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
in the Ark and Dedication of the Temple and Solomons sacrifices and his solemne Prayer upon his brazen scaffold might then and thereby become the greater and more illustrious 1 King VIII 1 66. 2 Chron. V. and VI. and VII chapters It began the seventh or eighth day of that moneth for on the fifteenth day began the Feast of Tabernacles And in relation to these two Feasts are those fourteen dayes mentioned 1 King VIII 65. 2 Chron. VII ver 8 9. And on the twenty third day of that moneth the people were dismissed 2 Chron. VII 10. the eighth day of the later Feast 1 King VIII 66. House of the Forrest of Lebanon This was built in Jerusalem chapter VII verse 2 See ver 6 7 8. His dwelling House and Throne not farre from it and golden shields in it 1 King X. 16 17. And there seazed on by the King of Egypt 2 Chron. XII 9 10. It seemes so called as being a kinde of abridgement of that famous Forrest afarre off from Jerusalem and containing in it and in the Groves and Gardens about it all the delights and pleasures of that Forest in solitary walks sweet smels musick of birds and sight of wilde-beasts c. See my Annotations on Zech. XI 1. where conceiving this House to be built in that Forest not in Jerusalem upon further consideration I think good to retract that opinion here Two thousand Baths Bath the measure of Liquid things verse 26 as Epha of Dry Both of the same capacity This Sea had ordinarily put into it two thousand Baths or five hundred Barrels reckoning eight gallons to the Bath and four Baths to the Barrel But this Sea being filled up to the brim it might containe three thousand Baths 2 Chron. IV. 5. or seven hundred and fifty Barrels with water drawn out of it by Cocks or otherwayes the Priests washed c. Ten Lavers But one in the Tabernacle verse 38 Exod. XXX 18. Here are ten Lavers besides the Sea And so of the Candlesticks and Tables there were ten in the Temple to one in the Tabernacle 1 King VII 49. 2 Chron. IV. 8. Each Laver contained fourty Baths Bowles of pure Gold Of Gold belonging to the Altar of Incense verse 50 1 Chron. XXVIII 17. Some of Silver 1 Chron. XXVIII 16. And as those given by the twelve Princes Num. VII 13 85. Some of Brasse for the Brazen Altar Exod. XXXVIII 3 Num. IV. 14. 1 King VII 45. And for the Vessels of the Temple See on Jer. LII 17 23. Pleased him not King Hiram chapter IX verse 12 though displeased with the twenty Cities given him by Solomon in the Land of Galilee yet pleaseth to restore them to him in love 2 Chron. VIII 2. A tribute of bond-service These here mentioned verse 21 and their posterity seeme to be called Solomons servants Ezra II. 55 58. Neh. VII 57 60. and XI 3. Gold from Ophir So gold from Uphaz chapter X verse 11 Jer. X. 9. and Gold of Ophir Psal. XLV 9. and Gold of Uphaz Dan. X. 5. and Gold of Sheba Ps. LXXII 15. and Gold of Parvaim 2 Chron. III. 6. And these are taken for the finest Gold 1 King X. 18. compared with 2 Chron. IX 17. Job XXII 24. But whether these places be Peru in America or Fez in Africa or Sumatra or Taprobane or in Arabia or elsewhere according to our moderne names is in these dayes altogether doubtful Tarshish The name of one of the sonnes of Javan verse 22 Gen. X. 4. whose posterity as some imagine planted in that part of Spaine where a Citie and Region adjacent thence took the denomination of Tartesus and Tartesia afterwards Or rather as others conceive they seated themselves in Cilicia and gave this name of Tarshish as to the whole Region so specially to the chief City and Port-towne there afterwards called Tarsus the place of Pauls birth Acts XXI 39. and XXII 3. And that thence the Midland Sea which bordered upon that port and territorie was called Tarshish and the ships either belonging to that Port or trading to and fro in that Sea were thence called ships of Tarshish Esay II. 16. yea sometimes Tarshish seemes to denote the Arabian and Persian Gulphs the Ocean either Westerne or Easterne Ezek. XXVII 12. or any great Sea as likewise Pontus doth in Latine And ships of Tarshish to be vessels of great bulk and burden fit to traverse and traffick in any such Sea 1 King X. 22. Silver to be in Jerusalem as stones The Israelites ripe for Rebellion verse 27 complain so much of their Oppressions in Solomons peaceable rich glorious reigne 1 King X. 27. and XII 4. 2 Chron. I. 15. and VIII 8 9. Loved many strange women Wise Solomons chapter XI verse 1 or Jedidiah's Fall is wonderful yet his Repentance not to be doubted of as appears in the Book of Ecclesiastes in 2 Sam. VII 14 15. 1 Chron. XXII 10. and XXVIII 6. and XVII 13 14. 2 Chron. XI 17. 2. Pet. I. 21. One Tribe Not one whole Tribe verse 32 but that of Judah only did stick to Rehoboam and the House of David after Solomons reigne 1 King XI 32 36. and XII 20. 2. King XVII v. 18. Yet see 2 Chr. XI 13 17. And hence begin those three hundred and ninty dayes in Ezek. IV. 5. See the Annotations there Rehoboam Rehoboam is the only sonne we read of that Solomon had verse 43 for all his shameful number of Wives and Concubines And there is mention made only of two of his daughters 1 King IV. 11 15. set down in that chapter by Anticipation This Rehoboam is said to be young and tender-hearted 2 Chron. XIII 7. young in experienced wisdome when yet at that time he was fourty one years of age 2 Chron. XII 13. being borne in the first year of his young wise father Solomons reigne He foolishly forsook the counsel of the old men 1 King XII 8 13 14. to the losse of the ten parts of his Kingdome Yet afterwards he is said to deal wisely 2 Chron. XI 23. In Bethel chapter XII verse 29 and the other put he in Dan In the South and North borders of his kingdome And yet Bethel being in the Tribe of Benjamin Bethel was taken from him in his own dayes by Abijah 2 Chron. XIII 19. And Dan was smitten by Benhadad in the dayes of Asa and Baasha soone after 1 King XV. 20. Bethel Though Bethel be sometimes called Bethaven in the Prophets verse 32 as Hos. IV. 15. and V. 8. and X. 5 15. and Aven chap. X. 8. As Mount Olivet of Mount Mischa is called Mount Maschith 2 King XXIII 13. Yet were there Bethel and Bethaven two distinct neighbouring townes or Cities Josh. VII 2. and XVIII 12. 1 Sam. XIII 5. and chap. XIV 23. a childe Fulfilled 2 King XXIII 15 16 17. Samaria Samaria so called by Anticipation chapter XIII verse 2 as Bethel Gen. XII 8. And sundry other places in Scripture verse 32 Not that they had
those names in those times first mentioned But in after-times when the writers of those Histories lived 1 King XVI 24. It seemes of old to be called and belong to Shimron-Meron Josh. XI 1 5. and XII 20. Book of the Chronicles chapter XIV verse 19 After the division of the Kingdomes The Books of the Kings do often cite the Books of the Chron of Israel and of Judah as 1 King XIV 19 20. XV. 7. 23 31. 2 King I. 18. and VIII 23. and X. 34. Not meaning thereby our Canonical Books of Chron. for they were not then written before but after the Books of Kings and therefore they could not be cited before they had a Being But meaning thereby Civil Chronicles or Rolls now not extant Like those Ezra VI. 1 2. Esther VI. 1. Maachah Abijahs mother chapter XV verse 2 and her Father had both of them two differing and various names 1 King XV. 2 10. 2 Chron. XI 20. and XIII 2. His marriages and children 2 Chron. XIII 21. were all or almost all in his fathers reigne Save only in the matter of Vriah In this sin David did lie long without repentance verse 5 2 Sam. XII 14. And to cover this sin he made Uriah drunck and after murthered him yet afterwards upon his repentance he publisheth it and his shame and sorrow for it in the LI. Psalme and commits it to the chief Musician to be sung publickly in the Congregation But besides this there are many other sins recorded of David As his speech and lyes to Jonathan 1 Sam. XX. 6. to Ahimelech 1 Sam. XXI 2. to Achish 1 Sam. XXVII 10. the slownesse of his kindnesse to Mephibosheth compare together 2 Sam. IV. 4. and chap. IX 11 12. And after his ill-managing of it 2 Sam. XVI 4. and chap. IX 29. his many Wives and Concubines the sparing of his sons Ammon and Absolom his numbering of the people Yet by reason of the upright intention of his heart and his singular rare graces gifts and qualifications are the rest not reckoned and this Praise here given him by the indulgency of God Fourty and one years Asa reigned in Judah in the times of the reignes of eight Kings in Israel verse 10 viz. Jeroboham Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri Ahab 1 King XV. 9 and XVI 29. and XXII 41. In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into three several stocks and families Maachah Maachah was wife to Rehoboam verse 13 mother to Abijah and grandmother to Asa 1 King XV. 2. yet called the mother of Asa 1 King XV. 13. 2 Chron. XV ver 16. And as mother used for grandmother so daughter for grandchilde 2 Kings VIII 26. Brethren for Kinsmen 2 Kings X. 13. Matth. XIII 55 56. And many like phrases are frequent in Scripture See Gen. XIII 8. Exod. II. 18. 20 21. Dan. V. 10 11 13 22. these years Not this place chapter XVII verse 1 nor chap. XVIII 1. nor any place in the Old Testament do shew that the drought was brought at Elias his Prayer or continued three years and six moneths But Saint James first recordeth it Jam. I. 17. Four Barrels with water Elijah got this water in the time of that wonderful drought for three years and a half chapter XVIII verse 33 out of the sea Mount Carmel joyning to the sea Jer XLVI 18. The brook Kishon at the foot of Carmel being dryed up as well as the brook Cherith thine Altars Formerly erected to him chapter XIX verse 10 thought not so warrantably See ver 14. thy Prophets As chap. XVIII 4 13. I only am left In his own apprehension Yet was there then a flowrishing Church in Judah anoint By another verse 15 viz. Elisha 2 King VIII 7. And likewise Jehu was anointed by a young Prophet at the command of Elisha 2 King IX 1. Thirty two Kings Petty Kings chapter XX verse 1 As those Gen. XIV Josh. XII Judg. I. 7. Aphek A Citie whose Kings was slaine by Joshuah verse 26 Josh. XII 18. Fell by lot afterwards to the Tribe of Asher Josh. XIX 30 31. Where the Philistines pitching in battel against Israel got the victory and took the Ark of God 1 Sam. IV. 1. And again gathering their armies in Aphek went up to Jezreel near the Mount of Gilboa and overthrew Saul and his hoast 1 Sam. XXIX 1 11. and chap. XXX And here the Syrians under Benhadad fought against Ahab and were slaine even one hundred thousand footmen in one day And the rest fled to Aphek into the Citie and there a wall fell upon twenty seven thousand of the men that were left 1 King XX. 26 29 30. And here again the Syrians were smitten and consumed by Joash King of Israel 2 King XIII 17. Proclaime a Fast chapter XXI verse 9 It seemes on Fast-dayes they were wont to try and execute heynous offendors and stoned him The blood of his sons is mentioned verse 13 2 Kings IX 26. Which is in Samaria verse 18 behold he is in the Vineyard of Naboth Or will be in Jezreel in the Vineyard of Naboth In Samaria when the message was given in charge to Elias in the Vineyard at Jezreel when Elias met him even thine Verified for the substance in himself verse 19 in his wife Jezebel and in his son Jehoram 2 Kings IX 25 26. not bring the evil in his dayes That evil verse 29 ver 21 24. that totally in the Poole of Samaria Which might extend chapter XXII verse 38 or run into Jezreel or another poole of that name be there or the armour washed there where his chief armory was made peace Made peace with Ahab verse 44 and his two sons Ahaziah and Jehoram 2 Kings III. 6 7. 2 Chron. XIX 2. and chap. XX. 35 36. and is reprehended justly therefore would not Would not at first verse 49 but yeelded afterwards 2 Chron. XX. 35 36 37. II. Kings THE second Book of Kings or fourth rather containes the History of 321 years to the lifting up of the head of Jehoiachim In the reignes of 16 Kings of Iudah counting in Athaliah 12 King of Israel So that the number of Kings from the first division of the Kingdomes to the extirpation of them both were twenty in each Though the Kingdome of Israel did expire in Hoshea by Shalmanasar before the Kingdome of Judah did expire in Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar the space of one hundred thirty and three years not one hundred thirty and five The twenty of Judah were all of Davids line excepting Athaliah the Queen The twenty of Israel were of ten several stocks Ahaziah Joash Amatziah Kings of Judah and Athaliah the Queene all succeeding one another were all slaine Amon likewise and his son Josiah both slaine And ten Kings of Israel the half of all their number were likewise slaine For the times of the reignes of Ahab Ahaziah Jehoram Kings of Israel and of Iehoshaphat Iehoram Ahaziah Kings of Judah take this as followeth Ahab reigned twenty two years 1 King XVI
the Countrey five peeces of silver Or five silverings See these Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. said Said to the Elders chapter VII verse 1 to the Messinger and to the King Jehoram the son of Ahab ver 17. 18. a measure See my Observations on Gen XVIII 6. twilight In the evening verse 5 ver 9 12. Edom Edom revolts from Judah chapter VIII verse 20 1 King XXII 47. As Moab had done from Israel 2 King III. 5. Libna A Citie verse 22 which with the King thereof was destroyed by Joshuah Josh. X. 29. and XII 15. After fell by lot to the Tribe of Judah And given to the Priests Josh. XXI 13. 1 Chron. VI. 57. It rebelled wonder it should against Judah in the dayes of wicked Iehoram the son of good Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. XXI 10. Senacherib did warre against it in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XIX 8. Esay XXXVII 8. And there likely had his army or a great part of it slaine by the Angel of the Lord. There was another place called Libna the seventeenth Station of the Israelites mentioned Num. XXXIII 20 21. Sonne-in-law His father was so verse 27 And himself might be to that House Ramoth-Gilead A Citie of Refuge verse 28 in the Tribe of Gad given to the Merarites Deut. IV. 43. Josh. XIII 26. and chap. XXI 38. This was taken by the King of Syria And Ahab with the joynt forces of Jehoshaphat seeking to recover it yet failed of his purpose and was there slaine by Benhadad whose life he had unjustly spared 1 King XX. 30 42. and XXII 3 35. And Jehoram the sonne of Ahab with the joynt forces of Ahaziah King of Judah actualy recovered it from Hazael King of Syria But was wounded there And Jehu being left there as a Captaine under Jehoram to keep it was anointed there by command and direction of the Prophet Elisha to be King of Israel who thereupon soone slew both Jehoram and Ahaziah 2 King VIII 28 29. and chap. IX his sonnes chapter IX verse 26 Naboths sons slaine with him a draught-house Here the Masorets put a more cleanly word chapter X verse 27 in their Keri in the margin to be read then is the Cetib written in the Text as if they would prompt to the Holy Ghost a more manerly speech And so Deut. XXVIII 30. Jer. III. 2. Lesse marvaile then if they deale so with the words of Rabshakeh Esay XXXVI 12. And in Zechary speaking of Jerusalems destruction and womens usage by soldiers grosse to speak the Text telleth the terme to be seene the margin what they would have read And in Jer. XXXI 38. they leave a blanck in the Text with the vowel points underneath and place the head letters in the margin of a word which they suppose to be wanting Some various Readings seeme to be in the Hebrew Text. See the learned Annotations on Jer. IX 8. and on chap. XVII 13. And some learned seeme to grant some superfluous insertions as Jer. LI. 3 in the word bending and Jer. LII 19. in the word Cauldrons See the Annotations on those places Yet some other learned men assert the sacred Text to be absolutely entire and perfect without the least default or defect without altering a syllable letter or situation of a letter holding the margin-reading to be given with equal authority as the other which is in the Text and serving to expound it And the vowels and accents to have been ab origine in the Text and so of equal authority with it Insisting upon the Jews care for preservation of the Text in numbering the letters in every Book and naming the middle letter in it and the middle letter in the Law or Books of Moses And this done not only by the Masorets that lived five hundred years or more after Christ but also by those ancient Masorets that are called the men of the Great Synagogue and succeeded next to the last Prophets of the Old Testament of whom the Jewes make Ezra to be one And that in his time the whole number of the letters were reckoned in all the Law to be 600045. in the Prophets 815280. See more in my Observations on Eccles. IX 4. and on Ier. XXXII 12. Iehoiadah This Iehoiadah was a Priest and prime man chapter XI verse 4 2 Chron. XXIII 1 11 16 18 19 20. and chap. XXIV 6. seemes not to be the High Priest for he is no where so called in Scripture except he be understood in that place 2 Chron. XXIV 11. where yet he is not called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither is there any of his name in that Catalogue of the High Priests 1 Chron. III. 6 15. And yet this Priest Iehoiada marries King Iehorams daughter and King Ahaziah's sister 2 Chron. XXII 11. And gives wives to King Ioash 2 Chron. XXIV 3. And was buried among the Kings ver 16. Elisha or Elizeus prophesied in the reignes of six Kings of Israel chapter XIII verse 14 viz. Ahab Ahaziah Iehoram Iehu Iehoahaz and Ioash 1 King XIX 16 19. 2 King XIII ver 14. with Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. chapter XIV XV. verse 1 13. Azariah Called also Uzziah verse 19 and Ozias Matth. I 8 9. reigned in the times of six Kings of Israel viz. Ieroboam the second Zachariah Shallum Menahem Pekahiah Pekah 2 King XV. 1. 27 In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into four several stocks or families Pul Pul or Phul verse 19 1 Chron. V. 26. This Catalogue of the Assyrian Monarchs we finde in Scripture viz. Passing by Nimrod and Ashur in the ancientest times Gen. X. We meet with this Pul in the dayes of Menahem King of Israel Tiglath-Peleser or Tilgath-Pilneser in the dayes of Pekah King of Israel and of Ahaz King of Judah who carried away captives the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasseh into Assyria 1 Chron. V. 26. And both helped and afflicted Ahaz 2 King 16. with Shalmanesar or Shalman Hos. X. 14. or Enemessar Tobit I. 2. 15. in the dayes of Hoshea King of Israel who subdued Hoshea beseiged and took Samaria carried Israel captive into Assyria and extirpated that Kingdome of Israel 2 King XVII 4 5 6. and XVIII 9 10. with Sargon mentioned Esay XX. 1. If he be not the same with Sennacherib with Sennacherib in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XVIII 13. whose hoast was slaine by the Angel of the Lord and himself by his owne sons 2 King 19. with Esarhaddon or Esar-Haddon who seemes to be called Asnapper Ezra IV. 10. and Sarchedonus Tobit 1. 21. with Another King of Assyria not named but living in the dayes of Iosiah in whose behalf Iosiah fighting against Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt at Megiddo was slaine there 2 King XXIII See this same with some little variations in my Observations on 1 Chron. V. 26. Kir This is Cyrene chapter XVI verse 9 mentioned Acts II. 10. Of this see the Annotations on Amos I. 5. and IX 7. If rather
be not meant hereby that part of Media which from this deportation seemes to be called Syromedia For Media belonged to the Kingdome of Assyria 2 King XVII 6. But Cyrene never being very farre distant from it Of the Altar Of Urijahs new Altar made by the command of King Ahaz verse 14 by the patterne of the Altar of Damascus Urijah the Priest This might be that Uriah verse 15 Esay VIII 2 unfaithful to God a fawning parasite to the wicked King but no wayes appears to be the High Priest Covert for the Sabbath A Covert for the Priests and Porters likely on the Sabbath verse 18 or a retiring place covered over to keep from winde and raine 2 Chron. XXVIII 24. in the City of David But not in the Sepulchers of the Kings verse 20 2 Chron. XXVIII 27. but not as Hosheah was the best of the Kings of Israel chapter XVII verse 2 And yet with him and in him that Kingdome was extirpated Carried Israel away into Assyria See the Observations on chap. verse 6 XV. 19. They feared the Lord The same Idolaters are said to Fear the Lord verse 32 34 And not to Fear the Lord 2 King XVII 32 33 34. Their folly is derided Ier. X. 3 4 5 8 9 14 15. Hezekiah Godly Hezekiah the son of most wicked Ahaz chapter XVIII verse 1 2 Chron. XXVIII 22. And father of a like wicked Manasseh 2 King XXIV 3. 2 Chron. XXXIII And godly Iosiah not much unlike He is a Type of Christ Esay XXXII 1. twenty five years old And therefore was borne in the eleventh yeare of his father Ahaz verse 2 because Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reigne and reigned sixteen years 2 King XVI 2. In all thirty six when he died Out of which take the foresaid twenty five and so Hezekiah must be borne in the eleventh aforesaid A thing not impossible But to make Ahaz to be twenty not when himself but his father Iotham began to reigne as it wresteth the Text so it implies an utter impossibility because Iotham was but twenty five years old when he himself began to reigne 2 King XV. 33. which thing was not well considered by the excellent Tremellius when he asserted that opinion nor is it much favoured though noted by our Annotators on 2 King XVI 2. In the fourteenth year Sennacherib comes up against Hezekiah verse 13 and partly prevailes against him See the causes of this his warre in the learned Annotations on Esay XXXVI 1. And in the later end of that year Hezekiah fell sick for he had 15. years added to his life 2 King XX. 6. which make up the twenty nine of his reigne And in this time of his sicknesse he had no some because Manasseh his eldest sonne was borne three years after this sicknesse being but twelve years old when his father Hezekiah died 2 King XXI 1. a Signe The present plenty chapter XIX verse 29 notwithstanding the Sabbatical year and the enemies abode and waste made in the Land should be a Signe to them for confirmation of the truth of Gods Promise for the overthrow of Sennacherib and their deliverance Of Signes see these Observations on Exod. III. 12. and on 2 King XX. 9. Camp of the Assyrians Either before Libnah verse 35 or Jerusalem or both 2 Chron. XXXII 9. See the Observations on Esay XXXVII 36. his sonnes These words have an empty place left for them in the Hebrew Tex verse 37 and are printed only in the margent But they are in the Text XXXVII 38. ten degrees This choise was given to Hezekiah about mid-day chapter XX verse 9 when the shadow of the Sunne might go forward or backward ten degrees on the Dial of Ahaz a famous Dial haply mural and haply visible to Hezekiah out of his bed-chamber and so likewise in all other Dials distinguished into half hours as that of Ahaz was And so ten degrees make five hours And the Miracle was not only in the Shadow going backward but in the Sunne also going backward ten degrees though whether in an instant or in the set course of time or its ordinary continual motion is not certaine Esay XXXVIII 8. Which made the Ambassadors of the Princes of Babylon to be sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land 2 Chron. XXXII 31. See on Esay XXXVIII 8. Altars Idolatrous Altars chapter XXI verse 3 and Images set up in the House of the Lord ver 4 5 7. eighteenth year From this famous year chapter XXII verse 3 both those thirty years Ezek. I. 1. And those fourty dayes or years of the sinne of Judah chap. IV. 6. seeme to take their rise and reckoning the Book of the Law The knowledge of it verse 8 and the Lawes in it seemes a rare and strange thing as at other times so in the dayes of good Josiah 2 King XXII 10 11. 2 Chron. XXXIV 19 21. notwithstanding that Law Deut. XXXI 10 11. in peace Josiah died in peace verse 20 according to the Promise not seeing the Evils to come though he was slaine in battel 2 King XXII 20. and XXIII 29. 2 Chron. XXXIV 28. Topheth Called Tophte chapter XXIII verse 10 Esay XXX 33. The name is from Toph signifying a Drum Tabret or Timbrel such as idolatrous Priests used to beat upon in the time of their detestable sacrificing of children to Moloch to drowne their skrikes and cries Levit. XX. 2. 2 Chron. XXVIII 3. and XXXIII 6. 2 King XVI 3. and XXI 6. Psal. CVI. 38. This the Jewes learned from the Heathen Deut. XII 31. This Tophet stood in a pleasant valley on the South-side of Jerusalem Josh. XV. 8. and chap. XVIII 16. Belonging to one Hinnom and his sons and called therefore the valley of Hinnom Gehinnom or Ge-bene-Hinnom the valley of the sonnes of Hinnom Whence the Greek and Latin take the word Gehenna and use it for Hell fitly resembled by such a Type for the horrid acts and sufferings used therein Matth. XVIII 8 9. Mar. IX 43 48. James III. 6. And allusion is made hereunto Matth. V. 22. This place was defiled and destroyed by Josiah in this Text. See the Annotations on Esay XXX 33. and on Jer. VII 31. Jehoahaz Called also Joachaz verse 31 and Johanan and in the opinion of the most and best Shallum likewise The Prophesie concerning Shallum Jer. XXII 10 11 12. best agreeing to him And supposing that Shallum the fourth sonne of Josiah mentioned 1 Chron. III. 15. to be dead before his father yet under the name of Johanan he is called the first-borne of Joâ—â—h 1 Chron. III. 15. in respect likely that he first succeeded him in his throne 2 Chron. XXXVI 1. Of him see Ezek. XIX 3 4. Jehojakim Jehojakim called also Joachim verse 36 and Eliakim as Solomon was also called Iedidiah and Lemuel was the eldest sonne of Iosiah Of him and his Burial we read Ier. XXII 19. and XXXVI 30. 2 Chron. XXXVI 5 6. Ezek. XIX 5
and all for his own safety 1 King XII 27. And to gaine their possessions making Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sonnes of Levi 2 Chron. XIII 9. A practise well beseeming Rebels Devils Idols here so called verse 15 in the way of David verse 17 and Solomon This charitably implies the Repentance of Solomon as well as his Ecclesiastes doth in his last dayes though haply he could not reforme all Idolatry as neither Manasseh could after his repentance 2 Chron. XXXIII 7. and dispersed As Gen. verse 23 XXV 5 6. 2 Chron. XXI 3. Israel Put and meant for Judah chapter XII chap. XV. 17. See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXI 2. against Jerusalem After this Jerusalem was taken about tenne times verse 9 one and fourty Therefore borne in the first year of the reigne of his father King Solomon verse 13 four hundred thousand Huge are the armies of the Jews chapter XIII 1200000 Jewes in those armies of Abijah and Jerrboam Wherein slaine on Jeroboams side five hundred thousand verse 3 much more then every one his man the greatest number that ever we read slaine in any battel v. 17. In the reigne of Asa he had out of Judah and Benjamin an army of 500080. And he fought against an army of Zerah the Ethiopian of a thousand thousand and three hundred Charets likely meaning three hundred thousand Charets 2 Chron. XIV 8 9. the greatest army that we read of And in Jehoshapha's time he had men of warre waiting on him 1160000. besides those whom he put in the fenced Cities throughout all Judah 2 Chron. XVII 14 19. children of Belial i. e. without yoake verse 7 or without profit as the word signifieth Deut. XIII 13. Such as Judg. XIX 22. 1 Sam. II. 12. and X. 27. and XXV 17. 1 King XXI 13. This title doth Shimei give falsely to David 2 Sam. XVI 7. But is truly given to the Devil 2 Cor. VI. 15. was young Not in age but in experience and policy being then as was said fourty one years old fourteene wives Fourteene wives in his life-time verse 21 for his reigne was but short even three years ver 2. ten years Yet likely some small skirmishes there were chapter XIV verse 1 1 King XV. 16 32. Mareshah A Citie in the North-West part of the tribe of Judah Josh. verse 10 XV. 44. There Michah the Prophet was borne Michah I. 1. And here as we see in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah Asa overthrew the hugest hoast that ever we read of Xerxes army not excepted of Zerah the Ethiopian Gerar Gerar anciently a Citie and Kingdome of the Philistines verse 13 whose Kings seeme all to be called Abimelechs where Abraham and Isaac a while lived both offending in denying their wives Gen. XX. and XXVI Isaac leaving the Citie dwelt in the valley of Gerar. Gen. XXVI 17. a most fruitful valley ver 12. as it were the Granarie of Canaan when famine was elsewhere in the Land ver 1. Here Isaac digged againe the Wells of water digged by Abraham and stopped by the Philistines And he digged others new After Gerar fell to the tribe of Simeon And hither as we see Asa pursued the Ethiopians and smote all the Cities round about Gerar. long season Thirty or thirty one years chapter XV verse 3 conceiving this to be in the eleventh year of Asa at the end of those ten years chap. XIV 1. Israel The ten tribes under Jeroboam Nadab and Baasha did turne We read not of their turning in those thirty years verse 4 This then may be taken by way of supposition If they had turned God would have been found of them Or else Israel in the former verse may relate to all Gods people and comprehend in it also former times even the times of the Judges themselves Be ye strong Ye of Judah and Benjamin verse 7 ver 2. Oded See the Annotations on this verse verse 8 Both sonne ver 1. and father here might prophesie renewed the Altar And likely that whole Court whereunto that chap. XX. 5 seems to have reference strangers Those Israelites out of the ten tribes verse 9 that fell to Judah are here called strangers third moneth Likely at the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost verse 10 fifteenth year This may seeme a second and more through Reformation four or five years after his victory against Zerah Or else that victory must be reduced to this fifteenth year of Asa. And till that time they had had rest and no warre which fifteenth of Asa was the thirty five in his reigne i. e. since the Kingdome of Judah was divided from the Kingdome of Israel ver 19. viz. 17. of Rehoboam three of Abijah and these fifteen of Asa. six and thirty It is clear that this well may chapter XVI verse 1 and needs must be understood likewise of that Kingdome wherein Asa was now King For Baasha began to reigne in the third year of Asa 1 King XV. 28. And reigning twenty four years ver 33. he must needs die in the twenty seventh of Asa or twenty six complete And so we finde it 1 King XVI 8 And therefore this thirty sixth wherein Baasha waged warre with Asa must needs be meant of the Kingdome of Judah that is since the first division of the two Kingdomes And so reckoning the seventeen years of Rehoboams reigne and three of Abijah we finde this thirty sixth to be the sixteenth of Asa the next year after that full Reformation mentioned 2 Chron. XV. 10. And to be the thirteenth year of the reigne of Baasha See a like passage 2 Chron. XXII 2. Ramah Ramah of Benjamin bordering upon Judah Josh. XVIII 25. See the Annotations on Hos. V. 8. Hanani The father of the Prophet Jehu verse 7 chap. XIX 2. 1 King XVI 1. of Syria escaped Which God might and would otherwise have delivered into his hand as he did the Ethiopians if Asa had not prevented the occasion and opportunity thereof by his foolish sending to and for Benhadad to aide him and break his League with Baasha and so shewing thereby that he relied not upon the Lord but upon Benhadad for which he is justly reproved and punished a very great burning Greeks and Romanes of old used to burne their dead bodies verse 14 specially of their Great ones with a great deale of cost burning huge piles and curious fabricks of timber together with abundance of odoriferous spices at their Funerals gathering their ashes into an Urne and so layed up in their Monuments And among the Jewes we read something like viz. of Burning at the Exequies of their Kings so here and Jer. XXXIV 5. of such of them at least as lived beloved and died desired which was to others denied 2 Chron. XXI 19. Jer. XXII 19. and XXXVI 30. But we read not That this Burning was of their Bodies but of sweet Odours only at and in their Sepulchers taught in Judah The Priests and Levites did so chapter XVII
verse 9 The Princes by their authority and in the Kings name made way for them so to do with the better courage countenance and successe Philistines These verse 11 and the Arabians subdued by Asa chap. XIV 14 15. Numbers See the Observations on chap. verse 14 XIII 3. Waited Waited in their Courses verse 19 some at one time some at another Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat marries his sonne Jehoram to Athaliah chapter XVIII verse 1 Ahabs daughter And this in the eighth year of Jehoshaphats reign as appears by the age of Ahaziah succeeding his father Jehoram in the Kingdome when he was two and twenty years old 2 Kings VIII 18 26 27. 2 Chron. XXII 2. with chap. XXI 5. went down to Ahab In the twenty two and last year of Ahabs reign verse 2 and life And in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat Ramoth Gilead See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 28. at a venture Gods Providence verse 33 See the Observations on Ester V. 8. and on Ezek. I. 18. Wrath Wrath deserved by him chapter XIX verse 2 and appearing on him chapter XVIII 31 and XX. 1. from Beershebah to Mount Ephraim The South and North borders of the Kingdome of Judah verse 4 set As Jehoshaphats Commission for teaching throughout the Kingdome was chap. verse 8. 11. XVII 9. So here is his High-Commission-Court at Jerusalem 2 Chron. XIX 8 11. following therein the Ordinance of Moses Deut. XVII and XIX See the Observations on Deut. XVII 8 13. Hazazon-Tamar Gen. chapter XX verse 2 XIV 7. Called also Engedi a Citie of the tribe of Judah Josh. XV. 62. thy friend So Esay XLI verse 7 8. James II. 23. cliffe of Ziz And so the Wildernesse of Jervel verse 16 both in the tribe of Judah near Tekoah and Berakah ver XX. 26. Korhites Korhites that descended of that Korah the sonne of Izhar the sonne of Kohath swallowed up of the earth Num. XVI 1. 32. These were singers in the Temple and some of them Porters Praise the Lord Psal. verse 21 CXXXVI So chap. XXIX 27. began to sing In assurance of victory verse 22 three dayes A rich spoile verse 25 of Jehu See the Annotations on chap. verse 34 XIX 2. in the book 1 King XVI 1. joyned himself Jehoshaphat first verse 36 it seemes refusing to have Ahaziah to joyne with him to make ships to go to Tarshish 1 Kings XXII 49. doth at last yeeld and is reproved by Eliezer and the ships are broken Not that he joyned first and refused after upon the Prophets reproof for then the ships might well have been unbroken But however Here the good King falls once and again into the same fault of joyning himself with wicked Ahaziah as formerly he had done with wicked Ahab chap. XVIII 1 2 3. and chap. XIX 2. As we see the like in Abraham Gen. XII 13. with chap. XX. 2. Jehoshaphat King of Israel Jehoshaphat here is called King of Israel chapter XXI verse 2 that being then a distinct Kingdome from his So again are the Princes called ver 4. And Ahaz likewise 2 Chron. XXVIII 19 27. And Darius is called King of Assyria Ezra VI. 22. And Artaxerxes King of Babylon Neh. XIII 6. As indeed the Persian Monarchs were the rightful Kings of Persia Assyria and Babylon or Chaldea Of names see more in the Annotations on 2 Chron. XXIV 20. of his father After his father Jehoshaphats death verse 4 In his fathers life-time Jehoram carried himself better both as Viceroy and King slew all his brethren And see Gods judgements upon his sonnes ver 17. and his grand-children chap. XXII 10 11. only Jehoahaz or Ahaziah or Azariah left of the one and Joash of the other compelled By force and persecutions verse 11 A most wicked sonne of a godly father A writing to him from Elijah Written in the life-time of Elijah verse 12 15. who died before Jehoshaphat 2 Kings III. 11. Left and directed to Jehoram or for him who would not endure the Reproof of a living Prophet Therein prophesying and foretelling Jehorams Sinnes and Punishments Amongst other his wickednesses He shew all his brethren the sonnes of Jehoshaphat 2. Chron. XXI 4. And his sons were all slaine by the Philistines and Arabians but Ahaziah the youngest called also Jehoachaz 2 Chron. XXI 17. and Azariah chap. XXII 6 7. 2 Chron. XXI 17. and XXII 1. And Ahaziah was slaine by Jehu 2 Chron. XXII 9. when he was twenty three years old 2 Kings VIII 26. And the sonnes of Ahaziah were slaine by their grand-mother Athaliah save Joash that was hid from her and after crowned King and at last slaine by his own servants 2 Chron. XXIV 24 25. We read that Josiah and Cyrus by their names were prophesied of many ages before they were borne But their good deeds were foretold not any evill of them as of idolatrous bloody Jehoram here Elisha foretels Hazael face to face of his bloodinesse and evil that he would do to the children of Israel 2 King VIII 12. Arabians near the Ethiopians See the Observations on Gen. verse 16 II. 13. he reigned Iehoram of Iudah his Life verse 20 Death Burial Fourty and two Clear it is chapter XXII verse 2 That Iehoram the father of Ahaziah was but fourty years old when he died chap. XXI 5. And that Ahaziah himself was but twenty two years old when he began to reigne 2 Kings VIII 26. But it was in the two and fourtieth year of the continuance of the Crown in Omri and his race from whom Ahaziah descended by his mother Athaliah 2 Kings VIII 18 26. And the Hebrew expression by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sonne together with a trajection of some clauses in this verse do render this interpretation the more passable And a like passage we finde as hath been shewed in chap. XVI 1. And such trajections are used 1 Sam. XX. 16. Ezra X. 17. Neh. XII 22. Athaliah Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah and wife of Jehoram the sonne of Jehoshaphat and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and grandchilde of Omri in Samaria Not in the Citie verse 9 but in the Kingdome of Samaria 2 Kings IX 27. Sonne of Jehoshaphat Grandchilde So daughter for grandchilde verse 2. A phrase usuall in Scripture seed royal Sonnes of Ahaziah verse 10 ver 11. likely by other women of the King Jehoram verse 11 and sister of Ahaziah as is expressed in this verse Of the Priests chapter XXIII verse 4 and of the Levites They the Prime men in the deposing of Athaliah and crowning of Joash guarding the gates and compassing the King round about with weapons in hand their courses being not dismissed and others of them gathered out of all the Cities of Iudah gate of the foundation Called Shur verse 5 2 Kings XI 6. the high or higher gate 2 Kings XV. 35. 2 Chron. XXVII 3. Of the Gates of the Temple and Courts See the Annotations on Ezek. VIII 3. See also Ezek. VIII 5. 14. and chap. IX 2. and chap. XL.
3. and 2 Chr. VIII 14. and chap. XXIII 4 5 19 20. and chap. XXIV 8. and XXVII 3. and XXXI 14. and XXXV 5. the Horse-gate Of the gates of Ierusalem verse 15 or of the walls of the Citie see the Observations on Nehemy III. 1. gather of all Israel chapter XXIV verse 5 So much of Israel as Ioash had from year to year One year would not suffice to make up this Reparation hastened not For in the twenty third year of Ioash it was not done 2 Kings XII 6. the Collection of Moses So ver verse 6 9. such as Moses used Exod. XXX 12 16. or Exod. XXV But this differing from them both agreeing only in this As Moses then provided for the Tabernacle and the service of it by those Collections extraordinarily as need then required so were they now by somewhat a like Collection to provide for the repairing of the breaches of the Temple Yet is this because somewhat like called the Collection of Moses as like sinnes are called by the names of the sinnes of Manasseh 2 Kings XXIV 3. of the iniquity of the fathers Exod. XXXIV 7. of the errour of Balaam and gain-saying of Core Iudge 11. and the signe of Ionas Matth. XII 39. is used in a like sense Sonnes of Athaliah In their father Iehorams life-time verse 7 before they were taken and slaine by the enemy if sonnes here be taken properly High-priests Officer 2 Kings XII verse 11 10. The High-Priest himselfe did this But that Iehoiada was this High-Priest is not expressed day by day i. e. time after time so oft as the chest was full in Israel the Kingdome of Iudah verse 16 Gods people 2 Chr. XXIX 24. Princes Hypocritical flattering Princes See ver verse 17 23. Zechariah Zechariah slaine and mentioned Matth. XXIII verse 20 35. seemes not to be this Zechariah But rather the Prophet Zechariah the sonne of Barachiah Zech. I. 1. slew his sonne Cruel ingratitude verse 22 hoast of Syria This might be a seconding of that invasion verse 23 2 King XII 17 18. a small company Gods visible hand in it verse 24 for the executing of his judgement against Joash ver 25. sonnes Likely more slaine then Zechariah verse 25 or taken indefinitely for one as Gen. XLVI 7. Book of the Kings Most likely some civil Records verse 27 Amaziah Of the times of the reignes of Amaziah chapter XXV verse 1 and of Uzziah as also of Iotham and of Ahaz 2 Kings XV. 32. and XVI 1. And of their Concordance with the time of the reignes of the Kings of Isreel See my Annotations on Hosea I. 1. But he slew not their children See the Annotations on this text verse 4 do it An Ironical concession verse 8 See the Observations on Amos IV. 4 5. top of the rock Selah verse 21 or Petra signifying a rock whence the chief Citie in Arabia Petraea is called Petra 2 Kings XIV 7. gods of the children of Seir Worse then that of Ahaz chap. verse 14 XXVIII 23. Punished chap. XXV 20 27. Altar of Incense This the High-Priest might do chapter XXVI verse 16 Exod. XXX 7. and other Priests also Luke I. 9 But not the King or any else but Priests the chief Priest Not stiled the High-Priest verse 20 was a Leper Yet bare the title of King to the day of his death verse 21 Ophel Ophel in Ierusalem chapter XXVII verse 3 over-against the water-gate toward the East where the Nethinims dwelt 2 Chron. XXXIII 14. Neh. III. 26. and XI 21. his wars 2 Kings XV. verse 7 37. his God Though himself such an idolater chapter XXVIII verse 5 ver 22. So ch XXXVI 5. King of Syria Rezin 2 Kings XVI 5. slew Slew a great number verse 6 Captive A greater number verse 8 feirce wrath Pekah soone slaine verse 11 And in Hosheah's time all captivated and the Kingdome extinguished Esay VII 16. the first day ver chapter XXIX verse 17 3. Hezekiah begins Reformation on the very first day of his reign Or rather on the first day of the year which fell out towards the later end of the first year of Ezekiah's reigne sixteenth day So that Passeover was past and not kept seven Bullocks Here are seven verse 21 to represent the whole body of the Kingdome And here are used all maner of Beasts fit for sacrifice the Priests killed them And so Levit. IV. 4. and chap. IX 8 verse 24 15 18. 2 Chron. XXIX 24 34. The Levites did flea them 2 Chron. XXXV 11. And in some extraordinary cases sley them also 2 Chron. XXIX 34. and receive the blood 2 Chron. XXX 16 17. The Priests only not the Levites came to the Altar to lay the wood sprinkle the blood and burn them Levit. l. 7. c. and chap. III. 2 5. 2 Chron. XXXV 14. the Song Psal CXXXVI verse 27 See the Annotations on Ezra III. 11. to Ephraim chapter XXX verse 1 and Manasseh See ver 5 11 18. Yet this was before their finall captivity by Shalmaneser 2 Kings XVII in the second moneth ver verse 2 1 3. As in like case Num. IX 11. Kings of Assyria Pul verse 6 and Tiglath Pilneaser 2 Kings XV. 19 29. 1 Chron. V. 26. 2 Chron. XXVIII 20. mocked them But a finall judgement sonne followed verse 10 had not cleansed themselves yet And verse 18 it seemes in Josiah's time all did not eate at the very hour appointed at Even 2 Chron. XXXV 14. yet where the heart is upright God mercifully heals such offenders to keep other seven dayes The power of the Church seene herein verse 23 and by God approved Since the time of Solomon And the division of the two Kingdomes verse 26 so many out of the ten tribes came not to Jerusalem to eat celebrate the Passeover Yet see a larger commendation of Josiah's Passeover which followed after this chap. XXXV 18. 2 Kings XXIII 22 23. finished Presently after the foresaid Passeover chapter XXXI verse 1 they pull down idolatry yea in Ephraim also and Manasseh which belonged to Hoshea King of Israel third moneth Or Feast of weeks verse 7 of Pentecost which is called the feast of harvest And the seventh moneth is called the Feast of ingathering Exod. XXIII 16. hoast of the King of Assyria Though that King Sennacherib chapter XXXIII verse 11 and his hoast were so slain in the time of his father Hezekiah chap. XXXII 21. a wall Begun by his father chap. XXXII 5. yet unto the Lord Not to false gods verse 14 as was in the grosser kinde of idolatrous sacrificers verse 17 Amon Amon worse then his father Manasseh eighth year Being then sixteen years old chapter XXXIV verse 20 and before that the father of Eliakim or Iehojakim verse 3 2 Kings XXIII 36. and chap. XXII 1. compared together twelfth year Himself being then twenty cities of Manasseh Remanants then of the Israelites verse 6 for the body of the ten tribes were formerly carried away captives and the Kingdome exterminated eighteenth year
it could not brook it And the rather because Haman was of that cursed stock which God would have rooted out for their bitter emnity against the Jews Yet Mordecai's humility appears in returning to the Kings gate his ordinary standing and calling presently after his so high advancement in chap. VI. 6 12. had told them that he was a Jew This he did to satisfie them verse 4 and justifie himself which shewed the true cause of his refusal and moved Haman to such wrath all the Jewes Wrath raging verse 6 and unmeasurable the rather out of his inveterate hatred against all Jewes Nisan Nisan is the Chaldee name And Abib the Hebrew name verse 7 of the first moneth whereunto our March doth mostwhat answer In which moneth the Lots were cast that shewed Adar the twelfth moneth to be the luckie moneth for executing that bloody Decree The Commandment for which bloody butchery was issued forth on the thirteenth day of the foresaid Nisan chap. III. 12. from moneth to moneth All this was or might be done in one day Adar Whereunto our February mostwhat answereth as beginning on the eleventh day of our moneth scattered abroad Not into Babylon only verse 8 but also into Persia and all the many Provinces of it And there remained behinde after the Proclamation of Cyrus and the Returne made with Zerubbabel Ezra II. Amighty scattering though this comprehend the ten Tribes also And a shameful neglect of the Jewes in not Returning to suffer them Lest they infect and infest the Kings good subjects I will pay The Jewes paid great tributes to the King verse 9 In recompence of that losse if they were destroyed Haman would pay this great summe Ten thousand Talents The ten thousand Talents at three hundred seventy five pound the Talent comes to 3750000. See Observations on Eoxd XXXVIII 24. to the hands Of the Kings treasurers his Ring See chap. verse 10 VIII 2 8. Gen. XLI 42. Luke XV. 22. 1 King XXI 8. Dan. VI. 17. given unto thee The grace of Favourites verse 11 first moneth All haste used verse 12 Malice expedites mischief young and old Monstrous cruelty verse 13 twelfth moneth Delayed so long because of the lot ver 7. else folly in Haman to have made so long a delay Gods Providence seene in ordering the lot so as there might be so long a time between the decree and the execution for the using of means to prevent it for a prey To encourage the enemies and murderers Which prey the Jewes in their case punctualy abstained from chap. 8. 11. and ch IX 10 15 16. sent raiment That he might be fit to come into the Court chapter IV verse 4 ver 2. and unto her who is not called This custome and law was partly for state and honour verse 11 partly for safety and security Some had a general calling and licence by their places and offices about the King but this extended not to the Queen her self deliverance arise Mordecai's faith and confidence verse 14 but thou Mordecai's peremptorinesse with Esther in such a case of extremity ver 13. And assuring her of certain danger and destruction from God if she insisted on pretended danger from the King three dayes verse 16 night or day Of Fasting see the Annotations on Joel I. 14. This length of time might be endured in that hot Countrey and in a case of such extremity yet see chap. V. 1. Haman might well know of the Jewes fasting and mourning in Shushan But not of this of Esthers and her maids likewise But not three whole dayes chap. V. 1. and if I perish She might suspect her countenance lesse beautiful upon her Fasting and remember the Kings rigor against Vasthi yet this is her pious resolution See Gen. XLIII 14. on the third day chapter V verse 1 Whiles they in Shushan continued the Fast. his royal throne She takes the time when most likely she might finde the King and have accesse half of the Kingdome Again verse 3 ver 6. and chap. VII 2. So Herod Mark VI. 23. a kinde of Proverbial speech not literaly to be taken the King and Haman Both together verse 4 that she might accuse him face to face before the King and so prevent delayes or mediations to morrow Gods secret and over-ruling hand of Providence herein verse 8 nor moved for him It seemes lesse respect used now then before verse 9 else Haman belies him And hither Mordecai comes now without sackcloth on the third day of the Feast upon just causes no doubt of fifty Cubits high Monstrous high verse 14 and suddenly erected on that night Gods wondrous Providence chapter VI verse 1 See the like 1 Sam. XXIII 27. 1 Kings XXII 34. Seene as in Esthers putting off her Petition to the next day so here in his ordering the Kings waking and hearing the Chronicles read That so the advancement of Mordecai might intervene Of Gods Providence see in the four living Wights and in the Wheeles Ezek. I. 5 25. and X. 12. read Likely reading to one in bed makes him sleep the sooner to Mordecai the Jew So that the King knew Mordecai to be a Jew verse 10 and could not forget his Grant to Haman against them and yet thus honours him nothing fail Yet the Crowne is not mentioned verse 11 ver 11. Then took Haman Without any replies excuses or objections made begun to fall One Favourite falls at the rising of another verse 13 yet talking High time it was considering the businesse already past on that day verse 14 could not countervaile the Kings damage chapter VII verse 4 The Jewes were many wayes very advantagious to the Persian Monarchs as the Israelites were to Pharaoh in Egypt upon the bed For the banquet verse 8 chap. I. 6. will he force Likely Haman might clasp her feet in his hands to shew the earnestnesse of his Petition for his life that he would not let her go without granting him some favour See 2 Kings IV. 27. Matth. XXVIII 9. covered Hamans face See Job IX 24. 2 Sam. XV. 30. Ezek. XII 6 12. as unworthy to see the Kings face verse 9 or to be seene himself hang The Kings word in those dayes was warrant enough pacified He was not sorry for it afterwards On that day chapter VIII verse 1 The very same day wherein the things in the former Chapter were done the house And his estate as escheated to the King came before the King As one of those chap. I. 14. had told And so the Kings kinsmanby marriage Esther spake yet again Esthers zealous care for the safety of Gods people the Jewes still appears verse 3 after Hamans hanging and Mordecai's advancement in the seconding of her Petition on their behalf with kneeling and tears formerly not mentioned to be used by her to the King golden Scepter She ventures again to go in uncalled verse 4 for her peoples sake See chap. IV. 11. and chap. V. 2. write ye This is another way verse 8 For
Ministers of the Gospel or requires parity of authority among them but saith that those things though good and lawful in themselves yet have no place in nor relation to his spiritual Kingdome which is in the soul. not stand As Num. XXX 5 12. verse 5 Josh. II. 11. and VII 12 13. Knoweth Acknowledge and own verse 6 approveth regardeth rewardeth As Exod. III. 7. Deut. XXXIV 10. Psal. XXXI 8. and XXXVII 18. and CXLII 5. and CXLIV 12. Prov. XII 10. Hos. XIII 5. Matth. VII 23. Rom. VII 15. John X. 14. Job XXIII 10. Prov. II. 8. Why I his Psalme by many of the Ancients is joyned to the former chapter II verse 1 as a part of it And they take the former as a Preface to this or rather to the whole Book of the Psalmes But Saint Paul doth distinguish them Acts XIII 33. And the Church doth ascribe this Psalme to David though it bear not his Title Acts IV. 25. And in this Psalme David bears a Type of Christ who is here more realy properly principaly and immediately intended All which appears Acts IV. 25 26. and XIII 33. Heb. I. 5. and V. 5. So that the first and open sense points to David the mystical and more abstruse to the Messias And no doubt but this and such allusions more were out of all question even from the beginning so fore-cast and appointed as it were by the holy Ghost Why The Psalmist demands and wonders at the banding and conspiring of all and all sorts of enemies against David and his Kingdome typicaly as did Saul Ishbosheth Abner the Philistines Jebusites and others But against Christ and his Kingdome principaly as is the prime purpose maine scope and intent of this Psalme Acts IV. 25 26. Mark III. 6. John XI 53. Luke XIX 14. Though all in vaine ver 1 2 3. The Kings 2 Sam. VIII and X. verse 2 Chapters heavens 1 King VIII verse 4 27. Jer. XXII 24. Psal. CXXXIX 7. The King of heaven against those Kings of the earth ver 2. laugh And have them in derision as Job XLI 29. dictum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intelligendum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. XXXVII 12 13. and LIX 8. Prov. I. 26. wrath No passion properly hath any place in Gods will verse 5 It is not in him but without him not in his affection but in his act These expressions are but condescentions to the weaknesse of our capacities Psal. LXXVI 6 9. and CIV 32. yet have I God the Father who makes and orders all earthly Kingdomes verse 6 Dan. IV. 14. and II. 21. and VII 14. Ezra I. 1. my King Prov. VIII 22 30. Acts II. 36. Sion See the Observations on Deut. III. 9. and on 1 Chron. XI 5. See Psal. LXXVIII 68. and LXVIII 17. and CXXXII 13. and LXXXVII 2. Esay II. 2 3 4. and IV. 4. I will declare David typicaly verse 7 Christ principaly who is in the bosome of the Father the Word and Wisdome of the Father The Lord hath said Hebr. V. 5. Psal. CX 1. my sonne Not as holy men Princes David or Angels are called the sonnes of God John I. 12. Jer. XXXI 9. Psal. LXXXII 6. Job I. 6. But in a peculiar maner farre above all these Hebr. I. 4 5 9. not by adoption or grace but by nature This day Relates to his Nativity as man not to his Divinity as God And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is called the Sonne of God Luke I. 35. Heb. I. 5. And that raising up of Jesus Acts XIII 33. relates to this Exhibition of him in the flesh mentioned also ver 23. That other raising him from the dead speaks plainly of his resurrection from the grave Acts XIII ver 34 37. Rom. I. 4. have I begotten thee Not relating here to his eternal generation as the Sonne of God the second Person and Hypostasis in the Trinity But to his gigniture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he revealed him to the world Aske of me God Decrees verse 8 as the End so the Means As Assuerus to Ester chap. V. 3. And Herod to the daughter of Herodias Mark VI. 23. And God himself to Solomon 1 King III. 5. So and much more here God the Father to Christ his Sonne the Mediatour Thus Christ asked and prayed in the dayes of his flesh and was ever heard in whatsoever he asked according to the nature of his asking John XI 22 42. Heb. V. 7. John XVII 9. and the uttermost Psal. XXII 29 30. Heb. I. 2. Dan. II. 44. them Thine enemies verse 9 ver 1 2 3. rod of iron Esay XXX 14. Jer. XIX 11. See the actual execution Apoc. II. 26. and chap. XII 5. and XIX 15. Esay XI 4. Be wise Take better counsel then that verse 10 ver 2 use better wisdome now Heb. V. 7. Prov. V. 7. and VII 24. and VIII 32. Esay XLIV 1. Delay is dangerous Kings Ye ver 2. serve Kings verse 11 and all other yet enemies serve him Luke I. 74 75. Psal. CXVI 16. with fear A filial fear which is joyned with joy Psal. C. 2. rejoyce with trembling These two also are coëxistent joy Rom. XIV 17. Ps. IX 2. 14. Phil. IV. 4. Trembling Phil. II. 12. The regenerate man is a kinde of mixt person hath as Rebecca two strugling in him Kisse A signe verse 12 of Love amongst equals Gen. XXXIII 4. 1 Sam. XX. 41. Rom. XVI 16. 1 Cor. XVI 20. Of Subjection in inferiours Gen. XLI 40. 1 Sam. X. 1. Prov. XXIV 26. Of religious adoration 1 King XIX 18. Job XXXI 27. the Sonne 1 John II. 23. John V. 23. lest he be angry Gen. III. 3. Certainly he will ver 5. 2 Thes. I. 8. Apoc. VI. 16 17. and ye perish from the way The way of happinesse you and your way perish Psal. I. 6. or your way of combination against Christ ver 1 2. or in the way of your conceited peace and secure prosperity Blessed Apoc. XIX 9. Rom. IX 33. John III. 36. ten thousands of people And likely more now gathered against him chapter III verse 6 by means of Absolom Most of Davids Psalmes in order of time go before this Psalme my glorie The glorie of my Kingdome which God hath promised me verse 2 and whereunto he hath anointed me godly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chapter IV verse 3 In an active signification Whence the Asideans 1 Macc. 7. 13. 2 Macc. XIV 6. may seeme to have their name And whence the Pelican hath the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the pious benignity it shews as to her young ones so to her dam when over-grown with years as some write And from her Greek name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ariseth the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to denotate a retribution and recompensation of pious duties offices and benefits such as the Pelican useth The same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken also and used by some for the Stork as Jer. VIII 7. the Stork having the like pious benigne
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
He at thy right hand ready to assist thee O Christ as Psal. XVI 8. and CIX 31. Shall strike through Kings Psal. II. 2 4 5. even the highest Powers and Potentates that oppose Christ and his Kingdome 2 Cor. X. 5. In the day of his wrath the time appointed in Gods wisdome the time of his just will so to punish them with plagues temporal eternal in this life in that to come 1 Thes. I. 9 10. Not that Christ the Lord shall be exempted from this powerful conquest and overthrow of his enemies the Sonne being in all things coequal consubstantial with the Father And so the Act coming from the Father by the Sonne But in this speech relation is had to Christ as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and Man as the King Mediatour and receiving his Office from the Father He shall judge The Lord at thy right hand shall execute judgements and punishments verse 6 among the heathen Psal. II. 1. Acts IV. 27. all his enemies whatsoever he shall fill the places with the dead bodies All places with the carkases of the slaine See Jer. XVI 4. A figurative and poetical expression of an huge slaughter such as was that of the Jewes at the final destruction of Jerusalem after the death of our Saviour he shall wound the head in many countries Wound or strike through Head for heads collectively Psal. LXVIII 21. in many or great countries See that Apoc. XX. 9 10. He Christ the Lord. verse 7 Thus the Prophet passeth from the Father to the Sonne The Father acteth by the Sonne the Sonne from the Father shall drink of the brook in the way In pursuing the victory over his enemies he shall do as Gideons souldiers did Judg. VII 7. admit of no delaies which occasioned that interdict adjuration and curse of Saul 1 Sam. XIV 24. Or rather these words seeme to have relation to Christs state of Humiliation and the rather because of that opposition thereunto in the words following And so here we have Christs exinanition and exaltation his passion and resurrection whereby he was brought to sit at the right hand of the Father verse 1. drink In passing through this valley of tears in this world he shall drink deeply of the cup of sorrowes the waters floods and torrents of afflictions and miseries should overtake and encompasse him if not overwhelme and drowne him Psal. LXXXVIII 7. 17. See Jer. XXV 15 16. and chap. XLIX 12. Matth. XX. 22. John XVIII 11. Matth. XXVI 39. in the way Of this life the way of doing his fathers will for the work of mans redemption Phil. II. 7 8. He hid for the time the luster and beams of his Divine Majesty that it might not hinder the sufferings and death of his Humanity 1 Cor. II. 8. Matth. XVII 9. therefore Thus Christ came from his humiliation to his exaltation from his Priesthood to his Kingdome Therefore here notes not a Merit preceding in Christ meriting for himself this exaltation or his glorie either in body or soul his life eternal All necessarily followed upon that hypostatical Union which he could not merit to himself All Christ did was to merit for us The particle here notes the consequence or sequel and order the means and manner how he came to this exaltation shal he lift up the head Be exalted sit at Gods right hand See for the phrase Psal. III. 3. and XXVII 6. Jer. LII 31. Lam. II. 10. sublimi feriet sydera vertice Praise This is one of the Alphabetical Psalmes chapter CXI verse 1 And so is the next Psalme Thereby to help memory and to mark out the excellency of these Psalmes See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes wonderful works In Egypt verse 4. 5. meat Manna and Quails Covenant Though they by their sinnes often and grievously provoked him heathen Canaanites verse 6 Praise chapter CXII verse 1 See the former Psalme wealth See the Observations on Psal. XXXVII 1. verse 3 light in darknesse Esay LVIII 10. Job XI 17. Psal. XXXVII 6. verse 4 of evil tydings Prov. I. 33. Otherwise is it with the wicked verse 7 Jer. XLIX 23. gnash with his teeth See that Luke XIII verse 10 28. who humbleth himself to behold Psal. chapter CXIII verse 6 CXXXVIII 6. and CXXXIX 1 c. Job XXXIV 21 22. Prov. V. 21. Jer. XVI 17. contrary to that Psal. LXXIII 11. and LXIV 6. and XCIV 7 10. Job XXII 12 13. He raiseth 1 Sam. II. 8. verse 7 mountains skipped Sinai chapter CXIV verse 4 Horeb quaked and shaked Exod. XIX 18. Hab. III. 6 10. Psal LXVIII 8. Their idols are Not like unto our God chapter CXV verse 4 verse 3. are like unto them As much without sense and reason verse 8 as blocks and stones their help Theirs that trust in him or one person verse 9 put for another which is not unusual hath he given To their use verse 16 in this world Or the earth also is the Lords which he hath given to the children of men The dead praise not Psal. verse 17 VI. 5. and XXX 9. and LXXXVIII 10 11 12. Esay XXXVIII 18. I love This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVI verse 1 upon his new coming to the Kingdome Therefore The experience of Gods hearing our prayers verse 2 doth hearten us to pray the more Pains of hell The sorrowes and straits of death verse 3 and the grave Psal. XVIII 5 6. Gratious The issue and effect of Prayer verse 5 thy rest Thy quiet comfortable estate in God without trouble of conscience verse 7 and that because of Gods goodnesse and good dealing towards thee I beleeved 2 Cor. verse 10 IV. 13. upon consideration of the Premises his Faith thus triumphed notwithstanding his afflictions I was greatly afflicted The Hebrew word here hath an Active forme but in a Passive signification As sometimes an Hebrew word in a Passive forme is of an Active signification See Esay XXI 10. and chap. XXV 9. and LIII 7. and Ezek XIV 4 7. haste verse 11 All men are liers Even the Prophets as Samuel that promised to me the Kingdome Yea all men in comparison of God unable to help in time of need Rom. III. 4. cup of salvations Used in the Israelites Peace-offerings of Thanksgivings verse 13 and in the Meat-offerings joyned to them and to their whole-burnt offerings and used in their holy Feasts 1 Chron. XVI 1 2 3 whence that seemes to be Luke XXII 17. vowes Made in mine adversity verse 14 Of vowes see the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. Pretious Psal. LXXII verse 15 14. which God shewes in preserving my life from death in the midst of all mine enemies Praise The Apostle alledgeth this to prove Gods mercy to the Gentiles chapter CXVII verse 1 that they should therefore glorifie him O give thanks This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVIII verse 1 and likely inspired and composed upon his returne from his last victory over the Ammonites 2 Sam.
them to thrive and prosper again I will poure A type of that spiritual blessing verse 3 and growth and increase of Gods Church and the members of it under the Messias by the graces and comforts of his Spirit One shall say Gods blessing to them verse 5 in the addition of many Proselytes since I appointed the ancient people The lineage of Abraham to be my peculiar people verse 7 things that are coming Things to come in a continued course from the first to the last like lincks of a chaine hanging one upon another Is there a God besides me That can so foretel verse 8 and do They that make a graven Image The sottishnesse of them verse 9 their makers and worshippers is largely set down ver 9 20. Remember these Their sottishnesse verse 21 and thy duty by all my dealings with thee so freely and bountifully above my dealings with others Sing verse 23 O ye heavens At the redemption and deliverance of Gods people Implying such abundant matter of joy as might well affect the whole Creation were it all sensible of it that frustrateth the tokens of the liars Specialy those that would prognosticate the long continuance of the Babylonian Monarchy verse 25 messengers Such as Esay verse 26. 28. Jeremy Ezekiel and others That saith of Cyrus Thus naming him about two hundred yeares before he was borne So to assure them of their deliverance by him This Chapter is also of the same subject with the former chapter XLV And begins where that did end two-leaved gates Such as great mens houses and Palaces are wont to have verse 1 and create evil Specialy to the Babylonians verse 7. 8. Drop down A command of a Blessing from God That Gods mercy and goodnesse should so manifestly and plentifuly appear in the deliverance of his people and disposing all things for their behoof as if the heavens and the earth were full of blessings for them even of righteousnesse and salvation woe to him that A curb to restraine the impatiencie of some verse 9 that murmured at their miseries and at the delay of their deliverance Or against the Babylonians that would strive even against God himself to keep his people in perpetual slavery And many other passages of Gods providence concerning the affaires of those times might be which flesh and blood would be over-prone to be quarrelling with God about and controuling his carriage of them Ask me Or by interrogation verse 11 will ye presume to appoint and direct me what I shall do and how I shall carry matters concerning the disposition and ordering of my people Or positively seek to me for these things concerning my sonnes and not to Idols raised him up Cyrus verse 13 build my Citie Give order for it and the Temple especialy Ezra I. 1. shall come over unto thee How verse 14 and by whom they should be furnished with supply of all requisite commodities Ezra I. 4. and chap. VII 21 22. Some expound this whole passage of Cyrus himself That because he had dealt so freely with Gods people God would therefore give him as a reward the wealth of those rich Kingdomes and Countries which together with Babylon of whom they formerly held at the fall of that State fell also into his hands surely God is in thee Or with thee with Cyrus typicaly with Christ realy And he in his Church verily Esay here admires the hidden depth of Gods dispensations verse 15 in the passages of his providence And men ought not therefore to take upon them to control and censure him therein I have not spoken in secret As your false gods deliver their Oracles verse 19 But plainly Assemble your selves Ye that escaped the sword of Cyrus verse 20 ye Chaldeans and other Nations seeing now how much God is able to do for his people how little their Idols for those that served them Look unto me Leaving Idols verse 22 betake your selves unto me who am the only true God and able to save you ver 16 17. unto me every knee shall bow And it is your wisest course therefore verse 23 to come willingly in unto me ver 22. Psal. II. 8 10. The Apostle Rom. IV. 11. applyeth this text to the last judgement which is a thing herein necessarily included be justified God approving their innocencie verse 25 and unjust sufferings at the hands of their enemies notwithstanding their pretences in doing justice upon them on Gods behalf for their sinnes and therefore they took them as lawful prize God would clear them deliver them and punish their enemies In this Chapter chapter XLVI and the next as in the 13. and 14. Chapters before is set down a full and pregnant Prophecie against Babylon and of her utter overthrow and of Gods deliverie of the Jewes from her Asserting withal the vanity of the Babylonian Idols and his owue incomparable divine power to effect it Bel This Chapter begins with the ruine of their Idols verse 1 See the Observations on Judges VIII 33. Nebo Another of their Idols Whose name is found inserted in many of the names of their Kings and Nobles as Nabonassar Nabopolassar Nebuchadnezzar Nabuzaradan The name imports Prophecie And so this may seeme their Apollo as Bel their Jupiter A burden to the weary beast On whose backs the Medes and Persians lead them to carry them away which are borne Minding them of his Divine power and love verse 3 God not like to those Idols ver 1 2. and shew your selves men Not beasts verse 8. 10. like these idolaters Declaring the end from the beginning Foretelling the issue of things in a continued course and progresse from the first to the last which no other then my self can do bird from the East Cyrus from Persia verse 11. 12. which is East from Babylon ye stout-hearted Impious obstinate of the Jewes or rather stomackful and proud enemies far from righteousnesse Or righteous dealing with my people my righteousnesse In executing judgements on you verse 13 and righting the wrongs done to my people This Chapter prosecutes the destruction of Babylon chapter XLVII and begins with the ruine of their State And describes throughout it her dejected and despicable condition upon her overthrow together with the procuring Causes and the suddennesse and unavoidablenesse of it Uncover thy locks Cast off thy stately head-tire verse 2 and go bare-headed as captives and drudges are wont to do as a man But in full wrath verse 3. 9. and power as God in a moment in one day That night of Belteshazzars feast Dan. V. 30. This Chapter is also much of the same subject chapter XLVIII and frame especialy with Chapters XLIII and XLIV out of the waters of Judah The stock of Judah verse 1 the royal Tribe that had kept the true worship of God and not fallen away as the ten Tribes and thy neck is an iron sinew A reason why God was pleased to foretel things to his people verse 4 that they might not be ascribed to their
women Exod. I. 19. But principaly this relates to the times of the Gospel and the Christian Church under Christ to which the other is subordinate a man-child Collectively multitudes are meant verse 8. Ezra II. 64 65. Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. shall I Set upon a work verse 9 and not go through with it suck Chap. verse 11 LX. 16. and your bowes Shall get vigor verse 14 and verdure againe as those bones Ezek. XXXVII 1 10. come with fine Towards and against his enemies verse 15 Fully to be accomplished at the last day of judgement They that sanctifie themselves Using superstitious rites of expiation verse 17 in the gardens Set apart for idolatrous services behinde one in the midst Or one person or company after another possibly purifying themselves in the fountaine in the midst of the garden It shall come Since this people do take such courses verse 18 ver 3 4. I will execute judgement upon them and casting them off take in the Gentiles Rom. XI 11 12 15 17. Set a signe A Signe or Ensigne to gather them verse 19 Or a saving signe and mark upon them as Ezek. IX 4 6. Apoc. VII 3. and IX 4. those that escape of them The reserves and holy remnant of the Jewish Nation the Apostles and other faithful to all Nations to call them in by the preaching of the Gospel your brethren In Christ verse 20 the Converts of the Gentiles chap. LX. 4 9. for Priests verse 21 and for Levites Make of them Ministers of the Gospel For as the new heaven Chap. verse 22 LXV 17. Heb. XII 28. remaine Stand continue for ever Matth. XVI 18. to worship before me By allusion in termes to the old Jewish maner of worship verse 23 Zech XIV 16. and look upon the carcases Be spectators and witnesses of the execution of Gods vengeance upon those wicked ones verse 24 verse 15 16. Psal. LVIII 10. for their worme Hell here is principaly intended See chap. XXX 33. Matth. III. 12. and X. 28. and XVIII 8 9. and XXV 41. James V. 3. Apoc. XIV 10 11. and XIX 20. and XX. 14 15. Jeremiah JEREMIE a Priest of Anathoth in Benjamin prophesied fourty one years and upwards thus From the thirteenth of King Josiah's reigne to the end of it being nineteene years eleven in the reigne of Jehojakim and eleven in the reigne of Zedekiah chap. I. 1 2. and chap. XXV 3. and XXXIX 11. And he prophesied some years after that in Judea first and Egypt last ch XLII 2. and XLIII 10. and XLIV 8 24. But how long is uncertaine He was much opposed by false Prophets and sustained much hard measure from the Priests Princes and People And after the taking and destruction of Jerusalem Citie and Temple we read of his usage chap. XXXIX 11 14. and chap. XL. 1 6. and XLII 2. and XLIII 2 6. Jeremiah in this Book mainly preacheth against the sinnes of the Jewes And for them foretelleth the ruine of their State by the Babylonians which he lived to see and to lament in his Book of Lamentations He foretels the LXX years captivity there Their returne thence and happy enlargement under that blessed Branch the Messias And he propesieth also in the latter part of his Book against other Nations the Enemies and Oppressors of Gods people against Egypt the Philistines Moab the Ammonities Edom Damascus Kedar Hazor Elam And foretels chiefly the utter ruine of Babylon and the Empire by Cyrus the Medes and Persians His Chapters as they now stand numbered and placed in the Hebrew text and in our English Translations if they were rancked according to the course and Histories of the times and the things done in them after the first twenty Chapters would follow in this ensuing Order keeping the numbers of the Chapters that we now have 20. 22. 23. 47. 26. 25. 36. 1 8. 45. 46. 36. 9 32. 35. 27. 24. 49. v. 34 39. 29. 30. 31. 28. 51. v. 59 64. 21. 32. 33. 34. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 48. 49. 50. 51. v. 1 59. 52. Thus much varying from the Order wherein we have them The LXX also marshal them in another ranck and order much differing from the Hebrew Text. And as Chapters here are thus displaced so also in Daniel partly And the Hebrew Text seemes sometimes not so rightly to divide the Chapters as Esay LXIV And in our English Bibles Chapters sometimes are not so fitly and exactly divided as Esay 4. 1. and 26. 20. and 52. 13. 14. 15. And in other Books No nor verses neither as Esay 53. 9 10. and 58. 9. and 59. 15. The end of his Book Chap. 52. 31 34. was written by some Prophet after Jeremies death But when and where he died is not recorded in the thirteenth year of his reigne Then Jeremie was called from being ordinary Priest chapter I verse 2 to be an extraordinary Prophet captive There were Captives under Jehojakim verse 3 and under Jeconiah But this is the last and greatest of Jerusalem it self when both Citie and Temple was sackt and burnt and the Kingdome destroyed in the dayes of Zedekiah in the fifth moneth This might end the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reigne chap. LII 12 Then When God first called him verse 4 As thus the Time So now followes in this Chapter the maner of his Calling and such general instructions as God was pleased then to give him concerning his carriage in it and discharge of it I sanctified thee Designed thee to be a Prophet verse 5 to which Office I do now call thee So Gal. I. 15. See the like use of the word Esay XIII 3. This stretcheth not to inward sanctification as that of Iohn Baptist doth Luke I. 15. Nations Both Jewes and other Nations also verse 10. Chap. XXV 15 c. And chap. XLIII and XLVI and XLVII and XLVIII and XLIX and L. and LI. I cannot speak Not dumb verse 6 as Zacharie Luke I. 20 22. or slow and stammering as Moses Exod. IV. 10 14. But that he could not deliver such a message in that maner as was fitting considering his childhood and weaknesse wanting that gravity c. put forth his hand In a Vision verse 9 to root out By publishing my word verse 10 in Threatenings and in Promises which should as certainly be performed as if the Prophet himself had acted them chap. XVIII 7 8 9. A foolish application is made of these words to the Popes pretended power over Kingdomes came unto me Seemingly at the same time with the former verse 11 What seest thou See the like Amos VII 8. and VIII 2. Zech. IV. 2. and V. 1. I see In a Vision Almond tree That doth bud and blossome the earliest of any hasten my word to performe it 2 Kings XXIII verse 12 33 35. and chap. XXIV 2. a seething pot Resembling Ierusalem verse 13 Kingdomes of the North Babylonians verse 15 and their Assistants gird up thy loines Addresse thy self manfully to thy imployment verse
11 12 17 18 26. and Ch. XIV 22 26. And this second Tythe seems every third year to be distributed to the poor Or rather a third Tythe every third year not carried to Jerusalem and eaten there But gathered for these charitable uses onely and to be eaten any where throughout the Land Deut. XIV 28 29. and XXVI 12 13. And this third year is therefore called the year of Tything Deut. XXVI 12. Amos IV. 4. Of Tythes see more 2 Chron. XXXI 4 19. Nehem. X. 32 39. and XII 44 47. and XIII 5 12 13. Mal. III. 8 10. Luke XI 42. and XVIII 12. Heb. VII 2 9. The great maintenance of the Levites appears in that the whole Tribe of Levi being three or four times lesse in number then any other Tribe yet had they distinguished from all the Priests the Tythes of all the Tribes and so more then any one other Tribe Besides their thirty five Cities and Suburbs whereof five were Cities of Refuge Josh. XXI one belonging to the Kohathites Levites two to the Gershonites and two to the Merarites In all twice at least more Cities then some other Tribes had that were twice their number See also that Num. XXXI 30 47. The greater maintenance of the Priests appears in that being but three persons at first at least of ripe and mature age yet they had the Tythes yearly of all the Levites Tythes which were at first 8580 of thirty years old and upwards and so about the hundred part of all the fruits and increase of all Israel And as the numbers of the Priests multiplied afterwards so did in all probability the number of the other Tribes They had also all the First-fruits of all things from all persons throughout the twelve Tribes even of their doughs and bakings Deut. XVIII 4. Num. XV. 20 21. which as some think exceeded their Tythes aforesaid They had also all the First-borne of Oxen Sheep and Goats which were given to them in kinde And the Redemption money of the First-borne of Men and of unclean Beasts and cattell Num. III. 46 52. Exod. XXXIV 19. 20 and Ch. XXII 29 30. Deut. XV. 19. They had also all Oblations both Voluntary and by Vow And the Redemption of Things and of Persons Devoted to God And all Sacrifices for Sinnes and for Trespasses and the Meat and Drink Offerings and Heave-offerings And the Breast and Shoulder in Peace-offerings Deut. XVIII 3. And the Skins of the whole Burnt-offerings And all their Tythes First-fruits and Oblations were to be of the best and choisest sorts Num. XVIII 12 29. Besides these they had thirteen Cities and Suburbs and Priviledges belonging to them whereof one was a City of Refuge Josh XXI 13. See Num. XVIII 8 19. And that also Num. XXXI 28 29 37 38 39 40 50. Levit. X. 12 13 14 15. and Ch. XXVII 21 28. See the Annotations on Num. XVIII 29. Rock At Rephidim by Mount Sinai chapter XX verse 8. 13. Exod. XVII 1 7. being the eleventh Station of the Israelites Num. XXXIII 14. Moses with his miraculous Rod struck the Rock in Horeb in a due obedience to Gods commandment and waters came forth And he named the place Massah and Meribah Exod. XVII 5 6 7. But at Kadesh in the Wildernesse of Zin where Miriam died being the thirty third Station Num. XXXIII 36. Moses with Aarons miraculous Rod for he took it from before the Lord as he commanded him having his spirit provoked by the rebellious people smiles the Rock twice without any such command or commission to smite at all And he and Aaron likewise speak unadvisedly with their lips uttering words of passion and incredulity and so rebelling against Gods commandment And thereupon they not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel He was sanctified in them by his excluding them from entrance into the Land of Canaan And this also is called the water of Meribah or Strife as here so Ch. XXVII 14. Psal. CVI. 32 33. Aaron Aaron chapter XX verse 28 whose name may seem to signifie an Ark or Chest dies seven moneths and seven dayes before Moses at Mount Hor the Place called Mosera Deut. X 6. in the thirty fourth Station For Aaron dying in the fourtieth year fifth moneth first day Num. XXXIII 38. And that compared with the moneths mourning for Moses Deut. XXXIV 8. and three dayes preparation to passe over Jordan Josh. I. 1. and Ch. III. 2. And their coming out of Jordan on the first moneth tenth day Josh. IV. 19. Do shew that Moses died in the twelfth moneth seventh day And so seven moneths and seven dayes after Aaron In which short interval of time many and mighty things were done and atchieved as among other things Sihon and Og and their Kingdomes conquered the Midianites almost destroyed among whom Balaam was slaine Josh. XIII 22. and the book of Deuteronomie written Num. XXI and XXXI Deut. I. 1 3. Fiery Serpents onely in the later part of the fourtieth year chapter XXI verse 6 after Aarons death Heshbon Heshbon a chief City in Moab verse 26 afterwards of Sihon King of the Amorites Deut. I. 4. afterwards of Gad and out of that Tribe given to the Merarites Josh. XIII 26. and XXI 38 39 40. 1 Chron. VI. 80 81. Afterwards recovered by the Moabites and wasted by Shalmanesar Esay XV. 4. and XVI 8 9. and after by the Babylonians Jer. XLVIII 45. There may seeme to be another Heshbon of the Ammonites Jer. XLIX 2 3. And one in the Tribe of Reuben Num. XXXII 37. Josh. XIII 15 17. Heshbon signifies Devises And an allusion is made to the name Jer. XLVIII 2. in the judgement there denounced against it like to this is English There is mischief devised against the Devises the name of a town with us Balak Balak needed not to have hired Balaam chapter XXII verse 2 and feared Israel Num. XXII and XXIII and XXIV if he had known the prohibition of God to Israel Deut. II. 9. which they obeyed Judg. II. 15 17 18 25. 2 Chron. XX. 10. Yet that part which was great of the Lands of Moab which Sihon had lately conquered from Vehab King of Moab as Tremelius translates Num. XXI 26. the Israelites conquering Sihon in that right possessed it Num. XXXIII 49. Deut. I. 5. and XXXIV 1 5 6 8. and it was given to the Reubenites and Gadites Josh. XIII Unicorne So Deut. chapter XXIII verse 22 XXXIII 17. Job XXXIX 9 10. Psal. XXII 21. and XXIX 6. and XCII 10. Esay XXXIV 7. Yet the translation of the word is doubted of or at least the nature of the beast such as the Pensil of our Painters doth portray out unto us because no such beast was known or seen by any man And the Unicornes horne so deemed is of some strange Fish not of any known Beast Some learned render the word Bufale or Buff or else the wild Oxe called by the Latines Urus eminent for bignesse strength hornes and untamable fiercenesse
then no better not for a reward of Divining but as a free testimony of their due respect and thankfulnesse As Ahijah did the like from Jeroboams wife 1 King XIV 3. And Elizeus also the like 2 King IV. 42. And as God accepts from the poor widow two mites a Seer And so ver verse 9 19. 2 Sam. XXIV 11. and Esay XXX 10. Prophets called Seers by reason of the Visions and Prophecies which they saw from God He and they being seen of them in Visions and Dreams Num. XII 6. And that as clearly and as certainly as if they had seene them with their eyes 1 Pet. I. 12. 1 Cor. II. 10. 2. Cor. IV. 18. and V. 1. Heb. XI 27. to Gilgal Not assoone as he parted from Samuel chapter X verse 8 nor yet seemes this to be understood of that being at Gilgal after his vanquishing of the Ammonites before Jabesh Gilead Ch. XI 4 5 11 14 15. when and where they made or confirmed him King though chosen before by Lot at Mizpeh Ch. X. 17 24. But this seemes to relate to a second time of being at Gilgal after that former and above a year after this parting from Samuel Ch. XIII 1. when he was to be there upon that weighty preparation of the warre against the Philistines Ch. XIII 7 8. one year and he reigned tmo years i. chapter XIII verse 1 e. one year from his Election at Mizpah to his Coronation at Gilgal And another year after that which make two years Then he began to take upon him the Royal state of a King and chose his Guard and Army Or thus He reigned two years lawfully before he was rejected by God upon his sparing of Agag King of the Amalakites Ch. XV. Or rather two years quietly before he was oppressed and in a maner outed from his Kingdom by the Philistines 1 Sam. XIII 6 19 22. Upon whose overthrow Saul is said to take the Kingdom again 1 Sam. XIV 47. If they say to us The like is chapter XIV verse 9 Gen. XXIV 14. and Judg. VI. 36 40. These done by some special divine instinct and so not Patterns for our imitation without like warrant a very great trembling The Hebrew phrase is verse 15 a trembling of God And so asleep of God 1 Sam. XXVI 12. Mountains of God Psal. XXXVI 6. Cedars of God Psal. LXXX 10. and CIV 16. an Hoast of God 1 Chron. XII 22. Garden of God Ezek. XXVIII 13. The wrastlings of God Gen. XXX 8. A Citie of God Jon. III. 3. Visions of God Ezek. XL. 2. And so may we understand Sinners of God or unto God Gen. XIII 13. that is exceeding sinners against God Jer. L. 29. And so faire to God Acts VII 20. that is exceeding faire And so the flame of God Cant. VIII 6. A most vehement flame A Seed of God Mal. II. 15. A most holy seed See my Observations on Jonah III. 3. Vtterly destroyed all the people Not all the Amalekites slaine notwithstanding this chapter XV verse 8 and ver 3. and Exod. XVII 14 16. For David fights them 1 Sam. XXVII 8. and they spoile Ziglag 1 Sam. XXX The youngest David young chapter XVI verse 11 when anointed by Samuel likely about two and twenty years old young when he killed the Lion and the Bear when he slew Goliah when after these he slew his ten thousands in Sauls sundry services when afterwards he endured so long persecution by Saâ—l was with the King of Moab and twice with Achish King of Gath abiding at one time an year there and four moneths And yet was but thirty years old when after Sauls death he was made King at Hebron 2 Sam. V. 4. neither seemes he to have any childe till he was a King And then had six in Hebron of fix wives four in Hierusalem of Bathshua or Bathshebah the daughter of Ammiel or Eliam and nine more in all nineteen besides the sonnes of his Concubines 1 Chron. III. 1 9. Anointed David thrice anointed verse 13 Doubtful whether David slew Goliah before his first coming to Saul chapter XVII mentioned Ch. XVI 18 23. Or after that time There are fair probabilities on either side no undoubted certainty And he prophesied Besides the signification of the word for foretelling things to come verse 10 and some other miraculous operations It is also taken for Interpreting of Scripture or Preaching 1 Cor. XIV 1 3 4 5 6 22 24 29 31 32. And for singing and praising God 1 Sam X. 5. 1. Chron. XXV 1. 1 Cor. XI 5. And more generaly for declaring the will of God to any by Revelation or Mission from him And so Christ is the great Prophet Luke XXIV 19. And so Enoch Ahraham Moses are called Prophets and after Moses in this ranck none was greater then he Deut. XXXIV 10. And after his time Samuel David Gad Nathan Elias Elizeus the four great Prophets the twelve small Prophets inspired Pen-men of Holy Scripture and others many were such and so called And as these Extraordinary Prophets so there were multitudes of Ordinary Prophets among the people And Colledges of Prophets and the sons of Prophets at Bethel Jericho Gilgal Ramah Naioth in the times of the Old Testament And in the New Testament Zacharias the father and John Baptist the son Barnabas and Paul Judas and Silas Agabus and many others are called Prophets some Extraordinary others Ordinary Prophets Matth. XXIII 34. Acts XI 27. and XIII 1. and XV. 32. Rom. XII 6. 1. Cor. XII 10. and chap. XIV 6 9 22 24 29 31. Ephes. IV. 11. Apoc. XI 10. And in both Testaments there were as men-Prophets so women-Prophetesses And in both Sexes both True ones and False In the female sexe we read of good and True Miriam Deborah Huldah Anna Philips four daughters virgins of bad and False Noadiah Jezebel and others Ezek. XIII 17 23. Yea among the Heathen some Poets pretending to or reputed to be Declarers of Gods will or Divine truths are in a like sense termed Prophets Tit. I. 12. Prophets in their esteeme And the mode and maner of the expressions of their mindes Oracles and Prophecies among these Heathen Enthusiasticks was most-what in a wilde raving and raging sort with strange motions and agitations of the body thereby the more to pretend their divine raptures as in the Sybils and others And not unlike thereunto is this of Sauls prophesying here In this his rage he casting a jaylin at Daviâ— ver 11. yet in what sense properly he is said here to Prophesie is well guessed in the great Annotations upon this text though it be not altogether sure and certaine As neither that of Eldad and Medad and the rest of the LXX Num. XIII 26 27. Only this is unquestioned in the LXX That it was some extraordinary Act and Testimony That the Spirit of God rested upon them in some extraordinary maner and as such was discernible to all and so fit to authorize them in the eyes of others as by
fortified by him after the revolt of the ten Tribes 2 Chron. XI 10. Reigned two years That is verse 10 peaceably before the warre betweene Abner and Joab ver 12 c. As Saul reigned two years 1 Sam. XIII 1. that is Peaceably as well as Lawfully before his Kingdom was in a maner taken from him by the Philistines 1 Sam. XIII 19. Zerviah the sister of David had these three valiant sonnes verse 18 Joab Abishai Asahel And Abigael the other sister of David had Amasa 2 Sam. XVII 25. 1 Chron. II. 15 16 17. Michal Michal loved by both her husbands chapter III verse 13 16. David and Phaltiel see 1 Sam. XXV 44. Abner He verse 28 and Saul were brothers children 1 Sam. XIV 50 51. Millo This in chapter V verse 9 or adjoyning to the strong hold of Zion the Citie of David taken by him and Joab of the Jebusites notwithstanding their scornful brag and confidence And David built the Citie round about from Millo and inward And Joab repaired the rest of the Citie 1 Chron. XI 8. 2 Chron. XXXII 5. This Millo Solomon built 1 King IX 15 24. and XI 27. There was another Millo in or adjoyning to the Citie Shechem where Abimelech was made King Judg. IX 6 20. unto the day of her death i. chapter VI verse 23 e. Michal never had any childe Those five sons 2 Sam. XXI 8. were the sonnes of Merab Michals sister whom Michal brought up for Adriel Merabs husband 1 Sam. XVIII 19. 2 Sam. XXI 8. And are called Michals sonnes because she did educate if not adopt them And in a sort not much unlike is Obed called Naomies son Ruth IV. 16 17. see Matth. I. 25. and XXVIII 20. I will The Promises are some Peculiar to Solomon some to Christ some to both as the Type and Antitype Davids Conquests chapter VII verse 12 Hadadezer or Hadarezer chapter VIII 1 Chron. XVIII 3. The like is in Diphath and Riphath in Dodanim verse 1-14 and Rodanim 1 Chron. I. 6 7. compared with Gen. verse 3 X. 3 4. The Hebrew letters Daleth and Resh are like one another and often put and used one for another See Esay XLVI 15. Jer. II. 20 ch XXXI 40. which shews that the Hebrew letters had the same forme and figure in those dayes which they have at this day And the same Observation may be made upon the like change of other letters wittingly made in Scripture and much used in proper names and much more used in the many mistakes of Interpreters and Translators of Scriptures in many other places and all by reason of the similitude of their Hebrew Characters as namely of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All which argue still not the Samaritan Characters which have none of these mutual Similitudes amongst themselves but the Hebrew Characters we have now to be the same which were from the Beginning or in Ezra his time And farther The Hebrew Jod is the smallest letter as it is intimated Matth. V. 18. whereas the Samaritan Jod is one of the largest a thousand These one thousand here are expressed to be Charets verse 4 1 Chron. XVIII 4. And the seven hundred horsemen are expounded to be seven hundted rancks of horsemen or decurioues ten in a ranck and so make seven thousand horsemen in the foresaid place Syrians Hebrew are Aram and Aramites for Syria and Syrians verse 5 So still in the Old Testament These came of Aram the sonne of Shem Gen. X. 22. We read of Padan-Aram wherein Haran was the place where Terah Bethuel and Laban dwelt Gen. XI 32. and XXVIII and XXIX chapters Of Aram Naharaim Judg. III. 8. of Aram-Zobah Ps. LX. title Of Aram of Damascus in this Text. The word is of a great latitude and comprehends great Countreys in it As Mesopotamia so called because in the middle of two armes of Euphrates or of the two famous rivers of Euphrates and Tygris And to this Situation the names of Padan-Aram and Aram-Naharaim do relate But in later ages Aram most relates to Aram of Damascus that Syria whereof Damascus was the chief Citie And of this Syria see more in my Annotations on Amos I. 4 5. For the Catalogue of the Kings of Syria see the great Annotations on Amos I. 4. We read of four battels of David with the Syrians The first here when they came to succour Hadadezer against David And in this two and twenty thousand of them slain 1 Chron. XVIII 5. The second ver 13. in the Valley of Salt And Edomites are named there 1 Chron XVIII 11 12. and Psal. LX. in the Title of it Because both Syrians and Edomites joyned in the battell against Davids Generals Joab and Abishai and therefore the victory is ascribed to each of the three and the number flaine is twelve thousand Ps. LX. 1. and six thousand more either by Joab alone before the main battel or by both the brethren after it in the pursuit of the victory in all eighteen thousand 2 Sam. VIII 13. 1 Chron. XVIII 12. The third battel 2 Sam. X. 6 14. when the Syrians joyned to help the Ammonites and fled before Joab 1 Chron. XIX 6. 7 10 14. The fourth battel with the Syrians 2 Sam. X. 15 19. wherein David slew the men of seven hundred Chariots i. e. of seven hundred rancks or troops having ten in a ranck or troop not ten men in a Charet in all seven thousand 1 Chron. XIX 18. And fourty thousand horsemen 2 Sam. X. 18. And fourty thousand footmen 1 Chron. XIX 18. And Shobach the Captaine of their Hoast Zadok He was in Davids verse 17 and Solomons times 2 Sam. VIII 17. and XX. 25. 1 King I. 8. He anointed Solomon King and by him was put in the roome of Abiathar 1 King I. 32 34. and chap. II. 35. He was the son of another Ahitub then he that was father of Ahimelech And he came from Eleazar the eldest son of Aaron and from Phineas his son after six descents 1 Chron. VI. 4 5 6. And the High Priests of his posterity in a continued series and succession to the Babylonish Captivity are recorded in eleven generations 1 Chron. VI. 9 15. And after the Captivity in six generations to Jaddua who lived in the dayes of Alexander the Great which is the last Historical Record of the Old Testament Neh. XII 10 11. This Zadoks son was that Ahimaaz afterwards High Priest mentioned by David 2 Sam. XV. 27. This Zadok of the line of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the line of Ithamar were the Priests chief of those two families with command over the rest of the Priests
XVIII 9 10. or Enemessar Tobit l. 2 15. Sennacharib who came against Hezekiah 2 King XVIII 13. Esarhaddon or Asnapper Esay XXXVII 38. 2 King XIX 37. Ezra IV. 2 10. called also Sarchedonus Tobit I. 22. And another King of Assyria against whom Pharaoh-Necho King of Egypt fights at Carchemish by Euphrates in the last year of King Josiah 2 King XXIII 29. 2 Chron. XXXV But many leave out Iareb as no proper name of a King and make Sargon to be the same with Senna harib And some place Iareb before Pul and Sargon after Shalmanesar And no doubt there were many Kings of Assyria it being the first Monarchy before Pul though their names be not in Scripture Though the Assyrians take the name from Ashur the sonne of Shem Gen. X. 22. 1 Chron. I. 17. yet the Kingdome seemes to be raised among them by the posterity of Cush the sonne of Cham Gen. X. 6 11. a Singer Heman chapter VI verse 33 of Kohath stood in the middest Asaph of Gershom on the right hand Ethan of Merari on the left ver 38 39 44 47. See more of the Singers 1 Chron. XV. ver 16 22. All their Cities The Kohathites had twenty three Cities verse 60 63. The Gershonites thirteen The Merarites twelve In all fourty eight Cities reckoned Issachar a numerous Tribe chapter VII Ephraim The line from Ephraim to Ioshuah verse 5 is Num. verse 20 I. 10. and chap. XXVI 35 1 Chron. VII 20 26 27. Shephuphan verse 5 and Huram chapter VIII verse 33 Either of these had three names Ner Ner had Kish the father of Saul and another sonne Ner the father of Abner 1 Sam. XIV 50 51. genealogies This Chapter chapter IX verse 1 and chap. III. 19 24. are some parcels of the last passages for History of the Old Testament See more on Neh. XII 10 11. David and Samuel David and Samuel the Seer though he died in the time of Sauls reigne ordained and ordered the Priests verse 22 and Levites Singers and Porters in their set Offices and Courses See ver 10 14 22 and Chapters XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him 1 Chron. XXIV 19. by the Spirit and by God and Nathan 1 Chron. XXVIII 12 19. 2 Chron. XXIX 25. and VIII 14. and XXXV 4 15. And Solomon did according to him 2 Chron. XXXV 4. Neh. XII 45. day and night verse 33 verse 9 The Singers imployed in that work day and night tydings unto their Idols Idolaters ascribe their Victories chapter X and prosperous successes to their Idols so Iudg. XVI 23 24. 1 King XX. 23. 2 Chron. XXVIII 23. Hab. I. 11. They bring their Idols to their Camps 1 Chron. XIV 12. As the Israelits the Ark 1 Sam. IV. 3. castle of Zion David took the Castle chapter XI verse 5 or strong hold of Zion dwelt in it built round about it called it the Citie of David And Ioab repaired the rest of the Citie 2 Sam. V. 9. came to David There came to David to Ziklag a great hoast chapter XII verse 1 like the hoast of God And to Hebron to make him King over all Israel 340822. And among them very many Priests and Levites ver 26 27 28. besides others intimated ver 32. Jehoiada verse 27 the Leader of the 3700. Aaronites that came to David to Hebron to make him King over all Israel 1 Chron. XII 27. Jehoiada a chief Priest 2 Chron. XXIV 6. married Iehoshabeath or Iehosheba the daughter of King Iehoram and sister of King Ahaziah 2 King XI 2 3. 2 Chron. XXII 11. He caused usurping and murthering Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Iezebel and wife of King Iehoram and mother of King Ahaziah 2 Chron. XXI 6. and XXII 1 2. to be murtheredher self 2 King XI 16. And caused Ioash grand-childe of Athaliah and his wives nephew and sonne and heir of Ahaziah to be crowned King when he was seven years old 2 King XI 11 12 21. 2 Chron XXIII 11. Of whom see more on 2 King XI 4. Iehoiada the sonne of Benaiah Davids Counseller next to Ahitophel 1 Chron. XXVII 34. bring again the Ark David so soone as ever he was setled upon his throne over all Israel chapter XIII verse 3 taketh the strong Fort of Zion from the Jebusites brings the Ark of God with all solemnity yet not after the due maner from Kiriath-jearim and the house of Abinadab And upon the death of Uzza by the way at the threshing floore of Nachon or Chidon he carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained three moneths 1 Chron. XIII Hiram sends to David messingers workmen and materials to build him an house in Zion And David takes more wives at Jerusalem and obtaines two victories against the Philistines chap. XIV And with great solemnity in the due maner he brings the Ark from Obed-Edoms house and sets it in the middest of the Tabernacle or Tent which he had prepared for it in the Citie of David in Zion chap. XV. where he offers Sacrifices Orders a Quire gives them a Psalme of Thanksgiving and appoints Ministers Porters Priests and Musicians to attend on the Ark continualy ch XVI In 2 Sam. V. David takes the strong Fort of Zion builds dwels in it hath messingers sent to him from Hiram King of Tyre with materials workmen for his building growes great takes moe wives and concubines at Jerusalem gets two victories over the Philistines in two set battels chap. V. And he brings up the Ark from Kiriath-Jearim and carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom and after three moneths he brings it thence into the Citie of David with great solemnity and joy 2 Sam. VI Now whether the things contained in 1 Chr. XIV and 2 Sam. V. after the taking of Zion did intervene in that three moneths space while the Ark was in the house of Obed-Edom or were acted before the Ark was removed from Kiriath-Jearim is a matter of conjectural probabilities on either side yet I rather incline to the later opinion from Shihor of Egypt This Shihor chapter XIII verse 5 or Shichor or Sihor hath a notion of blacknesse in it And is not that rill or drill of water called by forraine writers Rhinocolura but is much rather the same with Nilus otherwise not once named in Scripture anciently by the Ethiopians called Siris by the Greeks Melas by the Latines Melo from the blacknesse of the water or rather of the mud and slime that it brings downe with it or the black colour of the grounds and soils it passeth through It is called by way of excellencie the River Esay XXIII 3. Ezek. XXIX 3 9. and the river or flood of Egypt Amos VIII 8. and chap. IX 5. This River rising in the South from unknown heads runs in one intire streame Northward to the Head Delta in Egypt where it divideth it self into two maine Channels and afterwards brancheth into seven several streames Esay XI 15. Emptying themselves
into the midland Sea And so making that lower part of Egypt to be of a triangular forme with the point upward and the basis beneath toward the Sea v One of the seven streames named Pelusian hath a stream issuing from it which first makes the Sea or Lake of Sirbonis of a great length and vast depth dividing Egypt from the Edomites and Philistines and so justly is named one of the Limits of the Land of Promise Num. XXXIV 5. Josh. XIII 3. 1 Chron. XIII 5. as the River Euphrates is named the other Gen. XV 18. Deut. I. 7. and chap. XI 24. Josh. I. 4. This River Nilus supplieth the place of Raine in Egypt Zech. XIV 18. by the overflowing of it as is famous in Histories The seven streames of old are now become four Baal-Perazim By anticipation chapter XIV verse 11 See the Observations on 1 King XIII 32. not after the due maner The maner of doing makes or marres in matters of Gods worship chapter XV verse 13 Esay I. 11 15. God ownes not but loaths his own services of his own ordaining and commanding when by evil men and in an evil maner performed Jer. VI. 20. and VII 21 22. Psal. L. 13 16. Prov. XV. 8. and XXI 27. Esay LXI 8. and LXVI 3. Amos V. 21 22. Micah VI. 7. Mal. I. 10. seven Of the number of seven verse 26 see the Annotations on this Text. dancing See 2 Sam. VI. 14. verse 29 Usual then to expresse their joyful and thankful hearts to God by Dancing Psal. CXLIX 3. and CL. 4. and XXX 11. See Exod. XV. 20. Judg. XI 34. and XXI 21. he appointed High and Solemne Service chapter XVI verse 4 for and before the Ark appointed by David 1 Chron. XVI See that Particular 2 Chron. V. 12 13. trumpets See the Observations on Num. verse 6 X. 8. verse 7 delivered first See the Observations on Psal. CXV 1. and on Psal. XCVI at Gibeon Hither was the Tabernacle brought after that beastly and bruitish slaughter of the Priests made by bloody Saul at Nob verse 39 1 Sam. XXII Of Gibeon see the Annotations on Hos. IX 9. his throne for ever Some things here chapter XVII verse 12 and hereafter are true in Sololomon as the Type but more in Christ the Antitype some things proper to the Type only others to the Antitype only as was said on 2 Sam. VII 12. Sate before the Lord Of this gesture in Prayer verse 16 see the Annotations on this Text and Exod. XVII 12. Abimelech the sonne of Abiathar See the Observations on 2 Sam. chapter XVIII verse 16 VIII 17. It may appear that there is no necessity that both these persons father and sonne had both of them these two names of Abimelech and Abiathar See the Observations on 1 Sam. I. 3. Satan stood up In 2 Sam. chapter XXI verse 1 XXIV 1. The Lord moved David against Israel See the Observations on Esay VI. 9 10. to number Israel Out of pride only and curiosity and carnal confidence Otherwise the thing in it self not simply unlawful when done upon good grounds and to good ends As we see it done at other times in Scripture God commands it Num. I. 3. and XXVI 1 2. And Solomon and Amaziah did it 2 Chron. II. 17. and XXV 5. the summe of the number 1100000. verse 5 of Israel able men from twenty years old and upwards To the 800000. in 2 Sam. XXIV 9. seeme to be added here those 288000. of Davids Trained Bands 1 Chron. XXVII 1 15. already enrolled in publick records And their Colonels Captains Commanders and Officers to the number likely of 12000. which make up the said 1100000. To the 470000 of Judah are 30000. added more in 2 Sam. XXIV 9. which addition either might be the number of the Regiments under those thirty Worthies of David having one thousand in each Or rather an Addition of so many out of Jerusalem only or out of Levi and Benjamin also which still joyned themselves to Judah after Joabs first return to Jerusalem and giving up his number to the King For he was weary of the service it being abominable to him and therefore he is said not to count Levi and Benjamin and to begin to number but not to finish it because there fell wrath for it against Israel neither was the number put in the account of the Chronicles of King David 1 Chron. XXI 6. and XXVII 24. In all 1600000. neither yet took he the number from twenty years old and under 1 Chron. XXVII 23. It is enough God in mercy shortens the three dayes of Pestilence verse 15 stops the Angel and repents of the evil Ornan Or Araunah was the more free verse 23 and forward in his Offer so to expedite the businesse for the staying of the Plague for feare whereof and of the Angel he and his four sonnes had there hid themselves for the Place For the whole place and plot of ground verse 25 with the Buildings Gardens and other things pertaining to it which was a sufficient space and circuit of ground for the Building of the Temple upon it with all the Courts Chambers Walls c. David gives here a great summe Whereas he gives farre lesse for the bare threshing-floore Oxen and Instruments 2 Sam. XXIV 24. And David might give more then the worth out of his royal bounty as 1 King X. 13. I have prepared ver 16. Davids wonderful Preparation of gold and silver chapter XXII verse 14 for the building of the Temple amounting to seven hundred and fifty millions of pounds See on Exod. XXXVIII 24 25 26. Whereof Dovid gave out of his own proper goods eleven millions and 250000 pounds Serling in Gold and two millions and 625000. pounds in silver In all thirteen millions and 875000. pounds Serling And the Heads Princes and Rulers gave eighteen millions and 750000. pounds and 3125. pounds In all 18. millions and 753125. pounds in Gold And three millions and 750000. in Silver The whole amounts to twenty two millions and 503125. pounds Sterling Adding to this Davids proper Offering aforesaid the whole amounts to thirty six millions and 378125 pounds See further 1 Chron. XXIX 4 7. and Chap. XXVI ver 26 27 28. All which yet is but a small part of that summe prepared by David Chap. XXII 14. See the notes on Exod. XXXVIII 24 25 26. See the Offerings given in Zerubbabels time towards the second Temple Ezra II 69 70. And those in Nehemiahs time Neh. VII 70 71 72. made Solomon his sonne King This verse better concludes the former Chapter chapter XXIII verse 1 For what followes to the 28. Chapter concerning the whole Ordering of the Kingdome Church and State both Ecclesiastical in the Levites chap. XXIII and Priests chap. XXIV and Singers chap. XXV and Porters and other Officers chap. XXVI And also Political or Civil in the 12. Captains for each several moneth in the Princes of the twelve Tribes and other several Officers chap. XXVII were acted
This Reformation and Covenant made verse 8 and Passeover kept chap. XXXV 19. And yet from this or rather from the twelfth year above mentioned begins that reckoning of the sinne of Iudah Ezek. IV. 6. For under so good a King yet the people continued obstinately wicked as appears in Ieremie who began to prophesie in the thirteenth year of Iosiah's reigne Ier. I. 2. and XXV 3. and ch III. 6. And Iosiah only caused and made them outwardly to obey 2 Chron. XXXIV 32 33. the Houses The Houses of the Priests which adjoyned to the Temple and of the Levites which adjoyned to the Courts Levites Scribes 1 Chron. verse 13 XXIV 6. Ezra VII 6. 21. Neh. VIII 9. and chap. XII 26. and XIII 13. See the Annotation on 1 Kings IV. 3. More fully thus we read in the Old Testament of severall persons that were Scribes some Scribes of Kings or their Secretaries So David had one And Solomon two Ioash one 2 Kings XII 10. Iosiah one 2 Kings XXII 3. Of Ionathan Davids Uncle that he was a Counseller a wise man and a Scribe 1 Chron. XXVII 32. And of Baruch that he was Ieremies Scribe And of families of Scribes that dwelt at Jabez in the tribe of Iudah and were of the posterity of Iethro 1 Chron. II. 55. But why so called or what their Office was whether as Publike Notaries Scriveners or Transcribers of the Law or what else it appears not Here in Iosiah's time we finde that in his businesse of repairing the house of the Lord there were appointed of the Levites Scribes And in Nehemiah's time he made Treasurers over the Treasuries in the Lords House Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the Scribe And in his time also was that famous Ezra a Priest sonne of the High Priest Serajah slaine by Nebuchadnezzar and the same a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses a Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven of the words of the Commandments of the Lord and of his Statutes to Israel and the same a publick Reader and Teacher of the Law In the New Testament we finde them much more mentioned and to be of more esteeme and themselves affected Preheminence and precedencies Mark XII 38 39. Here they are often joyned with the Chief Priests and Elders and often with the Pharisees They pretended to extraordinary holinesse as the Pharisees did whence is that Matth. V. 20. and Acts XXIII 9. They were of the Pharisees part against the Sadduces Yea he that is called a Scribe Marke XII 28. the same is called a Pharisee and a Lawyer Matth. XXII 34 35. We read not that they were of the Sect of the Sadduces or Essenes But we finde them to joyne with all the rest to question to pose and oppose our Saviour to entangle and insnare him by Questions to charge his miracles to be done by Belzebub Himself with Blasphemy to apprehend and binde him to condemne him in the Councel to deliver him to Pilate to accuse him before Herod to prosecute him to death to mock him upon the Crosse. And we finde that these Scribes sate in Moses-chair Matth. XXIII 2. and were Preachers and Teachers of the people Mat. VII 29. and XIII 52. And likely were all of the tribe of Levi. rent his clothes See the Annotations on 2 Kings XXII 8. verse 19 Huldah the Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 22 III. 4. The High Priest Hilkiah is here sent to her she being an extraordinary Prophetesse so near at hand Put the holy Ark It might be put out of his place chapter XXXV verse 3 in the dayes of his wicked father if not of his grandfather Passeover-Offerings So ver verse 8 9. in the Feast of Unleavened bread for the seven dayes After all this Thirteen years after the foresaid Passeover verse 20 that being in the eighteenth and this in the thirty one and last year of his reigne by Euphrates Heb. Phrat or Prat or Perath the fourth river in Eden Gen. II. 14. usually called the River and the great River made one of the Boundaries of the Promised Land Gen XV. 18. Deut. 1. 7 and chap. XI 24. Iosh. I. 4. 2. Chron. IX 26. Cut by Cyrus into severall Channels when he lay in siege before Babylon which stood upon it and so by him much dreyned and dried Ier. L. 38. See 1 Chron. XVIII 3. Ier. XIII 4. and chap. LI. 63. Apoc. IX 14. and Chap. XVI 12. See on Dan. IV. 30. Megiddo See the Annotations on Zech. verse 22 XII 11. to carrie him But he died by the way chapter XXXVI verse 6 Jer. XXII 18 19. Eight years old when he He was eighteen when himself began to reigne verse 9 2 Kings XXIV 8. And but eight then when his father began to reigne The like relative sense may that speech admit 2 Kings XVI 2. no remedy Desperate sinners procure implacable wrath verse 16 irrevocable exterminating judgements Kingdome of Persia See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Ezra verse 20 threescore and ten years For the beginning of these verse 21 see the Annotations on Dan. IX 2. rather then those on Zech. VII 3. yet many learned are of the later opinion Ezra THE Book of Ezra contains an History of seventy years viz. from the first of Cyrus or his Proclamation chap. I. 1. to the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus upon this Accompt viz. Cyrus seven Cambyses seven Smerdis one Darius Hystaspis thirty six Xerxes twelve of Artaxerxes Longimanus seven where Ezra end Or premising two of Darius Medus before Cyrus it comes to seventy two The four last Chapters containe the History but of that one year concerning Ezra which was in that seventh year of Artaxerxes See chap. VII 7 9. and chap. VIII 15 21 31 32 33. and chap. X. 8 9 16 17. But the six first Chapters are extended by some otherwise learned men yet upon lesse probable grounds to a farre larger scope of time even to one hundered thirty eight or one hundred fourty five years And they end the Book with the nineteenth year of Artaxerxes Mnemon which seemes cleane contrary to the Text chap. VII 7 8. For the clearer knowledge of divers things in this Book as likewise in Nehemy and Esther A Catalogue of the Persian Monarchs and of the years of their Reignes is very useful which out of the best Authors with very little variation may be as followeth  years Darius Medus 2 Cyrus 7 Cambyses 7 Smerdis 1 Darius Hystaspis 36 Xerxes 12 Artaxerxes Longimanus 48 Xerxes 1 Sogdianus 1 Darius Ochus seu Nothus 19 Artazerxes Mnemon 43 Darius Ochus 23 Arsen 3 Darius Codomannus 5 And so the Persian Monarchy continued two hundred and eight years or there about In this Book of Ezra there is mention made of six Persian Monarchs first of Cyrus chap. I. 1. secondly of Darius ch IV. 5. thirdly of Ahasuerus chap. IV. 6. fourthly of Artaxerxes chap. IV. 7. fifthly of another Darius chap. IV. 24. and
chap. V. 5 6. sixthly of another Axtaxerxes chap. VII 1. Or rather thus Of five Persian Monarchs viz 1 of Cyrus 2 of Ahasuerus 3 of Artaxerces 4 of Darius taking him mentioned chap. IV. ver 5. 24. and Chap. V. 5 6. and chap. VI. 15. to be the same man And 5 of another Artaxerxes And the Persons of these by sundry learned men are sundry wayes understood Some take the first Darius to be Darius Hystaspis Ahasuerus to be Xerxes the first Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Longimanus the second Darius to be Darius Ochus and Nothus the second Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Mnemon or Memor Others take Ahasuerus to be Cambyses Artaxerxes to be Artashasta or Smyrdis Magnus Darius not two but one to be Darius Hystaspis and the second Artaxerxes to be Artaxerxes Longimanus This diversity is occasioned by the silence of Scripture and uncertainties of Heathen Greek Histories yet this later opinion I the rather imbrace for that it stands best with the ages of Zeâ—ubbabel Ezra Nehemiah and Mordecai Ezra a childe when his father Serajah the High Priest chap. VII 1. was slaine at Riblah by Nebuchadnezar 2 Kings XXV 18 21. And his brother Jehozadak the succeeding High Priest was carried into Captivity 1 Chron. VI. 14 15. And his sonne Jeshua or Joshua or Jehoshua the High Priest the sonne of Jehozadak or Josedech Neh. XII 1. Ezra III. 2 8. and V. 2. Zech. VI. 11. came up with Zerubbabel And this Ezra came up from Babylon in the seventh of Artaxerxes with a gracious Commission Ezra VII VIII IX X. chapters And he was with Nehemiah after the building of the Walls of Jerusalem at that solemne Reading of the Law and Preaching and at that singular keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles Neh. VIII 1 6 9 13. c And after the Feast chap. IX and X. at the Dedication of the Walls chap. XII 26 36. So that upon the least accompt He must live upon one hundred and fifty years that is fifty three or sixty before the Returne from Babylon twenty three to the Building of the Temple sixty seven to the Dedication of the Walls of the Citie But upon the larger and more improbable accompt he must live at least two hundred and twenty years He was a ready Scribe in the Law of God chap. VII 6 11. And is generaly reputed the holy Pen-man likewise of the Books of Chronicles And as some would of the Books of Nehemiah and Malachi also And is taken by many to be the restorer and orderer after the returne from the Babylonish Captivity of all the Books of the Old Testament in that sort and posture and character also wherein now we have them Now in the first year Hebr. chapter I verse 1 And in one year Thus coupling his Book with the end of Chronicles As the like is in the beginning of Exodus Leviticus Numbers Joshua Judges and many other Books See moreover the Annotations on Ezek. I. 1. One for First is an usual Scripture phrase And First here is of his Conquest of Babylon and of his reigne there For he was King of Persia not Monarch many years before chap. V. 13. Charged me Esay XLIV verse 2 28. and XLV 1 13. This prophesie might likely be shewed to Cyrus by Daniel or some other vessels Such as were not cut in pieces verse 7 2 Kings XXIV 13. Sheshbazzar The Chaldee or Court-name of Zerubbabel Ezra I. verse 8 8. and III. 8 10. and V. 2 14. As Belteshazzar was of Daniel The same work that is ascribed to Sheshbazzar chap. V. 16. is ascribed to Zerubbabel Zech. IV. 9. were five thousand four hundred This number ariseth out of the particular numbers formerly mentioned verse 11 amounting to two thousand four hundred ninety nine and the rest that were unnumbered Moreover are vessels given chap. VII 19. and chap. VIII 25 27 See the carrying of them away by Nebuchadnezzar at four several times Dan. I. 2. 2 Chron. XXXVI 7 10 18. Province Judah no Kingdome now chapter II verse 1 but made a Province by the Conquerour See chap. V. 8. Neh. I. 3. and chap. VII 6. and XI 3. which came The manifold variations for Names verse 2 60. and Numbers in this Register and Catalogue and that Nehemie VII may arise from the diversity of names given to one man And from this That the one was taken at their setting out from Babylon viz. this Ezra II. The other upon their coming to Judea and Jerusalem Neh. VII And so some might come to Jerusalem which had not registred their names in Babylon and some might register their names in Babylon which yet came not up to Jerusalem either changing their mindes to stay in Babylon or dying by the way Or else that in Nehemie might be applied to the persons that were living and remaining in the Land of Judah in his time or else it might be taken out of some other Register besides this in Ezra The numbers of them that returned with Zerubbabel in this Catalogue Ezra II. and in that Catalogue Neh. VII 6 62. fall farre short of that total summe both in Ezra and Nehemy which is said to be fourty two thousand three hundred and sixty besides seven thousand three hundred thirty seven more of servants and Proselites Ezra II. 64 65. Neh. VII 66 67. The number wanting seems to be supplied out of those Ezra II. 62. and out of the Relicts of the ten Tribes that were both captivated and returned with them of Judah and are not numericaly set down yet after the Returne continued among them and professed their Religion even till the coming of our Saviour and the final destruction of Jerusalem See 2 Chron. XI 3 16. and XXXI 6. Ezra II. 70. and VI 16 17. Matt. IV. 14. Luke II. 36. Acts II. 5. and XXVI 7. Of those which came up with Ezra see chap. VIII 1 14. Tirshatha Tirshatha signifying Governour in their tongue seemes attributed here to Zerubbabel verse 63 And is after to Nehemiah expressely Neh. VIII ver 9. and chap. X. 1. Urim See the Observations on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. the whole Many more returned verse 64 then those upon record that were carried into captivity Singing men verse 65 and singing women Most likely such as were used not in the Temple but elsewhere for mirth as 2 Sam. XIX 35. Eccles II. 8. Esay XXIII 16. Amos VI. 5. and for mourning as 2 Chron. XXXV 25. Jer. IX 17 18. Eccles. XII 5. Amos V. 16. seventh moneth Ver. chapter III verse 1 6. In this moneth the first day they first offered sacrifice on the new built after their returne from the Babylonish captivity And in the same moneth of the year was the solemn Dedication of Solomons Temple 1 Kings VIII 2. In the second year of their coming They prepare for the building of the Temple verse 8 or rather having formerly prepared they now begin the building wept with a loud voice Many ancient men that had seene the former
Matth. XXVII 39 44. Luke XXIII 35. Not that Christ herein murmurs against God but declares and deplores his own misery whereunto for mans sake and his redemption he willingly subjects himself laugh me to scorne Matth. XXVII 39. He trusted Matt. verse 8 XXVII 43. But thou art This verse verse 9 and the next shew his Hope in God The like see in David Psal. LXXI 5 6 7. out of the womb By a natural not miraculous way as David was Psal. LXXI 5. by the opening of the womb without any losse or laesion of Blessed Maries Virginity not by a miraculous penetration of dimensions and substances to keep the womb still closed and shut breasts So Job XXXI 18. Psal. LXXI 6. 2 Tim. III. 15. Esay XLVI 3. and XLIX 1. Luke I. 15 41. I was cast By him saved from Herods intended murder verse 10 Mat. II. Be not farre from me Therefore he was not utterly forsaken verse 11 ver 1. So Psal. X. 1. and XXXVIII 22 23. So againe Esay XLVIII 9. for trouble is near Death it self none to help Esay LXIII 3 5. His Disciples fled Peter forswears him none but God could help him Many Bulls So afterwards Lions verse 12 ver 13. Dogs ver 16 20. Such were his enemies to him the Devil and his instruments the Priests and Rulers of the Jewes in our Saviours dayes Bashan See the Annotations on Micah VII 14. roaring Lion Even they forced Pilate verse 13 notwithstanding all his pleadings for Jesus to condemne him See Matth. XXVII 17. 26. John XIX 1 13. like water Such is his state verse 14 As 2 Sam. XIV 14. His bones heart bowels melted burnt as it were with the heat of Gods wrath the Assembly In their Councils verse 16 Marke XIV 55. and XV. 1. John XI 47. They pierced Our Hebrew Bibles have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Lion Which yet by anomalie in Grammer may signifie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they pierced And such anomalies are found sometimes in the Hebrew text as Ezra X. 16. 44. Psal. X. 15. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is confessed to be found in some ancient Copies or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that the text here may be said to admit divers readings Yet the Spirit of God in the New Testament doth constantly render it they pierced The ancient Jewes maintaine this reading And some of the moderne The other reading as a Lion is but a various reading and though in the text yet in good sense it seemes not so well to stand and therefore this foderunt set in the margin is to be read And some Copies have foderunt in the text yea and the other reading as was said by anomalie in Grammar not unusual in Scripture will signifie foderunt also And thus they dealt with our Saviour Jesus Christ John XX. 25. Luke XXIV 40. Zech. XII 10. compared with John XIX 37. stare upon me As Psal. XXXV 21. verse 17 and LIV. 9. They fed their eyes with my miserable spectacle with all pleasure and without any pitying of me parted my garments John XIX 23 24. verse 18 The four souldiers that had the chardge of the execution did so But other souldiers with their Captaine or Centurion were there present lots Of Lots see the Annotations on Jonah I. 7. Lots are for division or consultation and Divination my darling Psal. verse 20 XXXV 17. or my onely one which is without an helper ver 11. Unicorns See the Observations on Num. XXIII verse 21 22. I will declare Recount verse 22 publish and praise thy bounty and goodnesse all thy Divine attributes perfections and actions unto my brethren Heb. II. 10 11 12. brethren in that one and common sanctification ye that fear the Lord Christs speech and exhortation to his Church to praise verse 23 and worship God Psal. CXXXV 1. c. hath not despised Christ in his low and base estate verse 24 though men did Esay LIII 3. he heard Heb. V. 7. my praise As Christ exhorted others so himself will not be behinde verse 25 but an example to them to praise his Father vowes See the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. The meek Spiritual feeding verse 26 and blessings are here mainly intended by allusion likely to the feastings at Peace-offerings as at that 2 Sam. VI. 18 19. See Esay LV. 1 2. Prov. IX 5 6. All the ends The large bounds of the Church of Christ verse 27 Psal. II. 8. Gen. XVII 18. and XLVIII 10. Esay XLIX 22. Acts XIII 47. and XIV 14. worship 1 Sam. I. 3 19 28. John IV. 20 24. For the Kingdome His Kingdome of Grace verse 28 revealed to the Gentiles whereby he reigneth in their hearts Esay II. 4. All they All sorts and conditions of men shall worship before him verse 29 James I. 9. the rich and great ones Psal. XLV 12. Esay XLIX 23. and the poor hungry ones ready to die and perish Matth. XI 5. A seed Christs Church shall be Catholike verse 30 as for places and persons so here for time and duration Esay LIII 10. Those worshippers in the former verse shall have a seed and succession to continue from generation to generation Psal. LXXXVII 5 6. Acts XV. 16. They shall come They that are first in Christ verse 31 begotten by the immortal seed of his Word shall declare his righteousnesse In performing his promises in the exhibition of the Messias and the benefits of redemption and salvation by him Psal. XL. 10. and LXXI 15. that he hath done this Like that Psal. XXXVII 5. Shepheard A frequent similitude chapter XXIII verse 1 none oftner used in Scripture yet may David the more willingly use it as having been a Shepheard himself It is used of God of Christ and of Magistrates and Ministers under them And the godly are called by the name of sheepe The texts are numerous I shall not want 1 Cor. III 21. Mat. V. 33. in green pastures Ezek. verse 2 XXXIV 14. Esay XLIX 10. thou art with me Gen. XV. 1. and chap. XXI 22. 1 Chron. XI 9. 2 Kings VI. verse 4 verse 16 Judg. VI. 12. Acts XVIII 9. Jer. XV. 20. Esay XLIII 2. Thy rod and thy staffe Micah VII 14. Zech. XI 7. dwel in the house of the Lord The place of Gods worship verse 6 Judg. XIX 18. Psal. LXVI 13. and XXVII 4. yet God dwells not in Temples made with hands Esay LXVI 1. Acts VII 48. The earth 1 Cor. chapter XXIV verse 1 X. 26 28. twise alledged by the Apostle and to two several purposes and both appositely hill of the Lord Though all the earth be the Lords verse 3 verse 1. yet the hill of Zion Psal. II. 6. is his holy place As Exod. XIX 5. Deut. X. 14. Of this hill see Esay II. 2 3. Micah IV. 1. See Psal. XV. 1. holy place Place not capable of holinesse in it self of any inherent holinesse But of a relative holinesse in a relation to Gods presence therein for the time either by extraordinary signes and
tokens as Exod. III. 5. or by appointing his ordinary means of worship therein ceremonial under the Old Testament which now is done away and not to be recalled or spiritual under the New The former though of Gods appointment and ordination had not in themselves nor could give absolute holinesse to the worship therein performed And much more now the Places of Gods worship do not make holy the Services therein performed but by them rather are made holy only relatively being appointed to such holy uses He that hath Esay XXXIII verse 4 15 16. clean hands Psal. XVIII 21. Esay LVI 2. Ezek. XVIII 8. pure heart Matth. XV. 19. Prov. II. 19. Jer. XVII 9. yet Acts XV. 9. 1 Tim. I. 5. Psal. CI. 2. nor sworn deceitfully Oaths are taken in a strict and proper sense or at a great latitude They are Assertorie or Promissorie single or with a curse or execration annexed lawful in themselves an act of Religion Esay XIX 18. Lawfull in the Old Testament by Gods precept promise and examples of holy men Lawful in the New Testament by same nature and use of them as in the Old Hebr. VI. 16. by those warrants Esay XLV 1. Jer. XII 16. speaking of the times of the New Testament by the example of the Angel Apoc. X. 16. of the Apostle Rom. I. 9. 2 Cor. I. 23. That text Matth. V. 34. and so that James V. 12. is not to be understood simply and absolutely but relatively as Christ thereby opposeth the corrupt practise of the Pharisees and their false interpretation of Gods Law concerning swearing as if swearing so as Gods name were not directly used in it and no falshood or perjury contained in it were no sinne with them but ever and altogether lawful though it were never so lightly and slightly vainly and customarily unnecessarily and causelesly done where yea and nay had been sufficient Thus Christ opposeth and forbiddeth even all swearing as much as lieth in us but forbids not lawfull swearing upon just urgent and necessary occasions Of Oaths see more in the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. He shall He is a true member of the invisible and Catholike Church verse 5 and he only whereas hypocrites and wicked persons may be members of the visible and of particular Churches by reason of their external profession only Rom. IX 6. Matth. VII 21. The former are members properly univocaly essentialy formaly inwardly in truth and in the judgement of God The later only equivocaly externaly materialy not formaly and essentialy in shew in the opinion of men as rotten members or ill humours in the body 2 Tim. III. 5. Gal. V. 24. These are in the visible Church as chaffe is among the wheat receive Not by merit of condignity for the worth of his works Dan. IX 18. Rom. VIII 18. For the works are imperfect in themselves and again not our own and wholy from our selves and besides due debt otherwise without this reward and lastly no wise equivalent and equipollent to this reward But receive the blessing and reward by and because of Gods free grace rich mercie bountiful promise whereby he hath freely engaged himself to give such and so superabundant a remuneration And so he gives it in justice now because engaged and obliged thereunto by the truth of his so free gracious and bountiful a promise God is just to performe his promise 1 John I. 9. 2 Tim. IV. 7. Blessing Gen. XII 2. Gal. III. 9. Eph. I. 2. Mat. XXV 34. righteousnesse Of Justification and of Sanctification Righteousnesse with the encrease fruit and reward of it according to Gods righteous promise and performance This is the generation This kinde of men verse 6 As Luke XI 29. and XVI 8. Matth. XII 39. Not those that brag of being Abrahams or Iacobs seed Matth. III. 9. Iohn VIII 33. but these are the true seed and generation Gal. III. 7 29. Rom. IX 6 7. These are the true Israel of God that seek him that seek Deut. IV. 29. Psal. XXVII 8. 2 Kings XX. 3 4. which grace comes of God Esay LXV 1 2. thy face O Iacob O God of Jacob. Or this in Jacob or the generation of Jacob that seek Gods face as Jacob did Gen. XXXII 24 30. See John I. 47. Rom. IX 6. and II. 28 29. Lift up Having mentioned the hill of the Lord verse 7 and his holy place ver 3. This may seeme to relate to the gates and doors of the Temple vowed by David and to be built by Solomon and to the coming in of the Ark into it or rather proceeding from the Type to the Truth we may mysticaly referre this to the Church of Christ and the true members of it to lift up the gates and doors of their hearts and everlasting souls that the Lord whom they seek may come into his Temple Mal. III. 2. that they prepare themselves to receive and entertaine him at his coming in the flesh at his coming into their hearts Apoc. III. 20. who is indeed the true King of glory Apoc. XVII 14. 2 Cor II. 8. the true Jehovah Exod III. 15. Psal. LXXXIII 18. Col. II. 9. and Christ compare Num. XXI 5. with 1 Cor. X. 9. and Esay VI. 1. with John XII 41. Even Iehovah our righteousnesse Ier. XXIII 6. the mighty God Esay IX 6. the increase of whose Kingdome and government shall have no end Esay IX 7. Dan. VII 14. Mat. XXVIII 18. for whose in-coming the doors of our hearts and affections should lie open To make the Alphabetical order perfect in this Psalm chapter XXV some would have the verses in it not to be rightly all distinguished as namely the second and the fifth And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to seeme wanting in the beginning of the seventeenth verse And the last verse to be only the later part of the foregoing verse without cause Given on my part verse 3 not provoked by me for it is great And so needs much mercie verse 11 great mercie seek ye my face chapter XXVII verse 8 Deut. IV. 29. Davids soul did most seek it to be near where the Ark of God was and so before the face of the Lord as the Scripture phraseth it being out of heart when he was barred from it ver 4. Psal. LXV 4. Psal. LXXXIV and XLII 1 Sam. XXVI 19. Gods command here was Davids request and the thing he aimed at regard not Esay V. chapter XXVIII verse 5 12. do not attend and wisely consider of them of the mysteries of Gods providence and wayes in bringing David to the Crown in managing the matters of this world as to the godly and as to the wicked in husbanding mans salvation by contraries c. Rom. XI 33. in the beauty of holinesse chapter XXIX verse 2 In the comely honour of the Sanctuary Psal. XCVI 9. the glorious holy Sanctuary The voice of the Lord Of thunder verse 3 see Exod. IX 23. Job XXXVII 4 5. and XL. 9. See the Observations on Psal. XVIII 13. Sirion See the
1 King X. 11. He arken Matth. XVII 5. Rom. X. 17. verse 10 O daughter John I. 13. Apoc. XXI 9 10. forget also Luke IX 23. and XIV 26. Matth. X. 37. As Abraham did Gen. XII 1. and Ruth chap. I. 16 17. So shall Upon these termes verse 11 more and more greatly desire This true in Solomon But Christ loves his Spouse first 1 John IV. 10. Loves her in her blood Ezek. XVI 6. thy Lord 1 Pet. III. 6. Judg. XIX 26. And that no common or vulgar person In the highest degree is Christ so to his Spouse the Church even her Lord and God Worship thou him Pharaohs daughter was with civil worship to do it to Solomon with civil reverent incurvation and adoration The Church to Christ with religious worship of Tyre Of this Citie verse 12 see the Annotations on Amos I. 9. This rich Merchant-Citie the prime Mart for traffick should bring to Solomons Spouse gifts and nuptial presents And much more Tyre and all Heathen Nations should bring themselves and their Gifts with all offices of submission and subjection to the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 23. and LXVI 12. Psal. LXXXVII 4. the rich Esay LX. 3 10 11 16. glorious within 1 Pet. II. 4 5. verse 13 Not Helen without and Hecuba within This true in Solomons Spouse partly But in Christs Spouse true altogether by her bridegroomes donation and operation Ephes. V. 27. brought With pompe verse 14 joy and jubilation of needle-work As formerly costly for matter so here curious for Art and work As the like Exod. XXVIII 6 8 15 39. with gladnesse As is fit in marriage solemnities verse 15 they be brought The Spouse first the Virgins and brides maids following and waiting on her Cant. IV. 8. Apoc. XIX 7 8 9. 2 Cor. XI 2. palace As the wise Virgins Matt. XXV 10. thy children We read not that Pharaoh's daughter had any child by Solomon verse 16 But this is abundantly verified in the Church the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 18 21. and LIV. 1 2 3. Heb. II. 13. I will Saith the Psalmist by himself verse 17 and by informing others so to do thy Name The name of the Bridegroome therefore By my example as well as for all the reasons foregoing in this Psalme praise thee Christ the Bridegroome for ever and ever whereas Solomon by his foul fall worthily merited and inherited shame and dispraise present help Deliverer chapter XLVI verse 1 or Assistant will not we fear Though a natural fear as Prov. XIV 16. and XXII 3. verse 2 Matth. VIII 26. yet not a godlesse and faithlesse fear Here faith triumphs over such a fear though the earth Hyperbolical expressions usualy intimating the fearful alterations of States and Polities or the most dreadful dangers a river Alluding to that of Kidron Gihon verse 4 and Shiloah intending chiefly that Ezek. XLVII 1. Joel III. 18. Apoc. XXII 1. Or the meaning of this seemes best expounded in the next verse and in the two verses following He maketh Esay XLV 7. Amos III. 6. Psal. LXXVI 3. verse 9 Exalted Esay XXXIII 9 10. and XXX 15. verse 10 O clap A signe of joyful acclamation used at the coronation of Kings 2 Kings XI chapter XLVII verse 1 12. and upon other joyous occasions Ezek. XXV 6. See Psal. XCVIII 8. Esay LV. 12. Psal. LXVI 1. The Psalmist exhorteth all people to sing Praises unto God ver 1. 7. A thing usual in the Psalmes For the Lord Reasons from Gods nature and properties verse 2 appliable also to Christ terrible to the wicked his enemies and a great King above all earthly Kings Mal. I. 14. Matt. XXVIII 18. He shall subdue The Jewes enemies verse 3 And he had done so the Canaanites and others And he will do so the Churches enemies Christ will call the Nations and bring them into subjection under him and his Church Ezek. XX. 37. He shall choose He did choose Canaan for his people Israel Psal. LXXVIII 55. verse 4 And will choose and prepare that heavenly Canaan that inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. I. 4. for all that beleeve and hope in him for us The Jewes seeming here to include the Gentiles as called by Christ into the same communion of the Covenant for grace and glory John X. 16. Eph. II. 14. the excellencie of Jacob High and glorious excellencie whereby Jacobs posterity excelled Ezek. XXIV 21. Amos VI. 8. and VIII 7. Nahum II. 2. viz. the Temple Priesthood c. all those most excellent and precious promises and blessings made in Christ unto Iacob and his posterity God is gone up When the Ark was carried from Kiriathjearim to the house of Obed Edom verse 5 thence to the Citie of David thence by Solomon into the Oracle 1 Chron. XIII 8. and XV. 28. and 2 Chron. V. 13. Spiritualy and mysticaly when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven See Eph. IV. 8. Col. II. 15. the King of all the earth The universal Kingdome of God and of Christ. verse 7 So again verse 8. Differing from earthly Kings with understanding 1 Cor. XIV 15. The word Maschil is here used for Psalme which is the Title of sundry Psalmes signifying an instructing Psalme Thereby to instruct your selves and others of the Kingdome of God and Christ and of your duty of throne of his holinesse Psal. IX 4. Apoc. IV. 2. The Princes The voluntary verse 8 bounteous Princes and people subject themselves to this King of the God of Abraham His spiritual seed Luke III. 8. verse 9 John VIII 33. c. Rom. IV. 16 17. Sheilds He is the great Shield Gen. XV. 1. Psal. V. 12. and XVIII 35. the great conqueror and protector of all And Magistrates Sheilds under him Hos. IV. 18. Psal. LXXXIX 18. greatly exalted Psal. XCVII 9. A Song and Psalme chapter XLVIII Wherein both voice and instrument were used the voice began and the instrument after And where the Inscription is a Psalme and Song there likely the instrument began and the voice followed Of the former sort are as this Psalme to Psal. LXVI LXXXIII CVIII Of the later are Psal. LXVII LXVIII LXXV LXXXVII and XCII whole earth Or Land of Judea verse 2 As Exod. X. 15. and most likely Matth. XXVII 45. the sides of the North The Temple on Mount Moriah and the City of Jerusalem joyned North to Mount Sion Moriah is the North part of Sion So Esay XIV 13. the Kings were assembled The Philistian Princes 2 Sam. V. or those verse 4 in the dayes of Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. XX. or of Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII Upon some of which occasions this Psalme seemes to be composed and inspired Psal. XLVI 6. marvailed and were troubled At Sions beauty verse 5 and at her strength and their own overthrow Thou breakest As in a Shipwrack verse 6 so thou didst break them As 2 Sam. V. 20. Tarshish See the Observations on 1 Kings X. 22. East wind See Ezek. XVII 10. and XIX 12. Hos. XII 1. and Ch. XIII 15. Jonah
God The beginning of their song verse 26 or part of their praise from the fountain of Israel Ye that flow from that fountain are of that progeny Esay XLVIII 2. Deut. XXXIII 28. Deut. V. 15 18. There is Both those near verse 27 and those a farre off meet and joyne in this praising of God See Psal. LX. 9. little Benjamin The youngest sonne of Iacob and least Tribe since their fatal blow Iudg. XX. and contesting most for Sauls house against David Yet he here one if not first among them And all the rest likewiseâ—joyne ruler Of the enemies or rather of the Benjamites but no way of the other Tribes Thy God He petitions for strength and growth of blessings verse 28 as God had formerly begun to work for them hath commanded So Deut. XXVIII 8. Psal. CXXXIII 2. XLII 8. and XLIV 4. and LXXI 3. See Psal. XXXIII 9. Matth. VIII 8 9. thy strength The strength of the King and of the people Because of thy Temple Because of thy Promises made to thy Church verse 29 and thy presence at thy Temple Ark and Tabernacle therefore thou wilt grant and do according to the foresaid Petition Shall Kings David and his successors shall therefore with all grateful and thankful acknowledgement worship thee Rebuke He petitions against the adversaries of the Church verse 30 proud cruel and malitious Rebuke them in word and deed The meaning is contained in the last words of the verse the company of spear-men Of enemies armed with Lances and Spears or Reeds fitted and used for Spears or arrowes as the maner of those times was buls with the calves The robustick and strong enemies with the rest of the rude and Epicurish multitude Psal. XXII 12. Amos. IV. 1. submit himself with pieces of silver Though hypocriticaly Or rather that glories and vaunts himself in his brave attire embroydered with pieces of silver and out-braves and tramples upon others or is so rich as he seemes to tread silver under foot yet indeed trusts in it and boast himself of it And such usually though unprovoked delight to break forth into warre and wrong-doing such enemies of thy people rebuke and break Princes Prophesying of the calling of the Gentiles to Christ verse 31 he exhorteth them to praise God Ephes. III. 5 6. Esay XLIX 6. and LXVI 19. stretch out her hands In prayer in offerings in way of subjection a mighty voice Psal. XXIX His thunder verse 33 Heb. IV. 11. Ascribe Adds arguments for Gods praise verse 34 terrible To be had in reverence in the assembly of his Saints verse 35 and dreadful to his enemies faile while I waite The constancie and earnestnesse of Davids hope and expectation chapter LXIX verse 3 For the zeale of thine house Literaly true in David verse 9 Psal. XXVII 8. Principaly true in Christ the Sonne of David and to him applied by his disciples John II. 15 16 17. And so are the later words of this verse by the Apostle Rom. XV. 3. They gave me also gall Verified in our Saviour verse 21 and in relation had to this text John XIX 28 29. Let their table This used by David against his enemies verse 22 applyed by the Apostle against the Jewes in his time Rom. XI 9. Let their habitation That which David speaketh here of his enemies verse 25 and as Type of Christ of Christs enemies Saint Peter applieth to Judas the traitor Acts I. 20. blotted out Phil. IV. 3. Apoc. III. 5. Luke X. 20. Heb. XII 23. verse 28 Of Imprecations see the Observations on Psal. CIX 14 15. Sion The Type of the Church verse 36 inherit it Under the temporal promises of the Land of Canaan verse 35 are comprehended the promises of life everlasting to the faithful and their posterity Psal. CII 28. to the true Israel of God the true members of the Church Esay XLIV 26. for to bring to remembrance For to record chapter LXX See the Title of Psal. XXXVIII Both Psalmes are not to remember any notable deliverance or benefit already received But rather a time and case of affliction and distresse For the matter of both shew that they were inspired in such a time and do make earnest petition for deliverance to deliver me This Psalme is in a maner the same with Psal. XL. 13 17. verse 1 Cause me to escape Likely from Absalom chapter LXXI verse 2 For this Psalme may seem to be penned by David though his name be not in the Title and in his old age God This word is Jehovih verse 5 that is with the vowels of Elohim So again verse 16. and Psal. LXVIII 20. And so it is usually written when as I have said Adonai goeth before it or next followeth it At other times having the vowels of Adonai it is pronounced Lord. See 2 Sam. VII 18 19 20. a wonder Esay VIII 18. verse 7 Heb. II. 13. Zech. III. 8. and 1 Corinth IV. 9. even of thine only not mine owne verse 16 which is none to thine quicken me again verse 20 and shalt bring me up Me me in the Hebrew margin but us us in the text For Solomon Made by David for him chapter LXXII verse ult by David in his old age The like inscription is Psal. CXXVII This Psalme is composed as in the name of the Church And contains a Prayer a Praise and a Prophesie of the just peaceable righteous merciful plentiful flourishing estate and large extent and bounds of the Kingdome of Solomon set out indeed with some hyperbolical expressions scarcely appliable to him or to any mortal man So as Solomon may be the immediate object of the words he literaly intended in them But yet he so as a Type of Christ and of his Kingdome who is in truth the maine subject of this Psalme For all in a mystical sense is appliable to Christ more truly then to Solomon appliable to him in a spiritual sense exactly without any hyperbole For Solomon see that 2 Sam. VII 14. c. For Christ see that Heb. I. 5. And that passadge Psal. LXXXIX 19 37. is not unlike the subject matter of this Psalme This premised may serve to clear the hardest places of this Psalme The prayers Psalmes verse 20 Hymnes Songs are ended As the like is said of Davids words 2 Sam. XXIII 1. The one may be as an Appendix of the other This his last Prayer though not placed in the last place Or the last of those that David set in order before his death or the last in this second part or book of the Psalmes as they are all divided into five parts Or his last touching Solomon and his prophesying of Christ and his Kingdome So various may our thoughts and interpretations be and so uncertaine and unsafe to pitch and fixe upon any single one Truly The Psalmist premiseth this chapter LXXIII verse 1 as his undoubted ground against all conflicting doubts as a pacificatory protestation before this his contesting plea Touching the prosperity of the wicked and his
own afflictions See Ier. XII 1. and Hab. I. 12 13. covereth them as a garment They wear it verse 6 and shew it openly as their garment See the like phrase of cursing Psal. CIX 18 19. But the meek and godly cover and array themselves otherwise Ephes. IV. 24. Col. III. 10 12 14. Phil. IV. 5. Gal. III. 27. Rom. XIII 14. Ephes. III. 17. cum Gal. IV. 19. Their eyes stand out Stand out in the Hebrew is in the singular number verse 7 Whereupon the plural number is here to be understood distributively for either or each of their eyes The like is Gen. XLIX 22. Exod. XVII 12. and XXXI 14. Josh. II. 14. Job XII 7. Prov. III. 18. and XIV 1. and XXVII 9. Joel I. 20. Therefore his people returne hither Gods own people turne to these thoughts and tentations following verse 10 when they see withal their owne mournful miseries verily I Thus subject to these dangerous tentations verse 13 As a dreame when one awaketh Job XX. 8. verse 20 Like to that John XVI 21. and to that Acts XII 9. and to that Psal. CXXVI 1. when thou awakest To judgement Psal. LXXVIII 65. and VII 6. and XXXV 20. thou shalt despise their image their pageant of worldly pomp and pride make it to be despised Yea in their owne eyes if God awake their consciences Maschil An instructing Psalme chapter LXXIV of Asaph See on Psal. L in the Title This Psalme most likely was committed to some of Asaphs posterity long after Davids time to tune sing and play it The time of desolation which this Psalme mentions and bemoanes seemes not to be that in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes who prophaned and polluted much the Temple of Jerusalem but did not cast it downe and burne it to the ground And he himself was long after the Canon of the Old Testament was concluded But that rather in the dayes of Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuzaradan 2 Kings XXV 8. the rod Or tribe verse 2 which thou hast measured out for thine owne inheritance as with a line or rod Jer. X. 16. Deut. XXXII 9. thy congregations Meaning the Temple where the holy Congregations assembled verse 4 And verse 7. it is in the Hebrew thy Sanctuaries in the Plural number meaning the Temple The Plural number being used discretively to note out and designe one of many And so is that Gen. XXIII 6. Judg. VII 10. and XII 7. 2 Kings V. 13. 2 Chron. XXIV 25. Iohn VI. 45. Acts XIII 40. Zech. IX 9. Mat. IV. 3 compared with Luke IV. 3. And so we may understand that Matth. XXVII 44. compared with Luke XXIII 40 And that 2 Chr. chap. XXVIII 3. compared with 2 Kings XXVIII 3. And that Matth. XXVI 8. compared with Iohn XII 4. no more any Prophet Ezekiel verse 9 and Jeremie were now dead Others haply not so well known or regarded Lam. II. 9. Dragons The Princes of Pharaoh Leviathan Pharaoh verse 13 gavest him to be meat Him verse 14 and his drowned and cast upon the shoar to be meat to the wilde beasts and fowles of prey called a people as Prov. XXX 25 26. Or their spoile as meat to the Israelites Or gavest meat that is Manna to him that is thy people in the Wildernesse When I shall receive This Psalme seemes to be penned by David chapter LXXV verse 2 for Asaph to use and likely at the time and upon the occasion of the State of affairs at and upon the murder of Abner by Joab 2 Sam. III. which being then much shaken and shattered he promiseth to uphold and rectifie And rebuking the foolish proud and presumptuous opposers of his Promotion he renueth his resolution to proceed in judgment towards the wicked and the righteous uprightly the pillars of it He did so verse 3 by erecting and sustaining and maintaining good Magistrates and chiefly Religion and righteousnesse the maine pillars of a Kingdome See Gal. II. 9. cup See Esay LI. 17. verse 8 Ezek. XXIII 32. Ier. XXV 15. Apoc. XIV 10. In Salem Of Salem chapter LXXVI verse 2 see the Observations on Iosh. X. 1. There brake he This likely was done in the Assyrian Cam Gods Angel verse 3 in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 Chron. XXXII 21. â—â—p by then the mountains of prey A proverbial expression of greatest glory verse 4 See Esay IX 3. and LIII 12. Or from the mountains of prey where the Assyrian armies were preying upon thy people and now slain by thy glorious power and given by thee as a prey to thy people their sleep of death verse 5 shall praise thee Turne to thy praise verse 10 the remainder Keep within compasse the further attempts of our enraged enemies to Ieduthun Psal. chapter LXXVII XXXIX and LXII 1 Chron. XXV 2 3. my soar ran Or my hand was stretched out verse 2 that is in Prayer and was troubled Or verse 3 made a troubled noise Thy way verse 13 O God is in the Sanctuary Or in sanctity most holy And thy maner of administration and proceeding is to be learned in thy Word which is taught in the Sanctuary Psal. LXXIII 17. The waters saw thee Psal. CXIV 3 5. verse 16 the waters of the red-Sea The clouds Exod. XIV 24. verse 17 Psal. LXVIII 7 8 9 33. and XVIII 13 14. Thy way is in the Sea The red-Sea verse 19 Exod. XIV 21. footsteps are not known Before or after the waters returned and hid that way Exod. XIV 27. Or more generaly Gods wayes are unsearchable Iob XXVI 14. Psal. CVII 23 24. Rom. XI 33 34. in a parable Matth. chapter LXXVIII verse 2 XIII 35. cited there by the Evangelist in an allusion only to the word parable and therefore with some alteration of the words of the Psalmist And that forme of allegation is usual with the Evangelists as well in allusive and indirect as in more direct and proper applications Of Parables see more in the Observations on Psalme XLIX 4. The children of Ephraim Some make this relate to that verse 9 1 Chron. VII 21 22. while their father lived in Egypt Others to the Ephramites flight before Jephthah Judg. XII 46. Others understanding all the Israelites under that name referre this to their flight before the Philistines 1 Sam. IV. 10. Or before Abijah 2 Chron. XIII 17. And others understanding by Ephraim the ten Tribes whereof Ephraim was the head make it to relate to the final extirpation of that Kingdome 2 Kings XVII 7. c. whereof Hosea prophesied chap. X. 11 14. So various expositions may these general words admit By sending evil angels As Iob I. 12 16. verse 49 as executioners of his fierce anger Or angels i. e. messengers of evils which may be understood either of good Angels or of Moses and Aaron hinder parts 1 Sam. V. 1 6 9 12. verse 66 and VI. 4. he refused Shiloh verse 67 in the tribe of Ephraim the sonne of Ioseph The Ark never came thither again his Sanctuary Temple verse 69 by Solomon By this
and was made a Sacrifice for sinne for us 2 Cor. V. 21. Esay LIII 6. Yet this may have a right understanding of Christs spiritual children who are subject to the lapses and infirmities of sinne 1 John I. 8. Rom. VII 15. sworne Of Oaths verse 35 see the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. as the Moone Which although it sometime waxeth verse 37 and sometime waineth and sometime seemes to be gone a fit resemblance of the state of Christs Church yet is continualy renewed and so stable Witnesse See Jer. XXXIII 20 21. And Christ is so called Apoc. I. 5. Esay LV. 4. But thou The Psalmist complaineth of the miseries of the Church verse 38 whereby all the former Promises seeme to be frustrated youth hast thou shortned Wherein by thy promises he should have flourished verse 45 and grown up as a youth how short How vaine verse 47 momentanie and uncertaine yet am I thy creature the footsteps of thine Anointed verse 51 This may be referred to Christ and his Offices and Works in us and for us or to Christians which follow his footsteps Blessed The voice of faith verse 52 and joy as finding an issue out of the temptation and rejoycing in the midst of tribulation This is the end of the third Book of Psalmes See the Observations on Psal. XLI ult and on LXXII ult of Moses This seemes inspired and penned by Moses for the use of the people chapter XC when upon the returne of the Spies they had murmured against God and he had sentenced to death all above twenty years old Num. XIV 22 23 29 34. Returne The body to the earth verse 3 the soul to God that gave it watch The night divided into four Watches verse 4 the evening midnight cock-crowing dawning threescore years and ten So for the most part verse 10 And so in David And none of the Kings of Judah or Israel after him attained to those years Or seventy here in regard of that judgement denounced Num. XIV 29. even according to thy fear verse 11 so is thy wrath Thy wrath is as thy feare teacheth it to be which teacheth us to fear thee for thy wrath But who knoweth the power of it to number They might number the utmost extent of them verse 12 upon that judgement Num. XIV But not how much sooner they might die establish Esay XXVI 12. verse 17 he shall deliver thee Having practised in the second verse what he taught in the first chapter XCI verse 3 Here he teacheth others to do the like applies his example to them not be afraid Esay XLIII 2. verse 5 emphatical expressions and rhetorical amplifications allowed in all humane Authors Not yet implying that we are actualy deliveâ—ed in all such dangers but that at least they shall work for our good if we be not delivered out of them Rom. VIII 28. his Angels charge over thee Alledged by the Devil to Christ verse 11 Mat. IV. 6. in all thy wayes Of holinesse and righteousnesse These words the Devil omits as making against his temptation which was against the minde of the text tread upon the lion Esay XI 6 9. verse 13 Hos. II. 18. without harme or damage Not as the Pope applied it to his treading upon the neck of the Emperour on high Safely above all perils and dangers verse 14 with long life If God shall see it good and fit for him verse 16 Otherwise a good man may be cut off by Plague or warre for the Sabbath day For the Rest on this day chapter XCII see the Observations on Exod. XII 16. For Hallowing it That was by an holy convocation by offering of Sacrifices singing Psalmes reading and expounding and hearing Scriptures Praying Disputing and Conferring by meditating on Gods word and works and doing works of mercy Exod. XX. 10. Esay LVIII 13. Jer. XVII 21 22. Levit. XXIII 3. Num XXVIII 9 10. Acts XIII 15. and XV. 21. and XVI 13. and XVII 2. and XVIII 4. Matth. XII 2 7 8 11 12. as the Palme tree The LXX read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 12 which signifies indeed a tree As the Hebrew word here doth And the meaning of the whole verse imports Yet hence many learned men taking it up one from another have raised that fable of a wondrous bird called a Phoenix which yet never was seene or known in the world holinesse becometh thy house In the services chapter XCIII verse 5 and servants of it and all professors of so holy a God The Lord knoweth Cited chapter XCIV verse 11 1 Cor. III. 20. But judgement shall returne unto righteousnesse Though they might seeme awhile parted verse 15 yet they shall returne and meet and the wicked shall be punished and the godly rewarded O come Davids Psalme chapter XCV verse 1 though without his Title as appears Heb. III. 7. and IV. 7. to day This extends to the whole time wherein Christ speaketh by his Gospel verse 7 Heb. III. 7. 13 15. and IV. 7 8. So 2 Cor. VI. 2. Provocation Meribah verse 8 in the Hebrew temptation Massah in the Hebrew See Exod. XVII 1 7. Num. XX. 1 3 13. Deut. VI. 16. tempted me Tempted Christ verse 9 1 Cor. X. 9. my work Works Heb. III. 9. of miraculous mercies and judgements I sware At Kadesh-barneah verse 11 Num. XIV 21 c. Heb. III. 17 19. my rest Canaan a Type of a better Rest Heb. IV. 3 8 9 11. O sing This Psalme chapter XCVI verse 1 and Psalme CV 1 15. with small alterations make up that Psalme composed by David upon the bringing of the Ark from Obed-Edoms house into the Citie of David 1 Chron. XVI 8 36. a new song See the Observations on Psal. XXXIII 3. beauty of holinesse In the glorious holy Sanctuary searoare In token of joy verse 9 the trees Humane affections ascribed to insensible creatures verse 11 thereby to set out mans duty verse 12 for the cometh Or when he cometh Which may relate to Christs coming into the world verse 13 Matth. XII 20. Acts X. 42. and ch XVII 31. Psal. XCVIII 9. and CX 6. Esay II. 4. and XI 3 4. and XVI 5. 2 Tim. IV. 1. Apoc. XIX 11. The Lord reighneth Here seemes the Kingdome chapter XCVII verse 1 both of God and of Christ to be majesticaly described a new song See the Observations on Psal. chapter XCVIII verse 1 XXXIII 3. made known Esay LII 10. Let the sea roare Psal. verse 2 XCVI 11. let the people tremble And so chapter XCIX verse 7 the earth be moved that is with a reverend fear at his Presence and appearance verse 1 Or though they be stirred up with anger Apoc. XI 17 18. Acts XVII 13. The Kings strength God mixeth his power with justice verse 4 Job XXXVI 5. Moses and Aaron among his Priests Moses did many things of the Priestly office verse 6 And the word Cohen here used doth signifie also a Prince and principal officer as 2 Sam. VIII 18. and in many other places
solemn assemblies for his worship and service in the beauties of holinesse Or in the comely honours of the Sanctuarie meaning either the comely or honourable places of holinesse the Sanctuary or Church or rather in the beautiful ornaments of holinesse that is holy graces and vertues which with admirable varietie adorne the faithful and their inner man from the womb The second propertie or condition of the subjects of Christs Kingdome to be very numerous as willing so numerous as the dew from the womb of the morning 2 Sam. XVII 12. by a sudden unusual and wonderful increase and multiplication Esay LIV. 1. Micah V. 7. Esay LXVI 9. so numerous shall his youth be his new-borne people Iohn I. 13. and III. 3. Gal IV. 19. Heb. II. 14. 1 Pet. II. 2. See Esay LIII 10. So that these words are not to be understood of the temporal Nativity of Christ from the Virgin or his eternal generation from the Father as some do but of his active spiritual generation of his children the subjects of his Kingdome The Lord hath sworne The Vocation of Christ to his Office of verse 4 Priesthood Jehovah is the Author of it hath sworne Jehovah swears to confirme matters of greatest moment when and where his wisdome pleaseth And upon this point here of Christs eternal Priesthood mans salvation dependeth He swears by himself though that is not here expressed because he hath no greater to swear by Heb. VI. 13 16. Gen. XXII 16. And so by his life Esay XLIX 18. by his soul Jer. LI. 24. by his right-hand and the arme of his strength Esay LXII 8. The result of all which is the same with himself And implying thereby thus much Let me not be accounted what I am namely God the living God the omnipotent God if that which I speak be not true or my promises or threatnings do faile of performance Of Oaths See the Observations on Jer. LI. 14. and my Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. and will not repent Will not change or retract what he hath sworne Num. XXIII 19. James I. 17. Repenting is sometimes ascribed to God as Gen. VI. 6 7. Psal. CVI. 45. 1 Sam. XV. 11. 35. Not that there is any change of minde of will in God as there is in mans repenting But the change is in the work God eternally and unchangably decreeing both as to do the thing so again to change it upon mans repentance or disobedience Jer. XXVI 3 13 19. Of this see more in the Observations on Jer. XV. 6. In all this God condescends to mans weaknesse Heb. VI. 17 18. Shewes the greatnesse and excellency of the thing here avowed that the Lord Christ was lawfully Called and Ordained to be an eternal Priest for us and our salvation for our greater confirmation and consolation herein Thou art The Lord Christ well knew this and could not doubt of the will of the Father herein What then needed this Oath to be made unto him Answ. It was made to him for the use of his Church that his Church might know and be assured of it As that John XI 42. art God saying is as much as doing a Preist So Gen. XIV 18. Heb. VII 1. Melchizedec in type Christ in truth the Antitype The Priests office was to Teach Pray and Sacrifice The High Priest among the Jewes once a year entred into the most Holy place Yet he in all things was not an absolute and sufficient Type of our High Priest Christ the Lord. For he is an eternal High Priest and both King and Priest and his Sacrifice of another nature and himself of another Tribe for ever Not so the Priests after the order of Aaron Heb. VII 23. 34 and chap. IX 12. after the order Or similitude Heb. V. 6. and chap. VII 15. of Melchizedec Much question who this Melchizedec was He was not the Sonne of God himself our Lord and Christ. Very many take him to be Sem the Sonne of Noah who saw both worlds before and after the Flood and lived to the one hundred and fiftieth year of the age of Abraham Yet because Sems genealogie is exactly set down in Scripture and that the Levitical Priests themselves came from him after sundry descents and the Land of Canaan seems not to be Sems habitation which took its name from his younger brother Cham or from Chams sonne Canaan Neither would Abraham so long have forborne his due respects and visitation of Sem in Canaan if Sem had lived there Therefore divers learned men take this Melchizedec to be rather some eminent man in Canaan raised up by God in those corrupt times both good and godly both King and Priest living in Salem after called Jerusalem whose King in Joshuahs time was called Adoni-Zedeck that is Lord of righteousnesse Josh. X. 1. As this man here is called Melchizedec that is King of righteousnesse By which place or near to it Abraham in his returne from this warre and victory was to passe Of this Melchizedec and his Priesthood and the difference of it from Aarons Priesthood the Apostle to the Hebrews chap VII entreateth at large and observeth divers things his Name and Title his greatnesse in that he blessed Abraham and received Tythes of Abraham his being mentioned in Scripture without any Pedegree without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life All these he had as our Saviour himself had them but none of them recorded or registred in the Scripture that he might so become a Type of the eternity of Christs Person and Priesthood verse 3. The Apostle further observeth his Offices that he was both King and Priest and that our Saviour was made such with an oath of God the Father and a Priest of a better Priesthood Covenant and Commandment and that he was made not after the Law of a carnal commandement having carnal successors in his Priesthood but after the power of an endlesse life consecrated for evermore having an eternal Priesthood and unchangeable continuing ever and living ever to make intercession and by his one offering up himself once for all saving them to the uttermost that come to God by him In all which there are manifold resemblances between Christ and Melchizedec and manifold differences between theirs and the Aaronical Priesthood As for those fond and forced dreams of the Papist That Melchizedec offered up to God the sacrifice of bread and wine And therein was a Type and Figure of their sacrifice of the Masse And that thereupon Christ our Lord is said to be a Priest after the order of Melchizedec These may well befal to them who for want of the love of the truth are given up to beleeve lies but are too weak poor and silly for us to trouble our selves withal The Lord at thy right hand The prophesie of Christ the Lord his administration of his Kingly Office verse 5 in this and the next verse The Lord God the Father who will make thine enemies thy footstoole
XII 29. on my side Heb. verse 6 XIII 6. Psal. LVI 4. 11. All nations David had to deale with all the neighbouring nations round about him verse 10 Thou Speaking to the enemie verse 13 Open to me The gates of the Sanctuarie verse 19 or house of God the gates of the Court thereof which the Levitical Porters were to do for men to come and serve the Lord. of righteousnesse For the righteous and cleane only were to enter in thereat 2 Chron. XXIII 19. See Esay XXVI 2. Apoc. XXI 27. The stone David Typicaly verse 22 His Sonne the Messias Realy Mat. XXI 42. Ephes. II. 20. builders refused The Rulers refused David in the reignes of Saul and Ishbosheth The Priests and Elders refused Christ Mark XII 2 10. Luke XIX 14. 1 Pet. II. 7. the head stone Acts IV. 11. Luke XX. 17. Of this stone see more Esay XXVIII 16. Dan. II. 34 35 45. Zech. III. 9. Rom. IX 33. the day A chief and choise day of God shewing his mercie verse 24 Save nowâ—beseech thee Heb. Hoshiahâ— na verse 25 in Greek sounded Hosanna wherewith Christ is welcomed to Jerusalem and the Temple Mat. XXI 9 15. Luke XIX 37 38. we have blessed you These seeme to be the Priests words verse 26 relating to Num. VI. 23. light Prosperity verse 27 under the Kingdome of David and Christ. even unto the hornes of the Altar Likely the hornes of the Altar Exod. XXVII 2. intended for that use Or sacrifices abundantly all the Court over till you come to the hornes of the Altar Levit. IV. 7. Blessed Of this Psalme see the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes chapter CXIX verse 1 David probably is the penman of it The stile is plaine fitted for all capacities And the Alphabetical order was used for help of memory It is full of the ardent pious affections of a religious soul. Petitions for saving knowledge and gracious assistance from God and Promises of all holy sincere obedience thereupon are in every Octonarie with wondrous art and variety of sense yet running much upon the same words without any tautologie Before I was afflicted So verse 71. verse 67 Before I spake or answered is not so proper an interpretation of this place though it pleased Junius unlesse we understand it thus Before I cried out by reason of affliction my soul is continualy in my hand i. e. verse 109 my life is dayly in danger As Iudg. XII 3. 1 Sam. XIX 5. and chap. XXVIII 21. Many read this text in thy hand or hands understanding Gods hand which imports not danger but safety and security as Psal. XXXI 5. Luke XXIII 46. 1 Pet. IV. 19. And is indeed a wrong reading and breeds sundry senses not consonant or consisting with the tenour of this verse any iniquity either in me verse 133 subjective or of others against me objective And so the later way may be understood that Gal. II. 7 90 Ephes. VI. 12. Heb. XII 4. Psal. XLIX 5. and XL. 12. and LXV 3. and XXXIX 8. A song of degrees or ascensions chapter CXX heights or excellencies This and the fourteene Psalmes following have this Title prefixed The meaning whereof is variously conjectured As thus That they were to be sung with a loud voice as 1 Chron. XV. 16. Or upon the steps and degrees of the staires ascending to the Court of the people or to that of the Priests which they say were fifteene in number according to these number of these Psalms Or in the coming of the Ark into the Temple Or in their returne out of Babylon Or to be sung in their returne into their own land in the time of the Messias Others have other conjectures yet without any certaine determination neither is it much material Of these four bear Davids title and some of the rest not unlikely were penned by him I David likely verse 1 from lying lips Of such as falsely accused him to Saul verse 2 1 Sam. XXIV 9. and chap. XXVI 19. what shall be given What good or profit shalt thou get or gaine by it verse 3 sharp arrowes Such is a false tongue verse 4 or such are the plagues God will render as a reward unto it Woe is me Laments verse 5 that in his exile he was forced to dwell so long with the cruel and barbarous posterity of Mesech the sonne of Japhet Gen. X. 2. and of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. XXV 13. or rather with men of like evil cruel conditions to them hills Moriah chapter CXXI verse 1 and Zion where God dwelleth But most to God himself verse 2. The Sunne By its parching heat verse 6 as Ionah IV. 8. Nor the Moon by its cold vapors Gen. XXXI 40. nor any discommodity shall be able to annoy thee Psal. XCI 5. I David having brought the Ark of the testimony to Ierusalem chapter CXXII verse 1 and setled the Thrones of judgement there pens this Psalme of joy and gladnesse therefore Praising the Citie and praying for the prosperity of it testimonie The Ark. verse 4 See the Observations on Ex. 25. 16. thrones of judgement Both Ecclesiastical verse 5 and Civil as God had commanded Deut. XVII 8 c. the captivity of Zion Out of Babylon chapter CXXVI verse 1 which returne figured our Redemption by Christ. that dreame So incredible it was and the joy of it that we half doubted whether it were true or but a dreame As Peter did Acts XII 9 11. See Esay XXIX 7 8. And the like speech we read of in Abdolominus when he was taken from manuring the earth to possesse a Kingdome and in Isaacus Angelus when he was suddenly lifted up to the Empire and in that famous Iohn Chrysostome when he was first chosen into the Presbyterie Turn again Prayes that the deliverance begun verse 4 may be carried on and brought to perfection For it had many stops and hinderances as appears in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah They that sow in tears That went mournfuly into captivity verse 5 shall return joyfuly for Solomon Seemes to be inspired and penned for Solomon chapter CXXVII by David a litle before his death Psal. LXXII title Except the Lord This is true generaly verse 1 yet may relate to the future building of the Temple by Solomon and the safe keeping of the Citie Ierusalem or rather to the building of Solomons house and posterity so By building verse 2 keeping blessing their labours without sorrow he giveth Or surely will give or rightly doth give his beloved Whom he loves and who in assurance of his love commits himself to him and his care The Hebrew word Iedid seemes to allude to Solomons name Iedidiah 2 Sam. XII 25. his darling sleep Or quiet rest without carking care and sorrow The Hebrew word is written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet dumb letter otherwise then usual to denote the more quietnesse And this rest not your care and toil but Gods blessing will bring unto you Prov. X. 22.
Blessed The Blessings that ordinarily follow them that Fear the Lord chapter CXXVIII verse 1 Take in with this the main matter of that in Psal. LXXIII eate the labour As on the other side it is true of the wicked Prov. I. 31. the cords Wherewith they drew their Plough chapter CXXIX verse 4 to make long furrows upon the back of the Church his bosome Or armes verse 7 as Esay XLIX 22. The blessing As Ruth II. verse 8 4. Out of the depths Psal. chapter CXXX verse 1 LXIX 1 2. forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared Hos III. verse 4 5. Gods fidelity and the truth of his promises for the forgivenesse of our sins his mercie and our plenteous redemption is the true cause of our fearing of him and hoping in him verse 7. If without this God did strictly mark our iniquities our hope in him and reverential fear and worship of him would utterly fail and perish shall redeem Psal. verse 8 XXV 22. and CIII 3 4. not haughty In aspiring to the Kingdome chapter CXXXI verse 1 and that by Sauls ruine and destruction as a weaned childe That is verse 2 free from such ambitious thoughts I rested quiet in thy will and promise Let Israel By my example verse 3 A Song This seemes to be Davids chapter CXXXII at his bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem Some say Solomons acting what his father purposed and ordered 2 Sam. VII 8. with 2 Chron. VI. 41. his afflictions In coming to the crown verse 1 and his afflicting cares to bring home the Ark and build God an House as in the verses following surely If I enter verse 3 A form of an oath or curse Let me perish if I enter my house Newly built and mentioned 1 Chron. XV. 1. sleep In that house verse 4 Or at least he would never do so quietly till the Ark were in its resting place we heard of it We Bethleemites heard of the Ark. verse 6 at Ephratha That it was or had been at Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim or much rather we at Bethlehem Ephratha in our own countrey heard of it Micah V. 2. Gen. XXXV 16 19. 1 Sam. I. 1. See the Annotations on Micah V. 2. we found it in the fields of the wood Or Jaar in Kiriath-jearim a Citie seated in the woods as the name importeth And of Kiriath-jearim See the Observations on 1 Sam. VII 1. Arise 2 Chron. verse 8 VI. 41. Num. X. 35. Psal. LXVIII 1. thy rest Ver. 13 14. still flitting and wandering before cloathed As with their sacred garments verse 6 See Apoc. XIX 8. Eph. IV. 24. Col. III. 10 12 14. Gal. III. 27. Rom. XIII 14. For thy servant Davids sake Verse 1. verse 10 thy Covenant and Promises made to him 1 Kings 8. 25. Psal. LXXXIX 20. Esay XXXVII 35. And for Christs sake called David Hos. III. 5. See the Annotations upon that text of thine anointed Me thine anointed King of thy body This relates to Christ verse 11 Acts II. 30. If thy children Thus conditional to Davids posterity verse 12 2 Sam. VII 14. Psal. LXXXIX 30 33. for evermore Verified only in Christ the Sonne of David the horne of David to bud Psal. LXXXIX 24. Luke I. 69. verse 17 a lamp 1 Kings XI 36. and XV. 4. 2 Kings VIII 19. Hermon See the Observations on Deut. chapter CXXXiif verse 3 IV. 48. Hermon and Zion here are farre distant mountains And so the dew of Hermon descends not upon the mountains of Zion but the similitude is twice repeated of the dew falling upon those two several distinct and distant mountains commanded Psal. XLII 8. and XLIV 4. and LXVIII 28. and LXXI 3. Deut. XXVIII 8. by night 1 Chron. chapter CXXXiV verse 1 IX 33. Psal. XCII 3. and CXIX 147. Luke Iâ— 37. 1 Sam. III. 3. Some think that this and the next Psalme were made for the use of such worshippers by night for the raine Or chapter CXXXV verse 7 with the raine or to shew that raine is coming repent Even in the judging of his people verse 14 he will be so tender towards them Rivers May comprehend here Euphrates chapter CXXXvii verse 1 and Tigris or Eulaeus or Chabor being then all under the Babylonish Empire of Babylon In the seventy years captivity Of Babylon see the Observations on Dan. IV. 30. of Edom Obadiah verse 7 verse 10 16. Ezek XXV 12. Jer. XLIX 7. Lament IV. 2. thy little ones Sinne enough in Babylon verse 9 in the Land of Shinar Zech. V. 8 11. Sinne enough in these little ones as in the litle ones of the old world drowned with Noahs flood as in the little ones of Sodom burned with brimstone c. thy Word above all thy name Or chapter CXXXVIII verse 2 thy name above all things by thy Word Or thy Word with all thy name Thy Promise in Christ concerning thy people is greater then all other things whereby thou hast made thy self known with strength Ephes. verse 3 III. 16 20. in the wayes of the Lord Or verse 5 of the wayes Psal. CIII 7. when they shall be converted will perfect Phil. verse 8. 8. I. 6. Psal. LVII 2. my bed in hell In the grave chapter CXXXiX in the lowest parts of the earth His mothers womb verse 15 Eccles. XI 5. So Ephes. IV. 9. may be understood of Christs Incarnation Sometimes this phrase is meant of the Grave as Psal. LXIII 9. when I awake I am still with thee Still meditating of thee verse 18 and finding new occasions to think of thee and praise thee Or I watch night and day to be found still cleaving to thee Or when I have spent the whole day in those pretious thoughts of thee verse 17. the next morning I am where I was I am but at the beginning still the more I think of them the more wonderful they appear to me still Surely This may be rendered here as a Wish verse 19 violent man Saul chapter CXL verse 1 and his Agents O God Jehovih verse 7 See the Observations on Esay XXVI 4. and on Psal. LXXI 5. the strength of my salvation Ephes. VI. 17. of David This may seeme inspired and composed by David when he was in the Wildernesse of En-gedi chapter CXLI 1 Sam. XXIV about the same time when the next Psalme and Psalme LVII were composed doore In the Hebrew dal is contracted here for deleth verse 3 as Chaji 2. Sam. XXIII 23. for Chajil 1 Chron. XI 22. incline not By Satan verse 4 or my own corruption James I. 13 14. So Matth. VI. 13. not eate of their dainties Lest by their prosperity I should be allured to be wicked as they are for yet my prayer I will requite them with my best prayers verse 5 when they most need them when their Judges The Chieftains and Senators of mine adversaries verse 6 in stonie places Where they persecute and pursue me they shall hear my words Then that they are sweet pleasing and inoffensive to mine adversaries Our
bones Davids verse 7 and his followers they are in such like present danger when he was in the cave Psal LVII 1 Sam. XXIV 4. The later part of this prayer seemes chapter CXLII as spoken in the cave Yet it all might be composed after his deliverance out of it As that Prayer Jonah II. prison This Cave verse 7 wherein I am shut up as in a close prison faithfulnesse chapter CXLIII verse 1 For performance of thy faithful and true promises made to me righteousnesse To maintaine and defend a righteous cause Enter not Though my cause be just verse 2 yet my person is sinful and unjust not able to abide thy judgement Rom. III. 20. So Job XXII 4. and XIV 3. Gal. II. 16. no man living Heb. not all living i. e. not any living As Mat. XXIV 22. 1 John II. 21. 2 Pet. I. 20. Psal. LXXVI 5. is desolate Or wondrously amazed verse 4 upheld only by Gods power cause me The work is Gods verse 8 He the actor of it And therefore to him he lifts up his soul. So verse 10. good lead me Or verse 10 by thy good Spirit lead me Thus prayer-wise or shall lead me spoken in way of assurance of David It seemes composed after he came to the crown chapter CXLIV verse 3 and had got some victories over his enemies and yet other enemies were ready to invade him 2 Sam. V. VIII what is man Psal. VIII 5. Job VII 17. Heb. II. 6. Bow the heavens Shew thy self present on earth verse 5 for my help and my foes ruine who are like mountains in comparison of other men 1 Sam. XXII 10. a right hand of falshood Though they shake hands verse 8 yet they keep not promise whose God is the Lord This is opposed to all the other worldly wealth verse 15 as farre more then over-poising it all of praise His Hymne chapter CXLV And the whole book in Hebrew is called the book of Hymnes or Praises This is an Alphabetical Psalme Only the letter Nun is wanting See the Observations on Psal. XXV 1. and on the beginning of the book of Psalmes over all his works Or verse 9 towards upholdeth all that fall Psal. verse 14 CXLVI 8. all whom he in his goodnesse knows are to be upholden without whom and his goodnes none are upholden But some fall and never rise wait upon thee Psal CIV verse 15 27. 28. in truth This in Prayer requireth sincerity verse 18 without hypocrisie faith repentance earnestnes and constancie the desire Or will We pray that Gods will may be done verse 19 Matth. VI. 10 Here he doth his servants will So he honoureth them that honour him 1 Sam. II. 30. And their will agrees with his 1 John V. 14. Praise ye the Lord Heb. chapter CXLVI verse 1 Halelu-jah And thus do begin and end likewise the rest of the Psalmes that follow In the Greek it is Alleluia Apoc. XIX 1. Halelu-jah is in Psal. CIV and CVI. and CXXXV and in many others which executeth judgement Who succours and relieves all verse 7 in and according to their several necessities He it is that doth it But that when and how in his wisdome and goodnesse it seemeth to him best out-casts Deut. chapter CXLVII verse 2 XXX 4. telleth the number Esay XL. verse 4 26. though to man they are innumerable Ier. XXXIII 22. at least in common opinion and of him indeed cannot be all seene The number of the stars is counted by ancient Astronomers And all within and without their several Constellations in their several magnitudes are reduced by all much under the number of two thousand Yet their number in Scripture-phrase is marshaled with the sands of the sea as innumerable Which is spoken according to vulgar opinions and apprehensions as that of the Sunne and Moone Gen. I 16. And divers other things are in Scripture in like sort spoken of And yet the innumerable multitude of them appears the more in our times Wherein Galileus and others after him by their new instruments and Tubi Optici have made such strange discoveries of many many numbers of them never seene before young ravens Iob XXXVIII verse 9 41. Psal. CIV 27 28. Matth. VI. 26. fat of wheat Psal. verse 14 LXXXI 16. Deut. XXXII 14. runneth Psal. verse 15 XXXIII 9. snow like wooll accordingly the phrase is verse 16. 17. 19. fleeces of snow his yce like morsels Frost or frozen hailstones his word unto Jacob This is singular mercie and peculiar to his Church farre beyond all those formerly mentioned for which his Church is so bound to praise him stars of light Job XXXVIII chapter CXLVIII verse 3 7. havens of heavens The heaven of heavens is the highest heaven verse 4 called the third heaven 2 Cor. 2. XII The sky where the starres are is the second heaven And the aire under it and next us is the first heaven In the upper part whereof are the waters here mentioned For this Text and Gen. I 6 7. yeeld not a sure foundation whereon to build an Orbe of supercelestial waters above the starry heavens nor from the windowes of that Orbe came the waters in Noahs flood But from the lowest region of the aire called Heaven and the firmament of Heaven wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie and do divide between the sea-waters and the watery clouds which moysten the earth and make it bring forth fruit for the sustenance of man and beast See Gen. I. 20. Jer. LI. 16. Dan. VII 2 13. Psal. LXXVIII 23. Mal. III. 10. a decree Statute verse 6 Rule and Ordinance whereby every creature is bound to his set time place and function Job XIV 5. and XXVI 10. and XXXVIII 33. Jer. XXXI 35. and XXXIII 25. the horne of his people Psal. verse 14 LXXV 10. the power glory and Kingdome of his people and Church and that by Christ who is the horne of salvation Luke I. 69. him that made him Heb. chapter CXLIX verse 2 his makers Likely relating to the Trinity of persons as Gen. I. 26. and III. 22. and XI 7. Job XXXV 10. Eccles. XII 1. Esay VI. 8. LIV. 5. King Christ of whom King David was a Type As Mat. XXI 5. Cant. I. 4 upon their beds Night and day verse 5 Psal. LXIII 6. Job XXXV 10. and a two-edged sword Heb. verse 9 two-mouthed This chiefly at least aimes at the spiritual sword Ephes. VI. 17. Heb. IV. 12. Apoc. I. 16. which is the Word of God coming out of Christs mouth To execute vengeance upon the heathen Chiefly in and by the power and preaching of the Gospel verse 7 2 Cor. X. 4 5 6 8. See Esay XLI 15 16. John XVI 8 9. To binder their Kings Psal. verse 8 II. 2 3 9 10. Esay XLV 14. Mark VI. 20. Acts XXIV 25. Apoc. XXI 24. Matth. XVI 19. the judgement written This may have reference to that Law verse 6 Deut. VII 1 2. Or to the exact rule of Gods Word without any addition or diminution Deut.
wherein severity ought to cast the scale And this Kings best do when they sit in the throne themselves and leave not all alwayes to Judges under them my heart clean The Pharisee verse 9 and Popish Justitiarie saith it Not Paul Rom. VII 15. 1 Cor. IV. 4 nor Iob chap. IX 30 31. and XIV 4. nor David Psal. CXXX 3. and LI. 5 Eccles. VII 20. 1 John I. 8. a childe Is or should be known by his doings verse 11 early shewes his inclination and how he is like to prove afterwards and from his childhood it self should be a plaine dealer without any hypocrisie eare Exod. IV. 11. Psal. XCIV 9. Therefore he sees hypocrites and all and will punish Yea he makes and opens the spiritual eare and eye 1 Cor. II. 9 10. sleep Chap. verse 13 XIX 15. open Be vigilant and diligent chap. XII 11. and XXVIII 19. the lips of knowledge Chap. verse 15 V. 2. Psal. XLV 3. Cant. V. 1. John VII 46. is sweet Chap. IX 17. but afterwards Job XX. verse 17 15 after the meale comes the reckoning we must not think to dine with the Devil and afterwards to sup with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven Every purpose Deliberate oft ere thou resolve once verse 18 Take Counsel Esay XXX 1. Psal. CXIX 24. See chap. XV. 22. and XXIV 6. warre Chap. XXIV 6. be neither timorous nor temerarious Ahab or Jehoshaphat rather in this might have been a good president to Josiah 1 Kings XXII 5. 2 Chron. XXXV 22. tale-bearer Chap. verse 19 XI 13. Meddle not with such Curseth Chap. verse 20 XXX 17. Exod. XXI 17. Levit. XX. 9. Matth. XV. 4. lamp Chap. XXIV 20. gotten hastily Chap. verse 21 XIII 11. and X. 2. and XXVIII 20. I will recompence Chap. verse 22 XXIV 29. Deut. XXXII 35. Rom. XII 17 19. 1 Thes. V. 15. 1 Pet. III. 9. Wait It belongs to him This is the way to be even with him that wrongs thee yea to be above him divers weights Verse 10. verse 23 not good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mans goings Chap. verse 24 XVI 1 9. and chap. III. 6. Psal. XXXVII 23. Jer. X. 23. a snare As the fish that swallows the hook verse 25 Against Sacriledge Acts XIX 37. Rom. II. 22. Let Princes and all look to this make inquirie How the vow may be made void candle The minde and conscience is such verse 27 Matth. VI. 23. 1 Cor. II. 11. It is Gods Spy and Mans overseer a kinde of middle thing betwixt God and Man Our God as well as Moses was Pharaohs God and Aarons God Exod. IV. 16. and VII 1. the King Chap. verse 28 XXIX 14. Psal. CI. 1. Yet this rule is not without all exception as in our late King of blessed and bleeding memorie and in many others gray head Chap. verse 29 XVI 31. clenseth Corrections beat out corruptions verse 30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nocumenta documenta chap. X. 13. The Kings heart Jer. chapter XXI verse 1 X. 23. Ezek. XXI 19 20 21. Though never so absolute is ruled yet and over-ruled by him who is higher then the highest Yea to do his will though unwitting to the King then Sacrifice To obey is better then sacrifice verse 3 God will have mercie and not sacrifice Mark XII 33. Heathens could see and say so much See Esay I. 11. Hos. VI. 6. Micah VI. 7. the plowing Whether they plot verse 4 or plough Tit. I. 15. As a plague-sore will render the richest robe infectious Even their Prayer is sinne diligent Chap. verse 5 X. 4. and chap. XII 24. hastie Rashly make more hast then good speed to be rich treasures Chap. verse 6 X. 2. and chap. XI 4. and chap. XIII 11. and chap. XX. 21. So in Achan Joshuah that could stay the Sunne in his course could not stay him from fingering those accursed treasures The robberie Robbing and spoyling others verse 7 by briberie wrong judgement and wrong dealing a brawling woman Verse 19. verse 9 chap. XXV 24. and chap. XIX 13. and XXVII 15. desireth evil Evil to all verse 10 but to himself findes no favour Whether he sink or swim is no part of his care Psal. LXIX 26. 2 Tim. III. 3. wisely considereth That it shall be overthrown verse 12 and so envies not at their present prosperitie but makes their destruction his instruction Esay XXVI 11. 1 Cor. X. 11. Psal. LII 6. not be heard Of God verse 13 or man Matth. XVIII 30. Esay LVIII 7 9. A gift Chap. verse 14 XVII 8. and chap. XVIII 16. and XIX 6. This Abigael knew well 1 Sam. XXV It is joy Psal. CIX verse 15 162. Rom. VII 22. workers Jer IX 5. Psal. VII 14. Esay V. 18. wandereth He cannot wander so farre as to misse of hell verse 16 Prov. II. 18. Esay L. 11. in that Congregation-house of Gehenna-gyants where is punishment without pitie miserie without mercie sorrow without succour crying without comfort mischief without measure loveth pleasure Luke XVI verse 17 13. a ransome Chap. verse 18 XI 8. God causing that to fall upon the wicked which was intended against the righteous spendeth it up Foolishly lavisheth it verse 20 1 Pet. IV. 3 4. Whereas it should be husbanded thriftily for necessity and honest affluence and comfortable livelihood followeth after Though not overtake it verse 21 si faciat etiamsi non perficiat though he cannot open the door yet if he lift at the latch be an active apprentise though not yet his crafts-master A wise man scaleth Prudence is better then Puissance verse 22 Eccles. VII 19. and IX 15 16. Prov. XXIV 5. 2 Sam. XX. 16 21 22. Proud Chap. verse 24 XIII 10. and chap. XV. 25. giveth Chap. verse 26 XI 25. and chap. XXII 9. Esay LVIII 7. Psal. CXII 9. 2. Cor. IX 9. Deut. XV. 10. Matth. XIX 21 22. Rom. XII S. Eccles. XI 2. Ephes. IV. 28. See on Prov. XIX 17. heareth What he witnesseth verse 28 against the Lord The arme of humane policie as Jeroboams in that case shrinks up presently verse 30 The horse Though so serviceable verse 31 Job XXXIX 19 25. Yet avails not Psal. XXXIII 17. A good name Eccles. chapter XXII verse 1 VII 1. See the Observations there Omnia si perdas famam servare memento meet together Chap. verse 2 XXIX 13. Have mutual need one of another Deut. XV. 11. Matth. XXVI 11. And meet many times as travellers in the mid-way by an alteration and exchange of their conditions Luke I. 53. foreseeth Eccles. verse 3 II. 14. and X. 2. looks before he leaps sees a tempest in the clouds and seeks seasonable shelter under the hollow of Gods hand passeth on Pusheth on without fear or wit desperately into danger chap. XIV 16. and XXVII 12. These after-wits and post-masters may prove prudent but too late farre from them From those thornes and snares verse 5 from the miseries and misdemeanours too of the froward man Traine up a childe Young Saints verse 6 old
and gaines he catcheth but a Butter-flie with much vexation and all his toile And I turned To his first enquirie verse 12 to see if his second thoughts therein might prove the wiser what can True without boasting None can go beyond him trie who will wisdome excelleth follie Foolish verse 13 sensual pleasures which perish in the using and leave a sting behinde them Though the most excellent humane wisdome is vaine also as to this maine end and in order to it to attaine true happinesse The wise mans eyes He shewes the great difference of worth between these two contraries verse 14 And the antithesis and opposition of them serves to illustrate the nature of them both The wise man sees fore-sees fore-casts ponders things past present and to come he casts and considers is vigilant and circumspect The foole hath neither sight nor light his eyes are any where rather then in his head he is inconsiderate rash carried headlong in blindnesse and I my self perceived Though the one so farre excelling the other yet both alike in this no difference herein but one event happeneth to them all as two wayes meet at the same Inne and Ships from several Coasts meet at the same Haven and Counters after casting summes are put into the same bag And why was I then more wise To what purpose verse 15 as to the maine point no remembrance Chap. verse 16 VIII 10. Prov. X. 7. Psal. CXII 6. and XLIX 11 12. Jer. XVII 13. and how dieth As oblivion so death equal and common to both Psal. XLIX 10. Ezek. XXI 4. Only piety maketh the difference John XI 25 26. Therefore I hated life He saw little valuable or desirable in it verse 17 He was wearie of living to so little purpose and withal that sufficient to the day was the evil thereof all my labour As being so vaine and vexatious verse 18 No felicitie and true happinesse in this life being to be gained by any creature-comfort leave it Psal. XLIX 10. and XXXIX 6. And so Luke XII 17. ere he was a day elder a wise man verse 19 or a foole How Rehoboam proved is well known chap. VI. 2. therefore I went about Fetcht a compasse verse 20 by a reflex act of my minde as Ephraim Jer. XXXI 18 19. and the Prodigal Luke XV. 17. as those 1 Kings VIII 47. And being wearied in this round I was brought to a despondencie of spirit and a despair of attaining to my purpose and search as being fruitlesse and unseazable these emptie things only abusing and deluding me For there is a man This particular did so pinch Solomon verse 21 that he thinks he can never say enough of it he cannot give it over And it is a judgement threatened that it shall so fall out Prov. XIII 22. Yea leave it to a stranger and enemie as Nabals was to David Hamans to Mordecai the Canaanites to the Israelites what hath a man verse 22 c A meere nothing a coffin perhaps to his grave Then all the world is gone with him Psal. XLIX 17. Eccles. I. 3. and III. 9 and V. 15 are sorrowes In the abstract verse 23 And those pluraly Job V. 7. not rest in the night Though he lie upon a bed of downe yet these gnats will not suffer him sleep his heart doth not rest in that time of rest Job IV. 13. as the clock cannot stand still while the plummets hang at it Grace only cures these cares and procures this quiet rest Phil. IV. 6 7. Ps CXXVII 2. nothing better Chap. verse 24 III. 12 13 22. and VIII 15. as to the happinesse of this life attainable by all study and industrie in worldly things and affairs and so to free our selves from this vanitie and vexation of them and specialy from that disease verse 21. the hand of God It is not alwayes in our power Verse 26. Chap. III. 13. and V. 19. Acts XIV 17. God is then to be sought to in whom only felicity is to be found Psal. CXLV 15 16. Eccles. IX 7 8 9. For who can eate verse 25 Who else can prove it by his own experience better then I verse 12. For God giveth To get these worldly things rightly verse 26 and to use them rightly and comfortably giveth this peculiar blessing to this person the proper subject of it Chap. III. 12 13. but to the sinner To scrape and rape chap. IV. 8. Hab. II. 6. Psal. XXXIX 6. Luke XII 18. give to him that is good Job XXVII 17. Prov. XIII 22. and XXVIII 8. To every thing there is a season Or rather a time prefixed chapter III verse 1 set and predetermined The series and contexture whereof and of all future events we cannot order or alter we cannot antedate or anticipate nor post-off or post-date by all our anxious care and toyles we cannot break through the bounds of Gods providence and predeterminate purpose in the guidance of them So again chap. VIII 6. And therefore we should quiet and content our selves in the good and comfortable use of them as chap. II. 24. And not seek to extract out of such vaine and variable things that good and felicity which is not in them Yet again This may minde us not to neglect the seasons times and opportunities of Grace which are in Gods hand when he doth please to offer and afford them Luke XIX 42. Heb. II. 3. A time Chap. verse 2 III. 17. This here is oft repeated that it may be once remembred There are various vicissitudes and changes in all things under the Sunne We should seek perfect felicitie in him only in whom there is no shadow of change and in his kingdome of glory which shall continue when time it self shall be no more What profit Concludes that verse 9 Chap. I. 3. Matth. VI. 27. no more then that James II. 14 16. Consider that Matth. XVI 26. which God hath given God gives it verse 10 for our exercise in it and by it And he not we or fate or fortune orders it and the event of it He usualy gives the blessing in our use of the meanes beautiful Though we at all times see it not in every thing verse 11 though we are not able to put together all the pieces of Gods providence nor to foresee that frame and forme feature that he will bring them to at the last Esay X. 12. we being not able to finde out the beginning or end of the causes or uses of Gods works Yet these seeming confusions God will reduce into an excellent beautiful order and in a beautiful season too Frost and Snow are as seasonable in the Winter as heat and flowers and fruits are in the Summer The world is so much in our hearts that we minde and mark not Gods dealings sufficiently and we are of so short continuance that though we minde it yet we live not to observe a full point in the works of God Their beginning may be in one age and their end in
to all duties of active and passive obedience takes off the wheeles of the soul makes it as a limb out of joynt that can do nothing without paine and deformity Dead flies As one sinner chapter X verse 1 in the precedent words so here one sin destroyes much good Alike folly doth fly-blow a wise mans reputation Neh. VI. 11. heart is at his right hand As his eyes are in his head verse 2 chap. II. 14. He ordereth his affairs with discretion he acts dexterously and discreetly with mature advise and judgement he worketh by the guidance of his heart Luke XIV 28 31. But a fools heart He is left-handed in his works and wayes doth them rashly awkwardly bunglingly preposterously As 1 Kings XII 8. Esay XIX 10 14. walketh by the way He doth palpably discover to others verse 3 and proclaime That he is a fool Prov. VI. 13 and chap. XII 23. and XIII 16. and XVIII 2. See Prov. XVII 28. Leave not thy place Thy office verse 4 duty and obedience to him A souldier must stand to his station ch VIII 3. proudly fling not away in displeasure much lesse stand not to affront him turne not rise not up against him as 1 Kings XII 16. seek to pacifie him Prov. XV. 1. and if need be go a little aside out of his sight till his rage and thy danger be over-past See Judges VIII 1 2 3. Gen. XXXII 13. and XXXIII 3. 1 Sam. XXIV 16. and chap. XXV 32. Prov. XXV 15 as an error Haply by the erring information of others verse 5 seeing Rulers must needs see much with other mens eyes and hear much by other mens ears And yet this error may prove a great mischief to Church and State and the rich In worth verse 6 and wisdome Dignity ought to wait upon Desert though it alwayes doth not For Rulers sometimes grow into suspition of such as eminently excel in extraordinary worth Servants upon horses Men of a low verse 7 base servile condition And how insupportable this is see Prov. XXX 22. and how unseemly see Prov. XIX 10. It is a curse of God Deut. XXVIII 43. 44. Gen. IX 25 26. Lamented Lam. V. 8. Yet the Levellers would be at this to lay all alike As in Germany in Anno 1525. But the issue of that attempt was to themselves deservedly miserable He that diggeth a pit This verse 8 and the three following Proverbial similitudes tend all to this end That evil usualy returneth on the heads of those that were the authors of it Malum consilium consultori pessimum Prov. XXVI 27. and XXVIII 10. Psal. VII 16. and IX 15. In application against such as overturne the foundations of Lawes and Customes and alter the long established and wholsome constitutions of Kingdomes Nations and people and confound Rule and Subjection and dissolve the ligaments of Government Prov. XXVI 27. Who so removeth stones verse 9 c. Besides the general sense of the words application of them may be made against those who remove land-marks or rashly alter things seriously setled and duly defined and so do sowe seditions and raise factions If the iron be blunt Wisdome directeth to whet the edge verse 10 to save the putting to of more strength And so wisdome is better then strength chap. IX 16. It guideth a mans actions without so much toile and labour and a better end without it and Art and cunning by it strength and toile and eloquence or ought else is to small purpose The Serpent will bite If not charmed before verse 11 And after the biting the Master of the tongue or eloquent man cannot help or better the matter The meaning may be to compare the spirit of disloyalty against Rulers and rebellious speeches against them to the biting of a Serpent And the wise and humble speeches and demeanor of subjects to their offended Governours to an inchantment to keep them from biting Or to shew that a vaine babler whose lawlesse tongue is ever finding fault with Government is no better then an uncharmed Serpent It may be applied against any Sycophants and Slanderers whatsoever Or to those who bite and babble at the Traditions of the wise The words Ephes. verse 12 IV. 29. Col. IV. 6. Prov. X. 32. and XII 13. and XV. 1 2. 4 26. and XVI 23 24. Such were Abigaels to David swallow up himself Prov. XIX 28. and XII 13. Rom. III. 13. James III. 2 12. Psal. LII 3. Many men by their tongue have cut their own throats is full of words Multiplyeth boasting discourses verse 14 vainly tells his own undertakings brags what he will do and what he shall have cannot tell what shall be No man much lesse a fool can tell this to himself wearieth every one By his wordinesse and much idle vaine babling without any solid and sound matter verse 15 as empty casks sound loudest chap. V. 3 7. Prov. X. 19. and XVII 17 27. how to go to the citie He tires himself in trifles being not able to manage the least matters and easie for children having not wit enough to keep the high road to know the beaten path to the Citie And yet he will foolishly labour and weary himself about hard and difficult matters Wo to thee O land Esay III. verse 16 4. A child in years For Tutors and Protectors have mostwhat self-ends and deal not fairly and faithfully or jarre among themselves Thus it was in Rome after the death of Ancus Martius and in the Romane Empire in the times of Arcadius and Honorius Yet the Land was blessed and happy under young Solomon Josiah Uzziah our Edward the VI. and others for the parts and graces wherewith God endowed them Or else a child in understanding and parts rude and raw without experience discretion and abilities for so weighty an imployment of a childish disposition for wit courage carriage this though not a childe in years And such was Rehoboam 1 Kings XIV 21. with 2 Chron. XIII 7. In a word a worthlesse and wicked King is a Woe to the whole Land and a great argument of Gods anger against it 1 Sam. VIII 6 18. Job XXXIV 30. Prov. XXVIII 2. Esay XIX 4. eate in the morning Are riotous and luxurious unseasonably feasting Sonne of Nobles Nobly borne verse 17 The ancient splendor of a royal stock and descent addes much honour to a King Est in juvencis est in equis patrum virtus And much more when he is nobly bred up nobly seasoned with principles of true nobility wisdom holinesse honour and government without which nobility in blood and birth are but shapes and shadows of true noblenesse Though never so much noble blood run in the veins yet worthlesnesse and wickednesse remaining in the heart rendereth it ignoble sloathfulnesse See the Observations on Prov. verse 18 VI. 6. Here it seems applyable to a sluggish childish carelesse government of a Kingdome or Common-wealth A feast Feasting and wine have their mirthful use verse 19 But money answereth all things
to the Nations for them bring or send in the Israelies that are in captivity with them or sojourne among them This typicaly and chiefly relates to the calling home of the elect of them to Christ wheresover dispersed some at one time some at another and also the maine body of the residue in his own appointed season Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. and XXI 20. Rom. XI 5 25 26. 2 Cor. III. 16. The envie also of Ephraim That had beene between them verse 13 and Judah since the rent of the Kingdomes by Jeroboam the Ephraimite 1 Kings XII was to cease when united either to other in Christ Ezek XXXVII 16. Jer. III. 18. and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off In the time of the Messias the obstinate enemies of the Church of God shall by Christ be destroyed see chap. LX. 12. But they shall flie verse 14 c. They shall subdue these inveterate enemies the enemies of the spiritual Kingdome of Christ hereby typified the tongue of the Egyptian sea verse 15 The Prophet here promiseth from God a removal of all impediments that might hinder the Jewes in this their returne into their land This their returne shadowing out the reducing of people to the obedience of Christ and his spiritual Kingdome By this tongue there is meant the red-sea which is like a tongue the river Nilus in the seven streames By which as by so many mouths it emptieth it self into the Sea To make way for the Jewes returne from her into their own land The meaning is that no impediment or obstacle should be so great that might hinder those who were to be brought home to Christ and his Church out of all quarters but it should be removed an high way The same meaning for Assyria verse 16 as in the former verse for Egypt in that day chapter XII verse 1 Of thy returne home thou shalt say And sing these or the like Hymnes of Praise composed by the Prophet as set formes or as directories to them or both So 1 Chron. XVI 7 35 36. in that day A preface or passage into a new forme verse 4 another ditty and this in way of exhortation to others to do the like Babylon Here begin Prophecies chapter XIII verse 1 purposely against forreign States And first against Babylon that should be their principal enemy The Inscription of this Sermon is here in the first words Of Burden See Jer. XXIII 33 36. Of Babylon see my Observations on Dan. IV. 30. Of her Fall see Jer. L. and LI. And this seemes to be the seventh Sermon Lift ye up a banner To summon those that were to be imployed against Babylon verse 2 nobles The great Peeres of Babylon my sanctified ones Set apart to this service verse 3 ver 17. Jer. LI. 27 28. a far countrey Media and Persia. verse 5 whole land Of Chaldea Howle ye Babylonians their faces shall be as flames Lam. IV. verse 6 8. and V. 10. Ezek. XX. verse 8 47. Yet this here seemes to be for fear of evil yet to come See therefore that Jer. XXX 5 6. Joel II. 6. Nahum II. 10. Yet the Original word seemes to incline to the faces of Lybians or tawny-moores the stars All shall be so full of horror and terror verse 10 that the heavenly bodies may seem to have lost their light no glimps of comfort shall appeare Ophir See the Observations on 1 King verse 12 X. 11. shake the heavens I will cause them to be in such confusion and distraction verse 13 as if heaven it self were falling upon their heads and the earth moving or removing from under their feet And it shall be Babylon turne to his owne people Babylon shall be forsaken by her hired forces and confederates verse 14 found Medes and Persians Medes verse 15 Under the conduct of Cyrus and Darius verse 17 overthrew Sodom verse 19 This utter devastation of Babylon was not at once but began at the conquest of it by Cyrus and in the succeeding ages was consummated It shall never be inhabited Jer. LI. 26 verse 20. 22. 29 43. and her time is near to come Esay in vision seeth the judgements as if presently approaching or this may be taken as spoken to and for them that then should be living in the time of the captivity of the LXX years For the Lord The reason of the hastening of the destruction of Babylon chapter XIV verse 1 which is Gods mercie and compassion towards his people the deliverance of whom depended upon Babylons destruction strangers shall be joyned See the like ch 5. XLIV and LVI 3. and LX. 3. Esther VIII 17. Psal. XLVII 8 9. This partly accomplished at their returne from Babylon but more in the Kingdome of Christ by the Ministery of the Gospel possesse them These Proselites and Converts verse 2 take them captive c. Partly verified in the time of the Maccabees literaly but most of all spiritualy by the means and ministery of the Apostles and Preachers subduing them to the obedience of Christs Scepter this Proverb Or by-word verse 4 or taunting speech Here the Prophet continues the denunciation of the destruction of Babylon the King i. e. the Kingdome O Lucifer Meaning the Babylonian verse 12 the mount of the Congregation Mount Sion verse 13 or mount Moriah being in the North-side of Jerusalem 2 Chron. III. 1. Psal. XLVIII 2. that opened not the house of his prisoners But kept them LXX verse 17 years in captivity Prepare slaughter Esay speaks to the Medes and Persians verse 21. 23. 25. for the bitterne See chap. XIII 21 22. that I will break the Assyrian in my land Rather as in breaking the Assyrian in my land Sennacheribs overthrow it seemes was before this And it is brought in as an argument and example to prove that as God had done that one so he would as certainly do the other that is overthrow Babylon in its time In the yeare that King Ahaz died Here begins another Sermon verse 28 or Prophecie And might well be the beginning of another Chapter Chap. VI. did beare the date of the death of Uzziah This of the death of Ahaz Palestina Meaning here the Westerne part of Jury that was inhabited by the Philistines verse 29 Of the Philistines see my Annotations on Zech. IX 6. The Babylonians were the greatest enemies to the Jews farthest off The Philistines were their greatest enemies nearest at hand because the rod c. This is meant of King Uzziah who prevailed much in his wars against them 2 Chron. XXVI 6 7. But in Ahaz his reigne the state and strength of the Jews was much weakened whereat the Philistines did much rejoyce But Esay biddeth them not to be overjoyed for it should not last long a cockatrice Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 8. and his fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent The Serpents fruit shoul be a cockatrice yea more then so a fiery flying Serpent And the first-borne of the poore The extremely poore verse 30 as
the Jewes at that time were shall feed Freely fully and quietly without fear of the Philistines when they should want and famish and he shall slay thy remnant A remnant still reserved of Gods people in his fearfulest judgements But not a remnant leâ—t here by Ezekiah to the Philistines or at least a slaughter was among that remnant For Jeremy Ezekiel and Zephanie all after Ezekiahs dayes do againe denounce judgements against them thou whole Palestina As thou whole Palestina didst rejoyce before verse 31 verse 29. so thy dread and desolation shall be now as general and universal from the North Judea and Jerusalem that stood North-East from the Philistines a smoak Ezekiahs forces and none shall be alone in his appointed times Or Assemblies Ezekiah's forces should come against them in flocks at his set times and places for their randezvous Or none of the Philistines should care or endure to stay in their meeting places and strong holds when Ezekiahs forces should as smoak break in upon them What shall one then answer To any messengers in general verse 32 that upon any occasion shall come to Jerusalem of Moab Of Moab chapter XV verse 1 see the Annotations on Amos II. 1. See Jer. XLVIII wherein are many passages found borrowed from hence because Relates the destruction and devastations of some of their chief Cities and principal parts of their Countrey together with the Moabites distraction and vaine devotions thereupon flocking unto their Idols who could do them no good is laid waste The usual maner of Prophetical language And this was done at several times by Shalmanezer Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar Of which see more on chap. XVI 14. an heifer of three years old Ier. XLVIII 34. as an heifer of three years old i. e. such shall the criers or the cry be shall they carry away The enemies shall verse 5 to the brook of the willows Some place in Moab verse 7 there to share it and thence to carry it into Assyria Send ye the Lamb The tribute due to the Ruler of the Land The King of Iudah chapter XVI verse 1 Ezekiah of Davids race See 2 Sam. VIII 2. Moab subdued by David After the division of the Kingdomes it fell to Israel After the death of Ahab it rebelled 2 Kings I 1. and ch III. ver 4 5. and so denied the tribute whereupon Iâ—horam with the assistance of King Iehoshaphat and the King of Edom makes that warre against Moab 1 Kings III. 7 9. Here the Prophet seemes to admonish Moab what course she should take and might have taken for the prevention of the judgements here denounced against her to wit by paying their due tribute to the King of Iudah And by performing kind offices unto Gods people in the times specially of their distresse verse 3 4. Wherein failing they are again menaced with the judgements before mentioned verse 7 13. And a certain time set for the execution of the same verse 14. from Sela in the wildernesse Or as some to the wildernesse unto the account Where the King had his palace at the fords of Arnon Which bounded their Countrey on the one side verse 2 Num. XXI 13. consumed out of the land Of Judah verse 4 As indeed Sennacherib was And therefore the performance of the kinde offices oi the Moabites to the Jewes should not last long or be over-burdensome the throne Of Judah verse 5 and he shall sit Ezekiah the Type Christ the Truth and hastening justice Without needlesse delayes his lies shall not be so All his haughty and wrathful thoughts verse 6 shall not take such effect as in the pride of his heart he imagineth his Sanctuarie The Temple of his chief idol Chemosh verse 12 1 Kings XI 7. Jer. XLVIII 46. since that time That this judgement past upon Moab verse 13 was first revealed to the Prophet That which followeth ver 14. being added afterwards thereunto within three years Most likely thus verse 14 Conceiving this prophecie and denunciation to have beene delivered about the fourteenth or fifteenth year of Ezekiah then it took effect about the eighteenth or nineteenth year of his reigne and was put in execution by Ezarhaddon the Assyrian King Though the utter and final destruction of Moab here before denounced and by Jeremy long after seconded was to be executed by Nebuchadnezzar That which was speedily effected helping to confirme the truth of the former denunciation though that were to take effect long after Yet some conceive this to be done by Ezarhaddon in the tenth Of Hezekiah Others by Shalmanezer in his way as he came to besiege Samaria Damascus of Damascus chapter XVII verse 1 Annotations on Amos I. 3 4. The like burden against Damascus see chap. XLIX 23. Amos I. 2. Zech. IX 1. is taken away This was partly effected by Tiglath-pilezar 2 King XVI 9. and after by Shalmaneser and after by Nebuchadnezzar the glory of Iacob shall be made thin Of Israel the ten Tribes verse 4 At that day c. verse 7 The residue of Gods people refined and reformed by these forementioned calamities shall then abandon their idols and seek unto God Which they left for the children of Israel The enemy left verse 9 God so disposing things out of his gracious affection to his people plant Curiously verse 10 but the harvest For all thy curious planting and sowing the harvest shall be an heap ruined spoyled destroyed Woe to the multitude of many people Those forces that Sennacherib led against Gods people verse 12 See chap. XXX 28. and XXXVI and XXXVII that served under him and they shall flee farre off So did Sennacherib chap. verse 13 XXXI 9. at evenintide trouble In Jerusalem verse 14 before morning he is not Most slaine by the Angel and the rest fled This is the portion A sweet Close A new Sermon or Prophecie chapter XVIII verse 1 But very obscure and full of various interpretations Woe Some sense this as if it were a Compellation Ho. Shadowing with wings Meaning Egypt say some Ethiopia say others beyond the rivers of Ethiopia The rivers and streames of Nilus above in Ethiopia South of Egypt where Meroe a chief Island say some Others understand it of the rivers of Ethiopia not above but under Egypt And they there do place Meroe where they conceive the Queen Candace reigned That sendeth Ambassadors Some say verse 2 The Ethiopians send them and namely Tirhakah Others the Egyptians send them by the Sea The Red-Sea Go ye swift The words of Tirhakah say some Of the Egyptians say others a Nation scattered The Assyrians say some Tirhakah so provoking them to warre and battel The Ethiopians say others the Egyptians thus warning them of their ruine approaching by the Assyrians And a third sort would understand by this scattered peeled terrible Nation the Israelites a Nation meted out and trodden down The Ethiopians were such and so here to be entreated and used But they that understand hereby the Assyrians or the Israelites either render
VII 8. 2 Sam. XV. 30. Job IX 24. Ezek. XII 6 12. Eliakim Invested verse 20 after the devesting of Shebna they shall hang upon him As things are wont to be hanged on a pin verse 24 his fathers house the off-spring and the issue All his kindred and allies as well small as great shall partake of his honour one way or other Or there should be nothing in the Kings house but should be under his power and have dependance on him fastened in a sure place As Shebna accounted himself to be verse 25 â—e cut downe Meaning Shebna Tyre Of Tyre See the Observations on Josh. XIX 29. And the Annotations on Amos I. 9. See the like Prophecies against this Towne and State Ier. XXV 22. and XLVII 4. Ezek. XXVI XXVII XXVIII chapters Amos II. 9. Zech. IX 2 4. Tarshish Of this see the Observations on 1 Kings X. chapter XXIII verse 1 22. from the Land of Chittim it is revealed to them It is revealed and the report is come unto them that formerly traded with Tyre how it fared with her that she is sacked so that now all harbour in Tyre or entrance into it is denied unto them Who these of the land of Chittim should be there are variable conjectures but little certainty inhabitants of the Isle Ye verse 2 Tyrians the seed of Sihor Tyre described here verse 3 by her traffick with Egypt as formerly with Sidon See Ezek. XXVII 7. By the great waters of the midland Sea the graine of Egypt and all the trade and commodities of it of Sihor that is Nilus were brought to Tyre Of this Sihor or Shichor and that it is Nilus see the large Annotations upon this Text. the Sea hath spoken Tyre verse 4 The Lord of Hoasts hath purposed it By his Agents to do it verse 9 By Nebuchadnezzar who spent thirteen years in the siege of it as Josephus against Appion lib. 1. doth testifie And by Alexander the Great long after in his rage as Curtius in his fourth Book IV. Chapter doth witnesse He The Lord. verse 11 Behold the Land of the Chaldeans This is verse 13 or shall be brought to ruine And therefore it is not impossible but Tyre may be so in that day Wherein Tyres calamities here foretold shall be accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. verse 15 XXVI 7. seventy years During the same time of the Jewes captivity in Babylon dayes of one King One Kingdome as Dan. VII 17. and VIII 21. to wit in the dayes and reignes of Nebuchadnezzar and his sonne and his sonnes sonne Jer. XVII 7. sing as an harlot To renew her lovers her traders and traffickers turne to her hire Of trading and traffick with all the Kingdomes The amplitude of her commerce and trade ver 8. Holinesse to the Lord The conversion of the Tyrians to God verse 18 in the Kingdome of the Messias it shall not be treasured nor laid up Not reserved for any common or prophane use publike or private for themselves or their posterity that dwell before the Lord The Lords Ministers for their plentiful maintenance in food and clothing the earth empty Another Sermon or Prophecie chapter XXIV verse 1 continuing to the end of Chapter XXVII This is more General then those going before And comprehends Judea and the neighbouring Nations on every side And the judgements herein denounced to be executed partly by the Assyrians and partly by the Chaldeans and afterwards also by others upon them See the like Jer. XXV 15 38. and XXVII 2 8. as with the people c. All estates verse 2 and conditions should fare alike is defiled The reason of the former denunciations verse 5 The new wine He proceedeth in particular verse 7 to instance in some specialties of judgements The Citie Taken collectively as verse 10 chap. XXV 2. and XXVII 10. every house is shut up So as there is no going out or in as the shaking of an Olive-tree Few shall be left verse 13 yet this remnant shall be to praise the Lord ver 14. from the Sea The transmarine lands verse 14 and Sea-coasts in general God in the fires In the fires of tribulations verse 15 glorifie God by patient sufferings and depending upon him for deliverances uttermost The generality of the joy of this Remnant left verse 16 my leannesse my leannesse The Prophet breaks off here his relation of the gladsome joy and praises of the foresaid Remnant And falls into a passionate bemoaning of himself and regret for the miseries that were the mean while for their sins to befal the others the windows from on high are opened Gods vengeance surprizing them verse 18 both from above and from beneath as well over their heads as under their feet and as no shelter for them against the one so no steady standing for them against the other To amplifie which hyperbolies are here used the hoast of the high ones Such as the Assyrian verse 21 and Chaldean Monarchs were and after many dayes shall they be visited In favour and mercy verse 22 Verified of sundry States and Nations in the Gospel-times under the Messias Then the Moone c. Esay closeth this first part verse 23 after his wonted manner with a passage concerning the spiritual yet illustrious glory and majesty of Gods reigning in his Church in the times of the Gospel the brightnesse and splendor whereof should be such as no light of Sunne or Moone no glory or magnificence of any worldly estate should be comparable thereunto O Lord chapter XXV verse 1 c. Esay falleth into a solemne celebration and praising of God for his foresaid wonderful works as well of judgement as of mercy the Citie Collectively verse 3 of the terrible Nations That were a terrour to others shall then stand in awe of thee when the blast Even in times of most need verse 4 and greatest dangers And in this mountain Mount Zion verse 6 a Type of the Church unto all people As well Gentiles as Jewes wines on the lees Pure and strong wines The face of the covering That ignorance and obstinacy verse 7 wherewith the minds and hearts of the Gentiles were formerly possessed veil 2 Cor. III. 14 16. death The second benefit accrewing to the convert Nations verse 8 a freeing them from the power of death of death spiritual in victorie Or unto victory i. e. until an utter conquest be made of him So the LXX which the Apostle retaineth 1 Cor. XV. 54 because the sense is good and sound though it do not exactly render the letter for the Hebrew is for ever wipe away A third benefit accrewing to the godly converted ones fulfilled partly in this life and perfectly in the next Shall be said Their thankful and joyful acknowledgement for those his mercies and favours verse 9 For A reason of their rejoycing and triumphing verse 10 in this mountain Verse 6 7. Moab Put for the enemies of Gods people in general And he The Lord. verse 11 Swimmeth Stretcheth out his armes with
25. Or that Josh. X. 10. his strange work His dismal judgement and that upon his owne people grown to such an extreme height of sin and obstinacie Strange in it self strange to God to deale so with the body of his own people lest your bands Lest God tie them up the shorter for it verse 22 a consumption Of such of you as so continue through the whole land Doth the ploughman He doth not alwayes insist upon one piece of verse 24 his work And so God will not alwayes and only be menacing Another Sermon seemes to begin and to continue ch XXX and XXXI Woe A sad prophesie against Jerusalem chapter XXIX verse 1 and the Temple and consequently the whole State of the Jewes to Ariel The word signifies a Lion of God Hereby is meant the brazen Altar so called Ezek. XLIII 15 16. and called Gods furnace or chimney ch XXXI 9. the Citie Or of Or in Or and to the Citie adde ye year to year Cause feastival sacrifices still to be slaine and it shall be unto me as Ariel The whole Citie shall be as an Ariel all on a light fire verse 2 all full of gore blood and dead bodies of men slaughtered after the surprisal of it And I will camp Bring an enemy to do it verse 3 verse 8. my self commanding them as in chief This enemy may be understood both of the Assyrian Sennacherib and the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar of thy strangers All thy help 's from abroad verse 5 or at home with thunder In a most dreadful and direful maner verse 6 As when an hungry man Sets out the appetite verse 8 the eagernesse and unsatiablenesse of the enemies cruelty and thirst after blood and wonder At the strange stupidity of the body of the people verse 9 that regarded not what had been threatned the Lord hath powred Verse 14. verse 10 See the Observations on ch VI. 10. See ch XIX 14. And the Apostles allegation of this text Rom. XI 8. draw near me with their mouth Matth. XV. 3 8 9. verse 13 deep to hide Hide deep verse 15 from the Lord for him to be able to discerne and discover Thus these scoffing States-men conceived of their own contrivances their wiles and shifts for themselves and derided all that the Prophets spake as the potters clay Lieth as open to his eye verse 16 and as easie for him to mould or marre Is it not yet c. This seemes rather a Promise verse 17 then a Commination chap. XXXII 15. That great should be the fruitfulnesse of the Land upon the restitution of their State either after the Assyrian devastation or after the Babylonian deportation shall the deaf hear Esay here verse 18 after his usual maner beginneth to close up his Sermon with matter of comfort and gracious promises fulfilled partly in those times but chiefly in the Kingdome of the Messias The Promises concerne the illumination of the minde in this verse the joy of the godly verse 19. the confusion of those that wronged them verse 20 21. the vindication from shame and fear and the propagation and enlargement of the Church by accesse of many Proselites verse 22 23 24. In this and the next Chapter Esay principaly bends himself against those that sought and trusted to forreigne helps and succours and not to God Zoan This chapter XXX verse 4 and Hanes otherwise called Tahapanes and Tahpanhes were famous Cities in Egypt Thither they sent for help against the Assyrian and after against the Babylonian The burden of the beasts of the South The burden that the beasts of the Jewes were to carry Southward into Egypt verse 6 either to secure their treasures there or to procure aid thence from whence come the young and the old Lion The way thither so dangerous And the Egyptians themselves should prove such and so dangerous to the Jewes write it before them in a table Or write this prophesie on a table verse 8 that it may be with them to witnesse against them hereafter And therefore Having reference to what followes verse 18 Or Notwithstanding if it relate to the premises Will the Lord wait Here is matter of comfort concerning the deliverance and restitution of Gods people ver 18 26. And the destruction of the Assyrian their enemie ver 27 33. and thine eares Not as before verse 21 ver 10 11. Get thee hence As Matth. IV. 10. verse 22 and ch XVI 23. great slaughter Of Sennacheribs camp verse 25 towers fall His great ones and Princes in state and place as the light of seven dayes Put all in one verse 26 So great then should their joy be burning with his anger The destruction of Sennacherib verse 27 and his forces And the great joy that Gods people should have thereupon With the same are divers Chapters and Sermons concluded as ch X. 33 34. and XIV 24 25. and XVII 12 14. and XXXI 8 9. and XXXIII 13 14. the Nations That served under Sennacherib verse 28 causing them to erre And wander to and fro to make what haste they could into their own Countrey again as in the night Of their holy Festivals verse 29 Some solemne night-wakes they used to have before or after the day of their Feastivals goeth with a pipe With musick in the way going up to Gods House to cheere up themselves the journey being sometimes long scattering and tempest and hailstones It may seeme that together with the Angel smiting verse 30 there was an horrible and hideous tempest wherewith the Assyrians were surprized And thus also it is by some deemed that God disturbed the Egyptian at the red-sea with a storme like this described Assyrian Sennacherib verse 31 Tophet See the Observations on 2 Kings XXIII 10. verse 33 for the King His forces wherein he suffered or those Kings that served under Sennacherib yea his Commanders he counted as Kings ch X. 8. 33. For himself his Temple was his Topheth chapter XXXVII ver 38. This Chapter is of the same subject with the former for help Against the Assyrians chapter XXXI verse 1 chap. XXX 6 7. and XXXVI 8. As after in processe of time against the Chaldeans Jer. XXXVII 5. and XLIII 5 6 7. For thus Here beginneth the Comfortable part of this Prophecie verse 4 to fight for mount Zion Farre higher mounts incircled it As birds flying And fluttering about their nests verse 5 to defend their young ones in what they may so God in all affection and sedulity will defend Jerusalem and those that trust in him Turne ye unto him And so should they partake of the promised protection verse 6 children of Israel Meaning here Judah deeply revolted Hos. V. 2. and IX 9. cast away his idols Wherein they trusted for help verse 7 ch II. 20. fall with the sword Not of a man verse 8 but of an Angel flee As he did ch XXXVII 37. strong hold To Nineveh afraid of the Ensigne That God by his Angel had lifted up in the slaughter of their fellowes
subject matter of it agreeth much with ch XXIV This being a Prophecie of the destruction of the enemies of Gods people And more particularly of the Edomites in Idumea set forth in many hyperbolical expressions And all the hoast of heaven So strange and dreadful shall Gods judgements be verse 4 that the whole frame of the world shall seeme to be dissolved It is the maner of Gods Prophets in their descriptions of some extraordinary judgements to set them forth in such colours as if they were deciphering the face of that last universal judgement whereof such are in some sort resemblances and forerunners And again to set forth the restitution and restauration of Gods people out of greatest calamities in such termes as have occasioned many to be mistaken in them conceiving no other then the general and joyful resurrection at the last day to be described in them Unicorns Or Rhinocerots See the Observations on Num. XXIII 22. verse 7 for ever and ever Heb. verse 10 ever of evers The Cormorant See the like verse 11 Chap. XIII 18 22. and XIV 23. Zeph. II. 13 14. Apoc. XVIII 2. Seek ye out The certainty of this Prophecie verse 16 As if each thing here were entred into a roll of Record In the day of the execution of this judgement take this Book read this passage and see if any of these be found wanting then and there they shall These wilde creatures shall verse 17 This Chapter agreeth much with chap. chapter XXXV XXV And containes the joyful and glorious restitution exaltation and exultation of Gods people Sharon A fertil region verse 2 and pleasant lying beneath mount Lebanon in the Tribe of God and adjoyning unto Bashan 1 Chron. V. 16. There were the Roses mentioned Cant. II. 1. There had David his herds feeding 1 Chron. XXVII 29. Likely it is the same with Lassharon Josh. XII 18. Strengthen ye He incites them to hearten and encourge one another verse 3 with faith and patience to expect the accomplishment of those glorious promises Then the eyes of the blind Fulfilled in Christs time verse 5 both corporaly and spiritualy For in the wildernesse Literaly true in the Jewish Kingdome verse 6 being there â—n a Type of Christs And an high way They shall be blessed with peace verse 8 and safety the way of holinesse A Type of the way to heaven but it shall be for those Holy ones verse 5 6. No Lion shall be there As the way so plaine verse 9 so as free from danger This History is brought in to confirme and seale up the truth of some of the Prophecies and Predictions aforegoing This is recorded 2 Kings XVIII and XIX 2 Chron. XXXII came up Upon pretence likely of the Contribution with-held by Hezekiah chapter XXXVI verse 1 which his father Ahaz had paid to Tiglath-Pilezer 2 Kings XVI 7 9. and XVIII 7. without the Lord Heb. Jehovah verse 10 that sonne of four letters as the Hebrews call it used here by Rabshakeh six times in his Speech Syrian language See the Observations on Ezra IV. 7. verse 11 dung and pisse See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. verse 12 and take you away The maner of Conquerours to transplant the Natives verse 17 Sepharvaim Subdued before his time verse 19 2 Kings XVII 24. Eliakim Now in Shebna's office and place verse 22 And Shebna now the Scribe and so here is the beginning of his fall chap. XXII 20 21. chap. XXXVII 2. This Chapter the same in substance with 2 Kings XIX chapter XXXVII a rumor Verse 9. and 36. verse 7 So Rabshakeh returned Most likely leaving the armie still before Jerusalem verse 8 Libnah See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 22. Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. 13. Ethiopia See the Observations on Gen. II. 13. warre with thee Either to assist the Jewes verse 9 or in Assyria in the absence of Sennacherib and his forces Thus shall ye speak Instructions to his messengers verse 10 delivered to them in writing and so by them in writing to Hezekiah Likely as if he scorned to write himself to Hezekiah but sent him only a Copie of the Instructions Eden See the Observations on Gen. II. 8. verse 12 Cherubims See the Observations on Gen. III. 24. verse 16 And the Annotations on Ezek. IX 3. and on this text a Signe See the Observations on chap. VII 14. verse 30 and on Exod. III. 12. ye shall eate this yeare A confirmation of Sennacheribs sudden departure and returne home And also including in it an assurance of a comfortable provision of necessary food for them out of the Land notwithstanding all the havock that Sennacheribs armies had made in it and the coincident Sabbatical year for intermission of culture See the Observations on Lev. XXV 21. Then In that night verse 36 2 Kings XIX 35. the very next night after the message sent from God by Esay and smote The maner how is not expressed in the camp Likely both before Jerusalem and Libnah See Ch. XXXVI 2. and verse 8 9 14 33. of this Chapter all dead corpses All in a maner Yet some escaped and sled with Sennacherib himself See chap. XVII 14. Nineveh See the Annotations on Jonah I. 2. verse 37 and on this text his sonnes These words here written verse 38 are read in the margin but not written in the text 2 Kings XIX 37. Armenia Heb. Ararat on the mountains whereof the Arke rested Esarhaddon See the Observations on Ezra IV. 2. In those dayes chapter XXXVIII verse 1 Shortly after Sennacheribs defeat and departure shalt die Yet a secret reservation there was See Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. See the Observations on Jonah III. 4. to the wall Which haply might be towards the Temple verse 2 or by that withdrawing that he might with the more privacie and intention make his addresse to God remember now Humbly appealing to God verse 3 touching the integrity and sincerity of his heart and endeavours wept sâ—re One cause might be the want of a son Manasseh was not yet born And the State of Church and Common-wealth much unsetled Then Afore Esay was gone out into the middle Court verse 4 2 Kings XX. 4. where the text is Citie but the margin Court And the first Court of the Kings house that neerest the Palace and farthest from the street or Citie seemes here to be meant to thy dayes That he had lived already verse 5 fifteene years About the one half of his reigne verse 6 will deliver thee and this Citie The promise before made is again here renewed assuring him as of his life so of peace and tranquility to be continued to him with it that Sennacherib should not return or any Assyrian to molest him or this Citie 2 Chron. XXXII 22. which yet afterwards was done in the dayes of his son Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. a Signe Asked by Hezekiah ver 22. verse 7 and put to his choise 2 Kings XX. 8 10. So the Sunne returned ten
degrees Not the shadow only verse 8 which indeed depended upon the Sunne Nor could forraine people in remote places have taken notice of this miracle had no alteration beene in the course of the Universe 2 Cron. XXXII 31. For this miracle as it was visible in Judea so in other parts of the world also particularly in Babylon the King and Princes whereof observing the thing yet ignorant of the occasion except by report only which might deceive for their further satisfaction send Ambassadors to Hezekiah not only to congratulate his recovery but to enquire of the wonder 2 Chron. XXXII 31. In this Miracle if the Sunne went back in its ordinary pace and swiftnesse and in like sort did returne forward againe then that Day-light must be long thirty two hours if by a degree an hour be understood If the Sunne returned back ten degrees in an instant then it must be long twenty two hours But by a degree here most likely half an hour is understood See more of this in the Annotations on this text and my Observations on 2 Kings XX. 9 10 11. by these things men live By thy promises verse 16 and preformances of the same by his speaking and doing verse 15. is the life of my spirit As the life of all men is so continued so by these things is the life of my spirit miraculously prolonged and I recovered and shall out-live in all the rest of my years that bitternesse of my soul into which I was formerly cast ver 15. For Peace I had great bitternesse Instead of it verse 17 or presently after it and upon it upon that peace from the Assyrian by his overthrow then this grievous bitter affliction suddenly surprized me a lump of figs This might have no power in it verse 21 or if any at all yet not sufficient to this so signal and sudden a cure that I shall go So soone as within three dayes verse 22 as God had graciously promised 2 Kings XX. 5. And for which he asked the Signe 2 Kings XX. 8. Merodach Baladan 2 Kings XX. chapter XXXIX verse 1 12. Beredach Baladan Of the change of letters see the Observations on Gen. IV. 25. and 2 Sam. VIII 3. And of Names see the Annotations on Dan. I. 7. And on this text Merodach one of their Idols Jer. L. 2. King of Babylon Under the Assyrian glad over-much verse 2 for self-ends of pride or profit And of thy sonnes Manasseh was carried thither verse 7 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. Eunuchs Or Officers Thus those of the posterity and issue of Hezekiah 2 Chron. XXXVI 6 10 20. Dan. I. 3 4. for there shall be peace An humble submission preceding .. verse 8 And here an acknowledging this interim of favour in the delaying and deferring the judgement In the former Chapter Esay chapter XL upon the occasion therein related having made some mention of the Babylonian captivity doth now in the ensuing Prophecies mostwhat insist upon that same subject matter For the subsequent Sermons are generaly most if not all of them concerning that their Captivity the delivery out of it and the restitution of their Church and State in after-times Yet so as that all this reacheth farther unto the spiritual delivery of Gods people from the thraldome under sinne and Satan by the Messias herein typified and the glorious advancement and enlargement of his spirituall Kingdome in the dayes of the Gospel Comfort ye The Promulgation and approach of Gods purpose verse 1 concerning his peoples deliverance he commands for their comfort to be published to them Relating herein both to the time of the Babylonish captivity and also to the time of the coming of the Messias double Abundantly verse 2 so much to the full as God deemed fit to be inflicted The voice The undoubted certainty of the performance of it verse 3 is set forth and confirmed notwithstanding all obstructions and difficulties lying in the way And that first by the stability of Gods Word illustrated by the ficklenesse and frailty of all humane excellencie ver 3 8. of him that crieth This applied to John the Baptist more especialy Mal. IV. 5. Matth. XI 14. Marke I. 2 3. John I. 23. surely the people is grasse Yea verse 7 even the Babylonian Monarchy and it cannot hinder the performance of Gods Word purpose and promise for the deliverance of his people Saint Peter applies this to the work of Regeneration wrought in the soul by the Ministery of the Word 1 Pet. I. 23 24 25. So John VIII 51. 2. John II. O Zion that bringest good tydings Or verse 9 thou that bringest good tydings to Zion A second command for the promulgation and proclamation of this good tydings to Zion to Jerusalem be not afraid Make no scruple or doubt of publishing it and his work before him even that work verse 10 verse 11. lies open and easie to him who hath measared A second proof of the undoubted certainty of Gods performance of this his glorious Promise verse 12 from the immensity of his power and essence illustrated by the feeblenesse and vanity of all Creatures of Idols especialy ver 12 20. To whom then will ye liken God He is not like to Idols verse 18 They are not able to hinder him in the performance of his gracious promise for the glorious deliverance of his people Have ye not known Appliable both to the people of God verse 21 and also to the Heathen Idolaters yea verse 24 they shall not be planted Be as if not planted c. How sayest thou verse 27 O Jacob He taxeth now his own people who had been taught better things for their diffidence and distrust my way is hid from the Lord He looketh not after me what I endure and suffer or what course is to be taken for my deliverance He giveth power to the faint He maketh his might to appeare in mans weaknesse verse 29 This is much of the same argument with the former Chapter chapter XLI Keep silence God standing up to debate his cause verse 1 by his Prophet against the enemies of his people with them and their Idols requireth silence that he may be heard renew their strength To support themselves and their Idols and to hinder my work for the recovery of my people if they can the righteous man from the East Cyrus from Persia verse 2 to manifest my righteousnesse in fulfilling my promises and in righting the wrongs done to my people Yet Cyrus herein a type of Christ. calling the generations Having them at call and command verse 4. 5. saw it These strange works of God by Cyrus set on foot for the deliverance of his people and feared Their own safety drew near and came Not to God but to take counsel together how to secure and save themselves So the Carpenter They made recourse to their Idols verse 7 making more of them as if their safety consisted in the multitude of them But thou Confirmes and strengthens his against all fear
from the enemies verse 8 undertaking to secure them and make them successeful against all that should oppose them whom I have taken Abram from Ur of the Chaldees verse 9. 15. Sharp threshing instrument To thresh the mountains even thy greatest enemies I will open rivers Rather then my people shall want meanes of comfortable subsistance verse 18 the Cedar verse 19 c. God will by his providence and provision so accommodate them as if such things had been done Produce your cause God challengeth the Idolaters to produce the strongest pleas they can verse 21 in the behalf of their Idols and to prove the truth of their religion by producing the like works foretold first and effected afterwards by their Idols to those of his before mentioned when they shall see them accomplished and withal so long foretold from the North Cyrus verse 25 who was a Medo-Persian Media lying more Northerly and Persia more Easterly ver 2. He brought people and forces from both parts against Babylon shall he call upon my Name Or proclaime my name Ezra I. 1 2. who hath declared Which of your Idols verse 26 from the beginning Of old time near two hundred years before it shall come to passe he is righteous That so he may be rightly called a God The first shall say Or verse 27 I say first to Zion I am the first that signified ought to Zion concerning her deliverance or the destruction of Babylon and the persons by whom these should be effected which none of your Idols could do ver 26. amongst them Their Idols verse 28. 29. all vanity The conclusion of and against their Idols Another Sermon chapter XLII in this and the three Chapters following which are much of one Subject with the former Foretelling the Blessings that God would confer upon his people partly by Cyrus and principaly by Christ Discovering the vanity of Idols and sottishnesse of Idolaters Taxing his people for their incredulity blindnesse excesses and obstinacie the causes of their captivity and yet Promising pardon and restitution upon their sincere repentance my servant Christ the Messias verse 1 Matth. XII 14 18 19 20. Some weakly and in a low degree make also application of this and what follows to Cyrus in some sort herein as a Type of Christ. thee My Sonne verse 6. 8. the Messias neither my praise to graven Images By my failings in my Predictions and promises of the rock sing Of Petra verse 11. 13. the chief Citie of Arabia chap. XVI 1. The Lord shall go forth To warre against the enemies of his people I have The words of God himself verse 14 He long restrained his wrath but now will hasten the execution of it and lay desolate the whole Countrey of Chaldea and of those that were adjacent and adjutant to it the rivers Islands It was so done by Cyrus verse 15 in the siege of Babylon And I will bring the blinde Partly true verse 16 in the returne of the Jewes out of the Babylonish Captivity more true spiritualy in the Conversion of Jew and Gentile to grace in the Kingdome of Christ under the Gospel Hear ye deaf Jewes verse 18 of whom many still continued such notwithstanding all that God had said and done and they had heard and seene who is blinde A reason why he gave his own people those titles verse 19 ver 18. because they deserved them as well yea rather then any other as he that is perfect Should be so and hath best means to be so opening the eares In shew at least verse 20. 21. listening he will magnifie his Law He is pleased to magnifie his Law as well by execution of justice upon the transgressors of it as by making good his Promises unto those that observe it Or he magnified and dignified him with his Law But this is a people After all those favours and honours conferred upon them verse 22 yet see what calamities and miseries are befallen them for their sins will give eare to this To amend verse 23 and grow wiser for time to come laid it not to heart Their extreme stupidity verse 25 even in their present afflictions But now though a great part of my people continue still thus obstinate and impenitent chapter XLVIII verse 1 yet I will have care of my chosen ones among them whom I will protect in all dangers and in due time restore I gave Egypt for thy ransom Exod. verse 3 XIV 20 38. and XV. 9 10. Ethiopia and Seba for thee 2 Chron. XIV 9 15. bring thy seed by Cyrus temporaly verse 5. 8. by Christ spiritualy Bring forth the blinde people challenging the Gentiles who were blinde and deaf as their idols to see if they can yet produce ought in defence of their idols ver 9. who among them which of their idols could foretel those verse 9 or the like things It is truth that the Lord alone is the true God and they all but base idols ye are my witnesses ye my people verse 10 speaking thus to them that had plentiful and pregnant proofs of his divine power and providence and my servant the Messias and in some degree Cyrus that I am he the onely true God ver 12. whose cry is in the ships verse 14 They wanting water by Cyrus his draynings to carry them in their flight away Or they cry to the ships to the ships for safety as chap XXII 5. to the hils to the hils Yet some translate thus the Chaldeans together with their choise ships which they vaunt of which maketh a way in the sea Red-Sea verse 16. 17. and Jordan Chariot Pharaoh and his armie they shall lie together In the bottome of the Sea Exod. XV. 10. Remember ye not the fermer things in comparison of the New verse 18 the deliverance by Cyrus but principaly and spiritualy by Christ. I will even make a way I will fit verse 19 and furnish them in the way as they shall returne from Babylon they shall shew forth my praise Or at least should verse 21 It was their duty But thou Hast not beene so careful to worship me verse 22 But hast been weary of me and my service me But Idols verse 23 and strange gods I have not caused thee Not I but thine Idols have made thee at so much cost with them tyring thee out as a slave to them with such services But thou hast Hitherto of their Failings verse 24 now of their Faults And all this to shew that the deliverance of them from their thraldome was of his own free favour and mercie not for any merit of desert of theirs as in the two next verses Thy first father Or forefathers verse 27 and not you alone have sinned And therefore no cause in your selves or them why I should do you so great a favour as this is yet now Notwithstanding all their sinnes chapter XLVI verse 1 and his judgements and chastisements yet he would now at length relieve and refresh them restore them and cause
King of Israel In the dayes of the Apostle Peter he being at Lidda was sent for hither and here raised from the dead that good and charitable Tabitha or Dorcas Acts IX 38 40. And tarrying here many dayes with one Simon a Tanner by the Sea-side He Praying in a trance saw a Vision a certaine Vessel as it had beene a great sheet c. And at that instant being sent for to Cesarea by Cornelius he goes thither Preacheth Christ to Cornelius and his kinsmen and near friends And upon their conversion and receiving the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost he Baptiseth them A Citie of God chapter III verse 3 i. e. exceeding great an Hebraisme So we read the Wrestlings of God Trembling of God 1 Sam XIV 15. a Sleep of God 1 Sam. XXVI 12. Gen. XXX 8. the Mountaines of God Psal. XXXVI 6. Trees of God Psal. CIV 16. the Cedars of God Psal. LXXX 10. the Increasing of God Col. II. 19. Prince of God Gen. XXIII 6. the Hoast of God 1. Chron. XII 22. And so much alike of the garden of God of the Flame of God Cant. VIII 6. a Fire of God Job I. 16. Cant. VIII 6. River of God Man of God the Visions of God the Voyce of God the Kindnesse of God 2 Sam. IX 3. Harps of God See my Observations on 1 Sam XIV 15. yet fourty dayes God 's Threatenings and doomes have yet their conditions and limitations verse 4 or Provisoes understood so Jer. XXI 10. and XXV 9 10 11. and XXXII 29. and XXXIV 2 22. and XXXVII 8 10. compared with chap. XXVI 13. and XXXVIII 17. And so David understood that threatening 2 Sam. XII 14. conditionaly verse 22. So Judg. X. 13. Esay XXXVIII 1. Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. Yet sometimes God expresseth his doomes of judgement against some sinners irrevocably as Ezek. XIV 13 14 16 18 20. See the Observations on 1 Kings II. 20. East-winde chapter IV verse 8 So Hos. XIII 15. Ezek. XVII 10. and XIX 12. Psal. XLVIII 7. See my Annotations on Hos. XII 1. an hurtful dry and skorching winde The Ninevites in all probability were the rather reduced to their repentance and that in such a maner by that Preaching of Ionah upon the knowledge of him and of his being in the Whales belly Micah MICAH Is the last of that great number of Prophets that lived and Prophesied in the same times Micah his time is set out thus in the dayes of Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah He is like to Esay the first of them in Matter and in lofty stile He Prophesieth to and against both Iudah and Israel Declareth Gods wrath Lamenteth them and tells their future destructions and captivities by the Assyrians and Babylonians For the manifold sinnes of the People Princes and Prophets Chapters I II III. The Repenting Remnant He comforteth with Promises of Temporal Blessings and Deliverances from their enemies But chiefly with Promises and Predictions of Christ foretelling the Place of his Nativity And the manifold Spiritual Blessings of Him and his Kingdome Chapters IV. and V. And after a fresh controversie and contestation of God with all his People for their ill requiting of all his ancient Kindnesses with their present sundry sinnes chap. VI. And the Prophets Complaint thereafter of the Paucity of good men He endeth his Prophecie with the Churches Consolation in he Patient Expectation of Gods time to plead her Cause to the shame of her insulting enemie and her owne marvelous felicity chap. VII The sinnes of the Prophets chapter IV verse 2 Princes and People are pointed out by this Prophet as in other places so namely in these chap. II. 11. and chap. III. 1 2 3 11. and chap. VII 2 6. The people of God seeme to argue and resolve thus All people naturaly are addicted to their several superstitions and will walk every one in the Name of his God Much more we will as we have all right and reason for it walk in the Name of Jehova our God Yea though every Sect oppose their Superstition to us triumph and glory in theirs and insulting over us conspire in one against us and our way yet will not we despond or shrink but over-look and overcome all difficulties obstructions and oppositions whatsoever the Name of Jehova our God shall render us invincible to walk constantly in him and his Name and his true way of worship for ever and ever Bethlehem-Ephrata To distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the Tribe of Zebulun chapter V verse 5 Josh. XIX 15. This being in Judah Matth. II. 1. And in these parts were many names of this stamp as Bethel Bethaven Bethania Bethesda Bethsaida Bethabarah Bethbarah Beth-haccerem Bethshemesh and others This Bethlehem and this Text was alledged by the chief Priests and Scribes to Herod for the place of Christs birth Matth. II. 5 6. And though here called little yet by the Priests and Scribes called not the least either reading the words of Micah interrogatively in a Negative sense or varying the Text out of ignorance or of set purpose before Herod though yet both readings may well be reduced to one true sense Bethlehem little when David was borne there not little but famous for and after that the true Sonne of David and Sonne of God was borne there Nahum NAHUM seemes to live and Prophesie in the dayes of Josiah His Prophecie is The Burden of Nineveh The Ninevites after their Temporary Repentance upon the Preaching of Jonah returned to their former sinnes Through their Ambition Covetousnesse and Cruelty they overthrew the Kingdomes of Syria and Samaria after Jonah his time They invaded Judea and besieged Jerusalem and grew up to be like a great Cedar in Lebanon Ezek. XXXI 3 9. And Nahum now propounds Gods dreadful power in himself and his furious revenge upon his enemies that He will make an utter end of Nineveh affliction shall not rise up the second time No more of the name of the Assyrian shall be sowen And this shall be for Judah's Consolation chap. I. And then he expounds more fully the Manner and the Meanes of the Ruine of Nineveh and the woful Mourning for it that they shall mourne as with the voice of Doves tabering upon their breasts and bewailing their former flourishing estate chap. II. And lastly He insists upon her sinnes the Causers of Gods wrath in her shameful ruine ascertained by the example of populous No or Alexandria to be verified upon her that notwithstanding all her strong holds and numerous Assyrian Captaines and crowned Commanders yet there shall be no healing of her bruise and mortal wound chap. III. Not Nahum I. 15. But Esay LII 7. is alledged Rom. X. 15. Habakkuk HABAKKVK Doth comfort the godly against the Chaldeans as Nahum did against the Assyrians He succeeds Nahum soone after He doth humbly expostulate with God of his delay to hear and to redresse things amisse Complaining to him of his peoples sinnes chap. I. 1 4. And declaring from God