son were told to Rebekah and she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said unto him Behold thy brother Esau as touching thee doth comfort himself purposing to kill thee 43. Now therefore my son obey my voice and arise flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran 44. And tarry with him a few days untill thy brother's fury turn away 45. Vntill thy brother's anger turn away from thee and he forget that which thou hast done to him then I will send and fetch thee from thence why should I be deprived also of you both in one day 46. And Rebekah said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these which are of the daughters of the land what good shall my life do me 2245. 1760. 1. OLD He was at this time One hundred thirty six or One hundred thirty seven years old And that may be thus collected He was at the birth of Jacob sixty years old ch 25.26 Jacob was now at his going to Padan-Aram which may justly be suposed to happen soon after he had received his Father's blessing v. 42 43. Seventy-six or Seventy-seven years old And that may be thus collected He served Laban Twenty years ch 31.38 Fourteen years for his two Daughters and after that Six years for his Cattel ch 31.41 Joseph was born when Jacob had served Laban Fourteen years ch 30.25 with ch 31.41 And that was the Ninetieth or Ninety-first year of Jacob's life as will appear by comparing ch 41.46 with ch 47.9 and ch 45.6 By which it will appear that when Jacob was One hundred and thirty years old Joseph was Thirty-nine or at the most in his Fortieth year 2. Death A sufficient Motive to put him upon doing what he intended to do in his life It is very certain however that he lived after this Forty-three or Forty-four years See ch 35.28 with the Note on the foregoing Verse 3. Quiver The Chaldee renders it Sword Our word HANGER answers to the Hebrew word 4. That I may eat That c. i. e. That being first refreshed and having made this trial of thy Obedience I may be the more fitted and disposed to pronounce the Blessing upon thee My Soul c. Or that I may bless thee See v. 7 10. Bless thee i. e. Fore-tell and implore the Divine blessing upon thee and constitute thee the Heir of the Promises made to Abraham Compare ch 48.9 15 16. and ch 49.28 Isaac here seems not to be aware of what God had declared to Rebekah ch 25.23 7. Before the Lord i. e. In his presence and by his authority with assurance that he will confirm it v. 33. and Heb. 11.20 12. A Curse A Curse was afterward solemnly to be denounced against him who set light by his Father and mis-lead the blind Deut. 27.16 18. 13. Vpon me She was well assured that the Blessing would be his and speaks prophetically here as the Chaldee intimates and had sufficient ground for this assurance as appears by comparing ch 25.23 15. Goodly raiment i. e. Such as were not of common use and were in Rebekah's keeping The Hebrew Doctors tell us that the First-born had Sacerdotal Robes before the Priesthood was setled It is certain that these garments had a pleasing smell v. 27. 19. I am Esau This practice of Jacob is by no means to be imitated by us 27. Of a field Not of a barren and empty field but of a field replenished with the fruits of the Earth which send forth a good smell Cant. 2.19 It is said a field which the Lord hath blessed and that is a fruitfull field The Greek and Vulgar render it a full field 28. Therefore God give thee Or And God give thee or will give thee as it is in the Hebrew It is a Prophecy as well as Prayer Great plenty is expressed by the dew of Heaven the fatness of the Earth and plenty of Corn and Wine And great Power and Dominion by let people serve thee v. 29. and be Lord over thy brethren c. Compare ch 25.23 These Blessings are from God Prov. 10.22 Whose special favour to Jacob's Race is farther expressed by Cursed be every one that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee 33. Trembled He was greatly astonished and speaks as such when he says Who where is he 39. Dwelling The Vulgar renders it Blessing It referrs to his habitation or seat See v. 28. and ch 36.6 7 8. The fatness Or of the fatness If the place be duly considered as in the Hebrew and well compared with the Context Isaac must mean that his Dwelling should be barren and consequently removed from the fatness of the Earth 40. By thy sword c. Thou shalt defend thy Country by thy Sword and not enjoy the peace which Jacob shall Deut. 33.27 28. His yoke This was verified 2 Kings 8.20 and was to be fulfilled when Jacob's posterity transgressed as the Chaldee intimates 41. At hand So he thought See the Note on v. 2. 42. Comfort himself In hope of recovering his birth-right by killing his Brother 44. Few days This proved to be Twenty years 45. Both They might kill one another However the Murtherer ought to die c. 9. 6. 46. Daughters of Heth See ch 26.34 35. She takes this occasion to send Jacob away CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Isaac blesseth Jacob and warns him against marrying any daughter of the Canaanites He sends him to Padan-Aram Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Jacob's vision of a ladder The promise made to Abraham is renewed to him The stone of Beth-el The vow of Jacob. 1. AND Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him and said unto him Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan 2. Arise go to Padan-Aram to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother 3. And God Almighty bless thee and make thee fruitfull and multiply thee that thou mayst be a multitude of people 4. And give thee the blessing of Abraham to thee and to thy seed with thee that thou mayst inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger which God gave unto Abraham 5. And Isaac sent away Jacob and he went to Padan-Aram unto Laban son of Bethuel the Syrian the brother of Rebekah Jacob's and Esau's mother 6. When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan-Aram to take him a wife from thence and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge saying Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan 7. And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was gone to Padan-Aram 8. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father 9. Then went Esau unto Ishmael and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son the sister of Nebaioth to
it time that the cattel should be gathered together water ye the sheep and go and feed them 8. And they said We cannot untill all the flocks be gathered together and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth then we water the sheep 9. And while he yet spake with them Rachel came with her father's sheep for she kept them 10. And it came to pass when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother 11. And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept 12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother and that he was Rebekah's son and she ran and told her father 13. And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son that he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house and he told Laban all these things 14. And Laban said to him Surely thou art my bone and my flesh and he abode with him the space of a month 15. And Laban said unto Jacob Because thou art my brother shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought tell me what shall thy wages be 16. And Laban had two daughters the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel 17. Leah was tender-eyed but Rachel was beautifull and well-favoured 18. And Jacob loved Rachel and said I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter 19. And Laban said It is better that I give her to thee then that I should give her to another man abide with me 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had to her 21. And Jacob said unto Laban Give me my wife for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast 23. And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him and he went in unto her 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an hand-maid 25. And it came to pass that in the morning behold it was Leah and he said to Laban What is this thou hast done unto me did not I serve with thee for Rachel wherefore then hast thou beguiled me 26. And Laban said It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the first-born 27. Fulfill her week and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years 28. And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his hand-maid to be her maid 30. And he went in also unto Rachel and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet seven other years 31. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated he opened her womb but Rachel was barren 32. And Leah conceived and bare a son and she called his name Reuben for she said Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction now therefore my husband will love me 33. And she conceived again and bare a son and said Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated he hath therefore given me this son also and she called his name Simeon 34. And she conceived again and bare a son and said Now this time will my husband be joyned unto me because I have born him three sons therefore was his name called Levi. 35. And she conceived again and bare a son and she said Now will I praise the LORD therefore she called his name Judah and left bearing 1. EAst Eastward from Canaan Isa 41.2 2. In the field Not far from Haran where Laban dwelt as appears by what follows 3. In his place This was for the preservation of the Water 5. The Son of Nahor i. e. His Grandchild See the Note on ch 20.12 7. High day i. e. It is a great while to night 8. We cannot i. e. We have not strength enough v. 2. and perhaps they could not justly do it till the whole company met The word will bear this sense ch 34.14 10. Rolled the stone In which possibly he might be assisted by the Shepherds present 12. Brother i. e. Kinsman Compare ch 13.8 and v. 13. of this Chapter 13. All these things viz. Which were the occasion of this Journey of his 14. My Bone The Chaldee well renders it my Kinsman Month A time of tryal See v. 21. 19. To thee Who art a Kinsman and of whom I have already made some tryal 20. Seven years Not before he married her but afterward Hence 't is said That they seemed to him but a few days whereas the time would rather have seemed long had he not been married to her Prov. 13.12 21. Said Or had said For my days are fulfilled i. e. It is time that I were married He was now at least Seventy six years old And Esau who was of the same age had been married about Thirty six years ch 26.34 It is possible that Jacob may in these words referr to the Months tryal mentioned v. 14. It is certain that these words cannot be meant of the Expiration of his seven years service And that will appear to any Man who shall consider the following Particulars I. This would suppose that Jacob had twelve Children in the space of seven years Gen. 30.25.31.41 which is by no means allowable For Leah had seven at seven several Births which might well take up seven years Besides 't is certain that she intermitted bearing for some time Gen. 29.35.30.17 And in the mean time we have an account of the birth of Dan and Naphtali Gad and Asher before Leah bore Issachar Zebulun and Dinah Gen. 30. II. This Opinion supposeth Reuben to have been but about four years old at most when he brought the Mandrakes mentioned Gen. 30.14 For after this his Mother not being then with Child bore three Children at three several births And it is probable that Joseph was born after this Gen. 30.22 III. The consideration of Jacob's age who was when he went to Laban about seventy six years old and the birth of Hezron and Hamul ch 46.12 forbids us to receive this Opinion according to which Judah could not be above three or four years older than Joseph and consequently could not be above forty three or forty four years old when he with his Grand-children went into Egypt Joseph being then at most but forty years old Gen. 41.46 To compose this it must be suppos'd by those who would defend this Opinion That Judah married at twelve and had Er when he was thirteen years old That Er married at twelve and Onan at the same age Tamar staid for Shelah after the days
unto the damsel 4. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor saying Get me this damsel to wife 5. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter now his sons were with his cattel in the field and Jacob held his peace untill they were come 6. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him 7. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it and the men were grieved and they were very wroth because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter which thing ought not to be done 8. And Hamor communed with them saying The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter I pray you give her him to wife 9. And make ye marriages with us and give your daughters unto us and take our daughters unto you 10. And ye shall dwell with us and the land shall be before you dwell and trade you therein and get you possessions therein 11. And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren Let me find grace in your eyes and what ye shall say unto me I will give 12. Ask me never so much dowry and gift and I will give according as ye shall say unto me but give me the damsel to wife 13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully and said because he had defiled Dinah their sister 14. And they said unto them We cannot do this thing to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach unto us 15. But in this will we consent unto you if ye will be as we be that every male of you be circumcised 16. Then will we give our daughters unto you and we will take your daughters to us and we will dwell with you and we will become one people 17. But if ye will not hearken unto us to be circumcised then will we take our daughter and we will be gone 18. And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem Hamor's son 19. And the young man deferred not to do the thing because he had delight in Jacob's daughter and he was more honourable then all the house of his father 20. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city and communed with the men if their city saying 21. These men are peaceable with us therefore let them dwell in the land and trade therein for the land behold it is large enough for them let us take their daughters to us for wives and let us give them our daughters 22. Onely herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us to be one people if every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised 23. Shall not their cattel and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours onely let us consent unto them and they will dwell with us 24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city and every male was circumcised all that went out of the gate of his city 25. And it came to pass on the third day when they were sore that two of the sons of Jacob Simeon and Levi Dinah's brethren took each man his sword and came upon the city boldly and slew all the males 26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went out 27. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and spoiled the city because they had defiled their sister 28. They took their sheep and their oxen and their asses and that which was in the city and that which was in the field 29. And all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives took they captive and spoiled even all that was in the house 30. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land amongst the Canaanites and the Perizzites and I being few in number they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me and I shall be destroyed I and my house 31. And they said Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot 1. To see viz. The Ornaments of the Women of that place says Josephus who also tells us That it was at a certain Festival 'T is probable that she went alone and her going out seems to be mentioned as the Occasion of her being defiled Tit. 2.5 2. Took her By force according to Josephus and the Vulgar Defiled her Or Humbled her as in the Hebrew It is not the same word which is rendred Defiled v. 5. but the word imports That he afflicted her and seems to intimate his Violence as well as her Dissent and this is probable from what follows v. 3. That he spake kindly to her for comorted her what he could under her grief 4. Father To whom that care did belong 5. Held his peace He ruled over his own Spirit which spoke him better than his Sons who took the City Prov. 16.32 6. With him The Daughter being to be disposed of in marriage by the Father See v. 4. 7. He had wrought folly in Israel i. e. He had committed a vile and lewd practice in the Family of Jacob or Israel For Israel may well imply Jacob's Family ch 28.9 the name of Israel being given him as that name which was to be derived upon his Off-spring See the Note on ch 32.28 who were to be a separate and holy People Deut. 23.17 8. Your daughter i. e. The Daughter of your Family 11. I will give It was the custom to purchase Wives among some of the Eastern People ch 29.18 12. Dowry This is a Gift in consideration of marriage 13. Deceitfully Jacob was not privy to their Guile v. 30. and disclaimed it to the last ch 49.7 14. We cannot Here is a specious pretence of Religion with design to do an Injury 15. As we be And are obliged to be ch 17.10 20. Gate See the Note on ch 23.10 Communed The Arguments which they used to perswade them to Affinities with them were these I. Because they were peaceable men and so deserved well v. 21. II. There was room enough for them in that Country v. 21. III. That by this Affinity they should strengthen themselves v. 23. 25. Third day i. e. Probably from their being Circumcised It follows When they were sore They then took the advantage when the wounded and affected were in greatest danger and least able to resist Compare Josh 5.5 6 8. Brethren Both by Father and Mother Boldly The City being secure and the Men thereof unfit to resist 27. Sons of Jacob i. e. The other of his Sons Because they had defiled i. e. Shechem had and the rest of the City had not punished him for it Josh 17.11 12. 30. Make me to stink i. e. Render me odious as if I had been privy to your Craft and Cruelty 31. Should c. An answer that was fierce and
from being idle that he is not onely employed in the main and greatest business but does it with all his Power and Might It requires the whole Man and the greatest Application that is possible 9. Let there more work c. Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men 13. Your daily tasks Heb. A matter of a day in his day i. e. so much as is expected every day 14. The officers of the children of Israel who were Israelites See v. 6. 15. Vnto Pharaoh And not unto the Task-masters who were set over them upon a presumption that Pharaoh did not allow of their oppression and out of hopes that he would redress it 16. In thine own people i. e. In the Task-masters They do not here charge Pharaoh 21. To be abhorred Heb. To stink i. e. We are rendred vile in the sight of Pharaoh 22. Vnto the Lord Who was alone able to help them in their Calamity 23. Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all Hebr. Delivering thou hast not delivered CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT God reneweth his Promise of delivering the Israelites out of Egypt Of the name JEHOVAH Moses is again commanded to go unto Pharaoh Of the Families of Reuben Simeon and Levi. 1. THEN the LORD said unto Moses Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh for with a strong hand shall he let them go and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land 2. And God spake unto Moses and said unto him I am the LORD 3. And I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them 4. And I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers 5. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage and I have remembred my covenant 6. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am the LORD and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their bondage and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments 7. And I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians 8. And I will bring you in unto the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am the LORD 9. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage 10. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 11. Go in speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt that he let the children of Israel go out of his land 12. And Moses spake before the LORD saying Behold the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me how then shall Pharaoh hear me who am of uncircumcised lips 13. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt 14. These be the heads of their fathers houses The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel Hanoch and Pallu Hezron and Carmi these be the families of Reuben 15. And the sons of Simeon Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman these are the families of Simeon 16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations Gershon and Kohath and Merari And the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years 17. The sons of Gershon Libni and Shimi according to their families 18. And the sons of Kohath Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Vzziel And the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years 19. And the sons of Merari Mahali and Mushi these are the families of Levi according to their generations 20. And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife and she bare him Aaron and Moses And the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years 21. And the sons of Izhar Korah and Nepheg and Zichri 22. And the sons of Vzziel Mishael and Elzaphan and Zithri 23. And Aaron took him Elisheba daughter of Aminadab sister of Naashon to wife and she bare him Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 24. And the sons of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph these are the families of the Korhites 25. And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Pâ—tiel to wife and she bare him Phinehas these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families 26. These are that Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies 27. These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt these are that Moses and Aaron 28. And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt 29. That the LORD spake unto Moses saying I am the LORD speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee 30. And Moses said before the LORD Behold I am of uncircumcised lips and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me 1. WITH a strong hand i. e. Being thereunto compelled with severe Judgments V. c. 3. v. 19 20. 3. God Almighty Or God All-sufficient V. Gen. 17.1 God gave unto Abraham Isaac and Jacob great proofs of his Almighty Power and many promises also of the Land of Canaan But by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them It is not said That this name was not known to them See Gen. 22.14 Nor can the words be understood of the Letters of the Name but it is by my name JEHOVAH was I not known c. By this name must be understood that which it doth signifie JEHOVAH denotes not onely God's Eternal Being but his giving of Being to other things and especially the performing his Promise Now Abraham Isaac and Jacob had received Promises but enjoyed not the thing promised The time was now come in which God would bring to pass what he had promised and now they should know that he is the Lord V. Isa 49.23 c. 52.6 c. 60.16 The knowing him by his name JEHOVAH implies the receiving from him what he had promised before He is not called JEHOVAH till he had finished the Creation Gen. 2.4 The doing of that which He before decreed and promised speaks Him to be JEHOVAH See Exod. 20.2 This Interpretation agrees exactly with the Context For in the very next words God lets them know that he would make good his Promise which is expressed
life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul 12. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel No soul of you shall eat blood neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood 13. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel or of the strangers that sojourn among you which bunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten he shall even pour out the blood thereof and couer it with dust 14. For it is the life of all flesh the blood of it is for the life thereof therefore I said unto the children of Israel Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof whosoever eateth it shall be cut off 15. And every soul that eateth that which died of it self or that which was torn with beasts whether it be one of your own country or a stranger he shall both wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean untill the even then shall he be clean 16. But if he wash them not nor bathe his flesh then he shall bear his iniquity 2. Vnto Aaron and unto his sons and unto all the children of Israel This following Precept concerned the Priests and all the People as appears from v. 5 6. and is accordingly given unto all of them 4. And bringeth it not c. While the Israelites were in the Wilderness they were to eat no Meat at their own private Tables whether it were the Flesh of Bullock Lamb or Goat v. 3. but that whereof they had first sacrificed to God at the Tabernacle And this was commanded the more effectually to take them off from Sacrificing to Devils v. 7. This Command was dispensed with when they were setled in their own Land and their Dwellings were remote from the Tabernacle Deut. 12.21 An offering i. e. A Peace-offering of which the People as well as the Priest had a share as appears from v. 5. Blood shall be imputed unto that man i. e. His Transgression shall be hatefull to God as Murder Isa 66.3 5. In the open field i. e. Without the Camp v. 3. where they would be most prone to transgress this Law being most remote from the Observation of others 6. Sweet savour Exod. 29.18 chap. 4.31 7. No more Here is an intimation of their guilt formerly in this kind see Act. 7.42 43. of which we have a more express account in the words which follow And this is the reason of the Law above-mentioned by the practice whereof they were obliged to renounce their Sacrificing to Devils 1 Cor. 10.18 20 21. Vnto Devils i. e. Unto Idols See 1 Cor. 10.19 with v. 20. It is very likely that the Idols which they Worshipped might be in the figure of Goats that are hairy the Hebrew word importing some such rough or hairy Creatures The word is rendred Satyr Isa 34.14 compare Deut. 32.17 2 Chron. 11.15 Whoring Idolatry is frequently called Whoredom or Fornication See the Notes on Exod. 20.5 This This is to be understood of the Idolatry just before forbidden and may also be extended to the Law concerning the Priests mentioned before v. 6. 8. Strangers i. e. Proselytes as the Greek have it Sacrifice i. e. Of any other sort or kind 10. Eateth any manner of blood See the Notes on Gen. 9.4 and Levit. 3.17 11. The life The blood and the life are inseparable and are therefore put one for another and upon that account the blood was offered upon the Altar The beginning of this Verse may well be translated thus Because the life of the flesh is in the blood therefore I have given it to you c. 12. Therefore viz. Because it is appointed to make atonement And is consequently a type of the blood of the Messias Rom. 3.25 Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 20. Heb. 9.12 22. This 〈◊〉 therefore the principal Cause why the eating of blood is here forbidden 13. Which hunteth Heb. That hunteth any hunting 14. For it is c. Gen. 9.4 See also the Notes there 15. That eateth See Deut. 14.21 That which died of it self Heb. A carcase 16. Iniquity Or Punishment due to him for his offence CHAP. XVIII The ARGUMENT The Israelites are warned to shun the Practices of Egypt and Canaan Of unlawfull Marriages Adultery is forbid and several other impure Mixtures and Practices 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them I am the LORD your God 3. After the doings of the land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt shall ye not do and after the doings of the land of Canaan whither I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their ordinances 4. Ye shall do my judgments and keep mine ordinances to walk therein I am the LORD your God 5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments which if a man do he shall live in them I am the LORD 6. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him to uncover their nakedness I am the LORD 7. The nakedness of thy father or the nakedness of thy mother shalt thou not uncover she is thy mother thou shalt not uncover her nakedness 8. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover it is thy father's nakedness 9. The nakedness of thy sister the daughter of thy father or daughter of thy mother whether she be born at home or born abroad even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover 10. The nakedness of thy son's daughter or of thy daughter's daughter even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover for theirs is thine own nakedness 11. The nakedness of thy father's wives daughter begotten of thy father she is thy sister thou shalt not uncover her nakedness 12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister she is thy father's near kinswoman 13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister for she is thy mother's near kinswoman 14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother thou shalt not approach to his wife she is thine aunt 15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law she is thy son's wife thou shalt not uncover her nakedness 16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife it is thy brother's nakedness 17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter neither shalt thou take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness for they are her near kinswomen it is wickedness 18. Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister to vex her to uncover her nakedness besides the other in her life time 19. Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness 20. Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy
neighbour's wife to defile thy self with her 21. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God I am the LORD 22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind it is abomination 23. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thy self therewith neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto it is confusion 24. Defile not you your selves in any of these things for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you 25. And the land is defiled therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it and the land it self vomiteth out her inhabitants 26. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments and shall not commit any of these abominations neither any of your own nation nor any stranger that sojourneth among you 27. For all these abominations have the men of the land done which were before you and the land is defiled 28. That the land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the nations that were before you 29. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations even the Souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people 30. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs which were committed before you and that ye defile not your selves therein I am the LORD your God 3. Egypt Which was an Idolatrous Nation Ezek. 20.7 8. ch 23.8 and where they had defiled themselves And they being warned against Idolatry before ch 17.7 are seasonably here cautioned to shun the doings of Egypt Of Canaan That Land was guilty of that uncleanness which is forbidden in the following words and therefore the Israelites are here very seasonably warned against the Practices of that People v. 24 25 27 28. and ch 20.23 And the Wilderness is chosen as a very fit place to give these Laws in the Israelites being removed from the Snares and Temptations of Egypt and not as yet mingled with the People of Canaan 5. Which if a man do he shall live in them Ezek. 20.11 Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.12 Life in the phrase of the Holy Scripture implies Ease and Prosperity or the Comforts and Blessings of Life Levit. 25.36 1 Sam. 25.6 1 King 1.25 These were promised to the Israelites upon Obedience to the Laws of Moses In or by these Laws while they adhered to them they enjoyed these good things The express promise of Eternal life belongs to the Gospel-Covenant Joh. 17.3 1 Tim. 4.8 2 Tim. 1.10 Heb. 8.6 For though Obedience to the Law the Moral part of it especially were the way to a future as well as present Happiness Matt. 19.17 18 19. Yet that Obedience through the Corruption of humane Nature being imperfect could not intitle them to the Reward of Eternal life 6. Near of kin to him Heb. Remainder of his flesh This general Expression is to be explained by the following Particulars To uncover their nakedness This is to be understood of carnal Copulation as is plain from what follows as well as from the use of the words themselves in other places v. 18. 1 Cor. 12.23 7. Of thy father or the nakedness of thy mother The Hebrew Particle which we translate Or may be translated Even as it sometimes signifies 1 Sam. 28.3 2 Sam. 2.15 Zech. 9.9 and then the latter words are but Exegetical of the former And then the Prohibition is but one though the fault be double For he that lieth with his Father's Wife doth uncover his Father's nakedness as well as his Mothers ch 20.11 and verse 8. of this Chapter It is expressly said v. 8. that the nakedness of the Father's Wife is the nakedness of the Father And chap. 20.11 that the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness Again ch 20.20 21. The Man that lies with his Uncle's or Brother's Wife is said to uncover his Uncle's and Brother's nakedness And he that defiles his Father's bed may be fitly said to uncover his Father's nakedness She is thy Mother i. e. Thine own Mother the Mother-in-law being forbid in the next Verse 8. The nakedness Chap. 20.11 Deut. 22.30 and 27.20 1 Cor. 5.1 9. Born at home or born abroad i. e. Begotten by thy Father of another Wife or Woman or born of thy Mother by another man ch 20.17 10. Thine own Thy Son and Daughter being thine own Flesh 11. Thy Sister i.e. By the same Father 12. Thou c. Ch. 20.19 Near kinswoman viz. Partaking of the same Flesh 14. Thou shalt not uncover c. Ch. 20.20 See the Notes on verse 7. 15. Thou c. Ch. 20.12 16. Thou c. Ch. 20.21 Thy brother's wife i. e. During his life but if he dye and dye Childless then the Brother that was next married her Deut. 25.5 17. Wickedness Incest saith the Vulgar 18. Wife to her Sister Or One wife to another This is the Marginal reading but we are not so to understand these words as if Polygamy were here forbid For that it was not is evident from the practice of the Israelites which passeth without reproof And therefore though the Marginal reading be such as the Original abstractly considered will bear yet the subject-matter requires that we take the word Sister in the common acceptation of it and then is an Israelite forbid to take to Wife his Wife's Sister whiles that Wife is living To vex her As a Rival to her which frequently occasions vexation 1 Sam. 1.6 19. Also c. Ch. 20.18 21. Thy seed That is Thy Children or Off-spring Deut. 18.10 Pass through the fire Chap. 20.2 2 King 23.10 Here is no mention of Fire in the Hebrew Text but that it is to be understood is plain from Deut. 18.10 2 King 23.10 Such a Custom obtained among the ancient Heathens they made it a part of their Religion to burn some of their Children as a Sacrifice to their false God 2 Chron. 28.3 Jer. 7.31.19.5 Ps 106.37 38. Molech Called Act. 7.43 Molach the name of an Idol which the Ammonites worshipped 1 King 11.7 and otherwise called Milchom 2 King 23.13 It hath been thought to be the same with the Planet Saturn or else the Sun which they worshipped and Molech may indifferently relate to the Star or the Image and Figure thereof Jer. 49.3 Amos 5.36 It was a very principal Idol among the Heathen and the Hebrew word implies Dominion and Kingly Superiority 23. Neither c. Ch. 20.15 25. Vomiteth out her inhabitants Being as it were overcharged and burthened with them Jer. 9.19 26. Stranger Or Sojourner and Proselyte 27. For all these abominations c. As Abominations implies such things as have a a Moral turpitude a filthiness and malignity antecedent to any positive Law these words cannot extend to all the particulars mentioned from v. 7. but these words must referr to the sins mentioned v. 20 21 22 23.
five and thirty years and begat Salah 13. And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 14. And Salah lived thirty years and begat Eber. 15. And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 16. And Eber lived four and thirty years and begat Peleg 17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years and begat sons and daughters 18. And Peleg lived thirty years and begat Reu. 19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years and begat sons and daughters 20. And Reu lived two and thirty years and begat Serug 21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters 22. And Serug lived thirty years and begat Nahor 23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years and begat sons and daughters 24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years and begat Terah 25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years and begat sons and daughters 2008. 1996. 26. And Terah lived seventy years and begat Abram Nahor and Haran 27. Now these are the generations of Terah Terah begat Abram Nahor and Haran and Haran begat Lot 28. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity in Vr of the Chaldees 29. And Abram and Nahor took them wives the name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah 30. But Sarai was barren she had no child 31. And Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran his sons son and Sarai his daughter in law his son Abram's wife and they went forth with them from Vr of the Chaldees to go into the land of Canaan and they came unto Haran and dwelt there 32. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years and Terah died in Haran 1. ONE language At this time the whole Race of Mankind spake one language Some think 't is probable it might be the Hebrew Tongue 2. From the East i. e. As they were journeying they came immediately from the East Shinar See Ch. 10. v. 10. Dwelt there By what follows it appears that they did intend to dwell there for the future contrary to God's command of replenishing the Earth ch 9.1 3. They said Nimrod very probably which Josephus affirms did encourage others of his Race and Temper to this contempt of God Brick The place being a Plain not affording Stone Slime A natural Cement to be found in Pits and lower Grounds 4. Build In this attempt they were guilty I. Of contempt of God's declared Will chap. 9. verse 1. which they endeavour to make void II. Of proudly seeking their own Fame and advancing their Power and Dominion Let us make us a Name They are by some also thought guilty III. Of a distrust of God's Truth who had declared that he would not drown the World any more whereas they are supposed to design a City and high Tower against the danger from another Floud To Heaven It is expressed Hyperbolically and imports a great height Deut. 9.1 A Name i. e. A Fame and Renown Compare Gen. 6.4 1 Chron. 17.8 with 2 Sam. 7.9 Lest we be Thus while they consult to defeat God's purpose they do that which was the occasion of bringing it to pass 5. Came down to see This is spoken after the manner of Men. God is then said to descend when he reveals himself by word or deed to us who live in this lower World The Chaldee renders it he appeared c. 6. Restrained They will give farther instances of their Rebellion and Tyranny if they be not defeated 7. Vs See Gen. 1.26 with the Note there 9. From thence From that very place which they intended to build to prevent their being scattered abroad v. 4. 10. These c. As ch 5. we have an account of the Generations from Adam to Noah who was the tenth from Adam So we have here an account from Noah to Abram who was the tenth from Noah And from hence we may learn that the Age of Man's life was much shortned after the Floud The whole time from the Floud to the Birth of Abram is but 352 years whereas from Adam's Creation to the Floud was no less than 1656. 26. Begat Abram Not that Abram was the first-born But he then began to beget Gen. 5.32 'T is supposed that Haran was the eldest and Abram the youngest That Abram was not the eldest is evident from this That Sarah the Daughter of Haran was but ten years younger than Abram and then Haran will be supposed to have begotten her when he was about nine years old Abram must be born the 130th year of Terah's life For Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran ch 12. v. 4. And this was after Terah's death 2008. 1996. who lived 205 years v. 32. 28. Before i. e. In Terah's life-time Vr of the Chaldees The name of a place in Mesopotamia Act. 7.2 It received its Name from the Chaldees who as they might subdue it at first so lived in it and gave it its denomination afterwards Vr in the Hebrew Tongue signifies Fire 29. Iscah The same with Sarai This is the opinion of the Jews nor is there cause to reject it 31. Terah took Abram c. Terah removed from his own Country with Abram who had received a Command from God to come out of it Gen. 12.1.15.7 Act. 7.3 And though this Command were the chief reason of this remove yet 't is thought that Terah was rendred inclinable to remove from the grief which he took at the Death of Haran there as well as at the Barrenness of Sarai v. 28 30. See Joseph Antiq. l. 1. c. 7. and Abravenel on the place Haran This is the name of a place in Mesopotamia Dwelt there It is likely that the occasion of their stay there was from the sickness or weakness of Terah When he was dead Abram went into Canaan CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT God calleth Abram from his own Country and encourageth his Remove with a promise to bless him and a particular promise of the Messias Abram's age when he left Haran He comes into the land of Canaan and sojourns there Vpon occasion of a famine in Canaan he goes into Egypt He owns Sarai as his Sister there Sarai is taken into the house of Pharaoh King of Egypt who by plagues was forced to restore her and dismisseth both Abram and Sarai and all that belonged to Abram 1. NOW the LORD had said unto Abram Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee 2. And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing 3. And I will bless them
for Sodom and in so doing and so frequently expressed a great Charity toward that sinfull people 26. I will spare This is an act of grace and favour God does not make it a Law to himself for the future Ezek. 14.18 33. The Lord went his way Or disappeared The glory of the Lord says the Chaldee See the Note on ch 17. v. 23. His place i. e. To the Plains of Mamre where the Lord is said to have appeared unto him v. 1. CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Lot entertains two Angels The wicked Sodomites are stricken with blindness Lot warns his Sons-in-law to quit Sodom who despise his admonition Lot with his Wife and Daughters is brought out of Sodom and escapes to Zoar. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed Lot's Wife becomes a Pillar of Salt The incestuous Original of Moab and Ammon 1. AND there came two angels to Sodom at even and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground 2. And he said Behold now my lords turn in I pray you into your sâ—â—vants house and tarry all night â—â—d wash your feet and ye shall riâ—â— up early and go on your ways And they said Nay but we will abide in the street all night 3. And he pressed upon them greatly and they turned in unto him and entred into his house and he made them a feast and did bake unleavened bread and they did eat 4. But before they lay down the men of the city even the men of Sodom compassed the house round both old and young all the people from every quarter 5. And they called unto Lot and said unto him Where are the men which came in to thee this night bring them out unto us that we may know them 6. And Lot went out at the door unto them and shut the door after him 7. And said I pray you brethren do not so wickedly 8. Behold now I have two daughters which have not known man let me I pray you bring them out unto you and do ye to them as is good in your eyes only unto these men do nothing for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof 9. And they said Stand back And they said again This one fellow came in to sojourn and he will needs be a judge Now will we deal worse with thee then with them And they pressed sore upon the man even Lot and came near to break the door 10. But the men put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door 11. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness both small and great so that they wearied themselves to find the door 12. And the men said unto Lot Hast thou here any besides son in law and thy sons and thy daughters and whatsoever thou hast in the city bring them out of this place 13. For we will destroy this place because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it 14. And Lot went out and spake unto his sons in law which married his daughters and said Vp get you out of this place for the LORD will destroy this city but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law 15. And when the morning arose then the angels hastened Lot saying Arise take thy wife and thy two daughters which are here lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city 16. And while he lingered the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters the LORD being mercifull unto him and they brought him forth and set him without the city 17. And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad that he said Escape for thy life look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed 18. And Lot said unto them Oh not so my lord 19. Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life and I cannot escape to the mountain lest some evil take me and I die 20. Behold now this city is near to flee unto and it is a little one Oh let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live 21. And he said unto him See I have accepted thee concerning this thing also that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken 22. Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entred into Zoar. 24. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven 25. And he overthrew those cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities and that which grew upon the ground 26. But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt 27. And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD 28. And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain and beheld and lo the smoak of the country went up as the smoak of a furnace 29. And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain that God remembred Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt 30. And Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain and his two daughters with him for he feared to dwell in Zoar and he dwelt in a cave he and his two daughters 31. And the first born said unto the younger Our father is old and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth 32. Come let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father 33. And they made their father drink wine that night and the first-born went in and lay with her father and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 34. And it came to pass on the morrow that the first-born said unto the younger Behold I lay yesternight with my father let us make him drink wine this night also and go thou in and lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father 35. And they made their father drink wine that night also and the younger arose and lay with him and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 36. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father 37. And the first-born bare a son and called his name Moab the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day 38. And the younger
she also bare a son and called his name Ben-ammi the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day 1. TWO Angels Called Men ch 18.2 22. 2. Turn in c. Lot also shews Hospitality Heb. 13.2 Nay They refuse his invitation at first possibly to try how much he was in earnest Luk. 24.28 29. 3. Vnleavened bread For haste it is probable See ch 18.6 and Exod. 12.39 4. All the people Of every age they were generally corrupted there not being ten righteous persons among them ch 18.32 5. Know them viz. Carnally Gen. 4.1 See verse 8. Hence this Sin is called Sodomy 6. At the door Or to the gate It is another word in the Hebrew that is translated door afterward in this verse and v. 9. And that seems to signifie the immediate in let into the house 7. So wickedly Even against the course of nature Rom. 1.27 8. Two daughters Whom he ought not to have exposed to these wicked Men. Shadow of my roof And therefore he thought himself obliged to proâ—â—â—t them Jer. 48.45 â—â—g 9.15 9. Stand back Or get thee aside They speak with contempt Isa 65.5 Judge A Censor or Reprover of Manners v. 7. It is probable that Lot had formerly reproved them 2 Pet. 2.7 8. 11. Blindness i. e. With such a present darkness and obscurity of sight that they could not find the door 2 King 6.18 13. We will destroy Hebr. We are destroying 14. Which married Or were taking Hebr. i. e. They were betrothed and were shortly to marry his daughters Deut. 22.23 Matt. 1.18 20. 15. Which are here Or which thou hast as both the Greek and Vulgar render it well Iniquity Or punishment 16. Being mercifull i. e. Being minded to spare him and save him from this common destruction in a manner forces his deliverance upon him 17. He i. e. One of the persons before mentioned Look noâ— behind thee This Command was given as appears by what follows to his Wife as well as to him Luk. 17.22 and 9.62 Matt. 24.16 17 18. Philip. 3.13 14. 21. I have accepted thee Hebr. I have accepted thy face i. e. I have granted thy petition To turn away the face is to deny a request 1 Kings 2.16 20. 22. I cannot do any thing i. e. I cannot destroy this place God having ordered Lot's deliverance as well as the destruction of Sodom Zoar Hebr. Little So called from what we read v. 20. 23. The Sun was risen This is thought to be said for two Reasons 1. To shew that Zoar was near to Sodom 2. That when it is said that God rained it might not be thought to be natural there being no Clouds as in other great Rains but miraculous See Abravenel on the place And this seems probable from what follows 24. The Lord rained From the Lord out of Heaven i. e. It was God's work alone and immediately and not to be imputed to natural Causes Sodom c. and upon Admah and Zeboim Deut. 29.23 26. A pillar of salt Or a statue of salt Not such Salt as would dissolve with Rain but such as would and did continue a lasting Monument of this matter The word Pillar in the Hebrew implies its consistence Josephus affirms that this Pillar remained to his time and he lived after our Saviour's death 27. He stood See ch 18.22 In the way from the Plains of Mamre toward Sodom ch 18.2 16. 29. Abraham For whose sake Lot fared the better as he had done before ch 14.16 and for whom he had interceded chap. 18. v. 23. In the which i. e. In one of which viz. in Sodom 30. In the mountain viz. To which he was directed v. 17. Feared Being greatly terrified with the destruction of the neighbouring places and having been warned before to go to the Mountain and his Wife becoming a Pillar of Salt upon her looking back Two daughters i. e. Maiden-daughters v. 8. 31. In the Earth Or in the Land i. e. None hereabouts in this tract of Land that we are like to be given in Marriage to 33. Perceived not Being over-burthened with the Wine he drank Drunkenness deprives Men of their understanding and is an in-let to the foulest wickedness To which I may add That Lot's not perceiving may be understood thus That he did not perceive who the person was that did lie with him It was indeed his daughter he might suppose her to be a servant And this may well be allowed to be his case if it be considered how far he was overcome with Wine 37. Moab The word implies his Original viz. That he was from her Father as the Greek have it and she knowing the truth of this gives him this name 38. Called i. e. She called as in the Hebrew both here and verse 37. Ben-Ammi Or the Son of my People He was so called in memory of his Original he being of her Father not begotten by a Stranger See the Greek Both the Children carried in their Names the Memorial of their incestuous Original CHAP. XX. The ARGUMENT Abraham removes to Gerar. Abimelech takes Sarah as Abraham's Sister for which he is reprehended by God in a dream He excuseth his fact expostulates with Abraham and restores Sarah with a reproof Abraham prays to God who thereupon healed Abimelech and his Family 1. AND Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south countrey and dwelled between Caedesh and Shur and sojourned in Gerar. 2. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife She is my sister and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah 3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him Behold thou art but a dead man for the woman which thou hast taken for she is a man's wife 4. But Abimelech had not come near her and he said LORD wilt thou slay also a righteous nation 5. Said he not unto me She is my sister and she even she her self said He is my brother in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this 6. And God said unto him in a dream Yea I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart for I also withheld thee from sinning against me therefore suffered I thee not to touch her 7. Now therefore restore the man his wife for he is a prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live and if thou restore her not know thou that thou shalt surely die thou and all that are thine 8. Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their ears and the men were sore afraid 9. Then Abimelech called Abraham and said unto him What hast thou done unto us and what have I offended thee that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done 10. And Abimelech said unto Abraham What sawest thou that thou hast done this thing 11. And Abraham said Because I thought Surely
before his dead i. e. From the place where he saâ—e mourning over his dead Isa 47.1 Job 2.13 Of Heth Those who descended from Heth the Son of Canaan ch 10.15 4. A sojourner Heb. 11.13 6. A mighty Prince Or Prince of God Hebr. They esteemed Abraham highly for his regard to God and upon the score of God's blessings upon him See ch 21. v. 22. His great piety was exemplary and God's mercies visible Hence they call him a Prince of God i.e. a person very eximious and venerable Things that are very excellent are said to be of God Compare Psal 36.6 and 80.10 7. Bowed himself In token of thankfulness as well as reverence 9. Machpelah What we render the Cave of Machpelah the Ancients render the double cave the word Machpelah denoting such a sense 'T is probable that this burying-place had a double Cave whence it was so called 10. Gates Hebr. Gate They that go in at the gate are the Citizens or Inhabitants of that place ch 34. v. 24. 13. Money Abraham will buy a burying-place and in so doing he prevented a future Controversie and withall received a pledge in this purchase of the inheritance which God had promised 15. Four hundred Shekels See the Note on ch 20. v. 16. 16. Weighed Payment was then made by weight not by tale Compare ch 43. v. 21. Currant money with the Merchant i. e. Abraham used no guile or deceit in his payment but weighed so much Silver as those who understood those matters could not refuse 18. For a possession He having before this no possession in that Land 19. After this i. e. After he had paid for this burying-place 20. Made sure Being purchased and that before the whole City CHAP. XXIV The ARGUMENT Abraham takes an Oath of his servant not to take a wife to his son of the daughters of Canaan He takes his journey into the Country whence Abraham came to get a wife for Isaac He prays to God for Success and is heard Rebekah meets him who with her father's Consent goes with Abraham's servant and becomes the wife of Isaac 2148. 1856. 1. AND Abraham was old and well stricken in age and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things 2. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house that ruled over all that he had Put I pray thee thy hand under my thigh 3. And I will make thee swear by the LORD the God of heaven and the God of the earth that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell 4. But thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred and take a wife unto my son Isaac 5. And the servant said unto him Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest 6. And Abraham said unto him Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again 7. The LORD God of heaven which took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred and which spake unto me and that sware unto me saying Vnto thy seed will I give this land he shall send his angel before thee and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence 8. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee then thou shalt be clear from this my oath only bring not my son thither again 9. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and sware to him concerning that matter 10. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed for all the goods of his master were in his hand and he arose and went to Mesopotamia unto the city of Nahor 11. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening even the time that women go out to draw water 12. And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham I pray thee send me good speed this day and shew kindness unto my master Abraham 13. Behold I stand here by the well of water and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water 14. And let it come to pass that the damsel to whom I shall say Let down thy pitcher I pray thee that I may drink and she shall say Drink and I will give thy camels drink also let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servent Isaac and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master 15. And it came to pass before he had done speaking that behold Rebekah came out who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah the wife of Nahor Abraham's brother with her pitcher upon her shoulder 16. And the damsel was very fair to look upon a virgin neither had any man known her and she went down to the well and filled her pitcher and came up 17. And the servant ran to meet her and said Let me I pray thee drink a little water of thy pitcher 18. And she said Drink my lord and she hasted and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink 19. And when she had done giving him drink she said I will draw water for thy camels also untill they have done drinking 20. And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough and ran again unto the well to draw water and drew for all his camels 21. And the man wondering at her held his peace to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not 22. And it came to pass as the camels had done drinking that the man took a golden ear ring of half a shekel weight and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold 23. And said Whose daughter art thou tell me I pray thee is there room in thy fathers house for us to lodge in 24. And she said unto him I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah which she bare unto Nahor 25. She said moreover unto him We have both straw and provender enough and room to lodge in 26. And the man bowed down his head and worshipped the LORD 27. And he said Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth I being in the way the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren 28 And the damsel ran and told them of her mother's house these things 29. And Rebekah had a brother and his name was Laban and Laban ran out unto the man unto the well 30. And it came to pass when he saw the ear-ring and bracelets upon his sisters hands and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister saying Thus spake the man unto me that he came unto the man and behold he stood by the camels at the well 31. And he said Come in thou blessed of the LORD wherefore standest thou without for I
have prepared the house and room for the camels 32. And the man came into the house and he ungirded his camels and gave straw and provender for the camels and water to wash his feet and the mens feet that were with him 33. And there was set meat before him to eat but he said I will not eat untill I have told mine errand And he said Speak on 34. And he said I am Abraham's servant 35. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly and he is become great and he hath given him flocks and herds and silver and gold and men-servants and maid-servants and camels and asses 36. And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old and unto him hath he given all that he hath 37. And my master made me swear saying Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell 38. But thou shalt go unto my fathers house and to my kindred and take a wife unto my son 39. And I said unto my master Peradventure the woman will not follow me 40. And he said unto me the LORD before whom I walk will send his angel with thee and prosper thy way and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and of my father's house 41. Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath when thou comest to my kindred and if they give not thee one thou shalt be clear from my oath 42. And I came this day unto the well and said O LORD God of my master Abraham if now thou do prosper my way which I go 43. Behold I stand by the well of water and it shall come to pass that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water and I say to her Give me I pray thee a little water of thy pitcher to drink 44. And she say to me Both drink thou and I will also draw for thy camels let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son 45. And before I had done speaking in mine heart Behold Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder and she went down unto the well and drew water and I said unto her Let me drink I pray thee 46. And she made haste and let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said Drink and I will give thy camels drink also so I drank and she made the camels drink also 47. And I asked her and said Whose daughter art thou And she said The daughter of Bethuel Nahor's son whom Milcah bare unto him and I put the ear-ring upon her face and the bracelets upon her hands 48. And I bowed down my head and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son 49. And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master tell me and if not tell me that I may turn to the right hand or to the left 50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said The thing proceedeth from the LORD we cannot speak unto thee bad or good 51. Behold Rebekah is before thee take her and go and let her be thy master's son's wife as the LORD hath spoken 52. And it came to pass that when Abraham's servant heard their words he worshipped the LORD bowing himself to the earth 53. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things 54. And they did eat and drink he and the men that were with him and tarried all night and they rose up in the morning and he said Send me away unto my master 55. And her brother and her mother said Let the damsel abide with us a few days at the least ten after that she shall go 56. And he said unto them Hinder me not seeing the LORD hath prospered my way send me away that I may go to my master 57. And they said We will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth 58. And they called Rebekah and said unto her Wilt thou go with this man And she said I will go 59. And they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men 60. And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her Thou art our sister be thou the mother of thousands of millions and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them 61. And Rebekah arose and her damsels and they rode upon the camels and followed the man and the servant took Rebekah and went his way 62. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi for he dwelt in the south country 63. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide and he lift up his eyes and saw and behold the camels were coming 64. And Rebekah lift up her eyes and when she saw Isaac she lighted off the camel 65. For she had said unto the servant What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us and the servant had said It is my master therefore she took a veil and covered her self 66. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done 67. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death 1. OLD 2148. 1856. He was now One hundred and forty years old This appears by comparing ch 21.5 with ch 25.20 2. Servant 'T is probable that this was Eliezer the Steward of his House ch 15.2 My thigh This was a rite in taking an Oath used also ch 47.29 Besides Abraham having received the blessing and promise of good things commands his servant to put his hand there where he had received the sign of his faith For believing the Divine promises he received the Seal of Circumcision and commanded him there to put his hand that being mindfull of the promise and the circumcision he might not defile his Master's noble race with a foreign Marriage Says Theodoret Quaest 74. in Genes 3. By the Lord c. By whom alone it was lawfull to swear Deut. 6.13 He being both of infinite knowledge and power Canaanites Who were a wicked people and devoted to destruction Compare ch 9.25 with Deut. 7.3 4. and to marry the promised seed to any of that race would be inconsistent with the Divine predictions 5. Thou camest Abraham came thence but not Isaac 6. That thou bring not my son thither again Or lest thou return my son thither as it is in the Hebrew which words are to be understood with relation to Abraham's coming thence As ch 15.16 7. His Angel To guide and defend thee Angels are ministring Spirits Heb. 1.14 Gen. 48 1â— Exod. 14.19 and 23.20 8. Clear i. e. Thou shalt not be obliged by this Oath 10. For all the goods c. Or and
were multiplied and Judah's Wife died Gen. 38.12 and then she bore Pharez to Judah We will allow but three years for this And then supposing Pharez to marry at twelve years of age and that he had Hezron and Hamul supposing them twins at the age of thirteen and that they went into Egypt at one year old All this amounts but to forty three years These things being duly put together do justify this Interpretation and sufficiently expose that Opinion That Jacob served seven years before he married Leah That I may go in c. Not take her away that he could not justly do till he had served seven years 23. In the Evening Jacob might easily be deceived partly from the darkness which Josephus mentions and also because they that were newly married were veiled ch 24. v. 65. 25. Did not I serve thee c. i. e. Not onely Covenant to serve thee but actually served thee and gave thee a proof of my Industry for a Month v. 14. Beguiled me 'T was great fraud in Laban and to Jacob a great affliction but such as might put him in mind of the guile which he had used in procuring his Father's Blessing 26. It must not This is a mere pretence And he ought to have told Jacob of it before had there been any weight in it 27. Fulfill her week i. e. Keep the Solemnity of seven days feasting which space was allowed for Marriage-feasts Judg. 14.12 Shalt serve This confirms what is said upon v. 20. 31. Hated i. e. Loved less than Rachel as 't is v. 30. Hating is in the Scripture-phrase put for Loving less Compare Luke 14.26 with Matt. 10.37 33. Heard i. e. Understood 35. Judah As his Mother praised God which gave the first occasion of his name so his Brethren were to praise him ch 49. v. 8. From him his Brethren in after-times were called Jews Left bearing i. e. For a little while she ceased to bear CHAP. XXX The ARGUMENT Rachel is discontented at her barrenness She giveth unto Jacob her maid Bilhah who beareth Dan and Naphtali Leah gives to Jacob her maid Zilpah who bears Gad and Asher Reuben finds Mandrakes and brings them to Leah She parts with them to Rachel on a certain condition Leah bears Issachar and Zebulun and Dinah Rachel at length beareth Joseph Jacob desires to leave Laban who thereupon makes a Contract with him for wages Jacob's policy and his increase of Wealth 1. AND when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children Rachel envied her sister and said unto Jacob Give me children or else I die 2. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel and he said Am I in God's stead who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb 3. And she said Behold my maid Bilhah go in unto her and she shall bear upon my knees that I may also have children by her 4. And she gave him Bilhah her hand-maid to wife and Jacob went in unto her 5. And Bilhah conceived and bare Jacob a son 6. And Rachel said God hath judged me and hath also heard my voice and hath given me a son therefore called she his name Dan. 7. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again and bare Jacob a second son 8. And Rachel said With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed and she called his name Naphtali 9. When Leah saw that she had left bearing she took Zilpah her maid and gave her Jacob to wife 10. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son 11. And Leah said A troup cometh and she called his name Gad. 12. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son 13. And Leah said happy am I for the daughters will call me blessed and she called his name Asher 14. And Reuben went in the days of wheat-harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them unto his mother Leah Then Rachel said to Leah Give me I pray thee of thy sons mandrakes 15. And she said unto her Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also And Rachel said Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes 16. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening and Leah went out to meet him and said Thou must come in unto me for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes And he lay with her that night 17. And God hearkned unto Leah and she conceived and bare Jacob the fifth son 18. And Leah said God hath given me mine hire because I have given my maiden to my husband and she called his name Issachar 19. And Leah conceived again and bare Jacob the sixth son 20. And Leah said God hath endued me with a good dowry now will my husband dwell with me because I have born him six sons and she called his name Zebulun 21. And afterwards she bare a daughter and called her name Dinah 22. And God remembred Rachel and God hearkned to her and opened her womb 23. And she conceived and bare a son and said God hath taken away my reproach 24. And she called his name Joseph and said The LORD shall add to me another son 25. And it came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph that Jacob said unto Laban Send me away that I may go unto mine own place and to my country 26. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee and let me go for thou knowest my service which I have done thee 27. And Laban said unto him I pray thee if I have found favour in thine eyes tarry for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake 28. And he said Appoint me thy wages and I will give it 29. And he said unto him Thou knowest how I have served thee and how thy cattel was with me 30. For it was little which thou hadst before I came and it is now increased unto a multitude and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming and now when shall I provide for mine own house also 31 And he said What shall I give thee and Jacob said Thou shalt not give me any thing if thou wilt do this thing for me I will again feed and keep thy flock 32. I will pass through all thy flock to day removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattel and all the brown cattel among the sheep and the spotted and speckled among the goats and of such shall be my hire 33. So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come when it shall come for my hire before thy face every one that is not speckled and spotted amongst the goats and brown amongst the sheep that shall be accounted stollen with me 34. And Laban said Behold I would it might be according to thy word 35. And he removed that day the he goats that were ring-straked and spotted and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted and every one that had
sent the coat of many colours and they brought it to their father and said This have we found know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. 33. And he knew it and said It is my son's coat an evil beast hath devoured him Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces 34. And Jacob rent his clothes and put sackcloth upon his loins and mourned for his son many days 35. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him but he refused to be comforted and he said For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning thus his father wept for him 36. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard 2. Generations Or things which happened to him See ch 25.19 Seventeen years old His Father was now One hundred and six or seven years old See the Notes on ch 27.1 Brought He did not frame a Slander Prov. 10.18 but reported matter of fact 3. Because he was the son of his old age Jacob was about Ninety years old when Joseph was born Benjamin was more the Son of Jacob's old age than Joseph but possibly had not as yet given that proof of a towardly Disposition which Joseph had done The Jewish Writers for which Opinion there are great Authorities suppose this Expression to imply Joseph's Wisdom which was in his youth like the Wisdom of old Men. Of many colours As a sign of his Father's Love 2 Sam. 13.18 though it were an occasion of his Brethren's Envy 5. Dream See the Notes on ch 20.3 7. To my sheaf This Sheaf is a fit Representation of Joseph in his Advancement in Aegypt to whom Application was made for Corn. And the lack of Corn sent his Brethren to him 9. Another For the greater assurance ch 41.32 and also to represent another thing In the first he onely foresaw the Subjection of his Brethren ch 42.6 in this is a Representation of his Father 's also which was expressed by a Present as well as by the Declaration of his Brethren ch 43.26 28. 10. Thy Mother The Mother was represented by the Moon And though Rachel was dead yet was not Joseph without a Mother whether it were Leah the Mother of the Family or Bilhah who was reputed so ch 29.29 'T is enough that the Dream represents the Subjection of the intire Family 13. Shechem Whose Inhabitants were destroy'd and near which place he had purchased some Land ch 33.19 17. Dothan Compare 2 Kings 6.13 20. We will say So easily do men proceed from one sin to another 23. Stript Joseph Took off that Robe which was a token of his Father's kindness See v. 3. 24. Cast him into a pit He being first bound as Josephus tells us 25. A company of Ishmeelites Of Arabians says the Chaldee And Josephus calls them Arabian Merchants of the Stock of Ishmael 'T is likely it was a mixt Company consisting especially of Ishmeelites and Midianites v. 28. who are elsewhere joined Judg. 8.24 28. 28. Drew up In Reuben's absence as appears from v. 29. Pieces i. e. Shekels See the Note on ch 20.16 29. Rent his clothes In token of his sorrow See v. 34. 30. Is not i. e. Is dead They are said in Scripture Phrase not to be who are dead and appear not among the Living See ch 41.13 and ch 44.20 Whither shall I go I who being the first-born am most accountable for this miscarriage and I who have already incurred my Father's just Displeasure ch 35.22 34. Sack-cloth viz. As a farther testimony of his sorrow Jon. 3.5 35. His sons Who had been the occasion of his sorrow Daughters Dinah and his Son's Wives Grave Put here for the state of the Dead CHAP. XXXVIII The ARGUMENT Judah begetteth Er Onan and Shelah Er marrieth Tamar The wickedness of Onan Judah's Wife dieth He lyeth with Tamar not knowing who she was She conceives with child upon which she is by Judah's means condemned to die He is convinced that she was with child by him upon which she escapes She bringeth forth twins Pharez and Zarah 1. AND it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brethren and turned in to a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah 2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shuah and he took 〈◊〉 and went in unto her 3. And she conceived and bare a son and he called his name Er. 4. And she conceived again and bare a son and she called his name Onan 5. And she yet again conceived and bare a son and called his name Shelah and he was at Chezib when she bare him 6. And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born whose name was Tamar 7. And Er Judah's first-born was wicked in the sight of the LORD and the LORD slew him 8. And Judah said unto Onan Go in unto thy brother's wife and marry her and raise up seed to thy brother 9. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother's wife that he spilled it on the ground lest that he should give seed to his brother 10. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD wherefore he slew him also 11. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law Remain a widow at thy father's house till Shelah my son be grown for he said Lest peradventure he die also as his brethren did and Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house 12. And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died and Judah was comforted and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnath he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite 13. And it was told Tamar saying Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep 14. And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her with a veil and wrapped her self and sat in an open place which is by the way to Timnath for she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given unto him to wife 15. When Judah saw her he thought her to be an harlot because she had covered her face 16. And he turned unto her by the way and said Go to I pray thee let me come in unto thee for he knew not that she was his daughter in law and she said What wilt thou give me that thou mayest come in unto me 17. And he said I will send thee a kid from the flock and she said Wilt thou give me a pledge till thou send it 18. And he said What pledge shall I give thee and she said Thy signet and thy bracelets and thy staff that is in thine hand and he gave it her and came in unto her and she conceived by him 19. And she arose and went away and laid by her veil from her and put on the garments of her widowhood 20. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite to receive his pledge
And he said I am God the God of thy father fear not to go down into Egypt for I will there make of thee a great nation 4. I will go down with thee into Egypt and I will also surely bring thee up again and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes 5. And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him 6. And they took their cattel and their goods which they had gotten in the land of Canaan and came into Egypt Jacob and all his seed with him 7. His sons and his sons sons with him his daughters and his sons daughters and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt 8. And these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt Jacob and his sons Reuben Jacob's first-born 9. And the sons of Reuben Hanoch and Phallu and Hezron and Carmi. 10. And the sons of Simeon Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman 11. And the sons of Levi Gershon Cohath and Merari 12. And the sons of Judah Er and Onan and Shelah and Pharez and Zerah but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul 13. And the sons of Issachar Tola and Phuvah and Job and Shimron 14. And the sons of Zebulun Sered and Elon and Jahleel 15. These be the sons of Leah which she bare unto Jacob in Padanâ—râ—m with his daughter Dinah all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three 16. And the sons of Gad Ziphion and Haggai Shuni and Ezbon Eri and Arodi and Areli 17. And the sons of Asher Jimnah and Ishuah and Isai and Beriah and Serah their sister and the sons of Beriah Heber and Malchiel 18. These are the sons of Zilpah whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter and these she bare unto Jacob even sixteen souls 19. The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife Joseph and Benjamin 20. And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim which Asenath the daughter of Pâ—tipherah priest of On bare unto him 21. And the sons of Benjamin were Bela and Becher and Ashbel Gera and Naaman Ehi and Rosh Muppim and Huppim and Aâ—d 22. These are the sons of Rachel which were born to Jacob all the souls were fourteen 23. And the sons of Dan Hushim 24. And the sons of Naphtali Jahzeel and Guni and Jezer and Shillem 25. These are the sons of Bilhah which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter and she bare these unto Jacob all the souls were seven 26. All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt which came out of his loins besides Jacob's sons wives all the souls were threescore and six 27. And the sons of Joseph which were born him in Egypt were two souls all the souls of the house of Jacob which came into Egypt were threescore and ten 28. And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph to direct his face unto Goshen and they came into the land of Goshen 29. And Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father to Goshen and presented himself unto him and he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while 2298. 1706. 30. And Israel said unto Joseph Now let me die since I have seen thy face because thou art yet alive 31. And Joseph said unto his brethren and unto his father's house I will go up and shew Pharaoh and say unto him My brethren and my father's house which were in the land of Canaan are come unto me 32. And the men are shepherds for their trade hath been to feed cattel and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have 33. And it shall come to pass when Pharaoh shall call you and shall say What is your occupation 34. That ye shall say Thy servants trade hath been about cattel from our youth even untill now both we and also our fathers that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians 1. BEer-sheba A place that was in the South part of Canaan and in the way to Egypt See the Note on ch 21.31 Sacrifices Eucharistical ones for his Safety Joseph's Life and many other Blessings which he had received 2. In the visions of the night See ch 15.1 3. Fear not to go Upon several accounts Jacob might fear to go with his whole Family especially into Egypt Abraham had been injured there ch 12.15 It had been foretold that his Seed should be afflicted by the Egyptians ch 15.13 Isaac had been warned not to go into Egypt ch 26.2 The Egyptians were Men of very different Usages and Manners from the Hebrews v. 34. and ch 43.32 They were also of a different Religion and Jacob besides might fear lest by this means his Posterity should be deprived of the Land of Canaan A great nation And this was made good There were Seventy that went into Egypt and they in the space of Two hundred and ten or fifteen years encreased to about Six hundred thousand Exod. 12.37 Deut. 10.22 4. Bring thee up His Body was brought into Canaan ch 50.3 13. and his Posterity also returned thither 6. Had gotten Or had possessed as the Vulgar renders it Jacob who is therefore to be reckoned in the number of those who went into Egypt See v. 8. 7. His daughters and his sons daughters It appears not that he had above one Daughter viz. Dinah and one Grand-daughter Serah v. 17. But this Enallage of number is very usual with the Sacred Writings in the like case See v. 17. and v. 23. with ch 21.7 8. Jacob and his sons He with his Children says the Vulgar These words do also intimate that Jacob is to be reckoned in the number of the Seventy with his Sons See v. 6. 10. Of Simeon Exod. 6.15 Jemuel called Nemuel Num. 26.12 1 Chron. 4. 24. Ohad omitted Numb 26.12 and 1 Chron. 4.24 and that probably because he died without Children Jachin otherwise called Jarib 1 Chron. 4.24 Zohar called also Zerah Numb 26.13 and 1 Chron. 4.24 15. Thirty and three Reckoning Jacob in the number See v. 8. 19. Jacob's wife She was the Wife which he desired and loved most 21. The sons of Benjamin He was now about the Age of Twenty and seven years allowing him to be twelve or thirteen years younger than Joseph See ch 35.18 Belah 1 Chron. 8.1 Becher 1 Chron. 7.8 23. Sons of Dan See the Note on v. 7. 26. Threescore and six Jacob and Joseph and his two Sons are not to be put into this number 27. Threescore and ten To make up this number Jacob and Joseph with his two Sons ought to be reckoned This being the number of this Family Jacob himself the Head of it is of that number They are not
by establishing his Covenant v. 4. and declares that he remembers his Covenant v. 5. And then follow these words Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH and I will bring you out c. V. 6. with v. 7 8. For the farther clearing of this matter it is to be remembred That God is said to make himself known to those whom he takes into Covenant Thus in Judah is God known Psal 76.1 Again In the day when I chose Israel and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob and made my self known unto them in the land of Egypt when I lifted up my hand unto them saying I am the Lord your God In the day that I lifted up my hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them c. Ezek. 20.5 6. When God entred into Covenant with Abraham it was by the name of God Almighty Gen. 17.1 upon which he promiseth to his Seed the Land of Canaan v. 8. By this name Isaac blesseth Jacob and bestows on him the Blessing of Abraham ch 28.3 4. By this name Jacob blesseth Joseph ch 48.3.49.25 God lets them here know that he who had made a Promise to their Fathers by the name of God Almighty would now confirm His Covenant to them and make his Promise good by the name of JEHOVAH Say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH i. e. I will make good to you what I promised by the name of God Almighty And ye shall know that I am JEHOVAH your God And I will bring you into the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am JEHOVAH Exod. 6.6 7 8. 4. My covenant with them God promised Abraham the Land of Canaan Gen. 15. and renewed this promise afterward 6. Wherefore say c. i. e. Assure them I will make good my promise See v. 7 8. 8. I did swear H. Lift up my hand See Gen. 14.22 9. For anguish of spirit Heb. Shortness or Straitness They were dejected in their Spirits through their bondage and not prone to believe the tidings of their Deliverance See the LXXII 12. Vncircumcised lips That is not eloquent He complained before of an impediment which not being taken away he calls his Lips Uncircumcised 14. The sons of Reuben V. Gen. 46.9 1 Chron. 5.3 This following account is to make way to the stock of Moses and Aaron who descended from Levi the third Son of Jacob and hence it is that the following account of Reuben and Simeon is premised lest they should be thought to be contemned 15. And the sons 1 Chron. 4.24 16. Of the sons of Levi Num. 3.17 1 Chron. 6.1 18. Sons of Kohath Numb 26.57 1 Chron. 6.2 20. Amram V. ch 2.2 Numb 26.59 His father's sister See the Notes on ch 2.1 25. She bare him V. Numb 25.11 27. These are that Moses and Aaron See the Notes on v. 14. 29. I am the LORD The JEHOVAH v. 3. who am ready to accomplish what I have formerly promised 30. Vncircumcised See v. 12. CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT Moses is farther directed and encouraged in his Message to Pharaoh His Rod is turned into a Serpent The Magicians of Egypt do the like Pharaoh's Heart is hardened The Waters are turned into Blood The Magicians do so Pharaoh's Heart is hardened 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses See I have made thee a god to Pharaoh and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet 2. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh that he send the children of Israel out of his land 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt 4. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you that I may lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth mine armies and my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great judgments 5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them 6. And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them so did they 7. And Moses was fourscore years old and Aaron fourscore and three years old when they spake unto Pharaoh 8. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 9. When Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying Shew a miracle for you then thou shalt say unto Aaron Take thy rod and cast it before Pharaoh and it shall become a serpent 10. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh and they did so as the LORD had commanded and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent 11. Then Pharaoh also called the wisemen and the sorcerers now the magicians of Egypt they also did in like manner with their inchantments 12. For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods 13. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart that he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Pharaoh's heart is hardened he refuseth to let the people go 15. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning lo he goeth out unto the water and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand 16. And thou shalt say unto him The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying Let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness and behold hitherto thou wouldest not hear 17. Thus saith the LORD In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD behold I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river and they shall be turned to blood 18. And the fish that is in the river shall die and the river shall stink and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river 19. And the LORD spake unto Moses Say unto Aaron Take thy rod and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt upon their streams upon their rivers and upon their ponds and upon all their pools of water that they may become blood and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone 20. And Moses and Aaron did so as the LORD commanded and he lift up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood 21. And the fish that was in the river died and the river stunk and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt 22. And the magicians of Egypt did so
families and they that were numbred of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred 51. These were the numbred of the children of Israel six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty 52. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 53. Vnto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names 54. To many thou shalt give the more inheritance and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbred of him 55. Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit 56. According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few 57. And these are they that were numbred of the Levites after their families of Gershon the family of the Gershonites of Kobath the family of the Kohathites of Merari the family of the Merarites 58. These are the families of the Levites the family of the Libnites the family of the Hebronites the family of the Mahlites the family of the Mushites the family of the Korathites And Kohath begat Amram 59. And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister 60. And unto Aaron was born Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 61. And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD 62. And those that were numbred of them were twenty and three thousand all males from a month old and upward for they were not numbred among the children of Israel because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel 63. These are they that were numbred by Moses and Eleazar the priest who numbred the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho 64. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbred when they numbred the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai 65. For the LORD had said of them They shall surely die in the wilderness And there was not left a man of them save Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 1. AFter the plague Ch. 25.9 2. From twenty Ch. 1.3 The Number was now taken in order to the dividing the Land among them v. 53. which they were now ready to possess Now was also the Generation of Men dead who were excluded the Land for their Murmuring ch 14.29 with verses 64 and 65 of this Chapter The remainder of them probably being slain by the Plague ch 25.9 Hence this Number is required to be taken after the plague v. 1. 4. Commanded Ch. 1.1 5. Reuben the eldest Gen. 46.8 Exod 6.14 1 Chron. 5.1 7. Forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty When they were numbred ch 1. they were 46500 Their decrease in so great measure must be imputed to their Sin and particularly that which is mentioned chap. 16. 9. Famous Chap. 16.2 10. A sign i. e. A sad Example to others against Rebellion 1 Cor. 10.6 14. Twenty and two thousand and two hundred Thus are they also decreased from 59300 chap. 1. It is probable that many perished with Zimri who was a principal Man of this Tribe chap. 25.14 18. Forty thousand and five hundred Their number ch 1. was 45650. All the Tribes of the Standard of Reuben are remarkably decreased 19. The sons of Judah Gen. 38.1 c. and 46.12 22. Threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred Whereas they were but 72600 chap. 1. Judah out-stripped his Brethren according to Jacob's Prediction Gen. 49.8 25. Threescore and four thousand and three hundred These are increased to this number from 54400 chap. 1. 27. Threescore thousand and five hundred They were but 57400 chap. 1. So that each Tribe belonging to the Standard of Judah was encreased in their Numbers 29. Machir Josh 17.1 33. Zelophehad Ch. 27.1 34. Fifty and two thousand and seven hundred They encreased from 32200 chap. 1. 37. Thirty and two thousand and five hundred They were when they came out of Egypt 40500 ch 1. 41. Forty and five thousand and six hundred They are increased from 35400 chap. 1. 43. Threescore and four thousand and four hundred There were but 62700 chap. 1. 47. Fifty and three thousand and four hundred They were but 41500 chap. 1. 50. Forty and five thousand and four hundred They were 53400 chap. 1. 51. Six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty They were decreased from 603550 chap. 1. to the number of One thousand eight hundred and twenty 54. To many Ch. 33.54 Give the more inheritance Heb. Multiply his inheritance Give the less inheritance Heb. Diminish his inheritance 55. Divided by lot Chap. 33.54 Josh 11.23 and 14.2 This dividing by Lot was very consistent with that Equality which is required v. 54. And the most probable account of this matter is That the several Coasts or Provinces of the whole Land were by Lot adjudged to the several Tribes but then each Tribe was assigned a greater or less portion of that Tract where his Lot fell as the number of its Families were more or fewer This exact measure of their portion was not determined by Lot for then Simeon could not justly have been placed within the Tract where Judah inherited Josh 19. 57. And these are they c. Exod. 6.16 17 18 19. These are numbred by themselves because they were not to inherit with the other Tribes and not distinctly numbred here 59. Jochebed Exod 2.1 2. and 6.20 61. Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10.2 chap. 3.4 1 Chron. 24.2 62. Twenty and three thousand They are now increased chap. 3. 64. Among these i.e. Among the Tribes to whom the Land was to be divided by Lot 65. Shall surely die Chap. 14.28 1 Cor. 10.5 6. CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT The Request of the Daughters of Zelophehad The Law concerning Inheritances thereupon Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses upon the notice he received of his Death 1. THen came the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher the son of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph and these are the names of his daughters Mahlah Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah 2. And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the princes and all the congregation by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation saying 3. Our father died in the wilderness and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah but died in his own sin and had no sons 4. Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family because he hath no son Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father 5. And Moses brought their cause before the
LORD 6. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 7. The daughters of Zelophehad speak right thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them 8. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying If a man die and have no son then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter 9. And if he have no daughter then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren 10. And if he have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren 11. And if his father have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family and he shall possess it and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment as the LORD commanded Moses 12. And the LORD said unto Moses Get thee up into this mount Abarim and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel 13. And when thou hast seen it thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother was gathered 14. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desart of Zin in the strife of the congregation to sanctifie me at the water before their eyes that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin 15. And Moses spake unto the LORD saying 16. Let the LORD the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd 18. And the LORD said unto Moses Take thee Joshua the son of Nâ—â— a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hand upon him 19. And set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient 21. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD at his word shall they go out and at his word they shall come in both he and all the children of Israel with him even all the congregation 22. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation 23. And he laid his hands upon him and gave him a charge as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses 1. ZElophehad Ch. 26.13 Josh 17.3 3. Died Chap. 14.35 and 26.64 65. Korah Chap. 16. In his own sin i. e. Not as a Ring-leader of any Rebellion or Sedition or as a more notorious Sinner than other Men but as a common and ordinary Sinner to whom yet Death is due 4. Done away Heb. Diminished Their Father being no notorious Sinner his Children might well plead for an Inheritance which these Women had a fair occasion to do in their Father's right at this time because the Summ of the People was just now taken in order to the dividing the Land among them chap. 26.53 5. Brought their cause before the LORD That is He enquired of God in this matter and to that purpose it is probable he went into the Tabernacle See chap. 7.89 and Exod. 25.22 9. Vnto his brethren That is Upon supposition that his Father be dead For if his Father be alive the Inheritance as the Jews say with great probability returns to him and comes not to his Brethren first excepting onely where the Widow of the deceased is married to a surviving Brother as may be collected from v. 10 11. The Father is supposed to be dead v. 10. it being very improbable otherwise that his Brethren should rather inherit than he especially when it is provided that the Inheritance should pass to him that is next of the Family of him who is deceased v. 11. And that the Brethren's claim is from the Father as they were his Children rather than as the Brethren of the deceased vid. Selden de Success cap. XI 12. Get thee up Deut. 32.49 Into this mount Abarim There were a Tract of Mountains so called in the Plains of Moab ch 33.47 This Mountain was called Nebo Deut. 32.49 And they are called Abarim it is like because they were near the passage which was over Jordan as the Hebrew word intimates 13. Aaron Chap. 20.24 14. Rebelled Ch. 20.24 See the Notes on ch 20.12 Water Exod. 17.7 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them i. e. Which may rule and govern them in War and Peace and lead them as a Shepherd doth his Flock Deut. 28.6 When Moses expressed his unfitness for Government he says I can no more go out and come in Deut. 31.2 See Psal 121.8 18. Spirit i. e. The Spirit of God enabling him for his great Office He was in this a Type of Jesus Christ Joh. 3.34 with Isa 11.2 Lay thine hand upon him i. e. By that Rite set him a-part to his Office See Numb 8.10 This laying on of Hands see v. 23. was followed with encrease of Gifts from God And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of Wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him Deut. 34.9 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him i. e. Thou shalt not treat him barely as a Servant but admit him forthwith as a Partner in the Government as becomes him who is the Elect Judge or Ruler of his People 21. Ask counsel viz. In weighty and important Matters After the judgment of Vrim Exod. 28.30 CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Of the daily or continual Burnt-offering Of the additional Sacrifice on the Sabbath-day Of that of the New Moons Of that of the Passeover and Feast of Vnleavened Bread Of that of the Feast of Weeks 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel and say unto them My offering and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire for a sweet savour unto me shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season 3. And thou shalt say unto them This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD two lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering 4. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even 5. And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat-offering mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oyl 6. It is a continual burnt-offering which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD 7. And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong
of wait 23. Or with any stone wherewith a man may die seeing him not and cast it upon him that he die and was not his enemy neither sought his harm 24. Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments 25. And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge whither he was fled and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high-priest which was anointed with the holy oyl 26. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge whither he was fled 27. And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge and the revenger of blood kill the slayer he shall not be guilty of blood 28. Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high-priest but after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession 29. So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings 30. Whoso killeth any person the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses but one witness shall not testifie against any person to cause him to die 31. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer which is guilty of death but he shall be surely put to death 32. And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that it fled to the city of his refuge that he should come again to dwell in the land until the death of the priest 33. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are for blood it defileth the land and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it 34. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit wherein I dwell for I the LORD dwell amâ—ng the children of Israel 2. Command Josh 21.2 4. A thousand cubits round about The Greek Interpreters say two thousand And this seems to agree best with what is said in the following Verse But the difficulty which ariseth from comparing these words with verse 5. may be solved without supposing any Error in the Hebrew Text in this place For supposing One thousand Cubits in length from each side of the City to be the extent of its Suburbs which is here affirmed the Two thousand Cubits v. 5. is but the Measure of the breadth of the Suburbs on each quarter of the City viz. On the East and South and West and North-sides of it Nor does it appear that the fifth Verse imports any more than the breadth of the several Sides or extremities of the Suburbs 6. Six cities for refuge Deut. 4.41 Josh 20.2 and 21.3 These were for the relief of the Man-slayer but not of the Murderer verse 21. To them ye shall add Heb. Above them ye shall give 8. He inheriteth Heb. They inherit 10. When Deut. 19.2 Josh 20.2 11. Vnawares Heb. By Error i. e. Without Malice or Design See v. 20 21. 12. From the avenger He is called The avenger of blood v. 19. The Hebrew signifies a Redeemer and because the right of Redemption of Estates belonged to the nearest of the kindred it imports such a Kinsman here Vntil he stand before the Congregation The City of Refuge protected the Innocent and such as were not condemned but it did not protect them from giving an account before the Judges This they were obliged to do at their entrance into the City of Refuge Josh 20.4 or in the place where the fact was committed 15. For the stranger Or Proselyte as the Greek have it i. e. One who undertakes the Religion of the Israelites and was thereby distinguished from the Sojourner who though he did not oblige himself to all their Laws was yet permitted to live among them 16. And if he smite him c. Exod. 21.14 Here are mentioned an Instrument of Iron a Stone and Hand-weapon of Wood because it is presumable that he who strikes with such killing Instruments does intend to take away life whereas it is indeed the Design and Enmity which speak a Man a Murderer v. 20 21. 17. With throwing a stone Heb. With a stone of the hand 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer He may not onely do it lawfully but is obliged to see it be done by others at least for the Murderer ought not to live See v. 31. and the City of Refuge must not protect him Deut. 19.12 13. 20. If he Deut. 19.11 21. With his hand In this case where the Enmity is proved he that kills is a Murdererer whatever Instrument he used And on the other hand he that did not hate is no Murderer though he killed a Man with a killing Instrument See the Note on v. 16. 22. Without enmity Exod. 21.13 24. The congregation The Judges or Elders to whom such Causes belong See v. 12. and Josh 20.4 25. Vnto the death of the high-priest That being a time of publick mourning when their great Advocate died was a fit season for Men to lay aside their private Animosities and forget their particular Feuds and Quarrels Beside this does fairly intimate that our Redemption and our Liberty from the guilt of our sins is owing to the death of Christ our great High-priest 27. He shall not be guilty of blood Heb. No blood shall be to him 29. In all your dwellings That is In the whole Land which you are going to possess you shall observe this Law which did not oblige them out of their own Land See v. 10. 30. Mouth of witnesses Deut. 17.6 and 19.15 Matt. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 Heb. 10.28 31. Satisfaction Or Price Guilty of death Heb. Faulty to die 33. Pollute Or Make it guilty The land cannot be cleansed Heb. There can be no expiation for the land 34. Defile not Do not render unclean by your evil practices CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT A Question put to Moses relating to the Inheritances of Daughters The Law concerning the Marriage of Heiresses The Marriage of the Daughters of Zelophehad agreeably to that Law 1. AND the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph came 〈◊〉 and spake before Moses and before the princes the chief fathers of the children of Israel 2. And they said The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophebad our brother unto his daughters 3. And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and shall be put to the inheritance of the
2. A fugitive i. e. Thou shalt wander about not having a setled and fixed Habitation 14. From the face of the Earth That is from that land or ground where now I am and which I have tilled The Hebrew word which is here rendred Earth is not the same word which is so rendred v. 12. but a word of a narrower extent and which is rendred ground v. 2 3. And in those places it signifies tilled ground and ground improved and is used with a particular reference to that very ground which Cain tilled The same word is used v. 11. And though it be rendred Earth there yet it might have been as well rendred Ground as it is in the places mentioned and as it signifies When Cain is said to be cursed from the Earth it seems to referr especially to that ground where he then was and where he shed his Brother's bloud And Cain says here that he is driven from the face of the Earth i. e. From that Ground or Land where he was for it cannot be understood of the Earth in the largest sence in which he was to be a fugitive and vagabond v. 12. From thy face shall I be hid i. e. I shall be separated from that place where thou hast more peculiarly manifested thy self This God does in his Church and this he did at the Altar or place where the Sacrifices were offered See verse 4. and Gen. 28.16 17. Every one that findeth Whether Man or Beast The guilty Man fears every thing and flies when no Man pursues It is reasonable to believe that there were more of Mankind in the World than those whose Birth is expresly mentioned See verse 16 17. and chap. 5.4 15. Seven-fold i. e. Abundantly Compare Levit. 26.28 Mark Whether by over-awing the rest of the Creatures or what other way soever it were God thought fit to preserve the first Murderer alive as a lasting and sad Example to the World of the greatness of his Crime 16. Nod So called from Cain's wandring up and down 17. He builded Or he was building as it is in the Hebrew It does not appear from the original Text that he finished it much less that he had a fixed habitation there v. 12. 19. Two Wives Polygamy was a deviation from the first institution of Marriage Gen. 2.24 It is brought into use by Cain's off-spring Though it were afterwards indulged to the Israelites and so was Divorce also for the hardness of their hearts Matt. 19.8 20. Have cattel Or of Shepherds and of such as feed cattel which agrees with several ancient Versions 23. And Lamech said c. The occasion of this Speech of Lamech's not being revealed it cannot be reasonably expected that any man should positively determine the full sence thereof Thus much seems plain that they are vaunting words intimating his expectation of God's extraordinary regard to him though he had or should kill a man as Cain did many times beyond what he shewed to Cain as appears from v. 24. He seems from Cain's indemnity to encourage himself in his violence and wickedness 25. Called i. e. She called as it is in the Hebrew Text which she did not do without the consent of Adam as appears from chap. 5.3 26. Then began c. After Seth and Enos were born Religion did arise to a greater degree than it had arrived to under the Off-spring of Cain who are therefore onely called the children of Men whereas the Religious Off-spring of Seth and Enos are called the children of God ch 6. v. 2. CHAP. V. The ARGUMENT The Genealogy the Age and Death of the Off-spring of Adam by Seth unto the days of Noah being an account of the Patriarchs or principal Heads of Families of those who continued in the Worship of the true God See the Note on ch 6. v. 2. The Piety of Enoch and his Translation The Birth of Noah and of his Sons 1. THis is the book of the generations of Adam in the day that God created man in the likeness of God made he him 2. Male and female created be them and blessed them and called their name Adam in the day when they were created 3. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years and begat a son in his own likeness after his image and called his name Seth. 4. And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years and he begat sons and daughters 5. And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years and he died 6. And Seth lived an hundred and five years and begat Enos 7. And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters 8. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years and he died 9. And Enos lived ninety years and begat Cainan 10. And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years and begat sons and daughters 11. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years and he died 12. And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel 13. And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years and begat sons and daughters 14. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years and he died 15. And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years and begat Jared 16. And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years and begat sons and daughters 17. And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years and he died 18. And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years and he begat Enoch 19. And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years and begat sons and daughters 20. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years and he died 21. And Enoch lived sixty and five years and begat Methuselah 22. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years and begat sons and daughters 23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years 24. And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him 25. And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years and begat Lamech 26. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years and begat sons and daughters 27. And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years and he died 28. And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years and begat a son 29. And he called his name Noah saying This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed 30. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years and begat sons and daughters 31. And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years and he died 32. And Noah was five hundred years old and Noah begat Shem Ham and Japheth 1. THE Book of the generations i. e. The Catalogue of those that after
the Birth of Seth in that line did descend from Adam The word Book among the Ancients was applied to very small Writings or Chapters Thus the Bill of Divorcement is called Deut. 24.1 An Epistle 2 Sam. 11.14 A Register of Names Nehem. 7.5 2. Adam Or Man Gen. 1.27 3. An hundred and thirty years By years are meant Solar not Lunar years throughout the whole Chapter If a year were put for a month in these places then would Cainan Mahalaleel and Enoch be supposed to have had Children before they were six years old In his own lickness i. e. Like to him not onely in his faculties and bodily gifts and endowments but also in his mortality and the depravedness of his nature 5. All the days c. This very particular account which is given of Adam and his Descendants by Seth to the Floud serves to set forth the care and good providence of God And that it does I. As it assures us of God's blessing those Men in giving them Children both sons and daughters there not being any among them that was deprived of this Blessing II. By acquainting us with the long lives of those Men for the better replenishing of the Earth which God had made III. As it informs us of God's peculiar care of these good Men in exempting them from the Floud For it appears by computation that these righteous persons were not destroyed by the Floud which was brought upon the world of the ungodly 2 Pet. 2.5 There was not any one of them besides Noah whose Age reached unto the Floud And that seems to be the reason that the time of their death is precisely set down here which is not thus particularly done in the generations which are mentioned Gen. 11. 22. Walked with God i. e. Was a Religious Man he pleased God and had therefore a true faith in Him Heb. 11.5 6. and a firm belief of future rewards Jude v. 14 15. 24. He was not i. e. He was not found Heb. 11.5 viz. among the Inhabitants of this lower World God took him i. e. God took him to himself He was translated that he should not see death Heb. 11.5 29. Noah He was the tenth from Adam The Hebrew word signifies rest His Father fore-tells of him This same shall comfort us He brought comfort and rest to mankind By improving the Art of Husbandry he eased Men as to the toil of their hands ch 9. v. 20. He was also a means of saving Mankind from utter ruine by the Floud and upon his Oblations received assurance that God would not again curse the ground any more for man's sake ch 8. v. 21. 32. Shem Ham and Japheth Japheth was the eldest Shem the second and Ham the youngest See ch 7. v. 6. with ch 11. v. 10. ch 9. v. 24. ch 10. v. 21. The following Story being most concerned in the Off-spring of Shem and the Church of God being among his Off-spring he is here named in the first place CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT The Causes which moved God to bring the Floud upon the World Noah findeth favour A character of him and an account of his Sons Noah is commanded to build an Ark. He is directed as to the Matter Form and End of it 1. AND it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them 2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose 3. And the LORD said My Spirit shall not always strive with man for that he also is flesh yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years 4. There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bare children to them the same became mighty men which were of old men of renown 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually 6. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart 7. And the LORD said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God 10. And Noah begat three sons Shem Ham and Japheth 11. The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence 12. And God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth 13. And God said unto Noah The end of all flesh is come before me for the earth is filled with violence through them and behold I will destroy them with the earth 14. Make thee an ark of Gopher-wood rooms shalt thou make in the ark and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch 15. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits the breadth of it fifty cubits and the height of it thirty cubits 16. A window shalt thou make to the ark and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof with lower second and third stories shalt thou make it 17. And behold I even I do bring a floud of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life from under heaven and every thing that is in the earth shall die 18. But with thee will I establish my covenant and thou shalt come into the ark thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy sons wives with thee 19. And of every living thing of all flesh two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark to keep them alive with thee they shall be male and female 20. Of fowls after their kind and of cattel after their kind of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind two of every sort shall come unto thee to keep them alive 21. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten and thou shalt gather it to thee and it shall be for food for thee and for them 22. Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him so did he 2. The Sons of God i. e. The Worshippers of God who were descended from Seth chap. 4. v. 26. These are called God's Children Compare Deut. 14.1 2 Cor. 6.18 with Isai 43.6 7.44.5.65.1 The daughters of men That is the daughters of the ungodly Race of Cain 1 Cor. 3.3 Chose Their choice was determined by Beauty whereas favour is deceitfull and beauty is vain Prov. 31.30 3. My Spirit shall not always strive with man i. e. Man
23.19 In Hebron Or near Hebron So the Hebrew Particle sometimes signifies 1 Sam. 29.1 2 Chron. 15.16 CHAP. XIV The ARGUMENT Four Kings overcome five in Battel Lot is taken Captive and his Goods become a spoil The news of Lot's Captivity is brought to Abram He pursues the Conquerors and rescueth Lot c. Melchizedek blesseth Abram and receives Tithes of him Abram refuseth to enrich himself with the Spoils he had taken Having given a part of them to those who were partners with him in this expedition restores the remainder to the King of Sodom 1. AND it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar Arioch king of Ellasar Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of nations 2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom and with Birsha king of Gomorrah Shinab king of Admah and Shemeber king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela which is Zoar. 3. All these were joyned together in the vale of Siddim which is the salt sea 4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer and in the thirteenth year they rebelled 5. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim and the Zuzims in Ham and the Emims in Shaveh-Kirjathaim 6. And the Horites in their mount Seir unto El-paran which is by the wilderness 7. And they returned and came to En-Mishpat which is Kadesh and smote all the country of the Amalekites and also the Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-Tamar 8. And there went out the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela the same is Zoar and they joyned battel with them in the vale of Siddim 9. With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam and with Tidal king of nations and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar four kings with five 10. And the vale of Siddim was full of slime-pits and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell there and they that remained fled to the mountain 11. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their victuals and went their way 12. And they took Lot Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom and his goods and departed 13. And there came one that had escaped and told Abram the Hebrew for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner and these were confederate with Abram 14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive he armed his trained servants born in his own house three hundred and eighteen and pursued them unto Dan. 15. And he divided himself against them he and his servants by night and smote them and pursued them unto Hobah which is on the left hand of Damascus 16. And he brought back all the goods and also brought again his brother Lot and his goods and the women also and the people 17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings that were with him at the valley of Shaveh which is the king's dale 18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine and he was the priest of the most high God 19. And he blessed him and said Blessed be Abram of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth 20. And blessed be the most high God which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand and he gave hiâ— tithes of all 21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram Give me the persons and take the goods to thy self 22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom I have lift up my hand unto the LORD the most high God the possessor of heaven and earth 23. That I will not take from a threed even to a shooe latchet and that I will not take any thing that is thine lest thou shouldest say I have made Abram rich 24. Save only that which the young men have eaten and the portion of the men which went with me Aner Eshcol and Mamre let them take their portion 1. SHinar i. e. Babylon See the Note on ch 10.10 And because Nimrod reigned there some of the Jews think Amraphel to be Nimrod Ellasar This is thought to be Syria Elam See ch 10. v. 22. Of nations i. e. Of a place whose Inhabitants were of divers Nations and People met together This is supposed to be the same which was afterwards called Galilee See Josh 12.23 2. Zoar See ch 13. v. 10. These five Cities above-named lay near each other on the East of the Inheritance of Judah in the Land of Canaan 3. All these i. e. These five Kings last named Were joined together They were not onely Neighbours but Confederates also as the Greek Interpreters intimate See v. 4. Vale of Siddim So called from the open Fields as the Chaldee rendring implies Salt sea So called afterwards even in the time in which this Book was written For the wickedness of its Inhabitants it was rendred a barren place Deut. 29.23 Psal 107. v. 34. 5. Rephaims The Giants or Mighty men say the Seventy and Chaldee A people of force and power in the Land of Canaan ch 15.20 Deut. 3.13 compare Deut. 2.11 in the Hebrew Text and with the Context there Ashteroth Karnaim This City was in Basan placed between two high Mountains whence it was called Ashteroth Karnaim Karnaim signifies two horns or high places Deut. 1.4 Zuzims Another strong people as the Greek and Chaldee intimate Emims Of them see Deut. 2.10 11. In Shaveh Or in the Plain as it is in the Margent Kirjathaim Josh 13.19 6. Horites A people that dwelt in Seir Deut. 2.22 Gen. 36.20 El-paran Or the Plain of Paran a City near the Wilderness so called Gen. 21.21 Numb 13.3 7. En-Mishpat The fountain of Judgment Hebr. Possibly it might be the place wherein the Controversies of the neighbouring places were decided which might be the occasion why it was so called Amalekites Afterwards so called from Amalek Gen. 36.12 Hazezon-Tamar The name of a City The Chaldee renders it Engedi And very good reason there is for that rendring Compare 2 Chron. 20.2 This City belonged afterward to the Tribe of Judah Josh 15.62 10. Fell there i. e. Were there discomfited 14. His Brother i. e. His Kinsman He was his Brother's Son Compare v. 12. and ch 13.8 The word Brother is taken in the Scripture in a large sense Lot was however Abram's Brother he having married Sarai the Sister of Lot Armed Or brought forth Trained Or instructed See the Note on ch 12.5 Dan This says Josephus is one of the Fountains of the River Jordan 15. Damascus A City of Syria and in after-times the head thereof Isa 7.8 17. King's-dale A place that retained that name unto David's time and is probably the same which is mentioned 2 Sam. 18.18 18. Melchizedek The word signifies King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 Salem i. e. Of Jerusalem says the Chaldee Salem
of all the goods of his Master in his hand i. e. He took not onely ten Camels but of the rest of Abraham's goods which were under his trust and care See v. 53. and ch 39. v. 4. Mesopotamia It signifies a place in the midst of Rivers and denotes that part of Syria largely taken called for that reason Aram-naharaim The place is called Padan-aram ch 25. v. 20. City of Nahor i. e. The City where he dwelt viz. Haran Compare ch 27.43 and ch 28.10 and ch 29.4 14. Let it come to pass c. This was not said without the Divine direction which Abraham had before assured him of v. 7. See the like cases in Judg. 6.17 37. 1 Sam. 14.9 16. Virgin This is sufficiently explained by what follows 22. Of half a shekel weight See the Note on ch 20.16 and Exod. 38.26 23. Lodge in As he did before v. 17. so he now makes trial of her hospitality and kindness a vertue very agreeable to his Master's practice ch 18. v. 4 5. 26. Worshipped This is more than bowing of the head and implies at least the prostration of the whole body v. 52. Exod. 4.31 Compare Matt. 8.2 with Luk. 5.12 28. Her Mother's house Or apartment The Women had in those times their separate tents and abiding-places See the Note on chap. 23. v. 2. 32. He ungirded i. e. Laban or Laban's Servants says Josephus See the like manner of speech ch 37.28 36. All that he hath Having made him his Heir ch 21.10 12. and ch 25.5 6. 50. Laban and Bethuel Laban the Son is named before his Father and v. 55. without him It is probable that Bethuel left the management of affairs to Laban himself being aged and infirm and not much concerning himself in the affairs of his House 53. Precious things viz. Out of that store mentioned v. 10. 57. Enquire at her mouth i. e. Ask her consent as to this sudden departure 59. Her Nurse viz. Deborah chap. 35.8 60. Sister So she was to Laban and being of that family might well be called by reason of her Consanguinity a Sister to the rest of her kindred 63. To meditate Or to pray the Hebrew word will well bear that sense Compare Psal 102. v. 1. which yet does not exclude Meditation accompanying it 65. Therefore she took a veil As the manner was for Women to do upon their marrying in token of subjection See 1 Cor. 11.10 and the Notes upon Gen. 20.16 67. Sarah's Tent Which she had apart by herself See v. 28. His Mother's death This happened three years before as appears by comparing Gen. 17.7 with ch 23. v. 1. and chap. 25. v. 20. CHAP. XXV The ARGUMENT The Posterity of Abraham by Keturah Abraham disposeth of his Goods dies and is buried God bâ—â—sseth Isaac The Posterity of Ishmael his Death and the place of his Posterity's abode Rebekah is barren Isaac prays for her She conceived and brought forth Jacob and Esau A very different account given of them Esau sold his birth-right to Jacob. 1. THen again Abraham took a wife and her name was Keturah 2. And she bare him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah 3. And Jokshan begat Sheba and Dedan And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim 4. And the sons of Midian Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abidah and Eldaah all these were the children of Keturah 5. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac 6. But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from Isaac his son while he yet lived eastward unto the east country 7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived an hundred threescore and fifteen years 2183. 1821. 8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost and died in a good old age an old man and full of years and was gathered to his people 9. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite which is before Mamre 10. The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth there was Abraham buried and Sarah his wife 11. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham that God blessed his son Isaac and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi 12. Now these are the generations of Ishmael Abraham's son whom Hagar the Egyptian Sarah's hand-maid bare unto Abraham 13. And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael by their names according to their generations the first born of Ishmael Nebaioth and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam 14. And Mishma and Dumah and Massa 15. Hadar and Tema Jetur Naphish and Kedemah 16. These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names by their towns and by their castles twelve princes according to their nations 17. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael an hundred and thirty and seven years and he gave up the ghost and died and was gathered unto his people 18. And thy dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt as thou goest towards Assyria and he died in the presence of all his brethren 19. And these are the generations of Isaac Abraham's son Abraham begat Isaac 20. And Isaac was fourty years old when he took Rebekah to wife the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-Aram the sister to Laban the Syrian 21. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife because she was barren and the LORD was intreated of him and Rebekah his wife conceived 22. And the children strugled together within her and she said If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the LORD 23. And the LORD said unto her Two nations are in thy womb and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels and the one people shall be stronger then the other people and the elder shall serve the younger 24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled behold there were twins in her womb 2168. 1836. 25. And the first came out red all over like an hairy garment and they called his name Esau 26. And after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his name was called Jacob and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them 27. And the boys grew and Esau was a cunning hunter a man of the field and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents 28. And Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29. And Jacob sod pottage and Esau came from the field and he was faint 30. And Esau said to Jacob Feed me I pray thee with that same red pottage for I am faint therefore was his name called Edom. 31. And Jacob said Sell me this day thy birth-right 32. And Esau said Behold I am at the point to die and what profit shall this birth-right do to me 33. And Jacob said Swear to me this day and he sware
his Father's advice says Josephus and contrary to the direction of his Parents and Superiors see ch 24.3 and 27.46 and 28.1 6 8. and it is expressly said that this occasioned a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebekah v. 35. CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT Isaac sendeth Esau for Venison with the hope of receiving his blessing Jacob being directed and assisted by his mother prevents his brother Esau and obtains the blessing Esau returns to his father from hunting with expectation of the blessing Isaac refuseth to reverse the blessing which he had given to Jacob. Esau hates Jacob and designs his death Jacob escapes by his mother's advice She is grieved at the daughters of Heth. 1. AND it came to pass that when Isaac was old 2245. 1760. and his eyes were dim so that he could not see he called Esau his eldest son and said unto him My son and he said unto him Behold here am I. 2. And he said Behold now I am old I know not the day of my death 3. Now therefore take I pray thee thy weapons thy quiver and thy bow and go out to the field and take me some venison 4. And make me savoury meat such as I love and bring it to me that I may eat that my soul may bless thee before I die 5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son and Esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it 6. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son saying Behold I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother saying 7. Bring venison and make me savoury meat that I may eat and bless thee before the LORD before my death 8. Now therefore my son obey my voice according to that which I command thee 9. Go now to the flock and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats and I will make them savoury meat for thy father such as he loveth 10. And thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death 11. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother Behold Esau my brother is an hairy man and I am a smooth man 12. My father peradventure will feel me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing 13. And his mother said unto him Vpon me be thy curse my son only obey my voice and go fetch me them 14. And he went and fetched and brought them to his mother and his mother made savoury meat such as his father loved 15. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau which were with her in the house and put them upon Jacob her younger son 16. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck 17. And she gave the savoury meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob. 18. And he came unto his father and said My father And he said Here am I who art thou my son 19. And Jacob said unto his father I am Esau thy first-born I have done according as thou badest me arise I pray thee sit and eat of my venison that thy soul may bless me 20. And Isaac said unto his son How is it that thou hast found it so quickly my son And he said Because the LORD thy God brought it to me 21. And Isaac said unto Jacob Come near I pray thee that I may feel thee my son whether thou be my very son Esau or not 22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father and he felt him and said The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau 23. And he discerned him not because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands So he blessed him 24. And he said Art thou my very son Esau And he said I am 25. And he said Bring it near to me and I will eat of my son's venison that my soul may bless thee and he brought it near to him and he did eat and he brought him wine and he drank 26. And his father Isaac said unto him Come near now and kiss me my son 27. And he came near and kissed him and he smelled the smell of his raiment and blessed him and said See the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed 28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of corn and wine 29. Let people serve thee and nations bow down to thee be lord over thy brethren and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee cursed be every one that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee 30. And it came to pass assoon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father that Esau his brother came in from his hunting 31. And he also had made savoury meat and brought it unto his father and said unto his father Let my father arise and eat of his son's venison that thy soul may bless me 32. And Isaac his father said unto him Who art thou And he said I am thy son thy first-born Esau 33. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly and said Who where is he that hath taken venison and brought it me and I have eaten of all before thou camest and have blessed him yea and he shall be blessed 34. And when Esau heard the words of his father he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his father Bless me even me also O my father 35. And he said Thy brother came with subtilty and hath taken away thy blessing 36. And he said Is not he rightly named Jacob for he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and he said hast thou not reserved a blessing for me 37. And Isaac answered and said unto Esau Behold I have made him thy lord and all his brethren have I given to him for servants and with corn and wine have I sustained him and what shall I do now unto thee my son 38. And Esau said unto his father Hast thou but one blessing my father bless me even me also O my father And Esau lift up his voice and wept 39. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him Behold thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above 40. And by the sword shalt thou live and shalt serve thy brother and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck 41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart The days of mourning for my father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob. 42. And these words of Esau her elder
if he said thus The ring-straked shall be thy hire then bare all the cattel ring-straked 9. Thus God hath taken away the cattel of your father and given them to me 10. And it came to pass at the time that the cattel conceived that I lifted up mine eyes and saw in a dream and behold the rams which leaped upon the cattel were ring-straked speckled and grisled 11. And the Angel of God spake unto me in a dream saying Jacob And I said Here am I. 12. And he said Lift up now thine eyes and see all the rams which leap upon the cattel are ring-straked speckled and grisled for I have seen all that Laban doth unto thee 13. I am the God of Beth-el where thou anointedst the pillar and where thou vowedst a vow unto me now arise get thee out from this land and return unto the land of thy kindred 14. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house 15. Are we not counted of him strangers for he hath sold us and hath quite devoured also our money 16. For all the riches which God hath taken from ouâ— father that is ours and our children's now then whatsoever God hath said unto thee do 17. Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives upon camels 18. And he carried away all his cattel and all his goods which he had gotten the cattel of his getting which he had gotten in Padan-Aram for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan 19. And Laban went to shear his sheep and Rachel had stollen the images that were her fathers 20. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian in that he told him not that he fled 21. So he fled with all that he had and he rose up and passed over the river and set his face toward the mount Gilead 22. And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled 23. And he took his brethren with him and pursued after him seven days journey and they overtook him in the mount Gilead 24. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said unto him Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad 25. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead 26. And Laban said to Jacob What hast thou done that thou hast stollen away unawares to me and carried away my daughters as captives taken with the sword 27. Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly and steal away from me and didst not tell me that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs with tabret and with harp 28. And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters thou hast now done foolishly in so doing 29. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight saying Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad 30. And now though thou wouldest needs be gone because thou sore longedst after thy fathers house yet wherefore hast thou stollen my gods 31. And Jacob answered and said to Laban Because I was afraid for I said Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me 32. With whomsoever thou findest thy gods let him not live before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me and take it to thee for Jacob knew not that Rachel had stollen them 33. And Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the two maid-servant's tents but he found them not Then went he out of Leah's tent and entred into Rachel's tent 34. Now Rachel had taken the images and put them in the camel's furniture and sat upon them and Laban searched all the tent but found them not 35. And she said to her father Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee for the custom of women is upon me and he searched but found not the images 36. And Jacob was wroth and chode with Laban and Jacob answered and said to Laban What is my trespass what is my sin that thou hast so hotly pursued after me 37. Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff what hast thou found of all thy houshold-stuff set it here before my brethren and thy brethren that they may judge betwixt us both 38. This twenty years have I been with thee thy ews and thy she-goats have not cast their young and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten 39. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee I bare the loss of it of my hand didst thou require it whether stollen by day or stollen by night 40. Thus I was in the day the drought consumed me and the frost by night and my sleep departed from mine eyes 41. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy cattel and thou hast changed my wages ten times 42. Except the God of my father the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac had been with me surely thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands and rebuked thee yesternight 43. And Laban answered and said unto Jacob These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine and what can I do this day unto these my daughters or unto their children which they have born 44. Now therefore come thou let us make a covenant I and thou and let it be for a witness between me and thee 45. And Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar 46. And Jacob said unto his brethren Gather stones and they took stones and made an heap and they did eat there upon the heap 47. And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha but Jacob called it Galeed 48. And Laban said This heap is a witness between me and thee this day Therefore was the name of it called Galeed 49. And Mizpah for he said The LORD watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another 50. If thou shalt afflict my daughters or if thou shalt take other wives besides my daughters no man is with us See God is witness betwixt me and thee 51. And Laban said to Jacob Behold this heap and behold this pillar which I have cast betwixt me and thee 52. This heap be witness and this pillar be witness that I will not pass over this heap to thee and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me for harm 53. The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor the God of their father judge betwixt us And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac 54. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount and called his brethren to eat bread and they did
after and Rachel and Joseph hindermost 3. And he passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times untill he came near to his brother 4. And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept 5. And he lift up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said Who are those with thee And he said The children which God hath graciously given thy servant 6. Then the hand-maidens came near they and their children and they bowed themselves 7. And Leah also with her children came near and bowed themselves and after came Joseph near and Rachel and they bowed themselves 8. And he said What meanest thou by all this drove which I met And he said These are to find grace in the sight of my lord 9. And Esau said I have enough my brother keep that thou hast unto thy self 10. And Jacob said Nay I pray thee if now I have found grace in thy sight then receive my present at my hand for therefore I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me 11. Take I pray thee my blessing that is brought to thee because God hath dealt graciously with me and because I have enough and he urged him and he took it 12. And he said Let us take our journey and let us go and I will go before thee 13. And he said unto him My lord knoweth that the children are tender and the flocks and herds with young are with me and if men should over-drive them one day all the flock will die 14. Let my lord I pray thee pass over before his servant and I will lead on softly according as the cattel that goeth before me and the children be able to endure untill I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15. And Esau said Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me and he said What needeth it let me find grace in the sight of my lord 16. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built him an house and made booths for his cattel therefore the name of the place is called Succoth 18. And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan when he came from Padan-Aram and pitched his cent before the city 19. And he bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent at the hand of the children of Hamor Shechem's father for an hundred pieces of money 20. And he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe Israel 2. Hindermost He so placed them that those he loved most he put hindmost as being remotest from danger 3. Before them i. e. Before his Wives and Children the better to provide for their safety Seven times i. e. Many or sundry times as this Phrase signifies 1 Sam. 2.5 Prov. 26.25 4. Kissed him As a token of Kindness and Friendship And this is an instance of Jacob's prevailing with Men as he had done with God ch 32.28 Prov. 16.7 5. Women Who followed after him in three Companies v. 1 3. Graciously given ch 30.2 with ch 29.31 7. Joseph Who was the youngest and at this time about six years old See ch 30.25 9. Enough Or much as it is in the Hebrew 10. For therefore Or Because that as the Hebrew Particles signifie and are rendred ch 38.26 Compare ch 18.5 As though I had seen the face of God q.d. It is greatly comfortable to me to meet thee pacified and reconciled especially as I thereby receive a token of God's Favour also who hath brought this to pass See ch 32.30 2 Sam. 14.17 11. Enough Or All as in the Hebrew 13. With young Or Giving suck as the Chaldee hath it and the Hebrew word signifies 1 Sam. 6.7 14. I come It is not recorded that Jacob did come to him to Seir but yet notwithstanding that he might do it and may well be supposed here to intend it sincerely 17. To Succoth So called by anticipation We find a City that was so called Judg. 8.15 16. An house Not for any long stay as appears afterward 18. To Shalem a city of Shechem Or Safe to the city Shechem He having by the favour of God overcome the difficulties which were in his way came safe into the Promised Land In this sense the Chaldee understands the words And this agrees with Jacob's words ch 28.21 and with God's Promise to him ch 31.3 and ch 32.9 A city of Shechem i. e. To a City called Sychem Act. 7.16 Pitched his tent Or Encamped Hebr. 19. He bought As Abraham had done ch 23. Pieces of money In the Margent it is Lambs The word in this place rather signifies Money and it is likely it was stamped Money also and that with the figure of Lambs as the Greeks afterwards stamped theirs with the figure of an Ox and called that Money so stamped an Ox whence it might easily happen that one word might signifie both the Money and the Creature which was stamped upon it That it signifies Money in this place is evident from Act. 7.16 20. Called it Not that he called the Altar by the name of God But at this Altar he called upon God And to this sense the Chaldee Greek and vulgar Latin render these words Or supposing the words Elliptical they may be rendred thus And called it the Altar of God the God of Israel Which is a fair account of the meaning of this and other places e. g. Moses built an altar and called the name of it JEHOVAH-nissi i. e. The Altar of JEHOVAH nissi Exod. 17.15 And the name of the city shall be The Lord is there i. e. The City where God is Ezek. 48.35 See Psalm 48.1 2. Nothing is more common among us to this day than to call Churches and Consecrated Places by the very Names of those persons to whose Memories they were Consecrated Thus we do when we for brevities sake call them Trinity St. Mary c. CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Shechem defiles Dinah and desires her for his Wife Hamor Shechem's Father treats with Jacob and his Sons to that purpose and offers large Conditions The Sons of Jacob refuse his Offer but promise to intermarry with them on condition that they would Circumcise their Males Hamor and Shechem perswade the Men of their City to submit to the Condition required and they are thereupon Circumcised Simeon and Levi kill the Males who were indisposed by the Circumcision of their Flesh and took their Wealth and Wives Jacob's Expostulation with them and their Reply 1. AND Dinah the daughter of Leah which she bare unto Jacob went out to see the daughters of the land 2. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite prince of the countrey saw her he took her and lay with her and defiled her 3. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob and he loved the damsel and spake kindly
in the last days 22. With Bilhah By which means he lost his Birth-right ch 49.4 26. In Padan-Aram Except Benjamin as is plain from what goes before CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT The Wives and Children of Esau He removes to Mount Seir. The Dukes which descended from him The Sons and Dukes of Seir. Kings of Edom and Dukes 1. NOW these are the generations of Esau who is Edom 2. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite 3. And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter sister of Nebajoth 4. And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz and Bashemath bare Reuel 5. And Aholibamah bare Jeush and Jaalam and Korah These are the sons of Esau which were born unto him in the land of Canaan 6. And Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all the persons of his house and his cattel and all his beasts and all his substance which he had got in the land of Canaan and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7. For their riches were more then that they might dwell together and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattel 8. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir Esau is Edom. 9. And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir. 10. These are the names of Esau's sons Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau 11. And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman Omar Zepho and Gatam and Kenaz 12. And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife 13. And these are the sons of Reuel Nahath and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 14. And these were the sons of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon Esau's wife and she bare to Esau Jeush and Jaalam and Korah 15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau the sons of Eliphaz the first-born son of Esau duke Teman duke Omar duke Zepho duke Kenaz 16. Duke Korah duke Gatam and duke Amalek These are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom these were the sons of Adah 17. And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son duke Nahath duke Zerah duke Shammah duke Mizzah These are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife 18. And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife duke Jeash duke Jaalam duke Korah these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah Esau's wife 19. These are the sons of Esau who is Edom and these are their dukes 20. These are the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah 21. And Dishon and Ezer and Dishan these are the dukes of the Horites the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22. And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman and Lotan's sister was Timna 23. And the children of Shobal were these Alvan and Manahath and Ebal Shepho and Onam 24. And these are the children of Zibeon both Ajah and Anah this was that Anah that found the mâ—les in the wilderness as he fed the asset of Zibeon his father 25. And the children of Anah were these Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah 26. And these are the children of Dishon Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran 27. The children of Ezer are these Bilhan and Zaavan and Achan 28. The children of Dishan are these Vz and Aran. 29. These are the dukes that came of the Horites duke Lotan duke Shobal duke Zibeon duke Anah 30. Duke Dishon duke Ezer duke Dishan these are the dukes that came of Hori among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31. And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king over the children of Israel 32. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom and the name of his city was Dinhabah 33. And Bela died and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead 34. And Jobab died and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead 35. And Husham died and Hadad the son of Bedad who smote Midian in the field of Moab reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Avith 36. And Hadad died and Samlah of Masrekahreigned in his stead 37. And Samlah died and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead 38. And Saul died and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead 39. And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died and Hadar reigned in his stead and the name of his city was Pau and his wife's name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mezahab 40. And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau according to their families after their places by their names duke Timnah duke Alvah duke Jetheth 41. Duke Aholibamah duke Elah duke Pinon 42. Duke Kenaz duke Teman duke Mibzar 43. Duke Magdiel duke Iram These be the dukes of Edom according to their habitations in the land of their possession he is Esau the father of the Edomites 1. THE Generations We have here an Accomplishment of what was foretold ch 25.23 and of what was promised ch 22.17 2. His Wives Who had several Names as well as he See the Note on ch 28.9 and ch 26.34 The daughter of Zibeon i. e. Grand-child of Zibeon referring it to Aholibamah And thus is Anah here distinguished from him mentioned v. 20. the one being the Brother the other the Son of Zibeon Compare v. 24. the Greek here and v. 14. 3. Bashemath See ch 28.9 4. Eliphaz Probably the same who is mentioned in the Book of Job or his Ancestor 6. Into the Country i. e. He left Canaan and went into another Country or Land and that was Mount Seir v. 8. 8. Seir So called from a Man of that name v. 20. God gave this place to Esau Deut. 2.5 Josh 24.4 11. Teman Job 2.11 12. Timna She was the Sister of Lotan the Son of Seir v. 20 22. Amalek Whence came the Amalekites great Enemies to Israel Exod. 17.8 16. 15. Dukes These Dukes mentioned from this to the 19th Verse are to be taken for the Heads of the Families from Esau 16. Korah He is not mentioned among the Sons of Eliphaz v. 11 12. and probably was his Grand-child 20. Seir the Horite Whose Race is here mentioned because of the Affinity between his and Esau's Family who succeeded the Horites in the possession of their Country Deut. 2.12 with verse 22. 24. Found the Mules in the Wilderness Mules are said to be ingendred of Horse and Ass and Anah is from these words supposed to have found the way of gaining these Creatures by committing them together when he fed the Asses of Zibeon
learn that God did make his Promise good 5. Seventy souls i. e. Seventy persons V. Gen. 46.26 27. The Greek have seventy five adding five persons of Joseph's Family Gen. 46.20 which number of the Greek it being a Translation of great fame and note is supposed to be followed also Act. 7.14 If St. Stephen had in that place followed the Version here he might have been defended for so doing in his Speech to the Jews but this is but supposed Another and more clear account may be given of the number of seventy five mentioned Act. 7.14 which the Reader may justly expect in its proper place It will be sufficient at present to observe That St. Stephen's design and his words too are very different from that of Moses here and Gen. 46. Moses gives account of Jacob and his Seed onely Gen. 46. v. 6 7 8 26. with Exod. 1. v. 5 6. but Stephen mentions those onely whom Joseph called into Egypt Joseph and his two Sons belong not to Stephen's number nor to his design they being in Egypt already In a word Moses reckons Jacob and his Seed or those that came out of his Loins Stephen mentions Jacob and his Kindred which takes in the Wives of Jacob's Sons See Gen. 45.10 11. with v. 5. and Joseph Antiqu Book 2. ch 3. For Joseph c. These words seem to refer to v. 4. Joseph is not numbred though he belong to the number he being before hand in Egypt And accordingly in the Greek we find these words at the close of the fourth Verse and immediately before those words where our English begin the fifth Verse 7. Was filled In the space of two hundred years and upwards the seventy increased to about six hundred thousand Men Exod. 12.37 a thing not at all incredible for supposing but fifty Men that should beget Children and that not till they arrived at twenty years of age and allow them three Sons a-piece yet in the space of two hundred years the whole sum would amount to 2952450 whence it is evident that the number mentioned Exod. 12.37 is not to be wondered at it speaking onely the Divine Blessing and Veracity 8. A new king Of a new House and Family perhaps Joseph Antiq. l. 2. c. 5. Knew not i. e. He did not consider and regard what Joseph had done Hos 2.8 9. He said The King of Egypt's pretences for his oppressing the Israelites were I. Their great Number v. 9. II. Their joining with the Enemies of Egypt if War should happen v. 10. III. Lest they should go out of Egypt when they pleased v. 10. 12. The more they multiplied So vain a thing it is to endeavour to make void God's Counsel Prov. 19.21 13. Rigor Without Mercy Hence Egypt is called An House of Bondage Exod. 20.2 15. Midwives of which c. These 't is like were principal Midwives the command being given also to the rest 17. Feared God i. e. They more feared God's displeasure than they did Pharaoh's 19. Lively They have great vigor and are skilfull See the Chaldee and Vulgar Latin 20. Dealt well They that fear God receive many blessings in this life Eccles 8.12 13. 21. He made them houses Them i. e. the Israelites and not the Midwives it being of the Masculine Gender in the Hebrew That is God by this means multiplyed and increased the Israelites which is expressed by making them Houses See Gen. 16.2 Ruth 4.11 Ps 127.1 3. Gen. 30.3 2 Sam. 7.11 22. All his people Not leaving it to the care of the Midwives any longer CHAP. II. The ARGUMENT Moses is born and hidden and laid in the Flags Pharaoh's Daughter finds him and brings him up He kills an Egyptian reproves one of the Hebrews and fleeth into Midian marrieth Zipporah by whom he had Gershom God regards the Misery of the Hebrews 1. AND there went a man of the house of Levi and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2. And the woman conceived and bare a son and when she saw him that he was a goodly child she hid him three mouths 3. And when she could not longer hide him she took for him an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch and put the child therein and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink 4. And his sister stood afar off to wit what would be done to him 5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash her self at the river and her maidens walked along by the river's side and when she saw the ark among the flags she sent her maid to fetch it 6. And when she had opened it she saw the child and behold the babe wept And she had compassion on him and said This is one of the Hebrews children 7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee 8. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother 9. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages And the woman took the child and nursed it 10. And the child grew and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son And she called his name Moses and she said Because I drew him out of the water 11. And it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown that he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burthens and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew one of his brethren 12. And he looked this way and that way and when he saw that there was no man he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand 13. And when he went out the second day behold two men of the Hebrews strove together and he said to him that did the wrong Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow 14. And he said Who made thee a prince and a judge over us intendest thou to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian And Moses feared and said Surely this thing is known 15. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing he sought to slay Moses But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian and he sat down by a well 16. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock 17. And the shepherds came and drove them away but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock 18. And when they came to Reuel their father he said How is it that you are come so soon to day 19. And they said An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and also drew water enough for us and watered the flock 20. And he said unto his daughters And where is he why is it that ye have left the man Call him that he may eat bread 21. And Moses was content to dwell with the man and he gave Moses
Zipporah his daughter 22. And she bare him a son and he called his name Gershom for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land 23. And it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage 24. And God heard their groaning and God remembred his covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. 25. And God looked upon the children of Israel and God had respect unto them 1. A Man Called Amram Exod 6.20 Numb 26.59 A daughter of Levi Her name was Jochebed and she was Amram's Father's Sister Exod. 6.20 The Family of Israel was as yet small and the Law of Marriages not yet given This was afterward forbid Lev. 18.12 2. A goodly child A beautifull Child Heb. 11.23 Act. 7.20 See Joseph Antiqu. l. 2. c. 5. 4. His sister viz. Miriam Exod. 15.20 5. The daughter of Pharaoh Called Thermuthis by Josephus 6. This is one of the Hebrews children She might very well thus judge not onely because he was circumcised as the Hebrews were but because she saw him thus exposed for fear of being discovered and killed according to the King's Command 7. His sister Who had placed her self so as she might see what became of her Brother 8. Go She was the more inclined not onely because the Child was beautifull but because she had none of her own as Josephus tells us 10. Her son Her adopted Son as the Vulgar hath it She called his name Moses i. e. Drawnout from a word that signifies to draw out See Ps 18.16 Josephus likewise tells us That Moses even among the Egyptians did signifie one saved from the Waters 11. Grown Not onely in Stature of which v. 10. but in Strength and Years He was now full forty years old Act. 7.23 12. He slew the Egyptian His example is not to be imitated by us who do not know what his Authority was However Moses supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them Act. 7.25 13. The second day i. e. The next day Act. 7.26 14. A prince Heb. a Man a Prince A ruler and a judge Act. 7.27 16. Priest Or Prince It is very possible he might be both Priest Prince also See Gen. 47.22 17. Drove them away Them i. e. not the Daughters it being the Masculin Gender in the Hebr. but the Flocks or some Servants who were under these Daughters 18. Reuel their father Reuel was Jethro's Father and their Grandfather And Jethro was also called Hobab See Numb 10.29 Judg. 4.11 It is usual in the Scripture to call the Grandfather Father See Gen. 24.48 V. M. B. Israel Concil in Exod. qu. 1. 21. Zipporah his daughter i. e. The Daughter of Jethro See the Greek v. 16. 22. Gershom Ch. 18.3 the former part of which word signifies a Stranger in the Hebr. 24. Covenant Gen. 15.14 and 46.4 25. God had respect unto them Heb. Knew them God had a mercifull regard to them See the Chaldee and Psal 1.6.31.7 CHAP. III. The ARGUMENT Moses keeps the Flock of Jethro and comes to Horeb. The burning Bush not consumed Moses is appointed by God to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt Of the Name of God The Message of Moses God fore-tells the Event or Success of his undertaking 1. NOW Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian and he led the flock to the back-side of the desart and came to the mountain of God even to Horeb. 2. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and be looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed 3. And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burnt 4. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said Moses Moses And he said Here am I. 5. And he said Draw not nigh hither put off thy shooes from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground 6. Moreover he said I am the God of thy father the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God 7. And the LORD said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their task-masters for I know their sorrows 8. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large unto a land flowing with milk and honey unto the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jeâ—â—sites 9. Now therefore behold the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them 10. Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt 11. And Moses said unto God Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt 12. And he said Certainly I will be with thee and this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt ye shall serve God upon this mountain 13. And Moses said unto God Behold when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me What is his name What shall I say unto them 14. And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM And he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you 15. And God said moreover unto Moses Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you this is my name for ever and this is my memorial unto all generations 16. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob appeared unto me saying I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt 17. And I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites unto a land flowing with milk and honey 18. And they shall hearken to thy voice and thou shalt come thou and the elders of Israel unto the king of Egypt and you shall say
shines He puts a Veil thereon whiles he speaks with the People and removes it when he speaks with God 1. AND the LORD said unto Mâ—ses Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest 2. And be ready in the morning and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai and present thy self there to me in the top of the mount 3. And no man shall come up with thee neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount 4. And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up unto mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him and took in his hand the two tables of stone 5. And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the LORD 6. And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD The LORD God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children unto the third and to the fourth generation 8. And Moses made hast and bowed his head towards the earth and worshipped 9. And he said If now I have found grace in thy sight O Lord let my Lord I pray thee go amongst us for it is a stiff-necked people and pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for thine inheritance 10. And he said Behold I make a covenant before all thy people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth nor in any nation and all the people amongst which thou art shall see the work of the LORD for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee 11. Observe thou that which I command thee this day Behold I drive out before thee the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite 12. Take heed to thy self lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee 13. But ye shall destroy their altars break their images and cut down their groves 14. For thou shalt worship no other God for the LORD whose name is Jealous is a jealous God 15. Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they go a whoring after their gods and do sacrifice unto their gods and one call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons and their daughters go a whoring after their gods and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods 17. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods 18. The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread as I commanded thee in the time of the month Abib for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt 19. All that openeth the matrix is mine and every firstling among thy cattel whether ox or sheep that is male 20. But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb and if thou redeem him not then shalt thou break his neck All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem and none shall appear before me empty 21. Six days thou shalt work but on the seventh day thou shalt rest in earing-time and in harvest thou shalt rest 22. And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks of the first-fruits of wheat-harvest and the feast of ingathering at the year's end 23. Thrice in the year shall all your men-children appear before the Lord GOD the God of Israel 24. For I will cast out the nations before thee and enlarge thy borders neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year 25. Thou shalt not offer the bloud of my sacrifice with leaven neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of passover be left unto the morning 26. The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk 27. And the LORD said unto Moses Write thou these words for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel 28. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty-nights he did neither eat bread nor drink water and he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant the ten commandments 29. And it came to pass when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses's hand when he came down from the mount that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him 30. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses behold the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come nigh him 31. And Moses called unto them and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him and Moses talked with them 32. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai 33. And till Moses had done speaking with them he put a veil on his face 34. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him he took the veil off untill he came out And he came out and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded 35. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses that the skin of Moses's face shone and Moses put the veil upon his face again untill he went in to speak with him 1. HEW thee The first Tables were the work of God ch 32.16 Deut. 10.1 5. Descended Was revealed says the Chaldee i. e. He manifested himself in the Cloud And proclaimed the name Or He called upon the name and then these words referr to Moses who upon God's glorious manifestation of himself called upon God This agrees well with the Hebrew Text Vid. Gen. 12.8 and is followed by the Vulgar Latin 6. And the LORD passed by c. That is He caused his Divine Presence to pass by as the Chaldee hath it And proclaimed i. e. And the Lord proclaimed ch 33.19 7. Will by no means clear Or Will not utterly cut off For so the Hebrew word is observed sometimes to signifie and is by our Englisâ— rendred to that sense Zech. 5.3 Jer. 46.28 in the Margent Besides when Moses deprecates God's displeasure he makes use of these words Num. 14.18 More Nevoch p. 1. c. 54. Visiting c. ch 20.5 Deut. 5.9 Jer. 32.18 9. If now c. Moses is now encouraged to pray as he doth upon this proclaiming the Mercy and Goodness of God My Lord
bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled 7. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation lest you die for the anointing oyl of the LORD is upon you And they did according to the word of Moses 8. And the LORD spake unto Aaron saying 9. Do not drink wine nor strong drink thou nor thy sons with thee when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregationâ— lest ye die It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations 10. And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean 11. And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses 12. And Moses spake unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar his sons that were left Take the meat-offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire and eat it without leaven beside the altar for it is most holy 13. And ye shall eat it in the holy place because it is thy due and thy son 's due of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire for so I am commanded 14. And the wave-breast and heave-shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place thou and thy sons and thy daughters with thee for they be thy due and thy son 's due which are given out of the sacrifices of peace-offerings of the children of Israel 15. The heave-shoulder and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat to wave it for a wave-offering before the LORD and it shall be thine and thy sons with thee by a statute for ever as the LORD hath commanded 16. And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering and behold it was burnt and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the sons of Aaron which were left alive saying 17. Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the holy place seeing it is most holy and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation to make atonement for them before the LORD 18. Behold the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place as I commanded 19. And Aaron said unto Moses Behold this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the LORD and such things have befallen me and if I had eaten the sin-offering to day should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD 20. And when Moses heard that he was content 1. NAdab Numb 3.4 and 26.61 1 Chron. 24.2 Censer That is a certain Vessel in which they put Coals of fire Strange fire i. e. Other fire than what they ought to have used Thus Incense which was not such as was prescribed and allowed is called strange Incense Exod. 30.9 God had appointed a continual Fire upon the Altar of Burnt-offering ch 6.12 This Fire as appears afterward was to be used in burning the Incense ch 16.12 with Rev. 8.5 And as it was upon the Altar it was separated to an holy use and 't is therefore probable that the fault of Nadab and Abihu was that they used Common Fire and not Fire from the Altar which God had required for the service of the Sanctuary And these Men had without all doubt been sufficiently directed in their duty Commanded them not Or had not prescribed and allowed Those words do not imply that God had not forbidden it See Jer. 32.35 2. From the LORD i. e. Which God sent whether from the Altar or from above Devoured them It stifled them or killed them as Lightning hath been known to do See v. 5. 3. Spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me The substance of this was said in these words And let the Priests also which come near to the LORD sanctifie themselves lest the LORD break forth upon them Exod. 19.22 See also Levit. 8.35 and Isa 58.11 I will be glorified That is my Justice shall be known in punishing Transgressors The substance of this was threatned Exod. 19.22 And God is glorified by the Justice of his Inflictions Exod. 14.4 Ezek. 28.22 Held his peace i. e. He murmured not but submitted Psal 39.9 4. Vncle Exod. 6.18 20. with Numb 3.19 6. Vncover not your heads The uncovering the Head whether it were by putting off the Tire and Ornament of the Head or by shaving off the Hair was a sign of Mourning which is that which is forbidden the Priest in this place Ezek. 24.17 23. Levit. 13.45 with Job 1.20 Isa 22.12 To which places may be added to the same purpose ch 13.45 and ch 21.1 10. Numb 6.5 6. Neither rend c. Rending of clothes was also a sign of Mourning Gen. 37.34 Levit. 21.10 Vpon all the people Who will suffer greatly by the loss of their Priests who were to bless them and make atonement for them 7. Oyl Which was a token of the Spirit of Joy as well as it was that by which they were set a-part to the Service of God Psal 45.7 9. Wine This was forbid during their ministration and that they might not be unfit for their service Prov. 31.5 Isa 28.7 See vers 10 11. As also 1 Tim. 3.3 8. and 5.23 10. Put difference Wine and strong Drink take away the power of discerning and would consequently make the Priests unfit for their Ministration vid. Ezek. 44.21 23. Jerem. 15.19 12. It is most holy Vid. Levit. 2.3 and the Note on that place and also the 13 Verse of this Chapter 14. The Wave-breast Exod. 29.24 In a clean place Not in an holy place they being not most holy as that v. 12. and might therefore be eaten in the Camp and afterward in the City of Jerusalem 16. The Goat Mentioned ch 9.15 18. Behold the blood of it was not brought in In that case the Priest was not allowed any part or share in it as we are expressly told Levit. 6.30 As I commanded chap. 6.26 19. Should it have been accepted c. Because of his sorrow which indisposed him for that service Deut. 12.7 c. ch 26.14 CHAP. XI The ARGUMENT Of the Beasts that may be eaten and those which may not Of the Fish and Fowls that may or may not be eaten Of the creeping things which are unclean 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron saying unto them 2. Speak unto the children of Israel saying These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beast that are on the earth 3. Whatsoever parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed and cheweth the cud among the beasts that shall ye eat 4. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that divide the hoof as the camel because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof he is unclean unto you 5. And the coney because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof he is unclean unto you 6. And the hare because he
clean and unclean Creatures The punishment of them that have familiar Spirits and of Wizards 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Again thou shalt say to the children of Israel Whosoever he be of the children of Israel or of the stranger that sojourn in Israel that giveth any of his seed unto Molech he shall surely be put to death the people of the land shall stone him with stones 3. And I will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he hath given of his seed unto Molech to defile my sanctuary and to profane my holy name 4. And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man when he giveth of his seed unto Molech and kill him not 5. Then I will set my face against that man and against his family and will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him to commit whoredom with Molech from among their people 6. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people 7. Sanctifie your selves therefore and be ye holy for I am the LORD your God 8. And ye shall keep my statutes and do them I am the LORD which sanctifie you 9. For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death he hath cursed his father or his mother his blood shall be upon him 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death 11. And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness both of them shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 12. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law both of them shall surely be put to death they have wrought confusion their blood shall be upon them 13. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman both of them have committed an abomination they shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 14. And if a man take a wife and her mother it is wickedness they shall be burnt with fire both he and they that there be no wickedness among you 15. And if a man lie with a beast he shall surely be put to death and ye shall slay the beast 16. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto thou shalt kill the woman and the beast they shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 17. And if a man shall take his sister his father's daughter or his mother's daughter and see her nakedness and she see his nakedness it is a wicked thing and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness he shall bear his iniquity 18. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness and shall uncover her nakedness he hath discovered her fountain and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood and both of them shall be cut off from among their people 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister nor of thy father's sister for he uncovereth his near kin they shall bear their iniquity 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness they shall bear their sin they shall die childless 21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness they shall be childless 22. Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my judgments and do them that the land whither I bring you to dwell therein spue you not out 23. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation which I cast out before you for they committed all these things and therefore I abhorred them 24. But I have said unto you Ye shall inherit their land and I will give it unto you to possess it a land that floweth with milk and honey I am the LORD your God which have separated you from other people 25. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean and between unclean fowls and clean and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast or by fowl or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground which I have separated from you as unclean 26. And ye shall be holy unto me for I the LORD am holy and have severed you from other people that ye should be mine 27. A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit or that is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their blood shall be upon them 2. Again Ch. 18.21 Death The sin was forbid before ch 18.21 Here the punishment is laid down but yet he was not to die who was guilty of this sin till he were legally convicted Deut. 17.4 5 6. 3. And I will set my face c. That is In case a person be guilty and it be not known or cannot be proved by Witnesses and he do escape the Judges To defile my sanctuary The Sanctuary was appointed by God to be the place where all Sacrifices were to be offered up Levit. 17.4 This place was contemned and profaned when they offered their Sacrifices elsewhere and otherwise than God had appointed To profane my holy name He profanes the Name of God who contemns him And the Idolater who worships another God does so in a very high degree 5. My face Or My fury as the Chaldee hath it Ps 34.16 His family i. e. Those of them who were guilty with him as appears from the following words And will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him Whoredom Idolatry is a Spiritual Whoredom and is frequently expressed after that manner 6. Familiar spirits See the Notes on ch 19.31 7. Sanctifie Ch. 11.44 and 19.2 1 Pet. 1.16 8. Sanctifie you That is Separate and set you a-part for my service and to obey my Laws v. 24. 9. For Or If or When as the Hebrew Particle frequently signifies Curseth Or Revileth Exod. 21.17 Prov. 20.20 Matt. 15.4 Compare Act. 23.5 with Exod. 22.28 His blood shall be upon him i. e. He shall be guilty of his own death Vid. 2 Sam. 1.16 10. The man Deut. 22.22 Joh. 8.4 5. 11. And the man c. Ch. 18.8 12. Confusion It is a great confusion of Relation that the same Woman should be a Daughter and a Wife That the Son that might be born of such a Conjunction should be the Child and the Brother of the same Woman the Son and Nephew of the same Man and also supposing the Woman's Husband alive that the same Child should be reputed the Son and be the Brother of the same Man 13. If
a man Ch. 18.22 14. It is wickedness Ch. 18.17 15. And if a man Ch. 18.23 Slay the beast And thereby destroy the Memorial of so great a Wickedness 17. And if a man Ch. 18.9 18. And if a man c. Ch. 18.19 This is to be understood of wilfull or presumptuous doing it He that did it ignorantly was not liable to the same severity ch 15.24 Discovered Heb. Made naked 20. Die childless That is God will so order it that they shall either not have Children or not leave them behind them 21. An unclean thing Heb. A separation 22. Statutes Ch. 18.26 Spue Ch. 18.25 23. Therefore Deut. 9.5 25. Ye shall therefore put difference c. Ch. 11.2 Deut. 14.4 Abominable Detestable for your Disobedience and legal Impurity Creepeth Or Moveth 26. For I c. v. 7. chap. 19.2 1 Pet. 1.16 27. A man also c. Deut. 18.11 1 Sam. 28.7 CHAP. XXI The ARGUMENT The Priests are to keep themselves undefiled To that purpose Laws are given relating to their Mourning and Marriages Of the Blemishes of the Priests which hindred them from Officiating 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron and say unto them There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people 2. But for his kin that is near unto him that is for his mother and for his father and for his son and for his daughter and for his brother 3. And for his sister a virgin that is nigh unto him which hath had no husband for her may he be defiled 4. But he shall not defile himself being a chief man among his people to profane himself 5. They shall not make baldness upon their head neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh 6. They shall be holy unto their God and not profane the name of their God for the offerings of the LORD made by fire and the bread of their God they do offer therefore they shall be holy 7. They shall not take a wife that is a whore or profane neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband for he is holy unto his God 8. Thou shalt sanctifie him therefore for he offereth the bread of thy God he shall be holy unto thee for I the LORD which sanctifie you am holy 9. And the daughter of any priest if she profane her self by playing the whore she profaneth her father she shall be burnt with fire 10. And he that is the high-priest among his brethren upon whose head the anointing oyl was poured and that is consecrated to put on the garments shall not uncover his head nor rent his clothes 11. Neither shall he go in to any dead body nor defile himself for his father or for his mother 12. Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God for the crown of the anointing oyl of his God is upon him I am the LORD 13. And he shall take a wife in her virginity 14. A widow or a divorced woman or profane or an harlot these shall he not take but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife 15. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people for I the LORD do sanctifie him 16. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 17. Speak unto Aaron saying Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish let him not approach to offer the bread of his God 18. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish he shall not approach a blind man or a lame or he that hath a flat nose or any thing superfluous 19. Or a man that is broken-footed or broken-handed 20. Or croak-backt or a dwarf or that hath a blemish in his eye or be scurvy or scabbed or hath his stones broken 21. No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire he hath a blemish he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God 22. He shall eat the bread of his God both of the most holy and of the holy 23. Onely he shall not go in unto the veil nor come nigh unto the altar because he hath a blemish that he profane not my sanctuaries for I the LORD do sanctifie them 24. And Moses told it unto Aaron and to his sons and unto all the children of Israel 1. THere shall none be defiled for the dead The touching of a dead body or coming into the Tent where such a body was the preparing it for burial and mourning over it were legal Pollutions Numb 19.11 16. and v. 14. Deut. 26.14 Hos 9.4 These things rendred persons legally unclean sequestring them from Common Conversation and Holy Service The Priests being separated to the Service of God were not allowed promiscuously to defile themselves for the Dead And this puts all those who are dedicated to the Service of God in mind to avoid every thing that either defiles them or diverts them from their holy Employment vid. Numb 6.6 Matt. 8.22 Among his people That is among the Israelites 3. No husband viz. To take care of her Burial 4. He shall not c. Or being an Husband among his people he shall not defile himself for his Wife c. The meaning however of the place seems to be this That the Priest being a principal Person among his Brethren by reason of the Sacredness and Dignity of his Office shall not defile himself and render himself unfit for the attending upon the Office which he was placed in 5. They shall not c. Ch. 19.27 6. Bread i. e. Food Gifts say the Greek The Chaldee renders it Oblation Therefore c. i. e. They being the Servants of God and employed in Holy things 7. Profane That is either of a faulty Original and Extraction viz. the daughter of a Whore c. Or else one who is vitiated whether it were voluntarily or against her Will. Put away from her husband It being supposed in that case that she was divorced for some fault and God would have the Wives of the Priests not onely free from fault but from suspicion also 1 Tim. 3.11 8. Thou shalt sanctifie him therefore i. e. The People were obliged to treat and regard the Priests as holy or separated Persons to the Service of God 9. The daughter This by the Jews is understood of one who hath an Husband or is at least espoused to one Maim H. Sanedr c. 15. Her father Who will suffer in his reputation 1 Tim. 3.4 5. 10. Vncover See the Notes on ch 10.6 Head Upon which the anointing Oyl a Symbol of Joy as well as great Holiness was poured Clothes They being also Holy as they were Commanded by God and set apart to his Service 11. For his father or for his mother Whom he was obliged to honour as well as other Men and the inferiour Priests were
Seed of Aaron This belongs to the Daughters as well as the Sons of the Priests for tho' they were allowed to eat of some Holy Things yet they might not do it in their Uncleanness Numb 18.11 19. Running issue Heb. Running of the reins ch 15.2 5. Creeping thing The touching of which when dead rendred Men unclean ch 11.31 A man i. e. A dead Man or a Leper ch 13.45 and 15.5 7. His food i. e. His portion allowed him to eat of 8. That which dieth Exod. 22.31 Ezek. 44.31 9. Sin i. e. The punishment of Sin ch 19.17 Die viz. By the hand of God 10. Stranger i. e. One who is not of the Seed of Aaron or the Family of the Priests A sojourner i. e. One who dwells in his House but is no part of his Family Hired servant He is one whom he hires for a certain time and is not therefore of his Family 11. Buy any soul i. e. Buy any Person for a Servant viz. a Canaanite c. who was upon his purchase reputed one of his Family whom he was obliged to provide for With his money Heb. With the purchase of his money Born in his house Of such whom he purchased or were left him by his Ancestors 12. A stranger Heb. A man a stranger i. e. One who is not of the Seed of Aaron 13. As in her youth Ch. 10.14 14. Fifth i. e. If it were worth five pieces of Silver he shall restore six that is the Principal and one fifth part of the value of it 16. Suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass when they eat Or Lade themselves with the iniquity of trespass in their eating 18. Strangers i. e. Proselytes 19. At your own will Or rather for your favourable acceptance That is that you may be accepted favourably by God v. 20. 20. But whatsoever Deut. 15.21 and 17.1 21. Sheep Or Goats 22. Blind or broken or maimed c. These are the general Heads of those blemishes which rendered a Beast unfit for the Altar It might be blind in part or in whole It might be broken or maimed in several manners The Jews from these general expressions have reckoned up no less than fifty Blemishes which rendred a Beast unfit for the Altar 23. Lamb Or Kid. Superfluous Ch. 21.18 A free-will-offering Not for a Sacrifice upon the Altar v. 20. but the price thereof was accepted toward the reparation of the Sanctuary as the Jewish Writers observe What we here translate That mayest thou offer does not imply that it might be offered upon the Altar Besides it may be rendered from the Hebrew That mayest thou make Or thou shalt make What was set aside to an holy use might well be called an offering or gift See Luk. 21.4 Vow Which supposes a precedent Obligation whereas the Free-will-offering was brought upon mere good will See Mal. 1.14 24. In your land i. e. No Israelite shall do it See the next words v. 25. 25. A Stranger 's i. e. A Gentile's The bread of your God i. e. An Oblation offered upon God's Altar as appears from the Context Of any of these i. e. Of such as are legally unfit and such which are mentioned as such in the foregoing words For it follows here Because their corruption is in them and blemishes be in them The accepting of any Oblation from the hand of a Gentile is not here forbid but of such an Oblation as is corrupted or blemished Vid. Seld. de jure natural c. l. iij. c. 7. 27. Seven days Exod. 22.30 28. Ew Or She-goat And her young Deut. 22.6 This Precept recommends to us Mercy and Forbearance 30. None of it Ch. 7.15 32. I will be hallowed Ch. 10.3 CHAP. XXIII The ARGUMENT Of the Sabbath Of the Passover and Feast of unleavened Bread Of the Sheaf of First-fruits and of the Feast of Pentecost Gleanings to be left for the Poor Of the Feast of Trumpets and the day of Expiation Of the Feast of Tabernacles 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them Concerning the feasts of the LORD which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations even these are my feasts 3. Six days shall work be done but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings 4. These are the feasts of the LORD even holy convocations which ye shall proclaim in their seasons 5. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover 6. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD seven days ye must eat unleavened bread 7. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation ye shall do no servile work therein 8. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days in the seventh day is an holy convocation ye shall do no servile work therein 9. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 10. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come into the land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest 11. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it 12. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an be-lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt-offering unto the LORD 13. And the meat-offering thereof shall be two tenth-deals of fine flour mingled with oyl an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine the fourth part of an hin 14. And ye shall eat neither bread nor parched corn nor green ears untill the self-same day that ye have brought an offering unto your God It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings 15. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering seven sabbaths shall be compleat 16. Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days and ye shall offer a new meat-offering unto the LORD 17. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth-deals they shall be of fine flour they shall be baken with leaven they are the first-fruits unto the LORD 18. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year and one young bullock and two rams they shall be for a burnt-offering unto the LORD with their meat-offering and their drink-offerings even an offering made by fire of sweet savour unto the LORD 19. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin-offering and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace-offerings 20. And the priest shall
4. to v. 15. And after the Captivity Ezra was of his Line Ezra 7.1 2 3 4 5. and we have no reason to doubt of its continuance afterward 14. Chief house Heb. House of a father 17. Vex Ch. 31.2 The Moabites are not named See Deut. 2.9 It is probable the Midianites were the greatest Offenders See v. 6. and ch 31.16 CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT The Summ of all the Israelites is taken from Twenty years old and upward The Number of each Tribe The Summ total The Law concerning Dividing the Land The Families of Levi numbred The total Summ of them None of them that were Numbred in the Wilderness of Sinai remained now beside Caleb and Joshua 1. AND it came to pass after the plague that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron the priest saying 2. Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and upward throughout their father's house all that are able to go to war in Israel 3. And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 4. Take the sum of the people from twenty years old and upward as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel which went forth out of the land of Egypt 5. Reuben the eldest son of Israel the children of Reuben Hanoch of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites of Pallu the family of the Palluites 6. Of Hesron the family of the Hesronites of Carmi the family of the Carmites 7. These are the families of the Reubenites and they that were numbred of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty 8. And the sons of Pallu Eliab 9. And the sons of Eliab Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the congregation who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah when they strove against the LORD 10. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men and they became a sign 11. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not 12. The sons of Simeon after their families of Nemuel the family of the Nemuelites of Jamin the family of the Jaminites of Jachin the family of the Jachinites 13. Of Zerah the family of the Zarhites of Shaul the family of the Shaulites 14. These are the families of the Simeonites twenty and two thousand and two hundred 15. The children of Gad after their families of Zephon the family of the Zephonites of Haggi the family of the Haggites of Shuni the family of the Shunites 16. Of Ozni the family of the Oznites of Eri the family of the Erites 17. Of Arod the family of the Arodites of Areli the family of the Arelites 18. These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbred of them forty thousand and five hundred 19. The sons of Judah were Er and Onan and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan 20. And the sons of Judah after their families were Of Shelah the family of the Shelanites of Pharez the family of the Pharzites of Zerah the family of the Zarbites 21. And the sons of Pharez were of Hesron the family of the Hesronites of Hamul the family of the Hamulites 22. These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbred of them threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred 23. Of the sons of Issachar after their families of Tola the family of the Tolaites of Pua the family of the Punites 24. Of Jashub the family of the Jashubites of Shimron the family of the Shimronites 25. These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbred of them threescore and four thousand and three hundred 26. Of the sons of Zebulun after their families of Sered the family of the Sardites of Elon the family of the Elonites of Jahleel the family of the Jahleelites 27. These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbred of them threescore thousand and five hundred 28. The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim 29. Of the sons of Manasseh of Machir the family of the Machirites and Machir begat Gilead of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites 30. These are the sons of Gilead of Jeezer the family of the Jeezerites of Helek the family of the Helekites 31. And of Asriel the family of the Asrielites and of Shechem the family of the Shechemites 32. And of Shemida the family of the Shemidaites and of Hepher the family of the Hepherites 33. And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons but daughters and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah and Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah 34. These are the families of Manasseh and those that were numbred of them fifty and two thousand and seven hundred 35. These are the sons of Ephraim after their families of Shuthelah the family of the Shuthalhites of Becher the family of the Bechrites of Tahan the family of the Tahanites 36. And these are the sons of Shuthelah of Eran the family of the Eranites 37. These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbred of them thirty and two thousand and five hundred These are the sons of Joseph after their families 38. The sons of Benjamin after their families of Bela the family of the Belaites of Ashbel the family of the Ashbelites of Ahiram the family of the Ahiramites 39. Of Shupham the family of the Shuphamites of Hupham the family of the Huphamites 40. And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman of Ard the family of the Ardites and of Naaman the family of the Naamites 41. These are the sons of Benjamin after their families and they that were numbred of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred 42. These are the sons of Dan after their families of Shuham the family of the Shuhamites These are the families of Dan after their families 43. All the families of the Shuhamites according to those that were numbred of them were threescore and four thousand and four hundred 44. Of the children of Asher after their families of Jimna the family of the Jimnites of Jesui the family of the Jesuites of Beriah the family of the Beriites 45. Of the sons of Beriah of Heber the family of the Heberites of Malchiel the family of the Malchielites 46. And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah 47. These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbred of them who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred 48. Of the sons of Naphtali after their families of Jahzeel the families of the Jahzeelites of Guni the family of the Gunites 49. Of Jezer the family of the Jezerites of Shillem the family of the Shillemites 50. These are the families of Naphtali according to their
your God as ye tempted him in Massah 17. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and his testimonies and his statutes which he hath commanded thee 18. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD that it may be well with thee and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers 19. To cast out all thine enemies from before thee as the LORD hath spoken 20. And when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What mean the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which the LORD our God hath commanded you 21. Then thou shalt say unto thy son We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand 22. And the LORD shewed signs and wonders great and fore upon Egypt upon Pharaoh and upon all his houshold before our eyes 23. And he brought us out from thence that he might bring us in to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers 24. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes to fear the LORD our God for our good always that he might preserve us alive as it is at this day 25. And it shall be our righteousness if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD â—â—r God as he hath commanded us 1. GO Heb. Pass over 2. Fear the LORD The fear of God being the principle of Obedience is frequently in the Scripture put for the whole of Religion or Godliness 4. One LORD He is but one in his Essence and onely to be worshipped 1 Cor. 8.5 6. These words are by way of Explication of the first Precept of the Decalogue chap. 5.7 5. Thou shalt love This love of God is another great Principle of Obedience and that which renders the Fear of him acceptable to him See chap. 10.12 Matth. 22.37 Mark 12.30 Luk 10.27 6. And these words See chap. 11.18 7. Teach them diligently Heb. Wheâ— or Sharpen i. e. Inculcate them that they may take deep Root and make a lasting Impression 8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand c. Their great care to remember these Precepts is commended to them by these Expressions For we do not forget what is fastened to our Hands and placed before our Eyes See the Notes upon Exod. 13.9 and v. 16. Compare Prov. 6.21 11. When c. ch 8.10 c. 12. Then beware c. Prosperity is generally very dangerous to Mankind Hence it is they are warned at such times of Plenty and Affluence of worldly things to beware ch 8.11 These things being a great snare and occasion of Pride and Haughtiness and many other Vices See Psal 73. and compare v. 5. with v. 6. and v. 7. with v. 8. 1 Tim. 6.9 17. Bondage Heb. Bondmen or Servants 13. Fear Chap. 10.12 20. and 13.14 By his name viz. Onely by his Name This Interpretation cannot be rejected with any reason Swearing could never be lawfull but when it was necessary and all that the Israelites were obliged to from these words was this that when they did swear they should do it by the Name of God onely and not by any Creature Matt. 5.34 Those words in this Verse serve Him are expressed by Christ by Him onely shalt thou serve Matth. 4.10 And the Greek here render those words to the same sense Hence it appears that the Doctrine which Christ taught does not contradict a Moral Precept of Moses 16. Ye shall not tempt c. Mat. 4.7 The meaning is ye shall not provoke him to anger by putting his Justice and Veracity to the proof and trial which Men do then when they break his Laws or call his Truth and good Providence in question As ye tempted Exod. 17.2 20. In time to come Heb. To morrow Testimonies This word seems to import those Laws especially which were the Memorials or Witnesses of something past v. g. The Passeover was a Memorial of their deliverance from Egypt as the Sabbath was both of that and of the World's Creation 22. Sore Heb. Evil 25. Our righteousness Both the Vulgar Latin and Greek understand this word Righteousness to import Mercy as it is observed to do in some other places And then the meaning of the words is this That God will be mercifull to us for the future if we obey his Laws And this agrees with verse 24. where this Obedience is said to be for our good always c. CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT The seven Nations are to be destroyed and likewise their Monuments of Idolatry No Covenants or Affinities with them allowed God's great love to the Israelites Great Motives to Obedience 1. WHen the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it and hath cast out many nations before thee the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites seven nations greater and mightier then thou 2. And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them thou shalt make no covenant with them nor shew mercy unto them 3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son 4. For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you and destroy thee suddenly 5. But thus shall ye deal with them ye shall destroy their altars and break down their images and cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire 6. For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself above all people that are upon the face of the earth 7. The LORD did not set his lâ—ve upon you nor choose you because ye were more in number then any people for ye were the fewest of all people 8. But because the LORD loved you and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt 9. Know therefore that the LORD thy God he is God the faithfull God which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations 10. And repayeth them that hate him to their face to destroy them he will not be slack to him that hateth him he will repay him to his face 11. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which I command thee this day to do them 12. Wherefore it shall come to pass if ye hearken to these judgments and keep and do them that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the
thee 6. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever 7. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite for he is thy brother thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land 8. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation 9. When the host goeth forth against thine enemies then keep thee from every wicked thing 10. If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night then shall he go abroad out of the camp he shall not come within the camp 11. But it shall be when evening cometh on he shall wash himself with water and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again 12. Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad 13. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon and it shall be when thou wilt ease thy self abroad thou shalt dig therewith and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee 14. For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee and to give up thine enemies before thee therefore shall thy camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee 15. Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee 16. He shall dwell with thee even among you in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates where it liketh him best thou shalt not oppress him 17. There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel nor a Sodomite of the sons of Israel 18. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore or the price of a dog into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God 19. Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother usury of money usury of victuals usury of any thing that is lent upon usury 20. Vnto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it 21. When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee and it would be sin in thee 22. But if thou shalt forbear to vow it shall be no sin in thee 23. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform even a free-will-offering according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God which thou hast promised with thy mouth 24. When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel 25. When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbours then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn 1. SHall not enter into the Congregation of the LORD The Congregation of the Lord is as much as the whole Body of the People or Common-wealth of the Israelites Numb 16.3 and Chap. 27.16 17. To enter into this Congregation is as much as to become one of that Community The way of becoming such an one is by affinity contracted by Marriage To this all men were not admitted we are here and in the following Words told who are excluded from these Affinities or who they are who may not marry any of the Daughters of Israel nor by that means be incorporated into the Common-wealth of Israel This Sense of these words is confirmed not onely by the Consent of the most learned Jewish Writers but by the Context compare ch 22. v. 30. with ch 23. v. 8. and most of all by what we read Nehem. 13. v. 1 2 3. and v. 23 24 25. They who are excluded from this priviledge are these viz. I. He that is wounded in the Stones c. v. 1. Such an one is absolutely rejected as unfit to enter into this Affinity though he might otherwise be inclined to it II. A Bastard i. e. One begotten in Fornication and that is illegitimate v. 2. Not onely one born of a strange Woman Nehem. 13.27 but born out of Wedlock Such an one is absolutely rejected also III. An Ammonite and Maobite who are also absolutely rejected v. 3 IV. Edomites and Egyptians who are not for ever excluded For their Children in their third Generation are admitted v. 7 8. 2. Even to his tenth generation In the Hebrew it is even his tenth generation shall not enter i. e. None of his Off-spring shall be admittted See v. 3. 3. Even to their tenth generation c. In the Hebrew it is Even their tenth generation shall not enter c. If ever they might enter they might in their tenth Generation but this being denied them they are absolutely excluded which appears not onely from for ever which follows but from Neh. 13.1 where there is no mention of the tenth Generation but 't is said that they read in the Book of Moses where it was written that the Ammonite and the Maobite should not enter into the congregation for ever 4. Because they met you not c. i. e. Because the Ammonites met you not See Deut. 2.29 Because they hired i. e. Because the Moabites hired See Numb 22.5 6 7. 6. Thou shalt not seek their peace c. All that is forbid is publick Confederations and Alliances with them notwithstanding which prohibition it was lawfull for private Persons to use them with civility and respect 7. Thou wast a stranger Thou oughtest not to forget the relief thy Fore-fathers received there during the Famine 8. The children c. When they have been Proselytes and so continue to the third Generation it is permitted to them of the third Generation to marry the Daughters of Israel and enter into the Congregation 9. Then keep thee from every wicked thing Then especially when men use to take the greatest liberty and when they so much depend upon the Divine Providence for success 10. By night Of this see Levit. 15. v. 16 17. 12. Abroad viz. To ease thy self as it is v. 13. 14. The LORD thy God walketh in the midst c. That is the Presence of God who is with his People in their Just Wars ought to over awe them and make them carefully avoid what-ever is indecent 15. Thou shalt not deliver c. In times of War it might happen frequently that their Enemies would make their escape and by that means provide for their own Safety And that the place is to be understood not of the Servants of the Hebrews their brethren but of Aliens and Strangers is evident from the Context and also from the Words of the Text He is said to be escaped and permitted to
It was the custom to set out proper and peculiar Inheritances by a Cord or Line and hence this Cord sometimes signifies the Inheritance set out by it and the Cord of an Inheritance signifies a separate and peculiar Inheritance or Portions of Land Josh 17.5 Amos 7.17 Zech. 2.1 2. and Psal 16.5 6. 10. He that is God found him It is to be considered for the better apprehending the sense of the place that the Hebrew word which is translated found signifies not onely to find but to suffice or to provide sufficiently for as appears from Numb 11.22 and Josh 17.16 And this latter sense of the word agrees best with the Context here For it cannot so properly be said that God found the Israelites in the Desart as that he sustained them and provided sufficiently for them there Besides that both the Greek and the Chaldee render this place in this latter sense of the words Compare what is elsewhere said to this purpose ch 8.15 Jer. 2.6 Hos 13.5 He led him about The reading in the Margent he compassed him about agrees exactly with the Greek as well as with the Hebrew Text and better with the Context and scope of the words than what is retained in the Text Psal 32.7 and it speaks the great protection on every side which the Israelites received from God in the Wilderness He instructed him This God did by giving his Law to the Israelites in the Wilderness He kept him as the apple of his eye That is as the sight of the Eye is by God's Care and wise Providence fenced about and preserved from harm by the Eye-lids by its deep situation and by several other means so did he preserve in the Wilderness Israel from harm and danger 11. As an eagle c. The care of God over the Israelites is well compared to that of an Eagle towards her young when she does by her voice stir them up hover over them cover them bear and defend them by her strength and for the preservation whereof she is fitted by the quickness of her Eye in espying danger by her inclination to her young by her swiftness and great strength Compare Exod. 19.4 Isa 46.3 4. Rev. 12.14 12. Alone i. e. Without the help of any strange God as it follows At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their tents and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed Numb 9.23 13. He made him ride on the high places of the earth or land That is he gave him the good Land which for its situation its strength or fruitfulness being called the high places of the land conformably thereunto God is said to have made him ride on them when he gave it him in possession Isa 58.14 To suck honey out of the rock c. These words give us a farther account of the fruitfulness of this Land the Fields whereof did not onely yield an increase but the Rocky and steep places which generally are barren afforded Honey and Oyl This was a Land of Hills and Valleys Deut. 11.11 14. With fat of lambs There is a two fold fat The fat of the inwards of a Beast that was allowed to be offered or the Suet this was to be offered up upon the Altar and by no means to be eaten But then there was the fat that was mingled and interspersed with the rest of the Flesh which not being appropriated to the Altar might lawfully be eaten Levit. 3.9 with Levit. 7.23 By the fat of Lambs in this place is meant fatted or well-fed Lambs Of the breed of Bashan i. e. Of the fairest and best kind Bashan was a place famous for Cattel Numb 32.4 33. The fat of kidneys of wheat i. e. The finest and plumpest Wheat Psal 81.16 The Kidneys of Wheat is but a Metaphorical Expression there being some resemblance between the figure of that Grain and the Kidneys Blood of the grape Or Red Wine which in colour is like Blood Isa 27.2 15. Jeshurun waxed fat c. That is Israel grew rich c. Jeshurun comes from a word that signifies Vpright and it is evident that it is put for Israel who was under great obligations to be upright but instead thereof in his prosperity rebelled against God as a pampered Horse kicks The rock of his salvation i. e. God his strong and mighty Saviour and Deliverer 16. They provoked him to jealousie with strange gods i. e. With their Idolatry they made him Jealous or very angry Exod. 20.5 chap. 34.14 This the Israelites frequently did Psal 78.58 1 King 14.22 17. They sacrificed unto devils Whatever pretext they might have for their Idolatry when they sacrificed they did it unto Devils the wasters and destroyers of Mankind and not unto God their Saviour 2 Chron. 11.15 They sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devils and shed innocent blood even the blood of their sons and of their daughters whom they sacrificed unto the Idols of Canaan Psal 106.37 38. And the Gentiles also in their Sacrifices to Idols sacrificed to Devils and when they did pertake of those Sacrifices they did communicate with Devils 1 Cor. 10.20 21. Whom they knew not Or Who knew not them as the words may be rendred They had received no Benefits by them as they had from the Lord the God of Israel Hos 13.15 19. Because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters That is because his Children called here his Sons and Daughters had provoked him or stirred up his Anger to which sense the Vulgar and the Chaldee render the words Daughters are here expressly named because the Women were notoriously guilty of provoking God by their Idolatry Thus we read The women knead their dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods that they may provoke me to anger Jer. 7.18 And again The Women burn incense to other gods Jer. 44.15 And the women sat weeping for Tammuz Ezek. 8.14 20. I will see what their end shall be I will discover by this course what shall become of them or what shall happen to them at the last for their provocations To this sense the Greek render the words 21. With that which is not God i. e. With Idols presently afterward called Vanities because they are nothing 1 Cor. 8.4 and consequently are not able to help their Worshippers 1 Sam. 12.21 1 King 16.13 I will move them to jealousie with those which are not a people c. The meaning is that God would by a people that was not peculiar to him as the Israelites were provoke them to Jealousie And this God fulfilled by delivering them to the Assyrians Chaldaeans and their other Enemies who were none of his People and by rejecting them and taking the Gentiles into his favour and into the Church of Christ Rom. 11.14 And to this purpose the Apostle applies the words of the Prophet I will call them my people which were not my people Rom. 9.25 This did greatly provoke the Jews
Thracians 3. Ashkenaz Josephus derives from him a People whom he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatever they were it is probable that from that People who descended from Ashkenaz the Germans were afterwards derived Riphath Whence the Paphlagonians for so the Riphathaeans were called says Josephus Togarmah From whom the Phrygians 4. Elisha Hence the Aeolians says Josephus Tarshish Who gave name to Cilicia which was so called says Josephus There was also the City Tarsus Kittim The Hebrews says Josephus call all Islands and most Maritime places Kittim and that from Cyprus which he would have to be the seat of Javan's posterity here Dodanim 'T is thought that Epirus and part of Peloponnesus belonged to Dodanim 5. Isles of the Gentiles The Hebrew word which we render Isles does not onely signifie places encompassed by the Sea but remote places from whence they came by Sea Isa 40.15.42.4 with Matt. 12.21 Ezek. 27.3 1 Maccab. 14.5 After their families in their nations i. e. The several Families which made up the several Nations had a separate lot and portion in the Nation to which they belonged 6. Cush Hence the Aethiopians as is very commonly believed But yet it is very certain that some other people nearer to Canaan than Aethiopia were derived and denominated from Cush And they lived in Arabia toward the Red Sea It appears that Cush and Midian are joined together and seem to denote the same Country Hab. 3.7 The Wife of Moses is called a Cushite Numb 12. 1. who was a Woman of Midian Exod. 2.16 21. And that Cush denotes a Country near at hand and not Aethiopia which with respect to Canaan lay beyond Egypt will be evident to him who will take the pains diligently to compare the following places Ezek. 29.10 with Ezek. 30.9 and 2 Kings 19.9 and 2 Chron. 21.16 Isa 20.4 5. Isa 18.1 with Zephan 3.10 Mizraim The word denotes the Egyptians Phut From him the Inhabitants of Lybia Canaan From him the Canaanites 7. Seba From him the Sabeans had their Names 9. A mighty hunter before the Lord i. e. An open and great Tyrant and a bold Contemner of God See Jer. 16.16 10. Babel So called from the confusion of Languages ch 11. v. 9. Shinar So called as 't is thought because from thence the people were driven upon the confusion of Languages ch 11. v. 2. 11. Went forth Ashur Or he went into Assyria as it is in the Margent That is Nimrod went thither According to this rendring the Original is Elliptical So it is elsewhere in the like manner 2 Sam. 6.10 with 1 Chron. 13.13 2 Sam. 10.2 with 1 Chron. 19.2 12. The same i. e. Nineveh Jon. 1. Or perhaps Resen before mentioned which is thought to be the same with Larissa And then no wonder that Moses should call it a great City when Xenophon Expedit Cyri l. iij. calls it so in so many words and gives us a particular account of the greatness of its Walls c. 13. Ludim i. e. Lud and his Posterity the Ludims The form of that word as of several others that follow being plural and denoting several Nations probably in Africa 14. Out of whom came Philistim Heb. From thence the Philistims They were not of the Race of Canaan but of Mizraim Nor did they originally possess the Land of Canaan but were removed from Caphtor thither Amos 9.7 Jer. 47.4 15. Sidon Whence the City Sidon had its Name Heth From whom the Hittites of whom and of the following Race of Canaan see the Book of Joshua 21. The Father of all the children of Eber And so consequently the Father of the Hebrews who had their Name from him From him Abram is called an Hebrew Gen. 14.13 And his Posterity Hebrews Gen. 39.14 Exod. 1.15 16. It must notwithstanding be confessed that some have thought Eber in this place not to be a proper Name and that Abraham is called an Hebrew not from Eber as that is a proper Name but as it imports one that comes from beyond the River Euphrates And then what we render the children of Eber imports the Inhabitants beyond the River Euphrates 22. Elam From whom the Elamites or Persians Ashur From whom the Assyrians Arphaxad From whom the Chaldees says Josephus They are called Chasdim in the Hebrew but not from Chesed the Son of Nahor Gen. 22.22 For they were so called before his Birth Gen. 15.7 Lud From whom the Lydians Aram From whom the Aramites or Syrians 23. Vz See Job 1. v. 1. The Seat of the Idumeans Lam. 4.21 24. Eber See verse 21. 25. Peleg The Hebrew word imports division Divided i. e. The Inhabitants of the Earth were dispersed upon the Confusion of Languages ch 11. which gave occasion to his Name he being born at that time says Josephus 26. Joktan These Sons of Joktan Josephus placeth in the Indies from the River Cophen Ophir is one of his Sons and from his Land in India Solomon's Ships fetched Gold c. 2 Chron. 9.10 CHAP. XI The ARGUMENT The inhabitants of the Earth speak all one language They proudly attempt the building of a city and and high Tower Their language is confounded The city called Babel and from thence they are scattered upon the face of all the Earth The great age and death of Shem. Of his posterity to Abram Abram comes from Ur to Haran The age and death of Terah the father of Abram 1. AND the whole earth was of one language and of one speech 2. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there 3. And they said one to another Go to let us make brick and burn them throughly And they had brick for stone and slime had they for mortar 4. And they said Go to let us build us a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven and let us make us a name lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth 5. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men builded 6. And the LORD said Behold the people is one and they have all one language and this they begin to do and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do 7. Go to let us go down and there confound their language that they may not understand one anothers speech 8. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth and they left off to build the city 9. Therefore is the name of it called Babel because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth 10. These are the generations of Shem Shem was an hundred years old and begat Arphaxad two years after the floud 11. And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years and begat sons and daughters 12. And Arphaxad lived