Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 4 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Verſ. 3. VVere it not better for us to return into Egypt] How could that be better? It is our wiſeſt way, to cruſh the very firſt inſurrections of unruly paſſions; (do not great ſtormes riſe out of little guſts?) to ſmoother the ſmoke thereof, which elſe will fume up into the head, and gather into ſo thick a cloud, as we ſhall ſoon loſe the ſight of our ſelves, and what is beſt to be done.
Verſ. 4. Let us make a Captain] Thus they proceed from bad to worſe. Paſſions, like heavy bodies down ſteep hills, once in motion move themſelves, and know no ground but the bottome. Whether this people did make them ſuch a Captain, for ſuch a purpoſe, is uncertain; but howſoever, their very intention of doing it, is charged upon them, as if they had done it, Neh. 9.16, 17.
Verſ. 9. They are bread for us] q.d. We ſhall make but a breakfaſt of them. So that valiant Prince of Orange, told his ſouldiers at the battell of Newport, (when they had the ſea on the one ſide, and the Spaniards on the other;) that they muſt either eate up thoſe Spaniards, or drink up that ſea.
Verſ. 10. But all the congregation bad ſtone them] This is merces mundi. this is the fruit of Ochloeratie, that rule of raſcality, as one calls it.
Verſ. 11. Ere they believe me] Vnbeliefe is the root of rebellion and Apoſtacy, Heb. 3.12.
Verſ. 12. And I will make of thee, a greater nation] Here God offered Moſes, a private fortune, which he prudently refuſeth; becauſe God ſhould be a loſer by it. And ſurely (ſaith a Divine.) as God was diſpleaſed with Balaam for going, though he bad him go: ſo the Lord would not have taken it ſo kindly of Moſes, if he had taken him upon the offer he made in a time of his heate, againſt his people.
Verſ. 13. Then the Egyptiuns ſhall hear it] And they will ſoon make comedyes, out of the Churches tragedies.
Verſ. 14. And they will tell it] The proverb is, Oculus & fama non patiuntur jocos. A mans eye and his good name, can bear no j…ſts. And he was no fool that ſaid, negligere quid de ſe quiſque dicat, Cicero.non ſolum arrogantis eſt, ſed et diſſoluti. He ſhall paſs for a proud fool, that makes no matter, what men ſay of him. God is moſt tender of his glory; and we muſt take heed, how we caſt any ſlur upon it, for we quarter armes, as it were, with God.
Verſ. 15. Kill all this people as one man] As he can quickly do, with a turn of his hand, with a nod of his head, Pſal. 80.16. with a breath of his noſtrils, Iob 4.9. he can as ſoon do it, as bid it be done, whether it be done againſt a nation, or againſt a man only, Iob 34.29.
Verſ. 17. Let the power of my Lord be great] In multiplying pardons, Iſai. 55.8. in paſſing by the many and bony, or mighty ſins of this people; Amos 5.12. Fortia peccata Heb. bony ſins.ſuch ſins as none elſe, could or would pardon: for who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth ſuch iniquity, &c? Mic. 7.18. Hebricians have obſerved, that in the word jigdall here uſed; in the originall, text there is a great Iod, (which in numbering is ten,) to ſhew, that if the people ſhould murmure, ten times more, againſt God then they had done, yet out of tender reſpect to his own great name, (which would otherwiſe be baſely blaſphemed, he ſhould pardon and ſpare them.
Verſ 18. And by no meanes clearing the guilty] This laſt letter in Gods dreadfull Name, ought much to be marked. God may pardon mens ſins, and yet lay it on upon the skin, to humble themſelves, and to warne others. Thou forgaveſt them; though thou tookeſt vengeance of their inventions, Pſal. 99.8.
Verſ. 20. I have pardoned them] viz. So as not utterly and at once, to extirpe them. I will be as a moth unto them, and not as a devouring lyon, Hoſ. 5.12, 14.
Verſ. 21. But as truly as I live] This is an oath; as appeares by comparing herewith, Pſal. 95.11. To blame therefore are they, that uſe it ſo often. [All the earth ſhall be filled] I will make me a great name abroad; and even of thoſe maid-ſervants, (the heathens) which thou haſt ſpoken of, ſhall I be had in honour, as he ſaid in another caſe, 2 Sam. 6.22.
Verſ. 24. Veni, Vidi, Viti.Becauſe he had another Spirit] Let us go up and poſſeſſe it, ſaith he, Chap. 13, 30. As if it were no more, then to go and ſee, and conquer. A free ſpirit is i…kindled with that, which quencheth others: as when a bowl runs down-hill, Implevit poſt me.every rub, quickens it; whereas if up-hill, it would ſlug it.] And hath followed me fully] Heb. hath fulfilled after me. A Metaphor from a ſhip under ſayl, carried ſtrongly with the winde, as fearing neither rocks nor ſands. [And his ſeed] Perſonall goodneſs, is profitable to poſterity. Who would not ſerve ſuch a Lord?
Verſ. 25. Now the Amalekites] There was but a mountain betwixt: ſo they were hard by the promiſed land, and yet could not enter, becauſe of unbelief. Thou art not far from Gods Kingdome; the greater is thine unhappineſs, that falleſt from ſo high hopes. [By the way of the red ſea] Sith you have ſuch a minde to it, you ſhall have enough of it. The backſlider in heart, ſhall be filled with his own wayes, Prov. 14.14.
Verſ. 28. So will I do to you] God took them at their words▪ ſo he may well do our deſperate ſwearers; ſith the mercy they deſire God to ſhew, is to damne them.
Verſ. 29. Your carcaſſes ſhall fall] Cadaver a cadendo, foreign. Who knows whether God purpoſe not, to weare out this generation, that hath been defiled with the ſuperſtitions of the land we live in; that we may not ſee the good that he will bring upon this Church.
Verſ. 34. My breach of promiſe] i e. Ye ſhall finde to your coſt, what it is to charge me with breach of promiſe, through unbelief.
Verſ. 39. Mourned greatly] God gave them ſomewhat to cry for.
Verſ. 40. We have ſinned] Here was confeſſion of ſin, without confuſion of ſin. So was that of Saul, 1 Sam. 15.30.
Verſ. 45. And ſmote them] To be out of Gods precincts, is to be out of his protection.