Deuteronomy 3:1
_Turned. Instead of going forward across the Jordan, we directed our arms against Basan, in the north. See Numbers xxi. 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Turned. Instead of going forward across the Jordan, we directed our arms against Basan, in the north. See Numbers xxi. 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Country. Hebrew, "the line" with which lands were measured, chap. xxxii. 9. --- Argob may signify rich and fertile; "all that fertile region, the kingdom of Og." Vatable thinks that Basan, Argob, and Trachonitis, denote the same country. But Cellarius observes, that the last mentioned country was i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Walls. Tacitus remarks, that "a great part of Judea is covered with villages, though towns may likewise be found in the country. (Hist. v. 8.) See 3 Kings iv. 13. Septuagint, "besides the towns of Pherezites, which were very numerous." (Calmet) --- The spies had not travelled in this county, when t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Utterly. Yet out of the ruins they soon raised other strong cities, Numbers xxxii. 26. All the walls were not probably demolished, (ver. 19,) but only a part, so that they might be repaired with no great labour or expense. The inhabitants were all destroyed, that they might not pervert the Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
Beyond. East of the promised land of Chanaan, which the sacred writers have generally in view. (Haydock) --- Hebrew heber, means, "alongside, opposite to, at the passage, at this side," &c. See chap. i. 1., and 3 Kings iv. 24. (Calmet) --- There is no need, therefore, to suppose that this and simila... [ Continue Reading ]
_Plain. Hebrew Mishor, which the Septuagint leave untranslated. It has perhaps the same meaning as Argob, ver. 4. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Giants. Hebrew, "Raphaim." Og was the only survivor of this family in Basan, though there were other giants dispersed throughout the land, 1 Paralipomenon xx. 6. (Tirinus) --- Some of the stock of Rapha were also seen afterwards at Geth, but they did not reign in the country of their fathers, as Og... [ Continue Reading ]
_Galaad. Moses comprises under this name all the conquered country. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jair. Some have supposed that this was one of the judges of Israel, but without foundation. He was a son or descendant of Manasses, Numbers xxxii. 41., and Judges x. 4. --- And Machati. These were the most southern towns of this half tribe. (Calmet) --- Day. If Esdras added these words, he did it n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Machir's posterity was settled in the same part of Galaad. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Torrent. The other part belonged to the Moabites, (Calmet) on the south and east. --- Ammon. See chap. ii. 37. The two tribes of Gad and Ruben occupied the territory lying between the Jeboc and the Arnon, hemmed in by the mountains of Galaad, on the east, and by the Jordan and the most salt sea, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Foot. Hebrew and Septuagint Ashdoth-pisga. Eusebius seems to have taken these for two different towns. The former was situated near Phasga, Josue xii. 3. This mount was the eastern boundary of Ruben. The plain here mentioned was that where Moses was speaking. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rest. Abulensis says, this took place only 14 years after. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
I will. Moses flattered himself that God's refusal to let him cross the Jordan, was only conditional; and therefore he begs, with all humility, for leave to enter Chanaan, at the head of the people. But, though God had pardoned his fault, he would not deprive Josue of the honour, which to fulfil the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your account. Moses cannot help reminding the people that they were the occasion of his giving way to diffidence, and thus incurring a most sensible chastisement from the hands of God. Their conduct had provoked him so, that he gave some outward signs of the trouble with which his mind was so much... [ Continue Reading ]
_East. It seems, if Phasga was the eastern boundary of Ruben, (ver. 17,) there was no occasion for Moses to cast his eyes that way. He is ordered to take a full view of the countries allotted by God to the Hebrews; and if we consider that the territory, as far as the Euphrates, was promised to them,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phogor. Hebrew Beth pehor, "the house, temple, or city of Phogor," where that idol was the object of adoration. The city was probably at the foot of Mount Phasga, and fell to the share of Ruben, Josue xiii. 20. (Calmet) --- The Hebrews dwelt in the valley when Moses made the aforesaid supplication... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III.... [ Continue Reading ]