Advertise thee Balaam called a South-sayer chapter XXIV verse 14 Josh. XIII 22. and a Prophet 2 Pet. II. 16. gives this advertisement to Balak which seems to have a relation to that which follows in the residue of that Chapter Yet besides he gives counsel to Balak or at least after to the Midianites to draw the Israelites into sinne Num. XXXI 16. which coming so to passe He himself in his return is slaine by the sword amongst the Midianites Num. XXXI 8. in that Expedition wherein Joshuah though not named may seeme to be the General and Phineas chief of the Priests sounding Trumpets in that warre wherein 12000. Israelites not having one man slaine did yet slay five Kings of Midian or Dukes of Sihon dwelling in the Countrey as it is Josh. XIII 21. and all the males of that populous Nation save such as escaped by flight whose posterities in the dayes of Gideon came to prevaile against Israel Judg. VI. 1 2. And they took a mighty prey and booty whereout after Purifications of themselves and the Prey there was paid a tribute and portion to the Priests and a portion to the Levites and a voluntary Oblation after made by the Captaines to the Lord Num. XXXI Of the 24000. chapter XXV verse 9 that died in the Plague and stroak of Gods vengeance the 23000. mentioned 1 Cor. X. 8. likely were the vulgar sort that died in the slaughter Num. XXV 5. and the other thousand were the heads of the people hung up ver 4. without supposing any Pestilence at that time Or if by Plague Num. XXV 9. Psal CVI. 30. we understand the Pestilence then most probably the 23000. died of it and the other thousand by Hanging and Slaughter 22200. chapter XXVI verse 14 In this last numbering of the people in the Plains of Moab in the fourtieth year of their wandering in the Wildernesse Simeon was farre the least in number and Judah the most And the whole number of fighting men of the twelve Tribes after that generation died in the Wildernesse upon that judgement Numb XIV 29 35. and upon sundry other judgements besides was now 1820. lesse in number then in the former numbering at Mount Sinai thirty nine years before 23000. And so but 700 more then they were in the former numbering at Sinai Ch. III. verse 62 Being likely not altogether free from that sinne and punishment Num. XIII and XIV Sin This Wildernesse differs from Zin chapter XXXIII verse 11 ver 36. This being the eighth Station of the Israelites that of Zin the thirty third which is Kadesh where Miriam died as was said Num. XXXIII 11 36. Rephidim See the Observations on Ch. verse 14 XXVIII 8. Abarim Pluraly verse 47 Mountains being a continuation of Mountains or Hills Num. XXXIII 47. in the Confines of the Amorites and Moabites whereof the tops had several names as Nebo Pisgah Pehor But Mount Sinai was none of them being farre enough of Salt Sea Is not that Lake of Genesareth chapter XXXIV verse 3 But only that Dead Sea and Salt Sea where formerly Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim had stood Deut. XXIX 23. Hos. XI 8. Riblah Riblah in the Land of Hamath part of the East border of Canaan near the North quarter Here Pharaoh-Nechoh put Jehoahaz in bonds 2 Kings XXIII 33. And Nebuchadnezzar put King Zedekiah in bonds and put out his eyes 2 King XXV 6 7. And slew the High Priest and second Priest and the sonnes of Zedekiah and other prime men ver 18 21. Jer. LII 10 27. This Riblah seems to be that which was afterwards called Antiochia in Syria Of this see my Annotations on Ezek. XI 10 11. Chinnereth Num. XXXIV 11. Deut. III. 17. Josh. XI 2. and XII 27. and XIX 35. is called in the New Testament Genezareth Luke V. 1. which Lake is also called the Sea of Galilee Matth. IV. 18. Mark I. 16. And the Sea of Tiberias Josh. XXI 1. And absolutely the Sea Matth. XVII 27. Suburbs The Suburbs of the Cities of the Priests chapter XXXV verse 4 and Levites were 1000. Cubits from the Cities on every side And so 2000. in the limits and utmost Bounds and Borders of each Quarter East West North and South Fourty eight Cities See Josh. verse 7 XX. and XXI and 1 Chron. 6. compared together and the Great Annotations upon the said sixth Chapter Shall not be guilty The innocent man verse 27 that by meere accident against his will slew a man might yet as it seemes be lawfully slaine by the revenger of blood if he took him without the Citie of refuge Which the more shews the wrath of God against murder Onely to the family Israelites might marry wives of other Tribes chapter XXXVI verse 6 so that they were not inheritrixes of Land Num. XXXVI Yea of other Nations if they were Proselytes and not of those Nations which God expressely devoted to destruction Deut. VII 3. and XXI 10 13. Of their marriages with Heathens and mixing the holy seed See Ezra IX and X. Ch. Neh. IX 2. and X. 30. and XIII 3. 23 30. Deuteronomie DEUTERONOMIE was written in the yeare of the world not 2493. But in the year 2553. or rather 2548. thirty eight years and odde moneths from the time of the beginning of the Book of Numbers And about 1450 years before Christ's time It containes to the fifteenth Verse of the last Chapter an History of one moneth and seven dayes viz From moneth eleven day one to moneth twelve day seven at which time Moses died as hath been formerly gathered upon Aarons death See and compare together Deut. I. 3. and XXXIV 8. and Josh. IV. 19. In which short time the Book was written by Moses And besides sundry Repetitions and Explications other new Lawes given A second Edition as it were of the Covenant made with the new Generation with some other Consequences and last Acts of Moses The last Chapter of Deuteronomie was written after Moses his death As likewise the Conclusion of the Book of Jeremie was written after his Death Jer. LI. 64. and LII 31 34. And that XXXIV Chapter contains one moneth more of the Israelites mourning for the death of Moses This Book of Deuteronomie and that of the Psalmes are of chief note in the Old Testament for the Life of Religion the spiritual power of Worship and Obedience in the inner man Yet this Book of Deuteronomie seemes not to be that which was to be written very plainly upon great stones plaistered in Mount Ebal For that was the Decalogue only or those Blessings and Curses only Deut. XXVII 2 26. Josh. VIII 30 35. Nor seemes it to be this book of Deuteronomie only that was to be Copied out by the King and He to read therein all the dayes of his life Deut. XVII v. 18 19 20. Not yet seemes it to be this book only that was to be solemnly read by the Priests every seventh or Sabbatical year in the Feast of Tabernacles in the audience of
as a bud or sprout from the root of Jesse Esay XI 1 10. And so from David Apoc. V. 5. and XXII 16. Psal. CXXXII 11 17. Acts XIII 23 32. called the Righteous Branch in this Text and chap. XXXIII 15. springing from a withered stock and stump sprouting at first in a mean and despicable maner Esay XXXIII 2 3 4. Yet after branching out beautifully retaining its verdure perpetualy spreading and growing flowering and flourishing to all eternity Dan. II 44 45. A man See the Annotations on Esay II. chapter XXX verse 6 9. uncles sonne Sonne omitted in the Original chapter XXXII verse 12 haply for brevity fake as well knowne to be supplied out of verse 7. preceding As likewise the word Sister seemes to be omitted 2 Sam. XXI 8. And the word Brother Verse 19. of that Chapter Funeral Burnings chapter XXXIV among the Heathen were of the dead bodies But among the Jewes not of the bodies but of sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the Art of the Apothecaries burned in the Tombe where the embalmed body was to lie 2 Chr. XVI 14. This was denied to the wicked King Jehoram 2 Chron. XXI 19. yet granted here to Zedekiah in Babylon And that burning of the Flesh of Saul and his sonnes 1 Sam. XXXI 12. was a case extraordinary and as their present condition and that exigent seemed to require when they cut the calf in twaine chapter XXXIV verse 18 c. The maner of making Covenants whence the Hebrew phrase is to Cut a Covenant that is from the right of Cutting a beast in twaine sometime for Sacrifice sometime for Feasting and the Covenanters passing through betweene the Parts of it implying it seemes and that by way of execration Themselves to be alike cut in sunder in case of violating the Conditions of the Covenant Matth. 24. 51. Though some make the Cutting to relate to the strict and exact cutting out of Articles agreed upon for mutual performance by both parties Gen XV. 9 10 17. Deut. XXIX 12. Of Covenants see more betweene man and man and betweene God and man Gen. IX 9 17. Gen. XXI 27 32. and chap. XXVI 28 31. and chap. XXXI 44 55. Exod. XXIV 4 8. Deut. V. 2 3. whence the two tables are called the Tables of the Covenant and the Ark the Ark of the Covenant And the Tabernacle The Tabernacle of the Covenant the Book of the Law the Book of the Covenant Josh. XXIV 24 25 26 27. Neh. IX 38. 1 Sam. XVIII 3 4. and XXIII 18. 1 Kings V. 12. and XX. 34. 2 Kings XI 17. and XXIII 3. Ezra X. 3. Esay LIX 21. Jer. L. 5. And God promises to make a New Covenant with his people Jer. XXXI 31 32 33 34. cited Heb. VIII 8 9. which yet is not simply New in regard of the substance of it for the maine matter and substance of the former Covenant is there verse 33. And Gen. XVII 7. Deut. XXVI 17 18. and XXIX 13. And both Covenants ratified by the blood of the Messias But as Love is called a New Commandment John XIII 34. So this a New Covenant in that it is ratified by the death of our Saviour exhibited in that the Doctrine of the Gospel is now more fully and clearly revealed in that this runneth wholly upon the spiritual and celestial Blessings in that the Ceremonials are removed and the more Spiritual Service substituted for it in that it is more generaly dilated and enlarged to all Nations in that a large measure of Spiritual Gifts and efficacie of the Spirit is now vouchsafed in that the continuance of it without change is to be to the end of the world hath sworne by himself Having no greater to swear by chapter LI verse 14 Heb. VI. 13. So Gen. XXII 16. Jer. XXII 5. Amos VI. 8. By his soul So is the Hebrew in this text and chap. LI. 14. By the excellency of Jacob Amos VIII 7. By his Holinesse Amos IV. 2. And againe the Forme of his Oath is thus expressed As I live Heb. I. live so Jer. XXII 24. and XLVI 18. Ezek. V. 11. And I live for ever Deut. XXXII 40. So men use to swear The Lord liveth Jer. IV. 2. and V. 2. As the Lord liveth that made us this soul Jer. XXXVIII 16. Gods oath shall undoubtedly be fulfilled Psal. CX 4. and CXXXII 11. Heb. VI. 17 18. Of Oaths see more in the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. and Gen. XXIV 3. carried away captive chapter LII verse 28 Five captivities into Babylon are mentioned in Scripture Lamentations THese are not those of Jeremie for Josiah 2 Chron. XXXV 25. No more then those were for him Ezek. XIX 1 14. which indeed were commanded to be taken up by Ezekiel for Jehoachaz and Jehojakim But these were written by Jeremie in the time of the Babylonish captivity after the Temple of the Lord and Citie of Jerusalem were burnt and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar Lamenting here those more then lamentable miseries As the whole Matter and Contents of this Book doth declare And particularly that very passage it self chap. IV. 20. which is appliable properly to King Zedekiah and not to King Josiah The LXX and Jerome doth expresse this very time in the beginning of the Book it self These Lamentations are full of Pathetical expressions And for the weight of the Matter and the Help of Memorie The first second and fourth Chapters do containe twenty two verses apiece according to the number of the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and do begin each verse with one of them in their order methodicaly And chap. III. contains 66. verses treble the former number And begins each three of them with one letter of the Hebrew Alphabet in the order methodicaly The last Chapter only is without this Art Many Signes of Lamentations are expressed here Which from hence and other Scriptures may more fully be gathered thus Sighing Mourning mournful Songs weeping howling Fasting changing of the garments mourning women Ier. IX 17. 2 Chron. XXXV 25. Amos V. 16. rending of the Cloathes wearing black and sack cloth sitting on the ground and keeping silence lying prostrate upon the ground sitting lying covering rowling wallowing in ashes in dust and ashes casting up dust ashes earth upon them and their heads spreading and wringing the hands laying the hands upon the head smiting with the hand stamping with the feet hanging down the head uncovering the head and bare and againe in some ages the covering the head covering head and face too as our close mourners covering the upper lip bare-foot shaving the head and beard making baldnesse plucking off the haire beating the breast printing marks upon the flesh tearing it cutting it Amongst other places see these viz. Lam. II. 10. and III. 16. Lev. X. 6. and XIII 45. and XIX 27 28. and XXI 5 10. Deut. XIV 1. Iosh. VII 6. 1 Sam. IV. 12. 2 Sam. I. 2. and XIII 19. and XIV 2. and XV. 30 32. and XIX 4. 2 Chron. XXXV
50. Rom. 16 1. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Jam. 2 15. But untrue in their intent V. 8. Looked out As David saw Bathsheba 2 Sam. 11. 2. sporting Deut. 24. 5. Prov 5. 18 19. V. 9. Of a surety she is thy wife So holy and unblameable was Isaacs life that worse then this Abimelech never suspected V. 10. What is this By this passionate expostulation he sheweth how greatly adultery if not dissimulation too were condemned by heathen morality ch 20. 9. guiltinesse Both sin and punishment Lev. 5. 5 6. V. 11. Toucheth So v. 29. ch 20. 6. Josh 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Ps. 105. 15. Prov. 6. 29. Zech. 2. 8. V. 12. An hundred fold Mat. 3 8 23. V. 14. Envied him Eccl. 4 4. Psâ—â— 2 10 Job 5. 2. V. 15. The Philistines had stopped Contrary to Covenant and Oath ch 21. 30 31. V. 17. Valley of Gerar V. 6. V. 18. After the names by which his father Renewing the ancient good names and altering idolatrous names Numb 32. 38. The names of idols are not to be heard out of our mouthes Ex. 23. 13. Ps. 16. 4. Deut. 12. 3. Hos. 2. 17. V. 21. Sitnah Hatred or spight Hence Satan hath his name V. 23. To Beersheba The famine being ended he returned to the place whence the famine had driven him the place of his fathers dwelling See Annot. on v. 1. and on ch 21. 31. V. 24. And the Lord appeared As it seems to comfort him against the envious dealings of the Philistines So ch 15. 1. the God of Abraham Therefore Abraham lives in soul Mat. 22. 32. V. 25. An Altar Ch. 12. 7 8. 13. 4 18. V. 26 Then Abimelech As ch 21. v. 22. c. These may be those same men This history is to be compared with that Ahuzzath More then in ch 21. v. 22. V. 27. Seeing ye hate me Prov. 16 7. V. 28. And they said See Annotat. on chap. 21. 22 23. an oath And execration as ch 24. 41. V. 29. That thou wilt With a curse if thou shalt so ch 21. 23. in the margin the blessed Ch. 24. 31. This is spoken to further the Peace and Covenant desired V. 30 Feast Used at Covenants ch 31 54. V. 32. Concerning the Well V. 25. V. 33 Sâ—ebah Oath Beersheba Ch. 21. 31 Here the name of the City This Well was formerly so called by Abraham ch 21. 31. But having been stopped by the Philistines and now opened again by Isaacs servants the old name is again imposed upon the same occasion V. 34. Fourty years old He married thirty six yeares before Jacob. At fourty years old also Isaac married chap. 25. 20. Judith Esaus wives and their fathers had several names Gen. 36. 2. Both Hittites the worst sort of Canaanites Ezech. 16. 3. contrary to the cares and commands of his father mother and grandfather ch 24. 3. and v. 35. of this chapter and ch 27 46. and ch 28. 1 6 8. CHAP. XXVII Verse 1. ISaac was old One hundred thirty six or one hundred thirty seven yeares old As is rightly gathered and proved in the great late Annotat. upon this place For Isaac was sixty yeares old when Jacob was borne ch 25. v. 26. And Jacob was at this time seventy five or seventy six yeares old when he got the blessing and fled to Laban See the Annotat. on ch 29. 21. and his eyes were dimme So Jacobs ch 48. 10. so Elies 1 Sam. 3. 2 4 15. Isaac lived blinde fourty foure yeares at least ch 35 28. V 4 That my soule He would by that feasting chear up his spirit against dulnesse or any distemper that he might be the more fit instrument of the Spirit of God so Elisha calls for a minstrel to allay his passion against Jehoram prepare his minde compose his spirit and fit it for a divine motion of Gods Spirit by Prophecie 2 Kings 3. 15. may blesse thee In faith before the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord Hebr. 1â— 20. some blesse men by praying to God to blesse them So Luke 6. 28. Some by pronouncing a blessing upon them by vertue of their calling and warrant of Gods Word So the Priests blessed the people Numb 6. 23 to the end Some by the Spirit of Prophecie foretelling the blessings should come upon them so Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh ch 48. 9 15 16 20. and the twelve tribes ch 49. 28. and so did Moses likewise Deut. 33. 1. And so Isaac intends to blesse Esau here And doth blesse Jacob and Esau v. 27 28 29 39 40. and Jacob again ch 28. 3 4. Thee Esau. Isaac being left in this point to his owne spirit out of his carnal judgement and affection he intends the blessing to Esau to transmit the inheritance of the blessings and promises made to his father unto Esau as his first-borne either not mindful of the divine Oracle ch 25. 23. Or understanding it not of their persons but of their posterity But Gods Providence serving it self upon the better faith and illumination of Rebekah and by her meanes doth disappoint Isaacs purpose and he by his free grace and singular favour transfers the blessing upon Jacob. V. 6. And Rebekah spake Being soundly grounded that the blessing belonged to Jacob and seeing now her husband going about to give it to Esau she labours to disappoint his errour though by wayes not so warrantable unlesse she were moved by some secret instinct of Gods Spirit V. 7. Before the Lord before my death In his presence and by his power and authority who will ratifie this my last Will and Testament Heb 11. 20 V. 12. I shall bring a curse For my deceiving Deut. 27. 18. Jer. 48. 10. Mal. 14. V. 13. Upon me be thy curse She was over-confident using such ill meanes though in a good cause and trusting to the Oracle V. 15. Goodly raiment Perfumed or kept sweet v. 27. not likely to be holy robes received from their Ancestors and kept for the first-borne to minister in Which were with her Not with Esaus wives V. 16. Skins upon his hands His face by a beard and haire might be much like Esaus V. 19. I am Esau It is in vaine to labour to excuse Jacob here and hereafter from divers lies deceipts and dissemblings V. 20. Brought it to me Ch. 24. 12. one lie drawes on another V. 27. The smell of his raiment Aromatick odours and spices for perfume abounded in those countreys V. 27. As the smell of a field With flowers fruits and vines Cant. 2. 13. 4. 14. 7. 13. V. 28. God give thee A Prayer and Prophecie And these promises of earthly blessings were types of spiritual blessings extending to all that was included in the Promises and Covenant made to and with Abraham Deut. 33. 28. 8. 8. V. 29. Let people serve thee From Jacob came Judah 1 Chron. 5. 2. Gen. 49. 10. David subdued many Nations be Lord over thy brethren Hereby he confirmes to him the right of the first-borne thy brethren and let thy
points and circumstances easily to be gathered and understood Deut. XI 26 30. and XXVII 12 26 This was done in the first year of their coming over Jordan Josh. VIII 32 35. when and where were read likewise all the words of the Law of Moses before all the Congregation of Israel With ships Ships besides the Ark of Noah chapter XXVIII verse 68 are first mentione in Jacobs blessing of Zebulun Gen. XLIX 13. and in Moses his threatning the Israelites in this place Not given Gods hand in giving and working of Grace chapter XXIX verse 4 See Ch. XXX 6. Jer. XXIV 7. and XXXI 33. and XXXII 39. Ezek. XI 19 20. and Ch. XXXVI 26 27. Heb. VIII 10 11. John VI. 44 45 65 Phil. I. 29. and II. 13. Ephes. II. 8. 2. Tim. II. 25. And he gives grace to the remnant which is according to the election of Grace Matth. XI 25. and XIII 11. Mark IV. 11 12 John XII 39. Rom. XI 7. Ephes. I. 5. 2 Chron. XXX 12. Mount This Mount Hor chapter XXXII verse 50 where Aaron died Num. XX. 25 26. was South of Judea And Mount Hor on the North-bounds of Judea Num. XXXIV 7. are far differing and distant mountains King in Jeshurum Moses King in Ieshurum chapter XXXIII verse 5 25. in Blessing the twelve Tribes doth omit Simeon if we accompt him not included in Iudah as his Lot in the division of Canaan fell within the Lot and Tribe of Iudah and their expeditions against their enemies in conquering their own shares were joynt and undertaken together Iosh. XVIII and XIX Iudg. I 3. Dwell between his shoulders That is verse 12 In Ierusalem For though the Southerne and Superior part of Ierusalem where Mount Sion was and which was called the City of David did belong to the Tribe of Iudah yet the Northerne and inferior part of it where Mount Moriah was whereon the Temple was built belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin The huge deep valley of Mello between the two Mountains being filled up and levelled by Solomon so that thence afterward Sion and Moriah might be called two tops of one Mountain Sion the higher top and Moriah the lower Died The time of Moses his death was in the fourtieth year chapter XXXIV verse 5 twelfth moneth seventh day of their coming out of Egypt and one hundred and twentieth year of his age See upon Aarons death Num. XXXIII 38. No man knoweth The reason of concealing the place of the Burial of Moses verse 6 And Michael the Archangel his contending with the Devil and disputing about the body of Moses Iude ver 9. was not revealed in the Scripture of the Old Testament And this dispute might be lest the Israelites knowing it might carry it with them as Iosephs bones into Canaan into which God had said That he should not enter or rather That the people might not idolize it Joshua THE Book of Joshua was not probably written by him though of and concerning him For besides some things contained in it which are deemed by some to be done after his death As that concerning Caleb and his daughter Achsah Ch. XV. 16 19. And most surely the Conquering of Leshem or Laish by the Danites Ch. XIX 47. Iudg. XVIII 7. 29. And those things recorded Ch. XXIV 29 33. Some other things seeme to plead That it was written by some Prophet Long after his death Whence that phrase remaines unto this day is so frequently used Ch. IV. 9. and Ch. VI. 25. and VII 26. and VIII 29 and IX 27. and X. 27. and XIII 13. and XIV 14. and XV. 63. And the Book of Iasher is named Ch. X. 13. which seemes written at soonest in Davids time as recording an Act of his 2 Sam. I. 18. unlesse we say This Book of Iasher in Ioshua's time to be continued on and enlarged in after-times by adding and inserting memorable acts in after-ages And so in Davids time And further the Mountains of Iudah and the Mountains of Israel are mentioned Iosh. XI 21. Which many possibly seeme to intimate the Book to be written after the division of the Nation into the two Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel Ioshua was the Tribe of Ephraim Num. XIII 8. 1 Chron. VII 27. And he lived one hundred ten years Ch. XXIV 29. and was six full years in conquering the Land and in the seventh fell to the Dividing of it by Lot as is gathered out of the age of Caleb Iosh. XIV 7 10. And divers years Ioshua lived and governed after that time but how many it doth not appear out of this Book yet is gathered out of other places to be ten years more and so this Book to containe an History of seventeen years from the Beginning of his Government to his Death The truth of this account stands upon this computation from the coming out of Egypt to the fourth of Solomon are four hundred and eighty years 1 King VI. 1. which are made up thus fourty years in the Wildernesse seventeen of Ioshua two hundred ninety nine of the Iudges counting in the twenty of Sampson as coincident and concurring with the first twenty years of Eli twenty years more of Eli twenty of Samuel fourty of Saul fourty of David four of Solomon In all 480. Within three dayes This Edict and Proclamation of three dayes chapter I verse 2 for preparation to passe over Iordan set down here doth begin and commence after the History of the two Spies and their returne to Ioshua which History yet is recorded after in the Chapter following And thereupon the mention of the said three dayes is taken up again the second time Ch. III. 2. when new directions are given for their Passage and the manner of it Rahab Rahab chapter II verse 1 an Harlot because at least she had been so though now a beleeving Convert ver 9 10 11. Heb. XI 31. Iames II. 25. She had her house on the wall of Iericho ver 15. which fell not when the rest of wall fell Ch. VI. 20 22. In framing her excuses for the Spies sake she bewrayes her infirmity in making equivocations or untruths rather ver 4 5. In transacting with the Spies some speeches seeme to passe between them after they were let down the wall ver 18. In pleading for her family she makes no mention of an Husband ver 13. and Ch. VI. 23. She was after married to Salmon eldest sonne of Nahshon which Nahshon was great-grand-childe to Hezron or Esrom that went down with Iacob into Egppt Gen. XLVI 12. And was Prince of Iudah at the numbring of the people Num. I. 7. at the marshalling of the Camps Num. II. 3. at the Dedication of the Altar Num. VII 12. and at the setting forward in their journeys Num. X. 14. But died in the Wildernesse Num. XIV 29. This marriage of Rahab to Salmon now Prince of Iudah is not recorded in the Old Testament But mentioned Matth. I. 5. in the Genealogy of our Saviour wherein as Rachab so Thamar Ruth
I. 10. Surely thou wilt verse 13 Psal. CXVI 8. 9. Al-taschith That is chapter LVII Destroy not which seemes to be the subject-matter of this Psalme The same is in the Titles of Psal. LVIII LIX LXXV Possibly the word here may relate to that 1 Sam. XXVI 9. though that fell out after his being in the Cave Cave 1 Sam. XXIV 3. And in the Cave he made a Prayer which is the CXLII Psalme performeth all things for me Psal. verse 2 CXXXVIII 8. Phil. I. 6. Some understand this Psalme in this sense chapter LVIII to admonish Judges and Magistrates of their duties and offices minding them of their high power received from God who they are against whom they must exercise it even wicked men such as are here described And so shall men count them worthy the title of gods and acknowledge God in them and their doings Yet I would not in this Psalme exclude all or any relation had to Saul and his wicked Courtiers Doye He appeals to their consciences verse 1 speak righteousnesse Or dumb justice boasting so to do when indeed justice was dumb and opened not her mouth O congregation O assembly company of Sauls Courtiers and Counsellors complying with the King against David you weigh Not justice verse 2 but wrong for right to serve your violence as you are able from the womb Esay XLVIII 8. John IX 34. Ephes. IV. 18. verse 30 inbred inveterate incorrigible Jer. XIII 23. Charmers The Addars craft against them is recorded by divers Authors verse 5 Some sinners like the Addars Acts VII 57. Charmers seem to practise thus upon Addars Eccles. X. 11. Jer. VIII 17. And Charmers are forbidded by Gods Law Deut. XVIII 11. Yet this may seeme a proverbial speech used by David without any purpose to maintaine either the truth of the thing in matter of fact no more then Sirenum voces or Cygnea cantio do prove such things to be or else the lawfulnesse of it in relation to God and his Law And Proverbs and Similitudes may be taked from things in themselves unlawful as from a thief Apoc. XVI 15. the unjust Steward Luke XVI 18. O God The plural word Elohim here used is most times meant of one true God in the singular number verse 6 See Gen. XX. 13. and XXXV 7. And so may be understood that in Exod. XXXII 1. and verse 4. comparing therewith Neh. IX 18. Before your pots can feele the thornes The general meaning is plain verse 9 of the suddennesse of the destruction of those wicked men in the former verses Yet this proves a thorny text to expound aright the simiiude of thornes here used and the rest of the words contained in this verse Pots thornes living are words here of various significations whence three maine renditions and interpretations do arise thus Before your pots can feele the fire of thornes which is short Eccles. VII 6. so shall God take them away as raw flesh by the heat of his indignation Or thus as quick or as yet living and flourishing in his wrath Or thus Ere men shall perceive your young springs of thornes grow to a perfect pricking bramble God will as with a whirlewinde destroy every one of them even as alive or quick even in wrath as in burning anger Thus speaking to the wicked of their sudden destruction Or thus As raw flesh is snatched out of the pot or flesh snatched out of the pot being yet raw before the heat of that light bramble-fire be come to it so God c. Thus variously we may extend our mindes and meanings without any peremptory determination of any one particular wash his feet As Psal. verse 10 LXVIII 23. See Esay LXIII 3. Mal. IV. 3. Apoc. XIV 20. at evening Sauls messengers watching the house to kill David chapter LIX verse 6 And so verse 14. of his strength Sauls verse 9 Or suddenly changing the person as is sometimes in the Hebrew as Deut. V. 10. Dan. IX 4. Mich. I. 2. meaning Davids strength And so it is verse 17. my mercie So by the vowels verse 10 and in the margin of the Masorets But in the Hebrew text his mercie Slay them not At once verse 11 but by little and little Yet verse 13. he saith Consume them that they may not be And in the next words and let them know All which may so well agree together as needs no words of reconciliation Shushan-Eduth Shushan signifieth an instrument of six strings chapter LX from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 six or a Lillie called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it consists of six leaves Eduth signifieth Testimony either implying this Psalme to be a testimony of Davids faith and thankfulnesse or to be sung by the Priests before the Ark of the testimonie or rather being joyned to the former word by a Maccaph as in some kinde a part of it it makes up the name of the musical instrument to teach The Doctrine in this Psalme contained that all might learn it As Deut. XXXI 19. 2 Sam. I. 18. 2 Chron. XXXV 25. when he strove See the Histories 2 Sam. VIII 13. 1 Chron. XVIII 12. And see the Observations on 2 Sam. VIII 5 13. Edom The Edomites joyning with the Syrians in the valley of salt At the South end of the dead Sea Or that called the valley of Siddim Gen. XIV 8. Or the valley of Saveh verse 17. twelve thousand And after in the pursuit of the victory six thousand or these six thousand by Abishai before the main battel From both doth arise the number of eighteen thousand Which victory being archieved by Davids two Generals Joab and Abishai both under him is ascribed to each of these three in the places afore cited And as David and his Generals obtained a victory here 2 Sam. VIII 13. So afterwards did Amatziah slay of Edom in the valley of Salt 10000. And other 10000. were cast down the top of the rock or Selah or Petra which Amatziah took by warre and they all were broken in pieces 2 King XIV 7. 2 Chron. XXV 11 12. Thou hast given Now a banner of conquest and victory That From hence to the end accords with Psal. CVIII 6 verse 4 13. I will reioyce David by reason of Gods truth verse 5 word and promises verse 6 will triumph over his enemies within the Land of Judea and those bordering about it I will divide This implieth a possession first Shechem It was a Citie in Mount Ephraim near Samaria given to the Kohathites-Levites and a Citie of Refuge Abram came thither Jacob had his daughter Dinah ravished there Joshua thither gathers all Israel and renues Gods Covenant with them a little before his death The Shechemites conspire against the house of Gideon to make Abimelech King and he destroyes them Thither Rehoboam came to be made King but Jeroboam gaines the Kingdome of Israel builds or repairs Shechem and dwels in it Of this see the Annotations on Hos. VI. 9. Succoth Not that in Egypt Exod.
XXVIII 1. Dan. III. 16 17 18. Psal. III. 6. and XXVII 3. and XLVI 3. Job XI 15. Luke XXI 28. Prov. IV. 18. Some thus And wisdome will change the boldnesse of his face to more modesty The Kings commandment Obedience in the Lord verse 2 and for the Lord Acts V. 29. the oath of God Whereby thou hast sworne allegeance to thy Prince 1 Pet. II. 13. See Ezek. XVII 15 21. So as this is both a limitation and an enforcement of this duty Papists can slight this oath And some other too to go out of his sight Turne not thy back to him discontentedly verse 3 fling not away in a chafe But forbear and submit Prov. XXV 15. and chap. XXX 32. If thou hast offended him provoke him not more by persisting in it What dost thou Prov. verse 4 XXX 31. Job XXXIV 18. Yet he may be admonished and altered as 1 Sam. XIV 45. as Elias Micaiah Nathan and other Prophets did he is not absolute as God is Job IX 12. And as the Pope would be as the Canonists make him Whatsoever pleaseth him Such was their power specialy in the Eastern Empires the Commandment Of God verse 5 and the King shall feele Know experimentaly no evil No danger of punishment ver 3. But being morigerous and obedient shall finde good and encouragement rather Rom. XIII 3 4. Ephes. VI. 8. 1 Tim. II. 2. a wise mans heart Yeelds not blinde obedience But discernes when and how both the season and the meanes and manner of obeying so to apply himself to the King as to prevent his displeasure to gaine his favour and yet to preserve his conscience and allegeance to the King of Kings See 1 Chron. XII 32. time A well chosen season verse 6 which is the greatest advantage to any enterprize and action Prov. XV. 23. Amos V. 13. Acts XXII 25 29. and chap. XXIII 6 7. miserie of man Is great for not knowing and observing that point of time that proper season to every action as the next verse expresseth For he knoweth not Jer. verse 7 VIII 7. Luke XIX 42 44. Man cannot foresee to prevent the miserie He is in the dark in regard of future events He cannot so much as fore-appoint his own actions for the future much lesse foresee the consequences issues which would follow thereupon Prov. XXVII 1. James IV. 14. Therefore his misery is great upon him not knowing that point of time and exact season only fit for transacting and dispatching his great affairs which way is but one And he so having a thousand wayes to misse the mark and but one to hit it Difficult then is this though not alwayes altogether impossible Prov. XXII 3. and XXVII 12. Power over the spirit To retaine breath and life verse 8 to keep it from going away to prolong it or to adjourne and proroge death Psalme XLIX 7 10. Heb. IX 27. no man no King can do it The syth of death mowes down as well the Lilies of the Crowne as the grasse of the field no discharge in that warre No weapon againstit no dismission from it no vacation or exauctoration Some apply this verse to the power of a King over the life of a man and that there is no power in a man to withstand it and escape it Prov. XVI 14. neither shall wickednesse Sinfull shifts avoid it though they turne every way move every stone make a Covenant with death and hell Esay XXVIII 15 18. Ruleth over another to his own hurt Through his tyrannical rule verse 9 and evil government he comes to hurt punishment and destruction Esay X. 12. and chap. XIV 4. 23. 1 Kings XV. 30. Thus he proceeds to another vanity verse 10. The wicked buried Such wicked Rulers buried magnificently verse 10 who had come and gone In the administration of Government as the phrase elsewhere is to go in and out Numb XXVII 17. from the place of the holy Seat of judicature Where the Holy one sits among the Judges and Rulers as Lord Paramount were forgotten Their names perished even in the places where they had so domineered and been flattered and been buried Psalme XXXVII 9 10 35 36. Prov. X. 7. Because sentence Psal. verse 11 XXXVII and Psal. LXXIII God is patient willing men should repent 2 Pet. II. 9. Rom. II. 4. Esay XLVIII 2. But men abuse this patience of God unto presumption Fsay V. 19. Ier. XVII 15. 2. Pet. III. 4. Matth. XXIV 48 49. Ezek. XII 22. therefore the heart Therefore wicked Rulers go on more boldly and other wicked men abuse this patience of God unto presumption But yet Gods forbearance is no acquittance If he be slow yet he is sure the deeper he draweth his arrow the soarer it woundeth his delay abused doubles the blow when it cometh Though a sinner Yea though he commit the same sinne an hundred times over verse 12 and his dayes be prolonged In prosperity and his punishment be delayed yet surely I know Here he answereth that Tentation whereby the godly are offended and the wicked hardened well with them Psal. LXXIII 1. Esay III. 10. He inverts the order to begin with the remuneration of good men to strengthen their faith and comfort them against this tentation that they may neither fret nor murmur but go on to hold fast their integrity not be well with the wicked But very ill verse 13 Esay III. 11. Num XXXII 23. Psal. XI 6. Nay even his prosperity shall slay him and this Sun-shine ripen them to ruine Neither shall he prolong his dayes Unlesse it be for a curse And all that while living he is truly dead dead in sinne dead in Law Mat. VIII 22. 1 Tim. V. 6. Col. II. 13. Luke XV. 24. Rom. VII 9. Ephes. II. 5 7. That there be just men This vanitie and vexation he doth more then once insist upon verse 14 It hath gravelled great Divines and Heathen wise moral men But all this is done and falls out here upon the earth as it is in the words of the Text. The wicked live in pleasure and receive their good things here James V. 5. Luke XVI 25. And the godly receive their rods Physick and Surgery here Yet this Solomon speaketh not to censure the Providence of God in this distribution of things but according to judgment of flesh and blood and thereby to shew the vanity of these earthly things using an argument against them like to that argument used against Idolatry Deut. IV. 19. Then I commended mirth Some make this a sensual and carnal deduction from the former passage and observation verse 15 But it seemes rather to accord with that sense formerly expressed chap. II. 24. and III. 12 13 22. and V. 18. That is all that can be reaped from all our labours in earthly things And that will make our comforts to be much more comfortable and our troubles to be farre lesse troublesome Whereas the contrary puts us under the reigne of continual unthankfulnesse and indisposeth us