21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn aside into field or into vineyard; we will not drink of the waters of the well; we will go in the king's way until we be past thy border. 23 And Sihon would not grant Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered together all his people, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. "And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land, from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the sons of Ammon for the border of the sons of Ammon was strong. : lxviii. 8; lxxviii. 40, and elsewhere. All these places are by the Chald. paraphrast referr ed to the well aforesaid, thus; "and from (the place) where it was given unto them, it descended with them to the valleys, and from the valleys it ascended with them to the high places, and from the high places to the valley that is in the field of Moab," &c. So Thargum Jonathan to the like, and others. · VER. 21.-ISRAEL SENT MESSENGERS,] In Gr. Moses sent messengers: which seemeth to be taken from Deut. ii. 26; where Moses saith, I sent messengers.' For it is very frequent, when things are done by a multitude where one is chief, that the action is ascribed either to the multitude, or to him that is chief, indifferently: as, they made peace with David, and served him,' Chron. xix. 19; or, they made peace with Israel, and served them,' as another prophet recordeth it, 2 Sam. x. 19. So Jehoiada, he brought forth the king's son, and he put the crown upon him,' 2 Kings xi. 12; or, they brought forth the king's son, and they put upon him the crown,' 2 Chron. xxiii. 11; and they offered burnt-offerings,' 1 Chron. xvi. 1; or, David offered burnt-offerings,' 2 Sam. vi. 17; and many the like. The occasion of this message now sent by Israel, was the commandment of God, who willed them to go war against Sihon, and to possess his land, Deut. ii. 24, 25. SIHON,] Or Sichon; in Gr. Seon, king of the Amorites; his chief city was Heshbon, Deut. ii. 26. SAYING,] The Gr. version addeth (from Deut. ii. 26,) 'with peaceable words, saying. VER. 22.-LET ME PASS,] In Gr. let us pass which phrases are often used indifierently, when they are spoken of a multitude: and so the scripture setteth it down both ways, let me pass,' as here, and in Deut. ii. 27; and, let us pass,' Judges xi. 19. THROUGH THY LAND,] That so I may come into the land of Canaan, unto my place,' Judg. xi. 19; Deut. ii. 29. WE WILL NOT TURN,] In Deut. ii. 27, I will not turn,' speaking of the multitude as of one man. INTO FIELD, OR INTO VINEYARD,] To the right hand 25 And or to the left, Deut. ii. 27. See Num. xx. 17. OF THE WELL,] In Gr. of thy well, meaning of any of his wells for nought; but they would buy their water of him for money, Deut. ii. 28. THE KING'S WAY,] The high way common for all, which in Deut. li. 27, is set down thus, by the way, by the way.' See also Num. xx. 17. but VER. 23.-WOULD NOT GRANT,] Heb. granted (or gave) not: that is, would not give or suffer: as where it is said, David removed not the ark,' 1 Chron. xiii. 13; another prophet openeth it thus, David would not remove the ark,' 2 Sam. vi. 10. And so Moses explains this in Deut. ii. 30, But Sihon king of Heshbon, would not let us pass through him. The cause why he would not, was fear and distrust, as it is written, Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast," Judg. xi. 20; but chiefly it was of the Lord, who purposed to destroy the Amorites, as Moses saith, for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart strong, that he might give him into thine hand,' Deut. ii. 30. JAHAZ,] Or, Jahats; in Gr. Jassa; in Lat. Jasa; the name of a city mentioned also in Deut. ii. 32; Judges xi. 20; Is. xv. 4; Jer. iv. 21, 34. VER. 24.-ISRAEL SMOTE HIM,] For, Jehovah the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into Israel's hand,' Judg. xi. 21; Deut. ii. 23. Therefore the glory of this victory is ascribed unto God, in Ps. cxxxv. 10, 11; cxxxvi. 17-19. And in Amos ii. 9, God saith, I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.' WAS STRONG,] By reason that it was fenced with Jabbok, which was a river, and by mountains and cities on them, Deut. ii. 37; therefore the Ammonites held their territories beyond Jabbok, so that Sihon took them not from them: and as for Israel, they might not war against the Ammonites, Deut. ii. 19. VER. 25.-TOOK ALL THESE CITIES,] Utterly destroying men, women, and children, 26 Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorite, in Heshbon, and in all the daughters thereof. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, and he had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs, say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared. *For a fire is gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; it hath consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the high of every city, but the cattle and spoil of the cities they took also, Deut. ii. 34, 35. THE DAUGHTERS,] That is, as the Chald. explaineth it, the towns or villages thereof: for the chief cities are counted as mothers, the villages about them as daughters, throughout the scriptures, Ezek. xvi. 44-46, 48, 53. Therefore, as here it is said, Heshbon and her daughters: so elsewhere we read, Heshbon and all her cities, Josh. xiii. 17. And that which is called a city and a mother in Israel,' 2 Sam. xx. 19; is in the Gr. inter. preted, a city and a mother city (metropolis) in Israel. These daughters Moses calleth unwalled cities,' Deut. iii. 5. VER. 27.-THAT SPEAK IN PROVERBS,] Or, that speak parables; in Gr. Ænigmatists, they that speak riddles: such in Israel were the prophets, they used to speak by parables, as Ezek. xvii. 2; xx. 49. But it is also used for proverbs and bye- words, to the reproach of persons that are brought down from high estate to misery; as Deut. xxviii. 37; 2 Chron. vii. 20; Jer. xxiv. 9; Hab. ii. 6; and so it is meant in this place. The Hebs. Tanchuma, and Sol. Jarchi, expound these that spake in proverbs, to be Balaam and Beor his father, (as we read that Balaam tok up his parable against Amalek and others, when he prophesied their destruction, Num. xxiv. 20-23.) Jarchi saith, that "Sihon was not able to subdue them, and he went and hired Balaam to curse them; and hereupon Balak said unto him, (in Num. xxii. 6,) I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed," &c. But this is an uncertainty, and it may be also understood of the Israelites, that they used these parables in rehearsing the works and wars of the Lord. COME INTO HESHBON,] Or, into Chesbon; in Gr. Esebon. Chazkuni expoundeth it, "come to dwell in Heshbon, for now it shall be established, after that Sihon hath the dominion of it: for so long as it was in the hand of the king of Moab, they were afraid to dwell within it, because the king was weak." LET THE CITY OF SIHON,] In Gr. thus, that the city of Seon may be luilt: by which it appear. eth, that this proverb was first taken up after Sihon had won Heshbon out of Moab's hand. PREPARED, Or, firmly established; meaning more than in former times it had been; or, as Jarchi saith, "prepared in Sihon's name for to be his city.' 66 VER. 28.-A FIRE,] By fire and flame wars that consume are usually meant, as in Is. xlvii. 14; Dan. xi. 33; Amos i. 7, 10, 12, 14; ii. 2, 5; Obad. i. 18; Ps. lxxviii. 63. So this is spoken of Sihon's wars against the Moabites. The Chald. expoundeth it, "a strong eastwind like fire, and warriors like a flame:" and the Jerusalemy Thargum thus, a people strong and burning like fire, and warriors like a flame of fire." FROM THE CITY OF SIHON,] From the city which now is Sihon's, as Chazkuni explaineth it. These parables are after by Jeremiah applied against the Moabites, they that fled, stood under the shadow of Heshbon, because of the force (of the enemy): but a fire is gone out of Hesbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, [that is, of the city of Sihon] and hath consumed the corner of Moab,' &c., Jer. xlviii. 45. CONSUMED AR,] Or, eaten up (devoured) Ar of Moab. The Chald, explaineth it," hath killed the people of Lechajath of Moab." And this seemeth to be right, that the people was destroyed, and not the city or country. For Ar (which the Chald. calleth Lechajath) remained still the posses sion of the Moabites, Deut. ii. 9, 18, 29; 1s. xv. 1. Instead of this, Jeremiah saith, 'the corner of Moab,' Jer. xlviii. 45. non. “Ar is the name of that country in the Hebrew; and in Syriac it is called Lecajath," saith Sol. Jarchi on Num. 21. THE LORDS,] Or, the masters patrons of the high places of ArThese the Chald. expoundeth Chemarims (or priests) which served in the God's house (or temple) of the high place of Arnon: the Gr. translateth it, the pillars of Arnon. The prophet calleth them, the crown of the head, (that is, the chief or principal) of the sons of tumult,' Jer. xlviii. 45. HIGH PLACES,] Where they used to serve their God; as appeareth also by the prophet, saying, I will cause to cease in Moab, saith Jehovah, him that offereth in the high place, places of Arnon. 29 Wo to thee, Moab, thou art perished, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters into captivity, unto Sihon the king of the Amorites. 30 And their lamp is perished from Heshbon, even unto Dibon; and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. 31 And Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorite. 32 And and him that burneth incense to his God,' Jer. xlviii. 35. So Thargum Jerusalemy expoundeth this place of Moses thus; "kill.. ed the priests that sacrificed before their idols in Arnon." VER. 29.-WO TO THEE, MOAB,] In Chald. wo to you, Moabites. It is a continu ance of the parable taken up against them. PEOPLE OF CHEMOSH,] In Gr. of Chamos; which the Chald. explaineth, people that serve Chemosh. So in Jer. xlviii. 46, 66 Wo to thee, Moab, the people of Chemosh is perished.' This Chemosh was the god of the Moabites,' 1 Kings i. 33; and it seemeth also of the Ammonites, Judg. xi. 24; for their service of which idol, they are called the people of Chemosh, as the Israelites are usually called the people of Jehovah. НЕ HATH GIVEN,] That is, Chemosh hath given, or suffered his sons that escaped the sword to be taken captives. Thus Moab's idolatry is here upbraided as the cause of their ruin: and so Jeremiah after saith of them, Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence,' Jer. xlviii. 13. And again, Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, with his priests and his princes together,' Jer. xlviii. 7. Likewise, another prophet saith, when it is seen that Moab is weary on his high place, he shall come to his sanctuary to pray, but he shall not prevail,' Is. xvi. 12. And though Chemosh was an idol, and so nothing in the world, as the apostle saith, 1 Cor. viii. 4; and therefore could not do evil, neither was it in him to do good, Jer. x. 5; yet thus it is spoken of him, he hath given according to the speech and opinion of the idolaters; as Jephthah also said to the king of Ammon, wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess?' Judg. xi. 24. But indeed the God of Israel was he that brought this judgment upon the Moabites for their idolatry, Jer. xlviii. 12, 13. VER. 30.-THEIR LAMP IS PERISHED,] their light is lost, that is, as the Gr. translateth it, their seed is perished; by seed, meaning such as should inherit the kingdom; and so the Chald. paraphrast explaineth it," the kingdom is ceased from Heshbon:" and Thargum Jerusalemy giveth the same exposition, "the kingdom is ceased from Heshbon, and ruler from Dibon." The like metaphor is also used; as, and unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp alway before me in Jerusalem,' that is, a seed or son to reign in Jerusalem, 1 Kings xi. 36. So in 1 Kings xv. 4, for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his sons after him;' where the lamp is expounded "his son." Thus the Hebs. here also expound it, "their lamp is perished," that is, saith Jarchi, "their kingdom is perished." And Chazkuni thus, "the city Heshbon hath lost her heir, from over all the land unto Dibon, so that no heir of Moab shall inherit it any more:" a lamp meaneth an heir, as in 1 Kings xi. 36. To this sense the old Lat. saith, "their yoke is perished from Heshbon:" for a yoke signifieth dominion, as in Jer. xxvii. 8, 11; xxviii. 2, 14. "A lamp signifieth a kingdom, and a yoke, and dominion," saith Sol. Jarchi. It may also be translated," and we have shot at them:" so it agreeth with that which followeth, and we have laid them waste;' and they are the words of Sihon and his favourites, triumphing for their conquest over Moab. DIBON,] One of the high places and cities in Moab's country, Is. xv. 2; Jer. xlviii. 18, 22. The Chald. expoundeth it, "the dominion is departed from Dibon. WHICH REACHETH UNTO MEDEBA,] The Chald. saith, which is adjoined unto Medeba, that was another city in Moab's land, Is. xii. 2. The word which, (in Heb. asher,) is noted extraordinarily in the Heb. with pricks over it, for some hidden meaning. Baalhatturim saith of it thus; "R (in asher) is pricked, and there remaineth (that letter being taken away) ash, (that is, fire,) because it was burnt with fire, and the R of it is taken away." The Gr. favoureth this, for it translateth, " yet they kindled fire upon Moab." VER. 31. THE LAND OF THE AMORITE,] In Gr. all the cities of the Amorites. This country, which before had been the Moabites, was conquered by the Amorites, and so became their land, and was taken from them by Israel, and inhabited, as is after showed in Num. xxxii. 33, 34, &c. VER. 32.-JAZER,] A city also that had been sometime the Moabites', Jer. xlviii. 32; but now the Amorites'; the land about it was goodly pasture ground, and it was after given to the tribe of Gad, Num. xxxii. 1, 3, 34, Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they took the daughters thereof, and drove out the Amorite that was there. 33 And they turned and went up the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei." And Jehovah said unto Moses, Fear him not, for into thy hand have I given him, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon. 35 And they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him remaining, and they possessed his land, 35. DAUGHTERS,] That is, the towns or villages, as the Gr. and Chald. explain it see ver. 25. VER. 33. THE WAY OF BASHAN,] That is, as the Gr. translateth, the way which leadeth unto Bashan. This Bashan (which the Chald. calleth Matnan) was a goodly soil, the pastures nourished strong and fat cattle, whereto the Scripture hath often reference, as in Deut. xxxii. 14; Amos iv. 1; Mic. vii. 14; Jer. 1. 19. OG,] Another king of the Amorites, a giant of great stature: see Deut. iii.; where this history is repeated and enlarged. - VER. 35. THEY POSSESSED,] Or, they inherited his land. These countries God gave unto Israel, as the first-fruits of their inheri tance, after their wearisome travels and troubles in the wilderness; by which they were to be encouraged against the residue of their enemies beyond the river, as Moses afterward saith, thine eyes have seen all that Jeho vah your God hath done unto these two kings' CHAP. XXII. 1. Balak king of Moab, sendeth for Balaam a prophet, to curse Israel. 8. Balaam consulting with the Lord, is forbidden to go. 15. Balak sendeth the second time, and Balaam asking again of the Lord, is permitted to go. 22. An angel would have slain him, if his ass had not turned aside, which dumb beast speaking with man's voice, forbade the prophet's foolishness. 31. Balaam's eyes being opened, seeth the angel, confesseth his sin, and offereth to turn back, but is suffered to go forward. 36. Balak goeth forth to meet Balaam, and entertaineth him royally. AND the sons of Israel set forward and encamped in the plains of Moab, on this side Jordan, by Jericho. SET FORWARD,] Removed their camp 'from the mountains of Abarim, Num. xxxiii. 48. THE PLAINS OF MOAB,] Or, champagne country, which sometime had been Moab's, afterward the Amorites', and now Israel's by conquest. These plains reached unto the river Jordan, in that part which was near to, or over against Jericho, פ פ פ 3 elders of Midian, Now will this unto whom Abraham the father of Israel was uncle, and whom Abraham had rescued out of captivity, Gen. xix. 36, 37; xiv. 12, 16. But being now degenerate from the faith of their father Lot, and fallen to idolatry, Num. xxi. 29; they feared (as do the wicked) 'where no fear was,' Ps. liii. 5; and do lothe the people of the God of Abraham and Lot their father. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab was irked because of the sons of Israel. * And Moab said unto the (the first city which they conquered in Canaan, Joshua vi.) and therefore it is called 'Jordan of Jericho :' and here they remained till Moses died, encamping in these plains 'from Bethjesimoth unto Abelshittim,' Num. xxxiii. 49. Here many notable things occurred, even all that are recorded from this place to the end of Deut., and in the beginning of Joshua; their deliverance from Balaam's curse, their mustering for the inheritance of Canaan, their victory over the Midianites, the addition of sundry divine ordinances, especially the repeating and explaining of the whole law, and renewing of the covenant between God and them, by Moses in Deut., and the like: whereupon God saith unto their posterity, 'O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from Shittim unto Gilgal, [that is, the many good things which fell out between Shittim where now they were, and Gilgal where Joshua circumcised them, Joshua v.] that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord,' Mic. vi. 5. ססס Here beginneth the fortieth lecture of the law, as it was divided to be read in the Jewish synagogues: see Gen. vi. 9. VER. 2.- -BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR,] in Gr. the son of Sepphor. This Balak was now king of Moab, ver. 4, a man of note, both for policy and power, Mic. vi. 5; Judg. xi. 25; he saw all that Israel had done, but with an evil eye, and looked not upon it to receive instruction, as do the wise,' Prov. xxiv. 32. VER. 3.-AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE,] Or, because of the people. Thus the prophecy was fulfilled,The mighty men of Moab trembling, shall take hold upon them,' Exod. xv. 15. MOAB WAS IRKED,] That is, grieved, distressed in themselves, pricked in their hearts with a lothing of this people. The same is spoken of the Egyptians, they were irked because of the sons of Israel, Exod. i. 12. There was no cause for the Moabites thus to fret: for Israel passed by them in peace, and touched not their border, being forhidden of God, Deut. ii. 9. They had also by the slaughter of the Amorites, freed them from evil neighbours, which had before taken away a part of their land, and were likely in time to have taken more, Num. xxi. 26. And they were allied unto Israel, for Moab was the posterity of Lot, VER. 4.-ELDERS OF MIDIAN,] In Gr. the senate of Madiam. These elders were senators, such as governed the state, called afterwards princes,' ver. 7, 8; and the Midianites were by nature the children of Abraham, Gen. xxv. 1, 2; and so brethren unto Israel; but now conspired against them; being also fallen from Abraham's faith to idolatry with Baal-Pehor, Num. xxv. 17, 18. They were neighbours to the Moabites, and as it seemeth had been confederates with them in former wars; as when Hadad king of Edom smote Midian in the field of Moab, 1 Chron. i. 46. These were not the people against whom Israel should war; neither had they occasion to be offended at the Amorites' overthrow, who held them in subjection: for the five kings of Midian that combined with Moab, and perished for the same, Num. xxxi. 8, are called 'the dukes of Sihon,' Jos. xiii. 21. They had cause therefore, to have been thankful unto Israel, who freed them from Sihon's tyrannical yoke, and to have rejoiced with the joy, and for the prosperity of their brethren. THIS COMPANY,] Or, the church; in Gr. this synagogue or congregation. LICK UP,] That is, devour, or consume, as the Chald. explaineth it. So fire that consumeth, is said to lick up in 1 Kings xviii, 38; but here the similitude is taken from oxen that lick up the grass as they feed. And not unfitly doth Moab hereby, as it were, prophesy of their own destruction: for the strength and beauty of Israel may well be likened hereto, as Joseph's was by Moses to his first-born bullock, Deut. xxxiii. 17; and the wicked are as grass, and shall soon be cut down, and wither as the green herbs, Ps. xlvii. 2. And though at this time Israel might not meddle with Moab, (for they had other enemies to prey upon, and the ox loweth not when he hath fodder, Job vi. 5;) yet Balaam their prophet foretold of a star and sceptre that should rise out of Israel, and smite the corners of Moab,' Num. xxiv. 17; which was fulfilled in part |