Exposition of the Whole Bible

will be, and then it will be reftored to its former fruitfulnefs and fertility, Luke xxi. 24. Ezek. xxxiv. 25, 26,27. and will be inhabited by the converted Fews, to whom the Lord will be pacified, upon the foot of Chrift’s atonement, which now will be made known and applied untothem, withthe full and free pardon of al] their fins, Rom. xi. 25, 26,27. and thus ends this moit excellent and wonderful fong, which is of fuch a large extent and compafs, as to reach from the beginning of the Fewi/h nation, and before it, to the converfion of the Yews in the latter day;-an hiftory of more than four thoufand years already; and how long more is yet to come before all in it is fulfilled, no man of the law, and the above fong, which was the feventh of Adar or February; according to the Targum of onathan, the day he died on; according to the Egyptian calender’, it was the 16th of that month, fee ch. xxxiv. 5: /aying; as follows. 9.49. Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, &c.] Which was near in fight, and pointed at; it was a range of mountains, of which fee Numd. Xxi. 11. and xxvii, 12. and xxxiii. 47. unto mount Nebo; which was one of the mountains of Abarinz, and had its name either from its height, or a city of this name, to which it was near, fee Numb. Xxxii. 38. Ferom fays”, in his days it was fhewn fix miles from Hefhbom to the eaft; it fhould be can fay. 3 read to the weft: which is in the land of Moab, it

¥. 44. And Mofes came, &c.] To the people, as the Greek verfion, the heads of the people being gathered together according to his order, ch. xxxi. 28. The Targum of Fonathan fays, he came from the tabernacle, the houfe of inftruction: and all the words of this fong in the ears of the people; which is obferved both before and after the reading ‘of it, to fhew the certainty of it, and how punctually and faithfully he had delivered it: be, and Hofhea the fon of Nun; the fame with Fo/bua, whofe name at firft was Hofbea, Numb. xiii. 16. probably Fofoua read the fong to one part of the people, formerly belonged to it, but was taken. from the AZoabites by Sibon, and now poffefled by J/rael: ¢hat is over-againft Fericho; which lay on the other fide of Fordan, in the land of Canaan: and behold pake| the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of T/rael for a poffefion; which he might take a view of from the high mountain of Nebo, efpecially his fight being ftrengthened by the Lord, as no doubt it was; and this would give him a pleafure to behold, though he might not go into it, and confirm his faith, that J/rael would poffefs it, as well as be an eanblem to him of the heavenly Canaan, whilft Mo/es read it to the other. he was going to inherit.

¥. 45. And Mofes made an end of {peaking all thefe words to all Ijrael.| Finifhed all he had to fay to them from the Lord, whether by way of precept, moral, civil and ceremonial, or in the

¥. 50. And die in the mount whither thou goeft #p, &c.] Immediately after having taken a view of the land, expect to die, prepare for it, and willingly and chearfully fubmit to it: and be gathered unto thy people; to the fpirits of juft men made

¥.46. And he faid unto them, &c.] By way of perfect in heaven, his more immediate and more exhortation: fet your hearts to all the words which J teftify among you this day; it was not enough to hear them,, but they were to lay them up in their hearts, and retain them in their memories; and not only fo, but revolve them in their minds, and clofely apply to the confideration of them, and get the true knowledge and fenfe of them, and put it in practice: which ye foall command your children to obferve to do, all the words of this law; which fhows, that the exhortation does not refpect the fong only, but the whole law delivered in this book; which they were not only to attend to themfelves, but to tranfmit to their children, and enjoin them the obfervance of, that fo religion might ~be perpetuated in their pofterity._ ¥.47. For itis not a vain thing for you, &c.} That is, the law is not, and the obfervance of it in them and their children; it was no light and trifling matter, but of great importance and confequence, obedience to it being attended with rewards, and difobedience with punifhment; decaufe it is your life; if obeyed, the means.of a comfortable and happy life, in the enjoyment of all good things, of the prefervation and continuance of it.to.a length of time; and long life was always reckoned a great temporal mercy: prolong your days ia the land whither you go over Fordan to poffe/s it; that is, through their obedience to the law they fhould live long in the land of Canaan, which they were juft going to pofiels; which explains what is meant by its being their life; their comfortable living, and continuance in the land depended on their obedience to the law 5 Numb.

Jame day, &c.] On which he finifhed the reading does No/dius ‘ he faw, it at a diftance, remote anceftors, the fouls of good men; for otherwife there were none that died, and were buried here before him, and therefore can have no re- {pect to the burying-place of his people: as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto bis people, of which Mo/es was an eye-witnels; and which is obferved, becaufe there was a great likenefs between the death of him, and what Mofes was now called to, both as to the place and manner of it; and likewife the caufe of it, after mentioned; as alfo to make death more eafy and familiar, and lefs terrible to him, when he called to mind how calmly, chearfully and comfortably his brother Aaron died; fee Numb. xxvi, 25—29.

¥. 51. Becauje ye tre/paffed againft me among the children of Ifrael, &c.| By their unbelief, doubting whether God would give water or no to fuch a rebellious people, and by giving way to paffion and wrathful expreffions: and this was done af tbe waters of Meribab-kadefb, fo called, to diftinguifh it from another Meribah, where alfo there was a contention on account of water: in the wilderne/s of Zin; where Kade/h was, and further defcribes and diftinguifhes the place; of the one we read in Exod. xvii. 7. and of the other, which is here reand through this thing ye foall\terred to, in Numb. xx. 1, 13. becaufe ye fanitified me not in the midft of the children of I/rael; thro” their unbelief and difagreeable behaviour, they fanétified him not themfelves, and gave no honour to him, nor were the caufe of his being fanctified by the J/raelites; and this was the reafon why Mo/es and Aaron might not enter into the land of Cazaan, XX. 12. and xxvii. 12, 13, 14.

52. Yet thou fhalt fee the land before thee,

Jpake unto Mofes the felf- &c.] Which Farchi interprets afar off; and fo

Teftament-faints faw the things promifed afar and were perfuaded of them, though they did not enjoy them, Hed. xi. 13: but thou foalt not go tbither unto the land which 1 give the children of Irael; the land of Canaan was a gift of God to J/rae/, into off,jwhich they were not to be introduced by Mo/es, but by Fo/bua; fignifying that eternal life, or the heavenly Canaan, is the git of God through Chrift, \the antitype of Fofhua, and not to be obtained by the works of the law.

ees chaptet felates the bleffings Mg/és pronounced upon the people of J/rael a little before his death; firft in general, on account of their having a law given them in fo glorious a ‘* and the brightnefs of the glory of his Shekinab ‘* went from Gebal:” he fhined forth from mount Param; in which the metaphor of the fun rifing is continued, and as expreffive of its increafing light manner, ¥. 1—5. then in particular, the feveral tribes diftinétly are bleffed, Reuben, ¥. 6. Fudab, ¥.7, Levi, ¥.8—11. Benjamin, y. 12. Fofeph, y. 13—17. Zebulun and Iffachar, ¥. 18,19, Gad, ¥. 20, 21. Dan, ¥. 22. Naphtali, ¥. 23. Aber, ¥. 24, 25. and the chapter is concluded with fome ftrong intimations of what God was unto the people of J/rael in general, and of what he had done and would do for them; all which are expreffive of their great happinefs, ¥. 26—29.

_y. 1. And this is the blefing wherewith Mofes the the man of God bleffed the children of Ifrael before bis death.| Namely, what is related in the following verfes, this being the general title to the and fplendor: near to this mount was a wildernefs of the fame name, through which the children of Tfrael travelled, and where the Lord appeared to them: here the cloud refted when they removed from Sinai; here or near it, the Spirit of the Lord was given to the feventy elders, and from hence the fpies were fent into the land of Canaan, Numb. x. 12, and xi. 24. and xii. 16. and xiii. 3. in this wildernefs J/bmael and his pofterity dwelt, Gen. xxi. 21. but it was not to them the Lord fhone forth here, as fay the above Fewi/h writers, and others *; but to the J/raelites, for here Mo/es repeated the law, or delivered to them what is contained in the book - of Deuteronomy, fee ch. i. 1. befide, in a literal fenfe, as thefe mountains were very near one an- chapter: Mojfes is called the man of God, being raifed up of God, and eminently qualified by him with gifts for the work he was called unto, and by whom he was infpired to fay what is after ex= preffed: it isa title given to prophets, 1 Sam. ix. 6,7, 8. and fo Onkelos here paraphrafes it, ‘‘ “¢ the prophet of the Lord,” and Aben Ezra obferves, that this is faid to fhew that he bleffed J rael by a fpirit of prophecy, and which he did little before his death, when very near it; the fame writer fays, on the very day of his death.

y. 2. And he faid, &c.] What follows, ofj19, Heb. which, in fome things, he was an eye and ear-witnefs, and in others was infpired by theSpirit of God, to deliver his mind and will concerning the future cafe and ftate of the feveral tribes, after he obferved the common benefit and bleffing they enjoyed, by having fuch.a law given them in the manner it was: the Lord came from Sinai, there he firft appeared to Mo/es, and fent him to Egypt, and other, as Saadiab Gaon obferves, the great light which fhone on mount Sinai when the Lord defcended on it, might extend to the other mountains and illuminate them, fee Had. iii. 3. and be came with ten thoufands of faints; or holy angels, Mofesjas the Targums of Onkelos and Fonathan, and fo’ Farchi; which fenfe is confirmed by the authorities |of Stephen the protomartyr, and the apoftle Paul, ajwho fpeak of the law as given by the difpofition and asjof angels, they being prefent, attending: and affifting on that folemn occafion, és vii. 57. Gal. iii. ii. 2. fee P/. Ixviii. 17. the appearance of thofe holy fpirits in fuch great numbers added” to the grandeur and folemnity of the giving of the’ |holy law to the people of J/rac/, as the attendance hadjof the fame on Chrift at his fecond coming will alljadd to the luftre and glory of it, Luke ix. 26. 2 Thef. i. 7, 8. from bis right hand went a fiery law for them; the Ijraelites; Aben Ezra thinks, the. phrafe is right band, is in connexion with the pre- wrought miracles by him, and delivered his people J/rael from thence, and when they were come to this mount he came down om it, as Aden Ezra, from Gaon, or he came fo it; fo to Zion, Jf, lix. 20. is out of or from Zion, Rom. xi. 26. here he appeared and gave the law, and from thence went ceding claufe; and the fenfe is, that fire came from the law, thoufands of faints were at the right hand of God to furround J/rae/, as the horfes of fire and chariots of fire furrounded Elifba; and the’ meaning of the laft words, a law for them, a law which ftands or abides continually; and fo the Sep- with J/rae/ through the wildernefs, and conducted them to the land of Canaan: and rofe up from Seir tuagint verfion is, * at his right hand angels with ** him

:” no doubt, that law is meant which came unto them; not to the Edomites which inhabited!from God on mount Sinai, by. the miniftration of

Seir, as fay Farchi, and the Targums of Fonathan and Ferufalem, but to the [/raelites when they compaffed the land of Edom, and the Lord was with them, and gave them fome fignal proofs of his power and providence, kindnefs and goodnefs to them; particularly, as fome obferve, by appointing a brazen ferpent to be ereéted for the cure of thofe bitten by fiery ones, which was a type of the glo- angels into the hand of Mo/és; called a fiery law, becaufe. it was given out of the midit of the fire, ch. v. 26. fo the Targum of Onkelos, ‘* the writing. “of his right hand out of the midft of fire, the “* Jaw he gave unto us;” and becaufe of its effeéts on the confciences of men, where it pierces and penetrates like fire, and works a fenfe of wrath and fiery indignation in them, by reafon of the rious redeemer and Saviour, and this was done on the borders of Edom, fee Numb. xxi. 4, 8. words here denote fome illuftrious appearance of the Lord, like that of the rifing fun; fo the Zargum of Onkelos, “* the brightnels of his glory from ‘© Seir was fhewn unto us;” and that of Youathan, (tranfgreffions of it, it being the miniftration of for the condemnation and death on that account; and becaufe of its ufe, it ferves as a lanthern to the feet, and a light to the path of good men: this law may include the judicial and ceremonial laws given at this time; but it chiefly refpeéts the moral law, and which may be faid to come from God, who, as creator, has a right to be governor of his creature, and to enact what laws he pleafes, and from his right hand in allufion to men’s writing with their right hand, this being written by the finger of God; and becaufe a peculiar gift of his to the Tfrachtes, gifts being given by the right hand of men; and may denote the authority and power with which this law came inforced; and Chrift feems to be the perfon from whofe right hand it came; fee Pf. ixvili. 17, 18. Ads vii. 38.

¥. 3. Yea, beloved the people, &c.] The people of Jrael, of which his giving the law to them in fuch a glorious manner was an inftance, and was a diftinguifhing blefling which other nations were not favoured with, fee ch. iv. 6, 8. Pf cxlvii, 19, 20. Rom. ix. 4. how much more is the love ot God fhewn to his fpiritual J/rael and {pecial people, by giving them his gofpel, the precious truths, promiles, and ordinancés of it; and above all, in giving them his fon to be the redeemer and Saviour of them, as revealed therein! thefe he embraces in his arms and in his bofom, as the word here fignifies; admitting them to great nearnefs and familiarity with him, to commune with Father, Son, and Spirit, to a participation of all the. bleffings of grace here, and to the enjoyment of glory hereafter: all bis faints are in-thy band, not the fons of Levi, who were round about the ark, as Aben Ezra interprets it; rather all the people of Tfrael, who were chofen to be an holy people to the Lord above all people, and who were the care of his providence, protected by his power, and guided with his right hand s and were in a wonderful manner kept and preferved by him, both at the time of the giving of the law, and in their paflage through the wildernefs: it is eminently true of the chofen people of God, who are given to Chrift, and made his care and charge, as all fuch who are fanctified and fet apart by God the Father are, they are preferved in Chrift, Fud. y. i. and thefe are fanctified in and by Chrift, and by pleafure and delight, and. where they Continue and abide; and which may denote’ their modefty and humility, their fubjection to his ordinances, and readinefs to receive his doétrines, and their perfeverance in them, fee Mark v. 15. Luke x. 309. Cant. ii, 3. the word fignifies in the Arabic language, to fit down at a table *, and fo the word is ufed in the 4rabic verfion of Matthew, vill, 11. Luke xi.. 372 and the antient manner being reclining, the guefts might be faid to fit at the feet of each, efpecially at the feet of the mafter; fo Chrift fits at his table and his people with him at his feet, Cat. i. 12. every one fail receive of thy words; of the words of the law, as the J/- raelites, who heard them and promifed obedience to them, Ewod. xxiv..7. and would hear and receive them again, Fo/P. viii. 34, 35. and fo Chrift’s difciples every one of them, that hath heard and learned of the father, and comes to him, and believes in him, receives the words or doétrines given him by the father, Fobn xvii. 8. fo as to underftand them, approve of them, love them, believe them, and act according to them; thefe they receive into their hearts as well as'into their heads, with all readinefs, gladnefs, and meeknefs; even every one of the perfons before defcribed or loved by the Lord, are in the hands of Chrift and fitting at his feet.

¥. 4. Mofes commanded usa law, &c} The law was. of God, it came forth from his right hand, ¥. 2. it is of his enacting, a declaration of his will, and has his authority enftamped upon it, who is the lawgiver, and which lays under obligation to regard it; but it was delivered to Mojes and by him to the children of J/rae/, on whom he urged obedience to it; and fo it is faid to come by him, and fometimes is called the law of Mo/es, ithe inberitance of the congregation of Jacob; which either defcribes the perfons who were commanded to keep the law, the tribes of Yacod or congregation of [/rael, who were the Lord’s people, portion, the Spirit of Chrift, and fo may be truly called his faints; and they are in the hands of Chrift, as dear to him as his right hand, highly valued by him, held in his right.hand;

down at thy feet; which may refpect the pofition of the J/raelites at the bottom of mount Sinai, while the law was giving, which may be faid to be feet of the Lord, he.being on the top of the mount, fee Exod. xix. 17, 18. and xxiv. the Targums interpret it, of the feet of the of glory, they pitching their tents where that refted, Numb. ix. 17, 18. fome think, it an allufion to {cholars fitting at the feet of their mafters to receive inftruétions from them, fee ads xxil. 3. the difciples and followers of Chrift fic at his feet, attending on his word and ordinances with calm-' nefs and ferenity of mind, with much ipiritualy and inheritance, ch. xxxii. g. or the law commanded, which was to be valued, not only as a peculiar treafure, but to be confidered as a pofiefthey are in his pof-jfion, an eftate, an inheritance, to be continued among them, and to be tran{mitted to their pofteguidance rity, tee P/. cxix 111. thefe are the words of the people of J/rael, and therefore are thus prefaced in the. Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem, * the children ** of [/rael faid, Mofes commanded, &e,” they were perfonated by Mo/es. Hees | | feffion, are his peculiar people, portion, and inheritance, they are at his difpofe, under his and dire&tion; and are in his cuflody and under his protection, and where they are fafe from every, enemy, and can never be finatched, taken, or removed from thence; fee John x. 28, 29. here they! are put by the father, as an inftance of his love to them, and care of them, tho’ not without the confent and defire of the fon, and this was done in eternity when they were chofen in him:

y. 5. And he was king in Fefourun, 8ec.} That is, in J/rael, or over the people of Iracl, of which name of theirs, fee the note on ch, xxxii. 15. eiand they Sat ther God, as farchi; for the government of the I/raelites was a theocracy, and their laws were immediately from God, and by him they were guided the!and directed in all things; wherefore when they were fo importunate for a change in their governro, all ment, and to have a king over them, they are faid cloud to reject the Lord, that he fhould not reign over them, 1 Sam, vill. 7. or Mofes, as Aben Ezra on the place, Maimonides‘ and others *; who, under God, had. the civil government of the Hebrews; fo both may be received, God was the fupreme governor, and Mojfes the chief magiftrate under him: when the beads of Ifrael and the bribes of the people weere gathered together; at mount Sizai, to hear Se he fhall return and appear to them that look for him, a fecond time, without fin unto falvation: let law there and then given, or to hear it repeated by Mofes, as in this book of Deuteronomy, who were at different times convened together for that purpofe, fee ch. i. 1. and v. 1. next follow the particular bleffings of the feveral tribes, beginning with Reuben the firft-born.

y. 6. Let Reuben live and not die, &c.] As a tribe, continue and not be extinét, though they fhould not excel becaufe of the fin of their progenitor; and it may have a fpecial regard to the prefervation of them, of their families on the other fide Fordan, whilft they pafled over it with their brethren into Cazaan, and of them in that expedition to help the other tribes in the conqueft of the country and the fettlement of them in it; which Facob by a fpirit of prophecy forefaw, and in a prayer of faith petitioned for their fafety: all the three Targums refer the words to a future ftate, as a wifh for them, that they might live and enjoy an eternal life, and not die the death of the wicked in the world to come; +and which they call the fecond death, and from whom the apoftle Yon feems to have borrowed the phrafe, Rev. ii, 14. and xx. 6. and xxi. 8. Reuben fignifies, fee the fon, and all that fee the fon of God in a fpiritual manner, and believe in him with a true faith, as they live fpiritually now, fhall live eternally hereafter, and never die the fecond or eternal death; on them that fhall have no power, fee Fobu vi. 40. and let not his men be few; or, though his men be few, as bifhop Patrick chufes to render the words, and as they will bear, } va# being fometimes fo ufed, of which Noldius ® gives inftances; and the number of men in this tribe were but few in comparifon- of fome others; and fo thofe that fee the fon of God and believe in him are but a {mall number; for all men have not faith.

¥. 7. And this is the blefling of Fudah, &c.) Which follows; the fame fupplement of the words is made in the Targums of ‘fonathan and Ferufalem; but Aen Ezra thinks, it refers to what goes before, that this, the fame thing prayed for or prophefied of Reuben, belongs alfo to Fudab, that he fhould live and not die; it may be in the -wars in which that tribe would be and was engaged: and be faid, hear Lord, the voice of Fudah; in prayer, as all the Yargums paraphrafe it, which was eminently fulfilled in David, Afa, Fehofbaphat, Heze kiah, and‘ other kings, which were of this tribe; who, when in diftrefs, lifted up their voice in prayer to God, and were heard and delivered, as the Lord’s people in all ages are: Fudab fignifies profefling, confeffing, praifing, €c. this tribe was both a praying and praifing people, as all good men be; they profefs the name of the Lord, and their faith in him; they confefs their fins and unworthinefs; they praife the Lord for his mercies, temporal and fpiritual, and pray to him for what they want; and their voice is heard with pleafure bis hands be fufficient for him both to.work with, and provide for themfelves all the neceffaries of.

life, and to fight with theif enemies, and defend themfelves againft them;_ fo Chrift’s hands have been fufficient, or he has had a fufficiency of power and ftrength in his hands, to combat with and overcome all his and our enemies, to work out the falvation of his people, and to fupply all their wants: and be thou an belp to him from bis enemies; which this tribe often experienced in their wars with their enemies, being very warlike and courageous, fuccefsful and victorious, both before they had kings and in the feveral kings of their tribe, as David, Febofbaphat, and others; and was remarkably fulfilled in Chrift, whofe helper the Lord was as man and mediator, fee Jf 1. 7, 8, 9. and xlix. 8. no mention is made of Simeon, becaufe of the affair of Baal Peor, in which that tribe had a great concern, Numb. xxv. as Aben Ezra obferves; or becaufe, according to Facod’s prophecy, it was to be fcattered in J/rael; though the fame is alio faid of Levi, who yet is here bleffed; rather therefore the reafon is, becaufe Simeon had his inheritance in the midft of the tribe of Judah, and fo was bleffed in it, fee FofP. xix. i. thus the Yargum of Fonathan expreffes it here, ‘* and he joined in his portion and in his bleffing, ‘* Simeon his brother;” fome copies of the Septuagint verfion, as that in the king of Spain’s bible, make mention of him at the end of Rewben’s bleffing, ‘* and let Simeow be much.in number.”

¥. 8. And of Levi be faid, &c.] That is, Mofes faid of the tribe of Levi, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem: let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one; with Aaron, as the fame Targums interpret it, who was of the tribe of Levi, and was a holy good man, a faint of the Lord, as he is called, Pf cvi. 16. of the Urim and Thummim, Which were with him and with every highprieft, fee the note on Exod. xxviii. 30. and though they were not in ufe under the fecond temple, yet had their fulfilment in Chrift the antitype of 4a-. ron, who may be chiefly here intended; who is after called the Lord’s holy one, as he is, both as God and. man, holy in both his natures, divine and human, and in his life and actions; and with him are the true Urim and Thummim, lights and perfections, the light of nature, grace, and glory, and all perfeétions both divine and human; fee the note on the above place': whom thou didft prove at Mafjab, and with whom thou didft firive at the waters of Meribab, which, as it may refpect Aarom, may be underftood either of the Lord’s proving him and contending with him, by: fufferir the children of J/rae/ to murmur againft him and Mofes, at the faid places; when, according to the three Zargums, he ftood in the temptation, and was and an{wered: particularly Fudah was a type of perfect and found faithful; or of Levi, who with

Chrift, who was of this tribe, and whofe voice in prayer for his people, has been always heard: and bring him unto his people; in peace, often engaged in war, fo all the Tergums: and as it may refer to

Chrift his antitype, it may refpect his incarnation, 'fenfe is, that the Urim and Thummim fhould with the holy one, the Meffiah, whom thou O Lewh, them; and to his refurrection from the dead, he appeared to his difciples, to their great joy; and to the miniftry of the gofpel among the Gentiles, when to him was the gathering of the people; and when, with the reft of the tribes, tempted. and with at the places mentioned; for it is exp faid, they tempted the Lord, Exod. xvii. 7. which is interpreted of Chrift, 1 Cor. x. 9.

when he came to his own and was not received by will be further accomplifhed at the laft day, when the reft of the tribes, tried him, and ftrove with him at the fame places; though Yarchi fays, they did not murmur with the reft that murmured: as it may refer to Chrift the antitype of Levi, the

1 See a Sermon of mine on this text, called Levi's Urim and Thammim 4

- ¥. 9. Who faid unto bis father and to bis mother, I have not feen him, &c.| Which fome underftand of the high-priefts who were of this tribe, and according to the law were not to defile themfelves, or mourn for a father or mother, Lev. xxi. ri. or rather as others, of their having no refpect - to them in judgment, but determining all caufes that came before them, according to the law of God, and the rules of juftice and equity, in the moft impartial manner, without having any regard to the neareft relations to them: with this compare what Chrift the antitype of Levi fays, in Matt, xii. 49, 50. neither did be acknowledge bis brethren, nor knew bis own children; had no refpect to per- thoroughly: and of them that hate them that they rife not again; deltroying them with an utter deftruction, fo that they are not able to make any other efforts upon them; for fuch who are enemies to the priefts of the Lord, are enemies to him, and to true religion, enemies to God and Chrift, to the law and to the gofpel, to the word of God and to the ordinances of it, and therefore to be feverely handled and thoroughly punifhed: Chrift’s enemies fhall all be fubdued under him; fee P/. cx. I,

By" 9. y. 12. And of Benjamin be faid, &c.] The tribe of Benjamin, as the Zargums of Fonathan and Ferufalem; which is taken notice of next to Levi, befons in judgment, though ever fo nearly related: many reftrain this to the affair of the golden calf, when the tribe of Levi gathered together, girded their fwords on their thighs, and flew every man his brother, companion, and neighbour, guilty of that idolatry, Exod. xxxii. 26, 27. for they bave obferved thy word, and kept thy covenant, the law of God, {poken by him, and had the nature of a| covenant with the people of J/rae/: this the tribe of Levi obferved, not only what refpects the worfhip of God, and the contrary to it, idolatry, but all other moral and religious duties; Chrift fulfilled the whole law, and did always and things what pleafed the Lord, Fobn viii. 29.

caufe, as the priefthood was in the tribe of Levi, the temple in which the priefts officiated was in the tribe of Benjamin, or near it; and is obferved next but one to Judah, and before his elder brother Jo/epb, becaufe his tribe lay between, Fudab and Fofepb, For. xviii. 11. and Levi having no inheritance in the land: the beloved of the Lord hall dwell in fafety by bim; this is commonly underftood of the tribe of Bexjamin, beloved by the Lord, as the head of the tribe was by his father Facod; the firft king:of J/rael, being of that tribe, }and the temple built in it, or on the edge of it, alljand its land the moft fat and fertile of the land of Canaan, as Fofepbus ™ obferves; and may be faid to dwell by him, the Lord, becauie the tabernacle of the Lord was fo near that tribe, and fo to dwell in fafety under his protection, and which was the means of preferving it from apoftacy, when ten tribes revolted: though the Meffiah may be intended, the fon of God, and man of God’s right hand, the antitype of Benjamin, the beloved of the Lord, and dear fon of his love; his Benjamin, who is now in human nature exalted at his right hand: and this may denote his inhabitation in the feth, and dwelling by or near Benjamin, being born at Bethlehem in the tribe of udab, bordering on Benjamin, and frequently had his abode in Feru/a- /em, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Fo/b. xviii. 28. and where he was in fafety amidft his enemies they not having power to lay hold on him until was come: and the Lord fhall cover him all the day long, for ever, as Farchi notes, becaule, that after Jeru/alem was chofen, the divine majefty }dweltc in no other place: this may be under- {tood either of the Meffiah covering Benjamin and protecting him, as he is the covert of all his Benjamites and beloved ones, from all their enemies, from all evils and dangers, from all ftorms and andjtempefts, and every thing troublefome and diftreffing, fee J/- xxxii. 2. or the Lord’s covering his beloved one the Meffiah; as he did in his infancy, from the defigns of Herod upon his life, and from the attempts of others before his time was come; he hid him in the fhadow of his hand, J/ xlix. _ 2. and be fhall dwell between biz fooulders, either the Lord fhall dwell between the fhoulders of Benjamin; the temple in which the Lord dwelt was built on mount Moriab, in the tribe of Benjamin, in the higheft part of his land, as archi notes the Zargums of Fonathan and Ferufalem paraphrate the words, ‘ in his border the Shekinah (or the ‘‘ glory of the Shekinah of the Lord) fhall dwell, for if the temple was not within the tribe of Besjamin, yet it was certainly on the borders of it: or Benjamin thall dwell between the thoulders of the Lord, being bore up and fupported by him: Chrift dwells in the hearts of his people, women 1, 1 sory copiis ejus, Junius & Tremellius; ve/ exercitibus ejus, Pifcator, y. 10. They foall teach Facob thy flatutes, and I[- rael thy law, &c.} The priefts and Levites, being difperled among the feveral tribes, having cities in them allotted to them, taught the people the laws, ftatutes, and ordinances of the Lord, moral, civil, and ceremonial, fee Ada/. ii. 6, 7. they /ball put incenfe before thee; upon the altar of incenfe, which none but a prieft might do, as the cafe of Uzziab fhews; and which the Fews fay*, he might do but once: the fame prieft might not offer incenfe twice; a new prieft was always employed: in this they were typical of Chrift, the only interceflor, who is always at the golden altar to offer up the prayers of all faints with his much incenfe, Rev. viii. 3,4. and whole burnt-offerings upon thine altar; the altar of burnt-offering, typical of Chrift, who is both altar, facrifice, and prieft his hour

¥. 11. Blefs, Lord, his fubftance, &c.} Which lay in tithes, firft-fruits, Gc. for the priefts and Levites had no fhare in the divifion of the land; unlefs this can be underftood of the cities and fuburbs which were given them, or of houfes and fields devoted, which fell unto them, or rather of their cattle, for the ufe of which they had fuburbs appointed them; for otherwife in hufbandry merchandize they were not employed: fome render it on bof or army', their fervice being a militia or warfare, Numb. iv. 3. Farchi refers this to the Hafmoneaus or Maccabees, which were of this tribe: and accept the work of bis bands; in offering incenfe and facrifices, and all other adminiftrations of the office of prielts and Levites; thus the righteoufnefs and facrifice of Chrift are of afweet fmelling favour, and very. acceptable to God; and all the fpiritual facrifices of the faints who are priefts unto God, as of prayer and praife, are acceptable to him through Jefus Chrift: mite through the loins of them that rife ogainft kim; fach as were the companies of Korab, Dathan, and Abiram; and in all ages faithful minifters of the word meet with many enemies, whom they would not be able to withftand were not the Lord ta appear for them, ‘and proteét them from them, and fmite them! * T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 26.

them as an head, and they dwell upon his fhoulders, on which the care and government of them ripe fruit at the beginning of every month, as the Targums of Fonathan and Ferufalem; tor the lies, If ix. 6. in the Talmud * this paflage is applied to the days of the Meffiah.

y¥. 15. And for the chief things of the ancicnt

¥. 13. And of Fofeph be faid, 8c.| The tribe mountains, 8c.) Which were from the beginning of ‘Fofeph, as the Targums ot Fonathan and Ferufalem: bleffed of the Lord be bis land; as the lands inherited by his fons were extremely fruicful,. the of the world, and for which the land, poffefied by the children of Yofeph, Manajfeh and Ephraim, were famous; as the mountains of Gilead and countries of Gilead and Ba/ban by Manaffeh, and|Ba the fields of Samaria by Ephraim: ‘archi fays, <¢ there was not in the inheritance of the tribes, a Jand fo full of all good things as the land © Yofeph y” typical of the church of Chrift, the) antitypical Fofeph, which abounds with all good things through him, or of the better country in heaven: for.the precious things of heaven, that} is, the pleafant, precious, and excellent fruits, duced by the influence of the heavens, by fhowers of rain which defcend from thence; emblems of the grace of God, and gofpel of which bring fpiritual bleffings to the fons of men on earth, and make them fruitful in every good word and work: for the dew; which defcends alo from heaven, and is of unfpeakable ufe to thejout fruits of the earth, and is fometimes ufed as emblem of the favour and goodnefs of God to his people, Hof: xiv. 5. and for the deep that beneath; that is, beneath the earth, and breaks out upon it, and watess it, and makes it fruitful, which happinefs the land of Fo/eph had, as well as the rain and dew of heaven: this is to be of fprings and fountains that flow out of the earth ‘to the enriching of it; and fo the Targums of Fogathan and Ferufalem paraphtafe the words, and may be applied to Chrift and to his gofpel, Cant. ban, inherited by the former, and mount Ephraim, and the mountains of Samaria by the latter; which produced, befides great quantities of grafs and corn, ofjalfo vines, figs, olives, ce. and for the precious ¢szngs of the lafting bills; which will endure as long as the world, the fame as before in other words; and which precious things may be emblems of the piritual bleflings of grace, provided in an everpro- lafting covenant, and given to Chrift for his peoparticularly ple before the world began, or any mountains and bills were formed, and which are as lafting and as Chrift,Jimmoveable as they are; fee Prov. viii, 22, 8c. J/. liv. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Epb. i. 3.

y.16. And for the precious things of the earth, and fulne/s thereof, &c.] Corn of all forts produced of the earth, and grafs that grows out of it, anjand cattle that feed upon it; for all which fome part of the land of Fofeph, particularly Bajban, was coucheth famous; as for the oaks that grew on it, fo for the pafturage of it, and the cattle it bred, ch. xxxi. 14. fee P/. xxii. 12. and for the good-will of im that dwelt in the bufo; the angel ot the Lord, underftoodjthe Word and Son of God, who appeared to Mojes in the bufh, and made himfelf known as the God of Abraham, Ifaac and Faceb; and exprefitd his good-will to J/rael, by fending Mofes to deliver them out of their bondage: and the favour and~ good-will of the fame divine perfon is here wifhed- y. 14. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the fun, &c.] Which has a wonderful influence upon many, and moft of the fruits of the earth, to produce them out of their feeds in it, to bring them forward, to ripen and perfect them, and make them rich and excellent. ‘archi fays, ‘* the land of Fofeph lay open to the fun, and it ened the fruits of it;” it meliorated them, and made them more valuable; and this is fpiritually true of Chrift the fun of righteoufnefs, to whofe influence are owing the bleffings of grace, redemption, peace, pardon and juftification, and the graces of the Spirit, faith, hope and love, and by what believers are filled with, the fruits of righteoufnefs, tor, and which has appeared in his aflumption of human nature, obedience, fufferings and death, Luke it. 14. The buth was an emblem of J/rael, and the ftate they were then in, and of the church tolof Chrift; of which fee the note on Exod. iii, 2. and where Chrift may be faid to dwell, as he did fweet-jamong men, when he was made fiefh, and does dwell in the midft of his churches, and in the hearts of his people by faith: /et the bleffing come upon the head of Fofepb, that is, in all things, as Ozkelos; or all theie blefiings, as the Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem; all betore mentioned, let them come openly and vifibly, and in great plenty upon the potterity of Fo/eph, who was a type of fee Mal.iv.2. Phil. 1.11: and for the precious things put forth by the moon, the fruits which the moon helps forward by its coolnefs and moifture; and thofe the above Fewi/h writer fays are cucumbers and gourds; and as various creatures are affected by the moon, it is obferved by a naturalift 9, that onions, when the moon waxes old, increafe, and flag when it is young; and Pliny fays?, that at the increafe of the moon all fort of corn grows bigger and larger; but a late learned writer’ remarks, that though upon the preffure of the moon on the globe many things depend, as the ebbing and flowing of the fea, epileptic and convulfive paroxy ms, yet"it does not appear that this preffure exerts its

Chrift, the head of the righteous, on whom all the bleffings of grace are, and from whom they defcend to all his fpiricual offspring, Prov. x. 6. Eph. i. 3. and upon the top of the bead of him that was feparated frcm bis brethren; when he was fold by them into Egypt; the Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem are, ‘* and was fhining in the glory of ‘** his brethren;” that is, when he was a ruler in Egypt, and had honour from his brethren there, and was beautiful and glorious among them, asa Nazarite, as the word here ufed fignifies, fee Lev, iv. 7. and may be applied to Chrift, who was chofen from among the people, and feparated from finners, and called a Nazarene, Pf. \xxxix. 19, fore thinks this’ refpeéts the eje€tion or protrufion

¥. 17. His glory is like the firfling of bis baits of monthly fruits; for the word here ufed is in the &c.} Such as were in Bajban, a country poffe plural number, and fignifies months; and fo Onkelos paraphrafes the words, “* it produces precious

‘* fruits at the beginning of every month;” or a young bull, was reckoned both comely and ma- iv. 1. and fo might be called is. ic 5 jeftic; fo Meais or Mnevis, king of Egypt, pteferred a bull above alt animals to be worfhipped, becaufe the moft beautiful of all, as Blianus “relates; and Afarte, according to Sanchoniatho.*, puta bull’s head upon her own, as a fign of or kingly power. The Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem refer this to the birth-right which belonged to Reuben, and was taken from him, and given to Yofeph, fee 1 Chron: v. 2. Some will have Yo/hue intended by the firftling of his bullock, fo Ferchi; who was of the tribe of Epbraim, and fo farnous for his ftrength “and courage, his warlike exploits and victories, and the glory; honour and renown he obtained; and who was atype of Chrift, the firft and only-begotten Son of God, the brightnefs of his Father’s glory, and the exprefs image of*his: perfon; this is applied to the Meffiah in fome ancient Fewi/> writings’: and his borns are like the horns of unicorns, of the Monoceros or Rhinoceros; and as the ftrength of tnefe creatures, as of others, lies. in their horns, thefe are figures of the power and ftrength of the tribes of Ephraim and Manaffeh, the fons of Fofeph; Numb. xxiii. 22. with them he fhall pujb the people together to the ends of the earth, not to the ends of the world, as if the pofteriry of Yofeph fhould carry their conquefts, and fpread their dominion over all people to® the ends of the world, as the Targum of Fonathan fuggelts; but to the ends of the land of Canaan, which was done by Yo/bua, when he fmote one and thirty kings of that country. The word: pwh is ufed in allufion to the horns’ of creatures, with which they pufh, drive away from them, or hurt and deftroy thofe that annoy them: and they are the ten thoufands of Ephraim, and they are the thoufands of Manafeb; tho” Martaff2h was the eldett fon of Ya/eph, fewer are afcribed to him than to Ephraim the younger, according to Jacob's prediction, Gen. xlviii. 19. This has been ina fpiritual fenfe verified in Chrift, the antitype of ¥o/eph, the horn of falvation, who by his great ftrength has vanquifhed all his, and the enemies of his people, and even fpoiled principalities and powers. glais made of fand, taken “oy 18. And of Zebulun be faid, &c.| The tribe of Zebulun, as the Targums of Fonathan and ‘Ferufalem, with whom J/achar is joined, they being brethren, and of the fame mother as well as fa ther; though Zedulun the youngeft, is fet before) d Iffachar the elder, as in Facod’s bleffing, Gez. xlix 13, 14. rejoice Zebulun in thy going out, in their going out to fea, to merchandile, to traffick in seign parts, it being a maritime tribe, fee Gen. xlix. 19. and fo are called upon to rejoice and be thankful for their fafe prefervation on the feas, and fuccefs in trade 5 and to this fenfe are the para- ~ phrafes of ‘fonathan and Yerufalem: though Onkelos interprets it of their going out to war their enemies, and certain it is that they were alfo a warlike as well as a feafaring tribe 5 fee Fudg. v. _ 48. and Iffachar in thy tents, being a tribe that ftayed at home, and attended to hufbandry, and dwelt intents, totakecare of and feed their cattle; jn doing which they fhould be Cae and |the arm, have occafion to rejoice, and be than kful to Lord: though the Targums of Fonathan and Ferufalem carry itto a different fenfe, to’their in which they dwelt; this tribe being, as fuppofed, a learned tribe, ftudious in the law; which is ga. thered from 1 Chron. xii. 32.

¥.19. They fhall call the people unto the mountain, &c.] ‘Lo the. mountain of the houfe of the fancroyalty tuary, as all the three Targums; to the temple built on a mountain, which Mofes by a {pirit of ptophecy forefaw would ‘be, to which the tribes of Zebulan and Ifachar would not only come up themfelves, though at the more diflant parts of the land; but call and urge others, both J/raelites and Gentiles, to do the fame; partly by their example, and partly by perfuafions and arguments’; not the tribes of J/rae/ that lay neareft them only, but the heathens, the Zyrians and Sidonians, on whow they bordered, and the Gentiles in’ Galilee of the Gov- éi/es, which. were neighbours to them; a like in {tance fee in J/ ii. 2, 3. and perhaps this'may have refpect to the times of Cdriff and his apoftles, and to their being in thofe parts where the eofpel was preached, and many: people were called, Matt: iv. 13—16. there they fhall offer facrifices of Pip bteouf~ we/s 5 or true facrifices, as the Targums of Fonathan feejand Ferufalem, in oppofition to illegitimate: ones; which were not according to the law, that had: blemithes and defeéts in them, and to fuch as were gotten by robbery, or in an unlawful way; and may fignify all righteous actions and good works done in faith, and from right principles, though” not to be depended upon for a juttifying righteouf- Jnefs before God; and all fpiritual facrifices, efpecially the facrifices of praife for all bleflings, and’ particularly for the righteoufnefs of Chri; and thefe are to be offered in the church of God, and upon the altar, which fanctifies every gift, and ftom whence they come up with acceptance to God: for they foall fuck of the abundance of the fea, get a great deal of riches by trading at fea, and thereftore under great obligations to offér facrifices to » the Lord, by whom they: were profpered: and. of +46 trea/ure bid in the fand; as gold and filver, pearls and corals, and the like, extracted from thence; or riches buried there through fhipwrecks; or it may defign the great wealth and riches they got by out of the river Belus, which wathed the coaft of the tribe of Zedulun, as many hiftorians relate <.

¥.20. And of Gad be faid, &c:| The tribe of Gad, as the Targums of Yonathan and Feru/alem: efed be he that enlargeth Gad, that is, the Lord, to whom the praife and glory were to be given, who had appointed to Gad a large inheritance on the fo-Jother fide ‘fordan, and had fettled him in it, and which became larger by the conqueft of the Hagarites, and others, 1 Chron. v. 18 —22. he dwelleth as @ lion; bold and courageous, fecure, and without fear of any of his enemies, though near him, on his borders, as the Moabites and Ammonites were; againtt of the fame fpirit and temper were the men of the tribe of Gad in the times of David, 1 Chron, xii. 8. and teareth the arm with the crown of the bead; at once, juft as alion tears its prey; which figurative phrafes are expreflive of this tribe conquering and deftroying ftrong and mighty men, fignified by in which the ftrength of a man lies, and thejof kings and governors, pointed at by the crows of the bead, as the Targums of Onkelos and Fonachools,|s4an; which was done in the times of Yo/bua, when with and under him they fubdued and de- ftroyed the kings and princes of the land of Canaan,

¥. 21. And he provided afirft part for bim/e.f, cc.) That is, the portion of the land of Séhon and Og, as Farchi rightly interprets it; which wasthe beginning or firft-fruits of the fubduing of the land defired it as his inheritance, Numb. xxxii. 1, 2. becaufe there in a portion of the law-giver was be feated; or in the portion and part of the inheritance of J/racl, was he placed by Mojes the lawgiver, according to the will of God; or becaufe there were in it palaces and towers of great perfonages, law-givers, kings, and princes, well covered and ftrongly fortified; or here he was 4/d, or proteéied, i. e. their families, wives, and children, whilft they affifted their brethren in fubduing Canaan: and he came with the heads of the people; either ¢o them, to Mojes, Eleazar, and the feventy elders, and the heads of the tribes of J/rael, to afk leave to have his part and portion on the other fide Fordan, or with them, as we fupply it; came with them over ‘orden armed, to affift in the conqueft and fubduing of the land of Canaan: be executed the juftice of the Lord, and his judgments with Jjrael; that is, either he juftly and truly fulfilled all his promifes and engagements, on condition of which he was placed on the other fide; or he, together with the reft of the J/raelites, executed the righteous judgment of God upon the Canaanites, in the expulfion and deftruction of them.

¥. 22. And of Dan be faid, &c.| Of the tribe of Dan, as the Largums of Fenathan and Ferufalem: Dan is a lion’s whkelp; or like one for boldnefs, ftrength, and courage; and was verified in Samfon, who was of this tribe; who when a young lion roared againft him, the fpirit of the Lord came on him, and he tore it to pieces, Fudg. xiv. 5, 6. he foall leap from Bafban; not Dan, tor he was feated far from that country; but the fenfe is, he was like to a young lion for its ftrength, when it leaps from Baj/ban, as Aben Ezra rightly explains it. Ba/han wasa mountain in which lions haunted, and from whence they might be faid to leap, as they do when they feize on their prey: it may have fome refpect to the leap of the Danites from the north-weft part of the land of J/rae/, where they were fettled, but was not fufficient for them, to the north-eaft of it, when they went againft Lefoem, and took it, and calledit Dan; fee Fob. xix.

Ta 23. And of Naphtali be faid, &c.| The tribe of Naphtali, asthe Largums of Fonathan and Ferufalem: O Naphtali fatisfed with favour, with the favour of men, which to have is a great blefiing; and as he gave goodly words to others, he had the good word of others, Gez. xlix. 21. and with the favour of God, as the next claufe fhews; which is the greateft bleffing of all, and is fpecial and peculiar, free and. fovereign, and the fource of all bleffings, temporal and fpiritual; and to be full of this, and fatisfied of an intereft init, is thehigheft of enjoyments; and nothing is of a more fatisfying na- tifying grace, aright and title toeternal life. This may have refpect to the temporal happinefs of this tribe, which had a remarkable fhare in the favour and good-wiil of God, and in the bleffings of his goodnefs. Strabo", and fruitful country, bearing all manner of fruit 5) in this tribe was the fruitful country of Genefaret, full of delightful gardens and fields, which lay along by a lake of that name, frequently mention-, ed in the new teftament; which country Fofephus. fays* one may call the ambition of nature; and, the Zargum of Fonathan has it, “ ye fhall be full, of the fruits of the valley of Genefaret;” and particularly this country was favoured with the prefence of our Lord fefus Chrift; fee Matt. iv. 13.

14. and ix. 1. and xi. 23. poffe/s thou the weft and the fouth 5 not the weft and fouth of the land of Trael, for according to ‘Fo/ephus * this tribe lay to the eaft and north of it, juft the reverfe; and it is, plain from Fos. xix. 34. that it had Aber on the weft, and Zeoulun on the fouth; wherefore fome underftand this of the commodities this tribe was fupplied with, as through the tribe of Aer on the weft, on which thofe trading cities Tyre and Sidon bordered; and through Zebulum on the fouth, which: was near the fea, and was given to navigation and trade: though it fhould be obferved that the word for wef fignifies the fea*; and intends not the Mediterranean fea, which this tribe did. not reach; but the fea of Tiberias and Gene aret,.

as all the Yargums explain it; and Bochart + obferves, that the portion of Naphtali reached from the fouth of the city of Dax tothe fea of Tiberias;. fo that the fouth is obferved with refpeét to Daz laft mentioned, and the weft or fea to the fea of Tiberias.

y¥. 24. And of Afber he faid, &c.] The tribe of Afber, as the Targums of Jonathan and Ferufalem:

let Afher be bleffed with children; with large num-.. bers, as it appears this tribe was, having in it -

$3,400 men of war, Numb. xxvi. 47, It was, efteemed a great bleffing to have many children, Pf. cxxviii. 3, 4. or above the children; above or more than the reft of the children of Facob; fee Luke ii. 36, 38. in a book called Sipbri, that there was none in all the tribes bleffed with children as Aer, but not known how: let him be acceptable to bis brethren; either for his excellent bread, and royal dainties, Gen. xlix. 20. or for the goodnefs of his olives and oil, and for the brafs and iron found in this tribe as follows; or, as fome fay, becaufe of his children, his daughters being very beautiful: andlet him dip bis foot in oil; have fuch plenty of it, that if he would he might dip or wath his feet in it; and it was ufual not only to anoint the head, butthe feet ‘ alfo with oil, Luke vii. 46.

¥.25. Thy foes thall be iron and brafs, &c.) Either they fhould have fuch an abundance of thefe metals, that they could if they would have made their fhoes of them; but that is not ufual; though an heathen writer, fpeaking. that was promifed; this he looked at, chofe, ture, it is a feaft of itfelf; fee P/. Ixiii. full with the bleffing of the Lord as fuch mutt needs be who are fullof, and fatisfied with the favour, good-will, and love of God; for they are filled with all fpirimual bleffings, with all the bleffings of grace, which {pring from his free favour, as pardon andJof this part of the land of udea, fays it was a happy” 3, 5. andjit is faid of Empedoclest the philofopher, that he wore fhoes of brafs, which was very fingular; and fome think that this tribe, becaufe of the abundance of thefe metals, ufed to ftick their thoes with — iron and brafs nails at the bottom of them, as © country people, foidiers, and travellers in various archi obferves, that he had feen -