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
LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there saying 13. Certain men the children of Belial are gone out from among you and have with-drawn the inhabitants of their city saying Let us go and serve other gods which ye have not known 14. Then shalt thou enquire and make search and ask diligently and behold if it be truth and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought among you 15. Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword destroying it utterly and all that is therein and the cattel thereof with the edge of the sword 16. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof and shalt burn with fire the city and all the spoil thereof every whit for the LORD thy God and it shall be an heap for ever it shall not be built again 17. And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and shew thee mercy and have compassion upon thee and multiply thee as he hath sworn unto thy fathers 18. When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God 1. GIveth thee a sign That is he foretells some wonderfull thing that shall come to pass which sense is confirmed from the following words 2. And the sign or the wonder c. The meaning is And what he foretold in confirmation of his impious Doctrine saying Let us go after other Gods shall come to pass as he foretold it 3. Proveth you He suffereth the false Prophet to give a sign and by the event to confirm his impious Doctrine to try whether you are sincere and stedfast in your love to him and your Obedience and that this your sincerity may be known to your selves and others 4. Cleave Chap. 10.4 5. Be put to death The reason of which follows in the next words which determine this death to the person seducing to Idolatry Because he hath spoken Heb. revolt against the Lord to turn you away from the LORD The evil Both the evil Thing or impious Doctrine that it spread no farther and the evil Person also See Deut. 21.21 1 Cor. 5.13 6. If thy brother c. Here is an Enumeration of the nearest and dearest Relatives to let them know that they ought to love God above all 9. But thou shalt surely kill him Ch. 17.7 i. e. Thou shalt discover him and bring him to condign punishment which is death in this case by the Sentence of the Magistrate Thine hand shall be first upon him viz. As the witness of his Crime ch 17.7 10. Bondage Heb. Bondmen 11. All Israel Ch. 17.13 13. The children of Belial Or naughty men This expression is often used in Scripture to denote profligate and vile persons who are ungovernable and without the fear of God and Men and such as will not bear the Yoke of good Order and Discipline Are gone out from among you That is are separated from you and refuse Communion with you in your Religious Services See 1 Joh. 2.19 For of a local Separation the words cannot be understood because these vile Men after their Separation are yet in the following words supposed to be in their City withdrawing the Inhabitants and saying Let us go and serve other gods 14. Inquire c. The Magistrate is to take care to examine strictly into the truth of matter of fact and especially of this high nature and importance for Men are not to be put to death without clear evidence of their being guilty of death And is a proof that the killing v. 9. is not to be meant of doing it privately but after sufficient proof and the Sentence of the Magistrate 15. All that is therein For it may well be supposed that those who dissented would withdraw from so vile a City 16. For the LORD thy God Or To the Lord thy God viz. To appease God's just Displeasure and in honour of his offended Justice 17. Cursed Or Devoted CHAP. XIV The ARGUMENT The Israelites may not disfigure themselves in Mourning for the Dead What Beasts Fish and Fowl may and may not be eaten Of their Tithes to be eaten in the place which God should choose and particularly of the Tithe of the Third Year 1. YE are the children of the LORD your God ye shall not cut your selves nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead 2. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the nations that are upon the earth 3. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing 4. These are the beasts which ye shall eat the ox the sheep and the goat 5. The hart and the roe-buck and the fallow-deer and the wild goat and the pygarg and the wild ox and the chamois 6. And every beast that parteth the hoof and cleaveth the cleft into two claws and cheweth the cud amongst the beasts that ye shall eat 7. Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that divide the cloven hoof as the camel and the hare and the coney for they chew the end but divide not the hoof therefore they are unclean unto you 8. And the swine because it divideth the hoof yet cheweth not the cud it is unclean unto you ye shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their dead carcase 9. These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters all that have fins and scales shall ye eat 10. And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat it is unclean unto you 11. Of all clean birds ye shall eat 12. But these are they of which ye shall not eat the eagle and the â—â—sifrage and the ospray 13. And the glede and the kite and the vulture after his kind 14. And every raven after his kind 15. And the owl and the night-hawk and the cuckow and the hawk after his kind 16. The little owl and the great owl and the swan 17. And the pelican and the gier-eagle and the cormorant 18. And the stork and the heron after her kind and the lapwing and the bat 19. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you they shall not be eaten 20. But of all clean fowls ye may eat 21. Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of it self thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates that he may eat it or thou mayest sell it unto an alien for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk 22. Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year 23. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose
5.6 To what hath been said I add That when Josephus mentions thâ—s passage that is related Deut. 1.1 and which we translate on this side Jordan he expresseth it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. about or near Jordan which he presently after opposeth to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. beyond Jordan Joseph Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. This is sufficient to justifie our English Version and to render this Objection void of all power and force it plainly argues in the Objectors great Ignorance or something worse Obj. II. It is pretended that Moses could not write what we read Gen. 36.31 These are the Kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any King over the children of Israel These words must be written 't is pretended by one who liv'd after there were Kings in Israel which was long after the Death of Moses I would willingly give this Objection its full strength before I answer it And I find a late Writer hath done it to my hand in his Prolegomena to his Commentary on Genesis printed at Amsterdam 1693. The substance of what he says is as follows Eight Kings are reckon'd up succeeding each other There were not more than so many Generations or Persons generated from Jacob to Obed the Grand-father of David But from Jacob to Moses there were but four reckoning Moses for one Then he tells what some answer viz. That Moses fore-knew that there would be Kings over Israel Deut. 17. But then he does not think it credible that God should reveal to him how many Kings and what their Names shou'd be that were to reign in Edom. He cannot think it a Prophecy He tells us of some-body but 't is with a Nescio quis who affirms these Kings reign'd in several places at the same time He concludes as if he had been retain'd against Moses Si candide hic agere licet c. That if he may deal candidly 't is best to own that the nine Verses from v. 31. to 39. were added by some-body he might here have put another Nescio quis who liv'd after the Kingdom establish'd in Israel Before I go any farther I will grant what he says of the Descents from Jacob to Obed and from him to Moses I will grant the Words are not a Prophecy and that these Kings reign'd successively one after another but will by no means allow that these words are not the words of Moses I will fully answer the Objection and shew the false Reasoning of this Author in the following Particulars 1. He might have spar'd his pains in computing the Descents from Jacob to Obed and Moses as things nothing to the purpose He wou'd I know insinuate by it that there was not time enough from Esau to the times of Moses for so many Kings to reign successively and that therefore Moses cou'd not give us this Relation This he should have consider'd better before he had given up the place From the Marriage of Esau to the Death of Moses are no less than 345 years Here 's room enough for eight Kings successively And that there are so many years in this space I need not prove 'T is evident and no Man can deny it Let any Man look over the Kings of Judah and begin where he will and he 'll soon find space enough here for these eight Kings to succeed each other though they had been successively Father and Son which they whom Moses mentions were not 2. 'T is very unfairly done to reckon from Jacob to Moses and Obed and thence to insinuate that there cou'd not be so many Generations from Esau to the Times of Moses who is suppos'd to give this Relation This is perfect Practice and Artifice We might have looked for it from a Deist or a Disciple of Mr. Hobbs but not from one who pretends to be an Advocate for Moses as this Author does Two ways the unfairness of this Practice may be discover'd 1. From hence that he cannot but know that there is a great difference in these things The Descents are more frequent in some Families than others as the Persons marry sooner or later as their eldest and first-born Sons live or die in their minority c. Who does not know that St. Matthew reckons from Abraham to Jesus but 42 Descents St. Luke 56. From Salathiel to Joseph in St. Matthew are reckon'd but 12 Generations but in St. Luke the Generations from Joseph to the same Salathiel as is supposed at least are no fewer than 21. Nor is there in all this any great Difficulty Admitting Salathiel in each place to be one and the same Person And where several Lines are drawn from the same Head of a Family there is very often a great difference in the number of Descents And the Generations from David to Joseph may well differ in St. Matthew and St. Luke when 't is remembred that they are reckon'd by Solomon or by his Brother Nathan ' Twou'd be too great a Digression or else 't were very easie to give a very large and clear account of this matter 2. It is very unfairly done to insinuate that there being but so many Generations from Jacob to Obed and Moses therefore 't was not probable there shou'd be such a Succession of Kings from Esau 'T is true Jacob and Esau were of an Age but he conceals something of moment They were not so when they marry'd Esau marry'd when he was forty years old but Jacob staid till he was near fourscore before he marry'd Here is near 40 years difference which is of great moment in this matter This Author in his Appendix affirms I will not answer for the Truth of it nor is this a place to dispute it that Jacob marry'd Leah in the 85th year of his Age. And for what he knows Moses might be near 120 years old when he wrote this Relation of the Kings of Edom. Upon the whole matter here is space enough for these Successions Joseph died when he was 110 years old and yet he saw Ephraim's Children of the third Generation Gen. 50.23 26. 3. Though here be space enough for these eight Kings though they were Father and Son yet we have no Cause to believe they were Father and Son but just ground to believe they were not And if they were not then might the less time serve for their Succession to one another We have these grounds to believe they were not Father and Son That 1. They are said to be of divers Cities or Places from each other One of Dinhabah his Successor of Bozrah a Third of the Land of the Temanites 'T is not very likely that the next Heir shou'd live in another City or Country and at a Remove from his Predecessor 2. 'T is not said upon the Death of a King that such a one his Son reigned in his stead But when Bela died 't is said that Jobah the Son not of Bela but Zerah reigned in his stead To him succeeded Husham of
prejudic'd with false Notions addicted to some foolish Opinions or blinded with some naughty and vicious Inclinâ—â—sion And to such a Reader many Things seem obscure But still the Reader is blameable not the Book He is in this Case like the blind Woman in Seneca who cou'd not be perswaded but that the House was dark when her Eyes were blinded There are some obscure passages in Holy Writ but these Holy Books are not therefore to be discharg'd from being the Writing of those persons whose Names they bear There are very many things exceeding plain to the Reader and many things that are not so are yet very excellent and to be reputed so by a modest Reader When Socrates had read a Book written by Heraclitus and was ask'd how he lik'd the Book he answer'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Those things in it says he which I understood are excellent and so I presume are the things which I did not understand This modesty becomes us well in reading the Holy Scriptures Where every carefull Reader will not fail to meet with a great many very excellent things which he will easily understand he ought to presume so of those things which he does not comprehend Obj. XXI I find it objected also that there is a different Style in the several parts of the Pentateuch and that therefore 't was not writ by Moses but by several Hands I answer 1. That if this were true it must be allow'd to be a very material Objection and though it wou'd not be altogether concluding yet it wou'd have more weight than all that hath been said before 2. But 't is so far from being true that the Objector does impose upon the more ignorant Reader in this matter For which matter I do appeal to all those that understand the Biblical Hebrew and that have been most conversant in it The Objector ought to have offer'd some proofs of this at least to have told us where any such diversity of Style appears and till he does that he cannot expect any other answer I do grant that in other Books written by several Hands this diversity of Style does manifestly appear The Prophet Isaiah writes in a style that is lofty and sublime Jeremiah on the other hand in a style that is more vulgar and popular Some other parts are written in a style that is concise and elliptical some in a style more ample and copious And as they were written by several Hands so there is that variety in style that wou'd induce the Reader to this belief But I do solemnly averr That there is no such variety in the style of the Pentateuch that gives any colour to such a belief 'T is true that the Songs in Moses are somewhat different from the style of his Prose and some few expressions may be allow'd to be more elliptical and concise but all this still is not such a difference as can inferr him not to be the Writer and are such Things as must be allow'd elsewhere in one and the same Writer and Book Obj. XXII The last Objection and the most common of all is That Moses cou'd not write what we read Deut. 34. The account of his Death and Burial and his Character This therefore must be allow'd to be written by another Hand I answer 1. That it is absurd to say that he cou'd not when 't is remembred that he was not onely a Prophet but the greatest of Prophets There are less Prophets than Moses that tell us many Things that came not to pass till after their own Death And therefore if I shou'd affirm that he wrote this by way of Prophecy as I shou'd not be alone in affirming it but shou'd have good Authority from Antiquity on my side so I am sure I cannot be confuted by any of those who have abdicated Moses Philo the Jew de vit Mos l. 3. tells us that Moses before his Death did fore-tell what Things shou'd happen to the several Tribes Some of which things says he are already come to pass some of them are expected But then he adds That Moses being just going to Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. being as yet living and divinely inspired did distinctly fore-tell those things which related to his own Death and Burial 2. As to this matter every Man may believe as he sees cause I am very little concern'd about it if he wrote the Pentateuch to this Deut. 34. where we have the account of his Death c. I am satisfied Let what follows be written by another whether Joshua or the High-priest or some other authorized Person this will do the Objectors little service as to the main purpose and me no harm at all He that believes St. Paul wrote the Epistles that go under his Name believes enough as to that matter though he shou'd at the same time believe the Post-scripts at the close of those Epistles were written by another Hand Again he that believes the Book of Psalms an inspir'd Book and written by those Persons whose Names they bear believes enough tho' at the same time he might believe that the words Psal 72.20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended were written by another Hand to intimate that there ended one of the Books for the Jews made a Pentateuch of the Book of Psalms and in the following Psalm another Book begins But after all I do not see why what I said before under the first Head shou'd be receiv'd with such laughter and scorn as I find it is And though I think the Cause will not suffer by this Concession yet I do not quit my first Answer And thus I have consider'd the Pretences against Moses I have represented Them with all the advantage on my Adversaries side that I possibly cou'd and have endeavour'd to render their Arguments as pungent and strong as I cou'd and have sometimes found it a greater difficulty to sharpen them and make them appear like Arguments than it was to Answer them I find Moses hath a good Title to the Author of these Books A Title that a good Man esteems more valuable than Crowns and Scepters and that hath preserv'd the Name of Moses and made it Renowned Some few People have attempted to deprive him of this Honour I find nothing of any moment in the above-named Pretences and therefore must own him to be the Author of them still THE First Book of Moses CALLED GENESIS THE General Argument OF THE First Book of MOSES CALLED GENESIS THE Jews call the several Books of Moses which follow by Names that are taken from the first Hebrew word or words with which those Books begin Hence it is that this Book is by them commonly called Bereshith which signifies in the beginning that being the first word with which this Book begins But the Names by which they are known among Christians are taken from the Subject-matter contained in them Hence it is that this first
the Birth of Seth in that line did descend from Adam The word Book among the Ancients was applied to very small Writings or Chapters Thus the Bill of Divorcement is called Deut. 24.1 An Epistle 2 Sam. 11.14 A Register of Names Nehem. 7.5 2. Adam Or Man Gen. 1.27 3. An hundred and thirty years By years are meant Solar not Lunar years throughout the whole Chapter If a year were put for a month in these places then would Cainan Mahalaleel and Enoch be supposed to have had Children before they were six years old In his own lickness i. e. Like to him not onely in his faculties and bodily gifts and endowments but also in his mortality and the depravedness of his nature 5. All the days c. This very particular account which is given of Adam and his Descendants by Seth to the Floud serves to set forth the care and good providence of God And that it does I. As it assures us of God's blessing those Men in giving them Children both sons and daughters there not being any among them that was deprived of this Blessing II. By acquainting us with the long lives of those Men for the better replenishing of the Earth which God had made III. As it informs us of God's peculiar care of these good Men in exempting them from the Floud For it appears by computation that these righteous persons were not destroyed by the Floud which was brought upon the world of the ungodly 2 Pet. 2.5 There was not any one of them besides Noah whose Age reached unto the Floud And that seems to be the reason that the time of their death is precisely set down here which is not thus particularly done in the generations which are mentioned Gen. 11. 22. Walked with God i. e. Was a Religious Man he pleased God and had therefore a true faith in Him Heb. 11.5 6. and a firm belief of future rewards Jude v. 14 15. 24. He was not i. e. He was not found Heb. 11.5 viz. among the Inhabitants of this lower World God took him i. e. God took him to himself He was translated that he should not see death Heb. 11.5 29. Noah He was the tenth from Adam The Hebrew word signifies rest His Father fore-tells of him This same shall comfort us He brought comfort and rest to mankind By improving the Art of Husbandry he eased Men as to the toil of their hands ch 9. v. 20. He was also a means of saving Mankind from utter ruine by the Floud and upon his Oblations received assurance that God would not again curse the ground any more for man's sake ch 8. v. 21. 32. Shem Ham and Japheth Japheth was the eldest Shem the second and Ham the youngest See ch 7. v. 6. with ch 11. v. 10. ch 9. v. 24. ch 10. v. 21. The following Story being most concerned in the Off-spring of Shem and the Church of God being among his Off-spring he is here named in the first place CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT The Causes which moved God to bring the Floud upon the World Noah findeth favour A character of him and an account of his Sons Noah is commanded to build an Ark. He is directed as to the Matter Form and End of it 1. AND it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them 2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose 3. And the LORD said My Spirit shall not always strive with man for that he also is flesh yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years 4. There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bare children to them the same became mighty men which were of old men of renown 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually 6. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart 7. And the LORD said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God 10. And Noah begat three sons Shem Ham and Japheth 11. The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence 12. And God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth 13. And God said unto Noah The end of all flesh is come before me for the earth is filled with violence through them and behold I will destroy them with the earth 14. Make thee an ark of Gopher-wood rooms shalt thou make in the ark and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch 15. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits the breadth of it fifty cubits and the height of it thirty cubits 16. A window shalt thou make to the ark and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof with lower second and third stories shalt thou make it 17. And behold I even I do bring a floud of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life from under heaven and every thing that is in the earth shall die 18. But with thee will I establish my covenant and thou shalt come into the ark thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy sons wives with thee 19. And of every living thing of all flesh two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark to keep them alive with thee they shall be male and female 20. Of fowls after their kind and of cattel after their kind of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind two of every sort shall come unto thee to keep them alive 21. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten and thou shalt gather it to thee and it shall be for food for thee and for them 22. Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him so did he 2. The Sons of God i. e. The Worshippers of God who were descended from Seth chap. 4. v. 26. These are called God's Children Compare Deut. 14.1 2 Cor. 6.18 with Isai 43.6 7.44.5.65.1 The daughters of men That is the daughters of the ungodly Race of Cain 1 Cor. 3.3 Chose Their choice was determined by Beauty whereas favour is deceitfull and beauty is vain Prov. 31.30 3. My Spirit shall not always strive with man i. e. Man
the self-same day as God had said unto him 24. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore-skin 25. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore-skin 26. In the self-same day was Abraham circumcised and Ishmael his son 27. And all the men of his house born in the house and bought with money of the stranger were circumcised with him 1. APpeared viz. In some visible manner Compare v. 22. Almighty Or All-sufficient Walk See ch 5.22 Perfect i. e. Upright or sincere as it is in the Margent 2. Make i. e. Establish and confirm v. 7. and give a token of it v. 11. 3. Face Out of reverence to the divine Majesty as well as the sense he had of God's great favour to him v. 17. Levit. 9.24 Ezek. 1.28.3.23 4. Many Nations Not onely those who shall proceed from his Loins but Christian Believers also Rom. 4.16 17. Gal. 3.7 5. Abram It signifies an high Father Abraham One letter of the Hebrew word signifying Multitude is added to his Name intimating that he should be a Father of many Nations ch 12. v. 2. 6. Kings Many Kings sprang from Abraham of the Jews Ishmaelites Idumeans Midianites and our great King the Messias 7. An everlasting Covenant viz. To his spiritual Seed And it would have been so to his natural Seed had they continued obedient 8. Everlasting possession See the Note on ch 13. v. 15. Their God I will have a particular care of them as a Father hath of his Children 2 Cor. 6.16 18. 9. And God c. Here begins the other part of the Covenant on Man's part 10. My Covenant Or the sign and token of it as it is v. 11. It is very usual in Scripture phrase to call the Sign by the name of the thing which it signifies Exod. 12.11 Acts 7.8 Man-child Or Male The Males gave denomination to the Families 11. Fore-skin The word is observed to signifie Superfluity And the institution of Circumcision does fairly put us in mind of putting away all superfluity of naughtiness A token Or sign by which not onely the memory of this Covenant shall be preserved but by which Abraham's seed to whom the promised Blessing belongs shall be distinguished from others and separated and marked out as God's peculiar 12. Eight days old He that was eight days old ought to be circumcised tho that day fell on the Sabbath Till that time a beast might not be offered as the first-born Exod. 22.30 And the child newly born till the time was reputed unclean Levit. 12.3 14. Cut off This cutting off seems to imply at least an untimely death Exod. 31.14 and a punishment generally inflicted by God's hand rather than that of the Magistrate Levit. 17.10 and 20.5 And that in this place relates to the offender not to the infant Exod. 4.24 Ezek. 18.20 What we translate is not circumcised Passively may from the Hebrew be translated in the Active Voice thus Doeth not Or shall not circumcise Thus the Chaldee understands the word in this place And then the person who neglects Circumcision when he is come to a just Age will be an offender and liable to the punishment threatned to that neglect 15. Sarah The word signifies a Lady or Princess There is a change of one letter into another and that other the same which was added to her Husband's name v. 5. and it seems to be added for the same reason it being forthwith promised that she should be a Mother of Nations v. 16. 17. Laughed i. e. Rejoiced So the Chaldee And the Hebrew word will bear it ch 21.6 Abraham is not censured for it as Sarah is ch 18. Nor is it an argument of his unbelief Rom. 4.18 19 20 21. He was rather filled with admiration and joy at God's gracious promise Compare John 8.56 And he does in the following words express himself full of admiration For besides that he fell upon his face He said Shall a child c. 18. Might live Abraham puts God in mind of his promise ch 16.10 19. Isaac So called not from Sarah's laughter ch 18. v. 12. but from Abraham's joy His Name was a Memorial of his Father's faith not of his Mother's unbelief 21. Covenant i. e. Spiritual as well as Temporal Rom. 9.7 8. Gal. 3.29 Luk. 1.55 72. 22. God went up The glory of the Lord says the Chaldee Or that visible and glorious appearance v. 1. Went up out of Abraham's sight Ezek. 3.23 and 8.4 23. In the self-same day i. e. Forthwith on that very day when God commanded him So ready was he to obey God 27. The men of his house Thus was his family devoted to God Compare ch 18. v. 19. CHAP. XVIII The ARGUMENT Abraham's great hospitality in entertaining Angels unawares Sarah is promised a Son She is reproved for laughing which through excess of fear she denyed The destruction of Sodom is made known to Abraham who thereupon intercedes for it 1. AND the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked and lo three men stood by him and when he saw them he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself toward the ground 3. And said My Lord if now I have found favour in thy sight pass not away I pray thee from thy servant 4. Let a little water I pray you be fetched and wash your feet and rest your selves under the tree 5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread and comfort ye your hearts after that you shall pass on for therefore are ye come to your servant And they said So do as thou hast said 6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah and said Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal knead it and make cakes upon the hearth 7. And Abraham ran unto the herd and fetcht a calf tender and good and gave it unto a young man and he hasted to dress it 8. And he took butter and milk and the calf which he had dressed and set it before them and he stood by them under the tree and they did eat 9. And they said unto him Where is Sarah thy wife And he said Behold in the tent 10. And he said I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life and lo Sarah thy wife shall have a son And Sarah heard it in the tent door which was behind him 11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women 12. Therefore Sarah laughed within her self saying After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also 13. And the LORD said unto Abraham Wherefore did Sarah laugh Saying Shall I of a surety bear a child which am old 14. Is any thing too hard for the LORD At the time appointed
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
and set them Bounds which he accordingly does God descends upon the Mount and sends Moses down to restrain the Priests and People from coming too near 1. IN the third month when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai 2. For they were departed from Rephidim and were come to the desart of Sinai and had pitched in the wilderness and there Israel camped before the mount 3. And Moses went up unto God and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain saying Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel 4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagles wings and brought you unto my self 5. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the earth is mine 6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel 7. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him 8. And all the people answered together and said All that the LORD hath spoken we will do And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD 9. And the LORD said unto Moses Lo I come unto thee in a thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever And Moses told the words of the peole unto the LORD 10. And the LORD said unto Moses Go unto the people and sanctifie them to day and to morrow and let them wash their clothes 11. And be ready against the third day for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai 12. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about saying Take heed to your selves that ye go not up into the mount or touch the border of it whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death 13. There shall not an hand touch it but he shall surely be stoned or shot through whether it be beast or man it shall not live when the trumpet soundeth long they shall come up to the mount 14. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people and sanctified the people and they washed their clothes 15. And he said unto the people Be ready against the third day come not at your wives 16. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that was in the camp trembled 17. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the nether part of the mount 18. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly 19. And when the voice of the trumpet founded long and waxed louder and louder Moses spake and God answered him by a voice 20. And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai on the top of the mount and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount and Moses went up 21. And the LORD said unto Moses Go down charge the people lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish 22. And let the priests also which come near unto the LORD sanctifie themselves lest the LORD break forth upon them 23. And Moses said unto the LORD The people cannot come up to mount Sinai for thou chargedst us saying Set bounds about the mount and sanctifie it 24. And the LORD said unto him Away get thee down and thou shalt come up thou and Aaron with thee but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD lest he break forth upon them 25. So Moses went down unto the people and spake unto them 1. THE same day It hath been thought that by the same day is meant the third day of the month as this was the third month of the year But that word which we translate month signifies sometimes no more but the New-moon or first day of the month Num. 29.6 1 Sam. 20.24 27. And in that sense the same day signifies the first day of the month According to this account it was fifty days from the Israelites eating the Passover in Egypt to the giving of the Law which was done on the third day v. 11. For on the fourteenth day of the first month was that Passover eaten From that time reckoning inclusively the first and last day was to the third of this third month just fifty days 3. Moses Act. 7.38 Went up unto God i. e. He went up to the Mount where the Glory of God appeared 4. Ye have seen Deut. 29.2 On Eagles wings Deut. 32.11 12. This speaks the great care of God and the sure defence which the Israelites had thereby received Vid. Revel 12.14 Vnto my self i. e. To the place where I appear to you and am ready to give you my Laws 5. Now Deut. 5.2 All the Earth Deut. 10.14 Psal 24.1 The greater was the favour of God to the Israelites when he made choice of them for his peculiar People 6. A Kingdom of Priests 1 Pet. 2.9 Rev. 1.6 Not a profane State but such as shall worship God according to his Will and be thereupon exalted by him to great Dignity Ye shall be Kings and Priests See the Chaldee and Rev. 5.10 8. All Ch. 24.3 7. Deut. 5.27 and 26.17 9. I come unto thee i. e. I will appear unto thee after a glorious manner Told Or He had told See v. 8. 10. Sanctifie them i. e. Set them a-part and let them abstain from all evil and from every impurity And as a token of their being sanctified inwardly they were obliged also to wash their clothes 11. The third day Vid. Notes on v. 1. On this day the Law was given called a fiery Law Deut. 33.3 And this day was the day of Pentecost being fifty days after the Passover on which day the fiery Tongues were bestowed Act. 2. Will come down Or will reveal himself by a glorious Appearance 12. Set bounds Such bounds and limits as they might not pass lest for their curiosity and profaneness they die vid. 1 Sam. 6.19 Whosoever Heb. 12.20 13. Trumpet Or Cornet Soundeth long Or when it hath sounded long The Greek understand it of that time when the Trumpet ceased They shall come up to the mount The People shall come nearer at least to the foot of the Mount and Moses and Aaron and his Sons and the Elders of Israel shall go up into the Mount vid. ch 24.9 15. Wives 1 Sam. 21.4 Joel
it from common use v. 10. 9. Six days Ch. 23.12 Ezek. 20.12 Luk. 13.14 10. Stranger Or Proselyte as the Greek have it 11. In six Gen. 2.2 Blessed c. See the Notes on Gen. 2.3 12. Honour Deut. 5.16 Matt. 15.4 Eph. 6.2 13. Thou shalt not kill Vid. Matt. 5.21 14. Thou shalt not c. Vid. Matt. 5.27 28. 17. Thou shalt not covet c. Here begins the tenth Precept For this is not to be divided into two Josephus expressly tells us that this is the tenth which forbids our desiring what belongs to another Besides the Apostle cites it as one Law Thou shalt not covet Rom. 13.9 and ch 7.7 And in that repetition Deut. 5.21 our Neighbour's Wife is first mentioned and then his House whence we may conclude that Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house is not a distinct Commandment but a part of the tenth Unless we would suppose that the ninth Commandment lies in the body of the tenth and that the tenth lies part of it before and part of it after the ninth Besides those words Nor any thing that is thy neighbours determine the foregoing Particulars to belong to the same Precept To all which may be added the account which Philo the Jew gives of this matter in his Book of the Decalogue And thus it is He divides the Decalogue or Ten Commandments into two Pentads or Fives In the first Pentad he reckons the first five Commandments of which he makes that of Honouring our Father and Mother the last And says expressly of that first Pentad that God is the beginning of it and our Parents the end He goes on and tells us that the second Pentad contains those several Precepts which forbid Murder Adultery Theft False-witness and Coveting He expressly calls the Precept which requires the Honouring of Father and Mother the fifth Commandment he makes this the Boundary between the two Pentads and that it puts the end to the more divine Pentad He reckons Thou shalt not covet as the last Commandment And this Order of these Divine Precepts he reports more than once From all 〈◊〉 t is abundantly evident that our Church may be 〈◊〉 and that the Church of Rome who makes the second Commandment part of the first and sometimes leaves it out and divides the tenth into two does notoriously prevaricate and impose upon the People of her Communion with a design to justify the Worshipping of Images which is expressly against the Letter of the Law 18. And all Heb. 12.18 Saw See the Notes on Gen. 42.1 19. Speak thou Deut. 5.24 and 18.16 20. To prove you See ch 15.25 i. e. To try whether or no all this will render you obedient vid. Deut. 13.3 23. With me i. e. Though you do profess to worship me the true God and to make me the ultimate object of your Worship 24. An Altar of Earth An Altar for their present use in the Wilderness 25. If Deut. 27.5 Josh 8.31 Build it of hewen stone Heb. Build them with hewing This was forbidden the Israelites as it is thought in opposition to the Heathens who built their Altars of hewen Stones And that they might not be tempted to worship their Altars which were adorned and curiously wrought and engraven vid. Levit. 26.1 Deut. 12.30 Vid. Maimon More Nevoch p. 3. c. 45. Tool Heb. Sword i. e. An edged Tool Polluted By rendring it unfit for my Service as it is done against my declared Will 26. Discovered God requires the greatest modesty in his Worshippers Whereas the Heathen Rites were attended with Expressions of great unchastity and filthiness CHAP. XXI The ARGUMENT Laws concerning Hebrew Servants both Men and Women Of Man-slaughter and of Murder Of those who smite their Parents Of Men-stealers and them that curse their Parents Of Smiters Of the Ox that goreth Of damage by leaving a Pit open or by an Ox. 1. NOW these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them 2. If thou buy an Hebrew servant six years he shall serve and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing 3. If he came in by himself he shall go out by himself if he were married then his wife shall go out with him 4. If his master have given him a wife and she have born him sons or daughters the wife and her children shall be her masters and he shall go out by himself 5. And if the servant shall plainly say I love my master my wife and my children I will not go out free 6. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges he shall also bring him to the door or unto the door-post and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl and he shall serve him for ever 7. And if a man sell his daughter to be a maid-servant she shall not go out as the men-servants do 8. If she please not her master who hath betrothed her to himself then shall he let her be redeemed To fell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her 9. And if he have betrothed her unto his son he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters 10. If he take him another wife her food her raiment and her duty of marriage shall he not diminish 11. And if he do not these three unto her then shall she go out free without money 12. He that smiteth a man so that he die shall be surely put to death 13. And if a man he not in wait but God deliver him into his hand then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee 14. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour to slay him with guile thou shalt take him from mine altar that he may die 15. And he that smiteth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death 16. And he that stealeth a man and selleth him or if he be found in his hand he shall surely be put to death 17. And he that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death 18. And if men strive together and one smite another with a stone or with his fist and he die not but keepeth his bed 19. If he rise again and walk abroad upon his staff then shall he that smote him be quit onely he shall pay for the loss of his time and shall cause him to be throughly healed 20. And if a man smite his servant or his maid with a rod and he die under his hand he shall be surely punished 21. Notwithstanding if he continue a day or two he shall not be punished for he is his money 22. If men strive and hurt a woman with child so that her fruit depart from her and yet no mischief follow he shall be surely punished according as the woman's husband will lay upon him and he shall pay as the judges determine 23. And if any mischief follow then thou shalt give life for life 24. Eye for eye tooth for tooth hand
out of Egypt Deut. 5.15 And it was a standing sign of that People's relation to God as their Maker and Deliverer Ezek. 20.20 That doth sanctifie you Or That doth set you apart to my Service and as a sign and token thereof the Sabbath was ordained for the service of God and rest from Worldly Occasions 14. Ye shall keep c. Ch. 20.8 Deut. 5.12 Ezek. 20.12 Be put to death The case was thus says Maimon among the Jews He that proudly and wittingly did work on the Sabbath was liable to be cut off i. e. To perish by the hand of God If he did it ignorantly he was obliged to bring his Sin-offering but if he were convicted by Witnesses he was to be stoned Num. 15.27.30 and 35. 15. Holy Heb. Holiness 17. In six days Gen. 1.13 and 2.2 18. Two tables Deut. 9.10 With the finger of God This is spoken after the manner of Men and is to be understood accordingly These Tables and the Writing on them were noâ— the work of a Man but were the work of God Vid. ch 31.16 Vid. More Nevochim p. 1. c. 66. CHAP. XXXII The ARGUMENT In the absence of Moses the Israelites prevail with Aaron to make a Calf They commit Idolatry God's great displeasure thereupon Moses intercedes with God on their behalf The Tables of Stone are broken Moses destroys the Calf and expostulates with Aaron The Sons of Levi slay many of the Israelites by the direction of Moses Moses minds the People of the greatness of their Sin He pleads with God on their behalf 1. AND when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him Vp make us gods which shall go before us for as for this Moses the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt we wot not what is become of him 2. And Aaron said unto them Break off the golden ear-rings whâ—â—h are in the ears of your wives of your sons and of your daughters and bring them unto me 3. And all the people brake off the golden ear-rings which were in their ears and brought them unto Aaron 4. And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool after he had made it a molten calf and they said These be thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 5. And when Aaron saw it he built an altar before it and Aaron made proclamation and said To morrow is a feast to the LORD 6. And they rose up early on the morrow and offered burnt-offerings and brought peace-offerings and the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play 7. And the LORD said unto Moses Go get thee down for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves 8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them they have made them a molten calf and have worshipped it and have sacrificed thereunto and said These be thy gods O Israel which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 9. And the LORD said unto Moses I have seen this people and behold it is a stiff-necked people 10. Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them and I will make of thee a great nation 11. And Moses besought the LORD his God and said LORD why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand 12. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people 13. Remember Abraham Isaac and Israel thy servants to whom thou swarest by thine own self and saidest unto them I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed and they shall inherit it for ever 14. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people 15. And Moses turned and went down from the mount and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand the tables were written on both their sides on the one side and on the other were they written 16. And the tables were the work of God and the writing was the writing of God graven upon the tables 17. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted he said unto Moses There is a noise of war in the camp 18. And he said It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome but the noise of them that sing do I hear 19. And it came to pass assoon as he came nigh unto the camp that he saw the calf and the dancing and Moses's anger waxed hot and he cast the tables out of his hands and brake them beneath the mount 20. And he took the calf which they had made and burnt it in the fire and ground it to powder and strawed it upon the water and made the children of Israel drink of it 21. And Moses said unto Aaron What did this people unto thee that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them 22. And Aaron said Let not the anger of my lord wax hot thou knowest the people that they are set on mischief 23. For they said unto me Make us gods which shall go before us For as for this Moses the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt we wot not what is become of him 24. And I said unto them Whosoever hath any gold let them break it off So they gave it me then I cast it into the fire and there came out this calf 25. And when Moses saw that the people were naked for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame amongst their enemies 26. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said Who is on the LORD's side let him come unto me And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him 27. And he said unto them Thus saith the LORD God of Israel Put every man his sword by his side and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbour 28. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men 29. For Moses had said Consecrate your selves to day to the LORD even every man upon his son and upon his brother that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day 30. And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses said unto the people Ye have sinned a great sin and now I will
Sin by requiring piacular Sacrifices to make atonement not thinking it fit it should go altogether unpunished Besides we may clearly see the Divine Mercy that God would accept any Sacrifice is a great favour and a greater still that he requires such as are not costly and rare and allows of a meaner Offering from the poor and indigent I will not pursue this matter Otherwise 't were easie to give farther instances of the great usefulness of the knowledge of these things The nine first Chapters of this Book are generally spent on this Subject We have an account of the Death of Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire ch 10. Of the Beasts that were clean and unclean for food ch 11. The Law of Purification after Child-birth ch 12. And that concerning Leprosie and cleansing the Leper ch 13.14 Of legal Impurities and the cleansing of them ch 15. And that of the day of expiation and the service required thereupon ch 16. We have also a Law dispensed with afterwards requiring the bloud of Beasts slain for food in the Wilderness to be brought to the Tabernacle And another forbidding the Eating of bloud c. ch 17. And then follows the Law concerning unlawfull Marriages ch 18. Many other Laws are repeated ch 19. And wicked Practices forbid and denounced against ch 20. We have also an account of the Mourning of the Priests of their Marriages and the blemishes which hinder them from ministring in their Office ch 21. Which is very instructive to those of the Clergy and may well awaken them to take the utmost care to be holy and exemplary and to shun what is a fault or hath any appearance of Evil. Then follow Laws concerning Sacrifices and solemn and appointed Festivals and many other particular Statutes and Precepts ch 22.23 24 25. And after these things the Blessings of Obedience and Mischiefs of Disobedience are most pathetically laid before the Israelites ch 26. And the Book ends with a Chapter concerning Vows and devoted things and such as were set a-part to an holy use Here is enough in this Book to invite and engage and highly entertain all those Men who are inquisitive into Theological Truths and especially those which relate to the Priesthood of Christ to his Death and his Intercession at God's right hand Here is a Book fraught with variety of excellent Precepts and that is full of Symbols and Representations of better things to come NOTES ON THE Book of LEVITICUS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT Of the Holocaust or whole Burnt-offering of the Herd Of that of the Flock viz. the Sheep or Goats Of that of the Fowls viz. of Turtle-doves or young Pigeons 1. AND the LORD called unto Moses and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD ye shall bring your offering of the cattel even of the herd and of the flock 3. If his offering be a burnt-sacrifice of the herd let him offer a male without blemish he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD 4. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him 5. And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD and the priests Aaron's sons shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 6. And he shall slay the burnt-offering and cut it into his pieces 7. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar and lay the wood in order upon the fire 8. And the priests Aaron's sons shall lay the parts the head and the fat in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar 9. But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water and the priest shall burn all on the altar to be a burnt-sacrifice an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 10. And if his offering be of the flocks namely of the sheep or of the goats for a burnt-sacrifice he shall bring it a maâ—e without blemish 11. And he shall kill it on the side of the altar north-ward before the LORD and the priests Aaron's sons shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar 12. And he shall cut it into his pieces with his head and his fat and the priests shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar 13. But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water and the priest shall bring it all and burn it upon the altar it is a burnt-sacrifice an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 14. And if the burnt-sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves or of young pigeons 15. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar and wring off his head and burn it on the altar and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar 16. And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east-part by the place of the ashes 17. And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof but shall not divide it asunder and the priest shall burn it upon the altar upon the wood that is upon the fire it is a burnt-sacrifice an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 1. OVT of the tabernacle Which Moses was not able to enter into because the Cloud abode thereon and the Glory of the Lord filled it Exod. 40.35 2. An Offering Or Gift according to the Greek which rendring of theirs is confirmed Mark 7.11 Matth. 5.23 ch 8.4 The Hebrew word comes from a word that signifies To draw near Ye shall bring c. i. e. When you bring an Offering of the Cattel it shall be either of the Herd or of the Flock 3. Burnt-sacrifice The Hebrew word implies Ascent It was a Sacrifice that was intirely consumed and wholly given to God Neither the Priest nor Offerer had any share of it 1 Sam. 7.9 and v. 9. of this Chapter It is the principal Sacrifice and is fitly mentioned first as being that which speaks the good Will of the Offerer 2 Chron. 29.31 and best represents the intire and unreserved Devotion of the Worshippers of God Rom. 12.1 A male Of the most perfect kind This is required where the Burnt-offering is of the Cattel but not when of Fowlâ— Without blemish See Exod. 12.5 Of his own voluntary will Or For his own acceptation i. e. That he may be favourably accepted by God v. 4. It is however very certain That a whole Burnt-offering was a Sacrifice which a private person might offer of his voluntary Will whereas a Sin and Trespass-offering
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
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
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
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
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
Shepham to Riblah on the east-side of Ain and the border shall descend and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth east-ward 12. And the border shall go down to Jordan and the goings out of it shall be at the salt-sea This shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about 13. And Moses commanded the children of Israel saying This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes and to the half-tribe 14. For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers have received their inheritance and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance 15. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward toward the sun-rising 16. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 17. These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. 18. And ye shall take one prince of every tribe to divide the land by inheritance 19. And the names of the men are these Of the tribe of Judah Caleb the son of Jephunneh 20. And of the tribe of the children of Simeon Shemuel the son of Ammihud 21. Of the tribe of Benjamin Elidad the son of Chislon 22. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan Bukki the son of Jogli 23. The prince of the children of Joseph for the tribe of the children of Manasseh Hanniel the son of Ephod 24. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim Kemuel the son of Shiphtan 25. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun Elizaphan the son of Parnach 26. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar Paltiel the son of Azzan 27. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher Ahihud the son of Shelomi 28. And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali Pedahel the son of Ammihud 29. These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan 3. Your south-quarter Josh 15.1 In this Quarter fell the Lot of the Tribe of Judah And the Land which they were about to enter into was thus set out that they might know the bounds of their Conquest and not think themselves at liberty to invade the Possessions of their Neighbours Salt-sea This is also called the Dead-sea and is the Lake of Sodom See the Note on Gen. 14.3 4. Kadesh-barnea See the Note on ch 33.36 5. Vnto the river of Egypt See Gen. 15.18 with the Note 6. The great sea That is the Sea called the Mediterranean 7. Mount Hor Not the place where Aaron died but a Mount in the Northern Coast of the Land and perhaps Libanus which was remarkable for its Eminence The Vulgar renders it the highest Mountain 11. Side Heb. Shoulder Sea of Chinnereth This is called the Lake of Genesareth Luk. 5.1 and the Sea of Galilee or of Tyberias Joh. 6.1 A farther account of the Bounds of this Land which did lie within Jordan is to be had from the Book of Joshua 14. For the tribe Chap. 52.33 Josh 14.2 3. 17. Eleazar Josh 19.51 CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT Eight and forty Cities are appointed for the Levites Of the Suburbs of those Cities Of the Cities of Refuge Of Man-slaughter and of Murder 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 2. Command the children of Israel that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them 3. And the cities shall they have to dwell in and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattel and for their goods and for all their beasts 4. And the suburbs of the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about 5. And ye shall measure from without the city on the east-side two thousand cubits and on the south-side two thousand cubits and on the west-side two thousand cubits and on the north-side two thousand cubits and the city shall be in the midst this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities 6. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge which ye shall appoint for the man-slayer that he may flee thither and to them ye shall add forty and two cities 7. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities them shall ye give with their suburbs 8. And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel from them that have many ye shall give many but from them that have few ye shall give few every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth 9. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 10. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan 11. Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you that the slayer may flee thither which killeth any person at unawares 12. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger that the man-slayer die not until be stand before the congregation in judgment 13. And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge 14. Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan which shall be cities of refuge 15. These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither 16. And if he smite him with an instrument of iron so that he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 17. And if he smite him with throwing a stone wherewith he may die and he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 18. Or if he smite him with an hand-weapon of wood wherewith he may die and he die he is a murderer the murderer shall surely be put to death 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him he shall slay him 20. But if he thrust him of hatred or hurl at him by laying of â—â—it that he die 21. Or in enmity smite him with his hand that he die he that sâ—ote him shall surely be put to death for he is a murderer the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him 22. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity or have cast upon him any thing without laying
not practise those Precepts which were annexed to the Land and required a settled condition See v. 9 10. 11. Your choice vows Heb. The choice of your vows Whatever was offered as a Vow was to be select and perfect whereas what was less perfect might serve in a Free-will-offering that being brought upon meer good-will without any preceeding Vow or Obligation Levit 22.20 21 22 23. 12. He hath no part Chap. 10.9 See the Note on ch 10.9 15. Lusteth after Or Desireth The unclean This being but common and ordinary Food which is here spoken of he that was legally unclean was permitted to eat of it which by the Law he might not have done had it been a part of a Peace offering Levit 7.20 As of the roe-buck and as of the hart q. d. As freely as he may eat of any other Flesh which is not forbidden as unclean such was that of the Roe-buck and Hart which were not forbidden by the Law See chap. 14.5 16. Onely Chap. 5.23 17. The tithe of thy corn For the right understanding of these words see the Note on the 6th Verse of this Chapter Firstlings of thy herds c. For the First born strictly so called they belonged to the Priests Numb 18.15 And therefore it hath been supposed with great probability that these Firstlings here spoken of are to be meant of such as after the setting a side the First-born were then by the Owner set a part and dedicated to God For as the Tithe here spoken of is to be understood of the second Tithe so may the Firstling be understood in a like sense 19. Take heed Chap. 14.27 Ecclus 7.51 As long Heb. All thy days 20. When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border c. For the fuller understanding the design of the words of this and the two following Verses it is to be remembred That while the Israelites were in the Wilderness they might not eat any Meat at their private Tables but such whereof they had first sacrificed to God at the Tabernacle See Levit. 17.4 and the Note upon that place This Precept was very practicable in the Wilderness where they encamped round about the Tabernacle The case was greatly altered when they came into the Land to which these Precepts were annexed v. 1 8 9 10 14. and so is the Law likewise concerning this matter For then many of them would live at a great distance from the Tabernacle and could not without great difficulty bring the Beasts which they killed for their private Tables to the Sanctuary And for that reason they were dispensed with and are not obliged to bring the Beast which they killed to the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation as in the Wilderness Levit. 17.9 But then lest they should surmise that they are likewise dispensed with as to the other part of that Law Levit. 17.10 11 c. forbidding the eating Blood they are strongly warned not to eat it v. 23 24 25. which is the true reason of those words in that place Hence it appears that the design of these words is not onely to let them know that they may lawfully kill and eat Flesh in all their Gates for that they were told before verse 15. But to acquaint them with the reason upon which they were dispensed with as to the bringing the Beast they killed to the Tabernacle which is particularly expressed verse 21. which words may be thus translated from the Hebrew Because the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his name there is too far from thee thou mayest kill of thy herd c. As he hath promised thee Gen. 28.14 chap. 19.8 This promise was conditional See ch 11.22 23 24. 22. Even as the roe-buck See the Note on v. 15. 23. Be sure Heb. Be strong That is be greatly carefull of this matter See Levit 17.10 11 12. 26. Thy holy things Such things as are separated and set a-part for holy uses viz. Sacrifices and Tithes c. See v. 17. 27. And thou shalt eat the flesh viz. Of thy Sacrifices last above-named for this cannot extend to the Burnt-offerings or any other part of the Oblation which was due to the Altar or the Priest 29. Succeedest them Heb. Inheritest or possessest them 30. Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared by following them Heb. after them That is take heed of their sin and fear their punishment 31. Thou shalt not do so c. That is thou shalt not worship thy God as they did Abomination to Heb. Abomination of the. 32. Not add Ch. 4.2 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Rev. 22.18 CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT Enticers to Idolatry how near soever are to be stoned to death Idolatrous Cities are not to be spared 1. IF there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and giveth thee a sign or a wonder 2. And the sign or the wonder come to pass whereof he spake unto thee saying Let us go after other gods which thou hast not known and let us serve them 3. Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams for the LORD your God proveth you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul 4. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice and ye shall serve him and cleave unto him 5. And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee 6. If thy brother the son of thy mother or thy son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosom or thy friend which is as thine own soul entice thee secretly saying Let us go and serve other gods which thou hast not known thou nor thy fathers 7. Namely of the gods of the people which are round about you nigh unto thee or far off from thee from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth 8. Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him neither shall thine eye pity him neither shalt thou spare neither shalt thou conceal him 9. But thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards the hand of all the people 10. And thou shalt stone him with stones that he die because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 11. And all Israel shall hear and fear and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you 12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities which the
1. THou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock or sheep wherein is blemish or any evil-favouredness for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God 2. If there be found among you within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God in transgressing his covenant 3. And hath gone and served other gods and worshipped them either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven which I have not commanded 4. And it be told thee and thou hast heard of it and enquired diligently and behold it be true and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought in Israel 5. Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which have committed that wicked thing unto thy gates even that man or that woman and shalt stone them with stones till they die 6. At the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death 7. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterward the hands of all the people so thou shalt put the evil away from among you 8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood between plea and plea and between stroke and stroke being matters of controversie within thy gates then shalt thou arise and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose 9. And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites and unto the judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment 10. And thou shalt do according to the sentence which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee 11. According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee thou shalt do thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee to the right hand nor to the left 12. And the man that will do presumptuously and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God or unto the judge even that man shall die and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel 13. And all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously 14. When â—hou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee and shalt possess it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a king over me like as all the nations that are about me 15. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee whom the LORD thy God shall choose one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother 16. But he shall not multiply horses to himself nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you Ye shall henceforth return no more that way 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself that his heart turn not away neither shall be greatly multiply to himself silver and gold 18. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites 19. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the LORD his God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them 20. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom he and his children in the midst of Israel 1. WHerein is blemish Of which see Levit. 22.20 with the Note on the 22th verse 2. In transgressing his covenant It is evident from v. 3. that Idolatry is the Wickedness supposed here to be wrought and is called The transgressing the covenant of the Lord and the Idolater may be said to transgress the Covenant of the Lord as he breaks his Faith given to God and renounceth his Authority and Service at once 3. Which I have not commanded That is which I have forbid It is usual that such negative Expressions as this in the Scripture Phrase should imply more than the bare words amount to and they do sometimes imply the contrary â— Cor. 10.5 Jer. 7.31 Prov. 10.2 6. At the mouth of two witnesses These must be Competent and Credible and must be therefore neither Children nor Fools nor Men of ill fame nor Mad-men but such as are capable of taking an Oath and such as cannot justly be suspected not to fear it 7. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him This is very reasonable in itself and serves to convince the People of the truth of their Evidence and was also a great restraint upon the Witnesses themselves who if they bore false witness would also be obliged to shed innocent Blood The hands of all the people In a matter of this nature all the People were obliged to testifie their detestation of Idolatry and their readiness to root it out 8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment These words belong to the Inferior and Subordinate Magistrates in their Cities They are supposed here to be at a loss in some difficult cases viz. such as follow Between blood and blood That is in the case of Murther whether it were voluntary or accidental Betweeen plea and plea That is in Causes depending between the Plaintiff and Defendant Between stroke and stroke That is in the case of Wounds inflicted by one Man upon another Exod. 21.20 22. 9. The priests the Levites That is the Priests of the Levitical Race as the Vulgar renders it who made a considerable part of the Sanhedrin or great Council of the Nation And unto the judge Or to wit unto the judge The Hebrew Particle which we render and is sometimes onely to be understood exegetically as in 1 Sam. 28.3 Zech. 9.9 2 Sam. 2.15 And the Greek Particle which answers to it and is here used by the LXXII is used in this sense in the New Testament Rom. 15.6 1 Cor. 2.10 Col. 1.3 1 Thess 1.3 The judge i. e. The Sanhedrin which tho' it consisted of many persons was yet the sole Judge of these doubtfull cases and yet with respect to the Members thereof is expressed by Judges Deut. 19.17 18. 10. Thou shalt do c. These words are directed to the Inferior Magistrates who are obliged to put in execution what the Sanhedrin determines and the parties concerned were obliged to
and the Preserver of thy Life And so he is of thy Prosperity which Life sometimes signifies see v. 19. and all the Comforts of Life CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Moses does greatly encourage the Israelites and Joshua their Leader Moses delivers a Copy of the Law to the Priests with a command to read it every seventh Year God foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites and declares his displeasure thereupon He appoints a Song as a witness against them He encourageth Joshua The Law to be put into the Ark. Moses foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites 1. AND Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel 2. And he said unto them I am an hundred and twenty years old this day I can no more go out and come in also the LORD hath said unto me Thou shalt not go over this Jordan 3. The LORD thy God he will go over before thee and he will destroy these nations from before thee and thou shalt possess them and Joshua he shall go over before thee as the LORD hath said 4. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og kings of the Amorites and unto the land of them whom he destroyed 5. And the LORD shall give them up before your face that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you 6. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the LORD thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee 7. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto him in the sight of all Israel Be strong and of a good courage for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them and thou shalt cause them to inherit it 8. And the LORD he it is that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be dismayed 9. And Moses wrote this Law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD and unto all the elders of Israel 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of tabernacles 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the LORD your God and observe to do all the words of this law 13. And that their children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thy days approach that thou must die call Joshua and present your selves in the tabernacle of the congregation that I may give him a charge And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation 15. And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle 16. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers and this people will rise up and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they go to be among them and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them 17. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and I will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befall them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not amongst us 18. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought in that they are turned unto other gods 19. Now therefore write ye this song for you and teach it the children of Israel put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel 20. For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milk and honey and they shall have eaten and filled themselves and waxen fat then will they turn unto other gods and serve them and provoke me and break my covenant 21. And it shall come to pass when many evils and troubles are befallen them that this song shall testifie against them as a witness for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware 22. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day and taught it the children of Israel 23. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said Be strong and of a good courage for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee 24. And it came to pass when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished 25. That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD saying 26. Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee 27. For I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck behold while I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the LORD and how much more after my death 28. Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes and your officers that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to record against them 29. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befall you in the latter days because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song until they were ended 2. I can no more go out and come in See the Note on Numb 27.17 The strength of Moses was at present vigorous chap. 34.7 but he could not think it could last long besides this God had declared that he should not go over Jordan as it follows here 9. This law i. e. The whole body of it Vnto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. The fairest account of these words and the most unexceptionable is this That there is here an Ellipsis of
to see a foolish Nation taken into God's Church For so the Gentiles were while they served Idols and divers Lusts Rom. 1.21 22. Compare Act. 11.2 3. 1 Thes 2.15 16. Act. 22.21 22. 22. A fire is kindled c. This Verse gives an account after a figurative manner of the destruction of the Land in such words as seem to import the total consumption of it Hell signifies the lower parts of the Earth Numb 16.30 And what is rendred Earth may well be turned Land for this is a description of the destruction that God would bring upon the Land of the Israelites Compare Isa 1.7 with 2 King 25.9 24. Burnt with hunger i. e. Consumed as the vulgar renders it with hunger For a Famine like Fire does wast and consume where-ever it comes Lam. 4.8 9. Burning heat and with bitter destruction i. e. Fiery and fierce Distempers and mortal Diseases Compare Habak 3.5 and Psal 91.6 Serpents of the dust i. e. Serpents that creep upon and eat the Dust Gen. 3.14 25. Terror The dread of Death or perhaps some malignant and pestilential Disease 26 27. I said I would scatter them c. q. d. I would send them into some secret place where they should be forgotten among Men But I forbear to do that lest their Enemies who devour them should impute their Destruction to their own Valour and not to my righteous Judgment It is to be noted that fear is imputed to God after the manner of Men who refrain from doing things from that Principle Compare Exod. 32.12 and Numb 14.13 28. They i. e. Israelites and so this connects with v. 26. 29. O that they were wise c. i. e. O that they had the Wisdom to lay to heart and consider the sad Effects which will follow upon their wicked Lives 30. How should c. That is if God were on their side a very small Number would be strong enough to vanquish the greatest Force of their Enemies who are destitute of his Favour and Assistance 31. For their rock c. For the Heathens who worship Idols have not force enough to stand out against the Power of the God of Israel And have been forced to acknowledge no less See Exod. 14.25 Numb 23.22 1 Sam. 4.8 Jer. 40.3 Dan. 3.29.4.37.6.27 32. Their vine c. This verse connects with Verse 26 and contains the reason why God entertained those severe Thoughts against the Israelites viz. Because though they were as a choice Vine planted by him yet they had degenerated like Sodom and Gomorrah Compare Isa 1.10 and ch 5. v. 1 c. with the Words that follow here where their Wine or Fruit of this Vineyard which God had planted is compared to the Poison of Dragons c. 34. Is not this c. That is is not this Vengeance which I now threaten them withal though they flatter themselves in their present Impunity reserved for them and kept in store for them against the time when their Iniquities shall be full and call for it Compare Prov. 1.31 and Job 14.17 35. Their foot shall slide i. e. They shall be ready to fall At hand i. e. It will soon follow and tread upon the Heels of their Iniquity 36. For Or Nevertheless As this Hebrew Particle is rendred Isa 9.1 For here begins a new Argument as appears from the following Words speaking Comfort to the Israelites and Destruction to their Enemies Judge his people i. e. Plead their Cause Compare diligently with this Place Psal 135.14 None shut up or left Or Nothing shut up or left i. e. When they are destitute of all things and have nothing reserved or remaining Compare 1 King 14.10 and ch 21.21 and especially 2 King 14.26 37. He shall say i. e. God shall say to the Israelites Compare Judg. 10.14 38. Which did eat c. i. e. In whose service so many Sacrifices were consumed 40. I lift c. i. e. I swear which God is said to do here after the manner of Men who did it by lifting up their Hands 41. If I whet c. viz. I swear that if I whet c. 42. Drunk with blood This is a figurative Expression implying the abundance of Blood that should be shed From the beginning c. i. e. from such time as I shall begin to take vengeance c. 43. Rejoice O ye nations with his people Or Rejoice ye nations or Gentiles his people Compare Rom. 15.10 44. He and Hoshea or Joshua Joshua who succeeded Moses joined with him now in speaking the words of this Song and it is probable that for the future the care of teaching it belonged to him Compare chap. 31.22 23. 46. Set your hearts That is attend diligently and consider well and do not barely content your selves with the knowledge of these things Compare Ezek 40.4 47. For it is not a vain thing c. It is no unprofitable thing but that upon which your happiness depends Compare Rom. 10.5 50. Die in the mount Not presently but after thou hast blessed the children of Israel Chap. 33.1 51. Because ye trespassed Of the sin of Moses to which these words referr See the Note on Numb 20.12 CHAP. XXXIII The ARGUMENT The glorious Majesty of God The Blessing of the tribes of Israel None like to God The great privilege of the Israelites 1. AND this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death 2. And he said the LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them he shined forth from mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of Saints from his right hand went a fiery law for them 3. Yea he loved the people all his saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet every one shall receive of thy words 4. Moses commanded us a law even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5. And he was king in Jeshurun when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together 6. Let Reuben live and not die and let not his men be few 7. And this is the blessing of Judah and he said Hear LORD the voice of Judah and bring him unto his people let his hands be sufficient for him and be thou an help to him from his enemies 8. And of Levi he said Let thy Thummim and thy Vrim be with thy holy one whom thou didst prove at Massah and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah 9. Who said unto his father and to his mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his own children for they have observed thy word and kept thy covenant 10. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law they shall put incense before thee and whole burnt sacrifices upon thine altar 11. Bless LORD his substance and accept the work of his hands smite through the loins of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise
not again 12. And of Benjamin he said The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him and the LORD shall cover him all the day long and he shall dwell between his shoulders 13. And of Joseph he said Blessed of the LORD be his land for the precious things of heaven for the dew and for the deep that coucheth beneath 14. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun and for the precious things put forth by the moon 15. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains and for the precious things of the lasting hills 16. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof and for the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren 17. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock and his horns are like the horns of unicorns with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim and they are the thousands of Manasseh 18. And of Zebulun he said Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents 19. They shall call the people unto the mountain there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hid in the sand 20. And of Gad he said Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad he dwelleth as a lion and teareth the arm with the crown of the head 21. And he provided the first part for himself because there in a portion of the law-giver was he seated and he came with the heads of the people he executed the Justice of the LORD and his judgments with Israel 22. And of Dan he said Dan is a lion's whelp he shall leap from Bashan 23. And of Naphtali he said O Naphtali satisfied with favour and full with the blessing of the LORD possess thou the west and the south 24. And of Asher he said Let Asher be blessed with children let him be acceptable to his brethren and let him dip his foot in oyl 25. Thy shooes shall be iron and brass and as thy days so shall thy strength be 26. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun who rideth upon the heaven in thy help and in his excellency on the skie 27. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say Destroy them 28. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine also his heavens shall drop down dew 29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the LORD the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places 1. THE man of God That is the Prophet of the LORD as the Chaldee renders it See 1 Sam. 9.6 And the Title to the ninetieth Psalm Blessed i. e. He did pronounce and predict the following Blessings upon the several Tribes of Israel and pray to God to bestow them Compare v. 6 7. 2. And he said the LORD came from Sinai c. Before he proceeds to bless the several Tribes he premises an Account of God's special Favour to the whole Body of the People The LORD came from Sinai i. e. He revealed himself as the Chaldee well explains this Place from Sinai where he gave his Law and revealed his Will and Pleasure to them Rose up It is to be considered that what we render rose up is in the Hebrew expressed by a word which peculiarly signifies such a rising up as that of the Sun in the Morning And is the same word which is used where it is said Vnto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise Malach. 4.2 It might have been rendered appeared as it is by the vulgar and signifies a splendid or glorious Appearance Compare Hab. 3.3 4. From Seir That is Idumaea by which the Israelites passed The meaning is that as God revealed himself from Sinai when he gave them his Law So he did after that as they passed on by Seir and Paran give them evident Proofs of his Presence with them and special Providence over them Mount Paran Paran is the Name of a Wilderness by which the Israelites passed Deut. 1.1 This Mount either denotes some particular Mountain so called or intimates the Mountainous part of that Wilderness He came with ten thousands of Saints That is when God revealed himself from Sinai and gave his Law he was attended with a great Number of holy Angels The chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels the LORD is among them as in Sinai Psal 68.17 Compare Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 Well might Stephen say that the Law was received by the disposition of Angels Acts 7.53 and St. Paul that it was ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediator Gal. 3.19 It is elsewhere called the word spoken by Angels Heb 2.2 From his right hand went a fiery Law i. e. He gave as Men do when with their Right-hands they deliver their Gifts a fiery Law The Law given at Mount Sinai is called a fiery Law because God spake the Words thereof out of the midst of the fire Deut. 5.22 Compare Exod. 19.18 as also Psalm 104.4 with Gal. 3.19 3. The people i. e all the Tribes of Israel All his saints are in thy hand He hath a special care of the Israelites that Holy Nation Exod. 19.6 who sat at his Feet compare Luk. 10.39 Act. 22.3 and promised Subjection and Obedience to him Exod. 24. 4. Inheritance A possession of great value and such an one as was to descend to their Posterity Thy testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart Psal 119.111 5. He was king i. e. Moses was a Prince or Governour he gave Laws and ruled the People 6. Let Reuben live c. q. d. Though Reuben have lost his Birth-right for his Incest and thereupon fell into his Father's displeasure Gen. 49.4 and some of his Sons were guilty of Rebellion Numb 16.1 yet let not his Posterity cease to be a distinct and prosperous Tribe And whereas they have engaged upon receiving their Inheritance on this side Jordan to leave their Wives and Children there and to expose themselves to the hazzard of War with their Brethren Numb 32.26 27. let none of them that stay behind or pass over Jordan perish but let their intire number be preserved 7. Hear LORD the voice of Judah c. Whereas Judah's Hand is to be in the Neck of his Enemies Gen. 49.8 and he is to be the first that is to fight against the Canaanites after the death of Joshua Judg. 1.1 and will consequently be exposed to danger in his
Expeditions Hear his voice O Lord when in his distress he shall call upon thee and bring him safely back from the Wars to his own People Strengthen his hands O Lord and save him from his Enemies It hath been thought that Simeon is here included though he be not expressed And that may the more reasonably be supposed because not onely Simeon's Inheritance was within the Inheritance of Judah Josh 19.1 but he was also joined with Judah in those Wars against the Canaanites in which the Divine Aid is implored for Judah here in those Words Hear Lord which words import the reason of Simeon's Name Compare Gen. 29.33 8. Let thy Thummim and thy Vrim be with thy holy one The Vrim and the Thummim were placed in the Breast-plate and this Breast-plate was appropriate to Aaron and to the succeeding High-Priests the Sons of Aaron Exod. 28.30 and the meaning of these words is q. d. Let the great Dignity of the High-Priesthood continue in the Posterity of Aaron who was of this Tribe of Levi and dignified with this separate and holy Office Whom thou didst prove at Massah viz. Whom thou hast sufficiently tried and proved Massah signifies Trial or Proof and is not a proper Name And the words may be rendred Whom in proving thou didst prove And this Sense is confirmed by the Greek Vulgar Latin and Chaldee and Syriac and the Hebrew Text narrowly considered gives great ground to preferr this Sense Because the Particle here which we have translated as signifies in and is not the same which we translate at in the following Words Thou didst strive i. e. Whom thou didst punish or chastise as that Hebrew word does signifie Isa 49.25 Jer. 2.9 but not deprive of the Dignity of the Priesthood At the waters of Meribah See Numb 20.13 9. Who said c. Which Tribe of Levi in that general Defection Exod. 32. did upon God's Command without all respect of persons or favour to their nearest Relations slay those who had been guilty of Idolatry v. 28 29. They have observed c. Compare Mal. 2.5 6. and Psal 99.7 10. They shall teach c. That is the Priests the Levites Compare Ezek. 44.23 24. Levit. 10.11 11. His substance That is his Store Compare Deut. 8.18 He had no Inheritance but yet had his Provisions allotted him by God 12. The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him i. e. Benjamin favoured of God shall have his Inheritance in a safe place viz. about Jerusalem the Holy City and the Temple or Place of God's special Residence among the Israelites Compare Josh 18.11 28. He shall dwell between his shoulders i. e. His Temple shall be situated in his land as the Chaldee renders the last Words Compare Numb 34.11 and Josh 15.10 13. For the deep c. i. e. for the Springs in the lower Parts of the Land 14. Brought forth Or ripened By the Moon Or Monthly 15. Lasting hills See the Note on Gen. 49.26 16. Of him that dwelt in the bush That is Of God who appeared in the Bush to Moses Exod 3.2 17. Like the firstling of his bullock viz. for Strength and Power See Ps 68.9 The ten thousands c. Gen. 48.19 18. Rejoice Zebulun c. See the Notes on Gen. 49. v. 13. and v. 15. 19. Vnto the mountain viz. Of God's House as appears from the following words Compare Isa 2.2 3. Sacrifices of righteousness i. e. Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving for the abundance of all things Compare Ps 4.5 with Psal 50.14 and 51.19 They shall suck i. e. They shall by their Traffick and Merchandise get great Riches which is expressed by the abundance of the Seas and treasures hid in the Sand Because their Wealth came to them from the Seas into their Ports or Sea-shoars 20. That enlargeth Gad That is who hath given him a large possession and will deliver him out of his straits See the Note on Gen. 49.19 As a lion and teareth c. These words speak his great Courage and Conquest over the Power of his Enemies Of both which see 1 Chron. 12.8 and 1 Chron. 5.8 with v. 19 20 21 22. 21. He provided the first part for himself That is he chose his Inheritance with the first on this side Jordan Numb 32.1 Portion of the Lawgiver i. e. That part of the Country which Moses the Lawgiver entred upon and which he divided Numb 32.33 Seated Heb. Cieled or hid They were protected in fenced Cities which they built for the security for their Wives and Children Num. 32.34 35 36. And he came c. That is after he had made provision for the safety of his Family and Cattel he accompanied the Leaders and Captains of the People and assisted them in conquering the Land and destroying the Inhabitants who were justly by God devoted to destruction Josh 1.14 22. Dan is a lion's whelp he shall leap from Bashan i. e. Dan is nimble and ready for Prey like a young Lion from Bashan a place of Flocks and Cattel that skips at the Lambs or other prey 23. Possess thou the west and the south His Tribe lay North and East but yet he was so situated that by Zebulun who lay next him and upon the Coast of the great Sea he could easily be possessed of the Commodities of the Sea which we here translate West Again lying upon the River Jordan Josh 19.33 he had the advantage of enjoying those Commodities which came down that River from the Southern parts of the Land 24. Dip his foot in oyl i. e. He shall have plenty of Oyl Compare Job 29.6 and Gen. 49.20 25. Thy shooes shall be iron c. Or under thy feet shall be iron Compare Deut. 8.9 As thy days so shall thy strength be i. e. Thy strength shall bear proportion to thy days That shall be great and they shall be many 26. Who rideth upon the heaven in thy help i. e. He does dispose the Heavens above for thy aid and assistance which he affords thee readily From the Clouds he sends Thunder and Lightning Hail and Tempest to the discomfiting his People's Enemies Thus had God done Exod. 9.23 and thus did he do afterward Josh 10.10 11. Compare Psal 18.9 10. In his excellency c. See Psal 68.33 34. 28. The fountain of Jacob i. e. Jacob's Posterity that came from him as from a Fountain which is here put for the Streams as in Psal 104.10 Compare Psal 68.26 and Isai 48.1 29. The sword of thy excellency i. e. It is not thy own Sword hath gotten thee the Victory and thy Renown but God's Assistance Thine enemies c. Such shall be thy Conquests and Success over the Power called here the high places of thine Enemies that they who are such shall yet not own their Enmity but at least yield a feigned subjection to thee Compare Deut. 32.13 Psal 44.18 and 66.3 CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Moses goeth up unto Mount Nebo and takes a view of the Land from thence He dieth there Of his Burial and Age and the time which the People mourned for him Joshua succeeds him Moses commended 1. AND Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho and the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan. 2. And all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea 3. And the south and the plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees unto Zoar. 4. And the LORD said unto him This is the land which I sware unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob saying I will give it unto thy seed I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes but thou shalt not go over thither 5. So Moses the servant of the the LORD died there in the land of Moab according to the word of the LORD 6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-Peor but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day 7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated 8. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended 9. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him and the children of Israel hearkened unto him and did as the LORD commanded Moses 10. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the LORD knew face to face 11. In all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land 12. And in all that mighty hand and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel 1. ALL the land of Gilead unto Dan i. e. The Land of Gilead on this side Jordan unto a place called afterwards Dan in the Northern Border of the Land of Canaan Josh 19.47 Judg. 18.29 2. Vtmost sea That is the Mediterranean-sea the Western Border of the Land See Deut. 11.24 5 According to the word c. That is as God had foretold he should 6. He buried him That is the Lord buried him by the Ministry of Angels or at least without imploying any of the Israelites therein Compare Gen. 7.16 No man knoweth of his sepulchre c. That there might be no occasion of Idolatry or Superstition given to the Israelites 8. Thirty days Compare Numb 20.29 9. Wisdom This is here mentioned as that which is very necessary in a Governour of others Compare 1 King 3.9 For Moses had laid his hands upon him The laying of the Hands of Moses is not brought in as a cause but as a sign of Joshua's Wisdom For Moses laid his Hands on him by God's direction and to make it known that he was the person appointed and fitted by God for the Employment he was called to Take thee Joshua the son of Nun a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hands upon him Numb 27.18 10. There arose not a prophet c. See Numb 12.8 FINIS