Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Complete John Calvin (continued)
HARMONY OF THE LAW · VOLUME 2 of Edom, they went by another way; but immediately afterwards he adds, that they basely rebelled, without being provoked to do so by any new cause. They had before been rebellious under the pressure of hunger or thirst, or some other inconvenience; but now, when there were no grounds for doing so, they malignantly exasperate themselves against God. Some understand that they were afflicted in mind because of the way, 544 so that the,בbeth, indicates the cause of their grief and trouble. It might, indeed, be the case that their passage through the mountains was steep and difficult; but a pleasant region was almost in sight, gently to attract them onward. Again, they falsely complain of want of water, in which respect God had already applied a remedy. Nothing, then, could be more unfair than odiously to recall to memory a past evil, in which they had experienced the special aid of God. But their depravity is more thoroughly laid open in their loathing of the manna, as a food affording but little nutriment, or contemptible.
The verb 545,קצרkatzar, is used first, which signifies to constrain; thus some explain it, that they were rendered anxious by distress. But since the same word is used for to shorten, others translate it that their minds were broken down with weariness, so as to faint by the way. In any case, a voluntary bitterness is indicated, whereby they were possessed, so that their alacrity in advancing altogether failed them. The verb 546 ,,קצהkatzah, which Jerome renders sickens, is not used simply for disgust, but signifies that weariness which excruciates or agonizes the mind.
They call the manna "light" food; as much as to say that it inflates rather than satisfies or nourishes; or, as I deem more probable, the word,קלקל kelokel, is used metaphorically for vile, or contemptible, and valueless.
5. And the people spake against God and against Moses. Either because they murmured against God in the person of Moses, or else because their impiety broke forth to such a furious extent, that they openly blasphemed against God; and this latter opinion is most in accordance with the words,
in via. A.V. "because of the way." "In often noteth the cause of a thing; as, 'the Lord's soul was grieved in (that is, for, or because of) the misery of Israel,' Judges 10:16; or, according to the like phrase in Zechariah 11:8, their soul 'loatheth the way,' both for the longsomeness of it, and for the many wants and troubles they found therein." — Ainsworth in loco.
A. V., "discouraged;" margin, "or, grieved; Heb. shortened.",קצרTo shorten, to cut short, to cut off, and hence to reap. S.M. says, "Their spirit was shortened, i.e., became impatient; being a species of antithesis to longanimity, or long forbearing." — W.
A. V., "loatheth."קצהis likewise to cut off, but is said by the lexicographers to borrow a meaning in this instance fromקוףto loathe, and be weary of. It would be simpler to say thatקצהis the praet. 3d. pers. of,קוףand that a feminine verb is required by the subs.— נפשנוW