Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 4 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Verſ. 1. I In the firſt monethmonth] To wit, of their fortieth year, after they came out of Egypt. For from this Chapter, to the end of Deuteronomy, are deſcribed the paſſages of the laſt year, only of their journeying in the wilderneſs: little being regarded, of the thirty eight years, ſince the Spies report. [And Miriam dyed there] A good woman, and of great uſe to the people in their travells, Mic. 6.4. But once ſhe raiſed a great ſtorme, againſt her brothers wife, Chap. 12.1. about precedency, probably: as did likewiſe in this kingdome, Anne Stanhop Dutcheſſe of Sommerſet, againſt Katherine Parre, Life of Edw. 6. pag. 81. Camb. Eliſ. fol. 356.Queen Dowager, wife to her husbands brother, the Lord Admirall, in the dayes of King Edward the ſixth. This Anne dyed Anno Dom. 1587, being 99 yeares of age. Miriam could be no leſs, likely, then 130; taking her to be the ſame, that was ſet to watch what would become of Moſes, when he was laid out in an Ark of bulruſhes, Exod. 2.4.
Ver 3. And the people chod] Wanting both water and patience, they broke the peace with their Superiours. See the Note on Chap. 15. verſ. 15.
Verſ. 4. And why have ye brought up] See how this new generation doth patriſſare: this is but the old coccyſmus of thoſe ancient Malecontents, Exod. 17.2. So much the worſe in theſe, becauſe they made no better uſe of Gods dealing with their fathers, Dan. 5.22.
Verſ. 5. Neither is there any water to drink] Thirſt, a moſt eager appetite, eneagreth their affections, and makes them thus hot with Moſes.
Verſ. 8. Take the rod] God puts up their rebellion, and ſatisfies their thirſt by a miracle. [Speak unto the rock] He is not bidden now to ſmite it; as once, Exod. 17.6. which becauſe he did unbidden, God was deeply diſpleaſed, as ſome are of opinion.
Verſ. 9. And Moſes took the rod] The ſame rod, that once ſmote the river, to deſtroy the Egyptians. The ſame word, is a ſavour of life to believers, 2 Cor. 2.16.and of death to unbelievers.
Verſ. 10. Hear now ye rebels] They could hardly hear; for the belly hath no eares; and their tongues ſcarce knew, to utter any language, but that of Sampſon; Give me water, or I dye, Jud. 15.18. But why did Moſos ſpeak to them, when he ſhould have ſpoken to the rock only? verſ. 8. This was ill; but worſe to ſpeak ſo unadviſedly: He ſtruck at the rock, and, as ready almoſt to ſplit againſt it, he makes two arguments againſt it. 1. Hear now ye rebels. q.d. Will the Lord ever give water to ſuch rebels? 2. Shall we give you water out of the rock? will that ever be done? To fetch fire out of a flinty rock, is far more likely; but to diſtill water out of it, how can that be done? Loe Moſes is ſtaggered, Bucolc.and now at a ſtand. Ade… nihil eſt in nobis magnum, quod non queat minui; the ſtrongeſt faith, much aſſailed, may flag, and hang the wing. The beſt carry their treaſure, but in earthen veſſels; which daſhing againſt the rock of unbeliefe, miſeras rimas ducunt, &c. leake pittifully.
Verſ. 11. He ſmote the rock twice] In a great heate, and pang of paſſion. Horat.— qui non moderabitur irae, Infectum velit eſſe dolor quod ſuaſerit, et mens. Sometimes both grace and wit, are aſleep in the holieſt and warieſt breaſts. The beſt may be miſ-carried by their paſſions, to their coſt.
And the water came out abundantly] This cleaving of the hard rock, was a work of Omnipotency, Pſal. 78.15. The works of God are, Luther.in contrariis mediis. This rock was Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.4. fitly compared to a rock. 1. For deſpicable appearance, Iſai. 53.2, 3. 2. Next, for exaltation, and advancement. 3. For firmneſs and ſtability, Mat. 16.18. 4. For ſcandall, and offence to the wicked, Rou…. 9.32. 5. For weight and danger, Mat. 21.44. [And their beaſts alſo] The wicked, in like ſort, comming to the Lords Supper, do receive there panem Domini, not panem Dominum.
Verſ. 12. Becauſe ye believed me not] Ye could not conceive, and were not very willing, that I ſhould ſhew ſuch favour to ſo undeſerving a people: ſo meaſuring my thoughts, by your thoughts, and my wayes, by your wayes, Iſai. 55.8. caſting me into a diſhonourable mould, as it were; and this publikely, before all the people. [Therefore ye ſhall not bring] So God was unto them, a God that forgiveth, and taketh vengeance of their practices, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, Pſal. 99.8. Repentance may come too late, in regard of temporall chaſtiſement, as here it did, Deut. 3.24, 25.
Verſ. 13. And he was ſanctified in them] By overcomming their evill with good; ſtriking the rock for them, when he might juſtly have ſtricken them, with utter deſtruction. Mans badneſs interrupteth not the courſe of Gods goodneſs; his unbelief maketh not the faith of God without effect, Rom. 3.3.
Verſ. 14. Thus ſaith thy brother] A brother is born for adverſity, Prov. 17.17. and good blood will not bely it ſelf. But a brother offended is harder to be wonne, then a ſtrong city: and their contentions, are like the barrs of a caſtle, Prov. 18.19.
Verſ. 16. Sent an Angell] This was Chriſt: or, (as ſome would have it) Moſes: like as Phineas is thought, to be that Angell at Bochim, …udg. 2.1.
Verſ. 17. We will not paſs] So ſhould a Chriſtian beſpeak the world: Let us paſs through thy country; we will neither touch nor taſt of thy cates, but go by the Kings high-way; that good old way, that God hath ſcored out unto us; untill we arrive at the key of Canaan, at the Kingdome of Heaven.
Verſ. 18. Thou ſhalt not paſs] As fearing what ſo great an army once got in might do; they are not uſually ſo eaſily removed. It was therefore great injuſtice in Pope Iulius, to excommunicate and depoſe John, King of Navarre, as an heretike, and publike enemy to the See Apoſtolike, becauſe being himſelf a Peere of the Realm of France, and having a great part of his patrimony in that country, he would not ſuffer the Spaniard (the Popes Champion,) to leade an army through his country, Guicciard. lib. 2.againſt the French, (his Leige-Lord) and deliver to him three of the ſtrongeſt caſtles, he had in his kingdome.