dead before Nehemiah came as Governour into Judea verse 26 yea or Ezra with his Commission Dedication of the wall The former Genealogies and Records of the Priests and Levites seeme to be insisted upon verse 27 the rather because they had so prime an hand in the Dedication of the wall And therefore they are here so carefully gathered and brought together 27 28 29. And this seemes to be also in the first year of Nehemiah's Government purified See the Annotations verse 30 I brought up The maner of the Dedication of the wall was thus The wall was thick and broad verse 31 that divers went a breast on it Nehemiah appointed two great companies consisting of Priests Levites Princes and People They entred upon the wall about the middle of the West wall near the Dung-gate And there the two companies parted And each went as in Procession in this Order The one company had Ezra the Priest and Scribe before them And other Priests after him founding their Trumpets After them the Levites playing on sacred musical instruments and singers of them that sang with a loud voice All sounding forth Gods praise and their own thankfulnesse and joy ver 31 42. After them the Princes and Rulers After them the People And last of all some great Prince likely next in degree to Nehemiah And this company thus went on the right hand South-ward by the Fountain Gate and about the Citie of David and all along the South-wall even unto the Water-gate on the East The other company went in like equipage and Nehemiah himself the last of them And they made their Procession on the left hand North-wards from beyond the Tower of the Furnaces even unto the Broad wall And all along the North-side from above the Gate of Ephraim and above the Old-gate and above the Fish-gate and the Tower of Hananeel and the Tower of Meah even unto the Sheep-gate on the East And they stood still in the Prison-gate The two companies somewhat beyond this Gate met together that they might in order descend from this East-wall to go into the House of God And likely it was from the Water-gate on the East-wall For the street it opened upon was one of the eminentest and of greatest receipt in the Citie deemed to be that of Millo which lay between the Temple on Mount Morea and the Pallace on Mount Zion by which the King and Courtiers did usualy passe to and fro Neh. III. 26. and VIII 3 16. 2 Chron. XXIX 3 4. and XXXII 6. Ezra Some other Ezra verse 33 Ezra the Scribe That famous Ezra verse 36 Gate Of the Gates and Towers in this Procession mentioned verse 39 see the Observations on chap. III. 1. great sacrifices As in like cases of joy and thankfulnesse verse 43 So 1 Chr. XXIX 21. 1 Kings VIII 62 63. for the treasures 1 Chron. verse 44 IX 26. And so in Hezekiah's time 2 Chr. XXXI 4 5 11. See again Neh. XIII 12 13. And the Levites sanctified them unto The Levites paid to the Priests the tythes of all their tythes verse 47 Num. XVIII 26 30. On that day chapter XIII verse 1 Doubtful it is to what particular time this relates Yet most likely to that Interim of time which passed in the absence of Nehemiah between the end of the first and beginning of his second Government written Deut. XXIII 3. See the Observations on that text they met not As Melchizedek did verse 2 Gen. XIV 17. separated See that Ezra chap. verse 3 IX and X. and Neh. IX 2. and ch X. 30. and chap. XIII 23 30. So difficult was this point of the Reformation and so ready they to relapse into this sinne a great chamber Pulling down the Partitions verse 5 to make two or three into one I cast forth And so ver 9. verse 8 brought I again By my command and authority not in my person had not been given This verse 10 and other matters imply the Interim of Nehemiah's absence to have been more then a year Sabbath See the Annotations on Jer. verse 15 XVII 21 22 24 27. dark The sooner because of the hills about Jerusalem verse 19 and the Sabbath was to be kept from Even to Even some of my servants That the Merchants might not thrust in amongst those that came to the Service in the Temple the Gates The Gates of the Temple verse 22 by keeping out persons legaly unclean from the house and ordinances of God swear And so they had sworn before verse 25 chap. X. 29 30. sons of Jojada His grandchilde verse 28 called Menasche and brother of Jaddua the High Priest as Josephus writeth Antiq. lib. 11. c. 7. I chased him from me This argues this Nehemiah not to be that man mentioned Ezra II. 2. that came up with Zerubbabel and yet to live to a very great age whether he were the Penman of this Book or else this clause inserted by some other Prophet See the Observations on the beginning of this Book Remember me So likewise verse 31 ver 14. and 22. and chap. V. 19. He pleads not here any merit of his own but all he pleads is for Gods mercie sake all goodnesse in him still proceeding from Gods meere grace He doth chear up himself in this in the sincerity and integrity of his heart and the effects thereof as fruits and sound proofs of the truth of Gods graces in him whereupon he further with comfort expects more meere mercie to come from the Lord. Esther THE Book of Esther contains an History of nine years expressed in the reigne of Ahasuerus viz. the third of Ahasuerus chap. I. 3. the seventh chap. II. 16. and the twelfth chap. III. 7. In which twelfth year are mentioned the first moneth chap. III. 7 12. the third moneth chap. VIII ver 9. and the twelfth moneth chap. III. 7. 13. and chap. VIII 12. and chap. IX 1 13 14 15 17 21. And some more years in his reigne afterwards are noted indefinitely chap. X. In this Book only of all the Scripture there is no mention made of God nor his Name once used The Book of Canticles speaking much of Christ the Bridegroom Ahasuerus Heb. chapter I verse 1 Ahasuerosh It is doubted which of the Persian Monarchs this was The LXX still name him in their Translation Artaxerxes Others take him to be Xerxes Others fix their several fancies upon sundry others of the Persian Monarchs But the greatest probability is for Darius Hystaspis who first extended the bounds of that Empire so farre and wide and over so many Provinces and married Atossa the daughter of Cyrus called Vasthi ver 9 who was the third King of Persia omitting Darius the Mede before Cyrus and the Magus Smerdis not worthy the reckoning and was next before Xerxes that fourth and rich King Dan. XI 2. See the Observations on Esther II. 5. This Ahasuerus in his third year makes that Imperial Feast of one hundred eighty seven dayes And therein that good Law for drinking
the Bible printed in Anno 1651. did come forth Afterwards perusing them I found some differences between those Annotations and these Observations which did minister some occasion of enlarging my first draught chiefly by noting and insisting upon these differences yet rarely naming the said Annotations but leaving rather the full animadverting comparing and judging of them to the judicious Reader Thereafter I committed these to the Presse And after a good progress had been made by it for some reasons not so fit to trouble thee withal I was again induced and over-ruled to enlarge my self yet much more and to descend to very many Particulars by way of Exposition and Explanation in some of the ensuing Books of Scripture much beyond what was my first Proposal and Intendment Which thing I conceive will dim the light and lustre of those choice places and Observations which primarily were my only aime Yet I hope to the Candid Reader These larger additions will not seem altogether impertinent or improfitable as to the speedier understanding of Gods Holy Word Neverthelesse I never undertook or intended to meddle with or mention all the difficult places of Sacred Scripture For them in general I refer thee to the said Great Annotations as the best extant in that kinde Neither do I here touch upon the New Testament save only when and where the Text or the Old Testament doth crave for the quotation of it In this Collection of Observations and Explanations I follow the Order of the Books and Chapters of the Bible And I heartily wish that the holy Text were alwayes before their eyes who shall vouchsafe to read them without which the life of them or of many of them will be lost And the numerous quotations therein used will really appear specially to Divines to be of good concernment to them and who shall have occasion to use them and will take the paines to turne unto them Be pleased not to think that I am too curious or thy self can be too ambitious of knowing any truth revealed in the Scriptures Thou canst not search them too much nor can the Word of God dwell too richly and plentifully in thee Indeed the substantial and essential matters therein must first be known and cared for Yet these may help to bring divers remarkable Places and Passages of Scripture into more common knowledge and familiar notion then I suppose yet they are Such as they are yet now at the last though the Presse much retarded them if they may any wayes make for thy spiritual use and profit that same is the earnest desire of Thy Servant in Christ J. A. A TABLE Of such things as are occasionally discoursed of in this Book But for the maine things the whole Book is a TABLE to it selfe For the larger ANNOTATIONS upon GENESIS the INDEX referres you to the Chapter and Verse A. THe Ark its mansions pag. 76 77 B Baal and Baalim p. 62 63 Of Bethel Gen. 28. 19. Branch taken for the Messias 423 C Covenant how it is new under the Gospel 424 To be cut off to what sins threatned and what it is Gen. ch 17. 14. 21 D Day when it begins p. 1. Gen. 1. 5. Christs Descent into hell in what sense it is to be taken 181 E Egypt 5 Ephod 81 Places of Esay cited in the New Testament 352 Evening diversly taken 12 For ever a phrase diversly taken 40 F Solomons foole who 298 The foure hundred years of Israels bondage how accounted 15 13 H God how he hardens without being the Authour of sin 359 High places 90 91 Hyperbolies much used in Scripture 52 I. Jacob marries Leah at or before the beginning of the fourteen years service 8 Of Jerusalem 50 51 Of imprecations 195 Isreal how foure hundred years strangers and where 5 Israels number when they came into Egypt 9 K Kings of Israel and Judah their names reignes c. 100. to 104 M Hebrew-measures 6 14 Melchizedech who he was Gen. 14. 18. 254 255 Ministers among the Jewes what a liberal maintenance they had 32 N Of Names 3 O Of Oathes 138 Of the Oath with the Gibeonites 50 Oathes are to be kept 435 P Passeover whether Christ kept it on the 〈◊〉 day with the Jewes Passeover when kept by Christ when by the Jews and how the difference of their dayes 〈◊〉 Gen. 1. 5. Of Prophets 80 81 Psalmes their division 172. the musick mentioned in them 173 Psalmes cited in the New Testament 175 176 R Red sea why so called 11 Repentance how a scribed to God 422 S Scribes 129 130 Seven yeares Jacob served for Leaâ— and seven for Rachel when and how Gen. 29. 20. Shâ—kel 16 Shihor 115 Of Christs sitting at his Fathers right hand 251 The Sluggard how described in the Book of the Proverbs 274 275 Sun how it returned ten degrees 389 Of swearing and forswearing 434 435 Gen. 24. 3. Swearing a duty 434 T Temple described 92 to 96 Tempting how ascribed to God how to men ch 22. 1. Of tithes among the Jewes 31 32 V About various readings in Scripture 106 107 Of vowes Gen. 28. 20. Y Yeare when begins 11 12 ANNOTATIONS ON Genesis CHAP. I. Ver. 1. IN the beginning Of the Creation which God created Mark 13. 19. and so in the beginning of the world then not eternal nor the matter of it but God only eternal And this beginning most probably was at the Autumnal Equinoctial or Spring and that for the Ecclesiastical accompt only upon and because of Gods mâ—raculous bringing them out of Egypt at that season of the year from whence Gods people constantly began their year till the change made to the vernal Equinoctial God Elohim in the plural number intimating a plurality not of Gods Exod. 12. 2. 23. 11 16. 34. 22. Lev. 25. 9 10. Deut. 16. 13 c. but therefore of persons in the Deity The word Creators Eccles. 12. 1. hath a singular number viz. El. Gen. 14. 8. and Eloah Job 12. 4. And it signifies Strong Almighties powers Sometimes it is used but improperly to signifie false gods Exod. 20. 3. Angels and Magistrates among men Ps. 8. 5. 82. 1 6. created Bara This word is proper to God and a word in the singular number importing the singular unity of the Deity And that God had no Assistants Co-adjutors or subordinate Agents and Instruments in the work of Creation But the Angels themselves are his Creatures Col. 1. 16. A God and He the Creator of the World are acknowledged in a manner by all Heathen Writers if not by all men the heaven Or heavens and the earth Heaven and Earth here may be taken as a summary proposition of the whole Creation as ch 2. 1. and Exod 20 11. And the rather considering the Hebrew Articles here used ETH and HA as pointing to these now in being And yet as probably and more of the common Chaos and Masse and Stock of both as seeming to be included within the work of the first day and
third moneth Exod. XIX 1. where the Law was given Exod. XX. And their making and erecting of the Tabernacle in the next year first moneth first day Exod. XL. 1. And so the summe of 141 years and few dayes doth arise which containes the whole History of Exodus Whereof 140 years within few dayes are comprised in the two first Chapters And one year and few dayes are spent in the rest of the Book His sister His sister chapter II verse 7 that is Miriam who was elder then Moses or Aaron And Aaron elder then Moses by three years Exod. VII 7. All three were the children of Iochebed the daughter of Levi by Amram the grand-son of Levi Exod. VI. 16 18 20. Num. XXVI 59. 1 Chron. VI. 3. Moses Moses chapter II verse 11 His age of 40 years when he went to visit his brethren and flew the Egyptian As also his skill in all the wisdome of the Egyptian 3 are not mentioned in the Old Testament But by Saint Stephen Acts VII 22 23. Iethro Iethro who is likewise called Iether chapter III verse 1 in the Original Exod. IV. 18. and Hobab Num. X. 29. Judg. IV. 11. were the names of Moses his father-in-law And Kenite Judg. I. 16. seemes to be his name Patronymical And Revel and Raguel seeme to be the names of Jethros father Exod. II. 18. Num. X. 29. Horeb Horeb here and Sinai Exod. XVI 1. and XIX 11. are the same mountaine or two tops of the same mountain called Sinai from the bush Exod. III. 2. or bushes growing there and thereabouts in that wildernesse Ch. XIX 1. As Mount Sion and Mount Moriah were much alike A Token This token or signe was to come to passe afterwards verse 12 yet is given to confirme a Promiser made afore it And the like is Esay VII 14. and XXXVII 30. Ier. XLIII 9 10. and Ch. LI. 63 64. Among other reasons to assure there the truth of the Promise by the quality of the Promise foretelling such events No lie No lie in this Petition to Pharaoh verse 18 nor in that assertion Ch. V. 3. Will not The foreknowledge of God doth not impeach or trench upon the Free-will of Pharaoh verse 19 Borrow No wrong in that borrowing and spoyling the Egyptians Exod. verse 22 III. 22. and Ch. XI 2. and Ch. XII 35 36. The Magicians The Magicians of Egypt chapter VII verse 11 are none of them named in the Old Testament yet Iannes and Iambres the two prime of them are named in the New 2 Tim. III. 8. The Red-sea And so in the Greek Erythraeum chapter X verse 19 Acts VII 36. Heb. XI 29. signifying red And so the Latines from them So called either from the seeming colour of the water from the abundance of reddish bulrushes therein or the red sand and gravel in it or red Corall growing in it or red sandy mountains adjoyning to it or why not from Edom as the Edomean Sea 1 King IX 26. He being called Red from his red colour and the red Pottage Gen. XXV 25 30. But the likeliest reason is from the Hebrew appellation calling it the sea of weeds or sedge mare algsum of flag or rush or tange rack or reet in Latin alga Ionah II. 5. which reddish weeds in abundance grew in it being but shoaly and specially about the bancks of it Neither rose The Plague of Darknesse in Egypt seemes to obstruct both Candle-light and Fire-light verse 23 This moneth The beginning of the year being here changed from the time wherein formerly it was chapter XII to the moneth wherein the Israelites came out of Egypt a little before our Easter and about our Vernal Equinoctial as it then stood This argues the Creation of the World to have been at that time when the Jewes yeare formerly began And the time of Noahs Flood to begin the 17 th day of the second month of that year Which year is known to commence its Beginning from the Autumnal Equinoctial as it then stood From whence even after this Change the year of Jubile and Sabbath-year and year for some Civil accompts did continue still to have and enjoy their former Beginnings as we see Levit. XXV 8 9 10. Exod. XXIII 11 16. and Ch. XXXIV 22. In the evening The Paschal Lamb is appointed here to be kill'd and eaten chapter XII verse 6 and so the Passeover to be kept at Even or as it is in the Hebrew at or between the two Evenings And so Num. IX 3. Lev. XXIII 5. And so kept by our Saviour at Even Matth. XXVI 20. Now the better to know the Even and two Evenings we must first know That the Artificial Day is divided from Sunne-rising to Sun-setting into twelve hours John XI 9. Matth. XX. 6 12. Acts II. 15. which hours are sometimes longer sometimes shorter as the course of the Sunne measures them And again that day seemes to have a division into three equal parts allotting four hours to each part Or into four equal parts allotting three hours to each part And so the first part is from their Sunne-rising to our ninth hour the second from our ninth to our twelfth or Noone and Mid-day the third from that to our three in the after-noone the fourth from that to Sun-setting And sometimes there is taken into the first of these the time from Day-light to Sun-rising And into the last of these the time from Sun-setting to night and darknesse as Matth. XVI 2. and XXVII 57. John XX. 19. And both these comprise the whole dayes Fasting 2 Sam. I. 12. Now the Even in Scripture is most properly and usually expressed and defined strictly by the Going down or Setting of the Sunne So in the purifying of the Unclean Levit. XXII 6 7. Deut. XXIII 11. And so in that case of the King of Ai Iosh. VIII 29. And of Ahab 2 Chron. XVIII 34. And of those five Kings in the Cave of Makkedah Iosh. X. 26 27. And so in Mark I. 32. And so it is expressely for the Passeover it self Deut. XVI 6. To which acceptation of the Even agrees that Psal. CIV 23. Mark XI 11 19. Luke XXIV 29. Acts IV. 3. and XXVIII 23. Yet in Scripture the Evening is sometimes taken in a larger extent and latitude for the latter part of the Day beginning from the declining of the Sunne at Mid-day or from the abating of the heat and force of it at our three in the after-noone As may be clearly gathered from Mat. XIV v. 15 23. Mark VI. 35 47. Luke IX 12. And as it is usual taken with us in our ordinary salutations Now at or between the two Evenings is mentioned as for the yearly Passeover so for the daily Evening Sacrifice Exod. XXIX 39. Num. XXVIII 4. And for the daily burning of Incense on the Incense-Altar And for the daily dressing and lighting of the Lamps in the Tabernacle Exod. XXX 8. So that in these four cases the meaning of the phrase seemes to be the same Noting out
it in the magin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying to him so observing a various reading And indeed they observe divers readings in sundry places of Scripture but about no one word so many as about this as may be seene Levit. XI 21. and Ch. XXV 30. 1 Sam. II. 3. 2 Kings VIII 10. 1 Chron. XI 20. Ezra IV. 2. Job XIII 15. Psal. C. 3. Esay IX 3. and XLIX 5. and LXIII 9. And in many of these both senses come to one reading the Negative by way of interrogation See the Annotations on Job 13. 15. From mine Altar The Tabernacle verse 14 and Temple and Altars there may seeme to pretend to some such Priviledge as the Cities of Refuge had Exod. XXI 14. 1 King 1. 50 51. and Ch. 11. 28. An Oath An oath is pnt to the Party suspected to accuse verse 11 or clear himself So v. 11. Somewhat like an Answer to a Bill in Chancery or to the oath called ex officio chapter XXII though haply in all things not correspondent Males Women among the Jewes as not Circumcised verse 17 so haply may seeme neither to be tied to eate the Passeover chapter XXIII Exod. XXIII 17. and Ch. XXXIV 23 24. Deut. XVI 16. Yet is this no ground to debar women from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper more then from the Sacrament of Baptisme the partition-wall being now broken down by Christ and male and female in him are all one Gal. III. 8. Thy bounds The bounds of the Land of Canaan were Larger Ge◠XV. 18. Exod. XXIII 31. Deut. I. 7. and Ch. 11. 24. Josh. I. 4. Narrower verse 31 Num. XXXIV 3. c. Num. XIII 21. 1 King VIII 65. 2 Chron. VII 8. Judg. XX. 1. The larger bounds were never possessed and inhabited by the Israelites at most made Tributary onely in the dayes of David and Solomon And the default might be no wise in God but in the Israelites sinning and breaking with God Deut. XIX 8 9. Yea the narrower bounds by reason of their sinnes were scarce at any time fully possessed In the Arke In the Arke were the two Tables of the Law and Covenant chapter XXV verse 16 See also Exod. XL. 20. And nothing else 1 Kings VIII 9. 2. Chron. V. 10. which Tables are called the Testimony Exod. XXV 16 21. and Ch. XXX 6. and Ch. XL. 20. And the Arke is called The Arke of the Testimony Exod. XXV 22. and Ch. XXVI 33. and Ch. XXX 6 26. And the Mercie-seate is said to be upon the Testimony Levit. XVI 13. By the Arke was laid and kept the Pot of Manna before the Testimony Exod. XVI 34. And Aarons Rod before the Testimony Num. XVII 10. And that Censer Levit. XVI 12. Heb. IX 4. And the Book of the Law in the side of the Arke or on the outside of it Deut. XXXI 26. Not onely those Pieces of it Exod. XVII 14. and Ch. XXIV 4. and Ch. XXXIV 27. and Deut. XXXI 9 22. But the whole Law and writings and inspired Books of Moses And this seemes to some to be the Book found in Josiah's time and to have been lost in the dayes of wicked Manasseh and Amon Though the matters of that Book when it was read to Josiah and to all the people seemed so strange unto them as if no Copie of it at all chapter XXV or wondrous rare had been extant among them Lamps to burn alwayes The Lamps may seeme to burn night and day chapter XXVII verse 20 because we read of no windows for light in the Tabernacle See also Exod. III. 7 8. Levit. XXIV 2 3. At least some of them in the day-time Tabernacle Moses his Tent is called the Tabernacle chapter XXXIII verse 7 8. And the Tabernacle is called by the name of the Temple 1 Sam. III. 3. And the Temple diverse times by the name of the Tabernacle and Sanctuary and Tents of the Lord 2 Chron. XXXI 2. Fourty dayes and fourty nights Moses twice fasted 40 dayes chapter XXXIV verse 28 and 40 nights Exod. XXXIV 28. Deut. IX 18. and Ch. X. 10. And some conceive thrice out of Deut. IX 25. Yet this is not likely Elias once and our Saviour once Of Fasting see the Annotations on Joel I. 14. Skin of his face shone By reflexive raies and beames of the Divine splendor verse 29 And had not hornes as the Trent Bible renders the word And Painters commonly picture him The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a substantive signifies an Horne but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Verbe signifies to shine And so Saint Paul interprets it 2 Cor. III. 7. Looking-glasses Looking-glasses made not of Glasses chapter XXXVIII verse 8 whereof we have no record in Scripture but rather of steele or of brasse which was much refined as Ezra VIII 27. and of much use and specially for armour inwarre as Virgil often mentions Talents verse 24 Shekels Shekel comes from Shakal to weigh And thence may our English word scale come A Shekel is 20. Gerahs Exod. XXX 13. Ezek. XLV 12. or two Bekahs Exod. XXXVIII 26. The Shekel is half an ounce in silver or 2 s. 6d And so the Gerah 1 d. ob and the Bekah 1 s. 3 d. The Talent is 3000 Shekels which appears thus in the Text The 603550 men are taxed at a Bekah a piece This makes 301775 Shekels Now reckoning 3000 Shekels to a Talent The 301775 Shekels make up 100 Talents and 1775 Shekels according to the summe there specified v. 25 27 28. And counting the Shekel at 2 s. 6d the Talent so comes to 375 l. starling The Shekel of gold was of the same weight with that of silver but of farre greater value of ten to one with the Jewes as may be gathered out of 1 Chron. XXII 14. And so their Shekel of gold comes to 1 l. 5 s. their Talent of Gold comes to 3750. l. But gold now in Christendome is at an higher rate By silverings as 2 Sam. XVIII 11 12. Matth. XXVI 15. usually Shekels are understood See the Annotations on Ezek. IV. 10. And on Esther III. 9. Vaile of the Covering That hanged before chapter XXXIX verse 34 and covered the Mercy-seate Lamps to be set in order Dressing them every morning verse 37 and lighting them at even Ch. XXX 7 8. if not at morning too there being no windows in the Tabernacle and so burning alwayes Ch. XXXVII 20. continually Levit. XXIV 2. Blessed them The offerers verse 43 and the work-men Of the Gongregation Where Priests chapter XL verse 2 Levites and People assembled according to the several degrees of their approaches Everlasting That their posterity should not need to be anointed again verse 15 Of Everlasting see the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. A Cloud Even that Cloud verse 34 Exod. XIII 21 22. miraculously removed hither Not able The maner therefore of the clouds abode verse 35 and the Lords glory appearing at this time was extraordinary Leviticus LEVITICUS takes up onely the time of one moneth viz the
11 12 17 18 26. and Ch. XIV 22 26. And this second Tythe seems every third year to be distributed to the poor Or rather a third Tythe every third year not carried to Jerusalem and eaten there But gathered for these charitable uses onely and to be eaten any where throughout the Land Deut. XIV 28 29. and XXVI 12 13. And this third year is therefore called the year of Tything Deut. XXVI 12. Amos IV. 4. Of Tythes see more 2 Chron. XXXI 4 19. Nehem. X. 32 39. and XII 44 47. and XIII 5 12 13. Mal. III. 8 10. Luke XI 42. and XVIII 12. Heb. VII 2 9. The great maintenance of the Levites appears in that the whole Tribe of Levi being three or four times lesse in number then any other Tribe yet had they distinguished from all the Priests the Tythes of all the Tribes and so more then any one other Tribe Besides their thirty five Cities and Suburbs whereof five were Cities of Refuge Josh. XXI one belonging to the Kohathites Levites two to the Gershonites and two to the Merarites In all twice at least more Cities then some other Tribes had that were twice their number See also that Num. XXXI 30 47. The greater maintenance of the Priests appears in that being but three persons at first at least of ripe and mature age yet they had the Tythes yearly of all the Levites Tythes which were at first 8580 of thirty years old and upwards and so about the hundred part of all the fruits and increase of all Israel And as the numbers of the Priests multiplied afterwards so did in all probability the number of the other Tribes They had also all the First-fruits of all things from all persons throughout the twelve Tribes even of their doughs and bakings Deut. XVIII 4. Num. XV. 20 21. which as some think exceeded their Tythes aforesaid They had also all the First-borne of Oxen Sheep and Goats which were given to them in kinde And the Redemption money of the First-borne of Men and of unclean Beasts and cattell Num. III. 46 52. Exod. XXXIV 19. 20 and Ch. XXII 29 30. Deut. XV. 19. They had also all Oblations both Voluntary and by Vow And the Redemption of Things and of Persons Devoted to God And all Sacrifices for Sinnes and for Trespasses and the Meat and Drink Offerings and Heave-offerings And the Breast and Shoulder in Peace-offerings Deut. XVIII 3. And the Skins of the whole Burnt-offerings And all their Tythes First-fruits and Oblations were to be of the best and choisest sorts Num. XVIII 12 29. Besides these they had thirteen Cities and Suburbs and Priviledges belonging to them whereof one was a City of Refuge Josh XXI 13. See Num. XVIII 8 19. And that also Num. XXXI 28 29 37 38 39 40 50. Levit. X. 12 13 14 15. and Ch. XXVII 21 28. See the Annotations on Num. XVIII 29. Rock At Rephidim by Mount Sinai chapter XX verse 8. 13. Exod. XVII 1 7. being the eleventh Station of the Israelites Num. XXXIII 14. Moses with his miraculous Rod struck the Rock in Horeb in a due obedience to Gods commandment and waters came forth And he named the place Massah and Meribah Exod. XVII 5 6 7. But at Kadesh in the Wildernesse of Zin where Miriam died being the thirty third Station Num. XXXIII 36. Moses with Aarons miraculous Rod for he took it from before the Lord as he commanded him having his spirit provoked by the rebellious people smiles the Rock twice without any such command or commission to smite at all And he and Aaron likewise speak unadvisedly with their lips uttering words of passion and incredulity and so rebelling against Gods commandment And thereupon they not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel He was sanctified in them by his excluding them from entrance into the Land of Canaan And this also is called the water of Meribah or Strife as here so Ch. XXVII 14. Psal. CVI. 32 33. Aaron Aaron chapter XX verse 28 whose name may seem to signifie an Ark or Chest dies seven moneths and seven dayes before Moses at Mount Hor the Place called Mosera Deut. X 6. in the thirty fourth Station For Aaron dying in the fourtieth year fifth moneth first day Num. XXXIII 38. And that compared with the moneths mourning for Moses Deut. XXXIV 8. and three dayes preparation to passe over Jordan Josh. I. 1. and Ch. III. 2. And their coming out of Jordan on the first moneth tenth day Josh. IV. 19. Do shew that Moses died in the twelfth moneth seventh day And so seven moneths and seven dayes after Aaron In which short interval of time many and mighty things were done and atchieved as among other things Sihon and Og and their Kingdomes conquered the Midianites almost destroyed among whom Balaam was slaine Josh. XIII 22. and the book of Deuteronomie written Num. XXI and XXXI Deut. I. 1 3. Fiery Serpents onely in the later part of the fourtieth year chapter XXI verse 6 after Aarons death Heshbon Heshbon a chief City in Moab verse 26 afterwards of Sihon King of the Amorites Deut. I. 4. afterwards of Gad and out of that Tribe given to the Merarites Josh. XIII 26. and XXI 38 39 40. 1 Chron. VI. 80 81. Afterwards recovered by the Moabites and wasted by Shalmanesar Esay XV. 4. and XVI 8 9. and after by the Babylonians Jer. XLVIII 45. There may seeme to be another Heshbon of the Ammonites Jer. XLIX 2 3. And one in the Tribe of Reuben Num. XXXII 37. Josh. XIII 15 17. Heshbon signifies Devises And an allusion is made to the name Jer. XLVIII 2. in the judgement there denounced against it like to this is English There is mischief devised against the Devises the name of a town with us Balak Balak needed not to have hired Balaam chapter XXII verse 2 and feared Israel Num. XXII and XXIII and XXIV if he had known the prohibition of God to Israel Deut. II. 9. which they obeyed Judg. II. 15 17 18 25. 2 Chron. XX. 10. Yet that part which was great of the Lands of Moab which Sihon had lately conquered from Vehab King of Moab as Tremelius translates Num. XXI 26. the Israelites conquering Sihon in that right possessed it Num. XXXIII 49. Deut. I. 5. and XXXIV 1 5 6 8. and it was given to the Reubenites and Gadites Josh. XIII Unicorne So Deut. chapter XXIII verse 22 XXXIII 17. Job XXXIX 9 10. Psal. XXII 21. and XXIX 6. and XCII 10. Esay XXXIV 7. Yet the translation of the word is doubted of or at least the nature of the beast such as the Pensil of our Painters doth portray out unto us because no such beast was known or seen by any man And the Unicornes horne so deemed is of some strange Fish not of any known Beast Some learned render the word Bufale or Buff or else the wild Oxe called by the Latines Urus eminent for bignesse strength hornes and untamable fiercenesse
Advertise thee Balaam called a South-sayer chapter XXIV verse 14 Josh. XIII 22. and a Prophet 2 Pet. II. 16. gives this advertisement to Balak which seems to have a relation to that which follows in the residue of that Chapter Yet besides he gives counsel to Balak or at least after to the Midianites to draw the Israelites into sinne Num. XXXI 16. which coming so to passe He himself in his return is slaine by the sword amongst the Midianites Num. XXXI 8. in that Expedition wherein Joshuah though not named may seeme to be the General and Phineas chief of the Priests sounding Trumpets in that warre wherein 12000. Israelites not having one man slaine did yet slay five Kings of Midian or Dukes of Sihon dwelling in the Countrey as it is Josh. XIII 21. and all the males of that populous Nation save such as escaped by flight whose posterities in the dayes of Gideon came to prevaile against Israel Judg. VI. 1 2. And they took a mighty prey and booty whereout after Purifications of themselves and the Prey there was paid a tribute and portion to the Priests and a portion to the Levites and a voluntary Oblation after made by the Captaines to the Lord Num. XXXI Of the 24000. chapter XXV verse 9 that died in the Plague and stroak of Gods vengeance the 23000. mentioned 1 Cor. X. 8. likely were the vulgar sort that died in the slaughter Num. XXV 5. and the other thousand were the heads of the people hung up ver 4. without supposing any Pestilence at that time Or if by Plague Num. XXV 9. Psal CVI. 30. we understand the Pestilence then most probably the 23000. died of it and the other thousand by Hanging and Slaughter 22200. chapter XXVI verse 14 In this last numbering of the people in the Plains of Moab in the fourtieth year of their wandering in the Wildernesse Simeon was farre the least in number and Judah the most And the whole number of fighting men of the twelve Tribes after that generation died in the Wildernesse upon that judgement Numb XIV 29 35. and upon sundry other judgements besides was now 1820. lesse in number then in the former numbering at Mount Sinai thirty nine years before 23000. And so but 700 more then they were in the former numbering at Sinai Ch. III. verse 62 Being likely not altogether free from that sinne and punishment Num. XIII and XIV Sin This Wildernesse differs from Zin chapter XXXIII verse 11 ver 36. This being the eighth Station of the Israelites that of Zin the thirty third which is Kadesh where Miriam died as was said Num. XXXIII 11 36. Rephidim See the Observations on Ch. verse 14 XXVIII 8. Abarim Pluraly verse 47 Mountains being a continuation of Mountains or Hills Num. XXXIII 47. in the Confines of the Amorites and Moabites whereof the tops had several names as Nebo Pisgah Pehor But Mount Sinai was none of them being farre enough of Salt Sea Is not that Lake of Genesareth chapter XXXIV verse 3 But only that Dead Sea and Salt Sea where formerly Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim had stood Deut. XXIX 23. Hos. XI 8. Riblah Riblah in the Land of Hamath part of the East border of Canaan near the North quarter Here Pharaoh-Nechoh put Jehoahaz in bonds 2 Kings XXIII 33. And Nebuchadnezzar put King Zedekiah in bonds and put out his eyes 2 King XXV 6 7. And slew the High Priest and second Priest and the sonnes of Zedekiah and other prime men ver 18 21. Jer. LII 10 27. This Riblah seems to be that which was afterwards called Antiochia in Syria Of this see my Annotations on Ezek. XI 10 11. Chinnereth Num. XXXIV 11. Deut. III. 17. Josh. XI 2. and XII 27. and XIX 35. is called in the New Testament Genezareth Luke V. 1. which Lake is also called the Sea of Galilee Matth. IV. 18. Mark I. 16. And the Sea of Tiberias Josh. XXI 1. And absolutely the Sea Matth. XVII 27. Suburbs The Suburbs of the Cities of the Priests chapter XXXV verse 4 and Levites were 1000. Cubits from the Cities on every side And so 2000. in the limits and utmost Bounds and Borders of each Quarter East West North and South Fourty eight Cities See Josh. verse 7 XX. and XXI and 1 Chron. 6. compared together and the Great Annotations upon the said sixth Chapter Shall not be guilty The innocent man verse 27 that by meere accident against his will slew a man might yet as it seemes be lawfully slaine by the revenger of blood if he took him without the Citie of refuge Which the more shews the wrath of God against murder Onely to the family Israelites might marry wives of other Tribes chapter XXXVI verse 6 so that they were not inheritrixes of Land Num. XXXVI Yea of other Nations if they were Proselytes and not of those Nations which God expressely devoted to destruction Deut. VII 3. and XXI 10 13. Of their marriages with Heathens and mixing the holy seed See Ezra IX and X. Ch. Neh. IX 2. and X. 30. and XIII 3. 23 30. Deuteronomie DEUTERONOMIE was written in the yeare of the world not 2493. But in the year 2553. or rather 2548. thirty eight years and odde moneths from the time of the beginning of the Book of Numbers And about 1450 years before Christ's time It containes to the fifteenth Verse of the last Chapter an History of one moneth and seven dayes viz From moneth eleven day one to moneth twelve day seven at which time Moses died as hath been formerly gathered upon Aarons death See and compare together Deut. I. 3. and XXXIV 8. and Josh. IV. 19. In which short time the Book was written by Moses And besides sundry Repetitions and Explications other new Lawes given A second Edition as it were of the Covenant made with the new Generation with some other Consequences and last Acts of Moses The last Chapter of Deuteronomie was written after Moses his death As likewise the Conclusion of the Book of Jeremie was written after his Death Jer. LI. 64. and LII 31 34. And that XXXIV Chapter contains one moneth more of the Israelites mourning for the death of Moses This Book of Deuteronomie and that of the Psalmes are of chief note in the Old Testament for the Life of Religion the spiritual power of Worship and Obedience in the inner man Yet this Book of Deuteronomie seemes not to be that which was to be written very plainly upon great stones plaistered in Mount Ebal For that was the Decalogue only or those Blessings and Curses only Deut. XXVII 2 26. Josh. VIII 30 35. Nor seemes it to be this book of Deuteronomie only that was to be Copied out by the King and He to read therein all the dayes of his life Deut. XVII v. 18 19 20. Not yet seemes it to be this book only that was to be solemnly read by the Priests every seventh or Sabbatical year in the Feast of Tabernacles in the audience of
all the people Chapt. XXXI 9 13. As in the three foresaid particulars some would have it Nor yet is it this Book only or that Song only Deut. XXXII that was to be put and placed by the Priests in at or by the side of the Arke of the Covenant Deut. XXXI 25 26. But the whole book of the Law the five Books of Moses were to be Copied out by the King read in every Sabbath-year and laid up and preserved safe by the Arke of the Testimony The Judicial Lawes most of all mentioned in this Book and peculiarly belonging to the Countrey and People of the Jewes are grounded upon an equity of Right Reason for that Countrey and People And so far are useful to all others The ten first Chapters are most-what of precedent Passages Repetitions of what things were formerly done with Exhortations to Obedience intermixed Moses yet herein not binding himself to an exact order in observation of the times and places These Is an Inscription of the whole book chapter I verse 1 and an accurate description of the Place where Moses delivered and did what in this book is contained Eleven The eleven dayes journey end either at Kadesh-barneah verse 2 or compassing about by the way of Mount Seir and Kadesh-barneah it ends at and in the Plaines of Moab Both which serâ—â— to shew how soone they might have come from Horeb or Sinai to Canaan had they not provoked God by their sinne Num. XIV instead of that eleven dayes journey to keep them wandring in the wildernesse 38. years after Horeb Horeb and Mount Sinai are taken for the same Exod. III 1. See on that Text Deut. I. 2 6 19. and IV. 10 15. and V. 2. and IX 8. 1 King XIX 8 Mal. IV. 4. They being close neighbours or rather two tops of the same Mount The Israelites abode almost a year there Deut. I. 6. Exod. XIX 1 Num. X. 11. Og that dwelt at Ashteroth verse 4 was slaine in Edrei another of his royal Cities Ch. III. 1. Num. XXI 33. Josh. XIII 12 31. and XII 4. Angry Gods anger at Moses here mentioned verse 37 was not in the second year when and where the Spies were sent from Kadesh-barnea Num. XIII and XIV But in the fourtieth year at that other Kadesh when and where Miriam died Num. XX. 1 2 12. Many dayes The Israelites abode in Kadesh many dayes verse 46 And they compassed Mount Seir many dayes The space in which they came from Kadesh-barnea till they came over the brook Zered or pitch'd in the Valley of Zared in Moab being their thirty ninth Station was thirty eight years which was in the beginning of the fourtieth year of their coming out of Egypt Deut. II. 1 2 3 7 14. some take thirty seven years and a half of this time to be spent at Kadesh-barnea And sure the most of it was spent there and the lesser and later part of it in compassing Mount Seir And the other half year spent in coming from Mount Seir to Zered See Deut. II. 7. Distresse not And so chapter II verse 9 v. 19. The Israelites forbidden to distresse the Moabites and Ammonites or to possesse their Lands Yet what Sihon had lately conquered from them and possessed which was no small part of their Countreys all that the Israelites conquering Sihon by right of that Conquest did fairly possesse Josh. XIII 15 25. Judg. XI 12 27. Gyants There are mentioned Anakims verse 11 Emims Zanzummims Rephaims as several races of Gaints Deut. II. 11 20. and Ch. III. 11 13. Num. XIII 33. See further Gen. VI. 4 1 Sam. XVII 4. and 2 Sam. XXI 16 22. Mount Sion chapter IV verse 48 which is Hermon Called by the Sidonians Syrion by the Amorites Shenir in the Valley of Lebanon Deut. III. 9. and IV. 48. Josh. XI 17. and XIII 5. and XII 5. 1 Chron. V. 23. And Mount Sion that strong hold in the City of David being the South-part of Jerusalem and not seated on the North-side of it 2 Sam. V. 7 9. 1 King VIII 1. Psal. II. 6. and IX 11. and XLVIII 2. upon which Text see the Annotations are two differing Mountains and farre asunder They differ also in their Original Characters and letters the former being written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the later 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though the New Testament write the later also Sion Rom. IX 33 〈◊〉 XI 26. As likewise the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is written Sidon And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is written Tyre Matth. XI 21 22. Called We may not conceive a miracle in Moses voice chapter V verse 1 as some do on this place My Commandments So it is in the Masorets marginal reading verse 10 But in the Text it is his Commandments And may import the words of Moses expounding the sense and meaning of Gods words that went next before Seventh day Some words are added by Moses to those uttered by God on Mount Sinai verse 14 15. Exod. XX. 10 11. as an Explication of them And also a Reason is given of the fourth Commandment differing altogether from that Reason in Exod. XX. 11. which Reason here yet evinceth not that therefore God brought the Israelites out of Egypt on the Sabbath-day But the putting of Wife before House ver 21. contrary to that order of House before Wife in Exod. XX. 17. confounds the late Papists silly shift in dividing the last Commandment into two to make up ten Deut. IV. 13. to colour thereby their taking away the second Commandment or shufling of it into the first so that by them is not known which is the ninth and which the tenth Commandment Seven Nations So many are here reckoned chapter VII verse 1 And so Iosh. III. 10. Six in Exod. XXXIII 2. Deut. XX. 17. Iudg. III. 5. In many places fewer In Gen. XV. 19 20 21. ten Nations are reckoned And among them the Philistines are never mentioned Yet all the inhabitants of the whole Land go many times under the names of Canaanites and Amorites as Gen. XXIV 3. and Ch. XV. 16. Utterly destroy them Such is Gods Command verse 2 And such his Promise of assistance v. 16. See Exod. XXXIV 11 12. Deut. IX 3. and XX. 16 17. Yet this was not a thing to be done in one year or in Ioshuah's Life-time Iosh. XXIII 4 5 13. Iudg. l. 9 21 27 29 30 31 33 34. But by little and little Exod. XXIII 29 30. Deut. VII 22. Yet God justly threatens and blames them for their neglect in Conquering and Expelling them Num. XXXIII 55 56. Josh. XXIII 13. Judg. II. 3 21 22 23. And he never gave them the possession of their full Bounds as of Tyre Sidon and of all the Land of the Philistines because they kept not for their part the Condition of their Covenant with him Judg. II. 20 21. Neither shalt thou Marriage forbid with the Canaanites strictly verse 3 Yea also forbid with the Ammonites Moabites and Egyptians Ezra IX 1 2.
in that Levites time Iudg. XIX 10 11 12. or haply at that time had never got any hold in it at all Hebron Of this City see the Observations on 2 Sam. verse 10 II. 1. Caleb Of Caleb see the Observations on Iosh. verse 12 XV. 16. A South-Land Or dry Land verse 15 Kenite and Ch. IV. 11. and Ch. V. 24. See 1 Chron. II. 55. verse 16 As also Gen. XV. 19. Num. XXIV 21. 1 Sam. XV. 6. And see my Observations on Num. X. 29. Palme Trees Jericho Of this see the Observations on Ch. III. 13. Gaza Iudah took Gaza verse 18 and Askelon and Ekron And lost them soone afterwards Ch. III. 3. Bethel Of this see the Observations on 1 King verse 22 XII 29. and XXXII Bethsâ—an And the rest in this verse were Cities in that half Tribe of Manasseh that lay West of Jordan verse 27 Angel The Angel here seemes to be no created Angel chapter II verse 1 But that Angel of the Covenant Mal. III. 1. that appeared to Moses in the Bush Exod. III. 2. called Jehovah ver 4. and to Ioshua Iosh. V. 14. And to Gideon Iudg. VI. 16. And to Manoah and his wife Ch. XIII Of whom Iacob spake Gen. XLVIII 24. And of whom God spake unto Moses Exod. XXIII 21 22 23. termed both Jehovah Exod. XIII 21. XIV 10 24. and his face or presence Exod. XXXIII 14 15. and an Angel Exod. XXXIII 2. the Messias Acts VII 38. the Sonne of God Heb. I. 3. See on Judg. XIII 3. But whether this History fell out in the life-time of Ioshua or after his death is somewhat more uncertain all the dayes of Joshua Therefore the Angel's coming to Bochim verse 7 though premised was after the death of Joshua and those Elders Mount of Ephraim Of this see the Observations on Joshua XXIV verse 9 1. Baal and Ashtaroth Of these see the Observations on Ch. verse 13. 16. VIII 33. Judges This Chapter seemes to be a summarie of the bulk of this Book Left those Nations Ver. verse 23 22. and Ch. III. 1 2 4. See the Observations on Deut. VII 1. and 2. King of Mesopotamia Heb. chapter III verse 8 Aram-Naharaim i. e. of Syria between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates Naharaim being of the Dual number Fourty years See the Observations on the beginning of this Book verse 11 Palme-trees Jericho the City of Palme-trees Deut. XXXIV 3. verse 13 2 Chron. XXVIII 15. This was nigh Jordan on the West-side of it and Gilgal in the East border of Jericho where Rahab entertained and hid the two Spies And from the Plaines of Moab Pisga and Shirtim which were over against Jericho on the East-side of Jordan the Israelites passed over Here the Israelites kept the Passeover and the Captain of the Lords Hoast appeared to Joshua This was burnt Josh. VI. 24. And the Re-builder of it cursed ver 26. And the same verified in Hiel in the dayes of Ahab 1 King XVI 34. So that the Kenites being in it and Eglons possessing of it mentioned here And that of Davids ill-intreated messengers residing here 2 Sam. X. 5. must be meant of some mean buildings or Forts onely in it or rather by it It fell by Lot to the Tribe of Benjamin Josh. XVIII 21. Here was a Colledge of the sonnes of the Prophets in the times of Elias and Eliseus and the waters healed by Eliseus Hither were sent back courteously the many Jewes captived by Pekah in the dayes of Ahaz 2 Chron. XXVIII And in the Plaines here was Zedekiah taken by Nebuchadnezzars forces And in the dayes of our Saviour he did herein or hard by give sight to blinde men and converted Zacheus And he arose Reverence to God and his Word verse 20 Num. XXIII 18. 2 King XX III. 2. 2 Chron. XXXIV 31. Neh. VIII 6. Oxe-goad Miraculous are the victories of Shamgar verse 31 slaying sixe hundred Philistines with an Oxe-goad and of Sampson slaying one thousand of them with the jaw-bone of an Asse Ch. XV. 15 16. Jabin This Jabin successor to that Jabin slaine by Joshua chapter IV verse 2 and his City Hazor burnt Josh. XI 1 10 11 13. Yet this successor or sonne reinforceth himself and twenty years oppressed Israel and was destroyed at last by Deborah and Barak ver 24. Hazor A City in Naphtali and upper Galilee East from Rehob in Asher and in former times head of the neighbouring Kingdomes Iâ—sh XI 10. There was another Hazor or two in the Tribe of Judah Iosh. XV. 23 25. Haresheth of the Gentiles Ver. 16. In Naphtali about thirty miles East from Hazor near the South-bottome of the waters of Merom Here he dwels because Joshua had burnt Hazor Iosh. XI 11 13. Charets of iron Much use of these in warre verse 3 not by the Jewes but by their enemies See the Observations on Ch. XX. 2. and on 2 Sam. VIII 5. A Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 4 III. 4. and on 1 Sam. XVIII 10. at that time Even when and while Iabin oppressed them So that those twenty years v. 3. are within those fourty years of Deborah V. 31. Ramah See the Annotations on Hos. verse 5 V. 8. There were divers Cities of this name in divers Tribes See Josh. XVIII 25. and XIX 29 36. 1 Sam. I. 1. Those in Benjamin Ephraim and Judah were the chief Places famous by Deborah Samuel Saul and David as the sacred Histories do record Barak This Barak verse 6 as also Rahab Gideon Jephthah Sampson commended for their Faith Heb. XI 31 32. though weak in Faith and not without their many failings Tabor In the South-part of Zebulon not farre from the river Kishon as it runnes into the South-bottome of the Sea of Galilee Of Tabor see more in the Annotations on Hos. V. 1. Of a Woman Deborah verse 9 and Jael Zaanaim Zaanaim by Kedesh in Naphtali verse 11 where Barak dwelled Not a man left Not a man left in the field to make any resistance verse 16 Psal. XIV 3. and LIII 3. Rom. III. 12. Shamgar Of him chapter V verse 4 Ch. III. 31. And of Jael Ch. IV. 18. Was there a speare 1 Sam. XIII 19. verse 8 From the noise They could not fetch water without danger from the enemy verse 11 Out of Hence to the end of the Song verse 14 and Chapter Deborah relates how the several Tribes behaved themselves in this Expedition with their praise or dispraise And here Reuben Gilead and Dan and Asher are blamed and Meroz cursed and Jael the wife of Heber is blessed Roote Most likely understood of Deborah of Mount Ephraim the firstrise and mover of this Expedition though some extend it to Joshua and others understand it of the Tribes of Judah and Simeon Amalek Amalek joyned here with the Canaanites in this battell against the Israelites After thee Benjamin After Ephraim came Benjamin to assist in this warre Out of Machir That half Tribe of Manasseh that dwelt within Canaan For though the one half
of the children of Machir had their inheritance in Gilead Josh. XIII 31. which is here blamed ver 17. yet the other half of Machirs children had their inheritance within Canaan West of Jordan Josh. XVII 1 2. who are here commended Barak Not of Issachar verse 15 but of Naphtali dwelling in Kedesh of Naphtali Ch. IV. 6. Divisions of Reuben Divided among themselves touching this warre or divided from the other Tribes and deserting them in it Megiddo Megiddo an eminent City which Manasseh had in Issachar verse 19 Josh. XVII 11. not farre from Jezreel and the river Kishon Joshua slew the King of it Josh. XII 21. And Josiah was slaine or had his deaths wound in the valley of it 2 King XXIII 29 30. 2 Chron. XXXV 34. Taanach Taanach a royal City near Megiddo Josh. XII 21. Took no gaine Took none of Jabin nor got any gaine by this fight with Israel The Staâ—s The Stars in their stations verse 20 by extraordinary influences at Gods appointment raising stormy Meteors did help to ruine them As it was in Ioshua's time Iosh. X. and in Samuels time 1 Sam. VII Or frighting them with dreadful noises as in Iehorams time 2 King VII 6. Rest fourty years from that eightieth year mentioned verse 31 Ch. III. 30. See the Annotations on Ch. III. 11. and the Observations on the beginning of this Book Midian See the Annotations on Hab. chapter VI verse 1. 11. 14. III. 7. Angel Christ the Angel of the Covenant ver 14 15 16 22 23. Thy might Which I now give thee with my promise to assist thee as ver 16. My Present Not Sacrifice verse 18 or meat-offering but for thy food and repast As Abraham entertained the Angels Gen. XVIII and Manoab Iudg. XIII 15. Fire Here fire comes out of a rock verse 2. 25. as water did Exod. XVII 7. Of seven years old The same age that the tyranny and oppression of the Midianites had arrived to And build an Altar Gideon had Gods warrant and command for all verse 26 for his building the Altar and for his sacrificing upon it And this is that Altar mentioned ver 24. That he may die Their idolatrous zeale verse 30. 32. Ierubbaal Gideon so called by his father not in way of reproach but of honour rather In 2 Sam. XI 21. he is called Ierubbosheth And so Eshbaal and Meribbaal the sonne and grandchilde of Saul 1 Chron. VIII 33 34. are called Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth 2 Sam. II. 8. and IV. 4. Iezreel As here in Iezreel the Midianites pitched verse 33 so did both the Philistines and Israelites in Sauls time 1 Sam. XXIX 1 11. And hence came the newes of Sauls death 2 Sam. IV. 4. who was slaine in Mount Gilboa on the North-side of Iezreel This Iezreel was not that in the Tribe of Iudah Iosh. XV. 56. But in Manasseh towards Issachar about twelve miles Northward from Samaria Ahab from Carmel rode hither and Elijah did run before his Chariot 1 King XVIII 45 46. Here Ahab gets Naboths Vineyard and came from Samaria in the Tribe of Ephraim hither to take possession 1 King XXI 18. having his habitations and Palaces in both Cities And besides Gods judgement upon Ahab himself ver 19. both Ioram and Iezebel the sonne and wife of Ahab were slaine here by Iehu and also all that belonged to Ahab in Iezreel And the heads of Ahabs seventy sons were brought from Samaria to Iezreel 2 King IX and X Chapters Messengers The Tribes here named were the next to Gideon verse 35 and to Iabin Fleece of wooll Herein is Gods great condescension to Gideon verse 37 working a miracle forward and backward as it were yea many miracles for the strengthening of his faith in his vocation and in Gods promise From Mount Gilead Or towards Mount Gilead chapter VII verse 3 Haply to be there in a readinesse against the enemies flight that way The people The three hundred lappers verse 8 took the trumpets of them that were dismissed Fled The places named here were in that half Manasseh where the overthrow was given verse 22 And Abelmeholah was the habitation of the Prophet Elizaeus in after-ages 1 King XIX 19. Succoth And so of Penuel chapter VIII verse 5 ver 8. See Gen. XXXIII 17. and XXXII 30. They and Karker were in the tribe of Gad. Ishmaelites Midianites and Ishmaelites seeme confounded together verse 24 as being intermingled one with another So Gen. XXXVII 25 27 28. Golden ear-rings The weight and multitude of them verse 26 And chaines about their Camels necks Of ear-rings see Exod. XXXII 2. and XXXV 22. Ephod See the Observations on 1 Sam. verse 27 XXIII 9. and on Hos. III. 4. Ophrah In the East border of this Westerne half Manasseh near Jordan Baalim Baalim in the Plural number verse 33 signifying Lords seemes to be a very common name to their He-gods and Idols among the Moabitts Ammonites Canaanites Philistines Sidonians Phenicians and other neighbouring Nations and the idolatrous Israelites themselves as Ashtaroth of the plural number and feminine gender seemes to be so to their She-goddesses Iudg. II. 13. and X. 6. And there are sundry specifications of Baal As Berith and Baal-Berith here and Ch. IX 4 46. the God of the Shechemites Peor and Baal-Peor the idol-god of the Moabites and Midianites Num. XXV 3 17 18. Baal-Zebub called also Beelzebub or Beelzebul the god of Ekron 2 King I. 2. And from Baal were names imposed both upon persons and places as we read of Ethbaal the King of Sidon Iezebels father 1 King XVI 31. of Esh-baal 1 Chron. VIII 32. of Baal-hanan Gen. XXXVI 38. of Jerubbaal Judg. VI. 32. of Merib-baal the other name of Mephibosheth 1 Chron. VIII 34. As also of Baal-Zephon Exod. XIV 2. and Baal-Meon Josh. XVII 17. And from other particular Idols specially among the Babylonians were like denominations takeâ— Whether Bel be a contraction or in a diverse dialect the same with Baal is not so certaine God himself also was called Baal But refused after to be so stiled because the name had been so commonly given to Idols Hos. II. 16. Of Bel see the Annotations on Esay XLVI 1. Ashteroth or Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth is more specificaly the goddesse of the Sidonians 1 King XI 5 33. 2 King XXIII 13. and of the Philistines 1 Sam. XXXI 10. Take also these other names of Idol-gods in Scripture Chemosh of the Moabites and Ammonites Iudg. XI 24. 1 King XI 5 7 33. 2 King XXIII 13. Dagon of the Philistines Iudg. XVI 23. 1 Sam. V. 2 7. 1 Chron. X. 10. Moloch or Molech or Milchom of the Ammonites 1 King XI 5 7 33. 2 King XXIII 13. Bel and Nebo and Belteshazzar and Merodach and Succoth-Benoth of the Babylonians Esay XLVI 1. Dan. IV. 8. 2 King XVII 30. Ier. L. 2. Nishrosh of the Assyrians and Sennacherib 2 King XIX 37. Rimmon of the Syrians 2 King V. 18. 2 King XVII 30 31. Nergal of the men of Cuth Ashimah
the roome of Joab 1 King II. 34 35. Of him see more 2 Sam. XXIII 20 21 22. This Benajah the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel is called also a chief Priest or Principal Officer 1 Chron. XXVII 5. Another Benajah a Pirathonite was one of Davids thirty Worthies 2 Sam. XXIII 30. And other Benajahs there were besides that were Priests and Levites And divers of the Captaines for the twelve moneths were of the number of Davids Worthies And among the thirty were a son of Achitophel Uriah the Hittite and the armour-bearer of Joab likewise Although my house Rather thus interrogatively verse 5 And is not my house so with God Seven years Seven years of famine here propounded to David chapter XXIV verse 13 And three years 1 Chron. XXI 12. that is three more to the three years of famine for the Gibeonites 2 Sam. XXI 1. To which three so lately past And Davids sinne of numbering the people being in the fourth year which was a Sabbatical year A new addition of other three makes up seven years of famine Yet the LXX read three in 2 Sam. XXIV 13. Of Famine see more on Lam. I. 11. and II. 11 12 19 20. and IV. 4 5 8 9 10. and V. 10. Ezek. IV. 9 16. and V. 16. I. Kings THE Books of Kings do most pursue the History of the Kings of Israel during the continuance of that Kingdome They seeme to be written after their dayes 1 King IX 13 21 and X. 12. and XII 19. 2 King II. 22. and VIII 22. and X. 27. and XIV 7. and XVI 6. and XVII 23 34 41. 1 Chron. IV. 41 and V. 26. 2 Chron. XXXVI 22 23. The first Book of Kings or III. contains an History of one hundred and eighteen years viz. of Solomon And after him Of Rehoboam Abia Asa Jehoshaphat Kings of Judah Jeroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri and Ahab Kings of Israel Acts of Solomon Rehoboam and Abijah are written in Books of Nathan the Prophet of Shemaiah the Prophet of the Prophecie of Ahijah the Shilomite of the Visions and story of Iddo the Seer and Prophet 2 Chron. IX 29. and XII 15. and XIII 22. which are lost and never were Canonical Scripture Yet those of Solomon seeme to some to be written by Nathan Ahijah and Iddo in the beginning of the first Book of Kings 2 Chron. I. 29. Adonijah The eldest sonne then living chapter I verse 5 2 Sam. III. 3 4 Chileab or Daniel 1 Chron. III. 1. being dead as Absolon was eldest when he formerly sought the Crowne begins with a Courtly traine and Life-guard as Absolon did But gets Joab and Abiathar to joyne with him in seeking to be King And that by a fairer way then Absolon did 2 Sam. XV. 1 King I. En-Rogel Or the Well of Rogel verse 9 This was nigh Jerusalem East and by South See Josh. XV. 7. 2 Sam. XVII 17. Gihon Gihon is a Mount verse 33 and a Rivolet close on the West-side of Jerusalem See 2 Chron. XXXII 30. and XXXIII 14. Hornes of the Altar And so chap. II. 28. verse 50 The Altar whereunto Adonijah and Joab fled seemes to be not any at Jerusalem but that with the Tabernacle at Gibeon 2 Chron. I. 3 6. Fourty years And so the years of his life chapter II verse 11 seventy when he dies of age For he was thirty when he began to reigne 2 Sam. V. 4. And yet Jesse was above one hundred when he begat him See on Rahab Josh. II. And we read not of any King of Judah or Israel after David that attained to his age Onely Vzziah and Manasseh came very near it I will not say thee nay Many Promises of God and Man verse 20 have their Provisoes and are to be understood conditionally as 1 Sam. II. 30. Ezek. XXXIII 13. 1 Chron. XVII 9. and chap. XXVIII 9. 2 Chron. VI. 16. Psal. CXXXII 12. 2 Chron. VII 17 22. As Gods manifold promises of Long Life and Temporal Blessings and Deliverances And many the like And so for Threatnings and Dooms Judg. X. 13. Jonah III. 4. See my Observations on that Text of Jonah Abiathar Abiathar the fourth from Eli verse 35 of the race of Ithamar the younger brother was High Priest till Solomon put Zadok in his roome being indeed the right heir of the right line of Eleazar and Phineas 1 Chron. VI. 3 c. Num. XXV 13. High places High places called so chapter III verse 2 because mostwhat on Mountains Esay LVII 7. whence named Bamah Ezek. XX. 28 29. There they built houses of the High Places Temples Chappels Altars c. and put their Idols and Images there and decked all with Tapistry and garments of divers colours They made Priests of the High places and there they sacrificed yea sometimes their children and burnt Incense 1 King XII 31 32. 2 King XVII 29 32. Ezek. XVI 16 17 18 24 25 31. Ier. XIX 5. The High places of Heathen Idolaters were alwayes abominable These High places God commands the Israelites to destroy and quite pluck down Num. XXXIII 52. While the Ark and Tabernacle were parted one from the other and both from Shiloh and removed from place to place till the building of the Temple and there fixed and setled We read of High places lawfully resorted to and used by Samuel 1 Sam. IX 12 13 14 19 25. and by others chap. X. 5 12 13. And not much unlawfully by these here 1 King III. 2 3. And Gibeon it self when the Tabernacle and Altar were there is called the Great High place 1 King III. 4. But when the Temple was since built then all other High places for Gods solemneworship and Ceremonial Services were counted abominable And in this sin the ten Tribes after the division of the Kingdomes by Ieroboam continualy abounded They made houses and Priests of High places in Mountains and in all the Cities of Samaria and their Altars were as heaps in the furrows of the fields 1 King XIII 32. Hos. XII 11. Yea and Solomon himself afore that in his later dayes fearfully offended in this kinde 1 King XI 7. 8. And Iudah it self fell into this sin even in Rehoboams reigne 1 King XIV 23. And in after-times They built High places to Baal and to the Idols of neighbouring Nations 2 Chr. XXV 14. in Tophet in the Valley of the sonne of Hinnom on Mount Olivet in Hierusalem in all the Cities of Iudah and in every street of the Cities Micah I. 5. 1 King XIV 23. Ier. VII 31. and XIX 5. and XXXII 35. Ezek. XVI 16 31. And this specialy in the reignes of Ahaz Ioram and Manasseh And in the reignes of divers good Kings of Iudah as Ioash Amatziah Vzziah Iotham it is recorded as a blemish in them That they did not take away the High places but the people sacrificed and burnt Incense in them Of good Asa it is said that he did and he did not take them away 1 King XV. 14 2 Chron. XV. 17. And so of
those names in those times first mentioned But in after-times when the writers of those Histories lived 1 King XVI 24. It seemes of old to be called and belong to Shimron-Meron Josh. XI 1 5. and XII 20. Book of the Chronicles chapter XIV verse 19 After the division of the Kingdomes The Books of the Kings do often cite the Books of the Chron of Israel and of Judah as 1 King XIV 19 20. XV. 7. 23 31. 2 King I. 18. and VIII 23. and X. 34. Not meaning thereby our Canonical Books of Chron. for they were not then written before but after the Books of Kings and therefore they could not be cited before they had a Being But meaning thereby Civil Chronicles or Rolls now not extant Like those Ezra VI. 1 2. Esther VI. 1. Maachah Abijahs mother chapter XV verse 2 and her Father had both of them two differing and various names 1 King XV. 2 10. 2 Chron. XI 20. and XIII 2. His marriages and children 2 Chron. XIII 21. were all or almost all in his fathers reigne Save only in the matter of Vriah In this sin David did lie long without repentance verse 5 2 Sam. XII 14. And to cover this sin he made Uriah drunck and after murthered him yet afterwards upon his repentance he publisheth it and his shame and sorrow for it in the LI. Psalme and commits it to the chief Musician to be sung publickly in the Congregation But besides this there are many other sins recorded of David As his speech and lyes to Jonathan 1 Sam. XX. 6. to Ahimelech 1 Sam. XXI 2. to Achish 1 Sam. XXVII 10. the slownesse of his kindnesse to Mephibosheth compare together 2 Sam. IV. 4. and chap. IX 11 12. And after his ill-managing of it 2 Sam. XVI 4. and chap. IX 29. his many Wives and Concubines the sparing of his sons Ammon and Absolom his numbering of the people Yet by reason of the upright intention of his heart and his singular rare graces gifts and qualifications are the rest not reckoned and this Praise here given him by the indulgency of God Fourty and one years Asa reigned in Judah in the times of the reignes of eight Kings in Israel verse 10 viz. Jeroboham Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri Ahab 1 King XV. 9 and XVI 29. and XXII 41. In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into three several stocks and families Maachah Maachah was wife to Rehoboam verse 13 mother to Abijah and grandmother to Asa 1 King XV. 2. yet called the mother of Asa 1 King XV. 13. 2 Chron. XV ver 16. And as mother used for grandmother so daughter for grandchilde 2 Kings VIII 26. Brethren for Kinsmen 2 Kings X. 13. Matth. XIII 55 56. And many like phrases are frequent in Scripture See Gen. XIII 8. Exod. II. 18. 20 21. Dan. V. 10 11 13 22. these years Not this place chapter XVII verse 1 nor chap. XVIII 1. nor any place in the Old Testament do shew that the drought was brought at Elias his Prayer or continued three years and six moneths But Saint James first recordeth it Jam. I. 17. Four Barrels with water Elijah got this water in the time of that wonderful drought for three years and a half chapter XVIII verse 33 out of the sea Mount Carmel joyning to the sea Jer XLVI 18. The brook Kishon at the foot of Carmel being dryed up as well as the brook Cherith thine Altars Formerly erected to him chapter XIX verse 10 thought not so warrantably See ver 14. thy Prophets As chap. XVIII 4 13. I only am left In his own apprehension Yet was there then a flowrishing Church in Judah anoint By another verse 15 viz. Elisha 2 King VIII 7. And likewise Jehu was anointed by a young Prophet at the command of Elisha 2 King IX 1. Thirty two Kings Petty Kings chapter XX verse 1 As those Gen. XIV Josh. XII Judg. I. 7. Aphek A Citie whose Kings was slaine by Joshuah verse 26 Josh. XII 18. Fell by lot afterwards to the Tribe of Asher Josh. XIX 30 31. Where the Philistines pitching in battel against Israel got the victory and took the Ark of God 1 Sam. IV. 1. And again gathering their armies in Aphek went up to Jezreel near the Mount of Gilboa and overthrew Saul and his hoast 1 Sam. XXIX 1 11. and chap. XXX And here the Syrians under Benhadad fought against Ahab and were slaine even one hundred thousand footmen in one day And the rest fled to Aphek into the Citie and there a wall fell upon twenty seven thousand of the men that were left 1 King XX. 26 29 30. And here again the Syrians were smitten and consumed by Joash King of Israel 2 King XIII 17. Proclaime a Fast chapter XXI verse 9 It seemes on Fast-dayes they were wont to try and execute heynous offendors and stoned him The blood of his sons is mentioned verse 13 2 Kings IX 26. Which is in Samaria verse 18 behold he is in the Vineyard of Naboth Or will be in Jezreel in the Vineyard of Naboth In Samaria when the message was given in charge to Elias in the Vineyard at Jezreel when Elias met him even thine Verified for the substance in himself verse 19 in his wife Jezebel and in his son Jehoram 2 Kings IX 25 26. not bring the evil in his dayes That evil verse 29 ver 21 24. that totally in the Poole of Samaria Which might extend chapter XXII verse 38 or run into Jezreel or another poole of that name be there or the armour washed there where his chief armory was made peace Made peace with Ahab verse 44 and his two sons Ahaziah and Jehoram 2 Kings III. 6 7. 2 Chron. XIX 2. and chap. XX. 35 36. and is reprehended justly therefore would not Would not at first verse 49 but yeelded afterwards 2 Chron. XX. 35 36 37. II. Kings THE second Book of Kings or fourth rather containes the History of 321 years to the lifting up of the head of Jehoiachim In the reignes of 16 Kings of Iudah counting in Athaliah 12 King of Israel So that the number of Kings from the first division of the Kingdomes to the extirpation of them both were twenty in each Though the Kingdome of Israel did expire in Hoshea by Shalmanasar before the Kingdome of Judah did expire in Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar the space of one hundred thirty and three years not one hundred thirty and five The twenty of Judah were all of Davids line excepting Athaliah the Queen The twenty of Israel were of ten several stocks Ahaziah Joash Amatziah Kings of Judah and Athaliah the Queene all succeeding one another were all slaine Amon likewise and his son Josiah both slaine And ten Kings of Israel the half of all their number were likewise slaine For the times of the reignes of Ahab Ahaziah Jehoram Kings of Israel and of Iehoshaphat Iehoram Ahaziah Kings of Judah take this as followeth Ahab reigned twenty two years 1 King XVI
3. II. Chronicles THE II. Book of Chronicles contains the History of the Kings of Judah not of Israel but a little occasionally when the two Kingdomes had to do one with another unto the last end of that Kingdome viz. from the first of Solomon to the Babylonish captivity Mentioning also the Proclamation of Cyrus for the Returne out of the Captivity Containing in all till that Returne four hundred sixty six years or upwards some say four hundred and eighty which number of four hundred and eighty was exactly compleat from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt till the building of Solomons Temple 1 King VI. 1. horsemen Ver. chapter I verse 14 28. of Horsemen and Solomons horses see the Observations on Judg. XX. 2. How farre his multiplying of Horses 1 King IV. 26. and X. 36. And his multiplying of wives 1 King XI 3. And his multiplying of gold and silver 1 King X. 21 27. 2 Chron. I. 15. and chap. IX 27. may square with or swarve from may stand or fall by that Law for Kings Deut. XVII 16 17. is a thing to be considered and not very hard to be determined threescore and ten thousand And ver chapter II verse 2 17 18. Solomons workmen in Lebanon were 150000. viz. 70000. Bearers and 80000. Hewers All of strangers dwelling in the Land of Israel And his Overseers of them were 3600. Such strangers likewise And so each of them were over fourty two workmen or thereabout And three hundred of these Overseers which are more then those set downe 1 King V. 16. might be extraordinary in case any of the Ordinary should faile by sicknesse death or any other way And thus the Ordinarie Overseers would be one over fourty five workmen or thereabout Or rather those three thousand three hundred 1 King V. 16. were Israelites the chief of Solomons Officers added to the other three thousand sixe hundred Overseers and set partly as with them so over them and partly over the whole work And so each Overseer would be over twenty one workmen at least Those sixteen thousand a moneth by course 1 King V. 13 14. are by some added to the Overseers And so there would be one Overseer to eight workmen But they may seeme rather to be the better sort of workmen of the Israelites joyned to King Hirams workmen 1 King V. 6. Those Officers viz. five hundred and fifty 1 King 9. 23. seeme to be the chief of the Officers that were over Solomons other words when he builded his owne house and that for Pharaohs daughter and all his other Buildings besides the Temple ver 15 19. 2 Chron. VIII 1 6. These bare rule over the people that wrought in those works And the two hundred and fifty 2 Chron. VIII 10. seeme to be chief of his Officers that bare rule over the people i. e. over those Canaanites that Solomon had made Tributaries ver 7 8. to rule them And so iffering from the former five hundred and fifty of beaten wheat The difference of the Food and Measures of them verse 10 given by Solomon here over and above that in 1 King V. 11. may stand in this That the former was for King Hirams Court and houshold And this here for his workmen in Lebanon Bathes See the Observations on Gen. verse 13 XVIII 6. of Huram my father See the observations on 1 King verse 16 V. 1. to Joppa See the Observations on Jonah I. 3. Solomon Solomon had divers elder brethren living chapter III verse 1. 9. besides Adoniah when he was made King and he was the eldest sonne of the four by Bathshuah or Bathshebah though he be recorded last 2 Sam. XII 24. 1 Chron. III. 5. and XIV 4 2 Sam. V. 14. And Nathan was the second from whom Christ came Luke III. 31. After the first measure See the Annotations on Ezek. verse 3 XL. 5. Greater house This was twice as big as the Oracle verse 5 and four times as big as the Porch 1 King VI. 3. he seiled Or covered This and the next verse seemes to relate to the Floore of the Temple 1 King VI. 15. The walls are mentioned in the seventh verse following Chambers Of these see 1 King verse 9 VI. 5. 1 Chron. XXVIII 11 12. Ezek. XL. 44 45 46. and chap. XLI 5 11. and chap. XLII 1 13. an Altar of brasse That Altar in the Tabernacle was made of Shittim wood chapter IV verse 1 hallow with boords and over-laid with brasse Exod. XXVII 1 2 8. And the staves of it likewise ver 6. And so Exod. XXXVIII 1 6 7. And again it was covered with broad Plates made of the Censers of those Sinners Num. XVI 38. This Altar of burnt-Offerings in the Temple though farre greater then the other seemes to be made of the same materials Shittim wood and brasse Of the Altar in Ezekiels Visionary Temple see Ezek. XLIII 13. 17. Court Of the Courts see the Annotations on 1 King verse 9 VI. 36. right side See the Observations on 1 King verse 10 VII 39. Seventh moneth See chap. chapter V verse 3 VII 8 9 10. Levites Priests of the tribe of Levi verse 4 1 King VIII 3. Num. IV. 15. unto this day See 1 King verse 9 VIII 8. 1 Chron. IV. 41. till Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuzaradan burnt all 2 King XXV 9. If Ezra writ these Books of the Chronicles after the returne from the Babylonish Captivity then this phrase must be understood as a Proverbial speech to signifie a long time See the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Neither chose I any man As I chose David chapter VI verse 5 a special type of Christ and in whose seed a royal succession was to continue from him to Christ. thou didst well The purpose approved verse 8 though the act forbidden the fire Of this see Levit. chapter VII verse 1 IX 24. 1 King XVIII 38. 1 Chron. XXI 26. sacrifice of 22000. verse 5 Ver. 7. The greatest Offering that we do read of Those 1 Chron. XXIX 21. 2 Chron. XV. 11. and chap. XXIX 32. and XXX 24. and XXXV 7 8 9. come short of this appeared Formerly verse 12 chap. I. 7. This is the second time 1 Kings IX 2. my wife shall not dwell chapter VIII verse 11 Solomons reverend and religious respect to the Place where the Ark of God had been four hundred and fifty Talents The thirty Talents reckoned here verse 18 more then those 1 King IX 28. seeme to go for all maner of charges of the Navy and Voyage Four thousand stals See the Observations on Judg. chapter IX verse 25 XX. 2. fourty years Being born after David warre with the Ammonites at Rabbah verse 30 2 Sam. XI and XII chapters A little before the time that Ammon deflowred Tamar And so aged about eighteen years when he began to reign Shechem See the Observations on Josh. chapter X verse 1 XXIV 1. Levites left Cast out by Jeroboam chapter XI verse 14 from their Cities houses inheritances
3. and 2 Chr. VIII 14. and chap. XXIII 4 5 19 20. and chap. XXIV 8. and XXVII 3. and XXXI 14. and XXXV 5. the Horse-gate Of the gates of Ierusalem verse 15 or of the walls of the Citie see the Observations on Nehemy III. 1. gather of all Israel chapter XXIV verse 5 So much of Israel as Ioash had from year to year One year would not suffice to make up this Reparation hastened not For in the twenty third year of Ioash it was not done 2 Kings XII 6. the Collection of Moses So ver verse 6 9. such as Moses used Exod. XXX 12 16. or Exod. XXV But this differing from them both agreeing only in this As Moses then provided for the Tabernacle and the service of it by those Collections extraordinarily as need then required so were they now by somewhat a like Collection to provide for the repairing of the breaches of the Temple Yet is this because somewhat like called the Collection of Moses as like sinnes are called by the names of the sinnes of Manasseh 2 Kings XXIV 3. of the iniquity of the fathers Exod. XXXIV 7. of the errour of Balaam and gain-saying of Core Iudge 11. and the signe of Ionas Matth. XII 39. is used in a like sense Sonnes of Athaliah In their father Iehorams life-time verse 7 before they were taken and slaine by the enemy if sonnes here be taken properly High-priests Officer 2 Kings XII verse 11 10. The High-Priest himselfe did this But that Iehoiada was this High-Priest is not expressed day by day i. e. time after time so oft as the chest was full in Israel the Kingdome of Iudah verse 16 Gods people 2 Chr. XXIX 24. Princes Hypocritical flattering Princes See ver verse 17 23. Zechariah Zechariah slaine and mentioned Matth. XXIII verse 20 35. seemes not to be this Zechariah But rather the Prophet Zechariah the sonne of Barachiah Zech. I. 1. slew his sonne Cruel ingratitude verse 22 hoast of Syria This might be a seconding of that invasion verse 23 2 King XII 17 18. a small company Gods visible hand in it verse 24 for the executing of his judgement against Joash ver 25. sonnes Likely more slaine then Zechariah verse 25 or taken indefinitely for one as Gen. XLVI 7. Book of the Kings Most likely some civil Records verse 27 Amaziah Of the times of the reignes of Amaziah chapter XXV verse 1 and of Uzziah as also of Iotham and of Ahaz 2 Kings XV. 32. and XVI 1. And of their Concordance with the time of the reignes of the Kings of Isreel See my Annotations on Hosea I. 1. But he slew not their children See the Annotations on this text verse 4 do it An Ironical concession verse 8 See the Observations on Amos IV. 4 5. top of the rock Selah verse 21 or Petra signifying a rock whence the chief Citie in Arabia Petraea is called Petra 2 Kings XIV 7. gods of the children of Seir Worse then that of Ahaz chap. verse 14 XXVIII 23. Punished chap. XXV 20 27. Altar of Incense This the High-Priest might do chapter XXVI verse 16 Exod. XXX 7. and other Priests also Luke I. 9 But not the King or any else but Priests the chief Priest Not stiled the High-Priest verse 20 was a Leper Yet bare the title of King to the day of his death verse 21 Ophel Ophel in Ierusalem chapter XXVII verse 3 over-against the water-gate toward the East where the Nethinims dwelt 2 Chron. XXXIII 14. Neh. III. 26. and XI 21. his wars 2 Kings XV. verse 7 37. his God Though himself such an idolater chapter XXVIII verse 5 ver 22. So ch XXXVI 5. King of Syria Rezin 2 Kings XVI 5. slew Slew a great number verse 6 Captive A greater number verse 8 feirce wrath Pekah soone slaine verse 11 And in Hosheah's time all captivated and the Kingdome extinguished Esay VII 16. the first day ver chapter XXIX verse 17 3. Hezekiah begins Reformation on the very first day of his reign Or rather on the first day of the year which fell out towards the later end of the first year of Ezekiah's reigne sixteenth day So that Passeover was past and not kept seven Bullocks Here are seven verse 21 to represent the whole body of the Kingdome And here are used all maner of Beasts fit for sacrifice the Priests killed them And so Levit. IV. 4. and chap. IX 8 verse 24 15 18. 2 Chron. XXIX 24 34. The Levites did flea them 2 Chron. XXXV 11. And in some extraordinary cases sley them also 2 Chron. XXIX 34. and receive the blood 2 Chron. XXX 16 17. The Priests only not the Levites came to the Altar to lay the wood sprinkle the blood and burn them Levit. l. 7. c. and chap. III. 2 5. 2 Chron. XXXV 14. the Song Psal CXXXVI verse 27 See the Annotations on Ezra III. 11. to Ephraim chapter XXX verse 1 and Manasseh See ver 5 11 18. Yet this was before their finall captivity by Shalmaneser 2 Kings XVII in the second moneth ver verse 2 1 3. As in like case Num. IX 11. Kings of Assyria Pul verse 6 and Tiglath Pilneaser 2 Kings XV. 19 29. 1 Chron. V. 26. 2 Chron. XXVIII 20. mocked them But a finall judgement sonne followed verse 10 had not cleansed themselves yet And verse 18 it seemes in Josiah's time all did not eate at the very hour appointed at Even 2 Chron. XXXV 14. yet where the heart is upright God mercifully heals such offenders to keep other seven dayes The power of the Church seene herein verse 23 and by God approved Since the time of Solomon And the division of the two Kingdomes verse 26 so many out of the ten tribes came not to Jerusalem to eat celebrate the Passeover Yet see a larger commendation of Josiah's Passeover which followed after this chap. XXXV 18. 2 Kings XXIII 22 23. finished Presently after the foresaid Passeover chapter XXXI verse 1 they pull down idolatry yea in Ephraim also and Manasseh which belonged to Hoshea King of Israel third moneth Or Feast of weeks verse 7 of Pentecost which is called the feast of harvest And the seventh moneth is called the Feast of ingathering Exod. XXIII 16. hoast of the King of Assyria Though that King Sennacherib chapter XXXIII verse 11 and his hoast were so slain in the time of his father Hezekiah chap. XXXII 21. a wall Begun by his father chap. XXXII 5. yet unto the Lord Not to false gods verse 14 as was in the grosser kinde of idolatrous sacrificers verse 17 Amon Amon worse then his father Manasseh eighth year Being then sixteen years old chapter XXXIV verse 20 and before that the father of Eliakim or Iehojakim verse 3 2 Kings XXIII 36. and chap. XXII 1. compared together twelfth year Himself being then twenty cities of Manasseh Remanants then of the Israelites verse 6 for the body of the ten tribes were formerly carried away captives and the Kingdome exterminated eighteenth year
chap. V. 5 6. sixthly of another Axtaxerxes chap. VII 1. Or rather thus Of five Persian Monarchs viz 1 of Cyrus 2 of Ahasuerus 3 of Artaxerces 4 of Darius taking him mentioned chap. IV. ver 5. 24. and Chap. V. 5 6. and chap. VI. 15. to be the same man And 5 of another Artaxerxes And the Persons of these by sundry learned men are sundry wayes understood Some take the first Darius to be Darius Hystaspis Ahasuerus to be Xerxes the first Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Longimanus the second Darius to be Darius Ochus and Nothus the second Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Mnemon or Memor Others take Ahasuerus to be Cambyses Artaxerxes to be Artashasta or Smyrdis Magnus Darius not two but one to be Darius Hystaspis and the second Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Longimanus This diversity is occasioned by the silence of Scripture and uncertainties of Heathen Greek Histories yet this later opinion I the rather imbrace for that it stands best with the ages of Zeâ—ubbabel Ezra Nehemiah and Mordecai Ezra a childe when his father Serajah the High Priest chap. VII 1. was slaine at Riblah by Nebuchadnezar 2 Kings XXV 18 21. And his brother Jehozadak the succeeding High Priest was carried into Captivity 1 Chron. VI. 14 15. And his sonne Jeshua or Joshua or Jehoshua the High Priest the sonne of Jehozadak or Josedech Neh. XII 1. Ezra III. 2 8. and V. 2. Zech. VI. 11. came up with Zerubbabel And this Ezra came up from Babylon in the seventh of Artaxerxes with a gracious Commission Ezra VII VIII IX X. chapters And he was with Nehemiah after the building of the Walls of Jerusalem at that solemne Reading of the Law and Preaching and at that singular keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles Neh. VIII 1 6 9 13. c And after the Feast chap. IX and X. at the Dedication of the Walls chap. XII 26 36. So that upon the least accompt He must live upon one hundred and fifty years that is fifty three or sixty before the Returne from Babylon twenty three to the Building of the Temple sixty seven to the Dedication of the Walls of the Citie But upon the larger and more improbable accompt he must live at least two hundred and twenty years He was a ready Scribe in the Law of God chap. VII 6 11. And is generaly reputed the holy Pen-man likewise of the Books of Chronicles And as some would of the Books of Nehemiah and Malachi also And is taken by many to be the restorer and orderer after the returne from the Babylonish Captivity of all the Books of the Old Testament in that sort and posture and character also wherein now we have them Now in the first year Hebr. chapter I verse 1 And in one year Thus coupling his Book with the end of Chronicles As the like is in the beginning of Exodus Leviticus Numbers Joshua Judges and many other Books See moreover the Annotations on Ezek. I. 1. One for First is an usual Scripture phrase And First here is of his Conquest of Babylon and of his reigne there For he was King of Persia not Monarch many years before chap. V. 13. Charged me Esay XLIV verse 2 28. and XLV 1 13. This prophesie might likely be shewed to Cyrus by Daniel or some other vessels Such as were not cut in pieces verse 7 2 Kings XXIV 13. Sheshbazzar The Chaldee or Court-name of Zerubbabel Ezra I. verse 8 8. and III. 8 10. and V. 2 14. As Belteshazzar was of Daniel The same work that is ascribed to Sheshbazzar chap. V. 16. is ascribed to Zerubbabel Zech. IV. 9. were five thousand four hundred This number ariseth out of the particular numbers formerly mentioned verse 11 amounting to two thousand four hundred ninety nine and the rest that were unnumbered Moreover are vessels given chap. VII 19. and chap. VIII 25 27 See the carrying of them away by Nebuchadnezzar at four several times Dan. I. 2. 2 Chron. XXXVI 7 10 18. Province Judah no Kingdome now chapter II verse 1 but made a Province by the Conquerour See chap. V. 8. Neh. I. 3. and chap. VII 6. and XI 3. which came The manifold variations for Names verse 2 60. and Numbers in this Register and Catalogue and that Nehemie VII may arise from the diversity of names given to one man And from this That the one was taken at their setting out from Babylon viz. this Ezra II. The other upon their coming to Judea and Jerusalem Neh. VII And so some might come to Jerusalem which had not registred their names in Babylon and some might register their names in Babylon which yet came not up to Jerusalem either changing their mindes to stay in Babylon or dying by the way Or else that in Nehemie might be applied to the persons that were living and remaining in the Land of Judah in his time or else it might be taken out of some other Register besides this in Ezra The numbers of them that returned with Zerubbabel in this Catalogue Ezra II. and in that Catalogue Neh. VII 6 62. fall farre short of that total summe both in Ezra and Nehemy which is said to be fourty two thousand three hundred and sixty besides seven thousand three hundred thirty seven more of servants and Proselites Ezra II. 64 65. Neh. VII 66 67. The number wanting seems to be supplied out of those Ezra II. 62. and out of the Relicts of the ten Tribes that were both captivated and returned with them of Judah and are not numericaly set down yet after the Returne continued among them and professed their Religion even till the coming of our Saviour and the final destruction of Jerusalem See 2 Chron. XI 3 16. and XXXI 6. Ezra II. 70. and VI 16 17. Matt. IV. 14. Luke II. 36. Acts II. 5. and XXVI 7. Of those which came up with Ezra see chap. VIII 1 14. Tirshatha Tirshatha signifying Governour in their tongue seemes attributed here to Zerubbabel verse 63 And is after to Nehemiah expressely Neh. VIII ver 9. and chap. X. 1. Urim See the Observations on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. the whole Many more returned verse 64 then those upon record that were carried into captivity Singing men verse 65 and singing women Most likely such as were used not in the Temple but elsewhere for mirth as 2 Sam. XIX 35. Eccles II. 8. Esay XXIII 16. Amos VI. 5. and for mourning as 2 Chron. XXXV 25. Jer. IX 17 18. Eccles. XII 5. Amos V. 16. seventh moneth Ver. chapter III verse 1 6. In this moneth the first day they first offered sacrifice on the new built after their returne from the Babylonish captivity And in the same moneth of the year was the solemn Dedication of Solomons Temple 1 Kings VIII 2. In the second year of their coming They prepare for the building of the Temple verse 8 or rather having formerly prepared they now begin the building wept with a loud voice Many ancient men that had seene the former
him a free Collection verse 16 and what he can get and gather by it not lawfull to impose Artaxerxes gives Ezra the Priest a grant and power for an immunity of the Clergy verse 24 and for setting and appointing Civil Magistrates and Judges See the Observations on 1 Chron. XXVI 29. Males In all chapter VIII verse 14 1496. Ahava A river verse 15 ver 21 31. a few dayes journey distant from Babylon in the way to Jerusalem ver 15 17 21. 31. Levi Levites here distinguished from the Priests verse 17 chap. VII 7. Casiphia Not very farre from Ahava verse 17 but farre enough from the Caspian Sea Nethinims See the Observations on Josh. verse 20 IX 23. a Fast A good patterne here verse 21 See the Annotations on Joel I. 14. and on Jonah III. 5. Talents See the Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. verse 26 fine Copper precious as Gold Rare this verse 27 and so but two of them in the chambers Divers of the Chambers on the sides or walls of the Temple verse 29 were for Treasuries to keep the holy treasures appertaining to the Temple and service of God their daughters Of marriages with Heathens chapter IX verse 2 see the Observations on Num. XXXVI 6. yea more it may seeme they put away their own wives to take these Mal. II. 11. 13. weeping Weeping in Prayer chapter X verse 1 twise here So 2 Kings XX. 3. and XXII 19. Num. XXV 6. Judg. XX. 23 26. and XXI 2. 1 Sam. I. 10. and VII 6. 2 Kings XX. 3. Heb. V. 7. Psal. VI. 8. and XXXIX 12. a Covenant Covenants much used between God and his People verse 3 Gen. VI. 18. and XV. 18. and XVII 2. Deut. V. 2. Josh. XXIV 24. 2 Kings XI 17. and XXIII 3. 2 Chron. XV. 12. and XXIX 10. Neh. IX 38. Esay LIX 21. and such as were borne of them If the mothers continued Heathens and did not turne Proselytes their children were not to be reputed as free-borne sons in the number of Gods people yet the fathers were to have a fatherly care of them for maintenance and education forfeited According to that power given to Ezra chap. VII 26. verse 8 separated By excommunication as John IX 22 34. or by banishment chap. VII 26. ninth moneth twentieth day Therefore the Proclamation verse 9 ver 7 8 was on the ninth moneth seventeenth day about the beginning of our December of one day or two But of three moneths verse 13 ver 16 17. Our Rulers of all the Congregation Such as Deut. XVII 9. verse 14 In semblance whereof in after ages they builded their Sanedrin and great Councel examine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word beside all ordinary forme of Grammer verse 16 And the like is again Psal. X. 15. sonnes of Jeshua of the High Priests race which haply made the High Priest absent himself in this action verse 18 ver 15. All these Seventeen Priests verse 44 Of the Levites Singers and Porters ten of all other Tribes eighty six In all one hundred and thirteen as the great Annotations count them Nehemiah THE Book of Nehemiah is the last Book and History of the Old Testament mentioning matters after Malachi It containes an History of one hundred and twenty years or thereabout reckoning from the twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus when Nehemiah began chap. II. 1. to the days of Jaddua two years before the period of the Persian Empire chap. XII 11 22. Some make it about fifty five reckoning so from the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemon to the period of the Persian Empire The two maine and differing reckonings then of the years of the two Books of Ezra and Nehemie joyntly considered stand thus Reckoning as some do to Ezra one hundred fourty six and to Nehemie fifty five the summe of both comes to two hundred and one But rather reckoning to Ezra seventy two and to Nehemie one hundred and twenty the summe of both doth arise to one hundred ninety two Thus the difference between these two reckonings of both Books joyntly amounteth to nine years If this Nehemiah be the same that came up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua mentioned Ezra II. 2. Neh. VII 7. and writ this Book then Nehemiah must needs be a very old man And that passage ch XII 10 11. mentioning Jaddua the High Priest must needs be inserted by some other Prophet since his dayes And much more since the dayes of Ezra For Jaddua lived till the dayes of Alexander the Great and met him coming into Jerusalem which is the very last Historical Passage and Record of the Old Testament For Psalm XLIV And LXXIV conceived by some to be penned in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes carrie no sure ground for such an after-date And surely so many years as include the whole continuance of the Persian Empire and more do far passe the date of one mans life in that age of the world Yet that Nehemiah might well reach to the 32. year of Artaxerxes Longimanus which is the last passage of this Book setting that of Jaddua aside However many make this Nehemiah this famous Governour to be another Nehemiah of younger and later years then he Ezra II. 2. This Nehemiah came to his Government when Eliashib the Grand-childe of Jeshua or Joshua or Jehoshua was High Priest chap. III. 1. and XII 10. The whole time of his Government is set down chap. II. 1. and chap. V. 14. and chap. XIII 6. The first time was twelve years And the twelve first Chapters of his Book mention the things that were done by him in the first year only of those twelve The second time of his Government is contained in the last chapter And the beginning and durance of it is uncertaine yet long it was as may be gathered out of chap. XIII 28. See the Observations on that Text. And it was The first particle may seeme to joyne this Book to that of Ezra chapter I verse 1 And some Translatours give this Book the title of the second Book of Esdras as supposing Ezra to be the sacred Penman of both though Nehemiah be brought in usualy speaking in his own person Chisleu About our November Shushan Shushan signifying a Lillie in the Greek a Fountaine or Well in that Countrey language The chief Citie in Persia the winter Mansion of the Persian Monarchs See Ezra VI. 2. Esther I. 2. Dan. VIII 2. the wall Ever since the ruine made by Nebuchadnezzar verse 3 Nisan which is the Hebrew Abib chapter II verse 1 about our March the vernal equinoctial Artaxerxes Longimanus thirteene years after Ezra chap. VII 7. I took up His waiting-course being then come four moneths after Hanani his coming chap. I. 1 2. prayed Nehemiah his Prayer verse 4 by ejaculation like that of Moses Exod. XIV 15. And specialy his zeale in the building chap. IV. 16 17 23. and V. 11. And his speed chap. VI. 15. And his courage against all oppositions chap. IV. and chap. VI. And his care for the needy
the former Decree could not be reverst nor this new one being sealed with the Kings Seal See Ch. I. 19. third moneth Two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans Decree verse 9 chap. III. 12. The Lots were cast in the first moneth and twelfth year of Ahasuerus chap. III. 7. And the Decree issued out the thirteenth day of that moneth ver 12. And did stretch even to the Jews in Jury ver 6 8 13. And the execution of it was to be on the thirteenth day of Adar the twelfth moneth following But the Edict on their behalf issued forth on the twenty third day of the third moneth Sivan i. e. two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans bloody Edict Sivan Whereunto our May most answereth and unto the Jewes Whom it so much concerned crown of gold See chap. verse 15 VI. 8. became Jewes Proselytes verse 17 turned to their Religion as sought their hurt As assaulted them chapter IX verse 2 so as they were on the defensive part and stood for their lives chap. VIII 11. and chap. IX 16. smote all their enemies Wonder that they durst rise against the Jewes verse 5 considering the minde and power of the King and Queen and Mordecai for them see ver 3. in Shushan These likely of Hamans faction verse 6 eager set to revenge his death and downfal to do tomorrow It may be necessity to preserve the lives of the Jewes in Shushan verse 13 against such as might seek an opportunity hereafter to revenge the blood of Haman his sonnes and others that were slaine might move her to this Petition so to rid their hands of all their enemies 75000 It argues a great height of malice against the Jewes verse 16 That Hamans ten sonnes and others in Shushan even on a second day and so many in all the Kings Provinces durst so assault the Jewes that in their own defence they killed in all seventy five thousand eight hundred likely most Amalekites considering the Kings Edict for the Jewes and the power of the Queene and Mordecai with the King as hath been said yet the Jewes laid not their hands on the prey and spoile though granted to them by the King chap. VIII 11. chap. IX 10 15 16. to shew they did it not for covetousnesse but to preserve their own lives Mordecai wrote Some extend this to the whole Book verse 20 but more likely it relates to the point of Deliverance and ordaining the Feasts ver XXIII 29. And herein the power of the Church is seene in Ordaining set annual Feasts ver 27. 29 31. And so for Fasts Zech. VII Purim i. e. Lots verse 26 Of Lots see the Annotations on Jonah I. 7. the matters of the fastings verse 31 and their cry The occasions that were given of their fastings and cries by which they obtained such a blessing Some take this as a part of the Ordinance and Decree to fast on the thirteenth day And alledge for it the practise of the Jewes to this day in the Book Some publick record verse 32 a tribute We read of a release chapter X verse 1 chap. II. 18. whether the Jewes by Mordecai's means were released of this Tribute the Scripture expresseth not Job THE Book of Job is a true History accompanied fully with all the circumstances of a true History from first to last and attested Ezek. XIV 14. and Jam. V. 11. This Book is written in the judgement of some in Prose to chap. III. v. 3. In Verse thence to chap. XLII ver 6. And then again concludes in Prose thence to the end Job lived most likely when the Israelites were in Egypt His age being one hundred and fourty years after his Affliction was ended and he having seven sonnes and three daughters and being the greatest of all the men of the East before his Affliction began Job XLII 16. and I. ver 2 3. Jobs patience is wonderful and so highly commended by the holy Ghost Jam. V. 11. His Impatience too much accused as by his friends then so by some others now not weighing the burden of his Afflictions outward and inward from heaven earth and hell and withal his fair clearing of God and his justice and his full acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse though not of that Hypocrisie wherewith his friends did falsely charge him chap. VII 20 21. and IX 2 3. 14 15 20 21. and XIII 26. and XIV 17. and XXVII 5 6. and XXXI 6. 33 35 36 37. and XXIII 10. and XIII 15. and IX 12. Jobs three friends most likely were of the posterity of Abraham viz. Eliphaz and Zophar of the posterity of Esau Gen. XXXVI 11 40. Bildad of Abrahams race by Ketura Gen. XXV 2. 1 Chron. I. 32. And Elihu the fourth of the race of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. Eliphaz Bildad and Zophar speak in order one after another Eliphaz and Bildad thrice Zophar twice To every one of which Jobs Answers are annexed and interposed Elihu speaks after they ceased without any answer made by Job to him Jehovah speaks last of all And Orders all Uz Uz in Idumea chapter I verse 1 or Arabia bordering upon it So called from Uz the sonne of Dishan of the linage of Seir Gen. XXXVI 28. Of this we read Lam. IV. 21. Jer. XXV 20. Or in that part of Arabia the Desert near to Chaldea where Job had such bad neighbours the Chaldeans on the one side and the Sabeans on the other chap. I. 15. 17. We read of Kings of the Land of Uz Jer. XXV 20. And of Uz the grandchilde of Shem Gen. X. 22 23. And of Vz the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. three thousand Camels When God blessed his latter end verse 3 he had six thousand Camels chap. XLII 12. a wondrous number for one man They were numerous and of much use in the Eastern Countries Fifty thousand taken from the Hagarites 1 Chron. V. 20 21. The Midianites used very great multitudes of them in warre and put ornaments and chains of gold about their necks Judg. VII 12. and chap. VIII 21 26. Some of them were swift all for burden with bunches on their backs fit for that purpose but not fit to go through the eye of a needle David himself had a special officer only over his Camels 1 Chron. XXVII 30. East Whither Abraham sent his sonnes Gen. XXV 6. and sanctified them Sent to them verse 5 requiring them to fit and prepare themselves by all means in an holy maner to come and joyne with him in offering a sacrifice for them and their sinnes See Num. X 1. 18. Exod. XIX 10. Josh. III. 5. and chap. VII 13. 2 Chron. XXIX 5. continualy On those dayes when their feasting was gone about the sonnes of God The good Angels verse 6 Job XXXVIII 7. to present themselves See 1 Kings XXII 19. This is spoken after the maner of men as Rom. III. 5. among them Not that Satan comes into Heaven The similitude is taken from earthly Kings escaped
God The beginning of their song verse 26 or part of their praise from the fountain of Israel Ye that flow from that fountain are of that progeny Esay XLVIII 2. Deut. XXXIII 28. Deut. V. 15 18. There is Both those near verse 27 and those a farre off meet and joyne in this praising of God See Psal. LX. 9. little Benjamin The youngest sonne of Iacob and least Tribe since their fatal blow Iudg. XX. and contesting most for Sauls house against David Yet he here one if not first among them And all the rest likewiseâ—joyne ruler Of the enemies or rather of the Benjamites but no way of the other Tribes Thy God He petitions for strength and growth of blessings verse 28 as God had formerly begun to work for them hath commanded So Deut. XXVIII 8. Psal. CXXXIII 2. XLII 8. and XLIV 4. and LXXI 3. See Psal. XXXIII 9. Matth. VIII 8 9. thy strength The strength of the King and of the people Because of thy Temple Because of thy Promises made to thy Church verse 29 and thy presence at thy Temple Ark and Tabernacle therefore thou wilt grant and do according to the foresaid Petition Shall Kings David and his successors shall therefore with all grateful and thankful acknowledgement worship thee Rebuke He petitions against the adversaries of the Church verse 30 proud cruel and malitious Rebuke them in word and deed The meaning is contained in the last words of the verse the company of spear-men Of enemies armed with Lances and Spears or Reeds fitted and used for Spears or arrowes as the maner of those times was buls with the calves The robustick and strong enemies with the rest of the rude and Epicurish multitude Psal. XXII 12. Amos. IV. 1. submit himself with pieces of silver Though hypocriticaly Or rather that glories and vaunts himself in his brave attire embroydered with pieces of silver and out-braves and tramples upon others or is so rich as he seemes to tread silver under foot yet indeed trusts in it and boast himself of it And such usually though unprovoked delight to break forth into warre and wrong-doing such enemies of thy people rebuke and break Princes Prophesying of the calling of the Gentiles to Christ verse 31 he exhorteth them to praise God Ephes. III. 5 6. Esay XLIX 6. and LXVI 19. stretch out her hands In prayer in offerings in way of subjection a mighty voice Psal. XXIX His thunder verse 33 Heb. IV. 11. Ascribe Adds arguments for Gods praise verse 34 terrible To be had in reverence in the assembly of his Saints verse 35 and dreadful to his enemies faile while I waite The constancie and earnestnesse of Davids hope and expectation chapter LXIX verse 3 For the zeale of thine house Literaly true in David verse 9 Psal. XXVII 8. Principaly true in Christ the Sonne of David and to him applied by his disciples John II. 15 16 17. And so are the later words of this verse by the Apostle Rom. XV. 3. They gave me also gall Verified in our Saviour verse 21 and in relation had to this text John XIX 28 29. Let their table This used by David against his enemies verse 22 applyed by the Apostle against the Jewes in his time Rom. XI 9. Let their habitation That which David speaketh here of his enemies verse 25 and as Type of Christ of Christs enemies Saint Peter applieth to Judas the traitor Acts I. 20. blotted out Phil. IV. 3. Apoc. III. 5. Luke X. 20. Heb. XII 23. verse 28 Of Imprecations see the Observations on Psal. CIX 14 15. Sion The Type of the Church verse 36 inherit it Under the temporal promises of the Land of Canaan verse 35 are comprehended the promises of life everlasting to the faithful and their posterity Psal. CII 28. to the true Israel of God the true members of the Church Esay XLIV 26. for to bring to remembrance For to record chapter LXX See the Title of Psal. XXXVIII Both Psalmes are not to remember any notable deliverance or benefit already received But rather a time and case of affliction and distresse For the matter of both shew that they were inspired in such a time and do make earnest petition for deliverance to deliver me This Psalme is in a maner the same with Psal. XL. 13 17. verse 1 Cause me to escape Likely from Absalom chapter LXXI verse 2 For this Psalme may seem to be penned by David though his name be not in the Title and in his old age God This word is Jehovih verse 5 that is with the vowels of Elohim So again verse 16. and Psal. LXVIII 20. And so it is usually written when as I have said Adonai goeth before it or next followeth it At other times having the vowels of Adonai it is pronounced Lord. See 2 Sam. VII 18 19 20. a wonder Esay VIII 18. verse 7 Heb. II. 13. Zech. III. 8. and 1 Corinth IV. 9. even of thine only not mine owne verse 16 which is none to thine quicken me again verse 20 and shalt bring me up Me me in the Hebrew margin but us us in the text For Solomon Made by David for him chapter LXXII verse ult by David in his old age The like inscription is Psal. CXXVII This Psalme is composed as in the name of the Church And contains a Prayer a Praise and a Prophesie of the just peaceable righteous merciful plentiful flourishing estate and large extent and bounds of the Kingdome of Solomon set out indeed with some hyperbolical expressions scarcely appliable to him or to any mortal man So as Solomon may be the immediate object of the words he literaly intended in them But yet he so as a Type of Christ and of his Kingdome who is in truth the maine subject of this Psalme For all in a mystical sense is appliable to Christ more truly then to Solomon appliable to him in a spiritual sense exactly without any hyperbole For Solomon see that 2 Sam. VII 14. c. For Christ see that Heb. I. 5. And that passadge Psal. LXXXIX 19 37. is not unlike the subject matter of this Psalme This premised may serve to clear the hardest places of this Psalme The prayers Psalmes verse 20 Hymnes Songs are ended As the like is said of Davids words 2 Sam. XXIII 1. The one may be as an Appendix of the other This his last Prayer though not placed in the last place Or the last of those that David set in order before his death or the last in this second part or book of the Psalmes as they are all divided into five parts Or his last touching Solomon and his prophesying of Christ and his Kingdome So various may our thoughts and interpretations be and so uncertaine and unsafe to pitch and fixe upon any single one Truly The Psalmist premiseth this chapter LXXIII verse 1 as his undoubted ground against all conflicting doubts as a pacificatory protestation before this his contesting plea Touching the prosperity of the wicked and his
He at thy right hand ready to assist thee O Christ as Psal. XVI 8. and CIX 31. Shall strike through Kings Psal. II. 2 4 5. even the highest Powers and Potentates that oppose Christ and his Kingdome 2 Cor. X. 5. In the day of his wrath the time appointed in Gods wisdome the time of his just will so to punish them with plagues temporal eternal in this life in that to come 1 Thes. I. 9 10. Not that Christ the Lord shall be exempted from this powerful conquest and overthrow of his enemies the Sonne being in all things coequal consubstantial with the Father And so the Act coming from the Father by the Sonne But in this speech relation is had to Christ as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and Man as the King Mediatour and receiving his Office from the Father He shall judge The Lord at thy right hand shall execute judgements and punishments verse 6 among the heathen Psal. II. 1. Acts IV. 27. all his enemies whatsoever he shall fill the places with the dead bodies All places with the carkases of the slaine See Jer. XVI 4. A figurative and poetical expression of an huge slaughter such as was that of the Jewes at the final destruction of Jerusalem after the death of our Saviour he shall wound the head in many countries Wound or strike through Head for heads collectively Psal. LXVIII 21. in many or great countries See that Apoc. XX. 9 10. He Christ the Lord. verse 7 Thus the Prophet passeth from the Father to the Sonne The Father acteth by the Sonne the Sonne from the Father shall drink of the brook in the way In pursuing the victory over his enemies he shall do as Gideons souldiers did Judg. VII 7. admit of no delaies which occasioned that interdict adjuration and curse of Saul 1 Sam. XIV 24. Or rather these words seeme to have relation to Christs state of Humiliation and the rather because of that opposition thereunto in the words following And so here we have Christs exinanition and exaltation his passion and resurrection whereby he was brought to sit at the right hand of the Father verse 1. drink In passing through this valley of tears in this world he shall drink deeply of the cup of sorrowes the waters floods and torrents of afflictions and miseries should overtake and encompasse him if not overwhelme and drowne him Psal. LXXXVIII 7. 17. See Jer. XXV 15 16. and chap. XLIX 12. Matth. XX. 22. John XVIII 11. Matth. XXVI 39. in the way Of this life the way of doing his fathers will for the work of mans redemption Phil. II. 7 8. He hid for the time the luster and beams of his Divine Majesty that it might not hinder the sufferings and death of his Humanity 1 Cor. II. 8. Matth. XVII 9. therefore Thus Christ came from his humiliation to his exaltation from his Priesthood to his Kingdome Therefore here notes not a Merit preceding in Christ meriting for himself this exaltation or his glorie either in body or soul his life eternal All necessarily followed upon that hypostatical Union which he could not merit to himself All Christ did was to merit for us The particle here notes the consequence or sequel and order the means and manner how he came to this exaltation shal he lift up the head Be exalted sit at Gods right hand See for the phrase Psal. III. 3. and XXVII 6. Jer. LII 31. Lam. II. 10. sublimi feriet sydera vertice Praise This is one of the Alphabetical Psalmes chapter CXI verse 1 And so is the next Psalme Thereby to help memory and to mark out the excellency of these Psalmes See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes wonderful works In Egypt verse 4. 5. meat Manna and Quails Covenant Though they by their sinnes often and grievously provoked him heathen Canaanites verse 6 Praise chapter CXII verse 1 See the former Psalme wealth See the Observations on Psal. XXXVII 1. verse 3 light in darknesse Esay LVIII 10. Job XI 17. Psal. XXXVII 6. verse 4 of evil tydings Prov. I. 33. Otherwise is it with the wicked verse 7 Jer. XLIX 23. gnash with his teeth See that Luke XIII verse 10 28. who humbleth himself to behold Psal. chapter CXIII verse 6 CXXXVIII 6. and CXXXIX 1 c. Job XXXIV 21 22. Prov. V. 21. Jer. XVI 17. contrary to that Psal. LXXIII 11. and LXIV 6. and XCIV 7 10. Job XXII 12 13. He raiseth 1 Sam. II. 8. verse 7 mountains skipped Sinai chapter CXIV verse 4 Horeb quaked and shaked Exod. XIX 18. Hab. III. 6 10. Psal LXVIII 8. Their idols are Not like unto our God chapter CXV verse 4 verse 3. are like unto them As much without sense and reason verse 8 as blocks and stones their help Theirs that trust in him or one person verse 9 put for another which is not unusual hath he given To their use verse 16 in this world Or the earth also is the Lords which he hath given to the children of men The dead praise not Psal. verse 17 VI. 5. and XXX 9. and LXXXVIII 10 11 12. Esay XXXVIII 18. I love This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVI verse 1 upon his new coming to the Kingdome Therefore The experience of Gods hearing our prayers verse 2 doth hearten us to pray the more Pains of hell The sorrowes and straits of death verse 3 and the grave Psal. XVIII 5 6. Gratious The issue and effect of Prayer verse 5 thy rest Thy quiet comfortable estate in God without trouble of conscience verse 7 and that because of Gods goodnesse and good dealing towards thee I beleeved 2 Cor. verse 10 IV. 13. upon consideration of the Premises his Faith thus triumphed notwithstanding his afflictions I was greatly afflicted The Hebrew word here hath an Active forme but in a Passive signification As sometimes an Hebrew word in a Passive forme is of an Active signification See Esay XXI 10. and chap. XXV 9. and LIII 7. and Ezek XIV 4 7. haste verse 11 All men are liers Even the Prophets as Samuel that promised to me the Kingdome Yea all men in comparison of God unable to help in time of need Rom. III. 4. cup of salvations Used in the Israelites Peace-offerings of Thanksgivings verse 13 and in the Meat-offerings joyned to them and to their whole-burnt offerings and used in their holy Feasts 1 Chron. XVI 1 2 3 whence that seemes to be Luke XXII 17. vowes Made in mine adversity verse 14 Of vowes see the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. Pretious Psal. LXXII verse 15 14. which God shewes in preserving my life from death in the midst of all mine enemies Praise The Apostle alledgeth this to prove Gods mercy to the Gentiles chapter CXVII verse 1 that they should therefore glorifie him O give thanks This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVIII verse 1 and likely inspired and composed upon his returne from his last victory over the Ammonites 2 Sam.
XII 29. on my side Heb. verse 6 XIII 6. Psal. LVI 4. 11. All nations David had to deale with all the neighbouring nations round about him verse 10 Thou Speaking to the enemie verse 13 Open to me The gates of the Sanctuarie verse 19 or house of God the gates of the Court thereof which the Levitical Porters were to do for men to come and serve the Lord. of righteousnesse For the righteous and cleane only were to enter in thereat 2 Chron. XXIII 19. See Esay XXVI 2. Apoc. XXI 27. The stone David Typicaly verse 22 His Sonne the Messias Realy Mat. XXI 42. Ephes. II. 20. builders refused The Rulers refused David in the reignes of Saul and Ishbosheth The Priests and Elders refused Christ Mark XII 2 10. Luke XIX 14. 1 Pet. II. 7. the head stone Acts IV. 11. Luke XX. 17. Of this stone see more Esay XXVIII 16. Dan. II. 34 35 45. Zech. III. 9. Rom. IX 33. the day A chief and choise day of God shewing his mercie verse 24 Save nowâ—beseech thee Heb. Hoshiahâ— na verse 25 in Greek sounded Hosanna wherewith Christ is welcomed to Jerusalem and the Temple Mat. XXI 9 15. Luke XIX 37 38. we have blessed you These seeme to be the Priests words verse 26 relating to Num. VI. 23. light Prosperity verse 27 under the Kingdome of David and Christ. even unto the hornes of the Altar Likely the hornes of the Altar Exod. XXVII 2. intended for that use Or sacrifices abundantly all the Court over till you come to the hornes of the Altar Levit. IV. 7. Blessed Of this Psalme see the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes chapter CXIX verse 1 David probably is the penman of it The stile is plaine fitted for all capacities And the Alphabetical order was used for help of memory It is full of the ardent pious affections of a religious soul. Petitions for saving knowledge and gracious assistance from God and Promises of all holy sincere obedience thereupon are in every Octonarie with wondrous art and variety of sense yet running much upon the same words without any tautologie Before I was afflicted So verse 71. verse 67 Before I spake or answered is not so proper an interpretation of this place though it pleased Junius unlesse we understand it thus Before I cried out by reason of affliction my soul is continualy in my hand i. e. verse 109 my life is dayly in danger As Iudg. XII 3. 1 Sam. XIX 5. and chap. XXVIII 21. Many read this text in thy hand or hands understanding Gods hand which imports not danger but safety and security as Psal. XXXI 5. Luke XXIII 46. 1 Pet. IV. 19. And is indeed a wrong reading and breeds sundry senses not consonant or consisting with the tenour of this verse any iniquity either in me verse 133 subjective or of others against me objective And so the later way may be understood that Gal. II. 7 90 Ephes. VI. 12. Heb. XII 4. Psal. XLIX 5. and XL. 12. and LXV 3. and XXXIX 8. A song of degrees or ascensions chapter CXX heights or excellencies This and the fourteene Psalmes following have this Title prefixed The meaning whereof is variously conjectured As thus That they were to be sung with a loud voice as 1 Chron. XV. 16. Or upon the steps and degrees of the staires ascending to the Court of the people or to that of the Priests which they say were fifteene in number according to these number of these Psalms Or in the coming of the Ark into the Temple Or in their returne out of Babylon Or to be sung in their returne into their own land in the time of the Messias Others have other conjectures yet without any certaine determination neither is it much material Of these four bear Davids title and some of the rest not unlikely were penned by him I David likely verse 1 from lying lips Of such as falsely accused him to Saul verse 2 1 Sam. XXIV 9. and chap. XXVI 19. what shall be given What good or profit shalt thou get or gaine by it verse 3 sharp arrowes Such is a false tongue verse 4 or such are the plagues God will render as a reward unto it Woe is me Laments verse 5 that in his exile he was forced to dwell so long with the cruel and barbarous posterity of Mesech the sonne of Japhet Gen. X. 2. and of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. XXV 13. or rather with men of like evil cruel conditions to them hills Moriah chapter CXXI verse 1 and Zion where God dwelleth But most to God himself verse 2. The Sunne By its parching heat verse 6 as Ionah IV. 8. Nor the Moon by its cold vapors Gen. XXXI 40. nor any discommodity shall be able to annoy thee Psal. XCI 5. I David having brought the Ark of the testimony to Ierusalem chapter CXXII verse 1 and setled the Thrones of judgement there pens this Psalme of joy and gladnesse therefore Praising the Citie and praying for the prosperity of it testimonie The Ark. verse 4 See the Observations on Ex. 25. 16. thrones of judgement Both Ecclesiastical verse 5 and Civil as God had commanded Deut. XVII 8 c. the captivity of Zion Out of Babylon chapter CXXVI verse 1 which returne figured our Redemption by Christ. that dreame So incredible it was and the joy of it that we half doubted whether it were true or but a dreame As Peter did Acts XII 9 11. See Esay XXIX 7 8. And the like speech we read of in Abdolominus when he was taken from manuring the earth to possesse a Kingdome and in Isaacus Angelus when he was suddenly lifted up to the Empire and in that famous Iohn Chrysostome when he was first chosen into the Presbyterie Turn again Prayes that the deliverance begun verse 4 may be carried on and brought to perfection For it had many stops and hinderances as appears in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah They that sow in tears That went mournfuly into captivity verse 5 shall return joyfuly for Solomon Seemes to be inspired and penned for Solomon chapter CXXVII by David a litle before his death Psal. LXXII title Except the Lord This is true generaly verse 1 yet may relate to the future building of the Temple by Solomon and the safe keeping of the Citie Ierusalem or rather to the building of Solomons house and posterity so By building verse 2 keeping blessing their labours without sorrow he giveth Or surely will give or rightly doth give his beloved Whom he loves and who in assurance of his love commits himself to him and his care The Hebrew word Iedid seemes to allude to Solomons name Iedidiah 2 Sam. XII 25. his darling sleep Or quiet rest without carking care and sorrow The Hebrew word is written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet dumb letter otherwise then usual to denote the more quietnesse And this rest not your care and toil but Gods blessing will bring unto you Prov. X. 22.
VII 8. 2 Sam. XV. 30. Job IX 24. Ezek. XII 6 12. Eliakim Invested verse 20 after the devesting of Shebna they shall hang upon him As things are wont to be hanged on a pin verse 24 his fathers house the off-spring and the issue All his kindred and allies as well small as great shall partake of his honour one way or other Or there should be nothing in the Kings house but should be under his power and have dependance on him fastened in a sure place As Shebna accounted himself to be verse 25 â—e cut downe Meaning Shebna Tyre Of Tyre See the Observations on Josh. XIX 29. And the Annotations on Amos I. 9. See the like Prophecies against this Towne and State Ier. XXV 22. and XLVII 4. Ezek. XXVI XXVII XXVIII chapters Amos II. 9. Zech. IX 2 4. Tarshish Of this see the Observations on 1 Kings X. chapter XXIII verse 1 22. from the Land of Chittim it is revealed to them It is revealed and the report is come unto them that formerly traded with Tyre how it fared with her that she is sacked so that now all harbour in Tyre or entrance into it is denied unto them Who these of the land of Chittim should be there are variable conjectures but little certainty inhabitants of the Isle Ye verse 2 Tyrians the seed of Sihor Tyre described here verse 3 by her traffick with Egypt as formerly with Sidon See Ezek. XXVII 7. By the great waters of the midland Sea the graine of Egypt and all the trade and commodities of it of Sihor that is Nilus were brought to Tyre Of this Sihor or Shichor and that it is Nilus see the large Annotations upon this Text. the Sea hath spoken Tyre verse 4 The Lord of Hoasts hath purposed it By his Agents to do it verse 9 By Nebuchadnezzar who spent thirteen years in the siege of it as Josephus against Appion lib. 1. doth testifie And by Alexander the Great long after in his rage as Curtius in his fourth Book IV. Chapter doth witnesse He The Lord. verse 11 Behold the Land of the Chaldeans This is verse 13 or shall be brought to ruine And therefore it is not impossible but Tyre may be so in that day Wherein Tyres calamities here foretold shall be accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. verse 15 XXVI 7. seventy years During the same time of the Jewes captivity in Babylon dayes of one King One Kingdome as Dan. VII 17. and VIII 21. to wit in the dayes and reignes of Nebuchadnezzar and his sonne and his sonnes sonne Jer. XVII 7. sing as an harlot To renew her lovers her traders and traffickers turne to her hire Of trading and traffick with all the Kingdomes The amplitude of her commerce and trade ver 8. Holinesse to the Lord The conversion of the Tyrians to God verse 18 in the Kingdome of the Messias it shall not be treasured nor laid up Not reserved for any common or prophane use publike or private for themselves or their posterity that dwell before the Lord The Lords Ministers for their plentiful maintenance in food and clothing the earth empty Another Sermon or Prophecie chapter XXIV verse 1 continuing to the end of Chapter XXVII This is more General then those going before And comprehends Judea and the neighbouring Nations on every side And the judgements herein denounced to be executed partly by the Assyrians and partly by the Chaldeans and afterwards also by others upon them See the like Jer. XXV 15 38. and XXVII 2 8. as with the people c. All estates verse 2 and conditions should fare alike is defiled The reason of the former denunciations verse 5 The new wine He proceedeth in particular verse 7 to instance in some specialties of judgements The Citie Taken collectively as verse 10 chap. XXV 2. and XXVII 10. every house is shut up So as there is no going out or in as the shaking of an Olive-tree Few shall be left verse 13 yet this remnant shall be to praise the Lord ver 14. from the Sea The transmarine lands verse 14 and Sea-coasts in general God in the fires In the fires of tribulations verse 15 glorifie God by patient sufferings and depending upon him for deliverances uttermost The generality of the joy of this Remnant left verse 16 my leannesse my leannesse The Prophet breaks off here his relation of the gladsome joy and praises of the foresaid Remnant And falls into a passionate bemoaning of himself and regret for the miseries that were the mean while for their sins to befal the others the windows from on high are opened Gods vengeance surprizing them verse 18 both from above and from beneath as well over their heads as under their feet and as no shelter for them against the one so no steady standing for them against the other To amplifie which hyperbolies are here used the hoast of the high ones Such as the Assyrian verse 21 and Chaldean Monarchs were and after many dayes shall they be visited In favour and mercy verse 22 Verified of sundry States and Nations in the Gospel-times under the Messias Then the Moone c. Esay closeth this first part verse 23 after his wonted manner with a passage concerning the spiritual yet illustrious glory and majesty of Gods reigning in his Church in the times of the Gospel the brightnesse and splendor whereof should be such as no light of Sunne or Moone no glory or magnificence of any worldly estate should be comparable thereunto O Lord chapter XXV verse 1 c. Esay falleth into a solemne celebration and praising of God for his foresaid wonderful works as well of judgement as of mercy the Citie Collectively verse 3 of the terrible Nations That were a terrour to others shall then stand in awe of thee when the blast Even in times of most need verse 4 and greatest dangers And in this mountain Mount Zion verse 6 a Type of the Church unto all people As well Gentiles as Jewes wines on the lees Pure and strong wines The face of the covering That ignorance and obstinacy verse 7 wherewith the minds and hearts of the Gentiles were formerly possessed veil 2 Cor. III. 14 16. death The second benefit accrewing to the convert Nations verse 8 a freeing them from the power of death of death spiritual in victorie Or unto victory i. e. until an utter conquest be made of him So the LXX which the Apostle retaineth 1 Cor. XV. 54 because the sense is good and sound though it do not exactly render the letter for the Hebrew is for ever wipe away A third benefit accrewing to the godly converted ones fulfilled partly in this life and perfectly in the next Shall be said Their thankful and joyful acknowledgement for those his mercies and favours verse 9 For A reason of their rejoycing and triumphing verse 10 in this mountain Verse 6 7. Moab Put for the enemies of Gods people in general And he The Lord. verse 11 Swimmeth Stretcheth out his armes with
subject matter of it agreeth much with ch XXIV This being a Prophecie of the destruction of the enemies of Gods people And more particularly of the Edomites in Idumea set forth in many hyperbolical expressions And all the hoast of heaven So strange and dreadful shall Gods judgements be verse 4 that the whole frame of the world shall seeme to be dissolved It is the maner of Gods Prophets in their descriptions of some extraordinary judgements to set them forth in such colours as if they were deciphering the face of that last universal judgement whereof such are in some sort resemblances and forerunners And again to set forth the restitution and restauration of Gods people out of greatest calamities in such termes as have occasioned many to be mistaken in them conceiving no other then the general and joyful resurrection at the last day to be described in them Unicorns Or Rhinocerots See the Observations on Num. XXIII 22. verse 7 for ever and ever Heb. verse 10 ever of evers The Cormorant See the like verse 11 Chap. XIII 18 22. and XIV 23. Zeph. II. 13 14. Apoc. XVIII 2. Seek ye out The certainty of this Prophecie verse 16 As if each thing here were entred into a roll of Record In the day of the execution of this judgement take this Book read this passage and see if any of these be found wanting then and there they shall These wilde creatures shall verse 17 This Chapter agreeth much with chap. chapter XXXV XXV And containes the joyful and glorious restitution exaltation and exultation of Gods people Sharon A fertil region verse 2 and pleasant lying beneath mount Lebanon in the Tribe of God and adjoyning unto Bashan 1 Chron. V. 16. There were the Roses mentioned Cant. II. 1. There had David his herds feeding 1 Chron. XXVII 29. Likely it is the same with Lassharon Josh. XII 18. Strengthen ye He incites them to hearten and encourge one another verse 3 with faith and patience to expect the accomplishment of those glorious promises Then the eyes of the blind Fulfilled in Christs time verse 5 both corporaly and spiritualy For in the wildernesse Literaly true in the Jewish Kingdome verse 6 being there â—n a Type of Christs And an high way They shall be blessed with peace verse 8 and safety the way of holinesse A Type of the way to heaven but it shall be for those Holy ones verse 5 6. No Lion shall be there As the way so plaine verse 9 so as free from danger This History is brought in to confirme and seale up the truth of some of the Prophecies and Predictions aforegoing This is recorded 2 Kings XVIII and XIX 2 Chron. XXXII came up Upon pretence likely of the Contribution with-held by Hezekiah chapter XXXVI verse 1 which his father Ahaz had paid to Tiglath-Pilezer 2 Kings XVI 7 9. and XVIII 7. without the Lord Heb. Jehovah verse 10 that sonne of four letters as the Hebrews call it used here by Rabshakeh six times in his Speech Syrian language See the Observations on Ezra IV. 7. verse 11 dung and pisse See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. verse 12 and take you away The maner of Conquerours to transplant the Natives verse 17 Sepharvaim Subdued before his time verse 19 2 Kings XVII 24. Eliakim Now in Shebna's office and place verse 22 And Shebna now the Scribe and so here is the beginning of his fall chap. XXII 20 21. chap. XXXVII 2. This Chapter the same in substance with 2 Kings XIX chapter XXXVII a rumor Verse 9. and 36. verse 7 So Rabshakeh returned Most likely leaving the armie still before Jerusalem verse 8 Libnah See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 22. Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. 13. Ethiopia See the Observations on Gen. II. 13. warre with thee Either to assist the Jewes verse 9 or in Assyria in the absence of Sennacherib and his forces Thus shall ye speak Instructions to his messengers verse 10 delivered to them in writing and so by them in writing to Hezekiah Likely as if he scorned to write himself to Hezekiah but sent him only a Copie of the Instructions Eden See the Observations on Gen. II. 8. verse 12 Cherubims See the Observations on Gen. III. 24. verse 16 And the Annotations on Ezek. IX 3. and on this text a Signe See the Observations on chap. VII 14. verse 30 and on Exod. III. 12. ye shall eate this yeare A confirmation of Sennacheribs sudden departure and returne home And also including in it an assurance of a comfortable provision of necessary food for them out of the Land notwithstanding all the havock that Sennacheribs armies had made in it and the coincident Sabbatical year for intermission of culture See the Observations on Lev. XXV 21. Then In that night verse 36 2 Kings XIX 35. the very next night after the message sent from God by Esay and smote The maner how is not expressed in the camp Likely both before Jerusalem and Libnah See Ch. XXXVI 2. and verse 8 9 14 33. of this Chapter all dead corpses All in a maner Yet some escaped and sled with Sennacherib himself See chap. XVII 14. Nineveh See the Annotations on Jonah I. 2. verse 37 and on this text his sonnes These words here written verse 38 are read in the margin but not written in the text 2 Kings XIX 37. Armenia Heb. Ararat on the mountains whereof the Arke rested Esarhaddon See the Observations on Ezra IV. 2. In those dayes chapter XXXVIII verse 1 Shortly after Sennacheribs defeat and departure shalt die Yet a secret reservation there was See Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. See the Observations on Jonah III. 4. to the wall Which haply might be towards the Temple verse 2 or by that withdrawing that he might with the more privacie and intention make his addresse to God remember now Humbly appealing to God verse 3 touching the integrity and sincerity of his heart and endeavours wept sâ—re One cause might be the want of a son Manasseh was not yet born And the State of Church and Common-wealth much unsetled Then Afore Esay was gone out into the middle Court verse 4 2 Kings XX. 4. where the text is Citie but the margin Court And the first Court of the Kings house that neerest the Palace and farthest from the street or Citie seemes here to be meant to thy dayes That he had lived already verse 5 fifteene years About the one half of his reigne verse 6 will deliver thee and this Citie The promise before made is again here renewed assuring him as of his life so of peace and tranquility to be continued to him with it that Sennacherib should not return or any Assyrian to molest him or this Citie 2 Chron. XXXII 22. which yet afterwards was done in the dayes of his son Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. a Signe Asked by Hezekiah ver 22. verse 7 and put to his choise 2 Kings XX. 8 10. So the Sunne returned ten
women Exod. I. 19. But principaly this relates to the times of the Gospel and the Christian Church under Christ to which the other is subordinate a man-child Collectively multitudes are meant verse 8. Ezra II. 64 65. Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. shall I Set upon a work verse 9 and not go through with it suck Chap. verse 11 LX. 16. and your bowes Shall get vigor verse 14 and verdure againe as those bones Ezek. XXXVII 1 10. come with fine Towards and against his enemies verse 15 Fully to be accomplished at the last day of judgement They that sanctifie themselves Using superstitious rites of expiation verse 17 in the gardens Set apart for idolatrous services behinde one in the midst Or one person or company after another possibly purifying themselves in the fountaine in the midst of the garden It shall come Since this people do take such courses verse 18 ver 3 4. I will execute judgement upon them and casting them off take in the Gentiles Rom. XI 11 12 15 17. Set a signe A Signe or Ensigne to gather them verse 19 Or a saving signe and mark upon them as Ezek. IX 4 6. Apoc. VII 3. and IX 4. those that escape of them The reserves and holy remnant of the Jewish Nation the Apostles and other faithful to all Nations to call them in by the preaching of the Gospel your brethren In Christ verse 20 the Converts of the Gentiles chap. LX. 4 9. for Priests verse 21 and for Levites Make of them Ministers of the Gospel For as the new heaven Chap. verse 22 LXV 17. Heb. XII 28. remaine Stand continue for ever Matth. XVI 18. to worship before me By allusion in termes to the old Jewish maner of worship verse 23 Zech XIV 16. and look upon the carcases Be spectators and witnesses of the execution of Gods vengeance upon those wicked ones verse 24 verse 15 16. Psal. LVIII 10. for their worme Hell here is principaly intended See chap. XXX 33. Matth. III. 12. and X. 28. and XVIII 8 9. and XXV 41. James V. 3. Apoc. XIV 10 11. and XIX 20. and XX. 14 15. Jeremiah JEREMIE a Priest of Anathoth in Benjamin prophesied fourty one years and upwards thus From the thirteenth of King Josiah's reigne to the end of it being nineteene years eleven in the reigne of Jehojakim and eleven in the reigne of Zedekiah chap. I. 1 2. and chap. XXV 3. and XXXIX 11. And he prophesied some years after that in Judea first and Egypt last ch XLII 2. and XLIII 10. and XLIV 8 24. But how long is uncertaine He was much opposed by false Prophets and sustained much hard measure from the Priests Princes and People And after the taking and destruction of Jerusalem Citie and Temple we read of his usage chap. XXXIX 11 14. and chap. XL. 1 6. and XLII 2. and XLIII 2 6. Jeremiah in this Book mainly preacheth against the sinnes of the Jewes And for them foretelleth the ruine of their State by the Babylonians which he lived to see and to lament in his Book of Lamentations He foretels the LXX years captivity there Their returne thence and happy enlargement under that blessed Branch the Messias And he propesieth also in the latter part of his Book against other Nations the Enemies and Oppressors of Gods people against Egypt the Philistines Moab the Ammonities Edom Damascus Kedar Hazor Elam And foretels chiefly the utter ruine of Babylon and the Empire by Cyrus the Medes and Persians His Chapters as they now stand numbered and placed in the Hebrew text and in our English Translations if they were rancked according to the course and Histories of the times and the things done in them after the first twenty Chapters would follow in this ensuing Order keeping the numbers of the Chapters that we now have 20. 22. 23. 47. 26. 25. 36. 1 8. 45. 46. 36. 9 32. 35. 27. 24. 49. v. 34 39. 29. 30. 31. 28. 51. v. 59 64. 21. 32. 33. 34. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 48. 49. 50. 51. v. 1 59. 52. Thus much varying from the Order wherein we have them The LXX also marshal them in another ranck and order much differing from the Hebrew Text. And as Chapters here are thus displaced so also in Daniel partly And the Hebrew Text seemes sometimes not so rightly to divide the Chapters as Esay LXIV And in our English Bibles Chapters sometimes are not so fitly and exactly divided as Esay 4. 1. and 26. 20. and 52. 13. 14. 15. And in other Books No nor verses neither as Esay 53. 9 10. and 58. 9. and 59. 15. The end of his Book Chap. 52. 31 34. was written by some Prophet after Jeremies death But when and where he died is not recorded in the thirteenth year of his reigne Then Jeremie was called from being ordinary Priest chapter I verse 2 to be an extraordinary Prophet captive There were Captives under Jehojakim verse 3 and under Jeconiah But this is the last and greatest of Jerusalem it self when both Citie and Temple was sackt and burnt and the Kingdome destroyed in the dayes of Zedekiah in the fifth moneth This might end the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reigne chap. LII 12 Then When God first called him verse 4 As thus the Time So now followes in this Chapter the maner of his Calling and such general instructions as God was pleased then to give him concerning his carriage in it and discharge of it I sanctified thee Designed thee to be a Prophet verse 5 to which Office I do now call thee So Gal. I. 15. See the like use of the word Esay XIII 3. This stretcheth not to inward sanctification as that of Iohn Baptist doth Luke I. 15. Nations Both Jewes and other Nations also verse 10. Chap. XXV 15 c. And chap. XLIII and XLVI and XLVII and XLVIII and XLIX and L. and LI. I cannot speak Not dumb verse 6 as Zacharie Luke I. 20 22. or slow and stammering as Moses Exod. IV. 10 14. But that he could not deliver such a message in that maner as was fitting considering his childhood and weaknesse wanting that gravity c. put forth his hand In a Vision verse 9 to root out By publishing my word verse 10 in Threatenings and in Promises which should as certainly be performed as if the Prophet himself had acted them chap. XVIII 7 8 9. A foolish application is made of these words to the Popes pretended power over Kingdomes came unto me Seemingly at the same time with the former verse 11 What seest thou See the like Amos VII 8. and VIII 2. Zech. IV. 2. and V. 1. I see In a Vision Almond tree That doth bud and blossome the earliest of any hasten my word to performe it 2 Kings XXIII verse 12 33 35. and chap. XXIV 2. a seething pot Resembling Ierusalem verse 13 Kingdomes of the North Babylonians verse 15 and their Assistants gird up thy loines Addresse thy self manfully to thy imployment verse
as a bud or sprout from the root of Jesse Esay XI 1 10. And so from David Apoc. V. 5. and XXII 16. Psal. CXXXII 11 17. Acts XIII 23 32. called the Righteous Branch in this Text and chap. XXXIII 15. springing from a withered stock and stump sprouting at first in a mean and despicable maner Esay XXXIII 2 3 4. Yet after branching out beautifully retaining its verdure perpetualy spreading and growing flowering and flourishing to all eternity Dan. II 44 45. A man See the Annotations on Esay II. chapter XXX verse 6 9. uncles sonne Sonne omitted in the Original chapter XXXII verse 12 haply for brevity fake as well knowne to be supplied out of verse 7. preceding As likewise the word Sister seemes to be omitted 2 Sam. XXI 8. And the word Brother Verse 19. of that Chapter Funeral Burnings chapter XXXIV among the Heathen were of the dead bodies But among the Jewes not of the bodies but of sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the Art of the Apothecaries burned in the Tombe where the embalmed body was to lie 2 Chr. XVI 14. This was denied to the wicked King Jehoram 2 Chron. XXI 19. yet granted here to Zedekiah in Babylon And that burning of the Flesh of Saul and his sonnes 1 Sam. XXXI 12. was a case extraordinary and as their present condition and that exigent seemed to require when they cut the calf in twaine chapter XXXIV verse 18 c. The maner of making Covenants whence the Hebrew phrase is to Cut a Covenant that is from the right of Cutting a beast in twaine sometime for Sacrifice sometime for Feasting and the Covenanters passing through betweene the Parts of it implying it seemes and that by way of execration Themselves to be alike cut in sunder in case of violating the Conditions of the Covenant Matth. 24. 51. Though some make the Cutting to relate to the strict and exact cutting out of Articles agreed upon for mutual performance by both parties Gen XV. 9 10 17. Deut. XXIX 12. Of Covenants see more betweene man and man and betweene God and man Gen. IX 9 17. Gen. XXI 27 32. and chap. XXVI 28 31. and chap. XXXI 44 55. Exod. XXIV 4 8. Deut. V. 2 3. whence the two tables are called the Tables of the Covenant and the Ark the Ark of the Covenant And the Tabernacle The Tabernacle of the Covenant the Book of the Law the Book of the Covenant Josh. XXIV 24 25 26 27. Neh. IX 38. 1 Sam. XVIII 3 4. and XXIII 18. 1 Kings V. 12. and XX. 34. 2 Kings XI 17. and XXIII 3. Ezra X. 3. Esay LIX 21. Jer. L. 5. And God promises to make a New Covenant with his people Jer. XXXI 31 32 33 34. cited Heb. VIII 8 9. which yet is not simply New in regard of the substance of it for the maine matter and substance of the former Covenant is there verse 33. And Gen. XVII 7. Deut. XXVI 17 18. and XXIX 13. And both Covenants ratified by the blood of the Messias But as Love is called a New Commandment John XIII 34. So this a New Covenant in that it is ratified by the death of our Saviour exhibited in that the Doctrine of the Gospel is now more fully and clearly revealed in that this runneth wholly upon the spiritual and celestial Blessings in that the Ceremonials are removed and the more Spiritual Service substituted for it in that it is more generaly dilated and enlarged to all Nations in that a large measure of Spiritual Gifts and efficacie of the Spirit is now vouchsafed in that the continuance of it without change is to be to the end of the world hath sworne by himself Having no greater to swear by chapter LI verse 14 Heb. VI. 13. So Gen. XXII 16. Jer. XXII 5. Amos VI. 8. By his soul So is the Hebrew in this text and chap. LI. 14. By the excellency of Jacob Amos VIII 7. By his Holinesse Amos IV. 2. And againe the Forme of his Oath is thus expressed As I live Heb. I. live so Jer. XXII 24. and XLVI 18. Ezek. V. 11. And I live for ever Deut. XXXII 40. So men use to swear The Lord liveth Jer. IV. 2. and V. 2. As the Lord liveth that made us this soul Jer. XXXVIII 16. Gods oath shall undoubtedly be fulfilled Psal. CX 4. and CXXXII 11. Heb. VI. 17 18. Of Oaths see more in the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. and Gen. XXIV 3. carried away captive chapter LII verse 28 Five captivities into Babylon are mentioned in Scripture Lamentations THese are not those of Jeremie for Josiah 2 Chron. XXXV 25. No more then those were for him Ezek. XIX 1 14. which indeed were commanded to be taken up by Ezekiel for Jehoachaz and Jehojakim But these were written by Jeremie in the time of the Babylonish captivity after the Temple of the Lord and Citie of Jerusalem were burnt and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar Lamenting here those more then lamentable miseries As the whole Matter and Contents of this Book doth declare And particularly that very passage it self chap. IV. 20. which is appliable properly to King Zedekiah and not to King Josiah The LXX and Jerome doth expresse this very time in the beginning of the Book it self These Lamentations are full of Pathetical expressions And for the weight of the Matter and the Help of Memorie The first second and fourth Chapters do containe twenty two verses apiece according to the number of the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and do begin each verse with one of them in their order methodicaly And chap. III. contains 66. verses treble the former number And begins each three of them with one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet in the order methodicaly The last Chapter only is without this Art Many Signes of Lamentations are expressed here Which from hence and other Scriptures may more fully be gathered thus Sighing Mourning mournful Songs weeping howling Fasting changing of the garments mourning women Ier. IX 17. 2 Chron. XXXV 25. Amos V. 16. rending of the Cloathes wearing black and sack cloth sitting on the ground and keeping silence lying prostrate upon the ground sitting lying covering rowling wallowing in ashes in dust and ashes casting up dust ashes earth upon them and their heads spreading and wringing the hands laying the hands upon the head smiting with the hand stamping with the feet hanging down the head uncovering the head and bare and againe in some ages the covering the head covering head and face too as our close mourners covering the upper lip bare-foot shaving the head and beard making baldnesse plucking off the haire beating the breast printing marks upon the flesh tearing it cutting it Amongst other places see these viz. Lam. II. 10. and III. 16. Lev. X. 6. and XIII 45. and XIX 27 28. and XXI 5 10. Deut. XIV 1. Iosh. VII 6. 1 Sam. IV. 12. 2 Sam. I. 2. and XIII 19. and XIV 2. and XV. 30 32. and XIX 4. 2 Chron. XXXV
25. Ier. IX 17. Ezra IX 3. Ester IV. 1 3. and VI. 12. Iob I. 20. II. 12. XLII 6. Esay XV. 2 3. and LVIII 8. Jer. II. 37. and VI. 26. and XIV 3 4. and XVI 6 7. and XXV 34 Ezek. XXIV 17. and XXVII 30. Micah I. 10 16. Amos V. 16. Nahum II. 7. Luke XVIII 13. Lam. I. 17. Ier. VII 29. and IX 17 18. XIV 3 4. XVI 6 7. XLI 5. XLVIII 36 37. Lam. III. 48. Ezek. VI. 11. VII 18. In the Observations and Explanations upon this Book as also upon Daniel and the twelve small Prophets I am the briefer because that portion fell to my share in the last Great English Annotations to which in many things I shall now refer thee Ezekiel EZEKIEL like as Ieremie was both Priest and Prophet Being carried captive with Jehojacin He prophesies in Chaldea And calling that His captivity as was said he makes it his Epocha and from thence begins the accompt and reckoning of years in all the distinct times of his several Prophecies throughout his Book Thus In Jehojacins Captivity In the V. Year fourth moneth fifth day He begins to Prophesie chap. I. 2 3. And so continues on in the seven first chapters with some other short Notations of Times soone following chap. III. verse 15 22 27. and chap. IV. v. 5. VI. Year sixth moneth fifth day 420. dayes from the former time chap. I. v. 2. He was carried in a Vision to Jerusalem chap. VIII 1 2 3. chap. IX chap. X. chap. XI 24. And thereafter doth continue on Prophesying to the twentieth chapter VII Year fifth moneth tenth day 335. dayes from that time chap. VIII 1. He was consulted by the Elders And thereupon Prophesied Chapters 20 21 22 23. IX Year tenth moneth tenth day when the siege of Ierusalem began 2 Kings XXV 1 2. He Prophesied Chapters 24 25. X. Year tenth moneth twelfth day Against Pharaoh and Egypt Chap. XXIX v. 1 17. XI Year first moneth though some think the fifth fifth day against Tyrus Chapters 26 27 28. v. 1 20. Zidon chap. XXVIII v. 20 26. First moneth seventh day Against Egypt chapter XXX v. 20 26. Third moneth first day Against Egypt chap. XXXI Fourth moneth ninth day The Citie taken Jer. LII 5 6. 2 Kings XXV 2 3 4. Fifth moneth tenth day Nebuzaradan burnt the Temple and Citie Jer. LII 12 13. XII Year tenth moneth fifth day The newes brought to Ezekiel And then he Prophesied chap. XXXIII v. 21 33. and chapters XXXIV XL. Twelfth moneth first day Against Egypt ch XXXII 1 16. Fifteenth day Against Egypt chap. XXXII v. 17 32. and chap. XXXIII 1 20. XXV Year first moneth tenth day He hath that large Vision chapters XL. XLVIII XXVII Year first moneth first day Against Egypt chap. XXIX v. 17 21. and chap. XXX v. 1 19. The Glory of the Lord Appearing By Chebar ch I. 3 28. In the Plaine chap. III. 22 23. In Jerusalem ch VIII 4 and c. X. 15 20 22. Departing by degrees chap. VIII 3 4 5 6. and IX 3. and chap. X. 3 4 5 18 19. and chap. XI 22 23. Returning chap. XLIII 2 3 4. The Measures mentioned in the Description of Ezekiels Visionarie Temple and Division of the Land chap. XL. XLVIII are Calamus and Cubitus the Reed and the Cubit The length of the Reed is defined chap. XL. 5. and XLI 8. That of the Cubit is more usualy known adding that chap. XLI 8. and XLIII 13. See more of these in my Annotations upon Ezekiel XL. 5. among those large Annotations upon the Bible printed Anno 1651. By the Cubits are measured the Gates East North South of the Exterior and of the Inner Courts with their Posts Porches Arches and Chambers The Courts and the Pillars and Chambers about them The Tables Chambers of the Singers and of the Priests and the Porch of the House chap. XL. The several Parts Places and Chambers of the Temple and of the Separate Place chap. XLI The North-Chambers and South-Chambers before the Separate Place ch XLII The Altar of Burnt-Offerings chap. XLIII And the waters chap. XLVII 3. By Reeds besides a few other parts chap. XL. 6 7 8. there is or seemes to be Measured The Wall about the outmost Court five hundred Reeds on each side of that square Court ch XLII 15 20. Which if Literaly understood it makes the Temple and all Holy Building about it and the Courts of it to be bigger then Solomons Temple and all the Citie of Jerusalem with it But if we understand by five hundred Reeds Reeds of five hundred Cubits that is making up five hundred Cubits on each side of that Square Court as Tremelius doth And indeed the Suburbs of it are named to be fifty Cubits â—ound about chap. XLV 2. Then we shall bring that Sacred Visionarie Building into a spacious yet reasonable and proportionable quantity But with a very harsh as it seemes translation of the words of the sacred Text. And as for that Oblation of the Land offered to the Lord that Holy Portion for the Priests and for the Levites and that Land for the Citie of Jerusalem and Suburbs and Use of it being in all 25000. square mentioning neither Reeds nor Cubits chap. XLVIII 20. And the Princes Portion of Land lying on the outside of it East and West chap. XLVIII 21. If we take that great Square to be so many Reeds as most do with very great probability in this Visionarie Division We shall so make that Visionarie Square to be as big as the whole Land of Canaan But if we understand it of Cubits we shall bring it to be about the compasse of twenty five miles on each side of the square and so leave a proportionable quantity of Land for the twelve Tribes chap. XLVIII stand upon thy feet set me upon my feet chapter II verse 1 2. God with the command gives the power and act of performance And so Grace and Regeneration is both Gods Fromise and Work Ezek. XI 19 20. and XVIII 31. with chap. XXXVI 26. and chap. XI 19. land of Pathros A Province in Egypt chapter XXIX verse 14 chap. XXX 14. Jer XLIV 1 15. possessed by the Pathrusim or Pathruses which were of the lineages of Mitsraim or Egyptus Gen. X. 14. 1 Chron. I. 12. Likely the same with Thebais higher and further up in the Countrey the Noph Esay XI 11. Lybia Heb. chapter XXX verse 5 Phut or Phuth or Put. These Lybians were of the same race with the Ethiopians Gen. X. 6. 1 Chron. I. 6. Seated in Africa to the West of Egypt Lybia These were in Africa and came of Lud the sonne of Mizraim and grandchild of Cham Gen. X 6 13. Ger. XLVI 9. The Lydians in Asia or Anatolia came of Lud the sonne of Shem Gen. X. 22. Esay LXVI 19. See the Annotations on Ezek. XXX 5. Tehaphnehes Or Tahapanes verse 18 or Tachapanes Tapanhes or Tachpanches and the same as it seemes in a contracted forme Hanes or Chanes
CHOISE OBSERVATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS UPON THE Old Testament Genesis GENESIS Containns an History of 2369 years from the Creation of the World and Adam to the death of Joseph The Day of 24 hours book I called Day verse 5 Numb 8. 17. begins here at Evening Chap. I. v. 5 8 13 19 23 31. And so Exod. XII 18. and Levit. XXIII 32. And hence in Daniels time it is called the Evening-Morning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dan. VIII 14 26. 2 Cor. XI 25. Yet the Account sometimes seemes to begin in the Morning as vulgarly with us and many other Nations And may seeme so also in some kinde of reckoning with the Jewes out of Num. XXVIII 3 4. And so in the dayes of our Saviour out of Matth. XXVI 17 20. and XXVIII 1. Mar. XVI 1 2. Luke XXIV 1. John XX. 1 19. Unlesse we take the day there for the time of Light contradistinguished to Darknesse as it is 2 Sam. I. 12. Divers other Nations did begin their day diversly Some with Sunne-rising some at the setting some at mid-night as Astronomers with us usually do And whereas our Saviour seemes to some to keep his last Passeover a day before the Jewes out of John XVIII 28. and XIX 14. Unlesse by Passeover there we understand the Feast of Unleavened Bread which immediately succeeded the Passeover or Paschal Lamb Levit. XXIII 5 6 7 8. and not the Passeover it self or both as Luke XXII 1. yet supposing he did so both upon the former diversities of accompts may be said to keep it on the XIV day at Even Our Saviour rightly reckoning the Beginning of the day from the Evening And the Jewes then reckoning it amisse as vulgarly and the Romanes then did from the morning following But all this is only tendered to consideration And yet this rather then that Jesus should not be said to eate the Passeover at that time But onely a like thing which they please to conceive and call without all ground save their own imagination a commemorative Passeover commemorative of that which was to be kept the next day Eden A Region in Mesopotamia or Chaldea chapter II verse 8. 3. Acts VII 2 compared with Gen. XI 31. It signifies Delicacy or Delight Psal. XXXVI 8. Esay XLVII 8. In the Eastern part whereof and not onely Eastward from Jurie was this Garden planted See Esay XXXVII 12. Ezek. XXVII 23. Ethiopia Heb. Cush Called so from the sonne of Cham verse 13 or Ham ch X. 6. 1 Chron. I. 8 10. The Ethiopians or Cushites seeme first to inhabite some parts of Arabia on the North-side of the Red Sea And after to settle themselves on the South-side of it and South of Egypt whence we read in Authors of the Asian and African Ethiopians And in Scripture we reade of Zerah their King who came out against Asa with the hughest hoast that Gods Word doth mention 2 Chron. XIV 9. And of Tirhakah that came forth against Sennacherib Esay XXXVII 9. Of Candace the Queen Acts VIII 27. Of those two great and good Eunuchs Proselytes the one Jeremies deliverer Jer. XXXVIII and the other baptized by Philip Acts VIII 27 39. And of Zipporah the wife of Moses Num. XII The Ethiopians were kinsmen and allies to the Egyptians coming both of Cham near neighbours and confederates Esay XVIII 1. and XX. 4. Jer. XIII 23. and XLVI 9. Ezek. XXX 9. See more in the Annotations on Jer. XIII 23. A Tree is mentioned and the Fruit of it verse 16 And so v. 17. and ch III. 1 2 3 6. But the Apple-tree or what kinde of Tree is not specified Cherubims And so chapter III verse 24 Num. VII 89. 1 Sam IV. 4. 1 King VII 29. Esay XXXVII 16. Ezek. X. throughout that Vision and ch XLI 18. Heb. IX 5. and in sundry other places And in like sort we have the word Seraphims Esay VI. 2 6. And this for expression-sake of our English plural by the letter s whereas the words might have been rendered Cherubs and Seraphs or Cherubim and Seraphim that being the termination plural in the Original Hebrew as also in the Chaldee and Syriak And so is rightly left out in the word Baalim in all places Of Cherubin see my Annotations on Ezek IX 3. and X. 1 3 10 and v. 14 22. and XI 22. Offering Offering is here mentioned chapter IV verse 3 And so v. 4. Called Sacrifice Heb. XI 4. And as this so other nominated Mosaical and Levitical Rites and Ceremonies were in use before the times of Levi and Moses As 2. Beasts and Fowles clean and unclean at the time of the Flood ch VII 3. Priests Altars Burnt-Offerings Drink-Offerings VIII 20. and XIV 18. and XXII 13. and XXXV 14. 4. Eating of Blood forbidden ch IV. 4. 5. Oile in use for Consecration XXVIII 18. and XXXV 14. 6. Marrying the brothers widow to raise up seed to the brother deceased ch XXXVIII 8 9 26. Called his name Names afterwards usually imposed at the time of Circumâ—sion verse 25 as appears partly in Abraham plainly in John the Baptist and others By the Jewes some of Gods Titles were many times inserted into the Composure of the names of their children as plentifully appears And the maner of many Heathens was to impose or insert the names of their Idols and Pagan Deities upon or into the names of their children and of their Kings and Favourites Rom. XVI 1 14 15. 1 Cor. I. 12. 1 Thess. I. 1. And hence we have among the Babylonians from their Idols Bel Nebo and Merodach these Names of Belteshazzar Dan. I. 7. and IV. 8. and Belshazzar Dan. V. 1. And Merodach-Baladan Esay XXXIX 1. and Evil-Merodach 2 Kings XXV 27. And Nebonatsar Naâ—opolatsar and Nebuchadnetsar And in the same names are many times a change of letters like letters put some times one for another as Merodach is called Berodach 2 King XX. 12. As Dibon the name of a Citie Numb XI 30. is called Dimon Esay XV. 9. And Nebuchadnezzar is written also in Scripture Nebuchadnetsar Ier. XXII 25. and Nebuchadrezzar and Nebuchadretzer Ier. XXI 2. and XXIV 1. Sometimes letters or syllables are transposed and left out and added And so there is much variation in one and the same name Esaias is called also Ieshajah and Ieshajahu Hezekiah is called and written Ezekias Chiskijah 2 King XVIII 1. Chiskijahu XXXVI 1. Jechiskijab Micah I. 1. Iechiskijahu Esay I. 1. Iehojacin is called also Iechoniah Iechonias Coniah Conijahu I omit others not much unlike Yea sometimes in Scripture divers men have divers dissonant names some 2 some 3 as 1 King XV. 2 10. compared with 2 Chron. XI 20. and Ch. XIII 2. And as further may be seene at large in the Great Annotations upon 1 Chron. III. 1 15 16. and VI. 1 20 24. and VIII 5 33. and Ch. XI and Ch. XVIII 10 16. and Ch. XX. 7. And divers places have two several names as in 2 Sam. VIII 8. compared with 1 Chron. XX. 4. And many
there 2 Sam. VI. 12 17. whereupon Zion is called the City of God Gods holy Hill The Northerne and lower part belonging to Benjamin wherein the Temple stood on Mount Moriah 2 Chon III. 1. Honourable things are spoken of this City Psal. LXXXVII 2 3. This City is called the City of God of the Lord of Hoasts of the great King the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High Psal. XLVI 4. and XLVIII 8. The Throne of the Lord Jer. III. 17. Jehovah-Shammah in that visionarie Description Ezek. XLVIII 35. It is called the City of Solemnities Esay XXXIII 20. a City of Righteousnesse Esay V. 26. a City of Truth Zech. VIII 3. a Faithful City Esay I. 26. a City sought out and not forsaken Esay LXII 12. The walls thereof are called Salvation and her gates Praise and they are ever in Gods sight Esay XLIX 16. and LX. 18. Hoham These other four Kings were all South of Jerusalem chapter X verse 3 And all five did after belong to the Tribe of Judah Lachish Of this City see the Annotations on Micah I. 13. The Lord said The Lord spake to Joshua verse 8 sometimes immediately by himself sometimes being consulted with by Urim and Thummim Hailestones God 's two Miracles in this battel verse 11 I. By wondrous Hailestones like those in Egypt Exod. IX 18 25. which killed more Amorites then were slaine by the sword braining likely the body of their hoast as they fled where they were thickest and those that were formost in the flight and not hurting the Pursuers who were intermingled yet likely mostwhat in the Reare of the enemy II. By the miraculous standing still upon Joshua's Prayer first privately made and granted after publikely pronounced in the sight of Israel of the Sunne and of the Moone and with them of the whole frame of Heaven about a whole day till the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies Jasher The Book of Jasher records the Miracle verse 13 No Heathen History being so ancient This Book seemes to be carried on and enlarged still with the story of things acted in after-ages For there is mention of it in Davids time 2 Sam. I. 18. And this Book being no part of Canonical inspired Scripture but a Civil Chronicle or Annals among the Jewes is since perished as divers others of like nature Among which are those books of Chronicles not Canonical but Civil so often cited in our two books of the Kings No day That day in Hezekiah's time verse 14 was in some things like this 2 King XX. 11. But that not till many ages after And this book first written Returned If Joshua here resolved to return to Gilgal verse 15 Yet many other victories in the Southern parts even from Kadesh-barnea unto Gaza in a short time intervened ver 16 42. before he actually returned thither ver 43. Ioshua And c. XI verse 36 31. Ioshua took Hebron or Kiriath-Arba and Debir or Kiriath-Sepher and cut off the Anakims Yet under the conduct of Caleb this was perfected Ioshua assigning him out of his army the Tribe of Iudah for his assistance therein Ch. XIV 6 15. and Ch. XV. 13 19. which thing seems to be repeated Iudg. I. 10 15. rather then a new Conquest made again after the death of Ioshua Goshen And Ch. XI verse 41 16. and Ch. XV. 51. This Goshen in Canaan differing from that in Egypt Sand Hyperbolees much used in Scripture chapter XI verse 4 So Gen. XXII 17. and XLI 49. Iudg. VII 12. and Ch. XX. 16. 1 Sam. XIII 5. 2 Sam. I. 23. 1 King I. 40. and IV. 20 29. 2 King XIX 24. 1 Chron. XII 8. and XVI 33. 2 Chron. I. 9. and XXVIII 9. Job XX. 6. and XXII 24. and XL. 23. Psal. VI. 6. Esay XXXIV 3 5 7 9. and XLVIII 19. Jer. IV. 24. and XV. 8. Ioel. III. 18. Amos II. 9. and IX 13. Iohn XXI 25. A long time After the battel at the waters of Merom verse 18 Ioshua did make warre a long time with all those Northern Kings in Canaan about sixe years as is gathered out of Ch. XIV 6 15. Arnon Arnon the River chapter XII verse 1 ariseth not farre from the head-spring of the River Iabbok and both from rocky Mountains that lie in the East part of the Tribe of Gad. It runneth Southward and falls into the North-East corner of the Dead Sea It is the border between Sihon or Reuben on the West and Ammon on the East and between Sihon or Reuben on the North and Moab on the South Iabbok Iabbok the River verse 2 ariseth as Arnon but runneth North a little and after turneth his streame West and falleth into Iordan a little below the Sea of Galilee It divided the Land of Gilead between Sihon and Og and afterwards between Gad on the South and halfe Manasseh on the North. Remaineth yet The Land both Conquered chapter XIII verse 1 and Unconquered was to be divided by Lot among the nine Tribes and a half so Iosh. XXIII 4 5. Begun at Gilgal Ch. XIV 6. and Ch. XV. and Ch. XVI and Ch. XVII Resumed and Perfected at Shiloh Ch. XVIII and XIX But we never read That they did Conquer the whole Land and all their several Shares and Lots through their own default and breach of Covenant with God by Disobedience Chapt. XXIII 13. Aroer The City Aroer was neere the Rise of the River Arnon verse 16 and in the confines between the Reubenites and Gadites as also Heshbon Dibon and Ataroth which being bordering Cities are said to belong to them both sometimes to the one sometimes to the other To Reuben Iosh. XIII 16 17. Num. XXXII 37. To Gad Iosh. XXI 39. Num. XXXII 34. 1 Chron. VI. 81. Distributed The whole Countrey chapter XIV verse 1 seemes to be divided into so many parts as there were Tribes to possesse them Yet so as that the Bounds of every part or Province were not so precisely limited before the Tribe had drawn the Lot but that afterwards they might be enlarged or lessened according to the greatnesse or smalnesse of the number that belonged to it Num. XXVI 53 56. and Chap. XXXIII 54. which last point of division was left to the wisdome of the High Priest Ioshua and the Elders whom God had appointed to divide it ver 1. and Ch. XVII 14 18. By lot Lots fell out providentialy to the twelve Tribes chapter XIV verse 2 in the Division of the Land in relations partly to their Birth partly to the Prophetical Blessings of them by Jacob Gen. XLIX and Moses Deut. XXXIII And so in the Cities of the Levites the Lot cast the thirteen Cities of the Priests in the Tribes of Judah Benjamin and Simeon which were nearest the Temple Josh. XXI 9 10 17. when it was builded Old Calebs age verse 7 when he was sent among the Spies from Kadesh-barnea was fourty At this Division of the Land eighty five So that fourty five years intervened viz. 38. in the
of the men of Hamath Nibhaz and Tartak of the Avites Adrammelech and Anammelech of Se phervaim Siccuth Chiun and Remphan named Amos V. 26. Acts VII 43. The seven Planets under several names by several Nations And from the Egyptian Apis the Bull and Mevis the Cow the Jewes took their Idol of the golden Calf or Oxe Psal. CVI. 20. And Ieroboam's Calves These Idols are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not gods 1 Cor. VIII 4. Ier. 2. 11. and V. 7. and Ch. XVI 20. or nothing worth Ier. XI 13. Vanities They are called Shames Abominations 1 King XI 5. Dungie or Dunghil-gods Deut. XXIX 17. Devils Deut. XXXII 17. 2 Chron. XI 15. 1 Cor. X. 20 21. Apoc. IX 20. Psal. CVI. 37. 2 King XX. 1. Shechem See the Observations on Josh. chapter IX verse 1. 2. XXIV 1. Threescore and ten persons So ver 18 24 56. and Ch. VIII 30. The whole number designed to slaughter though the youngest of them Iotham escaped and Abimelech himself was the murderer And this is a thing usual in the Scripture As Gen. XLII 13. Num. XIV 32 33. 1 Cor. XV. 5. Gerizim Near Shechem verse 7. 20. Millo See the Observations on 1 Sam. V. 9. Iair Not that Iair chapter X verse 3 Num. XXXII 41. Deut. III. 14. But of his posterity and name Thirty Cities That former Jair in the dayes of Moses verse 4 had but twenty three Cities 1 Chron. II. 22. though the sonnes of Machir the son of Manasseh and the father of Gilead and grandfather of this Iair had among them sixty Cities in the dayes of Moses Iosh. XIII 30 31 32. But here this Iair the Judge had thirty sonnes and they had thirty Cities seven more then the former Iair had all which they called by the same name of Havoth-Iair as their progenitor had called his twenty three Philistines In this time of their oppressing Israel verse 7 which was the sixth oppression Sampson lived and was a Judge and began to deliver them Ch. XIII 5. Ammon This was the fifth oppression And Iephthah was the Judge and deliverer And that year The last of the eighteen of their oppressing the Israelites verse 8 Eighteen years Which years of oppression fell upon the two Tribes and a half beyond Iordan in Iairs time Passed over Iordan In this eighteenth year the Ammonites proceeded verse 9 further to invade the Tribes on this side Iordan And then Iephthah doth vanquish them and begin his sixe years of judging Israel And all this stands well with the Chronologie of the times viz of two hundred ninty nine years in the Book of the Iudges and of the four hundred and eighty mentioned 1 King VI. 1. The Sidonians Divers of these Deliverances are not expressed in the holy History verse 12 Grieved Gods compassion to his people verse 16 Mizpeh There is mention of the Land of Mizpeh verse 17 under Hermon Josh. XI 3. But most commonly there were Citiet of that name And those builded on hills or high places as the word signifies fit to set wath-towers upon as our Beacons We read of divers such in Scripture One Mizpeh in Moab 1 Sam. XXII 3. Another in Mount Gilead in Manasseh beyond Iordan not farre from the Tribe of Gad Josh. XIII 26. Here Laban overtook Iacob Gen. XXXI 49. And here the Israelites encamped against the Midianites in this text Iudg. X. 17. And Iephthah their Judge and General had his house here Iudg. XI 11 29 34. Another Mizpeh was in Iudah Josh. XV. 38. Likely that re-built by Asa 1 King XV. 22. 2 Chron. XVI 6. But the most famous Mizpeh was that in Benjamin upon the border of it Iosh. XVIII 26. which was near the middle of the Land and not farre from Shiloh which stood East from it This was a Place and City fit for general meetings and Assemblies of the Land Thither all Israel assembled against the Benjamites Iudg. XX. 1 3. and XXI 1. There Samuel brought all Israel to publike Repentance 1 Sam. VII 5 6. And thither likewise as to Bethel and Gilgal he came in câ—rcuit from year to year to judge Israel ver 16. There Saul was found out and made King 1 Sam. X. 17 21. And there Gedaliah was Governour so made by Nebuchanezzar and there slaine by Ishmael 2 King XXV verse 3 23 25. Tob Some thirty miles East from the waters of Merom chapter XI My Land No. It was the Land of the Moabites after of Sihon and from him conquered by the Israelites by Gods command and donation ver 21 22. Three hundred years And four of five over which are omitted for the roundnesse of the number As Ch. XX. 46. 2 Sam. V. 5. See the Observations on Ch XX. 46. A Vow Of Vowes verse 30. 31. see the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. And I will offer it These words of Jephthah's Vow do fairly admit a Disjunctive acceptation of the letter Vau to be interpreted and rendered Or and not and. As it is likewise used in Gen. XXVI 11. Exod. I. 10 and XXI 15 17. Deut. XVII 9 12. and XIX 17. Judg. XV. 18. 1 Sam. VI. 3. Jer. VI. 20. and IX 12. and XIII 23. and XVI 2 7. and XXI 9. and in very many other places Bewaile my Virginity Much more her death verse 37 if she had been vowed to be a burnt-offering but that she doth not mention And she knew no man But lived a Virgin verse 39 as her father had vowed and she consented To lament Or talk with her verse 40 and comfort her being cut off from all hope of having posterity to uphold her fathers house ver 34. Smote Ephraim In a Wood chapter XII verse 4 whence that place seemes to be called the Wood of Ephraim from that slaughter of the Ephraimites Where afterwards Absolom was slaine and his armie 2 Sam. XVII 6. Ephraim having in truth no Wood or Land or portion of inheritance on that side of Jordan East-ward Because they said The Ephraimites said the Gileadites are fugitives mungrels the refuse of both Tribes Or the Gileadites being got between the Ephraimites and Manassites said to the Ephraimites ye are but the fugitives of Ephraim Took the Passages As the Ephraimites were to return back from Gilead verse 5 West-ward Shibboleth Which signifies the streame of a river verse 6 or foard a proper word for the present place and purpose Fourty years These fourty years of Oppression by the Philistines fall in with the times of Sampson and Eli chapter XIII verse 1 and are a part thereof Angel The Angel of the Lord verse 3 is called by Manoah Elohim God ver 22. And by his wife Jehovah ver 23. He whose Name is Wonderful ver 18 19. Esay IX 6. Nazarite Of Nazarites verse 5 see the Observations on Num. VI. 2. Begin Sampson did but begin only For the Philistines prevailed and Lorded it over Israel all the dayes of Sampson Ch. XIV 4. of Eli of Samuel partly 1. Sam.
Exod. XXXII 4 5. 2 Chron. XXXIII 17. Hos. II. 16. The other nine hundred Shekels it is like she bestowed on house vestments and other necessaries for that Idolatrous service An house of gods So great was the Idolatry of the Jewes at this time And their zeale great in their Idolatry Ch. XVIII 24. Ephod This Ephod mentioned againe verse 5 Ch. XVIII 14. As likewise that of Gideon Ch. VIII 27. were not like those Linnen Ephods Exod. XXVIII 40. 1 Sam. II. 18. and Ch. XXII 18. But like Aarons rich and glorious Ephod Exod. XXVIII 6 34. See the Annotations on Hos. III. 4. and the Observations on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. Teraphim Or Theraphim a word of the plural number and still so used in Scripture signifies Images or Idols Hos. III. 4. 1 Sam. XV. 23. But of what kinde or fashion it is uncertaine some conceive them to be made like men because Michal put one of them in Davids bed thereby to deceive her father Sauls messengers 1 Sam. XIX 13. Some take them to be houshold-gods and as such in Labans house and family Gen. XXXI 19 34. Some to be such as they used to consult with as Oracles as in the case of the Danites here and Ch. XVIII 14 17 18 20. and of Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. XXI 21. and in Zecharies time Zech. X. 2. Answers likely being given by the subtilty of the Devil or forgery of their Priests And to workers with familiar spirits and Wizards They are joyned in Josiah's Reformation 2 King XXIII 24. See the Annotations on Hos. III. 4. Consecrated And ver 12. The grosse abuse of Consecration As in Jeroboams time 1 King XIII 33. No King King here is taken verse 6 not properly for a King but for a Judge such as the thirteen Judges in this Book for King properly there was none till Sauls reigne A Levite A Levite borne or verse 7 bred in Bethlehem Judah or sojourning there as a stranger Where I may finde a place The necessitous state of the Levites verse 9 in those Idolatrous times ver 10 11. Danites sought Their inheritance by lot is set down chapter XVIII verse 1 Josh. XIX 40. But they got it not all through their own sinne and default Iudg. I. 34. And their tribe being numerous they sought out larger bounds and more commodious habitations Iosh. XIX 47. And this though mentioned in that text of Ishua yet fell out after his death and the death of those Elders that out-lived him likely soone after but surely before the dayes of Sampson Mount Ephraim See the Observations on Josh. 2. XXIV 1. Ask counsel These Danites verse 5 being superstitious Idolaters ascribe thus much to this Levite and to his Idolatrous Ephod and Teraphim and graven and molten Images ver 14 17. Laish Laish very farre off from the body of the Tribe of Dan verse 7 that lying next to Simeon and Judah in the South-parts of the Land of Canaan and this under Mount Libanon by Asher and Naphtali in the North-bounds This Citie first burnt and after rebuilt by these Danites they then called Dan which is taken as the North-bound of the Land of Canaan as Ch. XX. 1. 1 Sam. III. 20. 2 Sam. III. 10. and elsewhere And here Jeroboam did set up one of his golden Calves 1 King XII 29. Jonathan A Levite the great grandchilde of Moses verse 30 though borne in Bethlehem-Judah and so as of the family of Judah Ch. XVII 7. And though a Levite yet taken and used as a Priest and consecrated thereunto by Micah an Ephraimitie ver 1 12. Who likewise had consecrated one of his owne sons to become his Priest ver 5. And this Jonathan forced to seeke and shift for his maintenance and livelihood and to accept of one so poore and base ver 10. All this bespeaks the sad and lamentable condition and coufusion of those times wherein they lived Captivity of the Land This Idolatry of the Danites in this Citie Dan continued untill the day of the Captivity of the Land that is as it is explained ver 31. all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh till the Philistines took the Arke 1 Sam. IV. Psalme LXXVIII 60 61. which was at the death of Eli. A Concubine Or a wife a Concubine chapter XIX The word for Concubine in Hebrew is etymologized wittily by some from two other words of that language which put together verse 1 signifie that which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some old Latine Inscriptions Viro-conjux an half-wife or secondarie wife We read in Scripture of Concubines and Wives variously Of many wives to one man in the Old Testament And this not onely in prophane and evill men as in Lamech Gen. IV. and Esau and other but also in good and godly men as in Iacob David and others And among these many wives we sometimes finde a kinde of distinction of them into two sorts One sort the First and principal and absolutely lawful wife and Mistris The other sort but in a secondary and inferiour degree And such as had no Dowries nor solemne Rites of reception nor Rule in the family nor their children had any Inheritance but Gifts and Portions For that of Iacobs sons by Bilhah and Zilpah was a case extraordinary And thus we finde with Abraham Sarah of the first sort and Hagar and Keturah of the second with Iacob Rachel and Leah of the first Bilhah and Zilpah of the second And those of the second sort are sometimes called wives and sometimes Concubines as we see in Keturah Gen. XXV 1 6. 1 Chron. I. 32. And in Bilhah Gen. XXX 4. and XXXV 22. and Ch. XXXVII 2. And Davids ten Concubines 2 Sam. XV. 16. and Ch. XVI 22. and Ch. XX. 3. are called his wives 2 Sam. XII 11. And thus Concubines are of two sorts some are wives or half-wives others plaine Whores and Harlots But this Concubine of the Levite was his wife and he her Lord as appears ver 3 4 5 7 9 26 27. and Ch. XX. 4. Gibeah Distinct from Gibeah in the tribe of Iudah chapter XIX verse 12 Iosh. XV. 57. And from Gibeon in the Tribe of Benjamin Iosh. XVIII 25. This was either that which afterwards was called Gibeah of Saul in the Tribe of Benjamin 1 Sam. XI 4. or else very near it in the same Tribe and not farre from Ierusalem and Ramah ver 13 14 16. House of the Lord In Shilo verse 18 And so Ch. XX. 18. This was near Mount Ephraim where he sojourned And thither the whole Campe came Ch. XXI 12. Know him So Gen. verse 22 XIX 5. monstrous impudent wickednesse a modest intimation of a most immodest meaning My brethren Men in nature verse 23 though worse then beasts in their lusts Behold my daughter Sinful this verse 24 to use unlawful means though to a good end We may not do evill that good may come thereof Rom. III. 8. Not hearken Yet did in the next words verse 25 And she sinning
by lust ver 2. was plagued by lust Divided her An act barbarous in it self and inhumane verse 29 though he did it to a good end to bring these sons of Belial to deserved punishment that such pests might not be suffered to live and poiâ—on the aire with their breath and so pollute the Land and go unpunished The unbowelling and enbalming of dead bodies and anatomizing of them by Physitians and Chirurgeons to good uses is a case different in divers points Mizpeh See the Observations on Ch. chapter XX verse 1 X. 17. Footmen Footmen four hundred thousand verse 2 We read not of Horsemen among the Israelites in all or any of their battels Onely we finde them prepared iu Solomons time 1 King IV. 26. and IX 19. and Ch. X. 26. 2 Chron. I. 14. and Ch. VIII 9. and Ch. IX 25. where the four thousand stalls of horses for his Chariots 2 Chron. IX 25. agree well with the fourty thousand in 1 King IV. 26. counting ten single stalls or divisions in every stable yet we finde no expresse mention of the use of any horsemen in any battel afterwards And to this the command and care for the houghing of the enemi es horses and the burning of their Charâ—oâ—s may have relation Iosh XI 6 9. 2 Sam. VIII 4. 1 Chron. XVIII 4. yet we read of many horses and Chariots in warre with the Canaanâ—tes Iosh. XI 4. Iudg. IV. 3 13. And many among the Israelites Esay II. 7. Trust in them is forbidden Dâ—uâ— XVII 16 17. Psal. XX. 7. XXXIII 16 17. Prov. XXI 31. Asked Counsel The eleven Tribes presume here more upon their own strength verse 18 and the justnesse of their Cause then upon God and consult him at first onely about the precedencie in the warre and who shall have the honour of the day And upon their first overthrow they weep but more for their shame and smart then for their sin And they aske counsel of God whether they shall fight again but neither crave his assistance nor inquire of the successe being still so confident in themselves of their own strength and still putting their trust in the arme of flesh and blood But upon the second overthrow they seek God in a right manner they more seriously mourn and Fast and repent of their sins Offering Burnt-offerings for the expiation of them and Peace offerings to make their peace with God and testifie their Faith in him And gaining a Promise of successe yet they carefully use the means and stratagems which formerly they sleighted and presumptuously neglected And by this stratagem they seeme to divide their army into three parts some to lie in wait some to fight and seemingly flee And the body of their Army as a strong reserve to fall on and gaine the victory upon an appointed signe when the Benjamites were brought to an amazed stand and come within the reach of it Phineas Phineas here living verse 28 yet died long before Sampson was borne which sheweth this History preceded Sampson a long time As the like might have been observed to a like end of many other Passages in these five last Chapters as hath been formerly said All which fell The odde hundred men mentioned ver 35 are here omitted verse 46 as well known out of the foresaid former verse The sacred Author here contenting himself with the round number of 25000. As the like is in the number of the time of Davids reigne 2 Sam. V. 5. and Ch. II. 11. And of the time of Solomons building the Temple 1 King VI. 1 38. And the like is in Jephthahs accompt of the 300. years Judg. XI 26. And likely here in the number of the remaine of the Benjamites that were slaine after the three battels Turned again This done in heat of warre verse 48 and rage of blood though after a sort it may be said to be done in cold blood and after the fierce brunt of warre was over And of this they repented afterwards as of a barborous and bloody act as well they might This slaughter lessened the number of the Benjamites in very many generations after See that in Jehoshaphat's time comparing the number of Benjamin with Judah 2 Chron. XVII 14 18. Had sworne This Oath chapter XXI verse 1 and Curse ver 18. was made in rashnesse and rage out of a blinde zeale and superstitious ignorance And by Gods Law might and ought to have been broken And was unlawful to be kept and much lesse to have fraud and violent rape without consent either of parties or parents used for the keeping of it Which yet they did thinking to silence thereby the cry of a superstitious conscience in themselves and to provide also for the like in those parents of the 200 Virgins ver 22. Women The women and children verse 10 here are unjustly and outragiously slaughtered Here again rash zeal out-runs right reason Ruth THE Book and History of Ruth falls in with the time of Deborah or Gideou as may be gatherd by comparing Matth. 1. 5. with the end of this History and what formerly hath been said upon Rahabs marriage And the History serves mainly to continue and declare the Genealogie of our Saviour Jesus Christ Chap. IV. 18 22. Famine In the time of the Oppression of Jabin chapter I verse 1 or the Midianites Ephrathites Ch. IV. 11. Bethlehem was called Ephrath verse 2 Gen. XXXV 19. Micah V. 2. Matth. II. 6. Of Bethlehem Judah To distinguish it from Bethlehem in the Tribe of Zebulun Josh. XIX 15. And these persons from those of the Tribe of Ephraim who were likewise called Ephrathites 1 King XI 26. Ruth The subject matter not the Author of this Book verse 4 Mothers house I am but your Mother-in-Law verse 8 Moe sons in my womb See Deut. XXV verse 11 5 6. And unto her gods Orpha's idolatrous inclination verse 15 Returne thou As Josh. XXIV 19. Testified against me As a witnesse of his just displeasure verse 21 and my sinne Barley-harvest Part of our March and April Lev. XXIII 10 verse 22 15 16. Let me gleane Her modesty notwithstanding the Law chapter II verse 7 Lev. XIX 9 10. and XXIII 22. An 20. Ephah See the Observations on Exod. XVI 36. One of our next kinsmen Who hath right to redeem verse 17 c. And ought also to marry the Widow of his Kinsman verse 20 being dead without issue Levit. XXV 25 26. Deut. XXV 5 6 7. Mar. XII 19. Uncover his feet Naomi well knew the piety and chastity of Boaz chapter III verse 4 and of Ruth and confidently trusted therein Spread therefore thy skirt Receive me into thy protection by taking me to be thy wife verse 9 according to the Law Lie down untill the morning Boaz not offended with this maner of her approach verse 13. 14. and motion Not be known Boaz then did lie alone in a roome by himself and is careful to avoid scandal Six See the Observations on Gen. XVIII 6. verse 15
in the Ark and Dedication of the Temple and Solomons sacrifices and his solemne Prayer upon his brazen scaffold might then and thereby become the greater and more illustrious 1 King VIII 1 66. 2 Chron. V. and VI. and VII chapters It began the seventh or eighth day of that moneth for on the fifteenth day began the Feast of Tabernacles And in relation to these two Feasts are those fourteen dayes mentioned 1 King VIII 65. 2 Chron. VII ver 8 9. And on the twenty third day of that moneth the people were dismissed 2 Chron. VII 10. the eighth day of the later Feast 1 King VIII 66. House of the Forrest of Lebanon This was built in Jerusalem chapter VII verse 2 See ver 6 7 8. His dwelling House and Throne not farre from it and golden shields in it 1 King X. 16 17. And there seazed on by the King of Egypt 2 Chron. XII 9 10. It seemes so called as being a kinde of abridgement of that famous Forrest afarre off from Jerusalem and containing in it and in the Groves and Gardens about it all the delights and pleasures of that Forest in solitary walks sweet smels musick of birds and sight of wilde-beasts c. See my Annotations on Zech. XI 1. where conceiving this House to be built in that Forest not in Jerusalem upon further consideration I think good to retract that opinion here Two thousand Baths Bath the measure of Liquid things verse 26 as Epha of Dry Both of the same capacity This Sea had ordinarily put into it two thousand Baths or five hundred Barrels reckoning eight gallons to the Bath and four Baths to the Barrel But this Sea being filled up to the brim it might containe three thousand Baths 2 Chron. IV. 5. or seven hundred and fifty Barrels with water drawn out of it by Cocks or otherwayes the Priests washed c. Ten Lavers But one in the Tabernacle verse 38 Exod. XXX 18. Here are ten Lavers besides the Sea And so of the Candlesticks and Tables there were ten in the Temple to one in the Tabernacle 1 King VII 49. 2 Chron. IV. 8. Each Laver contained fourty Baths Bowles of pure Gold Of Gold belonging to the Altar of Incense verse 50 1 Chron. XXVIII 17. Some of Silver 1 Chron. XXVIII 16. And as those given by the twelve Princes Num. VII 13 85. Some of Brasse for the Brazen Altar Exod. XXXVIII 3 Num. IV. 14. 1 King VII 45. And for the Vessels of the Temple See on Jer. LII 17 23. Pleased him not King Hiram chapter IX verse 12 though displeased with the twenty Cities given him by Solomon in the Land of Galilee yet pleaseth to restore them to him in love 2 Chron. VIII 2. A tribute of bond-service These here mentioned verse 21 and their posterity seeme to be called Solomons servants Ezra II. 55 58. Neh. VII 57 60. and XI 3. Gold from Ophir So gold from Uphaz chapter X verse 11 Jer. X. 9. and Gold of Ophir Psal. XLV 9. and Gold of Uphaz Dan. X. 5. and Gold of Sheba Ps. LXXII 15. and Gold of Parvaim 2 Chron. III. 6. And these are taken for the finest Gold 1 King X. 18. compared with 2 Chron. IX 17. Job XXII 24. But whether these places be Peru in America or Fez in Africa or Sumatra or Taprobane or in Arabia or elsewhere according to our moderne names is in these dayes altogether doubtful Tarshish The name of one of the sonnes of Javan verse 22 Gen. X. 4. whose posterity as some imagine planted in that part of Spaine where a Citie and Region adjacent thence took the denomination of Tartesus and Tartesia afterwards Or rather as others conceive they seated themselves in Cilicia and gave this name of Tarshish as to the whole Region so specially to the chief City and Port-towne there afterwards called Tarsus the place of Pauls birth Acts XXI 39. and XXII 3. And that thence the Midland Sea which bordered upon that port and territorie was called Tarshish and the ships either belonging to that Port or trading to and fro in that Sea were thence called ships of Tarshish Esay II. 16. yea sometimes Tarshish seemes to denote the Arabian and Persian Gulphs the Ocean either Westerne or Easterne Ezek. XXVII 12. or any great Sea as likewise Pontus doth in Latine And ships of Tarshish to be vessels of great bulk and burden fit to traverse and traffick in any such Sea 1 King X. 22. Silver to be in Jerusalem as stones The Israelites ripe for Rebellion verse 27 complain so much of their Oppressions in Solomons peaceable rich glorious reigne 1 King X. 27. and XII 4. 2 Chron. I. 15. and VIII 8 9. Loved many strange women Wise Solomons chapter XI verse 1 or Jedidiah's Fall is wonderful yet his Repentance not to be doubted of as appears in the Book of Ecclesiastes in 2 Sam. VII 14 15. 1 Chron. XXII 10. and XXVIII 6. and XVII 13 14. 2 Chron. XI 17. 2. Pet. I. 21. One Tribe Not one whole Tribe verse 32 but that of Judah only did stick to Rehoboam and the House of David after Solomons reigne 1 King XI 32 36. and XII 20. 2. King XVII v. 18. Yet see 2 Chr. XI 13 17. And hence begin those three hundred and ninty dayes in Ezek. IV. 5. See the Annotations there Rehoboam Rehoboam is the only sonne we read of that Solomon had verse 43 for all his shameful number of Wives and Concubines And there is mention made only of two of his daughters 1 King IV. 11 15. set down in that chapter by Anticipation This Rehoboam is said to be young and tender-hearted 2 Chron. XIII 7. young in experienced wisdome when yet at that time he was fourty one years of age 2 Chron. XII 13. being borne in the first year of his young wise father Solomons reigne He foolishly forsook the counsel of the old men 1 King XII 8 13 14. to the losse of the ten parts of his Kingdome Yet afterwards he is said to deal wisely 2 Chron. XI 23. In Bethel chapter XII verse 29 and the other put he in Dan In the South and North borders of his kingdome And yet Bethel being in the Tribe of Benjamin Bethel was taken from him in his own dayes by Abijah 2 Chron. XIII 19. And Dan was smitten by Benhadad in the dayes of Asa and Baasha soone after 1 King XV. 20. Bethel Though Bethel be sometimes called Bethaven in the Prophets verse 32 as Hos. IV. 15. and V. 8. and X. 5 15. and Aven chap. X. 8. As Mount Olivet of Mount Mischa is called Mount Maschith 2 King XXIII 13. Yet were there Bethel and Bethaven two distinct neighbouring townes or Cities Josh. VII 2. and XVIII 12. 1 Sam. XIII 5. and chap. XIV 23. a childe Fulfilled 2 King XXIII 15 16 17. Samaria Samaria so called by Anticipation chapter XIII verse 2 as Bethel Gen. XII 8. And sundry other places in Scripture verse 32 Not that they had
be not meant hereby that part of Media which from this deportation seemes to be called Syromedia For Media belonged to the Kingdome of Assyria 2 King XVII 6. But Cyrene never being very farre distant from it Of the Altar Of Urijahs new Altar made by the command of King Ahaz verse 14 by the patterne of the Altar of Damascus Urijah the Priest This might be that Uriah verse 15 Esay VIII 2 unfaithful to God a fawning parasite to the wicked King but no wayes appears to be the High Priest Covert for the Sabbath A Covert for the Priests and Porters likely on the Sabbath verse 18 or a retiring place covered over to keep from winde and raine 2 Chron. XXVIII 24. in the City of David But not in the Sepulchers of the Kings verse 20 2 Chron. XXVIII 27. but not as Hosheah was the best of the Kings of Israel chapter XVII verse 2 And yet with him and in him that Kingdome was extirpated Carried Israel away into Assyria See the Observations on chap. verse 6 XV. 19. They feared the Lord The same Idolaters are said to Fear the Lord verse 32 34 And not to Fear the Lord 2 King XVII 32 33 34. Their folly is derided Ier. X. 3 4 5 8 9 14 15. Hezekiah Godly Hezekiah the son of most wicked Ahaz chapter XVIII verse 1 2 Chron. XXVIII 22. And father of a like wicked Manasseh 2 King XXIV 3. 2 Chron. XXXIII And godly Iosiah not much unlike He is a Type of Christ Esay XXXII 1. twenty five years old And therefore was borne in the eleventh yeare of his father Ahaz verse 2 because Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reigne and reigned sixteen years 2 King XVI 2. In all thirty six when he died Out of which take the foresaid twenty five and so Hezekiah must be borne in the eleventh aforesaid A thing not impossible But to make Ahaz to be twenty not when himself but his father Iotham began to reigne as it wresteth the Text so it implies an utter impossibility because Iotham was but twenty five years old when he himself began to reigne 2 King XV. 33. which thing was not well considered by the excellent Tremellius when he asserted that opinion nor is it much favoured though noted by our Annotators on 2 King XVI 2. In the fourteenth year Sennacherib comes up against Hezekiah verse 13 and partly prevailes against him See the causes of this his warre in the learned Annotations on Esay XXXVI 1. And in the later end of that year Hezekiah fell sick for he had 15. years added to his life 2 King XX. 6. which make up the twenty nine of his reigne And in this time of his sicknesse he had no some because Manasseh his eldest sonne was borne three years after this sicknesse being but twelve years old when his father Hezekiah died 2 King XXI 1. a Signe The present plenty chapter XIX verse 29 notwithstanding the Sabbatical year and the enemies abode and waste made in the Land should be a Signe to them for confirmation of the truth of Gods Promise for the overthrow of Sennacherib and their deliverance Of Signes see these Observations on Exod. III. 12. and on 2 King XX. 9. Camp of the Assyrians Either before Libnah verse 35 or Jerusalem or both 2 Chron. XXXII 9. See the Observations on Esay XXXVII 36. his sonnes These words have an empty place left for them in the Hebrew Tex verse 37 and are printed only in the margent But they are in the Text XXXVII 38. ten degrees This choise was given to Hezekiah about mid-day chapter XX verse 9 when the shadow of the Sunne might go forward or backward ten degrees on the Dial of Ahaz a famous Dial haply mural and haply visible to Hezekiah out of his bed-chamber and so likewise in all other Dials distinguished into half hours as that of Ahaz was And so ten degrees make five hours And the Miracle was not only in the Shadow going backward but in the Sunne also going backward ten degrees though whether in an instant or in the set course of time or its ordinary continual motion is not certaine Esay XXXVIII 8. Which made the Ambassadors of the Princes of Babylon to be sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land 2 Chron. XXXII 31. See on Esay XXXVIII 8. Altars Idolatrous Altars chapter XXI verse 3 and Images set up in the House of the Lord ver 4 5 7. eighteenth year From this famous year chapter XXII verse 3 both those thirty years Ezek. I. 1. And those fourty dayes or years of the sinne of Judah chap. IV. 6. seeme to take their rise and reckoning the Book of the Law The knowledge of it verse 8 and the Lawes in it seemes a rare and strange thing as at other times so in the dayes of good Josiah 2 King XXII 10 11. 2 Chron. XXXIV 19 21. notwithstanding that Law Deut. XXXI 10 11. in peace Josiah died in peace verse 20 according to the Promise not seeing the Evils to come though he was slaine in battel 2 King XXII 20. and XXIII 29. 2 Chron. XXXIV 28. Topheth Called Tophte chapter XXIII verse 10 Esay XXX 33. The name is from Toph signifying a Drum Tabret or Timbrel such as idolatrous Priests used to beat upon in the time of their detestable sacrificing of children to Moloch to drowne their skrikes and cries Levit. XX. 2. 2 Chron. XXVIII 3. and XXXIII 6. 2 King XVI 3. and XXI 6. Psal. CVI. 38. This the Jewes learned from the Heathen Deut. XII 31. This Tophet stood in a pleasant valley on the South-side of Jerusalem Josh. XV. 8. and chap. XVIII 16. Belonging to one Hinnom and his sons and called therefore the valley of Hinnom Gehinnom or Ge-bene-Hinnom the valley of the sonnes of Hinnom Whence the Greek and Latin take the word Gehenna and use it for Hell fitly resembled by such a Type for the horrid acts and sufferings used therein Matth. XVIII 8 9. Mar. IX 43 48. James III. 6. And allusion is made hereunto Matth. V. 22. This place was defiled and destroyed by Josiah in this Text. See the Annotations on Esay XXX 33. and on Jer. VII 31. Jehoahaz Called also Joachaz verse 31 and Johanan and in the opinion of the most and best Shallum likewise The Prophesie concerning Shallum Jer. XXII 10 11 12. best agreeing to him And supposing that Shallum the fourth sonne of Josiah mentioned 1 Chron. III. 15. to be dead before his father yet under the name of Johanan he is called the first-borne of Joâ—â—h 1 Chron. III. 15. in respect likely that he first succeeded him in his throne 2 Chron. XXXVI 1. Of him see Ezek. XIX 3 4. Jehojakim Jehojakim called also Joachim verse 36 and Eliakim as Solomon was also called Iedidiah and Lemuel was the eldest sonne of Iosiah Of him and his Burial we read Ier. XXII 19. and XXXVI 30. 2 Chron. XXXVI 5 6. Ezek. XIX 5
9. Iehojakim In his fourth chapter XXIV verse 1 year or third complete and 1. of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel was carried captive Dan. I. 1 6. Ezekiel and Mordecai with Iehojachin Ezek. XL. 1. Esther II. 5 6. Of Ezechiel see the Argument of his Book Iehojacin Called likewise Coniah verse 6 and Iechoniah 1 Chron. III. 16. Ier. XXII 28 Of his age at the beginning of his reigne See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXXVI 9. He was carried captive into Babylon in the seventh ending and eighth year beginning of Nebuchadnezzars reigne ver 12. Ier. LII 28. And his head lifted up againe in the thirty seventh year of his captivity twelfth moneth on the twenty fifth and twenty seventh day and first year of Evilmerodach 2 King XXV 27. Ier. LII 31. Zedekiah rebelled Zedekiah rebelled in his sixth year verse 20 Ezek. XVII 15 17. compared with Ezek. VIII 1. and XX. 1. the second Priest Grounded on Num. chapter XXV verse 8 III. 32. And mentioned as here So Ier. LII 24. See 2 King XXIII 4. and the like 1 Chron. V. 12. This second Priest upon any extraordinary occasion and occurrent restraining or disabling the High Priest seemes set to supply his place to Riblah See the Observations on Num. XXXIV 11. THE Books of Chronicles do chiefly pursue the Histories of the Kings of Judah And yet are more sparing in relating the sinnes of David and Solomon These are not those Chronicles often cited in the Books of Kings as hath been shewed heretofore But these are thought to be written by Ezra 2 Chron. XXXVI 22 23. Ezra I. 1 2 3 And that after the return from the Babylonish captivity Yet some things are inserted which extend beyond Ezra's time as that 1 Chron. III. 21 24. In these Books as in an Abridgement the holy Penman is sometimes short and obscure But in the Histories of the Kings of Judah full and exact Take the periods of times from the Creation to the year of Returne from the Babylonish Captivity And so these Books containe an History of 3458. years The first Book 2986. to the death of David Thus Genesis 2369 Exodus 142 Levit Num. Deut. 39. Joshuah 17. Judges 299. 1 Sam. 80. 2 Sam. 40. In all 2986. The second Book 472. from the beginning of Solomons reigne to the said year of Returne Others reckon thus 3467. in the whole 2990. in the first Book 477. in the second Book Others and that most likely 2986. in the first Book And 466. in the second Book viz. from the first of Solomon to the seventeenth of Jehoshaphat 118. Thance to the Captivity in the first of Nebuchadnezzar and fourth of Iehojakim 278. Thence to the Returne 70. In all 466. And so the whole in both Books will amount to 3452. The first Book mentions occasionally some things long after Davids death as the Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the Returne from Babylon chap. IX And Zerubbabels posterity long after that chap. III. I. Chronicles IN the Genealogies of the first eight Chapters the Tribes of Dan and Zebulon are left out Edom chapter I verse 43 Eight Kings in Edom before any in Israel Sisters of David Zerviah bare Abishai Ioab Asahel Abigail bare Amasa 2 Sam. chapter II verse 16 17. XVII 25 Caleb Three Calebs famous in Israel first the sonne of Hezron verse 18 in this Text called also Carmi and Chelubai chap. II. 9. and IV. 1. who had a sonne called Hur And this Hur a sonne called also Caleb chap. II. 9 19 50. who is the second Caleb And the third is that famous Caleb the sonne of Iephunne Num. XIII 6. 1 Chron. IV. 15. The sonnes of David See the Observations on 1 Sam. chapter III verse 1 9. XVI 11. verse 17 Salatheil Hebrew Shealtiel said to be the sonne of Iechoniah Matth. I. 12. And so here sonne of Iechoniah Assir that is strictly bound prisoner in Babylon For we read not of any sonne called Assir that Iechoniah had yet this Salathiel is named the sonne of Neri Luke III. 27. who came by many descents of another line that is of Nathan the younger brother of Solomon from which line came our Saviour and not of Solomons line And though Iechoniah may seeme to have seed and sonnes more out of Ier. XXII 28 30. and 1 Chron. III. 17 18. Yet he is doomed childlesse Ier. XXII 29 30. because neither Salathiel if he were his sonne nor any of Iechoniah's race Zedekiah the last King being Uncle to Iechoniah did succeed him in the Regality to sit on the throne of David though in a kinde of soveraignty as Zerubbabel the sonne or grandchilde rather of Salathiel by Pedaiah did succeed in regard of which successions both Salathiel and after also Zerubbabel may be called sonnes See Ezra III. 2 8. and V. 2. Neh. XII 1 Hag. I. 1 12 14. and II. 3. 24. Of Iehojakim the father of Iechoniah it is likewise said He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David that is for any time worth speaking of for his sonne Iechoniah reigned but three moneths and tenne dayes Ier. XXXVI 30. 2 Chron. XXXVI 9. Sonnes of Zerubbabel Among his sonnes verse 19 Abihud and Rhesa are not mentioned unlesse under other names nor else where found in the Old Testament And yet from them two the Genealogies Matth. I. 13. and Luke III. 27. are drawn and derived which makes some suppose that Zerubbabel and this here to be different persons Ezra Ezra not that learned Scribe chapter IV verse 17 Ezra VII 1. And in the last letter of this Hebrew name there is a difference from the name of the other in the dayes of Hezekiah The Simeonites lying within the inheritance and lot of the Tribe of Iudah verse 41 Iosh. XIX 9. were not carried away Captive by the Assyrians but continuing in their estate sought to enlarge their territories as is here mentioned Amalekites They bordered on mount Seir. verse 43 These the first that fought against Israel Num. XXIV 20. And after joyned oft with other enemies against Gods people They were overthrown by Ioshuah Exod. XVII 13. Saul in his time was sent against them destroyed many but spared Agag their King and for so doing lost his own Kingdome 1 Sam. XV. and chap. XXVIII 18. David afterwards destroyed more of them 2 Sam VIII 12. And here the Simeonites in the dayes of Hezekiah smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped Thus the judgement denounced against them Exod. XVII 14 16. Deut XXV 17 18 19. was accomplished See the Observations on Esth. III. 1. King of Assyria This Catalogue we finde in Scripture of the Kings of Assyria chapter V verse 26 Pul or Phul in the dayes of Menachem so here and 2 King XV 19. Tiglath-Pileser in the dayes of Pekah and Achaz so here and 2 King XV. 29. and XVI 7 10. Jareb Hos. V. 13. and X. 16. Sargon Esay XX. 1. Shalmanesar called Shalman Hos. X. 14. Who took Hoshea and Samaria 2 King XVII 3 4. and
verse 9 The Princes by their authority and in the Kings name made way for them so to do with the better courage countenance and successe Philistines These verse 11 and the Arabians subdued by Asa chap. XIV 14 15. Numbers See the Observations on chap. verse 14 XIII 3. Waited Waited in their Courses verse 19 some at one time some at another Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat marries his sonne Jehoram to Athaliah chapter XVIII verse 1 Ahabs daughter And this in the eighth year of Jehoshaphats reign as appears by the age of Ahaziah succeeding his father Jehoram in the Kingdome when he was two and twenty years old 2 Kings VIII 18 26 27. 2 Chron. XXII 2. with chap. XXI 5. went down to Ahab In the twenty two and last year of Ahabs reign verse 2 and life And in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat Ramoth Gilead See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 28. at a venture Gods Providence verse 33 See the Observations on Ester V. 8. and on Ezek. I. 18. Wrath Wrath deserved by him chapter XIX verse 2 and appearing on him chapter XVIII 31 and XX. 1. from Beershebah to Mount Ephraim The South and North borders of the Kingdome of Judah verse 4 set As Jehoshaphats Commission for teaching throughout the Kingdome was chap. verse 8. 11. XVII 9. So here is his High-Commission-Court at Jerusalem 2 Chron. XIX 8 11. following therein the Ordinance of Moses Deut. XVII and XIX See the Observations on Deut. XVII 8 13. Hazazon-Tamar Gen. chapter XX verse 2 XIV 7. Called also Engedi a Citie of the tribe of Judah Josh. XV. 62. thy friend So Esay XLI verse 7 8. James II. 23. cliffe of Ziz And so the Wildernesse of Jervel verse 16 both in the tribe of Judah near Tekoah and Berakah ver XX. 26. Korhites Korhites that descended of that Korah the sonne of Izhar the sonne of Kohath swallowed up of the earth Num. XVI 1. 32. These were singers in the Temple and some of them Porters Praise the Lord Psal. verse 21 CXXXVI So chap. XXIX 27. began to sing In assurance of victory verse 22 three dayes A rich spoile verse 25 of Jehu See the Annotations on chap. verse 34 XIX 2. in the book 1 King XVI 1. joyned himself Jehoshaphat first verse 36 it seemes refusing to have Ahaziah to joyne with him to make ships to go to Tarshish 1 Kings XXII 49. doth at last yeeld and is reproved by Eliezer and the ships are broken Not that he joyned first and refused after upon the Prophets reproof for then the ships might well have been unbroken But however Here the good King falls once and again into the same fault of joyning himself with wicked Ahaziah as formerly he had done with wicked Ahab chap. XVIII 1 2 3. and chap. XIX 2. As we see the like in Abraham Gen. XII 13. with chap. XX. 2. Jehoshaphat King of Israel Jehoshaphat here is called King of Israel chapter XXI verse 2 that being then a distinct Kingdome from his So again are the Princes called ver 4. And Ahaz likewise 2 Chron. XXVIII 19 27. And Darius is called King of Assyria Ezra VI. 22. And Artaxerxes King of Babylon Neh. XIII 6. As indeed the Persian Monarchs were the rightful Kings of Persia Assyria and Babylon or Chaldea Of names see more in the Annotations on 2 Chron. XXIV 20. of his father After his father Jehoshaphats death verse 4 In his fathers life-time Jehoram carried himself better both as Viceroy and King slew all his brethren And see Gods judgements upon his sonnes ver 17. and his grand-children chap. XXII 10 11. only Jehoahaz or Ahaziah or Azariah left of the one and Joash of the other compelled By force and persecutions verse 11 A most wicked sonne of a godly father A writing to him from Elijah Written in the life-time of Elijah verse 12 15. who died before Jehoshaphat 2 Kings III. 11. Left and directed to Jehoram or for him who would not endure the Reproof of a living Prophet Therein prophesying and foretelling Jehorams Sinnes and Punishments Amongst other his wickednesses He shew all his brethren the sonnes of Jehoshaphat 2. Chron. XXI 4. And his sons were all slaine by the Philistines and Arabians but Ahaziah the youngest called also Jehoachaz 2 Chron. XXI 17. and Azariah chap. XXII 6 7. 2 Chron. XXI 17. and XXII 1. And Ahaziah was slaine by Jehu 2 Chron. XXII 9. when he was twenty three years old 2 Kings VIII 26. And the sonnes of Ahaziah were slaine by their grand-mother Athaliah save Joash that was hid from her and after crowned King and at last slaine by his own servants 2 Chron. XXIV 24 25. We read that Josiah and Cyrus by their names were prophesied of many ages before they were borne But their good deeds were foretold not any evill of them as of idolatrous bloody Jehoram here Elisha foretels Hazael face to face of his bloodinesse and evil that he would do to the children of Israel 2 King VIII 12. Arabians near the Ethiopians See the Observations on Gen. verse 16 II. 13. he reigned Iehoram of Iudah his Life verse 20 Death Burial Fourty and two Clear it is chapter XXII verse 2 That Iehoram the father of Ahaziah was but fourty years old when he died chap. XXI 5. And that Ahaziah himself was but twenty two years old when he began to reigne 2 Kings VIII 26. But it was in the two and fourtieth year of the continuance of the Crown in Omri and his race from whom Ahaziah descended by his mother Athaliah 2 Kings VIII 18 26. And the Hebrew expression by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sonne together with a trajection of some clauses in this verse do render this interpretation the more passable And a like passage we finde as hath been shewed in chap. XVI 1. And such trajections are used 1 Sam. XX. 16. Ezra X. 17. Neh. XII 22. Athaliah Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah and wife of Jehoram the sonne of Jehoshaphat and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and grandchilde of Omri in Samaria Not in the Citie verse 9 but in the Kingdome of Samaria 2 Kings IX 27. Sonne of Jehoshaphat Grandchilde So daughter for grandchilde verse 2. A phrase usuall in Scripture seed royal Sonnes of Ahaziah verse 10 ver 11. likely by other women of the King Jehoram verse 11 and sister of Ahaziah as is expressed in this verse Of the Priests chapter XXIII verse 4 and of the Levites They the Prime men in the deposing of Athaliah and crowning of Joash guarding the gates and compassing the King round about with weapons in hand their courses being not dismissed and others of them gathered out of all the Cities of Iudah gate of the foundation Called Shur verse 5 2 Kings XI 6. the high or higher gate 2 Kings XV. 35. 2 Chron. XXVII 3. Of the Gates of the Temple and Courts See the Annotations on Ezek. VIII 3. See also Ezek. VIII 5. 14. and chap. IX 2. and chap. XL.
This Reformation and Covenant made verse 8 and Passeover kept chap. XXXV 19. And yet from this or rather from the twelfth year above mentioned begins that reckoning of the sinne of Iudah Ezek. IV. 6. For under so good a King yet the people continued obstinately wicked as appears in Ieremie who began to prophesie in the thirteenth year of Iosiah's reigne Ier. I. 2. and XXV 3. and ch III. 6. And Iosiah only caused and made them outwardly to obey 2 Chron. XXXIV 32 33. the Houses The Houses of the Priests which adjoyned to the Temple and of the Levites which adjoyned to the Courts Levites Scribes 1 Chron. verse 13 XXIV 6. Ezra VII 6. 21. Neh. VIII 9. and chap. XII 26. and XIII 13. See the Annotation on 1 Kings IV. 3. More fully thus we read in the Old Testament of severall persons that were Scribes some Scribes of Kings or their Secretaries So David had one And Solomon two Ioash one 2 Kings XII 10. Iosiah one 2 Kings XXII 3. Of Ionathan Davids Uncle that he was a Counseller a wise man and a Scribe 1 Chron. XXVII 32. And of Baruch that he was Ieremies Scribe And of families of Scribes that dwelt at Jabez in the tribe of Iudah and were of the posterity of Iethro 1 Chron. II. 55. But why so called or what their Office was whether as Publike Notaries Scriveners or Transcribers of the Law or what else it appears not Here in Iosiah's time we finde that in his businesse of repairing the house of the Lord there were appointed of the Levites Scribes And in Nehemiah's time he made Treasurers over the Treasuries in the Lords House Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the Scribe And in his time also was that famous Ezra a Priest sonne of the High Priest Serajah slaine by Nebuchadnezzar and the same a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses a Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven of the words of the Commandments of the Lord and of his Statutes to Israel and the same a publick Reader and Teacher of the Law In the New Testament we finde them much more mentioned and to be of more esteeme and themselves affected Preheminence and precedencies Mark XII 38 39. Here they are often joyned with the Chief Priests and Elders and often with the Pharisees They pretended to extraordinary holinesse as the Pharisees did whence is that Matth. V. 20. and Acts XXIII 9. They were of the Pharisees part against the Sadduces Yea he that is called a Scribe Marke XII 28. the same is called a Pharisee and a Lawyer Matth. XXII 34 35. We read not that they were of the Sect of the Sadduces or Essenes But we finde them to joyne with all the rest to question to pose and oppose our Saviour to entangle and insnare him by Questions to charge his miracles to be done by Belzebub Himself with Blasphemy to apprehend and binde him to condemne him in the Councel to deliver him to Pilate to accuse him before Herod to prosecute him to death to mock him upon the Crosse. And we finde that these Scribes sate in Moses-chair Matth. XXIII 2. and were Preachers and Teachers of the people Mat. VII 29. and XIII 52. And likely were all of the tribe of Levi. rent his clothes See the Annotations on 2 Kings XXII 8. verse 19 Huldah the Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 22 III. 4. The High Priest Hilkiah is here sent to her she being an extraordinary Prophetesse so near at hand Put the holy Ark It might be put out of his place chapter XXXV verse 3 in the dayes of his wicked father if not of his grandfather Passeover-Offerings So ver verse 8 9. in the Feast of Unleavened bread for the seven dayes After all this Thirteen years after the foresaid Passeover verse 20 that being in the eighteenth and this in the thirty one and last year of his reigne by Euphrates Heb. Phrat or Prat or Perath the fourth river in Eden Gen. II. 14. usually called the River and the great River made one of the Boundaries of the Promised Land Gen XV. 18. Deut. 1. 7 and chap. XI 24. Iosh. I. 4. 2. Chron. IX 26. Cut by Cyrus into severall Channels when he lay in siege before Babylon which stood upon it and so by him much dreyned and dried Ier. L. 38. See 1 Chron. XVIII 3. Ier. XIII 4. and chap. LI. 63. Apoc. IX 14. and Chap. XVI 12. See on Dan. IV. 30. Megiddo See the Annotations on Zech. verse 22 XII 11. to carrie him But he died by the way chapter XXXVI verse 6 Jer. XXII 18 19. Eight years old when he He was eighteen when himself began to reigne verse 9 2 Kings XXIV 8. And but eight then when his father began to reigne The like relative sense may that speech admit 2 Kings XVI 2. no remedy Desperate sinners procure implacable wrath verse 16 irrevocable exterminating judgements Kingdome of Persia See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Ezra verse 20 threescore and ten years For the beginning of these verse 21 see the Annotations on Dan. IX 2. rather then those on Zech. VII 3. yet many learned are of the later opinion Ezra THE Book of Ezra contains an History of seventy years viz. from the first of Cyrus or his Proclamation chap. I. 1. to the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus upon this Accompt viz. Cyrus seven Cambyses seven Smerdis one Darius Hystaspis thirty six Xerxes twelve of Artaxerxes Longimanus seven where Ezra end Or premising two of Darius Medus before Cyrus it comes to seventy two The four last Chapters containe the History but of that one year concerning Ezra which was in that seventh year of Artaxerxes See chap. VII 7 9. and chap. VIII 15 21 31 32 33. and chap. X. 8 9 16 17. But the six first Chapters are extended by some otherwise learned men yet upon lesse probable grounds to a farre larger scope of time even to one hundered thirty eight or one hundred fourty five years And they end the Book with the nineteenth year of Artaxerxes Mnemon which seemes cleane contrary to the Text chap. VII 7 8. For the clearer knowledge of divers things in this Book as likewise in Nehemy and Esther A Catalogue of the Persian Monarchs and of the years of their Reignes is very useful which out of the best Authors with very little variation may be as followeth  years Darius Medus 2 Cyrus 7 Cambyses 7 Smerdis 1 Darius Hystaspis 36 Xerxes 12 Artaxerxes Longimanus 48 Xerxes 1 Sogdianus 1 Darius Ochus seu Nothus 19 Artazerxes Mnemon 43 Darius Ochus 23 Arsen 3 Darius Codomannus 5 And so the Persian Monarchy continued two hundred and eight years or there about In this Book of Ezra there is mention made of six Persian Monarchs first of Cyrus chap. I. 1. secondly of Darius ch IV. 5. thirdly of Ahasuerus chap. IV. 6. fourthly of Artaxerxes chap. IV. 7. fifthly of another Darius chap. IV. 24. and
Temple verse 12 which was burnt but fifty two years before wept at the laying of the foundation of this Temple either at the remembrance of the wondrous glory of the former Temple so burnt and consumed and considering the small Preparations and Meanes for the building and furnishing of this Ezra I. 4 6 68 69. and chap. VI. 8 9. and chap. VII 15 22. and chap. VIII 25 26 27. 33 34. Neh. VII 70 71 72. in comparison of those for the former Temple Hag. II. 3. In which case God comforts them Hag. II. 7 9. Zech. IV. 6 10. and VIII 6 9. Mal. III. 1. Or else seeing these foundation-stones not so goodly and precious as those were known to be that were in Solomons Temple 1 Kings VII 9 10. For as for the largenesse and compasse of the foundation it was not inferiour to that of Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. Yea far superiour if that Decree of Cyrus and the record of it found by Darius Ezra VI. 1 2 3. mistake not and the Cubits be the same Esar-haddon The sonne of Sennacherib chapter IV verse 2 2 Kings XIX 37. and grandchild of Salmaneser And this seemes to be the last of the Assyrian Kings And the same with Asnapper and to be him that carried Manasseh prisoner to Babylon then under the Assyrian Empire 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. And is likely the man whom Ptolomie calls Assaradinus and the Greeks Sardanapalus of Sar for Esar haddon and Pul Pul being much used in the names of the Assyrian and Chaldean Kings Brought us up hither So that those adversaries ver 1. seeme to be the race of those Samaritanes brought in by Salmanesar 2 Kings XVII 6 24. Or a second kinde of plantation by his grandchilde ver 9. which ever continued fierce enemies to the Jewes whatever they mischeivously pretend here John IV. 9. Luke IX 52 53. And this makes that Answer returned to them here ver 3. Darius Hystaspis Ahasuerus Ahasuerus seemes most probably to be the man whom Heathen Authors call Smerdis Magus verse 5 the sonne of Cyrus and younger brother of Cambyses verse 6 reigning a very short time Artaxerxes As they had formerly done in the dayes of this Artaxerxes verse 7 who most likely is Cambyses For to understand this of Artaxerxes Longimanus and much more of Artaxerxes Mnemon And the Temple to be builded in the dayes of Darius Nothus and much more of Darius Ochus will no wayes stand with these Scriptures and the notation of times contained in them Zech. III. 9. and Hag. II. 3. Syrian tongue Hebr. Aramite This was in ordinary use under the Assvrian Chaldean and Persian Monarchy Esay XXXVI 11. Dan. II. 4. This we commonly call the Chaldee tongue It differs from the Hebrew Dialect Esay XXVIII 11. and chap. XXXIII 13. and XXXVI 11. Yet in the dayes of our Saviour it grew common among the Jewes also and is in that regard called the Hebrew tongue in the New Testament John XIX 13 17. Acts XXI 40. and XXII 2. Rehum This verse 8 and all the rest to chap. VI. 19. is penned in the Chaldee Dialect And so chap. VII 11 -27. building the rebellious and the bad Citie So ver verse 12 13. and 16. They only went about to build the Temple the river So chap. V. 6. Jordan verse 16 or rather Euphrates ver 17. and 20. From Persia it is beyond the river work of the House of God Though their Letter verse 24 and the Kings Answer mention only the Citie yet they extend it here to the House of God Zechariah He is called the sonne chapter V verse 1 of Iddo And Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel ver 2. And they were indeed their grandchildren Zech. I. 1. 1 Chron. III. 17 18 19. Tatnai He verse 6 and Shethar-boznai deale more fairly and truly with the Jews in their letter to Darius then Rehum and Shimsai did in theirs to Artaxerxes chap. IV. 12 16. And they make mention only of the House of God and not of the Citie untill now But hindered and inhibited in the meane time verse 16 chap. IV. 21 22. in Babylon Or concerning Babylon chapter VI verse 1 Achmetha Called by Heathen Authors Ecbatana signifying a Summer seat for coole refreshing verse 2 In which Citie the Kings of Media kept their Court in the Summer season threescore Cubits Cubits likely are taken here for common Cubits half the length of sacred Cubits verse 3 which sacred Cubits were unknowne to Heathen And the number of them may be reckoned from the bottome of the foundation to the top on the outside and from the outsides of the Temple including the thicknesse of the walls and of the Chambers adjoyning And so this Temple will be lesse then Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. 2 Chron. III. 3. according to that Hag. II. 3. See the Annotations on this text and the Observations on Ch. III. 12. three rowes This relates to the Courts of the Temple verse 4 Let timber The great zeale of this King for the Temple verse 11 appears in this and other passages and Decrees in this his Letter Artaxerxes Likely one of the seven that put down Smerdis Magus and in a sort verse 14 at the beginning was fellow in Empire with Darius Hystaspides finished About twenty two years after their Returne verse 15 about twenty since the foundation was laid Offered not comparable to that verse 17 1 Kings VIII 5 63. 2 Chron. VII 5. 7. And the children From this verse to Chap. VII ver 11. the Text again is Hebrew verse 19 Killed Each family verse 20 or master of family must not kill it themselves as they did in Egypt But Gods Ministers Priests and Levites must do it 2. Chron. XXX 15 16 17. separated themselves unto them Heathen Proselytes verse 21 King of Assyria See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXI 2. verse 22 Artaxerxes chapter VII verse 1 Longimanus Ezra See the Observations touching him in the beginning of this his Book Azariah Six generations here omitted verse 3 1 Chron. VI. ver 7 8 9 10 11. And three generations omitted between Jeroam and Pashur 1 Chron. IX 12. compared with Neh. XI 12. And so three generations are omitted between Joram and Ozias Matth. I. 8 And all done for brevity sake conceiving those Omissions to be things evidently known or not so material to be there inserted King granted Ezra's extraordinary power and authority was from the Kings grant verse 6 and not otherwayes went up So backward were the Jewes in returning back to Judea after the Proclamation of Cyrus yea verse 7 the Priests and Levites themselves See Esther VIII 8 9. first Four moneths in going verse 9 King of Kings Ezek. XXVI 7. Dan. II. 37. verse 12 This whole Letter is in the Chaldean tongue seven Counsellors So Esther I. 14. verse 14 freely offered great zeale verse 15 and forwardnesse here ver 20 26. and 28. and chap. 8. 25 26 27. as was formerly in Darius chap. VI. 11. canst finde Grants
from those Ezra II. 68 69. And were made at another time verse 70 long after the other namely when Nehemie gathered the Nobles and Rulers together ver 5. seventh moneth Beginning with the Autumnal Equinoctial and was at first the first moneth but changed Exod. XII 1 2. The Jews being then in their Cities gathered themselves to Ierusalem ver 5. and chap. VIII 1 2. seventh moneth See more of this in the Annotations on 1 Kings VIII chapter VIII 2. and the Observations on Lev. XXIII ver 24. This was in the first year of Nehemiah's Government verse 2 Also Ieshuah Here are thirteen in several places at the same time with Ezra verse 7 reading and expounding the Law to the people ver 12. Wept As weeping at Prayer Ezra X. 1. So here weeping at Preaching ver 11. Second day Of this seventh moneth verse 13 feast On the fifteenth day verse 14 for seven dayes together Of this Feast see Levit. XXIII 34. Deut. XVI 13. roof of his house That were flat and most likely leaded verse 16 So Deut. XXII 8. 2 Sam. XI 2. Ier. XIX 13. and XXXII 29. Matth. X. 27. 2 Kings XXIII 12. Zeph. I. 5. Done so Making such Booths verse 17 and having an holy Convocation not only on the first and last day as the Law required but on every of the seven dayes ver 18. Eighth day Which likewise was injoyned by the Law verse 18 Levit. XXIII 36. twenty and fourth day The second day after the Feast of Tabernacles was ended chapter IX verse 1 separated themselves They had not yet fully performed what they had solemnly covenanted verse 2 Ezra X. 3. or soone fell into that sin again chap. XIII 23 24. And were also under the guilt of the breach of that Commandment Deut. XXIII 3. Hereupon they make an ample Confession of sinne of their fathers and their own in this Chapter and solemnly renew their Covenant with God for amendment in the next Chapter One fourth part Which is three hours verse 3 viz. those from our nine to twelve in reading and expounding another fourth part From twelve to three in prayer confessing and worshipping all the time between the morning and evening sacrifice spent in those two Ieshua Here are eight verse 4 in eight several places preaching to eight several Congregations bread water 1 Cor. verse 15 X. 2 3 4. Spiritual blessings also in them Appointed a Captaine This explaines that verse 17 Num. XIV 4. Seraiah Chap. chapter X verse 2 XI 11. The persons that sealed the Covenant are set down Priests twenty two Levites seventeen chief of the people fourty four did it in the name of all the rest entred into a curse As by Covenant verse 29 and Seale and Oath so by an Execration they bound themselves See Iudg. XXI 18. to observe The matter of the Covenant set forth afterwards in seven main branches third part of a Shekel A new Ordinance for this time and present necessity verse 32 year by year As so bound by the Law verse 35 Shall be with the Levites See Num. verse 38 XVIII 26 27 28 29. take Tythes Or rather give Tythes lots See the Annotations on Ionah I. chapter XI verse 1 7. This also was in the first year of Nehemiah's Government to dwell Chap. VII 4 the inhabitants few therefore here is care taken to increase the number and by lot to take one out of ten beside Volunteers Solomons servants See the Observations on 1 Kings IX 21. verse 3 at Ierusalem dwelt The inhabitants of Ierusalem after the Returne are recroded here verse 4 and 1 Chron. IX But with much variation And many more are recorded in that of 1 Chr. IX as intending there al promiscuously both such as were chosen by Lot and also Volunteers And moreover there is mention made of Ephraimites Menaschites Zerachites and others which are not once named here And also the accompt was taken likely at another time after the first Record in Nehemie chap. VII 5 c. Ophel See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXVII 3. verse 21 over the businesse These for the inward businesse of the house of God verse 22 to assist it in executing their function there as those Levites ver 16. had the oversight of the outward businesse of the house of God 1 Chron. IX 15 16. and chap. XXVI 29. the Kings commandment As formerly verse 23 Ezra VI. 8 9. and Ezra VII 2 24. So here by the Kings grant to Nehemiah Villages From the inhabitants of Ierusalem verse 25 he proceeds now to the inhabitants of other Cities Villages and places and first in the tribe of Iudah ver 25 30. Then in Benjamin ver 31 36. And of the Levites Cities verse 36 and Suburbs were given to the Levites in Iudah and Benjamin for the necessary use of instructing and teaching the people Priests The chief of them chapter XII ver 7. that came up with Zerubbabel and were in the dayes of Ieshua verse 1 in number twenty two Many of these Priests are not mentioned in that Catalogue Ezra II. 36 39. and might well be there left out without blame The Levites The chief of them in the foresaid time verse 8 in number eight ver 8 9. Ieshua Catalogue or Series of the High Priests from Ieshua or Ioshua to the end of the Persian Empire verse 10 from Cyrus to Alexander the Great in six generations ver 10 11. Of these Eliashib was allied to Tobia and Ioiada to Sanballet both alients and enemies to the Jewes chap. XIII 4 5 28 29. And Iaddua the last of them hath his name inserted here by some Prophet after the dayes of Ezra and Nehemiah too specialy if Nehemiah be the man that came up with Zerubbabel as hath been said in the Observations upon the beginning of this Book See them dayes of Iojakim The sonne of Ieshua verse 12 As formerly in his fathers dayes so here in his dayes the Prime Priests that were Heads of families those in his fathers time being supposed to be now dead are set down in number twenty from ver 12. to 21. These relate to those ver 1 7. Yet the number of the Courses of the Priests appointed by David was twenty four 1 Chron. XXIV 7 18. That the number of the Priests were now but few that place Ezra VIII 15. doth import The Levites The chief Fathers of them verse 22 in the times here mentioned recorded And so to be found registred by name in the publike records so as they need not here to be set down again also the Priests They likewise so recorded and so not needful to be here recited Darius Darius Codomannus the last Persian Emperour conquered by Alexander the Great in the Book of the Chronicles 1 Chron. IX 14 15 16. seeme to be related to in these words verse 23 for these Levites in the times of these High Priests Porters See 1 Chron. XXVI and chap. IX verse 25 Nehemiah It seemes hereby that Joshuah the High Priest was
and other qualities which he hath bestowed upon them in some whereof they farre excel men In all which particulars Iobs weaknesse and insufficiency doth more then sufficiently appear And will Iob then contend and debate his quarrel with God this God reprove him or think to apprehend or comprehend the invisible reasons of his proceedings Moreover Here the Lord calls upon Iob to answer chapter XL verse 1 turnes him over to his own desire chap. 13. 22. Then Iob Jobs Submission verse 3 Once His sinne is already too great in speaking presumptuously against Gods proceedings verse 5 He will do so no more Then Here the Lord proceeds yet further to presse Job verse 6 and convince him and humble him Where after his Preface in this verse and challenge in the next He reproves him thus Wilt thou disanul my judgement wilt thou condemne me that thou mayest be righteous ver 8. Wilt thou be like God ver 9. Then do as he doth ver 9 13. And so God will confesse it ver 14. Behold now Behemeth The Lord bids Job consider of the Elephant verse 15 and of Gods power in making such a creature which he describes and sets forth ver 15 24. Canst thou The Lord doth further argue by an instance in Leviathan chapter XLI the Whale verse 1 in this whole Chapter And shewes Jobs weaknesse to encounter and grapple with him by strength ver 1 10. And applies it thus Who then is able to stand before me ver 10 11. I will not Here followes a magnifical description of the Whale verse 12 of the particular parts and members of his body and of his qualifications and actions All to the end aforesaid ver 10 11. Yet Whales seeme now-a-dayes to be by Art more easily caught and conquered then they were in Jobs dayes Then Job Here Job makes a more full profession of his Repentance chapter XLII verse 1 ver 1 6. have I uttered More then was fitting verse 3 in things so farre above my capacity And it was so Gods sentence upon Jobs three friends ver 7 8 9. verse 7 seven bullocks A great sacrifice for sinne verse 8 a burnt offering There is in Leviticus a difference between Burnt-Offerings and Sinne and Trespasse-Offerings yet likely not known in Jobs time the Lord turned The restitution and restauration of Job after all his misery verse 10 ver 10 17. After this lived His age shewes probably that he lived about that time of the Israelites being in Egypt verse 16 Psalmes PSALMES Luke XXIV 44. Or Book of Psalmes Luke XX. 42. Acts I. 20. is divided by the Hebrewes into these five Parts The first part ending with Psal. XLI The second part with Psal. LXXII The third with Psalme LXXXIX The fourth with Psalm CVI. The fifth with Psalme CL. The Division of them from the Subject-matters of them is very various There are Psalmes Laudatorie of Praises Gratulatorie of Thanksgiving Psalmes of Supplications of Deprecations of Consolations of Comminations of Imprecations There are Penetential Psalmes Psalmes to teach to give instruction Psalmes to bring to Remembrance things past Psalmes Prophetical of things to come And many Psalmes are mixt of many or most of these matters So as out of them as out of a store-house every man may richly fit and furnish himself for all and every particular occasion either publike or else private according to his several conditions in prosperity or adversity in all his devotions and addresses to God still finding his own estate in some one Psalme or other These Psalmes containing the very Anatomy of the soul the characters and representations of the thoughts meditations affections and workings of it towards God towards man towards herself throughout all the changes of her pilgrimage in this world The number of them is one hundred and fifty The LXX and vulgar Latin do divide the ninth Psalme into two And so their reckoning of the number doth constantly go on to exceed ours by one unto the CXLVII Psalm which Psalm doth contain their CXLVI and CXLVII And so in the conclusion all agree in the same number of CL. Of these eighty two bear Davids title Whereof these are upon several special occasions as appears in their Inscriptions viz. the III. VII XXX LI. LII LIV. LIX LX. LXIII And at Gath before Achish or Abimelech XXXIV LVI And when he was in the Cave Psalm LVII and CXLII His Psalms of Prayer are Psalm 17. and 86. Some are his Psalmes and yet without his name in the Title as Psal. II. Acts IV. 25. And Psal. XCV Hebr. IV. 7. See also Psal. XCVI and CV and CVI. See 1 Chron. XVI 7. and LXXII 20. Other Psalmes without Davids name which have special Titles are Psalmes XLV LXXII And of or for Asaph Psalmes L. LXXIII to LXXXIII See 2 Chron. XXIX 30. Of or for the sonnes of Korah LXXXIV LXXXV LXXXVII Of Heman for the sonnes of Korah LXXXVIII Of Ethan LXXXIX Of Moses XC For the Sabbath XCII A Prayer of or for the Afflicted CII Psalmes of Degrees CXX to CXXXIV Having Titles are 125. The rest being XXV the sixth part of the whole number are without any Title or Inscription at all In the Titles we have the persons by whom they were written or for whom they were written or to whom they were committed And these last are either generaly described by their skill in Musick or more particularly named to be of the Quire or Posterity of Jeduthun of Korah or of Asaph In some we have also the Times when they were made or when to be used In some also their Quality and Excellencie In some their Matter Subject as of Prayer of Deprecation as Destroy not of obtestation of Gratulation or Thanksgiving of Praise of Instruction and Doctrine of Commemoration or for Remembrance of nuptial love The Musick either by voice or instrument mentioned in some Titles is but little known in our dayes yet for the voice some Psalmes may seeme to point to the Base some to the Tenor some to the Counter-tenor And again in some mens opinions some Psalmes do intimate that the voice should leade and the instrument follow as in those Titles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some that the instruments should leade and the voice follow as in those Titles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But the truth is That howsoever Selah in the Text used some seventy times in this Book and three times in that prayer of Habakkuk chap. III. sometimes in the middle of a verse but mostwhat in the end may seeme to be a Musical Note And Neginoth to be an hand or stringed instrument Shoshannim of six strings from Shesh six as Shalishim of three strings 1 Sam. XVIII 6. Sheminith of eight strings Nehiloth a wind-instrument Mahalath likewise And so other guesses may be made of other words mentioned in sundry Titles of sundry Psalms as Shoshannim Eduth Shushan Eduth Mahaloth Leannoth Muthlabben Altaskith Gittith Alamoth Hammagneloth Aijgeleth Shahar Jonath-Elem-rehochim As also of Higgajon Michtam
reunited in his Resurrection This verse then and two before and one following are most properly meant of Christ and of his Resurrection Acts II. 25 28 31. and XIII 35 36 37. Thou wilt shew me Experimentaly me Christ speaâ—s of himself the path of life Of glory after his Resurrection verse 11 All this true of Christ the head and in and by him true also of David of all his members Christs Resurrection and Glorification is the beginning of ours he the Author and meanes of it to us in our first Resurrection here by Regeneration to the life of Grace whereby Christ lives in us Gal. II. 20. He in us and we in him by Faith Ephes. III. 17. Rom. I. 17 And in our second Resurrection to the life of Glory as followes in this verse In thy presence Before thy face in the light of thy countenance See Gen. XXXII and Exod. XXXIII 14 15. Num. VI. 23. Psal. IV. 6. and XXXI 16. and LXXX 3. Deut. XXXIV 10. Esay VI. fulnesse Yet all the former but in part whiles we are in the way in fulnesse when we come to our countrey or heavenly Canaan Job XIX 26 27. 1 John III. 2. 1 Cor. XIII 12. Matth. V. 8. And yet this beatifical Vision of God in glory shall be to our fulnesse not to his The fulnesse of his infinite Essence by any created power of Saint or Angel by the eye of flesh though glorified or by the intellectual eye of a soul or spirit glorified cannot be seene 1 Tim. VI. 16. But to our fulnesse as farre as creatures are capable of our vessel thrown into this infinite Sea shall be brim full though it containe not all this Ocean Psal. XVII 15. And how great then shall this fulnesse then be when of things in this kinde revealed of God to his Apostles in this life by his Spirit the Apostle so speaketh as we read 1 Cor. XI 9. out of Esay LXIV 4 This is a fulnesse beyond all that of Faith and Hope a fulnesse that fills up all desires a fulnesse of fruition of satisfaction without satiety Apoc. III. Consider that saying of the Queen of Sheba 1 King X. 8. and of the Disciples at Christs Transfiguration Mat. XVII 4. At thy right hand And by thy right hand Psal. XX. 7. LXIII 9. CXVIII 16. for evermore Without which eternity there were no true felicity right My plea for my righteous cause chapter XVII verse 1 my righteous cause and complaint ver 2. I am purposed Psal. XXXIX 1. verse 3 of thy lips Guiding and directing me verse 4 when I awake Our of the sleep of death verse 15 Esay XXVI 19. with thy likenesse 1 Cor. XV. 49. 1 John III. 2. Apoc. XXII 4. Horne Signifieth power chapter XVIII verse 2 and glory Psal. XCII 10. Amos VI. 13. And Christ called the Horne of Salvation Luke I. 69. earth shook Here verse 7 and hereafter are sublime expressions not of what historicaly hapned but of the marvelous maner of Gods mighty presence assistance and concurrence in Davids victories in some sort Poeticaly set forth thundered Thunder is called Gods voice verse 13 Apoc. X. 3 4. and XIX 6. Of thunder See Psal. XXIX 3 10. and LXXVII 18. and CIV 7. Exod. XIX 16. XX. 18. Jer. X. 13. Job XXVI 14 XXXVIII 25. Esay XXIX 6. Apoc. IV. 5. and 8. 5. Some proud blasphemers have laboured to imitate the thunder and some impious Tyrants have exceedingly feared it according to my righteousnesse The justnesse of my Cause against Saul verse 24 and others and my sincere desire and endeavour to serve and obey God though not for any merit of my works thy self froward Meet with them in their own way verse 26 As Levit. XXVI 23 24. Bow of steele verse 34 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee This verse is applied verse 49 Rom. XV. 9. to the Calling of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ and praise unto God therefore And so formerly ver 43 44. and again verse 50. are more truly verified in Christ then in David to his Anointed verse 50 to David and to his seed for evermore To his Messiah his Christ as Psal. II. 2. to David literaly to Christ mysticaly called by the name of David Jer. XXX 9. Ezek. XXXIV 23 24. and chap. XXXVII 24. Hos. 5. to his seed both himself properly called the seed of David Rom. I. 3. Acts XIII 23. as the seed of Abraham Gal. III. 16. and to his seed Esay LIII 10. Heb. II. 13. And thus properly it is for evermore Day unto day Or day after day chapter XIX verse 2 the vicissitude or continual succession of day and night speaketh much divine knowledge The assiduity and constancy without any intermission by the Heavens preaching is hereby expressed There is no speech Among all variety of Languages verse 3 yet this language and idiome of the heavens is one and the same understood of all and heard of all ver 4. Their line Rom. X. 18. verse 4 the Apostle hath it their sound or voice And such a like difference is found in Micah V. 2. with Matth. chap. II. 6. And again in Rom. IX 33. with Isa. chap. XXVIII 16. The Apostle fits this Testimonie to his own purpose not derogating thereby from the truth of the literal sense As that Exod. XVI 18. is applied 2 Cor. VIII 15. Or rather the Apostle retaines the literal sense for the preaching of the Gospel to all the world Rom. XV. 19. Col. I. 6 23. And out of this testimonie of the Psalme in its literal sense proves that the Gentiles had heard and learned somewhat of God and pietie before out of the book of the Creation Rom. I. 19. Acts XIV 17. Which was a forerunner to this more ample Doctrine and School of the Gospel which now God was pleased to vouchsafe unto them In summe the Apostle herein followes the LXX And applies this to the preaching of the Gospel to the Heathens as God had formerly taught them in another a weaker maner and degree by his works of Creation They had as a voice to speak so a line to write rule direct and instruct as Esay XXVIII 10. sunne The carbuncle of heaven the eye and heart of the world for its light and heat to runne a race His race is without intermission or wearinesse and the swiftnesse of his running verse 5 being so great a body in its owne orbe is even to amazement and astonishment almost beyond imagination That the Sunne should stand and the Earth so move as some braines fancie is no lesse then a prodigious Paradox The Law From the Book of Gods works verse 7 he comes now to the Book of his Word in five verses And in this Schoole each verse in a maner doth expresse the name the nature the effects the preciousnesse of this Word much against all those imbasements and impeachments which the Papists would put upon it gold Gold of Havilah verse 10 good Gen. II. 11 12.
is offended with them reproves them makes his Saints smart for them as in the Scripture plentifully appears That place Num. XXIII 21. is blindly brought against this truth as if they would make God a blinde idol and not an omniscient God Or as if that text had not relation to the Saints under the Old Testament before that grace which they say is given in the New that thou mightest be justified Acquitted glorified by this my confession Josh. VII 19. when thou speakest In thy reproof by Nathan and be clear Clearly overcome be unreprovable and win the victory in judgement when thou judgest In sentencing my sinne and my punishment for it Or when thou art judged in the opinion of men and in their censures for thy dealing with me Saint Paul citing these words Rom. III. 4. applies them from the hypothesis in Davids singular case to the thesis to Gods general faith and truth in all his promises and proceedings And thus the injustice of man doth commend the justice of God in iniquity This we call Original sinne verse 5 The Apostle calleth it inhabiting sinne Rom. VII 17. whereby all men are carnal sold under sinne John III. 6. Rom. VII 14. The fountain of actual sinnes John IX 34. Ephes. II. 1. So as whole man is in evil and whole evil is in man the hidden part The hid man of the heart 1 Pet. III. 4. thou shalt make me Thus rising up by faith to this hope verse 6 Or hast made me thus opposing that integrity which God requires to his present state of corruption by his foul fall contracted to know wisdome 1 John II. 4. by his sinne now eclipsed with hysop Exod. XII 22. Levit. XIV 4 6 49. verse 7 Num. XIX 6 18. Heb. IX 19. Create Ephes. II. 10. and IV. 24. Jer. XXXII 39. verse 10 Ezek. XI 19. and XXXVI 26. take not Yet Gods holy Spirit was in him even in this case verse 11 and state of extremity free spirit Freely and bountifully bestowed verse 12 freeing me from the bondage of sinne making me free to righteousnesse 2 Cor. III. 17. Rom. VI. 18. 22. blood-guiltinesse Bloods of Uriah and others slaine with him verse 14 Open thou my lips Give me new occasion by the pardoning of my sinne verse 15 yea give me the grace both to will and to do the habit and ability and the grace to bring the habit into act to act it effectualy not Sacrifice See the Observations on Psal. XL. 6. Indeed we finde not expressed any sacrifice for murder verse 16 or adultery or any capital crime the Sacrifices The plural number is here used for the greater emphasis and amplification verse 17 And so Iudg. VII 10. 2 Chron. XXIV 25. and chap. XXVIII 3. Prov. I. 20. Mal. I. 6. Lam. III. 22. 2. Sam XXII 1. unto Sion The whole Church was in danger of Gods judgement by his sinne verse 18 as 2 Sam. XXIV 15. and whole-burnt-offering See Levit. verse 19 VI. 23. the Edomite Of Edom chapter LII or Idumea or Adonite from Adam a Citie in Reuben or Admah a Citie in Iudah or Adam a towne in Naphtali or Adummin in the borders of Iudah and Benjamin The History of this is in 1 Sam. XXI and XXII chapters Here we have Davids 〈◊〉 â—ation of Doeg and imprecation against him and his own glorious 〈◊〉 in God This 〈◊〉 â—uch like the fourteenth Psalme chapter LIII And so as I have said the LX. and 〈◊〉 CVIII Psalme are much alike 〈…〉 fear was Deut. verse 5 XXVIII 65. Levit. XXVI 36. Iob XV. 21. 〈…〉 XVIII 1. 〈…〉 Citizens of Ziph in the tribe of Judah chapter LIV Josh. XV. 24. having 〈…〉 and Wildernesse of that name by it said 〈…〉 This they did twise 1 Sam. XXIII 19. and againe chap. XXâ—I 1. strangers Though of the same tribe verse 5 yet at least they carried themselves so to him as Job complains chap. XIX 13 14 15. and so estranged from God Psal. LVIII 3. No strangers more strange then they that cast off the bands of civility and nature wherein they were bound cut them off in thy wrath Psal. CXLIII 12. Of Imprecations see the Observations on Psal. CIX 14. and make a noise In the earnestnesse of his Prayer verse 2 a doleful noise cast inquity upon me From themselves upon me chapter LV verse 3 by unjust imputation and defamation my heart Psal. verse 4 XXXI 9 12. O that I had A passionate with verse 6 as Psal. XIV 7. flee away As a bird Psal. XI 1. swiftly and speedily wildernesse As Apoc. verse 7 XII 6 14. divide their tongues Their language verse 9 and counsels as Gen. XI 7. 2 Sam. XVII 1 5 14. not an enemie Psal. verse 12 XLI 9. John XIII 18. mine equal My Peere verse 13 and chief Counsellor This most likely aimes at Achitophel and the whole Psalme to his distresse in his flight from Absolom and his conspiracie quick into hell As Num. verse 15 XVI 32 33. Evening verse 17 Dan. VI. 10. Acts III. 1. and chap. X. 9. battel 2 Sam. verse 18 XVIII Psal. XXVII 2 3. because they have no changes In their temporal estate and prosperity verse 19 Job X. 17. David therefore blesseth God for afflictions Psalme CXIX 67 71. which yet should have made them change from evil to good but it wrought no change in them but the contrary they were in evil unchangable Jer. XIII 23. drawn swords Psal. verse 21 LVII 4. and LIX 7. and Prov. XII 18. and XXX 14. cast thy burden 1 Pet. verse 22 V. 7. the duty and triumph of Faith half their dayes Job XV. verse 23 32 33. and XXI 21. Psal. XXXVII 35 36. Jeremie XVII 11. Eccles. VIII 12 13. Jonath Elem Rechokim Many take not these words for a musical instrument chapter LVI but thus translate them concerning the dumb Dove in a farre place understanding them of David himself and his case and condition now in Gath. See Psal. XXXIV and the Title Of Gath see the Annotations on Amos VI. 2. Michtam is a jewel or golden Psalme I am afraid verse 3 I will trust in thee Faith and Fear stand together And so Fear and Love In God I will praise his Word So again verse 10. 1 Sam. XXX 6. in his word and promise verse 4 The Popish Text and Translation and their wrested and forced senses upon it both here and very frequently throughout this Book of the Psalmes is not worth the while to take notice of them shall they escape by iniquity It is not fit so to do verse 7 Let their painful iniquity breed their pain as Psal. VII 15. and IX 15. and X. 2. Prov. V. 22. my wandrings From Sauls presence to Gath. verse 8 And he had many wandrings after this to the Cave of Adullam to Mizpeh in Moab to the Forrest of Hareth in Judah to Keilah to the Wildernesse of Ziph of Maon to Engedi hunted as a Partridge in the Mountaines wilt not thou Verse 9. 2 Cor.
XII 37. But that where Jacob built booths Gen. XXXIII 5. Afterward a Citie in the Tribe of Gad upon the river Jabbok East of Jordan justly destroyed by Gideon Judg. VIII But repaired after Gilead is mine Thus David triumphs in having verse 7 or in assurance to have upon Gods word and promise these utmost bounds and Tribes of Judea beyond Jordan though they stood longest out for Ishbosheth Sauls sonne Moab is my washpot I can and will use it to base offices verse 8 as to wash my feet use it as a conquered Nation in servile and abject condition See 2 Sam. 2. VIII Psal. CVIII 9. Over Edom Trample it under foot or use it to base offices See Matt. III. 11. as to pull off my shooe to wipe my shooe or as Sapores the Persian used Valerian the Romand Emperour or Temerlan the Scythian used Bajazeth the Turk or Pope Alexander the third used Frederik the Emperour and Pope Caelestine the third did to Henry the Emperour bring it to a base and ignominious subjection triumph thou An ironical apostrophe or bitter mock to Philistia or the Philistines in the West border of Palestine And divers such ironies are in Scripture See the Observations on Amos IV. 4. who will The answer is in the two next verses verse 9 Through God Davids wish verse 12 and confidence See 1 Chron. XIX 13. From the end of the earth Of Judea chapter LXI verse 2 being now likely driven thither by Saul or Absalom rather 2 Sam. XVII 24. prolong In this likely David hath a principal eye to Christ. verse 6 once chapter LXII verse 11 twice See the like Job XL. 5. mercie verse 12 for thou renderest Even reward it self is of mercie in the wildernesse of Judah chapter LXIII 1 Sam. XXII 5. and XXIII 14 15. Thus Davids Psalmes are not set down in this Book according to the Order of time and occasions wherein and whereupon they were made and inspired seene thee in the Sanctuary Davids desires to the Sanctuary verse 2 and to Gods Ordinances therein Psal. XXVII 4. and LXV 4. meditate Davids night-meditations verse 6 my soul followeth hard after thee 1 Cor. VI. 17. verse 8 Phil. III. 13 14. that sweareth by him Swearing here taken for the whole worship of God verse 11 Deut. VI. 13. Esay XLV 23. and LXV 16. Of Swearing see the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. O thou that hearest prayer chapter LXV verse 2 to thee An heavenly incouragement to Prayer choosest verse 4 and causest God 's free grace not mans free will Thou visitest the earth This Psalme may seeme composed after some year of famine verse 9 with the river of God The raine Deut. XI 10 11. submit Though feignedly and falsely chapter LXVI verse 3 Psal. XVIII 44. 1 Sam. XXII 45. As the faithfull shall obey God willingly and sincerely with the incense of rams Meaning their fat which was burned on the Altar verse 15 or incense with it as in Peace-Offerings Levit. II. 1 2 16. and VI. 15. If I regard John IX 31. verse 18 James IV. 3. Job XXVII 8 9. Prov. I. 28 29. Esay I. 15. Micah III. 4. Ezek. VIII 18. Prov. XV. 29. He that turneth away his eare from hearing the Law his prayer is abomination Prov. XXVIII 9. David penned by inspiration this Psalme chapter LXVIII It seemes after his victories over the Philistines and other neighbouring enemies and upon the occasion of that publick joyful solemnity in bringing the Arke into the Citie of David 2 Sam. VI. 1 Chron. XIII XIV XV. chapters It consists most of Praises and Prophesies Let God These words Moses used verse 1 Num. X. 35 at the removing of the Arke and Tabernacle from Mount Sinai And may be taken as a Prayer or a Prediction or an assertion of what is done when God thus ariseth arise To help his to scatter his enemies See Psal. III. 7. and X. 12. and LIX 5. extol him that rideth upon the heavens Verse 33. Psal. XVIII 10. Deut. XXXIII 26. Esay 19. 1. some translate thus verse 4 make an high-way for him prepare it as Esay XL. 3 4. Matth. III. 2. Luke I. 76. as Matth. XXI 8. And thus was done Or thus him that rideth in the Deserts that is as he did in the Wildernesse of Arabia before his Arke and people verse 7. This variety of interpretation is of small concernment Jah Some would have it the contract of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if not of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie the strong God Jah is used again ver 18. God is called also by the Heathens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Jove or Jupiter that is Iah-father deemed by Varro to be the God of the Jewes This is the proper name of God Esay XLII 8. Exod. VI. 3. 2 Chron. VI. 33. Acts XVII 23 25 28. Psal. LXXXIII 18. See more in the Observations on Esay XXVI 4. habitation Of heaven verse 5 and of his Sanctuary 1. â—ings VIII 30 38 39. solitarie in families Senselesse here is the Popish text verse 6 throughout the verse and foolish is Bellarmines interpretation and application See Exod. I. 21. Psal. CXIII 9. Ruth IV. 11. a dry land Without fountains of waters or showers of raine A special judgement in those hot countries when thou wentest forth Iudg. verse 7 V. 4 5. Gods praise in bringing his people out of Egypt in giving them the possession of Canaan in destroying the Kings their enemies verse 7 13. The earth shook Ezod verse 8 XIX 18. Iudg. V. 4. Psal. CXIV and CIV 32. Heb. XII 18. Sinai An hill of a great height Of Sinai see more in the Observations on Exod. II. 11. and on XIX 3. a plentiful raine God did blesse his inheritance of the Land of Canaan which he gave to them verse 9 with raine and all temporal blessings which was an argument for their praising of him And specially as the inheritance of Canaan and all temporal promises and earthly blessings to them were shadowes and types intimations and pledges of spiritual blessings and eternal life in heaven Heb. XI 13 16 and 26. Iohn V. 39. gave the word The occasion verse 11 it was his doing he ministred the matter and speech unto them in the glad tidings of victories As Psal. CXVIII 23. of those that published it The word here is of the feminine gender and so may be understood of maids and women entertaining and publishing these good newes of victories with Songs and melody As Exod. XV. 20. Judg. V. 11. and XI 34. 1 Sam. XVIII 6. Or of men as the feminine is used for a masculine in Koheleth Eccl. I. 1. Such publishers as 2 Sam. XVIII 19. did flee Deut. verse 12 XXVIII 7. As Exod. XIV 25 27. Josh. X. 11 16. Judg. V. 19 22. and VIII 12. 2 Sam. V. 25. And in this verse again the Popish text scarce bears any sense and their interpretations are suitable though ye
bones Davids verse 7 and his followers they are in such like present danger when he was in the cave Psal LVII 1 Sam. XXIV 4. The later part of this prayer seemes chapter CXLII as spoken in the cave Yet it all might be composed after his deliverance out of it As that Prayer Jonah II. prison This Cave verse 7 wherein I am shut up as in a close prison faithfulnesse chapter CXLIII verse 1 For performance of thy faithful and true promises made to me righteousnesse To maintaine and defend a righteous cause Enter not Though my cause be just verse 2 yet my person is sinful and unjust not able to abide thy judgement Rom. III. 20. So Job XXII 4. and XIV 3. Gal. II. 16. no man living Heb. not all living i. e. not any living As Mat. XXIV 22. 1 John II. 21. 2 Pet. I. 20. Psal. LXXVI 5. is desolate Or wondrously amazed verse 4 upheld only by Gods power cause me The work is Gods verse 8 He the actor of it And therefore to him he lifts up his soul. So verse 10. good lead me Or verse 10 by thy good Spirit lead me Thus prayer-wise or shall lead me spoken in way of assurance of David It seemes composed after he came to the crown chapter CXLIV verse 3 and had got some victories over his enemies and yet other enemies were ready to invade him 2 Sam. V. VIII what is man Psal. VIII 5. Job VII 17. Heb. II. 6. Bow the heavens Shew thy self present on earth verse 5 for my help and my foes ruine who are like mountains in comparison of other men 1 Sam. XXII 10. a right hand of falshood Though they shake hands verse 8 yet they keep not promise whose God is the Lord This is opposed to all the other worldly wealth verse 15 as farre more then over-poising it all of praise His Hymne chapter CXLV And the whole book in Hebrew is called the book of Hymnes or Praises This is an Alphabetical Psalme Only the letter Nun is wanting See the Observations on Psal. XXV 1. and on the beginning of the book of Psalmes over all his works Or verse 9 towards upholdeth all that fall Psal. verse 14 CXLVI 8. all whom he in his goodnesse knows are to be upholden without whom and his goodnes none are upholden But some fall and never rise wait upon thee Psal CIV verse 15 27. 28. in truth This in Prayer requireth sincerity verse 18 without hypocrisie faith repentance earnestnes and constancie the desire Or will We pray that Gods will may be done verse 19 Matth. VI. 10 Here he doth his servants will So he honoureth them that honour him 1 Sam. II. 30. And their will agrees with his 1 John V. 14. Praise ye the Lord Heb. chapter CXLVI verse 1 Halelu-jah And thus do begin and end likewise the rest of the Psalmes that follow In the Greek it is Alleluia Apoc. XIX 1. Halelu-jah is in Psal. CIV and CVI. and CXXXV and in many others which executeth judgement Who succours and relieves all verse 7 in and according to their several necessities He it is that doth it But that when and how in his wisdome and goodnesse it seemeth to him best out-casts Deut. chapter CXLVII verse 2 XXX 4. telleth the number Esay XL. verse 4 26. though to man they are innumerable Ier. XXXIII 22. at least in common opinion and of him indeed cannot be all seene The number of the stars is counted by ancient Astronomers And all within and without their several Constellations in their several magnitudes are reduced by all much under the number of two thousand Yet their number in Scripture-phrase is marshaled with the sands of the sea as innumerable Which is spoken according to vulgar opinions and apprehensions as that of the Sunne and Moone Gen. I 16. And divers other things are in Scripture in like sort spoken of And yet the innumerable multitude of them appears the more in our times Wherein Galileus and others after him by their new instruments and Tubi Optici have made such strange discoveries of many many numbers of them never seene before young ravens Iob XXXVIII verse 9 41. Psal. CIV 27 28. Matth. VI. 26. fat of wheat Psal. verse 14 LXXXI 16. Deut. XXXII 14. runneth Psal. verse 15 XXXIII 9. snow like wooll accordingly the phrase is verse 16. 17. 19. fleeces of snow his yce like morsels Frost or frozen hailstones his word unto Jacob This is singular mercie and peculiar to his Church farre beyond all those formerly mentioned for which his Church is so bound to praise him stars of light Job XXXVIII chapter CXLVIII verse 3 7. havens of heavens The heaven of heavens is the highest heaven verse 4 called the third heaven 2 Cor. 2. XII The sky where the starres are is the second heaven And the aire under it and next us is the first heaven In the upper part whereof are the waters here mentioned For this Text and Gen. I 6 7. yeeld not a sure foundation whereon to build an Orbe of supercelestial waters above the starry heavens nor from the windowes of that Orbe came the waters in Noahs flood But from the lowest region of the aire called Heaven and the firmament of Heaven wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie and do divide between the sea-waters and the watery clouds which moysten the earth and make it bring forth fruit for the sustenance of man and beast See Gen. I. 20. Jer. LI. 16. Dan. VII 2 13. Psal. LXXVIII 23. Mal. III. 10. a decree Statute verse 6 Rule and Ordinance whereby every creature is bound to his set time place and function Job XIV 5. and XXVI 10. and XXXVIII 33. Jer. XXXI 35. and XXXIII 25. the horne of his people Psal. verse 14 LXXV 10. the power glory and Kingdome of his people and Church and that by Christ who is the horne of salvation Luke I. 69. him that made him Heb. chapter CXLIX verse 2 his makers Likely relating to the Trinity of persons as Gen. I. 26. and III. 22. and XI 7. Job XXXV 10. Eccles. XII 1. Esay VI. 8. LIV. 5. King Christ of whom King David was a Type As Mat. XXI 5. Cant. I. 4 upon their beds Night and day verse 5 Psal. LXIII 6. Job XXXV 10. and a two-edged sword Heb. verse 9 two-mouthed This chiefly at least aimes at the spiritual sword Ephes. VI. 17. Heb. IV. 12. Apoc. I. 16. which is the Word of God coming out of Christs mouth To execute vengeance upon the heathen Chiefly in and by the power and preaching of the Gospel verse 7 2 Cor. X. 4 5 6 8. See Esay XLI 15 16. John XVI 8 9. To binder their Kings Psal. verse 8 II. 2 3 9 10. Esay XLV 14. Mark VI. 20. Acts XXIV 25. Apoc. XXI 24. Matth. XVI 19. the judgement written This may have reference to that Law verse 6 Deut. VII 1 2. Or to the exact rule of Gods Word without any addition or diminution Deut.
verse 3 being vainly puft up by his fleshly minde Col. II. 18. and contemning others Job XI 12. And as he contemnes God and good men so contempt from God and good men comes upon him chap. III. 34. they are paid in their own coine they are with ignomie repaid reproach deep waters Which can never be drawn dry verse 4 chap. X. 11. and ch XIII 14. and XIV 27. and XX. 5. John VII 38. brook That the simplest may understand The holy Scripture indeed is both text and glosse It is not good But very bad verse 5 ch XXIV 23. and XXVIII 21. Levit. XIX 15. Deut. XV. 7. and ch XVI 19. and I. 17. James II. 1 4. stroaks By his desire upon others verse 6 but by desert and issue upon himself as in the next verse A fools mouth Chap. verse 7 X. 14. and XII 13. and XIII 3. Tale-bearer Chap. verse 8 XII 18. 1 Tim. III. 8. is brother Is alike verse 9 The sloathful and prodigal both have the same event both come to want and povertie The Name His Attributes a strong tower Esay XXVI 4. and XXXIII 16. and is safe And set aloft All other refuges will fail wealth Hard to be rich verse 11 and not to trust in riches Mark X. 23 24. 1 Tim. VI. 17. Yet this his trust is not like that in the former verse This shall fail this trust is but only in conceit haughtie Chap. verse 12 XI 2. and chap. XVI 18. and chap. XV. 33. who can bear Many are the examples thereof verse 14 yea even in heathen and in wicked men worldly comforts here are but as a fair shoe to a gowtie foot or a silken stockin to a broken leg Gift Chap. verse 16 XVII 8 23. This Jacob knew well Gen. XXXIII 11. He that is first Therefore Judges verse 17 and all men had need to keep one eare for the defendant Tertullus pleaded fairly till Paul came to answer And so Ziba against Mephibosheth A man is not easily to be beleeved in his own tale against another The lot Josh. verse 18 XIV 2. Acts I. 26. See my Annotations on Jonah I. 7. A brother offended A brother natural verse 19 or spiritual a sworne brother Too many are the sad experiences of this The vulgar Latin and LXX read and render otherwise tongue That best and worst member of the body verse 21 James III. 2 11. Mark XII 37. a wife A good wife verse 22 As a Name for a good name Eccles. VII 1. He obtains favour of the Lord chap. XIX 14. and XXXI 10. The poor Speaks supplications verse 23 Much more should poor man to God hath friends Love is the whetstone verse 24 and loadstone of love a friend Chap. XVII 17. as ones own soul Deut. XIII 6. Better Chap. chapter XIX verse 1 XXVIII 6. perverse in his lips Speaketh wickedly roughly and roboustiously without knowledge An ignorant man is in the dark verse 2 nor can be good Knowledge is much magnified in this Book of the Proverbs hasteth Rashly without premeditation and forecast Such is blind zeal as mettle in a blind horse perverteth his way And God walks contrary to him verse 3 Levit. XVI 24. frets As 2 Kings VI. 33. wealth Chap. verse 4 XIV 20. Donec eris foelix multos numerabis amicos Tempora si fuerint nubila solus eris neighbour Who turnes strange to him or enemie against him unpunished By God And when known by man also verse 5 There is a pillorie-perjury See verse 9. and chap. XXI 28. and ch XXV 18. Exod. XXIII 1 Deut. XIX 16 21. Prince For their own commodity verse 6 Poor Ch. verse 7 XIV 20. Delight But stripes rather verse 10 Ch. X. 13 Ch. XXX 22. a servant As Abimelech the bramble Iudg. IX 15. As Pontifex Romanus the bridgmaker of Rome who writes Servus servorum chap. XXX 22. Eccles. X. 7. deferreth Ch. verse 11 XIV 29. But it must not be so as Absalom did toward Ammon passe by As winking at it or forgiving it or overcoming it with goodnesse Kings wrath Chap. verse 12 XVI 14. and XX. 2. and XXVIII 15. Eccles VIII 2 3 4. 2 Tim. IV. 17. A foolish sonne Chap. verse 13 X. 1. and chap. XV. 20. and XVII 21 25. contentions of a wife Chap. XXI 9. and XXVII 15 16. This is like a tempest in the haven inheritance More immediately verse 14 from the Lord Chap. XVIII 22. By his peculiar providence Tobias VI. 22. Keepeth Evangelicaly verse 16 thinks upon them to do them Psal. CIII 18. 2 Cor. VIII 12. Esay XXVI 12. Let us ask him to give what he commands us to have his wayes Gods wayes or his own wayes living loosely and carelessely and lawlessely lendeth Matth. verse 17 X. 42. and chap. XXV 40. 2 Cor. IX 6 7. Eph. IV. 28. Psal. XLI 1. 1 Tim. VI. 17 18 19. Heb. XIII 16. 1 John III. 17. He lends it to the Lord upon usury as the vulgar Latin renders it Chasten Chap. verse 18 XIII 24. and XXII 15. and XXIII 13. and ch XXIX 15 17. of great wrath Cholerick and wrathful men verse 19 their Passion after their deliverance will bring them in danger again Or if thou in great wrath yet pardon thy sonnes fault yet threaten him with greater punishment if he fault again Hear This may be the fathers lessoning his childe whom he hath lashed verse 20 Or may be taken in a greater latitude and sensed more generaly many devises Chap. verse 21 XVI 1 9. Job XXIII 13. Psal. XXXIII 10 11. and XLVI 10. The desire A mans will is to be accepted for the deed verse 22 if he have nothing to give Or mans desire is to be counted kinde and bountiful Not he that brags what he would do if he had wherewith and yet having it fails of performance a poor man Having a giving affection is better then such a braging lyer The fear Chap. verse 23 XXII 4. and chap. XIV 27. and I. 7. and VIII 13. Smite a scorner Though not he yet the simple will beware by it verse 25 chap. XXI 11. devoureth Job XV. verse 28 16. Ephes. IV. 19. wine Chap. chapter XX verse 1 XXIII 29 35. Hos. VII 5. Esay XXVIII 1. Gen. IX 21. 1 Sam. XXV 36. not wise When the wine is in the wit is out of a King Chap. verse 2 XVI 14. and chap. XIX 12. to cease from strife Gen. verse 3 XIII 8 9. 1 Cor. XIII 4 5 7. Brawling becomes not a man of a magnanimous spirit Counsel Verse 27. chap. XVIII 4. draw it out verse 5 for his use and imitation his own goodnesse So all Hereticks verse 6 and ambitious men Matth. VI. 1. V. 16. But few faithfuly performe what they proudly proclaime his children Personal piety is profitable to posterity verse 7 2 Kings X. 30. Exod. XX. 6. Psal. CXII 2. scattereth Verse 26. Psal. verse 8 CI. 5. The sword of justice is to be furbished with the oile of mercie yet there are cases
Angels Yet it faileth sometimes which is the case of most of these moral observations is servant As it were a servant verse 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Heathen Author rod of his anger Wherewith he whipt others verse 8 his underlings scorner Psal. verse 10 CI. 5. That takes and turnes every thing to the worst loveth Affects verse 11 though he can never effect it strange women Chap. verse 14 II 16. and V. 3 and VII 5 27. and chap. XXIII 27 28. Eccles. VII 26. of a childe Chap. verse 15 XIII 24. and XIX 18. and XXIII 13. and VI. 23. and XXIX 15 17. giveth to the rich With a minde to get more then he gave verse 16 and by his countenance to colour and cover his oppressive practises and scape with them by such briberie he shall not thrive Bow down Here seemes to begin some alteration of stile and method verse 17 He seemes to assume a new kinde of bespeaking his sonne differing from that in the twelve preceding Chapters and much like that in the nine first Wherein the several documents and instructions are prosecuted in more verses then one a pleasant thing Psal. XIX 11. verse 18 and CXIX 103. more pleasant then all the tastlesse fooleries of this present world fitted Whereby to get a singular dexterity and volubility in holy language Matth. XII 24. thy trust Ephes. I. 13. verse 19 even to thee We must read the Scripture as men do statute-Statute-books holding themselves as much concerned therein as any others binding themselves in every precept threatning themselves in every threat blessing themselves in every promise For these are verba vivenda non legenda excellent things Princely things verse 20 rare and royal sentences chap. VIII 6. the certaintie Col. II. 2. verse 21 2 Cor. IV. 13. Rob not By might verse 22 as the greater fish devour the lesser nor yet by false judgments Zech. VII 10. plead Without fee verse 23 for they come forma pauperis chap. XXIII 11. Job XXI 21. spoile Pay them in their kinde chiefly when the cold grave shall hold their bodies and hot hell hold their souls angrie man Anger is a short madnesse verse 24 He rageth and casteth fire-brands Fit to live alone as dragons and wilde beasts to be looked on only as through a grate chap. XV. 18. and XXVI 21. and XXIX 22. lest Sinne is as a leprosie and infectious plague land-mark Deut. XXVII 17. verse 28 and chap. XIX 14. and XXIII 10. diligent Chap. XXVII 23. verse 29 Ezra VI. 13. and VII 26. Gen. XLI 39 40 46. and chap. XLVII 6. 1 Kings XI 28. to eate feed not without fear chapter XXIII verse 1 Jude verse 12. a knife Bridle thy appetite verse 2 Or otherwise thou dost put a knife to thy throat and diggest thy grave with thy teeth for meat and the board kils more then the musket and the sword Luke XXI 34. deceitful An hook under that bait verse 3 to be rich 1 Tim. VI. 9 10. verse 4 James III. 15. 1 John II. 15 16 17. wilt thou Cast a leering eye after such vanities verse 5 and flie a fooles pitch is not Hath no solid subsistence though we call riches substance 1 Cor. VII 31. Earth is hanged upon nothing as Job speaketh And so all earthly things Amos VI. 13. Esay XXVIII 15. eate thou not A miserly fordid muckworme verse 6 thinketh Grudgeth at his guests as one willing to starve even his own genius sweet words Which he hath spoak to thee verse 8 or rather thy chearful words at his table speak not Chap. IX 7 8. verse 9 Matth. VII 6. land mark Chap. XXII 28. verse 10 Deut. XIX 14. and XXVII 17. Ovidius ad Deum Terminum Omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager Plead Chap. XXII 23. verse 11 Job XXXI 23. and XXVI 14. Psal. XC 11. Eccles. VI. 10. God is the great Master of the wards apply Busie them about the best things verse 12 withhold not correction Chap. XIII 24. verse 13 and Chap. XIX 18. and chap. XXII 25. and shalt deliver This a means for it verse 14 And if it succeed not yet thou hast done thy duty and so shalt deliver thine own soul and have thy reward As the Phisitian hath his fee whether the Patient live or die shall rejoyce Chap. X. 1. verse 15 and chap. XV. 20. 3 John 4. 1 Thes. III. 9. envie sinners Chap. XXIV 1 19. verse 17 and chap. III. 31. Psal. XXXVII 1. and LXXIII 3. feare This cures one of the fret all the day long Waking walking and lying down in his fear in continual communion with him and conformity to him ch XXVIII 14. 1 Pet. I. 17. Phil. II. 12. 2 Cor. VII 11. an end Chap. X. 28. verse 18 An end of the sinners prosperitie Job VIII 13 14. and chap. XI 20. and XVIII 14. Psal. CXII 10. And an end and reward to those that fear God Psal. XXXVII 37 38. and LVIII 11. Wine-bibbers Verse 29 35. verse 20 Rom. XIII 13. Ephes. V. 18. Mat. XXIV 49. Buy the truth Tit. I. 9. verse 23 Phil. I. 27. Iude 3. Either live with it or die for it The father Chap. X. 1. verse 24 and chap. XV. 20. thy heart This the seat of our affections verse 26 and fountain of our actions Mark VII 21. Matth. XII 34 35. And therefore that care and caveat is given of it Prov IV. 23. And God so craveth and wisheth it Deut. V. 29. and complains of the want of it Matth. XV. 8. yea and deals as Ioseph with his brethren concerning Benjamin Gen. XLIII 3. no seeing his face without it thine eyes Look well to this patterne and copie get a ful prospect and fix and feed thine eyes hereupon a whore Chap. XXII 14. verse 27 See chap. V. 15. who hath woe Chap. XX. 1. verse 29 mixt wine Chap. IX 2. Psal. LXXV 8. verse 30 moveth Sparkleth verse 31 as the most generous wine useth to do strange women Drunckennesse ushers in whordome verse 33 Wine the milk of Venus and strange things and sights disturbing the braine Et geminum Solem duplices consurgere Thebas midst of the Sea Thy braines shall turne round verse 34 thy self reel as a ship tossed at Sea Psal. CVII 27. Or thy braines swim as if at Sea and so drunckenly dream as if thou wert at Sea Or be so stupid and senselesse in this druncken lethargie as to be fearlesse and carelesse in the greatest danger whatsoever and not refuse or forbear to sleep on the top of maâ—â— not sick A druncken man verse 35 we say takes no hurt feels no blows no smart is turned into a beast yea a block I will seek it yet again Though they be sick with it yet after their recoverie and that fit past they will to it again For drunckennesse inflaming increaseth thirst Deut. XXIX 19. and thirst drunckennesse and so the drunckard irrecoverable to be with them In their state chapter XXIV verse 1 and at their stay
Devil verse 14 who promised Christ excelsa in excelsis mountains on a mountain Matth. IV. 9. Such are like clouds c. Jude verse 12. By long forbearing Chap. XV. 1. verse 15 and chap. XVI 14. Gen. XXXII 4. 1 Sam. XXV 24. Judg. VIII 1 2 3. And thus not ministring occasion to provoke him further Though it self be flesh yet thus it breaketh the bone sufficieut Philosophandum sed paueis verse 16 We must not overdo a busines and vomit it By excesse the sweetest comforts will be dissweetned grow sower and loathsome 1 Cor. VII 29. We must hang loose and be weanedly affected towards all creature comforts withdraw Let thy foot be rare verse 17 and so precious there 1 Sam. III. 1 overlay not thy neighbour nor abuse his courtesie take not too much of a free horse Nulli te facias nimis sodalem false witnesse Chap. XIX 5. verse 18 Psal. XLII 10. and LVII 4. A sinne of a deep die of a crimson colour Confidence in an unfaithful man As was Achitophel to David verse 19 Jobs miserable comforters Job VI. 16 17. There is faith to be kept with dogs say the Turks with Hereticks say the Papists David durst not trust Saul 1 Sam. XXVII 1. notwithstanding his fair speeches and promises chap. XXVI 17 21. 25. Therefore trie well before we trust songs to an heavie heart verse 20 Musick and Mourning agree like Harp and Harrow Ecclus. XXII 6. Dan. VI. 18. Or as some render and sense the words musick drives away sorrow 1 Sam. XVI 24. 2 Kings III. 15. Enemie be hungrie Exod. XXIII 4. verse 21 Matth. V. 44. Rom. XII 20. heap coals of fire This seems to be related to verse 22 if not cited Rom. XII 19 20. And the words are commonly expounded and understood of heaping vengeance on thy enemies head and blessing on thine own Psal. CXL 10. But this seemes a very uncharitable Exposition but so savour of a vindictive policie and not to suit with Solomons or Pauls main scope and charitable intention And contrarie to that chap. XX. 22. and chap. XXIV 9. and to the tendencie of the text And therefore these coals of fire thus heaped on the enemies head may better be understood of his hearty repentance kindled and burning in his head and heart wherby his malice is melted and himself grieved with burning and scalding sighs that he hath been thine enemie who hast been and art so good as to desire and do him good whiles he did thee evil And thus the fire of love and charitie is kindled in his heart and his evil overcome with thy goodnesse as is in the Apostles Precept and Exhortation annexed Rom. XII 21. reward thee Though he should not nor be overcome by thy kindnesse and goodnesse a backbiting tongue Brow-beat it verse 23 The tale-hearer is blamable as well at the tale-bearer And he that loves a lie as he that makes it Apoc. XXII 15. good newes The more unexpected verse 25 the more welcome Eminently is this true of the newes of salvation from heaven falling down By infirmity verse 26 yeelding to him by timorousnesse in an evil thing or otherwise falling under his reproof for sinniug he is prejudiced and disgraced thereby he is as a troubled fountain Or to fall down before him by any calamity is a thing to be grieved at by all as at a publick mischief their own glorie It is not glorie verse 27 but vain-glorie Gal. V. 26. Iohn V. 44. and chap. XII 43. Gloria fugientem sequitur no rule over Chap. XVI 32. verse 28 that reigns not in his unruly affections so honour Dignitie should wait upon desert chapter XXVI verse 1 Psal. XII 8. The contrarie is of very evil consequences many wayes the curse causelesse As the Popes Excommunications verse 2 and Execrations with Bell Book and Candle Psal. CIX 28. Such Cursers are cursed the curse will fall upon the Cursers head for the fools back verse 3 Verse 4 12. Chap. X. 13. chap. VII 22. Psal. XXXII 9. Much and often is spoken of fools in this Book of Solomons wise Proverbs to mark them out as rocks at Sea that we might avoid shipwrack thereon Shortly thus That the Foole feedeth on foolishnesse it is joy to him he is full of words delights that his heart may discover it self uttereth all his minde layeth open his folly saith to every one that he is a fool whereas if he held his peace he might be counted wise his instruction is folly Excellent speech becomes him not honour is not seemely for him The legs of the lame are not equal and so is a parable in the mouth of fools His eyes are in the ends of the earth his heart at his left hand he will be medling he enters into contention and his mouth calleth for stroaks Job V. 2. A stone is heavie and the sand weighty yet his wrath is heavier then them both And as a whip is for the horse a bridle for the Asse so a rod for the fools back yet he trusts in his own heart that though thou shouldest bray him in a Morter among wheat with a pestle yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him But as a dog returneth to his vomit so a fool to his folly He hath no delight in understanding it is too high for him though a price be put in his hand to get wisdome yet he hath no heart he doth despise doth hate knowledge and reproof yea the thought of foolishnesse is sinne He makes a mock of sinne it is a sport to him to do mischief And therefore saith Solomon meddle not with him or his companie Answer him not according to his folly unlesse it be shortly to convince him leave him and go from his presence for shame shall be his promotion and destruction is near at hand to wait upon him Answer not Say nothing verse 4 and you pay him to purpose Esay XXXVI 21. Jer. XXVIII 11. John XIX 9 10. Luke XXIII 9. Mark XV. 2 3 4 5. like him As hot and as headlong as he and so at length there will be never a wiser of the two but both fools Not foolishly As he speaks verse 4 5. or as soothing humouring or consenting to him therein But in fit time and place shortly and soundly to convince him Answer Cast in somewhat that may sting him verse 5 and stop his mouth lest He took upon himself as a conqueror clap his wings and crow These seeming contradictions and contrarieties by due distinction of times and other incident circumstances and considerations are easily reconciled So Matth. XII 30. fool See on verse 3. verse 6 12. bindeth a stone in a sling Whereby the undiscreet and foolish verse 8 slinger may do hurt to others putting as it were a sword in a mad mans hand Or as others As he that putteth a precious stone in an heap of stones so c. Some make these heaps to be such as into which every traveller passing by out of
had owned him 2 Sam. VII 14. and chosen him for King before any of his elder brethren His mother thus stiles him as mothers many times do frame affectionate titles with some smal variations to insinuate with their children she breaks off the first letter of his name and adds in the end the name of God his mother taught him Lemuels lesson taught him by Bathsheba and if taught him haply being King then upon his beginning to warp and wander He was taught likewise by his father ch IV. 3 4. Ps. CXXVII and LXXII Both which heighten his after-fall as well as that 1 Kings XI 9. These words and Prophetical documents may seeme to be penned down by Lemuel himself afterwards What my sonne Passionate verse 2 and affectionate words a sweet schooling out of a fear and jealousie conceived and a care had to prevent his miscarrying thy strength to women Chap. verse 3 V. 9. Deut. XVII 17. to drink wine Chap. XXIII 29 30. verse 4 Ephes. V. 18. Hos. VII 5. Esay V. 11. Hab. II. 15 16. Eccles. X. 16 17. Lest One verse 5 amongst many of the mischiefs of drunkennesse in Kings and Princes chap. XXIII 29 35. and wine to those Jer. XVI 7. verse 6 Good things well used Hence as some conceive arose the custome of giving wine to such as were condemned to die as Mark XV. 23. Whereunto some apply that of Amos II. 8. and forget Judg. verse 7 IX 13. Psal. CIV 15. for the dumb Chap. XXIV 11 12. verse 8 such as may not or cannot speak for themselves Iob XXIX 15 16. Ier. XXXVIII 8 9. and plead Levit. XIX 15. Deut. I. 17. Psal. LXXII 4. verse 9 a vertuous woman Chap. XII 4. 1 Cor. XI 7. verse 10 Her praise is set forth all along to the end of this Chapter And that methodicaly beginning every verse with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet as it stands in order Such a woman as this is the female glorie the wonder of woman-kinde amiable and admirable as the paragon of the world A faire patterne for Solomons choise in a wife But a lesson ill learned by him a worse practised In this large Description the whole Text needs not any Glosse Ecclesiastes THis is the Book of Solomons Repentance written in his old age as may seeme to be gathered both out of the Title of the Book and the Closure of it in the six last verses and also out of the whole Body of it Being written upon a serious view of the Passages and practises of his life past and the great and manifold Experiences he had made and found therein His maine businesse is a curious search after true Felicitie and real Contentation And upon his search and experience he doth finde and pronounce That in order thereunto all things under the Sunne were but vanitie of vanities and vexation of spirit and for such experimented by him though the same improved by humane wisdome in him to the utmost Chap. II. 3 9. This he shews in a large maner in sundry sorts in many particular vanities under the Sunne principaly in humane wisdome and knowledge humane labours industries and endeavours in Delights and Pleasures of all kinds in Honours Greatnesse and Power in Riches and Possessions and in the utter insufficiencie that is in all these to extract from them or the quintessence of them any true happinesse or from any other sublunarie thing or creature whatsoever He seemes to speak sometimes in the person and according to the carnal reasonings of the Atheist and Epicure as reciting their opinions with their arguments yet he avers the truth of God against them and the just and wise course though to us secret hid and unsearchable of his Providence Administration and government of all the events issues accidents and affairs of this life in relation both to the just and to sinners even in things befalling in common to both of them He giveth sundry sound remedies to abate and heale the said Vanities He speaks much for Wisdome and against Folly And prescribes many good Rules for better things for procuring tranquillity unto the mind and peace and comfort to the life of a man eftsoones minding and mentioning among other things a chearful fruition and enjoyment of the outward Blessings and Comforts of this Life with gladnesse contentation and thankfulnesse as from the hand of God And lastly in the twelfth Chapter he concludes That in Old age elegantly described by him and at Death It will appear That to Fear God and Keep his Commandments is the whole of man both the whole Dutie and Felicitie of Man the one and only thing wherein it consisteth The words Solomons Ethicks verse 1 his Sapiential Tractate of the Sovereign good chapter I his Retractations and Penitential Sermon his Experiments of the Preacher Or of a preaching soul. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Foeminine hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the soul understood The penitent convert gathering himself to the Church He again gives himself this title chap. I. 2 12. and VII 27. and XII 8 9 10. Yet in those places it is construed with a Masculine And so the foeminine is sometimes used for the Common gender which is wanting with the Hebrews The Greeks and Latins render it in the Masculine Ecclesiastes David published his Repentance in Psal. LI. Vanitie of vanities Psal. CXLIV 4. and XXXIX 5. verse 2 All Adam is all Abel even at his best estate altogether vanitie And all worldly things are so an heap a nest of vanities vanitie in the abstract This the last issue and result the upshot of all his curious critical enquirie search and experiments what profit A chief point in the wise mans Compasse verse 3 is cui bono Who will shew us any good Thus worldly men look after this Psal. IV. 6. Yea wicked men in their overtures of Religion Mal. III. 14. No profit towards the attainment of true happinesse Labour which c. A labour in order to things above the Sunne will profit Phil. III. 20. Colos. III. 1 2. John VI. 27. No toilsome labour in earthly things will do so Nothing remaineth or abideth with him nothing more is added to him by it it addes nothing of real worth unto him at all That we shall finde to be truth which is in Habak II. 13 6. One generation Ecclesiasticus XIV 18. verse 4 Meere man is but the dream of a dream a curious picture of nothing Mortalitie is the stage of mutabilitie The inward principles of change and alteration are alwayes working The children thrust out the fathers but the earth Whereon as on a stage the several Generations act their parts and go off others come on abideth for ever Till its time of change in the end of all 2 Pet. III. 10. See my Observations on Deut. XV. 17. The duration of the earth opposed to every mans duration not the motion or standing of it is here intended The Sunne Psal. XIX 3. verse 5 There is
another Rom. XI 34. No good in them verse 12 but c. To enjoy things present and to do good here and so have good hereafter Psal. CXXVIII 2. 1 Tim. VI. 18 19. it shall be for ever His doing and counsel shall stand verse 14 Esay XLVI 10 11. Jer. 44. 28. And is perfect and holy unalterable by man Job XXXVIII 31 c. We should therefore with willingnesse and contentment submit to him and his doings acquiesce in him and dread and adore him though our blear eyes cannot see the bright Sun-shine of his actions His decrees must not drive us to despair or to a neglect of using the means but from deifying our selves and our own wisdome in the use of meanes still depending upon his blessing And moreover Having formerly shewed the vanitie and vexation of Knowledge verse 16 and of Pleasures and of humane Labours in many regards together with the Remedies of them He now proceeds to shew more vanities and vexations and yet to vindicate Gods Providence in them the place of judgement That should be a Sanctuarie and Citie of Refuge for wronged Innocencie That wickednesse and oppression should be and reigne there was a great vexation and a great tentation too against Gods righteous Providence I said That God shall judge and right all verse 17 at least and last in that great Assizes to be held by his Sonne at the last day Acts XVII 31. Some he judgeth here lest his Providence but not all lest his patience and promise of judgement might be called into question Therefore this vanitie and vexation ought not to dismay the innocent or hearten the oppressors seeing God will amend all that God might manifest them Men in place and power verse 18 though they carry themselves as beasts to their brethren yet will hardly know themselves their own fraile and base condition and that as to outward respects they are but as the beasts that perish Psal. XLIX 20. God must manifest it to them And this should humble them and staine their pride This shewes and should cure this vanitie Prov. XXX 2. For that which befalleth Psal. verse 19 XLIX 10. chap. II. 15 16. hunger thirst diseases c. all turne to dust againe Expire alike verse 20 and the body turnes to dust alike Gen. III. 19. Job XXXIV 15. This still in relation to the body only Who knoweth the spirit of man No man can by sense discerne the ascent of the one verse 21 or the descent of the other But he can who hath the minde of Christ who hath seen the insides of Nature and Grace Who is spiritual 1 Cor. II. 14 15 16. See chap. XII 7. of this book And Solomons scope throughout this Book is to shew the vanitie of earthly things and of humane actions in order unto things under the Sunne as to satisfie the heart of man in the acquiring of true felicitie Of his immortal or heavenly condition he speaks not purposely But as he makes Pietie the Only Remedy against all these earthly vanities and vexations and so concludes his Book in the two last verses We need not here then to make these passages to be speeches taken up in the Person of the â—picure or Atheist Wherefore I perceive He resumes his Assertion verse 22 verse 13. and ch II. XXIV and V. 18. after him What shall become of his goods how used and disposed and by whom all the oppressions More vanities and vexations in the Civil State no Comforter Doubled here This addes to their miserie This was Jobs case chap. VI. 14 15. and chap. XVI 2. and chap. XIX 21. he crieth and calleth for this pitie and commiseration It was Davids case Psal. LXIX 20. And Jerusalems Lam. I. 2 9 16. God cals for it towards Jerusalem Esay XL. 1 2. And himself doth it Esay LI. 3 12. See Nahum III. 7. praised the dead He preferreth the ease and quietnesse of death before the miseries of such a dying life See Job chap. III. throughout Jonah IV. 3. 1 Kings XIX 4. He speaks here according to the judgment of men under oppression without relation to the wickednesse of men whose state after death is in those terrours and torments that shall either mend or end and they be never able to abide or avoid Matth. XXVI 24. not yet been Job III. verse 3 10. and chap. X. 18 19. envied For his eminent worth and works verse 4 his ingenious Acts and Parts As the Courtiers of Persia did Daniel See Prov. XXVII 4. foldeth his hands The foolish sluggard so described verse 5 Prov. VI. 6. See the Explanations there And chap. XXVI 15. and chap. XIX 24. eateth his own flesh Prov. X. 4. maketh many an hungry meale Better is an handful The sluggards plea. verse 6 Sinners will have their shifts saw vanitie Another vanitie contrary to the former Fools whiles they shun the sands do rush upon the rocks yet no end of all his labour This matchlesse miser verse 8 and fellow that hardly hath a fellow is never satisfied as Prov. XXX 15. toiles without end Esay V. 8. Hab. II. 5. and to no end trusts he can draw up Jordan into his mouth Job XL. 23. and yet knows he hath none to whom he may leave his goods so toiled for This is worse then that of Psal. XXXIX 6. neither is his eye satisfied with riches Indeed the eye only hath the use of riches with such covetous men Two are better then one In a natural verse 9 and in a Moral sense Jer. XLI 13 14. 2 Sam. X. 11. And spiritualy next to Communion with God is the Communion of Saints Psal. XVI 2. Heb. X. 24. he cometh to reigne The poor and wise child verse 14 I considered Another vanitie and vexation if this be not an exemplification of the old foolish King dethroned and the poor wise child standing up in his stead all the living All the present generation of men living under a present Prince or Government the multitude many-headed given to change falling off from the falling Sun and adoring the rising Sunne with the second child The Successor sonne or who ever he be joyning to him and following him as thinking they must live by the living and not by the dead and so expecting protection and preservation by and under him Such is the vanitie and vexation of Princes that if they live long they outlive their own glorie and are looked upon by their own subjects as faling sinking bending to the grave And such is the vanitie and levitie of people that they are weary of present government and even sick for a change prove the change what it will 1 Sam. VIII 5 18 19 20. and XII 12. 2 Sam. XV. 12 13. and chap. XX. 2. 1 Kings II. 15. Prov. XXIV 21. no end of all the people Infinitely discontented verse 16 and restlesse in their desires of change never contented with their present state The people put no end or stop to this vanitie to this their epidemical
the foole Speaking with relation to wealth verse 8 and the event of outward things These things promiscuously happen to all without peculiar prerogative to any and beyond their own natural use they are not able to supply a wise man more then a fool and the fool may have as much and as much also of them as the wise Better is the sight of the eyes To enjoy quietly and contentedly what a man hath in present possession verse 9 then to wander and rove up and down in desire and pursuit of what we have not and cannot hardly attaine but endlesly weary our selves in hawking and hunting after them which never will nor can satisfie That which hath beene verse 10 the name And nature of it is known already That which is hoped for hereafter is yet unknown That it is man Man still earthly Adam sorry man be his wealth or greatnesse what it will And God will make him know himself so to be Psal. IX 20. Ezek. XXVIII 6 9. Esay II. 22. and XXXI 3. Contend with To enter plea against God or require a reason of his judgements or strive against this streame thinking to alter or break through the order bounds of his Providence or decrees Esay XLV 9. Job IX 2 3 12. and IV. 17. and chap. XXXIV 23. Jer. L. 44. Rom. IX 20. Seeing there be many things A solemne conclusion of all the former discoveries of vanities in the Creatures verse 11 averring that first set down chap. I. 3. which is the maine matter of this Book What is man the better In regard of sound and solid happinesse for any or for all the former vanities For who knoweth The animal creatures by instinct of nature know what is good for them verse 12 to maintaine their being and well-being to remedy their maladies But man knoweth not what is good for him What is best for him in this life as to the things of this life Whether to be rich or poor c. Achitophel might have lived longer with lesse wisdome Nabal with lesse riches Herod with lesse pride and praise c. God is pleased to shew man the only good Mic. VI. 8. and Solomon chap. XII ver 13 14. vaine life This life it self a vaine shadow Psal. CXLIV 4. and XXXIX 6. Job XIV 2. and chap. VIII 1 Chron. XXIX 15. What shall be after him He cannot promise to himself when he is gone any satisfactorie content in name family and posterity no more then he could in his life-time to himself chap. II. 18 19. Nescis quid serus vesper vehat A good name chapter VII verse 1 Solomon in this Chapter proceeds to many other particular meanes and remedies for healing the vanities and vexations of this life and procuring tranquility and peace of minde in the midst of them Yet here and there he doth intermix some more vanities and vexations The first meanes and remedy here is a Good Name or Fame The first letter of the Hebrew word for Good is here greater then ordinary to intimate belike the great and extraordinary goodnesse of a good name Which is better to a man to his conscience and soul then a precious ointment is to his body It refresheth and cheereth and comforteth the soul and conscience in the very midst of all wrongs and sufferings and specially at the hour of death and remaines fresh after the body rots in the grave They leave their names for a blessing and are had in everlasting remembrance whereas the memory of the wicked shall rot Job XVIII 17. Prov. X. 17. and they leave their names as a curse and a stinking snuff behinde them Esay LXV 15. yea in this life this fattens the bones Prov. XV. 30. And procures reverence and esteeme in the consciences of others And is rather to be chosen then all riches Prov. XXII 1. Herein the Hebrew is a Paranomasia of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the same is in Cant. I. 3. and the day of death To such a man of a good name or to any man relation being had to the many vanities and vexations of this life Job XIV 1. Life begins with crying 2 Nondum loquitur infans tamen sic prophetat And Lawyers define life by crying without which they are counted still-borne 3 Now that day that delivers a man from them is better then that which lets in and puts a man in possession of them Which makes Solomon here prefer his coffin before his cradle to the house of mourning So wise men do And fools they are that do the contrary verse 4. This is better for the living as the former for the dead for this is the end of all men Here is the reason men will so fall into deep and due consideration of their own dying life as Job XXX 33. Psal. XXXIX 4 5. and XC 12. that life is but to lie a dying and so be weined from the vaine jollities of this life and wrought to humiliation mortification and preparation for a better life From which Feasting calls us off See Josh. XXIII 14. Heb. IX 2. And againe Amos VI. 3 6. Deut. VIII 12 14. Esay XXII 12 13 14. and chap. V. 12. Sorrow is better James IV. verse 3 9 Luke VI. 21. 25. Matth. V. 4. yet this is a Paradox to the world which is alwayes set upon the merry pin to be as merry Greeks to eat and drink and laugh and play and labours to banish all sorrow away as the bane of their life sadnesse of the countenance In our selves by grave thoughts and sad and serious meditations and considerations or of a sower and severe yet sure friend the heart is made better The better part is bettered the inward man is amended by abandoning those loose noisome and destructive vanities and jollities of laughter and of penitential humiliation compunction contrition of mortality death judgment These sorrowful tears have much joy in them they wash away the filth of sin as sweet April showers they bring on amaine the May-flowers of Grace and Glorie And therefore where ever the body is upon several occasions yet the heart of the wise is here he numbereth the dayes of his life and the dayes of darknesse Psal. XC 12. Eccles. XI 8. And where ever the body is yet the heart of fooles is on effuse mirth runs a madding the way to rejoyce in a thing of nought Amos VI. 13. is on foolish follies in the filth and froth whereof is bred and fed that woful worme that never dies Job XXI 12 13. Yet their laughter is indeed but the hypocrisie of mirth as the crackling of thornes under a pot a sudden blaze soone gone as sudden lightning which yet is followed with the rending and roaring of thunder-claps Luke VI. 25. Psalme CXVIII 12. The rebuke of the wise Prov. XIII 18. verse 5 and chap. XV. 31 32. ch XXVII 6. Psal CXLI 5. An enemie in this case many times proves a good and
doth supply and minister the former yea and hath the dominion in humane affairs above all other things money is the measure of all things buyeth all things Money is the sinewes of warre beares the masterie in matches and marriages and Law-suits effecteth all things Curse not the King Notwithstanding his errours in government verse 20 or miscarriages in living or wrongs done to thee Exod. XXII 28. 2 Pet. II. 10. no not in thy thought Or conscience or heart Thought is not free Jer. IV. 14. Esay LIX 7. Psal. LXII 4. It will likely break forth for a bird of the aire The danger if thou mutter it in hugger-mugger God can reveale it by brute creatures birds and beasts by inanimate creatures See Gen. IV. 11. Esay XXVI 21. Hab. II. 11. As Luke XIX 40. So in this case However Kings themselves have long eares Yea we say walls and hedges have ears See that Ester II. 22. And consider the discovery of our hellish Powder-plot Cast thy bread It must be thine chapter XI verse 1 well gotten Ephes. IV. 28. upon the waters Where it may seeme clearly cast away as if it were throwne into the Sea lost because the poor cannot recompence thee againe Luke XIV 12 13 14. Yet lend in that manner looking for nothing againe Luke VI. 35. God will repay it Prov. XIX 17. Esay LVIII 7. Yet some by water here do understand moist and fertil soile well watered or grounds on the sides of waters such as on the banks of Nilus which yeeld increase very abundantly And that so plentifully God will reward thy almes to the poor In the former Chapter as the Great Annotations do well observe Solomon shewed the excellent use of true wisdome as a means of tranquility of minde and Remedy against the vanity and vexation of outward things in Ordering our behaviour aright toward Superiours for prevention of those dangers which their displeasure might subject us unto In this Chapter he further discovereth the use thereof unto the same end of comfortable living so still pursuing his principal argument touching tranquility and comfort of life in Ordering our behaviour towards Inferiours those especially that are in want shalt finde it after Gal. VI. 9. Prov. XI 25. and XIX 17. James V. 7. 2 Cor. IX 6 10. Matth. XIX 21. Deut. XV. 9 10. to seven and also to eight Micah V. verse 2 5. To many as waters formerly in the plural number may likewise intimate The necessity of a man may require it when his person doth not deserve it And thy ability must guide thee to Give with discretion Psal. CXII 5. Luke VI. 30. Prov. XXXI 20. thou knowest not what evil Therefore sowe whilest thou hast it work while the toole is in thy hand James IV. 14. Prov. XXVII 1. By bounty evil of punishments and judgements is prevented by unmercifulnesse to the poor it is procured If the clouds They emptie themselves in showers for the good of the earth verse 3 So should rich men do Psal. CXII 9. And the showers fal upon all the ground this as well as that And so should the full and rich not too solicitously enquire who it is to whom they give He is a man and needie man and if the tree fall Fall it must and man must die And as death leaves him judgement findes him and sentence goes upon him for the right hand or the left according to his carriage towards the poor Matth. XXV 33 46. Or This seemes a vulgar Proverb touching things of small concerment care or choise And to imply that our ordinarie almes should fall upon any this or that poor and be distributed as it were with a blinde hand or hood-winkt eye without any over-curious choise He that observeth the winde We must not stand scrupling and casting perils and objections and pretences to hinder or delay our Alms-giving and come with our Talent tied up in a napkin Whereas any pertext serves the covetous miser not to give What is the way of the Spirit Of the winde verse 5 say some John III. 8. Of the Soul rather how it comes into the body and quickens it Nor how the bones Psal. CXXXIX 14 15 16. Job X. 8 13. Knowest not the works of God The works of his Providence how he may dispose of thy life and state and ability of doing good And therefore thou must take the present season and opportunity and not delay and defer it lest the Lord haply will put thee out of all capacitie and meanes to do it Neither knowest thou by what secret and wondrous wayes he may recompence thy liberality In the morning At all times verse 6 upon every occasion and opportunity chap. IX 10. John IX 4 Begin betimes and continue to the end lose not a day Whether shall prosper Though sometimes thy bounty prove misplaced and it be ten to one if any cured Leper returne to give thanks yet thy reward is sure from God Heb. VI. 10. Matth. X. 41 42. 1 Kings XVII 13 16. The light is sweet The light of life as appears in the opposition verse 7 verse 8. And specialy a lightsome joyful life is such Job II. 4. 1 Kings XX. 32. Esther VII 3. Life was given as a prey and reward to Ebedmelech and Baruc Jer. XXXIX 18. and XLV 5. Yet consider it will end in death dayes of darknesse will come Therefore unto compleat happinesse there is yet more to be done not only to gaine and secure the comforts of this life and tranquility of minde here amidst all the vanities and vexations of it In which search and point Solomon had hitherto laboured But also to get the assurance of a better life after this which is the businesse of Solomon in the remaining part of this Book But if a man live And sit in the worlds warme Sun-shine verse 8 and say he shall never be moved Job XXI 7 13. yet let him remember That the light will be turned into darknesse the dark dayes will come of old age and death chap. VI. 4. Job X. 21. Psal. VIII 12 13. and CXLIII 3. and they so many as that the lightsome days of life will seeme but a warm gleame a momentanie glance which remembrance should coole our hot desires after the vanites of this life and lay our lusts a bleeding and a dying at our feet 1 Pet. II. 12. All that cometh every man every thing that hapneth is vanity Rejoyce O young man No encouragement verse 9 but a scoff and ironie derides his folly Like that of Elias to the Baalites and many more in Scripture and walk in the wayes Go on in the choise and chase of thy hearts desires But know thou To thy cost though such would faine baffle their knowledge and blinde the eye of their understanding yet it will not be As Esay XXVI 11. 1 King XXII 25. 2 Pet. III. 5. that for all these things This mars the mirth leavens all is sowre sauce to his sweet meats God will bring thee
Vanitie of vanities He resumes and concludes his main Text verse 8 ater his large demonstration of it by so many convincing arguments the Preacher was wise And moreover verse 9 because he knew how hard it is to work man to a firme belief of this maxime That all these earthly things are but vanity he heaps up in these few words of his conclusion many cogent arguments yet more to re-inforce the same from his own wisdome from his care to teach the knowledge of this principal lesson his heed his search his ordering of it and other Proverbs from the delight and acceptablenesse of it from the uprightnesse and truth of it All which as they may relate to his teaching and writing in general so more specialy to the subject matter of this Book The words of the wise In this verse Solomon riseth higher verse 11 and comes up to the praise of the words of the wise in general which is most appliable to the Word of God in the Scripture the praise is from their power and efficacie they are as Goads as Nailes And from their Authority fastened â—d managed by the Masters of Assemblies the Preachers and Ministers And the Word and they both given from one Shepheard the great Shepheard of the Sheep the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet some would make this understanding of this verse That the Authors of these Collections compiled them together into one body under the name of Solomon guided thereunto and so given by and from Zerubbabel by these and by no other verse 12 no humane and vaine words or writings Psal. XIX 11. These are sufficient Some conceit that Zerubbabel speaks thus to Abihud Many books This most true in this age if not more then any other But these many in comparison of the Scriputure may well be called wast-papers And much study in them is a wearinesse of the flesh The Conclusion of the whole matter let us hear The first word of this verse verse 13 rendered Conclusion is written in the Original with an extraordinary big letter to put an extraordinary mark of Attention upon it The meaning of the words of this and the last verse need no Explanation THE Song of Solomon A Song it is as the title bears Not an Historie or a Prophecie which conceit while some have fancied to themselves to maintain the same they have been driven in their Expositions forcibly as it were to ravish the Text and to fall into sundry I might say ridiculous singularities and absurdities It is the Song of Songs the chiefest of his 1005. Songs 1 Kings IV. 32. the most excellent of all others and that for Expressions Mysteries Purity and Holinesse but most for the Subject and Matter of it which is sublime divine and Evangelical It is all a continued Allegorie full of Obscurities as is confessed by all somewhat the harder to understand by reason of so many diversities of understandings somewhat the more difficult because we meet here with diverse Hebrew words which are not found in the Scripure besides It is all mystical as many words almost so many Mysteries As is likewise said of the Apocalypse And the Jewes hereupon are said to forbid the reading of this Book among them till they came to thirty years of age Yet it appears to be an Epithalamium a marriage-Song a Song of Loves Penned by Solomon it seemes in his younger years and best times not long after his marriage with Pharaohs daughter whereunto he may haply allude in this Song and long before his foul falls in his old age But yet a greater then Solomon is here Here is Christ the true Solomon the Bridegroome and his Church the Spouse Here between them is set down all Rhetorick of Love pathetical Compellations affectionate Elogies Passionate Expressions all here pure and spiritual in this Celestial Poem Here is nothing of Temporal Carnal or worldly mixture in it The flowers and ornaments of Language in the Praises of Both are not applicable to bodily or natural beauties but to spiritual and supernatural Here is hidden Manna sancta sanctis Pearls are not for swine Here Solomon rips up and rifles as it were all the rarities of Nature to describe his sacred and supernatural mysteries Yea such is the matchlesse riches and sweetnesse of this Poem and the subject of it that though the storehouse of the whole world from both her spheres contribute to it yet all is not sufficient The richest earthly things are but grosse and sensible illustrations of spiritual Majesty and glory They can serve but as mystical representations as Emblemes as Hieroglyphiks as Manuductions and Perspectives to Grace and Glory Here between Christ and his Church are interchangings of mutual Praises Gloriations and Congratulations of Zealous spiritual longings and breathings of Loves and Vowes and Joyes of acclamations attestations and administrations His divine and glorious excellencies in himself and rich bounties and blessings to her and her precious heavenly graces and endowments ornaments and priviledges by him in an high character in lofty and stately sayings and similies are portraied and laid out to the life by her and by him And yet withal her failings and recoveries and his withdrawings thereupon and returnings are not omitted And lastly she being never satisfied with his Love out of the unquenchable flame of her affection she doth beg still a more intimate Union and communion with him and a perpetual fruition of him for her self and for all her members that yet knew him not And that he would hasten his last coming for the full finishing of all and her enjoyment of him in Vision Beatifical in the Life of Glory In all these Interlocutions betwixt them she speaking nine times He seven times And both joyntly together the same things as in a Chorus two times In a word There are such divine raptures as are able to fire the holy affections of the sons of men Let him kisse me chapter I verse 2 c. The speech of the Church the Spouse to Christ the Bridegroom to the 8. ver set forth in her wishes of his love in expressions of the worth of it of his sweet smelling graces and the powerful vertue of them in her and in others in his rich and gracious provisions for her in her Vindication of her own deformities and defects against the envious and uncharitable censures of others concerning her and in petitioning him for further counsel and direction If thou know not c. Christ his Reply verse 8 in the four next verses granting her last request with gracious and great commendations of her and rich promises made unto her While the King c. The Church in this verse 12 and the next verse returnes the fruits of Christs love and bounty magnifying by similies his gracious goodnesse to her and declaring what her cate shall be to keep and indeere him to her Behold thou art fair Christ here in this verse 15 and the next verse congratulates his Church Praysing again and so
Idols or to any other which he foreknew that this stiff obdurate people would be too prone to do ver 5. new things Yet further to convince thee of thy wilful obstinacie I acquaint thee again verse 6 with other of my secret counsels which shall also in their due time be fulfilled very treacherously In ascribing them verse 8 and the foreknowledge of them to thine Idols or Southsayers For my Names sake No merit of thine My mercy and might verse 9 my grace and glory but not with silver Not so fully as silver verse 10 till all the drosse be exactly wrought out But chastised them with moderation regarding their infirmities my glorie unto another He is charie and jealous of a corrival verse 11. 14. 17. loved him Cyrus hath sent me Me the Prophet Esay This added to give the greater assurance of the truth and certainty of it Go ye forth from Babylon Ezra I. 1. verse 20 Esay having prophesied much of the Returne of the Jewes from the Babylonish captivity chapter XLIX from the fourtieth Chapter hitherto doth now mainly insist upon the instauration of the Church by Christ And plaies the Evangelist as it were to the end of this Book and Prophecie Listen O Isles Christ calls for audience verse 1 declaring his Calling to his Office by the Lord to be the Saviour both of Jew and Gentile from the womb Yet designed thereto from eternity 1 Pet. I. 20. my mouth like a sharp sword God furnisheth him with abilities to this great office and work of mans Redemption verse 2 Thou art my servant verse 3 O Israel c. Or rather thus Israel it is in whom I will be glorified by thee the true Israel of God And indeed to the Jewes in general he was first sent as the minister of Circumcision whom man despiseth Christ in the dayes of his flesh and humiliation verse 7 Kings shall Chap. XLV 23. and LII 15. Psal. LXXII 10 11. Ephes. I. 21 Phil. II. 10. In an acceptable time God the Father speaking unto Christ. verse 8 to establish the earth Of Judea to restore and settle the State of it againe after their returne from the Captivity A Type of the other prisoners Go forth From Babels bonds verse 9 corporaly from Satans bonds spiritualy They shall feed in the wayes In their returne from Babylon to Judea God will provide them of all necessaries in the way and make it even and easie to them Sinim Or verse 12 Sini the Sinites that lived in the desert of Sin or about mount Sinai Or from Sin a chief Citie in Egypt Ezek. XXX 15 16. And all this a Type of those that out of all quarters of the world should be converted unto Christ and come in to him But Zion said Her objection verse 14. 15. 18. Can a woman Gods answer full of a tender affection to her gather themselves together A Type of those numberlesse numbers that should be brought home to the Church of God under Christ by the Ministery of the Gospel to the Gentiles Their Conversion should make up this numberlesse number verse 22 And Kings shall be thy nursing fathers As Persian Emperours first verse 23 and much more Christian Emperours afterwards and lick up An expression of the lowest submission that may be even the captives of the mighty Notwithstanding their pretended might and right verse 25 God would yet deliver his people from them And I will feed them And thus destroy their enemies verse 26 This chapter L and the next Chapter seeme to make one Sermon Where is the Bill A conviction of the Jewish people verse 1 as authors of their own forlorn condition together with a justification of God and his Ministers against them verse 1 9. divorcement Either none at all or not for sleight causes as they used to give Bills of divorcement but for great disloyalty yet God ever had his reserved remnant in all times among them Rom. XI 1 5. none to answer Their wilful obstinacie verse 2 and rebellious refractory courses This retarded their delivery and kept them in this deplorable plight this desolate and disconsolate condition is my hand shortned No want of power in God to deliver them tongue of the learned The Prophet Esay maintains his own Ministery verse 4 and his faithful discharge of it So to justifie God that there was nothing wanting on his part to reclaime and reduce them It is true that divers understand all this as spoken in the person of Christ. And indeed there are divers passages that very fitly agree to him and whereof concerning Esay there is no mention in the holy Story And it is true that the same may be said of sundry particulars in Psal. XXII and XL. and LXIX applied expressely unto our Saviour Christ in the New Testament Matth. XXVII 34 35 43 46. Heb. X. 5 10. And yet none make doubt but that those Psalmes as they were by David composed so in his own person they concerned him and that in all likelihood in some particulars which yet are not found expressely recorded in the story of him The like may be here my back to the smiters Matth. XXVI 27. verse 6 and XXVII 26. John XVIII 22. He is neere that justifieth me Saint Paul alludes to this verse 8 Rom. VIII 33 34. The Apostles maner is to enlarge the promises of God made to some particular persons as to Jacob Joshuah David and others Gen. XXVIII 15. Josh. I. 5. Psal. XXIII 1. extending them to all the faithful in general as having a joynt interest therein with them Heb. XIII 5 6. And the Apostles argument borrowed hence stands firme and good in general Who is among you An exhortation to the godly party among them verse 10 to rest and rely upon God in these calamitous times with a sad commination to those that trusted to ought else notwithstanding all their shifts and fetches for which Esay derides them Hearken Esay returnes to Comfort the godly party again chapter LI verse 1 endeavouring to keep them from being dismaid either by the consideration of their own fewnesse and feeblenesse or by the apprehension of the supposed might malice and multitude of the adverse party alone and blessed him and increased him And so I will deale with you shall comfort Zion God can do verse 3 and will do as much for his Church as he sometime did for Abraham a Law As a Law verse 4 at mount Sinai so a second Law even the Gospel my salvation is gone forth Aiming at Cyrus his Proclamation verse 5 Ezra I. 1 2. the Isles shall wait upon me The Gentiles at the law of the Gospel Awake verse 9 awake Spoken either in the person of Gods people or by the Prophet himself moving in their behalf Rahab Egypt Dragon Pharaoh returne From the Babylonish captivity verse 11 Gods answer to the former supplication and where is the fury The Babylonians are perished verse 13 and their fury is gone thy mouth The mouth of Esay