him (if he had beene able) from the faith and ser∣vice of God, unto the worship of Satan, Matth. 4. 8, 9. the plaine of the valley of Iericho] in Greeke, the regions about Iericho: this last part which Moses viewed, was the first which the Israeliees possessed, Ios. 2. 1. and 3. 16. and 4. 13, 19. Sol. Iarchi here saith, God shewed to Mo∣ses, Solomon casting the vessels of the sanctuary, as it is said, In the plaine of Iordan did the King cast them, 2 Chron. 4. 17. Citie of palme-trees] so Iericho is called here, and in 2 Chron. 28. 15. Iudg. 1. 16. and 3. 13. and of them and other fragrant fruits there growing, as Balsam and the like; the Citie had the name Ierecho, by interpretation, Odo∣riferous, or Fragrant. unto Zoar] in Greeke, Segor. Thus the last part which Moses viewed, was both neerest unto him, and the pleasantest of all the land of Canaan: for all the plaine of Iordan was well watered, it was as the garden of the Lord, Gen. 13. 10.
Vers. 4. I sware] that is, I promised by oath: see Gen. 12. 7. and 22. 16, 17. Psal. 105. 9, 10, 11. [unspec 4] thy seed] in Greeke, your seed: in Chaldee, thy sonnes. caused thee to see] in Greeke, I have shewed it to thine eyes. This view was by the mar∣vellous worke and grace of God towards his ser∣vant, that in one place and time hee should behold so large a Countrey; and in it (by the eye of his spi∣rit) so many mysteries as in that holy-land (so cal∣led in Zuch. 2. 12.) were comprehended: and it being the land of Immanuel, (or of Christ) Esa. 8. 8. the beholding thereof was the beholding of the blessings to be enjoyed by Christ Iesus; unto whō Moses and his Law is a Schoolemaster, Gal. 3. 24. not goe over] to wit, over the river Iordan, be∣cause Moses had not beleeved to sanctifie the Lord in the eyes of the sonnes of Israel, Numb. 20. 12. And as hee and others could not enter into the good land, because of their unbeleefe, Heb. 3. 19. so all that are of the workes of the Law, and not of the saith of Christ, though they may behold the blessing a farre off, yet shall they not enter in to en∣joy the same, Gal. 3. 9,—12. Rom. 9. 31. 32.
Vers. 5. servant] so he is often called, even of God himselfe, Ios. 1. 2. and in the new Testament, as Rev. 15. 3. the song of Moses the servant of God. [unspec 5] This title he had in respect of his office, being go∣vernour of Israel: as David also had, in Psal. 18. 1. and 36. 1. See Numb. 12. died there] in the mountaine, Deut. 32. 50. as Aaron died on the top of mount Hor, Num. 20. 28. In that the death of Moses immediatly followed after his viewing of the promised land, it foreshewed the end and abroga∣tion of Moses Law, when men are come to the Go∣spell of Christ: for, after that Faith is come, we are no longer under the Schoolemaster, Gal. 3. 25. The Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth: for the woman which hath an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as hee liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of the hus∣band: So we also are become dead to the Law, by the body of Christ, that we should be to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, Rom. 7. 1, 2, 4. Therfore upon this death of Moses, God speaketh unto Israel, to go over Iordan into the Land, Ios. 1. according to the mouth] in Greeke and Ghal∣dee, by the word. The day of his death, by the Iewes tradition, was the seventh of Adar, (which we call February:) so Ionathan in his Thargum on this place saith; On the seventh day of the mo∣neth of Adar, Moses the Master of Israel was borne; and on the seventh day of the moneth of Adar he was taken out of the world.
Vers. 6. he buried him] that is, Iehovah buried [unspec 6] him, or Michael (that is, Christ, who is Iehovah, one with the Father,) Iude vers. 9. Signifying that none but Christ should abolish the Law and Ordi∣nances given by Moses, Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 13, 14. Coloss. 2. 14, 16, 17. Heb. 9. 9, 10, 11, &c. and 10. 1,—9. And this was a speciall honour unto Moses person, whom the Lord loved when he was dead, and buried his corps (which we finde not done to any man else in the world,) which he will also raise up incorruptible and glorious, at the day of his ap∣pearing. in a valley] he died in the mountaine, Deut. 32. 50. but was buried in a valley. over against Beth-Pehor] the Greeke saith, neere to the house of Phogor; of which place, see Deut. 3. 28. no man knoweth] God would not have Moses Sepulchre to be knowne, (though the devill con∣tended with him hereabout, Iude vers. 9.) because there should be no occasion of superstition or ido∣latry thereby, as is thought of some. Chazkuni saith, that none which inquire of the dead (as Deut. 18. 11.) might seeke unto him. The chiefe cause seemeth to be a mysterie, that the Law (whereof Moses was the minister) being once dead and abrogated by Christ, should never more be sought after, but quite abolished out of the conscience of sinners, that the grace of Christ may live & raigne alone. See Gal. 4. 9, 10, 11. and 5. 4. Also that the legall rudiments should by the comming of the Gospell be taken away from Israel, never to be found or enjoyed by them any more. For Christ destroyed both their Citie and Sanctuary, as was foretold in Dan. 9. and they have been many daies without a King, and without a Prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an E∣phod, and without Teraphim; and so shall be untill they returne and seeke the Lord their God, and [the sonne of] David their King, Hos. 3. 4, 5.
Vers. 7. yeeres old] Hebr. sonne of 120. yeeres: [unspec 7] so the yeere of his death fell out in the 2553. yeere of the world: and his yeeres accord with Noes preaching and preparing of the Arke, Genes. 6. 3. his eye] in Greeke, his eyes: his eye-sight fai∣led him not, as did Isaaks, Gen. 27. 1. The eye is also used for the outward appearance and colour of a thing, as Exod. 10. 5. Numb. 11. 7. so it may be meant here also, his visage was not wrinkled. Chaz∣kuni here expoundeth it, the shining of his face, mentioned in Ex. 34. 30. his naturall moisture] his radicall humour, wherein the life and strength of the body consisteth, which when it is spent and dried up, a man dieth. The Greeke translateth, his lips were not corrupted: the Chaldee saith, the bright∣nesse of the glory of his face was not changed: having reference to Exod. 34. 30, &c. sled] that is, de∣parted