Deuteronomy 31

Deuteronomy 31:1

VVEnt and spake] That is, (as some take it) Moses went to the people assembled together, and to them assembled, spake as followeth: but it may be went and spake is he went on in speaking; or began againe to speake: for the Hebrewes use to phrase beginning by going or rising.

Deuteronomy 31:2

an hundred and twentie yeares old] His yeares might have made him too aged to beare so great a burden, yet his sight was not dimme, nor his naturall force decayed when he dyed, Deuteronomy 34:7. but the chiefe reason was, he knew though he were neither sicke nor weake, he must quickly die, vers. 14. and must not lead the people over Jordan, as he saith in the next words, and that Joshua was designed to take the Charge which he laid down: and he complaineth of his age to make them the more to accept of a younger man for their Governour in his stead.

no more goe out and come in] That is, doe the office of a Captain to lead the people forth to warre, and to bring them home backe againe in peace.

Deuteronomy 31:3

and Joshua] He joyneth the Lord and Joshua together, that the people may have the better hope of his happy guidance, who, though he were before but a Minister or servant to Moses, was now to be Commander in Chiefe under God, as himselfe had been; and whatsoever difference they conceived betwixt them as men, they were to expect, that he as guided and assisted by God, would be a sufficient Conductor of them to the possession of the promise, and therefore they might follow him with confidence, and must follow him with obedience, rather as second onely to God, then as Successour to himselfe.

Deuteronomy 31:4

as he did to Sihon] God is the same in future, that he was in former favours to his people, and judgements to their enemies, if they be not rebels against him, or revolters from him.

unto the land] That is, the inhabitants of the Land.

Deuteronomy 31:5

Before your face] They shall so flie or fall before you, that you shall perceive that you prevaile by the power of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of] For he that must govern his people (specially so numerous and apt to murmure) hath need to be valiant to represse vice, and constant to maintaine vertue.

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord is he that doth] Gods assistance is the surest ground of couragious confidence.

Deuteronomy 31:9

this Law] That is, the booke of Deuteronomie.

to the priests] Who were to be most conversant in it, that they might the better instruct the people out of it, especially in the yeare of release, which was every seventh yeare, Exodus 23:11. when it was solemnly and entirely to be read unto them, vers. 11. of this Chapter.

which bare the Arke] The Arke is mentioned here by occasion of the booke, which was laid up in the side of it: and for the bearing of the Arke, there is some doubt whether it belonged to the Priests onely, or to the Levites with them, or whether to either, as Priests, or as Levites. Some conceive that the Priests must beare the Arke, and not the Levites, and therefore that Uzzah being but a Levite when he touched it was smitten, because he presumed upon the charge of the Priests; but it appeares that the Levites, (which were the sonnes of Cohath, who had the charge of the Arke, Numbers 3:31.) did carry it, as vers. 25. of this Chapter, though not onely, nor alwayes, for at some extraordinary times the Priests did beare it, Joshua 3:13. & 1 Kings 8:3. yet with this difference, that the Priestmight, and somtimes did it upon especiall occasion, to testifie their pietie, or for greater solemnitie: but the Levites must doe it, as a part of their service in ordinary. See 1 Chronicles 15:2. And yet might they not touch any of the holy things they carried, untill they were covered by Aaron and his sonnes the Priests, Numbers 4:15. and therefore the sinne of Uzzah, whether Priest or Levite, was not onely, for that he and the rest suffered the Arke to be carried on a Cart, (which they should have born on their shoulders) but for that he either fained a perill of falling, and so seemed hypocritically to support it, or that he tooke the boldnesse irreverently to touch some part of it, for which he ought to be smitten as he was, Numbers 4:15.

Deuteronomy 31:10

yeare of release] Every seventh yeare was a yeare of release, See Annot. on Chap. 15. 1, 2.

Deuteronomy 31:11

before the Lord] Before the Arke of the Covenant, which was the signe of Gods presence, and the figure of Christ.

Thou shalt read] It is not said who in particular, but it is like the service was performed by some eminent person in the Priest-hood, as by Ezra, who is called both a Scribe, and a Priest, Nehem. 8. 1, 2. A cribe as he was a Writer of the Law, and a Priest as a Reader, and Expounder of it to the people, and a Sacrificer to God.

Deuteronomy 31:12

children] Children must be timely instructed in the Law of God, that they may be inured unto it, and habituated in it before they come to be men; for young Saints are most like to be old Saints, (though one of the devils Proverbs cals them the old devils.)

Deuteronomy 31:14

in the Tabernacle] The Tabernacle is sometime taken for the whole space, or place, which was marked, and bounded out for holy uses, and not for the curious Tent of curtains, Exod. 26. 10, 11, &c. Here it is taken for that part of the Court which was neere the doore of the Tabernacle, for into the Tabernacle it selfe none but the Priest might enter.

Deuteronomy 31:15

pillar of a cloud] That is, a cloud in forme, and fashion of a pillar, as the flaming sword, was fire in forme of a sword, Gen. 3. vers. last.

Deuteronomy 31:17

hide my face] That is, I will take my favour from them, as to turne his face towards them is to shew them his favour.

Deuteronomy 31:19

this song] See Annot. on Vers. 30.

a witnesse] For me against their disobedience and ingratitude, and against their obstinacy, or stupiditie, who, though they were warned of the wretched end of wicked works, would not beware.

Deuteronomy 31:20

then will they turn] Outward prosperitie, though good for the body, may be bad for the soule; for many will no longer obey God then they are under his rod, who turne their prosperitie, which should be a cause of their obedience to God, to an occasion of contempt against God.

Deuteronomy 31:21

testifie against them] That their owne wickednesse wrought their woe, and that their sufferings were but the just reward of their disobedience.

which they goe about] There were some so ill minded among them, as to meditate on mischiefe before hand, whereby they deserved their expulsion out of the land, when as yet they had not gotten possession of the Land: but God foresaw how bad they would be, and therefore fore-ordained a just reward for their wickednesse.

Deuteronomy 31:23

and said] Hitherto God spake of, and to Joshua, but by Moses; now he speaketh to him by himselfe, and here both giveth him his charge, and encourageth him to it.

Deuteronomy 31:26

in the side of] Or, by the side: and (as some Hebrew Rabbins note) in a chest by it selfe placed on the right side of the Arke; for there was no writing kept in it, but the two Tables of the Ten Commandements, 1 Kings 8:9. 2 Chron. 5. 10. And though in the Epistle to the Hebrews we read of more things in the Arke, as the golden pot of Manna and Aarons Rod that budded, Chap. 9. 3. yet neither there, nor in the first of Kings, or in the second of Chronicles is there mention of any other writing; and whereas in those two Historicall Texts it is said, there was nothing else in the Arke save the two Tables which Moses put there at Horeb; and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes the pot of Manna and Aarons Rod are said to have beene placed there: The answer is, first, that in the Arke side, is here understood by the Arke side; and as Christ is said to have suffered in Jerusalem, though precisely not in it, but neere unto it; so the pot of Manna and Aarons rod may be said to be in the Arke, though placed but by the side of it: but because they are said by the Apostle to be in the Arke, in the same phrase that is used of the Tables, the better answer is, that there is so much distance of time betwixt the story of the first of Kings and second of Chronicles, and that which is mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrewes, that there was time enough, and changes of time great enough, that by severall turnes both might be true; and doubtlesse were so, though it be no where noted in the Scripture, when and upon what reason they were kept in, or laid up out of the Arke.

Deuteronomy 31:28

heaven and earth to record] See Annot. on Chap. 32. vers. 1.

Deuteronomy 31:29

you will utterly corrupt] By the Spirit of prophesie he foretels their defction, as a forerunner, and cause of their future affliction.

Deuteronomy 31:30

of this song] Which followeth in the next Chapter.