†That is the son of my right hand Benjamin z Either as near and dear and precious to him as his right hand which is both more useful and more honourable than the left See Psal. 80. 17. or in stead of his right hand the staff stay and comfort of his old age 19 And * chap. 48. 7. Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephrath a Not in the city though that was near for in ancient times their Sepulchres were not in the places of resort but in separated places and out of Cities See Mat. 27. 60. Luk. 7. 12. which is Bethlehem 20 And Jacob set a pillar b As a monument or memorial of her life and death and as a testimony of her future resurrection upon her grave that is the pillar of Rachels grave unto this day c i. e. Unto the time wherein Moses writ this book and long after See 1 Sam. 10. 2. Ieâ—… 31. 15. 21 And Israel journeyed and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar d Or the tower of the flock a place where were excellent pastures See Mich. 4. 8. 22 And it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land that Reuben went and * chap. 49. 4. 1 Cor. 5. 1. lay with Bilhah his fathers concubine e An horrid incest for Concubines were a sort of Wives See Gen. 22. 24. and 25. 1. and Israel heard it f And doubtless sadly resented it both in Reuben as appears from Gen. 49. 4. 1 Chron. 5. 1 2. and in Bilhah whose Bed without question he forsook upon it as afterwards David did in the like case See 2 Sam. 16. 22. and 20. 3. Yet here is no mention of Iacobs reproof of it nor any censure of Moses added to it Possibly to teach us that we are not to approve of every fact which is mentioned in Scripture without censure and that the miscarriages of Professors of Religion are rather to be silently bewailed then publickly reproached left Religion should suffer by it Now the sons of Jacob were twelve g Which were heads of the twelve Tribes Therefore his daughter Dinah is not here mentioned because she was not the head of a Tribe 23 The sons of Leah * chap. 46. 8. Exod. 1. 2. Reuben Jacobs first-born and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun 24 The sons of Rachel Joseph and Benjamin 25 And the sons of Bilhah Rachels handmaid Dan and Naphtali 26 And the sons of Zilpah Leahs handmaid Gad and Asher These are the sons of Jacob which were born to him in Padan-Aram h All but Benjamin who must in all reason be supposed to be excepted here because he is said to be born elsewhere above ver 16. But it is an usual Synecdoche whereby that is ascribed to all in gross which belongs to the greatest part See Gen. 15. 13. and 46. 15. Exod. 12. 40. Iudg. 20. 46. Iohn 20. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 5. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac i Either with his Wives and Children and Estate to dwell with him or rather in person to visit his sick and dying father For otherwise Iacob having been ten years near his Father no doubt he had oft visited him and carried his Wives and Children thither though Scripture be silent in this particular But they could not live together because of the greatness of their Estates as it happened with others See Gen. 13. 6. and 36. 7. his father unto * chap. 13. 18. and 23. 2. Mamre unto the City of Arbah which is Hebron where Abraham and Isaac sojourned 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost and died and was * chap. 15. 15. and 25. 8. gathered unto his people k Either to the society of the dead Or to the Congregation of the just See Gen. 15. 15. and 25. 8. being old and full of dayes and his sons Esau and Jacob buryed him CHAP. XXXVI 1 NOW these are the generations of Esau a They are here mentioned partly to shew the effect of his fathers blessing chap. 27. 39. partly that the Israelites might be admonished to treat the Edomites like Brethren and not to invade their Land See Deut. 23. 7. who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite and * ver 25. Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite b If this account be compared with that Gen. 26. 34. We shall find some difficulties which yet admit of an easie reconciliation if these things be considered 1. That it is very usual and confessed by all that the same persons are oft called by several names 2. That the names of some persons are in Scripture given to others because of a great resemblance between them Upon which account the Parents of the Israelites are called Amorites and Hittites Ezek. 16. 3. and the Governours of Ierusalem are called the Rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah Isa. 1. 10. and Iohn the Baptist is called Elias Matth. 17. 12. 3. That the same men are oft-times denominated from several Countries as Christ is noted to have a threefold Country in Scripture Bethlehem by his Birth Nazareth by his Education and Capernaum by his much Residence and Preaching there 4. That the same names are sometimes common to Men and Women That persons are called the Children not onely of their immediate Parents but of their Grand-parents and of those who adopted them These things premised the seeming contradictions objected by Infidels do vanish She who was properly called Iudith chap. 26. is here called Aholibamah a name which seems to be given her either by Isaac or by Moses from her settledness in her idolatrâ—… câ—…urses And Adah was also called Bashemath and Mahâ—…â—…aels daughter was called Bashemath chap. 26. either becaâ—… 〈◊〉 her principles and manners she resembled Esaus other Wife so called or to shew that Ishmaels Marriage to a third Wife was no less opprobrious to him and displeasing to his Parents then the former 〈◊〉 a man and the Son of Zibeon as appears from ver 24. called here an Hivite is called Beeri the Hittite chap. 26. either because those two people were mixed together in habitation and by Marriage or because the one people were larger then the other and comprehended under their name or because he was an Hivite by birth an Hittite by habitation or incorporation with them Hence also we may learn how Aholibamah here comes to be the Daughter both of 〈◊〉 and of Zibeon the one being either the natural or proper Father and the other either the Grandfather or Father by Adoption 3 And * chap. 26. 24. Bashemath Ishmaels daughter sister of Nebajoth 4 And * 1 Chro. 1. 35. Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz c The progenitor of that Eliphaz Ioh 2. 11. and Bashemath bare Reuel d The Father
by the sacrifices for any worth in them but onely in respect of Christ and that though all sins are not equal yet they are all expiated by one and the same price even by the blood of Christ. and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of * chap. 3. 1. peace-offerings 20 And the priest shall wave them g i. e. Some part of them in the name of the whole and so for the two lambs otherwise they had been too big and too heavy to be waved So it is a synecdochical expression with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before the LORD with the two lambs * Num. 18. 12 Deut. 18. 4. they shall be holy to the LORD †Heb. â—…o for the priests h Who had to themselves not onely the breast and shoulder as in others which belonged to the Priest but also the rest which belonged to the offerer because the whole Congregation being the offerer here it could neither be distributed to them all nor given to some without offence or injury to the rest 21 And ye shall proclaim on the self-same day that it may be an holy convocation i A Sabbath or day of rest called Pentecost which was instituted partly in remembrance of the consummation of their deliverance out of Egypt by bringing them thence to the mount of God or Siâ—…i as God had promised and of that admirable blessing of giving the Law to them at that time and forming them into a Commonwealth under his own immediate Government and partly in gratitude for the further progress of their harvest as in the Passeover they offered a thank-offering to God for the beginning of their harvest unto you ye shall do no servile work therein it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations 22 And * chap. 19. 9. when ye reap the harvest of your land thou k From the plural ye he comes to the singular thou because he would press this duty upon every person who hath an harvest to reap that none might plead exemption from it And it is observable that though the present business is onely concerning the Worship of God yet he makes a kind of excursion to repeat a former Law of providing for the poor to shew that our piety and devotion to God is little esteemed by him if it be not accompanied with acts of Charity to men shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest * Deut. 24. 19. c. neither shalt thou gather any gleanings of thy harvest thou shalt leave them unto the poor and to the stranger I am the LORD your God 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24 Speak unto the children of Israel saying in the * Numb 29. 1. seventh month in the first day of the month shall ye have a sabbath a memorial of blowing of trumpets l i. e. Solemnized with the blowing of trumpets by the Priests not in a common way as they did every first day of every moneth Numb 10. 10. but in an extraordinary manner not onely in Ierusalem but in all the Cities of Israel This seems to have been instituted 1. To solemnize the beginning of the new year whereof as to civil matters and particularly as to the Jubilee this was the first day concerning which it was fit the people should be admonished both to excite their thankfulness for Gods blessings in the last year and to direct them in the management of their civil affairs 2. To put a special honour upon this moneth For as the seventh day was the Sabbath and the seventh year was a Sabbatical year so God would have the seventh moneth to be a kind of Sabbatical moneth for the many Sabbaths and solemn feasts which were observed in this more than in any other moneth And by this sounding of the trumpets in its beginning God would quicken and prepare them for the following Sabbaths as well that of atonement and humiliation for their sins as those of thanksgiving for Gods mercies an holy convocation 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein but ye shall offer an offering m What that was see Numb 29. 2 c. made by fire unto the LORD 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 27 * chap. 16. 30. Num. 29. 7. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement it shall be an holy convocation unto you and ye shall afflict your souls n With fasting and bitter repentance for all especially their national sins among which no doubt God would have them remember their sin of the golden Calf For as God had threatned to remember it in after times to punish them for it Exod. 32. 34. so there was great reason why they should remember it to humble themselves for it and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day for it is a day of atonement to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God 29 For whatsoever soul it be o Either of the Jewish Nation or Religion Hereby God would signifie the absolute necessity which every man had of Repentance and Forgiveness of sin and the desperate condition of all impenitent persons that shall not be afflicted in that same day * Gen. 17. 1â—… he shall be cut off from among his people 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doth any work in that same day the same soul will I destroy from among his people 31 Ye shall do no manner of work it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest and ye shall afflict your souls in the ninth day of the month at even from even unto even shall ye †Heb. rest celebrate your sabbath p This clause seems to be added to answer an objection how this day of atonement could be both on the tenth day ver 27. and on the ninth day here The answer is it began at the evening or close of the ninth day and continued till the evening or close of the tenth day and so both were true especially if you consider that the Jews did take in some part of the sixth days evening by way of preparation for the Sabbath and therefore would much more take in a part of the ninth day to prepare and begin the great and solemn work of their yearly atonement And this clause may be understood either 1. Of this particular Sabbath called here your Sabbath in the singular number possibly to note the difference between this and other Sabbaths for the weekly Sabbath is oft called the Sabbath of the Lord because that was in a special manner appointed for the praising honouring and serving of God and celebrating his glorious works as also the other Sabbaths here mentioned were whereas this was
for us then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it †Heb. his 〈◊〉 hath attained and found sufficiency and himself be able to redeem it 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof m i. e. From the time of the sale to the Jubilee See above ver 15 16. and restore the overplus n i. e. A convenient price for the years from this Redemption to the Jubilee unto the man to whom he sold it that he may return unto his possession 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile and in the jubile it shall go out and he shall return unto his possession o i. e. Out of the buyers hand without any Redemption mony 29 And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold within †Heb. dayes 1 Sam. 1. 3 and 27. 7. a full year may he redeem it 30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations it shall not go out in the jubile p The reason is from the great difference between such houses and lands The reasons before alledged for lands do not hold in such Houses there was no danger of confusion in Tribes or Families by the alienation of Houses The seller also had a greater propriety in Houses than in Lands as not coming to him by Gods meer gift but being commonly built by the owners cost and diligence and therefore had a fuller power to dispose of them Besides God would hereby encourage persons to buy and possess Houses in such places which frequency and fulness of Inhabitants in Cities was a great strength honour and advantage to the whole Land 31 But the houses of the villages q Because they belonged to and were necessary or very convenient for the management of the lands which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country †Heb. 〈◊〉 belongeth unto it they may be redeemed and they shall go out in the jubile 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites and the houses of the cities of their possession may the Levites redeem at any time 33 And if ‖ Or one of the Levites redeem them a man purchase of the Levites then the house that was sold and the city of his possession shall go out r Or thus But he that shall redeem it shall be or must be of the Levites i. e. No person of another Tribe though by Marriage near akin to the selling Levite shall redeem it but Levites onely and any of them shall have the same power to redeem it which in other Tribes onely the nearest kindred have and in case none of them redeem it yet the house that was sold and the City of his possession i. e. his share or interest in the City of his possession shall go out and return to the Levites without any redemption in the year of jubile for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities s Of which see on Numb 35. 5. may not be sold t Not sold at all partly because it was of absolute necessity for them for the keeping of their Cattle and partly because these were no enclosures but common fields in which all the Levites that lived in such a City had an interest and therefore no particular Levite could dispose of his part in it Some conceive that this Law was altered in ensuing ages which they gather from Ier. 32. 7 8. c. and Act. â—… 36 37. But those examples do not prove it That sale of Ieremiahs was made by a particular dispensation and command of God and that in a time when the Levites as well as the people were to be destroyed or dispersed and carried into captivity and therefore could receive no considerable injury by it and besides this sale was onely made formally and for signification as it is explained ver 14 15. And for the land sold by Barnabas a Levite Act. 4. as it was at a time when the Jewish Church was dissolved and their state upon the brinks of utter ruine so it is not evident that it was such Suburb land which would have yielded but a small price but it might be other land either such as he might have in right of his wife or such as he might have purchased For though the Levites in general had no other share of land beside this allotted them by God yet it is conceived that particular Levites might purchase lands to themselves for it is their perpetual possession 35 And if thy brother be waxen poor and †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fallen in decay u Heb. his hand 〈◊〉 or faileth or is decayed so that he hath not power to get or keep wealth as the phrase is Deut. 8. 18. as on the contrary when a man is able his hand is said to attain and find sufficiency as here above ver 26. with thee then thou shalt †Heb. 〈◊〉 relieve him x Heb. strengthen him comfort his Heart and strengthen his Hand yea though he be a stranger or a sojourner y Understand it of Proselytes onely for of other strangers they were permitted to take usury Deut. 23. 20. that he may live with thee 36 * Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 23. 19. Prov. 28. 8. Ezek. 18. 8. and 22. 12. Take thou no usury of him z i. e. Of thy brother whether he be Israelite or Proselyte or increase a This some conceive relates to the fruits of the earth food c. as 〈◊〉 doth to mony But here may rather feem to be two words expressing the same thing to meet with the subtil evasions of crafty and covetous men who make gain of their poor brethren for of such onely he speaks here as is evident from ver 36. by the lending of mony or other things and that they may quiet their consciences and palliate their sin they disguise it under other names and to shew that all kinds of usury are in this case forbidden whether of mony or of victuals or of anything that is commonly lent by one man to another upon usury or upon condition of receiving the thing lent with advantage and overplus as it is said Deut. 23. 19. but * Nehem. 5. 9. fear thy God that thy brother may live with thee 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury nor lend him thy victuals for increase 38 I am the LORD your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to give
and Bizjothjah 29 Baalah and lim and Azem 30 And Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah 31 And Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah 32 And Lebaoth and Shilhim and Ain and Rimmon all the cities are twenty and nine r Obj. Here are 37 or 38 Cities named before how then are they only reckoned 29 Ans. There were only 29 of them which either 1. Properly belonged to Iudah the rest fell to Simeons Lot or 2. Were Cities properly so called i. e. walled Cities or such as had Villages under them as it here follows the rest being great but unwalled Towns or such as had no Villages under them with their villages 33 And in the vale Eshtaol and Zoreah and Ashnah 34 And Zanoah and Engannim Tappuah and Enam 35 Jarmuth and Adullam Socoh and Azekah 36 And Sharaim and Adithaim and Gederah * Or or and Gederothaim fourteen cities s Obj. There are 15 numbred Ans. Either one of them was no City strictly called or Gederah and Gederothaim is put for Gederah or Gederothaim so called possibly because the City was double as there want not instances of one City divided into two parts called the old and the new City So the conjunction and is put for the disjunctive or whereof examples have been given before with their villages 37 Zenan and Hedashah and Migdal-gad 38 And Dilean and Mizpeh and Joktheel 39 Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon 40 And Cabbon and Lahmas and Kithlish 41 And Gederoth Beth-dagon and Naamah and Makkedah sixteen cities with their villages 42 Libnah t Heb. Libnah See Ios. 10. 29. and Ether and Ashan 43 And Jiphta and Ashnah and Nezib 44 And Keilah and Achzib and Mareshah nine cities with their villages 45 Ekron u Here and in the following Verses are contained all the Cities of the Philistines among which are Gath and Askelon which peradventure are here omitted because they were not at this time places of such Power and Eminency as afterwards they were but were the Daughters of some of these following Cities though afterwards the Daughter might overtop the Mother as is usual with her †Towns x Heb. Her Daughters i. e. lesser Cities or great Towns subject to Ekrons Jurisdiction and her villages ‡ Heb. Daughters Numb 21. 25. y i. e. Lesser Towns or Hamlets 46 From Ekron even unto the sea all that lay †near Ashdod with their villages ‡ Heb. by the place of 47 Ashdod with her †towns and her villages Gaza with her * Heb. Daughters * Heb. Daughters towns and her villages unto the river of Egypt and the great sea and the border thereof z i. e. The Sea-Coast and all other Cities Towns and Villages upon it 48 ¶ And in the mountains a i. e. In the higher grounds called Mountains or Hills in comparison of the Sea-Coast Shamir and Jattir and Socoh 49 And Dannah and Kirjath-sannah which is Debir b Which also is called Kiriath-sepher above v. 15. So this City had three Names 50 And Anab and Eshâ—…emoh and Anim 51 And Goshen c See Ios. 10. 41. and Holon and Giloh eleven cities with their villages 52 Arab and Dumah and Eshean 53 And * Janum and Beth-tappuah and 〈◊〉 Janus Aphekah 54 And Humtah and * Chap. 14. 15. Kirjath-arba which is Hebron and Zior nine cities with their villages 55 Maon d Of which see 1 Sam. 23. 25. and 25. 2. Carmel e Nabals Country 1 Sam. 25. and Ziph f Which gave its name to the Neighbouring Mountain 1 Sam. 26. 1. and Juttah 56 And Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah 57 Cain Gibeah and Timnah ten cities with their villages 58 Halhul Bethzur and Gedor 59 And Maarath and Beth-anoth and Eltekon six cities with their villages 60 Kirjath-baal which is Kirjath-jearim and Rabbah two cities with their villages 61 ¶ In the wilderness g So the Hebrews call places either uninhabited by men or having but few Inhabitants Beth-arabah Middin and Secaâ—…ah 62 And Nibshan and the city of salt h So called either from the Salt Sea which was near it or from the Salt which was made in it or about it and Engedi six cities with their villages 63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jeruâ—…em i For though Ierusalem was in part taken by Ioshua before this yet the upper and stronger part of it called Zion was still kept by the Iebusites even until Davids time and it seems from thence they descended to the lower Town called Ierusalem and took it so that the Israelites were forced to win it a second time yea and a third time also for afterwards it was possessed by the Iebusites Iudg. 19. 11. 2 Sam. 5. 6 7. the children of Judah could not drive them out k Namely because of their unbelief as Christ could do no mighty work because of the peoples unbelief Mark 6. 5 6. Mat. 13. 58. and because of their Sloth and Cowardise and Wickedness whereby they forfeited Gods help and then they must needs be imporent but this inability was wilful and brought upon them by themselves but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem l The same things which are here said of the children of Iudah are said of the Benjamites Iudg. 1. 21. Hence ariseth a question To which of the Tribes Ierusalem belonged whether to Benjamin as is gathered from Gen. 49. 27. Deut. 33. 12. Ier. 6. 1. or to Iudah as is implied here and Psal. 78. 68 69. Some think that being in the Borders of both it was common to both and promiscuously inhabited by both and it is certain that after the Captivity it was possessed by both Neh. 11. 4. But for the present though it did belong to Benjamin yet the Children of Iudah being possibly very active in the first taking of it by Ioshua as they certainly were after his Death Iudg. 1. 8. they might thereby get some right to share with the Benjamites in the Possession of it It seems most probable that part of it and indeed the greatest part and main body of it stood in the Tribe of Benjamin and hence this is mentioned in the List of their Cities and not in Iudah's List and part of it stood in Iudah's share even Mount Moriah on which the Temple was built and Mount Sion when it was taken from the Iebusites unto this day m When this Book was written whether in Ioshuah's Life and Old Age which continued many years after the taking of Ierusalem or after his Death when this Clause was added here and elsewhere in this Book by some other man of God which must needs be done before Davids time when the Iebusites were quite expelled and their Fort taken CHAP. XVI AND the lot of the children of Joseph a i. e. Of Ephraim and the half Tribe of Manasseh which are here put together in one not because they had but one Lot for
l He mentions this as an eminent instance of his disobedience therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver * Chap. 〈◊〉 Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me m i. e. In the state of the dead and so it was true both of Saul and Ionathan Or in the state of rest for though thou shalt suffer here for thy sin yet after death thou shalt be happy as dying in the Lords quarrel So the Devils design might be to flatter Saul into an opinion of his own future happiness and to take him off from all serious thoughts and cares about it And it is here observable That as it was the manner of the Heathen Oracles to answer ambiguously the better to save his credit in case of mistake the Devil himself not being certain of future events but onely conjecturing at what was most likely so doth this counterfeit Samuel here For as concerning the time he says to morrow which he understood indifferently for the very next day or for some short time after And as concerning the condition thou shalt be with me which may be understood either of a good condition if understood as spoken in the Person of Samuel or of a bad condition if understood as spoken by an evil Spirit or at least indefinitely of a dead condition be it good or evil which last he foresaw by circumstances to be very likely the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines 20 Then Saul ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 haste and iâ—… with the 〈◊〉 ness of his staâ—…ure fell straightway all along on the earth n Being quite dis-spirited with these sad and surprizing tidings and so unable to stand and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel and there was no strength in him for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night 21 ¶ And the woman came unto Saul o From whom she departed when she had brought him and Samuel together that they might more freely converse together as being alone and saw that he was sore troubled and said unto him Behold thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice and I have put my life in my hand and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me 22 Now therefore I pray thee hearken thou also unto the voice of thine hand-maid p This earnestness did not come mecrly from her humanity and respect to Saul but from a prudent and necessary care of her self because if Saul had died in her House his Blood would have been charged upon her and let me set a morsel of bread before thee and eat that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way 23 But he refused and said I will not eat But his servants together with the woman compelled him q i. e. Did over-persuade him by importunate intâ—… 〈◊〉 as the next words shew and he hearkened unto their voice so â—…e arose from the earth and sate upon the bed 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house and she hasâ—…ed and killed it and took flour and kneaded â—… and did bake unleavened bread r Not having time to Leaven it thereof 25 And she brought it before Saul and before his servants and they did eat then they rose up and went away that night s i. e. Before Morning For he came by Night v. 8. and went away before Day not willing to have it discovered that he had consulted with a Witch CHAP. XXIX NOW the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek a Either that in the Tribe of Asher Ios. 19. 24. or rather another Town of that Name in Issachar though not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture this being the case of many places to be but once Named and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands but David and his men passed on the rereward with Achish b i. e. As the Life-guard of Achish as he had promised chap. 28. 2. Achish being as it seems thâ—… General of the Army 3 Then said the princes of the Philistines c The Lords of the other eminent Cities and Territories who were confederate with him in this expedition What do these Hebrews here And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines Is not this David the servant of Saul the king of Israel which hath been with me these days or these years d Q. d. did I say Days I might have said Years either because he hath now been with me a full Year and four Months chap. 27. 7. or because he was with me some Years ago 1 Sam. 21. 10. and since that time hath been known to me And it is not improbable but David after his escape from thence might hold some correspondency with Achish as finding him to be a Man of more generous temper than the rest of the Philistines and supposing that he might have need of him for a Refuge in case Saul continued to seek his life and I have ‡ Heb. nothing in him Iohn 14. 30. found no fault in him since he fell unto me i. e. Since he revolted or left his own King to turn to me For that sense Achish put upon this escape of David as it is called chap. 27. 1. and so is the Phrase of falling to a party elsewhere used Ier. 37. 13 14. unto this day 4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him e Were unsatisfied and offended with Achish for this intention and declaration and the princes of the Philistines said unto him * 1 Chr. 12. 19. Make this fellow return that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him f Herein the Wiâ—…e and Gracious Providence of God appeared both in helping him out of those snares and difficulties out of which no human wit could have extricated him but he must either have been or have been thought to be a Traitor and an ungrateful unworthy person either to the one or to the other side and moreover in giving him the happy opportunity of recovering his own and his All from the Amalekites which had been irrecoverably lost if he had gone into this Battel And the kindness of God to David was the greater because it had been 〈◊〉 â—…ust for God to have left David in all those Distresses into which his own sinful counsel and course had brought him and let him not go down with us to battel lest in the battel he be an adversary to us for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master should it not be with the heads of these men g i. e. Of these our Soldiers They speak according to the rules of Reason and true Policy for by this very course great Enemies have sometimes
all his host against Jerusalem a To chastise Zedekiah for his Rebellion and Peâ—…jury 2 Chron. 36. 13. and pitched against it and they built forts against it round about b Partly to keep all supplies of men or provisions from entring into the City And partly that from thence they might shoot Dâ—…rts or Arrows or Stones into the City See Ier. 52. 4. Ezek. 4. 2. and 17. 17. 2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of King Zedekiah 3 And on the ninth day of the * Jer. 52. 6. fourth month c Which word is easily understood by comparing this and the first verse and Ier. 39. 2. and 52. 6. where it is expressed the famine prevailed in the city and there was no bread for the people of the land d i. e. For the common sort of people who flock'd thither from all parts upon the approach of the Babylonian Army but only for the great Men and Soldiers See of the grievousness of this â—…lamine Lam. 4. 10. and Ezek. 5. 10 12. 4 ¶ And the city was broken up e By the Chaldeans who broke and entred the gate Ier. 39. 3. and all the men of war fled f Which word is fitly supplied out of the parallel place Ier. 39. 4. or out of the following verb went away by night by the way of the gate between two walls g Between the outward and inward wall of the City by a private way having the advantage of the darkness of the night and possibly of some Vault under the ground which is by the kings garden now the Caldees were against the city round about and the king h This word also is necessarily to be understood partly by its singular which agrees not with the men of war and partly out of the next verse where it is expressed went the way toward the plain i Of Iericho as it follows 5 And the army of the Caldees pursued after the King and overtook him in the plains of Jericho and all his army were scattered from him 6 So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah k Of which see above v. 23 33. and below v. 21. where Nebuchadnezzar staid that he might both supply the hefiegers with more men and Military provisions as their occasions required and have an eye to Chaldea to prevent or suppress any commotions which might happen there in the time of his absence and they ‡ Heb. spake judgment with him gave judgment upon him l The Kings Officers appointed thereunto examined his cause and passed the following sentence against him 7 And they flew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and ‡ Heb. made blâ—…d put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with fetters of brass and carried him to Babylon m Thus two Prophecies were fulfilled which seemed contrary one to the other that he should go to Babylon Ier. 32. 5. and 34. 3. and that he should never see Babylon Which seeming-contradiction because Zedekiah the false Prophet could not reconcile he concluded both were false and that Ieremy was a false Prophet and it seems Zedekiah the King might stumble at this difficulty 8 ¶ And in the fifth month on the seventh day of the month n Quest. How doth this agree with Ier. 52. 12. where he is said to come thither on the tenth day Ans. Either he came to Ierusalem on the seventh day and burnt the Temple on the tenth day Or this sacred Writer speaks of the day of his departure from Riblah towards Ierusalem and Ieremiah speaks of his coming to Ierusalem which was about three days journey from Riblah which is * See Chap. 24. 12. and Ver. 24. the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came Nebuzar-adan ‖ Or chief Marshal captain of the guard a servant of the king of Babylon unto Jerusalem 9 And he burnt the house of the LORD o Which had now stood about 450 years and the kings house and all the houses of Jerusalem and every great mans house burnt he with fire 10 And all the army of the Caldees that were with the captain of the guard brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about 11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city p Whom neither the Sword nor Famine had destroyed who were 832 persons Ier. 52. 29. being members and traders of that City For it is likely that there were very many more of the Country-people who were fled thither who were left with others of their Brethren to manure the Land as it here follows and the ‡ Heb. fallen away fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon with the remnant of the multitude q To wit of the Inhabitants of the Country did Nebuzar adan the captain of the guard carry away 12 But the captain of the guard left of ‡ Heb the poverty the poor of the land to be vine-dressers and husbandmen 13 And * Chap. 20. 17. Jer 27. 19 22. the * 1 Kin. 7. 15. pillars of brass r The carriage whereof to Babylon was foretold Ier. 27. 21 22. that were in the house of the LORD and the * 1 Kin. 7. 27. bases and the * 1 Kin. 7. 23. brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD did the Caldees break in pieces and carried the brass of them to Babylon 14 And the * Exod. 27. 3. 1 Kin. 7. â—…0 pots and the shovels s Of these and the following words see on Exod. 27. and 1 King 6. and 7. and the snuffers and the spoons and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministred took they away 15 And the fire-pans and the bowls and such things as were of gold in gold and of silver in silver the captain of the guard took away 16 The two pillars ‡ Heb. the one sea one sea and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD * 1 Kin. 7. 47. the brass of all these vessels was without weight 17 * 1 Kin. 7. 15. Jer. 52. 21. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits and the chapiter upon it was brass and the height of the chapiter three cubits and the wreathen-work and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about all of brass and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work 18 ¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest t The High-Priest Grandson of that Hilkiah of whom ch 22. 4. and Father of Iehozadack who as it seems was taken with his Father and when his Father was slain v. 21. he was carried away to Babylon as it is noted 1 Chron. 6. 13 14. and * Jer. 29. 25. Zephaniah the second priest u Who was the High-Priests deputy when he was hindred from the execution of his Office see on Numb 3. 32.
elsewhere Or 3. because ordinarily there was but one of each used at a time for those uses with the lamps thereof * 〈◊〉 â—… 21. to burn every evening t And from Evening to Morning continually Lev. 24. 2 3. for which End one Candlestick was sufficient and it is very improbable that all the Candlesticks were used every night for we keep the charge of the LORD our God u This he saith though he was an ungodly King either because he flattered himself and fancied that his keeping up the External Worship of God would make full satisfaction for the Errors of his Life Or that he might hereby encourage his own Souldiers and convince or terrifie his Enemies but ye have forsaken him 12 And behold God himself is with us †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for our captain and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you x Upon the sounding whereof God hath solemnly promised to â—…ssist his People Numb 10. 9. O children of Israel * 〈◊〉 â—…9 fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers y You have not onely us for your Enemies but God even the God whom your Fathers honoured and served to their own great Comfort and Benefit for ye shall not prosper 13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them z Whilest Abijah was discoursing Jeroboam takes the Advantage of it to lay an Ambush so they were before Judah and the ambushment was behind them 14 And when Judah looked back behold the battel was before and behind and they cried unto the LORD and the priests sounded with the trumpets 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout and as the men of Judah shouted it came to pass that God smote a By strengthning the Hearts and Hands of the Men of Judah and taking away the Spirits and Power of their Enemies and it may be by some extraordinary Assistance Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah and God delivered them into their hand 17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a very great slaughter so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand b chosen men A â—…ast Number but it hath been oft observed and recorded by sacred and profane 〈◊〉 that in 〈◊〉 ansient Tiâ—…es there were very numerous Armie and oft times very great 〈◊〉 and if this Slaughter was 〈◊〉 than ordinary there is nothing strange nor incredible 〈◊〉 the Almighty God foâ—…ght 〈◊〉 the Israelites 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time and the children of Judah prevailed because they relyed upon the LORD c They put their Trust in him and conâ—…idently expected Help from him which is a Disposition of heart that God prizeth and taketh kindly See 2 King 18. 5. 2 Chron. 20. 20. Psal. 22. 4. 〈◊〉 3. 28. God of their fathers 19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam and took cities from him Beth-el d Which Jeroboam recovered afterwards as appears by the course of the History though it be not paâ—…ticularly mentioned which is the case of many other considerable things And in the mean time it is very probable that when Jeroboams Host was discomfited and he expected that Abijah would pursâ—…e his Victory he removed the Golden Calf from Beth-el which lay near Abijahs Kingdom to some safer Place with the towns thereoâ—… and Jeshanah with the towns thereof and Ephraim e A City so called possibly the same which is mentioned Ioh. 11. 54. or that which is called Ophra Iudg. 8. 27. with the towns thereof 20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah and the LORD strook him f i. e. Jeroboam as appears from the contrary â—…ondition of Abijah described in the next verse Him God might strike either with vexation and horror of Mind or with some painful and lingring but incurable Disease like that of Jehoram which tormented him two years together and at last killed him 2 Chroâ—… 21. 19. and he died g Not presently but a year or two after this time 21 But Abijah waxed mighty and married fourteen wives and begat twenty and two sons and sixteen daughters h Not now after this Victory for he died presently after it but in the whole time of his Life before he was King and afterward 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah and his ways and his sayings are written in the ‖ Or commentary story of the prophet * Ch. 12. 15. Iddo CHAP. XIV 1 SO Abijah slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David and * 1 Kin 15. 8 c. Asa his son reigned in his stead in his days the land was quiet ten years a i. e. There was no open War either by Baasha or others onely there were secret Grudges and private Hostilities between his and Baasha's Subjects 1 King 15. 16. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD b Of this and the next verse see on 1 King 15. 11 12. his God 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods and the high places and brake down the †Heb. statdeâ—… images and cut down the groves 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers c By his Royal Edicts he required them to worship God and him onely and to do the law and the commandment d i. e. To practise all which the Laws of Moses required of them 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the †Heb. sun-images images and the kingdom was quiet before him 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah for the land had rest and he had no war in those years because the LORD had given him rest 7 Therefore he said unto Judah Let us build these cities and make about them walls and towers gates and bars while the land is yet before us d i. e. In out Power as that Phrase is oft used See on Gen. 13. 9. because we have sought the LORD our God we have sought him and he hath given us rest on every side so they built and prospered 8 And Asa had an army of men e Which as it seems he had now gathered together upon the Information of Zerahs Design against him that bare targets and spears out of Judah three hundred thousand and out of Benjamin that bare shâ—…elds and drew bows two hundred and fourscore thousand all these were mighty men of valour 9 * Ch. 16. 3. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian f Or the Arabian as the Hebrew word Cush is commonly used as hath been noted before These being much nearer to Asa than the Ethiopians who also could not have come to Asa but thorough Egypt which probably the King of Egypt would not permit him to do with an
to distribute x To the Priests and Levites to whom they were appropriated by God the oblations of the LORD and the most holy things y To wit the remainders of the Free-will-offering Levit. 2. 3 10. The Sin-offering and Trespass-offering Levit. 6. 18 22. 7. 1. and the Shew-bread Levit. 24. 9. 15 And †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand next him were Eden and Minjamin and Jeshua and Shemajah Amariah and Shecaniah in * Josh. 21. the cities of the priests z Who were intrusted with the Receiving and Distributing of the several Portions belonging to the Priests who abode in their several Cities whilest their â—…rethren came up to Jerusalem in their ‖ Or 〈◊〉 set office to give to their brethren by courses as well to the great as to the small 16 Beside their genealogy of males from three years old and upward a To whom a Portion of these things was allotted as is here implied even unto every one that entreth into the house of the LORD b That were capable of entring thither and doing Service there which they were at twenty years old as is expressed here v. 17. 1 Chron. 23. 24. Through the whole Company of the Priests and Levites his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses 17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers and the Levites ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 from twenty years old and upward in their charges by their courses 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones their wives and their sons and their daughters through all the congregation c This is alledged as a Reason why their Wives and Children were provided for out of the Holy things because they sequestred themselves from worldly Affairs by which they might otherwise have provided for their Families and intirely devoted themselves to Holy Administrations for in their ‖ 〈◊〉 set office they sanctified themselves in holiness 19 Also the sons of Aaron the priests which were in * 〈◊〉 25. 34. 〈◊〉 35. 2. the fields d Who are opposed to those that lived in or resorted to the great City Jerusalem of the suburbs of their cities in every several city the men that were expressed by name to give portion to all the males among the priests and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered CHAP. XXXII 1 AFter * 〈◊〉 18. 13 〈◊〉 these things and †〈◊〉 36. â—… c. â—… Heb. tâ—…is the establishment thereof a An Emphatical Preface signifying that notwithstanding all his Pious Care and Zeal for God yet God saw fit to Exercise him with a fore Trial and Calamity which yet he turned to his great Honour and Advantage Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entred into Judah and encamped against the senced cities and thought †〈◊〉 Gr. 〈◊〉 31. 20. â—… Heb. 〈◊〉 break 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to win them for himself b He designed and bragged that he would win them all and did actually win many of them 2 King 18. 13. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come and that †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was purposed to sight against Jerusalem 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains c With Earth or other things cast into them and withal to derive the Waters by secret Paths and Pipes under ground to Jerusalem which were without the city and they did help him 4 So there was gathered much people together who stopt all the fountains and the brook that †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ran through the midst of the land saying Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water d Which was a scarse Commodity in this Country and the want of it might much annoy the Assyrian Army 5 Also * 〈◊〉 22. 9. he strengthened himself and built up all the wall that was broken e By Joash ch 25. 23. and not since repaired 2 Chron 25. 23. and raised it up to the towers f Either 1. As high as the Towers or the tops of the Wall Or 2. As far as the two Towers or Gates which were made in the Form of Towers and had the use of Towers to wit that of Ephraim and the Corner-Gate both mentioned above ch 25. 23. Or brought up Engines or Instruments of Defence upon the Towers and another wall without and repaired * 2 Sam. 5. 9. Millo g Of which see 1 King 9. 24. 11. 27. in the city of David and made ‖ Or swords or weapons darts and shields in abundance 6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and †Heb. spake to their heart spake comfortably to them saying 7 Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for * 2 Kin. 6. 16. there be mo with us than with him 8 With him is an * Jer. 17. 5. arm of flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battels And the people †Heb. leaned rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah 9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem h Of this and the following Verses see the Notes on 2 King 18. 17. c. and 19. 10 c. but he himself laid siege against Lachish and all his †Heb. â—… mâ—…n power with him unto Hezekiah king of Judah and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem saying 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria Whereon do ye trust that ye abide ‖ Or in the strong hold in the siege in Jerusalem 11 Doth not Hezekiah perswade you to give over your selves to die by famine and by thirst saying The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria 12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem saying Ye shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it 13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people out of mine hand that your God should be able to deliver you out of
the Jews from whom possibly they had been taken and were secured somwhere by those Enemies of the Jews who had made the work of the Temple to cease by force or power Ezra 4 23. and †Chal. 〈◊〉 brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem every one to his place and place them in the house of God 6 Now therefore Tatnai governour beyond the river Shethar-boznai and †Chal. their 〈◊〉 your companions the Apharsachites which are beyond the river be ye far from thence h i. e. From hindering or discouraging the work 7 Let the work of this house of God alone let the governour of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place 8 Moreover †Chal. by me 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God that of the kings goods even of the tribute beyond the river forthwith expences be given unto these men that they be not †Chal. made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hindred i From proceeding in their work for want of Money 9 And that which they have need of both young bullocks and rams and lambs for the burnt-offerings of the God of heaven wheat salt wine and oil according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem let it be given them day by day without fail 10 That they may offer †Chal. sweet 〈◊〉 or rests sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons 11 Also I have made a decree that whosoever shall alter this word let timber be pulled down from his house and being set up †Chal. let him 〈◊〉 let him be hanged thereon and let his house be made a dunghil for this 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem I Darius have made a decree let it be done with speed 13 Then Tatnai governor on this side the River Shethar-boznai and their companions according to that which Darius the king had sent so they did speedily 14 And the elders of the Jews built and they prospered through the prophecying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo k This is a seasonable intimation that this great and unexpected success was not to be ascribed to chance nor to the kindness or good humour of Darius but unto God only who by his Prophets had required and encouraged them to proceed in the work and by his mighty power disposed Darius Heart to such kind and noble Purposes and Actions and they built and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel and according to the †Chal. decree commandment of Cyrus â—…and Darius and Artaxerxes l Who is thought to be either 1. Xerxes Darius his Son and Successor who was called also Artaxerxes and Ahashuerus who is here joined with his Father Darius possibly because he favoured the Jews and promoted their Cause with his Father and saw to the Execution of his Fathers Decree and was his Fathers Vice-Roy if not made Co-Emperour with his Father in his Life time which was not unusual Or 2. Artaxerxes Longâ—…s the Son of Xerxes who was best known by the name of Artaxerxes who is here joined with Cyrus and Darius because though the Temple was finished as to the substance of the work in Darius's Reign v. 15. yet it was afterwards more fully compleated and adorned by Artaxerxes as is evident from ch 7. v. 20 27. by whom Nehemiah was sent to Ierusalem with a large Commission and full Power to take care about the Building of the City and all other things concerning the Jewish Nation and Religion kings of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month * 〈◊〉 3. 13. Adar which was in the sixth year of the the reign of Darius the king 16 And the children of Israel the priests and the Levites and the rest of †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 the children of the captivity kept the dedication of this house of God with joy 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks two hundred rams four hundred lambs and for a sin offering for all Israel * 〈◊〉 35. 〈◊〉 â—… 63. 〈◊〉 7. 5. twelve he-goats according to the number of the tribes of Israel 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God which is at Jerusalem †Chal according to the writing * Numb 3. 6 8. 9. as it is written in the Book of Mo ses 19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover * Exod. 1 2. 6. upon the fourteenth day of the sixth month 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together all of them were pure and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity and for their Brethren the priests and for themselves 21 And the children of Israel which were come again out of captivity and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen m i. e. Such as had forsaken that filthy and Idolatrous Religion of the Heathens and were proselyred to the Jewish Religion for such were allowed to eat the Passover Exod. 12. 48. Numb 9. 14. of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel did eat 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy for the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria n i. e. Of the King of Persia which was now king of Assyria also or Emperour of that vast and famous Assyrian Empire which was first subdued by the King of Babylon who therefore is somwhere called the Assyrian and for the same reason the Persian Monarch is here so called emphatically to note the great Power and Goodness of God in turning the hearts of these great Monarchs whose predecessors had been the chief persecutors and oppressors of Gods People unto them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God the God of Israel CHAP. VII 1 NOw after these things in the reign of * Neh. 2. 1. â—… Artaxerxes a The same of whom he speaks ch 6. 14. king of Persia Ezra * 1 Chr. 6. 14. the son of Serajah b i. e. His Grandson Here are divers persons omitted for brevity sake which may be supplied out of 1 Chr. 6. 7 8 9 10 11. the son of Azariah the son of Hilkiah 2 The son of Shallum the son of Zadok the son of Ahitub 3 The son of Amariah the son of Azariah the son of Merajoth 4 The son of Zerajah the son of Uzzi the son of Bukki 5 The son
water-gate eastward 38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them a To wit on the other side of the City Northward and Eastward and I after them and the half of the people upon the wall from beyond * Ch. 3. 11. the tower of the furnaces even unto the * Ch. 3. 8. broad wall b Which they made thicker and stronger than the rest of the Wall for some special reason 39 And from above * 2 Kin. 14. 1â—… the gate of Ephraim and above the * Ch. 3. 6. old gate and above * Ch. 3. 3. the fish-gate and the tower of Hananeel and * Ch. 3. 1. the Tower of Meah even unto the sheep-gate and they stood still in the prison gate c Waiting as also their Brethren did that they might go together in due order into God's House there to perfect the solemnity 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God d i. e. In the Courts of the Temple and I and the half of the rulers with me e And Ezra and the other half with him as appears by comparing this with v. 31 36. 41 And the priests Eliakim Maasejah Miniamin Michajah Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets 42 And Maasejah and Shemajah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer and the singers †Heb. made their voice to be heard sang loud with Jezrahiah their overseer 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy the wives also and the children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off f Either their loud voices and instruments were heard to a great distance or the fame of it was spread far and near 44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures for the offerings g Such as they had lately ingaged themselves to give or other voluntary or prescribed offerings for the first-fruits and for the tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions ‖ That is appointed by the law of the law h i. e. The foresaid first-fruits and Tithes and other things which God by his Law appointed for them for the priests and Levites †Heb. for the joy of Iudah for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites †Heb. that stood that waited i Partly for the eminent Gifts and Graces which they observed in many of them and partly for the great benefit which they had now received by their Ministry and therefore for the competent provision which hereby was made for them that so they might wholly wait upon their office to the Peoples Edification and Comfort 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God k i. e. That Ward or Charge or Business which God had prescribed to them and the ward of the purification l And in particular the charge of purification i. e. of taking care that no unclean person or thing might enter into the House or Courts of the Lord which care did certainly belong to the Porters as is expressed 2 Chron. 23. 19. and at this time and in some sort as it seems to the singers who besides their proper imployment were also over the business of the house of God as is affirmed ch 11. 22. Which being a general expression may-well comprehend if it doth not principally design this that they should take care to keep the House of God free from all pollution And possibly as the Porters were to take care that no unclean thing might enter there so if it should through their madvertency enter in the Singers were to remove it * 1 Chr. 25. 26. according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son 46 For in the days of David * 1 Chr. 25. 1 c. and Asaph m of old there were chief of the singers n There were some overseers whose Office it was to see that the Singers were fit for and diligent in their work and therefore they took care of it at this time and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God n And Heman and Ieduthun 1 Chron. 25. 1. but Asaph only is mentioned here as the most eminent and useful in that work 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion and they ‖ That is set apart sanctified holy things o i. e. They sequestred or set apart the First-fruits and Tithes from their own share and devoted them to the use of the Levites to whom they belonged And so did the Levites by the Tithe of the Tithes Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues to God or his Assigns and did not profane those things which God had sanctified nor take them to their own common use as divers ungodly or covetous persons had formerly used to do when they had opportunity unto the Levites * Num. 18. 26. and the Levites sanctified them unto the childeren of Aaron CHAP. XIII 1 ON that day a Not now presently after the dedication of the wall and gates and City but upon a certain day as that phrase is very commonly used in Scripture without any relation to the time or things mentioned next before it to wit when Nehemiah was returned again from the Persian court to Ierusalem from which he had been absent for some considerable time in which some errours and abuses had crept in which now he endeavours to remove †Heb. there was read they read in the book of Moses in the †Heb. ears audience of the people b Partly because it was not only the Priests but also the peoples duty to study and understand Gods Law and their own duty and partly that the people hearing that this was the express mind and will of the great God might the more willingly yield to the following duties some of which were attended with difficulty and required self denial and therein was found written * Deut. 23. 3. that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God c i. e. Not be incorporated into the common wealth of Israel nor be joyned with any Israelite in marriage relation as appears from v. 3. That practice being a plain comment upon this law But of this and the next verse see the notes on Deut. 23. 3 4. for ever 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water but * Numb 22. 5. Josh. 24. 9. hired Balaam against them that he should curse them howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing 3 Now it came to pass when they heard the law that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude d i.
Sea 13 Behold the land of the Caldeans a You Tyrians who think your City impregnable cast your Eyes upon the Land and Empire of the Chaldeans or Babylonians which though now it be a flourishing Kingdom and shall shortly grow far more glorious and potent even the glory of kingdoms as it is called Isa. 13. 19. yet shall certainly be brought to utter ruine and therefore your Presumption is most vain and unreasonable this people was not b The Chaldeans at first were not a People not formed into any Commonwealth or Kingdom till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness c Till Nimrod the Head and Founder of the Assyrian Monarchy built Babel Gen. 10 9. now the Head of the Chaldean Monarchy which he built for those People who then lived in Tents and were dispersed here and there in wild and waste Places that he might bring them into Order and under Government and thereby establish and promote his own Empire they set up the towers thereof they raised up the palaces thereof d The Chaldeans being by this means brought together into a Body fell to the Work of Building their City and its Towers and Palaces and thereby got Power and Dominion over their Neighbours till at last they grew the greatest of all the Monarchies that then were upon Earth and he e The Lord who is expressed before and is frequently designed in Scripture by this indefinite Pronoun he as hath been many times observed Whereby he insinuates the true Reason why neither the Chaldeans nor the Tyrians should be able to stand because the Almighty God was engaged against them brought it to ruine f Will infallibly bring that great Empire to ruine He speaks of a future thing as if it were already past as the Prophets use to do The Chaldeans shall now return to their first Nothing and become no People again 14 Howl ye ships of Tarshish for your strength g The City of Tyre where you found Safety and Wealth is laid waste 15 And it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre shall be forgotten h Neglected and forsaken by those who used to resort thither seventy years i During the whole time of the Jewish Captivity in Babylon For Tyrus was taken by Nebuchadnezzar Ier. 27. 3 8. Ezek. 26. 7. a little after the taking of Ierusalem and was restored by the favour of the Persian Monarchs after the Return of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon according to the days of one king k Either 1. of the Kingdom of Babylon which lasted so long after this time the Word king being put for kingdom as it is Dan. 7. 17. 8. 21. or 2. of one Royal Race of Nebuchadnezzar including his Son and his Son's Son in whom his Family and Kingdom were to expire as we read Ezek. 28. 7. after the end of seventy years †Heb. it shall be unto Tyre as the song of an harlot shall Tyre sing as an harlot l She shall by degrees return to her former State of Prosperity and Traffick whereby she shall easily entice the Merchants of the World to converse and trade with her as Harlots use to entice their Customers by Lascivious Songs 16 Take an harp go about ‖ Or O city the city m As Harlots use to do to allure Customers thou harlot n So he calleth Tyre partly because she enticed Merchants to deal with her by various Artifices and even by dishonest Practices as Harlots use and partly because of the great and general Uncleanness which was both committed and tolerated in it that hast been forgotten make sweet melody sing many songs that thou mayst be remembred o By those who had forgotten thee v. 15. 17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre p To wit in mercy as this Phrase is used Ruth 1. 6. Psal. 65. 9. and elsewhere and she shall turn to her hire q The Hebrew Word properly signifies the hire of an harlot which agrees well with the fornication in the next Clause although these Phrases are not to be understood properly but metaphorically of Trading or Commerce with others and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world r Shall trade promiscuously with People of all sorts and Nations as Harlots entertain all Comers upon the face of the earth 18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD s He speaks not here of what the Tyrians would do immediately after their Restitution but some time after it even in the days of the Messiah of which even some of the Jewish Rabbies understand it and to which the Prophets have a special respect in their several Prophecies and Isaiah among and above the rest of them So this is a Prophecy concerning the Conversion of the Tyrians to the True Religion of the Accomplishment whereof something is said Acts 21. 3 4 5. and more in other Authors it shall not be treasured nor laid up t Either out of Covetousness or for the service of their Pride and Luxury as they formerly did but now they shall freely lay it out upon Pious and Charitable Uses for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD u For the Support and Encouragement of the Ministers of Holy Things who shall teach the good Knowledge of the Lord who dwell in God's House and minister in his Presence the Support of such Persons being not onely an Act of Justice and Charity but also of Piety and of great use and necessity to maintain and propagate Religion in the World Although this doth not exclude but rather imply their Liberality in contributing to the Necessities of all Christians to eat sufficiently and for †Heb. 〈◊〉 durable clothing CHAP. XXIV BEhold the LORD maketh the earth a Or the land to wit of Canaan or Israel or Iudaea It is usual with all Writers when they write of their own Country to call it the land by way of eminency There are many things in this Prophecy which manifestly concern this Land and People and nothing at least before v. 21. which may be taken as a new and additional Prophecy which is necessarily to be understood of other Nations But this I speak with submission and due respect to those Learned and Judicious Interpreters who take this to be a Prophecy against Iudaea and all the neighbouring Nations empty and maketh it waste b He will shortly make it waste first by the Assyrians and then by the Chaldeans and †Heb. perverteth the face thereof turneth it upside down c Bringeth it into great disorder and confusion and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof 2 And it shall be as with the people so with the ‖ Or prince * Hos. â—… 9. priest d The approaching
blasted with the East-wind sprung up after them 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears and I told this unto the Magicians but there was none that could declare it to me 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh The dream of Pharaoh is one s To wit In its design and signification both dreams portend the same thing God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do 26 The seven good kine are seven years and the seven good ears are seven years the dream is one 27 And the seven thin and ill-favoured kine that came up after them are seven years and the seven empty ears blasted with the East-wind shall be seven years of famine 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh what God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh 29 Behold there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine and all the plenty shall be forgotten t There shall be no relicks of it to keep it in mens minds which will be so taken up with the contemplation of their present misery and future danger that they will have neither heart nor leasure to reflect upon their former plenty the remembrance whereof will but aggravate the present calamity in the land of Egypt and the famine shall consume the land 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following for it shall be very †Heb. heavy grievous 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is ‖ Or prepared of God established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt 34 Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint ‖ Or overseers officers over the land and take up u Not by force or violence for Ioseph would never be the author of such unrighteous Counsels but by purchase at the common price which was like to be very low in that case and therefore might easily be compassed by that rich and mighty Prince the fifth part x Quest. Why not half seeing the years of Famine were as many as the years of plenty Answ. Because 1. Men would and should live more sparingly in times of Famine 2. It was likely that very many men would lay up great quantities of Corn in those years partly because they could not spend it all and partly in expectation of a scarcer and dearer time when they might either use it themselves or â—…ell it to their advantage 3. The fifth part of those years of great plenty might be more then the half yea equal to the whole crop of ordinary years of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh and let them keep food in the Cities 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land †Heb. be not cut off perish not through the famine 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants Can we find such a one as this is a man in whom the spirit of God y Or of the Gods in his Heathen Language One whom God hath endowed with such admirable Knowledge and Wisdome is 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this z i. e. Hath given thee this extraordinary gift of fore-seeing and foretelling things to come and of giving such sage advise for the future there is none so discreet and wise as thou art 40 * Psal. 105. 21. Mac. 2. 53. Act. 7. 10. Thou shalt be over my house and according unto thy word a i. e. direction and command Heb. moâ—…th which is oft put for command as Exod. 17. 1. and 38. 21. Numb 3. 16 39 c. shall all my people be †Heb. armed or kiss ruled b Or be fed they shall receive their provisions from thy hand and according to thy disposal Others shall kiss viz. the hand as inferiours used to do upon their address to or conference with great persons See Ioâ—… 31. 27. Hosea 13. 2. But it was frivolous for Ioseph to command them to do that which by the custom of the place they were obliged and wont to do Some render the words thus and that agreeable to the Hebrew at thy mouth shall the people kiss Which may be understood either properly as inferiours did sometimes kiss their superiors in token of their homage See 1 Sam. 10. 1. or rather metaphorically as the same phrase is used Psal. 2. 12. Prov. 24. 26. receive all thy commands with reverence and submission only in the throne c i. e. In soveraign power and dignity will I be greater than thou 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring d Which was both a token of highest dignity and an instrument of greatest power by which he had authority to make and â—…ign what decrees he thought fit in the Kings name See Esth. 3. 10. and 8. â—…2 from his hand and put it upon Josephs hand and arayed him in vestures of ‖ Or silk fine linen e Wherewith the greatest Potentates were arayed See Prov. 31. 22 24. Ezek. 16. 10. Luk. 16. 19. Rev. 19. 8. and put a gold chain f Another badge of great honour See Prov. 1. 9. Ezek. 16. 11. Dan. 5. 7 16 29. about his neck 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had g In the Kings second Chariot that he might be known and owned to be the next person to the King in power and dignity Compare 2 Chron. 35. 24. Esth. 6. 8. and 10. 3. Dan. 5. 29. and they cryed before him ‖ Or tender father Heb. Abrech Bowe the knee h They commanded all that passed by him or came to him to shew their reverent respect to him in this manner Compare Esth. 3. 2. Others tender father to signifie that he was to be owned as the father of the Countrey because by his prudence and care he had provided for them all and saved them from utter ruine and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph I am Pharaoh i i. e. I onely am the King I reserve to my self the soveraign power over thee and over all As the name of Caesar among the Romans was commonly used for the Emperour so the name of Pharaoh for the King Or thus I have the supreme power and therefore as I have authority to give
thee and to thy seed with thee 20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land r i. e. In the land of the children of Israel mentioned ver 19. You shall not have a distinct and separate portion of land as the other tribes shall The reason of this law was partly because God would have them wholly devoted to and employed in his service and therefore free from worldly encumbrances and businesses partly because God had abundantly provided for them otherwise by tithes and first-fruits and oblations of all sorts partly because God would have their worldly comfort and happiness depend singly upon him and his service and so would oblige them to use more zeal and diligence in the advancement of piety even for their own interest which was either better or worse as true religion flourished or decayed See Iudg. 17. 9 10. and 19. 18. 2 Chron. 13. 9. and 30. 22. and 31. 4. partly that this might be a firm bond of hearty love and affection between the people and their teachers the Levites who as they performed religious services for the people so they received their subsistence from them and partly that by this means being dispersed among the several tribes they might have the better opportunity for teaching and watching over the people which was their duty Deut. 33. 10. 2 Chron. 30 22. Mal. 2. 4 5 6 7. neither shalt thou have any part among them * Deut. 1â—… â—… 12. 12. 〈◊〉 2. Josh. 13. 14 33. Ezek 〈◊〉 28. I am thy part s i. e. I have appointed thee a liberal maintenance out of my oblations and thine inheritance among the children of Israel 21 And behold * Lev. 27. 32. I have given the children of Levi all the tenth t For the tithes were all given to the Levites and out of their tithes the tenth was given to the Priests here ver 26 c. and Neh. 10. 37 38. in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve eveâ—… the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation u i. e. So nigh as to do any act proper to the Priests or Levites lest they bear sin †Heb. to 〈◊〉 and die 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation and they shall bear their iniquity x i. e. The punishment due not onely for their own but also for the peoples miscarriage if it be committed through their connivance or negligence And this was the reason why the Priests withstood their King Uzziaâ—… when he would have burnt incense to the Lord 2 〈◊〉 26. 17 18. it shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel which they offer as an heave-offering unto the LORD y i. e. As a rent-charge or an acknowledgment that they have and hold all their lands and the fruits of it from Gods bounty Note that the word heave-offering which is for the most part understood of a particular kind of offerings heaved or lifted up to the Lord is here used for any offering in general as before ver 8. I have given to the Levites to inherit therefore I have said unto them Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance 25 And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 26 Thus speak unto the Levites and say unto them When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance then ye shall offer up an heave-offering of it for the LORD even a tenth part of the tithe 27 And this your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you as though it were the corn of the threshing-floor z It shall be accepted of you as much as if you offered it out of your own lands and labours and as the fulness of the wine-press 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave-offering unto the LORD of all your tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the LORDS heave-offering to Aaron the priest a And to his children which were one with him and were all to have their share herein 29 Out of all your gifts b Not onely out of your tithes but out of the other gifts which you receive from the people and out of those fields which shall belong to your cities ye shall offer c To wit to the Priest every heave-offering d i. e. As many gifts so many heave-offerings you shall reserve a part out of each of them for the Priest of the LORD of all the †Heb. â—…at best thereof even the hallowed part thereof e This may describe either 1 the nature and proportion of this offering and so peradventure he means the tenth part which was the part or proportion that God hallowed or sanctified to himself as his proper portion both here and elsewhere or 2. the reason or ground of this offering because it is a thing hallowed or appropriated by God to himself and given by him to the Priest and because the payment of this due doth hallow all the rest so as they may use it with comfort and good conscience as it follows ver 31 32. out of it 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them When ye have heaved the best thereof from it then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor and as the increase of the wine-press 31 And ye shall eat it in every place f i. e. In every clean place and not in the holy place onely ye and your housholds for * 1 Tim. 5. 18. it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation 32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it when ye have heaved from it the best of it g Implying that if they neglected this duty they sinned in the use of such unhallowed food * Lev. 22. 15 16. neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel h As you will do if you abuse their holy offerings by reserving that intirely to your selves which they offer to God to be disposed as he hath appointed to wit part to you and part to the Priests lest ye die CHAP. XIX 1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 2 This is the ordinance of the law a Or The constitution of the Law i. e. that which God hath ordained or established by Law which the LORD hath commanded saying speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee b At their common charge because it was for the common good a red c A fit colour to shadow forth both the bloody nature and complexion of sin Isa. 1. 8. and the humane nature and
the children of Abiezer and for the children of Helek and for the children of Afriel and for the children of Shechem and for the children of Hepher and for the children of Shemida these were the male-children i This expression is used to bring in what follows concerning his Female Children of Manasseh the Son of Joseph by their families 3 But * Numb 26. â—…3 and 27. 1. â—…nd 36. 2. Zelophehad the son of Hephir the son of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh had no sons but daughters k Of whom see on Numb 26. 33. and 27. 1. and these are the names of his daughters Mahlah and Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the princes saying The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he l i. e. Eleazar or Ioshua with the consent of the Princes appointed for that work gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father 5 And there fell ten portions m Either 1. Six portions for the six Sons whereof one was Hepher and because he had no Sons his part was subdivided into five equal parts for each of the Daughters Or 2. Ten Portions five for the Sons and five for the Daughters for as for Hepher both he and his Son Zelophehad was dead and that without Sons and therefore he had no Portion but his Daughters had several Portions allotted to them to Manasseh beside the land of Gilead and Bashan which were on the other side Jordan 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons n i. e. No less than the Sons so their Sex was no bar to their Inheritance and the rest of Manassehs sons had the land of Gilead 7 ¶ And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah that lieth before Shechem and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah 8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah but the city of Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim 9 And the coast descended unto the ‖ Or Brook of Reeds river Kanah southward of the river * Chap. 16. 9. these cities of Ephraim o Tappuah and the cities upon the Coast descending to the River c. last mentioned are among the cities of Manasseh p i. e. Are intermixed with their Cities which was not strange nor unfit these two being linked together by a nearer Alliance than the rest the coast of Manasseh also was on the north-side of the river and the out-goings of it were at the sea 10 Southward it was Ephraims and northward it was Manassehs and the sea is his border q Either 1. Manasseh's whose portion is here described and whose Name was last mentioned Or 2. Ephraim's and Manasseh's both expressed in the foregoing words and implyed in the following they and they met together in Asher r i. e. Upon the Tribe of Asher for though Zabulon came between Asher and them for the greatest part of their Land yet it seems there were some Necks or Parcels of Land both of Ephraim's and of Manasseh's which jutted out farther than the rest and touched the borders of Asher And it is certain there were many such incursions of the Land of one Tribe upon some parcels of another although they were otherwise considerably distant one from the other See Ios. 19. 34. And you must not judg of these things by the present Maps which are drawn according to the Opinions of late Authors which many times are false and they are to be judged by the Scripture and not the Scripture by them But that part of Manasseh did reach to Asher appears from hence that Dor a City of Manasseh v. 11. was as Iosephus witnesseth near Carmel which belonged to Asher Jos. 19. 26. on the north s and in Issachar on the east 11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher t Either 1. Bordering upon them as in Asher is taken v. 10. and as Aarons Rod is said to be in the Ark i. e. close by it Heb. 9. 4. or 2. Properly in them as Ephraim had some Cities in the Tribe of Manasseh Jos. 16. 9. and as it was not unusual when the place allotted to any Tribe was too narrow for it and the next too large to give away part from the larger to the less portion nay sometimes oâ—…e whole Tribe was taken into another as Simeon was into Iudah's Portion when it was found too large for Iudah Jos. 19. 9. Beth-shean and her towns and Ibleam and her towns and the inhabitants of Dor u Not the places onely but the people whom contrary to Gods Command they spared and used for Servants whom therefore they are said to have or possess and her towns and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns even three countreys x This may be referred either to some to wit the three last places or to all the places named in this verse which are here said either to have three Countreys or Tracts of Land belonging to them or to be in three several Countreys or Portions as they seem to have been some in Issachar and some in Asher and yet both belonging to Manasseh Or the words may be rendred the third part of that Countrey for the Hebrew word is of the Singular Number and the Article seems emphatical and so the meaning may be That the Cities and Towns here mentioned are a third part of that Country i. e. of that part of Issachars and Ashers Portion in which those places lay 12 Yet * â—…udg 1. 〈◊〉 the children of Manasseh could not y drive out the inhabitants of those cities but the Canaanites would dwell z Were resolved to Fight rather than he turned out of their ancient habitations in that land q See on Ios. 15. 63. 13 Yet it came to pass when the children of Israel were waxen strong that they put the Canaanites to tribute but did not utterly drive them out a Which they were obliged to now they were strong and numerous enough to possess those places 14 And the children of Joseph b i. e. Of Ephraim and Manasseh as is manifest partly from v. 17. where it is so explained and partly because they mention it as an unreasonable thing that they being two should have but one Lot spake unto Joshua c i. e. Expostulated with him when they went and saw that Portion which was allotted to them and found it much short of their expectation saying Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion d Either 1. Because they really had but one Lot which afterwards was divided by the Arbitrators between them Or 2. Because the Land
before the congregation CHAP. XXI THen a When the whole Land was distributed unto the several Tribes but not actually possessed by them which was the proper season for them to put in their claim came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites b The Fathers of the Levites were Kohath Gershom and Merari and the heads of these were the chief persons now alive of these several Families unto Eleazar the priest and unto Joshua the son of Nun and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel 2 And they spake unto them * Chap. 〈◊〉 at Shiloh in the land of Canaan saying ‡ Numb 〈◊〉 The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in with the suburbs thereof for our cattel 3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites c It seems most probable that they gave to the Levites promiscuously such Cities as God commanded and that the Lot appropriated them to their several Houses or Families out of their inheritance d i. e. Out of their several Possessions partly that the burden and loss might be equally divided and principally that the Levites being dispersed among the several Tribes according to Iacobs Prediction Gen. 49. 7. might more easily and frequently and effectually Teach the Israelites Gods Law and Iudgments which they were engaged to do Deut. 33. 10. and that the People might upon all occasions resort to them and require the meaning of the Law at their mouths Mal. 2. 7. at the commandment of the LORD these cities and their suburbs e Not only the use but the absolute Dominion of them as is manifest both from v. 11 12. where a distinction is made between the City and Suburbs of Hebrâ—… and the Fields and Villages thereof and the former are given to the Levites the latter to Caleb and from the return of these Cities in the Iubilee unto the Levites as to their proper owners Levit. 25. 33 34. 4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites and the children of Aaron the priest which were of the Levites had * See Châ—… 33. by lot out of the tribe of Judah and out of the tribe of Simeon and out of the tribe of Benjamin f Which three Tribes were nearest to the Temple where their business lay thirteen cities g For though the Priests were now few enough for one City yet respect was to be had to their succeeding numbers this division being made for all future Generations And seeing the Levites might sell their Houses until the Iubilee Levit. 25. 33. much more might they Let them and therefore it is probable their Cities were not very long uninhabited many being inclined to dwell with them by vertue of relations contracted with them or dependance upon or expectation from them or oâ—… of respect to the Service of God and the good of their Souls 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath h Who were not of Aarons Family or Priests but Levites onely had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the half tribe of Manasseh i Which Tribes are nearest to the three former and so the Kohathites are placed next to their Brethren the Aaronites ten cities k Fewer than they gave out of the three former Tribes because their inheritance was no less than the former See Numb 35. 8. 6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteen cities 7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve cities 8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs k Of which see on Numb 35. 2. as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses 9 ¶ And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon l These are mentioned together because the Cities of Siâ—… lay within Iudah's Portion these cities which are here ‡ 〈◊〉 mentioned 〈◊〉 name 10 Which the children of Aaron being of the families m i. e. Of the family the Plural Number for the Singular which is not unusual of the Kohathites who were of the children of Levi had for theirs was the First lot 11 And they gave them ‖ Or Kiriathâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…3 2. the city of Arbah the father of Anak which city is Hebron in the hill â—…ntrey of Judah with the suburbs thereof round about it 12 But ‡ Chap. 14. 14. 1 〈◊〉 6. 56. the fields n i. e. All beyond the 2000 Cubits expressed Numb 35. 5. This is here mentioned not as his peculiar case but as one â—…ment Instance to shew that it was so in all the rest of the Cities here named that the Fields and Villages thereof still belonged to the several tribes from whom the Cities and their Suburbs were taken and to make the rest of the Israelites more contentedly and chearfully resign so great a part of their Possessions to the Levites because even Caleb did so though his Possession had been long before promised and now actually given to him by Gods special command as a mark of honour and compensation for his long and faithful Service of the city and the villages thereof gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession 13 ¶ Thus they * 1 Chro. 6. 57. gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Libnah with her suburbs 14 ¶ And Jattir with her suburbs and Eshtemoa with her suburbs 15 And * 1 Chr. 6. 58. 〈◊〉 Holon o Called Hilen 1 Chron. 6 58. as Iuttah here is called Ashâ—… 1 Chron. 6. 59. and Kibzaim called Iokmeam 1 Chron. 6. 6â—… and so some others the names of the places being changed by length of time and upon special occasions as was frequent among the Jews Though their Doctors add that some of these places here mentioned being now in the Canaâ—…tes Possession and not speedily recovered from them there were others put in their stead with her suburbs and Debir with her suburbs 16 And * 1 Chro. 6. 59 â—…shan Ain with her suburbs and Juttah with her suburbs and Bethshemesh with her suburbs nine cities out of those two tribes â—…â—…in here and Gibeon v. 17. and some others here named are not named 1 Chron. 6. either because they were destroyed in some of those Hostile Invasions and Wars wherewith their Land was grievously harassed and wasted before that time or they appear there under other Names as was said 17 And out of
the tribe of Benjamin Gibeon with her suburbs Geba with her suburbs 18 Anathoth with her suburbs and * 1 Chron. 6. â—…0 Alemeth Almon with her suburbs four cities 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron the priest were thirteen cities with their suburbs 20 ¶ And the families of the children of Kohath the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath q Oveâ—… and above those of them who were Priests even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim 21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Gezer with her suburbs 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs and Beth-horon with her suburbs four cities 23 And out of the tribe of Dan Eltekeh with her suburbs Gibbethon with her suburbs 24 Aijalon with her suburbs Gath-rimmon with her suburbs four cities 25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh r To wit that half which dwelt in Canaan by comparing this with v. 27. Tanach with her suburbs and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs two cities 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained 27 ¶ And unto the children of Gershon of the familites of the Levites out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Beeshterah with her suburbs two cities 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar Kishon with her suburbs Dabareh with her suburbs 29 Jarmuth with her suburbs En-gannim with her suburbs four cities 30 And out of the tribe of Asher Mishal with her suburbs Abdon with her suburbs 31 Helkath with her suburbs and Rehob with her suburbs four cities 32 And our of the tribe of Naphtali Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs 〈◊〉 a city of refuge for the slayer and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs and Kartan with her suburbs three cities 33 All the cities of the Gershâ—… according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs 34 ¶ And unto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Levites out of the tribe of Zebulun Jokneam with her suburbs and Kartah with her suburbs 35 Dimnah with her suburbs Nahalal with her suburbs four cities 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben Bezer s A City of Refuge as it is called Ios. 20. 8. and therefore needless to he here repeated with her suburbs and Jahazah with her suburbs 37 Kedemoth with her suburbs and Mephaath with her suburbs four cities 38 And out of the tribe of Gad Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Mahanaim with her suburbs 39 Heshbon with her suburbs Jazer with her suburbs four cities in all 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families which were remaining of the families of the Levites were by their lot twelve cities 41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities t Qu. Why hath this Tribe which was the least of all more Cities than any of them Answ. First It doth not appear that they had more for though all the cities of the Levites be expressed it is not so with the other Tribes but divers of their Cities are omitted as is evident Secondly The Levites were confined to their Cities and Suburbs the rest had large Territories belonging to their Cities which also they were in a capacity of improving which the Levites were not so that one of their Cities might be more considerable than divers of the Levites Thirdly God was pleased to deal liberally with his Ministers partly to put honour upon those whom he foresaw many would be prone to despise and partly that being free from all outward distractions they might more intirely and fervently devote themselves to the service of God and the instruction of Souls with their suburbs 42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them thus were all these cities 43 ¶ And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land u He gave them the right to All and the actual Possession of the greatest part of it and power to Possess the rest as soon as it was needful and convenient for them which was by degrees when their numbers were increased c. Exod. 23. 29 30. and the absolute dominion of all the people remaining in it which he sware to give unto their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein 44 And the LORD gave them rest round about according to all that he sware unto their fathers and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them x To wit all the days of Ioshua by comparing Ios. 1. 5. for afterwards it was otherwise with them the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand 45 ‡ Chap. 21. 44 〈◊〉 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass CHAP. XXII THen Joshua called the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh 2 And said unto them Ye have kept * Num. 32 20. 〈◊〉 â—… 18. all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you 3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days a i. e. For divers years together so long as the War lasted See Jos. 11. 18. and 14. 10. unto this day but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God 4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren as he promised them therefore now return ye and get ye unto your tents b i. e. To your settled habitations as appears from v. 8. which are oft called Tents as Iudg. 19. 9. 2 Sam. 18. 17. Hos. 9. 6. Mal. 2. 12. and unto the land of your possession ‡ Numb 32. 〈◊〉 Chap. 13. â—… which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan 5 But take diligent heed c Watch over your selves and all your actions to do the commandment and the law d Two words expressing the same thing the Law of Commandments delivered by Moses which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you * Deut. 10. 12. to love the Lord your God and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cleaye unto him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul e With the whole strength of your Minds and Wills and Affections 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away and they went unto their tents 7 ¶ Now to the one half of the Tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents then he
from v. 3 4 8 9. which is chosen for the first enterprise because they were both most populous and so most needing enlargement and withal most Valiant and therefore most likely to succeed for God chuseth fit means for the work which he designs and because the Canaanites were numerous and strong in those parts and therefore were in time to be suppressed before they grew too strong for them shall go up behold I have delivered the land into his hand 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother e As nearest to him both by relation being his Brother by both Parents which few of them were and by habitation as appears from Ios. 19. 1 2. Come up with me into my lot that we may fight against the Canaanites f Specially so called because they are distinguished from the Perizzite v. 4. and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot So Simeon went with him 4 And Judah went up and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand and they slew of them in Bezek g Not in the City for that was not yet taken v. 5. but in the Territory of it or near to it as in Hor is taken Numb 33. 37. And in Iericho Ios. 5. 13. ten thousand men 5 And they found Adoni-bezek h The Lord or King of Bezek as his Name signifies in Bezek i Whither he fled when he had lost the Field and they fought against him k i. e. Against the City wherein he had Encamped himself and the rest of his Army and they â—…lew the Canaanites and the Perizzites 6 But Adoni-bezek fled and they purfued after him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his great toes l That he might be disenabled to fight with his Hands or to run away upon his Feet And this they did either by the secret instinct and direction of God or upon notice of his former Tyranny and Cruelty expressed upon others in this manner as it follows either way it was a just requital 7 And Adoni-bezek said Threescore and ten kings m Which is not strange in those times and places for these might be either First Kings successively and so there might be divers of those Kings in one place and so in others Or Secondly Contemporary Kings For it is well known that anciently each Ruler of a City or great Town was called a King and had Kingly Power in that place and many such Kings we meet with in Canaan and it is probable that some years before Kings were more numerous there till the greater devoured many of the less having ‡ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thumbs 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 and of 〈◊〉 feet their thumbs * That so their hands might be unable to manage weapons of War and their great toes cut off ‖ Or 〈◊〉 gathered their meat under my table n An act of Barbarous Inhumanity thus to insult over the miserable joyned with abominable Luxury as I have done so God hath requited me o He acknowledgeth the Providence and vindictive Justice of God which also Pharoah did and others too without any true sense of Piety and they brought him p They carried him in Triumph as a monument of Gods righteous Vengeance to Jerusalem q and there he died 8 Now the children of Judah had sought against Jerusalem and had taken it To wit in Ioshuah's time which though done before may be here repeated to shew why they brought Adonibesek to Ierusalem because that City was in their hands having been taken before as may be gathered from Ios. 15. 63. And the taking of this City may be ascribed to the children of Iudah rather than to Ioshua because the City was not taken by Ioshua and the whole Body of the Army in that time when so many Kings were destroyed Ios. 10. and 12. for there is mention made of the destroying of the King of Ierusalem Ios. 10. 23. and 12. 10. But not a word of the taking of Ierusalem as there is of the taking of 〈◊〉 and Libnah and other Cities belonging to the Kings there mentioned Ios. 10. 28 c. but by the Children of Iudah after they had received their Lot when at the desire and with the consent of the Benjamites in whose Lot Ierusalem fell Ios. 18. 28. they assaulted and took it and thereby as it seems acquired the right of Copartnership with the Benjamites in the possession of that City Though some think Ierusalem was twice taken once in Ioshua's Life-time and being afterwards recovered by the Canaanites was now retaken by the Children of Iudah and smitten it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire 9 〈◊〉 10. 36. 〈◊〉 11. 21. 〈◊〉 15. 13. And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites that dwelt in the mountain and in the south and in the ‖ 〈◊〉 low Countrey valley 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites r Under the Conduct of Caleb as it is recorded Ios. 15. 14 c. for that relation and this here following are doubtless one and the same Expedition and War as appears by all the circumstances and it is mentioned either there by anticipation or here by repetition Of this and the following Verses see the Notes there that dwelt in Hebron now the name of Hebron before was * 〈◊〉 15. 13. Kirjath-arba and they slew Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai 11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher 12 And Caleb said He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher and taketh it to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz * Chap. 3. 9. Calebs younger brother took it and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife 14 And it came to pass when she came to him that she moved him to ask of her father a field and she lighted from off her ass and Caleb said unto her What wilt thou 15 And she said unto him Give me a blessing for thou hast given me a south land give me also springs of water And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs 16 ¶ And the children of the Kenite Moses father in law s i. e. of Iethro so called from the people from whom he descended Numb 24. 21 22. And whatsoever he did it is evident that his Posterity came into Canaan with the Israelites and were there seated with them See Iudg. 4. 11. 17. and 5. 24. 1 Sam. 15. 6. 1 Chron. 2. 55. went up out of the city of palm-trees t with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah which lieth in the south of Arad t i. e. From Iericho so called Deut. 34. 3. not the City which was utterly destroyed but the Territory belonging to it where it seems they were seated as in a most pleasant and fruitful and safe place according to the promise made
147. 14. Ier. 15. 13. and 17. 3. of the Amorites from Arnon even unto Jabbok and from the wilderness c To wit the Desert of Arabia even unto Jordan 23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites d God the Soveraign Lord of all Lands hath given us this Land This he adds as a further and a convincing reason because otherwise it might have been alledged against the former Argument that they could gain no more Right to that Land from Sihon than Sihon himself had and he had but an unjust Claim to it from before his people Israel and shouldest thou possess it 24 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess e He speaks according to their fond and absurd Opinion The Ammonites and Moabites got their Land by right of War and Conquest of the old Inhabitants whom they cast out and this Success though given them by the true God for Lot's sake Deut. 2. 9 19. they impiously and ridiculously ascribe to their god Chemosh whose Gift they owned to be a firm and sufficient Title so whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us them will we possess 25 * Num. â—… â—… Deut. 23. â—… Josh. 24. 9. And now art thou any thing better than Balak f Art thou wiser than he or hast thou more right than he had Balak though he Plotted against Israel in defence of his own Land which he feared they would Invade and Conquer Numb 22. 4. yet he never contended with them about the restitution of those Lands which Sihon took from him or his Predecessors after the Israelites had Conquered them the son of Zippor king of Moab Did he ever strive against Israel or did he ever fight against them 26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 ters towns and in Aroer and her ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 ters towns and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon three hundred years g Not precisely but about that time either from their coming out of Egypt or from their first Conquest of those Lands and thus numbers are oft expressed see Numb 1 46. and 2. 32. and 11. 21. Iudg. 20. 46. He urgeth Prescription which is by all men reckoned a just Title and it is fit it should be so for the good of the World because otherwise the Door would be opened both to Kings and to private Persons for infinite Contentions and Confusions why therefore did ye not recover them within that time 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee h I have done thee no wrong but thou doest me wrong to war against me the LORD the judg be judg this day i Let him determine this Controversy by the success of this day and War between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon 28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him 29 ¶ Then the * Chap. 3. 10. Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah k Indued with a more than ordinary Courage and Resolution and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh l i. e. Bashan which the half Tribe of Manasseh beyond Iordan inhabited Ios. 20. 8. and 21. 6. and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead m So called to distinguish from other Cities of that name Having gathered what Forces he suddenly could he came hither to the borders of the Ammonites and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon 30 And Jephthah vowed a vow n Of this and the following Verse see the Notes on ver 39. unto the LORD and said If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hand 31 Then it shall be that ‡ Heb. that which cometh forth which shall come forth whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be the LORDS ‖ Or or I will offer it c. and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering 32 ¶ So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them and the LORD delivered them into his hand 33 And he smote them from Aroer even till thou come to Minnith o A place not far from Rabbah the chief City of the Ammonites even twenty cities and unto the ‖ Or Abel plain of the vineyards with a very great slaughter thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel 34 ¶ And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house and behold his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances p In Confort with other Virgins as the manner was See Exod. 15. 20. 1 Sam. 18. 6. and she was his onely child ‖ Or he had not of his own either son or daughter ‡ Heb. of himself beside her q Heb. of himself i. e. Proceeding from his own body which may imply that he had other Children either by Adoption or in right of his Wife who had them by a former Husband he had neither son nor daughter 35 And it came to pass when he saw her that he rent his clothes and said Alas my daughter thou hast brought me very low and thou art one of them that trouble me r Before this I was troubled by my Brethren and since by the Ammonites and now most of all though but occasionally by thee for I have opened my mouth s i. e. I have Vowed which was done by Words Numb 30. 2 6. unto the LORD and I cannot go back t i. e. Not retract my Vow I am indispensably obliged to perform it 36 And she said unto him My father if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth u Do not for my sake make thy self a Transgressor I freely give my consent to thy Vow wherewith and with the Success of his Arms he had now acquainted her though it be not here expressed forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies x I am willing to bear my Burthen being abundantly satisfied with the great Deliverance which God hath given to his People by thy hands even of the children of Ammon 37 And she said unto her father Let this thing be done for me let me alone two months that I may ‡ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go down go up and down upon the mountains y Which she chose as a solitary place and therefore fittest both for Lamentations and for her Preparation for her approaching Calamity and bewail my virginity z That I shall Die Childless which was esteemed both a Curse and a Disgrace for the Israelites Gen. 30. 23. 1 Sam. 1. 6 7. Isa. 4. 1. Because such were excluded from that great Priviledg of increasing the Holy Seed and contributing
when it cometh among us it may save us out of the hand of our enemies 4 So the people sent to Shiloh that they might bring from thence the ark h Which it may seem they should not have done without asking Counsel of God which they might easily have done by Samuel of the covenant of the LORD of hosts which dwelleth between the * Exod. 25. 18 22. cherubims and the two sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas were there i Either First In the camp Or rather Secondly In Shiloh with the ark k Attending upon it instead of their Aged Father of the covenant of God 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp all Israel shouted with a great shout l Partly from their great joy and confidence of success and partly in Design to encourage themselves and terrifie their Enemies so that the earth rang again 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout they said What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews And they understood m By information from the Israelites who would readily tell them of it to affright them that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp 7 And the Philistines were afraid for they said God is come n To wit in and with his Ark or they give the Name of God to the Ark before which he was Worshipped as they used to do to the Images of their false gods into the camp And they said Wo unto us for there hath not been such a thing ‡ Heb. yesterday or the third day heretofore o Not to our knowledge or not in our times for the forementioned removals of the Ark were before it came to Shiloh 8 Wo unto us who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods p They secretly confess the Lord to be higher and greater than their gods and yet against their knowledge presume to oppose him these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness q They mention the Wilderness not as if all the Plagues of the Egyptians came upon them in the Wilderness but because the last and forest of all which is therefore put for all to wit the Destruction of Pharaoh and all his Host happened in the Wilderness namely in the Red-Sea which having the Wilderness on both sides of it Exod. 13. 18 20. and 14. 3 11. and 15. 22 c. may well be said to be in the Wilderness Although it is not strange if these Heathens did mistake â—…nd misreport some Circumstances in a Relation of the Israelitish Affairs especially some hundreds of Years after they were done such mistakes being frequent in divers Heathen Authors treating of those matters as Iustin and Tacitus and others 9 Be strong and quit your selves like men r Since you can expect no relief from your gods who are not able to resist theirs it concerns you to put forth all your Strength and Courage and once for all to act like brave and valiant Men. O ye Philistines that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews * â—…udg 13. 1. as they have been to you ‡ Heb be men quit your selves like men and fight 10 ¶ And the Philistines fought * Psal. 78. 9. and Israel was smitten and they fled every man into his tent s i. e. To his habitation called by the Ancient Name of his Tent. and there was a very great slaughter for there fell of Israel thirty thousand t Before they lost but 4000 now in the presence of the Ark 30000 to teach them that the Ark and Ordinances of God were never Designed for Sanctuaries or Refuges to impenitent Sinners but only for the Comfort and Relief of those that Repent footmen u Horsemen are not mentioned Either First Because they had few or none God having forbidden the multiplication of their Horses Deut. 17. 16. and the Philistines their Lords and Oppressors having taken away what they had Or Secondly Because they fled away as is usual in such Cases whilst the Footmen were more easily overtaken 11 And * Psal. 78. 61. the ark of God was taken x Which God justly and wisely permitted partly to punish the Israelites for their Profanation of it partly that by taking away the pretences of their Foolish and Impious confidence he might more deeply humble them and bring them to true Repentance partly that the Philistines might by this means be more effectually convinced of Gods Almighty Power and of their own and their gods Impotency and so a stop might be put to their Triumphs and Insultations and to their Rage against the poor Israelites whom otherwise in human appearance they might easily have rooted out Thus as God was no loser by this event so the Philistines were no gainers by it and Israel all things considered received more good than hurt by it as we shall see and the two sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas ‡ Heb. died were slain 12 ¶ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day with his cloths rent and with * Job 2. 12. earth upon his head y The usual Rites in great sorrows See Gen. 37. 29. Ios. 7. 6 c. 2 Sam. 1. 2 11. 13 And when he came lo Eli sate upon * Chap. 1. 9. a seat z Placed there on purpose for him that he might soon receive the Tidings which he longed for by the way side watching for his heart trembled for the ark of God a Whereby he discovered a publick and generous spirit and a fervent Zeal for God and for his Honour and Service which he preferred before all his Natural Affections and Worldly Interests not regarding his own Children in comparison of the Ark though otherwise he was a most Indulgent Father and had reason to believe that they went out like Sheep for the slaughter according to Samuel's Prediction And when the man came into the city and told it all the city cried out 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying he said What meaneth the noise of this tumult And the man came in hastily and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old and * Chap. 3. 2. his eyes ‡ Heb. sâ—…ood were dim that he could not see 16 And the man said unto Eli I am he that came out of the army b I speak not what I have by uncertain Rumors but what mine Eyes were Witnesses of and I fled to day out of the army And he said What ‡ Heb. is the thing is there done my son 17 And the messenger answered and said Israel is fled before the Philistines and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people and thy two sons also Hophni and Phinehas are dead and the ark of God is taken 18
7000 Chariots in all whereof 700 were chosen ones according to the distinction made Exod. 14. 7. of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen f For which in 1 Chron. 19. 18. is forty thousand footmen Which may be reconciled divers ways 1. Both these may be true that he slew 40000 Horsemen which being the most considerable part and strength of the Army it might seem sufficient to name them and every one could easily understand that the Footmen in that case were certainly cut off and that he slew also 40000 Footmen as is said 1 Chron. where he mentions them onely because they were omitted in 2. Sam. and the Horsemen being expressed here it was needless to repeat them in 1 Chron. 2. The Horsemen may be here called footmen in opposition to those that Fought in Chariots because they sometimes Fought on Horseback and sometimes came down from their Horses and Fought on Foot when the place of the Battel was more commodious for Footmen than for Horsemen which it is not improbable was their Case here for David being a Soldier of great Prudence and Experience and understanding the great Numbers of the Syrian Horsemen whereas the Israelites had but very few Deut. 17. 16. would doubtless endeavour to chuse a place as inconvenient for their Horsemen as he could 3. Peradventure the Syrians designed to bring the War into David's Country and therefore hastned their March and for that end put their Footmen on Horseback as hath been frequently done in like Cases who when they came to the place of the Battel came down from their Horses and Fought on Foot So there is no need of acknowledging an error of the Scribe in the Sacred Text which yet if it were granted in such Historical Passages of no moment to the Doctrine of Faith and good Life it would not shake the Foundation of our Faith in matters of great Importance which it might reasonably be presumed the Providence of God would more watchfully preserve from all depravation or Corruption and smote Shobach the captain of their host who died there 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer f To wit for that time or in that Expedition to which â—…e hired them saw that they were smitten before Israel they made peace with Israel and served them So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more CHAP XI AND it came to pass that ‡ Heb. at the return of the year after the year was expired at the time when kings go forth b Which is when the ground is fit for the March of Soldiers and brings forth Provision for Man and Beast to battel c These words are to be understood here as Gen. 10. 11. and 14. 8. that * 1 Chron. 20. 1. David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah d The Chief and Royal City of the Ammonites Deut. 3. 11. but David tarried still at Jerusalem a When that year ended and the next begun which was in the Spring-time Exod. 12. 2. 2 ¶ And it came to pass in an evening-tide that David arose from off his bed e Where he had lain and slept for sometime being possibly disposed to sleep after Dinner by reason of some Excels committed in Eating or Drinking and indulging himself in his Lazy Humour which may seem very improper for so great a Prince and Captain who had so many and great Burdens upon his Shoulders especially in a time of War and therefore such Practises have been condemned by Heathens and Homer will not allow a General and great Counseller to sleep all the Night much less to take any part of the Day for it And therefore this is thought to be David's first Error and the occasion of his following Fall and walked upon the roof f Which was plain after the manner Deut. 22. 8. of the kings house and from the roof he saw a woman washing her self g To wit in a Bath which possibly was in her Garden or in some room near to the King's Palace where she might wash her self divers ways and for different ends either for health or coolness or to cleanse her self from some kind of legal Impurity where also the Windows being open and she careless David might espie her and the woman was very beautiful to look upon 3 And David sent and enquired after the woman h Instead of suppressing that Lust which the sight of his Eyes had kindled he seeks rather to feed it and first enquires who she was that if she were unmarried he might make her either his Wife or his Concubine and one said Is not this Bath-sheba i Called also Bathshua 1 Chron. 3. 5. where also Fliam is called Ammiel the daughter of Eliam the wife of Uriah the Hittâ—…te k So called either 1. By his Original being born either of that Race but become a zealous Proselyte or at least among that People Or 2. By his Habitation among them Or 3. For some notable Exploit of his against that People See 1 Sam. 26. 6. and the notes on 2 Sam. 8. 18. 4 And David sent messengers and took her l From her own House into his Palace not by force but by perswasion as desiring to speak with her and she came in unto him m Into his Palace and Chamber as he desired and he * Psal. 51. title lay with her ‡ Heb. and she was purifying her self from her uncleanness So Gr. for she was purified from her uncleanness n To wit from her menstruous Pollution according to the Law Levit. 18. 19. Which is here noted as the reason either why David pursued his Lustful desire or why she so easily yielded to it because she was not under that Pollution which might alienate her from it or rather why she so readily conceived that time being observed by Aristotle and others to be the most likely time for Conception and she returned unto her house * Lev. 15. 19. and 18. 19. 5 And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said I am with child o Consider therefore what to do for thy own honour and for my safety whom thou hast brought into a most shameful and dangerous condition 6 And David sent to Joab saying Send me Uriah the Hittite And Joab sent Uriah to David 7 And when Uriah was come unto him David demanded of him ‡ Heb. of the peace of c. how Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered p Frivolous Questions which any common Messenger could have answered which probably made Uriah suspect that there was some other secret cause why he was sent for And he might understand something either by David's Messengers v. 4. or by some of his own Family concerning her being sent for to the Court which together with other Circumstances might
For Pharaoh king of Eggpt had gone up and taken Gezer a Not now but long before this time and presently after the Marriage of his Daughter as is most probable and it is here mentioned onely as the occasion of Solomon's Building it Possibly the Canaanites of this place had been guilty of some Hainous Crime and because Solomon thought not fit to destroy them himself he desired Pharaoh to do it for him or Pharaoh might offer his Service therein for his Daughters advantage and burnt it with fire and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the City and given it for a present unto his daughter Solomons wife 17 And Solomon built Gezer and Beth-horon the nether b In Benjamin Ios. 18. 13 14. and Bethoron the upper which is added 2 Chron. 8. 5. a City in the Tribe of Ephraim Ios. 16. 5. possibly bordering upon Benjamin and â—…igh unto the lower Bethoron which alone may be here mentioned either because it was the more famous place or be cause it needed more reparations 18 And Baalath c In the Tribe of Dan Ios 19. 40 44. and Tadmor d Supposed to be called Tamar Ezek. 47. 19. in the wilderness in the land e This Clause may belong either first to all the places above-mentioned which are here declared to be in the Land of Canaan But so that Clause may seem superfluous for none would easily think that he would Build much out of his own Land Or rather Secondly To Tadmor which otherwise being in that Wilderness which was the border of the Land might have been presumed to have been out of the Land 19 And all the cities of store f To lay up Arms and Ammunition for War and Corn or other Provisions against a time of scarcity See Exod. 1. 11. that Solomon had and cities for his charets and cities for his horsemen and ‡ Heb. the desire of Solomon which he desired that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem and in Lebanon g Either in the Mountain of Lebanon which being the Border of his Land he might Build some Forts or a Frontier City in it Or in the House of the Forest of Lebanon of which see chap. 7. 2. and in all the land of his dominion 20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites Hittites Perizzites Hivites and Jebusites which were not of the children of Israel 21 Their children * Judg. 1. 21 27 29. that were left after them in the land whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond-service h He used them as Bond-men and imposed Burdens and Bodily Labours upon them See 2 Chron. 2. 18. Hence some think they are called Solomon's servants Ezra 2. 55 58. Quest. Why did not Solomon destroy them as God had commanded when now it was fully in his power to do so Ans. First The command of destroying them Deut. 7. 2. did chiefly if not onely concern that Generation of Canaanites who lived in or near the time of the Israelites entring into Canaan Secondly That Command seems not to be Absolute and Universal but conditional and with some exception for those who should submit to them and embrace the True Religion as may be gathered both from Ios. 11. 19. and from the History of the Gibeonites Ios. 9. whom Ioshua did not sin in sparing when he had Sworn to do so and Saul did sin in indeavouring to destroy them But if Gods Command had been Absolute the Oaths of Ioshua and of the Princes could not have obliged them nor dispensed with such a Command unto this day 22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon * Lev. 25. 39. make no bond-men but they were men of war and his servants and his princes and his captains and rulers of his charets and his horsemen 23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomons work five hundred and fifty i Obj. They were onely 250 in 2 Chron. 8. 10. Ans. First Those might be Officers of another sort for they are not said to be over the work as these are but onely over the people Secondly The 250 were Israelites who are therefore distinctly mentioned in that Book where many things are more exactly noted than in the former and the other 300 were strangers who therefore are neglected in that more accurate account Or Thirdly There was but 250 at one time which is noted there and 250 at another time for it is apparent they did their work by turns and the other 50 either were Superior to all the rest or rather were a reserve to supply the place of any of the 500 when there was occasion which might frequently happen And so this was an act not unbecoming Solomon's Wisdom to make provision for Emergencies which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work 24 ¶ But * 2 Chr. 8. 11. Pharaohs daughter came up out of the city of David unto * Chap. 7. 8. her house which Solomon had built for her then did he build Millo 25 ¶ And three times in a year k i. e. At the three Solemn Feasts Which is not said exclusively as is evident both from 2 Chron. 8. 13. and from the express and oft-repeated Commands of God to offer at other times which it is absurd to think that Solomon not yet fallen into sin should so wickedly and scandalously neglect but because then he did it more Solemnly and more costlily and more publickly whereby it might be presumed that he did so at all other appointed times did Solomon offer burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD and he burnt incense ‡ Heb. upon it upon the altar that was before the LORD so he finished the house l Or so he perfected the house to wit by applying it to the use for which it was made in which the perfection of such things consists Or the house may be put Metonymically for the Work or Service of the House as it is elsewhere commonly used for the things or persons in the House Or the words may be and are rendred thus After that for so the Hebrew Vau oft signifies as Isa. 37. 9 36. Hos. 1. 11. Zech. 12. 2. he finished the house i. e. From the time of the finishing of the House until this time he continued to do so 26 ¶ And * 2 Chr. 8. 17. king Solomon made a navy of ships m Not now in the order in which it is placed in the History but in the beginning of his Reign as appears because the Almug-trees which he used in this Work were brought in this Navy from Ophir chap. 10 11 12. 2 Chron. 9. 10 11. which was a three Years Voyage there ver 22. For Ophir and Tharsis were either the same place or one near to another in Ezion-Geber which is beside Eloth n on the ‡
them that Shishak king of Egypt a Of whom see 1 King 11. 40. and 2 Chron. 12. 2 c. where this History is more fully described He is thought by many to be Solomon's Brother-in-law But how little such Relations signify among Princes when their Interest is concerned all Histories witness Besides Rehoboam was not Solomon's Son by Pharaoh's Daughter and so the relation was in a manner extinct came up against Jerusalem b Either From ambition and a desire to enlarge his Empire or from jealousie of Rehoboam's growing-greatness Of which see 2 Chron. 11. or by Ieroboam's instigation or from a covetous desire of possessing these great treasures which David and Solomon had left and above all by Gods Providence disposing his heart to this expedition for Rehoboam's punishment 26 And he took away the treasures c It is implied that first he took the City which may seem strange considering the great strength of that City and how much time it took Nebuchadnezzar and Titus to take it But First It might cost Shishak also some time and a long Siege ere he took it though that be not here related Secondly It is probable that David and Solomon in their building and altering of this City had more respect to State and Magnificence than to its defence as having no great cause to fear the Invasion of any Enemies and being too secure in reference to their Posterity because of Gods promise of the Kingdom to be continued to them and to their seed for ever And it is probable and certain that after the division between Iudah and Israel the Kings of Iudah did add very much to the Fortifications of this City of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the kings house he even took away all and he took away all the shields of gold * Chap. 10 〈◊〉 which Solomon had made 27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 guard d Whereas the Golden Shields as being more precious were kept in a certain place which kept the door of the kings house 28 And it was so when the king went into the house of the LORD e By which it seems the affliction had done him some good and brought him back to the Worship of God which he had forsaken chap. 12. 1. that the guard bare them and brought them back into the guard-chamber 29 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah f Such a Book of Chronicles as that mentioned above ver 19. 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam g Not an Invasive War with Potent Armies which was forbidden chap. 12. 12. and not revived till Abijam's Reign 2 Chron. 13. but a defensive War from those Hostilities which by small Parties and Skirmishes they did to one another all their days 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David and his mothers name was Naamah an Ammonitess h This is repeated as a thing very observable See above ver 21. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XV. NOw in the eighteenth year of king * 2 Chr. 13. â—… Jeroboam a Obj. How can this be when he Reigned 3 Years ver 2. and Asa his Successor began his Reign in the twentieth Year of Ieroboam v. 9 Ans. Parts of Years are commonly called and accounted Years both in the old and New Testament and in prophane Writers So his Reign began with Ieroboam's 18th Year and continued his whole 19th Year and ended within his 20th Year in which also Asa's Reign began And thus one and the same Year may well be as it frequently is attributed to two several Persons the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah 2 Three years b See the last Note on ver 1. reigned he in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom c Or of Absalom as he is called 2 Chron. 11. 21. And because he is here mentioned as a known Person without any addition of his Kindred or Quality some conceive that this was Absalom's Daughter called properly Tamar 2 Sam. 14. 27. and from her Royal Grand-Mother 2 Sam. 3. 3. Maachah and that she is called Michajah which differs not much from Maachah the daughter of Uriel 2 Chr. 13. 2. because she was first Married to Uriel as Iosephus affirms Antiq. 8. 3. and afterwards to Rehoboam Others think this was another Person and that both she and her Father had each of them several names which was not unusual among the Hebrews 3 And he walked in all the sins of his father d Which his Father lived in Either First Before his humiliation Or rather Secondly After his deliverance from Shishak when though he did not openly renounce the Worship of God he seems to have relapsed into his former sins which otherwise would not have been remembred against him as David's name and memory is never loaded with the shame of his sins because he truly repented of them which he had done before him and his Chap. 11. â—… heart was not perfect with the LORD his God as the heart of David his father 4 Nevertheless for Davids sake did the LORD his God give him a ‖ Or candle lamp e i. e. A Son and Successor to perpetuate his name and memory which otherwise had gone into obscurity The same Phrase is used above ch 11. 36. 2 King 8. 19. 2 Chr. 21. 7. in Jerusalem to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem f i. e. That he might maintain that City and Temple and Worship as a witness for God in the World against the Israelites and Heathen world who should have enquired after it and embraced the True Religion there established and set up as a Beacon upon an high Hill that all men might take notice of it 5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life * 2 Sam. 11. 4 and 12. 9. save onely in the matter of Uriah the Hittite g Quest. How is this true seeing David sinned in the matter of Nabal 1 Sam. 25. and Achish chap. 27. and Mephibosheth and his indulgence to his Children Adonijah Amnon and Absalom and in the numbring of the People Ans. This and the like Phrases are not to be understood as exclusive of every sinful action but onely of a sinful course or state or of an habitual and continued Apostacy from God or from his ways as the very Phrase of turning aside from God or from his Commands doth constantly imply as appears from Exod. 32. 8. Deut. 9. 12 16. 1 Sam. 8. 3. Psal. 78. 57. Isa. 44.
20. 1 Tim. 1. 6. and 5. 15 c. And thus it is most true For David's other sins were either sudden and transient acts proceeding from humane infirmity and extraordinary temptations and soon repented of and blotted out as in the cases of Nabal and Achish or mistakes of his judgment which was not fully convinced of the sinfulness of such actions as in the other cases alledged whereas that which concerned Uriah's Wife was a designed and studied sin long continued in defended with a succession of other sins presumptuous and scandalous to his Government and to the True Religion which he so eminently professed 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam h Which was said chap. 14. 30. and may be here repeated to signify the Cause and Original of the War between Abijam and Ieroboam which is implied here and particularly described 2 Chron. 13. Abijam continued the War which Rehoboam had begun and pushed it on to a decisive Battel But the place may be thus rendred Yet there was war c. i. e. Although God was pleased to shew so much respect to David as for his sake to continue the Succession to the Kingdom in his Posterity yet he thought fit to manifest his displeasure against David's Successors for their sins and to mix their honour and happiness with Wars and Troubles all the days of his life 7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did are they not written in the book of * 2 Chr. 13. 3. the chronicles of the kings of Judah i In their Annals whence they were long after this time Translated into the Sacred Book of Chronicles See above on chap. 14. 19. And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David and Asa 2 Chr. 14. 1. his son reigned in his stead 9 ¶ And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam k In or towards the end of the Year See above ver 1. king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah 10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem and his ‖ That is grandmother mothers l i. e. His Grand-Mothers as appears from ver 2. who is called his mother as David is called Abijam's father v. 3. and this Asa's father ver 11. And so the names of father and mother and sons and daughters are oft taken both in Sacred and Prophane Authors for Grand-Parents and Grand-Children And his Grand-Mothers name may be here mentioned rather than his Mothers because his Mother was either an obscure person or was long since dead or indisposed or unwilling to take care of the Education of her Son and so he was Educated by the Grand-Mother who though she did Poison his Father Abijam with her Idolatrous Principles ver 12. yet could not infect Asa nor with-hold him from prosecuting his good purposes of Reforming Religion Which is here remembred to his praise name was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD m As to the Government of his Kingdom and Life and the Reformation and Establishment of Gods Worship as did David his father 12 And he took away the Sodomites n Of whom see chap. 14. 24. not all of them but those whom he could find out but some escaped his observation and censure as appears from chap. 22. 46. out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made 13 And also * 2 Chr. 15. 16. Maachah his mother even her he removed from being queen o i. e. He took from her either the Name and Authority of Queen Regent which she having been Rehoboam's Wife and Abijam's Mother took to her self during Asa's minority and abused to the Patronage of Idolatry or the Dignity of the Queen-Mother and those Guards or other Ensigns of Honour or Instruments of Power which as such she had enjoyed and misemployed Otherwise he removed her from the queen i. e. from his Wife that she might not be infected by her and afterwards infect his Children which was a prudent and necessary care for the prevention of so great and publick a Mischief because she had made ‡ Heb. an horror an idol p Heb. a terror or horror i. e. an horrible Idol which it may be he so called either because all Idols though for a season they please yet in the end will bring dreadful effects upon their worshippers or because this was an Idol of a more horrible or terrible shape more abominable than ordinary and not to be seen without horror whether it was that filthy Idol called Priapus which was commonly placed in Groves or Gardens or Pan or some other Heathen god to whose service she in a special manner devoted her self in a grove and Asa ‡ Heb. cut off destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron q That when it was burnt to powder it might be thrown into the Water and be unfit for any use See Exod. 32. 20. Deut. 12. 3. 14 But the high places were not removed r Obj. He did take these away 2 Chron. 14. 3. Ans. He took away those which were devoted to the worship of Idols as is there said he took away the altars of the strange gods and the high places to wit where they were worshipped but as for those high places where the True God was Worshipped he did not take them away partly because he thought there was no great Evil in them because they had been used by David and Solomon and other Good and Wise men and because the True God was there worshipped and that in the manner though not in the place which God had appointed and partly because he thought the removal of them might do much more hurt than their continuance to wit by occasioning the total neglect of Gods Worship by many of the People who either could not or through want of competent Faith and Zeal would not go up to Ierusalem to Worship now especially when the Israelites their near Neighbours formerly their Friends were become their Enemies and watched all opportunities to invade or molest them which they concluded they would do when all their Males were gone up to Ierusalem and partly because the People were so obstinately bent towards them that it was or at least seemed to him impossible to remove them without great offence or such commotions as were highly dangerous to that Church and State nevertheless Asa his heart was perfect with the LORD s i. e. He did sincerely and constantly adhere to the Worship and Service of God Though he could not hinder the People from using the high places yet he did intirely Devote himself to the Worship of God in the manner and place prescribed by God all his days 15 And he brought in the ‡ Heb. holy things which his father had dedicated t Abijam to wit
as it is expressed 2 Chron. 20. 36. and thenâ—…e 〈◊〉 Ophir as it here follows See more on 1 King 10. 〈◊〉 to go to Ophir d Of which See 1 King 9. 28. for gold but they went not for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber e Which was in Edom and consequently in Iehoshaphat's Territories 49 Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships but Jehoshaphat would not f Obj. It is said That he did joyn with Ahaziah herein 2 Chron. 20. 35 36. Answ. That was before this time and before the Ships were broken for the breaking of the Ships mentioned here ver 48. is noted to be the 〈◊〉 of his Sin in joyning with Ahaziah and of the 〈◊〉 consequent upon it 2 Chron. 20 37. And good 〈◊〉 being warned and chastised by God for this Sin 〈◊〉 not be perswaded to repeat it whereby he shewed the sincerity of his Repentance 50 ¶ And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead 51 ¶ Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat g By comparing this Verse with ver 41. it appears that Ahaziah was made King by his Father and Reigned in Conjunction with him a year or two before Ahab's Death and as long after it even as Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat was made King by his Father in his Life-time as we shall see hereafter which possibly was done in compliance with Ahab's desire upon Marriage of his Daughter to Iehoshaphat's Son and it may be Ahab to induce and encourage him to do so gave him an Example of it and made his Son his Partner in the Kingdom king of Judah and reigned two years h Either after his Fathers Death or one before it and another after it over Israel 52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam i Which Clause seems here added to shew how little the Authority and Example of Parents or Ancestors is to be valued where it is opposed to the Will and Word of God the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 53 For he served Baal and worshipped him * By so 〈◊〉 and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel according to all that his father had done II. KINGS CHAP. I. THEN Moab a Which had been subdued by David 2 Sam. 8. 2. as Edom was and upon the division of this Kingdom into two Moab was adjoyned to that of Israel and Edom to that of Iudah each to that Kingdom upon which it bordered And when the Kingdoms of Israel and Iudah were weak and forsaken by God they took that opportunity to Revolt from them Moab here and Edom a little after it rebelled against Israel * Chap. 3. 5. after the death of Ahab 2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattess in his upper chamber b In which the Lattess might be left to convey Light into the lower Room Which if it now seem absurd to be in a Kings Palace we must not think it was so then when the World was not arrived to that height of Curiosity and Art in which now it is But the words may be and are by some rendred through the Battlements or through the Lattess in the Battlements of the Roof of the House Where being first walking after the manner and then standing and looking through and leaning upon this Lattess which was grown infirm it broke and he fell down into the Court or Garden belonging to the House that was in Samaria and was sick and he sent messengers and said unto them Go inquire of Baal zebub c Properly the god of Flies An Idol so called because it was falsly supposed to deliver those people from Flies which were both vexatious and hurtful to them as Iupiter and Hercules were called by a like Name among the Grecians for the same reason And it is evident both from Sacred and Prophane Histories That the Idol-gods being consulted by the Heathens did sometimes through God's Permission and Just Judgment give them Answers though they were generally observed even by the Heathens themselves to be dark and doubtful the god of Ekron whether I shall ‡ Heb. live So 〈◊〉 recover of this disease 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite Arise go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say unto them Is it not because there is not a God in Israel d Dost thou not by this action cast contempt upon the God of Israel as if he were either ignorant of the Event of thy Disease or unable to give thee any Relief and as if Baal-zebub had more Skill and Power than he that ye go to inquire of Baal zebub the god of Ekron 4 Now therefore e For this was a very hainous Crime to deny the Perfections of God and to transfer them to an Idol See Levit. 19. 31. and 26. 6 27. Deut. 18. 10. thus saith the LORD ‡ Heb. The bed whither thou 〈◊〉 gone up thou shalt not come down from it Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up but shalt surely die And Elijah departed f The Messengers not daring to Apprehend him as suspecting him to be more than Man because he knew the secret Message which the King delivered to them in his Bed-Chamber 5 ¶ And when the messengers turned back unto him he said unto them Why are ye now turned back g f Before you have been at Ekron which he easily knew by their quick return 6 And they said unto him There came a man up to meet us and said unto us Go turn again unto the king that sent you and say unto him Thus saith the LORD Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou are gone up but shalt surely die 7 And he said unto them ‡ Heb. What was the manner of the man What manner of man was he which came up to meet you and told you these words 8 And they answered him He was an hairy man h Either 1. As to his Body the hair of his Head and Beard being through neglect grown long and spread over much of his Face Or rather 2. As to his outward Garment which was rough and hairy such as were sometimes worn by Eminent Persons in Greece in ancient Times and were the proper Habit of the Prophets See Isa. 20. 2. Zech. 13. 4. Mat. 3. 4. Heb. 11. 37. and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins i As Iohn the Baptist also had Mat. 3.
their tents 22 Yet Edom revolted i For though Ioram had given them a defeat yet it may seem to have been no great slaughter but onely a putting them to flight and therefore they might easily rally again And Iehoram could not pursue the Victory because he was recalled by the revolt of his own Subjects which had took the occasion of his absence and probably feared that others would follow their example if they had the like occasion from under the hand of Judah until this day Then Libnah k A considerable City in Iudah belonging to the Priests Ios. 15. 42. and 21. 13. revolted l Why see 2 Chron. 21. 10 11. It is probable they returned to their obedience because those words unto this day which are added to the former clause are omitted here at the same time 23 And the rest of the acts of Joram and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah m Of which see on 1 King 14. 19. 24 And Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David and * 2 Chr. 22. 1. Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead 25 ¶ In the twelfth year of Joram n Obj. It was in the eleventh year of Ioram chap. 9. 29. Ans. Either First He began to Reign in the confines of Ioram's 11th and 12th Year in the very end of his 11th Year or towards the beginning of the 12th whence it is indifferently ascribed to the one or the other Or Secondly The one Year of Ahaziah did concur with the later half of Ioram's 11th Year and the former half of his 12th Year and if he could not be said to begin to reign in both these Years yet he might unquestionably be said to reign in both of them and the Hebrew word both here and chap. 9. 29. properly signifies he reigned and not he began to reign as it is Translated Or Thirdly Ahaziah began to 〈◊〉 with hâ—…s Father and during his Life according to the late examples both in Iudah and Israel there being also special occasion for it by reason of Ioram's cruel and long sickness 2 Chron. 21. 18 c. and this was in Ioram's 11th Year and then his Father died and he began his single Reign in Ioram's 12th Year the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah o Called also Iehoahaz 2 Câ—…ro 21. 17. and Azariah 2 Chron. 22. 6. the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign 26 Two and twenty years old p How this agrees with 2 Chron. 22. 2. see on that place was Ahaziah when he began to reign and he reigned one year in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Athaliah the daughter q i. e. His Grand-Daughter See above on ver 18. of Omri king of Israel 27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD as did the house of Ahab for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab r He was the proper Son of Athaliah Daughter of Ahab and the Grand-Son-in-law of Ahab because his Father was Ahab's Son-in-law ver 18. 28 ¶ And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead and the Syrians wounded Joram 29 And * Chap. 9. 1â—… king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 with the â—…ans had wounded which the Syrians had given him at Ramah s The same place with Ramoth or Ramoth-Gilead when he fought against Hazael king of Syria and Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was ‡ Heb. wounded sick CHAP. IX AND Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets and said unto him Gird â—…p â—…hy loins a For haste to take this opportunity when the Kings of Israel and Iudah were both absent chap. 8. 29. and Iehu as it seems was left in Chief Command and take this box of oyl in thine hand and go to Ramoth-gilead 2 And when thou comest thither look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimishi and go in and make him arise up from among his brethren and carry him to an ‡ Heb. â—…ber in a â—…ber inner chamber b Partly that the Work may not be hindred and partly for the security of thy own person See v. 3. 3 Then * 1 King 19. 1â—… take the box of oyl and pour it on his head and say Thus saith the LORD I have anointed thee king over Israel c This was not his whole Message but the rest of it is particularly declared v. 7 8 9 10. and is to be understood here then open the door and flee and tarry not 4 ¶ So the young man even the young man the prophet went to Ramoth-gilead d Which is here noted as an eminent act of obedience whereby he run into a manifest hazard of his life 5 And when he came behold the captains of the host were sitting and he said I have an errand to thee O captain And Jehu said Unto which of all us And he said To thee O captain 6 And he arose and went into the house e i. e. Into an inner Chamber in the House v. 2. and he poured the oyl on his head f Thereby in Gods Name letting him in to the actual possession of the Kingdom For if Elijah did before this time Anoint him as some think from 1 King 19. 16. that unction did onely confer a remote right to the Kingdom as Samuel's unction did to David 1 Sam. 16. 13. Though others think Elijah did perform that command by Elisha to whom he lefâ—… it in charge and Elisha waited Gods time and command for the actual execution of it which he received at this time and said unto him Thus saith the LORD God of Israel * 2 Chr. 22. 7. I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD even over Israel 7 And thou shalt smite g i. e. Kill and destroy as that word is used Gen. 8. 21. and elsewhere the house of Ahab thy master h Thy former Lord and King that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD * 1 Kin. 21. 15. at the hand of Jezebel 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish and * 1 Kin. 14. 10. and 21. 21. I will cut off from Ahab * 1 Sam. 25. 22. him that pisseth against the wall and him that is shut up and left in Israel 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of * 1 Kin. 14. 10. and 15. 20. and 21. 22. Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of * 1 Kin. 16. 3 11. Baasha the son of Ahijah
Ahab and made a Garden 22 And it came to pass when Joram saw Jehu that he said Is it peace f Dost thou come to me with a Peaceable mind or in a way of Hostility For now when it was too late he began to suspect some Treachery which God hid from him before to prepare him for destruction Jehu And he answered What peace g What cause hast thou to expect Peace when thou hast so long abetted and dost still abet and allow thy Mother in her abominable practises so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts h Which are to be understood Either First Literally Spiritual Whoredom which is Idolatry being oft punished with corporal See ver 30. and witchcraft there was oft practised by Idolaters Or rather Mystically and Spiritually of her Idolatry which is oft called whoredom because it is a departing from God to whom we are all tied by many obligations and witchcraft either because it doth so powerfully bewitch and deceive mens minds or because it is a manifest entring into Covenant with the Devil For Idolatry being her chief sin and the cause of all the rest it seems improbable that Iehu would omit that in the Inditement which he drew against her He mentions not Ioram's but his Mothers sins partly because they were more notorious and infamous partly because they were the principal cause why God inflicted and he was come to execute these Judgments partly because by his connivence he had made them his own and partly because he could find no gross and odious matter wherewith to charge him except about the worship of the Calves which he forbore to mention both lest it should lose his Interest amongst his Officers and Soldiers who were devoted to that worship and because he himself intended to keep it up are so many 23 And Joram turned his hands i Either that therewith he might turn the Reins of the Chariot or that by this motion he might direct his Charioteer to turn it from Iehu and fled and said to Ahaziah There is treachery O Ahaziah 24 And Jehu ‡ Heb. filled his hand with a bow drew a bow with his full strength and smote Jehoram between his arms k Between his shoulders when he was turned or turning back the Chariot being probably open behind as many times they were and the arrow went out at his heart and he ‡ Heb. bowed sunk down in his chariot 25 Then said Iohn to Bidkar his captain Take up and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite for remember how that ‖ Or I and thoâ—… were with them that rode together when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father l Which might be when Ahab went in his Chariot attended with his Nobles or Chief Officers of which these were two to take a formal and solemn possession of Naboth's Land for then the Prophet Elijah met him and denounced this Judgment against him 1 King 21. 17 c. * 1 Kin. 21. 29. the LORD laid this burden m i. e. This grievous Prophecy for such are oft and truly called burdens as Isa. 13. 1. and 15. 1. Ier. 23. 33 34. Nah. 1. 1. upon him 26 Surely I have seen yesterday the ‡ Heb. bloods blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons n Who as it seems were killed with their Father by Iezabel's advice to make the possession of the Vineyard more sure to Ahab though it be not mentioned in its proper place 1 Kin. 21. 13. For it is not unusual to bring in such fragments of History in succeeding Writings which were neglected in the History of those matters Thus we read of the earthquake in the days of Uzziah Amos 1. 1. which was not Recorded in his History in the Books of the Kings or Chronicles Although he might well be charged with â—…aking away the lives of his Sons because he took away the necessary supports of their lives said the LORD and I will requite thee in this ‖ Or portion plat o Of which see the Notes on 1 King 21. 19. saith the LORD Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground p Where he shall lie unburied and be a prey to the Dogs or Fowls according to the prediction 1 King 21. 24. according to the word of the LORD 27 ¶ But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this he fled by the way of the garden-house q By some secret way hoping to escape whilst they were busie about Ioram and Jehu followed after him and said Smite him also r As you have done Ioram for he also is of the House of Ahab chap. 8. 18. in the chariot and they did so s They smote or wounded him but not mortally either supposing that the wound was mortal or being more remiss in executing Iehu's Sentence against him because they were not so much concerned in his as in Ioram's Death or because they had some kindness for him either for his own or for Iehoshaphat's sake at the going up to Gur which is by Ibleam and he fled to Megiddo and died there t Quest. How doth this agree with 2 Chron. 22. 9. He sought Ahaziah and they caught him for he was hid in Samaria and brought him to Iehu and when they had slain him c Ans. Either First Samaria is there to be understood not of the City but of the Kingdom or Territory so called 1 Kin. 13. 32. and elsewhere in which Megiddo was and so that may be noted to shew that he could not flee into his own Kingdom where he might have been safe but was forced to take up in another part of the Kingdom of Israel in the Territory of Samaria and there to hide himself Or Secondly If Samaria be the City then the History is briefly and imperfectly described here and the defects supplied there the Book of Chronicles being in great part written for that end to supply things omitted in the Book of Kings and out of both the History may be thus compleated He fled first to Megiddo and thence to Samaria where he was caught and thence brought to Iehu and by his Sentence was put to death at Megiddo either because Iehu was there at that time upon some occasion or for some other reason which at this distance of time we cannot understand 28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David u Which they did by Iehu's permission for Iehoshaphat's sake 2 Chron. 22. 9. 29 And in the eleventh year of Joram x Of this see the Note on chap. 8. 25. the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah 30 ¶ And when Jehu was come to Jezreel Jezebel heard of it and she ‡ Heb. put 〈◊〉 eyes in pâ—…ing painted her face and tired her head y
Burnt-offerings which was by the Great and Eastern Gate of the Temple and the temple g i. e. By and towards the other parts of the Temple which they defended on all sides 12 And he brought forth the kings son and put the crown upon him and gave him the testimony h i. e. The Book of the Law which he put into the Kings hand to mind him of his Duty at his entrance upon his Kingdom which was to Read and Write out that Holy Book Deut. 17. 18. and to Govern himself and his Kingdom by it the Law of God being frequently and most properly called a Testimony as Psal. 78. 5. and 132. 12. Isa. 8. 16 20. See also Deut. 6. 17 20. 2 King 23 3. Because it is a Witness of God's Will and Man's Duty and they made him king and anointed him i As they used to do in doubtful cases when there was any competition or question about the Crown as now there was and they clapt their hands and said ‡ Heb. Let the â—…ng live God save the king 13 ¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people k Who came thither upon the hearing of the noise and tidings of what was done she came to the people l To enquire into the cause of this great Noise being hitherto kept in deep ignorance partly because it was managed with so much secrecy and in the Temple and partly because the People Universally hated her and wished her downfal into the temple of the LORD m i. e. Into the Courts whither by Iehoiadah's direction she was permitted to enter though contrary to his general Order ver 8. that so he might draw her into his Net 14 And when she looked behold the king stood by a pillar ‖ Possibly by one of the two famous Pillars of the Temple of which see 1 King 7. 21. nigh unto which the Throne was Erected If it be said That none but Priests might come thither I answer ordinarily they might not but the King being a Sacred Person especially upon such Extraordinary occasions might be there Or upon a scaffold possibly that Brazen Scaffold which Solomon Erected 2 Chron. 6. 13. and left there for such purposes See 2 King 23. 3. as the manner was and the princes and the trumpeters by the king and all the people of the land rejoyced and blew with trumpets and Athaliah rent her clothes and cried Treason treason 15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds the officers of the host m Of these Companies of Levites who are elsewhere called the Lord's Host and now were the King 's Host. and said unto them Have her forth without the ranges n Of which see above ver 8. If she will not go out of them of her own accord force her out of them and him that followeth her o If any of the People come hither upon this occasion shall stand up for her help kill with the sword for the priest had said Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD p i. e. In the Court of the Temple lest it be polluted with her Blood 16 And they laid hands on her q Or they gave her space or room to wit to go out of the Court of the Temple and did not keep her within it as they could have done Or they appointed bands for her they ordered two Bands of the Levites to follow her and kill her and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the kings house r By the great and publick Road in which Horses and Chariots went to the Palace and there was she slain s In an Ignominious place and manner as her Mother Iezabel had been 17 ¶ And Jehoiada made a Covenant between the LORD and the king and the people t A Sacred Covenant whereby he solemnly ingaged both the King and People as it here follows that they should be the Lords people i. e. That they should renounce and root out all Idolatry and set up and maintain God's True Worship Comp. 2 King 23. 10. that they should be the LORD's people between the king also and the people u This was a Civil Covenant whereby the King engaged himself to Rule them justly and in the fear of God and the People obliged themselves to Defend and Obey him Comp. 2 Sam. 5. 3. 18 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and brake it down his altars and his images brake they in pieces throughly and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altar x To which possibly he fled for Refuge or rather he was brought thither as a fit Sacrifice to his God and the priest appointed officers ‡ Heb. Offices over the house of the LORD y Of which see more particularly 2 Chron. 23. 18 19. 19 And he took the rulers over hundreds and the captains and the guard and all the people of the land and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD and came by the way of the gate of the guard z i. e. By the gate of the Royal Palace where the Kings Guard stood to the kings house and he sate on the throne of the kings 20 And all the people of the land rejoyced and the city was in quiet and they slew Athaliah with the sword besides the kings house 21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign CHAP. XII IN * 2 Chron. 24. 1. the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Zibiah of Beersheba 2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD a To wit for the matter of it though not with an honest and sincere mind but onely by the influence of his good Tutor and Restorer as the words here following plainly imply all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him 3 But the high places were not taken away b To which the people were so fondly and strangely addicted that the foregoing Kings though men of riper years and great power and courage and finally settled in their Thrones could not take them away and therefore it is not strange if Iehoiada could not now remove them when the King was very young and tender and not well settled in his Kingdom and when the people were more corrupt and disorderly through Athaliah's male Administration the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places c To God 4 ¶ And Jehoash said to the priests d Remembring that he owed his preservation and restauration to the Temple and that he was made by God the Guardian of his Temple and Worship and that he had covenanted to be so he now takes care to repair it * Chap. 22. 4. All the money of the ‖ Or holy things ‡
If this reason was weighty how could the money of them that passed the account or the money that every man was set at be thus employed as they were ver 4. for these also may seem to have been the Priests Ans. They were not appropriated to the Priests but for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation as is said of the former Exod. 30. 16. Or for the Lord Levit. 27. 2 9 14 23. it * Num. 1â—… 9â—… was the priests 17 ¶ Then z i. e. In this Kings days when Iehoiada was dead and Ioash revolted from God of which see 2 Chron. 24. 17 c. Hazael king of Syria went up and sought against Gath a Once a City of the Philistines but taken by David 1 Chr. 18. 1. and now a part of the Kingdom of Iudah and took it and Hazael set his face b i. e. Directed his March and led his Forces Or undertook in good earnest So the same Phrase is used 2 Chron. 20. 3. Ier. 21. 10. Ezek. 35. 2. to go up to Jerusalem 18 And Jehoash king of Judah * Chap. 1â—… 15 16. took all the hallowed things c That necessity of saving his Kingdom and People by this means which otherwise might seem to excuse the fact was brought upon himself by his Apostacy from God See on 1 King 15. 18. that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers kings of Judah had dedicate and his own hallowed things and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD and in the kings house and sent it to Hazael king of Syria and he ‡ Heb. went up went away from Jerusalem 19 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 20 And his servants arose and made a conspiracy and slew Joash d Of which see 2 Chron. 24. 25. in ‖ Or Bethâ—… the house of Millo e Either in that strong and famous place in Ierusalem called Millo of which see 2 Sam. 5. 9. 1 King 9. 15 24. and 11. 27. into which he possibly retired for his security being afraid even of his own Subjects and Servants Or in some other place called by the same name for some resemblance it had with it which goeth down to Silla f i. e. Which standeth upon the descent to Silla or upon that descending causeway which leadeth from Millo to the Kings House Some refer this to Ioash and render the place thus They slew him at or near the house of Millo descending or as he was going down to Silla to escape their hands 21 For Jozachar g Called also Zabad 2 Chron. 24. 26. the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer h his servants smote him and he died and they buried him with his fathers i i. e. In the same City but not in the same Royal Sepulchre 2 Chron. 24. 25. in the city of David and Aâ—…naziah his son reigned in his stead t Called Shimrith 2 Chron. 24. 26. Except Shomer be the Fathers name and Shimrith the Mothers CHAP. XIII IN †the three and twentieth year of Joash the 〈◊〉 the twentieth yeaâ—… and third year son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign a Heb. reigned which is put for began to reign 2 King 3. 1. and 8. 16 25. and 12. 1. over Israel in Samaria and reigned seventeen years 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD and ‡ Heb. walked after followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin he departed not therefrom 3 ¶ And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel and he delivered them into the hand of * Chap. 8. 12. Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael all their days b Or rather all his days as it is explained ver 22. 4 And Jehoahaz besought the LORD and the LORD hearkned unto him c Not for his sake for God regards not the prayers of the wicked and impenitent Psal. 66. 18. Prov. 1. 28. and 15. 8. but for other reasons expressed below ver 23. for he saw d i. e. He observed it with care and compassion the oppression of Israel e His chosen and once beloved people He now helps them because of his former and ancient kindness to them because the king of Syria oppressed them f To wit very grievously as it is expressed ver 7. So that he helped them noâ—… for their own sakes but because of the rage of their Enemies and their Blasphemies which doubtless accompained it See Deut. 32. 27. Psal. 12. â—… 5 And the LORD gave 〈◊〉 a * See Ver. 25. â—…our g Either Elisha below ver 1â—… or rather 〈◊〉 the Son of this Iehoahaz below ver 2â—… and 〈◊〉 his Son 2 King 14. 25. so that they went out from â—…der the hand of the Syrians and the children 〈◊〉 â—…ael dwelt in their tents ‡ Heb. as yesterday 〈◊〉 third 〈◊〉 as before time h In peace and security not onely in thâ—… strong Cities but even in their â—…ents in the fields 6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam who made Israel sin but ‡ Heb. â—…e walked walked therein and there ‡ Heb. â—…ood remained the grove i Which Ahab had planted for the worship of Baal 1 King 16. 32. and which should have been destroyed Deut. 7. 5. also in Samaria 7 Neither did he k i. e. The King of Syria ver 4. with which this Verse is to be joyned ver 5. and 6 being put within a Parenthesis as it is in our Translation But this Verse may be Translated otherwise Although he either the King of Syria v. 4. or the Lord ver 5. to whom Judgments are oft ascribed even when wicked men are the instruments of executing it had not left c. And so it may be joyned with the next foregoing Verse as a great aggravation of their impenitency and obstinate continuance in their Idolatry notwithstanding such terrible Judgments which in all reason should have driven them from it leave of the people l i. e. Of his Army or Men of War as the following words evince to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen for the king of Syria had destroyed them and had made them like the dust by * Amos 1. 3. threshing m i. e. Had broken and ground them to dust or powder as the Corn is many times broken by threshing 8 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did and his might n For though his success was not good he shewed much personal valour and courage Which is noted to intimate that the Israelites were not conquered because of
had compassion on them and had respect unto them because of his covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and would not destroy them neither cast he them from his ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 presence f i. e. From the Land of Canaan to which the presence and publick and solemn Worship of God was confined as yet 24 So Hazael king of Syria died and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead 25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 ed and â—…ook took again out of the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war three times did Joash beat him g According to the Prediction above v. 19. and recovered the cities of Israel CHAP. XIV IN the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel a i. e. After he began to Reign alone for he Reigned two or three Years with his Farther Oâ—… which see on chap. 13. 10. reigned * 2 Câ—… 〈◊〉 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah 2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign and reigned twenty and nine years b To wit 14 Years with Ioash King of Israel who Reigned onely 16 Years chap. 13. 10. and 15 Years after the death of Ioash or with Ieroboam the Son of Ioash as is affirmed here ver 17. and 2 Chron. 25. 25. in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD c That which was in some sort agreeable to Gods Will. yet not like David his father d Not sincerely 2 Chron. 25. 2. he did according to all things as Joash his father did e i. e. For a time served God aright but afterwards fell to Idolatry 1 Chron. 25. 14. as Ioash had done 2 King 12. 3. 4 Howbeit f Though he did right c. for this Particle is to be joyned with those words the rest being to be closed with a Parenthesis the high places were not taken away as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places 5 ¶ And it came to pass assoon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand that he slew his servants * Chap. 12 〈◊〉 which had slain the king his father Whereby it is implied that his Fathers Murderers had powerful Friends and Abetrors and that their Fact was in some sort approved by the generality of the People to whom Ioash had made himself hateful by his Apostacy to Idolatry and by his ingratitude to the House of Iehoiada 6 But the children of the murderer he slew not g Wherein he shewed some Faith and Courage that he would obey this Command of God though it was very hazardous to himself such persons being likely to seek revenge for their Fathers death according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses wherein the LORD commanded saying * Deut. 24. 〈◊〉 Ezek. 18 〈◊〉 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children be put to death for the fathers but every man shall be put to death for his own sin 7 He slew of Edom h i. e. Of the Edomites or the children of Seir as they are called 2 Chron. 25. â—… 1. either because they dwelt in Seir See Gen. 36. 8. or because these people were confederates And he invaded these People because they were Subjects to his Kingdom from which they had revolted in Ioram's days 2 King 8. 20. in the valley of salt i Which was the Land of Edom Of which see 2 Sam. 8. 13. Psal. 60. 2. ten thousand and took ‖ Selah k Or the rock the chief City of that part of Arabia called by other Authors Petra which signifies a rock because it was built upon a Rock â—… Chron. 25. 12 by war and called the Or the rock name of it Joktheel l Which signifies the obedience of God i. e. given him by God as a reward of his Obeidence to Gods Message by the Prophet 2 Chron. 25. 8 9. unto this day 8 ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel saying Come let us look one another in the face m Let us fight personally and with our Armies This challenge he sent partly upon the late and great inâ—…uries done by the Israelites to his people 2 Chron. 25. 10 13. and partly from self-confidence and a desire of advancing his Glory and Empire by his Arms. 9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah saying The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon n By the thistle a low and contemptible yet troublesome Shrub he understands Amaziah and by the cedar himself whom he intimates to be far stronger than he and out of his reach saying Give thy daughter to my son to wife o Let us make a match i. e. let us fight Onely he expresseth this Bloody work in a civil manner as Amaziah had done ver 8. and as Abner did 2 Sam. 2. 14. Or let thy Kingdom and mine be United under one King as formerly they were and let us decide it by a pitched Battel whether thou or I shall be that King Or as some expound it by affirming That it was great arrogancy and presumption for him to desire a Friendly League or Affinity with him he leaves him to guess how intolerable it was that he should undertake to wage War against him and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trode down the thistle p And with no less ease shall my Soldiers tread down thee and thy Forces 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom and thine heart hath lifted thee up glory of this q Content thy self with that Glory and Success and let not thine Ambition betray thee to ruin and tarry ‡ 〈◊〉 at thy 〈◊〉 at home for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt that thou shouldest fall even thou and Judah with thee 11 But Amaziah would not hear r Because God blinded and hardned him to his destruction for his abominable and ridiculous Idolatry 2 Chron. 25. 10. therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up s To wit into the Kingdom of Iudah carrying the War into his Enemies Countrey and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh which belongeth to Judah t Which is added to distinguish it from that Bethshemesh in Issachar and another in Naphthali Ios. 19. 22 38. 12 And Judah ‡ Heb. was 〈◊〉 was put to the worse before Israel and they fled u Being unsatisfied in the ground and manner of the quarrel and discouraged by their Kings Idolatry and smitten by God with a spirit of fear every man to their tents 13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah
king of Judah the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah at Beth-shemesh and came to Jerusalem x Commanding entrance in Amaziah's name and with his consent which he durst not deny and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim y Which led to Ephraim unto the corner-gate four hundred cubits z Which was done partly in scorn and contempt and partly that he might re-enter and re-take it if they should attempt to renew the War 14 And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the kings house and hostages a To assure their peaceable carriage towards him and returned to Samaria b He did not keep Ierusalem nor seek to gain the possession and dominion of that Kingdom partly because he thought he could not keep it considering the difficulty he found in keeping his own from such potent and near Enemies as the Syrians were and the great affection which 〈◊〉 Iudah bare to David's House and partly because God so inclined his heart that he might make good his promue to David and his Family 15 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead 17 ¶ And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years 18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 19 Now * 2 Chr. 25 27. they i. e. The People or the Princes and chief men among them possibly those whose Sons he had delivered up as Hostages to Iehoash with the connivence if not approbation of the People as appears because the desigâ—… was carried on openly and steddily and irresistibly as the following words shew made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish c A strong City in Iudah towards the Philistines Of which see Ios. 10. 31. and 15. 39. 2 King 19. â—… but they sent after him d Either secret Murderers or rather bands of Soldiers for this Rebellion was carried on by strong hand and open force Compare 2 King 12. 20. and 15. 10 15. to Lachish and slew him there 20 And they brought him on horses e Or with horses to wit in a Chariot and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David 21 ¶ And all the people of Judah took * Chap. 15. 13. 2 Chron. 26. 1. he is called Uzziah Azariah which was sixteen years old and made him king in stead of his father Amaziah f Which they did either in opposition to the conspirators or to shew their affection to the House of David and that their quarrel was onely personal against Amaziah whom they looked upon as the Author of all their late Calamites This Azariah is called Uzziah 2 King 15. 30. 2 Chron. 26. 1. both names signifying the same thing for substance that Gods help and this Gods strength 22 He built Elath g i. e. Repaired and Fortified it for it was built before Deut. 2. 8. and restored it to Judah h From whom it had revolted with the rest of Edom in which Land this place was upon the Red-Sea after that the king i i. e. His Father Amaziah who did not perfect his Conquest of Edom but left some work for his Son slept with his fathers 23 ¶ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria and reigned forty and one years 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entring of Haâ—…nath k Which was the Northern border of the Kingdom of Israel Numb 13. 21. and 34. 8. unto the sea of the plain l i. e. Unto the dead Sea which once was a goodly plain Gen. 13. 10. which was their Southern border according to the word of the LORD God of Israel which he spake by the hand of his servant * Matth. 22. 39 40. called Jonas Jonah m Or Ionas one of the small Prophets though this Prophecy of his be not Recorded there and thereâ—…re it is remembred here the son of Amittai the prophet which was of Gath-Hepher 26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter n Whereby he was moved to pity and help them though they were an unworthy people for there was not any shut up nor any left o See of this Phrase on Deut. 32. 36. 1 King 14. 10. and 21. 21. nor any helper for Israel 27 And the LORD said not o i. e. Not yet he had not yet declared this as afterwards he did by the succeeding Prophets though not in those words See Hos. 1. 5 6 9. that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash 28 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might how he warred and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath which belonged to Judah ‡ For Israel p These were Cities of Syria but were taken from the Syrians by David and Solomon 2 Sam. 8. 6. 2 Chron. 8. 3. and probably by them incorporated with and added to the possessions of their own Tribe to which from that time they belonged but afterwards they were re-taken by the Syrians and were now recovered by this Ieroboam are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers even with the kings of Israel and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XV. IN the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel a Quest. How can this be true seeing Amaziah the Father of this Azariah lived onely till the 15th Year of Ieroboam's Reign chap. 14. 2 23 Ans. This might be either First Because Ieroboam was made King by and Reigned with his Father eleven or twelve Years and afterwards Reigned alone and so there is a twofold beginning of his Kingdom by the former this was his 27 Year and by the later his 15th Year Or Secondly Because there was an inter-Reign for eleven or twelve Years in the Kingdom of Iudah either through the prevalency of that Faction which cut off Amaziah the Father and kept the Son out of his Kingdom or because Azariah was
very young when his Father was slain and the people were not agreed to restore him to his right till his 16th Year chap. 14. 21. 2 Chr. 26. 1. And yet these 11 or 12 Years of inter-Reign in which he was excluded from the exercise of his Regal office some think to be included in those 52 Years which are here ascribed to Azariah's Reign ver 2. which may well be doubted ‡ Heb. reigned began Azariah b Called also Uzziah here and v. 13 30. son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign c Solely and fully to exercise his Regal power 2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign and he reigned two and fifty years d Besides the sixteen Years of his minority last mentioned in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father Amaziah had done e i. e. In the same manner unsincerely and but for a time 4 Save that f Understand this as howbeit chap. 14. 4. the high places were not removed the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places 5 ¶ And the LORD * 2 Chr. 26. 19. smote the king so that he was a leper g The cause whereof see 2 Chron. 26. 16. unto the day of his death and dwelt in a several house h Separated from conversation with others by vertue of that Law Lev. 13. 46. which being the Law of the King of kings bound kings no less than subjects and Jotham the kings son was over the house judging the people of the land i i. e. He governed the Kings Court and whole Kingdom in his name and as his Vicegerent 6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 7 So Azariah slept with his fathers and * 2 Chr. â—…6 〈◊〉 they buried him with his fathers in the city of David and Jotham his son reigned in his stead 8 ¶ In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah k Of which see the Note on ver 2. did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD as his fathers had done he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh l One of his chief Captains conspired against him and * Job 34. â—…6 Amos 7. 9. smote him before the people m Openly and impudently which he presumed to do either because he remembred that the promise of the Kingdom made to Iehu was confined to the fourth Generation chap. 10. 30. which he observed to be now expired or because he perceived that the people were generally disaffected to their King and favourable to his attempt and slew him and reigned in his stead 11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 12 This was * Chap 〈◊〉 the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu saying Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation And so it came to pass 13 ¶ Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calâ—…ed 〈◊〉 Uzziah king of Judah and he reigned ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 of days a full month in Samaria 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and slew him and reigned in his stead 15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum and his conspiracy which he made behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 16 ¶ Then Menahem smote Tiphsah n Either that Tiphsah mentioned 1 King 4. 24. or another City of that name and all that were therein and the coasts thereof from Tirzah o i. e. All the people dwelling between Tirzah and Tiphsah because they opened not to him p Because they refused to open the Gates of their City to him and to submit to him as Conqueror therefore he smote it and all * Chap. 〈◊〉 the women therein that were with child he ript up q That by this example of severity he might affright all the rest of the people into obedience 17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel and reigned ten years in Samaria 18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 19 And * 1 Chr. 〈◊〉 Isa. 9. 1. Pul the king of Assyria r Called by Heathen Anâ—…hors Pul-Belochus who by the help of Arbaces the Mede vanquished Sardanapalus the last Monarch of Assyria and translated the Kingdom to Chaldaea and was the first King of Babylon and Assyria Arbaces being made King of the Medes and Persians came against the land s To wit of Israel as the context shews and Menahem gave t i. e. Agreed or promised to give as the next Verse explains it Pul a thousand talents of silver that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand u That he might assist him against all that did or should oppose him By which it appears that his cruelty to Tiphsah was so far from establishing him as he expected that it weakned and endangered him so far that he was forced to call in a Foreign Prince to his aid 20 And Menahem ‡ Heb. caused to come forth exacted the money of Israel even of all the mighty men of wealth of each man x i. e. Of each of those wealthy Israelites But as each of these were not equally Wealthy so it is not probable that he taxed them equally Others therefore render it to or for each man i. e. for every Assyrian Soldier which Interpretation is favoured by the placing of the words in the Hebrew Text which differs from that in our Translation fifty shekels of silver to give to the king of Assyria so the king of Assyria turned back and stayed not there in the land 21 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Menahem and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead 23 ¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam
the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah a captain of his conspired against him and smote him in Samaria in the palace of the kings house with Argob and Arieh ‖ Who might be either Pekah's Partners in this Treason or the Kings Courtiers or Officers who were now slain with him and ‡ 〈◊〉 were with him fifty men of the Gileadites y Who assisted him in the execution of his Treason and he killed him and reigned in his room 26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah and all that he did behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 27 ¶ In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah * 〈◊〉 7. 1. Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria and reigned twenty years 28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came * â—… Chr. 5. 26. Tiglath-pileser z Or Tiglath-pilneser 2 Chron. 28. 20. called in Heathen Authors Phulasar or Phul-Assur the Son of that Pul or Phul above v. 9. king of Assyria and took Ijon and Abel-beth-maachah a Of which see 1 King 15. 20. and Janoah b A City of Ephraim Jos. 16. 6. and Kedesh and Hazor c Two Cities of Napthali Jos. 12. 22. and 19. 36. and Gilead d All the Land beyond Iordan which was nigher to the Assyrian than the rest and Galilee e To wit the upper Galilee as may be gathered from the following words all or even all the land of Naphthali which seem to be added by way of explication or restriction to shew what Galilee he meant even the upper in which Naphthali's lot fell See the Notes on Isa. 9. 1. all the land of Naphtali and carried them captive to Assyria 30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and smote him and slew him f Which he did more easily effect because the people were enraged against Pekah as the Man who by his murder of King Pekahiah the Son of Menahem whom the Assyrian Monarch set up and favoured and by his unnecessary War with Ahaz had brought the Assyrian upon them and caused the loss of one half of that Kingdom and reigned in his stead in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah g Quest. How could this be when Iotham Reigned onely 16 Years below v. 33 Ans. The meaning is That he began his Reign in the twentieth Year after the beginning of Iotham's Reign or which is the same thing in the fourth Year of Ahaz Son of Iotham as appears from chap. 16. 1. But the Sacred Writer having not yet maâ—…e mention of Ahaz thought it more proper to number Hoshea's Years by Iotham of whom he had spoken than by Ahaz Besides as Iotham did Reign divers Years in his Fathers life so might Ahaz in Iotham's life and Iotham might for divers reasons which it is needless heâ—…e to enquire resign up the Administration of the Kingdom wholly into Ahaz his hands some Years before his death and therefore might be said to Reign but 16 Years though he lived longer 31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 32 ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began * 2 Chr. 2â—… 1. Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign 33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign h To wit properly and alone for he had Reigned before this as his Fathers Deputy and Vice-Roy and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok 34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done 35 ¶ Howbeit the high places were not removed the people sacrificed and burnt incense still in the high places he built the higher gate of the house of the LORD i Not of the Temple properly so called but of one of the Courts of the Temple probably that which led to the Kings Palace 2 Chron. 23. 20. called also the new gate Jer. 26. 10. and 36. 10. 36 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 37 In those days k i. e. Towards the end of Iotham's Reign the LORD began to send l i. e. Disposed their hearts to unite their Forces together and to make preparation for a War against Iudah which yet they did not execute till Ahaz his Reign against Judah * Isa. 7. 1. Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah 38 And Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XVI IN * â—… Chr. 28. 1. the seventeenth year of Pekah a Of which see on ch 15. 30. the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign 2 Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign b Of the difficulty hence arising see the Notes on chap. 18. 2. to which it more properly belongs and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God like David his father 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel yea and made his son to pass through the fire c Either 1. by way of lustration to pass hastily thorow it so as to be scorched and as it were baptized with it Or 2. by way of oblation so as to be utterly consumed and offered for a burnt-offering which was the practise of Heathens and of some Israelites in imitation of them of which see 2 Kings 21. 6. Psal. 10â—… 36. Ier. 7. 31. which seems best to agree with 2 Chron. 28. 3. where it is said he burnt his children i. e. some of them first one as is here noted and afterwards others of them as is there observed Of these practises see more on Lev. 18. 21. and Deut. 18. 10. according to the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places and on the hills and under every green 〈◊〉 d After the manner of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hos. 4. 13. 5 ¶ Isâ—… 7. â—… Then Reziâ—…â—…ing of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remalâ—…ah king of Israel 〈◊〉 up to Jerusalem to war and they besieged 〈◊〉 but could â—…ot overcome 〈◊〉 Because God
relieved them which was done upon the Sabbath day see 2 Kings 11. 5 7. or that in which the Guard or Watchmen of the Temple kept their station or that under which the King used to sit to hear God's Word and see the Sacrifices which is called the covert of the Sabbath because the chief times in which the King used it for those ends was the Weekly Sabbath and other solemn days of Feasting or Fasting which all come under the name of Sabbaths in the Old Testament upon which the King used more certainly and solemnly to present himself before the Lord than at other times that they had built in the house and the kings entry without e By which the King used to go from his Palace to the Temple see on 1 Kings 10. 5 12. turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria f i. e. That he might ingratiate himself with the King of Assyria by his publick contempt and rejection of that Religion which had been the onely Partition-Wall between the Kings of Iudah and other Kings and which possibly the present King of Assyria did vehemently dislike and hate and therefore required these things from Ahaz 19 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XVII IN the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah ‡ Heb. reigned began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign a Quest. How can this be true seeing it is said that he reigned or began to reign in Israel in the twentieth year of Iotham chap. 15. 30. which was the Fourth Year of Ahaz as was there noted Ans. He usurped the Kingdom in Ahaz his Fourth Year but either was not owned as King by the generality of the People or was not accepted and established in his Kingdom by the Assyrian till Ahaz his Twelfth Year Or in his Eight First Years he was onely a Tributary Prince and the King of Assyria's Viceroy and after that time he set up for himself which drew the Assyrian upon him in Samaria over Israel nine years b To wit after his confirmation and peaceable possession of his Kingdom For in all he reigned Seventeen or Eighteen Years to wit Twelve with Ahaz who reigned Sixteen Years and Six with Hezekiah 2 Kings 18. 10. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD but not as the kings of Israel that were before him c For he neither worshipped Baal as many of his predecessors did nor compelled the People to worship the Calves one of them that of Dan being destroyed or carried away before as the Hebrew Writers affirm nor as some add hindred those by force who were minded to go to Ierusalem to worship And yet the measure of the Israelites sins being now full vengeance comes upon them without remedy Compare 2 Kings 23. 26. 3 ¶ Against him came up Shalmaneser d The Son or Successor of Tiglath-pileser The ancient Hebrew Writers make him the same with Sennacherib who Eight Years after this time invaded the kingdom of Iudah See chap. 18. 10 13. it being very frequent in the Eastern parts for one man to be called by several Names especially by the People of several Countries Iosephus affirms that he met with his Name in the Annals of the Tyrians which were extant in his days He came against him either because he denied the Tribute which he had promised to pay or that he might make him Tributary king of Assyria and Hoshea became his servant and ‡ Heb. rendred gave him ‖ Or tribute presents e Swore Fealty to him and engaged to pay him a Tribute 4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt f By Heathen Writers called Sua or Sabacus that by his assistance he might shake off the Yoke of the King of Assyria who now was and for many Years had been the King of Egypt's Rival See 2 Kings 18. 21. Ier. 37. 5. and brought no present to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison g To wit after he had come up against him and taken him with Samaria the particular Relation whereof here follows 5 ¶ Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years 6 ¶ * Chap. 18. 10. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away into Assyria and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes h This is added to distinguish this place from the former which was either in Assyria or in the Mountainous and less inhabited parts of Media Hither he carried them partly to replenish his own Country and partly because these places were at so great a distance from Canaan that this would cut off all hopes and thoughts of returning to their own Country 7 For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt and had feared other gods 8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen i i. e. According to the Laws and Customs of the Heathen is the Worship of their Baals and other of their sins whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel which they had made k i. e. Which the Kings of Israel had ordained concerning the Worship of the Calves and against their going up to Ierusalem to worship 9 And the children of Israel did secretly thâ—…e things that were not right against the LORD l This belongs either 1. to their gross Idolatries and other abominable practises which they were ashamed to own before others Compare Ezek. 8. 12. Or 2. to the worship of Calves And so the words are otherwise â—…ndered and that agreeably to the Hebrew Text thâ—…â—…ed or disguised or covered things that were not 〈◊〉 against or before or towards the Lord i. e. They 〈◊〉 their idolatrous worship of the Calves with fair preâ—…ences of necessity the Two Kingdoms being now divided and at enmity and of their honest intention of serving the true God and retaining the substance of the Iewish Religion from which they alledged that they differed onely in circumstances of Worship their God and they built them high places in all their cities from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city m In all parts and places both in Cities and in the Country yea in the most uninhabited and neglected parts
doubtless as to a God but onely as to an Instrument and token of God's Mercy by and through which their adoration was directed to God and given to that onely for God's sake and he called it Nehushtan g i. e. He said This Serpent howsoever formerly honoured and used by God as a sign of his Grace yet now it is nothing but a piece of Brass which can do you neither good nor hurt and therefore is no fit Object for your Worship 5 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel h Without calling in Foreign and Heathenish Succours to stablish or help him which his Father Ahaz did Chap. 16. 7. and Isa. 7. and before him Asa 1 King 15. 18 19. with reflection upon whom this seems to be noted so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah nor any that were before him i To wit of the Kings of Iudah onely for David and Solomon were Kings of all Israel Object The like is said of Iosiah Chap. 23. 25. Ansiv Each of them excelled the other in several qualities or actions Hezekiah in this That he fell upon this Work with great expedition even in the beginning of his Reign which Iosiah did not Chap. 23. and with no less Resolution undertaking to do that which none of his Predecessors durst do even to remove the high Places wherein Iosiah did onely follow his Example Chap. 22. 1 3. 6 For he clave to the LORD and departed not ‡ 〈◊〉 fâ—…om after him from following him k In the general course of his Life and especially in the matters of God's Worship but kept his commandments which the LORD commanded Moses 7 And the LORD was with him and he prospered whithersoever he went forth and he rebelled against the king of Assyria l He shook off that Yoke of Subjection and Tribute to which his Father had wickedly submitted Chap. 16. 7. and reassumed that full and independent Soveraignty which God had setled in the House of David which Ahaz could not alienate further than for his own time And Hezekiah's Case differs much from that of Zedekiah who is blamed for Rebellion against the King of Babylon both because he had ingaged himself to him by a Solemn Oath and Covenant which we do not read of Ahaz and because he broke the Covenant which he himself had made c. because God had actually given the Dominion of his own Land and People to the King of Babylon and Commanded both Zedekiah and his People to submit to him And whereas Hezekiah is here said to Rebel that Word implies onely a defection from that Subjection which had been professed and performed to another which sometimes may be justly done and sometimes may not and therefore that Word doth not necessarily prove this action to be a Sin And these Words he rebelled c. are explained by the next following Words and he served him not And that it was not a Sin in him seems most probable because God did own and assist him therein and did not at all reprove him for it in that Message which he sent to him by Isaiah about this matter Chap. 19. 20 c. nor afterwards though he did particularly reprove him for that which might seem a less fault for his Vain-glory and Ostentation 2 Chron. 32. 25 26. For what he saith I have offended see on ver 14. and served him not 8 He * Isa. 14. 〈◊〉 smote the Philistines m And recovered from them what his Father had lost 2 Chron. 28. 18. and more even unto ‡ Heb. Azzâ—… Gaza and the borders thereof from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city n Of which Phrase see on Chap. 17. 9. 9 ¶ And it * Chap. 1â—… â—… came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah which was the seventh year of Hoshea o The Seventh of those Nine years expressed Chap. 17. 1 son of Elah king of Israel that Shalmanezer king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it 10 And at the end of three years p To wit of the Siege i. e. In the Third Year as this Phrase is used Deut. 14. 28. Iosh. 9. 16 17. Ier. 34. 14. comp with Exod. 21. 2. they took it even in the sixth year of Hezekiah that is * Chap. 1. 〈◊〉 the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel Samaria was taken 11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel into Assyria and put them * 1 Chreâ—… 〈◊〉 in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes q Of which see above on Chap. 17. 6. 12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded r They began with one sin the Worship of the Calves but from thence they were led by degrees into the violation of all the other Commands although indeed that one Sin made them in some sort guilty of the breach of the whole Law Iam. 2. 10. and would not hear them nor do them 13 ¶ Now * 2 Châ—… 〈◊〉 1. Isa. 36. 〈◊〉 in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 rib Sennacherib king of Assyria s The Son or Successor of Salmanasser i. e. Against many of them universal Particles being frequently so used both in Scripture and other Authors for that all were not taken appears from Chap. 19. 8. And this success God gave him partly to lift him up to his own greater and more shameful Destruction partly to humble and chastise his own People for their manifold Sins and afterwards to raise them up with more comfort and glory and partly to gain an eminent opportunity to advance his own Honour and Service by that Miraculous Deliverance which he designed for his People come up against all the fenced cities of Judah and took them t To wit against thee i. e. I have given thee occasion of Warring against me whereof I now repent Or his ill success might make him think that he had sinned against God in this action and might make him willing to submit to him though God graciously prevented it 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish saying I have offended u Of which see on Exod. 25. 39. return from me that which thou puttest on me will I bear And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold 15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the kings house 16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid x So repairing the injury which his Father had done to them and putting them into the same
it not good if peace and truth be in my days k Which he speaks not as if he were careless and unconcerned for his Posterity which neither the common inclinations and affections of Nature in all Men nor that singular Piety and Charity which was eminent and manifest in Hezekiah can suffer us to believe or for the Church and People of God for whose welfare he was so solicitous and industrious in the whole course of his Life but because it was a singular favour that this Judgment did not immediately follow his sin the cause of it but was suspended for a longer time 20 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made a pool and a conduit and brought water into the city are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XXI MAnasseh * â—… 〈◊〉 33. 1. was twelve years old when he began to reign and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem a In which time the Years of his Imprisonment are comprehended 2 Chron. 33. 11. and his mothers name was Hephzi-bah 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD b Partly by the instigation of the wicked Princes of Iudah who in Hezekiah's time were secret Enemies to his Reformation and now when their Fetters were knock't off by Hezekiah's death break forth into open Hostility against it and corrupt the Kings tender years with their wicked counsel and principally by his own vicious inclination after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel 3 For he built up again the high places * 〈◊〉 18. 4. which Hezekiah his father had destroyed and he reared â—…p altars for Baal and made a grove as * 1 〈◊〉 16. 33 did Ahab king of Israel and worshipped all the host of heaven c The Stars which the Gentiles had transformed into gods See on Deut. 4. 19. and served them 4 And * 〈◊〉 32. 34. he built altars in the house of the LORD d i. e. In the Temple its self in the Holy-place because this is distinguished from the courts of the house ver 5. of which the LORD said * 2 Sam. 7. 13. 1 〈◊〉 8. 29. 〈◊〉 9. 3. In Jerusalem will I put my Name e That place I have peculiarly Consecrated to my Worship and Honour which made it the greater Injustice and Impiety and Sacriledge to Alienate it from God and to Dedicate it or any part of it especially the Temple to the service of Idols whom God abhorreth 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts f The one of the Priests the other of the People 1 King 6. 36. of the house of the LORD 6 And * Lev. 18. 2â—… and 2â—… â—… he made his son pass through the fire g Of which see the Notes on Lev. 18. 21. and 2 King 16. 3. and observed times h i. e. Lucky or unlucky days or seasons for the dispatch of businesses according to the superstitious practise of the Heathens See Esth. 3. 7. See also Lev. 19. 26. Deut. 18. 10 11. and used inchantments and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger 7 And he set a graven image of the grove i Either First The Image of that Baal which was worshipped in the Grove Or Secondly A representation of the Grove as may seem by comparing chap. 23. 6. Or Thirdly The Graven Image of Asherah a god or goddess so called possibly the same called elsewhere Ashtaroth See Iudg. 6. 25 28. 2 King 23. 6. 2 Chron. 15. 16. that he had made in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son * 2 Saâ—… â—… 1â—… 1 King â—… 〈◊〉 and 9. 3. Chap. 23. 27 Psal. 1â—… 13. In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel will I put my Name for ever 8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land k They shall no more be carried Captives into a strange Land as it had happened before which I gave their fathers onely if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them 9 But they hearkened not and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel l Partly because they were not contented with those Idols which the Canaanites worshipped but either themselves invented or they borrowed from other Nations many new Idols and kinds of Idolatry and partly because as their light was far more clear their obligations to God infinitely higher and their helps and antidotes against Idolatry much stronger than the Canaanites had so their sins though the same in kind were unspeakably worse in respect of these dreadful aggravations 10 ¶ And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets saying 11 * Jer. 15. 4. Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites m i. e. The Canaanitish Nations all so called from one eminent part of them See on Gen. 15. 16. did which were before him and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols n By his Example Encouragement Counsel Authority and Command 12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel Behold I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah that whosoever heareth of it both * 1 Sam. 3. 11. his ears shall tingle o By the great commotion which such terrible reports shall cause in the hearts and heads of the hearers See on 1 Sam. 3. 11. Ier. 19. 3. 13 And I * Isa. 34. 11. will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria p She shall have the same measure and lot i. e. the same Judgments which Samaria had The line is oft put for ones lot or portion as Psal. 16. 6. 2 Cor. 10. 16. because mens portions or possessions used to be measured by Lines Psal. 78. 55. Amos 7. 17. Or it is a Metaphor from workmen who mark out by Lines what parts of the Building they would have thrown down and what they would have stand See Isa. 34. 11. Lam. 2. 8. Amos 7. 7 8. Zech. 1. 16. Or it is an allusion to that fact of David who destroyed the Moabites by a measuring Line 2 Sam. 8. 2. ‡ Heb. over the House of Manasseh and the plummet of the house of Ahab and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish ‡ Heb he wipeth and turneth it upon the face thereof wiping it and turning it upside down q As men do with a
and famous a Change of the Iewish Affairs as this Captivity made this being the usual way of the Romans and Greeks and other more Ancient and Eastern Nations to compute the times from the great Changes and Revolutions hapning among them And that this was the practise of the Iews in the Computation of these very times is evident from the use of it in the Prophecy of Ezekiel Chap. 1. 2. which was the fifth year of Iehojakim's captivity and Chap. 33. 21. in the Twelfth year of our Captivity and Chap. 40. 1. in the Twenty fifth year of our captivity 3. To all this might be added That some here acknowledge an Error of the Scribe and affirm That in the first and best Copies in 2 Chron. 36. 9. it was not eight but eighteen which they gather from hence because those two Ancient and Venerable Translators the Syriack and Arabick read there as it is here was eighteen years old which they say they would never have presumed to do if they had not so read it in those Hebrew Copies out of which they drew their Translation or in some of them and he reigned in Jerusalem three months l And ten days which are added 2 Chron. 36. 9. But such small sums are frequently omitted in great Numbers See on Gen. 15. 13. 1 King 16. 8. and his mothers name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father had done 10 ¶ * 〈◊〉 1. 1. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem and the city ‡ 〈◊〉 came 〈◊〉 was besieged m Either 1. Because the people had made Iehojachin King without his consent Or 2. Because he had some notice or at least a suspition of his intentions to Rebel against him and to joyn with Egypt against him as Zedekiah his Successor did But whatsoever was the Second and Immediate cause of it the chief Cause was God's commandment or the direction of his Providence as it was said ver 3. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city and his servants did besiege it 12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon n i. e. Yeilded up himself and the City into his hands and this by the counsel of Ieremiah and to his own good he and his mother and his servants and his princes and his ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 officers and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign o i. e. Of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign as appears by comparing this with Chap. 25. 8. and because Iehojachin Reigned not half a year 13 * 〈◊〉 17. 〈◊〉 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the kings house and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold q i. e. The most and choicest of them by comparing this with ch 25. 14 15. which Solomon king of Israel had made r So he expresseth it either First Because these Vessels were made by the godly Kings of Iudah instead of those which Solomon made and so they go by his name as the Ship of the Argonaâ—…ts was still reputed the same Ship though it was from time to time recruited with new materials until nothing of the old was left Or Secondly Because though the City and Temple had been risted more than once both by the Kings of Egypt and Israel and by the wicked Kings of Iudah yet these golden Vessels were preserved from them either by the care of the Priests who hid them out of the way or by the clemency of the Conquerors and the reverence which they bare to such sacred Instruments or by the special providence of God disposing their hearts to leave them Or if they had been taken away by any of these Kings they might afterwards be recovered by the intreaty or at the cost of the godly Kings of Iudah in the temple of the LORD as the LORD had said p Or rather took away as this word elsewhere signifies or cut off to wit from the Temple For why should they cut in pieces those Vessels which might conveniently be carried away And that they were not cut in pieces but reserved whole is manifest from Ezra 1. 7. and Dan. 5. 2 3. 14 And he carried away all Jerusalem s i. e. The Inhabitants of Ierusalem not simply all but the best and most considerable part as the following words explain and restrain it and * 〈◊〉 24. 1. all the princes and all the mighty men of valour even ten thousand t Which are more particularly reckoned up v. 16. where there are 7000 mighty men and a thousand Smiths and those mentioned v. 15. make up the other 2000. â—… Which might furnish them with new Arms and thereby give him fresh trouble captives and all the crastsmen and smiths â—… none remained save the poorest sort of the people of the land 15 And * Chron. â—…6 〈◊〉 2 6. he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon and the kings mother and the kings wives and his ‖ Or 〈◊〉 officers and the mighty of the land those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon 16 And all the men of might even seven thousand and craftsmen and smiths a thousand all that were strong and apt for war even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon 17 ¶ And * 〈◊〉 37. 1. the king of Babylon made Mattaniah * 1 Chron. 3. 〈◊〉 his fathers brother king in his stead and changed his name to Zedekiah x That he might admonish hâ—…m of what this Name signifies the justice of God which had so severely Punished Iehojakim for his Rebellion and would no less certainly overtake him if he should be guilty of the same Rebellion and Perfidiousness of which his Predecessor was guilty 18 * 2 Chr. 36. 1 Jer. 37. 1. and 52. 1. Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem and his mothers name was * Chap. 23. 31. Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah 19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD according to all that Jehoiakim had done 20 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah until he had cast them out from his presence that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon y Thus the Peoples Sins were the true Cause why God gave them wicked Kings whom he suffered to do wickedly that they might bring the long-deserved and threatned Punishments upon Themselves and their People CHAP. XXV ANd it came to pass * 2 Chr. 36. 17. Jer. 34. and 3â—… 1. Ezelâ—… 24. 1. in the ninth year of his reign in the tenth month in the tenth day of the month that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came he and
6. of the congregation with singing until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem and then they waited on their office according to their order s Which David had appointed by the Spirit as it follows in this Book 33 And these t To wit Heman here mentioned and Asaph v. â—…9 and Ethan v. 44. are they that †Heb. stâ—…od waited with their children of the sons of the Kohathite Heman a singer the son of Joel the son of Shemuel u Or Samuel the Prophet 34 The son of Elkanah the son of Jeroham the son of Eliel the son of ‖ Ver. 26. Nahâ—…th Toah 35 The son of ‖ or Zophai Zuph the son of Elkanah the son of Mahath the son of Amasai 36 The son of Elkanah the son of ‖ Ver. 24. Shaul Uzziah Uriel Joel the son of Azariah the son of Zephaniah 37 The son of Tahath the son of Assir the son of * Exod. 6. 24. Ebiasaph the son of Korah 38 The son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi the son of Israel 39 And his brother x Asaph is here called Hemans Brother both by birth being of the same Tribe and Father Levi and by his Office and Employment which was the same with his Asaph who stood on his right hand even Asaph the son of Berechiah the son of Shimea 40 The son of Michael the son of Baasiah the son of Melchiah 41 The son of Ethni the son of Zerah the son of Adajah 42 The son of Ethan the son of Zimmah the son of Shimei 43 The son of Jahath the son of Gershom the son of Levi. 44 And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand Ethan y Called also Ieduthun 1 Chron. 9. 16. 2 Chron. 35. 15. and in the Titles of divers Psalms the son of ‖ Or Kushajah Ch. 15. 17. Kishi the son of Abdi the son of Malluch 45 The son of Hashabiah the son of Amaziah the son of Hilkiah 46 The son of Amzi the son of Bani the son of Shamer 47 The son of Mahli the son of Mushi the son of Merari the son of Levi. 48 Their brethren also the Levites z Such of them as had no skill in Singing were otherwise employed were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God 49 But a Having mentioned the Work and Employment of the High-Priests he briefly rehearseth the Names of the Persons who successively performed it Aaron and his sons offered * Lev. 1. 9. upon the altar of the burnt-offering and * Exod. 30. 7. on the altar of incense and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy and to make an atonement for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded 50 And these are the sons of Aaron Eleazar his son Phinehas his son Abishua his son 51 Bukki his son Uzzi his son Zerahiah his son 52 Merajoth his son Amariah his son Ahitub his son 53 Zadok his son Ahimaaz his son 54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts of the sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathite for theirs was the lot b Or this Lot or Portion which here follows Or the first Lot as appears by the sequel 55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah and the suburbs thereof round about it 56 But the fields of the city and the villages thereof they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh 57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities c Or out of the Cities the Hebrew eth being put for meeth as hath been oft noted of Judah namely Hebron the city of refuge and Libna with her suburbs and Jattir and Eshtemoa with their suburbs 58 And ‖ Or Holon Josh. 21. 15. Hilen with her suburbs Debiâ—… with her suburbs 59 And ‖ Or Ain Josh. 21. 16. Ashan with her suburbs and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs 60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin Geba with her suburbs and ‖ Or Almon Josh. 21. 18. Alemeth with her suburbs and Anathoth with her suburbs All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities d Whereof 11. are here numbred and two more added to them Ios. 21. 13. 61 And unto the sons of Kohath which were left e Over and above the Priests who were of the same Family of Kohath and Tribe of Levi. of the family of that tribe were cities given out of the half tribe namely out of the half tribe of Manasseh * Josh. 21. 5. by lot ten cities f Or by lot with a full Point for there the Sense ends All their Cities were ten cities as it is expresly said Ios. 21. 26. Those words all their cities were are to be understood out of the former Verse which is not unusual in the Holy Scripture And so this sacred Writer explains himself v. 66 c. where eight of these Cities are named whereof onely two are taken out of this half Tribe of Manasseh v. 70. the other two being named Ios. 21. 21 c. where these things are more plainly and fully declared 62 And to the sons of Gershom g Understand here cities were given which is also understood v. 61 and expressed v. 64. throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Naphtali and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteen cities 63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot throughout their families out of the tribe of Reuben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun * Josh. 21. 7 34. twelve cities 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites h i. e. To the Tribe of Levi consisting of Priests and other Levites these cities i Which are numbred or named in this Chapter with their suburbs 65 And they gave k To wit to those Levites of the Family of Kohath who were Priests as appears both by v. 57 c. where the Cities given to the Aâ—…ronites are said to be taken out of the Tribes here named even out of Iudah under which Simeon is comprehended because his Lot lay within that of Iudah and Benjamin and by the next Verse where the other Kohathites who were not Priests are called the Residue of the Families of the Sons of Kohath by way of distinction from those of them to whom this v. 65. relates by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin these cities which are called by their names l Which are expressed by their Names above v. 57 c. 66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts m Or of their borders i.
e. of their Country contained within its Borders as that word is oft used as hath been noted before out of the tribe of Ephraim 67 * Josh. 21. 21. And they n Either the Ephraimiter or rather the Children of Israel as it is expressed v. 64. who gave part out of Ephraim and part out of the half-tribe of Manasseh as it here follows But the Ephâ—…aimites could not give away any Cities belonging to the Manassites gave unto them o i. e. To the residue of the Kohathites last mentioned of the cities of refuge p Or the cities i. e. the City the plural Number used of one of which frequent Examples have been given before see ch 7 3 12 14. of refuge Or cities the construct form being put for the absolute of which there wants not Examples in the Hebrew Language the City of refuge As to the Names of these Cities divers of them are differing from those Names which were given to them Ios. 21. 15. Nor is it at all strange that the Names of Places should be changed in so many hundreds of years as were between Ioshua and this time And to the Cities themselves this is further to be observed that they are dispersed among all the Tribes partly that Iacobt Prophecy might be fulfilled concerning the scattering of Levi Gen. 49. 7. and partly that every Tribe might have Teachers among them by whom they might be directed in and quickned to the observation of Gods Laws upon which their safety and happiness wholly depended Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs they gave also Gezer with her suburbs 68 And * Seâ—… 〈◊〉 22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 names Jokmeam with her suburbs and Beth-horon with her suburbs 69 And Ajalon with her suburbs and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs 70 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Aner with her suburbs and Bileam with her suburbs for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath 71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan with her suburbs and Ashtaroth with her suburbs 72 And out of the tribe of Issachar Kedesh with her suburbs Deberath with her suburbs 73 And Ramoth with her suburbs and Anem with her suburbs 74 And out of the tribe of Asher Mashal with her suburbs and Abdon with her suburbs 75 And Hukok with her suburbs and Rehob with her suburbs 76 And out of the tribe of Naphthali Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs and Hammon with her suburbs and Kirjathaim with her suburbs 77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari â—…rt given out of the tribe of Zebulun Rimmon with her suburbs Tabor with her suburbs 78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho oâ—… the east-side of Jordan were given them out of the tribe of Reuben Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs and Iahzah with her suburbs 79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs and Mephaath with her suburbs 80 And out of the tribe of Gad Ramoth iâ—… Gilead with her suburbs and Mahanaim with her suburbs 81 And Heshbon with her suburbs and Iazer with her suburbs CHAP. VII 1 NOw the sons of Issachar were * Gen. 〈◊〉 1â—… Numb 〈◊〉 Tola and ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Puah Jashub a called by way of contraction Iob Gen. 46. 13. and Shimron â—…our 2 And the sons of Tola Uzzi and Rephajah and Jeriel and Jahmai Jibsam and Shemuel heads of their fathers house to wit of Tola they were valiant men of might in their generations * 2 〈◊〉 1 2. whose number was in the days of David b When he numbred the People 2 Sam. 24. 1 c. two and twenty thousand and six hundred 3 And the sons c For the son for he names buâ—… one Son of Uzzi Izrahiah and the sons of Izrahiah Michael and Obadiah and Joâ—…h Ishiah five d Including their father Izrahiah all of them chief men 4 And with them by their generations after the house of their fathers were bands of souldiers for war six and thirty thousand men e To wit of the Posterity of Uzzi as the other 22600 v. 2. were the Posterity of Tobah for they had many wives and sons 5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were men of might reckoned in all by their genealogies four score and seven thousand 6 The sons of * 〈◊〉 16. 21. Benjamin Bela and Becher and Jediael three f They were Ten Gen. 46. 21. and five of them are named ch 8. 1. but here onely three are mentioned either because these were most Eminent for Courage or Fruitfulness or because the other Families were now extinct 7 And the sons of Bela Ezbon and Uzzi and Uzziel and Jerimoth and Iri five heads of the house of their fathers g Each of them Head or Chief or Commander of that House or Family from which he was descended or to which he belonged For it may seem by comparing this with ch 8. 3 c. that these were not the immediate sons of Belah but his Grandchildren descended each from a several Father and their Fathers are here omitted peradventure because they were obscure persons as their sons are mentioned for their Eminency mighty men of valour and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four 8 And the sons of Becher Zemira and Joash and Eliezer and Elioenai and Omri and Jerimoth and Abiah and Anathoth and Alameth All these are the sons of Becher 9 And the number of them after their genealogy by their generations heads of the house of their fathers mighty men of valour was twenty thousand and two hundred 10 The sons also of Jediael Bilhan and the sons of Bilhan Jeush and Benjamin and Ehud and Chenaanah and Zethan and Tarshish and Ahishahar 11 All these the sons of Jediael by the heads of their fathers mighty men of valour were seventeen thousand and two hundred souldiers fit to go out for war and battel 12 Shuppim also and Huppim h Called Muppim and Huppim Gen. 46. 21. also Hupham and Shupham Numb 26. 39. the children of 〈◊〉 1. Ir and Hushim the sons of ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 16. 18. Aher i But divers take the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 for a Common not Proper Name and render the words thus â—…uther son or the son of another Family or Tribe to wit of Dan as may be gathered 1. from Gen. 46. 23. where Hushim is mentioned as the onely Son of Dan where also the word sons is used of that one Man as it is here 2. From the Clause of the next Verse the sons of Bilhah who was Mother both to Dan and Napthali 3. Because otherwise the Genealogy of Dan is quite left out 4. From the word another which is used in the Hebrew Writers to design an Abominable thing which the Writer disdained to mention whence they call a Swine which to
i Ehud or Gera last mentioned had sent them away Hushim and Baara were his wives k Others joyn these Words with the former and render the Place thus after he had sent them to wit his Sons away with Hushim and Baara his wives i. e. as he also sent his Wives away from him Which may be here mentioned as a Brand upon him to shew that he was without natural Affection to his Wives and Children And it seems the more probable that he divorced them because we find him married to another Wise v. 9. 9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife Jobab and Zibia and Mesha and Malcham 10 And Jeuz and Shachiah and Mirma These were his sons heads of the fathers 11 And of Hushim he begat Ahitub and Elpaal 12 The sons of Elpaal Eber and Misham and Shamed who built Ono and Lod l Of which see Ezr. 2. 33. Nehem. 7. 37. 11. 35. with the towns thereof 13 Beriah also and Shema who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Ajalon m A Place formerly belonging to the Tribe of Dan Ios. 19. 42. but after the Return from Babylon possessed by the Benjamites because both Dan and the rest of the ten Tribes were yet for the Generality of them in Captivity and but few of them returned who drove away the inhabitants of Gath n Either 1. at that time when they made such a Slaughter among Ephraims Children ch 7. 21. and were possibly pursuing their Victory till they were driven back by these Benjamites who came to the â—…uccour of their Brethren Or 2 Now when they were returned from the Captivity and found the Men of Gath possessed of Ajalon Or 3. at some other time not mentioned in Scripture 14 And Ahio Shashak and Jerimoth 15 And Zebediah and Arad and Ader 16 And Michael and Ispah and Joha the sons of Beriah 17 And Zebadiah and Meshullam and Hezeki and Heber 18 Ishmerai also and Jezliah and Jobab the sons of Elpaal 19 And Jakim and Zichri and Zabdi 20 And Elionai and Zilthai and Eliel 21 And Adajah and Berajah and Shimrath the sons of ‖ 〈…〉 Shimhi 22 And Ishpan and Heber and Eliel 23 And Abdon and Zichri and Hanan 24 And Hananiah and Elam and Antothijah 25 And Iphedejah and Penuel the sons of Shashak 26 And Shamsherai and Shehariah and Athaliah 27 And Jaresiah and Eliah and Zichri the sons of Jeroham 28 These were heads of the fathers by their generations chief men These o All these named from v. 14. to this place dwelt in Jerusalem 29 And at Gibeon dwelt the ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 35. father of Gibeon p i. e. The Chief or Ruler of the Benjamites dwelling there whose * 〈◊〉 9. 35. wives name was Maacha 30 And his first-born son Abdon and Zur and Kish and Baal and Nadab 31 And Gedor and Ahio and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 37. Zacher 32 And Mikloth begat ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. 3â—… Shimeah And these also dwelt with their brethren q i. e. With those other Benjamites spoken of v. 28. in Jerusalem over against them r In some street or part of Ierusalem which was over against that where their Brethren dwelt 33 And * 1 Sam. 14. 51. Ner begat Kish and Kish begat Saul and Saul begat Jonathan and Malchishua and Abinadab and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sam. 2. 8. Eshbaal 34 And the son of Jonathan was ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Sam. 〈◊〉 Merib-baal and Merib-baal begat * Sam. 9. 12. Micah 35 And the sons of Micah were Pithon and Melech and ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… 41. Tarea and Ahaz 36 And Ahaz begat Jehoada and Jehoada begat Alemeth and Azmaveth and Zimri and Zimri begat Moza 37 And Moza begat Binea Rapha was his son Eleasa his son Azel his son 38 And Azel had six sons whose names are these Azrikam Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheraiah and Obadiah and Hanan All these were the sons of Azel 39 And the sons of Eshak his brother were Ulam his first-born Jehush the second and Eliphelet the third 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valout atchers s Heb. That tread the bow For the Bows of Steel which these used required great strength to bend them which therefore they did by treading the Bow with their Feet and pulling the String with both their Hands and had many sons and sons sons an hundred and fifty All these are of the sons of Benjamin CHAP. IX 1 SO all Israel were reckoned by genealogies and behold they were written in the book of the Kings of Israel and Judah a Not in that Sacred and Canonical Book so called but as hath been oft observed before in the Publick Records wherein there was an Account of that King and Kingdom and of the several Families in it according to their Genealogies who b i. e. Which Tribe or People of Iudah last mentioned were carried away to Babylon for their transgression 2 Now the first inhabitants c The first after the Return from Babylon that dwelt in their possessions in their cities d i. e. That took possession of their own Lands and Cities which had been formerly alotted to them but of late years had been taken from them for their Sins and possessed by other People were the Israelites e i. e. The Common People of Iudah and Israel called here by the general name of Israelites which was given to them before that unhappy Division of the two Kingdoms and now is restored to them when the Israelites are united with the Jews in one and the same Commonwealth that so all the Names and Signs of their former Division might be blotted out And although the generality of the ten Tribes were yet in Captivity yet divers of them were now returned either such as had long before the Captivity fled to Ierusalem to worship God and joyned themselves with Iudah as those 2 Chron. 11. 16. and others Or such as upon Cyrus his general Proclamation associated themselves and returned with those of Iudah and Benjamin the priests Levites f These took possession of the Cities or Places belonging to them as they had need and opportunity and the Nethinims g A certain Order of Men either Gibeonites or others joyned with them devoted to the Service of God and of his House and of the Priests and Levites who that they might attend upon their work without distraction had certain Places and Possessions given to them which they are now said to repossess 3 And in * Nâ—…hem 11. 〈◊〉 Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh h i. e. Some of each of these Tribes either such as offered themselves or such as were chosen by Lot see Nehem. 11. 1 2. 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud i That there is so great
Israel to put his Name there and his mothers name was Naamah an Ammonitess 14 And he did evil because he ‖ Or fixed 1 Sam. 7. 3. prepared not k Or directed nâ—…t or settled not c. i. e. Although he humbled himself and seemed penitent for a season and professed the True Religion and Worship of God yet he quickly relapsed into his former Sins because he was not sincere nor serious in his Actions and his Heart was not right with God his heart to seek the LORD 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam first and last are they not written in the †Heb. words book of Shemajah the prophet and of Iddo the seer concerning genea logies l In an Historical Account written by him of the Genealogies and Actions of the Kings of Judah And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam conâ—…inually 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David and Abijah his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XIII 1 NOw * 1 Kiâ—… 〈◊〉 c. in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem his mothers name also was Micajah the daughter of Uriel a Called Maachah the Daughter of Absalom 1 King 15. 2. She might be Daughter to one and Grand-daughter to the other or the proper and natural Daughter of the one and the others by Adoption of which there are Instances in Scripture or the same Person might be called Uriel and Absalom See 1 King 15. 2. of Gibeah and there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam 3 And Abijah †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set the battel in aray c Against Jeroboam We need not scrupulously enquire into the Lawfulness of this War for this Abijah though here he makes a fair Flourish and maintained the better Cause yet was indeed an Ungodly Man 1 King 15. 3. and therefore minded not the satisfaction of his Conscience but onely the Recovery of his Parents Ancient Dominions with an army of valiant men of war even four hundred thousand chosen men Jeroboam also set the battel in aray against him with eight hundred thousand men being mighty men of valour 4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim d Some commodious Place whence his Voice might be heard by Jeroboam and some of his Host who possibly were pitched in the Valley Or the two Armies being pitched near to one another Abijah might desire a Parly before they fought whereupon Jeroboam and some of his Commanders and Souldiers might draw near to him and stand below him at the bottom of the Hill where they might hear his Speech which Jeroboam was the more willing to do that in the mean time he might cause an Ambushment to come behind Abijah and his Army as he did v. 13. whilest he was quietly standing before them and seemed to hearken to any Terms of Accommodation which might be offered which is in mount Ephraim and said Hear me thou Jeroboam and all Israel 5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt e i. e. By a perpetual Covenant which thy â—…surpation cannot disanul For the Phrase see on Numb 18. 19. 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David is risen up and hath * 1 〈◊〉 rebelled against his lord 7 And there are gathered unto him vain men the children of Belial f Such as have cast off the Yoke and Obedience which they owed both to God and to their King and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young g Not in Age for he was then 41 years old but in his Kingdom which he had but newly obtained and in Experience in Politick and especially in Military Affairs to which he was wholly a Stranger as having been born and bred up in a time of great Peace and Security and tender-hearted h i. e. Cowardly and fearful who durst not adventure to chastise the Rebels as he should have done But herein Abijah forgets his Duty both to his Father whom he falsely traduceth and to God by whose Express Command Rehoboam was restrained from the War against Israel which otherwise he had both Courage and Resolution to prosecute as appears from the History 1 King 12. 21. and could not withstand them 8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David i That Kingdom which was not set up by Vain Men in pursuance of their own Ambition and Discontent as yours was but ordained and established by God himself in the House of David and ye be a great multitude k Or because that Hebrew Particle being oft so used ye be c. This he mentions partly as the ground of their Confidence that they had more Triâ—…es and a greater Host and partly as a Presâ—…ge of their Downfal which trusting â—…o the Arm of Flesh is and there are with you golden calâ—…es l Or but there are c. There is that among you which may damp your Courage and Confidence You worship those Images which God aâ—…hors and severely forbids which Jeroboam * 1 Kiâ—… 〈◊〉 made you for gods m Or for God as that plural word is most commonly used i. e. instead of God to give them the Name of God as Exod. 32. 4. and that worship which is peculiar to him 9 * 〈◊〉 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD the sons of Aaron and the Levites and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands so that whosoeveâ—… cometh †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to consecrate himself n i. e. To make himself a Priest See on Levit. 7. 37. with a young bullock and seven rams the same may be a priest of them that are no gods o That have nothing of the Nature or Power though you give them the Name of gods 10 But as for us the LORD p Heb. Iehovah the onely true and great God is our God and we have not forsaken him q We maintain his Honour and Worship which you have ungratefully rejected and the priests which minister unto the LORD are the sons of Aaron and the Levites wait upon their business 11 * 〈◊〉 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew-bread also set they in order upon the pure table r So called because it was made of pure Gold Exod. 25. 23 24. and the candlestick of gold s He saith Table and Candlestick though there were ten of each 〈◊〉 4. 7 8. either 1. because Shishak had carried away all but onâ—… Or 2. the singular number is put for the plural as 1 King 7. 48. and oft
the hand i. e. he restored the Priests and Levites either 1. to theirplaces and offices which possibly in the time of the Idolatrous Kings and of Athaliah had been disposed of to persons of other Tribes partly to gratifie their wicked friends and partly to bring Gods House and Worship into disgrace Or 2. to the exercise of their offices from which they had been in a great measure hindred of the priests the Levites whom David had * 1 Chr. 24. 1. distributed in the house of the LORD to offer the burnt-offerings of the LORD as it is written in the * Numb 28. 2. law of Moses with rejoycing and singing as it was ordained †Heb. by the hands of David by David 19 And he set the * 1 Chr. 26. 1 c. porters at the gates of the house of the LORD that none which was unclean in anything should enter in 20 And he took the captains of hundreds and the nobles and the governours of the people and all the people of the land and brought down the king from the house of the LORD and they came through the high gate o To wit of the Court belonging and leading to the Kings Palace into the kings house and set the king upon the throne of the land 21 And all the people of the land rejoyeed and the city was quiet after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword CHAP. XXIV 1 JOash * 2 Kin. 12. 1 c. was seven years old a A great part of this Chapter is explained on 2 Kings 12. when he began to reign and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem his mothers name also was Zibeah of Beer-sheba 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehojada the priest 3 And Jehojada took for him two wives and he begat sons and daughters 4 And it came to pass after this that Joash was minded †Heb. to renew to repair the house of the LORD 5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them Go out unto the cities of Judah and gather of all Israel b i. e. Of all the Israelites that were in the Kingdom of Judah See Ch. 15. 17. and 21. 2. money to repair the house of your God from year to year c Either 1. repair part of it every year till the reparations be perfected Or 2. gather it from year to year 〈◊〉 you get such a sum as may suffice for the work for he supposed one or two years collection would not suffice for the work whether it were that collection of half a shekel for every man of which see Exod. 30. 12 13. 2 Kings 12. 14. Or a voluntary contribution required for the present exigence of the Temple by virtue of the command and example of Moses who made such a collection for the building of the Tabernacle Exod. 35. 5. See also Nehem. 10. 32. which he thought would not be any great sum because of the great iniquity and impiety which yet had reigned for many years and yet continued in the generality of the people of the Land the Levites not excepted as the last clause of this Verse shews and see that ye haste the matter Howbeit the Levites hastned it not 6 And the king called for Jehojada the chief d It is observable that he is not called the Chief Priest or High Priest but onely the Chief or the Head which he might be in many other respects either by reason of his near relation to the Royal Family or because he was the Chief of one of the 24 Families or because he had been the chief man in the contriving and bringing about of this great change and the General of the Forces employed about it And the High Priest seems to be mentioned as a distinct person from Jehojadah here 2 Kings 12. 9 10 All which make it questionable whether Jehojadah was the High-Priest or no. and said unto him Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection according to the commandment of * Exod. 30. 12 13 14. Moses e Heb. the Collection of Moses i. e. such an one as he commanded or made in the like case of which see on v. 5. In like manner we read of the Sins of Manasseh 2 Kings 24. 3. and of the Sin of Ieroboam frequently the servant of the LORD and of the congregation of Israel for the tabernacle of witness 7 For the sons of Athaliah f To wit Ahaziah and his Brethren before they were carried away captive ch 21. 17. who did this by her instigation as this phrase implies that wicked woman had broken up the house of God g Both broken up the Treasuries and defaced the House it self and also all the dedicate things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim 8 And at the kings commandment they made a chest and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD h i. e. Of the Court of the people whether all manner of persons might come to offer 9 And they made †Heb. 〈◊〉 a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness i i. e. A Collection answerable to it as they are said to be guilty of the errour of Balaam and gainsaying of Core Jud. v. 11. who fell into sins of the same kind 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoyced and brought in and cast into the chest until they had made an end 11 Now it came to pass that at what time the chest was brought unto the kings office k From the gate of the Court into one of the Chambers belonging to the Temple which was appointed by the King for this office by the hand of the Levites and when they saw that there was much money the kings scribe and the high priests officer came and emptied the chest and took it and carried it to his place again Thus they did day by day and gathered money in abundance 12 And the king and Jehojada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD 13 So the workmen wrought and †〈…〉 the work was perfected by them and they set the house of God in his state and strengthned it 14 And when they had finished it they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehojada whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD l Because Athaliah and her Sons had taken the old 〈◊〉 away v. 7. even vessels to minister and ‖ Or 〈◊〉 to offer withal and spoons and vessels of gold and
as it follows but by vehement perswasions and denunciations of Gods further Judgments upon him if he did not depart Some suppose that the Earthquake mentioned Amos 1. 1. Zech. 14. 5. happened upon this occasion as another token of Gods displeasure against this unparallel'd arrogancy yea himself * 〈◊〉 6. 12 hasted also to go out because the LORD had smitten him 21 * 〈◊〉 15. 5. 〈◊〉 13. 26 〈◊〉 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death r God would have this Leprosy to be incurable as a lasting monument of his Anger against such presumptuous Invaders of the Priests office and dwelt in a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †several house being a leper s As he was obliged to do by Law Levit. 13. 46. which he durst not now resist being under the hand and stroke of God and under the fear of further and worse plagues if he did so for t So the following words are a reason of the former he dwelt in a several house because he might not come into the Temple or Courts nor consequently into any publick Assembly or the society of others Or and therefore as the Hebrew Chi oft signifies and the Particle and is oft understood So it is an inference from the next foregoing words He was a Leper and therefore he was cut off c. He who could not content himself with Gods allowance but usurped the Priests place and office is now deprived of the priviledge of the meanest of his People A just and most suitable Judgment he was cut off from the house of the LORD and Jotham his son was over the kings house judging the people of the land 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah first and last did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz write 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings for they said He is a leper and Jotham his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XXVII 1 JOtham * 2 Kin 15 32 c. was twenty and five years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem his mothers name also was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah did howbeit he entred not into the temple of the LORD a To wit to offer Incense But seeing this was commendable how is this mentioned as an exception from the foregoing Character that he did as his Father did in that which was right c. Answ. It is an exception onely from the last clause where also one word may be supplied out of the foregoing words as is most usual in Scripture thus He did according to all that his father Uzziah did then it fitly follows howbeit c. i. e. except in his miscarriages And the people did yet corruptly 3 He built b i. e. Repaired it for it was built before ch 11. 5. the high-gate c 〈◊〉 wise called the New gate Jer. 36. 10. of the house of the LORD and on the wall of ‖ Or the 〈◊〉 â—…r Ophel d A Tower upon 〈◊〉 the wall of Jerusalem which probably he fortified as his Father 〈◊〉 done other Towers ch 2. 6. 9. he built much 5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites e Who it seems endeavoured to shake off the yoke which from Davids time had been put upon them and prevailed against them And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures of wheat and ten thousand of barley †Heb. this So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him both the second year and the third 6 So Jotham became mighty because he ‖ Or established prepared his ways d Or directed his ways i. e. his counsels and actions by the rule of Gods Law before the LORD his God 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all his wars and his ways lo they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah 8 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XXVIII 1 AHaz * 2 Kin. 16. 〈◊〉 was twenty years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD like David his father 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and made also molten images for Baalim a To worship his Baalim or false gods in and by them 3 Moreover he ‖ Or offered sacrifice burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burnt * Lâ—…v 18. 21. his children in the fire after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel 4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places and on the hills and under every green tree 5 Wherefore the LORD his God b God was his God though not by Covenant and Grace and special Relation which Ahaz had renounced yet by his Soveraign Dominion over him For God did not forfeit his Right by Ahaz his denying it delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria and they smote him and carried away a great multitude of them captives and brought them to †Heb. Darmesek Damascus and he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel who smote him with a great slaughter 6 For * 2 Kin. 15. 2â—… Isa. â—… â—… Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day which were all †Heb. sons of valour valiant men because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers 7 And Zichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maasejah the kings son and Azrikam the governour of the house and Elkanah that was †Heb. the second to the king next to the king 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women sons and daughters and took also away much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there whose name was Oded and he went out before the host that came to Samaria and said unto them Behold * Psal. 69. 26. Isa. 10. 5. 47. 6. Ezek. 2. 12 15. 26. 2. Obad. 10. c. Zech. 1. 15. because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah he hath delivered them into your hand and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven c i. e. In a most high and fierce manner An usual Hyperbole withal signifying that their Rage did cry aloud and
was heard to heaven from whence it would pull down Vengeance upon them 10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bond-men and bond-women unto you but are there not with you even with you sins against the LORD your God d Which if not repented of may bring down the like Vengeance upon your own Heads 11 Now hear me therefore and deliver the captives again which ye have taken captive of your brethren for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you 12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim Azariah the son of Johanan Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum and Amasa the son of Hadlai stood up against them that came from the war 13 And said unto them Ye shall not bring in the captives hither for whereas we have offended against the LORD already ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass for our trespass is great and there is fierce wrath against Israel 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation 15 And the men which were expressed by name e Which were appointed to take care about the Management of this Business rose up and took the captives and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them and arraied them and shod them and gave them to eat and to drink and anointed them and carried all the feeble of them upon asses and brought them to Jericho * Deut. 34. 3. Judg. 1. 16. the city of palm-trees to their brethren then they returned to Samaria 16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings f i. e. The King The Plural Number for the Singular Either 1. Because he was a Great King and a King of Kings as the Elephant or as others think the Crocodile is called Behemoth which signifies Beasts Iob 40. because of his vast Bulk and Eminency above other Beasts Or 2. Because he wrote to divers of the Kings or great Princes who may be called Kings in a more general signification of the Word and indeed are so called Isa. 10. 8. Are not my Princes altogether Kings of Assyria to help him 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah and carried away †Heb. a captivity captives 18 Ezek. 16. 57. The Philistins also had invaded the cities of the low country g That part of Judah which was towards the Sea and towards the Philistins Land and of the south of Judah h Of which see Ios. 15. 21. and had taken Beth-shemesh and Ajalon and Gederoth and Socho with the †Heb. daughters villages thereof and Timnah with the †Heb. daughters villages thereof Gimzo also and the villages thereof and they dwelt there 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel for * Exod. 32. â—…5 he made Judah naked i Taking away their Ornament and their Defence and Strength to wit their Treasures which he sent to the Assyrian to no purpose their Frontier Towns and other strong Holds which by his Folly and Wickedness were lost their Religion and the Divine Protection which was their great and onely firm Security which by his Sins he forfeited See the Notes on Exod. 32. 25. and transgressed fore against the LORD 20 And * 2 Kin. 25. 2â—… Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him and distressed him k Or straitned him by robbing him of his Treasures but strengthened him not l A most Emphatical Expression for though he weakned his present Enemy the Syrian as is related 2 King 16. 9. yet really and all things considered he did not strengthen Ahaz and his Kingdom but rather weaken them for by the removing the Syrian who though a Troublesom Neighbour was a kind of Bulwark to him as to many other Enemies he smoothed the way for himself a far more Dangerous and Mischievous Enemy as appears by his Invasion of Judah in the very next Kings Reign 21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD and out of the house of the king and of the princes and gave it unto the king of Assyria but he helped him not l A most Emphatical Expression for though he weakned his present Enemy the Syrian as is related 2 King 16. 9. yet really and all things considered he did not strengthen Ahaz and his Kingdom but rather weaken them for by the removing the Syrian who though a Troublesom Neighbour was a kind of Bulwark to him as to many other Enemies he smoothed the way for himself a far more Dangerous and Mischievous Enemy as appears by his Invasion of Judah in the very next Kings Reign 22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD This is that king Ahaz m That Monster and Reproach of Mankind that unteachable and incorrigible Prince whom even grievous Afflictions made worse which commonly make Men better This is he whose name deserves to be remembred and detested for ever Or King Ahaz was the same no Changeling not a whit better by all the Methods which God used with him 23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of †Heb. 〈◊〉 Damascus which smote him n Or which had smitten him formerly i. e. had enabled their Worshippers the Syrians to smite him as he fondly imagined which yet he saw confuted having now found by experience that they could not save them from the Assyâ—…ian Power and he said Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them therefore will I sacrifice to them that they may help me But they were the ruine of him and of all Israel 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem 25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to burn incense unto other gods and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways first and last behold they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city even in Jerusalem but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XXIX 1 HEzekiah * 2 Kin. 18. 〈◊〉 began to reign when he was five and twenty years old and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem and his mothers name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD according to all that David his father had done 3 He in the first year of his reign in the first month opened the doors of the
the men that made this building i. e. who were the chief undertakers and encouragers of this work For although the Hebrew particle mah rendred what seems always to be used interrogatively yet the Chaldee particle man here rendred what is used otherwise as is manifest from Dan. 4. 17. unto them after this manner What are the names of the men †Chal. that build this building that make this building 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease f Because God over-ruled their Hearts and Hands that they did not hinder them by force as they could have done till the matter came to Darius and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai governour on this side the river and Shethar-boznai and his companions the Apharsachites g A People so called sent hither as a Colony As for the other people mentioned chap. 4. 9. they seem to have had a greater Power with Rehum and Shimshai than with these new Officers who made choice of other companions which were on this side the river h Whereby they are distinguished from those of their Brethren who yet continued in their native Countrey beyond the River and were not transplanted hither sent unto Darius the king 7 They sent a letter unto him †Chal. in the midst whereof wherein was written thus Unto Darius the king all peace 8 Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judea to the house of the great God i Whom the Jews account the great God the God of Gods esteeming all others to be but little and false gods which is built with †Chal. stones of rolling great stones and timber is laid in the walls and this work goeth fast on and prospereth in their hands 9 Then asked we those elders and said unto them thus who commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls 10 We asked their names also to certifie thee that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them 11 And they returned us answer saying We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and build the house that was built many years ago which a great king of Israel built * 1 Kin. 6. 1. and set up 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath he gave them into the hand of * 2 Kin. 24. 2. 25. 8. Nebuchad-nezzar the king of Babylon the Chaldean who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon 13 But in the first year of * Ch. 1. 1. Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God 14 And * Ch. 1. â—… â—… 6. 5. the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple of Babylon those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar whom he had made ‖ Or 〈◊〉 governour 15 And said unto him Take these vessels go carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the house of God be built in his place 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem And since that time even until now k Allowing for some interruptions hath it been in building and yet it is not finished 17 Now therefore if it seem good to the king let there be search made in the kings treasure-house which is there at Babylon whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter CHAP. VI. 1 THen Darius the king made a decree a Either 1. To search the Rolls Or rather 2. To permit and promote the building of the Temple And so the following words may be rendred after search was made c. the Hebrew particle vau being oft so used as hath been noted before and search was made in the house of the †Chal. 〈◊〉 rolls where the treasures †Chal. 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 were laid up in Babylon b Either 1. In the Kingdom or Empire of Babylon which he now possessed Or rather 2. In the City of Babylon where search was first made supposing that this Edict which was made presently after Cyrus had taken Babylon was kept there but not finding it there they searched in Ackmetha and found it there 2 And there was found c Here the Kings answer may seem to begin and this following account he sends to them and after that lays down his commands at ‖ Or 〈◊〉 or iâ—… 〈◊〉 Achmetha d The Royal City of the Medes and Persians in the palace that is in the province of the Medes a roll and therein was a record thus written 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem Let the house be built the place where they offered Sacrifices and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid the height thereof threescore cubits and the breadth thereof threescore cubits e He did not command them to make it so large for he left the ordering of the proportions of the Building to their skill and choice but he restrained them that they should make it no larger lest they should hereafter make use of it to other purposes against himself But those proportions differ much from those of Solomon's Temple which was but Thirty Cubits high only the porch was 120 Cubits high and but 20 Cubits in breadth Either therefore Solomons Cubits were sacred Cubits which were larger than the other and these were but common Cubits Or the 60 Cubits of heighth are meant only of the Porch which he would not have to be so high and magnificent as that of Solomons was lest they should be puffed up with it and by degrees arrive at their former heighth and insolence And the word rendred breadth may be and is by some rendred more generally the extension or amplitude or the length of it it being improbable that the King should give orders about the breadth and none about the length of it 4 With three rows of great stones and a row of new timber f As Solomon's Temple was built 1 Kin. 6. 36. Whereof Darius was informed by some of the Jews who also desired that it might be done in this manner and let the expences be given out of the kings house 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon be restored g To
the people r Whose passions being once raised could not suddenly be composed saying Hold your peace s Cease from weeping and mournful cries and turn your lamentations into thanksgivings for the day is holy neither be ye grieved 12 And all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to send portions and to make great mirth because they had understood the words that were declared unto them r Because they now knew Gods mind and their own duty which they were resolved to practise which gave them ground of hope and trust in Gods mercy and consequently of great and just joy 13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people the priests and the Levites u Chusing rather to confess their ignorance for their edification then vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had wherein they shew both true humility and serious godliness that they were more careful to learn and practice their duty than to preserve their reputation with the people unto Ezra the scribe even ‖ Or that they might instruct in the words of the law to understand the words of law x That they might more exactly understand the meaning of some things which they had heard before and so instruct the people in them 14 And they found y Upon Ezra's information and their discourse with him written in the law which the LORD had commanded †Heb. by the hand of by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in * Lev. 23. 34. Deut. 16. 1â—… booths in the feast of the seventh month 15 And that they should publish z i. e. And they found this also written which is to be supplied out of the former verse that they should c. which though it be not particularly required so as is expressed in the words here following yet in the general is required by vertue of that precept Levit. 23 4. Numb 10. 10. And according to this translation it must be understood in the close of this verse that they did accordingly publish and proclaim c. But these words may be rendred which as this Hebrew word is rendred here v. 14. and most commonly also so the particle vau is used Isa. 6. 1. Ier. 1. 3. also they did publish c. For so they did as is evident and acknowledged and it seems fit that so much should be expressed and these words being so particular and proper to this special occasion seem to intimate that this is rather an historical relation of what they now did than a declaration of that which the law required them to do which was but in very general terms and not so exact and particular as this following precept is said to be and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying Go forth unto the mount a The mount of Olives which was next Ierusalem and stored with Olive-branches and probably with the rest here mentioned for these trees may seem to have been planted here abouts principally for the use of this capital City in this very feast which though long neglected should have been celebrated once every year And therefore this place seems to be here designed as the most eminent place but with an usual Synecdoche this place being put for any place nearest to the several cities of Judah where these branches were to be procured fetch olive-branches pine-branches and myrtle-branches and palm-branches and branches of thick trees b Of which see on Levit. 23. 34 Deut. 16. 13. to make booths as it is written 16 So the people went forth and brought them and made themselves booths every one upon the roof of his house c For the houses there were made â—…at of which see Deut. 22. 8. and in their courts d Belonging to their own Houses for these might be any where in the open air and in the courts of the house of God and in the street of the water-gate and in the street of the gate of Ephraim e That gate of the City which led to the Tribe of Ephraim 17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths and sate under the booths for f Or surely as the Hebrew chi is oft used as hath been noted before For the following words seem not so much to give a reason of what was last said or done concerning their dwelling in booths as to contain the holy writers reflection upon the present celebration of this feast since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so g Either 1. So as to the matter or substance of the thing So it implies that all this while the feast of Tabernacles was not observed Which seems altogether improbable considering how expresly this was commanded to be celebrated Levit. 23. c. and what excellent Kings and Priests and Prophets there had been within that time such as were persons of great understanding and most expert and studious in Gods Word and therefore could not be ignorant of so plain a duty and withal so throughly pious and careful and zealous for God and the observation of his law and worship and some of them commended for their universal obedience to all Gods commands and therefore would not be guilty of so gross a neglect Besides that this feast was observed is sufficiently implied in 1 Kings 8. 2 65. 2 Chr. 7. 9. is particularly expressed Ezra 3 4. Or rather 2. So as to the manner circumstances They never kept this feast so joyfully as the next words declare having not only the same causes of rejoycing which they formerly had but some special causes to increase their joy towit the remembrance of their stupendious deliverance both out of the land of their Captivity out of the hands of their wicked malicious Neighbours ever since their return especially now when they were new building the walls of Ierusalem they never kept it so solemnly and religiously for whereas at other times only the first and last day of that feast were celebrated with an holy convocation Levit 23. 35 36. Ioh. 7. 37. now there was an holy convocation and the people assembled and attended upon the reading of the law everyday of this feast as is noted in the next verse and there was very great gladness 18 Also day by day from the first day unto the last day he read in the book of the law of God h Which was commanded to be done at this feast Deut. 31. 10 11 12. though not injoyned to be done every day as now out of a singular zeal they did and they kept the feast seven days and on the eighth day was †Heb. 1 restraint a solemn assembly * Lev. 23. 36. according unto the manner CHAP. IX 1 NOW in the twenty and fourth day of this month
pollute them or the Priesthood and of the Levites 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers and * Ch. 12. 1. appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites every one in his business 31 And for the * Ch. 10. 34. wood-offerings at times appointed and for the first-fruits x And particularly I took care for these things because they had been lately neglected Remember me O my God for good ESTHER THis Book was constantly received for a part of the Canon of the Scripture by the People of the Iews whose authority herein is the more considerable because to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. to keep them safely and transmit them carefully to Posterity And it is a very strong presumption that they were true to their trust that our blessed Lord and his holy Apostles who taxed the Iews with many faults both greater and less never charged them with unfaithfulness herein which if the Iews had been guilty they would certainly have done and by their Office were obliged to do it for the Instruction and Caution of the Christian Church whose Faith was built no less upon the Writings of the Prophets than upon the Doctrine of the Apostles The Pen-man of it is both by Iewish and Christian Interpreters ancient and modern thought to be Mordecai who was both an holy man of God and a principal Actor in this History And therefore who so fit and proper for it as himself CHAP. I. 1 NOw it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus a Qu. Who was this King Ans. It is confessed and manifest that this was one of the Kings of Persia But which of them it was is not yet agreed nor is it of any necessity for us now to know But it is sufficiently evident that this was either 1. Darius Hystaspis as divers both Jewish and Christian Writers affirm for his Kingdom was thus vast and he subdued India as Herodotus reports and one of his Wives was called Atossa which differs little from Hadassah which is Esthers other name Esth. 2. 7. Or 2. Xerxes whose Wife as Herodotus notes was called Amestris which is not much differing from Esther by whom all these things were transacted whilst he was potent and prosperous before his unhappy expedition against the Grecians Or 3. Artaxerxes Longimanus to whom the characters of Ahasuerus represented in this Book do not disagree And whereas it is objected that by this account Mordecai must be a man of about 140 Years and consequently Esther who is called his Uncles daughter ch 2. 7. must be too old to make a Wife for the King as for Mordecai it may be granted there being divers instances of persons of greater Age than that in sacred and prophane Historians and for Esther it may be said that she was his Uncles Grand-Daughter nothing being more frequent than for the names of sons or daughters to be given to more remote posterity this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces b So seven new Provinces were added to those 120 mentioned Dan. 6. 1. 2 That in those days when the king Ahasuerus sate on the Throne of his kingdom c i. e. Either was lately advanced to it or rather was settled in the peaceable possession of it which was in Shushan the ‖ Or chief city palace d Or the castle or the chief or royal city as both Jewish and Christian Interpreters render it Shushan might be the proper name of the Palace which thence was given to the whole City Here the Kings of Persia used to keep their Courts chiefly in Winter as ordinarily they were in Ecbatana in Summer 3 In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his Princes and his servants the power e i. e. The mighty men the chief Officers of State and Commanders of all his Forces whom by this splendid entertainment he endeavoured to oblige and assure to himself of Persia and Media the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious Kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days even an hundred and fourscore days f Making every day a magnificent Feast either for all his Princes or for some of them who might come to the Feast successively as the King ordered them to do The Persian Feasts are much celebrated in Authors for their length and Luxury 5 And when these days were expired the king made a feast unto all the people that were †Heb. found present g Both such as constantly resided there and such as were come thither upon their occasions of whatsoever condition or quality in Shushan the palace both unto great and small seven days in the court of the garden h The Persian Gardens were exceeding large and pleasant of the kings palace 6 Where were white green and ‖ Or 〈◊〉 blue hangings fastened with cords of fine linnen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble the beds i For in those Eastern Countries and ancient times they did not sit at Tables as we do but rested or leaned upon Beds of which we have many testimonies both in Scripture as Esth. 7. 8. Amos 2. 8. 6. 4. Ioh. 13. 23. and in all other Authors were of gold and silver upon a pavement ‖ Or of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 of red and blue and white and black marble 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold the vessels being divers one from another and †â—…eb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 royal wine in abundance †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 king according to the state of the king 8 And the drinking was according to the law none did compel k i. e. According to this Law which the King had now made that none should compel another to drink more than he pleased which the Persians and other loose and heathenish Nations used to do though that practice was connemned by the wise and sober Heathens and among others by this great Prince Or no man did compel another to drink according to the Law i. e. as by the Laws or Orders of the Persians prescribed and used in their Feasts they might have done if not restrained by this Law for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women l Whilest the King entertained the men For this was the common custom of the Persians that Men and Women did not feast together but in several places in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus 10 On the seventh day when the heart of the king was merry with wine he commanded Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas the seven ‖ Or 〈◊〉 chamberlains m Or
great work 2 How he sware unto the LORD and vowed c He made a solemn vow and confirmed it with an oath Which he undoubtedly did although no mention be made of it 2 Sam. 7. Thus many historical passages which were omitted in their proper places are afterwards recorded upon other occasions of which examples have been formerly noted unto the mighty God of Jacob d Of Israel Iacob and Israel are frequently put for their posterity as hath been frequently observed 3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house nor go up to my bed e This and the following clauses are not to be understood strictly and properly as if he would never come into his house or bed till this was done which is confuted by the history 2 Sam. 11. 2. but figuratively as an hyperbolical expression such as are usual both in Scripture and in all other Authors to signifie his passionate desire of doing this work which was so earnest that neither his house nor bed nor sleep could give him any content till this work was done or in some forwardness 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eye-lids 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD f Either 1. until I can understand from God what place he hath chosen for his house to be built in Or rather 2. until I have fitted or raised an house in which the Ark may be put an habitation as this is explained both in the next clause and in v. 7. and Act. 7. 46. For this and not the former was the matter both of Davids desire and of Gods answer delivered by Nathan 2 Sam. 7. †Heb. habitations an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 6 Loe we have heard of it g Of the place or habitation for the Lord last mentioned at Ephratah h Either 1. in Bethlehem which is called Ephratah Gen. 35. 19. 48. 7. Mich. 5. 2. So the sence is either this We heard a rumour at Bethlehem among Davids relations that the Ark should be removed to a new place and that David had pitched upon it or this We heard that Bethlehem would be the place for it because it was the City of David Or rather 2. in the Tribe of Ephraim which was called also Ephratah or Ephrathah as is manifest because the men of Ephraim were called Ephrathites as Iudg. 1â—… 5. in the Hebrew Text though in the English it be Ephraimite So Ieroboam is called an Ephrathite 1 Kings 11. 26. So the sence is We heard it from our fathers that the ancient place of it was Shiloh which was in the land of Ephraim Whereby he covertly intimates that God rejected and forsook that place and chose not the tribe of Ephraim as it is said Psal. 78. 67. that so he might make way for Zion which was the place chosen by God for it as it follows here v. 13. we found it i Afterwards we found it elsewhere in the fields of the wood k i. e. In a field or in one of the fields of the wood for that little spot of ground in which the Tabernacle or Temple was built was not likely to be in several fields Thus Iepthah was buried in the cities of Gilead Iudg. 12. 7. i. e. in one of them This is meant either 1. of the Mount Moriah which might possibly be called the field of the wood as being anciently a place full of wood Gen. 22. 13. or of the threshing-floor of Araunah of which see 2 Sam. 24. 28. which before the building of the Temple is said to have been a woody place Or rather 2. of Kiriath-jearim which signifies a city of woods in the field or territory whereof the Ark was seated for twenty years as we read 1 Sam. 7. 1 2. And from this place it was removed to Zion 2 Sam. 6. 1 c. 7 We will go l Seeing the Ark is now fixed in a certain place we will go to it more generally and constantly than formerly we did into his tabernacles m Into his Tabernacle or Temple the Plural number put for the Singular as Psal. 43. 3. 46. 4 c. * Psal. 99. 5. we will worship at his footstool n Either the Temple or rather the Ark so called 1 Chron. 28. 2. Lament 2. 1. because God is oft said to sit between the Cherubims which were above the Ark. 8 * Num. 10. 35. 2 Chr. 6. 41 42. Arise o i. e. Arise and come One word put for two as Gen. 43. 33. marvelled i. e. marvelled looking one at another and v. 34. he took messes i. e. he took and sent messes as our Translation renders it And this word is very proper in this place because it was to be used by Gods appointment when the Ark was to be removed from one place to another Numb 10. 35. as now it was from the Tabernacle in Zion to the Temple in Moriah upon which occasion this and the two following verses were used by Solomon 2 Chron. 6. 41 42. O LORD into thy rest p Into thy resting place the Temple so called Isa. 66. 1. where thou hast now a fixed habitation thou and the ark of thy strength q The seat of thy powerful and glorious presence from whence thou dost put â—…orth and manifest thy strength on the behalf of thy people when they desire and need it 9 Let thy priests be cloathed with * Ver. 16. righteousness r Not onely with those outward Sacerdotal garments of glory and beauty which thou hast appointed for them but especially with those inward ornaments of righteousness and true holiness that so their persons and services may be accepted by thee both for themselves and for all thy people and they may be cloathed with salvation as it is expressed here below v. 16. and 2 Chron. 6. 41. which is the effect or consequent of the former clothing and let thy saints shout for joy s Let all thy people have cause of rejoycing in the tokens of thy goodness which they eminently had at the dedication of the Temple as is noted 1 Kings 8. 66. 10 For thy servant Davids sake t In regard of thy singular kindness and promises vouchsafed to David as this is explained in the following verses And this verse makes it more than probable that David was not the Penman of this Pslam who never used to beg mercies from God for his own sake but constantly for his names sake and for the sake of his truth mercy goodness or righteousness as will be evident to any one that reads this Book turn not away the face u Cast me not out of thy presence do not reject or deny my request as this phrase is expounded 1 Kings 2. 16. of thine anointed x Of me whom thou hast anointed to be King over thy people He speaks of himself in the third person as
in a peculiar manner being chosen by me and consecrated to my Use and Service and inâ—…bited by 〈◊〉 People and upon my mountains g In my Mountainous Country for such 〈◊〉 was Deut. 8. 9. Psal. 133. 3. Ezek. 6. 2 3. 39. 2 â—… 17. especially about Ierusalem Psal. 125. 2. upon some of which probably his Army was lodged tread him under feet then shall his yoke depart from off them and his burden depart from off their shoulders h Which Words are â—…peated from Isa. 10. 27. where they are explained 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth i Upon this vast Empire now in the hands of the â—…rians and shortly to come into the hands of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The whole earth is put Synechdochically for a great part of it and this is the hand k The Providence of God executing his purpose that is stretched out upon all the nations 27 For the LORD of hosts hath * â—… Châ—… â—… 6. Jâ—…b 9. 12 2â—… 1â—… Psal. 33. 11. Irov 19. 21. 21. 30. Chap. 43. 13. Dan. 4. 31 32 35. purposed and who shall disanul it and his hand is stretched out and who shall turn it back 28 In the year that * 2 Kâ—… 16. 20. king Ahaz died was this burden l This following burdensom Prophecy 〈◊〉 the Philistins who in Ahaz his time made an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and took divers of their Cities and Villages 2 Chron. â—… â—… 29 Rejoyce not thou whole Palestina because the rod of m Most understand this of Uzziah who did then much mischief 2 Chron. 26. 6. But he was dead Thirty two years before this time and therefore their Joy for his Death was long since past Others understand it of Ahaz But he was so far from smiting them that he was smitten by them as was noted on v. 27. It seems better to understand it more generally of the Royal Race or soregoing Kings of Iudah who had been a terrible Scourge to them whose Rod might be said to be broken because that Scepter was come into the hands of slothful and degenerate Princes such as Ahaz was who had been lately broken by the Philistins and who probably was alive when this Prophecy was delivered because he here speaks of Hezekiah not as a present but as a future King It is said indeed that this burden was in the year that Ahaz died But so it might be though it was before his Death him that smote thee is broken for out of the serpents root shall come forth a ‖ Or addâ—…r cockatrice and his fruit shall be a fiery slying serpent n From the Root and Race of David shall come Hezekiah who like a Serpent shall sting thee to death as he did 2 Kings 18. 8. 30 And the first born of the poor o The People of the Jews who are brought to extreme Poverty by thy Cruelty and the Malice of other Enemies The First-born were the chief of all the Children Hence the Title of first-born is given to Persons or Things which are most eminent in their Kind as to the People of Israel Exod. 4. 22. to David Psal. 89. 27. to a grievous Death Iob 18. 13. and here to Persons eminently poor shall feed p Shall have plenty of Provisions in spight of all thine Attempts against them and the needy shall lie down in safety and I will kill thy root q I will utterly destroy thee both Root and Branch so that there shall not be a Remnant of thy People reserved as it follows It is a Metaphor from a Tree which for want of Nourishment is dried up by the Roots with famin and he shall slay thy remnant 31 Howl O gate r The gate is put either 1. Metaphorically for the People passing through the Gates or for the Magistrates and others who used to meet in the Gate for Judgment or upon other Occasions or 2. Synechdochically for the City as gates are commonly put as Ier. 22. 19. and as it is explained in the next Words cry O city s City is here put collectively for their Cities of which see 1 Sam. 6. 17. thou whole Palestina art dissolved t Heb. melted Which may be understood either 1 of the fainting of their Spirits and Courage as Exod. 15. 15. Iâ—…s 2. 9 24 c. or 2. of the Dissolution of their State for there shall come from the North u Either 1. from Iudea which lay Northward from some part of the Philistins Land But in truth Iudea lay more East than North from Iudah and therefore the Phâ—… are said to be on the west Isa. 11. 14. and never so far as I remember on the North Or 2. from Chaldaea as may be gathered 1. from the Scripture use of this Phrase which generally designs that Country as Ier. 1. 14 15. 6. 1 22. c. 2. from Ier. 47. where Destruction is threatned to the Philistins from the North v. 2. which all understand of the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar And whereas it is speciously objected That this suits not with the next Verse which speaks of Zions Safety at the time of this Destruction of the Philistins whereas Zion and the Land and People of Iudah were destroyed together with the Philistins by Nebuchadnezzar I humbly conceive it may be answered That that Verse is added to express the far-differing Condition of God's People and of the Philistins in the Events of that Babylonian War and that whereas the Philistins should be irrecoverably and eternally destroyed thereby and no Remnant of them should be left as was said v. 30. God's People though they should be sorely scourged and carried into Captivity yet they should be strangely preserved and after some years delivered and restored to their own Land and Temple whereby it would appear that Zion stood upon a sure Foundation and albeit it was grievously shaken yet it could not be utterly and finally overthrown a smoke x A grievous Judgment and Calamity which is oft signified by smoke as Gen. 15. 17. Deut. 29. 20. Iâ—…el 2. 30. either because Smoke is generally accompanied with Fire or because it causeth a great Darkness in the Air for Afflictions are frequently described under the names of fire and darkness and ‖ Or he shall not be alone none shall be alone in his ‖ Or assemblies appointed times y When God's appointed time shall come for the execution of this Judgment not one Person of all that numerous Army which is signified by the smoke last mentioned shall retire and desert his Colours or lag behind the rest But they shall march with great unanimity and alacrity and none of them shall withdraw his hand till the Work be finished till the Philistins be utterly destroyed 32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation z What shall a Jew say to the People of other Nations who shall either be
sent or come to enquire concerning the State of Zion in that day when not onely the Philistins but even the Iews themselves shall fall by the hands of one and the same Enemy Nation is put collectively for nations as gate and city for gates and cities in the foregoing Verse That * Psal. 87. 1 5. 102. 16. the LORD hath founded Zion and * Zeph. 3. 12. Zech. 11. 11. the poor of his people shall ‖ Or betake themselves unto it trust in it a They shall give them this answer That although Zion at present be in a very distressed and deplorable condition and seems to be forsaken by her Cod yet she stands upon a firm Foundation and God who first founded her will again restore and establish her and his poor despised People shall resort to her as to a strong and sure Refuge CHAP. XV. * Ezek. 25. 8. Amos 2. 1. THe burden of Moab a A Prophecy of the Destruction of the Moabites the inveterate and implacable Enemies of the Iews begun by the Assyrian and finished by the Babylonian Emperours Because in the night b Or in a night suddenly and unexpectedly for Men sleep securely in the Night and therefore the Evils which then overtake them are most terrible to them Ar c The chief City of Moab Numb 21. 28. Deut. 2. 9. of Moab is laid waste and ‖ Or cut off brought to silence d Or rather is cut off as the Word oft signifies as Ier. 47. 5. Hos. 10. 9 15. and elsewhere because in the night Kir e Another eminent City of Moab called more largely and fully Kir-heres and Kir-Haresheth Isa. 16. 7 11. Ier. 48. 31 36. of Moab is laid waste and brought to silence 2 He is gone up to Bajith f Which signifies an house It is supposed to be the Name of a Place so called from some eminent House or Temple of their Idols which was in it It is called more fully Beth-baal-meon that is The house of Baals habitation Ios. 13. 17. and to Dibon g Another City of Moab as is manifest from Ier. 48. 18 22. where also was their other eminent High places To these two Places they used to resort in case of great Difficulties and Troubles the high places to weep h To offer their Supplications with Tears to their Idols for help Moab shall howl over Nebo and over Medeba i Two considerable Cities anciently belonging to the Moabites from whom they were taken by the Amorites and from them by the Israelites and possessed by the Reubenites Numb 21. 30. 32. 3 38. but were as it seems recovered by the Moabites in whose hands they now were as is evident for Nebo Ier. 48. 1 22. and for Medeba from this Text. * Jer. 47. 5. 48. 37 38. Ezek. 7. 18. on all their heads shall be baldness and every beard cut off k The Hair of their Heads and Beards which was their Ornament was shaved as was usual in great Mournings as hath been oft observed upon diâ—…ers preceding Texts See on Levit. 19. 27 28. 21. 5. 3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sack-cloth l This was another Practice of Mourners on the tops of their houses m Which were made flat Deut. 22. 8. to which men used to go up either to walk or to cry to God in Heaven or to Men for Help and in their streets n Publickly without shame whereas in ordinary Sorrows men are wont to seek secret Places for their Mourning every one shall howl †Heb. descending into weeping or coming down with weeping weeping abundantly 4 And Heshbon shall cry and Elealeh o Two other Moabitish Cities of which see Numb 21. 25 26. 32. 3. 37. their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz p Another City in the utmost Borders of Moah Numb 21. 23. called also Iahazah Ios. 21. 36. therefore the armed souldiers q Who should be and use to be the most couragious of Moab shall cry out his life shall be grievous unto him r The Moabites shall generally long for death to free themselves from those dreadful Calamities which they perceive unavoidably coming upon them 5 My heart shall cry out for Moab s Their Destruction approaching is so dreadful that although they are a most vile Nation and by their implacable Enmity against God and his People do abundantly deserve it yet the Respect which I have to Humane Nature fills me with Horrour at the very thoughts of it Compare Isa. 16. 11. ‖ Or to the borders thereof even to Zoar as an heisâ—…r his fugitives t Or his bars as others render it and as this Word is frequently taken as Exod. 26. 26 27. Psal. 107 16. c. whereby he may understand their valiant Men or their Princes and Rulers who as they are called the shields of the earth Psal. 47. 9. because like Shields they do or should defend their People so for the same reason they may be called bars because Bars are the Strength of the Gates of Cities or Castles and therefore are mentioned as such Psal. 147. 13. Prov. 18. 19. Ier. 51. 30. shall flee unto Zoar u Or shall cry unto Zoar either shall cry as they go along the way even till they come to Zoar or shall cry so as they may be heard to Zoar which may easily be understood out of the foregoing Verse Zoar was a Town bordering upon Moab of which see â—…en 19. 20 21 22. Deut. 34. 3. an * Heb. breaking heifer of three years old x Which some understand of the City of Zoar so called for her Strength and Wantonness But such a Description of Zoar seems very improper and impertinent in this place The Words therefore are to be translated here as they are by our Translators Ier. 48. 34. as an heifer of three years old and so they belong to their Cry and signifie that it is strong and loud like that of such an Heifer for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry y He signifies that the Cry should be universal in all Places where they come and reaching from one side of the Country to another Of Luhith see Ier. 48. 4 5. of †Jer 48. 5. 34. destruction z Such a Cry as men send forth when they are just falling into the Pit of Destruction 6 For the waters a Either 1. properly they shall be dried up or 2. figuratively the Waterish Grounds as waters seem to be taken Eccles. 11. 1. Isa. 32. 20. These being very fruitful are commonly most inhabited and cultivated but now they also and much more the dry and barren Grounds shall be desolate and without Inhabitant of Nimrim shall be †Heb. desolations desolate for the hay is
peeled and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto a nation meted out and trodden under foot whose land the rivers have spoiled to the place of the Name of the LORD of hosts the mount Zion CHAP. XIX * Jer. 46. 13. Ezek. 29. 30. THE burden of Egypt a Some Learned men conceive that what was said more generally and darkly in the foregoing Chapter is here more particularly and clearly explained to be meant of Egypt it being usual for the Prophets to mix obscure and plain Passages together and to clear the one by the other Others understand that Chapter of Ethiopia and this of Egypt But this Controversie must be decided by an exact confideration of all the Passages of the former Chapter Behold the LORD rideth b As a General in the Head of his Army or as Judge riding Circuit to execute Judgment upon a swift cloud c Which Phrase sheweth that the Judgment shall come speedily unexpectedly and unavoidably And Clouds being very unusual in Egypt the Appearance of a Cloud was a kind of Prodigy and a Prognostick of some grievous Calamity and shall come into Egypt and the idols of Egypt shall be moved d From their Seats and from their former Reputation Or shall hake or tremble So far shall they be from helping the Egypians as they expect that they shall tremble for themselves which divers of the Egyptian Gods being living Creatures might properly do at his presence and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it e They shall lose all their ancient Strength and Courage for which they had been Famous formerly 2 And I will †Heb. mingle set the Egygtians against the Egyptians f I will raise Civil Wars among them and they shall fight every one against his brother and every one against his neighbour city against city and kingdom against kingdom g For although all Egypt was now one Kingdom and under one King yet not many years after this time it was divided into twelve several Kingdoms between whom there were many and cruel Wars as is related by the Historians of those Times and particularly by Herodotus and Diodorus 3 And the spirit h Either 1. their Courage But of that he spake v. 1. Or 2. their Understanding as it is explained in the next Clause for the Word spirit is oft put for the Reasonable Soul as Eccles. 3. 21. 12. 7. and for the Thoughts of the Mind as Prov. 29. 11. Ezek. 13. 3. of Egypt †Heb shall be emptied shall fall in the midst thereof and I will †Heb. swallow up destroy the counsel thereof and they shall seek to the idols i As not knowing what to do without the help of an higher Power and to the charmers and to them that have familiar spirits and to the wizards 4 And the Egyptians will I ‖ Or shut up give over into the hand of a cruel lord and a fierce king k Either 1. of the King of Assyria or Chaldaea or 2. of those twelve petty Kings the Singular Number being put for the Plural or 3. of Psammetichus who being at first one of those twelve Kings waged War with the rest and subdued them and conquered all the Land of Egypt and ruled it with rigour shall rule over them saith the LORD the LORD of hosts 5 And the waters shall fail from the sea l Which may be understood either 1. Metaphorically of the taking away of their Dominion or Commerce c. or rather 2. Properly as may be gathered from the following Words and Verses For as the River Nilus when it had a full Stream and free Course did pour forth a vast quantity of Waters by its seven famous Mouths into the Sea so when that was dried up which is expressed in the next Clause those Waters did truly and properly fail from the Sea So there is no need of understanding by sea either the River Nilus or the great Lake of Moeris which after the manner of the Hebrews might be so called and the river m To wit Nilus upon whose Fulness and Overflow both the Safety and the Wealth of the Land depended as all Authors agree and therefore this was a very terrible Judgment shall be wasted and dried up n Not totally but in a very great measure as such Phrases are commonly used 6 And they shall turn the rivers far away o Which is to be taken Impersonally as such Expressions are very frequently for the rivers those small Rivolets by which the Waters of Nilus were conveyed and distributed into several Parts of the Land shall be turned far away as they must needs be when the great River Nilus which fed them was dried up and the brooks of defence p The several Branches of the River Nilus which were a great Defence to Egypt as is well known shall be emptied and dried up the reeds and flags q Which were very useful to them for making their Boats which were absolutely necessary in that Country and divers other things shall wither r As they commonly do for want of Water 7 The paper-reeds s Which by a Needle or other fit Instrument were divided into thin and broad Leaves which being dried and fitted were used at that time for Writing as our Paper is and consequently was a very good Commodity by the brooks by the mouth of the brooks and every thing sown by the brooks t And much more what was sown in more dry and unfruitful places shall wither be driven away †Heb. and shall not be and be no more 8 The fishers also shall mourn u Because they could catch few or no Fish by which Trade they got their Living Which also was a great Plague to the People whose common Diet this was because out of Superstitious Conceits they killed and eat but few Living Creatures as appears both from Sacred and Profane Writers and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish 9 Moreover they that work in fine flax x That make fine Linen which was one of their best Commodities of which see 1 Kings 10. 28. Prov. 7. 16. Ezek. 27. 7. and they that weave ‖ Or white works net-works shall be confounded 10 And they shall be broken in the †Heb. foundations purposes thereof y i. e. Of Egypt or of the Egyptians They shall lose their Ends aâ—…d Hopes for the Fishes in them shall die for want of Water all that make sluces and ponds †Heb. of living things for fish 11 Surely the princes of Zoan z The chief City in which the King and Court frequently resided See Psal. 78. 12. are fools the counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharoah is become brutish a Exceeding foolish and destructive to themselves how say ye
as is manifest from the following Verses will drive thee from thy station and from thy state shall he p The Lord such sudden changes of Persons being very usual in these Writings pull thee down 20 And it shall come to pass in that day that I will call q By my Spirit fitting him and by my powerful Providence moving Hezekiah's Heart to call him my servant * 2 Kings 18. 18. Eliakim the son of Hilkiah 21 And I will cloath him with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle r There was a peculiar sort of Robe and Girdle which was the Badge of his Office which should be taken from him and given to Eliakim and I will commit thy government into his hand and he shall be a father s He shall not onely have the Authority of a Father which thou now hast in which respect all Rulers are called fathers as Exod 2â—… 12. Numb 36. 1. but shall also govern them with Fatherly Care and Affection and not with Rigour and Cruelty as thou dost to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah 22 And the key t The Government the Power of opening and shutting of letting men into it or putting them out of it whereof a key is a fit Emblem whence the delivering of the Keys of an House or City into the Hands of another is a Sign to signifie and confirm the giving him the Power and Possession of it of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder u He mentions the shoulder rather than the Hand in which Keys are commonly carried either from some Ceremony then in use of carrying a Key upon the Shoulder either of the Officer of State himself or of another in his name and stead or to signifie that this was a Key of greater weight than ordinary and that Government which is designed by this Key is an heavy Burden and therefore in Scripture-phrase said to be upon the shoulder as Isa. 9. 6. so he shall * Job 12. 14. Rev. 3. 7. open and none shall shut x Against his Will or without his Commission or Consent and he shall shut and none shall open 23 And I will fasten him y I will establish the Power in his Hands as * Ezra 9. 8. a nail in a sure place z In the strong Walls or solid Timber in the House Which is opposed to Shebna instability signified by a Ball v. 18. and he shall be for a glorious throne to his fathers house a By his prudent and righteous Government he shall procure great Glory not onely to himself but to all that have any relation to him This also is opposed to what is said of Shebna in the end of v. 18. 24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers house b Of his own Kindred and Family who shall all depend upon him and receive Glory from him of the House of David which is called his fathers house either because Kings are called the fathers of all their Subjects both in Scripture as 1 Sam. 24. 12. 2 Kings 5. 13. 16. 7. and in other Authors or as Calvin ingeniously conjectures because he was of the Blood Royal. Otherwise this had been no great Commendation to him that he studied so much the Advancement of his own private Family And this seems more probable because this Character is opposed to that of Shebna who was the shame of his lords to wit the King's house or Family v. 18. the off-spring and the issue c Great and small the Children and Grandchildren of his Fathers House all vessels of small quantity d The meanest of them shall receive a Lustre and Advantage from their Relation to him from the vessels of cups even to all the ‖ Or instruments of vials vessels of flagons e All sorts of Vessels great or small mean or precious may be hanged upon him without any fear of falling whereas ordinary Nails or Pins if they be oppressed with too great weight are easily broken down and the Vessels fall with them 25 In that day saith the LORD of hosts shall the nail that is fastned in the sure place f Shebna who seemed to be so both in his own Eyes and in the Eyes of others be removed and be cut down and fall and the burden that was upon it g All those wicked Officers that were advanced and supported by his Power shall be cut off for the LORD hath spoken it CHAP. XXIII * Jer. 2â—… 22. 47. 4. Ezek. 26. 27. 28. Amos 1. 9. Zech. 9. 2 4. THe burden of Tyre a The Prophecy of the heavy Calamity and Destruction of Tyre which now stood in its Strength and Glory being seated in an Island upon a Rock abounding in Riches mighty in Naval Power having lately conquered that Navy which the Assyrians brought against them Yet this City was according to this Prophecy destroyed and that twice first by Nebucâ—…adnezzar and long afterward by Alexander the Great And although this Prophecy seem directly and properly to respect the former Destruction yet it seems to have some reference to the latter also onely it is intimated That after seventy years Tyrus should recover her former Power and Glory before her second and final Destruction Howl ye ships b Either 1 properly to which Howling and Lamenting is ascribed by a known Figure called Prosopopaeia or 2. Metanymically the Merchants and Owners of Ships who had much Commerce with this illustrious Mart. of Tarshish c Either 1. of Tarsaâ—… a great Port of Cilicia which anciently had the Dominion of that part of the Sea or 2. of the Ocean which is so called 1 Kings 10. 22. Psal. 48. 8. Isa. 2. 16. for it is laid waste d It shall shortly be laid waste Which was fulfilled not by Shalmanezer as some would have it for though he straitned it for some time yet he never took it but by Nebuchadnezzar so that there is no house no entring in e So effectually wasted that there is not an House left in it nor any Merchants or others that go into it either to Trade in it or to repair it from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them f The sence of the Words thus rendred may be this 〈◊〉 i. e. this Burden or Destruction of Tyre is i. e. shall be revealed declared or made known 〈◊〉 theâ—… either 1. to the Tyreans to whom this Notice should be sent concerning the Preparations of their Enemies against them or 2. to the Ships by which he means their Owners or Merchants from the land of Chittim which may be here mentioned either because they first had and gave them notice of it as was now said or because their last and â—…orest Destruction was brought upon them by Alexander who was of the land of Chittim as is affirmed by that very ancient and
called is oft put for to be the city of the sun or as the Graecians call it Heliopolis which the Egyptians called On Gen. 41. 45. which was a very eminent City and a chief Seat of Idolatry being a City of Priests as Strabo reports and therefore its Conversion to the Faith was more wonderful shall be called the city ‖ 〈◊〉 of Heres 〈◊〉 of the sun of destruction 19 In that day shall there be an altar a For God's Worship not a Levitical but a Spiritual and Evangelical Altar as appears from hence because that was confined to one place Deut. 12. 13 14. The altar is put for the Worship of God as it is in many places both of the Old and New Testament And nothing is more common in the Prophets than to speak of Gospel-worship in the Phrases of the Law to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar b A Monument of the True Religion Here also he alludes to the ancient Custom of erecting Pillars to God of which see Gen. 12. 7. 28. 18 c. Ios. 22. 10. 24. 26 27. at the border thereof c As before in the midst of it The meaning is There shall be Evidences of their Piety in all Places to the LORD 20 And * See Jos. â—… 20 21. 22. 27. d The Altar or Pillar last mentioned it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD e To testifie that they own the Lord for their God of hosts in the land of Egypt for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors f Being sorely distressed and finding the weakness of their Idols they shall turn unto the True God and he shall send them a Saviour and a great one g A great or mighty Saviour by a common Figure called Hendiaduo as a cloud and smoke is put for a smokie cloud Isa. 4. 5. or a Saviour and a Prince even Christ who is so called Act. 5. 31. as is evident from the whole Context which apparently speaks of Gospel-times And the emphatical Phrase here used directed them to look for an extraordinary Saviour and he shall deliver them 21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt and the Egyptians shall know the LORD h Shall acknowledge and love and serve them for Words of Knowledge in Scripture commonly include Affection and Practice as hath been often observed in that day and shall do sacrifice and oblation i Shall worship God spiritually which yet is signified by Typical Phrases as it is Mal. 1. 11. and in many other Places yea they shall vow a vow unto the LORD and perform it k They shall not onely profess and promise Piety but shall seriously and diligently practice it 22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt he shall smite and heal it l God will afflict them by Oppressours v. 20. and otherwise and by those Afflictions he will convert and save them and they shall return even to the LORD and he shall be intreated of them and shall heal them 23 In that day * Ch. 11. 16. shall there be a high-way out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian shall come into Epypt and the Egyptian into Assyria m They who were implacable Enemies one to another and both to the Church and People of God shall now be reconciled and united together in the Service of God and Love to his Church and the Egyptians shall serve n To wit the Lord who is easily understood from v. 21. 25. with the Assyrians 24 In that day shall Israel be the third o The third Party to wit in that sacred League whereby all of them oblige themselves to God with Egypt and with Assyria p These People are named because they were the most obstinate and malicious Enemies to God's Church and therefore in a special manner accursed by God but they are here put Syncchdochically for all the Gentiles even a blessing q This is peculiar to Israel who is not onely a third Party as the others are but is the most eminent and blessed of the three as being the Fountain or rather the Conduit-pipe by which the Blessing is conveyed to the other two because Christ was to be born of them and the Gospel-Church and Ordinances were first established among them and from them derived to the Gentiles in the midst of the land r Or of the earth Which may be added to imply that God's Blessing should be convey'd from and by Israel not onely to the Egyptians and the Assyrians but to all the Nations of the Earth in the midst of which the Land of Israel might well be said to lie Or of that land of which I am here speaking or the Singular Number being put for the Plural of those lands Egypt and Assyria between which Israel lay 25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless s Whom i. e. which People to wit Israel Egypt and Assyria expressed both in the foregoing Verse and in the following Clause of this Verse of whom he speaks as of one People in the Singular Number because they are all united into one Body and Church Or For or Because as this Particle is taken 1 Sam. 15. 15. and elsewhere the Lord of hosts shall bless him or them So this is added as a Reason why he said Israel should be a Blessing to them all saying Blessed be Egypt my people t This Title and those which follow that were peculiar to the People of Israel shall now be given to these and all other Nations of the World and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel mine inheritance CHAP. XX. IN the year that * 2 Kin. 18. 17. Tartan a A great Commander in Sennacherib's Army 2 Kings 18. 17. came unto Ashdod b An eminent and strong City of the Philistins Ios. 13. 3. 1 Sam. 5. 1. in the utmost part of the Land of Canaan towards Egypt when Sargon c What King of Assyria this was is much disputed It is well known and confessed that one and the same Person hath frequently several Names both in Scripture as hath been observed again and again and in other Authors And therefore this may be either 1. Salmaneser who when he took Samaria might also by Tartan take this Place or 2 Sennacherib who before he came to Ierusalem came up against and took all the fenced cities of Iudah 2 Kings 18. 13. of which Ashdod might be reckoned one as being in the Tribe of Iudah Ios. 13. 3. 15. 47. and taken by Hezekiah from the Philistins as it seems very probable from that Passage 2 Kings 18. 8. He smote the Philistins even unto Gaza and the borders thereof from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city Or 3. Esarhadden Sennacherib's Son who by cutting off the first Letter is called Sarchedon Tobit 1. 21. and thence possibly by abbreviation
Sargon Who might do this thing in Hezekiah's time some years after his Father's Death and his coming to the Empire although it be not recorded in Scripture For no man doubts that there were many great Actions in those Times which are wholly omitted in the Sacred Writings the king of Assyria sent him and fought against Ashdod and took it 2 At the same time spake the LORD †Heb. by the hand of Isaiah by Isaiah the son of Amoz saying Go and loose d Ungird it and put it off the Antecedent put for the Consequent which is very usual as hath been often noted God would sometimes have his Prophets to add to their Word a visible Sign to awaken Peoples Minds to a more serious Consideration of the Matters proposed to them the saccloth e Either 1. his course and hairy Garment which the Prophets used to wear 2 Kings 1. 8. Zech. 13. 4. as many understand it But that is expressed by another Word in the places quoted and never to my knowledge by this Word Or 2. his mournful Habit which was commonly made of Saccloth and which he wore in token of his hearty grief for the great Calamities which were already come upon Israel and were either come or coming upon Iudah from off thy loins f Upon which the upper Garments were commonly girt 1 Kings 20. 32. 2 Kings 9. 1. and put off thy shoe from thy foot And he did so * Mich. 1. 8 11. walking naked g Not wholly naked which had been indecent and scandalous and withal very dangerous at least to do so for three years as he did v. 3. but without his upper Garment as slaves and prisoners used to do whose posture he was to represent v. 4. And so the word naked is used 1 Sam. 19. 24. 2 Sam. 6. 20. Ioh. 21. 7. Thus also men are said to be naked when they are ill-clothed as Iob 22. 6. Mat 25. 36. 1 Cor. 4. 11. Iames 2. 15. and bare-foot h After the manner of Mourners 2 Sam. 15. 30. and Captives Ier. 2. 25. 3 And the LORD said Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and bare-foot three years i Not constantly but when he went abroad among the People to whom this was appointed for a Sign Some think it was only three days a day being usually put for a year in Prophetical Scriptures as Numb 14. 33 34. Ezek. 4. 4 5 6. But although a day be put for a year yet a year is never put for a day for a sign k Either 1. when this Judgment should come to wit three years after this Prophecy Or 2. how long it should continue for three years For some have observed that the Chaldeans spent so much time in Conquering Egypt and Ethiopia and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia 4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away l Like Beasts of which this Word is commonly used †Heb. the captivity of Egypt the Egyptians prisoners and the Ethiopians captives young and old naked and bare-foot even with their buttocks uncoverd m Having their Garments cut off by the middle to the discovery of their Buttocks and their Secret parts Compare 2 Sam. 10. 4. Isa. 47. 2. to the †Heb. nakedness shame of Egypt 5 And they n All they that shall trust to them and glory in them as appears from the following Words the Pronoun they being put Indifinitely here as it is Isa. 2. 19. and elsewhere But under this general expression the Israelites not onely are comprehended but seem to be principally intended because to them this Prophecy was delivered and they were eminently guilty of this Sin of which see Isa. 30. 2. 31. 1. shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and of Egypt their glory 6 And the inhabitants of this ‖ Or countrey isle o Of this Land in which the Prophet was and to whose Inhabitants these Words were uttered For the Title of Isles or Islands in Scripture is frequently given not onely to Lands encompased with the Sea but also to such Countries as lay upon the Sea-Coasts as Psal. 72. 10. Ezek. 26. 15 18. as Palestina or Canaan did yea to such Countries as are remote or separated from that place in or of which the Words are spoken as Esth. 10. 1. Isa. 24. 15. 42. 4 10 c. as Canaan was from Egypt or at least from Ethiopia Add to this that Canaan had some resemblance with an Isle either because it was almost incompassed with the Midland Sea on one side and with the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias and Iordan on the other side or because as Isles are separated from other Lands by the Sea so this Land and People were separated from all the rest of the World by God's special Providence and Presence and Worship shall say in that day Behold such is our expectation p So vain is our hope placed upon such a People as are unable to deliver themselves and much more to deliver us whither we flee for help q To whom we now and usualy trust for this was the common dissease of the People of Israel although Hezekiah was in a good measure free from it as we read 2 Kings 18. 5. to be delivered from the king of Assyria and how shall we escape r Either by their help who cannot defend our selves or by our own strength seeing they who were much more potent than we are could not escape CHAP. XXI THE burden of the desert of the sea a Of Babylon as is evident both from her destroyers the Medians v. 2. and especially from v. 9. where she is named She seems to be called Desert Prophetically to intimate that although she was now a most Popular City and Kingdom yet shortly she should be turned into a Desolate Wilderness as was threatned ch 13. 19. c. But the Word here rendred Desert sometime signifies a Plain as a very learned Interpreter hath observed and thus it most properly agrees to Babylon and the Land about it which Geographers note to be a very plain Country without any Considerable Mountains in it It is called the Desert of the Sea because it is scituate by the Sea as the Isles of the Sea Est. 10. 1. are those Countries which were beside the Sea And the Title of the Sea might well be given to the Waters of Babylon because of the great plenty and multitude of them the great Channel of Euphrates and the several lesser Channels cut out and the vast Lakes of Water in which respects it is said to sit upon many waters Ier. 51. 13. the Name of sea being given by the Hebrews to every great Collection of Waters As * Zech. 9 14. whirlewinds in the south b In those Parts which lay Southward from Iudea where there were many and great Desarts in which the Winds have greater force See Iob