Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX.
1 Great mercies promised to the repentant sinners. 11 The commandement is manifest, and wordneere. 15 Life and death are set before them, with an exhortation to chuse life.
ANd it shall be when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse which I have set before thee, and thou shalt cause them to returne unto thine heart, in all the nations whither Iehovah thy God hath driven thee: And thou returne unto Iehovah thy God, and shalt hearken to his voice, according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy sonnes, with all thine heart, and with all thy soule: Then Iehovah thy God will returne thy Captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will returne & gather thee from all the peoples, whither Iehovah thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine bee driven out unto the outmost part of the heavens, from thence will Iehovah thy God gather thee, & from thence will he take thee. And Iehovah thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possesse it; and hee will doe thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers, And Iehovah thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Iehovah thy God, with all thine heart, and with all thy soule, that thou maiest live. And Iehovah thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and upon thy haters which persecuted thee. And thou shalt returne and hearken to the voice of Iehovah, and do all his commandemēts which I command thee this day. And Iehovah thy God will make thee plenteous in every worke of thine hand, in the fruit of thy wombe, and in the fruit of thy cattell, and in the fruit of thy land for good, for Iehovah will returne to rejoyce over thee for good, as hee rejoyced over thy fathers. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Iehovah thy God, to keepe his commandements, & his statutes, that which is written in this booke of the law, if thou shalt returne unto Iehovah thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soule. For, this commandement which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in the heavens, to say, Who shall goe up for us to the heavens, and take it for us, and cause us to heare it, that wee may doe it? Neither is it beyond the sea, to say, Who shall goe over to beyond sea for us, and take it for us, and cause us to heare it, that wee may doe it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, to doe it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evill. In that I command thee this day to love Iehovah thy God, to walke in his waies, and to keepe his commandements, and his statutes, and his judgments, that thou maist live & multiply, and Iehovah thy God may blesse thee in the Land whither thou goest in to possesse it. But if thine heart turne away, and thou wilt not heare, but shalt be drawne away, and bow downe thy selfe to other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that perishing yee shall perish, yee shall not prolong your daies upon the land, which thou art passing over Iordan to goe in thither to possesse it. I take the heavens and the earth to witnesse against you this day; life and death I have set before thee, the blessing and the curse, therefore chuse thou life that thou maist live, thou and thy seed. To love Iehovah thy God, to hearken to his voice, and to cleave unto him; for hee is thy life, and the length of thy daies, to dwell upon the land which Iehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Iakob, to give unto them.
Annotations.
THese things] Hebr. these words, that is, things before spoken of. Here follow promises of grace in Christ to repentant and beleeving sinners. the blessing] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, the blessings and the curses. After the experiment of the Law, and weakenesse thereof, that it cannot keepe men in the state of blessednesse, nor deliver them from the curse, they are as by a Schoolemaster brought unto Christ, Gal. 3. 24. Rom. 8. 3, 4. have set] Hebr. have given. So in v. 15. and 19. cause them to returne] or, reduce, bring againe to thine heart, that is, call to minde, consider seriously. So in Deut. 4. 39. This is the beginning of repentance and turning to the Lord, by calling to minde their sinnes, and Gods words and workes; as in 1 King. 8. 46, 47. If they sinne against thee, &c. and thou bee angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, &c. If they shall make it returne to their heart, in the land whither they were caried captives, and returne and make supplication unto thee, &c. So in Esay 46. 8. Shew your selves men, make it returne to heart, O yee transgressors: and in Lam. 3. 21. This I make to returne to my heart, therefore have I hope. A like phrase is of the prodigall sonne, in Luk. 15. 17. that hee came to himselfe.
Vers. 2. unto Iehovah] the Chaldee expoundeth it, unto the feare of the LORD. This is true repentance, both to leave the evill, and to turne unto the good, from which they departed. So in Lament. 3. 40. Let us search and try our waies, and turne againe to the Lord. The contrary is complained of in Hos. 7. 16. they returne, but not to the most high. And here faith also is implyed; for as to come unto Christ, is to beleeve in him, Ioh. 6. 35. so to turne unto the Lord with all the heart, is to beleeve in him; for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousnesse, Rom. 10. 10. and by faith the heart is purified, Act. 15. 9. unto which obedience and good workes are adjoyned, Iam. 2. 14,—26.
Vers. 3. will returne thy captivity] will bring thee againe out of bondage under thine enemies, which figured the bondage under sinne, 2 Pet. 2. 19, 20. Therefore the Greeke translateth it, will heale thy sinnes, that is, will forgive them; as healing, in Matth. 13. 15. is expounded, forgiving of sinnes, Mark. 4. 12. This is a promise of grace to be performed by Christ, who preached deliverance to the captives, Luk. 4. 18. and it is the joy of his people, Psal. 14. 7. and 126. 1, 2. and a figure of their salvation, Esay 10. 22. compared with Rom. 9. 27. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to bee a Prince and Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgivenesse of sinnes, Act. 5. 31. have compassion] or, shew tender merciemercy; this is the cause of the former grace & deliverance. It is of Iehovahs mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions faile not, Lament. 3. 22. So the father of the Prodigall sonne, seeing him a far off, had compussion, Luk. 15. 20. And this compassion or mercy respecteth mans misery, Matth. 9. 36. and 14. 14. and gather thee] So after the captivity of Babylon, God promiseth, He that scattered Israel, will gather him and keepe him as a shepherd doth his flocke, Ier. 31. 10. This worke Christ hath spiritually accomplished, of whom it is said, that hee should die, not for the nation of the Iewes only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad, Ioh. 11. 51, 52. Therefore this gathering is often celebrated, as in Psal. 107. 1, 2, 3. and 147. 1, 2. and 106. 47, 48.
Vers. 4. If any of thine bee driven] Hebr. If thy driven out; speaking of every particular person, and of all, as one man. The Greeke translateth, If thy dispersion be, that is, thy dispersed; which word is used in this sense, in Ioh. 7. 35. 1 Pet. 1. 1. outmost part of the heavens] that is, of the world which seemeth to bee bounded by the heavens. The Greeke translateth it, from the end (or outmost part) of heaven, unto the end of heaven: which phrase Christ useth, of gathering together his Elect at the last day, Matt. 24. 31. See the notes on Deut. 4. 32. This promise Nehemias looked unto, in his praier alleaging Gods words, If yee transgresse, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if yee turne unto me and keepe my commandements, and doe them, though any of thine were driven out unto the outmost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from thence, and bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there, Neh. 1. 8, 9. thy God gather thee] The Thargum called Ionathans expoundeth this to be the Word of the LORD; and the performance to be by the hand of Elias, and by the hand of the King Christ. Respecting (as it seemeth) the promise of Elias, Mal. 4. 5, 6. which was Iohn the Baptist, the fore-runner of Christ, Luk. 1. 16, 17.
Vers. 5. shalt possesse] or, shalt inherit it. This is a promise of restoring them unto his Church, figured by the land of Canaan, Psal. 69. 36, 37. Ezek. 36. 8, 11, 12, 24, 28, &c.
Vers. 6. will circumcise thine heart] the Greeke translateth, will purge (or cleanse round about) thine heart: and both the Chaldee Paraphrasts expound it, will take away the foolishnesse of thine heart, and the foolishnesse of the heart of thy sonnes. This is a promise of spirituall blessings in regeneration and sanctification by Christ, in whom we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptisme, &c. Col. 2. 11, 12. And of this it is said, Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God, Rom. 2. 29. See the Annot. on Gen. 17. The Hebrew Doctors in the Midrash or Commentary on Song 2. 12. from these words, The time of pruning (or of cutting the vines) is come, give this exposition, For the time is come that Israel shall bee redeemed, the time is come that the superfluous foreskin shall bee cut off, which is spoken of in Deut. 30. 6. and the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, &c. where they apply this worke of grace unto Christ whom they looked for. to love] this is the effect of Christs circumcision, that it taketh from us evill, and giveth good; Love being the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13. 10. and implying all other graces; as it is said, I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may feare me all daies, &c. Ier. 32. 39. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you: and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh, that they may walke in my statutes, and keepe my ordinances, and doe them, &c. Ezek. 11. 19, 20. that thou maist live] so the Greeke translateth the Hebrew phrase, for thy life, meaning the life of God, here by saith and holinesse, Rom. 6. 11, 13. and hereafter for ever in heaven: as to enter into life, Matt. 18. 9. is expounded, to enter into the kingdome of God, Mark. 9. 47.
Vers. 7. will put] Hebr. will give. Here follow earthly blessings, which God of his grace will adde unto the former spirituall. Of which, one is the curses upon their enemies, concerning which it is said, Thou wilt render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the worke of their hands: thou wilt give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them; thou wilt persecute in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD, Lam. 3. 64, 65, 66.
Vers. 8. hearken to] or, obey the voice; which the Chaldee interpreteth, receive the Word of the LORD: so in vers. 10. The condition of obedience is set before the temporall blessings; for godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4. 8.
Vers. 9. make thee plenteous] or, make thee excellent, unto which Thargum Ionathan addeth, for good, that yee may prosper in all the workes of your hands. rejoyce over thee] This Christ taught in parables, of rejoycing for the lost sheepe that was found, Luk. 15. 6, 7. and of the Prodigall sonne he saith; It was meet that wee should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead, and is alive againe; and was lost, and is found, Luk. 15. 32. So in the other Prophets, I will rejoyce in Ierusalem, and joy in my people, Esay 65. 19. and, I will rejoyce over them to doe them good, Ier. 32. 41. See also Deut. 28. 63.
Vers. 10. that which is written] meaning all and every thing written; so teaching us exact obedience. unto Iehovah] in Chaldee, unto the feare of the Lord.
Vers. 11. this commandement] which after in v. 14. he calleth the Word; and the Apostle expoundeth it, the Word of faith, Rom. 10. 8. So this speech is not of the Law onelyonly, neither sheweth it what man can doe by the Law, much lesse by nature; but is the speech of the righteousnesse of faith, Rom. 10. 6. Though Moses teacheth them also, not to blame the Law of hardnesse to bee learned, seeing God had now caused it to be written & expounded unto them. not hidden from thee] or, not too marvellous and hard for thee to know; and so, not impossible, through faith in Christ, as is the Law without faith, in that it is weake through the flesh, Rom. 8. 3. The Chaldee translateth, it is not separated from thee; and Thargum Ionathan expoundeth, it is not covered (or hid) from you. The holy Ghost in Greeke translateth this word marvellous, Matt. 21. 42. from Psal. 118. and unpossible, Luk. 1. 37. See the Annotations on Gen. 18. 14. and Deut. 17. 8. By Esaias also God saith; I have not spoken in secret in a darke place of the earth, Esay 45. 19.
Vers. 12. to say] that is, that thou shouldest say; so in v. 13. see the Annotations on Gen. 6. 19. where sundry like speeches are shewed. This saying is meant of the heart also; wherefore the Apostle citeth it thus; Say not in thine heart, who shall goe up into heaven? Rom. 10. 6. Who shall goe up for us] the Ierusalemy Thargum explaineth it, O that wee had one like Moses the Prophet, that might goe up into the heavens, &c. but the Apostle applieth it more heavenly to Christs incarnation; Who shall goe up into heaven, that is, to bring Christ downe from above? Rom. 10. 6. VntoUnto which doubt hee opposeth the confession with the mouth, that Iesus is the LORD, vers. 9. that is, that God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. for no man hath ascended up to heaven, (of whō we may learne the true understanding of the Law,) but hee that came downe from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven, Iohn 3. 13. and cause us to heare it] that is, preach it unto us. that wee may doe it] or, and we would doe it.
Vers. 13. beyond the sea] Thargum Ionathan explaineth it, beyond the great sea; and Thargum Ierusalemy addeth, Neither is the Law beyond the great sea, that thou shouldest say, O that we had one like Ionas the Prophet, that might goe downe to the bottome of the great sea, and bring it to us, &c. All things hidden from men, which they cannot attaine, are either in heaven above, or beyond sea, in the farre places of the earth: but the Law of God is in neither of these, but neere unto every one, to learne and to doe. who shall goe over to beyond sea] Paul alleageth this place thus, Who shall goe downe into the deepe, that is, to bring up Christ from the dead? Rom. 10. 7. unto which he opposeth in vers. 9. beleefe in the heart, that God hath raised him from the dead. Now, Ionas the Prophet, to whose example the Ierusalemy Thargum applieth this, was a figure of Christ, as himselfe hath said, As Ionas was three daies and three nights in the Whales belly; so shall the Sonne of man be three daies & three nights in the heart of the earth, Matt. 12. 40. And as the Sea in Ionas case is called the Deepe, Psal. 104. 6. and 107. 24, 26. Exod. 15. 5. so David (prophesying of Christ) saith that God had brought him up from the deepes of the earth, Psal. 71. 20. So the Apostle speaking of Christs rising out of the grave, useth the word Abysse or Deepe, which is spoken both of earth and sea.
Vers. 14. But the word] This the Apostle expoundeth thus, But what saith (the righteousnes which is of faith?) The Word is nigh thee, &c. that is the word of faith which we preach, Rom. 10. 8. By this it appeareth that Moses wrote of Christ, Iohn 5. 46. and that he was closely taught in the Law, E…r Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth, Rom. 10. 4. And the Iewes, which cleaving to the Law refused the Gospell, or word of faith, had a zeale of God, but not according … knowledge, Rom. 10. 2. in thy mouth] or, for thy mouth, that is, for thee to confesse with thy mouth, that Iesus is the LORD, as Rom. 10. 9. So in is used for for in Deut. 9. 4. and 24. 16. in thine heart] or, for thine heart: that thou maist beleeve in thine heart, that God hath raised him (Christ) frō the dead, (& so maist be saved) Rom. 10. 9. to do it] the Law, which is fulfilled by beleeving in Christ; as it is said, This is the worke of God, that …ee beleeve in him whom he hath sent, Iohn 6. 29. upon which beleefe true obedience followeth; H…. 8. 10.
Vers. 15. I have set] Hebr. I have given, that is proposed and confirmed by my doctrine. So in vers. 19. life and good] life as the end, and good as the meanes leading to life: or life, that is, God himselfe, (of whom hee saith i… vers. 20. hee is thy life;) and good, that is, felicity following. The Greeke version changeth the order thus, life and death, good and evill. Thargum Ierusalemy explaineth it, the Law of life, which is a good Law; and the Law of death, which is an evill Law. And Thargum Ionathan thus; The way of life, for which a good reward shall be recompenced to the just; and the way of death, for which an evill reward shall be recompenced to the wicked.
Vers. 16. to love] this is a declaration of the life and good fore-mentioned, which they, whose hearts God would circumcise, vers. 6. should come unto by the faith that is in Christ. in his wai…s] the Chaldee saith, in the wayes that are right before him. keepe his commandements] which is an effect of love; as, If ye love me, keepe my commandements, Iohn 14. 15. and, This is the love of God, that we keepe his commandements, 1 Iohn 5. 3. And this is his commandement, that we should beleeve on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and love one another, &c. 1 Iohn 3. 23.
Vers. 17. But if] or, And if thine heart turne, &c. This is the death and evill fore-spoken of: see Deut. 29. 18. other gods] in Chaldee, the idols of the peoples.
Vers. 18. perishing yee shall perish] that is, assuredly and speedily perish; as the Greeke saith, perish with perdition. So in Deut. 4. 26.
Vers. 19. I call the heavens, &c.] This obtestation of heavens and earth, (used also before in Deut. 4. 26.) may be understood of God and the Angels in heaven, (as Paul expresseth them in 1 Tim. 5. 21.) or of the other creatures also in heaven and in earth; as Iosua said, This stone shall be a witnesse unto us, for it hath heard all the words of the Lord, &c. Ios. 24. 27. So in Deut. 32. 1. Esa. 1. 2. Give eare O heavens, & heare Oearth: & in Psa. 50. 4. He will call to the heavens from above, and to the earth to judge his people; and in Iob 20. 27. the heavens shall reveale his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. I have set] Hebr. I have given, that is, faithfully proposed by doctrine, and discharged my dutie: so in vers. 15. The life and blessing which he set before them, was by the faith of Christ, Gal. 2. 16. and 3. 9. the death and curse was by refusing Christ, and seeking to be justified by the workes of the Law; for as many as are of the workes of the Law, are under the curse, Gal. 3. 10. therefore chuse] Hebr. and chuse thou; or, and thou shalt chuse: which is the dutie of all Gods people, to be performed by grace in Christ. So David chose the way of truth, the precepts of God, Psal. 119. 30. 173. Compare also Ios. 24. 15, 22. Thargum Ionathan explaineth this speech thus, and chuse ye the way of life, which is the Law, that ye may live in the life of the world to come, you and your sonnes. This is true, if it be understood not of the Law of workes, but of the Law of faith, as Rom. 3. 27, 28. and 9. 31, 32, 33.
Vers. 20. to hearken to his voice] in Chaldee, to receive his word. unto him] Chald. unto his feare. he is thy life] that is, the author of thy life and salvation through Christ, as in Iohn 17. 3. This is life eternall, to know thee the onelyonly true God, and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent: yea, Christ himselfe is the resurrection and the life, Iob. 11. 25. and 14. 6. And in 1 Iohn 5. 20. We know that the Sonne of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Iesus Christ; this is the true God, and eternall life.