we see at large Heb. 7. and David did so before him Psal. 110. 4. Now who this Melchisedech should be whether Shem who being borne before the flood lived seventy five yeares after Abrams coming into Canaan and about sixty five after the time of history of his meeting Abram who though his Parents Birth and Death be known to us yet not as here brought in under the name of Melchisedech or whether it were some neighbouring King of Canaan of another Kindred from that of Abraham Heb. 7. 6. extraordinarily raised up and sanctified by God to this purpose though haply it may be probably yet it cannot certainly be defined Melchisedech King of Salem Heb. 7. 2. Thus righteousnesse and peace do kisse each other Psal. 85. 10. Esay 32. 17. Salem Not Salim mentioned John 3. 23. But Salem Ps. 76. 2. Jerusalem brought forth Not for sacrifice but to refresh Abram and his army as 2 Sam. 17. 27 28 29 The neglect whereof was punished in the Moabites and Ammonites Deut. 23. 3 4. and he was the Priest King and Priest both offices concurring in one Person It was an ancient manner among Heathen Nations Rex Anius Rex idem hominum PhoebÃque sacerdos And how much short was it with the Patriarchs and first-borne in Israel before the Levites supplied their place V. 19. And he blessed him A part of the Priests office Numb 6 23 27. 1 Chron. 23 13. Heb. 7. 6 7. The lesse is blessed of the greater V. 20. Blessed be God Thanked and praised and he gave him tithes of all Abram gave Melchizedech Heb. 7. 2 4. 9 10 11. And Levi in Abrâ—ms loines Tythes are due as an homage to God as tribute is to Kings They are called holy an heave-offering to the Lord Lev. 27. 30 Numb 18. 24. As here Abram so Jacob also paid them to the Lord before the Levitical Law Gen. 28. 22. In the Law of Moses they are strictly enjoyned Numb 18. 20 21. yea if redeemed a fifth part must be added to it if changed both it and the change thereof shall be holy Lev. 27. 31 33. yea Heathen paid tithes both Greek and Latine And here being paid to Melchizedech a type of Christ they are not abolished by the Gospel of all Of all the spoiles of Sodoms too and of all the vanquished So of the Midianites Numb 31. 28 29 30. 37 38 39 40 41. V. 22. I have lifted up my hand He had sworne or vowed when he went forth to this war and implored Gods aide Deut 32. 40. Dan 12. 7. Rev. 10. 5 6. V. 23. Lest thou shouldest say Thou or any man should say that covetousnesse of the prey drew me to this warre or that this victory or any thing else enriched me but Gods extraordinary blessing Esther 9. 15 16. CHAP. XV. Ver. 1. AFter these things Spoken by Abram to the King of Sodom in a vision Of the night v. 5. Numb 22. 19. 20 There are nightly visions by dreams in sleep ch 31. 11. 46. 2. 1 Kings 3. 5. And so God came to Abimelech in a dream by night Gen. 20. 3. and secret revelations came to Eliphaz Joh 4. 12 13. whereupon the false Prophets counterseited false dreams and visions in them Deut. 13. 1. Jer. 23. 25 28 32. And there are also visions to men waking as Ezech. 1. 1. Dan. 8. 2. 10. 4 7. 2 Cor. 12. 2. Acts 2. 17. Both wayes God made himselfe known to his Prophets Numb 12. 6. whence Prophets were called Seers and Prophecie is named a vision Esay 1. 1. Here is meant an open apparition which Abram a Prophet ch 20. 7. beheld waking with the eyes of his body For v. 9 10. shewes he was waking and a deep sleep is said to fall upon him after this vision v. 12. In what manner and how glorious this vision was is not set down particularly feare not The Prophets were sometimes terrified with visions at the visible appearance of the Majesty of God So Dan. 10. 7 c. feare not For the presence of my glory for thine enemies for any discomfort whatsoever I am thy shield Against thine enemies those vanquished Kings and all else reward Beyond all merit and measure I go Am going on going away mine age going on towards mine end V. 2. Childlesse Yet he rejects not the Promises of God concerning his seed but as perplexed between feare and hope he bemoanes his sad state and condition intimates and commends his desire to God that he would at length remember his Promise made to him concerning his seed and the steward He most likely mentioned ch 24. 2. He now is the guide and stay of my family Here Abram complaines not of his steward but commends him rather of Damascus By his Ancestors though he borne in Abrams house v. 3. V. 3. Is mine heire Likeliest for the present in my thoughts if I go on and die childlesse my Nephew Lot having no sonnes but daughters and Eleezer having all under his charge V. 5. And tell the stars This rherefore was in the night if thou be able to number them Now at this view though haply it were possible for Astronomers by much Art to attain to the number of the visible stars God speaks as often according to common account Jer. 3â— 22. so shall thy seed be Innumerable Deut. 1. 10. specially counting his spiritual seed children by faith according to the Promise Rom. 4. 11 12 13. Rom. 9. 8 Gal. 3. 7 29. innumerable as the dust of the earth ch 18. 16. as the sand on the sea-shore ch 22. 17. V. 6. And he believed in the Lord For the innumerablenesse of his seed and principally for the promised seed wherein all the Nations of the earth should be blessed Believed Here is belief or faith first named in the Old Testament whence Abram is called the Father of all Believers Rom. 4. 11 16 17. And this before either Circumcision was ordained or the Law given Rom. 4. 9 10 Gal. 3. 17. Now the word belief or faith signifies a lively motion of the heart and spirit firmely resting in the things spoken For which this belief or faith in Abram is much commended Rom. 4. 18 to 22. Counted Imputed thought esteemed for righteousnesse Ps. 106. 31. Rom. 4. 3 9. Now of this the Apostle inferreth justification by faith without works both to Abram Rom. 4. 4 5. as having been an idolater Josh. 24. 2. and still without glory of works before God Rom. 4. 2. and also to all believers Rom. 4. 23 24. V. 8. Whereby shall I know This he asked to be strengthened against humane infirmity and to know somewhat more particularly of the manner of performance and likely it was by a special motion of Gods Spirit as that also of Gideon Judg. 6. 17 37. and of Hezekiah 2 Kings 20. 8. And others like by divine instinct Gen. 24. 13 14. 1 Sam. 14. 9 10. without which such qaestions are not so lawful Luke 1. 18. V. 9. Take me an
39. 5. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether Abel i. e. vanity And so indeed Abel was being slaine by his brother Vâ— 3. of the fruit of the ground an offering An Oblation or Meat-offering of fine flower or first-fruits in the eare in Levit. 2. and chap. 22. 14. Exod. 22. 29 23. 19. The Heathen Greeks and Romanes in their times did likewise Likely by an imitation of the Jewes V. 4. firstlings This afterwards by a special Law upon a special reason prescribed to the Jewes Exod. 13. 2. Num. 3. 13. and of the fat thereof In Moses time this expressely commanded Exod. 20. 13 22 25. Levit. 3. 3 4 5 9 10 11 14 15 16 17. The fat is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet favour unto the Lord. All the fat is the Lords neither Offerer nor Sacrificer nor yet in Civil use was any Jew to eate of it at leastwise of the fat of such cleane beasts as were fit for sacrifice Levit. 7. 23 24 25. The fat of the oile is mentioned Num. 18. 12. meaning the best of it And so of all things offered to the Lord the best is required which it seemes also that Abel here performed Not as those did Mal. 1. 13. By Faith Abel offered this Sacrifice Heb. 11. 4. And therefore it was no will-worship but grounded on Gods Word for his warrant revealed to Adam and by him likely to his sonnes had respect This was seene of Cain It is likely therefore that God shewed it by some visible signe as by fire from heaven consuming the Sacrifice as Levit. 9. 24. Judg. 6. 21. 1 Chron. 21. 26. 2 Chron. 7. 1. 1 Kings 18. 38. or it might be by some other wayes unto Abel and to his offering To the man first to the Offering for the mans sake as a fruit of his faith He righteous Matth. 23 35. V. 5. not respect Through his want of faith and sincerity in this service of God 1 John 3 12. very wroth At God and Abel both V. 7. Sinne lieth Sinne is anomâ—e or enormity and the punishment of sinne which like a Serjeant or they is couching and lieth watching ready to seize upon thee and tear thee And unto thee shall be his desire Subject to thee as to the first-borne as chap. 3. 16. This is to allay his wrath and incensed spirit V. 8. talked In a brotherly maner dissembling his hatred that he might get the better opportunity to kill him when Abel should not think of it See the Annotations on chap. 35. 22. V. 11. Cursed from the earth The earth shall plague thee that received thy brothers blood as is shewed in the next words V. 12. when thou tillest A punishment the more proper because he was a tiller of the ground and proper to Cains portion where ever he was not a second general curse upon all the earth a fugitive Cast out from society with thy kindred and acquaintance from Gods presence and the communion of his Church and pursued still with a guilty conscience So in ver 14 16. V. 14. Of the earth Of this earth where I now dwell with my Parents and Kindred Else he speaks like a man distracted by a guilty conscience He dilates his punishment that denied his sin Every one that findeth me shall slay me There might be many living by this time of Abels murther of whom he might stand in feare yea of them as yet unborn And his guilty conscience now feares every one as having made himself odious to every one And such flee when none pursueth yea the sound of a shaken leaf doth chase them And he might justly fear the beasts of the field Amongst the ancient Romanes Greeks and others such notorious offendors whosoever would might surely kill them And what large power is given to the revenger of blood by Gods Law we may see in Numb 35. 19 21. V. 15. Seven fold God would have him preserved alive though a life likely worse then death as a monument of his justice against murder and tratricide Psal. 59. 11. Not for love to Cain but to prevent future murder Mark a mark of protection and of ignominy too likely a kinde of palsie and ghastly look or some worse mark that made him an horrible spectacle of Gods vengeance against so hainous a crime V. 16. From the Presence of the Lord not of his general Providence but of his special Presence by grace in the place of his Worship and Service of which place and the Presence of the Lord there with Adam and his godly seed it might be said as Gen. 28. 17. This is no other but the House of God and this is the gate of Heaven Nod so called by Anticipation from his wandring there V. 17. Builded a City at last builded or rather was building began to build as the builders of Babel Gen. 11. as in many hundred years after he and his posterity well might and yet he be a vagabond in body and minde neverthelesse V. 19. Two wives The first bigamist and corrupter of wedlock V. 23 I have slain c. Beastingly he speaks of his valour and wrath to asray and appease the brawles of his wives between themselves and the vexing of him that he was a man that would not suffer the least injury of them or of any man but he would avenge himself and that fully Or vaunting himself to his wives of his valour to appease their feare of him lest hurt should come to him from others through his fiercenesse and boisterous violence bragging what heavy vengeance he would take of him that should set upon lamech many times more then God himself appointed to be taken for the avengement of Cain Or if he had slain a man and was wounded himself and thereupon his wives afraid of his life he seeks to appease them but in a fierce and insolent manner as scorning their feare of his danger and thinking it a disparagement to him and his valour and upon this reason too That he had a juster cause for what he had done then Cain had and therefore might be the more secure that if Cains death should be avenged much more his or rather in an Atheistical scorne vaunting That if God did set such a guard upon Cain surely Lamech they needed not to doubt should scape well enough Cains impunity might well serve for his security Thus variously may these vaunting words of this wrathful lustful man be understood and taken bearing himself haply the more proudly upon his sons inventions v. 20 21 22. V. 25. Seth borne when Adam was 130. years old ch 5. 3. Therefore in all probability Cain slew Abel not long before that time For God Eve rejoyceth that her whole number of children in him was filled up again For it is not imaginable that she had no more then Cain and Abel in all that time And it might be she foresaw by the Spirit of God that Seth should be like righteous faithful
CHOICE OBSERVATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS Upon the Old Testament Containing in them many remarkable matters either not taken notice of or mistaken by most which are Additionals to the large ANNOTATIONS made by some of the Assembly of DIVINES To which are added some further and larger OBSERVATIONS Of his upon the whole BOOK of GENESIS Perused and Attested by the Reverend BISHOP of ARMAGH And Mr. GATAKER Pastor of REDERITH By the Learned and Industrious JOHN RICHARDSON Bishop of Ardagh in Ireland one who had a considerable hand in the forenamed large ANNOTATIONS LONDON Printed by T. R. and E. M. for John Rothwell at the Fountain and Beare in the Goldsmiths-Row in Cheapside Anno Dom. 1655. Reader THou art seriously to consider that the Reverend AuTHOUR did not cite Scriptures by number but weight He did not jumble Scriptures together fortuitously as too many do as Democritus did his atomes but judiciously selected out those which were most apposite And surely nothing is more helpful to the right understanding of Scripture then comparing it with it selfe do not therefore sleightly passe over his Scriptures as if they were of no moment but diligently peruse them and let it not be grievous to turne to the places cited for the marrow of this Book consists in the Authours dexterous paralleling of Scriptures together Farewell To my REVEREND and LEARNED Brother Doctor Richardson B P. OF ARDAGH IN IRELAND Right Reverend and Worthy Brother YOu know that out of that intimacy which hath ever been betwixt us from our youths I cannot be unacquainted with the course of your studies And you being now entred upon the last Scene of your life as well as I thereupon I would willingly become a Perswader of you not to let your Labours be lost and die with you but to publish some or most of them to the view of the World for the benefit of the Church The last thing I viewed of yours were your Annotations upon GENESIS having before perused your other Explanations and Observations upon the Old Testament though sleight and suddenly done as you say yet think them not unworthy of the Presse For I finde therein divers things of moment which I meet not withal in others And to prevail with you herein let this finde some place That it is the judgment and desire of Your endeared Friend and Brother JAMES ARMAGH The EPISTLE Dedicatory to the REVEREND BISHOP of ARMAGH Most Reverend and my very good Lord YOur word shall be my warrant and your desire my duty to publish my Annotations upon GENESIS together also with my Explanations and Observations upon the Old Testament yet I would be loth your Lordship should beare any share of the blame or harsh censure that may hap to passe upon them Coming abroad I know not to whom I may rather dedicate them then to him who is the cause that they see the light And the inscribing of whose name will bring lustre and credit to the Work it self however otherways but too weak and unworthy To speak much in this kinde of your selfe to your selfe suits not so well with that humility and modesty which befitteth us both And in so doing I should but light a candle before the Sunne Yet you will give me leave to enjoy and make this expression of mine own comforts which I have still derived from all those endearments wherewith you have vouchsafed to oblige and honour me even from our younger years in our joynt Educations and first Employments until now that we both are ready to leave the stage of this life My thankfulnesse for your favours may haply receive some piece of emprovement hereby And my Prayers shall still be continued for the Prolongation of your dayes to the further good and glory of the Church of God This tribute you may duly and daily expect from Your obedient Servant Suffragane and Loving Brother JOHN ARDAGH Mr. GATAKER'S EPISTLE to the Bishop of Armagh wherein is his Attestation upon the Reverend BISHOP RICHARDSONS Observations and Explanations upon the OLD TESTAMENT Right Reverend I Acknowledge my self besides many other fore-passed real fruits 〈…〉 favour much beholden to your Lordship for your late kinde 〈…〉 and the addition unto it in imparting unto me those learned and 〈…〉 Observations of that Worthy Bishop whose eminent parts I had formerly taken notice of and upon occasion given testimony of to others in his Annotations on a great part of the Prophets whereunto he herein sometime referreth himself Now albeit when your Lordship left them with me you were pleased to afford me a longer space of time for the perusal of them which I was willing to accept not knowing what leisure I should have for them in regard of some present distractions yet I could not forbear to lay hold on all opportunities to enjoy the view of them which I much thirsted after which upon serious survey I found to be answerable to my pre-conceived expectation of them and well-worthy their Authour containing in them many remarkable matters either not commonly taken notice of or mistaken by the most In the Computation of times your Lordship well knoweth and much better then my self that there are divers difficult points much disputed and debated among the grand Masters of that part of learning in which being not so exactly versed in such Accounts I dare not take upon me to determine ought I have drawn up here a short note of some things of no great moment which meeting with I stick at or have doubt of that it may appear to your Lordship that I have not slighted or laid it by me but have advisedly run it over which having dispatched I was the rather willing to return it to your Lordship by the hands of my sonne Tayler who was willing to take thereby occasion to wait upon your Lordship to present you with a sorry fruit of my fruitlesse labours which I shall intreat your Lordship to accept and to look on with a favourable eye This short list of my work and undigested thoughts your Lordship may be pleased if you shall think good and deem them worthy of his consideration to impart unto the Venerable Bishop with recommendation of my due respects and sincere affection to him whom I should be right glad to be better acquainted withal together with my humble request to him that he will pardon my boldnesse and bear with my weaknesse which in these scriblings I doubt I have too much discovered So with sincere acknowledgement of your Lordships manifold favours and my deep engagements in lieu whereof I have nothing of worth to return but thanks to you and prayers unto the Lord in whose work you labour for his gracious and powerful support of you therein I take leave craving liberty to subscribe my self Your Lordships weak and unworthy but sincere well-wisher much obliged in him THO. GATAKER Roderith June 1652. TO THE Reader THE first draught of these Observations was ready for the Presse before the Great Annotations upon
must begin it at the Evening But if we will begin it according to that alledged Alteration we finde in our Saviours time Then we must Begin it in the Morning which later is favoured the more by our Saviours Resurrection very early in the morning Matth. 28. 1 6. Marke 16. 2 6. Luke 24. 1 6. John 20. 1. To the memory and honour of whose Resurrection as the day of Rest was changed so it accords well and suitably seems to require the same change for the beginning of that day agreeing therin with the aforesaid Alteration However the Point Material is That it must comprehend twenty four hours V. 6. Firmament By Firmament here generaly by all is understood whatsoever is to be seene in that vast space above the earth from the surface of it to the uppermost visible Orbs As conceiving and that justly That the Aire or lowest region of it betwixt the Earth and the Clouds were alone too smal a thing for the whole work of the second day In the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters the waters which are under the firmament from the waters which are above the firmament Divers ancient and learned Fathers have conceived hereupon and upon the words of the Psalme 148. 4. That a great or the greatest part of those waters that covered the face of the 〈◊〉 verse 2. were lifted up and spread as an Orbe of waters above and about the highest part of the starry heavens and so there remaine And from those windowes of heaven opened some would fetch the greatest part of those waters in the Deluge that covered all the high hills that were under the whole heaven fifteene cubits upwards Yet all this seemes too weak a foundation whereon to build that Orbe of supercelestial waters For plaine it is that the lowest region of the aire is called heaven and the firmament of heaven even that wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie verse 20. Jer. 51. 16. Dan. 7. 2 13. And indeed as every part of the water is truly called water so every part of the heaven and firmament may be and is called heaven as well as the whole or the highest parts of it the starry heaven and the third heaven chap 1. verse 14 15 16 17. Gen. 22. 17. 2. Cor. 12. 2. And if such a division were meant as they pretend to where then would be the division betweene the waters of the seas and the watery clouds without which division and the use of it the earth could not bring forth sustenance for Man or Beast And as for the windowes of heaven they are understood of the region of the aire as Psal. 78. 23. Mal. 3. 10. And the same God who rained down fire and brimstone on Sodâ—m and made or multiplyed the widowes oyle 2 Kings 4. 2. V. 8. the firmament heaven All above us so called And the Angels this day most likely were created considering the words of the Lord Job 38. 4 5 6 7. that all the sonnes of God shouted for joy when he laid the foundations of the earth Though Moses mentions not their creation as puposely intending to relate only the creation of things corporal and visible and that haply a having regard therein to the rudiments and weaknesse of that Infant-Church of the Jewes to whom immediately he wrote this History second day Without that approbation And God saw that it was good which yet is doubled on the third day haply because the separation of the waters begun this day was not perfected till the third day And it is once repeated on each of the other four dayes with the addition of very good in the end of all V. 20. and fowle Out of the waters and the ground also chap. 2. 19 V. 26. Let us Intimates a Plurality of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence And so pluraly chap. 3. 22. 11. 7. Esay 6. 8. V. 27. created he them Both this day chap. 5. 2. though the maner of her creation be more fully related chap. 2. v. 18 to 23. V. 29. to you it shall be for meat Living things are not here mentioned for meat till after the flood anno mundi 1657. and no more are corne bread drink and other things named which yet no doubt were in use before the flood Cain being a tiller of the ground And â—el being a keeper of sheep was not likely to leave their flesh to be devoured of wilde beasts or to rot either above or under ground And mans body being in a dying condition since the Fall stood in more need of nourishing meats then whiles he abode in Innocencie Neither were the herbs trees ground after the Curse of that vertue and vigour for his nourishment and sustenance as formely It is nothing likely then that man should want so needful a nourishment as flesh or fish for so long a time so many ages of the world because they were not haply so necessary for him in the time of Innocency or not expressed by name for food at the time of his Creation But after the Fall being killed for cloathing and offered in sacrifices to God even by Abel himself It is not to be imagined but that they did eate of the flesh of them as in sacrifices was ever usual And therefore also for those ends and uses the distinction of them into cleane and uncleane was made even before the flood And seven of the Cleane reserved for sacrifice and food whereas two sufficed as in the Uncleane for preservation of Seed Gen. 7. 2. And the words of our Saviour noting the old world for their eating and drinking before the flood came on Matth. 24. 38. implies rather an abuse in the excesse then an abstinence from the use of flesh and other delicacies V. 30. Every green herb for meat But after the Fall of man beasts and birds of prey and fishes eate and devour one another CHAP. II. Ver. 3. BEcause that in it This being alledged as the Reason of the Sabbath Exod. 20. 11. 31. 17. shews it to be here instituted before the Fall And then no doubt but Gods people had more need or the same Ordinance and Help in Religion ever since the Fall And the Rulers Narrative to Moses speech or question Exod. 16. 22 23. seems to me to imply the keeping of the Sabbath by the Jewes before the giving of Manna in the Wildernesse Exod. 16. 5. not appearing to be made known to the people till after the Rulers relation of sin And Gods direction to Moses And apparently it was kept before the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai V. 4. the Lord God Here first the word Jehova is used And after often in this Chapter Gen. 15. 7. 22. 14. 26. 24. 27. 20. 28. 13. and in many places more And therefore Exod. 6. 3. But by my Name Jehova was I not known to them is spoken comparatively not known so fully in making good my promises by answerable effects as now
feast of the Passeover Exod. 12. 15 19. or forbear to keep that feast Numb 9. 13. or that eate fat Lev. 7. 25. or blood Lev 7. 27. 17. 10 14. or that eate of the flesh of the peace-offering on the third day Lev. 19. 8. or that eat of the flesh of sacrifice having their uncleannesse on them or being uncleane do not purifie themselves Numb 19. 13 20. or having touched any unclean thing Lev 7. 20 21. 22. 3. or that bring not their sacrifice to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation to be killed there and not elsewhere Lev 17. 4 9. or that shall not afflict his soule on the fast-day the tenth day of the seventh moneth Lev. 23. 29. or doth any work in that same day or that defileth the Sabbath to do any work therein Exod. 31. 14. or that lieth with a woman in her sicknesse Lev. 20. 18. or with a sister Lev. 20. 17. or an idolater Ezech. 4. 8. or that gives of his seed to Molech Lev. 20. 2 3 4 or that turneth after wizards and such as have familiar spirits â—ev 20. 6. or that doth ought presumptuously Numb 15. 30 31. All these are expressely threatened with and sentenced to this punishment And the meaning of the phrase is most usually taken to signifie a cutting off by death and it is so expressed Exod. 31. 14. Lev 17. 4 20. 2 3 4. 5. And must needs be so understood when it is used against grievous sins and crimes as against idolatry witchcraft incest and sins done presumptuously despising the Word of the Lord and reproaching him This penalty is to be inflicted by the Magistrates power no doubt And in case of his faile God himself threatens and undertakes to do it Lev. 17. 10 20. 2 3 4. 5 6. 23. 30. And for the lesser offences mentioned they being wittingly and wilfully done in Gods Worship and service and against his plaine and peremptory command I see not how they come short of sins of presumption Numb 15. 30. which are doomed to death in the judgement of the learned upon that place I conceive therefore that they fall short that by this penalty here will understand no more but that such an offender is to be cast off and held for no Jew but as an Heathen man And they also that would apply this phrase here and in other places of the Old Testament for the maintenance of Ecclesiastical Excommunication among the Jewes The doubtfulnesse of the meaning of the phrase hath made me the more inquisitive into it I confesse if not too tedious in it However I leave all to better judgements And for my part like not in things dubious to be too definitive V. 15. Sarah Yet in the New Testament it is written Sara without the h the Greek tongue having no h at the end of words V. 16. Nations 1 Pet. 3. 6. Jerusalem which is above her answerable type is the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. V. 17. Laughed For joy and wonder Rom. 4. 17 18 19 20 21. as over-joyed and amazed at the promise which he believed Heb. 11. 12. rejoycing even at the promised seed Joh. 8. 56. an hundred yeares old Rom. 4. 19 20. he did hope against hope If Abraham married Keturah thirty seven years after this time and had six children by her then surely God shewed his power in renewing Abrahams vigour and strength of body as the Eagles Psal. 103. 5. or it may rather seem that Abraham took Keturah in Sarabs life-time within those thirty seven yeares between the birth of Isaac and her death seeing Keturah is called his Concubine 1 Chron. 1. 32. V. 18. Oh that Ishmael Ch. 16. 10. V. 19. Isaac Laughter Chap. 21. 6. V. 21. My Covenant Thirteen times named in this chapter Luke 1. 72 73 74. with Isaac Ch. 21. 12. Rom. 9. 7 8. Gal. 3. 29. at this set time Ch 18. 10. This was just a yeare before Isaacs birth V. 22. Went up Ascending vanished out of his sight so from Jacob ch 35. 13. so from Manoah and his wife Judg. 13. 20. V. 23. In the self-same day Of the command not eight dayes after V. 24. When he was circumcised By whom Abraham was circumcised is not set down But he is said to circumcise the rest v. 23. some say that now the Jewes use Chirurgions in this service CHAP. XVIII Verse 1. PLaines O. Oak-grove of Mamre Ch. 13. 18. 14. 13. 23. 19. V. 2. Three men So in his thought and in appearance But thus he entertained Angels at unawares Heb. 13. 2. But one of them is called Jehova 13 14 17 20 22. And after Abraham so acknowledgeth him v. 25 27. The other two were created Angels Ch 19. 1. V. 3. Lord Speakes to one of them in shew the chief V. 6. Three measures Jewes write that their measure which they call Seah the Greeks Saton containes as much as one hundred fourty foure Hens egges about two gallons and 1 2 of our measure three of these measures make an Ephah containing about seven gallons and 1 2 V. 8. And they did eate Ch. 19. 3. They had true bodies for the time and did truly eate Though a Spirit hath not flesh and bones Luke 24. 39. yet Spirits may and by Gods dispensation sometimes do assume humane bodies V. 9. Where is Sarah thy wife Thus they begin to manifest themselves to be more then men V. 10. He said Jehova v. 13. returne Not by apparition again but by performance of promise ch 21. 1. according to the time of life From this time according as the time of life is between conception and birth so many moneths as a woman goes with childe Rom. 9. 9. This Promise argued more then men V. 11. After the manner of women Rom 4. 19. Heb. 11. 11. V. 12. Laughed Not as Abraham ch 17. 17. but through weaknesse of saith and therefore it is reproved v. 13. yet commended Heb. 11. 11. after sure she did better recollect her self Luk. 1 45. after she laughed for joy ch 21. 6. within her self Not outwardly and openly which haply made her the more readily deny it V. 13. And the Lord said Jehova said Christ so v. 17. He knew her thoughts themselves fâ—ying shall I c She used if not the very same words yet to the same sense V. 15. Denied for she was afraid Weaknesses and failings in Saints V. 16. Toward Sodom As going thither the two Angels did so ch 19. 1. V. 17. Shall I hide Amos 3. 7. Joh. 15. 15. Abraham a Prophet ch 20 7. and a friend 2 Chron. 20. 7. V. 19. He will command Duty of Parents and Masters of families and example to them Gen. 28. 1. Deut 6. 7. 11. 10. 32. 46. Job 1. 5. Prov. 6. 20. V. 20. Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim Deut. 29. 23. Hos. 11. 8. V. 21. I will go down and see God speaks after the manner of men as ch 11. 5 7. V. 22. And the men Two of the three
50. Rom. 16 1. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Jam. 2 15. But untrue in their intent V. 8. Looked out As David saw Bathsheba 2 Sam. 11. 2. sporting Deut. 24. 5. Prov 5. 18 19. V. 9. Of a surety she is thy wife So holy and unblameable was Isaacs life that worse then this Abimelech never suspected V. 10. What is this By this passionate expostulation he sheweth how greatly adultery if not dissimulation too were condemned by heathen morality ch 20. 9. guiltinesse Both sin and punishment Lev. 5. 5 6. V. 11. Toucheth So v. 29. ch 20. 6. Josh 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Ps. 105. 15. Prov. 6. 29. Zech. 2. 8. V. 12. An hundred fold Mat. 3 8 23. V. 14. Envied him Eccl. 4 4. Psâ—â— 2 10 Job 5. 2. V. 15. The Philistines had stopped Contrary to Covenant and Oath ch 21. 30 31. V. 17. Valley of Gerar V. 6. V. 18. After the names by which his father Renewing the ancient good names and altering idolatrous names Numb 32. 38. The names of idols are not to be heard out of our mouthes Ex. 23. 13. Ps. 16. 4. Deut. 12. 3. Hos. 2. 17. V. 21. Sitnah Hatred or spight Hence Satan hath his name V. 23. To Beersheba The famine being ended he returned to the place whence the famine had driven him the place of his fathers dwelling See Annot. on v. 1. and on ch 21. 31. V. 24. And the Lord appeared As it seems to comfort him against the envious dealings of the Philistines So ch 15. 1. the God of Abraham Therefore Abraham lives in soul Mat. 22. 32. V. 25. An Altar Ch. 12. 7 8. 13. 4 18. V. 26 Then Abimelech As ch 21. v. 22. c. These may be those same men This history is to be compared with that Ahuzzath More then in ch 21. v. 22. V. 27. Seeing ye hate me Prov. 16 7. V. 28. And they said See Annotat. on chap. 21. 22 23. an oath And execration as ch 24. 41. V. 29. That thou wilt With a curse if thou shalt so ch 21. 23. in the margin the blessed Ch. 24. 31. This is spoken to further the Peace and Covenant desired V. 30 Feast Used at Covenants ch 31 54. V. 32. Concerning the Well V. 25. V. 33 Sâ—ebah Oath Beersheba Ch. 21. 31 Here the name of the City This Well was formerly so called by Abraham ch 21. 31. But having been stopped by the Philistines and now opened again by Isaacs servants the old name is again imposed upon the same occasion V. 34. Fourty years old He married thirty six yeares before Jacob. At fourty years old also Isaac married chap. 25. 20. Judith Esaus wives and their fathers had several names Gen. 36. 2. Both Hittites the worst sort of Canaanites Ezech. 16. 3. contrary to the cares and commands of his father mother and grandfather ch 24. 3. and v. 35. of this chapter and ch 27 46. and ch 28. 1 6 8. CHAP. XXVII Verse 1. ISaac was old One hundred thirty six or one hundred thirty seven yeares old As is rightly gathered and proved in the great late Annotat. upon this place For Isaac was sixty yeares old when Jacob was borne ch 25. v. 26. And Jacob was at this time seventy five or seventy six yeares old when he got the blessing and fled to Laban See the Annotat. on ch 29. 21. and his eyes were dimme So Jacobs ch 48. 10. so Elies 1 Sam. 3. 2 4 15. Isaac lived blinde fourty foure yeares at least ch 35 28. V 4 That my soule He would by that feasting chear up his spirit against dulnesse or any distemper that he might be the more fit instrument of the Spirit of God so Elisha calls for a minstrel to allay his passion against Jehoram prepare his minde compose his spirit and fit it for a divine motion of Gods Spirit by Prophecie 2 Kings 3. 15. may blesse thee In faith before the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord Hebr. 1â— 20. some blesse men by praying to God to blesse them So Luke 6. 28. Some by pronouncing a blessing upon them by vertue of their calling and warrant of Gods Word So the Priests blessed the people Numb 6. 23 to the end Some by the Spirit of Prophecie foretelling the blessings should come upon them so Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh ch 48. 9 15 16 20. and the twelve tribes ch 49. 28. and so did Moses likewise Deut. 33. 1. And so Isaac intends to blesse Esau here And doth blesse Jacob and Esau v. 27 28 29 39 40. and Jacob again ch 28. 3 4. Thee Esau. Isaac being left in this point to his owne spirit out of his carnal judgement and affection he intends the blessing to Esau to transmit the inheritance of the blessings and promises made to his father unto Esau as his first-borne either not mindful of the divine Oracle ch 25. 23. Or understanding it not of their persons but of their posterity But Gods Providence serving it self upon the better faith and illumination of Rebekah and by her meanes doth disappoint Isaacs purpose and he by his free grace and singular favour transfers the blessing upon Jacob. V. 6. And Rebekah spake Being soundly grounded that the blessing belonged to Jacob and seeing now her husband going about to give it to Esau she labours to disappoint his errour though by wayes not so warrantable unlesse she were moved by some secret instinct of Gods Spirit V. 7. Before the Lord before my death In his presence and by his power and authority who will ratifie this my last Will and Testament Heb 11. 20 V. 12. I shall bring a curse For my deceiving Deut. 27. 18. Jer. 48. 10. Mal. 14. V. 13. Upon me be thy curse She was over-confident using such ill meanes though in a good cause and trusting to the Oracle V. 15. Goodly raiment Perfumed or kept sweet v. 27. not likely to be holy robes received from their Ancestors and kept for the first-borne to minister in Which were with her Not with Esaus wives V. 16. Skins upon his hands His face by a beard and haire might be much like Esaus V. 19. I am Esau It is in vaine to labour to excuse Jacob here and hereafter from divers lies deceipts and dissemblings V. 20. Brought it to me Ch. 24. 12. one lie drawes on another V. 27. The smell of his raiment Aromatick odours and spices for perfume abounded in those countreys V. 27. As the smell of a field With flowers fruits and vines Cant. 2. 13. 4. 14. 7. 13. V. 28. God give thee A Prayer and Prophecie And these promises of earthly blessings were types of spiritual blessings extending to all that was included in the Promises and Covenant made to and with Abraham Deut. 33. 28. 8. 8. V. 29. Let people serve thee From Jacob came Judah 1 Chron. 5. 2. Gen. 49. 10. David subdued many Nations be Lord over thy brethren Hereby he confirmes to him the right of the first-borne thy brethren and let thy
like is implied concerning the rest of the sons of the handmaids V. 17. Dan shall be a serpent More by cunning then by force shall they prevaile so did the Danites with Laish Judges 18. 27. And Sampson used craft as well as strength Judges 15. and 16. Moses compares him to a Lions whelp Deut. 33. 22. haply for the suddennesse of his leap when he seeth the advantage of his prey Dan is omitted in the sealing of the tribes Apoc. 7. And so is Simeon omitted in Moses his benediction Deut. 33. Likely Simeon for his cruelty against the Sichemites And Dan for his notorious idolatry Judg. 18. 20. 1 Kings 12. 29. Not because Antichrist should come of the tribe of Dan. V. 18. I have waited Psal 130. 5. Esay 26. 8. Motions of the Spirit and ejaculations of a dying man are not tied to rules of method and yet may have good coherence with silent and smothered thoughts whence their expressions burst out for thy salvation Foreseeing the troubles of his posterity and of the tribe of Dan in special Judg. 1. 34. he breakes out into this passionate expression of longing after their deliverance and salvation by Shiloh specially Luke 2. 30. V. 19. Gad a troop Ch. 30. 11 An Allusion as v. 16. See the Annotations upon it Gad was situate beyond Jordan Eastward and so the more subject to incursions of the bordering enemies Judg. 10. 7 8. Jer 49. 1. He comforts him against his dangers by sudden inroads of troopes that at last he shall overcome them Deut. 33. 20. Fulfilled 1 Chron. 5. 18 19 20 21 22. Judg. ch 10. and 11. V. 20. Asher his bread shall be fat Rich soile for corne and wheat specially and for oile Deut. 33. 24 25. and royal dainties and minerals Josh. 19. 24 c. Fat signifies the best of any thing chapter 4. 4. 27. 28. V. 21. Naphtali is an Hinde let loose Deut. 33. 23. with scope and liberty in choice of pastures in plenty and peace And also of cunning and active nimblenesse in dealing with their enemies and light-footed to pursue them and to escape danger Psal. 18. 34. Judg. 4. 10 15 16. Josh. 19. 32 to 39. Judah a Lion Issachar an Asse Dan a Serpent Naphtali an Hinde All these were absurd in a literal sense And so the words in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in a literal sense he giveth goodly words Faire and courteous prevailing by that means and words also of praises and blessings Judg. 5. V. 22. Joseph is a fruitful bough In his two branches Ephraim and Manasseh which multiplied exceedingly and became two tribes by a well Moisture is a meanes of fruitfulnesse Psal. 1. 3. Ezech. 19. 10. whose branches Hebr. Whose daughters As bough was called by the name of sonne and whatsoever cometh of or from another is called in Hebrew a sonne as the young of birds beasts c. arrowes are called the sons of the bowe ch 18. 7. Job 41. 28. runne over the wall Abundantly increase Josh. 17. 17. V. 23. The archers His brethren that sold him his Mystris that accused him his Master that imprisoned him and haply the Magistrates of Egypt and the Courtiers of Pharaoh V. 24. But his bowe His innocency patience faith chastity Psal. 18. 34. by the hands of the mighty Joseph ascribes his strength to God Psal. 44. 6 7 8. from thence From the mighty God of Jacob from his Power and Providence it was that Joseph became the shepherd the stone of Israel to feed them in famine and to be a rock of refuge stay and strength unto them And herein Joseph may be as a type of Christ the true shepherd and corner-stone Act. 4. 11. Esay 28. 16. V. 25. With blessings of Heaven Influences of the startes raine and dew Deut. 33. 14. Ezechiel 34. 26. blessings of the deep Springs and rivers if not minerals too ch 7. 11. Deut. 33. 13. of the beasts Ten thousands of Ephraim and thousands of Manasseh Deut. 33. 17. A contrary curse is that Hos. 9. 14. V. 26. The blessings of thy father Wherewith I do blesse thee and thy brethren have prevailed Or do prevaile are stronger of greater efficacy and excellency above the blessings of my Progenitors Abraham and Isaac I have blessed thee in thy two sonnes more then my father or grand-father blessed their two sonnes Abraham gave way that Ishmael should be cast out And Isaac gave the blessing to me from my brother Esau. But I blesse thy two sonnes and make them two tribes and keep them within the Church Or I have more expressely and with more tendernesse of affection blessed thee then my Progenitors blessed their children I do strive to out-blesse my fore-fathers in multiplication of blessings upon thy head Or referring the words to all Jacobs children he preferres his blessing above that of his Progenitors as being more particularly explained and applied and should be more suddenly clearly fully and effectually accomplished in them by their multiplication in Egypt c. And by including them all in the Covenant of grace making them all heires of the Promise not one of them being excluded unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hilles Deut. 33. 13 15. This sets forth the riches of that portion of land in Canaan which should by lot fall to Ephraim and Manasseh Or the blessings on Joseph shall be eminent and excellent in extent and in quality and quantity and perpetual in duration as the everlasting hills intimating so spiritual blessings Psal. 54. 10. on the head of Joseph Poured as oile wherewith Princes are anointed on his head separated By his selling away from them and being by God so advanced in Egypt V. 27. Benjamin shall ravine Be strong fierce warlike going forth mornings and evenings to take his prey vanquishing and spoiling his enemies So did Saul the King of this tribe 1 Sam. 11. 6 7 11. 14. 13. 15. 47 48. Paul was of Benjamin Warlike they were as appears in those bloody battels Judges 20. 15 16 17. Ehud was of Benjamin Judg. 3. 15. Mordecai and Esther were of Benjamin Esther 8. 7. c and ch 9. 5. devoure the prey 2 Sam 2. 26. V. 28. Twelve tribes Distinguished into twelve tribes afterward And in them rather then in the persons of his twelve sonnes we are to look for the meaning and the accomplishing of these prophetical blessings They were thirteen counting in Levi and Ephraim and Manasseh in stead of Joseph But Levi had no portion in dividing the land Deut. 10. 9. And so they were still called the twelve tribes For their order they are reckoned sometimes accordiâ—g to their birth chap. 29. and 30. Exod. 28. 10. sometimes with reference to their mothers as chap. 35. sometimes with relation to their dignity so is Judah first Numb 2. 3. Apoc. 7. 5. sometimes to their lot in dividing the land of Canaan And so is Zebulun placed before Issachar here sometimes withoot regard had of any order as here and
11 12 17 18 26. and Ch. XIV 22 26. And this second Tythe seems every third year to be distributed to the poor Or rather a third Tythe every third year not carried to Jerusalem and eaten there But gathered for these charitable uses onely and to be eaten any where throughout the Land Deut. XIV 28 29. and XXVI 12 13. And this third year is therefore called the year of Tything Deut. XXVI 12. Amos IV. 4. Of Tythes see more 2 Chron. XXXI 4 19. Nehem. X. 32 39. and XII 44 47. and XIII 5 12 13. Mal. III. 8 10. Luke XI 42. and XVIII 12. Heb. VII 2 9. The great maintenance of the Levites appears in that the whole Tribe of Levi being three or four times lesse in number then any other Tribe yet had they distinguished from all the Priests the Tythes of all the Tribes and so more then any one other Tribe Besides their thirty five Cities and Suburbs whereof five were Cities of Refuge Josh. XXI one belonging to the Kohathites Levites two to the Gershonites and two to the Merarites In all twice at least more Cities then some other Tribes had that were twice their number See also that Num. XXXI 30 47. The greater maintenance of the Priests appears in that being but three persons at first at least of ripe and mature age yet they had the Tythes yearly of all the Levites Tythes which were at first 8580 of thirty years old and upwards and so about the hundred part of all the fruits and increase of all Israel And as the numbers of the Priests multiplied afterwards so did in all probability the number of the other Tribes They had also all the First-fruits of all things from all persons throughout the twelve Tribes even of their doughs and bakings Deut. XVIII 4. Num. XV. 20 21. which as some think exceeded their Tythes aforesaid They had also all the First-borne of Oxen Sheep and Goats which were given to them in kinde And the Redemption money of the First-borne of Men and of unclean Beasts and cattell Num. III. 46 52. Exod. XXXIV 19. 20 and Ch. XXII 29 30. Deut. XV. 19. They had also all Oblations both Voluntary and by Vow And the Redemption of Things and of Persons Devoted to God And all Sacrifices for Sinnes and for Trespasses and the Meat and Drink Offerings and Heave-offerings And the Breast and Shoulder in Peace-offerings Deut. XVIII 3. And the Skins of the whole Burnt-offerings And all their Tythes First-fruits and Oblations were to be of the best and choisest sorts Num. XVIII 12 29. Besides these they had thirteen Cities and Suburbs and Priviledges belonging to them whereof one was a City of Refuge Josh XXI 13. See Num. XVIII 8 19. And that also Num. XXXI 28 29 37 38 39 40 50. Levit. X. 12 13 14 15. and Ch. XXVII 21 28. See the Annotations on Num. XVIII 29. Rock At Rephidim by Mount Sinai chapter XX verse 8. 13. Exod. XVII 1 7. being the eleventh Station of the Israelites Num. XXXIII 14. Moses with his miraculous Rod struck the Rock in Horeb in a due obedience to Gods commandment and waters came forth And he named the place Massah and Meribah Exod. XVII 5 6 7. But at Kadesh in the Wildernesse of Zin where Miriam died being the thirty third Station Num. XXXIII 36. Moses with Aarons miraculous Rod for he took it from before the Lord as he commanded him having his spirit provoked by the rebellious people smiles the Rock twice without any such command or commission to smite at all And he and Aaron likewise speak unadvisedly with their lips uttering words of passion and incredulity and so rebelling against Gods commandment And thereupon they not sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of the children of Israel He was sanctified in them by his excluding them from entrance into the Land of Canaan And this also is called the water of Meribah or Strife as here so Ch. XXVII 14. Psal. CVI. 32 33. Aaron Aaron chapter XX verse 28 whose name may seem to signifie an Ark or Chest dies seven moneths and seven dayes before Moses at Mount Hor the Place called Mosera Deut. X 6. in the thirty fourth Station For Aaron dying in the fourtieth year fifth moneth first day Num. XXXIII 38. And that compared with the moneths mourning for Moses Deut. XXXIV 8. and three dayes preparation to passe over Jordan Josh. I. 1. and Ch. III. 2. And their coming out of Jordan on the first moneth tenth day Josh. IV. 19. Do shew that Moses died in the twelfth moneth seventh day And so seven moneths and seven dayes after Aaron In which short interval of time many and mighty things were done and atchieved as among other things Sihon and Og and their Kingdomes conquered the Midianites almost destroyed among whom Balaam was slaine Josh. XIII 22. and the book of Deuteronomie written Num. XXI and XXXI Deut. I. 1 3. Fiery Serpents onely in the later part of the fourtieth year chapter XXI verse 6 after Aarons death Heshbon Heshbon a chief City in Moab verse 26 afterwards of Sihon King of the Amorites Deut. I. 4. afterwards of Gad and out of that Tribe given to the Merarites Josh. XIII 26. and XXI 38 39 40. 1 Chron. VI. 80 81. Afterwards recovered by the Moabites and wasted by Shalmanesar Esay XV. 4. and XVI 8 9. and after by the Babylonians Jer. XLVIII 45. There may seeme to be another Heshbon of the Ammonites Jer. XLIX 2 3. And one in the Tribe of Reuben Num. XXXII 37. Josh. XIII 15 17. Heshbon signifies Devises And an allusion is made to the name Jer. XLVIII 2. in the judgement there denounced against it like to this is English There is mischief devised against the Devises the name of a town with us Balak Balak needed not to have hired Balaam chapter XXII verse 2 and feared Israel Num. XXII and XXIII and XXIV if he had known the prohibition of God to Israel Deut. II. 9. which they obeyed Judg. II. 15 17 18 25. 2 Chron. XX. 10. Yet that part which was great of the Lands of Moab which Sihon had lately conquered from Vehab King of Moab as Tremelius translates Num. XXI 26. the Israelites conquering Sihon in that right possessed it Num. XXXIII 49. Deut. I. 5. and XXXIV 1 5 6 8. and it was given to the Reubenites and Gadites Josh. XIII Unicorne So Deut. chapter XXIII verse 22 XXXIII 17. Job XXXIX 9 10. Psal. XXII 21. and XXIX 6. and XCII 10. Esay XXXIV 7. Yet the translation of the word is doubted of or at least the nature of the beast such as the Pensil of our Painters doth portray out unto us because no such beast was known or seen by any man And the Unicornes horne so deemed is of some strange Fish not of any known Beast Some learned render the word Bufale or Buff or else the wild Oxe called by the Latines Urus eminent for bignesse strength hornes and untamable fiercenesse
and Bathshebah are mentioned Now there being four hundred and eighty years from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt to the Building of the Temple in the fourth year of Solomon 1 Kings VI. 1. whereof fourty years were spent in the wildernesse and seventy in Davids life time 2 Sam. V. 4. and four in Solomons reigne The Remaining time between Rahabs receiving the Spies and Davids Birth must be 366. which may and must be made up in some such reckoning as this viz. Supposing Rahab to be eighteen years old when she received the Spies and sixty six when she did bear Boaz to Salmon then of necessity must Boaz beget Obed and Obed beget Iesse and Iesse beget David each about the age of 106. Which well considered evidenceth and evinceth these two things 1. That the years of the six Oppressors in the times of the Judges Ch. III. 8 14. and IV. 3. and VI. 1. and X. 8. and XIII 1. which amount to 111. years cannot be reckoned distinct and apart But are to be included within the years of the Judges and of the Rest of the Land For otherwise the years between Rahabs receiving the two Spies and Davids birth would rise to 477. which cannot be true And secondly that the years 480. which is that famous Link of time 1 King VI. 1. cannot possibly be forced to any more then 480. much lesse to 580. as some learned men of late would have it and contrary to that sacred text 1 King VI. 1. which never received any veriâ—â—s Lection and contrary to the clear evidence and notation of paâ—â—â—cular times set down in Scripture which exacty make up that summe of 480. as was now shewed viz. fourty in the Wildernesse seventeen in Ioshuah's Government 299. in the Judges times eighty in Eli Samuel and Sauls times fourty in Davids and four in Solomons Ark The Ark here leads the way before the hoast chapter III verse 3 into Iordan and Canaan without any more mention of the Pillar of Cloud and Fire Two thousand Cubits The distance of two thousand Cubits from the Ark verse 4 Josh. III. 4. was on either side of it and seemes to be the same distance that was kept from it in their Campings or Pitchings and in their Journeyings in the Wildernesse And may well be deemed to be the Sabbath-dayes journey mentioned Acts I. 12. Comparing together John XI 18. and Luke XXIV 50. Rose up upon an heap When the Israelites passed through Jordan verse 16 the waters were not as a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left as likely they were when Elias and Elizeus divided them with a mantle 2 King II. 8 14. And as certainly the waters of the red-sea were Exod. 14. 21 22. But God stopped the waters of the river that came down from above and they stood and rose upon an heap very farre from the City Adam And thereupon those waters that came down from Adam to the Salt and Dead Sea and Lake of Sodom and Asphaltites did run away failed were cut off Midst The often mentioning the midst of the river of Iordan to be the place where the Priests feet stood bearing the Ark of the Lord verse 17 the place where twelve stones were erected and the place whence twelve stones were taken to be set up in Gilgal Iosh. III. 17. and IV. 3 5 8 9 10 18. doth induce me to take the word midst in its proper signification having no maner of inconvenience in it for so doing rather then to transferre it to the Channel close by the further side and banck Passed over The place of their passage over Jordan chapter IV verse 1 may seeme to be called afterwards Beth-barah in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Jordan Judg. VII 24. And Bethabara John I. 28. not Bethania as the Trent-Bible erroneously there hath it where John baptized Jesus as well as others And Betharabah seemes to be a City not farre from the Passage on the other side a City of Benjamin bordering upon Judah Josh. XV. 6. 61. and XVIII 22. Though some not so rightly place the foresaid town higher upon the river more then twenty miles above Adam and farre off from the border of Judah At this Passage the Altar Ed seemes to be builded in the Tribe of Reuben Josh. XXII 11. Twelve men Reuben verse 2 and Gad are here included in the twelve though their Possessions were beyond Iordan And of these two Tribes and half Manasseh about fourty thousand armed men passed over Iordan to the warre ver 13. which were yet but a few more then one third part of their military men Num. XXVI 7 18 34. The rest stayed behinde for their many necessary occasions Came up They came over Iordan verse 19 on the tenth day of the first moneth were Circumcised the eleventh And did eate the Passeover on the fourteenth Ch. V. 2 10. Both which were omitted in the wildernesse at least since the Returne of the twelve Spies and after that Passeover at Mount Sinai Num. IX 5. See Iosh. V. 5 7. And on the XVI day Manna ceased ver 12. The second time Not that these were Circumcised once before chapter V verse 2 See ver 7. It was neglected or omitted many years for some reasons And at this time upon many reasons renewed and again injoyned by God See the Annotations upon this text Gilgal Of this place verse 9 see the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. A man This Captain of the Lords hoast verse 13 was not Gabriel or any other created Angel but Michael the Archangel Iude 9. Michael the great Prince of Gods people Dan. X. 21. and XII 1. the Angel of the Covenant Mal. III. 1. Christ the Sonne of God Appearing here and sundry other times in the shape of man as a foregoing presage and prologue to typifie his future Incarnation And this appeareth by Ioshua's Adoration of him as his Lord Jehovah Ch. VI. 2. and by His acceptance of it which an Angel would have refused Apoc. XIX 10. by his Commanding Joshua to put off his shoes because the place was holy like to that Exod. III. 5. Not that the Place was capable of any inherent holinesse in it self but hallowed by Gods holy presence in it and in that relation onely so esteemed and which ceased so to be when his Presence was withdrawn from it This Captain instructs Joshua about the maner of besieging and conquering Jericho Ch. VI. 2 5. Seventh day chapter VI The Sabbath-day must needs be one of the seven wherein the Camp of Israel did march round about the walls of Jericho verse 4 if not the seventh wherein they compassed the Citie seven times and took it And this by the command of him who is the Sovereigne Lord of the Sabbath Priests shall blow with the Trumpets Priests not Levites And Priests not Levites carry the Ark. See the Observations on Num. X. 8. and on Ch. VII v. 1 9. Achan Achan is called also Achar chapter VII
a miracle and to declare to all That they were gifted and assumed to that their present Office and imployment Naked i. chapter XIX verse 24 e. Stript of his upper garment or military habit So Peter John XXI 7. and Micah chap. I. 8. Esay chap. XX. 2 4. And those Acts XIX 16. Slew chapter XXII verse 18 Sauls most horrid and bloody Act. Ephod The Ephod here is that of the High Priests chapter XXIII verse 9 wherin were the Urim and Thummim Exod. XXVIII 30. which Urim and Thummim were not the twelve precious stones of the Breast-plate mentioned v. 17-21 Or the words of Vrim and Thummim engraven in the middest of those twelve precious stones on the Breast-plate Or things committed into the hands of the workmen to make them But rather given by God to Moses to put them not on but into the Breast-plate which haply to this end and purpose was doubled ver 16. so to have them hid there And accordingly Levit. VIII 8. Moses is said to put in the Breast-plate the Urim and the Thummim Yet what things or what kinde of things they were appears not Only we know the names signifie Lights and Perfections haply intimating Knowledge of Doctrine and Integrity of Life and Conversation And that by these the High Priests extraordinarily did ask Counsels of the Lord and did receive Answers as Oracles from him So we see the Precept for it Num. XXVII 21. Joshuah shall stand before Eleazar the Priest who shall ask Counsel for him after the judgement of Urim before the Lord at his word shall they go out and at his word they shall come in both he i. e. Joshuah and all the children of Israel with him And the Practice of it we finde expected earnestly by Saul 1 Sam. XXVIII 6. though the same it may seeme lighty sleighted by him 1 Sam. XIV 18 19. And here acted by Abiathar the High Priest for David David hereunto adjoyning his Request unto the Lord for the Answer ver 10 11 12. And again 1 Sam. XXX 7. And not unlike but Davids enquiring of the Lord 2 Sam. II. 1. and chap. V. 19 23. and XXI 1. And possibly that Judg. XX. 18 23 27 28. was by the same meanes upon the same ground And if it were burnt or lost at the ruine of the Temple and all by Nebuchadnezzar yet the Tirshatha entertains an expectation of the restoring of it Ezra II. 63. Neh. VII 65. a Messinger Gods providence for the preservation of his verse 27 unto Achish This second time chapter XXVII verse 2 upon better security beforehand given then formerly was had in Shunem In Shunem and Aphek chapter XXVIII verse 4 1 Sam. XXIX 1. the Philistines pitched And the Israelites in Gilboa by a Fountain which is in Jezreel All in the Tribe of Issachar Josh XIX 18. This is Davids Spoile i. chapter XXX verse 20 e. all that the Amalakites had taken from others save from them of Ziglag This by his right and free consent and gift of his souldiers he made use of to gratifie his friends and engage them to him ver 26 31. they shall part alike They both alike shall have their shares verse 24 according to Gods appointment Num. XXXI 27 30. Josh. XXII 8. Though not both equal shares fell upon it Saul his own bloody butcher and self-murderer chapter XXXI verse 4 The Amalakite belies himself in most of his relation to David 2 Sam. I. 5 10. in hope of grace and reward from David but in issue to the losing of his life God in his secret justice justly takes it upon himself that he slew him 1 Chron. X. 14. his head This they fastened in the Temple of Dagon verse 9 1 Chron. X. 10. His body to the wall of Bethshan or Bethshean And his Armour in the house of Ashteroth a name of their female goddesses II. Samuel THis Book contains an History of fourty years from the death of King Saul to the death of King David or the time immediately preceding it 2 Sam. V. 4 5. The time and story of Davids reign Crown that was upon his head Likely not so worne by him in the day of battel chapter I verse 10 1 King XXII 30. But carried with him or before him by his armour-bearer verse 18 or some others as an Ensigne of his Kingly honour bowe That they might be skilful in the right use of their armes and weapons against their enemies in this time of need Of the Bowe in warre see ver 22. And the Annotations on Hos. I. 5. and on Zech. X. 4. How are the mighty fallen Repeated verse 19 ver 25. and 27. as the foot of this sad song and Elegie Tell it not in Gath This impossible not to be told there But this shews Davids desire verse 20 if it had been possible A Pathetical expression not much unlike is that ver 21. Unto Hebron Of this place chapter II verse 1 thus once for all Hebron was a City in the Tribe and Mountain of Judah Josh. XV. 54. Called also Mamre and Kiriath-arba the City of Arba the father of Anak where Anak lived his sonnes and the Anakims a race of Giants Here formerly dwelt the children of Heth and Hittites And Abraham Isaac and Jacob sojourned here And they and Sarah and Rebekah and Leah were buried here in the Cave of Machpelah before Mamre the same is Hebron Gen. XIII 18. and XXIII 19. and XLIX 31. Hence Joseph was sent to see the welfare of his brethren Hither the Spies came that were sent from Kadesh-barnea in the Wildernesse of Paran to search the Land Hoham the King of Hebron was one of the five Kings mured up by Joshuah in a Cave and after slaine and hanged up And soone after the City taken and another King thereof seems then to be slaine by him And he and Caleb slew the Anakims that dwelled here This City and Suburbs were given to the Priests and to be a Citie of Refuge The Fields and the Villages of it to Caleb the sonne of Jephunne the Kenezite that good Spie Josh. XX. 7. and XXI II. To the top of an hill before Hebron Sampson carried the Gate of Gaza To them in Hebron David sent a Present of the Spoile taken from the Amalakite 1 Sam. XXX 31. Hither God directed him to go in this Text. And here he was anointed King and reigned seven years and six moneths And here he had six sonnes born to him of six several women his wives Here Abner was slain by Joab and mournfully buried by David Hither King Ishbosheths head was brought by his murderers buried in Abners Sepulchre and they hanged up here Hither came all the Tribes of Israel to make David King over all Israel and anointed him here And Absalom being borne here pretended a vow to be performed here and rebelling against his father made himself King here This Citie of Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt Num. XIII 23. And in Rehoboams reigne was
This Reformation and Covenant made verse 8 and Passeover kept chap. XXXV 19. And yet from this or rather from the twelfth year above mentioned begins that reckoning of the sinne of Iudah Ezek. IV. 6. For under so good a King yet the people continued obstinately wicked as appears in Ieremie who began to prophesie in the thirteenth year of Iosiah's reigne Ier. I. 2. and XXV 3. and ch III. 6. And Iosiah only caused and made them outwardly to obey 2 Chron. XXXIV 32 33. the Houses The Houses of the Priests which adjoyned to the Temple and of the Levites which adjoyned to the Courts Levites Scribes 1 Chron. verse 13 XXIV 6. Ezra VII 6. 21. Neh. VIII 9. and chap. XII 26. and XIII 13. See the Annotation on 1 Kings IV. 3. More fully thus we read in the Old Testament of severall persons that were Scribes some Scribes of Kings or their Secretaries So David had one And Solomon two Ioash one 2 Kings XII 10. Iosiah one 2 Kings XXII 3. Of Ionathan Davids Uncle that he was a Counseller a wise man and a Scribe 1 Chron. XXVII 32. And of Baruch that he was Ieremies Scribe And of families of Scribes that dwelt at Jabez in the tribe of Iudah and were of the posterity of Iethro 1 Chron. II. 55. But why so called or what their Office was whether as Publike Notaries Scriveners or Transcribers of the Law or what else it appears not Here in Iosiah's time we finde that in his businesse of repairing the house of the Lord there were appointed of the Levites Scribes And in Nehemiah's time he made Treasurers over the Treasuries in the Lords House Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the Scribe And in his time also was that famous Ezra a Priest sonne of the High Priest Serajah slaine by Nebuchadnezzar and the same a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses a Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven of the words of the Commandments of the Lord and of his Statutes to Israel and the same a publick Reader and Teacher of the Law In the New Testament we finde them much more mentioned and to be of more esteeme and themselves affected Preheminence and precedencies Mark XII 38 39. Here they are often joyned with the Chief Priests and Elders and often with the Pharisees They pretended to extraordinary holinesse as the Pharisees did whence is that Matth. V. 20. and Acts XXIII 9. They were of the Pharisees part against the Sadduces Yea he that is called a Scribe Marke XII 28. the same is called a Pharisee and a Lawyer Matth. XXII 34 35. We read not that they were of the Sect of the Sadduces or Essenes But we finde them to joyne with all the rest to question to pose and oppose our Saviour to entangle and insnare him by Questions to charge his miracles to be done by Belzebub Himself with Blasphemy to apprehend and binde him to condemne him in the Councel to deliver him to Pilate to accuse him before Herod to prosecute him to death to mock him upon the Crosse. And we finde that these Scribes sate in Moses-chair Matth. XXIII 2. and were Preachers and Teachers of the people Mat. VII 29. and XIII 52. And likely were all of the tribe of Levi. rent his clothes See the Annotations on 2 Kings XXII 8. verse 19 Huldah the Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 22 III. 4. The High Priest Hilkiah is here sent to her she being an extraordinary Prophetesse so near at hand Put the holy Ark It might be put out of his place chapter XXXV verse 3 in the dayes of his wicked father if not of his grandfather Passeover-Offerings So ver verse 8 9. in the Feast of Unleavened bread for the seven dayes After all this Thirteen years after the foresaid Passeover verse 20 that being in the eighteenth and this in the thirty one and last year of his reigne by Euphrates Heb. Phrat or Prat or Perath the fourth river in Eden Gen. II. 14. usually called the River and the great River made one of the Boundaries of the Promised Land Gen XV. 18. Deut. 1. 7 and chap. XI 24. Iosh. I. 4. 2. Chron. IX 26. Cut by Cyrus into severall Channels when he lay in siege before Babylon which stood upon it and so by him much dreyned and dried Ier. L. 38. See 1 Chron. XVIII 3. Ier. XIII 4. and chap. LI. 63. Apoc. IX 14. and Chap. XVI 12. See on Dan. IV. 30. Megiddo See the Annotations on Zech. verse 22 XII 11. to carrie him But he died by the way chapter XXXVI verse 6 Jer. XXII 18 19. Eight years old when he He was eighteen when himself began to reigne verse 9 2 Kings XXIV 8. And but eight then when his father began to reigne The like relative sense may that speech admit 2 Kings XVI 2. no remedy Desperate sinners procure implacable wrath verse 16 irrevocable exterminating judgements Kingdome of Persia See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Ezra verse 20 threescore and ten years For the beginning of these verse 21 see the Annotations on Dan. IX 2. rather then those on Zech. VII 3. yet many learned are of the later opinion Ezra THE Book of Ezra contains an History of seventy years viz. from the first of Cyrus or his Proclamation chap. I. 1. to the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus upon this Accompt viz. Cyrus seven Cambyses seven Smerdis one Darius Hystaspis thirty six Xerxes twelve of Artaxerxes Longimanus seven where Ezra end Or premising two of Darius Medus before Cyrus it comes to seventy two The four last Chapters containe the History but of that one year concerning Ezra which was in that seventh year of Artaxerxes See chap. VII 7 9. and chap. VIII 15 21 31 32 33. and chap. X. 8 9 16 17. But the six first Chapters are extended by some otherwise learned men yet upon lesse probable grounds to a farre larger scope of time even to one hundered thirty eight or one hundred fourty five years And they end the Book with the nineteenth year of Artaxerxes Mnemon which seemes cleane contrary to the Text chap. VII 7 8. For the clearer knowledge of divers things in this Book as likewise in Nehemy and Esther A Catalogue of the Persian Monarchs and of the years of their Reignes is very useful which out of the best Authors with very little variation may be as followeth  years Darius Medus 2 Cyrus 7 Cambyses 7 Smerdis 1 Darius Hystaspis 36 Xerxes 12 Artaxerxes Longimanus 48 Xerxes 1 Sogdianus 1 Darius Ochus seu Nothus 19 Artazerxes Mnemon 43 Darius Ochus 23 Arsen 3 Darius Codomannus 5 And so the Persian Monarchy continued two hundred and eight years or there about In this Book of Ezra there is mention made of six Persian Monarchs first of Cyrus chap. I. 1. secondly of Darius ch IV. 5. thirdly of Ahasuerus chap. IV. 6. fourthly of Artaxerxes chap. IV. 7. fifthly of another Darius chap. IV. 24. and
though that tookest Even when thou tookest vengeance of their inventions verse 8 yet even then a forgiving God a God answearing their prayers and not we Or chapter C verse 3 and his we are as the Hebrew in the margin readeth it Deut. VII 6 7. and chap. IX 4. c. Psal. XCV 5. A Psalme of David This seemes inspired and written by David chapter CI when he was new made King Or as some He promiseth what to do when he shall be made King and how he will governe his own house in the meane time not know Matth. chapter CII verse 4 VII 23. of the afflicted Or for the afflicted A set forme of Prayer for him for any in a poor afflicted estate And so divers other set formes of prayer are found in Scripture in a set forme of words As Num. VI. 24 25 26. Matth. VI. 9 13. And again at another time and upon another occasion Luke XI 1 4. Psal. XX. and XXI This Prayer may seeme inspired and composed by Daniel or some other Prophet towards the end of the Babylonish Captivity verse 13 16. Zech. I. 12 13. the appointed time Jer. verse 13 XXIX 10. Dan. IX 2 24. c. in her stones Neh. verse 14 II. 13. c. and IV. 2. Zech. I. 22. Of old This verse verse 25 and the two next are cited Heb. I. 10 11 12. and applied to prove the Deity of Christ. This Psalme chapter CIII and the four following containe the Praises of God and the arguments of his Praise both Ordinary and Extraordinary in relation to his Church and to all his Creatures thy youth is renued like the Eagles Thou keepest thy self fresh and vigorous verse 5 as in thy youth thou returning to the dayes of thy youth Job XXXIII 25. And like the Eagles youth or strength and vigour which abides so long even to and in old age and length of very many years and seemes to renew her youth by the casting of her feathers yearly not her bill the upper beak whereof groweth at last in an extreme old age so to over-grow and bend over the lower beak as causeth the Eagle to die of famine not of feeblenesse Arist. lib. 9. cap. 32. de historia animalium See Esay XL. 31. hoasts ye Ministers Both Angels verse 21 and men and all his creatures Ephes. 3. 10. Col. I. 16. 1 Kings XXII 19. Gen. XXXII 2. Psal. CIV 4. Dan. VII 10 Apoc II. 1. Esay LXI 6. Neh. IX 6. This Psalme is exquisite for loftinesse chapter CIV and other ornaments with light as with a garment Gen. verse 2 I. 3. 1 Tim. VI. 16. He wholly so shines as the eyes of any no not of the Angels are able to behold the luster and splendor thereof As neither we that of the Sunne the beams of his chambers in the waters Maketh and distinguisheth the regions of the aire verse 3 as into lofts or upper chambers in and by the watery clouds ver 13. his Angels spirits Alledged and interpreted of Angels verse 4 Heb. I. 7. useth them being spiritual substances as speedy active messingers ministers and executors of his will Heb. I. 14. his ministers a flaming fire The Angels such 2 Kings II. 11. and chap. VI. 17. Or the flashes of lightnings and other meteors are his ministers to do his will waters stood above the mountains At the Creation verse 6 Gen. I. 2. And at the Flood Gen. VII 20. to cover the earth Job XXXVIII 8 verse 9 10 11. Jer. V. 22. Gen. IX 11 13 15. oile Psal. XXIII verse 15 5. and XCII 10. Eccles. IX 8. Matth. VI. 17. her house In them is her house verse 17 Psal. LXXXIV 4. Job XXIX 18. Matth. VIII 20. Luke IX 58. Dan. IV. 12. Conies Prov. XXX 24 verse 18 26. in wisdome hast thou made them all By wisdome here to understand Christ punctualy verse 24 is more then the Text yeelds Or that Text either Prov. III. 19. though that be a sacred truth Heb. I. 2. Sea Not that Psal. verse 25 CXIV 3. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which particle doth distinguish the great Midland Sea from the other lesser go the ships See verse 10. verse 26 Gen. II. 14. Esay XXXIII 21. Leviathan The Whale Job XLI renewest By causing new creatures to come in the place of the old verse 30 Eccles. I. 4. Praise ye the Lord In the Hebrew verse 35 Halelu-jah Praise ye Jah This Halelu-jah is kept in the Greek and in other languages set sometimes in the beginnings sometimes in the end of Psalmes Apoc. XIX 1 3 4 6. O give thanks See the Observations on Psal. chapter CV verse 1 XCVI 1. whereby most likely it is that this is Davids Psalme his strength seeke his face The Ark where God declared his power and presence Psal. LXIII 2. and LXXVIII 61. See the Observations on Psal. XXVII 8. his judgements Esay XXVI 9. verse 7 Specialy those upon the Egyptians are famously known and spoken of oath unto Isaac To Abraham verse 9 in the Presence of Isaac Gen. XXII 17. and XXVI 3. mine anointed This is spoken of the Patriarchs verse 15 not of Kings my Prophets So Abraham is called Gen. XX. 7. with fetters Gen XXXIX verse 18 20. his word came Gods word in dreams touching his advancement verse 19 Gen. XXXVII 7 9. came to be fulfilled Or Josephs word in the interpretation of the dreams of Pharaohs Officers and of Pharaoh himselfe He turned See the Observations on Esay VI. verse 25 10. they rebelled not The Signes and Wonders did not verse 28 Or Moses and Aaron did not rebel c. haile for raine Raine rare in Egypt Zech. verse 32 XIV 18. much more haile first-borne Thus all the ten plagues of Egypt are reckoned up verse 36 save the fifth of Murrain of Beasts and the sixth of Boyles upon Man and Beast a cloud for a covering A large cloud to cover all that hoast from the parching heat of the Sun verse 39 Quailes Twice verse 40 Exod. XVI 13. Num. XI 31. dry places In the deserts of Sin verse 41 and Zin from the rocks of Rephidim Exod. XVII and Kadesh Num. XX. That they might Obedience the end of all Gods mercies verse 45 Exod. XIX 4 5 6. leannesse By their ratson chapter CVI verse 15 or lust they purchased to themselves razon leannesse yea a plague and death Psal. LXXVIII 30 31. Esay X. 16. Dathan Korah is omitted here verse 17 Oxe Elsewhere the terme of Caâ—â— is used verse 20 Ham Gen. verse 22 X. 6. pleasant land Deut. verse 24 XI 11 22. Ezek. XX. 6. See the Observations on Zech. VII 14. Baal-Peor See the Observations on Judges VIII verse 28 33. Baal signifieth Lord Master Husband or Patron Peor is the name of a mountaine And Beth Pehor the name of Baals Temple there Num. XXIII 28. Deut. III. 29. For the idolatry committed to this idol the Scripture sometimes for the word Baal useth Bosheth which signifieth shame Hos. IX 10. See Jer.
solemn assemblies for his worship and service in the beauties of holinesse Or in the comely honours of the Sanctuarie meaning either the comely or honourable places of holinesse the Sanctuary or Church or rather in the beautiful ornaments of holinesse that is holy graces and vertues which with admirable varietie adorne the faithful and their inner man from the womb The second propertie or condition of the subjects of Christs Kingdome to be very numerous as willing so numerous as the dew from the womb of the morning 2 Sam. XVII 12. by a sudden unusual and wonderful increase and multiplication Esay LIV. 1. Micah V. 7. Esay LXVI 9. so numerous shall his youth be his new-borne people Iohn I. 13. and III. 3. Gal IV. 19. Heb. II. 14. 1 Pet. II. 2. See Esay LIII 10. So that these words are not to be understood of the temporal Nativity of Christ from the Virgin or his eternal generation from the Father as some do but of his active spiritual generation of his children the subjects of his Kingdome The Lord hath sworne The Vocation of Christ to his Office of verse 4 Priesthood Jehovah is the Author of it hath sworne Jehovah swears to confirme matters of greatest moment when and where his wisdome pleaseth And upon this point here of Christs eternal Priesthood mans salvation dependeth He swears by himself though that is not here expressed because he hath no greater to swear by Heb. VI. 13 16. Gen. XXII 16. And so by his life Esay XLIX 18. by his soul Jer. LI. 24. by his right-hand and the arme of his strength Esay LXII 8. The result of all which is the same with himself And implying thereby thus much Let me not be accounted what I am namely God the living God the omnipotent God if that which I speak be not true or my promises or threatnings do faile of performance Of Oaths See the Observations on Jer. LI. 14. and my Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. and will not repent Will not change or retract what he hath sworne Num. XXIII 19. James I. 17. Repenting is sometimes ascribed to God as Gen. VI. 6 7. Psal. CVI. 45. 1 Sam. XV. 11. 35. Not that there is any change of minde of will in God as there is in mans repenting But the change is in the work God eternally and unchangably decreeing both as to do the thing so again to change it upon mans repentance or disobedience Jer. XXVI 3 13 19. Of this see more in the Observations on Jer. XV. 6. In all this God condescends to mans weaknesse Heb. VI. 17 18. Shewes the greatnesse and excellency of the thing here avowed that the Lord Christ was lawfully Called and Ordained to be an eternal Priest for us and our salvation for our greater confirmation and consolation herein Thou art The Lord Christ well knew this and could not doubt of the will of the Father herein What then needed this Oath to be made unto him Answ. It was made to him for the use of his Church that his Church might know and be assured of it As that John XI 42. art God saying is as much as doing a Preist So Gen. XIV 18. Heb. VII 1. Melchizedec in type Christ in truth the Antitype The Priests office was to Teach Pray and Sacrifice The High Priest among the Jewes once a year entred into the most Holy place Yet he in all things was not an absolute and sufficient Type of our High Priest Christ the Lord. For he is an eternal High Priest and both King and Priest and his Sacrifice of another nature and himself of another Tribe for ever Not so the Priests after the order of Aaron Heb. VII 23. 34 and chap. IX 12. after the order Or similitude Heb. V. 6. and chap. VII 15. of Melchizedec Much question who this Melchizedec was He was not the Sonne of God himself our Lord and Christ. Very many take him to be Sem the Sonne of Noah who saw both worlds before and after the Flood and lived to the one hundred and fiftieth year of the age of Abraham Yet because Sems genealogie is exactly set down in Scripture and that the Levitical Priests themselves came from him after sundry descents and the Land of Canaan seems not to be Sems habitation which took its name from his younger brother Cham or from Chams sonne Canaan Neither would Abraham so long have forborne his due respects and visitation of Sem in Canaan if Sem had lived there Therefore divers learned men take this Melchizedec to be rather some eminent man in Canaan raised up by God in those corrupt times both good and godly both King and Priest living in Salem after called Jerusalem whose King in Joshuahs time was called Adoni-Zedeck that is Lord of righteousnesse Josh. X. 1. As this man here is called Melchizedec that is King of righteousnesse By which place or near to it Abraham in his returne from this warre and victory was to passe Of this Melchizedec and his Priesthood and the difference of it from Aarons Priesthood the Apostle to the Hebrews chap VII entreateth at large and observeth divers things his Name and Title his greatnesse in that he blessed Abraham and received Tythes of Abraham his being mentioned in Scripture without any Pedegree without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life All these he had as our Saviour himself had them but none of them recorded or registred in the Scripture that he might so become a Type of the eternity of Christs Person and Priesthood verse 3. The Apostle further observeth his Offices that he was both King and Priest and that our Saviour was made such with an oath of God the Father and a Priest of a better Priesthood Covenant and Commandment and that he was made not after the Law of a carnal commandement having carnal successors in his Priesthood but after the power of an endlesse life consecrated for evermore having an eternal Priesthood and unchangeable continuing ever and living ever to make intercession and by his one offering up himself once for all saving them to the uttermost that come to God by him In all which there are manifold resemblances between Christ and Melchizedec and manifold differences between theirs and the Aaronical Priesthood As for those fond and forced dreams of the Papist That Melchizedec offered up to God the sacrifice of bread and wine And therein was a Type and Figure of their sacrifice of the Masse And that thereupon Christ our Lord is said to be a Priest after the order of Melchizedec These may well befal to them who for want of the love of the truth are given up to beleeve lies but are too weak poor and silly for us to trouble our selves withal The Lord at thy right hand The prophesie of Christ the Lord his administration of his Kingly Office verse 5 in this and the next verse The Lord God the Father who will make thine enemies thy footstoole
4 20 27. 1 Cor. II. 14 15. Esay I. 3. Usurie See the Annotations on Ezek. XVIII 8. verse 8 See also Nehem. V. 7 10. Ezek. XXII 12. And see that Matth. XXV 27. for him Chap. XIII 22. Job XXVII 17. Eccles. II. 26. even his Prayer Chap. XV. 8. verse 9 and I. 28. Jer. XI 11. and XIV 2. Zech. VII 12 13. John 9. 31. to go astray Chap. XXVI 27. verse 10 Matth. XV. 14. He shall be catcht in his own trap upright 2 Pet. III. 17. and 1 Pet. I. 5. in his own conceipt A very small winde will blow up a bubble verse 11 Chap. XIV 12. and Chap. XVI 2 25. and Chap. XXI 2. See the Explanations on those texts This rich man here thanks his wit for his wealth he sacrificeth to his own net 1 Tim. VI. 17. great glorie Verse 28. verse 12 Chap. XI 10. and Chap. XXIX 2. Their joy carries publick and eminent good in the mouth of it as the Cause of it and so bespeaks a common joy hidden Keeps close or flees So Matth. II. 13. Apoc. XII 14. And those worthies of whom the world was not worthie Heb. XI 38. covereth his sinnes Psal. XXXII 5. 1 verse 13 John I. 9 10. Job XXXI 33. Gen. III. 12 13. Sinne and shifts came into the world together But if not confession sure confusion will follow upon it In the Court of Heaven it is best to plead Guilty 2 Sam. XXIV 10. and forsaketh Many Papists use Confession as drunkards use vomiting not to forsake sinne but that they may adde drunkennesse to thirst hardeneth his heart Esay LXIII 17. Psal. XCV 8. Heb. III. 8 15. and IV. 7. verse 14 The dehortation in this case is urgent the accusation dreadful the sinne it self direful As the heart so the neck and the face are said to be hardened made stiffe not to hear harder then a rock God is said to harden the hearts of Pharaoh and sundrie others And that whom he will he hardeneth Rom. IX 18. But how he doth this see in the Observations on Esay VI. 9 10. fall Into ruine without remedie a wicked ruler As a Lion verse 15 and Bear Zeph. III. 3. Micah III. 3 11. Jer. LI. 34. flee to the pit Die without mercie verse 17 Gen. IX 6. Exod. XXI 14. Deut. XIX 13. uprightly Chap. X. 9. Psal. XXIII 4. verse 18 perverse Crooked and doubling can shift his saile to every wind verse 6. chap. XIX 1. tilleth Chap. XII 11. verse 19 We must earne our bread ere we eate it haste to be rich Verse 22. chap. XX. 21. 1. Tim. VI. 9 10. verse 20 robbeth As Micah rob'd his mother verse 24 Judg. XVII 1 2. And Absalom did his father of his crown proud heart Chap. XIII 10. verse 25 through haughtinesse and ambition thinking great thoughts of himself and nothing too good for himself not enduring to be crossed in the least Esay II. 11 12 13. trust in the Lord 1 Tim. VI. 6. That which would break a proud mans heart will not break an humble mans sleep giveth Chap. XIX 17. verse 27 See there Chap. XXII 9. and chap. XXIX 7. 2 Cor. IX 6 7. Deut. XV. 8 10. Matth. V. 42. and chap. X. 42. Luke VI. 35. Esay LVIII 7. Eccles. XI 1 2. Job XXIX 16. and Ch. XXXI 16 20. hardeneth his neck Esay XLVIII chapter XXIX verse 1 4. Jer. VII 26. and chap. XVII 23. Neh. IX 16 17. Acts VII 51. There is much complaint of it and exhortation against it Without remedie 2 Chron. XXXVI 13 16. Remedilesse sinning brings remedilesse destruction Gods wrath shall shatter into shivers Esay XXX 13 14. such a sinner as will needs stand and stout it out with him a snare That strangles his joy verse 6 checks and choaks all his comforts that his jollitie is but the counterfeit and hypocrisie the mask of mirth chap. V. 22. and XIV 13. Eccles. VII 6. Guilt within makes his heart ake and quake when his face and forehead faines a smile righteous sing Righteousnesse carries joy and comfort in its own mouth in the deed-doing that peace and joy Phil. IV. 7. Rom. XV. 13. even in tribulations chap. V. 3. 2 Cor. VII 4. scornful men Being proud verse 8 and contentious bring mischiefs upon the stage a Citie into a snare set all on fire But wise men of a milder temper turne away the wrath of God and man Job XXII 30. Psal. CVI. 23. Exod. XXXII 10. Gen. XVIII 32. whether he rage or laugh He the fool or he verse 9 the wise man as some sense the words there will be no quiet and that through the fooles fault he as a foul stomack will turne good nourishment it self into vitious humours Luke VII 30. The blood-thirsty hate As being enemies to them verse 10 and their bloodinesse his soul The soul of the upright yea of his enemies all his minde Hath no command of himself verse 11 specialy when he is angry yea or in his foolish jollitie till Due season and occasion all his servants They will be fit helves for such hatchets verse 12 fit lettice for such lips to humour them and ingratiate themselves They take their Rulers as Looking-glasses wherein and whereby they dress themselves wicked are multiplied 1 Sam. XXIV 13. verse 16 the sluce and flud-gate of transgression is then set loose and of it self will make an inundation see their fall Psal. LVIII 10 11. and Psal. XXXVII 36. and XCI 8. no vision As 1 Sam. III. 1. verse 18 2 Chron. XV. 3. Hos. IV. 6. Psal. LXXIV 9. Matth. IX 36. And so in time of Popery when Preaching failed and the Scripture was not read Keepeth Doth not only hear but practise James I. 22. Luke XI 28. John XIII 17. So on chap. XIX 16. A servant will not Some such there are verse 19 Luke XII 47. Exod. XXI 20 21 26 27. Ephes. VI. 5. sonne at the length And turne young master verse 21 so ungratefuly abusing himself and his masters goodnesse to him An angry man See on chap. XXII 24. verse 22 pride Chap. XV. 33. verse 23 and XVIII 12. Job XXII 29. Luke XIV 11. Matth. XXIII 12. partner Chap. I. 10 13 14. Psal. L. 18. Apoc. XVIII 4. Ephes. V. 7 11. verse 24 and IV. 8. fear of man Apoc. XXI 8. cowes a man both to sinnes verse 25 and sufferings where it prevailes above the fear of God So even in Abraham Peter and others trusteth Esay XXXIII 15. and chap. XL. 30 31. the Rulers favour Chap. XIX 6. from the Lord. Who ruleth verse 26 and over-ruleth the Ruler chap. XXI 1. and orders every mans state and condition of life This Chapter is not Solomons chapter XXX But in this are the words of Agur some man famous in his time for wisdome his words unto his disciples or friends Ithiel and Ucal Or here is a Comportation and Collection of Agurs wise sayings and Sentences though none of all their names mentioned in the first verse are found elsewhere
Vanitie of vanities He resumes and concludes his main Text verse 8 ater his large demonstration of it by so many convincing arguments the Preacher was wise And moreover verse 9 because he knew how hard it is to work man to a firme belief of this maxime That all these earthly things are but vanity he heaps up in these few words of his conclusion many cogent arguments yet more to re-inforce the same from his own wisdome from his care to teach the knowledge of this principal lesson his heed his search his ordering of it and other Proverbs from the delight and acceptablenesse of it from the uprightnesse and truth of it All which as they may relate to his teaching and writing in general so more specialy to the subject matter of this Book The words of the wise In this verse Solomon riseth higher verse 11 and comes up to the praise of the words of the wise in general which is most appliable to the Word of God in the Scripture the praise is from their power and efficacie they are as Goads as Nailes And from their Authority fastened â—d managed by the Masters of Assemblies the Preachers and Ministers And the Word and they both given from one Shepheard the great Shepheard of the Sheep the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet some would make this understanding of this verse That the Authors of these Collections compiled them together into one body under the name of Solomon guided thereunto and so given by and from Zerubbabel by these and by no other verse 12 no humane and vaine words or writings Psal. XIX 11. These are sufficient Some conceit that Zerubbabel speaks thus to Abihud Many books This most true in this age if not more then any other But these many in comparison of the Scriputure may well be called wast-papers And much study in them is a wearinesse of the flesh The Conclusion of the whole matter let us hear The first word of this verse verse 13 rendered Conclusion is written in the Original with an extraordinary big letter to put an extraordinary mark of Attention upon it The meaning of the words of this and the last verse need no Explanation THE Song of Solomon A Song it is as the title bears Not an Historie or a Prophecie which conceit while some have fancied to themselves to maintain the same they have been driven in their Expositions forcibly as it were to ravish the Text and to fall into sundry I might say ridiculous singularities and absurdities It is the Song of Songs the chiefest of his 1005. Songs 1 Kings IV. 32. the most excellent of all others and that for Expressions Mysteries Purity and Holinesse but most for the Subject and Matter of it which is sublime divine and Evangelical It is all a continued Allegorie full of Obscurities as is confessed by all somewhat the harder to understand by reason of so many diversities of understandings somewhat the more difficult because we meet here with diverse Hebrew words which are not found in the Scripure besides It is all mystical as many words almost so many Mysteries As is likewise said of the Apocalypse And the Jewes hereupon are said to forbid the reading of this Book among them till they came to thirty years of age Yet it appears to be an Epithalamium a marriage-Song a Song of Loves Penned by Solomon it seemes in his younger years and best times not long after his marriage with Pharaohs daughter whereunto he may haply allude in this Song and long before his foul falls in his old age But yet a greater then Solomon is here Here is Christ the true Solomon the Bridegroome and his Church the Spouse Here between them is set down all Rhetorick of Love pathetical Compellations affectionate Elogies Passionate Expressions all here pure and spiritual in this Celestial Poem Here is nothing of Temporal Carnal or worldly mixture in it The flowers and ornaments of Language in the Praises of Both are not applicable to bodily or natural beauties but to spiritual and supernatural Here is hidden Manna sancta sanctis Pearls are not for swine Here Solomon rips up and rifles as it were all the rarities of Nature to describe his sacred and supernatural mysteries Yea such is the matchlesse riches and sweetnesse of this Poem and the subject of it that though the storehouse of the whole world from both her spheres contribute to it yet all is not sufficient The richest earthly things are but grosse and sensible illustrations of spiritual Majesty and glory They can serve but as mystical representations as Emblemes as Hieroglyphiks as Manuductions and Perspectives to Grace and Glory Here between Christ and his Church are interchangings of mutual Praises Gloriations and Congratulations of Zealous spiritual longings and breathings of Loves and Vowes and Joyes of acclamations attestations and administrations His divine and glorious excellencies in himself and rich bounties and blessings to her and her precious heavenly graces and endowments ornaments and priviledges by him in an high character in lofty and stately sayings and similies are portraied and laid out to the life by her and by him And yet withal her failings and recoveries and his withdrawings thereupon and returnings are not omitted And lastly she being never satisfied with his Love out of the unquenchable flame of her affection she doth beg still a more intimate Union and communion with him and a perpetual fruition of him for her self and for all her members that yet knew him not And that he would hasten his last coming for the full finishing of all and her enjoyment of him in Vision Beatifical in the Life of Glory In all these Interlocutions betwixt them she speaking nine times He seven times And both joyntly together the same things as in a Chorus two times In a word There are such divine raptures as are able to fire the holy affections of the sons of men Let him kisse me chapter I verse 2 c. The speech of the Church the Spouse to Christ the Bridegroom to the 8. ver set forth in her wishes of his love in expressions of the worth of it of his sweet smelling graces and the powerful vertue of them in her and in others in his rich and gracious provisions for her in her Vindication of her own deformities and defects against the envious and uncharitable censures of others concerning her and in petitioning him for further counsel and direction If thou know not c. Christ his Reply verse 8 in the four next verses granting her last request with gracious and great commendations of her and rich promises made unto her While the King c. The Church in this verse 12 and the next verse returnes the fruits of Christs love and bounty magnifying by similies his gracious goodnesse to her and declaring what her cate shall be to keep and indeere him to her Behold thou art fair Christ here in this verse 15 and the next verse congratulates his Church Praysing again and so
desire after Christ is exalted to the highest as the grave Which is never satisfied and filled Prov. XXX 16. coales of fire Luke XII 49. This was her fever and sicknesse in this Song She was carried up as it were in a Chariot of fire and consumed as it were in her love towards Christ in the zeale of it Psalme LIX 9. and CXIX 139. See 2 Cor. V. 13. Not lukewarme she Many waters verse 7 c. As no good can match it so no evil can over-match it Nay the floods of afflictions are so farre from drowning this Love that they do rather inflame and increase it as the water that is cast upon lime Rom. VIII 35. all the substance of his house To buy this love of me or to get it from me or to bribe and corrupt it Yea his house it self lands life and all utterly oontemned As Acts VIII 20. Phil. III. 8. Matth. X. 37. Luke XIV 26. IX 24. we have a little sister Thou Lord and I have such a one verse 8 meaning the Church of the Gentiles so thy holy Prophets have foretold me So as this continues to be the speech of the Church or of them both no breast Not marriagable yet immature yet As once the Church of the Jews also was Ezek. XVI 7 8. What shall we do Love is laborious Sichem will do all that can be done for his beloved Dinah So Paul for the Jewes Rom. IX 1 2 3. True Love is not in word only but in deed John XIV 15. when she shall be spoken for For her good and advancement for to have an husband Gal. IV. 4. Rom. XVI 25. If she be a wall The answer to the foresaid question verse 9 Parabolical very obscure and difficult Yet seems plaine in this that Christ and the Jewish Church are contriving here and mentioning some good which they purpose to do to their sister the Church of the Gentiles That in nothing they will be wanting unto her but in love provide and do all for her that they can in her respective conditions If she be a wall strong and well-grounded Or when she shall be so we will do thus and thus for her Or they will make her a Wall first and afterwards enlarge her pulling down that partition-wall which formerly was between Jew and Gentile and then making a new wall larger and able to comprehend both Jew and Gentile We will build We both yea the whole blessed Trinity will have an hand in building the Church of the Gentiles a palace of silver A royal precious Palace that she may beseeme to be the City of the great King Psal. XLVIII 2. and if she be a doore Or when she shall be a doore to open to the righteous Nation c. Esay XXVI 2. to open to the faithful Ministers 1 Cor. XVI 9 that come to build her for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. II. 22. to open to the King of glory Psal. XXIV 7. And thus become as it were the gate of heaven as Gen. XXVIII 17. enclose her with boarde of Cedar Board her and beautifie her with faire sweet and strong Cedars Compasse her with my everlasting mercies and preserve her walls and her gates that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against her Esay XXVI 1. and LX. 18. Matth. XVI 18. I am a wall Saith this Church of the Gentiles verse 10 answering that in the former verse Or when I shall so be as I desire to be and my breasts like towers Not as once without breasts verse 8. but now as Ezek. XVI 7. yea beyond those of my elder sister new like towers farre greater then those See Esay XLIX 21. and LIV. 1. and LX. 4 8. and LXVI 8. then was I c. Or then shall I be c. Here is the effect and issue of her being built up through Christ. For when God shall have united these two sticks Ezek. XXXVII 19. And made way for those Kings of the earth Apoc. XVI 12. then it shall be said of both what hath God wrought as Num. XXIII 23. then she shall be neare her compleat happinesse her heavenly and everlasting peace And all this through the free favour and meere mercy of God in Christ. Solemon had a vineyard This verse 11 and the two next evrses are the last speech of Christ to and of his Spouse in this Song Wherein he magnifies the price and praise the precious fruitfulnesse and worth of his Church by the comparison of a Vineyard the best of Vineyard even Solomons in Baalhamon a very fruitful place a Lord of multitudes of wine as the word signifieth And yet is that far short of Christs Vineyard he let out c. Solomon set and let out his to keepers and farmers every one Every Tenant and Keeper for his share a thousand pieces of silver See Esay VII 23 a thousand Vines for a thousand silverlings Every keeper then likely had so much ground as would plant a thousand Vines And wonderful then was the fruitfulnesse and increase that would raise the rent to so high a rate Of silverlings and shekels See the Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. My vineyard The Church often called a Vineyard verse 12 Esay V. 1 7. Psal. LXXX 8. Here is the other part of the comparison the difference between Christs Vineyard and that of Solomons This superiour to that which is mine He ownes it And it is his by a manifold right of donation purchase conquest plantation preservation fructification 1 Pet. I. 18. 1 Cor. III. 7. is before me Ever in his sight dear and tender in his eyes He is alwayes with his Church Matth. XXVIII 20. He walks among her candlesticks having engraven her upon the palms of his hands and her walls being continualy before him Esay XLIX 16. and under his constant never-slumbring charge and protection ch XXVII 3. Thou O Solomon Solomon could not be ever with his Vineyard nor dresse it himself But the Keepers and Tenants must have their share of the fruits of it to themselves as good reason they should But I look to my Vineyard my self 1 Cor. III. 7 9. Nor suffer I any part of the profits to go from me Thou that dwellest verse 13 c. Thou Church here called the inhabitresse of the gardens because she is divided and branched into many particular Congregations which are no lesse delightful to him then so many Edens and Paradises the companions The Angels say some Eph. III. 10. 1 Cor. XI 10. 1 Pet. I. 10. Or rather Those Partakers of the same precious faith and grace with her self 2 Pet. I. 1. hearken to thy voice Thine obedient children will hearken to their mothers counsel Ier. XIII 15 16. set to their seals Iohn III. 33. glorifie the Word Acts XIII 48. cause me to hear it Chap. II. 14. In holy exercises preaching prayer conference c. uttered by the Spirit of grace and supplication Or as some cause them to hear me by thy preaching
preached much in this Galilee also Matth. IV. 2 13 18 24. The Evangelist cites this text Matth. IV. 15 16. and picks out only so much as did concerne his present purpose and applies it thereunto The people In those places on which the darknesse of affliction had first seized in those times There the spiritual light of joy and life had by our Saviours preaching first sprung forth He includes here the lower Galilee in the tribe of Zebulun hath seene He speaketh in prophetical maner of things to come as already effected Thou Speaking to God verse 3 hast multiplied Wilt multiply The Prophet runs all along here in a prophetical straine the Nation The Jewish Nation in the dayes of the Messias by the confluence of the Gentiles of all Nations and not increased the joy Read this interrogatively and so it makes a strong affirmative Or thus Thou hast increased the joy to him or it that is to the Nation They joy before thee And the greatnesse of their joy is amplified by two similitudes For thou hast broken One reason of their joy verse 4 Midian Chap. X. 26. Judges VII For every battel c. Or verse 5 to be rendered thus When the whole battel of those that were in battel was with clashing of armes and rayment rolled in gore blood which by burning became food for the fire Thus it was in the Midianites Camp a childe is borne Who it is verse 6 and what maner of person by whom all that hath beene said shall be effected Emmanuel the Vigins Son Unto us And for us The Lord sent a word After these comfortable Promises interlaced verse 8 for the stay of the faithful the Prophet here returnes again torelate th calamities that should for their excesse of sin and obstinacie therein befall the people of Israel and the Syrian King their confederate hath lighted Shall light adversaries of Rezin The Assyrians verse 11 against him Against Rezin his enemies Israels enemies Under the Assyrian afterwards Or rather these enemies are the Assyrians and Philistines ver 12. Thy Syrians The Syrians verse 12 being now subdued by the Assyrian shall now as his subjects come under his conduct and command cut off By Shalmanazer and rush 2 Kings XVII 6 23 24. verse 14 an hypocrite Or rather prophane verse 17 no man shall spare his brother But plunder and spoile one another verse 19 Jer. XIX 9. his owne arme Prey and devour the substance of those that are nearest unto them Manasse Ephraim The Israelites one against another and they together Both of them against Judah Woe Here is a further charge chapter X verse 1 with a denunciation annexed to it against Israel Though some would apply it to Judah What will ye do verse 3 c As Matth. XXIII 33. Rom. II. 3. Job XXXI 14 23. from far From the Assyrian without me verse 4 c. What will ye do then or to whom will ye flee for help ye shall by no shift be able to escape either to be taken prisoners or be put to the sword O Assyrian Here might best beseeme this Chapter to begin verse 5 God purposing to use the Assyrian as the rod of his anger against his people doth here for the support and comfort of his faithful ones insert a denunciation of destruction to befall him afterwards and a gracious promise of deliverance of his people from him Oâ— the Assyrians see the Observations on 1 Chron. V. 26. Is not Calno c. Cities here mentioned verse 9 were near Euphrates As I have done unto Samaria The successe of his predecessors verse 11 Tiglath-Pileser and Shalman-Eser against Samaria Sennacherib here takes to himself I will punish Chap. verse 12 XXXVII 23 29 36 37 38. egges that are left The dam forsaking them for fear verse 14 his fat ones leannesse Among the chief and choise ones in his armies verse 16 upon his hoasts verse 17 God will send a consumption And the light of Israel shall be for a fire A light to his people a fire to his adversaries in one day Chap. XXXVII 36. stay upon him that smote them The Assyrian verse 20 a remnant As but a remanant only of Sennacheribs armie verse 22 thy people Israel As God speaking to the Prophet or rather thy people O Israel speaking so to Jacob of his posterity yet a remnant And but a remnant only Alluding again to Shearjashubs name See Rom. IX 27 29. and XI 5. That remnant being a type of Gods elect the consumption decreed The reason why but a remnant Therefore Comforts the few faithful ones verse 24 and as his rod was upon the sea verse 26 so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt As God destroyed the Egyptians then so he will the Assyrians now Allusion is here had to Moses his lifting up his rod over the red-sea because of the anointing Christ the anointed verse 27 He is come The Prophet here describes the Progresse of Sennacherib with his armie verse 28 through Benjamin whereunto most of the townes here mentioned did appertaine to and against Jerusalem as if he plainly beheld it in a prophetical rapture and vision They are gone over the passage Not of Jordan verse 29 but the straits between the hills near Michmash 1 Sam. XIII 23. and XIV 1 4 5. Gallim 1 Sam. XXV verse 30 44. top the bough The chief and principal in Sennacheribs armie verse 33 and Lebanon shall fall The Assyrian King is called a Cedar of Lebanon verse 34 Ezek. XXXI 3. And Carmel though a mount of Israel is in this very argument applied to him and his forces verse 18. These then may resemble other great States Persons and People as well as those of the Jewes And therefore by the tenure of the context Lebanon here is no other then the Assyrian vast host by a mighty one An Angel chap. XXXVII 36. And there shall come Here chapter XI verse 1 as usualy upon occasion of particular great deliverances the Prophet riseth higher and proceeds unto that spiritual deliverance of the Church by the Messias at his coming This temporal being a kinde of type of that spiritual And withal it shews a reason why it was said for the anointing chap. X. 27. Here then in this Chapter we have Christ the Messias prophesied of and described by his descent and meane appearance and low condition in our humane nature the meane estate his parents were then brought unto his transcendent excellencies and endowments by meanes whereof he should be enabled to effect and accomplish such strange and unheard of archievements as are herein mentioned and particulatly the Calling of the Gentiles second time As formerly out of Egypt verse 11 to recover Into his possession againe the remnant A small parcel See chap. X. 22. of his people The Jewes distinguished from those ver 10. See Apoc. VII 4 9. from Assyria c. And other forreigne places here mentioned where they were scattered for the Nations Or verse 12
could descry And for him to relate what himself in Vision had seene as chap. VI. 1. For this seemes to be done in a Vision as that 1 Kings XXII 17 19 22. â—earkened diligently with much heed A through watch-master verse 7 A Lion Viz. leads them Or rather verse 8 he cried loud as a Lion by his hideous noise expressing much fear and terror my Lord I stand That watchmans words professing his constant vigilancie here cometh Even now are gone into Babylon verse 9 speaking as a thing suddenly done the issue of what he had hitherto so vigilantly expected Babylon is fallen God himself expounding more fully to the Prophet what this apparition all tended to O my threshing My threshed ones verse 10 saith the Prophet my afflicted ones though not by me that which I have heard Foreseene and foreshewed is no dreame or relation of my own devising but what by revelation I have received from God As 1 Cor. XI 23. Dumah In Arabia say some Edome say others Another Prophecie verse 11 short and sharp obscure and difficult wrapt up in two verses He calleth to me out of Seir Seir so called from Seir the Horite Gen. XXXVI 20. in whose race it continued untill the Edomites or posterity of Esau thence expelled them Deut. II. 12. Watchman what of the night Either in a scoffing way Or rather implying a distracting and hazardous condition of those by whom they were uttered unto whomsoever they were directed What of the night or in the night Or concerning the night hast thou seene and observed The night of black affliction that at the present lay heavie upon them they seeme to enquire of The watchman said As by Divine Oracle verse 12 The morning cometh either a faire morning as ye suppose having shaken off that yoake wherewith Jacobs issue kept you under Gen. XXVII 40. Yet this faire morning should not last long In issue this morning should be such a morning as shall afford you no light or comfort at all and also the night Cometh A night of calamitie and misery will by the Assyrians ere long seize upon you worse then the Israelitish yoak And this as sure as night succeedeth day If ye will enquire Not scoffingly but seriously do it then with all earnest eager and ardent inquisition returne come Returne to God Come to his People upon Arabia Another Prophecie verse 13 Of Arabia see the Annotations here They did wander up and down and did pitch in tents chap. XIII 20. The Arabians were neere the Egyptians 2 Chron XXI 16. Mount Sinai was in it Gal. IV. 25. Paul went into it Gal. I. 17. Solomon had yearly gold from all the Kings of it 1 Kings X. 15. They traded with Tyre in Lambs and Rams and Goats Ezek. XXVII 21. They brought Jehoshaphat presents flocks 7700. Rams and 7700. He Goats 2 Chron. XVII 11. But they rose up against his sonne Jehoram in battel and their camp slew all his eldest sonnes save onely the youngest 2 Chron. XXI 16. and XXII 1. In Uzziah's time God helped him against them 2 Chron. XXVI 7. Nebuchadnezzar subdued them Jer. XXV 24. Yet afterwards in Nehemiah's time they eagerly endeavoured to hinder him in the building of the walls of Jerusalem Neh. II. 19. and IV. 7 8. In the forrest Leaving their abode in the champion they should be driven to seek shelter in the Woods See Jer. XLIX 28 29. O ye travelling companies of Dedanim A people of Arabia descended from Dedan one of Abrahams sonnes by Keturah Gen. XXV 3. These travelling companies are like those Gen. XXXVII 25 28. We now call them Caravans Tema Another people of Arabia verse 14 of Ismaels race Gen. XXV 15. Arabia had in it a mingled people See Jer. XXV 23 24. Job VI. 19. This intimated unto the Temanites what distresse their Countreymen of other parts of Arabia should be brought unto For they fled It was no groundlesse feare that makes them flee thus verse 15 within a yeare A shorter time that assigned to the Moabites verse 16 chap. XVI 14. Or that to the Egyptians and Ethiopians joyntly together chap. XX. 3. the Assyrian falling in upon these parts of Arabia before those other of the other Countries an hireling Which reckons his year accurately Kedar The sonne of Ishmael Gen. XXV 13. Another people of Arabia They and their Princes also occupied with Tyre in Lambs and Rams and Goats Ezek. XXVII 21. They also dwelled in tents and therefore called Scenites which they were wont to remove from place to place to procure change of pasture for their cattel See Psal. CXX 5. Cant. I. 5. Nebuchadnezzar did smite them Jer. XLIX 28. Yet in the dayes of the Gospel they should be converted unto Christ Esay XLII 11. and chap. LX. 7. valley of Vision Judah chapter XXII verse 1 and Jerusalem ver 4 8 10. Ierusalem and Iudea were full of mountains and consequently of Valleys And the Patriarchs and Prophets had therein many Visions from God What aileth thee now In this distresse by Sennacherib in the dayes of Ezekiah Rather then that by Nebuchadnezzar house tops To lament or look about for help c. not slaine with the sword But verse 2 as it were stark dead with fear ere they came to any fight they are bound by the archers Or verse 3 from the bowe Their hands are so restrained and tied up with extremity of fear that they are not able to manage and make use of their bowes Or they are bound and captived by the archers of the enemies of crying to the mountains So loud verse 5 as will cause the mountains to ring againe with it Or so making to the mountains for shelter and safeguard Elam Under the Assyrian verse 6 fighting in his army Kir A Citie in Media and under the dominion then of the Assyrian 2 Kings XVI 9. Amos I. 5. thou didst look About thee verse 8 and bestir thee in that day When the Countrey was full of forreigne forces to the house of the forrest The name of an armory situate within Jerusalem Most likely that which Solomon built and called the house of the forrest of Lebanon 1 Kings VII 2. See the Observations there of the lower poole See the Observations on Neh. verse 9 III. 1. between the two walls See 2 Chron. XXXII 5. Jer. XXXIX 4. for to morrow we shall die Either desperately verse 13 or rather thus mocking the threatnings of the Prophets revealed The Lord of Hoasts did in my hearing reveale himself verse 14 saying c. Shebna He was a rotten-hearted man and one that had much abused his power verse 15 being in likelihood of meane parentage and it may be a stranger by descent See ver 16. and chap. XXXVI 3. He is called the Scribe or Secretarie 2 Kings XVIII 18. Here over the house as high Steward Wherein Eliakim succeeded He was one of the three sent out to Rabshake and will surely cover thee With shame and sorrow verse 17 As Ester
from the enemies verse 8 undertaking to secure them and make them successeful against all that should oppose them whom I have taken Abram from Ur of the Chaldees verse 9. 15. Sharp threshing instrument To thresh the mountains even thy greatest enemies I will open rivers Rather then my people shall want meanes of comfortable subsistance verse 18 the Cedar verse 19 c. God will by his providence and provision so accommodate them as if such things had been done Produce your cause God challengeth the Idolaters to produce the strongest pleas they can verse 21 in the behalf of their Idols and to prove the truth of their religion by producing the like works foretold first and effected afterwards by their Idols to those of his before mentioned when they shall see them accomplished and withal so long foretold from the North Cyrus verse 25 who was a Medo-Persian Media lying more Northerly and Persia more Easterly ver 2. He brought people and forces from both parts against Babylon shall he call upon my Name Or proclaime my name Ezra I. 1 2. who hath declared Which of your Idols verse 26 from the beginning Of old time near two hundred years before it shall come to passe he is righteous That so he may be rightly called a God The first shall say Or verse 27 I say first to Zion I am the first that signified ought to Zion concerning her deliverance or the destruction of Babylon and the persons by whom these should be effected which none of your Idols could do ver 26. amongst them Their Idols verse 28. 29. all vanity The conclusion of and against their Idols Another Sermon chapter XLII in this and the three Chapters following which are much of one Subject with the former Foretelling the Blessings that God would confer upon his people partly by Cyrus and principaly by Christ Discovering the vanity of Idols and sottishnesse of Idolaters Taxing his people for their incredulity blindnesse excesses and obstinacie the causes of their captivity and yet Promising pardon and restitution upon their sincere repentance my servant Christ the Messias verse 1 Matth. XII 14 18 19 20. Some weakly and in a low degree make also application of this and what follows to Cyrus in some sort herein as a Type of Christ. thee My Sonne verse 6. 8. the Messias neither my praise to graven Images By my failings in my Predictions and promises of the rock sing Of Petra verse 11. 13. the chief Citie of Arabia chap. XVI 1. The Lord shall go forth To warre against the enemies of his people I have The words of God himself verse 14 He long restrained his wrath but now will hasten the execution of it and lay desolate the whole Countrey of Chaldea and of those that were adjacent and adjutant to it the rivers Islands It was so done by Cyrus verse 15 in the siege of Babylon And I will bring the blinde Partly true verse 16 in the returne of the Jewes out of the Babylonish Captivity more true spiritualy in the Conversion of Jew and Gentile to grace in the Kingdome of Christ under the Gospel Hear ye deaf Jewes verse 18 of whom many still continued such notwithstanding all that God had said and done and they had heard and seene who is blinde A reason why he gave his own people those titles verse 19 ver 18. because they deserved them as well yea rather then any other as he that is perfect Should be so and hath best means to be so opening the eares In shew at least verse 20. 21. listening he will magnifie his Law He is pleased to magnifie his Law as well by execution of justice upon the transgressors of it as by making good his Promises unto those that observe it Or he magnified and dignified him with his Law But this is a people After all those favours and honours conferred upon them verse 22 yet see what calamities and miseries are befallen them for their sins will give eare to this To amend verse 23 and grow wiser for time to come laid it not to heart Their extreme stupidity verse 25 even in their present afflictions But now though a great part of my people continue still thus obstinate and impenitent chapter XLVIII verse 1 yet I will have care of my chosen ones among them whom I will protect in all dangers and in due time restore I gave Egypt for thy ransom Exod. verse 3 XIV 20 38. and XV. 9 10. Ethiopia and Seba for thee 2 Chron. XIV 9 15. bring thy seed by Cyrus temporaly verse 5. 8. by Christ spiritualy Bring forth the blinde people challenging the Gentiles who were blinde and deaf as their idols to see if they can yet produce ought in defence of their idols ver 9. who among them which of their idols could foretel those verse 9 or the like things It is truth that the Lord alone is the true God and they all but base idols ye are my witnesses ye my people verse 10 speaking thus to them that had plentiful and pregnant proofs of his divine power and providence and my servant the Messias and in some degree Cyrus that I am he the onely true God ver 12. whose cry is in the ships verse 14 They wanting water by Cyrus his draynings to carry them in their flight away Or they cry to the ships to the ships for safety as chap XXII 5. to the hils to the hils Yet some translate thus the Chaldeans together with their choise ships which they vaunt of which maketh a way in the sea Red-Sea verse 16. 17. and Jordan Chariot Pharaoh and his armie they shall lie together In the bottome of the Sea Exod. XV. 10. Remember ye not the fermer things in comparison of the New verse 18 the deliverance by Cyrus but principaly and spiritualy by Christ. I will even make a way I will fit verse 19 and furnish them in the way as they shall returne from Babylon they shall shew forth my praise Or at least should verse 21 It was their duty But thou Hast not beene so careful to worship me verse 22 But hast been weary of me and my service me But Idols verse 23 and strange gods I have not caused thee Not I but thine Idols have made thee at so much cost with them tyring thee out as a slave to them with such services But thou hast Hitherto of their Failings verse 24 now of their Faults And all this to shew that the deliverance of them from their thraldome was of his own free favour and mercie not for any merit of desert of theirs as in the two next verses Thy first father Or forefathers verse 27 and not you alone have sinned And therefore no cause in your selves or them why I should do you so great a favour as this is yet now Notwithstanding all their sinnes chapter XLVI verse 1 and his judgements and chastisements yet he would now at length relieve and refresh them restore them and cause