eldest sonne of Israel by his wife Rachel, Gen. 30. 22. 24. Iazer] a citie taken a while before from the Amorites, Num. 21. 32. Gilead] in Greeke, Galaad, a mountaine also of the Amorites which had many cities; halfe that mount was gi∣ven to the sonnes of God, the other halfe to the [unspec 1] sonne of Manasses, vers. 40. Deut. 3. 12, 13. Ios. 13. 24. 25. 31. a place for cattell] that is, meet to seed and nourish cattell. Therefore God promi∣sing to feed his people Israel, signifieth the good∣nesse of their pasture by the similitude of Bashan and Gilead, Mic. 7. 14. Ier. 50. 19.
Vers. 2. sonnes of Gad] they are named before [unspec 2] the sonnes of Reuben, both here and in vers. 6. 25. 29. 32. 33. so it seemeth they were first in this counsell and foremost in the suit.
Vers. 3. Ataroth, and Dibon, &c.] These were places in the countrey of Sihon and Og on the [unspec 3] outside of Iordan: there was also an Ataroth with∣in the land of Canaan, whereof see Ios. 16. 2. 5 7. Of Dibon, see Num. 28. 30. Ios. 13. 9. 17. Nim∣rah] called also Beth-Nimrah, in vers. 36. and Nimrim, Esay 15. 6. in Greeke Namra. This place was given to the sonnes of God, Ios. 13. 27. Heshbon] the citie of King Sihon, Num. 21. 26. given to the Reubenites, Ios. 13. 15. 17. Sheham] or Sebam, called also Sibmah, in vers. 38. and Ios. 13. 19. in Greeke S••bama: it was a place of vines, Esay 16. 8, 9. Ier. 48. 32. Beon] called in vers. 38. Baal-meon; and in Ier. 48. 23. Beth∣〈…〉〈…〉, and in Ios. 13. 17. Beth-Baalmeon. The Greeke here corrupteth it Bailian.
Vers 4. Iehovah smote] that is, smote or killed [unspec 4] the inhabitants thereof, delivering them before his people, so that they smote them, Deut. 2. 33. but the victorie is ascribed unto the Lord. for cattell] in Greeke, that nourisheth cattell: see vers. 1.
Vers. 5. bring us not over] or, lead us not, cause [unspec 5] ••e not to passe over Iordan, to wit, for to have pos∣session there. This their request (whereat Moses was offended) might seeme at this first propoun∣ding of it, very evill. For, it might argue in them a covetous minde, for their owne benefit, which also might turne to the injurie of their other bre∣thren. They prevented the time before all the land was conquered. They seemed to contrary the word of God, who commanded the land to be divided by l••••, Num. 26. 55. which they now would pre∣vent. It might imply a distiust in them, of subdu∣ing and inheriting the land of Canaan. It might be a discouragement of their brethren. It argued want of love, or a neglect of dutie in assistance. It might be an evill president to others, who when some part of the land should be conquered, might like∣wise crave the same for their inheritance; and so great trouble and confusion might ensue.
Vers. 6. Shall your brethren] the other tribes. [unspec 6] In this reproofe, Moses teacheth brotherly dutie, to love their neighbors as themselves; not to looke every man on his owne things, but every man also o•• the things of others, Phil. 2. 4. and that they ought to lay downe their lives for the brethren, 2 Ioh. 3. 16.
Vers. 7. breake ye the heart] that is, discourage [unspec 7] ye, or make ye it to turne; as the Greeke transla∣teth, pervert ye the mindes. A like phrase is of mel∣ting the heart, for discouraging, in Deut. 1. 28.
Vers. 8. Thus did your fathers] the Greeke ex∣presseth [unspec 8] this by a question, Did not your fathers thus? So where the Prophet saith, All these my hand hath made, Esay 66. 1. the holy Ghost turneth it in Greeke, Hath not my hand made all these? Act. 7. 49.
Vers. 9. valley] or bourne of Eshcol, that is, as the [unspec 9] Greeke translateth it, valley of the cluster of grapes: see Num. 13. 23, 24.
Vers. 11. If the men] that is, Surely the men, [unspec 11] &c. shall not see: this is an oa••h: see the notes on Num. 14. 23. twentie yeares old] Hebr. sonne of twentie yeares. followed me fully] Hebr. fulfilled after me, wch the Chaldee expoundeth, fulfilled af∣ter my feare; the Greeke, followed after me: see Num. 14. 24. A like phrase is in 1 Sam. 13. 7. where the people trembled after Saul, that is, followed him trembling.
Vers. 12. the Kenizite] of the posteritie of Ke∣naz, [unspec 12] of the tribe of Iudah, 1 Chron. 4. 13. 15.
Vers. 13. wander] this is an explanation of that [unspec 13] phrase, shall feed in the wildernesse; wherof see Num. 14. 33. the generation] that is, the men of the gene∣ration, as, this generation, Mat. 12. 42. is expoun∣ded the men of this generation, Luke 11. 31. And the consuming of the Israelites in the wildernesse, is before observed in Num. 26. 64, 65.
Vers. 14. an increase of sinfull men] or, a crew (a [unspec 14] multitude) of men sinners: that is, bred and brought up of men most sinfull, which the Chaldee ex∣poundeth, disciples of sinfull of men. By sinners, is meant men given unto sinne: see the notes on Gen. 13. 13. & Num. 16. 38. the burning anger] Hebr. the burning of the ••anger (or of the nostrill) of Iehovah toward (or against) Israel. In this sharpe rebuke, Moses upbraideth them with their fathers sinne also, as he doth likewise in Deut. 1. 26, 27. &c. and 9. 7.—24. and signifieth that the renewing of their sins, augmenteth wrath upon the children, (as Christ also teacheth in Matth. 23. 31, 32,—36.) and upon the whole congregation, as after in vers. 15. and Ios. 22. 17, 18.
Vers. 15. from after him] that is, from following, [unspec 15] from obeying him; which the Chaldee expoun∣deth from after his feare. So Christ calling Iames and Iohn, they went after him, Mark. 1. 20, that is, they followed him, Mat. 4. 22. then he will yet a∣gain leave them] Heb. & he will adde again, to leave him; that is, God will againe leave Israel, who are spoken of as one man; therefore the Chaldee ex∣poundeth it, hee will yet againe detaine them, or make them to tarry. But the Greeke seemeth to un∣derstand it of their leaving of God, saying, For yee will turne away from him, to adde againe to leave him in the wildernesse. destroy all this people] or cor∣rupt them, that is, occasion them to sinne and so to be destroyed: for, corrupting is used both for sin∣ning, and for destroying because of sinne, as is no∣ted on Gen. 6. 13. The Greeke translateth, Ye shall doe wickedly against this whole Congregation.
Vers. 17. will go ready armed] Heb. will be armed, [unspec 17]