to turn the hearts of the Israelites to himself as he desired but God for Wise and Just Reasons saw fit to deny and after the wind and earthquake but the LORD was not in the earthquake 12 And after the earthquake a fire but the LORD was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice z Wherein it is implied That God was present Which peradventure was to insinuate that God would do his Work in and for Israel in his own time not by might or power but by his own spirit Zech. 4. 6. which moves with a Powerful but yet with a sweet and gentle Gale 13 And it was so when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle a Through horror and dread of Gods presence being sensible that he was neither worthy nor able to endure the sight of God with open face Compare Gen. 16. 13. Exod. 3. 6. and went out and stood in the entring in of the cave b Which God commanded him to do and as he was going towards the mouth of the Cave he was affrighted and stopped in his course by the dreadful Wind and Earthquake and Fire and when these were past he prosecutes his Journey and goeth on to the mouth of the Cave and there stands still Or the words may be rendred After as Vau is elsewhere used he was gone out and standing in the mouth of the cave which may be mentioned as the reason why he covered his Face because now he wanted the shelter of the Cave and behold there came a voice unto him and said What dost thou here Elijah 14 And he said c What before he spake by an Angel he now speaks to him again immediately I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant thrown down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword and I even I onely am left and they seek my life to take it away 15 And the LORD said unto him Go return on thy way d By which thou camest for so in part lay the way from Horeb to Damascus to the wilderness of Damascus and when thou comest anoint Hazael to be king over Syria e Anoint Either First Figuratively i. e. appoint or declare him King which was done 2 King 8. 12. For this word is oft used of them who were Anointed with Oil Psal. 45. 7. Isa. 45. 1. and 61. 1. Zech. 4. 14. Dan. 9. 24. Or Secondly Properly which might be done though it be not related Again anoint either by thy self or by another for so he Anointed Iehu by Elisha 2 King 9. 1 6. 16 And * 2 Kin. 9. 1 23. Jehu the son of Nimshi f i. e. His Grand-Son for he was the son of Iehoshaphat 2 King 9. 2. shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel and * Luk. 4. 27. called Elizeus Elisha g Whom he Constituted Prophet by casting his Mantle over him here v. 19. the son of Shaphat of Abel-Meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room 17 And it shall come to pass that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay h Here the order of times seems to be perverted for Elisha was Prophet before Iehu or Hazael were Kings and Hazael was King before Iehu But that is of no moment as to the substance of the thing threatned which is onely this That one or other of these should infallibly execute Gods Judgments upon the Apostatical Israelites Elisha is said to slay them either because he slew those 42 Children 2 King 2. 24. besides others whom upon like occasions he might destroy or because he by Gods appointment inflicted the Famine 2 King 6. 31. or rather by the Sword which came out of his mouth as Isa. 49. 2. Revel 1. 16. and 19. 15 21. by his cutting-Prophecies and threatnings of Gods Judgments the Prophets being said to pull down and to destroy what they onely declare and foretel shall be pulled down c. Hazael began to slay them before Iehu was King 2 King 8. 28. though his cruelty was much increased afterward 2 King 10. 32. and 13. 1 2 3. and Iehu destroyed those whom Hazael did not as King Ioram himself and Ahaziah and his 42 Brethren 2 King 9. 24 27. and 10. 14. all the near Relations of wicked Ahab 18 * Rom. 11. 4. Yet ‖ Or I will leave I have left i Or I have reserved to my self I have by my Grace kept from the common contagion therefore thou art mistaken to think that thou art left alone or that the People are universally corrupted Or I trill reserve from the slaughters last mentioned and from Iezabel's Rage me seven thousand k Either definitely so many or ratheâ—… indefinitely for many thousands the number of seven being oft used for a great number as Lev. 26. 18. Psal. 12. 6. Mic. 5. 5. Zech. 3. 9. Luk. 17. 4. For it is altogether improbable that all the Israelites except 7000 did worship Baal except Baal be here Synecdochically put for all their Idols and the Calves among others in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him l i. e. All those who have not worshipped Baal nor professed reverence or subjection to him which Idolaters did to their Idols by bowing the Knee Rom. 11. 4. compare Rom. 14. 11. Phil. 2. 10. and by kissing them or by kissing their hand with their mouth before them and in respect to them of which mention is made both in Scripture as Iob 31. 26 27. Hos. 13. 2. compare Psal. 2. 12. and in Pliny Apuleiâ—…s and other profane Authors And God chuseth these expressions here to teach men that it is not sufficient to deny inward veneration of mind and heart to Idols unless they do also forbear all outward significations of worship or reverence to them and that he will own none for his People that do otherwise 19 ¶ So he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat who was plowing with twelve â—…oke of oxen before him and he with the twelfth m Who had twelve Ploughs going whereof eleven were managed by his Servants and the last by himself according to the simplicity and humility of those Ancient times in which men of good Worth and Estate submitted themselves to the meanest employments and Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him n By that Ceremony conferring upon him the Office of a Prophet which God was pleased to accompany with the Gifts and Graces of his Spirit wherewith he endowed and qualified him for it The Mantle was the usual Habit of the Prophets See 2 King 1. 8. Zech. 13. 4. But whether he did also Anoint him is uncertain See the Note on v. 16. 20 And he left the oxen and ran
and it shall be unto me as Ariel f The Sense is Either 1. I will treat Her like a strong and fierce Lion which the People among whom it is indeavour by Nets or Pits and all other ways to take and to destroy Or. 2. I will make Ariel the City like Ariel the Altar filling it with Sacrifices even with Men whom I will Slay in my Anger which Act of God's is called his Sacrifice Ezek. 39. 17 19. 3. And I will camp against thee ‖ Or with an army round about and will lay siege against thee g By those Enemies whom I will assist and enable to Destroy thee This was fulfilled Either 1. by Sennacherib as some Learned Men think But what is here affirmed of these Enemies is expresly denied concerning Sennacherib Isa. 37. 33. or rather 2. by the Chaldeans 2 Kings 25. 1. c. ‖ Or with a setled camp or leaguer with a mount and I will raise forts against thee 4. And thou shalt be brought down and shalt speak out of the ground and thy speech shall be low out of the dust h Thou who now speakest so loftily and scornfully against the Lord's Prophets and others shalt be humbled and confounded afraid ashamed to speak aloud shalt in a submiss manner and with a low Voice beg the favour of thine Enemies and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit out of the ground z Who that they might possess the People with a kind of Reverence and Horror used to speak and deliver their Answers with a low Voice either out of their Bellies or from some dark Cave under the ground and thy speech shall †Heb. peep or chirp Chap. 8 19. whisper out of the dust 5. Moreover the multitude of thy strangers a Either 1. of the Strangers that Encamp and Fight against thee Or 2. of the Egyptians and other Strangers whom thou hast hired to assist thee as indeed they did when the Chaldeans came against them This Exposition seems to agree best as with the phrase thy strangers so with the scope of the place and with the whole Context especially the foregoing Verses which plainly shews that this is not a Promise to Ierusalem but a Threatning against it shall be like small dust b Quickly blown away with the least Wind by comparing this with the following Clause and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be * Job 21. 18. Chap. 17. 13. as chaff that passeth away yea it shall be c This dissipation and destruction of thy Strangers and terrible Ones shall come to pass at * Chap. 30. 13. an instant suddenly b Of thy great Commanders and stoutest Souldiers 6. Thou d Thou O Ariel or Ierusalem of or to whom this whole Context manifestly speaks shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire e With dreadful Judgments which are frequently expressed in the Prophets by these and such like Metaphors 7. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel even all that fight against her and her munition and that distress her shall be as a dream of a night vision f Wherein it shall be so is explained in the next Verse 8. It shall even be as when a hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty g His appetite or desire as the soul is taken Psal. 41. 4. and 78. 18. and elsewhere is unsatisfied Or his stomack or body as the soul is used Psal. 16. 10. is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint and his soul hath appetite so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against mount Zion h No less unsatisfied and insatiable shall the Enemies of the Iews be with all the Cruelties which they have committed against you and they shall be alwayes thirsting after more of your Blood as if they had never tasted any of it 9. Stay your selves and wonder i Pause upon it and you will see cause to wonder at the stupidity of this People of which he is now about to speak He directeth his Speech either to the Religious part of the People or to those particular persons who heard him when he delivered this Prophecy ‖ Or take your pleasure and riot cry ye out and cry k Cry out again and again either in way of Supplication for them or rather through Astonishment and Horror Or They take pleasure or sport themselves as this word most commonly signifies and riot In the midst of all these Threatnings and Dangers they are secure and give up themselves to sensuality which is matter of just wonder they are drunken but not with wine l But either 1. With drinking the Cup of God's fury wherewith they are said to be made drunk Isa. 51. 17 20. And then they are drunk is put for they shall be drunk after the manner of the Prophets Or 2. With the spirit of giddiness or stupidity which makes them like drunken Men insensible of their Danger and not knowing what to do they stagger but not with strong drink 10. For * Rom. 11. 8. the LORD hath poured out upon you m Which Phrase notes the plenty and vehemency of this Judgment the spirit of dead sleep n Hardness of heart and insensibleness of your Danger and Misery which God is said to send because He denies or withdraws His Light and Grace which alone can cure those Maladies and hath closed your eyes the prophets and your †Heb. heads rulers the seers o Your Magistrates and Ministers whose blindness or stupidity is a great Curse and Plague to the people Or the Prophets even the chief for the head is oft put for the chief of persons or things as Exod. 30. 23. 1 Chron. 12. 18. and elsewhere of your seers hath he covered p With the veil of ignorance and stupidity or as to their Eyes which is understood out of the former Clause And this last Clause is and may be rendred thus The Eyes which may be repeated out of the foregoing Clause of your Prophets and of or even of your principal seers or and of your most intelligent rulers hath he covered 11. And the vision of all q Of all your Prophets whether the true of false Ones is become unto you as the words of a ‖ Or letter book that is sealed r In which no Man can read whilst it is scaled up as books then sometimes were 1 Kings 21. 8. Esth. 3. 12 13. being made in the form of Rolls which was convenient for that purpose which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed 12. And
but onely bids him turn his Prayer into action Compare Ios. 7. 10 13. Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward 16 But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the Sea and divide it t i. e. Do thou command it in my name to divide it self hither and thither and I will divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea 17 And I behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians and they shall follow them and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh and upon all his host upon his chariots and upon his horsemen 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh upon his chariots and upon his horsemen 19 And the Angel of God * chap. 13. 21. which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them u Not changing his place for he was the omnipresent God ver 15. but his operation from leading the Israelites forward in their way to the protecting of them from their pursuers and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel and * See Isa. 8. 14. 1 Cor. 10. 1. it was a cloud and darkness to them x viz. The Egyptians to whom it brought their former horrible darkness to mind and did both exceedingly affright them and altogether hinder them from motion or action as that also did for three dayes but it gave light by night to these ‖ To the Israelites as the opposition sheweth so that the one came not near the other all the night 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the Sea and the LORD caused the Sea to go back by a strong East-wind y A proper instrument both to divide that Sea which lay North and South and to dry and harden the mud at the bottom of the Sea that the Israelites might walk upon it See Gen. 8. 13. Exod. 15. 8. Yet the Wind could never have done so great a work especially not so speedily if there had not been an higher even a divine hand to manage and improve it all that night and made the sea dry land and the waters were * Josh. 3. 16. 4. 23. Nehem. 9. 11. Psal. 106. 9. and 114. 3. divided z So largely that a great number of the Israelites might march in one rank and the whole number might go a good way in it in the time here mentioned 22 And * Num. 33. 8. Psal. 78. 13. 1 Cor. 10. 1. Heb. 11. 29. the children of Israel went a About midnight as may be gathered from ver 24. into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground and the waters were a wall b Both for height and for their defence unto them on their right hand and on their left 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea even all Pharaohs horses his chariots and his horsemen 24 And it came to pass that in the morning-watch c The night was antiently divided not by hours as now it is but by watches which sometimes were accounted four and sometimes but three Howsoever the last of them was called the morning-watch Then when they hoped for most advantage in the pursuit they met with their greatest disaster the LORD d Called the Angel of God ver 19. By which promiscuous use of these Titles it sufficiently appears that this was no ordinary Angel but the Son of God looked e With an eye of indignation and vengeance as that phrase is used Iob 40. 12. See also Amos 9. 4. unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled f With most terrible and prodigious Winds and Rains and Lightnings and both claps and bolts of Thunder as may be gathered from Exod. 15. 10. Psal. 77. 18 19. and as some antient Historians relate with terrours also in their minds c. the host of the Egyptians 25 And took off their chariot-wheels g Either burning them with Lightning or tearing them in pieces with Thunder-bolts or loosening them and making them to fall off ‖ Or made them to go heavily that they drave them heavily h Heb. and he made him or them the singular number for the plural i. e. The Egyptians or their Chariots to go heavily hardly and slowly either for want of wheels or for breaches in them or because the Rain had softened the bottom of the Sea or because the lightnings and Thunders affrighted and dispirited their Horses so that the Egyptians said let us flee from the face of Israel for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians i Prodigious stupidity They did not understand nor consider this though it was notorious to them especially by many great and fresh instances till it was too late to prevent it therein being a Type of most sinners who will not be convinced nor repent till they be past all benefit by it 26 And the LORD said unto Moses stretch out thine hand over the sea that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians upon their chariots and upon their horsemen 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea and the sea returned to his strength k To its natural and ordinary course and motion which is swift and strong from which it had been hitherto restrained by a stronger hand and rendred in a manner impotent and weaâ—… But now Sampson-like when its bonds are broken it puts forth its former and natural strength But indeed this word may belong to the morning and so a learned man translates the place and that very agreeably to the use and order of the Hebrew words the Sea returned to wit to its course when the morning appeared according to or in his strength i. e. when it was full and clear morning as we oft read of the strength of the day See Gen. 7. 13. Iob 21. 23. So the strength of the morning is here opposed to the morning-watch when the morning appeared and the Egyptians fled against it l Against the Sea for which way soever they fled the waters met them and fought against them and the LORD †Heb. shook off Deut. 11. 4. overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea 28 And the * Hab. 3. 8 10. waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them m i. e. After the Children of Israel Note here the relative is put without an antecedent before it the antecedent being to be understood and gathered out of the following verse or out of the course of the story An observation which is very useful for the understanding of many Scriptures See the note on Gen. 3.
course seems to be onely this That God would reduce them to a very small number which was likely to be done by this means for the Season of the year being hot and the generality of the Soldiers weary and thirsty and faint they would most probably bow down upon their Knees that they might more fully refresh themselves by a liberal draught as indeed they did and it could be expected that there would be but few who either could or would deny themselves in this matter especially when God concurred in the work and so disposed of the Minds and Bodies of them that all except Three Hundred should lye down to drink 6 And the number of them that lapped putting their hand to their mouth h Taking up a little water in the Palm of their Hands to put into their mouths were three hundred men but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you and deliver the Midianites into thine hand and let all the other people go every man unto his place i i. e. To his own honie as Numb 24. 11. 8 So the people took victuals in their hand and their trumpets k i. e. The Trumpets belonging to the whole Army even to those who were gone away which he retained for the use here following See v. 16. and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent and retained those three hundred men and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley 9 ¶ And it came to pass the same night l After he had dismissed all but the Three Hundred that the LORD said unto him m In a Dream oâ—… Vision of the Night Arise get thee down unto the host for I have delivered it into thine hand 10 But if thou fear to go down n To wit without some farther assurance of thy Success I will condescend so far to thee as to give thee another Sign go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host 11 And thou shalt hear what they say and afterward shall thine hands be strengthned o Thou wilt be encouraged to proceed notwithstanding the smallness of thy number which may deter thee to go down unto the host Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the out-side ‖ Or of ranks by five of the armed men that were in the host 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and * Chap. 6. 5 33. and 8. 10. all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grashoppers for multitude and their camels were without number as the sand by the sea-side for multitude 13 And when Gideon was come behold there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow and said Behold I dreamed a dream and lo a cake of barley bread p A weak and contemptible thing and in it self as unable to overthrow a Tent as to remove a Mountain but being thrown by a Divine hand bore down all before it which fitly resembled Gideon's case which was mean and despicable as himself â—…aith Iudg. 6. 15. yet he was Mighty through God to destroy the Midianites tumbled into the host of Midian and came unto a tent and smote it that it fell and overturned it that the tent lay all along 14 And his fellow answered and said This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash a man of Israel q As there are many examples of significant Dreams given by God to Heathens as Gen. 41. Dan. 2. and 4. so some of them had the gift of Interpreting Dreams which they sometimes did by Study and Art and sometimes by Divine direction in this case for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all his host 15 And it was so when Gideon heard the telling of the dream r Which he understood though spoken in the Midianitish Language either because it was near akin to the Hebrew being onely a differing Dialect of it or because the Israelites had now been accustomed to the Midianites Company and Discourse for seven years and ‡ Hâ—…b the breaking thereof the interpretation thereof that he worshipped s He praised God for this Miraculous Work and special encouragement whereby he was confirmed in his enterprise and returned into the host of Israel and said Arise for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies t To make a shew of a vast Army encompassing them and he put ‡ Heb. trumpets in the hand of all of them a trumpet in every mans hand with empty pitchers and ‖ Or firebrands or torches lamps u Or Torches made of such materials as would quickly take Fire and keep it for some time within the pitchers x Partly to preserve the Flame from the violence of Wind and Weather and partly to conceal it and surprise their Enemy with sudden and unexpected Flashes of Light 17 And he said unto them Look on me and do likewise y For though 200 of his men were placed on other sides of the Camp yet they were so disposed that some person or persons set as Watch-men might see what was done and give notice to the rest to follow the Example and behold when I come to the outside of the camp it shall be that as I do so shall ye do 18 When I blow with a trumpet I and all that are with me then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and say The sword ‡ Heb. for the LORD and Gideon of the LORD and of Gideon z He mentions his own Name together with Gods not out of vain ostentation or arrogance as if he would equal himself with God for he mentions God in the first and chief place and himself onely as his Minister but from prudent Policy because his Name was grown formidable to them and so was likely to further his Design and their Fight as it did 19 ¶ So Gideon and the hundred men that were with him came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch a i. e. Of the second Watch for though afterwards the night was divided into four Watches by the Romans Mat. 14. 25. yet in more ancient times and in the Eastern parts it was divided into three He chose the dark and dead of the night to increase their Terror by the Trumpets whose sound would then be loudest and best heard and the Lamps whose light would then shine most brightly and seem biggest to surprise them at disadvantage and to conceal the smallness of their numbers and they had but newly set the watch and they blew the trumpets and brake the pitchers that were in their hands 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets and brake the pitchers and
God of my rock in him will I trust he is my shield and the horn of my salvation my high tower and my refuge my saviour thou savest me from violence 4 I will call on the LORD who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from mine enemies 5 When the ‖ Or pangs waves of death compassed me the floods of ‡ Heb. Belial ungodly men made me afraid 6 The ‖ Or cords sorrows of hell compassed me about the sâ—…ares of death prevented me 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried to my God and he did hear my voice out of his temple and my cry did enter into his ears 8 Then the earth shook and trembled the foundations of heaven moved and shook because he was wroth 9 There went up a smoke ‡ Heb. by out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it 10 He bowed the heavens also and came down and darkness was under his feet 11 And he rode upon a cherub and did flie and he was seen upon the wings of the wind 12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him ‡ Heb. binding of waters dark waters and thick clouds of the skies 13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled 14 The LORD thundred from heaven and the most High uttered his voice 15 And he sent out arrows and scattered them lightning and discomfited them 16 And the chanels of the sea appeared the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuking of the LORD at the blast of the breath of his nostrils 17 He sent from above he took me he drew me out of ‖ Or great many waters 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them that hated me for they were too strong for me 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity but the LORD was my stay 20 He brought me forth also into a large place he delivered me because he delighted in me 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God 23 For all his judgments were before me and as for his statutes I did not depart from them 24 I was also ‖ Or perfect upright ‡ Heb. to him before him and have kept my self from mine iniquity 25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness according to my cleanness ‡ Heb. before his eyes in his eye-sight 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful and with the upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt ‖ Or wrestle Psal. 18. 20. shew thy self unsavoury 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save but thine eyes are upon the haughty that thou mayest bring them down 29 For thou art my ‖ Or candle lamp O LORD and the LORD will lighten my darkness 30 For by thee I have ‖ Or broken a troop run through a troop by my God have I leaped over a wall 31 As for God his way is perfect the word of the LORD is ‖ Or refined tried he is a buckler to all them that trust in him 32 For who is God save the LORD and who is a rock save our God 33 God is my strength and power and he ‡ Heb. riddeth or looseth maketh my way perfect 34 He ‡ Heb. equalleth maketh my feet like hinds feet and setteth me upon my high places 35 He teacheth my hands ‡ Heb. for the war to war so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation and ‡ Heb. thy hearkning to me So Gr. thy gentleness hath ‡ Heb. multiplied me made me great 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me so that my ‡ Heb. ankles feet did not slip 38 I have pursued mine enemies and destroyed them and turned not again until I had consumed them 39 And I have consumed them and wounded them that they could not arise yea they are fallen under my feet 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battel them that rose up against me hast thou ‡ Heb. caused to bow subdued under me 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies that I might destroy them that hate me 42 They looked but there was none to save even unto the LORD but he answered them not 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth I did stamp them as the mire of the street and did spread them abroad 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen a people which I knew not shall serve me 45 ‡ Heb. sons of the stranger Strangers shall ‖ Or yield feigned obedience ‡ Heb. lie submit themselves unto me assoon as they hear they shall be obedient unto me 46 Strangers shall fade away and they shall be afraid out of their close places 47 The LORD liveth and blessed be my rock and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation 48 It is God that ‡ Heb. giveth avengement for me avengeth me and that bringeth down the people under me 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee O LORD among * Rom. 15. 9. the heathen and I will sing praises unto thy name 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king and sheweth mercy to his anointed unto David and * Chap. 7. 12. to his seed for evermore CHAP. XXIII NOw these be the last words of David a Not simply the last that he spoke but some of the last uttered in his last days upon the approach of his death or the last which he spake by the Spirit of God assisting and directing him in an extraordinary manner David the son of Jesse said and the man who was raised up on high b Advanced from an obscure Family and Estate to the Kingdom the anointed of the God of Jacob c Whom though despised by Men and rejected by his own Brethren God himself singled out from all his Fathers House and out of all the Families and Tribes of Israel and anointed to be King and the sweet psalmist of Israel d Or sweet or delightful or amiable in the Songs of Israel Either First As the object of them he whom the people of Israel mentioned in their Songs with joy and praise as when they Sung Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands and many others which doubtless they made and Sung concerning him upon
I despair No I will not I know he is a just and a faithful and merciful God and he knows that mine Heart is upright before him and that I am no Hypocrite but c Though I will trust in him yet I will humbly expostulate the matter with him I will †Heb. prove or argue maintain mine own ways d I will argue or prove or demonstrate my ways i. e. I will make a full free Confession of the whole course of my Life and I will boldly though submissively assert mine own Integrity which he also will I doubt not acknowledge And what I have done amiss I will as freely confess and make Supplication to my judge for the pardon of it before him e Before his Tribunal for I desire no other Judge but him 16. He also shall be or is my Salvation f I rest assured that he will save me out of these miseries sooner or later one way or other if not with a temporal yet with an eternal Salvation after Death of which he speaks Ch. 19. 25 c. for g Or but as this particle commonly signifies for this Clause is put by way of opposition to the former and the sense is But if I were an Hypocrite as you alledge I durst not present my self before him to plead my Cause with him as now I desire to do nor could I hope for any Salvation from or with him in Heaven an Hypocrite shall not come before him 17. Hear diligently my Speech h This he desired before v. 6. and now repeateth either because they manifested some neglect or dislike of his Speech and some desire to interrupt him Or because he now comes more closely to his business the foregoing Verses being mostly in way of Preface to it and my declaration i i. e. The words whereby I declare my Mind with your Ears 18. Behold now I have ordered my †Heb. judgment Cause k To wit within my self I have seriously and sincerely considered the state of my case and what can be said either for me or against me and am ready to plead my Cause I know that I shall be justified l i. e. Acquitted by God from that Hypocrisie and Wickedness wherewith you charge me and declared a righteous and innocent person humane Infirmities excepted 19. Who is he that will plead with me m Where is the man that will do it Nay Oh that God would do it which here he implies and presently expresseth For now if I hold my Tongue I shall give up the Ghost n My grief for Gods heavy Hand and for your bitter Reproaches would break my Heart if I should not give it vent 20. Only do not Two things unto me o Which Two he expresseth v. 21. then will I not hide my self from thee p Then shall I boldly present my self and Cause before thee 21. * Ch. 9. 34 35. 33. 7. Withdraw thine hand far from me q i. e. Suspend my Torments during the time of my pleading with thee that my Mind may be at liberty and let not thy dread make me afraid r Do not present thy self to me in terrible Majest neither deal with me in rigorous Justice but hear me meekly as one man heareth another and plead with me upon those gracious Terms wherewith thou usest to deal with Mankind 22. Then call thou and I will answer or let me speak and answer thou me s Then chuse thy own Method Either do thou charge me with Hypocrisie or more than common Guilt and I will deâ—…end my self Or I will argue with thee concerning thy extraordinary severity towards me and do thou â—…hew me the reasons of it This proposal savoured of too great self-confidence and of Irreverence towards God for which and such like Speeches he is reproved by God Ch. 38. 2 3. 40. 2. 23. How many are mine Iniquities and sins t That I am a sinner I confess but that I am guilty of so many or such heinous Crimes as my Friends suppose I utterly deny and if I be so do thou O Lord discover it to my shame Make me to know my transgression and my Sin u If peradventure my heart deceive me therein for I am not conscious to my self of any enormous crime 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy Face x i. e. Withdrawest thy favour and help which thou didst use to afford me as this Phrase is commonly used as Deut. 31. 17. Psal. 13. 1. 102. 2. c. and * Deut. 32. 20. Ruth 1 21. Ch. 16. 9. 19. 11. 33. 10. holdâ—…st me for thine Enemy y i. e. Dealest as harshly with me as if I were thy professed Enemy 25. * Isa. 42. 3. Wilt thou break a Leaf driven to and fro And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble z Doth it become thy infinite and excellent Majesty to use all thy might to crush such a poor impotent frail Creature as I am that can no more resist thy Power than a Leaf or a little loose and dry straw can resist the fury of the Wind or Fire 26. For thou writest a i. e. Thou appointest or inflictest A Metaphor from Princes or Judges who antiently used to write their Sentences or Decrees concerning Persons or Causes brought before them See Psal. 149. 9. Ier. 22. 30. Ioh. 19. 22. bitter things b i. e. A terrible Sentence or most grievous punishments against me and * Psa. 25. 7. makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth c Thou dost now at once bring upon me the punishment of all my sins not excepting those of my Youth which because of the Folly and weakness of that Age are usually excused or winked at or at least but gently punished 27. * Chap 〈◊〉 11. Thou puttest my Feet also in the stocks d Thou encompassest me with thy Judgments that I may have no way or possibility to escape and †Heb. observest lookest narrowly unto all my Paths e When thou hast me fast in Prison thou makest a strict and diligent search into all the actions of my life that thou mâ—…ist find matter to condemn me thou settest a Print upon the †Heb. roots Heels of my Feet f i. e. Thou followest me close at the Heels either to observe my Actions or to pursue me with thy Judgments so that thou dost oft tread upon my Heels and leave the prints of thy Footsteps upon them 28. And he g Either 1. Man or Iob supposed to be Gods Adversary in this contest So he speaks of himself in the third Person as is usual in this and other sacred Books So the Sense is He i. e. this poor frail Creature this Carkass or Body of mine which possibly he pointed aâ—… with his Finger consumeth or pineth away c. So he mentions here the effect of Gods severe proceedings against him to
accurately understands their several natures and operations 2. That he hath a Soveraign power over them as men have over their children or servants or souldiers whom they can call by name that he appointeth and governeth all their motions and influences to the fulfilling of his own pleasure and purposes 5 Great is our LORD and of great power †Heb. of his understanding there is no number his understanding is infinite 6 * Psal. 146. 9. The LORD lifteth up the meek he casteth the wicked down to the ground 7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving sing praises upon the harp unto our God 8 * 〈◊〉 104. 13 â—… Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth rain for the earth who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains 9 * 〈◊〉 38. 41. 〈◊〉 104. 27 〈◊〉 â—… 136. 25. He giveth to the beast his food ‖ 〈◊〉 â—…5 15. and to the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 38. 4. young ravens g Which he mentions partly because they were most contemptible especially to the Jews to whom they were unclean and forbidden for food partly because they are greedy and voracious and partly because they are not onely neglected by men but also forsaken by their dams as soon as ever they can flie and so are wholly left to the care and keeping of Divine providence which cry 10 * 〈◊〉 33. 16. 〈◊〉 1. 7. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man h As if he needed either the one or the other for the accomplishment of his designs 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy i That believingly and patiently expect and seek relief and happiness from God alone and from his meer grace and mercy and not from any creature nor from their own merits 12 Praise the LORD O Jerusalem praise thy God O Zion 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates k Thy strength consists not in thy walls and gates and bars but in his protection he hath blessed thy children within thee 14 †〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 thy borâ—… 〈◊〉 He maketh peace in thy borders l In all thy land even to its utmost borders which are most liable to the incursion of enemies and * 〈◊〉 132. 15. filleth thee with the †〈◊〉 â—…at of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 16. finest of the wheat 15 He sendeth forth his commandment m Which is sufficient without any instruments to execute whatsoever pleaseth him either in works of nature or of providence upon earth his word runneth very swiftly n The thing is done without delay or difficulty 16 He giveth snow like wool o Not onely in colour and shape and softness but also in use keeping the fruits of the earth warm he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes p In colour and smalness of parts as also in its burning quality 17 He casteth forth his ice q Either 1. pieces of ice which God may be said to cast forth or to cast down because he sendeth it and oft-times suddenly or 2. great hail-stones which are of an icy nature and substance and which are very properly cast forth or cast down out of the clouds and that like morsels or fragments the particles being congealed in them like morsels who can stand before his cold r The cold which he sometimes sends into the air is so sharp that it would be intolerable if men did not defend themselves from it by houses cloaths fire c. 18 He sendeth out his word and melteth them he causeth his †〈◊〉 spirit 〈◊〉 40. 7. wind s The Southern or some other warm wind sent with commission to dissolve the ice to blow and the waters flow t The rivers return to their course which before were bound up by or turned into ice 19 He sheweth †Heb. his 〈◊〉 his word u He fully declared his mind and will by revelation and in his word unto Jacob x To the children of Iacob or Israel and to them alone as it follows his statutes and his judgments unto Israel 20 * 〈◊〉 Rom 3. 42. He hath not dealt so with any nation y He left all others to their own native darkness and blindness and to those dim discoveries of God and of themselves which they had from the light of Nature and as for his judgments they have not known them Praise ye the LORD PSAL. CXLVIII The nature of this Psalm is for substance the same with the former containing an invitation to all the creatures to praise God for his manifold blessings 1 †〈◊〉 Halleluâ—… PRaise ye the LORD Praise ye the LORD from the heavens a All the host of Heaven which he particularly expresseth in the following verses praise him in the heights b In those high and heavenly places 2 * Psal. 103. 20 21. Praise ye him all his Angels c He inviteth the Angels here and the senseless creatures afterward to praise God not as if the former needed or the latter were capable of his exhortation but onely by a Poetical rapture the design whereof is that men by this means might be more provoked to this duty praise ye him all his hosts d The Angels called hosts here and 1 Kings 22. 19. for their vast numbers exquisite order and perfect subjection to their General the Lord of hosts 3 Praise ye him sun and moon e You which are adored by the blind Heathens for gods you are but his creatures and therefore were obliged if you were capable to worship and praise him for your glorious light and powerful influences praise him all ye stars of light 4 Praise him ye heavens of heavens f Ye highest and most glorious Heavens the place of Gods Throne and glorious presence as this phrase is used Deut. 10. 14. 1 Kings 8. 27. Neh. 9. 6. Psal. 115. 16. Or ye starry Heavens which also may well be so called because they are above the air which is oft called Heaven in Scripture and ye waters that be above the heavens g Ye clouds which are above a part of the Heavens Of which see on Gen. 1. 7. 5. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for * Gen. 1. 1 6. Psal. 33. 9. he commanded and they were created h They owe their being wholly to Gods good will 6 * Psal. 89. 37. 119. 90 91. Jer. 31. 35 36. He hath also established them for ever and ever i Either absolutely as to the substance of them or at least to the end of the world He hath made them constant and incorruptible not changeable and perishing as the things of the lower world are he hath made a decree k Either concerning their several courses and influences or rather for their continuance for ever which best agrees with the foregoing and
following words which shall not pass l Which decree shall never be made void 7 Praise the LORD from the earth ye dragons m Either 1. dragons and serpents which abide in the deep caverns and holes of the earth or 2. whales or other Sea-monsters which dwell in the depths of the Sea which are oft called by this name as Iob 7. 12. Ezek. 29. 3. and elsewhere as the word here rendred deeps is most commonly used concerning the Sea and all deeps 8 Fire n Lightnings and other fire-works of the air and hail snow and vapor o Or sumes hot exhalations as the word properly signifies as cold exhalations are comprehended under the title of snow And both of them arising from the earth are here fitly mentioned as belonging to it stormy wind fulfilling his word p Executing his commands either for the comfort and refreshment or for the punishment of the inhabitants of the earth 9 Mountains and all hills fruitful trees and all cedars q Admirable for your height and strength and use though not for your fruit 10 Beasts and all cattel creeping things and †Heb. birds of wing flying fowl 11 Kings of the earth r Who though you are called gods and adored like gods by your Subjects yet are but men and the creatures and Subjects of this Soveraign Lord to whom you owe both your being and all your power and dignity and all people princes and all judges of the earth 12 Both young men and maidens old men and children 13 Let them praise the Name of the LORD for * Psal. 8. 1. Isai. 12. 4. his Name alone is †Heb. exalted excellent his glory is above the earth and heaven s Not so much in place as in excellency above all the glories which are in earth and in Heaven 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people t To wit above the horns of all the people in the world in respect of their spiritual and eternal priviledges as it here follows The born in Scripture doth commonly note strength victory glory and felicity as Deut. 33. 17. and every where the praise u Either 1. He is the praise as God is called Deut. 10. 21. to wit the God of their praise as Psal. 109. 1. the chiefest object and matter of it or 2. which is the praise Which work of God in exalting their horn is their glory and maketh them praise-worthy or obligeth and provoketh them in a singular manner to perform this great duty of praising God which is so generally neglected by others of all his saints even of the children of Israel a people near unto him x By special relation and friendship and covenant and by familiar intercourses God manifesting his face and favour to them and they frequently and solemnly approaching into his presence and worshipping him at his footstool Praise ye the LORD PSAL. CXLIX The scope and design of this Psalm is to stir up and encourage Gods people to praise him either 1. for their deliverance out of Babylon and the promises which God had given them of the perfection of that work and of the enlargement of their power and dominion in the world or rather 2. for the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel in Davids hands and for that safety and glory and victory over their enemies which they expected by that means But withal the Psalmist or the Spirit of God which dictated this Psalm to him had a further prospect even to the Messiah of whom David was a Type and who was to succeed David in the Throne and to bring that Kingdom to its highest perfection And so divers of the Jewish Doctors understand this Psalm 1 †Heb. Hallelujah PRaise ye the LORD * Psal. 33. 3. Sing unto the LORD a new song a For these new mercies conferred upon us denied to former times and his praise in the congregation of saints 2 Let Israel rejoyce in * Psal. 100. 3. him that made him b That made them not onely his creatures but which is unspeakably greater his people or that advanced and adorned them with singular priviledges as this word is used 1 Sam. 12. 6. and elsewhere let the children of Zion be joyful in their king c David and his posterity and especially the chief of all of them the Messiah Let them rejoyce and bless God that they have so potent so wise and so just a King 3 * Psal. 81. 2. Let them praise his Name ‖ Or with the pipe in the dance let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp d According to the usage of that time and dispensation 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people e He loveth them above all people and rejoyceth over them to do them good he will beautifie f Heb. adorn or glorifie make them amiable and honourable in the eyes of the world who now hate and despise them the meek g Or humble to wit his people as he now said who are oft in Scripture described by that character because all true Israelites are such and all Israelites profess and ought to be such Or the afflicted as that word is oft used in Scripture which hath been observed before his poor afflicted and oppressed people to whom the following salvation is most needful and acceptable with salvation h Both temporal in delivering them from and setting them above all their enemies and afterwards with everlasting salvation and glory 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory i For the honour which God putteth upon them let them sing aloud upon their beds k Either 1. for their safe and sweet repose and peace which is signified by resting in beds Isa. 57. 2. or 2. by night as well as by day even in the time devoted to rest and sleep which they shall borrow to praise God for his eminent and extraordinary blessings as David frequently did upon such occasions 6 Let †Heb. the exaltations the high praises of God be ‖ Heb. in their throat in their mouth l Heb. in their throat Which signifies vocal praise and that with a loud voice and a * Heb. 4. 12. Rev. 1. 16. two-edged sword in their hand m Not onely to defend themselves from their enemies but as it follows to revenge themselves upon them 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen n For all their cruelties and injuries towards Gods people This was literally accomplished by David upon the Philistines Ammonites Syrians and other neighbouring Nations and Princes which were bitter enemies to Gods people And the same thing was done afterward in the Christian world when God raised up Christian Princes who did by the help of the Christians fighting with and under them severely revenge the blood of the martyred Christians upon their cruel Persecutors and Tyrants in divers ages It may also be