He speaks of the posterity of Esau, who after they had subdued the Horites, erected a kingdom there. Here profane wits triumph. How, say they, could Moses write this, when as yet there was no king in Israel? Answ.
1. The word may be taken for any chief governor, in which sense the title of king is given to Moses, Deuteronomy 33:5; and to the judges, Judges 17:6; and to others who were not kings, properly so called, Psalms 119:46 Luke 22:25 Acts 9:15, &c. Answ.
2. Moses might well say thus, because he did by the Spirit of prophecy foresee, and therefore could foretell, that the Israelites would have a king, as appears from Deuteronomy 17:14,15. Answ.
3. This, with other clauses of the same nature, might be inserted afterwards by some holy and inspired man of God, as it is confessed that part of the last chapter of Deuteronomy was.