Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 2 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Ver. 1. After their journies] i. e.
AFter they had firs;t been at Dophcah, and at Aluſh. Num. 33.12, 13, 14. [There was no water] Bread they had from heaven, but wanted water. Our condition here is a condition of ſingular indigencie: wee are ever wanting ſomwhat, or other.
Ver. 2. The people did chide with Moſes] As they did before for bread. And as thirſt is the more eager appetite, ſo they are more eager and earneſt for water, then they were for bread, [Wherefore do yee tempt the Lord] viz Whether hee bee amongſt you, and bee able by miracle to reliev you.
Ver. 3. Murmured againſt Moſes] Magiſtrates have manie times a wearie life, with the mutinous multitude. Seneca obſerveth of Egypt (it proved true of this people newly com out of Egypt) that it was loquax & ingenioſa in contumeliam proefectorum provincia: in qua, qui vitaverit culpam, non effugit infamiam. That it was … province apt to prate againſt their Governors, and to caſt a ſlur upon them, though never ſo well deſerving.
Ver. 4. Readie to ſtone mee] Well might hee ask with our Saviour, For which of my good works do yee ſtone mee? John 10.32.But the bellie hath no cars.
Ver. 5. Take with thee of the Elders] As witneſſes of this great work of God; which the people for their unbelief might not behold. God put's up their rebellion, and ſat is…e's their thirſt: but yet intimates his juſt diſpleaſure, by denying them this privilege of ſeeing the rock ſmitten.
Ver. 6. Ʋpon the rock] If God had not ſtood upon the rock, in vain had Moſes ſtruck it. Means muſt bee uſed, but God onelyonly depended upon for ſucceſs. It is hee alone that ſet's the rock abroach. [Thou ſhalt ſmite the rock] Here in a type of Chriſt, ſtricken, ſmitten of God and afflicted. Iſa. 53.4. 1 Cor. 10.4. [And there ſhall com water out of it] Not ſire, (that had not been ſo miraculous,) but water. This cleaving the hard rock. Pſalm 78.15. This turning of the ſlint into a fountain. Pſalm 114.8. was a work of Omnipotencie, and is therefore much celebrated. Deut. 8.15. Pſalm 105.41 Nehem. 9 15. Dioſcorides tell's us of the ſtone Galactites, quèd ſuceum emittat lacieum, that it yield's a kinde of moiſture like milk which, if it bee true, is verie ſtrange. [That the peo…le may d…ink] And ſo bee cooled and comforted in their wearineſs and wandrings. Ho, everie one that thirſteth, &c. Iſa 55.1.
Ver. 7. Is the Lord amongſt us?] As if that could not bee, and they athirſt? But hee is moſt preſent, when hee afflict's: Hee know's our ſouls in adverſitie.
Ver. 8. Then came Amalek] Not having the fear of God before his eles. Deut. 25.18. but carried on by the antient enmitie: for Amalek was Eſau's grandchilde.
Ver. 9. I will ſtand on the top] Where the people might ſee him with that Enſign in his hand, and bee incouraged, Xerxes uſed to pitch his tent on high, and ſtand looking on his armie, when in fight, for their incouragement.
Ver. 10. Aaron and Hur] This Hur, ſaith Joſephus, was huſband to Miriäm, and Moſes his Deputie. Exod. 24.14. [Went up to the top of a hill] To praie together. Pſalm 76.2.3. In the Congregation where the Saints are praying, there the arrow, ſhield, and ſpear are broken. 2 Sam. 18.3. From thence ſhalt thou help us; (ſaid the people to David) that is, thy praiers ſhall prevail with God for our aſſiſtance. Non tam praeliando quàm precando. The King of Sweden aſſoon as hee ſet foot in Germanie fell down to praier, and hee proved verie victorious.
Ver. 11. When Moſes held up his hands] The puſh of Moſes's praiers did more then the pikes of all Iſraël beſides. Moſes orat & vincit, Bucholcer. Chronol.ceſſat & vincitur, ſaith one. Great is the power of praiers. Henricus Anceps, the Emperor of Germanie, ſlew and put to flight a huge armie of the Hungarians, his ſouldiers all crying out with a loud voice, Idem ibid.Kyrie eleiſon, Kyrie eleiſon, i, e. Lord have merciemercy upon us, Lord have merciemercy upon us. This was don before the citie of Mersburg.
Ver. 12. But Moſes's hands were heavie] It is a praiſ proper to God, that his hand is ſtretched out still: As for men, even the beſt, though the ſpirit in them bee willing, yet the fleſh is weak, and will not ſuffer anie long intention. [And Aaron and Hur ſtaid up his hands] Neither did they onelyonly raiſ up their hands, but their mindes with his. There are that here obſerv, that upon the fourtieth daie after their coming out of Egypt, Moſes, Aaron, and Hur went up into the Mount, where Moſes's hands are thus ſupported, while Amalek is diſcomfited; and that Moſes the Prophet, Hur the Prince, and Aaron the Prieſt, all put together, were a type of Chriſt; who on the fourtieth daie after his Reſurrection aſſcended into the Mount of Heaven; where, as our Prophet, Prieſt, and Prince, hee hold's up the hands of his Interceſſion for his Church Militant, whiles ſhee fight's with ſpiritual Amalek, Sin, Satan, Antichriſt, World, Fleſh, &c.
Ver. 13. And Joſhua diſcomfited] How ſhould hee do otherwiſe, when hee fought with ſuch weapons? Praiers are the bombardae, & inſtrumenta bellica Chriſtianorum, ſaith Luther: The great guns, and warlike weapons of the Saints. The Romans in a great diſtreſs were driven to take the weapons out of the Temples of their gods, and overcame. The Parliament ſouldiers at Edg-hill-battle falling on with courage, and crying out, Now for the fruit of praier, Now for the fruit of praier; prevailed mightily, ſlaying near ten to one, &c.
Ver. 14. In a book] Or, in the book that thou art now in writing: viz. the Pentateuch, the moſt antient book that is extant. [I will utterly put out &c.] The portion of wicked men is to bee forgotten in the citie where they had ſo don, Eccleſ. 8.10. their memorie die's with them: or, if it bee preſerved, it ſtink's in keeping, and remain's as a curſ and perpetual diſgrace.
Ver. 15. And Moſes built an Altar] As a laſting monument of God's great MercieMercy in that firſt victorie. The Romans had a cuſtom, that the Conqueror in his triumphant chariot rode to the Capitol, and offered a white ox to Jupiter.Liv lib 6. Decad 3.
Ver. 16. Becauſ the Lord, &c.] Heb. The hand upon the throne of the Lord. God's hand is laid upon his own throne, as ſwearing to root out Amalek. Or Amalek's hand is lifted up againſt God's throne, that is the Church (called God's throne of glorie. Jer. 4.21. and crown of glorie. Iſa. 62.3.) therefore hee will have perpetual war with him. Tua cauſſa erit mea cauſſa, ſaid the Emperor Charls the Fifth to Julius Pflugius, who, beeing his Agent, had received wrong by the Duke of Saxonie; ſo ſaith God to all that belong to him.