Chapter 9

Moses dissuadeth them from the opinion of their own righteousness, by rehearsing their several rebellions.

1. This day. The appointed time for the possession of Canaan was at hand. Israel was to prepare to pass over in the immediate future. The death of Moses and a month of mourning for him were to come before the actual crossing of the Jordan.

2. People. See Num. 13:28, 32.

Anakims. Literally, “the long-necked ones.” They appear to have descended from Anak. Arba, founder of Hebron (Joshua 14:15; 15:13), was a chief of the Anakim. They were scattered over the hill country of Judah (see Num. 13:22, 28, 33).

Children of Anak. After the Israelite conquest none of the Anakim remained in Judah, but a small remnant survived in Philistia (Joshua 11:22; 2 Sam. 21:16; 1 Chron. 20:4). It is thought that Goliath was a descendant of the Anakim (Num. 13:33; Joshua 11:22; 1 Sam. 17:4).

3. He shall destroy. The pronoun “he” is emphatic; “he which goeth over before thee,” “he shall destroy them,” and “he shall bring them down.” The conquest of Canaan was to be achieved by His power—“so shalt thou [Israel] drive them out.” The glory would be His, not theirs (see Joshua 3:1–11; 11:21–23).

4. My righteousness. Their evil conduct since leaving Egypt made it evident that they were not being given the land of Canaan because they deserved it (vs. 7–27).

Wickedness. When Abraham sojourned in Canaan “the iniquity of the Amorites” was “not yet full” (Gen. 15:16). During their 215 years in Canaan, Abraham and his descendants bore a faithful witness to the true God, so that the inhabitants of the land might have an opportunity to amend their ways. It was not until the nations of Canaan had irretrievably sinned away their day of grace that God dispossessed them of their land (see Lev. 18:24–28; 1 Kings 14:23, 24; 21:26).

5. Drive them out. God had originally allotted Canaan to the Amorites and other tribes Israel found there (Deut. 32:8; Acts 17:26), but they forfeited their right to it by their evil ways. Should Israel imitate the ways of these nations they too would be driven out. This eventually happened (see Ex. 34:24; Deut. 4:38; 11:23; Joshua 23:5, 9).

6. Stiffnecked. The word translated “stiff” is from a root meaning “to be hard,” “to be heavy,” and thus figuratively “to beobstinate,” “to be stubborn.” A “stiff” neck is a neck that has been hardened (2 Kings 17:14; Neh. 9:16, 17, 29; Prov. 29:1). The same word is used of the “hardening” of Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 7:3). God pleads with His people not to “harden” their hearts (Ps. 95:8). This, however, they often did (Ex. 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9; see on Ex. 4:21).

7. Rebellious. On the least imaginary provocation they were up in arms against God, so much so that Moses called them “rebels” (Num. 20:10).

8. Also in Horeb. The rebellion at Mt. Sinai was most reprehensible in view of the impressive evidences God had recently accorded them (Ex. 32:7, 8). The rebelled in His very presence.

9. I was gone up. See Ex. 24:18; 34:28.

Eat bread nor drink water. Exodus does not mention fasting in connection with Moses’ first 40 days and nights on Sinai, but does mention it in relation to the second ascent (Ex. 34:28). Fasting often accompanied periods devoted to meditation on sacred themes, for it tends to clarify spiritual vision.

10. Tables of stone. See also Ex.31:18; 32:15, 16.

Day of the assembly. A reference to the notable occasion on which Israel assembled to hear God proclaim His holy law (chs. 10:4; 18:16).

14. Destroy them. Israel’s intentional departure from God’s revealed will left them without excuse before Him, and they no longer deserved His forbearance. Deliberate, premeditated sin may bring the day of probation to a sudden close. There must be a new start, a genuine reformation to avert the hour of judgment (see Ex. 32:10).

16. Molten calf. See Ex. 32:19.

Turned aside. Only a few weeks earlier the people had been commanded not to make graven images (Ex. 20:4) and had promised to obey (Ex. 24:3).

Brake them. The broken tables of stone typified the broken law and the broken covenant (Ex. 32:19). God severed relations with Israel, and the covenant, which had been ratified a month earlier, became null and void. It was only upon the intercession of Moses that Israel was readmitted to divine favor, and that on a conditional and probationary basis (Ex. 32:10–14, 32–34).

18. I fell down. In intercession on behalf of the people. In Oriental lands even today prostration is the posture of complete submission.

As at the first. That is, as during the first 40 days and nights. This was the morning after he had broken up the golden calf (Ex. 32:30–32).

Your sins. Three times prior to this there had been major disobedience on the part of Israel—at Marah (Ex. 15:23), in the Wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16:2, 3), and at Massah (Ex. 17:2–7).

20. Aaron. Aaron considered Moses too severe with people, and thought it better to be more conciliatory, and to meet their wishes in part. But such compromising with sin was ruinous. Little wonder that God was ready to destroy him; his guilt was greater than that of the people. Why God did not do so is not stated. The fact that he was permitted to live and to become high priest testifies to the mercy and long-suffering of God.

21. Your sin. Or, “sinful thing” (RSV), the obvious idea (see Isa. 31:7.

Burnt it. As recorded in Ex. 32:20. The calf had presumably come forth from the fire (v. 24), and was therefore appropriately consigned to the flames once more.

The brook. That is, the stream that flowed from the rock in Horeb, which Moses had struck with his staff (Ex. 17:6), and which constituted their water supply.

22. Taberah. See Num. 11:1–3.

Massah. See Ex. 17:2–7.

Kibroth-hattaavah. See Num. 11:4–34.

23. Kadesh-barnea. See Num. 13 and 14.

27. Remember thy servants. An appeal to the covenant promises as a reason for not yet rejecting Israel, in spite of their perversity (see Ex. 32:13).

28. Not able. See on Ex. 32:12.

Ellen G. White comments

1    PP 487

7-293T 319

10   PP 314

18   PP 329; 3T 319

20   PP 323

21   PP 313, 320

24        3T 319