Westminster Annotations, Deuteronomy · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Vers. 2. VVHichWhich have not seen] He addresseth his speech not to the younger sort who were borne since their fathers departed out of Egypt, but unto those, who then being under twenty yeares old at that time, and of apprehension then to observe: (for those above twentie were cut off for their murmuring) to these now of the ancienter sort who had seene Gods miraculous deliverance he speaketh, who ought rather to be acquainted therewith, then those that had onelyonly heard of them and not seene them.
V. 4. red Sea &c.] Exod. 14. 27.
V. 5. and what he did] As well concerning his benefits as his correction.
V. 6. Dathan and Abiram] Korah is not left out, as more innocent then they; but the story being fully set downe, Numb. 16. where the three principall conspirators are particularly named, in other places, which referre to that story, it is sufficient to name any of the three, as Jude 11. Korah onelyonly is named, and yet Dathan and Abiram are neither excluded nor excused: and here, and Psal. 106. 17. Dathan and Abiram are named, and yet Korah is not left out as lesse guilty; (for it may be as he was first named in the first mention of their conspiracie he was ring-leader to the rest) but because the mention of any one will bring to memory the rest, these two are the rather named together, because they were not onelyonly brethren in evil, but brethren also in bloud, whereas Korah was of another family.
the sonne of Reuben] The descendents in a direct line, though remote, as grand-children, great grand-children, in the Hebrew phrase are all called sonnes, as well as the immediate children.
V. 7. but your eyes] An undoubted evidence of the truth of this holy story, wherein Moses appeals to so many eye-witnesses of Gods miraculous acts yet alive.
V. 8. may be strong] Not to be head-strong, nor stiffenecked against God, but humble-hearted and obedient towards him is the way to be arme-strong against enemies. See Josh. 1. 5, 6, 7.
V. 9. * prolong your dayes] Grace is a good friend to humane nature: (though corrupt nature be an enemie to grace) for it upholds it in health and prolongeth life, whereas wickednesse cuts off the life by the halves, Psal. 55. 23. and if the godly be taken away while they be young, it is but from the evill to come, Isa. 57. 1. And if the life of the wicked be prolonged, (as Eccles. 7. 15. it is said) it is not in favour, but in anger, as the Amorites were forborne to make up the measure of their iniquitie, Gen. 15. 16. that their judgement might be the heavier when it came.
* Deut. Chap. 5. 16. & 6. 2. & Prov. 9. 11. & Chap. 10. 27.
V. 10. with thy foot] That is, with bodily labour, which, (though it be usually) called the labour of the hands, as Psal. 128. 2. is sometime attributed to the feet, as Gen. 30. 30. (See the Annot. on the place) The meaning is, that it is not like the land of Egypt, which (having but little raine, Zach. 14. 18. but was watered by the overflowing of Nilus,) puts the people to put their feet to the spade to digge gutters and channels to keep water for the watering of their gardens, whereas in Canaan the land was watered and made fruitfull by rain from heaven.
V. 11. * of hills and valleyes] * Chap. 8. 7.
V. 12. * the eyes of the Lord] * Ezra 5. 5. Jer. 40. 4. in marg. Psal. 34. 15. & 33. 18.
V. 13. * diligently] * Vers. 22.
V. 14. the first and latter] The first, (meaning after seed) was to bring the corne out of the ground; the latter afterwards to make it full in the eare, Zach. 10. 1. Jam. 5. 7. Jer. 5. 24.
V. 16. * take heed] Chap. 4. 9.
V. 17. shut up the heavens] Amos 4. 7.
V. 18. frontlets] See Annot. on Exod. 13. 16. and on Deut. Chap 6. vers. 8.
V. 21. * as the dayes of heaven] As long as the heavens endure. And the phrase also may import a temporall prosperitie like an heaven upon earth, as an earnest of that everlasting happinesse in heaven above. * Psal. 89. 29.
V. 22. * diligently] * Vers. 13. Psal. 119. 4.
cleave unto him] Gen. 21. 24. Act. 11. 23. Josh. 22. 5.
V. 24. every place] Within the compasse of the promised Land, not universally, as if they were to be Lords of the whole earth, as the Jewish Rabbins vainly fancy.
* uttermost sea] That is, the maine Ocean, which was the Westerne bound of the Land of Canaan. * Chap. 34. 2.
V. 25. * feare of you] * Chap. 28. 10. Exod. 23. 27.
V. 26. * a blessing &c.] Chap. 30. 15.
V. 29. put the blessing upon, &c.] The manner of blessing and cursing upon Mount Gerizim, and Mount Ebal [two hilles neere together in the Tribe of Ephraim] is conceived to be thus: sixe of the Tribes were placed on the one mount, and sixe on the other: in a little valley betwixt both (for there is but a little valley betwixt them) stood the Priests onelyonly, one while pronouncing blessings upon the observers of the Law, another while denouncing curses against the transgressours of the Law. When a blessing was pronounced, the Tribes on Mount Gerizim sounded out Amen; and when a curse was denounced, Amen was sounded from the Tribes on Mount Ebal. See Annot. on Chap. 27. vers. 12.
V. 30. are they not] This manner of interrogation hath the force of an assured affirmation, as if he had said, they are, and well known so to be.