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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>D E U T E R O N O M Y</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Yet Moses has not done with the children of Israel; he seemed to have
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taken final leave of them in the close of the foregoing chapter, but
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still he has something more to say. He had preached them a farewell
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sermon, a very copious and pathetic discourse. After sermon he had
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given out a psalm, a long psalm; and now nothing remains but to dismiss
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them with a blessing; that blessing he pronounces in this chapter in
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the name of the Lord, and so leaves them.
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I. He pronounces them all blessed in what God had done for them
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already, especially in giving them his law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2-5">ver. 2-5</A>.
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II. He pronounces a blessing upon each tribe, which is both a prayer
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for and a prophecy of their felicity.
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1. Reuben,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:6">ver. 6</A>.
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2. Judah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:7">ver. 7</A>.
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3. Levi,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>.
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4. Benjamin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:42">ver. 42</A>.
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5. Joseph,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>.
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6. Zebulun and Issachar,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:18,19">ver. 18, 19</A>.
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7. Gad,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>.
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8. Dan,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:22">ver. 22</A>.
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9. Naphtali,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:23">ver. 23</A>.
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10. Asher,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:24,25">ver. 24, 25</A>.
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III. He pronounces them all in general blessed upon the account of
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what God would be to them, and do for them if they were obedient,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:26-29">ver. 26</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="De33_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="De33_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="De33_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="De33_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="De33_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Moses's Blessing on Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And this <I>is</I> the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God
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blessed the children of Israel before his death.
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2 And he said, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir
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unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten
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thousands of saints: from his right hand <I>went</I> a fiery law for
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them.
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3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints <I>are</I> in thy hand:
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and they sat down at thy feet; <I>every one</I> shall receive of thy
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words.
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4 Moses commanded us a law, <I>even</I> the inheritance of the
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congregation of Jacob.
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5 And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people
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<I>and</I> the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:1">first verse</A>
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is the title of the chapter: it is a blessing. In the foregoing chapter
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he had thundered out the terrors of the Lord against Israel for their
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sin; it was a chapter like Ezekiel's roll, full of lamentation, and
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mourning, and woe. Now to soften that, and that he might not seem to
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part in anger, he here subjoins a blessing, and leaves his peace, which
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should descend and rest upon all those among them that were the sons of
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peace. Thus Christ's last work on earth was to bless his disciples
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:50">Luke xxiv. 50</A>),
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like Moses here, in token of parting as friends. Moses blessed them,
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1. As a prophet--a <I>man of God.</I> Note, It is a very desirable
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thing to have an interest in the prayers of those that have an interest
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in heaven; it is a <I>prophet's reward.</I> In this blessing Moses not
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only expresses his good wishes to this people, but by the spirit of
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prophecy foretels things to come concerning them.
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2. As a parent to Israel; for so good princes are to their subjects.
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Jacob upon his death-bed blessed his sons
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:1">Gen. xlix. 1</A>),
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in conformity to whose example Moses here blesses the tribes that were
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descended from them, to show that though they had been very provoking
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yet the entail of the blessing was not cut off. The doing of this
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immediately before his death would not only be the more likely to leave
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an impression upon them, but would be an indication of the great
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good-will of Moses to them, that he desired their happiness, though he
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must die and not share in it.</P>
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<P>
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He begins his blessing with a lofty description of the glorious
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appearances of God to them in giving them the law, and the great
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advantage they had by it.</P>
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<P>
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I. There was a visible and illustrious discovery of the divine majesty,
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enough to convince and for ever silence atheists and infidels, to
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awaken and affect those that were most stupid and careless, and to put
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to shame all secret inclinations to other gods,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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1. His appearance was glorious: he shone forth like the sun when he
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goes forth in his strength. Even Seir and Paran, two mountains at some
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distance, were illuminated by the divine glory which appeared on Mount
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Sinai, and reflected some of the rays of it, so bright was the
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appearance, and so much taken notice of by the adjacent countries. To
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this the prophet alludes, to set forth the wonders of the divine
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providence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:3,4,Ps+18:7-9">Hab. iii. 3, 4; Ps. xviii. 7-9</A>.
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The Jerusalem Targum has a strange gloss upon this, that, "when God
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came down to give the law, he offered it on Mount Seir to the Edomites,
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but they refused it, because they found in it, <I>Thou shalt not
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kill.</I> Then he offered it on Mount Paran to the Ishmaelites, but
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they also refused it, because they found in it, <I>Thou shalt not
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steal;</I> and then he came to Mount Sinai and offered it to Israel,
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and they said, <I>All that the Lord shall say we will do.</I>" I would
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not have transcribed so groundless a conceit but for the antiquity of
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it.
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2. His retinue was glorious; he came with his holy myriads, as Enoch
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had long since foretold he should come in the last day to judge the
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world,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:14">Jude 14</A>.
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These were the angels, those
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<I>chariots of God in the midst of which</I> the Lord was, on <I>that
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holy place,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:17">Ps. lxviii. 17</A>.
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They attended the divine majesty, and were employed as his ministers in
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the solemnities of the day. Hence the law is said to <I>be given by the
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disposition of angels,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:53,Heb+2:2">Acts vii. 53; Heb. ii. 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. He gave them his law, which is,
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1. Called <I>a fiery law,</I> because it was given them <I>out of the
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midst of the fire</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:33">Deut. iv. 33</A>),
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and because it works like fire; if it be received, it is melting,
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warming, purifying, and burns up the dross of corruption; if it be
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rejected, it hardens, sears, torments, and destroys. The Spirit
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descended in cloven tongues as of fire; for the gospel also is a fiery
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law.
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2. It is said to <I>go from his right hand,</I> either because he wrote
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it on tables of stone, or to denote the power and energy of the law and
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the divine strength that goes along with it, that it may not return
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void. Or it came as a gift to them, and a precious gift it was, a
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right-hand blessing.
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3. It was an instance of the special kindness he had for them: <I>Yea,
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he loved the people</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
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and therefore, though it was a fiery law, yet it is said to <I>go for
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them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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that is, in favour to them. Note, The law of God written in the heart
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is a certain evidence of the love of God shed abroad there: we must
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reckon God's law one of the gifts of his grace. Yea, he embraced the
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people, or <I>laid them in his bosom;</I> so the word signifies, which
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denotes not only the dearest love, but the most tender and careful
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protection. <I>All his saints are in his hand.</I> Some understand it
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particularly of his supporting them and preserving them alive at Mount
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Sinai, when the terror was so great that Moses himself quaked; they
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heard the voice of God and lived,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:33"><I>ch.</I> iv. 33</A>.
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Or it denotes his forming them into a people by his law; he moulded and
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fashioned them as a potter does the clay. Or they were in his hand to
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be covered and protected, used and disposed of, as the seven stars were
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in the hand of Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:16">Rev. i. 16</A>.
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Note, God has all his saints in his hand; and, though there are <I>ten
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thousands of his saints</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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yet his hand, with which he measures the waters, is large enough, and
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strong enough, to hold them all, and we may be sure that <I>none can
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pluck them out of his hand,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:28">John x. 28</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. He disposed them to receive the law which he gave them: <I>They
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sat down at thy feet,</I> as scholars at the feet of their master, in
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token of reverence, in attendance and humble submission to what is
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taught; so Israel sat at the foot of Mount Sinai, and promised to hear
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and do whatever God should say. They were <I>struck to thy feet,</I> so
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some read it; namely, by the terrors of Mount Sinai, which greatly
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humbled them for the present,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+20:19">Exod. xx. 19</A>.
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Every one then stood ready to receive God's words, and did so again
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when the law was publicly read to them, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:34">Josh. viii. 34</A>.
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It is a great privilege when we have heard the words of God to have
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opportunity of hearing them again.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:26">John xvii. 26</A>,
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<I>I have declared thy name, and will declare it.</I> So Israel not
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only had received the law, but should still receive it by their
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prayers, and other lively oracles. The people are taught
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>),
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in gratitude for the law of God, always to keep up an honourable
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remembrance both of the law itself and of Moses by whom it was given.
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Two of the Chaldee paraphrasts read it, <I>The children of Israel said,
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Moses commanded us a law.</I> And the Jews say that as soon as a child
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was able to speak his father was obliged to teach him these words:
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<I>Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation
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of Jacob.</I></P>
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<P>
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1. They are taught to speak with great respect of the law, and to call
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it <I>the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.</I> They looked
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upon it,
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(1.) As peculiar to them, and that by which they were distinguished
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from other nations, who neither had the knowledge of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:20">Ps. cxlvii. 20</A>),
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nor, if they had, were under those obligations to observe it that
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Israel were under: and therefore (says bishop Patrick), "when the Jews
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conquered any country, they did not force any to embrace the law of
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Moses, but only to submit to the seven precepts of Noah."
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(2.) As entailed upon them; for so inheritances are to be transmitted
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to their posterity. And,
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(3.) As their wealth and true treasure. Those that enjoy the word of
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God and the means of grace have reason to say, We have a goodly
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heritage. He is indeed a rich man in whom the word of Christ dwells
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richly. Perhaps the law is called their <I>inheritance</I> because it
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was given them with their inheritance, and we so annexed to it that the
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forsaking of the law would be a forfeiture of the inheritance. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:111">Ps. cxix. 111</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. They are taught to speak with great respect of Moses; and they were
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the more obliged to keep up his name because he had not provided for
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the keeping of it up in his family; his posterity were never called the
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<I>sons of Moses,</I> as the priests were the <I>sons of Aaron.</I>
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(1.) They must own Moses a great benefactor to their nation, in that he
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<I>commanded them the law;</I> for, though it came from the hand of
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God, it went through the hand of Moses.
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(2.) <I>He was king in Jeshurun. Having commanded them the law,</I> as
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long as he lived he took care to see it observed and put in execution;
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and they were very happy in having such a king, who ruled them, and
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went in and out before them at all times, but did in a special manner
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look great when the <I>heads of the people were gathered together</I>
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in parliament, as it were, and Moses was president among them. Some
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understand this of God himself; he did then declare himself their King
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when he gave them the law, and he continued so long as they were
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<I>Jeshurun,</I> an upright people, and till they rejected him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+12:12">1 Sam. xii. 12</A>.
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But it seems rather to be understood of Moses. A good government is a
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great blessing to any people, and what they have reason to be very
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thankful for; and that constitution is very happy which as Israel's,
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which as ours, divides the power between the king in Jeshurun and the
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heads of the tribes, when they are gathered together.</P>
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<A NAME="De33_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="De33_7"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let <I>not</I> his men be few.
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7 And this <I>is the blessing</I> of Judah: and he said, Hear, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands
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be sufficient for him; and be thou a help <I>to him</I> from his
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enemies.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The blessing of Reuben. Though Reuben had lost the honour of his
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birthright, yet Moses begins with him; for we should not insult over
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those that are disgraced, nor desire to perpetuate marks of infamy upon
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any, though ever so justly fastened at first,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Moses desires and foretels,
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1. The preserving of this tribe. Though a frontier tribe on the other
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side Jordan, yet, "<I>Let it live,</I> and not be either ruined by its
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neighbours or lost among them." And perhaps he refers to those chosen
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men of that tribe who, having had their lot assigned them already, left
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their families in it, and were now ready to <I>go over armed before
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their brethren,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+32:27">Num. xxxii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Let them be protected in this noble expedition, and have their heads
|
|
covered in the day of battle."
|
|
|
|
2. Let it be a numerous tribe; though their other honours be lost, so
|
|
that they shall not excel, yet let them multiply." <I>Let Reuben live
|
|
and not die, though his men be few;</I> so bishop Patrick, thinks it
|
|
may be rendered. "Though he must not expect to flourish
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:4">Gen. xlix. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet let him not perish." All the Chaldee paraphrasts refer this to the
|
|
other world: <I>Let Reuben live in life eternal, and not die the second
|
|
death,</I> so Onkelos. <I>Let Reuben live in this world, and not die
|
|
that death which the wicked die in the world to come,</I> so Jonathan
|
|
and the Jerusalem Targum.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The blessing of Judah, which is put before Levi because our <I>Loud
|
|
sprang out of Judah,</I> and (as Dr. Lightfoot says) because of the
|
|
dignity of the kingdom above the priesthood. The blessing
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
|
|
|
|
may refer either,
|
|
|
|
1. To the whole tribe in general. Moses prays for, and prophesies, the
|
|
great prosperity of that tribe., That God would hear his prayers (see
|
|
an instance,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:14,15">2 Chron. xiii. 14, 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
settle him in his lot, prosper him in all his affairs, and give him
|
|
victory over his enemies. It is taken for granted that the tribe of
|
|
Judah would be both a praying tribe and an active tribe. "Lord," says
|
|
Moses, "hear his prayers, and give success to all his undertakings:
|
|
<I>let his hands be sufficient for him</I> both in husbandry and in
|
|
war." The voice of prayer should always be attended with the hand of
|
|
endeavour, and then we may expect prosperity. Or,
|
|
|
|
2. It may refer in particular to David, as a type of Christ, that God
|
|
<I>would hear his prayers,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+20:1">Ps. xx. 1</A>
|
|
|
|
(and Christ was <I>heard always,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:42">John xi. 42</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he would give him victory over his enemies, and success in his
|
|
great undertakings. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:20-28">Ps. lxxxix. 20</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. And that prayer that God would <I>bring him to his people</I> seems
|
|
to refer to Jacob's prophecy concerning Shiloh, That <I>to him should
|
|
the gathering of the people be,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:10">Gen. xlix. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
The tribe of Simeon is omitted in the blessing, because Jacob had left
|
|
it under a brand, and it had never done any thing, as Levi had done, to
|
|
retrieve its honour. It was lessened in the wilderness more than any
|
|
other of the tribes; and Zimri, who was so notoriously guilty in the
|
|
matter of Peor but the other day, was of that tribe. Or, because the
|
|
lot of Simeon was an appendage to that of Judah, that tribe is included
|
|
in the blessing of Judah. Some copies of the LXX. join Simeon with
|
|
Reuben: <I>Let Reuben live and not die; and let Simeon be many in
|
|
number.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="De33_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_11"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And of Levi he said, <I>Let</I> thy Thummim and thy Urim <I>be</I> with
|
|
thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, <I>and with</I> whom
|
|
thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
|
|
9 Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen
|
|
him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own
|
|
children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
|
|
10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law:
|
|
they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice
|
|
upon thine altar.
|
|
11 Bless, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, his substance, and accept the work of his
|
|
hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and
|
|
of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In blessing the tribe of Levi, Moses expresses himself more at large,
|
|
not so much because it was his own tribe (for he takes no notice of his
|
|
relation to it) as because it was God's tribe. The blessing of Levi has
|
|
reference.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. To the high priest, here called God's <I>holy one</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
because his office was holy, in token of which, <I>Holiness to the
|
|
Lord</I> was written upon his forehead.
|
|
|
|
1. He seems to acknowledge that God might justly have displaced Aaron
|
|
and his seed, for his sin at Meribah,
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:7">Exod. xvii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
which might be very remarkable, and which God might have an eye to in
|
|
conferring the priesthood upon him, though no mention is made of it
|
|
there. All the Chaldee paraphrasts agree that it was a trial in which
|
|
he was <I>found perfect and faithful,</I> and <I>stood in the
|
|
trial;</I> therefore not that,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+20:2">Num. xx. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
He prays that the office of the high priest might ever remain: <I>Let
|
|
thy thummim and thy urim be with him.</I> It was given him for some
|
|
eminent piece of service, as appears,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:5">Mal. ii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Lord, let it never be taken from him." Notwithstanding this blessing,
|
|
the urim and thummim were lost in the captivity, and never restored
|
|
under the second temple. But this prayer has its full accomplishment
|
|
in Jesus Christ, God's Holy One, and our great high priest, of whom
|
|
Aaron was a type: with him who had lain in the Father's bosom from
|
|
eternity the urim and thummim shall remain; for he is the wonderful and
|
|
everlasting counsellor. Some translate the thummim and urim
|
|
appellatively, the rather because the usual order is here inverted, and
|
|
here only. <I>Thummim</I> signifies <I>integrity,</I> and <I>Urim
|
|
illumination:</I> Let these be with thy holy one, that is, "Lord, let
|
|
the high priest ever be both an upright man and an understanding man."
|
|
A good prayer to be put up for the ministers of the gospel, that they
|
|
may have clear heads and honest hearts; light and sincerity make a
|
|
complete minister.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. To the inferior priests and Levites,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:9-11"><I>v.</I> 9-11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He commends the zeal of this tribe for God when they sided with
|
|
Moses (and so with God) against the worshippers of the golden calf
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:26-28">Exod. xxxii. 26</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), and, being employed in cutting off the ring-leaders in that
|
|
wickedness, they did it impartially: the best friends they had in the
|
|
world, though as dear to them as their next relations, they did not
|
|
spare if they were idolaters. Note, Our regard to God and to his glory
|
|
ought always to prevail above our regard to any creature whatsoever.
|
|
And those who not only keep themselves pure from the common iniquities
|
|
of the times and places in which they live, but, as they are capable,
|
|
bear testimony against them, and <I>stand up for God against the
|
|
evil-doers,</I> shall have special marks of honour put upon them.
|
|
Perhaps Moses may have an eye to the sons of Korah, who refused to join
|
|
with their father in his gain-saying,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:11">Num. xxvi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Also to Phinehas, who <I>executed judgment,</I> and <I>stayed the
|
|
plague.</I> And indeed the office of the priests and Levites, which
|
|
engaged their constant attendance, at least in their turns, at God's
|
|
altar, laid them under a necessity of being frequently absent from
|
|
their families, which they could not take such care of, nor make such
|
|
provision for, as other Israelites might. This was the constant
|
|
self-denial they submitted to, that they might <I>observe God's
|
|
word,</I> and keep the <I>covenant of priesthood.</I> Note, Those that
|
|
are called to minister in holy things must sit loose to the relations
|
|
and interests that are dearest to them in this world, and prefer the
|
|
gratifying of the best friend they have,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:13,Ac+20:24">Acts xxi. 13; xx. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our Lord Jesus knew not his mother and his brethren when they would
|
|
have taken him off from his work,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:48">Matt. xii. 48</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He confirms the commission granted to this tribe to minister in holy
|
|
things, which was the recompence of their zeal and fidelity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They were to deal for God with the people: "<I>They shall teach
|
|
Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy laws,</I> both as preachers in thy
|
|
religious assemblies, reading and expounding the law
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+8:7,8">Neh. viii. 7, 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and as judges, determining doubtful and difficult cases that were
|
|
brought before them,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+17:8,9">2 Chron. xvii. 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
The priests' lips kept this knowledge for the use of the people, who
|
|
were to ask the law at their mouth,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:7">Mal. ii. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Even Haggai, a prophet, consulted the priests in a case of conscience,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+2:11-13">Hag. ii. 11</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Note, Preaching is necessary, not only for
|
|
the first planting of churches, but for the preserving and edifying of
|
|
churches when they are planted. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+44:23,24">Ezek. xliv. 23, 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They were to deal for the people with God, in burning incense to
|
|
the praise and glory of God, and offering sacrifices to make atonement
|
|
for sin and to obtain the divine favour. This was the work of the
|
|
priests, but the Levites attended and assisted in it. Those that would
|
|
have benefit by their incense and offerings must diligently and
|
|
faithfully observe their instructions.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He prays for them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) That God would prosper them in their estates, and make that which
|
|
was allotted them for their maintenance comfortable to them. <I>Bless,
|
|
Lord, his substance.</I> The provision made for them was very
|
|
plentiful, and came to them easily, and yet they could have no joy of
|
|
it unless God blessed it to them; and, since God himself was their
|
|
portion, a particular blessing might be expected to attend this
|
|
portion. <I>Bless, Lord, his virtue;</I> so some read it. "Lord,
|
|
increase thy graces in them, and make them more and more fit for their
|
|
work."
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he would accept them in their services: "<I>Accept the work
|
|
of his hands,</I> both for himself and for the people for whom he
|
|
ministers." Acceptance with God is that which we should all aim at, and
|
|
be ambitious of, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or no
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+5:9">2 Cor. v. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it is the most valuable blessing we can desire either for ourselves
|
|
or others.
|
|
|
|
(3.) That he would take his part against all his enemies: <I>Smite
|
|
through the loins of those that rise against him.</I> He supposes that
|
|
God's ministers would have many enemies: some would hate their persons
|
|
for their faithfulness, and would endeavour to do them a mischief;
|
|
others would envy them their maintenance, and endeavour sacrilegiously
|
|
to deprive them of it; others would oppose them in the execution of
|
|
their office and not submit to the sentence of the priests; and some
|
|
would aim to overthrow the office itself. Now he prays that God would
|
|
blast all such attempts, and return the mischief upon the heads of the
|
|
authors. This prayer is a prophecy that God will certainly reckon with
|
|
those that are enemies to his ministers, and will keep up a ministry in
|
|
his church to the end of time, in spite of all the designs of the gates
|
|
of hell against it. Saul rose up against the Lord's priests
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+22:18">1 Sam. xxii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this filled the measure of his sin.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="De33_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 <I>And</I> of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall
|
|
dwell in safety by him; <I>and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT></I> shall cover him all the
|
|
day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
|
|
13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>be</I> his land,
|
|
for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep
|
|
that coucheth beneath,
|
|
14 And for the precious fruits <I>brought forth</I> by the sun, and
|
|
for the precious things put forth by the moon,
|
|
15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for
|
|
the precious things of the lasting hills,
|
|
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness
|
|
thereof, and <I>for</I> the good will of him that dwelt in the bush:
|
|
let <I>the blessing</I> come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top
|
|
of the head of him <I>that was</I> separated from his brethren.
|
|
17 His glory <I>is like</I> the firstling of his bullock, and his
|
|
horns <I>are like</I> the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push
|
|
the people together to the ends of the earth: and they <I>are</I> the
|
|
ten thousands of Ephraim, and they <I>are</I> the thousands of
|
|
Manasseh.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The blessing of Benjamin,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Benjamin is put next to
|
|
Levi, because the temple, where the priests' work lay, was just upon
|
|
the edge of the lot of this tribe; and it is put before Joseph because
|
|
of the dignity of Jerusalem (part of which was in this tribe) above
|
|
Samaria, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, and because Benjamin
|
|
adhered to the house of David, and to the temple of the Lord, when the
|
|
rest of the tribes deserted both with Jeroboam.
|
|
|
|
1. Benjamin is here called the <I>beloved of the Lord,</I> and the
|
|
father of this tribe was Jacob's beloved son, the <I>son of his right
|
|
hand.</I> Note, Those are blessed indeed that are beloved of the Lord.
|
|
Saul the first king, and Paul the great apostle, were both of this
|
|
tribe.
|
|
|
|
2. He is here assured of the divine protection: he shall <I>dwell
|
|
safely.</I> Note, Those are safe whom God loves,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1">Ps. xci. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. It is here intimated that the temple in which God would dwell should
|
|
be built in the borders of this tribe. Jerusalem the holy city was in
|
|
the lot of this tribe
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:28">Josh. xviii. 28</A>);
|
|
|
|
and though Zion, the city of David, is supposed to belong to Judah, yet
|
|
Mount Moriah, on which the temple was built, was in Benjamin's lot. God
|
|
is <I>therefore</I> said to dwell <I>between his shoulders,</I> because
|
|
the temple stood on that mount, as the head of a man upon his
|
|
shoulders. And by this means Benjamin was covered all the day long
|
|
under the protection of the sanctuary
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+125:2">Ps. cxxv. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
which is often spoken of as a place of refuge,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+27:4,5,Ne+6:10">Ps. xxvii. 4, 5; Neh. vi. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Benjamin, dwelling by the temple of God, <I>dwelt in safety by him.</I>
|
|
Note, It is a happy thing to be in the neighbourhood of the temple.
|
|
This situation of Benjamin, it is likely, was the only thing that kept
|
|
that tribe in adherence with Judah to the divine institutions, when the
|
|
other ten tribes apostatized. Those have corrupt and wicked hearts
|
|
indeed who, the nearer they are to the church, are so much the further
|
|
from God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The blessing of Joseph, including both Manasseh and Ephraim. In
|
|
Jacob's blessing
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:1-27">Gen. xlix.</A>)
|
|
|
|
that of Joseph is the largest, and so it is
|
|
here; and thence Moses here borrows the title he gives to Joseph
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he was <I>separated from his brethren,</I> or, as it might be
|
|
read, <I>a Nazarite among them,</I> both in regard of his piety,
|
|
wherein it appears, by many instances, he excelled them all, and of his
|
|
dignity in Egypt, where he was both their ruler and benefactor. His
|
|
brethren separated him from them by making him a slave, but God
|
|
distinguished him from them by making him a prince. Now the blessings
|
|
here prayed for, and prophesied of, for this tribe, are great plenty
|
|
and great power.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Great plenty,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:13-16"><I>v.</I> 13-16</A>.
|
|
|
|
In general: <I>Blessed of the Lord be his
|
|
land.</I> Those were very fruitful countries that fell into the lot of
|
|
Ephraim and Manasseh, yet Moses prays they might be watered with the
|
|
blessing of God, which makes rich, and on which all fruitfulness
|
|
depends. Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He enumerates many particulars which he prays may contribute to
|
|
the wealth and abundance of those two tribes, looking up to the Creator
|
|
for the benefit and serviceableness of all the inferior creatures, for
|
|
they are all that to us which he makes them to be. He prays,
|
|
|
|
[1.] For seasonable rains and dews, <I>the precious things of
|
|
heaven;</I> and so precious they are, though but pure water, that
|
|
without them the fruits of the earth would all fail and be cut off.
|
|
|
|
[2.] For plentiful springs, which help to make the earth fruitful,
|
|
called here <I>the deep that coucheth beneath;</I> both are the
|
|
<I>rivers of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+65:9">Ps. lxv. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he made particularly the <I>fountains of waters,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:7">Rev. xiv. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] For the benign influences of the heavenly bodies
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>for the precious fruits</I> (the word signifies that which is most
|
|
excellent, and the best in its kind) put forth by the quickening heat
|
|
of the sun, and the cooling moisture of the moon. "Let them have the
|
|
yearly fruits in their several months, according to the course of
|
|
nature, in one month olives, in another dates," &c. So some understand
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
[4.] For the fruitfulness even of their hills and mountains, which in
|
|
other countries used to be barren
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
Let them have <I>the chief things of the ancient mountains;</I> and, if
|
|
the mountains be fruitful, the fruits on them will be first and best
|
|
ripened. They are called ancient mountains, not because prior in time
|
|
to other mountains, but because , like the first-born, they were
|
|
superior in worth and excellency; and lasting hills, not only because
|
|
as other mountains they were immovable
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:6">Hab. iii. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
but because the fruitfulness of them should continue.
|
|
|
|
[5.] For the productions of the lower grounds
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>For the precious things of the earth.</I> Though the earth itself
|
|
seems a useless worthless lump of matter, yet there are precious things
|
|
produced out of it, for the support and comfort of human life.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+28:5">Job xxviii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Out of it cometh bread,</I> because out of it came our bodies, and
|
|
to it they must return. But what are the <I>precious things of the
|
|
earth</I> to a soul that came from God and must return to him? Or what
|
|
is its fulness to the fulness that is in Christ, whence we receive
|
|
grace for grace? Some make these precious things here prayed for to be
|
|
figures of <I>spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ,</I> the
|
|
gifts, graces, and comforts of the Spirit.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He crowns all with the good-will, or favourable acceptance, of him
|
|
that <I>dwelt in the bush</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, of God, that God who appeared to Moses in the bush that burned
|
|
and was not consumed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:2">Exod. iii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
to give him his commission for the bringing of Israel out of Egypt.
|
|
Though God's glory appeared there but for a while, yet it is said to
|
|
dwell there, because it continued as long as there was occasion for it:
|
|
<I>the good-will of the shechinah in the bush;</I> so it might be read,
|
|
for <I>shechinah</I> signifies <I>that which dwelleth;</I> and, though
|
|
it was but a little while a dweller in the bush, yet it continued to
|
|
dwell with the people of Israel. <I>My dweller in the bush;</I> so it
|
|
should be rendered; that was an appearance of the divine Majesty to
|
|
Moses only, in token of the particular interest he had in God, which he
|
|
desires to improve for the good of this tribe. Many a time God has
|
|
appeared to Moses, but now that he is just dying he seems to have the
|
|
most pleasing remembrance of that which was the first time, when his
|
|
acquaintance with the visions of the Almighty first began, and his
|
|
correspondence with heaven was first settled: that was a time of love
|
|
never to be forgotten. It was at the bush that God declared himself
|
|
<I>the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,</I> and so confirmed the
|
|
promise made to the fathers, that promise which reached as far as the
|
|
resurrection of the body and eternal life, as appears by our Saviour's
|
|
argument from it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+20:37">Luke xx. 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
So that, when he prays for the good-will of him that <I>dwelt in the
|
|
bush,</I> he has an eye to the covenant then and there renewed, on
|
|
which all our hopes of God's favour must be bottomed. Now he concludes
|
|
this large blessing with a prayer for the favour or good-will of God,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Because that is the fountain and spring-head of all these
|
|
blessings; they are gifts of God's good-will; they are so to his own
|
|
people, whatever they are to others. Indeed when Ephraim (a descendant
|
|
from Joseph) slid back from God, <I>as a backsliding heifer,</I> those
|
|
fruits of his country were so far from being the gifts of God's
|
|
good-will that they were intended but to fatten him for the slaughter,
|
|
<I>as a lamb in a large place,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+4:16,17">Hos. iv. 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Because that is the comfort and sweetness of all these blessings;
|
|
then we have joy of them when we taste God's good-will in them.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Because that is better than all these, infinitely better; for if
|
|
we have but the favour and good-will of God we are happy, and may be
|
|
easy in the want of all these things, and may rejoice in the God of our
|
|
salvation <I>though the fig-tree do not blossom, and there be no fruit
|
|
in the vine,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:17,18">Hab. iii. 17, 18</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Great power Joseph is here blessed with,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here are three instances of his power foretold:
|
|
|
|
(1.) His authority among his brethren: <I>His glory is like the
|
|
firstling of his bullock,</I> or young bull, which is a stately
|
|
creature, and therefore was formerly used as an emblem of royal
|
|
majesty. Joshua, who was to succeed Moses, was of the tribe of Ephraim
|
|
the son of Joseph, and his glory was indeed illustrious, and he was an
|
|
honour to his tribe. In Ephraim was the royal city of the ten tribes
|
|
afterwards. And of Manasseh were Gideon, Jephthah, and Jair, who were
|
|
all ornaments and blessings to their country. Some think he is compared
|
|
to the firstling of the bullock because the birthright which Reuben
|
|
lost devolved upon Joseph
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+5:1,2">1 Chron. v. 1, 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to the firstling of <I>his</I> bullock, because Bashan, which was
|
|
in the lot of Manasseh, was famous for bulls and cows,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:12.Am+4:1">Ps. xxii. 12; Amos iv. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His force against his enemies and victory over them: <I>His horns
|
|
are like the horn of a unicorn,</I> that is, "The forces he shall bring
|
|
into the field shall be very strong and formidable, and <I>with them he
|
|
shall push the people,</I>" that is, "He shall overcome all that stand
|
|
in his way." It appears from the Ephraimites' contests, both with
|
|
Gideon
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+8:1">Judg. viii. 1</A>)
|
|
|
|
and with Jephthah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+12:1">Judg. xii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
that they were a warlike tribe and fierce. Yet we find the children of
|
|
Ephraim, when they had forsaken the covenant of God, though they were
|
|
<I>armed, turning back in the day of battle</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:9,10">Ps. lxxviii. 9, 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
for, though here pronounced <I>strong and bold as unicorns,</I> when
|
|
God had departed from them they became as weak as other men.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The numbers of his people, in which Ephraim, though the younger
|
|
house, exceeded, Jacob having, in the foresight of the same thing,
|
|
crossed hands,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+48:19">Gen. xlviii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of
|
|
Manasseh.</I> Jonathan's Targum applies it to the ten thousands of
|
|
Canaanites conquered by Joshua, who was of the tribe of Manasseh. And
|
|
the gloss of the Jerusalem Targum upon the former part of
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:17">this verse</A>
|
|
|
|
is observable, that "as the firstlings of the bullock were never to be
|
|
worked, nor could the unicorn ever be tamed, so Joseph should continue
|
|
free; and they would have continued free if they had not by sin sold
|
|
themselves." </P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="De33_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_21"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out;
|
|
and, Issachar, in thy tents.
|
|
19 They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they
|
|
shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck <I>of</I>
|
|
the abundance of the seas, and <I>of</I> treasures hid in the sand.
|
|
20 And of Gad he said, Blessed <I>be</I> he that enlargeth Gad: he
|
|
dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the
|
|
head.
|
|
21 And he provided the first part for himself, because there,
|
|
<I>in</I> a portion of the lawgiver, <I>was he</I> seated; and he came with
|
|
the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and
|
|
his judgments with Israel.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,
|
|
|
|
I. The blessings of Zebulun and Issachar put together, for they were
|
|
both the sons of Jacob by Leah, and by their lot in Canaan they were
|
|
neighbours; it is foretold,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That they should both have a comfortable settlement and employment,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Zebulun must rejoice, for he shall have cause to rejoice; and Moses
|
|
prays that he may have cause in his going out, either to war (for
|
|
<I>Zebulun jeoparded their lives in the high places of the field,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+5:18">Judg. v. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
or rather to sea, for Zebulun was a <I>haven of ships,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:13">Gen. xlix. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And Issachar must rejoice in his tents, that is, in his business at
|
|
home, his husbandry, to which the men of that tribe generally confined
|
|
themselves, because they saw that rest was good, and when the sea was
|
|
rough the land was pleasant,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:14,15">Gen. xlix. 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That the providence of God, as it variously appoints the bounds of
|
|
men's habitation, some in the city and some in the country, some in the
|
|
seaports and some in the inland towns, so it wisely disposes men's
|
|
inclinations to different employments for the good of the public, as
|
|
each member of the body is situated and qualified for the service of
|
|
the whole. The genius of some men leads them to a book, of others to
|
|
the sea, of others to the sword; some are inclined to rural affairs,
|
|
others to trade, and some have a turn for mechanics; and it is well it
|
|
is so. <I>If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:17">1 Cor. xii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was for the common good of Israel that the men of Zebulun were
|
|
merchants and that the men of Issachar were husbandmen.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That whatever our place and business are it is our wisdom and duty
|
|
to accommodate ourselves to them, and it is a great happiness to be
|
|
well pleased with them. Let Zebulun rejoice in his going out; let him
|
|
thank God for the gains and make the best of the losses and
|
|
inconveniences of his merchandise, and not despise the meanness, nor
|
|
envy the quietness, of Issachar's tents. Let <I>Issachar rejoice in his
|
|
tents,</I> let him be well pleased with the retirements and content
|
|
with the small profits of his country seats, and not grudge that he has
|
|
not Zebulun's pleasure of travelling and profit of trading. Every
|
|
business has both its conveniences and inconveniences, and therefore
|
|
whatever Providence has made our business we ought to bring our minds
|
|
to it; and it is really a great happiness, whatever our lot is, to be
|
|
easy with it. <I>This is the gift of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:19">Eccl. v. 19</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That they should both be serviceable in their places to the honour
|
|
of God and the interests of religion in the nation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They shall call the people to the mountain,</I> that is, to the
|
|
<I>temple,</I> which Moses foresaw should be built upon a mountain. I
|
|
see not why this should be confined (as it is by most interpreters) to
|
|
Zebulun; if both Zebulun and Issachar received the comforts of their
|
|
respective employments, why may we not suppose that they both took care
|
|
to give God the glory of them? Two things they shall do for God:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They shall invite others to his service. <I>Call the people to the
|
|
mountain.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] Zebulun shall improve his acquaintance and commerce with the
|
|
neighbouring nations, to whom he goes out, for this noble purpose, to
|
|
propagate religion among them, and to invite them into the service of
|
|
the God of Israel. Note, Men of great business, or large conversation,
|
|
should wisely and zealously endeavour to recommend the practice of
|
|
serious godliness to those with whom they converse and among whom their
|
|
business lies. Such are blessed, for they are blessings. It were well
|
|
if the enlargement of trade with foreign countries might be made to
|
|
contribute to the spreading of the gospel. This prophecy concerning
|
|
Zebulun perhaps looks as far as the preaching of Christ and his
|
|
apostles, which began in the land of Zebulun
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:14,15">Matt. iv. 14, 15</A>);
|
|
|
|
then they <I>called the people to the mountain,</I> that is, to the
|
|
kingdom of the Messiah, which is called the <I>mountain of the Lord's
|
|
house,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:2">Isa. ii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Issachar that tarries at home, and dwells in tents, shall call
|
|
upon his neighbours to go up to the sanctuary at the times appointed
|
|
for their solemn feasts, either because they should be more zealous and
|
|
forward than their neighbours (and it has been often observed that
|
|
though those that with Zebulun dwell in the haven of ships, which are
|
|
places of concourse, have commonly more of the <I>light</I> of
|
|
religion, those that with Issachar dwell in tents in the country have
|
|
more of the <I>life</I> and <I>heat</I> of it), and may therefore with
|
|
their zeal provoke those to a holy emulation that have more knowledge
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:1">Ps. cxxii. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
or because they were more observant of the times appointed for their
|
|
feasts than others were. One of the Chaldee paraphrasts reads the
|
|
foregoing verse, <I>Rejoice, Issachar, in the tents of thy schools,</I>
|
|
supposing they would many of them be scholars, and would use their
|
|
learning for that purpose, according to the revolutions of the year, to
|
|
give notice of the times of the feasts; for almanacs were not then so
|
|
common as they are now. And Onkelos more particularly, <I>Rejoice,
|
|
Issachar, when thou goest to compute the times of the solemnities at
|
|
Jerusalem;</I> for then <I>the tribes of Israel shall be gathered to
|
|
the mountain of the house of the sanctuary.</I> So he reads the
|
|
beginning of this verse; and many think this is the meaning of that
|
|
character of the men of Issachar in David's time, That <I>they had
|
|
understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+12:32">1 Chron. xii. 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the character which follows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>)
|
|
|
|
of the men of Zebulun, that they were such as <I>went forth to battle,
|
|
expert in war,</I> perhaps may explain the blessing of that tribe here.
|
|
Note, Those that have not opportunity as Zebulun had of bringing into
|
|
the church those that are without may yet be very serviceable to its
|
|
interest by helping to quicken, encourage, and build up, those that are
|
|
within. And it is good work to call people to God's ordinances, to put
|
|
those in remembrance that are forgetful, and to stir up those that are
|
|
slothful, who will follow, but care not to lead.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They shall not only invite others to the service of God, but they
|
|
shall abound in it themselves: <I>There they shall offer sacrifices of
|
|
righteousness.</I> They shall not send others to the temple and stay at
|
|
home themselves, under pretence that they cannot leave their business;
|
|
but, when they stir up others to <I>go speedily to pray before the
|
|
Lord,</I> they shall say, <I>We will go also,</I> as it is
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:12">Zech. viii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The good we exhort others to we should ourselves be examples of.
|
|
And, when they come to the temple, they shall not appear before the
|
|
Lord empty, but shall bring for the honour and service of God according
|
|
as he has prospered them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+16:2">1 Cor. xvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] It is here foretold that both these tribes should grow rich.
|
|
Zebulun that goes abroad shall <I>suck of the abundance of the
|
|
seas,</I> which are full breasts to the merchants, while Issachar, that
|
|
tarries at home, shall enrich himself with <I>treasures hid in the
|
|
sands,</I> either the fruits of the earth or the underground treasures
|
|
of metals and minerals, or (because the word for sand here signifies
|
|
properly the sand of the sea) the rich things thrown up by the sea, for
|
|
the lot of Issachar reached to the sea-side. Perhaps their success in
|
|
<I>calling the people to the mount</I> is intimated by their <I>sucking
|
|
of the abundance of the seas,</I> for we have a like phrase used for
|
|
the bringing in of the nations to the church
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+60:5">Isa. lx. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee,</I> and
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles.</I> It is foretold,
|
|
|
|
[2.] That these tribes, being thus enriched, should <I>consecrate their
|
|
gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole
|
|
earth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+4:13">Mic. iv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The <I>merchandise</I> of Zebulun, and the <I>hire</I> of Issachar,
|
|
shall be <I>holiness to the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+23:18">Isa. xxiii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
for thereof they shall <I>offer sacrifices of righteousness,</I> that
|
|
is, sacrifices according to the law. Note, We must serve and honour God
|
|
with what we have; and where he sows plentifully he expects to reap
|
|
accordingly. Those that <I>suck of the abundance of the seas, and of
|
|
the treasures hid in the sand,</I> ought to offer sacrifices of
|
|
righteousness proportionable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The blessing of the tribe of Gad comes next,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was one of the tribes that was already seated on that side Jordan
|
|
where Moses now was. Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He foretels what this tribe would be,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) That it would be enlarged, as at present it had a spacious
|
|
allotment; and he gives God the glory both of its present and of its
|
|
future extent: <I>Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad.</I> We find how
|
|
this tribe was enlarged by their success in a war which it seems they
|
|
carried on very religiously against the Hagarites,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+5:19,20,22">1 Chron. v. 19, 20, 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, God is to have the glory of all our enlargements.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That it would be a valiant and victorious tribe, would, if let
|
|
alone, dwell secure and fearless as a lion; but, if provoked, would,
|
|
like a lion, <I>tear the arm with the crown of the head;</I> that is,
|
|
would pull in pieces all that stood in his way, both the arm (that is,
|
|
the strength) and the crown of the head (that is, the policy and
|
|
authority) of his enemies. In David's time there were Gadites whose
|
|
faces were <I>as the faces of lions,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+12:8">1 Chron. xii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some reckon Jehu to be of this tribe, because the first mention we have
|
|
of him is at Ramoth Gilead, which belonged to Gad, and they think this
|
|
may refer to his valiant acts.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He commends this tribe for what they had done and were now doing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They had done very wisely for themselves, when they chose their
|
|
lot with the first, in a country already conquered: <I>He provided the
|
|
first part for himself;</I> though he had a concern for his brethren,
|
|
yet his charity began at home, and he was willing to see himself first
|
|
served, first settled. The Gadites were the first and most active
|
|
movers for an allotment on that side Jordan, and therefore are still
|
|
mentioned before the Reubenites in the history of that affair,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+32:2">Num. xxxii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
And thus, while the other tribes had their portion assigned them by
|
|
Joshua the conqueror, Gad and his companions had theirs from Moses the
|
|
law-giver, and in it they were seated by law; or (as the word is)
|
|
<I>covered</I> or protected by a special providence which watched over
|
|
those that were left behind, while the men of war went forward with
|
|
their brethren. Note, <I>Men will praise thee when thou doest well for
|
|
thyself</I> (when thou providest first for thyself, as Gad did),
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+49:18">Ps. xlix. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
And God will praise thee when thou doest well for thy soul, which is
|
|
indeed thyself, and providest the first part for that in a portion from
|
|
the law-giver.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They were now doing honestly and bravely for their brethren; for
|
|
they <I>came with the heads of the people,</I> before whom they went
|
|
armed over Jordan, to <I>execute the justice of the Lord</I> upon the
|
|
Canaanites, under the conduct of Joshua, to whom we afterwards find
|
|
they solemnly vowed obedience,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+1:12,16">Josh. i. 12, 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was what they undertook to do when they had their lot assigned
|
|
them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+32:27">Num. xxxii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
This they did,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+4:12">Josh. iv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, when the wars of Canaan were ended, Joshua dismissed them with a
|
|
blessing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+22:7">Josh. xxii. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, It is a blessed and honourable thing to be helpful to our
|
|
brethren in their affairs, and particularly to assist in executing the
|
|
justice of the Lord by suppressing that which is provoking to him: it
|
|
was this that was counted to Phinehas for righteousness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="De33_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And of Dan he said, Dan <I>is</I> a lion's whelp: he shall leap
|
|
from Bashan.
|
|
23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour,
|
|
and full with the blessing of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: possess thou the west and
|
|
the south.
|
|
24 And of Asher he said, <I>Let</I> Asher <I>be</I> blessed with
|
|
children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip
|
|
his foot in oil.
|
|
25 Thy shoes <I>shall be</I> iron and brass; and as thy days, <I>so
|
|
shall</I> thy strength <I>be.</I>
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The blessing of Dan,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Jacob in his blessing had compared him to a serpent for subtlety; Moses
|
|
compares him to a lion for courage and resolution: and what could stand
|
|
before those that had the head of a serpent and the heart of a lion?
|
|
He is compared to the lions that leaped from Bashan, a mountain noted
|
|
for fierce lions, whence they came down to leap upon their prey in the
|
|
plains. This may refer either,
|
|
|
|
1. To the particular victories obtained by Samson (who was of this
|
|
tribe) over the Philistines. <I>The Spirit of the Lord began to move
|
|
him in the camp of Dan</I> when he was very young, as <I>a lion's
|
|
whelp,</I> so that in his attacks upon the Philistines he surprised
|
|
them, and overpowered them by main strength, as a lion does his prey;
|
|
and one of his first exploits was the rending of a lion. Or,
|
|
|
|
2. To a more general achievement of that tribe, when a party of them,
|
|
upon information brought them of the security of Laish, which lay in
|
|
the furthest part of the land of Canaan from them, surprised it, and
|
|
soon made themselves masters of it. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+18:27">Judg. xviii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, the mountains of Bashan lying not far from that city, probably
|
|
thence they made their descent upon it; and therefore are here said to
|
|
<I>leap from Bashan.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The blessing of Naphtali,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
He looks upon this tribe with wonder, and applauds it: "O Naphtali,
|
|
thou art happy, thou shalt be so, mayest thou be ever so!" Three things
|
|
make up the happiness of this tribe:--
|
|
|
|
1. Be thou <I>satisfied with favour.</I> Some understand it of the
|
|
favour of men, their good-will and good word. Jacob had described this
|
|
tribe to be, generally, courteous obliging people, giving goodly words,
|
|
as the loving hind,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:21">Gen. xlix. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now what should they get by being so? Moses here tells them they
|
|
should have an interest in the affections of their neighbours, and be
|
|
satisfied with favour. Those that are loving shall be beloved. But
|
|
others understand it of the favour of God, and with good reason; for
|
|
that only is the favour that is satisfying to the soul and puts true
|
|
gladness into the heart. Those are happy indeed that have the favour of
|
|
God; and those shall have it that place their satisfaction in it, and
|
|
reckon that, in having that, they have enough and desire no more.
|
|
|
|
2. Be thou <I>full with the blessing of the Lord,</I> that is, not only
|
|
with those good things that are the fruits of the blessing (corn, and
|
|
wine, and oil), but with the blessing itself; that is, the grace of
|
|
God, according to his promise and covenant. Those who have that
|
|
blessing may well reckon themselves full: they need nothing else to
|
|
make them happy. "The portion of the tribe of Naphtali" (the Jews say)
|
|
"was so fruitful, and the productions so forward, though it lay north,
|
|
that those of that tribe were generally the first that brought their
|
|
first-fruits to the temple; and so they had first the blessing from the
|
|
priest, which was the blessing of the Lord." Capernaum, in which Christ
|
|
chiefly resided, lay in this tribe.
|
|
|
|
3. Be thou <I>in possession of the sea and the south;</I> so it may be
|
|
read, that is, of that sea which shall lie south of thy lot, that was
|
|
the sea of Galilee, which we so often read of in the gospels, directly
|
|
north of which the lot of this tribe lay, and which was of great
|
|
advantage to this tribe, witness the wealth of Capernaum and Bethsaida,
|
|
which lay within this tribe, and upon the shore of that sea. See how
|
|
Moses was guided by a spirit of prophesy in these blessings; for before
|
|
the lot was cast into the lap he foresaw and foretold how the disposal
|
|
of it would be.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The blessing of Asher,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:24,25"><I>v.</I> 24, 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Four things he prays for and prophecies concerning this tribe, which
|
|
carries blessedness in its name; for Leah called the father of it
|
|
<I>Asher,</I> saying <I>Happy am I,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+30:13">Gen. xxx. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. The increase of their numbers. They were now a numerous tribe,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:47">Num. xxvi. 47</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Let it be more so: <I>Let Asher be blessed with children.</I>" Note,
|
|
Children, especially children of the covenant, are blessings, not
|
|
burdens.
|
|
|
|
2. Their interest in their neighbours: <I>Let him be acceptable to his
|
|
brethren.</I> Note, It is a very desirable thing to have the love and
|
|
good-will of those we live among: it is what we should pray to God for,
|
|
who has all hearts in his hand; and what we should endeavour to gain by
|
|
meekness and humility, and a readiness, as we have ability and
|
|
opportunity, to do good to all men.
|
|
|
|
3. The richness of their land.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Above ground: <I>Let him dip his foot in oil,</I> that is, "Let
|
|
him have such plenty of it in his lot that he may not only anoint his
|
|
head with it, but, if he please, wash his feet in it," which was not
|
|
commonly done; yet we find our blessed Saviour so acceptable to his
|
|
brethren that his feet were anointed with the most precious ointment,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+7:46">Luke vii. 46</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Under ground: <I>Thy shoes shall be iron and brass,</I> that is,
|
|
"Thou shalt have great plenty of these metals (mines of them) in thy
|
|
own ground, which by an uncommon blessing shall have both its surface
|
|
and its bowels rich:" or, if they had them not as the productions of
|
|
their own country, they should have them imported from abroad; for the
|
|
lot of this tribe lay on the sea-coast. The Chaldee paraphrasts
|
|
understand this figuratively: "Thou shalt be strong and bright, as iron
|
|
and brass."
|
|
|
|
4. The continuance of their strength and vigour: <I>As thy days, so
|
|
shall thy strength be.</I> Many paraphrase it thus, "The strength of
|
|
thy old age shall be like that of thy youth; thou shalt not feel a
|
|
decay, nor be the worse for the wearing, but shalt renew thy youth; as
|
|
if not thy shoes only, but thy bones, were iron and brass." The day is
|
|
often in scripture put for the events of the day; and, taking it so
|
|
here, it is a promise that God would graciously support them under
|
|
their trials and troubles, whatever they were. And so it is a promise
|
|
sure to all the spiritual seed of Abraham, that God will wisely
|
|
proportion their graces and comforts to the services and sufferings he
|
|
calls them out to. Have they work appointed them? They shall have
|
|
strength to do it. Have they burdens appointed them? They shall have
|
|
strength to bear them; and never be <I>tempted above that they are
|
|
able.</I> Faithful is he that has thus promised, and hath caused us to
|
|
hope in this promise.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="De33_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="De33_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>26 <I>There is</I> none like unto the God of Jeshurun, <I>who</I> rideth
|
|
upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
|
|
27 The eternal God <I>is thy</I> refuge, and underneath <I>are</I> the
|
|
everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before
|
|
thee; and shall say, Destroy <I>them.</I>
|
|
28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of
|
|
Jacob <I>shall be</I> upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens
|
|
shall drop down dew.
|
|
29 Happy <I>art</I> thou, O Israel: who <I>is</I> like unto thee, O
|
|
people saved by the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the shield of thy help, and who <I>is</I>
|
|
the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found
|
|
liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
These are the last words of all that ever Moses, that great writer,
|
|
that great dictator, either wrote himself or had written from his
|
|
dictation; they are therefore very remarkable, and no doubt we shall
|
|
find them very improving. Moses, the man of God (who had as much reason
|
|
as ever any mere man had to know both), with his last breath magnifies
|
|
both the God of Israel and the Israel of God. They are both
|
|
incomparable in his eye; and we are sure that in this his judgment of
|
|
both his eye did not wax dim.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. No God like the God of Israel. None of the gods of the nations were
|
|
capable of doing that for their worshippers which Jehovah did for his:
|
|
<I>There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, When we are expecting that God should bless us in doing well for
|
|
us we must bless him by speaking well of him: and one of the most
|
|
solemn ways of praising God is by acknowledging that there is none like
|
|
him. Now,
|
|
|
|
1. This was the honour of Israel. Every nation boasted of its god; but
|
|
none had such a God to boast of as Israel had.
|
|
|
|
2. It was their happiness that they were taken into covenant with such
|
|
a God. Two things he takes notice of as proofs of the incontestable
|
|
pre-eminence of the God of Jeshurun above all other gods:
|
|
|
|
(1.) His sovereign power and authority: <I>He rides upon the
|
|
heavens,</I> and with the greatest state and magnificence on the skies.
|
|
Riding on the heavens denotes his greatness and glory, in which he
|
|
manifests himself to the upper world, and the use he makes of the
|
|
influences of heaven, and the productions of the clouds, in bringing to
|
|
pass his own counsels in this lower world: he manages and directs them
|
|
as a man does the horse he rides on. When he has any thing to do for
|
|
his people he <I>rides upon the heavens</I> to do it; for he does it
|
|
swiftly and strongly: no enemy can either anticipate or obstruct the
|
|
progress of him that rides on the heavens.
|
|
|
|
(2.) His boundless eternity; he is the eternal God, and his arms are
|
|
<I>everlasting,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
The gods of the heathen were but lately invented, and would shortly
|
|
perish; but the God of Jeshurun is eternal: he was before all worlds,
|
|
and will be when time and days shall be no more. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+1:12">Hab. i. 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. No people like the Israel of God. Having pronounced each tribe
|
|
happy, in the close he pronounces all together very happy, so happy in
|
|
all respects that there was no nation under the sun comparable to them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Happy art thou, O Israel,</I> a people whose God is the Lord, on
|
|
that account truly happy, and <I>none like unto thee.</I> If Israel
|
|
honour God as a non-such God, he will favour them so as to make them a
|
|
non-such people, the envy of all their neighbours and the joy of all
|
|
their well-wishers. <I>Who is like unto thee, O people? Behold, thou
|
|
art fair, my love,</I> says Christ of his spouse. To which she
|
|
presently returns, <I>Behold thou art fair, my beloved. What one
|
|
nation</I> (no, not all the nations together) is <I>like thy people
|
|
Israel?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:23">2 Sam. vii. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
What is here said of the church of Israel and the honours and
|
|
privileges of it is certainly to be applied to <I>the church of the
|
|
first-born,</I> that are written in heaven. The Christian church is the
|
|
Israel of God, as the apostle calls it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+6:16">Gal. vi. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
on which there shall be peace, and which is dignified above all
|
|
societies in the world, as Israel was.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Never were people so well seated and sheltered
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The eternal God is thy refuge.</I> Or, as the word signifies, "thy
|
|
<I>habitation,</I> or <I>mansion-house,</I> in which thou art safe, and
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easy, and at rest, as a man in his own house." Every Israelite indeed
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is at home in God; the soul returns to him, and reposes in him as its
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resting-place
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+116:7">Ps. cxvi. 7</A>),
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its hiding-place,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+32:7">Ps. xxxii. 7</A>.
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And those that make him their habitation shall have all the comforts
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and benefits of a habitation in him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:1">Ps. xci. 1</A>.
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Moses had an eye to God as the habitation of Israel when they were
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wandering in the wilderness
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:1">Ps. xc. 1</A>):
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<I>Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.</I> And
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|
now that they were going to settle in Canaan they must not change their
|
|
habitation; still they will need, and still they shall have, the
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|
eternal God for their dwelling-place; without him Canaan itself would
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be a wilderness, and a land of darkness.</P>
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<P>
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2. Never were people so well supported and borne up: <I>Underneath are
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|
the everlasting arms;</I> that is, the almighty power of God is engaged
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|
for the protection and consolation of all that trust in him, in their
|
|
greatest straits and distresses, and under the heaviest burdens. The
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|
everlasting arms shall support,
|
|
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|
(1.) The interests of the church in general, that they shall not sink,
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|
or be run down; underneath the church is that rock of ages on which it
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|
is built, and against which the gates of hell shall never prevail,
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+16:18">Matt. xvi. 18</A>.
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(2.) The spirits or particular believers, so that, though they may be
|
|
oppressed, they shall not be overwhelmed by any trouble. How low soever
|
|
the people of God are at any time brought, everlasting arms are
|
|
underneath them to keep the spirit from sinking, from fainting, and the
|
|
faith from failing, even when they are pressed above measure. The
|
|
everlasting covenant, and the everlasting consolations that flow from
|
|
it, are indeed everlasting arms, with which believers have been
|
|
wonderfully sustained, and kept cheerful in the worst of times; divine
|
|
grace is sufficient for them,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+12:9">2 Cor. xii. 9</A>.</P>
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|
<P>
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|
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|
3. Never were people so well commanded and led on to battle: "<I>He
|
|
shall thrust out the enemy from before thee</I> by his almighty power,
|
|
which will make room for thee; and by a commission which will bear thee
|
|
out he shall say, <I>Destroy them.</I>" They were now entering upon a
|
|
land that was in the full possession of a strong and formidable people,
|
|
and who, being its first planters, looked upon themselves as its
|
|
rightful owners; how shall Israel justify, and how shall they
|
|
accomplish, the expulsion of them?
|
|
|
|
(1.) God will give them a commission to destroy the Canaanites, and
|
|
that will justify them, and bear them out in it, against all the world.
|
|
He that is sovereign Lord of all lives and all lands not only allowed
|
|
and permitted, but expressly commanded and appointed the children of
|
|
Israel both to take possession of the land of Canaan and to put the
|
|
sword to the people of Canaan, which, being thus authorized, they might
|
|
not only lawfully but honourably do, without incurring the least stain
|
|
or imputation of theft by the one or murder by the other.
|
|
|
|
(2.) God will give them power and ability to destroy them; nay, he will
|
|
in effect do it to their hands: he will <I>thrust out the enemy from
|
|
before them;</I> for the very fear of Israel shall put them to flight.
|
|
God <I>drive out the heathen to plant his people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:2">Ps. xliv. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus believers are more than conquerors over their spiritual enemies,
|
|
through Christ that loved them. The captain of our salvation <I>thrust
|
|
out the enemy from before us</I> when he overcame the world and spoiled
|
|
principalities and powers on the cross; and the word of command to us
|
|
is, "<I>Destroy them;</I> pursue the victory, and you shall divide the
|
|
spoil."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Never were people so well secured and protected
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Israel shall then dwell in safety alone.</I> Those that dwell in
|
|
God, and make his name their strong tower, <I>dwell in safety;</I> the
|
|
<I>place of their defence is the munitions of rocks,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:16">Isa. xxxiii. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall dwell in safety alone.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Though alone. Though they contract no alliances with their
|
|
neighbours, nor have any reason to expect help or succour from any of
|
|
them, yet they shall dwell in safety; they shall really be safe, and
|
|
they shall think themselves so.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Because alone. They shall dwell in safety as long as they
|
|
continue pure, and unmixed with the heathen, a singular and peculiar
|
|
people. Their distinction from other nations, though it made them
|
|
<I>like a speckled bird</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+12:9">Jer. xii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and exposed them to the ill-will of those about them, yet was really
|
|
their preservation from the mischief their neighbours wished them, as
|
|
it kept them under the divine protection. All that keep close to God
|
|
shall be kept safely by him. It is promised that in the kingdom of
|
|
Christ <I>Israel shall dwell safely,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+23:6">Jer. xxiii. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Never were people so well provided for: <I>The fountain of Jacob</I>
|
|
(that is, the present generation of that people, which is as the
|
|
fountain to all the streams that shall hereafter descend and be derived
|
|
from it) shall now presently be fixed upon a good land. <I>The eye of
|
|
Jacob</I> (so it might be read, for the same word signifies a fountain
|
|
and an eye) <I>is upon the land of corn and wine,</I> that is, where
|
|
they now lay encamped they had Canaan in their eye, it was just before
|
|
their faces, on the other side the river, and they would have it in
|
|
their hands and under their feet quickly. This land upon which they had
|
|
set their eye was blessed both with the fatness of the earth and the
|
|
dew of heaven; it was a <I>land of corn and wine,</I> substantial and
|
|
useful productions: also his heavens (as if the heavens were
|
|
particularly designed to be blessings to that land) <I>shall drop down
|
|
dew,</I> without which, though the soil were ever so good, the corn and
|
|
wine would soon fail. Every Israelite indeed has his eye, the eye of
|
|
faith, upon the better country, the heavenly Canaan, which is richly
|
|
replenished with better things than corn and wine.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. Never were people so well helped. If they were in any strait, God
|
|
himself rode upon the heavens for <I>their help,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
And they were <I>a people saved by the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
If they were in danger of any harm, or in want of any good, they had an
|
|
eternal God to go to, an almighty power to trust to; nothing could hurt
|
|
those whom God helped, nor was it possible that the people should
|
|
perish which <I>was saved by the Lord.</I> Those that are added to the
|
|
gospel Israel are <I>such as shall be saved,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:47">Acts ii. 47</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. Never were people so well armed. God himself was the shield of their
|
|
help by whom they were armed defensively, and sufficiently guarded
|
|
against all assailants: and he was the <I>sword of their
|
|
excellency,</I> by whom they were armed offensively, and made both
|
|
formidable and successful in all their wars. God is called the <I>sword
|
|
of their excellency</I> because, in fighting for them, he made them to
|
|
excel other people, or because in all he did for them he had an eye to
|
|
his sanctuary among them, which is called the <I>excellency of
|
|
Jacob,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+47:4,Eze+24:21,Am+6:>Ps. xlvii. 4;
|
|
Ezek. xxiv. 21; Amos vi. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those in whose hearts is the excellency of holiness have God himself
|
|
for their shield and sword--are defended by the whole armour of God;
|
|
his word is their sword, and faith in it is their shield,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:16,17">Eph. vi. 16, 17</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
8. Never were people so well assured of victory over their enemies:
|
|
<I>They shall be found liars unto thee;</I> That is, "shall be forced
|
|
to submit to thee sorely against their will, so that it will be but a
|
|
counterfeit submission; yet the point shall be gained, for thou shalt
|
|
<I>tread upon their necks</I>" (so the LXX.), which we find done,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+10:24">Josh. x. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Thou shalt tread down their strong-holds, be they ever so high, and
|
|
trample upon their palaces and temples, though esteemed ever so sacred.
|
|
<I>If thy enemies be found liars to thee</I>" (so some read it),
|
|
"<I>thou shalt tread upon their high places;</I> if they will not be
|
|
held by the bonds of leagues and treaties, they shall be broken by the
|
|
force of war." Thus shall the God of peace tread Satan under the feet
|
|
of all believers, and shall <I>do it shortly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+16:20">Rom. xvi. 20</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now lay all this together, and then you will say, <I>Happy art thou, O
|
|
Israel! Who is like unto thee, O people!</I> Thrice happy the people
|
|
whose God is the Lord.</P>
|
|
|
|
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