5. In order to give
it greater authority, he reports, in the following verses, when and how
he had received it from God. It was delivered to him on Sinai, where
God had directly revealed Himself to the people at the promulgation of
the Law, partly in order to strengthen their confidence in Moses the
mediator, and [Pg 114] partly to show them the folly of their desiring
any other mode of divine communication. But the people were seized with
terror before the dreadful majesty of God, and prayed that God would no
longer speak to them directly, but through a mediator, as He had
hitherto done; compare Exod. xx.; Deut. v. The Lord then said to Moses,
"They have well spoken; a prophet," etc. The words here, in ver. 17,
agree very well with Deut. v. 28. The agreement in the words indicates
that _here_ we have an addition to that which is _there_ communicated
regarding what was spoken by God on that occasion. _There_, we are told
only what had an immediate reference to the present--viz., the
appointment of Moses as mediator; _here_, we are told what was at that
time fixed in reference to the future of the people. We cannot fail to
perceive that _here_, if ever, a divine revelation was appropriate
concerning the coming of Christ, who, as the Mediator between God and
man, veiled His Godhead, and in human form, brought God nearer to man.
But we should, at the same time, expect here an allusion to the
inferior messengers of God, who were to precede Him.

3. The exclusive reference to the Messiah is inconsistent with vers.
20-22. The marks of a false prophet are given in them. If, however,
that which precedes had no reference at all to true prophets, it would
be almost impossible to trace any suitable connection of the thoughts.

4. If the passage were referred to Christ exclusively, the prophetic
institution would then be without any legitimate authority; and from
the whole character of the Mosaic legislation, as laying the foundation
for the future progress and development of the Theocracy, we could not
well conceive that so important an institution should be deficient in
this point. Moreover, the whole historical existence of the prophetic
order necessarily presupposes such a foundation. Deut. xiii. 2 sq. was
not fitted to afford such a foundation, as it refers, only indirectly
and by implication, to true prophets.

5. _Finally_,--There are not wanting slight hints in the New Testament
that the reference to Christ is not an excl