A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Deuteronomy · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
THeſe be the words which Moſes ſpake unto all Iſrael, on this ſide Jordan, &c.]
Moſt Expoſitours hold that the chief drift of this firſt verſe is to ſhew the places where Moſes repeated and explained the law of God to the Iſraelites: which is indeed the main ſubject of this laſt book of Moſes, & therefore it is called Deuteronomie, or the ſecond declaration of the Law. The main objection againſt this is, that it is here ſaid that Moſes ſpake theſe words, In the plain over againſt the red ſea, between Paran, &c. for the plain over againſt the red ſea was farre from the plains of Moab where Moſes repeated the law, and ſo alſo Paran and Hazeroth, which are both here mentioned, were places farre Southward from the place where Moſes now was, through which the Iſraelites had long ſince paſſed, Numb. 12. 16. And indeed they that thus underſtand this place have no other way to avoid this objection, but by ſaying either that the word Zuph, which our Tranſlatours under…and to be the red ſea, is not meant of the red ſea, but of a flaggy place by the ſides of Jordan towards the wilderneſſe, the Hebrew word Zuph ſignifying flagges, ſuch as grew by the ſea or rivers ſides, Exod. 2. 3. or elſe that the plains of Moab are here called the plain over againſt the red ſea, becauſe they lay oppoſite to the red ſea, though a great way off from it. Others again, and methinks very probablic, do otherwiſe conceive of the drift of theſe words, namely, that the time when and place where Moſes repeated the law is ſet down afterwards, verſ. 3, 4, 5▪ and that the drift of theſe two firſt verſes is to ſhew, that the laws, which Moſes did now repeat and explain to the Iſraelites in the plains of Moab, were no other but the very ſame for ſubſtance which he had formerly given them at Sinai, or in ſeverall places as they travelled through the wilderneſſe from the red ſea to the land of Canaan, onelyonly now they were collected into one body, and repeated together in the plains of Moab, becauſe all that were of age and judgement when the law was firſt given were now dead, and a new generation that was now to enter Canaan was ſprung up in their room: and ſo the plain over againſt the red ſea, Paran, and other places are here named, either as pointing out the ſeverall places whe…e in their peregrination theſe following Statutes had been firſt given them; or at leaſt as the bounds of that huge tract of ground through which they had paſſed, wherein …od had ſpoken to the Iſraelites that came out of Egypt theſe things which are now repeated together to their poſterity.
Verſ. 2. There are eleven dayes journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeſh-barnea.]
If the aim of the foregoing verſe were to ſhew the place where Moſes repeated the Laws of God to the Iſraelites (which many Expoſitours conceive, as is before noted) then we may well think that the aim of theſe words may be to ſhew that it was no wonder though the plains of Moab, where the Law was repeated by Moſes, be there called the plain over againſt the red ſea, to wit, becauſe however the Iſraelites, through Gods judgement upon them, were fourtie years in going from the red ſea to thoſe parts, yet the way of it ſelf was not ſo long, for it was but eleven dayes journey from Horeb to Kadeſh-barnea. But if the foregoing verſe be meant of the places where the Laws were firſt given that were now repeated by Moſes, then I conceive this clauſe is added as a topographicall deſcription of the extent of that wilderneſſe where theſe Laws were at firſt given; and withall to imply that it was not the length of the way, but their rebellion againſt God, that made them wander ſo long in the wilderneſſe, that there was now none left alive, but that younger brood that had not heard theſe Laws when they were firſt given.
Verſ. 3. And it came to paſſe in the fourtieth year, in the eleventh monethmonth, on the firſt day of the monethmonth, that Moſes ſpake unto the children of Iſrael, &c.]
To wit, a little before his death; for he died in the twelveth monethmonth.
Verſ. 4. And Og the King of Baſhan which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei.]
That is, after he had in Edrei ſlain Og, which dwelt at Aſtaroth; for in Edrei he was ſlain, Numb. 21. 33. and they were both cities in Ogs land, Joſh. 13. 31.
Verſ. 6. Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount.]
For there they had continued well nigh a full year. See the note upon Numb. 10. 11, 12. Here the Law was given, but now they were called thence, to journey towa…ds Canaan, the figure of their heavenly inheritance by faith in Chriſt; which may put us in mind that the Law is not for men to continue under but for a time, till they be fitted for Chriſt, Gal. 3. 16, 17, 18. Now this readineſſe in God to have preſently given them the poſſeſſion of the land Moſes doth tell them of, as a motive to make them believe the more con…idently that God would now give it them, and to make them the more carefull to obſerve theſe Laws of God, which now he meant to rehearſe unto them.
Verſ. 7. Turn you, and take your …ourney, and go to the mount of the Amorites, &c.]
In theſe following words the Lord did then ſet forth the bounds of the promiſed land which he perſwaded them to enter, beginning with the mount of the Amorites in the South ſide or border where they were then to enter the land, and then adding the ſea ſide, which was their Weſt border, Numb. …4. 6. and then Lebanon was a mount on the North part of the land; and then laſt of all the great river Euphrates, which was their Eaſtern bound in the utmoſt extent without Jordan, and ſo …arre Solomon reigned. See 1. Kings 4. 21.
Verſ. 9. And I spake unto you at that time, ſaying, I am not able to bear you my ſelf alone, &c.]
That is, about that time: for this motion he made by the coun…el of Jethro, and commandment of the Lord, before they came to Horeb, Exod▪ 18▪ 14, &c▪ and here he repeats it, to let them ſee how tenderly carefull he alwayes was of the welfare of this people, which muſt needs make his preſent counſel and exhortations the more prevalent with them.
Verſ. 11. The Lord God of your fathers make you a thouſand times ſo many mo… as ye are, &c.]
Having profeſſed that he was not able to bear the burthen of the government alone, becauſe they were ſo many; leſt they ſhould ſuſpect that he envied their number or did in the leaſt degree grudge as it, he interpoſeth theſe words, The Lord God of your fathers make you a thouſand times ſo many moe as ye are, &c.
Verſ. 13. Take ye wiſe men and underſtanding, &c.]
See Exod. 18. 25.
Verſ. 15. And officers among your tribes.]
That is, under-o…icers of ſeverall ſorts, ſuch as executed the magiſtrates Laws.
Verſ. 17. For the judgement is Gods.]
This is added as a reaſon why the Judges ought not to be reſpecters of perſons, nor fear the face of any man whatſoever, becauſe the judgement is Gods, that is, the judges repreſent Gods perſon, and ſit in his ſeat, and God ſpeaks and judges by them, and therefore they ſhould judge no otherwiſe then God would do; and when they judge unj…ſtly they diſhonour God, and forget how able God is to defend them who…e work they do.
Verſ. 18. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye ſhould do.]
He gave them all the Laws delivered here in Horeb, and taught the Judges their duty in more full manner then is here expr…ſſed.
Verſ. 19. We went through all that great and terrible wilderneſſe, which you ſaw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites.]
That is, the way which leadeth to the mount of the Amorites.
Verſ. 23. And the ſaying pleaſed me well, &c.]
That is, their deſire that ſpies might be ſent before them: yet it ſeems he enquired whether God would have it ſo, who approved, or at leaſt permitted it, Numb. 13. 1. for prudent policy (ſo it be not mixed with unbelief) doth well beſeem Gods people. Yet it may be this requeſt of theirs proceeded from diſtruſtfull fears; and if ſo, then God gave way to them herein to harden and puniſh them for their unbelief.
Verſ. 25. And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, &c.]
As grapes, pomegranates, figs, Numb. 13. 23.
And ſaid, It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us.]
Moſes expreſſeth not here at firſt the diſcouraging words of the timerous ſpies, but onelyonly that wherein they agreed with Caleb and Joſhua concerning the goodneſſe of the land, becauſe this which was confeſſed ſhould have been more prevalent with the people to have heartned them to go on, then their tales of the ſtrength of the people and their cities to beat them off.
Verſ. 31. The Lord thy God bare thee as a man doth bear his ſonne, &c.]
This word implyes, firſt, Gods aſſiſtance in carrying them through unpaſſable difficulties, the way they could not in their own ſtrength have overmaſtered, but God by his almighty power bare them, as when a father takes up and carries his child in his arms; ſecondly, it implyes his bearing with their perverſneſſe and rebellions: and this concerning Gods fatherly love to them, and care over them, he oppoſeth to that deſperate ſpeech of …heirs, verſ. 27. Becauſe the Lord hated us he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, &c.
Verſ. 35. Surely there ſhall not one of theſe men of this evil generation ſee that good land, &c.]
Though Moſes prayed for them, Num. 14. 13.—19. and the Lord pardoned them that they were not then deſtroyed, Numb. 14. 20. yet he ſware that they ſhould not come into the promiſed land.
Verſ. 36. Save Caleb the ſonne of Jephunneh, he ſhall ſee it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, &c.]
See Joſh. 14. 9.
Verſ. 37. Alſo the Lord was angry with me, for your ſakes, &c.]
For the people provoked his ſpirit, whereupon he ſpake unadviſedly with his lippes, Pſal. 106. 32, 33. So then theſe words are not added to juſtifie himſelf, and to caſt all the blame upon them, but onelyonly to ſhew how by their rebellion he alſo was involved in ſinne, and brought to do that which was ſo diſpleaſing to God. Yet there is another expoſition which may ſeem moſt probable, the Lord was angry with me for your ſakes, that is, becauſe I did that in my unbelief and impatience, which was likely to be prejudiciall unto you, as thoſe words which God there uſed imply, Numb. 20. 12. becauſe ye believed me not to ſanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Iſrael. And ſo this paſſage ſeems here inſerted onelyonly by the way, having ſpoken how God had ſworn that they ſhould not ſet foot in Canaan, he addes (as in a parentheſis) this ſentence of the like nat…re pronounced againſt himſelf for their ſakes.
Verſ. 39. Moreover your little ones, which ye ſaid ſhould be a prey, &c.]
In theſe words thus repeated there is couched an encouragement for the Iſraelites to whom Moſes at preſent ſpake.
Verſ. 44. And the Amorites which dwelt in that mountain came out against you, and chaſed you as bees do.]
Which being angred uſe to come out in great ſwarms, and to purſue them with ſtrange eagerneſſe and fury; whence is that alſo of the Pſalmiſt, They compaſſed me about like bees, Pſal. 118. 12.
Verſ. 46. So ye abode in Kadeſh many dayes, according unto the dayes that ye abode there▪]
To wit, a long time, as appears by the number of the dayes that ye abode there. Thus many Expoſitours conceive that this clauſe is to be taken as ſpoken indefinitely, that according to the number of the dayes they abode there it is manifeſt they abode there many dayes. But others very probable underſtand it thus, that as they ſtayed there a long time before the return of the ſpies, ſo they ſtayed there again a long time after; yea ſome …ake it more particularly, that as they ſtayed there fourtie dayes whileſt the ſpies ſearched the land, ſo accordingly they ſtayed as many dayes more after the return of the ſpies: and others again conceive it is meant of the whole time of their wandring after this in the wilderneſſe, to wit, that in the fourtieth year they were gotten no farther then Kadeſh, and ſo wandred up and down fourty years according to the number of fourtie dayes wherein they ſearched the land, and ſo that this alludes to that, Numb. 14. 34.