Your tents — That is, to your settled habitations. Tho' their affections to their families could not but make them very desirous to return, yet like good soldiers, they would not move 'till they had orders from their general. So, tho' we desire to be at home with Christ ever so much, yet we must sta... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed — Watch over yourselves and all your actions. Commandment and law — Two words expressing the same thing, the law of commandments delivered by Moses. All your heart and soul — With the whole strength of your minds, and wills, and affections.... [ Continue Reading ]
With your brethren — That is, with them who stayed beyond Jordan for the defence of their land, and wives, and children, who therefore were to have a share, though not an equal share with these. But for them, 1 Samuel 30:24, their share was equal, because their danger was equal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Built an altar — About that time when they came to them, they designed it, and as soon as they were got over Jordan, which was in a very little time, they effected and perfected it. They built it, no doubt, on their own side of the water: for how could they build on other men's land, without their c... [ Continue Reading ]
At the passage — Where they passed over Jordan, either at their first entrance into Canaan, or afterwards, and usually.... [ Continue Reading ]
The children of Israel — Not in their own persons, not by their elders, who used to transact all affairs of this kind in the name of all the people. Against them — As apostates from God, according to God's command in that case, Deuteronomy 13:13. &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
The congregation — Who do and are resolved to cleave unto that God from whom you have revolted. What trespass — How heinous a crime is this! This day — That is, so soon after God hath obliged you by such wonderful favours, and when God is now conducting you home to reap the fruits of all your pains... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Peor — That is, of our worshipping of Baal — peor, Numbers 25:3. Probably this is mentioned the rather, because Phinehas, the first commissioner in this treaty, had signalized himself in that matter: and because they were now at or near the very place, where that iniquity was committed. Are not c... [ Continue Reading ]
To — morrow — That is, suddenly, as that word is often used. Congregation — With you for doing so, and with us for suffering, or not punishing it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be unclean — If you apprehend it to be so for want of the tabernacle and altar there; as the following words imply: if you now repent of your former choice in preferring the worldly commodities of that country before the advantage of God's presence, and more frequent opportunities of his service. Am... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Zerah — That is, one of his posterity. Not alone — But brought destruction upon his whole family, and part of our forces sent against Ai.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord — That Jehovah, whom we no less than you acknowledge and adore as the God of gods, infinitely superior to all that are called gods. The multiplying of his titles, and the repetition of these words, shew their zeal and earnestness in this matter. He knoweth — To him we appeal who knoweth all... [ Continue Reading ]
Require it — That is, call us to an account and punish us for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
With the Lord — You have no relation to him, nor interest in him, or his worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
A border — To shut you out of the land of promise, and consequently from the covenant made between God and our fathers. No part — Nothing to do with him; no right to serve him or expect favour from him. Cease from fearing the Lord — For they that are cut off from public ordinances, usually by degree... [ Continue Reading ]
Before him — That we and ours may have and hold our privilege of serving and worshiping God, not upon this altar, but in the place of God's presence, in your tabernacle, and upon your altar.... [ Continue Reading ]
The pattern — An exact representation and resemblance. A witness — That we both serve one God, and approve and make use of one and the same altar.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pleased them — They were fully satisfied with this answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is among us — By his gracious presence, and preventing goodness, in keeping you from so great an offence, and all of us from those calamities that would have followed it. Hand of the Lord — That is, from the wroth and dreadful judgments of God, by avoiding that sin which would have involved both you... [ Continue Reading ]
Destroy the land — As they were by the law of God obliged to do, if they had been guilty and persisted therein; as afterwards they did the tribe of Benjamin for the same reason.... [ Continue Reading ]
The altar Ed — That is, a witness: a witness of the relation they stood in to God and Israel, and of their concurrence with the other tribes in the common faith, that Jehovah he is God. It was a witness to posterity, of their care to transmit their religion pure and entire; and would be a witness ag... [ Continue Reading ]