as appears both from the example of the Lord Jesus who lived and died in an unmarried state and from his commendation of those who made themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of God Matth. 19. 12. And from St. Pauls approbation of Virginity 1 Cor. 7. 1 8 26 27 32 c. 3. It is here rather a promise or benediction than a command as appears both from v. 22. where the same words are applyed to the brute Beasts who are not subject to a command and because if this were a command it would equally oblige every man to exercise dominion over Fishes and Fowls c. which is absurd It is therefore a permission rather than a command though it be expressed in the form of a command as other permissions frequently are as Gen. 2. 16. Deut. 14. 4. and subdue it and have dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Fowl of the Air and over every living thing that †Heb. creepeth moveth upon the Earth 29. ¶ And God said Behold I have given you every Herb †Heb. Seeding Seed bearing seed which is upon the face of all the Earth and every Tree in the which is the fruit of a Tree yielding Seed * Chap. 9. 3. to you it shall be for meat q It is neither affirmed nor denied that Flesh also was granted to the first men for food and therefore we may safely be ignorant of it It is sufficient for us that it was expresly allowed Gen. 9. 3. 30. And to every Beast of the Earth and to every Fowl of the †Heb. Heaven Air and to every thing that creepeth upon the Earth wherein there is †Heb. Living Soul Life I have given every green Herb for meat And it was so 31. And God saw every thing that he had made And behold it was very good And the Evening and the Morning were the sixth day CHAP. II. 1. THus the Heavens and the Earth were finished and * Psal. 3. 6. all the Host of them a All the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are called their Hosts for their multitude variety order power and subjection to the Lord of Hosts Particularly the Host of Heaven in Scripture which is its own best interpreter signifies both the Stars as Deut. 4. 19. 17. 3. Esa. 34. 4. and the Angels as 1 Kings 22. 9. 2 Chron. 18. 18. Luke 2. 13. Who from these words appear to have been Created within the compass of the first six days which also is probable from Col. 1. 16 17. But it is no wonder that the Scripture saith so little concerning Angels because it was written for the use of men not of Angels and God would hereby take us off from curious and impertinent speculations and teach us to employ our thoughts about necessary and useful things 2. * Exod. 20. 11. 31. 17. Deut. 5. 14. Heb. 4. 4. And on the seventh day God ended b Or rather had ended or finished for so the Hebrew word may be rendred as all the Learned know and so it must be rendred else it doth not agree with the former chapter which expresly saith that all these works were done within six days his work which he had made And he rested c Not for his own need and refreshment for he is never weary Esa. 40. 28. But for our example and instruction that we might keep that day as a day of Religious rest on the seventh day from all his work which he had made 3. And God Blessed the seventh day d By conferring special Honours and Priviledges upon it above all other days that it should be a day of solemn rest and rejoycing and celebration of God and his Works and a day of Gods bestowing singular and the best blessings upon his Servants and Worshippers and sanctified it e Separated it from common use and worldly employments and consecrated it to the Worship of God that it should be accounted an Holy day and spent in Holy works and solemn exercises of Religion Some conceive that the Sabbath was not actually blessed and sanctified at and from this time but only in the days of Moses which they pretend to be here related by way of anticipation But this opinion hath no foundation in the Text or context but rather is confuted from them for as soon as the sacred Penman had said that God had ended his work and rested c he adds immediately in words of the same tense that God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it And if we compare this place with Exod. 20. we shall find that Moses there speaks of Gods blessing and sanctifying of the Sabbath not as an action then first done but as that which God had done formerly upon the Creation of the World to the end that men might celebrate the praises of God for that glorious work which as it was agreeable to the state of innocency so was it no less proper and necessary a duty for the first ages of the World after the fall than it was for the days of Moses and for the succeeding Generations because that in it he had rested from all his Work ‖ Because he would have the memory of that glorious work of Creation from which he then rested preserved though all Generations which God * Heb. Created to make Josh. 22. 26. Heb. Created and made †Either 1. Created in making i. e. made by way of Creation Or rather 2. Created out of nothing and afterwards out of that Created matter made or formed divers things as the Beasts out of the Earth the Fishes out of the Water He useth these two words possibly to shew that Gods Wisdom Power and Goodness was manifest not only in that which he brought out of meer nothing but also in those things which he wrought out of matter altogether unfit for so great works 4. ¶ These f i. e. These things mentioned in the 1. chap. are the Generations g i. e. A true and full relation of their Generations i. e. Of their Original or Beginnings of the Heavens and of the Earth when they were Created in the day h Not strictly so called but largely taken for the time as it is v. 17. Ruth 4. 5. Luk. 19. 42. 2 Cor. 6. 2. that the LORD God made the Earth and the Heavens 5. And every Plant of the Field before it was in the Earth i i. e. When as yet there were no Plants nor so much as Seeds of them there and every Herb of the Field before it grew k To wit out of the Earth as afterwards they did by Gods appointment for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the Earth and there was not a man to till the ground l The two great means of the growth of Plants and Herbs viz. Rain from Heaven and the labour of Man were both lacking to shew that they were now brought forth by
Spiritual Promises and especially that of the Messiah coming out of his Loins and assuring it by a special Covenant Sealed by Circumcision the Church began now to take Root and to be imbodyed in Jacob's Family under the name of Israel and here God undertook the protection of his People and Worship by the visible presence of Christ her Head that Angel of the Covenant going continually with them Comforting and Defending them till they came into Aegypt where the Church continued until Joseph's Death where this Book ends CHAP. I. IN * 〈◊〉 â—…6 102. 〈◊〉 â—… 146. 6. 〈◊〉 24. Jer. 〈◊〉 51. 15. 〈◊〉 12. 1. Acts 〈◊〉 1â—… 17. 24. 〈◊〉 11. 3. the beginning a To wit Of Time and Things in the first place before things were distinguished and perfected in manner hereafter expressed Or the sense is this The beginning of the World was thus And this phrase further informeth us that the World and all things in it had a beginning and were not from Eternity as some Philosophers dreamed God Created b Made out of nothing the Heaven and the Earth c Either 1. The Heaven and Earth as now they are with their Inhabitants So this verse is a sum in or brief of what is particularly declared in the rest of this Chapter Or 2. The substance and common matter of Heaven and Earth Which seems more probable by comparing this verse with the next where the Earth here mentioned is declared to be without form and the Heavens without Light as also with Gen. 2. 1. Where the Heavens and the Earth here only said to be created are said to be finished or perfected Yet I conceive the third Heaven to be included under the Title of the Heaven and to have been created and perfected the first day together with its blessed Inhabitants the Holy Angels as may be collected from Iob 33. 6 7. But the Scripture being written for men and not for Angels the Holy Ghost thought it sufficient to comprehend them and their dwelling place under that general term of the Heavens and proceedeth to give a more particular account of the visible Heavens and Earth which were created for the use of man In the Hebrew it is The Heavens and the Earth For there are three Heavens mentioned in Scripture The Aereal the place of Birds Clouds and Meteors Matth. 26. 64. Rev. 19. 17. 20. 9. The Starry the Region of the Sun the Moon and Stars Gen. 22. 17. The highest or third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. the dwelling of the Blessed Angels 2. And the Earth e The same confused mass or heap is here called both Earth from its most solid and substantial part and the deep from its vast bulk and depth and Waters from its outward face and covering See Psal. 104. 6. 2 Pet. 3. 5. was without form and void f i. e. Without order and beauty and without furniture and use and darkness was upon the face g The surface or uppermost part of it upon which the light afterward shone Thus not the Earth onely but also the Heaven above it was without light as is manifest from the following verses of the deep and the Spirit of God h Not the Wind which was not yet Created as is manifest because the Air the Matter or Subject of it was not yet produced But the Third Person of the Glorious Trinity called the Holy Ghost to whom the work of Creation is attributed Iob 26. 13. as it is ascrib'd to the Second Person the Son Ioh. 1. 3. Col. 1. 16 17. Heb. 1. 3. and to the first Person the Father every where moved upon the face of the Waters * i. e. Upon the Waters To cherish quicken and dispose them to the production of the things after mentioned It is a Metaphor from Birds hovering and fluttering over and sitting upon their Eggs and young Oaes to cherish warm and quicken them 3. And God said i i. e. Commanded not by such a word or speech as we use which agreeth not with the spiritual nature of God but either by an act of his powerful will called the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. Or by his substantial Word his Son by whom he made the Worlds Heb. 1. 2. Psal. 33. 6. who is called The Word partly if not principally for this reason Iohn 1. 1 2 3. 10. * 2 Cor. 4. 6. Let there be Light And there was Light k Which was some bright and lucid Body peradventure like the fiery Cloud in the Wilderness giving a small and imperfect Light successively moving over the several parts of the Earth and afterwards condensed encreased perfected and gathered together in the Sun 4. And God saw l i. e. Observed with approbation the Light that it was good m i. e. Pleasant and amiable agreeable to Gods purpose and mans use and God divided †Heb. Between the Light and between the Darkness the Light from the Darkness n Made a distinction or separation between them in place time and use that the one should succeed and shut out the other and so by their vicissitudes make the day and the night 5. And God called the Light Day and the Darkness he called Night †Heb and the Evening was and the Morning was c. and the Evening and the Morning o It is acknowledged by all that the Evening and the Morning are not here to be understood according to our common usage but are put by a Synecdoche each of them for one whole part of the natural day But because it may be doubted which part each of them signifies some understand by Evening the foregoing day and by the Morning the foregoing night And so the natural day begins with the Morning or the light as it did with the antient Chaldeans Others by Evening understand the first night or darkness which was upon the face of the Earth ver 2. which probably continued for the space of about twelve hours the beginning whereof might fitly be called Evening and by Morning the succeeding light or day which may reasonably be supposed to continue the other twelve hours or thereabouts And this seems the truer opinion 1. Because the darkness was before the light as the Evening is put before the Morning v. 5 and 8. and afterwards 2. Because this best agrees both with the vulgar and with the Scripture use of the terms of Evening and Morning 3. Because the Jews who had best opportunity of knowing the mind of God in this matter by Moses and other succeeding Prophets begun both their common and sacred days with the Evening as is confessed and may be gathered from Levit. 23. 32. were the first day p Did constitute or make up the first Day Day being taken largely for the natural Day consisting of 24 hours These were the parts of the first Day and the like is to be understood of the succeeding days Moreover God who
1. there remained not so much as * Psal. 106. 11. one of them 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore n Which was done either 1. By the natural power of the Sea which casteth up its dead bodies after a certain time till which time God caused the Israelites to abide near the Sea that they might see this for their comfort Or. 2. By the mighty power of God which brought them and their arms too as many probably conceive to shore before the usual time Quest. How could the Israelites both they and their Cattle in so little time get over that great Sea Answ. 1. The Hebrew and some other interpreters deny that they went over and tell us that they onely went into the Sea and fetched a compass in it that they might allure the Egyptians to follow them and then by Moses his conduct returned to the Egyptian shore again The principal ground of which opinion is this that as they went into the Sea out of the Wilderness of Etham Exod. 13. 20. So they came again out of the Sea into the Wilderness of Etham Numb 33. 8. But the sameness of the name doth not prove that it is the same place nothing being more frequent in Scripture than for divers places to be called by one and the same name And the Israelites might possibly give the name of Etham to this Desert on the Arabian side of the Red-sea either for its great resemblance to that Desert so called on the Egyptian side or to intimate that God by dividing the Sea had made that and this to be one continued Desert Or the name of Etham might be common to all that Desert at the end of the Red-Sea and on both sides of it Answ. 2. They might all conveniently pass over the Sea to the Arabian shore in the time allowed for it either by the mighty power of God which could easily make both men and beasts to do it in much less than ordinary time or even by the ccurse of nature For that part of the Sea was not above eight or nine miles over as Geographers and others affirm And the time allotted for their passage seems to me to be much more than Interpreters have assigned for it For the Egyptians and Israelites were divided one from another by the cloudy pillar all the night ver 20. and a strong East wind blew all that night ver 21. The next morning as I apprehend it the Cloud still keeping between them and possibly covering the Egyptians with gross and horrible darkness which hindred their march the whole body of the Israelites and their Cattle too are drawn by Moses his direction near the shore and it may be the Cattle were put into the Sea all which might well take up most of that day then towards the evening they enter into the Sea and so proceed and the Cloud withdrawing further from the Egyptians and following the Israelites the Egyptians pursue after them and as it is very probable from the nature and reason of the thing stand debating some considerable time when they came to the shore whether they should venture to follow them into the Sea or no. At last the worst Counsel prevails as it general happens when a people are under a divine infatuation and into the Sea they go and by the beginning of the morning watch they draw near the Israelites when God seasonably appears for Israels succour and puts a stop to the march of the Egyptians So the morning-watch mentioned ver 24. I take to be not the morning watch of that night mentioned ver 20. 21. for all that night and therefore the morning watch of that night which was a third or at least a fourth part of it was now past and gone but the next morning-watch after that night and the succeeding day which seems much more reasonable then to shrink up the march first of the Israelites and then of the Egyptians into about three hours time which is the time between the midnight and the morning watch Nor is there any thing in the text which in the least contradicts this opinion but onely that this dayes interval and work is not mentioned in this story whereas such omissions are frequent in Scripture-relations in which the substance onely is mentioned and many circumstances omitted whereof we have seen some instances already and shall meet with many more hereafter 31 And Israel saw that great †Heb. hand work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians and the people feared the LORD and believed the LORD and his servant Moses CHAP. XV. 1 THen sang * Moses and the children of Israel 〈◊〉 1. 20. a Moses composed the Song and he together with the Israelites sung it this song unto the LORD b Unto the honour and praise of God and spake saying I will sing unto the LORD for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea 2 The LORD is my strength and * Deuâ—… 〈◊〉 21. Psal. 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 â—… and 109. 1. and 118. 14. Isa. 12. 2. song ‖ The matter or subject of the present song of praise and he is become my Salvation he is my God and I will prepare him an habitation c A place for his service and worship where he will dwell by his special presence my fathers God and I will exalt him 3 The LORD is a man of war d An eminent Warriour as the phrase is used 1 Sam. 17. 33. Thus an eloquent man is called a man of words Exod. 4. 10. and a mighty man a man of arm Iob 22. 8. the LORD is his Name 4 Pharaohs chariots and his host hath he cast e With great force like an Arrow out of a Bow as the Hebrew word signifies into the sea his chosen captains also are drowned in the red sea 5 The depths have covered them * Neh. 9. 11. they sank into the bottom as a stone 6 Thy right hand O LORD is become glorious in power thy right hand O LORD hath dashed in pieces the enemy 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency * By thy great and glorious power thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee thou sentest forth thy wrath which consumed them * Isa. 5. 24. 47. 14. as stubble †As easily and as speedily and as irrecoverably 8 * chap. 14. 21. Iob 4. 9. 2 Thes. 2. 8. And with the blast of thy nostrils ‖ Or of thine anger to wit that vehement East-wind ver 10. and chap. 14. 21. which was raised by thine anger in order to the ruine of thine Enemies the waters were gathered together the floods
that the Israelites beyond Iordan were Circumcised at the same time at the * Or Gibeah â—…aaraloth hill of the foreskins 4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise all the people that came out of Egypt m This is to be restrained to such as were then above 20 years old and such as were guilty of that rebellion Numb 14. as it is expressed below v. 6. that were males even all the men of war died in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt 5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt them they n Either their Parents or the Rulers of Israel whose omission hereof was not through neglect for then God who had ordered the neglecter of Circumcision to be cut off Gen. 17. 14. would not have left so gross a fault unpunished but by Divine Permission and Indulgence partly because they were now in a Journey in which case the Passover also might be neglected Numb 9. 10 13. and in that Journey the Passover was but once observed and partly because there was not so great a necessity of this note of Circumcision to distinguish them from other Nations whilest they dwelt alone and unmixed in the Wilderness as there was afterwards had not circumcised 6 For the Children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness till all the people o The Hebrew word commonly signifies the Gentiles so he calls them to note that they were unworthy of the name and priviledges of Israelites that were men of war which came out of Egypt were consumed because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD unto whom the LORD sware * Numb 14. 23. that he would not shew them p i. e. Not give them so much as a fight of it which he granted to Moses much less the possession and enjoyment of it Or shewing is put for giving as it is Psal. 4. 6. and 60. 3. Eccles. 2. 24. the land which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us a land that floweth with milk and honey 7 And their children whom he raised up in their stead them Joshua circumcised q Which God would have now done 1. as a Testimony of Gods reconciliation to the people of which circumcision was a sign and that God would not further impute their Parents Rebellions to them 2. Because the great impediment of Circumcision was now removed to wit their continued Travels and frequent and uncertain removal 3. To prepare them for the approaching Passover 4. To distinguish them from the Canaanites into whose land they were now come 5. To ratify the Covenant between God and them whereof Circumcision was a Sign and Seal to assure them that God would now make good his Covenant in giving them this Land and to oblige them to perform all the Duties and Services to which that Covenant bound them of which Circumcision was the beginning and foundation all which they were expresly enjoined to do as soon as ever they came into Canaan Exod. 12. 25. Levit. 23. 10. Numb 15. 2. for they were uncircumcised because they had not circumcised them by the way 8 And it came to pass * Heb. When all the people had made an end to be Circumcised when they had done circumcising all the people that they abode in their places in the camp till they * Heb. lived were whole r. q Free from that pain and sore which Circumcision caused Gen. 34. 25. It was indeed an act of great Faith to expose themselves to so much pain and danger too in this place where they were hemmed in by Iordan and their Enemies but yet they had many considerations to support their Faith and suppress their Fears the fresh experience of Gods power and readiness to work Miracles for their preservation the great consternation of all their Enemies which they might observe and rationally presume the considerable number of the people who were above 40 years old and therefore circumcised before this time their great General being one of this number the time it would require for their Enemies to bring together a force sufficient to oppose them 9 And the LORD said unto Joshua This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt s i. e. Uncircumcision which was both in Truth and in the opinion of the Iews a matter of great reproach Gen. 34. 14. 1 Sam. 14. 6. and 17. 26. And although this was a reproach common to most Nations of the World yet it is particularly called the reproach of Egypt either 1. because the other neighbouring Nations being the children of Abraham by the Concubines are supposed to have been Circumcised which the Egyptians at this time were not as may be gathered from Exod. 2. 6. where they knew the Child to be an Hebrew by this mark Or 2. because they came out of Egypt and were esteemed to be a sort of Egyptians Numb 22. 5. which they justly thought a great reproach but by their Circumcision they were now distinguished from them and manifested to be another kind of people Or 3. Because many of them lay under this reproach in Egypt having wickedly neglected this Duty there for worldly reasons and others of them continued in the same shameful condition for many years in the Wilderness from off you wherefore the name of the place is called * That is râ—…lling Gilgal unto this day 10 And the children of Israel incamped in Gilgal and kept the Passover t Which was their third Passover the first was in Egypt Exod. 12. the second at Mount Sinai Numb 9. the third here for in their Wilderness-Travels these and all other Sacrifices were neglected Amos 5. 25. on the * Exod. 12. 6. fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho 11 And they did eat of the old corn u The Corn of the last year which the Inhabitants of those parts had doubtless left in their Barns being doubtless fled for fear of the Israelites into their strong Cities or other remoter and safer parts of the land on the morrow after the Passover x i. e. On the sixteenth day for the Passover was killed between the two Evenings of the fourteenth day and was eaten in that evening or night which according to the Iewish computation whereby they begin their days at the evening was a part of the fifteenth day all which was the feast of the Passover and so the morrow of the sixteenth day was the morrow after the Passover when they were obliged to offer unto God the first sheaf and then were allowed to eat of the rest unleavened cakes and parched corn y Of that years Corn which was most proper and customary for that use in the self-same day z Having an eager desire to enjoy the Fruits of the Land 12 And the
Ancient and Modern Interpreters having his spear in his hand r Either as an Ensign of Majesty for in old times Kings carried a Spear instead of a Scepter as Iustin and others note Or as an Instrument of Self-defence or Cruelty as occasion required and all his servants were standing about him 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him Hear now ye ‡ Heb. sons of Iemini Chap. 9. Benjamites s You that are of my own Tribe and Kindred from whom David designs to translate the Kingdom to another Tribe will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds t Will he distribute Profits and Preferments amongst you Benjamites as I have done and intend still to do will he not rather prefer those of his own Tribe before you 8 That all of you have conspired against me and there is none that ‡ Heb. uncovereth mine ear sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse u This he suspected partly from Ionathan's passionate Love for David which he had formerly and constantly declared and from his late discontent and departure from his Father mentioned Chap. 20. 33. and partly from David's confidence in Invading the Land with Four hundred Men which he thought he would never presume to do without some encouragement or promise of Assistance from Ionathan and there is none of you that is sorry for me or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait x i. e. To design against my Crown and Life which will appear to be a most groundless suspicion and false Accusation as at this day 9 ¶ Then answered * Psal. 52. title Doeg the Edomite which was set over the servants of Saul and said I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob y See on Chap. 21. 7. to Ahimelech the son of * Chap. 14. 3. Ahitub 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him z This is not Recorded Chap. 21. and therefore some think that Doeg to curry-favour with Saul feigned this for it is certain David chargeth him with the Sin of Lying Psal. 52. 3. though it is not improbable that he told other Lies also not here expressed and withal he was guilty oâ—… concealing part of the Truth which in this case he was obliged to declare for Ahimelech's just Defence to wit the cunning pretence and artifice whereby David circumvented Ahimeleth Others think this was true because Ahimelech seems to confess it v. 15. though that may be spoken by way of concession If it were so as Doeg declares this was no new thing Then he might add that it was not so though this be not here mentioned for it is evident That all his Answer or Apology is not here expressed for here is not a word of the Victuals or Sword which he gave him and * Chap. 21. 6 9. gave him victuals and gave him the sword of Goliah the Philistine 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest the son of Ahitub and all his fathers house a Of the House of Eli which God had threatned to cut off Chap. 2. 31. the priests that were in Nob and they came all of them to the king 12 And Saul said Hear now thou son of Ahitub b He shews his Contempt and Anger that he would not vouchsafe to Name him See before on Chap. 20. 27. and he answered ‡ Hebr. behold me Here I am my Lord. 13 And Saul said unto him Why have ye conspired against me thou and the son of Jesse in that thou hast given him bread and a sword and hast enquired of God for him that he should rise against me to lie in wait as at this day 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David c He doth not determine the differences between Saul and David nor affirm what David now was but onely declared what David had formerly been both really and in Publick Fame and Opinion which is the kings son in law and goeth at thy bidding and is honourable in thine house 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him be it far from me let not the king impute any thing d Or this thing to wit which thou now chargest me with That I should Assist David in any evil Design against thee or of thy suspition concerning him For as for Saul's Attempts upon David well might Ahimelech impute them wholly to the violence of Saul's Passion and Disease seeing even Ionathan did so as may be gathered from 1 Sam. 20. 2. unto his servant nor to all the house of my father for thy servant knew nothing of all this e ‡ Heb. little or great less or more 16 And the king said Thou shalt surely die Ahimelech thou and all thy fathers house 17 ¶ And the king said unto the ‖ Or Guard ‡ Heb. runners â—…ootmen that stood about him Turn and slay the priests of the LORD because their hand is with David and because they knew when he fled and did not shew it me But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD f Choosing rather to offend the King by disobeying his wicked and bloody Command than to offend God by shedding the Blood of such Innocent and Sacred Persons 18 And the king said to Doeg Turn thou g Or go about to wit from man to man till thou hast killed all and fall upon the priests And Doeg the Edomite h Which is noted to wipe off the stain of this Butchery from the Israelitish Nation and to shew why he was so ready to do it because he was one of that Nation which had an implacable hatred against all Israelites and against the Priests of the Lord. turned and he fell upon the priests and * Chap. 2. 31. slew on that day fourscore and five persons i With his own hand which was not difficult when no resistance was made that did wear a linnen ephod k Not at that time as some fancy but usually such as used to Minister to the Lord in a linnen Ephod which Priests and Levites used to do See Exod. 28. 40. c. 1 Sam. 2. 18. 19 And Nob the city of the priests smote he l Either Saul or Doeg with the help of some others whom Saul appointed to that work By this barbarous and bloody Fact Saul thought to affright all his Subjects from giving any countenance or assistance to David l Either Saul or Doeg with the help of some others whom Saul appointed to that work By this barbarous and bloody Fact Saul thought to affright all his Subjects from giving any countenance or assistance to David with the edge of the sword
came to the king and told him and when he had called for Absalom he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king and the king kissed Absalom k In testimony of his thorough Reconciliation to him Which Absalom did very ill requite as the next Chapter manifesteth CHAP. XV. AND it came to pass after this that Absalom * 1 King 1. 5. prepared him charets and horses and fifty men to run before him a As being the Kings eldest Son now Amnon was dead for Chileab who was his eldest Brother 2 Sam. 3. 3. was either dead or manifestly uncapable of the Government And this course he knew would draw the eyes and minds of people to him and make them conclude that David intended him for his Successor 2 And Absalom rose up early b Thereby making a shew of self-denial and diligence and solicitude for the good of the publick and of every private person as he had opportunity and stood beside the way of the gate c Either First Of the Kings Palace Or rather Secondly Of the City for that was the place of Judicature or Iudgment for which these Men came and it was so that when any man that had a controversie ‡ Heb. to 〈◊〉 came to the king for judgment then Absalom called unto him d Preventing him with the offers of his assistance and said Of what city art thou e As if he were ready to make particular enquiry into the state of his cause And he said Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel f Or rather of one City which word is easily understood out of the foregoing question of the tribes of Israel i. e. of an Israelitish City either this or that of such or such a City 3 And Absalom said unto him See thy matters are good and right g Upon some very flight hearing of their case he approved it that he might oblige all but ‖ Or none will hear thee from the King downward there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee h To wit none such as will do thee Justice The other Sons and Relations of the King and the rest of the Judges and Rulers under him and them are wholly corrupted and swayed by favour or bribes or at least not careful and diligent as they should be and my Father being grown in years is negligent of publick affairs leaving them wholly to their conduct 4 Absalom said moreover O that I were made judge in the land i For the King had onely restored Absalom to favour but thought not fit to put him into any place of Power and Trust. that every man k I should refuse no man and decline no pains to do any man good So he pretends to a very publick spirit which hath any suit or cause might come unto me and I would do him justice 5 And it was so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him l Putting on the Garb of singular humanity and good will to all men For that seems to have been a Ceremony in frequent use in those times of shewing respect as pulling off the hat and bowing or imbracing is at this day with us 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel m i. e. He secretly and subrilly undermined his Father and robbed his Father of the good opinions and affections of his people that he might gain them to himself by such insinuations into their affections by his plausible and over-civil carriage 7 ¶ And it came to pass after forty years n Quest. Whence are these to be computed Ans. Not from Absalom's Birth for he was Born in Hebron some considerable time after David had begun his Reign 2 Sam. 3. 3. much less from the time of his Vow made or of his return from Banishment but either first from the time of David's election or designation to the Kingdom 1 Sam. 16. 13. Or Secondly From the beginning of Saul's Reign which being a Solemn time and observable for the change of the Government in Israel might very fitly be made an Epocha from which the computation or account of times begin as the Greeks and Romans began their accounts in the same manner and upon the same ground Or rather Thirdly From the beginning of David's Reign who Reigned 40 Years and so the words may be rendred about or towards the end of forty years i. e. in the beginning of the fortieth Year And so this very Phrase is used Deut. 15. 1. At the end of every seven years i. e. in the seventh Year even from the beginning of it as is manifest and confessed So in a like expression After three days will I rise again Mark 8. 31. i. e. on the beginning of the third day when Christ did rise the number of three days being then compleated when the third day is begun And the 40 Years are here expressed as one motive or inducement to Absalom to Rebel because now his Fathers end grew near and one of the Hebrew Doctors affirms that there was a tradition or rumour or prediction that David should Reign but 40 Years And Absalom might easily understand that David intended to decline him and to make Solomon his Successor as well by the conscience of his own wickedness and unfitness for so great a trust as by that eminent Wisdom and Piety which appeared in Solomon in his tender Years and that great respect and affection which his Father must needs have and manifest to him upon this account and by that Promise and Oath given to Bathsheba concerning his Succession mentioned 1 King 1. 30. but made before that time which also might come to Absalom's ear Against this opinion two things are Objected First That David was in the time of this Rebellion a strong Man for he Marched on Foot v. 30. whereas in his last Year he was very infirm and bed-rid Secondly That after this Rebellion was ended divers other things happened as the three Years Famine 2 Sam. 21. 1. and other things following in the History But it may be Answered to the first That David might in the beginning of his last Year have so much strength and vigour left as to March on Foot especially when he did so humble and afflict himself as it is apparent he did v. 30. and yet through his tedious Marches and the tormenting Cares Fears and Griess of his Soul for Absalom might be so strangely and suddenly impaired as in the end of the same Year to be very feeble and bed-rid it being a very common accident especially in old Men and upon extraordinary occasions to languish and decline exceedingly and to fall from some competent degree of health and vigour to be very infirm and bed-rid
very People will prove degenerate 19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandments thy testimonies and thy statutes and to do all these things and to build the palace for the which I have made provision t By purchasing the Place 1 Chron. 21. and providing for the Expences of the Work 20 And David said to all the congregation Now bless the LORD your God And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers and bowed down their heads and worshipped the LORD and the king u The Lord with Religious and the King with Civil Worship as it is evident 21 And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD x Before the Ark which was there and offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD on the morrow after that day even a thousand bullocks a thousand rams and a thousand lambs with their drink-offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel y Either 1. on the behalf of all Israel to praise God in their Names to procure Gods Presence and Blessing for them all Or 2. so many that the Feasts which after the manner were made of the remainders of the Sacrifices were abundantly sufficient for all the Israelites which were then present and desired to partake of them or for all the Governours of Israel there assembled who may well pasâ—… under the name of all Israel because they represented them all 22 And did eat and drink before the LORD z i. e. Before the Ark in Courts or Places as near to it as they conveniently could Or as in Gods Presence in a Solemn and Religious manner praising God for this great Mercy and begging his Blessing upon this great Affair on that day with great gladness and they made Solomon the son of David king the second time a This is called the second time in reference to the first time which was either 1. when he was made King during Adonijahs Conspiracy of which see 1 King 1. 34 c. And so this was done after Davids death and not upon that day when this Feasting and Solemnity lasted as the words at first view seem to insinuate this being related in the same verse and immediately after the Relation of the Feast But there are Examples of things done at distant times put together in one verse as Act 7. 15. So Iacob went down into Egypt and died he and our Fathers i. e first he and afterward our Fathers So here They did eat on that day with great gladness and afterward they made Solomon king the second time And this Opinion seems to be confirmed by the following Passages in which it is related that at this same time they anointed Zadok to be Priest and that Solomon was King instead of David and that all Israel and all Davids sons submitted to him All which was not done till after Davids death as may be gathered by comparing this with 1 King 1. 2. or 2. in 1 Chron. 23. 1. where it is said that David made Solomon his Son King over Israel i. e. he declared him his Successor And so this second time was during Davids Life And what David had more privately declared ch 23. he now more solemnly owns in this great and general Assembly in which by Davids Order and the Consent of all that Assembly Solomon was anointed King i. e. to be King after his Fathers death And this Opinion the Text seems most to favour For it is said And they made Solomon King c. they who That must be fetched out of the foregoing Words and Verses they who did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness as it is here said and then immediately it follows and that with a copulative conjunction and they made Solomon King c. which without violence cannot be pulled away from the foregoing Words And therefore they must be David and all the Congregation who were then present v. 20. of whom it is said they sacrificed c. v. 21. and they did eat c. and they made Solomon c. The great Objection against this Opinion is that they anointed Zadok to be Priest at this time which was not done till after Davids death for till then Abiathar â—…s not thrust out from being Priest c. 1 King 2. 26 27. This indeed is a difficulty but not insoluble It must be remembred that the High-priest had his Vicegerent who might officiate in his stead when he was hindred by Sickness or other indispensable Occasion and that there seems to be something more than ordinary in Zadoks case for although Abiathar was properly the Highpriest yet Zadok seems after a sort to be joyned in Commission with him as we see 2 Sam. 15. 29. 19. 11. and it is expresly said Zadok and Abiathar were Priests 2 Sam. 20. 25. and 1 King 4. 4. And it may be further considered that this anointing of Zadok might be occasioned by some miscarriage of Abiathar not recorded in Scripture Possibly he was unsatisfied with this Design of translating the Crown to Solomon and did now secretly favour Adoniâ—…ahs Person and Right which afterward he did more openly defend Which being known to David by information might induce him and the Princes who favoured Solomon to take this course Which they might the more willingly do in consideration of that Divine Threatning 1 Sam. 2. 31 c. of translating the Priesthood from Ithamars and Elis House of which Abiathar was to Eleazars Line to which it had been promised to perpetuity Numb 25. 13. of which Line Zadok was And they might judge this a sit Season or might be directed by God at this time to execute that Threatning to the one and promise to the other Family And yet this Action of theirs in anointing Zadok did not as I suppose actually constitute him High-priest but onely settled the Reversion of it upon him and his Line after Abiathars death Even as Davids making Solomon king ch 23. 1. and their anointing Solomon to be the chief Governour here did not put him into actual Possession of the Kingdom but onely gave him a Right to it in Reversion after the present Kings death as Samuels anointing of David 1 Sam. 16. had done to David before him Hence notwithstanding this Anointing Abiathar continued to exercise his Office till Solomon thrust him out 1 King 2. 27 and even after he was removed from the Execution of his Office yet he was reputed the Priest till he died being so called 1 King 4. 4. And this I hope may in some sort resolve that difficulty For the other Arguments they seem not considerable For as for what follows v. 23 24 25. Then Solomon sat on the Throne c. that indeed seems to belong to the time after Davids death being sufficiently â—…eparated from this 22d verse and not so knit to the foregoing Words as those words and they made Solomon King c. are And for the particle then that is
8. where he is said to be 18 years old and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD 10 And †Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the year was expired d Heb. At the return of the year i. e. At the beginning of the next year according to the Sacred Account of the Hebrews at the Spring of the Year the time when Kings go forth to Battel as is elsewhere said when Nebuchadnezzar among others went forth to settle and enlarge his Conquests king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the †Heb 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 goodly vessels of the house of the LORD and made ‖ Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1â—… * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zedekiah his brother e Largely so called for this was his Uncle or his Fathers Brother as he is called 2 King 24. 17. being the Son of Josiah See 1 Chron. 3. 15. Ier. 1. 3. king over Judah and Jerusalem 11 * â—… 〈◊〉 Jer. 〈◊〉 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God and humbled not himself f By Repentance for his past Errours and Obedience to Gods express Commands which he would not yield to thorough the Pride of his Heart as is intimated by this Phrase and expressed Jer. 38. 19. before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear by God g Who had required and forced him to swear Fealty and constant Obedience to him by the True God whom he served and whom he called upon to be a Witness against him if he broke his Oath So his Rebellion was aggravated with Perjury and horrid Contempt of God Compare Ezek. 17. 18. but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart h i. e. He added Obstinacy and Incorrigibleness to his Sins from turning unto the LORD God of Israel 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests and the people transgressed very much i They were universally corrupt and therefore God justly brought upon them a general Destruction after all the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem 15 * And the LORD God of their fathers sent 〈…〉 to them †by his messengers rising up ‖ betimes and sending k i. e. Sending them early and diligently as a careful Householder who riseth betimes about his Business and pursues it till Night come God sent them many Prophets and Messages some at the very beginning of their Apostacy and others afterward as they proceeded in their Impiety until the very day of their Captivity because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place 16 But they mocked the messengers of God l Of which see Instances Ezek. 11. 3. 20. 49. and despised his words and misused his prophets m Imprisoning and persecuting them as they did Jeremy Or seduced themselves by his Prophets i. e. By their Prophecies which they perverted or misconstrued An Eminent Instance we have in this That because Jeremy prophesied that Zedekiah should be led to Babylon Ier. 32. 5. and Ezekiel that he should not see Babylon Ezek 12. 13. Therefore they believed neither as the Hebrew Writers relate until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people till there was no †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 remedy n Because the People would not repent and God would not pardon them 17 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary o Either in Jerusalem which was the dwelling place of Gods Sanctuary Or in the house which was their Sanctuary as the River of Euphrates Gen. 15. 18. is the River which is Euphrates It is probable they killed them in the very Courts and House of God to which some of them fled for Refuge such places being esteemed Sacred and Inviolable by the Heathens themselves and had no compassion upon young man or maiden old man or him that stooped for age he gave them all into his hand 18 And all the vessels of the house of God great and small and the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king and of his princes all these he brought to Babylon 19 And they burnt the house of God and brake down the wall of Jerusalem and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof 20 And †Heb. the remainder from the sword them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia 21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of * Jer. 25 9 12 26. 6 7. 29. 10. Jeremiah until the land * Lev. 26. 34 35 43. ‖ Or accepted had enjoyed her sabbaths p i. e. Had rested from the labour of the Husbandmen in plowing and harrowing it c. the People that should have managed it being destroyed Of the Phrase see the Notes on Levit. 25. 2. for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath to fulfil threescore and ten years q That so the 70 years Captivity prophesied of by Jeremiah might be accomplished 22 * Ezr. 1. 1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia r This and the next verse are repeated in the beginning of the next Book where they will be more fitly explained that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of * Jer. 25. 12 13. 29 10 Jeremiah might be accomplished the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdoms and put it also in writing saying 23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem which is in Judah who is there among you of all his people the LORD his God be with him and let him go up EZRA THat this Book of Ezra is part of the Canonical Scripture is evident partly from the testimony of the Iewish Church to which were committed the oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. who also did carefully keep them and faithfully transmit them to us and are not once charged either by Christ or his Apostles with breach of that trust and partly by the unanimous consent of all both Iews and Christians at this day And that Ezra was the writer of this Book is also and ever was the opinion of the Iews who had the best means of knowing this and is most agreeable to his quality for he was the Son or Grand-Son