, Exod. 17. 8. Num. 21. 1. 33. sometimes where they had rest, as at mount Sinai. Sometimes they went right forward, as from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea: sometimes they turned backward, as from Kadesh barnea to the red Sea. Sometimes they came to mountaines, as Sinai, Shepher, Hor, Gidgad: sometimes to vallies, as Tahath, &c. sometimes to places of bitternesse, as Marah: sometimes of sweetnesse, as Mithkah. The sinnes which they committed in the wildernesse, were many and great; as open idolatry by the Calfe at Horeb, Ex. 32. and with Baal-peor, Num. 25. unbeleese at Kadesh, Num. 14. and afterwards presumptuous boldnesse in the same place; murmurings against God sundry times, with tempting of Christ (as the Apostle speaketh, 1 Cor. 10.) Contention & rebellion against their governors often: lusting for flesh to fill their appetite, & soathing Manna the heavenly food: whoredome with the daughters of Moab, and sundry the like: that this complaint is after made of them, How oft did they provoke him in the wildernesse, and grieve him in the desart! Psal. 78. 40. All sorts of persons sinned against God; the multitude of people very often; the mixt multitude of strangers among them, Num. 11. The Princes, as the ten spies, Dathan, Abiram, &c. The Levites, as Korah and his company. Marie the Prophetesse, Num. 12. Aaron the Priest with her, besides his sin at Horeb, Ex. 32. and at the water of Meribah, Num. 20. Moses also him-selfe at the same place, for which he could not come into the land of Canaan. The punishments laid on them by the Lord for their disobedience were many. They died by the sword of the enemie, as of the Amalekites, Exod. 17. and of the Canaanites, Num. 14. 45. and some by the sword of their brethren, Exod. 32. Some were burnt with fire, Num. 11. and 16. some died with surfe…, Num. 11. some were swallowed up alive into the earth, Num. 16. some were killed with serpents, Num. 21. many died of the pestilence, Num. 16. 46. and c. 5. 25. and generally all that generatiō wch were first mustered after their comming out of Egypt, perished, Num. 26. 64, 65. God consumed their dayes in vanitie, and their yeares in terrour, Psal. 78. 33. Neverthelesse for his names sake, he magnified his mercies unto them and their posteritie. He had divided the sea, and led them thorow on dry land, drowning their enemies, Exod. 14. He led them with a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night continually. Hee gave them Manna from heaven daily. Hee clave the rocks, and gave them water for their thirst. Hee sed them with Quailes when they longed for flesh. He sweetned the bitter waters. He saved them from the sword of their enemies. He delivered them from the fiery serpents and scorpions. Their raiment waxed not old upon them, neither did their foot swell those 40 yeares, Deut. 8. 4. He delivered them from the curse of Balaam, and turned it into a blessing, because he loved them, Num. 22. Deut. 23. 5. He came downe upon mount Sinai, and spake with them from heaven, and gave them right judgements and true lawes, good statutes and commandements, and gave also his good spirit to instruct them, Nehem. 9. 13. 20. In the times of his wrath he remembred merciemercy; his eye spared them from destroying them, neither did he make an end of them in the wildernesse, Ezek. 20. 17. 22. He gave them Kingdomes and Nations, and they possessed the lands of their enemies; and hee multiplied their children as the starres of heaven, and brought them into the land promised unto their fathers, Nehem. 9. 22. 23. Now whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15. 4.
Vers. 52. Ye shall drive out] or, ye shall dispossess…, as in vers. 53. in Greeke, ye shall destroy. So Moses explaineth this law to be meant of their destruction, in Deut. 7. 1, 2. And they might not be suffered to dwell in the land, Exod. 23. 33. their pictures] or, their imagerie workes; which the Chaldee expoundeth, the house (or place) of their worship: see the Annotations on Lev. 26. 1. their molten image] Hebr. the images of their meltings, that is, which they have molten; under which name, graven images and all other idols are implied, as is shewed on Ex. 20. 4. This law is also repeated in Deut. 7. 5. and Deut. 12. quite plucke downe] or, destroy, abolish, letting nothing remaine; in Greeke, take away their pillars: see Lev. 26. 30.
Vers. 53. dispossesse the land] or, disinherit, drive out (as in v. 52.) the land; that is, as the Greek translateth, destroy the inhabitants of the land: and so Moses explaineth it in v. 55. A like phrase is in Ios. 17. 17. they could not dispossesse (or drive out) the cities, meaning the inhabitants of those cities: so house is for the houshold, or men of the house, Gen. 45. 11. 18. It may also be translated, yee shall inherit the land; and so it agreeth with the words following.
Vers. 54. by lot] as was commanded before in Num. 26. 55. ye shall give them the more inheritance] Hebr. yee shall multiply his inheritance: see this phrase in Num. 26. 54. for him] that is, for any one, or for every one.
Vers. 55. shall be pricks] or shall be for pricks in your eyes, and for thornes in your sides: which Ioshua repeating, saith, scourges in your sides, and thornes in your eies, Ios. 23. 13. And the Prophet speaking of the enemies of Gods people, calleth them a pricking bryar unto the house of Israel, and a grieving thorne, Ezek. 28. 24. By these similitudes the hurt and mischiefe is signified, which such wicked people would doe unto the Church in soule and body, being a meane to draw them into sin, and to afflict them, as it is written, They destroyed not the Nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them; but were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works, and served their idols which were a snare unto them, Psal. 106. 34, 35, 36. And the troubles which they brought upon Israel, are set forth in the booke of Iudges, in the historie of Iabin, Sisera, and other. So the Chaldee expoundeth these pricks and thornes, thus; They shall be companies taking up armes against you, and troupes causing you to fall. shall vex you in the land] and Iosua addeth, untill ye perish from off this good land, which Iehovah your God hath given you, Ios. 23. 13.