Commentary on the Holy Bible

FOR WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIMi:, WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEJltXIKO; THAT WE, THROtCU PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES, MIGHT HAVE HOPE. — ROM. XT. 4.

W E have borrowed the name of this book, as in former cases, from the Vulgate La.un, Dciiteronomiuni, as the Vulgate has done from tlie Greek version of tlie Scptuagint Arurifsw^ic-, \vliich is a compound term Hterally signifying, the second law, because it seems to contain a i-epelition of the preceding laws, from which circumstance it has been termed by the Rabbins ruro mis/i/ieli, the iteration, or doubling.

It apj)ears that both these names are borrowed from chap. xvii. 18. where the king is commanded to write him a co])y of this law, the original is rr\v\n rusyo viishneh ha-torah, a 7-cpetition, or douhling of the la'.c; wiiich the Scptuagint have translated ro isuTe^o-.cnicv, this second lau'; which w-e, properly cno)igh, translate a copif of the law; but in Hebrew, like the preceding books, it takes its name from its commencement, Cj^ain nS.s elleh ha-debakeem, these are the •words; and in the best Rabbinical Bibles, its running title is o^'otisd sepiier debareem, t/ic book of debareem, or the hook of the 'ivords. Our Saxon ancestors termed it Seo rrprcn a- the after law.

The Book of Deuteronomy contains an account of what passed in the wilderness from the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, to the seventh day of the t-:clj:fi month of the same; making in the whole, a history of the transactions of exactly five "o.^cks, the months of the Jews beinn^ lunar. The history is continued about seven days after the death of Moses; for he bewail to doli\ or his first discourse to the people in the jdains of Moab, the frst day of tlie eleventh month of the Jbii/cth year, chap. i. 3. and died on the frst day of the twelfth month of the same year, aged 120 •. ars.

As the Israehtes were now about to enter into the Jnomised land, and many of them had not witnessed th»^ ditler.nt transactions in the vilderness, the former generation having been all destroyed except Joshua and Caleb; to impress their hearts with a deep sense of their obligation to. lod, and to prepare them for the inheritance which God had prepared for them, Moses here repeats the principal occinroiices of tlie forty years, now almost elapsed, shews them the

absolute necessity of fearing, loving, and obeying God — repeats the ten commmidmcnis, ancf particularly explains each, and the ordinances belonging to them, adding others v.hich he had' not delivered before— confirms the v.hole law in a most solemn manner, with exceeding great and precious promises to them tliat keep it; aad a dcnuuciation of the most awful judgmentsagainst those who should break it — renews the covenant between God and the people — prophesies of things vdiich should come to pass in the latter days — blesses each of the tribes^ propheticalty, with the choicest sjjiritual and temporal blessings; and then having viewed tliewhole extent of the land, from the top of mount Nebo, or Pisgah, he yielded up the ghost, and was privately buried by God, leaving Joshua the son of Nun, for his successor.

The book of Deuteronomy and the Epistle to the Hebrews contain the best comment on the nature, design, and use of the Law: the ibrmer niay be considered as an evangelical commentary on tlie four preceding books, in which the spiritual reference and signification of the different parts of the law are given, and given in sueii a manner as none could give, who had not a clear discovery of the glory which was to be revealed. It may be safely asserted, that very few parts of tlic Old Testament Sa'iptures- can be read with greater profit by the genuine- Christian than the book of Deuteronomy,.

The contents of tlie different cliapters may be thus briefly summed up..

On the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth } ear, after the departure from Egypt, the Israelites being then on the cast side of Jordan, in the land of th-e jMoabites, Moses gives them a brief recapitulation of what took place in the wilderness, from their leaving mount Horeb, till they came to Kadcsh. — Chap. i.

Their travels from Kadesli till tlicy came to the country of tlic Amorites, with the defeat of Sihon their king.— Chap. ii.

The war with Og king of Bashan, with the dividing his land a-nd that of Sihon, among the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. — Chap. iii.

Moses exhorts them to observe the di\ine precepts — threatens those who should violate them: — and appoints Bezer, llamoth, and Golan to be the cities of refuge on the east side of Jordan.. — Chap. iv.

Re])cats the decalogue, and tells the people, what effect the publication of it had on tlieir fathers, v/hcn God spoke to them from tlie nioiuit. — Chap. v.

Exhorts them to love God with all their hcajt, and promises them an abundance of good things. — Chap. vi.

Repeats t'le commend to exterminate the Canaanites, and idl vestiges of their idolatry., — Chap. vii.

Recites the many interpositions of God's kindness, wliich they had received during their forty years travel in the wilderness, and strongly exhorts tliem to remember those mercies, and not to forieit a continuance of his favours, by ingratitude and disobedience. — Chap. viii.

Shews them that they were io pass Jordan in a short time; and that God was about to bring, ihcm in, not on account of their goodness, but of his mercy. — Chap. ix.

Gives an account of the second tables of the law, which lie maile at the command of God— » montions their journey from Bccrolli!<•.Ioil»;illi, the choosing oilhi; Lcvitc?, and the necessity of having tlie heart circumcised. — Ciiap. x.

Contiiuics an account of (iod's ini<f|ity acts in their behah", and shews the I)k-ssings -which •siiouhl come on them w)io iiept iiis law, and the curse ou tiiosc who were disobedient. — The blcssinpjs to be ])ronounced on mount (Jcrizzim, and the curses on mount Ebal. — Chap. xi.

Commands them to destroy all inniiuments oiidoJatry in the land — to ofTcr the different oflcrings and sacrifices, and to avoid eating of blood. — Chaj). xii.

Forbids their cutting themselves at I'unorals; recapitulates the law conccrniug clean and unclean animals, and exhorts them to remember the Levitcs. — Cliap. «wiv.

Every seventh year sliall be a year of release for the poor — of usury — 6rst-born, &c. — Chap. xv.

Concerning the niimial feasts, pass-over, Pentecost and tid)crnacles — tlie establishment oi' judges and ofKcers— no groves to be planted near the altar of God. — Chap. xvi.

Idolaters are to be put to death— difficult cases in equity to be referred to the superior judges — of a king and his duties. — Chap. x.vii.

All divination is prohibited. — The grand promise of an extraohuinary Puophet. — How ihlse prophets arc to be distinguished. — Chap, xviii.

The laws relative to the cities of refuge,; and how the intentional murderer is to be treated. •Chap. xix.

Laws relative to the carrying on of war— who should be sent back from the army— how tJiey are to treat tlic Canaanites; and how they are to commence sieges.— Chap. xx.

How to make expiation for an uncertain murder — marriages with captives — rights of the firstiborn, &c. — Chap. xxi.

Things lost or strayed are to be restored to their right owners — men and women must not interchange apparel — improper mixtures to be avoided— of the tokens of virginity— adulterers •and adultresses to be put to death. — Chap. xxii.

Kunuchsj bastards, Moabites and Ammonite>', are not to be permitted to enter into the congregation of the Lord. — Harlots not to be tolerated. — Chap, xxiii.

Laws rektive to divorce — privileges of the newly married man— coixrerning pledges, wages, -gleanings, &c» — Chap. xxiv.

More than forty stripes shall not be given — if a man die childless, his brother shall take his wife— of weights, measnres. Sec. — Chap. xxv.

Different ceremonies to-be used in oflering the first-fruits — tithes: of full self-consecration to God. — Chap. xxvi.

The words of the law to he written on stones, and to be set up on mount Ebal. — The tribes which stand on mount Gerizzim to bless the obedient; and those which should stand on mount LLbal to curse tlie disobedient. Who they arc that are to be cursed. — Chap, xxvii.

The blessings of those who r.refaithtid — curses against the disobedient. — Chap, xxviii.

A recital of. the covenant of God, made not only with them, but for their postcritv.

Promises of pardon. to the penitent — good and evil; hfo and death are set before them. — Chap. XXX,

Moses being now 1 20 years old, delivers a copy of the law, which he had written, int5 th« hands of the priests, to be laid up in the ark, and to be publicly read every seventh ycax— a charge is given to Joshua. — Chap. xxxi.

The prophetical and liistorical song of, Moses — ^he is commanded to go up to mount Nebd that he may see the promised land.—-Chap. xxxii.

The prophetical blessing of the twelve tiibes.— »The indescribable happiness of Israel. — > Chap, xxxiii,

Moses \iews the promised land from the top of mount Nebo, dies, and is privately bm-jed by the Lord. — The Israehtes mourn for him thirty days. — Joshua takes the commaad of the people'. The character of Moseg.— Cliap. xxxiv.

Year before the common Year of Christ, lljl.— Julian I'enod, 3'-'G3.— Cycle of the Sun, 10.— Dominical Letter, 15.— Cycle of the Moon, 10. — Indiction, 1 j — Creation from Tisri or September, 2353.

ffitiodudiou lo iJie book, 1,2. Moses addresses the penple in the fortieth year after the Exodui from P^gypt, 3 — ^. and shenshow God had spoken to them in lloreh, and the directions he gave them, 7, 8. Hozi, at the commandment of the Lord, he had appointed officers, judges, S^c. to share the government zcith him, 9 — 18. Of their travels in the terrible uilderness, 1 9— a 1. The people's request to have spies sent to search out the laud, 22—25. Of their murmuring and rebellion uhcn they heard the report of the spies, C6— 28. Ifozc Moses encouraged them, 29 — "3. The displeasure of the Lord against them because (f their murmurings, and his purpose to exclude them from the good land, and give it to their children only, 34 — 10. Ilow they repented, and yet uilhout the authoritif of God, went against the Amorites, by xiliom they K'ere defeated, 41 — 44. Their return to Kadcsli, tcliere they abode many days, 45, 46.

HESE be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel * on this

side Jordan in the >\4Iderncss, in the

Verse 1. Tlicse \)e the luords -.i/iick Moses spake] The /re first verses of this chapter contain the introiluction to the "rest of the book: they do not appear to be the «ork of Moses, but were added probably eitlicr by Jcshua or Ezra.

On t/iis side Jordan'] nays be-cber, at the pasm^e of.lordan, I f. near or opposite to the jilacc where tlie Israelites passed over, alter the death of Moses. Though 12:; «*ct is used to signify both on t/iis s-ide and on the oi/ia^ side, and the connection in which it stands can only detemiinc the nieanins;; yet here it signifies neither, but simply the place or ford where the Israelites;)as«i/ over Jordau.

plain over against " the Red sea, between Paran, and Toj)hel, and Laban and ' Hazeroth, and Uizahab.

In the plain] i. e. of Moab — orer a'nimt the Red Sea — not the Red Sea, for they were now farther from it than they

I had yet been — the word Sea is not in the text, and the word qiD Sup/i, which wo render red, does not sio^iify the Red Sea,

I unless jouied with n' i'a»i, Sea; here it must necevanfy si!j;nify a place in or adjoining to the plains of Moab. Fiolemy mentions a people named Si^phoniles, that dwelt in yirabic I'etrea, and it is probable that they took their name from tliis place; but see the note from Lii^htfoot, Num. xx. at the end.

Paran] This could not have been the Paran winch was contiguous to the Red Sea, and not far froai mount Horeb;,

The boundaries of the htnd to he possessed by the Israelites

An Kxod. ur. froiii Horcb by the way of mount Sdr i and qo totlie mount of tlie Aiiioritcs,,\n'. k,o.i^'' and unto ^ all the places nip;h thcre-

3 And it came to pass " in the Ibrtieth yejir, in ^ unto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, theeleventhmonthjOn the first s'^/y of the month, | and in the south, and by the sea side, to the that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, ac-; land of the Canaanites, an^l unto Lebanon, unto cording unto all that the Lord had given him in the great river, the river Euphrates, commandment unto them j I s iSehold I ha\-e " set the land before you: go

4 " After he had slain Siheii the king of the j in and possess the land, which the Loko swaTe Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the: unto your fathers, 'Abraham, Isaac, and Jacolx, kingofBashan,whichdweltatAstaroth''inEdrei: i to give unto them and to their seed alter the'.n.

5 On this side Jordan^ in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

G ^ The Lord our God spake unto us 'in Horeb, saying. Ye have dwelt long ' enough in this mount*.

fer tli€ place here mentioned lay on tlie very borders of the Promised land, at a vast distance from tlic former.

Dizaiiab.] Tlie word should be separated, as it is in the Hebrew, "ini n, Di Zaiiab. As Zahab signifies gold; the Septuagint liave translated it Tit xfi/""'^, i\\ii gold mines; and llie Vulgate, uhi uuruin est plurimum, where there is much gold. It is more likely to be the name of a place.

Verse 2. There are eleven daj/s' journey] The T>raelites were eJover.' day« in going from Horeb to Kadesh-Bamea, where they were near the verge of the promised land.: after which they ivere thirty-eight years wandering up and down in the vicinity of this place, not being permitted, because of their rebellions, to enter into the promised rest, though they M'ere tlie whole ofthat time, within a few miles of the knd of Canaan!