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 ãâã day with the Jewes Passeover when kept by Christ when by the Jews and how the difference of their dayes ãâã 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. Shâkel 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 mâraculous 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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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 Geâ 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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a substantive signifies an Horne but ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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