Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32:1

GIve eare, O heavens] Here beginneth the Song spoken of vers. 19. of the precedent Chapter, where he turneth his speech to the heavens, either meaning by the heavens, Angels, the Inhabitants of the heavens, and by the earth, men, the Inhabitants of the earth; as by the land, the Inhabitants of the land, Chap. 31. vers. 4. Or else by the heavens and the earth we may understand the heavens, and earth themselves. The meaning is, by such a passionate expression, to stirre up their apprehensions; or by appealing to the heavens, and earth, which have neither sense nor reason, nor religion, and yet obey Gods Ordinance, to shame them, who professe to have all, and against all are disobedient to him: or that upon their rebellion against God, the heavens, and the earth should both joyne in judgement against them, as is threatened, Chap. 28. vers. 23.

Deuteronomy 32:2

My doctrine shall drop] I would have my doctrine to drop from my lips upon your hearts to mollifie them; or that it may be unto them as a fruitfull dew or raine which maketh grasse, and flowers to spring, and sprout, Hebrews 6:2. See Isaiah 55:10.

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is a rock] In strength, and fixednesse, a strong, and durable foundation, that cannot be removed, Isaiah 26:4. & Isaiah 28:16.

Deuteronomy 32:5

their spot] That is, their sinne, which spotteth, and blemisheth their soules, 2 Corinthians 7:1. Jude vers. 23.

not the spot of his children] That is, not such sinne as is of infirmitie, which his children may, and many times doe commit, but of malignitie, perversenesse, and contempt.

Deuteronomy 32:6

O foolish people] Great ingratitude is grosse folly, and the ingratitude is great which returnes evill for good to a mans best father, and onely Maker, as God is.

Deuteronomy 32:8

divided to the nations] This some conceive to be meant of the division by confusion of Tongues upon the building of Babel: others of assigning portions to the nations, as of Seir to the posteritie of Esau, Chap. 2. 5. and through the whole earth the Lord distributeth the portion to every people as pleaseth himselfe.

set bounds] Or limits, meaning the division of the Land of Canaan among the children of Israel according to the Lord allotment; for it was done (for the most part) by lots, Numbers 34:13. and the disposition of the lot is of the Lord, Proverbs 16:33.

Deuteronomy 32:9

the Lords portion] The Lord hath chosen the people of Israel for his peculiar portion, out of all the Nations of the world, Amos 3:2.

lot] He alludeth to the division of the Land of Canaan, as if the sonnes of Jacob had fallen to him by lot.

Deuteronomy 32:10

He found] Not by chance, but with resolved choice he manifested himselfe to him in the wildernesse.

howling wildernesse] Because of wilde beasts, whose noise is howling, when they want provision.

Deuteronomy 32:11

fluttereth over her young] Either to teach them to flye, or to save them from violence.

on her wings] It is noted as the peculiar propertie of the Eagle to carry her young in her clawes, as she catcheth, or carrieth the prey; but with such tendernesse, as that she may not hurt them, and at such an height, as others may not reach them.

Deuteronomy 32:12

the Lord alone] By the pillar of the cloud by day, and of fire by night.

Deuteronomy 32:13

ride upon the high places] That is, triumphantly prevaile over the fenced Cities, whose wals, and towers are raised highest, Chap. 33. 29. Psalms 45:8. Isaiah 58:14.

made him] The preterperfect tense as in other verses of this Chapter used for the future tense.

hony out of the rock] Barren places, like rough, and craggy rocks were made to yeeld fruit; or (according to the letter) swarmes of Bees made hony in the clefts of the rocks, and Olive trees prospered in stony places.

Deuteronomy 32:14

breed of Bashan] A place of speciall note for a good breed of cattell, or for good pasture for them.

kidneys of wheat] The fatnesse of the creature appeares in the kidneys, and the best are such as are most fat; to such is the fruitfullest, fullest, and whitest flower of wheat compared. See Psalms 81:61.

pure blod of the grape] That is, the liquor of it, which in some sort of grapes is red; and being pure without mixture, it is more red, and like to blood. See Annot. on Genesis 49:11.

Deuteronomy 32:15

Jesurun] The word is derived of Jesher, signifying righteousnesse, or uprightnesse; by which is meant Israel, Gods peculiar people, Isaiah 44:2. who should have beene upright, righteous, just in obedience to the will and law of God, but was lawlesse and unruly, and like a fatted bullock, kicked against his feeder. The Originall word Jeshurum is very rarely used, and it seemes to be made by Moses by way of allusion to an oxe, as in the manner of the figure called Paranomasia, as if he had said, Israel should be Jeshurun, but is, Scher, that is, an oxe; or a bullock.

Deuteronomy 32:17

new gods] For all false gods are new, and young to God the Ancient of dayes who was from everlasting, Daniel 7:9.

Deuteronomy 32:18

the Rocke that begat] He was called a Rock before, vers. 4. and here the same termes continue, but with a great difference from an extraordinary Rock: for the same God who is so called, is (as a Rock is not) of a quickening and a generative power to beget sonnes and daughters as they are called, vers. 19.

Deuteronomy 32:20

hide my face] See Annot. on Chap. 31. vers. 17.

see what their end] Gods hiding is a withdrawing of his favourable influence and assistance, and though he be not seene, he can see and observe, and will so see as to make others observe (and this phrase is used after an humane manner, as many others in the Scripture) as if he watched (as Moses sister did, to see what would become of him, Exodus 2:4.) whereas indeed God knoweth all things concerning all creatures at one act of understanding.

Deuteronomy 32:21

not a people] That is, such as I have not taken for a people as I have done Israel, nor given Lawes as a Lord unto them, nor entered any Covenant with them; to wit, the Gentiles, whom I will uphold against them, and make them victorious over them, and when their sinnes are ripe for a further rejection, and they refuse the greatest favour I can doe them, (in sending my Sonne to save them,) then I will accept of the Gentiles for my people, who embrace the Messias I send, by beliefe in him, and adherence to him: the words in this sense are applied by the Apostle, Romans 10:19.

foolish nation] So are all blinded Gentiles, who not discerning the difference betweene the Almighty God, and impotent Idols, turn their backs upon him, and set their faces with bended knees towards them.

Deuteronomy 32:22

to the lowest hell] Or, to the deepest part of it; A vigorous Metaphor importing a most deepe destruction, rooting out all hope of growing up, or recovering prosperitie againe. Or, by the lowest hell may be meant the extremest plagues of the other world, as well as manifold and wofull calamities in this; such terrour of the Lord might perswade men to beware of sinne, 2 Corinthians 5:11.

Deuteronomy 32:24

burnt with hunger] Famine consumes the flesh and moisture, and shrivels up a young girle, so that it makes her looke like an old woman; and (as fire) makes the visage black like a coale, Lamentations 4:8.

Deuteronomy 32:25

sword without, and terrour within] They shall be slaine both in the field, and at home, within their houses, and chambers.

Deuteronomy 32:27

Were it not] Here againe, as vers. 20. God speakes after the manner of men, who doe not what otherwise they would for feare of scandall and encouragement of the wicked. See Psalms 140:8.

Deuteronomy 32:28

a nation void of counsell] This is spoken of the Israelites, who inconsiderately went on in wickednesse without fore-casting what would come of it, Isaiah 27:11. Jeremiah 4:22.

Deuteronomy 32:30

how should one chase] That is, one of the enemies of Israel chase a thousand Israelites, except God, who was, and would have beene their Rock of defence and refuge, had given them up to ruine.

Deuteronomy 32:31

not as our Rock] That which was said before, is spoken in the person of God: this in the person of Moses, or the people, where comparing the true God of Israel with the false under the name of rocks, the enemies upon former experience of Gods power and terrour in punishing their transgression and wickednesse, (which ignorant and impotent Idols could not do) have judged the preeminence on Gods side, against them.

Deuteronomy 32:32

their vine] (Meaning of the wicked Jewes,) is compared to the Vine of Sodome, whose fruit is abhorred, as was all that belonged to that accursed Citie, and to her wicked sister Gomorrah.

Deuteronomy 32:33

the poyson] Their fruits are as poyson, detestable to God, and dangerous to man.

Deuteronomy 32:34

treasures] God hath his just treasures of wrath, Romans 2:5. answerable to the evill treasure of sinne, Matthew 22:35. which is heaped up by the wicked.

Deuteronomy 32:35

slide in due time] Due is added by way of explication: for the wicked, though they be thought to stand too long, shall fall in due time, that is, in the time which God chuseth, as most meet for the honour of his owne justice, and for the good of the godly.

Deuteronomy 32:36

judge his people] That is, give sentence for them by taking vengeance on them that wrong them, Psalms 26:1.

repent himselfe] In favour and compassion to his servants. Of his repenting, see Annot. on Genesis 6:6.

their power is gone] When there is least hope in the creature, there is most help from the Creator. See Exodus 14:13.

none shut up] That is, none lying hid, as those in the Prophet Elias time, who would not bow to Baal, 1 Kings 14:10. & Chap. 19. 14. 18. & 2 King. 14. 25, 26.

Deuteronomy 32:37

he shall say] That is, God, spoken against by the wicked to whom he maketh answer, vers. 39. & 43.

Deuteronomy 32:38

let them rise up] This may be applied to the heathens (who oppressed Gods people) as a taunt for their Idolatry, when God takes vengeance of them for it. But withall God speakes the like words by way of bitter reproach against Idolatrous Israel, Judg. 10. 14. Jeremiah 2:28.

Deuteronomy 32:40

lift up my hand] See Annot. on Genesis 14:22. See also, Heb. 6. 16, 17.

and say, I live for ever] That is, God protesteth by himselfe that he will doe as he saith, afterward, vers. 41, 42.

Deuteronomy 32:42

from the beginning] Or, the head of revenges. That is, the chiefe of the enemies of my people. Or, from the beginning of revenges: that is, from the beginning of the enemies oppression of my people with revengefull mindes towards them; I will begin my revenges at the beginning of theirs.

Deuteronomy 32:46

to observe to doe all] Observing to doe, or observe to doe (even) all: else the sense is not so cleare.

Deuteronomy 32:47

For it is not a vaine] Not vaine that I command, nor shall it be in vaine that I have promised unto you. See Isa. 55. 10, 11.

Deuteronomy 32:49

mount Abarim] See Annot. on Numbers 27:12.

Deuteronomy 32:50

and die in the mount] This is not a command to Moses to die, but a decree that he should die there; for he was not to kill himselfe, but to expect there untill God took away his soule to heaven.

gathered unto] See Annot. on Genesis 25:8.

unto his people] Moses and Aaron were brethren, and their people on earth were the same, and being in heaven (both of them) their societie there is the same: therefore the word [his] here repeated, doth not imply they wnt severall wayes, or had different kindred or company in heaven: but it noteth the particular right of each to the comfort and rest with the same people, as when our Saviour saith, I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God; he meaneth not two Fathers, or two Gods, but onely one Father, and one God, John 20:17.

Deuteronomy 32:51

because ye trespassed] See Annot. on Numbers 20:10,11, 12.