Shepham to Riblah on the east-side of Ain and the border shall descend and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth east-ward 12. And the border shall go down to Jordan and the goings out of it shall be at the salt-sea This shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about 13. And Moses commanded the children of Israel saying This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes and to the half-tribe 14. For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers have received their inheritance and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance 15. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward toward the sun-rising 16. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 17. These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. 18. And ye shall take one prince of every tribe to divide the land by inheritance 19. And the names of the men are these Of the tribe of Judah Caleb the son of Jephunneh 20. And of the tribe of the children of Simeon Shemuel the son of Ammihud 21. Of the tribe of Benjamin Elidad the son of Chislon 22. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan Bukki the son of Jogli 23. The prince of the children of Joseph for the tribe of the children of Manasseh Hanniel the son of Ephod 24. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim Kemuel the son of Shiphtan 25. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun Elizaphan the son of Parnach 26. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar Paltiel the son of Azzan 27. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher Ahihud the son of Shelomi 28. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali Pedahel the son of Ammihud 29. These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan 3. Your south-quarter Josh 15.1 In this Quarter fell the Lot of the Tribe of Judah And the Land which they were about to enter into was thus set out that they might know the bounds of their Conquest and not think themselves at liberty to invade the Possessions of their Neighbours Salt-sea This is also called the Dead-sea and is the Lake of Sodom See the Note on Gen. 14.3 4. Kadesh-barnea See the Note on ch 33.36 5. Vnto the river of Egypt See Gen. 15.18 with the Note 6. The great sea That is the Sea called the Mediterranean 7. Mount Hor Not the place where Aaron died but a Mount in the Northern Coast of the Land and perhaps Libanus which was remarkable for its Eminence The Vulgar renders it the highest Mountain 11. Side Heb. Shoulder Sea of Chinnereth This is called the Lake of Genesareth Luk. 5.1 and the Sea of Galilee or of Tyberias Joh. 6.1 A farther account of the Bounds of this Land which did lie within Jordan is to be had from the Book of Joshua 14. For the tribe Chap. 52.33 Josh 14.2 3. 17. Eleazar Josh 19.51 CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT Eight and forty Cities are appointed for the Levites Of the Suburbs of those Cities Of the Cities of Refuge Of Man-slaughter and of Murder 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 2. Command the children of Israel that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them 3. And the cities shall they have to dwell in and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattel and for their goods and for all their beasts 4. And the suburbs of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about 5. And ye shall measure from without the city on the east-side two thousand cubits and on the south-side two thousand cubits and on the west-side two thousand cubits and on the north-side two thousand cubits and the city shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities 6. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge which ye shall appoint for the man-slayer that he may flee thither and to them ye shall add forty and two cities 7. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities them shall ye give with their suburbs 8. And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel from them that have many ye shall give many but from them that have few ye shall give few every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth 9. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 10. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan 11. Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you that the slayer may flee thither which killeth any person at unawares 12. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger that the man-slayer die not until be stand before the congregation in judgment 13. And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge 14. Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan which shall be cities of refuge 15. These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither 16. And if he smite him with an instrument of iron so that he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 17. And if he smite him with throwing a stone wherewith he may die and he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 18. Or if he smite him with an hand-weapon of wood wherewith he may die and he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him he shall slay him 20. But if he thrust him of hatred or hurl at him by laying of â—â—it that he die 21. Or in enmity smite him with his hand that he die he that sâ—ote him shall surely be put to death for he is a murderer the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him 22. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity or have cast upon him any thing without laying
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
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
Moses reared up the tabernacle and fastened his sockets and set up the boards thereof and put in the bars thereof and reared up his pillars 19. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above upon it as the LORD commanded Moses 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark and set the staves on the ark and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark 21. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the covering and covered the ark of the testimony as the LORD commanded Moses 22. And he put the table in the tent of the congregation upon the side of the tabernacle north-ward without the veil 23. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD as the LORD had commanded Moses 24. And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation over against the table on the side of the tabernacle south-ward 25. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD as the LORD commanded Moses 26. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil 27. And he burnt sweet incense thereon as the LORD commanded Moses 28. And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle 29. And he put the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meat-offering as the LORD commanded Moses 30. And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar and put water there to wash withall 31. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat 32. When they went into the tent of the congregation and when they came near unto the altar they washed as the LORD commanded Moses 33. And he reared up the court-round about the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging of the court-gate so Moses finished the work 34. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 35. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 36. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys 37. But if the cloud were not taken up then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up 38. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day and fire was on it by night in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys 3. 2514. 1490. The ark of the testimony So called because the Tables of the Law which is sometime called the Testimony v. 20. were put into it ch 25.16 4. Thou shalt bring in c. Ch. 26.35 The things that are to be set in order upon it Heb. The order thereof 10. Most holy Heb. Holiness of holinesses in that it hallowed the Sacrifice Exod. 29.37 11. Sanctifie it i. e. Separate it to a peculiar and holy use 15. An everlasting priesthood i. e. The Successors of the ordinary Priests shall not need to be anointed for the future as the High Priests were The High Priests were elected and therefore it was fit they should be anointed But the Priesthood belonged to the other Priests as their Birth-right 17. Tabernacle Num. 7.1 21. Set Ch. 35.12 29. LORD Ch. 30.9 34. Then a cloud Num. 9.15 1 King 8.10 36. Went onward Heb. Journeyed FINIS Imprimatur Octob. 24. 1693. Jo. Cant. A COMMENTARY ON THE Five Books of MOSES WITH A DISSERTATION Concerning the Author or Writer of the said Books AND A General Argument to each of them BY RICHARD Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Vol. II. LONDON Printed by J. Heptinstall for William Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCXCIV THE Third Book of Moses CALLED LEVITICUS THE General Argument OF THE Third Book of MOSES CALLED LEVITICUS LEVI was the third Son of Jacob From him his Posterity had the name of Levites Aaron who with his Sons was called to the Priesthood was from him called a Levite Exod. 4.14 And that Priesthood that was setled in that Family is called Levitical Heb. 7.11 The Law relating to the discharge of the Priest's Office is properly called the Levitical Law and upon that account that Book of Moses which more especially treats of the Holy Rites and Services in which these Priests were by their Office imployed is very fitly from the Subject-matter of it called Leviticus And this is the main Subject of this very excellent Book as will more clearly appear afterwards And because a great part of the Priest's Office was taken up in attendance upon the Altar and he was nearly concerned in the Sacrifices and holy Oblations which were presented by the People and because this Book treats largely of those Sacrifices and the Rites thereunto belonging and that in the very beginning of it I know not how to let the Reader into the Book it self any better way than by premising something concerning the Sacrifices themselves which are here treated of And to that purpose I shall First Consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar Secondly I shall consider the several sorts or kinds of these Sacrifices with the particular Laws annexed unto them and shall in this matter offer nothing but what the Text of the Law gives me ground for Thirdly I shall in very few words shew how very usefull it is to understand this matter I. I shall consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar And these Oblations being either of living creatures or of things that were inanimate I shall First Consider what living Creatures were admitted for Sacrifices where these Sacrifices were bloudy And they were Five onely viz. Out of the Herd the Bullock onely Out of the Flock the Sheep and the Goat From among the Fowls the Turtle-Dove and the less or younger Pigeon More than these were not allowed by the Law For the Birds rendred Sparrows in the Marginal reaching Levit. 14. they belong not at all to this matter For I am speaking here of bloudy Sacrifices For those Birds one of them was not killed and neither of them had any relation to God's Altar These living Creatures admitted for Sacrifices were such as were common and easy to be procured Besides they were tame and gentle very innocent and usefull and harmless No ravenous Beasts are admitted no Birds of prey What more usefull than a Bullock more profitable than a Sheep and Goat more simple and harmless than a Dove or Pigeon And if the Observation of Philo be true That the Offerer was to be like his Oblation then are innocence and industry usefulness and simplicity recommended here to the Worshipper
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
shall not cease to be a distinct and separate People nor be quite deprived of all use of their Laws and Religion till after such time as the Messiah whom the ancient Jews grant to be meant by Shiloh and who was to be born of this Tribe shall first come among them And him shall the Nations or Gentiles serve and obey See Matt. 24.14 The first promise of the Messiah is mentioned Gen. 3.15 under the expression of the Seed of the Woman But that does not import of what Nation or Family he should be born It is believed to be intimated that he should be born of the Family of Shem ch 9.27 This great Blessing was afterwards ascertained to Abram ch 12.3 and to his Seed ch 22.18 And the great Promise of it setled on Isaac ch 17.21 And transmitted by him to Jacob ch 28.4 Here it now was and Jacob before his Death fore-tells the time within which the Messiah should come and intimates the Tribe from whence he should arise the latter whereof the Holy Scriptures more expressly mention afterwards The words of Jacob relating to Judah contain something very peculiar and very great Here 's nothing said of him that lessens him as there is before of Reuben Simeon and Levi. When the other Tribes fell into Schism after Solomon's death and were carried Captive in the days of Hosea this Tribe adhered to the Worship of God and continued in their own Land I. Judah did not lose his Tribe so the word which we render Scepter signifies here in the Hebrew Text and v. 16 28. There was always great care taken to preserve Judah distinct in its Tribe and Families In the days of Saul the Men of Judah were numbred apart Thus it was in David's also 1 Sam. 11.8 2 Sam. 24.9 A Prophet took care of the Genealogies of this Tribe 2 Chron. 12.15 with ch 13.22 There was care taken of it even during the Captivity of Babylon as appears from the Book of Chronicles Ezra and Nehemiah and from Josephus Antiq. l. II. ch 4. Some doubt arose of the Genealogies of others Nehem. 7.64 Ezra 2.64 This Tribe continued distinct This Care continued to the days of Augustus Luk. 2. Josephus mentions Antiq. l. 18. c. 1. the Enrolling St. Luke speaks of in the time of Cyrenius and Justin Martyr appeals to the Records of it Apol. 2. vid. Tertullian contra Marcionem The other Tribes were upon the matter lost And before that time when Judah was numbred distinctly and by it self which Aâ—ravenel says is the meaning of the Scepter or Tribe shall not depart from Judah on the first Prophets fol. 95. and fol. 100. the other Tribes were numbred together as Accessories For Benjamin it was looked on but as an Accessory to Judah The Cities of Benjamin are called the Cities of Judah A Man of Benjamin was called a Jew from Judah and so were all the remaining Israelites upon the Captivity of Babylon 1 Kings 11.13 32. 2 Kings 17.18 2 Chron. 11.5 10. ch 17.9 ch 14.4 8 12. ch 20.3 4 5 13 15. Esther 2.5 II. In this Tribe continued the Teachers of the Law called Law-giver here Here were the Lawyers and Scribes c. when the other Tribes had them not The Priests and Levites adhered to this Tribe 2 Chron. 11.13 14. ch 13.4 9 10. The Kings of Judah took care for instructers of the people to teach in the Cities of Judah 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. ch 29.5 30. ch 34.30 In the Captivity of Babylon these Law-givers departed not from between the feet of the Men of Judah Ezek. 1.3 Ezra 2.36 40. Nehem. 8.9 and ch 12. They continued to the times of Jesus our Messiah We read much in the New Testament of Priests Levites Scribes Doctors of the Law We have mention of Gamaliel a famous Doctor of Simeon the Son of Hillel the Founder of a great School and famous still among the Hebrew Writers That by Shiloh is meant the Messiah is agreed by the ancient Jews and upon the matter by all Christians what-ever differences there have been in the Explication of the word And 't is by no means to be thought that Jacob would omit this great Blessing of the Tribe of Judah that the Messiah should spring from it when he relates a great number of smaller matters which should happen and they came to pass to the other Tribes 11 12. Binding c. These words are a fit Description of the Fruitfulness and Plenty of Judah's Inheritance in Canaan and will be better understood if we compare them with what we read Numb 13.22 23. and with other forms of Speech used in Scripture Deut. 33.14 Job 29.6 13. Zebulun His Situation shall be such that by means of his Shipping he shall easily have Intercourse and Traffick with Zidon And therefore Moses said Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out Deut. 33.18 This Tribe was situate upon that Coast or Border which led to Zidon Vnto Zidon may be translated Toward Zidon which agrees better with the place if by Zidon we understand the City so called But understanding by Zidon the Territory or Country adjacent we need not translate it otherwise because Zebulun did reach so far 14 15. Issachar These words give an account of Issachar's Temper and of his Lot His Land was pleasant and its Inhabitants lovers of Peace and Rest and instead of War or Merchandice gave themselves up to the Labours of Husbandry To which account the words of Moses agree Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents Deut 33.18 16. As one c. Though Dan be the Son of an Handmaid whereas the abovenamed were the Sons of Leah yet shall not that hinder him from the priviledge belonging to the others but he shall judge his People as any one of the other Tribes of Israel 17. Dan c. Sampson of this Tribe shall be an eminent Judge and Deliverer of his People And though he do not overcome the Philistines with a numerous Army and in pitched Battels yet he shall destroy them craftily and whiles they are less aware like a Serpent by the way c. 18. I have waited c. q. d. Whereas Sampson died in the overthrow of his Enemies and left his People obnoxious to their Oppressors and I foresee the Straits and high Misdemeanours this Tribe of Dan will hereafter fall into Compare Josh 19.47 Judg. 1.34 with Judg. 18.30 and 1 King 12.29 I cannot but upon this occasion intimate my firm belief and earnest expectation of that eternal Deliverance which shall be wrought by the Messiah Luk. 2.30 This sense is favoured by the ancient Jews See Hieronym Quaest Hebr. in Genes Targum Hierosol Jonathan 19. Gad c. Gad was sorely oppressed by the Ammonites their Neighbours Judg. 10.7 8. But as the Gadites were a fierce and valiant People Deut. 33.20 so we have a particular account of their Victory over their Enemies 1 Chron. 5.18 19 20 21 22. and however they were oppressed for
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
water 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God and into his oath which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day 13. That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that he may be unto thee a God as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 14. Neither with you onely do I make this covenant and this oath 15. But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God and also with him that is not here with us this day 16. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we came through the nations which ye passed by 17. And ye have seen their abominations and their idols wood and stone silver and gold which were among them 18. Lest there should be among you man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood 19. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to add drankenness to thirst 20. The LORD will not spare him but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heavâ—â— 21. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law 22. So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you and the stranger that shall come from a fâ—â— land shall say when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it 23. And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt and burning that it is not sown nor beareth nor any grass groweth therein like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath 24. Even all nations shall say Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land What meaneth the heat of this great anger 25. Then men shall say Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which he made with them where he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt 26. For they went and served other gods and worshipped them gods whom they knew not and whom he had not given unto them 27. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book 28. And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation and cast them into another land as it is this day 29. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for even that we may do all the words of this law 1. BEside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. This is the same Covenant with that in Horeb But because they had broken that and because they are now just entring into the promised Land and Moses had given them a more full Explication of the Law and was ready to die he renews the Covenant which they had before entred into 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see c. That is God hath thought fit for your Sins and Provocations to leave you to your own Stupidity and Blindness of Heart God had done great things for them In his love and in his pity he redeemed c. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit Isa 63.9 10. And that they were utterly inexcusable will appear from what follows v. 5 6 7. In which words we are told that God took great care of them that they might be at leisure to consider For they were not distracted with the cares for Food and Raiment c. God having made a great and miraculous Provision for them 6. Bread i. e. Bread which required not any labour of plowing or sowing of threshing and grinding c. But Manna from Heaven prepared ready to your Hands Wine or strong Drink These would have required some considerable Pains Instead of that they were supplied with Water which followed them 7. We smote them We were not enfeebled for want of Wine and strong Drink nor left without the Divine Assistance 10. All of you They were all concerned and therefore all stood ready to renew their Covenant 11. The hewr c. i. e. The meanest Servant Jos 9.27 12. And into his Oath What is rendred Oath signifies rather a Curse which was generally annexed to an Oath See the LXXII and v. 19 20. And because this Covenant had Curses annexed which were solemnly denounced against Transgressours Chap. 27.14 15. The entring into Covenant and into the Curse in case of failure are here conjoined Nehem. 10.29 15. With him that is not here i. e. With your Posterity The promise was to Abraham and his Seed 16 17. These two Verses contain Motives to incline them to enter into Covenant with God viz. Both because God had brought them out of Egypt and throuh other Nations and because they had had the opportunity of discerning the Folly of these People in worshipping Idols which cannot help them 18. Lest there should be c. These words connect with that Declaration which God makes in order to prevent the Sinner's flattering himself in an Evil way v. 20. We may find a like Expression Gen. 3.22 23. A root that beareth gall and wormwood That is an Evil principle called an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 which will infect and poison the Mind and produce the Curses denounced which will be very bitter Compare Act. 8.23 Heb. 12.15 19. To add drunkenness to thirst That is to abound in all manner of Wickedness To add sin to sin Isa 30.1 And drink it up like water Job 34.7 which course of Wickedness does but begâ—t a greater Inclination to do wickedly still As Drunkenness does not 〈◊〉 but increase the Thirst Isa 56.12 20. Blot out his name i. e. Destroy him For Name is frequently put for the person to whom that Name does belong as hath been observed 21. Shall separate him unto Evil c. Whereas such a Sinner may think to escape in a Crowd and flatter himself that the Blessings promised to God's People among whom he lives shall be his Portion he shall be singled out and rendred a Monument of God's Displeasure 23. Burning i. e. Parched and dried up and made barren Psal 107.34 26. He had not given unto them See