Glory - As our fathers did.
At the sea - When those wonders were but newly done, and fresh in memory.
Saved them - That he may vindicate his name from the blasphemous reproaches, which would have been cast upon it, if they had been destroyed.
Led them - As securely as if they had walked upon the dry land.
Soon - Even within three days, Exod 15:22,23. Waited not - They did not wait patiently upon God for supplies, in such manner and time as he thought fit.
Lusted - For flesh.
Souls - Into their bodies. So their inordinate desire of pampering their bodies, was the occasion of destroying them.
The saint - So called, because he was consecrated by God for that sacred office of the priesthood, in which respect all the priests are said to be holy, Lev 21:6 - 8. Hereby he intimates, that their envy and rebellion was not only against Aaron, but against God himself.
A calf - When they were but just brought out of Egypt by such wonders, and had seen the plagues of God upon the Egyptian idolaters, and when the law of God was but newly delivered to them in such a tremendous manner.
Their glory - God, who was indeed their glory. Into - Into the golden image of an ox or calf, which is so far from feeding his people, as the true God did the Israelites, that he must be fed by them.
Breach - God had made a wall about them; but they had made a breach in it by their sins, at which the Lord, who was now justly become their enemy, might enter to destroy them; which he had certainly done, if Moses by his prevailing intercession had not hindered him.
Despised - Preferring Egypt, and their former bondage, before it, Numb 14:3,4.
The voice - To God's command, that they should boldly enter into it.
Lifted up - He sware. Of this dreadful and irrevocable oath of God, see Numb 14:11,12.
Overthrow - He sware also (tho' not at the same time) that he would punish their sins, not only in their persons, but in their posterity.
Joined - They had communion with him, as God's people have with God in acts of his worship.
And - It was accepted and rewarded of God as an act of justice and piety.
Devils - They did not worship God as they pretended, but devils in their idols; for those spirits, which were supposed by the Heathen idolaters to inhabit in their images, were not good spirits, but evil spirits, or devils.
Counsel - By forsaking God's way, and following their own inventions.
Repented - Changed his course and dealing with them.
Gathered - Into their own land.
No city - Or rather, no town inhabited, where they might refresh themselves.
The Lord - Heb. Unto Jehovah, to the true God. For the Heathens had, many of them, some knowledge of the true God.
Forth - Out of the wilderness.
Darkness - In dark prisons or dungeons.
Heart - The pride and obstinacy of their hearts. Fell - They fell into hopeless miseries.
Afflicted - With sickness.
Word - His command, or blessing.
Exalt him - In public assemblies, and before all persons, as they have opportunity. Elders - The magistrates or rulers; let them not be ashamed nor afraid to speak of God's wonderful works, before the greatest of men.
Rivers - Those grounds which are well watered, and therefore fruitful. And so the water - springs, here, and the standing water, ver.35 are taken. Into - Into a dry ground, which is like a parched and barren wilderness.
For - He doth not inflict these judgments without cause, but for the punishment of sin in some, and the prevention of it in others.
Water - Into a well - watered and fruitful land.
Hungry - Poor people who could not provide for themselves.
They - These men, who when they are exalted by God, grow insolent and secure. Low - By God's just judgment.
Contempt - Renders them despicable. Wander - Banishes them from their own courts and kingdoms, and forces them to flee into desolate wildernesses for shelter.
Glory - With my tongue.
God - The author and matter of all my praises.
Adversaries - They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained ver.5.
A wicked man - Who will rule him with rigour and cruelty. Satan - To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts.
Sin - Because it is not from his heart.
Desolate places - Into which they are fled for fear and shame.
Catch - Heb. ensnare, take away not only by oppression but also by cunning artificers. Stranger - Who hath no right to his goods.
Delighted not - In desiring and promoting the welfare of others.
Garment - Which a man wears constantly. Like water - Water in the cavity of the belly, between the bowels, is almost certain death. And oil soaking into any of the bones, will soon utterly destroy it.
That speak evil against my soul - With design to take away my life.