Hebrewes had these lawes. A widow is to be sustai∣ned by the goods of the heires all the time of her wi∣dowhood, untill she receive her dowrie; and after shee hath received her dowrie in the judgement Hall, shee hath not that sustenance. As they sustaine her (with food) after her husbands death with his goods; so they give her raiment, and houshold-stuffe, and dwel∣ling; or she remaineth in the dwelling which she had whiles her husband lived. If the widow die, her hus∣bands heires are bound to bury her. Our wise men have commanded that a man should give a little of his goods to his daughter, &c. If a father die and leave a daughter, they measure his purpose how much was in his heart to give unto her for her liveli∣hood, and they give it her: and his acquaintance are they that measure his purpose. If they know it not, the Magistrates rate it, and give her a tenth part of his goods for her livelihood. If he leave many daugh∣ters, every one of them when she commeth to be mar∣ried, hath a tenth of his goods. And she which is af∣ter her, hath a tenth part of that which remaineth of the first: and she which is after her, hath a tenth of that which is left of the second. And if they come all to be married at once, the first receiveth a tenth part, and the second a tenth part of that which remaineth of the first, and the third a tenth of that which re∣maineth of the second; and so (the rest) though they be ten, &c. and the residue of the goods are the bre∣threns. If the brethren have sold or mortgaged their fathers lands, the daughter taketh her livelihood from the purchasers, even as a creditor taketh his debt of the purchasers. Who so commandeth at his death, that they should give his daughters no livelihood of his goods, they doe hearken unto him; for this is not of the nature of a dowrie. Maimony tom. 2. treat. of Wives, ch. 18. sect. 1. &c. and ch. 20. sect. 1. &c.
Vers. 12. this mountaine of Abarim] There were many mountaines of Abarim, Num. 33. 47. by this mountaine therefore is meant one speciall, which was called Nebo, which was in the land of Moab, over against Iericho, Deut. 32. 49. And they were called Abarim, of the fords or passages which were by them over Iordan into the land of Canaan. Wherefore the Greeke version saith, Goe thou up into the mountaine which is on this side (Iordan) of mount Naban, (or this mount Nabais:) And Mos. Gerundens. explaineth it thus; The mountaine of Abarim is mount Nebo, as is expounded in Deut. 32. and is so called, because it is by the fords of Iordan, where they passe over into the land of Canaan. see the land] the land of Canaan, saith the Greeke: and so Moses expresseth it in Deut. 32. 49. Though this were some comfort unto Moses, to see the land a farre off, and salute the same (as the faithfull fathers are said to doe the promises which they received not, Heb. 11. 13.) yet his desire and earnest suit unto the Lord was, that he might have gone over and seene it: but he would not grant it him, because he had sinned, and God had denoun∣ced his death before, Deut. 3. 23.—26. Num. 20. 12. See the Annotations on Deut. 34. where his viewing of the land is described.
Vers. 13. be gathered unto thy peoples] in Greeke, be added unto thy people: meaning, that he [unspec 13] should die there, and be buried, Deut. 32. 50. and 34. 5, 6. and his soule should be gathered unto his godly forefathers: see Num. 20. 24.
Vers. 14. For ye rebelled] or, For as much as yet [unspec 14] rebelled against my mouth, that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee expound it, against my word: so in Num. 20. 24. to sanctifie me] that is, which word and commandement of mine was, that ye by faith should sanctifie mee, but yee sanctified mee not. Wherefore the Greeke here translateth, ye sanctified me not: and so it is explained in Deut. 32. 51. be∣cause ye sanctified me not. Meribah of Kadesh] or, strife of Kadesh; as the Greeke translateth it, of the contradiction of Kades; & the Chaldee, the strife of Rekam. By this name Kadesh it is distinguished from the other Meribah spoken of in Exod. 17. 7. So in Deut. 32. 51.
V. 15. of the spirits of all flesh] the Greeke trans∣lateth, [unspec 15] of the spirits, and of all flesh: so before in Num. 16. 22. It meaneth that God is both the Creator of all mens soules or spirits, Eccles. 12. 7. Zach. 12. 1. and he that giveth them spiritual gifts of wisdome, knowledge, grace, &c. as spirits are used for spiritu∣all gifts, in 1 Cor. 14. 12. set] or, visit, that is, pro∣vide & constitute for Bishop or overseer; who ther∣fore is called in v. 17. a shepherd, or Pastor. Though for the peoples sake the Lord was angry with Mo∣ses, and would not let him goe into the good land, Deut. 4. 21. yet such was Moses love unto them, and care for their welfare, that he procureth what in him lieth, their good after his decease, by having a faith∣full governour set over them of God, which is a blessing unto a land or people, Eccles. 10. 17.
Vers. 17. goe out before them] by this phrase of [unspec 17] going out, and comming in, and that which follow∣eth, leading out and bringing in, is signified the ad∣ministration of the officer, and government of his people, both in time of peace and of warre: where∣fore when Moses was old, and the time of his ad∣ministration expired, he said, I can no more goe out and come in, Deut. 31. 2. So the Priests administrati∣on in the Lords house, is called a going in thereto, 1 Chron. 24. 19. The similitude is taken from a shepherd, whose dutie is to goe before the sheepe, and to lead them out, that by his guidance they may goe in and out and sinde pasture, as is spoken of our great shepherd, the Lord Iesus, whom this Iesus the successor of Moses prefigured, Iohn 10. 3, 4, 9. which have no shepherd] or, no Pastor: wch estate is miserable, as is noted of our Saviour, that when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted & were scat∣tered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd, Mat. 9. 36.
Vers. 18. Iosua the son of Nun] in Greeke, Iesus the [unspec 18] son of Naue: so in the new Testament he is called Iesus, Act. 7. 45. Heb. 4. 8. the spirit] to wit, the spirit of God; meaning the gifts and graces of the Spirit; as wisdome, Deut. 34. 9. and the like. The Chaldee expoundeth it, the spirit of prophesie; and Targ. Ionat. saith, the spirit of prophesie from before the Lord remaineth upon him: wch accordeth with Num. 11. 24. But whether in prophesie or other graces, he was but a shadow of Iesus the son of God, to whom he gave not the spirit by measure, Iob. 3. 34.