is to be a Nazirite thirty daies If he say I will be a Nazirite thirty daies and an houre he is to be a Nazirite thirty one daies for there are no houres determined He that saith I will be a Nazirite two Naziriteships or 〈◊〉 he is to be a Nazirite according to the number which he hath mentioned every Naziriteship of them shall be 30 dayes And at the end of every 30 dayes hee is to shave his haire and bring his offrings and begin to count for his second Naziriteship though hee have spoken of 100 thousand Naziriteships though it be unpossible he should live so long he is to count one after another untill he dye or untill hee have accomplished the number of his Naziriteships He that saith I will be a Nazirite for ever or all dayes of my life he is a Nazirite for ever If he say I wil be a Nazirite 1000 yeeres he is a Nazirite for the time determined although it is unpossible for a man to live 1000 yeares And what differeth a Nazirite for ever from a Nazirite for a determined time A Nazirite for a determined time may not shave his haire till the end of the dayes of his separation Num. 6. 5. But a Nazirite for ever if his haire be too heavy for him may lighten it with a rasor at every twelve-months end and bring three beasts for his oblation when he shaveth himselfe as it is written of Absalom 2 Sam. 14. 26. at every yeares end he polled c. And Absalom was a Nazirite for ever as we have been taught by tradition Samson was not a full Nazirite for he vowed not to be a Nazirite but the Angell separated him from uncleannesse And what was required of him He might not drinke wine nor shave his head but he might be polluted by the dead this also wee have by tradition Therefore he that saith I will be a Nazirite like Samson he is to be a Nazirite from polling his head and from wine for ever but may be defiled by the dead Maimony in Neziruth ch 3. And Thalmud Bab. in Nazer ch 1. He that saith I will be a Nazirite one day before my death it is unlawfull for him to drinke wine or to defile himselfe or to shave his head for ever Maim ibidem chap. 4. sect 10. the locks or the haire as after is explained by another word of like signification The haire is an ornament and a covering by nature and as by washing of garments the cleansing from impuritie was shadowed Exod. 19. 10. so by keeping them white and cleane the continuance of sanctification is signified Revel 3. 4. 7. 14. 15. 19. 8. Such was the keeping of the head from the rasort for when the Nazirite v. 9. or the Leper Levit. 14. 8. 9. was cleansed from impuritie their haire was shaven off so the keeping it from shaving signified that they had kept themselves from uncleannesse Therefore when the Lord would figure out the rejection of Israel as being vnclean before him hee did it by this signe of cutting off the 〈◊〉 with a rasor Esai 7. 20. Ezek. 5 1. 10. The growing of the haire signified also the growing of the graces of Gods Spirit in them as in Samson who with the losse of his haire lost also the power of God and as his haire grew againe so his strength in God renued Iudg. 13. 25. 14. 19. 16. 17. 19 20. 22. 28. This strength came not by the growth of the haire for long haire rather weakneth the body than strengthneth it naturally but by the Lord who sanctifieth to his people outward signes whereunto himselfe onely addeth grace as he sanctified the waters of Iordan to wash away Naamans leprosie which of themselves had no such esticacie 2 King 5. 10. 14. Moreover as the womans long haire is noted as a signe of her husbands power over her and her subjection unto him 1 Cor. 11. 5. 10. so the Nazirites haire might be the like signe of their subjection to the Lord under whose power they had by this vow inspectall manner committed themselves for further sanctification in his sight Vers. 6. at a dead soule that is a dead person whereby he should be defiled the soule is often used for the whole man liuing or dead see Lev. 19. 28. 21. 1. and so Ionathan in his Thargum here explaineth it at the sonne of man that is dead Thus the soule is put for the bodie for at death the soule departeth Gen. 35. 18. and by the Hebrew Canons the dead dâ—fileth not untill his soule be departed Maimony in Tumoth meth ch 1. sect 15. Of pollution by the dead see Numb 19. 11. c. This refraining from the dead in whom the image as it were of Gods curse for sinne was to be seene for the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 23. figured our abstaining from sinfull and dead works and such as live in them which are dead while they are alive 1 Tim. 5. 6. that we may keepe our selves unspotted of the world I am 1. 27. Vers. 7. not make himselfe uncleane or as the Greeke translateth not be defiled for them namely in touching mourning for or burying them For this as for the former the Nazirite if hee did it presumptuously was to be beaten by the Magistrate Maim in Nazir ch 5. sect 15. c. This also taught them to moderate their affections and sorrow for their earthly parents that they might be holy unto their father which is in heauen Here the Hebrews have their traditionall exceptions saying It is lawfull for a Nazirite to leave the pollution by the dead which is commanded as if walking by the way he light upon a dead body and there is none there to bury him then is he to desile himselfe for him and to bury him If two Nazirites light upon a dead the one a Nazirite for 30 dayes the other for an hundred he that is a Nazirite for 30 dayes shall make himselfe uncleane and the other not The like they say for shaving his head that it is lawfull for him if it be a shaving commanded as if a Nazirite prove a Loper and be healed of his leprosie within the dayes of his Naziriteship he is to shave off all his haire for the shaving of him is commanded in Levit. 14. 8. And wheresoever thou findest a commandment to doe a thing and a prohibition from doing it if a man can keepe them both he doth well and if not the commandment is to be done and the prohibition is to be let passe Maimony in Neziruth chapt 7. sect 11. 12. 14. 15. and Thalmud in Nazir chap. 7. the Naziriteship or the separation Hebr. Nezer in Greeke the vow in Chaldee the crowne of his God as the word Nezer here used is else-whereâ—â— crowne Levit. 21. 12. This is the reason why hee must mortifie his affections and rather follow his vow in honouring the Lord than to follow naturall dutie in honouring his dead
as the Apostle calleth the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. the spirits of the Fathers which were returned to God who gave them as Eccles. 12. 7. shall one man sinne in Greeke if one man hath sinned as if they should say All have not sinned why wilt thou be wroth with all Vpon this intercession the Lord spareth the people that would depart from the rebells verse 24. Verse 24. the tabernacle this seemeth to bee put for tabernacles or dwellings the Greeke translateth it the congregation so in vers 27. where the Greeke also keepeth the word Tabernacle which in vers 26. is called Tents Vers. 25. the elders the Greeke addeth all the elders went after him in Greeke went with him that is accompanied him Verse 26. these wicked men in Greeke these hard men the originall word properly signifieth restlesse turbulent and such as for their sinnes are worthy to be condemned see the notes on Psal. 1. 1. touch not any thing because as they themselves so all things of theirs were uncleane and execrable and therefore to perish with them vers 32. Verse 27. came out and stood Heb. came out standing which the Greeke explaineth came out and stood and these two phrases are one as where it is said that Iesus blessed and breaking gave to the disciples Mat. 14. 19. the other Evangelists explaine it he blessed and brake and gave Luke 9. 16. Mark 6. 41. so Saying unto them Matth. 21. 2. is And saith unto them Mark 11. 2. This their standing up argueth their boldnesse in so bad a cause for standing up is a gesture denoting courage Iob 33. 5. and 41. 10. 1 Sam. 17. 8. 16. Thus Pride went before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall as Prov. 16. 18. Verse 28. all these workes both the former in appointing Aaron to the Priest-hood and the Levites in stead of the first-borne and these latter in appointing Korah and his company to bring their censers with incense c. of mine owne heart which the Chaldee explaineth of mine owne will the Greeke of my selfe For things devised of ones owne heart are noted for evill 1 King 12. 33. Ezek. 13. 17. Vers. 29. as all men die their ordinarie naturall death which the Greeke translateth after the death of all men Verse 30. create a new thing Hebr. create a creature that is doe a new and wonderfull worke to kill them with such a death as never man died before them Of this word create see the notes on Gen. 1. 1. it is applied here to a strange and extraordinarie worke of judgment as in Esai 45. 7. God is said to create evill and in Exod. 34. 10. to create marvels and in Esai 48. 6. 7. new and â—idden things God would create And as evill so good things which are new and strange are said to be created of God Esa. 65. 18. alive living haile and sound not consumed with sicknesse as ordinarily men are before death and buriall unto hell into the grave or state of death see the notes on Gen. 37. 35. To this iudgement the Prophet hath reference praying against his enemies Lâ—t them goe downe alive to hell Psal. 55. 16. Verse 32. swallowed up them to wit Dathan and Abiram as in Psal. 106. 17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered over the congregation of Abiram So David prayed against his enemies swallow them up o Lord Psal. 55. 10. their houses that is housholds as the Chaldee expoundeth it the men of their houses appertained unto Korah The Greeke translateth and all the men that were with Kore and the Chaldee the men that pertained to Korah But the sonnes of Korah are to be excepted for they either not partaking with or forsaking their Fathers sinne died not see Num. 26. 21. And whereas mention was made of On the sonne of Reuben in verse 1. but not here nor any where of his death neither in verse 12. of his calling or refusall to come up it is to be thought that either he repented upon Moses reproofe and so was spared from destruction or if not so he is implied among the rest though not named in particular their substance or their goods which the Greeke translateth their cattell and so the originall word implieth as in 1 Chron. 27. 31. 2 Chron. 31. 3. and 35. 7. See the notes on Gen. 12. 5. And not their cattell onely but all their other goods even their tents were swallowed into the earth Deut. 11. 6. Here wee may behold the truth of that Proverbe Riches profit not in the day of wrath but iustice delivereth from death Prov. 11. 4. Vers. 33. closed upon them or covered over them so there was no hope left for their recoverie Against such judgement David prayeth Let not the gulse swallow me neither let the pit shut her mouth upon me Psal. 69. 16. Vers. 34. at the voice of them at their crie or noise which they made when they perished So in Ier. 49. 21. At the voice or noise of their fall the earth is moved c. and I made the nations to shake at the noise of his fall Ezek. 31. 16. Lest the earth swallow us an unperfect speech through feare such as is often used in dangers as in Psal. 38. 17. Rom. 11. 21. Thus the present judgement terrified them and When the scorner is punished the simple is made wise Prov. 21. 11. Vers. 35. devoured or did eat the 250. men They sinned in burning incense which belonged to the Priests onely and with burning they were punished like the judgement on Aarons sonnes that transgressed also therein Levit. 10. 1 2. Of this David singeth A fire burned in their congregation a flame burnt up the wicked Psal. 106. 18. Vers. 37. unto Eleazar Chazkuni here observeth that God would not have Aaron to bee defiled by going among the dead because he was one of them that offered vers 17. out of the burning that is as the Greeke well explaineth it from among those that are burnt So in Num. 21. 1. captivitie is for a company of captives and in 2 King 24. 14. Povertie for a company of poore people and many the like the fire which is in the censers vers 7. The Greeke saith the strange fire as Lev. 10. 1. yonder in Greeke there which Sol. Iarchi expoundeth on the earth out of the censers others out of the court of the Sanctuarie By casting away the fire the Lord signifieth the rejecting of their service as profane So in Rev. 8. 5. the Angell tooke the censer and filled it with fire of the Altar and cast it into the earth and there were voices and thunderings c. Which being compared with vers 3 4. seemeth to teach likewise a rejecting of the service of Antichristians which abuse and despise Christs mediation and therefore it is turned unto them to judgement Vers. 38. sinners against their soules Sinners are here often used for notorious wicked persons as Destroy the sinners
enlighted by the Apostles of Christ whose writings specially Pauls doe unfold the mysteries of the law Another reason why I cite the Rabbines is to shew how in many words phrases and points of doctrine they approve the new Testament though sometime to the condemning of themselves and so the testimony of the adversary against himselfe helpeth our faith Examples may be seene in the annotations themselves some few I will here touch The day of judgement or Iudgement of the great day Iude vers 6. was used of the godly Iewes against the opinion of the Sadduces as Iom dinarabba in the Chaldee on Psal. 50. 3. and many other places So Paradise for heaven Geenna for hell as Christ useth them are common in all the Rabbines and the Second death Revel 20. 8. is used by Ionathan a Rabbine of the Apostles age on Esa. 65. 6 15. where he damneth his owne people to the second death Christ is called the Word Ioh. 1. 1. so by the Chaldee paraphrast on Ps. 110. 1. and many a time beside The Devill is called the Accuser Revel 12. 10. so R. Menachem on Levit. 25. speaketh of the Serpent the Accuser Paul nameth Abraham the heire of the world Rom. 4. 13. So doth R Bochai fol. 23. The Apostle calleth Circumcision a seale Rom. 4. 11. so doe the Iewes in their prayer which they use at circumcision Maimony treat of Circumcis chap. 3. And whereas they that deny the baptising of Infants plead that circumcision was a carnall signe of carnall promises to a carnall seed the Iewes owne testimonies doe abundantly refute this errour as is shewed after on Gen. 17. Christ baptizeth with the holy Ghost and with fire Matth. 3. 11. It is said by our Rabbines of happy memory that the holy blessed God baptized with fire saith R. Menachem on Levit. 6. Christ our high Priest is on the right hand of the throne of the Majestie in the heavens Heb. 8. 1. and by the Rabbines doctrine Michael is the great Priest that is above and offreth the soules of just men R. Menachem on Levit. 1. and 6. chap. Maimony in Misneh in Biath hamikdash chap. 6. sect 11. sheweth how the great Synedrion were wont to sit in a chamber of the Temple to judge and try the Priests both for their genealogies and for their blemishes What Priest soever was sound dissallowable by his genealogie he was clothed in blacke and so went out of the Priests court in the Temple and who so was found perfect and fit he was cloathed in white and went in and ministred with his brethren This giveth light to that saying of Christ in Rev. 3. 4. they shall walke with me in white for they are worthy So the names of Iannes and Iambres the sorcerers of Egypt cited by Paul in 2 Tim. 3. 8. are recorded in the Talmud and other Iewish writers as is noted on Exodus 7. 11. Wherefore the evidence brought from the learned Iewes will helpe both to understand some scriptures and to end some controversies But Iewish * Tit. 1. 14. forbidden fables of which there are too many them I passe over as unprofitable some things also I note from them not as approving them my selfe absolutely but leaving them to further consideration of the prudent The Christian Fathers and Doctors because they are usually cited by other expositors abundantly I thought needlesse to repeat and the rather for brevitie which is requisite in annotations The testimonie of heathen writers I alledge more spiringly also as of whom wee have least need Yet Paul had occasion * Acts 17. 28. 1 Co◠15. 33. Tit. 〈◊〉 sometime to cite them and we likewise may have use of their sayings both for ancient histories and religious exercises and for the witnesse which they beare unto the truth of God Finally in all this labour I desire the furtherance and stirring up of people in the study and understanding of Gods law Wherein though some things are briefe some things darke and hard to bee understood yet many things are by a little direction made easie to the prudent And let not the varietie of phrase or sundry interpretations trouble any but let discretion choose out the best Behold the holy Ghost translateth one Hebrew word by many Greeke to teach us both the ample wisedome comprised in that mother tongue and that any words may be used which expresse the true meaning of the text unto our understanding The Minchah or Meat-offring as we English it in the law is turned into Greeke Thusia Sacrifice Acts 7. 42. from Amos 5. and Prosphora Oblation Heb. 10. 5. from Psal. 40. The Hebrew word Pinnah Esa. 40. 3. is Euthuno to Make-straight Ioh. 1. 23. Hetoimazo to Prepare Matth. 3. 3. and Kataskevaso to Make ready Matth. 11. 10. That one phrase of Moses in Deut. 25. 5. uben aeinlo and hee have no sonne is by three Evangelists translated three wayes all good having no children Matth. 22. 24. and leave no children Mark 12. 19. and he dye childlesse Luk. 20. 28. Yea one Hebrew word Sorer in Esa. 65. 2. is expressed of Paul by two Greeke words together Apeithounta and Antilegont◠that is Disobedient or unperswaded and gainsaying Rom. 10. 21. the one noting the rebelliousnesse of the heart the other of the mouth and cariage By which with many other of like sort we may see the copiousnesse of matter which the originall tongue containeth in few words and that the noting of such varieties may be profitable unto us The Hebrew Doctors have a saying that the Law hath seventie faces that is 70. manner of wayes to be opened and applied and all of them truth R. Menachem on Gen. 29. and Exod. 21. But forasmuch as my portion is small in the knowledge of holy things let the godly reader try what I set downe and not accept it because I say it and let the learned be provoked unto more large fruitfull labours in this kinde The Lord open all our eyes that we may see the marveilous things of his Law Henry Ainsworth The summe of Genesis THe first Booke of Moses sheweth the Generation of the World the Corruption thereof by Sinne the restauration promised in Christ the Governement of the old World 1656. yeeres till it perished by the Flood and of the World that now is especially of Gods Church therein 713. yeeres moe till the death of Ioseph The Generation GOD in sixe dayes createth the World all good and Man in the Image of God whom hee made ruler over the earth Chapter 1 He adorneth this his world with a speciall sanctified Time as the Sabbath day Place as the garden of Eden with the River and Trees thereof Order of mans obedience by the Law given to Adam and of propagation of kinde by Mariage Chap. 2 The Corruption of the World The Serpent tempteth to disobedience Man falleth so Sinne and Death are come upon all men The Serpent is cursed and the Earth for mans sake Chap. 3
applieth to our regeneration thus God who said that out of darknesse light should shine he hath shined in our hearts c. 2. Cor. 4. 6. that wee which were once darknesse are now light in the Lord Ephes. 5. 8. yea God himselfe and Christ is called Light for the brightnesse of his glory and graces given unto us 1. Ioh. 1. 5. 7. Ioh. 1. 4 5. Psal. 27. 1. and 118. 27. And as God made light in the first day so Christ rose from death in the same day the first of the weeke Mark 16. 1 2. he is the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Ioh. 1. 9. No man perfectly knoweth the nature of this excellent creature as Iob 38. 19. where is the way where light dwelleth c. how much lesse of the Creator who dwelleth in the light that no man can approach unto 1. Tim. 6. 16. Vers. 4. it was good that is agreeable to the will of God and so as it might draw the liking of the creatures thereto Absolutely there is none good but God Mark 10. 18. who is good of himselfe without dependance on others and without limitation But every creature so far as in the being thereof it agreeth with the will of the Creator is also good by participation of Gods goodnesse Gen. 1. 31. 1. Tim. 4. 4. And the Hebrew word is largely extended also to that which is goodly faire sweet pleasing profitable or commodious and causing joy 1. Sam. 9. 2. Gen. 24. 16. Song 1. 2. and 4. 10. Deut. 6. 11. 18. Hest. 1. 10. So that which one Evangelist calleth good Mark 9. 42. another calleth profitable Luke 17. 2. and goodnesse of heart is opposed to sorrow Esay 65. 14. And of light in speciall Solomon saith it is sweet Eccles. 11. 7. and light is used for comfort and joy Ester 8. 16. Psal. 97. 11. and 112. 4. separated betweene that is divided the light from the darknesse that alwayes naturally the one expelleth the other and in course of day and night doe succeed each other as is shewed in 2. Cor. 6. 14. Psal. 104. 20. 22. Gen. 8. 22. Ier. 33. 20. The Hebrew phrase is he separated betweene the light and betweene the darknesse So after usually V. 5. Light Day Hereupon one of these words is put for another the day shall declare it 1 Cor. 3. 13. that is the light Eph. 5. 13. So the Apostle applying this to our spiritual estate calleth us both children of the light of the day not of the night nor of darknesse 1. Thes. 5. 5. The names which God gaue in Hebrew are now in other languages changed as that which he called Iom we english Day and Lajlah wee call Night yea the reason of these names is not alwayes vnderstood so great punishment doe we sustaine by that confusion of tongues Gen. 11. Howbeit by affinity with other words it seemeth the Day was named Iom of the tumult stir and businesse in it and the Night Lajlah of the yelling or howling of wild beasts therein Experience also confirmeth this and the Scripture accordeth Psal. 104. 20. 21. 22. 23. the evening was and the morning The evening which is the beginning of the Night and the morning which is the beginning of the Day are here used for the whole time of the light and darknesse in one succeeding course which is with us the space of 24 houres which also in a more large sense is here called a Day as the time while light shineth is the Day strictly taken in which sense Christ saith there are twelve houres in the day Iohn 1. â—9 From the phrase here used a large day is called â—hnerâ—â—-boker that is an evening-morning Dan. 1. 14. and Paul in Greek calleth it Nâ—â—â— thé meron a Night-day that is a day comprehending the night also 2 Cor. 11. 25. And because darknesse was in time before the light therefore is the evening set before the morning and so among the Iewes they began their large day at evening as Lev. 23. 32. from evening to evening you shall rest your Sabbath At the same time the Athenians also began the day but the Chaldeans counted the beginning at Sun rising the Aegyptians at noone and the Romans at midnight This later our westerne nations follow counting from midnight one of the clocke in the morning and so forward first day Hebr. one day whereupon the Hebrewes often say one for first Gen. 8. 5. Num. 29. 1. Dan. 9. 1. which phrase the Apostles use also in Greek Mat. 28. 1. Ioh. 20. 1. 19 1 Cor. 16. 2. Vers. 6. Outspred firmament This name is of the Hebrew Rakiagh which signifieth a thing spred abroad and of the Greeke stereoma which signifieth a firmament or fast thing for the heavens are stretched out as a curtaine and spred out as a tent to dwell in Psal. 104. 2. Esa. 40. 22. the skies are also firme and fast as a molten looking-glasse Iob 37. 18 Prov. 8. 28. These tell Gods glory and shew his handy worke Psal. 19. 2. for in the heavens hee buildeth his stories or sphaeres Amos 9. 6. and planchereth his lofts in the waters Psal. 104. 3. and stretcheth out the North over the empty place Iob. 26. 7. and in visions of Gods glory the firmament is mentioned Ezek. 1. and 10. And as his power is shewed in making the earth so is his prudency in stretching out the heavens Ier. 10. 12. Psal. 136. 5. And under the name firmament is comprehended the aire and all that is to be seene above the earth for the fowles flye and the Sun Moone and Starres are set in the firmament of the heavens Gen. 1. 16. 17. 20. in the midst of the waters namely of the Deepe forementioned part whereof was lifted up into the ayre spred abroad into thin vapours Psal. 135. 7. bound up in thicke clouds and the cloud is not rent under them Iob 26. 8. the other part was gathered into one place the Sea Gen. 1. 9. separate or let it be separating that is let it continually separate or divide A like phrase is in Esay 59. 2. V. 7. and the waters Hebr. and betweene the waters which were above to weet in the ayre above the lowest region whereof the waters are So elsewhere they are sayd to be above the heavens Psal. 148. 4. meaning those heavens and that firmament wherein the birds flye for above that are the watry clouds As every part of the water is called water so every part of the heaven and firmament is called by the name of the whole V. 8. Heavens in Hebrew Shamajim so called as is thought of Sham There and Majim waters which are remoued or heaved up from us And so the whole hath the name of a part thereof The word Heavens is put for the aire wherein windes cloudes and fowles doe flye Dan. 7. 2. 13. Psal. 8. 9. and for the upper firmament where the Sunne Moone and Starres are set Gen. 1. 16. 17.
and for the high places where Angels dwell Mat. 22. 30. Hereupon Paul mentioneth the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. And Heaven is called Gods throne Esa. 66. 1. sometime put for God himselfe Dan. 4. 26. and the kingdome of heaven is expounded the kingdome of God Matth. 11. 11. and 13. 11. with Luk. 7. 28. and 8. 10. And the Evangelists expresse it in Greeke Heaven or Heavens indifferently Luk. 6. 23. with Mat. 5. 12. V. 9. be gathered or flow together as with intent to an expected place This Hebrew word is used onely for the gathering together of men and of waters to one place which is the Ocean or mayne sea from which many armes of seas are derived Or each to his severall place Hereby all the face of the earth is no longer covered with waters as till this third day it was the waters standing above the mountaines Psal. 104. 6. So now all rivers goe into the Sea their common receptacle Eccles. 1. 7. it was so At Gods rebuke the waters fled at the voyce of his thunder they hasted away to the place which he had founded for them Psal. 104. 7. 8. And hee put the deepes into treasuries Psal. 33. 7. as appeareth by the waters springs that come out of the bowels of the earth Iob 28. 4. 10. and he shut up the sea with doores and set barres and sayd hitherto shalt thou come but no further Iob 38. 8. 10. 11. and so the earth is founded upon the seas and stablished upon the rivers Psalm 24. 2. the waters which were above are put beneath and men are sayd to goe downe not up to the sea in ships Psal. 107. 23. V. 10. Earth so named of the Hebrew Aerets which implieth a thing trod and run upon by the creatures on it and heavenly orbes about it The same word spoken of particular places we English land as the land or earth of Canaan Gen. 12. 5. The earth is the midst or centre of the world and round in forme as a globe or circle Esa. 40. 22. It is sayd to be founded on her bases euen strong foundations Mic. 6. 2. that it shall never be moved Psal. 104. 5. and yet it hangeth upon nothing Iob 26. 7. Seas that is each place where waters are gathered together is called a Sea Wherefore not onely the mayn Ocean but other lakes and pooles yea and greater vessels that hold waters are called seas as the brasen sea which Solomon made for the Priests to wash in conteyning 3000. bathes of water 2. Chro. 4. 2. 5. 6. So that which one Evangelist calleth a lake Luk. 8. 33. another calleth a sea Matth. 8. 32. And seas in Hebrew Iamim are named of Majim waters and of the tumultuous noyse which they make Wherupon the Prophets apply the name of waters and seas to troubles and troublesome peoples Ier. 51. 42. Rev. 17. 15. Esa. 57. 20. Psal. 65. 8. V. 11. yeelding Hebr. making that is bearing and bringing forth From this fruitfulnesse of the earth are many arguments of Gods praise in Psal. 104. 14. 15. 16. The holy Ghost compareth mans nature hereunto Heb. 6. 7. and men are likened to trees their words and workes to fruites Ier. 17. 7. 8. Math. 3. 10. after his kinde so that men doe not gather figges of thornes nor grapes of the bramble Luke 6. 44. This also noteth the great varietie of hearbs weeds trees of sundry sorts and different qualities The like is after concerning beasts whose seed is or which hath it seed in it selfe whereby it is continued and yearely renewed For by seed sowne the hearbs and trees spring up againe 1. Cor. 15. 37. 38. And from this worke of God in nature the Apostle sheweth his worke in grace when the seede of God remaineth in us 1 Ioh. 3. 9. and from the springing up of seed after it is dead in the earth a similitude is taken of the fruit of Christs death of our bodies resurrectiō Ioh. 12. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 36. 37. V. 14. Lights or Lighters that is lightsome bodies or instruments that shew light This name Paul applieth to the saints that shine in the world Phil. 2. 15. for signes to signifie things both naturall and ordinary and extraordinary for mercy or judgement Luke 21. 25. Act. 2. 19. 20. Psal 65. 9. seasons or set times as summer winter spring and autumne Gen. 8. 22. which come by the course of the Sun the Moone also is for appoynted times Psal. 104. 19. so bee the Stars and constellations Iob 38. 31. 32. In Israel also the set times of Gods seruice were by them as new moones and festivities Numb 28. Of the stars Iob saith God maketh Arcturus which riseth in September and beginneth Autumne and Orion which ariseth in December and beginneth Winter and Pleiades which arise in the Spring and the chambers of the South that is the southerne stars which are for the most part hidden from us as in chambers but some arise to us in Summer as the dog-star and the like Iob 9. 9. dayes both large dayes of 24. houres from sun setting to sun setting and strict of 12. houres from sunne rising to sunne setting as is observed before on verse 5. a speciall use wherof is shewed in Psal. 104. 19. 23. and yeares that is and for yeares as the Greeke translateth it A proprietie of speech when a word oft before expressed is in the last branch omitted for brevity The like is in Hose 3. 4. Eph. 4. 11. Gal. 3. 28. A yeare hath the name in Hebrew of Changing or iteration which is by the revolutions of the sunne moone and starres For in saying yeares he may comprehend not onely the period or circuit of the sunne which is in 365. dayes and 6. houres but of the other planets also The Hebrew Doctors say The moneths of the yeare they are the moneths of the moone and the yeares that we count they are the yeares of the Sunne The dayes of the yeare of the moone are 354. The yeare of the Sun hath 365. dayes and a quarter which is sixe houres Maimony in Misn. in Kiddush hachodesh ch 1. S. 1. c. 8. S. 3. c. 9. S. 1. V. 16. the greater or the great light meaning the Sun Ps. 136. 8. which is called in Hebrew somtime Chammah the warme-sun Esai 30. 26. because none is hid from his heat Psal. 19. 7. sometime Cheres the glistering-sun Iob 9. 7. but usually it is named Shemesh that is a Minister or servant because by it GOD ministreth light heat and precious fruits to all people under heaven Deut. 4. 19. and 33. 14. The Sunne is in the midst of the planets as principall and when hee riseth he is glorious like a Bridegroome comming forth out of his chamber Psalm 19. 6. and hee is the greatest of all the heavenly lights By the accompt of our Astronomers the Sunne is 166. times greater and by the Hebrew Doctors reckoning about 170. times greater-than the earth Maimony
knowledge Daemons Mar. 5. 12. of their mighty strength principalities and powers Col. 2. 15. of their calumniation and enmity to God and his creatures they are named the malicious the Devill and Satan 1 Iohn 2. 13. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Mat. 4. 8. 10. And the Devill speaking by this Serpent is therefore called the great dragon that old Serpent which deceiveth all the world Rev. 12. 9. And as him-selfe stood not in the truth but sinned from the beginning 1 Ioh. 3. 8. so soone upon mans creation he overthrew him and is therefore said to be a mankiller from the beginning Ioh. 8. 44. And mans fall and miserie is here immediately joined to his creation and seating in Paradise Also the Hebrew Doctors hold that nothing here mentioned was done after the sixe dayes of the creation all our wisemen doe agree that this whole matter was done the sixt day saith Maimony in Moreh Nebuchim chel 2. per. 30. the woman the weaker vessell 1 Pet. 3. 7. whom Satan thought the more easily to deceive and so did as Paul observeth Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression 1 Timoth. 2. 14. 2 Corinth 11. 3. So the Serpent set upon Christ in his hunger and infirmity Matthew 4. 2. 3. Yea or Moreover it is a word proceeding from an earnest mind and usually it is an addition to something spoken before So it is likely the Serpent had uttered words against God the sum whereof is in this speech A like phrase is in 1 Sam. 14. 30. because God hath or hath God indeed said So the Chaldee paraphrase translateth in truth that is Is it true that God hath said and the Greeke why is it that God hath said In this understanding Satan beginneth with a question as when by his servants hee sought to have taken Christ in his talke Luke 20. 20. 21. 23. The tentation is directly against Gods word which as it was that whereby the world was made and existed Psal. 33. 6. 2 Pet. 3. 4. so by it all things are upholden or caried Heb. 1. 3. and if Gods word had abidden in Eve shee had overcome the wicked one 1 Ioh. 2. 14. So Satan began the assault upon Christ taking occasion at the word of God this is my sonne Mat. 3. 17 saying If thou bee the Sonne of God Mat. 4. 3. of every tree or of all trees but the Hebrew word for all is sometime used for everyone sometime for any one as Psal. 143. 2. so the Serpents speech was doubtfull and bent to deceive And as here hee assailed the woman about food so he began with Christ Mat. 4. 3. Vers. 2. Trees in Hebrew tree so in vers 7. leafe for leaves This the Scripture openeth as parable Psal. 78. 2. is expounded parables Mat. 13. 35. heart Psal. 95. 8. for hearts Heb. 3. 8. worke Psal. 95. 9. for workes Heb. 3. 9. And in the Hebrew text it selfe as speare 2 King 11. 10. for speares 2 Chron. 23. 9. ship 1 King 10. 22. for ships 2 Chr. 9. 21. See also Gen. 4. 20. Vers. 3. lest ye dye or as the Greek translateth that ye die not This manner of speech doth not alwayes shew doubt but speakes of danger and to prevent evill as Psal. 2. 12. lest he bee angry Gen. 24. 6. lest thou bring for that thou bring not So Mar. 14. 2. lest there be an uprore for that there be not an uprore Mat. 26. 5. Yea sometime it rather affirmeth a thing lest Ezekiah deceive Esa. 36. 18. for which in 2 King 18. 3. is written for he deceiveth you So lest they faint in the way Mat. 15. 32. that is they will faint Mark 8. 3. Vers. 4. not dying dye that is not surely dye the Greeke translateth not die the death Here hee impugneth the certainty of Gods word which had threatned assured death Gen. 2. 17. And thus the Devill was a lyar and the father thereof Ioh. 8. 44. Vers. 5. in the day that is presently so he opposeth present good unto the present evill threatned of God Whom hee also calumniateth as of ill will he had forbidden them this tree then your eyes c. By an ambiguous deceitfull promise hee draweth her into sinne for by opening of eyes shee understood a further degree of wisedome as the like speech importeth Acts 26. 18. Eph. 1. 18. but he meant a seeing of their nakednesse and confusion of conscience as fell out immediately Gen. 3. 7. 10. The Hebrew phrase is and your eyes but and is often used for then as Mark 14. 34. And he saith which another Evangelist writeth Then saith he Mat. 26. 38. so Mark 15. 27. and they crucifie Mat. 27. 38. then were crucified and many the like as Gods This the woman understood of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost as appeareth by the words of God himselfe in v. 22. but the tempter might meane it also of the Angels which had sinned for Angels are called Gods Psal. 8. 6. who of their knowledge are named Daemons and have wofull experience of the good which they have lost and the evill wherein they lye The Chaldee saith as princes and Devils are also called principalities and powers Col. 2. 15. Another Chaldee paraphrase which goeth under the name of Ionathan for Gods translateth Angels knowing c. the name before given to this tree Gen. 2. 17. the serpent here wresteth to a wrong sense as if to know good and evill were to be like God himselfe that the eating of the fruit would worke such an effect whereas the tree was so called for another cause See Gen. 2. 9. Vers. 6. saw that is looked upon with affectation So Achan saw and coveted and tooke Ios. 7. 21. a desire or a lust that is most pleasant and to be desired to make one wise or to get prudency and so prosperity and good successe thereby as the Hebrew word often signifieth According to these three things which the woman by false suggestion saw in the tree for meat for the eyes and for prudency the Apostle reduceth all that is in the world and not of the father to the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 1 Iohn 2. 16. With which we may also compare the three tentations of Christ Luke 4. she gave together with words to move and perswade him for he is said to have hearkned to her voice vers 17. hee did eat so the sinne was accomplished that brought death into the world as God threatned Gen. 2. 17. and the death is gone over all men for that all have sinned and by the disobedience of one the many are made sinners Rom. 5. 12. 19. By eating the Scripture elsewhere signifieth the committing of sinne Prov. 30. 20. Againe by eating sinne and death are done away and life restored in Christ Ioh. 6. 50. 54. whom Satan sought to have drawne into sinne also by eating but was defeated Mar. 4. 2. 3. 4. This first sinne
have enmity with mankind but also wicked men called serpents generations of vipers and children of the Devill Matth. 23. 33. 1 Iohn 3. 10. By the womans seed is meant in respect of Satan chiefly Christ who being God over all blessed for ever should come of David and Abraham and so of Eve according to the flesh for she was the mother of all living Roman 1. 3. and 9. 5. And with Christ all Christians who are Eves seed both in nature and in faith as all Christians are called Abrahams seed Gal. 3. 29. He or it that is the Seed This is first to be understood of Christ who was made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. the fruit of the wombe of the Virgin Mary Luke 1. 42. Hee through death hath destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill Hebrewes 2. 14. Secondly it implyeth Christians the children of Christ Heb. 2. 13 who resisting the Devill stedfastly in faith the God of peace bruiseth Satan under their feet 1 Pet. 5. 9. Rom. 16. 20. When promise is made concerning the seed the faithfull parents are also included and so on the contrary as when Moses saith I will multiply thy seed Gen. 22. 17. Paul alledgeth it thus I will multiply thee Heb. 6. 14. Againe where Moses saith All families shall be blessed in thee Gen. 12 3. Peter alledgeth it they shall be blessed in thy seed Act. 3. 25. Also this word seed is used either for a multitude as Gen. 15. 5. or for one particular person as Gen. 21. 13. and 4. 25. so here it meaneth one speciall seed Christ Gal. 3. 16. This the ancient Hebrew Doctors also acknowledged for in Thargum Ierusalemy the fulfilling of this promise is expresly referred to the last dayes the dayes of the King Messias And the mystery of originall sinne and thereby death over all and of deliverance by Christ R. Menachem on Lev. 25. noteth from the profound Cabbalists in these words So long as the spirit of uncleannesse is not taken away out of the world the soules that come downe into the world must needs die for to root out the power of uncleannesse out of the world and to consume the same And all this is because of the decree which was decreed for the uncleannesse and filthinesse which the Serpent brought upon Eve And if it be so all the soules that are created become unclean by that filthinesse must needs die before the comming of the Messias c. and at the comming of the Messias all soules shall be consummate thenceforth bruise or pierce crush the Hebrew word is of rare use onely here and in Iob 9. 17. thy head or thee on the head Hereby is meant Satans overthrow destruction in respect of his power and workes Ioh. 12. 31. 1 Ioh. 3. 8. for the head being bruised strength and life is perished So in Thargum Ierusalemy it is expounded thus The womans children shall be cured but thou ô Serpent shalt not be cured And he saith thee rather then thy seed because Christ was to vanquish that old serpent which overcame our first parents who being destroyed his seed perish with him Revel 12. 9. Ioh. 14. 30. and 12. 31. 32. his heele or his foot sole for the Hebrew and Greeke here used signifie not onely the heele but the whole foot sole and sometime the foot step or print of the foot By the heele or foot bruised is meant Christs wayes which Satan should seeke to suppresse by afflictions and death for our sinnes here foretold as appeareth by the reference which other Scriptures make to this prophesie Psal. 56. 7. and 89. 52. and 49. 6. and 22. 17. He was crucified through infirmity and put to death concerning the flesh but was quickned by the spirit liveth through the power of God 2 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. and so his foot not his head was bruised by the Serpent Who yet brought upon him a death that was shamefull and painfull and cursed because hee was hanged on a tree Gal. 3. 13. for it is probable that partly in remembrance of this first sinne by eating of the tree of knowledge which tree was a signe of curse and death if man transgressed Gods law after accounteth such as dye on a tree to have in more speciall manner the signe of curse upon them Deut. 21. 23. But Christ swallowed up death in victory Esay 25. 8. through whom God also giveth us the victory 1 Cor. 15. 57 unto which promise the Prophet hath reference saying Why should I feare in the dayes of evill when the iniquity of my heeles shall compasse me about God will redeeme my soule from the hand of Hell Psalm 49. 6. 16. Vers. 16. multiplying I will multiply that is I wil much and assuredly multiply see this phrase opened on Gen. 2. 16. Here are annexed not curses but chastisements for Eve and Adam that their faith in the promised seed might continually bee stirred up and their sinfull nature subdued and mortified Heb. 12. 6. Psal. 119. 71. conception meaning painfull conception and this word is used for the whole space that the child is in the mothers body untill the birth and so here implyeth all the griefes and cumberances which women do endure that time The Greeke translateth it groning The reason of this chastisement is because sinne is from Adam derived by propagation to all his posterity Psalm 51. 7. Roman 5. children Heb. sonnes which implyeth daughters also therefore the Greeke translateth it children so for sonne and sonnes the Holy Ghost saith in Greek children as in Mat. 22. 24. from Deut. 25. 5. Gal. 4. 27. from Esay 54. 1. By bringing forth is also meant bringing up after the birth as Gen. 50. 23. Vnto the sorrows of childbirth the Scripture often hath reference in cases of great affliction in body or mind Psalm 48. 7. Mich. 4. 9. 10. 1 Thess. 5. 3. Ioh. 16. 21. Rev. 12. 2. Howbeit this chastisement hindreth not a womans salvation with God for neverthelesse shee shall be saved in childbearing if they women continue in faith and love and holinesse with sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 15. desire The Greeke translateth it thy turning or conversion the word implyeth a desirous affection as appeareth by Song 7. 10. And that this should be to her husband it noteth subjection as in Gen. 4. 7. Elsewhere this word is not used the Apostle seemeth to have reference unto it in 1 Thess. 2. 8. rule So Paul saith I permit not the woman to usurpe authority over the man 1 Tim. 2. 12. And Peter Wives bee in subjection to your owne husbands 1 Pet. 3. 1. And this being here a chastisement for sinne implyeth a further rule then man had over her by creation and with more griefe unto womankind Vers. 17. the ground or the earth whereby is implyed all this visible world made for man Psal. 115. 16. 2 Pet. 3. 7. So all hope of blessednesse on earth is hereby cut off for all
things under the Sun are vanity and vexation of spirit from mans birth to his dying day Ecclesiastes 1. 2. 3. 14. and 12. 7. 8. and an heavenly heritage is to bee sought for immortall and which fadeth not 2 Peter 1. 4. Of ground cursed there followeth barrennesse or unprofitable fruits and desolation Genesis 4. 12. and 3. 18. Esay 24. 6. and the end is to bee burned Hebrews 6. 8. So the earth and the workes therein shall bee burnt up 2 Pet. 3. 10. And as for mans sake this world is cursed and the creature made subject to vanity so it earnestly expecteth the manifestation of the sonnes of God that it may be delivered from the bondage of corruption Rom. 8. 19. 20. 21. in sorrow with painfull labour as Prov. 5. 10. Hereupon the Scripture mentioneth our bread of sorrowes Psal. 127. 2. Adam was to have labored in his innocency Gen. 2. 15. but without sorrow being under the Lords blessing which maketh rich and hee addeth no sorrow with it Prov. 10. 22. Concerning this sorrow or toyle of our hands Noe the figure of Christ was a comforter Gen. 5. 29. Vers. 18. thornes Heb. the thorne Hereby is meant harmfull weeds in stead of wholesome fruits Iob 31 40. Ier. 12. 13. for men of thistles doe not gather figs Mat. 7. 16. Thornes doe choak the good corne as Mat. 13. 7. And spiritually these signifie evill fruits which wicked earthly men bring forth Heb. 6. 8. of the field and so no longer the pleasant fruits of Paradise Gen. 2. 9. 16. But as Nebuchadnezar when he had a beasts heart was driven out among beasts to eat grasse as the oxen Dan. 4. 13. 22. so man not lodging a night in honour nor understanding but becomming like beasts that perish is to eat herbes with them Psal. 49. 13. 21. but by the labour of his hands his diet is bettered Vers. 19. sweat with much labour which Adam and all his posterity was condemned unto that this is a generall rule if any will not worke neither should he eate 2 Thess. 3. 10. The sweat of the face though it is to be distinguished from the care of the 〈…〉 d which Christ forbiddeth Mat. 6. 25. 34. yet it doth imply all lawfull labours and industry of body and mind for the good of both Eph. 4. 28. Mat. 10. 10. 1 Cor. 9. 14. so that the giving of the heart also to seeke and search our things by wisedome is a sore occupation which God hath given to the sonnes of Adam to be occupied therein and humbled thereby Eccles. 1. 13. bread that is all food whereof bread is the principall as that which upholds the heart of man Psal. 104. 15. Therefore that which one Evangelist calleth bread Mar. 6. 36 another calleth victuals or meats Mat. 14. 15. the ground or the earth called elsewhere our earth Psal. 146. 4. and our dust Psal. 104. 28. meaning till man returne to the dust of death the grave and there the wearied be at rest from their labours Iob 3. 17. Rev. 14. 13. dust thou art or thou wast to weet concerning the body as Gen. 2. 7. not the spirit which being immortall goeth unto God for eternall joyes or torments Luke 16. 22. 23. and 23. 43. This difference Solomon teacheth And dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit returne to God that gave it Eccles. 12. 7. Here God condemneth mankind to death which is the wages of sinne Rom. 6 23. and to the grave the house appointed for all living Iob 30. 23. where they must wait till their change come Iob 14. 14. for it is appointed to men once to dye and after this is the judgement Hebr. 4. 27. Otherwise the life eternall could not bee obtained for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdome of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption therefore we must all either dye or be changed and this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortality and then shall Death be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 50. 51. 53. 54. So the Hebrew Rabbines also taught saying that unto this world there cleaveth the secret filthinesse of the Serpent which came upon Eve and because of that filthinesse Death is come upon Adam and his seed For when God saw how uncleannesse cleaved and spred it selfe abroad in the world continually he intended to consume it and to root out the power of it and therefore the bodies doe consume and corrupt and have no continued life But when the filthinesse is consumed and the spirit of uncleannesse taken out of the earth behold God will renew his world without any other filthinesse and will wake up by his power those that dwell in the dust c. and the Lord will reioyce in his workes as the intendment of the creation was at the first R. Menachem on Gen. 3. The Greeke Philosophers have observed that some dead men putrified turne to Serpents Plutarch in vita Cleomenis If so it is a notable memoriall of mans first poysoning by the Serpent Vers. 20. Eve in Hebrew Chavah which is by interpretation Life as the Greeke also translateth it or Living Adam first called her Woman Gen. 2. 23. God called her Adam Gen. 5. 2. and now the man calleth her Eve Life by which new name he testifieth his faith in and thankfulnesse for Gods former promise in vers 15. In which he also trained up his children teaching them to sacrifice and serve the Lord. Gen. 4. 3. 4. So the Hebrew Doctors reckon Adam as a repentant sinner and by Wisdome that is faith in Christ brought out of his fall Ioseph Antiq. b. 1. c. 4. and the Author of the Booke of Wisedome c. 10. v. 1. all living that is as the Chaldee paraphraseth of all the sonnes of man meaning this both naturally of all men in the world and so of Christ the promised seed and spiritually of all that live by faith in which sense Sarah is also counted the Mother of the faithfull 1 Pet. 3. 6. Gal. 4. 22. 28. 31. V. 21. coats to cover the body from shame and harme and for a memoriall of mans sin a further signe of those garments of justice and salvation which men have of God that their filthy nakednesse doe not appeare Rev. 3. 18. 19. 8. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 3. 4. The Chalde◠calleth these here garments of honor of skin that is in likelihood of the skins of beasts which God taught him to kill for sacrifice Which offerings were even from the beginning of the Gospell preached as appeareth Gen. 4. 3. 4. 8. 20. And after by the Law the Skinnes of the sacrifices were given to the Priests Lev. 7. 8. And the sacrifices being all figures of Christ Heb. 10. 5. 10 the Skins were fit to resemble mans mortification as the girdle of skin which Iohn Baptist wore Mat. 3. 4. and new life by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 13. 13. 14. and the garments of
salvation wherwith God clotheth his Church Esay 61 10. Vers. 22. is become as one to weet of us three the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit 1 Ioh. 5. 7 See before in Gen. 1. 26. Thus God upbraided Satans lying speech used in v. 5. and would leave an impression in Adams hart of his pride and folly in beleeving the Serpents deceitfull promises that so long as he lived an exile here on earth he might haue continuall motives of repentance and humiliation The Hebrew phrase is as one meaneth is made or become as one as this is Psal. 118. 23. the Evangelist translateth this is done Mat. 21. 42. lest he put An unperfect speech where we may understand by that which followeth he must be driven out lest he be put c. Such phrases are usuall as Gen. 38. 11. 42. 4. Mat. 25. 9. and eate and live or that he may eate and live And is often used for That and noteth the end and purpose of an act as here so in 2 Sam. 21. 3. 2 King 3. 11. Lam. 1. 19. Because the tree of life and the eating of it was at first a signe of eternall life to man if he had obeyed his creator as is noted on Gen. 2. 9. it might not now in the justice of God be so continued to man fallen into disobedience Neither was the new covenant betweene God and man of obedience againe by the workes of the Law unto life but of faith in Christ the womans seed unto forgivenesse of sinnes Gen. 3. 15. 20. God therfore in driving the man from this tree would drive him from all confidence in him-selfe and his owne workes and so from abuse of this tree also which might turne to his further judgement that hee might seeke the life in heaven which is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 1. 2. 3. who will give to such as by faith doe overcome the world to eate of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Rev. 2 7. V. 23. to till tillage hath the name in Hebrew of servile-worke for all even Kings are as servants to the field Eccles. 5. 8. And this hard labour was a continuall remembrance of sinne and doctrine of humiliation and repentance Wherefore God after in the Law freed every seventh or Sabbath yeare from this tillage in his land when they did all alike eat of that which grew of it owne accord Lev. 25. 4. 6. to remember their former ease lost by sinne but to bee restored spiritually by Christ when hee should preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord Esay 61. 2. 2 Cor. 6. 2. Vers. 24. drove out or expulsed not to return thither againe but that he might seeke admission into the heavenly paradise whereunto Christ giveth entrance Luke 23. 43. minding himselfe an exile and pilgrime here on earth 1 Pet. 2. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 4. The Hebrewes say in Bresith ketanna on this place Adam was driven out of paradise in this world but in the world to come he shalnot be driven out The remembrance of this future mercy was kept afterward among the Gentiles for it is one of the Chaldean oracles Seeke paradise the glorious country of the soule Cherubins or Cherubs These were living creatures with wings as may bee â—athered by comparing Ezek. 1. 5. and 10. 1. 15. the figures of such were wrought in the Tabernacle Exod. 25. 18. and 26. 1. See the annotations there Moses here seemeth to meane Angels by this name for they have appeared sometime with wings flying Dan. 9. 21. and with sword 1 Chron. 21 16. and as fierie chariots 2 King 6. 17. as here they have the flame of a sword that is a flaming sword as the Greeke translateth it to keepe man out of paradise Of Angels see the notes on Gen. 16. 7. By these also God further might signifie the Angels or Ministers in his spirituall paradise the Church and the sharpe two edged sword of his Word wherewith they are armed against all the disobedient 2 Cor. 10. 4. 5. 6. But the twelve Angels at the twelve gates of that paradise direct from all quarters of the world to enter thereinto by the gates which are never shut such as are written in the lambs booke of life where the tree of life groweth and giveth fruit wherein they haue right that doe the commandements of God Rev. 21. 12. 25. 27. and 22. 2. 14. turned it selfe to weet every way for more terrour that man should not there attempt re-entrance Such spiritually is the use of the Law and doctrine therof which terrifieth the conscience and by the workes whereof no flesh can be justified Rom. 3. 20. but it serveth to drive men unto Christ that they may be made righteous by faith Gal. 3. 24. The ancient Iewes had an expectation of recovery of this losse by Christ though now they are ignorant of him for they write of seven things which the King Christ shall shew unto Israel two of which are the garden of Eden and the tree of life R. Elias ben Mosis in Sepher reshith choemah fol. 4. 12. Also expounding that in Song 1. 4. the King hath brought me into his chambers Our Doctors of blessed memory have sayd that these are the chambers of the garden of Eden And againe There are also that say of the tree of life that it was not created in vaine but the men of the resurrection that are raised from the dead shall eate thereof and live for ever R. Menachem on Gen. 3. And by the garden of Eden or Paradise it seemes they understood the kingdome of heaven for the Chaldee paraphrast on Song 4. 12. saith as the garden of Eden into which no man hath power to enter but the just whose soules are sent thither by the hands of Angels According to these speeches familiar in olde time among the Iewes the Holy Ghost also speaketh of carriage by Angels into Abrahams bosome Luke 16. 22. of being with Christ in paradise Luke 23. 43. and of eating of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God Rev. 2. 7. And that the Iewes understood not these things carnally appeareth by these words of theirs In the world to come there is no eating or drinking nor any other of the things which the bodies of the sonnes of Adam have neede of in this world as sitting and standing and sleepe and death and sorrow and miâ—th and the like So our ancient wise men have sayd In the world to come there is no eating nor drinking nor use of mariage but the just doe sit with their crownes upon their heads and have the fruition of the glory of the Majestie of God Maimony in Misn. treat of Repentance ch 8. S. 2. CHAPT IIII. 1. The birth trade and religion of Kaine and Abel 8. Kaine killeth Abel 9. for it he is examined of God 11. and cursed 13. he despaireth 16. and departeth from Gods presence 17. Kaine buildeth the
one end of sacrificing was the forgivenesse of sinne Lev. 6. 2. 6. 7. So the Chaldee here explaineth it If thou doe thy works well shalt thou not haue forgivenesse Otherwise it may be expounded is there not a lifting up to weet of thy countenance which now is fallen that is an acceptation of thy face and petition and consequently of thy offring in Gen. 19. 21. lifting up or accepting the face signifieth favourable acceptation with God and in Iob 11. 15. it signifieth comfortable bold cariage Or is there not a bearing or carying away of blessing and reward as Psal. 24. 5. A question thus asked is an earnest affirmation that so it shall be as are they not written 2 King 20. 20. is expounded Loe they are written 2 Chro. 32. 32. and is not the life more then meate Mat. 6. 25. that is the life is more Luke 12. 23. Also the holy Ghost turneth into a question hath not my hand made all these Act. 7. 49. that which the Prophet affirmeth plainely all these my hand hath made Esay 66. 1. So Gen. 13. 9. and many the like sin or the misdeed errour By sinne and iniquity the punishment for it is often meant as in Gen. 19. 15. Lev. 20. 20. 2 King 7. 9. Zach. 14. 19. And sinne is the erring or missing as of the marke aimed at Iudg. 20. 16. Gods law is our marke and way to walke in therefore sinne is defined to be swerving from or transgression of the Law anomie or enormitie 1 Ioh. 3. 4. In Hebrew it is called Chattaah whereupon the Greekes framed the name Atee that is Hurt or Dammage and their Poets faigned that it was a woman cast out of heaven pernicious Atee that aatai hurteth all men Homer Iliad 19. lyeth or coucheth is couching a word usually spoken of beasts applyed here to Sinne as a hurtfull beast ready to devoure For to lye at the doore is to be neere at hand Mark 13. â—9 and in Deut. 29. 20. the curses are said to couch or lye upon the sinner whom the Lord will not be mercifull unto The Chaldee referreth it to the last judgement saying thy sinne is kept to the day of judgment in which vengeance shall be taken on thee if thou convert not And other Rabbines thus Sin couching at the doore meaneth at the gates of justice for from thence judgement commeth for ever upon them that are in transgression for from thence the Angell of death hath his power R. Menachem on Gen. 4. his desire that is Abels who being the younger brother is subiect unto thee For Kain being the first-borne had great priviledges by nature over his brethren as is shewed on Gen. 25. 31. and 27. 19. Or the desire of it that is of Sinne is unto thee but thou shalt rule over it that is as Paul speaketh let not sin raigne in thy mortall body that thou shouldest obey it in the lusts thereof Rom. 6. 12. The Thargum Ierusalemy thus referreth it to the subduing of sinne although the Hebrew differeth in gender from Sinne as the word lyeth doth likewise But such differences may often bee observed and sometime in the very Hebrew text as jabo and jehi 1 Chron. 18. 2. 5. 6. and 21. 5. for which else-where is tabo and tehi 2 Sam. 8. 2. 5. 6. and 24. 9. lahem and bahem 1 King 22. 17. and 1 Chro. 10. 7 which also is written lahen and bahen 2 Chro. 18. 16. 1 Sam. 31. 7. See also Exod. 1. 21. Vers. 8. spake or sayd unto Abel his brother but what he said is not set downe The Hebrew text hath here a pawse extraordinary implying further matter The Greeke version addeth let us goe out into the field and Thargum Ierusalemy addeth the same and much more how Kain when they were in the field should say there was no judgement nor judge nor other world to come nor good reward for justice nor vengeance for wickednesse c. all which Abel gayne-sayed and then his brother slew him It seemeth to imply a dissimulation of Kains hatred in that he conversed friendly with his brother till he found opportunity to kill him as others in their hatred are observed to speake of the matter of their griefe neither good nor bad 2 Sam. 13 22. killed him And wherefore killed he him Because his owne workes were evill and his brothers good 1 Ioh. 3. 12. Hereupon the Scripture giueth them these titles Abel the just Mat. 23. 35. and Kain of that wicked done 1 Ioh. 3. 12. that is of the Devill for he was a murtherer from the beginning Ioh. 8. 44. Verse 9. Where is Abel Here God sheweth himselfe to bee the seeker-out of bloods Psal. 9. 13. So Zacharie when hee was murthered said The Lord looke upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24. 22. Hereupon these two martyrs are mentioned by our Saviour whose bloods with all the rest should come upon the Iewes Mat. 23. 35. 36. Vers. 10. bloods This word in the plurall number usually signifieth murther and the guilt following it and such as gave themselves to this sinne are called men of bloods Psal. 5. 7. Sometime bloods meaneth mans naturall generation Ioh. 1. 13. To this latter the Chaldee Paraphrases have reference translating it The voice of the bloods of the generations the multitudes of just men which should have proceeded from thy brother cry or are crying This word hath reference in number to the bloods fore-mentioned as if many were spilt and cryed From hence the Apostle noteth the effect of Abels faith how by it being dead he yet speaketh Heb. 11. 4. This crying was unto God for vengeance wherefore Christs blood is preferred before this as speaking better things then Abel Heb. 12. 24. Compare also Rev. 6. 10. In this first death which fell out in the world God manifested the immortality of mans soule the forgivenesse of sins to the faithfull with the contrary concerning hypocrites and the resurrection of the body as Christ gathereth from another like Scripture Math. 22. 31. 32. Vers. 11. Cursed As Gods blessing implyeth among other good things the light of his face and favour towards men Psal. 67. 2. so his curse bringeth with other evils the hiding of his face and withdrawing of his favour as Kain after complaineth v. 14. By this sentence Kain is cast out from Gods presence and Church and is the first cursed man in the world Vers. 12. not henceforth Hebr. not adde to yeeld that is not yeeld any more her strength meaning the naturall fruit which otherwise through Gods blessing it could Ioel 2. 22. For as the cursed fig-tree lost the vigour and withered Mark 11. 21. so the fruitfull land is made barren when it is cursed for the sinne of the inhabitants Lev. 26 20. Psal. 107. 34. Here the former curse laid upon the earth Gen. 3. 17. is increased for Kains sake and the destruction of the world hastened see Gen. 5. 29. A contrary blessing is promised to them that
Enoch were three hundred yeeres and sixtie and five yeeres And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God tooke him And Mathusala lived a hundred yeeres and eightie and seven yeeres and begat Lamech And Mathusala lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred yeeres and eighty and two yeeres and begat sons and daughters And all the dayes of Mathusala were nine hundred yeres and sixty and nine yeres and he died And Lamech lived a hundred yeeres and eighty and two yeeres and begat a son And called his name Noe saying This shall comfort us from our worke and from the sorrow of our hands because of the earth the which Iehovah hath cursed And Lamech lived after he begat Noe five hundred yeres and ninety and five yeeres and begat sons daughters And all the dayes of Lamech were seven hundred yeeres and seventy and seven yeeres and he died And Noe was five hundred yeres old and Noe begat Sem Cham and Iapheth Annotations THe booke that is the narration or rehearsall generations of Adam the Greeke translateth generation of men it meaneth both the children which Adam begat and the events that did befall them as the word generation is used for all accidents in times and ages whatsoever the day may bring forth as Solomon speaketh Proverb 27. 1. So Genesis 2. 4. and 6. 9. and 25. 19. And here are tenne generations reckoned from Adam to Noe the chiefe end whereof is to shew the genealogy of Christ the promised sâ—ed according to the flesh and so of his Church Luk. 3. 23. 38. 1 Chron. 1. 1. c. likenesse of God See Gen. 1. 26. Vers. 2. their name so Adam was the common name of man and woman which were one flesh Gen. 2. 23. 24 and of all their posterity Gen. 9. 6. for we are all of one blood Act. 17. 26. Vers. 3. and begat to weet a sonne as the sequell sheweth The Scripture often omitteth such words and sometime sheweth they must be understood as David put in Syria 1 Chron. 18. 6. that is he put garisons in Syria 2 Sam. 8. 6. See before the note on Gen. 4. 20. in his likenesse namely that which he now had in his sinfull state for the first likenesse and image of God in him was by sinne corrupted Gen. 3. wherupon all men now are conceived in sinne Psal. 51. 7. and are by nature children of wrath Eph. 2. 3. Seth that is Set or Appointed in stead of Abel see Gen. 4. 25. onely his posterity were reserved when all the world was drowned And from him the genealogy is rekoned both in the Old and New Testament 1 Chr. 1. 1. c. Luke 3. 38. Vers. 6. yeeres Hebr. yeere sometime the Originall useth indifferently one for another as eight yeeres 2 Chron. 34. 1. for which in 2 King 22. 1. is written eight yeere It is also the property of the Hebrew to set the least number for most as here Seth lived five yeeres and an hundred yeere and so after which because it differeth from our manner and in the order there is no speciall weight is changed according to our speaking because the Hebrew it selfe in repeating matters doth often change the order of words as 2 Chron. 23. 7. when he commeth in when he goeth out which in 2 Kin. 11. 8. is when he goeth out and when hee commeth in So great and small 2 Chron. 34. 30. or small and great 2 King 23. 2. And in translating the holy Ghost often also changeth the order of words as Ioel 2. 28. your old men shall dreame dreames your young men shall see visions which in Act. 2. 17. is placed thus your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dreame dreames So in 1 King 19. 10. they haue broke downe thy Altars and killed thy Prophets which Paul rehearseth thus they have killed thy Prophets and broke downe thy Altars Rom. 11. 3. and sundry the like Enos or as the Hebrew pronounceth it Enosh but because our language and custome rather followeth the Greeke which is more easie the names are expressed as the New Testament doth in Luke 3. lest the Reader should mistake and thinke them diverse persons Verse 9. Kainan so Luke 3. 37. in Hebrew Kenan Verse 12. Maleleel Hebr. Mahalalel Vers. 15. Iared Hebr. Iered Vers. 18. Enoch in Hebrew Chanoch that is Dedicated or Catechised he is said to be the seventh from Adam and a prophesier of Gods judgement upon wicked men for their impious deeds and hard speeches against God Iude ver 14. 15. So hee is distinguished from Enoch the Kainite the third from Adam Gen. 4. 17. and seven being the number of the Sabbath the seventh generation implyed the mystery of rest in Christ. Accordingly the number of all the generations here may be observed which are ten from Adam to Noe as before in Gen. 4. there are seven generations of Kain so Abram the Ebrew was the seventh from Eber Moses the seventh from Abram and in Mat. 1. twice seven generations are reckned from Abram to David and so many from David to the Captivity of Babylon and againe so many from that captivity to Christ Mat. 1. 17. The estate of times for these ten Patriarchs may thus be viewed 1. Adam being 130. yeeres old begat Seth. 2. Seth 105. yeeres old begat Enos In the yeere of the World 235. 3. Enos 90. yeere old begat Kainan in the yeere of the World 325. 4. Kainan 70. yeere old begat Maleleel in the yeere of the World 395. 5. Maleleel 65. yeere old begat Iared in the yere of the World 460. 6. Iared 162. yeere old begat Enoch in the yere of the World 622. 7. Enoch 65. yeere old begat Mathusala in the yeere of the World 687. 8. Mathusala 187. yeere old begat Lamech in the yeere of the World 874. 9. Lamech 182. yeere old begat Noe in the yeere of the World 1056. 10. Noe 500. yeeres old begat Iapheth in the yeere of the World 1556. The lives of these Patriarchs are also to be noted 1. Adam lived 930. yeeres 2. Seth lived 912. y. 3. Enos lived 905. 4. Kainan lived 910. y. 5. Malaleel lived 895. y. 6. Iared lived 962. y. 7. Enoch lived on earth 365. yeeres The shortest liver 8. Mathusala lived 969. y. The longest liver 9. Lamech lived 777. y. 10. Noe lived 950. y. Gen. 9. 29. By this computation it appeareth that Adam lived to see Lamech the ninth generation in the 56 yeere of whose life hee dyed first of all these Patriarchs That Enoch the 7 from Adam after he had lived on earth so many yeeres as there be dayes in the yeere of the Sunne was taken away into Paradise next after Adams death seven Patriarchs remaining witnesses of his translation That all the first nine Patriarchs were taken out of this world before it was drowned by the Flood that came in the 600. yeere of Noes life That Mathusala lived till the very yeere wherein the Flood came as his name
of a murderer which was guilty of death Num. 35. 31. yea as the Iew Doctors write though he could give all the riches in the world and though the avenger of blood were willing to free him yet hee was to be put to death because the soule or life of the party murdered is not the possession of the avenger of blood but the possession of the most holy God Maimony treat of Murder chap. 1. S. 4. Vers. 11 to destroy Hebr. to corrupt the Greek saith to corrupt all the earth This sheweth that the covenant was against the universall drowning of the world not but that some particular countries may so perish Also by saying a flood he reserveth other meanes to consume the whole world as by fire 2 Pet 3. 7. 10. See the notes on Gen. 8. 21. Vers. 12. is the signe or shall be the token The use of a signe is to confirme mens faith in Gods promises Esay 7. 11. and 38. 7. 22. doe give or am giving that is doe put or set as the holy Ghost translateth giving Esay 42. 1. by putting Mat. 12. 18. So in the Hebrew that is expressed by the word set 1 King 10. 9. which elsewhere is written given 2 Chron. 9. 8. See Gen. 1. 17. And the Chaldee for betweene me and you saith betweene my word and you as oftentimes for the Lord he putteth his Word by which name Christ is called Ioh. 1. 1. in whom al Gods promises are yea Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20 Vers. 13. my bow that which we call the Raine-bow because it is in the cloud in the day of raine Ezek. 1. 28. which God calleth his for the wonderfulnesse thereof and for the sacramentall signe by his speciall ordinance The Heathen Poets therefore called it Thaumantias as being the worke of the wonderfull God It is called a bow for the likenesse and hath many colours partly waterish and partly fiery to put us in mind both of the watry flood whereby the old world perished and of the fire wherewith the world that now is shall bee burnt Iob 22. 15. 16. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 5. 6. 7. 10. And as the bow is an instrument of war and so used in Scripture for a signe of wars Gen. 48. 22. Ps. 7. 13. Lam. 3. 12 Zach. 9. 10. Rev. 6. 2. so the raine-bow naturally signifieth waters in the clouds but is made of God a signe that the waters shall no more drowne us and though he seemeth to bend his bow like an enemy Lam. 2. 4. yet in wrath hee remembreth mercy I have given or doe give for which the Greeke saith I doe put As the covenant made with Noe concerning the waters is applied to the spirituall covenant made with us in Christ Esay 54. 9. 10. so the raine-bow the signe of that covenant is also applyed for the signe of grace from God to his Church Rev. 4. 3. and 10. 1. Ezek. 1. 28 the earth that is all people in the world See Gen. 11. 1. Vers. 14. when I make cloudy the cloud that is when I bring many thicke and watry clouds which naturally signifie store of raine 1 King 18. 44. 45. Therefore clouds are often used in Scripture to denote afflictions and dangers unto men as Ezek. 30. 3. 18. 32. 7. 34. 12. Soph. 1. 15. Ioel 2. 2. the bow shall be seen the use whereof is on Gods part to remember his covenant as the next verse sheweth and on mens part that they rest in faith upon his promise that hee will no more drowne the world Hereupon it is a custome amongst the Iewes that when any seeth the bow in the cloud hee blesseth God that remembreth his covenent and is faithfull therein and stable in his promise Maimony treat of Blessings ch 10. S. 16. So Ben Syrach saith looke upon the Rain-bow and praise him that made it Ecclus. 43. 11. Vers. 18. C ham or Ham Ch is to be pronounced not as we commonly doe in the word chamber but as in the name Christ as if it were written Cam. And so in other proper names written after this manner as Chaldea or Caldea Chanaan or Canaan and the like father of Canaan called in Hebrew Cenaghnan And though Cham was father of many moe sonnes Gen. 10. 6. yet Canaan onely is named because he was cursed as here followeth in vers 25. Vers. 20. began to be This speech doth not necessarily import as if hee had never beene an husbandman before but that now after the Flood he was one as of Christ it is written he began to say Luke 12. 1. that is he said Mat. 16. 6. he began to cast out Mar. 11. 15. that is he did cast out Mat. 21. 12. and of others they began to disdaine Mark 10. 41. that is they disdained Mat. 20. 24. and sundry the like a husband man or lands man in Hebrew a man of the ground that is giving him-selfe to husbandry or tillage as the Chaldee saith working in the earth so a man of warre is a soldjer Ios. 5. 4. a man of blood is a murtherer 2 Sam. 16. 7. a man of cattell is a shepheard or grasier Gen. 46. 32. a man of words Exod. 4. 10. that is eloquent Vers. 21. hee uncovered himselfe that his shame and nakednesse was to be seene which sheweth that wine is a mocker Prov. 20. 1. and to be drunke therewith is a riotous excesse Ephes. 5. 18. This fell out in likelihood some yeeres after his comming out of the Arke as appeareth by the increase of his childrens children after Canaan was borne Noes sinne may be compared with Adams who transgressed by eating as Noe doth by drinking the fruit of a tree upon that Adam saw himselfe naked and was ashamed upon this Noe is naked and his shame discovered Now by drinking the fruit of the vine wee have a signe and seale of the covering of our shame the forgivenesse of our sins in Christ Mat. 26. 27 28. 29. Vpon this similitude of Noes sinne with Adams in part the Rabbines say that Noe found a vine that was cast out of the garden of Eden R. Menachem on Gen 9. Vers. 22. he told it and this as the sequell sheweth with a mockage of his aged father Vers. 23. Sem in that Sem the younger is named before his elder brother Iapheth and after blessed before and above him vers 26. 27. it is most likely that he was principall in this good counsell and worke Vers. 24. his younger son which the Hebrew calleth lesser meaning in yeeres Vers. 25. Cursea be Canaan or Cursed shall hee be It is thought of some that Canaan told Cham his father of Noes nakednesse and therefore had this curse upon him and his posterity rather then the other sonnes of Cham mentioned in Gen. 10. 6. or then C ham himselfe And although by Canaan may be understood or implyed Canaans father as the Greeke translation hath Cham and as elsewhere in Scripture Goliath is named for Goliaths brother 2 Sam.
to time and afterwards they circumcise him By which words is meant if he have an ague or like sicknesse but if hee have sore eyes or the like they circumcise him so soone as they are whole If a child be found on the 8 day to be very pale coloured they circumcise him not till the blood come againe into his countenance like the countenance of children that are in health Likewise if hee be very red they circumcise him not till his blood be sunk down into him and his countenance come againe like other children for this is a sicknesse and men must be admonished well of these things If a woman circumcise her first sonne and he die through fervency of the circumcision which decayed his strength Also she circumciseth her second child and he dye through the fervency of the circumcision whether shee have this child by her first husband or by a second loe her third child shall not bee circumcised in the time thereof but they defer it till he wexe great and his strength be made firme They circumcise none but children that are without sicknesse for perill of life putteth away all And it is possible to circumcise after the time but unpossible to restore the life of any one of Israel for ever Maimony treat of Circumcis ch 1. S. 16. 17. 18. your flesh that is the secret part or member of generation for so the word flesh here and in other places in speciall meaneth Ezek. 16. 26. and 23. 20. Lev. 15. 2. God set not the signe of his covenant on the lips eares or other parts of man which yet the Scripture calleth also uncircumcised Exod. 6. 30. Ier. 6. 10. but on the privy member to teach the regeneration of nature even of the whole man who is borne in sin Psal. 51. 7. and the derivation of his covenant to the seed of the faithful who are thereby holy Ezr. 9. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 14. and to signifie that the true circumcision is inward and secret Rom. 2. 28. 29. This which in the eyes of man seemeth a thing unprofitable foolish and ignominious doth God chuse to make a signe of the covenant of his grace in Christ who is also himselfe a scandall and foolishnesse to the world but the foolishnesse of God is wiser then the wisedome of men 1 Cor. 1. 23. 25. And that member of the body which man thought to be lesse honourable on it God put on more abundant honour as 1 Cor. 12. 23. that it should beare the marke of the heavenly covenant Vers. 14. that soule that is as the Chaldee expoundeth it that man see Gen. 12. 5. cut off The Greeke and Chaldee translate it destroyed and consumed This word is used before in Gen. 9. 11. and after often in the law Exod. 12. 15. 19. and 31. 14. Lev. 7. 20. 21. 25. 27 c. It is sometime spoken of God cutting off men by death for their sinnes Lev. 17. 10. and 20. 3. 5. 6. and so the Hebrewes understand it here and in all other like places that for willing transgression in secret God will cut them off by untimely death and if there be witnesses of it the Magistrate is to punish or kill them but for ignorant transgression they were to bring the appointed sacrifices Vnder this also eternall damnation is implyed Maimony in treat of Repentance chap. 8. S. 1. speaking of eternall death saith And this is the Cutting off written of in the Law as it is said in Num. 15. 31. that soule shall bee cut-off he shall be cut off Which we have heard expounded thus cut off in this world and cut off in the world to come Of this sanction here they say If the father or master doe transgresse and circumcise not they break a commandement but are not guilty of cutting-off for cutting-off belongs but to the uncircumcised person him-selfe Maimony treat of Circumcis c. 1. S. 1. Howbeit Moses the father had almost beene killed for not circumcising his sonne Exod. 4. 24. c. broken or made frustrate broken downe this word is opposed to the former stablishing or making firm in vers 7. The Hebrewes have a canon who so breaketh the covenant of Abraham our father and leaveth his superfluous-foreskin or gathereth it over again although he have in him the law and good workes hee hath no portion in the world to come Maimony treat of Circumcis chap. 3. S. 8. Which rule is true according to the Apostles interpretation applying circumcision to the heart spirit and faith in Christ Rom. 2. 29. and 4. 11. Col. 2. 11. Vers. 15. Sarah in Greeke Sarrha The letter j changed into h signified the multiplication of her children as before in Abrams name vers 5. And the Greeke having no h at the end of words doubleth therefore the letter r with an aspiration Sarrha and so the Apostles also write it Rom. 9. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 6. Sarai the Chaldean name is made Hebrew Sarah which is by interpretation a Princesse The Apostle calleth her a Freewoman and maketh her a figure of the new Testament and heavenly Ierusalem Gal. 4. 22. 24. 26. and the example of Abraham and Sarah thus called blessed and increased is set forth for their children the Church to consider and comfort themselves withall Esay 51. 1. 2. 3. Vers. 16. shall be to nations that is shall become nations and bee a mother of them both in the flesh and in the Lord. For all godly women are called her children 1 Pet. 3. 6. and Ierusalem her answerable type is the mother of us all Galat. 4. 26. Psal. 87. 5. 6. Vers. 17. laughed that is as the Chaldee translateth it rejoyced and so the word after importeth Gen. 21. 6. though sometime it implyeth also a doubting as in Gen. 18. 12. 13. but the praise of Abrahams faith who was not weake nor staggering but gave glory to God Rom. 4. 19. 20. seemeth to free him from this imputation Thargum Ierusalemy expoundeth it he marvelled Of this word laughed in Hebrew jsaak the child promised was called Isaak in whom Abraham saw the day of Christ and rejoyced old Hebr. sonne of 100 yeeres that is going in his hundred yeere So Sarah was daughter of ninety yeeres See Gen. 5. 32. At these yeeres both their bodies were now dead unapt for generation Rom. 4. 19. Heb. 11. 12. Vers. 19. shall beare or beareth speaking as of a thing present for God calleth the things which bee not as though they were Rom. 4. 17. Isaak Heb. Iitschak the same word used before in vers 17. and signifieth laughing or joy for besides his father and mother all that heare have occasion to laugh and rejoice for his birth Gen. 21. 6. in whom both Christ the joy of the whole earth was represented and all the children of promise Iohn 8. 56. Rom. 9. 7. 8. Gal. 4. 28. seed the Greeke version addeth to be a God to him and to his seed as before in verse 7. Vers. 20. heard the Chaldee
anguish of his soule besought his brethren for favour but they would not heare him Genes 42. 21. Vers. 24. no water into such a dungeon was Ieremie put Ier. 38. 6. and out of such a pit in figure God delivereth his people as Zacharie 9. 11. I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water Vers. 25. eate bread so doe the wicked eating Gods people Psal. 14. 4. This sheweth they wanted remorse or sought at least to put it away with banqueting as eating of bread sometime signifieth Exod. 18. 12. See also Gen. 25. 34. way-faring-company of Ism. the Greeke translateth wayfaring Ismaelites and the Chaldee calleth them a troupe of Arabians After in verse 28. they are called Madianites and in verse 36. Medanites so they were a mixt people dwelling in that country called therefore by the Chaldee Arabians which signifieth Mixed people see Gen. 10. 7. Gilead which was a place of merchandise as appeareth also in Ier. 8. 22. and 22. 6. and 46. 11. spicerie in Hebrew Necoth which is thought to be a certaine fruit of some waxe baum or rosin as the Greeke translateth it a thing good to heale wounds Ier. 8. 22. and 46. 11. and 51. 8. myrrh or Ladanum which is a sat moisture on the herb Ladum or the fruit of the Lot tree according to the Hebrew name Lot So Gen. 43. 11. Or according to the Greeke Stacte commonly called Storax liquida which is made of the fatte of new myrrh as Dioscorides saith in b. 1. c. 62. V. 26. conceale or cover hide his blood Iob 16. 18. Vers. 27. hearkened or heard and so consented and obeyed Vers. 28. Midianites children of Midian Abrahams sonne by Keturah Genes 25. 2. who dwelt in the Ismaelites country which also were Abrahams children by Hagar Gen. 16. 15. therefore they are here called by both names So in Iudg. 8. 22. 24. 26. It may also bee translated thus And the men the Midianite merchants passed by shekels or shillings this word the Chaldee expresseth which wanteth in the Hebrew What a shekel was see noted on Genes 20. 16. Christs price was a little more whom Iudas Iscariot sold for 30. shekels Mat. 27. 3. yet that was but the price of a slaves life Exod. 21. 32. here Ioseph is by the counsell of his brother Iudas the Patriarch sold for a slave Psal. 105. 17. for twenty shekels After by the law mens persons of Iosephs age were in case of vowes valued at twenty shekels Levit 27 5. but those were shekels of the sanctuary double the value of common shekels The Hebrew Doctors referre unto this that threatning against Israel because they sold the just one for silver and the poore for a paire of shooes Amos 2. 6. and they feigne that of the 20. shekels every of the tenne Patriarchs had two shekels to buy shooes for their feet Pirkei R. Eliez ch 38. Vers. 29. rent his clothes a signe of sorrow and renting of the hart with griefe Ioel 2. 13. So Iakob did v. 34 others Iob 2. 12. Gen. 44. 13. Num. 14. 6 Vers. 30. is not to weet alive so hee thought and so the phrase signifieth Ier. 31. 15. for he supposed his brethren had killed him as verse 20. Vers. 31. a kid or goat-bucke By this pollicie Iakob should suppose his sonne was dead and and make no further inquirie after him Vers. 33. is torne is torne or tearing is torne that is surely torne the Chaldee saith killed This is added to all Iakobs former sorrowes and one of the most grievous for which he admitted no comfort verse 35. Isaak also was yet alive and a partaker of his son Iakobs griefe See the notes on Gen. 35. 29. Vers. 34. sackcloth another signe of sorrow with which they sometime added earth or ashes upon their heads 2. Sam. 3. 31. 1 King 21. 27. Nehem. 9. 1. Est. 4. 1. Vers. 35. all his sonnes the evill doers counterfeit sorrow and conceale their cruell fact Reuben himselfe also keepeth counsell The Rabbines say they had bound themselves by a curse not to bewray it R. Eiezer per. 38. to hell or to the grave the word meaneth not the grave digged or made with hands named in Hebrew Keber but the common place or state of death here called in Hebrew Sheol which hath the signification of craving or requiring because it is one of the foure things that are never satisfied Prov. 30. 15. 16. The Greeke and new Testament usually translate it Hades or Haides which word is by change of letters formed of the Hebrew Adam and Adamah the earth unto which for sinne God hath condemned Adam and all his race to returne Gen. 3. 19. For so in the first booke of the ancient Greeke oracles of Sibylla it is said they call it Haden for that Adam first went thither when he tasted death As Abram is in Greek Habram Gen. 12. 1. and Habraam Luk. 3. 34. and Mizraim in Greeke is Misrain Gen. 10. 6. Hemam is Haiman Gen. 36. 22. so of Adam they formed Haiden and after the Greeke termination Haides or Hades such changes of letters are usuall The Chaldee paraphrase when it keepeth not the Hebrew word most commonly translateth it the house of the grave or place of buriall Our English commeth from the old Saxon or German word Helle in which tongues originally Hel signifieth High and Deepe Leh is low and so it meaneth a low or deepe place and agreeth with the Hebrew Sheol which is said to be Low and Deepe Deut. 32. 22. Iob 11. 8. And as death is appointed for all men so is this Sheol Psal 89. 49. Eccles. 9. 10. as death is sometime desired of the godly so Iob desired to be hid in Sheol Iob 14. 13. By this Hell therefore in Scripture is not meant the place of the damned onely but of all that goe out of this world as Sibylla in the fore-named place saith all earthly men are said to goe into the houses of Haides And as for the wicked they have a prison 1 Pet. 3. 19. and place of torments in hell Luk. 16. 23. which the Scripture calleth everlasting fire Mat. 25. 41. and by another Hebrew name Gehenna whereof see Mat. 5. 22. the Greekes called that place Tartaros Homer Iliad 8. unto which word the Apostle hath reference in 2 Pet. 2. 4. Tartarosas He cast them downe to Hell or into Tartarus So on the contrary Heaven is not onely the place of the Angels and holy men but generally all above us as the aire sphears c. where the fowles flye and the sunne and stars runne their courses as is shewed on Gen 1. 7. And the place of joyes in heaven is called the garden of Eden or Paradise Luk. 23. 43. to which the heathens alluded by the garden of Alcinous Homer Odyss 7. Iakob therefore by going downe to hell meaneth a departing out of this life into the common place and state of death whither all must goe So after in
Hebrew doctors gathered from Deut. 21. 13. she shall bewaile her father and her mother a moneth of daies those thirtie daies they might not trim the haire of their head or beard nor weare white new garments nor marrie and the like Maimony ibidem ch 6. Vers. 11. inhabitants Hebrew inhabitant and Canaanite See Gen. 10. 16. heavy in Greek great as before in verse 9. was called Hebrew he that is every one called see the notes on Gen. 16. 14. The mourning Hebr. Abel Mizaim Vers. 15. peradventure or it may be The guilty conscience causeth feare Levit. 26. 36. rewarded him that is done of our owne accord unto him Vers. 16. commanded that is sent some on their message to Ioseph and after went themselves verse 18. The word command is effectually to procure a thing to be done as God commandeth his blessings and mercies by effectuall sending them Psal. 42. 9. and Levit. 25. 21. Deut. 28. 8. where the Greeke translateth send Here the Greeke expoundeth it they came unto Ioseph and said Vers. 17. of the God by this speech they seem both to insinuate their repentance and faith to obtaine mercy at Gods hand and use a reason to obtaine the like at Iosephs For if we forgive men their trespasses our heavenly Father will also forgive us otherwise not Mat. 6 12. 14. 15. Wherefore it is said forgive one another even as God for Christs sake forgave you Ephes. 4. 32. But the Hebrew Doctors observe a difference betweene dammage to our neighbour in his goods and hurts or injurie to his person which here was Iosephs cause They say hee that doth his neighbour dammage in his goods when hee hath paid that which hee ought to pay atonement is made for him But he that hurteth his neighbour although hee gave unto him for satisfaction the five things namely 1. dammage it selfe as when eye must bee given for eye tooth for tooth 2. for the smart 3. for his healing 4. for his resting from his labour 5. for his shame or dishonour of which see the notes on Exod. 21. 19. yet atonement is not made for him yea though he should sacrifice to God all the Rams of Nebaioth Esay 60. 7. yet atonement is not made for him nor his iniquitie forgiven unill he request it of him that was hurt and he doe forgive him Maimony in Misneh Tom. 4. treat of Hurt and dammage chap. 5. S. 9. Vers. 21. unto their hart that is friendly comfortably and which pleased them as that which came into Solomons heart 2 Chron. 7. 11. is expounded that which he was pleased to do 1 King 9. 1. See also the notes on Gen. 34. 3. Here Ioseph is an example of lenitie and readinesse to forgive and to doe good for evill as Christ teacheth all Matt. 5. 44. So the Hebrew canons say It is unlawfull for him that is hurt to bee cruell and not to forgive this is not the way of the seed of Israel But when hee that did the hurt doth request it and aske grace of him once or twise and hee kneweth that hee turnes from his sinne and repenteth of his evill hee shall forgive him Maimony in his said treat of Hurt and dammage ch 5. S. 10. Vers. 23. third generation or third sonnes So was his blessing begun to bee accomplished Gen. 49. 22. and 28. 19. borne that is brought up Of Machir see Num. 32. 39. Vers. 24. visiting c. that is will surely visit meaning in mercy See Gen. 21. 1. This was a testification of his faith in Gods promises as is written by faith Ioseph at his ending made mention of the departure of the sonnes of Israel and gave commandement concerning his bones Heb. 11. 22. The land of Canaan was a signe of their heavenly inheritance as before is shewed on Gen. 12. 5. 17. 8. Heb. 11. 13. 14. 16. and there Christ rising from the dead should bee the first fruits of them that slept by whom the resurrection of the dead which Ioseph exspected was to come 1 Cor. 15. 20. 21. 22. And there many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after Christs resurrection Matt. 27. 52. 53. Vers. 25. from hence or from this place the Greeke addeth with you This charge was fulfilled when at their going out of Egypt Moses tooke the bones of Ioseph with him Exod. 13. 19. which afterward were buried in Sechem Iakobs purchase and Iosephs sonnes heritage Ios. 24. 32. Stephen sheweth that the other Patriarchs the sonnes of Iakob were buried also in Sychem in the land of Canaan Act. 7. 16. Vers. 26. old Hebrew sonne of 110. yeeres Gen. 5. 32. The same was the age of Iesus or Iosuah when he dyed the conqueror of Canaan and one of Iosephs seed Ios. 24. 29. an arke or chist coffin to be ready at their removall out of Egypt This death of Ioseph whereat the first book of Moses endeth was after the creation of the world 2369. yeeres ANNOTATIONS VPON THE SECOND BOOKE OF MOSES CALLED EXODVS VVHEREIN BY CONFERRING THE HOly Scriptures comparing the Chaldee and Greeke versions and other records of the Hebrewes MOSES his Words Lawes and Ordinances are explained BY HENRY AINSWORTH PSAL. 103. 7. The Lord made knowne his wayes unto Moses his acts unto the sonnes of Israel ACTS 7. 38. This is that Moses which was in the Chruch in the wildernesse with the Angel which spake to him in the mount Sina and with our fathers who received the lively Oracles to give unto us IOHN 1. 17. The Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ. LONDON ¶ Printed by Miles Flesher for John Bellamine and are to be sold at his shop neere the ROYALL EXCHANGE 1626. The Summe of EXODVS THis second booke of Moses sheweth the increase and oppression of Israel in Egypt the sending of Moses to deliver them the tenne plagues of God upon Egypt the bringing out of Israel with strong hand the leading of them through the sea where Pharaoh was drowned the safe conducting of them in the wildernesse the Covenant betweene God and them at Mount Sina where he gave them Lawes and Iudgements and Statutes ordaining a Priesthood for his service and erected a Tabernacle for to dwell therein among them More particularly ISrael increase are oppressed in Egypt and their sonns drowned Chap. 1 Moses his birth education pietie and persecution 2 Moses keeping sheepe seeth a vision and is sent to deliver Israel 3 He is confirmed by signes is sent with Aaron to Pharaoh and Israel 4 Pharaoh resisteth and vexeth Israel they cry out of Moses and grieve him 5 God incourageth Moses and sends him again to Israel and Pharaoh 6 Moses worketh miracles and is resisted by Pharaohs sorcerers 7 Egypt is plagued with Frogs Lice and Flies Pharaoh is hardned 8 Moe plagues of Murrain Boyls and Haile yet Pharaoh resisteth 9 Plagues of Locusts and Darknesse Pharaoh is more hardned 10 Egypt is appointed to the spoile
holy day of the Lord honourable all which doe show the waight of this precept Sabbath day that is the day of rest or of ceasing namely from our owne workes as God did from his Heb. 4. 10. See the nobles on Gen. â—2 3. A day is either large of twentie four houres or strict of twelve houres Iohn 1â— 9. This here is meant of the large day which in Israel began at evening as Levit. 23. 32. from evening to evening you shall rest your Sabbath sanctifie it that is separate it from common worke such as pertaine to this naturall life consecrate it to God and holy works such as concerne the spirituall life As to have holy convocations or assemblies of the Church Levit. 23. 3. in them to pray Acts 16. 13. to reade and expound the Scriptures Luk. 4. 16. 22. Acts 15. 21. to dispute of matters of religion Acts 17. 2. 3. and 18. 4. to talke and meditate on Gods Word and worke Psalme 92. to doe workes of mercie to them that are in miserie both to man and beast Matt. 12. 10. 11. 13. Luke 13. 10. 11. 17. and all other like actions tending to sanctification And as all things are sanctified by the word of God and prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. so of the Sabbath the Hebrewes say It is commanded to sanctifie it with words both at the comming in and at the going out thereof At the comming in to blesse God which hath given his Sabbath for a remembrance of the creation of the world a beginning of holy convocations a remembrance of the comming out of Egypt and which of his love hath chosen and sanctified his Church above all peoples c. at the going out of it also to blesse God which hath separated betweene the holy and the prophane betweene light and darknesse between Israel and other peoples betweene the seventh day and the six working dayes Maimony in treat of the Sabbath ch 29. S. 1. 2. 3. Vers. 9. labour or serve which some doe understand thus Six daies thou shalt serve the Lord and doe thine owne worke also for service is a dutie to the Lord Exod. 3. 12. 23. 25. But comparing this place with Exod. 34. 21. where it is opposed unto Rest it seemeth rather to intend our owne worke or labour which God of his bounty alloweth to be followed the six daies that we may the mo 〈…〉 willingly and cheerfully serve him in the seventh thy worke the Greeke translateth thy 〈◊〉 〈…〉 by is meant things necessary as well for bodie 〈◊〉 soule and things good and lawfull permi 〈…〉 〈◊〉 of God as it is written Let him labor and worke 〈◊〉 his hands the thing that is good Ephel 4. 28. 〈◊〉 in Psâ— 91. 11. all thy waies meane such as God had appointed to walke in which words Satan therfore omitted when the alledged that Scripture 〈◊〉 Christâ—â— unlawfull wares Matt 4. 6. V. 10. But 〈◊〉 And the seventh This is perpetuall 〈◊〉 one day of seven be a Sabbath but that seventh day which Moses commanded is changed by Christ into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the weeke called the 〈…〉 because our Lord Christ who 〈◊〉 Esay 65. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 finished his worke and rose from the dead that day Mat. 28. 1. 2. 6. and his disciples assembled in that day and after unto praier and religious works Ioh. 20. 19. 26. Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1. 2. And if the bringing of Israel out of Egypt was such a work as God for a memoriall thereof made that day moneth the head and beginning of the moneths of the yeere otherwise than had been before as is shewed on Exod. 12. 2. how should not out redemption from death and hell manifested in the day that Christ rose from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 14. 17. deserve much more to be remembred in the day thereof and the creation of the new world be celebrated as of the old The Heb. Doctors have a saying that the world was not created but for the Messias Thalm. in Sanhedrin c. Chelek And the bringing out of Egypt is made a reason why the Iewes should keepe their Sabbath Deut. 5. 15. our deliverance by the Messias is a more weighty reason Therfore as the other Iewish Sabbaths were figurative had their end in Christ Colos. 2. 16. 17. so the seventh day in this Sabbath was also figurative and is ceased but the Sabbath still remaineth Matt. 24. 20. in it these words are added also in the Gr. version any worke to wit of thine owne or for this naturall life and under the name of worke is comprehended buying and selling of wares or of victualls Neh. 13. 16. 17. carying of burdens Ier. 17. 22. enbalming of the dead Luk. 23. 54. 56. dressing of victuals Exod. 16. 23. going of journeyes Exod. 16. 29. Act. 1. 12. or any other thing that is of our owne waies or pleasures or speaking our owne words Esa. 58. 13. even the work of the Lords Tabernacle might not be done on the Sabbath Exod. 31. 13. 17. but it is expresly commanded to rest on that day Exod. 23. 12. Whereupon the Hebr. Doctors say though they be things which are not work yet we must rest or cease froÌ„ them namely things like unto work as climbing of a tree riding on a beast or the like Likewise judging of civill causes putting off of the shooe and taking the brothers wife spoken of in Deut. 25. 5. 9. separating of â—ithes first fruits c. valuing of things spoken of in Lev. 27. And from the Law in Esay 58. 12. they teach it is unlawfull for a man to speake with his partner on the Sabbath day what hee will sell on the morrow or what hee will buy or how hee will build his house and the like Also that it is unlawfull for a man to visit his gardens or fields on the Sabbath for to see what they need or how they grow for this is to doe his owne pleasure Esay 58. 13. neither might they punish or execute malefactors on the Sabbath though the punishment of such is a thing commanded Maimony treat of the Subbath c. 21. 23. 24. Neither was it lawful to many a wife on the Sabbath day neither 〈…〉 they on the evening of the Sabbath 〈◊〉 on the first day of the weeke left they should pollute the Sabbath by dressing of meat for the feast Maimony treat of 〈◊〉 c. 10. S. 14. How beit things belonging to Gods service though laborious to the body as killing dressing of the sacrifices c. were to be done on the Sabbath 1 Chron. 23. 31. Matt. 12. 5. and so for works of mercy to men Hos. 6. 6â— So the 〈◊〉 held it a Sabbath dayes worke to 〈◊〉 sit the sicke and say that perill of life putteth away the Sabbath therefore to a sicke person that is in danger they doe all things need full for him on the Sabbath day Maimony treat of the Sabbath chap. 24. S. 5. and chap. 2. S. 1.
before his eyes For another man burned it as appeareth by vers 8. wherefore Targum Ionathan explaineth it another Priest shall burne The burning of the heiffer without the campe figured how Iesus that he might sanctifie the people with his owne bloud should suffer without the gate of Ierusalem Hebr. 13. 11 12. Vers. 6. Cedar wood this with the hyssop and scarlet following were used in the cleansing of Lepers that were healed Lev. 14. 4. See the Annotations on that place The Cedar is one of the greatest and tallest trees opposed to the hyssop as the lowest 1 King 4. 33. it is durable wood and rotteth not being choise or excellent Song 5. 15. figuring the perpetual efficacy of the death of Christ who by one offring hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Hebr. 10. 14. eyzop or hyssope whereof see Exod. 12. 22. As here it was burned with the heiffer so after in vers 18. a sprinkle was made with it figuring the vertue and odour of Christs death to purge our sinnes and to sprinkle our hearts from an evill conscience Hebr. 1. 3. and 10. 22. scarlet or twice died scarlet called in Hebrew Sheni tholagnath whereof see Exod. 25. 4. This bloudy colour sometime signifieth Sinnes Esai 1. 18. and it is the death and bloud of Christ that cleanseth us from all sinne Rom. 6. 10. 1 Iohn 1. 7. the preaching hereof maketh the lips like a threed of scarlet Song 4. 3. into the midst of the burning The manner of burning this heiffer in the ages following is described by the Hebrewes thus They made a banke or causey from the mountaine of the house of God in Ierusalem unto mount Olivet the mountaine which our Lord Iesus used to frequent Luke 21. 37. Joh. 18. 2. whither hee went the night that hee was betrayed â—o death Luke 22. 39 40 c. and it was over against the Temple Mar. 13. 3. and from thence after his resurrection he ascended up into heaven Act. 1. 9. 12. and the heiffer and hee that burned her and all that assisted him in the burning of her went out from the mount of the Temple unto mount Olivet upon that banke The Elders of Israel wenâ— before them on their feet to mount Olivet and there was a place to baptise or wash in and the Priest and they that assisted him to burne the heiffer went on the banke and came to mount Olivet c. and the Elders imposed their hands upon the Priest and said unto him wash once Hee went downe and washed and came up and wiped himselfe And there was wood laid in a row wood of Cedar and Oke and Firre-tree and Fig-tree which they tooke and made a pile of like a tower c. and the fore-part was towards the West that was towards the Temple Then they bound the heiffer and laid her upon the pile of wood with her head to the South and her face to the West and the Priest stood on the East-side with his face 〈◊〉 the West Hee killed her with his right hand and tooke the bloud in his left hand and sprinkled with the finger of his right hand of the bloud that was in 〈◊〉 palme of his left hand seven times towards the 〈◊〉 holy place of the Temple At every sprinkling 〈◊〉 dipped his finger in the bloud and the residue of 〈◊〉 bloud which was on his finger was uâ—lawfull to sprinkle with therefore at every sprinkling he wiped his finger on the body of the heiffer When he had made an end of sprinkling he wiped his hands on the heiffers body and came downe from the pile and kindled the fire with small stickes which he put under the stickes of the pile and the fire began to burne and the Priest stood a far off and observed it till the fire burned upon her and her belly cleft asunder And afterward he tooke Cedar wood and eyzop not lesse than an hand-bredth and wooll died in scarlet five shâ—kels weight c. And he bound the eyzop with the Cedar with the tongue or long peece of scarlet and cast them into her belly Numb 19. 6 And hee cast them not in before the fire was kindled upon the b 〈…〉 ke of her body nor after that she was burnt to ashes and if he did it was unlawfull for it is said into the midst of the burning not before the fire is kindled on her body nor after she is turned to ashes Maimony in Pharah adummah ch 3. sect 1 2. Vers. 7. Wash his cloathes which was a signe of purification from uncleannesse as is noted on Lev. 11. 25. and 15 5. The same was concerning him that burned the heiffer vers 8. and the cleane man that gathered up her ashes vers 9 10. Hereby the imperfection of the Legall Priesthood was shewed in that the Priests which prepared the meanes of sanctification for the Church were themselues polluted in the preparing and doing of them as may be gathered by proportion from Hebr. 7. 27 28. and 10. 1 2 3. The sinne also of the Priests and others that procured the death of Christ though it was the life of the world seemeth hereby to be signified Matth. 26. 65 66 c. Act. 2. 22 23 38. and 3. 14 15 17 18 19. Albeit by the tradition of the Hebrewes they were very carefull about the cleannesse of the Priests when they did this worke for the Priest that burned this heiffer they separated him from his house to a chamber prepared in the Court of the Temple which was called the Stone chamber because all the vessels thereof were of stone which doe receive no uncleannesse and he ministred in a vessell of stone all the seven daies that he was separated and his brethren the Priests might not touch him for the more care of his cleannesse Seven daies before the burning of the heiffer they separated the Priest that burned her from his house as they separated the High Priest for his service on Atonement-day wherof see the notes on Levit. 16. 33. Also they separated him from his wife lest she should have her disease and so he be uncleane seven daies as Levit. 15. 24. Every of those seven daies of his separation they sprinkled him with the water of purification lest â—e should be uncleane by the dead and not know it end with the ashes of the heiffer that had beene burned already before Maimony in Pharah ch 2. Notwithstanding all this care Whosoever busie themselves about this heiffer from the beginning to the end doe make their garments uncleane and are bound to wash themselves and are uncleane till the evening And wheresoever the Law speaketh of washing of cloathes for uncleannesse it is to teach us that not the cloathes only upon him are uncleane but every cloth 〈◊〉 vessell which this uncleane person shall touch whiles his uncleannesse is on him is made uncleane And not this heiffer only but all Sin-offrings that are burnt without the campe whether bullocks or goats he that
tribute to the Lord by this homage and tribute they were to acknowledge the victory to be of God and to shew their thankfulnesse for his salvation So David dedicated unto the Lord silver and gold of all nations which hee had subdued 2 Sam. 8. 11. 12. And Esaias prophesieth In that time shall a present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled c. Esay 18. 7. one soule of 500 by soule is here meant person of mankinde and living body of beasts as after is explained And as the 12000 souldiers had much more of the spoile considering their small number than the other many thousands of the congregation so their tribute to the Lord was much lesse by proportion they giving but the five hundreth part when the congregation gave the fiftieth ver 30. God requireth lesse of them as their labour service and jeoparding of their lives had beene greater than their brethrens Vers. 29. unto Eleazar The Lord who was the inheritance of the Priests and Levites Dent. 18. 1 2. and had given them the ordinary heave-offerings which the Israelites offered unto him Num. 18. 19. giveth them also this extraordinary tribute which was levied for him So Abram gave to Melchisedek the Priest the tithe of the spoiles which he had gotten in warre Gen. 14. 20. And as the Levites had the tithes in Israel and the Priests had but a tenth of those tithes Num. 18. 21. 24. 26. 28. so is there here a like proportion allotted whiles the Levites had the fiftieth part vers 30. and the Priests but the five hundreth Vers. 30. one portion of fiftie or one taken or detained of fiftie so in vers 47. of the sheepe or of the flocke-beasts that is of sheepe and of goats for both these are implied under the name flocke as in Lev. 1. 10. of all beasts that is of all manner of beasts but this seemeth to be meant of the beasts fore-named onely and not of Camels or other uncleane beasts because in the particular summes after rehearsed vers 32. 39. there are no uncleane but Asses onely spoken of Chazkuni here saith If thou aske why God commanded not to take a tribute of the Camels seeing there were man camels there as it is written in the warre of Gideon against the Midianites Their Camels were without number Iudg. 6. 5. and 7. 12. the answer is The Scripture mentioneth those onely whereof they tooke the tribute and they tooke no tribute of uncleane beasts save of Asses because they are sanctified by the firstling of the Asse Exod. 13. 13. and 34. 19 20. which keepe the charge or observe the observation keepe watch and doe the service see the notes on Num. 18. 5. Vers. 32. the residue of the prey the cattell whose numbers follow are called the residue or remainder either because some had beene slaine for the souldiers to eat or in respect of the gold and silver and other such spoiles whereof there was no tribute levied Vers. 33. seventie and two thousand that is seventie thousand and two thousand as was explained in the former verse So after Vers. 35. soules of mankind Heb. soule of Adam meaning by soule the persons and by Adam or mankinde the women as after is explained For as at the first both man and woman were called Adam Gen. 5. 2. so the same name is often used for both sexes as here and in vers 40. 46 47. Vers. 40. two and thirtie So the whole number of beasts and girles which were the Lords tribute out of the Souldiers halfe was eight hundred and fortie which were given to Eleazar the Priest vers 41. Vers. 47. one portion of fiftie or one taken of fiftie as in vers 30. The particular summes as may be gathered by the former computation were six thousand seven hundred and fiftie sheep seven hundred and twentie oxen six hundred and ten Asses three hundred and twentie soules of young women the whole summe of them altogether was eight thousand and foure hundred which were taken out of the Congregations halfe and given to the Levites So the whole prize brought home from the Midianites and kept for the use of Israel was of beasts and women-kinde eight hundred thousand and fortie thousand out of which the Lord tooke for his Priests and Levites nine thousand two hundred and fortie Thus he enriched his people with the spoiles of their enemies and they in homage thankfulnesse to the Lord gave him one of five hundred out of the one halfe and one of fiftie out of the other halfe as Abram gave one of ten to Melchisedek the Priest of God of all the spoiles that he had taken from his enemies Gen. 14. 20. Vers. 48. the Officers or Bishops as in vers 14. Vers. 49. in our hand that is in our power under our leading and charge w ch the Greeke and Chaldee translate with us there lacketh not Heb. there is not numbred or mustered to wit as wanting or missing for in such musters the number is observed of those that are absent as of those presēt This was a rare and wonderfull mercie that twelve thousand men of Israel should vanquish so great a nation of Midian without losse of any mans life whereas commonly the sword devoureth one as well as another 2 Sam. 11. 25. But hereby appeareth that precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his Saints Psal. 116. 15. and a much like speech was uttered by our Saviour Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none Ioh. 18. 9. Moreover by this victory God encouraged his people to fight the residue of his battels against the Canaanites Vers. 50. an oblation for Iehovah or as the Chaldee explaineth it the oblation of the Lord in Greeke a gift to the Lord. This was a voluntary gift whereas the former levie was commanded v. 25 c. hath found that is hath gotten in this war jewels or instruments vessels atonement for our soules that is for our lives which God hath spared and that there be no plague amongst us as Exod. 30. 12. Herein also they might have respect unto their sinne in sparing the women alive for which Moses reproved them vers 14. 17. Thus though they found all alive yet were they not proud neither boasted of their valour but gave the glory unto God and in themselves they were humbled in conscience of their unworthinesse Vers. 51. every wrought jewell Hebr. jewell or instrument of worke that is cunningly wrought So as the matter was the best of gold the forme also was the best Chazkuni here saith The Scripture sheweth that they brought no broken instrument Vers. 52. shekels what the shekell waighed see on Gen. 20. 16. of the captaines or from the captaines that is Moses tooke the gold of them as in vers 51. and 54. Vers. 54. the Tent the Lords Tabernacle where it was a memoriall for them as the like is spoken of the halfe shekels w ch the Israelites gave when
of the avenger of bloud Deut. 19. 12. Wherefore the Chaldee in stead of meeteth him saith When he shall be condemned unto him by judgement So in vers 21. Vers. 20. of hatred which is inveterate anger and inward grudge differing from enmitie or open hostility spoken of in v. 21. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him Prov. 26. 24. The Hebrewes say He that hateth if he kill by errour or unadvisedly he is not kept in the citie of refuge as it is said And he was not his enemy Numb 35. 23. c. And who is he that hateth hee that for enmities sake speaketh not unto him for three dayes space Maim Treat of Murder chap. 6. sect 10. cast upon him to wit any instrument as is expressed in vers 22. and so the Greeke explaineth it here by laying of wait with intent and purpose of evill when occasion is offered so Saul laid wait or hunted for Davids soule 1 Sam. 24. 11. the Iewes for Christ Luke 11. 54. and for Pauls life Act. 23. 21. Vers. 21. enmity or hostility ill will open and professed Vers. 22. suddenly or unawares and as it were by chance Vers. 23. with any stone that is have smitten him with any stone as in vers 17. wherewith he may die in Chaldee which is sufficient that he may die therewith See the notes on vers 18. Vers. 25. of the great Priest a figure of Christ called the great Priest over the house of God Hebr. 10. 21. and the great High-Priest that is passed into the heavens Hebr. 4. 14. who is the Mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of the eternall inheritance Heb. 9. 15. As the high Priests whiles they lived by their service and sacrificing made atonement for the sinnes of the people especially one day in the yeare Levit. 16. wherein they figured the worke of Christ for us so at the high Priests death by releasing such as were exiled for unwitting murder there was a shadow of redemption in Israel Vers. 26. going shall goe forth that is shall at any time upon any occasion goe forth So he was not only exiled from his owne citie but confined as a prisoner within the limits of the citie of refuge The Hebrewes say Hee might never goe out of the citie of his refuge no not though it were for a thing commanded as to worship at the solemne feasts or the like or for to beare witnesse whether it were in money matters or to testifie in case of life and death c. Maim Treat of Murder chap. 7. sect 8. Vers. 27. without the border so not the citie onely but the borders and limits of the territories thereof were his refuge Every citie of refuge the borders thereof are a refuge as well as it c. and if the avenger of bloud kill him there he is to be killed for him Notwithstanding though the border be a refuge yet the man-slayer may not dwell in it for it is said in vers 25. AND HE SHALL ABIDE IN IT in it the citie and not in the border of it Maim ibid. chap. 8. sect 11. no bloud shall be unto him that is the avenger shall have no bloud imputed to him or as the Greeke translateth it hee shall not bee guiltie to wit of bloud-shed Vers. 28. into the land of his possession into his owne citie or village that part of the land which he possessed It is holden by the Hebrewes that although by the high Priests death atonement was made for him yet he never returned to the princely state or dignitie that hee had in the citie but was debased from his greatnesse all dis dayes because that great scandall came by his hand Maimon ibid. chap. 7. sect 14. Moreover they say A man-sâ—ayer upon whom sentence is past that he shall be exiâ—ed if he die before he go into exile they carry his bones thither And a man-slayer that dieth in the citie of his refuge they bury him there and when the high Priest dieth they carry the man-slayers bones from thence unto the sepulchres of his fathers Ibid. sect 3. Vers. 30. Every one that smiteth a soule that is who so killeth a person to wit him that is a murderer by the mouth that is by the testimony of witnesses which after is explained of two witnesses or three witnesses Deut. 17. 6. and 19. 15. See the Annotations there not answer that is not testifie as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it meaning to have the sentence of death confirmed against him See Deut. 19. 15. to die that is to cause him to die or that he should die See the notes on Gen. 6. 19. Vers. 31. the soule of the man-slayer that is the life of the murderer to redeeme him from death The Iudges are warned that they take no ransome of the murderer and though he could give all the wealâ—h that is in the world and though the avenger of bloud should be willing to free him for the soule of him that is killed is not the possession of the avenger of bloud but the possession of the holy blessed God Maimon Treat of Murder ch 1. sect 4. guiltie of death Hebr. which is wicked to die that is as the Greeke and Chaldee explaine it guilty or condemned to die According to this phrase David saith When he shall be judged let him goe forth wicked that is condemned Psal. 109. 7. Vers. 32. for him that is fled Hebr. to flee which is explained by Iarchi and others for him that is fled in the land in the land of his possession as in vers 28. Vers. 33. polluteth or impiously staineth foulely deformeth the land This word which Moses here useth of murder and the Prophets after apply unto spirituall whoredome or idolatrie Ierem. 3. 2 9. and â—dolatrous bloud-shed Psal. 106. 38. sheweth the hainousnesse of this sinne that defileth not only him that doth it but the whole land if it be not avenged Hereupon the Hebrewes say Thou hast not any thing concerning which the Law giveth such a charge as for shedding of bloud as it is said in Numb 35. 33. And ye shall not pollute the land c. Maimony Treat of Murder chap. 1. sect 4. the bloud of him that shed it if it were wilfull murder or by the death of the high Priest if it were unwilling man-slaughter Hereupon it is said A man that doth violence to the bloud of any person shall flie to the pit let no man stay him Prov. 28. 17. Vers. 34. I doe dwell the land of Israel was the LORDS land Hos. 9. 3. and by his dwelling there among his people was sanctified and called the holy land Zach. 2. 12. and though he dwelt most specially in his Sanctuary there which afterward was in Ierusalem Psal. 74. 2. and 1 35. 21. yet the whole land was sanctified by
of the Idolaters with the edge of the sword And whether the whole or the most part be thrust away they stone to death those that did thrust them away Maim ibid. s. 6. utterly destroying with a curse or execration after the Greeke version anathematizing Of such the Hebrews say The men of the citie drawne away to Idolatry have no part in the world to come that is in life eternall Thalmud Bab. in Sanhedrin c. Chelek the cattell and of the cattell that is killed it 〈◊〉 forbidden to make any profit or use of them even as of the Oxe that is stoned Maimony in Idolatry c. 4 s. 13. Vers. 16. all the spoile of it This the Hebrews understand largely whether they be the goods of the idolaters or of the other that fell not unto idolatry for so they write The goods of the just men that are within it if they be the rest of the inhabitants of that citie which are not drawne away with the multitude they are burnt with the generall spoile for as much as they dwell therein their goods perish A company of passengers from place to place if they passe thorow a citie so drawne away and be drawne away with it if they have continued in it thirty daies they are killed with the sword and their goods perish if not they are stoned to death and their goods are to their heires The goods of the men of another citie reserved therein are not burned but returned to the owners for it is said The spoile of it and not the spoile of their neighbours The goods of the wicked men of that citie which are reserved in another citie if they be gathered together with it are burnt in the generall if not they perish not but are given to their heires The holy things within it such as are sanctified for the Altar doe die for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination Things sanctified to the maintenance of the Temple are redeemed and afterward burnt for it is said the spoile of it not the spoile of heaven The first-borne and the tithe that are perfect are as the holy things of the Altar and dye such as are blemished are as the common cattell and are killed c. The second tithes and the money of the second tithes and the holy Scriptures that are within the citie are laid up in store Maimon in Idolat chap. 4. sect 7. 9 10 15. every whit The Hebrew Calil here used is sometime an whole burnt offering Levit. 6. 22. Deut. 33. 10. Hereupon the Hebrewes say Who so executeth judgment upon the citie drawne away to Idols loe he offereth the burnt-offering Calil as it is written every whit Calil to the LORD thy God neither that onely but turneth away burning anger from Israel Deut. 13. 17. and bringeth a blessing and mercies upon them Maim in Idolat c. 4. s. 16. an heape the Greek translateth uninhabited the Chaldee a desolate heape The Hebrewes say Whosoever buildeth it is to be beaten but it is lawfull to turne it into Gardens or Orchards for it is said it shall not be built againe not built for a citie as it was before Maim ibid. s. 8. Vers. 17. not cleave to thy hand that is thou shalt not make any profit or use to thy selfe of any of the goods of the citie Compare the example of Iericho Ios. 6. 17. c. and see the annotations on Deut. 7. 26. from the burning the Chaldee expoundeth it from the strength the Greeke from the wrath of his anger which oftentimes is kindled not onely against the sinners themselves but all Israel for their sakes as Ios. 7. 1. 11 12. and 22. 17. 18 20. Vers. 18. obey or hearken to the voice in Chaldee shalt receive the word of the Lord. that which is right in the eies which the Greeke expoundeth That which is good and pleasing before the Lord. CHAP. XIV 1 Gods children are not to disfigure themselves in mourning for the dead 3 nor eat any abominable thing 4 What may and what may not bee eaten of Beasts 9 of fishes 11 of sowles 19 Creeping things may not bee eaten 21 nor that which dieth of it selfe 22 Tithes to bee eaten before the Lord 24 or if the way be too long to be turned into money and it to be bestowed on things which they should eat and drinke with joy before the Lord. 27 The Levite may not be forsaken 28 The third yeers tithe for the Levite stranger fatherlesse and widow YEe are the sonnes of Iehovah your God yee shall not cut your selves nor put baldnesse between your eies for the dead For thou art an holy people to Iehovah thy God and Iehovah hath chosen thee to be unto him a people of peculiar treasure above all peoples which are upon the face of the earth Thou shalt not eat any abomination These are the beasts which yee shall eat the Oxe the Lambe of sheepe and the Kid of Goats The Hart and the Roe-buck and the Fallow-deere and the Wild-goat and the Pygarg he Wild-oxe and the Chamois And every beast that parteth the hoofe and cleaveth a sunder the cleft of two hoofes that cheweth the cud among the beasts that yee shall eat But this yee shall not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that part the cloven hoofe the Camel and the Hare and the Conie because they chew the cud but they part not the hoofe they shall be uncleane unto you And the Swine because he parteth the hoofe cheweth not the cud he shall be uncleane unto you of their flesh yee shall not eat and their carkasse yee shall not touch These yee shall eat of all that are in the waters all that hath sinne and scale shall ye eat And all that hath not finne and scale yee shall not eat it shall be uncleane unto you Every cleane bird yee shall eat But these are they of which yee shall not eat the Eagle and Ossifrage and the Osprey And the Vulture and the Kite and the Glede after her kinde And every Raven after his kind And the Owle and the Night-hawke and the Sea-gull and the Hawke after his kinde And the great Owle and the little Owle and the Red-shanke And the Pelican and the Gier-eagle and the Cormorant And the Storke and the Heron after her kinde and the Lapwing and the Bat And every creeping thing that flieth it shall bee uncleane unto you they shall not bee eaten Every cleane fowle yee shall eat Yee shall not eat of any carkasse thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates that hee may eat it or thou maiest sell it unto an alien for thou art an holy people unto Iehovah thy God Thou shalt not seeth a Kid in his mothers milke Tithing thou shalt tithe all the revenue of thy seed that the field bringeth forth yeere by yeere And thou shalt eat before Iehovah thy God in the place which hee shall chuse to cause his name to dwell
Law the other taken properly being against the Legall ordinances of divine service are abomination to the Lord who requireth his Sanctuary to be reverenced Lev. 19. 30. and forbiddeth his name to be despised his altar or table to be thought contemptible Mal. 1. 6 7 8. or his house to be made a den of theeves Ier. 7. 11. Matth. 21. 13. Vers. 19 not lend upon biting usurie Hebr. not cause to bite which meaneth as the Greeke and Chaldee both interpret it not lend upon biting usurie or increase for usurie is biting or devouting of a mans substance he that borroweth on usurie is bitten thereby and he that so lendeth causeth to bite or maketh his neighbour to be bitten thereby It may also imply thou shalt not borrow upon usury for that also is unlawfull Ier. 15. 10. and hee that so borroweth causeth himselfe to be bitten and thus the Hebrewes understand it as is noted on Ex. 22. 25. usury Hebr. biting of silver that is usury for silver or mony which is lent So after biting of meat that is usury for meat which is lent of any thing Hebr. of any word which though it be often used for any thing as the Greeke here also translareth it yet from hence the Hebrews gather usury of words also to be unlawfull see the Annotations on Exod. 22. 25. that is lent upon usurie Hebr. that biteth or may bite Vnder this prohibition the contrary is commanded that we should lend unto our poore brother freely and not take againe any thing more than was lent Deut. 15. 7. 8 9. Luk. 6. 34 35. Lev. 25. 35 36. Vers. 20. a stranger or alien in the Chaldee a sonne of the peoples meaning a Gentile an infidell for to the strangers which were brethren in the faith they might not lend upon usurie Levit. 25. 35 36 37. maist lend or shalt lend upon usurie Hebr. shalt cause to bite to wit if thou wilt so it may be taken for a permission like the bill of divorce But the Hebrewes understand this to be a commandement not a permission onely Maimony tom 4. treat of the Lender and Borrower chap. 5. sect 1 As if God would by this cut off occasions of familiarity with Infidels lest Israel by much dealing with them should learne their waies Howbeit our Saviour by the example of God himselfe teacheth us to be loving and bountifull unto all both good and bad Matt. 5. 44 48. Luke 6. 35 36. Spiritually this shewed the use of the Law which as an hard creditour exacteth more of men than it giveth unto them and is to be laid not upon the righteous man who by faith is freed from the rigour curse of the same but on the lawlesse disobedient and sinners 1 Tiâ—â— 1. 9. Rom. 7. Vers. 21. a vow the law whereof see in Levit. 27. and Num. 30. And whether it were a thing promised unto God or to be given to the poore it was a vow not delay that is not faile either altogether or by deferring the time of paiment see the notes on Exod. 22. 29. Wherefore if a man have absolutely vowed a thing to the Lord seeing no man hath assurance that his life shall continue Iam. 4. 13 14. he must with all speed performe it lest death prevent him So the Hebrewes say He that saith I will not depart out of the world untill I be a Nazirite loe hee is a Nazirite out of hand lest hee die by and by And if hee deferre his Naziriteship he transgresseth c. Maimony tom 3. treat of Nazirites chap. 1. sect 4. The time and place of paying vowed sacrifices was at the solemnefeasts in the Sanctuary Deu. 12. 5 6 7 and 16. 16 17. Hereupon the Hebrewes say Whether they bee vowes or voluntary gifts or other things which a man is bound to bring as valuations or prices or tithes or gifts for the poore it is commanded by the Law to bring them all at the feast which first commeth c. If there fall out a feast and hee bringeth them not he frustrateth a commandement If the three feasts of the yeare passe over him and bee bring not his offerings which hee hath vowed or voluntarily promised c. he transgresseth against this prohibition Thou shalt not delay to pay it Maim treat of offering the Sacrifices chap. 14. sect 13. to pay it This paiment must bee made unto God of the best things as is noted on Gen. 4. 4. they might not bring any corrupt or blemished thing Mal. 1. 14. Levit. 22. 21. nor any thing filthy or vile Deut. 23. 18. Neither might any part bee kept backe of that which was sanctified by vow unto the Lord Act. 5. 1 2 3 4 c. So for almes to the poore the Hebrewes have these rules Almes is comprehended in the generall of vowes therefore he that saith Loe a shilling bee upon mee for almes or This shilling bee an almes he is bound to give it to the poore out of hand and if hee delay hee transgresseth against this precept Thou shalt not delay to pay it For loe it is in his power to give it out of hand and there are poore present If there be no poore there hee is to separate it and lay it up till he finde some poore Maimony treat of gifts to the poore c. 8. s. 1. requiring c. that is will surely require it and punish thee if thou pay it not For so requiring implieth Gen. 9. 5. and 43. 22. Deut. 18. 19. sinne and so punishable For God hath no pleasure in fooles pay therefore that which thou hast vowed Eccles. 5. 4. Vers. 22. shalt forbeare or cease refuse the Greeke translateth If thou wilt not vow So before they promised it was in their owne power as in Ananias case Act. 5. 4. Howbeit when duty bindeth us to shew thankfulnesse unto God for his mercies we are willed to vow and to pay Psal. 76. 12. The Hebrewes say Although sanctified things and things devote and valuations be commanded and it is meet for a man to exercise himselfe in these things for to suppresse his concupisence and that he be not niggardly but may fulfill that which is commanded by the Prophet HONOVR THE LORD WITH THY SVBSTANCE Prov. 3. 9. yet notwithstanding if hee doe never sanctifie or devote there is not any thing in it for loe the Law testifieth and saith But if thou shalt forbeare â—â—vow it shall not be sinne in thee Maimony treat of Valuations and Devote things chap. 8. sect 12. not be sinne to wit not such sinne as a man is guilty of if he vow and doe not pay Eccles. 5. 5. For otherwise a man may sinne this way also in negligence and unthankfulnesse Luk. 17. 17 18. In this sense Christ said to the Iewes If ye were blind yee should have no sinne Ioh. 9. 41. that is no such sinne as now remaineth on you for refusing the light So in Ioh. 15. 22 24. Iam. 4. 17. Vers. 23. That
without seed Deut 25. 5. Brethren by the mothers side only are not counted for brethren in the case of inheritance or of taking the brothers wife and putting off the shooe but are as if they mere none for there is no brotherhood but by the fathers side Strangers that are become Proselytes and servants which have their freedome have no brotherhood at all but are as strangers one to another c. Maimony tom 2. in Iibbum or treat of taking the Brothers wise chap. 1. sect 1. 7 8. So in the Gospell this case is propounded to our Saviour in generall termes Moses said if any man die Matt. 22. 24. or if any mans brother die Mark 12. 19. Luk. 20. 28. that it seemeth even then this law was not thought to intend the first-borne onely have no sonne Hebr. no sonne to him that is no childe for sonne the Greeke translateth seed which comprehendeth sonne or daughter so in the Gospell it is translated having no children Matt. 22. 24. or hee die childlesse Luk. 20. 28. and in Matt. 22. 25. it is said having no seed Thus the Hebrewes expound it That which is said in the Law AND HAVE NO SON whether it be sonne or daughter or seed of son or seed of daughter c. if he have seed by that wife or by another he freeth his wife from unloosing the shooe or marrying his brother yea though he have a seed which is a bastard c. But if he have a sonne by a bond-woman or by an alien hee freeth not his wife for the seed that commeth of a bond-woman are servants Exod. 21. 4. and they which come of Infidels are Infidels and are as none for of the heathen he saith HE WILL TVRNE AWAY THY SON FROM AFTER ME Deut. 7. 4. hee turneth him away from being counted of the Church And though his son by the bond-woman be made free or his son by the alien bee become a Proselyte yet are they as other strangers and freed servants and doe not discharge his wife c. Whoso dieth and leaveth his wife with childe if she have an untimely birth after his death she is to marry her husbands brother but if she bring it forth and the childe commeth out alive into the aire of the world although it die in the houre that it is borne loe his mother is discharged from pulling off the shooe or marying her husbands brother Maim in Iibbum chap. 1. sect 3 4 5. a stranger that is of another family in Israel as the Greeke translateth it a man not neere that is not neere of kin The Hebrewes say If she be married to another he lie with her before she be maried to her husbands brother or have pulled off his shooe he and she are to be beaten and shee is to goe out by bill of divorce Maim in Iibbum c. 2 s. 18. her husbands brother or next neerest kinsman as in Ruths case Ruth 3. Here they say Who so dieth and leaveth many brethren it is commanded that the eldest marry his brothers wife or pull off his shooe If the eldest will not they turn to all the other brethrē if they will not they turne againe to the eldest and say Vpon thee the commandement lieth either to pull off the shooe or to marry thy brothers wife and they cannot compell the husbands brother to marry her but they may compell him to pull off the shooe If the eldest brother be gone into another countrey his younger brother may not say the commandement lieth upon my elder brother wait for him till he come but they say to this that he now marry or pull off the shooe Maimony in Iibbum chap. 2. sect 6 9. goe in unto her into the chamber as Iudg. 15. 1. that is take her to wife The Hebrews thinke this might not be done till they had waited 90 daies after her husbands death which was to see whether shee were with childe or not and such was the custome for all other women that were widowes they maried not till after three moneths Maim in Iibbum chap. 1. sect 19. This seemeth necessary in this case for if she were with childe brought it forth alive it was not lawfull for her brother in law to have her Levit. 18. 16. Vers. 6. stand up in the name of his brother that is be counted and called the seed of the dead man not of the living and for this cause Onan sinned in not performing this duty because hee know that the seed should not be his Gen. 38. 9. Thus Obed whom Boaz begat of Ruth is said to bee the sonne of Naomi Ruth 4. 17. And as hee did this for his dead brother so by the Hebrewes Who so maried his brothers wife hee was the heire of all his brothers goods Maimony tom 4. treat of Inheritances chap. 3. sect 7. his name be not blotted but or not wiped out for that was an heavie judgment in Israel Deut. 9. 14. and 29. 20. Psal. 109. 13. Therefore to comfort the godly Eunuchs the Lord promiseth to give them a name better than of sonnes and of daughters Esay 56. 5. And this sheweth the reason o◠this Law that God would have brethren shew mercy one to another both to the living and to the dead as Ruth 2. 20. that widowes should not be left comfortlesse and that families should not be cut off from their inheritances in Canaan which were figures of a better and heavenly heritage as is shewed on Gen. 12. 5. but that the name of the dead might be raised up upon their inheritances Ruth 4. 5 10. And as Christ himselfe came according to the flesh after this manner of kindnesse shewed by Booz his grandfather so unto him and his Church may the truth of this shadow and legall ordinance be applied For the Church of Israel was his wife Hos. 2. who bare him no children by the Law Rom. 7. and 10. and 11. But the Apostles his brethren Iohn 20. 17. by the immortall seed of the Gospell begat children unto him both of the Iewes and Gentiles 1 Cor. 4. 15. Gel. 4. 19. 1 Pet. 1. 23. not that they should be called by any mans name 1 Cor. 1. 12 13. but to carry the name of Christ whose name shall be forever and continued as long as the Sun in whom all nations shall blesse themselves and blessed be the name of his glory for ever Psal. 72. 17 19. Vers. 7. like not or be not willing have no delight or pleasure so in vers 8. Though God would have brethren performe the soresaid dutie yet if their affections were contrary hee forced them not hereunto lest worse evils should grow in families through want of love which is the bond of perfectnesse But what if the woman her selfe were not willing For this God giveth no expresse Law but by the Hebrewes opinion if she were fit to marry him and would not she was judged as a woman rebellious against her husband and was put away
this song for you and teach it the sonnes of Israel put it in their mouthes that this song may be a witnesse for mee against the sonnes of Israel For I will bring them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milke and honey and they shall eat and be filled and be fat and they will turne unto other gods and serve them and despightfully provoke me and breake my covenant And it shall be when many evils and distresses have found them that this song shall answer before them for a witnesse for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed for I know their imagination which they doe this day before I have brought them in unto the land which I sware And Moses wrought this song in that day and taught it the sonnes of Israel And he charged Ioshua the sonne of Nun and said Be strong and couragious for thou shalt bring in the sonnes of Israel unto the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee And it was when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this Law in a booke untill they were finished That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah saying Take this booke of the Law and put it in the side of the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah your God that it may be there for a witnesse against thee For I know thy rebellion and thy stiffe necke Behold while I am yet alive with you this day yee have beene rebellious against Iehovah and how much more after my death Gather together unto mee all the Elders of your Tribes and your Officers that I may speake in their eares these words and call the heavens and the earth to witnesse against them For I know that after my death corrupting yee will corrupt your selves and will turne aside from the way which I have commanded you and evill will befall you in the latter daies because yee will doe evill in the eyes of Iehovah to provoke him to anger through the worke of your hands And Moses spake in the eares of all the Church of Israel the words of this song untill they were ended Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the two and fiftieth Section or Lecture of the Law See the notes on Gen. 6. 9. And here Moses setteth the state of Israel in order before his death OLd Hebr. sonne of an hundred and twenty yeeres of which phrase see Gen. 5. 32. So long while Noe preached to the world building the Arke Gen. 6. 3 14. 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. Of these 120. yeeres Moses lived 40. in Pharaohs court in Egypt Acts 7. 20 23. forty in the land of Madian Acts 7. 29 30. Exod. 7. 7. and 40. yeeres he governed Israel I can no more goe out that is no more administer in my office see the Annotations on Num. 27. 17. This inability of Moses was not so much for his age for his eye was not dim nor his naturall moisture fled Deut. 34. 7. as for the ordinance of God next mentioned and Iehovah or for Iehovah hath said as is shewed in Num. 20. 12. Deut. 3. 25 26. And is often in stead of For as is noted on Gen. 12. 19. Or it may be taken as another reason why Moses might no longer governe them Vers. 3. Ioshua in Greeke Iesus who was substitute in Moses place Num. 27. 16 17 18. c. A figure of our Lord Iesus who by grace and truth bringeth us into Gods eternall rest after the ending of Moses Law Iohn 1. 17. Rom. 10. 4. Thus the people are comforted in respect of their sorrow for Moses death by promise of the Lords presence among them and Ioshuahs succeeding government under him Vers. 4. of the Amorite that is of the Amorites as the Greeke translateth by whose destruction before mentioned in Numb 21. 23. c. Deut. 2. and 3. Israel is encouraged against their other enemies the land that is the people of the land Vers. 5. commanded you which was to root them out and let none remaine Deut. 20. 16 17. Vers. 6. Be ye strong or Be confirmed Hold fast to wit your faith in God in Greeke Quit you like men which word Paul useth in 1 Cor. 16. 13. So after in vers 7. couragious or be hardy strong valiant in heart and carriage This word is applied to the heart in Psal. 27. 14. and armes in Prov. 31. 17. and signifieth an increase and stedfastnesse Prov. 24. 5. Ruth 1. 18. The like exhortation is often used as Ios. 10. 25. 1 Chron. 22. 13. 2 Chron. 32. 7. hee it is in Chaldee his Word it is So in vers 8. faile thee or let thee goe leave thee to thy selfe but will hold thee fast So vers 8. and Ios. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5. Vers. 7. strong and couragious or confirmed and strong as vers 6. Iosua being to beare the charge and toile of the people hath the same exhortation and promise in particular that was before unto all and it was in the eyes of all lest any after Moses death should deny his authority A like speech Davide made to Salomon 1 Chron. 28. 20. Vers. 8. he will be with thee the Chaldee paraphraseth his Word will be thy helpe Vers. 9. this Law in Greeke all the words of this Law in a booke which bare the Arke they had the chiefe charge to looke to the Arke and other holy things and though the Levites bare it as appeareth by Num. 3. 31. and 4. 15. and 10. 21. yet sometime the Priests themselves also bare it as when they passed over Iordan Ios. 3. 6 17. when they compassed Iericho Ios. 6. 12. So after in v. 25. Moses spake to the Levites the Elders the Magistrates as the Priests by teaching so the Elders by governing are to look that the Law of the Lord be observed Mal. 2. 7. Hos. 4. 6. Mich. 3. 1. 2 Chron. 19. 6 8 9 10. Vers. 10. of seven yeeres that is of every seventh yeere which was a yeere of release Deu. 15. 1. the solemnity or the set time as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it the time release of debts Deut. 15. 1 2 c. that being freed from worldly cares they might apply their mindes to Gods Law A figure of the yeere of grace and remission of our debts by Christ whereupon wee should give our selves to holinesse Luke 4. 18 19 21. Rom. 6. 10 11 12 13. Boothes or Tabernacles whereof see Lev. 23. Vers. 11. which he shall chuse to set his Arke and Tabernacle and so to place his name there Deut. 16. 2. thou shalt reade speaking to Israel generally and it was performed in speciall by the chiefest of them either the high Priest as Ezra the chiefe of them that returned from Babylon read it Nehem. 8. 1 2 3 c. or as the Hebrewes say the King himselfe when they had a King used to reade For this Commandement was to Ioshua
people as Christ saith of his sheepe none shall plucke them out of mine hand my Father which gave them mee is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of my fathers hand Ioh. 10. 28 29. sate downe or were set downe were joyned the Hebrew word T 〈…〉 here used is not found else-where but after the Arabik it signifieth to sit downe and the Greeke word Thakeâ— to sit seemeth to bee borrowed of it And it hath reference here to the Israelites abiding at the foot of mount Sinai to receive the Law Exod. 19. and to the manner of Disciples sitting at their Masters feet to bee taught as Paul saith hee was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel Act. 22. 3. The Greeke translateth and they are under thee the Chaldee and they were led under thy cloud respecting the guidance of Israel thorow the wildernesse Num. 10. â—1 12. Other Hebrewes refer it to the peoples comming into the Sanctuary to learne Gods commandements for that is called the footstoole of his feet Psalme 99. 5. Ezek. 43. 7. Chazkuni on Deut. 33. every one shall receive or hee speaking of the people shall receive which the Greeke translateth he received the Chaldee they received Vers. 4. Moses commanded us these are the words of the people therefore Ionathan in his Thargum prefixeth The sonnes of Israel said Moses commanded c. The Law was first and properly of God but being given by Moses ministery it is called The Law of the Lord by the hand of Moses 2 Chron. 34. 14. and thereupon the Law of Moses 2 King 14. 6. Laâ— 24. 44. Ioh. 7. 23. 1. Cor. 9. 9. And the particular things commanded of God in the Law are said to bee commanded by Moses Mar. 1. 44. and 10. 〈◊〉 The Scripture it selfe openeth this phrase for that which in 2 King 21. 8. is written Moses commanded them is in 2 Chron. 33. 8. expounded by the hand of Moses inheritance or possession to have and enjoy it to them and their posterity as a thing of worth and excellency Hereupon David saith Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the joy of mine heart Psal. 119. 111. So men are said to inherit the premises Heb. 6. 12. to inherit the blessing Heb. 12. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 9. to inherit eternall life and salvation Mat. 19. 29. Heb. 1. 14. the Church or congregation in Greeke the Synagogue of Iakob that is of the posterity of Iakob the twelve tribes as Ionathan in his Thargum saith The Church of the tribes of Iakob Vers. 5. he was Moses was in Iesurun a King which the Greeke translateth a Prince So the Hebrewes as Chazkuni on this place say Moses was the King and Maimony in Misn. in Beth habchirah chap. 6. sect 11. Moses our master was a King So Princes are called Kings in Psal. 105. 30. Ier. 19. 3. Or it may be understood of God himselfe that hee was their King as 1 Sam. 12. 12. Ieshurun in the Chaldee Israel see Deut. 32. 15. the heads that is the chiefe the Governours together with the people as was at the giving of the Law Exod. 19. 7 17. Vers. 6. Let Reuben live the Chaldee addeth to life eternall This blessing may respect Reubens sinne with his fathers Concubine for which hee lost his birthright of his father Gen. 35. 22. and 49. 4. and the sinne of the Princes of that tribe which rebelled with Korah Num. 16. 1. c. But mercy is here promised in Christ that hee should live before God among his brethren So hee went armed before them against the Canaanites Ios. 4. 12. and not die the Chaldee expounds it and let him not die the second death by which name the Scripture calleth eternall damnation Revel 20. 6. 14. So Ionathan in his Thargum paraphraseth Let Reuben live in this world and not die with the death wherewith the wicked shall die in the world that is to come It is very vsuall in the Scripture to set downe things of importance and earnestnesse by affirmation of the one part and deniall of the other as in Esay 38. 1. thou shalt dye and not live Num. 4. 14. that they may live not die Ps. 118. 17. I shall not dye but live Gen. 43. 〈◊〉 that wee may live and not die Ier. 20. 14. Cursed bee the day c. Let not that day be blessed 1 Ioh. 2. 27. it is true and is not lying 1 Ioh. 2. 4. he is a lyar and the truth is not in him Ioh. 1. 20. he confessed and denied not 1 Sam. 1. 11. and remember mee and not forget thine handmaid Deut. 9. 7. Remember forget not Deut. 32. 7. O people foolish and not wise and many the like a number by a number may be understood few as in Deut. 4. 27. Gen. 34 30. men of number is a few men so one numbred and in Esay 10. 19. a number meaneth few and then the former deniall not is againe to bee repeated to this sense and his men be not few in number Examples of such understanding the word not are shewed in the Annotations upon Num. 4. 15. Otherwise by a number is meant a great number as the Greeke translateth many in number Onkelos the Chaldee Paraphrast expoundeth it and let his sonnes receive their inheritance by their number and Ionathan paraphraseth Let his young men bee numbred with the young men of his brethren of the house of Israel Vers. 7. the blessing of Iudah the word blessing is to be understood from v. 1. And Ionathan in his Thargum supplieth it So doth the Scripture often as in 1 King 22. 24. which way went the spirit the word way is supplied from 2 Chron. 18. 23. and sundry the like as is noted on Ger. 4. 20. and 24. 33. Here Iudah the fourth brother is in the second place for the honour of the kingdome which was to be in this tribe Gen. 4. 9. and hee marched formost of all the tribes Num. 10. 14. so he is set before Levi here as he is also by his precious stone in Revel 21. 19. Simeon his name is quite omitted in this blessing for by his sinne of old hee lost his honour and was to be scattered in Israel Gen. 49. 5. 7. and his posterity for their sinne in the wildernesse were greatly diminished that being at the first muster fifty nine thousand and three hundred men Num. 1. he was at the latter muster but twenty two thousand and two hundred Num. 26. 14. Neither were there any Iudges of his tribe as God raised up of sundry others Iudg. 2. 16. c. Yet forasmuch as Simeons inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the sonnes of Iudah Ios. 19. 1. and he went with his brother Iudah to fight against the Canaanites Iudg. 1. 3. it is thought that his blessing was implied in Iudahs and so Ionathan in his Thargum coupleth Simeon with Iudah in this place Howbeit the Greeke in many copies joyne
her husband so long as hee liveth but if the husband be dead she is loosed from the law of the husband So we also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that we should be to another even to him who is raised from the dead Rom. 7. 1 2 4. Therfore upon this death of Moses God speaketh unto Israel to go over Iordan into the Land Ios. 1. according to the mouth in Greeke and Ghaldee by the word The day of his death by the Iewes tradition was the seventh of Adar which we call February so Ionathan in his Thargum on this place saith On the seventh day of the moneth of Adar Moses the Master of Israel was borne and on the seventh day of the moneth of Adar he was taken out of the world Vers. 6. he buried him that is Iehovah buried him or Michael that is Christ who is Iehovah one with the Father Iude vers 9. Signifying that none but Christ should abolish the Law and Ordinances given by Moses Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 13 14. Coloss. 2. 14 16 17. Heb. 9. 9 10 11 c. and 10. 1 9. And this was a speciall honour unto Moses person whom the Lord loved when he was dead and buried his corps which we finde not done to any man else in the world which he will also raise up incorruptible and glorious at the day of his appearing in a valley he died in the mountaine Deut. 32. 50. but was buried in a valley over against Beth-Pehor the Greeke saith neere to the house of Phogor of which place see Deut. 3. 28. no man knoweth God would not have Moses Sepulchre to be knowne though the devill contended with him hereabout Iude vers 9. because there should be no occasion of superstition or idolatry thereby as is thought of some Chazkuni saith that none which inquire of the dead as Deut. 18. 11. might seeke unto him The chiefe cause seemeth to be a mysterie that the Law whereof Moses was the minister being once dead and abrogated by Christ should never more be sought after but quite abolished out of the conscience of sinners that the grace of Christ may live raigne alone See Gal. 4. 9 10 11. and 5. 4. Also that the legall rudiments should by the comming of the Gospell be taken away from Israel never to be found or enjoyed by them any more For Christ destroyed both their Citie and Sanctuary as was foretold in Dan. 9. and they have been many daies without a King and without a Prince and without a sacrifice and without an image and without an Ephod and without Teraphim and so shall be untill they returne and seeke the Lord their God and the sonne of David their King Hos. 3. 4 5. Vers. 7. yeeres old Hebr. sonne of 120. yeeres so the yeere of his death fell out in the 2553. yeere of the world and his yeeres accord with Noes preaching and preparing of the Arke Genes 6. 3. his eye in Greeke his eyes his eye-sight failed him not as did Isaaks Gen. 27. 1. The eye is also used for the outward appearance and colour of a thing as Exod. 10. 5. Numb 11. 7. so it may be meant here also his visage was not wrinkled Chazkuni here expoundeth it the shining of his face mentioned in Ex. 34. 30. his naturall moisture his radicall humour wherein the life and strength of the body consisteth which when it is spent and dried up a man dieth The Greeke translateth his lips were not corrupted the Chaldee saith the brightnesse of the glory of his face was not changed having reference to Exod. 34. 30 c. sled that is departed from him Thus outwardly and inwardly Moses retained his vigour beauty and naturall strength that he died not through feeblenesse or defect of nature as most men did at his age though he had beene a man of sorrowes and broken with many cares for the people And hereby the continuall force of the Law is signified the power wherof decaieth not in the conscience of sinners by number of daies or multitude of workes till God take it away and abolish it by grace in Christ. The Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth whiles we are in the flesh the passions of sinnes which are by the Law do worke in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 7. 1 5. Vers. 8. the plaines of Moab in Greeke Araboth Moab by Iordan over against Iericho as v. 1. thirty daies so long they mourned also for Aaron see Num. 20. 28. Vers. 9. Iosua in Greeke Iesus the sonne of Nave of wisdome in Greek of understanding the spirit of wisdome meaneth wisdome ministred by the spirit of God wherein he was a figure of Iesus Christ who being full of the holy Spirit entred upon the worke of his ministration here on earth Luke 4. 1 c. On him the spirit of the Lord rested the spirit of wisedome and understanding the spirit of counsell and might the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord Esa. 11. 2. laid or imposed his hands upon him of this see Numb 27. 18 23. As Moses by imposition of hands authorized Iesus the sonne of Nun and bare record unto him so the Law of Moses which was in the heart and bowels of Iesus the sonne of God gave authority and bare record unto him Heb. 7. Acts 26. 22 23. Moses himselfe appeared talking with Iesus and speaking of his decease which he should accomplish at Ierusalem Luke 9. 30 31. hearkened unto him that is obeyed him as after also they promised in Ios. 1. 16. 17 18. See the notes on Num. 27. 20. Vers. 10. knew face to face the Chaldee saith was revealed unto him face to face So in Exod. 33. 11. it is said Iehovah spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend and in Num. 12. 8. he said with him will I speake mouth to mouth See the Annotations there Vers. 12. the mighty hand that is workes wrought with a mighty hand and powerfull government and administration according to that which is said Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God c. 1 Pet. 5. 6. great terrour that is workes done with great terrour which the Greeke translateth great marvels the Chaldee great visions These things doe magnifie Moses office and administration that the Lawes which he hath written confirmed by such signes and wonders might be acknowledged to be of God wherefore he and his writings are worthily celebrated thorowout the world confirmed of God himselfe Numb 12. 7 8. approved and expounded by all the Prophets after him by Christ himselfe and his Apostles so that they which heare not him will not be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16. 31. But unto us God hath raised up a Prophet like unto Moses as he promised Deu. 18. 18. Act. 3. 21. even Iesus the sonne of the Most high a man approved of God among
Burnt offerings of marrowed rammes I will offer up to thee with incense I will make ready beeves with goat-bucks Selah Come heare ye and I will tell all ye that feare God what he hath done to my soule Vnto him I called with my mouth and he was extolled under my tongue If I had seene in my heart painfull iniquitie the Lord would not have heard But surely God hath heard hath attended to the voice of my prayer Blessed be God which hath not turned away my prayer and his mercy from me Annotations SHout to wit with a joyfull or triumphant noise see Psal. 41. 12. all the earth or all the land that is the inhabitants thereof as the Chaldee explaineth So vers 4. and Psal. 98. 4. and 100. 1. and often in the Scripture Vers. 2. put glorie in Greeke give glory to his praise that is make his praise glorious and honourable A like phrase is in Ios. 7. 19. put glory to Iehovah that is give him glory Vers. 3. fearefull is every c. or fearefull art thou in thy works One word singular and another plurall meaneth exactly all and every one as Psal. 57. 2. and 62. 5. falsly deny or l. e that is fainedly submit See Psal. 18. 45. Vers. 4. Let all or All shall Vers. 5. in his doing or in practise the Greek translateth in counsels See Psal. 9. 12. Vers. 6. sea to dry land the red sea God turned to dry land by a strong east wind dividing the waters that Israel might goe thorow it Exod. 14. 21 22. thorow the river Iarden when the banks thereof were full was dried the waters stood still on an heape till all the people went thorow it Ios. 3. 13 14 17. So the Chaldee explaineth it 〈◊〉 the river 〈◊〉 the sonnes of Israel went on their feet there did we rejoyce he teacheth them to apply their fathers deliverances to themselves for all things fore-written are for our learning and use Rom. 15 4. Alike speech another Prophet useth he found him in Rethel and there he spake with us Hos. 12. 4. The Chaldee paraphraseth I will lead them to the mount of the house of the Sanctuary there we will rejoyce in his Word Vers. 7. espie that is watchfully view in the nations that is as Solomon expoundeth it in every place both the evill persons and the good Prov. 15. 3. the rebellious or the off-fallen froward and refractarie persons which exasperate and provoke the Lord to bitternesse as the Greeke here translateth exalt or be exalted puft up in themselves Vers. 8. peoples tribes of Israel called also peâ—ples Act. 4. 27. make to bee heard or cause men to heare sound forth audibly See Psal. 26. 7. Vers. 9. That putteth our soule in life that is first giveth then preserveth life and finally restoreth our dead soules unto life Saving from dangers of death Psal. 30. 4. quickning them that were dead in sinnes Ephes. 2. 1. The Chaldee expounds it the life of the world to comâ— given ouâ—foot to be moved that is suffered our estate to be changed to our ruine So Psal. 38. 17. and 121. 3. See Psal. 15. 5. Vers. 10. as silver is tried Hebr. as to try silver and this meaneth sore afflictions as at large is shewed Ezek. 22. 19 20 21 22. wherefore when God mentioneth lesser trialls he saith Loe I have tried thee but not as silver Isa. 48. 10. Hereby also is meant a purifying from drosle and corruption by afflictions See Mal. 3. 3. Zach. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 7. Vers. 11. straightnes or affliction as the Greek also turneth it but hereby a strait chaine or wringing girt may bee meant such as burthens are tied with to beasts backs Vers. 12. upon our head to use us as beasts for to carry them it meaneth servile subjection See the like in Isa. 51. 23. came into fire and into waters that is passed thorow afflictions of sundry sorts Psal. 32. 6. Ezek. 15. 6 7. Also in Num. 31. 23. those things are said to come into or passe thorow fire which would abide the same without being consumed as metals That sense hath also use here as after is shewed an abundant place or a moist a well watered land where we may drinke our fill The Greeke calleth it a refreshing which well fitteth with the comforts of the Gospell as Act. 3. 29. Vers. 14. opened that is uttered or promised distinctly and seriously as the Greeke saith distinguished for the mouth being opened in vowes signifieth that they may not be called backe Iudg. 11. 35 36. distresse upon me or in my distresse so Psal. 18. 7. and 59. 17. Vers. 15. marrowed rammes that is fat and lusty The word rammes is in Hebrew set after the word incense which may therefore be read the incense or perfume of rams meaning the fat which was burned on the altar And so it may intend peace offerings as before he mentioned burnt offerings See Levit. 3. 9 10 11. compared with Levit. 1. 10 13. The Chaldee expoundeth it incense of spices and sacrifices of Rams make ready or offer as the Greeke interpreteth it The Hebrew word to make or doe is used for dressing or making ready of meat or sacrifices Gen. 18. 8. Iudg. 6. 19. Exod. 10. 25. and 29. 36. Levit. 16. 24. and 22. 23. beeves the Hebrew bakar is the Beefe generally one for many as in Psal. 8. 9. These were the principall sacrifices Lev. 1. 2 10. Ver. 17. under my tongue that is with my tongue or it may be meant of the heart and inward parts which are under the tongue Vers. 18. If I had seene in my heart that is had regarded with it so to see is to behold with a corrupt affection Iob 31. 26. Thus God cannot see evill Habak 1. 13. would not have heard for God heareth not sinners Iohn 9. 31. nor hypocrites Iob 27. 8 9. Prov. 15. 29. The Greeke maketh it a wish Let not the Lord heare me PSAL. LXVII A Prayer for the enlargement of Gods kingdome to the joy of all peoples and increase of Gods blessings To the Master of the Musicke on Neginoth a Psalme a Song GOd be gracious unto us and blesse us he make his face to shine with us Selah That they may know in the earth thy way thy salvation among all the Heathens Peoples shall confesse thee O God peoples all of them shall confesse thee The nations shall rejoyce and shout for thou wilt judge the peoples with righteousnesse and the nations in the earth thou wilt guide them Selah Peoples shall confesse thee O God peoples all of them shall confesse thee The earth yeeldeth her increase God our God will blesse us God will blesse us and all the ends of the earth shall feare him Annotations FAce to shine or to be light that is cheerefull and favourable See Psal. 4. 7. and 31. 17. Vers. 3. That they may know meaning men indefinitely or that thy way may be knowne Gods way is generally his administration
and somtime waneth and seemeth to be gone yet is continually renued and so stable a fit resemblaâ—ce of the throne or Church of Christ which hath not alwaies one face or appearance in the world though it be perpetnall and a witnesse the Moone and perpetuitie of it with the successive course of night and day is made a witnesse of Gods faithfulnesse in his covenant Ierem. 33. 20 21. Christ also himselfe is called a faithfull witnesse Rev. 1. 5. Esay 55. 4. and faithfull meaneth Stedfast as 2 Sam. 7. 16. compared with 1 Chron. 17. 14. and that lyeth not Prov. 14. 5. Vers. 39. But thou or And thou a word of grieâ—e and indignation as Psal. 2. 6. â—â—thaâ— complaineth of the miseries of the Church whereby all the former promises seeme to be frustrated Vers. 40. his crowne or diademe prophaned by casting to the ground Nezer a separation is figuratively used for a crowne or garland such as Kings wore 2 Sam. 1. 10. and high Priests Exod. 29. 6. as being a signe of their separation from others in respect of some dignitie or holinesse and hereof the Nazarites had their name Numb 6. 2 5 7. So Psal. 132. 18 Vers. 42. rob or rifle him meaning Christ in his members for that which is done to any one of them is done unto him Act. 9. 4. Mat. 25. 40 45. Vers. 4â— his brightnesse or puritiâ— that is the splendent glory and dignitie of the kingdome defiled and prophaned by the enemies Vers. 46. daies of his youth of his strength and vigour hastening old age and misery upon him Hos. 7. 9. See the contrarie Psalm 103. 5. Io◠〈◊〉 25. Vers. 48. how transitory or of what worldly time of what short durance See Psalm 39. 6. the Greeke turneth it what my substance is Compare herewith Ioh 10. 9 1â— c. Vers. 49. see death that is die So Luke 2. 26. Psal. 16. 10. The Chaldee saith see the Angell of death the hand of hell the power of the grave or of death See Psal. 49. 16. 10. Vers. 51. of all great peoples or of all the many the multitudes of peoples Vers. 52. the foot-steps or foot-soles that is the wayes life actions and sufferings Psal. 56. 7. and 49. 6. This referred to Christ respecteth the oracle Gen 3. 15. that the Serpent should bruise the foot-sole of the womans seed Referred to Christians which follow his foot-steps in sâ—iffering and dying with him that wee may be glorified with him 1 Pet. 2. 21. Rom. 8. 17. it noteth the scandall of the crosse of Christ to the Iews a stumbling blocke and to the Greekes foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. 23. 1 Pet. 4. 13 14. The Chaldee understands it of the sâ—acknesse of the foot-steps Vers. 53. Blessed be These be words of faith and joy as finding an issue out of the temptation and rejoycing in the midst of tribulation as Rom. 7. 24 25. 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 c. and Amen Thus is this third Booke of the Psalmes also concluded See the notes on Psal. 41. 14. and 72. 19. The fourth Booke PSAL. XC Moses setting forth Gods providence 3 complaineth of humane fragilitie 7 divine chastisements 10 and brevitie of life 12 He prayeth for the knowledge and sensible experience of Gods good providence A prayer of Moses the man of God LOrd thou hast beene to us an habitation in generation and generation Before the mountaines were borne and thou hadst brought forth the earth and the world even from eternitie unto eternitie thou art God Thou turnest sory man unto contrition and sayest returne ye sons of Adam For a thousand yeares in thine eyes are as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night Thou carriest them away with a floud they are as a sleepe in the morning as the grasse that is changed In the morning it flourisheth and is changed at the evening it is cut downe and witheâ—eth For we are consumed in thine anger and in thy wrathfull heat wee are suddenly troubled Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our hidden sins to the light of thy face For all our dayes doe turne away in thine exceeding wrath wee have consumed our yeares as a thought The daies of our years in them are threescore and ten yeares and if they be in strengths fourescore yeares and their pride is molestation and painfull iniquitie for it is cut downe speedily and we flie away Who knoweth the strength of thine anger and according to thy feare thine exceeding wrath To number our dayes so make thou us to know that wee may apply the heart to wildome Returne Iehovah how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servants Satisfie us in the morning with thy mercy that wee may shout and rejoyce in all our daies Make thou us rejoyce according to the daies thou hast afflicted us the yeares wherein we have seene evill Let thy worke appeare unto thy servants and thy comely honour into their sonnes And let the pleasantnesse of Iehovah our God be upon us and the worke of our hands establish thou upon us yea the worke of our hands establish thou it Annotations THe man of God that is the Prophet as Deut. 33. 1. For a Prophet a Seer and a man of God were all one 1 Sam. 9. 6 8 9 10 11. The Chaldee Paraphrast sheweth it here saying A Prayer that Moses the Prophet of the Lord prayed when the people of the house of Israel had sinned in the wildernesse This Psalme hath reference to that history in Numb 14. an habitation or mansion in all our travels in this terrible wildernesse Exod. 33. 14. Deut. 8. 15. and 33. 27. Vers. 2. were borne this and the next word brought forth are similitudes taken from procreation of children to signifie the creation of the world Like speeches are in Job 38. 28 29. of the raine dew ice and frost Vers. 3. unto contrition till he be contrite or broken that is even to death as the Chaldee explaineth it Thou turnest man for his sinne unto death returne the body to the earth Psal. 146. 4. and the spirit to God Eccles. 12. 7. Vers. 4. a watch a ward or custodie which is about three houres space for the Iewes divided the day into twelve houres Ioh. 11. 9. and so the night which they subdivided into foure watches Matt. 14. 15. named the evening midnight cock-crowing and dawning Mark 13. 35. Luke 12. 38 39. Mat. 24. 43. See also Exod. 14. 24. 1 Sam. 11. 11. Vers. 5. a sleepe the Chaldee paraphraseth If they turne not thou wilt bring death upon them which is like a sleepe unto them and in the world to come they shall be changed as the grasse which is cut downe Vers. 6. is changed or changeth to wit the estate thereof that is sprouteth or groweth as the Chaldee explaineth it And so the Hebrew which generally signifieth a change passage or shifting is sometime used for the better to sprout Ioh 14. 7 So to change the strength
silver Psalme 119. 72. yet the doctrine of faith and ordinances of the Gospell with the graces accompanying them here promised are much more excellent and glorious 2 Corinthians 3. 7. 11. Vers. 12. While the King Here the Church speaketh of the fruits and effects of Christs former graces how in her and from her so adorned by her beloved the odour of the spirit of God in her flowed forth and spred abroad to the delight of her selfe and others By the King is meant Christ as in verse 4. by his round table which the Greeke translateth his sitting downe which was wont to be in a round or as in a ring 1 Samuel 16. 11. may bee understood the spirituall banquet of Christ with his Church feeding her with his word and graces as the table of the Lord in Malachy 1. 12. and 1 Corinth 10. 21. signifie the communion betweene him and his people as doth also the supping one with another Revelat. 3. 20. The Spikenard is one of the pleasant fruits in the garden of the Church Song 4. 13. 14. but here it seemeth to be the oyle or ointment made of Spikenard which is very precious which they used to poure out and anoint men with such as Mary anointed our Lord Iesus with as hee sate at table with his friends and the house was filled with the smell or odour of the ointment Iohn 12. 1. 2. 3. Spiritually it signifieth the sweet smelling fruits of repentance faith love prayer thanksgiving c. which the Church sheweth forth by the communion of Christ with her and in speciall of mortification and communion with Christs death buriall and resurrection Romanes 6. 3. 4. 5. c. as that which Marie did unto Christ was to anoint his body to the burying Marke 14. 8. Iohn 12. 7. Vers. 13. A bundle or A bagge of myrrh by myrrh is meant the sweet gumme that issueth from the myrrh tree which is gathered and bound up in bagges it was the first of the chiefe spices whereof the holy anointing oyle in the Sanctuary was made Exodus 30. 23. and that holy ointment figured the gâ—aces of the Spirit poured out upon Christ and by him upon his Church Esay 61. 1. Psalme 45. 8. 1 Iohn 2. 20. See the annotations on Exodus 30. 26. With myrrh and aloes the dead body of our Lord Iesus was imbalmed Iohn 19. 39. and with it the wisemen honoured him at his birth Matt. 2. Hereby the Church professeth her spirituall comfort which shee had in Christ taking our humanity filled with the Spirit of God without measure dying for her sinnes and rising againe for her justification the feeling whereof is as a sweet odour unto the beleeving heart A bundle or bagge is for to keepe safe things that are of worth as The Joule of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Iehovah thy God 1 Samuel 25. 29. So by this bag of myrrh shee signifieth her care to injoy and possesse the benefits of Christ and of his death to the remission of her sinnes which for his sake are all cast into the depths of the sea Mic. 7. 19. which otherwise without him should bee sealed up in a bag and reserved against her for punishment Iob. 14. 17. my welbeloved that is Christ whom she thus calleth not because she loved him but he loved her and gave himselfe to bee the propitiation for her sinnes whereupon she againe loveth him because hee loved her first 1 Iohn 4. 10. 19. So shee glorieth not in her owne righteousnesse but in that which her beloved is unto her who of God is made unto her wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Welbeloved in Hebrew Dod is written with the same letters that David whose name also signified Beloved hee was a figure of Christ and his father after the flesh Romanes 1. 3. and Christ is often called David as in Ier. 30. 9. Ezek. 34. 23. and 37. 24. Hos. 3. 5. unto mee A speech of faith applying the promises and graces of Christ unto her owne soule as the Apostle also teacheth by his owne example Gal. 2. 19. 20. he shall lye all night or he shall lodge shall abide The night usually signifieth the time of darknesse and affliction wherefore shee meaneth that Christ with his consolations should bee her continuall joy and comfort whom shee would hold fast by faith against all tentations and troubles of this present life and solace her selfe in him betwixt my brests dwelling in my heart by faith Ephes. 3. 17. The brests signifie also the ministery of the Church feeding the Saints with the sincere milke of the word that they may grow thereby 1 Peter 2. 2. whereupon the Prophet saith Rejoyce yee with Ierusalem c. that ye may sucke and be satisfied with the brests of her consolations that yee may milke out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory Esay 66. 10. 11. Vers. 14. A cluster of Cypres or of Camphire which is a sweet gumme but Cypres is a tree whose fruit groweth in clusters and is also sweet The Hebrew name Copher from which Caphura or Camphire as also the Cypres tree seemeth to bee derived usually signifieth Atenement Propitiation or Redemption according to which interpretation the holy Ghost here may have reference to the worke and fruit of Christs death whereby he became a cluster of redemption unto his Church being a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1 Iohn 2. 2. the sweetnesse whereof is resembled by a cluster which is of many berries compact together of the sweet Cypres for that his blood cleanseth us from all sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7. and is accompanied with all other graces Engeds the name of a place in the land of Cannan which fell to the tribe of Iudah and being neere the sea and watered with springs was a fruitfull soile for gardens and vineyards Iosua 15. 62. Ezek. 47. 10. it was called also Hazazon Tamar 2 Chr. 20. 2. where the enemies comming against Ichosaphat hee prayed unto God and was delivered Which victory may also be respected here as a figure of the victories which the Church obtaineth by faith in Christ. Vers. 15. thou art faire Christ here speaketh to his Church commending her beauty which she hath by his sanctification and cleansing with the washing of the water by the word Ephes. 5. 26. 27. as also by her constitution and order as mount Zion was beautifull for situation Psalm 48. 2. Of Tyrus a city of merchandise it is said Thy builders have perfected thy beauty Ezek. 27. 4. and of her Ancients wisemen mariners merchants men of warre c. it is likewise said they have made thy beauty perfect Ezekiel 27. 9. 10. 11. and in Ezek. 28. 7. he mentioneth the beauty of wisedome So the city and Church of God being builded by the doctrine of the Gospell furnished with men of gifts and graces and endued with wisedome from on high is truly faire and beautifull