Chapter 32:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Deuteronomy 32
The song of Moses contains the preface, ver. 1, 2. A high
character of God, ver. 3-6. A recital of the great things God had
done for them, and as their carriage toward him, ver. 7-18. A
prediction of judgments for their aggravated impieties, ver. 19-35.
A promise of vengeance upon their enemies, and deliverance for a
remnant, ver. 36-43. An exhortation annext, ver. 44-47. Orders
given to Moses, to go up to the mount and die, ver. 48-52.
Verse 1. O heavens, O earth - You lifeless and senseless creatures,
which he calls upon partly to accuse the stupidity of Israel, that
were more dull of hearing than these: and partly as witnesses of
the truth of his sayings and the justice of God's proceedings
against them.
Verse 2. As the rain - Look what effect rain and dew have upon herbs
and grass which they make fresh and fragrant and growing, the
same effect may my discourse have upon your hearts, that is, to
make them soft and pliable and fruitful.
Verse 3. The name of the Lord - His glorious excellencies and righteous
actions, by which he hath made himself known as a man is known
by his name, and by which it will appear both that there is no
blame to be laid upon him whatsoever befalls you, and that it is
gross madness to forsake such a God for dumb idols. Ascribe ye -
As I am about to publish the majesty and glory of God, so do you
also acknowledge it.
Verse 4. A rock - As for the stability of his nature, and invincibleness of
his power, so also for his fixedness and immutability in his
counsels and promises and ways; so that is there shall be a sad
change in your affairs, remember that this proceeds from
yourselves and from the change of your ways towards God, and
not from God, in whom there is no variableness or shadow of
change, James i, 17. His work - All his works and actions are
unblameable, perfect, wise and righteous. His ways - All his
administrations in the world and particularly with you are
managed with wisdom and justice. A God of truth - Constant to
his promises: you cannot accuse him of any unfaithfulness to this
day.
Verse 5. They - The Israelites. Their spot - The wickedness with which
they are stained, is not of his children - Plainly shews they are not
his children, but the devil's. God's children have no such spot.
Indeed this text does not affirm, they have any spot at all.
Perverse - Froward and untractable: Crooked - Irregular and
disorderly.
Verse 6. O foolish people and unwise! - Fools and double fools! Fools
indeed, to disoblige one, on whom you so entirely depend! Who
hath bewitched you! To forsake your own mercies for lying
vanities! Bought thee - That hath redeemed thee from Egyptian
bondage. Made thee - Not only in a general by creation, but in a
peculiar manner by making thee his peculiar people. Established -
That is, renewed and confirmed his favour to thee, and not taken it
away, which thou hast often provoked him to do.
Verse 7. The days of old - The events of ancient days or former ages,
and thou wilt find that I had a respect unto thee not only in
Abraham's time, but long before it.
Verse 8. Their inheritance - When God by his providence allotted the
several parts of the world to several people, which was done Gen.
x, 1-32 Gen. xi, 1-9. When he separated - Divided them in their
languages and habitations according to their families. He set the
bounds - That is, he disposed of the several lands and limits of the
people so as to reserve a sufficient place for the great numbers of
the people of Israel. And therefore he so guided the hearts of
several people, that the posterity of Canaan, which was accursed
of God, and devoted to ruin, should be seated in that country
which God intended for the children of Israel, that so when their
iniquities were ripe, they might be rooted out, and the Israelites
come in their stead.
Verse 9. His people - It is no wonder God had so great a regard to this
people, for he chose them out of all mankind to be his peculiar
portion.
Verse 10. He found him - Not by chance, but as it were looking out and
seeking for him. He did indeed manifest himself to him in Egypt,
but it was in the wilderness at Sinai, God found him in an eminent
manner, and revealed his will to him, and entered into covenant
with him, and imparted himself and his grace and blessing to him.
By this word he also signifies both their lost condition in
themselves, and that their recovery was not from themselves, but
only from God who sought and found them out by his grace. In
the waste howling wilderness - In a place destitute of all the
necessaries and comforts of life, which also was a type of that
desolate and comfortless condition in which all men are before the
grace of God finds them out; where instead of the voices of men,
is nothing heard but the howlings and yellings of ravenous birds
and beasts. He led them - He conducted them frons place to place
by his cloudy pillar and providence. Or, he compassed him about,
by his provident care, watching over him and preserving him on
every side. As the apple of his eye - As men use to keep the apple
of their eye, that is, with singular care and diligence, this being as
a most tender, so a most useful part.
Verse 11. Her nest - Her young ones in the nest; which she by her cry
and motion provoketh to fly. Her wings - As preparing herself to
fly. On her wings - Or, as on her wings, that is, gently, and
tenderly and safely too, as if she carried them not in her claws for
fear of hurting them, but upon her wings. Some say, the eagle
doth usually carry her young ones upon her wings.
Verse 12. Did lead them - When they were shut up in Egypt as in their
nest whence they durst not venture to fly nor stir, he taught and
encouraged and enabled them to fly out from that bondage, he
dealt tenderly with them, bearing with their infirmities, keeping
them from all harms. With him - To assist him at that work or to
deliver them. The more unworthy they in giving to idols a share in
that worship which they owe to God only.
Verse 13. The high places - To conquer their strongest holds, which
often are in the mountains, and their cities fenced with walls of
greatest height and strength. To ride upon, in scripture phrase, is
to subdue or conquer. Out of the rock - This being a land flowing
with honey, where the bees made honey in the holes of rocks, or
in the trees that grew upon or among the rocks. Out of the flinty
rocks - The olive-trees grow and bear most fruit in rocky or hilly
places.
Verse 14. Fat of lambs - For though the fat wherewith the inward parts
were covered was not to be eaten by them, but offered to God, yet
that fat which was mixed with the flesh they might eat, as the
Jewish doctors note. Basham - A place famous for excellent
cattle. Fat of kidneys of wheat - With the finest of the grains of
wheat; compared to kidneys for their shape and largeness.
Verse 15. Jeshurun - Israel whom he calls right or upright, (as the word
signifies) partly by way of instruction to mind them what they
professed and ought to be; and partly by way of exprobration, to
shew them what a shame it was to degenerate so much from their
name and profession. Kicked - As well fed cattle use to do: he
grew insolent and rebellious against God and against his word and
spirit.
Verse 16. To jealousy - To anger and fury, for jealousy is the rage of a
man. And withall it implies the ground of his anger, their
falseness to God whom they had accepted as their husband, and
their spiritual whoredom with other gods.
Verse 17. Unto devils - Unto idols, which the devils brought into the
world in opposition to God, in and by which the devils often
manifested themselves to men, and gave them answers, and
received their worship. The Gentiles pretended to worship God in
those idols, and the devils which inspired them, deluded the
nations with pretenses that they were a sort of lower gods. Moses
takes off this mark, and shews the Israelites that these pretended
gods were really devils, and therefore that it was the height of
madness to honour or worship them. Not to God - For God utterly
rejected those sacrifices which they offered to him together with
idols. They knew not - Or, who never knew them, that is, never
shewed any kindness to them, or did them any good: New gods -
Not simply or absolutely, for some of these had been worshipped
for many generations, but comparatively to the true God, who is
the ancient of days, chap. vii, 9, and who was worshipped from
the beginning of the world. Feared not - Served not, worshipped
not.
Verse 18. Of the rock - Of God, one of whose titles this is, or of Christ,
who is called the rock, 1 Cor. x, 4, whom the Israelites tempted.
Verse 19. His sons and daughters - Such they were by calling and
profession.
Verse 20. I will see - I will make them and others see, what the fruit of
such actions shall be. No faith - No fidelity: perfidious, that have
broken their covenant so solemnly made with me.
Verse 21. I will move them to jealousy with those that are not a people -
With the Heathen nations, who are none of my people, who scarce
deserve the name of a people, as being without the knowledge and
fear of God, which is the foundation of all true policy and
government, and many of them destitute of all government, laws
and order. And yet these people I will take in your stead, receive
them and reject you; which, when it came to pass how desperately
did it provoke the Jews to jealousy? A foolish nation - So the
Gentiles were both in the opinion of the Jews and in truth and
reality, notwithstanding all their pretenses to wisdom, there being
nothing more foolish or brutish than the worship of idols.
Verse 22. A fire is kindled - Great and grievous judgments shall be
inflicted, which often come under the name of fire. Are they
proud of their plenty? It shall burn up the increase of the earth.
Are they confident of their strength? It shall destroy the very
foundations of the mountains. It shall burn unto the lowest hell: it
shall bring them to the very depth of misery in this world, which
yet will he but a faint resemblance of their endless misery in the
next.
Verse 23. Spend mine arrows - Even empty my quiver, and send upon
them all my plagues, which, like arrows shot by a skilful and
strong hand, shall speedily reach and certainly hit and mortally
wound them.
Verse 24. With hunger - With famine, which burns and parches the
inward parts, and make the face black as a coal, Lam. iv, 8.
Burning heat - From fevers or carbuncles, or other inflaming
distempers.
Verse 27. The wrath - Their rage against me, as it is expressed, Isaiah
xxxvii, 28, 29, their furious reproaches against my name, as if I
were cruel to my people or unable to deliver them. The fear hereof
is ascribed to God after the manner of men. Strangely - Insolenty
and arrogantly above what they used to do.
Verse 28. Void of counsel - Their enemies are foolish people, and
therefore make so false and foolish a judgment upon things.
Verse 29. They - Israel. Latter end - What their end will be, and that tho'
God spare them long, yet at last judgment will certainly overtake
them.
Verse 30. One - Israelite. Their rock - Their God, who was their refuge
and defense. Sold them - Namely, for bond-slaves, had given
themselves up into their enemies hands. Shut them up - As it were
in the net which their enemies had laid for them.
Verse 31. Being Judges - Who by their dear bought experience have
been forced to acknowledge that our God was far stronger than
they and their false gods together.
Verse 32. For - As if he had said, This is the reason why their rock hath
shut them up. Their vine is of the vine of Sodom - The people of
Israel, which I planted as a choice vine, are now degenerated and
become like the vine of Sodom, their principles and practices are
all corrupt and abominable. Bitter - Their fruits are loathsome to
me, mischievous to others, and at last will be pernicious to
themselves.
Verse 34. This - All their wickedness mentioned before. My long
suffering towards them may make them think I have forgotten
their sins, but I remember them punctually, they are sealed up as
in a bag, Job xiv, 17, and as men seal up their treasures.
Verse 35. Their feet shall slide - They who now think they stand fast and
unmoveable, shall fall into utter destruction. In due time - Though
not so soon as some may expect, yet in that time when it shall be
most proper, when they have filled up the measure of their sins.
At hand - Hebrew. is near. So the scripture often speaks of those
things which are at many hundred years distance, to signify, that
though they may be afar off as to our measures of time, yet in
God's account they are near, they are as near as may be, when the
measure of their sins is once full, the judgment shall not be
deferred.
Verse 36. For - Or, nevertheless, having spoken of the dreadful calamity
which would come upon his people, he now turns his discourse
into a more comfortable strain, and begins to shew that after God
had sorely chastised his people, he would have mercy upon them
and turn their captivity. Judge his people - Shall plead their cause,
shall protect and deliver them. Repent - Of the evils he hath
brought upon them. None shut up - Either in their strong cities or
castles or other hiding places, or in the enemies hands or prisons,
whence there might be some hope or possibility of redemption;
and none left, as the poor and contemptible people are neglected
and usually left by the conquerors in the conquered land, but all
seem to be cut off and destroyed.
Verse 37. He shall say - The Lord, before he deliver his people, will first
convince them of their former folly in forsaking him and
following idols.
Verse 38. Which did eat - That is, to whom you offered sacrifices and
oblations after the manner of the Gentiles. Help you - If they can.
Verse 39. See now - Learn by your own sad experience what vain and
impotent things idols are. I am he - The only true, omnipotent and
irresistible God.
Verse 40. I lift up my hand - I solemnly swear, that I will do what here
follows. I live - As sure as I live.
Verse 41. If I whet my sword - If once I begin to prepare for war and for
the execution of my sentence. Judgment - Of the instruments of
judgment, of the weapons of war. A metaphor from warriors, that
take their weapons into their hand, when they intend to fight.
Verse 42. Captives - Whom my sword hath sorely wounded, though not
utterly killed. From the beginning - When once I begin to revenge
myself and my people upon mine and their enemies, I will go on
and make a full end.
Verse 43. Rejoice - He calls upon the nations to rejoice and bless God
for his favours, and especially for the last wonderful deliverance
which shall be given to the Jews, when they shall be converted to
the gospel in the last days; which they have all reason to do,
because of that singular advantage which all nations will have at
that time and upon that occasion.
Verse 44. He and Hoshea - Or Joshua. Probably Moses spoke it to as
many as could hear him, while Josh. in another assembly at the
same time delivered it to as many as his voice would reach. Thus
Joshua, as well as Moses, would be a witness against them, if ever
they forsook God.
Verse 47. Not vain - It is not an unprofitable or contemptible work I
advise you to, but well worthy of your most serious care.
Verse 48. That self-same day - Now he had finished his work, why
should he desire to live a day longer? He had indeed formerly
desired and prayed, that he might go over Jordan: but now he is
entirely satisfied, and saith no more of that matter.
Verse 49. Nebo - A ridge or top of the mountains of Abarim.
Verse 51. Because ye trespassed - God reminds him of the sin he had
committed long before. It is good for the holiest of men to die
repenting, even of their early sins.
Verse 52. Yet thou shalt see the land - And see it as the earnest of that
better country, which is only seen with the eye of faith. What is
death to him who has a believing prospect and a steadfast hope of
eternal life?
Chapter 32:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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