Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
1 Moses being ready to die, encourageth the people that should goe into Canaan. 7 He encourageth Iosua that should be their Governour. 9 He delivereth the Law unto the Priests, which was to be read in the soventh yeere unto the people. 14 Moses and Iosua present themselves before the Lord, 16 who fore-telleth the peoples falling from him, and his anger against them therefore. 19 Hee commandeth a song to be written, to testifie against the people. 24 Moses delivereth the booke of the Law to the Levites, to be kept in the side of the Arke, for a witnesse against them and their rebellion. 28 Hee maketh a protestation to the Elders.
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ANd Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And hee said unto them, I am an hundred & twenty yeeres old this day, I can no more goe out and come in: and Iehovah hath said unto me, thou shalt not goe over this Iordan. Iehovah thy God he goeth over before thee; hee will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possesse them: Iosua he shall go over before thee, as Iehovah hath said. And Iehovah will doe unto them as hee did to Sihon, and to Og, Kings of the Amorite, and unto the land of them whom hee destroyed.
And Iehovah will give them before you, and yee shall doe unto them according to every commandement which I have commanded you. Be ye strong and couragious, feare not, neither be discouraged because of them: for Iehovah thy God, he it is that goeth with thee, he will not faile thee, nor for sake thee.
And Moses called unto Iosua, and said unto him, in the eies of all Israel; Be thou strong and couragious, for thou shalt goe in with this people into the land which Iehovah hath sworne unto their fathers to give unto them, and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And Iehovah, he it is that goeth before thee; hee will be with thee, hee will not faile thee, nor forsake thee; feare not, neither be dismaid.
And Moses wrote this Law, and gave it unto the Priests, the sonnes of Levi, which bare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah, and unto all the Elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying; at the end of seven yeeres, in the solemnity of the yeere of release, in the feast of Boothes, When all Israel is come to appeare before Iehovah thy God in the place which he shall chuse, thou shalt reade this Law before all Israel in their eares.
Gather together the people, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may heare, and that they may learne, and may feare Iehovah your God, and observe to doe all the words of this Law. And that their sonnes which have not knowne may heare, and learne to feare Iehovah your God all the daies that yee shall live on the land, whither ye are going over Iordan, to possesse it.
And Iehovah said unto Moses, Behold thy daies approach to die; call Iosua, and present your selves in the Tent of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Iosua went and presented themselves in the Tent of the congregation. And Iehovah appeared in the Tent, in a pillar of a cloud, & the pillar of the cloud stood over the doore of the Tent. And Iehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thou liest downe with thy fathers, and this people will rise up, and goe a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they are going in to be amongst them, and will forsake mee, and breake my covenant which I have stricken with them. And mine anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and distresses shall finde them; and they will say in that day, have not these evils found us, because our God is not amongst us. And I, hiding will hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have done, in that they are turned unto other gods. And now write ye this song for you, and teach it the sonnes of Israel, put it in their mouthes, that this song may be a witnesse for mee against the sonnes of Israel. For I will bring them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milke and honey, and they shall eat and be filled, and be fat, and they will turne unto other gods, and serve them, and despightfully provoke me, and breake my covenant. And it shall be when many evils and distresses have found them, that this song shall answer before them for a witnesse, for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed: for I know their imagination which they doe this day, before I have brought them in unto the land which I sware. And Moses wrought this song in that day, and taught it the sonnes of Israel. And he charged Ioshua the sonne of Nun, and said; Be strong and couragious, for thou shalt bring in the sonnes of Israel unto the land which I sware unto them, and I will be with thee. And it was when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this Law in a booke, untill they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah, saying: Take this booke of the Law, and put it in the side of the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah your God, that it may be there for a witnesse against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiffe necke: Behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, yee have beene rebellious against Iehovah, and how much more after my death? Gather together unto mee all the Elders of your Tribes, and your Officers, that I may speake in their eares these words, and call the heavens and the earth to witnesse against them. For I know, that after my death, corrupting yee will corrupt (your selves,) and will turne aside from the way which I have commanded you, and evill will befall you in the latter daies, because yee will doe evill in the eyes of Iehovah, to provoke him to anger through the worke of your hands. And Moses spake in the eares of all the Church of Israel the words of this song, untill they were ended.
Annotations.
foreign Here beginneth the two and fiftieth Section or Lecture of the Law: See the notes on Gen. 6. 9. And here Moses setteth the state of Israel in order before his death.
OLd] Hebr. sonne of an hundred and twenty yeeres; of which phrase see Gen. 5. 32. So long while Noe preached to the world, building the Arke, Gen. 6. 3, 14. 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20. Of these 120. yeeres, Moses lived 40. in Pharaohs court in Egypt, Acts 7. 20, 23. forty in the land of Madian, Acts 7. 29, 30. Exod. 7. 7. and 40. yeeres he governed Israel. I can no more goe out] that is, no more administer in my office: see the Annotations on Num. 27. 17. This inability of Moses was not so much for his age, (for his eye was not dim, nor his naturall moisture fled, Deut. 34. 7.) as for the ordinance of God next mentioned. and Iehovah] or, for Iehovah hath said; as is shewed in Num. 20. 12. Deut. 3. 25, 26. And is often in stead of For, as is noted on Gen. 12. 19. Or it may be taken as another reason, why Moses might no longer governe them.
Vers. 3. Ioshua] in Greeke, Iesus, who was substitute in Moses place, Num. 27. 16, 17, 18. &c. A figure of our Lord Iesus, who by grace and truth bringeth us into Gods eternall rest, after the ending of Moses Law, Iohn 1. 17. Rom. 10. 4. Thus the people are comforted in respect of their sorrow for Moses death, by promise of the Lords presence among them, and Ioshuahs succeeding government under him.
Vers. 4. of the Amorite] that is, of the Amorites, as the Greeke translateth: by whose destruction (before mentioned in Numb. 21. 23. &c. Deut. 2. and 3.) Israel is encouraged against their other enemies. the land] that is, the people of the land.
Vers. 5. commanded you] which was, to root them out, and let none remaine, Deut. 20. 16, 17.
Vers. 6. Be ye strong] or, Be confirmed, Hold fast, to wit, your faith in God: in Greeke, Quit you like men; which word Paul useth in 1 Cor. 16. 13. So after, in vers. 7. couragious] or, be hardy, strong, valiant in heart and carriage. This word is applied to the heart in Psal. 27. 14. and armes, in Prov. 31. 17. and signifieth an increase and stedfastnesse, Prov. 24. 5. Ruth 1. 18. The like exhortation is often used, as Ios. 10. 25. 1 Chron. 22. 13. 2 Chron. 32. 7. hee it is] in Chaldee, his Word it is. So in vers. 8. faile thee] or, let thee goe, leave thee to thy selfe, but will hold thee fast. So vers. 8. and Ios. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5.
Vers. 7. strong and couragious] or, confirmed and strong, as vers. 6. Iosua being to beare the charge and toile of the people; hath the same exhortation and promise in particular, that was before unto all: and it was in the eyes of all, lest any after Moses death should deny his authority. A like speech Davide made to Salomon, 1 Chron. 28. 20.
Vers. 8. he will be with thee] the Chaldee paraphraseth, his Word will be thy helpe.
Vers. 9. this Law] in Greeke, all the words of this Law in a booke. which bare the Arke] they had the chiefe charge to looke to the Arke, and other holy things; and though the Levites bare it, as appeareth by Num. 3. 31. and 4. 15. and 10. 21. yet sometime the Priests themselves also bare it, as when they passed over Iordan, Ios. 3. 6, 17. when they compassed Iericho, Ios. 6. 12. So after in v. 25. Moses spake to the Levites. the Elders] the Magistrates: as the Priests by teaching, so the Elders by governing are to look that the Law of the Lord be observed, Mal. 2. 7. Hos. 4. 6. Mich. 3. 1. 2 Chron. 19. 6, 8, 9, 10.
Vers. 10. of seven yeeres] that is, of every seventh yeere, which was a yeere of release, Deu. 15. 1. the solemnity] or, the set time; as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it, the time. release] of debts, Deut. 15. 1, 2, &c. that being freed from worldly cares, they might apply their mindes to Gods Law. A figure of the yeere of grace, and remission of our debts by Christ; whereupon wee should give our selves to holinesse, Luke 4. 18, 19, 21. Rom. 6. 10, 11, 12, 13. Boothes] or Tabernacles, whereof see Lev. 23.
Vers. 11. which he shall chuse] to set his Arke and Tabernacle, and so to place his name there, Deut. 16. 2. thou shalt reade] speaking to Israel generally, and it was performed in speciall by the chiefest of them, either the high Priest, as Ezra (the chiefe of them that returned from Babylon) read it, Nehem. 8. 1, 2, 3, &c. or as the Hebrewes say, the King himselfe (when they had a King) used to reade. For this Commandement was to Ioshua, and therefore the King read it, saith Chazkuni upon this place. Which is by others of them declared thus, The King was he that read in their eares, and they read in the womens Court; (which was the outer Court-yard of the Temple.) And the King read sitting, and if he read standing, it was the more commendable. He read from the beginning of Deuter…nomy, &c. When he read, they blew trumpe…s through all Ierusalem, for to assemble the people. And they set up a great Pulpit of wood, [as is mentioned also in Nehem. 8. 4.] and set it in the midst of the Court-yard, and the King went up and sate theron, that they might heare him reade; and all Israel that went up to the feast, gathered round about him. And the Minister of the Synagogue (such as wee reade of in Luke 4. 17. 20.) tooke the booke of the Law, & gave it to the Ruler of the Synagogue, (such as is mentioned in Luke 13. 14.) and the Ruler of the Synagogue gave it to the Sagan, (or second chiefe Priest, called in Acts 5. 24. the Captaine of the Temple,) and the Sagan gave it to the High Priest, and the High Priest to the King, for to honour him before the multitude. And the King tooke it standing, and if he would he sate downe and opened it, and seeing it, he blessed God, (as is recorded of Ezra in Neh. 8. 5, 6.) and after read till hee made an end: Then he …olded it up, and blessed (God) againe after it, as the manner was to blesse in the Synagogues. Both the reading and the blessing was in the holy tongue. The hearers were bound to prepare their hearts, and to make their eares attentive to heare with feare and reverence, and with joy and trembling, as in the day when (the Law) was given on (mount) Sinai: though they were great wise men, which knew the whole Law every whit, they were bound to heare with great attentivenesse, &c. for the King is the Messenger (of the Congregation) to cause the words of God to be heard. If the day of assembling (the people) began to be on the Sabbath, they deferred it till after the Sabbath, because of the blowing with Trumpets, &c. which might not put away (the keeping of) the Sabbath. Maimony in Misneh, tom. 3. in Chagigah, chap. 3. sect. 3, 4. &c. in their eares] that they may heare and understand it, as the Chaldee translateth, and cause them to heare it: which hearing is often used for understanding, as is noted on Gen. 11. 7. So in Neh. 8. 8. they read in the booke, in the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand in the reading.
Vers. 12. women and children] which though they were not bound to come up at the yeerely feasts, Exod. 23. 17. yet to this reading they were bound, such as could understand, Neh. 8. 3. The Hebrew canons say, Whosoever is free from appearing (before the Lord, Exod. 23. 17.) is free from the commandement of Gather together, (Deut. 31. 12.) except women and children, and the uncircumcicised; but the uncleane is free from this commandement, as it is written (in vers. 11.) when all Israel is come; but the (uncleane) was not fit to come. And it is cleare, that such as were of neither sex, or of both sexes, were bound to come, seeing women were bound. Maimony in Chagigah, chap. 3. sect. 2. thy gates] in Greeke and Chaldee, thy cities.
Vers. 14. thy dayes approach] or, are nigh, at hand: and so the terme of his life fulfilled; as where it is written, the kingdome of heaven approacheth, Matth. 4. 17. another explaineth it, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdome of God approacheth (or, is at hand,) Marke 1. 15. to die] understand, for thee to die: of such want of the person, (easie to be understood by the context,) see the notes on Genes. 6. 19. and 23. 8. and 47. 29. The Greeke translateth, Behold, the dayes of thy death approach. and I will give] or, that I may command him, or charge him: which being done in the Tabernacle, and by Gods appearing in the cloud, vers. 15. served both for Iosuahs own confirmation, and to assure all Israel that he had authority from God over them. Compare Numb. 27. 18, 19.
Vers. 15. Iehovah appeared] that is, a glorious signe of his presence; as in Thargum Ionathan it is expounded, the glory of the divine majestie of the Lord. pillar of a cloud] out of which he was wout in favour to speake: see Exod. 33. 9. Psal. 99. 7.
Vers. 16. liest downe] to wit, to sleepe, that is, to die: as Iob 14. 12. Acts 7. 60. 1 Thess. 4. 13. thy fathers] the faithfull of former times, signifiing the immortality of the soule, as is noted on Gen. 25. 8. Wherefore Thargum Ionathan paraphraseth on this place thus; thou liest downe in the dust with thy fathers, and thy soule shall be treasured up in the treasury of eternall life with thy fathers. goe a whoring] or fornicate, that is, commit idolatry, as the Chaldee explaineth it. gods of the strangers] in Greeke, the strange gods of the land; in Chaldee, the idols of the peoples of the land. they are going] Hebr. he is going; speaking of the people as of a man; so after often in this Chapter. The reason hereof is noted on Gen. 22. 17.
Vers. 17. will hide my face] in Chaldee, will take away my divine presence. So in vers. 18. devoured] or eaten up, to wit, of their enemies, made a prey, Hebr. to eat, which is used passively, as to beare, Eccles. 3. 2. that is, to be borne. See the notes on Gen. 6. 20. and 16. 14. finde them] that is, befall, or come upon them: so after, and in Psal. 119. 143. Neh. 9. 32. found us] Hebr. found mee, because my God is not in the midst of me.
Vers. 18. other gods] in Chaldee, idols of the peoples: so in vers. 20.
Vers. 19. this song] in Greeke, the words of this song; after described in Chap. 32. containing a prophesie of their falling away, & of Gods judgments following. It was given in a song, that it might the more easily be learned, and kept in memory, with delight, & might move their affections. against] or in, that is, amongst the sonnes of Israel: so in vers. 26.
Vers. 20. and be fat] the like is prophesied in Deut. 32. 15. and shewed to have come to passe in Neh. 9. 25, 26.
Vers. 21. answer before them] that is, testifie before (and against) them. their imagination] the thing forged in their heart; which the Greeke translateth, their maliciousnesse (or naughtinesse.) This imagination is before the thoughts or cogitations, as appeareth by 1 Chron. 28. 9. and 29. 18. See Gen. 6. 5.
Vers. 23. I will be with thee] in Greeke, he will be with thee; as being the words of Moses (whom the Greeke before named) concerning God. The Chaldee translateth, my Word shall be thy helpe. See vers. 8.
Vers. 25. the Levites] especially the Priests the sons of Levi, as in vers. 9.
Vers. 26. in the side] or, by the side: which in Thargum Ionathan is expounded, in a coffer by the right side of the Arke.
Vers. 27. stiffe necke] or, hard necke; which else-where is likened to an iron sinew, Esay 48. 4. See Exod. 32. 9.
Vers. 28. Elders of your Tribes] in Greeke they are named by one word Phularcha…, that is, Rulers (or Princes) of your Tribes.