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Commentary

Numbers 31:16

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

The sin of Phogor: The sin committed in the worship of Beelphegor.

Numbers 31:17

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

Of the children: Women and children, ordinarily speaking, were not to be killed in war, Deut. 20. 14. But the great Lord of life and death was pleased to order it otherwise in the present case, in detestation of the wickedness of this people, who by the counsel of Balaam, had sent their women among the Israelites on purpose to draw them from God.

Numbers 33:1

These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The mansions: These mansions, or journeys of the children of Israel from Egypt to the land of promise, were figures, according to the fathers, of the steps and degrees by which Christians leaving sin are to advance from virtue to virtue, till they come to the heavenly mansions, after this life, to see and enjoy God.

Numbers 34:3

Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:

The most salt sea: The lake of Sodom, otherwise called the Dead Sea.

Numbers 34:4

And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:

The Scorpion: A mountain so called from having a great number of scorpions.

Numbers 34:5

And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.

The great sea: The Mediterranean.

Numbers 34:7

And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:

The most high mountain: Libanus.

Numbers 34:11

And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:

Sea of Cenereth: This is the sea of Galilee, illustrated by the miracles of our Lord.

Numbers 34:25

And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.

Until the death: This mystically signified that our deliverance was to be effected by the death of Christ, the high priest and the anointed of God.

Deuteronomy 1:1

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

This Book is called DEUTERONOMY, which signifies a SECOND LAW, because it repeats and inculcates the ordinances formerly given on mount Sinai, with other precepts not expressed before. The Hebrews, from the first words in the book, call it ELLE HADDEBARIM.

Deuteronomy 1:28

Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

Walled up to the sky: A figurative expression, signifying the walls to be very high.

Deuteronomy 2:30

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Hardened: That is, in punishment of his past sins he left him to his own stubborn and perverse disposition, which drew him to his ruin. See the note on Ex. 7. 3.

Deuteronomy 7:25

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Graven things: Idols, so called by contempt.

Deuteronomy 8:3

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Not in bread alone: That is, that God is able to make food of what he pleases for the support of man.

Deuteronomy 8:15

Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

The Dipsas: A serpent whose bite causeth a violent thirst; from whence it has its name, for in Greek dipsa signifies thirst.

Deuteronomy 10:6

And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.

Mosera: By mount Hor, for there Aaron died, Num. 20. This and the following verses seem to be inserted by way of parenthesis.

Deuteronomy 11:29

And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.

Put the blessing: See Deut. 27. 12, etc. and Josue 8. 33, etc.

Deuteronomy 12:32

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

That only do thou: They are forbid here to follow the ceremonies of the heathens; or to make any alterations in the divine ordinances.

Deuteronomy 13:9

But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

Presently put him to death: Not by killing him by private authority, but by informing the magistrate, and proceeding by order of justice.

Deuteronomy 13:13

Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;

Belial: That is, without yoke. Hence the wicked, who refuse to be subject to the divine law, are called in scripture the children of Belial.

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