mishap by meanes of the old false prophet Gen 46. 27. make mention of me Joseph is careful to use the meanes for his delivery V. 15. Stollen away To conceal his brethrens fault And yet stollen from his father and sold Ex. 21. 16. Land of the Hebrewes Canaan wherein the posterity of Abraham the Hebrew dwelt ch 14. 13. And to whom by Gods Promises it belonged called the Holy Land Zech. 2. 12. Thus Joseph shewes his faith have I done nothing Innocency protects not against mischief yet may be pleaded as here John 10. 32. Acts 24. 12 13 20. 25. 10 11. Job 31. Psal. 7. 3 26. 1. Dan. 6. 22. V. 16. White baskets Of which holes that is made of white twigs with holes as net-work uppermost Of the three baskets nothing mentioned in the two lower baskets V. 19. Lift up thine head Reckon thee as ver 13 20. from off thee Likely cut off thy head and after hang thy body on a tree and the birds shall eate The Jewes were to bury him the same day Deut. 21. 22 23. The Egyptians and many Gentiles suffered them to hang many dayes Joseph deales truly and plainly with the Baker So should Physicians do and such as attend the sick V. 20. Birth-day So Herod kept his with a feast Mar. 6. 21. Lawful in it self so it be kept without vanity excesse superstition and prophanenesse And so for Ecclesiastical Festivities if there be no errour committed in the manner and end of their celebrations V. 22. Hanged On his birth-day having occasion thereby to take notice of his chief officers V. 23. But forgat him Forgot his misery and unthankful for his interpretation Eccl. 9. 15 16. Amos 6. 6. Thus Joseph tried still two yeares longer ch 41. 1. until the time his Word came Psal. 105. 19. CHAP. XLI Verse 1. TWo full yeares After that ch 40. 19. There is no certainty how long Joseph was in prison in what yeare first put in He waited patiently upon God in long afflictions for his deliverance by the river Nilus or some river drawn from it Deut. 11. 10 11. This waters Egypt and makes it fruitful without raine Zech. 14. 18. V. 2. Out of the river Out of Nilus comes plenty and dearth according to the heights of the rising of it Plin. nat hist. l. 5. c. 9. Kine Kine and corne are the two chief sustenances of man V. 5. Seven cares of corne upon one stalk Signe of great plenty V. 6. Blasted with the East-winde Strong and drying to blast the fruits Ezech. 17. 10. 19. 12. V. 7. A dream That stuck by him dreames the occasion of his fall and dreames the occasion of his rising V. 8. His spirit was troubled Ch. 40. 6. Dan. 2. 1 3. Gods Power to scare men even Kings with dreames Job 7. 17. Magicians Exod. 7. 11. Dan. 2. 2. 5. 7. strong illusions of Satan that wrought men to such deceits and strong conceits of the power of Magicians Dan. 2. 2 4 5. If Atheists confesse a devil and devillish divinations there must needs be a God and divine revelations wise men Mat. 23. 34. Philosophers among the Greeks Acts 17. 18. none that could interpret So Dan 2. 10. 5. 8. Thus God maketh the wisdome of their wise men perish Esay 29. 14. 44. 25. 19. 11 12 13. V. 9. I do remember my faults this day Courtier-like complements to prevent suspition in the King lest he should think he grudg'd as unjustly punished in his imprisonment This was rather to please Pharaoh then to pleasure Joseph Gods Providence in it that he mentions not Joseph till the Magicians had been tried V. 13. Me he restored He that is the regal Majestie restored me V. 14. Brought him hastily Psal. 105. 20. Dan. 2. 25. The wicked seek to the Prophets and People of God in their necessity dungeon There haply he was then as overseeing the rest in that place shaved himself Polled himself in a seemly sort He had let his haire grow it seems in signe of sorrow as 2 Sam. 19. 24. Mephibosheth did Now he trims himself being to go before the King To shave all haire away were unseemly Jer. 41. 5. 2 Sam. 10. 4 5. The middle way is commanded the Priests Ezech. 44. 20. raiment His prison-weeds Esther 4. 2. V. 16. Not in me Dan. 2. 28. an answer of peace So Joseph wished hoped and haply foresaw It is an apprecation of such an answer as might quiet his troubled minde concerning his dream V. 21. Still ill-favoured Such are wicked men Esay 9. 20. The godly otherwise Psal. 37. 19. neither earing nor harvest ch 45. 6. V. 26. Are Signifie Joseph before a Dreamer now an Interpreter V. 32. Doubled Here God teacheth the reason why things are sundry times repeated in the Scriptures V. 33. Let Pharaoh look out Meanes must be used Joseph gives this counsel not rashly but by the guidance of Gods Spirit by this meanes and occasion to fulfil that ch 37. 7 9. V. 34. Officers Overseers Bishops so the Bishops of the Army Numb 31. 14. 2 Kings 11. 16. Bishops of the works 2 Chron. 34. 12 17. So among the Priests and Levites Numb 4. 16. Nehem. 11. 9 14. So 1 Tim. 3. 1 2. the fifth part Likely other great men would be buyers and storers by Josephs example Thus counsels he to provide against the time of want as in the example of the Pismire Prov. 6. 6 7 8. Luke 16 9. This fifth part was for the King ch 47. 14. Taken up most likely by way of tribute partly and partly by purchase and upon his charge put into his granaries The other foure parts were abundantly sufficient in those yeares of plenty V. 37. Was good Acts 7. 10. Prov 20. 12. Psal. 105. 22. V. 38 The Spirit of God is Dan. 4. 6. 5. 11. This Pharaoh grounds upon his Prophetical interpretation He speaks as an Heathen naming gods plurally So chap. 31. 53. V. 40. Over my house Psal. 105. 21 So Dan. 2. 46 47. 5. 29. So 1 Kings 8. 3. 2 Kings 18. 18. Luke 12. 42. Men fitly and fully qualified and gifted should be made Officers Numb 11. 17. Acts 6. 3. according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled Hebr. is At thy mouth shall all my people kisse That is at thy Commandment So Job 39. 30. Numb 9. 20. Luke 19. 22. Gen. 24 57. they shall kisse or apply the hand to the mouth as Job 31. 27. in signe of honour and obedience as Psal. 2. 12. so Samuel kissed Saul 1 Sam. 10. 1. 1 Kings 10. 18. Hos. 13. 2. Prov. 24. 26. Thus Joseph was honoured and ouâ—horized Psal. 105. 22. Acts 7. 10. they kissed the commands that came from his lips which imports a submission and that rather of affection and delight then of compulsion and fear V. 41. See I have set thee See respecting the ornaments and ceremonious signals whereby this honour was conferred unto him Thus God bringeth low and lifteth up c 1 Sam. 2. 7
VII 8. 13 and of Saul slaine by them This deliverance was not perfected till Davids dayes Drink no Wine The mother is thus forbidden verse 7 ver 14. Likely because the infant was to receive hutriment and suck from her If the Lord A good plea and comfort verse 23 And a good example for our imitation to comfort us in sundry cases and conditions Sampson Sampson's Birth hath relation to that verse 24 Ch. X. 7. where the Philistines are mentioned before the Ammonites And he began to deliver Israel being young and died about fourty To move him Inspire him with magnanimous verse 25 heroical thoughts and indow him with miraculous strength Timnath In the Tribe of Dan chapter XIV verse 1 East from Ekron of the Philistines Here Sampson intended to have his first wife And Judah had his sheep-shearing Gen. XXXVIII 12. This Citie was given to the Tribe of Judah Josh. XV. 57. And after out of that Tribe to Dan Josh. XIX 43. But the Philistines most what possessed it And in the dayes of wicked Ahaz we read that they took it from him 2 Chron XXVIII 18. Some make this in Dan and that in Judah to be divers Cities Sampson Sampson by extraordinary motion of the Lord the lawfull Dispenser with his own Law seeks a marriage though a Nazarite with a Philistine had thirty of the Philistines brought as companions to be with him at the nuptial feast to honour him in shew but more in jealousie and fear of him seeing and noting some things extraordinary in his person His wife weeping before him the seven dayes while the Feast lasted but more after the third day and most upon the seventh and last day he expounds his Riddle to her and she to the companions He performes what he had promised thereupon And in anger for their fraud and her treachery he went away leaving them and her too behinde him Foxes The Lanâ— was full of them chapter XV verse 4 And besides his own art and industry by sundry meanes to take them he was not debarred the help of others and above all Gods providence eoncurring therein Hip Sampson hip and thigh verse 8 pell-mell haply with his leg and foot onely slew the Philistines with a great slaughter And afterwards slaying one thousand of them with Lehi that is the jaw-bone of an Asse upon that occasion he called the place jaw-bone or Lehi And at his prayer had a Well of water which he therefore calls En-hakkore springing in that place of Lehi to revive his spiri being near dead with thirst Rock Etam We read of a Citie of that name 1 Chron. IV. 32. Called also Ethar Josh XIX 7. in the Tribe of Simeon as it joynes to the Tribe of Dan and Judah in the North-East corner of Simeon and not very far from Zorah in the South-East corner of Dan where Sampson was borne ver 2. not meaning that Dan or that so farre distinct portion of Dan that lay in the North-bounds of the Land of Canaan Of Judah Iudah joyning to Dan verse 11 on the East-side of it Twenty years These twenty years verse 20 in the just computation of the times do fall in with the former half of Eli his fourty 1 Sam. IV. 18. Gaza See the Annotations on Amos I. chapter XVI 6. Harlot Sampsons sinne yet upon repentance pardoned and he registred among those Worthies Heb. XI 32. Took the doores His strength came up to a miracle verse 3 Before Hebron Not so farre as Hebron Of Hebron see the Observations on Gen. XXIII 2. Sorek The river or torrent of this name divides Dan verse 4 and Simeon Delilah The chief Passages of this part of the History are these That Delilah had a very great summe payed in hand for betraying of Sampson ver 5 18. whose strength yet lay not in his haire in the having of it or in the growing of it again the haire being but a ceremonial signe of it But in Gods presence with him And so his weaknesse not in the losing of his haire which here he lost unwittingly and unwillingly But in the Lords departing from him for his sinnes ver 20. The shaver might easily have cut his throat being asleep But Gods Providence was in and over all And blinde Sampson coming at last to see his sinnes and repent And being brought into the magnificent house and Idol-temple containing about three thousand persons spectators upon the roof of it verily a wondrous building is moved by an extraordinary instinct of Gods Spirit in his last act not to murder himself but to undervalue his own life so as he might therewithal as a Judge and publike person execute Gods mighty vengeance upon his own and Gods peoples enemies and oppressors ver 30. wherein many make him a Type of Christs victorious conquest over our spiritual enemies at and by his death Or at least do take an occasion to use an Allusion from the one to the other Dagon Dagon seemes to have his name from Dag verse 23 signifying a Fish in Hebrew And was portraied in the likenesse of a Fish from the middle downward and of a man from the middle upward 1 Sam. V. 4. A sea-Idol worshipped by them of Gaza and the Philistines that dwelt on the sea-coast as the Heathens did their Neptune or Triton And the Idolaters do here ascribe it to this Idol their god that he delivered Sampson into their hand and therefore offer a great sacrifice to him In his most stately Temple they fastened the head of King Saul 1 Chron. X. 10. And at Ashdod by Dagon in the house of Dagon for he had many Temples they placed the Arke of God 1 Sam. V. 2. Of this again you may see more in the Observations upon that text 1 Sam. V. 2. These five last Chapters of Iudges containe Histories of things done soone after the death of Ioshua chapter XVII and those Elders that out-lived him chapter XVIII Iudg. chapter XIX XX. XXI II. 7. soone after the Idolatry and Apostasie of the People mentioned Ch. II. 11 12 in the times if not before the times of all the Judges whose times and Histories are recorded Ch. III. and along to the XVII Chapter without any interruption And this appears by very many Passages in these five last Chapters Cursedst So Prov. chapter XVII verse 2 XXIX 24. That is didst adjure with an execration if an answer were not made in truth and fidelity Thus 1 King VIII 31. Levit. V. 1. Num. V. 21. And so it is expounded 1 Thes. V. 27. And so put to our Saviour Matth. XXVI 63. And so used 1 Sam. XIV 24. 2 Chron. XVIII 15. Neh. XIII 25. The Lord Micha's mother dedicated this silver to the Lord Jehovah verse 3 to make both a graven and a moulten Image Ch. XVIII 18. to worship Jehovah in and by them and not any false god For in this point of the Object or Thing worshipped the Idolatries of the Jewes and of the Heathens most what differed See
Ophir 1 Kings IX 28. Uphaz Jer. X. 9. This is the chiefest gold Dan X. 5. Job XXVIII 15. Psal. CXIX 72. See the Observations on Esay XIII 12. great reward Which reward yet is of grace verse 11 not of merit Rom. VIII 3. through Gods free grace and bounty not the merit of our works The Apostle doth thus distinguish of merit Rom. IV. 4 5. and XI 6. There is no merit properly if the work be not properly out own and not otherwise due debt and justly equal to the reward They are justly due out of his true and free promise who can Where then is that possibility verse 12 and facility of fulfilling the Law even unto works of Supererogation whereof Papists do so much brag dominion over me There are sinnes reigning and not reigning but rebelling verse 13 Rom. VI. 12 22. and VII 15 20. The Lord hear thee This Psalme chapter XXI verse 1 and the next are composed by David for a publike forme of a Prayer in the one of a Thanksgiving in the other to be used by the people for himself the King They seeme to stretch this Psalme too farre and that without ground who make it to be a Prophesie of Christs Sufferings and his deliverances out of them for which the Church with him triumpheth As also the next Psalme to gratulate the victory and Salvation of Christ. Save Lord verse 9 let the King hear us Most here understand God or the Messias Some David The LXX not observing or keeping the Hebrew distinction Athnach render it thus Lord save the King and hear us when we call upon thee for ever and ever Psal. chapter XXI verse 4 LXXXIX 29 36 37. and LXI 6 7. David lived but seventy years yet in his royal posterity for many ages and in Christ the Sonne of David Matth. XXII 42. for ever and ever eternaly Rom. VI. 9. Apoc. I. 18. Heb. VII 25. See the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Thine hand King Davids hand chapter XXII verse 8 In some Psalmes there are passages that properly and literaly belong to David and to Christ only as David was a Type of him But in this Psalme are some Passages as ver 16 17 18. besides many other which are applied to Christ in the New Testament as ver 1 7 8 22 27. which literaly and properly belong to Christ and are appliable to him only or to him more then to David Then here is no place left for that question of the Eunuch Acts VIII 34. The allegations out of this Psalme Matth. XXVII 46 35 43. Heb. II. 12. and the body of the Psalme it self do shew that little of it can be applied to David as a Type most of it is proper and peculiar to Christ alone as I formerly said 1 Pet. I. 11 12. my God Jesus on the Crosse little before his death verse 1 about the ninth hour cryed out these words with a loud voice Matth. XXVII 46. Heb. V. 7. upon the weight of Gods wrath under the burden of our sinnes The Deity by a special providence and dispensation withdrawing and suspending its influence from the Humanity for this time God withdrawing all sense of his favour from him Not that the hypostatical union of both natures was then or ever severed or dissolved But yet he suffered chiefly in his soul all the paines pangs and agonies of a justly angry and punishing God even more then can either be expressed or imagined even so farre above the measure of ordinary sufferings as himself was above ordinary men without any influence or joy or comfort streaming from the Vision of God upon his mind and wil for that time So that he suffered as in body so in soul in his whole man as in his sensual part so in his intellectual also in his whole soul and body and in all the parts powers and faculties of them And the greatest sufferings as was said that could be sustained in this life Lam. I. 12. yet without any derogation to the integrity purity innocencie dignity of the person of Christ our Surety and Saviour These words then are not a complaint out of impatience ignorance disobedience or diffidence They are the words of sense not of infidelity See ver 24. Luke XXIII 46. He strongly calls him his God even in that instant of these suffering so expressing his firme faith in him But they are a Protestation of the bitternesse of his Passion so stricken smitten of God and afflicted and so farre prevailing on him in whom the spirit of fortitude had his residence forsaken me This sense of dereliction and carencie of Divine favour for the time as it was the Fathers pleasure to have it so so the Sonnes office called him unto it and he did not contract it by any fault of his but did voluntarily undertake it for our sinnes and the expiation of them as he did the death it self So that in this then there could not be any defect or defanlt of faith and hope requisite in him And likewise that Prayer and Speech Matth. XXVI 39. bewrayes the sense of the flesh but joyned with the obedience of the Spirit in him A double Will in him against Monothelites but joyned both in one holy obedience and subjection All which shew the nature of sinne the infinite wrath of God against it the infinite Love of the Father and the Sonne towards the children of men and the verity of Christs Humane Nature both in body and soul. roaring Like that of Lions Psal. XXXII 3. and XXXVIII 8. Matth. XXVI 38. Marke XIV 33. Luke XXII 44. so that he had need of an Angel for his Comforter Yet he so wrestles and prevailes that no signe of halting was left remaining after no signe or voice of despair as some are shamelesly wronged to charge upon him All the agonies of Christs soul ceased with his death but thou hearest not We read that God ever heard him verse 2 ver 24. John XI 42. Heb. V. 7. But here this Prayer was only conditional a signification of a natural desire not an absolute and plenary Prayer inhabit the praises of Israel Whose praise thou art verse 3 Deut. X. 21. And they praise thee in thy House and Sanctuary Thou art still praised by them for thy benefits to them and acknowledged their holy one Our fathers And shall I be so forsaken verse 4 not heard nor holpen nor delivered Thus he aggravates his complaint rouzeth up his faith bowes and moves God to mercie Cried Crying or clamor verse 5 and Prayer are oft conjoyned Psal III. 4. and XVIII 7. Jer. VII 16. Jonas III. 8. Micah III. 4. a worme So vile and contemptible in the eyes of men verse 6 Esay LIII 2 3. as Job XXV 6. Esay XLI 14. Not only made lower then the Angels Psal. VIII 5. Heb. II. 7. but disesteemed more then Barrabas or the two theives All they that see me This verse verse 7 and the next we see fulfilled in the History of Christs Passion
of those two families severally But Abiathar the father of Abimelech was then the supreme and only High Priest The Cherethites verse 18 and the Pelethites Of these see the great Annotations on this Text Mourning was past David marries her when she was with childe chapter XI verse 27 in some hope thereby also to cover his sinne Solomon The elder brother of Nathan chapter XII verse 24 by Bathsheba or Bathshua the daughter of Eliam or Ammiel though Nathan be rancked before â—olomon 2 Sam. V. 14. 1 Chron. III. 5. and XIV 4. Crowne The weight and worth of the King of Ammons Crowne verse 30 a Crowne of State too weighty to wear Shobi the brother of Hanun and sonne of Nahash seemes by David to be made King in Hanuns place which makes him to shew such kindnesse to David in his flight from Absalom ch XVII 27. 28. After fourty years Absalom chapter XV verse 7 whose hair weighed not was worth above three pounds at sixteen ounces to the pound when yearly poll'd 2 Sam. XIV 25 26. Begins his Rebellion against David after fourty years 2 Sam. XV. 7. not after fourty since David was anointed in Hebron but since he was anointed by Samuel 1 Sam. XVI 13. And he ends his Rebellion with hanging by his hair as his halter or by his head rather where he is slaine first by Joab after by Joabs armour-bearers 2 Sam. XVIII 14 15 That the fourty years aforesaid did take their Beginning and commencement as aforesaid and so fell in with the twenty second or twenty third year of Davids age with the seventh or eighth year before he actualy began his reigne at Hebron and ended at the thirty second or thirty third year of his real reigne and about seven years before his death appears in this That at this time of Absaloms rebellion David was a strong man 2 Sam. XV. 36. and ch XVII 8 10. and XVIII 2. And afterwards also ch XXI 15. whereas in the fourtieth and last year of his reigne and life he was bed-rid 1 King I. 1 2. And after the businesse of this Rebellion was carried on and ended we read of three yeares of famine 2 Sam. ch XXI I. And of the hanging up of ten of Sauls sons and grand-sons ver 8 9 10. and of the gathering of the bones of them that were hanged and the burying of them afterwards in another place ver 13 14. As also of warres yet againe raised by the Philistines and battels fought with them at four several times In the first of which David himself was in person and in present danger ver 15 22. And besides neere ten moneths were taken up in numbering the people Ch. XXIV 8. And upon the occasion of the Pestilence following thereupon The Threshing-Floore of Araunah being found to be the place where the Temple was to be builded 1 Chron. XXII 1. with 2 Chron. III. 1. David doth instruct Salomon about his dutie in the building of it and doth encourage him to do it and chargeth the Princes to assist him therein 1 Chron. XXII And causing him to be suddenly anointed King to suppresse the seditious and ambitious attempt of Adoniah And having afore ordered the Courses and Offices of the Levites Priests Singers Porters for the Service of the Temple 1 Chron. XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI Ch. He gives Solomon Patterns and Materials for the Building tells him of the Courses of the Priests and Levites which he had Ordered Ch. XXVIII And himself offers of his own goods magnificently and procures the Princes and People to Offer willingly towards the said Building And concludes with Thanksgiving and Prayer to God And the People blesse God and offer Sacrifices and make Solomon King the second time Ch. XXIX And lastly on his death-bed David gives Solomon charge to serve God as also concerning Joab and Barzillai and Shimei and dieth 1 King II. All which may well take up the seven last years of Davids reigne and life In the wood of Ephraim Not that Ephraim had any wood or land on the East-side of Jordan chapter XVIII verse 6 But the name might seeme to rise from the great defeat given there to Ephraim by Jephthah Judg. XII 5 6. Amasa Davids gentlenesse and courtesie to spare and honour Amasa chapter XIX verse 13 notwithstanding his chief hand in rebellion against him 2 Sam. XVII 25. slew Goliath His brother Lahmi chapter XXI verse 19 as it is explained 1 Chron. XX. 5. And so Michal for Michals sister ver 8. of this Chapter The words brother and sister being left out by an Eclipsis not unusual specially in the short idiome of the Hebrewes and in cases so well known This Psalme of Praise and Thanksgiving is the same with Psalme XVIII chapter XXII The difference is very little Here are Davids Worthies towards the end of his reigne chapter XXIII These in all thirty seven 2 Sam. XXIII 39. whereof Joab one the General and Captaine of the hoast 1 Chron. XI 6. Six chief Worthies or Colonels And of them the first three above the other three And the first three Adino or Jacobeam Eleazar and Shammah exceeding the other three Abishai the chief of the second three and Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah and Asahel who was one not of the thirty but above the thirty for there are thirty named after him The three first or three chief over the thirty ver 13. are described as otherwise so by their valiant Acts both distinctly and joyntly 2 Sam. XXIII 8 17. And so the two first of the next three And these six likely were each of them over five of the thirty following and their Regiments The Catalogue of Davids Worchies 1 Chron. XI was taken when David began his reign at Hierusalem or before The number there is fourty seven besides the first three and the second three And well might the number be more at that beginning of his reigne then at the end of it some of them dying in the meane time And of others some might have two different names The chief of all the Worthies slayes three hundred himself aud likely in the pursuit at the same time 500. more by himself or with his company in all eight hundred Of him see more 1 Chron. XXVII 2 3. The second defies the Philistines when the men of Israel were fled away and in a parcel of ground full of Barley slew the Philistines till his hand clave unto the sword and wrought a great victory and deliverance Of his father see 1 Chron. XXVII 4 The third did the like in a piece of ground full of Lentiles Of the other three 1. Abishai the brother of Joab 2. Asahel another brother and Captain for the fourth moneth 1 Chron. XXVII 7. slaine by Abner whiles David reigned in Hebron 3. Benaejah the Captaine of Davids guard the Cherethites and Pelethites 2 Sam. VIII 18. And Captaine for the third moneth 1 Chron. XXVII 5 6. And afterwards by Solomon made General of the Hoast in
dead before Nehemiah came as Governour into Judea verse 26 yea or Ezra with his Commission Dedication of the wall The former Genealogies and Records of the Priests and Levites seeme to be insisted upon verse 27 the rather because they had so prime an hand in the Dedication of the wall And therefore they are here so carefully gathered and brought together 27 28 29. And this seemes to be also in the first year of Nehemiah's Government purified See the Annotations verse 30 I brought up The maner of the Dedication of the wall was thus The wall was thick and broad verse 31 that divers went a breast on it Nehemiah appointed two great companies consisting of Priests Levites Princes and People They entred upon the wall about the middle of the West wall near the Dung-gate And there the two companies parted And each went as in Procession in this Order The one company had Ezra the Priest and Scribe before them And other Priests after him founding their Trumpets After them the Levites playing on sacred musical instruments and singers of them that sang with a loud voice All sounding forth Gods praise and their own thankfulnesse and joy ver 31 42. After them the Princes and Rulers After them the People And last of all some great Prince likely next in degree to Nehemiah And this company thus went on the right hand South-ward by the Fountain Gate and about the Citie of David and all along the South-wall even unto the Water-gate on the East The other company went in like equipage and Nehemiah himself the last of them And they made their Procession on the left hand North-wards from beyond the Tower of the Furnaces even unto the Broad wall And all along the North-side from above the Gate of Ephraim and above the Old-gate and above the Fish-gate and the Tower of Hananeel and the Tower of Meah even unto the Sheep-gate on the East And they stood still in the Prison-gate The two companies somewhat beyond this Gate met together that they might in order descend from this East-wall to go into the House of God And likely it was from the Water-gate on the East-wall For the street it opened upon was one of the eminentest and of greatest receipt in the Citie deemed to be that of Millo which lay between the Temple on Mount Morea and the Pallace on Mount Zion by which the King and Courtiers did usualy passe to and fro Neh. III. 26. and VIII 3 16. 2 Chron. XXIX 3 4. and XXXII 6. Ezra Some other Ezra verse 33 Ezra the Scribe That famous Ezra verse 36 Gate Of the Gates and Towers in this Procession mentioned verse 39 see the Observations on chap. III. 1. great sacrifices As in like cases of joy and thankfulnesse verse 43 So 1 Chr. XXIX 21. 1 Kings VIII 62 63. for the treasures 1 Chron. verse 44 IX 26. And so in Hezekiah's time 2 Chr. XXXI 4 5 11. See again Neh. XIII 12 13. And the Levites sanctified them unto The Levites paid to the Priests the tythes of all their tythes verse 47 Num. XVIII 26 30. On that day chapter XIII verse 1 Doubtful it is to what particular time this relates Yet most likely to that Interim of time which passed in the absence of Nehemiah between the end of the first and beginning of his second Government written Deut. XXIII 3. See the Observations on that text they met not As Melchizedek did verse 2 Gen. XIV 17. separated See that Ezra chap. verse 3 IX and X. and Neh. IX 2. and ch X. 30. and chap. XIII 23 30. So difficult was this point of the Reformation and so ready they to relapse into this sinne a great chamber Pulling down the Partitions verse 5 to make two or three into one I cast forth And so ver 9. verse 8 brought I again By my command and authority not in my person had not been given This verse 10 and other matters imply the Interim of Nehemiah's absence to have been more then a year Sabbath See the Annotations on Jer. verse 15 XVII 21 22 24 27. dark The sooner because of the hills about Jerusalem verse 19 and the Sabbath was to be kept from Even to Even some of my servants That the Merchants might not thrust in amongst those that came to the Service in the Temple the Gates The Gates of the Temple verse 22 by keeping out persons legaly unclean from the house and ordinances of God swear And so they had sworn before verse 25 chap. X. 29 30. sons of Jojada His grandchilde verse 28 called Menasche and brother of Jaddua the High Priest as Josephus writeth Antiq. lib. 11. c. 7. I chased him from me This argues this Nehemiah not to be that man mentioned Ezra II. 2. that came up with Zerubbabel and yet to live to a very great age whether he were the Penman of this Book or else this clause inserted by some other Prophet See the Observations on the beginning of this Book Remember me So likewise verse 31 ver 14. and 22. and chap. V. 19. He pleads not here any merit of his own but all he pleads is for Gods mercie sake all goodnesse in him still proceeding from Gods meere grace He doth chear up himself in this in the sincerity and integrity of his heart and the effects thereof as fruits and sound proofs of the truth of Gods graces in him whereupon he further with comfort expects more meere mercie to come from the Lord. Esther THE Book of Esther contains an History of nine years expressed in the reigne of Ahasuerus viz. the third of Ahasuerus chap. I. 3. the seventh chap. II. 16. and the twelfth chap. III. 7. In which twelfth year are mentioned the first moneth chap. III. 7 12. the third moneth chap. VIII ver 9. and the twelfth moneth chap. III. 7. 13. and chap. VIII 12. and chap. IX 1 13 14 15 17 21. And some more years in his reigne afterwards are noted indefinitely chap. X. In this Book only of all the Scripture there is no mention made of God nor his Name once used The Book of Canticles speaking much of Christ the Bridegroom Ahasuerus Heb. chapter I verse 1 Ahasuerosh It is doubted which of the Persian Monarchs this was The LXX still name him in their Translation Artaxerxes Others take him to be Xerxes Others fix their several fancies upon sundry others of the Persian Monarchs But the greatest probability is for Darius Hystaspis who first extended the bounds of that Empire so farre and wide and over so many Provinces and married Atossa the daughter of Cyrus called Vasthi ver 9 who was the third King of Persia omitting Darius the Mede before Cyrus and the Magus Smerdis not worthy the reckoning and was next before Xerxes that fourth and rich King Dan. XI 2. See the Observations on Esther II. 5. This Ahasuerus in his third year makes that Imperial Feast of one hundred eighty seven dayes And therein that good Law for drinking
properties and qualifications stand in awe and sinne not Ephes. IV. 26. verse 4 Be anrgy and sinne not And that sense the word here used will bear David speaking thus to his friends Let not your indignation and just resentment of these scandals and confusions in my sufferings proceed to a sinful murmuring against God but consider of it wisely in your most retired thoughts and be silent contented and quiet into thy house chapter V verse 7 So farre as it was lawful for David toward thy holy Temple And so David Psal. XXVII 4. and XXIX 9. and LXV 4. and LXVIII 29. and CXXXVIII 2. And yet in Davids dayes the Temple was not built He minded that which after his dayes he knew presently should be And meane time he stiles the Arke or Tabernacle by the name of the Temple See the Observations on Exod. XXXIII 7. rebuke me not Psal. chapter VI verse 1 XXXVIII 1. heale me David was in some soar sicknesse at this time verse 2 bed to swim See the Observations on Josh. XI 4. verse 6 If I have done this Whereof Cush Sauls Courtier or Favourite chapter VII verse 3 one of his Tribe doth falsely accuse me return thou on high To ascend verse 7 and set thy self on thy high tribunal and judgement-seat 1 Kings X. 19. And this to judge for me and against Cush as it followeth in the rest of the Psalme Out of the mouth This is alluded to Mat. chapter VIII verse 2 XXI 16. What is man This verse 4 and ver 5 6. are applied to Christ by the Apostle Heb. II. 6 9. 1 Cor. XV. 27. Ephes. I. 22. so taking in both Christ the head and mankinde specialy the faithful as members shewing thereby that mysticaly and propheticaly in these words is intimated the humiliation and exaltation of the man Christ Jesus O thou enemie A kinde of scoff and derision chapter IX verse 6 whereby David upbraids him for his bloody designes and threats Know thy name will Know experimentaly verse 10 practicaly verse 20. in all their hearts and souls in themselves as the phrases of Scripture are Josh. XXIII 14. 1 Sam. VI. 9. Heb. X. 34. Of this knowledge is that Iohn XVII 3. and 1 Iohn II. 3 4 5. and chap. III. 19 24. and chap. IV. 6 7 8 13. and chap. V. 2. 18 19. 20. Noëtical speculative knowledge swimming only in the braine and not sinking into the heart is none of this knowledge till thou finde none Rid the world of them chapter X verse 15 and their sinnes at once flee a bird 1 Sam. chapter XI verse 1 XXVI 19. If the foundations In Church and Kingdome verse 3 what can He help but suffer in such a general ruine The fool Psal. chapter XIV verse 1 X. 4. and LIII 1. The three first verses of this Psalme are by Saint Paul applied to all mankinde in general in the state of the Fall and natural corruption Rom. III. 10 11 12. usury Of this see Exod. chapter XV verse 5 XXII 25. Levit. XXV 36 37. Deut. XXIII 19 20. Neh. V. 17. Levit. XXVIII 8. And the Annotations on Ezek. XVIII 8. and XXII 12 13. Mat. XXV 27. that hasten Or give gifts to another god chapter XVI verse 4 See Ezek. XVI 33 34. The true God needs them not ver 2. But false gods do which gifts do redound in the end to the dammage and sorrowes of the givers their drink-offerings of blood Their Offerings and Sacrifices of mans blood The drink-offerings to the true God were of wine according to his Law Num. XV. 5. But Idolaters in stead thereof did many times offer mans blood Pauls readinesse to be offered Phil. II. 17. 2 Tim. IV. 6. imports no more then his willingnesse to die and spend his blood for Christs cause and the good of his Church and people their names See the Observations on Josh. XXIII 7. I have set the Lord Acts II. 25 31. verse 8 and XIII 35 37. David speaks here of himself in this regard as having Christ in his loins in a Prophetical spirit relating to Christ. right hand Psal. CIX 31. CX 5. CXXI 5. not be moved Psal. CXVIII 6. CXXXV 1. Rom. VIII 31 c. my glory My tongue verse 9 Acts II. 26. Psal. XXX 12. and LVII 8. and CVIII 2. Gen. XLIX 6. my flesh also As Rom. VIII 19. 21. my soul in hell A Prophesie of Christs Resurrection verse 10 David speaks here in the Person of Christ. Soul Sometimes is taken properly sometimes improperly for the whole person of man Gen. XIV 12. Acts XXVII 37. sometimes for the life of the person sometimes for the body Gen. XVII 21. sometimes for the dead carkasse Levit. XIX 28. and XXI 1 2. Num. VI. 6. and V. 2 9 10. Hag. II. 14. And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken also Here my soul i. e. my self hell the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for the grave Psal. CXLI 7. and LXXXVI 13. and XXX 13. and LV. 15. Gen. XXXVII 35. and XLII 3. 1 Kings II. 6 9. Num. XVI 30. Jonah II. 1 2. Not for a place of souls under the earth See Doctor Rainolds Praelect 81. 82. upon the Apocryphal books and Robert Parker upon Christs Descent into hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for death or the state of the dead for the place invisible for the grave in relation to the body Acts II. 27. And in relation to the soul for heaven to the godly soul as in our Creed and for Hell to the soul ungodly and so most usualy Christs soul did not descend to the lower parts or that imaginary place of Limbus Patrum This place here meant is a place of punishment and therefore it is mentioned as a mercy that Christ was thence delivered Christs soul was not therefore there in triumph The scope of the Apostles in citing this place is not to deale about the deliverance of Christs soul out of Hell but punctualy of Christs Resurrection They inferre nothing else out of this Text. But Resurrection is properly of the Body not of the Soul Gehenna is sometimes taken for the Grave and most-times further for Hell it self The true meaning and sense of the Article of Christs Descent into Hell as the Latines very improperly translate the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to be thus rendered rather he went into the place of invisible souls and to be understood of Christs Soul for his body remained in the Grave And his soul in that interim to passe to the place of souls to Heaven or Paradise as the souls of the godly did and his principaly As the souls of the wicked went to Hell For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a general name doth certainly and evidently signifie both places And thus the Articles go on methodicaly without any tautologie That after Christs death his body was buried in the Grave his Soul went to the place of blessed souls and the third day both soul and body were
III. 24. and XI 13. and the Annotations of learned Master Gataker upon those places verse 31 of the dead Offered to those dead idols Num. XXV 2. Jer. X. 5. And that was counted unto him for righteousnesse i. e. this fact of Phineas was approved of God as just and righteous and for such ever to be esteemed The same phrase used Gen. XV. 6. hath another sense of justifying Abrahams person before God by faith though a man without faults in himself otherwise And so is rightly applied by Saint Paul Rom. IV. 3 5 8 9 22 23 24. to the justification of sinner before God by Faith meerly for righteousnesse A right and just action not the fruit of a rash zeale though done without ordinary authority unadvisedly Num. XX. Devils Levit. verse 33 XVII 7 See the Observations on Judges VIII 33. his Covenant This verse 37 and his Name sake verse 8 are the ground of Gods free mercies verse 45 among the heathen among whom divers Israelites were scattered verse 47 in the times of the Judges and Saul by reason of their often troubles at home till the Kingdome came to David whose words these are 1 Chron. XVI 35 36. This Psalme hath much elegancy and sublimity in it chapter CVII South In the Hebrew verse 3 Sea meaning the Red Sea which was South from Canaan But much more usualy in Scripture by Sea is understood the West because the great Mediterrane Sea lay West from Canaan mount up And hyperbole verse 26 Of them see the Observations on Josh. XI 4. them Marriners verse 30 and passingers rivers Watery fruitful places verse 33 dry Barren thirsty will observe Not that such deliverances are vouchsafed alwayes to all in such dangers verse 43 Gods wayes of his governing Providence are a great deep unsearchable But those deliverances when they come they come from him A Song chapter CVIII a Psalme See the Observations on the Title of Psalme XLVIII This Psalme is composed of Psal. LVII 7 11. and Psal. LX. 5 12. See the Observations on both those Psalmes glorie See the Observations on Psal XVI verse 1 9. wash-pot So Psal. verse 9 LX. any washing pot to wash the filth of my feet in Without any allusion to the Marishes of Moab or their Land to be washed in blood or themselves wiped cleane away as a pot is wiped But rather to be used to servile sordid base offices of David By the matter of the Psalme chapter CIX it seemes to be penned and inspired towards the end of Sauls reigne when all things were grown to a forlorne and wicked state See 1 Sam. XXVI 19. unto Prayer The use and comfort of Prayer Set Many Imprecations follow verse 4 And the like see in Psal. XXXV verse 6 4 8. and LIX 5 13. and LXIX 22 28. and LXXIX 10. and CXIX 84. and CXL 10. Job XXXI Nehem. VI. 4. 5. and VI. 6 14. Esay II. 9. Jer. XI 20. and XV. 15. and chap. XVII 18. and XVIII 21 22 23. and XX. 12. 2 Tim. IV. 14. And these with exquisite formes of speeches And uttered by David and the rest against transcendent sinners rather as Prophets but of zeale to God and his glory therein then in relation to their private passions of revenge or respect to themselves as parties And yet these or the like Prayers and Imprecations may possibly be mixt with Humane infirmities as those in Jeremy See the Annotations on Nehem. IV. 5. Or in some they may be understood with silent limitations and reservations right hand He plead and prevail against him condemned Go out guilty verse 7 or wicked become sinne Let no suit or defence of his avail for him but rather hurt him 8 his office Applied to Judas Acts I. 16 verse 8 20 26. their desolate places Their houses and families that are desolate and destroyed verse 10 fathers Thus God punisheth to the third and fourth generation verse 14 the wickednesse of the parents on their wicked children Exod. XX. 5. As he cloathed himself with cursing See the Observations on Psal verse 18 LXXIII 6. Let it be unto him The curse wherein he delighted in cursing others which pleased him as water and oile Let that same be unto him Or let a curse thus cover and cleave unto him and come into his bowels and bones See the Observations on Psal. LXXIII 6. shaked their heads Psal. verse 25 XXII 7. This Psalme is all Prophetical chapter CX all of Christ foretelling his Person Natures and Offices specialy his Kingdome and Priesthood And of his Victory over his enemies and of his Triumph afterwards And hereupon it is cited and made use of Matth. XXII 44. Mark XII 36. Luke XX. 42. Acts II. 34. Heb. I. 13. and V. 6. and VII 17. The Lord The Messias himself applies verse 1 aâ—d appropriates this verse to himself Matth. XXII 44. Marke XII 36. Luke XX. 42. Saint Peter from this verse proves Christs Ascention into heaven Acts II. 34. Saint Paul relates to it in the point of Christ reigne over all enemies 1 Cor. XV. 25. Denying that the words of this verse were used or could be used to any of the Angels Heb. I. 13. And therefore they cannot be appliable to David himself or to any meere man The Lord Heb. Jehovah See the Annotations of learned Master Gataker on Esay I. 2. and XXVI 4. See also my Observations on Psalme LXXXIII 18. and on LXXI 5. and on LXVIII 4. This Name of Essence never admits any affix in the Hebrew tongue And it may lawfully be pronounced though the ancient Jewes refrained from doing so to gaine thereby the more reverence to it And this Name is common to the three Persons yet according to the sense and circumstances of divers texts and places chapter CIII specialy when relation is had to another Person of the Trinity it is taken Personaly And so here for God the Father As likewise Psal. II. 7. said In his eternal Decree predestinating his Sonne to be the Messias to execute in time the Office of Mediatorship unto my Lord Davids Lord as well as his Sonne sit thou This and other phrases here are not proper but figurative to be understood not corporealy but spiritualy Christ is said in Scripture promiscuously both to stand and to sit at the right hand of God Heb. I. 3. Acts VII 55 56. 1 Pet. III. 22. at my right hand The right hand signifies power and strength Psal. CXVIII 16. Exod. XV. 6. Psal. CXLIV 8. Power to help verse 5. Psal. XVI 8. and CXLII 4. Eccles. X. 2. To be or sit there imports dignity and honour 1 Kings II. 19. Matth. XX. 21. And such is the meaning here And this dignity here expressed by this phrase is ascribed to Christ not in relation to his Deity for so he and the Father are one Herein he is and alwayes was of equal dignity with the Father But in regard of his Humanity whereby the Father was greater then he And wherein formerly he had emptied
superstition did cast a stone As a dog 2 Pet. II. 22. verse 13 16 The sloathful man See on chap. VI. 6. with strife As Jehoshaphat verse 17 and Ahaziah in Ahabs and his son Jehoram's case at Ramoth Gilead and Josiah with Pharaoh-Necho 1 Thes. IV. 11. 1 Tim. V. 13. Yet to be a Peace-maker is not to be this medler is like Him that takes a Lion by the beard or a Bear by the tooth or thrusts his hand into a Wasps nest deceiveth his neighbour Under colour of jest and sport verse 18 Such mirth works much mischief such jests and dry flouts are as dangerous as a sword in a mad mans hand and handling in his rage talebearer Verse 22. verse 20 and chap. XVIII 8. and chap. XVI 28. chap. XXV 23. Levit. XIX 16. James III. 6. a contentious man That loves to live in the fire verse 21 Salamander-like Burning lips Burning with pretended affection and hot love verse 23 and so drawing a fair glove on a foul hand See verse 24 25 26. believe him not Iohn II. 24. verse 25 David did not beleive Sauls fair promises Psal. CXX 2. seven abominations Many As Verse 16. and XXIV 16. shewed Detected sooner or later verse 26 and detested of all diggeth Chap. V. 22. verse 27 Psal. VII 15 16. and IX 15. and X. 2. Eccles. X. 8. a stone As he that rolleth it up an hill A lying tongue False love proves true hatred verse 28 seeketh to do them more mischief whom he hath hurt before of to morrow Iames IV. chapter XXVII verse 1 13 14. Luke XII 19 20. Psal. XXX 6. 9. Iudg. V. 28 29 30 31. 1 Kings XX. 10 20. No man knowes what is in the womb of to morrow Matth. VI. 34. Let another man praise Against arrogant boasting verse 2 and vaine-glorious praising of a mans self 2 Cor. X. 18. Mat. VI. 1. Luke XVIII 11 12. Let our works not our words praise us Prov. XXXI 31. Ruth III. 11. 3 John 12. And God will provide that fame and praise shall attend vertue as the shadow doth the body yea in the consciences of their enemies as it was with David in the heart and mouth of Saul and with Daniel in the minde and affection of Darius who yet was wrought upon to cast him into the den of Lions Neverthelesse a man must stand in defence of his own innocencie as David eftsoones did and in such like cases may praise himself 2 Cor. XI 5 6 10 16 17 18 33. and Chap. XII 1 11. a fools wrath See the Observations on chap. XXVI 3. verse 3 envie Chap. XIV 30. See the Observations there verse 4 Or jealouzie chap. VI. 34 35. See Deut. XXXII 21. Gen. XXVI 14. and XXX 1. and XXXVII 11. Gal. V. 21 26. Iob V. 2. Prov. XIV 30. Eccl. IV. 4. Matth. XXVII 18. Tit. III. 3. Iames IV. 5. 1 Pet. II. 1. Acts XIII 45. Open rebuke Chap. XVII 10. verse 5 and I. 30. and chap. XXVIII 23. Psal. CXLI 5. Levit. XIX 17. Much better is this then that love of Hira the Adullamite to Iudah Gen. XXXVIII 20. or of Jonadab to Ammon 2 Sam. XIII 5. This though unpleasing is wholsome Faithful They proceed from very faithfulnesse and friendship to us verse 6 Kisses As those of Joab Absalom Judas c. chap. XXVI 23. loatheth But hunger is the best Cook verse 7 and sawce Apply it spiritualy Num. XI 6. Matth. V. 6. wandereth From his place and calling verse 8 idle or not content with his present station and condition sweetnesse of a mans friend Psal. XLV 8. verse 9 as a fresh gale of sweet aire as sweet ointment and odoriferous perfume eminently true in the spiritual friend Job XXXIII 23. Psal. LV. 14. His sweet friendship comforts more then a mans own counsel can friend Chap. XVII 17. verse 10 and chap. XVIII 24. brothers house Thy Carnal kindred will sooner fail thee when thy old friend will stick to thee as Jonathan did to David Onesiphorus to Paul My sonne be wise Chap. X. 1. verse 11 and chap. XV. 20. and chap. XXIII 24. and XXIX 3. foreseeth Chap. XXII 3. verse 12 See the Explanations there rising early Over-doing it verse 14 as in voice so in time early lest any other should be seene to exceed him Thus praising him to his face chap. XXIX 5. Iron sharpeneth Specialy spiritualy verse 17 Mal. III. 10 17. Heb. X. 24. Acts XVIII 5. A mutual quickening in dul and dead times is Christian conference fig-tree verse 18 shall eate 1 Cor. IX 7 8. Waiteth on his Master As Joseph Daniel Mordecai c. 1 Tim. VI. 1 2. God will honour them though some Masters do not Col. III. 22 23 24. in water face A man in himself verse 19 as in a glasse may see the state temper conditions qualities dispositions of another of what kinde soever or sorely and shrewdly guesse at them Hell So the lusts and desires of men are never satisfied verse 20 Eccles. I. 8. and chap. V. 10. so is a man to his praise Chap. XVII 3. verse 21 His own worth proves his praise and purifies it too Yea and a man may be known what he is by them by whom he is praised the state of thy flock Oversee them verse 23 as Boaz did Ruth II. 4. and chap. III. 2 7. 1 Chron. XXVII 25 31. And 1 Kings IV. 6 7 27 28. 2 Chron. XXVI 10. The profit and commodities of this careful husbandrie and thrift are set down in the verses following The wicked flee Being hotly haunted chapter XXVIII verse 1 hunted and pursued by the blood-hounds and furies of their own guilty consciences So Gen. IV. 14. Levit. XXVI 17 36 37. God caused the Canaanites to flee Josh. XXIV 12. And the Syrians 2 Kings VII 7. bold as a lion As Noah mediis tranquillus in undis si fractus illabatur orbis impavidum ferient ruinae Such is their privie-armour of proof the power of the Spirit and spiritual graces within them Heb. XI 33 34. Ephes. VI. 16. Many are the Princes Either as Competitors verse 2 or intruders entring and endling in blood As in the History of the Kings of Israel and in many others frequently appears See Esay III. 4. Hos. XIII 11. 1 Sam. XII 25. a man of understanding Job XXII 30. 2 Sam. XX. 16. Eccles. IX 13 14 15. Jer. V. 1. A poor man As that mercilesse fellow-servant verse 3 Matth. XVIII 28. He should rather pitie such as knowing in himself the miserie of povertie then oppresse them and rob the Hospital and Spittle Praise the wicked As birds of a feather keep together verse 4 Like will to like They swim in one streame and tyde contend with them Chap. XXIX 277. Psal. CXXXIX 21 22. and LXIX 9. and CXIX 158. 1 Pet. IV. 4. 2 Chron XIX 2. He hates sinne as hell There is an antipathy between the forsakes and keepers of the Law understand not Their wits work not that way verse 5 1 John II.