from the Holy of Holies From the evening c. See Exod. 27.21 4. The pure candlestick Exod. 31.8 So called because it was made of pure Gold Exod. 25.31 Besides that it was made clean by the Priest who ministred in that Service 5. Cakes Called Shew-bread Exod. 25.30 Two tenth-deals i. e. Two Omers See Exod. 16.36 7. For a memorial Whereas the Bread was allowed to be eaten by the Priests v. 9. the Frankincense was to be consumed on the Altar and is here called An offering made by fire unto the LORD See the Notes on Levit. 2.2 9. It shall be Exod 29.33 ch 8.31 Matt. 12.4 10. An Egyptian One of those who followed the Israelites out of Egypt Exod. 12.38 and was probably a Proselyte among them For the Hebrew imports That he who blasphemed was the Son of an Egyptian among the children of Israel i. e. Of an Egyptian received into the Congregation of Israel 11. Blasphemed the Name The Jews understand this to be meant of pronouncing the peculiar Name of God This is favoured by the Greek and Chaldee But it is evident from the Context that he was guilty of Blasphemy of Cursing the God of Israel v. 15. and that the express naming him was not his onely crime for it is added here and cursed He did some way or other for his words are not expressed reproach the God of Israel 12. Put him in ward Num. 15.34 That the mind of the LORD might be shewed them Heb. To expound unto them according to the mouth of the Lord. 14. Without the camp See v. 23. He is to be brought without the Camp as a polluted and accursed thing not fit to remain in the Congregation Num. 5.2 3. Heb. 13.11 12 13. Lay their hands Signifying that his Blood should be upon his own head and that he was guilty See Deut. 13.9.17.7 16. Blasphemeth Expresseth with Irreverence or sign of Contempt See v. 11. 1 King 21.10 13. Stranger Or Proselyte as this Egyptian 17. He that killeth c. Exod. 21.12 Deut. 19.21 Killeth any man Heb. Smiteth the life of a man 18. Beast for beast Heb. Life for life 19. As he hath done Exod. 21.24 Deut. 19.21 Matt. 5.38 22. One manner Exod. 12.49 CHAP. XXV The ARGUMENT Of the Sabbatical-year Of the Fiftieth Year or Year of Jubile A Blessing promised upon Obedience Of the Redemption of Land and of Houses God's particular eare of the Levites Compassion is required to the Poor Of the Servants who are poor Israelites and how they are to be treated Of Bond-servants Of the Redemption of the Israelitish Servants 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye come into the land which I give you then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD 3. Six years thou shalt sow thy field and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard and gather in the fruit thereof 4. But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land a sabbath for the LORD thou shalt neither sow thy field nor prune thy vineyard 5. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed for it is a year of rest unto the land 6. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you for thee and for thy servant and for thy maid and for thy hired servant and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee 7. And for thy cattel and for the beast that are in thy land shall all the increase thereof be meat 8. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee seven times seven years and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years 9. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land 10. And ye shall ballow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof it shall be a jubile unto you and ye shall return every man unto his possession and ye shall return every man unto his family 11. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you ye shall not sow neither reap that which groweth of it self in it nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed 12. For it is the jubile it shall be holy unto you ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field 13. In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession 14. And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand ye shall not uppress one another 15. According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee 16. According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof and according to the fewâ—ess of years thou shalt diminish the price of it for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee 17. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another but thou shalt fear thy God for I am the LORD your God 18. Wherefore ye shall do my statutes and keep my judgments and do them and ye shall dwell in the land in safety 19. And the land shall yield her fruit and ye shall eat your fill and dwell therein in safety 20. And if ye shall say What shall we eat the seventh year behold we shall not sow nor gather in our increase 21. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year and it shall bring forth fruit for three years 22. And ye shall sow the eighth year and eat yet of old fruit untill the ninth year untill her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store 23. The land shall not be sold for ever for the land is mine for ye are strangers and sojourners with me 24. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land 25. If thy brother be waxen poor and hath sold away some of his possession and if any of his kin come to redeem it then shall he redeem that which his brother sold 26. And if the man have none to redeem it and himself be able to redeem it 27. Then let him count the years of the sale thereof and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it that he may return unto his possession 28. But if he be not able to restore it to him then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile and in the jubile it shall go out and he shall return unto his possession 29. And if a man sell a dwelling-house in a walled city then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is
to which the words v. 24. seem particularly to referr But the word Abomination is sometimes applied to those things which were forbid by a positive Law and that were not antecedently evil as in Levit. 11.10 20 40 41. Deut. 17.1 And the practice of any of the things forbidden from v. 7. might be reckoned as Abominations especially to the Israelites and Proselytes of Justice who were obliged to keep these Laws see v. 26. in the sense of that word 28. Spued out See v. 25. CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Obedience to Parents is required and observation of God's Sabbaths Idolatry is forbidden The Law of the Peace-offering A remainder for the Poor out of the Harvest and Vintage Theft Fraud and Perjury Inhumanity Vnjustice and Tale-bearing are forbid so are Revenge and Hatred and divers mixtures Several other Laws viz. Concerning the use of Bondwomen planting Trees of Fruit eating Blood c. 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say unto them Ye shall be holy for I the LORD your God am holy 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father and keep my sabbaths I am the LORD your God 4 Turn ye not unto idols nor make to your selves molten gods I am the LORD your God 5. And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD ye shall offer it at your own will 6. It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it and on the morrow and if ought remain until the third day it shall be burnt in the fire 7. And if it be eaten at all on the third day it is abominable it shall not be accepted 8. Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from among his people 9. And when ye reap the harvest of your land thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest 10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger I am the LORD your God 11. Ye shall not steal neither deal falsly neither lie one to another 12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsly neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God I am the LORD 13. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour neither rob him the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning 14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling-block before the blind but shalt fear thy God I am the LORD 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour I am the LORD 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him 18. Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self I am the LORD 19. Ye shall keep my statutes Thou shalt not let thy cattel gender with a diverse kind Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee 20. And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman that is a bond-maid betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed nor freedom given her she shall be scourged they shall not be put to death because she was not free 21. And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation even a ram for a trespass-offering 22. And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him 23. And when ye shall come into the land and shall have planted all manner of trees for food then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you it shall not be eaten of 24. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withall 25. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof that it may yield unto you the increase thereof I am the LORD your God 26. Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood neither shall ye use inchantment nor observe times 27. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard 28. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print any marks upon you I am the LORD 29. Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore lest the land fall to whoredom and the land become full of wickedness 30. Ye shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary I am the LORD 31. Regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the LORD your God 32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the LORD 33. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land ye shall not vex him 34. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born amongst you and thou shalt love him as thy self for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt I am the LORD your God 35. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment in mete-yard in weight or in measure 36. Just balances just weights a just ephah and a just hin shall ye have I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt 37. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them I am the LORD 2. Ye shall be holy Ch. 11.44 and 20.7 1 Pet. 1.16 3. Fear Or Reverence And this must be an inward Awe and Reverence and is due to the Mother who generally does not over-awe her Children as well as to the Father who hath greater Power and a superior Authority and is generally less despised Sabbaths Not onely the Seventh day but all other appointed times of rest ch 16.31 4. Idols The Hebrew word is observed to signifie things of nought and which have no true Being or Value See 1 Cor. 8.4 and ch 10.19 5. At your own will Or That it may be accepted i. e. Ye shall offer it as is appointed that so God may accept it This sense is confirmed by v. 7. and the Greek and Vulgar See Levit. 1.3 and 23.11 6. The same day If the Sacrifice of Peace-offering be for Thanksgiving ch 7.15 On the morrow If
Seed of Aaron This belongs to the Daughters as well as the Sons of the Priests for tho' they were allowed to eat of some Holy Things yet they might not do it in their Uncleanness Numb 18.11 19. Running issue Heb. Running of the reins ch 15.2 5. Creeping thing The touching of which when dead rendred Men unclean ch 11.31 A man i. e. A dead Man or a Leper ch 13.45 and 15.5 7. His food i. e. His portion allowed him to eat of 8. That which dieth Exod. 22.31 Ezek. 44.31 9. Sin i. e. The punishment of Sin ch 19.17 Die viz. By the hand of God 10. Stranger i. e. One who is not of the Seed of Aaron or the Family of the Priests A sojourner i. e. One who dwells in his House but is no part of his Family Hired servant He is one whom he hires for a certain time and is not therefore of his Family 11. Buy any soul i. e. Buy any Person for a Servant viz. a Canaanite c. who was upon his purchase reputed one of his Family whom he was obliged to provide for With his money Heb. With the purchase of his money Born in his house Of such whom he purchased or were left him by his Ancestors 12. A stranger Heb. A man a stranger i. e. One who is not of the Seed of Aaron 13. As in her youth Ch. 10.14 14. Fifth i. e. If it were worth five pieces of Silver he shall restore six that is the Principal and one fifth part of the value of it 16. Suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass when they eat Or Lade themselves with the iniquity of trespass in their eating 18. Strangers i. e. Proselytes 19. At your own will Or rather for your favourable acceptance That is that you may be accepted favourably by God v. 20. 20. But whatsoever Deut. 15.21 and 17.1 21. Sheep Or Goats 22. Blind or broken or maimed c. These are the general Heads of those blemishes which rendered a Beast unfit for the Altar It might be blind in part or in whole It might be broken or maimed in several manners The Jews from these general expressions have reckoned up no less than fifty Blemishes which rendred a Beast unfit for the Altar 23. Lamb Or Kid. Superfluous Ch. 21.18 A free-will-offering Not for a Sacrifice upon the Altar v. 20. but the price thereof was accepted toward the reparation of the Sanctuary as the Jewish Writers observe What we here translate That mayest thou offer does not imply that it might be offered upon the Altar Besides it may be rendered from the Hebrew That mayest thou make Or thou shalt make What was set aside to an holy use might well be called an offering or gift See Luk. 21.4 Vow Which supposes a precedent Obligation whereas the Free-will-offering was brought upon mere good will See Mal. 1.14 24. In your land i. e. No Israelite shall do it See the next words v. 25. 25. A Stranger 's i. e. A Gentile's The bread of your God i. e. An Oblation offered upon God's Altar as appears from the Context Of any of these i. e. Of such as are legally unfit and such which are mentioned as such in the foregoing words For it follows here Because their corruption is in them and blemishes be in them The accepting of any Oblation from the hand of a Gentile is not here forbid but of such an Oblation as is corrupted or blemished Vid. Seld. de jure natural c. l. iij. c. 7. 27. Seven days Exod. 22.30 28. Ew Or She-goat And her young Deut. 22.6 This Precept recommends to us Mercy and Forbearance 30. None of it Ch. 7.15 32. I will be hallowed Ch. 10.3 CHAP. XXIII The ARGUMENT Of the Sabbath Of the Passover and Feast of unleavened Bread Of the Sheaf of First-fruits and of the Feast of Pentecost Gleanings to be left for the Poor Of the Feast of Trumpets and the day of Expiation Of the Feast of Tabernacles 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them Concerning the feasts of the LORD which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations even these are my feasts 3. Six days shall work be done but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings 4. These are the feasts of the LORD even holy convocations which ye shall proclaim in their seasons 5. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover 6. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD seven days ye must eat unleavened bread 7. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation ye shall do no servile work therein 8. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days in the seventh day is an holy convocation ye shall do no servile work therein 9. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 10. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come into the land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest 11. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it 12. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an be-lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt-offering unto the LORD 13. And the meat-offering thereof shall be two tenth-deals of fine flour mingled with oyl an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine the fourth part of an hin 14. And ye shall eat neither bread nor parched corn nor green ears untill the self-same day that ye have brought an offering unto your God It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings 15. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering seven sabbaths shall be compleat 16. Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days and ye shall offer a new meat-offering unto the LORD 17. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth-deals they shall be of fine flour they shall be baken with leaven they are the first-fruits unto the LORD 18. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year and one young bullock and two rams they shall be for a burnt-offering unto the LORD with their meat-offering and their drink-offerings even an offering made by fire of sweet savour unto the LORD 19. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin-offering and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace-offerings 20. And the priest shall
wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before the LORD with the two lambs they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest 21. And ye shall proclaim on the self-same day that it may be an holy convocation unto you ye shall do no servile work therein It shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations 22. And when ye reap the harvest of your land thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest thou shalt leave them unto the poor and to the stranger I am the LORD your God 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24. Speak unto the children of Israel saying In the seventh month in the first day of the month shall ye have a sabbath a memorial of blowing of trumpets an holy convocation 25. Ye shall do no servile work therein but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD 26. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 27. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement it shall be an holy convocation unto you and ye shall afflict your souls and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD 28. And ye shall do no work in that same day for it is a day of atonement to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God 29. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day he shall be cut off from among his people 30. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day the same soul will I destroy from among his people 31. Ye shall do no manner of work It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings 32. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest and ye shall afflict your souls in the ninth day of the month at even from even unto even shall ye celebrate your sabbath 33. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 34. Speak unto the children of Israel saying The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation ye shall do no servile work therein 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD it is a solemn assembly and ye shall do no servile work therein 37. These are the feasts of the LORD which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD a burnt-offering and a meat-offering a sacrifice and drink-offerings every thing upon his day 38. Beside the sabbaths of the LORD and beside your gifts and beside all your vows and beside all your free-will-offerings which ye give unto the LORD 39. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days on the first day shall be a sabbath and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath 40. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees branches of palm-trees and the boughs of thick-trees and willows of the brook and ye shall rejoyce before the LORD your God seven days 41. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year It shall be a statute for ever in your generations ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month 42. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths 43. That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt I am the LORD your God 44. And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD 2. Proclaim Or Call They might be said to be proclaimed as there was publick notice given of them by the Order of the Sanedrim and the Sound of Trumpets vid. Numb 10.2 10. 3. Six days Exod 20.9 Deut. 5.13 Luk. 13.14 The Sabbath-day is considered here distinct from the Feasts v. 2. with verses 37 38. and introductory to them that being a weekly Solemnity and the Feasts which follow yearly No work i. e. None whatsoever must be done on the Sabbath-day or on the day of Expiation v. 28 30. In the other Festivals which follow servile work onely was forbidden v. 7 8 21 25 35 36. It was lawfull on the other Festivals to provide what was to be eaten Exod. 12.16 This was unlawfull on the Sabbath or Day of Expiation Exod. 16.23 Levit. 16.29 In all your dwellings The Sabbath was to be kept in their several Tribes and Habitations whereas the following Feasts were to be kept before the Sanctuary 5. In the fourteenth Exod. 12.18 Numb 28.16 At even Or between the two Evenings See the Notes on Exod. 12.6 7. Servile work i. e. Laborious work and such as we commonly put our Slaves or Servants to See v. 3. 10. Land This Precept was annexed to the Land of Canaan and did not oblige the Jews before they came into it nor can it oblige those who were afterward forced to live elsewhere A sheaf Or handfull Heb. Omer So much as would yield an Omer or the tenth part of an Ephah Exod. 16.36 11. To be accepted for you viz. As a Tribute of praise or ackâ—owledgment of God's mercy in bestowing upon them the Fruits of the Earth Before this they might not reap Joseph Antiq. l. 3. c. 10. nor eat of the Harvest v. 14. On the morrow after the Sabbath i. e. On the Sixteenth day of Nisan which was the day after the first day of Unleavened Bread which is called the Sabbath or day of rest from their servile work v. 7. See Deut. 16.9 By Sabbath here cannot be meant the Seventh day of the week excepting onely when that happened to be on the Fifteenth day of Nisan or March as appears from comparing v. 15. with Deut. 16.9 And therefore the Chaldee renders Sabbath by Good day or Festival in this place 13. Hin See Exod 29.40 15. Ye shall count Deut. 16.9 16. Fifty days Hence this Feast is called Pentecost in the New Testament Act. 2.1 1 Cor. 16.8 It is also called the Feast of Weeks because it began on the morrow after seven Weeks which they counted from the morrow after the Sabbath mentioned v. 15. It is likewise called the Feast of Harvest Exod. 34.22 and ch 23.16 That is of their Wheat-harvest For the Barley-harvest was before that of the Wheat in Canaan Ruth 1.22 with ch 2.23 as well as in Egypt Exod. 9.31 32. This Feast was observed to acknowledge God's mercy in sending them this Harvest and it is probable also that it was observed in memory of their receiving the Law
bread again by weight and ye shall eat and not be satisfied 27. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me but walk contrary unto me 28. Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your sins 29. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat 30. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your images and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols and my soul shall abhor you 31. And I will make your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours 32. And I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it 33. And I will scatter you among the heathen and will draw out a sword after you and your land shall be desolate and your cities waste 34. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it lieth desolate and ye be in your enemy's land even then shall the land rest and enjoy her sabbaths 35. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in your sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it 36. And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword and they shall fall when none pursueth 37. And they shall fall one upon another as it were before a sword when none pursueth and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies 38. And ye shall perish among the heathen and the land of your enemies shall eat you up 39. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemy's lands and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them 40. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their trespass which they trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary unto me 41. And that I also have walked contrary unto them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity 42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and I will remember the land 43. The land also shall be left of them and shall enjoy her sabbaths while she lieth desolate without them and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity because even because they despised my judgments and because their soul abhorred my statutes 44. And yet for all that when they be in the land of their enemies I will not cast them away neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly and to break my covenant with them for I am the LORD their God 45. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen that I might be then God I am the LORD 46. These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses 1. IDols See the Notes on ch 19.4 and Exod. 20.4 Deut. 5.8 and 16.12 Ps 97.7 Standing image or pillar viz. For Religious Worship Civil Monuments are not here forbid Gen. 35.20 2 Sam. 18.18 Image of stone Or Figured stone Heb. A stone of picture A Stone of Worship or Adoration as the Chaldee hath it 2. Ye shall c. See ch 19.30 3. If ye c. Deut. 28.1 4. I will give God is onely able to give it Jer. 14.22 In due season Deut. 28.12 and Jer. 5.24 5. Vnto the vintage This is an expression that imports great plenty The Threshing implies an old store this Vintage a present increase and at the same time a seasonable Seed-time fair hopes of a succeeding year Amos 9.13 This Promise is made to them upon condition of their Obedience and probably with a particular respect to the Precepts ch 25.4 11. See Verse 20 21 of that Chapter Dwell Job 11.18 and Lev. 25.18 6. Ye shall lie Job 11.19 Rid Heb. Cause to cease by destroying them or their enmity Job 5.23 Hos 2.18 Go through Namely to wast as appears from v. 7. 8. Five c. Josh 23.10 9. Establish That is keep and continue to do it Vid. Gen. 6.18 10. Because of the new Or Before the new i. e. The New shall be ready for you before ye have spent your Old Store See ch 25.22 11. I will set my tabernacle God promises them in token of his great Favour to them Rev. 21.3 that he would after a more peculiar manner be present with them in his Sanctuary And this was a token of a greater Favour still in sending the Messias who should take upon him our Flesh and Tabernacle among us Joh. 1.14 and ch 2.21 Colos 2.9 Ezek. 37.24 27. 12. I will walk c. 2 Cor. 6.16 God promises to be with them during their Journies in the Wilderness as well as to continue with them afterwards 13. Vpright As it were holding up your heads ye being delivered from the yoke and burden which did before depress and bow you down Exod. 14.8 Numb 33.3 They came out of Egypt not like Slaves but Free-men 14. But c. Deut. 28.15 Lam. 2.17 Mal. 2.2 16. Over you Heb. Vpon you 17. Ye shall flee Prov. 28.1 18. Seven times more for your sins i. e. As your Sins after the aforesaid Judgments will be greater so I will bring many more Evils upon you for your persisting in them Seven times may well be taken as signifying often a certain number being put for an uncertain See Gen. 4.24 ch 33.3 19. The pride of your power That power in which you boast and vaunt As iron i. e. Hard or dry as Iron affording no Rain v. 4. As brass i. e. As unfruitfull as Brass 21. Contrary unto me Or at all adventures with me And so v. 24. The ancient Versions favour the rendring which we retain in the Text And then the word according to that sense implies a Contumacy or continuing in Rebellion against God after he chastiseth Men for their Sin vid. Job 15.25 The Jews follow that sense of our Marginal reading and expound the place of them who when they are afflicted by God for their Sins are so far from making the right use of their Sufferings that they rather look upon them as casual and contingent Things than any Argument of God's Displeasure or of his Care and Providence That say of any Evil God inflicts That it is not His hand that smote us it was a chance that happened to us 1 Sam. 6.9 This latter sense is not inconsistent with
pass when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim and the curse upon mount Ebal 30. Are they not on the other side Jordan by the way where the sun goeth down in the land of the Canaanites which dwell in the champain over against Gilgal beside the plains of Moreh 31. For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you and ye shall possess it and dwell therein 32. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day 1. HIS charge i. e. What-ever he hath given in charge 2. Know i. e. Consider For that is the sense of the word here and in many other places Isa 1.3 Eccles 5.1 6. What he did unto Dathan c. Numb 16.31 and 27.3 Ps 106.17 This is mentioned here as a most remarkable Example of God's displeasure for their Rebellion Substance Or living substance That was in their possession The meaning is which followed them and appertained to them Heb. Was at their feet 7. But your eyes have seen They which came out of Egypt had seen all and others some of God's Acts. 10. Is not as the land of Egypt The comparing it with the Land of Egypt in this place is not designed with respect to the fruitfulness of it but to make them sensible that they ought immediately to depend upon God's good Providence and endeavour to please him who is onely able to send them fruitfull Seasons And wateredst it with thy foot That is by deriving Water from the River Nilus which was done either by digging Furrows in the Earth or by fetching Water both which speak the labour of the Feet And the Land of Canaan would set them free from this toil 11. And drinketh water of the rain of heaven There was little or no Rain in Egypt and therefore the Inhabitants depended upon the over-flowing of Nilus for their increase and derived Water thence to the Land which they had sowed with great labour The Land of Canaan was better provided for 'T was supplied without the labour and industry of Men and the Inhabitants taught to look up to God for seasonable showrs 12. Careth for Heb. Seeketh This imports a more peculiar Providence of God upon which the Inhabitants were taught to depend and not upon the labour and industry which though used in Egypt they would now be excused from 14. The first rain and the latter rain The first upon sowing the Seed that it might take root The latter before Harvest that the Ear might be filled See Jer. 5.24 15. Send Heb. Give 16. Be not deceived viz. By any artifice what-ever the Idolaters may make use of E. g. A pretence that they direct their Worship by their Images to the Supreme God and that they enjoy fruitfull Seasons as a reward of their Worship and such-like 18. Bind them Chap. 6.8 With the Note upon that place 19. And ye shall Ch. 4.10 and 6.7 21. As the days of heaven upon earth That is as long as the World endures Whiles the Heaven keeps its place over the Earth according to the Vulgar Latin Thus we read His seed will I make to endure for ever and then it follows And his throne as the days of heaven Psal 89.29 See Jer. 33.25 24. Every place Josh 1.3 This is to be understood I. With restriction to the bounds which follow here And II. With the condition above mentioned v. 22. Wilderness On the South Lebanon On the North. Euphrates On the East The uttermost sea On the West The Mid-land Sea was on the West of Canaan 27. A blessing Ch. 28.2 28. Curse Chap. 28.15 29. The blessing upon Gerizim c. Of this see chap. 27.12 13. Josh 8.33 32. To do Chap. 5.32 CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT Monuments of Idolatry are to be destroyed The place which God should choose for his Publick Service is to be resorted to and there the Sacrifices are to be offered Blood may not be eaten Holy things must be eaten in the place which God shall choose The Levite is to be kindly treated They are permitted to kill and eat Flesh in their several Habitations They are cautioned against Idolatry 1. THese are the statutes and judgments which ye shall observe to do in the land which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it all the days that ye live upon the earth 2. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every green tree 3. And you shall overthrow their altars and break their pillars and burn their groves with fire and you shall hew down the graven images of their gods and destroy the â—â—mes of them out of that place 4. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God 5. But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his â—â—mo there even unto his habitation shall ye seek and thither thou shalt come 6. And thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices and your tithes and heave-offerings of your hand and your vows and your free-will-offerings and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks 7. And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God and ye shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto ye and your housholds wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee 8. Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes 9. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God giveth you 10. But when ye go over Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about so that ye dwell in safety 11. Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there thither shall ye bring all that I command you your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices your tithes and the heave-offering of your hand and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD 12. And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God ye and your sons and your daughters and your men-servants and your maid-servants and the Levite that is within your gates forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you 13. Take heed to thy self that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest 14. But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings and there thou shalt do all that I command thee 15. Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after according to the blessing of the LORD thy God
pretence though he is content to part with Hebron Obj. IV. It is pretended that Moses cou'd not write those words Deut. 2.12 The Horims also dwelt in Seir before-time but the children of Esau succeeded them when they had destroyed them from before them and dwelt in their stead as Israel did unto the land of his possession which the Lord gave unto them The force of the Objection lies in the latter part of the words as Israel did c. By which it 's pretended is meant that Israel dwelt in Seir and expell'd the Idumaeans but that this hapned not in the time of Moses as appears from v. 5. but long afterwards This being that which David mentions Psal 108.9 and which was in his time effected 1 Chron. 18.13 Praeadamit l. 4. c. 1. I answer That here is no mention of the Israelites possessing the Land of the Idumaeans That is fiction and without any shadow of ground from this Text. And for the true meaning of the place I referr the Reader to the Note on Deut. 2.12 Obj. V. It is pretended that Moses could not write those words Gen. 12.6 And the Canaanite was then in the Land This Objection is made by Mr. Hobbs and by Spinosa The utmost of it amounts but to thus much That these words cou'd not be writ by Moses because it wou'd be impertinent for him to say this which was so well known at that time For the Canaanite continu'd above 400 years in the Land after this and therefore those words were added by some hand after the Destruction of the Canaanites Before I answer this I observe this by the way That this Objection is not of the sort of some others which pretend that Moses cou'd not write some passages because the words they insist on mention some-thing that hapned after his time That cannot be pretended here Here all that can be said is That we cannot think Moses wou'd write these words without a Cause I answer 1. That what Moses says is that the Canaanite was THEN in the Land i. e. He had in those early days of Abram possession of that Land which God intended above 400 years afterward to bestow on the Posterity of Abram In the very next words we read And the Lord appear'd unto Abram and said unto thy seed Will I give THIS Land i. e. This very Land which is now in possession of the Canaanite and for that reason call'd the Land of Canaan chap. 11.31 We have a particular account of the Destruction of the Canaanite and of the precise time when it hapned But that Relation does not tell us how long they had been possessed of it That we learn here The Objectors force a sense upon the words As if these words The Canaanite was then in the Land imported thus much The Canaanite was not as yet dispossess'd of the Land Whereas the Text onely tells us that they were Possessors of it THEN when Abram came first to it and when God promis'd it to his Posterity And then the words have no reference to the Destruction of the Canaanites but to their early Possession onely 2. It is very certain that the word Canaanite sometimes signifies a particular Tribe or Family so call'd and not the general Name of the Inhabitants of that Land Thus the word signifies Gen. 13.7.15.21 Numb 13.29.14.25 And then Moses onely relates that in that tract of Land in which Abram then was this Tribe dwelt 3. It is very unreasonable therefore to object this against Moses his being the Author of these words and that because we do not understand the reason of his bringing in these words in this place Because there might be sufficient Reasons though at this distance we were not able to discern them And at this rate we may reject any ancient Author whatsoever I add that 't is to be considered what Land is meant in these words 'T is said that Abram passed through the Land to the place of Sichem It follows The Canaanite was then in the Land viz. of Sichem But these Canaanites were destroyed and their City spoiled and their Land driven before the Israelites went into Egypt and thâ—â—efore before Moses wrote these words Gen. 34. In Abram's time the Canaanite was in that Land and even then he durst go thither and profess the Worship of the true God but he was not there afterward being destroyed by Jacob's Sons That Land being void they came thither to feed their Flocks Gen. 37.14 The Words are well rendred by a late Writer Et Cananaeus quidem tunc temporis in eo tractu fuit Obj. VI. 'T is farther objected that Moses cou'd not be the Author of some part of Deut. 3. And two places are insisted upon viz. v. 11. For onely Og King of Bashan remain'd of the remnant of Giants Behold his bed-stead was a bed-stead of Iron is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon c. These words 't is said cou'd not be written by Moses but by a later Author for Moses need not to have mention'd the Bed-stead to those Jews his Contemporaries who had seen the Giant himself Besides 't is pretended that this Bed-stead was not found out till the times of David 2 Sam. 12.30 And therefore these words must be written by a later Author than Moses The other place is v. 14. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the Country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi and called them after his own name Bashan-Havoth-Jair unto this day 'T is pretended that these words were added by a later Writer by way of Explication of v. 13. And that Moses wou'd never have said unto this day if he had been the Writer of these words and that therefore the words were written by a much later Writer who gives an account of this matter à longissimâ primâ origine i. e. from the very ancient and first Original To which I answer First As to v. 11. For the mention of the Bed-stead Moses cannot be charged with impertinence He mentions it ad fidem faciendam and he wrote for Posterity and not barely for those who were then living Besides there might also be very many of them who never saw the Giant and to suppose it shou'd have been in Bashan proves nothing at all To affirm that this Bed-stead was not found till David's time and to cite to that purpose 2 Sam. 12.30 is to abuse the Reader for there 's no such thing to be found there Secondly As to v. 14. 'T is a lewd thing to suppose that Verse inserted by another hand and to offer no proof If there be any thing like a proof it must be fetch'd from those words Vnto this day I shall shew that there is nothing in that expression that will inferr a Writer later than Moses The Objection is in it self very unreasonable These Objectors have some pretence when they urge against Moses that he wrote of things after his time But shall he be blam'd
once The Author above-named was under no necessity of parting with this place He was too forward to part with his Divine Author when he was content to drop him upon so slight a ground To which I add the words Exod. 23.11 But the seventh thou shalt let it rest and lie still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the poor of thy people may eat or and the poor of thy people shall eat and what they leave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beast of the field shall eat Where again the first word which is a preterperfect hath the sense of a future as much as the following which is really and grammatically so Obj. VIII We read Gen. 22.14 And Abraham call'd the name of that place Jehovah-jireh as it is to this day in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen These are supposed not to be the words of Moses but of a later Writer It is pretended that this place was Mount Moriah in which the Temple was afterwards built and that it was not call'd so before such time as the Temple was built and therefore this cou'd not be written till that time which was long after the Time of Moses It is farther pretended that it is not likely that Moses shou'd write those words In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen because the Writer of those words affirms that That proverbial Speech was used in his Time To which I answer 1. I am not concern'd whether this were the very place that was afterwards call'd Moriah or not 'T is enough to my purpose that it is not call'd Moriah even in this place Whatever affinity Men may fansie between Jehovah-jireh and Moriah 't is certain they are not one and the same Name Here 's nothing proved and we are not obliged to regard groundless Imaginations and that is all we have here offer'd to us 2. Nor is there any thing in the following words but what is very agreeable to the Time and Age of Moses For why might not this proverbial Speech be in use from the Days of Abraham to the Time of Moses Here is space enough from the Time of Abraham to that of Moses for such a Saying to become a common Saying or proverbial Speech If a later Writer might say As it is said to this day why might not Moses say it as well I confess sincerely I do not see in this Objection any thing that hath the least appearance of weight in it And shou'd have been asham'd to mention it were it not incumbent upon me in this matter to lay the Objections I meet with fairly before the Reader Obj. IX The Author of the Leviathan roundly affirms that Moses cou'd not be the Author of those words Numb 21.14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord what be did in the Red-sea and in the Brooks of Arnon But he offers no reason for this Opinion of his and therefore I do not think my self obliged to take any farther notice of him in this matter However I find that Spinosa offers something like a Reason for this Opinion and as near as I can guess here lies the Argument That Moses wrote a Book of the War against Amalek by God's Command he says is evident from Exod. 17.14 But it does not from that place appear in what Book he wrote it But in Numb 21. he adds a Book is cited call'd The Book of the Wars of the Lord and in this Book says he without doubt the War against Amalek and the several Journeys of the Israelites which were written by Moses as we find 't is said Numb 33.2 are related Hence he seems to insinuate that the Pentateuch was not written by Moses but by some other hand who cites the Writings of Moses And that therefore the Pentateuch was on this account rather written of Moses than by Him This is the most that I can make of the Pretence of this obscure Writer and after all I can see very little that needs an Answer The Place I grant is obscure and difficult but that does not prove it was not written by Moses The Place is consider'd in the following Notes to which I referr the Reader However having this Occasion offer'd me that I may not seem to neglect any thing for the farther satisfaction of the Reader I shall endeavour to explain the Matter related in Numb 21. and then shew how vain this Pretence is First As to the Matter related thus it is The Israelites had receiv'd a Command not to distress or disturb the Ammonites or Moabites in their Possessions God declaring that he wou'd not bestow their Land upon them Deut. 2. It is the business of Moses to shew that the Israelites had not broken that Law It is true it might be pretended and was pretended afterwards in the days of Jephthah that they had broken it Because upon the Conquest of Sihon and Og 't is certain that the Israelites had taken possession of those Lands which sometime belong'd to this People whom they were forbid to disturb But 't is to be consider'd that these Lands were at that time in the possession of the Amorites who had dispossessed the Ammonites and Moabites I will not so far make a digression as to shew who were the Possessors of these Lands from the Time of Abraham I shall content my self in shewing the design of Moses in this relation And that was 1. To shew when the Israelites came to the River Arnon they found it to be the Boundary or Border between Moab and the Amorites This he affirms v. 13. and confirms it out of a known Book in those Times call'd The Book of the Wars of the Lord v. 14. 2. To prove that the Country which the Israelites took from Sihon and which did formerly belong to the Moabites was quite lost from the Moabites in the time of a former King before Balak This is affirmed v. 26. And therefore Israel found Sihon in full possession of this Country This he also proves from some known and acknowledged Sayings at that time that serv'd to preserve the memory of the fact Whether it were in some Song or contain'd in some Commentary of Facts that were passed I enquire not v. 27 28 c. The words seem to imply that the victorious Amorites did express their Triumph on the score of their Victory over the Moabites in those terms which the Text lays before us This account of the design of Moses and his way of gaining that design will easily give the Reader to understand that these words must needs be obscure and difficult because we are not acquainted with the perfect History of those Times nor with the Memorials of Facts that then had hapned Secondly I proceed to shew the great Vanity of the foregoing Pretence I might very well premise that the Proofs that Moses wrote not these Books had need be very clear or else we are guilty of great Vanity in admitting them And this is far
His resisting the importunity of his Mistress is an Example of Vertue never to be forgotten He was then a Servant in a strange Country He was tempted by an imperious Woman If he complied he wou'd be sure of Concealment and of Rewards he wou'd be sure to enjoy his Place and be advanced If he resisted he wou'd however be sure to be accused and treated as a Criminal and must expect to be deprived of his Place of his Liberty of his Fame and perhaps of his Life too Yet all this prevails not He will rather submit to Chains to Ignominy to Death than be guilty of so foul a Crime and Sin against God V. We have also in this Book the severest Examples of God's displeasure and wrath against the Wickedness of Men. And two instances we have that are very awakening that of the Floud which over-whelmed an ungodly World and the over-throw of Sodom and Gomorrha for their Wickedness There 's nothing wanting in this Book to recommend it to the study and care of the well-disposed Reader It serves greatly to advance Piety and true Wisdom It gives the best account of the Origin of the World and of the Primitive Condition of Mankind It shews how we fell from God and shews us the way of our Recovery by the Messiah 'T is stored with conspicuous Examples of Piety and Vertue and gives us an occasion to adore the Power the Wisdom the Justice and Goodness and Providence of the great Creator of Heaven and of Earth NOTES ON THE Book of GENESIS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Creation of the World and the several parts of it as also of the order in which they were made and distinguished with the use and intention of them Here is also a particular account of the Creation of Man in the Image of God and of the food which his Creator appointed him 1. 4004. 1. IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 2. And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters 3. And God said Let there be light and there was light 4. And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness 5. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night and the evening and the morning were the first day 6. And God said Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters 7. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament and it was so 8. And God called the firmament Heaven and the evening and the morning were the second day 9. And God said Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so 10. And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good 11. And God said Let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the earth and it was so 12. And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good 13. And the evening and the morning were the third day 14. And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so 16. And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night he made the stars also 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth 18. And to rule over the day and over the night and to divide the light from the darkness and God saw that it was good 19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day 20. And God said Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven 21. And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good 22. And God blessed them saying Be fruitfull and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth 23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day 24. And God said Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind cattel and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind and it was so 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind and cattel after their kind and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and God saw that it was good 26. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth 29. And God said Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you it shall be for meat 30. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so 31. And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good And the evening and the morning were the sixth day 1. IN the beginning 1. 4004. That is in the beginning of time Heb. 1.10 Created That is made out of nothing Heb. 11.3 or gave a being to things which had no such being before The Heaven and the Earth or the World In the Scripture-phrase the Heaven and Earth are used to express what is otherwise called the World or Universe God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Act. 17.24 See
every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil 10. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden and from thence it was parted and became into four heads 11. The name of the first is Pison that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah where there is gold 12. And the gold of that land is good there is bdellium and the onyx-stone 13. And the name of the second river is Gihon the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia 14. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria And the fourth river is Euphrates 15. And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it 16. And the LORD God commanded the man saying Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die 18. And the LORD God said It is not good that the man should be alone I will make him an help-meet for him 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof 20. And Adam gave names to all cattel and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field but for Adam there was not found an help-meet for him 21. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in stead thereof 22. And the rib which the LORD God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man 23. And Adam said This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man 24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh 25. And they were both naked the man and his wife and were not ashamed 1. ALL the Host of them That is all that with which they were replenished and adorned The Sun Moon and Stars are called the Host of Heaven Deut. 4.19.17.3 Isa 34.4 And the Angels are so likewise 1 King 22.19 Luk. 2.13 Compare Psal 103.21 2. Ended Or had ended And so it follows He rested That is he ceased from works of Creation 3. Blessed the seventh day and sanctified it That is he set it a-part to an holy and separate use that he might therein be worshipped and acknowledged as the great Creator of the World 4. These are the generations c. i. e. This is the account of the generation or original c. In the day That is in the time So day is used in the Scripture-way of speaking Thus On the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt Numb 8.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die v. 17. Compare Luk. 19.42 2 Cor. 6.2 5. And every plant of the field before c. That is as God made the Earth and the Heavens v. 4. so he also made every plant of the field and every herb For these plants and these herbs were not as yet in the Earth when that was first made but were as well as the other creatures made by God And that God did create the plants and herbs and that they were not at first the natural productions or growth of the Earth nor yet the effect of man's husbandry appears from this That they were made by God's Command chap. 1.11 on the third day 1. Before God had sent any rain upon the Earth And 2. before Man was made to till the ground chap. 2.15 6 7. But there went up a mist c. That is after this 1. the ground was watered v. 6. And 2. Man was formed of the dust of the ground v. 7. Breathed c. i. e. God the Father of Spirits bestowed life upon this lump of clay The Spirit of God hath made me says Elihu and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life 8. Planted Or had planted before he made Man whom he put in the Garden which he had planted as it is probable on the third day chap. 1.11 9. The tree of life That Tree the fruit whereof being eaten by Man would preserve him from death and diseases Life in the Scripture-phrase implies prosperity and freedom from Evils 1 Sam. 25.6 1 King 1.25 Exod. 20.12 Compared with Deut. 5.16 Eph. 6.3 1 Thess 3.8 And the tree of knowledge c. So called from the Event Man by Eating the fruit of this Tree made a sad experiment of the difference between his happy state of innocence and his miserable condition which ensued upon his fall Gen. 3.7 10. And a river c. Moses gives us an account of a certain place that did really exist and we are assured of this because he gives account of its Situation v. 8. its Store with which it was replenished v. 9. the River which watered it and the Name of its several Heads v. 10 11. and the Countries which these Heads did compass or border upon v. 11 12. A particular description of this place from the account which Moses gives may not be expected in these short Notes The inquisitive Reader will find this Argument handled at large in Sir W. Raleigh's History of the World Book I. ch 3. who placeth it in that Country where Babylon afterwards was 17. Thou shalt surely die i. e. Thou shalt be liable to death and misery Compare 1 King 2.37 Exod. 10.17 1 Sam. 25.37 2. Cor. 11.23 18. Not good That is not convenient or fit whether we consider the individual or the propagation of the kind Gen. 1.28 Eccl. 4.9 Prov. 18.22 Meet for him Of his own Kind fit for his Conversation and ready to help and assist him 19. Formed i. e. had formed chap. 1. 24 25. Every foul of the air See the Note on chap. 1.20 Brought them viz. both Sexes says Josephus 20. Gave Names In which he shewed his Dominion and Power Ps 147.4 5. and his Wisdom also in giving Names agreeable v. 19. Not found viz. In that great variety of Creatures which were brought to him and to whom he gave Names 21. One of his ribs Hereupon Adam said This is now bone of my bones v. 23. 23. Now That is for this once Hebr. for she should be otherwise produced afterward 24. Therefore shall c. i. e. Considering this first Original of the Woman there is no relation whatsoever either so ancient or so near as that of Man and Wife They were before Father and Mother Brother or Sister
promised it to him even his Seed ch 13. v. 15 17. he desires to know who of his Seed shall inherit it and when He questions not God's veracity but desires a more distinct knowledge of this matter And the following words fully answer this request of his 9. Take me c. These creatures were clean and fit for Sacrifice But seem not here made use of for Sacrifice but for Confirmation of God's Covenant and Promise Compare Jer. 34.18 10. Divided he not When they were used in Sacrifice they were not to be divided by the Law made afterwards 11. Fowls The Hebrew word is fowl and seems to imply some one of the more ravenous sort and is a fit representation of Pharaoh who afflicted Abram's seed Compare Ezek. 17.3 7 12. And one of the Chaldee Paraphrasts expounds fowls here by the Idolatrous people Carkases A fit resemblance of the afflicted condition of Abram's posterity Drove them away He put them to flight says the Chaldee 12. Horror of great darkness A token of the affliction of his feed predicted in the next verse Compare Esther 8.16 and Psal 88.6 and Psal 107.14 13. Four hundred years This time begins at the birth of Isaac and ends at the Israelites departure out of Egypt And in this space three things were to befall Abram's seed which are here distinctly named as also Act. 7.6 I. That it should be a stranger in a land not theirs and so Isaac and Jacob were II. That they should serve And so they did in Egypt ch 47.6 with Exod. 1.11 III. That they should be afflicted And so the Israelites were very greatly a considerable time before they came out of Egypt From the birth of Isaac to the coming out of Egypt were Four hundred years which appears thus From Isaac's birth to that of Jacob were Sixty years ch 25.26 Thence to the birth of Joseph were Ninety ch 41.46 with ch 45.6 11.41.30 and 47.9 Thence to Joseph's death One hundred and ten years ch 50. v. 26. Thence to the birth of Moses Sixty years which space of time the undoubted beginning and end of these Four hundred years require Thence to the Eightieth year of Moses when they came out of Egypt Eighty years In all Four hundred years 14. Judge i. e. Punish See the Book of Exodus and Psal 105.27 28 c. Substance Compare Exodus 12.35 15. And thou c. q. d. But though thy posterity shall be thus afflicted thou shalt die in peace and full of years ch 25.8 16. In the fourth generation The fourth generation Hebr. i. e. The fourth from the descent into Egypt Thus was Caleb the fourth from Judah 1 Chron. 2. And Aaron and Moses the fourth descent from Levi Exod. 6.16 18 20. Amorites These are named being very considerable for their power Amos 2.9 And those among whom Abram lived ch 13.18 and ch 14.13 Not yet full There is a certain measure of wickedness beyond which God will not spare a sinfull Land And though the seasons of punishing Nations with a general ruine be known to God onely yet when a Land adds to its Sins it does both hasten and assure to it self destruction Compare Jer. 51.13 Matt. 23.32 1 Thessal 2.16 with Ezek. 14.14 17. And it came to pass that when the sun went down and it was dark behold a smoaking furnace and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces 18. In that same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram saying Vnto thy seed have I given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river the river Euphrates 19. The Kenites and the Kenizites and the Kadmonites 20. And the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaims 21. And the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT Sarai bearing no children gives Hagar to Abram she conceives and despiseth her mistress and being therefore hardly used by her fled from her An Angel meets her and puts her upon returning and submitting to Sarai He foretells her the birth of a son directs her what to call him and describes his temper c. Of the place where the Angel met her The birth of Ishmael 1. NOW Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children and she had an handmaid an Egyptian whose name was Hagar 2. And Sarai said unto Abram Behold now the LORD hath restrained me from bearing I pray thee go in unto my maid it may be that I may obtain children by her and Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai 3. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife 4. And he went in unto Hagar and she conceived and when she saw that she had conceived her mistress was despised in her eyes 5. And Sarai said unto Abram My wrong be upon thee I have given my maid into thy bosom and when she saw that she had conceived I was despised in her eyes the LORD judge between me and thee 6. But Abram said unto Sarai Behold thy maid is in thy hand do to her as it pleaseth thee And when Sarai dealt hardly with her she fled from her face 7. And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain in the way to Shur 8. And he said Hagar Sarai's maid whence camest thou and whither wilt thou go and she said I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai 9. And the angel of the LORD said unto her Return to thy mistress and submit thy self under her hands 10. And the angel of the LORD said unto her I will multiply thy seed exceedingly that it shall not be numbred for multitude 11. And the angel of the LORD said unto her Behold thou art with child and shalt bear a son and shalt call his name Ishmael because the LORD hath heard thy affliction 12. And he will be a wild man his hand will be against every man and every man's han against him and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren 13. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her Thou God seest me for she said Have I also here looked after him that seeth me 14. Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahairoi Behold it is between Cadesh and Bered 15. And Hagar bare Abram a son and Abram called his son's name which Hagar bare Ishmael 16. And Abram was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram 1. SArai Notwithstanding the foregoing promises Sarai did not bear any Child Nor had God as yet promised that she should Besides she is now Seventy five years old and not likely to bear any v. 3. Hand-maid Or Bond-woman ch 21.10 Gal. 4.30 2. Restrained Lo children are an heritage of the Lord Psal 127.3 Obtain children by her Or be builded by her v. 4. Compare Ruth 4.11 with the Note on Exod. 1.21 3. Ten years And was
unto him and he sold his birth right unto Jacob. 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way thus Esau despised his birth-right 1. TOok a Wife Or a Concubine as she is called 1 Chron. 1.32 whose Children did not inherit v. 6. and ch 22.24 Abraham's taking this Wife contributed toward the fulfilling the promise made ch 17. v. 6. Now was Sarah dead and Isaac married 2. She bare By the particular and special blessing of God upon Abraham and in order to the fulfilling his promise ch 17. v. 6. Rom. 4.19 Midian See Numb 25.6 7. Shuah Job 2.11 3. Sheba Job 1.15 4. Epher From whom Africa is thought to be called Joseph Antiqu. l. 1. c. 16. 5. All that he had unto Isaac i. e. He made Isaac his Heir having in his life-time given gifts to his other Children and sent them away v. 6. See ch 24.36 and ch 21.12 6. From Isaac And by this means prevented a future quarrel about the inheritance East-country viz. Arabia the happy says Josephus 2183. 1821. 8. Gave up the ghost Or expired Several of the ancient Versions have so rendred it that they seem to imply that Abraham died an easie death A thing not improbable see ch 15.15 it being said that he died in a good old age Was gathered i. e. He passed into the state of the dead following his deceased Ancestors 9. Ishmael Who though he were sent away from Abraham's family and might not inherit yet was not so far removed but that he was at hand to attend upon his Father's funeral Machpelah See ch 23.9 11. Blessed his Son i. e. He entailed upon him the blessing and promise made to his Father ch 17.19 Lahai-roi See ch 16.14 and ch 24.62 12. Generations Or the account of the Off-spring of Ishmael as also of the fulfilling the promise made to his Father Abraham ch 17.19 13. Nebaioth Whence the Region Nabathaea was so called His Posterity dwelt in Arabia Isa 60.7 Kedar Compare Ezek. 27.21 Isa 21.16 14. Dumah Isa 21.11 15. Tema Hence the people called Temanites Job 2.11 Jetur 1 Chron. 5.19 16. By Or in which agrees well with the Hebrew and is confirmed by the Greek i. e. in their several Towns and Castles thus they were called Twelve Princes According to the promise ch 17.20 18. From Havilah unto Shur Havilah seems to be so called from Havilah the Son of Cush ch 10.7 Of Shur See ch 16.7 These two are put for the extreme borders of the Sons of Ishmael 1 Sam. 15.7 As thou goest Or as one goes from Egypt toward Assyria He died Or fell as it is in the Hebrew i. e. His lot or country was in the presence of his brethren We have an account of Ishmael's death before v. 17. and here of the Country where he dwelt The ancient Versions render the word to this sense He fell i. e. He dwelt say the Chaldee and the Greek The Hebrew word is used in this sense elsewhere Judg. 7.12 Numb 34.2 1 Sam. 29.3 Psal 78.55 According to this sense that is fulfilled which was fore-told of Ishmael that he should dwell in the presence of all his brethren ch 16.12 He might therefore be said there to fall where his dwelling or inheritance happened See Ezek. 47.22 As the words lie in the Hebrew Compare Psal 16.6 19. The generations i. e. The history not onely of his Off-spring but of what happened to him Compare ch 5.1 20. Syrian Aramite according to the Hebrew which signifies a Syrian Compare Luk. 4.27 with 2 King 1.1 Of Padan-Aram i. e. Of that part of Syria which was called Padan-Aram This is the same with Mesopotamia ch 24.10 and called onely Padan ch 48.7 and seems to be the most cultivated part of that Country it being called the Country or Field of Aram or Syria Compare Hos 12.12 21. For his Wife The Hebrew Text seems to imply that his Wife joined with him in his prayer 22. If it be so why am I thus q. d. If so that God hath heard our prayers why am I in this disorder Went to enquire Either by prayer or to some holy Man and possibly to Abraham who was now living v. 7. with v. 26. 23. Two Nations i. e. The heads of two Nations the Edomites and Israelites The Elder shall serve Rom. 9.12 This was in great measure fulfilled when the Edomites were made subject to the Israelites 2 Sam. 8.14 with 2 Chron. 25.11 12. which subjection continued some considerable time 2 Kings 8.20 25. Esau i. e. Made or perfected according to the Hebrew as if born more like to a Man than to a Babe This Birth of Esau and Jacob though it be mentioned after the Death of Abraham yet it came to pass about fifteen years afterwards as will evidently appear to the diligent Reader The Order of Time is not always observed in these Books See chap. XX. v. 1. As also chap. XXVI 26. Jacob i. e. A Supplanter His taking hold of his Brother's heel was the reason of that name as the Hebrew Text intimates and the Vulgar expressly affirms Compare ch 27. v. 36. 27. In Tents As Abraham did Heb. 11.9 31. Birth-right Of the advantages whereof see the Note on Gen. 49.3 33. He sold his birth-right He parted with it at so mean a price that he is said to despise it v. 34. and therefore called Profane Heb. 12.16 CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT Vpon occasion of a famine Isaac removes to Gerar. God appears to him forbids him to go into Egypt renews his Promise and his Oath made unto Abraham Isaac gives out that Rebekah was his Sister Abimelech discovers the pretence Isaac's prosperity at Gerar. He is hereupon envied and removes He diggeth Wells Of the Wells called Esek Sitnah and Rehoboth Isaac builds an Altar and enters into Covenant with Abimelech The Wives of Esau 1. AND there was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham and Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2. And the LORD appeared unto him and said Go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of 3. Sojourn in this land and I will be with thee and will bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these countries and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father 4. And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give unto thy seed all these countries and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 5. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge my commandments my statutes and my laws 6. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7. And the men of the place asked him of his wife and he said She is my sister for he feared to say She is my wife lest said he the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah
son were told to Rebekah and she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said unto him Behold thy brother Esau as touching thee doth comfort himself purposing to kill thee 43. Now therefore my son obey my voice and arise flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran 44. And tarry with him a few days untill thy brother's fury turn away 45. Vntill thy brother's anger turn away from thee and he forget that which thou hast done to him then I will send and fetch thee from thence why should I be deprived also of you both in one day 46. And Rebekah said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these which are of the daughters of the land what good shall my life do me 2245. 1760. 1. OLD He was at this time One hundred thirty six or One hundred thirty seven years old And that may be thus collected He was at the birth of Jacob sixty years old ch 25.26 Jacob was now at his going to Padan-Aram which may justly be suposed to happen soon after he had received his Father's blessing v. 42 43. Seventy-six or Seventy-seven years old And that may be thus collected He served Laban Twenty years ch 31.38 Fourteen years for his two Daughters and after that Six years for his Cattel ch 31.41 Joseph was born when Jacob had served Laban Fourteen years ch 30.25 with ch 31.41 And that was the Ninetieth or Ninety-first year of Jacob's life as will appear by comparing ch 41.46 with ch 47.9 and ch 45.6 By which it will appear that when Jacob was One hundred and thirty years old Joseph was Thirty-nine or at the most in his Fortieth year 2. Death A sufficient Motive to put him upon doing what he intended to do in his life It is very certain however that he lived after this Forty-three or Forty-four years See ch 35.28 with the Note on the foregoing Verse 3. Quiver The Chaldee renders it Sword Our word HANGER answers to the Hebrew word 4. That I may eat That c. i. e. That being first refreshed and having made this trial of thy Obedience I may be the more fitted and disposed to pronounce the Blessing upon thee My Soul c. Or that I may bless thee See v. 7 10. Bless thee i. e. Fore-tell and implore the Divine blessing upon thee and constitute thee the Heir of the Promises made to Abraham Compare ch 48.9 15 16. and ch 49.28 Isaac here seems not to be aware of what God had declared to Rebekah ch 25.23 7. Before the Lord i. e. In his presence and by his authority with assurance that he will confirm it v. 33. and Heb. 11.20 12. A Curse A Curse was afterward solemnly to be denounced against him who set light by his Father and mis-lead the blind Deut. 27.16 18. 13. Vpon me She was well assured that the Blessing would be his and speaks prophetically here as the Chaldee intimates and had sufficient ground for this assurance as appears by comparing ch 25.23 15. Goodly raiment i. e. Such as were not of common use and were in Rebekah's keeping The Hebrew Doctors tell us that the First-born had Sacerdotal Robes before the Priesthood was setled It is certain that these garments had a pleasing smell v. 27. 19. I am Esau This practice of Jacob is by no means to be imitated by us 27. Of a field Not of a barren and empty field but of a field replenished with the fruits of the Earth which send forth a good smell Cant. 2.19 It is said a field which the Lord hath blessed and that is a fruitfull field The Greek and Vulgar render it a full field 28. Therefore God give thee Or And God give thee or will give thee as it is in the Hebrew It is a Prophecy as well as Prayer Great plenty is expressed by the dew of Heaven the fatness of the Earth and plenty of Corn and Wine And great Power and Dominion by let people serve thee v. 29. and be Lord over thy brethren c. Compare ch 25.23 These Blessings are from God Prov. 10.22 Whose special favour to Jacob's Race is farther expressed by Cursed be every one that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee 33. Trembled He was greatly astonished and speaks as such when he says Who where is he 39. Dwelling The Vulgar renders it Blessing It referrs to his habitation or seat See v. 28. and ch 36.6 7 8. The fatness Or of the fatness If the place be duly considered as in the Hebrew and well compared with the Context Isaac must mean that his Dwelling should be barren and consequently removed from the fatness of the Earth 40. By thy sword c. Thou shalt defend thy Country by thy Sword and not enjoy the peace which Jacob shall Deut. 33.27 28. His yoke This was verified 2 Kings 8.20 and was to be fulfilled when Jacob's posterity transgressed as the Chaldee intimates 41. At hand So he thought See the Note on v. 2. 42. Comfort himself In hope of recovering his birth-right by killing his Brother 44. Few days This proved to be Twenty years 45. Both They might kill one another However the Murtherer ought to die c. 9. 6. 46. Daughters of Heth See ch 26.34 35. She takes this occasion to send Jacob away CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Isaac blesseth Jacob and warns him against marrying any daughter of the Canaanites He sends him to Padan-Aram Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Jacob's vision of a ladder The promise made to Abraham is renewed to him The stone of Beth-el The vow of Jacob. 1. AND Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him and said unto him Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan 2. Arise go to Padan-Aram to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother 3. And God Almighty bless thee and make thee fruitfull and multiply thee that thou mayst be a multitude of people 4. And give thee the blessing of Abraham to thee and to thy seed with thee that thou mayst inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger which God gave unto Abraham 5. And Isaac sent away Jacob and he went to Padan-Aram unto Laban son of Bethuel the Syrian the brother of Rebekah Jacob's and Esau's mother 6. When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan-Aram to take him a wife from thence and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge saying Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan 7. And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was gone to Padan-Aram 8. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father 9. Then went Esau unto Ishmael and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son the sister of Nebaioth to
after and Rachel and Joseph hindermost 3. And he passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times untill he came near to his brother 4. And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept 5. And he lift up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said Who are those with thee And he said The children which God hath graciously given thy servant 6. Then the hand-maidens came near they and their children and they bowed themselves 7. And Leah also with her children came near and bowed themselves and after came Joseph near and Rachel and they bowed themselves 8. And he said What meanest thou by all this drove which I met And he said These are to find grace in the sight of my lord 9. And Esau said I have enough my brother keep that thou hast unto thy self 10. And Jacob said Nay I pray thee if now I have found grace in thy sight then receive my present at my hand for therefore I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me 11. Take I pray thee my blessing that is brought to thee because God hath dealt graciously with me and because I have enough and he urged him and he took it 12. And he said Let us take our journey and let us go and I will go before thee 13. And he said unto him My lord knoweth that the children are tender and the flocks and herds with young are with me and if men should over-drive them one day all the flock will die 14. Let my lord I pray thee pass over before his servant and I will lead on softly according as the cattel that goeth before me and the children be able to endure untill I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15. And Esau said Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me and he said What needeth it let me find grace in the sight of my lord 16. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built him an house and made booths for his cattel therefore the name of the place is called Succoth 18. And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan when he came from Padan-Aram and pitched his cent before the city 19. And he bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent at the hand of the children of Hamor Shechem's father for an hundred pieces of money 20. And he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe Israel 2. Hindermost He so placed them that those he loved most he put hindmost as being remotest from danger 3. Before them i. e. Before his Wives and Children the better to provide for their safety Seven times i. e. Many or sundry times as this Phrase signifies 1 Sam. 2.5 Prov. 26.25 4. Kissed him As a token of Kindness and Friendship And this is an instance of Jacob's prevailing with Men as he had done with God ch 32.28 Prov. 16.7 5. Women Who followed after him in three Companies v. 1 3. Graciously given ch 30.2 with ch 29.31 7. Joseph Who was the youngest and at this time about six years old See ch 30.25 9. Enough Or much as it is in the Hebrew 10. For therefore Or Because that as the Hebrew Particles signifie and are rendred ch 38.26 Compare ch 18.5 As though I had seen the face of God q.d. It is greatly comfortable to me to meet thee pacified and reconciled especially as I thereby receive a token of God's Favour also who hath brought this to pass See ch 32.30 2 Sam. 14.17 11. Enough Or All as in the Hebrew 13. With young Or Giving suck as the Chaldee hath it and the Hebrew word signifies 1 Sam. 6.7 14. I come It is not recorded that Jacob did come to him to Seir but yet notwithstanding that he might do it and may well be supposed here to intend it sincerely 17. To Succoth So called by anticipation We find a City that was so called Judg. 8.15 16. An house Not for any long stay as appears afterward 18. To Shalem a city of Shechem Or Safe to the city Shechem He having by the favour of God overcome the difficulties which were in his way came safe into the Promised Land In this sense the Chaldee understands the words And this agrees with Jacob's words ch 28.21 and with God's Promise to him ch 31.3 and ch 32.9 A city of Shechem i. e. To a City called Sychem Act. 7.16 Pitched his tent Or Encamped Hebr. 19. He bought As Abraham had done ch 23. Pieces of money In the Margent it is Lambs The word in this place rather signifies Money and it is likely it was stamped Money also and that with the figure of Lambs as the Greeks afterwards stamped theirs with the figure of an Ox and called that Money so stamped an Ox whence it might easily happen that one word might signifie both the Money and the Creature which was stamped upon it That it signifies Money in this place is evident from Act. 7.16 20. Called it Not that he called the Altar by the name of God But at this Altar he called upon God And to this sense the Chaldee Greek and vulgar Latin render these words Or supposing the words Elliptical they may be rendred thus And called it the Altar of God the God of Israel Which is a fair account of the meaning of this and other places e. g. Moses built an altar and called the name of it JEHOVAH-nissi i. e. The Altar of JEHOVAH nissi Exod. 17.15 And the name of the city shall be The Lord is there i. e. The City where God is Ezek. 48.35 See Psalm 48.1 2. Nothing is more common among us to this day than to call Churches and Consecrated Places by the very Names of those persons to whose Memories they were Consecrated Thus we do when we for brevities sake call them Trinity St. Mary c. CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Shechem defiles Dinah and desires her for his Wife Hamor Shechem's Father treats with Jacob and his Sons to that purpose and offers large Conditions The Sons of Jacob refuse his Offer but promise to intermarry with them on condition that they would Circumcise their Males Hamor and Shechem perswade the Men of their City to submit to the Condition required and they are thereupon Circumcised Simeon and Levi kill the Males who were indisposed by the Circumcision of their Flesh and took their Wealth and Wives Jacob's Expostulation with them and their Reply 1. AND Dinah the daughter of Leah which she bare unto Jacob went out to see the daughters of the land 2. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite prince of the countrey saw her he took her and lay with her and defiled her 3. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob and he loved the damsel and spake kindly
stout And they seem to think it necessary thus to vindicate their Sister's Reputation who might else have been reputed as a Common Woman CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT Jacob is directed by God to go to Bethel and to build an Altar there He prepares his family in order thereunto and goes Deborah dieth God appears to Jacob calls his Name Israel and blesseth him and promiseth the Land of Canaan to his Posterity Jacob erects a Pillar Benjamin is born and Rachel dieth Reuben lieth with Bilhah The Sons of Jacob. The Age and Death of Isaac 1. AND God said unto Jacob Arise go up to Beth-el and dwell there and make there an Altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother 2. Then Jacob said unto his houshold and to all that were with him Put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean and change your garments 3. And let us arise and go up to Beth-el and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went 4. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand and all their ear-rings which were in their ears and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem 5. And they journeyed and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6. So Jacob came to Luz which is in the land of Canaan that is Beth-el he and all the people that were with him 7. And he built there an Altar and called the place El-beth-el because there God appeared unto him when he fled from the face of his brother 8. But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth 9. And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padan-Aram and blessed him 10. And God said unto him Thy name is Jacob thy name shall not be called any more Jacob but Israel shall be thy name and he called his name Israel 11. And God said unto him I am God Almighty be fruitfull and multiply a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee and kings shall come out of thy loins 12. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac to thee I will give it and to thy seed after thee will I give the land 13. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him 14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him even a pillar of stone and he poured a drink-offering thereon and he poured oyl thereon 15. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him Beth-el 16. And they journeyed from Beth-el and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and Rachel travailed and she had hard labour 17. And it came to pass when she was in hard labour that the midwife said unto her Fear not thou shalt have this son also 18. And it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died that she called his name Benoni but his father called him Benjamin 19. And Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephrath which is Bethlehem 20. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day 21. And Israel journeyed and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar 22. And it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine and Israel heard it Now the sons of Jacob were twelve 23. The sons of Leah Reuben Jacob's first-born and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun 24. The sons of Rachel Joseph and Benjamin 25. And the sons of Bilhah Rachel's hand-maid Dan and Naphtali 26. And the sons of Zilpah Leah's hand-maid Gad and Asher These are the sons of Jacob which were born to him in Padan-aram 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre unto the city of Arbah which is Hebron where Abraham and Isaac sojourned 28. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years 29. And Isaac gave up the ghost and died and was gathered unto his people being old and full of days and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him 1. GOD said Jacob being now in great fear from the Inhabitants of the Country ch 34.30 2. Houshold Those of his own family All that were with him i. e. All his servants and dependants whatsoever Strange Gods i. e. Idols or Images by which God was worshipped whether the Teraphim which Rachel stole ch 31.19 or any other Images or Idols taken from the Shechemites or remaining with any of those who were taken Captives from them or who had followed Jacob from Padan Aram. Be clean viz. from the pollution of Idolatry Change your garments As an outward sign or token of an inward change 2 Sam. 12.20 Exod. 19.10 Ezek. 16.8 10. 3. Answered me By taking me into his protection Distress viz. When he fled from Esau unto Padan-Aram ch 28. where he staid Twenty years 4. Their Ear-rings The materials of Idolatry See Judg. 8.24 Hos 2.13 Possibly these Ear-rings might be taken from the Shechemites and might have some marks of Idolatry upon them Hid them From the knowledge of his people and the Greek adds that he abolished them Possibly he broke or melted them down Compare Exod. 32.20 2 Kings 18.4 Oak A Tree not likely to be suddenly digged up being Sacred in the esteem of Idolaters Isa 1.29 5. Terror of God Or a mighty Terror And this was from God who restrained the people from destroying Jacob and his Family notwithstanding their power and the provocation given by the slaughter of the Shechemites 7. The place See the Note on ch 23.20 God appeared The Angels of God says the Chaldee 8. Rebekah's nurse The Nurse who was sent with her from Padan-Aram ch 24.59 10. Israel See the Note on ch 32.28 This Name is a second time assigned him and thereby his Faith in God is confirmed 11. Be fruitfull The Blessing of Abraham is bestowed on him ch 28.3 4. And from his numerous Off-spring it appears that it was made good to him 13. God The glory of God says the Chaldee 14. Oyl See ch 28.18 16. Ephrath Which is Bethlehem v. 19. called Bethlehem Ephratah Micah 5.2 where Christ was born 20. A Pillar A lasting Monument Testimony of Jacob's affection 1 Sam. 10.2 21. Tower of Edar Or Tower of the flock as the Vulgar renders it Here probably the Shepherds were who received the tidings of Christ's birth Luk. 2.8 This place is called the Tower of the flock Micah 4.8 and mentioned there as a place that should be dignified at the appearance of the Messiah One Chaldee Paraphrast on this place tells us expressly that this is the place where the King Messiah was to be revealed
35.24 Esther 6.2 Bow the knee They were to do homage to Joseph as to the second person in the Kingdom as one who was the Father of the King and Country ch 45.8 The Chaldee renders it This is the Father of the King 44. I am Pharaoh i. e. I am King Pharaoh was the common Name of the King as Ptolomy was in after-times Gen. 12.15 And as the Ptolomies were distinguished by other additional or proper Names so were the Pharaohs also Thus we read of Pharaoh-necoh 2 Kings 23.9 compare Jer. 44.30 And thus were the Caesars among the Romans distinguished from one another Pharaoh in this place implies the Soveraign authority as is implied by what follows Without thee shall no man lift up his hand c. i. e. No man shall have power to do any thing without his leave at least not against his will 45. Zaphnath-paaneah A revealer of secrets says Josephus Priest Or Prince and Governor of On or Heliopolis say the Greek He might be both Prince and Priest ch 14.18 47. By handfulls i. e. In great abundance v. 49. CHAP. XLII The ARGUMENT Jacob sendeth his Sons into Egypt to buy Corn Joseph chargeth them as being Spies They make their Answer They are imprisoned and set at liberty upon condition that they would bring Benjamin into Egypt Their remorse for their former ill usage of Joseph Simeon is left in Egypt as a pledge The rest are sent back with Corn and their Money in their Sacks of Corn. They relate to Jacob what had befallen them who is not willing to send Benjamin 1. NOW when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt Jacob said unto his sons Why do ye look one upon another 2. And he said Behold I have heard that there is corn in Egypt get you down thither and buy for us from thence that we may live and not die 3. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt 4. But Benjamin Joseph's brother Jacob sent not with his brethren for he said Lest peradventure mischief befall him 5. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came for the famine was in the land of Canaan 6. And Joseph was the governor over the land and he it was that sold to all the people of the land and Joseph's brethren came and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth 7. And Joseph saw his brethren and he knew them but made himself strange unto them and spake roughly unto them and he said unto them Whence come ye And they said From the land of Canaan to buy food 8. And Joseph knew his brethren but they knew not him 9. And Joseph remembred the dreams which he dreamed of them and said unto them Ye are spies to see the nakedness of the land you are come 10. And they said unto him Nay my lord but to buy food are thy servants come 11. We are all one man's sons we are true men thy servants are no spies 12. And he said unto them Nay but to see the nakedness of the land you are come 13. And they said Thy servants are twelve brethren the sons of one man in the land of Canaan and behold the youngest is this day with our father and one is not 14. And Joseph said unto them That is it that I spake unto you saying Ye are spies 15. Hereby ye shall be proved by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence except your youngest brother come hither 16. Send one of you and let him fetch your brother and ye shall be kept in prison that your words may be proved whether there be any truth in you or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies 17. And he put them all together into ward three days 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day This do and live for I fear God 19. If ye be true men let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison go ye carry corn for the famine of your houses 20. But bring your youngest brother unto me so shall your words be verified and ye shall not die And they did so 21. And they said one to another We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us 22. And Reuben answered them saying Spake I not unto you saying Do not sin against the child and ye would not hear therefore behold also his blood is required 23. And they knew not that Joseph understood them for he spake unto them by an interpreter 24. And he turned himself about from them and wept and returned to them again and communed with them and took from them Simeon and bound him before their eyes 25. Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn and to restore every man's money into his sack and to give them provision for the way and thus did he unto them 26. And they laded their asses with the corn and departed thence 27. And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn he espied his money for behold it was in his sack's mouth 28. And he said unto his brethren My money is restored and lo it is even in my sack and their heart failed them and they were afraid saying one to another What is this that God hath done unto us 29. And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan and told him all that befell unto them saying 30. The man who is the lord of the land spake roughly to us and took us for spies of the country 31. And we said unto him We are true men we are no spies 32. We be twelve brethren sons of our father one is not and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan 33. And the man the lord of the country said unto us Hereby shall I know that ye are true men leave one of your brethren here with me and take food for the famine of your housholds and be gone 34. And bring your youngest brother unto me then shall I know that you are no spies but that you are true men so will I deliver you your brother and ye shall traffick in the land 35. And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks that behold every man's bundle of money was in his sack and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money they were afraid 36. And Jacob their father said unto them Me have ye bereaved of my children Joseph is not and Simeon is not and ye will take Benjamin away all these things are against me 37. And Reuben spake unto his father saying Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee deliver him into my hand and I will bring him to thee again 38. And he said My son shall not go down with you for his brother is dead and he is
reckoned here as coming with Jacob but as all the Souls of his House or Family 28. Judah Who had given a good proof a little before how he was concerned for his Father ch 45.18 To direct his face i. e. To shew him the way 2298. 1706. 30. Now let me die since Jacob had now obtained his desire Compare ch 45.28 and Luk. 2.29 32. Shepherds Joseph is not ashamed of his Brethren s Employment but freely acquaints Pharaoh with it though he knew that the Egyptians detested Shepherds 34. That ye may dwell in the land of Goshen In a fruitfull Country and toward the Confines of Canaan to which they were to return Far from the snares of the Court and out of the way of the Egyptians which hated them and detested that Employment For every Shepherd c. The soft Egyptians hated Men of that hardy Employment and possibly upon account of some loss from that sort of Men and upon the score of their own Superstition they detested the Employment See the Note on ch 43.32 CHAP. XLVII The ARGUMENT Joseph presents five of his Brethren to Pharaoh Jacob also appears before him The Famine encreaseth The Egyptians for Corn part with their Money and Cattel and their Land The Land of the Priests was exempted A fifth part of the encrease of the Land is reserved for Pharaoh Jacob's Age. He sweareth Joseph to bury him with his Fathers 1. THen Joseph came and told Pharaoh and said My father and my brethren and their flocks and their herds and all that they have are come out of the land of Canaan and behold they are in the land of Goshen 2. And he took some of his brethren even five men and presented them unto Pharaoh 3. And Pharaoh said unto his brethren What is your occupation And they said unto Pharaoh Thy servants are shepherds both we and also our fathers 4. They said moreover unto Pharaoh For to sojourn in the land are we come for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan now therefore we pray thee let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen 5. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph saying Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee 6. The land of Egypt is before thee in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell in the land of Goshen let them dwell and if thou knowest any man of activity amongst them then make them rulers over my cattel 7. And Joseph brought in Jacob his father and set him before Pharaoh and Jacob blessed Pharaoh 8. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob How old art thou 9. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years few and evil have the days of the years of my life been and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage 10. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from before Pharaoh 11. And Joseph placed his father and his brethren and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt in the best of the land in the land of Rameses as Pharaoh had commanded 12. And Joseph nourished his father and his brethren and all his father's houshold with bread according to their families 13. And there was no bread in all the land for the famine was very sore so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine 14. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the corn which they bought and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house 15. And when money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan all the Egyptians came unto Joseph and said Give us bread for why should we die in thy presence for the money faileth 16. And Joseph said Give your cattel and I will give you for your cattel if money fail 17. And they brought their cattel unto Joseph and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses and for the flocks and for the cattel of the herds and for the asses and he fed them with bread for all their cattel for that year 18. When that year was ended they came unto him the second year and said unto him We will not hide it from my lord how that our money is spent my lord also hath our herds of cattel there is not ought left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands 19. Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes both we and our land buy us and our land for bread and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh and give us seed that we may live and not die that the land be not desolate 20. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh for the Egyptians sold every man his field because the famine prevailed over them so the land became Pharaoh's 21. And as for the people he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof 22. Onely the land of the priests bought he not for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them wherefore they sold not their lands 23. Then Joseph said unto the people Behold I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh lo here is seed for you and ye shall sow the land 24. And it shall come to pass in the increase that you shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh and four parts shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food and for them of your housholds and for food for your little ones 25. And they said Thou hast saved our lives let us find grace in the sight of my lord and we will be Pharaoh's servants 26. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day that Pharaoh should have the fifth part except the land of the Priests onely which became not Pharaoh's 27. And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt in the country of Goshen and they had possessions therein and grew and multiplied exceedingly 28. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years 29. And the time drew nigh that Israel must die and he called his son Joseph and said unto him If now I have found grace in thy sight put I pray thee thy hand under my thigh and deal kindly and truly with me bury me not I pray thee in Egypt 30. But I will lie with my fathers and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying-place And he said I will do as thou hast said 31. And he said Swear unto me And he sware unto him And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head 1. GOshen See the Note on chap. 45.10 2. Some of his brethren
Or the meanest of them as the Hebrew word will bear 1 Kings 12.31 and not the goodliest whom Pharaoh might have desired for his Court. 3. Occupation The Hebrew word signifies Work 4. To sojourn Not to dwell in Egypt and therefore they desire Goshen as near to Canaan 7. Jacob blessed Pharaoh i. e. He saluted him and gave him thanks as the Hebrew word signifies 2 Kings 4.29 Numb 6.23 24. Compare Matt. 26.26 with Luk. 22.19 9. Pilgrimage Jacob's life was a Pilgrimage It was spent in many places of Canaan in Padan-Aram and then in Canaan again and now in Egypt Heb. 11.9 13. An hundred and thirty years Hence it is evident that Jacob was about Ninety years old when Joseph was born Evil Though Jacob in some respect were a prosperous Man yet he met with many Evils He fled from Esau served Laban Twenty years He was defeated in his hope of Rachel and she was barren also He fled from Laban feared Esau halted He was afflicted in Dinah in Simeon and Levi and in Reuben and upon the score of Joseph In the Sons of Judah and in Thamar Besides the death of Rachel and the sending away of Benjamin Have not attained c. Abraham lived an Hundred seventy five years and Isaac an Hundred and eighty Gen. 25.7 and ch 35.28 10. Blessed At his going out as at his coming in See the Note on v. 7. 11. Land of Rameses So called here by Anticipation the Israelites built a City of that Name afterward Exod. 1.11 and 12.37 12. According to their families Or as a little Child is nourished Heb. According to the little ones 13. Land of Egypt i. e. The People of the Land as the Chaldee hath it 17. Fed them Heb. Led them 18. Second year i. e. The year after and not the second year of the seven years famine 21. He removed them The better to secure to Pharaoh the propriety from the People says Josephus And also it was a good means to prevent their Sedition which they would be tempted to if they had continued in their old Patrimonies 22. Priests Tho' the Hebrew word sometimes signifie Princes or great Officers Yet the ancient Versions the Chaldee Greek and Vulgar understand it of Priests here And so does Josephus and the Syriack Version of this place And what is here said of the Priviledge of the Priests is confirmed by what we read to the same purpose in the Second Book of Herodotus 24. Fifth part Ch. 41.34 29. Vnder my thigh See the Note on ch 24.2 30. With my fathers i. e. In the Land of Canaan where Abraham and Isaac were buried That the Israelites might be mindfull of their return thither 31. Swear unto me Jacob requires an Oath not because he distrusted Joseph but that he might furnish him with an argument to prevail with Pharaoh and accordingly we find Joseph making use of it ch 50.5 Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head i. e. He worshipped God raising himself upon the head of his Bed And possibly he might also lean upon the top of his Staff as the Greek hath it See Heb. 11.21 CHAP. XLVIII The ARGUMENT Joseph with his two Sons visits his Father in his sickness Jacob puts him in mind of God's promise and taketh Ephraim and Manasseh for his own Sons He blesseth them and preferrs Ephraim before Manasseh He fore-tells the Israelites return into Canaan And gives Joseph a portion of Land 1. AND it came to pass after these things that one told Joseph Behold thy father is sick and he took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim 2. And one told Jacob and said Behold thy son Joseph cometh unto thee and Israel strengthened himself and sat upon the bed 3. And Jacob said unto Joseph God Almighty appeared unto me 〈◊〉 Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me 4. And said unto me Behold I will make thee fruitfull and multiply thee and I will make of thee a multitude of people and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession 5. And now thy two sons Ephraim and Manasseh which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt are mine as Reuben and Simeon they shall be mine 6. And thy issue which thou begettest after them shall be thine and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance 7. And as for me when I came from Padan Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath the same is Beth-lehem 8. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons and said Who are these 9. And Joseph said unto his father They are my sons whom God hath given me in this place And he said Bring them I pray thee unto me and I will bless them 10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age so that he could not see And he brought them near unto him and he kissed them and embraced them 11. And Israel said unto Joseph I had not thought to see thy face and lo God hath shewed me also thy seed 12. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees and he bowed himself with his face to the earth 13. And Joseph took them both Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel's left hand and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right hand and brought them near unto him 14. And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head who was the younger and his left hand upon Manasseh's head guiding his hands wittingly for Manasseh was the first-born 15. And he blessed Joseph and said God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk the God which fed me all my life long unto this day 16. The Angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads and let my name be named on them and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth 17. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim it displeased him and he held up his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head 18. And Joseph said unto his father Not so my father for this is the first-born put thy right hand upon his head 19. And his father refused and said I know it my son I know it â—e also shall become a people and he also shall be great but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he and his seed shall become a multitude of nations 20. And he blessed them that day saying In thee shall Israel bless saying God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh and he set Ephraim before Manasseh 21. And Israel said unto Joseph Behold I die but God shall be with you and bring you again unto the land of your fathers 22. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above
shall not cease to be a distinct and separate People nor be quite deprived of all use of their Laws and Religion till after such time as the Messiah whom the ancient Jews grant to be meant by Shiloh and who was to be born of this Tribe shall first come among them And him shall the Nations or Gentiles serve and obey See Matt. 24.14 The first promise of the Messiah is mentioned Gen. 3.15 under the expression of the Seed of the Woman But that does not import of what Nation or Family he should be born It is believed to be intimated that he should be born of the Family of Shem ch 9.27 This great Blessing was afterwards ascertained to Abram ch 12.3 and to his Seed ch 22.18 And the great Promise of it setled on Isaac ch 17.21 And transmitted by him to Jacob ch 28.4 Here it now was and Jacob before his Death fore-tells the time within which the Messiah should come and intimates the Tribe from whence he should arise the latter whereof the Holy Scriptures more expressly mention afterwards The words of Jacob relating to Judah contain something very peculiar and very great Here 's nothing said of him that lessens him as there is before of Reuben Simeon and Levi. When the other Tribes fell into Schism after Solomon's death and were carried Captive in the days of Hosea this Tribe adhered to the Worship of God and continued in their own Land I. Judah did not lose his Tribe so the word which we render Scepter signifies here in the Hebrew Text and v. 16 28. There was always great care taken to preserve Judah distinct in its Tribe and Families In the days of Saul the Men of Judah were numbred apart Thus it was in David's also 1 Sam. 11.8 2 Sam. 24.9 A Prophet took care of the Genealogies of this Tribe 2 Chron. 12.15 with ch 13.22 There was care taken of it even during the Captivity of Babylon as appears from the Book of Chronicles Ezra and Nehemiah and from Josephus Antiq. l. II. ch 4. Some doubt arose of the Genealogies of others Nehem. 7.64 Ezra 2.64 This Tribe continued distinct This Care continued to the days of Augustus Luk. 2. Josephus mentions Antiq. l. 18. c. 1. the Enrolling St. Luke speaks of in the time of Cyrenius and Justin Martyr appeals to the Records of it Apol. 2. vid. Tertullian contra Marcionem The other Tribes were upon the matter lost And before that time when Judah was numbred distinctly and by it self which Aâ—ravenel says is the meaning of the Scepter or Tribe shall not depart from Judah on the first Prophets fol. 95. and fol. 100. the other Tribes were numbred together as Accessories For Benjamin it was looked on but as an Accessory to Judah The Cities of Benjamin are called the Cities of Judah A Man of Benjamin was called a Jew from Judah and so were all the remaining Israelites upon the Captivity of Babylon 1 Kings 11.13 32. 2 Kings 17.18 2 Chron. 11.5 10. ch 17.9 ch 14.4 8 12. ch 20.3 4 5 13 15. Esther 2.5 II. In this Tribe continued the Teachers of the Law called Law-giver here Here were the Lawyers and Scribes c. when the other Tribes had them not The Priests and Levites adhered to this Tribe 2 Chron. 11.13 14. ch 13.4 9 10. The Kings of Judah took care for instructers of the people to teach in the Cities of Judah 2 Chron. 17.7 8 9. ch 29.5 30. ch 34.30 In the Captivity of Babylon these Law-givers departed not from between the feet of the Men of Judah Ezek. 1.3 Ezra 2.36 40. Nehem. 8.9 and ch 12. They continued to the times of Jesus our Messiah We read much in the New Testament of Priests Levites Scribes Doctors of the Law We have mention of Gamaliel a famous Doctor of Simeon the Son of Hillel the Founder of a great School and famous still among the Hebrew Writers That by Shiloh is meant the Messiah is agreed by the ancient Jews and upon the matter by all Christians what-ever differences there have been in the Explication of the word And 't is by no means to be thought that Jacob would omit this great Blessing of the Tribe of Judah that the Messiah should spring from it when he relates a great number of smaller matters which should happen and they came to pass to the other Tribes 11 12. Binding c. These words are a fit Description of the Fruitfulness and Plenty of Judah's Inheritance in Canaan and will be better understood if we compare them with what we read Numb 13.22 23. and with other forms of Speech used in Scripture Deut. 33.14 Job 29.6 13. Zebulun His Situation shall be such that by means of his Shipping he shall easily have Intercourse and Traffick with Zidon And therefore Moses said Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out Deut. 33.18 This Tribe was situate upon that Coast or Border which led to Zidon Vnto Zidon may be translated Toward Zidon which agrees better with the place if by Zidon we understand the City so called But understanding by Zidon the Territory or Country adjacent we need not translate it otherwise because Zebulun did reach so far 14 15. Issachar These words give an account of Issachar's Temper and of his Lot His Land was pleasant and its Inhabitants lovers of Peace and Rest and instead of War or Merchandice gave themselves up to the Labours of Husbandry To which account the words of Moses agree Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents Deut 33.18 16. As one c. Though Dan be the Son of an Handmaid whereas the abovenamed were the Sons of Leah yet shall not that hinder him from the priviledge belonging to the others but he shall judge his People as any one of the other Tribes of Israel 17. Dan c. Sampson of this Tribe shall be an eminent Judge and Deliverer of his People And though he do not overcome the Philistines with a numerous Army and in pitched Battels yet he shall destroy them craftily and whiles they are less aware like a Serpent by the way c. 18. I have waited c. q. d. Whereas Sampson died in the overthrow of his Enemies and left his People obnoxious to their Oppressors and I foresee the Straits and high Misdemeanours this Tribe of Dan will hereafter fall into Compare Josh 19.47 Judg. 1.34 with Judg. 18.30 and 1 King 12.29 I cannot but upon this occasion intimate my firm belief and earnest expectation of that eternal Deliverance which shall be wrought by the Messiah Luk. 2.30 This sense is favoured by the ancient Jews See Hieronym Quaest Hebr. in Genes Targum Hierosol Jonathan 19. Gad c. Gad was sorely oppressed by the Ammonites their Neighbours Judg. 10.7 8. But as the Gadites were a fierce and valiant People Deut. 33.20 so we have a particular account of their Victory over their Enemies 1 Chron. 5.18 19 20 21 22. and however they were oppressed for
physicians to embalm his father and the physicians embalmed Israel 3. And forty days were fulfilled for him for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days 4. And when the days of his mourning were past Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh saying If now I have found grace in your eyes speak I pray you in the ears of Pharaoh saying 5. My father made me swear saying Lo I die in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan there shalt thou bury me Now therefore let me go up I pray thee and bury my father and I will come again 6. And Pharaoh said Go up and bury thy father according as he made thee swear 7. And Joseph went up to bury his father and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh the elders of his house and all the elders of the land of Egypt 8. And all the house of Joseph and his brethren and his father's house onely their little ones and their flocks and their herds they left in the land of Goshen 9. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen and it was a very great company 10. And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad which is beyond Jordan and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation and he made a mourning for his father seven days 11. And when the inhabitants of the land the Canaanites saw the mourning in the floor of Atad they said This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim which is beyond Jordan 12. And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them 13. For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying-place of Ephron the Hittite before Mamre 14. And Joseph returned into Egypt he and his brethren and all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father 15. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead they said Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him 16. And they sent messengers unto Joseph saying Thy father did command before he died saying 17. So shall ye say unto Joseph Forgive I pray thee now the trespass of thy brethren and their sin for they did unto thee evil And now we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father And Joseph wept when they spake unto him 18. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face and they said Behold we be thy servants 19. And Joseph said unto them Fear not for am I in the place of God 20. But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive 21. Now therefore fear ye not I will nourish you and your little ones And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them 22. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt he and his father's house and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years 23. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees â—4 And Joseph said unto his brethren I die and God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 25. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel saying God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones from hence 2369. 1635. 26. So Joseph died being an hundred and ten years old and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt 2. Physicians Those to whom the care of Embalming belonged To embalm i. e. So to apply Spices to the Body that it might be preserved from Putrefaction 3. Threescore and ten days i. e. Thirty days according to the custom of the Hebrews Numb 20.29 Deut. 21.13 with Deut. 34.8 besides the forty days of embalming mentioned before which were likewise days of Mourning 4. Vnto the house of Pharaoh He does not speak to Pharaoh himself and that perhaps because he was a Mourner and for that reason might not come into his Presence See Esth 4.2 5. Which I have digged It was usual for Men to dig their Sepulchres in their life-time And the place which Abraham bought was spacious enough for Jacob to build his burying-place in 2 Chron. 16.14 Isa 22.16 Matt. 27.60 Gen. 23.17 7. All i. e. A great number of them Matt. 3.5 10. Atad A place not far 't is probable from Hebron Beyond Jordan In respect to Moses who writes this Relation 13. Machpelah See Notes on Gen. 23.9 14. He had buried He was principally concerned in it and was obliged by Oath ch 47.31 19. For am I in the place of God q. d. It belongs not to me to punish you for your sins nor will it become me to remember your former faults since God hath turned your Evil into Good 20. God meant it c. Joseph does not vaunt his own Wisdom and Skill but owns God as the Author of the Good which befell him and his Father's House 23. Ephraim's children See ch 48.19 20. 25. An oath See ch 47.29 Of the children of Israel It is not said Of his Brethren For besides that 't is very probable they were most of them dead so they were least concerned had they now been alive because the Israelites were not like to return during their life Hence i. e. When ye go hence He was obliged by Oath to carry his Father's Body forthwith and this he alledges v. 5. To have ordered his own Burial there forthwith might have been thought a contempt of the Land of Egypt and brought mischief on his Brethren He is willing his Body should be left in Egypt a Memorial of his Benefaction to the Egyptians and to his own People a Pledge of their Deliverance 2369. 1635. 26. Died viz. in Egypt THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE General Argument OF THE Second Book of MOSES CALLED EXODUS THIS Second Book of Moses treats of the Departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt and with respect thereunto it is called Exodus from a Greek word which imports a Departure or going out And though some other Matters are herein treated of yet that is the principal Subject of this Book For the main of the other Matters herein related are either such as were preparatory thereunto or consequent thereupon Of the first sort there are several Particulars related in this Book And they are these which follow I. The Names of the Children of Israel and the Number of them which came down into Egypt who were of that Race Of this we have an account Exod. I. v. 1 2 3 4 5. II. The Miseries which these
from being idle that he is not onely employed in the main and greatest business but does it with all his Power and Might It requires the whole Man and the greatest Application that is possible 9. Let there more work c. Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men 13. Your daily tasks Heb. A matter of a day in his day i. e. so much as is expected every day 14. The officers of the children of Israel who were Israelites See v. 6. 15. Vnto Pharaoh And not unto the Task-masters who were set over them upon a presumption that Pharaoh did not allow of their oppression and out of hopes that he would redress it 16. In thine own people i. e. In the Task-masters They do not here charge Pharaoh 21. To be abhorred Heb. To stink i. e. We are rendred vile in the sight of Pharaoh 22. Vnto the Lord Who was alone able to help them in their Calamity 23. Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all Hebr. Delivering thou hast not delivered CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT God reneweth his Promise of delivering the Israelites out of Egypt Of the name JEHOVAH Moses is again commanded to go unto Pharaoh Of the Families of Reuben Simeon and Levi. 1. THEN the LORD said unto Moses Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh for with a strong hand shall he let them go and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land 2. And God spake unto Moses and said unto him I am the LORD 3. And I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them 4. And I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers 5. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage and I have remembred my covenant 6. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am the LORD and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their bondage and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments 7. And I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians 8. And I will bring you in unto the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am the LORD 9. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage 10. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 11. Go in speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt that he let the children of Israel go out of his land 12. And Moses spake before the LORD saying Behold the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me how then shall Pharaoh hear me who am of uncircumcised lips 13. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt 14. These be the heads of their fathers houses The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel Hanoch and Pallu Hezron and Carmi these be the families of Reuben 15. And the sons of Simeon Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman these are the families of Simeon 16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations Gershon and Kohath and Merari And the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years 17. The sons of Gershon Libni and Shimi according to their families 18. And the sons of Kohath Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Vzziel And the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years 19. And the sons of Merari Mahali and Mushi these are the families of Levi according to their generations 20. And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife and she bare him Aaron and Moses And the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years 21. And the sons of Izhar Korah and Nepheg and Zichri 22. And the sons of Vzziel Mishael and Elzaphan and Zithri 23. And Aaron took him Elisheba daughter of Aminadab sister of Naashon to wife and she bare him Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 24. And the sons of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph these are the families of the Korhites 25. And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Pâ—tiel to wife and she bare him Phinehas these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families 26. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies 27. These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt these are that Moses and Aaron 28. And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt 29. That the LORD spake unto Moses saying I am the LORD speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee 30. And Moses said before the LORD Behold I am of uncircumcised lips and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me 1. WITH a strong hand i. e. Being thereunto compelled with severe Judgments V. c. 3. v. 19 20. 3. God Almighty Or God All-sufficient V. Gen. 17.1 God gave unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob great proofs of his Almighty Power and many promises also of the Land of Canaan But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them It is not said That this name was not known to them See Gen. 22.14 Nor can the words be understood of the Letters of the Name but it is by my name JEHOVAH was I not known c. By this name must be understood that which it doth signifie JEHOVAH denotes not onely God's Eternal Being but his giving of Being to other things and especially the performing his Promise Now Abraham Isaac and Jacob had received Promises but enjoyed not the thing promised The time was now come in which God would bring to pass what he had promised and now they should know that he is the Lord V. Isa 49.23 c. 52.6 c. 60.16 The knowing him by his name JEHOVAH implies the receiving from him what he had promised before He is not called JEHOVAH till he had finished the Creation Gen. 2.4 The doing of that which He before decreed and promised speaks Him to be JEHOVAH See Exod. 20.2 This Interpretation agrees exactly with the Context For in the very next words God lets them know that he would make good his Promise which is expressed
by establishing his Covenant v. 4. and declares that he remembers his Covenant v. 5. And then follow these words Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH and I will bring you out c. V. 6. with v. 7 8. For the farther clearing of this matter it is to be remembred That God is said to make himself known to those whom he takes into Covenant Thus in Judah is God known Psal 76.1 Again In the day when I chose Israel and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob and made my self known unto them in the land of Egypt when I lifted up my hand unto them saying I am the Lord your God In the day that I lifted up my hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them c. Ezek. 20.5 6. When God entred into Covenant with Abraham it was by the name of God Almighty Gen. 17.1 upon which he promiseth to his Seed the Land of Canaan v. 8. By this name Isaac blesseth Jacob and bestows on him the Blessing of Abraham ch 28.3 4. By this name Jacob blesseth Joseph ch 48.3.49.25 God lets them here know that he who had made a Promise to their Fathers by the name of God Almighty would now confirm His Covenant to them and make his Promise good by the name of JEHOVAH Say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH i. e. I will make good to you what I promised by the name of God Almighty And ye shall know that I am JEHOVAH your God And I will bring you into the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am JEHOVAH Exod. 6.6 7 8. 4. My covenant with them God promised Abraham the Land of Canaan Gen. 15. and renewed this promise afterward 6. Wherefore say c. i. e. Assure them I will make good my promise See v. 7 8. 8. I did swear H. Lift up my hand See Gen. 14.22 9. For anguish of spirit Heb. Shortness or Straitness They were dejected in their Spirits through their bondage and not prone to believe the tidings of their Deliverance See the LXXII 12. Vncircumcised lips That is not eloquent He complained before of an impediment which not being taken away he calls his Lips Uncircumcised 14. The sons of Reuben V. Gen. 46.9 1 Chron. 5.3 This following account is to make way to the stock of Moses and Aaron who descended from Levi the third Son of Jacob and hence it is that the following account of Reuben and Simeon is premised lest they should be thought to be contemned 15. And the sons 1 Chron. 4.24 16. Of the sons of Levi Num. 3.17 1 Chron. 6.1 18. Sons of Kohath Numb 26.57 1 Chron. 6.2 20. Amram V. ch 2.2 Numb 26.59 His father's sister See the Notes on ch 2.1 25. She bare him V. Numb 25.11 27. These are that Moses and Aaron See the Notes on v. 14. 29. I am the LORD The JEHOVAH v. 3. who am ready to accomplish what I have formerly promised 30. Vncircumcised See v. 12. CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT Moses is farther directed and encouraged in his Message to Pharaoh His Rod is turned into a Serpent The Magicians of Egypt do the like Pharaoh's Heart is hardened The Waters are turned into Blood The Magicians do so Pharaoh's Heart is hardened 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses See I have made thee a god to Pharaoh and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet 2. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh that he send the children of Israel out of his land 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt 4. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you that I may lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth mine armies and my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great judgments 5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them 6. And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them so did they 7. And Moses was fourscore years old and Aaron fourscore and three years old when they spake unto Pharaoh 8. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 9. When Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying Shew a miracle for you then thou shalt say unto Aaron Take thy rod and cast it before Pharaoh and it shall become a serpent 10. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh and they did so as the LORD had commanded and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent 11. Then Pharaoh also called the wisemen and the sorcerers now the magicians of Egypt they also did in like manner with their inchantments 12. For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods 13. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart that he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Pharaoh's heart is hardened he refuseth to let the people go 15. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning lo he goeth out unto the water and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand 16. And thou shalt say unto him The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying Let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness and behold hitherto thou wouldest not hear 17. Thus saith the LORD In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD behold I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river and they shall be turned to blood 18. And the fish that is in the river shall die and the river shall stink and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river 19. And the LORD spake unto Moses Say unto Aaron Take thy rod and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt upon their streams upon their rivers and upon their ponds and upon all their pools of water that they may become blood and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone 20. And Moses and Aaron did so as the LORD commanded and he lift up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood 21. And the fish that was in the river died and the river stunk and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt 22. And the magicians of Egypt did so
there were lice upon man and upon beast 19. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh This is the finger of God And Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said 20. And the LORD said unto Moses rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh lo he cometh forth to the water and say unto him Thus saith the LORD Let my people go that they may serve me 21. Else if thou wilt not let my people go behold I will send swarms of flies upon thee and upon thy servants and upon thy people and into thy houses and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies and also the ground whereon they are 22. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen in which my people dwell that no swarms of flies shall be there to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth 23. And I will put a division between my people and thy people to morrow shall this sign be 24. And the LORD did so and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants houses and into all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies 25. And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron and said Go ye sacrifice to your God in the land 26. And Moses said It is not meet so to do for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God Lo shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and will they not stone us 27. We will go three days journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he shall command us 28. And Pharaoh said I will let you go that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness onely you shall not go very far away intreat for me 29. And Moses said Behold I go out from thee and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh from his servants and from his people to morrow but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD 30. And Moses went out from Pharaoh and intreated the LORD 31. And the LORD did according to the word of Moses and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh from his servants and from his people there remained not one 32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also neither would he let the people go 2. All thy borders i. e. The whole Land of Egypt 3. Kneading-troughs Or Dough. 7. And the magicians Wisd 17.7 See the Notes on ch 7.12 8. Intreat the LORD Pharaoh is forced to this his Magicians not being able to remove the Frogs which they were permitted to bring upon the Egyptians 9. Glory over me Or Have this honour over me i. e. Have thou the honour of appointing me the time when I shall intreat the Lord for thee See v. 10. and Judg. 7.2 When Or Against when To destroy Heb. To cut off 10. To morrow Or Against to morrow 12. Because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh Or Concerning the appointed time which was agreed on before for the removing the Frogs In this Sense the Greek understood the words 15. Respite i. e. That the Plague was removed 17. Lice One of the Ancients inquires Why God punished the Egyptians with such vile and inconsiderable Animals rather than with Bears Leopards Lions and such ravenous Creatures or the Serpents of Egypt which would quickly have destroyed theâ— And his answer is That God designed to correct not to destroy the Egyptians For had he designed their destruction he needed not the help of any Animals he might have done it by Plague or Famine When Men says he wage War they furnish themselves with the most powerfull assistance but the powerfull God when he designs to inflict evils makes use of the smallest and most inconsiderable Instruments what smaller than Lice and yet the Egyptians were forced to own the Finger of God Phil. de vit Mos l. 1. 18. Did so i. e. They attempted to do the like 19. This is the finger of God Or This Plague is of God's inflicting See the Chaldee The Power of God is represented by his Hand or Finger in the Scripture Phrase Ps 8.3 See Luk. 11.20 The Magicians do here confess God's Work and are not able to do the same And Pharaoh's heart was hardened These are the same words in the Hebr. with those ch 7.13 and they do imply that Pharaoh hardened his own Heart He continued in his obstinacy after the Magicians were baffled and were forced to acknowledge the Finger of God See v. 32. 21. Swarms of flies Or A mixture of noisom Beasts 22. I will sever c. By making this wonderfull difference this Plague was rendered the more convictive and Pharaoh the more inexcusable 23. A division Heb. A redemption And so it was to the Israelites a Rescue and Redemption and a distinguishing Mercy See Psal 111.9 Isa 43.2 3. To morrow Or By to morrow 24. There came See Wisd 16.9 A grievous swarm Not onely a very troublesome but a very numerous swarm Corrupted Or destroyed 26. It is not meet It is not right God having called the Israelites out of Egypt V. ch 3.18 The abomination of the Egyptians Or The things which the Egyptians worship as the Vulgar and the Chaldee understand the words at least the Beasts which the Egyptians abstain from and will neither eat nor kill V. Gen. 43.32 and the Notes on that place 27. As he shall See ch 3.18 32. Hardened his heart at this time also As he had done before v. 19. so he did again after a new Plague that spoke not onely the Power but the peculiar Providence of God v. 22 23. and all this after his Magicians had acknowledged the Power of God CHAP. IX The ARGUMENT A grievous Murrain Pharaoh's Heart is hardened The plague of Boyls The plague of Hail and the grievous Effects of it Pharaoh sues to Moses and Aaron to be delivered from it and promiseth to let the Israelites go The Hail is removed and Pharaoh thereupon hardens his Heart and refuseth to let the People go 1. THen the LORD said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh and tell him Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews Let my people go that they may serve me 2. For if thou refuse to let them go and wilt hold them still 3. Behold the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattel which is in the field upon the horses upon the asses upon the camels upon the oxen and upon the sheep there shall be a very grievous murrain 4. And the LORD shall sever between the cattel of Israel and the cattel of Egypt and there shall nothing die of all that is the childrens of Israel 5. And the LORD appointed a set time saying To morrow the LORD shall
Murrain v. 6. 26. Was there no hail See Notes on v. 4. and 5. and Isa 32.18 19. 28. Mighty thundrings Heb. Voices of God Psal 29.4 5. 29. I will spread abroad my hands I will extend my hands in Prayer says the Chaldee See v. 28. and 1 Tim. 2.8 The Earth Psal 24.1 32. Not grown up Heb. Hidden or dark i. e. They were not so forward as the Barley 35. As the LORD had spoken As the Lord had commanded says the Vulgar referring it to the words immediately going before By Moses Heb. By the hand of Moses CHAP. X. The ARGUMENT Pharaoh is threatned with a most grievous Plague of Locusts Vpon this and his Servants request he inclines to terms But they being refused God sends the Plague of Locusts and removes them at his request After which he refuseth to let the people go After this succeeded the Plague of Darkness Pharaoh is hardned and warneth Moses to come no more into his presence 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants that I might shew these my signs before him 2. And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son and of thy sons son what things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done amongst them that ye may know how that I am the LORD 3. And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before me Let my people go that they may serve me 4. Else if thou refuse to let my people go behold to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast 5. And they shall cover the face of the earth that one cannot be able to see the earth and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped which remaineth unto you from the hail and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field 6. And they shall fâ—ll thy houses and the houses of all thy servants and the houses of all the Egyptians which neither thy fathers nor thy father's fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh 7. And Pharaoh's servants said unto him How long shall this man be a snare unto us Let the men go that they may serve the LORD their God Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed 8. And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh and he said unto them Go serve the LORD your God but who are they that shall go 9. And Moses said We will go with our young and with our old with our sons and with our daughters with our flocks and with our herds will we go for we must hold a feast unto the LORD 10. And he said unto them Let the LORD be so with you as I will let you go and your little ones look to it for evil is before you 11. Not so go now ye that are men and serve the LORD for that you did desire And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence 12. And the LORD said unto Moses Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts that they may come up upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land even all that the hail hath left 13. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt and the LORD brought an east-wind upon the land all that day and all that night and when it was morning the east-wind brought the locusts 14. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the coasts of Egypt very grievous were they before them there were no such locusts as they neither after them shall be such 15. For they covered the face of the whole earth so that the land was darkned and they did eat every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left and there remained not any green thing in the trees or in the herbs of the field through all the land of Egypt 16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste and he said I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you 17. Now therefore forgive I pray thee my sin onely this once and intreat the LORD your God that he may take away from me this death onely 18. And he went out from Pharaoh and intreated the LORD 19. And the LORD turned a mighty strong west-wind which took away the locusts and cast them into the Red sea there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt 20. But the LORD hardned Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let the children of Israel go 21. And the LORD said unto Moses Stretch out thine hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt even darkness which may be felt 22. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days 23. They saw not one another neither rose any from his place for three days but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings 24. And Pharaoh called unto Moses and said Go ye serve the LORD onely let your flocks and your herds be stayed let your little ones also go with you 25. And Moses said Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt-offerings that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God 26. Our cattel also shall go with us there shall not an hoof be left behind for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God and we know not with what we must serve the LORD untill we come thither 27. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them go 28. And Pharaoh said unto him Get thee from me take heed to thy self see my face no more for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die 29. And Moses said Thou hast spoken well I will see thy face again no more 1. FOR c. Or Though Ch. 4.21 2. Mayest tell c. See ch 9.16 Deut. 6.20 22. Psal 78.5 6 7. 4. Locusts Wisd 16.9 5. The face Heb. The eye i. e. the superficies of the Earth The Jewish Writers by the Eye of the Earth understand the Sun and that the multitude of Locusts did intercept the light of the Sun and hinder the Egyptians from seeing the Earth which agrees very well with what follows in this Verse and with vers 15. vid. Abravenel and the Chaldee on the place The residue Ch. 9.32 Every tree Though the Trees were broken by the Hail yet it does not thence follow that they were altogether rendred unfruitfull 6. Have seen Vid. Vers 14. 7. A snare i. e. An occasion of our ruine 8. Who Heb. Who and who c. 10. Let the LORD c. These words seem to be spoken scoffingly q. d. You may assoon expect I should wish you all manner
flesh in that night rost with fire and unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it 9. Eat not of it raw nor sodden at all with water but rost with fire his head with his legs and with the purtenance thereof 10. And ye shall let nothing of it remain untill the morning and that which remaineth of it untill the morning ye shall burn with fire 11. And thus shall ye eat it with your loins girded your shooes on your feet and your staff in your hand and ye shall eat it in haste it is the LORD's passover 12. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt both man and beast and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment I am the LORD 13. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are and when I see the blood I will pass over you and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt 14. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever 15. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day untill the seventh day that soul shall be cut off from Israel 16. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you no manner of work shall be done in them save that which every man must eat that onely may be done of you 17. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread for in this self-same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever 18. In the first month on the fourteenth day of the month at even ye shall eat unleavened bread untill the one and twentieth day of the month at even 19. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses for whosoever eateth that which is leavened even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel whether he be a stranger or born in the land 20. Ye shall eat nothing leavened in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread 21. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said unto them Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families and kill the passover 22. And ye shall take a bunch of hysop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin and none of you shall go out at the door of his house untill the morning 23. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel and on the two side-posts the LORD will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you 24. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever 25. And it shall come to pass when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you according as he hath promised that ye shall keep this service 26. And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you What mean you by this service 27. That ye shall say It is the sacrifice of the LORD 's Passover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses And the people bowed the head and worshipped 28. And the children of Israel went away and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron so did they 29. And it came to pass that at midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon and all the first-born of cattel 30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night he and all his servants and all the Egyptians and there was a great cry in Egypt for there was not an house where there was not one dead 31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night and said Rise up and get you forth from among my people both you and the children of Israel and go serve the LORD as ye have said 32. Also take your flocks and your herds as ye have said and be gone and bless me also 33. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste for they said We be all dead men 34. And the people took their dough before it was leavened their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders 35. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment 36. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent unto them such things as they required and they spoiled the Egyptians 37. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth about six hundred thousand on foot that were men besides children 38. And a mixed multitude went up also with them and flocks and herds even very much cattel 39. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt for it was not leavened because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry neither had they prepared for themselves any victual 40. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel 2513. 1491. who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years 41. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self-same day it came to pass that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt 42. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations 43. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron This is the ordinance of the passover there shall no stranger eat thereof 44. But every man's servant that is bought for money when thou hast circumcised him then shall he eat thereof 45. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof 46. In one house shall it be eaten thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house neither shall ye break a bone thereof 47. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the passover to the LORD let all his males be circumcised and then let him come near and keep it and
he shall be as one that is born in the land for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof 49. One law shall be to him that is home-born and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you 50. Thus did all the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron so did they 51. And it came to pass the self-same day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies 1. SPake Sometime before the Israelites went out of Egypt and it is likely it might be before the Darkness 2. This month It is called Abib c. 13.4 And afterwards was called Nisan Esth 3.7 it answers to our March The first month of the year i. e. Of the Sacred not of the Civil Year It is certain the seventh Month or Tisri which answers to our September was even after this the first Month of the Year and very probable it is that it was so from the beginning in all respects insome accounts Tisri began the Civil Year and was reckoned the first Month with respect to the Sabbatical Year and Jubilee Vid. c. 23.16 c. 34.22 Lev. 25.8 9. But then this Month was the beginning of the Sacred or Ecclesiastical Year and with respect to the Holy Days and Festivals which God appointed To you Not in all respects but to you especially in the sense before explained and with a particular reference to their Redemption out of Egypt It was at this time that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our Redemption Joh. 18.28 And there is a Tradition among the Jews That as they were redeemed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of Nisan so they should on the same day be redeemed by the Messias 3. Tenth day That they might have their Lamb in a readiness This seems peculiarly to belong to the Passover of Egypt and not to oblige them in future times It doth however fitly represent our Saviour's coming to Jerusalem on the tenth day of this Month Joh. 12.1 12. Lamb Or Kid. 4. According to the number c. There were wont to be ten at least and sometimes more at the eating of one Lamb Joseph Of the Wars of the Jews Book 7. c. 17. 5. Without blemish Or perfect Not diseased or maimed This was a Type of our Saviour 1 Pet. 1.19.2.22 A male The most excellent of its kind Mal. 1.14 and that which was required in the most perfect and complete Sacrifice which was the Holocaust or whole Burnt-offering Levit. 1.3 10. Of the first year Heb. Son of a year It must not exceed the first year if it be above a year old it must not be offered up Levit. 22.27 6. In the evening Heb. Between the two evenings i. e. In the Afternoon There was among the Jews a former and a latter Evening The Former began at Noon assoon as the Sun begins to decline The Latter was their Sun-set Judg. 13.8 9. compared with Josh 10.26 27 and Luk. 9.12 with Matth. 14.15 The time between the two Evenings when our Days and Nights are of an equal length is three a Clock in the Afternoon which answers to the ninth hour among the Jews and was among them a time of Prayer Act. 3.1 and of their daily Evening Sacrifice Numb 28.4 About this time the Passover was slain Vid. Pesa c. 1. m. 1. And about the same time of the day our Saviour died who is our Passover that was sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.7 Mark 15.34 37. compared with v. 42 43. 7 Vpper door-post But not on the Threshold Vid. Heb. 10.29 8. Vnleavened bread V. Luk. 12.1 1 Cor. 5.8 Bitter herbs To mind them of their grievous Bondage in Egypt 10. Vntill the morning It being an Eucharistical Sacrifice Levit. 7.15 11. Loins girded i. e. Like Travelling-men These things as well as what we read v. 7. were peculiar to the first Passover And hence it is very probable that it was at this time received standing Vid. Luk. 7.37 and 12.35 Ephes 6.14 15. 12. Gods Or Princes Possibly the Idols of the Egyptians were thrown down and such a Tradition there is among the Jewish Doctors Vid. Pirke R. Elieser c. 48. 13. A token viz. of safety Vid. Ezek. 9.4 To destroy Heb. For a destruction 14. For ever i. e. To the times of the Messiah or period of the Ceremonial-Law and Jewish Politie 1 Chron. 15.2 Numb 10.8 15. Cut off Vid. the Notes on Gen. 17.14 16. Man Heb. Soul 17. In this self same day Heb. Strength or body of this day 18. In the first Levit. 23.5 Numb 28.16 19. A stranger i. e. One that is not of the Race of Israel though he sojourn in their Land and be proselyted to their Religion 20. Shall ye eat i. e. When ever you eat Bread during that time it shall be unleavened 21. Lamb Or Kid. 22. And ye c. Heb. 11.28 None of you shall go out This seems also peculiarly to belong to this first Passover the reason not being the same afterwards 23. Pass through Be revealed says the Chaldee 26. And it c. Josh 4.6 29. And it came c. ch 11.4 At midnight At the silent time of the Night when Men are generally most secure 1 Thess 5.3 7. Matt. 25.5 6. What we read Numb 8.17 doth not contradict what is said here Day is put for Time indefinitely in these Sacred Writers See the Notes on Gen. 2.4 From the first-born Wisd 28.11 Dungeon Heb. House of the pit 34. Kneading-troughs Or Dough. 35. Jewels Ch. 3.22 and 11.2 37. To succoth Vid. Numb 33.3 This Journey the Israelites took the day after the Passover was slain This place might be called Succoth from the Booths which the Israelites made there at their first coming out of Egypt or perhaps from the Cloud that there began to cover them Psal 105.39 2513. 1491. 40. Now the sojourning c. Gen. 15.13 Act. 7.6 Gal. 3.17 Their sojourning in Egypt was not above half this time And therefore this space of time takes in the sojourning of them and their Fathers not onely in Egypt but elsewhere See the Greek From the Birth of Isaac to this time are 400 years The other 30 years were before the Birth of Isaac and commence from the first promise made to Abram in Vr of the Chaldees Act. 7.2 3. Now the 30 years are thus made up 5 years in Haran 11 in Canaan when Ishmael was born Gen. 16.3 And 14 years of Ishmael's Age when Isaac was born Gen. 17.25.18.10.16.16.21.5 See the Notes on Gen. 15.13 42. A night much to be observed Heb. A night of Observations 43. No stranger None that is not a Jew born or that is not of that Religion by his being proselyted and admitted by Circumcision Vid. Vers 44 45. 46. Neither shall ye break Numb 9.12 Joh. 19.36 47. Keep it Heb. Do it Stranger c. i. e. The Proselyte See the Greek CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT The First-born are to be set aside The Israelites are minded to preserve
the Memory of their deliverance out of Egypt The Firstlings of Beasts to be set apart The Israelites take with them the Bones of Joseph They are directed by a Cloud and Pillar of Fire 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Sanctifie unto me all the first-born whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and of beast it is mine 3. And Moses said unto the people Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt out of the house of bondage for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place there shall no leavened bread be eaten 4. This day came ye out in the month Abib 5. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee a land flowing with milk and honey that thou shalt keep this service in this month 6. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD 7. Vnleavened bread shall be eaten seven days and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters 8. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day saying This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt 9. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand and for a memorial between thine eyes that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt 10. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year 11. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers and shall give it thee 12. That thou shalt set a-part unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast the males shall be the LORD's 13. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb and if thou wilt not redeem it then thou shalt break his neck and all the first-born of man amongst thy children shalt thou redeem 14. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What is this that thou shalt say unto him By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt from the house of bondage 15. And it came to pass when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt both the first-born of man and the first-born of beast therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix being males but all the first-born of my children I redeem 16. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand and for frontlets between thine eyes for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt 17. And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines although that was near for God said Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war and they return to Egypt 18. But God led the people about through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt 19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel saying God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you 20. And they took their journey from Succoth and encamped in Etham in the edge of the wilderness 21. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night 22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people 2. Sanctifie Ch. 22.29 and 34.19 Levit. 27.26 Numb 3.13 and 8.16 Luk. 2.23 The word signifies to set a-part and that may be said to be sanctified to God which is set aside for his service v. 12. And because the First-born were set aside by God's Command and were therefore more peculiarly his already they were forbid in their voluntary Vows to consecrate them unto the Lord Levit. 27.26 Of man and of beast The Firstling of a Beast fit for Sacrifice was not to be redeemed but the Blood thereof was to be sprinkled on the Altar the fat to be burnt and the flesh to be the Priests Numb 18.17 18. The Firstling of an unclean Beast was to be redeemed v. 13. and the Price to be given to the Priest Numb 18.15 The First-born of Men were to be set a-part to the Service of God Instead of the First-born of the People God took the Levites Numb 3.12 After this the First-born were to be redeemed and the Price to be given to the Priest Numb 18.15 3. Bondage Heb. Servants 4. In the month Abib The Hebrew word Abib signifies an Ear of Corn and because Barley was Eared at this time of the year this month is called the month of Abib The Latin renders it of new fruits and the Greek to the same sense 5. When c. Hence it appears that this Service was after this first Passeover in Egypt determined to the Land of Canaan vid. Deut. 12.1 6. ch 16.5 6. 6. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread It is elsewhere said Six days shalt thou eat unleavened bread Deut. 16.8 But it is plain these six are the six days after the first day of the Feast after which first day they had the liberty of going home but might not eat leavened Bread during those remaining six days And to this purpose it is said Thou shalt sacrifice the Passover v. 6. And thou shalt rest and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose and thou shalt turn in the morning and go unto thy tents Upon this it follows Six days shalt thou eat It is a very probable opinion of the Jews that though they were obliged to eat unleavened Bread with the Paschal Lamb Exod. 12.8 Yet for the six days remaining they were onely obliged if they eat Bread that it should be unleavened but were not under any obligation to eat Bread upon each of those days It is not said Whosoever eateth not unleavened Bread but it is said Whosoever eateth leavened Bread from the first day untill the seventh day that soul shall be cut off from Israel Exod. 12.15 9. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand c. i. e. This Solemnity shall be unto thee a Memorial of what God hath done for thee as if it were something on thine hand or before thine eyes Vid. Deut. 6.8 Isa 49.16 Cant. 8.6 See Notes on v. 16.
Aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances 21. And Miriam answered them Sing ye to the LORD for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea 22. So Moses brought Israel from the Red-sea and they went out into the wilderness of Shur and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water 23. And when they came to Marah they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter therefore the name of it was called Marah 24. And the people murmured against Moses saying What shall we drink 25. And he cried unto the LORD and the LORD shewed him a tree which when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweet there he made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he proved them 26. And said If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God and wilt do that which is right in his sight and wilt give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians for I am the LORD that healeth thee 27. And they came to Elim where were twelve wells of water and threescore and ten palm-trees and they encamped there by the waters 1. MOses Wisd 10.20 Vnto the LORD i. e. To his praise Vid. Psal 106.12 Rev. 15.2 3. 2. My strength To whose assistance this deliverance is to be ascribed Song i. e. The argument of my Praise and Thanksgiving Vid. Isa 12.2 And I will prepare him aâ— habitation Or I will glorifie him as the Greek and Vulgar render it 3. A man of War i. e. A great Warriour It is an Hebraism The Hebrew word which we translate Man is observed in Conjunction with another word to signifie some Excellency or Perfection Thus a man of Words signifies an eloquent Man Exod. 4.10 6. Thy right hand The Scripture speaks say the Jews in the language of the Children of Men. The right hand of a Man is the instrument by which he effects what he finds in his power Hence it is attributed to God when his Power is celebrated 8. With the blast of thy nostrils Or Wind of thine anger This may referr to that Wind ch 14.21 which made way for the destruction of the Egyptians Congealed i. e. Hardened as congealed Matter is so that the Hebrews went on dry-land 9. Destroy Or repossess 10. Blow with thy Wind See v. 8. and ch 14.21 27. 11. Gods Or mighty ones Fearfull in praises To be feared and reverenced when thy Name is celebrated or praised 12. The Earth swallowed them As they sunk into the Deep See Jon. 2.6 And possibly some of them were buried in the Sands brought on them by the violence of the returning Waters 13. Vnto thy holy habitation i. e. To the Land of Canaan the place of the Hebrews rest and the place in which God would reveal himself to them and where he would dwell with them Jer. 50.19 Psal 78.54 55. 14. The People Deut. 2.25 Josh 2.9 16. Fear Deut. 2.25 Josh 2.9 Still i. e. Stupified and so far over-powered with their fears that they shall not be able to defend themselves Pass over Viz. Into the promised Land Purchased Or Possessest 17. Which thou hast made for thee to dwell in This verse contains a description of Canaan as it was the place where God would dwell and that in a Sanctuary which being certainly to be built when God should command is spoken of as already done 20. The prophetess One to whom God revealed himself Vid. Num. 12.2 Gen. 20.7 and Mic. 6.4 21. Answered them i. e. She answered the Men who probably did sing the Song first And when they had sung then Miriam did repeat it 23. To Marah So called by anticipation as appears from the following words Marah That is Bitterness 25. A tree Ecclus 38.5 There he made for them a Statute c. The Jews commonly understand these words with reference to some particular Laws given in this place viz. Concerning the Sabbath honouring of Parents c. But we have no sufficient reason to credit this When 't is said He appointed them as the Hebrew word imports a Statute c. those words seem to refer to that monition which follows v. 26. which is so comprehensive as if obeyed would dispose them to obey all God's Laws 26. Healeth Ps 103.3 27. Elius Num. 33.9 CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT The Israelites come to Sin They murmur for want of Bread They are promised Bread from Heaven Quails are sent and Manna Rules to be observed concerning the Manna It was not to be found on the Sabbath day A Pot of Manna is reserved as a Memorial The Israelites are to eat of this Bread forty Years 1. AND they took their journey from Elim and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt 2. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness 3. And the children of Israel said unto them Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the flesh-pots and when we did eat bread to the full for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger 4. Then said the LORD unto Moses Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no. 5. And it shall come to pass that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily 6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel At even then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt 7. And in the morning then ye shall see the glory of the LORD for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD And what are we that ye murmur against us 8. And Moses said This shall be when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him And what are we your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD 9. And Moses spake unto Aaron Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel Come near before the LORD for he hath heard your murmurings 10. And it came to pass as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel that they looked toward the wilderness and behold the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud 11. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 12. I have heard the murmurings
2.16 Zach. 7.3 1 Cor. 7.5 16. Thunders c. These were so many tokens of the great and terrible Majesty of God who therefore ought to be feared and obeyed 18. Mount Sinai Deut. 4.11 Descended Vid. v. 11. In fire Hence the Law might be called a fiery Law Deut. 33.3 19. Moses spake So terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12.21 21. Charge Heb. contest Break through Namely by going beyond the bounds which were set See v. 12. 22. Priests Aaron and his Sons were not yet set a-part to the Priesthood as is generally supposed Yet see the Note on ch 18.12 And therefore by Priests here we may understand those who ministred in Holy things before Aaron and his Sons were consecrated And these are supposed to be the first-born ch 13.2 who are called young men ch 24.5 And what is rendred young men elsewhere signifies Ministers or those who serve 2 Kings 19.6 That come near to the LORD Who come near to minister unto the Lord. The Priest by vertue of his Office is placed between God and the People for whom he prays and offers Sacrifice unto God 23. Cannot come up i. e. They are sufficiently warned already of the danger of passing the bounds 24. Thou and Aaron Ch. 24.1 CHAP. XX. The ARGUMENT The Ten Commandments The People are in great fear Moses comforts them Idolatry is forbidden Rules concerning the Altar on which they should sacrifice 1. AND God spake all these words saying 2. I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth 5. Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me 6. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 8. Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy 9. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work 10. But the seventh is the sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid servant nor thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates 11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath-sabbath-day and hallowed it 12. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 13. Thou shalt not kill 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery 15. Thou shalt not steal 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour 17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours 18. And all the people saw the thundrings and the lightnings and the noise of the trumpet and the mountain smoaking and when the people saw it they removed and stood a-far off 19. And they said unto Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die 20. And Moses said unto the people Fear not for God is come to prove you and that his fear may be before your faces that ye sin not 21. And the people stood a-far off and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was 22. And the LORD said unto Moses Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven 23. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold 24. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings and thy peace-offerings thy sheep and thine oxen In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee 25. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone thou shalt not build it of hewn stone for if thou lift up thy tool upon it thou hast polluted it 26. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon 1. ALL these words i. e. All these Precepts which follow These are called the ten Words or Commandments ch 34.28 The Hebrew which we render Words is observed to signifie Precepts See Deut. 18.19 2. I am the LORD c. Deut. 5.6 Psal 81.10 This Verse contains the Preface to the following laws and therein very powerfull arguments to gain their attention and obedience Viz. I. From the Excellency of the Person who Commands The Lord. II. His Relation to them whom he commands Thy God III. His Mercy bestowed on them Which have brought thee c. Bondage Heb. Servants 3. Thou shalt have Or There shall not be unto thee Before me Or besides me As the Chaldee and Greek render it This third Verse contains the first Commandment and teacheth that there is one God and he alone is to be worshipped saith Josephus Antiq. Judaic l. 3. c. 4. 4. Thou shalt not c. Levit. 26.1 Psal 97.7 There being Ten of these Commandments ch 34.28 This must be the second as Josephus rightly affirms See this farther proved in the Notes on v. 17. 5. A jealous God Idolatry is frequently expressed by Whoredom Deut. 31.16 Jer. 3.9 And God is said to be an husband to his People Jer. 2.2 Hos 2.19 And in proportion and conformity hereunto God's displeasure against Idolatry is expressed by Jealousy which is says Solomon the rage of a man Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance c. Prov. 6.34 This is here added to deterr Men from Idolatry And is a powerfull Argument to keep Men from the appearance and suspicion of this Sin Children That are rebellious says the Chaldee Third and fourth So long the Idolaters may be supposed to live and be punished in their Children Of them that hate me That is of Idolaters who are especially the haters of God Vid. Mor. Nevochim p. 1. c. 36. 6. And keep c. The keeping God's Commandments being the best argument that we love him 7. Thou shalt not c. Levit. 19.12 Deut. 5.11 Matt. 5.33 Thou shalt not swear falsely nor lightly and commonly but greatly reverence the Holy Name of God Not hold him guiltless i. e. He will severely punish More is understood than is expressed vid. 1 Cor. 10.5 8. To keep it holy i. e. To separate
shines He puts a Veil thereon whiles he speaks with the People and removes it when he speaks with God 1. AND the LORD said unto Mâ—ses Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest 2. And be ready in the morning and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai and present thy self there to me in the top of the mount 3. And no man shall come up with thee neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount 4. And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up unto mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him and took in his hand the two tables of stone 5. And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the LORD 6. And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD The LORD God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children unto the third and to the fourth generation 8. And Moses made hast and bowed his head towards the earth and worshipped 9. And he said If now I have found grace in thy sight O Lord let my Lord I pray thee go amongst us for it is a stiff-necked people and pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for thine inheritance 10. And he said Behold I make a covenant before all thy people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth nor in any nation and all the people amongst which thou art shall see the work of the LORD for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee 11. Observe thou that which I command thee this day Behold I drive out before thee the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite 12. Take heed to thy self lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee 13. But ye shall destroy their altars break their images and cut down their groves 14. For thou shalt worship no other God for the LORD whose name is Jealous is a jealous God 15. Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they go a whoring after their gods and do sacrifice unto their gods and one call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons and their daughters go a whoring after their gods and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods 17. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods 18. The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread as I commanded thee in the time of the month Abib for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt 19. All that openeth the matrix is mine and every firstling among thy cattel whether ox or sheep that is male 20. But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb and if thou redeem him not then shalt thou break his neck All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem and none shall appear before me empty 21. Six days thou shalt work but on the seventh day thou shalt rest in earing-time and in harvest thou shalt rest 22. And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks of the first-fruits of wheat-harvest and the feast of ingathering at the year's end 23. Thrice in the year shall all your men-children appear before the Lord GOD the God of Israel 24. For I will cast out the nations before thee and enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year 25. Thou shalt not offer the bloud of my sacrifice with leaven neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of passover be left unto the morning 26. The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk 27. And the LORD said unto Moses Write thou these words for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel 28. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty-nights he did neither eat bread nor drink water and he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant the ten commandments 29. And it came to pass when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses's hand when he came down from the mount that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him 30. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses behold the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come nigh him 31. And Moses called unto them and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him and Moses talked with them 32. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai 33. And till Moses had done speaking with them he put a veil on his face 34. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him he took the veil off untill he came out And he came out and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded 35. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses that the skin of Moses's face shone and Moses put the veil upon his face again untill he went in to speak with him 1. HEW thee The first Tables were the work of God ch 32.16 Deut. 10.1 5. Descended Was revealed says the Chaldee i. e. He manifested himself in the Cloud And proclaimed the name Or He called upon the name and then these words referr to Moses who upon God's glorious manifestation of himself called upon God This agrees well with the Hebrew Text Vid. Gen. 12.8 and is followed by the Vulgar Latin 6. And the LORD passed by c. That is He caused his Divine Presence to pass by as the Chaldee hath it And proclaimed i. e. And the Lord proclaimed ch 33.19 7. Will by no means clear Or Will not utterly cut off For so the Hebrew word is observed sometimes to signifie and is by our Englisâ— rendred to that sense Zech. 5.3 Jer. 46.28 in the Margent Besides when Moses deprecates God's displeasure he makes use of these words Num. 14.18 More Nevoch p. 1. c. 54. Visiting c. ch 20.5 Deut. 5.9 Jer. 32.18 9. If now c. Moses is now encouraged to pray as he doth upon this proclaiming the Mercy and Goodness of God My Lord
sold within a full year may he redeem it 30. And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations it shall not go out in the jubile 31. But the houses of the villages which have no walls round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country they may be redeemed and they shall go out in the jubile 32. Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites and the houses of the cities of their possession may the Levites redeem at any time 33. And if a man purchase of the Levites then the house that was sold and the city of his possession shall go out in the year of jubile for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel 34. But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold for it is their perpetual possession 35. And if thy brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him yea though he be a stranger or a sojourner that he may live with thee 36. Take thou no usury of him or increase but fear thy God that thy brother may live with thee 37. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury nor lend him thy victuals for increase 38. I am the LORD your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God 39. And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor and be sold unto thee thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond-servant 40. But as an hired servant and as a sojourner he shall be with thee and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile 41. And then shall he depart from thee both he and his children with him and shall return unto his own family and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return 42. For they are my servants which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt they shall not be sold as bond-men 43. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour but shalt fear thy God 44. Both thy bond-men and thy bond-maids which thou shalt have shall be of the heathen that are round about you of them shall ye buy bond-men and bond-maids 45. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you of them shall ye buy and of their families that are with you which they begat in your land and they shall be your possession 46. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you to inherit them for a possession they shall be your bond-men for ever but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule one over another with rigour 47. And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee or to the stock of the stranger's family 48. After that he is sold he may be redeemed again one of his brethren may redeem him 49. Either his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him or if he be able he may redeem himself 50. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him 51. If there be yet many years behind according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for 52. And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile then he shall count with him and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption 53. And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him and the other shall not rule with rigour over him is thy sight 54. And if he be not redeemed in these years then he shall go out in the year of jubile both he and his children with him 55. For unto me the children of Israel are servants they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt I am the LORD your God 2. Into the land c. This Precept of the Sabbatical year was annexed to the Land of Canaan and not used â—sewhâ—â—â— Maimon H. Shemit c. 4. Keep Heb. Rest A sabbath Exod. 23.10 3. Gather in Which they might not do on the seventh year v. 5. 4. For the LORD Or To the LORD It was an acknowledgment that God was the Proprietor of the whole hand v. 23. 5. That which groweth of its own accord Whether it arise from the Seed which happened to fall upon the Land before the Seventh Year or from the remainder of Roots or Herbs which grow of their own accord Not reap Not reap with a design of gathering in as in other Years Of thy vine undressed Heb. Of thy separation These Fruits were such as grew of themselves without the Labour and Cultivation of the Owner of the Soil which was this Year separated from his care and pains 6. The sabbath of the land i. e. The growth of the Land this Seventh Year 9. Of the jubile Heb. Loud of sound In the day of atonement A fit time of shewing Mercy to others when they received Pardon from God This publick notice of the Liberty ensuing was a Type of the Liberty which Christ hath procured for us by the Gospel Luk. 4.18 19 21. It is to this purpose observed That the Thirtieth and last Jubile of the Jews happened on the Thirtieth Year of our Saviour and the beginning of his preaching the Gospel Isa 61.1 2. Luk. 4.19 John Baptist was our Lord's fore-runner and the voice crying in the Wilderness Mark 1.1 2 3. His preaching is fitly represented by the sound of the Trumpet here It is very probable that J. Baptist began his Ministry upon this tenth Day of this seventh Month which was the Day of Atonement and solemn Repentance a very fit time for him to begin to preach Repentance to the People Matt. 3.2 3. Ja. Armach Annal. p. 11. This account is the more likely to be true because the Jews themselves allow the Liberty and Freedom treated of in this Chapter to be a shadow of the Redemption of Messias Vid. R. Bechaâ— on the Pentatcuch f. 161. col 1. and R. D. Kimchi on Ezek. 1.1 10. A jubile The Hebrew word which we render Jubile signifies Freedom says Josephus Antiq. l. 3. c. 10. It does indeed in this place denote no less The Hebrew imports a bring back or restoringing and fitly expresses that return to their Lands and Liberty which happened in this Year Jer. 31.9 11. Not sow In which this Year agrees with the Sabbatical Year 13. Vnto his possession
This did peculiarly belong to the Year of Jubile and was a means to preserve the Tribes distinct and put the Israelites in mind that God was the Proprietor of their Land and that they held it of him See v. 23 38. 14. Oppress By taking the advantage of the Necessities of each other 15. According c. Since the Soil could not be alienated v. 23. the Buyer and Seller were to deal with each other with respect to the distance of the Jubile and to the Fruits arising from the Land 16. Multitude of years viz. Of increase between the time of buying and the following Jubile 17. Fear thy God As a proof of their fear of God they must abstain from Evil Prov. 16.6 21. My blessing By this they might learn to trust intirely in God and continue in their Obedience to him See Exod. 34.24 Matt. 6.33 For three years viz. the Seventh Eighth and Ninth v. 20 22. 23. For ever Or To be quite cut off Heb. For cutting off The meaning is this That they should not have liberty to sell their Inheritance Mine Not onely as the whole Earth is Ps 24.1 but this Land was chosen by God for the place where he was pleased more peculiarly to dwell as is intimated in the following words Ps 76.1 2. 24. Grant Or allow of it before the Year of Jubile whether the Owner of the Land or his Kinsman would redeem it v. 25 26. 26. Himself be able Heb. His hand hath attained and found sufficiency 31. They may be redeemed Heb. Redemption belongeth unto it 32. Cities of the Levites Which are mentioned Numb 35.2 Josh 21.4 At any time This is a peculiar privilege which God thought fit to allow those who were imployed in the service of the Sanctuary 2 Cor. 9.13 14. 33. A man purchase of the Levites Or One of the Levites redeem them i. e. He must be a Levite not an Israelite to whom this privilege v. 32. belongs and if such an one redeem the House so redeemed shall revert to the first Owner at the year of Jubile Their possession Deut. 18.1 2. 34. Field c. Numb 35.4 5. 35. Fallen in decay Heb. His hand faileth Relieve Hebr. Strengthen Stranger or a sojourner i. e. A Proselyte submitting to the Laws of Moses or one who is at least a Worshipper of the true God 36. No usury Exod. 22.25 Deut. 23.19 Prov. 28.8 Ezek. 18.8 and 22.12 39. If thy brother Exod. 21.2 Deut. 15.12 Jer. 34.14 Compel him to serve c. Heb. Serve thy self with him with the service 40. Vnto the year At the farthest See the Notes on Exod. 21.6 42. As bond-men Heb. With the sale of a bondman 43. Thou shalt not Ephes 6.9 Colos 4.1 46. They shall be your bond-men Heb. Ye shall serve your selves with them 47. Wax rich Heb. His hand obtain 50. Time of an hired servant That is A certain and precise time Job 7.1 54. In these years Or By these means That is If he be not redeemed by his Kins man 's or by his own Money CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT Idolatry is forbid Obedience commanded and encouraged with many Promises Threatnings of sundry kinds against the Disobedient Repentance is encouraged 1. YE shall make you no idols nor graven image neither rear you up a standing image neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land to bow down unto it for I am the LORD your God 2. Ye shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary I am the LORD 3. If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments and do them 4 Then I will give you rain in due season and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit 5. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time and ye shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land safely 6. And I will give peace in the land and ye shall lie down and none shall make you afraid and I will rid evil beasts out of the land neither shall the sword go through your land 7. And ye shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword 8. And five of you shall chase an hundred and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword 9. For I will have respect unto you and make you fruitful and multiply you and establish my covenant with you 10. And ye shall eat old store and bring forth the old because of the new 11. And I will set my tabernacle amongst you and my soul shall not abhor you 12. And I will walk among you and will be your God and ye shall be my people 13. I am the LORD your God which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt that ye should not be their bond-men and I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you go upright 14. But if ye will not hearken unto me and will not do all these commandments 15. And if ye shall despise my statutes or if your soul abhorr my judgments so that ye will not do all my commandments but that ye break my covenant 16. I also will do this unto you I will even appoint over you terror consumption and the burning ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart and ye shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall eat it 17. And I will set my face against you and ye shall be slain before your enemies they that hate you shall reign over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you 18. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me then I will punish you seven times more for your sins 19. And I will break the pride of your power and I will make your heaven as iron and your earth as brass 20. And your strength shall be spent in vain for your land shall not yield her increase neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits 21. And if ye walk contrary unto me and will not hearken unto me I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins 22. I will also send wild beasts among you which shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel and make you few in number and your high-ways shall be desolate 23. And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things but will walk contrary unto me 24. Then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins 25. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant and when ye are gathered together within your cities I will send the pestilence among you and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy 26. And when I have broken the staff of your bread ten women shall bake your bread in one oven and they shall deliver you your
the other For such Men may justly be reckoned contrary or adverse to God who are not reclaimable by the Afflictions which he sends 22. Wild beasts See v. 6. God threatens at least to let loose upon them the Beast of the Field which upon their Obedience he would have restrained 24. Then will I also c. 2 Sam. 22.27 Psal 18.26 These words are to be interpreted by v. 21. God may be said to walk contrary to those Men whom he punisheth more severely or deprives of that more special Care and Providence which he had formerly shewed for them 25. Covenant Or Law which ye have despised and broken 26. Staff The great support of humane life Psal 104.15 Ten women i. e. Many Women Gen. 31.7 shall bake together so great shall be the scarcity of Bread By weight Another sign of great scarcity Ezek. 4.16 17. 28. In fury God threatens them with greater Effects of his displeasure as their Sins did increase 29. Ye shall eat Deut. 28.53 We find this fulfilled 2 Kings 6.29 Lam. 4.10 30. Cut down 2 Chron. 34.7 31. Your Sanctuaries Yours and for your Sins not any longer mine These Sanctuaries or Holy Places may very well be understood of the several Parts and Courts of the Temple to each of which the Title of Sanctuary did belong and possibly may extend to the Synagogues also 33. A sword Jer. 9.16 35. Because it did not rest c. This referrs to the Captivity of Babylon and was then fulfilled 2 Chron. 36.21 36. Shaken Heb. Driven 41. Accept of the punishment of their iniquity i. e. Willingly bear it as justly inflicted and turn from the Sin for the sake of which it was inflicted 44. I will not cast them away Deut. 4.31 Rom. 11.26 CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT Concerning Vows Of things by Vow given to God and of the Estimation thereof Of the Estimation of Persons Of Beasts whether clean or unclean Of a House or Field and the Redemption thereof Things devoted must not be redeemed Of Tithes 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When a man shall make a singular vow the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation 3. And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver after the shekel of the sanctuary 4. And if it be a female then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels 5. And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels and for the female ten shekels 6. And if it be from a month old even unto five years old then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver 7. And if it be from sixty years old and above if it be a male then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels and for the female ten shekels 8. But if he be poorer then thy estimation then he shall present himself before the priest and the priest shall value him according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him 9. And if it be a beast whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy 10. He shall not alter it nor change it a good for a bad or a bad for a good and if he shall at all change beast for beast then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy 11. And if it be any unclean beast of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD then he shall present the beast before the priest 12. And the priest shall value it whether it be good or bad as thou valuest it who art the priest so shall it be 13. But if he will at all redeem it then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation 14. And when a man shall sanctifie his house to be holy unto the LORD then the priest shall estimate it whether it be good or bad as the priest shall estimate it so shall it stand 15. And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it and it shall be his 16. And if a man shall sanctifie unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof an homer of barley-seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver 17. If he sanctifie his field from the year of jubile according to thy estimation it shall stand 18. But if he sanctifie his field after the jubile then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain even unto the year of the jubile and it shall be abated from thy estimation 19. And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it and it shall be assured to him 20. And if he will not redeem the field or if he have sold the field to another man it shall not be redeemed any more 21. But the field when it goeth out in the jubile shall be holy unto the LORD as a field devoted the possession thereof shall be the priest's 22. And if a man sanctifie unto the LORD a field which he hath bought which is not of the fields of his possession 23. Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation even unto the year of the jubile and he shall give thine estimation in that day as a holy thing unto the LORD 24. In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong 25. And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary twenty gerahs shall be the shekel 26. Onely the firstling of the beasts which should be the LORD's firstling no man shall sanctifie it whether it be ox or sheep it is the LORD's 27. And if it be of an unclean beast then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation and shall add a fifth part of it thereto or if it be not redeemed then it shall be sold according to thy estimation 28. Notwithstanding no devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath both of man and beast and of the field of his possession shall be sold or redeemed every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD 29. None devoted which shall be devoted of men shall be redeemed but shall surely be put to death 30. And all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree is the LORD's it is holy unto the LORD 31. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes he
any other way So true are the words of Solomon Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14.34 This passage deserves great consideration It is not onely the Duty but the Interest of Kings and Governours to encourage Men in the exercise of true Religion and by all possible ways and means to suppress Vice and all Profaneness Where-ever a People are profane they are weak at the same time Besides that they by their Wickedness call down the Vengeance of Heaven their very Wickedness does infeeble them and render them an easie Prey to their Enemies The Israelites were strong while Innocent when they had forsaken their God they fell Let us hear what Balaam was forc'd to say before their Whoredom and Idolatry He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel The Lord his God is with him and the shout of a king is among them God brought them out of Egypt He hath as it were the strength of an Vnicorn surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel 〈◊〉 Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lion and lift up himself as a young Lion He shall not lie down till he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain Numb 23.21 22 23 24. This was the condition of Israel but alas they soon fell by their own Follies whom no Power or Malice of their Enemies could have hurt There is nothing a plainer and more incontestable Truth than this That true Religion and Vertue is not onely the Glory but the Strength and Safety of any Nation or Kingdom On the other hand Vice and Wickedness Profaneness and Discontent are the greatest Mischiefs and the saddest Presages of the Ruin of any People The History of the Israelites delivered in this Book will confirm any considering Man in this belief Here we have a Relation of their Follies and their Wandrings of their Vices and their Plagues of their Sin and Punishment They were delivered from the Egyptians and from Amalek They needed not to fear their Enemies about them They fell indeed in the Wilderness but they fell as the Jews say a drunken Man does he needs none to throw him down he falls of himself They fell by their own Lust their Discontent their Profaneness and Idolatry God grant that we when we seem to stand may take heed lest we fall X. There are in this excellent Book many other things of admirable use for the better understanding the Jewish Religion and the other parts of the Holy Writ which I have not time in this place to enlarge upon but such things they are as will entertain with great variety and delight the inquisitive and diligent Reader Such are the Law of the Nazarite's Vow concerning the Water of Jealousie The form of blessing the People The Law about a Second Passeover The Relation of the guidance of the Cloud and the Law concerning sins of Ignorance and Presumption and of the Ashes of the red Heifer The Relation of the smiting the Rock by Moses Of the Conquest of Sihon and Og The Laws concerning the stated Sacrifices and concerning dividing the Spoil Concerning Inheritances and the Marriage of Heiresses Every one of which will deserve a serious Consideration NOTES ON THE Book of NUMBERS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT Moses is commanded to number the People The Princes of the Tribes who were appointed to assist in numbring them The People of the several Tribes are numbered from Twenty years old and upward The Number of the whole The Levites are not numbred but appointed to their Office 2514. 1490. 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai in the tabernacle of the congregation on the first day of the second month in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt saying 2. Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel after their families by the house of their fathers with the number of their names every male by their poll 3. From twenty years old and upward all that are able to go forth to war in Israel thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies 4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe every one head of the house of his fathers 5. And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you Of the tribe of Reuben Elizur the son of Shedeur 6. Of Simeon Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai 7. Of Judah Nahshon the son of Aminadab 8. Of Issachar Nethaneel the son of Zuar 9. Of Zebulun Eliab the son of Helon 10. Of the children of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammibud of Manasseb Gamaliel the son Pedahzur 11. Of Benjamin Abidan the son of Gideoni 12. Of Dan Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai 13. Of Asher Pagiel the son of Ocran 14. Of Gad Estasaph the son of Deuel 15. Of Naphtali Ahira the son of Enan 16. These were the renowned of the congregation princes of the tribes of their fathers heads of thousands in Israel 17. And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names 18. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month and they dâ—â—lared their pedigrees after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward by their poll 19. As the LORD commanded Moses so he numbred them in the wilderness of Sinai 20. And the children of Reuben Israel's eldest son by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names by their poll every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 21. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Reuben were forty and six thousand and five hundred 22. Of the children of Simeon by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers those that were numbred of them according to the number of the names by their polls every male from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 23. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Simeon were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred 24. Of the children of Gad by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 25. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Gad were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty 26. Of the children of Judah by their generations after their families by the house of their fathers according to the number of the names from twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to war 27. Those that were numbred of them even of the tribe of Judah were threescore and fourteen
six hundred they shall go hindmost with their standards 32. These are those which were numbred of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers all those that were numbred of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty 33. But the Levites were not numbred among the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses 34. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses so they pitched by their standards and so they set forward every one after their families according to the house of their fathers 2. Standard or Banner the setting up of which is a Warlike preparation Ps 20.5 with Jer. 51.27 Ensign These Standards were distinguished by certain marks or signs What those were is not here expressed but the Jewish Writers tell us that the Ensign of Judah was a Lion that of Reuben a Man that of Ephraim an Ox and that of Dan an Eagle Far off Heb. Over-against The distance between the Tabernacle and the Camp of Israel is not here expressed but is probably collected from Josh 3.4 to be about the space of Two thousand Cubits or a Mile which is called a Sabbath-days journey Act. 1.12 vid. Targum in Ruth 1.16 3. On the East-side c. i. e. In the first or principal place as the Greek have it In this Quarter were Moses and Aaron and his Sons placed ch 3.38 14. Reuel Called Deuel ch 1.14 25. Dan He was the Son of an Handmaid but hath his Standard assigned him a Dignity very agreeable to Jacob's Prediction Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel Gen. 49.16 33. But the Levites c. Seâ— the Notes on ch 1.47 CHAP. III. The ARGUMENT Of the Sons of Aaron The Charge of the Levites who are taken in lieu of the first-born The Levites are numbred The Number and Charge of the Gershonites Of the Kohathites and of the Merarites The Number of the whole The First-born of the Israelites are numbred and freed by the Levites the overplus are redeemed 1. THese also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai 2. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron Nadab the first-born and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 3. These are the names of the sons of Aaron the priests which were anointed whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office 4. And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai and they had no children and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father 5. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 6. Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest that they may minister unto him 7. And they shall keep his charge and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation to do the service of the tabernacle 8. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation and the charge of the children of Israel to do the service of the tabernacle 9. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel 10. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons and they shall wait on their priest's office and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death 11. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 12. And I behold I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in stead of all the first-born that openeth the matrice among the children of Israel therefore the Levites shall be mine 13. Because all the first-born are mine for on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel both man and beast mine they shall be I am the LORD 14. And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai saying 15. Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers by their families every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them 16. And Moses numbred them according to the word of the LORD as he was commanded 17. And these were the sons of Levi by their names Gershon and Kohath and Merari 18. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families Libni and Shimei 19. And the sons of Kohath by their families Amram and Izehar Hebron and Vzziel 20. And the sons of Merari by their families Mabli and Mushi these are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers 21. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites these are the families of the Gershonites 22. Those that were numbred of them according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward even those that were numbred of them were seven thousand and five hundred 23. The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward 24. And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael 25. And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle and the tent the covering thereof and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 26. And the hangings of the court and the curtain for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about and the cords of it for all the service thereof 27. And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izeharites and the family of the Hebronites and the family of the Vzzielites these are the families of the Kohathites 28. In the number of all the males from a month old and upward were eight thousand and six hundred keeping the charge of the sanctuary 29. The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward 30. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Vzziel 31. And their charge shall be the ark and the table and the candlestick and the altars and the altars and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister and the hanging and all the service thereof 32. And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary 33. Of Merari was the family of the Mâ—hlites and the family of the Mushites these are the families of Merari 34. And those that were numbred of them according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward were six thousand and two hundred 35. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail these shall pitch on the side of
to their necessity And so it was ordered afterward that the Sons of Kohâ—â—h had none of the Wagons because their share was to be taâ—â—â— on Shoulders v. 9. The Sons of Gershon had two Wagons allowed them they being the smallest number of all the Levites and having a greater Burden than the Kâ—â—â—thites But to the Sons of Merari who had charge of the far greatest Burden four Wagons are given 8. Ithamar See ch 4.33 9. Shoulders Ch. 4.6 8 10 11 12 14. with 2 Sam. 6.7 2 Chron. 15.13 10. Dedicating Things are then said to be dedicated when they are first applyed to their right end and use And such Dedications have in things of great moment been accompanied with solemn expressions of Joy and Devotion â— Chron. 7.5 7. Ezra 6.16 17. 2 Macoab 4.54 56. Joh. 10.22 In the day See v. 1. 12. Nahshon He offered first being of the Tribe of Judah which held the principal place among the Tribes and had the first Standard ch 2.3 The rest are reckoned up according to the order of their Encamping about the Sanctuary ch 2. Though Nahshon offered first and might upon that account be envyed and was the more conspicuous for the place he held yet is he so far from being upon that account magnified in this Holy Writ that he is the onely person among these Offerers who is not called here Prince of his Tribe 13. Meat-offering Levit. 2.1 16. Sin-offering Levit. 4.23 19. He offered See Envy and Ill-will Vain-boasting and Contempt of each other are very incident to Men of equal Authority and Place when they are to represent their several Tribes and Families and express their Munificence For the preventing of which and of any occasion thereof we have an intimation of these following Remedies I. The Order in which they were to offer was provided for by the placing them about the Sanctuary by Divine Appointment ch 2. II. Some of their Gifts were presented together viz. the Wagons and Oxen v. 3 6. III. Their Gifts were all equal IV. There is a particular recital of the things which every Prince offered at large V. The First-offerer who was most likely to be envyed is not called a Prince See v. 12. 84. In the day See the Notes on v. 1. compared with v. 88. 89. Into the tabernacle At least into the Holy Place and then he heard the voice thither from the Most Holy Him That is God CHAP. VIII The ARGUMENT Of lighting the lamps in the Holy Place The manner of Consecrating the Levites They are taken in lieu of the First-born and given to the Priests Of the Age and time of the Levites Service 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto Aaron and say unto him When thou lightest the lamps the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick 3. And Aaron did so he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick as the LORD commanded Moses 4. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold unto the shaft thereof unto the flowers thereof was heaten work according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses so he made the candlestick 5. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 6. Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them 7. And thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them Sprinkle water of purifying upon them and let them shave all their flesh and let them wash their clothes and so make themselves clean 8. Then let them take a young bullock with his meat-offering even fine flour mingled with oyl and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin-offering 9. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together 10. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites 11. And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel that they may execute the service of the LORD 12. And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the â—eads of the bullocks and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering unto the LORD to make an atonement for the Levites 13. And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons and offer them for an offering unto the LORD 14. Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel and the Levites shall be mine 15. And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation and thou shall cleanse them and offer them for an offering 16. For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel instead of such as open every womb even in stead of the first-born of all the children of Israel have I â—aâ—en them unto me 17. For all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine both 〈◊〉 and beast on the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for my self 18. And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel 19. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary 20. And Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites so did the children of Israel unto them 21. And the Levites were purified and they washed their clothes and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD and Aaron made at atonement for them to cleanse them 22. And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron and before his sons as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites so did they unto them 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24. This is it that belongeth unto the Levites from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 25. And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof and shall serve â—â— more 26. But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation to keep the charge and shall do no service Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge 2. When thou lightest c. Exod. 25.37 and 40.25 The Hebrew word implies lifting up which consists very well with our rendring this lifting up being in order to lighting 3. Over against the candlestick Heb. Over against the face of the candlestick i. e. To the other side of the Sanctuary
their fathers shall ye send a man every one a ruler among them 3. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran all those men were heads of the children of Israel 4. And these were their names Of the tribe of Reuben Shammua the son of Zaccur 5. Of the tribe of Simeon Shaphat the son of Hori 6. Of the tribe of Judah Caleb the son of Jephunneh 7. Of the tribe of Issachar Igal the son of Joseph 8. Of the tribe of Ephraim Oshea the son of Nuâ— 9. Of the tribe of Benjamin Palti the son of Râ—â—â—â—â— 10. Of the tribe of Zebâ—lâ—â— Gaddiel the son of Sâ—di 11. Of the tribe of Joseph namely of the tribe of Manasseh Gaddi the son of Susi 12. Of the tribe of Dan Ammiel the son of Gemalli 13. Of the tribe of Asher Sethur the son of Michael 14. Of the tribe of Naphtali Nahbi the son of Vophsi 15. Of the tribe of Gad Gâ—nel the son of Machi 16. These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua 17. And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said unto them Get you up this way south-ward and go up into the mountain 18. And see the land what it is and the people that dwelleth therein whether they be strong or weak fâ—â— or many 19. And what the land is that they dwell in whether it be good or bad and what cities they be that they dwell in whether in tents or in strong hold 20. And what the land is whether it be fat or lean whether there be wood therein or not And be ye of good courage and bring of the fruit of the land now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes 21. So they went up and searched the land from the wilderness of Zâ—â— unto Rehob as men come to Hâ—math 22. And they ascended by the sâ—â—â—h and came unto Hebron where Ahiman Sheshai and Talâ—â—â— the children of Anak were now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt 23. And they came unto the brook of Eshcol and cut down from tâ—â—â—te a branch with one cluster of grapes and they bâ—re it between two upon a staff and they brought of the pomegranates and of the figs. 24. The place was called the brook Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence 25. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days 26. And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel unto the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh and brought back word unto them and unto all the congregation and shewed them the fruit of the land 27. And they told him and said We came unto the land whither thou sentest us and surely it floweth with milk and honey and this is the fruit of it 28. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land and the cities are walled and very great and moreover we saw the children of Anak there 29. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan 30. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said Let us go up at once and possess it for we are well able to overcome it 31. But the men that went up with him said We be not able to go up against the people for they are stronger then we 32. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel saying The land through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature 33. And there we saw the giants the sons of Anak which come of the giants and we were in our own sight as grashoppers and so we were in their sight 2. Send thou c. God gave this Command upon the People's request as appears from Deut. 1.22 3. Heads Called Rulers v. 2. They were Men of Authority among their Tribes Exod. 18.21 16. Jehoshua Or as the Seventy and Josephus and the New Testament call him Jesus i. e. a Saviour he being appointed to save the People and bring them into the possession of the promised Land and therein was a Type of our Blessed Saviour 17. Moses sent them c. He did it by God's direction v. 2. and after the People had desired it Deut. 1.22 and not for his own satisfaction or out of any distrust of God's Veracity South-ward i. e. Into the South part of the Land of Canaan the most dry and barren part of it Joshua 14.1.3 with Judg. 1.15 and Psal 126.4 Into the mountain Or Mountainous Region See also ch 14.40 45. 20. Be ye of good courage It required some Courage to bring away openly some of the Fruit of the Land especially at that time it was more hazardous to bear away a Branch with a Cluster of the Grapes and carry it openly between tâ—â—â— Men it being the time of the first ripe Grapes when they were generally more watchfull of them 21. Of Zin unto Rehob That is to say from the South to the most Northern part of the Land where Rehob was situate something toward the West Hâ—math Situate in the North toward the West 22. Hebron A City which was in the South part of the Country and which fell to the Tribe of Judah Anak He was the Son of Arba who gave denomination to Hebron for it was called the City of Arba Jos 15.13 Gen. 23.2 Zoan A principal City of the Egyptians who vaunted of their great Antiquity Isa 13.11 23. And they came Deut. 1.24 Brook Or Valley and so v. 24. 24. Eshool That is A Cluster of Grapes 27. Milk c. Exod. 33.3 28. The people be strong c. The ten Spies discourage thâ— People in these and the following words and bewray great distrust of God and the People soon imitate them as appears from v. 31. 32. Eateth up the Inhabitants Hâ—â— they contradict themselves Compare v. 28. and v. 33. Men of great stature Heb. Men of statures CHAP. XIV The ARGUMENT The People murmur at the Report which the Spies made of the Land of Canaan Joshua and Caleb endeavour to quiet them God threatens to smite them with a Pestilence and disinherit them Moses intercedes with God for them God's Answer to Moses The People are smitten by the Amalekites and Canaanites 1. AND all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried and the people wept that night 2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron and the whole congregation said unto them Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt or would God that we had died in this wilderness 3.
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land to fall by the sword that our wives and our children should be a prey were it not better for us to return into Egypt 4. And they said one to another Let us make a captain and let us return into Egypt 5. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel 6. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh which were of them that searched the land rent their clothes 7. And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel saying The land which we passed through to search it is an exceeding good land 8. If the LORD delight in us then he will bring us into this land and give it us a land which floweth with milk and honey 9. Onely rebell not ye against the LORD neither fear ye the people of the land for they are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the LORD is with us fear them not 10. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones and the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel 11. And the LORD said unto Moses How long will this people provoke me and how long will it be ere they believe me for all the signs which I have shewed among them 12. I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier then they 13. And Moses said unto the LORD Then the Egyptians shall bear it for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them 14. And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people that thou LORD art seen face to face and that thy cloud standeth over them and that thou goâ—st before them by day-time in a pillar of a cloud and in a pillar of fire by night 15. Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak saying 16. Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness 17. And now I beseech thee let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken saying 18. The LORD is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression and by no means clearing the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation 19. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even until now 20. And the LORD said I have pardoned according to thy word 21. But as truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD 22. Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice 23. Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it 24. But my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him and hath followed me fully him will I bring into the land whereinto he went and his seed shall possess it 25. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley To morrow turn you and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea 26. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 27. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me 28. Say unto them As truly as I live saith the LORD as ye have spoken in mine ears so will I do to you 29. Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness and all that were numbred of you according to your whole number from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me 30. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein save Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31. But your little ones which ye said should be a prey them will I bring in and they shall know the land which ye have despised 32. But as for you your carcases they shall fall in this wilderness 33. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years and bear your whoredoms until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness 34. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land even forty days each day for a year shall ye bear your iniquities even forty years and ye shall know my breach of promise 35. I the LORD have said I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation that are gathered together against me in this wilderness they shall be consumed and there they shall die 36. And the men which Moses sent to search the land who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up a slander upon the land 37. Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land died by the plague before the LORD 38. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh which were of the men that went to search the land lived still 39. And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel and the people mourned greatly 40. And they rose up early in the morning and gat them up into the top of the mountain saying Lo we be here and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised for we have sinned 41. And Moses said Wherefore now do you transgress the commandment of the LORD but it shall not prosper 42. Go not up for the LORD is not among you that ye be not smitten before your enemies 43. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you and ye shall fall by the sword because ye are turned away from the LORD therefore the LORD will not be with you 44. But they presumed to go up unto the hill-top nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD and Moses departed not out of the camp 45. Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill and smote them and discomfited them even unto Hormah 2. Died in this wilderness This which they foolishly wish for happens to them v. 28 29. 4. Let us return into Egypt This was a great height of Wickedness for God had delivered them from Egypt by a miraculous manner and followed them ever since with miracles of Mercy This purpose of their Return speaks great Insolence Ingratitude and Contempt of God Nehemiah 9.16 17. Deut. 17.16 5. Fell on their faces Either to pray to God on their behalf or to prevail
with the People to desist from so great a sin Numb 16.4.20.6 Deut. 1.29 30. 6. Rent their clothes This they did in token of Sorrow 9. They are bread i. e. They will easily be devoured and destroyed by us Vid. ch 24.8 Ps 14.4 Their defence Heb. Shadow A Shadow being a defence against Heat is used here for defence or protection See Luk. 1.35 Ps 91.1 Isa 30.2 To which may be added Psal 121.5 6. The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night And it follows v. 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul Their Defence was God who hath now deserted them their Iniquities being now full Gen. 15.16 and it follows The LORD is with us 10. The glory of the LORD By it is meant some extraordinary light and brightness of the Cloud as a sign of God's more special Presence at this time in which his Servants were in danger of being stoned See Exod. 24.16 17. ch 40.34 Levit. 9.23 Numb 16.19 42.20.6 13. Moses said Exod. 32.11 14. Art seen face to face i. e. Art known to be present by a visible sign thereof see v. 10. Thy cloud Exod. 13.21 16. Able Deut. 9.18 17. Let the power of my Lord be great i. e. Let the greatness of thy Power appear in pardoning and forbearing this People 18. Long-suffering Exod. 34.6 Ps 103.8 Visiting the iniquity Exod. 20.5 and 34.7 19. Vntil now Or Hitherto 20. I have pardoned At least God remits when he does not slay them as one Man and all at once as the Israelites did deserve and God it is probable had threatned v. 15. with v. 12. though he did not wholly forgive the sin 21. All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD q. d. Although this People be not brought into the promised Land yet shall I be justified in my proceedings against them and by my mighty and righteous Works sufficiently provide for the Honour of my Name see v. 15 16. among all the Inhabitants of the Earth which shall hear of these things 22. Because c. The destruction of the Israelites will not redound to the dishonour of God because I. They had been disobedient to him they had tempted him and provoked him II. They were guilty of Rebellion against God after the greatest Mercies and proofs of God's Presence and Providence they had seen his Glory and his Miracles III. God did not punish them for their first fault but they had often tempted him which is here expressed by Ten times See Gen. 31.7 IV. None of them are devoted to destruction but those who provoked God v. 23 24 30. Nor are they destroyed suddenly 23. Surely they shall not see the land Heb. If they see the land 24. Caleb Josh 14.6 With whom Joshua is reckoned v. 30. Another spirit A Spirit of Courage and Truth which ten of the Spies wanted 25. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley God having consented upon the Request of Moses to spare the People or not to destroy them suddenly v. 20. does here give them notice of their danger at present from the Amalekites and Canaanites who at this time lay ready in the Valley to give them Battel By Canaanites may well be understood any of the Inhabitants of the Land Gen. 10.15 18. or else perhaps some particular People or Family for so the word Canaanite seems elsewhere to import Vid. Numb 13.29 And whereas it is said They dwelt in the valley we need not extend it any farther than that they were there at this time which does not contradict what is said v. 45. 28. As truly as I live Chap. 26.65 and 32.11 Deut. 1.35 29. From twenty years old and upward Thus were the People numbred ch 1. but the Levites were numbred from a Month old and upward ch 3.15 and are therefore not denounced against in the following words 30. Sware Heb. Lifted up my hand 33. Wander Or Feed like Herdsmen they shall shift from one place of the Desart to another Forty years These are to be reckoned from their coming out of Egypt from which this was the second Year Deut. 2.14 Whoredoms i. e. The punishment thereof Their departing from God especially their Idolatry is justly called a Spiritual Whoredom or Fornication ch 15.39 Deut. 32.16 34. Forty days Psal 95.10 Ezek. 4.6 My breach of promise Or Altering of my purpose God cannot be said to break his Promise or to alter his Purpose Nor do the ancient Versions favour such a rendring of this place The Hebrew word onely imports a making void or breaking off It imports here God's departure from this People who had first forsaken him and failed in their Obedience which gave them a title to the promised good things being the Condition on their part 37. Died by the plague 1 Cor. 10.10 Heb. 3.17 Jude v. 5. 40. We be here Deut. 1.40 41. The commandment Mentioned v. 25. 44. The ark of the covenant Their guide ch 10.33 45. The Cananites i. e. The Amorites Deut. 1.44 See the Notes on v. 25. Discomfited Deut. 1.44 Hormah See ch 21.3 So called here Proleptically or by way of Anticipation CHAP. XV. The ARGUMENT Of the Meat-offering and Drink-offering annexed to the Sâ—crifices The Proselyte is obliged to the same Law Of the Cake for an Heave-offering Of the Sacrifices for Sins of Ignorance Of the presumptuous Sinner Of him that gathered Sticks on the Sabbath Day Of the Fringes 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come into the land of your habitations which I give unto you 3. And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD a burnt-offering or a sacrifice in performing a vow or in a free-will-offering or in your solemn feasts to make a sweet savour unto the LORD of the herd or of the flock 4. Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat-offering of a tenth-deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oyl 5. And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink-offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt-offering or sacrifice for one lamb 6. Or for a ram thou shalt prepare for a meat-offering two tenth-deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oyl 7. And for a drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine for a sweet savour unto the LORD 8. And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt-offering or for a sacrifice in performing a vow or peace-offerings unto the LORD 9. Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat-offering of three tenth-deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oyl 10. And thou shalt bring for a drink-offering half an hin of wine for an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 11. Thus shall it be done for
the LORD and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt in the first day of the fifth month 39. And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 40. And king Arad the Canaanite which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan heard of the coming of the children of Israel 41. And they departed from mount Hor and pitched in Zalmonah 42. And they departed from Zalmonah and pitched in Punon 43. And they departed from Punon and pitched in Oboth 44. And they departed from Oboth and pitched in Ije-abarim in the border of Moab 45. And they departed from Iim and pitched in Dibon-gad 46. And they removed from Dibon-gad and encamped in Almon-diblathaim 47. And they removed from Almon-diblathaim and pitched in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo 48. And they departed from the mountains of Abarim and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho 49. And they pitched by Jordan from Beth-jesimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab 50. And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 51. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan 52. Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their pictures and destroy all their molten images and quite pluck down all their high places 53. And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell therein for I have given you the land to possess it 54. And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families and to the mo ye shall give the more inheritance and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit 55. But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you then it shall come to pass that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell 56. Moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you as I thought to do unto them 2. By the Commandment of the LORD These words may well referr both to their Journeyings which were directed by God Exod. 13.21.14.2 Numb 10.13 and to Moses his description of them in this place which tended to the rendring the History the more credible and to perpetuate the Memory of God's miraculous Works and special Providence 3. Departed from Rameses Exod. 12.37 Here follows an account of Two and forty Mansions reckoning Rameses the place from whence they set forth for one 4. Vpon their Gods See the Note upon Exod. 12.12 6. From Succoth Exod. 13.20 8. Passed through Exod. 15.22 9. Came unto Elim Exod. 15.27 10. By the Red-sea i. e. Upon the Shoar of it 11. Wilderness of Sin Exod. 16.1 14. Rephidim Exod 17.1 15. Wilderness of Sinai Exod. 19.1 Hither they came in the third month after they came out of Egypt and stayed here near a year viz. to the twentieth day of the second month of the following year Numb 10.11 12. 16. At Kibroth-hattaavah i. e. The graves of lust See ch 11.34 This was in the Wilderness of Paran ch 10.12 and three days Journey from their last Mansion v. 33. 17. Encamped Ch. 11.35 18. Rithmah This place was likewise in the Wilderness of Paran ch 12.16 near Kadesh-Barnea ch 13.26 30. Encamped at Moseroth Deut. 10.6 and the Note upon that place 31. Bene-jaakan Called Beeroth of the children of Jaakan Deut. 10.6 See the Note on ch 32.3 32. Hor-hagidgad Called Gudgodah Deut. 10.7 33. Jotbathah The same with Jotbath Deut. 10.7 35. Ezion-gaber This lay on the Shoar of the Red-sea 1 King 9.26 36. Wilderness of Zin Chap. 20.1 Which is Kadesh That is it was at Kadesh where they pitched There was a twofold Kadesh viz. Kadesh-barnea which was the fifteenth Mansion See verse 18. and in the South part of Canaan chap. 34.4 Josh 15.3 and in the Wilderness of Paran chap. 12.16 And Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin of which mention is made here This was upon the Borders of Edom chap. 20.14 towards Ezion-gaber and the Red-sea chap. 2.8 37. Kadesh Ch. 20.22 Mount Hor See ch 20.22 23. the same with Mosera Deut. 10.6 See the Note on that place 38. Aaron Chap. 20.25 Deut. 32.50 40. King Arad Chap. 21.1 c. 41. Hor Chap. 21.4 44. Ije-abarim Or Heaps of Abarim This is called Iim being absolutely taken verse 45. 49. Abel-shittim Or the Plains of Shittim See chap. 25.1 51. When ye are Deut. 7.2 Josh 11 12. 52. All their pictures All those Images and Representations upon what Material soever they were wrought which were worshipped or designed for such an use See Deut. 16.22 with Levit. 26.1 High places i. e. All Groves or Chappels for Worship which were generally in high places See Deut. 12.2 54. Ye shall divide Chap. 26.53 and the Note on verse 55. Give the more inheritance Heb. Multiply his inheritance Give the less inheritance Heb. Diminish his inheritance 55. Pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides Josh 23.13 Judg. 2.3 i. e. They shall torment and mischief you as Pricks and Thorns are wont to do CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Of the Borders of the Land of Canaan The Names of those Men who were to divide it 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel and say unto them When ye come into the land of Canaan this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof 3. Then your south-quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom and your south-border shall be the out-most coast of the salt-sea east-ward 4. And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Abrabbim and pass on to Zin and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea and shall go on to Hazar-addar and pass on to Azmon 5. And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt and the goings out of it shall be at the sea 6. And as for the western-border you shall even have the great sea for a border this shall be your west-border 7. And this shall be your north-border from the great sea you shall point out for you mount Hor. 8. From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad 9. And the border shall go on to Ziphron and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan this shall be your north-border 10. And ye shall point out your east-border from Hazar-enan to Shepham 11. And the coast shall go down from
the first day of the month that Moses spake unto the children of Israel according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them 4. After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites which dwelt in Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei 5. On this side Jordan in the land of Moab began Moses to declare this law saying 6. The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb saying Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount 7. Turn you and take your journey and go to the mount of the Amorites and unto all the places nigh thereunto in the plain in the hills and in the vale and in the south and by the sea-side to the land of the Canaanites and unto Lebanon unto the great river the river Euphrates 8. Behold I have set the land before you go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob to give unto them and to their seed after them 9. And I spake unto you at that time saying I am not able to bear you my self alone 10. The LORD your God hath multiplied you and behold you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude 11. The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many mo as ye are and bless you as he hath promised you 12. How can I my self alone bear your cumbrance and your burden and your strife 13. Take ye wise men and understanding and known among your tribes and I will make them rulers over you 14. And ye answered me and said The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do 15. So I took the chief of your tribes wise men and known and made them heads over you captains over thousands and captains over hundreds and captains over fifties and captains over tens and officers among your tribes 16. And I charged your judges at that time saying Hear the causes between your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him 17. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment but you shall hear the small as well as the great you shall not be afraid of the face of man for the judgment is God's and the cause that is too hard for you bring it unto me and I will hear it 18. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do 19. And when we departed from Horeb we went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites as the LORD our God commanded us and we came to Kadesh-barnea 20. And I said unto you Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites which the LORD our God doth give unto us 21. Behold the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee go up and possess it as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee fear not neither be discouraged 22. And ye came near unto me every one of you and said We will send men before us and they shall search us out the land and bring us word again by what way we must go up and into what cities we shall come 23. And the saying pleased me well and I took twelve men of you one of a tribe 24. And they turned and went up into the mountain and came unto the valley of Eshcol and searched it out 25. And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down unto us and brought us word again and said It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us 26. Notwithstanding ye would not go up but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God 27. And ye murmured in your tents and said Because the LORD hated us he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us 28. Whither shall we go up our brethren have discouraged our heart saying The people is greater and taller then we the cities are great and walled up to heaven and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there 29. Then I said unto you Dread not neither be afraid of them 30. The LORD your God which goeth before you he shall fight for you according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes 31. And in the wilderness where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee as a man doth bear his son in all the way that ye went until ye came into this place 32. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God 33. Who went in the way before you to search you out a place to pitch your tents in in fire by night to shew you by what way ye should go and in a cloud by day 34. And the LORD heard the voice of your words and was wroth and sware saying 35. Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land which I sware to give unto your fathers 36. Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh he shall see it and to him will I give the land that he hath troden upon and to his children because he hath wholly followed the LORD 37. Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes saying Thou also shalt not go in thither 38. But Joshua the son of Nun which standeth before thee he shall go in thither Encourage him for he shall cause Israel to inherit it 39. Moreover your little ones which ye said should be a prey and your children which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil they shall go in thither and unto them will I give it and they shall possess it 40. But as for you turn ye and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red-sea 41. Then ye answered and said unto me We have sinned against the LORD we will go up and fight according to all that the LORD our God commanded us And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war ye were ready to go up into the hill 42. And the LORD said unto me Say unto them Go not up neither fight for I am not among you left ye be smitten before your enemies 43. So I spake unto you and you would not hear but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD and went presumptuously up into the hill 44. And the Amorites which dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do and destroyed you in Seir even unto Hormah 45. And ye returned and wept before the LORD but the LORD would not hearken to your voice nor give ear unto you 46. So ye abode in Kadesh many days according unto the days that ye abode there 1. WHich Moses spake i. e. Which Moses had formerly spoken and which are here repeated and set down for the benefit of the surviving Israelites The Red-sea Or Zuph It
is possible that Zuph may in this place signifie some other place so called and not the Red-sea for Sea is not in the Hebrew And yet there is no difficulty in supposing it to signifie the Red-sea here because the Text implies no more than this That the words here set down were spoken in the places named Hazeroth See Numb 11.35 Dizahab This seems to import a place that was named from Gold found there See the Vulgar and LXXII Interpreters 2. There are eleven days journey c. The design of these words seems to be this That though the Israelites were yet on this side Jordan v. 5. the reason of their long stay in the Wilderness is not to be imputed to the length of the way it being but eleven days Journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea a place not far from the promised Land 4. After he had slain Sihon Numb 21. 24. 5. To declare That is to explain it and make it known to this People who survived their Rebellious Forefathers 6. Ye have dwelt long enough c. It appears by comparing Exod. 19.1 with Numb 10. 11 12. that they continued in the Wilderness of Sinai for the space of almost a Year in which time they received their Law erected their Tabernacle numbred their People set up their Standards and encamped by them in the order prescribed and were therefore sufficiently provided to march onwards in great order 7. All the places nigh thereunto Heb. All his neighbours In the south c. These which follow are the several Coasts or sides of the Land the Sea-side being on the West Lebanon on the North and Euphrates on the East 8. Set Heb. Given Abraham Gen. 15.18 and 17.7 8. 9. At that time That is about the time of our removing from Sinai or Horeb. For though the coming of Jethro be mentioned Exod. 18. before the giving of the Law yet it does not thence follow that he gave Moses the advice mentioned Exod. 18. before this time And by comparing Numb 10.29 and the Note on that place with what is said here Jethro seems to have continued with Moses till the Israelites removed from Horeb and to have given his Counsel at that time 12. Your strife That is the Controversies which arise between Man and Man 13. Take Heb. Give 15. Made Heb. Gave 16. I charged And the parts of this Charge are I. Patience to hear Causes II. Justice in judging Righteously Joh. 7.24 III. Courage 17. Ye shall not respect persons Heb. Acknowledge faces Lev. 19.15 ch 16.19 1 Sam. 16.7 Prov. 14.23 IV. Prudence The cause that is too hard for you bring it unto me 18. I commanded you at that time viz. Before you removed from Horeb I delivered to you the Laws which I had received 19. As the LORD our God commanded See v. 7. 23. I took twelve men of you Numb 13.3 24. And they turned Numb 13.24 28. Discouraged Heb. Melted Anakims Numb 13.28 29. Dread not c. To deliver them from fear he adds very powerfull Arguments viz. I. A promise of Divine Assistance The Lord your God which goeth before you he shall fight for you v. 30. II. The experience of God's Mercies toward them in Egypt and in the Wilderness where God had born them as a tender Father carries an infirm Child Isa 49.22 with Exod. 19.4 30 31. 32. In this thing viz. In going on cheerfully relying upon God's Promise to possess the Land v. 26. 33. Who went c. See Exod. 13.21 and the Note upon that and the following Verse 35. Surely Num. 14.29 36. Wholly followed Heb. Fulfilled to go after 37. Also the LORD was angry with me Numb 20.12 and 27.14 ch 3.26 and 4.21 and 34.4 as also the Note upon Numb 20.12 For your sakes That is upon occasion of your provocation Psal 106.32 33. 41. We have sinned Vid. Numb 14.40 42. I am not among you viz. to help and assist you 43. Went presumptuously up Heb. You were presumptuous and went up 44. As Bees do Which in great number and fury sting those who disturb them Ps 118.12 46. So ye abode in Kadesh c. That is ye continued a considerable time in Kadesh not onely during the time the Spies went to view the Land but after their return also CHAP. II. The ARGUMENT Moses proceeds in his Relation and rehearseth that they were forbid to meddle with the Edomites or with the Moabites or with the Ammonites Sihon the Amorite was given up to them 1. THen we turned and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red-sea as the LORD spake unto me and we compassed mount Seir many days 2. And the LORD spake unto me saying 3. Ye have compassed this mountain long enough turn you north-ward 4. And command thou the people saying Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau which dwell in Seir and they shall be afraid of you take ye good heed unto your selves therefore 5. Meddle not with them for I will not give you of their land no not so much as a foot-breadth because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession 6. Ye shall buy meat of them for money that ye may eat and ye shall also buy water of them for money that ye may drink 7. For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee thou hast lacked nothing 8. And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau which dwelt in Seir through the way of the plain from Elath and from Ezion-gaber we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab 9. And the LORD said unto me Distress not the Moabites neither contend with them in battel for I will not give thee of their land for a possession because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession 10. The Emims dwelt therein in times past a people great and many and tall as the Anakims 11. Which also were accounted giants as the Anakims but the Moabites call them Emims 12. The Horims also dwelt in Seir before time but the children of Esau succeeded them when they had destroyed them from before them and dwelt in their steal as Israel did unto the land of his possession which the LORD gave unto them 13. Now rise up said I and get you over the brook Zered and we went over the brook Zered 14. And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea untill we were come over the brook Zered was thirty and eight years untill all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host as the LORD sware unto them 15. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them to destroy them from among the host untill they were consumed 16. So it came to pass when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the
people 17. That the LORD spake unto me saying 18. Thou art to pass over through Ar the coast of Moab this day 19. And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon distress them not nor meddle with them for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession 20. That also was accounted a land of giants giants dwelt therein in old time and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims 21. A people great and many and tall as the Anakims but the LORD destroyed them before them and they succeeded them and dwelt in their stead 22. As he did to the children of Esau which dwelt in Seir when he destroyed the Horims from before them and they succeeded them and dwelt in their stead even unto this day 23. And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim even unto Azzah the Caphtorims which came forth out of Caphtor destroyed them and dwelt in their stead 24. Rise ye up take your journey and pass over the river Arnon behold I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon and his land begin to possess it and contend with him in battel 25. This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven who shall hear report of thee and shall tremble and be in anguish because of thee 26. And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace saying 27. Let me pass through thy land I will go along by the high-way I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left 28. Thou shalt sell me meat for money that I may eat and give me water for money that I may drink onely I will pass through on my feet 29. As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir and the Moabites which dwell in Ar did unto me untill I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us 30. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate that he might deliver him into thy hand as appeareth this day 31. And the LORD said unto me Behold I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee begin to possess that thou mayest inherit his land 32. Then Sihon came out against us he and all his people to fight at Jahaz 33. And the LORD our God delivered him before us and we smote him and his sons and all his people 34. And we took all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men and the women and the little ones of every city we left none to remain 35. Onely the cattel we took for a prey unto our selves and the spoil of the cities which we took 36. From Aroer which is by thâ— brink of the river of Arnon and from the city that is by the river even unto Gilead there was not one city too strong for us the LORD our God delivered all unto us 37. Onely unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not nor unto any place of the river Jabbok nor unto the cities in the mountains nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us 1. MOunt Seir This Mount is put here for the rest of the Country of the Edomites of which that Mount was a remarkable place We find that Ezion-gaber v. 8. which was upon the Shore of the Red-sea was in the Land of Edom 1 King 9.26 Many days It was the space of thirty eight years from their leaving Kadesh-barnea to their passing over the Brook Zered See v. 14. 4. To pass through the Coast Or To pass near or by the Coast The Hebrew Particle which is here translated through sometimes signifies by or near as 1 Sam. 29.1 2 Chron. 15.16 Jud. 6.11 1 King 15.13 And this sense of that Particle agrees well with this place Compare Numb 20.21 23. 5. Meddle not with them The reason of this Prohibition was not because the Edomites were too formidable an Enemy for it 's said They shall be afraid of you v. 4. but because God had bestowed that Land upon Esau Gen. 36.8 and would not give to the Israelites thereof No not so much as a foot-breadth Heb. Even to the treading of the sole of the foot 7. For the LORD thy God c. Because God had plentifully provided for them and known their walking i. e. graciously regarded them in their Peregrination as the word know implies Ps 1.6 therefore they are under no Temptation to Theft or Rapine 9. Distress not the Moabites Or Vse no hostility against Moab The reason follows Because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot Ar This was the principal City of the Moabites Numb 21.15 28. It is put here for the Country of the Moabites as mount Seir v. 1. is for that of the Edomites 10. The Emims The word imports terror and it is said they were great and many c. And this might encourage the Israelites to hope for Victory over their powerfull Enemies See Gen. 14.5 12. The Horims Gen. 14.6 and 36.20 Succeeded them Heb. Inherited them Stead Or room As Israel did unto the land of his possession which the LORD gave unto them There is no difficulty in these words if we understand them of that part of the Land on this side Jordan which the Israelites had already the possession of and which was a pledge of the other part of the Land on the other side of Jordan which they were shortly after to possess And this sense of the words is very agreeable to this place and is confirmed by what follows ch 4.47 where the Israelites are expressly said to have possessed this Land at this time And after this ch 29.8 Moses says We took their Land and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites c. 13. The brook or valley Zered Numb 21.12 14. Of the Men of War i. e. From Twenty years old and upward all that were able to go forth to War See Numb 1.3 compared with Numb 14.29 Host Or Camp See Numb 2. 18. Thou art to pass over through Ar the coast of Moab Or Thou art to pass over by Ar by the border of Moab 20. Zamzummims A crafty sort of People as that word seems to import 21. But the LORD destroyed c. Which is a demonstration that the Israelites whiles God fights for them need not fear the most powerfull and subtle Enemies 23. And the Avims c. That is a People related to the Philistins Gen. 10.14 called Caphtorims destroyed the Avims which is added as another instance to encourage the hope of the Israelites See Jer. 47.4 and Amos 9.7 24. Begin to possess Heb. Begin possess 25. That are under the whole heaven This hyperbolical Expression is explained by the following words which restrain it to those
the great Stature of Og. After the cubit of a man That is according to the Cubit of a Man grown up and of an usual size which is about half a yard 12. The Cities Numb 32.33 Josh 13.8 c. 14. Havoth-jair Numb 32.41 15. Gilead viz. The half of it See verse 12. Vnto Machir That is to his Posterity 16. Half the valley For the right understanding of this place it is to be considered that the Hebrew word here translated Valley signifies sometimes a Valley and sometimes a River and in the latter sense is rendred in this Verse in the words immediately foregoing The river Arâ—â—â— And so it ought to be rendred here and so it is rendred by the Greek and Vulgar Latin in this place And what we render half the Valley imports as much as to the middle of the River viz. Emphatically of the River just before mentioned Their Land extended from Gilead unto the middle of the River Arnon The truth of this appears from other places viz. Josh 12.2 We have an account of the same place being the place where Sihon dwelt who is there said to have ruled from Aroer which is upon the bank of the river Arnon and from the middle of the river which last are the same words in the Hebrew which we find here rendred by half the Valley and from half Gilead Again Deut. 2.36 the same place is described viz. From Aroer which is by the brink of the river of Arnon and from the city that is by the river viz. Ar of Moab which stood within the River and which was a City they were not permitted to invade even unto Gilead And the border even unto the river Jabbok These words seem to be Elliptical The sense is And the border was even unto the river Jabbok 17. Vnder Ashdoth-Pisgah Or under the Springs of Pisgah or the Hill 18. Ye shall pass over c. Numb 32.20 Meet for the war Heb. Sons of power 20. Return Josh 22.4 21. Commanded Numb 27.18 24. Thy greatness and thy mighty hand viz. In giving us the Conquest over such powerfull Enemies as Sihon and Og. 25. I pray thee let me go over c. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Moses should think the Threatning of God reversible and it must needs be very desirable by him to see that Land which had been so long ago promised so much expected and so greatly vilified by them that had been sent from Kadesh-barnea to search the Land But besides this it may be said that he had a desire especially to see that place where God would choose to dwell which the Jews affirm is meant by the goodly Mountain as well as the remoter Parts of the promised Land in which was Lebanon 26. Was wroth Numb 20.12 chap. 1.37 27. Pisgah Or the Hill See Numb 27.12 Behold it This was a favour not granted to the Men that searched and that murmured 28. Charge Give him Commission to execute my Will Encourage i. e. Give him assurance of success 29. Beth-peor Or the house of Peor The name of a Place or City so called CHAP. IV. The ARGUMENT The Israelites are exhorted to Obedience by several great Motives Such as their own Interest and the Reasonableness of it They are particularly warned against Idolatry and that very powerfully They are obliged to teach the Law unto their Children Three Cities of Refuge are set a part by Moses 1. NOW therefore hearken O Israel unto the statutes and unto the judgments which I teach you for to do them that ye may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you 2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you 3. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor for all the men that followed Baal-peor the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you 4. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day 5. Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments even as the LORD my God commanded me that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people 7. For what nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for 8. And what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day 9. Onely take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons 10. Specially the day that thou stood'st before the LORD thy God in Horeb when the LORD said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their children 11. And ye came near and stood under the mountain and the mountain burnt with fire unto the midst of heaven with darkness clouds and thick darkness 12. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire ye heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude onely ye heard a voice 13. And he declared unto you his covenant which he commanded you to perform even ten commandments and he wrote them upon two tables of stone 14. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire 16. Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likeness of male or female 17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air 18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth 19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars even all the host of heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven 20. But the LORD hath taken you and brought you forth out of the iron furnace even out of Egypt to be unto him a people of inheritance as
ye are this day 21. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes and sware that I should not go over Jordan and that I should not go in unto that good land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance 22. But I must die in this land I must not go over Jordan but ye shall go over and possess that good land 23. Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee 24. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire even a jealous God 25. When thou shalt beget children and childrens children and shalt have remained long in the land and shall corrupt your selves and make a graven image or the likeness of any thing and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God to provoke him to anger 26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it ye shall not prolong your days upon it but shall utterly be destroyed 27. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen whither the LORD shall lead you 28. And there ye shall serve gods the work of mens hands wood and stone which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 30. When thou art in tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn to the LORD thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice 31. For the LORD thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them 32. For ask now of the days that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man upon the earth and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is or hath been heard like it 33. Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live 34. Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations by signs and by wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm and by great terrors according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes 35. Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God there is none else besides him 36. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice that he might instruct thee and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire 37. And because he loved thy fathers therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt 38. To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier then thou art to bring thee in to give thee their land for an inheritance as it is this day 39. Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart that the LORD he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is none else 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth which the LORD thy God giveth thee for ever 41. Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 42. That the slayer might flee thither which should kill his neighbour unawares and hated him not in times past and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live 43. Namely Bezer in the wilderness in the plain-country of the Reubenites and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites 44. And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel 45. These are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spake unto the children of Israel after they came forth out of Egypt 46. On this side Jordan in the valley over against Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they were come forth out of Egypt 47. And they possessed his land and the land of Og king of Bashan two kings of the Amorites which were on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 48. From Aroer which is by the bank of the river Arnon even unto mount Sion which is Hermon 49. And all the plain on this side Jordan east-ward even unto the sea of the plain under the springs of Pisgah 2. Ye shall not add c. chap. 12.32 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 It is fit to require that they should neither add to nor take from the Divine Precepts at the beginning of this Exhortation to Obedience because God had given them his Law for their Rule of Life and had annexed his Promises to their Universal Obedience thereunto 3. Because of Baal-peor Numb 25.4 c. Or against Baal-peor and his Worshippers as the Vulgar and Chaldee have it Compare Numb 25.5 and the words which follow here 6. Your wisdom It is a fruit of great wisdom to fear God and obey his Laws The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments Psal 111.10 Besides many of these Laws were such as the wiser Heathen could not but approve and did actually receive several of them into their own Laws 7. In all things that we call upon him for God shewed himself ready to hear the Prayers of his Servants upon all occasions Exod. 17.11 and to protect and defend them in all straits and dangers as appeared by the many Miracles which he had wrought 8. So righteous This speaks a Nation great For righteousness exalteth a nation Prov. 14.34 10. Thou stoodst The most aged among them were present at the giving of the Law 11. Mountain Exod. 19.18 Midst Heb. Heart which is well translated midst here not that it signifies the exact midst it is enough that it be in that in the midst of which it is said to be Of Heaven i. e. Of the Air or lower Heaven 12. Onely ye heard a voice Heb. Save a voice 14. Statutes and judgments i. e. The Judicial and Ceremonial Laws in contradistinction to the Moral mentioned v. 13. 15. Take ye therefore good heed c. They saw no Similitude when God gave his Law and are thereupon vehemently warned against Worshipping of God by any kind of Image
whatsoever to which they as well as the rest of the World were very prone 19. When thou seest the Sun c. They are here warned against Worshipping the Sun and Moon c. from two Arguments I. Because God had placed them in Heaven for their use not worship And what that use of them was is elsewhere declared Gen. 1.14 See the Note on that place II. Because God had divided or imparted them to the use of the rest of Mankind not peculiarly unto them 20. But the LORD c. This Verse contains two powerfull Arguments to Obedience I. God's great Mercy in delivering them from the Bondage and Miseries of Egypt which is here expressed by the Iron furnace or Furnace where Iron is melted See Exod. 20.2 II. His taking them for his peculiar People Exod. 19.5 Both which God made use of upon the giving them his Law 21. Furthermore c. The Punishment of Moses ought to awaken them to great care not to offend 24. The LORD Chap. 9.3 Heb. 12.23 26. I call heaven and earth to witness c. This vehement Obtestation is used in the Scripture to upbraid Men for their stupidity and to awaken them to greater attention Deut. 32.1 Isa 1.2 28. Gods That is Idols which are falsely so called as appears by the following words 30. Are come upon thee Heb. Have found thee 31. Of thy fathers In which their Posterity were included Gen. 17.7 34. Temptations Or Tryals For the Miracles which God wrought in Egypt were Tryals both to the Egyptians and the Israelites whether they would obey God and trust in him or not 41. Then Moses severed c. See Numb 35.14 43. Bezer Josh 20.8 46. Smote Numb 21.24 chap. 1.4 47. Of Og Numb 21.33 chap. 3.3 48. Mount Sion This was one of the Names by which Hermon was called and possibly is but the Abbreviation of Sirion See Deut. 3.9 49. Springs of Pisgah Chap. 3.17 CHAP. V. The ARGUMENT Moses puts the Israelites in mind of the Covenant God made with them in Horeb. The Ten Commandments The Terror of the People at the giving this Law and their Request to Moses thereupon That Request was granted to them 1. AND Moses called all Israel and said unto them Hear O Israel the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day that ye may learn them and keep and do them 2. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers but with us even us who are all of us here alive this day 4. The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire 5. I stood between the LORD and you at that time to show you the word of the LORD for ye were afraid by reason of the fire and went not up into the mount saying 6. I am the LORD thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 7. Thou shalt have none other Gods before me 8. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the waters beneath the earth 9. Thou shalt not bow down thy self unto them nor serve them for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me 10. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments 11. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 12. Keep the sabbath-day to sanctifie it as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee 13. Six days thou shalt labour and do all thy work 14. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thine ox nor thine ass nor any of thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou 15. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath-sabbath-day 16. Honour thy father and thy mother as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee that thy days may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 17. Thou shalt not kill 18. Neither shalt thou commit adultery 19. Neither shalt thou steal 20. Neither shalt thor bear false witness against thy neighbour 21. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house his fâ—eld or his man-servant or his maid-servant his ox or his ass or any thing that is thy neighbour's 22. These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire of the cloud and of the thick darkness with a great voice and he added no more and he wrote them in two tables of stone and delivered them unto me 23. And it came to pass when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness for the mountain did burn with fire that ye came near unto me even all the heads of your tribes and your elders 24. And ye said Behold the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire we have seen this day that God doth talk with man and he liveth 25. Now therefore why should we die for this great fire will consume us If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more then we shall die 26. For who is there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire as we have and lived 27. Go thou near and hear all that the LORD our God shall say and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee and we will hear it and do it 28. And the LORD heard the voice of your words when ye spake unto me and the LORD said unto me I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken unto thee they have well said all that they have spoken 29. O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always that it might be well with them and with their children for ever 30. Go say to them Get you into your tents again 31. But as for thee stand thou here by me and I will speak unto thee all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which thou shalt teach them that they may do them in the land
which I give them to possess it 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left 33. You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you that ye may live and that it may be well with you and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess 1. SAid unto them By their principal Men their Elders or Heads of their several Tribes See chap. 29.10 For Moses must be supposed to have spoken to the whole Congregation of all Israel after the same manner in which they are said to speak to him viz. By the Heads of their Tribes and by their Elders as is expressed in v. 23. of this Chapter where he says Ye came near unto me not that all the Men of Israel did so for it follows by way of Explication even all the Heads of your Tribes and your Elders Keep and do them Heb. Keep to do them This is the great End of their hearing and learning them 2. The LORD c. Exod. 19.5 3. With our fathers viz. With Abraham Isaac and Jacob. It is not said that God did not enter into Covenant with them but that he made not this Covenant with them viz. this at Horeb. Here God did more largely reveal his Will and thereupon solemnly entred into Covenant with the People and their Posterity as appears from the following words 4. Face to face i. e. Clearly and distinctly Numb 12.18 though not in any visible shape ch 4.12 5. I stood between the LORD and you viz. as a Mediator and at your request v. 27. to teach you the Statutes which were given after the Ten Commandments 6. I am the LORD Exod. 20.2 c. with the Notes on that Chapter Levit. 26.1 Psal 81.10 Bondage Heb. Servants 9. Visiting Exod. 34.7 10. And shewing mercy Jer. 32.18 12. Keep It is Remember Exod. 20. but that was in order to the keeping of it 14. Sabbath Gen. 2.2 Heb. 4.4 15. Therefore c. i. e. Thou art obliged upon the account of that Redemption which is mentioned as an argument to Obedience of these Laws v. 6. and Exod 20.2 as well as in Memory of the Creation to observe this day of rest 16. And that it may go well with thee These words are here added to what we read Exod. 20.12 as a farther motive to Obedience and we find the Apostle takes notice of it Eph. 6.3 Upon the whole Obedience to this Precept hath the promise not onely of a long but an happy Life 17. Thou shalt not kill Matt. 5.21 18. Neither c. Luk. 18.20 19. Neither Ro. 13.9 21. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife c. The words in this Verse contain the same Precept which we find in Exod. 20.17 It is delivered with some variety The most considerable is this That whereas Exod. 20.17 the coveting the Neighbour's House is first forbidden and then the coveting his Wife here on the other hand is first forbid the desire of his Wife and then the coveting his House c. which is a good argument that this Verse as also Exod. 20.17 to which it answers contains but one Commandment however some Men to serve their Ends have divided it into two For if it were two we could not distinguish between the Ninth and Tenth the one being first in one and the other in the other place Nor is it to be supposed that Moses would put the Tenth before the Ninth See the Note on Exod. 20.17 22. He added no more i. e. He did not deliver the following Laws which we find in Exod. ch XXI XXII c. as he did these Moral Precepts by an audible voice and the solemn manner in the midst of the Fire c. but he delivered them to Moses who imparted them to the People 24. We have heard Exod. 19.19 And he liveth Ch. 4.33 It appears that this was a case not to be parallelled and that though they had escaped hitherto yet they were very fearfull for the future v. 25 26. See Judg. 6.22 23. 25. Hear Heb. Add to hear 27. Speak thou unto us Exod. 20.19 29. O that there were such an heart c. These words do fully assure us that their Obedience and the happiness which would thence accrue to them were things greatly pleasing and acceptable to God the most sincere lover of Souls CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT An Exhortation to the Fear and Love of the One true God and to Obedience to his Laws and Instruction of their children They are warned not to forget God in their Prosperity and particularly against Idolatry 1. NOW these are the commandments the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God commanded to teach you that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it 2. That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I command thee thou and thy son and thy son's son all the days of thy life and that thy days may be prolonged 3. Hear therefore O Israel and observe to do it that it may be well with thee and that ye may increase mightily as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee in the land that floweth with milk and honey 4. Hear O Israel The LORD our God is one LORD 5. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might 6. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up 8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes 9. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates 10. And it shall be when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob to give thee great and goodly cities which thou buildedst not 11. And houses full of all good things which thou filledst not and wells digged which thou diggedst not vineyards and olive-trees which thou plantedst not when thou shalt have eaten and be full 12. Then beware lest thou forget the LORD which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 13. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name 14. Ye shall not go after other gods of the gods of the people which are round about you 15. For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth 16. Ye shall not tempt the LORD
mercy which he sware unto thy fathers 13. And he will love thee and bless thee and multiply thee he will also bless the fruit of thy womb and the fruit of thy land thy corn and thy wine and thine oyl the encrease of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee 14. Thou shalt be blessed above all people there shall not be male or female barren among you or among your cattel 15. And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt which thou knowest upon thee but will lay them upon all them that hate thee 16. And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee thine eye shall have no pity upon them neither shalt thou serve their gods for that will be a snare unto thee 17. If thou shalt say in thine heart These nations are not then I how can I dispossess them 18. Thou shalt not be afraid of them but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh and unto all Egypt 19. The great temptations which thine eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the stretched-out arm whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid 20. Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them until they that are left and hide themselves from thee be destroyed 21. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them for the LORD thy God is among you a mighty God and terrible 22. And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little thou mayest not consume them at once lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee 23. But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction until they be destroyed 24. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven there shall no man be able to stand before thee until thou have destroyed them 25. The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it unto thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God 26. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thy house lest thou be a cursed thing like it but thou shalt utterly detest it and thou shalt utterly abhor it for it is a cursed thing 1. WHEN the LORD Ch. 31.3 Seven nations In the Promise made to Abraham Gen. 15.19 20. there is mention of ten Nations promised to his Posterity But then it is to be considered that that Promise was made above four hundred years before in which time it is easie to suppose that some of those People might be destroyed and their Memory worn out by that means or that by Affinities with the more powerfull People they might be called now by the names of that People to which they were joined 2. Thou shalt make no covenant with them Exod. 23.32 and 34.12 These People were to be destroyed and therefore they were not allowed to make a Covenant with them to spare them 3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them The reason of this Prohibition is expressed v. 4. viz. The danger of falling into Idolatry and the danger is manifest and therefore it is no wonder that this Prohibition should be understood to extend to other Idolatrous Nations as well as these as we find it in Ezr. 9.1 2. 5. Images Heb. Statues or Pillars God would have all occasions and incentives to Idolatry taken away 6. For thou art a holy people i. e. Thou art a People set apart or separated to God The LORD thy God hath chosen thee God hath separated thee Compare ch 14.2 and 26.19 with Exod. 19.5 1 Pet. 2.9 7. For ye were the fewest of all people The meaning is That when God made his Promises first it was not to a great People he made them but to Abraham their Fore-father He was then without an Heir and had but one Son to whom the Promise did belong viz. Isaac who was not born till he was an hundred years of age For Isaac he was twenty years married before he had a Child And for Jacob to whom the blessing of Abraham belonged he was above 70 years old before he married And though he had indeed twelve Sons yet we find that when he went into Egypt his whole Family did not amount to above 70 persons This was the whole Summ of their Progenitors above 200 years after the Promise made to Abraham In the mean time we have a large account of the Posterity of Esau Gen. 36. Was not Esau Jacob's brother saith the Lord yet I loved Jacob Mal. 1.2 It is evident that the Posterity of Jacob was not chosen for their great number 10. To their face Even in this present life for it is said He will not be slack to him that hateth him This is especially meant of the Idolater Compare v. 9. with Exod. 20.5 and the Note on that place 12. If. Heb. Because 14. There shall not be Exod. 23.26 c. 15. The evil diseases of Egypt Such as the Boils the Pestilence and Botch of Egypt See Exod 9.14 and 15.26 and Deut. 28.27 16. A snare Exod 23.33 20. Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet Exod 23.28 Josh 24.12 with the Note upon Exod. 23.28 22. Put out Heb. Pluck off Thou mayest not consume them at once Or as the words in the Hebrew may be rendred Thou shalt not be able to consume them at once God did not think fit to assist them to destroy them all at once not onely for the reason here assigned lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee Compare Exod. 23.29 but for other weighty causes of which see Judg. 3.2 4. 23. Vnto thee Heb. Before thy face 25. Shall ye burn Chap. 12.3 Thou shalt not desire Josh 7.1 21. 2 Mac. 12.40 Thus God forbids all occasions which might lead to Idolatry 26. A cursed thing like it i. e. Devoted to destruction as that is For it is Chap. 13.17 CHAP. VIII The ARGUMENT Father encouragement to Obedience They are put in mind of God's foregoing Mercies And of the Goodness of that Land they were going to possess They are warned against forgetting God in their Prosperity and against Idolatry 1. ALL the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do that ye may live and multiply and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thine heart whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. 3. And he humbled thee
and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with manna which thou knewest not neither did thy fathers know that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live 4. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee neither did thy foot swell these forty years 5. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart that as a man chasteneth his son so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee 6. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him 7. For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land a land of brooks of water of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills 8. A land of wheat and barley and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates a land of oyl-olive and honey 9. A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness thou shalt not lack any thing in it a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass 10. When thou hast eaten and art full then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee 11. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God in not keeping his commandments and his judgments and his statutes which I command thee this day 12. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full and hast built goodly houses and dwelt therein 13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast is multiplied 14. Then thine heart be lifted up and thou forget the LORD thy God which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 15. Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions and drought where there was no water who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint 16. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna which thy fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at thy latter end 17. And thou say in thine heart my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth 18. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers as it is this day 19. And it shall be if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them I testifie against you this day that ye shall surely perish 20. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face so shall ye perish because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God 1. THat ye may live i. e. That ye may live happily and prosperously For life in the Scripture-phrase sometimes signifies more than bare Life viz. Prosperity and Ease c. Let the King live Was an ancient Comâ—â—cation of the People when they wished him prosperity 1 King 1.25 compare 1 Sam. 25.6 and Levit. 25.36 and also 1 Thess 3.8 Joh. 4.51 52. On the other hand Afflictions and Troubles are called Death Exod. 10.17 2 Cor. 11.23 2. To know what was in thine heart i. e. To discover the frowardness and naughtiness that was in thee A discovery very usefull to them and instructive to others 1 Cor. 10.11 12. 3. That man doth not live by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth c. Matt. 4.4 Luk. 4.4 That is that Man is not sustained onely by the food which he eats but what-ever God appoints for that End how unlikely soever it be does sustain him as was seen in the Manna It being the Blessing of God that renders our food the support of our life 4. Thy raiment Nehem. 9.21 5. As a man chasteneth his son That is moderately and for the good of him that is chastened 8. Of Oyl-olive Heb. Of Olive-tree of Oyl 10. When thou hast eaten and art full then thou shalt bless c. chap. 6.11 12. This solemn Praise of God for our food is due from us both for the food and the nourishment we receive thereby see v. 3. and not to render it is an argument of great profaneness and detestable ingratitude 14. Then thine heart be lifted up c. viz. With pride and self-conceit as if thou hadst deserved these Blessings See ch 6.12 15. Who brought thee forth water Numb 20.11 16. Manna Exod 16.15 That he might humble thee c. Here are three Ends of God's giving them Manna mentioned viz. First To humble them by teaching them their own insufficiency and constant dependence upon Him Secondly To try or prove them viz. To prove their Obedience to his Law concerning it and their Faith in Him Thirdly By this means to prepare them for farther Mercies or to do them good at their latter end CHAP. IX The ARGUMENT Moses beats off the Israelites from an Opinion of their own Righteousness and to this purpose represents to them their Rebellions and Provocations Especially their great Sin in making and worshipping the Molten Calf 1. HEar O Israel thou art to pass over Jordan this day to go in to possess nations greater and mightier then thy self cities great and fenced up to heaven 2. A people great and tall the children of the Anakims whom thou knowest and of whom thou hast heard say Who can stand before the children of Anak 3. Vnderstand therefore this day that the LORD thy God is be which goeth over before thee as a consuming fire he shall destroy them and he shall bring them down before thy face so shalt thou drive them out and destroy them quickly as the LORD hath said unto thee 4. Speak not thou in thine heart after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee saying For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee 5. Not for thy righteousness or for the uprightness of thine heart dost thou go to possess their land but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 6. Vnderstand therefore that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness for thou art a stiff-necked people 7. Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt untill ye came unto this place ye have been rebellious against the LORD 8. Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you 9. When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone even the tables of
in mine hand 4. And he wrote on the tables according to the first writing the ten commandments which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and the LORD gave them unto me 5. And I turned my self and came down from the mount and put the tables in the ark which I had made and there they be as the LORD commanded me 6. And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera there Aaron died and there he was buried and Eleazar his son ministred in the priest's office in his stead 7. From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah and from Gudgodah to Jotbath a land of rivers of waters 8. At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD to stand before the LORD to minister unto him and to bless in his name unto this day 9. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren the LORD is his inheritance according as the LORD thy God promised him 10. And I stayed in the mount according to the first time forty days and forty nights and the LORD hearkned unto me at that time also and the LORD would not destroy thee 11. And the LORD said unto me Arise take thy journey before the people that they may go in and possess the land which I snare unto their fathers to give unto them 12. And now Israel what doth the LORD thy God require of thee but to fear the LORD thy God to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul 13. To keep the commandments of the LORD and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good 14. Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD 's thy God the earth also with all that therein is 15. Onely the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them and he chose their seed after them even you above all people as it is this day 16. Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your heart and be no more stiff-necked 17. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh reward 18. He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow and loveth the stranger in giving him food and raiment 19. Love ye therefore the stranger for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt 20. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave and swear by his name 21. He is thy praise and he is thy God that hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen 22. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude 1. HEW Exod. 34.1 3. I made an Ark Or I caused it to be made For if by Ark in this place be meant the Ark of the Covenant as is very probable from verse 5. This Ark was made by Bezaleel Exod. 37.1 and not made before this going of Moses into the Mount but after he came down Exod. 34. But as Moses in this short Repetition of what was past need not strictly observe the Order of Time so he may be said to make that Ark which he commanded to be made Bezaleel made also the Table of Shittim-wood Exod. 37.10 But Moses received a Command to make it Exod. 25.23 4. Commandments Heb. Words 6. And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera This place is very difficult and the difficulties of it are several and require a distinct Consideration For First It may be inquired what Connexion there is between these words and them that go before Answer Moses having mentioned his Intercession for the Israelites when for their Sins they were in danger to be destroyed and when the Tables of the Law were broken ch 9.26 adds what the effect of this Intercession was viz. That thereby the favour of God was regained of which he gives several instances viz. The restoring the two Tables and placing them in the Ark v. 1 5. The Journeys of them which were not stopped v. 6. And that they journeyed to places well watered also v. 6 7. And though indeed Aaron died yet his Priesthood continued in Eleazar And as God gave them a token of his favour in the Ark of the Covenant so he gave them another in separating the Levites to bear that Ark c. v. 8. Secondly It may be inquired how this Journey from Beeroth of the Children of Jaakan to Mosera can be reconciled with Numb 33.31 where it 's said they departed from Moseroth and pitched in Bene-jaakan Answ Besides many other very material things which might be said towards the removing of this difficulty it is enough to say that the Israelites in their Wandrings in the Wilderness might as well here as they did elsewhere go to and fro viz. From Jaakan to Mosera and back again from Mosera to Jaakan And this supposing these places the same with those in Numbers and the place here truly rendred is all that the words do import See Numb 33.30 And then Moses here doth but insert a passage omitted in the place in the Book of Numbers There Aaron died Obj. But how can this be reconciled with Numb 20.25 28. where it is evident that Aaron died at Mount Hor Answ It is no unusual thing that one place should have different Names especially with respect to the several Parts thereof Thus Horeb and Sinai were two Names of the same Mountain Exod. 3.1 2. compared with Act. 7.30 And so might Mosera be the other Name for Hor or the Name of a Place adjoining to it 7. From thence i. e. From Beeroth of the Children of Jaakan Numb 33.32 where Horhagidgad is the same with Gudgodah here and what is here called Jotbath is called Jotbathah Numb 33.33 8. At that time Or About that time viz. After Moses came down from the Mount For this seems manifestly to referr to verse 5. the 6th and 7th Verses being here brought in by way of Parenthesis And that the words at that time do not necessarily import the very precise time but admit of a Latitude will appear from Gen. 38.1 and the Note upon that place To bear the Ark Which belonged to the Kohathites Numb 3.27 31. To stand before the LORD c. That is to attend upon the Sanctuary and be in readiness for Service 1 Chron. 23.16 And to bless in his name This was the peculiar Office of the Priests the Sons of Aaron Numb 6.23 Who were also the Sons of Levi and are so called when this peculiar Office of theirs is mentioned Deut. 21.5 And though the solemn pronouncing of the Blessing upon the People
were the peculiar Office of the Priests the Sons of Levi yet the other Families of the Levites were concerned in blessing and praising God 1 Chron. 16.4 and by the faithfull discharge of their Ministry did contribute toward the bringing Blessings upon the People 9. Wherefore Levi Numb 18.20 The reason why they had no inheritance follows The LORD is his inheritance i. e. The Gifts which He hath assigned or given him as the Chaldee hath it here are his See the Note on Numb 18.20 10. First time Or Former days 11. Take thy journey Heb. Go in journey This is mentioned as a proof that God had hearkned to the Intercession of Moses See the Note on verse 6. 12. And now O Israel c. Here Moses exhorts them to Obedience from very powerfull Arguments viz. I. From the Consideration of God's former Mercies v. 10 11. and v. 22. II. From his Soveraign Authority v. 14. III. From his peculiar Kindness to them v. 15. IV. From his infinite Power v. 17. And V. From his inflexible Justice v. 17 18. 14. The Earth Psal 24.1 16. Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your heart c. i. e. Do not content your selves with the bare Circumcision of the fore-skin of your Flesh but cast away the filthiness of your Mind and Manners Compare Deut. 30.6 and Rom. 2.28 29. 17. Regardeth not persons What-ever Nation they be of he will deal righteously with them 2 Chron. 19.7 Job 34.19 Act. 10.34 Rom. 2.11 Gal. 2.6 Ephes 6.9 Col. 3.25 1 Pet. 1.17 19. Love ye therefore the stranger c. See Levit. 19.33 34. 20. Thou shalt fear Chap. 6.13 Matt. 4.10 Luk. 48. Cleave Chap. 13.4 21. He is thy praise He is both the fittest object of thy Honour and Praise and the Author of what-ever makes thee worthy of Praise 22. With threescore c. Gen. 46.27 Exod. 1.5 As the stars According to his promise to Abraham Gen. 15.5 CHAP. XI The ARGUMENT The Israelites are exhorted to love and obey God They are put in mind of the wonderfull Works of God which they had seen And upon their Obedience are promised the good Land and great Prosperity therein Blessing and a Curse are set before them Of the Mounts Gerizim and Ebal 1. THerefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God and keep his charge and his statutes and his judgments and his commandments alway 2. And know ye this day for I speak not with your children which have not known and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God his greatness his mighty hand and his stretched-out arm 3. And his miracles and his acts which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt and unto all his land 4. And what he did unto the army of Egypt unto their horses and to their chariots how he made the water of the Red-sea to overflow them as they pursued after you and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day 5. And what he did unto you in the wilderness untill ye came into this place 6. And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab the son of Reuben how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their housholds and their tents and all the substance that was in their possession in the midst of all Israel 7. But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did 8. Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day that ye may be strong and go in and possess the land whither ye go to possess it 9. And that ye may prolong your days in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed a land that floweth with milk and honey 10. For the land whither thou goest in to possess it is not as the land of Egypt from whence ye came out where thou sowedst thy seed and wateredst it with thy foot as a garden of herbs 11. But the land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven 12. A land which the LORD thy God careth for the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year 13. And it shall come to pass if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul 14. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season the first rain and the latter rain that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine oyl 15. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattel that thou mayest eat and be full 16. Take heed to your selves that your heart be not deceived and ye turn aside and serve other gods and worship them 17. And then the LORD's wrath be kindled against you and he shut up the heaven that there be no rain and that the land yield nor her fruit and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you 18. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand that they may be as frontlets between your eyes 19. And ye shall teach them your children speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up 20. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thine house and upon thy gates 21. That your days may be multiplied and the days of your children in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them as the days of heaven upon the earth 22. For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them to love the LORD your God to walk in all his ways and to cleave unto him 23. Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier then your selves 24. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours from the wilderness and Lebanon from the river the river Euphrates even unto the uttermost see shall your coast be 25. There shall no man be able to stand before you for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon as he hath said unto you 26. Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse 27. A blessing if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day 28. And a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which ye have not known 29. And it shall come to
shalt sanctifie unto the LORD thy God thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock nor shear the firstling of thy sheep 20. Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose thou and thy houshold 21. And if there be any blemish therein as if it be lame or blind or have any ill blemish thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God 22. Thou shalt eat it within thy gates the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike as the roe-buck and as the hart 23. Onely thou shalt not eat the blood thereof thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water 1. AT the end of every seven years Levit. 25.2 4. Or in the Seventh year compare Levit. 25.4 and Exod. 23.11 Or last year of the seven as appears from v. 9. which is as much the End of the Seven as the First is the Beginning Exod. 21.2 Thus what was done in the third year is said to be at the end of three years chap. 14.28 2. Of the release The Jews do with great reason tell us that there was a two-fold Release viz. A Release of Lands of which see Exod. 23.10 11. And a Release of Money or Personal Debts of which this place is to be understood as appears from the following words Every creditor Heb. Master of the lending of his hand that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it It is not said he shall absolutely remit it He would then be rather esteemed a Donor than a Creditor Nor does the word in the Hebrew import an absolute Remission and an abandoning of all Title and Claim but an Intermission onely See Exod. 23.11 And it follows here He shall not exact it c. That is he hath no power to recover it this Seventh year when by reason the Land was not sown the Debtor was disabled from raising Money because it is a Release or Year of intermission of God's appointment 3. Of a foreigner That is of one who is not of the Jewish Nation and so not a Brother v. 2. 4. Save when there shall be no poor among you The Marginal reading is rather to be followed viz. To the end that there be no poor among you The shewing Mercy and Forbearance is a means to prevent the encrease of poor Men And therefore this Release would contribute to the keeping Men from extreme Poverty and by their Obedience to God's Laws they would in great measure keep it off also And though it is much their duty to order it so that there might be few or no Poor yet God who fore-saw that they would fail in their Obedience does fore-tell that there would always be Poor among them v. 11. 6. Thou shalt lend Chap. 28.12 And shalt consequently be rich And thou shalt reign over many For the rich ruleth over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender Prov. 22.7 8. But thou shalt open thine hand Matt. 5.42 Luk. 6.34 A bountifull supply is here Commanded which is expressed by what is sufficient for his need in the following words 9. Thought Heb. Word Wicked Heb. Belial The year of release is at hand viz. When it will not be in his power to exact v. 2. 11. The poor shall never cease c. And therefore there will never want Objects of their Compassion and Tryals of their Inclination that way 12. If thy brother i. e. One of thine own Nation as it follows See Exod. 21.2 Jer. 34.14 Be sold unto thee See Exod. 21.2 with the Note on that place Six years That is six complete years from the first entring upon the Service 15. And thou shalt remember c. This is a powerfull Motive to encline us to shew Mercy The Example of God's Mercy and the Sense of our Obnoxiousness to Sufferings do strongly move where they are duly considered 17. Then thou shalt take an awl c. See Exod. 21.6 with the Note upon that place And also unto thy maid servant thou shalt do likewise That is thou shalt let her go free in the Seventh year v. 12. Nor shall she go away empty but thou shalt furnish her liberally out of thy flock c. v. 14. For we find Moses returns to the same matter mentioned v. 12. in the words which follow v. 18. 18. A double hired servant Both because he served so long a time which is more than usually hired Servants do and without Hire or Wages 19. All the firstlings c. This is to be understood of a second sort of Firstlings of which see the Note on chap. 12.17 For of the First-born which were due to the Priest these words cannot be meant if we duly consider what is said Exod. 22.30 and compare it with what follows here See Exod. 34.19 21. If there be Levit. 22.20 chap. 17.1 Ecclus. 35.12 23. Onely c. See chap. 12.16 23. CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT Of the Passeover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Of the Feast of Weeks and that of Tabernacles Every Male is to appear at the place which God should choose three times a year Of Judges and Justice Groves and Images are forbidden 1. OBserve the month of Abib and keep the passeover unto the LORD thy God for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night 2. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passeover unto the LORD thy God of the flock and the herd in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there 3. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith even the bread of affliction for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in hast that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life 4. And there shall be no leavened-bread seen with thee in all thy coasts seven days neither shall there any thing of the flesh which thou sacrificed'st the first day at even remain all night untill the morning 5. Thou mayest not sacrifice the passeover within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee 6. But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in there thou shalt sacrifice the passeover at even at the going down of the sun at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt 7. And thou shalt rost and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose and thou shalt turn in the morning and go unto thy tents 8. Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God thou shalt do no work therein 9. Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn 10. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a
which is left to his own disposal 10. To pass through the fire See the Note upon Levit. 18.21 That useth divination or an observer of times or an Enchanter The Divination here forbid seems to be the foretelling things to come for the sake of gain or by means not allowed by the Law of God See Micah 3.11 for the observer of times and the Enchanter See the Note on Levit. 19.26 A witch See the Note upon Exod. 22.18 11. Charmer An Inchanter who by Society with evil Spirits and perhaps by a pretence to knowledge from the Conjunction of the Stars for the Hebrew Word imports Society or Conjunction amuses Men with his odd feats and predictions Or a consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard of these See the Note on Levit. 19.31 Necromancer i. e. one who seeks to the Dead See 1 Sam. 28.7 and Isa 8.19 13. Perfect i. e. Vpright or Sincere and not depart from his Precepts See v. 14. 15. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. The connexion is plainly this That they need not turn to Observers of Times to Diviners and Witches c. because God would send among them a Succession of Prophets but then here is also a promise of Christ Act. 3.22 and 7.37 which agrees perfectly to our Jesus who was a Prophet as he taught the Will of God Matth. 5. Luk. 4.19 and foretold things to come Matth. 26.75 Joh. 6.70 71. Matth. 16.21 Matth. 24. and was like unto Moses in his Meekness in his fasting forty days and forty nights in giving his Law from a Mountain Matt. 5. in his open declaring the Will of God Joh. 1.18 in his Mediatorship c. 19. I will require it i. e. I will punish him as a despiser of me and he shall be destroyed from among the people Act. 3.23 22. Speaketh in the name of the LORD c. That is undertakes to confirm his Mission by a Miracle or by predicting something to come The not being able to effect what he undertook and when the Event answered not the Prediction would prove him a false Prophet and not to be feared or regarded CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the cities of Refuge and the Manslayer The Murtherer must die The Land-mark may not be removed The insufficiency of a single Witness The Punishment of a False-witness 1. WHen the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee and thou succeedest them and dwellest in their cities and in their houses 2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way and divide the coasts of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit into three parts that every slayer may flee thither 4. And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither that he may live whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly whom he hated not in time past 5. As when a man goeth in the wood with his neighbour to hew wood and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree and the head slippeth from the helve and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die he shall flee unto one of those cities and live 6. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him because the way is long and slay him whereas he was not worthy of death in as much as he hated him not in time past 7. Wherefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate three cities for thee 8. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers 9. If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them which I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God and to walk ever in his ways then shalt thou add three cities more for thee beside these three 10. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance and so blood be upon thee 11. But if any man hate his neighbour and lie in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him mortally that he die and fleeth into one of these cities 12. Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die 13. Thine eye shall not pity him but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with thee 14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's land-mark which they of old time have set in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established 16. If a false witness rise up against any man to testifie against him that which is wrong 17. Then both the men between whom the controversie is shall stand before the LORD before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days 18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition and behold if the witness be a false witness and hath testified falsly against his brother 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother so shalt thou put the evil away from among you 20. And those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you 21. And thine eye shall not pity but life shall go for life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot 1. WHEN the LORD thy God c. It is from hence evident that they were not obliged to set aside these Cities of Refuge till they had subdued the Inhabitants of the Land and accordingly we find Joshua then taking care of it Josh 20.2 2. In the midst of thy land Or Within thy land For it is not to be supposed they were in the very middle of it but that they were so situated as might be most for the ease and security of the Man-slayer v. 6. and accordingly they were appointed in several Tribes as we read Josh 20.7 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way The meaning is that the way to these Cities should be made plain and easie that the Man-slayer might not be obstructed or retarded in his flight thither 4. And this is the case See Exod. 21.13 6. Lest the avenger c. It is evident that these words relate to what was said v. 3. of dividing the Coasts of the Land that the Slayer might flee to the City of Refuge with greater security which he could not do had not these Cities been dispersed in several Tribes 8. As he hath sworn
might not eat of the Fruit thereof till the fifth year The three first years it was reputed as uncircumcised in the fourth year it was the Lord's and as holy and separate not to be eaten by the Owners of the Trees in the fifth year it might be eaten as that which was common food See Levit. 19.24 25. with the Notes there 10. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight c. The Jewish Writers do frequently mention two kinds of War viz. That which was particularly commanded by God as that against the Nations which the Israelites were commanded to drive out and that which was chosen by the Jews upon just provocation or in their own defence against other People These words as well as those above referr to the latter of these two as appears from v. 15. compared with v. 5 6 7 8. and Numb 32.7 14. But the women and the little ones These are here exempted from destruction as those who were not concerned in the War nor consulted in the offer of Peace 16. Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth And therefore here the Women and little ones were to be destroyed which was not allowed in the case above v. 14. The reason of the difference is to be fetched from God's Command and from the danger of Idolatry in sparing them as is expressed v. 18. 19. For the tree of the field is man's life to employ them in the siege The Trees that bore Fruit might not be cut down in a Siege for two reasons I. Because they afforded a support to Man's life For thou mayest eat of them II. Because they need not fear any hurt from them by sparing them as they might from Men whom they saved alive And according to this sense the words may be thus rendred For is the tree of the field a man or as a man to go before thee in the siege q. d. Thou needest not apprehend any danger from sparing these Trees which can make no resistance against thee This Interpretation besides that it agrees well with the Hebrew which our rendring supposes very Elliptical so it agrees with the Ancient Versions of the Vulgar the Greek the Chaldee c. and with Josephus Antiq. l. iv c. viii and Philo the Jew Lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where speaking of this Law he says It was unjust to turn the War which was undertaken against Men upon those things that are faultless c. and presently afterward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. It is not fit to war against those things which can make no resistance c. CHAP. XXI The ARGUMENT The Expiation of an uncertain Murther The usage of a Captive Woman taken to wife The First-born may not be deprived of his right The punishment of a Rebellious Son A Law concerning a Malefactor hanged on a Tree 1. IF one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it lying in the field and it be not known who hath slain him 2. Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain 3. And it shall be that the city which is next unto the slain man even the elders of that city shall take an heifer which hath not been wrought with and which hath not drawn in the yoke 4. And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley which is neither eared nor sown and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley 5. And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him and to bless in the name of the LORD and by their word shall every controversie and every stroke be tried 6. And all the elders of that city that are next unto the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley 7. And they shall answer and say Our hands have not shed this blood neither have our eyes seen it 8. Be mercifull O LORD unto thy people Israel whom thou hast redeemed and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israels charge And the blood shall be forgiven them 9. So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD 10. When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands and thou hast taken them captive 11. And seest among the captives a beautifull woman and hast a desire unto her that thou wouldest have her to thy wife 12. Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house and she shall shave her head and pare her nails 13. And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her and shall remain in thine house and bewail her father and her mother a full month and after that thou shalt go in unto her and be her husband and she shall be thy wife 14. And it shall be if thou have no delight in her then thou shalt let her go whither she will but thou shalt not sell her at all for money thou shalt not make merchandise of her because thou hast humbled her 15. If a man have two wives one beloved and another hated and they have born him children both the beloved and the hated and if the first-born son be hers that was hated 16. Then it shall be when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath that he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated which is indeed the first-born 17. But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born by giving him a double portion of all that he hath for he is the beginning of his strength the right of the first-born is his 18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son which will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother and that when they have chastned him will not hearken unto them 19. Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him and bring him out unto the elders of his city and unto the gate of his place 20. And they shall say unto the elders of his city This our son is stubborn and rebellious he will not obey our voice he is a glutton and a drunkard 21. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones that he die so shalt thou put evil away from among you and all Israel shall hear and fear 22. And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death and he be to be put to death and thou hang him on a tree 23. His body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day for he that is hanged is accursed of God that thy land be not defiled which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an
thee 6. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever 7. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite for he is thy brother thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land 8. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation 9. When the host goeth forth against thine enemies then keep thee from every wicked thing 10. If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night then shall he go abroad out of the camp he shall not come within the camp 11. But it shall be when evening cometh on he shall wash himself with water and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again 12. Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad 13. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon and it shall be when thou wilt ease thy self abroad thou shalt dig therewith and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee 14. For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee and to give up thine enemies before thee therefore shall thy camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee 15. Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee 16. He shall dwell with thee even among you in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates where it liketh him best thou shalt not oppress him 17. There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel nor a Sodomite of the sons of Israel 18. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore or the price of a dog into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God 19. Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother usury of money usury of victuals usury of any thing that is lent upon usury 20. Vnto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it 21. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee and it would be sin in thee 22. But if thou shalt forbear to vow it shall be no sin in thee 23. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform even a free-will-offering according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God which thou hast promised with thy mouth 24. When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel 25. When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn 1. SHall not enter into the Congregation of the LORD The Congregation of the Lord is as much as the whole Body of the People or Common-wealth of the Israelites Numb 16.3 and Chap. 27.16 17. To enter into this Congregation is as much as to become one of that Community The way of becoming such an one is by affinity contracted by Marriage To this all men were not admitted we are here and in the following Words told who are excluded from these Affinities or who they are who may not marry any of the Daughters of Israel nor by that means be incorporated into the Common-wealth of Israel This Sense of these words is confirmed not onely by the Consent of the most learned Jewish Writers but by the Context compare ch 22. v. 30. with ch 23. v. 8. and most of all by what we read Nehem. 13. v. 1 2 3. and v. 23 24 25. They who are excluded from this priviledge are these viz. I. He that is wounded in the Stones c. v. 1. Such an one is absolutely rejected as unfit to enter into this Affinity though he might otherwise be inclined to it II. A Bastard i. e. One begotten in Fornication and that is illegitimate v. 2. Not onely one born of a strange Woman Nehem. 13.27 but born out of Wedlock Such an one is absolutely rejected also III. An Ammonite and Maobite who are also absolutely rejected v. 3 IV. Edomites and Egyptians who are not for ever excluded For their Children in their third Generation are admitted v. 7 8. 2. Even to his tenth generation In the Hebrew it is even his tenth generation shall not enter i. e. None of his Off-spring shall be admittted See v. 3. 3. Even to their tenth generation c. In the Hebrew it is Even their tenth generation shall not enter c. If ever they might enter they might in their tenth Generation but this being denied them they are absolutely excluded which appears not onely from for ever which follows but from Neh. 13.1 where there is no mention of the tenth Generation but 't is said that they read in the Book of Moses where it was written that the Ammonite and the Maobite should not enter into the congregation for ever 4. Because they met you not c. i. e. Because the Ammonites met you not See Deut. 2.29 Because they hired i. e. Because the Moabites hired See Numb 22.5 6 7. 6. Thou shalt not seek their peace c. All that is forbid is publick Confederations and Alliances with them notwithstanding which prohibition it was lawfull for private Persons to use them with civility and respect 7. Thou wast a stranger Thou oughtest not to forget the relief thy Fore-fathers received there during the Famine 8. The children c. When they have been Proselytes and so continue to the third Generation it is permitted to them of the third Generation to marry the Daughters of Israel and enter into the Congregation 9. Then keep thee from every wicked thing Then especially when men use to take the greatest liberty and when they so much depend upon the Divine Providence for success 10. By night Of this see Levit. 15. v. 16 17. 12. Abroad viz. To ease thy self as it is v. 13. 14. The LORD thy God walketh in the midst c. That is the Presence of God who is with his People in their Just Wars ought to over awe them and make them carefully avoid what-ever is indecent 15. Thou shalt not deliver c. In times of War it might happen frequently that their Enemies would make their escape and by that means provide for their own Safety And that the place is to be understood not of the Servants of the Hebrews their brethren but of Aliens and Strangers is evident from the Context and also from the Words of the Text He is said to be escaped and permitted to
practised had it not been for this prohibition and for that reason the taking her again is called abomination before the LORD as that which might have served as a pretext to very filthy Practices Defiled Not that Marriage defiles or her second Marriage But she is defiled or unclean as to her first Husband because by the Law he might not now touch her For what is forbidden in this case and under the Law of Moses may well be said to be unclean or defiled See Judg. 13.7 5. Cheer up c. That he may by his Conversation and Kindness prevent the occasion of a Divorce 6. A Man's Life i. e. That which tends to the preserving his Life 7. Stealing c. See Exod. 21.16 9. Remember c. Miriam for her speaking against Moses was stricken with Leprosie This Example must not be forgotten as that which serves to restrain them from speaking evil of Dignities 10. Thou shalt not go into his house c. Viz. To choose what the poor Man most values or observe the meanness of his Store which might be to his reproach and trouble as well as to the grief of his Domesticks 13. Bless thee viz. By praying for thee or invoking the Divine Blessing upon thee Righteousness c. i. e. It shall be esteemed by God as an Act of Mercy which he will reward 15. At his day That is at the appointed time 16. The Fathers c. This is a Rule and a standing one given to Magistrates 22. Therefore c. viz. Out of a gratefull sense of thy deliverance from thence See v. 18. CHAP. XXV The ARGUMENT The Judges are obliged to exercise Justice They may not exceed forty stripes The Ox may not be muzzled Of raising Seed to a deceased Brother Of the Immodest Woman Of just Weights and Measures The Memory of Amalek is to be blotted out 1. IF there be a controversie between men and they come unto judgment that the judges may judge them then they shall justifie the righteous and condemn the wicked 2. And it shall be if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten that the judge shall cause him to lie down and to be beaten before his face according to his fault by a certain number 3. Forty stripes he may give him and not exceed lest if he should exceed and beat him above these with many stripes then thy brother should seem vile unto thee 4. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn 5. If brethren dwell together and one of them die and have no child the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her 6. And it shall be that the first-born which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead that his name be not put out of Israel 7. And if the man like not to take his brother's wife then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders and say My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother 8. Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak unto him and if he stand to it and say I like not to take her 9. Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders and loose his shooe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house 10. And his name shall be called in Israel The house of him that hath his shooe loosed 11. When men strive together one with another and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him and putteth forth her hand and taketh him by the secrets 12. Then thou shalt cut off her hand thine eye shall not pity her 13. Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights a great and a small 14. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures a great and a small 15. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight a perfect and just measure shalt thou have that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 16. For all that do such things and all that do unrighteously are an abomination unto the LORD thy God 17. Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of Egypt 18. How he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of thee even all that were feeble behind thee when thou wast faint and weary and be feared not God 19. Therefore it shall be when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven thou shalt not forget it 3. Forty stripes c. There might not be more whatever the offence were And therefore they were not wont to exceed nine and thirty at any time for fear of transgressing this Law See 2 Cor. 11.24 See Joseph Antiq. l. 4. c. 8. Vile i. e. Of no value or regard The beating him without measure speaks Inhumanity and a want of due regard to the common nature which we all partake of 4. Thou shalt not muzzle c. These words teach mercy to a Beast as the last do to an Evil-man but then as they were obliged not to muzzle the labouring Ox so they were much more obliged to be kind to their Servants and most of all to them who ministred in Holy Things 1 Cor. 9.9 1 Tim. 5.18 5. If brethren dwell together It is not reasonably to be supposed that that Brother was obliged to marry his Brother's Widow who was himself a Married-man at the time of his elder Brother's decease and therefore the Law is to be understood of Brethren who dwell together For though the younger while he continued single may be supposed to dwell with the elder yet when he married he would dwell in an House of his own Vnto a stranger i. e. To one of another Family although he were of the same Tribe 6. Shall succeed in the name c. i. e. He shall be reputed his Son and keep up his Family See Numb 27.4 with Gen. 38.8 9. 8. Call him c. viz. In order to examine the truth of what the Woman alledged v. 7. 9. Loose his shooe In token of his renouncing his right to her Spit in his face In token of contempt of him who had despised her Numb 12.14 10. His name c. That is he shall be reckoned among the Families who have refused thus to keep up the Memory of the Deceased 12. Cut off her hand To punish her immodesty which is the inlet of
before that Day does not always precisely denote a determinate and precise time but time more at large and so it is here and in the two following Verses It is sufficient that it denote that time when Moses acquainted them with God's Laws and they entered into a Solemn Covenant to observe and keep them and God took them for his peculiar People See v. 17 18. 19. In praise and in name See Jer. 13.11 CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT The Israelites are commanded to write the Law upon Stones when they came into the Land and to build an Altar The names of the Tribes that were to stand on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal The several Curses to be pronounced by the Levites 1. AND Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people saying Keep all the commandments which I command you this day 2. And it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee that thou shalt set thee up great stones and plaister them with plaister 3. And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law when thou art passed over that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee a land that floweth with milk and honey as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee 4. Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan that ye shall set up these stones which I command you this day in mount Ebal and thou shalt plaister them with plaister 5. And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God an altar of stones thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them 6. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God 7. And thou shalt offer peace-offerings and shalt eat there and rejoice before the LORD thy God 8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly 9. And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel saying Take heed and hearken O Israel this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God 10. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God and do his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day 11. And Moses charged the people the same day saying 12. These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people when ye are come over Jordan Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Joseph and Benjamin 13. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse Reuben Gad and Asher and Zebulun Dan and Naphtali 14. And the Levites shall speak and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice 15. Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image an abomination unto the LORD the work of the hands of the craftsman and putteth it in a secret place and all the people shall answer and say Amen 16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother and all the people shall say Amen 17. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's land-mark and all the people shall say Amen 18. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way and all the people shall say Amen 19. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger fatherless and widow and all the people shall say Amen 20. Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife because he uncovereth his father's skirt and all the people shall say Amen 21. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast and all the people shall say Amen 22. Cursed be he that lieth with his sister the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother and all the people shall say Amen 23. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law and all the people shall say Amen 24. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly and all the people shall say Amen 25. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person and all the people shall say Amen 26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them and all the people shall say Amen 1. KEep Moses having repeated and explained the Law which was given at Horeb engages the People to obey it and that he does by the very same methods which he made use of when the Law was first given them E.g. I. Then he built an Altar according to the command and direction given him Exod. 24.4 with Exod. 20.24 25. He takes the same care here v. 5. II. Then he wrote the words of the Law Exod. 24.4 and here he takes care it should be done v. 3 4. III. Then he took the People's profession of Obedience Exod. 24.3 He mentions the same Profession here ch 26.17 IV. Then he took care to confirm the Covenant between God and the People by Sacrifices Exod. 24.5 And now he requires the very same kinds of Sacrifices also v. 6 7. V. Then after all his other care he set before them Blessings and Curses Lev. 26. And so he does here v. 12 13. and chap. 28. 2. On the day Not on that very precise day see the Note on chap. 26.16 but thou shalt then stand obliged to do this and the Writing upon these Stones was required when they were passed over v. 3. but not on the very day of their passage 3. All the words of this law That is the substance of the Law or the Heads of it in which the Ten Commandments have a principal place See Exod. 24.3 When thou art passed over that thou mayest go in That is when thou hast passed over Jordan in order to the entring into the Land For those words That thou mayest go in are not to be understood as promising a Reward for writing the words of the Law which were not to be written till they were in the Land but as implying the end of their passing through Jordan 5. An altar See Exod. 20.25 and chap. 24.4 7. Shalt eat there This was permitted to the Offerer to do out of his Peace-offerings Levit. 7.15 And 't was a token that he was in Covenant with God when he did partake of the Altar 1 Cor. 10.18 20 21. 8. Very plainly viz. So as may be easily read 9. Thou art become That is thou hast declared so much Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God as it is expressed ch 26.17 See Exod. 24.3 12. These shall stand c. We find that those who were to bless are the Sons of the Free-women and the most considerable of them Indeed Reuben and Zebulun the Sons of Leah are among them that were to curse But in an equal division there must be two of the Sons of the Free and Reuben having defiled his Father's Bed and Zebulun the youngest of Leah's Sons are put into that Division 13. To curse It is not said to curse the People as 't is said v. 12. to bless the people not being
and thy daughters shall be given into another people and thine eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day long and there shall be no might in thine hand 33. The fruit of thy land and all thy labours shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up and thou shalt be onely oppressed and crushed alway 34. So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see 35. The LORD shall smite thee in the knees and in the legs with a sore botch that cannot be healed from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head 36. The LORD shall bring thee and thy king which thou shalt set over thee unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known and there shalt thou serve other gods wood and stone 37. And thou shalt become an astonishment a proverb and a by-word among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee 38. Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field and shalt gather but little in for the locust shall consume it 39. Thou shalt plant vine-yards and dress them but shalt neither drink of the wine nor gathar the grapes for the worms shall eat them 40. Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy coasts but thou shalt not anoint thy self with the oyl for thine olive shall cast his fruit 41. Thou shalt beget sons and daughters but thou shalt not enjoy them for they shall go into captivity 42. All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume 43. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high and thou shalt come down very low 44. He shall lend to thee and thou shalt not lend to him he shall be the head and thou shalt be the tail 45. Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed because thou hearknedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee 46. And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder and upon thy seed for ever 47. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things 48. Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee 49. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far from the end of the earth as swift as the eagle flieth a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand 50. A nation of fierce countenance which shall not regard the person of the old nor shew favour to the young 51. And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattel and the fruit of thy land until thou be destroyed which also shall not leave thee either corn wine or oyl or the increase of thy kine or flocks of thy sheep until he have destroyed thee 52. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates until thy high and fenced walls come down wherein thou trustedst throughout all thy land and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land which the LORD thy God hath given thee 53. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the LORD thy God hath given thee in the siege and in the straitness wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee 54. So that the man that is tender among you and very delicate his eye shall be evil towards his brother and toward the wife of his bosom and towards the remnant of his children which he shall leave 55. So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat because he hath nothing left him in the siege and in the straitness wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in all thy gates 56. The tender and delicate woman among you which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness her eye shall be evil towards the husband of her bosom and towards her son and towards her daughter 57. And towards her young one that cometh out from between her feet and towards her children which she shall bear for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates 58. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearfull name THE LORD THY GOD 59. Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses and of long continuance 60. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt which thou wast afraid of and they shall cleave unto thee 61. Also ever sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this law them will the LORD bring upon thee until thou be destroyed 62. And ye shall be left few in number whereas ye were at the stars of heaven for multitude because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God 63. And it shall come to pass that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and to bring you to nought and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it 64. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people from the one end of the earth even unto the other and there thou shalt serve other gods which neither thou nor thy fathers have known even wood and stone 65. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind 66. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee and thou shalt fear day and night and shalt have none assurance of thy life 67. In the morning thou shalt say Would God 〈◊〉 were even and at even thou shalt say Would God it were morning for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see 68. And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships by the way whereof I spake unto thee Thou shalt see it no more again and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bond-men and bond-women and no man shall buy you 1. SET thee on high c. i. e. He will make thee more prosperous than other Nations as appears from what follows to v. 15. 2. Overtake thee Without thy pursuit of them they shall be thy portion by the good providence of God Matt. 6.33 3. Blessed shalt c.
water 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God and into his oath which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day 13. That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that he may be unto thee a God as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 14. Neither with you onely do I make this covenant and this oath 15. But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God and also with him that is not here with us this day 16. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we came through the nations which ye passed by 17. And ye have seen their abominations and their idols wood and stone silver and gold which were among them 18. Lest there should be among you man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood 19. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to add drankenness to thirst 20. The LORD will not spare him but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heavâ—â— 21. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law 22. So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you and the stranger that shall come from a fâ—â— land shall say when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it 23. And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt and burning that it is not sown nor beareth nor any grass groweth therein like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath 24. Even all nations shall say Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land What meaneth the heat of this great anger 25. Then men shall say Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which he made with them where he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt 26. For they went and served other gods and worshipped them gods whom they knew not and whom he had not given unto them 27. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book 28. And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation and cast them into another land as it is this day 29. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for even that we may do all the words of this law 1. BEside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. This is the same Covenant with that in Horeb But because they had broken that and because they are now just entring into the promised Land and Moses had given them a more full Explication of the Law and was ready to die he renews the Covenant which they had before entred into 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see c. That is God hath thought fit for your Sins and Provocations to leave you to your own Stupidity and Blindness of Heart God had done great things for them In his love and in his pity he redeemed c. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit Isa 63.9 10. And that they were utterly inexcusable will appear from what follows v. 5 6 7. In which words we are told that God took great care of them that they might be at leisure to consider For they were not distracted with the cares for Food and Raiment c. God having made a great and miraculous Provision for them 6. Bread i. e. Bread which required not any labour of plowing or sowing of threshing and grinding c. But Manna from Heaven prepared ready to your Hands Wine or strong Drink These would have required some considerable Pains Instead of that they were supplied with Water which followed them 7. We smote them We were not enfeebled for want of Wine and strong Drink nor left without the Divine Assistance 10. All of you They were all concerned and therefore all stood ready to renew their Covenant 11. The hewr c. i. e. The meanest Servant Jos 9.27 12. And into his Oath What is rendred Oath signifies rather a Curse which was generally annexed to an Oath See the LXXII and v. 19 20. And because this Covenant had Curses annexed which were solemnly denounced against Transgressours Chap. 27.14 15. The entring into Covenant and into the Curse in case of failure are here conjoined Nehem. 10.29 15. With him that is not here i. e. With your Posterity The promise was to Abraham and his Seed 16 17. These two Verses contain Motives to incline them to enter into Covenant with God viz. Both because God had brought them out of Egypt and throuh other Nations and because they had had the opportunity of discerning the Folly of these People in worshipping Idols which cannot help them 18. Lest there should be c. These words connect with that Declaration which God makes in order to prevent the Sinner's flattering himself in an Evil way v. 20. We may find a like Expression Gen. 3.22 23. A root that beareth gall and wormwood That is an Evil principle called an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 which will infect and poison the Mind and produce the Curses denounced which will be very bitter Compare Act. 8.23 Heb. 12.15 19. To add drunkenness to thirst That is to abound in all manner of Wickedness To add sin to sin Isa 30.1 And drink it up like water Job 34.7 which course of Wickedness does but begâ—t a greater Inclination to do wickedly still As Drunkenness does not 〈◊〉 but increase the Thirst Isa 56.12 20. Blot out his name i. e. Destroy him For Name is frequently put for the person to whom that Name does belong as hath been observed 21. Shall separate him unto Evil c. Whereas such a Sinner may think to escape in a Crowd and flatter himself that the Blessings promised to God's People among whom he lives shall be his Portion he shall be singled out and rendred a Monument of God's Displeasure 23. Burning i. e. Parched and dried up and made barren Psal 107.34 26. He had not given unto them See
the Note on Chap. 4.19 29. The secret c. q. d. This severity of God towards his chosen People may be well supposed very amazing and surprizing especially considering his early and many and repeated Mercies to them and their Fathers from time to time his gracious Nature and Promises and his forbearance of others whose Sins were as great and who were not in Covenant with him But we are not too curiously to inquire into the Secrets of God's Providence Rom. 11.33 But on the other hand steadily to apply our selves to obey God's revealed Will as that which more peculiarly belongs to us and is the best preventive of such Calamities as are mentioned v. 23 27 28. CHAP. XXX The ARGUMENT God promiseth Mercy to the truly Penitent The Law of God was plainly laid before them Life and Death are set before them They are vehemently exhorted to be obedient and to be happy 1. AND it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee the blessing and the curse which I have set before thee and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee 2. And shalt return unto the LORD thy God and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day thou and thy children with all thine heart and with all thy soul 3. That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee 4. If any of thine be driven out unto the utmost parts of heaven from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee and from thence will he fetch thee 5. And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy fathers 6. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live 7. And the LOOD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies and on them that hate thee which persecuted thee 8. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD and do all his commandments which I command thee this day 9. And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy cattel and in the fruit of thy land for good for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good as he rejoiced over thy fathers 10. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God to â—eep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul 11. For this commandment which I command thee this day it is not hidden from thee neither is it for off 12. It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it 13. Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it 14. But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it 15. See I have set before thee this day life and good and death and evil 16. In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments that thou mayest live and multiply and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it 17. But if thine heart turn away so that thou wilt not hear but shalt be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them 18. I denounce unto you this day and ye shall surely perish and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live 20. That thou mayest love the LORD thy God and that thou mayest obey his voice and that thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thy life and the length of thy days that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob to give them 1. AND thou shalt call them to mind i. e. Thou shalt consider or come thy self which is the first Step towards Repentance See Luke 15.17 1 King 8.47 If thou he think thy self That is the importance of the Hebrew and so it is rendred 1 Kings 8.47 2. And shalt return Here is a farther Description of true Repentance expressed by returning and by obeying God universally and heartily 3. Turn thy Captivity That is bring back thy Captives as appears from the following words and Captivity is sometimes used for Captives Psal 14.7 4. Vtmost parts of heaven That is the utmost parts of the Earth under the Heaven Behold I will gather them out of all Countries Jer. 32.37 What is expressed by from one end of the heaven to the other Matt. 24.31 is in a parallell place said from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13.27 Heaven some times signifies the Air in which we breath Gen. 1.8 6. Circumcise thine heart This is to be understood of that Spiritual Circumcision whereby the filthy Inclination of the Mind to evil is removed and pared away The Chaldee expresseth it by removing the folly of the heart and the Greek by cleansing it Coloss 2.11 Rom. 2.29 9. For good Plenty and Prosperity is to the hurt of evil Men and is onely good to them who are good and is therefore as such promised to them whose heart is circumcised 11. This Commandment viz. Of loving God v. 6. and sincere Obedience to his Revelation v. 8. which are also Evangelical Precepts Rom. 10.6 Not hidden i. e. It is not hard to be understood as those are which are said to be hidden and abstruse Far off Or out of thy reach that thou shouldest need pretend that thou canst not come at it 12. Not in heaven That is it is not looked up as a Secret there but revealed from thence 13. Beyond the Sea i. e. It is not at such a distance as will expose Men to great hazard to come at 14. In thy mouth and in thy heart i. e. It is very near thee indeed as that which thou ownest with thy Mouth and doest with thy Mind assent unto 19. I call heaven and earth c. See the Note on Chap. 4.26 20. He is thy life He is the Author
and the Preserver of thy Life And so he is of thy Prosperity which Life sometimes signifies see v. 19. and all the Comforts of Life CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Moses does greatly encourage the Israelites and Joshua their Leader Moses delivers a Copy of the Law to the Priests with a command to read it every seventh Year God foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites and declares his displeasure thereupon He appoints a Song as a witness against them He encourageth Joshua The Law to be put into the Ark. Moses foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites 1. AND Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel 2. And he said unto them I am an hundred and twenty years old this day I can no more go out and come in also the LORD hath said unto me Thou shalt not go over this Jordan 3. The LORD thy God he will go over before thee and he will destroy these nations from before thee and thou shalt possess them and Joshua he shall go over before thee as the LORD hath said 4. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og kings of the Amorites and unto the land of them whom he destroyed 5. And the LORD shall give them up before your face that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you 6. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the LORD thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee 7. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto him in the sight of all Israel Be strong and of a good courage for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them and thou shalt cause them to inherit it 8. And the LORD he it is that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be dismayed 9. And Moses wrote this Law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD and unto all the elders of Israel 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of tabernacles 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the LORD your God and observe to do all the words of this law 13. And that their children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thy days approach that thou must die call Joshua and present your selves in the tabernacle of the congregation that I may give him a charge And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation 15. And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle 16. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers and this people will rise up and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they go to be among them and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them 17. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and I will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befall them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not amongst us 18. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought in that they are turned unto other gods 19. Now therefore write ye this song for you and teach it the children of Israel put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel 20. For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milk and honey and they shall have eaten and filled themselves and waxen fat then will they turn unto other gods and serve them and provoke me and break my covenant 21. And it shall come to pass when many evils and troubles are befallen them that this song shall testifie against them as a witness for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware 22. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day and taught it the children of Israel 23. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said Be strong and of a good courage for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee 24. And it came to pass when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished 25. That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD saying 26. Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee 27. For I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck behold while I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the LORD and how much more after my death 28. Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes and your officers that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to record against them 29. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befall you in the latter days because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song until they were ended 2. I can no more go out and come in See the Note on Numb 27.17 The strength of Moses was at present vigorous chap. 34.7 but he could not think it could last long besides this God had declared that he should not go over Jordan as it follows here 9. This law i. e. The whole body of it Vnto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. The fairest account of these words and the most unexceptionable is this That there is here an Ellipsis of
them with the poison of serpents of the dust 25. The sword without and terrour within shall destroy both the young man and the virgin the suckling also with the man of gray hairs 26. I said I would scatter them into corners I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men 27. Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely and lest they should say Our hand is high and the LORD hath not done all this 28. For they are a nation void of counsel neither is there any understanding in them 29. O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end 30. How should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight except their Rock had sold them and the LORD had shut them up 31. For their rock is not as our rock even our enemies themselves being judges 32. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah their grapes are grapes of gall their clusters are bitter 33. Their wine is the poison of dragons and the cruel venom of asps 34. Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my treasures 35. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence their foot shall slide in due time for the day of their calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make haste 36. For the LORD shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants When he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left 37. And he shall say Where are their gods their rock in whom they trusted 38. Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink-offerings let them rise up and help you and be your protection 39. See now that I even I am he and there is no god with me I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand 40. For I lift up my hand to heaven and say I live for ever 41. If I whet my glittering sword and mine hand take hold on judgment I will render vengeance to mine enemies and will reward them that hate me 42. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood and my sword shall devour flesh and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy 43. Rejoice O ye nations with his people for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be merciful unto his land and to his people 44. And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people he and Hoshea the son of Nun. 45. And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel 46. And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this law 47. For it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 48. And the LORD spake unto Moses that self same day saying 49. Get thee up into this mountain Abarim unto mount Nebo which is in the land of Moab that is over against Jericho and behold the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession 50. And die in the mount whither thou goest up and be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered unto his people 51. Because ye trespassed aginst me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel 52. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel 1. GIve ear O ye heavens c. Moses doth in these words what he promised chap. 31.28 call heaven and earth to record against them And this he does in the very entrance and beginning of this Song to raise and awaken in them the greater attention it being a matter of great moment when he solemnly calls upon the Heaven and the Earth to hear Isa 1.2 Compare chap. 4.26 and 30.19 Psal 50.4 Jer. 2.12 and 6.19 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain That is it shall be fitted to gain its end upon Men that are disposed to receive it as the Rain is for the fructifying the Earth Isa 55.10 11. 1 Cor. 3.6 7 8. 3. I will publish the name of the LORD i. e. I will proclaim as the Hebrew word signifies and is rendred Prov. 20.6 the Divine Perfections and this he does in the following Verse Ascribe ye c. It is your part to magnifie him as ye ought Psal 68.34 4. He is the rock c. i. e. God is the Rock he is stable and immutable and a sure Foundation to rest upon And his Works are without any flaw or fault his dealings with Men are just and unexceptionable he is true and sincere in all his Declarations In a word he is upright and just and one who never swerves from that which is right 5. They have corrupted themselves c. i. e. They have sinned as the Greek and Vulgar have it and have been so far from imitating God whose work is perfect c. that they have been most unlike him their Crimes being of so high a nature that they speak them to be not his peculiar People but a perverse and crooked Generation 6. That bought thee that hath redeemed thee out of Egypt Vid. Exod. 15.16 To this purpose the Psalmist Remember the congregation which thou hast purchased of old the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed Psal 74.2 This was a great aggravation of their sin that they denied the Lord which bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 Compare Isa 1.3 and 1 Cor. 6.20 Made thee The Hebrew word which we translate made is observed to signifie to advance and so it is rendred 1 Sam. 12.6 and this seems to be the import of it in this place God's creating them is implyed before in that he is said to be their Father Established thee i. e. Fixed and settled thee 8. Divided c. Of which see Gen. ch 10. and chap. 11. He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel i. e. He assigned to the Canaanites and the other Inhabitants of the Land called from them the Land of Canaan such a proportion of Land as would suffice the Israelites to whom it was designed when their Iniquities were full when they were come out of Egypt and were ready to possess it 9. The lot Heb. cord of his inheritance i. e. The Inheritance peculiarly belonging to him
not again 12. And of Benjamin he said The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him and the LORD shall cover him all the day long and he shall dwell between his shoulders 13. And of Joseph he said Blessed of the LORD be his land for the precious things of heaven for the dew and for the deep that coucheth beneath 14. And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun and for the precious things put forth by the moon 15. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains and for the precious things of the lasting hills 16. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof and for the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren 17. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock and his horns are like the horns of unicorns with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim and they are the thousands of Manasseh 18. And of Zebulun he said Rejoice Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents 19. They shall call the people unto the mountain there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hid in the sand 20. And of Gad he said Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad he dwelleth as a lion and teareth the arm with the crown of the head 21. And he provided the first part for himself because there in a portion of the law-giver was he seated and he came with the heads of the people he executed the Justice of the LORD and his judgments with Israel 22. And of Dan he said Dan is a lion's whelp he shall leap from Bashan 23. And of Naphtali he said O Naphtali satisfied with favour and full with the blessing of the LORD possess thou the west and the south 24. And of Asher he said Let Asher be blessed with children let him be acceptable to his brethren and let him dip his foot in oyl 25. Thy shooes shall be iron and brass and as thy days so shall thy strength be 26. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun who rideth upon the heaven in thy help and in his excellency on the skie 27. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say Destroy them 28. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine also his heavens shall drop down dew 29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the LORD the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places 1. THE man of God That is the Prophet of the LORD as the Chaldee renders it See 1 Sam. 9.6 And the Title to the ninetieth Psalm Blessed i. e. He did pronounce and predict the following Blessings upon the several Tribes of Israel and pray to God to bestow them Compare v. 6 7. 2. And he said the LORD came from Sinai c. Before he proceeds to bless the several Tribes he premises an Account of God's special Favour to the whole Body of the People The LORD came from Sinai i. e. He revealed himself as the Chaldee well explains this Place from Sinai where he gave his Law and revealed his Will and Pleasure to them Rose up It is to be considered that what we render rose up is in the Hebrew expressed by a word which peculiarly signifies such a rising up as that of the Sun in the Morning And is the same word which is used where it is said Vnto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise Malach. 4.2 It might have been rendered appeared as it is by the vulgar and signifies a splendid or glorious Appearance Compare Hab. 3.3 4. From Seir That is Idumaea by which the Israelites passed The meaning is that as God revealed himself from Sinai when he gave them his Law So he did after that as they passed on by Seir and Paran give them evident Proofs of his Presence with them and special Providence over them Mount Paran Paran is the Name of a Wilderness by which the Israelites passed Deut. 1.1 This Mount either denotes some particular Mountain so called or intimates the Mountainous part of that Wilderness He came with ten thousands of Saints That is when God revealed himself from Sinai and gave his Law he was attended with a great Number of holy Angels The chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels the LORD is among them as in Sinai Psal 68.17 Compare Dan. 7.10 Rev. 5.11 Well might Stephen say that the Law was received by the disposition of Angels Acts 7.53 and St. Paul that it was ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediator Gal. 3.19 It is elsewhere called the word spoken by Angels Heb 2.2 From his right hand went a fiery Law i. e. He gave as Men do when with their Right-hands they deliver their Gifts a fiery Law The Law given at Mount Sinai is called a fiery Law because God spake the Words thereof out of the midst of the fire Deut. 5.22 Compare Exod. 19.18 as also Psalm 104.4 with Gal. 3.19 3. The people i. e all the Tribes of Israel All his saints are in thy hand He hath a special care of the Israelites that Holy Nation Exod. 19.6 who sat at his Feet compare Luk. 10.39 Act. 22.3 and promised Subjection and Obedience to him Exod. 24. 4. Inheritance A possession of great value and such an one as was to descend to their Posterity Thy testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart Psal 119.111 5. He was king i. e. Moses was a Prince or Governour he gave Laws and ruled the People 6. Let Reuben live c. q. d. Though Reuben have lost his Birth-right for his Incest and thereupon fell into his Father's displeasure Gen. 49.4 and some of his Sons were guilty of Rebellion Numb 16.1 yet let not his Posterity cease to be a distinct and prosperous Tribe And whereas they have engaged upon receiving their Inheritance on this side Jordan to leave their Wives and Children there and to expose themselves to the hazzard of War with their Brethren Numb 32.26 27. let none of them that stay behind or pass over Jordan perish but let their intire number be preserved 7. Hear LORD the voice of Judah c. Whereas Judah's Hand is to be in the Neck of his Enemies Gen. 49.8 and he is to be the first that is to fight against the Canaanites after the death of Joshua Judg. 1.1 and will consequently be exposed to danger in his
which he hath given thee the unclean and the clean may eat thereof as of the roe-buck and as of the hart 16. Onely ye shall not eat the blood ye shall pour it upon the earth as water 17. Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn or of thy wine or of thy oyl or the firstlings of the herds or of thy flock nor any of thy vows which thou vowest nor thy free-will-offerings or heave-offering of thine hand 18. But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose thou and thy son and thy daughter and thy man-servant and thy maid servant and the Levite that is within thy gates and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto 19. Take heed to thy self that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon thy earth 20. When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border as he hath promised thee and thou shalt say I will eat flesh because thy soul longeth to eat flesh thou mayest eat flesh whatsoever thy soul lusteth after 21. If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock which the LORD hath given thee as I have commanded thee and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after 22. Even as the roe-buck and the hart is eaten so thou shalt eat them the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike 23. Onely be sure that thou eat not the blood for the blood is the life and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh 24. Thou shalt not eat it thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water 25. Thou shalt not eat it that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD 26. Onely thy holy things which thou hast and thy vows thou shalt take and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose 27. And thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings the flesh and the blood upon the altar of the LORD thy God and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God and thou shalt eat the flesh 28. Observe and hear all these words which I command thee that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee for ever when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God 29. When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee whither thou goest to possess them and thou succeedest them and dwellest in their land 30. Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared by following them after that they be destroyed from before thee and that thou enquire not after their gods saying How did these nations serve their gods even so will I do likewise 31. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God for every abomination to the LORD which he hateth have they done unto their gods for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods 32. What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it 2. Ye shall utterly destroy Ch. 7.5 God did not think it enough to forbid them Idolatry but commands them to destroy all the Monuments and Memorials thereof Possess Or Inherit 3. You shall overthrow Heb. Break down their altars c. Judg. 2.2 This enumeration of Particulars after what was said v. 2. speaks God's great care that the Israelites should flie from all Idolatry 4. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God By diligent comparing what is said above v. 2 3. and what follows v. 5 6. it appears that the meaning of this place is q. d. Ye shall not for the publick worship of God set up several Altars in sundry Mountains and Groves c. as the Idolatrous Nations did but serve him publickly in one place which he should choose v. 5 6. 5. Choose Or set a-part for that purpose as he did Jerusalem afterwards 1 King 8.29 2 Chron. 7.12 To put his name there i. e. To dwell or more especially to be present there where he is worshipped according to his Will The Name of God is put for God himself see Levit. 24.11 16. and 2 Sam. 6.2 And so it is â—â—â—re there is mention of calling on his Name building an House to his Name believing on his Name Psal 80.18 23.3 1 Chron. 22.8 and that so it is in this place is evident from the words of God to Solomon concerning the Temple which he had built I have chosen this place to my self for an house of sacrifice 2 Chron. 7.12 And this sense is confirmed from the following words in this Verse Even unto his habitation shall ye seek and from v. 11. There shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there 6. And thither ye shall bring c. This Command was for the preventing Idolatry which would not easily have been prevented had they been allowed their several Groves and Altars which the Idolaters had made use of And your tithes By Tithes here are not meant the Tithes paid to the Levites which were holy unto the Lord Levit. 27.30 and therefore not to be eaten by the People v. 18. nor yet the Tithe of those Tithes which was paid to the Priests Numb 18.26 and belonged onely to them and their Families Neh. 10.38 But a second Tithe which the People were to set aside after they had paid the Levites and which they might eat together with the Levite the Stranger Fatherless and Widow of which see Deut. 14.22 23 27 29. This second Tithe which the People was commanded to set aside every year was thus to be imployed viz. It was to be eaten for two years together in Jerusalem when God had chosen that place v. 17 18. and ch 14.23 and might be eaten by the first Owners and their Families with the Levites And in case the persons setting aside this Tithe lived at a great distance from Jerusalem they were allowed to turn it into Money and spend it there chap. 14.24 25 26. But every third year this same Tithe was to be laid up in the Country whence it did arise and to be eaten there not onely with the Levites as that which was spent at Jerusalem but with the other poor People of the Neighbourhood chap. 14.28 29. And heave-offerings of your hand viz. The first-fruits of the Earth of which see chap. 18.4 with chap. 26.2 The firstlings of your herds c. These are expressed as distinct from the first-fruits of the Earth expressed before by Heave-offerings 7. Ye shall eat viz. Your allowed part 8. This day That is this time of your wandring in the Wilderness where they could
not practise those Precepts which were annexed to the Land and required a settled condition See v. 9 10. 11. Your choice vows Heb. The choice of your vows Whatever was offered as a Vow was to be select and perfect whereas what was less perfect might serve in a Free-will-offering that being brought upon meer good-will without any preceeding Vow or Obligation Levit 22.20 21 22 23. 12. He hath no part Chap. 10.9 See the Note on ch 10.9 15. Lusteth after Or Desireth The unclean This being but common and ordinary Food which is here spoken of he that was legally unclean was permitted to eat of it which by the Law he might not have done had it been a part of a Peace offering Levit 7.20 As of the roe-buck and as of the hart q. d. As freely as he may eat of any other Flesh which is not forbidden as unclean such was that of the Roe-buck and Hart which were not forbidden by the Law See chap. 14.5 16. Onely Chap. 5.23 17. The tithe of thy corn For the right understanding of these words see the Note on the 6th Verse of this Chapter Firstlings of thy herds c. For the First born strictly so called they belonged to the Priests Numb 18.15 And therefore it hath been supposed with great probability that these Firstlings here spoken of are to be meant of such as after the setting a side the First-born were then by the Owner set a part and dedicated to God For as the Tithe here spoken of is to be understood of the second Tithe so may the Firstling be understood in a like sense 19. Take heed Chap. 14.27 Ecclus 7.51 As long Heb. All thy days 20. When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border c. For the fuller understanding the design of the words of this and the two following Verses it is to be remembred That while the Israelites were in the Wilderness they might not eat any Meat at their private Tables but such whereof they had first sacrificed to God at the Tabernacle See Levit. 17.4 and the Note upon that place This Precept was very practicable in the Wilderness where they encamped round about the Tabernacle The case was greatly altered when they came into the Land to which these Precepts were annexed v. 1 8 9 10 14. and so is the Law likewise concerning this matter For then many of them would live at a great distance from the Tabernacle and could not without great difficulty bring the Beasts which they killed for their private Tables to the Sanctuary And for that reason they were dispensed with and are not obliged to bring the Beast which they killed to the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation as in the Wilderness Levit. 17.9 But then lest they should surmise that they are likewise dispensed with as to the other part of that Law Levit. 17.10 11 c. forbidding the eating Blood they are strongly warned not to eat it v. 23 24 25. which is the true reason of those words in that place Hence it appears that the design of these words is not onely to let them know that they may lawfully kill and eat Flesh in all their Gates for that they were told before verse 15. But to acquaint them with the reason upon which they were dispensed with as to the bringing the Beast they killed to the Tabernacle which is particularly expressed verse 21. which words may be thus translated from the Hebrew Because the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his name there is too far from thee thou mayest kill of thy herd c. As he hath promised thee Gen. 28.14 chap. 19.8 This promise was conditional See ch 11.22 23 24. 22. Even as the roe-buck See the Note on v. 15. 23. Be sure Heb. Be strong That is be greatly carefull of this matter See Levit 17.10 11 12. 26. Thy holy things Such things as are separated and set a-part for holy uses viz. Sacrifices and Tithes c. See v. 17. 27. And thou shalt eat the flesh viz. Of thy Sacrifices last above-named for this cannot extend to the Burnt-offerings or any other part of the Oblation which was due to the Altar or the Priest 29. Succeedest them Heb. Inheritest or possessest them 30. Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared by following them Heb. after them That is take heed of their sin and fear their punishment 31. Thou shalt not do so c. That is thou shalt not worship thy God as they did Abomination to Heb. Abomination of the. 32. Not add Ch. 4.2 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Rev. 22.18 CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT Enticers to Idolatry how near soever are to be stoned to death Idolatrous Cities are not to be spared 1. IF there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and giveth thee a sign or a wonder 2. And the sign or the wonder come to pass whereof he spake unto thee saying Let us go after other gods which thou hast not known and let us serve them 3. Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams for the LORD your God proveth you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul 4. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice and ye shall serve him and cleave unto him 5. And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee 6. If thy brother the son of thy mother or thy son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosom or thy friend which is as thine own soul entice thee secretly saying Let us go and serve other gods which thou hast not known thou nor thy fathers 7. Namely of the gods of the people which are round about you nigh unto thee or far off from thee from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth 8. Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him neither shall thine eye pity him neither shalt thou spare neither shalt thou conceal him 9. But thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards the hand of all the people 10. And thou shalt stone him with stones that he die because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 11. And all Israel shall hear and fear and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you 12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities which the