veil i. e. In the Holy Place before the Veil which was between that and the Holy of Holies ch 26.33 Mercy-seat Ch. 25.17 Where I will meet with thee I will be known unto thee there say the Greek 7. Sweet incense Heb. Incense of spices A Symbol of fervent and devout Prayers Ps 141.2 Rev. 5.8 and 8.3 When the Priest went in to offer Incense the People prayed without Luk. 1.10 8. Lighteth Or Setteth up Heb. Causeth to ascend At even Heb. Between the two evens Perpetual Without intermission which recommends to us constant times of Prayer at least every Morning and Evening 9. Strange incense i. e. Incense of another Composition than what is appointed v. 34. Nor burnt-sacrifice c. Which were to be offered upon the Altar of Brass appointed for that purpose 10. Make an atonement c. By the Blood of the Sin-offering he shall cleanse it from the pollution which it contracts because of the transgressions of the People Lev. 16.16 18. Once in the year That is on the day of Expiation the tenth day of the seventh Month Lev. 16.29 Most holy Ch. 23.37 12. When c. Num. 1.2 5. Their number Heb. Them that are to be numbered A ransom for his soul Or For his Life This was an homage paid to God as an acknowledgement of his redeeming them No plague As happened in David's time after he had numbred the People 13. After the shekel of the sanctuary Possibly in the Sanctuary the Standards were kept by which other Weights and Measures were to be examined though some have thought that the Expression implies a difference between the Common and Sacred Shekel A shekel c. Lev. 27.25 Num. 3.47 Ezek. 45.12 15. The rich c. Riches being of no account with God Give more Heb. Multiply Give less Heb. Diminish 18. The altar That is the Brazen-altar 20. That they die not viz. By the hand of God as Aaron's Sons did Lev. 20.2 23. Principal spices The best of the kind 24. Of the sanctuary See v. 13. An hin Vid. Ch. 29.40 25. An oyl Which signifies the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Act. 10.38 Luk. 4.21 Apothecary Or Perfumer 26. Thou shalt â—noint And by that means set apart to an holy use 29. Sanctifie Or By this means set a side to a Separate and Holy use 30. Anoint Aaron ' c. Who were by this anointing set apart to the Priesthood as by the Holy Spirit the Ministers of God are enabled to discharge their Office 31. This shall be The Jews understand it of this very Oyl which was made by Moses and not thâ—â— we read of repeated afterwards 33. Stranger i. e. Whoever is not a Priest or a King 34. Stactâ— The fatness or sweet Gum of a certain Balsamick-tree The Hebrew word imports dropping Onycha This was a certain Claw or sweet Hoof which was used in Perfumes says Maimon Galbanum This says Maimon is a Gum of a Tree in Greece like black Honey and is of a strong smell 35. Tempered Heb. Salted 36. Put of it before c. That is Offer it upon the golden Altar 37. To your selves c. i. e. To your own use v. 38. CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Bezaleel and Aholiab are chosen by God and fitted for building the Tabernacle and all things belonging thereunto The observation of the Sabbath is pressed upon the Israelites Moses receives two Tables of Stone written by God 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. See I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah 3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship 4. To divise cunning works to work in gold and in silver and in brass 5. And in cutting of stones to set them and in carving of timber to work in all manner of workmanship 6. And I behold I have given with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded thee 7. The tabernacle of the congregation and the ark of the testimony and the mercy-seat that is thereupon and all the furniture of the tabernacle 8. And the table and his furniture and the pure candlestick with all his furniture and the altar of incense 9. And the altar of burnt-offering with all his furniture and the laver and his foot 10. And the clothes of service and the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office 11. And the anointing oyl and sweet incense for the holy place according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do 12. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 13. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel saying Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctifie you 14. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people 15. Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest holy to the LORD whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath-day he shall surely be put to death 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant 17. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed 18. And he gave unto Moses when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai two tables of testimony tables of stone written with the finger of God 2. I have called by name i. e. I have particularly chosen and designed Vid. Esa 43.1 Son 1 Chron. 2.20 Of Hur Ch. 17.12 and 24.14 3. Spirit of God i. e. The gifts of the Spirit which follow 1 Cor. 12.4 8. 4. To devise cunning works To teach the Artificers says the Chaldee 5. Stones This the Chaldee understands truly of precious Stones See ch 28.21 7. Furniture Heb. Vessels 8. Pure candlestick Made of pure Gold and by the Priest's daily care to be kept clean and pure 10. Clothes of service These Clothes of Service as they stand here distinguished from the Priest's Holy Garments may possibly referr to those Clothes and Coverings which are mentioned Num. 4.7 8 9 11 12. 13. Verily my sabbaths c. Tho' this work were to be done as God had appointed yet not on the Sabbath Day A sign between me and you a token or acknowledgment that I am your God and that you worship the Creator of Heaven and Earth The Sabbath was afterward commanded as a Memorial of their Deliverance
do he sheweth unto Pharaoh 29. Behold there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt 30. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt and the famine shall consume the land 31. And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following for it shall be very grievous 32. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is established by God and God will shortly bring it to pass 33. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt 34. Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years 35. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh and let them keep food in the cities 36. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land perish not through the famine 37. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants 38. And Pharaoh said unto his servants Can we find such a one as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this there is none so discreet and wise as thou art 40. Thou shalt be over my house and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled only in the throne will I be greater then thou 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt 42. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand and arayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck 43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had and they cried before him Bow the knee and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt 44. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph I am Pharaoh and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt 46. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt 47. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfulls 48. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities the food of the field which was round about every city laid he up in the same 49. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea very much untill he left numbering for it was without number 50. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him 51. And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh for God said he hath made me forget all my toil and all my father's house 52. And the name of the second called he Ephraim for God hath caused me to be fruitfull in the land of my affliction 53. And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended 54. And the seven years of dearth began to come according as Joseph had said and the dearth was in all lands but in all the land of Egypt there was bread 55. And when all the land of Egypt was famished the people cried to Pharaoh for bread and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians Go unto Joseph what he saith to you do 56. And the famine was over all the face of the earth and Joseph opened all the store-houses and sold unto the Egyptians and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt 57. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn because that the famine was so sore in all lands 1. PHaraoh A Name that was common to the Kings of Egypt See v. 44. River Nilus or some branch of it whose Waters rendred Egypt fruitfull 2. Kine The increase whereof together with that of Corn v. 5. serve greatly toward the sustenance of life 3. Vpon the brink of the river Not feeding in a Medow as the fat Kine did v. 2. but on the dry Banks of that River the over-flowing of which rendred the Land fruitfull Deut. 11.10 11. 8. The Magicians i. e. Interpreters says the Greek Version They were a sort of Men professing a skill in interpreting Dreams Dan. 2.10 and that used inchantments Exod. 8.18 9. My faults i. e. My offences against thee He might also remember now his ingratitude to Joseph ch 40.14 23. 13. Him he hanged i. e. He did foretell what afterward came to pass that he should be hanged 14. Out of the dungeon Where he was possibly ministring to the Prisoners who were committed to his charge 16. It is not in me God c. See chap. 40.8 24. None that could Which confirms the truth of what Joseph had said before v. 16. and ch 40.8 30. Shall be forgotten i. e. It shall be as if it had not been at all by reason of the Famine which was to succeed The Land i. e. The People of the Land says the Chaldee 32. Established i. e. Fully confirmed The Greek render it true which Greek word signifies that which is not onely true but sufficiently confirmed and attested Joh. 5.31 and ch 8.13 14. 34. Let Pharaoh do this c. Or Let Pharaoh constitute and appoint What we render do signifies to make or appoint as doth also the Greek word which answers to it See Mark 3.14 and Acts 2.36 Of the Land i. e. Of the growth and increase of the Land 35. Vnder the hand of Pharaoh Under the hand of Pharaoh or of those whom Pharaoh should appoint 36. Store Not to be touched till the Famine came 38. In whom the Spirit of God is This Pharaoh concludes from the interpretation which Joseph had given of his Dream Dan. 5.11 as also from Joseph's words v. 16. The Chaldee hath it the Spirit of Prophecy 40. Over my house He made him Lord of his house and ruler of all his substance Psal 105.21 Shall all my people be ruled i. e. They shall be obedient as the Vulgar and Greek Versions have it He had power to bind his Princes at his pleasure Psal 105.22 Act. 7.10 42. His ring As a mark of his favour to Joseph and perhaps of the authority which he gave him Esth 3.10 and 8.2 43. In the second Chariot As an argument that he was next in honour to the King himself 2 Chron.
them that stood by him and he cried Cause every man to go out from me and there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren 2. And he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard 3. And Joseph said unto his brethren I am Joseph Doth my father yet live And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence 4. And Joseph said unto his brethren Come near to me I pray you and they came near and he said I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt 5. Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with your selves that ye sold me hither for God did send me before you to preserve life 6. For these two years hath the famine been in the land and yet there are five years in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance 8. So now it was not you that sent me hither but God and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt 9. Haste you and go up to my father and say unto him Thus saith thy son Joseph God hath made me lord of all Egypt come down unto me tarry not 10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen and thou shalt be near unto me thou and thy children and thy children's children and thy flocks and thy herds and all that thou hast 11. And there will I nourish thee for yet there are five years of famine lest thou and thy houshold and all that thou hast come to poverty 12. And behold your eyes see and the eyes of my brother Benjamin that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you 13. And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and of all that you have seen and ye shall hast and bring down my father hither 14. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept and Benjamin wept upon his neck 15. Moreover he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them and after that his brethren talked with him 16. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house saying Joseph's brethren are come and it pleased Pharaoh well and his servants 17. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph Say unto thy brethren This do ye lade your beasts and go get you unto the land of Canaan 18. And take your father and your housholds and come unto me and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt and ye shall eat the fat of the land 19. Now thou art commanded this do ye Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives and bring your father and come 20. Also regard not your stuff for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours 21. And the children of Israel did so and Joseph gave them wagons according to the commandment of Pharaoh and gave them provision for the way 22. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment 23. And to his father he sent after this manner ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way 24. So he sent his brethren away and they departed and he said unto them See that ye fall not out by the way 25. And they went up out of Egypt and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father 26. And told him saying Joseph is yet alive and he is governour over all the land of Egypt And Jacob's heart fainted for he believed them not 27. And they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said unto them and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him the spirit of Jacob their father revived 28. And Israel said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive I will go and see him before I die 1. COuld not refrain himself i. e. He could no longer forbear being moved by the words of Judah Go out Joseph was not willing that any should be Witnesses of his own Passion or his Brethren's former Faults 2. The Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh i. e. The Egyptians who went out hearing it soon told it to the House of Pharaoh Compare v. 16. 4. Whom ye sold He tells them this to gain belief rather than to upbraid them 5. God did send c. i. e. I was sent hither not without the special Providence of God 8. Not you that sent me hither but God The good event of the thing was intirely to be imputed to God though the fault were theirs 10. Land of Goshen A fruitfull part of the Land of Egypt lying towards Canaan ch 46.28 29. 47.1 6 27. 12. That it is my mouth They might not onely discern some resemblance from his Countenance by which they might call him to mind but his speaking to them in their own Language without an Interpreter Compare v. 1. with ch 42.23 might farther confirm them 15. Talked with him Having now overcome their fears 16. The fame thereof c. Being quickly carried from one to another See the Note on v. 2. 18. Fat of the land i. e. The best of it Compare Ps 63.5 Numb 18.12 20. Regard not Let not your Eye spare Compare Deut. 7.16 22. Three hundred pieces of silver i. e. Three hundred Shekels See the Note on ch 20.16 24. See that ye fall not out by the way Be not angry as the Latin and Greek have it They would be apt to reproach each other now for their former cruelty to Joseph 26. Fainted Through his fear and distrust 27. Revived iâ— Jacob now believing the truth of what his Sons had said 28. It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive Two things his Sons told him viz. That Joseph was alive and that he was Governour of Egypt And the latter of the two Joseph required them to tell his Father v. 9. But for Joseph's Glory and Dominion Jacob does not rejoice as one greatly affected with it 'T was his Life gave him the Joy He said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive It is enough if Joseph be yet alive as the Vulgar Latin hath it See ch 46.30 CHAP. XLVI The ARGUMENT Jacob cometh to Beer-sheba God appears to him and encourageth his going into Egypt whence he with his Family goes down into Egypt A particular account of his Family which went thither Joseph meets his Father and instructs his Brethren what they should say unto Pharaoh 1. AND Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac 2. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night and said Jacob Jacob. And he said Here am I. 3.
the first Veil at the entry into the Tabernacle CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT Of the Altar of Burnt-offering and its Horns and Utensils Of the Court of the Tabernacle and its dimensions Of the Oil for the Lamp 1. AND thou shalt make an altar of shittim-wood five cubits long and five cubits broad the altar shall be four-square and the height thereof shall be three cubits 2. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof his horns shall be of the same and thou shalt overlay it with brass 3. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes and his shovels and his basons and his flesh-hooks and his fire-pans all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass 4. And thou shalt make for it a grate of net-work of brass and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof 5. And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath that the net may be even to the midst of the altar 6. And thou shalt make staves for the altar staves of shittim-wood and overlay them with brass 7. And the staves shall be put into the rings and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar to bear it 8. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it as it was shewed thee in the mount so shall they make it 9. And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle for the south-side south-ward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side 10. And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver 11. And likewise for the north-side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver 12. And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits their pillars ten and their sockets ten 13. And the breadth of the court on the east-side east-ward shall be fifty cubits 14. The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits their pillars three and their sockets three 15. And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits their pillars three and their sockets three 16. And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits of blue and purple and scarlet and fine twined linen wrought with needle-work and their pillars shall be four and their sockets four 17. All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of brass 18. The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits and the breadth fifty every where and the height five cubits of fine twined linen and their sockets of brass 19. All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof and all the pins thereof and all the pins of the court shall be of brass 20. And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light to cause the lamp to burn always 21. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail which is before the testimony Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel 1. FOur-square Viz. With respect to the length and breadth thereof Ezek. 43.16 2. The Horns of it These were certain Spices proceeding out of the four corners of the Altar which were hollow says Maimon and each of them five hand-breadths high Beth Habbech c. 2. They may be well supposed not onely for Ornament but for Life also And besides the keeping the Sacrifice from the falling off it hath been thought from Psal 118.27 they were set up that the Sacrifice might be tied and fastned to them the better to prevent the falling of it 3. Basons In which the bloud was received and out of which it was sprinkled ch 29.16 Flesh-hooks Forks or Instruments with teeth to lay hold of the flesh of the Sacrifice Fire-pans To take up Coals with for the Censer in which the Incense was burnt Levit. 9.1 and 16.12 4. A grate of net-work A plate full of holes on which the wood lay Vpon the net That the Net upon which was a continual fire may be carried separately from the rest of the Altar Exod. 38.5 with Numb 4.13 5. The compass of the Altar i. e. The square Compass of the whole Altar Midst of the Altar i. e. The midst of the height 8. It was shewed Heb. He shewed 9. Court This was an open part and the most outward of all which received the Israelites whereas into the Holy place none but Priests entered into the most Holy none but the High Priest once a year Hundred cubits It was so of each side v. 11. Which measure is double to the breadth of it v. 12. 10. Fillets They seem to be Plates encompassing the heads of the Pillars in which the Hooks were fastened 16. Twenty cubit These with the two Fifteens v. 14 15. on each side made up the fifty Cubits v. 12. 18. Fifty every-where Heb. Fifty by fifty 20. Pure Oil-olive beaten i. e. Oil of the Olive-tree and of the best and finer sort not the dregs which run from the Press To burn Heb. To ascend up 21. From evening to morning The Lamps were kept burning night and day ch 30.7 8. Levit 24.2 3. CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Aaron and his Sons are set a-part for the Priest's Office Their Priestly Garments Of the Ephod its Girdle and Onyx-stones Of the Breast-plate and the Stones thereunto belonging and of the Vrim and Thummim Of the Golden Bells and Pomegranates Of the Golden Plate Of the Coat Mitre and Girdle Of several Garments for the Sons of Aaron 1. AND take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office even Aaron Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar Aaron's sons 2. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty 3. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him that he may minister unto me in the priest's office 4. And these are the garments which they shall make a breast-plate and on ephod and a robe and a broidered coat a mitre and a girdle and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother and his sons that he may minister unto me in the priest's office 5. And they shall take gold and blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen 6. And they shall make the ephod of gold of blue and of purple of scarlet and fine twined linen with cunning work 7. It shall have
The Chaldee understands it of the Shecinah or Divine Presence 10. I make Deut. 5.2 A terrible thing Such as speaks the Majesty and Power of God who is terrible in his doing toward the children of men Ps 66.5 12. Take heed Ch. 23.32 Deut. 7.2 13. Images Heb. Statues 14. Jealous Ch. 20.5 15. Go a whoring Idolatry is a spiritual Whoredom Ps 73.27 He that loves and honours the Creature instead of the Creator is guilty of it Jam. 4.4 And thou eat of his sacrifice And so have Communion with an Idol Num. 25.2 Ps 106.28 Ezek. 18.6.22.9 1 Cor. 10.20 Rev. 2.20 16. Their daughters 1 King 11.2 17. No molten They are specially warned against molten Gods they having transgressed so lately in the molten Calf ch 32.4 18. Vnleavened Ch. 23.15 Month Ch. 13.4 19. All Ch. 22.29 Ezek. 44.30 20. Lamb Or Kid. Empty Ch. 23.15 21. Six Ch. 23.12 Deut. 5.12 Luk. 13.14 22. And Ch. 23.16 Years end Heb. Revolution of the year 23. Thrice Ch. 23.14 17. Deut. 16.16 25. Thou c. Ch. 23.18 26. Kid Ch. 23.19 Deut. 14.21 27. Write thou these words Deut. 4.13 i. e. Do thou write them in a Book apart The ten Commandments onely were written in the two Tables and they were written by God v. 1. Deut. 10.2.4 28. And he Ch. 24.18 Deut. 9.9 And he wrote Not Moses but God See v. 27. Commandments Heb. Words 29. Shone Was glorious says the Greek which rendring agrees well with what we read 2 Cor. 3.7 While he talked with him These words express the cause why the Face of Moses did shine viz. from his converse with God 2 Cor. 3.18 30. Were afraid And by this means it is likely Moses came to the knowledge of it 33. He put Or He had put Viz. during the time that he spake with them A veil 2 Cor. 3.13 14. 34. He took the veil off 2 Cor. 3.16 35. With him That is With God as appears from v. 34. CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT The People are commanded to rest on the Sabbath-day Free-will Offerings for the Tabernacle to be received Both Men and Women offer Materials Bezaleel and Aholiab chosen for the Work 1. AND Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together and said unto them These are the words which the LORD hath commanded that ye should do them 2. Six days shall work be done but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day a sabbath of rest to the LORD whosoever doth work therein shall be put to death 3. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath-day 4. And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel saying This is the thing which the LORD commanded saying 5. Take ye from amongst you an offering unto the LORD Whosoever is of a willing heart let him bring it an offering of the LORD gold and silver and brass 6. And blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen and goats hair 7. And rams skins died red and badgers skins and shittim-wood 8. And oyl for the light and spices for anointing oyl and for the sweet incense 9. And onyx-stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate 10. And every wise-hearted among you shall come and make all that the LORD hath commanded 11. The tabernacle his tent and his covering his taches and his boards his bars his pillars and his sockets 12. The ark and the staves thereof with the mercy-seat and the veil of the covering 13. The table and his staves and all his vessels and the shew-bread 14. The candlestick also for the light and his furniture and his lamps with the oyl for the light 15. And the incense-altar and his staves and the anointing oyl and the sweet incense and the hanging for the door at the entring in of the tabernacle 16. The altar of burnt-offering with his brasen grate his staves and all his vessels the laver and his foot 17. The hangings of the court his pillars and their sockets and the hanging for the door of the court 18. The pins of the tabernacle and the pins of the court and their cords 19. The clothes of service to do service in the holy place the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office 20. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses 21. And they came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation and for all his service and for the holy garments 22. And they came both men and women as many as were willing-hearted and brought bracelets and ear-rings and rings and tablets all jewels of gold and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD 23. And every man with whom was found blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen and goat's hair and red skins of rams and badgers skins brought them 24. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering and every man with whom was found shittim-wood for any work of the service brought it 25. And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands and brought that which they had spun both of blue and of purple and of scarlet and of fine linen 26. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goat's hair 27. And the rulers brought onyx-stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate 28. And spice and oyl for the light and for the anointing oyl and for the sweet incense 29. The children of Israel brought a willing-offering unto the LORD every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses 30. And Moses said unto the children of Israel See the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Vri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah 31. And he hath filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship 32. And to devise curious works to work in gold and in silver and in brass 33. And in the cutting of stones to set them and in carving of wood to make any manner of cunning work 34. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach both he and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work of the engraver and of the cunning workman and of the embroiderer in blue and in purple in scarlet and in fine linen and of the weaver even of them that do any work and of those that devise cunning work 2. Six days Ch. 20.9 Levit. 23.3 Deut. 5.12 Luk. 13.14 An holy day Heb. Holiness Put to
would not have them exceed the limits which God had given 8. And every wise-hearted Ch. 26.3 4. 12. Fifty loops Ch. 26.10 14. For the tent See the Notes on ch 35.11 19. A covering Ch. 35.11 25. For the other side Or for the second side 29. Coupled Heb. Twinned 30. Vnder every board two sockets Heb. Two sockets two sockets under one board 31. Bars of shittim-wood Ch. 25.28 and 30.5 37. Of needle-work Heb. The work of a needle-worker or embroiderer CHAP. XXXVII The ARGUMENT The Ark is made and Mercy-seat with Cherubims and the Table and Candlestick As also the Altar of Incense and anointing Oyl 1. AND Bezaleel made the ark of shittim-wood two cubits and a half was the length of it and a cubit and a half the breadth of it and a cubit and a half the height of it 2. And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without and made a crown of gold to it round about 3. And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set by the four corners of it even two rings upon the one side of it and two rings upon the other side of it 4. And he made staves of shittim-wood and overlaid them with gold 5. And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark to bear the ark 6. And he made the mercy-seat of pure gold two cubits and an half was the length thereof and one cubit and an half the breadth thereof 7. And he made two cherubims of gold beaten out of one piece made he them on the two ends of the mercy-seat 8. One cherub on the end on this side and another cherub on the other end on that side out of the mercy-seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof 9. And the cherubims spread out their wings on high and covered with their wings over the mercy-seat with their faces one to another even to the mercy-seat-ward were the faces of the cherubims 10. And he made the table of shittim-wood two cubits was the length thereof and a cubit the breadth thereof and a cubit and a half the height thereof 11. And he overlaid it with pure gold and made thereunto a crown of gold round about 12. Also he made thereunto a border of an hand-breadth round about and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about 13. And he cast for it four rings of gold and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof 14. Over against the border were the rings the places for the staves to bear the table 15. And he made the staves of shittim-wood and overlaid them with gold to bear the table 16. And he made the vessels which were upon the table his dishes and his spoons and his bowls and his covers to cover withall of pure gold 17. And he made the candlestick of pure gold of beaten work made he the candlestick his shaft and his branch his bowls his knops and his flowers were of the same 18. And six branches going out of the sides thereof three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof 19. Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch a knop and a flower and three bowls made like almonds in another branch a knop and a flower so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick 20. And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds his knops and his flowers 21. And a knop under two branches of the same and a knop under two branches of the same and a knop under two branches of the same according to the six branches going out of it 22. Their knops and their branches were of the same all of it was one beaten work of pure gold 23. And he made his seven lamps and his snuffers and his snuff-dishes of pure gold 24. Of a talent of pure gold made he it and all the vessels thereof 25. And be made the incense-altar of shittim-wood the length of it was a cubit and the breadth of it a cubit it was four-square and two cubits was the height of it the horns thereof were of the same 26. And he overlaid it with pure gold both the top of it and the sides thereof round about and the horns of it also he made unto it a crown of gold round about 27. And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof by the two corners of it upon the two sides thereof to be places for the staves to bear it withall 28. And he made the staves of shittim-wood and overlaid them with gold 29. And he made the holy anointing oyl and the pure incense of sweet spices according to the work of the apothecary 1. AND Bezaleel made the Ark Ch. 25.10 This Ark was a more peculiar Symbol of the Divine Presence See the Notes on ch 25.22 And the making of it was first recommended ch 25.10 and reported here in the first place And it was made by Bezaleel the principal Workman whom God had filled with his Spirit ch 35.21 6. The mercy-seat Ch. 25.17 8. On the end Or Out of c. And so also in the words which follow 10. Table Ch. 25.23 16. Dishes Ch. 25.29 To cover withall Or to pour out withall 17. Candlestick Ch. 25.31 20. In the Candlestick That is in the Shaft or Middle-part of the Candlestick See the Notes on ch 25.33 25. And he made c. See ch 30.1 29. The holy anointing oyl Ch. 30.35 CHAP. XXXVIII The ARGUMENT The Altar of Burnt-offering The Laver of Brass The Court and Hangings Of the Gold Silver and Brass spent in this work 1. AND he made the altar of burnt-offering of shittim-wood five cubits was the length thereof and five cubits the breadth thereof it was four-square and three cubits the height thereof 2. And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it the horns thereof were of the same and he overlaid it with brass 3 And he made all the vessels of the altar the pots and the shovels and the basons and the flesh-hooks and the fire-pans all the vessels thereof made he of brass 4. And he made for the altar a brasen grate of net-work under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it 5. And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass to be places for the staves 6. And he made the staves of shittim-wood and overlaid them with brass 7. And be put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal he made the altar hollow with boards 8. And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it of brass of the looking-glasses of the women assembling which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 9. And he made the court on the south-side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen an hundred cubits 10.
the Peace-offering be a Vow or Voluntary Offering 7. Not be accepted Ch. 7.18 9. When ye reap Ch. 23.22 11. Steal c. Theft is the occasion of these sins which follow viz. Lying and Fraud and Perjury Vid. Notes on Exod. 22.11 And is fitly forbid in the first place 12. Swear Exod. 20.7 Deut. 5.11 Matt. 5.34 Jam. 5.12 Profane the name The Name of God is then profaned when it is irreverently used or appealed to in confirmation of a Lye as it is in Perjury and Common Swearing 13. The wages Deut. 24.14 15. Tob. 4.14 14. Curse the deaf c. Though the Deaf cannot hear the Curse nor the Blind discern the Stumbling and they could not be convicted of these Crimes yet the fear of God ought to restrain them Deut. 27.18 15. Respect Exod 23.3 Deut. 1.17 and 16.19 Prov. 24.23 Jam. 2.9 1 Joh. 2.11 16. A tale-bearer The word is observed to signifie a Merchant and here denotes one that drives a trade in carrying Tales and Stories from one to another and especially Accusations which disturb the Peace and sometimes endanger the Lives of Men and is therefore fitly forbid together with the standing against the Blood or Life of a Neighbour Ezek. 22.9 Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour i. e. Thou shalt not suffer an innocent Israelite to lose his Life when it is in thy power to help him In this sense these words are understood by the Jewish Writers Seld. de Jur. Natural l. iv c. iii. 17. Thou shalt not c. 1 Joh. 2.11 Thou shalt in any wise Ecclus 19.13 Matt. 18.15 And not suffer sin upon him Or That thou bear not sin for him This Marginal reading agrees well with the Hebrew Text and with the Ancient Versions And then we are taught That he who does not reprove his Brother who goes on in a sinfull course shall be punished for that sin which he might have prevented 18. Avenge Or Return one Evil for another Jer. 50.15 Rom. 12.18 19. But thou c. Matt. 5.43 and 22.39 Rom. 13.9 Gal. 5.14 Jam. 2.8 19. With a diverse kind God had wisely created the several Orders of Beings and Kinds of living Creatures and distinguished these Creatures into Sexes and will not that this Order should be disturbed by Men. And he that transgressed this Law seemed to derogate from the Wisdom of God's Creation With mingled seed By this and the following Prohibition they were warned against perverting the Order of Things and causing Confusion And simplicity of Manners and Dealing may very well at the same time be insinuated and commended to them Besides that a mingled Garment is forbid because the Idolatrous Priests were wont to wear such Garments at that time saith Maimon More Nevochim p. 3. c. 37. 20. Betrothed to an husband Or Abused by any Heb. Reproached by or for man She shall be scourged Or they Heb. There shall be a scourging The meaning of the place is this That whereas according to the Law Deut. 22.23 24. He that lay with a betrothed Damsel that is a Free-woman is punishable with Death as well as the Adulterer he that should lie with a Bond-woman should not therefore die but in this case the Woman should be scourged as well as the Man should be obliged to bring a Sacrifice v. 21. 23. As uncircumcised And consequently to be rejected as it follows It shall not be eaten of Three years shall it be as uncircumcised This Precept seems to have been given to draw them from the practices of Idolaters whose custom it was to offer up part of the first Fruits of those Trees of whose Fruit they were wont to eat and to eat part of them in the Idol's Temple being of an Opinion that the Tree which was planted would not otherwise thrive And because generally the Trees planted in Canaan at the farthest brought forth in the space of three years this is made the term during which their Fruit is to be reputed as Uncircumcised This Maimon expressly affirms vid. More Nevochim p. 3. c. 37. 24. Holy to praise the LORD withall Heb. Holiness of praises to the Lorâ— That is They were then set apart and consecrated to God with praise they being then either given to the Priests or eaten by the Owners before the Lord as the second Tithes Deut. 12.17 18. Vid. Joseph Antiq. l. 4. c. 8. 25. Ye shall eat As your own property That it may yield i. e. Whiles you obey my Precepts ch 26.3 4. 26. With the blood i. e. Before the Blood be separated Vse inchantment That which is by these words forbid seems to be this That they should not govern themselves by a superstitious Observation of casual Events and thence make conjectures of future successes As they do who from the passing by of Beasts or the chattering of Birds undertake to conclude concerning their future Successes and do accordingly govern themselves which is an argument of a great distrust of the Divine Providence Nor observe times i. e. Not repute them lucky and unlucky and govern themselves by those superstitious Observations 27. Ye shall not round c. Ch. 21.5 This seems to have been the Manner of the Heathens especially in their Mourning Isa 15.2 Jer. 48.37 28. make any cuttings Deut. 14.1 29. Prostitute Heb. Profane 30. Reverence my sanctuary i. e. Use it with great regard for the sake of God who was more especially present there and for that cause it was not to be used as a common but as a separated and consecrated place See Eccles 5.1 Joh. 2.14 15 16. Mark 11.16 31. Familiar spirits The Hebrew word is observed to be derived from a word that signifies a Bottle and from thence to denote the Belly and the Greek here render it by a word which signifies those who spake out of the Belly and by that means imposed upon Men. Wizards The Hebrew word implies the Knowledge which these Men made profession of And agreeably may be called Cunning or Wise Men who pretended to tell what was not to be known by Natural Causes or Ordinary Means 32. Honour Lam. 5.12 33. If a stranger Exod. 22.21 Vex Or Oppress 34. But the stranger Exod. 23.9 35. In mete-yard i. e. Measure or just extent by which Cloth and such things were sold Weight This was the way of paying Gold or Silver and selling Brass and Iron Measure Thus Wine and Oyl c. were sold by certain Measures of several known and standing Capacities 36. Just Prov. 11.1 16.11 20.10 Weights Heb. Stones Ephah and Hin These are put for all sorts of Measures whether of liquid things or dry CHAP. XX. The ARGUMENT The punishment of him that giveth of his Seed to Molech Of him that consults familiar Spirits and Wizards and curseth his Pâ—â—ents Of the Adulterer and Incestuous Of the Sodomite and him or her the lieth with a Beast and others that are guilty of unlawfull mixtures The Israelites are warned to obserâ—â— the difference between
Heb. From the eyes Manner Or Ordinance 27. If any soul i. e. If any private person Or any one of the common people as it is expressed Levit 4.27 29. Sinneth Heb. Doeth 30. Presumptuously Heb. With an high hand i. e. Wilfully and designedly and not through ignorance and inadvertence 31. Broken Not onely broken but disanulled and made void by Contemning that Authority upon which the Commandment stands His iniquity i. e. The punishment due upon account of his Sin 32. Gathered sticks Not onely gathered but bound them up together as the Hebrew word may well signifie Exod. 5.7 34. In ward Levit 24.12 It was not declared c. They knew that he who defiled the Sabbath was obnoxious to Death Exod. 31.14 ch 35.2 But the kind of death they were not taught and might be also at a loss whether what this Man did was such a work as was forbid and such as might be esteemed a defiling the Sabbath 38. Bid them Deut. 22.12 Matt. 23.5 39. A whoring This may be understood of Idolatry which is spiritual Whoredom CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT The Rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram The Israelites separate from their Tents The Earth swallows up Korah and those that belonged to him A Fire from Heaven consumes them that offered Incense The Censers are made into Plates The People murmur A Plague is sent among them Aaron makes Atonement for the People 1. NOW Korah the son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab and On the son of Peleth sons of Reuben took men 2. And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly famous in the congregation men of renown 3. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the LORD is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the congregation of the LORD 4. And when Moses heard it he fell upon his face 5. And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company saying Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him 6. This do Take you censers Korah and all his company 7. And put fire therein and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose he shall be holy ye take too much upon you ye sons of Levi. 8. And Moses said unto Korah Hear I pray you ye sons of Levi 9. Seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them 10. And he hath brought thee near to him and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the priesthood also 11. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD and what is Aaron that ye murmur against him 12. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab which said We will not come up 13. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness except thou make thy self altogether a prince over us 14. Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards wilt thou put out the eyes of these men we will not come up 15. And Moses was very wroth and said unto the LORD Respect not thou their offering I have not taken one ass from them neither have I hurt one of them 16. And Moses said unto Korah Be thou and all thy company before the LORD thou and they and Aaron to morrow 17. And take every man his censer and put incense in them and bring ye before the LORD every man his censor two hundred and fifty censers thou also and Aaron each of you his censer 18. And they took every man his censer and put fire in them and laid incense thereon and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron 19. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation 20. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 21. Separate your selves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment 22. And they fell upon their faces and said O God the God of the spirits of all flesh shall one man sin and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24. Speak unto the congregation saying Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram 25. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram and the elders of Israel followed him 26. And he spake unto the congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins 27. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram on every side and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents and their wives and their sons and their little children 28. And Moses said Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works for I have not done them of mine own mind 29. If these men die the common death of all men or if they be visited after the visitation of all men then the LORD hath not sent me 30. But if the LORD make a new thing and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up with all that appertain unto them and they go down quick into the pit then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words that the ground clave asunder that was under them 32. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods 33. They and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit and the earth closed upon them and they perished from among the congregation 34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them for they said Lest the earth swallow us up also 35. And there came out a fire from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense 36. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 37. Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest that he
l. 1. And thus are the People of Israel considered God commands Moses to say unto Pharaoh Israel is my son even my first-born and I say unto thee Let my son go Exod. 4.22 23. Again and called my son out of Egypt Hos 11.1 And agreeably hereunto is this passage cited by St. Matth. c. 2.15 and applied to the return of Jesus out of Egypt He hath i. e. Israel who hath God for his help An unicorn It is matter of great question what Creature the Hebrew word denotes and not fit to be debated here It is enough that it denotes one of eminent Power and known so to be in those Eastern Countries and early days of the World 23. No enchantment against Or in Jacob These senses are both true and very consistent with each other Enchantment and Divination was neither at this time practised in Israel nor could they prevail against them The first Sense is favoured by the Ancients the Second confirmed by the Context They despised these things putting their trust in the One Governour of the World De vit Mosis l. 1. These things were too weak to prevail against the Strength of Israel whatever feats they might do upon other People According to this time c. That is The time is now at hand when God shall do great things for Israel bringing them by his mighty Power into the promised Land 24. Behold c. These following words give an account of their vanquishing their Enemies 28. Peor An Hill whence Beth-Peor had its name Deut. 34.6 Jeshimon i. e. The Desart or Wilderness CHAP. XXIV The ARGUMENT Balaam leaves off Enchantments and foretells the Prosperity of the Israelites Balak is thereupon angry with him Balaam's Prophecy of the Star and sundry other matters 1. AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel he went not as at other times to seek for inchantments but he set his face toward the wilderness 2. And Balaam lift up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes and the spirit of God came upon him 3. And he took up his parable and said Balaam the son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said 4. He hath said which heard the words of God which saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open 5. How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel 6. As the valleys are they spread forth as gardens by the river's side as the trees of lign-aloes which the LORD hath planted and as cedar-trees beside the waters 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters and his king shall be higher then Agag and his kingdom shall be exalted 8. God brought him forth out of Egypt he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn he shall eat up the nations his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows 9. He couched he lay down as a lion and as a great lion who shall stir him up Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee 10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam and he smote his hands together and Balak said unto Balaam I called thee to curse mine enemies and behold thou hast altogether blessed them these three times 11. Therefore now flee thou to thy place I thought to promote thee unto great honour but lo the LORD hath kept thee back from honour 12. And Balaam said unto Balak Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me saying 13. If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or bad of mine own mind but what the LORD saith that will I speak 14. And now behold I go unto my people come therefore and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days 15. And he took up his parable and said Balaam the son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said 16. He hath said which heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the most High which saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open 17. I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Seth. 18. And Edom shall be a possession Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly 19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city 20. And when he looked on Amalek he took up his parable and said Amalek was the first of the nations but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever 21. And he looked on the Kenites and took up his parable and said Strong is thy dwelling place and thou puttest thy nest in a rock 22. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted until Asshur shall carry thee away captive 23. And he took up his parable and said Alas who shall live when God doeth this 24. And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim and shall afflict Asshur and shall afflict Eber and he also shall perish for ever 25. And Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place and Balak also went his way 1. AS at other times Chap. 23.5 15. To seek for enchantments Heb. To the meeting of enchantments For tho' he offered Sacrifice to the true God yet he had also used Superstitious and Magical Rites which he had hitherto found ineffectual and therefore now he leaves them off as an unprofitable course See the Note on ch 23.1 Toward the wilderness That is Toward the place where Israel encamped as appears from v. 2. 2. The spirit of God came upon him The Divine Spirit the Spirit of Truth came upon him and directed him to foretell of the Messias c. So that the truth of what he foretells may be relyed upon 3. And he took up c. Ch. 23.7 18. Whose eyes are open Heb. Who had his eyes shut but now open That is Who is now enlightened though he were once stupid and blind See v. 1. and ch 22.34 4. Falling into a trance So those who prophesied were wont to do 1 Sam. 19.24 Ezek. 1.28 6. As the valleys c. The tents of Jacob he compares to things very goodly Such are the far extended Valleys Gardens well watered Trees bearing Spices of sweet smell lofty and tall Cedars planted by the Waters 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters These words are a Prophecy of the great encrease of Israel whose Posterity should be very numerous and powerfull This encrease of Posterity is in the
which is left to his own disposal 10. To pass through the fire See the Note upon Levit. 18.21 That useth divination or an observer of times or an Enchanter The Divination here forbid seems to be the foretelling things to come for the sake of gain or by means not allowed by the Law of God See Micah 3.11 for the observer of times and the Enchanter See the Note on Levit. 19.26 A witch See the Note upon Exod. 22.18 11. Charmer An Inchanter who by Society with evil Spirits and perhaps by a pretence to knowledge from the Conjunction of the Stars for the Hebrew Word imports Society or Conjunction amuses Men with his odd feats and predictions Or a consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard of these See the Note on Levit. 19.31 Necromancer i. e. one who seeks to the Dead See 1 Sam. 28.7 and Isa 8.19 13. Perfect i. e. Vpright or Sincere and not depart from his Precepts See v. 14. 15. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. The connexion is plainly this That they need not turn to Observers of Times to Diviners and Witches c. because God would send among them a Succession of Prophets but then here is also a promise of Christ Act. 3.22 and 7.37 which agrees perfectly to our Jesus who was a Prophet as he taught the Will of God Matth. 5. Luk. 4.19 and foretold things to come Matth. 26.75 Joh. 6.70 71. Matth. 16.21 Matth. 24. and was like unto Moses in his Meekness in his fasting forty days and forty nights in giving his Law from a Mountain Matt. 5. in his open declaring the Will of God Joh. 1.18 in his Mediatorship c. 19. I will require it i. e. I will punish him as a despiser of me and he shall be destroyed from among the people Act. 3.23 22. Speaketh in the name of the LORD c. That is undertakes to confirm his Mission by a Miracle or by predicting something to come The not being able to effect what he undertook and when the Event answered not the Prediction would prove him a false Prophet and not to be feared or regarded CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the cities of Refuge and the Manslayer The Murtherer must die The Land-mark may not be removed The insufficiency of a single Witness The Punishment of a False-witness 1. WHen the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee and thou succeedest them and dwellest in their cities and in their houses 2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way and divide the coasts of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit into three parts that every slayer may flee thither 4. And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither that he may live whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly whom he hated not in time past 5. As when a man goeth in the wood with his neighbour to hew wood and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree and the head slippeth from the helve and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die he shall flee unto one of those cities and live 6. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him because the way is long and slay him whereas he was not worthy of death in as much as he hated him not in time past 7. Wherefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate three cities for thee 8. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers 9. If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them which I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God and to walk ever in his ways then shalt thou add three cities more for thee beside these three 10. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance and so blood be upon thee 11. But if any man hate his neighbour and lie in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him mortally that he die and fleeth into one of these cities 12. Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die 13. Thine eye shall not pity him but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with thee 14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's land-mark which they of old time have set in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established 16. If a false witness rise up against any man to testifie against him that which is wrong 17. Then both the men between whom the controversie is shall stand before the LORD before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days 18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition and behold if the witness be a false witness and hath testified falsly against his brother 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother so shalt thou put the evil away from among you 20. And those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you 21. And thine eye shall not pity but life shall go for life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot 1. WHEN the LORD thy God c. It is from hence evident that they were not obliged to set aside these Cities of Refuge till they had subdued the Inhabitants of the Land and accordingly we find Joshua then taking care of it Josh 20.2 2. In the midst of thy land Or Within thy land For it is not to be supposed they were in the very middle of it but that they were so situated as might be most for the ease and security of the Man-slayer v. 6. and accordingly they were appointed in several Tribes as we read Josh 20.7 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way The meaning is that the way to these Cities should be made plain and easie that the Man-slayer might not be obstructed or retarded in his flight thither 4. And this is the case See Exod. 21.13 6. Lest the avenger c. It is evident that these words relate to what was said v. 3. of dividing the Coasts of the Land that the Slayer might flee to the City of Refuge with greater security which he could not do had not these Cities been dispersed in several Tribes 8. As he hath sworn
water 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God and into his oath which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day 13. That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that he may be unto thee a God as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 14. Neither with you onely do I make this covenant and this oath 15. But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God and also with him that is not here with us this day 16. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we came through the nations which ye passed by 17. And ye have seen their abominations and their idols wood and stone silver and gold which were among them 18. Lest there should be among you man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood 19. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to add drankenness to thirst 20. The LORD will not spare him but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heavâ—â— 21. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law 22. So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you and the stranger that shall come from a fâ—â— land shall say when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it 23. And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt and burning that it is not sown nor beareth nor any grass groweth therein like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath 24. Even all nations shall say Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land What meaneth the heat of this great anger 25. Then men shall say Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which he made with them where he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt 26. For they went and served other gods and worshipped them gods whom they knew not and whom he had not given unto them 27. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book 28. And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation and cast them into another land as it is this day 29. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for even that we may do all the words of this law 1. BEside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. This is the same Covenant with that in Horeb But because they had broken that and because they are now just entring into the promised Land and Moses had given them a more full Explication of the Law and was ready to die he renews the Covenant which they had before entred into 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see c. That is God hath thought fit for your Sins and Provocations to leave you to your own Stupidity and Blindness of Heart God had done great things for them In his love and in his pity he redeemed c. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit Isa 63.9 10. And that they were utterly inexcusable will appear from what follows v. 5 6 7. In which words we are told that God took great care of them that they might be at leisure to consider For they were not distracted with the cares for Food and Raiment c. God having made a great and miraculous Provision for them 6. Bread i. e. Bread which required not any labour of plowing or sowing of threshing and grinding c. But Manna from Heaven prepared ready to your Hands Wine or strong Drink These would have required some considerable Pains Instead of that they were supplied with Water which followed them 7. We smote them We were not enfeebled for want of Wine and strong Drink nor left without the Divine Assistance 10. All of you They were all concerned and therefore all stood ready to renew their Covenant 11. The hewr c. i. e. The meanest Servant Jos 9.27 12. And into his Oath What is rendred Oath signifies rather a Curse which was generally annexed to an Oath See the LXXII and v. 19 20. And because this Covenant had Curses annexed which were solemnly denounced against Transgressours Chap. 27.14 15. The entring into Covenant and into the Curse in case of failure are here conjoined Nehem. 10.29 15. With him that is not here i. e. With your Posterity The promise was to Abraham and his Seed 16 17. These two Verses contain Motives to incline them to enter into Covenant with God viz. Both because God had brought them out of Egypt and throuh other Nations and because they had had the opportunity of discerning the Folly of these People in worshipping Idols which cannot help them 18. Lest there should be c. These words connect with that Declaration which God makes in order to prevent the Sinner's flattering himself in an Evil way v. 20. We may find a like Expression Gen. 3.22 23. A root that beareth gall and wormwood That is an Evil principle called an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 which will infect and poison the Mind and produce the Curses denounced which will be very bitter Compare Act. 8.23 Heb. 12.15 19. To add drunkenness to thirst That is to abound in all manner of Wickedness To add sin to sin Isa 30.1 And drink it up like water Job 34.7 which course of Wickedness does but begâ—t a greater Inclination to do wickedly still As Drunkenness does not 〈◊〉 but increase the Thirst Isa 56.12 20. Blot out his name i. e. Destroy him For Name is frequently put for the person to whom that Name does belong as hath been observed 21. Shall separate him unto Evil c. Whereas such a Sinner may think to escape in a Crowd and flatter himself that the Blessings promised to God's People among whom he lives shall be his Portion he shall be singled out and rendred a Monument of God's Displeasure 23. Burning i. e. Parched and dried up and made barren Psal 107.34 26. He had not given unto them See
the 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
shall not always continue but shall be destroyed in which words God threatens the drowning of Mankind by the floud of waters What we render strive is by the ancient Versions rendered by a word that signifies to continue or abide And what is rendred with Man in the Hebrew signifies as well in Man And then it will be easie to understand the importance of these words by comparing chap. 7.22 where it is said That all in whose nostrils was the breath of life Hebr. the breath of the spirit of life died Compare Gen. 2.7 Eccles 12.7 Heb. 12.9 For that he also is flesh i. e. For that he is a depraved mortal creature addicted to the works of the flesh Jud. v. 16 19. An hundred and twenty years i. e. So much time Men shall be allowed before the coming of the Floud to repent in Thus the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the Ark was a preparing 1 Pet. 3.20 Besides the World did not want a Preacher of Righteousness among them 2 Pet. 2.5 This warning began twenty years before the Birth of Japhet of whose Birth we have an account v. 10. in its due place For what is said chap. 5.32 is there added to complete the Genealogy which is the subject of that Chapter 4. Giants i. e. Not onely Men of great stature Numb 13.32 33. but of insolent tempers v. 5 11. and consequently such as struck a terror upon Men of smaller size and strength After that i. e. After that Race of Men last mentioned Mighty men i. e. Men of great power and force Of renown Or of great fame for their exploits in the wicked World 5. Every imagination c. i. e. All the secret thoughts and purposes of his mind were always bent upon Evil. Not onely the practices of Men were Evil as it is said that God saw that the wickedness of Man was great but the principles from whence those actions flowed were generally corrupted also 6. It repented God cannot properly be said to Repent 1 Sam. 15.29 The Scripture speaks in the language of the children of men as the Jews commonly express it and attribute many things to God which strictly speaking belong not to him Because when Men undoe what they had done they are said to repent God after this manner of Men is said to repent when he destroyeth that which he had made This in God does not imply any alteration or defect And it grieved him at his heart Or He was displeased and angry as the word in the Hebrew is observed to signifie See Gen. 34. v. 7. at the Evil heart of Man of which mention is made in the end of verse 5. 8. Found grace That is obtained favour Compare Heb. 11.7 9. Perfect in his generations i. e. He was an upright and sincere Man and unblameable in the midst of a wicked and ungodly World 11. The Earth That is the Inhabitants of it ch 11. v. 1. Violence Or Rapine They were irreligious toward God and unjust to one another 12. All flesh i. e. The whole Race of Mankind Compare Isai 40.5 with Psal 78.39 His way Or course of living But especially Religion which is the way of serving God and to happiness and is called the way Act. 22.4.18.26 14. Gopher-wood The Chaldee renders it by a word that signifies Cedar Whatever the Wood were it is certain that it was Wood fit for this purpose And the word in the Hebrew language seems to imply that the Wood was of a bituminous or pitchy nature which yet for the greater security was to be pitched within and without 15. Cubits Supposing a Cubit to be but a foot and half which hath been a commonly received opinion we shall not have any just cause to think that the Ark wanted any capacity for the reception of those creatures and that provision which was to be lodged there But we are not obliged to believe this common opinion which supposeth a Cubit to be but 18 inches Allowing it to be somewhat more than 21 the capacity of the Ark will be much greater But of this matter they who please may consult Dr. Cumberland's Book printed 1686. 16. A window Or a light possibly of some strong and Diaphanous stone to give light into the Ark. See the Note on Gen. 8.6 In a cubit c. i. e. Thou shalt raise the top of the Ark one Cubit that the Cover of it being sloping may the better conveigh the waters falling upon it Door By which Noah and his family and the living creatures were to enter With lower c. The Lower story was probably for the greater beasts The second for stowage of provision The third for Noah's family and the fowls and perhaps some of the smaller creatures 18. Covenant The word in this place signifies a promise to preserve Noah and his family c. though it generally signifie a mutual compact or agreement v. 19. And thus sometimes this word signifies See Numb 18.19 and chap. 25.12 13. 19. Two of every sort Not that there shall be but two of any sort compare ch 7. v. 2. but there must be two at least viz. male and female of every kind v. 20. 22. So did he Compare Heb. 11.7 CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT Noah and his Family by God's direction enter into the Ark The living Creatures do so likewise The time when the Floud began the great increase the effects and continuance of it 1. AND the LORD said unto Noah Come thou and all thy house into the ark for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation 2. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens the male and his female and of beasts that are not clean by two the male and his female 3. Of fowls also of the air by sevens the male and the female to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth 4. For yet seven days and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth 5. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him A. M. 1656. 2349. 6. And Noah was six hundred years old when the floud of waters was upon the earth 7. And Noah went in and his sons and his wife and his sons wives with him into the ark because of the waters of the floud 8. Of clean beasts and of beasts that are not clean and of fowls and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth 9. There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark the male and the female as God had commanded Noah 10. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the floud were upon the earth 11. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life in the second month the seventeenth day of the month the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven were opened
A place where a Sacrifice or Oblation was laid when to be offered up Here is the first express mention of an Altar though it be supposed in Gen. 4.3 4. Burnt-offerings i. e. They were Offerings which were entirely burnt Levit. 6.9 21. Smelled a sweet savour i. e. God did graciously accept as the Chaldee hath it which is here expressed after the manner of Men by smelling a savour that being gratefull to the sense of a Man In his heart Or as the Hebrew will bear to his heart i. e. God spake comfortably unto Noah To speak to the heart of a Man is in the Scripture-phrase to comfort and speak kindly to him Gen. 50.21 ch 34.3 Isa 40.2 For the imagination c. Or Although the imagination c. For so the Hebrew Particle which we render For signifies and is sometimes rendred Josh 17.18 Exod. 13.17 Levit. 11.5 6 7. Deut. 29.19 1 Kings 20.5 Jer. 51.5 As I have done Not by a Deluge or Universal destruction thereupon ensuing 22. Remaineth i. e. Unto the End of this World CHAP. IX The ARGUMENT God blesseth Noah and his Sons The eating of Bloud is forbidden and the Murderer threatned with Death God makes a Covenant not any more to destroy the Earth with a Floud and appoints the Rain-bow for a token of it The Sons of Noah Noah is drunken with the Wine of the Vine which he had planted Of his Nakedness and of the Behaviour of Ham the Father of Canaan towards him The care of Shem and Japheth in covering their Father's nakedness Noah curseth Canaan and fore-tells the prosperity of Shem and Japheth The Age and Death of Noah 1. AND God blessed Noah and his sons and said unto them Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth 2. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every fowl of the air upon all that moveth upon the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea into your hand are they delivered 3. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you even as the green herb have I given you all things 4. But flesh with the life thereof which is the bloud thereof shall you not eat 5. And surely your bloud of your lives will I require at the hand of every beast will I require it and at the hand of man at the hand of every mans brother will I require the life of man 6. Whoso sheddeth man's bloud by man shall his bloud be shed for in the image of God made he man 7. And you be ye fruitfull and multiply bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply therein 8. And God spake unto Noah and to his sons with him saying 9. And I behold I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you 10. And with every living creature that is with you of the fowl of the cattel and of every beast of the earth with you from all that go out of the ark to every beast of the earth 11. And I will establish my covenant with you neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a floud neither shall there any more be a floud to destroy the earth 12. And God said this is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations 13. I do set my bow in the cloud and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth 14. And it shall come to pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud 15. And I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh and the waters shall no more become a floud to destroy all flesh 16. And the bow shall be in the cloud and I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth 17. And God said unto Noah This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth 18. And the sons of Noah that went forth of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth and Ham is the father of Canaan 19. These are the three sons of Noah and of them was the whole earth over-spread 20. And Noah began to be an husbandman and he planted a vineyard 21. And he drank of the wine and was drunken and he was uncovered within his tent 22. And Ham the father of Canaan saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brethren without 23. And Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father and their faces were backward and they saw not their father's nakedness 24. And Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done unto him 25. And he said Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren 26. And he said Blessed be the LORD God of Shem and Canaan shall be his servant 27. God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem and Canaan shall be his servant 28. And Noah lived after the floud three hundred and fifty years 29. And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years and he died 1. God blessed As he did our first Parents See chap. 1.28 with the Note there The Blessing upon Noah and his Off-spring is more particularly expressed afterward I. In blessing them with increase Be fruitfull c. v. 7. II. Restoring them to their Dominion over the Creatures v. 2. III. Allowing them the living Creatures for food v. 3. IV. Assuring them that he would take a special care of their lives v. 5. V. and that he would not destroy the Earth by another floud v. 11. 2. The fear of you c. Other creatures shall be so far from destroying the race of mankind that they shall be afraid of men and fly from them and brought under and tamed by them Psal 104.20 22. Jam. 3.7 3. That liveth c. God granteth here to Noah and his Sons a larger allowance for food than what he had expresly granted to our first parents chap. 1. v. 29. Those creatures which die alone or were not legally killed were afterwards excepted expresly Exod. 22.31 Levit. 17.15.22.8 and are not allowed in this grant But then lest the liberty of eating living creatures should be misunderstood it follows 4. But flesh c. q. d. Though I have given you living creatures for meat yet ye may not eat them alive and in their bloud The bloud of a beast is its life Deut. 12.23 Lev. 17.14 and the seat of the vital spirits To eat a creature alive hath a great appearance of cruelty and violence which men ought carefully to avoid considering the wickedness which the old World
stands charged with chap. 6.11 13. Besides this cruelty would have disposed men to murder which is severely forbidden in the following words 5. The bloud of your lives i. e. That bloud which shall without just cause be spilt in the death of a man Require i. e. Find out and punish Psal 9.12 Deut. 18.19 with Acts 3.23 Beast viz. That shall shed man's bloud This afterwards God made into a Law Exod. 21.28 Brother So every man is to another man which does aggravate the Sin of Murder 6. Sheddeth i. e. Wittingly and without just cause Compare Deut. 19.4 12. By man i. e. By the Magistrate to whom this properly belongs Rom. 13.4 By witnesses according to the sentence of the Judges says the Chaldee Paraphrast See Numb 35.19 29 30. Exod. 21.12 For in the image c. This also aggravates the Sin of Murder It is a great Trespass upon God as it destroys his likeness See ch 1.24 And Self-murder upon this account is forbid as well as Killing others 11. My Covenant Or Promise For it is an absolute promise on God's part Isa 54.19 that there shall not be any more such a Floud to destroy the Earth 13. Bow i. e. The Rain-bow as Josephus hath it This Bow was in its Causes before and did questionless exist but is not till now made a pledge or token of God's Covenant or Promise 14. In the cloud There from whence Men might reasonably have feared another Floud 15. To destroy all flesh Some Inundations or particular Flouds are no objection against God's veracity 16. Remember See the Note on ch 8.1 18. Of Canaan He had other Sons besides ch 10.6 But Canaan is here mentioned as the Head of a cursed Race and in order to the ensuing relation v. 25. 20. Began It is not implied that Noah was not an Husbandman before Compare Luk. 12.1 with Matt. 16.1 25. Canaan He is justly thought to be partaker in the sin with his Father and 't is not for nothing that he is twice named with him v. 18 22. and then no wonder that we find him under a Curse Prov. 30.17 and not his Brethren Noah foretells the Evils which should befall his Off-spring of which we read at large in the Book of Joshua A servant of servants i. e. A mean or vile servant See for the phrase Eccles 1.2 Thus the Lord of Lords is the supreme Lord. 26. Lord God Who is the Author of all the Blessings that Shem shall receive and is therefore to be praised Shem is here blessed in that God is said to be the Lord God of Shem. Compare Psal 144.15 27. God c. Noah fore-tells I. That God would give the greater part of the Earth in proportion to what Shem or Ham should possess to the Sons of Japheth This sence agrees best with the Hebrew Text and may be confirmed from chap. 10. II. That He would preserve his Church among the Off-spring of Shem which is expressed by dwelling in his tents God had his House among them and of that Race he sent his Son who dwelt or pitched his Tent among them Joh. 1.14 III. The servile and base condition of Canaan's Race And Canaan shall be his Servant CHAP. X. The ARGUMENT The Original of the several Nations which sprang from the Sons of Noah The numerous Off-spring of Japheth and their large Possessions The Posterity of Ham and more particularly of Nimrod The Children of Shem. 1. NOW these are the generations of the sons of Noah Shem Ham and Japheth and unto them were sons born after the floud 2. The sons of Japheth Gomer and Magog and Modai and Javen and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras 3. And the sons of Gomer Ashkeraz and Riphath and Togarmah 4. And the sons of Javan Elishah and Tarshish Kittim and Dodanim 5. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands every one after his tongue after their families in their nations 6. And the sons of Ham Cush and Mizraim and Phut and Canaan 7. And the sons of Cush Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabtecha and the sons of Raamah Sheba and Dedan 8. And Cush begat Nimrod he began to be a mighty one in the earth 9. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD wherefore it is said Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD 10. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar 11. Out of that land went forth Ashur and builded Nineveh and the city Rehoboth and Calah 12. And Resen between Nineveh and Calah the same is a great city 13. And Mizraim begat Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14. And Pathrusim and Casluhim out of whom came Philistiim and Caphtorim 15. And Canaan begat Sidon his first born and Heth 16. And the Jebusite and the Emorite and the Girgasite 17. And the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18. And the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad 19. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as thou comest to Gerar unto Gaza as thou goest unto Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboim even unto Lashah 20. These are the sons of Ham after their families after their tongues in there countries and in their nations 21. Vnto Shem also the father of all the children of Eber the brother of Japheth the elder even to him were children born 22. The children of Shem Elam and Ashur and Arphaxad and Lud and Aram. 23. And the children of Aram Vz and Hul and Gether and Mash 24. And Arphaxad begat Salah and Salah begat Eber. 25. And unto Eber were born two sons the name of one was Peleg for in his days was the earth divided and his brothers name was Joktan 26. And Joktan begat Almodad and Sheleph and Hazermaveth and Jerah 27. And Hadoram and Vzal and Diklah 28. And Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29. And Ophir and Havilah and Jobab all these were the sons of Joktan 30. And their dwelling was from Mesha as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east 31. These are the sons of Shem after their families after their tongues in their lands after their nations 32. These are the families of the sons of Noah after their generations in their nations and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood 2. Gomer See Ezek 38.6 Hence 't is thought the Cimbrians came Josephus expresly tells us that the Galatians came hence Joseph Antiq. l. 1. c. 7. Magog Whence came the Scythians says Josephus Compare Ezek. 38.2 3 15. and chap. 39.2 6. Madai Hence the Medes Joseph Javan From whom the Greeks sprang Iâ—â—ia according to Josephus comes hence Hence Greece is called Javan Isa 66.19 Dan. 8.21 and ch 10.21 Tubal Of whom says Josephus came the Iberians Meshech It hath been thought that the Moscovites Josephus expresly affirms that the Cappadocians sprang from Meshech Tiras Hence the