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
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
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
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
of me of my Word of truth without mixture of hay or stubble 1 Cor. III. 12. Make haste See chap. II. verse 14 9 17. They then waited for the consolation of Israel Here is the Churches last speech and prayer like that Apoc XXII 17 20. She loves and longs and looks for his second Advent 2 Pet. III. 12. As the espoused Virgin doth after the day of marriage like to a Roe In nimblenesse and swiftnesse Come with all speed quickly cut off of delaies Yet his coming seemes long to us because we are short we set the Sun by our Dyal upon the mountaine of spices Where Christ is and whence the Church expects him and whither she longs to be brought by him Those high and heavenly those sweet and precious pleasures Ps. XVI 11. are the issue and upshot of all and the end of this spiritual heavenly Song THe Great and Small Prophets according to the Times wherein they lived and prophesied may seeme to stand in this ranck and Order viz. Jonah Esay Hosea Joel Amos Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephanie Ieremy Daniel Ezekiel Obadiah Haggai Zechariah Malachi In the LXX the Lesser Prophets are placed before the Greater Esay ESAY Prophesies of the Destruction of the Kingdomes of Syria and Samaria shortly to be accomplished by the Assyrian And of the Kingdome of Iudah afterwards by the Babylonian And of the Neighbouring Kingdomes round about by them both And of the Ruine of the Assyrian Empire by the Babylonian And of the Babylonian by the Mede and Persian Intermixing sharp accusations of sins severe threatnings of judgments and comfortable Promises chiefly to the Jewes and Israelites And extending his Evangelical Prophecies and Promises to Christ and his glorious spiritual Kingdome And the Vocation of the Gentiles to the Communion of it And all in a stately stile and lofty language The time of his Prophesying must needs be 46. years from the first of Iotham to the 14th of Hezekiah Besides the Times that the Prophesied in the dayes of Vzziah and after the 14th of Hezekiah which for the number of years are uncertaine Yet it is recorded that he writ the Acts of Uzziah first and last 2 Chron. XXVI 22. though that Book seeme not extant now as not so necessary for the use of the Church As neither that of Iasher 2 Sam. I. 18. Nor that of Ieremy 2 Chron. XXXV 25. The Times in Esay may seem to be thus distinguished viz. In the dayes of King Uzziah Chapter I. 5. whos 's reigne is mentioned chap. I. 1. and his Death chap. VI. 1. Wherein some things most Prophetickly be spoken and understood both of sinnes and Punishments which otherwise are fitting rather to the times of Ahaz In the dayes of Iotham chap. VI. In the dayes of Ahaz Chap. VII XIV ver 28. whose reigne is mentioned chap. VII 1. And his Death chap. XIV 28. And the rest may seeme most if not all to be in the dayes of Hezekiah wherein there is a special notation of time in chap. XX. mentioning the year that Tartan 2 Kings XVIII 17. came to Ashâ—od or Azotus and took it when Sargon next Predecessor to Sennacharib or Sennacharib himself King of Assria sent him which seems to be about the eighth or ninth year of Hezek And in the XXXVI XXXVII chap. mentioning the 14th year of Hezekiah and the Histories contained in it And in chap. XXXVIII XXXIX containing Histories that fell out in the later end of that fourteenth year of Hezekiah without any other or further Notation of Times to the end of all the Book In this Prophecie are chiefly contained manifold Evangelical Promises and Prophecies of Christ of his Person and Offices his Gospel and Kingdome more Particularly of his Incarnation and Birth His Breeding Calling Teachings Sufferings Life Death Rising again Glory ensuing Kingdomes Length and Extent That Esay is well called an Evangelical Prophet or Prophetical Evangelist Concluding with the destruction of Babylon and the Deliverance of Gods People thence the glorious restauration of the Church and Numerous Vocation of the Gentiles And by reason of the Premises it is That this Book is so often cited in the New Testament As in the Table ensuing may appear Esay Alledged or Alluded to in 1. 9. Rom. 9. 29 6. 9 10 Mat. 13. v 14 15 Â Joh. 12. 39 40 41 Â Act. 28. 25 26 27 7. 14 Mat. 1. 22 23 8. 14 Rom. 9. 33 15 1 Pet. 2. 8 Â Mat. 21. 44 17 Luke 20. 18 18 Heb. 2. 13 14 9. 2 Mat. 4. 14 15 16 7 Luke 1. 32 33 10. 22 23 Rom. 9. 27 28 11 1 Mat. 2. 23 10 Rom. 15. 12 13. 10 Mat. 24. 29. 21. 9 Apoc. 14. 8 22. 13 1 Cor. 15. 32. 22 Apoc. 3. 7 25. 8 1 Cor. 15. 54. 28. 11 Apoc. 11. 7 17 Â 1 Cor. 14. 21 16 1 Pet. 2. 6 7 8 Â Rom. 9. 33 29. 10 Rom. 11. 8 13 Mat. 15. 7 8 9 Â Mar. 7. 6 14 1 Cor. 1. 19 33. 18 1. Cor. 1. 19 20 34. 4 Apoc. 6. 13 14 35. 5 6 in many places 40. 3 Matth. 3. 3 Â Mark 1. 3 Â John 1. 23 3 4 5 Luke 3. 4 5 6 6 7 8 1 Pet. 1. 24 25 13 Rom. 11. 34 Â 1 Cor. 2. 16 41. 4 Ap. 1. 17 22. 13 8 James 2. 23 42. 1 2 3 4 Mat. 12. 17 18 Â 19 20 6 Acts 13. 47 43. 19 2 Cor. 5. 17 44. 3 John 7. 38 39 45. 9 Rom. 9. 20 23 Rom. 4. 11 Â Phil. 2. 10 11 47. 8 Apoc. 18. 7 49. 6 Luke 2. 32 Â Acts 13. 47 8 2 Cor. 6. 2. 10 Apoc. 7. 16 50. 6 Luk. 22. 64 Â John 18. 22 8 Rom. 8. 30 34 52. 5 Rom. 2. 24 7 Rom. 10. 15 10 Luke 3. 6 11 2 Cor. 6. 17 15 Rom. 15. 21. 53. 1 John 12. 38 Â Rom. 10. 16 3 Mark 9. 12 4 Matth 8. 17 5 1 Cor. 15. 3 53. 5 6 1 Pet. 2. 24 25 7 8 Mark 15. 3 c. Â Acts 8. 32 9 1 Pet 2. 22 12 Mark 15. 28 Â Lu. 22 37 23 34 54. 1 Gal. 4. 27 13 John 6. 45 55. 1 John 7. 37 3 Acts 13. 34 Â Psal. 89. 35 56. 7 Matth. 21. 13 Â Mark 11. 17 Â Luk 19. 46 59. 7 Rom. 3 15 17 Eph. 6. 17 Â 1 Thes. 5. 8 20 Rom. 11. 26 60 3 Apoc. 21. 24. 11 Apoc. 21. 25 19 Ap. 21. 23. 22. 5 61 1 2 Lnk 4. 17 21 62. 11 Matth. 21. 5 63 2 3 Apoc. 19. 13 15 64 4 1 Cor. 2. 9. 11 65. 1 2 Rom 10. 20 21 17 2 Pet. 3. 13. 66 1 Acts 7. 48 49 21 1 Pet. 2. 5 9 Â Apoc 1. 6. 24 Mark 9. 44 Chap. VII ver 16. hath reference to Shear-jashub Chap. VIII ver 18. hath reference to Shear-jashub and Mahershalah-hash-baz Chap. XXXVIII ver 5. Ezekiah's tears among other causes might chiefly be because at that time he had no sonne Manasseh being borne
points and circumstances easily to be gathered and understood Deut. XI 26 30. and XXVII 12 26 This was done in the first year of their coming over Jordan Josh. VIII 32 35. when and where were read likewise all the words of the Law of Moses before all the Congregation of Israel With ships Ships besides the Ark of Noah chapter XXVIII verse 68 are first mentione in Jacobs blessing of Zebulun Gen. XLIX 13. and in Moses his threatning the Israelites in this place Not given Gods hand in giving and working of Grace chapter XXIX verse 4 See Ch. XXX 6. Jer. XXIV 7. and XXXI 33. and XXXII 39. Ezek. XI 19 20. and Ch. XXXVI 26 27. Heb. VIII 10 11. John VI. 44 45 65 Phil. I. 29. and II. 13. Ephes. II. 8. 2. Tim. II. 25. And he gives grace to the remnant which is according to the election of Grace Matth. XI 25. and XIII 11. Mark IV. 11 12 John XII 39. Rom. XI 7. Ephes. I. 5. 2 Chron. XXX 12. Mount This Mount Hor chapter XXXII verse 50 where Aaron died Num. XX. 25 26. was South of Judea And Mount Hor on the North-bounds of Judea Num. XXXIV 7. are far differing and distant mountains King in Jeshurum Moses King in Ieshurum chapter XXXIII verse 5 25. in Blessing the twelve Tribes doth omit Simeon if we accompt him not included in Iudah as his Lot in the division of Canaan fell within the Lot and Tribe of Iudah and their expeditions against their enemies in conquering their own shares were joynt and undertaken together Iosh. XVIII and XIX Iudg. I 3. Dwell between his shoulders That is verse 12 In Ierusalem For though the Southerne and Superior part of Ierusalem where Mount Sion was and which was called the City of David did belong to the Tribe of Iudah yet the Northerne and inferior part of it where Mount Moriah was whereon the Temple was built belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin The huge deep valley of Mello between the two Mountains being filled up and levelled by Solomon so that thence afterward Sion and Moriah might be called two tops of one Mountain Sion the higher top and Moriah the lower Died The time of Moses his death was in the fourtieth year chapter XXXIV verse 5 twelfth moneth seventh day of their coming out of Egypt and one hundred and twentieth year of his age See upon Aarons death Num. XXXIII 38. No man knoweth The reason of concealing the place of the Burial of Moses verse 6 And Michael the Archangel his contending with the Devil and disputing about the body of Moses Iude ver 9. was not revealed in the Scripture of the Old Testament And this dispute might be lest the Israelites knowing it might carry it with them as Iosephs bones into Canaan into which God had said That he should not enter or rather That the people might not idolize it Joshua THE Book of Joshua was not probably written by him though of and concerning him For besides some things contained in it which are deemed by some to be done after his death As that concerning Caleb and his daughter Achsah Ch. XV. 16 19. And most surely the Conquering of Leshem or Laish by the Danites Ch. XIX 47. Iudg. XVIII 7. 29. And those things recorded Ch. XXIV 29 33. Some other things seeme to plead That it was written by some Prophet Long after his death Whence that phrase remaines unto this day is so frequently used Ch. IV. 9. and Ch. VI. 25. and VII 26. and VIII 29 and IX 27. and X. 27. and XIII 13. and XIV 14. and XV. 63. And the Book of Iasher is named Ch. X. 13. which seemes written at soonest in Davids time as recording an Act of his 2 Sam. I. 18. unlesse we say This Book of Iasher in Ioshua's time to be continued on and enlarged in after-times by adding and inserting memorable acts in after-ages And so in Davids time And further the Mountains of Iudah and the Mountains of Israel are mentioned Iosh. XI 21. Which many possibly seeme to intimate the Book to be written after the division of the Nation into the two Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel Ioshua was the Tribe of Ephraim Num. XIII 8. 1 Chron. VII 27. And he lived one hundred ten years Ch. XXIV 29. and was six full years in conquering the Land and in the seventh fell to the Dividing of it by Lot as is gathered out of the age of Caleb Iosh. XIV 7 10. And divers years Ioshua lived and governed after that time but how many it doth not appear out of this Book yet is gathered out of other places to be ten years more and so this Book to containe an History of seventeen years from the Beginning of his Government to his Death The truth of this account stands upon this computation from the coming out of Egypt to the fourth of Solomon are four hundred and eighty years 1 King VI. 1. which are made up thus fourty years in the Wildernesse seventeen of Ioshua two hundred ninety nine of the Iudges counting in the twenty of Sampson as coincident and concurring with the first twenty years of Eli twenty years more of Eli twenty of Samuel fourty of Saul fourty of David four of Solomon In all 480. Within three dayes This Edict and Proclamation of three dayes chapter I verse 2 for preparation to passe over Iordan set down here doth begin and commence after the History of the two Spies and their returne to Ioshua which History yet is recorded after in the Chapter following And thereupon the mention of the said three dayes is taken up again the second time Ch. III. 2. when new directions are given for their Passage and the manner of it Rahab Rahab chapter II verse 1 an Harlot because at least she had been so though now a beleeving Convert ver 9 10 11. Heb. XI 31. Iames II. 25. She had her house on the wall of Iericho ver 15. which fell not when the rest of wall fell Ch. VI. 20 22. In framing her excuses for the Spies sake she bewrayes her infirmity in making equivocations or untruths rather ver 4 5. In transacting with the Spies some speeches seeme to passe between them after they were let down the wall ver 18. In pleading for her family she makes no mention of an Husband ver 13. and Ch. VI. 23. She was after married to Salmon eldest sonne of Nahshon which Nahshon was great-grand-childe to Hezron or Esrom that went down with Iacob into Egppt Gen. XLVI 12. And was Prince of Iudah at the numbring of the people Num. I. 7. at the marshalling of the Camps Num. II. 3. at the Dedication of the Altar Num. VII 12. and at the setting forward in their journeys Num. X. 14. But died in the Wildernesse Num. XIV 29. This marriage of Rahab to Salmon now Prince of Iudah is not recorded in the Old Testament But mentioned Matth. I. 5. in the Genealogy of our Saviour wherein as Rachab so Thamar Ruth
called Harosheth of the Gentiles Judg. IV. 2. as lying in that Tribe of Naphtali Thirteen Thirteen Cities with their Suburbs in title and dominion given to the Priests Josh. chapter XXI verse 19 XXI 4. See the Annotations on 1 Chron. VI. 59. Though one of them at that time was too much for their present use and habitation we reading but of three of them in number about fifty years before this time Called The two Tribes and a half dismist chapter XXII verse 1 likely at the end of sixe or seven years before the Division of the Land and stayed not fourteen yeers till after the Division which Division might yet possibly be made sooner then so Josh. XX. 11. Divide This Dividing the spoile with their brethren verse 8 those that stayed at home beyond Jordan seemes to relate to that Num. XXXI 27. And David seemes hereupon to revive and enact that Law of like Division 1 Saem XXX 24 25. Mention of the name The not naming of Idols is mentioned chapter XXIII verse 7 as here so Exod. XXIII 13. Deut. XII 3. Psal. XVI 4. And a like Ephes. V. 3. Yet the thing in it self is not simply and absolutely unlawful Shechem Shechem was a City in Mount Ephraim chapter XXIV verse 1 Josh. XX. 7. North-North-East from Shiloh and Bethel and close by Mount Gerizim and Ebal Judg. IX 7. Here Abraham and Jacob had sojourned And Jacobs two sonnes Simeon and Levi young men upon Dinah's ravishment murthered the Citizens Gen. XXXIV Here after Gideons death the Citizens worshipped Baal-Berith and rebelled with Abimelech and were after punished and spoyled by him Judg. IX This City in Ioshua's time was made a City of Refuge and given to the Kohathite-Levites Iosh. XXI 21. And here Ioshua made a Covenant with all the people to serve the Lord Chap. XXIV ver 25. The Mount Ephraim whereon the City stood was famous for Burials Here they buried Iosephs bones in Shechem in a parcel of ground which Iacob bought of the children of Hamor or Emor Josh. XXIV 32. Acts VII 16. Gen. XXXIII 19. Here was great Ioshua himself an Ephraimite buried in his inheritance in Timnath-Scrah or Here 's which is in Mount Ephraim on the North-side of the hill Goash Josh. XXIV 30. Judg. II. 9. And here was the High-Priest Eleazar buried in an Hill that pertained to Phineas his son which was given him in Mount Ephraim Josh. XXIV 33. Here Deborah dwelt Judg. IV. 5. And Tola the Judge ch X. 1. Hither came Rehoboam to be made King But Jeroboam was there made King in his stead who built or fortified the City and dwelt there 1 King XII 1 20 25. Judges THE Book of JUDGES contains an History not of four hundred and ten years but of two hundred ninty and nine years So Counting the years of the VI. Oppressors within the years and times of the Judges as I have shewed they necessarily must upon Rahabs marriage with Prince Salmon Josh. II. And so Expounding the Texts following according to the truth of the times thus That the Land had Rest by Othniel in the fourtieth year after it was first settled in Rest by Ioshua at his Death Judg. III. 11. not after the Death of Moses And again had Rest by Ehud in the eightieth year after the former Rest by Othniel Ch. III. 30. And again had Rest by Deborah in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Ehud Ch. V. 31. And again had Rest by Gideon in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Deborah Ch. VIII 28. These make up two hundred years And then follow three of Abimelech twenty three of Tolah twenty two of Jair sixe of Jephthah seven of Ibzan ten of Elon eight of Abdon twenty of Sampson which make np the other ninty nine years in all two hunded ninty nine The text Judg. IV. 3 4. seemes to accord with rhis reckoning and to accompt Jabins Oppression within the years of Deborah But yet counting beside these the times of the VI. Oppressors distinctly over and above which amount to one hundred and eleven years and is according to the seeming letter of the texts And then fourty years of Eli being added thereunto the summe ariseth to those 450. years mentioned by Paul Acts XIII 20. But reading the words of Saint Paul as in order they stand there in the Original and after these things about four hundred and fifty years he gave them Judges untill Samuel the Prophet we may rather conceive the four hundred and fifty years to comprehend all the time from the choosing of the Fathers till the Division of the Land by Joshua it being four hundred fifty two from the Birth of Isaac and four hundred fourty seven from the Rejection of Ishmael both wayes about four hundred and fifty wherein those things mentioned ver 18 19 20. were done and accomplished And after that time he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet And after that time He gave them Kings And thus the most learned Primate of all Ireland hath it in his learned Annals This Book seemes written of and concerning the Judges as the Book of Ruth concerning Ruth And long after their times As may seeme to be gathered by those phrases remaine unto this day and the like Ch. I. 21 26. and VI. 24. and X. 4. and XV. 19. And Ch. XVIII 30. must needs have relation at soonest to the captivity of the Arke in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. IV. 17. Psal. LXXVIII 60 61. Asked They asked the Lord chapter I verse 1 by Phineas the High Priest who by Urim and Thummim makes answer Num. XXVII 21. Both which were on or in the Breastplate and the Breastplate was annexed to the Ephod Exod. XXVIII 28 30. and XXXIX 21. which made David call for the Ephod and High Priest thereby to enquire of the Lord 1 Sam. XXIII 9 10 11 12. and Ch. XXVIII 6. So Ezra II. 63. See more on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. Bezek Bezek a City in the tribe of Iudah verse 4 not farre from Ierusalem lying from it South-West and midway between 〈◊〉 and Bethlehem Adoni-Bezek verse 5 Of him see on Iosh. X. 1. Said verse 7 seventy Kings His seventy Kings subdued and mangled by him must needs be very pettie Kings of Provinces or Cities if not such Princes as are now in Germany where all the brethren of a Prince are called Princes likewise And these seventy were such as in the time of all his reigne and tyranny Adoni-bezek had subdued He was brought from Bezek to Ierusalem to be made a publike example there Ierusalem Iudah had taken Ierusalem verse 8 slaine the inhabitants and burnt the City i. e. that part of it which belonged to Iudah Iosh. XV. 8. yet so as the Jebusite still dwelt therein with the children of Iudah ver 63. even till Davids time 2 Sam. V. 6 7 8. And Benjamin did the like and no more with their part of Ierusalem Judg. I. 21. yet both had little hold in it
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
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 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
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
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
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
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