To the top of Pisgah— Houbigant renders this, Ras-pisgah, supposing the whole a proper name; which, says he, in so uncertain a matter, seems the safest: for, from the context, it sufficiently appears, that this was not the mountain Pisgah; nor can it be proper to render ראשׁ rosh, a mountain, or top, when the Israelites are said to come into a valley. Le Clerc renders it, under the top of Pisgah. Which looketh toward Jeshimon, is rendered more properly in the margin, toward the wilderness; namely, the wilderness of Kedemoth, a city on the borders of the country of the Amorites, from whence they sent messengers to Sihon. See Deuteronomy 32:10. Psalms 68:7 in the original.
REFLECTIONS.—We have here the journies of the people towards Canaan. When they were advanced from Oboth to Beer, in their want of water, God, of his own motion, promises to supply them abundantly. They seem now to have trusted without murmuring, and they find the blessing of doing to. Hereupon, 1. They celebrate with songs of praise the divine mercy; and in confidence of the promise, as if already fulfilled, pray to and praise the gracious giver. Note; (1.) Every promised mercy is as much our own, as if we actually possessed it. (2.) Christ, by his spirit in the believer's heart, as a well of water, springeth up into eternal life. (3.) Praise is the grateful tribute we owe to God for his rich and undeserved mercies. 2. As the people sung, the princes digged, or digged in faith, and their staves, like Moses's rod, brought streams out of the dry ground. When our contrivances seem at the lowest ebb, God can thus open pools in the wilderness; and whilst we, in dependance upon him, employ the staff of prayer, we need not fear but that he will lead us forth beside the waters of comfort.