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 LORD our God will we serve and his voice will we obey 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and set them a statute and an ordinance p Either 1. He set or propounded or declared unto them the Statute and Ordinance i. e. the summ of the Statutes and Ordinances of God which their Covenant obliged them to Or 2. He set or established it to wit that Covenant with them i. e. the People for a Statute or an Ordinance to bind themselves and their Posterity unto God for ever as a Statute and Ordinance of God doth in Shechem 26 And Joshua wrote these words q i. e. This Covenant or Agreement of the people with the Lord. in the book of the law of God r i. e. In that Volume which was kept in the Ark Deut. 31. 9 26. whence it was taken and put into this Book of Ioshua This he did partly for the perpetual remembrance of this great and solemn Action partly to lay the greater obligation upon the people to be true to their engagement and partly as a Witness for God and against the people if afterwards he severely punished them for their defection from God to whom they had so solemnly and freely obliged themselves and * See Judg. 9. 6. took a great stone and set it up there s As a witness and monument of this great transaction according to the custom of those ancient times as Gen. 28. 18. and 31. 45. and 35. 14. Exod. 24. 4. Deut. 27. 2. Ios. 4. 3. and 8. 32. Possibly this agreement was written upon this Stone as was then usual under * Gen. 35. 4. an oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD t i. e Near to the place where the Ark and Tabernacle then were for though they were forbidden to plant a Grove of Trees near unto the Altar Deut. 16. 21. as the Gentiles did yet they might for a time set up an Altar or the Ark near a great Tree which had been planted there before 27 And Joshua said unto all the people Behold this stone shall be a witness unto us for it hath heard u It shall be as sure a Witness against you as if it had heard This is a common Figure called Prosopopoeia whereby the sense of hearing is oft ascribed to the Heavens and the Earth and other senseless creatures as Deut. 32. 1. Isa. 1. 2. Ier. 2. 12. all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us it shall be there for a witness unto you lest ye deny your God 28 So * Judg. 2. 6. Joshua let the people depart every man unto his inheritance 29 ¶ And it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun the servant of the LORD died being an hundred and ten years old 30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in * Chap. 19. 50. Judg. 2. 9. Timnath-serah which is in mount Ephraim on the north-side of the hill of Gaash 31 And * Judg. 2. 7. Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that * Heb. prolonged their days after Joshua over-lived Joshua and which had known all the works of the LORD that he had done for Israel 32 ¶ And * Gen. 50. 25. Exod. 13. 19. the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt buried they in Shechem x Not in the city of Shechem but in a Field near and belonging to it as appears from the following words and from Gen. 33. 18. and from the ancient custom of the Israelites to have their Burying places without Cities in Fields or Gardens in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of * Gen. 33. 19. the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred ‖ Or Lambs pieces of silver and it became the inheritance of the children of Israel 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son which was given him x By special favour and for his better conveniency in attending upon the Ark which then was and for a long time was to be in Shiloh which was near to this place whereas the Cities which were given to the Priests were in Iudah Benjamin and Simeon which were remote from Shiloh though near to the place where the Ark was to have its settled abode to wit to Ierusalem in mount Ephraim JUDGES The ARGUMENT THE Author of this Book is not certainly known whether it was Samuel or Ezra or some other Prophet nor is it material to know 1. It matters not who was the Kings Secretary or with what Pen it was written if it be once known that it was the King who made the Order or Decree It is sufficient that unto the Iews were commited the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. i. e. the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament one part of which this was by confession of all and that the Iews did not falsify their trust therein but kept those Holy Books themselves and delivered them to the World entire without addition or diminution for neither Christ nor his Apostles who severely rebuke them for their mistakes and misunderstandings of some passages of Scripture ever charge them with any perfidiousness about the Canon or Books of the Scripture This Book is called the Book of Judges because it treats of the Iudges or of the state of the Commonwealth of Israel under all the Iudges except Eli and Samuel who being the last of the Iudges and the occasions or instruments of the change of this Government are omitted in this Book The Iudges were a sort of Magistrates inferior to Kings and could neither make new Laws nor impose any Tributes but were the supreme Executors of Gods Laws and Commands and the Generals of their Armies NOW after the death of Joshua a Not long after it because Othniel the first Judge lived in Ioshuah's time it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD b Being assembled together at Shiloh they enquired of the High-priest by the Urim and Thummim See Numb 27. 21. Iudg. 20. 18. 1 Sam. 23. 9. saying Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first c Being sensible that the Canaanites are troublesome to them and expected great advantage against them by their heedless condition and finding their People to encrease and multiply exceedingly and consequently the necessity of enlarging their Quarters they renew the War They do not enquire who shall be the Captain General to all the Tribes but as appears by the answer What Tribe shall first undertake the Expedition that by their success the other Tribes may be encouraged to make the like attempt upon the Canaanites in their several Lots to fight against them 2 And the LORD said Judah d Not a person so called but the Tribe of Iudah as is manifest
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.
Mizpeh d Near Ramah in the same Mountain where Silo was There were divers other Cities of that name and Chephirali and Mozah 27 And Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah 28 And Zelah Eleph and Jebusi which is Jerusalem e So it seems this City did properly and primarily belong to Benjamin although the Tribe of Iudah had also an Interest in it either because some part of it was allotted to them or because the Benjamites gave them a share in it for the Assistance which either they had received or did expect from that Potent Tribe for the getting or defending of that very Important Place See more on Ios. 15. 63. Gibeath and Kir-jath fourteen cities f It is more than probable that all the Cities belonging to this Tribe are here named because Anathoth and Almon are omitted â—…ere but expressed Ios. 21. 18. with their villages This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families CHAP. XIX ANd the second lot came forth to Simeon even for the Tribe of the Children of Simeon according to their families and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah a This was so ordered by Gods Providence partly to fulfil that threatning that he would divide and scatter this Tribe in Israel Gen. 49. 7. which was hereby done in part because they had no distinct part of their own but were as Inmates to Iudah partly because now upon the more exact survey of the Land it appeared to Ioshua and Eleazar and all the Princes and People even to the Tribe of Iudah themselves that the Part given to Iudah did far exceed the Proportion which either they needed and could occupy or which the other Tribes could expect and partly because this was the least of the Tribes as is evident from Numb 26. 14. and therefore fittest to be put within another Tribe 2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba and b Or or 1. i. e. otherwise called for that Beersheba and Sheba were one and the same City is manifest both from v. 6. where all the Cities are reckoned to be but Thirteen and from 1 Chron. 4. 28. where Simeons Cities are enumerated and Sheba omitted as superfluous Sheba and Moladah 3 And Hazar-shual and Balah c Called also Billah 1 Chron. 4. 29. and Baalah Ios. 15. 29. For let this be observed once for all that the names of Persons or Places are frequently changed through length of time or difference of Dialects or study of brevity and easiness in Pronunciation or new accidents or other causes Thus Eltolad and Bethul v. 4. are called Tolad and Bethuel 1 Chron. 4. 29 30. and for Beth-lebaoth v. 6. is Beth-birei 1 Chron. 4. 31. and Azem 4 And Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah 5 And Ziklag and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah 6 And Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen thirteen cities d Or Towns as some of them are called 1 Chron. 4. 32. Nor are all Simeons Cities here numbred for Elam is added 1 Chron. 4. 32. unless that were built afterward and their villages 7 Ain Remmon and Ether and Ashan four cities and their villages 8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer Ramath of the south This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families 9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them 10 ¶ And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun e Who is here put before Issachar his elder Brother as he is also Gen. 49. 13 14. Deut. 33. 18. according to their families and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid 11 And their border went up toward the Sea f i. e. The Midland Sea as on the other side it reached to the Sea of Galilee and so those Prophecies concerning him Gen. 49. 3. Deut. 33. 18. were abundantly fulfilled and Maralah and reached to Dabbasheth and reached to the river that is before Jokneam g Supposed to be Kishon Iudg. 4. 7. or Belus or Pagis 12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sun-rising unto the border of Chisâ—…oth-tabor and then goeth out to Daberath h A City in Issachar as appears from Ios. 21. 28. and goeth up to Japhia 13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hephir to Ittah-kazin and goeth out to Remmon ‖ Or which is drawn Methoar to Neah 14 And the border compasseth it on the north-side to Hannathon and the out-goings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el 15 And Kattath and Nahallal and Shimron and Idalah and Beth-lehem i Not that where Christ was born which was in Iudah thence called Bethlehem Iudah Matt. but another twelve cities k There are more numbred here but the rest either were not Cities properly so called having Villages under their jurisdiction or were not within this Tribe but onely bordering upon it and belonging to other Tribes which is evident of some of them and may well be presumed of others with their villages 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families these cities with their villages 17 ¶ And the fourth lot came out to Issachar for the children of Issachar according to their families 18 And their border was toward Jezreel l The Royal City 1 King 21. 1. This Tribe because it lay between Benjamin on the South and Zebulun on the north is not here described by its borders which were the same with theirs but by some of its Cities and Chesulloth and Shunem m The Birth-place of Abishag 1 King 1. 3. 19 And Hapharaim and Shion and Anaharath 20 And Rabbith and Kishion and Abez 21 And Remeth and En-gannim n A different place from that Engannim in the Tribe of Iudah Ios. 15. 34. and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez 22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor and Shahazimah and Beth-shemesh and the out-goings of their border were at Jordan Sixteen cities with their villages 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families the cities and their villages 24 ¶ And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families 25 And their border o On the North-west side was Helkath and Hali and Beten and Achshaph 26 And Alammelech and Amad and Misheal and reacheth to Carmel westward p Or Carmel by the sea to distinguish it from that Carmel in the Tribe of Iudah 1 Sam. 25. 2. This was a place of eminent fruitfulness Isa. 33. 9. and 35. 2. and 37. 24. agreeable to the Prophecy concerning Asher Gen. 49. 20. Deut. 33. 24. and to Shihor-libnath 27 And turneth toward the sun-rising to Beth-dagon and reacheth to
by Moses to their Father Numb 10. 31 32. and whence they might remove either to avoid the Society or Molestation of the Neighbouring Canaanites or out of love to the children of Iudah whom they went to or to avoid temptations to Luxury and exercise themselves in self-denial and contempt of the present evil World and the Lusts thereof as may be thought from Ier. 35. 6 c. Or for some other cause unknown to us at this distance and they In the Southern part of the Land of Canaan where Arad was Numb 21. 1. u i. e. Some of them for others of them dwelt in the contrary quarter in the most Northern part of the Land went and dwelt among the people x Heb. that people to wit those Children of Iudah that lived there 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother y According to his Promise v. 3. and the Laws of Justice and Gratitude and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath and utterly destroyed it and the name of the city was called Hormah z Either 1. The same place so destroyed and called Numb 21. 3. and so what was there Vowed â—… here Executed Or 2. Some other place called by the same Name upon the like occasion which was frequent among the Hebrews This seems more probable 1. Because this was but one City that divers Cities Numb 21. 2 3. 2. Because that seems to have been done in Moses his time though Interpreters generally think otherwise of which see my Notes there 18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof and Askelon with the coast thereof and Ekron with the coast thereof a The principal Cities of the Philistines Qu. How could this be when among the people leâ—…t to try Israel are the five Lords of the Philistines Judg. 3. 3 Ans. It is onely said that they took the Cities and probably contented themselves with making them Tributary but it is not said that they slew the people as they ought to have done and as it is said of the other Cities here v. 5 8 17 25. And the people being thus spared did by Gods Just Judgment recover their strength and expel the Iews out of their Cities as we find afterwards It is further observable that Ekron here taken was one of Dan's Cities Ios. 19. 43. and it was attempted and taken here by Iudah and Simeon partly out of love to their Brother Dan and partly to secure their new Conquests and other adjoining Territories from such potent Neighbours 19 And the LORD was with Judah and ‖ Or he 〈◊〉 the mountain he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain but could not b Because of their unbelief whereby they doubted and distrusted Gods power to destroy those who had Chariots of Iron and so gave way to their own fear and sloth whereby God was provoked to withdraw his helping hand from them and so they were really made impotent as they were unwilling See Ios. 17. 16. drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had charets of iron 20 * Numb 14. 24. Josh. 14. 9 13. and 15. 13. And they gave Hebron unto Caleb as Moses said and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak c Above mentioned v. 10. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin d See on Ios. 15. 36. in Jerusalem unto this day 22 ¶ And the house of Joseph e i. e. The Tribe of Ephraim as appeaars from their opposition to the Tribe of Manasseh v. 27. they also went up against Bethel and the LORD was with them 23 ¶ And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel now the name of the city before was * Gen. 28. 19. Luz 24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city and they said unto him Shew us we pray thee the entrance into the city f On which side it is weakest that we may best invade and take it and * Josh. 2. 12 14. we will shew thee mercy 25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city they smote the city with the edge of the sword but they let go the man and all his family g Together with his Estate as the following Verse manifests 26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites h Where the Hittites seated themselves after they were driven out of Canaan which seems to be Northward from Canaan and near unto it See 1 King 11. 1. 1 Chron. 1. 17. and built a city and called the name thereof Luz which is the name thereof unto this day 27 ¶ * Josh. 17. 11 12 13. Neither did Manasseh i i. e. That half of this Tribe which dwelt in Canaan drive out the inhatants of Beth-shean k A place near Iordan Ios. 17. 11. and her ‡ Heb. daughters towns nor Taanach l Of which see Ios. 1â—… 21. and 17. 11. and her towns nor the inhabitants of Dor m A great City with large Territories See Ios. 11. 2. and 12. 23. and 17. 11. and her towns nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns nor the inhabitants of Megiddo n A Royal City See Ios. 12. 21. and 17. 11. and her towns but the Canaanites would dwell in that land 28 And it came to pass when Israel was strong that they put the Canaanites to tribute and did not utterly drive them out 29 ¶ * â—…sh 16. 10. Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer o Which they possessed till Solomons time 1 King 9. 16. among them 30 ¶ Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron nor the inhabitants of Nahalol but the Canaanites dwelt among them and became tributaries 31 ¶ Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho nor the inhabitants of Zidon nor of Ahlab nor Achzib nor Helbah nor Aphik nor of Rehob 32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites the inhabitants of the land for they did not drive them out 33 ¶ Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath but he dwelt among the Canaanites the inhabitants of the land nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh p A place differing from that Bethshemesh Ios. 15. 10. and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them 34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley q i. e. Into the Plain Countrey which was the occasion of that Expedition for the getting of new quarters of which we read Ios. 19. and Iudg. 18. 35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Ajalon and in Shaalbim yet the hand of the house of Joseph r i. e. Of the Ephraimites who helped their Brethren the Danites against the Amorites and
Family neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse s So they call David in contempt q. d. Rehoboam hath no reason to carry himself with such Pride and Contempt toward his People for if we trace his Original it was as mean and obscure as many of ours And since he abuseth his Power let us reduce him to his former Obscurity to your tents O Israel t i. e. Let us all forsake him and go to our own homes there to consider and then to meet and conclude how to provide otherwise for our selves now see to thine own house David u i. e. Govern thy own Family for thou shalt no longer Rule over us Thus they brake out into Actual Rebellion against him whom God had made their Lawful Soveraign wherein though they fulfilled God's Counsel yet they Violated his Authority and Command And they do again make an opprobrious mention of David whom they should not have named without Honour So Israel departed unto their tents 17 But * Chap. 11. 32. as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah x By which Phrase he principally understands the Tribe of Iudah but withal those parts and parcels of the Tribes of Levi and Simeon and Benjamin whose dwellings were within the Confines of Iudah or intermixed with them Rehoboam reigned over them 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram who was over the tribute y Him he sent either 1. To pacifie the People and promise them Relief now when it was too late But then he would not have sent a person so ungrateful to the People as that sort of men use to be Or rather 2. To pursue the Counsel which he had resolved upon and to execute his Office and exact their Tribute with Rigor and Violence if need were and all Israel stoned him with stones that he died therefore king Rehoboam ‡ Heb. strengthned himself made speed to get him up to his chariot to flee to Jerusalem z From Shechem where it seems he yet staid and his Guards and friends with him that being there in the midst of his Kingdom and among the Seditious Tribes he might over-awe them by his Presence and repress any Tumults in their first rise 19 So Israel ‖ Or fell away rebelled a Their Revolt is called Rebellion and therefore was sinful because it was contrary to God's Authority and Command of subjection to David and his Seed for ever from which the People were not freed by God's Promise and Grant made to Ieroboam which was but a Secret Transaction not yet sufficiently Revealed to them and was not a grant of present and actual Possession but onely a Promise That God would give it to him in his own time and way which might have been done though neither Ieroboam nor the People had used these indirect and evil Courses to bring it about as it befel David upon the same occasion Besides the People did not this in compliance with God's Counsel but to gratifie their own Passions and get themselves a little ease against the house of David unto this day 20 And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again b To wit from Egypt which was known before to the chief of the Tribes and to them who met at Shechem and now was more universally known by all the People that they sent c To his Tent or Habitation to which he had retired himself as others also generally did see above ver 16. and called him unto the congregation d Which was summoned by the Elders of the several Tribes to take advice how to settle their Affairs which they easily agreed to do by conferring the Crown upon Ieroboam according to God's Promise made to him and made him king over all Israel there was none d i. e. No intire Tribe See on Chap. 11. 13 31 32. that followed the house of David but the Tribe of Judah * Chap. 11. 〈◊〉 onely 21 And * 2 Chrâ—… 11. 1. when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin e i. e. That part of it which was next to Iudah and joyned with them See on Chap. 11. 13. an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriours to fight against the house f i. e. The Families or Tribes for these Words are promiscuously used one for the other of Israel of Israel to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon 22 But * 2 Chroâ—… 〈◊〉 2. the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God g i. e. The Propher so called partly to distinguish him from others of that Name See Nehem. 6. 10. Ier. 29. 31. And partly to add the more weight to his words saying 23 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the remnant of the people saying 24 Thus saith the LORD Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel return every man to his house for this thing is from me h This event is from my Counsel and Providence to punish Solomon's Apostacy though they procured it by sinful means and therefore if you proceed you must fight with me as well as them They hearkned therefore to the word of the LORD i Either from conscience of their duty or because they durst not oppose so Potent an Adversary and returned to depart according to the word of the LORD 25 ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem k i. e. He repaired and enlarged and fortified it for it had been ruined long since Iudg. 9. 45. He might chuse it as a place both auspicious because here the Foundation of his Monarchy was laid and commodious as being near the Frontiers of his Kingdom in mount Ephraim and dwelt therein and went out from thence and built Penuel l A place beyond Jordan of which see Gen. 32. 30. Iudg. 8. 17. to secure that part of his Dominions 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart m i. e. Reasoned within himself The Phrase discovers the Fountain of his Error That he did not consult with God who had given him the Kingdom as in all reason and â—…ustice and gratitude he should have done nor believed God's Promise Chap. 11. 38. but his own imaginations and carnal policies Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David 27 If these people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their LORD n Which in it self might seem a prudent conjecture for this would give Rehoboam and the Priests and Levites the sure and faithful friends of David's House many opportunities of alienating their minds from him and of reducing them to their former Allegiance But considering God's Providence by which the hearts of all
Mered as may seem by comparing this with v. 18. Miriam and Shamma and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa 18 And his wife a Either Ezra's Wife or rather another Wife of Mered. ‖ Or the Iewesâ—… Jehudijah b Or the Iewess so called to distinguish her from his Egyptian Wife here following bare Jered the father of Gedor and Heber the father of Zocho and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah And these c To wit Miriam and the rest following v. 17. are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh d Either 1. of Pharaoh King of Egypt For Mered might be a Person of great Estate and quality Or this might be onely Pharaohs Illegitimate Daughter Or of some other Egyptian or Israelite called by that Name which might easily happen upon divers occasions which Mered took 19 And the sons of his wife ‖ Or Iehudijah mentioned before Hodiah e His third Wife the sister of Naham the father of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maachathite 20 And the sons of Shimon f Another Son of the Father of Keilah mentioned v. 19. were Amnon and Rinnah Ben-hanan and Tilon And the sons of Ishi g son of Tilon last mentioned were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth 21 The sons of Shelah h Having treated of the Posterity of Iudah by Pharez and by Zare he now comes to his Progeny by Shelah of whom see Gen. 38. * Gen. 38. 1 5. the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah and Laadah the father of Mareshah and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen of the house of Ashbea 22 And Jokim and the men of Chozeba and Joash and Saraph who had the dominion in Moab i Which they ruled in the name and for the use and service of the Kings of Iudah to whom Moab was Subject from Davids Time Or who had Possessions in Moab or who married Wives in Moab and Jashubi-lehem And ‖ Or But. these are ancient things k The Sence is either 1. These Persons and things were in Ancient Times and therefore it is not strange if now they be so little known But that might have been with equal truth said of divers other parts of this Account Or rather 2. But those Blessed times and Things are long since past and gone Our Ancestors then had the Dominion over the Heathen but their degenerate Posterity are now Slaves to them in Chaldea Persia c. where they are employed as Potters or Gardiners or in other Servile Works 23 These were l Or rather these are for he seems to oppose their present Servitude to their former Glory and to shew their low and mean Spirits that had rather tarry among the Heathen to do their Drudgery than return to Ierusalem to serve God and enjoy their Freedom the Potters and those that dwelt amongst plants and Hedges there they dwelt m Or tarrâ—…ed or now dwell when their Brethren are returned with the King n Of Babylon or Persia Esteeming it a greater Honour and Happiness to serve that Earthly Monarch in the meanest Employments than to serve the King of Kings in his Temple and in his most Noble and Heavenly Work for his work 24 The sons of Simeon o These are here joyned with Iudah because their Possession was taken out of Iudahs Portion Ies. 19. 1. This Account seems to differ from that Gen. 46. both in the Number and Names of the Persons which is not strange considering how Customary it was amongst the Hebrews for one Person to have 2 or 3 Names given to him upon several occasions And for Ohad Gen. 46. 10. he may be omitted here because he left no Posterity or Family after him as the rest did were ‖ Or Ieâ—…uel Gen. 46. 10. Exod. 6. 15. Nemuel and Jammi Jarib Zerah and Shaul 25 Shallum his son p i. e. Son of Saul last mentioned Mibsam his son Mishma his son 26 And the sons of Mishma Hamuel his son Zacchur his son Shimei his son 27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters but his brethren had not many children neither did all their family multiply †〈…〉 like to the children of Judah q The Tribe of Simeon did not increase proportionably to the Tribe of Iudah in which they dwelt as appears by those two Catalogues Numb 1. 22. 26. 14. Which is to be ascribed to Gods Curse upon them delivered by the Mouth of Holy Iacob Gen. 49. and signified by Moses his neglect of them when he Blessed all the other Tribes 28 And they dwelt at * 〈…〉 Beer-sheba r This and the following Cities are mentioned Ios. 19. 2 c. with no great Alterations and Moladah and Hazar-shual 29 And at ‖ Or 〈◊〉 Josh. 19. â—… Bilhah and at Ezem and at ‖ Or 〈◊〉 Josh. 19. â—… Tolad 30 And at Bethuel and at Hormah and at Ziklag 31 And at Beth-marcaboth and ‖ 〈…〉 Hazar-susim and at Beth-birei and at Shaaraim These were their cities unto the reign of David c Either 1. of Davids Posterity i. e. as long as the Kingdom of Iudah lasted or until the Captivity of Babylon But this seems not to be true for Simeon was gone into Captivity with the rest of the Ten Tribes long before that time Or rather 2. of David himself And this may seem to be added because some of these Cities though given to Simeon by Ioshua yet through the Sloth or Cowardize of that Tribe were not taken from the Philistins until Davids Time who took some of them and the Simeonites having justly forfeited their Right to them by their neglect gave them to his own Tribe For it is evident concerning Ziklag one of them that it was in the Philistins Hands in Davids Time and by them given to him and by him annexed to the Tribe of Iudah 1 Sam. 27. 6. 32 And their villages were ‖ Or 〈◊〉 Josh 19. â—… Etam and Ain Rimmon and Tochen and Ashan five cities 33 And all their villages that were round about the same cities unto ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Josh 19. â—… Baal These were their habitations and ‖ 〈…〉 their genealogy 34 And Meshobah and Jamlech d These and the rest here following are particularly mentioned for their Valiant and Successful Atchievements related v. 39 c. and Joshah the son of Amaziah 35 And Joel and Jehu the son of Josibiah the son of Serajah the son of Asiel 36 And Elioenai and Jaakobah and Jeshohajah and Asajah and Adiel and Jesimiel and Benajah 37 And Ziza the son of Shiphi the son of Allon the son of Jedajah the son of Shimri the son of Shemajah 38 These e Named v. 34 35 36 37. †Heb. 〈◊〉 mentioned by their names were princes in their families and the house of their fathers †〈…〉 increased greatly f Which forced them to seek for new and larger Habitations
Ioseph For the phrase see Deut. 28. 10. 2 Chron. 7. 14. Isa. 4. 1. Ier. 14. 9. and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac s Let them be called their children let them not only have my blessing but the blessings of Abraham and Isaac let all meet together upon their heads and let that gracious covenant of God made with Abraham and confirmed with Isaac and me be ratified and made good unto them and let them grow †Heb. as fishes 〈◊〉 See Numb 26. 34 37. into a multitude in the midst of the Earth 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim it displeased him t Because of that affection which Parents generally have for their first-born See Gen. 21. 11. and he held up his fathers hand to remove it from Ephraims head unto Manassehs head 18 And Joseph said unto his father Not so my father for this is the first-born put thy right hand upon his head 19 And his father refused and said I know it my son I know it he also shall become a people and he also shall be great but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he u So the tribe of Ephraim was both in number Numb 1. 32 33 35. and 2. 19 21. and Deut. 33. 17. and in power and priviledges for that Tribe was the seat first of the Tabernacle and afterwards of the Kingdom Whence the name of Ephraim is sometimes put for all the ten Tribes as Isa. 7. 2. and sometimes for Joseph himself as Numb 1. 32. Rev. 7. 8. which Manasseh never is and his seed shall become a †Heb. fulness multitude of nations x i. e. Equal to many nations in number and strength Or from them shall proceed many nations i. e. Many numerous potent and flourishing families whereof each is equivalent to an ordinary nation For as Nations are sometimes called Families as Zach. 14. 18. so the Tribes and Families of Israel are called Nations or People as Ezek. 2. 2. Act. 4. 27. 20 And he blessed them in that day saying In thee y i. e. In thy seed as appears both from the relative them here and from ver 15. where his blessing of them is called the blessing of Ioseph and from the following words where this is interpreted of Ephraim and Manasseh And in thee or in thy seed i. e. using their names in the form or words of blessing as eminent examples of blessedness shall Israel bless saying God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh and he set Ephraim before Manasseh 21 And Israel said unto Joseph Behold I die z i. e. I am about to die The present time for that which will shortly and certainly be as Gen. 19. 13. and 20. 3. Iâ—… 14. 2. but God shall be with you and bring you again unto the land of your fathers a i. e. Canaan their Land 1. By habitation as Nazareth is called Christs Countrey because he dwelt in it 2. By the donation of God who had promised and would in his time give the actual possession of it to them i. e. to their seed 22 Moreover I have given to thee b i. e. I do now give to thee the right and I do prophetically give and God will really and actually give unto thy son Ephraim or his posterity who shall possess this part over and above that portion which shall fall to him by lot This was all the land which Iacob had in Canaan which he here gives to Ioseph partly in Testimony of his great affection and obligation to him Partly as a sign that he did conferre the right of the first-born upon him And partly for the confirmation of the Faith of Ioseph and his brethren and to oblige them to set up their rest no where but in Canaan one portion c The Hebrew word is Shechem which word indeed signifies a shoulder as Gen. 9. 23. and is here put for a part of Land which is choice and good as the shoulder is among the parts of the body See 1 Sam 9. 24. And he useth this word that by allusion he might signifie what place he speaks of even Shechem as may farther appear by comparing Ios. 24. 32. Ioh. 4. 5. Yea some would have Shechem here to be the proper name of the place which might be if the word one were not added to it above thy brethren which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow d This place is understood either 1. Of the future conquest of the Land of the Amorites or Canaanites by his posterity which he here ascribes to himself and speaks of it in the past time as of a thing already done as the manner of the Prophets is But Iacob would not attribute that to his Sword which his posterity deny to be done by their Sword Psal. 43. 4. And it is manifest that Iacob here speaks of that which was his by a special title and which in a peculiar manner he gave to Ioseph Or 2. Of the City and Territory of Shechem whose inhabitants were rooted out by Simeon and Levi and whose Land being void was possessed by Iacob And this is said to be got by Iacobs Sword and Bow because it was got with the Sword and Bow of his Sons Simeon and Levi and a great number of his Family who doubtless were associated with them in this expedition But it is not likely that he would take to himself that which he declares his utter abhorrency of Gen. 34. 30. and 42. 5 6. or that he should call that his Sword and his Bow here which he calls instruments of cruelty in Simeons and Levi's hands Gen. 49. 5. Or. 3. Which seems the truest of that Land in the Territory of Shechem which Iacob bought of Hamor Gen. 33. 19. which is said to be got by his Sword and Bow either 1. Properly because he did by force of Arms expel those Amorites who upon his retirement from those parts after the slaughter of the Sichemites had invaded his lands though this story be not elsewhere recorded as many things are mentioned by the by in some one place of Scripture without any particular account of the circumstances of them either there or elsewhere as Gen. 36. 24. Deut. 2. 9 10 11. Ios. 24. 11. And though Iacob was a man of peace yet his Sons were Warriors and they by his permission might drive out by their Arms those stragling Canaanites which had taken possession of his purchase Iacob being the more willing to recover his right herein because it was an earnest of his future possession of the whole Land And the neighbouring Canaanites would not concern themselves in the defence of the invaders both because they were convinced of the right of Iacobs cause and because they were over-ruled by divine Providence in which Iacob trusted and of which he had ample experience Or 2.
metaphorically i. e. by his money which he calls his Sword and his Bow not onely because money is answerable to the Sword and Bow and all other things Eccles. 10. 19. and is a defence Eccles. 7. 12. and therefore may well be so called even as prayers and tears are called the arms of the Church because they serve for the same purpose that Arms do against their Enemies But also and principally by way of opposition to the Sword and Bow of his cruel Sons So the sense may be this I have given to thee one portion or one Shechem not the City of Shechem which Simeon and Levi took from the hand of the Amorite with their Sword and their Bow but a part of the Territory of Shechem which I took or received from the hand of the Amorite by my Sword and my Bow i. e. by my money whereby I purchased it CHAP. XLIX 1 AND Jacob called unto his sons and said Gather your selves together that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last dayes a Or In the following times or latter dares when you shall enter into and be settled in the land of promise Hereby he signifies that he speaks here of things which concern not so much their persons as their posterity 2 Gather your selves together and hear ye sons of Jacob and hearken unto Israel your father 3 Reuben thou art my first-born my might and the beginning of my strength b The first instance or evidence of my might or strength or of that masculine vigour whereby God enabled me to beget a Child Compare Deut. 21. 17. Psal. 105. 36. Or the first of my Children which are the strength the stays and supports of a Father and of his Family thence called his Arrows as Psal. 12â—… 4. and by other authors the pillars of the house the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power c As first-born thou hadst the right of precedency before all thy brethren in point of dignity and power or priviledge the double portion the Priesthood the Dominion over thy brethren were thine 4 Unstable as water d This may concern either 1. Something past or Reubens fault and so he is said to have been unstable or light and vain as the word is used Iudg. 9. 4. Zeph. 3. 4. like water moved with every little wind of temptation and unbounded in thy lust as water of it self hath no bounds but will scatter it self every way if it be not kept within banks or in a vessel or hasty violent impetuous in thy lust like water which either overflows or breaks its banks Or 2. Something to come or Râ—…ubens punishment and so the meaning is thou i. e. thy posterity shall be unstable or unsettled flitting and vanishing coming to nothing or poured forth like water useless contemptible and weak Such indeed was the state of that Tribe of which we read nothing eminent in Scripture See Iudg. 5. 15 16. This I prefer before the former 1. Because it is not probable that his fault should be described here in such general and ambiguous and dark termes which is described so plainly and particularly in the following words 2. Because this makes the coherence most plain Here is a description 1. Of Reubens excellent state to which he was born ver 3. 2. Of his fall from that state in these words and the immediately following thou shalt not excell 3. Of the reason of this fall his great sin 3. Because the similitude of water applied to men in this manner notes rather their impotency and calamity than their sin as Ios. 7. 5. Psal. 22. 14. †Heb. do not thou excell thou shalt not excel e Or be the most eminent amongst thy brethren thou hast lost thy preeminency due to thee by birthright both for thy self and for thy posterity and it shall be given to others the Priesthood to Levi the Dominion to Iudah and the double portion to Ioseph because thou * chap. 35. 22. 1 Chro. 5. 1. wentest up to thy fathers bed then defiledst thou it f By committing incest with Bilhah ‖ Or my couch is coâ—…e He went up to my couch g He repeats the same thing and that in an emphatical manner turning his speech and face from Reuben to his brethren in a posture of indignation and detestation Which you must not impute to Iacobs passion he being now a dying man and this being forty years after the crime committed but to the spirit of God guiding his tongue to utter this not onely nor chiefly for the punishment of Reuben who as many think had repented of his sin but for terrour instruction and caution to all others and to assure them that sin though it may be long dissembled and born with yet it will one time or other be sorely punished g But those and the next foregoing words may be thus rendred Then defiledst thou my bed He went up to it or rather he is gone up i. e. he is vanished or perished or lost for so this word is oft used as Iob 5. 26. Isa. 5. 24. Ier. 48. 15. And so here is an elegant figure called Antanaclasis whereby the same word is repeated in the same verse in a different sense as Ps. 18. 26. Mat. 8. 22. So here He went up wickedly to his fathers bed to commit a great sin therefore now he is gone up penally to receive condign punishment his excellency is gone up like smoak which ascendeth and is dispersed in the Air. And this may seem to be the truest Translation and Interpretation because it keeps close to the Hebrew words and their order whereas in our Translation there is both a transplacing of the Hebrew words and a supplement added unnecessarily 5 * chap. 29. 33 34. Simeon and Levi are brethren h Not onely by nature but in iniquity of like cruel and bloody disposition confederate in the same wicked design Gen. 34. 25. So the word Brother is elsewhere used for him that agrees much with another in his temper or employment or designs as Iob 30. 29. Prov. 18. 9. c. ‖ Or their swords are weapons of violence instruments of cruelty are in their habitations i i. e. Their bloody Swords are yet in their dwellings to bear witness against them for their barbarous cruelty But these words may be and are by some both antient and later Interpreters rendred otherwise For the Hebrew word Mecheroth here rendred habitations is never so used nor indeed is found elsewhere in Scripture Nor doth that signification agree with the Hebrew root from whence this comes which is mechar and signifies to bargain or sell or exchange And accordingly this word is by the Samaritan Translator and by other learned Interpreters rendred their conventions or compacts or civil contracts or agreements And which is more the Chaldee Verb mechar from whence this word may very well be deduced signifies to espouse and
the noun mechirah derived from it signifies a spouse And so the words may be rendred thus their contracts or agreements or their nuptial contracts were instruments of cruelty Which Translation seems better than the other 1. because it keeps closest to the words of the text and leaves out that particle in which is not in the Hebrew Text but was added by our Translators to compleat the sense 2. Because this best agrees with the history recorded Gen. 34. where we read that they did cover their bloody design with 〈◊〉 pretence of an agreement and nuptial contract with the Sichemites which was a great aggravation of their villany that those things which to others are bonds of love and peace were made by them instruments of cruelty 6 O my soul come not thou into their secret k Or Counsel or company as the word is used Psal. 64. 2. Ier. 15 17. i. e. do not partake with them in their secret and wicked designs Hereby he signifies to all posterity that that bloody enterprize was undertaken without his consent or approbation and that he could not think of it without detestation nor let it pass without a severe censure Or O my soul thou wast not in their secret as the Chald. Syr. and Arab. take it by a common Enallage of the future tense for the past unto their assembly mine honour l Either 1. properly so called So the sense is let not my honour or good name be bound up with theirs They gloried in their wickedness which I abominate and which indeed is their shame Or 2. Improperly so he understands either 1. His Soul which is indeed the glory of a man Though I do not remember any place of Scripture where that word must necessarily be so understood So this is a repetition of the same thing in other words which is usual in Scripture Or rather 2. His tongue for which the word honour or glory is commonly put as Psal. 16. 9. compare with Acts 2. 26. Psal. 30. 12. and 57. 8. and 108. 1. because the Tongue or speech is the glory of a man by which he is distinguished from unreasonable creatures and if well used it brings much honour to God and to the man that speaks with it So the sense is as my Soul did not approve of that wicked action so my Tongue never gave consent to it nor shall it now by silence seem to own it but shall publickly witness my abhorrency of it be not thou united for in their anger they slew a man m i. e. Men the Sichenites Gen. 34. 25 26. the singular number for the plural as Gen. 3. 2. and 32. 5. 1 Chron. 10. 1. compared with 1 Sam. 31. 1. He saith man rather then men either with respect unto the Prince whose slaughter was principally designed or to shew that they slew them all to a man and in their self-will n It may note that this cruelty of theirs was committed 1. By their own will and choice not by Iacobs will or consent which they never asked nor obtained 2. Without any necessity or sufficient provocation but meerly by their own will and proper motion 3. Not rashly and hastily but wilfully and resolvedly after mature deliberation 4. Not unwillingly but chearfully and with delight and good will as that word commonly signifies they ‖ Or houghed Oxen. digged down a wall o Not the walls of the City but of private houses it may be onely of the Princes house who upon the first noise of the tumult might and probably did retire and secure himself in some strong room of the house whose wall they brake down that they might come at hâ—…m For neither were the walls of houses or Cities so strong then as now many are nor were Simeon and Levi destitute of fit instruments to break down a wall which doubtless they brought with them as easily foreseeing that difficulty in their enterprize But because the Hebrew word is not Shur a wall but Schor an Oxe others translate the words thus They houghed or killed an Ox or Bull meaning Shechem so called either from his lust or from his strength and power from which Princes are oft so called as Deut. 33. 17. Psal. 22. 12. and 68. 30. Or rather thus They rooted out or drove away an Ox i. e. the Oxen the singular number for the plural as before and under them are comprehended the other cattle of the Sichemites which they drove away as we read they did Gen. 34. 28. For as the words may bear this sense so it seems more reasonable to understand them of that which certainly was done by them then of their breaking a wall of which we do not read any thing in the history 7 Cursed be p Or Cursed was It was execrable and abominable both before God and Men such as deserved and brought the curse of God upon themselves which I as Gods instrument am now to pronounce against them their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel I * Josh. 21. 5 6 7. will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel q i. e. I do here declare in the name of God that they shall be divided and dispersed in Iacob c. that is among the children or Tribes of Iacob or Israel Prophets are said to do what they foretel that God will do as Ieremy is said to roâ—…t out and pull down Kingdomes Ier. 1. 10. and Ezekiel to dâ—…stroy the city Ezek. 43. 3. Adde Hos. 6. 5. Note here how suitable their punishment was to their crime They sinned by conspiracy and consederation in the counsel and action and they are punished with division or separation not onely of the two brethren and their tribes but of the children and families of the several Tribes one from another This was eminently fulfilled in the tribe of Levi which had no proper portion or inheritance but was scattered among all the Tribes Ios. 18. 7. though afterwards God turned this curse into a blessing And for Siâ—…on he had no part of his own in the division of the land but the portion of Iudah being too large for that Tribe he was taken into that lot and was as an inmate to them Ios. 19. 1 2 9. and afterwards part of them were forced to seek new seats and so were divided from the rest of their brethren 1 Chron. 4. 27 39 42. And moreover the Jewish Doctors write that that Tribe was so straitned in their habitations and conveniencies that a very great number of them were forced to scatter themselves amongst the other Tribes to get a subsistence by teaching their children 8 Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise r Or rather Thou art Iudah thy brethren shall praise or celebrate thee So the expression is like that 1 Sam. 25. 25. as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and folly is with him or in him so here the sence
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 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
his very Servants to bear rule over you and enslave you and particularly this ignoble and hateful person Zebul serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem l If you love Bondage call in the old Master and Lord of the place chuse not an upstart as Abimelech is but rather take one of the old Stock one descended from Hamor Gen. 34. 2. who did not carry himself like a Tyrant as Abimelech did but like a Father of his City of Shechem This he might speak either 1. Sincerely as being himself a Canaanite and a Shechemite and possibly come from one of those little ones whom Simeon and Levi spared when they slew all the grown Males Gen. 34. 29. And it may be that he was one of the Royal Blood a descendant of Hamor who hereby sought to insinuate himself into their minds and Government as it follows v. 29. Would to God thus people were under my hand which he might judg the people more likely to do both because they were now united with the Canaanites in Religion and because their present distress might oblige them to put themselves under him who seemed or pretended to be a Valiant and Expert Commanâ—… Or 2. In way of decision he being an Israelite if you are so servile serve some of the Children of Hamor which because you rightly judg to be absurd and dishonourable do not now submit to a far baser person but cast off his Yoak and recover your lost Liberties for why should we serve him 29 And would to God this people were under my hand m i. e. Under my Command I wish you would unanimously submit to me as your Captain and Governour for he found them divided and some of them hearkening after Abimelech whom they had lately rejected according to the levity of the popular humour then would I remove Abimelech n As you have driven him ouâ—… of your City I would drive him out of your Countrey And he said to Abimelech o He sent this Message or Challenge to him Increase thine army and come out p I desire not to surprise thee at any disadvantage strengthen thy self as much as thou canst and come out into the open Field that thou and I may decide it by our Arms. 30 ¶ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed his anger was ‖ Or 〈◊〉 kindled q It seems he had temporized and complyed with the peoples humour and Plot against Abimelech either in dissimâ—…ation and design and by Abimelech's connivence or advice or really but when he heard Gaal's words and himself traduced and struck at by them he changed his mind repented of his defection from Abimelech and intended to return himself and to bring the people again to the Obedience of their Lord and King 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech ‡ Heb. 〈◊〉 or to 〈◊〉 privily r So as Gaal and his Confederates might not know it Or in Thormah or who was in Tormah for some make it the name of the place where Abimelech was which is called with some variation Arumah v. 41. saying Behold Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem and behold they fortifie the city against thee s They Besiege or Guard the City of Shechem so as none may go out to thee nor come in from thee 32 Now therefore up by night thou and the people that is with thee and lye in wait in the field 33 And it shall be that in the morning assoon as the sun is up thou shalt rise early and set upon the city and behold when he t i. e. Gaal mentioned v. 33. and the people that is with him come out against thee then mayest thou do to them ‡ Heb. as 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 find as thou shalt find occasion 34 ¶ And Abimelech rose up and all the people that were with him by night and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entring of the gate of the city u To put his Army in order and to conduct them against Abimelech whom he supposed to be at a great distance and Abimelech rose up and the people that were with him from lying in wait 36 And when Gaal saw the people he said to Zebul x Who concealed the anger which he had conceived v. 30. and pretended compliance with him in this Expedition that he might draw him forth into the Field where Abimilech might have the opportunity of Fighting with him and overthrowing him Behold there come people down from the top of the mountains And Zebul said unto him Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men y For in the Morning as this was and in the Evening the shadows are longest and move most quickly He intimates that he was afraid of shadows 37 And Gaal spake again and said See there come people down by the ‡ Hebr. navel middle of the land z Heb. by the navel of the Land So he calls either First the middle of it as the middle part of Greece and of Sicily are called the navel of them by the Roman Writers because the Navel is in the midst of Mans Body Or Secondly The higher part of it called the Mountains v. 36. and here the navel because it was raised above the other ground as the Navel is above the rest of the Body and another company come along by the plain of ‖ Or the regarders of â—…imes Meonenim 38 Then said Zebul unto him Where is now thy mouth a i. e. Thy brags Now thou betrayest thy fears and therefore now shew thy self a man and fight valiantly for thy self and people wherewith thou saidst Who is Abimelech that we should serve him is not this the people that thou hast despised Go out I pray now and fight with them 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech 40 And Abimelech chased him and he fled before him b Being surprized by the unexpected coming of Abimelech and possibly not fully prepared for the encounter and many were overthrown and wounded c Being pursued and overtaken by Abimelech even unto the entring of the gate 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah d He did not prosecute his Victory but retreated to Arumah partly to see the effect of this Fight and whether the Shechemites would not of themselves return to his Government being either perswaded by Zebul upon this occasion or terrified by his strength and valour or now by his clemency in proceeding no further against them and partly that being hereby grown more secure he might have the greater advantage against them which accordingly he here makes use of and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren e Which he was inabled to do because the Multitude which is generally light and unstable and
would punish them for no fault we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered save to every man his wife and his children that they may lead them away and depart 23 Then said David Ye shall not do so my brethren f He useth his Power and Authority to over-rule them but manageth it with all sweetness calling them Brethren not onely as of the same Nation and Religion with him but as his fellow-Soldiers with that which the LORD hath given us g What he hath freely imparted to us we should not unkindly and injuriously with-hold from our Brethren who hath preserved us and delivered the company that came against us into our hand 24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter h What wise or just man will be of your opinion in this matter but * â—…ee Num. 31. as his part is that goeth down to the battel so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff they shall part alike i A prudent and equitable Constitution and therefore practised by the Romans as Polybius and others note The Reason of it is manifest because they were exposed to hazards as well as their Brethren and were a Reserve to whom they might retreat in case of a Defeat and they were now in actual Service and in the station in which their General had placed them 25 And it was so from that day ‡ Heb. and forward that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day 26 ¶ And when David came to Ziâ—…lag he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah k Partly in gratitude for their former favour to him and partly in Policy to engage their Affections to him now when he apprehended Saul's Death near even to his friends saying Behold a ‡ Heb. blessing present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD l He intimates that though he was fled to the Philistines yet he imployed not his Forces against the Israelites as no doubt Saul's Courtiers and Soldiers reported that he designed but onely against Gods Enemies 27 To them which were in Bethâ—…el m In Kiriath-jearim where the Ark was 1 Sam. 10. 3. and to them which were in * Iesh 19. 8. south-Ramoth n A City in the Tribe of Simeon Jos. 19. 8. so called by way of distinction from Ramoth in Gilead which was more Northward 1 King 22. 12. and to them which were in Jatter o Of which see Ios. 15. 48. 28 And to them which were in Aroer p Not that beyond Iordan Numb 32. 34. as many think which was too remote from David but another Place of that Name in Iudah where the rest of the Places here named were This being one of those places where David and his men were wont to haunt as is expressed v. 31. and to them which were in Siphmoth and to them which were in Eshtemoa 29 And to them which were in Rhachal and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites 30 And to them which were in Hormah and to them which were in Chor-ashan and to them which were in Athach 31 And to them which were in Hebron and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt q Or to go Whither they used to resort in the time of Saul's Persecution either to hide themselves in some of their Territories or to get Provision from thence CHAP. XXXI NOW * 1 Chron. 10. 1. the Philistines fought against Israel a Whilest David was Ingaged against the Amalekites So he returns to the History which had been interrupted to give an account of David's concerns and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down ‖ Or wounded slain in mount Gilboa 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons and the Philistines slew * 1 Chro. 8. 33. Jonathan b David's dear friend God so ordering it for the further exercise of David's Faith and Patience and that David might depend upon God alone for his Crown and receive it solely from him and not from Ionathan who doubtless had he lived would have speedily settled the Crown upon David's Head which would have in some sort Eclipsed the Glory of God's Grace and Power in this Work There was also a special Providence of God in taking away Ionathan who of all Saul's Sons seems to have been the fairest for the Crown for the preventing Divisions which have happened amongst the People concerning the Successor David's way to the Crown being by this means made the more clear and Abinadab c Called also Ishui 1 Sam. 14. 49. Ishbosheth was not here being possibly at home for the management of Publick Affairs there and Malchishua Sauls sons 3 And the battel went sore against Saul and the ‡ Heb. shooters men with bows archers ‡ Heb. found him hit him and he was sore wounded of the archers 4 Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer Draw thy sword and thrust me through therewith lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and ‖ Or mock me abuse me d Lest they take me and put me to some shameful and cruel Death But his armour-bearer would not for he was sore afraid therefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it e And died of the Wound as it follows 5 And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him 6 So Saul died with his three sons and his armour-bearer and all his men that same day together 7 ¶ And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley f To wit the Valley of Iezreel where the Battel was Fought and they that were on the other side Jordan g Or rather on this side Iordan for these were in the most danger and the Hebrew Preposition is indifferently used for on this side or for beyond saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead they forsook the cities and fled and the Philistines came and dwelt in them 8 And it came to pass on the morrow when the Philistines came to strip the slain that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa 9 And they cut off his head h As the Israelites did by Goliah and stripped off his armour and sent into the land of the Philistines round about to publish it in the house of their idols i To give them the glory of this Victory and among the people 10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth and they fastned his body to the wall of Beth-shan 11 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead k Which was beyond Iordan for the people on this side Iordan were fled from their Cities as was
to distribute x To the Priests and Levites to whom they were appropriated by God the oblations of the LORD and the most holy things y To wit the remainders of the Free-will-offering Levit. 2. 3 10. The Sin-offering and Trespass-offering Levit. 6. 18 22. 7. 1. and the Shew-bread Levit. 24. 9. 15 And †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand next him were Eden and Minjamin and Jeshua and Shemajah Amariah and Shecaniah in * Josh. 21. the cities of the priests z Who were intrusted with the Receiving and Distributing of the several Portions belonging to the Priests who abode in their several Cities whilest their â—…rethren came up to Jerusalem in their ‖ Or 〈◊〉 set office to give to their brethren by courses as well to the great as to the small 16 Beside their genealogy of males from three years old and upward a To whom a Portion of these things was allotted as is here implied even unto every one that entreth into the house of the LORD b That were capable of entring thither and doing Service there which they were at twenty years old as is expressed here v. 17. 1 Chron. 23. 24. Through the whole Company of the Priests and Levites his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses 17 Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers and the Levites ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 from twenty years old and upward in their charges by their courses 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones their wives and their sons and their daughters through all the congregation c This is alledged as a Reason why their Wives and Children were provided for out of the Holy things because they sequestred themselves from worldly Affairs by which they might otherwise have provided for their Families and intirely devoted themselves to Holy Administrations for in their ‖ 〈◊〉 set office they sanctified themselves in holiness 19 Also the sons of Aaron the priests which were in * 〈◊〉 25. 34. 〈◊〉 35. 2. the fields d Who are opposed to those that lived in or resorted to the great City Jerusalem of the suburbs of their cities in every several city the men that were expressed by name to give portion to all the males among the priests and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the law and in the commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered CHAP. XXXII 1 AFter * 〈◊〉 18. 13 〈◊〉 these things and †〈◊〉 36. â—… c. â—… Heb. tâ—…is the establishment thereof a An Emphatical Preface signifying that notwithstanding all his Pious Care and Zeal for God yet God saw fit to Exercise him with a fore Trial and Calamity which yet he turned to his great Honour and Advantage Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entred into Judah and encamped against the senced cities and thought †〈◊〉 Gr. 〈◊〉 31. 20. â—… Heb. 〈◊〉 break 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to win them for himself b He designed and bragged that he would win them all and did actually win many of them 2 King 18. 13. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come and that †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was purposed to sight against Jerusalem 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains c With Earth or other things cast into them and withal to derive the Waters by secret Paths and Pipes under ground to Jerusalem which were without the city and they did help him 4 So there was gathered much people together who stopt all the fountains and the brook that †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ran through the midst of the land saying Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water d Which was a scarse Commodity in this Country and the want of it might much annoy the Assyrian Army 5 Also * 〈◊〉 22. 9. he strengthened himself and built up all the wall that was broken e By Joash ch 25. 23. and not since repaired 2 Chron 25. 23. and raised it up to the towers f Either 1. As high as the Towers or the tops of the Wall Or 2. As far as the two Towers or Gates which were made in the Form of Towers and had the use of Towers to wit that of Ephraim and the Corner-Gate both mentioned above ch 25. 23. Or brought up Engines or Instruments of Defence upon the Towers and another wall without and repaired * 2 Sam. 5. 9. Millo g Of which see 1 King 9. 24. 11. 27. in the city of David and made ‖ Or swords or weapons darts and shields in abundance 6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and †Heb. spake to their heart spake comfortably to them saying 7 Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for * 2 Kin. 6. 16. there be mo with us than with him 8 With him is an * Jer. 17. 5. arm of flesh but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battels And the people †Heb. leaned rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah 9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem h Of this and the following Verses see the Notes on 2 King 18. 17. c. and 19. 10 c. but he himself laid siege against Lachish and all his †Heb. â—… mâ—…n power with him unto Hezekiah king of Judah and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem saying 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria Whereon do ye trust that ye abide ‖ Or in the strong hold in the siege in Jerusalem 11 Doth not Hezekiah perswade you to give over your selves to die by famine and by thirst saying The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria 12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem saying Ye shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it 13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people out of mine hand that your God should be able to deliver you out of
water-gate eastward 38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them a To wit on the other side of the City Northward and Eastward and I after them and the half of the people upon the wall from beyond * Ch. 3. 11. the tower of the furnaces even unto the * Ch. 3. 8. broad wall b Which they made thicker and stronger than the rest of the Wall for some special reason 39 And from above * 2 Kin. 14. 1â—… the gate of Ephraim and above the * Ch. 3. 6. old gate and above * Ch. 3. 3. the fish-gate and the tower of Hananeel and * Ch. 3. 1. the Tower of Meah even unto the sheep-gate and they stood still in the prison gate c Waiting as also their Brethren did that they might go together in due order into God's House there to perfect the solemnity 40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God d i. e. In the Courts of the Temple and I and the half of the rulers with me e And Ezra and the other half with him as appears by comparing this with v. 31 36. 41 And the priests Eliakim Maasejah Miniamin Michajah Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets 42 And Maasejah and Shemajah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer and the singers †Heb. made their voice to be heard sang loud with Jezrahiah their overseer 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy the wives also and the children rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off f Either their loud voices and instruments were heard to a great distance or the fame of it was spread far and near 44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures for the offerings g Such as they had lately ingaged themselves to give or other voluntary or prescribed offerings for the first-fruits and for the tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions ‖ That is appointed by the law of the law h i. e. The foresaid first-fruits and Tithes and other things which God by his Law appointed for them for the priests and Levites †Heb. for the joy of Iudah for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites †Heb. that stood that waited i Partly for the eminent Gifts and Graces which they observed in many of them and partly for the great benefit which they had now received by their Ministry and therefore for the competent provision which hereby was made for them that so they might wholly wait upon their office to the Peoples Edification and Comfort 45 And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God k i. e. That Ward or Charge or Business which God had prescribed to them and the ward of the purification l And in particular the charge of purification i. e. of taking care that no unclean person or thing might enter into the House or Courts of the Lord which care did certainly belong to the Porters as is expressed 2 Chron. 23. 19. and at this time and in some sort as it seems to the singers who besides their proper imployment were also over the business of the house of God as is affirmed ch 11. 22. Which being a general expression may-well comprehend if it doth not principally design this that they should take care to keep the House of God free from all pollution And possibly as the Porters were to take care that no unclean thing might enter there so if it should through their madvertency enter in the Singers were to remove it * 1 Chr. 25. 26. according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son 46 For in the days of David * 1 Chr. 25. 1 c. and Asaph m of old there were chief of the singers n There were some overseers whose Office it was to see that the Singers were fit for and diligent in their work and therefore they took care of it at this time and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God n And Heman and Ieduthun 1 Chron. 25. 1. but Asaph only is mentioned here as the most eminent and useful in that work 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion and they ‖ That is set apart sanctified holy things o i. e. They sequestred or set apart the First-fruits and Tithes from their own share and devoted them to the use of the Levites to whom they belonged And so did the Levites by the Tithe of the Tithes Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues to God or his Assigns and did not profane those things which God had sanctified nor take them to their own common use as divers ungodly or covetous persons had formerly used to do when they had opportunity unto the Levites * Num. 18. 26. and the Levites sanctified them unto the childeren of Aaron CHAP. XIII 1 ON that day a Not now presently after the dedication of the wall and gates and City but upon a certain day as that phrase is very commonly used in Scripture without any relation to the time or things mentioned next before it to wit when Nehemiah was returned again from the Persian court to Ierusalem from which he had been absent for some considerable time in which some errours and abuses had crept in which now he endeavours to remove †Heb. there was read they read in the book of Moses in the †Heb. ears audience of the people b Partly because it was not only the Priests but also the peoples duty to study and understand Gods Law and their own duty and partly that the people hearing that this was the express mind and will of the great God might the more willingly yield to the following duties some of which were attended with difficulty and required self denial and therein was found written * Deut. 23. 3. that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God c i. e. Not be incorporated into the common wealth of Israel nor be joyned with any Israelite in marriage relation as appears from v. 3. That practice being a plain comment upon this law But of this and the next verse see the notes on Deut. 23. 3 4. for ever 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water but * Numb 22. 5. Josh. 24. 9. hired Balaam against them that he should curse them howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing 3 Now it came to pass when they heard the law that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude d i.