Vers. 4. not old] that is, was not worne out with age, [unspec 4] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Greeke explaineth it: so in Deut. 29. 5. Neh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••1. This was the second meanes of sustentation of life; which God also miraculously supplied un∣to them, that they might learne, not to seeke as the Gentiles; or take thought, what they should eat, or drinke, or wherewith they should be cloathed, M••••t. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 31, 32. swelled not] the Chaldee expoun∣deth it, thy shooes were not bare (or broken:) and so the Greeke in Neh. 9. 21. where this is againe men∣sioned: and Moses himselfe in Deut. 29. 5. In this sense it agreeth with the former. But it seemeth here to meane the feet properly, which swelled not, neither were surbated, though they travelled so long thorow that dry and ••horny wildernesse: and so it meaneth health of body, which God also gave them, as the third blessing necessary for this pre∣sent life. fortie yeeres] the time of their travell in the wildernesse: which number fortie, is often used for to denote the time of affliction and humi∣liation. See the notes on Gen. 7. 4.
Vers. 5. know with thine heart] that is, know and acknowledge heartily, upon thine owne feeling and [unspec 5] experience. So Iosua said unto them, Yee know in all your heart, and in all your soule, Ios. 23. 14. chasteneth] or nurtureth, restraineth from the plea∣sures of the flesh. So other Scriptures speak of Gods chastisements, like a father, Prov. 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 5.—10. and, Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I••••, Psal. 94. 12.
Vers. 6. his wayes] which he hath commanded to [unspec 6] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in, that is, his Law, Exod. 18. 20. Psal. 25. 4. The Chaldee expoundeth it, the wayes that are right•• before him. These are opposed to mens own ••••yes, Esai. 66. 3. and 55 8. 9. They comprehend faith, and other duties of the first Table, 1 King. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 38. Act. 18 25, 26. and 22. 4. and vertues of the second Table also, 2 Pet. 2. 15. See the notes on Gen. 6. 12. to feare him] this is the meanes to keepe men in Gods wayes, and is therefore set be∣〈…〉〈…〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2 Chron. 6. 31. Psal. 128. 1.
Vers. 7. good land] a fat and fertile soile: See [unspec 7] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1••. 20. brookes] or rivers: the Chal∣dee explaineth it, flowing with brookes. of foun∣〈…〉〈…〉] or of springs: the Chaldee saith, welling out 〈…〉〈…〉aines and depths: the Greeke, and fountaines of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. By deepes are meant store of waters, as Gen. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. and 7. 11. These brookes and springs figured 〈◊〉〈◊〉 plentifull graces of Gods spirit, wherewith his Church is watered, Ioel 3. 18. Ezek. 47. 1. &c. Rev. 〈…〉〈…〉 Psal. 65. 10. and 46. 5. vallie] put for val∣lies, and mountaines, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate. One is often used for many: See the notes on Gen. 3. 2. God sendeth the springs into the vallies, they run among the mountaines, they give drinke to e∣〈…〉〈…〉y beast of the field, the wilde asses quench their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Psal. 104. 10, 11.
Vers. 8. pomegranates] it signifieth both the fruit, [unspec 8] Num. 13. 24. and the tree that beares them, Song 7. 1••. Agg. 2. 20. oile olive] Hebr. olive-tree of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that is, as the Chaldee expounds it, olives that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oile. With the fatnesse of the olive, they ho∣noured God and man, Iudg. 9. 9. These earthly fruits figured also the heavenly graces which the faithfull (warred with Gods word and spirit) are filled and comforted with, Psal. 81. 17. and 147. 14. Song 8. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The trees that beare these fruits, fi∣gure ou•• gracious men, from whose doctrine and conversation, heavenly comforts doe flow in the Church, Iudg. 9. 8.—13. Song 4. 13. and 6. 10. Hos. 10. 1. and 14. 7, 8. Psal. 1. 3. and 52. 10.
Vers. 9. eat bread] so having the fruition of Gods [unspec 9] blessings therein, which sometime men have not, though the land be fruitfull, as Deut. 28. 30. 33. 39. 40. And for their sinnes it came to passe, that they did eat bread by weight, and with care, Ezek. 4. 16. brasse] these latter are for munition, and other uses, as the former were for food: so all good things are implyed. See also Deut. 33. 25. The moun∣taines as Gods store-houses were not onely fruitfull on the upmost face of them, with corne and grasse, and trees of sundry sorts; but within their bowels (as it were) bred minerals and metals of great use for man. iron is taken out of the dust, and Brasse is molten out of the stone, Iob 28. 2.
Vers. 10. be full] or, satisfied; which is a blessing [unspec 10] that God giveth to the righteous, Prov. 13. 25. Ps. 147. 14. the contrary, to the wicked, Mic. 6. 14. Hag. 1. 6. shalt blesse Iehovah] that is, shalt give him thankes; as where it is said, that Iesus tooke bread, and blessed, Mark. 14. 22. another Evange∣list saith, he tooke bread, and gave thankes, Luke 22. 19. And as our Saviour teacheth us to blesse be∣fore we eat, Mat. 14. 19, 20. so this law chargeth us to blesse after we have eaten: and as for meat and drinke, so for other good things which we receive of God; as David saith, Blesse the LORD, O my soule, and forget not all his benefits, Psal. 103. 2. and the Apostle commandeth, In every thing give thankes, for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus con∣cerning you, 1 Thes. 5. 18. The Hebrewes (from this Law of Moses) teach, that although it be here said, thou shalt eat, and be full; and thou shalt blesse, &c. yet if a man eat but a morsell (so much as an olive) he is to blesse after it. And he is bound to blesse for all meat first, and afterward to use it: likewise if he be to smell unto any sweet thing, hee is to blesse, and after to have the fruition of it: as also to blesse after whatsoever he eateth or drinketh, though he drinke but one little draught, or eat but a morsell. And as they were to blesse for the use of the crea∣tures, so for every thing commanded in the Law, they were first to blesse, and then to doe the same. Women and servants were bound to blesse their meat, and little children also, that they might be trained up in the Commandements. Vncleane persons, whatsoever uncleannesse they had, might blesse notwithstanding. Maimony tom. 1. in treat. of Blessings, ch. 1. s. 1. &c. and chap. 5. sect. 1.
Vers. 11. lest thou forget Iehovah] or, that thou [unspec 11] forget not Iehovah; which the Chaldee expoundeth, that thou forget not the feare of the LORD. God is forgotten, when his Commandements are neg∣lected, Psal. 106. 19, 21. Ier. 2. 32. and he is re∣membred, when his precepts are remembred and done, Psal. 103. 18. Moses his next words shew this to be the meaning here. So God is forgotten, when his workes towards us are forgotten, as