Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV.
1 Moses from mount Nebo vieweth the land. 5 He dieth there, and is buried of God. 7 His age and vigour when he died. 8 The Israelites mourne for him thirty dayes. 9 Ioshua succeedeth him. 10 The praise of Moses.
ANd Moses went up from the plaines of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is over against Iericho: and Iehovah caused him to see all the land from Gilead unto Dan. And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Iudah, unto the hindmost sea. And the South, and the plaine of the valley of Iericho, the Citie of Palme-trees, unto Zoar. And Iehovah said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaak, and unto Iakob, saying; unto thy seed will I give it: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. And Moses the servant of Iehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the mouth of Iehovah. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor, and no man knoweth of his Sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty yeeres old when hee died, his eye was not dimme, nor his naturall moisture fled. And the sonnes of Israel wept for Moses in the plaines of Moab, thirty daies: and the daies of weeping, of mourning for Moses, were ended. And Ioshua the sonne of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisedome, for Moses had laid his hands upon him, & the sonnes of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Iehovah commanded Moses. And there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Iehovah knew face to face. In all the signes and the wonders which Iehovah sent him to doe in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land. And in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terrour which Moses did in the eyes of all Israel.
Annotations.
MOses went up] as God commanded him, Deu. 32. 49. plaines of Moab] in the wildernesse where Israel pitched, and where Moses had explained all this Law unto them. See Num. 22. 1. Deut. 1. 1. 5. The Greeke retaineth the Hebrew name, Araboth Moab. mount Nebo] or, of Nebo, that from thence hee might view the holy land, as Iohn from an high mountaine was shewed the holy Ierusalem, Rev. 21. 10. and Ezekiel likewise before him, Ezek. 40. 2. Nebo was the name of a mountaine, and of a Citie by it, which was given for a possession to the Reubenites, Numb. 32. 37, 38. 1 Chron. 5. 3, 8. Pisgah] in Greeke, Phasga: in Chaldee, Ramatha: so named of the highnesse of it: See Deut. 3. 27. Ierecho] in Greeke Iericho, a Citie within the land of Canaan, which the Israelites first conquered, by faith causing the wall to fall downe, Ios: 6. Heb. 11. 30. See after on vers. 3. caused him to see] as in vers. 4. or, shewed him, as the Greeke translateth. from Gilead] in Greeke, the land of Galaad: But Galead was on the outside of Iordan, and given to Reuben, Gad, and halfe Manasseh, Deut. 3. 12. 13. being conquered by Moses himselfe; so that there was no need to view that, but from that Countrey forward hee viewed all the rest. Therefore the Hebrewes expound the word Eth, by Min, From; saying, From Gilead which was on the outside of Iordan, towards the Sunne rising, where in Moses was standing; unto Dan, which is the border of the land of Israel, as it is written, from Dan even to Beersheba, (1 Sam. 3. 20.) Chazkuni on Deut. 34. Others referre it to a spirituall vision of things to be done after in this Countrey; as Ionathan in his Thargum paraphraseth, The Word of the Lord shewed him all the Mighties of the land; the valiant acts which should be done by Iephthe of Gilead, and the victories of Samson son of Manoah of the tribe of Dan. Likewise Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it, He shewed him the sonnes of Dan committing idolatry, as it is written (in Iudg. 18. 30.) and the sons of Dan set up the graven image: and he shewod him Samson, that should come out of him for a Saviour. By Dan here we are to understand Leshem or Laish, a Citie in the furthest part of the land Northward, called also Dan, Ios. 19. 47. Iudg. 18. 27, 29.
Vers. 2. all Naphthali] in Greeke, all the land of Nephthali, which lay also Northward in Galilee, Matth. 4. 15. of Ephraim and Manasseh] meaning the halfe tribe of Manasseh that dwelt within lordan; this was in the middest of the land in Samaria: see Ios. 16. and 17. 7,—11. of Iudah] which was the Southerne part of the Countrey, Ios. 15. 1. &c. for the land was farre more long than broad: and by naming these few chiefe countries, he implieth all the rest with them. These also in Thargum Ionathan, and Sol. Iarchi, are applied to the captaines of the house of Naphtali, that were joyned with Barak, and the Kings which Iosua the sonne of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, should kill; and the valiant acts of Gedeon sonne of Ioash, of the tribe of Manasseh, and all the Kings of Israel, and kingdome of the house of Iudah, that should rule in the land, untill the Sanctuary should be destroyed at the last. the hindmost] or, utmost sea, that is, the maine sea, which was the Westerne coast: see the notes on Deut. 11. 24.
Vers. 3. the south] in Greeke, the wildernesse: the utmost Cities of the tribe of the sonnes of Iudah, towards the coast of Edom, described in Ios. 15. 21. &c. So in Num. 34. 3. your south quarter shall be from the wildernesse of Zin, along by the coast of Edom, &c. Thus Moses viewed the land after the order that Abraham did at the first: see Genes. 12. 6, 7, 8, 9. with the Annotations there. God here sheweth Moses all the kingdomes, and glory of Canaan, from an high mountaine, for his comfort and strengthening of his faith, who saw the promises a farre off, saluted them, and died, as did his godly forefathers, Heb. 11. 9. 13. On the contrary, the Deviil taketh Christ up into an excceding high mountaine, & sheweth him all the kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them, to draw him (if he had beene able) from the faith and service of God, unto the worship of Satan, Matth. 4. 8, 9. the plaine of the valley of Iericho] in Greeke, the regions about Iericho: this last part which Moses viewed, was the first which the Israeliees possessed, Ios. 2. 1. and 3. 16. and 4. 13, 19. Sol. Iarchi here saith, God shewed to Moses, Solomon casting the vessels of the sanctuary, as it is said, In the plaine of Iordan did the King cast them, 2 Chron. 4. 17. Citie of palme-trees] so Iericho is called here, and in 2 Chron. 28. 15. Iudg. 1. 16. and 3. 13. and of them and other fragrant fruits there growing, as Balsam and the like; the Citie had the name Ierecho, by interpretation, Odoriferous, or Fragrant. unto Zoar] in Greeke, Segor. Thus the last part which Moses viewed, was both neerest unto him, and the pleasantest of all the land of Canaan: for all the plaine of Iordan was well watered, it was as the garden of the Lord, Gen. 13. 10.
Vers. 4. I sware] that is, I promised by oath: see Gen. 12. 7. and 22. 16, 17. Psal. 105. 9, 10, 11. thy seed] in Greeke, your seed: in Chaldee, thy sonnes. caused thee to see] in Greeke, I have shewed it to thine eyes. This view was by the marvellous worke and grace of God towards his servant, that in one place and time hee should behold so large a Countrey; and in it (by the eye of his spirit) so many mysteries as in that holy-land (so called in Zuch. 2. 12.) were comprehended: and it being the land of Immanuel, (or of Christ) Esa. 8. 8. the beholding thereof was the beholding of the blessings to be enjoyed by Christ Iesus; unto whō Moses and his Law is a Schoolemaster, Gal. 3. 24. not goe over] to wit, over the river Iordan, because Moses had not beleeved to sanctifie the Lord in the eyes of the sonnes of Israel, Numb. 20. 12. And as hee and others could not enter into the good land, because of their unbeleefe, Heb. 3. 19. so all that are of the workes of the Law, and not of the saith of Christ, though they may behold the blessing a farre off, yet shall they not enter in to enjoy the same, Gal. 3. 9,—12. Rom. 9. 31. 32.
Vers. 5. servant] so he is often called, even of God himselfe, Ios. 1. 2. and in the new Testament, as Rev. 15. 3. the song of Moses the servant of God. This title he had in respect of his office, being governour of Israel: as David also had, in Psal. 18. 1. and 36. 1. See Numb. 12. died there] in the mountaine, Deut. 32. 50. as Aaron died on the top of mount Hor, Num. 20. 28. In that the death of Moses immediatly followed after his viewing of the promised land, it foreshewed the end and abrogation of Moses Law, when men are come to the Gospell of Christ: for, after that Faith is come, we are no longer under the Schoolemaster, Gal. 3. 25. The Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth: for the woman which hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as hee liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of the husband: So we also are become dead to the Law, by the body of Christ, that we should be to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, Rom. 7. 1, 2, 4. Therfore upon this death of Moses, God speaketh unto Israel, to go over Iordan into the Land, Ios. 1. according to the mouth] in Greeke and Ghaldee, by the word. The day of his death, by the Iewes tradition, was the seventh of Adar, (which we call February:) so Ionathan in his Thargum on this place saith; On the seventh day of the monethmonth of Adar, Moses the Master of Israel was borne; and on the seventh day of the monethmonth of Adar he was taken out of the world.
Vers. 6. he buried him] that is, Iehovah buried him, or Michael (that is, Christ, who is Iehovah, one with the Father,) Iude vers. 9. Signifying that none but Christ should abolish the Law and Ordinances given by Moses, Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 13, 14. Coloss. 2. 14, 16, 17. Heb. 9. 9, 10, 11, &c. and 10. 1,—9. And this was a speciall honour unto Moses person, whom the Lord loved when he was dead, and buried his corps (which we finde not done to any man else in the world,) which he will also raise up incorruptible and glorious, at the day of his appearing. in a valley] he died in the mountaine, Deut. 32. 50. but was buried in a valley. over against Beth-Pehor] the Greeke saith, neere to the house of Phogor; of which place, see Deut. 3. 28. no man knoweth] God would not have Moses Sepulchre to be knowne, (though the devill contended with him hereabout, Iude vers. 9.) because there should be no occasion of superstition or idolatry thereby, as is thought of some. Chazkuni saith, that none which inquire of the dead (as Deut. 18. 11.) might seeke unto him. The chiefe cause seemeth to be a mysterie, that the Law (whereof Moses was the minister) being once dead and abrogated by Christ, should never more be sought after, but quite abolished out of the conscience of sinners, that the grace of Christ may live & raigne alone. See Gal. 4. 9, 10, 11. and 5. 4. Also that the legall rudiments should by the comming of the Gospell be taken away from Israel, never to be found or enjoyed by them any more. For Christ destroyed both their Citie and Sanctuary, as was foretold in Dan. 9. and they have been many daies without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an Ephod, and without Teraphim; and so shall be untill they returne and seeke the Lord their God, and [the sonne of] David their King, Hos. 3. 4, 5.
Vers. 7. yeeres old] Hebr. sonne of 120. yeeres: so the yeere of his death fell out in the 2553. yeere of the world: and his yeeres accord with Noes preaching and preparing of the Arke, Genes. 6. 3. his eye] in Greeke, his eyes: his eye-sight failed him not, as did Isaaks, Gen. 27. 1. The eye is also used for the outward appearance and colour of a thing, as Exod. 10. 5. Numb. 11. 7. so it may be meant here also, his visage was not wrinkled. Chazkuni here expoundeth it, the shining of his face, mentioned in Ex. 34. 30. his naturall moisture] his radicall humour, wherein the life and strength of the body consisteth, which when it is spent and dried up, a man dieth. The Greeke translateth, his lips were not corrupted: the Chaldee saith, the brightnesse of the glory of his face was not changed: having reference to Exod. 34. 30, &c. sled] that is, departed from him. Thus outwardly and inwardly Moses retained his vigour, beauty and naturall strength; that he died not through feeblenesse, or defect of nature, as most men did at his age, though he had beene a man of sorrowes, and broken with many cares for the people. And hereby the continuall force of the Law is signified; the power wherof decaieth not in the conscience of sinners by number of daies, or multitude of workes, till God take it away, and abolish it by grace in Christ. The Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth: whiles we are in the flesh, the passions of sinnes which are by the Law, do worke in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death, Rom. 7. 1, 5.
Vers. 8. the plaines of Moab] in Greeke, Araboth Moab by Iordan, over against Iericho; as v. 1. thirty daies] so long they mourned also for Aaron: see Num. 20. 28.
Vers. 9. Iosua] in Greeke, Iesus the sonne of Nave. of wisdome] in Greek, of understanding the spirit of wisdome, meaneth wisdome ministred by the spirit of God, wherein he was a figure of Iesus Christ, who being full of the holy Spirit, entred upon the worke of his ministration here on earth, Luke 4. 1, &c. On him the spirit of the Lord rested, the spirit of wisedome and understanding, the spirit of counsell and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord, Esa. 11. 2. laid] or, imposed his hands upon him: of this see Numb. 27. 18,—23. As Moses by imposition of hands authorized Iesus the sonne of Nun, and bare record unto him: so the Law of Moses which was in the heart and bowels of Iesus the sonne of God, gave authority and bare record unto him, Heb. 7. Acts 26. 22, 23. & Moses himselfe appeared talking with Iesus, and speaking of his decease, which he should accomplish at Ierusalem, Luke 9. 30, 31. hearkened unto him] that is, obeyed him: as after also they promised, in Ios. 1. 16. 17, 18. See the notes on Num. 27. 20.
Vers. 10. knew face to face] the Chaldee saith, was revealed unto him face to face. So in Exod. 33. 11. it is said, Iehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend: and in Num. 12. 8. he said, with him will I speake mouth to mouth. See the Annotations there.
Vers. 12. the mighty hand] that is, workes wrought with a mighty hand, and powerfull government, and administration; according to that which is said, Humble your selves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, &c. 1 Pet. 5. 6. great terrour] that is, workes done with great terrour; which the Greeke translateth, great marvels: the Chaldee, great visions. These things doe magnifie Moses office and administration, that the Lawes which he hath written & confirmed by such signes and wonders might be acknowledged to be of God; wherefore he and his writings are worthily celebrated thorowout the world, confirmed of God himselfe, Numb. 12. 7, 8. approved and expounded by all the Prophets after him, by Christ himselfe and his Apostles; so that they which heare not him, will not be perswaded, though one rose from the dead, Luk. 16. 31. But unto us God hath raised up a Prophet like unto Moses, as he promised, Deu. 18. 18. Act. 3. 21. even Iesus the sonne of the Most high, a man approved of God among the Israelites, by miracles, wonders, and signes, which God did by him in the middest of them, Act. 2. 22. Heb. 2. 4. in whom God was reconciling the world unto himselfe, 2 Cor. 5. 19. whō God buried not, as he did Moses, but raised him frō the dead, that he saw no corruption. Of him Moses wrote, and to him give all the Prophets witnesse, that through his name, whosoever beleeveth in him shal receive remission of sins, Act. 10. 40. 43. And by him, all that beleeve are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses, Act. 13. 39. This is the true God, & eternall life, 1 Ioh. 5. 20. To him be honour, and glory, and praise, throughout all generations; and let all the earth be filled with his glory, Amen, and Amen.