sect 4. 5. from the sonnes understand receiving it or it being taken from the sonnes of Israel for many such imperfect speeches are to be found which sometime the Holy Ghost supplieth as in a void place 1 King 22. 10. where is to be understood sitting in a void place as 2 Chron. 18. 9. So burden 2 Chron. 2. 18. implieth men that bare burden 1 King 5. 15. and many the like See the notes on Exod 4. 5. and 13. 8. Now this was received from the sonnes of Israel in that it was bought with the money which the people gave Nehem. 10. 32. 33. And it is the Hebrewes opinion that with the halfe shekels which all the people gave yeerely for the service of the sanctuarie Exod. 30. 13. 16. they provided the daily sacrifices and offrings for the congregation salt for the sacrifices wood incense the shew bread the waved sheafe or Omer Levit 23. 10. 11. the two wave loaves Levit. 23. 17. the red heiffer Numb 19. the scape goat Levit. 16. and the like Maim treat of Shekels c. 4. s. 1. Vers. 9. for Aaron and for his sonnes that is for the high Priest and for the other Priests such as did the service that is both the Priests that went out and those that came in on the Sabbath as before is noted on verse 8. And the Hebrew canons declare it thus In the Sabbath when there are the daily sacrifices and the additions Num. 28. 9. 10. and the two cups of frankincense Levit. 24. 7. to bee burned in the morning the men of that fathers house 1 Chron. 23. 6. 11. 24. of the charge or course that went-out they offred the daily sacrifice of the morning and the two lambs of Burnt-offring which were the additions c. and the other course that came in on the Sabbath offred the daily sacrifice of the evening and both these and the other had their part in the Shew bread And they did not eat the bread untill the two cups of frankincense were burned on the fire and the frankincense was to have salt as the other oblations And after that they had offred the additions of the Sabbath they burned the two cups of frankincense And every Sabbath throughout the yeere they parted the Shew bread thus the course of Priests that came in had sixe cakes and they which went out had sixe They which came in parted the bread among them on the northside of the court because they were prepared to serve and they that went out parted on the south side But when there was a feast day of any of the three solâ—mn feasts on the Sabbath likewise on the Sabbath that was in the midst of the feast all the courses of the Priests had their parts equally in the Shew bread c. The high Priest he alwayes tooke from every course halfe the cakes which were his due as it is written AND IT SHALL BE FOR AARON AND FOR HIS SONNES Levit. 24. 9. halfe for Aaron and halfe for his sonnes Maimony in Tamidin chap. 4. sect 9. 10. 11. 12. 14. in the holy place within the court of the Sanctuarie but without they might not eate it The Hebrewes observe that there were Foure and twenty gifts given unto the Priests all of them expressed in the Law and concerning them all was the covenant made with Aaron And whosoever did eat of a gift wherein holinesse was they blessed God who sanctified them with the sanctitie of Aaron and commanded them to eat so and so Eight of those gifts the Priests might not eat of but in the Sanctuarie within the wals of the Courtyard and five gifts they might not eat but in Ierusalem within the wals of the citie The eight which might not be eaten but in the sanctuarie were the flesh of the Sin-offring were it fowle or beast Levit. 6. 26. and the flesh of the Trespasse-offring Levit. 7. 6. and the Peace-offrings of the congregation Levit. 23. 19. 20. and the remainder of the Sheafe or Omer Levit. 23. 10. 11. and the remnant of the Israelites Meat-offrings Levit 2. 3. 10. and the two loaves Levit. 23. 20. and the Shew bread Levit. 24. 9. and the Lepers leg of oile Levit. 14. 10. 12. 13. These might not be eaten but in the Sanctuarie Maimony treat of First fruits chap. 1. sect 1. 2. 3. 4. Of all those gifts see the annotations on Numb 18. Vers. 10. Israelitish Heb. an Israelitesse which the Chaldee expoundeth a daughter of Israel her name was Shelomith vers 11. Vers. 11. blasphemed the Greeke here translateth it named the Chaldee expressed The Hebrew Nakab properly signifieth to pierce or strike through Esa. 36. 6. Habbak 3. 14. Whereupon it is figuratively used for cursing or blaspheming Numb 23. 13. 25. which is as a striking through with evill words It is also used for expresse-naming of a thing sometime in the good part as Esa. 62. 2. and sometime in the evill as the Greeke and Chaldee interpret it in this place the Name understand of Iehovah as verse 16. which is here omitted for the more reverence and because such wickednesse as this it is even a shame to speake as Eph. 5. 12. 3. So elsewhere the scripture sometime omitteth the name of God for reverence as the right hand of the power Mark 14. 62. for the right hand of the power of God Luk. 22. 69. and in common speech among the Iewes they used to say the Blessed for the blessed God Mark 14. 61. Math. 26. 63. And when the High Priest heard words which he thought to be blasphemie hee rent his clothes Matth. 26. 65. according to a canon which they have recorded by Maimony in his treat of Idolatrie chap. 2. sect 10. thus Whosoever heareth blasphemy of the Name he is bound to rend his clothes whether hee himselfe heareth it or heareth from the mouth of him that heard it he is bound to rend his clothes But he that heareth it from the mouth of an heathen is not bound to rend his clothes and Elinkim Shebna had not rent their clothes but for that Rabshakeh was an Apostate from the faith Esa. 36. 22. they brought either the witnesses which heard him or the inferiour Iudges who not knowing how to punish this man brought him to Moses according to the order set in Exod. 18. 22. 26. 〈◊〉 Shelmoith in Greeke Salomith daughter of Dabrei she being an Hebrewesse had maried an Egyptian whiles she dwelt in Egypt whose sonne now blasphemed God Vers. 12. in ward or in prison 〈◊〉 that he might declare meaning that Moses might declare or that it might be declared unto them The Hebrew phrase to declare or expound may be expressed both these wayes as is noted on Gen. 6. 19. 20. The Chaldee explaineth it thus untill it was declared or expressed unto them by the decree of the word of the Lord to weet what punishment the blasphemer should have therefore the Greeke translateth to judge him by the commandement of
and the Israelites give them their portion there And if the Priests come not then he separateth it and leaveth it in the cornestâ—â—re And if there be wilde beasts or cattell that wiâ—â— devoure it there and there be none to keepe it from them our wise-men have ordained that they should then bring it to the citie and be payed of the Priest for the bringing of it For if he separate it and leave it for the beasts be profaneth the name of God Maimony in Trumoth ch 12. sect 17 For the practise of these ordinances see Nehem. 10. 35 39. how the people brought their first-fruits and tithes to the nouse of God which they shall give The Law saith not how much they should give but leaveth it to the peoples liberality Howbeit in Ezek. 45. 13. it is written This is the Heave-offring which ye shall heave up the sixth part of an Ephah of an Homer of wheat c. that was the sixtieth part for an Homer contained ten Ephahs Ezek. 45 11. whereupon the wise-men of Israel ordained that none should give for his first-fruits lesse than the sixtieth part The great Heave-offring hath no set measure by the Law for it is said in Deut. 18. 4. The first fruits of thy corne c. But a man may not separate save according to the measure which our wise-men have set c. And what measure is that A good eye that is a liberall person one of forty and a meane eye one of fifty an evill eye that is a niggard one of sixty And he may not give lesse than one of sixty Maimony in Trumoth ch 3. s. 1 2. The like measure they set for the other First-fruits brought into the Sanctuary Maim in Biccurim or First-fruits ch 2. s. 17. See the notes on Exod. 22. 29. According hereunto is that saying of Ben Syrach give the Lord his honour with a good eye and diminish not the first-fruits of thine hands Ecclus. 35 8. unto Iehovah They were given unto the Lord in that they were given by his appointment to his Priests for their anointing ve s. 8. and service in his Sanctuary therefore they were holy For this cause the Priests were not to receive them after any base or servile manner but as gifts due to the Lord and to them from him and as the Hebrew Canons shew the Israelites were to give them their portion with honour And it was unlawfull for the Priests or Levites to snatch away the heave-offrings or the tithes yea if they did but aske their portion with their mouth it was unlawfull but they were to receive them with honour For at the Lords table they did eat and at his able they did drinke these gifts were the Lords and he did vouchsafe them unto them as it is written I have given unto thee the charge of mine heave-offrings Num. 18. 8. Maimony in Trumoth ch 12. sect 18 c. given unto thee namely for the Priest to eat drink and anoint himselfe with them according to the ordinary use of the creatures The great Heave-offring is given for meat and for drinke and for anointing for anointing is as drinking as it is said And let it enter as water into his inward part and as oile into his bones Psal. 109. 18. And drinking is comprehended under eating that he is to eat that which is wont to be eaten and drinke that which is wont to be drunke and anoint with that which they use to anoint with not with wine or vineger But they anoint with oile that is cleane and burne in lampes that which is uncleane Maim in Trumoth ch 11. sect 1. Who they were that might eat and who might not eat of these Heave-offrings iâ— shewed in Levit. 22. 3 c. Vers. 13. The First-fruits These were another gift which the people brought into the Sanctuary made consession over them to the Lord and then gave them to his Priest whereof see Deut. 26. 〈◊〉 c. These were paid before all other duties before the great Heave-offring fore-mentioned or the tithes after spoken of in vers 21. The Hebrews say When men separate the Heave-offring and the Tithe they are to separate them in order as he separateth the First-fruits spoken of in Deut. 26. first of all and after them the great Heave-offring and after that the first tithe which was given to the Levites vers 21. and after that the second tithe or tithe of the poore whereof fee Deut. 14. 22 23 28 29. Maim in Trumoth ch 3. sect 23. shal eat it in Greek shall eat them Of the cleane person in the Priests house see vers 11. The eating of these first-fruits was to be onely in Ierusalem the holy Citie and whosoever eateth of that gift wherein holinesse is blesseth God who sanctified them with the sanctification of Aaron and commanded them to eat so or sâ— Maim in Biccurim ch 1. sect 2. Vers. 14. devoted thing in Hebr. Cherem of this the Hebrewes say some things were devoted absolutely and such are spoken of here and given to the Priests some things were devoted in speciall unto God or to his Sanctuary and they oâ— the price of them went to the Sanctuary See the Annotations on Lev. ch 27. vers 28. c. shall be thine The use of these is not restrained to the Sanctuary or holy Citie or to the Priests alone but by the Hebrewes these were the Priests due in every place and were common things Maimony in Biccurim ch 1. sect 7. Vers. 15. that openeth the wombe Hebr. every opening of the wombe which the Greeke translateth every thing that openeth every wombe or matrice Hereby the first-borne onely is meant as the Law sheweth in Exo. 13. 2. and such as were males Deut. 15. 19. Exo. 34. 19. redeeming thou shalt redeeme that is thou shalt surely or in any case redeeme the father was to give the Priest to take the redemption money It figured the redemption of Gods people called the Church of the first-borne which are written in Heaven Hebr. 12. 23. who are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold c. but with the precious bloud of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. So being bought from among men they are the First-fruits unto God and to the Lambe Rev. 14. 4. of the uncleane beast this is translated in Greeke of uncleane beasts as implying all sorts elsewhere the Law mentioneth the Asse it may be for an instance Exod. 13. 13. and 34. 20. But the Hebrews say The uncleane beaâ— spoken of here is the Asse only Maim in Biccurim chap. 12. sect 3. thou shalt redeeme the Asse was to be redeemed with a Lambe or else the owner was to breake the necke of the Asse see the notes on Exod. 13. 13. and 34. 20. The Hebrewes say These two commandements of redeeming it with a Lambe or of breaking the necke of it were of force in every place and at every time and the commandement of redeeming it was before the commandement of
breaking the necke of it The Lambe wherewith it was redeemed was given to the Priest Numb 18 15. The first-borne Asse was unlawfull to be used or made profit of till it were redeemed And if he sold it before it were redeemed the price of it was unlawfull c. Priests and Levites are freed from redeeming the first-borne Asse for it is said in Num. 18. 15. The first-borne of man and she first-borne of the uncleane beast thou shalt redeeme Whosoever was charged to redeem the first-borne of man was likewise for the unclean beast and he that was free froÌ„ the one was free from the other Maim in Biccurim ch 12. See other things noted hereabout on Exod. 34. 20. Vers. 16. Redeemed of him or of them meaning the men fore-spoken of the Greeke translateth the redemption of him and Targum Ionathan addeth for explanation of the son of man from a moneth old Hebr. from the son of a moneth See the Annotations on Lev. 27. 6. the silver of five shekels that is five shekâ—ls of silver This sum was before given for every first-borne Num. 3. 46. 45. twenty gerahs The gerah weighed 16. barley-cornes the shekel of the Sanctuary or holy shekel weighed 320. barley-cornes as is before noted on Levit. 17 25. The Hebrewes hold that this redemption of the son might be either with money or moneyes worth so as it were of moveable goods but not with lands nor with servants nor with bills or writings and if he redeemed his sonne with them he was not redeemed Maim in Biccurim c. 11. sect 6 Now because the tribe of Levi was taken in stead of all the first-borne of Israel Numb 3. therefore they and their seed were freefrom this redemption and so the Hebrew Canons say Priests and Levites are freed from the redemption of their sonnes And further an Israelite that commeth of a woman of Levi is free for the case dependeth not on the father but on the mother as it is said That which openeth the wombe c. Maim ibidem cap. 11. sect 9. Vers. 17. the firstling or the first-borne in Greek the firstlings of cowes c. understand being a male firstling as Exod. 34 19. otherwise it was not sanctified or given to the Priest A firstling which is both male and female hath no holinesse in it at all but it as a female whereto the Priest hath no right Maim in Becoroth ch 2. s. 5. shalt not redeeme thou mayest not give the worth of it or any other for it but the beast it selfe is to be given neither may the owner use or make profit of it or of the â—â—oll or any thing thereon Deut. 15. 19. they are holy and therefore must be hallowed or sanctified to the Lord Exod. 13. 2. The Hebrewes say A man is commanded to sanctifie the first-borne of his cleane beast and to say Behold this is holy All are bound to sanctifie the firstling of a cleane beast both Priests Levites and Israelites although the firstling is the Priests If he have a firstling borne he is to offer the bloud fat on the altar and to eat the rest of the flesh according to the Law of the Firstlings Maim in Bechoroth c. 1. s. 4. 7. a savour of rest that is as the Greeke translateth of sweet smell which the Chaldee explaineth that it may be accepted with favour before the LORD But if it were blemished it might not be offred by the Law Lev. 22. 20 â—1 c. What did they then with their blemished firstlings The Law sheweth in Deut. 15. and the Hebrewes explaine it The firstling oâ— the cleane beast is slaine in the court-yard of the Sanctuary as other light holy things they sprinkle the bloud and burne the fat and the residue of the flesh is eaten by the Priests If the firstling have a blemish whether it be borne with his blemish or a blemish 〈◊〉 on it after it is perfect yet it is the Priests If he 〈◊〉 he may eat it in any place or he may sell it or feed others with it whom he will though it be an keathen for it is a common thing as it is written 〈◊〉 Deut. 15 21 22. And if there be any blemish therein c. thou shalt eat it within thy gates the uncleane and the cleane shall eat it alike as the Roe-bucke and as the Hart and loe that is the Priests goods Maimon in Bechoroth ch 1. sâ—ct 2 3. Vers. 18. as the wave-broast the parts of the Peace-offrings given to the Priests Levit. 7. 34. Set also before on vers 11. Vers. 19. All the heave-offrings the Greeke and Chaldee expound it Every separated thing This conclusion implieth all other holy gifts expressed in other places of the Law though not particulared here And this sheweth Gods bounty to his Priests in allowing them so large meanes of livelihood for their service of him that they might be incouraged in the Law of the Lord as is said in 2 Chro. 31. 4. There was none of them that did shut the doores of Gods Sanctuary or kindle fire on his altar for nought Malac. 1 10. And when the people neglected their dutie in not giving such things as were appointed then was the house of God for saken and the godly governours looked to the redresse hereof Nehem. 13. 10 11 12 c. The Hebrew Doctors write of 24. severall gifts which God bestowed on the Priests with the order and use of them all Foure and twenty gifts were given to the Priests and they are all expressed in the Law and concerning them all was the covenant made with Aaron And whosoever eateth of any gift wherein holinesse is blesseth God who sanctified him with the holinesse of Aaron and commanded him to eat so and so Eight of these gifts the Priests did eat no where but in the Sanctuary within the wall of the Court-yard And fine gifts they did not eat but in Ierusalem within the walâ— of the citie And five gifts were not due unto them by the Law but in the land of Israel only And five gifts were due unto them both within the land aâ— a without the land And one gift was due unto them from the Sanctuary The eight gifts which they did not eat but within the Sanctuary were these 1 The flesh of the Sin-offring whether fowle or beast Levit. 6. 25 26. 2 The flesh of the Trespasse-offring Lev. 7. 1 6. 3 The Peace-offrings of the congregation Levit. 23. 19 20. 4 The remainder of the Omor or Sheafe Levit. 23. 10 c. 5 The remnants of the Meat-offrings of the Israelites Levit 6. 16. 6 The two Loaves Levit. 23. 17. 7 The Shew-bread Levit. 24. 9. 8 The Lepers log of oyle Levit. 14. 10. c. These were not eaten but in the Sanctuary The five which they might not eat but in Ierusalem and before that within the campe of Israel to which Ierusalem afterward was answerable as is noted on Numb 2. 27. were these 1 The
wrath as the Greeke translateth it because the Hebrew Aph signifieth both anger and the nostrils and this speech is used in cases of judgment upon Gods enemies as in Iob 4. 9. by the blast of God they perish c. The Chaldee here translateth with the word of thy mouth It respecteth Gods command in Exod. 14. 26. 27. which was performed also by a winde as after verse 10. So the Lord will consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth 2 Thes. 2. 8. gathered or heaped up became as heaps And this being done with a mighty winde was with a great noise to which the Prophet hath reference saying the deepe uttered his voice and life up his hands on high Habakkuk 3. 10. congealed as ice frozen hardned It may be meant of the seas bottome which being muddy and soft was hardened that they went as on dry land He led his people through the deepe as an horse in the wildernesse Esay 63. 13. Some understand it of the waters that they were congealed as ice the heart that is the mids or deepe of the sea so Psalme 46. 3. Ezek. 28. 2. And now the channels of waters were seene and the foundations of the world were revealed at the rebuke of the Lord at the breath of the winde of his anger as David singeth for his victories Psal. 18. 16. Vers. 9. divide the spoile which is done after victory Luke 11. 22. and with joy Esay 9. 3. Thus the enemie vainely promised themselves the victory so in Iudg. 5. 30. soule that is lust or will so in Psal. 27. 12. and 41. 3. and 78. 18. destroy them or repossesse them for so the originall is used sometime for destroying or disinheriting as Numb 14. 12. sometime for causing to inherit or taking possession Numb 14. 24. The Chaldee here translateth it destroy the Greeke have dominion or Lord over them The Egyptians came out as a whirlewinde to scatter Israel their rejoycing was even to dovoure the poore in secret Hab. 3. 14. Vers. 10. blow the Chaldee translateth it thou didst say with thy word Of this winde there was no mention in Exod. 14. 27. but it is gathered from verse 21. where the Lord by a strong east winde caused the sea to goe backe covered them God made the waters of the red sea to flow over their faces as they pursued after Israel Deut. 11. 4. the waters covered the distressers of Israel not one of them was left Psal. 106. 11. And here God brake the heads of the Dragons in the waters the heads of Livjathan Psalme 74. 13. 14. Vers. 11. the Gods or the Mighties the Potentates so the Princes of the world are called Psal. 82. and 89. 7. wonders or marvels so the Greeke also and Chaldee translateth it the Hebrew being singular a wonder or miracle but one is often put for many as is noted on Gen. 3. 2. So in Psal. 78. 12. Vers. 12. the earth in the bottome of the sea so Ionas in the sea said the earth with her bars was about me for ever Ion. 2. 6. Vers. 13. leadest to wit softly or quietly as a flocke is led this was done by the pillar of the cloud and fire also by the hand of Moses and Aaron but ascribed to God as the principall even as in verse 12. God is said to stretch out his hand which was ministerially done by Moses Exodus 14. 26. So in Psalme 77. 21. thou didst leade thy people like a flocke by the hand of Moses and Aaron habitation of thine holinesse in Greeke thine holy lodging or mansion It is a continuance of the former similitude of a shepherds lodge or habitation which is in pleasant pastures to feed and give rest to his flocke as in all the cities thereof shall be an ha 〈…〉 of shepherds causing their flockes to lie downe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. It meaneth the land of Canaan where God 〈…〉 uld give his people rest and feed them with his Word So when God promiseth to return them out of Babylon hee useth this word I will bring Israel againe to his habitation and hee shall feed c. Ier. 50. 19. and in that land Ierusalem was as the fold of the flocke and is called a quiet habitation Esay 33. 20. The fulfilling of this prophesie is celebrated by Asaph shewing how God made his people to goe forth like sheepe and guided them like a flocke in the wildernesse and led them on in safety and they dreaded not but the sea covered their enemies And hee brought them to the border of his Holinesse to that mountaine which his right hand had purchased Psal. 78 52. 53. 54. Vers. 14. stirred with feare or anger both which doe stirre the minde and body and cause it to quake and tremble and these were in the peoples hearing of Gods workes for Israel Deut. 2. 25. Ios. 2. 10. 11. Num. 20. 18. 20. and 22. 3. 6. The Greeke here translateth it angry Vers. 15. amazed or suddenly troubled it implieth both feare and haste and so the Greeke translateth it hasten See this fulfilled in Deut. 2. 4. and of Edoms Dukes see Gen. 36. take hold that is they shall greatly tremble For passions of the minde feare trembling astonishment and the like are said to take hold or fall upon men when they are overcome by them In Luk. 5. 26. it is said amazement tooke all which in Mark. 2. 12. is expounded all were amazed melt that is faint with feare as was accomplished Ios. 2. 9. 10. 11. and 5. 1. A similitude whereby the heart is likened to waxe which melteth with feare as waxe with fire Psal. 22. 15. and 68. 3. Vers. 16. terrour this also is signified in Deut. 2. 25. and 11. 25. Thargum Ierusalemy expounds it the terrour of death which phrase David useth in Psal. 55. 5. terrours of death are fallen upon me The Hebrew aemathah hath here a letter added in the end to denote the excesse of feare great terrour This though it was in respect of the people as it is said your terrour is fallen upon us Ios. 2. 9. yet proceeded it from God as he saith I will send my terrour before thee Exod. 23. 27. purchased or gotten bought and possessest The Hebrew Kanah signifieth to get either by generation as Gen. 4. 1. or by buying and purchasing whereby it becommeth ones owne possession Gen. 25. 10. Ex. 21. 2. All are in God creating redeeming and regenerating his people in Christ. So Moses elsewhere saith Is not he thy father that hath gotten or bought thee Deut. 32. 6. and Asaph saith Remember thy congregation which thou hast purchased Psalme 74. 2. and the Apostle speaketh of such as deny the Lord that hath bought them 2 Pet. 2. 1. The Chaldee here translateth it redeemed as in verse 13. Vers. 17. plant that is give them a setled dwelling a similitude from the vine tree as Psal. 80. 9. and 44. 3. mountaine that is mountany country such as Canaan was Deut. 11. 11. and in
shut it up he shall be uncleane untill the evening And hee that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes And if the Priest comming shall come in and see and behold the plague hath not spred in the house after the house was plaistered then the Priest shall pronounce the house cleane because the plague is healed And he shall take to purifie the house two birds and Cedar wood and scarlet and hysope And he shall kill the one bird in an earthen vessell over living water And hee shall take the Cedar wood and the hysope and the scarlet and the living bird and dip them in the blood of the killed bird and in the living water and he shall sprinkle the house seven times And hee shall parifie the house with the blood of the bird and with the living water and with the living bird and with the Cedar wood and with the hysope and with the scarlet And he shall let-goe the living bird out of the citie upon the face of the field and shall make-atonement for the house and it shall be cleane This is the law for every plague of leprosie and skall And for the leprosie of a garment and of an house And for a swelling and for a scab and for a bright-spot To teach in the day of the uncleane and in the day of the clean this is the law of Leprosie Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the 28. section or lecture of the Law called in Hebrew Metsorangh that is the Leper See Gen. 6. 9. THat he shall be brought The leper dwelt without the host and in the day of his cleansing hee was brought to the utmost part of the host and in ages following to the gates of Ierusalem and the Priest went out thither to meet him and performed certaine rites for him and after that he came into the host or citie and so by degrees into the Sanctuarie as after is explained And this comming to the Priest was requisite for every leper though he were never so well healed wherefore Christ said to him whom hee had cured Goe shew thy selfe to the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded Matth. 8. 4. Vers. 3. be healed The Priest healed it not but looked upon it when it was healed and directed and assisted the patient in duties of thankefulnesse to God who is both the striker and the healer Deut. 32. 39. Exod. 15. 26. Neither doth the Law send the Leper to the Physician or prescribe salves or medicines to cure him but leaveth him unto the worke of Gods grace which should after bee fully manifested in Christ who himselfe tooke our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matth. 8. 16. 17. And the rites and sacrifices following which were a profession of thankes unto God in Christ closely taught them this but the Gospell declareth the way of curing to be by faith as unto the Samaritane that was healed of his leprosie Christ said Thy faith hath made thee whole Luke 17. 19. which faith causeth Lepers though they stand a farre off to lift up their voices and cry unto Iesus for mercy Luk. 17. 12. 13. who sendeth his word and healeth them and delivereth them from their corruptions Psal. 107. 20. Matth. 10. 7. 8. For being moved with compassion hee putteth forth his hand toucheth and speaketh and immediately the leprosie departeth Mark 1. 41. 42. and so healeth he the soules of sinners that come unto him The Heb. say Leprosie is the finger of God therefore it is unlawfull to endevour to heale it c. the only healing of it is by the hand of the Priest that maketh atonement for by mercy atonement is made for iniquity Prov. 16. 6. even as uncleannesse which is not done away but by water R. Menachem on Levit. 13. This being the judgment of the Iewes themselves the Lepers whom Christ healed were a good testimonie against them that he was the son of God Matth. 8. 4. and by that and other like workes hee declared himselfe to be he that should come Matth. 11. 3 4. 5. And he is the Priest who cleanseth us all leprous sinners and bringeth us into the true Sanctuary being washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Vers. 4. and he shall take the Greeke saith and they shall take speaking indefinitely of the leper or any of his friends that might procure these things for his cleansing birds whether doves or turtles commonly used in sacrifices which are called birds in Gen. 15. 9. 10. or any other cleane fowles for the scripture determineth them not otherwise then that they must be cleane such as all are save those excepted in Lev. 11. 13. c. and all that are cleane for meat are called birds in Deut. 14. 11. The Hebrew canons say of these they must bee free birds that is such as are not tame or any mans owne but at libertie to flie from place to place and as God saith he shall take them for him so they expound it they must be taken in the name of cleansing of leprosie that is designed for that purpose onely Maimony in treat of Lepr chap. 11. sect 1. These two birds of which one was killed the other let goe alive were to figure out Christ who should be killed for our offences and rise againe for our justification Rom. 4. 25. The like was figured by the two goats on expiation day Levit. 16. Cedar wood or a Cedar sticke which the Hebrewes say was to be a cubit that is a foot and an halfe long and so thicke as the square foot of a bed Maimony ibidem and Thalmud Bab. in Negagnim chap. 14. sect 6. Cedar wood rotteth not the pitch that runneth out of it is said to keepe dead bodies from corrupting but corrupteth living bodies and it us good against the Leprosie and other foule ulcers Plinie hist. lib. 24. cap. 5. and Dioscorides l. 1. 〈◊〉 89. scarlet this the Iewes say was wooll died in scarlet or crimsin colour and so the Apostle in an other like case calleth it scarlet wooll Heb. 9. 19 and there was to be of it a shekel weight which weighed 320. graines of barley Maimony ibidem This scarlet colour resembled Christs blood and the essicacie therof in the soule restoring the naturall lively colour and vigour which the pale white leprosie of sinne had done away hysope or hyssope whereof see the notes on Exod. 12. 22. This was for length not to be lesse then an hand-bredth and they say it might not be Greeke hysope nor Roman hysope nor wilde hysope nor any other sort that was surnamed by the place but the common hysope that grew in gardens Talmud in Negagnim chap. 14. sect 6. These two plants were the greatest and the smallest that grew and so the Cedar is opposed to the bysope 1 King 4. 33. The Cedar that will not rot
so the words foregoing shew Yet is not the text corrupted as is observed from the Hebrewes in Exodus 21. 8. but it seemeth may thus be reconciled that if it were in a city which sometimes had a wall but for the present had none or very ruinous as was the case of Ierusalem 2 King 25. 10. then the order here set should stand for the sale of the house And here I will addâ— what the Hebrewes write concerning this The citie which was not compassed with a wall at the time when Iosua conquered the land though it bee walled now yet it is like the houses of the villages and the city which was compassed with a wall in Iosuahs dayes though it â—ee not walled now yet it is as if it were walled And when they went into captivity at the first desolation of the Temple 2 Kings 25. the holinesse of the walled Cities which had beene in Iosuahs time ceased when Ezra came up at the second comming into the land Ezra 1. all the walled Cities were sanctfied at that time because their comming in in the dayes of Ezra which was the second comming was at their comming in in the dayes of Iosuah c. Maimony in Iobel chap. 12. sect 15. for ever or to the cutting off of all redemption the Greeke translateth firmely the Chaldee absolutely see verse 23. And as this is expresly spoken of the house so the Hebrewes say that gardens and bathes to wash in and dove-houses which were within the wals of the city these were as the houses but fields if any were within the city were to be redeemed as fields that were without the citie So for Ierusalem they say no house might be absolutely sold in it likewise that an house builded upon the wall as was Rahabs Ios. 2. 25. was not as the other houses of a walled citie Maim in Iobel c. 12. s. 11. in the Iubile Greek in the remission Likewise if one sold an house in a walled citie and the Iubile came within the yeere of the sale it was not returned in the Iubile but remained in the hand of him that purchased it till it pleased the seller to redeeme it all the yeere of the sale or that the yeere were fulfilled and so it was absolutely gone Maim in Iobel ch 12. sect 9. Vers. 31. villages or open-places the word is elsewhere used for Courtyards no wall-round-about meaning a wall properly of earth stone or the like For a citie that had the gardens thereof for a wall or that had the Sea for a wall was not counted a walled citie No place was called a walled citie till it had in it three villages or courtyards or moe and in every of those villages two houses or moe and it were compassed with a wall at first and afterward they builded villages within it But a place that was first inhabited and afterward walled about or wherein there were not three villages with two houses in every of them it was not a walled citie but the houses therein where as the houses of the villages Maimony in Iobel chap. 12. sect 13. 14. redemption shal be to it that is it may be redeemed at any time at the fields before mentioned or it may be redeemed as the houses forementioned Both are shewed by the Hebrewes thus He that selleth any house in the villages or in a citie which hath no wall as is meet for it it may be redeemed as liketh him best according to the law of the field or according to the Law of the house in a walled city As if he will redeeme it out of hand hee may redeeme it according to the law for houses that is without abating any thing to him that bought it If the 12. moneths be expired and he hath not redeemed it loe hee may redeeme it till the yeere of Iubile according to the law for fields And when he redeemeth it he is to count with him that bought it and abate unto him for the time that he injoyed it If the Iubile come and hee hath not redeemed it the house returneth to the owner without price after the manner that fields doe Maimony in Iobel ch 12. sect 10. Vers. 32. of the Levites which were the sixe cities of Refuge forty two cities moe 48. in all given them to dwell in and the suburbs of them for to feed their cattell Num. 35. Ios. 22. a redemption ever that is they may ever or at any time be redeemed by the Levites to the Greeke explaineth it And the Hebrewes say The Priests and Levites may redeeme their houses in walled cities at any time when they please though it bee after many yeeres Maim in Iobel ch 13. sect 7. shall be to the Levites This caution respecteth the possessioÌ„s which the Levites injoyed in their cities and so doth that which followeth in vers 33. that the redeemer must be of the Levites Wherfore the Hebrewes have this rule An Israelite which is heyre to his mothers father a Levite he redeemeth as the Levites doe though he be not a Levite yet sieing the cities or fields are the Levites he may redeeme at any time for ever For this right dependeth upon those places and not upon the owners And a Levite which is heyre to his mothers father an Israelite he redeemeth as an Israelite and not as the Levites doe for it is not said that the Levites may redeeme at any time for ever but in the cities of the Levites Maimony in Iobel chap. 13. sect 8. 9. Vers. 33. redeeme of the Levites understood 〈◊〉 shal be of the Levites and it shall not be redeemed by other Israelites Some take redeeming here for buying or purchasing though I finde not the word so to meane any other where the sale of the house that is the house which is sold as vers 28. and the citie the Greek translateth and the sale of the houses of the citie of their possession shall got out and so it agreeth with the reason following shall go out unto the first owner as ver 28. out of the hands of any Israelite that had bought it or of any other Levite that had redeemed it their possession whereas the Levites might have no part in the spoiles of the heathens that were conquered not inheritance in the houses and lands which were divided to the other Israelites Deut. 18. 1. God gave them cities and suburbs for them and their cattell which was all the possession they had therefore he confirmed this gift unto them with a stricter law both for sale and redemption then the Israelites had for their possessions Ver. 34. the field that is the fields as the Greeke translateth of the suburbs which wee three thousand cubits every way from the wall of the city and outward see Numb 35. 4. 5. with the annotations not be sold this seemeth to be an absolute prohibition that though the Levites might sell their houses yet not their lands at all which yet was but a figurative
Priests and Levites and Israelites 〈…〉 fully goe in that is 〈◊〉 one to ano 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is 〈◊〉 goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— as it is written ACCORDING TO THE HOVSE OF THEIR FATHERS the house of his father that is his familie and not the house of his mother Maimony in Issure biah c. 19. sect 15. V. 16. the mouth that is as the Chaldee expoundeth it the word and the Greeke saith the voice of the Lord. V. 17. Gershon in Greeke Gersom but in vers 25. Gerson So Ezron in Gen. 46. 12. is Esrom Mat. 1. 3. Kohath or as in Greeke Kaath See Gen. 46. 11. Exod. 6. 16. V. 18. Libni in Greeke Lobnei and Semeei See Exod. 6. 17. V. 19. Hebron or as the Greeke also writeth it Chebron and Oziel See Exod. 6. 18. Here Kohath hath foure families so many as both his brethren had together V. 20. Mahli in Greeke Moolei and Mâ—usi See Exod. 6. 19. Vers. 21. Gershon in Greeke Gedsom mistaking D. for R. by reason of the likenesse of the letters in Hebrew See the notes on Gen. 4. 18. V. 23. Seaward that is as the Chaldee explaineth it westward See Num. 2. 18. V. 24. house of the father that is principall house so in v. 30. and 35. Eliasaph in Greeke Elisaph by interpretation God hath added Lael that is For God V. 25. the charge or the custodie the Holy things which they were to carrie keepe and looke unto whereof see more in Num. 4. Tabernacle the curtaines of the Tabernacle Num. 4. 25. for the boords were under Meraries charge Num. 3. 36. Tent made of ten curtaines see Exod. 26. 1. c. covering made of goats haire Exod. 26. 7. And here is to bee understood the other coverings also made of rammes skinnes and Tachash skinnes Exod. 26. 14. for they belonged to the Gershonites charge Num. 4. 25. hanging veile whereof see Exod. 26. 36. V. 26. tapestrie hangings whereof see Exod. 27. 9. c. hanging veile mentioned in Exod. 27. 16. V. 28. of the Sanctuarie Hebr. of the sanctifie or holinesse meaning the holy things as the Greeke saith of the Holies what they were is expressed in v. 31. See Num. 4. 4. 15. and 10. 21. Here the families of the Levites may be viewed by their numbers 1. Of the Gersonites 7500. 2. Of the Kohathites 8600. 3. Of the Merarites 6200. By their situation when they camped about the Tabernacle 1. Gersonites behinde westward v. 23. 2. Kohathites Southward v. 29. 3. Merarites Northward v. 35. And to make up the square Moses and Aaron with the Priests encamped formost Eastward v. â—8 By their charges for there was committed unto the care and cariage of the 1. Gersonites the Tent coverings veile hanging of the court c. 〈◊〉 Koha 〈…〉 the Arke Table Altars and Instruments of the Sanctuary 3. Merarites the boords barres pillars sockers c. Among these families of Levi wee may observe the speciall prerogatives of Kohath the second sonne 1. Hee excelleth in multitude of families or chiefe fathers having foure when as each of his brethren had but two 2. He excelleth in multitude of children having 8600. that is 1100 moe than his elder brother Gerson and 2400. moe than Merari 3. Of him came Moses the king Aaron the priest and Marie the prophetesse and so all the Priests were of this familie Exod. 6. 18. 20. Num. 26. 58 59. 4. His families have the chiefest place about the Sanctuary the South quarter next unto Moses Aaron and the priests Num. 3. 29. 5. They have the charge of the most holy things within the Sanctuarie as the Arke Table Candlesticke Altars c. Num. 3. 31. 6. Whereas the tribe of Levi had 48. cities allowed them in Canaan Kohaths posterity had 23. of them for the Priests had 13. cities and the other Kohathites ten and so he had in a manner a double portion as much as both his brethren Ios. 21. 7. Of the Prince of these Kohathites Elizaphan Num. 3. 30. there were 200. Levites to helpe home with the Arke in Davids daies no such mention being made of the other two princes besides 312. Kohathites of other families when of Gershon and Merari there were not so many 1 Chron. 15. 5. 8 9 10. V. 29. Southward the south is in Psal. 89. 13. called the right side and in this place it hath a name in Hebrew derived also of the right hand because so it is when men stand with their faces to the East see the notes on Num. 2. 3. V. 30. Elizapham sonne of Vzziel hee was of the fourth and youngest familie of the Kohathites yet preferred to be the prince over them This as the Hebrewes thinke was offensiue to Korah who was of the second familie of Izhar and occasioned him to rebell See the notes on Num. 16. 1. Elizaphan is by interpretation My God hath stored â—p and Uzziel God is my strength V. 31. all the service thereof in Greeke all the 〈…〉 ks of them V. 32. of the princes the Greeke saith over the princes and the Chaldee addeth appointed over the princes of the Levites Hebr. of Levi whose name is put for all his posteritie as the Greeke and Chaldee translate Levites So Aaron is used for the Aaronites 1 Chron. 12. 27. Eleazar by interpretation The helpe of God having the oversight or the Bishop having the Bis 〈…〉 office which hath the name in Hebrew of Uisitation in Greeke of Overseeing and so this word is translated by the holy Ghost Episcopee that is a Bishops office or charge in Act. 1. 20. from Psal. 109. 7. And in Num. 4. 16. the Greeke translateth it Episcopos Bishop So in Ezek. 44. 11. having charges that is Bishops at the gat of the house where the Greeke translateth it Porters In Thargum Ionathan it is explained thus Hee inquired by Urim and Thummim under his hand were they appointed that keepe the custodie of the Sanctuarie As Aaron the high Priest figured Christ Heb. 5. 1. 4. 5. so Eleazar in this office being Prince of Princes shadowed the office of our Lord Iesus who is the Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1. 5. the Archpastor 1 Pet. 5. 4. the great Pastor of the sheepe Hebr. 13. 20. and Bishop of our soules 1 Pet. 2. 25. And hence arose the distinction of the high Priest and the second priest as in 2 King 25. 18. And when Aaron was dead and Eleazar high priest in his place Num. 20. 26. 28. then Phinehas Eleazars sonne was Governour over the Levites 1 Chron. 9. 20. V. 35. Zuriel in Greeke Souriel which signifieth God is my Rocke Abihail or Abichail as the Greeke pronounceth it by interpretation The fathers strength V. 36. the oversight of the charge that is as the Chaldee expoundeth it that which shall be committed to the charge or custodie of the sonnes of Merari the service thereof in Greeke the workes of them And because these things were heavy to beare the Lord allowed
at all but is to be admonished must be carefull that he be cleane both he and his vessels that he may separate a pure cake Maim in Biccurim chap. 8. sect 11 in your or throughout your generations in all ages wherefore this ordinance was kept by Israel after they were returned out of Babylon Nehem. 10. 37. And besides that all their bread was sanctified unto them by these first-fruits and God was honoured by whose word man liveth and not by bread onely Deut. 8. 3. it seemeth to have a further signification of the chosen people of God as Paul applieth this phrase of the first-fruits and of the lump of dough unto the state of Israel Rom. 11. 16. as the Prophet speaking of the first-fruits also saith Israel was holinesse to the LORD the first-fruits of his increase all that eat him shall beguilty c. Ier. 2. 3. And thus the Iewes of old understood this commandement of the Cake that it signified in mystery the congregation of Israel called the first-fruits of the world which wheâ— it is put into the oven that burneth with the fire of the holy blessed God it is necessary to separate there-from a cake that it bee not partaker of severe judgement and there-from is a blessing reserved in the world Ezek. 44. 30. R. Menachem on Num. 15. Vers. 22. when yee shall have sinned ignorantly or if yee have erred that is done unadvisedly of ignorance errour or oversight whereto is opposed sinning with an high hand vers 30. See the annotations on Levit. 4. 2. As in the two former Lawes the Lord repeated and inlarged the doctrines of faith and of good workes so here hee doth the like concerning the forgivenesse of sins which his people through infirmitie doe fall into that all the chiefe points of Christian religion are here renewed unto them have not done all The words of this Law differ from the former in Lev. 4. 2. 13. which spake of doing that which should not be done whereas this speaketh of not doing all which should bee done There also the sacrifice which the congregation should bring was a Bullocke for a Sin-offering Lev. 4. 14. here in vers 24. they are willed to bring a Bullocke for a Burnt-offering and a goat-bucke for a Sin-offering Whether is this difference in respect of the commandements forbidding evill workes and requiring good as the words seeme to import Or as the Hebrewes expound it doth this here respect the sinne of idolatrie onely Or as others understand it is that for all the tribes generally and this for the severall tribes cities and townes as they were severed in the land of Canaan Or is this in mysterie an increase of the sacrifice in Canaan as in prophesie of the dayes of the Gospell the Meat and Drinke-offerings which Christians should spiritually offer with their sacrifices are of greater quantitie than those which were offered under Moses Ezek. 46. 5. 11. compared with Num 15. 4 5 6 7. and 28. 20 c. Vers. 23. Even all This sheweth the large extent of this Law and the weight thereof by repeating things so expresly The Hebrewes which understand this of idolatrie onely say that that one commandement is as all the commandements c. and that this sheweth that whosoever professeth idolatrie is as if he denied all the Law wholly and all that the Prophets have prophesied as it is written AND HENCE FORWARD Sol. Iarchi on Num. 15. and Maimony tom 1. treat of Idolatry chap. 2. sect 4. Verse 24. by ignorance in Greeke unwillingly see Lev. 4. 2. from the eyes understand hidden from the eyes as is expressed in Lev. 4. 13. This the Hebrew Doctors understand of things erroneously taught by the governours and practised by the people concerning idolatrie as is shewed in the annotations on Lev. 4. 13. and so Sol. Iarchi expoundeth here this place shall make readieâ— that is shall offer for a sacrifice Levit. 4. 14. And this the Hebrewes understand not of one sacrifice for the twelve tribes but for every tribe so much If the errour be in idolatry that they the governours have erred and taught it they bring a Bullocke for a Burnt-offering and a goat-bucke for a Sin-offering for every tribe and this oblation is that which is spoken of in Num. 15. saith Maimony in Shegagoth chap. 12. sect 1 and Talmud in Horajoth chap. 2. See the notes on Lev. 4. 14. This exposition for the number may seeme probable because the people returned from captivitie offered for all Israel in Burnt-offerings twelve bullockes and twelve goat-bucks for a Sin-offering according to the number of the tribes Ezr. 8. 35. youngling Hebr. son of the herd a bullocke was alwaies of the second yeare or upward so the goat-bucke following Burnt-offering which signified atonement and sanctification by the death of Christ as is shewed on Lev. 1. of rest that is of sweet smell as the Greeke translateth the Chaldee saith to be accepted with favour before the LORD to the manner or right ordinance Heb. to the judgment meaning the measure prescribed of God in v. 9 10. for a Sin-offering in Greeke for sin This word in Hebrew is written with want of a letter which elswhere usually is expressed whereupon Sol. Iarchi noteth that it is not as other Sin-offerings for all Sin-offerings that are by the Law brought with the Burnt-offering the Sin-offering is before the Burnt-offering as it is said in Levit. 5. 10. And the second he shall make a Burnt-offering but this Burnt-offering is before the Sin-offering The manner of offering this Sin-offering was like the bullocke in Lev. 4. it was killed in the court-yard the bloud was carried into the Sanctuarie and sprinkled seven times before the Lord the fat was burned on the Altar in the courtyard and the body of the beast was carried forth and burnt without the campe so figuring Christ who should bee slaine for the sinnes of his people and by his owne bloud enter into heaven his bodie being crucified without the gate of Ierusalem Heb. 9. 11 12. 24 and 13. 11 12. If the great assise of Magistrates ignorantly sinne in teaching idolatrie the whole congregation bringeth twelve bullockes for Burnt-offerings and twelve goats Sin-offerings and they are burned because their bloud is carried into the Sanctuarie c. Though but one tribe onely commit the sin if it be the most part of the church then all the congregation bring for idolatrie twelve bullocks twelve goats Maimony in Shegagoth chap. 12. sect 1. V. 25. for all the congregation or for every congregation wherby may be implied the severall tribes cities townes and synagogues So in vers 26. an ignorance or an errour in Greeke and unwilling Sin so in v. 26. brought their oblatio in Greeke have brought the gift thereof a Fire-offering in Chaldee an oblation before the LORD this is meant of the Bullocke the Burnt-offring as Sol. Iarchi noteth their Sin-offering this is the goat saith Sol. Iarchi
use of these is after shewed 42. cities These with the six cities of refuge are declared in Ios. 21. how they were given out of every tribe Of the Kohathites the Priests the sons of Aaron had thirteene cities Ios. 21. 19. the residue of the Kohathites had ten cities Ios. 21. 26. The Gershonites had thirteene cities Ios. 21. 33. The Merarites had twelve cities Ios. 21. 40. So all the cities of the Levites within the possession of the somes of Israel were fortie and eight cities with their suburbs Ios. 21. 41. Thus Iakobs prophesie of Levi was fulfilled that he should be scattered in Israel Gen. 49. 5 7. But because of the Levites zeale for the Lord the curse was turned into a blessing as is noted on Exod. 32. 29. and they were teachers of the law 〈…〉 o the tribes of Israel Deut. 33. 8 10. Wherfore God gave them cities out of every tribe How 〈◊〉 whatsoever remained of these cities besides the habitations of the Levites and the suburbs â—orementioned as the fields of the cities and their villages continued under the dominion and in the possession of the tribes to whom they had been distributed before as the example of Hebron given unto Caleb sheweth Ios. 14. 13 14. and 21. 11 12. Vers. 8. yee shall give many or yee shall multiply to give so the tribes that had many cities and 〈…〉 ge inheritances gave the more cities For 〈◊〉 of the tribes of the sonnes of Iudah and of Si 〈◊〉 were given nine cities out of Benjamin foure out of Ephraim foure out of Dan foure out of the halfe tribe of Manasses two out of the other halfe 〈◊〉 of Manasses two out of Issachar foure out of Aser foure out of Naphtali three out of Zabulon foure out of Reuben foure out of Gad foure Ios. 21. 9 16 c. Vers. 11. shall appoint or prepare as the Chaldee explaineth it in Greeke yee shall distinguish or distinctly separate elsewhere it is called separ 〈…〉 ng Deut. 4. 41. and sanctifying Ios. 20. 7. by errour or ignorantly unadvisedly unawares the Greeke translateth unwillingly this is opened in vers 22 23. and Deut. 19. 5. In â—os 20. 3. it is declared by two words by errour oâ— unawares and without knowledge or unwittingly Vers. 12. the avenger to wit of the bloud as is expressed in vers 19. and the Chaldee and Greeke here adde the same Goel here Englished an Avonger elsewhere signifieth a Redeemer but properly one of the same bloud and kindred as Ruth 2. 20. and 3. 9 12. who if things were sold was to redeeme them as Levit. 25. 25. if bloud were shed was to avenge it as in this case And so the Greeke here usually calleth him Agchisteâ—on that is one neere of kin Of this kinsman the avenger it is said in v. 19. that he should put the murderer to death see the notes there before the congregation When a man had done a murder he fled to some citie of refuge the way being alwaies prepared that he might flee thither without hinderance as is noted on Deut. 19. 3. Comming thither at the entring of the gate he shewed his cause to the Elders of the citie of refuge who tooke him in till he was sent after and fetched home to the citie where hee had done the murder and there he stood before the congregation Ios. 20. 4 6. who if they found him worthy of death they delivered him to the avenger to kill him if not they returned him to his citie of refuge where hee lived in a kinde of exile and imprisonment untill the death of the high Priest as after followeth See Deut. 19. 12. Before the cities of refuge were appointed the Altar was a place of refuge as is probable by Exod. 21. 13 14. And from that place the Hebrewes gather that the Altar was a place of refuge Maim Treat of Murder chap. 5. sect 12. Vers. 14. Three cities which were Bezer Ramoth and Golan Deut. 4. 41 43. and three cities Kedesh Shechem and Hebron Ios. 20. 7. And if the Lord enlarged their coast and gave them all the land they were to adde three cities moe Deut. 19. 8 9. Vers. 15. the stranger in Greeke the proselyte meaning him that was not an Israelite by nature but by religion the sojourner that dwelt a stranger in the land of Israel and yet not of their Church and religion Deut. 14. 21. These all had benefit by the cities of refuge but if an heathen by errour killed an heathen the cities of refuge received him not saith Maim Treat of Murder chap. 5. sect 4. smiteth a soule that is killeth any person so vers 11. Vers. 16. if he smite him to wit purposely and presumptuously as the punishment after sheweth surely put to death or put to die the death Hebr. dying hee shall be put to death so in vers 17 18 21. Vers. 17. a stone of the hand that is throwen with the hand the Greeke translateth it a stone out of the hand the Chaldee a stone that is taken in the hand he may die the Chaldee more fully explaineth it which is enough for him to die therewith so in vers 18. Vers. 18. wood of the hand Greeke out of the hand Chaldee wood taken in the hand which is sufficient for him to die thereby as in vers 17. These cautions are here added to discerne of murders the Hebrewes explaine them thus He that smiteth his fellow presumptuously with a stone or with wood that he die they measure the thing wherewith he smote him and the place whereon he smote him to see â—f that thing were enough to kill him upon such a member of his body or not as it is written WITH A STONE OF THE HAND c. so that it be enough to kil him They measure also the might of him that smote c. For iron instruments the Law gives no measure Num. 35. 16. He is to die that killed him though it were with a needle and whatsoever is sharp like a needle as bodkin knife or the like Hee that smiteth his fellow without any instrument and killeth him as with his hand or his foot c. they measure the strength of him that smote and of him that was killed and the place of the blow c. Maim Treat of Murder chap. 3. sect 1. c. Vers. 19. he shall put to death or he may put him to death to wit after he is adjudged to death by the Magistrate vers 12. If the avenger of bloud will not or if he be not able to kill him or if he have no avenger of bloud then the Iudges shall kill the murderer with the sword Maim Treat of Murder chap. 1. sect 1. When he meeteth him though it be within the cities of refuge saith Iarchi But this is to be understood after lawfull judgement by the Magistrate for the Elders of his citie were to send and fetch him from the citie of refuge and deliver him into the hand
If then the whole tenour of that Revelation be to prophesie of matters from former types and predictions it is consonant and proportionable that the like is done in Revel 21. 2. And that 21. Chapter foretelling the restauration of the Church after the fall of Antichrist and withall as the best Expositors have opened it of the calling againe of the Iewes according to the prophesies of old and of our Apostle in Rom. 11. it is not likely but the holy Ghost who throughout those visions and in matters concerning the Gentiles alludeth to the old Testament would much rather doe the like where he prophesieth of the Iewes 3. Many particulars in that Chapter confirme this as when the Church is called by the 〈◊〉 name Ierusalem Revel 21. vers 2 10. and the Tabernacle of God vers 3. when expresse mention is made of the names of the 〈◊〉 tribes of Israel to be at the twelve gates v. 12. when the Citie is measured according to the visions of old Ezek. 40. 3. with a reed ver 1â— when God and the Lambe are called the Temple of it vers 22. and sundry the like 4. It will not be denied I suppose by men of under standing which compare the Scriptures that these last visions of Iohn have reference in many things to the last visions of Ezekiel As the gates of the Citie have their names of the tribes of Israel which there are expressed one of Reuben one of Iudah one of Levi c. 〈◊〉 48. 31 c. so the gates of this C 〈…〉 which Iohn saw have at them the names of the twelve tribes of the sonnes of Israel Rev. 21. 12. There waters issue out of Gods house Ezek. 47. 〈◊〉 so here is a pure river of water of liâ—e Rev. 22 1. There trees grow by the river Ezek. 47. 12. here the tree of life Rev. 22. 2. with other things concordant So that the state of the Church there being described from Israel and the possession of the tribes by name Ezek. 48. yeeldeth strong probability of the like allusions here and consequently of the twelve precious stones to the stones of the tribes which are no where named but by Moses in Exodus 5. And this the rather because as Aarons ornaments were for glory and beauty Exod. 28. 2. so these stones are for garnishment to the foundations of the walls of the Citie Rev. 21. 19. And the Tabernacle of Moses was walled as we may say with the twelve Tribes which compassed it in a square Numb 2. Now seeing the Saints are compared to precious stones Lam. 4. 1 2 7. 1 Pet. 2. 5. unto what company rather than to the twelve tribes described by their precious stones in Aarons Ephod may we thinke hath the Lord reference in Rev. 21. 6. Againe seeing the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles are in the foundations of this wall Rev. 21. 14. which Apostles are answer able to the twelve Patriarchs of the tribes both in number so noted by the Spirit of God v. 12. 14. and in propagation of the Church spiritually by the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. Gal. 4. 19. 3 Ioh. v. 4. as the Patriarchs were fathers of the ancient Church both in the flesh and in the Lord and in government as the other governed the Tribes Psal. 45. 16. Matth. 19. 28. 1 Cor. 4. 19 21. besides other things wherein they may be compared it seemeth most fit and according to the things both in this Chapter whole Booke that the precious stones by which these twelve foundations are described should be answerable to the twelve precious stones whereon the names of the Patriarchs were graved Exod. 28. for there is no place else in the Scripture whereto they can have reference 7. Moreover there is in the Prophets another name of the Adamant or Diamond called in Hebrew Shamir which is noted of the Holy Ghost to be hard even harder than flint Zach. 7. 12. Ezek. 3. 9. and to be of use for graving Ier. 17. 1. so that the speciall things which mine Opposite observeth from Plinie an heathen writer of the nature of the Adamant are by the testimony of God found in this Shamir And it is translated the Adamant by consent of the most Interpreters both old and new and by the Greeke version in Ier. 17. 1. that if the voices of learned men may end this controversie there be as many or moe for Shamir to be the Adamant than can I suppose be brought for Iahalom And the same Prophet which useth Shamir for the Adamant when he hath reference to the stones on the Ephod retaineth the names in Exodus the Iahalom among them Ezek. 3. 9. and 28. 13. Wherefore if Shamir be the Hebrew name of the Adamant the stone Iabalâ—m in Exo. 28. may well be another than it and if another where may we safer seeke it than in Rev. 21. for the reasons before shewed That which is alleaged for the contrary from the notation of the word Iahalom and consent of many Interpreters and the like hath I confesse probability and were it not for the causes above shewed I would thinke it to be the Adamant though the notation likewise of Shamir and agreement of Interpreters may also perswade it to be the Adamant and for Plinies testimony of the Adamants that they are desired of engravers it accordeth to this Shamir as we may learne of the Prophet Ier. 17. 1. And for the price of the Adamant above the Sardonyx or any gem or other humane things as the same Plinie reporteth it will not though so it be end this question seeing it is not necessary to conclude that God would chuse the most precious thing to signifie grace in men which have it but in part especially seeing hee putteth this stone not in the first but in the sixt place as the Iahalom is ordered in Exo. 28. 18. Yea it is plainly without likelihood that God would impart the most precious thing among the Patriarchs and take it away from among the Apostles for it is sure no Adamant is to be found in Rev. 21. This were to preferre the old Tehament before the New the Law before the Gospel Moses before Christ contrary to the Apostles doctrine in 2 Cor. 3. and to make the holy Ierusalem the Bride the Lambs wife which is said to have the glory of God and her wals garnished with all manner of precious stones and many other like excellencies Revel 21. 9 10 19. c. to be inferiour in glory to Moses Sanctuary and the earthly Ierusalem and those that ministred in the same which a man of sound judgement will not easily beleeve And whatsoever Plinie saith of the preciousnesse of the Adamant we are assured from God that the Sardonix is precious Revel 21. 19 20. and Plinie himselfe confirmeth it by the example of the Tyrant Polycrates who so greatly esteemed the Sardonix in his Ring that he valued the losse thereof with all his wealth and felicity which he
silver Psalme 119. 72. yet the doctrine of faith and ordinances of the Gospell with the graces accompanying them here promised are much more excellent and glorious 2 Corinthians 3. 7. 11. Vers. 12. While the King Here the Church speaketh of the fruits and effects of Christs former graces how in her and from her so adorned by her beloved the odour of the spirit of God in her flowed forth and spred abroad to the delight of her selfe and others By the King is meant Christ as in verse 4. by his round table which the Greeke translateth his sitting downe which was wont to be in a round or as in a ring 1 Samuel 16. 11. may bee understood the spirituall banquet of Christ with his Church feeding her with his word and graces as the table of the Lord in Malachy 1. 12. and 1 Corinth 10. 21. signifie the communion betweene him and his people as doth also the supping one with another Revelat. 3. 20. The Spikenard is one of the pleasant fruits in the garden of the Church Song 4. 13. 14. but here it seemeth to be the oyle or ointment made of Spikenard which is very precious which they used to poure out and anoint men with such as Mary anointed our Lord Iesus with as hee sate at table with his friends and the house was filled with the smell or odour of the ointment Iohn 12. 1. 2. 3. Spiritually it signifieth the sweet smelling fruits of repentance faith love prayer thanksgiving c. which the Church sheweth forth by the communion of Christ with her and in speciall of mortification and communion with Christs death buriall and resurrection Romanes 6. 3. 4. 5. c. as that which Marie did unto Christ was to anoint his body to the burying Marke 14. 8. Iohn 12. 7. Vers. 13. A bundle or A bagge of myrrh by myrrh is meant the sweet gumme that issueth from the myrrh tree which is gathered and bound up in bagges it was the first of the chiefe spices whereof the holy anointing oyle in the Sanctuary was made Exodus 30. 23. and that holy ointment figured the gâ—aces of the Spirit poured out upon Christ and by him upon his Church Esay 61. 1. Psalme 45. 8. 1 Iohn 2. 20. See the annotations on Exodus 30. 26. With myrrh and aloes the dead body of our Lord Iesus was imbalmed Iohn 19. 39. and with it the wisemen honoured him at his birth Matt. 2. Hereby the Church professeth her spirituall comfort which shee had in Christ taking our humanity filled with the Spirit of God without measure dying for her sinnes and rising againe for her justification the feeling whereof is as a sweet odour unto the beleeving heart A bundle or bagge is for to keepe safe things that are of worth as The Joule of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Iehovah thy God 1 Samuel 25. 29. So by this bag of myrrh shee signifieth her care to injoy and possesse the benefits of Christ and of his death to the remission of her sinnes which for his sake are all cast into the depths of the sea Mic. 7. 19. which otherwise without him should bee sealed up in a bag and reserved against her for punishment Iob. 14. 17. my welbeloved that is Christ whom she thus calleth not because she loved him but he loved her and gave himselfe to bee the propitiation for her sinnes whereupon she againe loveth him because hee loved her first 1 Iohn 4. 10. 19. So shee glorieth not in her owne righteousnesse but in that which her beloved is unto her who of God is made unto her wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Welbeloved in Hebrew Dod is written with the same letters that David whose name also signified Beloved hee was a figure of Christ and his father after the flesh Romanes 1. 3. and Christ is often called David as in Ier. 30. 9. Ezek. 34. 23. and 37. 24. Hos. 3. 5. unto mee A speech of faith applying the promises and graces of Christ unto her owne soule as the Apostle also teacheth by his owne example Gal. 2. 19. 20. he shall lye all night or he shall lodge shall abide The night usually signifieth the time of darknesse and affliction wherefore shee meaneth that Christ with his consolations should bee her continuall joy and comfort whom shee would hold fast by faith against all tentations and troubles of this present life and solace her selfe in him betwixt my brests dwelling in my heart by faith Ephes. 3. 17. The brests signifie also the ministery of the Church feeding the Saints with the sincere milke of the word that they may grow thereby 1 Peter 2. 2. whereupon the Prophet saith Rejoyce yee with Ierusalem c. that ye may sucke and be satisfied with the brests of her consolations that yee may milke out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory Esay 66. 10. 11. Vers. 14. A cluster of Cypres or of Camphire which is a sweet gumme but Cypres is a tree whose fruit groweth in clusters and is also sweet The Hebrew name Copher from which Caphura or Camphire as also the Cypres tree seemeth to bee derived usually signifieth Atenement Propitiation or Redemption according to which interpretation the holy Ghost here may have reference to the worke and fruit of Christs death whereby he became a cluster of redemption unto his Church being a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1 Iohn 2. 2. the sweetnesse whereof is resembled by a cluster which is of many berries compact together of the sweet Cypres for that his blood cleanseth us from all sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7. and is accompanied with all other graces Engeds the name of a place in the land of Cannan which fell to the tribe of Iudah and being neere the sea and watered with springs was a fruitfull soile for gardens and vineyards Iosua 15. 62. Ezek. 47. 10. it was called also Hazazon Tamar 2 Chr. 20. 2. where the enemies comming against Ichosaphat hee prayed unto God and was delivered Which victory may also be respected here as a figure of the victories which the Church obtaineth by faith in Christ. Vers. 15. thou art faire Christ here speaketh to his Church commending her beauty which she hath by his sanctification and cleansing with the washing of the water by the word Ephes. 5. 26. 27. as also by her constitution and order as mount Zion was beautifull for situation Psalm 48. 2. Of Tyrus a city of merchandise it is said Thy builders have perfected thy beauty Ezek. 27. 4. and of her Ancients wisemen mariners merchants men of warre c. it is likewise said they have made thy beauty perfect Ezekiel 27. 9. 10. 11. and in Ezek. 28. 7. he mentioneth the beauty of wisedome So the city and Church of God being builded by the doctrine of the Gospell furnished with men of gifts and graces and endued with wisedome from on high is truly faire and beautifull