提要
上帝吩咐摩西記下以色列人從離開埃及到進入迦南地期間，所有安營的地方（證明了摩西的作者身分，33：2）。摩西共提及四十個地點，可能表示每一個地方平均停留一年。自從以色列人悖逆上帝（14：33），他們就被迫過著遊牧民族的生活，逐水草而居，又必須隨著安全上的考慮和天候的狀況從一個地方移居到另一個地方。
大部分以色列新的一代都不記得他們父母親早期漂流過的地方。這張旅程表可以清楚的向他們顯示過往的足跡，也更加提醒他們因罪所受的懲罰。不過，這份旅途回顧表還向他們表明了上帝在過去四十年間如何祝福、扶持他們（申2：7），正如上帝今天與祂的子民同行，扶持他們一樣。摩西沒有再提以色列民在那些地點所犯的罪，因為他們即將步入以色列史上的新階段，過去的事要拋諸腦後，一切向前看。
上帝也對他們將來征服迦南地後應有的舉措作了明確的指示──他們能征服迦南是由於上帝的命定，也唯獨藉著祂的能力才能實現。當以色列人進入迦南地後，他們要徹底毀滅與迦南人的異教崇拜有關的任何事物，並要將迦南人驅逐出境。這對以色列人屬靈的福祉來說是必須的，因為以色列人的靈性很軟弱，過去且曾輕易的墮入偶像崇拜。上帝警告以色列人，如果他們不照著上帝的命令去做，迦南人就必不斷的為以色列人製造災難，上帝怎麼懲罰迦南人，也必照樣懲罰以色列人（33：55~56）。歷史顯示，以色列人並沒有留意這些警告，而陷入與迦南人一樣可怕的罪，並且的確遭到上帝的懲罰──特別是被亞述和巴比倫俘擄。從這些警告我們學到一件功課：如果上帝的子民要在祂面前保持聖潔，他們首先就必須從生活中除去一切不榮耀祂和不討祂喜悅的事物。
第卅四章談到繼續上帝對將來更進一步的指示。上帝告訴摩西應許之地的明確疆界，那是上帝對祂子民極大恩賜的明證。以色列國的南界貼著以東地，從死海南端直到地中海；西界濱地中海；北界是黑門山脈；東邊則以從加利利海直到死海的約但河谷為界。
我們也讀到以色列各支派新領袖的名字，他們要照著上帝的指示（書十五章），協助約書亞和祭司以利亞撒為以色列人分地。這是一個信心的預備步伐，表明他們相信上帝會幫助他們成功的進佔迦南地。我們觀察一下這份名單就會發現，其中沒有一個是以色列各支派第一次選出來的領袖（民一章），也沒有一個是以前曾帶領百姓叛亂的首領的兒子。在上一代以色列人中，只有兩個人對上帝忠心，所以上帝將他們擢升為領袖：約書亞統率全以色列民，迦勒則作最重要、最大的猶太支派之首。
忠心必得報償，悖逆則必須付代價，以色列人就付了昂貴的代價。可悲的是，由於他們的罪，上帝應許要賜給他們的版圖，除了在大衛和所羅門作王時有曇花一現的應驗，並沒有完全實現。
|
Overview
The Lord commanded Moses to write down all the places Israel had set up camp from the time they left Egypt until they entered the Promised Land (attests to the Mosaic authorship, 33:2). There are forty places mentioned, which would mean the average stay at each encampment was one year. The Israelites had been forced to live like nomads even since the time they had rebelled against God (14:33). They had moved from place to place according to the grazing needs of their livestock, the need for water, safety, and the weather conditions.
Most of the new generation would not remember the earlier places of their parent’s wanderings. This list would show them exactly where they had traveled and make their punishment for sin all the more clear. However, it would also show them how God had blessed and sustained them throughout all those years (see Deut.2:7), just as God walks with and sustains His people today. There is no mention of the sins the people had committed at the various places, for the past was to be put behind them, as they were about to enter into a new stage of their history and were to look to the future.
God gave them specific commands for the future conquest of Canaan – a conquest that was by divine appointment and would be brought about by the power of God alone. When they entered the land, they were to completely destroy anything that had to do with the pagan religion of the Canaanites and drive them all out of the land. This was necessary for the spiritual welfare of Israel, for they were weak and had previously fallen easily into idolatry. God warned Israel that if they did not do this, the Canaanites would be a continuous source of Adversity and He would punish them in the same way he had planned for the Canaanites (33:55-56). History shows that Israel failed to heed these warnings and fell into terrible sin for which they were indeed punished, especially with the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. From these warnings, we learn that if the Lord’s people are to remain pure and holy before Him, they must first remove everything from their lives, which does not glorify and please Him.
Chapter 34 continues with further instructions for the future. God shared with Moses the specific borders of the Promised Land. They are given as evidence of His great gift to His people. Their southern border was to be along the land of Edom, from the southern tip of the Dead Sea up to the Mediterranean Sea; on the west, the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea; on the north, the area of the Mount Hermon range; and on the east, the Jordan valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.
We also read here the names of the newly appointed tribal leaders who were to assist Joshua and Eleazar, the priest, in the dividing of the land as the Lord had directed (Josh.15). These were preparatory steps of faith, which showed a trust in God for the preparatory steps of faith, which showed a trust in God for the successful possession of the land of Canaan. We can observe that among the names listed there is not one which had been mentioned among the first choosing of tribal leaders (ch.1), for all of them had died in the wilderness, nor are any of these a son of a former leader who had led the people in rebellion. Of the former generation, only two had remained faithful, and therefore God raised them to leadership positions: Joshua over all the people and Caleb over the important and large tribe of Judah.
Faithfulness has its rewards, but there is a price to pay for disobedience, and the Israelites paid dearly. Sadly, because of their sin, the full extent of the borders that God had described was never realized, except for a short period of time during the reigns of King David and Solomon.
|
