shall add thereto the fifth part thereof 32. And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock even of whatsoever passeth under the rod the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD 33. He shall not search whether it be good or bad neither shall be change it and if he change it at all then both it and the change thereof shall be holy it shall not be redeemed 34. These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai 2. Make a singular vow i. e. Shall exempt and separate from common use The persons shall be for the LORD i. e. The value of these persons shall be for an Holy use For the persons themselves were redeemable as appears from what followeth and the price with which they were redeemed was set a-part for the reparation or service of the sanctuary 2 Kings 12.4 5. Where there is said to have been a Chamber on purpose to receive these Oblations Maimon Erachin chap. 1. By thy estimation i. e. According to the rate afterwards set down and fixed and which thou art to give as a Law to the Priests for the time to come v. 15. 3. Of the male i. e. Of every Male alike The difference of price respects the Sex and the Age not the other qualities and circumstances of the persons Shekels See the Notes on Gen. 20.16 8. If he be poorer c. i. e. He who made the Vow be not able to pay the fixed rate 9. Shall be holy Or separated to the Service of God and not be changed or redeemed v. 10 12. 10. He shall not alter c. It is not in their power to alienate what was before dedicated to God And an exchange in this case was forbid though for the better because they might not have any pretence of alienating what was before set a-part to an Holy use The Israelites are here greatly cautioned against this Sin in this Verse 11. Vnclean Beasts were said to be clean or unclean with respect to food Levit. 11.3 4. Or with respect to sacrifice Gen. 7.2 ch 8.20 And in this latter sense the word unclean is to be understood here as appears from the following words This Law doth also extend to Bullocks Sheep and Goats which yet were clean for Sacrifice as to their kind when by reason of some blemish or defect they became unfit for the Altar Maimon Erachin chap. 15. But it doth not extend to a Dog Deut. 23.18 12. As thou valuest it who art the Priest Heb. According to thy estimation O Priest 13. He shall add c. i. e. The first Owner Another Man was not under such an obligation but might have it at the price at which it was valued by the Priest The fifth part seems to be inflicted upon the first Owner for his unconstancy 14. Sanctifie his house c. i. e. Separate or set it a-part to the Service of God The price of which House when it was estimated and redeemed was taken into the Treasury of the Sanctuary and bestowed upon the Reparation of the House See verse 2. 15. The fifth part See verse 13. 16. An homer c. Or the land of an homer c. i. e. Not the Land which bears so much which would suppose the Price uncertain and variable but the Land which requires so much Seed Homer is a Measure containing ten Ephahs Ezek. 45.11 An Ephah contained very near our Bushes See the Notes on Exod. 16.36 An Homer and a Cor are the same measure Ezek. 45.14 And both the Greek and Chaldee in this place render Homer by Cor. 17. From the year Or before the year See verse 18. 20. Or if he have sold It may be as well translated And if he have sold Which is not to be understood of the first Owner who had no right to sell the Field which he had dedicated to God but of the Treasurer in whose power it was to sell and to convert the price thereof to an Holy use 21. Devoted See v. 28. The possession thereof shall be the Priest's But the Priests are to pay a price for it which is to be laid up for the maintaining the Sanctuary Maim Erachin chap. 4. 22. Bought Not being his Paternal inheritance 25. Twenty Gerahs Exod. 30.13 Numb 3.47 Ezek. 45.12 26. Firstling c. Heb. First-born c. No man shall sanctifie it The reason follows It is the LORD's God had by his Command required that the First-born should be sanctified or set a-part and a Man cannot separate or sanctifie that which he hath no right to 28. Notwithstanding Josh 6.19 Devoted thing This was a thing so vowed and dedicâ—â—â—d to God or to dâ—â—â—â—tion that he that dedicated it or executed God's sentence was to disclaim all title and claim to the Things or Persons or the common use of them for the future Most holy Levit. 2.3 29. Of men Men were sometimes devoted to destruction by God's appointment Deut. 25.19 Josh 6.17 sometimes by Men Numb 21.2 3. Exod. 22.20 32. Passeth under the rod These words intimate the way of Tithing when the Tenth was set out as the Flock or Herd went out of the Fold and were numbred by him that set out the Tenth with a Stick or Staff in his hand pointing to it Jer. 33.13 33. Change See verse 10. THE Fourth Book of Moses CALLED NUMBERS THE General Argument OF THE Fourth Book of MOSES CALLED NUMBERS THIS Book is called Numbers from the subject matter which it begins withall viz. An account of the number of the People of Israel This Account is taken by God's special command to Moses in taking of which he was assisted by Aaron as well as by the Princes of Israel ch 1.44 This Account is laid before us ch 1. And the diligent Reader may from the Relation there given discern the special Providence of God over that People and see very good reason for the Order in which the several Tribes are placed and also why the Levites are not numbred here among the other Tribes We have next an Account of the Order of the several Tribes in their Tents and of the number of their several Camps ch 2. Next follows an Account of the Sons of Aaron and of the setting aside the Levites to the Service of the Tabernacle instead of the First-born of the number and charge of these Levites and of the Redemption of the First-born of the Israelites who were not redeemed by the Levites ch 3. We have an Account ch 4. of the Charge and Service of the Levites who are numbred from thirty years old to the age of fifty We have after this several Laws viz. Concerning removing the Unclean out of the Camp Of Restitution in case of Trespass Of the tryal of Jealousie Of the Nazarites Of the form of blessing the People and then we have a relation of the Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Tabernacle and Altar ch 5 6 7. Of lighting the Lamps and
physicians to embalm his father and the physicians embalmed Israel 3. And forty days were fulfilled for him for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days 4. And when the days of his mourning were past Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh saying If now I have found grace in your eyes speak I pray you in the ears of Pharaoh saying 5. My father made me swear saying Lo I die in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan there shalt thou bury me Now therefore let me go up I pray thee and bury my father and I will come again 6. And Pharaoh said Go up and bury thy father according as he made thee swear 7. And Joseph went up to bury his father and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh the elders of his house and all the elders of the land of Egypt 8. And all the house of Joseph and his brethren and his father's house onely their little ones and their flocks and their herds they left in the land of Goshen 9. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen and it was a very great company 10. And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad which is beyond Jordan and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation and he made a mourning for his father seven days 11. And when the inhabitants of the land the Canaanites saw the mourning in the floor of Atad they said This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim which is beyond Jordan 12. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them 13. For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying-place of Ephron the Hittite before Mamre 14. And Joseph returned into Egypt he and his brethren and all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father 15. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead they said Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him 16. And they sent messengers unto Joseph saying Thy father did command before he died saying 17. So shall ye say unto Joseph Forgive I pray thee now the trespass of thy brethren and their sin for they did unto thee evil And now we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father And Joseph wept when they spake unto him 18. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face and they said Behold we be thy servants 19. And Joseph said unto them Fear not for am I in the place of God 20. But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive 21. Now therefore fear ye not I will nourish you and your little ones And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them 22. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt he and his father's house and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years 23. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees â—4 And Joseph said unto his brethren I die and God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 25. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel saying God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones from hence 2369. 1635. 26. So Joseph died being an hundred and ten years old and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt 2. Physicians Those to whom the care of Embalming belonged To embalm i. e. So to apply Spices to the Body that it might be preserved from Putrefaction 3. Threescore and ten days i. e. Thirty days according to the custom of the Hebrews Numb 20.29 Deut. 21.13 with Deut. 34.8 besides the forty days of embalming mentioned before which were likewise days of Mourning 4. Vnto the house of Pharaoh He does not speak to Pharaoh himself and that perhaps because he was a Mourner and for that reason might not come into his Presence See Esth 4.2 5. Which I have digged It was usual for Men to dig their Sepulchres in their life-time And the place which Abraham bought was spacious enough for Jacob to build his burying-place in 2 Chron. 16.14 Isa 22.16 Matt. 27.60 Gen. 23.17 7. All i. e. A great number of them Matt. 3.5 10. Atad A place not far 't is probable from Hebron Beyond Jordan In respect to Moses who writes this Relation 13. Machpelah See Notes on Gen. 23.9 14. He had buried He was principally concerned in it and was obliged by Oath ch 47.31 19. For am I in the place of God q. d. It belongs not to me to punish you for your sins nor will it become me to remember your former faults since God hath turned your Evil into Good 20. God meant it c. Joseph does not vaunt his own Wisdom and Skill but owns God as the Author of the Good which befell him and his Father's House 23. Ephraim's children See ch 48.19 20. 25. An oath See ch 47.29 Of the children of Israel It is not said Of his Brethren For besides that 't is very probable they were most of them dead so they were least concerned had they now been alive because the Israelites were not like to return during their life Hence i. e. When ye go hence He was obliged by Oath to carry his Father's Body forthwith and this he alledges v. 5. To have ordered his own Burial there forthwith might have been thought a contempt of the Land of Egypt and brought mischief on his Brethren He is willing his Body should be left in Egypt a Memorial of his Benefaction to the Egyptians and to his own People a Pledge of their Deliverance 2369. 1635. 26. Died viz. in Egypt THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE General Argument OF THE Second Book of MOSES CALLED EXODUS THIS Second Book of Moses treats of the Departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt and with respect thereunto it is called Exodus from a Greek word which imports a Departure or going out And though some other Matters are herein treated of yet that is the principal Subject of this Book For the main of the other Matters herein related are either such as were preparatory thereunto or consequent thereupon Of the first sort there are several Particulars related in this Book And they are these which follow I. The Names of the Children of Israel and the Number of them which came down into Egypt who were of that Race Of this we have an account Exod. I. v. 1 2 3 4 5. II. The Miseries which these
and on that consideration were obliged in Gratitude to Obedience so not being yet possessed of Canaan they were now obliged by thâ—â—r Interest which generally takes the fastest 〈◊〉 of Mankind not to forfeit their hopes of it by their disobedience to the Law of God If we consider the Law it self we shall find it like the Author very good The Ten Commandments are laid before us ch 20. where â—â—so we are acquainted with the Consternation of the People at the solemn delivery of these laws To which is subjoined a most needfull prohibition whereby the People are warned 〈◊〉 to make WITH God Gods of Silver or Gold v. 23. and also some directions about the Altar they were to build for the service of the God of Israel v. 24 25 26. The following Precepts ch 21 22 23. God commands Moses to set before them and they are called Judgments and were political Precepts or Laws of the Country they were to govern themselves by Such are the Laws concerning Servants Man-slaughter smiting or â—â—â—sing of Parents Man-stealing Damage Theft â—â—d Restitution Falsewitness Bribery c. where we find great Equity commended and Charity as well as Justice And many of those laws are but the several Branches of the Ten Commandments and fairly reducible as such to those Precepts After which God promiseth to send an Angel before them and requires their Obedience to him and exhorts them thereunto After this we have an account of the calling of Moses up into the Mountain of his writing of this Law of God called afterwards The Book of the Covenant of his building an Altar and causing Sacrifices to be slain and solemnly entring the People into a Covenant to obey this Law which had been made known to them Upon which Moses is called up into the Mountain promised Tables of Stone and continued in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights ch 24. Thus did things stand between God and the Israelites He had given his Law a great and peculiar favour this was and they had not only promised Obedience but had solemnly entred into Covenant to make their promise good In such an happy case were this People now whose God was the Lord. For the farther assurance of the Israelites that he would dwell among them and direct them in their Religious Worship of Himself he lets Moses know that it was his pleasure that a Sanctuary should be built and that the People should freely offer Materials for this Work the pattern whereof he would shew him in the Mount And accordingly he receives directions concerning this Sanctuary and its Instruments He is directed as to the Ark the Mercy-seat and Cherubims the Table of Shew-bread the Candlestick the several Curtains Covering Boards of the Tabernacle the Altar and Courts c. thereunto belonging ch 25 26 27. Aaron and his Sons are also set apart for the Priest's Office The Holy Garments are prescribed and the Ceremonies of their Consecration appointed and God promiseth to dwell among that People and to be their God ch 29.45 Care is also taken about the Altar of Incense and of the ransom-Money of the brazen Laver the anointing Oyl and Perfume Bezaleel and Aholiab are appointed for the Work of the Tabernacle and Moses receives the two Tables of Stone written with the Finger of God ch 31. Whiles Moses continues in the Mount when God had done such great things for Israel and was designing for them farther pledges of his Favour the People fell into a great sin God had expressly forbidden the Worship of any Image or the making WITH Him any Gods of Silver or Gold Exod. 20. They not regarding this Law prevailed with Aaron in the absence of Moses to make them Gods as they worded it to go before them Upon which Aaron makes them a Golden Calf which the People worshipped WITH God For 't is not credible that they had intirely renounced the true God which had done such Wonders for them Upon this is God greatly displeased with the People and Moses casts down the Tables of Stone and breaks them many of the People were destroyed and God lets them know his great displeasure for their grievous fault ch 32. For hereupon God refuseth to go with thiâ— People as he had promised upon condition of their Obedience ch 23.22 and Moses removes his Tent out of the Camp and the Pillar of Cloud followed him But Moses intercedes for the People and begs God's Presence and that he would shew him his Way and his Glory which Intercession and Request of Moses God favourably accepts ch 33. Upon this Moses is commanded to hew two Tables of Stone and God promises to write on them as he had on the former Moses is called into the Mount whither he goes with the two Tables The Name of God is there proclaimed being full of Mercy and Benignity upon which Moses intercedes for the People and God Covenants with them and puts them in mind of their duty in several instances Moses stays in the Mount forty Days and forty Nights fasting comes down with the two Tables with his Face shining and commands the People to obey God in keeping the Sabbath ch 34 and 35. v. 2. After this Interruption occasioned by the worshipping of the Golden Calf and what followed thereupon Moses gives order to the People to bring in Materials according to their Free-will towards the building of the Tabernacle Upon which the People brought in their Free-offerings which were delivered to those who were to be imployed in that Work And this they did with that alacrity and in such plenty that it was thought convenient to restrain them they having brought in Materials more than enough ch 35 36. And now the Workmen apply themselves to the building the Tabernacle and making all the Instruments thereof according to the Pattern delivered to Moses in the Mount And we have a very particular account hereof ch 36 37 and 38. The Clothes of service and the Priests Vestments are also made and all these are brought to Moses who approved of them and blessed the People ch 39. The Tabernacle being finished Moses receives a command to set it up and to set it a-part by â—â—ointing it as also to cloath Aaron and his Sons and to anoint them for the Office of the Priesthood which was accordingly done Upon which a Cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle ch 40. This is a short account of the subject matter of this Book of Moses called Exodus and as it gives a sufficient account why the Book is so called so it does abundantly commend the Book it self to the Reader 's greatest care and diligence And indeed this Holy Book well â—â—serves our very serious perusal and will make us a sufficient recompence for our pains therein For First Here is great variety of Argument to â—â—tertain us with If History will entertain us here is a most remarkable one Here we have the History of
of the Book called the Praeadamitae and Spinosa in his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus This matter is of great moment and that wherein our Common Religion is greatly concerned It strikes at the very root of it and calls its Antiquity in question and leaves the pious Reader at a great loss For whereas we all own that God spake by Moses yet still if these Men be in the right we shall be perfectly at a loss for the Author of these Books and not know whether he were a Servant of God or not Besides when the Authors of the New Testament quote Moses and our Saviour appeals to his Writings we shall however be very uncertain where to find these Writings if he be not allowed to be the Author of the Pentateuch and so will the Christian Religion suffer at the same time My design in what follows is to defend Moses against all the attempts that the Authors above-named have made against his being the Author of the following Books This is as much as my present Argument does oblige me to I am not obliged operosely to prove Moses to be the Author or Writer of the Pentateuch He is in possession of that Title It hath been allowed from the highest Antiquity owned by all sorts of Men Jews and Christians by Infidels and Pagans by Men of all Sects and Parties by Men that in other things have differed greatly from one another But that I may not seem to have neglected any thing of moment in this matter I shall before I proceed any farther shew what good reason we have to believe that Moses was the Writer of these Books and then I shall consider the force of those Objections which have been produced against it For the first part of my design I need not say much both because it hath been made out by others beyond all exception and because the thing is attended with as great Evidence as can be reasonably expected by any that are unprejudiced It is certain that Moses wrote the Law and as will appear farther afterwards that by the Law in the Scripture is meant the Pentateuch Exod. 24.4 And delivered it to the Priests the Sons of Levi Deut. 31.9 He was commanded to write and he did it Exod. 17.14 with Josh 1.8 I shall not need go over the Old Testament and shew the many passages cited by the Sacred Writers of the Books thereof out of the several Books of the Pentateuch as the Law of Moses I will to put this matter out of doubt with all Christians pass on to the New Testament where these Books of the Pentateuch are quoted frequently and they are cited as the Books of Moses I will not shew how often they are quoted in the New Testament which would be more than is needfull it will be enough to shew that they are cited severally as the Law and as the Law of Moses An historical Passage of the Book of Genesis is cited by St. Paul under the Character of the Law Gal. 4.21 and the written Law that was v. 30. and Rom. 4.3 St. Stephen was charged to have spoken blasphemous Words against Moses and against the Law Act. 6.11 13. He was charged to have affirmed that Jesus should change the customs which Moses delivered v. 14. Upon this he makes his defence and owns his belief of the matters related even in the Book of Genesis chap. 7.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Which had not been to his purpose had not that Book been part of that Law which he was accused to have spoken against as well as against Moses Again We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write Joh. 1.45 This Law here cannot be exclusive of the Book of Genesis which contains the first and also the clearest Prophecy of the Messias of which no Christian can make any doubt that consults Gen. 3.15 and chap. 49.10 These Prophecies are allowed by the Jews themselves the great Enemies of Jesus to belong to the Messias The Book of Exodus is by our Saviour expressly called the Book of Moses Mark 12.26 as it is called the Scripture by St. Paul Rom. 9.17 and the Law of the Lord by St. Luke chap. 2.23 Leviticus is cited also by our Saviour as a part of the Law of Moses Matt. 8.4 And what that Book describes St. Paul reckons as described by Moses Rom. 10.5 And Moses is said to Command what is commanded in that Book Joh. 8. â— For the Book of Numbers though I find it not particularly quoted as other Books under this character yet have we no cause to exclude it from what that place referrs to mentioned above viz. Joh. 1.45 Tâ—â— which we may add what our Saviour says Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me Joh. 5.46 For so indeed he did in the Book of Numbers chap. 24.17 And farther still our Saviour referrs to a passage related in this Book of Numbers as a Type of himself As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up Joh. 3.14 Deuteronomy is quoted as part of the Law of Moses Matt. 19.7 8. And what we find said there is imputed to Moses as said by him which cannot be if he were not the Writer of it Act. 3.22.7.37 This Book is expressly called the Law of Moses 1 Cor. 9.9 And what is therein contained is said to have been said by Moses Matt. 22.24 The whole Pentateuch is included by the word Law in the style of the New Testament as well as in that of the other and later Jewish Writers Our Saviour says That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me Luk. 24.44 Whence 't is manifest that under the Law of Moses the whole Pentateuch is comprized For Jesus gives us the whole Scripture as the Jews divide it to this day For they divide it into three parts The Law which taken in these Five Books of Moses the Prophets which the Jews divide into the former and latter and the Kethuvim or Hagiographical Books And the Book of Psalms being the Principal of them is put by our Saviour here for all that fall under that General Head This Law came by Moses Joh. 1.14 He wrote it and when the Law is read Moses is said to be read Act. 13.15 and chap. 15.21 2 Cor. 3.15 If I should add to what hath been said that Moses hath been owned to be the Writer of these Books by all Mankind by all sorts of Authors and by an Universal Tradition I think nothing can be wanting to confirm us in this belief And yet is this not denied by our Adversaries in this Question I shall now proceed to consider what can be said on the other side The Proofs had need be very clear before Moses can be dispossessed of so just a claim and title which he hath enjoyed
from that it being one of the most difficult and obscure Passages of the whole Pentateuch But still here is nothing proved That Moses wrote this Book called The Wars of the Lord appears not And granting it to be true it is nothing to the purpose For why might not Moses cite a Book of his own Writing as well as another and later Author And what if Moses did write the Wars of Amalek must he therefore write that of the Amorites Warring against the Moabites before he was concerned with them also These kind of pretences may amuse some that are not given to Thinking they can never prevail with them that consider duly Obj. X. 'T is pretended that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses but rather of him And that because Moses is generally mentioned by the Writer as a third Person And besides that we find Moses is commended in the Pentateuch Numb 12.6 8. Deut. 34.10 And if we take him for the Writer of those Books we must suppose him also to have commended himself which will hardly be granted in a Man of so great Humility and Wisdom as Moses was I answer 1. As to the Pretence that Moses is not the Author because he speaks of himself as of a third Person then it follows That whoever does in his History or Work mâ—ntion himself as Moses in these Books is supposed to do he cannot be the Author of that Book or Relation This wou'd be to conclude too much And yet if this Proposition be not true tâ—â—â— Objection hath so far as it goes no manner of force in it That he cannot be the Author of a Book that mentions himself as a third Person may be affirm'd indeed easily but can never be proved If this were admitted we must discharge several Authors of the Books of the Holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament also and then we must not believe that Julius Caesar wrote the Commentaries that go under his name or Josephus that part of his reputed Works where he speaks of himself as of a Third Person 'T is hardly credible that the Objectors can believe the Consequence of this Objection and I think there is no fear if they should that any indifferent Person shou'd believe with them 2. As to the second Part of the Objection That we cannot suppose that Moses wou'd commend himself nor consequently that he shou'd write the Pentateuch where he is commended I answer That this Objection whatever may be inferr'd from it does not conclude that Moses was not the Author of these Books For 't is not impossible for a Man to write an Encomium of himself But let us consider the Matter more closely 'T is said indeed that the Man Moses was very meek above all the Men which were upon the face of the Earth Numb 12.3 This is said upon occasion of what was said against him by Miriam and Aaron They spake against him very sharply Upon which 't is said And the Lord heard it Moses is not said to take notice of it himself He was not like to give any just offence nor apt to fall into anger when others reproach'd him It follows Now the man Moses was very meek c. I do not see what there is in these words unbecoming Moses Here 's no boasting or pride no shadow or foot-steps of it He had a just occasion to mention that he had neither provoked these angry persons nor did he highly resent the reproaches they followed him with He might say this well enough and ascribe due honour to God who had wrought this Temper in him The best Man in the World may well be allowed to defend his own Innocence and to own the great Things which God hath done for him The Objection will lie against Job against the Psalmist against St. Paul as well as against Moses if a good Man may not lawfully upon any occasion speak well of himself For what follows in v. 6 7 8. where Moses is preferr'd to any other Prophet 't is certain that they are the Words not of Moses but of God himself And well might he write what God himself said upon this occasion especially when it tended so much to justifie his Divine Mission upon the credit whereof the success of all his Ministry intirely depended The Sin of Moses is related Numb 20.12 and the Punishment inflicted on him on that account The relating of this is as strong an Objection against another Person 's writing these Books as what is nam'd above is against Moses For supposing another Person had been the Writer that Writer must be suppos'd not onely to relate what we read Numb 20. but to repeat it frequently also Obj. XI It is pretended that Moses cannot be supposed to be the Author of those words Exod. 6. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies These are they which spake to Pharaoh King of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt These are that Moses and Aaron v. 26 27. 'T is suppos'd that Moses wou'd not write thus of himself I answer 1. That he may well be suppos'd to write as a Third Person as hath been shewed before And then 2. Allowing him to write for the sake of Posterity and not onely for the Persons of that present Age of which there can be no doubt He may well be granted to be the Writer of these words concerning himself and Aaron who were both greatly concerned in the Matters related afterwards Obj. XII The Author of the Book call'd Tractatus Theologico politicus mentions some other Books written by Moses and wou'd thence inferr by a way of reasoning peculiar to himself that Moses was not the Author of the Pentateuch He mentions the Book of the Covenant Exod. 24. This Book he says contains very little viz. Those Precepts onely which are found from Exod. 20.24 to chap. 24. And he allows that Moses wrote the Book of the Law of God Deut. 31.9 which Joshua afterwards enlarged viz. with the Relation of the Covenant which the People enter'd into in his Time Josh 24.25 26. And because we have no Book that contains at once the Covenant of Moses and that of Joshua he concludes that this Book of the Law is lost He grants that Moses wrote a Book of the Law and gave it to the Priests with a Command that it shou'd be at a certain time read unto the People which cou'd not therefore be the Pentateuch that being too great a Volume to be read at one Solemnity He grants also that Moses wrote the Song mentioned Deut. 32. And this Book of the Law containing part of the Deuteronomy and this Song is all that he will allow him to have written and left to Posterity I answer 1. I am willing to grant that the Book of the Covenant might not contain more than three or four Chapters of Laws And let it
learn that God did make his Promise good 5. Seventy souls i. e. Seventy persons V. Gen. 46.26 27. The Greek have seventy five adding five persons of Joseph's Family Gen. 46.20 which number of the Greek it being a Translation of great fame and note is supposed to be followed also Act. 7.14 If St. Stephen had in that place followed the Version here he might have been defended for so doing in his Speech to the Jews but this is but supposed Another and more clear account may be given of the number of seventy five mentioned Act. 7.14 which the Reader may justly expect in its proper place It will be sufficient at present to observe That St. Stephen's design and his words too are very different from that of Moses here and Gen. 46. Moses gives account of Jacob and his Seed onely Gen. 46. v. 6 7 8 26. with Exod. 1. v. 5 6. but Stephen mentions those onely whom Joseph called into Egypt Joseph and his two Sons belong not to Stephen's number nor to his design they being in Egypt already In a word Moses reckons Jacob and his Seed or those that came out of his Loins Stephen mentions Jacob and his Kindred which takes in the Wives of Jacob's Sons See Gen. 45.10 11. with v. 5. and Joseph Antiqu Book 2. ch 3. For Joseph c. These words seem to refer to v. 4. Joseph is not numbred though he belong to the number he being before hand in Egypt And accordingly in the Greek we find these words at the close of the fourth Verse and immediately before those words where our English begin the fifth Verse 7. Was filled In the space of two hundred years and upwards the seventy increased to about six hundred thousand Men Exod. 12.37 a thing not at all incredible for supposing but fifty Men that should beget Children and that not till they arrived at twenty years of age and allow them three Sons a-piece yet in the space of two hundred years the whole sum would amount to 2952450 whence it is evident that the number mentioned Exod. 12.37 is not to be wondered at it speaking onely the Divine Blessing and Veracity 8. A new king Of a new House and Family perhaps Joseph Antiq. l. 2. c. 5. Knew not i. e. He did not consider and regard what Joseph had done Hos 2.8 9. He said The King of Egypt's pretences for his oppressing the Israelites were I. Their great Number v. 9. II. Their joining with the Enemies of Egypt if War should happen v. 10. III. Lest they should go out of Egypt when they pleased v. 10. 12. The more they multiplied So vain a thing it is to endeavour to make void God's Counsel Prov. 19.21 13. Rigor Without Mercy Hence Egypt is called An House of Bondage Exod. 20.2 15. Midwives of which c. These 't is like were principal Midwives the command being given also to the rest 17. Feared God i. e. They more feared God's displeasure than they did Pharaoh's 19. Lively They have great vigor and are skilfull See the Chaldee and Vulgar Latin 20. Dealt well They that fear God receive many blessings in this life Eccles 8.12 13. 21. He made them houses Them i. e. the Israelites and not the Midwives it being of the Masculine Gender in the Hebrew That is God by this means multiplyed and increased the Israelites which is expressed by making them Houses See Gen. 16.2 Ruth 4.11 Ps 127.1 3. Gen. 30.3 2 Sam. 7.11 22. All his people Not leaving it to the care of the Midwives any longer CHAP. II. The ARGUMENT Moses is born and hidden and laid in the Flags Pharaoh's Daughter finds him and brings him up He kills an Egyptian reproves one of the Hebrews and fleeth into Midian marrieth Zipporah by whom he had Gershom God regards the Misery of the Hebrews 1. AND there went a man of the house of Levi and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2. And the woman conceived and bare a son and when she saw him that he was a goodly child she hid him three mouths 3. And when she could not longer hide him she took for him an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch and put the child therein and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink 4. And his sister stood afar off to wit what would be done to him 5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash her self at the river and her maidens walked along by the river's side and when she saw the ark among the flags she sent her maid to fetch it 6. And when she had opened it she saw the child and behold the babe wept And she had compassion on him and said This is one of the Hebrews children 7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee 8. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother 9. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages And the woman took the child and nursed it 10. And the child grew and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son And she called his name Moses and she said Because I drew him out of the water 11. And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burthens and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew one of his brethren 12. And he looked this way and that way and when he saw that there was no man he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand 13. And when he went out the second day behold two men of the Hebrews strove together and he said to him that did the wrong Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow 14. And he said Who made thee a prince and a judge over us intendest thou to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian And Moses feared and said Surely this thing is known 15. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing he sought to slay Moses But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian and he sat down by a well 16. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock 17. And the shepherds came and drove them away but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock 18. And when they came to Reuel their father he said How is it that you are come so soon to day 19. And they said An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and also drew water enough for us and watered the flock 20. And he said unto his daughters And where is he why is it that ye have left the man Call him that he may eat bread 21. And Moses was content to dwell with the man and he gave Moses
Consecrating the Levites and the age and time of their Service Of the Passover and an allowance of a Second Passover and guidance of the Cloud Of the use of the Silver Trumpets Of the removal of the Israelites Of the words which Moses used when the Ark set forward and when it rested Of these things we have an account ch 8 9 10. After this we have a Relation of the burning at Taberah Of the People's loathing of Manna and lusting for Flesh Of the Seventy Elders and of the Quails ch 11. and of the Sedition of Miriam and Aaron ch 12. We have next a Relation of the Spies sent into the Promised Land Of their Instructions Of their Doings and Report of the Land Of the People's murmuring hereupon Of God's just Displeasure and the Effects of it Of the Intercession of Moses and great Folly of the Israelites ch 13 and 14. The fifteenth Chapter lays before us sundry Laws viz. That concerning the Meat-offering as that Offering was an attendant upon a Bloody Sacrifice And the Drink-offering Of the Heave-offering Of the first of the Dough Of Sins of Ignorance and Presumption Of the Profaner of the Sabbath and of the Fringes We have next an Account of the Rebellion of Korah and Dathan and Abiram Of their invading the Priest's Office and their exemplary Punishment The Memory of their Rebellion is perpetuated and the Right of the Priests vindicated by the budding of Aaron's Rod and their honorary Maintenance hereupon particularly related ch 16 17 18. The next Chapter gives account of the Water made of the Ashes of the red Heifer which is followed with a Relation of the death of Miriam the murmuring of the People the smiting the Rock c. and the death of Aaron ch 19.20 And then we have an account of the Israelites Victory over the Canaanites of their murmuring of the fiery Serpents and of that of Brass Of several Journeyings of the Israelites and their Conquest over Sihon and Og ch 21. After this we have a Relation of Balak's sending to Balaam to curse the Israelites Of Balaam's Journey and Balak's Disappointment Several Predictions of Balaam are related and there follows an account of the Israelites committing Whoredom and Idolatry at Shittim and of their Punishment ch 22 23 24 25. Next to this we have an account of the number of the Israelites in order to the dividing the Land among them ch 26. And the Law of Inheritances upon occasion of the suit of the Daughters of Zelophehad ch 27. In the two next Chapters we have a more particular account than was given before of the Stated Holocausts and the Meat and Drink-offerings pertaining thereunto This is followed with a Law concerning Vows ch 30. We have after this an account of the Israelites Conquest over the Midianites and a Law concerning the dividing the Spoil ch 31. Next follows the Request of the Reubenites and Gadites and the success of it and an account of the Journeyings of the Israelites in the Wilderness Of the Borders of the Promised Land and the names of the Men which should divide it Of the Levites Cities and the Cities of Refuge with the Law concerning Murther Of the Inheritance of Daughters and the Marriage of Heiresses in their own Tribe which is followed with an account how the Daughters of Zelophehad were married ch 32 33 34 35 36. By what hath been said any Man will see that this Book is very fitly called NUMBERS For here we have the number of the twelve Tribes taken no less than three times ch 1. ch 2. and ch 26. And the Levites are numbred as often ch 3 4 26. We have also several other things numbred The things that were offered and the Princes who offered those things at the Dedication of the Altar ch 7. The Spoils taken in the War with Midian ch 31. And all the stated Holocausts that were yearly offered up ch 28 29. Not to mention the Number and Names of the Cities of Levites and of Refuge and the particulars of the Israelites Marches or Journeyings in the Wilderness These are the principal Matters contained in this Book which if duly considered will be of great use to us for the better governing our selves as well as for the more clear understanding of the other parts of the Holy Scriptures It is not to be expected I should in this place make Reflections upon all the Particulars which are laid before us in this Book It may suffice that I lay before the Reader some few Particulars and shew how very much they tend to the use of Life and serve to engage us to strict Obedience to the Will of God And for the other I referr the Reader to the following Notes I might here shew the admirable use that is to be made of the Relation of the numbring the People and order of their Camp For here is much of God's special Providence to be observed from those Relations which we pass over in reading the Scriptures with too great Negligence And there are many parts of the Holy Writ which we pass over with little regard that are very instructive to us But I will not insist upon this matter in this place I shall especially consider the following Particulars I. The setting aside the Levites to the service of God their Charge and Service This spake God's great care of his People to appoint an Order of Men to attend upon his Service and to wait on his Sanctuary And it does also instruct those that Minister in Holy Things not onely to consider how they were called to that Holy Office but to consider also how they discharge it The Particulars relating to this Order of Men are very instructive to the People also They were not numbred among the rest having no Inheritance as the other Tribes had They were to attend upon their Office in the service of God and his People It was therefore the People's part to be kind to them and there are in the Law of Moses many Precepts to this purpose They were not onely obliged to pay them their Tithes in which even in some of the worst times they were scrupulously carefull but to assist them upon other occasions that they might attend upon God's Service This teacheth the People to communicate of their Temporal Things very freely to those that watch over their Souls and to honour them greatly for the sake of their Work and their Master II. That Law concerning the removing the Unclean from the Camp chap. 5. This is very instructive to the Governors and Ministers of the Church It is not fit that Profane and Scandalous Sinners should be admitted to partake of the holiest things 'T is very much the duty of those concerned and the Interest of the whole Church that those should be debarred from her Communion who are notoriously scandalous I know very well that that Law made a difference in the Unclean and that there was a difference as to the Camps also and 't will
any other way So true are the words of Solomon Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14.34 This passage deserves great consideration It is not onely the Duty but the Interest of Kings and Governours to encourage Men in the exercise of true Religion and by all possible ways and means to suppress Vice and all Profaneness Where-ever a People are profane they are weak at the same time Besides that they by their Wickedness call down the Vengeance of Heaven their very Wickedness does infeeble them and render them an easie Prey to their Enemies The Israelites were strong while Innocent when they had forsaken their God they fell Let us hear what Balaam was forc'd to say before their Whoredom and Idolatry He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel The Lord his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them God brought them out of Egypt He hath as it were the strength of an Vnicorn surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel 〈◊〉 Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lion and lift up himself as a young Lion He shall not lie down till he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain Numb 23.21 22 23 24. This was the condition of Israel but alas they soon fell by their own Follies whom no Power or Malice of their Enemies could have hurt There is nothing a plainer and more incontestable Truth than this That true Religion and Vertue is not onely the Glory but the Strength and Safety of any Nation or Kingdom On the other hand Vice and Wickedness Profaneness and Discontent are the greatest Mischiefs and the saddest Presages of the Ruin of any People The History of the Israelites delivered in this Book will confirm any considering Man in this belief Here we have a Relation of their Follies and their Wandrings of their Vices and their Plagues of their Sin and Punishment They were delivered from the Egyptians and from Amalek They needed not to fear their Enemies about them They fell indeed in the Wilderness but they fell as the Jews say a drunken Man does he needs none to throw him down he falls of himself They fell by their own Lust their Discontent their Profaneness and Idolatry God grant that we when we seem to stand may take heed lest we fall X. There are in this excellent Book many other things of admirable use for the better understanding the Jewish Religion and the other parts of the Holy Writ which I have not time in this place to enlarge upon but such things they are as will entertain with great variety and delight the inquisitive and diligent Reader Such are the Law of the Nazarite's Vow concerning the Water of Jealousie The form of blessing the People The Law about a Second Passeover The Relation of the guidance of the Cloud and the Law concerning sins of Ignorance and Presumption and of the Ashes of the red Heifer The Relation of the smiting the Rock by Moses Of the Conquest of Sihon and Og The Laws concerning the stated Sacrifices and concerning dividing the Spoil Concerning Inheritances and the Marriage of Heiresses Every one of which will deserve a serious Consideration NOTES ON THE Book of NUMBERS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT Moses is commanded to number the People The Princes of the Tribes who were appointed to assist in numbring them The People of the several Tribes are numbered from Twenty years old and upward The Number of the whole The Levites are not numbred but appointed to their Office 2514. 1490. 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the tabernacle of the congregation on the first day of the second month in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt saying 2. Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel after their families by the house of their fathers with the number of their names every male by their poll 3. From twenty years old and upward all that are able to go forth to war in Israel thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies 4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe every one head of the house of his fathers 5. And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you Of the tribe of Reuben Elizur the son of Shedeur 6. Of Simeon Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai 7. Of Judah Nahshon the son of Aminadab 8. Of Issachar Nethaneel the son of Zuar 9. Of Zebulun Eliab the son of Helon 10. Of the children of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammibud of Manasseb Gamaliel the son Pedahzur 11. Of Benjamin Abidan the son of Gideoni 12. Of Dan Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai 13. Of Asher Pagiel the son of Ocran 14. Of Gad Estasaph the son of Deuel 15. Of Naphtali Ahira the son of Enan 16. These were the renowned of the congregation princes of the tribes of their fathers heads of thousands in Israel 17. And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names 18. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month and they dâ—â—lared their pedigrees after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward by their poll 19. As the LORD commanded Moses so he numbred them in the wilderness of Sinai 20. And the children of Reuben Israel's eldest son by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names by their poll every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 21. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Reuben were forty and six thousand and five hundred 22. Of the children of Simeon by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers those that were numbred of them according to the number of the names by their polls every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 23. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Simeon were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred 24. Of the children of Gad by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 25. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Gad were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty 26. Of the children of Judah by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 27. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Judah were threescore and fourteen
in mine hand 4. And he wrote on the tables according to the first writing the ten commandments which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and the LORD gave them unto me 5. And I turned my self and came down from the mount and put the tables in the ark which I had made and there they be as the LORD commanded me 6. And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera there Aaron died and there he was buried and Eleazar his son ministred in the priest's office in his stead 7. From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah and from Gudgodah to Jotbath a land of rivers of waters 8. At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD to stand before the LORD to minister unto him and to bless in his name unto this day 9. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren the LORD is his inheritance according as the LORD thy God promised him 10. And I stayed in the mount according to the first time forty days and forty nights and the LORD hearkned unto me at that time also and the LORD would not destroy thee 11. And the LORD said unto me Arise take thy journey before the people that they may go in and possess the land which I snare unto their fathers to give unto them 12. And now Israel what doth the LORD thy God require of thee but to fear the LORD thy God to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul 13. To keep the commandments of the LORD and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good 14. Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD 's thy God the earth also with all that therein is 15. Onely the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them and he chose their seed after them even you above all people as it is this day 16. Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your heart and be no more stiff-necked 17. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward 18. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow and loveth the stranger in giving him food and raiment 19. Love ye therefore the stranger for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt 20. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave and swear by his name 21. He is thy praise and he is thy God that hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen 22. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude 1. HEW Exod. 34.1 3. I made an Ark Or I caused it to be made For if by Ark in this place be meant the Ark of the Covenant as is very probable from verse 5. This Ark was made by Bezaleel Exod. 37.1 and not made before this going of Moses into the Mount but after he came down Exod. 34. But as Moses in this short Repetition of what was past need not strictly observe the Order of Time so he may be said to make that Ark which he commanded to be made Bezaleel made also the Table of Shittim-wood Exod. 37.10 But Moses received a Command to make it Exod. 25.23 4. Commandments Heb. Words 6. And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera This place is very difficult and the difficulties of it are several and require a distinct Consideration For First It may be inquired what Connexion there is between these words and them that go before Answer Moses having mentioned his Intercession for the Israelites when for their Sins they were in danger to be destroyed and when the Tables of the Law were broken ch 9.26 adds what the effect of this Intercession was viz. That thereby the favour of God was regained of which he gives several instances viz. The restoring the two Tables and placing them in the Ark v. 1 5. The Journeys of them which were not stopped v. 6. And that they journeyed to places well watered also v. 6 7. And though indeed Aaron died yet his Priesthood continued in Eleazar And as God gave them a token of his favour in the Ark of the Covenant so he gave them another in separating the Levites to bear that Ark c. v. 8. Secondly It may be inquired how this Journey from Beeroth of the Children of Jaakan to Mosera can be reconciled with Numb 33.31 where it 's said they departed from Moseroth and pitched in Bene-jaakan Answ Besides many other very material things which might be said towards the removing of this difficulty it is enough to say that the Israelites in their Wandrings in the Wilderness might as well here as they did elsewhere go to and fro viz. From Jaakan to Mosera and back again from Mosera to Jaakan And this supposing these places the same with those in Numbers and the place here truly rendred is all that the words do import See Numb 33.30 And then Moses here doth but insert a passage omitted in the place in the Book of Numbers There Aaron died Obj. But how can this be reconciled with Numb 20.25 28. where it is evident that Aaron died at Mount Hor Answ It is no unusual thing that one place should have different Names especially with respect to the several Parts thereof Thus Horeb and Sinai were two Names of the same Mountain Exod. 3.1 2. compared with Act. 7.30 And so might Mosera be the other Name for Hor or the Name of a Place adjoining to it 7. From thence i. e. From Beeroth of the Children of Jaakan Numb 33.32 where Horhagidgad is the same with Gudgodah here and what is here called Jotbath is called Jotbathah Numb 33.33 8. At that time Or About that time viz. After Moses came down from the Mount For this seems manifestly to referr to verse 5. the 6th and 7th Verses being here brought in by way of Parenthesis And that the words at that time do not necessarily import the very precise time but admit of a Latitude will appear from Gen. 38.1 and the Note upon that place To bear the Ark Which belonged to the Kohathites Numb 3.27 31. To stand before the LORD c. That is to attend upon the Sanctuary and be in readiness for Service 1 Chron. 23.16 And to bless in his name This was the peculiar Office of the Priests the Sons of Aaron Numb 6.23 Who were also the Sons of Levi and are so called when this peculiar Office of theirs is mentioned Deut. 21.5 And though the solemn pronouncing of the Blessing upon the People
willing to name the People as those to whom the Curses belonged which were such as did reach other Nations and were not like the Blessings peculiar to the Israelites For the Blessing and Cursing here mentioned the most probable account is this viz. That as the Levites pronounced the following Curses v. 14. so for the Blessings upon Obedience mentioned chap. 28. they were repeated by the Tribes which were on Mount Gerizim and the Curses which follow in that Chapter were pronounced by the six other Tribes on Mount Ebal 14. The Levites i. e. Those of the Levites which bare the Ark and stood between the Tribes Josh 8.33 For the body of the Levites were among the Tribes on Mount Gerizim 15. In a secret place viz. Thinking to conceal his wickedness 16. That setteth light by c. The duty we owe to our Parents and Superiors stands in the Decalogue next to that which we owe to God Exod. 20.12 and a contempt of them is here placed next to Idolatry 17. That removeth This is an act of great injustice and fatal consequence See the Note on ch 19.14 18. That maketh the blind c. i. e. That misleads either the Blind or the Simple into danger or sin 20. With his father's wife c. See chap. 22.30 with the Note 23. With his mother-in-law Or with his daughter-in-law as the Greek render it 26. Confirmeth not i. e. Who does not obey Or that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Many Blessings promised to the Israelites upon condition of their Obedience to the Law of God A great number of Evils threatened to those who should be disobedient 1. AND it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth 2. And all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city and blessed shalt thou be in the field 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattel the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep 5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store 6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out 7. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face they shall come out against thee one way and flee before thee seven ways 8. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy store-houses and in all that thou settest thine hand unto and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 9. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself as he hath sworn unto thee if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God and walk in his ways 10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD and they shall be afraid of thee 11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy cattel and in the fruit of thy ground in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee 12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season and to bless all the work of thine hand and thou shalt lend unto many nations and thou shalt not borrow 13. And the LORD shall make thee the head and not the tail and thou shalt be above onely and thou shalt not be beneath if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God which I command thee this day to observe and to do them 14. And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day to the right hand or to the left to go after other gods to serve them 15. But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee 16. Cursed shalt thou be in the city and cursed shalt thou be in the field 17. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store 18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep 19. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out 20. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing vexation and rebuke in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do until thou be destroyed and until thou perish quickly because of the wickedness of thy doings whereby thou hast forsaken me 21. The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee until he have consumed thee from off the land whither thou goest to possess it 22. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption and with a fever and with an inflammation and with an extream burning and with the sword and with blasting and with mildew and they shall pursue thee until thou perish 23. And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass and the earth that is under thee shall be iron 24. The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust from heaven shall it come down upon thee until thou be destroyed 25. The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies thou shalt go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth 26. And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air and unto the beasts of the earth and no man shall fray them away 27. The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt and with the emerods and with the scab and with the itch whereof thou canst not be healed 28. The LORD shall smite thee with madness and blindness and astonishment of heart 29. And thou shalt grope at noon-day as the blind gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways and thou shalt be onely oppressed and spoiled evermore and no man shall save thee 30. Thou shalt betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her thou shalt build an house and thou shalt not dwell therein thou shalt plant a vineyard and shalt not gather the grapes thereof 31. Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes and thou shalt not eat thereof thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face and shall not be restored to thee thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies and thou shalt have none to rescue them 32. Thy sons
and thy daughters shall be given into another people and thine eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day long and there shall be no might in thine hand 33. The fruit of thy land and all thy labours shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up and thou shalt be onely oppressed and crushed alway 34. So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see 35. The LORD shall smite thee in the knees and in the legs with a sore botch that cannot be healed from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head 36. The LORD shall bring thee and thy king which thou shalt set over thee unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known and there shalt thou serve other gods wood and stone 37. And thou shalt become an astonishment a proverb and a by-word among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee 38. Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field and shalt gather but little in for the locust shall consume it 39. Thou shalt plant vine-yards and dress them but shalt neither drink of the wine nor gathar the grapes for the worms shall eat them 40. Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy coasts but thou shalt not anoint thy self with the oyl for thine olive shall cast his fruit 41. Thou shalt beget sons and daughters but thou shalt not enjoy them for they shall go into captivity 42. All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume 43. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high and thou shalt come down very low 44. He shall lend to thee and thou shalt not lend to him he shall be the head and thou shalt be the tail 45. Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed because thou hearknedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee 46. And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder and upon thy seed for ever 47. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things 48. Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee 49. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far from the end of the earth as swift as the eagle flieth a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand 50. A nation of fierce countenance which shall not regard the person of the old nor shew favour to the young 51. And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattel and the fruit of thy land until thou be destroyed which also shall not leave thee either corn wine or oyl or the increase of thy kine or flocks of thy sheep until he have destroyed thee 52. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates until thy high and fenced walls come down wherein thou trustedst throughout all thy land and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land which the LORD thy God hath given thee 53. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the LORD thy God hath given thee in the siege and in the straitness wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee 54. So that the man that is tender among you and very delicate his eye shall be evil towards his brother and toward the wife of his bosom and towards the remnant of his children which he shall leave 55. So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat because he hath nothing left him in the siege and in the straitness wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in all thy gates 56. The tender and delicate woman among you which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness her eye shall be evil towards the husband of her bosom and towards her son and towards her daughter 57. And towards her young one that cometh out from between her feet and towards her children which she shall bear for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates 58. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearfull name THE LORD THY GOD 59. Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses and of long continuance 60. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt which thou wast afraid of and they shall cleave unto thee 61. Also ever sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this law them will the LORD bring upon thee until thou be destroyed 62. And ye shall be left few in number whereas ye were at the stars of heaven for multitude because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God 63. And it shall come to pass that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and to bring you to nought and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it 64. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people from the one end of the earth even unto the other and there thou shalt serve other gods which neither thou nor thy fathers have known even wood and stone 65. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind 66. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night and shalt have none assurance of thy life 67. In the morning thou shalt say Would God 〈◊〉 were even and at even thou shalt say Would God it were morning for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see 68. And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships by the way whereof I spake unto thee Thou shalt see it no more again and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bond-men and bond-women and no man shall buy you 1. SET thee on high c. i. e. He will make thee more prosperous than other Nations as appears from what follows to v. 15. 2. Overtake thee Without thy pursuit of them they shall be thy portion by the good providence of God Matt. 6.33 3. Blessed shalt c.