51 Because ye trespassed H4603 against me among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 at the waters H4325 of Meribah-Kadesh, H4808 H6946 in the wilderness H4057 of Zin; H6790 because ye sanctified H6942 me not in the midst H8432 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
For ye rebelled H4784 against my commandment H6310 in the desert H4057 of Zin, H6790 in the strife H4808 of the congregation, H5712 to sanctify H6942 me at the water H4325 before their eyes: H5869 that is the water H4325 of Meribah H4809 in Kadesh H6946 in the wilderness H4057 of Zin. H6790
For G3754 the time G2540 is come that judgment G2917 must begin G756 at G575 the house G3624 of God: G2316 and G1161 if G1487 it first G4412 begin at G575 us, G2257 what G5101 shall the end G5056 be of them that obey not G544 the gospel G2098 of God? G2316
And Moses H4872 lifted up H7311 his hand, H3027 and with his rod H4294 he smote H5221 the rock H5553 twice: H6471 and the water H4325 came out H3318 abundantly, H7227 and the congregation H5712 drank, H8354 and their beasts H1165 also. And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses H4872 and Aaron, H175 Because ye believed H539 me not, to sanctify H6942 me in the eyes H5869 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 therefore ye shall not bring H935 this congregation H6951 into the land H776 which I have given H5414 them. This is H1992 the water H4325 of Meribah; H4809 because the children H1121 of Israel H3478 strove H7378 with the LORD, H3068 and he was sanctified H6942 in them. And Moses H4872 sent H7971 messengers H4397 from Kadesh H6946 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 Thus saith H559 thy brother H251 Israel, H3478 Thou knowest H3045 all the travail H8513 that hath befallen H4672 us:
Aaron H175 shall be gathered H622 unto his people: H5971 for he shall not enter H935 into the land H776 which I have given H5414 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 because ye rebelled against H4784 my word H6310 at the water H4325 of Meribah. H4809
And I besought H2603 the LORD H3068 at that time, H6256 saying, H559 O Lord H136 GOD, H3069 thou hast begun H2490 to shew H7200 thy servant H5650 thy greatness, H1433 and thy mighty H2389 hand: H3027 for what God H410 is there in heaven H8064 or in earth, H776 that can do H6213 according to thy works, H4639 and according to thy might? H1369 I pray thee, let me go over, H5674 and see H7200 the good H2896 land H776 that is beyond H5676 Jordan, H3383 that goodly H2896 mountain, H2022 and Lebanon. H3844 But the LORD H3068 was wroth H5674 with me for your sakes, and would not hear H8085 me: and the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Let it suffice H7227 thee; speak H1696 no more H3254 unto me of this matter. H1697 Get thee up H5927 into the top H7218 of Pisgah, H6449 and lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 westward, H3220 and northward, H6828 and southward, H8486 and eastward, H4217 and behold H7200 it with thine eyes: H5869 for thou shalt not go over H5674 this Jordan. H3383
And he cried H7121 unto the man H376 of God H430 that came H935 from Judah, H3063 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Forasmuch as H3282 thou hast disobeyed H4784 the mouth H6310 of the LORD, H3068 and hast not kept H8104 the commandment H4687 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 commanded H6680 thee, But camest back, H7725 and hast eaten H398 bread H3899 and drunk H8354 water H4325 in the place, H4725 of the which the LORD did say H1696 to thee, Eat H398 no bread, H3899 and drink H8354 no water; H4325 thy carcase H5038 shall not come H935 unto the sepulchre H6913 of thy fathers. H1 And it came to pass, after H310 he had eaten H398 bread, H3899 and after H310 he had drunk, H8354 that he saddled H2280 for him the ass, H2543 to wit, for the prophet H5030 whom he had brought back. H7725 And when he was gone, H3212 a lion H738 met H4672 him by the way, H1870 and slew H4191 him: and his carcase H5038 was cast H7993 in the way, H1870 and the ass H2543 stood H5975 by H681 it, the lion H738 also stood H5975 by the carcase. H5038 And, behold, men H582 passed by, H5674 and saw H7200 the carcase H5038 cast H7993 in the way, H1870 and the lion H738 standing H5975 by H681 the carcase: H5038 and they came H935 and told H1696 it in the city H5892 where the old H2205 prophet H5030 dwelt. H3427 And when the prophet H5030 that brought him back H7725 from the way H1870 heard H8085 thereof, he said, H559 It is the man H376 of God, H430 who was disobedient H4784 unto the word H6310 of the LORD: H3068 therefore the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 him unto the lion, H738 which hath torn H7665 him, and slain H4191 him, according to the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he spake H1696 unto him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 32
Commentary on Deuteronomy 32 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 32
De 32:1-43. Moses' Song, Which Sets Forth the Perfections of God.
1. Give ear, O ye heavens; … hear, O earth—The magnificence of the exordium, the grandeur of the theme, the frequent and sudden transitions, the elevated strain of the sentiments and language, entitle this song to be ranked amongst the noblest specimens of poetry to be found in the Scriptures.
2, 3. My doctrine shall drop, &c.—The language may justly be taken as uttered in the form of a wish or prayer, and the comparison of wholesome instruction to the pure, gentle, and insinuating influence of rain or dew, is frequently made by the sacred writers (Isa 5:6; 55:10, 11).
4. He is the Rock—a word expressive of power and stability. The application of it in this passage is to declare that God had been true to His covenant with their fathers and them. Nothing that He had promised had failed; so that if their national experience had been painfully checkered by severe and protracted trials, notwithstanding the brightest promises, that result was traceable to their own undutiful and perverse conduct; not to any vacillation or unfaithfulness on the part of God (Jas 1:17), whose procedure was marked by justice and judgment, whether they had been exalted to prosperity or plunged into the depths of affliction.
5. They have corrupted themselves—that is, the Israelites by their frequent lapses and their inveterate attachment to idolatry.
their spot is not the spot of his children—This is an allusion to the marks which idolaters inscribe on their foreheads or their arms with paint or other substances, in various colors and forms—straight, oval, or circular, according to the favorite idol of their worship.
6. is not he thy father that hath bought thee—or emancipated thee from Egyptian bondage.
and made thee—advanced the nation to unprecedented and peculiar privileges.
8, 9. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance—In the division of the earth, which Noah is believed to have made by divine direction (Ge 10:5; De 2:5-9; Ac 17:26, 27), Palestine was reserved by the wisdom and goodness of Heaven for the possession of His peculiar people and the display of the most stupendous wonders. The theater was small, but admirably suited for the convenient observation of the human race—at the junction of the two great continents of Asia and Africa, and almost within sight of Europe. From this spot as from a common center the report of God's wonderful works, the glad tidings of salvation through the obedience and sufferings of His own eternal Son, might be rapidly and easily wafted to every part of the globe.
he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel—Another rendering, which has received the sanction of eminent scholars, has been proposed as follows: "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam and set the bounds of every people, the children of Israel were few in numbers, when the Lord chose that people and made Jacob His inheritance" (compare De 30:5; Ge 34:30; Ps 105:9-12).
10. found him in a desert land—took him into a covenant relation at Sinai, or rather "sustained," "provided for him" in a desert land.
a waste howling wilderness—a common Oriental expression for a desert infested by wild beasts.
11. As an eagle … fluttereth over her young—This beautiful and expressive metaphor is founded on the extraordinary care and attachment which the female eagle cherishes for her young. When her newly fledged progeny are sufficiently advanced to soar in their native element, she, in their first attempts at flying, supports them on the tip of her wing, encouraging, directing, and aiding their feeble efforts to longer and sublimer flights. So did God take the most tender and powerful care of His chosen people; He carried them out of Egypt and led them through all the horrors of the wilderness to the promised inheritance.
13, 14. He made him ride on the high places, &c.—All these expressions seem to have peculiar reference to their home in the trans-jordanic territory, that being the extent of Palestine that they had seen at the time when Moses is represented as uttering these words. "The high places" and "the fields" are specially applicable to the tablelands of Gilead as are the allusions to the herds and flocks, the honey of the wild bees which hive in the crevices of the rocks, the oil from the olive as it grew singly or in small clumps on the tops of hills where scarcely anything else would grow, the finest wheat (Ps 81:16; 147:14), and the prolific vintage.
15. But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked—This is a poetical name for Israel. The metaphor here used is derived from a pampered animal, which, instead of being tame and gentle, becomes mischievous and vicious, in consequence of good living and kind treatment. So did the Israelites conduct themselves by their various acts of rebellion, murmuring, and idolatrous apostasy.
17. They sacrificed unto devils—(See on Le 17:7).
21. those which are not a people—that is, not favored with such great and peculiar privileges as the Israelites (or, rather poor, despised heathens). The language points to the future calling of the Gentiles.
23. I will spend mine arrows upon them—War, famine, pestilence (Ps 77:17) are called in Scripture the arrows of the Almighty.
29. Oh, … that they would consider their latter end—The terrible judgments, which, in the event of their continued and incorrigible disobedience, would impart so awful a character to the close of their national history.
32. vine of Sodom … grapes of gall—This fruit, which the Arabs call "Lot's Sea Orange," is of a bright yellow color and grows in clusters of three or four. When mellow, it is tempting in appearance, but on being struck, explodes like a puffball, consisting of skin and fiber only.
44-47. Moses … spake all the words of this song in the ears, &c.—It has been beautifully styled "the Song of the Dying Swan" [Lowth]. It was designed to be a national anthem, which it should be the duty and care of magistrates to make well known by frequent repetition, to animate the people to right sentiments towards a steadfast adherence to His service.
48-51. Get thee up … and die … Because ye trespassed … at Meribah—(See on Nu 20:13).
52. thou shalt see the land, but thou shalt not go thither—(Nu 27:12). Notwithstanding so severe a disappointment, not a murmur of complaint escapes his lips. He is not only resigned but acquiescing; and in the near prospect of his death, he pours forth the feelings of his devout heart in sublime strains and eloquent blessings.