Numbers 21

Numbers 21:1

THe Canaate] Numbers 14:25 Of the spies] They had retained them which Meses had sent to discover the Countrie: see Numbers 13:18. others take the Hebrew word to be the proper name of Abarim.

Numbers 21:3

Hormah] Dst uction, after the manner of accursed things, see Num. 14 45.

Numbers 21:4

By the way] The Italian addeth, Drawing towards the] That is to say, turning about some way to compasse the mountaines of Idumea: Numbers 20:21.

Numbers 21:5

Light] This they speak secrnesully of Manna, as food of light substance, which did not withstanding, without troubling the organs of the body, or oppressing them with too much fulnesse, maintaine the body in good health, and in one continuall equality of strength and vigour, as it chanced to Moses: see Deuter. 34. 7. and to Caleb, Joshua 14:11.

Numbers 21:6

Fiery] That is to say, whose bitings did presently cause grievous and painfull inflammations over all the body: see Deuteronomy 8:15.

Numbers 21:8

Make thee] This serpent was a figure of Christ who was sent into the world in the likenesse of sirfull flesh: Romans 8:3. the pole was a figure of the Crosse, upon which he was raised, and the looking upon it, represented Faith in our Saviour: John 3:14-15.

Numbers 21:11

Fie-Abarim] The Italian hath it, Hillocks of Abarim] They were little hills where the mountaines of Abarim did begin: see Numbers 33:47 wildernesse] Called the wildernesse of Moab: Dour. 2. 8.

Numbers 21:12

The valley] Or the torrent.

Numbers 21:13

On the other side] The Italian hath it, Along the river] On the wildernesse of Moabs side: for the Moabites of Ar, had given the people passage: Deuteronomy 2:29. although the King had refused it: Deuteronomy 23:3-4. Judges 11:17-18.

Numbers 21:14

In the book] It might be some poem, or ancient writing upon the subject of the peoples voyages, and it is uncertaine whether it was written by any Prophet: see Jol. 10. 13. 2 Samuel 1:18. Jude 1:14 What he did in the red Sea] The Italian hath it, Vaheb in Suf] These words with the verse following, being nothing but parcells pricked out of the same booke, there can be no other sense gathered out of them, but this, that Arnon was a famous river upon the confines of Moab; which is also the only scope of this allegation.

Numbers 21:16

To Beer] Or to the well, a place so called by reason of a well, which God caused to be digged at the peoples arrivall thither.

Numbers 21:17

This song] It should seeme it was some song, made and sung to hearten, and cheere up those who wrought in digging of the well Spring up] Let us quickly finde thy waters: or may thy waters be high, and abounding, Sing ye unto it] A Poëticall Prosopopeia, as who should say, bid it welcome.

Numbers 21:18

The Princes] At the digging of which well, Moses the great Law-giver, and all the rulers of the people were solemnly present with their staves in their hands, which staves were signes of dignity and office: Judges 5:14.

Numbers 21:20

Moab] This was the country of the Moabites of Ar see upon Numbers 20:13.Pisgah] This was some of the steep mountaines of Abarim, which went down into a spacious valley: see Deut. 3. 17. 27. and 32. 49. and 34. 1. 6. now here is meant the Easterne side of the hill, which stood towards the wildernesse of Moab, for on the other side one might see Jericho, and the Land of Canaan.

Numbers 21:21

Sent] Sihon as an Amorite was already condemned by God to extirpation, and was unworthy to enjoy the rights of War, which were to proffer peace before they did invade them: Deur. 20. 10. But this superabundant equity served to discover and exasperate this Kings cruelty: which opened the meanes to execute Gods generall sentence: see Deut. 2. 26. 30.

Numbers 21:22

Waters] See upon Numbers 20:17.

Numbers 21:24

Jabock] The name of a river which confined the Amorites Land For the]Not because the children of Israel had tried to force those borders, and could not, for God had sorbidden them to invade the country of Ammon: Deuteronomy 2:19. but to shew that Sihon could not enlarge his conquests on that side as he had done towards Moab: v. 26.

Numbers 21:26

Who had sought] The Italian hath it, Who had been the first that had fought]amongst the Kings of the Amorites, Sihon was the first that had broken the peace and neighbour-hood with the Moabites, & had taken Heshbon from them, which anciently belonged to Moab, to whom it returned afterwards as appeareth by Isa. 15. 4. and 16. 8 Jeremiah 48:2. Or else the meaning is, that though God had forbidden the Israelites to invade the Moabites country: Deuteronomy 2:9. yet they might take that country from Sihon, which he had taken away before from the Moabites.

Numbers 21:27

They that speak in Proverbes] The Italian hath it, The Poets] It sheweth that there were some penners of popular songs, upon those things which happened in this journey, as v. 14. And this it should seeme was some triumphall song upon the taking of Heshbon; and thereby the Israelites are encouraged to repaire it, for to dwell in it: Numbers 32:37.

Numbers 21:28

A fire] That is to say, whereas Heshbon was esteemed to be the defence and strength of all the country of Moab: after it was taken by Sihon, it did help to loose all the rest of the country, as it ordinarily happeneth when the chief Cities of a country are taken: see Jerem. 48. 45. Ezech. 28. 8 Ar] This was the chief City of the Country of Arocr, in the territories of Moab, which it is likely it was not taken by Sihon, but remained in the Moabites hands: Deuteronomy 2:9. but that which is here said, is to be understood of the losse of some part of their territory, which was taken from the Moabites by Sihon, and from Sihon againe by the Israelites: Ios. 12. 2 The Lords of the high places of Arnon] The Italian hath it, The inhabitants of Baot Arnon] High places, and they might be forts or rocks, situate upon the side of the hill, along the river of Arnon.

Numbers 21:29

Chemosh] An idoll of the Moabites, 1. Kings 11. 7. 2 Kings 23:13 He]Namely Chemosh could not help his people; but part of them were slaine by the sword, and the rest led into captivity.

Numbers 21:30

We] Namely we Israelite: Shot at them] The Italian, Discomsited them] The Hebrew, shot and transfixed them Heshbon] The taking of the principall City, did consequently draw on the loste of the rest of the country Which reacheth] Whose territory doth extend it selfe.