Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:1

CAme out] Therefore besides the commandement of the Lord, they had just occasion given on his part to fight against him: and so they did, and the battell with him is set downe, Num. 21. vers. 33. where are most of the same things that here are mentioned.

Edrei] See Annot. on Chap. 1. 4.

Deuteronomy 3:2

I will deliver] See Annot. on Chap. 2. vers. 4.

Deuteronomy 3:4

Argob] This is another name of the Kingdome of Basan, or a province in that Kingdome, 1 Kings 4:13.

Deuteronomy 3:5

all those cities] Which were no fewer then threescore, vers. 4. & Josh, 13. 30. which sheweth that neither number nor power of men can hold out against God.

Deuteronomy 3:6

• utterly destroyed them] Chap. 2. 34, 35. & 20. 16. Leviticus 27:28.

Deuteronomy 3:8

on this side Jordan] To those who journied from Egypt towards Canaan; but those that were in Canaan were said to be beyond Jordan, vers. 25.

mount Hermon] Is conceived to be the utmost part of mount Gilead boyond Jordan, joyning (as some affirme) mount Lebanon and Gilead together: Gilead hath severall names for severall parts of it; and one part of it, to wit, Hermon, hath many names, vers. 9. and it is called Sirion, and Shenir, and Chap. 4. 48. Sion and Hor, Numbers 34:7.

Deuteronomy 3:11

onely Og remained] Viz. in that Region. In the Hebrew it is, of the stock of Rephaim, which in the time of Abraham possessed the whole Countrey, Gen. 14. for all the race of the Giants was not every where rooted out, as appeareth by Goliah the Giant of Gath, 1 Samuel 17:4. See also Numbers 13:33. & Joshua 15:14. but for that Countrey, the off-spring of Rephaim was with Og utterly rooted out.

bed-stead of iron] Belike wood was not strong enough to beare his weight and strength, in stretching and turning himselfe upon his bed. Some take this repository not for a bed for ordinary sleepe, but for a sepulchre, the bed of the sleepe of death.

after the cubite of a man] There were divers sorts of cubites; some were measured from the bending of the arme to the palme where the fingers meete, and these are called our short cubits: some from the bending of the arme to the end of the longest finger; and these were longer and shorter according to the difference of humane stature and when it is said of the stature of a man, the largest usuall measure among Artificers is meant, a cubite of a foot and nine inches long; so that this bed was fifteene foot, that is, five yards and eight inches long, and seven foot broad.

Rabbath] * 2 Samuel 12:26 Jeremiah 49:2.

Deuteronomy 3:14

unto this day] Because these words are thought to import a longer continuance of time then the age of Moses; some thinke they are the words of Ezra, or of some other Sacred Scribe, who wrote part of the 34. Chapter of this Book, from the sixth verse, to the end of it: but because the words, vers. 13. next before these, and vers. 15. next after doe plainly appeare to be the words of Moses, there is no reason to thinke that these word [unto this day] have any other authour but him: and though from the conquest of these places, and the name given to them to the time of Moses his writing of this story (which was at the latter end of his life) there passed not past three or foure moneths, yet might it be said (unto this day): for the words are not simply an affirmative, that the Townes were called so, as by common and ancient custome, but that Jair that tooke them called them so to this day: and so the continuance is not to be extended beyond his time, which might be no longer then the time of Moses; and yet it might be a matter to be noted that he could take such a portion of the Land from Gyants, and still continue them in his power and under his name: for it is the manner of Conquerors to change the names of the places conquered; and by adding [unto this day] Moses both gives a note of assurance of his story, and a motive of courage to the Israelites by the example of Jair to doe valiantly, and to et their names on conquered Townes and Countries, as he had done.

Deuteronomy 3:15

Gilead unto Machir] Part of Gilead: for the Reubenites and Gadites therein were partners with him. See vers. 12. & Annot. on Numbers 32:40. See also, 1 Chron. 2. 22.

Deuteronomy 3:17

Chinnereth] See Numbers 34. 11.

salt sea] See Annot. on Numbers 34:3.

Deuteronomy 3:24

what God] He meaneth not that there are indeed many Gods, or any other but the true God; but he speaketh with respect to the common and corrupt speech of them, who attribute that power unto Idols that onely appertaineth to the true God, and by way of contestation and contempt against false and fained Gods, Psalms 86:8. & Psalms 89:8.

Deuteronomy 3:25

I pray thee let me goe over, and see] God had told Moses he should not goe over, Numbers 20:12. we must thinke then that either Moses tooke the saying of God for no absolute commination, but such a one as was made of Hezekiahs death, 2 Kings 20:1. and of Ninevehs destruction, Jonah 3:4. Or that he suffered his affections to goe too farre, in desiring to goe further then God would have him; yet this was not out of any superstition to the place, in regard of any holinesse in it, from its reference to the ancient Patriarchs buried there, (as some Popish glosses would have it) but that he longed to see that Land so long agoe promised to Gods people, as the glory of all lands, Ezekiel 20:6. and to see Gods promise fully performed (whereof the Israelites so much doubted) by their actuall possession of it.

goodly mountaine] Some thinke it was mount Moriah, on which the Temple was after built, but that was too farre off for Moses to see, being 210. furlongs distant from Jordan. Josephus of the warres of the Jewes, 50: 5. 100: 4. Or one of the mountaines of Bethel, which were higher then it, and nigher to Jordan: but certainly it was some mountaine of eminent note, though not here named, unlesse Lebanon be it, which some affirme, taking the word [and] to be redundant: or (as sometimes it is taken) by way of exposition, as, and Lebanon: that is to say, Lebanon. See Annot. on vers. 8.

Lebanon] A mountaine situate in the North-part of the land of anan, and famous for tall and strong edars, and other trees, and for odoriferous plants, Psalms 29:5. & Psalms 104:16. ?Isaiah 2:13; Isaiah 14:8. Son 4:11.

Deuteronomy 3:26

for your sakes] See Annot. on Chap. 1. vers. 37. Num. 33. & 27. 13, 14. Deuteronomy 32:51.

Deuteronomy 3:27

thine eyes] As before he saw by the Spirit of prophesie the good mountaine which was Sion, so here his eyes were lifted up above the order of nature to behold all the plentifull Land of Canaan; whereof God was much more able to give him a true, full and cleare prospect at once, then the Devill could present an apparition from an high mountaine of all the Kingdomes of the world, Matthew 4:8.