Kard viv tutoay rod reipacwov, M02 0ND;—_*“ as in the day of Massah,” or “temptation ;” "2, from 72, “ to tempt: ? th other name given to the place before mentioned in Bods: ‘for thence it is that the apostle takes his example, where both the names are mentioned, and where the place is said to be called Massah and Meribah; whereas in that of Numbers it is only said, “ This is the water of Meribah,” or strife. And yet it may be not without respect to the latter also. The first instance was at the beginning, the latter at the close of their provocations. As they began so they ended. This was a remarkable passage between God and that people; for, first, a double name is given to the place where it fell out: “ He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah,” Exod. xviiy 7. Meribah, which the apostle renders rapeaixpaopcc, seems principally or firstly to respect Moses as the object of it: verse 2, 722 52 527 23773, “and the people chode with Moses.” Thence had the place the name of Chiding, “ Meribah,” from
“jareb. ” And God was the immediate object of their temptation. Soin the text there is made a distribution of these things distinctly, whence these several names arose, “And Moses said unto the people, Tatcny Porm Tay Pay,” “ Why do ye chide with me” (Meribah)? “and wherefore do ye tempt the Lorp ”
10 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IIT.
(Massah)? For in the same things and words wherein they chode with Moses they tempted the Lord. And hence the same word, of chiding, striving, contend- ing, or provoking, is used in this matter towards the Lord also: Num. xx. 13, mBATTMS 35, “ they strove” (or “ chode”) “ with the Lorn.”
Secondly, This matter, as a thing exceedingly remarkable, is often called over and remembered again in the Scripture. ‘Sometimes on the part of the people; and that, 1, To reproach and burden them with their sins, as Deut. ix. 22, * And at Massah ye provoked the Lorp to wrath ;” and sometimes, 2, To warn them of the like miscarriages, chap. vi. 16, “ Ye shall not tempt the Lorp your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.” Soalso in the 95th Psalm, from whence the apostle takes these words. Again, it is remembered as an instance of the faithfulness of Levi, who clave to God in those trials: Deut. xxxiii. 8, “ And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy Holy One, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah.”
The mercy likewise that ensued in giving them waters from the rock is fre- quently celebrated, Deut. viii. 15, Ps. Ixxviii. 15, 16, ev. 41, Neh. ix. 15. More- over, in thisrock of Horeb lay hid a spiritual Rock, as our aposile tells us, 1 Cor. x. 4, even Christ, the Son of God, who, being smitten with the rod of Moses, or the stroke and curse of the law administered by him, gave out waters of life freely to all that thirst and come unto him. In this matter, therefore, is comprehended a great instance of providence and a great mystery of grace. But yet notwith- standing all this, although the especial denomination of the sin of the people be taken from that instance of Exod. xvii., yet the expressions are not to be confined or appropriated only thereunto. For the particular provocation on which God sware against them that-they should not enter into his rest fell out afterwards, Num. xiv., as we shall see in our progress. But this is eminently referred unto, —1. Because it was upon the very entrance of that course of provoking which they constantly persisted in until they were consumed; 2. Because of the signal and significant miracles and works which God wrought thereon.
*Ev eon, “2722;—“in the desert,” or “ wilderness,” namely, of Midian, where- into that people entered upon their coming through the sea. In their way to- wards Horeb, their fourth station was at Rephidim, where the things fell out before recounted. So they received refreshment in a type, from the spiritual Rock, some days before the giving of the fiery law.
Od imelowocy ws, “212 “YNs “WN is referred both to time and place as well as persons. We render ov here, “ when,” — when your fathers tempted me;” and so “YS in the psalm; referring what is spoken to the time mentioned, or the day of temptation. So the Syriac, “in which day.” The Vulg. Lat., “ ubi,” “where,” that is in the desert, at Meribah or Massah. And this is the proper signification of the word. Nor is either od or od, the interrogative, ever used in any good authors to denote time, but place only. ‘ Where,” that is 2722, in the wilder- ness, where they tempted God and saw his works forty years.
Ol wartpes Sway, DDOSN;_«< your fathers,” or “ forefathers;” mpoyovor, “ pro- genitors,” 2 Tim. i. 3. Ko i is warépes often used, and 738 most frequently; al- though in one place 2°28" be added: OYUN OMAN, Jer. xi. 10;—the first springs and heads of any nation or family,—the whole congregation in the wil- der ness, whose posterity they were.