Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 2 · Chapter 34 – Chapter 40
CHAP. XXXIV. Ver. 1. Which thou brakeſt]
NOt without a tincture of paſſionate infirmitie, Dr. Hall.as ſom conceiv. Hee that was the meekeſt upon earth (ſaith one) in a ſudden indignation abandon's that which hee would in cold blood have held faſter then his life. But Auſtin crie's out, O ira Prophetica, & animus non perturbatus, ſed illuminatus!
Ver. 2. In the morning] A ſign of merciemercy. Pſalm 90.14. and 30.6. and 5.4.
Ver. 3. Neither let anie man bee ſeen] See the Note on Exod. 19.12.
Ver. 4. And hee hewed two Tables] Moſes hewed them. The firſt Tables were hewen out of the Saphir of the Throne of God's Glorie, ſaie the Jewiſh Doctors.
Ver. 6. The Lord, the Lord God, &c] Theſe glorious titles and attributes are thoſe back-parts of God. Chap. 33.23. None can ſee more then theſe and live: and wee need ſee no more then theſe, that wee may live. [Long-ſuffering] Heb. Wide of noſtrils; not apt to ſnuff at ſmall matters, but bearing with men's evil manners. This Averroës the Atheïſt made uſe of as an argument againſt the Providence of God, and to prove that hee medleth with nothing below the Moon, becauſ of his ſlowneſs to anger. [In goodneſs and truth] God's goodneſs, though great, yet here and elſwhere it go's bounded with his truth.
Ver. 7. Forgiving iniquitie, tranſgreſſion, and ſin] i. e. All ſorts of ſins. 'Tis natural to him, as here. None like him for this. Micah 7.18. It is the comfort of Saints, that they have to do with a forgiving God. Neh. 9.31. that can multiplie pardons, Nun rabbathi Maſor.as they multiplie ſins. Iſa. 55.7. [Keeping merciemercy for thouſands] The Hebrew word here rendred Keeping, is written with a greaten letter then ordinarie, to note the extraordinarie greatneſs of God's promiſe to his people and their poſteritie▪ Pſalm 25.10. [Clear the guiltie] This laſt letter in God's Name muſt ſtill bee remembred.
Ver. 8. And Moſes made haſte] It was time for him. The more anie man ſee's of God, the lower hee fall's in his own eies: as hee that hath looked intently upon the ſun, ſee's little when hee look's down again.
Ver. 9. Let my Lord, I praie thee] See the Note on Cha. 33 12.
Ver. 10. Behold, I make a covenant] i. e. I re-eſtabliſh it with this back-ſliding people. God receiveth returning ſinners with much ſweetneſs: Hee reteineth not his anger for ever, becauſ merciemercy pleaſeth him. His merciemercy (to us) is greater then his juſtice, though in themſelvs they are equal, yea, the ſame. [I will do marvels] See this fulfilled and recorded. Joſh. 10.12, 13.
Ver. 11. Obſerv thou] This is the condition of the covenant on man's part to bee performed. With others God make's a ſingle covenant onelyonly, that they ſhall obſerv that which hee command's them: but with his Elect hee make's a double covenant; to perform both parts to work all their works in them, and for them, to put his fear into their hearts, and to cauſ them to keep his Commandements.
Ver. 12. With the inhabitants] They were devoted to deſtruction, as having filled the land from one end to another with their uncleanneſs. Ezra 9.11.
Ver. 13. Break their images] The Popiſh Hiſtorians have blurred and blaſted thoſe zealous Emperors, Zeno and others, that were Iconomachi and Iconoclaſtai, as Sacrilegious. Berne was the firſt Town that after the Reformation was purged of Images; which Auguſtin ſaith cannot bee placed in Churches Sine praeſentiſſimo idololatriae periculo: Aug. in Pſal. 114.without extreme danger of Idolatrie. Ephiphanius ſaith, It is utterly unlawful and abominable, to ſet up Images in the Churches of Chriſtians. Irenaeus reproveth the Gnoſticks, for that they carried about the picture of Chriſt in Pilate's time, after his own proportion: uſing alſo, for declaration of their affection toward it, to ſet garlands upon the head of it.
Ver. 14. No other God] In the Hebrew word Acher rendred Other, there is a great R. to ſhew the greatneſs of the ſin of ſerving anie other God.
Ver. 15. And one call thee] Anie one of the Idolatrous root, if hee do but hold up his finger to thee, thou wilt eaſily follow him. Cereus in vitium flecii.Horat.
Ver. 16. And they make thy ſons] Satan ſtill work's upon Adam by Eve. Omnes haereſes ex gyneciis. It is the guiſ of Hereticks to abuſe the help of women to ſpread their poiſonful opinions. Satan per coſtam, tanquam per ſcalam ad cor aſſcendit. Greg.Satan climbe's up by the rib to the heart.
Ver. 17. No molten gods] As the golden calf was. Goodlie gods that are molten: Olim truncus eram.Horat.
Ver. 18. In the monethmonth Abi… ] So called from the new fruits, or ears of corn, then firſt appearing. See Exod. 12.1. & 13.4. God here repeteth diverſ Laws; It was a token of reconciliation to the people after their Apoſtacie, in that hee treat's with them again (after their repentance) about his ſolemn worſhips. So, for a teſtimonie of his reconciliation to Peter after his foul fall, hee ſet's him a work in the Miniſterie. John 21.15. So hee commendeth his Sponſ…a…reſh, after her drowſie decaies, everie whit as amiable as ſhee was before he… fall. Cant. 6.5. with Chap. 5.10, 11, &c.
Ver. 21. In earing-time and harveſt] Though moſt buſie times, you may not make bold with God.
Ver. 24. Neither ſhall anie man deſire] A wonderful providence, ſith Judea was compaſſed about with ſuch warlike adverſaries; that they ſhould not watch and catch at ſuch opportunities. Pompey beſieging Jeruſalem, made his ſtrongeſt batteries on the Sabbath-daie (whereon hee knew the ſuperſtitious Jews would not make their defence) and took it.Dio. Caſſ.
Ver. 27. I have made a covenant] Wee alſo have the Covenant, the Seals, Miniſters, &c. But, alas! are not theſe bleſſings amongſt us as the Ark was amongſt the Philiſtims, rather as priſoners then as privileges? rather in testimonium & ruinam quàm in ſalutem? Rather for our ruine, then reformation.
Ver. 28. Fortie daies and fortie nights] Moſes, Elias, and Chriſt, (thoſe three great Fathers) met glorious in Mount Tahor. Abſtinence merit's not; but prepare's the beſt for good duties. [Hee wrote] That is, Weemſ Exer.God wrote, as ſom will have it.
Ver. 29. The skin of his face ſhone] God hereby aſſuring the people, that hee had inwardly inlightned him for their better inſtruction.
Ver. 30. And they were afraid] This was another manner of Brightneſs and Majeſtie then that which ſate in the eies of Auguſtus and of Tamerlan; whoſe eies ſo ſhone, as that a man could hardly endure to behold them without cloſing of his own: and manie in talking with them, and often beholding of them became dumb: which cauſſed them oft-times with a comlie modeſtie to abſtein from looking too earneſtly upon ſuch as ſpake unto them, Turk. hiſt… fol. 236.or diſcourſed with them.
Ver. 33. Hee put a veil on his face] And had more glorie by his veil, then by his face. How far are thoſe ſpirits from this Chriſtian modeſtie, which care onelyonly to bee ſeen, and wiſh onelyonly to dazle others eies with admiration, not caring for unknown riches? This veil ſignified the Laws obſcuritie, and our infidelitie.
Ver. 34. But when Moſes went in] Hypocrites on the contrarie ſhew their beſt to men, their worſt to God; God ſee's both their veil; and their face; and I know not whether hee hate's more their veil of diſſimulation, or face of wickedneſs.
CHAP. XXXV. Ver. 1. And ſaid unto them, Theſe, &c.]
HEE often go's over the ſame things, as the knife doth the whetſtone. Good things muſt bee repeted, ſicut in acuendo. 'Tis Moſes his own metaphor. Deut. 6.7.
Ver. Six daies ſhall work bee don] This dutie is ſo oft inculcated, to ſhew the neceſſitie, excellencie, difficultie of well doing it.
Ver. Yee ſhall kindle no fire] ſc. For the furtherance of the work of the Tabernacle: or at leaſt, that is not of abſolute neceſſitie. It might alſo ſignifie, that in the kingdom of heaven wee ſhall bee ſet free from all the fire and ſcorching heat of affliction.
Ver. 22. And brought bracelets] Glad they had anie thing of price to dedicate to God, and to ſeal up their thankfulneſs for this re-admittance into his love and favor. See the Note on Matth. 9.10. Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning (wherein hee was verie famous) that hee had ſomthing of value, to part with for Chriſt.
Ver. 32. And to deviſe curious works] This alſo cometh forth from the Lord of Hoſts, Lib. 23.who is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working. Iſa. 28.29. Plinie make's mention of ſom famous Painters, whoſe rare pieces were Oppidorum opibus venditae: Sold for ſo manie Towns-wealth. A certain artificer ſet a watch-clock upon a ring that Charls the Fifth wore upon his finger. Sphinx philoſ. pag. 90.King Ferdinand ſent to Solyman the Turk, for a preſent, a wonderful globe of ſilver, of moſt rare and curious device; daily expreſſing the hourly paſſing of the Time, the motions of the Planets, Turk. Hiſt. fol. 713.the change and full of the Moon; lively exepreſſing the wonderful converſions of the Celeſtial frame. To which, I may well add that admirable invention of Printing, a ſpecial bleſſing of God to mankinde.
CHAP. XXXVI, XXXVII, &c. Ver. 2. And Moſes called Bezaleel]
GOd qualified them, M…ſes called them. Miniſters alſo muſt have an outward calling too. See Acts 13.1, 2, 3.Heb. 5.4. and bee ſent ere they preach. Rom. 10.15. And whereas 1 Cor. 14.31. It is ſaid, Yee may all prophecie, the meaning is, All yee that are Prophets, may. But are all Prophets? 1 Cor. 12.29.
Ver. 7. And too much] Thus in outward ordinances of ſervice, and for the making of a worldlie ſanctuarie. Heb. 9.1. they could do and over-do. So John 6.28. They ſaid unto him, What ſhall wee do that wee may work the works of God? Men would fain have heaven as a purchaſe. I would ſwim through a ſea of brimſtone (ſaid one) that I might com to heaven at laſt. But what ſaid our Saviour to thoſe queſtioniſts. John 6? This is the work of God that yee believ on him whom hee hath ſent. And what ſaid Luther, Walk in the Heaven of the Promiſs, but in the Earth of the Law; that in reſpect of Believing, this of Working? Manie poor ſouls can think of nothing but working themſelvs to life. Do wee muſt all righteouſneſs, but reſt in none but Chriſt's.
Ver. 8. And everie wiſe-hearted man] Let no man look upon this and the following Chapter, as an idle repetition; nor ſaie as one ſaid once, Did wee not know that all Scripture was divinely inſpired, wee ſhould bee readie to ſa…e, Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus. But know that here is ſee forth a Table, Index, or Inventorie, of what Moſes and the workmen did in obedience to God's command, for everie particular about the Sanctuarie. This Inventorie was taken by Ithamar, at the commandement of Moſes, Et ſic in archivum Eccleſiae relatum, and ſo laid up in the charter-houſ of the Church, for the uſe of poſteritie.
See the Notes on Exod. 26. and conſider that ſaying of an antient. Proſper. Epiſt. ad Auguſtin.Neceſſarium & utile est etiam quae ſcripta ſunt ſcribere, nè leve exiſtimetur quod non frequenter arguitur.
CHAP. XL. Ver. 36. The Children of Iſraël went]
THe Jews conceiv that this Cloud that led Iſraël through the wilderneſs, levelled mountains, raiſed vallies, and laid all aflat: that it burnt up buſhes, and ſmoothed rocks, and made all plain, &c. See Luke 3.5, Iſa. 4.5.