The epic end of Moses' life
Based on biblical texts and Wesley's commentaries on
Deuteronomy
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Copyright
© 2024, Odilon Massolar Chaves
All
rights reserved to the author.
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allowed to read, copy and share for free
Article
184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710 of February 19, 1998.
Author
of the notes: John Wesley
Editor
of this text and author of the book: Odilon Massolar Chaves
Books
published in the Wesleyan Digital Library: 358
Books
published by the author: 468
Booklets:
3
Address: https://www.blogger.com/blog/stats/week/2777667065980939692
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All glory to God!
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a
retired Methodist pastor, with a doctorate in Theology and History from the
Methodist University of São Paulo.
His thesis dealt with the
Methodist revival in England in the eighteenth century and its contribution as
a paradigm for our days.
He was editor of the
official Methodist newspaper and coordinator of the Theology Course.
Copyright Statement: These
files are in the public domain and are derived from an electronic edition that
is available on the Ethereal Library of Christian Classics website.[1]
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Table of Contents
· Introduction
·
Moses
blesses each tribe before his death
· The Lord buries Moses
Introduction
"The Epic End of the Life of Moses" is a book based on
biblical texts and Wesley's commentaries on the book of Deuteronomy.
There are 35 pages with the following themes in chapters 33 and 34: Moses blesses each tribe before his death; The Lord buries Moses.
At the time of blessing the
tribes of Israel, the Lord came from Sinai, and went up from Seir to them; he
shone from Mount Paran, and came with ten thousand saints: out of his right
hand went forth a law of fire for them.
Wesley explains that there are 10 thousand angels.
The first tribe blessed was
Reuben and the last was Asher.
Another important detail is
that it was the Lord who buried Moses: and buried him in a valley in the land
of Moab, opposite Betheor, but no one knows of his tomb to this day.
Wesley explained, He–The
Lord, buried him immediately, either by the ministry of angels, of which
Michael was the chief or prince.
No one knows the place to
avoid superstition and idolatry, Wesley said.
Moses is called by Wesley as the greatest prophet of Israel in the Old
Testament. Through Moses, God gave the law, molded and formed the Jewish
church, Wesley said.
Moses blesses each tribe before his death
The author of
Deuteronomy reported: And this
is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of
Israel before his death.
And Wesley commented, Moses
blessed Israel -
He is said to bless them, praying to God in faith for his blessing upon them;
and foretelling the blessings which God would bestow upon them. And Moses here
calls himself the man of God, that is, the servant or prophet of God, to inform
them that the following prophecies were not his own inventions, but divine
inspirations.
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, The Lord
came from Sinai, and went up from Seir to them; he shone from Mount Paran, and
came with ten thousand saints: out of his right hand went forth a law of fire
for them.
Wesley said, With ten thousand saints–That
is, with a great company of holy angels, Psalms 68:17, who attended him in
this great and glorious work of giving the law, as may be inferred from Acts 7:53.
Wesley commented, From Sinai–Beginning
at Sinai, where was the first appearance of God, and so going with them to Seir
and Paran.
The first tribe blessed by Moses was Reuben, the last was Asher.
As examples, we highlight the blessings to Joseph's tribes:
"Blessed be your land by the Lord, because of the precious things of
heaven, the dew, and the deep that stretches beneath," blessed Moses and
the tribe of Gad: Blessed be he who enlarges Gad; he dwells like a lion, and
rends his arm with the crown of his head, blessed Moses.
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Deuteronomy
33
Verse 1
it is the blessing with which Moses, the man
of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death
The book of Deuteronomy reported: And
this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of
Israel before his death.
And Moses here calls
himself the man of God, that is, the servant or prophet of God
And Wesley commented, Moses blessed
Israel - He is said to bless them, praying to God in faith for his
blessing upon them; and foretelling the blessings which God would bestow upon
them. And Moses here calls himself the man of God, that is, the servant or
prophet of God, to inform them that the following prophecies were not his own
inventions, but divine inspirations.
The various tribes: only Simeon is omitted
And Wesley commented, The children of
Israel - The several tribes: only Simeon is omitted, either in
hatred of the bloody chariot of his father Simeon, by which Jacob gives to that
tribe a curse instead of a blessing, in Genesis 49:5-7. Or, because that
tribe had no distinct heritage, but was to have its portion in the tribe of
Judah, Joshua 19:1.
Verse 2
The Lord came from Sinai, and went up from
Seir to them; he shone from Mount Paran, and came with ten thousand saints
The book of Deuteronomy reported, "And
he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and went up from Seir to them; he shone from
Mount Paran, and came with ten thousand saints: out of his right hand went
forth a law of fire to them."
Wesley commented:
The Lord came–That is, to the Israelites, he manifested
himself graciously and gloriously among them.
From Sinai–Beginning at Sinai, where was the first
appearance of God, and so going with them to Seir and Paran.
And he arose - He appeared or showed himself, as the sun
does when it rises.
and from thence God led them towards the land of promise, and then
gloriously appeared to them in subduing Sihon and Og before them
Wesley commented: From Seir-
From the mountain or land of Edom, whither the Israelites came,Num 20:14, etc., and from thence God led them towards
the land of promise, and then gloriously appeared to them in subduing Sihon and
Og before them. But because the land of Edom is sometimes taken more widely,
and so reaches as far as the Red Sea, and therefore Mount Sinai was near it,
and because Paran was also near Sinai, being the next station in which they
came from the wilderness of Sinai: this whole verse may belong to the appearing
of God on Mount Sinai, where that glorious
light that shone directly upon Mount Sinai,
in all probability it spread its rays in adjacent parts, such as Seir
and Paran.
A place where God has eminently manifested his presence and goodness
And Wesley commented, Paran -
A place where God eminently manifested his presence and goodness, both in
giving the people the meat they desired, and in appointing the seventy elders
and pouring out his spirit upon them.
That is, with a large company of holy angels
Wesley said, With ten thousand saints–That is, with a great
company of holy angels, Psalms
68:17, who attended him in this great and glorious work of giving the law, as
may be inferred from Acts
7:53.
Who both wrote the law and
gave to men
And Wesley commented, From his right hand
- Who both wrote the law and gave to men. An allusion to men who usually write
and give gifts with their right hand.
The law is called fire, because it is of a fiery nature, purifying,
seeking, and inflaming
And Wesley said, A law of fire
- The law is called fire, because it is of a fiery nature, purifying, seeking,
and inflaming, to signify that burning wrath which it inflicts on sinners for
the violation of it, and chiefly because it has been delivered out of the midst
of the fire.
Verse 3
yes, he loved the people; all his saints are
in your hand
The author of Deuteronomy reported, "Yes,
he loved the people; all his saints are in your hand, and they have sat at your
feet; every one will receive of your words."
Wesley commented: The people -
The tribes of Israel. The sense is, that this law, though delivered with fire,
smoke, and thunder, which may seem to portend nothing but hatred and terror,
yet in truth was given to Israel, in great love, as being the great means of
their temporal and eternal salvation. yes, he embraced the people and put them
in his bosom! Thus signifies the word, which speaks not only the dearest love,
but the most tender and careful protection.
All the saints or saints of God, that is, his people, were in his hands,
that is, under the care of God to protect, direct, and govern them
And Wesley commented, All the saints or saints of God, that is, his
people, were in his hands, that is, under the care of God to protect, direct,
and govern them. These words are spoken to God: the change of persons, his and
yours, is more frequent in the Hebrew language.
This clause may further note the goodness of God to Israel, in
sustaining them when the law of fire
And Wesley commented, This clause may yet note the goodness of God to
Israel, in sustaining them when the law of fire was delivered, which was done
with so much terror that not only were the people ready to sink under it, but
even Moses feared and trembled exceedingly. But God upheld Moses and the
people, in or by his hand, whereby he covered them in such a way that no harm
should come upon them.
At thy feet - As scholars to receive instruction. He
alludes to the place where the people waited when the law was delivered, which
was at the foot of the mountain, Wesley said.
That can respect anyone, people promise when they heard the law
And Wesley remarked, Every one
- From the people shall receive, or submit unto thy instructions and commands.
That can respect anyone, the people promise when they heard the law, that they
would hear and do everything that was commanded. Or, your duty to do so.
Verse 4
The Inheritance of Jacob's Congregation
The book of Deuteronomy reported: Moses
commanded us a law, even the inheritance of Jacob's congregation.
Wesley commented, Moses - He
speaks this of himself in the third person, which is very common in the Hebrew
language. The law is called an inheritance, because its obligation was
hereditary, passing from parents to children, and because it was the best part
of their inheritance, the greatest of all the gifts that God gave them.
Verse 5
Moses was their king, not in title, but in
reality, being under God
The author of Deuteronomy reported, "And
he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel
were gathered together.
Wesley commented, He was king in Jeshurun–Moses
was their king not in title, but in reality, being under God, their supreme
governor and lawgiver.
Moses was their property as their king and lawgiver
Wesley commented, Gathered together
- When the princes and the people assembled for the management of public
affairs, Moses was their property as their king and lawgiver.
Verse 6
among the tribes of Israel, and bless them
with the increase of their numbers
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, Let
Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
Wesley commented:
Let Reuben live - Though Reuben deserves to be cut off, or
greatly diminished and obscured, according to Jacob's prediction, Genesis 49:4, yet God will spare them, and give
them a name and portion among the tribes of Israel, and bless them with the
increase of their numbers. All the ancient paraphrasts refer to this other
world, so far were they from expecting only temporal blessings.
Let Reuben live in eternal life, says Onkelos, and not die the second
death
Verse 7
Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring
him to his people
The book of Deuteronomy reported, "And
this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, 'Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah,
and bring him to his people; let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou a
help to him against his enemies.'
God will hear your prayer for the accomplishment of the great things
promised to that tribe
And Wesley commented:
Hear, Lord—God will hear your
prayer for the accomplishment of the great things promised to that tribe, Genesis
49:8-12. This implies the
delays and difficulties which Judah would encounter, which would lead him to
his prayers, which would succeed.
Bring him back with honor and victory, to his people
To his people - When he goes forth to fight his enemies,
and falls fiercely upon them, as was foretold, Genesis
49:8-9. Bring him back with honor and victory, to his people, to the
rest of his tribe that stayed at home when his brothers went to battle, and to
his brothers the other tribes of Israel.
This tribe will be so numerous and potent that it will be enough to
defend itself without any help
Wesley stated, Let his hands be
sufficient for him - This tribe will be so numerous and potent that
it will be sufficient to defend itself without any help, either from foreign
nations or from other tribes; as appeared when this tribe alone was able to
deal with nine or ten of the other tribes.
You will preserve this tribe in a special way
From their enemies - Thou shalt preserve this tribe in a
special manner, lest their enemies be able to ruin it, as they will other
tribes, and that for the sake of the Messiah that shall spring from it, Wesley
remarked.
Verse 8
The Thummim and the Urim, which are thine, O
Lord by special institution and consecration, (by which he means the ephod in
which they were placed, and the high priesthood, to which they were
appropriated, and with the gifts and graces
The book of Deuteronomy reported, "And
he said of Levi, "Let your Thummim and your Urim be with your holy one,
whom you tried at Massah, and with whom you contended in the waters of Meribah;
And Wesley said, That thy Urim
- The Thummim and the Urim, which are thine, O Lord by special institution and
consecration, (by which he understands the ephod in which they were placed, and
the high priesthood, to which they were appropriated, and with the gifts and
graces signified by the Urim and Thummim, and necessary for the discharge of
that high office) shall be with thy holy one,
that is, with that priest, whom you consecrated yourself, and who is
holy in a more peculiar manner than all the people; that is, the priesthood
will be confined and continued in the family of Aaron.
Yet you did not take away his priesthood
And Wesley commented:
Whom you have proved - Though you have tempted and rebuked him,
yet you have not taken away the priesthood from him.
In Massah–Not in that Massah did he mention Exodus 17:7, which is also called Meribah, but in
that other Meribah, Numbers 20:13.
Thou hast striven - Whom thou hast reproved and chastistened.
Verse 9
for they have kept your word and kept your
covenant
The book of Deuteronomy said, "He said
to his father and mother, "I have not seen him, nor have he recognized his
brothers, nor known his own children, because they have kept your word, and
have kept your covenant."
And Wesley commented:
I didn't see him - That is, I have no respect for them. The
sense is, that he followed God and his command completely, and executed the
judgment ordained by God without any respect of persons, Exodus 32:26-27.
When the rest broke their covenant with God for this dirty sin of
idolatry with the calf
They kept thy covenant - When the rest broke their covenant with
God by this filthy sin of idolatry with the calf, that tribe kept themselves
pure from this infection, and adhered to God and his worship.
Bless his goods, O Lord, and accept the work
of his hands
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, " Bless
his goods, O Lord, and accept the work of his hands; he smite the loins of them
that rise up against him, and of them that hate him, lest they rise
again."
His substance - Because he has no inheritance of his own,
and therefore depends wholly on his blessing.
All his holy administrations
And Wesley commented:
The work of his hands - All his holy administrations, which he
properly calls the work of his hands, because a great part of the service of
the Levites and priests was done by the work of his hands and body, while the
service of evangelical ministers is more spiritual and heavenly.
Wound - He prays thus earnestly for them, because he foresaw that those who
should teach and reprove, and chastise others, would have many enemies, and
because they were under God, the great preservers and defenders of religion,
and their enemies were the enemies of religion itself.
Verse 12
The beloved of the Lord will dwell safely
with him
Benjamin is placed by the side of Levi, because the temple, where the
work of the Levites was, was on the edge of the lot of this tribe
The author of Deuteronomy reported, "And
of Benjamin he said, 'The beloved of the Lord shall dwell safely with him; and
the Lord shall cover him all the day, and he shall dwell between his
shoulders.'
Wesley commented, Of Benjamin–Benjamin
is placed beside Levi, because the temple, where the work of the Levites was,
was on the edge of the lot of this tribe. And it was set before Joseph, because
of the dignity of Jerusalem, (part of which was in this lot), above Samaria,
which was in the tribe of Ephraim; so also because Benjamin adhered to the
house of David and the temple of God, when the rest of the tribes abandoned
both.
So named after his father Benjamin, who was the beloved of his father
Jacob
And Wesley said, The beloved of the Lord
- So called in allusion to his father Benjamin, who was the beloved of his
father Jacob; and because of the goodness of God to this tribe which appeared
so much in this, that they dwelt in the best part of the earth, as Josephus
affirms, and in the following privilege.
You will have your lot near the temple of God
And Wesley commented:
He shall dwell in safety by him - He shall have his
lot near the temple of God, which was a singular comfort and safeguard to him.
Shall cover - Shall protect this tribe continually as
long as they cling to him.
The Lord will dwell, that is, his temple will be placed between his
shoulders
Blessed be your land by the Lord
The book of Deuteronomy reported: And of
Joseph he said, 'Blessed be your land by the Lord, because of the precious
things of heaven, and the dew, and the deep that stretches beneath,
In Jacob's blessing, Joseph's is the greatest
And Wesley commented:
And of Joseph–Including Ephraim and Manasseh. In Jacob's
blessing, Joseph's is the greatest. And so it is here.
Your land - Your portion will be endowed with God's
chosen blessings.
From heaven - That is, the precious fruits of the earth
produced by the influences of heaven, the heat of the sun, and the rain which
God will send from heaven.
The water fountains bubbling up from the earth
The abyss - The fountains of water bubbling up from
the earth: perhaps it may also refer to the great abyss, the abyss of waters,
which is supposed to be contained in the earth.
The book of Deuteronomy reported: And for
the precious fruits produced by the sun, and for the precious things produced
by the moon,
Which by its humidity refreshes and promotes them
And Wesley commented:
By the sun - Which opens and warms the earth, cares for
and improves, and in due time ripens the seeds and fruits of it.
The moon - Which by its moisture refreshes and
promotes them. Heb. Of the moons, or months, that is, which he produces in the
various months or seasons of the year.
For the precious things of the enduring hills
The book of Deuteronomy reported: And for
the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the
enduring hills,
That is, the excellent fruits, such as grapes, olives, figs
And Wesley said, The principal things
- That is, the excellent fruits, such as grapes, olives, figs, etc. which
delight in the mountains, growing upon, or the precious minerals contained in
their mountains and hills called ancient and enduring, that is, as they have
been from the beginning of the world, and are likely to continue to the end of
it, as opposed to the hills or mounds which have been erected by man.
And for the precious things of the earth and
the fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush
The author of
Deuteronomy reported: And for the precious things of the earth and the
fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: may the
blessing be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that
was separated from his brethren.
And Wesley commented:
And for - And in general for all the choice fruits
which the earth bringeth forth in all parts of it, where hills or valleys.
That is, the plants and the cattle and all the creatures
Fullness of the same - That is, the plants and cattle and all the
creatures that grow, increase, and flourish in it.
The goodwill - For all other purposes of the goodwill and
goodness of God, who not long ago dwelt or appeared in the bush to me, for the
relief of his people, Exodus 3:2.
Of Joseph–That is, of the posterity of Joseph.
His brothers separated him from them, making him a slave, and God
distinguished him from them, making him a prince
And Wesley said:
He that was separated from his brethren - His brethren
separated him from them, making him a slave, and God distinguished him from
them, making him a prince. The previous words can be translated: My dweller in
the woods.
This was an appearance of the divine majesty only to Moses, in token of
his particular favor
This was an appearance of the divine majesty only to Moses, as a token
of his particular favor. Many times God appeared to Moses; but now he is dying,
he seems to have the most pleasing memory, of the first time he had the visions
of the Almighty.
It was here that God declared Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob
His glory is like the firstborn of his bull
Used as an emblem of the royal majesty
And Wesley commented:
His glory is as the first-born of his bullock—Or bullock, which is
a stately creature, and was therefore formerly used as an emblem of royal
majesty. This seems to note the kingdom which Ephraim was to obtain in Jeroboam
and his successors.
Their horns - Their strength and power will be very
great.
The people - All who will oppose him, and particularly
the Canaanites.
Though Manasseh is now more numerous, yet Ephraim will soon surpass him
And Wesley remarked, The ten thousand
- Of the land of Canaan. Though Manasseh is now more numerous, yet Ephraim will
soon surpass him, as was foretold in Genesis 48:17-19.
Rejoice, Zebulun
The author of Deuteronomy reported, "And
of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, at your going out; and Issachar in
your tents."
Rejoice - You will prosper and rejoice, said Wesley.
He is here united to Zebulun
Wesley commented:
On your way out - 1. For war, as this phrase is often used -
2. To the sea, in the form of trafficking, because its portion was close to the
sea. And in both respects its course is opposite to that of Issachar, who was a
lover of peace and pasture. He is here united with Zebulun, both because they
were brothers of father and mother also, and because their possessions were
close to each other.
In thy tents - Thou shalt give thyself over to the
management of laud and cattle, living quietly in thine own possessions.
They will call the people to the mountain;
there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness
And Wesley commented:
They–Zebulun, from whom Moses takes more special attention. And so, having
dispatched Issachar in two words, he returns to Zebulun.
the Gentiles, or those of Galilee
The people–the Gentiles, or those of Galilee, which was
called Galilee of the Gentiles, who were their neighbours; or people of other
nations, with whom they had trade, who endeavoured to improve in persuading
them to worship the true God.
The mountain–That is, to the temple, which Moses knew
should be seated on a mountain.
As God Requires
Sacrifices of righteousness - As God requires.
Their traffic abroad with heathen nations will not make them forget their duty
at home, nor will their distance from the place of sacrifice prevent them from
coming to him to perform that duty.
They will get rich from the traffic of the sea
Wesley commented, Out of the abundance of
the sea - They shall be rich by the traffic of the sea, and shall
consecrate themselves and their riches to God.
And Wesley said: Hidden in the sand
- Precious things like anyone - 1. They are contained in the sand of the sea
and rivers, in which a considerable quantity of gold and silver is sometimes
mixed. Or, 2. Such as they grow in the sea, or are sought in the sandy bottom
of it, as pearls, corals, amber grease. Or, 3. Those who are thrown into the
sea by shipwreck are thrown on the beach by the works of the sea. It would be
well if the expansion of our commerce with foreign countries would contribute
to the spread of the gospel.
dwells like a lion
The author of Deuteronomy reported: And
of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad; he dwelleth as a lion, and
rends his arm with the crown of his head.
Because he was surrounded by powerful enemies
And Wesley commented:
Magnifies - This takes him out of his difficulties in
the midst of trouble, in which he was often involved, because he was surrounded
by powerful enemies.
Safe and secure from your enemies
Like a lion - Safe and protected from his enemies, and
terrible to them when they awaken and harass him.
Totally destroys your enemies
Tears the arm - Utterly destroys his enemies, both the
head, the seat of the crown, his dignity and principality, and the arm, the
subject of force and instrument of action; both the principal princes and their
subjects.
And he provided the first part for himself,
because there, in a part of the lawgiver
The firstfruits of the land of promise
And Wesley commented:
The first part - The firstfruits of the land of promise,
the country of Sihon, which was first conquered, which he said to provide for
himself, because he desired and obtained from Moses.
Of Moses, whose portion this is called, or because this part of the land
beyond the Jordan was the only part of the land which Moses was permitted to
enter
Of the lawgiver - Of Moses, whose portion this is called,
either because this part of the land beyond the Jordan was the only part of the
land which Moses was permitted to enter: or because it was given him by Moses,
while the portions beyond the Jordan were given to the several tribes by Joshua
according to the direction of the lot.
Hidden or protected
Seated - Heb. concealed or protected: for their wives and children were
protected in their cities, while many of their men went to war in Canaan.
He went, or he will, to war in Canaan, with the princes, or captains
He came - He went, or he will go, to war in Canaan,
with the princes, or captains, or rulers of the people of Israel, that is,
under their command and conduct, as indeed they did; or with the first of the
people; or, in front of the people, as the Syrian translates it; for this tribe
and their brethren, whose lot fell
beyond the Jordan, they were to march to Canaan before their brethren.
He executed - The righteous judgment of God against the
Canaanites, as the rest of the Israelites did.
Dan is a lion cub
And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's cub; he shall
leap out of Bashan, the author of Deuteronomy commented,
And Wesley commented, A lion's cub
- Brave, generous, strong, and successful against his enemies.
From Bashan, because there were many and fierce lions in those parts,
whence they used to come out and leap on their prey
And Wesley remarked, That leaps - From Bashan, because there were
many and fierce lions in those parts, whence they used to come out and leap
upon the prey. Either it may refer to the particular victories won by Samson,
who was of the tribe of Dan, or to a more general conquest of that tribe, when
a company of them surprised Laish, who was in the farthest part of the land of
Canaan from them. And the mountain of Bashan is not far from that city, whence
they probably descended upon it, thus leaping from Basham.
O Naphtali, full of favor, and full of the
blessing of the Lord
The author of Deuteronomy reported: And
of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, full of favor, and full of the blessing of the
Lord: You possess the west and the south.
And Wesley commented:
Satisfied with the favor - With the favor of
God. This alone is the favor that satisfies the soul. They are really happy
that they have God's favor; and they will have it, who place their satisfaction
in it.
And filled with the blessing of the Lord - Not only with corn,
wine, and oil, the fruit of the blessing, but with the blessing itself, the
grace of God, according to his promise and covenant.
Own the West and the South
Possess
the west and the south - Or, the sea and the
south. This is not to be understood of the place, that his lot should fall
there, for he was in the east and north of the earth; but of the pleasures and
goods of the west or of the sea, which were handed down to him from his neighbour
Zebulun; and from the south, that is, from the southern tribes and parts of
Canaan, which were brought to him by the river Jordan, and both sorts of goods
were given to him in exchange for the rich and fruitful soil which he had in
great abundance.
Bless Asher with children
The author of
Deuteronomy reported: And of Asher he said, Let
Asher bless himself with sons; let him be pleasing to his brethren, and dip his
foot in oil.
And Wesley commented:
Let Asher - Whosoever beareth blessedness in his own
name, be blessed with children - He shall have children numerous, strong, and
healthy.
He'll have so much oil
Acceptable to his brethren - By his sweet
disposition and winning chariot.
In the oil - He will have so much oil that he can not
only wash his face, but also his feet in it.
Your shoes will be of iron and bronze
The author of Deuteronomy said, Thy shoes
shall be of iron and brass; and as thy days are, so shall thy strength be.
Iron and
brass - The mines of iron
and copper, which were in its portion, whence Sidon, its neighbour, was famous
among the heathen for its abundance of brass, and Zarephath is thought to take
its name from the brass and iron which were melted there in great quantity.
Thy strength shall be - Thy strength shall not be diminished with
age, but thou shalt have the vigour of youth, even in thy old age: thy tribe
shall grow stronger and stronger.
There is no one like the God of Jeshurun
The author of Deuteronomy reported: There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who
rides above heaven to your aid, and in his excellency over heaven.
These are the last words that Moses wrote, perhaps the greatest writer
who ever lived on earth
And Wesley commented, There is none--These
are the last words that Moses wrote, perhaps the greatest writer that ever
lived on earth. And this man of God, who had as much reason to know both as any
mere man, with his last breath magnifies both the God of Israel and the Israel
of God.
To the God of Jeshurun, who to help you, rides over the sky, and with
the greatest state and magnificence, over the sky
Wesley explained, "To the God of Jeshurun, who rides above heaven
to help you, and with the greatest state and magnificence over heaven."
Riding in heaven denotes the greatness and glory in which he manifests himself
to the upper world, and the use he makes of the influences of heaven and the
products of the clouds, to carry out his own counsels in this lower world. All
this he administers and directs, as a man does with the horse on which he
rides.
The
eternal God is your refuge
The author of Deuteronomy reported, The
eternal God is thy refuge, and under are the everlasting weapons: and he shall
drive out the enemy from before thee; and he shall say, Destroy them.
And Wesley commented, The eternal God
- He who was before all worlds, and will be, when time is no more: Is thy
refuge - Or, thy habitation or mansion (so the word signifies) in whom thou art
safe, and easy, and at rest, as a man is in his own house. Every true Israelite
is at home in God: the soul returns to him and rests in him. And those who make
it their dwelling place will have in him all the consolations and benefits of a
dwelling.
God's omnipotent power, which protects and comforts all who trust in him
And Wesley commented:
And beneath are the everlasting arms—The omnipotent power
of God, which protects and comforts all who trust in him, in their greatest
distresses and distresses.
He shall drive the enemy out from before thee - Make room for thee
by his irresistible power, and say, Destroy them - Giving thee not only a
commission, but strength to put it into execution. And did he not give the same
commission and the same strength to believers, to destroy all sin?
Israel
will then dwell in safety alone
The author of Deuteronomy reported: Israel
will then dwell in safety alone: Jacob's spring will be upon a land of wheat
and wine; also his heavens will pour out dew.
Alone - Or - 1. Though they stand alone, and have
no confederates to defend them, but have all the world against them, my only
protection will be sufficient for them
And Wesley commented: Alone -
Or - 1. Though they stand alone, and have no confederates to defend them, but
have the whole world against them, my only protection will be sufficient for
them. Or, 2. Distinct and separate from all other nations, with which I do not
want them to mix.
the posterity of Jacob, who flowed from him like waters from a fountain,
in great abundance
Wesley commented, The fountain–That
is, the posterity of Jacob, who flowed from it like waters from a fountain, in
great abundance. The fountain is here placed for the river or streams that flow
from it, as Jacob or Israel, which is the fountain, is often placed for the
children of Israel.
Your heavens - That is, those heavens or that air that
hovers over your land, said Wesley.
Blessed art thou, O Israel,
who art like thee, O people saved by the Lord
The author of Deuteronomy said, Blessed
art thou, O Israel, who art like thee, O people saved by the Lord, a shield of
thy help, and who art the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be
found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Their shield helps
And
Wesley remarked, Their shield helpeth - By whom thou art sufficiently protected against
all aggressors; and the sword of thy excellency - Or, thy most excellent sword,
that is, thy strength, and the author of all thy past or future victories.
Those in whose hearts is the excellency of holiness, have God Himself as shield
and sword. They are defended by the whole armor of God: His word is his sword,
and faith his shield.
And thine enemies shall be
found liars unto thee
Wesley
commented, And
thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee - Who said that they would
destroy thee: or at least, that they would never submit: and thou shalt tread
upon their high places - Their fortresses, palaces, and temples. Thus the God
of peace will trample Satan under the feet of all believers, and that soon.[1]
Deuteronomy
34
The author of Deuteronomy reported:
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I swore unto Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed; I have made her see
with your eyes, but you will not pass there.
Moses died there in the land of Moab, a servant of the Lord, according
to the word of the Lord.
And Wesley remarked, He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a
good man, (all these are his servants), but as an eminently useful man, who
served the counsels of God in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them
through the wilderness. And it was more his honor to be a servant of the Lord
than to be king in Jeshurun.
However, he dies, says Wesley. Neither his piety nor his usefulness
would exempt him from the blow of death. God's servants must die, that they may
rest from their labors, receive their reward, and make room for others. But
when they go, they will serve him better, serve him day and night in his
temple. The Jews say that God sucked their soul out of their body with a kiss.
No doubt he died in the arms of his love.
The author of Deuteronomy reported, "And he buried him in a valley
in the land of Moab, opposite Betheor, but no one knows of his tomb to this
day."
Wesley explained, He–The Lord, buried him immediately, either by the
ministry of angels, of which Michael was the chief or prince.
No one knows the place to avoid superstition or idolatry, Wesley said.
He did great things used by the Lord, but Wesley said, Nevertheless, he
dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him from the blow of
death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their labors, receive
their reward, and make room for others. But when they go, they will serve him
better, serve him day and night in his temple. The Jews say that God sucked
their soul out of their body with a kiss. No doubt he died in the arms of his
love.
===============================
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to
Mount Nebo
The author of Deuteronomy reported: And
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah,
which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead to
Dan,
When he learned the place of his death, he happily climbed a steep hill
to reach it
And Moses went up - When he learned the place of his death, he
gladly climbed a steep hill to reach it, said Wesley. Those who are well
acquainted with another world are not afraid to let it go. When God's servants
are sent out of the world, the summons runs and dies! To Dan - To that city
which after the death of Moses was so called.
The author of Deuteronomy reported:
and all Naphtali, and the land of
Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, even to the highest sea,
He was in the east and saw Gilead also
And Wesley remarked, All naphtali–The
land of Naphtali, which together with Dan, was in the north of Canaan, as
Ephraim and Manasseh were in the middle parts, and Judah in the south, and the
sea in the west. Therefore, these parts that are found in the various
neighborhoods are placed for everything else. He was in the east, and he saw
Gilead, which was in the eastern part of the land, and from there he saw the
north, the south, and the west.
The maximum sea - The middle sea, which was the maximum
limit of the promised land in the west, Wesley said.
From where and the balm
that grew there was called Jericho
and the Negev, and the plain of the valley of
Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.
Wesley explained: The south -
The southern part of the land of Judah, which is towards the salt sea, the city
of palm trees - Jericho, so called from the multitude of palm trees, which were
in those parts, as Josephus and Strabo write. Whence and the balm that grew
there was called Jericho, which means odorous or fragrant.
This is the land that I swore to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which
I swore unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed; I
have made them see with thine eyes, but thou shalt not pass thither, the author of
Deuteronomy wrote.
He saw from a distance
And Wesley remarked, I made thee to see—For though his vision was
good, he could not have seen all Canaan, a hundred and sixty miles long, and
fifty or sixty wide, if his vision had not been miraculously attended and
enlarged. He saw it from a distance. Such a vision Old Testament believers had
of the Messiah's kingdom. And such a vision believers have now of the glory
which he will reveal. Such a vision we have now, of the knowledge of the glory
of the Lord, which shall cover the earth. Those who come after us will
doubtless enter that promised land: which is a comfort to us, when we find our
own carcasses falling in this wilderness.
Moses died there in the land of Moab
The author of Deuteronomy wrote: Moses
died there in the land of Moab, a servant of the Lord, according to the word of
the Lord.
He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a good man, (all these
are his servants), but as an eminently useful man
Wesley said, Then Moses the servant of
the Lord died - He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a
good man, (all these are his servants), but as an eminently useful man, who
served the counsels of God in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them
through the wilderness. And it was more his honor to be a servant of the Lord
than to be king in Jeshurun.
However, he dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him
from the blow of death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their
labors, receive their reward, and make room for others
And Wesley commented: However, he dies. Neither his piety nor his
usefulness would exempt him from the blow of death. God's servants must die,
that they may rest from their labors, receive their reward, and make room for
others. But when they go, they will serve him better, serve him day and night
in his temple. The Jews say that God sucked their soul out of their body with a
kiss. No doubt he died in the arms of his love.
And he buried him in a valley in the land of
Moab
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, " And
he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Betheor, but no one
knows of his tomb to this day."
The Lord buried him immediately, either by the ministry of angels, of
which Michael was the chief or prince
He–The Lord, buried him immediately, or by the ministry of angels, of
which Michael was the chief or prince, affirmed Wesley.
Of the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the Israelites,
to avoid their superstition and idolatry
And Wesley remarked, From his sepulchre
- From the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the
Israelites, to avoid their superstition and idolatry, to which he knew their
great propensity. And for this very reason the devil endeavored to make it
known, and contended with Michael about it, Judges 1:9. God even cares for
the corpses of his servants. Just as his death is precious, so is his dust. Not
a grain of it will be lost, but the covenant with it will be remembered.
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old
when he died
The author of Deuteronomy wrote: Moses
was one hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not darkened,
nor was his natural strength diminished.
His eyes
were not dimmed—By
a miraculous work of God in mercy to his church and people, said Wesley.
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in
the plains of Moab thirty days
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, " And
the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; thus
ended the days of weeping and mourning for Moses.
That it was the usual time of mourning for people of high rank and
eminence
And Wesley remarked, Thirty days
- That was the usual time of mourning for persons of high rank and eminence. It
is a debt due to the surviving honour of worthy departed, to follow them with
our tears, for those who loved and valued them are sensitive to loss and
humbled by the sins which have provoked God to deprive us of them.
And Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the
spirit of wisdom; for Moses laid his hands on him
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, "And
Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom: for Moses laid his
hands on him, and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as the Lord
commanded Moses."
And Wesley commented, Wisdom -
And other gifts and graces also, but wisdom is mentioned as being most
necessary to the government to which he was now called.
And this was the thing that Moses at that time asked God for him
About
him - And this was the
thing that Moses at that time asked God for him, said Wesley.
And there never again stood up in Israel a
prophet like Moses
The author of Deuteronomy wrote, "And
there never again arose in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face
to face,
To whom the Lord–To whom God conversed so freely and
familiarly, affirmed Wesley.
And all that mighty hand
And in all that mighty
hand, and in all the great terror that Moses showed in the eyes of all Israel, the author of Deuteronomy wrote.
Moses was greater than any other of the Old
Testament prophets
Wesley
commented: Moses was greater than any other of the Old Testament prophets.
Through Moses, God gave the law, molded, and formed the Jewish church. By the
other prophets, he only sent private rebukes, directions, and predictions.
Moses lies buried, but Christ sits at the
right hand of God
And
Wesley said, But so far as the other
prophets fell short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. Moses was faithful
as a servant, but Christ as a son: his miracles more illustrious, his communion
with the Father more intimate: for he has been in his bosom from eternity.
Moses lies buried, but Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and from the
increase of his principality there will be no end.[2]
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