the Greeke translateth, and let them goe in. These phrases are one in sense, as is noted on Gen. 12. 12. and 27. 4. This commandement and promise was a testimony that God now was reconciled unto them, by the intercession of Moses.
Vers. 12. aske of thee] This word, often used [unspec 12] when men aske▪ that is, request or desire a thing of God, 1 Sam. 1. 17, 20, 27. Iam. 1. 5, 6. is here used for Gods asking obedience of men, as if he de∣sired and requested the same; and as in Mica. 6. 8. he is said to seeke, or require the like thing. This grace Paul sheweth most effectually, saying; as though God did beseech you by us, wee pray you in Christs stead, be yee reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5. 20. to feare] see the notes on Deut. 6. 13. This feare is the beginning of wisedome, Prov. 1. 7. by which men depart from evill, Prov. 16. 6. Vnto which, and other holy duties, Moses calleth this people, as being the end and use of the former re∣hearsall of their sinnes, and of Gods mercies to∣wards them. So by other Prophets, he calleth men to obedience and humble walking before him, ra∣ther than to sacrifice: see 1 Sam. 15. 22. Ier. 7. 22, 23. Mic. 6. 6, 7, 8. his wayes] that is, to fol∣low him, in his faith and religion, and all his com∣mandements; for these are the wayes of God, Psal. 25. 4, 5. Act. 18. 25, 26. The Chaldee translateth, the wayes which are right before him: see the notes on Gen. 18. 19. and 6. 12. to love] The summe and end of the Law, 1 Tim. 1. 5. See the notes on Exod. 20. 6. serve] in out∣ward obedience also; that we love, not in word, nei∣ther in tongue, but in deed and truth, 1 Ioh. 3. 18. What serving implieth, see noted on Exod. 20. 5. and Deut. 6. 13.
Vers. 13. for good] or, as the Greeke and Chal∣dee interpret, that it may be well with thee: so Deut. [unspec 13] 5. 33. In serving the Lord, the glory redoundeth unto him, the benefit to our selves: for, them that honour him, hee will honour, 1 Sam. 2. 30. and godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4 8.
Vers. 14. unto Iehovah] or, of Iehovah: his they are, and of him made, preserved, and loved gene∣rally [unspec 14] as his creatures, for he saveth man and beast, Psal. 36. 7. and is kinde unto the unthankefull, and to the evill, Luk. 35. So it is acknowledged in Neh. 9. 6. Thou even thou, art Lord alone, thou hast made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, with all their hast, the earth, and all things that are therein; the seas, and all that is therein; and thou preservest them all, and the h••st of heaven worshippeth thee. the heavens of heavens▪] that is, the highest heavens, as the Apostle mentioneth the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 2. Hereby ••he Angels also are implied; so in Targum Ionathan•• it is explained, the heavens of heavens, and companies of Angels which are in them, to 〈…〉〈…〉ister before him.
Vers. 15. had a delight,] which the Greeke trans∣lateth, fore-chose to love them: and this is his spe∣ciall [unspec 15] grace to his Church in Christ, Ephes. 1. 3, 4, 5, &c. their seed] their children, as the Chal∣dee explaines it; for Gods grace is continued un∣to the posterity of the faithfull, even to thousands of them that love him, &c. Exod. 20. 6.
Vers. 16. the superfluous fore-skinne] this the [unspec 16] Greeke translateth, hardnesse of heart: the Chal∣dee, foolishnesse (or grossenesse) of the heart: See the annotations on Gen. 17. 11. Hereby is taught re∣pentance and mortification of the inward man, by circumcision of the heart, in the spirit, Rom. 2. 29. in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh, Col. 2. 11. For we are the circumcision that worship God in the Spirit, Phil. 3. 3. Hereupon God promiseth to circumcise their hearts, Deut. 30. 6. and bla∣meth them that were uncircumcised in heart, Ier. 9. 26. Acts 7. 51. make not your necke stiffe] or, harden not, (stiffen not) your necke: see Deut. 9. 6. This is against their outward disobedience, as the former was against their inward; and teach∣eth submission unto the yoke of Gods law, contra∣ry to their former stubbornnesse.
Vers. 17. God of Gods] that is, the chiefest God, [unspec 17] in respect of all that are called Gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be Gods many, and Lords many, 1 Cor. 8. 5, 6. The Idols of the Heathens, the Angels in heaven, and Magistrates on earth, are called Gods, Deut. 7. 25. Psal. 8. 6. with Heb. 2. 7, 8, 9. Psal. 82. regard persons] or respect (or accept) faces: which the Greeke trans∣lateth, not have in admiration the person (or face) of any; which phrase the Apostle useth, Iude v. 16. Of God, sundry other Scriptures testifie, that hee respecteth no persons, as Act. 10. 34. Rom. 2. 11. 2 Chron. 19. 7. Iob 34. 19. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 6. E∣phes. 6. 9. Col. 3. 25. nor take reward] that is, will not pervert judgement, by condemning the innocent, or justifying the wicked, for gifts or re∣wards, as unrighteous Iudges doe, 1 Sam. 8. 3. Psal. 15. 5. Esay 5. 23.
Vers. 18. doth the judgement] that is, execu∣teth [unspec 18] the rightfull sentence, for delivering, or aven∣ging them; as it is said, the Lord hath judged (that is, delivered) him from the hand of his ene∣mies, 2 Sam. 18. 19. And he doth judgements to all oppressed, Psal. 103. 6. But the fatherlesse and widow are here by name expressed, because such are commonly and easily wronged in the world, Iob 22. 9. and 24. 3, 9. Psal. 94. 6. Ezek. 22. 7. therefore God is said to be the Iudge, that is, the Patron, defender and releever of such, Psal. 68. 6. and 10. 14. and 146. 7. 9. and commandeth men to be the like, Esay 1. 17. Psal. 82. 3. bread] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, food: for bread, which is the staffe & stay of mans life, is often used for all meat, as is noted on Genes. 3. 19. And as God feedeth strangers, so he commandeth his peo∣ple to doe the like, Deut. 14. 29. and 16. 11. 14. and 24. 19, 20, 21. and 26. 11, 12.
Vers. 19. Love ye therefore] or, And love ye the [unspec 19] stranger, to wit, as God loveth him, that is, manifest your love by releeving him: see Ia〈…〉〈…〉. 2. 15, 16. y•• were strangers] this remembrance of their former misery, is often used, to move them unto compassiō towards others. See Exod. 22. 21. Lev. 19. ••3, 34.
Vers. 20. cleave] This word is first used to ex∣presse [unspec] the union that is betweene man and wi••e, Gen. 2. 24. applied here, to signifie our union with