Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
1 An exhortation to obedience unto the Law, 6 because of the wisdome and righteousnesse, 9 and the miraculous giving of the same. 15 Against Images, and worshipping of Creatures, 25 which prevoke Gods anger, and cause mens destruction, 29. unlesse they repent, and so finde mercy with the Lord. 32 No people like Israel, who heard God speake, and saw his wonders, 37 and were his beloved and chosen. 41 Moses appointeth three Cities of refuge on the out side of Iordan.
AND now Israel, hearken thou unto the statutes, and unto the judgments which I teach you for to doe; that ye may live, and goe in, and possesse the land, which Iehovah the God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not adde unto the word which I command you, neither shall yee diminish from it, for to keepe the commandements of Iehovah your God, which I command you. Your eies have seene that which Iehovah did, because of Baal-peor: for every man which went after Baal-peor, Iehovah thy God hath destroyed him from the middest of thee. But yee that did cleave unto Iehovah your God, are alive all of you, this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes, and judgments, as Iehovah my God commanded me, for to doe so, within the land, whither ye are going, to possesse it. And ye shall keepe and doe them: for this is your wisdome, and your understanding, in the eies of the peoples, which shall heare all these statutes, and say, Surely, this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, which hath God nigh unto the same, as Iehovah our God is, in all that wee call upon him for. And what nation is there so great, which hath just statutes, and judgments, as all this law which I set before you this day. OnelyOnly take heed to thy selfe, and keepe thy soule diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eies have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart, all the daies of thy life: but thou shalt make them knowne to thy sonnes, and to thy sons sons. The day that thou stoodst before Iehovah thy God in Horeb, when Iehovah said unto me, Gather together the people unto mee, and I will make them heare my words, that they may learne to feare mee, all the daies that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their sonnes. And ye came neare, and stood under the mountaine: and the mountaine b…ed with fire, unto the heart of the heavens; with darknesse, cloud, and thicke darknesse. And Iehovah spake unto you out of the middest of the fire: you heard a voice of words, but saw no similitude, save a voyce.
And hee declared unto you his covenant, which hee commanded you to doe; the ten Words: and hee wrote them upon two tables of stone. And Iehovah commanded mee at that time, to teach you statutes and judgments, that yee may doe them in the land whither ye are going over to possesse it.
And take yee heed diligently unto your soules; for yee saw not any similitude, in the day that Iehovah spake unto you in Horeb, out of the middest of the fire. Lest ye corrupt your selves, and make unto you a graven thing, the similitude of any figure: the likenesse of male or female. The likenesse of any beast that is on the earth: the likenesse of any winged fowle, that flieth in the heavens.
The likenesse of any thing that creepeth on the ground: the likenesse of any fish that … in the waters beneath the earth. And lest thou lift up thine eies to the heavens, and seest the Sunne, and the Moone, and the Startes, all the Host of the heavens; and beest driven away, and bowest downe thy selfe unto them, & servest them: them which I… thy God hath imparted to all peoples under all the heavens. But Iehovah hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the furnace of it on, out of Egypt, to bee unto him a people of inheritance, as this day.
And Iehovah was angry with me, for your sakes; and sware, that I should not goe over Iordan, and that I should not goe in into the good land, which Iehovah thy God giveth th…, for an inheritance. For I must die in …, I must not goe over Iordan: but ye shall goe over and possesse that good land.
Take heed unto your selves, lest yee forget the covenant of Iehovah your God, which hee stroke with you, and make to you a … thing, the likenesse of any thing, which Iehovah thy God hath charged thee.
For Iehovah thy God, hee is a consuming … ▪ …alous God.
When thou shalt beget children, and childrens children, and ye shall have waxen old in th… land, and shall corrupt your selves, and make a graven thing, the likenesse of any thing; and shall doe evill in the eyes of Iehovah thy God, to provoke him to anger. I call the heavens & the earth to witnesse against you, this day, that perishing ye shall perish soone, from off the land, whereunto you passe over Iordan to possesse it; yee shall not prolong your …ies upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And Iehovah will scatter you among the peoples; and yee shall be left few men in number, among the heathens, whither Iehovah shall lead you. And there ye shall serve Gods, the worke of mens hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor heare, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence ye shall seeke Iehovah thy God, then thou shalt find him: if thou shalt seeke him with all thy heart, and with all thy soule. When tribulation shall be on thee, and all these things shall finde thee, in the latter daies, and thou shalt turne to Iehovah thy God, and hea…ken unto his voice. For Iehovah thy God, is a mercifull God; he will not leave thee, neither destroy thee: neither will he forget the covenant of thy fathers which hee sware unto them. For aske now of the daies …orepast, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth; and (aske) from the utmost part of the heavens, and unto the (other) utmost part of the heavens, whether there hath beene (any such thing) as this great thing is; or hath beene heard like it. Hath a people heard the voyce of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and lived? Or, hath God assayed to come to take him a nation, from the middest of a nation, by tentations, by signes, and by wonders, and by war, and by a strong hand, and by a stretched-out arme, and by great terrours, according to all that Iehovah your God did for you, in Egypt, before your eyes. Thou hast beene made see to know, that Iehovah he is God: there is none else besides him. Out of the heavens hee made thee to heare his voyce, to instruct thee; and upon the earth he made thee to see his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the middest of the fire. And because hee loved thy fathers, therefore hee chose his seed after him; and he brought thee out, in his sight, with his great power, out of Egypt. To drive out nations greater and mightier than thou, from before thee; to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. And thou shalt know this day, and cause it to returne into thy heart; that Iehovah, hee is God, in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath: there is none else. And thou shalt keepe his statutes & his commandements, which I command thee this day, that it may be well with thee, and with thy sonnes after thee; and that thou maiest prolong thy daies upon the land, which Iehovah thy God giveth thee, all daies.
Then Moses separated three Cities on this side Iordan, towards the Sunne rising. For the man-flayer to flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unwittingly, and he hated him not in times past: and that hee might flie unto one of these cities and live. Bezer in the wildernesse, in the plaine countrey of the Reubenites: and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites: and Golan in Basan, of the Manassites. And this is the law, which Moses set before the sonnes of Israel. These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the sonnes of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt.
On this side Iordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon: whom Moses and the sonnes of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt.
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og, king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Iordan, toward the Sunne rising. From Aroer, which is by the banke of the river Arnon, and unto mount Sion, that is Hermon. And all the plaine of this side Iordan, Eastward, and unto the Sea of the plaine, under Ashdoth Pisgah.
Annotations…
STatutes] or, Ordinances, which taught the service of God, (Heb. 9. 1.) as the next word judgments, are for duties towards men, and punishments of transgressours. These are often joyned together: see Deut. 5. 1. and 6. 1. and 12. 1. Mal. 4. 4. And that Statutes meane the legall services, appeareth by the continuall use of this word, as in Exod. 12. 24. 43. and 27. 21. and 29. 9. and 30. 21. teach] or, am teaching: this sheweth the worke of the law, still urging the conscience to d…] for, not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the d…ers of the Law shallbe justified, Rom. 2. 13. may live] Moses describeth the justice which is of the law, that the man which doth those things shall live by them, Rom. 10. 5. possesse] or, in…erit the land; which was a figure of our heavenly inheritance (Gen, 12. 5.) proposed to them that do the Law, but given to them that are of the faith of Christ, Ioh. 1. 17. Rom. 4. 13.—16. and 6. 23.
Vers. 2. not adde] Hereby all doctrines of men are condemned, Matt. 15. 9. and the all-sufficiency and authority of Gods word, stablished for ever, Gal. 3. 1…. 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. Adde thou not unto his words, lest hee reprove thee, and thou be found a lier, Prov. 30. 6. diminish] for every word of God is pure, Prov. 30. 5. and profitable for doctrine, for reproofe▪ for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse, 2 Tim. 3. 16. Till heaven and earth passe, one jot, or one tittle shall in no wise passe from the Law, Matt. 5. 18. for to keepe] that is, that you may keepe; understanding the persons forementioned: so in vers. 5. see the notes on Gen. 6. 19.
Vers. 3. Baal-peor] in Greeke, Beel-phegor, the Idoll of the Moabites, unto which many of Israel declined, by the counsell of Balaam: see Num. 25. 1, 2.—18. and 31. 16. Psal. 106. 28. The Chaldee translateth, against them that served Baal-peor. destroyed] or, abolished: by sending a plague, to the death of twenty foure thousand, Num. 25. 9. This judgment was remembred after, in Ios. 22. 17. Have wee too little for the wickednesse of Peor? &c.
Vers. 4. unto Iehovah] the Chaldee saith, unto the feare (or religion) of the Lord. Thus they that keepe themselves pure in generall defections, are saved from the common destruction, Ezek. 9. 4, 6. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Rev. 20. 4.
Vers. 6. wisdome] Hereupon the Oracles of God are often commended, as making wise the simple, Psal. 19. 8. making us wiser than ou… enemies, and to have more understanding than all our teachers, Psal. 119. 98, 99. and able to make us wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Iesus, 2 Tim. 3. 15. On the contrary it is said, They have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdome is in them? Ier. 8. 9. Surely] or, OnelyOnly. The Greeke turneth it, Behold.
Vers. 7. what nation is there so great] or, what other great nation is there? meaning, there is not any. So in vers. 8. God nigh] or, Gods …igh. The Hebrew words are both of the plurall number, yet meaning one God in the plurality of persons; as the like is in Deut. 5. 26. Ios. 24. 19. The Greeke and Chaldee here translate it singularly, God. And he is said to be nigh us, specially when he heareth, and granteth our requests, Psal. 145. 18. So the Chaldee here paraphraseth, nigh unto the same, toreceive the prayer thereof, in the time of the tribulation thereof. Wee likewise are said to draw nigh unto God, when wee call upon him in faith, Psal. 73. 28. Heb. 7. 19. Esa. 58. 2. and both are conjoyned in Iam. 4. 8.
Vers. 9. thy soule] that is, thy selfe: the soule is often put for the whole man. So where one Evangelist saith, lose his soule, Matth. 16. 26. another saith, Iose himselfe, Luk. 9. 25. diligently] or, vehemently; so vers. 15. and often. The word implieth strength as well as diligence. See Deut. 6. 5. things] Hebr. words, which the Greeke also and Chaldee here keepeth. lest] or, that they depart not: in Greeke, Let them not depart from thy heart. Compare Prov. 3. 1. 3. and 4. 21.
Vers. 10. Horeb] or, Choreb, called also Sina…: see Exod. 19. Paul calleth it, The mount that might be touched, Heb. 12. 18.
Vers. 11. heart] that is, the midst: as the heart of the Sea is the midst thereof, Exod. 15. 8. So here, the heart of heaven is the middest of the ai…e. thicke darknesse] or, tempestuous darknesse, gloc… …, as the Greeke version, and the holy Ghost in Heb. 12. 18. implieth. See Exod. 20. 21. VntoUnto this …ible mount where the Law was given, Paul opposeth mount Sion, or the state of grace by the Gospell, Heb. 12. 18▪22. It noteth the hidden glory of Gods kingly administration in his Church, Psal. 97. 1, 2.
Vers. 12. voice of words] This also Paul mentioneth, Heb. 12. 19. In the next verse Moses calleth them ten words, that is, ten commandements, whereof see the notes on Exod. 34. 28. no similitude] to wit, of God: so after, save a voice, that is, the voice of God, as in verse 33. Hereupon it is said, To whom then will yee liken God, or what liken…sse will yee compare unto him? Esa. 40. 18.
Vers. 13. of stone] signifying the perpetuity of these words, and also the stoninesse of mens hearts, as is noted on Exod. 31. 18.
Vers. 14. statutes] for the worship of God, as judgments were for the repressing and punishing of vice, Exod. 21. 1. These were spoken to Moses only, and by him written to Israel: but the ten words were spoken to all the people, and written by the singer of God.
Vers. 19. the sunne] It was a common corruption, not onelyonly amongst the heathens, but in Israel, to worship the Sunne, and Starres, and host of heaven, 2 King. 21. 3. and 17. 16. Amos 5. 25, 26. of which sinne Iob cleareth himselfe, Iob 31. 26, 27. driven away] or thrust, to wit, out of the …ay, as is after expressed in Deut. 13. 5. which is meant by the seduction of others, or of their own hearts. Therefore the Greeke and Chaldee here … translate it, beest deceived, or made to erre and …, which the Hebrew word implyeth, being after used for the straying of cattell, Deut. 22. 1. Imparted] or, divided, distributed as a port…. It noteth Gods bountie in giving all peoples the use of those creatures, (as on the contrary false gods are said to divide or impart nothing unto them Deut. 29. 26.) and the base minde of men, to worship such things as are given for servants unto all men.
Vers. 20. fornace of iron] that is, fornace wherein … melted: so Egypt is called for the cruell op… Israel: likewise in 1 King. 8. 51. Ier. 11. 4. people of inheritance,] that is, whom God shall …, & take for his possession: the Greeke … and inheritance. as this day] under… … yee are, or, as yee see this day.
Vers. 21. your sakes] or, your words: as the Greek …, the things spoken by you: meaning … …ring words, Num. 20. 3, 4, 5. where… … being grieved, obeyed not the comman… God, Num. 20. 12. Psal. 106. 32, 33. … spake of before, Deut. 3. 26. and now a…, to shew Gods severity against all ….
Vers. 23. stroke] or cut, that is, covenanted or … …es doth often speake of the covenant first … betweene God and them, as that which was … of all religion, to them and their seed after them: and whatsoever men added, altered, … diminished from it, was to be reputed evill. So Paul reforming abuses in the Churches, calleth them to the first institution, 1 Cor. 11. 23, 24. charged thee] or, commanded thee, that is, commanded thee not to doe, or, forbidden thee: so in Deut. 2. 37. for Gods precepts in the Decalogue, are for the most part for bods, or prohibitions; yet usually called commandements. The whole phrase is expressed in Ge. 3. 11. which I commanded thee not to eat of it, that is, which I forbade thee to eat of.
Vers. 24. fire] to consume all his enemies; and thine, if thou obey him, as Deut. 9. 3. and thee thy selfe, if thou disobey him; as Zeph. 1. 18. Heb. 12. 29. See also Exod. 24. 17. The Chaldee addeth, his word is a consuming fire: which is also true, Ier. 23. 29. Deut. 33. 2. jealous] the former word signified Gods power, this his will: hauing a jealous affection, whereby he will not spare; as Prov. 6. 34, 35. See Exod. 20. 5.
Vers. 25. waxen old] that is, continued long, as the Greeke explaineth it, and become ancient inhabitants. Gods blessings were by Israel abused to sin, as is here foretold, and againe in Deut. 32. 15.
Vers. 26. perishing yee shall perish] that is, surely and speedily perish: in Greeke, perish with perdition: so in Deut. 30. 18, 19. where againe hee calleth heaven and earth to witnesse.
Vers. 27. few men] Hebr. men of number; that is, soone numbred for your fewnesse; as the Greeke translateth, few in number; and in Iob 16. 22. yeeres of number, are a few yeares: see Gen. 34. 30. This is contrary to that promised blessing in Gen. 15. 5.
Vers. 28. serve gods] being given over to your owne lusts, as it is written, God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, Act. 7. 42. This same God threatned afterward, in Ier. 16. 13. But the Chaldee here turneth it, yee shall serve peoples that serve Idols, the worke of mens hands. nor smell] the vanity of Idols is after this sort described in Psal. 115. 4.—7. Ier. 10. 3.—9.
Vers. 29. seeke Iehovah] the Chaldee translateth, seeke the feare of the Lord; meaning his true service. Here Moses annexeth promises, to comfort repentant sinners: as also in Deut. 30. 1, 2, 3, &c. all thy heart] see an example of this in 2 Chron. 15. 15.
Vers. 30. finde thee] that is, come upon, or befall thee, as the Chaldee explaineth it.
Vers. 31. thy fathers] Abraham, Isaak, and Iacob. See Levit. 26. 42. &c.
Vers. 32. of the heavens] that is, from one utmost part of the world unto the other. By the heavens are meant the parts of the world under the heavens: and the holy Ghost openeth this phrase; for in Mat. 24. 31. it is written, from the utmost parts of the heavens, unto the utmost pa…ts of them: for which in Mark. 13. 27. is said, from the utmost part of the earth, unto the utmost part of the heavens. By which it is evident, that the heavens in this speech, is put for the earth under the heavens; for heavens comprehendeth the Aire also, wherein wee breath, as is noted on Genesis 1. 8. great thing] Hebr. great word. Moses hereby would teach, that Gods words and works unto his Church are more great and marvellous than all his actions to other peoples whatsoever; and therfore ought the more seriously to be considered.
Verse 33. voice of God] the Chaldee saith, the voice of the word of the Lord: the Greeke, of the living God. and lived] As at the apparitions of God, men were wont to feare they should die, Iudg. 13. 22. and 6. 22. So at the giving of the law, all Israel desired that they might heare the voice of God no more, lest they died, Exod. 20. 19. Deut. 18. 16. which manifested the power of the law, and the weaknesse of men, Heb. 12. 19. So no man can see the face of God, and live, Exod. 33. 20. when God giveth his voice the earth melteth, Psal. 46. 7.
Verse 34. hath God] or, hath any God; speaking of the true God, and his workes unto Israel, above all other people: or of the reputed gods of the Gentiles, none of which ever did such a thing. assaied] or, tempted. This is spoken not of God trying his owne strength, but proving the obedience of his people, and trying the strength of his adversaries. The Chaldee translateth, Or the tentations, (or signes) which the Lord hath made to reveale himselfe, &c. tentations] Moses here reckoneth seven things, about Israels deliverance; Tentations, whereby God, propounding his will, tried their obedience: (as when God tempted Abraham, Gen. 22. 1.) Signes, which many times are of ordinary workes and naturall, as Exod. 3. 12. Wonders, which are of extraordinary, and supernaturall workes, as Exod. 4. 21. and 7. 9. Warre, upon the refusall and resistance of the enemie, Exod. 8. 1, 2. Strong hand, not by cunning policies and stratagems, as men often use in wars; but by force, compelling the enemie to yeeld, Exod. 6. 1. Stretched out arme, by open manifesting his power, and plagues continually upon the resisters, Esay 9. 12, 17. Exod. 6. 6. and Great terrours, which wounded the hearts of the very enemies, Exod. 9. 20, 27, 28. and 10. 7. and 12. 30. terrours] or feares, the Greek and Chaldee translate, visions, or, sights, which are oftentimes fearefull; but the Hebrew for fears and visions, are one much like another, which might cause the mistaking. So in Deut. 26. 8.
Vers. 35. so know] that is, that thou mightest know, and acknowledge. The end of all Gods workes was the manifesting of his glory, to the information and salvation of his people. This Moses often urgeth in this booke.
Vers. 36 to instruct] or, to nurture, chastise: by restraining from vice. So Gods chastening, and teaching out of his law, are joyned together, in Ps. 94. …2. Though chastening bee often with workes (as Levit. 26. 18, 28. Deut. 8. 5.) yet is it also with words: is here, (where the Chaldee translateth it teach) and Prov. 9. 7. and 31. 1. Ezek. 23. 48. Iob 4. 3. the fire] before, he said, out of heaven; and now, out of the middest of the fire: for though the voice came out of heaven, Israel perceived it not, but onelyonly out of the fire, saith R. Menachem on Deut. 4.
Vers. 37. therefore he chose] or, and chose (that is, loved) his seed after him, therefore he brought thee out. Gods love, and election out of love, is the cause of mans redemption and salvation. his seed] that is, the seed of thy fathers, every one particularly; as the promise was made to Abraham, then to Isaac, and after that to Iacob severally. The Greeke and Chaldee translate it plurally, their seed (or sonnes) after them. in his sight] or, with his face (or presence) The Greeke saith, he brought thee out himselfe; the Chaldee, he brought thee out by his word. Thus the face or presence of God, may imply Christ, the Word, the Angell of Gods face, Esa. 63. 9. He it was that brought Israel out, as 1 Cor. 10. 1, 9. and the signe of his presence was in the pillar of the cloud and fire, Exod. 13. 21. and 14. 19, 20.
Vers. 38. to drive out] to wit, out of possession (as the originall word implyeth) or, to disinherit; the Greeke saith, to destroy, (or, root out.) as it is] the Greek addeth, as thou hast this day. Meaning of the land of Sihon and Og, which they had now in possession, a signe of further victorie, Deut. 3. 21.
Vers. 39. And thou shalt know] or, know (and acknowledge) therefore: see vers. 35. The knowledge of, and obedience unto God, is continually urged, upon the remembrance of his former mercies. So 1 Chron. 28. 9. cause it to returne] or, bring againe, reduce, that is, call to minde, and consider, that not onelyonly for the present, but alwaies after, Gods true feare might continue in them. So in Deut. 30. 1. where this phrase is used: see the annotations there.
Vers. 40. all daies] this may be referred both to the latter, the possessing of the land; and to the former, the welfare and length of life. In Mat. 28. 20. all daies, is explained, unto the end of the world.
Vers. 42. unwittingly] or, without knowledge therof, unawares. See the law for this, in Num. 35. 9, 10, &c. and after in Deut. 19. 2. in times past] or, in former daies; Hebr. from yesterday, and the third day. See Gen. 31. 2.
Vers. 43. Bezer] in Greeke, Bof…r: see Ios. 20. 8. and 21. 36. 38. 27. 1 Chron. 6. 78, 80. Golan] in Greeke, Gaulon.
Vers. 44. this is] He meaneth, that which hereafter followeth; so this belongeth to the next chapter, where the repetition of the lawes beginneth.
Vers. 45. after they came forth] Hebr. in their comming forth: but In is often used for After, as is noted on Exod. 2. 23. so againe, in vers. 46.
Vers. 46. Beth-peor] in Greeke, the house of Phogor, an Idoll Temple: see Deut. 3. 29. Amorites] Hebr. Amorite: in Greeke, Amorreans. smote] that is, killed, as is noted on Gen. 14. 17. This victorie is here again touched, the more to stir up the hearts of the people, to obey Gods law, who had begun to shew them his power and goodnesse.
Vers. 48. banke] Hebr. lip. Sion] in Greeke, Seon. This is not that which usually the Scripture calleth mount Zion, in Ierusalem; but otherwise written, and called Hermon: see Deut. 3. 9.
Vers. 49. sea of the plaine] the sea of salt, Deut. 3. 17. the lake of Sodome, or dead sea. Ashdoth Pisgah] or, the springs of Pisgah: see the notes on Deut. 3. 17.