Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 29:1

BEside the covenant] The same in substance, but not altogether the same, but much varied with sundry additions of explanation, admonition, with some new commands, comminations, and benedictions, which were not mentioned in the former Edition of the Covenant; in which respect it may be said to be diverse from the former: so diverse as if it were another besides it.

Deuteronomy 29:2

Moses called] It is not like that all this was delivered at once, but that the people dismissed having heard some part before, were called together againe to heare the rest.

ye have seene] See Annot. on Exodus 19. vers. 4.

Deuteronomy 29:3

temptations] Trials or proofes of Gods power. See Annot. on Chap. 7. 5: 19.

Deuteronomy 29:4

not given you] They had both sensuall eyes and eares, but a spirituall apprehension and use of those great workes they had not; and they had it not, because God had not given it unto them; so that wonders without the worke of grace will not availe for mans conversion, but grace without them will be sufficient for faith and salvation.

Deuteronomy 29:5

clothes not waxed old] See Annot. on Chap. 8. 5: 4.

Deuteronomy 29:6

not eaten bread] Made by mans art, but Manna, which is the bread of Angels, Psal. 78. vers. 24, 25.

nor drinke wine] For your drinke hath beene as miraculous as your bread; water fetched out of the rock, Numb. 20. 5: 11. Psal. 78. 5: 15, 16.

that ye might know] By a miraculous supply of your wants of both; how great a God I am in power, how able to provide for my people without ordinary meanes.

Deuteronomy 29:10

all of you] All of what difference soever, by sexe, by age, stature, or state must be made to know what they are bound to keepe.

before the Lord] Who seeth you, though you see not him; and in you seeth what man cannot see, (your hearts) and therefore you may not thinke to dissemble with him in making of the Covenant, nor in a guilefull observation of it.

Deuteronomy 29:11

thy stranger] Such as came with thee out of Egypt, and left their Idolatrous Religion behind them.

from the hewer] A proverbiall speech, as from a thread to a sholatchet. Gen. 14. 5: 23.

Deuteronomy 29:12

enter] Heb. passe. Alluding to them who when they made a sure covenant divided a beast, and past betweene the parts divided. See Annot. on Genesis 15:10.

Deuteronomy 29:13

a people unto himselfe] Chap. 28. 5: 9.

Deuteronomy 29:15

that is not here] Meaning your posterity.

Deuteronomy 29:16

passed by] To come through (as is said before) and to passe by (as here) seeme repugnant; but the meaning is, that they came through some parts of the Nations, where they saw their Idols, vers. 17. and passed by others; or that though they came through them they made no stay among the people, but as wayfaring men passed away.

Deuteronomy 29:18

Lest there should be] He proposeth the Covenant in generall termes both for those that are and those that shall be, Vers. 14, 15. lest any one should expect a priviledge from the curse, if he doe transgresse: or this word (lest) may be answered by vers. 20. lest any one should doe so, the Lord professeth he will not spare him.

root that beareth] That is, a corrupt heart whence proceed evill words and deeds, which are bitter leaves and fruit, bitter by repentance if they be pardoned, and bitter by paine if they be punished; and unto God as distastefull as the bitterest gall can be unto man. And though it be in the root, and that hidden in the ground, yet it is as well known to God, as that which is in the branches or fruit obvious to the view or taste of man.

Deuteronomy 29:23

brimstone and salt] The heat of brimstone and salt dry up the fruitfull juyce of the earth, and make it barren; wherefore Abimelech when he had overthrown the Citie of Sichem sowed the ground with salt, Judg. 9. 45. See Psalms 107:34. text and margine. Jeremiah 17:6.

Deuteronomy 29:28

as it is this day] These words are not to be taken as spoken by Moses himselfe, or as if the condition of the people were in his time such as is said, vers. 22. but they are spoken as of the time when the Prophecy should come to passe, as in the name and by those who should see it accomplished.

Deuteronomy 29:29

revealed things] Are of many sorts, but those here chiefly meant, are the Rules of dutie to God and man, revealed not for contemplation, but for practise, and the Judgements in the generall before threatned to the transgressours of them; in which sentence he giveth a Caveat against curious presumption in prying into hidden matters, and carelesse neglect of known Lawes.