Deuteronomy 32
DortThe divine song wherein both God himself and his exceeding great mercies to Israel are exalted verse 1 to 5 and verse 7 to 15 an don the contrary their abominable thankfulness most vehemently rebuked 5,6,15 &c. Gods wrath and future judgments propounded 19 yet without sparing the idolatrous abomination of these people enemies 31 whereupon God then again comforteth his people promising to be avenged on his and their idolatrous enemies to reconcile his church unto himself to hear it and to enlarge and extend it among the Heathen 36 Moseh having uttered this song exhorted them to mind Gods words for their own good 44 and receiveth the same day a charge to view the land of Canaan upon a mount and to die the there 48.
1. Incline thine ears thou heaven [such kind of speech directed to the unreasonable creatures tended to Israel conviction and disgrace compare above chapter 4 on verse 26] and I will speak and let the earth hear ] the sayings of my mouth.
2. Let my doctrine drop [or my doctrine shall drop] as the rain let my speech flow as a dew as a small rain upon the grass plants and as drops [or thick rain great showers]upon the herb [that is I will propound a doctrine shall be as useful and wholesome for men as the dew and the rain is the grass or herb compare Ezechiah 21.2 Amos 7:16 Micah 2:6&c.]
3. For I will proclaim [Heb. Cry call that is publicly declare proclaim others call upon] the name of the Lord render greatness unto the Lord our God [that is ascribe unto him the majesty and great power which he hath and exalted him for the same see above chapter 9.26 and 11.2.]
4. He is the rock [that is firm and unmovable assure refuge and defense for those that be his so below verse 31 whose work is perfect for all his ways are judgments [allhisactions all his rules are accompanied with righteousness tending to the preservation of the godly and punishment of the wicked] God is truth and is no iniquity just and right is he.
5. He namely Israel hath corrupted it [namely the Lord] there are not his children the spot is theirs [they are not his children to wit they have so corrupted themselves and so shamefully behaved themselves others their spot is not the spot of his children that is becometh cometh not that are called his children for as much as it prooceedeth not out of weakness but out of willfulness and impenitent heart] it is a perverse and croked generation.
6. Will ye requite this unto the Lord ye foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath gotten [or bought] thee that hath made thee and established thee?
7. Remember the days of old [Heb. Of age or eternity that is remember all that hath happened in the church of God from the beginning of the world see Jeremiah 2:20] consider the years of every generation [Heb. Of generation and generation that is of all generation or of every generation see 1 Kings 8 on verses 39.] ask thy father he will make it known to thee thy ancient ones and they will tell it to thee.
8. When the most high divided the inheritances to the nations when he separated the children from Adam [others the children of men] he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the children Israel [to wit in the tribes and posterity of Israel their habitations and their possessions compare above chapter 3, .12, 13 &c. Joshua chapter 13, 14, 15 &c. Acts 17:26 the meaning is that God and his cancel and providence hath had his eye especially upon his people.]
9. For the Lords portion is his people [that is every dear unto the Lord as inheritance are wont to be unto men] Jacob is the line of his inheritance [that is the people of Israel descended from Jacob are as near unto God and in as great account with him as mans inheritance are unto with them which inheritance are wont to be measured out and divided by lines see above chapter3 on verse 4]
10. He found him in a land of desert and in a waste of howling wilderness [Heb. In a wasteness of howling of solitariness of wilderness]he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye [as men are wont to keep diligently as the apple of their eye which is very tender see psalms 17.8 Zachariah 2.8 and compare Proverbs 7:2.]
11. As an eagle stirreth up her nest [that is awakened her brood or young ones with a certain sound or noise to signify unto them she intends to teach them to fly and to bring them to fly] fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them and carrieth them [Heb. Taketh it and carrieth it to wit every young one]on her wings.
12. So the Lord alone did lead him [to wit Israel or Jacob] and there was no strange god with him.
13. he made him ride on the high places of the earth ]that is he advanced him most gloriously and delivered in unto him the tallest and strongest city see above chapter 1.28 compare with chapter 2.36 and Numbers 21:25,32 so below chapter 33.29] that he might eat the increase of the field and he made him suck honey out of the rock [for the land of promise flowed with honey Exodus 3:8,17 even in woods 1samuel 14 and caves of rocks according to the nature of bees Psalms 81.17]and oil out often flint of rock [compare above chapter 8.15.]
14. Butter of kine and milk of small cattle with the fat of lambs and of rams that fed in Basan [Heb. Children of Basan see Numbers 32:4 and 33 and elsewhere after where Basan lying at the east end of Jordan is said to have been a very fat country] and of goats with the fats of kidneys of wheat [that is with special thick and swelled up grains of wheat which in respect of their form situation in the fat and swelling are compared to kidneys] and thou didst drink the blood of the grapes pure [or red wine]wine.
15. Now when Jeschurun [meaning the people of Israel who are called here Jeschurun because they ought to be right and upright or to walk uprightly in Gods ways as being thereunto called by him and because of the rule of true righteousness was only with them but for as much as it was far otherwise with them and would be for the future this title the right one or he that is become right is given to them in an upbraiding way which otherwise was an excellent title of honor as below chapter 33.5,26] waxed fat and kicked [as wanton calves or willful horses that is he became a rebel against God] thou art waxen fat thou art grown thick yea covered over with fastness and he let God go that made him [Heb. His maker see Job 4 on verse 7] and despised the rock of his salvation.
16. They provoked him to zeal [see above chapter4 on verse24] by strange gods by abomination provoked they him to anger.
17. They offered unto devils [that is unto idols by whom devils are served compare 1Corinthians 10.20 the Hebrew word signifieth wasters destroyers so the devils are rightly called as the angel of the bottomless pit is called the destroyer Revelations 9.11] not unto God unto Gods whom they knew not unto now Gods that were come from nigh at hand [that is that were newly or lately sprung up] which your fathers were not afraid of.
18. Thou hast forgotten the rock that begat thee [that is God who hath been as a father and mother towards you and hath made and adopted ye for his children and hath entreated you with fatherly and motherly affection] and hast put in oblivion the God that performed thee.
19. When the Lord saw him then he despised them because of the anger against his sons and his daughters [Heb. The anger of his sons and his daughters that is wherewith he was anger against them compare Jeremiah7.29 Joel 3:19 Obadiah 1:10 &c. others which his sons and his daughters had provoked.]
20. And he said I will hide my face from them[see above chapter 31 on verse 17] I will see what their end shall be [Heb. Their last uttermost hand most so below verse 9 that is what will befall them at last compare Psalms 37 on verse 37 and Proverbs 14:12 and 16.12 with the annotate] for they are a very perverse generation [Heb. a generation of perverseness]] children in whom is not faithfulness [that is which keep no faith nor word which are unfaithful and perjurious.]
21. They have provoked me to jealousy by that which is not God [that is by idols see 1Corinthians 8.4,5 and 10.19] they have provoked me to anger by their vanity I will provoke them to jealousy by those which are not a people [meaning the gentiles which God should convert and call to the knowledge of him and the fellowship with him in stead of the Jews see Romans 9:25 an d10.19 &c.] I will provoke them to anger by a foolish nation.
22. For a fire [that is horrible plagues of desolation war famine pestilence &c. as followeth compare above chapter4 on verse 24 see Job 22 on verse 20] is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest or of inferiority that is unto the place of the graves or sepulchers deep in the ground which shall be so wasted and be destroyed that in a long while it shall bear no fruit see further of the Hebrew word scheol Genesis 37 on verse 35] and shall consume the land with her incense and set the foundation of the hills in a flame [Heb. Flames.]
23. I will heap evils [that is plagues mischief which are meant by Gos arrows here in this verse and by fire verse 22] upon them will shoot away all mine arrows [that is all mine plagues which the scripture calleth Gods arrows because they are sent by him an d hit sure and deep so below verse 42.]
24. They shall be consumed with hunger eaten up with the carbuncle [that is fiery swelling having the of the fiery coal] and bitter destruction and I will send the teeth of beasts among them with the fiery poison of serpent of the dust [that eat the dust of the earth Genesis 3:14.]
25. The sword shall deprive [the one from the other favoring or pitying any as followeth in the verse] abroad and terror from the upper chamber also the young man also the virgin the sucking child with a man of grey hairs [Heb. The man of grayness or boariness.]
26. I said I would scatter [or destroy] them into all corners I would fetch them out of corners I would them out of one corner into another [see the sequel of this verse 28] I will cause this remembrance to cease from among men.
27. Were it not that I feared the wrath [or provocation] of the enemy [spoken of God after the manner of men the meaning is were it not that I omitted it for the honor of my name that the same might not be blasphemed among the heathen] lest their adversaries should have themselves strangely [to wit so that they would not know that I had done it because of Israelis abominable sins but that they by the help of their idols had so mastered and destroyed Israel] lest they should say our hand hath been high the Lord hath not wrought all this [that is by our own strength we have gotten the upper hand of Israel it is not Gods works at all.]
28. For they [to wit the Israelites] are a nation that perish by counsels [that is that thrust themselves into perdition by their own wicked counsel]neither it there any understanding in them.
29. O that they were wise they would perceive this they would consider their end [or that they would understand this that they would consider their end of the word end see above verse 20.]
30. How should one [to wit of the enemies] chase a thousand [to wit of the Israelites others of the Israelites would chase a thousand enemies except &c.] and two cause ten thousand to fly were it is not that their rock [that is God as above] had sold them and the Lord had delivered them up? Or had shut them up to wit in the enemies hand.]
31. For their [to wit the enemies] rock [that is the idols on which they rely as on a rock] is not as our rock [that is our God on whom as on a rock] our enemies themselves being as judges [or let our enemies themselves be judges that is they themselves must needs to confess it as finding by experience that their idols have no power at all to revenge or to punish as the God of Israel doth publicly manifest his power both towards his people and their enemies making known his justice towards both.]
32. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the field of Gomorra [as if it were sprung from thence that is they are of like nature and works as those of Sodom and Gomorra were a very fair and fruitful country but most wicked and profane inhabitants this hath respect to the wine which was offered to idols see verse 38] their grapes are venomous grapes [Heb. Grapes of venom or poison others grapes of gall that is gallish] they have bitter berries.
33. Their wine is fiery poison of dragons and cruel venom of adders.
34. Is not that shut up with me and sealed in my treasures ?[that is I know all this very well and have firmly concluded the vengeance of which is spoken in the next verse but will adjoin the execution until the time which is in my secret counsel I have appointed it compare Job 33 verse 16 Psalms 56 on verse 9.]
35. The vengeance and the recompense is mine at the time when their foot shall slip for the day of their ruine is at hand and the things shall befall them [others that are prepared for them] make haste.
36. For the Lord will do right unto his people and it shall repent him[see Genesis 6 on verse 6] concerning his servants for he shall see that the hand [that is all power all his people strength ability]is gone that he that is shut up is left this seemeth to have been a proverb signifying the utmost distress and desolation compare 1 Kings 14:10 and 21.21 and especially2Kings 14.26 the meaning is that they were at a non-plus both those that hid themselves in the city upon the hope of escaping or were shut up or shaved in prison by any one through pity or favor and also those that were in the wide field were let go or fled away conceiving that none would think of them any more that they seemeth to be quite left and forgotten of the enemies when it is come thus far then as if he should say will Godsend help and deliverance from heaven.]
37. Then he shall say where are their [to wit the enemies] Gods? The rock in whom they trusted?
38. The fat of whose slay offerings they did eat the wine of whose drink offerings they drank [others which did eat fat of their slay offerings and drank wine of their drink offerings] let them rise up and use ye that they may be hiding for you [or an hiding place for you .]
39. See now that I, I am HE and there is no God with me [compare above chapter 4.35 Isaiah 45:5,8.22] I kill and make alive [see 1Samuel 2.6] I smite [or wound thrust through] and I heal and there is none that delivereth out of mine hand.
40. For I will lift up mine hand from heaven [that is I will swear God speaketh thus after the manner of man this manner of action was usual in swearing see Genesis 14 on verse 22] and I will say I live forever [swearing by myself see Hebrews 6:13.]
41. If I wet my glittering sword [Heb. The lightning or shining of my glittering sword] and mine hand take hold of judgment then I will cause the vengeance to return upon mine adversaries and reward mine haters.
42. I will make mine arrows [see above on verse 23] drunk with blood and my sword shall eat flesh with the blood of the slain and of the captive [Heb. Of the captivity] from head there shall be vengeance of captivity [that is from above beginning at the head others from the beginning shall the vengeance or wrong of the enemy be that is I will revenge all at once wherein the enemy hath offended from the beginning.]
43. Shout for joy ye heathen with his people [meaning the Jews see Romans 15:10] for will avenge the blood of his servants [compare Revelations 19.2 and he shall cause the vengeance to return upon his advisory and reconcile his land and his people [to wit unto himself grace freely for the Messiahs sake.]
44. And Moseh came and spake all the words of this song before the ears of the people he and Hosea [that is Joshua] the son of Nun.
45. Now when Moseh had made an end of speaking all these words unto all Israel.
46. then he said unto them set your heart unto all the words which I testify among ye this day that ye may command them your children that they may observe to do all the words of this law.
47. For that is not a vain [or idle] word for you[the meaning is the words is not so vain and empty or poor that it may not be worth your labor to mind it in the highest degree] but it is your life through this word ye shall prolong your days in the way wither ye go over Jordan to inherit it.
48. After that the Lord spake unto Moseh that self same day saying.
49. Get up into the mountain Abram this tis the mount Nebo which is in the land of Moab which is over against Jericho [or in the sight of Jericho] and behold the land of Canaan which I will give unto the children of Israel for a possession [see Numbers 27:12.]
50. And die upon that mountain whither thou shalt go up and be gathered unto thy people [see Genesis 15 on verse15] according as thy brother Aaron died in mount Hor and was gathered unto his people [see Numbers 27:13 and 33.38.]
51. Because ye trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the water of strife of Kades in the wilderness of Zin because ye hallowed me not me not in the midst of the children of Israel [that is ye did not at that time publickly shew before the people such affiance in me and for my glory as did become to do you see further Leviticus 10on verse 3.]
52. For thou shalt see that land over against thee but not enter in thither into the land which I will give unto the children of Israel.