I (3. e.) The Tribes of Iſrael, which are called people, Gen. 48. 19. Judges 5. 14. Ads 4. 27. The ſenſe is, This law, though delivered with Fire and Smoak and Thunder, which might ſeem to portend nothing but hatred and terrour, yet in truth it was given to Jſ-ael in great love, as being the great mean of their temporal and eter- nal Salvatien. And although God ſhews a general and common kindneſs to all men,yethe loved this people in a ſingular and pecu- liar manner. # A!l Gods Saints or holy ones, (3. e.) his People, as they are now called, the people of /-ael, who are all called holy, Exod. 19.6. Num. 16.3.Deut.7.6.Dan.7.25.and 8.24.and 12.7. becauſe they all pro- feſſed to be ſo, and were obliged to be ſo, and many of them were ſuch.Though ſome appropriate this to the true Saints in 1ſ-ael. » Or, were in thy hand, i.e. under Gods care to prote& and dire& and govern them, as that phraſe ſignifies, Numb. 4. 28, 33. Joh. x0. 28, 29. Theſe words are ſpoken to God, and for the change of per- ſons, hisand#hy, that is moſt frequent in the Hebrew tongue, See Dan. 9. 4. Thisclauſe may farther note Gods kindneſs to 1ſ7gel in upholding and preſerving them when the fiery law way delivered,
DEUTERONO MT.
which was done with ſo much dread and terrovr,that not cnly the People trembled and were ready to fink under it, Exod. 20. 18,19. but even Moſes himſelf did exceedingly fear ana quake, Heb:12: 21. Eut in this fright God ſuſtained both Moſes and the people, in or by his hand, whereby he in a manner hid and covered them that no harm might come to them by this terrible Apparition. o Like Scholars to receive InſtruQtions and Counſels from thee. He alludes either 1: Tothe manner of Diſciples among the Jews who uſed to fit at their Maſters feet, Luke 10: 39: Ads 22: 3. Sec allo Gen: 49: 10: 2 Kings 4: 38. Burt it is doubtful whether this cuſtom was ſo ancient as Moſes, Or, 2. To the place where the people waited when the Law was delivered, which was at the foot of the Mount. p The people, eaſily underſtood from the foregoing words, did or will re- ceive or ſubmit to thy Inſtructions and Commands. This may re- ſpe& either 1. The peoples promiſe when they heard the Law ,that they would hear and do all that was commanded, Dert: 5: 27. Or, 2. 'The peoples duty to doſo. 3. The peoples Priviledge that they were admitted to receive ſo great a Priviledge as the words and Laws of God were.
4 Moſes commanded us a law q; even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob 7.
q Moſes ſpeaks this of himſelf in the third perſon, which is very uſual in the Hebrew language. r The Law is called their inheritance, partly becauſe the obligation of it was hereditary, paſſing from Pa- rents to their children, and partly becauſe this was the beſt part of all their inheritance and poſlefſions, the greateſt of all thoſe gifts and favours which God beſtowed upon them.
' 5 And he was * king s in Jeſurun *t, when the heads *See Gen; of the people, and the tribes of Iſrael were gatheredto- 30. 30. gether «. Ig Te
s Moſes was their King not in Title, but in reality, being under *' God, their ſupream and uncontrolable Governour, and Lawgiver. | Though the word oft ſignifies only a Prince or chief Ruler, as Judges Ig: I: Jer: 19: 3: and 46: 25. # z.e. In Iſrael, ſo called Dent. 32.15. # When the Princes and People met together for the management of publick Afairs,Moſes wasowned by them as their King and Law- giver, and he direfted and ruled them as their Superiour. This he ſaith ro ſhew that the people approved and conſented to the Au- thority and Law of Moſes. .
6 Let Reuben live, and not die, and let »et his men be few x. |
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x Though Reuben deſerve to be cut off or greatly diminiſhed and obſcured, according to Jacobs prediCtion, Ger. 49. 4. Yet God will ſpare them and give them a name and portion among the Tribes of I/rael, and bleſs them with increale of their numters.
7 And this is the bleffing of Judah : and he ſaid, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah y, and bring him unto his people z: let his hands be ſufficient for him a, and be thou an help to him from his enemies 6.