inimicis suis crediderunt qui persequebantur Aust. Ser. de Temp. 109. To omit the Jews fancy that the Israelitish women bare six at a birth and to omit questioning whether faetifer Nilus the drinking of the water of Nilus which as some say is good for generation did conduce to the increasing of Israel I can only look at God and his work which did thus multiply and sustain them in the furnace of affliction Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos God had promised this increase to Jacob as he fled to Haran Gen. 28. in a dream from the top of Jacobs ladder And here he proves faithful who had promised CHAP. LIII Israels Camp according to the Chaldee Paraphrast his description Numb 2. THE Chaldee is precise about pitching Israels Camp I have not thought much to translate a whole Chapter out of him that the Reader may see at the least his Will if not his Truth Numb 11. 1. And the Lord spake to Moses and to Aaron saying 2. Every one of the children of Israel shall pitch by his Standard by the Ensigns whereto they are appointed by the Standards of their fathers shall they pitch over against the Tabernacle of the Congregation * * * Chald. Round Round round about 3. The Camp of Israel was twelve miles long and twelve miles broad and they that pitched Eastward toward the Sun-rising the Standard of the Camp of Judah four miles square and his Ensign was of three party colours like the three Pearls that were in the brestplate or rational the Rubies Topaz and Carbuncle and in it was deciphered and expressed the names of three Tribes Judah Issachar Zebulon and in the middle was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arise O Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee And in it was drawn the picture of a Lions whelp for the Prince of the children of Judah Nahshon the son of Aminadab 4. And his hoast and the number of them seventy four thousand and six hundred 5. And they that pitched next him the Tribe of Issachar and the Prince that was over the Army of the Tribe of the sons of Issachar Nethaneel the son of Tsuar 6. And his Army and the number of his Tribes fifty four thousand and four hundred 7. The Tribe of Zebulon and the Prince that was set over the Army of the Tribe of the sons of Zebulon Eliah the son of Hhelon 8. And the Army and their number of his Tribe fifty seven thousand and four hundred 9. All the number of the hoast of Judah were * * * The Chaâ—â— numbers 〈…〉 wise but it 〈…〉 misprinting therefore I take the Hebrew one hundred eighty six thousand and four hundred by their Armies they went first 10. The Standard of the hoast of Reuben shall pitch Southward by their Armies four miles square and his Ensign was of three party colours like the three stones in the brest-plate the Emeraud Saphire and Diamond and in it was deciphered and expressed the names of three Tribes Reuben Simeon Gad and in the middle was written thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. And in it was drawn the picture of a young Hart but there should have been drawn in it a Bullock but Moses the Prophet changed it because he would not put them in mind of their sin about the Calf And the Prince that was set over the hoast of the Tribe of Reuben was Elitzur the son of Shedeur 12. And his hoast and the number of his Tribe fifty nine thousand and three hundred The Chaldee misseth the 11. 12. verses 13. And the Tribe of Gad and the Prince that was set over the hoast of the Tribe of Gad Eliasaph the son of Devel 15. And his hoast and the number of his Tribe * * * The Chaldee cometh so short of the right number forty five thousand and six hundred 16. All the number of the hoast of Reuben one hundred fifty one thousand four hundred and fifty by their Armies they went second 17. Then went the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the hoast of the Levites in the Camps and their Camp was four mile square they went in the middle as they pitched so they went every one in his rank according to his Standard 18. The Standard of the Camp of Ephraim by their hoasts pitched Westward and their Camp was four mile square and his Ensign was of three party colours like the three stones in the brestplate a Turky an Achat and an Hamatite and in it was deciphered and expressed the names of three Tribes Ephraim Manasseh and Benjamin and in the middle was written c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day when they went out of the Camp and in it was drawn the picture of a Child And the Prince that was set over the Army of the Children of Ephraim was Elishama the son of Ammihud 19. And his hoast and the number of his Tribe forty thousand and five hundred 20. And next him the Tribe of Manasses and the Prince which was set over the hoast of the Tribe of the Children of Manasses Gamliel the son of Pedah tzur 21. And his hoast and their number of his Tribe thirty two thousand and two hundred 22. And the Tribe of Benjamin and the Prince that was set over the hoast of the Tribe of the Children of Benjamin Abidan the son of Gideoni 23. And his hoast and their number of his Tribe thirty five thousand and four hundred 24. All the number of the Camp of Ephraim one hundred eighty thousand and one hundred by their Armies and they went in the third place 25. The Standard of the Camp of Dan Northward and their Camp four miles square and his Ensign was of three party colours according to the three stones in the brestplate a Chrysolite Onyx and Jasper and in it were deciphered and expressed the names of three Tribes Dan Naphtali Asher and in the middest was written and expressed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when it rested he said return O Lord to the ten thousand of Israel and in it was drawn the figure of a Serpent or Arrow-snake and the Prince that was set over the hoast of the Children of Dan Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai From thence to the end of the Chapter he goes on just with the Hebrew Text so that I will spare further labour about Translating only I must tell the Reader thus much that the Pearls he speaks of I have not punctually followed the Chaldee in rendring their names but have followed the Geneva Bible which was at that instant the only English Bible about me As also for perfect and future tense I find the Chaldee confused and for this I have been the less curious CHAP. LIV. Of Iob. ABOUT Israels being in Egypt Job lives in Arabia a heathen
Joseph was sold and some after the story of the thirty ninth Chapter that Judah requital for his sale for he had the chief hand in it might be shewed assoon as his selling of him is related Judah was married before Joseph was sold and Er and Onan were also born before as was observed erewhile therefore the first words of the Chapter At that time are not to be referred to the next words going before in the preceding Chapter concerning Josephs sale to Potiphar but are of a more large extent as that Phrase and the Phrase In those days are oft in Scripture It linketh Josephs selling and Judahs miscarriages very well together that it might be shewed how he was punished in his children that had been so unnatural to a brother and Josephs not sinning with his Mistress and Judahs sinning with his daughter-in-law do help to set off one another towards such an observation The four eldest sons of Jacob fell under foul guilt and so repentance and mercy are taught and shewed in their conversion CHAP. XL. World 2287 Isaac 179 Iacob Ioseph 28 JOSEPH expoundeth his two fellow prisoners dreams and like the two theeves with Christ the one is saved and the other condemned One of these when Joseph said to him Remember me when it shall be well with thee forgat him but one of those when he said to Christ Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom was not forgotten Thus as the telling of two dreams had brought Joseph into misery so this expounding of two dreams will prove in time a forwarder of his delivery as yet the Butler fills and drinks wine in bowles but is not grieved for the affliction of Joseph as Am. 6. 6. World 2288 Isaac 180 Iacob 120 Ioseph 29 ISAAC dieth and Jacob and Esau are friends and bury him read Chap. 35. ver 28 29. and ruminate upon how Esau is changed from what he said Chap. 27. 41. CHAP. XLI Iacob 121 Ioseph 30 JOSEPH expoundeth Pharaohs dream compare Dan. 2. Seven Iacob 122 Ioseph 31 Iacob 123 Ioseph 32 years famine begin Joseph treasureth up corn hath Manasseh Iacob 124 Ioseph 33 and Ephraim born to him within these years of an Egyptian Lady Iacob 125 Ioseph 34 Iacob 126 Ioseph 35 How looks his wretched Mistress upon him now if she be alive Towards Iacob 127 Ioseph 36 the latter end of the seven years famine or thereabout Pharez Iacob 128 Ioseph 37 hath HEZRON born to him CHAP. XLII World 2289 Iacob 129 Ioseph 38 THE first year of famine Josephs brethren bow to him for corn as their sheaves of corn had done to him in his dream CHAP. XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVII to Vers. 13. World 2290 Iacob 130 Ioseph 39 THE second year of famine Benjamin is brought by his brethren World 2291 into Egypt he is now the father of ten children The feasting of Josephs brethren was the better to pretend the stealing of a silver bowle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 44. 5. for which Joseph would make a very narrow search 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for such a man as he that was in so high a place could make a very strict inquiry ver 15. Jacob goeth down into Egypt with seventy souls himself and Joseph and his two sons being counted in the number The Septuagint have added five more viz. Machir Gilead Shutelah Tahan Eden from 1 Chron. 7. 14 20. c. Followed by Saint Luke Acts 7. 14. Jacob and Joseph after thirteen years distance met Jacob presented before Pharaoh and the King asks no other question then about his age It was news in Egypt to see so old a man Jacob is now 130 years old and now just the half of the 430 between the Promise and delivery out of Egypt are passed see Exod. 12. 40. Gal. 3. 17. They had been taken up in these parcels five and twenty years after Abrahams coming into the land before the birth of Isaac sixty years of Isaacs age until the birth of Jacob and now Jacob is an hundred and thirty the sum of all 215. And now to the coming out of Egypt we must count 215 more and that count must lead us on thither CHAP. XLVII from ver 13. to the end and CHAP. XLVIII World 2299 Iacob 131 Ioseph 40 Years of the Promise 216 THE third year of famine Iacob 132 Ioseph 41 Years of the Promise 217 The fourth year of famine Iacob 133 Ioseph 42 Years of the Promise 218 The fifth year of famine Iacob 134 Ioseph 43 Years of the Promise 219 The sixth year of famine Iacob 135 Ioseph 44 Years of the Promise 220 The seventh year of famine Joseph buyeth all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh He feedeth Ioseph 67 Years of the Promise 243 his father and family seventeen years before Iacob 136 Ioseph 45 Years of the Promise 221 his fathers death Iacob 137 Ioseph 46 Years of the Promise 222 as his father had nourished him seventeen years before his sale The Iacob 138 Ioseph 47 Years of the Promise 223 children of Israel grow numerous and into multitudes even before Iacob 139 Ioseph 48 Years of the Promise 224 Jacobs death he adopted Josephs two sons for tribes he bestoweth Iacob 140 Ioseph 49 Years of the Promise 225 the portion of land upon Joseph that he had first bought of the Shechemites Iacob 141 Ioseph 50 Years of the Promise 226 Chap. 33. and was after put to recover it out of the hand Iacob 142 Ioseph 51 Years of the Promise 227 of the Amorite with his sword and bow who had usurped it and Iacob 143 Ioseph 52 Years of the Promise 228 seized upon it in his absence after his departure thence to Bethel and Iacob 144 Ioseph 53 Years of the Promise 229 Hebron He sweareth Joseph to bury him in the land of Canaan Iacob 145 Ioseph 54 Years of the Promise 230 with his fathers Abraham and Isaac Thus is the birth-right clearly Iacob 146 Ioseph 55 Years of the Promise 231 passed upon Joseph when his two sons are taken by Jacob as Simeon and Levi and when the land is bestowed on him for inheritance CHAP. XLIX L. World 2315 Iacob 147 Ioseph 56 Years of the Promise 232 JACOB dieth having first blessed all his sons even every one Ioseph 57 Years of the Promise 233 of them A blessing is to be found in his passages to Reuben Ioseph 58 Years of the Promise 234 Simeon and Levi of whom he speaketh the bitterest things His Ioseph 59 Years of the Promise 235 words throughout concern the future events and occurrences of the Ioseph 60 Years of the Promise 236 tribes most especially for he professeth to tell them what shall befall Ioseph 61 Years of the Promise 237 them in the last days Ioseph 62 Years of the Promise 238 That Reuben should have Jether seeth vejether gnaz a remnant of Ioseph 63 Years of the Promise 239 dignity and a remnant of strength for he was to lead the field in the wars of Ioseph 64 Years of the
clearly and therefore it was neither when Uzziah was made leprous nor in the year when he died as the Jews conjecture but it was before After this came a Plague of more misery but of lesser terrour and that was of fearful and horrid Locusts Caterpillars and Cankerworms whose like the oldest men alive had never seen Joel 1 2 3 c. These came towards harvest time in the beginning of the growth after mowing Amos 7. 1. And then were the fields and trees laden with corn and fruit but these laid the vines waste and barked the fig-trees Joel 1. 7. And causeth the harvest of the field to perish and the trees to wither so that there was not corn and wine sufficient for a meet Offering and drink Offering in the House of the Lord ver 10 11 12. then did the Cattel groan ver 18. and the beast of the field did languish Hos. 4. 3. This heavy Plague of Locusts was at last removed by prayer but the sins of the people called for another Therefore the Lord called to contend by fire Amos 7. 4. namely by an extreme drought with which were mingled fearful flashes of fire which fell from Heaven as in Egypt Eccl. 9. 23. and devoured all the pastures of the wilderness and the flame burnt up all the trees of the field Joel 1. 19. and some Cities were consumed by fire from Heaven as was Sodome Amos 4. 11. Esay 1. 9. And the rivers of water were dryed up Joel 1. 2. yea even the great deep was devoured by the heat and part of it eaten up Amos 7. 4. and the fishes destroyed Hos. 4. 3. After all these judgments when they prevailed not but the people were still the same God set a line upon his people and decreed that the high places of Isaac should be desolate and the Sanctuaries of Israel should be laid waste Amos 7. 9. yet did not the Lord leave himself without witness but against and in these times of Judgment and successively and continually did the Lord raise up a race of Prophets among them both in Israel and Judah that gave them warning threatning instruction and exhortation from time to time and did not this only by word of mouth but also committed the same to writing and to posterity that all generations to come might see the abomination and ingratitude of that people written as it were with a pen of Iron and a point of a Diamond and might read and fear and not do the like The Prophesie of HOSEA CHAP. I II III IV. THE first Prophet of this race was Hosea and so he testifieth of himself chap. 1. vers 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord spake first by Hosea And thus as under an Hosea Israel did enter into the Land of Canaan Numb 13. 16. and under an Hosea were captived out 2 King 17. So did the Lord raise up an Hosea the first of these Prophets to tax their unthankfulness for the one and to foretel the fearfulness of the other His Prophesie is common both to Israel and Judah even as was his adulterous wife a mate as unfit for so holy a Prophet as her actions were fit to resemble such a wicked people The date of his Prophesie tells us that he began in the days of Uzziah and continued till the days of Ezekiah and so was a Preacher at the least seventy years and so saw the truth of his Prophesie fulfilled upon captived Israel Of all the Sermons that he made and threatnings and admonitions that he gave in so long a time only this small parcel is reserved which is contained in his little Book the Lord reserving only what his divine Wisdom saw to be most pertinent for those present times and most profitable for the time to come That being to be accounted canonical Scripture not what every Prophet delivered in his whole time but what the Lord saw good to commit to writing for posterity To fit every Prophesie of this Book whether Chapter or part of Chapter to its proper year when it was delivered is so far impossible as that it is not possible to fit them certainly to the Kings reign and therefore the Reader can but conceive of their time in gross as they were delivered by him in the time of his Preaching which was exceeding long only these two or three considerations and conjectures may not be unprofitable towards the casting up of some of the times and towards the better understanding of his Prophesie in some particular 1. He began to Prophesie in the days of Uzziah and began first of any that were Prophets in his reign as were Joel Amos and Esaiah Jonah was a Prophet in these times but there is no Prophesie of his left against Israel or Judah the second Verse of the first Chapter cited even now cannot be understood so properly in any sence as this that God now raising up in the days of Uzziah a generation of Prophets that should continue in a succession till the captivity and that should leave their Prophesies behind them in writing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord spake first of all these by Hosea Therefore whereas it is apparent that Amos by the date of his Prophesie ver 1. lived in those days of Uzziah which were contemporary with the days of Jeroboam so also is it apparent by this passage of Hosea that he himself began in some time of those concurrent years of Uzziah and Jeroboam which were fifteen and somewhat before the beginning of Amos. 2. His two first Chapters seem to be uttered by him in the very beginning of his Preaching of the first there can be no doubt nor controversie and the other two may be well conceived to be of the same date as appeareth by the matter In the first Chapter under the parable of his marrying an adulterous wife which he names Gomer the daughter of Diblaim either for that there was some notorious whorish wife in those times of that name or for the significansie of the words for they import corruption of figs as Jer. 24. 3. as our Saviour in a parable nameth a begger Lazarus either because there was some noted poor needy wretch of that name in those times or for the significansie of the word Lazarus signifying God help me as proper a name for a begger as could be given under this Parable I say of his marrying an adulterous wife and begetting children of her he foretels first the ruine of the house of Jehu this typified by a Son she bears called Jezrael then the ruine of the ten Tribes this typified by a daughter she bears which he calls Lo-ruchamah or unpitied for in these times of Jeroboam when Hosea began to Prophesie the Lord had pittied Israel exceedingly and eased them much of their trouble and oppressions 2 King 24 26 27. but now he would do so no more but Judah he would yet pitty and save them not by bow and sword but by an Angel in the days of Ezekiah
Horhagidgad the first day of the fifth month and is lamented all that month CHAP. XXI SOme Canaanites are overcome here appeareth some glimpse of the performance of Gods promise but the people turning clean back again they begin to murmur Here the strange word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 5. and the scornful word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used for Manna sheweth their scornfulness and fuming Seraphim Nehashim fiery Serpents or Serpents of a flame colour sting the murmurers and the brazen Serpent lifted up and looked at cureth them a figure of better things to come Joh. 3. 14. This brazen Serpent seemeth to have named the place Zalmonah Num. 33. 42. that is the place of the image and the coming up of the Serpents upon the people seemeth also to have named the place there about Maaleh Akrabbim The coming up of the Scorpions See Josh. 15. 3. From Zalmonah they remove to Pimon to Oboth to Ije Aharim by the border of Moab they are forbidden to invade Moab Deut. 2. 9. They pass the valley Zared and here all the generation numbred at Sinai is clean gone Deut. 2. 14. They coast along Moab and Ammon and so to the other side Arnon Deut. 2. 13 18 24. In Numb 21. ver 14. there is this Geographical quotation taken out of the book of the wars of the Lord which describeth that part of the Country thus Vaheh in Suphah and the brooks of Arnon and the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar and lieth upon the border of Moab This Book of the war of the Lord seemeth to have been some Book of remembrances and directions written by Moses for Joshua's private instructions in the managing of the wars after him see Exod. 17. 14 16. It may be this Book was also called Sepher Jasher liber rectus or a directory for Joshua from Moses what to do and what to expect in his wars and in it Moses directs the setting up of Archery 2 Sam. 1. 18. and warrants him to command the Sun and to expect its obedience Josh. 10. 13. From thence they come to Beer where the seventy Elders of the Sanhedrin by Moses appointment do bring forth waters by the stroke of their staves as he had done with the stroke of his Rod this great work and wonder and this great priviledge bestowed upon so many of them maketh all the people to sing for joy Sihon and Og conquered It is now six and twenty generations from the Creation or from Adam to Moses and accordingly doth Psal. 136. rehearse the durableness of Gods mercy six and twenty times over beginning World 2553 Moses 120 Redemption from Egypt 40 the story with the Creation and ending it in the conquest of Sihon and Og The numerals of the name Jehovah amount to the sum of six and twenty CHAP. XXII XXIII XXIV XXV BAlaam cannot curse Israel but curseth Amalek their first and Rome their last enemy He foretelleth that Israel shall be so prosperous and happy that he wisheth that his end might be like theirs He returns to his own place Chap. 24. 25. that is saith Baal Turim He went to hell as Acts 1. 25. He went not home to Syris his own Country but he went homeward and by the way falls in with Midian and giveth them the cursed counsel to intangle Israel with their Daughters and Idolatry Israel is yoked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Baal Peor not only to the Idol but to the women the old generation of wicked Israel is utterly gone and this new generation that must enter Canaan begins after their fathers with such courses as these there died for this sin 24000 men viz. 23000 by the plague 1 Cor. 10. 8. and 1000 by the hand of Justice CHAP. XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX THE people are numbred that must go into Canaan as those had been that came out of Egypt One family of Simeon that had gone into Egypt is extinct namely that of Ohad a Prince of Simeon had been chief actor in the matter of Peor Chap. 25. 14. It may be that utterly rooted out his stock Divers Laws given CHAP. XXXI XXXII MIdian destroyed though Abrahams children Reuben Gad and half Manasseh have thereby the quieter setling beyond Jordan when they say We will build us Sheepfolds and Cities Chap. 32. 6. and when the Text saith they did so ver 34. it is to be understood that they took course for such buildings for they themselves went over Jordan and were in Canaan wars seven years CHAP. XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI ISraels two and forty stations from Egypt to Jordan the borders of the Land the Cities of the Levites the disposal of Zelophohads daughters The Book of DEUTERONOMY THE sum of the Book of Deuteronomy is a rehearsal and explanation made to the children of the Law given to their fathers the time of the Book is but two months namely the two last months of their fortieth year divided into the time of Moses his repeating the Law and dying and Israels mourning thirty days for him There can be little dislocation of stories expected where there are so few stories at all and therefore it will be the less needful to insist much upon the Book when that which we chiefly aim at in this undertaking is already done namely the laying of the story in its proper method and order only some few things it may not be impertinent nor unprofitable to observe 1. Whereas Moses is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he explains this Law Chap. 1. 1. it is to be understood that he was over against Suph in Moab and not near the Red-sea see Numb 21. 14. Vaheb in Suphah World 2553 Moses 120 Redemption from Egypt 40 2. Speaking of the exclusion of the people out of Canaan for their murmuring at Kadesh Barnea upon the return of the Spies Numb 14. he brings in the story of his own exclusion as if it had been at the same time Chap. 1. 35 36 37. whereas it was not till eight and thirty years after but thus close and concisely doth the Scripture sometime use to speak in rehearsing known stories see Acts 7. 7. 3. He speaketh to the generation then present as if they had been the generation that was already perished and consumed in the wilderness see Chap. 1. ver 26. 27 34 35 c. for he puts the murmuring at Kadesh and the decree against entering into the Land upon these men present as if they had been the men whereas those men that were properly concerned in that business were already dead and gone But he useth this manner of stile 1. Because they were abundance of them capable of murmuring then as well as their fathers they being many thousands of them indeed under twenty years and yet not so much under but that they could be and could shew themselves as untowardly and unlucky as they that were above twenty years of age And by this manner of expression Moses would bring
them to be humbled some for their fathers guilt some for their own and some for both and to acknowledge that their being alive till now and their liberty to enter into the Land was a free and a great mercy for their own and their fathers faults might justly have caused it to have been otherwise with them 2. They had imitated their fathers rebellion to the utmost in their murmuring at Kadesh at their last coming up thither and in the matter of Baal Peor and therefore he might very well personate them by their fathers when their fathers faults were so legible and easie to be seen in them 4. He reckoneth not their second journy to Kadesh by name but slips by it Chap. 2. 1 4. Nor mentions their long wanderings for seven and thirty years together between Kadesh and Kadesh but only under this expression We compassed mount Seir many days Chap. 2. 1. because in that rehearsal he mainly insisteth but upon these two heads Gods decree against them that had first murmured at Kadesh and how that was made good upon them and Gods promise of bringing their children into the land and how that was made good upon them therefore when he hath largely related both the decree and the promise he hastens to shew the accomplishment of both 5. In rehearsing the Ten Commandments he proposeth a reason of the Sabbaths ordaining differing from that in Exodus there it was because God rested on the seventh day here it is because of their delivery out of Egypt and so here it respecteth the Jewish Sabbath more properly there the Sabbath in its pure morality and perpetuity And here is a figure of what is now come to pass in our Sabbath celebrated in memorial of Redemption as well as of Creation In the fifth Commandment in this his rehearsal there is an addition or two more then there is in it in Exod. 20. and the letter Teth is brought in twice which in the twentieth of Exodus was only wanting of all the letters 6. In Chap. 10. ver 6. 7 8. there is a strange and remarkable transposition and a matter that affordeth a double scruple 1. In that after the mention of the golden Calf in Chap. 9. and of the renewing of the Tables Chap. 10. which occurred in the first year after their coming out of Egypt he bringeth in their departing from Beeroth to Mosera where Aaron died which was in the fortieth year after now the reason of this is because he would shew Gods reconciliation to Aaron and his reconciliation to the people to Aaron in that though he had deserved death suddenly with the rest of the people that died for the sin of the golden Calf yet the Lord had mercy on him and spared him and he died not till forty years after and to the people because that for all that transgression yet the Lord brought them through that wilderness to a land of rivers of waters But 2. there is yet a greater doubt lies in these words then this for in Numb 33. the peoples march is set down to be from Moseroth to Bene Jahaan ver 31. and here it is said to be from Beeroth of Bene Jaahan to Moseroth there it is said Aaron died at mount Hor but here it is said He died at Moseroth now there were World 2553 Moses 120 Redemption from Egypt 40 seven several incampings between Moseroth and mount Hor Numb 33. 31 32 c. Now the answer to this must arise from this consideration that in those stations mentioned Numb 33. From Moseroth to Bene Jaahan to Horhagidgad c. they were marching towards Kadesh before their fortieth year and so they went from Moseroth to Bene Jaahan But in these stations Deut. 10. 6. they are marching from Kadish in their fortieth year by some of that way that they came thither and so they must now go from Bene Jaahan to Moseroth And 2. how Moseroth and mount Hor Gudgodah and Horhagidgad were but the * * * As Horeb and Sinai were though they be counted two several incampings of Israel Exod. 17. 1 6. and 19. 1. compared same place and Country and how though Israel were now going back from Kadish yet hit in the very same journies that they went in when they were coming thither as to Gudgodah or Horhagidgad to Jotbathah or Jotbath requires a discourse Geographical by it self which is the next thing that was promised in the Preface to the first part of the Harmony of the Evangelists and with some part of that work by Gods permission and his good hand upon the Work-man shall come forth 7. It cannot pass the Eye of him that readeth the Text in the Original but he must observe it how in Chap. 29. ver 29. the Holy Ghost hath pointed one clause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To us and to our Children belong the revealed things after an extraordinary and unparalleld manner to give warning against curiosity in prying into Gods secrets and that we should content our selves with his revealed will 8. Moses in blessing of the Tribes Chap. 33. nameth them not according to their seniority but in another order Reuben is set first though he had lost the birth-right to shew his repentance and that he died not * * * So the Chaldee renders ver 6. Let Reuben live and not die the second death the second death Simeon is omitted because of his cruelty to Sichem and Joseph and therefore he the fittest to be left out when there were twelve Tribes beside Judah is placed before Levi for the Kingdoms dignity above the Priest-hood Christ being promised a King of that Tribe Benjamin is set before Joseph for the dignity of Jerusalem above Samaria c. 9. The last Chapter of the Book was written by some other then Moses for it relateth his death and how he was buried by the Lord that is by Michael Jude 9. or Christ who was to bury Moses Ceremonies The Book of JOSHUA THIS Book containeth a history of the seventeen years of the rule of Joshua which though they be not expresly named by this sum in clear words yet are they to be collected to be so many from that gross sum of four hundred and eighty years from the delivery out of Egypt to the laying of the foundation of solomons Temple mentioned 1 Kings 6. 1. for the Scripture hath parcelled out that sum into these particulars forty years of the people in the wilderness two hundred ninety and nine years of the Judges forty years of Eli forty of Samuel and Saul forty of David and four of Solomon to the Temples founding in all four hundred sixty three and therefore the seventeen years that must make up the sum four hundred and eighty must needs be concluded to have been the time of the rule of Joshua CHAP. I. World 2554 Ioshua 1 JOSHUA of Joseph succeedeth Moses the seventh from Ephraim 1 Chron. 7. 25. and in him first appeared Josephs birth-right 1 Chron. 5. 1. and
grandchilds actions were like Manasses his actions the King of Judah CHAP. XIX Othniel 27 ISrael tolerateth this Idolatry and never stirreth either against Micah or the Danites which toleration breedeth all iniquity so that Gibeah a City of Israel becometh as abominable as Sodom A whorish woman is kill'd with whoredom CHAP. XX. ALL Israel goeth against Gibeah and that by Gods express commission and command and yet 40000 of them are slain by that wicked and wretched Town and by the Tribe that took part with it Thus did God avenge his own cause against Israel because Israel would not avenge Gods cause against Idolatry they were so sensible of an injury done to a whore in Gibeah but were not at all sensible of an injury done to God by Dan's Idolatry when God hath thus used Benjamin to execute his justice against Israel for not punishing Idolatry he then useth Israel to punish Benjamin for not delivering Gibeah up to justice Othniel it is like was chief commander in this service and Phineas was zealous in this case as he had been in one of a not much different nature Numb 25. Benjamin is now Benoni a son of sorrow and Rachel hath cause to weep for her children CHAP. XXI HAdad Rimmon Zech. 12. 11. or the sad shout of Rimmon the Prophet alludeth to the two great and general Lamentations of Israel the one about the rock Rimmon where a whole Tribe was now come to 400 men and whereupon even the very conquerors become mourners The other in the valley of Megiddo for the death of Josiah The one in the beginning of their estate the other in the latter end Jabesh Gilead is destroyed for affection to Benjamin they were both of Joseph and both had pitched under one standard Benjamin raveneth like a wolf for wives Josephs daughters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 49. 22. go to the enemy and repair the decaied Tribe when the daughters of Shiloh in Ephraim and of Jabesh in Manasseh supply Benjamin an hostile Tribe with wives or else it had perished and thus is the story of these Chapters knit to it self Now that the beginning of the Book of Judges is the proper time and place of these stories may be concluded upon these reasons 1. The Danites were unsetled when the stories of the seventeenth and eighteenth Chapters came to pass and therefore this could not be long after Joshua's death 2. Phinehas was alive at the battle at Gibeah Chap. 20. 28. 3. The wickedness of Gibeah is reckoned for their first villany Hos. 10 9. 4. Deborah speaketh of the 40000 of Israel that perished by Benjamin as if neither sword nor spear had been among them Chap. 5. 8. 5. Mahaneh Dan which was so named upon the march of the Danites when they set up their Idolatry Chap. 18. 12. is mentioned in the story of Samson though that story be set before the story of their march Chap. 15. 25. 6. Dan is omitted among the sealed of the Lord Rev. 7. because idolatry first began in his Tribe as is said before 7. Ehud may very well be supposed to have been one of the left-handed Benjamites and one of them that escaped at the rock Rimmon Chap. 20. 16. 21. Now the reason why the Holy Ghost hath laid these stories which came to pass so soon in so late a place may be supposed to be this 1. That the Reader observing how their state-policy failed in the death of Samson which was a Danite might presently be shewed Gods justice in it because their Religion had first failed among the Danites 2. That when he observes that eleven hundred pieces of silver were given by every Philistim Prince for the ruin of Samson Chap. 16. 5. he might presently observe the eleven hundred pieces of silver that were given by Micahs mother for the making of an Idol which ruined Religion in Samsons Tribe 3. That the story of Micah of the hill Country of Ephraim the first destroyer of Religion and the story of Saemuel of the hill Country of Ephraim the first reformer of Religion might be laid together somewhat near CHAP. II. Ver. 11. to the end And CHAP. III. to Ver. 11. Othniel 28 WHEN these stories are read the story returns to Chap. 2. 11. and relateth Othniel 29 the spreading of Idolatry over all the Tribes as it had done over Othniel 30 that of Dan and how mixt marriages with cursed Canaanites undo Israel their Othniel 31 first afflicter is Cushan Rishathaim a Mesopotamian he oppressed them eight Othniel 32 years it is like he broke in upon the Tribes that lay on the other side Jordan Othniel 33 as those that lay nearest to his own Country and there got possession for so Othniel 34 many years together and incroached upon them within Jordan by degrees as Othniel 35 he found strength and opportunity but Othniel of Judah maketh good the Othniel 36 Prophecy of Judahs being a Lions whelp c. and so the tents of Cushan come into Othniel 37 affliction c. Hab. 3. 7. The consideration and observing that the first forain Othniel 38 oppressor of all others that troubled Israel in their own land was a man of Othniel 39 Aram Naharaim or a Mesopotamian it cannot but call to mind the dealing of Laban with Jacob in that place and it is a matter of question and some strangeness how and why a man of that Country of all others should thus oppress theirs CHAP. III. Vers. 11. World 2610 Othniel 40 OThniel dieth CHAP. III. Verse 12. to the end World 2611 Ehud 1 Ehud 2 Ehud 3 EHuds eighty years begin not that he ruled so long without intermission Ehud 4 Ehud 5 or so long in any sense at all for eighty years was even a mans Ehud 6 Ehud 7 whole life but that there were fourscore years from the death of Othniel Ehud 8 and that after Ehud delivered them from Eglon he was Judge and a Ruler Ehud 9 Ehud 10 over them whilest he lived not as a Monarch for the Sanhedrin bare the Ehud 11 sway but as a chief commander and one ready to undertake for them if Ehud 12 Ehud 13 any enemies should arise and one ready to teach and lead them in the ways Ehud 14 of God as was said before of Othniel It is said of Othniels time that the Ehud 15 Ehud 16 land had rest Ehud 17 forty years and Othniel died by which it is apparent that the forty years are reckoned till Othniels death so in Chap. 22. Ibsan judged Ehud 18 Ehud 19 seven years and died Elon judged ten years and died Abdon judged eight Ehud 20 years and died c. Samson judged twenty years and these twenty years Ehud 21 ended in his death and so are we to conceive of these fourscore of Ehud Ehud 22 Ehud 23 that they ended with his death also and therefore it is improper to conceive Ehud 24 that the eight years of Cushans afflicting were the last eight years of Ehud 25 Ehud 26 Othniels
the house of Rimmon the Lord pardon thy servant for this thing for so should the words be rendred as craving pardon for Idolatry past and not begging leave to be Idolatrous for the time to come Gehazies covetousness brings upon him Naamans Leprosie the Text hath divinely omitted a letter in one word that it might the more brand him with a blot for this his villany I will run after Naaman saith he and will take of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a blot instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 somewhat ver 20. The third year Elisha maketh Iron to swim preventeth the Syrians ambushments and striketh those with blindness that were sent to catch him and bringeth them into the middest of Samaria and there feasteth them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 6. 23. So the bands of Syria came no more as yet into the land of Israel for so the very next verse teacheth that it should be translated for it relateth that after this Benhadad gathered all his Host and besieged Samaria So is the like passage to be rendred 2 King 24. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the King of Aegypt came no more as yet or at that time out of his Land for in Jer. 37. 5. The King of Aegypt is a foot with his Army and abroad again The fourth year Jehoshaphat dieth Edom rebelleth and shaketh off Judahs yoke which David had laid upon them Till Jorams time there was no King in Edom of absolute power and rule but a Deputy under the Kings of Judah was King 1 King 22. 47. but now Edom revolteth from under the hand of Judah and made a King over themselves 2 King 8. 20. Then Libnah revolteth also Joram goeth against them and by night smiteth their Squadrons which were pitched about him to give him battel the next morning The fifth year Samaria is besieged by Benhadad and the famine becomes so great in the City that women eat their own Children as Deut. 28. 53. 56. and men women and children eat Doves dung All the fault is laid upon Elisha and he must be beheaded but he foretelleth a suddain and wonderful delivery and a strange and miraculous plenty which accordingly came to pass An unbelieving Prince is trod to death The sixth year Philistims and Arabians oppress Joram King of Judah and captive his wives and children leaving him only one son behind Here he is met with for the murder of his own Brethren The seventh year Joram is fallen into the sad disease of his bowels 2 Chron. 21. 19. And it came to pass after the end of two years his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness for he shewed no bowels to his brethren This year the famine endeth at Harvest and at that Harvest the Shunamites child dieth and is recovered by Elisha his death and reviving is related instantly after the Story of his birth though when he died he was able to follow the reapers because his Story might be related together and not long after his Mother goeth to the King to beg and petition to be setled in her estate again and there she finds leprous Gehazi with him The first verse of Chapter 8. should chronically be translated as of the time past Now Elisha had spoken to the woman c. ver 2. And the woman had risen and done after the saying of the man of God c. This year Elisha is at Damaseus Benhadad sick Hazael stifles him with a wet cloth and reigns in his stead 2 CHRON. XXII to ver 10. 2 KING VIII 25. to the end World 3117 Iehoram 8 Iehoram 12 Division 88 AHAZIAH the son of Joram reigneth and dieth this year by the sword of Jehu 2 King 8. 26. In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab King of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram King of Judah begin to reign Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign and he reigned one year in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri King of Israel And 2 King 9. 29. In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to raign over Judah 2 Chron. 22. 2. Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign c. Here the Reader seeth two plain and visible differences the one about the age of Ahaziah and the other about the time when he began to reign The same Book of Kings saith he began to raign in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab and he began to raign in the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab Now the reconciling of this difference is easie when it is observed that Joram the son of Ahab reigned one whole year in the life time of his father and eleven years afterward And so one Text calleth his last year his twelfth that is of his whole raign and another Text calleth it his eleventh that is of his sole reign after his fathers death But the other difference is both the more visible and the more difficult for the Book of Kings saith Ahaziah was but two and twenty years old when he began to raign and the Book of Chronicles saith he was two and forty and so this latter reckoning maketh him two years older then his father for his father began to raign when he was two and thirty years old and and reigned eight years and so died being forty 2 King 8. 17. Now for the reconciling of this scruple the Original helpeth us which in our translation is not visible The Original meaneth thus Ahaziah was the son of the two and forty years namely of the house of Omri of whose seed he was by the mothers side and he walked in the ways of that house and came to ruine at the same time with it This the Text directed us to look after when it calleth his mother the daughter of Omri which was indeed the daughter of Ahab Now these forty two years are easily reckoned by any that will count back in the Chronicle to the second of Omri Such another reckoning there is about Jechoniah or Jehojachin 2 King 24. 8. Jehojachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign But 2 Chron. 36. 9. Jehojachin was the son of the eight years That is his beginning of reign fell in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar and of Judahs first captivity as shall be shewed there World 3117 Iehoram 8 Iehoram 12 Division 88 JORAM King of Israel fighteth at Ramoth Gilead is wounded comes to be healed of his wounds at Jezreel and is there slain by Jehu Ahaziah had been with Joram at Ramoth and is slain with Joram at Jezreel 2 CHRON. XXII vers 10 11 12. and 2 KING XI ver 1 2 3. World 3118 Athaliah 1 Iehu 1 Division 89 ATHALIAH destroyeth Athaliah 2 Iehu 2 Division 90 the rest of the Seed Royal Athaliah 3 Iehu 3 Division 91 that were left besides the forty Athaliah 4 Iehu 4 Division 92 two slain by Jehu she her Athaliah 5
of it was nineteen or twenty years ago to shew and to record the truth of those things which that wretched King Jehoiakim would not believe but burnt the Book in the fire And these are the subject of the other Copy that Baruch wrote when the first was burnt EZEKIEL XXXIII THIS twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar and of the first Captivity was the twelfth year of Ezekiels Captivity with Jeconiah And on the tenth month of this year and on the fifth day of that month Ezekiel hath intelligence that Jerusalem was fired vers 21. Temple and all It is almost a year and an half since the thing was done and yet intelligence comes but now The evening before these tidings came to him his mouth is opened again to Prophesie to his own people which he had not done since the day that Nebuchad-nezzar first laid siege to Jerusalem three years ago whereof one year and a half was taken up in that siege and one year and somewhat above an half since the City was taken Compare Chap. 24. vers 1. 26 27. In this space of time though Ezekiel were dumb to Israel yet was he not to other Nations for he Prophesieth many sad things against other Countries as is apparent by the Chapters taken up before EZEKIEL XXXII IN the same year viz. the twelfth of Ezekiels and Jechonias Captivity he hath a Prophesie against Egypt in the last month of the year on the first day of the month and another on the fifteenth day of the same month vers 27. Now the dislocation of this Chapter is easily seen for the three and thirtieth Chapter that followeth it is dated in the tenth month of this twelfth year and this in the twelfth month But the reason of this transposition is almost as easily seen namely because there are divers Prophesies against Egypt and other Countries before and this is also brought thither to them that it may lye with them EZEKIEL XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX Captivity 21 ALL these Chapters of Ezekiel fall not under any expressed or determinate Captivity 22 date the fortieth Chapter does under the date of the five and twentieth year of Jechoniahs captivity therefore we are to conceive at large of the time of these Chapters that they were delivered between the twelfth year of that Captivity by which the three and thirtieth Chapter is dated and the five and twentieth by which the fortieth JEREMY LII vers 30. World 3424 Captivity 23 IN the three and twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar or the three and twentieth of the first Captivity for these run parallel Nebuzaradan Captain of the Guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty five persons it may be this was in revenge of the base usage of Gedaliah and the Chaldeans that were with him And here is the last blow of the Jews given by the Babylonian and now is Judea and Jerusalem in full and compleat Captivity PSAL. CXXXVII AND here it may not be impertinent to take in the 137 Psalm which describeth the posture and sorrow and soorn of these captived ones as they sate in Babel 1 CHRON. II III IV V VI VII VIII IX Captivity 24 NOR may it be unproper in this place to read and view again these Captivity 25 Chapters of the first of Chronicles It is true indeed that they and Captivity 26 their Texts broken in pieces might be laid to be read in other places as was Captivity 27 said before as those Genealogies and Stories that are recited else-where in Captivity 28 Scripture to be laid with those places where they are mentioned and those Captivity 29 that are not mentioned again in Scripture to be laid with the Stories of such Captivity 30 times as the best evidence or probability will tell when they came to pass or Captivity 31 were in being Those Texts that tell of Plantations of Cities or Countries Captivity 32 to be laid in that place in the Book of Joshua that relateth the dividing of the Land as was done there Those that draw long Pedegrees to conclude in some famous man as the Pedegree of Korah to Samuel Chap. 6. these to be brought in at the Story of that famous man Thus might these Genealogies and Chapters be taken up But since Chap. 9. 1. telleth that these Genealogies were written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah that were captived and since divers places in these Chapters speak of the Captivity and of these latter times and since the reading of these Chapters after the Story of Jerusalems Captivity is as it were a short review of the planting and setling and growing of that Nation in that Country out of which the Story of the Captivity hath told the Reader they were now removed it may be very methodical and proper upon these considerations and very profitable to take in these Chapters and to read them here again EZEK XL XLI XLII XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVII XLVIII World 3434 Captivity 33 THIS thirty third year of the first Captivity and of Nebuchad-nezzar Captivity 34 was the five and twentieth of the Captivity of Jechoniah and Ezekiel And now the Lord sheweth the Prophet a new Temple bigger then all the old Jerusalem and a new Jerusalem bigger then all the Land of Canaan by these very dimensions shewing that these things cannot literally but must spiritually be understood EZEKIEL XXIX from vers 17. to the end And XXX to vers 20. World 3436 Captivity 35 THIS seven and twentieth year of his Captivity Ezekiel hath another Prophesie against Egypt and this is the last we have of this Prophet and it is laid here though it should have been last in the Book that all the Prophesies against Egypt might come together Nebuchad-nezzar had lately taken Tyrus and it had cost him very dear and this year he taketh Egypt as the pay of his Souldiers for that service And now is Babylon intire Monarch of all the World and Nebuchad-nezzar become the golden head Egypt the only Kingdom that opposed him being subdued DANIEL II III IV. World 3437 Captivity 36 NEBUCHAD-NEZZAR now come to his height hath a dream of the four Monarchies of the tree cut down c. grows proud and will be worshipped for a God The three Princes of Judah live in the fire they were now at the least 40 years old and therefore improperly but commonly called the three children This year is called the second year of the Kingdom of Nebuchad-nezzar Dan. 2. 1. not of his first being King but of his intire Monarchy when Egypt the only potent Prince and Nation that stood against him was now subdued So the first year of Cyrus is to be understood Ezr. 1. 1. not the first year of his being King but the first year of his universal Monarchy as the very next verse explaineth it The Lord God hath given me all the Kingdoms of the Earth Some part of this year is Nebuchad-nezzar mad Captivity 37 Nebuchad-nezzar mad Captivity 38
was both the expectation of the Jews and the fear of Herod that he would come with a conquering and victorious temporal Sword and restore them to a pompous Earthly State and expel him out of his Kingdom Now for the Evangelist to have directed in this quotation to look for Christ among the thousands of Juda had backed these Opinions for the term soundeth of War and it had been a direction where likelier to find an earthly Warrier then the Prince of Peace among the thousands or among the Militia And therefore he qualifieth the term to the best satisfaction of Herod and the People Among the Princes There is that saith it might be construed In Princes and not among them and the meaning to be this Thou Bethlehem art not the least in the Princes of Juda that is in breeding or bringing them forth but this relisheth more of wit then solidity and agreeth better with the Latin then with the Greek Original §. For out of thee shall come a Governor The Chaldee readeth it in the Prophet Out of thee shall come Messias and so is it expounded by Rabbi Solomon and David Kimchi And therefore that is most true which is inferred by Lyranus that those Catholicks that interpret it of Ezekiah do more judaize then the Jews themselves Some Jews indeed saith Theophylact do apply this to Zorobabel but as he answereth it is like that Zorobabel was born in Babel and not in Bethlehem And St. Matthew hath plainly taught both Jews and Gentiles to understand it in another sense But here again doth he differ from the Letter of the Prophet but cometh so near the sense that the difference is as no difference at all Vers. 7. Herod privily called the Wisemen Privily For had the Jews heard of his pretences they had so long been acquainted with his policy tyranny and ambition they could readily have descried his mischievousness and spoiled his bloody contrival by better information given to the wisemen §. Enquired diligently of them the time when the Star appeared Had they taken their journy instantly upon the Stars appearing Herod could easily have computed the time by the length of their journy but by this his enquiry it is apparent that they had told him of its appearance at some good space before which in ver 16. is plainly resolved to be two years by the Wisemens own acknowledgment and resolution Vers. 11. Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe The mysterious application of these presents as Myrrham homini uncto aurum c. be left to them that delight and content themselves in such things the plain and easie interpretation of the matter is that they tendred to Christ the chiefest and choicest commodities that their Country could afford which they carried in their treasures as the Text calleth it that is in and among those commodities that the men of those Nations used to carry with them when they travailed especially when they meant to present any one to whom they went as Gen. 24. 53. 1 King 10. 2. Vers. 15. Out of Egypt have I called my Son The two allegations produced here out of the Old Testament this and that out of Jeremy in Rama was a voice heard are of that fulness that they speak of two things a piece and may very fitly be applied unto them both and shew that the one did resemble or prefigure the other as this Text of Hosea aimeth both at the bringing of the Church of Israel in old time and of the head of that Church at this time out of Egypt Then a Joseph nourished his father now a Joseph doth so to his redeemer then was Egypt deadly to every male child that was born now is it a place of refuge and preservation to this child Ver. 18. In Ramah was there a voice heard c. Ramah stood not far from Bethlehem though they were in two Tribes and the cry that the poor Parents and children made in Bethlehem when this matchless butchery was in hand reach't to Ramah and was plainly heard thither Now observe the fulness of this Scripture as it is uttered by the Prophet and as it is applied by the Evangelist It was fulfilled in one kind in the time of Jeremy himself and then was the lamentation and weeping in Ramah it self for hither did Nebuzaradan bring his Prisoners after he had destroyed Jerusalem and there did he dispose of them to the Sword or to Captivity as seemed good unto himself Jer. 40. 1. And imagine what lamentation and crying was then in that City when so many were doomed there either to be slain in that place or to go to Babel never to see their own Land again Then was the cry in Ramah and it was heard no doubt to Bethlehem But now the Prophesie is fulfilled in another kind when Herod destroyeth so many Children in Bethlehem and in the Suburbs and Borders belonging to it And now the cry is in Bethlehem and it is heard to Ramah §. Rachel weeping for her children c. Rachels grave was betwixt Bethlehem and Ramah or at least not far distant from either of them Gen. 35. 16 20. 1 Sam. 10. 2. The Holy Ghost therefore doth elegantly set forth this lamentation by personating Rachel who died in the birth of her Ben-Oni the Son of her sorrow sorrowing for her Sons and Children that were thus massacred And this sheweth that the Text in the Prophet aimeth in the first place and intention at the matter of Nebuzaradan for in Bethlehem Rachel properly had no children at all that City being inhabited by the children of Judah which descended of Leah but in Ramah dwelt Rachels children that being a Town of Ephramites descended from Joseph Howsoever Rachel may be said to weep for the Babes of Bethlehem as her own children though they were not strictly and properly her seed in regard of the interest that she had in all the tribes of Israel as being wife unto their Father as Joseph is often called the Father of Christ being only husband to his mother And see such another phrase Gen. 37. 10. Shall I and thy mother come to bow down before thee Whereas Josephs mother was dead already Vers. 19. But when Herod was dead c. The end of Herod was not long after the massacre of these infants and his bloodiness which he had used all his life long and topped up in the murder of these innocents and in desire to have done as much to the Lord of life the Lord doth now bring upon his own head This matter with the children of Bethlehem we conceive to have been some three months more or less before his end in which space this was his behaviour as may be collected out of Josephus He had slain long before this his two sons Alexander and Aristobulus and now was he about to do as much by his Son Antipater a child too like the Father and one whom he left by will the Successor in his Kingdom Him suspected by him for
of Evang. at Luke 3. 36. Vers. 16. And were carried over into Sichem c. The shortness of the Language in this verse hath bred some difficulty and as Stephens speaking more than Moses in the Verse foregoing was the cause of some obscurity there so is it a cause of more in this verse for that he hath not spoken so much Moses hath told that Jacob was buried in Hebron Stephen here speaks as if he had been buried in Sichem Moses maketh Jacob the buyer of the land of Emor the father of Sichem Steven seemeth to make Abraham the buyer of it And in conclusion to make Jacob and his twelve sons to lie in one Sepulcher and Abrahams and Jacobs purchase to be but one and the same Now Stephen and Moses speak but the same thing and intend the same meaning only Stephen useth shortness of speech in relating a story which was so well known that a word was enough for a sentence and he spake in a language which had its proprieties and Idioms which those that heard him easily understood And were carried over into Sichem The Syriack and Arabick apply this only to Jacob for they read it in the singular number He was translated directly cross and contrary to Moses who telleth plainly that Jacobs burial was in Hebron Gen. 50. 13. And in Hebron Josephus would have all the sons of Jacob buried likewise Antiq. lib. 2. cap. 4. and by his report they were buried there before Joseph for that they were brought thither as they died but Josephs burial was put over till all the Nation came out of Egypt Now it is not to be imagined that Stephen a man so full of the Holy Ghost would ever have spoken a thing in which every ordinary man woman or child that heard him could so easily have confuted him as they might have done if the twelve Patriarks had been buried in Hebron much less when he spake to the Councel and to men of learning and understanding that would readily have tript him if he had faltered in so plain and common a story therefore it is past all doubting that Sichem was knownly and generally reputed the place of the Patriarks burial For as although there be mention only of Moses bringing up the bones of Joseph Exod. 13. 19. yet R. Solomon well observeth that we may learn from that very place that the bones of all the Patriarks were brought up with him so though there be mention of the burial of Joseph only in Sichem Josh. 24. 32. and no record of the burial of the rest of the twelve there yet might it very well be supposed had not Stephen asserted in that they were also buried there with him For we may prove the bringing of their bones out of Egypt yea though Stephen had not told it For 1. The same cause that moved Joseph to desire burial in the land of Canaan could not but move the other of the twelve to desire the like were it in faith in the promise or because of the interest in the Land or in hope of the resurrection all the rest had the very same principles to move them to it that Joseph had 2. The rest of the Tribes bare the same honour to their Patriarks that the Tribe of Joseph did to him and therefore if they in honour to Joseph would preserve his bones that at their removal they might be taken out of Egypt the children of therest of the Tribes would do so by their Patriarks also 3. To which might be added the kind of necessity which there was that the twelve Fathers of the Church of Israel and heirs of the Land of Canaan should have their interment in that Land and not be left in the land of bondage So likewise may there be arguments sufficient to prove that they were buried with his bones in Sichem As 1. There was no reason they should be severed in the burial who had been united in their removal 2. Josephs bones were most regardable and the same Sepulcher that served him would have best befit them 3. The convocation of all Israel by Joshua was to Sichem and there upon their possessing of the land he makes a covenant betwixt them and God and it is incomparably more probable that they should bury the bones of all the Patriarks there than in Hebron where we do not read that Joshua ever came but to destroy the City Now the reason why Stephen speaking of the burials of Jacob and his sons which were in distant and different places doth yet couch their story so close together as if they were all laid together in the same place is 1. Because treating of two numbers so unequal as twelve and one he first followeth the story of the greater number 2. He useth the singular number for the plural Sepulcher for Sepulchers which is a thing so common as that nothing is more common in the Scripture Language 3. He useth an Ellipsis or cutting off of the conjunction Va◠or And which also is exceeding common in the same Language as 1 Sam. 6. 19. Psalm 133. 3. 2 Kings 23. 8. and divers other places So that though he spake so very curt and short as he did yet to them that were well enough acquainted both with the story it self and with such Hebraisms his shortness would breed no obscurity but would they readily take him in this sense And Jacob and our Fathers died and were removed to Sichem and were laid in Sepulchers in that which Abraham bought for mony and in that that was bought from the sons of Emmor the Father of Sichem Vers. 20. And was exceeding fair Gr. Fair to God He was a goodly child supernaturally born when his mother was past the natural course of childbearing Vers. 22. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians This Steven speaketh by necessary consequence from his Princely education Vers. 23. And when he was full forty years old There are that say that Moses was forty years in Pharaohs Palace forty years in Midian and forty years in the wilderness Tauchuna in Exod. 2. Vers. 43. Ye took up the Tabernacle of Moloch c. I. In Amos the words lie thus Chap. 5. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Rabbins Kimchi and Jarchi construe in the future Tense and take it for a threatning of their punishment as much as an upbraiding of their sin as if he should have said unto them ye would not take up the Commandments of the Lords to bear them but you shall bear your Idols into captivity with you and your enemies shall lay them upon your shoulders And this might have been a very plausible and fair sense but that Steven hath taught us to construe the Verb in the time past and not in the time to come and to read it thus ye have born or taken up c. II. Now the fixing of this time when Israel took up this Idolatry is somewhat difficult It is some facilitating of the
buried And in Hell he lift up his Eyes being in torment c. Both suddainly disposed of the one to Heaven the other to Hell So we may take example from the two Thieves on the Cross the good Thief went presently to Paradise and the bad to his place and both these to Hades the word in the Creed Christ commends his Soul into his Fathers hands and it went into the hands of God What to do For God to dispose of it And how think you God would dispose of the Soul of Christ The Schools question whether Christ merited Salvation pro se for himself because the reason of the question is whether he set himself to merit pro se Did he or did he not the Soul of Christ after so holy a life and death could not but go to Salvation For what had the Soul of Christ now to do more towards mans Salvation and what could be done more towards its own Now having done all this what had the Soul of Christ to do more but to go to its rest till it be put again into its Body for the raising of that As the Scripture tells us holy Souls go to rest till at the last day they must meet their Bodies and then both shall rest together This passage of our Saviours Soul to Heaven upon his death is called his going to Hades the World of Souls and the place of holy Souls a place invisible to mortal Eyes which though it seems harshly expressed He descended into Hell yet must be interpreted from the Greek expression in this sense And the Phrase in the Greek teacheth that the Soul sleepeth not with the Body stayeth not here on Earth where the Body doth but hath a life when the Body is dead and goeth into another World to have a living or dying life Christs Soul to be separate but thirty six hours and yet it doth not stay and sleep with the Body but takes wing and flies into another World The Sadducee that thought the Soul died with the Body little considered what the nature of the Soul was Christian dost thou consider it Dost thou know what it is No I cannot see it But I may say as it is Rom. I. 20. The invisible things of God are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made So the invisible things of the Soul i. e. its spiritualness and immortality may be seen by the things it acts Prov. XX. 27. The Spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. It s the Lords candle like that in the Tabernacle that never went out but was drest Morning and Evening and kept burning continually It is the Lords candle Searching all the inward parts of the Belly that is able to acquaint man with himself with his conscience his thoughts affections A candle that searcheth the things of nature looketh into the things of God Compare this Spirit with the Spirit of a Beast a Swine an Ox the acting of the Soul of Man in Wisdom Learning Contrivance with the acting of a Brute and then guess what is the nature of the Soul And if it be so active in the Body when fettred in flesh what think you it will be when loosed out And that it will be one day and go into another World not to be at its own liberty there but it goes to God to dispose of it and so he doth to Heaven or Hell Go away then with this meditation in thy bosom and keep it there My Soul must certainly one day go into the hands of God to receive her due reward FINIS A Chorographical Table OF THE Several Places contained and described in the Two Volumes of Dr. LIGHTFOOTS Works By Iohn Williams THe Jewish Writers divide the World into the Land of Israel and without the Land Vol. II. Pag. 1. The Land of Israel first called the Land of the Hebrews then Canaan and Palestine c. may be considered as to its length and breadth v. II. p. 327. The length of it is said in Scripture to be from Dan to Beersheba and from the entring in of Hamath North to the Sea of the Plain or Dead Sea South v. I. p. 90. v. II. p. 44 The Jews do reckon it from the Mountains of Amana or the upper Tarnegola which is at the neck of Anti-Libanus to the River of Egypt v. II. p. 3 62 517 Others do measure it by the Coast and if Phaenicia be included then from Sidon to Rhinocorura or the River of Egypt is 232 miles according to Antoninus But if Phaenicia be excluded then from the South bounds of that to Rhinocorura are 189 miles according to Pliny v. II. p. 10 322 The breadth of the Land within Jordan is not always the same since the Seas bounding on all sides here the Mediterranean there those of Sodom Genesaret and Samochonitis with the River Jordan cannot but make the space very unequal by their various Windings But if we take the measure of it from the Bay of Gaza to the Shoar of the Dead Sea it is upward of 50 miles and if we extend it also beyond Jordan then from Gaza to Pâ—tra the Metropolis of Moab is 110 miles as may be computed from Ptolomy and Pliny v. II. p. 320 321 The Jews do say That the Land of Israel contained a Square of Four hundred Parsae a Parsa is four miles which make 1600 miles v. II. p. 318 And they have a Tradition and not amiss that the utmost Bounds of the Land of Israel including the Land beyond Jordan was within three days Journey of Jerusalem v. II. p. 319. Sometimes the Land of Israel is bounded with Euphrates East as indeed the Holy Scriptures do and contiguous with Mesopotamia the River only between v. II. p. 365 The several Divisions of the Land It was anciently divided according to the People and Nations that inhabited it viz. the Canaanites Perizzites c. Vol. II. p. 202 328 When first possess'd by the Children of Israel it was parted among the twelve Tribes and upon the Division of the ten Tribes they were known by the two Names of Judab and Israel But after their return from Babylon it was divided by the Jews into Judea Galilee and the Land beyond Jordan or Peraea excluding Samaria To which if we add Idumea then was Palestine divided into five Countries viz. Idumea Judea Samaria Galilee and the Country beyond Jordan Vol. I. Pag. 282 â—64 Vol. II. Pag. 4 61. There was also an Imperial Division of it viz. 1. Into Palestine more especially so called the Head of which was Caesarea 2. Palestine the second the Head of which was Jerusalem And 3. Palestine called Salutaris or the Healthful which its likely was the same with Idumea the less the Head of which may be supposed to be Gaza Asâ—alon or Elâ—utheropolis v. II. p. 293. A. ABel Abila are one and the same the Hebrew Abel being according to the Greek Termination Abila or Abella There were many places of that name Vol. II.