The place also is expressed. (On the top of the hill.) At the time that Amalek set upon them they were in a valley, or in a ⟨p. 226⟩plain, and there Joshua went out against them. But Moses 1goeth to the top of an hill near to that valley, and that for sundry just and weighty reasons: as,
1. That he might the better discern the battle, and know whether Israel or Amalek had the better, and answerably order his prayer.2
2. That Joshua and his soldiers might behold Moses lifting up his hands: and thereby be the more encouraged.
3. That he might be the more quiet and free from disturbance and distraction, (which he could not have been, if he had remained in the plain among the people: or if he had been in the army.) For when we set our selves to prayer, we must set our selves thereto with the whole heart Therefore in time of prayer we may usefully seek secrecy of place.
4. That by the open sight of heaven, his spirit might be the more cheered, his thoughts more elevated, and so his prayer the more sharpened, and his faith the more strengthened. For by the sublimity of our thoughts our heart is enlarged.
The place also is expressed. (On the top of the hill.) At the time that Amalek set upon them they were in a vallie, or in a ⟨p. 226⟩plaine, and there Ioshua went out against them. But Moses 1goeth to the top of an hill neare to that vallie, and that for sundry just and weighty reasons: as,
1. That he might the better discern the battell, and know whether Israel or Amalek had the better, and answerably order his prayer.2
2. That Ioshua and his souldiers might behold Moses lifting up his hands: and thereby be the more encouraged.
3. That he might be the more quiet and free from disturbance and distraction, (which he could not have beene, if he had remained in the plaine among the people: or if he had been in the army.) For when we set our selves to prayer, we must set our selves therto with the whole heart Therefore in time of prayer we may usefully seeke secrecy of place.
4. That by the open sight of heaven, his spirit might be the more cheared, his thoughts more elevated, and so his prayer the more sharpned, and his faith the more strengthened. For by the sublimity of our thoughts our heart is enlarged.
- 1Why Moses went up to the top of an hill.
- 2Quando flamus ad orationem, vigilare & incumbere ad preces toto cord debemus. Cypr. Ser. 6. de Orat, Dom. Utiliter orationis tempore etiam corporalis loci secretum quaerimus. Bern de Ascens. Dom. Serm. 4. Clamat cor nostrum sublimita te cogitationum. Amb. Comment. in Psal. 118. Ser. 19. vers. 1.Quando flamus ad orationem, vigilare & incumbere ad preces toto corde debemus. Cypr. Ser. 6. de Orat, Dom. Vtiliter orationis tempore etiam corporalis loci secretum quaerimus. Bern de Ascens. Dom. Serm. 4. Clamat cor nostrum sublimita te cogitationum. Amb. Cōment. in Psal. 118. Ser. 19. vers. 1.
