the Land of Temani To him Hadad the Son of Bedad To him Samlah of Masrekah To him Saul of Rehoboth To him Baal-Hanan the Son of Achbor c. So that the succeeding King might for what this Author knows be as old or older than his Predecessor and then a very little space might serue for eight Kings to succeed each other in the six last Kings of Judah where Father was succeeded by the Son took up not above 56 years 4. That Moses knew there wou'd be Kings over Israel is unquestionable from Deut. 17. where he delivers Laws concerning that matter This being one of those three things that were made known to him but were not to take effect as Maimon well observes till they were in possession of the Land of Canaan Maimon H. Melach c. 1. The giving up these nine Verses is a thing of most dangerous Consequence At this rate this Author may give away more of the Holy Writings when he pleaseth And then we shall be sure of nothing For who the Author of them is he says not nor can the Reader know from our Author whether he were an inspir'd Author or not Nor does he give any just cause why any Man shou'd insert these nine Verses here had they not been written by Moses from the beginning I am sure he can give none To what hath been said I add That Moses himself was a King over Israel and then the Kings that reigned in Edom before Moses was King may well be said to have reigned before any King over the Children of Israel Moses had the title of King He was King in Jesurun Deut. 33.5 Nor was it a bare title He was really a King as appears from the Pentateuch This is proved at large by Mr. Selden de Synedriis l. 2. c. 1 2. This alone is a just and full Answer to the Objection which was sufficiently answered before So far are we from being forced to part with nine Verses at once that we are under no difficulty at all 'T is plain that when Moses came out of Egypt that Edom was under Dukes Exod. 15.15 These cou'd not be the first sett of Dukes mention'd Gen. 36.29 30. For they were Horites and if they were the second sett v. 40. then were the eight Kings dead before Moses was King in Jesurun After all these eight Kings might be Horites called Horim Deut. 2.12 whom the Children of Esau dispossessed and succeeded for any thing that appears They are said to have reigned in the land of Edom and so the Horite's Land was when Moses wrote these words but not to be descended or come from Esau as is expressly said of the following Dukes v. 40. This account agrees with the Context We have an account just before of the Dukes of the Horites the Children of Seir in the land of Edom v. 21. Though these are said to have been Dukes in the Land of Edom yet they were not descended from Esau but from Hori in the Land of Seir v. 30. And then there 's no ground to believe the eight Kings were descended from Esau because they are said to have reigned in the land of Edom since the Dukes in the land of Edom were Horites and did not come from Esau Besides the 4th of these eight Kings is said to have smitten Midian in the Field of Moab v. 35. If by Midian be meant the person so called Gen. 25.2 then there can be no doubt of this matter For then these eight Kings cou'd not be the Posterity of Esau but Horites they might be Gen. 14.6 and then they had finished their Reigns before Moses was King in Jesurun Obj. III. The Writer of the Pentateuch gives names to Places which did not belong to those Places till after the time of Moses and therefore Moses could not be the Author of the Pentateuch at least as we now have it Here they instance in Hebron and Dan. 'T is pretended that Hebron was not so called till after the time of Moses Josh 14.15 with chap. 15.13 Nor Dan neither as appears from Judges 18.29 I answer 1. And first as to Hebron And here 't is to be consider'd what Joshua says on this occasion He does not say it was not called Hebron before that time His Words are these The name of Hebron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before was Kirjath-Arba chap. 14.15 i. e. It had formerly another name more than that he says not For what appears it might be call'd Hebron in the time of Moses Here 's no inconsistence at all the Hebrew which we render before admits of great Latitude Sometimes it denotes a long time before and we render it of old Psal 102.26 Elsewhere where we render it afore-time it signifies a long time before as Nehem. 13.5 But we render it in old time Deut. 2.20 Moses and Joshua were Contemporary and well might the City be call'd Hebron in the time of Moses though it were in old time call'd Kirjath-Arba We have an instance to this purpose beyond all exception Bethel of old time was called Luz Judges 1.23 and yet it was called Bethel long before the time of Moses Gen. 28.19 Hebron was a very ancient City and it is not for nothing that this is remark'd Numb 13.22 And though it were of old time call'd Kirjath-Arba yet even in the time of Joshua and after the Remark chap. 14.15 Hebron it is call'd as by the name it was most commonly known by When 't is call'd the City of Arba it follows and it seems to be by way of Explication which supposeth it most known by the following Name Which City is Hebron Josh 15.13 Again Kirjath-Arba which is Hebron v. 54. Had not Hebron been the common and famed Name of it it shou'd rather have been Hebron which is Kirjath-Arba See chap. 20.7 and 21.11 They must have a great inclination to drop Moses who will be mov'd by such a slight pretence as this 2. As to Dan the pretence is less than for the other if it be possible For who can assure me that Dan Gen. 14.14 is the same with that Judges 18.29 And if it be not then is the Objection just nothing at all Besides if it were the same place the same answer might be given as to the Case just before But alas Dan is an older Name than these Objectors seem to be aware of as the River Jor-Dan intimates for part of its Name it had from a place call'd Dan. And this is I think placed beyond controversie if we consider what Josephus relateth on this occasion who must be allowed in a matter of this nature to be of greater authority than these Modern Objectors He tells that Abraham fell on the Assyrians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. about Dan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. For so the other Fountain or Spring-head of Jordan is called Antiq. l. 1. c. 10. He that was willing to give away the nine Verses from Gen. 36. will not allow any force in this
in the last days 22. With Bilhah By which means he lost his Birth-right ch 49.4 26. In Padan-Aram Except Benjamin as is plain from what goes before CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT The Wives and Children of Esau He removes to Mount Seir. The Dukes which descended from him The Sons and Dukes of Seir. Kings of Edom and Dukes 1. NOW these are the generations of Esau who is Edom 2. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite 3. And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter sister of Nebajoth 4. And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz and Bashemath bare Reuel 5. And Aholibamah bare Jeush and Jaalam and Korah These are the sons of Esau which were born unto him in the land of Canaan 6. And Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all the persons of his house and his cattel and all his beasts and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7. For their riches were more then that they might dwell together and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattel 8. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir Esau is Edom. 9. And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir. 10. These are the names of Esau's sons Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau 11. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman Omar Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz 12. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife 13. And these are the sons of Reuel Nahath and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 14. And these were the sons of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon Esau's wife and she bare to Esau Jeush and Jaalam and Korah 15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau the sons of Eliphaz the first-born son of Esau duke Teman duke Omar duke Zepho duke Kenaz 16. Duke Korah duke Gatam and duke Amalek These are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom these were the sons of Adah 17. And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son duke Nahath duke Zerah duke Shammah duke Mizzah These are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 18. And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife duke Jeash duke Jaalam duke Korah these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah Esau's wife 19. These are the sons of Esau who is Edom and these are their dukes 20. These are the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah 21. And Dishon and Ezer and Dishan these are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman and Lotan's sister was Timna 23. And the children of Shobal were these Alvan and Manahath and Ebal Shepho and Onam 24. And these are the children of Zibeon both Ajah and Anah this was that Anah that found the mâ—les in the wilderness as he fed the asset of Zibeon his father 25. And the children of Anah were these Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah 26. And these are the children of Dishon Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran 27. The children of Ezer are these Bilhan and Zaavan and Achan 28. The children of Dishan are these Vz and Aran. 29. These are the dukes that came of the Horites duke Lotan duke Shobal duke Zibeon duke Anah 30. Duke Dishon duke Ezer duke Dishan these are the dukes that came of Hori among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31. And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king over the children of Israel 32. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah 33. And Bela died and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead 34. And Jobab died and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead 35. And Husham died and Hadad the son of Bedad who smote Midian in the field of Moab reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Avith 36. And Hadad died and Samlah of Masrekahreigned in his stead 37. And Samlah died and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead 38. And Saul died and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead 39. And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died and Hadar reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Pau and his wife's name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mezahab 40. And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau according to their families after their places by their names duke Timnah duke Alvah duke Jetheth 41. Duke Aholibamah duke Elah duke Pinon 42. Duke Kenaz duke Teman duke Mibzar 43. Duke Magdiel duke Iram These be the dukes of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession he is Esau the father of the Edomites 1. THE Generations We have here an Accomplishment of what was foretold ch 25.23 and of what was promised ch 22.17 2. His Wives Who had several Names as well as he See the Note on ch 28.9 and ch 26.34 The daughter of Zibeon i. e. Grand-child of Zibeon referring it to Aholibamah And thus is Anah here distinguished from him mentioned v. 20. the one being the Brother the other the Son of Zibeon Compare v. 24. the Greek here and v. 14. 3. Bashemath See ch 28.9 4. Eliphaz Probably the same who is mentioned in the Book of Job or his Ancestor 6. Into the Country i. e. He left Canaan and went into another Country or Land and that was Mount Seir v. 8. 8. Seir So called from a Man of that name v. 20. God gave this place to Esau Deut. 2.5 Josh 24.4 11. Teman Job 2.11 12. Timna She was the Sister of Lotan the Son of Seir v. 20 22. Amalek Whence came the Amalekites great Enemies to Israel Exod. 17.8 16. 15. Dukes These Dukes mentioned from this to the 19th Verse are to be taken for the Heads of the Families from Esau 16. Korah He is not mentioned among the Sons of Eliphaz v. 11 12. and probably was his Grand-child 20. Seir the Horite Whose Race is here mentioned because of the Affinity between his and Esau's Family who succeeded the Horites in the possession of their Country Deut. 2.12 with verse 22. 24. Found the Mules in the Wilderness Mules are said to be ingendred of Horse and Ass and Anah is from these words supposed to have found the way of gaining these Creatures by committing them together when he fed the Asses of Zibeon
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
eat bread and tarried all night in the mount 55. And early in the morning Laban rose up and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them and Laban departed and returned unto his place 1. HE heard i. e. Jacob heard 2265. 1739. See ch 30.43 Glory Or riches which procure Men glory among the many who esteem them Compare Psal 49.16 and Isa 66.12 with ch 60.6 7. Ten times i. e. Very often Compare Job 19.3 Levit. 26.26 Numb 14.22 1 Sam. 1.8 8. All i. e. The greatest part Compare ch 41.57 Matt. 3.5 11. Angel of God The God of Bethel v. 13. 14. Is there c. i. e. There is not as appears from what follows 15. Sold us i. e. Instead of giving us portions he hath sold us for fourteen years service Devoured i. e. Hath taken that which of right belonged to us viz. the profit of fourteen years service 19. Images Teraphim in the Hebrew The Greek and Vulgar render them Idols They were such Images as were worshipped in Laban's family as Josephus tells us And Laban calls them his Gods v. 30. It is likely they were his Household gods which were worshipped by his Ancestors And perhaps had both their Name and their Original from Terah They seem to have been in the shape of Men 1 Sam. 19.13 It is affirmed by Abravenel that they were instruments of Divination which is confirmed from Ezek. 21. v. 21. with Zech. 10.2 and that Rachel took them away that Laban might not know how to pursue them And though Laban acknowledged the true God yet this did not excuse his consulting and worshipping of Teraphim as appears from 1 Sam. 15.23 2 Kings 23.24 The Religious worshipping of an Image being unlawfull and afterwards expressly forbid though the worshipper did profess the worship of the true God as Laban did v. 25. with v. 29 Compare Exod. 20.23 with Levit. 26.1 21. River i. e. Euphrates as the Chaldee hath it Gilead So call'd hereby Anticipation v. 47. 24. Either good or bad i. e. With design to bring him back and to do him any hurt v. 29. 30. My gods So he calls the Teraphim by which he worshipped God Had he believed the Image to have been God it is not likely he should have thought Jacob able to steal him away The word we render Gods is spoken of one Image Exod. 32.8 and so is Teraphim also 1 Sam. 19.13 33. Tent They had their several Tents a-part See the Note on ch 23.2 35. Custom of Women Levit. 15.19 This was a sufficient excuse that might stop his search among the things which she had touched which by the Law afterwards made a Man could not do without being defiled Levit. 15.19 20 c. Many of those things which were made into Laws did obtain in the World long before they were Enacted See the Note on Gen. 7.2 42. Fear of Isaac i. e. God whom Isaac feared and who ought to be feared Psal 76.11 Isa 8.13 43. What can I do c. q. d. They are so nearly related to me and so much mine own that I cannot hurt them but I shall injure my self 44. A Covenant And this for the advantage of Laban's daughters v. 50. 45. A Pillar Or lasting Monument of this Covenant 46. They did eat there As they were wont to do when they entred into Covenant See the Note on ch 26.30 47. Jegar-sahadutha In the language of Laban's Country Galeed In the language of Jacob and the Hebrews Both the Names import the same sense 48. A witness Or a Memorial of this Covenant between us See ch 21.30 50. If thou shalt Here is a Curse supposed though not expressed to belong to him who should transgress and break this Covenant vid. ch 14.23 52. For harm This was the condition on both sides that they should not injure one the other 53. By the fear See verse 42. Jacob swears by him whom Isaac feared who is the true God Whereas Laban though he owned him to be the true God yet swears by the God of Abraham Nahor and Terah which way of swearing might be ambiguous Josh 24.2 54. Offered sacrifice Or killed beasts as it is in the Margent A thing commonly done in those Times and Countries when they entred into Covenants And this sense is confirmed by what follows where 't is said that he called his brethren to eat bread CHAP. XXXII The ARGUMENT Jacob is met by the Angels of God The name of the place called Mahanaim Jacob sends Messengers to Esau of whose coming to meet him he is told Jacob is afraid but prepares for his coming He prays to God to defend him and sends a present before to his Brother He wrestles with an Angel his Name is changed into that of Israel He halteth The reason why the Children of Israel eat not of the Sinew which shrank 1. AND Jacob went on his way and the Angels of God met him 2. And when Jacob saw them he said This is God's host and he called the name of that place Mahanaim 3. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir the country of Edom. 4. And he commanded them saying Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau Thy servant Jacob saith thus I have sojourned with Laban and stayed there untill now 5. And I have oxen and asses flocks and men-servants and women-servants and I have sent to tell my lord that I may find grace in thy sight 6. And the messengers returned to Jacob saying We came to thy brother Esau and also he cometh to meet thee and four hundred men with him 7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed and he divided the people that was with him and the flocks and herds and the camels into two bands 8. And said If Esau come to the one company and smite it then the other company which is left shall escape 9. And Jacob said O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac the LORD which saidst unto me Return unto thy country and to thy kindred and I will deal well with thee 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands 11. Deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my brother from the hand of Esau for I fear him lest he will come and smite me and the mother with the children 12. And thou saidst I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbred for multitude 13. And he lodged there that same night and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother 14. Two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats two hundred ews and twenty rams 15. Thirty milch-camels with their colts forty kine and ten bulls twenty she asses and ten foles 16. And he delivered them into the hand of his
his Father But there is another sense of these words mentioned by several of the Jews viz. That Anah found or light upon the Eâ—nims a strong and powerfull sort of Men Deut. 2.10 in the Wilderness who would have taken away his Asses and that he did with courage and without any help rescue himself What we render Mules the Chaldee renders Gyants or Strong Men. The word in the Hebrew is in a manner the same with that in Deut. 2.10 30. Among their Dukes i. e. According to their several Dukedoms ch 10.31 Dan. 7.17 31. Before there reigned any King c. The Israelites till they were possessed of the Land of Promise neither had a King nor were they under any shadow of obligation of making one Deut. 17.14 But that they would in due time have a King over them Moses well knew as appears from Deut. 17. And it cannot therefore be inferred from hence that these words were not written by Moses but by one who lived in that time when the Israelites had actually a King over them We may very reasonably suppose that the eight Kings named afterward might from the time of Esau to this time of Moses reign successively one after another For from the Marriage of Esau to the Eightieth year of Moses are more than Two hundred years And for the Dukes mentioned afterward we have no cause to suppose them to succeed each other after the death of these Kings See the Note on v. 40. 32. Bela The Kings which follow were of several Families and not in a Line of one certain Family succeeding to one another 37. Rehoboth The name of a City in Mesopotamia near the River Euphrates 39. The daughter of Mezahab The Chaldee renders it the daughter of a Goldsmith 40. Dukes These Dukes or Governours may well be supposed to be Governours in several Places or Territories at one and the same time There appears no reason why we should suppose them to succeed one another CHAP. XXXVII The ARGUMENT Joseph is hated of his Brethren His two Dreams He is sent to visit his Brethren His Brethren conspire his death but Reuben interposing his Life is preserved He is sold to the Ishmeelites and carried into Egypt but they pretend to their Father that he was killed by some wild-beast Jacob mourns Joseph is sold to Potiphar in Egypt 1. AND Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan 2. These are the generations of Jacob Joseph being seventeen years old was feeding the flock with his brethren and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah his father's wives and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report 3. Now Israel loved Joseph more then all his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colours 4. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more then all his brethren they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him 5. And Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it his brethren and they hated him yet the more 6. And he said unto them Hear I pray you this dream which I have dreamed 7. For behold we were binding sheaves in the field and lo my sheaf arose and also stood upright and behold your sheaves stood round about and made obeysance to my sheaf 8. And his brethren said unto him Shalt thou indeed reign over us or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us and they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words 9. And he dreamed yet another dream and told it his brethren and said Behold I have dreamed a dream more and behold the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeysance to me 10. And he told it to his father and to his brethren and his father rebuked him and said unto him What is this dream that thou hast dreamed shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down our selves to thee to the earth 11. And his brethren envied him but his father observed the saying 12. And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem 13. And Israel said unto Joseph Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem Come and I will send thee unto them and he said unto him Here am I. 14. And he said to him Go I pray thee see whether it be well with thy brethren and well with the flocks and bring me word again So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron and he came to Shechem 15. And a certain man found him and behold he was wandring in the field and the man asked him saying What seekest thou 16. And he said I seek my brethren tell me I pray thee where they feed their flocks 17. And the man said They are departed hence for I heard them say Let us go to Dothan And Joseph went after his brethren and found them in Dothan 18. And when they saw him afar off even before he came near unto them they conspired against him to slay him 19. And they said one to another Behold this dreamer cometh 20. Come now therefore and let us slay him and cast him into some pit and we will say Some evil beast hath devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams 21. And Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands and said Let us not kill him 22. And Reuben said unto them Shed no blood but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again 23. And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren that they stript Joseph out of his coat his coat of many colours that was on him 24. And they took him and cast him into a pit and the pit was empty there was no water in it 25. And they sat down to eat bread and they lift up their eyes and looked and behold a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrhe going to carry it down to Egypt 26. And Judah said unto his brethren What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood 27. Come and let us sell him unto the Ishmeelites and let not our hand be upon him for he is our brother and our flesh and his brethren were content 28. Then there passed by Midianites merchant-men and they drew and lift up Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver and they brought Joseph into Egypt 29. And Reuben returned unto the pit and behold Joseph was not in the pit and he rent his clothes 30. And he returned unto his brethren and said The child is not and I whither shall I go 31. And they took Joseph's coat and killed a kid of the goats and dipped the coat in the blood 32. And they
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