mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 1.xml

<div2 id="Deu.ii" n="ii" next="Deu.iii" prev="Deu.i" progress="81.89%" title="Chapter I">
<h2 id="Deu.ii-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.ii-p1">The first part of Moses's farewell sermon to
Israel begins with this chapter, and is continued to the latter end
of the fourth chapter. In the first five verses of this chapter we
have the date of the sermon, the place where it was preached
(<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.1-Deut.1.2 Bible:Deut.1.5" parsed="|Deut|1|1|1|2;|Deut|1|5|0|0" passage="De 1:1,2,5">ver. 1, 2, 5</scripRef>), and the
time when, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.3-Deut.1.4" parsed="|Deut|1|3|1|4" passage="De 1:3,4">ver. 3, 4</scripRef>. The
narrative in this chapter reminds them, I. Of the promise God made
them of the land of Canaan, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.6-Deut.1.8" parsed="|Deut|1|6|1|8" passage="De 1:6-8">ver.
6-8</scripRef>. II. Of the provision made of judges for them,
<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.9-Deut.1.18" parsed="|Deut|1|9|1|18" passage="De 1:9-18">ver. 9-18</scripRef>. III. Of their
unbelief and murmuring upon the report of the spies, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.19-Deut.1.33" parsed="|Deut|1|19|1|33" passage="De 1:19-33">ver. 19-33</scripRef>. IV. Of the sentence
passed upon them for it, and the ratification of that sentence,
<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.34-Deut.1.46" parsed="|Deut|1|34|1|46" passage="De 1:34-46">ver. 34</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.ii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1" parsed="|Deut|1|0|0|0" passage="De 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.ii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.1-Deut.1.8" parsed="|Deut|1|1|1|8" passage="De 1:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.1.1-Deut.1.8">
<h4 id="Deu.ii-p1.9">Israel's History Repeated. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.ii-p2">1 These <i>be</i> the words which Moses spake
unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain
over against the Red <i>sea,</i> between Paran, and Tophel, and
Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.   2 (<i>There are</i> eleven
days' <i>journey</i> from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto
Kadesh-barnea.)   3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year,
in the eleventh month, on the first <i>day</i> of the month,
<i>that</i> Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto
all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p2.1">Lord</span> had given him in
commandment unto them;   4 After he had slain Sihon the king
of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan,
which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:   5 On this side Jordan, in
the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,   6
The <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p2.2">Lord</span> our God spake unto us in
Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:   7
Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the
Amorites, and unto all <i>the places</i> nigh thereunto, in the
plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the
sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the
great river, the river Euphrates.   8 Behold, I have set the
land before you: go in and possess the land which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p2.3">Lord</span> sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p3">We have here, I. The date of this sermon
which Moses preached to the people of Israel. A great auditory, no
question, he had, as many as could crowd within hearing, and
particularly all the elders and officers, the representatives of
the people; and, probably, it was on the sabbath day that he
delivered this to them. 1. The place were they were now encamped
was <i>in the plain, in the land of Moab</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.1 Bible:Deut.1.5" parsed="|Deut|1|1|0|0;|Deut|1|5|0|0" passage="De 1:1,5"><i>v.</i> 1, 5</scripRef>), where they were just ready
to enter Canaan, and engage in a war with the Canaanites. Yet he
discourses not to them concerning military affairs, the arts and
stratagems of war, but concerning their duty to God; for, if they
kept themselves in his fear and favour, he would secure to them the
conquest of the land: their religion would be their best policy. 2.
The time was near the end of the fortieth year since they came out
of Egypt. So long God had <i>borne their manners,</i> and they had
<i>borne their own iniquity</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.14.34" parsed="|Num|14|34|0|0" passage="Nu 14:34">Num.
xiv. 34</scripRef>), and now that a new and more pleasant scene was
to be introduced, as a token for good, Moses repeats the law to
them. Thus, after God's controversy with them on account of the
golden calf, the first and surest sign of God's being reconciled to
them was the <i>renewing of the tables.</i> There is no better
evidence and earnest of God's favour than his putting his law in
our hearts, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.147.19-Ps.147.20" parsed="|Ps|147|19|147|20" passage="Ps 147:19,20">Ps. cxlvii. 19,
20</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p4">II. The discourse itself. In general, Moses
spoke unto them <i>all that the Lord had given him in
commandment</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.3" parsed="|Deut|1|3|0|0" passage="De 1:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), which intimates, not only that what he now delivered
was for substance the same with what had formerly been commanded,
but that it was what God now commanded him to repeat. He gave them
this rehearsal and exhortation purely by divine direction; God
appointed him to leave this legacy to the church. He begins his
narrative with their removal from Mount Sinai (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.6" parsed="|Deut|1|6|0|0" passage="De 1:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), and relates here, 1. The orders
which God gave them to decamp, and proceed in their march
(<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.6-Deut.1.7" parsed="|Deut|1|6|1|7" passage="De 1:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>): <i>You
have dwelt long enough in this mount.</i> This was the mount
<i>that burned with fire</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.18" parsed="|Heb|12|18|0|0" passage="Heb 12:18">Heb.
xii. 18</scripRef>), and <i>gendered to bondage,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.24" parsed="|Gal|4|24|0|0" passage="Ga 4:24">Gal. iv. 24</scripRef>. Thither God brought them
to humble them, and by the terrors of the law to prepare them for
the land of promise. There he kept them about a year, and then told
them they had <i>dwelt long enough</i> there, they must go forward.
Though God brings his people into trouble and affliction, into
spiritual trouble and affliction of mind, he knows when they have
dwelt long enough in it, and will certainly find a time, the
fittest time, to advance them from the terrors of the spirit of
adoption. See <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.15" parsed="|Rom|8|15|0|0" passage="Ro 8:15">Rom. viii. 15</scripRef>.
2. The prospect which he gave them of a happy and early settlement
in Canaan: <i>Go to the land of the Canaanites</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.7" parsed="|Deut|1|7|0|0" passage="De 1:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); enter and take
possession, it is all your own. <i>Behold I have set the land
before you,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.8" parsed="|Deut|1|8|0|0" passage="De 1:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
When God commands us to go forward in our Christian course he sets
the heavenly Canaan before us for our encouragement.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.ii-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.9-Deut.1.18" parsed="|Deut|1|9|1|18" passage="De 1:9-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.1.9-Deut.1.18">
<h4 id="Deu.ii-p4.10">The Charge to Magistrates. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p4.11">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.ii-p5">9 And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I
am not able to bear you myself alone:   10 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p5.1">Lord</span> your God hath multiplied you, and, behold,
ye <i>are</i> this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.  
11 (The <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p5.2">Lord</span> God of your fathers
make you a thousand times so many more as ye <i>are,</i> and bless
you, as he hath promised you!)   12 How can I myself alone
bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?   13
Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes,
and I will make them rulers over you.   14 And ye answered me,
and said, The thing which thou hast spoken <i>is</i> good <i>for
us</i> to do.   15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise
men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over
thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties,
and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.   16
And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear <i>the
causes</i> between your brethren, and judge righteously between
<i>every</i> man and his brother, and the stranger <i>that is</i>
with him.   17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment;
<i>but</i> ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall
not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment <i>is</i> God's:
and the cause that is too hard for you, bring <i>it</i> unto me,
and I will hear it.   18 And I commanded you at that time all
the things which ye should do.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p6">Moses here reminds them of the happy
constitution of their government, which was such as might make them
all safe and easy if it was not their own fault. When good laws
were given them good men were entrusted with the execution of them,
which, as it was an instance of God's goodness to them, so it was
of the care of Moses concerning them; and, it should seem, he
mentions it here to recommend himself to them as a man that
sincerely sought their welfare, and so to make way for what he was
about to say to them, wherein he aimed at nothing but their good.
In this part of his narrative he insinuates to them,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p7">I. That he greatly rejoiced in the increase
of their numbers. He owns the accomplishment of God's promise to
Abraham (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.10" parsed="|Deut|1|10|0|0" passage="De 1:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>):
<i>You are as the stars of heaven for multitude;</i> and prays for
the further accomplishment of it (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.11" parsed="|Deut|1|11|0|0" passage="De 1:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>God make you a thousand
times more.</i> This prayer comes in in a parenthesis, and a good
prayer prudently put in cannot be impertinent in any discourse of
divine things, nor will a pious ejaculation break the coherence,
but rather strengthen and adorn it. But how greatly are his desires
enlarged when he prays that they might be made a thousand times
more than they were! We are not straitened in the power and
goodness of God, why should we be straitened in our own faith and
hope, which ought to be as large as the promise? larger they need
not be. It is from the promise that Moses here takes the measures
of his prayer: <i>The Lord bless you as he hath promised you.</i>
And why might he not hope that they might become a thousand times
more than they were now when they were now ten thousand times more
than they were when they went down into Egypt, about 250 years ago?
Observe, When they were under the government of Pharaoh the
increase of their numbers was envied, and complained of as a
grievance (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.9" parsed="|Exod|1|9|0|0" passage="Ex 1:9">Exod. i. 9</scripRef>); but
now, under the government of Moses, it was rejoiced in, and prayed
for as a blessing. The consideration of this might give them
occasion to reflect with shame upon their own folly when they had
talked of making a captain and returning to Egypt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p8">II. That he was not ambitious of
monopolizing the honour of the government, and ruling them himself
alone, as an absolute monarch, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.9" parsed="|Deut|1|9|0|0" passage="De 1:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Though he was a man as well worthy of that honour,
and as well qualified for the business, as ever any man was, yet he
was desirous that others might be taken in as assistants to him in
the business and consequently sharers with him in the honour: <i>I
cannot myself alone bear the burden,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.12" parsed="|Deut|1|12|0|0" passage="De 1:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Magistracy is a burden. Moses
himself, though eminently gifted for it, found it lay heavily on
his shoulders; nay, the best magistrates complain most of the
burden, and are most desirous of help, and most afraid of
undertaking more than they can perform.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p9">III. That he was not desirous to prefer his
own creatures, or such as should underhand have a dependence upon
him; for he leaves it to the people to choose their own judges, to
whom he would grant commissions, not <i>durant bene placito—to be
turned out when he pleased;</i> but <i>quam diu se bene
gesserint—to continue so long as they approved themselves
faithful. Take you wise men, that are known to be so among your
tribes, and I will make them rulers,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.13" parsed="|Deut|1|13|0|0" passage="De 1:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Thus the apostles directed the
multitude to choose overseers of the poor, and then they ordained
them,. <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.3 Bible:Acts.6.6" parsed="|Acts|6|3|0|0;|Acts|6|6|0|0" passage="Ac 6:3,6">Acts vi. 3, 6</scripRef>. He
directs them to <i>take wise men and understanding,</i> whose
personal merit would recommend them. The rise and origin of this
nation were so late that none of them could pretend to antiquity of
race, and nobility of birth, above their brethren; and, having all
lately come out of slavery in Egypt, it is probable that one family
was not much richer than another; so that their choice must be
directed purely by the qualifications of wisdom, experience, and
integrity. "Choose those," says Moses, "whose praise is in your
tribes, and with all my heart <i>I will make them rulers.</i>" We
must not grudge that God's work be done by other hands than ours,
provided it be done by good hands.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p10">IV. That he was in this matter very willing
to please the people; and, though he did not in any thing aim at
their applause, yet in a thing of this nature he would not act
without their approbation. And they agreed to the proposal: <i>The
thing which thou hast spoken is good,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.14" parsed="|Deut|1|14|0|0" passage="De 1:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. This he mentions to aggravate
the sin of their mutinies and discontents after this, that the
government they quarrelled with was what they themselves had
consented to; Moses would have pleased them if they would have been
pleased.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p11">V. That he aimed to edify them as well as
to gratify them; for,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p12">1. He appointed men of good characters
(<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.15" parsed="|Deut|1|15|0|0" passage="De 1:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), <i>wise men
and men known,</i> men that would be faithful to their trust and to
the public interest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p13">2. He gave them a good charge, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.16-Deut.1.17" parsed="|Deut|1|16|1|17" passage="De 1:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. Those that are
advanced to honour must know that they are charged with business,
and must give account another day of their charge. (1.) He charges
them to be diligent and patient: <i>Hear the causes.</i> Hear both
sides, hear them fully, hear them carefully; for nature has
provided us with two ears, and <i>he that answereth a matter before
he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.</i> The ear of the
learner is necessary to the tongue of the learned, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.4" parsed="|Isa|50|4|0|0" passage="Isa 50:4">Isa. l. 4</scripRef>. (2.) To be just and
impartial: <i>Judge righteously.</i> Judgment must be given
according to the merits of the cause, without regard to the quality
of the parties. The natives must not be suffered to abuse the
strangers any more that the strangers to insult the natives or to
encroach upon them; the great must not be suffered to oppress the
small, nor to crush them, any more than the small, to rob the
great, or to affront them. No faces must be known in judgment, but
unbribed unbiased equity must always pass sentence. (3.) To be
resolute and courageous: "<i>You shall not be afraid of the face of
man;</i> be not overawed to do an ill thing, either by the clamours
of the crowd or by the menaces of those that have power in their
hands." And he gave them a good reason to enforce this charge:
"<i>For the judgment is God's.</i> You are God's vicegerents, you
act for him, and therefore must act like him; you are his
representatives, but if you judge unrighteously, you misrepresent
him. The judgment is his, and therefore he will protect you in
doing right, and will certainly call you to account if you do
wrong."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p14">3. He allowed them to bring all difficult
cases to him, and he would always be ready to hear and determine,
and to make both the judges and the people easy. <i>Happy art thou.
O Israel!</i> in such praise as Moses was.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.ii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1" parsed="|Deut|1|0|0|0" passage="De 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.ii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.19-Deut.1.46" parsed="|Deut|1|19|1|46" passage="De 1:19-46" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.1.19-Deut.1.46">
<h4 id="Deu.ii-p14.3">Israel's Sin at Kadesh. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p14.4">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.ii-p15">19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went
through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the
way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.1">Lord</span> our God commanded us; and we came to
Kadesh-barnea.   20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the
mountain of the Amorites, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.2">Lord</span> our God doth give unto us.   21
Behold, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.3">Lord</span> thy God hath set
the land before thee: go up <i>and</i> possess <i>it,</i> as the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.4">Lord</span> God of thy fathers hath said
unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.   22 And ye came
near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before
us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again
by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.
  23 And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of
you, one of a tribe:   24 And they turned and went up into the
mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.
  25 And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands,
and brought <i>it</i> down unto us, and brought us word again, and
said, <i>It is</i> a good land which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.5">Lord</span> our God doth give us.   26
Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the
commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.6">Lord</span> your God:
  27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.7">Lord</span> hated us, he hath brought us
forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the
Amorites, to destroy us.   28 Whither shall we go up? our
brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people <i>is</i>
greater and taller than we; the cities <i>are</i> great and walled
up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims
there.   29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid
of them.   30 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.8">Lord</span> your God
which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all
that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;   31 And in the
wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.9">Lord</span> thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his
son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
  32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.10">Lord</span> your God,   33 Who went in the way
before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents
<i>in,</i> in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go,
and in a cloud by day.   34 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.11">Lord</span> heard the voice of your words, and was
wroth, and sware, saying,   35 Surely there shall not one of
these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware
to give unto your fathers,   36 Save Caleb the son of
Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he
hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly
followed the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.12">Lord</span>.   37 Also
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.13">Lord</span> was angry with me for your
sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.   38
<i>But</i> Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he
shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to
inherit it.   39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said
should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no
knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto
them will I give it, and they shall possess it.   40 But <i>as
for</i> you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by
the way of the Red sea.   41 Then ye answered and said unto
me, We have sinned against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.14">Lord</span>,
we will go up and fight, according to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.15">Lord</span> our God commanded us. And when ye had
girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into
the hill.   42 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.16">Lord</span>
said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I
<i>am</i> not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.
  43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled
against the commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.17">Lord</span>,
and went presumptuously up into the hill.   44 And the
Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and
chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, <i>even</i> unto
Hormah.   45 And ye returned and wept before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.18">Lord</span>; but the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.ii-p15.19">Lord</span> would not hearken to your voice, nor give
ear unto you.   46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according
unto the days that ye abode <i>there.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p16">Moses here makes a large rehearsal of the
fatal turn which was given to their affairs by their own sins, and
God's wrath, when, from the very borders of Canaan, the honour of
conquering it, and the pleasure of possessing it, the whole
generation was hurried back into the wilderness, and their carcases
fell there. It was a memorable story; we read it <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.13.1-Num.14.45" parsed="|Num|13|1|14|45" passage="Nu 13:1-14:45">Num. 13 and 14</scripRef>, but divers circumstances
are found here which are not related there.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p17">I. He reminds them of their march from
Horeb to Kadesh-barnea (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.19" parsed="|Deut|1|19|0|0" passage="De 1:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>), through <i>that great and terrible wilderness.</i>
This he takes notice of, 1. To make them sensible of the great
goodness of God to them, in guiding them through so great a
wilderness, and protecting them from the mischiefs they were
surrounded with in such a terrible wilderness. The remembrance of
our dangers should make us thankful for our deliverances. 2. To
aggravate the folly of those who, in their discontent, would have
gone back to Egypt through the wilderness, though they had
forfeited, and had no reason to expect, the divine guidance, in
such a retrograde motion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p18">II. He shows them how fair they stood for
Canaan at that time, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.20-Deut.1.21" parsed="|Deut|1|20|1|21" passage="De 1:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20,
21</scripRef>. He told them with triumph, the land is <i>set before
you, go up and possess it.</i> He lets them see how near they were
to a happy settlement when they put a bar in their own door, that
their sin might appear the more exceedingly sinful. It will
aggravate the eternal ruin of hypocrites that they were <i>not far
from the kingdom of God</i> and yet came short, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Mark.12.34" parsed="|Mark|12|34|0|0" passage="Mk 12:34">Mark xii. 34</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p19">III. He lays the blame of sending the spies
upon them, which did not appear in Numbers, there it is said
(<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.13.1-Deut.13.2" parsed="|Deut|13|1|13|2" passage="De 13:1,2"><i>ch.</i> xiii. 1, 2</scripRef>)
that the Lord directed the sending of them, but here we find that
the people first desired it, and God, in permitting it, gave them
up to their counsels: <i>You said, We will send men before us,</i>
<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.22" parsed="|Deut|1|22|0|0" passage="De 1:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Moses had
given them God's word (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.20-Deut.1.21" parsed="|Deut|1|20|1|21" passage="De 1:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20,
21</scripRef>), but they could not find in their hearts to rely
upon that: human policy goes further with them than divine wisdom,
and they will needs light a candle to the sun. As if it were not
enough that they were sure of a God before them, they must send men
before them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p20">IV. He repeats the report which the spies
brought of the goodness of the land which they were sent to survey,
<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.24-Deut.1.25" parsed="|Deut|1|24|1|25" passage="De 1:24,25"><i>v.</i> 24, 25</scripRef>. The
blessings which God has promised are truly valuable and desirable,
even the unbelievers themselves being judges: never any looked into
the holy land, but they must own it a good land. Yet they
represented the difficulties of conquering it as insuperable
(<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.28" parsed="|Deut|1|28|0|0" passage="De 1:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>); as if it
were in vain to think of attacking them either by battle, "for the
people are taller than we," or by siege, "for the cities are walled
up to heaven," an hyperbole which they made use of to serve their
ill purpose, which was to dishearten the people, and perhaps they
intended to reflect on the God of heaven himself, as if they were
able to defy him, like the Babel-builders, the top of whose tower
must reach to heaven, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.11.4" parsed="|Gen|11|4|0|0" passage="Ge 11:4">Gen. xi.
4</scripRef>. Those places only are walled up to heaven that are
compassed with God's favour as with a shield.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p21">V. He tells them what pains he took with
them to encourage them, when their brethren had said so much to
discourage them (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.29" parsed="|Deut|1|29|0|0" passage="De 1:29"><i>v.</i>
29</scripRef>): <i>Then I said unto you, Dread not.</i> Moses
suggested enough to have stilled the tumult, and to have kept them
with their faces towards Canaan. He assured them that God was
present with them, and president among them, and would certainly
<i>fight for them,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.30" parsed="|Deut|1|30|0|0" passage="De 1:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. And for proof of his power over their enemies he
refers them to what they had seen done in Egypt, where their
enemies had all possible advantages against them and yet were
humbled and forced to yield, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.30" parsed="|Deut|1|30|0|0" passage="De 1:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. And for proof of God's goodwill to them, and the
real kindness which he intended them, he refers them to what
<i>they had seen in the wilderness</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.31 Bible:Deut.1.33" parsed="|Deut|1|31|0|0;|Deut|1|33|0|0" passage="De 1:31,33"><i>v.</i> 31, 33</scripRef>), through which they had
been guided by the eye of divine wisdom in a pillar of cloud and
fire (which guided both their motions and their rests), and had
been carried in the arms of divine grace with as much care and
tenderness as were ever shown to any child borne in the arms of a
nursing father. And was there any room left to distrust this God?
Or were they not the most ungrateful people in the world, who,
after such sensible proofs of the divine goodness, <i>hardened
their hearts in the day of temptation?</i> Moses had complained
once that God had charged him to carry this people <i>as a nursing
father doth the sucking child</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.11.12" parsed="|Num|11|12|0|0" passage="Nu 11:12">Num. xi. 12</scripRef>); but here he owns that it was
God that so carried them, and perhaps this is alluded to (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.18" parsed="|Acts|13|18|0|0" passage="Ac 13:18">Acts xiii. 18</scripRef>), where he is said to
<i>bear them,</i> or to <i>suffer their manners.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p22">VI. He charges them with the sin which they
were guilty of upon this occasion. Though those to whom he was now
speaking were a new generation, yet he lays it upon them: <i>You
rebelled, and you murmured;</i> for many of these were then in
being, though under twenty years old, and perhaps were engaged in
the riot; and the rest inherited their fathers' vices, and smarted
for them. Observe what he lays to their charge. 1. Disobedience and
rebellion against God's law: <i>You would not go up, but
rebelled,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.26" parsed="|Deut|1|26|0|0" passage="De 1:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>.
The rejecting of God's favours is really a rebelling against his
authority. 2. Invidious reflections upon God's goodness. They
basely suggested: <i>Because the Lord hated us, he brought us out
of Egypt,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.27" parsed="|Deut|1|27|0|0" passage="De 1:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>.
What could have been more absurd, more disingenuous, and more
reproachful to God? 3. An unbelieving heart at the bottom of all
this: <i>You did not believe the Lord your God,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.32" parsed="|Deut|1|32|0|0" passage="De 1:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. All your disobedience to
God's laws, and distrust of his power and goodness, flow from a
disbelief of his word. A sad pass it has come to with us when the
God of eternal truth cannot be believed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p23">VII. He repeats the sentence passed upon
them for this sin, which now they had seen the execution of. 1.
They were all condemned to die in the wilderness, and none of them
must be suffered to enter Canaan except Caleb and Joshua, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.34-Deut.1.38" parsed="|Deut|1|34|1|38" passage="De 1:34-38"><i>v.</i> 34-38</scripRef>. So long they must
continue in their wanderings in the wilderness that most of them
would drop off of course, and the youngest of them should be cut
off. Thus <i>they could not enter in because of unbelief.</i> It
was not the breach of any of the commands of the law that shut them
out of Canaan, no, not the golden calf, but their disbelief of that
promise which was typical of gospel grace, to signify that no sin
will ruin us but unbelief, which is a sin against the remedy. 2.
Moses himself afterwards fell under God's displeasure for a hasty
word which they provoked him to speak: <i>The Lord was angry with
me for your sakes,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.37" parsed="|Deut|1|37|0|0" passage="De 1:37"><i>v.</i>
37</scripRef>. Because all the old stock must go off, Moses himself
must not stay behind. Their unbelief let death into the camp, and,
having entered, even Moses falls within his commission. 3. Yet here
is mercy mixed with wrath. (1.) That, though Moses might not bring
them into Canaan, Joshua should (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.38" parsed="|Deut|1|38|0|0" passage="De 1:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>): <i>Encourage him;</i> for he
would be discouraged from taking up a government which he saw Moses
himself fall under the weight of; but let him be assured that he
shall accomplish that for which he is raised up: <i>He shall cause
Israel to inherit it.</i> Thus <i>what the law could not do, in
that it was weak,</i> Jesus, our Joshua, does by bringing in the
better hope. (2.) That, though this generation should not enter
into Canaan, the next should, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p23.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.39" parsed="|Deut|1|39|0|0" passage="De 1:39"><i>v.</i>
39</scripRef>. As they had been chosen for their fathers' sakes, so
their children might justly have been rejected for their sakes. But
<i>mercy rejoiceth against judgement.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.ii-p24">VIII. He reminds them of their foolish and
fruitless attempt to get this sentence reversed when it was too
late. 1. They tried it by their reformation in this particular;
whereas they had refused to go up against the Canaanites, now they
would go up, aye, that they would, in all haste, and they girded on
their weapons of war for that purpose, <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.41" parsed="|Deut|1|41|0|0" passage="De 1:41"><i>v.</i> 41</scripRef>. Thus, when the door is shut, and
the day of grace is over, there will be found those that stand
without and knock. But this, which looked like a reformation,
proved but a further rebellion. God, by Moses, prohibited the
attempt (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.42" parsed="|Deut|1|42|0|0" passage="De 1:42"><i>v.</i> 42</scripRef>):
<i>yet they went presumptuously up to the hill</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.43" parsed="|Deut|1|43|0|0" passage="De 1:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>), acting now in contempt
of the threatening, as before in contempt of the promise, as if
they were governed by a spirit of contradiction; and it sped
accordingly (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.44" parsed="|Deut|1|44|0|0" passage="De 1:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>):
they were chased and destroyed; and, by this defeat which they
suffered when they provoked God to leave them, they were taught
what success they might have had if they had kept themselves in his
love. 2. They tried by their prayers and tears to get the sentence
reversed: <i>They returned and wept before the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.1.45" parsed="|Deut|1|45|0|0" passage="De 1:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>. While they were fretting
and quarrelling, it is said (<scripRef id="Deu.ii-p24.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.14.1" parsed="|Num|14|1|0|0" passage="Nu 14:1">Num. xiv.
1</scripRef>): <i>They wept that night;</i> those were tears of
rebellion <i>against</i> God, these were tears of repentance and
humiliation <i>before</i> God. Note, Tears of discontent must be
wept over again; the sorrow of the world worketh death, and is to
be repented of; it is not so with godly sorrow, <i>that</i> will
end in joy. But their weeping was all to no purpose. <i>The Lord
would not harken to your voice,</i> because you would not harken to
his; the decree had gone forth, and, like Esau, they found no place
of repentance, though they sought it carefully with tears.</p>
</div></div2>