Ver. 5. And he was king in Jeshurun, &c.— DURELL.
Dr. Kennicott endeavours to shew the great inconsistency of making Moses the speaker of the passage as it stands in our version. Aware of this difficulty, Jonathan, and the author of the Jerusalem Targum, put these words in the mouth of the children of Israel. The children of Israel said, Moses commanded, &c. Indeed the word Moses cannot be retained in the text with any propriety, but on the supposition that Moses taught the Israelites this song with a view that they might sing or repeat it in their own person. See Kennicott's first Dissertation, p. 434. As משׁה Mosheh is the last word in the Hebrew line, might it not be rendered very properly, He enjoined, or delivered us, a law by Moses. We find it thus rendered in the Arabic.
Ver. 5. And he was king in Jeshurun— It is not agreed among critics to whom these words are to be referred. Selden and Grotius make them relate to Moses, the last antecedent, as it stands in our texts: but, although this may be more agreeable to grammar, it is not so agreeable to Scripture. We do not find that Moses was ever crowned; that he ever had this title; or ever enjoyed, properly speaking, any one royal prerogative: the contrary is rather strongly intimated, ch. Deuteronomy 17:14. 1 Samuel 8:5-7; 1 Samuel 8:22; 1 Samuel 12:19. And as to those who consider the passage as a prophesy of the kingdom of Judah, or of that of the Messiah, they seem not to have sufficiently attended to the scope of this song. It cannot, I think, be doubted from the context, that this alludes to the institution of the theocracy, which happened about the time of the delivery of the law; whence, as it is most probable, that God, who is frequently called King, should have the title given him on this occasion; so, likewise, it is improbable that Moses should now take it to himself for the first time, for the reasons above given. Add to this, that, at the close of Moses's first song, Exodus 15:18 it is said, ימלךֶ יהוה Iehovah iimlok, the LORD shall reign, &c. The words, when the heads of the people, &c. seem to refer to the solemn assembly of the elders, who were convened to deliberate on God's message, when he proposed to be their king, and to the answer given by them and the rest of the people. See ch. Deuteronomy 18:16 and Exodus 19:7-8.
REFLECTIONS.—Moses, being now to leave them, in token of his warm affection towards them, notwithstanding their ingratitude, pronounces over them his parting benediction. As a man of God, a good man, he prays for their felicity; as a prophet, he foretels the blessings that God had in store for them. 1. He reminds them of the glorious appearance of God on Sinai, whence the brightness of his presence shone so powerfully, that the distant mounts of Seir and Paran were illumined thereby. Ten thousand holy angels, an innumerable multitude, surrounded the King of Glory, when through their shining ranks the law went forth from the throne of the Divine Majesty. 2. He mentions the fiery law which was given them from his right hand: fiery, because not only given from amidst the fire of Sinai, but also because, like the powerful operations of this element, it burns the conscience, and torments it with a sense of guilt. Note; The sinner who breaks God's law will still find it consuming fire. 3. The regard and love of God towards them. No nation so distinguished; separated to be a peculiar people, covered and protected by the hand of Omnipotence, drawn to his feet to hear and learn the way to life and happiness, and to receive the words which make wise unto salvation. Happy art thou, O Israel. Note; (1.) God's people are a peculiar and chosen generation. (2.) They are all taught of God, and sweetly drawn to his feet, to learn his will and to obey it. (3.) The people acknowledge their obligation to God for giving them such a holy law, which was their best inheritance, and, whilst they observed it, would insure the land to their posterity unto the latest ages. Note; (1.) To have God's law written in our hearts is our best treasure. (2.) We can never be thankful enough to God for bringing our hearts into subjection to his will.