Chapter XXXII
Ver. 1-13. MosES' Song, which sets forth the Perfections OF God. 1. Give ear, O ye heavens) hes-r, O earlh—The magnificence of the exordium, the grandeur of the theme, tlie frequiiit and sudden tniiisilions, the elevated strain of the sentiments and language, entitle this song to be ranked amongst the noblest specimens of poi'try to bo found in the Scriptures. 'Z, :i. Mydoetrln« shall drop, &c.—the language may justly be Inkeii as uttered in the form of a wish or prayer, and the comparls(m of wholesome Instruction to the pure, gentle, and insinuating influence of rain or dew, is frequently made by the sacred writers. (Isaiah 5. (i; &"). 10, 11.) 4.11c Is tli« Kock—a word expressive of power and stabilit.v. The ap))llcation of it in this passage is to declare that (iod had been true to His covenant witli their fathers and them. Nothing that He had promised had failed ; so that if their national exiierlence had been painfully clieciuered by severe and protracted trials, notwithstanding tlie brightest promises, that result was traceable to their own uudutlfuJ
11,12.) all the elders of Israel—they were assistants to the priests and oversecM's to take care of the prcserval ion, rehearsal, and observance of the law. 10. j\t the end of •very seven years, thou slialt read Ihls law—At the re140
Tlie Song oj Moses. DEUTERONOMY XXXIII. The Mujesty of God.
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 ot Sodom . . . grapes of gall—This fruit, which the Arabs call "Lot's Sea oPange," is of a bright yellow colour, and grows in clusters of three or four. When mellow, it is tempting in appearance, but on being struck, explodes like a pulf-ball, consisting of skin and fibre only. 44-41". 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 Merihah—(See on Numbers 20. 12.) 53. Thou Shalt see the land, but slialt not go tltither— (Numbers 27. 12.) Notwithstanding so severe a disappointment, not a murmur or 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.
and perverse conduct; not to any vacillation or unfaithfulness on the part of God (James 1. 1"), whose procedure was marked by justice and judgment, wliether they had been exalted to prosperity, or plunged into the depths of affliction. 3. Tliey have corrupted themselves i. e., the Israelites by their frequent lapses and their inveterate attachment to idolatry, their spot is not the spot of Iilg children—This is an allusion to the marks which idolaters Inscribe on their foreheads or their arms, with paint or other substances, in various colours and forms,—straight, aval, or circular, according to the favourite idol of tlieir worship. 0. Is He not thy fatlier that bought thee—or emancipated thee from Egyptian bondage, and made thee—advanced the nation to uni^recedented 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 (Genesis 10.5; ch. 2. 5-9; Acts 17. 20, 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 theatre 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 withinsightof Europe. From this spot as from a common centre, the report of God's wonderful works, theglad tidings of salvation through the obedience and sufferings of his own eternal Son, miglit be rapidl.v and easily wafted to every part of the globe.
CHAPTEE XXXIII. Ver. 1-2S. The Majesty of God. 1. Moses, the man of God—This was a common designation of a prophet
(1 Samuel 2. 27; 9. 6), and it is here applied to Moses, when, like Jacob, he was about to deliver ministerially before his death, a prophetic benediction to Israel. 2-4. The Lord came—under a beautiful metaphor, borrowed from the dawn and progressive splendour of the sun, the Majesty of God is sublimely described as a Divine light which appeared in Sinai, and scattered Its beams on all theadjolningregion in directing Israel's march to Canaan. In these descriptions of a theophania, God is represented as coming from the south, and the allusion is in general to the thunderings and lightnings of Sinai ; but other mountains in tlie same direction are mentioned with it. The location of Seir was on the east of the Glior; mount Paran was either the chain on the west of the Ghor, or rather the mountains on the southern border of the desert towards the peninsula. [Robinson.] (Cf. Judges 5. 4, 5; Psalm 68. 7, 8; Habakkuk 3.3.) ten thousand saintsrendered by some, "with the ten thousand of Kadesh," or perhaps better still, "from Meribah-kadesh." [Ewai.d.] a fiery law—so called both because of the thunder and lightning which accompanied its promulgation (Exodus
He set the bonndb of the people according to the number of the elilldren of Israel—Another rendering, which
ha-s 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" (cf. ch. 30. 5 ; Genesis 31. 30; Psalm 105. 9-12). 10. found him in a desert land—took him into a covenant relation at Sinai, or rather "sustained," " pi'ovided 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-tledgcd 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 chosenpeople; 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 tl>c high jjlaces, <tc.—All these expressions seem to have peculiar reference to their home in the transjordanic territory; that being the whole of Palestine that they had seen at the tinie when ^^oses is represented as uttering these words—" the high places" and " the fields" are ^ecially applicable to the table-lands of Gilea<l; and still more, the allusions to the herds and fiocks,—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 (Psalm 81. 16; 147. 14), and the prolific vintage, ir,. But •Jeahnmn 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 con.sequence of good living and kind treatment. So did the Israelites conduct tliemselvos by their various acts of rebellion, murmuring, and Idolatrous apostasy. 17. Tlxcy sacrillccd nnto devils—<8ee on liCvltlcus 17. 7.) 21. those which are not a people i. e., not favoured with such great and peculiar privileges as the Israelites, or rather poor, despised heathens; the language points to the future nailing of the Gentiles. !i3. 1 will spend mine arrows upon them—war, famine, pestilence (Psalm 77. 17) are ouUed In .Scripture the arrows of the Almighty. 29. Oh
19. 16-18; ch. 4. 11), and of the fierce, unrelenting curse denounced against the violation of its precepts (2 Corinthians 3. 7-9). Notwithstanding those awe-inspiring symbols of Majesty that were displayed on Sinai, the law was really given in kindness and love (ri. 3), as a means of promoting both the temporal and eternal wellare of the people; and it was " the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob," not only from the hereditary obligatiou under which that people were laid to observe it, but from its being the grand distinction, the peculiar privilege of the nation. 6. Let Reuben live and not die—Although deprived of the honour and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes (Numbers
1. 21 ; 2. 11), yet gradually sunk into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint, consider the latter clause as referring to Simeon; "and Simeon, let his men be few," a reading of the text which
Is In harmony with other statements of .Scripture respecting this tribe (Numbers 25.6-14; 1.23; 20. 14; .Ioshu>%
19. 1). 7. This is the blessing of Judal»—Its general purport points to the great power and independence of Judah, as well as its taking the lead In all militar.v expeditions. 8-10. Of Levi lie said—The burden of this blessing Is the appointment of the Levltes to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood (Leviticus 10. 11; ch.22. 8; 17.8-11); a reward for their zeal In supporting the cause of God, and their unsparing severity In chastising eveu
Moses Bksseth the Tribes. DEUTEnoXOMY XXXIV. The Death of Mosa.
their nearest and dearest revatives who had participated In tlie idolatry of the molten calf (Exodus 32. 2>28; cf. Malachi 2. 4-6). Ti. Of Benjamin lie said—A distinguisliiug favour was conferred on this tribe in having its portion assigned near the temple of G#d. between liis shoulders— t. p., on his sides or borders. Mount Zion, on
This chapter appears from internal evidence to have been written subsequentl}' to the death of Moses, and it probably formed, at one time, an introduction to the book of Josli ua. unto tlie mountain of Nebo, to the top of Piagah lit., the head or summit of the Pisgah,—i.e., the heiglit (cf. Numbers 23. 14; ch. 3. 17-27; 4. 49). The general name given to the whole mountain range east of Jordan, was A.l)arim (cf. eh. 32. 49), and the peak to which Moses ascended was dedicated to the heathen Nelio.as Balaam's standing-place had been consecrated to Peer. Some modern travellers have fixed on Jebel-Attarus, a high mountain south of the Jabbok (Zurka), as the Nelio of th.is passage. [BuKCKHARDT, Seetzen, Ac] But It is situated too far nortli for a height wliieh, being described as "over against Jericho," must be looked for above the last stage of the Jordan, the Lord showed htm all the land of Gllead—That pastoral region was discernible at the northern extremity of the mountain-line on which he stood, till it ended, far beyond his sight in Dan. Westward, there were on the horizon, the distant hills of "all Naphfali." Coming nearer, was "the land of Ephraim and Mauasseh." Immediately opposite was "all the land of Judali,"a title at first restricted to the portion of this tribe, beyond which were " the utmost sea" (the Mediterranean) and tlie Besert of the " South." These were tho four great marks of the future inheritance of his people, on which the narrative fixes our attention. Immediately below him was "the circle" of the plain of Jericlio, with
U-hicli stood the city of Jerusalem, belonged to Judah; but Mount, Moriah, the site of the siicred edifice, lay in the confines of Benjamin. 13-17. of JosepU lie said—The territory of this tribe, diversified by hill and dale, wood and water, would be rich in all the productions—olives, grapes, figs, &c., that are reared in a mountainous region, as well as in the grain and herbs that grow in the level
fields. "The firstling of the bullock and the horns of the unicorn" (rhinoceros), indicate glory and strength, and it
is supposed that under these emblems were shadowed forth the triumphs of Joshua and the new kingdom of Jeroboam, both of whom were of Ephraim (cf. Genesis
iH. 20). 18, 19. ZebiilMn, rejoice in tliy going out—on coniniercial enterprises and voyages by sea. and Issacliar in tl>y tents—preferring to reside in their maritime towns, sliall suck of tlie abundance of tl»e sea, and treasures liid in the sand—Both tribes should trafiic with the Phceuicians In gold and silver, pearl and coral, especially in murcx, the shell-fish that yielded the famous Tyriun dye, and in glass, which was manufactured from the sand of the river Belus, in their immediate neighbourhood. 20, 21. Of Gad he said—Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe liad the honour of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (cf. Genesis 30. 11; 49. 19). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" in the invasion of Canaan. 33. Dan is a lion's whelp—His proper settlement in the south of Canaan being too small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a colony in the northern extremity of tlic land. This miglit well be described as the leap of a young lion from tlie hills of Bashan. 33. of Naphtall he said—The pleasant and fertile territory of this tribe lay to "the west," on the borders of lakes Merom and Chinnerelli, and to "the south" of tlie nortliern Danites.
its oasis of pabn trees; and far away on his left, the last inhabited spot before the great desert " Zoar." The foreground of the picture alone was clearly discernible. There was no miraculous power of vision imparted to Moses. That he sliould see all that is described Is what any man could do, if he attained sufficient elevation. The atmosphere of the climate is so subtle and free from vapour, that the sight is carried to a distance of wliieh the beholder, who judges from the more dense air of Europe, can form no idea. [Vere Monro.] But between him and that "good land" the deep valley of the Jorchia intervened; "he was not to go over thither." 5. So Mosra died—After having governed the Israelites forty years. 6. he buried him—or, "he was buried in a valley," i. e., a ravine or gorge of the Pisgah. Some think tliat he entered a cave and there died, being, according to an ancient tradition of Jews and Christians, buried by angels (Judo
gi., 25. of Asher lie said—The condition of this tribe is described as combining all the elements of earthly felicity, dip his foot in oil—These words allude eitiier to the process of extracting the oil by foot presses, or to liis district as p.articularly fertile, and adapted to tlie culture of the olive, slioes of iron and brass—These shoes suited his rocky coast from Carmel to Sidon. Country people as well as ancient warriors had their lower extreiiiitic>s protected by metallic greaves (1 Samuel 17. (>; Eplicsians (i. 15) and iron-soled slioes. 36-39. There is none like nnto the God of .Teshui'un—The chapter eoiicluiles witli a congratulatory address to Israel on their iieoiiliar happiness and privilege in liaving Jehovah for Uicir (iod and protector, who rideth upon the heaven In thy help an evident allusion to the pillar of cloud and fire, wliich was both the guide and shelter of Israel. 38. the fountain of Jacob—the posterity of Israel shall dwell in a blessed and favoured land.
9; Numbers 21. 20). no Juan knoweth of liis sepulchre unto this day—This concealment seems to have been owing to a special and wise ari'angement of Providence, to prevent its being ranked among " holy places," and made the resort of superstitious pilgrims or idolatrous veneration, in after ages. 8. wept for Moses thli-ty days —seven days was the usual period of mourning, but for persons in liigh rank or otlichil eminence, it wjis extended to tliirty (Genesis 50. 3-10; Numbers 20. 29). 9. .Toshua was full of the spirit of wisdom—He was ai>i)ointed to a peculiar and extraordinary otiiee; he was not the successor of Moses, for lie was not a prophet or civil ruler, but tlie general or leader, called to head the people in tho war of invasion, and the subsequent allocation of the
tribes. 10-1'i. there arose not a prophet since— In whatever light we view tliis extraordinary man, the eulogy proiiouneed in tliese inspired words will appear just. No llel)rcw proplict or ruler equalled hlin in character, oftl-