*H Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in benediction.
Ver. 1. Men. Pharao, Jethro, and the whole nation of the Hebrews, whom he governed as a father, being the mildest of men. Num. xii. 23. His life was a continued miracle, and he was honoured more than any prophet, (ib. vi. Acts vii. C.) seeing God's works more clearly, but not his substance. Ex. xxxiii. W.
* Footnote * Exodus 11 : 3
And the Lord will give favour to his people in the sight of the Egyptians. And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharao's servants, and of all the people.*H He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease.
Ver. 2. Saints, patriarchs or angels, as he saw God face to face. — Enemies. The Egyptians, Amalecites, and all who rebelled against God. — Cease. Removing the scourges which he had inflicted. His serpent devoured those of the magicians, who were confounded before him.
*H He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory.
Ver. 3. Kings. Pharao, Og, &c. — Glory, when he had passed by. Ex. xxxiii. 22.
* Footnote * Exodus 6 : 7
And I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the work-prison of the Egyptians:* Footnote * Exodus 6 : 8
And brought you into the land, concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and I will give it you to possess: I am the Lord.*H He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh.
Ver. 4. Meekness, giving him these necessary qualifications to rule a rebellious people. v. 1.
* Footnote * Numbers 12 : 3
(For Moses was a man exceeding meek above all men that dwelt upon earth)* Footnote * Numbers 12 : 7
But it is not so with my servant Moses who is most faithful in all my house:* Footnote * Hebrews 3 : 2
Who is faithful to him that made him, as was also Moses in all his house.* Footnote * Hebrews 3 : 5
And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be said:*H For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud.
Ver. 5. Heard. Gr. "made him hear his voice."
*H And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his judgments.
Ver. 6. Face, familiarly. — Life, by observing which, the Hebrews might live. Thus the trees of life and of knowledge were a sort of remedy against death and ignorance. Gen. ii. 9. C.
*H He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of Levi:
Ver. 7. His. Gr. "holy, like to himself his brother of the," &c. H. Ps. cv. 16. — He was the interpreter of Moses, and honoured with the high priesthood. Aaron and his posterity were bound to be faithful to the law. v. 19. C. — Their priesthood was to last till Christ appeared, a priest forever of the order of Melchisedech.
*H And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire.
Ver. 9. Robe. Lit. "stole," (H.) which was a long robe, used in the East by both sexes. — Crowned. Gr. "confirmed" him in his dignity. C.
*H He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round about,
Ver. 10. To the. Gr. "enclosing his legs, (H. breeches. C.) and the robe hanging down to the feet, (poderé) and the garment over the shoulders," (H. ephod) which met at the breast, where the rational was fixed. See Ex. xxviii. C. — Many. Gr. "spheres, (H. or pomegranates. Ex. xxviii. 23. C.) with many little bells," (H.) to admonish the people of his coming.
* Footnote * Exodus 28 : 35
And Aaron shall be vested with it in the office of his ministry, that the sound may be heard, when he goeth in and cometh out of the sanctuary, in the sight of the Lord, and that he may not die.*H He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth:
Ver. 12. Man. Beseleel, who made the greatest part. C. — Gr. "of an embroiderer, with the rational of judgment, and the signs (manifestation. C.) of truth. H. — Thus the Sept. commonly describe the Urim and Thummim. Ex. xxviii. 6. C.
*H Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary for a memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ver. 13. Tribes. Gr. "sons." H. — Their names were engraven on 12 stones.
*H And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the eyes for its beauty.
Ver. 14. Holiness, or "holy to the Lord." Ex. xxviii. C. — Work. Gr. "works very rich." H. — This regards all his attire. The high priest only used it in the temple, on grand festivals. C.
*H His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.
Ver. 17. His. Gr. Comp. "their." H. — Some of the ordinary priests offered the daily holocausts.
*H Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.
Ver. 18. Filled. Consecrated. Lev. viii. 26.
* Footnote * Leviticus 8 : 12
And he poured it upon Aaron's head: and he anointed and consecrated him.*H This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name.
Ver. 19. Testament. It prefigured that of Christ, which lasts for ever. Heb. vii. C. — Execute. Gr. "serve him, both by executing the priestly office, and by blessing the people," &c. H. — This was one of the high priest's functions. Num. vi. 23. The rest might offer sacrifice and incense, except on the day of expiation, (Lev. xvi.) and on solemn festivals, though the Scripture is silent on the latter head.
*H And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give light to Israel in his law.
Ver. 21. Law. The most important causes were to be tried before the high priest, who, with his brethren, were the interpreters of the law. Matt. ii. 6.
* Footnote * Numbers 16 : 1
And behold Core the son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab, and Hon the son of Pheleth of the children of Ruben,* Footnote * Numbers 16 : 3
And when they had stood up against Moses and Aaron, they said: Let it be enough for you, that all the multitude consisteth of holy ones, and the Lord is among them: Why lift you up yourselves above the people of the Lord?*H He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of fire.
Ver. 24. Fire. Thus consuming 250 men. Num. xvi. 30.
*H He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and to his seed.
Ver. 26. Eat. The skin of holocausts was alone given to the priests.
*H But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and inheritance.
Ver. 27. People. Having only 2,000 cubits round their cities. Num. xxxv. The priests were thus interested to keep the people to their duty, as their own subsistence depended on the devotion and gifts of the latter. C. — They had no distinct territory, like the rest of the tribes. W.
*H Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord:
Ver. 28. Imitating. Gr. "by shewing a zeal in the fear of the Lord." Num. xxv. 11.
* Footnote * Numbers 25 : 7
And when Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest saw it, he rose up from the midst of the multitude, and taking a dagger,* Footnote * 1_Machabees 2 : 26
And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri, the son of Salomi.*H And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation everlasting.
Ver. 31. That he. Or so he made a covenant with Aaron, that he, &c. C. — Gr. "and (Grabe puts according to) the covenant made to David...that the king's son successively should alone inherit, the inheritance of Aaron was for his posterity. May he impart wisdom to your heart," &c. — He made. Gr. "glory during their age." H. — The sacred writer pours forth this prayer for God's ministers, (C.) that their good things and glory may never end, as long as the Jewish dispensation should last. He is equally solicitous for the priesthood as for the sceptre of David. In both the families of Aaron and of David children succeeded to their father's dignity, and God had made a covenant for that purpose. H. — David assisted the priests, and greatly advanced God's service. 1 Par. xxiii. W. — His eulogy is given C. xlvii.; and he is here only mentioned (C.) as a comparison. H.