not rinsed his hands in water he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean untill the even 12. And the vessel of earth that he toucheth which hath the issue shall be broken and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water 13. And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing and wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in running water and shall be clean 14. And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves or two young pigeons and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and give them unto the priest 15. And the priest shall offer them the one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue 16. And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him then he shall wash all his flesh in water and be unclean untill the even 17. And every garment and every skin whereon is the seed of copulation shall be washed with water and be unclean untill the even 18. The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation they shall both bathe themselves in water and be unclean untill the even 19. And if a woman have an issue and her issue in her flesh be blood she shall be put a-part seven days and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean untill the even 20. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean 21. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean untill the even 22. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean untill the even 23. And if it be on her bed or on any thing whereon she sitteth when he toucheth it he shall be unclean untill the even 24. And if any man lie with her at all and her flowers be upon him he shall be unclean seven days and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean 25. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation or if it run beyond the time of her separation all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation she shall be unclean 26. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean as the uncleanness of her separation 27. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean untill the even 28. But if she be cleansed of her issue then she shall number to her self seven days and after that she shall be clean 29. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles or two young pigeons and bring them unto the priest to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 30. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness 31. Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness that they die not in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them 32. This is the law of him that hath an issue and of him whose seed goeth from him and is defiled therewith 33. And of her that is sick of her flowers and of him that hath an issue of the man and of the woman and of him that lieth with her which is unclean 2. Running issue Or Running of the reins Flesh This is to be understood in that sense in which the word is taken Gen. 17.13 3. Run or be stopped i. e. Whether it flow or through its consistency stop the passage 4. Thing Hebr. Vessel 5. Whosoever toucheth c. This is an argument that the Man who was legally unclean with his Issue was under a great degree of Uncleanness in that he did not onely defile what he touched but that which was so defiled did also defile him that touched it 12. Vessel of earth Ch. 6.28 13. For his cleansing i. e. For a proof of his being perfectly healed ch 13.4 15. Atonement See ch 14.18 16. Go out from him viz. Against his Will See Deut. 23.10 Vnclean i. e. Legally unclean 19. Put apart Heb. In her separation 24. Lie with her at all That is though he do it ignorantly not knowing her to be in that condition For if he did it knowingly he was liable to be cut off ch 20.18 28. Cleansed i. e. Healed See v. 13. 31. When they defile my Tabernacle By approaching to it in their legal Impurities See ch 16.16 CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT Of the High-priest's going into the Holy of Holies He must put on the Holy Garments and bring his Sin-offering for himself Of the two Goats for the People one whereof was a Sin-offering for them of the other called the Scape-goat Aaron's Burnt-offering and that of the People The tenth Day of the seventh Month the Day of Expiation appointed to be both a Fast and Sabbath or Day of Rest 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered before the LORD and died 2. And the LORD said unto Moses Speak unto Aaron thy brother that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark that he die not for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat 3. Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place with a young bullock for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering 4. He shall put on the holy linen coat and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh and shall be girded with the linen girdle and with the linen mitre shall he be attired these are holy garments therefore shall he wash his flesh in water and so put them on 5. And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering and one ram for a burnt-offering 6. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself and make an atonement for himself and for his house 7. And he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scape-goat 9. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell and offer him for a sin-offering 10. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scape-goat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make an
take up the censers out of the burning and scatter thou the fire yonder for they are hallowed 38. The censers of these sinners against their own souls let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar for they offered them before the LORD therefore they are hallowed and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel 39. And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers wherewith they that were burnt had offered and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar 40. To be a memorial unto the children of Israel that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the LORD that he be not as Korah and as his company as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses 41. But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying Ye have killed the people of the LORD 42. And it came to pass when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation and behold the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared 43. And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation 44. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 45. Get you up from among this congregation that I may consume them as in a moment and they fell upon their faces 46. And Moses said unto Aaron Take a censer and put fire therein from off the altar and put on incense and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the LORD the plague is begun 47. And Aaron took as Moses commanded and ran into the midst of the congregation and behold the plague was begun among the people and he put on incense and made an atonement for the people 48. And he stood between the dead and the living and the plague was stayed 49. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred beside them that died about the matter of Korah 50. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and the plague was stayed 1. KOrah Chap. 27.3 Ecclus. 45.18 Jude 11. This Korah was Cousin-German to Moses and Aaron Exod. 6.18 20 21. And thought himself fit to be their Equal Again Elzaphan the Son of Vzziel who was younger Brother to Izhar Exod. 6.18 21 22. was appointed Chief of the House of the Father of the Families of the Kohathites Numb 3.30 which might occasion some discontent to Korah Reuben He was the First-born of Israel but for his Sin was deprived of his Birth-right Gen. 49.3 4. and the Priviledges thereof 1 Chron. 5.1 2. which his Posterity seditiously would usurp They and Korah Confederate together Besides their pretences they had the easier opportunity of associating from their being placed by each other on the South-side of the Camp ch 2. Took men viz. The Two hundred and fifty mentioned v. 2. 2. Princes Exod. 18.25 Numb 1.16 Famous Ch. 26.9 3. Ye take too much upon you Heb. It is much for you i. e. Let it suffice that ye have hitherto exalted your selves See Deut. 3.26 4. He fell upon his face See the Note on ch 14.5 5. Who are his i. e. Who are chosen by him to govern and minister in holy things And will cause c. That is he will some way or other justifie the Vocation of them to their eminent and separate Offices 6. This do This Command Moses gives by God's special direction 7. Before the LORD That is in the Sanctuary where God was more especially present 9. To minister unto them That is to minister in their room and stead 10. The priesthood This was an higher Order above that of the Levites and by God conferred upon Aaron and his Sons 11. Against the LORD They might well be said to gather together against the Lord when they did it against those whom God had appointed 1 Sam. 8.7 Luk. 10.16 12. Moses sent to call Dathan c. He summoned them to come to him by which means they might have been taken off from persisting in their Sedition by his perswasions had they hearkened to him 14. Put out Heb. Bore out 15. Respect not c. Gen. 4.4 19. The glory of the LORD See the Note on ch 14.10 22. They fell See v. 4. One man Korah who was the Principal who seduced others into this Rebellion See v. 1 5 8 16 19. 25. Went unto Dathan c. Who refused to come to him v. 12 14. 26. Touch nothing of theirs Because it is devoted to destruction Josh 7.11 27. Came out and stood This seems to intimate their defiance of Moses and his Power 1 Sam. 17.8 16. 28. All these works viz. The appointing Aaron to be Priest and the Levites to minister and his undertaking the Government and appointing Korah and his Company to take Censers v. 6. 29. The common death Heb. As every man dieth 30. Make a new thing Heb. Create a creature 31. And it came to pass Chap. 27.3 Deut. 11.6 Psal 106.17 32. And all the men i. e. All those who continued with him at this time and were of his Confederacy which no way contradicts what is said ch 26.11 The children of Korah died not 35. A fire from the LORD See Levit 10.1 2. 37. Vnto Eleazar These evil Men attempted to deprive Aaron's Posterity of the Priesthood and therefore Eleazar his Son is commanded to make the Censers into a standing Memorial of their fault and of the Priesthood's being setled in the Family of Aaron Out of the burning Or Out of the place where they who offered Incense were destroyed by Fire v. 35. Yonder i. e. Farther from the Sanctuary Hallowed That is separated from common use having been offered before the Lord v. 38. to the use which God should appoint them to 38. Altar That is the Altar of Burnt-offering and not the Altar of Incense for this was over-laid with pure Gold Exod. 37.26 and these Censers were of Brass v. 39. Besides that the Altar of Incense was in the Holy place out of the view of the People and consequently Plates there placed would not serve as a sign to them 41. On the morrow c. This Sin of theirs is greatly aggravated from their having seen the strange Judgment of God upon the Seditious the day before 42. The glory See v. 19. 45. Fell c. See verse 4. 46. Take a censer c. God by what Aaron did and effected did farther assert his just Title to the Priesthood 47. Put on incense and made c. This Incense represented Prayer and Aaron's offering it in behalf of the People the intercession of Christ on our behalf v. 48. 50. The plague was stayed Upon Aaron's offering Incense a stop is put to the destruction whereas when they who were not called of God as Aaron attempted to offer it the Judgment of God over-took
also when he writes of things that hapned in his own time This is very unfair dealing But that I may not pass any thing over that these Objectors can urge let us see what unto this day imports No Man can inferr any more from it but this That the thing was done and fully completed And so it was in this case Jair had taken these Places in the time of Moses and given these Names to them And if they were so called in the time of Moses he might as truly and as properly say they were so call'd to this day as if they had been so call'd for a thousand years past Moses says of the Egyptians The Lord hath destroyed them to this day Deut. 11.4 This he might have said as properly the day after they were destroy'd as he cou'd that might have said it an hundred years after No more is meant but that then the Egyptians were destroyed That Destruction was not yet to happen 'T is evident these words do not import a long time elapsed I have walked before you from my Childhood to this day i. e. Hitherto says Samuel to the Israelites 1 Sam. 12.2 Achish says of David I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day 1 Sam. 29.3 Here 's no ancient History referr'd to Compare 1 Sam. 30.25 with Jerem. 32.31 This saying is commonly reported among the Jews untill this day Matt. 28.15 Vntill this day cannot relate to ancient Times for St. Matthew wrote his Gospel not long after the Events he relates a little before Obj. VII It is farther pretended that Moses cou'd not be the Author of those words And the children of Israel did eat Manna forty years untill they came to a Land inhabited They did eat Manna untill they came to the borders of the Land of Canaan Exod. 16.35 Here Moses if he be the Author of these words must be granted to write of something that hapned after his death for he did not live to that time of forty years whiles the Israelites did eat Manna See Jos 5.12 Some answer says the Author of the Commentary on Genesis mention'd above that Moses knew as appears from Numb 14.33 That after forty years upon the entring of the Israelites into Canaan Manna shou'd cease But this says he is related here not fore-told And therefore says he Moses useth the Preterperfect tense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They did eat And therefore he is for giving up this place also as he did the nine Verses before To which I return the following Answer 1. 'T is manifest that this Commentator on Genesis trifles when he lays a stress upon the Preterperfect tense by which the Israelites eating Manna is express'd He cannot but know that 't is an Observation of no weight in this matter Nothing is more common among the Sacred Writers than such an Enallage of Tense And it must be allow'd especially in the Writings of the Prophets who speak of Things certainly to come to pass as of Things already past This very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is by our Interpreters elsewhere rendred by a future All they that are fat upon Earth shall eat and worship Ps 22.29 And that rendring of the word may be defended very easily It not onely may be so rendred but in that place it ought so to be as is evident to him that considers the Context Again Isa 65.21 we have the same word and it hath there the signification of a future as appears from the Context To which I may add Hosea 4.10 and Zechar. 12.6 in which places this very word occurrs and signifies as a future See also Gen. 45.18 where this word is rendred Ye shall eat And however 't is rendred here or ought to be render'd yet certain it is that Author ought not to have insisted on that which is so very frivolous 2. Supposing Moses to have written these words yet here is no just Charge or Imputation can be brought against him Will any Man say that he wrote that which is not true That no Man hath attempted to do 'T is granted on all hands that the Israelites did eat Manna so long as is affirm'd here Will they say that he wrote a thing that was not known to him to be a Truth That they will not say For 't is allow'd that the thing was made known to him that the Israelites shou'd eat Manna so long And if these Men shou'd have been so hardy as to deny this yet it might easily be prov'd What is it then that forbids Moses to be the Author of these words If it be this that he writes for forty years when he dy'd at least some months before that time was expir'd 3. I answer That this is no Objection against him Because there is nothing more common with the Sacred Writers than to give the full number to that which strictly speaking is not complete The Jews have a Rule in this case not to be rejected 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Part of the month is as the whole and part of the year is as the whole Seder Olam c. IV. p. 1. And Moses himself useth this way of speaking After the Spies return'd he does by God's direction tell the Israelites that their Children shou'd wander in the Wilderness forty years though 't is a thing confess'd that they did not after that wander above 38 or 39 years vid. Numb 14.33 Yet Moses when he speaks of it calls it forty Compare Numb 32.13 with Deut. 2.14 and Josh 5.6 and Psal 95.10 If it be still urged that Moses affirms that they did eat till they came into the Land I answer That he might well do so For the Event was well-nigh past when Moses liv'd and for what we know when he wrote these words And the thing he speaks of being upon the matter already passed 't is no wonder that he does not use a Future Tense but the Preterperfect 4. After all that hath been said above in the first Answer to this Objection concerning the importance of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall add one Observation more from this Book of Exodus chap. 12.8 Which farther shews the Vanity of the pretence of the aforesaid Author of the Commentary on Genesis These are the words And they shall eat 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Preterperfect tense as 't is here chap. 16.35 in that night rost with fire and unleavened bread and with bitter herbs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall eat it The first Hebrew word though a preterperfect is as much a future in its sense as the latter which follows which is really a future No Man can find fault if the words Exod. 16.35 shou'd be thus translated And the children of Israel shall eat Manna forty years untill they shall come to a Land inhabited They shall eat Manna untill they come c. Admitting this Translation which cannot reasonably be refused the whole force of the Objection falls at
five and thirty years and begat Salah 13. And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 14. And Salah lived thirty years and begat Eber. 15. And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 16. And Eber lived four and thirty years and begat Peleg 17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years and begat sons and daughters 18. And Peleg lived thirty years and begat Reu. 19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years and begat sons and daughters 20. And Reu lived two and thirty years and begat Serug 21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters 22. And Serug lived thirty years and begat Nahor 23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years and begat sons and daughters 24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years and begat Terah 25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years and begat sons and daughters 2008. 1996. 26. And Terah lived seventy years and begat Abram Nahor and Haran 27. Now these are the generations of Terah Terah begat Abram Nahor and Haran and Haran begat Lot 28. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity in Vr of the Chaldees 29. And Abram and Nahor took them wives the name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah 30. But Sarai was barren she had no child 31. And Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran his sons son and Sarai his daughter in law his son Abram's wife and they went forth with them from Vr of the Chaldees to go into the land of Canaan and they came unto Haran and dwelt there 32. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years and Terah died in Haran 1. ONE language At this time the whole Race of Mankind spake one language Some think 't is probable it might be the Hebrew Tongue 2. From the East i. e. As they were journeying they came immediately from the East Shinar See Ch. 10. v. 10. Dwelt there By what follows it appears that they did intend to dwell there for the future contrary to God's command of replenishing the Earth ch 9.1 3. They said Nimrod very probably which Josephus affirms did encourage others of his Race and Temper to this contempt of God Brick The place being a Plain not affording Stone Slime A natural Cement to be found in Pits and lower Grounds 4. Build In this attempt they were guilty I. Of contempt of God's declared Will chap. 9. verse 1. which they endeavour to make void II. Of proudly seeking their own Fame and advancing their Power and Dominion Let us make us a Name They are by some also thought guilty III. Of a distrust of God's Truth who had declared that he would not drown the World any more whereas they are supposed to design a City and high Tower against the danger from another Floud To Heaven It is expressed Hyperbolically and imports a great height Deut. 9.1 A Name i. e. A Fame and Renown Compare Gen. 6.4 1 Chron. 17.8 with 2 Sam. 7.9 Lest we be Thus while they consult to defeat God's purpose they do that which was the occasion of bringing it to pass 5. Came down to see This is spoken after the manner of Men. God is then said to descend when he reveals himself by word or deed to us who live in this lower World The Chaldee renders it he appeared c. 6. Restrained They will give farther instances of their Rebellion and Tyranny if they be not defeated 7. Vs See Gen. 1.26 with the Note there 9. From thence From that very place which they intended to build to prevent their being scattered abroad v. 4. 10. These c. As ch 5. we have an account of the Generations from Adam to Noah who was the tenth from Adam So we have here an account from Noah to Abram who was the tenth from Noah And from hence we may learn that the Age of Man's life was much shortned after the Floud The whole time from the Floud to the Birth of Abram is but 352 years whereas from Adam's Creation to the Floud was no less than 1656. 26. Begat Abram Not that Abram was the first-born But he then began to beget Gen. 5.32 'T is supposed that Haran was the eldest and Abram the youngest That Abram was not the eldest is evident from this That Sarah the Daughter of Haran was but ten years younger than Abram and then Haran will be supposed to have begotten her when he was about nine years old Abram must be born the 130th year of Terah's life For Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran ch 12. v. 4. And this was after Terah's death 2008. 1996. who lived 205 years v. 32. 28. Before i. e. In Terah's life-life-time Vr of the Chaldees The name of a place in Mesopotamia Act. 7.2 It received its Name from the Chaldees who as they might subdue it at first so lived in it and gave it its denomination afterwards Vr in the Hebrew Tongue signifies Fire 29. Iscah The same with Sarai This is the opinion of the Jews nor is there cause to reject it 31. Terah took Abram c. Terah removed from his own Country with Abram who had received a Command from God to come out of it Gen. 12.1.15.7 Act. 7.3 And though this Command were the chief reason of this remove yet 't is thought that Terah was rendred inclinable to remove from the grief which he took at the Death of Haran there as well as at the Barrenness of Sarai v. 28 30. See Joseph Antiq. l. 1. c. 7. and Abravenel on the place Haran This is the name of a place in Mesopotamia Dwelt there It is likely that the occasion of their stay there was from the sickness or weakness of Terah When he was dead Abram went into Canaan CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT God calleth Abram from his own Country and encourageth his Remove with a promise to bless him and a particular promise of the Messias Abram's age when he left Haran He comes into the land of Canaan and sojourns there Vpon occasion of a famine in Canaan he goes into Egypt He owns Sarai as his Sister there Sarai is taken into the house of Pharaoh King of Egypt who by plagues was forced to restore her and dismisseth both Abram and Sarai and all that belonged to Abram 1. NOW the LORD had said unto Abram Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee 2. And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing 3. And I will bless them
promised it to him even his Seed ch 13. v. 15 17. he desires to know who of his Seed shall inherit it and when He questions not God's veracity but desires a more distinct knowledge of this matter And the following words fully answer this request of his 9. Take me c. These creatures were clean and fit for Sacrifice But seem not here made use of for Sacrifice but for Confirmation of God's Covenant and Promise Compare Jer. 34.18 10. Divided he not When they were used in Sacrifice they were not to be divided by the Law made afterwards 11. Fowls The Hebrew word is fowl and seems to imply some one of the more ravenous sort and is a fit representation of Pharaoh who afflicted Abram's seed Compare Ezek. 17.3 7 12. And one of the Chaldee Paraphrasts expounds fowls here by the Idolatrous people Carkases A fit resemblance of the afflicted condition of Abram's posterity Drove them away He put them to flight says the Chaldee 12. Horror of great darkness A token of the affliction of his feed predicted in the next verse Compare Esther 8.16 and Psal 88.6 and Psal 107.14 13. Four hundred years This time begins at the birth of Isaac and ends at the Israelites departure out of Egypt And in this space three things were to befall Abram's seed which are here distinctly named as also Act. 7.6 I. That it should be a stranger in a land not theirs and so Isaac and Jacob were II. That they should serve And so they did in Egypt ch 47.6 with Exod. 1.11 III. That they should be afflicted And so the Israelites were very greatly a considerable time before they came out of Egypt From the birth of Isaac to the coming out of Egypt were Four hundred years which appears thus From Isaac's birth to that of Jacob were Sixty years ch 25.26 Thence to the birth of Joseph were Ninety ch 41.46 with ch 45.6 11.41.30 and 47.9 Thence to Joseph's death One hundred and ten years ch 50. v. 26. Thence to the birth of Moses Sixty years which space of time the undoubted beginning and end of these Four hundred years require Thence to the Eightieth year of Moses when they came out of Egypt Eighty years In all Four hundred years 14. Judge i. e. Punish See the Book of Exodus and Psal 105.27 28 c. Substance Compare Exodus 12.35 15. And thou c. q. d. But though thy posterity shall be thus afflicted thou shalt die in peace and full of years ch 25.8 16. In the fourth generation The fourth generation Hebr. i. e. The fourth from the descent into Egypt Thus was Caleb the fourth from Judah 1 Chron. 2. And Aaron and Moses the fourth descent from Levi Exod. 6.16 18 20. Amorites These are named being very considerable for their power Amos 2.9 And those among whom Abram lived ch 13.18 and ch 14.13 Not yet full There is a certain measure of wickedness beyond which God will not spare a sinfull Land And though the seasons of punishing Nations with a general ruine be known to God onely yet when a Land adds to its Sins it does both hasten and assure to it self destruction Compare Jer. 51.13 Matt. 23.32 1 Thessal 2.16 with Ezek. 14.14 17. And it came to pass that when the sun went down and it was dark behold a smoaking furnace and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces 18. In that same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram saying Vnto thy seed have I given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river the river Euphrates 19. The Kenites and the Kenizites and the Kadmonites 20. And the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaims 21. And the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT Sarai bearing no children gives Hagar to Abram she conceives and despiseth her mistress and being therefore hardly used by her fled from her An Angel meets her and puts her upon returning and submitting to Sarai He foretells her the birth of a son directs her what to call him and describes his temper c. Of the place where the Angel met her The birth of Ishmael 1. NOW Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children and she had an handmaid an Egyptian whose name was Hagar 2. And Sarai said unto Abram Behold now the LORD hath restrained me from bearing I pray thee go in unto my maid it may be that I may obtain children by her and Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai 3. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife 4. And he went in unto Hagar and she conceived and when she saw that she had conceived her mistress was despised in her eyes 5. And Sarai said unto Abram My wrong be upon thee I have given my maid into thy bosom and when she saw that she had conceived I was despised in her eyes the LORD judge between me and thee 6. But Abram said unto Sarai Behold thy maid is in thy hand do to her as it pleaseth thee And when Sarai dealt hardly with her she fled from her face 7. And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain in the way to Shur 8. And he said Hagar Sarai's maid whence camest thou and whither wilt thou go and she said I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai 9. And the angel of the LORD said unto her Return to thy mistress and submit thy self under her hands 10. And the angel of the LORD said unto her I will multiply thy seed exceedingly that it shall not be numbred for multitude 11. And the angel of the LORD said unto her Behold thou art with child and shalt bear a son and shalt call his name Ishmael because the LORD hath heard thy affliction 12. And he will be a wild man his hand will be against every man and every man's han against him and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren 13. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her Thou God seest me for she said Have I also here looked after him that seeth me 14. Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahairoi Behold it is between Cadesh and Bered 15. And Hagar bare Abram a son and Abram called his son's name which Hagar bare Ishmael 16. And Abram was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram 1. SArai Notwithstanding the foregoing promises Sarai did not bear any Child Nor had God as yet promised that she should Besides she is now Seventy five years old and not likely to bear any v. 3. Hand-maid Or Bond-woman ch 21.10 Gal. 4.30 2. Restrained Lo children are an heritage of the Lord Psal 127.3 Obtain children by her Or be builded by her v. 4. Compare Ruth 4.11 with the Note on Exod. 1.21 3. Ten years And was
unto him and he sold his birth right unto Jacob. 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way thus Esau despised his birth-right 1. TOok a Wife Or a Concubine as she is called 1 Chron. 1.32 whose Children did not inherit v. 6. and ch 22.24 Abraham's taking this Wife contributed toward the fulfilling the promise made ch 17. v. 6. Now was Sarah dead and Isaac married 2. She bare By the particular and special blessing of God upon Abraham and in order to the fulfilling his promise ch 17. v. 6. Rom. 4.19 Midian See Numb 25.6 7. Shuah Job 2.11 3. Sheba Job 1.15 4. Epher From whom Africa is thought to be called Joseph Antiqu. l. 1. c. 16. 5. All that he had unto Isaac i. e. He made Isaac his Heir having in his life-time given gifts to his other Children and sent them away v. 6. See ch 24.36 and ch 21.12 6. From Isaac And by this means prevented a future quarrel about the inheritance East-country viz. Arabia the happy says Josephus 2183. 1821. 8. Gave up the ghost Or expired Several of the ancient Versions have so rendred it that they seem to imply that Abraham died an easie death A thing not improbable see ch 15.15 it being said that he died in a good old age Was gathered i. e. He passed into the state of the dead following his deceased Ancestors 9. Ishmael Who though he were sent away from Abraham's family and might not inherit yet was not so far removed but that he was at hand to attend upon his Father's funeral Machpelah See ch 23.9 11. Blessed his Son i. e. He entailed upon him the blessing and promise made to his Father ch 17.19 Lahai-roi See ch 16.14 and ch 24.62 12. Generations Or the account of the Off-spring of Ishmael as also of the fulfilling the promise made to his Father Abraham ch 17.19 13. Nebaioth Whence the Region Nabathaea was so called His Posterity dwelt in Arabia Isa 60.7 Kedar Compare Ezek. 27.21 Isa 21.16 14. Dumah Isa 21.11 15. Tema Hence the people called Temanites Job 2.11 Jetur 1 Chron. 5.19 16. By Or in which agrees well with the Hebrew and is confirmed by the Greek i. e. in their several Towns and Castles thus they were called Twelve Princes According to the promise ch 17.20 18. From Havilah unto Shur Havilah seems to be so called from Havilah the Son of Cush ch 10.7 Of Shur See ch 16.7 These two are put for the extreme borders of the Sons of Ishmael 1 Sam. 15.7 As thou goest Or as one goes from Egypt toward Assyria He died Or fell as it is in the Hebrew i. e. His lot or country was in the presence of his brethren We have an account of Ishmael's death before v. 17. and here of the Country where he dwelt The ancient Versions render the word to this sense He fell i. e. He dwelt say the Chaldee and the Greek The Hebrew word is used in this sense elsewhere Judg. 7.12 Numb 34.2 1 Sam. 29.3 Psal 78.55 According to this sense that is fulfilled which was fore-told of Ishmael that he should dwell in the presence of all his brethren ch 16.12 He might therefore be said there to fall where his dwelling or inheritance happened See Ezek. 47.22 As the words lie in the Hebrew Compare Psal 16.6 19. The generations i. e. The history not onely of his Off-spring but of what happened to him Compare ch 5.1 20. Syrian Aramite according to the Hebrew which signifies a Syrian Compare Luk. 4.27 with 2 King 1.1 Of Padan-Aram i. e. Of that part of Syria which was called Padan-Aram This is the same with Mesopotamia ch 24.10 and called onely Padan ch 48.7 and seems to be the most cultivated part of that Country it being called the Country or Field of Aram or Syria Compare Hos 12.12 21. For his Wife The Hebrew Text seems to imply that his Wife joined with him in his prayer 22. If it be so why am I thus q. d. If so that God hath heard our prayers why am I in this disorder Went to enquire Either by prayer or to some holy Man and possibly to Abraham who was now living v. 7. with v. 26. 23. Two Nations i. e. The heads of two Nations the Edomites and Israelites The Elder shall serve Rom. 9.12 This was in great measure fulfilled when the Edomites were made subject to the Israelites 2 Sam. 8.14 with 2 Chron. 25.11 12. which subjection continued some considerable time 2 Kings 8.20 25. Esau i. e. Made or perfected according to the Hebrew as if born more like to a Man than to a Babe This Birth of Esau and Jacob though it be mentioned after the Death of Abraham yet it came to pass about fifteen years afterwards as will evidently appear to the diligent Reader The Order of Time is not always observed in these Books See chap. XX. v. 1. As also chap. XXVI 26. Jacob i. e. A Supplanter His taking hold of his Brother's heel was the reason of that name as the Hebrew Text intimates and the Vulgar expressly affirms Compare ch 27. v. 36. 27. In Tents As Abraham did Heb. 11.9 31. Birth-right Of the advantages whereof see the Note on Gen. 49.3 33. He sold his birth-right He parted with it at so mean a price that he is said to despise it v. 34. and therefore called Profane Heb. 12.16 CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT Vpon occasion of a famine Isaac removes to Gerar. God appears to him forbids him to go into Egypt renews his Promise and his Oath made unto Abraham Isaac gives out that Rebekah was his Sister Abimelech discovers the pretence Isaac's prosperity at Gerar. He is hereupon envied and removes He diggeth Wells Of the Wells called Esek Sitnah and Rehoboth Isaac builds an Altar and enters into Covenant with Abimelech The Wives of Esau 1. AND there was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham and Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2. And the LORD appeared unto him and said Go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of 3. Sojourn in this land and I will be with thee and will bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these countries and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father 4. And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give unto thy seed all these countries and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 5. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge my commandments my statutes and my laws 6. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7. And the men of the place asked him of his wife and he said She is my sister for he feared to say She is my wife lest said he the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah
from the woman's hand but he found her not 21. Then he asked the men of that place saying Where is the harlot that was openly by the way side and they said There was no harlot in this place 22. And he returned to Judah and said I cannot find her and also the men of the place said that there was no harlot in this place 23. And Judah said Let her take it to her lest we be shamed Behold I sent this kid and thou hast not found her 24. And it came to pass about three months after that it was told Judah saying Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot and also behold she is with child by whoredom and Judah said Bring her forth and let her be burnt 25. When she was brought forth she sent to her father in law saying By the man whose these are am I with child and she said Discern I pray thee whose are these the signet and bracelets and staff 26. And Judah acknowledged them and said She hath been more righteous then I because that I gave her not to Shelah my son and he knew her again no more 27. And it came to pass in the time of her travail that behold twins were in her womb 28. And it came to pass when she travailed that the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet threed saying This came out first 29. And it came to pass as he drew back his hand that behold his brother came out and she said How hast thou broken forth this breach be upon thee therefore his name was called Pharez 30. And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet threed upon his hand and his name was called Zarah 1. AT that time i. e. In that space of time between Jacob's coming from Padan-Aram into Canaan and his going into Egypt In this Chapter we have an account of several matters which fell out not all at once but successively And though the greater part of the Chapter report matters that happened about and after the time when Joseph was sold into Egypt yet Judah's marriage which leads to those things must have been before Joseph was sold Otherwise it is hardly conceivable that all those things should happen to Judah in the space of three and twenty years for it could not be longer before he went into Egypt after Joseph was sold which are reported viz. the birth of Er Onan and Shelah severally The marriage of Er and Onan The time which Tamar waited for Shelah which were many days v. 12. The birth of Pharez and Zarah by Tamar and after this the birth of Hezron and Hamul of Pharez ch 46.12 Compare Deut. 10.8 Adullamite So called from the City Adullam Josh 12.15 2. Canaanite The Chaldee renders the word by Merchant and so the word sometime signifies Prov. 31.24 And the Tigurin Version renders it so in this place But our English have translated it truly in this place as will appear by comparing 1 Chron. 2.3 It is true that Judah ought not to have married into that Race Compare ch 24.3 with 28.1 and the Notes on those places and that 't is like is the reason of the Chaldee's rendring It was an unlawfull and proved a very unhappy Marriage and there remained none of the Posterity of this Woman of Canaan Shuah The name of the Man as appears from the Hebrew Text and from 1 Chron. 2.3 3. He called Judah names the first-born his Wife gave names to the other two v. 4 5. 5. Chezib This place is called Achzib Jos 15.44 7. Wicked Remarkably so whatever his wickedness were and was therefore cut off betimes 8. Marry her This was afterward made into a Law Deut. 25.5 See the Notes on ch 7.2 But it was not lawfull where the Brother left Issue behind him Lev. 18.16.20.21 9. Should not be called his Or Should not be called by his name As the Chaldee renders it 〈◊〉 Thus Envy carries him to another great sin 11. A widow at thy father's house Compare Levit. 22.13 13. To shear his sheep Which was a time of feasting 2 Sam. 25.8 11. 14. Wrapped her self viz. To keep her self from being known Open place i. e. A place that was common Prov. 7.12.9.14 15. 15. Because she had covered This does not contain the proof of her being an Harlot but the reason why Judah did not know her v. 16. 18. Thy bracelets Or Thy scarf or girdle according to the Hebrew 23. Lest we be shamed Or Become a contempt as the Margent hath it By pursuing Judah would have occasioned the discovery of his own sin 24. Bring her forth Judah would have her brought to her tryal Adultery was afterwards punishable with death Deut. 22.22 23. and probably at this time and among this People it was so likewise See the Notes on ch 7.2 and Jer. 29.22 23. She is charged with Adultery because she was in truth the Wife of Shelah v. 11. compared with Deut. 22.23 c. Burnt As an Adulteress and probably according to the Custom of the place This in one Case was the punishment by the Law of Moses Lev. 21.9 26. Because I gave c. This neglect of his Promise was the occasion of this evil No more This abstaining from sin is necessary and without it we cannot be said to repent Job 34.31 29. This breach be upon thee i. e. Thou hast made this breach and accordingly he should in his name carry the remembrance of it CHAP. XXXIX The ARGUMENT Joseph made the Overseer of the Family of Potiphar who prospers thereupon Joseph is tempted by his Mistress He resisteth the Temptation He is falsely accused and cast into Prison God is with him in the Prison where he is entrusted and prospers 1. AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh captain of the guard an Egyptian bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites which had brought him down thither 2. And the LORD was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian 3. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him and he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hand 5. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house and over all that he had that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house and in the field 6. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand and he knew not ought he had save the bread which he did eat and Joseph was a goodly person and well-favoured 7. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said Lie with
shall not cease to be a distinct and separate People nor be quite deprived of all use of their Laws and Religion till after such time as the Messiah whom the ancient Jews grant to be meant by Shiloh and who was to be born of this Tribe shall first come among them And him shall the Nations or Gentiles serve and obey See Matt. 24.14 The first promise of the Messiah is mentioned Gen. 3.15 under the expression of the Seed of the Woman But that does not import of what Nation or Family he should be born It is believed to be intimated that he should be born of the Family of Shem ch 9.27 This great Blessing was afterwards ascertained to Abram ch 12.3 and to his Seed ch 22.18 And the great Promise of it setled on Isaac ch 17.21 And transmitted by him to Jacob ch 28.4 Here it now was and Jacob before his Death fore-tells the time within which the Messiah should come and intimates the Tribe from whence he should arise the latter whereof the Holy Scriptures more expressly mention afterwards The words of Jacob relating to Judah contain something very peculiar and very great Here 's nothing said of him that lessens him as there is before of Reuben Simeon and Levi. When the other Tribes fell into Schism after Solomon's death and were carried Captive in the days of Hosea this Tribe adhered to the Worship of God and continued in their own Land I. Judah did not lose his Tribe so the word which we render Scepter signifies here in the Hebrew Text and v. 16 28. There was always great care taken to preserve Judah distinct in its Tribe and Families In the days of Saul the Men of Judah were numbred apart Thus it was in David's also 1 Sam. 11.8 2 Sam. 24.9 A Prophet took care of the Genealogies of this Tribe 2 Chron. 12.15 with ch 13.22 There was care taken of it even during the Captivity of Babylon as appears from the Book of Chronicles Ezra and Nehemiah and from Josephus Antiq. l. II. ch 4. Some doubt arose of the Genealogies of others Nehem. 7.64 Ezra 2.64 This Tribe continued distinct This Care continued to the days of Augustus Luk. 2. Josephus mentions Antiq. l. 18. c. 1. the Enrolling St. Luke speaks of in the time of Cyrenius and Justin Martyr appeals to the Records of it Apol. 2. vid. Tertullian contra Marcionem The other Tribes were upon the matter lost And before that time when Judah was numbred distinctly and by it self which Aâ—ravenel says is the meaning of the Scepter or Tribe shall not depart from Judah on the first Prophets fol. 95. and fol. 100. the other Tribes were numbred together as Accessories For Benjamin it was looked on but as an Accessory to Judah The Cities of Benjamin are called the Cities of Judah A Man of Benjamin was called a Jew from Judah and so were all the remaining Israelites upon the Captivity of Babylon 1 Kings 11.13 32. 2 Kings 17.18 2 Chron. 11.5 10. ch 17.9 ch 14.4 8 12. ch 20.3 4 5 13 15. Esther 2.5 II. In this Tribe continued the Teachers of the Law called Law-giver here Here were the Lawyers and Scribes c. when the other Tribes had them not The Priests and Levites adhered to this Tribe 2 Chron. 11.13 14. ch 13.4 9 10. The Kings of Judah took care for instructers of the people to teach in the Cities of Judah 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. ch 29.5 30. ch 34.30 In the Captivity of Babylon these Law-givers departed not from between the feet of the Men of Judah Ezek. 1.3 Ezra 2.36 40. Nehem. 8.9 and ch 12. They continued to the times of Jesus our Messiah We read much in the New Testament of Priests Levites Scribes Doctors of the Law We have mention of Gamaliel a famous Doctor of Simeon the Son of Hillel the Founder of a great School and famous still among the Hebrew Writers That by Shiloh is meant the Messiah is agreed by the ancient Jews and upon the matter by all Christians what-ever differences there have been in the Explication of the word And 't is by no means to be thought that Jacob would omit this great Blessing of the Tribe of Judah that the Messiah should spring from it when he relates a great number of smaller matters which should happen and they came to pass to the other Tribes 11 12. Binding c. These words are a fit Description of the Fruitfulness and Plenty of Judah's Inheritance in Canaan and will be better understood if we compare them with what we read Numb 13.22 23. and with other forms of Speech used in Scripture Deut. 33.14 Job 29.6 13. Zebulun His Situation shall be such that by means of his Shipping he shall easily have Intercourse and Traffick with Zidon And therefore Moses said Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out Deut. 33.18 This Tribe was situate upon that Coast or Border which led to Zidon Vnto Zidon may be translated Toward Zidon which agrees better with the place if by Zidon we understand the City so called But understanding by Zidon the Territory or Country adjacent we need not translate it otherwise because Zebulun did reach so far 14 15. Issachar These words give an account of Issachar's Temper and of his Lot His Land was pleasant and its Inhabitants lovers of Peace and Rest and instead of War or Merchandice gave themselves up to the Labours of Husbandry To which account the words of Moses agree Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents Deut 33.18 16. As one c. Though Dan be the Son of an Handmaid whereas the abovenamed were the Sons of Leah yet shall not that hinder him from the priviledge belonging to the others but he shall judge his People as any one of the other Tribes of Israel 17. Dan c. Sampson of this Tribe shall be an eminent Judge and Deliverer of his People And though he do not overcome the Philistines with a numerous Army and in pitched Battels yet he shall destroy them craftily and whiles they are less aware like a Serpent by the way c. 18. I have waited c. q. d. Whereas Sampson died in the overthrow of his Enemies and left his People obnoxious to their Oppressors and I foresee the Straits and high Misdemeanours this Tribe of Dan will hereafter fall into Compare Josh 19.47 Judg. 1.34 with Judg. 18.30 and 1 King 12.29 I cannot but upon this occasion intimate my firm belief and earnest expectation of that eternal Deliverance which shall be wrought by the Messiah Luk. 2.30 This sense is favoured by the ancient Jews See Hieronym Quaest Hebr. in Genes Targum Hierosol Jonathan 19. Gad c. Gad was sorely oppressed by the Ammonites their Neighbours Judg. 10.7 8. But as the Gadites were a fierce and valiant People Deut. 33.20 so we have a particular account of their Victory over their Enemies 1 Chron. 5.18 19 20 21 22. and however they were oppressed for
Murrain v. 6. 26. Was there no hail See Notes on v. 4. and 5. and Isa 32.18 19. 28. Mighty thundrings Heb. Voices of God Psal 29.4 5. 29. I will spread abroad my hands I will extend my hands in Prayer says the Chaldee See v. 28. and 1 Tim. 2.8 The Earth Psal 24.1 32. Not grown up Heb. Hidden or dark i. e. They were not so forward as the Barley 35. As the LORD had spoken As the Lord had commanded says the Vulgar referring it to the words immediately going before By Moses Heb. By the hand of Moses CHAP. X. The ARGUMENT Pharaoh is threatned with a most grievous Plague of Locusts Vpon this and his Servants request he inclines to terms But they being refused God sends the Plague of Locusts and removes them at his request After which he refuseth to let the people go After this succeeded the Plague of Darkness Pharaoh is hardned and warneth Moses to come no more into his presence 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants that I might shew these my signs before him 2. And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son and of thy sons son what things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done amongst them that ye may know how that I am the LORD 3. And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before me Let my people go that they may serve me 4. Else if thou refuse to let my people go behold to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast 5. And they shall cover the face of the earth that one cannot be able to see the earth and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped which remaineth unto you from the hail and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field 6. And they shall fâ—ll thy houses and the houses of all thy servants and the houses of all the Egyptians which neither thy fathers nor thy father's fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh 7. And Pharaoh's servants said unto him How long shall this man be a snare unto us Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed 8. And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh and he said unto them Go serve the LORD your God but who are they that shall go 9. And Moses said We will go with our young and with our old with our sons and with our daughters with our flocks and with our herds will we go for we must hold a feast unto the LORD 10. And he said unto them Let the LORD be so with you as I will let you go and your little ones look to it for evil is before you 11. Not so go now ye that are men and serve the LORD for that you did desire And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence 12. And the LORD said unto Moses Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts that they may come up upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land even all that the hail hath left 13. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt and the LORD brought an east-wind upon the land all that day and all that night and when it was morning the east-wind brought the locusts 14. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the coasts of Egypt very grievous were they before them there were no such locusts as they neither after them shall be such 15. For they covered the face of the whole earth so that the land was darkned and they did eat every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left and there remained not any green thing in the trees or in the herbs of the field through all the land of Egypt 16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste and he said I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you 17. Now therefore forgive I pray thee my sin onely this once and intreat the LORD your God that he may take away from me this death onely 18. And he went out from Pharaoh and intreated the LORD 19. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west-wind which took away the locusts and cast them into the Red sea there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt 20. But the LORD hardned Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let the children of Israel go 21. And the LORD said unto Moses Stretch out thine hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt even darkness which may be felt 22. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days 23. They saw not one another neither rose any from his place for three days but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings 24. And Pharaoh called unto Moses and said Go ye serve the LORD onely let your flocks and your herds be stayed let your little ones also go with you 25. And Moses said Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt-offerings that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God 26. Our cattel also shall go with us there shall not an hoof be left behind for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God and we know not with what we must serve the LORD untill we come thither 27. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them go 28. And Pharaoh said unto him Get thee from me take heed to thy self see my face no more for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die 29. And Moses said Thou hast spoken well I will see thy face again no more 1. FOR c. Or Though Ch. 4.21 2. Mayest tell c. See ch 9.16 Deut. 6.20 22. Psal 78.5 6 7. 4. Locusts Wisd 16.9 5. The face Heb. The eye i. e. the superficies of the Earth The Jewish Writers by the Eye of the Earth understand the Sun and that the multitude of Locusts did intercept the light of the Sun and hinder the Egyptians from seeing the Earth which agrees very well with what follows in this Verse and with vers 15. vid. Abravenel and the Chaldee on the place The residue Ch. 9.32 Every tree Though the Trees were broken by the Hail yet it does not thence follow that they were altogether rendred unfruitfull 6. Have seen Vid. Vers 14. 7. A snare i. e. An occasion of our ruine 8. Who Heb. Who and who c. 10. Let the LORD c. These words seem to be spoken scoffingly q. d. You may assoon expect I should wish you all manner
for hand foot for foot 25. Burning for burning wound for wound stripe for stripe 26. And if a man smite the eye of his servant or the eye of his maid that it perish he shall let him go free for his eye's sake 27. And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth or his maid servant's tooth he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake 28. If an ox gore a man or a woman that they die then the ox shall be surely stoned and his flesh shall not be eaten but the owner of the ox shall be quit 29. But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past and it hath been testified to his owner and he hath not kept him in but that he hath killed a man or a woman the ox shall be stoned and his owner also shall be put to death 30. If there be laid on him a summ of money then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him 31. Whether he have gored a son or have gored a daughter according to this judgment shall it be done unto him 32. If the ox shall push a man-servant or a maid-servant he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver and the ox shall be stoned 33. And if a man shall open a pit or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it and an ox or an ass fall therein 34. The owner of the pit shall make it good and give money unto the owner of them and the dead beast shall be his 35. And if one man's ox hurt another's that he die then they shall sell the live ox and divide the money of it and the dead ox also they shall divide 36. Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past and his owner hath not kept him in he shall surely pay ox for ox and the dead shall be his own 1. JVdgments i. e. The Judicial Laws 2. If thou buy Levit. 25.39 Deut. 15.12 Jer. 34.14 The poor Man sold himself the Thief was sold by the Magistrate Exod. 22.3 Six years Except the year of Jubilee set him free sooner Levit. 25.40 3. By himself Heb. With his body i. e. Single or unmarried as appears from the words which follow If he were married c. 4. A Wife Namely of the Heathen Bond-women or Slaves It not being permitted to deal thus with an Hebrew Woman v. 7 8. and Levit. 25.44 This by the Jews is understood of those Servants which were sold by the Magistrate and not of him who through poverty sold himself Maimon H. Avad c. 3. 5. Shall plainly say Heb. Saying shall say i. e. He shall say it once and again or constantly as the Tigurin Version renders it 6. Vnto the Judges i. e. To the Magistrates who sold him for a Servant and were therefore concerned in him See the Notes on v. 4. To the door i. e. Of his own House to which for the future the Servant was as it were fixed and determined Bore his ear And by this means mark him for a Servant according to the use of that Country vid. Psal 40.6 Heb. 10.5 7. For ever i. e. During his Master's life unless it happen that the year of Jubilee set him free in the mean time Levit. 25.40 46. Vid. Joseph Antiq. l. 4. c. 8. 7. If a man sell his daughter To the Father this appertained in case of extreme poverty She shall not go out as c. Not that she should have less but more privileges than Men-servants could claim 8. If she please not Heb. Be evil in the eyes of c. To a strange nation i. e. To any other Israelite who is not of her Family and Kindred to whom the care and right of redeeming her did belong The Chaldee renders it to another Man Dealt deceitfully Or failed in what might justly be expected from him 9. After the manner of daughters Of the daughters of Israel says the Chaldee He shall deal with her as a Free-woman Give her a Dowry and bestow her in Marriage as if she had been his own daughter Exod. 22.16 17. 10. Her duty of Marriage 1 Cor. 7.3 11. Without money i. e. Without paying for her freedom in which her condition was better than that of Men-servants v. 7. 12. Smiteth Viz. Wilfully See v. 13 14. Levit. 24.17 13. God deliver him How this is to be understood we may learn from Deut. 19.5 Will appoint Deut. 19.3 14. From mine Altar Which shall not protect a wilfull Murderer 1 King 2.28 16. A man An Israelite See the Greek and the Chaldee and Deut. 24.7 17. And he Levit 20.9 Prov. 20.20 Matt. 15.4 Mark 7.10 Curseth Or revileth 18. Another Or his neighbour 19. Be quit i. e. He shall not be punished with Death The loss of his time Heb. His ceasing 20. Punishâ—â— Heb. Avenged 21. For he is his money And therefore it is presumed that he would not willingly kill him This is to be understood of a Bond-man not of an Hebrew Levit. 25.39 46. 22. Mischief Or Death to the Woman or Child Vid. LXXII and Ph. Jud. 24. Eye for eye Not in kind but by a mulct proportioned to the damage received The Offender might in these cases though not in Murder Numb 35.31 make a pecuniary satisfaction See v. 30. Vid. Levit. 24.20 Deut. 19.21 Matt. 5.38 26. His Servant i. e. His Bond-man 28. The Ox shall be c. Gen. 9.5 29. Put to death Or pay his ransom to the Heirs of him that was killed See v. 30. 32. Thirty shekels See the Notes on Gen. 20.16 Matt. 26.16 33. Or an Ass Or any other Beast the Ass being put for an instance See the Notes on ch 13.13 34. The Owner c. Who was concerned to look to it 36. Known i. e. Made known to the Owner See v. 29. CHAP. XXII The ARGUMENT Laws concerning Theft and Restitution of stolen Goods Of Trespass and Damage Of Trust and an Oath upon suspicion of failure therein Of Borrowing Of Fornication Of Witches Of lying with a Beast Sacrificing to a false God Of Oppression Of Vsury Of Pledges Of reviling Magistrates Of the First-fruits and First-born Of Flesh torn by Beasts 1. IF a man shall steal an ox or a sheep and kill it or sell it he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep 2. If a thief be found breaking up and be smitten that he die there shall no blood be shed for him 3. If the sun be risen upon him there shall be blood shed for him for he should make full restitution if he have nothing then he shall be sold for his theft 4. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive whether it be ox or ass or sheep he shall restore double 5. If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten and shall put in his beast and shall feed in another man's field of the best of his own field and of the
Consecrating the Levites and the age and time of their Service Of the Passover and an allowance of a Second Passover and guidance of the Cloud Of the use of the Silver Trumpets Of the removal of the Israelites Of the words which Moses used when the Ark set forward and when it rested Of these things we have an account ch 8 9 10. After this we have a Relation of the burning at Taberah Of the People's loathing of Manna and lusting for Flesh Of the Seventy Elders and of the Quails ch 11. and of the Sedition of Miriam and Aaron ch 12. We have next a Relation of the Spies sent into the Promised Land Of their Instructions Of their Doings and Report of the Land Of the People's murmuring hereupon Of God's just Displeasure and the Effects of it Of the Intercession of Moses and great Folly of the Israelites ch 13 and 14. The fifteenth Chapter lays before us sundry Laws viz. That concerning the Meat-offering as that Offering was an attendant upon a Bloody Sacrifice And the Drink-offering Of the Heave-offering Of the first of the Dough Of Sins of Ignorance and Presumption Of the Profaner of the Sabbath and of the Fringes We have next an Account of the Rebellion of Korah and Dathan and Abiram Of their invading the Priest's Office and their exemplary Punishment The Memory of their Rebellion is perpetuated and the Right of the Priests vindicated by the budding of Aaron's Rod and their honorary Maintenance hereupon particularly related ch 16 17 18. The next Chapter gives account of the Water made of the Ashes of the red Heifer which is followed with a Relation of the death of Miriam the murmuring of the People the smiting the Rock c. and the death of Aaron ch 19.20 And then we have an account of the Israelites Victory over the Canaanites of their murmuring of the fiery Serpents and of that of Brass Of several Journeyings of the Israelites and their Conquest over Sihon and Og ch 21. After this we have a Relation of Balak's sending to Balaam to curse the Israelites Of Balaam's Journey and Balak's Disappointment Several Predictions of Balaam are related and there follows an account of the Israelites committing Whoredom and Idolatry at Shittim and of their Punishment ch 22 23 24 25. Next to this we have an account of the number of the Israelites in order to the dividing the Land among them ch 26. And the Law of Inheritances upon occasion of the suit of the Daughters of Zelophehad ch 27. In the two next Chapters we have a more particular account than was given before of the Stated Holocausts and the Meat and Drink-offerings pertaining thereunto This is followed with a Law concerning Vows ch 30. We have after this an account of the Israelites Conquest over the Midianites and a Law concerning the dividing the Spoil ch 31. Next follows the Request of the Reubenites and Gadites and the success of it and an account of the Journeyings of the Israelites in the Wilderness Of the Borders of the Promised Land and the names of the Men which should divide it Of the Levites Cities and the Cities of Refuge with the Law concerning Murther Of the Inheritance of Daughters and the Marriage of Heiresses in their own Tribe which is followed with an account how the Daughters of Zelophehad were married ch 32 33 34 35 36. By what hath been said any Man will see that this Book is very fitly called NUMBERS For here we have the number of the twelve Tribes taken no less than three times ch 1. ch 2. and ch 26. And the Levites are numbred as often ch 3 4 26. We have also several other things numbred The things that were offered and the Princes who offered those things at the Dedication of the Altar ch 7. The Spoils taken in the War with Midian ch 31. And all the stated Holocausts that were yearly offered up ch 28 29. Not to mention the Number and Names of the Cities of Levites and of Refuge and the particulars of the Israelites Marches or Journeyings in the Wilderness These are the principal Matters contained in this Book which if duly considered will be of great use to us for the better governing our selves as well as for the more clear understanding of the other parts of the Holy Scriptures It is not to be expected I should in this place make Reflections upon all the Particulars which are laid before us in this Book It may suffice that I lay before the Reader some few Particulars and shew how very much they tend to the use of Life and serve to engage us to strict Obedience to the Will of God And for the other I referr the Reader to the following Notes I might here shew the admirable use that is to be made of the Relation of the numbring the People and order of their Camp For here is much of God's special Providence to be observed from those Relations which we pass over in reading the Scriptures with too great Negligence And there are many parts of the Holy Writ which we pass over with little regard that are very instructive to us But I will not insist upon this matter in this place I shall especially consider the following Particulars I. The setting aside the Levites to the service of God their Charge and Service This spake God's great care of his People to appoint an Order of Men to attend upon his Service and to wait on his Sanctuary And it does also instruct those that Minister in Holy Things not onely to consider how they were called to that Holy Office but to consider also how they discharge it The Particulars relating to this Order of Men are very instructive to the People also They were not numbred among the rest having no Inheritance as the other Tribes had They were to attend upon their Office in the service of God and his People It was therefore the People's part to be kind to them and there are in the Law of Moses many Precepts to this purpose They were not onely obliged to pay them their Tithes in which even in some of the worst times they were scrupulously carefull but to assist them upon other occasions that they might attend upon God's Service This teacheth the People to communicate of their Temporal Things very freely to those that watch over their Souls and to honour them greatly for the sake of their Work and their Master II. That Law concerning the removing the Unclean from the Camp chap. 5. This is very instructive to the Governors and Ministers of the Church It is not fit that Profane and Scandalous Sinners should be admitted to partake of the holiest things 'T is very much the duty of those concerned and the Interest of the whole Church that those should be debarred from her Communion who are notoriously scandalous I know very well that that Law made a difference in the Unclean and that there was a difference as to the Camps also and 't will
six hundred they shall go hindmost with their standards 32. These are those which were numbred of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers all those that were numbred of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty 33. But the Levites were not numbred among the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses 34. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses so they pitched by their standards and so they set forward every one after their families according to the house of their fathers 2. Standard or Banner the setting up of which is a Warlike preparation Ps 20.5 with Jer. 51.27 Ensign These Standards were distinguished by certain marks or signs What those were is not here expressed but the Jewish Writers tell us that the Ensign of Judah was a Lion that of Reuben a Man that of Ephraim an Ox and that of Dan an Eagle Far off Heb. Over-against The distance between the Tabernacle and the Camp of Israel is not here expressed but is probably collected from Josh 3.4 to be about the space of Two thousand Cubits or a Mile which is called a Sabbath-days journey Act. 1.12 vid. Targum in Ruth 1.16 3. On the East-side c. i. e. In the first or principal place as the Greek have it In this Quarter were Moses and Aaron and his Sons placed ch 3.38 14. Reuel Called Deuel ch 1.14 25. Dan He was the Son of an Handmaid but hath his Standard assigned him a Dignity very agreeable to Jacob's Prediction Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel Gen. 49.16 33. But the Levites c. Seâ— the Notes on ch 1.47 CHAP. III. The ARGUMENT Of the Sons of Aaron The Charge of the Levites who are taken in lieu of the first-born The Levites are numbred The Number and Charge of the Gershonites Of the Kohathites and of the Merarites The Number of the whole The First-born of the Israelites are numbred and freed by the Levites the overplus are redeemed 1. THese also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai 2. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron Nadab the first-born and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 3. These are the names of the sons of Aaron the priests which were anointed whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office 4. And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai and they had no children and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father 5. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 6. Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest that they may minister unto him 7. And they shall keep his charge and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation to do the service of the tabernacle 8. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation and the charge of the children of Israel to do the service of the tabernacle 9. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel 10. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons and they shall wait on their priest's office and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death 11. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 12. And I behold I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in stead of all the first-born that openeth the matrice among the children of Israel therefore the Levites shall be mine 13. Because all the first-born are mine for on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel both man and beast mine they shall be I am the LORD 14. And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai saying 15. Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers by their families every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them 16. And Moses numbred them according to the word of the LORD as he was commanded 17. And these were the sons of Levi by their names Gershon and Kohath and Merari 18. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families Libni and Shimei 19. And the sons of Kohath by their families Amram and Izehar Hebron and Vzziel 20. And the sons of Merari by their families Mabli and Mushi these are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers 21. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites these are the families of the Gershonites 22. Those that were numbred of them according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward even those that were numbred of them were seven thousand and five hundred 23. The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward 24. And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael 25. And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle and the tent the covering thereof and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 26. And the hangings of the court and the curtain for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about and the cords of it for all the service thereof 27. And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izeharites and the family of the Hebronites and the family of the Vzzielites these are the families of the Kohathites 28. In the number of all the males from a month old and upward were eight thousand and six hundred keeping the charge of the sanctuary 29. The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward 30. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Vzziel 31. And their charge shall be the ark and the table and the candlestick and the altars and the altars and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister and the hanging and all the service thereof 32. And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary 33. Of Merari was the family of the Mâ—hlites and the family of the Mushites these are the families of Merari 34. And those that were numbred of them according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward were six thousand and two hundred 35. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail these shall pitch on the side of
the tabernacle northward 36. And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle and the bars thereof and the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof and all the vessels thereof and all that serveth thereto 37. And the pillars of the court round about and their sockets and their pins and their cords 38. But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death 39. All that were numbred of the Levites which Moses and Aaron numbred at the commandment of the LORD throughout their families all the males from a mouth old and upward were twenty and two thousand 40. And the LORD said unto Moses Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward and take the â—umber of their names 41. And thou shalt take the Levites for me I am the LORD in stead of all the first-born among the children of Israel and the cattel of the Levites in stead of all the firstlings among the cattel of the children of Israel 42. And Moses numbred as the LORD commanded him all the first-born among the children of Israel 43. And all the first-born males by the number of names from a month old and upward of those that were numbred of them were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen 44. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 45. Take the Levites in stead of all the first-born among the children of Israel and the cattel of the Levites in stead of their cattel and the Levites shall be mine I am the LORD 46. And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel which are more then the Levites 47. Thou shalt even take five shekels a piece by the pâ—ll after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them the shekel is twenty gerabs 48. And thou shalt give the money wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons 49. And Moses took the redemption-money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites 50. Of the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels after the shekel of the sanctuary 51. And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons according to the word of the LORD as the LORD commanded Moses 1. AND Moses The Posterity of Moses whose Sons were not Priests but Levites 1 Chron. 23.13 14. are numbred among the Kohathites v. 27. 2. The first-born Exod. 6.23 3. Whom be consecrated Heb. Whose hand he filled See Exod. 29.9 4. And Nadab c. Levit. 10.1 ch 26.61 1 Chron. 24.2 In the sight c. Or With as the Greek have it viz. in the life-time of Aaron And thus much the Hebrew imports elsewhere Vid. Gen. 11.28 6. Minister The Work and Office of the Levites was as follows I. To minister to the Priests as appears from this Verse and from 1 Chron. 23.28 II. To serve at the Tabernacle this is expressed by keeping the Charge of the whole Congregation v. 7. And herein they served the People Vid. 2. Chron. 35.3 We have an account in this Chapter of the particular charge of the Gershonites v. 25 26. Of the Kohathites v. 31. Of the Merarites v. 36. And of their Carriages ch 4. and Deut. 10.8 From the Carriages they were excused in after-times when the Temple was built 1 Chron. 23.26 But then they were appointed III. To be Singers 1 Chron. 23.30 and ch 24. IV. And Pâ—rters to the several Gates of the Temple 1 Chron. 26.13 V. They had the charge of the Treasure 1 Chron. 26.20 of the House of God and of the Dedicate things And lastly some of them were made Officers and Judges in Business of the Lord and Service of the King See 1 Chron. 26.29 30. 7. His charge That is Aaron's v. 6. whom they were to obey The Hebrew imports this sense Levit. 18.30 And the charge of the whole congregation They were not onely â—o serve Aaron but the People also 2 Chron. 35.3 out of whom they were taken instead of the First-born v. 12. and whom they served when they attended upon the Sanctuary and discharged the several duties of their place v. 8. The Levites Obligation to Aaron and to the People may be learned from v. 9. 10. Priest's office It was the proper and peculiar Office of the Priests to bless the People in the name of the Lord to offer Incense and to minister at the Altar Numb 18.7 Deut. 21.5 1 Chron. 23.13 Stranger i. e. Who is not of the Family of Aaron See ch 1.51 Put to death See Numb 16. 13. For on the day Exod. 13.2 Levit. 27.26 chap. 8.16 Luk. 2.23 14. Moses Not to Moses and Aaron The Number of the Israelites was to be taken by Aaron as well as Moses ch 1.3 and so was that of the Kohathites ch 4.2 And the Gershonites and Merarites are expressly said to be numbred by Aaron as well as Moses ch 4.41 45. But the Precept to number the Levites here is onely directed to Moses and by him was executed v. 16. whatever assistance or approbation Aaron might give v. 39. And again we find that Moses was onely concerned in numbring the First-born of Israel v. 40 41 42. in which Aaron is not mentioned at all For since the Money with which the First-born of Israel which exceeded the number of the Levites were to be redeemed was to be paid to Aaron and his Sons v. 48. He whose advantage it was that the number of the First-born of Israel should exceed was not authorized to take the number 15. From a month old c. The reason why the Levites were numbred here from a Month old and not as the other Tribes from twenty years old and upward is because they were taken in the stead of the First-born v. 12. and are therefore numbred at that age when the First-born were to be redeemed Numb 18.16 16. Word Heb. Mouth 17. And these c. Gen. 46.11 Exod. 6.16 ch 26.57 1 Chron. 6.1 23. Behind the tabernacle westward The East was reckoned the first place ch 2 3. and the West was consequently behind The Gershonites pitched between the Tabernacle and the Standard of Ephraim ch 2.18 25. The charge c. Compare ch 4.25 29. Southward Between the Sanctuary and the Standard of Reuben ch 2.10 31. Their charge Compare ch 4. v. 5 c. 35. Northward viz. Between the Sanctuary and the Standard of Daâ— ch 2.25 36. Under the custody Heb. The office of the charge Compare chap. 4.31 32. 38. Eastward viz. Between
one bullock or for one ram or for a lamb or a kid 12. According to the number that ye shall prepare so shall ye do to every one according to their number 13. All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner in offering an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 14. And if a stranger sojourn with you or whosoever be among you in your generations and will offer an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD as ye do so he shall do 15. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you an ordinance for ever in your generations as ye are so shall the stranger be before the LORD 16. One law and one manner shall be for you and for the stranger that sojourneth with you 17. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 18. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye come into the land whither I bring you 19. Then it shall be that when ye eat of the bread of the land ye shall offer up an heave-offering unto the LORD 20. Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave-offering as ye do the heave-offering of the threshing-floor so shall ye heave it 21. Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave-offering in your generations 22. And if ye have erred and not observed all these commandments which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses 23. Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and hence-forward among your generations 24. Then it shall be if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD with his meat-offering and his drink-offering according to the manner and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering 25. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel and it shall be forgiven them for it is ignorance and they shall bring their offering a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD and their sin-offering before the LORD for their ignorance 26. And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger that sojourneth among them seeing all the people were in ignorance 27. And if any soul sin through ignorance then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin-offering 28. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD to make an atonement for him and it shall be forgiven him 29. You shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance both for him that is born amongst the children of Israel and for the stranger that sojourneth among them 30. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from among his people 31. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD and hath broken his commandment that soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him 32. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath-day 33. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron and unto all the congregation 34. And they put him in ward because it was not declared what should be done to him 35. And the LORD said unto Moses The man shall be surely put to death all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp 36. And all the congregation brought him without the camp and stoned him with stones and he died as the LORD commanded Moses 37. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 38. Speak unto the children of Israel and hid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue 39. And it shall be unto you for a fringe that ye may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes after which ye use to go a whoring 40. That ye may remember and do all my commandments and be holy unto your God 41. I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God I am the LORD your God 2. Speak Levit. 23.10 When ye be come c. In these words they are given to understand that God would make good his Promise of giving the Land to their Children ch 14.31 notwithstanding their Diffidence and Murmurings for which they were sentenced to die in the Wilderness ch 14.29 3. An offering by fire This is a general expression of those Offerings which were in whole or part burnt upon the Altar A burnt-offering or a sacrifice These two are the kinds of Offerings by Fire to which the following Precept belongs This Precept which follows concerned the daily Burnt-offering as well as others Exod. 29.40 By Sacrifice here is meant a Peace-offering So the word Sacrifice does sometimes import v. g. Exod. 18.12 Levit. 17.5 8. ch 22.37 Deut. 12.27 And that it does so here is evident from the words which follow where we have mention of a Vow and Free-will-offering which are two of the distinct kinds contained under the general Head of Peace-offerings Levit. 7.16 ch 22.21 In performing Heb. In separating Levit. 22.21 Sweet Savour Exod. 29.18 4. Shall he Levit 2.1 A tenth-deal i. e. The tenth part of an Ephah as the Vulgar Latin and Greek have it here and is expressly said Numb 28.5 This tenth-deal of an Ephah is the same with an Omer See the Note on Exod. 16.36 An Hin This is a Measure of Liquids containing about the quantity of our Gallon 8. Or for a sacrifice See the Note on v. 3. Peace-offerings i. e. The one kind thereof called a Free-will-offering v. 3. 15. One ordinance Exod. 12.49 chap. 9.14 Before the LORD i. e. In matters relating to God's Service which are here spoken of 20. A cake of the first of your dough This Cake was not to be offered upon the Altar but to be given to the Priests to whom all Heave-offerings as well as the First-fruits were due ch 18.8 The giving it to them was giving it to the Lord v. 19 21. As ye do See Levit. 2.14 22. And not observed c. See Levit 4.13 That place speaks of doing that which ought not to be done This of not doing what ought to be done 24. Committed Or admitted For the word does not import this a Sin of Commission and from the Context it appears that a Sin of Omission is here spoken of Without the knowledge
mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation 28. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son and Aaron died there in the top of the mount and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount 29. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead they mourned for Aaron thirty days even all the house of Israel 1. IN the first mouth viz. Of the fortieth Year after they came out of Egypt ch 33.38 and when the Generation of Men who were fit for Battel were consumed Deut. 2.14 Miriam She was Sister to Moses and Aaron and a Prophetess also Exod. 15.20 Micah 6.4 2. There was no water The Water which came out of Horeb and had supplied them in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.4 now they draw nigh the promised land fails them Exod. 17.6 3. Chode Exod. 17.2 When our brethren ch 11.33 6. Fell upon their faces See Chap. 14. v. 5. 8. The rod i. e. That Rod with which Moses wrought his Miracles in Egypt which is called his Rod v. 11. and it is probable was lodged in the Sanctuary v. 9. For Moses is said v. 9. to have taken it from before the LORD 12. Because ye believed me not c. It may be matter of enquiry wherein consisted the sin of Moses with which Aaron is also charged as consenting to it In answer to which it is to be considered I. That the very Letter of God's command was broken First In that Moses smote the Rock with his Rod and smote it twice v. 11. whereas he had received no such command from God but was commanded to speak to the Rock v. 8. that the People might see how easily God could supply their want of Water Whereas in the Waters of Horeb he was indeed expressly required to smite with the Rod as well as to take it Exod. 17.5 6. For though he were here commanded to take the Rod yet that does not imply that he was to smite with it as appears from the following Instances Exod. 8.5 6. with ch 9.23 and ch 10.13 and ch 14.16 Secondly In speaking to the People which Moses had no Commission to do and not to the Rock which was expressly commanded v. 8 10. II. That this open breach of God's Command was committed in the sight and face of the Assembly v. 8. hence are Moses and Aaron charged for not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel v. 12. III. Moses was also guilty of some degree of Unbelief and distrust of God's Power and Veracity as appears from v. 12. compared with v. 10. Must we or can we as the Vulgar hath it fetch water c. which seems to intimate a doubting Vid. Gen. 18.13 and too much Anger and Commotion of Mind They provoked his spirit so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips Psal 106.33 And as the degrees of these sins were known to God onely so it is certain upon the whole they were guilty of that which is elsewhere called Trespass and Rebellion Numb 27.14 Deut. 32.51 To sanctifie me c. i. e. By your ready and absolute Obedience to my Command to own my Sovereignty as well as Veracity in the presence of the Children of Israel 13. This is c. Ps 106.32 Meribah That is Strife And he was sanctified in them i. e. In Moses and Aaron by punishing their Disobedience See Levit 10.3 Ezek. 38.16 22 23. 14. Befallen us Heb. Found us 16. An Angel See Exod. 3.2 17. The King 's high way i. e. The Common Road of all Travellers See v. 19. and ch 21.22 21. Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border Though he refused this yet he did not deny them Victuals and Water for Money as they passed by him See Deut. 2.28 29. 22. Kadesh Ch. 33.37 Mount Hor This Mount was upon the Coast of Edom v. 23. Hence the Horims might have their Name to whom the Children of Esau succeeded in Seir Deut. 2.12 And hence Seir was called an Horite Gen. 36.20 24. Word Heb. Mouth 25. Take Aaron c. Ch. 33.38 Deut. 32.50 26. Of his garments viz. Of his Priestly Robes This implied the devesting him of his Office as the putting them upon Eleazar his Son implied the succeeding of Eleazar into his Father's Employment and Dignity Isa 22.20 21. 28. Aaron died there Deut. 10.6 and ch 32.50 This happened in the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month when Aaron was an hundred twenty and three years old ch 33.38 39. The Death of Aaron shews the Insufficiency of the Levitical Priesthood Heb. 7.23 24. 29. Thirty days See Deut. 34.8 CHAP. XXI The ARGUMENT The Israelites get a Victory over the Canaanites They murmur and are thereupon destroyed with fiery Serpents They are upon their Repentance healed by a Serpent of Brass They remove to a Place called Oboth and after other Removes they come to Arnon and thence to Beer Some other Removes Sihon and Og are over-come by the Israelites 2552. 1452. 1. AND when king Arad the Canaanite which dwelt in the south heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners 2. And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD and said If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand then I will utterly destroy their cities 3. And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroyed them and their cities and he called the name of the place Hormah 4. And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red-sea to compass the land of Edom and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way 5. And the people spake against God and against Moses Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness for there is no bread neither is there any water and our soul lotheth this light bread 6. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and much people of Israel died 7. Therefore the people came to Moses and said We have sinned for we have spoken against the LORD and against thee pray unto the LORD that he take away the serpents from us and Moses prayed for the people 8. And the LORD said unto Moses Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it shall live 9. And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived 10. And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in Oboth 11. And they journeyed from Oboth and pitched at Ije-abarim in the wilderness which is before Moab toward the sun-rising 12. From thence they removed and pitched in the valley of Zared 13. From
LORD 6. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 7. The daughters of Zelophehad speak right thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them 8. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying If a man die and have no son then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter 9. And if he have no daughter then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren 10. And if he have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren 11. And if his father have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family and he shall possess it and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment as the LORD commanded Moses 12. And the LORD said unto Moses Get thee up into this mount Abarim and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel 13. And when thou hast seen it thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother was gathered 14. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desart of Zin in the strife of the congregation to sanctifie me at the water before their eyes that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin 15. And Moses spake unto the LORD saying 16. Let the LORD the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd 18. And the LORD said unto Moses Take thee Joshua the son of Nâ—â— a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hand upon him 19. And set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient 21. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD at his word shall they go out and at his word they shall come in both he and all the children of Israel with him even all the congregation 22. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation 23. And he laid his hands upon him and gave him a charge as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses 1. ZElophehad Ch. 26.13 Josh 17.3 3. Died Chap. 14.35 and 26.64 65. Korah Chap. 16. In his own sin i. e. Not as a Ring-leader of any Rebellion or Sedition or as a more notorious Sinner than other Men but as a common and ordinary Sinner to whom yet Death is due 4. Done away Heb. Diminished Their Father being no notorious Sinner his Children might well plead for an Inheritance which these Women had a fair occasion to do in their Father's right at this time because the Summ of the People was just now taken in order to the dividing the Land among them chap. 26.53 5. Brought their cause before the LORD That is He enquired of God in this matter and to that purpose it is probable he went into the Tabernacle See chap. 7.89 and Exod. 25.22 9. Vnto his brethren That is Upon supposition that his Father be dead For if his Father be alive the Inheritance as the Jews say with great probability returns to him and comes not to his Brethren first excepting onely where the Widow of the deceased is married to a surviving Brother as may be collected from v. 10 11. The Father is supposed to be dead v. 10. it being very improbable otherwise that his Brethren should rather inherit than he especially when it is provided that the Inheritance should pass to him that is next of the Family of him who is deceased v. 11. And that the Brethren's claim is from the Father as they were his Children rather than as the Brethren of the deceased vid. Selden de Success cap. XI 12. Get thee up Deut. 32.49 Into this mount Abarim There were a Tract of Mountains so called in the Plains of Moab ch 33.47 This Mountain was called Nebo Deut. 32.49 And they are called Abarim it is like because they were near the passage which was over Jordan as the Hebrew word intimates 13. Aaron Chap. 20.24 14. Rebelled Ch. 20.24 See the Notes on ch 20.12 Water Exod. 17.7 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them i. e. Which may rule and govern them in War and Peace and lead them as a Shepherd doth his Flock Deut. 28.6 When Moses expressed his unfitness for Government he says I can no more go out and come in Deut. 31.2 See Psal 121.8 18. Spirit i. e. The Spirit of God enabling him for his great Office He was in this a Type of Jesus Christ Joh. 3.34 with Isa 11.2 Lay thine hand upon him i. e. By that Rite set him a-part to his Office See Numb 8.10 This laying on of Hands see v. 23. was followed with encrease of Gifts from God And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of Wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him Deut. 34.9 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him i. e. Thou shalt not treat him barely as a Servant but admit him forthwith as a Partner in the Government as becomes him who is the Elect Judge or Ruler of his People 21. Ask counsel viz. In weighty and important Matters After the judgment of Vrim Exod. 28.30 CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Of the daily or continual Burnt-offering Of the additional Sacrifice on the Sabbath-day Of that of the New Moons Of that of the Passeover and Feast of Vnleavened Bread Of that of the Feast of Weeks 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel and say unto them My offering and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire for a sweet savour unto me shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season 3. And thou shalt say unto them This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD two lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering 4. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even 5. And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat-offering mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oyl 6. It is a continual burnt-offering which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD 7. And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong
of wait 23. Or with any stone wherewith a man may die seeing him not and cast it upon him that he die and was not his enemy neither sought his harm 24. Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments 25. And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge whither he was fled and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high-priest which was anointed with the holy oyl 26. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge whither he was fled 27. And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge and the revenger of blood kill the slayer he shall not be guilty of blood 28. Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high-priest but after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession 29. So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings 30. Whoso killeth any person the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses but one witness shall not testifie against any person to cause him to die 31. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer which is guilty of death but he shall be surely put to death 32. And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that it fled to the city of his refuge that he should come again to dwell in the land until the death of the priest 33. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are for blood it defileth the land and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it 34. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit wherein I dwell for I the LORD dwell amâ—ng the children of Israel 2. Command Josh 21.2 4. A thousand cubits round about The Greek Interpreters say two thousand And this seems to agree best with what is said in the following Verse But the difficulty which ariseth from comparing these words with verse 5. may be solved without supposing any Error in the Hebrew Text in this place For supposing One thousand Cubits in length from each side of the City to be the extent of its Suburbs which is here affirmed the Two thousand Cubits v. 5. is but the Measure of the breadth of the Suburbs on each quarter of the City viz. On the East and South and West and North-sides of it Nor does it appear that the fifth Verse imports any more than the breadth of the several Sides or extremities of the Suburbs 6. Six cities for refuge Deut. 4.41 Josh 20.2 and 21.3 These were for the relief of the Man-slayer but not of the Murderer verse 21. To them ye shall add Heb. Above them ye shall give 8. He inheriteth Heb. They inherit 10. When Deut. 19.2 Josh 20.2 11. Vnawares Heb. By Error i. e. Without Malice or Design See v. 20 21. 12. From the avenger He is called The avenger of blood v. 19. The Hebrew signifies a Redeemer and because the right of Redemption of Estates belonged to the nearest of the kindred it imports such a Kinsman here Vntil he stand before the Congregation The City of Refuge protected the Innocent and such as were not condemned but it did not protect them from giving an account before the Judges This they were obliged to do at their entrance into the City of Refuge Josh 20.4 or in the place where the fact was committed 15. For the stranger Or Proselyte as the Greek have it i. e. One who undertakes the Religion of the Israelites and was thereby distinguished from the Sojourner who though he did not oblige himself to all their Laws was yet permitted to live among them 16. And if he smite him c. Exod. 21.14 Here are mentioned an Instrument of Iron a Stone and Hand-weapon of Wood because it is presumable that he who strikes with such killing Instruments does intend to take away life whereas it is indeed the Design and Enmity which speak a Man a Murderer v. 20 21. 17. With throwing a stone Heb. With a stone of the hand 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer He may not onely do it lawfully but is obliged to see it be done by others at least for the Murderer ought not to live See v. 31. and the City of Refuge must not protect him Deut. 19.12 13. 20. If he Deut. 19.11 21. With his hand In this case where the Enmity is proved he that kills is a Murdererer whatever Instrument he used And on the other hand he that did not hate is no Murderer though he killed a Man with a killing Instrument See the Note on v. 16. 22. Without enmity Exod. 21.13 24. The congregation The Judges or Elders to whom such Causes belong See v. 12. and Josh 20.4 25. Vnto the death of the high-priest That being a time of publick mourning when their great Advocate died was a fit season for Men to lay aside their private Animosities and forget their particular Feuds and Quarrels Beside this does fairly intimate that our Redemption and our Liberty from the guilt of our sins is owing to the death of Christ our great High-priest 27. He shall not be guilty of blood Heb. No blood shall be to him 29. In all your dwellings That is In the whole Land which you are going to possess you shall observe this Law which did not oblige them out of their own Land See v. 10. 30. Mouth of witnesses Deut. 17.6 and 19.15 Matt. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 Heb. 10.28 31. Satisfaction Or Price Guilty of death Heb. Faulty to die 33. Pollute Or Make it guilty The land cannot be cleansed Heb. There can be no expiation for the land 34. Defile not Do not render unclean by your evil practices CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT A Question put to Moses relating to the Inheritances of Daughters The Law concerning the Marriage of Heiresses The Marriage of the Daughters of Zelophehad agreeably to that Law 1. AND the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph came 〈◊〉 and spake before Moses and before the princes the chief fathers of the children of Israel 2. And they said The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophebad our brother unto his daughters 3. And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and shall be put to the inheritance of the
the covenant which the LORD made with you then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights I neither did eat bread nor drink water 10. And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God and on them was written according to all the words which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of fire in the day of the assembly 11. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone even the tables of the covenant 12. And the LORD said unto me Arise get thee down quickly from hence for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them they have made them a molten image 13. Furthermore the LORD spake unto me sayingâ— I have seen this people and behold it is a stiff-necked people 14. Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater then they 15. So I turned and came down from the mount and the mount burned with fire and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands 16. And I looked and behold ye had sinned against the LORD your God and had made you a molten calf ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you 17. And I took the two tables and cast them out of my two hands and brake them before your eyes 18. And I fell down before the LORD as at the first forty days and forty nights I did neither eat bread nor drink water because of all your sins which ye sinned in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger 19. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you But the LORD hearkned unto me at that time also 20. And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him and I prayed for Aaron also the same time 21. And I took your sin the calf which ye had made and burnt it with fire and stamped it and ground it very small even untill it was as small as dust and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount 22. And at Taberah and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah ye provoked the LORD to wrath 23. Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea saying Go up and possess the land which I have given you then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God and ye believed him not nor hearkned to his voice 24. You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you 25. Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights as I fell down at the first because the LORD had said he would destroy you 26. I prayed therefore unto the LORD and said O Lord GOD destroy not thy people and thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand 27. Remember thy servants Abraham Isaac and Jacob look not unto the stubbornness of this people nor to their wickedness nor to their sin 28. Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them and because he hated them he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness 29. Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched-out arm 1. THis day i. e. About this time For day does not always signifie a precise time See the Notes upon Gen. 2.4 2. The children of the Anakims Numb 13.28 3. As a consuming fire Which doeth waste that which stands in its way See chap. 4.24 Heb. 12.29 Quickly But not all at once chap. 7.22 The seeming difference between this place and chap. 7.22 as the words lie in the Hebrew Text is removed by this answer That chap. 7.22 is to be understood of the whole Land and this of the parts of it which they should successively attempt upon 7. In the Wilderness Both in the Wilderness of Shur Exod. 15.22 24. and in the Wilderness of Sin Exod. 16.1 2 3. 8. Also in Horeb viz. In the Wilderness of Sinai whither the Israelites came in the third month after they came forth out of Egypt 9. I abode in the mount Exod. 24.18 and 34.28 10. And the LORD delivered c. See Exod. 31.18 and the Note upon that place The words which the LORD spake with you i. e. The Ten Commandments which God spake from Mount Sinai Exod 20. when the People were assembled to receive the Law Exod. 19.17 For the other Laws were given them by the Mediation of Moses according to their own request Exod. 20.19 compared with Deut. 5.27 12. Arise Exod. 32.7 14. Let me alone i. e. Do not pray or intercede for them See Exod. 32.10 16. Which the LORD had commanded you For God had expressly Commanded them not onely not to worship any Idol or false God Exod. 20.3 4. but not to make with him Gods of Silver or Gold Exod. 20.23 See the Notes on Exod. 20.23 18. I fell down viz. As a Supplicant praying for the People of which see Exod. 34.8 9. As at the first That is as I did upon my coming down from the Mount upon their making and worshipping the Golden Calf For that he did then pray for the People is intimated v. 14. and more fully expressed Exod. 32.11 12 13. 21. Your sin That is the Calf which was the Object of their Idolatrous Worship It is usual in the phrase of the Holy Scripture to call the Object of the Idolatrous Worship by the name of the Sin committed See Isa 31.7 compare Exod. 32.20 and Act. 17.23 with the Marginal reading 22. Taberah c. Numb 11.1 3. Exod 17.7 Numb 11.34 These places bore the Memorial of their Sin and Punishment 25. Thus I fell down c. Of which see verse 18. and the Note there 28. Because the LORD Numb 14.16 with Exod. 32.12 CHAP. X. The ARGUMENT The two Tables are restored and put into the Ark. Of the Death of Aaron Of the Separation of the Levites to the Service of God The Israelites are exhorted to Obedience and particularly to be kind to Strangers 1. AT that time the LORD said unto me Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first and come up unto me into the mount and make thee an ark of wood 2. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest and thou shalt put them in the ark 3. And I made an ark of shittim-wood and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first and went up into the mount having the two tables
which is left to his own disposal 10. To pass through the fire See the Note upon Levit. 18.21 That useth divination or an observer of times or an Enchanter The Divination here forbid seems to be the foretelling things to come for the sake of gain or by means not allowed by the Law of God See Micah 3.11 for the observer of times and the Enchanter See the Note on Levit. 19.26 A witch See the Note upon Exod. 22.18 11. Charmer An Inchanter who by Society with evil Spirits and perhaps by a pretence to knowledge from the Conjunction of the Stars for the Hebrew Word imports Society or Conjunction amuses Men with his odd feats and predictions Or a consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard of these See the Note on Levit. 19.31 Necromancer i. e. one who seeks to the Dead See 1 Sam. 28.7 and Isa 8.19 13. Perfect i. e. Vpright or Sincere and not depart from his Precepts See v. 14. 15. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. The connexion is plainly this That they need not turn to Observers of Times to Diviners and Witches c. because God would send among them a Succession of Prophets but then here is also a promise of Christ Act. 3.22 and 7.37 which agrees perfectly to our Jesus who was a Prophet as he taught the Will of God Matth. 5. Luk. 4.19 and foretold things to come Matth. 26.75 Joh. 6.70 71. Matth. 16.21 Matth. 24. and was like unto Moses in his Meekness in his fasting forty days and forty nights in giving his Law from a Mountain Matt. 5. in his open declaring the Will of God Joh. 1.18 in his Mediatorship c. 19. I will require it i. e. I will punish him as a despiser of me and he shall be destroyed from among the people Act. 3.23 22. Speaketh in the name of the LORD c. That is undertakes to confirm his Mission by a Miracle or by predicting something to come The not being able to effect what he undertook and when the Event answered not the Prediction would prove him a false Prophet and not to be feared or regarded CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the cities of Refuge and the Manslayer The Murtherer must die The Land-mark may not be removed The insufficiency of a single Witness The Punishment of a False-witness 1. WHen the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee and thou succeedest them and dwellest in their cities and in their houses 2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way and divide the coasts of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit into three parts that every slayer may flee thither 4. And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither that he may live whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly whom he hated not in time past 5. As when a man goeth in the wood with his neighbour to hew wood and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree and the head slippeth from the helve and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die he shall flee unto one of those cities and live 6. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him because the way is long and slay him whereas he was not worthy of death in as much as he hated him not in time past 7. Wherefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate three cities for thee 8. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers 9. If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them which I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God and to walk ever in his ways then shalt thou add three cities more for thee beside these three 10. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance and so blood be upon thee 11. But if any man hate his neighbour and lie in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him mortally that he die and fleeth into one of these cities 12. Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die 13. Thine eye shall not pity him but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with thee 14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's land-mark which they of old time have set in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established 16. If a false witness rise up against any man to testifie against him that which is wrong 17. Then both the men between whom the controversie is shall stand before the LORD before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days 18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition and behold if the witness be a false witness and hath testified falsly against his brother 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother so shalt thou put the evil away from among you 20. And those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you 21. And thine eye shall not pity but life shall go for life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot 1. WHEN the LORD thy God c. It is from hence evident that they were not obliged to set aside these Cities of Refuge till they had subdued the Inhabitants of the Land and accordingly we find Joshua then taking care of it Josh 20.2 2. In the midst of thy land Or Within thy land For it is not to be supposed they were in the very middle of it but that they were so situated as might be most for the ease and security of the Man-slayer v. 6. and accordingly they were appointed in several Tribes as we read Josh 20.7 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way The meaning is that the way to these Cities should be made plain and easie that the Man-slayer might not be obstructed or retarded in his flight thither 4. And this is the case See Exod. 21.13 6. Lest the avenger c. It is evident that these words relate to what was said v. 3. of dividing the Coasts of the Land that the Slayer might flee to the City of Refuge with greater security which he could not do had not these Cities been dispersed in several Tribes 8. As he hath sworn
unto the vine and his asses colt unto the choice vine he washed his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes 12. His eyes shall be red with wine and his teeth white with milk 13. Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea and he shall be for an haven of ships and his border shall be unto Zidon 14. Issachar is a strong ass touching down between two burdens 15. And he saw that rest was good and the land that it was pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute 16. Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel 17. Dan shall be a serpent by the way an adder in the path that biteth the horse-heels so that his rider shall fall backward 18. I have waited for thy salvation O LORD 19. Gad a troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at the last 20. Out of Asher his bread shall be fat and he shall yield royal dainties 21. Naphtali is a hind let loose he giveth goodly words 22. Joseph is a fruitful bough even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wâ—ll 23. The archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him 24. But his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob from thence is the shepherd the stone of Israel 25. Even by the God of thy father who shall help thee and by the Almighty who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above blessings of the deep that lieth under blessings of the breasts and of the womb 26. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills they shall be on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren 27. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf in the morning he shall devour the prey and at night he shall divide the spoil 28. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel and this is it that their father spake unto them and blessed them every one according to his blessing he blessed them 29. And he charged them and said unto them I am to be gathered unto my people bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite 30. In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah which is before Mamre in the land of Canaan which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place 31. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife and there I buried Leah 32. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. 33. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons he gathered up his feet into the bed and yielded up the ghost and was gathered unto his people 1. IN the last days 2315. 1689. i. e. Hereafter These words denote not any one precise time These Predictions were to be fulfilled in Sundry times And part of them extend to the time of the Messiah which is called the last days Isa 2.2 Acts 2.17 Heb. 1.1 3. The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power The Prerogatives of the first-born which Reuben had forfeited v. 4. were I. A double portion of goods Deut. 21.17 This was bestowed on Joseph ch 48.5 compared with 1 Chron. 5.1 II. Power and Dominion over the younger ch 27.29 37. This was given to Judah v. 8. with 1 Chron. 5.2 III. The honour of Priesthood in their own family at least See Exod. 24.5 Where by young men the Jews tell us are meant the first-born Besides the Levites were taken into the Service of God instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel Numb 3.41 This priviledge was given to Levi. 4. Vnstable c. This Verse gives an account how Reuben lost his Birth-right and the Priviledges thereof viz. By his lightness and unbridled Lust ch 35.22 And seems to intimate the mean condition of the Tribe of Reuben for the future in those words Thou shalt not excell See Judg. 5.15 16. 5. Brethren i. e. Not onely born of the same Father and Mother for so were Reuben and Judah also but as they conspired against Joseph's life which Reuben and Judah studied to preserve ch 37.21 26. and especially because of their Conspiracy against the Shechemites ch 34.25 The swords there mentioned being the instruments of Cruelty mentioned here They are Brethren in the Scripture-phrase who are like in manners and agree in the same design Job 30.29 with Psalm 102.6 and Prov. 18.9 6. O my soul c. In these words Jacob disavows the action of Simeon and Levi against the Shechemites as that to which he gave no consent either implicit or explicit He disowns it in these words O my soul c. Or My soul come not into their secret or counsel as the words may be rendred See ch 34.30 i. e. He gave no implicit consent so far was he from encouraging them by his words or tongue which in Scripture-phrase is called honour Psal 16.9 with Acts 2.26 and which he affirms here was not united to them A Man Or Men viz. the Shechemites One number being put for another Though it be also true that one Man viz. he that had defiled Dinah was principally designed and was a principal Man also who was killed in that slaughter 7. Cursed c. This refutes what is affirmed by Judith viz. That they were moved with the zeal of God Judith 9.4 Their anger Not their persons much less their posterity See v. 28. and 2 Sam. 15.31 Divide Levi was dispersed among the Tribes and the Inheritance of the Simeonites did not lie together Josh 19.1 9. with 1 Chron. 4.39 8. Praise Or confess The rest of the Nation shall be called Jews and their whole Country Judaea from Judah See Esther 3.6 Matt. 27.37 This Tribe was famous also for their Conquests over their Enemies Judg. 1.2 Psal 18.4 and the Dominion which it enjoyed over their Brethren It was famous for the Kingdom of the House of David but especially because the Messiah was born of this Tribe whose Kingdom is Everlasting 9. A Lion's whelp This Tribe for their Courage and Valour and their Eminence over the rest is fitly compared to a Lion which is strongest among beasts Prov. 30.30 And its gradual encrease in Power and Eminence over the rest is fitly compared to and represented by the Lion's whelp the Lion and the old Lion 10. The Scepter c. i. e. The Jews who received their denomination from Judah especially after their return from the Babylonian Captivity and to which Tribe that of Benjamin and Levi and others who adhered to it both upon the Schism after Solomon's Death and after the Captivity of the Ten Tribes were esteemed but as an Accession