So Aaron Lev 10. 3. and David Psal. 39. 9. Thus Jacob ruling his own spirit did better then his sonnes that took the City Prov. 16. 32. until As fittest to comfort and counsel him V. 7. And the sonnes of Jacob Reuben being born the first yeare of Jacobs coming to Laban was now about twenty five yeares old Simeon twenty foure Levi twenty three wroth In hatred of the sin and for the disgrace and reproach of the Church folly So the rape Judg. 20. 6. and Achans sacriledge Josh. 7. 15. are called folly Rom. 1. 22. Folly in offending God losing the soule forfeiting heaven gaining hell in Israel This name given him first ch 32. 28. Therefore these words likely are the words not of Jacobs sonnes but of Moses who writeth this story according to the phrase of speech used in his time and suitable to the words of the Law delivered by him afterwards Deut. 23. 17. See Deut. 21. 21. Josh. 7. 15. Judg. 20. 6. V. 8. With them Likely apart from their father Your daughter They treating in their fathers name as well as in their own So v. 17. V. 11. I will give See Annot on ch 29. 18. Amnon did far worse with Tamar 2 Sam. 13. Exod. 22. 16 17. and Deut. 22. 28 29 is in satisfaction for wrong done not upon a free and equal motion and proceeding in marriage V. 13. And the sonnes of Jacob Without their fathers consent deceitfully Without their fathers knowledge He was a plain man and sincere ch 25. 27. V. 14. Uncircumcised Superfluous Though Isaac and Jacob were married to women of Bethael and Labans family where circumcision of the males in all likelihood was not in use V. 15. But in this will we Jacob would not have the holy Sacrament prophaned and obtruded upon unbelievers nor his holy seed to be mingled with the cursed Canaanites Deut. 7. 3 4 Neither did Jacobs sons here deal otherwise then deceitfully v. 25. be circumcised Thus they abuse and prostitute the holy Sacrament to their bloody purpose and under colour of Religion cover their deceipt so did Jozebel 1 Kings 21 9 10. and Absalom 2 Sam. 15. 7 8. V. 16. Our daughters Which we have or shall have V. 17. Our daughter As v. 8. using the name of their father V. 19. More honourable His great esteem was one ground of his present prevailing so much with all the men in so strange a request V. 20. The gate of their City Where were the publick Assemblies and Courts of justice See Annotat. on chap. 23. 10. V. 23. And every beast of theirs be ours Not as a spoile from them but by commerce marriages and the like V. 25. On the third day The Critical day by Physicians for wounds Simeon and Levi Dinahs brethren By father and mother Reuben was of a more milde nature ch 37. 29. They only the chief Authours and Actors others also both brethren and servants like to be Assistants v 13 27. boldly Because the wounded men could not resist them and the City was secure slew all the males A male had done the wrong Their wives and little ones they took captives v. 29. God might justly suffer this for the Shechemites own sins and take occasion for it from the sin of their Prince 1 Chron. 32. 25. 2 Sam 24. 1 15 17. V. 27. The sons of Jacob The rest likely and spoiled the City V. 28 29. of murderers become robbers they had defiled their sister One of them had and the other repressed it not nor judged him for it So Josh. 7. 1 11 12. 22. 20. V. 29. Captive What they did after with them we reade not in the house In every house chiefly Shechems house wherein Dinah was v. 2â— V. 30. Unto Simeon and Levi As the chief offenders ye have troubled me He then was neither privy to nor approver of this massacre And therefore ch 49. 5 6 7. he doth by the spirit of prophecie curse them for it Josh. 6. 18. 7. 25. 1 Kings 18. 18. For this fact likely he deprives them of their birth-right as Reuben for his sinne and conferres it on Judah chap. 49. Prov. 11 29. to make me Though he were in no fault to stink Cruelty and treachery are odious crimes Ex. 5. 22. 1 Chron. 19 6. V. 31. As with an harlot A stubborne answer In the Hebrew Zonah the first letter is extraordinarily great In ch 23. 2. There is a little letter to note Abrahams moderation without excesse in weeping CHAP. XXXV Verse 1. ANd God said Jacob being now perplexed with feare for that done to the Shechemites and likely thinking thereupon of removing God here bespeaks him as followeth said Whether by vision or dream or in what manner is not set down to Bethel Southward from Shechem about thirty English miles and dwelt there Yet he dwelt a small while there as appeares by the birth of Benjamin after he went from Bethel v. 16 18. And from Dinahs ravishing at Shechem to Benjamins going down with his father into Egypt there can be no more then twenty seven yeares reckoning Joseph to be thirteen yeares old when Dinah was ravished both being borne in one yeare ch 30 21 22. and Joseph being fourty yeares old in the third yeare of famine when Benjamin with his father came down into Egypt And Benjamin then had ten sons ch 46. 21. an Altar unto God Altars built by Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob himself chap. 33. 20. To sacrifice thereon unto God Speaks of himself in the third person So Ex. 20. 7 10 11. that appeared unto thee Thereby minding him of Gods gracious Promises and of his own vow there made ch 28. 22. when thou fleddest And wast in as much danger then as thou art in now V. 2. Unto his houshold Jacobs religious care of his houshold and to all that were with him This may relate to the captived Sichemites and to all of his retinue and followers Put away So Josh. 24. 23. Judg. 10. 16. 1 Sam. 7. 3 4. no mixture permitted no toleration allowed in a false worship Deut. 29. 9 10 11. 1 Sam 5. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Strange gods Of strange Nations and other people differing from the true God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob whether Labans gods stollen by Ruchel and it may be yet unknown to Jacob or any other brought by any other of his retinue when they came from Laban and Mesopotamia or any gods of the Shechemies their captives among them worshipped by them or taken as spoile and secretly kept for the tichnesse of them and change your garments Putting on others or washing these Zech. 3. 3 4 5. Exod. 19. 10 14. Ceremonies afterwards enjoyned by the Law in divers cases Lev. 15. 13. Numb 31 23. importing change of minde and manners cleansing from sin to holinesse Jude v. 23. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ezech 16. 8 10 Apoc. 3. 4 18. 7. 14. V. 3. And go up to Bethel Eccl. 5. 1. The House of God that dreadful the
8. Psal. 113. 7 8. V. 42. Took off his ring An Ensigne of honour and authority Esther 3. 10. and 8 2. Luke 15. 22. Hereby to publish under the Kings seale such Orders and Commands as Joseph would of fine linnen Egypt was famous for fine linnen Prov. 7. 16. Ezech. 27. 7. it signifies also bysse or silk Ex. 25. 4. Apoc. 19. 8 14. The weare of great personages Prov. 31. 22. Ezech. 16. 10. Luke 16. 19. a gold chaine Prov. 1. 9. Ezech. 16. 11. Thus Dan. 5. 7 16 29. V. 43. Second chariot 2 Chron. 35. 24. As Mordecai riding on the Kings horse Esther 6. 8. Thus Joseph the second man in the Kingdome Daniel made the third Dan 5. 29. Bow the knee Abrech kneel down as to the father of the King ch 45. 8. V. 44. I am Pharaoh I am King and will be and assure as I am Pharaoh so sure without thee thy advice and authority not the least thing shall be done in matter of Government no man shall do anything or go any whither V. 45. Zaphnath-Paaneah A Revealer of secrets Dan. 1. 7. Gen. 17. 5. of Poti-pherah Priest of Ou To distinguish him from that Potiphar ch 37. 36. 39. 1. who dwelt in Memphis the royal City Priest Or Prince Exod. 2. 16. 18. 1. Both offices concurred in one person as was the manner of those times and places See Annotat. on chap. 14. 18. This name given to the sonnes of David 2 Sam. 8. 18. and expounded 1 Chron 18. 17. of Ou Called also Aven Ezech. 30 17. in Greek Heliopolis the City of the Sun perhaps now Damiata Josephs marriage here cannot be an example or rule to us except where all reasons and circumstances and warrants are alike by reason of the prohibitions and perils set down in Scripture The Israelites forbidden to marry with the Canaanites Exod. â—4 16. Deut. 7. 3 4. 1 Rings 11. 1. Nehem. 13. 26. Forbidden to Christians 2 Cor. 6. 14 c. But for Joseph there was no other in the land and he might not desert his charge and dignity whereto God had called him for the preservation of his Church to go seek a wife elsewhere neither know we what instinct or dispensation he might have from God As the like might be in Esthers marrying with Ahashuerus V. 46. Thirty yeares old At this age Jesus Christ entered into his publick Ministery so John Baptist so the Levites Numb 4. 3. And David began his reign but not Ezekiel his Prophecie This notation of Josephs age here gives much light to many passages in this history of Jacob and his sonnes there are thirteen yeares since he was sold ch 37. 2. V 51. And all my fathers house My injuries and molestations there not his filial affection whereby he might haply privily enquire in the thirteen yeares afore and afterwards also of his fathers welfare ere his brethren came down and yet wait for the most fit opportunity of fulfilling the dream V. 54. In all lands Round about as Canaan Arabia c. So Luke 2. 1. V. 55. Cried to Pharaoh As the woman 2 Kings 6 26. Joseph would do but as Pharaoh directed V. 56. Sold Prov. 11 26. V. 57. And all countreys Neighbouring to Joseph Ch. 45. 5. 50. 20. Psal 105. 16 17. CHAP. XLII Verse 1. SAw Heard v. 2. so the people saw the voices Exod. 20. 18. Jacob was as much assured of it as if he had seen it And one eye-witnesse is of more credit then many eare-witnesses And likely he saw it too by many Canaanites that bought and brought coâ—ne out of Egypt Acts 7. 12. corac The word for corne signifies also breaking why So negligent or as men amazed helplesse Acts 7. 11. gaze as men destitute of counsel Famine is a terrible thing 2 Kings 6. 25. Deut. 28. 57. Lam. 4. 10. Esay 9. 20. A famine in Canaan in the dayes of Abram ch 12. 10. of Isaac ch 26. 1. and now in Jacobs time and Acts 11. 28. Gods servants subject to common calamities yet God provides for them Psal. 37. 19. V. 2. Get you down Egypt lay lower then Canaan ch 45. 13 9. V. 4. But Benjamin â—h 37. 3. 35. 18. 42. 38. V. 6. Governour Ps. 105. 22. Of the Hebrew word Shallet and Shilâ—on is made in Arabick Sultan a title whereby the chief Governours of Egypt and Babylon are still called and he it was that sold Likely his Officers to the Natives But himself to Forreigners that by sifting them he might informe himself of any danger to the land to prevent it of any meanes of good to the land to advance it bowed down So fulfilling his Prophetick dream ch 37. 7 8 9. So ch 43. 26 28. 44. 14. 50. 18. V. 7. He knew them but For many good reasons he yet dissembles that he knew them and yet discovers not himself unto them to prevent sundry inconveniences and to further good intents and purposes towards them spake roughly They deserved no better of him Though Joseph did it in a good intent to a good purpose V. 9. Remembred the dreams So he did before But now more usefully he saw the time for the fulfilling of them spies to see the nakednesse Exod. 32. 25. Not by way of lying he speaks thus but by way of questioning and examining to bolt out other matters to other good purposes so v. 12. as a severe Inquisiter V. 11. All one mans sons And therefore not likely to be spies The spies were sent one of a tribe Numb 13. 2. And they dispersed themselves in all likelihood and reason V. 13. One is not Is dead ch 44. 20. 37. 30. Not in this world ch 5. 24. Heb 11. 5. V. 14. This is it that I spake This discovers it pretending another brother or why should he alone be left behinde This not likely and being false in this ye are but spies sure V. 15. By the life of Pharaoh Pharaoh liveth a kinde of oath or swearing as the like phrase importeth Jer. 5. 2 But more properly a kinde of vehement Asseveration as Ezech 33. 11. 1. Sam 1. 26. 17. 55. 20. 3. 25. 26. and 2 Sam 15. 21. 2 Kings 2. 2 4. Or it may be a wish Let or so let Pharaoh live as c. No sufficient ground to charge upon Joseph a sinful oath by the life of Pharaoh yea a grievous sin Deut. 6. 13. compared with Mat. 4. 10. Jer. 5. 7. Ye Ye all v. 16. ye shall not If ye go The words are suspensive implying a curse so ch 14. 23. V. 17. Into ward God calls them by tribulation to repentance for their sin Heb 12. 10. V. 18. I feare God Chap. 20. 11. Nehem. 5. 15. Prov. 16. 6. V. 20. Your youngest brother unto me Cares most for him and hopes his father will conceive no hurt towards him by his bountiful dealing with them V. 21. And they said one to another In the absence or out of the hearing of the Interpreter guilty Affliction as a rack
a miracle and to declare to all That they were gifted and assumed to that their present Office and imployment Naked i. chapter XIX verse 24 e. Stript of his upper garment or military habit So Peter John XXI 7. and Micah chap. I. 8. Esay chap. XX. 2 4. And those Acts XIX 16. Slew chapter XXII verse 18 Sauls most horrid and bloody Act. Ephod The Ephod here is that of the High Priests chapter XXIII verse 9 wherin were the Urim and Thummim Exod. XXVIII 30. which Urim and Thummim were not the twelve precious stones of the Breast-plate mentioned v. 17-21 Or the words of Vrim and Thummim engraven in the middest of those twelve precious stones on the Breast-plate Or things committed into the hands of the workmen to make them But rather given by God to Moses to put them not on but into the Breast-plate which haply to this end and purpose was doubled ver 16. so to have them hid there And accordingly Levit. VIII 8. Moses is said to put in the Breast-plate the Urim and the Thummim Yet what things or what kinde of things they were appears not Only we know the names signifie Lights and Perfections haply intimating Knowledge of Doctrine and Integrity of Life and Conversation And that by these the High Priests extraordinarily did ask Counsels of the Lord and did receive Answers as Oracles from him So we see the Precept for it Num. XXVII 21. Joshuah shall stand before Eleazar the Priest who shall ask Counsel for him after the judgement of Urim before the Lord at his word shall they go out and at his word they shall come in both he i. e. Joshuah and all the children of Israel with him And the Practice of it we finde expected earnestly by Saul 1 Sam. XXVIII 6. though the same it may seeme lighty sleighted by him 1 Sam. XIV 18 19. And here acted by Abiathar the High Priest for David David hereunto adjoyning his Request unto the Lord for the Answer ver 10 11 12. And again 1 Sam. XXX 7. And not unlike but Davids enquiring of the Lord 2 Sam. II. 1. and chap. V. 19 23. and XXI 1. And possibly that Judg. XX. 18 23 27 28. was by the same meanes upon the same ground And if it were burnt or lost at the ruine of the Temple and all by Nebuchadnezzar yet the Tirshatha entertains an expectation of the restoring of it Ezra II. 63. Neh. VII 65. a Messinger Gods providence for the preservation of his verse 27 unto Achish This second time chapter XXVII verse 2 upon better security beforehand given then formerly was had in Shunem In Shunem and Aphek chapter XXVIII verse 4 1 Sam. XXIX 1. the Philistines pitched And the Israelites in Gilboa by a Fountain which is in Jezreel All in the Tribe of Issachar Josh XIX 18. This is Davids Spoile i. chapter XXX verse 20 e. all that the Amalakites had taken from others save from them of Ziglag This by his right and free consent and gift of his souldiers he made use of to gratifie his friends and engage them to him ver 26 31. they shall part alike They both alike shall have their shares verse 24 according to Gods appointment Num. XXXI 27 30. Josh. XXII 8. Though not both equal shares fell upon it Saul his own bloody butcher and self-murderer chapter XXXI verse 4 The Amalakite belies himself in most of his relation to David 2 Sam. I. 5 10. in hope of grace and reward from David but in issue to the losing of his life God in his secret justice justly takes it upon himself that he slew him 1 Chron. X. 14. his head This they fastened in the Temple of Dagon verse 9 1 Chron. X. 10. His body to the wall of Bethshan or Bethshean And his Armour in the house of Ashteroth a name of their female goddesses II. Samuel THis Book contains an History of fourty years from the death of King Saul to the death of King David or the time immediately preceding it 2 Sam. V. 4 5. The time and story of Davids reign Crown that was upon his head Likely not so worne by him in the day of battel chapter I verse 10 1 King XXII 30. But carried with him or before him by his armour-bearer verse 18 or some others as an Ensigne of his Kingly honour bowe That they might be skilful in the right use of their armes and weapons against their enemies in this time of need Of the Bowe in warre see ver 22. And the Annotations on Hos. I. 5. and on Zech. X. 4. How are the mighty fallen Repeated verse 19 ver 25. and 27. as the foot of this sad song and Elegie Tell it not in Gath This impossible not to be told there But this shews Davids desire verse 20 if it had been possible A Pathetical expression not much unlike is that ver 21. Unto Hebron Of this place chapter II verse 1 thus once for all Hebron was a City in the Tribe and Mountain of Judah Josh. XV. 54. Called also Mamre and Kiriath-arba the City of Arba the father of Anak where Anak lived his sonnes and the Anakims a race of Giants Here formerly dwelt the children of Heth and Hittites And Abraham Isaac and Jacob sojourned here And they and Sarah and Rebekah and Leah were buried here in the Cave of Machpelah before Mamre the same is Hebron Gen. XIII 18. and XXIII 19. and XLIX 31. Hence Joseph was sent to see the welfare of his brethren Hither the Spies came that were sent from Kadesh-barnea in the Wildernesse of Paran to search the Land Hoham the King of Hebron was one of the five Kings mured up by Joshuah in a Cave and after slaine and hanged up And soone after the City taken and another King thereof seems then to be slaine by him And he and Caleb slew the Anakims that dwelled here This City and Suburbs were given to the Priests and to be a Citie of Refuge The Fields and the Villages of it to Caleb the sonne of Jephunne the Kenezite that good Spie Josh. XX. 7. and XXI II. To the top of an hill before Hebron Sampson carried the Gate of Gaza To them in Hebron David sent a Present of the Spoile taken from the Amalakite 1 Sam. XXX 31. Hither God directed him to go in this Text. And here he was anointed King and reigned seven years and six moneths And here he had six sonnes born to him of six several women his wives Here Abner was slain by Joab and mournfully buried by David Hither King Ishbosheths head was brought by his murderers buried in Abners Sepulchre and they hanged up here Hither came all the Tribes of Israel to make David King over all Israel and anointed him here And Absalom being borne here pretended a vow to be performed here and rebelling against his father made himself King here This Citie of Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt Num. XIII 23. And in Rehoboams reigne was
Hoshea truly began in the fourth of Ahaz which was the twentieth from the time that Jotham began to reigne not that Jotham reigned twenty years till Hoshea began And Hoshea had reigned nine years in the twelfth of Ahaz And these first nine years the Sacred story passeth over in silence He having done nothing remarkable or memorable in them His later nine years are storied on t thus That the first of them begins in the twelfth of Ahaz 2 King XVII 1. That in the third of them which was the last of Ahaz Hezekiah began to reigne 2 King XVIII 1. That in the seventh of them and fourth of Hezekiah Shalmanezar came and besieged Samaria 2 King XVIII 9. That in the ninth and last of them and sixth of Hezekiah Shalmanesar took Samaria and carried all captives into Assyria and finaly extinguished that Kingdome of Israel 2 King XVIII 10 11. The Names then and the Numbers of the years of the Reignes of the Kings of Judah and of Israel in this II. Book of Kings are as followeth viz. of Judah years Iehoram as viceroy 4 In all 12. Imperfect Joynt King with his father Iehoshaphat 2 Sole King after his fathers death 6 Ahaziah 1 imperfect Athaliah 6 Ioash 40 Amatziah 17 Vzziah 52 Iotham 15 Ahaz 14 Hezekiah 29 Manasseh 55 Amon 2 Iosiah 31 Iehoachaz  Iehojakim 11 Iehoachin  Zedekiah 11 Thence to Iehoiachins advancement 26 Kings of Israel years Ahaziah 1 Iehoram 11 Iehu 28 Iehoahaz 15 Ioash or Iehoash 16 Ieroboam 41 Zechariah  Shallum  Menachem 10 Pekahiah 2 Pekah 20 Hoshea 18 See my Annotations on Hos. I. 1. If thou see me chapter II verse 10 This signe was of Gods appointment And the thing done on the East-side of Iordan a Minstrel To quiet chapter III verse 15 quicken and compose his spirit his eldest sonne The King of Edoms eldest son verse 27 taken by the King of Moab in this eruption See Amos II. 1. and the Annotations there Shunem A Citie in the Tribe of Issachar chapter IV verse 8 Iosh. XIX 18. And hath in the same Tribe standing from it Iezreel towards the South Mount Gilboa towards the South-East The river Kishon on the East and Mount Tabor towards the North-North-East in the Confines of the Tribe of Zebulon In Shunem the Philistines pitched against Saul in Gilboa 1 Sam. XXVIII 4. Here was borne Abishag that fair Virgin that lay in Davids bosome to cherish him as a wife-nurse in his decreped age And was afterwards sought for in marriage by Adonijah but to the losse of his life in the State-wisdome of Solomon 1 King I. and II. chapters And here dwelt this great and good woman that made these accommodations for the Prophet Elishah and upon his Prophetical promise obtained a sonne and had him miraculously raised from death of life againe by Elishah coming from Mount Carmel hither as is in this IV. Chapter And further upon this accompt after her seven years absence on the Prophets direction by reason of the Famine to ensue during that time she returning out of the Land of the Philistines had her house lands and profits of her estate restored to her by Iehoram King of Israel 2 King VIII Gilgal Of this see the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. verse 38 twenty loaves of barley This was more then the bread of his first fruits came to verse 42 King of Syria This was Benhadad the son of Benhadad chapter V both Kings of Syria verse 5 1 Kings XV. 18 19 20. and XX. 1. 34. 2 King VI. 24. and VIII 7. 2. Chron. XVI 2. The father was the sonne of Tabrimon the sonne of Hezion King of Syria 1 King XV. 18. This the sonne slew Ahab at Ramoth-Gilead 1 King XXII 35 37. Who contrary to Gods command had saved him 1 King XX. 42. And besieging Samaria he brought it to that extreme famine 2 King VI. 24 25. And after at Ramoth-Gilead he wounded Jehoram the son of Ahab 2 King VIII 28 29. Whence returning to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds he was slaine by Jehu 2 King IX 24. And this son died 2 King VIII 15. A third Benhadad King of Syria was the son of Hazael 2 King XIII 3 24. Benhadad signifies the son of Hadad And Hadad was a name very common among the Kings of Edom or Idumea Gen. XXXVI 35. 1 Chron. I. 50. 1 King XI 14 but afterwards grew more common with the Kings of Syria insomuch as Benhadad may seeme a name common to the Kings of Syria See Jer. XLIX 27. Amos I. 4. And take here a Catalogue of the Kings of Syria as we finde them in Scripture thus Omitting Chushan-Rishathaim who was King of Aram-Naharaim or Syria between the two rivers that is Tigris and Euphrates or of Mesopotamia Judg. III. 10. We finde these Kings of Syria properly so called whereof Damascus was the chief Citie viz. Hadadezer or Hadarezer in Davids time 2 Sam. VIII 5 6 13. and X. 6 8 16. Rezon in the dayes of Solomon 1 King XI 23 24 25. Benhadad the son of Tabrimon the son of Hezion in the dayes of Asa 1 King XV. 18 19 20. Benhadad the son of Benhadad in the dayes of Ahab and of Elias and Eliseus And Nahaman was the Captain of his hoast 1 King XX. 1 20 26 32 34. and XXII 3. and 2 King V. 1 2 6 7. and chap. VI. 8 12 23 24. and chap VII 4. 16. Hazael in the dayes of Joram Jehu Iehoahaz 1 King XIX 15. 2 King VIII 7 8 13. and X. 32. and XII 17. and XIII 3 22. Benhadad the son of Hazael in the dayes of Iehoash ◠King XIII 24 25. Rezin in the dayes of Pekah and of Ahaz 2 King XVI 5. Esay VII 1. 16. and VIII 4. Talents See my Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. Go in peace A fare-well phrase verse 19 a friendly dismission with little or no relation to what Nahaman had said as little minding it and of smal concernment to the greater engagements that then lay upon him which kinde of Answers are not unusual The Leprosie Yet King Jehoram holds conference with Gehazi afterwards verse 27 2 King VIII 4. as upon sundry grounds and occasions incident in a right manner well he might are come down chapter VI verse 9 Here the holy Pen-man useth a word of the Syrian language Dothan In the Tribe of Ephraim verse 13 about mid-way between Samaria and Shechem Here Joseph findes his brethren feeding their flocks Gen. XXXVII 13 17. This is not the way No verse 19 nor the place or Citie whereby and wherein to effect your purpose came no more Not these Bands verse 23 nor in this maner making inrodes or laying ambushes nor any at all of a long time after till Benhadad came with all his hoast ver 24. a Cab Is a Hebrew measure verse 25 Of this see my Observations on Gen. XVIII 6. of Doves dung Or of the corne found in the crop she flying into the Citie out of
between the two rivers Tygris and Euphrates and the countreys adjacent ch 11. 2. V. 11. Out of the land went forth Ashur He Shents sonne v. 22. went out of Shinar by Nimrods invasion and built Nineveh and gave the name to the Assyrian Monarchy Or else Nimrod inlarging his Conquests and Dominions went from Shinar to Ashur and built Nineveh V. 12. The same is a great city Not Calah but Nineveh Jonah 1. 2. 3. 2. 3. 4. 11. specially in the Prophet Jonahs time who lived in the dayes of Jeroboam the second the son of Joash 2 Kings 14. 25. 14. Out of whom came Philistiim The Philistines not of the off-spring of Canaan but expelling some of them made roome for themselves in part of the land of Canaan Amos 9. 7. Jer. 47. 4. V. 15. And Heth Whence come the Hittites ch 23. 3 5 7 10. Girgasite Mat. 8. 28 34. Gadarenes Luke 8. 26. V. 16. Jebusite 2 Sam. 5. 6. 1 Chron. 11. 4. V. 19. The border of the Canaanites Set down particularly because it was promised to Abraham and his seed the Israelites V. 20. These are the sounes of Ham Many more of them are set down here then either of Shem or of Japheth But most likely it is that all these children or Grand-children of Shem Cham and Japheth are not here set down but only such as were famous and by their several Plantations gave names to several Nations descending from their loines V. 21. Unto Shem also the father of all the children of Eber Great Grand-father to Eber yet Eber thus mentioned because of him afterwards they were called Hebrewes so Abraham ch 14. 13. so ch 40. 15. Phil. 3. 5. and so frequently of Japhet the elder Because Shem was begotten in the five hundred and second yeare of Noah's life he being one hundred yeare old two yeares after the flood ch 11. 10. Therefore Japhet was two yeare older V. 22. Elam Hence came the Elamites or Persians Acts 2. 9. Aram From him came the Aramites Syrians There is Padan-Aram ch 25. 20. Aram-Naharaim ch 24. 10. Aram-Dammesek 2 Sam. 8. 5 6. Araâ—-Zobah Psal. 60. tit Aram Maachah 1 Chron. 19. 6. Aram-Beth-Rehob 2 Sam. 10 6. all these being several Provinces of Syria V. 23. Uz Job 1. 1. There dwelt the Edomites or the Idumeans Lam. 4. 21. V. 25. For in his dayes was the earth divided About the time of his birth was the division of tongues at the building of Babel which occasioned their dispersion into several parts of the earth for habitation And the language before used of all continuing in Eber the father of Peleg might occasion his posterity to be distinguished from all others by the name of Hebrewes V. 29. Ophir From this mans land in India it is likely Solomons ships fetched fine gold 2 Chron. 9. 10. called also gold of Parvaim 2 Chron. 3. 6. This is supposed to be in Havilah near Ophir See the Tree in the beginning of Speeds Genealogies CHAP. XI Ver. 1. OF one language Since the flood no doubt Whether the Hebrew language which was Adams continued the same among all men for the space of one thousand six hundred fifty six yeares before the flood may be more questionable And it came to passe One hundred yeares after the flood v. 10 11 12 13 14. and ch 10. 25. V. 2. They journeyed Nimrod and his company Not Noah Shem Arphaxad Salah Eber and their godly posterities from the East Likely from about the mountaines of Ararat which parts are much North-eastward from Shinar or Chaldea or Mesopotamia Or from other Easterne parts Shinar Containes Babylon Mesâ—potamia and the Countries adjacent foure Cities afterwards built there by Nimrod ch 10. 10. V. 3. Slime A pitchy slime V. 4. Unto Heaven An Hyperbole for the chief haply to escape another flood lest we be scattered Lest this company be the sooner dispersed Or when by multiplication they should in after-times be scattered yet this might remaine as an honourable monument and memorial of their former co-habitation V. 6. And now nothing Ironically as ch 3. 22. V. 7. Let us go down See ch 1. 26. God speaks of himself after the manner of men for mans better understanding A while he suffered them to go on in building and confound their language The number of the several languages now made is uncertain V. 8. Scattered them The thing they sought to prevent by their proud project v. 4. God for it brings upon them presently V. 10. Generations of Shem Those ch 10. 22 c. were without any mention of the age of the Patriarchs descended from him when they begat their eldest sonnes or those by whom the holy line is drawn and of whom our Saviour descended And if they had been passed over so the Chronology of the world had beed lost But now here they are resumed and the chaine of Chronology carefully continued And as there were ten Patriarchs before the flood counting in Noah so there are ten after the flood from Shem to Abraham inclusively The yeares of the world in the former ten to the six hundredth yeare of Noah when the flood came amounted to the number of 1656. The years from the flood which was in the ninety eighth yeare of Shems age to the birth of Abram the tenth Patriarch after the flood came but to the number of three hundred fifty two yeares For mans age was shortened about the half at the time of the flood And again shortened about the half in Pelegs time at the building of Babel And yet the third time shortened somewhat near the half in the time of Nahor as may be seen and observed in the ages of the Patriarchs at their deaths in this chapter Arphaxad The third son of Shem 1 Chron. 1. 17. V. 12. Arphaxad begat Salah Betwixt these is inserted Cainan as the sonne of Arphaxad and father of Salah Luke 3. 35 36. which would break the chaine of Chronology and leave unknown the age of the world The LXX-Translation hath here in Genesis put in that Cainan And that Translation was much more known much more in use in publick Synagogues in private Libraries and Houses in our Saviours time then the Authentical Hebrew Text was yea thereupon the Holy Writers of the New Testament in their quotations out of the Old Testament do follow much the said Translation even with some variation from the Hebrew Text though not in any material thing as the learned well know This may seem to occasion St. Luke in this of Cainan to follow the LXX Translation though he knew that this Cainan was never in the world condescending so to the times and weakness of men therein lest otherwise he might have given occasion of offence or rather they have taken it V. 22. Nahor The first idolater of the line ch 31. 53. Josh. 24. 2. And so after him were Terah and Abraham till God called him out of that place chap. 11. 31. 12. 1. Rom. 4. 2 5. V. 26.
gate of Heaven chap. 28. 17. Therefore in a special manner they should prepare and sanctifie themselves I will make And perform my vow an Altar V. 1 7. after a pillar v. 14. of my distresse About twenty seven yeares ago V. 4. And all their eare-rings Idolatrous monuments Hos. 2. 13. Judg 8. 24 25 26. 27. Deut. 7. 25 26. Exod. 32 2 3 4. under an oak From the knowledge of his family and people Esay 30. 22. Under an oak by Shechem Joshuah set up a great stone for a witnesse of the peoples Covenant with God Josh. 24. 26 27. And there the Shechemites made Abimelech King Judg. 9. 6. Oakes and groves of trees forbidden in worship and used by idolaters Esay 1. 29. by Shechem Shiloh and the Tabernacle of God were after there or by Shechem Josh. 24. 1 25 26. V. 5. Terrour of God Ch. 34. â—0 In all humane reason they easily might have destroyed him and his Exod. 23. 27. Josh. 2. 9 11. Gods restraining hand upon the wicked See Annot. on ch 20. 6. V. 7. An Altar According to part of his vowe ch 28. 22. El-Bethel Here he addes to the former name chap. 28. 19. V. 8. Rebekahs nurse Sent with Rebekah ch 24. 59. And Jacob being now returned into Canaan and being there now about seven yeares and not very far from his fathers house she thence might come to him of her owne accord or he send for her or fetch her if she did not return into Mesopotamia and thence come along with Jacob. V. 9. Again This is the seventh time God revealed himself to Jacob in special manner ch 28. 13. 31. 3 11. 32. 1 2 24. v. 35. 1. V. 10. But Israel shall be thy name Confirmes this name to him the second time See Annotat. on chap. 32. 28. V. 11. I am God Almighty Confirmes and amplifies the Promises made ch 28. and ch 32. Kings Thus God gives him the blessing of Abraham ch 28. 4. 17. 6. V. 12. To thee Not to Esau. V. 13. And God went up Chap. 17. 22. Judges 13. 20. V. 14. Set up a pillar Repaired the old set up neare thirty yeares ago ch 28. 18. or rather a new one in the very place here named a drink-offering thereon and he poured oile thereon These in use before the Ceremonial Law by Moses chap. 28. 18. V. 16. A little way About a mile short of Bethlehem ch 48. 7. 2 King 5. 19. Ephrath Which is Bethlehem v. 19. The Prophet joyns them And thou Bethlehem Ephrata Micah 5. 2. called also Bethlehem-Judah to distinguish it from another in Galilee in the tribe of Zebulun Here our Saviour was borne V. 17. This sonne also Ch 30. 24. V. 18. As her soule was in departing To God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. being it self immortal as appeareth here and as is confessed by Heathens themselves as Plato Aristotle Cicero and others and so again life is restored when the soule comes again into the body 1 Kings 17. 21 22. for she died Who formerly would die for want of children ch 30. 1. Ben-oni The like case is 1 Sam. 4. 20 21. Benjamin Psal. 80. 17. Now was Joseph about twelve or thirteen yeares old six yeares old when he came from Laban and six or seven yeares more since he came into Canaan till the birth of Benjamin after Dinah's ravishing And Bâ—njamin was twenty seven or tweney eight when he went into Egypt with his ten sons Joseph then being fourty and Benjamin younger then he twelve or thirteen yeares V. 19. Buried in the way About this place many infants were murdered by Herod Mat 2. 16 18 Jer. 31. 15. V. 20. A pillar Monuments and memorials for the dead are lawful and useful too unto this day Till Moses time and after that to Sauls time 1 Sam. 10. 2. V. 21. Tower of Edar i e Of the flock Micah 4. 8. It may be hereabouts the Angels appeared to the shepherds Luke 2. 8. V. 22. His fathers Concubine See Annot. on ch 22. 24. and on ch 25. 1. By this he justly lost his birth-right ch 49. 4. 1 Chron. 5. 1. So Absalom sinned with his fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16. 22. And as David abstained from them afterwards 2 Sam. 20. 3. so likely Jacob did from Bilhah and Israel heard it Here is an empty space left in the line with a mark to move consideration As likewise in Gen. 4. 8. And also a pause or breaking off as to a new matter even in the midst of the verse So in Deuteron 2. 8. twelve He had no more after Dinah was a daughter and Joseph was one of the twelve yet after when the twelve tribes were accounted and setled Ephraim and Manasse were put in and Joseph and Levi in a sort left out Levi for any land by lot in Canaan They are called the twelve Patriarchs Acts 7. 8. and twelve tribes Acts 26. 7. Their names engraved on twelve precious stones on the High Priests plate Exod. 28. 21 29. and on the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem Ezech. 48. 31. Apoc 21. 12. The Apostles of Christ were twelve and their names written on the twelve foundations of the wall or the City of the new Jerusalem Apoc. 21. 14. V. 23. The sonnes of Leah The sons of the wives by themselves and of the Concubines by themselves V. 26. In Padan Aram Except Benjamin which is so plain in the former part of this chapter as no Reader could mistake it And so no need of an exception of him to be named V. 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac His sons though borne out of the land of Canaan come with him into the land whereas Esau and his sonnes though borne in the land do go out and give place Jacob and his wives children and family came to him and removed their habitations thither Though in all likelihood living divers years in Canaan before and that not far from Isaac he did before this time come to visit his blinde and aged father unto Mamre See Annot. on ch 13. 18. and on 23. 2. V. 29. And died Long after Jacobs rerurn to him for he lived till the yeare before Josephs advancement in Egypt or till the time of his advancement He being sixty when Jacob was borne and Jacob being one hundred and twenty when Joseph was advanced in Egypt and one hundred and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh which sixty and one hundred and twenty make up the full life of Isaac Esau and Jacob buried him So Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham ch 25. 9. CHAP. XXXVI Verse 1. NOw these are the generations of Esau 1. Chron. 1. 35. All this shewes the accomplishment of that Oracle given to Rebekah ch 25. 23. As also of that temporal blessing wherewith his father blessed him ch 27. 39 40. And likewise of the Promise to Abraham ch 22. 17. V. 2. Esau took his wives Ch. 26. 34. 28. 9. Many here have two names Adah Called Bashemath ch 26. 34. Aholibamah Called Judith
so enlarged Ishmael Ishmael was 13 years old when he was circumcised verse 25 XVII 25. And so above 15. or rather 17 at Isaacs weaning when he and his mother were cast out of Abrahams family XXI 5 8 14 15. Three measures chapter XVIII verse 6 The Hebrew measures of Capacity mentioned in the Old Testament are these 10. viz. 1 Log. Lev. XIV 10. the least measure 2 Cab 2 King VI. 25. 3 Hin Exod. XXIX 40. Levit. XXIII 13. Ezek. IV. 11. 4 Omer or Homer or Gnomer being the quantity of a mans daily eating of Manna and the tenth part of an Ephah Exod. XVI 16. 36. 5 Seah translated measure or Satum in this Text Gen. XVIII 6. and 2 King VII 1. 6 Ephah containing ten Omers Exod. XVI 36. 7 Bate or Bath containing likewise ten Omers and being both the tenth part of a Cor and Chomer Ezek. XLV 11 14. 8 Lethec translated half an Omer or rather half a Chomer Hos. III. 2. 9 Cor and 10 Chomer each equal and containing ten Bates or Ephahs apiece Ezek. XLV 11 14. Thus farre Scripture The particular assignations of their several Capacities are usually made thus viz The Log to containe the quantity of six hen-eggs-shels of Palestine the same with Sextarium Romanum and is about our half pinte yet some make it a pinte The Cab to contain four Logs i. e. a quart of our measure or 24 egs-shels yet some say a pottle The Hin to containe six Logs i. e. 36. egs-shels some say 12 Logs or 72. egs-shels or about three quarts An Omer to containe one Cab and an half and a fifth part about our three pintes and an half or a pottle the tenth part of an Ephah Seah to containe two Hins or six Cabs i. e. a gallon and an half or Modius Romanus the third part of an Ephah Ephah to containe ten Omers or Pottles i. e. four gallons and an half or about three Seahs and to be Medimnus Atticus yet some make it to containe eight gallons and so four Ephahs to containe our barrel some to containe near ten gallons or about the measure of our bushel or half a bushel and a pottle Bate or Bath is of the same measure for liquid things as Ephah is for dry things Lethec to containe five Ephahs or fifteen Seahs or Sata or Modii that is two bushels six gallons and one pottle or half a Chomer Chomer and Cor are both of the same measure either equal and contains certainly as was said ten Bates or Ephahs apiece or two Lethecs Cor is oft translated Measures And thus uncertaine are we for the grounds of these measures of Capacities Abimelech And XXVI chapter XX verse 2 1. This seemes to be a common name to the Kings of Palestine as Pharaoh to the Kings of Egypt Benhadad to the Kings of Syria Candace to the Queens of Ethiopia Caesar to the Romane Emperours Hebron Hebron called also Kiriath-Arba chapter XXIII verse 2 the City of Arba the the father of Anak where Anak lived and his sonnes and the Anakims all Giants Here Abraham Isaac and Jacob dwelled and were buried here in the Cave of Macpelah before Mamre the same is Hebron Here Sarah died and was buried in that Cave And Rebekah and Leah were likewise buried here Hence Joseph was sent to see the welfare of his brethren And hither the Spies came that were sent by Moses to spy out the Land Hoham the King of Hebron was one of the five Kings hid in the Cave and slaine and hanged up by Joshuah And it seemes another King of Hebron soone after slaine by him And he and Caleb slew the Anakims dwelling here This City fell to the Tribe of Iudah and was seated in a mountaine of Iudah and together with the Suburbs of it was given to the Priests and to be a Citie of refuge But the Fields and Villages of it were given to Caleb that good Spie To the top of an hill before Hebron Sampson carried the Gate of Gaza David having sent to them of Hebron a Present of the spoile which he got of the Amalekites in the rescue of Ziklag was commanded by God to go hither And here at Hebron he was made King and reigned seven years and six moneths had six sons borne him here of six several wives Hither Abner cameto David and being murthered by Joab was by David mournfully buried here Hither Ishbosheths head was brought and buried in Abners grave and his murtherers by David hanged here Hither came all Israel to make David King over all Israel And afterwards Absalom being borne here pretended a vow to be performed here and rebelling against his father made himself King here This City was first built seven years before Zoan in Egypt And in King Rehoboams time was repaired and fortified by him Abraham Abraham alive when Jacob was 15 years old chapter XXV verse 7 XXI 5. and XXV 7 26. And so Abraham Isaac and Jacob were living at the same time Heb. XI 9. Esau Esau sold his Birth-right for bread and pottage verse 34 XXV 34. for one morsel of meat as it is Heb. XII 16. Isaac Isaac blinde above 43 years chapter XXVII verse 1 He being 60 at the birth of Jacob XXV 26. And blinde at the blessing of Jacob XXVII 1. And Jacob was then 77. years old as appears by his age of 130 when he stood before Pharaoh XLVII 9. And the age of Joseph being then 39 or 40 viz. 30 when he was advanced by Pharaoh XLI 46. And after that seven years of plenty and two of famine passed ere Jacob came down XLV 6. And Joseph was borne in the 14 year after Jacobs coming to Laban XXX 25. and XXXI 41. And Iacob came to Laban presently after the foresaid blessing XXVII 42. c. XXVIII 1 2. And so the 14 years before Ioseph was borne and 39 of Iosephs age after being taken out of Iacobs 130. leaves him to be 77. when Isaac blessed him And Iacobs 77. being added to Isaacs 60 when Iacob was borne makes Isaac to be 137. when he was blinde and blessed Jacob. And Isaac dying at 180 XXXV 28. must so needs be blinde 43 years at the least Esau Esau could not prevaile with Isaac to bring him to repent of his blessing Iacob verse 33 and to recall the blessing though Esau sought it of Isaac with tears XXVII 33 34. Heb. XII 17. Iacob Iacob being 77 years old chapter XXIX verse 27 marries both Leah and Rachel in the first year of his coming to Laban Laban by inversion of the letters is Nabal and at or before the beginning of the 14 years service for them This appears by his twelve children Dinah being one and by the Sequence of their births within those 14 years Ch XXIX and XXX which are not possible to be in that maner and order borne within the compasse onely of the last seven years And having seven of them by Leah her self who yet left bearing a while after her fourth sonne
11 12 17 18 26. and Ch. XIV 22 26. And this second Tythe seems every third year to be distributed to the poor Or rather a third Tythe every third year not carried to Jerusalem and eaten there But gathered for these charitable uses onely and to be eaten any where throughout the Land Deut. XIV 28 29. and XXVI 12 13. And this third year is therefore called the year of Tything Deut. XXVI 12. Amos IV. 4. Of Tythes see more 2 Chron. XXXI 4 19. Nehem. X. 32 39. and XII 44 47. and XIII 5 12 13. Mal. III. 8 10. Luke XI 42. and XVIII 12. Heb. VII 2 9. The great maintenance of the Levites appears in that the whole Tribe of Levi being three or four times lesse in number then any other Tribe yet had they distinguished from all the Priests the Tythes of all the Tribes and so more then any one other Tribe Besides their thirty five Cities and Suburbs whereof five were Cities of Refuge Josh. XXI one belonging to the Kohathites Levites two to the Gershonites and two to the Merarites In all twice at least more Cities then some other Tribes had that were twice their number See also that Num. XXXI 30 47. The greater maintenance of the Priests appears in that being but three persons at first at least of ripe and mature age yet they had the Tythes yearly of all the Levites Tythes which were at first 8580 of thirty years old and upwards and so about the hundred part of all the fruits and increase of all Israel And as the numbers of the Priests multiplied afterwards so did in all probability the number of the other Tribes They had also all the First-fruits of all things from all persons throughout the twelve Tribes even of their doughs and bakings Deut. XVIII 4. Num. XV. 20 21. which as some think exceeded their Tythes aforesaid They had also all the First-borne of Oxen Sheep and Goats which were given to them in kinde And the Redemption money of the First-borne of Men and of unclean Beasts and cattell Num. III. 46 52. Exod. XXXIV 19. 20 and Ch. XXII 29 30. Deut. XV. 19. They had also all Oblations both Voluntary and by Vow And the Redemption of Things and of Persons Devoted to God And all Sacrifices for Sinnes and for Trespasses and the Meat and Drink Offerings and Heave-offerings And the Breast and Shoulder in Peace-offerings Deut. XVIII 3. And the Skins of the whole Burnt-offerings And all their Tythes First-fruits and Oblations were to be of the best and choisest sorts Num. XVIII 12 29. Besides these they had thirteen Cities and Suburbs and Priviledges belonging to them whereof one was a City of Refuge Josh XXI 13. See Num. XVIII 8 19. And that also Num. XXXI 28 29 37 38 39 40 50. Levit. X. 12 13 14 15. and Ch. XXVII 21 28. See the Annotations on Num. XVIII 29. Rock At Rephidim by Mount Sinai chapter XX verse 8. 13. Exod. XVII 1 7. being the eleventh Station of the Israelites Num. XXXIII 14. Moses with his miraculous Rod struck the Rock in Horeb in a due obedience to Gods commandment and waters came forth And he named the place Massah and Meribah Exod. XVII 5 6 7. But at Kadesh in the Wildernesse of Zin where Miriam died being the thirty third Station Num. XXXIII 36. Moses with Aarons miraculous Rod for he took it from before the Lord as he commanded him having his spirit provoked by the rebellious people smiles the Rock twice without any such command or commission to smite at all And he and Aaron likewise speak unadvisedly with their lips uttering words of passion and incredulity and so rebelling against Gods commandment And thereupon they not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel He was sanctified in them by his excluding them from entrance into the Land of Canaan And this also is called the water of Meribah or Strife as here so Ch. XXVII 14. Psal. CVI. 32 33. Aaron Aaron chapter XX verse 28 whose name may seem to signifie an Ark or Chest dies seven moneths and seven dayes before Moses at Mount Hor the Place called Mosera Deut. X 6. in the thirty fourth Station For Aaron dying in the fourtieth year fifth moneth first day Num. XXXIII 38. And that compared with the moneths mourning for Moses Deut. XXXIV 8. and three dayes preparation to passe over Jordan Josh. I. 1. and Ch. III. 2. And their coming out of Jordan on the first moneth tenth day Josh. IV. 19. Do shew that Moses died in the twelfth moneth seventh day And so seven moneths and seven dayes after Aaron In which short interval of time many and mighty things were done and atchieved as among other things Sihon and Og and their Kingdomes conquered the Midianites almost destroyed among whom Balaam was slaine Josh. XIII 22. and the book of Deuteronomie written Num. XXI and XXXI Deut. I. 1 3. Fiery Serpents onely in the later part of the fourtieth year chapter XXI verse 6 after Aarons death Heshbon Heshbon a chief City in Moab verse 26 afterwards of Sihon King of the Amorites Deut. I. 4. afterwards of Gad and out of that Tribe given to the Merarites Josh. XIII 26. and XXI 38 39 40. 1 Chron. VI. 80 81. Afterwards recovered by the Moabites and wasted by Shalmanesar Esay XV. 4. and XVI 8 9. and after by the Babylonians Jer. XLVIII 45. There may seeme to be another Heshbon of the Ammonites Jer. XLIX 2 3. And one in the Tribe of Reuben Num. XXXII 37. Josh. XIII 15 17. Heshbon signifies Devises And an allusion is made to the name Jer. XLVIII 2. in the judgement there denounced against it like to this is English There is mischief devised against the Devises the name of a town with us Balak Balak needed not to have hired Balaam chapter XXII verse 2 and feared Israel Num. XXII and XXIII and XXIV if he had known the prohibition of God to Israel Deut. II. 9. which they obeyed Judg. II. 15 17 18 25. 2 Chron. XX. 10. Yet that part which was great of the Lands of Moab which Sihon had lately conquered from Vehab King of Moab as Tremelius translates Num. XXI 26. the Israelites conquering Sihon in that right possessed it Num. XXXIII 49. Deut. I. 5. and XXXIV 1 5 6 8. and it was given to the Reubenites and Gadites Josh. XIII Unicorne So Deut. chapter XXIII verse 22 XXXIII 17. Job XXXIX 9 10. Psal. XXII 21. and XXIX 6. and XCII 10. Esay XXXIV 7. Yet the translation of the word is doubted of or at least the nature of the beast such as the Pensil of our Painters doth portray out unto us because no such beast was known or seen by any man And the Unicornes horne so deemed is of some strange Fish not of any known Beast Some learned render the word Bufale or Buff or else the wild Oxe called by the Latines Urus eminent for bignesse strength hornes and untamable fiercenesse
wildernesse and seven of Joshua's Government untill this time And Caleb here ver 9 14. And Joshua Ch. XIX 49 50. did both aske and both had certain inheritances given them two according to the word of the Lord. The City and Suburbs of Hebron were given to the Priests for a City of refuge The fields and Villages thereof to Caleb Ch. XXI 11 12 13. Caleb Not that Caleb chapter XV verse 16 1 Chron. II. 18 42. the sonne of Hezron unlesse by sonne we understand great-grand-childe But Caleb that is constantly called the sonne of Jephunne And Othniel constantly called the sonne of Kenaz are here yet called brethren And Othniel is again called the younger brother of Caleb Judg. I. 13. and III. 9. which could not be except by one mother But Othniel marrying the daughter of Caleb ver 17. And cosen-germans Nephews and the like being often called brethren in Scripture It is likely that either Iephunne and Kenaz were brethren and so Caleb and Othniel cosen-germans or that Caleb and Kenaz were brethren and so Othniel Calebs Nephew or that the Kenezite mentioned Num. XXXII 12. might be Grandfather to them both But no certainty appears for any further determination Separate The bordering Cities of the children of Ephraim chapter XVI verse 9 were between or among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh See also ch XVII 8 9. And as Ephraim had part in Manasseh so Manasseh had Cities in Issachar and in Asher ch XVII 11. The Portion Ten portions to Manasseh chapter XVII verse 5 that is five portions to the five sons mentioned ver 2. And the portion of the sixth son who was Hopher was divided into five portions among his grandchildren the daughters of Zelophahad which so made up ten portions though the five last were but as big as one of the former five One lot Both Ephraim and Manasseh seek for a larger portion and Lot then what did befall them in the General Division verse 14 Shiloh Shiloh was on the North-side of Bethel chapter XVIII verse 1 on the East-side of the high-way from Bethel to Shechem on the South of that Lebanon Judg. XXI 19. And so situated on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin yet belonged to Ephraim not to Benjamin Judg. XXI 1 21. There was the Tabernacle as was formerly said There were the Lots cast for seven Tribes Josh. XVIII 8. Thence were the two Tribes and a half dismissed to their Possessions after the warre Josh. XXII 9. And thither were the whole Congregation of Israel gathered to go up to warre against them upon a wrong surmise concerning the Altar Ed ver 12. Thither came all the other Tribes to aske counsel of the Lord in their warre against the Tribe of Benjamin and there was their Camp Judg. XX. 18. and XXI 12. and XIX 18. Thither came Elkanah and Hannah to worship and Samuel ministred there before the Lord 1 Sam. I. 3. and II. 11. and III. 21. And there the Prophet Ahijah dwelt in the dayes of the first Jeroboam 1 King XIV 2. Tabernacle The Tabernacle coming over Jordan was first set up in Gilgal Not that Gilgal of the Nations Josh. XII 23. Gen. XIV 1. Esay IX 1. whence haply Galilee might take its name But that Gilgal in the Tribe of Benjamin Josh. IV. 19 20. Afterwards in Joshua's time it was set up here in Shiloh in the Tribe of Ephraim near the Center of the Land which was by Sichem Ch. XXIV 1 25 26. And Bochim Judg. II. 1 5. may seeme to be conjoyned to it It may seeme to be fetched thence for a present use to that solemne Assembly at Shechem in Joshua's time Ch. XXIV 1 26. But being returned to Shiloh it continued there above three hundred years at least till the death of Eli 1 Sam. I. 3 9 24. and II. 14. and III. 3 21. and IV. 3. It may seeme to be again at Gilgal with the Ark in Samuel and Sauls time 1 Sam. X. 8. and Ch. XI 15. But soone after we surely finde it to be at Nob in the Tribe of Benjamin near Anathoth Neh. XI 32. when David came thither in his flight from Saul 1 Sam. XXI 1 9. After that sacrilegious slaughter of eighty five Priests by Saul at Nob 1 Sam XXII 18. it was soon removed in the dayes of David to Gibeon in the same Tribe of Benjamin and not farre from Bethel the City first of the wily Gibeonites Hivites but after given to the Priests Josh. IX and ch XXI 17. See 1 Chron. XVI 39 40. and XXI 29. and 2 Chron. I. 3 5 6 13. 1 King III. ver 4 5. And lastly when Solomon had built the Temple he brought the Tabernacle thence to Jerusalem 1 King VIII 4. 2 Chron. I. 3 5 6 13. and ch V. 5. And placed it likely in and among the Treasuries of the Temple For the Ark see the Observations on 1 Sam. IV. 3. Tabor A Mountain in the Tribe of Issachar chapter XIX verse 22 or bordering on it near to Mount Carmel See Joshua XIX 26 34. Here Barak was with his ten thousand men against Sisera Judg. IV. 6 12 14. See more of this in my Annotations on Hos. V. 1. Tyre Called the strong City verse 29 whence it hath its name Tsor in Hebrew signifying a Rock situate like Venice in the Sea A famous Port and Mart-town in Phoenicia the lower part of Syria whence the whole Countrey is supposed to take the name of Syria omitting the letter t in Tsor More of this see in my Annotations on Amos. I. 9. Bethshemesh A City in the Tribe of Naphtali verse 38 ver 32. and 39. Judg. I. 33. Another in the Tribe of Judah given to the Priests Josh. XXI 16. 1 Chron. VI. 59. 1 Sam. VI. 12. 2 King XIV 13. Another also in Egypt Jer. XLIII 13. the same as is supposed with On Gen. XLI 45. by the Greeks called Heliopolis and now Damiata The word signifies a City or House of the Sunne As also Kirharesheth a City in Moab Esay XVI 7. hath the same denomination And all because of Temples and Idol-service used there by the ancient inhabitants to the Sunne From which the Jewes sometimes were not altogether free 2 King XXIII 5 11. Cities of refuge The sixe Cities of refuge belonged to the Levites chapter XX verse 2 that is Hebron and Shechem to the Koathites Golan and Kedesh to the Gershonites Bezer and Ramoth to the Merarites Josh. XX. and XXI Chapters In Galilee Galilee is often mentioned in the Old Testament verse 7 See ch XXI 32. 1 King IX 11. 2 King XV. 29. 1 Chron. VI. 76. Esay IX 1. Galilee divided into the Upper in the Tribe of Naphtali and the Lower in the Tribe of Zabulon verse 11 both coasting about the beginning of Jordan The Upper is called Galilee of the Gentiles because both Populous and replenished with many Gentiles as lying nearest to them 1 King IX 11. Matth. XV. 21. Mar. VII 31. And so is Harosheth
called Harosheth of the Gentiles Judg. IV. 2. as lying in that Tribe of Naphtali Thirteen Thirteen Cities with their Suburbs in title and dominion given to the Priests Josh. chapter XXI verse 19 XXI 4. See the Annotations on 1 Chron. VI. 59. Though one of them at that time was too much for their present use and habitation we reading but of three of them in number about fifty years before this time Called The two Tribes and a half dismist chapter XXII verse 1 likely at the end of sixe or seven years before the Division of the Land and stayed not fourteen yeers till after the Division which Division might yet possibly be made sooner then so Josh. XX. 11. Divide This Dividing the spoile with their brethren verse 8 those that stayed at home beyond Jordan seemes to relate to that Num. XXXI 27. And David seemes hereupon to revive and enact that Law of like Division 1 Saem XXX 24 25. Mention of the name The not naming of Idols is mentioned chapter XXIII verse 7 as here so Exod. XXIII 13. Deut. XII 3. Psal. XVI 4. And a like Ephes. V. 3. Yet the thing in it self is not simply and absolutely unlawful Shechem Shechem was a City in Mount Ephraim chapter XXIV verse 1 Josh. XX. 7. North-North-East from Shiloh and Bethel and close by Mount Gerizim and Ebal Judg. IX 7. Here Abraham and Jacob had sojourned And Jacobs two sonnes Simeon and Levi young men upon Dinah's ravishment murthered the Citizens Gen. XXXIV Here after Gideons death the Citizens worshipped Baal-Berith and rebelled with Abimelech and were after punished and spoyled by him Judg. IX This City in Ioshua's time was made a City of Refuge and given to the Kohathite-Levites Iosh. XXI 21. And here Ioshua made a Covenant with all the people to serve the Lord Chap. XXIV ver 25. The Mount Ephraim whereon the City stood was famous for Burials Here they buried Iosephs bones in Shechem in a parcel of ground which Iacob bought of the children of Hamor or Emor Josh. XXIV 32. Acts VII 16. Gen. XXXIII 19. Here was great Ioshua himself an Ephraimite buried in his inheritance in Timnath-Scrah or Here 's which is in Mount Ephraim on the North-side of the hill Goash Josh. XXIV 30. Judg. II. 9. And here was the High-Priest Eleazar buried in an Hill that pertained to Phineas his son which was given him in Mount Ephraim Josh. XXIV 33. Here Deborah dwelt Judg. IV. 5. And Tola the Judge ch X. 1. Hither came Rehoboam to be made King But Jeroboam was there made King in his stead who built or fortified the City and dwelt there 1 King XII 1 20 25. Judges THE Book of JUDGES contains an History not of four hundred and ten years but of two hundred ninty and nine years So Counting the years of the VI. Oppressors within the years and times of the Judges as I have shewed they necessarily must upon Rahabs marriage with Prince Salmon Josh. II. And so Expounding the Texts following according to the truth of the times thus That the Land had Rest by Othniel in the fourtieth year after it was first settled in Rest by Ioshua at his Death Judg. III. 11. not after the Death of Moses And again had Rest by Ehud in the eightieth year after the former Rest by Othniel Ch. III. 30. And again had Rest by Deborah in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Ehud Ch. V. 31. And again had Rest by Gideon in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Deborah Ch. VIII 28. These make up two hundred years And then follow three of Abimelech twenty three of Tolah twenty two of Jair sixe of Jephthah seven of Ibzan ten of Elon eight of Abdon twenty of Sampson which make np the other ninty nine years in all two hunded ninty nine The text Judg. IV. 3 4. seemes to accord with rhis reckoning and to accompt Jabins Oppression within the years of Deborah But yet counting beside these the times of the VI. Oppressors distinctly over and above which amount to one hundred and eleven years and is according to the seeming letter of the texts And then fourty years of Eli being added thereunto the summe ariseth to those 450. years mentioned by Paul Acts XIII 20. But reading the words of Saint Paul as in order they stand there in the Original and after these things about four hundred and fifty years he gave them Judges untill Samuel the Prophet we may rather conceive the four hundred and fifty years to comprehend all the time from the choosing of the Fathers till the Division of the Land by Joshua it being four hundred fifty two from the Birth of Isaac and four hundred fourty seven from the Rejection of Ishmael both wayes about four hundred and fifty wherein those things mentioned ver 18 19 20. were done and accomplished And after that time he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet And after that time He gave them Kings And thus the most learned Primate of all Ireland hath it in his learned Annals This Book seemes written of and concerning the Judges as the Book of Ruth concerning Ruth And long after their times As may seeme to be gathered by those phrases remaine unto this day and the like Ch. I. 21 26. and VI. 24. and X. 4. and XV. 19. And Ch. XVIII 30. must needs have relation at soonest to the captivity of the Arke in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. IV. 17. Psal. LXXVIII 60 61. Asked They asked the Lord chapter I verse 1 by Phineas the High Priest who by Urim and Thummim makes answer Num. XXVII 21. Both which were on or in the Breastplate and the Breastplate was annexed to the Ephod Exod. XXVIII 28 30. and XXXIX 21. which made David call for the Ephod and High Priest thereby to enquire of the Lord 1 Sam. XXIII 9 10 11 12. and Ch. XXVIII 6. So Ezra II. 63. See more on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. Bezek Bezek a City in the tribe of Iudah verse 4 not farre from Ierusalem lying from it South-West and midway between 〈◊〉 and Bethlehem Adoni-Bezek verse 5 Of him see on Iosh. X. 1. Said verse 7 seventy Kings His seventy Kings subdued and mangled by him must needs be very pettie Kings of Provinces or Cities if not such Princes as are now in Germany where all the brethren of a Prince are called Princes likewise And these seventy were such as in the time of all his reigne and tyranny Adoni-bezek had subdued He was brought from Bezek to Ierusalem to be made a publike example there Ierusalem Iudah had taken Ierusalem verse 8 slaine the inhabitants and burnt the City i. e. that part of it which belonged to Iudah Iosh. XV. 8. yet so as the Jebusite still dwelt therein with the children of Iudah ver 63. even till Davids time 2 Sam. V. 6 7 8. And Benjamin did the like and no more with their part of Ierusalem Judg. I. 21. yet both had little hold in it
in that Levites time Iudg. XIX 10 11 12. or haply at that time had never got any hold in it at all Hebron Of this City see the Observations on 2 Sam. verse 10 II. 1. Caleb Of Caleb see the Observations on Iosh. verse 12 XV. 16. A South-Land Or dry Land verse 15 Kenite and Ch. IV. 11. and Ch. V. 24. See 1 Chron. II. 55. verse 16 As also Gen. XV. 19. Num. XXIV 21. 1 Sam. XV. 6. And see my Observations on Num. X. 29. Palme Trees Jericho Of this see the Observations on Ch. III. 13. Gaza Iudah took Gaza verse 18 and Askelon and Ekron And lost them soone afterwards Ch. III. 3. Bethel Of this see the Observations on 1 King verse 22 XII 29. and XXXII Bethsâ—an And the rest in this verse were Cities in that half Tribe of Manasseh that lay West of Jordan verse 27 Angel The Angel here seemes to be no created Angel chapter II verse 1 But that Angel of the Covenant Mal. III. 1. that appeared to Moses in the Bush Exod. III. 2. called Jehovah ver 4. and to Ioshua Iosh. V. 14. And to Gideon Iudg. VI. 16. And to Manoah and his wife Ch. XIII Of whom Iacob spake Gen. XLVIII 24. And of whom God spake unto Moses Exod. XXIII 21 22 23. termed both Jehovah Exod. XIII 21. XIV 10 24. and his face or presence Exod. XXXIII 14 15. and an Angel Exod. XXXIII 2. the Messias Acts VII 38. the Sonne of God Heb. I. 3. See on Judg. XIII 3. But whether this History fell out in the life-time of Ioshua or after his death is somewhat more uncertain all the dayes of Joshua Therefore the Angel's coming to Bochim verse 7 though premised was after the death of Joshua and those Elders Mount of Ephraim Of this see the Observations on Joshua XXIV verse 9 1. Baal and Ashtaroth Of these see the Observations on Ch. verse 13. 16. VIII 33. Judges This Chapter seemes to be a summarie of the bulk of this Book Left those Nations Ver. verse 23 22. and Ch. III. 1 2 4. See the Observations on Deut. VII 1. and 2. King of Mesopotamia Heb. chapter III verse 8 Aram-Naharaim i. e. of Syria between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates Naharaim being of the Dual number Fourty years See the Observations on the beginning of this Book verse 11 Palme-trees Jericho the City of Palme-trees Deut. XXXIV 3. verse 13 2 Chron. XXVIII 15. This was nigh Jordan on the West-side of it and Gilgal in the East border of Jericho where Rahab entertained and hid the two Spies And from the Plaines of Moab Pisga and Shirtim which were over against Jericho on the East-side of Jordan the Israelites passed over Here the Israelites kept the Passeover and the Captain of the Lords Hoast appeared to Joshua This was burnt Josh. VI. 24. And the Re-builder of it cursed ver 26. And the same verified in Hiel in the dayes of Ahab 1 King XVI 34. So that the Kenites being in it and Eglons possessing of it mentioned here And that of Davids ill-intreated messengers residing here 2 Sam. X. 5. must be meant of some mean buildings or Forts onely in it or rather by it It fell by Lot to the Tribe of Benjamin Josh. XVIII 21. Here was a Colledge of the sonnes of the Prophets in the times of Elias and Eliseus and the waters healed by Eliseus Hither were sent back courteously the many Jewes captived by Pekah in the dayes of Ahaz 2 Chron. XXVIII And in the Plaines here was Zedekiah taken by Nebuchadnezzars forces And in the dayes of our Saviour he did herein or hard by give sight to blinde men and converted Zacheus And he arose Reverence to God and his Word verse 20 Num. XXIII 18. 2 King XX III. 2. 2 Chron. XXXIV 31. Neh. VIII 6. Oxe-goad Miraculous are the victories of Shamgar verse 31 slaying sixe hundred Philistines with an Oxe-goad and of Sampson slaying one thousand of them with the jaw-bone of an Asse Ch. XV. 15 16. Jabin This Jabin successor to that Jabin slaine by Joshua chapter IV verse 2 and his City Hazor burnt Josh. XI 1 10 11 13. Yet this successor or sonne reinforceth himself and twenty years oppressed Israel and was destroyed at last by Deborah and Barak ver 24. Hazor A City in Naphtali and upper Galilee East from Rehob in Asher and in former times head of the neighbouring Kingdomes Iâ—sh XI 10. There was another Hazor or two in the Tribe of Judah Iosh. XV. 23 25. Haresheth of the Gentiles Ver. 16. In Naphtali about thirty miles East from Hazor near the South-bottome of the waters of Merom Here he dwels because Joshua had burnt Hazor Iosh. XI 11 13. Charets of iron Much use of these in warre verse 3 not by the Jewes but by their enemies See the Observations on Ch. XX. 2. and on 2 Sam. VIII 5. A Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 4 III. 4. and on 1 Sam. XVIII 10. at that time Even when and while Iabin oppressed them So that those twenty years v. 3. are within those fourty years of Deborah V. 31. Ramah See the Annotations on Hos. verse 5 V. 8. There were divers Cities of this name in divers Tribes See Josh. XVIII 25. and XIX 29 36. 1 Sam. I. 1. Those in Benjamin Ephraim and Judah were the chief Places famous by Deborah Samuel Saul and David as the sacred Histories do record Barak This Barak verse 6 as also Rahab Gideon Jephthah Sampson commended for their Faith Heb. XI 31 32. though weak in Faith and not without their many failings Tabor In the South-part of Zebulon not farre from the river Kishon as it runnes into the South-bottome of the Sea of Galilee Of Tabor see more in the Annotations on Hos. V. 1. Of a Woman Deborah verse 9 and Jael Zaanaim Zaanaim by Kedesh in Naphtali verse 11 where Barak dwelled Not a man left Not a man left in the field to make any resistance verse 16 Psal. XIV 3. and LIII 3. Rom. III. 12. Shamgar Of him chapter V verse 4 Ch. III. 31. And of Jael Ch. IV. 18. Was there a speare 1 Sam. XIII 19. verse 8 From the noise They could not fetch water without danger from the enemy verse 11 Out of Hence to the end of the Song verse 14 and Chapter Deborah relates how the several Tribes behaved themselves in this Expedition with their praise or dispraise And here Reuben Gilead and Dan and Asher are blamed and Meroz cursed and Jael the wife of Heber is blessed Roote Most likely understood of Deborah of Mount Ephraim the firstrise and mover of this Expedition though some extend it to Joshua and others understand it of the Tribes of Judah and Simeon Amalek Amalek joyned here with the Canaanites in this battell against the Israelites After thee Benjamin After Ephraim came Benjamin to assist in this warre Out of Machir That half Tribe of Manasseh that dwelt within Canaan For though the one half
of the children of Machir had their inheritance in Gilead Josh. XIII 31. which is here blamed ver 17. yet the other half of Machirs children had their inheritance within Canaan West of Jordan Josh. XVII 1 2. who are here commended Barak Not of Issachar verse 15 but of Naphtali dwelling in Kedesh of Naphtali Ch. IV. 6. Divisions of Reuben Divided among themselves touching this warre or divided from the other Tribes and deserting them in it Megiddo Megiddo an eminent City which Manasseh had in Issachar verse 19 Josh. XVII 11. not farre from Jezreel and the river Kishon Joshua slew the King of it Josh. XII 21. And Josiah was slaine or had his deaths wound in the valley of it 2 King XXIII 29 30. 2 Chron. XXXV 34. Taanach Taanach a royal City near Megiddo Josh. XII 21. Took no gaine Took none of Jabin nor got any gaine by this fight with Israel The Staâ—s The Stars in their stations verse 20 by extraordinary influences at Gods appointment raising stormy Meteors did help to ruine them As it was in Ioshua's time Iosh. X. and in Samuels time 1 Sam. VII Or frighting them with dreadful noises as in Iehorams time 2 King VII 6. Rest fourty years from that eightieth year mentioned verse 31 Ch. III. 30. See the Annotations on Ch. III. 11. and the Observations on the beginning of this Book Midian See the Annotations on Hab. chapter VI verse 1. 11. 14. III. 7. Angel Christ the Angel of the Covenant ver 14 15 16 22 23. Thy might Which I now give thee with my promise to assist thee as ver 16. My Present Not Sacrifice verse 18 or meat-offering but for thy food and repast As Abraham entertained the Angels Gen. XVIII and Manoab Iudg. XIII 15. Fire Here fire comes out of a rock verse 2. 25. as water did Exod. XVII 7. Of seven years old The same age that the tyranny and oppression of the Midianites had arrived to And build an Altar Gideon had Gods warrant and command for all verse 26 for his building the Altar and for his sacrificing upon it And this is that Altar mentioned ver 24. That he may die Their idolatrous zeale verse 30. 32. Ierubbaal Gideon so called by his father not in way of reproach but of honour rather In 2 Sam. XI 21. he is called Ierubbosheth And so Eshbaal and Meribbaal the sonne and grandchilde of Saul 1 Chron. VIII 33 34. are called Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth 2 Sam. II. 8. and IV. 4. Iezreel As here in Iezreel the Midianites pitched verse 33 so did both the Philistines and Israelites in Sauls time 1 Sam. XXIX 1 11. And hence came the newes of Sauls death 2 Sam. IV. 4. who was slaine in Mount Gilboa on the North-side of Iezreel This Iezreel was not that in the Tribe of Iudah Iosh. XV. 56. But in Manasseh towards Issachar about twelve miles Northward from Samaria Ahab from Carmel rode hither and Elijah did run before his Chariot 1 King XVIII 45 46. Here Ahab gets Naboths Vineyard and came from Samaria in the Tribe of Ephraim hither to take possession 1 King XXI 18. having his habitations and Palaces in both Cities And besides Gods judgement upon Ahab himself ver 19. both Ioram and Iezebel the sonne and wife of Ahab were slaine here by Iehu and also all that belonged to Ahab in Iezreel And the heads of Ahabs seventy sons were brought from Samaria to Iezreel 2 King IX and X Chapters Messengers The Tribes here named were the next to Gideon verse 35 and to Iabin Fleece of wooll Herein is Gods great condescension to Gideon verse 37 working a miracle forward and backward as it were yea many miracles for the strengthening of his faith in his vocation and in Gods promise From Mount Gilead Or towards Mount Gilead chapter VII verse 3 Haply to be there in a readinesse against the enemies flight that way The people The three hundred lappers verse 8 took the trumpets of them that were dismissed Fled The places named here were in that half Manasseh where the overthrow was given verse 22 And Abelmeholah was the habitation of the Prophet Elizaeus in after-ages 1 King XIX 19. Succoth And so of Penuel chapter VIII verse 5 ver 8. See Gen. XXXIII 17. and XXXII 30. They and Karker were in the tribe of Gad. Ishmaelites Midianites and Ishmaelites seeme confounded together verse 24 as being intermingled one with another So Gen. XXXVII 25 27 28. Golden ear-rings The weight and multitude of them verse 26 And chaines about their Camels necks Of ear-rings see Exod. XXXII 2. and XXXV 22. Ephod See the Observations on 1 Sam. verse 27 XXIII 9. and on Hos. III. 4. Ophrah In the East border of this Westerne half Manasseh near Jordan Baalim Baalim in the Plural number verse 33 signifying Lords seemes to be a very common name to their He-gods and Idols among the Moabitts Ammonites Canaanites Philistines Sidonians Phenicians and other neighbouring Nations and the idolatrous Israelites themselves as Ashtaroth of the plural number and feminine gender seemes to be so to their She-goddesses Iudg. II. 13. and X. 6. And there are sundry specifications of Baal As Berith and Baal-Berith here and Ch. IX 4 46. the God of the Shechemites Peor and Baal-Peor the idol-god of the Moabites and Midianites Num. XXV 3 17 18. Baal-Zebub called also Beelzebub or Beelzebul the god of Ekron 2 King I. 2. And from Baal were names imposed both upon persons and places as we read of Ethbaal the King of Sidon Iezebels father 1 King XVI 31. of Esh-baal 1 Chron. VIII 32. of Baal-hanan Gen. XXXVI 38. of Jerubbaal Judg. VI. 32. of Merib-baal the other name of Mephibosheth 1 Chron. VIII 34. As also of Baal-Zephon Exod. XIV 2. and Baal-Meon Josh. XVII 17. And from other particular Idols specially among the Babylonians were like denominations takeâ— Whether Bel be a contraction or in a diverse dialect the same with Baal is not so certaine God himself also was called Baal But refused after to be so stiled because the name had been so commonly given to Idols Hos. II. 16. Of Bel see the Annotations on Esay XLVI 1. Ashteroth or Ashtoreth or Ashtaroth is more specificaly the goddesse of the Sidonians 1 King XI 5 33. 2 King XXIII 13. and of the Philistines 1 Sam. XXXI 10. Take also these other names of Idol-gods in Scripture Chemosh of the Moabites and Ammonites Iudg. XI 24. 1 King XI 5 7 33. 2 King XXIII 13. Dagon of the Philistines Iudg. XVI 23. 1 Sam. V. 2 7. 1 Chron. X. 10. Moloch or Molech or Milchom of the Ammonites 1 King XI 5 7 33. 2 King XXIII 13. Bel and Nebo and Belteshazzar and Merodach and Succoth-Benoth of the Babylonians Esay XLVI 1. Dan. IV. 8. 2 King XVII 30. Ier. L. 2. Nishrosh of the Assyrians and Sennacherib 2 King XIX 37. Rimmon of the Syrians 2 King V. 18. 2 King XVII 30 31. Nergal of the men of Cuth Ashimah
of the men of Hamath Nibhaz and Tartak of the Avites Adrammelech and Anammelech of Se phervaim Siccuth Chiun and Remphan named Amos V. 26. Acts VII 43. The seven Planets under several names by several Nations And from the Egyptian Apis the Bull and Mevis the Cow the Jewes took their Idol of the golden Calf or Oxe Psal. CVI. 20. And Ieroboam's Calves These Idols are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not gods 1 Cor. VIII 4. Ier. 2. 11. and V. 7. and Ch. XVI 20. or nothing worth Ier. XI 13. Vanities They are called Shames Abominations 1 King XI 5. Dungie or Dunghil-gods Deut. XXIX 17. Devils Deut. XXXII 17. 2 Chron. XI 15. 1 Cor. X. 20 21. Apoc. IX 20. Psal. CVI. 37. 2 King XX. 1. Shechem See the Observations on Josh. chapter IX verse 1. 2. XXIV 1. Threescore and ten persons So ver 18 24 56. and Ch. VIII 30. The whole number designed to slaughter though the youngest of them Iotham escaped and Abimelech himself was the murderer And this is a thing usual in the Scripture As Gen. XLII 13. Num. XIV 32 33. 1 Cor. XV. 5. Gerizim Near Shechem verse 7. 20. Millo See the Observations on 1 Sam. V. 9. Iair Not that Iair chapter X verse 3 Num. XXXII 41. Deut. III. 14. But of his posterity and name Thirty Cities That former Jair in the dayes of Moses verse 4 had but twenty three Cities 1 Chron. II. 22. though the sonnes of Machir the son of Manasseh and the father of Gilead and grandfather of this Iair had among them sixty Cities in the dayes of Moses Iosh. XIII 30 31 32. But here this Iair the Judge had thirty sonnes and they had thirty Cities seven more then the former Iair had all which they called by the same name of Havoth-Iair as their progenitor had called his twenty three Philistines In this time of their oppressing Israel verse 7 which was the sixth oppression Sampson lived and was a Judge and began to deliver them Ch. XIII 5. Ammon This was the fifth oppression And Iephthah was the Judge and deliverer And that year The last of the eighteen of their oppressing the Israelites verse 8 Eighteen years Which years of oppression fell upon the two Tribes and a half beyond Iordan in Iairs time Passed over Iordan In this eighteenth year the Ammonites proceeded verse 9 further to invade the Tribes on this side Iordan And then Iephthah doth vanquish them and begin his sixe years of judging Israel And all this stands well with the Chronologie of the times viz of two hundred ninty nine years in the Book of the Iudges and of the four hundred and eighty mentioned 1 King VI. 1. The Sidonians Divers of these Deliverances are not expressed in the holy History verse 12 Grieved Gods compassion to his people verse 16 Mizpeh There is mention of the Land of Mizpeh verse 17 under Hermon Josh. XI 3. But most commonly there were Citiet of that name And those builded on hills or high places as the word signifies fit to set wath-towers upon as our Beacons We read of divers such in Scripture One Mizpeh in Moab 1 Sam. XXII 3. Another in Mount Gilead in Manasseh beyond Iordan not farre from the Tribe of Gad Josh. XIII 26. Here Laban overtook Iacob Gen. XXXI 49. And here the Israelites encamped against the Midianites in this text Iudg. X. 17. And Iephthah their Judge and General had his house here Iudg. XI 11 29 34. Another Mizpeh was in Iudah Josh. XV. 38. Likely that re-built by Asa 1 King XV. 22. 2 Chron. XVI 6. But the most famous Mizpeh was that in Benjamin upon the border of it Iosh. XVIII 26. which was near the middle of the Land and not farre from Shiloh which stood East from it This was a Place and City fit for general meetings and Assemblies of the Land Thither all Israel assembled against the Benjamites Iudg. XX. 1 3. and XXI 1. There Samuel brought all Israel to publike Repentance 1 Sam. VII 5 6. And thither likewise as to Bethel and Gilgal he came in câ—rcuit from year to year to judge Israel ver 16. There Saul was found out and made King 1 Sam. X. 17 21. And there Gedaliah was Governour so made by Nebuchanezzar and there slaine by Ishmael 2 King XXV verse 3 23 25. Tob Some thirty miles East from the waters of Merom chapter XI My Land No. It was the Land of the Moabites after of Sihon and from him conquered by the Israelites by Gods command and donation ver 21 22. Three hundred years And four of five over which are omitted for the roundnesse of the number As Ch. XX. 46. 2 Sam. V. 5. See the Observations on Ch XX. 46. A Vow Of Vowes verse 30. 31. see the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. And I will offer it These words of Jephthah's Vow do fairly admit a Disjunctive acceptation of the letter Vau to be interpreted and rendered Or and not and. As it is likewise used in Gen. XXVI 11. Exod. I. 10 and XXI 15 17. Deut. XVII 9 12. and XIX 17. Judg. XV. 18. 1 Sam. VI. 3. Jer. VI. 20. and IX 12. and XIII 23. and XVI 2 7. and XXI 9. and in very many other places Bewaile my Virginity Much more her death verse 37 if she had been vowed to be a burnt-offering but that she doth not mention And she knew no man But lived a Virgin verse 39 as her father had vowed and she consented To lament Or talk with her verse 40 and comfort her being cut off from all hope of having posterity to uphold her fathers house ver 34. Smote Ephraim In a Wood chapter XII verse 4 whence that place seemes to be called the Wood of Ephraim from that slaughter of the Ephraimites Where afterwards Absolom was slaine and his armie 2 Sam. XVII 6. Ephraim having in truth no Wood or Land or portion of inheritance on that side of Jordan East-ward Because they said The Ephraimites said the Gileadites are fugitives mungrels the refuse of both Tribes Or the Gileadites being got between the Ephraimites and Manassites said to the Ephraimites ye are but the fugitives of Ephraim Took the Passages As the Ephraimites were to return back from Gilead verse 5 West-ward Shibboleth Which signifies the streame of a river verse 6 or foard a proper word for the present place and purpose Fourty years These fourty years of Oppression by the Philistines fall in with the times of Sampson and Eli chapter XIII verse 1 and are a part thereof Angel The Angel of the Lord verse 3 is called by Manoah Elohim God ver 22. And by his wife Jehovah ver 23. He whose Name is Wonderful ver 18 19. Esay IX 6. Nazarite Of Nazarites verse 5 see the Observations on Num. VI. 2. Begin Sampson did but begin only For the Philistines prevailed and Lorded it over Israel all the dayes of Sampson Ch. XIV 4. of Eli of Samuel partly 1. Sam.
the house of Dagon Thence to Gath Thence to Ekron And after they had kept it seven moneths they carried it to Beth-Shemesh a Citie in the Tribe of Judah given to the Priests 1 Chron. VI. 57 59. Josh. XXI 16. And it was fetched thence to Kiriath-jearim a Citie of Judah likewise 1 Chron. XIII 6. and Judg. XVIII 12. So called it may be from Kiriath-jearim the son of Shebal grand-childe of Caleb the son of Hur 1 Chron. II. 50 52 53. If Kiriath-jearim be there to be understood of the name of a man and not of the Citie Or thus called from its seate in a Wood or woody Countrey as the name signifieth See ou Psal. CXXXII 6. It was called also Kiriath-Baal Josh. XVIII 14 15. And Baalah Josh. XV. 9 10. 1 Chron. XIII 6. And Baale of Judah 2 Sam. VI. 2. It was brought thither into the house of Abinadab a Levite builded in the hill or Gibeah there 1 Sam. VII 1. 2 Sam. VI. 3 4. It abode there twenty years till the time of the Repentance and Reformation wrought by Samuel 1 Sam. VII 2 6. And after in the times of Saul it seems to be fetched thence to Giglal 1 Sam. X. 8. and Ch. XI 15. and ch XII 3. and chap. XIII 8 9. And after to Gibeah of Benjamin compare together 1 Sam. XIII 6. and chap. XIV 2 18. It may seeme to be thus fetched into extraordinary Assemblies upon extraordinary occasions both in Warre and Peace But being returned to Kiriath-jearim and the honse of Abinadab it was fetched thence by David 1 Chron. XIII 5. sixty seven years after it was first brought thither And was brought by him to the house of Obed-Edom 2 Sam. VI. 10. a Levite and Porter on the South-side of the Temple 1 Chron. XV. 18 24. and chap. XVI 38. and chap. XXVI 4 8 15. if not a Singer also 1 Chron. XV. 21. and chap XVI 5. And one of his race and name was treasurer in the Temple in the dayes of King Amatziah 2 Chron. XXV 24. He is called a Gittite likely because borne at Gath-Rimmon a Citie of the Kohathites Levites Josh. XXI 24 25. situated near Gath of the Philistines The Arke was there three moneths 2 Sam. VI. 11. 1 Chron. XIII 13 14. And then and thence fetched by David with great solemnity into the Tent which he prepared for it in the Citie of David in Jerusalem 1 Chron. XV. 1 29. and XVI 1. 2 Chron. I. 4. And thence seemes to be carried into Joabs Camp before Rabbah 2 Sam. XI 11. And begun to be carried with David in his flight from Absalom 2 Sam. XV. 24 25. And being returned to Davids Tent for it in Jerusalem Solomon as soone as he had builded the Temple brings it thence with great solemnity and placeth it in the Holy Oracle 2 Chron. V. 2 14. and chap. XXXV 3. about one hundred and twelve years after it first left Shiloh And last of all was burned with the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar And no more to be minded or remembred in the dayes of the Messiah Jer. III. 16. The hand of God The hand of God in Punishments upon the Philistines chapter V. VI. for detaining the Arke were Mice marring the Land chap. VI. 5. And in their bodies Emerods and some other disease or plague whereof most died chap. V. 12. The house of Dagon This Dagon was the Idol or God of the Philistines chapter V Judg. verse 2 XVI 22. They lived on the coast of the midland-Sea on the East-end of it from us This Dagon seemes to be a kinde of Sea-god having his name from Dag which signifies a Fish and is thought to be portraied like a Fish from the middle downward and his upper part like a man if not a maid 1 Sam. V. 4. Such Idols other Heathens worshipped as the gods of the Sea as Neptune Triton This House or Temple of Dagon was a marvellous House Judg. XVI 27. Hither the Philistines brought Sampson to make them sport and he brought down the House upon them Judg. XVI 30. Hither they brought the Ark of God as a captive in triumph to the honour of their Idol And Dagon fell down before the Ark broken in pieces 1 Sam. V. 3 4. And here they fastened the head of Saul whom they slew in Gilboa 1 Chron. X. 10. Bethshemesh Bethshemesh a Citie of the Priests chapter VI verse 9 in the Tribe of Judah on the North-border of it Iosh. II. 16. and XV. 10. 1. Chron. VI. 59. Here Amaziah of Iudah fighting against Iehoash of Israel was vanquished and taken 2 King XIV 2 Chron. XXV There was another Bethshemesh a fenced Citie of Naphtali Iosh XIX 38. Iudg. I. 33. Another Bethshemesh a prime Citie in Egypt Ier. XLIII 13. called anciently On in later times Damieta Bethshemesh signifies the house of the Sun and the Cities so called from the Temples of the Sun built therein and the idol-worship of the Sun by the ancient inhabitants practised there Fifty thousand and seventy men These were not all of the Citie Bethshemesh verse 19 but of the people also of neighbouring townes and places that came rejoycing ro see the Arke returned but over-boldly gazing on it bare and uncovered by the Philistines or by themselves contrary to the Law Num. IV. 5 20. If not prying presumptuously into it out of an impious curiosity or a pretence to see whether the Philistines had taken ought out of it or put any thing into it Kiriath-jearim A Citie chapter VII verse 1 not of the Levites or Priests and seated in the Tribe of Iudah Iosh. XV. 9 formerly called Kiriath-Baal ver 60. and XVIII 14. Of this Citie see more in the Observations on Ch. IV. 3. and on Psal. CXXXII 6. These Citizens fetched the Arke but borne and carried by the Priests of Bethshemesh Twenty yeeres Till this time of lamentation and repentance verse 2 and a long time after see the Observations on Iosh. VI. 6. Thundered By thunder here by hailstones verse 10 Iosh. X. 10 11. Now make us a King The danger by Nahash chapter VIII verse 5 as well as the wickednesse of Samuels sons made the Israelites ask a King 1 Sam. XII 12. which they might have done warrantably if they had waited patiently and faithfully as well for the time when as the person whom God should choose But not tumultuously and distrustfully as they did now 1 Sam. VIII 5 c. and Ch. XII 19. Hos. VIII 4. This will be the maner This maner of a King speaks in many things more then what is the lawful power verse 11 and duty of a good King more what he will do then what he ought to do The fourth part of a Shekel Samuel chapter IX verse 8 and God in him condescends to answer touching Saul's Asses As Ahijah did touching the sicknesse of Jeroboams childe 1 King XIV And Elias did also of Ahaziah 2. King 1. And Samuel in humility seems to accept of a trifle they having
fortified by him after the revolt of the ten Tribes 2 Chron. XI 10. Reigned two years That is verse 10 peaceably before the warre betweene Abner and Joab ver 12 c. As Saul reigned two years 1 Sam. XIII 1. that is Peaceably as well as Lawfully before his Kingdom was in a maner taken from him by the Philistines 1 Sam. XIII 19. Zerviah the sister of David had these three valiant sonnes verse 18 Joab Abishai Asahel And Abigael the other sister of David had Amasa 2 Sam. XVII 25. 1 Chron. II. 15 16 17. Michal Michal loved by both her husbands chapter III verse 13 16. David and Phaltiel see 1 Sam. XXV 44. Abner He verse 28 and Saul were brothers children 1 Sam. XIV 50 51. Millo This in chapter V verse 9 or adjoyning to the strong hold of Zion the Citie of David taken by him and Joab of the Jebusites notwithstanding their scornful brag and confidence And David built the Citie round about from Millo and inward And Joab repaired the rest of the Citie 1 Chron. XI 8. 2 Chron. XXXII 5. This Millo Solomon built 1 King IX 15 24. and XI 27. There was another Millo in or adjoyning to the Citie Shechem where Abimelech was made King Judg. IX 6 20. unto the day of her death i. chapter VI verse 23 e. Michal never had any childe Those five sons 2 Sam. XXI 8. were the sonnes of Merab Michals sister whom Michal brought up for Adriel Merabs husband 1 Sam. XVIII 19. 2 Sam. XXI 8. And are called Michals sonnes because she did educate if not adopt them And in a sort not much unlike is Obed called Naomies son Ruth IV. 16 17. see Matth. I. 25. and XXVIII 20. I will The Promises are some Peculiar to Solomon some to Christ some to both as the Type and Antitype Davids Conquests chapter VII verse 12 Hadadezer or Hadarezer chapter VIII 1 Chron. XVIII 3. The like is in Diphath and Riphath in Dodanim verse 1-14 and Rodanim 1 Chron. I. 6 7. compared with Gen. verse 3 X. 3 4. The Hebrew letters Daleth and Resh are like one another and often put and used one for another See Esay XLVI 15. Jer. II. 20 ch XXXI 40. which shews that the Hebrew letters had the same forme and figure in those dayes which they have at this day And the same Observation may be made upon the like change of other letters wittingly made in Scripture and much used in proper names and much more used in the many mistakes of Interpreters and Translators of Scriptures in many other places and all by reason of the similitude of their Hebrew Characters as namely of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All which argue still not the Samaritan Characters which have none of these mutual Similitudes amongst themselves but the Hebrew Characters we have now to be the same which were from the Beginning or in Ezra his time And farther The Hebrew Jod is the smallest letter as it is intimated Matth. V. 18. whereas the Samaritan Jod is one of the largest a thousand These one thousand here are expressed to be Charets verse 4 1 Chron. XVIII 4. And the seven hundred horsemen are expounded to be seven hundted rancks of horsemen or decurioues ten in a ranck and so make seven thousand horsemen in the foresaid place Syrians Hebrew are Aram and Aramites for Syria and Syrians verse 5 So still in the Old Testament These came of Aram the sonne of Shem Gen. X. 22. We read of Padan-Aram wherein Haran was the place where Terah Bethuel and Laban dwelt Gen. XI 32. and XXVIII and XXIX chapters Of Aram Naharaim Judg. III. 8. of Aram-Zobah Ps. LX. title Of Aram of Damascus in this Text. The word is of a great latitude and comprehends great Countreys in it As Mesopotamia so called because in the middle of two armes of Euphrates or of the two famous rivers of Euphrates and Tygris And to this Situation the names of Padan-Aram and Aram-Naharaim do relate But in later ages Aram most relates to Aram of Damascus that Syria whereof Damascus was the chief Citie And of this Syria see more in my Annotations on Amos I. 4 5. For the Catalogue of the Kings of Syria see the great Annotations on Amos I. 4. We read of four battels of David with the Syrians The first here when they came to succour Hadadezer against David And in this two and twenty thousand of them slain 1 Chron. XVIII 5. The second ver 13. in the Valley of Salt And Edomites are named there 1 Chron XVIII 11 12. and Psal. LX. in the Title of it Because both Syrians and Edomites joyned in the battell against Davids Generals Joab and Abishai and therefore the victory is ascribed to each of the three and the number flaine is twelve thousand Ps. LX. 1. and six thousand more either by Joab alone before the main battel or by both the brethren after it in the pursuit of the victory in all eighteen thousand 2 Sam. VIII 13. 1 Chron. XVIII 12. The third battel 2 Sam. X. 6 14. when the Syrians joyned to help the Ammonites and fled before Joab 1 Chron. XIX 6. 7 10 14. The fourth battel with the Syrians 2 Sam. X. 15 19. wherein David slew the men of seven hundred Chariots i. e. of seven hundred rancks or troops having ten in a ranck or troop not ten men in a Charet in all seven thousand 1 Chron. XIX 18. And fourty thousand horsemen 2 Sam. X. 18. And fourty thousand footmen 1 Chron. XIX 18. And Shobach the Captaine of their Hoast Zadok He was in Davids verse 17 and Solomons times 2 Sam. VIII 17. and XX. 25. 1 King I. 8. He anointed Solomon King and by him was put in the roome of Abiathar 1 King I. 32 34. and chap. II. 35. He was the son of another Ahitub then he that was father of Ahimelech And he came from Eleazar the eldest son of Aaron and from Phineas his son after six descents 1 Chron. VI. 4 5 6. And the High Priests of his posterity in a continued series and succession to the Babylonish Captivity are recorded in eleven generations 1 Chron. VI. 9 15. And after the Captivity in six generations to Jaddua who lived in the dayes of Alexander the Great which is the last Historical Record of the Old Testament Neh. XII 10 11. This Zadoks son was that Ahimaaz afterwards High Priest mentioned by David 2 Sam. XV. 27. This Zadok of the line of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the line of Ithamar were the Priests chief of those two families with command over the rest of the Priests
verse 9 The Princes by their authority and in the Kings name made way for them so to do with the better courage countenance and successe Philistines These verse 11 and the Arabians subdued by Asa chap. XIV 14 15. Numbers See the Observations on chap. verse 14 XIII 3. Waited Waited in their Courses verse 19 some at one time some at another Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat marries his sonne Jehoram to Athaliah chapter XVIII verse 1 Ahabs daughter And this in the eighth year of Jehoshaphats reign as appears by the age of Ahaziah succeeding his father Jehoram in the Kingdome when he was two and twenty years old 2 Kings VIII 18 26 27. 2 Chron. XXII 2. with chap. XXI 5. went down to Ahab In the twenty two and last year of Ahabs reign verse 2 and life And in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat Ramoth Gilead See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 28. at a venture Gods Providence verse 33 See the Observations on Ester V. 8. and on Ezek. I. 18. Wrath Wrath deserved by him chapter XIX verse 2 and appearing on him chapter XVIII 31 and XX. 1. from Beershebah to Mount Ephraim The South and North borders of the Kingdome of Judah verse 4 set As Jehoshaphats Commission for teaching throughout the Kingdome was chap. verse 8. 11. XVII 9. So here is his High-Commission-Court at Jerusalem 2 Chron. XIX 8 11. following therein the Ordinance of Moses Deut. XVII and XIX See the Observations on Deut. XVII 8 13. Hazazon-Tamar Gen. chapter XX verse 2 XIV 7. Called also Engedi a Citie of the tribe of Judah Josh. XV. 62. thy friend So Esay XLI verse 7 8. James II. 23. cliffe of Ziz And so the Wildernesse of Jervel verse 16 both in the tribe of Judah near Tekoah and Berakah ver XX. 26. Korhites Korhites that descended of that Korah the sonne of Izhar the sonne of Kohath swallowed up of the earth Num. XVI 1. 32. These were singers in the Temple and some of them Porters Praise the Lord Psal. verse 21 CXXXVI So chap. XXIX 27. began to sing In assurance of victory verse 22 three dayes A rich spoile verse 25 of Jehu See the Annotations on chap. verse 34 XIX 2. in the book 1 King XVI 1. joyned himself Jehoshaphat first verse 36 it seemes refusing to have Ahaziah to joyne with him to make ships to go to Tarshish 1 Kings XXII 49. doth at last yeeld and is reproved by Eliezer and the ships are broken Not that he joyned first and refused after upon the Prophets reproof for then the ships might well have been unbroken But however Here the good King falls once and again into the same fault of joyning himself with wicked Ahaziah as formerly he had done with wicked Ahab chap. XVIII 1 2 3. and chap. XIX 2. As we see the like in Abraham Gen. XII 13. with chap. XX. 2. Jehoshaphat King of Israel Jehoshaphat here is called King of Israel chapter XXI verse 2 that being then a distinct Kingdome from his So again are the Princes called ver 4. And Ahaz likewise 2 Chron. XXVIII 19 27. And Darius is called King of Assyria Ezra VI. 22. And Artaxerxes King of Babylon Neh. XIII 6. As indeed the Persian Monarchs were the rightful Kings of Persia Assyria and Babylon or Chaldea Of names see more in the Annotations on 2 Chron. XXIV 20. of his father After his father Jehoshaphats death verse 4 In his fathers life-time Jehoram carried himself better both as Viceroy and King slew all his brethren And see Gods judgements upon his sonnes ver 17. and his grand-children chap. XXII 10 11. only Jehoahaz or Ahaziah or Azariah left of the one and Joash of the other compelled By force and persecutions verse 11 A most wicked sonne of a godly father A writing to him from Elijah Written in the life-time of Elijah verse 12 15. who died before Jehoshaphat 2 Kings III. 11. Left and directed to Jehoram or for him who would not endure the Reproof of a living Prophet Therein prophesying and foretelling Jehorams Sinnes and Punishments Amongst other his wickednesses He shew all his brethren the sonnes of Jehoshaphat 2. Chron. XXI 4. And his sons were all slaine by the Philistines and Arabians but Ahaziah the youngest called also Jehoachaz 2 Chron. XXI 17. and Azariah chap. XXII 6 7. 2 Chron. XXI 17. and XXII 1. And Ahaziah was slaine by Jehu 2 Chron. XXII 9. when he was twenty three years old 2 Kings VIII 26. And the sonnes of Ahaziah were slaine by their grand-mother Athaliah save Joash that was hid from her and after crowned King and at last slaine by his own servants 2 Chron. XXIV 24 25. We read that Josiah and Cyrus by their names were prophesied of many ages before they were borne But their good deeds were foretold not any evill of them as of idolatrous bloody Jehoram here Elisha foretels Hazael face to face of his bloodinesse and evil that he would do to the children of Israel 2 King VIII 12. Arabians near the Ethiopians See the Observations on Gen. verse 16 II. 13. he reigned Iehoram of Iudah his Life verse 20 Death Burial Fourty and two Clear it is chapter XXII verse 2 That Iehoram the father of Ahaziah was but fourty years old when he died chap. XXI 5. And that Ahaziah himself was but twenty two years old when he began to reigne 2 Kings VIII 26. But it was in the two and fourtieth year of the continuance of the Crown in Omri and his race from whom Ahaziah descended by his mother Athaliah 2 Kings VIII 18 26. And the Hebrew expression by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sonne together with a trajection of some clauses in this verse do render this interpretation the more passable And a like passage we finde as hath been shewed in chap. XVI 1. And such trajections are used 1 Sam. XX. 16. Ezra X. 17. Neh. XII 22. Athaliah Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah and wife of Jehoram the sonne of Jehoshaphat and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and grandchilde of Omri in Samaria Not in the Citie verse 9 but in the Kingdome of Samaria 2 Kings IX 27. Sonne of Jehoshaphat Grandchilde So daughter for grandchilde verse 2. A phrase usuall in Scripture seed royal Sonnes of Ahaziah verse 10 ver 11. likely by other women of the King Jehoram verse 11 and sister of Ahaziah as is expressed in this verse Of the Priests chapter XXIII verse 4 and of the Levites They the Prime men in the deposing of Athaliah and crowning of Joash guarding the gates and compassing the King round about with weapons in hand their courses being not dismissed and others of them gathered out of all the Cities of Iudah gate of the foundation Called Shur verse 5 2 Kings XI 6. the high or higher gate 2 Kings XV. 35. 2 Chron. XXVII 3. Of the Gates of the Temple and Courts See the Annotations on Ezek. VIII 3. See also Ezek. VIII 5. 14. and chap. IX 2. and chap. XL.
Temple verse 12 which was burnt but fifty two years before wept at the laying of the foundation of this Temple either at the remembrance of the wondrous glory of the former Temple so burnt and consumed and considering the small Preparations and Meanes for the building and furnishing of this Ezra I. 4 6 68 69. and chap. VI. 8 9. and chap. VII 15 22. and chap. VIII 25 26 27. 33 34. Neh. VII 70 71 72. in comparison of those for the former Temple Hag. II. 3. In which case God comforts them Hag. II. 7 9. Zech. IV. 6 10. and VIII 6 9. Mal. III. 1. Or else seeing these foundation-stones not so goodly and precious as those were known to be that were in Solomons Temple 1 Kings VII 9 10. For as for the largenesse and compasse of the foundation it was not inferiour to that of Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. Yea far superiour if that Decree of Cyrus and the record of it found by Darius Ezra VI. 1 2 3. mistake not and the Cubits be the same Esar-haddon The sonne of Sennacherib chapter IV verse 2 2 Kings XIX 37. and grandchild of Salmaneser And this seemes to be the last of the Assyrian Kings And the same with Asnapper and to be him that carried Manasseh prisoner to Babylon then under the Assyrian Empire 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. And is likely the man whom Ptolomie calls Assaradinus and the Greeks Sardanapalus of Sar for Esar haddon and Pul Pul being much used in the names of the Assyrian and Chaldean Kings Brought us up hither So that those adversaries ver 1. seeme to be the race of those Samaritanes brought in by Salmanesar 2 Kings XVII 6 24. Or a second kinde of plantation by his grandchilde ver 9. which ever continued fierce enemies to the Jewes whatever they mischeivously pretend here John IV. 9. Luke IX 52 53. And this makes that Answer returned to them here ver 3. Darius Hystaspis Ahasuerus Ahasuerus seemes most probably to be the man whom Heathen Authors call Smerdis Magus verse 5 the sonne of Cyrus and younger brother of Cambyses verse 6 reigning a very short time Artaxerxes As they had formerly done in the dayes of this Artaxerxes verse 7 who most likely is Cambyses For to understand this of Artaxerxes Longimanus and much more of Artaxerxes Mnemon And the Temple to be builded in the dayes of Darius Nothus and much more of Darius Ochus will no wayes stand with these Scriptures and the notation of times contained in them Zech. III. 9. and Hag. II. 3. Syrian tongue Hebr. Aramite This was in ordinary use under the Assvrian Chaldean and Persian Monarchy Esay XXXVI 11. Dan. II. 4. This we commonly call the Chaldee tongue It differs from the Hebrew Dialect Esay XXVIII 11. and chap. XXXIII 13. and XXXVI 11. Yet in the dayes of our Saviour it grew common among the Jewes also and is in that regard called the Hebrew tongue in the New Testament John XIX 13 17. Acts XXI 40. and XXII 2. Rehum This verse 8 and all the rest to chap. VI. 19. is penned in the Chaldee Dialect And so chap. VII 11 -27. building the rebellious and the bad Citie So ver verse 12 13. and 16. They only went about to build the Temple the river So chap. V. 6. Jordan verse 16 or rather Euphrates ver 17. and 20. From Persia it is beyond the river work of the House of God Though their Letter verse 24 and the Kings Answer mention only the Citie yet they extend it here to the House of God Zechariah He is called the sonne chapter V verse 1 of Iddo And Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel ver 2. And they were indeed their grandchildren Zech. I. 1. 1 Chron. III. 17 18 19. Tatnai He verse 6 and Shethar-boznai deale more fairly and truly with the Jews in their letter to Darius then Rehum and Shimsai did in theirs to Artaxerxes chap. IV. 12 16. And they make mention only of the House of God and not of the Citie untill now But hindered and inhibited in the meane time verse 16 chap. IV. 21 22. in Babylon Or concerning Babylon chapter VI verse 1 Achmetha Called by Heathen Authors Ecbatana signifying a Summer seat for coole refreshing verse 2 In which Citie the Kings of Media kept their Court in the Summer season threescore Cubits Cubits likely are taken here for common Cubits half the length of sacred Cubits verse 3 which sacred Cubits were unknowne to Heathen And the number of them may be reckoned from the bottome of the foundation to the top on the outside and from the outsides of the Temple including the thicknesse of the walls and of the Chambers adjoyning And so this Temple will be lesse then Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. 2 Chron. III. 3. according to that Hag. II. 3. See the Annotations on this text and the Observations on Ch. III. 12. three rowes This relates to the Courts of the Temple verse 4 Let timber The great zeale of this King for the Temple verse 11 appears in this and other passages and Decrees in this his Letter Artaxerxes Likely one of the seven that put down Smerdis Magus and in a sort verse 14 at the beginning was fellow in Empire with Darius Hystaspides finished About twenty two years after their Returne verse 15 about twenty since the foundation was laid Offered not comparable to that verse 17 1 Kings VIII 5 63. 2 Chron. VII 5. 7. And the children From this verse to Chap. VII ver 11. the Text again is Hebrew verse 19 Killed Each family verse 20 or master of family must not kill it themselves as they did in Egypt But Gods Ministers Priests and Levites must do it 2. Chron. XXX 15 16 17. separated themselves unto them Heathen Proselytes verse 21 King of Assyria See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXI 2. verse 22 Artaxerxes chapter VII verse 1 Longimanus Ezra See the Observations touching him in the beginning of this his Book Azariah Six generations here omitted verse 3 1 Chron. VI. ver 7 8 9 10 11. And three generations omitted between Jeroam and Pashur 1 Chron. IX 12. compared with Neh. XI 12. And so three generations are omitted between Joram and Ozias Matth. I. 8 And all done for brevity sake conceiving those Omissions to be things evidently known or not so material to be there inserted King granted Ezra's extraordinary power and authority was from the Kings grant verse 6 and not otherwayes went up So backward were the Jewes in returning back to Judea after the Proclamation of Cyrus yea verse 7 the Priests and Levites themselves See Esther VIII 8 9. first Four moneths in going verse 9 King of Kings Ezek. XXVI 7. Dan. II. 37. verse 12 This whole Letter is in the Chaldean tongue seven Counsellors So Esther I. 14. verse 14 freely offered great zeale verse 15 and forwardnesse here ver 20 26. and 28. and chap. 8. 25 26 27. as was formerly in Darius chap. VI. 11. canst finde Grants
and oppressed chap. V. 11 12 13. And his heat and wrath against sinne chap. XIII 25. And his wonderful bounty chap. V. 14 15 17 18. are all very remarkable a time Twelve years verse 6 chap. V. 14. and XIII 6. Sanballat As the Samaritanes opposed and hindered Zerubbabâ—l in the Building of the Temple Ezra IV. So the Moabite Ammonite and Arabian disturbed Nehemiah in the building of the walls of the Citie Neh. II 10 19. and IV. 1 c. and VI. 1 c. Which were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m is used in the end of a word which never useth so to be And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m proper to the end of a word is found in the middle in the beginning of Esay IX 7. Eliashib Eliashib the son of Jojakim chapter III grandchild of Jeshua which Jeshua came up with Zerubbabel Neh XII 10. Ezra II. 2. and lived to finish the Building of the Temple Hag. I. 14. was High Priest in the Beginning of Nehemiah's twelve years Government in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus Neh. III. 1. 20. as was said before about sixty years after the Temple was finished gate For the Gates of the Citie of Jerusalem we read of the Citie-gate 2 Chron. XXXII 6. the first Gate Zech. XIV 10. the Gate of Benjamin Jer. XXXVII 12 13. and XXXVIII 7. Zech. XIV 10. situate in the wall of the Citie in the Tribe of Benjamin Northward Yet said to be in the House of the Lord Jer. XX. 2. that is by it as the particle Beth is used Num. XXXIII 37. Josh. V. 13. and chap. XXIV ver 25 26 32. Jer. XIII 5. and XXXII 7. the Gate of Ephraim 2 Kings XIV 13. Neh. XII 39. the Corner Gate 2 Chron. XXV 23. and the Valley Gate 2 Chron. XXVI 9. the Fish Gate 2 Chron. XXXIII 14. The New Gate Jer. XXVI 10. because repaired new by Jotham 2 Kings XV. 35. 2 Chron. XXVII 3. Yet some make it the East Gate some the West Gate of the outer Court of the Temple wherein they will have the Sanhedrin to sit The Gate between two walls by the Kings Garden if this be a Gate of the Citie 2 Kings XXV 4. In Nehemiah's time at his new building of the Walls of the Citie we read of the Sheep Gate of the Fish Gate the Old Gate the East Gate Jer. XIX 2. the Valley Gate the Dung-Gate the Gate of the Fountain the Water Gate the Horse Gate the Gate Miphkad or Judicatory the Gate of Ephraim the Prison Gate Neh. II. 13 14. and chap. III. 1 3 6 13 14 15 26 28 31. and chap. XII 39. Zech. XIV 10. Besides Towers upon the Walls of both Cities the Tower of Meah the Tower of Hananeel Neh. XII 39. Zech. XIV 10. on the East side of the Citie between the Tower of Meah and the corner gate Neh. III. 1. the Tower of the Furnaces Neh. III. 1 11. and Ch. XII 38 39. and others And Valleys about it as Jer. XXXI 40. the Valley of the dead bodies under Mount Golgotha West-North-West of the Citie and the Valley of Ashes likely that came from the Altar of Burnt-Offerings the Valley of Jehoshaphat on the East and the Valley of the sons of Hinnom also the Valley of Savey or the Kings Vale or Dale on the South and the Valley of Rephaim or Gyants on the South-West And Fields mentioned about it the Fullers field on the South Esay VII 1. and the Porters field or Acheldama on the South-East Jer. XVIII 2. and XIX 2. and XXXI 40. Matth. XXVII 7. And Hills about Jerusalem were Mount Olivet on the East Mount Calverie or Golgotha on the West-North-west Mount Gihon West Mount Gareb North Ier. XXXI 39. The Brook Kidron did runne on the East-side of Jerusalem And the Fountain of Siloam or waters of Gihon on the West Pooles two of note were near Jerusalem Neh. III. 15 16. The upper Poole of Siloah called also the old Poole and Kings Poole on the South 2 Kings XVIII 17. Esay VII 2. and XXXVI 2. or South-West corner receiving its water from the river Gihon And the Lower of which Esay XXII 9. 2 Chron. XXXII 30. which was made long after Neh. III. 16. on the West and drew water from the upper sanctified it This sanctification of this Sheep-gate built by the High Priest and his brethren is deemed by some to be extraordinarily ratified and graced with that miraculous gift of healing from this time vouchsafed to the Poole of Bethesda close by this Gate of which mention is made John V. 2. cover not their iniquity See the Observations on Psal. chapter IV verse 5 CIX and the Annotations on this text of Nehemie unto the half Of the height of the Wall verse 6 a great cry Of Oppressions in three sorts chapter V set down in the three vers following Their needs and wants which made them liable to these oppressions being the more occasioned by their labours so much imploied in the publick work of the Walls usury Ver. 10. Of this see the inhibitions verse 7 Exod. XXII 25. Lev. XXV 36 37. Deut 23. 19 20. Ezek. XVIII 8. 13 17. And Gods judgements against it Prov. XXVIII 8. Ezek. XXII 12 13. Psal. XV. V. Yet the word is used sometimes in a larger sense and lawfull way as Matth. XXV 27. Luke XIX 23. And so Esay XXIV 2. Jer. XV. 10. And to a stranger the Jewes might lend upon usury Deut. XXIII 20. even this day Without delay verse 11 as Gen. XVII 23. hundreth part Which seemes to be that which they received for use and interest likely the hundreth part by the moneth of what they lent require nothing Here is more then was asked verse 12 or rather nothing more then what thou askest an oath See the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. Shook my lap See such like Rites used Luke IX 5. Acts XIII 51. and XVIII 6. 1 Kings IV. 29 30. verse 13 fourty Shekels Five pounds haply each day verse 15 taken and gathered from among them all daily Yet Solomons exceeded farre verse 18 1 Kings IV. 22 23. Ono A Valley chapter VI and a Citie in Benjamin chap. XI 35. 1 Chron. VIII 12. not farre from Jerusalem the fifth time Thinking to prevaile by impudent importunity verse 5 their King A charge of high treason verse 6 So Ezra IV. 12 13. John XIX 12. Shemajah His vile hypocrisie verse 10 false prophesie corruption by bribery so attempting strongly to hinder or destroy Nehemiah and his godly proceedings Elul About our August verse 15 in fifty and two dayes Wondrous speed See the Annotations This was in the twentieth or one and twentieth year of Artaxerxes and first year of Nehemiah's Government Nobles of Judah Guilty likely some way in the matter of marrying strange wives verse 17 ver 18. These are the children See the Observations on Ezra chapter VII verse 6 II. 2 60. And some These Contributions differ
in the highest degree in the bravest tents of wickednesse grace and glory Many referre grace to this life verse 11 and glory to that which is to come But grace rather may seeme here to signifie favour estimation honour as Prov. III. 34. Iames IV. 6. 1 Pet. V. 5. Exod. III. 21. Num. chap. XII 36. and XXXIII 12. Gen. VI. 8. and XXXIX 4. and L. 4. Esther II. 15. 17. and V. 2. Prov. XXII 1. and chap I. 9. and IV. 9. Luke II. 52. and I. 28. compared with verse 30. Thou hast been chapter LXXXV verse 1 Formerly brought back Out of Babylon Some understand this of the bringing back of David to Ierusalem after the rebellion of Absalom But not so likely covered all their sinne See the Observations on Psal. LI. 4. verse 2 Turne us Do now so again verse 4 I will hear Complaine no more verse 8 but hearken to God speaking his promises to his people and their duty are met Will meet have kissed Will kisse verse 10 though for the present things are otherwise verse 4 5. This and what followes had it most compleat fulfilling in and by the coming of Christ. A Prayer So is the Title of Psal. chapter LXXXVI XVII And this seemes to be as a set forme of prayer for the godly in distresse without any particular circumstances used in it of persons places or times appliable to all and may not unfitly be applied to Christ. I am holy So rather then as in the margin verse 2 one whom thou favourest The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports an active rather then a passive signification And so Psal. IV. 3. and XXXII 6. and L. 5. and LXXIX 2. This word is actively taken and that rightly in our translations though many learned men not so well advised therein render it passively to denote not the author and agent and his quality but the object spoken of Among the gods Verse 10. verse 8 Psal. LXXXIX 6. Deut. XXXII 39. Esay XXXVII 16 and XLIV 6. 1 Cor. VIII 4 5 6. Exod. XV. 1◠From the first Hebrew letters of which four words in Exodus came the name of the Maccabees as is thought unite my heart to fear thy Name Loose it from all other things verse 11 and cares and fears and knit it fast to thy fear only without back-sliding ever give thy strength Iohn XV. 5. verse 16 Phil. II. 13. and IV. 13. a toaken as in the end of the verse verse 17 His foundation Gods chapter LXXXVII verse 1 and his Churches Mountains Moriah and Zion Not now in a flitting Tabernacle Glorious things See Esay LIV. and LX. verse 3 and LX. and LXII and LXV Apoc XXI and XXII And see the Observations on Josh. 10. 1. Rahab So LXXXIX 10. verse 4 Esay LI. 9. See the Observations on Gen. XII 10. Egypt is meant hereby And the calling of Egypt to the fellowship of the Church Of whose calling see Esay XIX 19 21 25. to them that know me Or among them as of my knowne familiars Philistia Palestine the Philistines Psal. LX. 8. this And the rest afore named were born in the Citie of God by regeneration spiritual made the sonnes of God and of the Church verse◠5 6. 1 Pet. I. 23. Iames I. 18. Esay XLIV 5. Singers The spiritual joy both great verse 7 and general and of the Psalmist in particular which shall be in those dayes in the Church and of and for the Church in an allusion haply to the Jewish service Springs Of my joy and of Gods spiritual gifts and graces also Iohn VII 38. Esay XII 3. Ephes. III. 10. A Song See the Observations on Psal. chapter LXXXVIII XLVIII title Mahalath A kinde of winde-instrument Psal. LIII Leannoth May either make up the name of the Instrument or may seeme to signifie to sing by turnes or courses as Exod. XV. 21. Ezra III 11. Heman The next Psalm◠is of Ethan These were sacred Singers and Musitians descended of Levi 1 Chron. XV. 17 19. and XVI 41 42. and VI. 44. Of Heman see 1 Chron. XXV 1. 4 7. He was of the posterity of rebellious Korah and grandchilde of Samuel the Prophet 1 Chron. VI. 33. and himself King Davids Seer 1 Chron. XXV 5. There were two brethren Heman and Ethan of the posterity of Judah 1 Chron. II. 6. men renowned for their wisdome 1 King IV. 31. This Psalm is one of the most doleful of all the Bible And may serve as a set forme of a sad complaint to any man in his greatest distresse Some make application of it to Christ in his Sufferings free among the dead Psal. XXXI 12. verse 5 Job III. 18 19. I am shut up As a close prisoner in the Dungeon of sorrowes verse 8 and distresses wilt thou Psal. VI. 5. verse 10 and XXX 9. CXV 17. Esay XXXVIII 18. prevent thee Psal. V. 3. verse 13 Hab. II. 1. into darknesse That they hide themselves from me verse 18 none will appear to my releif by reason of the darknesse wherein I am buried as it were in the black Dungeon of calamities a Covenant In faithfulnesse verse 3 verse 1 2. How then comes it to be made void verse 38 45. David The figure and father of Christ who is also called David Ezek XXXIV 23. Jer. XXX 9. Hos. III. 5. Of him this Psalme is chiefly to be understood though not in all the particular passages Rahab See the Observations on Psal. LXXXVII 4. verse 10 Tabor Westward verse 12 see the Observations on Judg. IV 6. Hermon Eastward see the Ohervations on Deut. IV. 48. joyful sound Of the Trumpet verse 15 and other sacred musical instruments calling them to and used in the sacred services and solemnities to thy holy one To Samuel verse 19 who anointed David laid help upon one that is mighty Or help against the mighty both wayes meaning David who yet here may be taken as a Type of Christ. I will set Psal LXXII 8. verse 25 my Father This verse 26 and verse 27 28 29. universaly and plenarily belong to Christ And only imperfectly as in a weak type are applyable to David or Solomon 2 Sam. VII 14. Heb. I. 5. Luke I. 32 33. my first-borne The first-borne had the priviledges of double portion verse 27 chief Rule and Priesthood This true in Christ Col. I. 15 18. Matth. I. 25. Rom. VIII 29. Heb. I. 6. Apoc. I. 5. His seede Verse 36. Christians his spiritual seed Esay LIII 10. Heb. verse 29 II. 13. whence Christ is called the everlasting Father Esay IX 6. his throne Verse 37. Heb. I. 8. Dan. II. 44. and VII 14. Luke I. 33. The accomplishment of these Promises cannot be found in Solomon If his children So 2 Sam. VII 14 15. verse 30 True of Solomon and of his children and cannot be understood of Christs person who was not the natural of sonne of Solomon but of his brother Nathan And who was without sinne 1 Pet. II. 22 But as he bare our sinnes
another Rom. XI 34. No good in them verse 12 but c. To enjoy things present and to do good here and so have good hereafter Psal. CXXVIII 2. 1 Tim. VI. 18 19. it shall be for ever His doing and counsel shall stand verse 14 Esay XLVI 10 11. Jer. 44. 28. And is perfect and holy unalterable by man Job XXXVIII 31 c. We should therefore with willingnesse and contentment submit to him and his doings acquiesce in him and dread and adore him though our blear eyes cannot see the bright Sun-shine of his actions His decrees must not drive us to despair or to a neglect of using the means but from deifying our selves and our own wisdome in the use of meanes still depending upon his blessing And moreover Having formerly shewed the vanitie and vexation of Knowledge verse 16 and of Pleasures and of humane Labours in many regards together with the Remedies of them He now proceeds to shew more vanities and vexations and yet to vindicate Gods Providence in them the place of judgement That should be a Sanctuarie and Citie of Refuge for wronged Innocencie That wickednesse and oppression should be and reigne there was a great vexation and a great tentation too against Gods righteous Providence I said That God shall judge and right all verse 17 at least and last in that great Assizes to be held by his Sonne at the last day Acts XVII 31. Some he judgeth here lest his Providence but not all lest his patience and promise of judgement might be called into question Therefore this vanitie and vexation ought not to dismay the innocent or hearten the oppressors seeing God will amend all that God might manifest them Men in place and power verse 18 though they carry themselves as beasts to their brethren yet will hardly know themselves their own fraile and base condition and that as to outward respects they are but as the beasts that perish Psal. XLIX 20. God must manifest it to them And this should humble them and staine their pride This shewes and should cure this vanitie Prov. XXX 2. For that which befalleth Psal. verse 19 XLIX 10. chap. II. 15 16. hunger thirst diseases c. all turne to dust againe Expire alike verse 20 and the body turnes to dust alike Gen. III. 19. Job XXXIV 15. This still in relation to the body only Who knoweth the spirit of man No man can by sense discerne the ascent of the one verse 21 or the descent of the other But he can who hath the minde of Christ who hath seen the insides of Nature and Grace Who is spiritual 1 Cor. II. 14 15 16. See chap. XII 7. of this book And Solomons scope throughout this Book is to shew the vanitie of earthly things and of humane actions in order unto things under the Sunne as to satisfie the heart of man in the acquiring of true felicitie Of his immortal or heavenly condition he speaks not purposely But as he makes Pietie the Only Remedy against all these earthly vanities and vexations and so concludes his Book in the two last verses We need not here then to make these passages to be speeches taken up in the Person of the â—picure or Atheist Wherefore I perceive He resumes his Assertion verse 22 verse 13. and ch II. XXIV and V. 18. after him What shall become of his goods how used and disposed and by whom all the oppressions More vanities and vexations in the Civil State no Comforter Doubled here This addes to their miserie This was Jobs case chap. VI. 14 15. and chap. XVI 2. and chap. XIX 21. he crieth and calleth for this pitie and commiseration It was Davids case Psal. LXIX 20. And Jerusalems Lam. I. 2 9 16. God cals for it towards Jerusalem Esay XL. 1 2. And himself doth it Esay LI. 3 12. See Nahum III. 7. praised the dead He preferreth the ease and quietnesse of death before the miseries of such a dying life See Job chap. III. throughout Jonah IV. 3. 1 Kings XIX 4. He speaks here according to the judgment of men under oppression without relation to the wickednesse of men whose state after death is in those terrours and torments that shall either mend or end and they be never able to abide or avoid Matth. XXVI 24. not yet been Job III. verse 3 10. and chap. X. 18 19. envied For his eminent worth and works verse 4 his ingenious Acts and Parts As the Courtiers of Persia did Daniel See Prov. XXVII 4. foldeth his hands The foolish sluggard so described verse 5 Prov. VI. 6. See the Explanations there And chap. XXVI 15. and chap. XIX 24. eateth his own flesh Prov. X. 4. maketh many an hungry meale Better is an handful The sluggards plea. verse 6 Sinners will have their shifts saw vanitie Another vanitie contrary to the former Fools whiles they shun the sands do rush upon the rocks yet no end of all his labour This matchlesse miser verse 8 and fellow that hardly hath a fellow is never satisfied as Prov. XXX 15. toiles without end Esay V. 8. Hab. II. 5. and to no end trusts he can draw up Jordan into his mouth Job XL. 23. and yet knows he hath none to whom he may leave his goods so toiled for This is worse then that of Psal. XXXIX 6. neither is his eye satisfied with riches Indeed the eye only hath the use of riches with such covetous men Two are better then one In a natural verse 9 and in a Moral sense Jer. XLI 13 14. 2 Sam. X. 11. And spiritualy next to Communion with God is the Communion of Saints Psal. XVI 2. Heb. X. 24. he cometh to reigne The poor and wise child verse 14 I considered Another vanitie and vexation if this be not an exemplification of the old foolish King dethroned and the poor wise child standing up in his stead all the living All the present generation of men living under a present Prince or Government the multitude many-headed given to change falling off from the falling Sun and adoring the rising Sunne with the second child The Successor sonne or who ever he be joyning to him and following him as thinking they must live by the living and not by the dead and so expecting protection and preservation by and under him Such is the vanitie and vexation of Princes that if they live long they outlive their own glorie and are looked upon by their own subjects as faling sinking bending to the grave And such is the vanitie and levitie of people that they are weary of present government and even sick for a change prove the change what it will 1 Sam. VIII 5 18 19 20. and XII 12. 2 Sam. XV. 12 13. and chap. XX. 2. 1 Kings II. 15. Prov. XXIV 21. no end of all the people Infinitely discontented verse 16 and restlesse in their desires of change never contented with their present state The people put no end or stop to this vanitie to this their epidemical
subject matter of it agreeth much with ch XXIV This being a Prophecie of the destruction of the enemies of Gods people And more particularly of the Edomites in Idumea set forth in many hyperbolical expressions And all the hoast of heaven So strange and dreadful shall Gods judgements be verse 4 that the whole frame of the world shall seeme to be dissolved It is the maner of Gods Prophets in their descriptions of some extraordinary judgements to set them forth in such colours as if they were deciphering the face of that last universal judgement whereof such are in some sort resemblances and forerunners And again to set forth the restitution and restauration of Gods people out of greatest calamities in such termes as have occasioned many to be mistaken in them conceiving no other then the general and joyful resurrection at the last day to be described in them Unicorns Or Rhinocerots See the Observations on Num. XXIII 22. verse 7 for ever and ever Heb. verse 10 ever of evers The Cormorant See the like verse 11 Chap. XIII 18 22. and XIV 23. Zeph. II. 13 14. Apoc. XVIII 2. Seek ye out The certainty of this Prophecie verse 16 As if each thing here were entred into a roll of Record In the day of the execution of this judgement take this Book read this passage and see if any of these be found wanting then and there they shall These wilde creatures shall verse 17 This Chapter agreeth much with chap. chapter XXXV XXV And containes the joyful and glorious restitution exaltation and exultation of Gods people Sharon A fertil region verse 2 and pleasant lying beneath mount Lebanon in the Tribe of God and adjoyning unto Bashan 1 Chron. V. 16. There were the Roses mentioned Cant. II. 1. There had David his herds feeding 1 Chron. XXVII 29. Likely it is the same with Lassharon Josh. XII 18. Strengthen ye He incites them to hearten and encourge one another verse 3 with faith and patience to expect the accomplishment of those glorious promises Then the eyes of the blind Fulfilled in Christs time verse 5 both corporaly and spiritualy For in the wildernesse Literaly true in the Jewish Kingdome verse 6 being there â—n a Type of Christs And an high way They shall be blessed with peace verse 8 and safety the way of holinesse A Type of the way to heaven but it shall be for those Holy ones verse 5 6. No Lion shall be there As the way so plaine verse 9 so as free from danger This History is brought in to confirme and seale up the truth of some of the Prophecies and Predictions aforegoing This is recorded 2 Kings XVIII and XIX 2 Chron. XXXII came up Upon pretence likely of the Contribution with-held by Hezekiah chapter XXXVI verse 1 which his father Ahaz had paid to Tiglath-Pilezer 2 Kings XVI 7 9. and XVIII 7. without the Lord Heb. Jehovah verse 10 that sonne of four letters as the Hebrews call it used here by Rabshakeh six times in his Speech Syrian language See the Observations on Ezra IV. 7. verse 11 dung and pisse See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. verse 12 and take you away The maner of Conquerours to transplant the Natives verse 17 Sepharvaim Subdued before his time verse 19 2 Kings XVII 24. Eliakim Now in Shebna's office and place verse 22 And Shebna now the Scribe and so here is the beginning of his fall chap. XXII 20 21. chap. XXXVII 2. This Chapter the same in substance with 2 Kings XIX chapter XXXVII a rumor Verse 9. and 36. verse 7 So Rabshakeh returned Most likely leaving the armie still before Jerusalem verse 8 Libnah See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 22. Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. 13. Ethiopia See the Observations on Gen. II. 13. warre with thee Either to assist the Jewes verse 9 or in Assyria in the absence of Sennacherib and his forces Thus shall ye speak Instructions to his messengers verse 10 delivered to them in writing and so by them in writing to Hezekiah Likely as if he scorned to write himself to Hezekiah but sent him only a Copie of the Instructions Eden See the Observations on Gen. II. 8. verse 12 Cherubims See the Observations on Gen. III. 24. verse 16 And the Annotations on Ezek. IX 3. and on this text a Signe See the Observations on chap. VII 14. verse 30 and on Exod. III. 12. ye shall eate this yeare A confirmation of Sennacheribs sudden departure and returne home And also including in it an assurance of a comfortable provision of necessary food for them out of the Land notwithstanding all the havock that Sennacheribs armies had made in it and the coincident Sabbatical year for intermission of culture See the Observations on Lev. XXV 21. Then In that night verse 36 2 Kings XIX 35. the very next night after the message sent from God by Esay and smote The maner how is not expressed in the camp Likely both before Jerusalem and Libnah See Ch. XXXVI 2. and verse 8 9 14 33. of this Chapter all dead corpses All in a maner Yet some escaped and sled with Sennacherib himself See chap. XVII 14. Nineveh See the Annotations on Jonah I. 2. verse 37 and on this text his sonnes These words here written verse 38 are read in the margin but not written in the text 2 Kings XIX 37. Armenia Heb. Ararat on the mountains whereof the Arke rested Esarhaddon See the Observations on Ezra IV. 2. In those dayes chapter XXXVIII verse 1 Shortly after Sennacheribs defeat and departure shalt die Yet a secret reservation there was See Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. See the Observations on Jonah III. 4. to the wall Which haply might be towards the Temple verse 2 or by that withdrawing that he might with the more privacie and intention make his addresse to God remember now Humbly appealing to God verse 3 touching the integrity and sincerity of his heart and endeavours wept sâ—re One cause might be the want of a son Manasseh was not yet born And the State of Church and Common-wealth much unsetled Then Afore Esay was gone out into the middle Court verse 4 2 Kings XX. 4. where the text is Citie but the margin Court And the first Court of the Kings house that neerest the Palace and farthest from the street or Citie seemes here to be meant to thy dayes That he had lived already verse 5 fifteene years About the one half of his reigne verse 6 will deliver thee and this Citie The promise before made is again here renewed assuring him as of his life so of peace and tranquility to be continued to him with it that Sennacherib should not return or any Assyrian to molest him or this Citie 2 Chron. XXXII 22. which yet afterwards was done in the dayes of his son Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. a Signe Asked by Hezekiah ver 22. verse 7 and put to his choise 2 Kings XX. 8 10. So the Sunne returned ten
the Countrey five peeces of silver Or five silverings See these Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. said Said to the Elders chapter VII verse 1 to the Messinger and to the King Jehoram the son of Ahab ver 17. 18. a measure See my Observations on Gen XVIII 6. twilight In the evening verse 5 ver 9 12. Edom Edom revolts from Judah chapter VIII verse 20 1 King XXII 47. As Moab had done from Israel 2 King III. 5. Libna A Citie verse 22 which with the King thereof was destroyed by Joshuah Josh. X. 29. and XII 15. After fell by lot to the Tribe of Judah And given to the Priests Josh. XXI 13. 1 Chron. VI. 57. It rebelled wonder it should against Judah in the dayes of wicked Iehoram the son of good Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. XXI 10. Senacherib did warre against it in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XIX 8. Esay XXXVII 8. And there likely had his army or a great part of it slaine by the Angel of the Lord. There was another place called Libna the seventeenth Station of the Israelites mentioned Num. XXXIII 20 21. Sonne-in-law His father was so verse 27 And himself might be to that House Ramoth-Gilead A Citie of Refuge verse 28 in the Tribe of Gad given to the Merarites Deut. IV. 43. Josh. XIII 26. and chap. XXI 38. This was taken by the King of Syria And Ahab with the joynt forces of Jehoshaphat seeking to recover it yet failed of his purpose and was there slaine by Benhadad whose life he had unjustly spared 1 King XX. 30 42. and XXII 3 35. And Jehoram the sonne of Ahab with the joynt forces of Ahaziah King of Judah actualy recovered it from Hazael King of Syria But was wounded there And Jehu being left there as a Captaine under Jehoram to keep it was anointed there by command and direction of the Prophet Elisha to be King of Israel who thereupon soone slew both Jehoram and Ahaziah 2 King VIII 28 29. and chap. IX his sonnes chapter IX verse 26 Naboths sons slaine with him a draught-house Here the Masorets put a more cleanly word chapter X verse 27 in their Keri in the margin to be read then is the Cetib written in the Text as if they would prompt to the Holy Ghost a more manerly speech And so Deut. XXVIII 30. Jer. III. 2. Lesse marvaile then if they deale so with the words of Rabshakeh Esay XXXVI 12. And in Zechary speaking of Jerusalems destruction and womens usage by soldiers grosse to speak the Text telleth the terme to be seene the margin what they would have read And in Jer. XXXI 38. they leave a blanck in the Text with the vowel points underneath and place the head letters in the margin of a word which they suppose to be wanting Some various Readings seeme to be in the Hebrew Text. See the learned Annotations on Jer. IX 8. and on chap. XVII 13. And some learned seeme to grant some superfluous insertions as Jer. LI. 3 in the word bending and Jer. LII 19. in the word Cauldrons See the Annotations on those places Yet some other learned men assert the sacred Text to be absolutely entire and perfect without the least default or defect without altering a syllable letter or situation of a letter holding the margin-reading to be given with equal authority as the other which is in the Text and serving to expound it And the vowels and accents to have been ab origine in the Text and so of equal authority with it Insisting upon the Jews care for preservation of the Text in numbering the letters in every Book and naming the middle letter in it and the middle letter in the Law or Books of Moses And this done not only by the Masorets that lived five hundred years or more after Christ but also by those ancient Masorets that are called the men of the Great Synagogue and succeeded next to the last Prophets of the Old Testament of whom the Jewes make Ezra to be one And that in his time the whole number of the letters were reckoned in all the Law to be 600045. in the Prophets 815280. See more in my Observations on Eccles. IX 4. and on Ier. XXXII 12. Iehoiadah This Iehoiadah was a Priest and prime man chapter XI verse 4 2 Chron. XXIII 1 11 16 18 19 20. and chap. XXIV 6. seemes not to be the High Priest for he is no where so called in Scripture except he be understood in that place 2 Chron. XXIV 11. where yet he is not called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither is there any of his name in that Catalogue of the High Priests 1 Chron. III. 6 15. And yet this Priest Iehoiada marries King Iehorams daughter and King Ahaziah's sister 2 Chron. XXII 11. And gives wives to King Ioash 2 Chron. XXIV 3. And was buried among the Kings ver 16. Elisha or Elizeus prophesied in the reignes of six Kings of Israel chapter XIII verse 14 viz. Ahab Ahaziah Iehoram Iehu Iehoahaz and Ioash 1 King XIX 16 19. 2 King XIII ver 14. with Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. chapter XIV XV. verse 1 13. Azariah Called also Uzziah verse 19 and Ozias Matth. I 8 9. reigned in the times of six Kings of Israel viz. Ieroboam the second Zachariah Shallum Menahem Pekahiah Pekah 2 King XV. 1. 27 In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into four several stocks or families Pul Pul or Phul verse 19 1 Chron. V. 26. This Catalogue of the Assyrian Monarchs we finde in Scripture viz. Passing by Nimrod and Ashur in the ancientest times Gen. X. We meet with this Pul in the dayes of Menahem King of Israel Tiglath-Peleser or Tilgath-Pilneser in the dayes of Pekah King of Israel and of Ahaz King of Judah who carried away captives the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasseh into Assyria 1 Chron. V. 26. And both helped and afflicted Ahaz 2 King 16. with Shalmanesar or Shalman Hos. X. 14. or Enemessar Tobit I. 2. 15. in the dayes of Hoshea King of Israel who subdued Hoshea beseiged and took Samaria carried Israel captive into Assyria and extirpated that Kingdome of Israel 2 King XVII 4 5 6. and XVIII 9 10. with Sargon mentioned Esay XX. 1. If he be not the same with Sennacherib with Sennacherib in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XVIII 13. whose hoast was slaine by the Angel of the Lord and himself by his owne sons 2 King 19. with Esarhaddon or Esar-Haddon who seemes to be called Asnapper Ezra IV. 10. and Sarchedonus Tobit 1. 21. with Another King of Assyria not named but living in the dayes of Iosiah in whose behalf Iosiah fighting against Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt at Megiddo was slaine there 2 King XXIII See this same with some little variations in my Observations on 1 Chron. V. 26. Kir This is Cyrene chapter XVI verse 9 mentioned Acts II. 10. Of this see the Annotations on Amos I. 5. and IX 7. If rather
3. II. Chronicles THE II. Book of Chronicles contains the History of the Kings of Judah not of Israel but a little occasionally when the two Kingdomes had to do one with another unto the last end of that Kingdome viz. from the first of Solomon to the Babylonish captivity Mentioning also the Proclamation of Cyrus for the Returne out of the Captivity Containing in all till that Returne four hundred sixty six years or upwards some say four hundred and eighty which number of four hundred and eighty was exactly compleat from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt till the building of Solomons Temple 1 King VI. 1. horsemen Ver. chapter I verse 14 28. of Horsemen and Solomons horses see the Observations on Judg. XX. 2. How farre his multiplying of Horses 1 King IV. 26. and X. 36. And his multiplying of wives 1 King XI 3. And his multiplying of gold and silver 1 King X. 21 27. 2 Chron. I. 15. and chap. IX 27. may square with or swarve from may stand or fall by that Law for Kings Deut. XVII 16 17. is a thing to be considered and not very hard to be determined threescore and ten thousand And ver chapter II verse 2 17 18. Solomons workmen in Lebanon were 150000. viz. 70000. Bearers and 80000. Hewers All of strangers dwelling in the Land of Israel And his Overseers of them were 3600. Such strangers likewise And so each of them were over fourty two workmen or thereabout And three hundred of these Overseers which are more then those set downe 1 King V. 16. might be extraordinary in case any of the Ordinary should faile by sicknesse death or any other way And thus the Ordinarie Overseers would be one over fourty five workmen or thereabout Or rather those three thousand three hundred 1 King V. 16. were Israelites the chief of Solomons Officers added to the other three thousand sixe hundred Overseers and set partly as with them so over them and partly over the whole work And so each Overseer would be over twenty one workmen at least Those sixteen thousand a moneth by course 1 King V. 13 14. are by some added to the Overseers And so there would be one Overseer to eight workmen But they may seeme rather to be the better sort of workmen of the Israelites joyned to King Hirams workmen 1 King V. 6. Those Officers viz. five hundred and fifty 1 King 9. 23. seeme to be the chief of the Officers that were over Solomons other words when he builded his owne house and that for Pharaohs daughter and all his other Buildings besides the Temple ver 15 19. 2 Chron. VIII 1 6. These bare rule over the people that wrought in those works And the two hundred and fifty 2 Chron. VIII 10. seeme to be chief of his Officers that bare rule over the people i. e. over those Canaanites that Solomon had made Tributaries ver 7 8. to rule them And so iffering from the former five hundred and fifty of beaten wheat The difference of the Food and Measures of them verse 10 given by Solomon here over and above that in 1 King V. 11. may stand in this That the former was for King Hirams Court and houshold And this here for his workmen in Lebanon Bathes See the Observations on Gen. verse 13 XVIII 6. of Huram my father See the observations on 1 King verse 16 V. 1. to Joppa See the Observations on Jonah I. 3. Solomon Solomon had divers elder brethren living chapter III verse 1. 9. besides Adoniah when he was made King and he was the eldest sonne of the four by Bathshuah or Bathshebah though he be recorded last 2 Sam. XII 24. 1 Chron. III. 5. and XIV 4 2 Sam. V. 14. And Nathan was the second from whom Christ came Luke III. 31. After the first measure See the Annotations on Ezek. verse 3 XL. 5. Greater house This was twice as big as the Oracle verse 5 and four times as big as the Porch 1 King VI. 3. he seiled Or covered This and the next verse seemes to relate to the Floore of the Temple 1 King VI. 15. The walls are mentioned in the seventh verse following Chambers Of these see 1 King verse 9 VI. 5. 1 Chron. XXVIII 11 12. Ezek. XL. 44 45 46. and chap. XLI 5 11. and chap. XLII 1 13. an Altar of brasse That Altar in the Tabernacle was made of Shittim wood chapter IV verse 1 hallow with boords and over-laid with brasse Exod. XXVII 1 2 8. And the staves of it likewise ver 6. And so Exod. XXXVIII 1 6 7. And again it was covered with broad Plates made of the Censers of those Sinners Num. XVI 38. This Altar of burnt-Offerings in the Temple though farre greater then the other seemes to be made of the same materials Shittim wood and brasse Of the Altar in Ezekiels Visionary Temple see Ezek. XLIII 13. 17. Court Of the Courts see the Annotations on 1 King verse 9 VI. 36. right side See the Observations on 1 King verse 10 VII 39. Seventh moneth See chap. chapter V verse 3 VII 8 9 10. Levites Priests of the tribe of Levi verse 4 1 King VIII 3. Num. IV. 15. unto this day See 1 King verse 9 VIII 8. 1 Chron. IV. 41. till Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuzaradan burnt all 2 King XXV 9. If Ezra writ these Books of the Chronicles after the returne from the Babylonish Captivity then this phrase must be understood as a Proverbial speech to signifie a long time See the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Neither chose I any man As I chose David chapter VI verse 5 a special type of Christ and in whose seed a royal succession was to continue from him to Christ. thou didst well The purpose approved verse 8 though the act forbidden the fire Of this see Levit. chapter VII verse 1 IX 24. 1 King XVIII 38. 1 Chron. XXI 26. sacrifice of 22000. verse 5 Ver. 7. The greatest Offering that we do read of Those 1 Chron. XXIX 21. 2 Chron. XV. 11. and chap. XXIX 32. and XXX 24. and XXXV 7 8 9. come short of this appeared Formerly verse 12 chap. I. 7. This is the second time 1 Kings IX 2. my wife shall not dwell chapter VIII verse 11 Solomons reverend and religious respect to the Place where the Ark of God had been four hundred and fifty Talents The thirty Talents reckoned here verse 18 more then those 1 King IX 28. seeme to go for all maner of charges of the Navy and Voyage Four thousand stals See the Observations on Judg. chapter IX verse 25 XX. 2. fourty years Being born after David warre with the Ammonites at Rabbah verse 30 2 Sam. XI and XII chapters A little before the time that Ammon deflowred Tamar And so aged about eighteen years when he began to reign Shechem See the Observations on Josh. chapter X verse 1 XXIV 1. Levites left Cast out by Jeroboam chapter XI verse 14 from their Cities houses inheritances
and all for his own safety 1 King XII 27. And to gaine their possessions making Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sonnes of Levi 2 Chron. XIII 9. A practise well beseeming Rebels Devils Idols here so called verse 15 in the way of David verse 17 and Solomon This charitably implies the Repentance of Solomon as well as his Ecclesiastes doth in his last dayes though haply he could not reforme all Idolatry as neither Manasseh could after his repentance 2 Chron. XXXIII 7. and dispersed As Gen. verse 23 XXV 5 6. 2 Chron. XXI 3. Israel Put and meant for Judah chapter XII chap. XV. 17. See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXI 2. against Jerusalem After this Jerusalem was taken about tenne times verse 9 one and fourty Therefore borne in the first year of the reigne of his father King Solomon verse 13 four hundred thousand Huge are the armies of the Jews chapter XIII 1200000 Jewes in those armies of Abijah and Jerrboam Wherein slaine on Jeroboams side five hundred thousand verse 3 much more then every one his man the greatest number that ever we read slaine in any battel v. 17. In the reigne of Asa he had out of Judah and Benjamin an army of 500080. And he fought against an army of Zerah the Ethiopian of a thousand thousand and three hundred Charets likely meaning three hundred thousand Charets 2 Chron. XIV 8 9. the greatest army that we read of And in Jehoshapha's time he had men of warre waiting on him 1160000. besides those whom he put in the fenced Cities throughout all Judah 2 Chron. XVII 14 19. children of Belial i. e. without yoake verse 7 or without profit as the word signifieth Deut. XIII 13. Such as Judg. XIX 22. 1 Sam. II. 12. and X. 27. and XXV 17. 1 King XXI 13. This title doth Shimei give falsely to David 2 Sam. XVI 7. But is truly given to the Devil 2 Cor. VI. 15. was young Not in age but in experience and policy being then as was said fourty one years old fourteene wives Fourteene wives in his life-time verse 21 for his reigne was but short even three years ver 2. ten years Yet likely some small skirmishes there were chapter XIV verse 1 1 King XV. 16 32. Mareshah A Citie in the North-West part of the tribe of Judah Josh. verse 10 XV. 44. There Michah the Prophet was borne Michah I. 1. And here as we see in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah Asa overthrew the hugest hoast that ever we read of Xerxes army not excepted of Zerah the Ethiopian Gerar Gerar anciently a Citie and Kingdome of the Philistines verse 13 whose Kings seeme all to be called Abimelechs where Abraham and Isaac a while lived both offending in denying their wives Gen. XX. and XXVI Isaac leaving the Citie dwelt in the valley of Gerar. Gen. XXVI 17. a most fruitful valley ver 12. as it were the Granarie of Canaan when famine was elsewhere in the Land ver 1. Here Isaac digged againe the Wells of water digged by Abraham and stopped by the Philistines And he digged others new After Gerar fell to the tribe of Simeon And hither as we see Asa pursued the Ethiopians and smote all the Cities round about Gerar. long season Thirty or thirty one years chapter XV verse 3 conceiving this to be in the eleventh year of Asa at the end of those ten years chap. XIV 1. Israel The ten tribes under Jeroboam Nadab and Baasha did turne We read not of their turning in those thirty years verse 4 This then may be taken by way of supposition If they had turned God would have been found of them Or else Israel in the former verse may relate to all Gods people and comprehend in it also former times even the times of the Judges themselves Be ye strong Ye of Judah and Benjamin verse 7 ver 2. Oded See the Annotations on this verse verse 8 Both sonne ver 1. and father here might prophesie renewed the Altar And likely that whole Court whereunto that chap. XX. 5 seems to have reference strangers Those Israelites out of the ten tribes verse 9 that fell to Judah are here called strangers third moneth Likely at the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost verse 10 fifteenth year This may seeme a second and more through Reformation four or five years after his victory against Zerah Or else that victory must be reduced to this fifteenth year of Asa. And till that time they had had rest and no warre which fifteenth of Asa was the thirty five in his reigne i. e. since the Kingdome of Judah was divided from the Kingdome of Israel ver 19. viz. 17. of Rehoboam three of Abijah and these fifteen of Asa. six and thirty It is clear that this well may chapter XVI verse 1 and needs must be understood likewise of that Kingdome wherein Asa was now King For Baasha began to reigne in the third year of Asa 1 King XV. 28. And reigning twenty four years ver 33. he must needs die in the twenty seventh of Asa or twenty six complete And so we finde it 1 King XVI 8 And therefore this thirty sixth wherein Baasha waged warre with Asa must needs be meant of the Kingdome of Judah that is since the first division of the two Kingdomes And so reckoning the seventeen years of Rehoboams reigne and three of Abijah we finde this thirty sixth to be the sixteenth of Asa the next year after that full Reformation mentioned 2 Chron. XV. 10. And to be the thirteenth year of the reigne of Baasha See a like passage 2 Chron. XXII 2. Ramah Ramah of Benjamin bordering upon Judah Josh. XVIII 25. See the Annotations on Hos. V. 8. Hanani The father of the Prophet Jehu verse 7 chap. XIX 2. 1 King XVI 1. of Syria escaped Which God might and would otherwise have delivered into his hand as he did the Ethiopians if Asa had not prevented the occasion and opportunity thereof by his foolish sending to and for Benhadad to aide him and break his League with Baasha and so shewing thereby that he relied not upon the Lord but upon Benhadad for which he is justly reproved and punished a very great burning Greeks and Romanes of old used to burne their dead bodies verse 14 specially of their Great ones with a great deale of cost burning huge piles and curious fabricks of timber together with abundance of odoriferous spices at their Funerals gathering their ashes into an Urne and so layed up in their Monuments And among the Jewes we read something like viz. of Burning at the Exequies of their Kings so here and Jer. XXXIV 5. of such of them at least as lived beloved and died desired which was to others denied 2 Chron. XXI 19. Jer. XXII 19. and XXXVI 30. But we read not That this Burning was of their Bodies but of sweet Odours only at and in their Sepulchers taught in Judah The Priests and Levites did so chapter XVII