14 ■ For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the bouse of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Ntenaeeeh have received their inheritance:
15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sun-rising.
17 These are the names of the men whicn shall divide the land unto you: ' Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
IS And ye shall take one "prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
19 And the names of the men are these: the tribe of Judah, * Caleb the son of Jephnnneh.
20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shcmuel the son of Ammihud.
S3 And the prince of the tribe of Ae children of Dan. Bukki the aon of JokU.
23 Tlie prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Mananeh. Hannid the son of Ephod.
24 And the prince of the tribe of the chOdren of Ephraim, Kemuel the aon of Shiphtan.
25 And the prince of the tribe of the children Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
27 And the prince of the tribe of the diildren of Asher, Ahihud the son of ShetemL
28 And the prince of the tribe of ihe children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
29 These are they whom the Lord commanded
land, and such were the advantages tliatthis most favtnired people were called to possess — the^ were called to posscM u by lott tliat each might be satisfied with his possesaion, as considering it to be appointed to him by the special nrovidence of God. — And its boundaiies were ascertainea on Divine authority, to prevent all covetousness after the territories of others.
CHAPTER XXXW.
Verse 19, &c And Ihe names «/* Ou men are Aeve] It is worthy of remark ihiu Hoses aoea not follow any order hitherto used, of pincing the tribes, neidier diat in Namb. L nor that in chap, vii. nor that in chap. xxvi. nor any other; but places them here exactly in that order in which they posaessed the land. 1. Judoh. 2. Simeon. 3. Benjamin. 4. Dan. 5. Manostieh. 6. Ephraim. 7. Z^iulun. 8. Issachar. 9..\slier. 10. Naphtali. Judah la first, having the first lot: and be dwelt m the south part of the land,-wodk, xv. I, &x, and next to him 5im«m, because his inheritance waa wiOdn A« laherUanee of Ihe tkHdren of Judah, Josh. xix. 1. Benjamin was ffttn/, be had his inheritance by Judah, bttmen Oie children o^ Judah and the children qf Jottph, Josh. x\ iii. 11. Dan WM llie fourth: hia lot fell westward of that of Betnamin, in the country of the Philistines, as may be seen in Josh. xix. 4D, 41, Slc. F^fUtly, MmoMM, and lixthly, by hiu hisbroUwr Kvhraim, whose inheritances were behind that of Bemmin, Joah. xvi. 17. Next to these dwelt, tetaiOtJy, Zebulun; and etghthly, Itaaekar, conc«ming whose low, Me Joah. xix. 10 — ^17. Ninthly, Atker, and tenlMy NaphialL See Josh. xix. '24, 32, dbc. And as in encamping about the tnbemacle, they were arranged according to their Jhi' temal relationship, see chap. ii. so they were in the division, and inheriting of Ihe promised land. Judah and A* mwn, both sons of Litah dwelt abreast of each other. Benjamin, son of RaeheL and Dan, son of KoAett maid, dwelt next abreast. Manattdi oiid JSrphrmn, both sons of Joteph liy his mother Radid, had the oexi place abreast, Zebidun and Jttaduir, who dweh next togetber, were both sons of tjtah; and the last pair were AAtr of Ijeah's maid, and Tiaphtali of Ramttt maid. 'Rius God, in nominating the princes that should divide die laiid, signified befinehond the manner of their possCMion, ana that they sbotild be so situated, as (o dwell together, u brethren in unity, for the mutual help and comfit of ««* other. — See Aintieorlh. In this amtngenteot there ia much akill, judgnwot, aiid ItindMi^ mrywhm i|m Digitized by VjOOQ Ic
1,1 Jill ■-prilii' U11I1J Mn.-i's ill lUc pliiiaa of Moatt by JorcbJl. near Jericho, saying,
2 * Command the children of Israel, that the^ give unto the Levitea of the inheritance of their posseBsioQ, cities to dwell in; and ye shall {E^ive aUo unto the Cevites suburbs, for the cities round about them.
3 And the cities shall thev have to dwell in j and the suburbs of them ehail be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasU.
4 And the mburtu of the cities, which ye shall ffiVe onto the Levites, akaU reach from the wall of the city and outward a thotuaod cubits round about.
5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west Bide two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits: and the city •Aa/2 he in the midst: this shall oe to them the suburbs of the cities.
6 And among the cities which ye ehall give tmto the Levites thert shall be " six cities for refuge, which ye shall anmint ibr the man^yer, that tie may fiee thither: and ■ to them ye mi&U add forty and two cities.
7 jSo all the cities which re shall give to the Levites shall be * forty ana eight cities: them ghall yc give with their suburbs.
8 And the cities which ye shall give ghaJt be * of the possession of the children of Israel: ■ from them that hate many, ye shall give many; but from thtm that hate few. ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites, according to his inheritance which ' he inheriteth.
NCyTES ON CHAPTER XXXV.
Terse 4. And Ou wfrurbt the eUt«— iball reach fnm the mil tff the cUj/ oiUteard, a thousand cubit* round about
Verae S. And yeAaU meaaure from without Ou city tvo thousand cubUa, dtc.] Commenlaiorfl have been muca puzzled with the accounta in theae two veraea. In ver. 4. uw meaaure la laid to be 1,000 cubita bom the wall: in Ter. 6. ihe measure it said to be 2,000 from without the city. It ia likely these two measurea mean the aaine ihiog; at least so it was underalood by the Sepiuoglat and. Coptic, who have tirxo^^'^t 'Wt, 2,000 cubita, in the fourth, as well as in the Ji/th verao; but ihia reading of the Septuagiot aod Copue ia not acknowledged W any other of ibe ancient Tersiona, nor by any of the MSS. collated by JTenniooflaadZTe iltaW. Wemust aeek, thererore, roraome other method of reeoociling thia apparently contradictory •MOonL Sundry mode* have been propoaed by ootnoMotaiora, which appear to me, in general, to require fidl as much explanatiOD as the text itaelt Haimonidea ia the only one uitelligible on the aubjecL " The auburba," Hya he, "ai the citiee are expreaaed in the law to be 3,000 cubiu on every aide from the wall of the city and outwarda. The firat thouaaod cubita are the auburba j and the 2,000, which they meaaured without the suburb^ were for fieUi, and viseyarda." Vm whole, therefore, of the ei^, subartNL fiel^ ud vinoyMda, maybe repnseDlsd by lbs knnag disgnun.
10 Speak trnto the children of Israel, and say unto them, * When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11 Then ' ye shall appoint yoo cities, to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth anv person ■ at unawares.
12 >> And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from Uie avenger: that the manslayer die not, untU he stand before tiie c<nigregatioii in judgment.
13 And of these cities which ye shttU gin ' six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14 ^ Ye shall give three cities on this ride Jordan, and three cities shall^e give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of reluge.
15 These six cities shall be a refuge, 6o(A ibr the children of Israel, and > for the stranger, and for the sojourner amon^ them: that every one that killeth any person unawares, may flee thither.
16 " And if he tnnite htm with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he ^ a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17 And if he smite him ■■ with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he it a murderer: the murderer ehall sorely be put to death.
18 Or ^he smite him with a hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he ii a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19 • The revenger of blood himself shall slar the murderer: when he meeteth him, he riiaU slay him.
£E0 But p if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him V by laying of wait, that he die;
21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; Jbr he a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meeteth
23 But if he thryst him suddenly 'without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without layir^of wait,
23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing Aim not, and cast it upon him, that he die, ana tpoa not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
34 Then 'the congregation shall judge between the slayer ana the revenger of blood, according to these judgments:
25 And the congregatioii shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood;
oit; or his refuge, whither he was fled: and »he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, " which was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the slayer shall at anv time cbme without the border of the city or bis refuge, whither he was fled;
27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the cit^ of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer } ' he shall not be jjuilty of blood:
28 Because he ahoQld hare remained in the i»ty of his refuge until the death of the high priest i but afler the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possessioik
39 So these thingM shall be for * a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in ml your dwellings.
30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer ■luU be put to death by the ' mouth of witnesses: but one witness shul not testily against any
31 it Moreover ye shall take- no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is ^ guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
from the priTtleged aliar», amoog the Roman Cubolics. ThoM among the Hebrew* were for the protection of snch only u had sl&in a (wraon iDvotuntarify. The templea and altara amon^ the latter, often aerv«d for the protection of the moat profligate charactwa. Ciiiea of refuge amonc the H^rawa were neceaaary, becauae the old patriarcha] law still remained in force: vLt. that the neareti akin had a ri^t to Rveogs the death of his relation, by alaying the murderer: tot the original law enacted, wt vnototwer aftetf man « bU>od, by man thaU his blood be thtd, Gen. ix. 6. and none was judged so proper to execute this law aa the man who was nearest akin to die deceaaed. As many rash exeentioiu of this law might take place, from the very nature of the thing, it was deemed necessary to <iualify its elanna, and prevent injustice j and the cities of lefiags wsre judgsd propa for this ptu^ose. Nor do we evsr read that they were ever found ineflkientj or, that tun wars 9nt abmed.
verse IZ. Vhtit he aland before the congregaHon in Jw^mmL] So, one of these cities was not a perpetual asylum; it was only a pro Umpore refiige, till the ease oould be fairly examined by the magistrates, in the preeeoce of the people, or the sMera their reprasentatiTes: and this was done in the ei^ or place where be had done the murder. Josh. xz. 4, 6. If Be wae found worthy of death, tbey delivered him to the avenger, that he mignt be ■laia; if not, they aent him back 1o the city of refuge, where be remained till the death of the bi^ priest, DeuL xiz. 12. Before the cities of refuge were appointed, the aitar appean to have been a sancbuuy for thoae who had killed s person unwittingly: see the notes on Elxod. xxi. 1114.
Verse 19. retmger blood\ Bin ^ni god haddam, the r«dwmtr Stood, the next in blood to him who was slain. See on the preceding verse.
Verse 20. But one witnM tkali not fesfj^ againat any] This was a just and necessary provisioo. One man may be mUtakenj or ao violently pr^udiced, as to impose even on hie own judgment; or so wdced as to endeavour, through malice, to compass the life of his neigfaboor: but it {» not likely that too or mors abouM be of this kind; and even were they, their separate examination would lead to a diarflvery of the truth, and to (heir conviction.
Verse 31. Ve maU. take no tati^aetum for tiu l{/e of a murderer] No atonement cmld be mode for him, nor any eommutetum so as to save him from death. All the laws of the civUiisd work) have eitber adjudged the murderer todeath, ortoapanishmeataqoivalenttott; snehMpa^ petual imprisonment— in a dungeon — under ground — on a stone floor — without lij^t, and to be fed on a small portion of bread and water. In such circumstances, a man could live but R short time: and though it is not called the puninntent of etssA, yst from its mevii^ eonaaqaenee^ it Mtly diftred frmn it by s Huk lopger r^te uaa
33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye ore; for blood <it defilelh the land: and ■ the laiid cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but ^ by the blood oThun that shed it.
34 * Defile Dot therefore the land which ye ^all inhabit, wherein I dwell: for ' I the Lrfno dwell among the diUdreo of laraeL
ND the chief fathers of the families of the ■ children of Qilead, the son
of Machir, the mn of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and apake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:
3 And they said, ' The Lord commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot fo the children of Israel: and > my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of ZeloE^ehad our brother imto his daughters.
3 And if they be married to Einy of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the ioheritance of the tribe ^whereonto they are
Verse 32. (MtU the death iif Ih* prutt.) Probably intended to typify, that no sinner can be delivered from his banUunent from Ood, or iveorer his forfeited iDheriianee^ till Jesus Christ, the great High Priest, had died lor his ofiences, and risen again for fais justifieatk
V«ne33. F^bloodUdejaalleuimd\ TItsveiylBad was consideKd as guilty, till the blood of the mUidenrwas shed in it. No wonder Ood. is so particularly strict in his laws against munierera. t. Because he is the Author of lifi^and none has any right to diqnse of it but himselL 2. Because life is the time to prepare for the eternal world, and on it the salvation of the soul accordingly dniends; therefore it tl of infinite consequeoce to the man that his life be lei^ithened out to the utmost limits asagSBd ibs divine Providence. He who takes a mBa*s life away befbr* his time^ay be the raunterer of his soul as well as of his body. 'Hterefore the severest laws sbouU be cnseted against thi^ both to punish and prevent the eiirae.
iito Moaoio eittee nf rffage have, in Keoeral, be«i eonndered not merely as civil institutionsi but ss types or r«- presenlationB of infinitely better tbin^ t and in this light St. Paul seems to have eonaidered itwm and ibe altar of Ood, which was a place of general r^fkge, as it is pretty evident that he haa them in view when writing the foflowiiu words; "Ood, willing more abundantly to tbow unto the heira of promiae the unmutability of hia oouimbI, confirmed it by an oath [ (hot 1^ two immutable (his oath and vromUe,) in which it was impossible (or God to lie, we mignt have a strong eonsolation who have vud roa Bsrcai to lay holo upon the hofs set beGm vm," Hebi vi. 17, 18. Independently of this, it was a very wtos political- institute; ana while ibe patriarchal law oo ifaia point continued in force, this taw had a direct tendency lo cool and moderate the ntirit of revenge, to secure the proper accomplishment of the ends of Jiutiee, and to make way for every claim of merey and eguiiy. But ihia is not peculiar to the ordinance of me eitiee iff r^kgei tvtrj institution of God is disthigutriwd in the ssiae mji having his own glory, in the preoent end eternal welfare of immediately in view.
NOTES ON CHAPTER XXXVL Verse2. To gtwAeinheritana^ZilaMa hie daugktere] See dlis ease spiAen of at wrge oa dtap^
Bither the first eleven verses of chap, zzvii. dwaM eon* in before this chapter or this chapter shwld come hi Inmediately after those eleven verses; they certainly boch make parts of the same subject
Here Hoses determines that hetresses should marry ia their own bribe, that no part of the ancient inhcntaaes mi^ be aliensled from 1M origiud frunily.
4 And when ■ the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whcreunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fhthers.
5 ^ And Moses commanded the children of Israel accordine to the word of the Loro, saying, The tribe of nie sons of Joseph * hath said well.
6 Thi8-i« (he thin? which the Lonn doth oommand concerning^ the daughters of Zelophehad, saying. Let them ' marry to whom they think beat; " only to the family of the tribe of their fathers shall they marry.
7 So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall "keep "him- «lf to the inheritance of the tribe of his fiitfaers.
8 And f every daughter, ibet possesseth an
Vtm f. JLa Aim many to wfton tluy &mk beat] Hen wma tuitade •nffieiMit, and jet k vaiotarj ud rauODsble ratraint; which pmrenicd a ▼exUioue mixture of praurly ajKlpoueMioo.
Vtno 8. Every daughter that poa$n»etk on ix/urit' anct] Ib'm law affected nooe but htinmit; all othera «0re at Hber^ to marry into out of the other tribes. The piieato and Levlte^ wfao could nan no infaeritane^ were exempt from the operation of this lav. Jehoiada had the kmff (rf Judah'sdai^tter 10 wif^ 2 Chrcn. xzu. IL Ani anotliar priest had nr wife one of the daughura of BarxOai the Giltadiit, Exra ii. 61. "By reaaon of auch aarriagaa," am Hr. ^nrorth, " there nigtM be kiadied bttweaa Elisabeth, the aiotfaer of Jokm the B^^ist, who was sf tba dnwfaten of Aartm, and Mary the Virgin, the mother ofenr Lord, who was of the lineage of David, and tciba of Jadah." Lake i. 5, 36. iii. 23—31.
Veree 11. JHUUa*, 7\nMA, dto.] For a eurioos aeeouot of dieee samee, eee ifae notes on ehapt xxvii. 7.
Verse 12. AndUiMrmlUrUatuxTMaiaedin — the/amitff] " By diia example, and the law of infaeritmkcea-m the hafy land the people of <3ed," gays Aineworth, "are taagfat w DoU met ibeir iaheritanoe in hia prontMe, and their ri^ in ChriaL iriiieh they hoSd by fnlh; that as the Father ludi made them meet to be sarukere tn the tnheritanee amonr the aunie in light, Coloe. i. 12. eo they may keep the bith end grace which they have received, to the end."
ende the book of Kumbare, contniniiiK a seriee of •slaniAiDg pnvideacee and erenls. Soareely any piece of hietory in the Sacred Writings ie bett» nlculated to inpceea cbe mind of a serioue reauler with a aeoae of the foodneaa and severity of God. In every transaction, hie bojiaesi and justice appear, in closest union with his benevolence and mercy. From such a Being, what have the wicked not to fear!-^rom such a J>\iiher and.FHtmd, what have the upright tM to hope I USh Jtutux retpiires hsn to pnoiah imquity; but hie nurcy ineiines him to pardan all who tiwly repent and believe in the Son of his love.
The journeyings of this people, from the time they left Egypt, exhibit a series of provitunHal woiuUra. Every mire, and in every circumttance, Qod appears; and yet there is no eiratnutanoe or oecamam, that does not justify those >i|^ displays (rf htsfluos and hia jusncs. The miaine history of Qod'a providenee must be aou^tt for in una book alone i and as every aeeurrenee hospened as an example; we have authority to conclude^ inat in every case^ irtiare hia own glory and die salvation of man are interested, he will interfere and give the fullest proofs that be ie the same to-day that he was vetterday; and will continue unchaogeabte for ever and ever. Reader, are these nmttera eiuamplet to theef Art tlum, like the Israelites, come into the plains of Moab, on the vary verge of the Promistd Land 7 Jordan alone separates diee from the promised inheritance. O watch and Pray, that thou ceme not short of the glory of Ood. The last enemy that shall be'destroyed is Deaui — see, ihen, that the sling of death, whidi. is sir, be extracted from thy soul, that being jostified by bis bla<< thou nurest be made an heir a£- eording to the hope of an eternal lift. Amen. Amon.
inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family nf the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.
0 Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of ^e tribes of the children of lerael shaft keep himself to his own inheritance.
10 If Even as the Lord commanded Moses, BO did the daughters of Zelophehad:
11 iFor Mahlah, Tn>zah, and Htelah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons:
13 And they were married ' into the &miUes of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
13 These are the * commandments and the iud^ents, which the Loan commanded by the hand of Mosea unto the children of Israel t in the plainiB of Moi^, by Jordan, near Jericho.
and (here will I plead with you ftiee to bee. Like as I frieaded with your fiubcrs in the wiLMBMsae af the land of Egypt. And I will omae you to paae under Ae ro^ andbringyottiotodiebgniof dwoomasL" bdc. u.
" He (C^st) is the Mediator <a (be Now Testament, that by means of deadi, for die redempti<m of the transgresskms that toers under the &«l TaeMuneni, they wbieh are called might receive the prsmfie of eternal iidierit-
SECTIONS of die Book of Niunben, oarried 00 tvm Levrtjcm, which ended with the nuarYTBiBn.
Hasobstic Natea oo Nnmnna.
Tbft number of veraes in this book is 1,28^ of whiA T\trM is the tyoAxA: for m alaph stands for 1(W^ *i r«h for 200, a phe, for 80, and n ditth for a
Tile muUii* verte is the 20th of chap. xvii. Atui the man'a rod v^wm I ahalt chooM, sAoU wo««om.-— {N. B. In our Engli^ Bibles diii is ver. fi. of chap, xvii.)
Its portthiaih, or laiger sectioni, are IC^ expressed fay the letters of the word -ns badad, alone. — TTie Lord ALOHx did Uad him, Dtuu xxxii. 12. — i daleih stands for 4, repealed here, and a beth for 2.
Its »edarim, or Ifaeoretic secitons, are 32, expressed 1^ the word si leb, heart. Psal. IL 12. Crsofo <n ms a eiean HBABT, O Ood; ill which word, a belA stands for 2, and V lamed for 30.
lis thapttra are 36, expressed by the word ^S hi, O! DeuL xxxiL 29> O thai they were iciael in which word, iamed stands for 30, and ^ van for 6.
The number of its open eectiona is 92; its doae or sAuf •eefions^ 66; together 168; expressed in the memorial w(nxl'lF'"cAefoibca,/a«i AyfOBTunrt in which word, p koph Btaada for 100, ^ lamad forV>,3 tapk for 20; and n dUlA for 8.
Kto an upright Jew ibey were at much consequence, e very technical words used in siich cases, put him always in mind of something in which the glory of Ood, and the happiness and salvation of Ua own soul, wen concerned.— See the note at the end of Genesis, and see the concluding notes on the Bode of Deutenmomy.
WE haye borrowed the name of thia book, as ia former caoei, from the Vulgate LaJtSU) Dmtmmommmm, &• the Vulgate has dooe from the Greek veraion of the Septuaeint aiuTi(<«*>»*i>, which ia a eoouMund term htonUr ■ignifying, the teeond law, because it seema to contain a rejptiilum of the precading law% from which eireumatmm it has been termed bv the rabmni ravo muhneh, the iieratum or doubling.
It^maritbat both Jheae names axe borrowed from chap. xvii. 18. where the king Is commanded to write him a copy of this law, the original is rrann rum mithneh ka-lorah, a repetition, or dm^ling <tf the law i which the Septuagmt have translated ts lisnf Oiit tecond law; vrhich wt, properly enottgh, translate a copy iff tke law: bat in Hebrew, like the preceding books, it takes its name from its commencement D<^3^ rhn bllbh HA^KSAa—ii, thet art tiu words; and in the best rabbinical Bibles, its running title is omn skphxb bbbakmh, Ih* book ^ debareem, or the book qf the vordt. Our Saxon ancesiors terated it beo wfcen a, the after Ime.
The book of Deuteronomy contains an account of what passed in the wilderness from the^raf day of the etevtitA mmitk of the fortieth year after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, to eevenlh day of the twelfth month of ■be same; making, in the whole, a history of the transactions of exactly imoA*, the months of the Jews being lunar.
history is continued about seven daya after the death of Hoses i for he beoan to deliver his first diacotirae to the people in the plains of Moab, the ^tt day of the eUaenA month of the fofHetk year, chap. i. 3. and died on the Jbtt dmy of the month of the same year, aged 120 years.
As the laraelitea were now about to enter into the promised land, and many of them had not wibnessed the diflerent transaciiona in the wilderneaa, the former generation having been all destroyed, except Joduiaand Caleb; to impreea ^ir heuts with a deep sense of their obtigation to Qod, and to prepare thcun for the inheritance whic^ God had prepared for them, Hoses here repeaU the principal occurrences of^ the for^ yeara^ now almost elapsed — ahows them the afeaolutt ntessai^ of fearingj loving, and obeying God— repeals tlw ten eommandmenie, and particularly explaiBa each, and the ordinances beknuing to uiem, addii^ others which he had not delivered before — confirms the vboie law in a moat solemn manner, with exceeding great and precious promises to them that keep it; and a denunciation of the most awful judgments i^inst those who should break it — renews the covenant between Ood and the people — i»ODfaesiea of things which should come to pass in the latter days — blesses each of the tribes, prophetically, with the (»o(cest spiritual and temporal blessings; and then, having viewed the whole extent of the land, from the top of mount N^o^ or Ptegah, he yielded up the ghost, and was privately buried by God, leaving Joshua the son of Nun, for bia sacoeaor.
The book of Deuteronomy and the Epistle to the Hebrews contain the beat comment on the nature, dwign, and naa of the taw: the former may be considered as an evangelical commentary on the four preceding booka, in w4udi ihe spiritual reference and signification of the diiEerent parts of the law are given, wid given in such a manner, as nooe could give, who had not a clear discovery of the glo^ whidi was to be revealed. It may be safely asserted, dwt very few parte of the Old Testament Scripouei can be read with greater profit ty the genuine Christian Aan the book at DetUeronomy.
The conienla of the different chapters ra^ be thna briefly summed up.
On the firat day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, after the departure from Egypt, the laraelites being Chen on the eoat aide of Jordan, in the land of the Moabites, Hoses gives them a brief reoapitulation of what took paioe in the wilderness, from their leaving mount Horeb, till they came to KadsJi. — Chap. 1.
Their travels from Kadesh till Uiey came to the country of the Amoritas, with the delieai of Sibon dteir kil^^— Chap. ii.
The war with 0<^ king of BiUMui, with iha dividing his land and that of Sihon, among the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe ofHanaBseh.— Chap. iii.
Hoses exhorts them to observe the divine precepts — threatens those who should violate them— end ^>points Boer, Ramoth, and Golan, to be the cities of refuge on the east side Of Jordan. — Chap. iv.
Repeats the decalogue, and t«lla ihe people what efieot the pntdieation cilitmd OD dwir bdier^ iriwB Qod apohetothem from the mmint. — Chap. v.
EdMrts them to love God with all their heart, and promises dwrnwdmndanoe of good thinpL—ChaptVi.
Repeats the command to exterminate the Canaanitea, and all vestiges oir their jdolatry. — Chuk. vii.
Recites the many interpositions of God's kindnen, vdueh they had reeaived during their forty yeara travel in the wilderness, and strongly exhorts them to remember tboae meniei^ aad not to forfeit a eontmnanee of his farau^ hj ingratitude and disob«lience. — Chap. viii.
Shows them that (hey were to pass Jordan in a short time t and that Qod was about to bring them in, not oo aeeoont of their goodness, but of his mercy,— Chap. ix.
Gives an account of the second tables of the law, which he made at the command of God — mentiona dieir joniney from Beeroth to Jotbath, the choosing of the Levito^ and the neeessily itf having the heart dreumeised. — Cbap. z.
Ccmtinues an account of Ood's mighty acts in their bdial^ and shows the bteseinga which should come on ihem who kept his law, and the ritroe on those who were disobedienL — ^The blessings to be pronounced on mcsint Oerixrim, aad the curses on mount Ebal. — Chap. xi.
Commands them to destroy all monuments of idolatry in the land — to offer the diflerent offerings and saoriflcea, and to avoid eating of blood. — CfiKp. xii.
Forbids their cutting themselves at fanwals) reca^tulatea the »w oeooeming eleao and undeao animals^ and eidurta then to remember the Lsvites. — Chap. ziv. Every seventh year shall be a year of release for the poor — of usury — first-bom, Ac — Chap. xv.
Concerning the annual feasts, paan-ovcr, pentecost, and tabernacles, — (he eatuHsliment of ju^es and offieera — no groves to be planted near the altar of God.—Chap. xvi.
Idolaters are to be put to death — difficult oases in equity to be referred to the superior judges — of a king and hi* dutieau— Chap. xvii.
All divhiation is prohibited. — The grand promise of an ErniAonnnAn Paomr. — How fidoa pmpheta ate to ba distingnisbed. — Chap, zviii.
1^ laws lelativa to Ihe dties of refuge; and how the intentional mnrderar is to batnBted.—C^ nx. _L*we relative to the carrying on of war— who should be sent back from the army — how thety ere to treat the CUBauiitas; and bow they an to commenc* negas. — Chap. xx.
How to make expiation for an uneert^ morder — maniagM with capdTei — righta of the firtt-born, Ajo. — Chap. xxL
"Riingt lou or Mnyed are lo be reitored to (heir ri^t ownen — men and women muit not interchange I4>parel— iauMoper mixtures to he avoided — of the tokeni of vicinity — edulteren and adultereaaea to be put to death. — Cftuut. xxii.
Euwdti^ faastarde, Hoabitea and Anunonitei, ore not to be permitted to enter into the congregation of the Lord.— • Harlota not to be tolerated.— Chop, xxiii.
Lawa relative to divorce— pririlegea of the newly mairied man— eoneeming pledges, wagea, gleaninge, Ac — Chap, xjtiv.
More than fort; stiipea ihall not be given — if a man die ohikUeai, hit brother iball take hia wife — of weighta, meaaurea, Ac.— Ch«>. ixv.
Different ceremoniea to be used in offering the firat-fruita — lidwa: ol ta\l aelf-eonaecration lo God. — Chap. xxvi.
The wonb of the law to be written on atMiea, and to be aet' up on mount Ebal. — The tribea which aiana on mount Gnizdm to Idea the obedient; and thoae which ahould atand on mount Ebal to curae the diaobedient — Who they an dial ore to be euraed. — Chap, xzvii.
1^ bifsaingfl of thoae who are bilhful — earaaa a^inat the diaobedienL — Chap, xzviii.
A reeital of the covenant of Ood, made not only with them, but for their poat«rity. — Chap. xxix.
Promiaea <rf pardon to the penitent — good and evil, life and de&ih, are set before (hem. — Chap. xxx.
Moaea being now 120 yeara oI<^ deliven a copy of the law, which he had written, into the handa of the prieabi^ to be Ud Qp in the art and to be pubUely read every aeventhyeor — a charge ii given to Joehua. — Chap. xxzi.
The piophetioal ud hialorieal aonigof Moaea be iacommondedtogoup to mount Nebo that he may aee the Promiaed Land. — Chop. xxxiL
TTie prows^ioal hlnaaing of the twelve tribea. — The indeaeribahle hapi^neaa (rflerael. — Chap, zzxiii. - Moaea vtewathe luromlnd land bom the of mount Nebo^ diea, and iaprivately buried by thelxtrd. — The laraelicaa notmt fcr bim ihUty dayn— Jodma takes the eommand of tot people. — Tm character of Hoses. — CStap. xxziv.
Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain
2 {There are eleven days' journey from Horeb the wa:^ of mount Seir <* unto Kaaesh-barnea.)
3 And It came to pass 'in the fortieth year, in the eleventh montn, on the first day of the month, thai Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Loud had given him in commandment uoto them;
4 AfUr he had slain Sihon the kioe of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, ana Of the