before the congregation CHAP. XXI THen a When the whole Land was distributed unto the several Tribes but not actually possessed by them which was the proper season for them to put in their claim came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites b The Fathers of the Levites were Kohath Gershom and Merari and the heads of these were the chief persons now alive of these several Families unto Eleazar the priest and unto Joshua the son of Nun and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel 2 And they spake unto them * Chap. 〈◊〉 at Shiloh in the land of Canaan saying ‡ Numb 〈◊〉 The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in with the suburbs thereof for our cattel 3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites c It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such Cities as God commanded and that the Lot appropriated them to their several Houses or Families out of their inheritance d i. e. Out of their several Possessions partly that the burden and loss might be equally divided and principally that the Levites being dispersed among the several Tribes according to Iacobs Prediction Gen. 49. 7. might more easily and frequently and effectually Teach the Israelites Gods Law and Iudgments which they were engaged to do Deut. 33. 10. and that the People might upon all occasions resort to them and require the meaning of the Law at their mouths Mal. 2. 7. at the commandment of the LORD these cities and their suburbs e Not only the use but the absolute Dominion of them as is manifest both from v. 11 12. where a distinction is made between the City and Suburbs of Hebrâ—… and the Fields and Villages thereof and the former are given to the Levites the latter to Caleb and from the return of these Cities in the Iubilee unto the Levites as to their proper owners Levit. 25. 33 34. 4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites and the children of Aaron the priest which were of the Levites had * See Châ—… 33. by lot out of the tribe of Judah and out of the tribe of Simeon and out of the tribe of Benjamin f Which three Tribes were nearest to the Temple where their business lay thirteen cities g For though the Priests were now few enough for one City yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers this division being made for all future Generations And seeing the Levites might sell their Houses until the Iubilee Levit. 25. 33. much more might they Let them and therefore it is probable their Cities were not very long uninhabited many being inclined to dwell with them by vertue of relations contracted with them or dependance upon or expectation from them or oâ—… of respect to the Service of God and the good of their Souls 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath h Who were not of Aarons Family or Priests but Levites onely had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the half tribe of Manasseh i Which Tribes are nearest to the three former and so the Kohathites are placed next to their Brethren the Aaronites ten cities k Fewer than they gave out of the three former Tribes because their inheritance was no less than the former See Numb 35. 8. 6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteen cities 7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve cities 8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs k Of which see on Numb 35. 2. as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses 9 ¶ And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon l These are mentioned together because the Cities of Siâ—… lay within Iudah's Portion these cities which are here ‡ 〈◊〉 mentioned 〈◊〉 name 10 Which the children of Aaron being of the families m i. e. Of the family the Plural Number for the Singular which is not unusual of the Kohathites who were of the children of Levi had for theirs was the First lot 11 And they gave them ‖ Or Kiriathâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…3 2. the city of Arbah the father of Anak which city is Hebron in the hill â—…ntrey of Judah with the suburbs thereof round about it 12 But ‡ Chap. 14. 14. 1 〈◊〉 6. 56. the fields n i. e. All beyond the 2000 Cubits expressed Numb 35. 5. This is here mentioned not as his peculiar case but as one â—…ment Instance to shew that it was so in all the rest of the Cities here named that the Fields and Villages thereof still belonged to the several tribes from whom the Cities and their Suburbs were taken and to make the rest of the Israelites more contentedly and chearfully resign so great a part of their Possessions to the Levites because even Caleb did so though his Possession had been long before promised and now actually given to him by Gods special command as a mark of honour and compensation for his long and faithful Service of the city and the villages thereof gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession 13 ¶ Thus they * 1 Chro. 6. 57. gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Libnah with her suburbs 14 ¶ And Jattir with her suburbs and Eshtemoa with her suburbs 15 And * 1 Chr. 6. 58. 〈◊〉 Holon o Called Hilen 1 Chron. 6 58. as Iuttah here is called Ashâ—… 1 Chron. 6. 59. and Kibzaim called Iokmeam 1 Chron. 6. 6â—… and so some others the names of the places being changed by length of time and upon special occasions as was frequent among the Jews Though their Doctors add that some of these places here mentioned being now in the Canaâ—…tes Possession and not speedily recovered from them there were others put in their stead with her suburbs and Debir with her suburbs 16 And * 1 Chro. 6. 59 â—…shan Ain with her suburbs and Juttah with her suburbs and Bethshemesh with her suburbs nine cities out of those two tribes â—…â—…in here and Gibeon v. 17. and some others here named are not named 1 Chron. 6. either because they were destroyed in some of those Hostile Invasions and Wars wherewith their Land was grievously harassed and wasted before that time or they appear there under other Names as was said 17 And out of
the tribe of Benjamin Gibeon with her suburbs Geba with her suburbs 18 Anathoth with her suburbs and * 1 Chron. 6. â—…0 Alemeth Almon with her suburbs four cities 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron the priest were thirteen cities with their suburbs 20 ¶ And the families of the children of Kohath the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath q Oveâ—… and above those of them who were Priests even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim 21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Gezer with her suburbs 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs and Beth-horon with her suburbs four cities 23 And out of the tribe of Dan Eltekeh with her suburbs Gibbethon with her suburbs 24 Aijalon with her suburbs Gath-rimmon with her suburbs four cities 25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh r To wit that half which dwelt in Canaan by comparing this with v. 27. Tanach with her suburbs and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs two cities 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained 27 ¶ And unto the children of Gershon of the familites of the Levites out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Beeshterah with her suburbs two cities 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar Kishon with her suburbs Dabareh with her suburbs 29 Jarmuth with her suburbs En-gannim with her suburbs four cities 30 And out of the tribe of Asher Mishal with her suburbs Abdon with her suburbs 31 Helkath with her suburbs and Rehob with her suburbs four cities 32 And our of the tribe of Naphtali Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs 〈◊〉 a city of refuge for the slayer and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs and Kartan with her suburbs three cities 33 All the cities of the Gershâ—… according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs 34 ¶ And unto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Levites out of the tribe of Zebulun Jokneam with her suburbs and Kartah with her suburbs 35 Dimnah with her suburbs Nahalal with her suburbs four cities 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben Bezer s A City of Refuge as it is called Ios. 20. 8. and therefore needless to he here repeated with her suburbs and Jahazah with her suburbs 37 Kedemoth with her suburbs and Mephaath with her suburbs four cities 38 And out of the tribe of Gad Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Mahanaim with her suburbs 39 Heshbon with her suburbs Jazer with her suburbs four cities in all 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families which were remaining of the families of the Levites were by their lot twelve cities 41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities t Qu. Why hath this Tribe which was the least of all more Cities than any of them Answ. First It doth not appear that they had more for though all the cities of the Levites be expressed it is not so with the other Tribes but divers of their Cities are omitted as is evident Secondly The Levites were confined to their Cities and Suburbs the rest had large Territories belonging to their Cities which also they were in a capacity of improving which the Levites were not so that one of their Cities might be more considerable than divers of the Levites Thirdly God was pleased to deal liberally with his Ministers partly to put honour upon those whom he foresaw many would be prone to despise and partly that being free from all outward distractions they might more intirely and fervently devote themselves to the service of God and the instruction of Souls with their suburbs 42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them thus were all these cities 43 ¶ And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land u He gave them the right to All and the actual Possession of the greatest part of it and power to Possess the rest as soon as it was needful and convenient for them which was by degrees when their numbers were increased c. Exod. 23. 29 30. and the absolute dominion of all the people remaining in it which he sware to give unto their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein 44 And the LORD gave them rest round about according to all that he sware unto their fathers and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them x To wit all the days of Ioshua by comparing Ios. 1. 5. for afterwards it was otherwise with them the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand 45 ‡ Chap. 21. 44 〈◊〉 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass CHAP. XXII THen Joshua called the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh 2 And said unto them Ye have kept * Num. 32 20. 〈◊〉 â—… 18. all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you 3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days a i. e. For divers years together so long as the War lasted See Jos. 11. 18. and 14. 10. unto this day but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God 4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren as he promised them therefore now return ye and get ye unto your tents b i. e. To your settled habitations as appears from v. 8. which are oft called Tents as Iudg. 19. 9. 2 Sam. 18. 17. Hos. 9. 6. Mal. 2. 12. and unto the land of your possession ‡ Numb 32. 〈◊〉 Chap. 13. â—… which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan 5 But take diligent heed c Watch over your selves and all your actions to do the commandment and the law d Two words expressing the same thing the Law of Commandments delivered by Moses which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you * Deut. 10. 12. to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cleaye unto him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul e With the whole strength of your Minds and Wills and Affections 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away and they went unto their tents 7 ¶ Now to the one half of the Tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents then he
6. of the congregation with singing until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem and then they waited on their office according to their order s Which David had appointed by the Spirit as it follows in this Book 33 And these t To wit Heman here mentioned and Asaph v. â—…9 and Ethan v. 44. are they that †Heb. stâ—…od waited with their children of the sons of the Kohathite Heman a singer the son of Joel the son of Shemuel u Or Samuel the Prophet 34 The son of Elkanah the son of Jeroham the son of Eliel the son of ‖ Ver. 26. Nahâ—…th Toah 35 The son of ‖ or Zophai Zuph the son of Elkanah the son of Mahath the son of Amasai 36 The son of Elkanah the son of ‖ Ver. 24. Shaul Uzziah Uriel Joel the son of Azariah the son of Zephaniah 37 The son of Tahath the son of Assir the son of * Exod. 6. 24. Ebiasaph the son of Korah 38 The son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi the son of Israel 39 And his brother x Asaph is here called Hemans Brother both by birth being of the same Tribe and Father Levi and by his Office and Employment which was the same with his Asaph who stood on his right hand even Asaph the son of Berechiah the son of Shimea 40 The son of Michael the son of Baasiah the son of Melchiah 41 The son of Ethni the son of Zerah the son of Adajah 42 The son of Ethan the son of Zimmah the son of Shimei 43 The son of Jahath the son of Gershom the son of Levi. 44 And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand Ethan y Called also Ieduthun 1 Chron. 9. 16. 2 Chron. 35. 15. and in the Titles of divers Psalms the son of ‖ Or Kushajah Ch. 15. 17. Kishi the son of Abdi the son of Malluch 45 The son of Hashabiah the son of Amaziah the son of Hilkiah 46 The son of Amzi the son of Bani the son of Shamer 47 The son of Mahli the son of Mushi the son of Merari the son of Levi. 48 Their brethren also the Levites z Such of them as had no skill in Singing were otherwise employed were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God 49 But a Having mentioned the Work and Employment of the High-Priests he briefly rehearseth the Names of the Persons who successively performed it Aaron and his sons offered * Lev. 1. 9. upon the altar of the burnt-offering and * Exod. 30. 7. on the altar of incense and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy and to make an atonement for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded 50 And these are the sons of Aaron Eleazar his son Phinehas his son Abishua his son 51 Bukki his son Uzzi his son Zerahiah his son 52 Merajoth his son Amariah his son Ahitub his son 53 Zadok his son Ahimaaz his son 54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts of the sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathite for theirs was the lot b Or this Lot or Portion which here follows Or the first Lot as appears by the sequel 55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah and the suburbs thereof round about it 56 But the fields of the city and the villages thereof they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh 57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities c Or out of the Cities the Hebrew eth being put for meeth as hath been oft noted of Judah namely Hebron the city of refuge and Libna with her suburbs and Jattir and Eshtemoa with their suburbs 58 And ‖ Or Holon Josh. 21. 15. Hilen with her suburbs Debiâ—… with her suburbs 59 And ‖ Or Ain Josh. 21. 16. Ashan with her suburbs and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs 60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin Geba with her suburbs and ‖ Or Almon Josh. 21. 18. Alemeth with her suburbs and Anathoth with her suburbs All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities d Whereof 11. are here numbred and two more added to them Ios. 21. 13. 61 And unto the sons of Kohath which were left e Over and above the Priests who were of the same Family of Kohath and Tribe of Levi. of the family of that tribe were cities given out of the half tribe namely out of the half tribe of Manasseh * Josh. 21. 5. by lot ten cities f Or by lot with a full Point for there the Sense ends All their Cities were ten cities as it is expresly said Ios. 21. 26. Those words all their cities were are to be understood out of the former Verse which is not unusual in the Holy Scripture And so this sacred Writer explains himself v. 66 c. where eight of these Cities are named whereof onely two are taken out of this half Tribe of Manasseh v. 70. the other two being named Ios. 21. 21 c. where these things are more plainly and fully declared 62 And to the sons of Gershom g Understand here cities were given which is also understood v. 61 and expressed v. 64. throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteen cities 63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot throughout their families out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun * Josh. 21. 7 34. twelve cities 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites h i. e. To the Tribe of Levi consisting of Priests and other Levites these cities i Which are numbred or named in this Chapter with their suburbs 65 And they gave k To wit to those Levites of the Family of Kohath who were Priests as appears both by v. 57 c. where the Cities given to the Aâ—…ronites are said to be taken out of the Tribes here named even out of Iudah under which Simeon is comprehended because his Lot lay within that of Iudah and Benjamin and by the next Verse where the other Kohathites who were not Priests are called the Residue of the Families of the Sons of Kohath by way of distinction from those of them to whom this v. 65. relates by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin these cities which are called by their names l Which are expressed by their Names above v. 57 c. 66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts m Or of their borders i.
e Mentioned also ch 12. 15. supposed to be the same who is called Obed ch 15. 1. This and the other Prophets mentioned were also Historians and wrote some Annals or Histories of their times out of which these Sacred and Canonical Books were taken either by these or other Prophets against Jeroboam the son of Nebat 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and he was buried in the city of David his father and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead CHAP. X. 1 ANd * Rehoboam went to Shechem a The Contents of this Chapter are in 1 King 12. where see the Notes for 1 Kin. 12. â—… c. to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king 2 And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat who was in Egypt whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king heard it that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt 3 And they sent b Or For as that Particle is oft used as hath been noted before they had sent c. So this is the Reason why he returned as was said v. 2. and called him So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam saying 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we will serve thee 5 And he said unto them come again unto me after three days And the people departed 6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived saying What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people 7 And they spake unto him saying If thou be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them they will be thy servants for ever 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him that stood before him 9 And he said unto them What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people which have spoken to me saying Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him saying thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee saying thy father made our yoke heavy but make thou it somewhat lighter for us thus shalt thou say unto them My little finger shall be thicker than my fathers loins 11 For whereas my father †Heb. 〈◊〉 put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more to your yoke my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king bade saying Come again to me on the third day 13 And the king answered them roughly and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men saying My father made your yoke heavy but I will add thereto my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions 15 So the king hearkened not unto the people for the cause was of God that the LORD might perform his word which he spake by the * 1 Kin. 11 〈◊〉 hand of Abijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat 16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them the people answered the king saying What portion have we in David and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to your tents O Israel and now David see to thine own house So all Israel went to their tents 17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah Rehoboam reigned over them 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died but king Rehoboam †〈…〉 made speed to get him up to his chariot to â—…lee to Jerusalem 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day CHAP. XI 1 ANd * â—… Kin. 12. 21 â—… when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a Of this verse and v. 2 3 4. see the Notes on 1 King 12. 21. c. an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriours to fight against Israel that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemajah the man of God saying 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin saying 4 Thus saith the LORD Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren return every man to his house for this thing is done of me And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam 5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities b i. e. Repaired and enlarged and fortified them as building is oft used in Scripture as hath been formerly proved For these Cities or divers of them were built before as appears from Ios. 10. 10. 12. 15. 15. 24 33 35 58. 19. 42. for defence in Judah 6 He built even Beth-lehem and Etam and Tekoa 6 And Beth-zur and Shoco and Adullam 8 And Gath and Maresha and Ziph 9 And Adoraim Lachish and Azekah 10 And Zorah and Ajalon and Hebron which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities 11 And he â—…ortified the strong holds and put captains in them and store of victuals and oyl and wine 12 And in every several city c To wit so fortified as he said v. 11. he put shields and spears and made them exceeding strong having Judah and Benjamin on his side 13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel †resorted to him out of all their coasts 〈…〉 14 For the Levites left their * suburbs and their possession and came to Judah and Jerusalem for * 〈◊〉 â—…5 2. 〈◊〉 13. 9. Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priests office unto the LORD d They would not suffer them to instruct and assist the Israelites in the worship and service of God nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their Courses and these Priests would not joyn with them in the Worship of the Calves as they were desired and commanded to do and therefore they willingly forsook all their Patrimonies and Possessions for Gods Sake 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places and for the devils and for the calves e Or for the high places both for the Devils i. e. the Baals or false gods which divers of his People worshipped whom he permitted and encouraged to do so giving them liberty to do any thing 〈◊〉 to serve God at Jerusalem and for the Calves So he erected two sorts of High places
to distribute x To the Priests and Levites to whom they were appropriated by God the oblations of the LORD and the most holy things y To wit the remainders of the Free-will-offering Levit. 2. 3 10. The Sin-offering and Trespass-offering Levit. 6. 18 22. 7. 1. and the Shew-bread Levit. 24. 9. 15 And †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand next him were Eden and Minjamin and Jeshua and Shemajah Amariah and Shecaniah in * Josh. 21. the cities of the priests z Who were intrusted with the Receiving and Distributing of the several Portions belonging to the Priests who abode in their several Cities whilest their â—…rethren came up to Jerusalem in their ‖ Or 〈◊〉 set office to give to their brethren by courses as well to the great as to the small 16 Beside their genealogy of males from three years old and upward a To whom a Portion of these things was allotted as is here implied even unto every one that entreth into the house of the LORD b That were capable of entring thither and doing Service there which they were at twenty years old as is expressed here v. 17. 1 Chron. 23. 24. Through the whole Company of the Priests and Levites his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses 17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers and the Levites ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 from twenty years old and upward in their charges by their courses 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones their wives and their sons and their daughters through all the congregation c This is alledged as a Reason why their Wives and Children were provided for out of the Holy things because they sequestred themselves from worldly Affairs by which they might otherwise have provided for their Families and intirely devoted themselves to Holy Administrations for in their ‖ 〈◊〉 set office they sanctified themselves in holiness 19 Also the sons of Aaron the priests which were in * 〈◊〉 25. 34. 〈◊〉 35. 2. the fields d Who are opposed to those that lived in or resorted to the great City Jerusalem of the suburbs of their cities in every several city the men that were expressed by name to give portion to all the males among the priests and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered CHAP. XXXII 1 AFter * 〈◊〉 18. 13 〈◊〉 these things and †〈◊〉 36. â—… c. â—… Heb. tâ—…is the establishment thereof a An Emphatical Preface signifying that notwithstanding all his Pious Care and Zeal for God yet God saw fit to Exercise him with a fore Trial and Calamity which yet he turned to his great Honour and Advantage Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entred into Judah and encamped against the senced cities and thought †〈◊〉 Gr. 〈◊〉 31. 20. â—… Heb. 〈◊〉 break 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to win them for himself b He designed and bragged that he would win them all and did actually win many of them 2 King 18. 13. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come and that †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was purposed to sight against Jerusalem 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains c With Earth or other things cast into them and withal to derive the Waters by secret Paths and Pipes under ground to Jerusalem which were without the city and they did help him 4 So there was gathered much people together who stopt all the fountains and the brook that †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ran through the midst of the land saying Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water d Which was a scarse Commodity in this Country and the want of it might much annoy the Assyrian Army 5 Also * 〈◊〉 22. 9. he strengthened himself and built up all the wall that was broken e By Joash ch 25. 23. and not since repaired 2 Chron 25. 23. and raised it up to the towers f Either 1. As high as the Towers or the tops of the Wall Or 2. As far as the two Towers or Gates which were made in the Form of Towers and had the use of Towers to wit that of Ephraim and the Corner-Gate both mentioned above ch 25. 23. Or brought up Engines or Instruments of Defence upon the Towers and another wall without and repaired * 2 Sam. 5. 9. Millo g Of which see 1 King 9. 24. 11. 27. in the city of David and made ‖ Or swords or weapons darts and shields in abundance 6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and †Heb. spake to their heart spake comfortably to them saying 7 Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for * 2 Kin. 6. 16. there be mo with us than with him 8 With him is an * Jer. 17. 5. arm of flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battels And the people †Heb. leaned rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah 9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem h Of this and the following Verses see the Notes on 2 King 18. 17. c. and 19. 10 c. but he himself laid siege against Lachish and all his †Heb. â—… mâ—…n power with him unto Hezekiah king of Judah and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem saying 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria Whereon do ye trust that ye abide ‖ Or in the strong hold in the siege in Jerusalem 11 Doth not Hezekiah perswade you to give over your selves to die by famine and by thirst saying The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria 12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem saying Ye shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it 13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people out of mine hand that your God should be able to deliver you out of
water-gate eastward 38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them a To wit on the other side of the City Northward and Eastward and I after them and the half of the people upon the wall from beyond * Ch. 3. 11. the tower of the furnaces even unto the * Ch. 3. 8. broad wall b Which they made thicker and stronger than the rest of the Wall for some special reason 39 And from above * 2 Kin. 14. 1â—… the gate of Ephraim and above the * Ch. 3. 6. old gate and above * Ch. 3. 3. the fish-gate and the tower of Hananeel and * Ch. 3. 1. the Tower of Meah even unto the sheep-gate and they stood still in the prison gate c Waiting as also their Brethren did that they might go together in due order into God's House there to perfect the solemnity 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God d i. e. In the Courts of the Temple and I and the half of the rulers with me e And Ezra and the other half with him as appears by comparing this with v. 31 36. 41 And the priests Eliakim Maasejah Miniamin Michajah Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets 42 And Maasejah and Shemajah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer and the singers †Heb. made their voice to be heard sang loud with Jezrahiah their overseer 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy the wives also and the children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off f Either their loud voices and instruments were heard to a great distance or the fame of it was spread far and near 44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures for the offerings g Such as they had lately ingaged themselves to give or other voluntary or prescribed offerings for the first-fruits and for the tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions ‖ That is appointed by the law of the law h i. e. The foresaid first-fruits and Tithes and other things which God by his Law appointed for them for the priests and Levites †Heb. for the joy of Iudah for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites †Heb. that stood that waited i Partly for the eminent Gifts and Graces which they observed in many of them and partly for the great benefit which they had now received by their Ministry and therefore for the competent provision which hereby was made for them that so they might wholly wait upon their office to the Peoples Edification and Comfort 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God k i. e. That Ward or Charge or Business which God had prescribed to them and the ward of the purification l And in particular the charge of purification i. e. of taking care that no unclean person or thing might enter into the House or Courts of the Lord which care did certainly belong to the Porters as is expressed 2 Chron. 23. 19. and at this time and in some sort as it seems to the singers who besides their proper imployment were also over the business of the house of God as is affirmed ch 11. 22. Which being a general expression may-well comprehend if it doth not principally design this that they should take care to keep the House of God free from all pollution And possibly as the Porters were to take care that no unclean thing might enter there so if it should through their madvertency enter in the Singers were to remove it * 1 Chr. 25. 26. according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son 46 For in the days of David * 1 Chr. 25. 1 c. and Asaph m of old there were chief of the singers n There were some overseers whose Office it was to see that the Singers were fit for and diligent in their work and therefore they took care of it at this time and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God n And Heman and Ieduthun 1 Chron. 25. 1. but Asaph only is mentioned here as the most eminent and useful in that work 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion and they ‖ That is set apart sanctified holy things o i. e. They sequestred or set apart the First-fruits and Tithes from their own share and devoted them to the use of the Levites to whom they belonged And so did the Levites by the Tithe of the Tithes Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues to God or his Assigns and did not profane those things which God had sanctified nor take them to their own common use as divers ungodly or covetous persons had formerly used to do when they had opportunity unto the Levites * Num. 18. 26. and the Levites sanctified them unto the childeren of Aaron CHAP. XIII 1 ON that day a Not now presently after the dedication of the wall and gates and City but upon a certain day as that phrase is very commonly used in Scripture without any relation to the time or things mentioned next before it to wit when Nehemiah was returned again from the Persian court to Ierusalem from which he had been absent for some considerable time in which some errours and abuses had crept in which now he endeavours to remove †Heb. there was read they read in the book of Moses in the †Heb. ears audience of the people b Partly because it was not only the Priests but also the peoples duty to study and understand Gods Law and their own duty and partly that the people hearing that this was the express mind and will of the great God might the more willingly yield to the following duties some of which were attended with difficulty and required self denial and therein was found written * Deut. 23. 3. that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God c i. e. Not be incorporated into the common wealth of Israel nor be joyned with any Israelite in marriage relation as appears from v. 3. That practice being a plain comment upon this law But of this and the next verse see the notes on Deut. 23. 3 4. for ever 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water but * Numb 22. 5. Josh. 24. 9. hired Balaam against them that he should curse them howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing 3 Now it came to pass when they heard the law that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude d i.
for us then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it †Heb. his 〈◊〉 hath attained and found sufficiency and himself be able to redeem it 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof m i. e. From the time of the sale to the Jubilee See above ver 15 16. and restore the overplus n i. e. A convenient price for the years from this Redemption to the Jubilee unto the man to whom he sold it that he may return unto his possession 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile and in the jubile it shall go out and he shall return unto his possession o i. e. Out of the buyers hand without any Redemption mony 29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold within †Heb. dayes 1 Sam. 1. 3 and 27. 7. a full year may he redeem it 30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations it shall not go out in the jubile p The reason is from the great difference between such houses and lands The reasons before alledged for lands do not hold in such Houses there was no danger of confusion in Tribes or Families by the alienation of Houses The seller also had a greater propriety in Houses than in Lands as not coming to him by Gods meer gift but being commonly built by the owners cost and diligence and therefore had a fuller power to dispose of them Besides God would hereby encourage persons to buy and possess Houses in such places which frequency and fulness of Inhabitants in Cities was a great strength honour and advantage to the whole Land 31 But the houses of the villages q Because they belonged to and were necessary or very convenient for the management of the lands which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country †Heb. 〈◊〉 belongeth unto it they may be redeemed and they shall go out in the jubile 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites and the houses of the cities of their possession may the Levites redeem at any time 33 And if ‖ Or one of the Levites redeem them a man purchase of the Levites then the house that was sold and the city of his possession shall go out r Or thus But he that shall redeem it shall be or must be of the Levites i. e. No person of another Tribe though by Marriage near akin to the selling Levite shall redeem it but Levites onely and any of them shall have the same power to redeem it which in other Tribes onely the nearest kindred have and in case none of them redeem it yet the house that was sold and the City of his possession i. e. his share or interest in the City of his possession shall go out and return to the Levites without any redemption in the year of jubile for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities s Of which see on Numb 35. 5. may not be sold t Not sold at all partly because it was of absolute necessity for them for the keeping of their Cattle and partly because these were no enclosures but common fields in which all the Levites that lived in such a City had an interest and therefore no particular Levite could dispose of his part in it Some conceive that this Law was altered in ensuing ages which they gather from Ier. 32. 7 8. c. and Act. â—… 36 37. But those examples do not prove it That sale of Ieremiahs was made by a particular dispensation and command of God and that in a time when the Levites as well as the people were to be destroyed or dispersed and carried into captivity and therefore could receive no considerable injury by it and besides this sale was onely made formally and for signification as it is explained ver 14 15. And for the land sold by Barnabas a Levite Act. 4. as it was at a time when the Jewish Church was dissolved and their state upon the brinks of utter ruine so it is not evident that it was such Suburb land which would have yielded but a small price but it might be other land either such as he might have in right of his wife or such as he might have purchased For though the Levites in general had no other share of land beside this allotted them by God yet it is conceived that particular Levites might purchase lands to themselves for it is their perpetual possession 35 And if thy brother be waxen poor and †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fallen in decay u Heb. his hand 〈◊〉 or faileth or is decayed so that he hath not power to get or keep wealth as the phrase is Deut. 8. 18. as on the contrary when a man is able his hand is said to attain and find sufficiency as here above ver 26. with thee then thou shalt †Heb. 〈◊〉 relieve him x Heb. strengthen him comfort his Heart and strengthen his Hand yea though he be a stranger or a sojourner y Understand it of Proselytes onely for of other strangers they were permitted to take usury Deut. 23. 20. that he may live with thee 36 * Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 23. 19. Prov. 28. 8. Ezek. 18. 8. and 22. 12. Take thou no usury of him z i. e. Of thy brother whether he be Israelite or Proselyte or increase a This some conceive relates to the fruits of the earth food c. as 〈◊〉 doth to mony But here may rather feem to be two words expressing the same thing to meet with the subtil evasions of crafty and covetous men who make gain of their poor brethren for of such onely he speaks here as is evident from ver 36. by the lending of mony or other things and that they may quiet their consciences and palliate their sin they disguise it under other names and to shew that all kinds of usury are in this case forbidden whether of mony or of victuals or of anything that is commonly lent by one man to another upon usury or upon condition of receiving the thing lent with advantage and overplus as it is said Deut. 23. 19. but * Nehem. 5. 9. fear thy God that thy brother may live with thee 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury nor lend him thy victuals for increase 38 I am the LORD your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to give
thee and to thy seed with thee 20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land r i. e. In the land of the children of Israel mentioned ver 19. You shall not have a distinct and separate portion of land as the other tribes shall The reason of this law was partly because God would have them wholly devoted to and employed in his service and therefore free from worldly encumbrances and businesses partly because God had abundantly provided for them otherwise by tithes and first-fruits and oblations of all sorts partly because God would have their worldly comfort and happiness depend singly upon him and his service and so would oblige them to use more zeal and diligence in the advancement of piety even for their own interest which was either better or worse as true religion flourished or decayed See Iudg. 17. 9 10. and 19. 18. 2 Chron. 13. 9. and 30. 22. and 31. 4. partly that this might be a firm bond of hearty love and affection between the people and their teachers the Levites who as they performed religious services for the people so they received their subsistence from them and partly that by this means being dispersed among the several tribes they might have the better opportunity for teaching and watching over the people which was their duty Deut. 33. 10. 2 Chron. 30 22. Mal. 2. 4 5 6 7. neither shalt thou have any part among them * Deut. 1â—… â—… 12. 12. 〈◊〉 2. Josh. 13. 14 33. Ezek 〈◊〉 28. I am thy part s i. e. I have appointed thee a liberal maintenance out of my oblations and thine inheritance among the children of Israel 21 And behold * Lev. 27. 32. I have given the children of Levi all the tenth t For the tithes were all given to the Levites and out of their tithes the tenth was given to the Priests here ver 26 c. and Neh. 10. 37 38. in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve eveâ—… the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation u i. e. So nigh as to do any act proper to the Priests or Levites lest they bear sin †Heb. to 〈◊〉 and die 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation and they shall bear their iniquity x i. e. The punishment due not onely for their own but also for the peoples miscarriage if it be committed through their connivance or negligence And this was the reason why the Priests withstood their King Uzziaâ—… when he would have burnt incense to the Lord 2 〈◊〉 26. 17 18. it shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel which they offer as an heave-offering unto the LORD y i. e. As a rent-charge or an acknowledgment that they have and hold all their lands and the fruits of it from Gods bounty Note that the word heave-offering which is for the most part understood of a particular kind of offerings heaved or lifted up to the Lord is here used for any offering in general as before ver 8. I have given to the Levites to inherit therefore I have said unto them Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance 25 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 26 Thus speak unto the Levites and say unto them When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance then ye shall offer up an heave-offering of it for the LORD even a tenth part of the tithe 27 And this your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you as though it were the corn of the threshing-floor z It shall be accepted of you as much as if you offered it out of your own lands and labours and as the fulness of the wine-press 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave-offering unto the LORD of all your tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the LORDS heave-offering to Aaron the priest a And to his children which were one with him and were all to have their share herein 29 Out of all your gifts b Not onely out of your tithes but out of the other gifts which you receive from the people and out of those fields which shall belong to your cities ye shall offer c To wit to the Priest every heave-offering d i. e. As many gifts so many heave-offerings you shall reserve a part out of each of them for the Priest of the LORD of all the †Heb. â—…at best thereof even the hallowed part thereof e This may describe either 1 the nature and proportion of this offering and so peradventure he means the tenth part which was the part or proportion that God hallowed or sanctified to himself as his proper portion both here and elsewhere or 2. the reason or ground of this offering because it is a thing hallowed or appropriated by God to himself and given by him to the Priest and because the payment of this due doth hallow all the rest so as they may use it with comfort and good conscience as it follows ver 31 32. out of it 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them When ye have heaved the best thereof from it then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor and as the increase of the wine-press 31 And ye shall eat it in every place f i. e. In every clean place and not in the holy place onely ye and your housholds for * 1 Tim. 5. 18. it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation 32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it when ye have heaved from it the best of it g Implying that if they neglected this duty they sinned in the use of such unhallowed food * Lev. 22. 15 16. neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel h As you will do if you abuse their holy offerings by reserving that intirely to your selves which they offer to God to be disposed as he hath appointed to wit part to you and part to the Priests lest ye die CHAP. XIX 1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 2 This is the ordinance of the law a Or The constitution of the Law i. e. that which God hath ordained or established by Law which the LORD hath commanded saying speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee b At their common charge because it was for the common good a red c A fit colour to shadow forth both the bloody nature and complexion of sin Isa. 1. 8. and the humane nature and
in Ios. 15. 3. may seem distinguished into two places Hezron and Addar which here are united because peradventure they were contiguous or joyned together Or the village of Addar and so this is the same place called Addar Ios. 15. 3. and for Hezron that may be another place here omitted and there supplied for more exactness and pass on to Azmon k Which is at the West end of the mount of Edom. 5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt l Called Sihon Ios. 13. 3. which divided Egypt from Canaan See Gen. 15. 18. and the goings out of it shall be at the sea m The midland sea called the sea emphatically whereas the other seas there as they are called are indeed but lakes 6 And as for the western border ye shall even have the great n The midland sea from the South to the North so far as runs parallel with mount Libanus sea for a border this shall be your west-border 7 And this shall be your north border from the great â—…ea ye shall poinâ—… oâ—… for you moâ—… Hâ—…r o Not that Hor where Aaron died Numb 20. 22. which was Southward and bordering upon Edom Numb 33. 37 38. and therefore could not be their northern border but another mountain and as it is conceived the mountain of Libanus which is elsewhere mentioned as the Northern border of the land and which in regard of divers parts or by divers people is called by divers names as Sirion and Senir Deut. 3. 9. and Sion Deut. 4. 48. and Hermon Ios. 13. 5. and here Hor which signifies a mountain and this may be called so by way of eminency Certain it is that as Hor here so Hermon Ios. 13. 5. is joyned with the entrance of Hamath which makes it probable they are one and the same place 8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath p Called Hamath the great Amos 6. 2. which is among the Northern borders Ezek. 47. 16 17. See Gen. 10. 15 18. Numb 13. 21. Iudg. 3. 3. 1 King 8. 65. and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad 9 And the border shall go unto Ziphron and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan this shall be your north-border 10 And ye shall point out your east-border from Hazar-enan to Shepham 11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east-side of Ain and the border shall descend and shall reach unto the †Heb. shoulder side of the sea of Chinnereth q Of this name we have a city Ios. 19. 35. and a country Ios. 11. 2. 1 King 15. 20. and a Sea or Lake here and Ios. 12. 3. and 13. 27. which in the New Testament is called the sea of Genesareth Luk. 5. 1. and of Galilee and of Tâ—…otrias Ioh. 6. 1. eastward 12 And the border shall go down to Jordan r i. e. All along the river of Iordan even to the end of it which is the eastern border and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about 13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel saying This is the land which they shall inherit by lot which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes and to the half tribe 14 * chap. 32. 33. Josh. 14. 2 3. For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers have received their inheritance and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance 15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward toward the sun-rising 16 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you * Josh. 14. 1. and 19. 51. Eleazar the priest s Who was to act in Gods name to cast lots to prevent differences and contentions to consult with God in cases of difficulty to transact the whole business in a solemn and religious manner and Joshua the son of Nun. 18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe to divide the land by inheritance 19 And the names of the men are these of the tribe of Judah t The order of the Tribes is here differing from that Numb 1 7 26. and in other places being here as also Ios. 16. and 17. and 18. and 19. conformed to the order of their several inheritances which afterwards fell to them by Lot Which is an evident demonstration of the infinite wisdom of Gods providence and of his exact and peculiar care over his people Caleb the son of Jephunneh 20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon Shemuel the son of Ammihud 21 Of the tribe of Benjamin Elidad the son of Chisbon 22 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan Bukki the son of Jogli 23 The prince of the children of Joseph for the tribe of the children of Manasseh Hanniel the son of Ephod 24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim Kemuel the son of Shiphtan 25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun Elizaphan the son of Parnach 26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar Paltiel the son of Azzan 27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher Ahihud the son of Shelomi 28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali Pedahel the son of Ammihud 29 These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan CHAP. XXXV 1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 2 * Josh. 14. 3 4. and 21. 2. Command the children of Israel that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them 3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattel a For pasturage for their cattel where they might not build houses nor plant gardens orchards or vineyards no nor sow corn for which they were abundantly provided out of the first-fruits and tithes And these suburbs did not belong to the Levites in common but were distributed to them in convenient proportions as may appear from Ios. 21. 18. 1 Chron. 6. 60. and for their goods and for all their beasts 4 And the suburbs of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about b Obj. In the next verse it is two thousand How do these agree Ans. 1. The LXX Interpreters read both here and ver
5. two thousand cubits whence some suppose this to be an errour in the Hebrew Text which being in a matter neither concerning faith nor good manners is not prejudicial to the authority of the holy Scriptures Ans. 2. The one thousand cubits may be in length from the city and the two thousand cubits in breadth on each side of the city and so they well agree for a line of a thousand cubits being drawn in length eastward and another westward and another northward and another southward a line drawn at a thousand cubits distance from the city from east to west must needs contain two thousand cubits and so must the other line from north to south and so on every side of the city there must be two thousand cubits Ans. 3. This verse and the next do not speak to the same thing this speaks of the space or place from whence the suburbs shall be measured the next verse speaks of the space unto which that measure shall be extended and the words may very well be read thus And the suburbs shall be so it is onely an ellipsis of the verb substantive which is most frequent and the meaning is shall be taken or accounted from the wall of the city and from that particle being supplied oâ—… understood from the foregoing words which is very usual without it or from the outward parts of it which being a general and indefinite expression is limited and explained by the following word even from a thousand cubits round about Which are mentioned not as the thing measured for as yet there is not a word of measuring but as the term or space from which the measuring line should begin And then it follows ver 5. And ye shall measure from without the city not from the wall of the city as was said before ver 4. but from without it i. e. from the said outward part or space of a thousand cubits without the wall of the city round about on the east-side two thousand cubits c. So in truth there were three thousand cubits from the wall of the city whereof one thousand probably were for out-houses stalls for cattel gardens vineyards and olive-yards and the like and the other two thousand for pasture which are therefore called the field of the suburbs Lev. 25. 34. by way of distinction from the suburbs themselves which consist of the first thousand cubits from the wall of the city 5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east-side two thousand cubits and on the south-side two thousand cubits and on the west-side two thousand cubits and on the north-side two thousand cubits and the city shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities 6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be * â—…eut 4. 41. â—… 20. 2. 〈◊〉 21. 3. 21. six cities for refuge c Or or receit or escape or resort to wit for man-slayers And these cities are assigned among the Levites partly because they might be presumed to be the most proper and impartial Judges between man-slayers and wilful murderers partly because their presence and counsel and authority would more effectually bridle the passions of the avenger of blood who might pursue him thither and partly to signifie that it is onely in Christ whom the Levitical Priests did represent that sinners find refuge and safety from the destroyer The names of these Cities we have Deut. 4. 41 43. Ios. 2â—… 8. which ye shall appoint for the man-slayer d Such as is here described ver 11 15 22 23. that he may flee thither and †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to them ye shall add forty and two cities 7 So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities them shall ye give with their suburbs 8 And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel * â—…ap 2â—… 54. from them that have many ye shall give many e Compare Numb 33. 54. Ios. 20. 2. but from them that have few ye shall give few Every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inâ—… he inheriteth 9 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 10 Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them * 〈◊〉 19. 2. 〈◊〉 2â—… 2. when ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan 11 Then * 〈◊〉 21. 13. ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you that the slayer may flee thither which killeth any person †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at unawares f i. e. Not wilfully designedly or maliciously but inconsiderately through mistake or indiscretion or carelessness See Levit. 4. 2. 12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger g To wit of the party sâ—…ain or of blood as it is fully expressed below ver 19 25. Heb. from the redeemer or from the next 〈◊〉 to whom by the law belonged the right of redemption of the lands of and vindication of the injury done to the person acceased that the man-slayer die not h i. e. Be not killed by the avenger meeting him in some other place until he stand before the congregation i i. e. Before the society or convention of Judges or Elders who were appointed in every City for the decision of criminal causes who were 23 who were to examine the matter and that publickly before the people whether the murder was wilful or casual Quest. In what City was this cause to be tried Answ. Some say in the City of refuge others say in the City in or near which the fact was committed It seems to me it was done in both at first in the City of refuge as is manifest from Ios. 20. 4. but if that trial and sentence did not satisfie the avenger of blood it was fully and finally determined in the other City as is sufficiently evident both by comparing this place with ver 25. and Ios. 20. 6. and from the usual and most reasonable course of Justice which is that facts should be examined as far as may be in or near the places where they were committed and where the witnesses and evidences were at hand in judgment k Or for judgment i. e. to receive sentence there according to the nature of the fact 13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge 14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan l Because that Land was as long as Canaan though not so broad and besides these might be convenient for many of them that lived in Canaan and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan which shall be cities of refuge 15 These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of Israel and for the stranger m Not the proselyte onely but all strangers
and procurement him †Heb. â—…cate a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites p i. e. Out of the true Original which was carefully kept by the Priests in the Sanctuary Deut. 31. 26. 2 King 22. 8. partly that it might be a true and perfect copy and partly that it might have the greater authority and influence upon him coming to him as from the hand and presence of God 19 And * Jos. 1. â—… it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life q i. e. Diligently and constantly neither the greatness of his place nor the weight and multitude of his business shall excuse or hinder him that he may learn to fear the LORD his God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren r He intimates that the Scriptures diligently read and studied are a powerful and probable means to keep him humble because they shew him that though a king he is subject to an higher Monarch to whom he must give an account of all his administrations and actions and receive from him his sentence and doom agreeable to their quality which is sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world if he duly consider it and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his dayes in his kingdom he and his children in the midst of Israel CHAP. XVIII 1 THE priests the Levites and all the tribe of Levi * Num. 1â—… 〈◊〉 Chap. 10. â—… shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel they * 1 Cor. 9. 〈◊〉 shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire a By which phrase we here manifestly see that he means not burnt-offerings which were wholly consumed by fire and no part of them eaten by the Priests but other Sacrifices whereof part was offered to the Lord by fire and part was allotted to the Priests for their food and his inheritance b i. e. The Lords portion or inheritance which God had reserved to himself as Tithes and first Fruits and other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire and so these two branches make up the whole of that which belonged to God and was by him given to the Levites 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren the LORD c i. e. The Lords part and right as was now said is their inheritance as he hath said unto them 3 And this shall be the priests due from the people from them that offer a sacrifice d To wit a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving or a Peace-Offering as appears from Levit. 7. 31 33. which is oft times called simply a Sacrifice as Exod. 18. 12. Levit. 17. 5 8. Numb 15. 3 Deut. 12. 27. whether it be ox or sheep and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the maw e Qu. How doth this agree with other Texts in which the shoulder and the breast and those parts onely are the Priests due not the cheeks and maw Answ. 1. Who shall tie Gods hands what if he now makes an addition and enlargeth the Priests commons Nothing more usual than for one Scripture to supply what is lacking in another and for a latter Law of God to add to a former 2. The Breast may be here omitted because it is comprehended under the Shoulder to which it is commonly joyned and with which it was waved before the Lord. 3. The Hebrew word here rendred Maw or Stomach which was reckoned among dainties by the Antients is not to my remembrance used elsewhere and therefore it may have another signification and some render it the breast others take it for the uppermost part of the stomach which lies under the breast 4 The * Num. 18. 12 24. first fruit also of thy corn of thy wine and of thy oil and the first of the fleece of thy sheep shalt thou give him 5 For * Exod. 28. 1. Num. 3. 10. the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes to stand to minister in the Name of the LORD f i. e. Either by Authority and Commission from him or for his Honour Worship or Service him and his sons for ever 6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel where he sojourned and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall chuse g Either for any private occasions or to sojourn there for a season or rather with full purpose to fix his abode and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God as appears by the sale of his patrimony mentioned v. 8. It seems probable that the several Priests were to come from their Cities to the Temple by turns before Davids time and it is certain they did so after it But if any of them were not contented with this seldom attendance upon God in his Tabernacle or Temple and desired more intirely and constantly to devote himself to Gods service there he was permitted so to do because this was an eminent act of piety joyned with self-denyal to part with those great conveniencies which he could and did enjoy in the City of his possession and to oblige himself to more constant and laborious work about the Sacrifices c. 7 Then he shall minister in the Name of the LORD his God as all his brethren the Levites do which stand there before the LORD 8 They shall have like portions h To wit with their Brethren who were in actual ministration as they share with them in the work so shall they also in the incouragements to eat beside †Heb. his sales by the fathers that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony i Though he have an estate whereby he may subsist raised by the sale of his House in his City and his Cattel and other moveables yet you shall not upon this ground either deny or diminish their part of your maintenance The reason of this Law was partly because he that waited on the Altar ought to live by the Altar and partly because it was fit he should keep his money wherewith he might redeem what he sold if afterwards he saw occasion for it Heb. Besides his sales by the fathers i. e. Of that which came to him by his Fathers or according to his Fathers or his Fathers house and these words may be joyned not with the word immediately foregoing but with the former part of the verse the next word coming in by a kind of parenthesis in this manner and order Besides that which cometh by the sale of their goods they shall havelike portions to eat to what their Brethren have each of them eating according to
but did not precisely fix all the bounds of it but these might be either enlarged or diminished according to the greater or smaller number of the Tribes Numb 26. 53 56. and 33. 54. and that by the direction of those persons mentioned v. 1. and Iosh. 17. 14. 18. as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine tribes and for the half tribe 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side Jordan but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes e i. e. Had the double Portion or the Portion of two Tribes 1 Chron. 5. 1 2. and therefore though Levi was excluded there remained nine Tribes and a half as was said v. 2. to be provided for in Canaan Manasseh and Ephraim therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land save cities to dwell in with their suburbs for their cattel and for their substance 5 * Numb 35. 2â—… As the LORD commanded Moses so the children of Israel did and they divided the land f They i. e. the persons named v. 5. who represented and acted in the name of the Children of Israel divided it either now or presently after which is here spoken by Anticipation 6 ¶ Then g Either 1. at that time when Ioshua and the rest were consulting about the division of the Land though they did not yet actually and fully divide it Or 2. when Ioshua and himself and the Israelites were proceeding in their Conquests and were going against Hebron Iosh. 10. 36. which Expedition there mentioned in a general manner may be particularly described in this Chapter and Iosh. 15. 13 14. But the former seems more probable because this was done when Ioshua was in Gilgal and not when he was pursuing his enemies the children of Judah came h Not so much to intercede for Caleb which was not needful for Ioshua especially in a thing already promised by God but only to justifie and countenance him in his desire unto Joshua in Gilgal i Where the division of the land was designed and begun though it was executed and finished at Shiloh Iosh. 18. 1 c. and Caleb the son of Jephunneh k So he is called here and 1 Chron. 4. 15. to difference him from Caleb the Son of Hezron 1 Chron. 2. 18. the Kenezite l Of the Posterity of Kenaz of whom see Iudg. 1. 13. 1 Chron. 4. 13 15. said unto him Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses m In general the gracious and comfortable promise he made us of possessing this land and in particular for my part that which is expressed here v. 9. the man of God n Whose words therefore thou art obliged to make good concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea 7 Forty years old was I o See on Iosh. 11. 18. when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh barnea to espy out the land and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart p I spake my opinion sincerely without flattery and fear when the other Spies were blassed by their own fears and the dread of the people to speak otherwise than in their Consciences they believed as appears from Numb 13. 30 31 32. and 14. 36. 8 Nevertheless * Numb 13. 31 32. my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt but I wholly * Numb 14. 24. followed the LORD my God q Which self-commendation is justifiable because it was necessary as being the ground and foundation of his Petition 9 And Moses sware on that day saying Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance r See Numb 14. 24. Deut 1. 36. and thy childrens for ever because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God 10 And now behold the LORD hath kept me alive as * Numb 14. 30. he said these forty and five years s Whereof 38. years were spent in the Wilderness and seven since they came into Canaan even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses while the children of Israel †wandred in the wilderness ‡ Heb. walked and now lo I am this day fourscore and five years old 11 * Eccles. 46. 9. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me as my strength was then even so is my strength now for war t Not only for Counsel but for Action for marching and fighting And therefore this gift will not be cast away upon an unprofitable and unserviceable person both to go out and to come in u To perform all the Duties belonging to my place 12 Now therefore give me this mountain x i. e. This mountainous Countrey in which was Hebron Iosh. 11. 21. and 20. 7. and Debir and Anab. He names the Countrey rather than the Cities either 1. because the Giants here following were already driven out of their Cities but yet abode in their Caves or Holds in the mountains whence they much molested the Israelites Or 2. because the Cities were given to the Levites Iosh. 21. 11 13. whereof the LORD spake in that day for thou heardest y i. e. Didst understand both by the Reports of others and by thy own observation as I also did Hearing the sense by which we get knowledg is oft put for knowing or understanding as Gen. 11. 7. and 42. 23. 2 King 18. 26. in that day how the * Numb 13. 28 32 33. Anakims were there and that the cities were great and fenced if so be the LORD will be with me z A modest and humble and pious Expression signifying both the absolute necessity of Gods help and his godly fear lest God for his sins should deny his Assistance to him as he might justly do for although he was well assured in general that God would crown his people with success in this War yet he might doubt of his particular success in this or that Enterprize then I shall be able to drive them out z A modest and humble and pious Expression signifying both the absolute necessity of Gods help and his godly fear lest God for his sins should deny his Assistance to him as he might justly do for although he was well assured in general that God would crown his people with success in this War yet he might doubt of his particular success in this or that Enterprize as the LORD said a Out of their Fastnesses where they yet remain Caleb desires this difficult work as a Testimony of his own Faith and as a Motive to quicken and encourage his Brethren to the like attempts 13 And Joshua blessed him b Either 1. prayed to God to bless and help him according to his own desire Or 2. acknowledged his praise-worthy Carriage in the matter of the Spies and
the valley of Hinnom westward which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward 9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah and went out to the cities of mount Ephron q i. e. Belonging to or bordering upon Mount Ephron and the border was drawn to Baalah which is Kirjath-jearim 10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir s Not that of Edom but another so called from some resemblance it had with that in quality and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim which is Chesalon on the north side and went down to Beth-shemesh r Called Kiriath-baal v. 60. and Iosh. 18. 14. and passed on to Timnah t There were divers Cities of this name this in Iudah here and Iosh. 21. 16. 2 King 14. 11. another in Issachar and a third in Naphtali Josh. 19. 22 38. 11 And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward and the border was drawn to Shicron and passed along to mount Baalah and went out unto Jabneel and the goings out of the border were at the sea 12 And the west border was to the great sea and the coast thereof this is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families 13 ¶ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he u i. e. Ioshua as appears by comparing this with Iosh. 14. 6. 12. 13. gave a part among the children of Judah according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua even * Chap. 14. 〈◊〉 †the city of Arba x Or Kiriath-arba Not the City which was the Levites but the Territory of it Iosh. 21. 13. the father of Anak which city is Hebron ‡ Or Kirjath-arbâ—… 14 And Caleb drove thence y i. e. From the said Territory from their Caves and Forts in it compare Iosh. 14. 12. This and the following work was done either in Ioshuahs life-time as may seem from Iosh. 11. 21. or after his death as is related Iudg. 1. 10. These Giants having either recovered their Cities or defended themselves in the mountains * â—…udges 1. 〈◊〉 the three sons of Anak Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai z Either the same who are mentioned Numb 13. 33. and so they were long-liv'd men such as many were in those times and places or their Sons called by their Fathers names which is very usual the children of Anak 15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir a The same mentioned above v. 7. and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher b This câ—…ause seems to be added to distinguish this from the other Debir subdued by Ioshua Josh. 10. 38 39. 16 ¶ And Caleb said He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher and taketh it to him will I give Achshah my daughter to wife c Which is to be understood with some Conditions as if he were one who could marry her by Gods Law for every Promise contrary to that is void and if she were willing for though Parents had a great Power over their Children they could not force them to marry any person against their own wills He might otherwise be an unfit and unworthy person but this was no ordinary motion propounded to the imitation of others but a divine impulse that Othniel's valour might be more manifest and so the way prepared for his future Government of the People Iudg. 3. 9. 17 And * Judg. 1. 13. and 3. 9. Othniel the son of Kenaz the brother of Caleb d Obj. This Marriage was unlawful Ans. No for it was not Othniel but Kenaz who was Caleb's Brother and besides the word Brother is commonly used for any Kinsman And that Caleb was not properly Othniels Brother sufficiently appears because Caleb is constantly called the Son of Iephunneh and Othniel the Son of Kenaz here and 1 Chron. 4. 13. took it and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife 18 And it came to pass as she came unto him e Or as she went to wit from her Fathers house to her Husbands as the manner was See on Matth. 1. 18. that she moved him to ask f She perswaded her Husband either 1. That he would ask or rather 2. That he would suffer her to ask as she did of her father a field and she lighted off her ass g That she might address her self to her Father in an humble posture and as a Suppliant which he understood by her gesture and Caleb said unto her What wouldst thou 19 Who answered Give me a blessing h i. e. A gift as that word signifies Gen. 33. 11. for thou hast given me a south land i i. e. A dry Land which was much exposed to the South-wind which in those parts was very hot and drying as coming from the Desarts of Arabia give me also springs of water k i. e. A Field as she desired v. 18. wherein are Sgrings of Water which in that Countrey were of great Price for it is not probable that he would give her the Springs and give to another the grounds in which the Springs were who could thereby at their pleasure deprive her of the use and benefit of her Springs so she begs a well moistned Field which also might give some relief to that which was dry and barren And he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs l i. e. Springs both in the higher and in the lower grounds or two Fields one in high another in low grounds or rather one above and the other below that South and dry ground which she complained of that by this means it might be watered on both sides 20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families 21 And the uttermost cities m Those which were on the borders of the Land not the mid-land cities It is apparent that all the Cities belonging to this Tribe are not mentioned in this Catalogue of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel n Called Iekabzeel Neh. 11. 25. and Eder and Jagur 22 And Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah 23 And Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan 24 Ziph and Telem and Bealoth 25 And Hazor Haddattah o Possibly it should be read as one word Hazor-haddattah as there is Hazar-gaddah v. 27. and Hasar-shual v. 28. such compounded proper names being usual and this may seem the more probable because if Hazor and Haddattah were two different Cities the conjunction and would have been put between them as it is generally in the rest and Kerioth and Hezron which is Hazor p Or which also is called Hazor but to distinguish it from the other Hazor v. 23. this was called also Hezron 26 Aman and Shema q Called also Seba Jos. 19. 2. and Moladah 27 And Hazar-gaddah and Heshmon and Beth-palet 28 And Hazar-shual and Beersheba
the children of Abiezer and for the children of Helek and for the children of Afriel and for the children of Shechem and for the children of Hepher and for the children of Shemida these were the male-children i This expression is used to bring in what follows concerning his Female Children of Manasseh the Son of Joseph by their families 3 But * Numb 26. â—…3 and 27. 1. â—…nd 36. 2. Zelophehad the son of Hephir the son of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh had no sons but daughters k Of whom see on Numb 26. 33. and 27. 1. and these are the names of his daughters Mahlah and Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the princes saying The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he l i. e. Eleazar or Ioshua with the consent of the Princes appointed for that work gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father 5 And there fell ten portions m Either 1. Six portions for the six Sons whereof one was Hepher and because he had no Sons his part was subdivided into five equal parts for each of the Daughters Or 2. Ten Portions five for the Sons and five for the Daughters for as for Hepher both he and his Son Zelophehad was dead and that without Sons and therefore he had no Portion but his Daughters had several Portions allotted to them to Manasseh beside the land of Gilead and Bashan which were on the other side Jordan 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons n i. e. No less than the Sons so their Sex was no bar to their Inheritance and the rest of Manassehs sons had the land of Gilead 7 ¶ And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah that lieth before Shechem and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah 8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah but the city of Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim 9 And the coast descended unto the ‖ Or Brook of Reeds river Kanah southward of the river * Chap. 16. 9. these cities of Ephraim o Tappuah and the cities upon the Coast descending to the River c. last mentioned are among the cities of Manasseh p i. e. Are intermixed with their Cities which was not strange nor unfit these two being linked together by a nearer Alliance than the rest the coast of Manasseh also was on the north-side of the river and the out-goings of it were at the sea 10 Southward it was Ephraims and northward it was Manassehs and the sea is his border q Either 1. Manasseh's whose portion is here described and whose Name was last mentioned Or 2. Ephraim's and Manasseh's both expressed in the foregoing words and implyed in the following they and they met together in Asher r i. e. Upon the Tribe of Asher for though Zabulon came between Asher and them for the greatest part of their Land yet it seems there were some Necks or Parcels of Land both of Ephraim's and of Manasseh's which jutted out farther than the rest and touched the borders of Asher And it is certain there were many such incursions of the Land of one Tribe upon some parcels of another although they were otherwise considerably distant one from the other See Ios. 19. 34. And you must not judg of these things by the present Maps which are drawn according to the Opinions of late Authors which many times are false and they are to be judged by the Scripture and not the Scripture by them But that part of Manasseh did reach to Asher appears from hence that Dor a City of Manasseh v. 11. was as Iosephus witnesseth near Carmel which belonged to Asher Jos. 19. 26. on the north s and in Issachar on the east 11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher t Either 1. Bordering upon them as in Asher is taken v. 10. and as Aarons Rod is said to be in the Ark i. e. close by it Heb. 9. 4. or 2. Properly in them as Ephraim had some Cities in the Tribe of Manasseh Jos. 16. 9. and as it was not unusual when the place allotted to any Tribe was too narrow for it and the next too large to give away part from the larger to the less portion nay sometimes oâ—…e whole Tribe was taken into another as Simeon was into Iudah's Portion when it was found too large for Iudah Jos. 19. 9. Beth-shean and her towns and Ibleam and her towns and the inhabitants of Dor u Not the places onely but the people whom contrary to Gods Command they spared and used for Servants whom therefore they are said to have or possess and her towns and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns even three countreys x This may be referred either to some to wit the three last places or to all the places named in this verse which are here said either to have three Countreys or Tracts of Land belonging to them or to be in three several Countreys or Portions as they seem to have been some in Issachar and some in Asher and yet both belonging to Manasseh Or the words may be rendred the third part of that Countrey for the Hebrew word is of the Singular Number and the Article seems emphatical and so the meaning may be That the Cities and Towns here mentioned are a third part of that Country i. e. of that part of Issachars and Ashers Portion in which those places lay 12 Yet * â—…udg 1. 〈◊〉 the children of Manasseh could not y drive out the inhabitants of those cities but the Canaanites would dwell z Were resolved to Fight rather than he turned out of their ancient habitations in that land q See on Ios. 15. 63. 13 Yet it came to pass when the children of Israel were waxen strong that they put the Canaanites to tribute but did not utterly drive them out a Which they were obliged to now they were strong and numerous enough to possess those places 14 And the children of Joseph b i. e. Of Ephraim and Manasseh as is manifest partly from v. 17. where it is so explained and partly because they mention it as an unreasonable thing that they being two should have but one Lot spake unto Joshua c i. e. Expostulated with him when they went and saw that Portion which was allotted to them and found it much short of their expectation saying Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion d Either 1. Because they really had but one Lot which afterwards was divided by the Arbitrators between them Or 2. Because the Land
to restore it that she might dispose of it as she pleased and did actually restore it as was said before and now confirms the former Restitution and therefore is twice said to restore it and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver k Reserving 900 Shekels either for the Ephod and Teraphim or for other things relating to this Worship or for her own private use being it seems cooled in her first Zeal and willing to have as cheap a Religion as she could as also her Son Micah was Iudg. 17. 10. and gave them to the founder who made there of l Made them either First of that Matter Or Secondly for that money a graven image and a molten image and they were in the house of Micah 5 And the man Micah had an house of gods m i. e. An House or Place Consecrated for the Service of God in this manner and made an ‡ ephod n An eminent part of the Priestly Garments Exod. 28. 4. which some think is here put for all of them and Gen. 31. 19. 〈◊〉 3. 4. teraphim o Some sort of Images so called of which see Gen. 31. 19. Hos. 3. 4. and Heb. 〈◊〉 the hand consecrated one of his sons who became his priest p Because the Levites in that corrupt Estate of the Church neglected the Exercise of their Office and therefore were neglected by the People and others put into their Employment But this kind of Priesthood was condemned Numb 16. 40. and 18. 2 7. 6 * Chap. 18. 1. and 21. 2â—… In those days there was no King q i. e. No Judge to Govern and Controul them The word King being here used largely for a Supreme Magistrate as Gen. 36. 31. Deut. 33. 5. God raised up Judges to Rule and deliver the People when he saw fit and at other times for their Sins he suffered them to be without them and such a time this was and therefore they ran into that Idolatry from which the Judges usually kept them as appears by that solemn and oft-repeated passage in this Book that after the Death of such or such a Judge the people forsook the Lord and turned to Idols in Israel but every man did that which was right in his own eyes r i. e. Not what pleased God but what best suited his own fancy or lusts 7 ¶ And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-Judah s Or of Bethlehem-Iudah so called here as Matt. 2. 1 5. to difference it from Bethlehem in Zebulun Iosh. 19. 15. There he was born and bred of the family of Judah t i. e. Of or belonging to the Tribe of Iudah not by Birth for he was a Levite nor by his Mother for though that might be true the Mothers-side is not regarded in Genealogies but by his Habitation and Ministration For the Levites especially in times of Confusion and Irreligion were dispersed among all the Tribes and this mans Lot fell into the Tribe of Iudah which seems to be here noted by way of reflection upon that Tribe and as an evidence of the general defection that a Levite could not find entertainment in that great and famous Tribe which God had put so much honour upon Gen. 49. 8 9 10 11. and therefore was forced to wander and seek for subsistence elsewhere who was a Levite and he sojourned there u So he expresseth it because this was not the proper nor usual place of his abode this being no Levitical City 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehem-Judah to sojourn where he could find a place x For employment and a lively-hood for the Tithes and Offerings which were their maintenance not being brought in to the house of God the Levites and Priests must needs be reduced to great streights and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah ‡ Heb. in making his way as he journeyed 9 And Micah said unto him Whence comest thou and he said unto him I am a Levite of Bethlehem-Judah and I go to sojourn where I may find a place 10 And Micah said unto him Dwell with me and be unto me a father and a priest y For a Father that is a Priest a Spiritual Father a Teacher or Instructor for such are called Fathers see 2 King 6. 21. and 8. 9. and 13. 14. Isa. 22. 21. He pretends Reverence and Submission to him and what is wanting in his Wages he pays him in empty Titles and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year and ‖ Or a double 〈◊〉 c. ‡ Heb. an ordeâ—… of garments a suit of apparel and thy victuals So the Levite went in 11 And the Levite was content z Being constrained by necessity and infected with the common contagion of the Superstition and Idolatry of the times to dwell with the man and the young man was unto him as one of his sons a i. e. Treated with the same degree of kindness and affection 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite b To be a Priest for which he thought a Consecration necessary as knowing that the Levites were no less excluded from the Priests office than the people and the young man became his priest c Instead of his Son whom he had Consecrated for want of a â—…itter v. 6. but now seems to restrain him from the exercise of that Office and to devolve it wholly upon the Levite who was nearer akin to it and was in the house of Micah 13 Then said Micah Now know I that the LORD will do me good d I am assured God will Bless me So blind and grosly partial he was in his Judgment to think that one right circumstance would answer for all his substantial errors in making and worshipping Images against Gods express Command in worshipping God in a forbidden place and in that he being an Ephraimite presumed to make a Priest c. seeing I have a Levite to my priest CHAP. XVIII IN * Chap. 17. 6. and 21. 25. those days there was no king in Israel a Not long after Ioshua's death of which see on Iudg. 17. 6 and in those days the * Josh. 19. 47. tribe of the Danites b i. e. A part or branch of that Tribe consisting onely of 600 men of War v. 16. with their Families v. 21. or a Family of the Danites for the word Schebet which properly signifies a Tribe is sometimes taken for a Family as Iudg. 20. 12. as elsewhere Family is put for a Tribe as Zech. 12. 13. sought them an inheritance to dwell in for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them c The Lot had fallen to them before this time Ios. 19. 40 c. but not the actual possession of their Lot because therein the Philistines and Amorites opposed them not without success See Ios. 19. 40. Iudg. 1. 34. among the tribes
Ierusalem and in the Road from Bethlehem-Iudah to Gibeah 14 And they passed on and went their way and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah which belongeth to Benjamin o This is added to difference it from another Gibeah in Iudah Ios. 15. 57. Possibly this is that which was called Gibeah of Saul 1 Sam. 11. 4. 15 And they turned aside thither to go in and to lodg in Gibeah and when he went in he sate him down in a street of the city for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging p Though they were soft and effeminate in other respects yet they were hard-hearted towards Strangers or indigent persons Either there were no publick Houses to receive and entertain Travellers as may be gathered from Gen. 28. and 42. and 45. and Ios. 9. c. or if there were such an one here they might perceive it to be a very wicked House as being in so lewd a place and therefore might decline it and expect that some private person would exercise Hospitality to them as persons of any worth used to do as Gen. 18. 1 2 3 4. and 19. 1 2. Heb. 13. 2. 16 ¶ And behold there came an old man from his work out of the field at even which was also of mount Ephraim q Whence also the Levite was which obliged and enclined him to shew the more kindness to his Countrey-man and he sojourned in Gibeah but the men of the place were Hebr. Sons of 〈◊〉 Chap. â—…5 Benjamites r This was indeed one of the Cities belonging to the Priests Ios. 21. 1 Chron. 6. but you must consider that the Cities which were given to the Priests and whereof they were Possessors and Owners were not inhabited by the Priests or Levites onely especially at this time when they were but few in number but by many other persons of differing Professions and Callings which was necessary for their conveniency 17 And when he had lift up his eyes he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city and the old man said Whither goest thou and whence comest thou 18 And he said unto him We are passing from Berhlehem-Judah toward the side of mount Ephraim from thence am I and I went to Bethlehem-Judah but I am now going to the house of the LORD s Which was in Shilo Ios. 18. 1. and 22. 12. Thither he went either because he lived there for that was in the Tribe of Ephraim or rather because he would there offer Prayers and Praises and Sacrifices unto God for his Mercy in reconciling him and his Wife together and for his Blessing upon them again and to make atonement for his Wise. and there is no man that ‡ Hebr. gathereth receiveth me to house 19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses and there is bread and wine also for me and for thy handmaid and for the young man which is with thy servants there is no want of any thing 20 And the old man said Peace be with thee howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me t It matters not whether thou wantest nothing or every thing I will take care to supply all thy wants * Gen. 13. â—… onely lodg not in the street 21 So he brought him into his house and gave provender unto the asses and they washed their feet u As they used to do to Travellers in those hot Countreys Gen. 18. 4. and 19. 2. and 24. 32 c. and did eat and drink 22 ¶ Now as they were making their hearts merry x i. e. Refreshing themselves with the Provisions set before them behold the men of the city certain * Hos. 99 〈◊〉 10. 9. sons of Belial y Wicked and Licentious men see Deut. 13. 13. beset the house round about and beat at the door and spake to the master of the house the old man saying Bring forth the man that came into thine house that we may know him z An ambiguous expression whereby they pretended onely a desire to know and see what person he had brought among them and yet carry on their Wicked design of knowing him Carnally Compare Gen. 19. 5. where the same phrase is used in that sense upon a like occasion But though they name onely the man yet it is plain from the following relation that their Design was principally upon the Woman and therefore under the name of the man they comprehend those that belong to him 23 And * Gen. 〈◊〉 the man the master of the house went out unto them and said unto them Nay my brethren nay I pray you do not so wickedly seeing that this man is come into mine house a And therefore I am obliged to protect him by the Laws of Hospitality Compare Gen. 19. 7 8. do not this folly 24 Behold here is my daughter a maiden and his concubine them I will bring out now b He offers this to avoid a greater and more unnatural Sin which he thought they designed but it seems they did not their abuse being confined to the Woman and not extended to the Man who also was in their power if they had lusted after him But this offer was Sinful because he offered that which was not in his nor in the Mans power to dispose of even the Chastity of his Daughter and the Mans Wife and because no Man must do any evil though never so small for the prevention of any evil of Sin or Misery or for the procuring of the greatest good Rom. 3. 8. though his Sin was much mitigated by his Ignorance by his honest and generous Intention of protecting a stranger by the force which was in some sort put upon him and by the suddenness and violence of the Temptation and humble ye them and do with them what seemeth good unto you but unto this man do not ‡ Hebr. 〈◊〉 matter 〈◊〉 this folly so vile a thing 25 But the men would not hearken to him so the man took his concubine c Being willing to expose her rather than the Daughter of his Host who had expressed such a singular care and affection for him and brought her forth unto them and they knew her and abused her all the night until the morning and when the day began to spring they let her go 26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day and fell down d To wit dead as the following words show and as that word is oft used as Exod. 19. 21. Psal. 82. 7. and 91. 7. Hos. 5. 5. killed partly with grief of heart and partly with excessive abuse of her Body of which there have been divers instances Thus the Sin she formerly chose v. 2. is now her Destruction and though her husband pardoned her God would punish her at least as to this life at the door of the mans house where her lord 〈◊〉 till it was light e So he
is mentioned here as the reason why David put himself and his people to so great trouble and charge because it was to fetch up the choicest Treasure which they had and so the benefit would abundantly recompence the inconvenience that dwelleth between the cherubims 3 And they ‡ Heb. made to ride set the ark of God * See 1 Sam. 6. 7. upon a new cart f Being taught and encouraged to do so by the Example of the Philistines who did so without any token of Gods displeasure upon them for so doing But they did not sufficiently consider that God might wink at the Philistines because they were ignorant of God's Laws and yet be angry with them for the same thing because they knew or might and should have known the Law of God which commanded the Priests to bear it upon their shoulders Numb 4. 14 15. and 7. 9. But their present transports of Joy at the happy Change of their Affairs and their greedy desire of having the Ark removed made them hasty and inconsiderate and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in ‖ Or the hill Gibeah g Or on the hill as 1 Sam. 7. 1. and Uzzah and ‖ Or his brother So Gr. Ahio the sons of Abinadab h For Abinadab himself seems now to have been dead or at least detained at home through infirmity or indispensable occasions drave the new cart 4 And they brought it out of * 1 Sam. 7. 1. the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah ‡ Heb. with accompanying the ark of God and Ahio went before the ark i To lead the Oxen that drew it 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir-wood even on harps and on psalteries and on timbrels and on cornets and on cymbals 6 ¶ And * 1 Chron. 13. 9. when they came to Nachons k Otherwise called Chidon 1 Chron. 13. 9. threshing floor Uzzah * See Num. 4. 15. put forth his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen ‖ Or stumbled or threw it down 2 King 9. 33. shook it l For they stumbled 1 Chron. 13. 9. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah and God smote him m With some deadly Disease or Stroke as it follows there for his ‖ Or rashness errour n Either 1. For his touching the Ark when he was no Levite as Iosephus reports nor indeed was Kiriath-jearim a Levitical City or that being but a Levite he touched the bare Ark which onely the Priests might do Numb 4. 15. and 18. 3. And though the Ark was ordinarily covered yet it is not impossible but the covering might be either loose and so blown aside by the Wind or worn out and so he might touch the Ark it self Or 2. Because he put the Ark into a Cart and thereby exposed it to the danger of falling which would have been a great discouragement to the Israelites and a reproach to the Ark. And though Ahio also might have an hand in putting it into the Cart yet Uzzah onely is smitten either because he was the Elder Brother and the person to whose care the Ark was more especially committed or because he was the chief Author of this counsel of putting it into a Cart or because he added a new fault of touching the Ark and that out of distrust of God's care over it and there he died o This may seem very severe considering that his Intention was pious and his Transgression not great But besides that Men are very improper Judges of the Actions of God and that Gods Judgements are always just though sometimes obscure there are many things to be said of this and such like cases 1. That it is fit and reasonable that God should make some persons Examples of his just and high Displeasure against Sins seemingly small partly for the demonstration of his own exact and impartial Holiness partly for the Establishment of Discipline for which very reason even Earthly Princes have oft-times Inflicted great Punishments for small Offences and for the greater Terrour and Caution of Mankind who are very prone to have slight thoughts of Sin and to give way to small Sins and thereby to be led on to greater all which is or may be prevented by such instances of Severity and consequently there is more of God's Mercy than of his Justice in such Actions because the Justice is consined to one particular person but the Mercy and benefit of it publick and common to Mankind of that and all future Ages 2. That God is justly most severe in those things which immediately concern his Worship and Service and against those persons who have the nearest Relation to him and the greatest opportunities of Knowing and the highest obligations of careful Practising those Duties which they neglect See Levit. 10. 3. 3. That this Punishment possibly was not so great as it may seem to be for as for his Body the Disease though dangerous might not be exceedingly painful and for his Soul the stroke probably was not so sudden 〈◊〉 not to give him space of Repentance by the ark of God 8 And David was displeased p Or grieved both for the sin which he acknowledgeth 1 Chron. 15. 2 13. and for Gods heavy Judgment whereby their hopes were dashed and their joys interrupted and a good subject struck dead for the circumstantial error of a Pious mind which he might possibly think harsh and very severe and therefore be displeased or offended at this sharp Providence because the LORD had ‡ Heb. had broken made a breach uppon Uzzah And he called the name of the place ‖ That is the breach of Uzzah Perez Uzzah to this day 9 And David was afraid of the LORD q Either that God was displeased with him for removing the Ark and bringing it to his City or lest God should proceed further in the way of his Judgments upon him and his people or lest the Ark being brought to his House might be the occasion of inconveniencies and great calamities for some neglects or errors which they might easily and frequently commit that day and said How shall the ark of the LORD come unto me r How may I presume or how shall I dare do it when God hath shewed his displeasure for my attempting it I will therefore wait further upon God for his direction in the case and at present forbear But why did not David consult God presently by the Urim as he used to do This therefore seems to have been his infirmity and neglect 10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom s Which doubtless was done by the consent and desire of the owner of it who for the enjoyment
Heathen Authors as Porphyrius Plutarch and others and partly to oblige the Israelites to quit the siege out of compassion or as despairing to Conquer at least without greater loss of men than it was worth him who was resolved to defend himself and City to the utmost extremity that should have reigned in his stead and * Amos 2. 1. offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall y That the besiegers might see it and be moved by it and there was ‡ Heb. great repentance upon Israel great indignation against Israel z Or great trouble or repentance upon Israel i. e. the Israelitish King and people who was the first cause of the War and had brought the rest into confederacy with him were greatly afflicted and grieved for this barbarous action and resolved to prosecute the War no further and so withdrew their Forces as also did their Allies and returned to their several Homes Which they were the more willing to do because the Kingdom and Countrey of Moab were so ruinated both as to their Men and Cities or Villages and Lands that they were all secure of any great annoyance from it and they departed from him and returned to their own land CHAP. IV. NOw there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets a Who though they were wholly devoted to Sacred employment were not excluded from Marriage no more than the Priests and Levites unto El sha saying Thy servant my husband is dead and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD b His poverty therefore was not procured by his idleness or prodigality or rather wickedness but by his Piety because he would not comply with the Kings way of worship and therefore lost all worldly advantages and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bond-men c Either to use them as his slaves or to sell them to others according to his Law Of which see Exod. 21. 2. Levit. 25. 39. Isa. 50. 1. Matth. 18. 25. 2 And Elisha said unto her What shall I do for thee d How shall I relieve thee who am my self poor Tell me what hast thou in the house e Which may contribute to the Payment of thy Debts or at least to the satisfaction of thy Creditors who may perchance deal favourably with thee through my persuasion And she said Thine hand-maid hath not any thing in the house save a pot of oil f Which was useful for divers things about the Service of God and health or delight or ornament and other uses of men See Iudg. 9. 9. 3 Then he said Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours even empty vessels ‖ Or 〈◊〉 not borrow not a few 4 And when thou art come in thou shalt shut the door upon thee g Partly that none may hinder thee from minding thy work of filling and removing the Vessels which will require attention and diligence partly that thou alone maist enjoy the benefit of it partly lest any of thy Creditors should break in upon thee and seize upon thy borrowed Vessels before they are filled partly that thy mind being freed from distraction may be wholly employed in Prayer and Praising of God and partly that it may be manifest that this is the work of God alone and upon thy sons and shalt pour out h Out of the Pot in which God multiplied the Oil from time to time into all those vessels and thou shalt set aside that which is full 5 So she went from him and shut the door upon her and upon her sons who brought the vessels to her and she poured out 6 And it came to pass when the vessels were full that she said unto her son i To one of them for she had two v. 1. Bring me yet a vessel And he said unto her There is not a vessel more And the oil stayed k To teach us that we should not waste any of Gods Good Creatures and that God would not work Miracles unnecessarily 7 Then she came and told the man of God and he said Go sell the oil and pay thy ‖ Or creditor debt and live thou and thy children of the rest l First do Justice to others and then take care of thy self and Children 8 ¶ And ‡ Heb. there was a day it â—…ell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem m A City in Issachar near Mount Carmel Ios. 19. 17 18. whither the Prophet frequently went where was a great woman n For Estate or Birth and Quality See Gen. 24. 35. 1 Sam. 25. 2. and she ‡ Heb. laid â—…old on him constrained him o By her importunate desire to eat bread p To take his repast there And so it was that as oft as he passed by he turned in thither to eat bread 9 And she said unto her husband Behold now I perceive that this is an holy man of God q A Prophet as Iudg. 13. 6. and that of eminent Holiness by our kindness to whom we shall procure a blessing to our selves which passeth by us continually 10 Let us make a little chamber I pray thee on the wall r That he may be free from the noise of Family-business and enjoy that privacy which I perceive he desireth for his Prayers and Meditations and let us set for him there a bed and a table and a stool and a candlestick s He will not be troublesome or thargeable to us he cares not for rich Furniture or costly Entertainment and is content with bare necessaries and it shall be when he cometh to us that he shall turn in thither 11 And it fell on a day that he came thither and he turned into the chamber and lay there 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant Call this Shunammite And when he had called her she stood before him s i. e. Before the Prophet in the door of his Chamber as it is said ver 15. The relation seems to be a little perplexed but may be thus conceived It is in this Verse recorded in the general That the Prophet sent Gehazi to call her and that the came to him upon that call then follows a particular description of the whole business with all the circumstances first of the message with which Gehazi was sent when he went to call her and of her answer to that message ver 13. and of Gehazi's conjecture thereupon ver 14. and then of her coming to the Prophet at his call which is there repeated to make way for the following passages 13 And he said ‖ Or had said unto him Say now unto her Behold thou hast been careful for us with all this care What is to be done for thee t Where with shall I recompence all thy care and kindness to me and my Servant Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain
so 〈◊〉 that they 〈◊〉 mouth to mouth full from one end to another 22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry Bring forth vestments r Sacred Garments such as were used by the Priests and others of the Lords Ministry in God's Worship and from thence the Devil borrowed this custom in his Worship for all the worshippers of Baal And he brought them forth vestments 23 And Jehu went and Jehonadab the son of Rechab s Whom the Baalites possibly did not know and therefore suspected nothing or if any of the more crafty sort suspected any thing it was now too late to amend their Error into the house of Baal and said unto the worshippers of Baal Search and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD t Because their presence will offend Baal and deride or pollute his Worship whence Prophane persons have been oft excluded from Solemn acts of Worship both by Iews and Heathens So this did not raise their suspition but the worshippers of Baal onely 24 And when they went in u When some in the name of the rest went to the Altar to offer Sacrifice to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings Jehu appointed fourscore men x Far greater numbers being doubtless in readiness to assist them in case of any opposition without and said If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape he that letteth him go his life shall be for the life of him 25 And it came to pass assoon as he y i. e. The Chief Priest of Baal See 2 Chron. 23. 17. had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings z So far he suffered them to proceed either because till then they were not all come into the House Or because having been taken in the very act of gross Idolatry their Destruction was more just and reasonable that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains a i. e. To the Fourscore men and their Officers Go in and slay them let none come forth And they smote them with ‡ 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 the edge of the sword and the guard and the captains cast them out b i. e. Cast their Carcasses out of the City But that was not proper work for the Guard nor could they so soon have done it nor would they stay to do it when they were going in haste to other work nor indeed was it necessary to be done because they intended to pull down the House and Bury them in its Ruines and turn it into a Draught-house as it follows This Word therefore is and may be joyned with the next and both rendred They went hastily and eagerly properly they flung themselves out Hiphil for Hithpahel which is not unusual in the Hebrew Language and went The like Expression is used Esth. 6. 12. hasted Heb. pushed himself on or flung himself i. e. went with great haste and in the Greek Text Mark 14. 72. and went to the city of the house of Baal c Either 1. To some City near to Samaria where another eminent Temple of Baal was Erected But this seems not to agree with the context there being but one House or Temple of Baal mentioned both in the foregoing and following Verses Or rather 2. To some Buildings belonging to this House of Baal which may be here called the City either for some particular reason now unknown or because they were very numerous and capacious For as there were divers Chambers and Rooms built without the Temple belonging to it for the use of the Priests and Levites c. So it may probably be conceived That this famous Temple of Baal had many such Buildings in some of which the Priests of Baal or of the Groves whereof there were great numbers belonging to the Kings Court 1 King 18. 19. peradventure might dwell and others of them might be for divers uses belonging to the House and Service of Baal And into these Buildings the Guard might go and that hastily to â—…urprize and kill those Inferior Ministers of Baal who were there employed in preparing things for the Sacrifices which were to be Offered or in other Services belonging to that House or that Solemnity 26 And they brought forth the ‡ Heb. Statues Images out of the house of Baal and burnt them d Heb. it i. e. The Collection of the Images or each of them 27 And they brake down the image of Baal e The chief Image which they Worshipped more than the rest and brake down the house of Baal f And the like they did with the rest of the Houses of Baal in Israel as may be gathered both from the nature and reason of the thing and from ver 28. and made it a draught-house unto this day 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel 29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the 〈◊〉 of Nebat who made Israel to sin Jehu departed not from after them g Herein he discovers his Hypocrisie that he follows God as far as his Interest would permit namely in destroying the House of Ahab and the Worship of Baal but no further for he still resolves to keep up the Worship of the Calves partly lest he should disoblige and irritate his own Nobles and Subjects who had been long inured and were heartily affected to it and partly lest he should open a door for his people to return to their Obedience to the House of David And his sin and folly is the more inexcusable both because he durst not trust that God with the keeping of his Kingdom of whose Power and Faithfulness and kindness to him he had such ample experience in his giving him the Kingdom and because he had so great and uncontrolable a power in the matters of Religion having first pretended and seemed to set up the Worship of Baal with all his might and then destroying it with no less vehemency none daring to mutter against him in either case and because the House of David and Kingdom of Iudah his Competitor now was and was likely to be in a feeble and declining condition and much more likely to fall into his hands than that his Kingdom should come into theirs to wit * 1 King 12 2â—… the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu h By some Prophet as above Chap. 9. 7. Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart * Chap. 15. 12 thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel k And so they did namely Iehoahaz below ver 35. Ioash Chap. 13. 10. Ieroboam Chap. 14. 24. and Zechariah Chap. 15. 8. i i. e. In part and so far as is here expressed these actions were good and right though his heart was not so 31 But Jehu
i Ehud or Gera last mentioned had sent them away Hushim and Baara were his wives k Others joyn these Words with the former and render the Place thus after he had sent them to wit his Sons away with Hushim and Baara his wives i. e. as he also sent his Wives away from him Which may be here mentioned as a Brand upon him to shew that he was without natural Affection to his Wives and Children And it seems the more probable that he divorced them because we find him married to another Wise v. 9. 9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife Jobab and Zibia and Mesha and Malcham 10 And Jeuz and Shachiah and Mirma These were his sons heads of the fathers 11 And of Hushim he begat Ahitub and Elpaal 12 The sons of Elpaal Eber and Misham and Shamed who built Ono and Lod l Of which see Ezr. 2. 33. Nehem. 7. 37. 11. 35. with the towns thereof 13 Beriah also and Shema who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Ajalon m A Place formerly belonging to the Tribe of Dan Ios. 19. 42. but after the Return from Babylon possessed by the Benjamites because both Dan and the rest of the ten Tribes were yet for the Generality of them in Captivity and but few of them returned who drove away the inhabitants of Gath n Either 1. at that time when they made such a Slaughter among Ephraims Children ch 7. 21. and were possibly pursuing their Victory till they were driven back by these Benjamites who came to the â—…uccour of their Brethren Or 2 Now when they were returned from the Captivity and found the Men of Gath possessed of Ajalon Or 3. at some other time not mentioned in Scripture 14 And Ahio Shashak and Jerimoth 15 And Zebediah and Arad and Ader 16 And Michael and Ispah and Joha the sons of Beriah 17 And Zebadiah and Meshullam and Hezeki and Heber 18 Ishmerai also and Jezliah and Jobab the sons of Elpaal 19 And Jakim and Zichri and Zabdi 20 And Elionai and Zilthai and Eliel 21 And Adajah and Berajah and Shimrath the sons of ‖ 〈…〉 Shimhi 22 And Ishpan and Heber and Eliel 23 And Abdon and Zichri and Hanan 24 And Hananiah and Elam and Antothijah 25 And Iphedejah and Penuel the sons of Shashak 26 And Shamsherai and Shehariah and Athaliah 27 And Jaresiah and Eliah and Zichri the sons of Jeroham 28 These were heads of the fathers by their generations chief men These o All these named from v. 14. to this place dwelt in Jerusalem 29 And at Gibeon dwelt the ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 35. father of Gibeon p i. e. The Chief or Ruler of the Benjamites dwelling there whose * 〈◊〉 9. 35. wives name was Maacha 30 And his first-born son Abdon and Zur and Kish and Baal and Nadab 31 And Gedor and Ahio and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 37. Zacher 32 And Mikloth begat ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 3â—… Shimeah And these also dwelt with their brethren q i. e. With those other Benjamites spoken of v. 28. in Jerusalem over against them r In some street or part of Ierusalem which was over against that where their Brethren dwelt 33 And * 1 Sam. 14. 51. Ner begat Kish and Kish begat Saul and Saul begat Jonathan and Malchishua and Abinadab and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sam. 2. 8. Eshbaal 34 And the son of Jonathan was ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 〈◊〉 Merib-baal and Merib-baal begat * Sam. 9. 12. Micah 35 And the sons of Micah were Pithon and Melech and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… 41. Tarea and Ahaz 36 And Ahaz begat Jehoada and Jehoada begat Alemeth and Azmaveth and Zimri and Zimri begat Moza 37 And Moza begat Binea Rapha was his son Eleasa his son Azel his son 38 And Azel had six sons whose names are these Azrikam Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheraiah and Obadiah and Hanan All these were the sons of Azel 39 And the sons of Eshak his brother were Ulam his first-born Jehush the second and Eliphelet the third 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valout atchers s Heb. That tread the bow For the Bows of Steel which these used required great strength to bend them which therefore they did by treading the Bow with their Feet and pulling the String with both their Hands and had many sons and sons sons an hundred and fifty All these are of the sons of Benjamin CHAP. IX 1 SO all Israel were reckoned by genealogies and behold they were written in the book of the Kings of Israel and Judah a Not in that Sacred and Canonical Book so called but as hath been oft observed before in the Publick Records wherein there was an Account of that King and Kingdom and of the several Families in it according to their Genealogies who b i. e. Which Tribe or People of Iudah last mentioned were carried away to Babylon for their transgression 2 Now the first inhabitants c The first after the Return from Babylon that dwelt in their possessions in their cities d i. e. That took possession of their own Lands and Cities which had been formerly alotted to them but of late years had been taken from them for their Sins and possessed by other People were the Israelites e i. e. The Common People of Iudah and Israel called here by the general name of Israelites which was given to them before that unhappy Division of the two Kingdoms and now is restored to them when the Israelites are united with the Jews in one and the same Commonwealth that so all the Names and Signs of their former Division might be blotted out And although the generality of the ten Tribes were yet in Captivity yet divers of them were now returned either such as had long before the Captivity fled to Ierusalem to worship God and joyned themselves with Iudah as those 2 Chron. 11. 16. and others Or such as upon Cyrus his general Proclamation associated themselves and returned with those of Iudah and Benjamin the priests Levites f These took possession of the Cities or Places belonging to them as they had need and opportunity and the Nethinims g A certain Order of Men either Gibeonites or others joyned with them devoted to the Service of God and of his House and of the Priests and Levites who that they might attend upon their work without distraction had certain Places and Possessions given to them which they are now said to repossess 3 And in * Nâ—…hem 11. 〈◊〉 Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh h i. e. Some of each of these Tribes either such as offered themselves or such as were chosen by Lot see Nehem. 11. 1 2. 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud i That there is so great
more dignity and Power in the Disposal of them 23 Of the Amramite and the Izharite the Hebronite and the Uzzielite b Or As concerning the Amramite c. The meaning is The persons here following were of these or the most of these Families Onely here is none of the Family of the Uzzielites either because that Family was now extinct whence it is that we read no more of them in the Scripture but onely in this place and Numb 3. 27. or because there was none of them fit to be employed and trusted in these Matters 24 And * Ch. 23. 16. Shebuel the son of Gershom the son of Moses was ruler of the treasures c The Prince or Chief over all the Treasures and Treasurers mentioned either before or afterward as his very Title shews which is peculiarly given to him and to none of the rest 25 And his brethren by Eliezer d Another Son of Moses Exod. 18. 4. Rehabiah his son and Jeshajah his son and Joram his son and Zichri his son and * Ch. 23. 18. Shelomith his son 26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicate things which David the king and the chief fathers the captains over thousands and hundreds and the captains of the host had dedicated 27 †Heb. out of the battels and spoils Out of the spoils won in battels did they dedicate to †Heb. strengthen maintain e Heb. To strengthen it either to make that Building strong and substantial by these and other Charges or rather to repair it when it should be built for which they might the rather take particular Care because it was likely that every one would contribute to the building of the Temple and there would be no want for that use but few would provide for the Repairs of it when by the Injury of Men or Time it should receive any Damage the house of the LORD 28 And all that Samuel the * 1 Sam. 9. 9. seer and Saul the son of Kish and Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zerujah had dedicated and whosoever had dedicated any thing it was under the hand of Shelomith f Who is particularly named here and v. 26. because they were chiefly committed to his trust he being it seems a person of Eminent Wisdom and Faithfulness and of his brethren 29 Of the Izharite Chenaniah and his sons g Who are probably thought to have been 1600 for that Sum added to the 1700 v. 30. and the 2700 v. 32. make up those 6000 Levites which were Officers and Iudges 1 Chron. 23. 4. were for the outward business h For that business of the Lord and of the King as it is explained here v. 30 32. which was to be done without the Temple and without Ierusalem for what was to be done within them was committed to other hands as we have seen over Israel i Synecdochically i. e. over part of Israel even over the Midland part and that which lay upon the Sea Coast for the other parts of the Land on both sides of Iordâ—…n are here committed to others v. â—…0 31 32. for officers and Judges k Who shall be Officers and Judges over the People in the several Cities and Towns or Parts of the Land to determine Questions and Controversies which might arise among them And the reason why the Levites were instrusted with these Matters was because the Common or Municipal Law of Israel by which they had and held all their Rights was no other than the Law of God whereof the Priests and Levites being the best and established Interpreters must needs therefore be the most proper Judges of things depending thereupon 30 And of the Hebronite Hashabiah and his brethren men of valour a thousand and seven hundred were †Heb. 〈◊〉 charge officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward l In those parts of the Land of Canaan which border upon Iordan or are not very remote from it in all business of the LORD m i. e. In all things which did or should concern the House or Worship of God partly to take care that such Monies as were either imposed by a Tax or freely given by the People towards the building or repairing of the Temple or towards the Sacrifices and other Holy Ministrations should be gathered and received and faithfully sent up to Ierusalem to be employed in that Work partly to see to the Execution of all the Laws of God among the People and to restrain or punish wilful Offenders against it and in the service of the king n Not that all the Kings Businesses were managed by them for it is apparent both from the nature of the thing and from Scripture that the Kings Military Affairs were managed by his Captains and his Political or Civil Affairs were managed by the Princes and Judges and Officers of other Tribes but because they served the King in the Execution of his Decreas made pursuantly to the Laws of God by which the several Rights of King and People were established and all things both in Church and Commonwealth were to be ordered Now as the King was the Principal Person intrusted with the Execution of Gods Laws so these Levites chiefly were his Eyes by which he saw his Peoples Transgressions and his Hands by which he inflicted due and deserved Censures upon them for their Miscarriages And the doing of this was very much for the Service of the King whose Throne was established and secured by such Righteous Administrations Besides they were to take care by their Couâ—…sel and Authority to keep the People in Obedience to their King which the Levites were most obliged and best able to do 31 Among the Hebronites was * Chap. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jerijah the chief even among the Hebronites according to the generations of his fathers In the fortieth year n Which was his last year in which he made all the Orders and distributions of Families and Offices recorded in these Chapters of the reign of David they were sought for and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead o Which place is here named either because they were seated in or near that Place but for what cause it is now unknown or because they were numbred there by some Person sent by David to that Purpose 32 And his brethren men of valour were two thousand and seven hundred p Which is a very great number to be employed about two Tribes and an half when all the rest of the Tribes had onely 1700 v. 30. besides those under Chenaniah of whom see on v. 29. But the reason hereof is plain because the Tribes without Iâ—…rdan being more remote from the Kings Court and from the place of publick and solemn Worship needed more than ordinary help to instruct and keep them in the Practise of the True Religion and the
on 1 King 7. 40 c. and the ‖ Or bowls basons and Huram †Heb. finished to make finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God 12 To wit the two pillars and * 1 Kin. 7. 41. the pommels and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars and the two wreathes to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars 13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreathes two rows of pomegranates on each wreath to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were †Heb. upon the face upon the pillars 14 He made also bases and ‖ Or caldrone lavers made he upon the bases 15 One sea and twelve oxen under it 16 The pots also and the shovels and the flesh-hooks and all their instruments did Huram his father g i. e. Solomons Father the Relative being put before the Antecedent which is not unusual in the Hebrew Tongue And he is so called here because Solomon usually called him by that name out of that great Respect which he bare to him for his Excellent Art and Service which he did for him it being usual to call great Artists and Inventers of things by this Name of which see Gen. 4. 20 21. Or Huram Abiu or Abif a Man so called or Huram Abi as ch 2. 13. make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of †Heb. made bright or scoured bright brass 17 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them in the †Heb. thicknesses of the ground clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah 18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance for the weight of the brass could not be found out 19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God the golden altar also and the tables whereon the †Heb. bread of faces shew-bread was set h Which were of Gold and so are distinguished from those ten Tables mentioned v. 8. which seem to have been made of Silver Compare 1 Chron. 28. 16. 20 Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps that they should burn after the manner i According to the Prescription of God to and by Moses before the oracle of pure gold 21 And the flowers and the lamps and the tongs made he of gold and that †Heb. perfections of gold perfect gold 22 And the snuffers and the ‖ Or bowls basons and the spoons and the censers of pure gold and the entry of the house the inner doors thereof for the most holy place and the doors of the house of the temple were of gold k To wit in part they were made of Wood 1 King 6. 30. 2 King 18. 16. but covered with Golden Plates CHAP. V. 1 THus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished * 1 Kin. 7. 51. And Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated and the silver and the gold a Or even as that particle is oft understood the Silver and the Gold the Remainder of those vast Sums mentioned 1 Chron. 22. 14. and all the Instruments put he among the treasures of the house of God 2 * 1 King 8. 2 c. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel b Of this and the following Verses see the Notes on 1 King 8 1 c. and all the heads of the tribes the ‖ Or rulers of the families So Gr. chief of the fathers of the children of Israel unto Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David which is Zion 3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month 4 And all the elders of Israel came and the Levites took up the ark 5 And they brought up the ark and the tabernacle of the congregation and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle these did the priests and the Levites bring up 6 Also king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark sacrificed sheep and oxen which could not be told nor numbred for multitude 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place to the oracle of the house into the holy place even under the wings of the cherubims 8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above 9 And they drew out the staves of the ark that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle but they were not seen without And ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Kin. â—… â—… there it is unto this day c When this History was first written not when it was reviewed by Ezra who made some Additions to it For after the Return from Babylon neither Staves nor Ark were any more seen or heard of 10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses * Deut. 10. 2 5. put therein at Horeb ‖ Or 〈◊〉 when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt 11 And it came to pass when the priests were come out of the holy place for all the priests that were †Heb. 〈◊〉 present were sanctified and did not then wait by course d According to Davids Appointment 1 Chron. 24. 25. which was onely for the Ordinary Service but in Extraordinary Solemnities such as this eminently was they all came together 12 * 1 Chr. 25. â—… And also the Levites which were the singers all of them of Asaph of Heman of Jeduthun with their sons and their brethren being arrayed in white linen having cymbals and psalteries and harps stood at the east-end of the altar and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets 13 It came even to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD and when they lift up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the LORD saying * Psal. 136. For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of the LORD 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God CHAP. VI. 1 THen * 1 Kin. 8. 1â—… c. said Solomon a This whole Chapter for the Substance and almost all the Words of it are explained in the Notes on 1 King 8. The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the * Lev. 16. 2. Exod. 20. 21. thick darkness 2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee and a
after that Sin of his mentioned ch 16. 2 c. 2 And he placed forces in all the senced cities of Judah and set garisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken 3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his ‖ Oâ—… of his father David father David b Which David walked in before he fell into those horrid Sins of Murder and Adultery Or in the ways of David and his Fathers first ways For the beginning of Asa's Reign was Laudable as we have seen though he declined at last For it seems more probable that this Passage is a Refâ—…ection upon Asa whose last ways were much his worst and of whose Repentance we have no Evidence than upon David who though he fell dreadfully in the Matter of Uriah yet did manifestly repent of it and return to his first and holy course of Life in which also he continued until death having this Character given him by the Holy Ghost after his death that he did right in all things saving that of Uriah 1 King 15. 5. and sought not unto Baalim 4 But sought to the LORD God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel c i. e. Their Worship of the Calves or other Idols 5 Thereâ—…ore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand and all Judah †Heb. 〈◊〉 brought to Jehoshaphat presents d As Subjects in those times and Places used to do to their Kings as a Token of their Respect and Subjection to them See 1 Sam. 10. 27 28. 1 King 10. 25. 2 Chron. 32. 23. and he had riches and honour in abundance 6 And his heart ‖ That is 〈◊〉 encouraged was lift up e Above all discouragements and difficulties and fears by which mens Hearts use to be cast down He was Valiant and Resolute for God and his Ways in the ways of the LORD moreover * Ch. 19. â—… he took away the high places and groves f To wit such onely wherein Idols were worshipped as appears by comparing this with ch 20. 33. And though Asa had done this before yet either he did not do it thoroughly or the Jews who were many of them mad upon their Idols had secretly made new Ones in the latter part of his Reign when he grew more infirm in Body and more remiss in Gods cause out of Judah 7 Also in the third year of his reign he ‖ Or 〈◊〉 princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sent to his princes even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah and to Nethaneel and to Michajah to teach g To inform the People of their Duty and of the Kings Pleasure As Judges or Justices of Peace teach or instruct the People in the Laws of the Land when they deliver their Charges upon the Bench so did these Princes in the Kings Name admonish and require the People to observe and obey the Laws of God which were the Municipal Laws of that Land The particular Explication and Inforcement whereof they left to the Levites and Priests here following who were sent for this End and accordingly taught the People v. 9. in the cities of Judah 8 And with them he sent Levites even Shemajah and Nethaniah and Zebadiah and Asahel and Shemiramoth and Jehonathan and Adonijah and Tobijah and Tob-adonijah Levites and with them Elishama and Jehoram priests 9 And they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the LORD with them and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people 10 And * Gen. â—…5 5. the fear of the LORD †Heb. 〈◊〉 fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah h Justly concluding from this singular Piety that God would eminently appear for him and against all those who had Ill Wâ—…ll to him which was their Case For even the Heathens could not but observe that the Kings of Judah were either Prosperous or Unhappy accordingly as they served God or forsook him so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat 11 Also some of the Philistins i Who had been Subjects to this Kingdom ever since Davids Time but it seems had neglected this Duty in the Times of his Predecessors but now were moved by their own Fears to perform it brought Jehoshaphat presents and tribute-silver and the Arabians k Either because he had upon some just occasion waged War against them and subdued them though the Particulars of it â—…e not described in Scripture Or because they voluntarily put themselves under his Protection in Recompence whereof they sent him those Presents Or onely as a free Acknowledgment of their Respects to him brought him flocks seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats 12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly and he built in Judah ‖ Or 〈◊〉 castles and cities of store 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah l Partly to repair and fortifie them and furnish them with all necessary Provisions and partly to purge out all the Reliques and Seeds of Idolatry and Injustice which were more secretly and subtilly managed in the Cities than in the Country and which were first and most in the Cities and thence spread their Infection into the Country about them See Ier. 2. 28. and the men of war mighty men of valour were in Jerusalem 14 And these are the number of them according to the house of their fathers Of Judah the captains of thousands Adnah the chief and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand 15 And †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next to him m Either 1. After his death as his Successor in the same Command And the like is supposed concerning Jehozabad v. 18. Or rather 2. Next to him in Place and Authority or at least in Power and the Numbers of his Host. was Jehohanan the captain and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand 16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri who willingly offered himself n As Voluntiers and Auxiliaries to be ready upon Occasion as the Service of God and the King should require Possibly these or most of them were the Strangers which had come out of Israel into the Kingdom of Judah in Asa's days and probably since that in his Time unto the LORD and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour 17 And of Benjamin Eliada a mighty man of valour and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand 18 And next him was Jehozabad and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war 19 These waited on the king o These above mentioned were the Trained Bands or Auxiliaries whose Chief Officers waited upon the King to receive his Commands and to raise and bring in all or part of their Forces to the Service of the King and Kingdom
two and twenty years old when he began to reign and reigned two years in Jerusalem 22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD as did Manasseh his father for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made and served them 23 And humbled not himself before the LORD as Manasseh his father had humbled himself but Amon †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trespass trespassed more and more 24 And his servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house 25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead CHAP. XXXIV 1 JOsiah * 2 Kin. 22. â—… c. was eight years old when he began to reign a Of this Chapter see the Notes on 2 King 22. 23. and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of David his father and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left 3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was yet young b In the 16th Year of his Age when he was entring into the Age and State of Temptations and Youthful Lusts and had the Administration of his Kingdom wholly in his own Hand and Power and none to rebuke or restrain him yet even then he begins to be Religious in good Earnest he began to seek after the God of David his father and in the twelfth year he began * 1 Kin 13 2. to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the groves and the carved images and the molten images 4 * Lev. 26. 30. 2 Kin. 23. 4. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence and the ‖ Or sun-images images that were on high above them he cut down and the groves and the carved images and the molten images he brake in pieces and made dust of them and strowed it upon the †Heb. face of graves graves of them that had sacrificed unto them 5 And * 2 Kin. 23. 20 he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem 6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and â—…imeon even unto Naphtali c Which was in the utmost and northern Borders of the Kingdom of Israel For it must be remembred that the ten Tribes were now gone into Captivity and those who were come in their stead were weak and few and not able to withstand the Power of Josiah with their ‖ Or mauls mattocks round about 7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves and had beaten the graven images †Heb. to make powder into powder and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel he returned to Jerusalem 8 Now in the * 2 Kin. 22 3. eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the house d The House of God called the House by way of Eminency he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah and Maasejah the governour of the city and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of the LORD his God 9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high-priest they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim and of all the remnant of Israel and of all Judah and Benjamin and they e i. e. The Levites who had gone abroad through all Josiahs Kingdom to gather Money for this good Use and now came with it to Jerusalem to lodge it in the Treasuries of the Lords House returned to Jerusalem 10 And they put it in the hand of the work-men that had the oversight of the house of the LORD and they gave it to the work-men that wrought in the house of the LORD to repair and mend the house 11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it to buy hewen stone and timber for couplings and ‖ Or to rafter to floor the houses f i. e. The Chambers joyning to the Temple or within the Courts which the kings of Judah had destroyed 12 And the men did the work faithfully and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites of the sons of Merari and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites to set it forward and other of the Levites all that could skill of instruments of musick g Or all these here named were skilful in Instruments of Musick Which may be here mentioned either to their Commendation that they were fit for and careful and diligent in this Employment wherewith they were now entrusted no less than in their own proper Work Or to intimate that as they were skilful so they were exercised in both their Employments and did successively oversee the Work and praised God with their Voices and Instruments for his Gracious and Powerful Help in carrying on the Work 13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service and of the Levites there were scribes and officers and porters 14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD Hilkiah the priest * 2 Kin. 22. 8 c. found a book of the law of the LORD given †Heb. by the hand of by Moses 15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan 16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king and brought the king word back again saying All that was committed †Heb. to the hand of to thy servants they do it 17 And they have †Heb. poured out or melted gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and to the hand of the workmen 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king saying Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book And Shaphan read †Heb. in it it before the king 19 And it came to pass when the king had heard the words of the law that he rent his clothes 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah and Ahikam the son of Shaphan and ‖ Or Achbor 2 Kin. 22. 12. Abdon the son of Micah and Shaphan the scribe and Asajah a servant of the kings saying 21 Go enquire of the LORD for me and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah concerning the words of the book that is found for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD to do after all that is written in this book 22 And
according to the Rules of Gods Law 4 Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee l Because thou hast both skill to manage it and Authority both from God and from the Persian King to do it we also will be with thee be of good courage and do it 5 Then arose Ezra and made the chief priests the Levites and all Israel to swear that they should do according to this word And they sware 6 Then Ezra rose up before the house of God and went into the chamber m That he with the Princes and Elders as it follows v. 8. might consult about the Execution of their resolution of Johanan the son of Eliashib and when he came thither he did eat no bread nor drink water for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away 7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem 8 And that whosoever would not come within three days according to the counsel of the princes and the elders all his substance should be †Heb. devoted forfeited and himself separated from the congregation n Either by Banishment Or rather by Excommunication from the Church and People and House and publick Worship of God of those that had been carried away 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin o Not only of these two Tribes as appears from the following Catalogue where there are Priests and Levites but all the Isralites v. 25. who are thus described partly because the greatest part of them were of these Tribes though others were mixed with them and partly because they all now dwelt in that Land which formerly was appropriated to those Tribes gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days it was the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month and all the people sat in the street of the house of God p In that street of the City which was next to the Temple and within the view of it that so they might be as in Gods presence whereby they might be awed to a more faithful and vigorous prosecution of their work And this place they might chuse rather than the Court of the People because they thought it might be polluted by the delinquents who were all to come thither trembling because of this matter and for †Heb. the showers the great rain q Which they took for a token of Gods displeasure amongst them 10 And Ezra the priest stood up and said unto them Ye have transgressed and †Heb. have caused to dwell or have brought back have taken strange wives to encrease the trespass of Israel 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers and do his pleasure r You have sinfully pleased your selves now please God by your Obedience to his command and separate your selves from the people of the land and from the strange wives 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice As thou hast said so must we do 13 But the people are many and it is a time of much rain and we are not able to stand without neither is this a work of one day or two for ‖ Or we have greatly offended in this thing we are many that have transgressed in this thing 14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand s Let the great Council called the Sanhedrim be settled and meet to judge and determine of all particular causes and let all them which have taken strange wives t To wit of these heathen Nations such as were not proselyted to the Jewish Religion before their Marriage or since revolted from it in our cities come at appointed times and with them the elders of every city and the Judges thereof u Who are best able to inform the great council of the quality of the persons and of all matters of Fact and Circumstances until the fierce wrath of our God ‖ Or till this matter be dispatched for this matter be turned from us x i. e. Until the thing be done and Gods Wrath thereby removed 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah †Heb. stood or were appointed over were employed about this matter y To wit to take due care that the business should be executed in the manner proposed that the Officers and Delinquents of every City should come successively in convenient time and order as these should appoint and to take and keep an exact account of the whole transaction and of the names of the Cities and Persons whose causes were dispatched and to give notice to others â—…o come in their turns and to prepare the business for the hearing of the Judges And these two were Priests as their Coadjutors or helpers were Levites that so they might inform the persons concerned if any matter of doubt did arise and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them 16 And the children of the captivity did so and Ezra the priest with certain chief of the fathers after the house of their fathers and all of them by their names were separated z i. e. Sequestred themselves from all other business and gave themselves wholly to this and sate down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter 17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month 18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives namely of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren Maasejah and Eliezer and Jarib and Gedahah 19 And they gave their hand a i. e. They covenanted or swore by giving their hand which was the usual gesture in those cases Of which see Levit. 6. 2. Ezek. 17. 18. that they would put away their wives and being guilty they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass 20 And of the sons of Immer Hanani and Zebadiah 21 And of the sons of Harim Maasejah and Elijah and Shemajah and Jehiel and Uzziah 22 And of the sons of Pashur Elioenai Maasejah Ishmael Nethaneel Jozabad and Elasah 23 Also of the Levites Jozabad and Shimei and Kelajah the same is Kelita Pethahiah Judah and Eliezer 24 Of the singers also Eliashib and of the porters Shallum and Telem and Uri 25 Moreover of Israel b i. e. Of the people of Israel distinguished from the Priests and the Levites hitherto named who before were called Iudah and Benjamin v. 9. where see the notes of the sons of Parosh Ramiah and Jeziah and Malchia and Miamin and Eleazar and Malchijah and Benajah 26 And of the sons of Elam Mattaniah Zechariah and Jehiel and Abdi and Jeremoth and Eliah 27 And of the sons of Zattu Elioenai Eliashib Mattaniah and Jeremoth and Zabad and Aziza 28 Of the sons also of
5 Harim Meremoth Obadiah 6 Daniel Ginnethon Baruch 7 Meshullam Abijah Mijamin 8 Maaziah Bilgai Shemajahâ—… these were the priests 9 And the Levites both Jeshua the son of Azaniah Binnui of the sons of Henadad Kadmiel 10 And their brethren Shebaniah Hodijah Kellta Pelajah Hanan 11 Micah Rehob Hashabiah 12 Zaccur Sherebiah Shebaniah 13 Hodijah Bani Beninu 14 The chief of the people c i. e. Their elders or representatives acting in the stead and by the appointment of all the rest for it had been troubelsome and unnecessary for every one of the people to seal Parosh Pahath-moab Elam Zattu Bani 15 Bunni Azgad Bebai 16 Adonijah Bigvai Adin 17 Ater Hizkijah Azzur 18 Hodiah Hashum Bezai 19 Hariph Anathoth Nebai 20 Magpiash Meshullam Hezir 21 Meshezabeel Zadok Jaddua 22 Pelatiah Hanan Anajah 23 Hoshea Hananiah Hashub 24 Hallohesh Pileha Shobek 25 Rehum Hashabnah Maasejah 26 And Ahijah Hanan Anan 27 Malluch Harim Baanah 28 * Ezr. 2. 〈◊〉 And the rest d Those who did not write and seal with their own hands but onely by their deputies above mentioned of the people the priests the Levites the porters the singers the Nethinims and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God their wives their sons and their daughters every one having knowledge and having understanding 29 They clave to their brethren e They owned and ratified what the others had done in their names declaring their assent to it by their words or by the lifting up of their hands as the manner was their nobles and entred into a curse and into an oath f i. e. An outh bound with a curse or imprecation upon themselves in case they violated it to walk in Gods law which was given †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his judgments and his statutes 30 And that we would not give g To wit in marriage having sworn obedience to Gods Laws in the general they now do so to some particulars wherein they had lately transgressed or were most prone to transgress * Exod. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our daughters unto the people of the land nor take their daughters for our sons 31 * Exod. 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 5. 12. Chap. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath or on the holy day and that we would leave * Lev. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seventh year h i. e. Leave the land at rest from plowing or tilling it in that year according to Gods command Exod. 23. 10 11. Levit. 25. 4. and the * Deut. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exaction of †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every debt i Heb. hand debts are called hands because they are commonly contracted or confirmed by a bill under the hand of the debtour 32 Also we made ordinances for us to charge our selves k i. e. Every particular head or person among us Which they had warrant to do both from the nature of the thing because this was necessary to be done for the upholding of Gods Worship and from the warrant of former examples in the like case 2. 〈◊〉 24. 5. yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God 33 For the shew-bread and for the continual meat-offering and for the continual burnt-offering l Formerly these things were provided out of the treasures of the Temple 1 Chron. 26. 20. And when those failed out of the Kings treasure 2 Chron. 31. 3. But how both these failing provision is here made for them another way * See 〈◊〉 28. 〈◊〉 of the sabbaths of the new moons for the set feasts and for the holy things m i. e. For the Sacrifices all which were holy and for the sin-offerings n Which are particularly mentioned as most necessary and suitable to their present state which was exceeding sinful and therefore miserable and calling aloud for atoning Sacrifices to make an atonement for Israel and for all the work of the house of our God 34 And we cast the lots amongst the priests the Levites and the people o To determine the time and order in which each of them should take the care of the business for the wood-offering p For the wood which was to be spent in great quantity being used in every Sacrifice and formerly had been supplied out of the Temples treasures or by the King which could not now be done to bring it into the house of our God q i. e. Into the place appointed to receive it in the buildings adjoyning or belonging to the Temple after the houses of our fathers r i. e. According to our several families which were to take the charge of it by course at times appointed year by year to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God * 〈◊〉 16. 12. as it is written in the law 35 And * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2â—… to bring the first fruits of our ground s i. e. Of the fruits of our ground All the particulars of the first-fruits are exactly and distinctly mentioned that none might pretend ignorance when they withheld any part of the Priests dues which at that time especially the people were very prone to do through poverty or covetousness or profaneness and that the Priests fights might be firmly assured to them and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees year by year unto the house of the LORD 36 Also the first born of our sons and of our cattle as it is written * 〈◊〉 13. 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15 〈◊〉 in the law and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks to bring to the house of our God unto the priests that minister in the house of our God 37 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1â—… 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. c. 〈◊〉 1â—… 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough and our offerings and the fruit of all manner of trees of wine and of oil unto the priests to the chambers of the house of our God and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tithes of our ground unto the Levites that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage t i. e. The tithes of all the fruits of the ground belonging to our several Cities 38 And the priest the son of Aaron u i. e. Some Priest or Priests appointed to this work that so neither the people might wrong the Levites nor the Levites defraud the Priests of their dues shall be with the Levites * 〈◊〉 1â—… â—…6 when the Levites take tithes and the Levites shall bring up x At their own charges the
tithes of the tithes unto the house of our God to the chambers into the treasure-house y To wit of the Temple where it was laid up for the use of the Priests 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi * 〈◊〉 1â—… 6 â—…1 shall bring the offering of the corn of the new wine and the oil unto the chambers where are the vessels of the Sanctuary z Where other things belonging to the Temple are laid up and therefore these things also shall be put there and the priests that minister and the porters and the singers ‖ i. e. Where also are the Priests and others that Minister in their courses for whose use these provisions are made and we will not forsake the house of our God †i. e. We do here solemnly declare and engage our selves that we will take care from time to time that the house and service of God be not neglected or forsaken for want of necessary provisions to support it CHAP. XI 1 ANd the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem a Which their very Office in some sort obliged them to do the rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem b That the buildings of the City might be compleated and the Honour and Safety of it better provided for the holy city and nine parts to dwell in other cities 2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem c Because they denied themselves and their own safety and profit for the publick good for this City was the Buâ—…t of all the malicious plots of their Enemies and for the present it was rather chargeable than beneficial to its Inhabitants whereas the Country did more easily and certainly afford them supplies 3 Now these are the chief of the province d i. e. Of Iudea which was now made a province that dwelt in Jerusalem but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities to wit Israel e i. e. The generality of the People of Israel whether of Iudah or Benjamin or any other Tribe as appears by this general enumeration of all the Inhabitants of the Land in which either the People of Iudah and Benjamin are included under the title of Israel or they are not here mentioned which is absurd to think because they made up the greatest number of them And these he calls Israel rather than Iudah partly because there were many of the other Tribes now joined and incorporated with them and partly because none of the Tribes of Israel except Iudah and Benjamin dwelt in Ierusalem as appears from the sequel the priests and the Levites and the * 〈◊〉 2. 43. Nethinims and the * 〈◊〉 2. 55. children of Solomons servants 4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin f For to these two Tribes this City anciently and most properly belonged although some also of other Tribes dwelt in it Of which and other things relating to this catalogue see 1 Chron. â—… 3 c. of the children of Judah Athajah g And his Family and relations with him and under him as their head as appears from v. 6. the son of Uzziah the son of Zechariah the son of Amariah the son of Shephatiah the son of Mahalaleel †one of the children of Perez 5 And Maasejah the son of Baruch the son of Col-hozeh the son of Hazaiah the son of Adajah the son of Jojarib the son of Zechariah the son of Shiloni 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men h Such were most proper for this place and time because of its many Enemies round about it 7 And these are the sons of Benjamin Sallu the son of Meshullam the son of Joed the son of Pedajah the son of Kolajah the son of Maasejah the son of Ithiel the son of Jesajah 8 And after him Gabbai Sallai nine hundred twenty and eight i So here were more of Benjamin than of Iudah because the City did chiefly and most properly belong to that Tribe as hath been noted before 9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer k The Captain of their Thousand and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city 10 Of the priests Jedajah the son of Jojarib Jachin 11 Serajah the son of Hilkiah the son of Meshullam the son of Zadok the son of Merajoth the son of Ahitub was the ruler of the house of God l One of the chief-Priests who ruled with and under the High-Priest See Numb 3. 32. 1 Chr. 9. 11. 2 Chr. 19. 11. 31. 13. 12 And their brethren that did the work of the house †of God were eight hundred twenty and two and Adajah the son of Jeroham the son of Pelatiah the son of Amzi the son of Zechariah the son of Pashur the son of Malchiah 13 And his brethren chief of the Fathers two hundred forty and two and Amashai the son of Azareel the son of Ahasai the son of Meshillemoth the son of Immer 14 And their brethren mighty men of valour an hundred twenty and eight and their overseer was Zabdiel ‖ Or the 〈◊〉 of Haggedojiâ—… the son of one of the great men m i. e. Of a person then or lately eminent in Valour or Worth or Dignity Or of Gedolim or Haggedoliâ—… a man so called 15 Also of the Levites Shemajah the son of Hashub the son of Azrikam the son of Hashabiah the son of Bunni 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad of the chief of the Levites †Heb. 〈◊〉 over had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God n i. e. For those things belonging to the Temple and its service which were to be done without it or abroad in the Country as for the gathering in of the voluntary Contributions or other necessary provisions out of the several parts of the Land See 1 Chr. 26. 29. 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha the son of Zabdi the son of Asaph was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer o i. e. In the publick and solemn Prayers and Praises which were constantly joined with the morning and evening Sacrifice at which the Singers were present and praised God with a Psalm or Hymn which this man began and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren and Abda the son of Shammua the son of Jeduthun 18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four 19 Moreover the porters Akkub Talmon and their brethren that kept 〈◊〉 at the 〈◊〉 the gates were an hundred seventy and two 20 And the residue of Israel of the priests and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah every one in his inheritance 21 * See ch â—… 26. But the
more necessary because their times were now to be measured not by the years of their Kings as formerly but by their High-Priests Jojakim also begat Eliashib h Of whom see Nehem. 3. 1. 13. 4 5. and Eliashib begat Jojada 11 And Jojada begat Jonathan and Jonathan begat Jaddua i Generally supposed to be the same man who was High-Priest in the days of Alexander the Great as Iosephus mentions whence a great difficulty ariseth how Nehemiah could mention this man who seems not to have been High-Priest till many years after Nehemiah's death But it seems not necessary that this Iaddua should be the same Person for he might be the Father of that Iaddua both being called by the same name Or if he were the same the blessing of a very long Life might be given to this great and excellent Governour as it was to Ezra that famous Scribe as was noted on v. 1. and that for the very same reason He might also live to see Iaddua though not to see him High-Priest which might be many years after Or this passage might be put into this Book by some sacred or inspired Pen-man there being some though but few such passages in the foregoing Books of Scripture which were added by succeeding men of God in after times 12 And in the days of Jojakim were priests k As their Fathers were Priests in the days of Ioshua so in the days of Iojakim the son of Ioshua the sons of those persons executed the Priesthood in their Fathers steads some of their Fathers probably being yet living and many of them now dead the chief of the fathers of Serajah Merajah of Jeremiah Hananiah 13 Of Ezra Meshullam of Amariah Jehohanan 14 Of Melicu Jonathan of Shebaniah Joseph 15 Of Harim Adna of Merajath Helkai 16 Of Iddo Zechariah of Ginnethon Meshullam 17 Of Abijah Zichri of Miniamin of Moadiah Piltai 18 Of Bilgah Shammua of Shemajah Jehohanan 19 And of Jojarib Mattenai of Jedajah Uzzi 20 Of Sallai Kallai of Amok Eber 21 Of Hilkia Hashabiah of Jedaja Nethaneel 22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib Jojada and Johanan and Jaddua were recorded chief of the fathers also the priests to the reign of Darius l Either Darius Codomannus and then what was said concerning Iaddua v. 11. must be in part repeated and applied here or Darius Nothus and so this Iaddua might be Father to him who was in the days of Darius Codomannus and of Alexander the Great the Persian 23 The sons of Levi the chief of the fathers were written in the Book of the * 〈◊〉 â—… 14. â—… chronicles m i. e. In the publick Annals or Registers in which the Genealogies of the several Families were set down by the Jews with great exactness as all persons agree even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib 24 And the chief of the Levites Hashabiah Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel with their brethren over against them to praise and to give thanks * 〈◊〉 â—… â—… â—… according to the commandment of David the man of God ward over against ward n Of which see on v. 9. 25 Mattaniah and Bakbukiah Obadiah Meshullam Talmon Akkub were porters keeping the ward at the ‖ 〈…〉 thresholds of the gates o To wit of the Temple their watching-place being close by the Thresholds of the Gates as it now is 26 These were in the days of Jojakim the son of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and in the days of Nehemiah the governour and of Ezra the priest the scribe 27 And at the dedication of the wall p And of the gates which are mentioned v. 30. and of the City itself within the Gates which is here dedicated to God and to his Honour and Service not only upon a general account by which we ought to devote our selves and all that is ours to God but upon a more special ground because this was a place which God himself had chosen and sanctified by his Temple and gracious presence and therefore did of right belong to him whence it is oft called the holy City as hath been observed before And they restored to God by this dedication withal imploring the Presence and Favour and Blessing of God to this City by solemn Prayers and Praises and Sacrifices wherewith this Dedication was accompanied See Deut. 20. 5. 1 Kin. 8. 63. Ezr. 6. 17. Psal. 30. title of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places q To which they were now retired after that great and general Assembly ch 8 9 10. to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness both with thanksgivings and with singing with cymbals psalteries and with harps 28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem and from the villages of Netophathi 29 Also from the house of Gilgal and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth for the singers had built them villages round about Jerusalem r That they might be near at hand for the service of God and of his House 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people and the gates and the wall s Partly by sprinkling the water of Purification upon them by which the Tabernacle and sacred Utensils were purified Num. 8. and partly by solemn Prayers and Sacrifices 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah t And half of the people with them as it is expressed afterwards v. 38. upon the wall u For the Wall was broad and strong and so ordered that Men might conveniently walk upon it as at this day it is in many Cities and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks whereof one went on the right hand x Towards the South and East upon the wall toward * Ch. 2. 13. 3. 13. the dung-gate 32 And after them went Hoshajah and half of the princes of Judah 33 And Azariah Ezra y Not the Scribe as is evident from v. 36. but another Ezra and Meshullam 34 Judah and Benjamin and Shemajah and Jeremiah 35 And certain of the priests sons * Num. 10. 2. with trumpets namely Zechariah the son of Jonathan the son of Shemajah the son of Mattaniah the son of Michajah the son of Zaccur the son of Asaph 36 And his brethren Shemajah and Azareel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethaneel and Judah Hanani with * 1 Chr. 23. 5. the musical instruments of David the man of God and Ezra the scribe before them 37 And at * Ch. 2. 14. â—… 15. the fountain-gate which was over-against them they went up by * Ch. 3. 15. the stairs of the city of David z By which they went up to the hill of Sion and City of David at the going up of the wall above the house of David even unto * Ch. 3. 26. 8. 1 3 16. the
that this was done with manifest contempt both to God and Men. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah c i. e. Their chief Men and Rulers whom he chargeth with this sin because though others did it it was by their countenance or connivance and they should and might have punished and restrained it and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the sabbath-day 18 Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us d Which you so well and sadly remember that I need not tell you the particulars and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by prophaning the sabbath 19 And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem * Lev. 23. 32. began to be dark e Which was about Sun-setting by reason of the Mountains which were round about and near Ierusalem Psa. 125. 2. before the sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates f Out of a diffidence in those to whom the keeping of the Gates was committed * â—…er 17. 21. that there should no burthen be brought in on the sabbath day 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice 21 Then I testified against them and said unto them Why lodg ye †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the wall if ye do so again I will lay hands on you g I will punish you and seize your goods For this was a temptation 〈◊〉 or needy Jews that lived in or near the City to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of buying their commodities which then they might 〈◊〉 more advantage From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should 〈◊〉 themselves h Partly because the work they were now set upon though common in its nature yet was holy in design of it and had respect unto the Sabbath and partly because the day in which they were to do this was the Sabbath day for the observation whereof they were obliged to prepare and purifie themselves and that they should come and keep the gates i Either 1. The Gates of the Temple But a particular command was superfluous in that case because it was their constant work and charge to do this both Sabbath-days and every day Or rather 2. The Gates of the City for of them he spake last v. 19. and not daring to trust the common Porters of those Gates not being able always to employ his men in that work he committeth the charge of them for the present season and upon the Sabbath-days to the Levites to whom the care of sanctifying the Sabbath did properly belong to sanctifie the sabbath-day Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 greatness of thy mercy k Whereby he intimates that though he mentioned his good works as things wherewith God was well-pleased and which he had promised to reward yet he neither did nor durst trust to their merit or his own worthiness but when he had done all he judged himself an unprofitable servant and one that needed Gods infinite Mercy and Indulgence to pardon all his sins and particularly those infirmities and corruptions which adhered to his good deeds 23 In those days also saw I Jews that †Or had made to dwell with them * Ezra 9. 2. had married wives of Ashdod l A City of the Philistines 1 Sam. 5. 1 2 c. of Ammon and of Moab 24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and †Heb. they discerned not to speak could not speak in the Jews language but according to the language †Heb. of people and people of each people m Which their Mothers instilled into them together with their Principles and Manners 25 And I contended with them and ‖ Or reviled them cursed them n i. e. Caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and priviledges of Gods people This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them because this transgression was contrary both to a very plain and express Law of God and also to their own late solemn Covenants and Promises of which see Ezra 10. Nehem. 10. 30. and smote o i. e. I caused them to be beaten with stripes according to the Law Deut. 25. 2. certain of them p Such whose faults were most aggravated by their quality or other circumstances to whom he added this punishment over and besides the former and pluckt off their hair q Or shaved them The hair was an Ornament and Ensign of Liberty amongst the Eastern Nations and baldness was a disgrace and token of slavery and sorrow See Isa. 3. 24. 15. 2. Ier. 48. 37. Ezek. 29. 18. and made them swear by God saying Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons or for your selves 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things yet * 1 Kin. 3. 13. 2 Chr. 1. 12. among many nations was there no king like him who was * 2 Sam. 12. 24. beloved of his God and God made him king over all Israel * 1 Kin. 11 1. c. nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin 27 Shall we then hearken unto you r Shall we justifie your action by permitting or not punishing it God forbid to do all this great evil to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives 28 And one of the sons of Jojada s Said by Iosephus to be that Manasses who by Sanballats interest procured Liberty to build the Samaritan Temple in mount Gerizim to which those Priests who had married strange Wives or been otherwise criminal betook themselves and with or after them others of the people in the same or like circumstances the son of Eliashib the high priest was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite therefore I chased him from me t i. e. From my Presence and Court and from the City and Temple and all the priviledges of the Priesthood and from the whole Congregation and Church of Israel whereof I am a member 29 Remember them O my God †Heb for the defilings because they have defiled the priesthood and * Mal. 2. 4. the covenant of the priesthood u That Covenant made between me and his Progenitors for themselves and their Posterity whereby I promised to give them an everlasting Priesthood Numb 25. 12 13. and they covenanted with me that they would faithfully and holily execute that sacred Function according to the rules which I gave them whereby among other things they were enjoyned to keep themselves pure from all unlawful marriages and from all other things which might
And so all their designs shall be abortive and never come to perfection 7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom 8 Neither do they which go by say The blessing of the LORD be upon you k Which was an usual salutation given by passengers to reapers as Ruth 2. 4. So the meaning is It never continues till the harvest comes we bless you in the name of the LORD PSAL. CXXX A song of degrees This Psalm was composed by the Prophet when he was conflicting with horrors of his conscience for the guilt of his sins and imploring Gods mercy and pardon 1 OUt * Lam. 3. 5â—… Jon. 2. 2. of the depths a Being overwhelmed with deep distresses and terrors and ready to despair have I cried unto thee O LORD 2 Lord hear my voice let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications 3 * Psal. 143. 2. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities b Observe them accurately and punish them severely as they deserve O LORD who shall stand c In thy presence or at thy Tribunal No man can acquit himself or escape the sentence of condemnation because all men are sinners Eccles. 7. 20. Iam. 3. 2. To stand is a judicial phrase and notes a mans being absolved oâ—… justified upon an equal tryal as Psal. 1. 5. Rom. 14. 4. where it is opposed to falling 4 But there is forgiveness with thee d Thou art able and ready to forgive repenting sinners that thou mayest be feared e Not with a slavish but with a child-like fear and reverence This grace and mercy of thine is the foundation of all Religion and Worship of thee in the world without which men would desperately proceed on in their impious courses without any thought of repentance 5 I * 〈◊〉 27. 14. 〈◊〉 1. wait for the LORD f That he would manifest his favour to me in the pardon of my sins my soul doth wait and in his word g Wherein he hath declared his merciful nature Exod. 34. 6 7. and his gracious purpose and promises for the pardoning of sinners do I hope 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that wait for the morning h Whether Souldiers that keep the night-watches in an Army or City or the Priests or Levites who did so in the Temple who being wearied with hard service and want of convenient rest diligently look for and fervently desire the morning when they may be discharged Compare Psal. 119. 148. ‖ 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 â—…nto the 〈◊〉 I say more than they that watch for the morning 7 Let Israel i Every true Israelite by the encouragement of mine example hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption k Abundantly sufficient for all persons who shall accept it upon Gods terms and for the remission of all sins and therefore here is good ground of hope for all contrite and returning sinners 8 And he shall redeem l The Lord either God the Father by his Son or God the Son by his own blood Israel m All true Israelites whether of the carnal or spiritual seed from all his iniquities n From the guilt and punishment of all their sins PSAL. CXXXI A song of degrees of David This Psalm seems to have been composed by David during Sauls persecution When he was charged with boundless ambition and a greedy affectation of the Royal Throne and that he sought it by wicked practices against Sauls life and dignity And for his own just vindication he is forced to publish his own integrity and to declare that as the right 〈◊〉 the Kingdom was not sought or coveted by him but freely conferred upon him by the unexpected and undesired favour of God so that he had no thought or design to invade the Throne before his time but was willing to stay Gods leisure for it and in the mean time was resolved to behave himself towards Saul as became a faithful Subject seeking nothing but to preserve his own life from the rage of unrighteous and bloody men 1 LORD my heart is not haughty a Or lifted up with that pride whereof I am accused as thou the searcher of all hearts knowest nor mine eyes lofty b Which is a sign and effect of pride Prov. 6. 17. 21. 4. neither do I †〈◊〉 walk exercise my self in great * 〈◊〉 139. 6. matters or in things too †〈◊〉 wonderâ—… high for me c Heb. neither have I walked in great matters c. It neither is nor hath been my course to attempt or arrogate any thing to my self above my degree and private capacity or to affect worldly glory or domination 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted †Heb. my soul. my self d When my mind was provoked to irregular practices either by my own corrupt heart or by Sauls implacable rage and tyranny or by the solicitation of any of my followers as 1 Sam. 24. 26. I restrained and subdued all such evil motions * 〈◊〉 18. 3. â—… Cor. 14. 20. as a child that is weaned of his mother e Either 1. as void of all that ambition and malice wherewith I am charged as a child newly weaned or rather 2. as wholly depending upon Gods providence for the way and time of bringing me to the Kingdom as the poor helpless infant when it is deprived of its natural and accustomed food the mothers milk takes no care to provide for it self but wholly relies upon its mothers care and providence for its support my soul is even as a weaned child 3 Let Israel hope in the LORD f Let all Israelites learn by my example to commit themselves to God in well-doing and to fix all their hope and trust upon him alone †Heb. from now from henceforth and for ever PSAL. CXXXII A song of degrees The Penman of this Psalm was either 1. David when God had graciously declared his acceptance of Davids desire to build an house for God and his purpose of establishing the Kingdom to David and his seed for ever or 2. Solomon as may be gathered from the whole matter of the Psalm which seems better to agree to him than to David and particularly from v. 8 9 10. compared with 2 Chron. 6. 41 42. where we have the same words with no great alteration 1 LORD remember David a Either 1. thy Covenant made with David or rather 2. Davids eminent piety and zeal for thy service amplified by the following clause and all his afflictions b All his sufferings for thy sake all the solicitude of his mind all his hard and wearisom labours for thy service and glory and for provisions towards the building of thy Temple and for the establishment of thy people in peace and tranquillity that so way might be made for that
Nethinims dwelt in ‖ Or the 〈◊〉 Ophel and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani the son of Hashabiah the son of Mattaniah the son of Micha of the sons of Asaph the singers were over the business of the house of God p i. e. Were to take care at Jerusalem for the supply of such things as were necessary for the Temple and the service of God from time to time whilest others minded the outward business v. 16. And this Office was very proper for them both as they were Levites to whose care those things belonged and as they were Singers who were not to come to Ierusalem by turns as other Levites and as the Priests did but were constantly to reside there and therefore were more capable of minding this business Besides their Employment was not so frequent nor so great as some others were and therefore they had more leisure for it 23 For q Or therefore For the following words contain either a reason why they were set over that business or a recompense for it or a provision that they might diligently attend to it it was the kings r Either 1. Davids who made this constitution Or rather 2. The Kings of Persia who is called simply the king in the next verse also who took this care at the request and by the direction of Ezra or Nehemiah Or this might be Nehemiah's Command which is called the Kings Command because it was done by the Kings Deputy or a Commissioner whom the King impowered to do what he saw fit for the House and Service of God commanding all the People to obey him therein as he had formerly done Ezra 7. 18 20 23. commandment concerning them that ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a certain portion should be for the singers due for every day 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel of the children of Zerah the son of Judah was at the kings hand s Or on the kings part to determine Civil Causes and Controversies between Man and Man by the Laws of that Kingdom which peradventure he understood better than Nehemiah and therefore was appointed for this work but still under Nehemiah Or according to the kings appointment as the hand is used as Numb 4. 49. and elsewhere in all matters concerning the people t Either in civil differences between them or in things between the King and People as in matters of Tribute or Grievances c. wherein this man possibly was chief Justitiary under Nehemiah 25 And for the villages with their fields some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba u This and most of the other places here named had been destroyed by the Chaldeans but the Jews now repaired the best of the ruinated Houses and by degrees rebuilt others and in the †Heb. daughters villages thereof and at Dibon and in the villages thereof and at Jekabzeel and in the villages thereof 26 And at Jeshua and at Moladah and at Bethphelet 27 And at Hazar-shual and at Beer-sheba and in the villages thereof 28 And at Ziklag and at Mekonah and in the villages thereof 29 And at Enrimmon and at Zareah and at Jarmuth 30 Zanoah Adullam and in their villages at Lachish and the fields thereof at Azekah and in the villages thereof And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom 31 The children also of Benjamin ‖ Or of Geba from Geba dwelt ‖ Or to 〈◊〉 at Michmash and Aija and Bethel and in their villages 32 And at Anathoth Nob Anania 33 Hazor Ramah Gittaim 34 Hadid Zeboim Nebullat 35 Lod and Ono * 1 Châ—… â—… 〈◊〉 the valley of craftsmen x Or in the valley c. Or this is another place called Ge-baharasim 36 And of the Levites were divisions y Or for the Levites to wit those of them who were not settled in Ierusalem there were divisions i. e. places appointed for them and distributed among them in Judah and in Benjamin CHAP. XII 1 NOw these are the * Ezâ—… â—… â—… priests a i. e. The chief of the Priests as they are called here v. 7. to wit the heads of those Twenty four courses which David appointed by divine direction 1 Chr. 24. And whereas there are Twenty four and here but Twenty two and v. 12 c. only Twenty the reason of this difference may possibly be this because Two of the Twenty four courses were extinct in Babylon or at least none of them was then returned and two of the Persons here named v. 2 5. to wit Hattush and Maodiah may be omitted in the account of the posterity of these persons v. 12 c. because they had no posterity Possibly these were not the same courses which David had appointed but others which Zerubbabel and Ioshua had constituted in imitation of that order as far as they could and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua Serajah Jeremiah Ezra b Either this was another Ezra or if it were the same mentioned Ezra 7. he lived to a great Age which may well be supposed concerning his great Sobriety and abstinence from those evil practices which shorten Mens Lives and his great piety to which God promised long Life and withal the special providence of God continuing him so long in such a season wherein the Church of God did greatly need his help and counsel 2 Amariah ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 14. Malluch c In the repetition of this and some other mens names hereafter v. 14 c. there are some small variations which are very frequent in that language Hattush 3 ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 1â—… Shechaniah ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 1â—… Rehum ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 1â—… Meremoth 4 Iddo ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 〈◊〉 Ginnetho Abijah d The Progenitor of Iohn the Baptist Luk. 1. 5. 5 ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 1â—… Miamin ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 1â—… Maadiah Bilgah 6 Shemajah and Jojarib and Jedajah 7 ‖ Or 〈◊〉 ver 2â—… Sallu Amok Hilkiah Jedajah these were the chief of the priests and of their brethren e i. e. Of the Priests who were their Brethren in the days of Jeshua 8 Moreover the Levites Jeshua Binnui Kadmiel Sherebiah Judah and Mattaniah which was over ‖ Thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thanksgiving he and his brethren 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni their brethren were over against them in the watches f i. e. In the places where they were appointed to stand and wait and perform their office one standing over against another as it is explained v. 24. ward over against ward for the Hebrew word is the same there and here Others according to their turns or courses of which see 1 Chron. 25. 9. 10 And Jeshua begat Jojakim g Here follows a Catalogue of the Jewish High-Priests which was the