Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 1
CHAPTER I.
1 Moses speech in the end of the fortieth yeare, briefly rehearsing the Story. 6 Of Gods promise and offer to give Israel the Land of Canaan. 9 Of Officers given them. 19 Of Spies sent to search the Land. 34 Of Gods anger for Israels incredulitie, 41 and disobedience.
THese bee the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Iordan, in the wildernesse, in the plaine, over against the red Sea, betweene Pharan and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. Eleven daies journey from Horeb, by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-Barnea. And it was in the fortieth year, in the eleventh monethmonth, in the first day of the monethmonth, Moses spake unto the sonnes of Israel, according unto all that Iehovah had commanded him, unto them. After he had smitten Sihon King of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, which dwelt in Ashtaroth, in Edrei. On this side Iordan, in the Land of Moab, began Moses to declare this Law, saying; Iehovah our God spake unto vsus in Horeb saying, Yee have dwelt long enough in this mountaine. Turne you and take your journey, and goe to the mount of the Amorite, and unto all his neighbours, in the plaine, in the mountaine, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the Sea side: to the land of the Canaanite, and Lebanon, unto the great River, the river Euphrates. Behold, I have given the land before you, goe in and possesse the land which Iehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Iakob, to give unto them, and to their seed after them.
And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able my selfe alone to beare you. Iehovah your God hath multiplied you: and behold you are this day, as the Starres of the heavens for multitude. Iehovah, God of your fathers, adde unto you a thousand times so many as you are, and blesse you as hee hath spoken unto you. How shall I beare my selfe alone, your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? Give yee for you wise men, and understanding, and knowne among your tribes, and I will appoint them for to be your heads. And yee answered me and said, The word which thou hast spoken is good to doe. And I tooke the heads of your tribes, wise men and knowne, and gave them to be heads over you; rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, and officers among your tribes. And I commanded your Iudges at that time, saying, Heare between your brethren, and judge justice betweene a man and his brother, and his stranger. Yee shall not respect persons in judgement; you shall heare alike, the small and the great; you shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment, that is Gods: and the cause which shall bee too hard for you, bring it unto mee, and I will heare it.
And I commanded you at that time, all the things which yee should doe.
And we journeyed from Horeb, and went thorow all that great and fearfull wildernesse which you have seene, by the way of the mountaine of the Amorites, as Iehovah our God commanded us; and wee came unto Kadesh Barnea. And I said unto you, Yee are come unto the mountaine of the Amorites, which Iehovah our God giveth unto us. Behold, Iehovah thy God hath given the land before thee, goe up, possesse it, as Iehovah the God of thy Fathers hath spoken unto thee; feare not, neither be discouraged.
And ye came near unto me, all of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search out for us the land, and shall bring us word againe, by what way wee shall goe up, and into what Cities we shall come.
And the word was good in mine eies, and I tooke of you twelve men, one man of a tribe.
And they turned & went up into the mountaine, and came unto the valley of Eshcol: and they searched it out. And they tooke in their hand of the fruit of the land, and brought it downe unto us, and brought us word againe and said, It is a good land which Iehovah our God giveth us. But ye would not goe up, but rebelled against the mouth of Iehovah your God. And murmured in your Tents, and said, In the hatred of Iehovah towards us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorite to destroy us. Whither goe we up? Our brethren have caused our heart to melt, saying, The people is greater and taller than wee; the Cities are great and walled up to heaven: and moreover wee have seene the sonnes of the Anakims there.
And I said unto you, Bee not terrified, neither be afraid of them. Iehovah your God, that goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that hee did for you in Egypt, before your eyes; And in the wildernesse, which thou hast seene, how that Iehovah thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his sonne, in all the way that ye went, untill yee came unto this place. Yet in this thing you did not beleeve in Iehovah your God.
Who went before you in the way, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should goe; and in a cloud by day. And Iehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, If there shall a man see, of these men, of this evill generation, the good land which I sware to give unto your fathers. Except Caleb, the sonne of Iephunneh, hee shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his sonnes, because he hath fully followed Iehovah. Also Iehovah was angrie with mee for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not goe in thither. Ioshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, hee shall goe in thither; strengthen thou him, for hee shall cause Israel to inherit it. And your little ones, which you said should bee for a prey, and your sons which know not this day good and evill, they shall goe in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possesse it.
But as for you, turne ye, and take your journey into the wildernesse, by the way of the red sea. And yee answered and said unto mee, wee have sinned against Iehovah: wee will goe up and fight, according to all that Iehovah our God hath commanded us: and ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and pressed forward to go up into the mountaine. And Iehovah said unto me, Say unto them, Goe not up, neither fight, for I am not among you, that yee be not smitten before your enemies. And I spake unto you, and you heard not, but rebelled against the mouth of Iehovah, and you were presumptuous, and went up into the mountain. And the Amorite that dwelleth in that mountain, came out against you; and they pursued you as Bees doe, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. And yee returned and wept before Iehovah: but Iehovah heard not your voyce, neither gave eare unto you. And yee abode in Kadesh many daies, according to the daies that ye abode there.
Annotations.
DEuteronomie:] A Greeke word, by interpretation, The repetition, (or second declaration) of the Law. This name is borrowed from Deut. 17. 18. where Mishneh hatorah, the Copie of the Law, is in Greeke translated Deuteronomion, which title is given to the whole booke, as that which containeth a repetition and explanation of the Lawes before given, as v. 5. The Ebrews call this booke by the first words thereof, ELLEH HADBARIM, THESE be THE WORDS. And here beginneth the 44 Section, or Lecture of the Law: see the notes on Gen. 6. 9.
Vers. 1. On this side] or, on the out side; that is, beyond Iordan, as the Greeke translateth. The word signifieth both sides, and by circumstance of place is to be understood. To those out of the land of Canaan, it was on this side: to the Israelites in Canaan, it was beyond, or the out side of Iordan, where Moses spake these things: For Moses might not enter into the land. Here Thargum Ierusalemy (whom Onkelos the Chaldee Paraphrast also followeth) explaineth it thus: These bee the words which Moses spake unto all Israel; hee rebuked them, for that they had sinned on this side Iordan, &c. Hereupon the Rabbins call this booke, Sepher Thocbechoth, that is, the booke of Rebukes. Iordan] Hebr. Iarden: a River springing out of mount Lebanon, in the north end of Canaan, running along the Countrey. Of it, and the mysterie thereof, see Num. 34. 12. Ioshua 3. the plaine] to wit, of Moabs land, as vers. 5. see Num. 22. 1. There Moses spake these things and died, Deut. 34. 5. The Chaldee saith, Moses rebuked them, because they had provoked God in the plaine. the red sea] so both Greeke and Chaldee doe translate it, adding the word sea: others keepe the Hebrew name Suph, which signifieth flags, such as grow by the sea and rivers sides, Exod. 2. 3. and so expound it, not of the Sea Suph (called the Red Sea) but of a flaggie place by the sides of Iordan inwards the wildernesse of Arabia. So in Num. 21. 14. Pharan] or Paran, a wildernesse south-ward from the place where Moses now was, thorow which Israel had passed, Num. 13. 1. in it was a mountaine so named, Deut. 33. 2. The Chaldee here addeth, in Pharan, where they mur… against the Manna. Tophel] this is thought to be atowne, called afterwards Pella, which was northward from where Moses now spake. Laban in Greek, Lobon; of others, Lybias; a Citie lying from them northwest. Hazeroth] by interpretation, Court-yards, and so the Greeke expounds it: a place lying eastward. Of Hazeroth we read also in Numb. 11. 35. and 13. 1. VntoUnto it the Chaldee here referreth it, saying, In Hazereth where they provoked God for flesh. Diza… a region, wherein was the Citie Mezahab, as some suppose. Zahab signifies gold; and so the Greeke here translateth, by the Gold-mines. The Chaldee referres it to the golden Calfe which they made. All these are limits of the place where Moses gave this Deuteronomie, which was without the holy Land, and river Iordan (wherein …tisme was administred, Matth. 3.) environed with places, which in name and situation, signified …; and teach us the use of this Law, which is in afflict the soule by shewing it sin, and to pre… for Christ, who by faith bringeth us to … in the heavenly Canaan, Hebr. 4. 1, 2, 3. &c.
Verse. 2. Eleven daies journey] so the Chaldee expounds it, adding also the word journey. Some of the Hebrews thinke, that in eleven daies, all things in this Booke of Deuteronomie were by Moses rehearsed. Neither could it bee any long time seeing Moses began the first day of the eleventh … ▪ ver. 3. and having ended all things in this booke, died and was mourned for thirty daies, Deut. 34. 8. Then Iosua sendeth spies to view the land, Ios. 2. leadeth the people thorow Iordan, Ios. 3. circumciseth them, and after keepeth the Passeover the foureteenth day of the first monethmonth, Ios. 5. Horeb] called also Sinai, the mount where the law was given; see Exod. 3. 1. mount Seir] the mountainy countrey of Seir, wherein the Edomites dwelt, Gen. 36. 8, 9. Kadesh barnea] the southerne border of the land of Canaan, Num. 34. 4. Though the way was so short, yet Israel for their sinnes wandred forty yeares in the wildernesse, as God had threatned, Num. 14. 33, 34. in which time all the fathers died.
Verse 3. Fortieth yeare] of Israels comming out of Egypt. In the first monethmonth of this yeare, Marie, Moses sister, died, Num. 20. 1. in the first day of the fifth monethmonth thereof, Aaron his brother died, Num. 33. 38. and now at the end of the yeare, Moses himselfe dieth, when he had repeated the Law, and renewed the Covenant between God and his people Israel.
Vers. 4. Sihon] the storie hereof see in Num. 21. and after in Deut. 2. 26. &c. The slaughter of Sihon and Og, was an encouragement to Israel, for their after warres; and an argument to move them unto thankfull obedience to the Law now repeated. in Astaroth, in Edrei] hee dwelt in Astaroth, and was smitten in Edrei, where the battell was fought, Num. 21. 33. or as the Greeke translateth it, he dwelt in Astaroth and in Edrei; for they were both Cities in Ogs land, Ios. 13. 31. and Og is said to have reigned in Astaroth, and Edrei, Ios. 13. 12. In Gen. 14. 5. it is called Asteroth Karnaim.
Verse 5. began] or, willingly tooke upon him: for the word implieth willingnes and contentednes: see Gen. 18. 27. So all Ministers should feed their flocks willingly, and of a ready minde, 1 Pet. 5. 2. And Moses began to declare, that is, he declared as Iesus began to say unto his Disciples, Luk. 12. 1. that is, he said unto them, Mat. 16. 6. and his disciples began to plucke the eares of corne, Mat. 12. 1. that is, they plucked, Luk. 6. 1. to declare] or, to make plaine, clearely manifest, to the understanding of the people, as in Habak. 2. 2. a thing is said to be made plaine in writing, that hee may run that readeth it.
Verse 6. dwelt] or sitten (that is, continued) much. They came to that mount, in the third monethmonth after their departure out of Egypt, Exod. 19. 1, 2. and removed frō the mount, the 20 of the second monethmonth in the second yere, Num. 10. 11, 12. so they remained there almost a whole yeer, where they received the Law, or Old Testament, and had made a Tabernacle for God to dwell among them: from thence God calleth them by word and signe, the cloud removing, Num. 10. 11. 13. 33. to journey towards Canaan, the land promised to Abraham, the figure of their heavenly inheritance by faith in Christ. The law is not for men to continue under, but for a time, till they be fitted and brought unto Christ: see Gal. 3. 16, 17, 18. and 4. 1.—5. Heb. 3. 18, 19. and 4. 6.—11.
Verse 7. Amorite] put for Amorites, as the Greeke translateth, whose neighbours were the Canaanites, Pherezites, and other Nations promised to be their possession, Exod. 23. 23, 28, 31. side] or, sea Port, which was their westerne border, Num. 34. 6. Lebanon] which was a mount on the north part of the Land. Euphrates] in Hebrew, Phrath; which was their easterne bound, in the utmost extent without Iordan. And so far Salomon reigned, 1 King. 4. 21. Of this Euphrates, see the notes on Gen. 2. 14.
Vers. 8. I have given] or, I give: which implieth both Israels right unto that land, Levit. 25. 23. Iudg. 11. 23, 24. and their assured victorie over the inhabitants, Exod. 23. 27—31. Both these proceeding from the gracious gift of God: as eternall life (shadowed by this land) is also the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6. 23. Seed] that is, children, or posterity: see the notes on Gen. 13. 15.
Vers. 9. I said] Moses was occasioned unto this motion, not onelyonly by the conscience of his owne inability (here mentioned,) but by the counsell of Iethro, and commandement of the Lord, Exod. 18. 14, 18, 19, 21, 23. Thus the people were furnished with all helpes, for their orderly and peaceable travels.
Vers. 10. As the Starres] so the promise was fulfilled which Abraham beleeved, Gen. 15. 5, 6. They were six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, Exod. 12. 37. Numb. 1. see also Deut. 10. 22.
Vers. 11. Adde] that is, increase: Moses envied not their multitude, but wished them still more; as David also did, Psal. 115. 14. And the increase of the Church is a speciall blessing, fulfilled in Christ, as Esay 49. 20, 21. and 54. 1, 2, 3.
Vers. 12. Your cumbrance] or, wearisome molestation; trouble, as Esay 1. 14. this sheweth the Magistrates office to bee weighty and laborious. And by your cumbrance, understand, the cumbrance that commeth unto me by you. For when a people is increased, the care and trouble of their Governours is increased also, 1 King. 3, 8, 9. 2 Cor. 11. 28.
Vers. 13. Give yee] of your owne looking out, and choise. So Ministers were lookt out, and presented by the people, Act. 1. 15, 23. and 6. 3, 5, 6. In Ex. 18. 25. it is said, Moses chose men of abilitie, &c. Here the people gave them: and after in v. 15. Againe, Moses gave, that is, made them heads: for when things are done by many, under the government of one principall, they are said to be done by them, or by him. See the Annotations on Num. 21. 21. understanding] or prudent: the Greeke translateth, skilfull, or indued with knowledge; which word the Apostle useth, Iam. 3. 13. knowne] or expert, as the word signifieth in Esay 53. 3. This latter the Greeke favoureth here, and in v. 15. Compare Exod. 18. 21. where the qualities of Rulers are set downe. Hends] that is, Captaines, Governours, or Leaders, as the Greeke here translateth; and in v. 15. and c. 5. v. 23. and often otherwhere.
Vers. 15. and gave them] that is, set them, made them, or constituted them, as the Greeke and Chaldee versions explaine it. So, hee hath given thee over them for king, 2 Chron. 9. 8. is expounded, hee hath set (or constituted) thee King, 1 King. 10. 9. Officers] in Hebrew, Shotrim: they were such as executed the Magistrates lawes, as the Hebrews thinke: see the notes on Deut. 16. 18. among] or, to your Tribes. The Greeke translateth it, to your Iudges: which seemeth to bee a mistaking, Shophte for Shibte: although even in the Hebrew text wee may see one of these put for another, as Iudges in 1 Chron. 17. 6. which in 2 Sam. 7. 7. is Tribes.
Verse 16. Heare betweene your brethren] to wit, the causes and controversies betweene them. Hebr. To heare, which phrase is often used in commandements, as is noted on Exod. 13. 3. and it may be a defective speech; for hearing, heare yee; that is, heare diligently. judge justice] that is, just and righteous judgment: which is opposed unto judging according to the appearance, Ioh. 7. 24. his stranger] that is, the stranger that is with him, or contendeth with him: as, hee that eateth my bread, Psal. 41. 10. that is, which eateth bread with me, Ioh. 13. 18.
Verse 17. respect persons] or, acknowledge faces, either by honouring the person of the mightie, or by countenancing a poore man in his cause, Levit. 19. 15. Exod. 23. 3. Salomon noteth this as one of the things belonging to the wise, that it is not good to acknowledge faces (or respect persons) in judgment, Prov. 24. 23. alike the small, &c.] that is, the small as well as the great, and the great as well as the small. Hebr. like small, like great. It implyeth both persons, and causes. of man] or, of any man. that is Gods] or, of God, and belonging to him: appointed by his Law. So in 2 Chron. 19. 6. Yee judge not for man, but for the LORD. And a like phrase is in another case, The battell is not yours, but Gods, 2 Chron. 20. 15. the cause] or, the word, the matter. See Exod. 18. 22.
Verse 18. all the things] Hebr. all the words. Thus Moses faithfully taught the Iudges and people all their duties, and they had a perfect law. So Christ, (who was faithfull to him that appointed him, as Moses was, Heb. 3. 2.) made knowne to his Disciples, all things that he had heard of his father, Ioh. 15. 15. which they should teach also his people to observe, Mat. 28. 20.
Verse 19. journied] or departed. Here Moses sheweth the obedience which they began to shew unto God, in leaving the mount of God, the place which might seeme sanctified, and where men might have said, Lord, it is good for us to bee here: as Mat. 17. 4. great] for it bordered upon many countries, Madian, Edom, Moab, &c. and fearefull, for the many troubles and terrours in it. Num. 11. 1. &c. it was a land of desarts and 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. wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions, Deut. 8. 15. It was the wildernesse of Pharan, Num. 10. 12. and 13. 1. where Ismael dwelt, when his mother Agar and hee had lost themselves in wandring, after that they were cast out of Abrahams house, Gen. 21. 21. It figured the estate and dominion of the law, thorow which Gods people passe with many wants, sinnes, terrours, and stings of conscience, &c. Compare Psal. 63. 2. and 32. 4. and 107. 4, 5. and the healing of all these spirituall defects by the Gospell, Esa. 40. 3, 4. Mark. 16. 18. of the mount] that is, which leadeth to the mount of the Amorites; a people high as Cedars, strong as Okes, Amos 2. 9, 10. Kadesh Barnea] called sometime Kadesh onelyonly; it was in the wildernesse of Pharan, Num. 13. 26.
Verse. 21. discouraged] or, cast downe, broken: which word, when it is applied to the minde, signifieth discouragement through feare. Here Moses shewed them the right that they had in the promises of God; the ability which they had in him to obtaine them; and his commandement to take their inheritance set before them.
Verse 23. was good] that is, pleased, or liked me well: because it was approved, or at least permitted of the Lord, Num. 13. 2, 3. For prudent policie (so it bee not mixed with unbeleefe) doth well beseeme us, in the execution of Gods commandements. So Iosua sendeth spies and useth other stratagems, Ios. 2. &c. one man of a tribe] or, for a tribe, of every tribe one: See Num. 13. 2, 4. &c. where their names are set downe, and the charge given them.
Verse 24. Eshcol] that is, the Cluster of grapes, whereof the place had the name, Num. 13. 25.
Verse 25. the fruit] as grapes, pomegranates, figs, Num. 13. 23. a good land] flowing with milke …ney, Num. 13. 27.
Verse 26. rebelled] in Greeke, disobeyed: properly it signifieth turned, or changed, as in Ezek. 5. 6. which figuratively is used for rebellion or disobedience, whereby Gods word is as it were changed and disanulled. the mouth] that is, the word, as the Greeke translateth. So Exod. 17. 1. Gen. 24. foreign and after here in vers. 43. Of their rebellion, see Num. 14. 2, 3, &c.
Verse 27. In the hatred] or, for the hatred of Ie… (wherwith he hateth) us: that is, for that the Lord hateth us; as in the Greeke version. See … phrase in Gen. 19. 16. and 29. 20. Hos. 3. … evill saying Moses would not have to come … of the mouth of their enemies, Deut. 9. 28. and it sheweth the height of their sinne, which imp…ed that to hatred, wherein God manifested his … Deut. 4. 37. and 7. 8.
Vers. 28. to melt] that is, discouraged, or (as the Chaldee translateth it) broken. The Greeke saith, Have turned away our heart. David amplifieth this …litude, in Psal. 22. 15. My heart is as wax, it …ten &c. So Ios. 2. 11. and 7. 5. and 14. 8. Es… 19. 1. These brethren were ten of the twelve Spies sent to view the Land, Num. 13. 28. &c. …kims] in Greeke and Chaldee, Giants: see N…. 13. 28. 33. where it is singular Anak.
Vers. 30. He] the Chaldee paraphraseth, his … will fight for you.
Verse 31. bare thee] this word meaneth not bearing of the body onelyonly, but bearing of their infirmities, and suffering the evils and troubles in the education of them, as a father doth in his children: which the Greeke explaineth by etrophophsrese, a word that Paul useth in Act. 13. 18. where the Syriak expoundeth it nourished: or, as some copies have it, etropophorese, hee suffered their manners.
Verse 32. yet in this thing] or, for this word: notwithstanding this exhortation and encouragement, you beleeved not. in Iehovah] Chald. in the word of the LORD. This unbeleefe Paul noteth to be the cause why they entred not into the Lords rest, Heb. 3. 1, 2. 18. 19.
Verse 33. Who went] namely, by his Arke, Fire, and Cloud, the signes of his presence, Numb. 10. 33. 34. or, who goeth, to wit, still before you.
Verse. 35. If there shall] that is, surely there shall not: as Paul openeth the phrase, Heb. 3. 11. 18. Though Moses intreated for the people, Num. 14. 13.—19. and the Lord pardoned them, that they were not then destroyed, Num. 14. 20. yet hee sware (and so it was irrevocable, and without repentance, Psal. 110. 4.) that they should not come into the promised land: See the notes on Num. 14. see] that is, come into and enjoy: as to see good, is to enjoy the same, Psal. 106. 5.
Verse 36. Caleb] one of the twelve Spies who was faithfull: see Num. 13. 6. 30. and 14. 6. &c. fully followed] Hebr. fulfilled after Iehovah; which the Greeke translateth, followed the things pertaining to the Lord. This he did, being guided by another spirit, Num. 14. 24.
Verse 37. with me] with Aaron also; for they both were in one transgression and punishment, Num. 20. 10, 12, 24. for your sakes] for the people provoked his spirit, whereupon hee uttered his sinne with his lips, Psal. 106. 32, 33. his sinne proceeded also from unbeleefe: see Num. 20. 12. Thus God shewed severity towards all, after many provocations: and by it the people were taught, that not Moses Law, but Iesus Gospel should bring them into their heavenly rest.
Vers. 38. Ioshuah] or, Iehoshuah; in Greeke, Iesus: he was another of the Spies; see Num. 13. 8. 16. and 14. 6. 38. standeth] that is, ministreth, or, is thy servant, as the phrase meaneth, Gen. 18. 8. and so hee is named Moses minister, Ios. 1. 1. strengthen] by word and signe, which was imposition of hands, whereby Moses put off his honour upon Iesus, and hee was filled with the Spirit, Num. 27. 18. 20. 23. Deut. 34. 9.
Verse 39. for a prey] to be spoiled and devoured of the enemy: of this their speech see Num. 14. 3. they shall goe in] after forty yeares wandring in the wildernesse, and bearing their fathers whoredomes: see Num. 14. 31. 33. So God sheweth grace to weaklings and babes in Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 28. Mat. 11. 25.
Verse 40. way of] that is, which leadeth towards the red sea, where Israel had beene baptized, Exod. 14. and whither they were now led againe, to learn repentance and a new life. See Num. 14. 25.
Vers. 41. sinned] The people mourned greatly, when they heard that evill tidings from the Lord; confessed their sinne, and offered amendment, Num. 14. 39, 40. but their repentance was not according to God; (for presently they rushed into another extremity;) neither could they reverse the decree passed against them. his weapons of war] or, the weapons of his warre, which is an Hebrew phrase very common, translated in Greeke, his weapons of War: so in Dan. 9. 24. citie of thy holinesse, that is, thy holy citie; and the house of my praier, Esay 56. 7. that is, my house of praier; and many the like. pressed forward] assayed of your owne accord, or thronged; as the Greeke translateth, gathered together; the Chaldee, yee began. The Hebrew word is used here onelyonly: in Num. 14. 44. there is said, they loftily presumed, or lifted up themselves; answerable to their presumption here following.
Vers. 42. I am not] the Chaldee expoundeth it, my majestie (or presence) dwelleth not among you: see Num. 14. 42. smitten] in Greeke, broken, or crushed. The Lord threatned their fall by the sword of the Amalekites and Canaanites, Num. 14. 43.
Verse 43. were presumptuous] or, were proud, arrogant: compare Num. 14. 44. The people having by their evil heart and unfaithful, departed from the living God, would returne to him by the workes of their own hands; wch was a presumptuous sin, and shewed their repentance not to be sincere, but that the flesh repined and strugled against the chastisements of God, not willing to beare the punishment of their iniquitie. See the notes on Num. 14.
Verse 44. Amorite] with the Amalekites: See Numb. 14. 45. Bees doe] or, Bees vse to doe: which when they are angred, get them together, and flie on the faces of their provokers: see Psal. 118. 12. Our sinnes are enemies, like Bees, many compact in the hive of the heart: being troubled and provoked, they become more eager and fierce, sting and pursue us. They cannot be subdued but by faith in Christ, (as they that were stung of Serpents were healed by him, Num. 21.) for, by the workes of the Law, no sinne can be expelled, Rom. 7. 7, 8. &c. Hormah] the Greeke saith, from Seir unto Herma: see Num. 14. 45.
Verse 45. returned] the Greeke saith, yee sate downe and wept. heard not] Chaldee, accepted not your praier. This figured, how Israel following the Law of justice, could not attaine unto it, because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, Rom. 9. 31, 32.
Verse 46. Kadesh] a large wildernesse, where Israel abode long, as appeareth by Num. 13. 27. and 20. 1. 14, 21. Iudg. 11. 17. Deut. 2. 14.