Princes of the congregation the called of the assembly men of name And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Yee take too much upon you for all the congregation all of them are holy and Iehovah is among them and wherefore lift ye up your selves above the Church of Iehovah And Moses heard it and fell upon his face And hee spake unto Korah and unto all his congregation saying Even in the morning Iehovah will make knowne him that is his and who is holy and whom he will cause to come neere unto him even him whom he hath chosen hee will cause to come neere unto him This doe yee take unto you censers Korah and all his congregation And put ye fire in them and put incense on them before Iehovah to morrow and it shall be that the man whom Iehovah doth choose he shall be holy ye take too much upon you ye sons of Levi. And Moses said unto Korah Heare I pray you ye sons of Levi Is it a small thing for you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you neere unto him to serve the service of the Tabernacle of Iehovah and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them And he hath brought thee neere and all thy brethren the sonnes of Levi with thee and seeke yee the Priesthood also For which cause thou and all thy congregation are gathered together against Iehovah and Aaron what is he that ye murmure against him And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab and they said We will not come up Is it a smal thing that thou hast brought us up out of the land that floweth with milke and honey to kill us in the wildernesse that thou makest thy selfe a Prince over us even making thy selfe a Prince Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milke honey givē unto vs an inheritāce of field vineyard wilt thou dig out the eies of these men we will not comeup And Moses was very wroth and he said unto Iehovah Respect not thou their offering I have not taken one asse from them neither have I hurt one of them And Moses said unto Korah Thou and all thy congregation be yee before Iehovah thou and they and Aaron to morrow And take yee every man his censer and put incense on them and bring ye neere before Iehovah every man his censer two hundred and fiftie censers and thou and Aaron each man his censer And they tooke every man his censer and put fire on them and put incense on them and they stood at the doore of the Tent of the congregation and Moses and Aaron And Korah gathered against them all the congregation unto the doore of the Tent of the congregation and the glory of Iehovah appeared unto all the congregation And Iehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying Separate your selves from among this congregation and I will consume them as in a moment 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 fervently wroth with all the congregation And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto the congregation saying Get you up from about the Tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram and the Elders of Israel went after him And he spake unto the congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch not any thing that is theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sinnes And they went up from the Tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram on every side and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the doore of their Tents and their wives and their sonnes and their little ones And Moses said Hereby ye shall know that Iehovah hath sent me to doe all these workes for I doe them not of mine owne heart If these men die as all men die and they be visited after the visitation of all men Iehovah hath not sent me But if Iehovah create a new thing and the earth open her mouth and swallow up them and all that appertaine unto them and they goe downe alive unto hell then ye shall know that these men have provoked Iehovah And it was as he had made an end of speaking all these words that the ground clave asunder which was under them And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up them and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their substance And they and all that appertained unto them went downe alive unto hell and the earth closed upon them and they perished from among the Church And all Israel that were round about them fled at the voice of them for they said Lest the earth swallow up us And a fire came forth from Iehovah and devoured the two hundred and fiftie men that offered incense And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest that he take up the censers out of the burning and scatter thou the fire yonder for they are hallowed The censers of these sinners against their owne soules and let them make them broad plates for a covering of the Altar for they offered them before Iehovah and they are hallowed and they shall be for a signe unto the sonnes of Israel And Eleazar the Priest tooke the brazen censers which they that were burnt had offered and they were made broad plates for a covering of the Altar A memoriall unto the sonnes of Israel that not any stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron come neere to offer incense before Iehovah that he be not as Korah and as his congregation as Iehovah spake by the hand of Moses unto him And on the morrow all the congregation of the sonnes of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying you have killed the people of Iehovah And it was when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron that they looked towards the Tent of the congregation and behold the cloud covered it and the glory of Iehovah appeared And Moses and Aaron came before the Tent of the congregation And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Get you up frō among this congregation I will consume them as in a moment and they fell upon their faces And Moses said unto Aaron Take the censer and put fire thereon from off the Altar and put on incense and goe quickly unto the congregation and make atonement for them for fervent wrath is gone out from before Iehovah the plague is begun And Aaron tooke as Moses had spoken and ranne into the midst of the Church and behold the plague was begun among the people and he put on incense and made atonement for the people And he stood betweene the dead and the living and the plague was stayed And they that died in the plague were
And this Minde is the Lords candle searching all the toward roomes of the belly Prov. 20. 27. The Hebrew lives is by the holy Ghost translated in Greeke life Act. 2. 28. from Psal. 16. 11. and it is so 〈◊〉 in the forme plurall because in life there are ma 〈…〉 operations changes occurrences c. that doe fall out and men or Adam which Paul openeth thus the first man Adam 1 Cor. 15. 45 was or was to that is become a living soule The word to as it is often expressed so is it sometime omitted in the Hebrew text◠as 〈◊〉 Chron. 18. 21. I will be to or for a lying spirit which in 1 King 22. 22. is written I will be a lying spirit unto this living soule Paul opposeth the second Adam Christ who is a livemaking spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. where he compareth living or quicke with livemaking or quickning soule with spirit as also the souly or naturall body with the spirituall verse 44. 46. So by living soule here is meant the naturall estate of life in this world where men doe eat and drinke procreate children c. which in the world to come shall be otherwise when this animalitie or souly state shall be changed into spiritualtie As for the terme of this our souly or naturall life it dureth while our breath is in us and the spirit of God in our nostrills Iob 27. 3. for the breath of the Almighty giveth us life Iob 33. 4. And here for a living soule the Chaldee translateth speaking that is reasonable because man hath a soule reasonable wherby he speaketh so differing from dumbe beasts Psal. 32. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 16. The Hebrew Doctors say the forme of the inferiour Adam mystically signified the forme of the superiour Adam R. Menachem on Gen. 5. 1. The mystery is opened by the Apostle thus The first man is of the earth earthly the second man is of the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15. 47. V. 8. a garden called hereupon the garden of Iehovah Gen. 13. 10. the Greeke translateth it a paradise which name is borrowed from the Hebrew pardese that signifieth an orchard Song 4. 13. Eccles 2. 5. This place for the pleasantnesse of it is made a figure of heaven named paradise in Luk. 23. 43. 2 Cor. 12. 4. It is also applied to the Church of Christ Revel 21. 22. So the Hebrew Doctors gathered from Song 4. 12. that this garden signified the Church of Israel R. Menachem on Gen. 2. 8. in Eden a countrie in the upper part of Chaldea mentioned in Esa. 35. 12. Ezek. 27. 23. and other where Eden signifieth Pleasure of it the Greekes name Pleasure Hedone and the name sheweth it to bee the pleasantest part of the world wherefore comparisons are made by it Esa. 51. 3. Ezek. 31. 16. 18. Vers. 9. desireable that is goodly pleasant tall excellent as Cedars and the like See Ezek. 31. 8. 9. 18. tree of life which was continually flourishing and fruitfull unto which the scripture seemeth to have reference in describing the spirituall Paradise under the Gospell mentioning the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yeelded her fruit every moneth and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations Rev. 22. 2. This was unto Adam a symbolicall tree a signe not onely of a blessed naturall life in Paradise for a time but of a spirituall life after in Heaven for ever if he continued in obedience to his Creator For as the bread of life is that which giveth life eternall to them that eate of it Ioh. 6. 48. 50. 51. so this tree of life signified the like as God himselfe after sheweth Gen. 3. 22. Compare also Prov. 13. 12. midst of the garden the Greeke sayth of the paradise which the Holy Ghost followeth in Rev. 2. 7. saying to him that overcommeth I will give to eate of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God The word midst often signifieth no more then within as in Gen. 41. 48 amidst the same City that is within the same So in the midst of thornes Luke 8. 7. is among or into the thornes Mat. 4. 7. And the tree of knowledge is said also to be in the midst of the garden that is within it Gen. 3. 3. the knowledge of good and evill so named because of Gods law which forbad man to eate of this tree should teach what is good and evill be a rule of obedience shewing mans goodnesse and righteousnesse if he did obey as Deut. 6. 25. or his evill if he did transgresse for the knowledge of sinne is by the law Rom. 3. 20. Also knowledge is used for sense or experience Gen. 12. 12 Song 6. 11. Esay 59. 8. and sometime for most neere union and conjunction Gen. 4. 1. and this tree might so have the name of the event because Adam by eating of it brought evill into the world was commingled and defiled with it and felt the misery of it in his owne conscience experience Gen. 3. 6. 7. The Greeke translateth a tree to know that which may be knowne of good and evill and the Chaldee thus a tree of whose fruit they that eate shall know the difference between good and evill So in Thargum Ierusalemy likewise Vers. 10. to water From this river and the use of it in Paradise the Scripture speaketh of Gods spirit and graces in his Church as the pure river of the water of life Rev. 22. 1. the river of God full of waters Psal. 65. 10. the river whose streames make glad the city of God Psal. 46. 5. See Iohn 7. 38. 39. was to that is became into foure heads meaning foure beginnings of other rivers Vers. 11. Pison or as in the Greeke Phison it is so called of the multitude or increase of waters The Scripture elsewhere speaketh not of it compasseth This word is sometime used for turning and passing along by though not round about as in Ios. 15. 3. and 16. 6. where the Greeke translateth it perieleusetai passe by and so it may be taked here Havilah in Greeke Evilat This was the name of two men one the sonne of Cush the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noe Gen. 10. 7. the country where hee dwelt was called by his name and that is it here mentioned and after in Gen. 25. 18. 1 Sam. 15. 7. Another Havilah was the sonne of Ioktan the sonne of Heber of the race of Sem sonne of Noe Gen. 1029. His countrie befell him in the East Indies Vers. 12. good that is fine precious so in 2 Chr. 3. 5. Bdelium the name of a tree and of a sweet gumme that runneth from it The Hebrew name is Bedólach and some thinke it to bee a kind of Pearle the Manna was like unto it and the colour white Num. 11. 7. Exod. 16. 31. Beryll a precious stone called in Hebrew Shoham which the Greeke in Exod. 28. 20. translateth a Beryll the Chaldee calleth it
18. For shame or confusion is the fruit of sin Rom. 6. 21. the opposite of joy Esay 65. 13. and companion of destruction Ier. 48. 20. CHAP. III. 1 The Serpent deceiveth Eve 6 Man falleth 9 God arraigneth them 14 The Serpent is cursed 15 A seed promised that should bruise his head 16 Mankind is chastised 21 God clotheth them 22 and drives them out of Paradise NOw the Serpent was subtill more than any beast of the field which Iehovah God had made and hee said unto the woman yea because God hath said ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden And the woman said unto the serpent of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eate But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall yee touch it lest ye dye And the serpent said unto the woman yee shall not dying dye For God doth know that in the day that ye eate thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evill And the woman saw that the tree was good for meat and that it was a desire to the eyes and a tree to be coveted to make one wise and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and she gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed-together fig leaves and made themselves aprons And they heard the voice of Iehovah God walking in the garden in the wind of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of Iehovah God amongst the trees of the garden And Iehovah God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I feared because I am naked and I hid my selfe And he said who told thee that thou art naked Hast thou eaten of the tree which I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat of it And Adam said the woman whom thou gavest to be with mee she gave me of the tree and I did eat And Iehovah God said unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate And Iehovah God said unto the serpent Because thou hast done this cursed art thou above all cattell and above every beast of the field upon thy belly shalt thou goe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life And I will put enmity betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and her seed Hee shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heele Vnto the woman hee said multiplying I will multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee And unto Adam hee said Because thou hast hearkned unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life And thornes and thistles shall it bring-forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herbe of the field In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou returne unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou returne And Adam called his wives name Eve because she was the mother of all living And Iehovah God made to Adam and to his wife coats of skin and clothed them And Iehovah God said Behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evill And now left he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live for ever And Iehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken And he drove out the man and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims and the flame of a sword which turned-it-selfe to keepe the way of the tree of life Annotations Vers. SEâ—â—int named in English of creeping on the earth but in Hebrew nachash of subtill observation searching finding out by experience Gen. 30. 27. and 44. 5. The greater serpents are called dragons and nachash is sometimes turned in Greeke a dragon Iob 26. 13. Amos 9. 3. and for it in Hebrew is put Tannin a dragon Exod. 7. 10. with 4. 3. And in the new Testament the same thing is called both a dragon and a serpent Rev. 20. 2. subtill that is prudent and crafty prudent to save and helpe it selfe whereupon it is said be prudent as serpents Mat. 10. 16. crafty to deceive others as Paul saith the serpent by his craftinesse beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11. 3. by which two words the Scriptures doe expresse the Hebrew here used which often is taken in the good part opposed to simplicity and folly Prov. 1. 4. and 8. 5. and 14. 15. 18. and 22. 3. more than the word more is usually omitted in the Hebrew as easie to be understood yet sometimes is expressed as in Est. 6. 6. And the holy Ghost setteth it downe in Greeke when it wanteth in Hebrew as in Gal. 4. 27. from Esay 54. 1. many are the children of the desolate more than of the maried in Esay 54. 1. the word more is not written So the Greeke version in this place addeth it though sometime the Greeke also wanteth it as Gen. 38. 26. Luke 18. 14. He sayd Whereas beasts are knowne in nature to be speechlesse and the Scripture confirmeth it 2 Pet. 2. 16 because they want reason or understanding Psal. 32. 9. Iud. v. 10. Moses under the name of the serpents speaking closely meaneth Satan who opened the serpents mouth and caused it to speake with mans voice as the Lord by an Angell opened the mouth of Balaams Asse Num. 22. 22. 28. 2 Peter 2. 16. And so the Hebrew Doctors write that the uncleane spirit Sammael the devill was united with the serpent R. Menachem on Gen. 3. And as a man possessed with an evill spirit all the workes that he doth and all the words that he speaketh are not but by the reason of the evill spirit that is in him so the serpent all the workes that he did and all the words that he spake he spake not neither did but by the reason of the Devill Pirke R. Eliezer chap. 13. The Angels of whose creation we spake before on Gen. 2. 1. being spirits and a flaming fire Psal. 104. 4. excellent in wisedome and mighty in strength 2 Sam. 14. 20 Psal. 103. 20. they many of them having one for principall did sinne against God Mar. 5. 9. Mat. 25. 41. 2 Pet. 2. 4. by not abiding in the truth nor keeping their first estate but leaving their owne habitation Iohn 8. 44. Iude 6. and are now still called of their cunning and
with thankes for his blessings having gathered in their fruits so the law of Moses did command Exod. 23. 16. which order as by this appeareth the Fathers observed from the beginning and it was so accustomed among the Gentiles for the ancient sacrifices and assemblies unto that end were after the gathering in of the fruits for an oblation of the first fruits sayth Aristotle in Ethicks booke 8. brought in Greeke offred It is likely that the sonnes brought their offrings unto God by Adam their Father who was high Priest as after all the first borne in families were Priests Exod. 19. 22. and upon an Altar he offred their gifts The Hebrew Doctors say It is a tradition by the hand of all that the place wherein David and Solomon built an Altar in the floore of Araunah 1 Chron. 21. 22. 26. and 22. 1. 2 Chron. 3. 1. was the place where Abraham builded an Altar and bound Isaak upon it Gen. 22. 9 and that was the place where Noe builded after he came out of the Arke Gen. 8. 20. and that was the Altar upon which Kain and Abel offred and on it Adam the first man offred an offring after he was created and out of that place hee was created Our wise men have sayd Adam was created out of the place of his Atonement Maimony in Misn. book 8. treat of the Temple chap. 2. S. 2. an offring or oblation called in Hebrew a Minchah by which name the Meat offring is called in the Law Lev. 2. which commonly was of wheat flower Although the word is sometime used generally for any gift or present Gen. 32. 13. But Kain brought of the fruit of the ground which custome continued so that in Israel men might eate neither bread nor corne till they had brought an offring unto God Lev. 23. 14. Among the Greekes also they used to sacrifice the fruits of the earth Homer Iliad 1. and Numa ordeyned the like among the Romans who tasted not new corne or wine before the Priests had sacrificed the first fruits saith Plinie in book 18. chap. 2. and in the Roman lawes of the twelve Tables the same oblation of corne is commanded Derelig tit 1. lex 4. The like was for sacrificing of beasts as Abel did which was used of Israel and of all Nations till the comming of Christ see Lev. 1. Vers. 4. the fat of them As the first fruits of the earth of beasts of men were given in thankefulnesse to the Lord that all the rest might be sanctified and blessed Exod. 22. 29. 30. and 23. 19. so God challenged the fat of all sacrifices peculiarly to himselfe Lev. 3. 16. 17. and 7. 25. which fat sometime figured mans unbeleefe hardnesse of hearâ— and want of sense Psal. 119. 70. Acts 28. 27. which was to be consumed by the fire of Gods spirit sometime it signified the best of all things Numb 18. 12. in which sense it seemeth to bee spoken here of Abel From whose example the Hebrew Doctors teach that a man should inlarge his hand and bring his offring of the fairest and most laudable amongst those kinde of things whereof he bringeth Behold it is written in the law And Abel hee also brought of the firstlings of his flocke and of the fat of them And this is a common law in every thing which is for the name of the good God that it be of the goodliest and best If one build a house of prayer let it bee fayrer then his owne dwelling house if he feed the hungry let him feed him with the best and sweetest that is on his Table If he cloathe the naked let it be with the fayrest of his cloathes if he sanctifie any thing let him sanctifie of the fayrest of his goods and so hee sayth Lev. 3. 16. All the fat is the Lords Maimony in Misn. rom 3. in Asurei mizbeach chap. 7. S. 11. By the sacrifices of old there was besides a thankefulnesse to God a yearely remembrance also of their sinnes Heb. 10. 3. and hope of the forgivenesse of them by Christ to come Heb. 10. 1. 10. 14. And seeing the godly offred in faith Heb. 11. 14. and faith is by hearing the word of God Rom. 10. 17. Abel and the rest were taught of God thus for to worship him for all wil-worship devised by men is vaine Mat. 15. 9. Col. 2. 22. 23. had respect to weet with delight as the Hebrew word implyeth and so one Greeke version translateth it was delighted and with favourable acceptation as the Chaldee paraphrase explaineth it So GOD commanded every man to offer sacrifice for his favourable acceptation Lev. 1. 3. that hee and it might bee accepted of the Lord. This gracious respect unto Abel was seene of Kain for which hee was gtieved and the Apostle noteth it to be a testification of Abels justice by faith Heb. 11. 4. It is likely therfore that God shewed it by some visible signe as by fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice for so he used to doe in such cases after as Lev. 9. 24. 1 Chron. 21. 26. 2 Chron. 7. 1. 1 King 18. 38. and the burning of the sacrifices to ashes was a signe of his favourable acceptance Psal. 20. 4. and Theodotio a Greeke interpreter translateth it here he set onfire By this Gods acceptance Abels faith was confirmed touching life salvation in Christ otherwise God would not have received an offring at his hands as Iudg. 13. 23 unto Abel for his faith in Christ whereby he was just and by which he offred a greater sacrifice then Kain Heb. 11. 4. And so the sacrifice was respected for the man not the man for the sacrifice Prov. 12. 2. and 15. 8. Vers. 5. grieved or displeased very wroth The Hebrew word signifieth to burne or be inflamed either with anger or griefe the Greek here translateth he was grieved and in sundry other places as Ion. 4. 1. 9. where both the Greeke version and all the circumstances shew it to meane griefe So in 1 Sam. 15. 11. Samuel was grieved and Dauid 1 Chron. 13. 11. and Nehemiah Neh. 5. 6. and many the like countenance or his face fell that is he shewed himselfe ashamed grieved and discontented This is else-where expressed by the falling of the light of the countenance Iob 29. 24. contrary to which is the lifting vp of the face for a signe of comfort and joy Iob 11. 15. See also Gen. 19. 21. Vers. 7. doe well or doe good Hereby God teacheth that wel-doing consisted not in the outward offrings which Kain brought but in faith which hee wanted Heb. 11. 4. Ioh. 6. 29. And the Apostle hence concludeth that Kains workes were evill 1 Ioh. 3. 12. forgivenesse or acceptation The Hebrew word which properly signifieth elevation or lifting up when it is spoken of sinne as the words following shew here it is meaneth forgivenesse at Gods hand who lifteth up and so easeth us of the burden of it as Rom. 4. 7. from Psal. 32. 1. And
immediately after Mechijael in Greek Mâ—delaal according to the name of Kainans sonne in Gen. 5. 12. Methusael in Greeke Mathousala as also they write Ehochs sonne Gen 5. 21. L 〈…〉 or Lemâ—â—â— so Gen. 5. 21. Kains posteritie accord in name with Seths Vers. 19. two wives so violating the law of mariage which by Gods ordinance was to be but with one wife Gen. 2. 18. 24. Adah by interpretation an Ornament as Zillah or Sella signified her Shadow Vers. 20. Iabal in Greeke Iobel father that is master as the Chaldee expoundeth it Every crafts-master that either first inventeth or perfecteth and teachech any art is called a Father So in the verse following dwell in tents that is used Shepherdy for shepheards used tents to remove from place to place where best pasture was to be found Esa. 38. 12. Song 1. 8. Ier. 6. 3. and 49. 29. The Hebrew phrase him that dwelleth is meant of many as the Greeke also translateth it them that dwell So dweller 2 Sam. 5. 6. is expounded dwellers 1 Chron. 1. 4. enemie 1 King 8. 37. 44. is enemies 2 Chron. 6. 28. 34. and many the like See also Gen. 3. 2. cattell Hebr. possession understanding the word cattell as it explained in Gen. 26. 14. hee had possession of flockes and possession of herds So the Greeke here translateth feeders of cattell The supply of such words is often made in the text it selfe as a thousand 2 Sam. 8. 4. that is a thousand charrets 1 Chron. 18. 4. Vzzah put forth to the arke 2 Sam. 6. 6. that is hee put forth his hand to the arke 1 Chro. 13. 9. See also Gen. 5. 3. Vers. 21. handle that is play upon as the Chaldee paraphraseth he was master of all that play on the Psaltery and knew musicke which the Greeke translateth this was he that shewed the Psaltery and the Harpe organ it hath the name in Hebrew of lovelinesse and delight and it was an instrument of joy Iob 21. 12. so was the Harpe called therefore the pleasant Harpe Psal. 81. 3. Thus God gave the Kainites skill to invent things profitable and delightfull to the flesh yet were they irreligious as is written they said vnto God depart from us and what should the Almighty doe for them For he filled their houses with good things Iob. 22. 17. 18. Vers. 22. instructer Hebr. a whetter or sharpner which the Chaldee expoundeth also a master He sharpely and wittily taught Smiths craft and instruments of warre The Heathens after faigned Vulcan which name seemeth to bee borrowed from this Tubal-cain to bee the god of Smiths Naamah she hath her name of Pleasance Thus with profits and pleasures they of the olde world passed their time eating and drinking marying and giving in mariage untill the day that the flood came and tooke them all away Math. 24. 38. 39. The Hebrew Doctors in Midras Ruth and Zohar say of this Naamah that all the world wandred in love after her yea even the sons of God as in Gen. 6. 2. that of her there were born evil spirits into the world Vers. 23. I have killed c. or I would kill a man in my wound yea a yong man in my hurt The Hebrew is of the time past as speaking of murther committed and so the Greeke translateth I have killed a man but it may also be interpreted as a boastfull threat for time to come that if any did wound or hurt him he should surely dye for it And it may bee that for violating the law of mariage by taking two wives God vexed him with a disquiet life betweene them that they lived in discontent and emulation one with another as there is an example in 1 Sam. 1. 6. 7. and both of them with their husband so in his wrath hee uttered these words unto them to represse their strife Or he thus boasteth of his valour for some other cause The Chaldee Paraphrast understood this in a contrary sense as if it were a question for have I killed c. that is I have not and expoundeth it thus For I have not killed a man that I should beare sinne for him nor destroyed a young man that my seed should be consumed for him to my hurt or for my stripe the originall word signifieth a wayl or mark of a stripe or wound in the flesh Vers. 24. seventy and seven fold that is if he that killeth Kain shall be punished seven fold then hee that killeth me shall be seventy seven fold It seemeth to be an insolent contempt of Gods judgement and abusing of his patience towards Kain v. 15. Because sentence against an evill worke is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sonnes of men is full in them to doe evill Eccles. 8. 11. Vers. 25. Seth Heb. Sheth that is Set or Appointed to weet in Abelsroome He was not borne till 130 yeeres after the creation Gen. 5. 3. It might be Adam had other sonnes and daughters before Gen. 5. 4. but none in whom such expectation of good was for Seths posterity onely remained at the Flood when all the world perished Gen. 7. seed that is another sonne that as Abrahams seed was called in Isaak Ismael being excluded Gen. 21. 12. so Eves seed should bee in Seth and not in any other of her children Seed is usually put for children as they left no seed Mar. 12. 22. is expounded they left no children Luke 20. 31. stead of Abel Eve sheweth a reason of her sonnes name also her faith grounded on Gods appointment setling of his mercy concerning this seed who should be faithfull as Abel and a father of the world who are all called the sonnes of Seth Num. 24. 17. and the father of our Lord Iesus after the flesh Luke 3. So in Ezek. 37 dead bones revive againe and in Revel 11. 11. the witnesses killed have the spirit of life from God entring into them Vers. 26. also himselfe or to him also when hee was 105 yeeres old Gen. 5 6. and the world 235. Enos so he is written in Greeke Luke 3. 38. in Hebrew Aenosh that is by interpretation sorrowfull grievously-sicke miserable So named as seemeth for the sorrowfull state of those dayes wherein great corruption grew in the Church Gen. 6. 2. 3. 5. Therefore this name is in Scripture usually given to all men as being Enos or sonnes of Enos full of sorrow and misery Psal. 8. 5. and 144. 3. And to abate mens pride David saith let the nations know that they be Enos or wofull men Psal. 9. 21. began men profanely to call or profanenesse began in calling or for calling on the name of Iehovah The Hebrew word may be translated men began or men profened but is commonly understood 〈…〉 ere of the learned Hebrewes to meane profanenesse and some translating it began yet take it thus men began to call their idols by the name of the Lord as images and representations of God were called Gods Exod. 32. 4. The
stable and constant so where one Prophet relateth Davids words be it faithfull for ever 1 Chron. 17. 23. another writeth stablish thou for ever 2 Sam. 7. 25. and againe faithfull shall thy house be 2 Sam. 7. 16. for which in 1 Chron. 17. 14. is written I will stablish him in my house And as beleefe is with the hart Rom. 10. 10. so it is said Iaakobs heart fainted for he beleeved them not Gen. 45. 26. whereby it appeareth that beleefe is a lively motion of the heart and spirit firmly resting in the things spoken When Iaakob saw the Waggons which Ioseph had sent whereby he was moved to beleeve it is said that his spirit revived Gen. 45. 27. And Paul saith that faith is the ground or confidence of things hoped for the evidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. in Iehovah the Greeke translateth he beleeved God and so the Apostles cite the words Rom. 4. 3. Gal. 3. 6. Iam. 2. 23. be imputed it that is God imputed that beleefe The Greeke which also the Apostle followeth saith it was imputed or thought counted esteemed for justice or righteousnesse the word for is added in Greeke and by the Apostle in Rom. 4. 3. and elsewhere in the Hebrew Psal. 106. 31. which also in repeating things expresseth such words wanting as lebeith in the house Ier. 52. 17. which in 2 King 25. 13. was written onely beith the house Now of this the Apostle inferreth To him that worketh the reward is not imputed or reckned of grace but of debt but to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is imputed for justice Roman 4. 4. 5. where he maketh Abram to be in himselfe ungodly or impious as having beene an idolater Ios. 24. 2. and still without glory of workes before God Rom 4. 2. but counted just for his faith in the promises of God vers 21. 22. adding that it is not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeve on him that raised up Iesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4. 23. 24. Vers. 7. from Vr This sheweth that Abram was particularly called at the first though Moses expressed it nor Gen. 11. 31. and Stephen rightly gathered it from this place and from Ios. 24. 3. as from the words of Abrams second calling Gen. 12. 1. hee gathereth what were the words of his first calling Act. 7. 2. 3. 4. Of this Vr see Gen. 11. 28. Vers. 9. Take unto me that is Take and offer unto me so the Chaldee translateth Offer before me Gen. 48. 9. take them to me is bring them so in Exod. 25. 2. and often and thou hast taken gifts Psal. 68. 19. is expounded by the Apostle thou hast given gifts Eph. 48. a three-yeerling or a trebled heiffer but the Greeke translateth a three yeerling heiffer Howbeit the Chaldee paraphrast saith three heiffers c. the Hebrew signifying trebled or thirded is indifferent to either but the first seemeth fittest here Some take it for dividing into 3 parts but they were parted in the mids vers 10. a young pigeon the Hebrew word is used in Deut. 32. 11. for yong eagles but the Chaldee here hath barjonah a yong dove and the Greeke hath a dove and thus also it accordeth with the law in Lev. 1. 14 where yong doves are expresly mentioned And as there all offrings were either of beeves or sheepe or of goats of turtles or yong doves Lev. 1. 2. 10. 14. so here they all are commanded to Abram And figured out his children that should bee slaine as sacrifices and mortified by afflictions foure hundred yeeres as God after expoundeth it in vers 13. for the sacrifices of beasts signified our more reasonable service of God Rom. 12. 1. Esay 66. 20. Roman 15. 16. Vers. 10. and gave that is layd or put every oneâ— part or halfe Hebr. man his part but Ish man is every one and is so expounded by Paul in Heb. 8. 11. from Ier. 31. 34. and is applied to all other things as well as to men here to beasts and birds and in Esay 36. 18. to the Gods of the Heathens The parts were laid asunder one against another as shoulder against shoulder leg against leg with a space to goe betweene Vers. 17. God hereby signifying that the affliction of Abrams seed should be ordered so by his providence that after the time limited they should be restored one part to another as the bones of that people scattered in Babylon came againe together bone to his bone Ezek. 37. 7. 11. 14. parted not according to the law after given which bade it should bee cleaved with the wings thereof but not divided asunder Lev. 1. 17. Vers. 11. the fowles ravenous birds as Eagles Kites c. which prey upon dead bodies Figuring the Aegyptians and enemies of Abram seed which should seeke to devoure them So the Kings of Babel and Aegypt are likened to Eagles Ezek. 17. 3. 7. 12. and the fowles are called to eat of sacrifices Ezek. 39. 10. Rev. 19. 17. 18. And the Ierusalemy paraphrast expoundeth the fowles to be the monarchies that afflicted Israel buffed them drove them away with a wind or blowing as the Hebrew importeth So Moses and Aaron saved Israel from being devoured by the Aegyptians Exod. 7. c. Vers. 12. going or to goe downe that is about or ready to set Hebr. to goe in a deep-sleepe The Greeke calleth it an extasie or trance so Gen. 2. 21. The Hebrew Doctors observe concerning visions shewed to the Prophets that they saw no propheticall vision but by dream or by night vision Num. 12. 6. and 22. 19. 20. or by day after that a deepe-sleepe was falne upon them Dan. 10. 9. And all that prophesied their joynts trembled there remained no strength in them and their thoughts were troubled and the mind was left changed to understand that which was seene as is said of Abram and loe a terrour a great darknesse fell upon him and of Daniel my vigour was turned in me into corruption and I retained no strength Dan. 10. 8. Maimony in Iesudei hatorah chap. 7. S. 2. But they except Moses as the Scripture also doth Num. 12. 7. 8. a terrour this and the darknesse following shadowed out also the great discomforts that Abrams children should have by the vexation of their enemies as David and others complayne of the like in their afflictions Psal. 55. 4. 5. 6. and 88. 7. 17. So the Ierusalemy paraphrast applyeth this vision to the Kingdomes of Babel Madai Iavan and Edom that is Rome which should bring Abrams children into bondage Vers. 13. knowing know that is know assuredly see Gen. 2. 17. not theirs meaning Aegypt Mesopotamia and Canaan it selfe wherein they were but strangers Gen. 17. 8. Psal. 105. 11. 12. and therein afflicted Gen. 21. 9. and 26. 7. 14. 15. c. but chiefly in Aegypt 400 yeere which beganne when
the Philistines in the southern parts of the Land of Canaan Gen. 10. 19. Hither Isaak came afterward to so journe for famine Gen. 26. 1. Vers. 2. of Sarah the Hebrew el which properly signifieth unto is used for of or concerning and is so translated by the Greeke here and Ier. 27. 19. and so the Greeke pros in like manner Heb. 1. 7. and 4. 13. Or if we reade it unto Sarah the meaning is that together with her both he and she said it as after in vers 5. is manifested See the like done before in Gen. 12. 11. 12. 13. Vers. 2. Abimelech by interpretation Father-King a common title of the Kings of Palestina as Phar 〈…〉 was of the Kings of Aegypt see Gen. 26. 1. Psal 34. 1. For Kings should beo Fathers to their countries so rulers are casled fathers 2 King 5. 13. Iob 〈◊〉 16. and 1 Sam. 1â— 15. where your fathers is translated in Greeke your King see Gen. 4. 20. Vers. 3 God came the Chaldee saith word came from the face of God This serteth forth Gods care for his he suffered â—o man to doe them wrong but reproved Kings for then sakes Psal. 165. 14. a dream which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—on that the mind of man conce 〈…〉 〈◊〉 isle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural arising from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the body or affections of the mind are many and have their vanities and deceits Eccles. 5. 7. Esay 29. 7. 8. But dreames supernaturall sent of God as here or by his Angels as Mat. 2. 13. are to bee regarded for God by them signifieth what he would or what men should doe Gen. 41. 25. Iob 33. 14. 15. 16. c. Dreames also are sometimes by the lying spirit of Satan which are not to bee beleeved or regarded Zach. 10. 2. Deut. 13. 1. 2. 3. See also Gen. 37. 5. a dead man that is shalt surely dye But under such threats conditions often are implyed as here if thou deliver not the woman See Ezek. 33. 14. 15. Vers. 4. come-neere that is lyen with her being stayed by sicknesse as it seemeth by verse 17. the Greeke saith touched her not the Hebrew also in verse 6. So Paul useth the phrase of touching a woman 1 Cor. 7. 1. and Solomon Prov. 6. 29. just nation fearing as it seemeth wrath upon his people also vers 9. as often commeth to passe for the Princes sinnes So for Davids sinne a plague came on his people 1 Chron. 21. 14. 17. Or hee calleth his family a nation which was now visited of God vers 17. 18. Vers. 5. perfection or integrity simplicy sincerity The Chaldee interprets it truth the Greeke a pure heart It is opposed to hypocrisie innocence of my hands or cleannesse of my palmes the palmes of the hands are named as wherein filthinesse might be hidden so purging himselfe even from secret crime Vers. 6. with-held the Greeke translateth spared thee It seemeth Gods chastisement restiained him vers 17. and so hee was not able to doe the evill which otherwise naturally hee could and was proneunto from sinning the Greeke saith that thou shouldst not sinne As God for Abrahams sake with held Abimelech from the fact so respecting the integrity of the Kings hearr hee kept him also from the sinne gave thee not that is let or suffered thee not as the Greeke translateth Giving is often used for suffering as Gen. 31. 7. Exod. 3. 19. Psal. 16. 10. but it is more then bare sufferance as implying an action also on Gods part who giveth meanes to stay from evill or sendeth delusions when so it pleaseth him as 2 Thess. 2. 7. Vers. 7. a Prophet therefore doe him no harme Psal. 105. 15. A Prophet in Hebrew Nabi in Greek Prophetes from which we have the word Prophet so named of speaking interpreting or uttering words and oracles that come from God Deut. 18. 15. 16. 18. as of seeing or receiving them by visions such were named Seers 1 Sam. 9. 9. So Moses interpreter is called his Prophet Exod. 7. 1. and all interpreters of the Scriptures 1 Cor. 14. 29. In speciall a Prophet was one indued with the Spirit of God and could foretell things to come Deut. 18. 22. Psalm 74. 9. Ier. 29. 15. Such are called holy men of God which spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20. The Hebrew Doctors say It is one of the foundations of the Law to know that God maketh the sonnes of men to prophesie and prophesie resideth not but in a man that is great in wisedome mighty in his vertuous qualities so that his affections overcome him not in any worldly thing but by his knowledge he overcommeth his affections continually and he is a man expert in knowledge and of a very large vnderstanding c. On such a man the holy spirit commeth downe and when the spirit resteth upon him his soule is associated unto the Angels and he is changed to another man and perceiveth in his owne knowledge that hee is not so as he was but that hee is advanced above the degrees of other wise men even as it is said of Saul in 1 Sam. 10. 6. and thou shalt prophesie with them and shalt be turned into another man Maimony in Iesudei hatorah ch 7. S. 1. shall pray This was a speciall worke of the Prophets to pray for the people Ier. 14. 11. and 15. 1. whereupon it is said If they bee Prophets and if the word of the Lord be with them let them intreat the Lord c. Ier. 27. 18. Praying or interpellation hath the first signification of judging and so meaneth the presenting of the person and cause of any unto God as the judge and the judging of ones selfe live thou that is thou shalt live but it is a powerfull manner of speech wherupon God is said to command his mercy and the salvation and blessing of his people Psal. 42. 9. and 44. 5. and 133. 3. The like is often used as Amos 5. 4. seeke me and live that is yee shall live and dwell for ever Psal. 37. 27. dying that is shalt surely die see Gen. 2. 17. Vers. 9. that should not the Chaldee translateth that are not meet to be done the Greeke saith which none should doe Vers. 11. Surely or Onely The Greeke translateth Lest there be not the feare of God so making it an unperfect speech implying doubt as in Mat. 25. 9. By the feare of the Lord men depart from evill Prov. 16. 6. Vers. 12. of my father The Iewes opinion from hence is that Sarah was the same that Iseah mentioned in Gen. 11. 29. and had two names and that she being the grandchild of Thara by another woman then Abrahams mother is so spoken of here became Hebr. was to me for a wife Vers. 13. they euen God Aelohim the name of God in forme plurall is usually joyned with a word singular as hee created Gen. 1. 1. here and in some few other places it is coupled with a word plurall â—no without
the child and she sate over-against him and lifted up her voice and wept And God heard the voice of the lad and an Angell of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said unto her what aileth thee Agar feare not for God hath heard the voice of the lad there where he is Arise lift up the lad and hold him in thy hand for I will make of him a great nation And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and she went and filled the bottell with water and gave the lad drinke And God was with the lad and he grew and dwelt in the wildernesse and was a shooter with bow And he dwelt in the wildernesse of Pharan and his mother tooke him a wife out of the land of Egypt And it was in that time that Abimelech and Phicol prince of his host said unto Abraham saying God is with thee in all that thou dost And now sweare unto me here by God If thou shalt lye unto me or to my son or to my newphew according to the kindnes that I have done vnto thee thou shalt do unto me and unto the land in the which thou hast sojourned And Abraham said I will sweare And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelechs servants had violently-taken away And Abimelech said I know not who hath done this thing and also thou didst not tell mee and I also did not heare it but to day And Abraham tooke sheepe and oxen and gave to Abimelech and both of them stroke a covenant And Abraham set seven ewe-lambes of the flocke by themselves And Abimelech said unto Abraham what meane here these seven ewe-lambes which thou hast set by themselves And hee said for the seven ewe-lambes thou shalt take of my hand that they may be to me for a Testimonie that I have digged this Well Therefore he called that place Beer-sheba because there they sware both of them And they stroke a covenant in Beer-sheba and Abimelech rose-up and Phicol the Prince of his host and they returned into the land of the Philistines And hee planted a tree in Beer-sheba and he called there on the name of Iehovah the eternall God And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many daies Annotations Visited This word signifieth a remembrance providence care and performance of that which was spoken be it good or evill For good as here and Gen. 50. 24. Exod. 4. 31. Luk. 1. 68. and often For evill and so it meaneth punishment Exod. 20. 5. Psal. 89. 33. Num. 16. 29. The Chaldee here translateth remembred and the Hebrew implyeth that as 1. Sam. 15. 2. Vers. 2. conceived hereupon her faith is commended Heb. 11. 11. By saith Sarah her selfe received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when when she was past age because shee judged him faithfull who had promised in his or to his oldage so vers 7. the set time promised the yeere before Gen. 18. 10. Hereupon Isaak is sayd to be borne of a freewoman by promise and after the spirit Gal. 4. 22 23 29. and this birth is set forth as an example of Gods mercy to and increase of his Church by the covenant of grace in Christ under the new Testament whereof Sarah was a figure Esay 51. 2 3. Gal. 4. 24. 28. Vers. 3. Isaak which signifieth Laughter or Ioy this name was foreappointed him of God Gen. 17. 19. Vers. 4. son of 8 daies or 8 daies old but understanding in the 8 day as the Greeke translateth it see the Law Gen. 17. 12. Isaak is the first that wee read of circumcised at this age Vers. 6. made me or made laughter to me that is joy as the Chaldee translateth it as if shee had said hath made me to laugh or rejoyce The word is sometime used for laughing to scorne or mocking as v. 9. Ezek. 23. 32. and so some understand it here laughter at me that is hath made me to be laughed at meaning of the profane which would laugh mocke as did Ismael verse 9. Though both may bee implyed in the word yet the first seemeth most proper and according to the prophesies Rejoyce thou barren which didst not beare Esay 54. 1. which hath reference to this birth Gal. 4. 22. 27. 28. Esay 51. 2. 3. with me or at me but the Greeke translateth it rejoyce with me the Chaldee also turneth it into joy And so the Prophet Rejoyce yee with Ierusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her Esay 66. 10. which Ierusalem was figured out by this Sarah Gal. 4. 22 26. Vers. 7. should have given sons Hebrew hath given sons so noting the certainty speaking as of a thing done By sonnes is meant any sonne or child as the Greeke explaineth it see Gen. 46. 23. The like admiration is spoken by the Church Esay 49. 21. who hath begotten me these The Chaldee paraphrast referreth this to God saying faithfull is he that said to Abraham and hath fulfilled it that Sarah should give sucke Vers. 8. weaned The Hebrew word signifieth an exchange of one thing for another and so in weaning from milke to stronger meat which as it signified in Isaak a growth in strength of nature so is it in the faithfull a signe of growth in grace and understanding 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. Heb. 5. 12 13 14. and of abstaining from worldly childish pleasures Psal. 131. 2. and Isaak being a figure of all the children of promise Gal. 4. 28. we may hereupon gather the reason why Abraham made so great a banquet at Isaaks weaning So at Samuels weaning hee was presented to the Lord with a spirituall feast or sacrifice 1 Sam. 1. 22 24. Vers. 9. laughing that is deriding or mocking for so laughing often signifieth as Gen. 19. 14. Ezek. 23. 32. Lam. 1. 7. it meaneth also abusing otherwise whereupon laughter and scorne followeth as Gen. 39. 14. 17. also idolatrous laughing or play as Exod. 32. 6. Hereupon the Ierusalemy paraphrast referreth it to this latter of laughing in Gods worship the Greeke translateth it playing with Isaak her sonne which word playing is sometime used for fighting 2 Sam. 2. 14 16. and by laughing or mocking the Scripture often noteth a contemptuous and malignant carriage Iob 30. 1. and 12. 4. Lam. 3. 14. Mat. 27. 29. But the Apostle plainly calleth it persecuting and saith as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was borne after the spirit even so it is now Gal. 4. 29. And here beginneth by an Egyptians son that 400 yeeres affliction spoken of in Gen. 15. 13. Vers. 10. this bondwoman shee figured the old Testament and her sonne such as are under the works of the law Gal. 4. 24. and the mother being to be cast out it is likely shee was the cause or an abettor of her sons evill not be heire or not inherit under which inheritance is figured heavenly blessings in Christ and life everlasting Gal. 3.
18 29. and 4. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 4. So Ismael cast out from being heire is a type of servants that abide not in the house for ever that is of reprobates Iohn 8. 35. Galat. 4. 30. And though Ismael were now but a youth yet even a child is known by his doings whether his worke be pure and right Prov. 20. 11. therefore Sarah by the spirit of God uttered this speech and God confirmeth it ver 12. and Paul saith not that Sarah but the Scripture speaketh this Galat. 4 30. and by this it is probable that Ismaels mocking was about the inheritance as some of the Hebrew Doctors also have observed R. Moses Gerundens my son who am a free-woman with Isaak who is freeborne see Gal. 4. 30. 31. 28. Vers. 11. very evill or vehemently evill that is very much displeasing as on the contrary to be good in the eyes of any is to please or content Gen. 20. 15. because or for the causes so v. 25. The love to his son caused this griefe howbeit when God bad him kill his beloved son Isaak he shewed no such discontentment Gen. 22. 2 3. it seemeth hee thought this to proceed but from Sarahs owne passion of minde till hee was further informed of God vers 12. 14. Vers. 12. shall seed bee called to thee or shall thy seed be called they shall be named of Isaak not of Ismael that is as Paul inferteth they which are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the promise are counted for the seed Rom. 9. 7. 8. Seed to thee may also bee read seed of thee that is thy seed for the Scripture sometime putteth one for another as disciples to thee Mar. 2. 18. is the same that disciples of thee or thy disciples Mat. 9. 14. From this limitation of Abrahams seed to Isaak the Iewes do reckon none for Abrahams but the Israelites as in their Canons they say who so voweth concerning Abrahams seed is free from Ismaels and Esaus sonnes and is not bound but touching Israelites as it is said for in Isaak shall seed be called to thee and loe Isaak said to Iaakob And God give thee the blessing of Abraham Gen. 28. 4. Maimony treat of Vowes chap. 9. S. 21. Vers. 13. make of him Heb. put him unto a nation so verse 28. Compare Gen. 17. 20. thy seed thy sonne according to the flesh though not after the promise as Isaak was Vers. 14. bread Sometime bread is used for all food as in Mark 6. 36. compared with Mat. 14. 15. Psal. 78. 20. if it be not so here the Scripture would note the great hardnesse and miserie which they must indure that are cast out of the Lords inheritance and the child to weet he gave unto her he being now about 18. yeeres of age so casting him his first borne son with her out of his house the wildernesse the way towards Egypt where there was no way no food no waters no inhabitants thus were they exposed to many miseries see Deut. 8. 15. Ier. 2. 6. Contrariwise Isaaks children were led and guided of God through that great fearfull wildernes wherein Ismael and his mother wandred Deu. 32. 10. 11. 12. Ex. 13. 21. 22. Our English word wildernesse signifieth a place where men goe wild that is goe astray or wander as Agar here did and so in Iob 12. 24. Psal. 1074. 40. the like is spoken In Hebrew it is called Midbar as being without order a place not for men to dwell in but onely for beasts who there must also be led and gouerned See Exod. 3. 1. 18. Vers. 15. she cast the child that is shee left him being sicke and fainting for thirst The state of such as are without Christ is hereby resembled Esay 65 13 but they that drinke of his waters shall never thirst for it shall be in them a well of water springing up unto everlasting life Ioh. 4. 14. shrubbes or trees as the Chaldee expounds it The Greeke saith under a firre-tree Vers. 16. the death This sheweth the extremitie that they were come into in the desert who erewhile had meat and drinke enough in Abrahams house now ready to perish for thirst God so chastening their former insolencie A like example is of the prodigall son who almost dyed for hunger when the servants in his fathers house had bread enough Luk. 15. 14. 17. for the man that wandreth out of the way of understanding shall remaine in the congregation of the dead Prov. 21. 16. Vers. 17. there where in Greeke from the place where he is that is in this desolate wildernesse where he lyeth perishing forsaken of all Compare herewith Gods promises to his people in miserie Deut. 4. 27. 30. and Psal 107. 4. 5 6. And thus God remembreth his former promises Gen. 17. 20. and 16. 10. c. Vers. 19. she saw a well which though it were there before yet she saw not her eies being holden till they were opened of God as in Luke 24. 16. 31. By similitude of waters breaking out in the wildernesse and drawing waters out of the wells of salvation the Scripture denoteth the spirituall graces of the gospel communicated with the poore afflicted Esay 35. 6. and 12. 3. Ver. 20. God was The Chaldee paraphraseth the word of the Lord was a helpe to the lad shooter with bow or an archer and so consequently a wariour for shooting with bow was used in battels with men Gen. 49. 23. 24. and 48. 22. and thus the oracle was fulfilled that hee should be a wild man and have his hand against every man Gen. 16. 12. Vers. 21. of Pharan or Paran a wildernesse next adjoyning to the desert of Sinai through which the Israelites journeyed as they went from Egypt to Canaan Num. 10. 12. and 13. 1. 4. Deut. 33. 2. Hab. 3. 3. Vers. 22. Abimelech King of Gerar in Palestina see Gen. 20. 2. Prince that is chiefe Captaine as the Greeke calleth him Archistrategos Chiefe-leader of the Armie God is the word of the Lord is for an helpe to thee saith the Chaldee paraphrast so in the verse following for God he useth the word of the Lord. Vers. 23. if thou shalt lye that is that thou wilt not lye as Psal. 89. 36. an imperfect speech where an imprecation is understood which sometimes is expressed in part as in Ruth 1. 17. the Lord doe so to me and more also if c. For an oath is both a taking of the Lord to witnesse that which one sweareth and to punish if any violate his faith both which Paul expressed when he sware I call God for a witnesse upon or against my soule 2 Cor. 1. 23. See before Gen. 14. 23. and 26. 29. The Greeke for lying translateth hurting or wronging It meaneth false and deceitfull dealing contrary to the covenant now to be made betweene them see Ps. 44. 18 V. 25. a well which was of great use and worth in that dry country as the
blessings were blessings that had an eternall foundation and had no end of them either in this world or in the world to come as it is written And God almightie blesse thee Gen. 28. 3. 4. and addeth moreover unto him the blessing of Abraham Pirkei R. Eliezer ch 35. Vers. 2 Padan Aram or Mesopotamia as the Greeke turneth it so vers 5. 6. c. see the notes on Gen. 25. 20. a wife The like care Abraham tooke to provide a wife for Isaak Gen. 24. But there servants were sent with camels and store of good things here the son himselfe is sent on foot in poore estate with his staffe Gen. 32. 10. to serve for a wife Hos. 12. 12. So great was the triall of Iakobs faith in this his pilgrimage greater then all his fathers and upon his inheriting of the blessing there followed presently great afflictions Vers. 3. Almighty or Alsufficient see Gen. 17. 1. an assembly or church congregation company that is a multitude of peoples as Ezek. 23 24. I he Greeke translateth it synagogues or assemblies of nations and the Chaldee an assembly of tribes respecting the twelve tribes that came of Iakob Exod. 24. 4. This blessing God promised at Bethel to performe unto Iakob Gen. 48. 3. 4. and 35. 11. Vers. 4. bessing of Abraham which chiefly consisted in redemption frō the curse of the law by forgivenesse of sinnes and receiving the promise of the Spirit of the adoption of children and Sanctification through faith in Christ Gal. 3. 13. 14. 9. 29. Rom. 4. 7. 8. 13. c. Here Iakob is made heyre of the blessing so are all true Christians 1 Pet. 3. 9. of thy sojournings wherein thou art a sojourner and pilgrim the land of Canaan see Gen. 17. 8. gave to Abraham to weet by promise of this gift see Gen. 12. 7. and 13. 15. and 15. 7. 18. and 17. 8. Vers. 5. Syrian so the Greeke usually translateth it which the new testament followeth Luk. 4. 27. The Hebrew is the Aramite see Gen 10. 22. Vers. 8. evill that is displeasing grievous so Gen. 48. 17. on the contrary good is for pleasing Gen. 16. 6. 8. Vers. 9. Ismael that is Ismaels family or the Is maelites for Ismael himselfe was now dead Gen. 25. 17. See the notes on Gen. 19. 37. Machalath called also Basemath Gen. 36. 3. he tooke her being of his kinred to please his father though neither according to Gods will nor his fathers So the wicked would seeme to amend one evill by running into another of Nabajoth that is of the same mother that Nebajoth Ismaels eldest sonne was unto his that is besides and unto the two Canaanitish wives which hee already had Gen. 26. 34. so now he had three wives 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the seventh section of Moses law whereof see the annotations on Gen. 6. 9. Which section when it is lesse absolute the Hebr. call Parasha a distinction and signifie it by a threefold P but when it is more full and absolute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they name it Seder an Order and denote it by a threefold S * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in this place Vers. 10. Charan of which place see Gen. 11. 31. It was distant from Beersheba almost 500 English miles And Iakob was now about 77. yeeres of age when hee undertooke this pilgrimage as may be gathered by the historie following and by Gen. 47. 9. Of which journey the prophet after speaketh how Iakob fled into the land of Syria and Israel served for a wise Hos. 12. 12. So the afflictions of the fathers are examples unto the children in all ages even whatsoever is written Rom. 4. 23. 24. and 15. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 11. Of Iakobs age the Rabbines also say Seventy and seven yeeres old was Iakob when he departed from his fathers house Pirkei R. Eliezer ch 35. Vers. 11. he lighted upon or happened met with by Gods providence not of his owne purpose or choise who would have gone further ha dnot night prevented him and made no reckning of this place above any other It was about 48 English miles distant from Beersheba whence Iakob came and from Ierusalem 8. miles northward pillowes or head bolster so in 1 Sam. 26. 7. The Greeke translateth at his head As this pillow of Iakob sheweth his hard distresse for the present in body so Gods appearing and word here revealed manifesteth the comforts and refreshing of the spirit which the faithfull have in their afflictions and pilgrimage Hos. 12. 4. Gen. 35. 7. 2 Cor. 1. 5. See after on vers 18. Vers. 12. dreamed a divine dreame such as in times past God used to speak unto men by Iob 33. 14. 15. Dan. 7. 1. and so hee usually spake unto the Prophets as it is sayd If there bee a Prophet among you I Iehovah will make my selfe knowne unto him in a vision will speake unto him in a dreame Num. 12. 6. See the notes on Gen. 15. 12. ladder representing Christ the sonne of man on whom the Angels of God ascend and descend Ioh. 1. 51. applyed now in speciall to Iakob and his journey as followeth in verse 13. 15. The Hebrew Doctors say The things made knowne to a Prophet by propheticall vision were made knowne unto him by way of parable and immediately the interpretation of the parable was written in his heart and he knew what it was As the Ladder which Iakob our father saw and the Angels ascending and descending on it And that was a parable of the foure monarchies Maimony in Misn. in Iesud hatorah ch 7. S. 3. Other Rabbines also apply this vision to the monarchies in Daniel but our Saviour is the best interpreter Iohn 1. 51. on the earth signifying Christs humane nature and conversing with men Iohn 16. 28. and 17. 4. the heavens signifying Christs heavenly nature and mediation for men with God Heb. 8. 1. and 9. 24. By whom all things are reconciled unto God and both the things in earth and things in heaven are set at peace through the blood of his crosse Col. 1. 20. He is the way no man commeth to the Father but by him Ioh. 14. 6. ascending c. that is looking with desire into the mysteries of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 12. ministring unto him and through him unto his people Mark 1. 13. Heb. 1. 14. and now in speciall guarding Iakob from all perills in his journey Gen. 32. 1. 2. Vers. 13. Iehovah whose providence and grace is towards his in Christ. The Chaldee translateth it the glory of the Lord. God of Abraham c. See Gen. 17. 7. He is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a citie Heb. 11. 16. Hereby also the resurrection of the dead was taught unto Iakob God calling himselfe no lesse the God of Abraham now dead to the world then of Isaak now living for Abraham also was alive unto him Luk 20. 37. 38. to thy seed that is as
hath beene my helpe Vers. 7 ten times in his sixe yeares service ten here may be put for many times so in Iob 19. 3. given that is suffred See Gen. 20. 6. Vers. 9. God hath so it was not by Iakobs fraud as his brethren unjustly calumniated him vers 1. neither used he that art of putting rods into the troughes Gen. 30. 37. but by Gods direction Vers. 10. a dreame sent of God as Gen. 28. 12. hee-goats and rammes as the Greeke expresly addeth By this he was taught that the generation of cattell in that manner was by the instinct of God for to inrich Iakob grisled or haile-spotted that is having many white spots like haylestones for so the Hebrew and Chaldee words import The Greeke expounds it sprinkled as with ashes It may be also to signifie that this was Gods worke as the haile falleth from heaven Such was the colour of certaine horses that Zachary saw in a vision Zach. 6. 3. Vers. 11. Angel called in verse 13. the God of Bethel that is Christ. So after Gen. 48. 16. The Hebrew Doctors also name this Angell Michael â—irkei R. Eliez c. 36. Vers. 12. he-goats the Greeke againe addeth and rammes cattell or flocke which the Greek translateth sheepe and goats the Hebrew comprehendeth both as Levit. 1. 10. Vers. 13. the God Heb. El Beth-el that is the God of the house of God which the Chaldee expoundeth thus the God which appeared unto thee in Beth-el the Gâ—eeke thy God which appeared unto thee in Gods place God here manifest thâ— that hee accepted the service which Iakob used in consecrating Bethel Gen. 28. 18. 19 22. and was mindfull of his promises there made vers 15. kinred or nativity generation as the Greeke translateth adding moreover and I will be with thee as was in verse 3. Vers. 14 for us or to us these words may imply both that they had no hope of benefit from their father and that they had no mind any longer to continue with him out to depart Compare 1 King 12. 16. and the law in Gen. 2. 24. Laban is set forth in this history as a picture of a man covetous envious injurious unthankfull and unnaturall besides his idolatry and hypocrisie By such a miser was Iakobs faith and patience exercised twenty yeeres Vers. 15. of him or to him meaning that he had dealt with them as strangers rather then as children sold us for fourteene yeeres service by thee our husband eating he hath eaten that is quite eaten up and consumed or greedily eaten Or questionwise should hee eate that is consume us quite For by often changing Iakobs wages hee sought to have inriched himselfe with the extreme poverty of his daughters money Hebr. silver used here generally for their price which hee had turned to his owne profit or figuratively the meats and commodities bought with such money as was due to them for their husband service besides their owne portions Vers. 16. riches the Greeke addeth and glory as verse 1. Vers. 18. substance or gathered-goods see Gen. 12. 5. Thus also Iakobs children went with all their goods out of Aegypt Exod. 10. 26. Padan Aram that is as the Greeke hath it Mesopotamia Vers. 19. Teraphims the Greeke here translateth them Idols the Chaldee Images Laban calleth them his gods vers 30. and that they were images or representations used in divine worship other Scriptures also doe confirme Iudg. 17. 5. and 18. 14. 17. 20 Hos. 3. 4. and it seemeth that idolaters consulted with their gods by them and had oracles Ezek. 21 21. Zach. 10. 2. therefore the Chaldee and Greeke in Hos. 3. 4. translate it declarers or manifesters to weet of hidden things They were greatly displeasing to the true God 1 Sam. 15. 23. and therefore were by the godly rooted out 2 King 23. 24. Sometime the Greeke version keepeth the originall name Theraphein Iudg. 17. and of it the Heathen Greekes framed the word Therapeuein for to signifie the service or worship of their gods and using to consult with such for recovery of their health as Ahazjah did with Beelzebub 2 King 1. 2. they applied the Greek word Therapeuin for to heale oâ— cure diseases An ancient Rabine saith What were those Teraphims They killed a man that was a first borne sonne and tooke off his head and salted it with salt and with oile and wrote upon a plate of gold the name of an uncleane spirit and put it under the tongue thereof and set it up on a wall and lighted candles before it and bowed themselves downe unto it and it spake unto them as it is written in Zach. 10. 2. the Teraphims haue spoken vanitie Pirkei R. Eliezer ch 36. It is more likely they were Images in the shape of men as may be gathered by 1 Sam. 19. 13. 16. Vers. 20. stale from the heart that is stale or conveyed away himselfe without the knowledge or consent of Laban For the heart is the seat of knowledge and understanding Eccles. 7. 25. Prov. 7. 7. So the Greeke here for stale translateth hid and the Chaldee saith Iakob concealed it from Laban The word from is here to be understood as afterward in vers 26. 27. where this speech is opened and sometime the Scripture it selfe supplieth this and the like wants as in 2 Chron. 6. 33. heare thou from the heavens whereas the same speech being written in 1 King 8. 43. the word from is wanting Otherwise to steale the heart meaneth priâ—â—ly to draw the heart and affection unto one as in 2 Sam. 15. 6. Or if here we so read it stale the heart of Laban the meaning is he caried away and deceived him of that which his heart did expect and affect namely more wealth by Iakobs service c. And so it is a Syriak phrase not much differing from that in 2 Cor. 12. 16. I caught you with guile where the Syriak translateth I stale you with guile And stealing is used for carying away Iob 21. 18. Vers. 21. the river Euphrates as the Chaldee explaines it which was betweene Chaldea and Canaan Ios. 24. 2. 3. set his face that is his affections and actions without declining to any other way Therefore the Greeke translateth it hormesen which signifieth an earnest violent running thitherward The like phrase is in Ier. 50. 5. Luke 9 51. 53. Gilead in Greeke Galaad It was a goodly mountaine adjoyning next to Lebanon beneath which mount was a fertile country called also the land of Gilead Ier. 22. 6. Deut. 34. 1. They were stored with balme myrrh and other spicerie Gen. 37. 25. Ier. 8. 22. were very good for feeding of cattell and were afterwards taken from the Amorites and given partly to the sonnes of Reuben and Gad and partly to the sonnes of Manasses for inheritance Song 4. 1. Numb 32. 1. 39. Ier. 50. 19. Deut. 3. 12. 13. 15. 16. There was also a man of this name one of Iakobs posteritie Num. 26. 29. Vers. 22. the third day
Hebrew and behold but the word and sometime is redundant in that tongue as is observed on Gen. 36. 24. Vers. 10. as though or when it budded shot-up Hebrew ascended Vers. 12. they are that is they signifie three dayes So in Gen. 41. 26. Vers. 13. within three dayes which is explained vers 20. to be in the third day see a like phrase in Gen. 7. 4. and of the mysticall number three See Gen. 22. 4. lift up this phrase sometime signifieth to promote unto honour as Ier. 52. 31. sometime head is used for summe and it meaneth to take the summe or to reckon as Exod. 30. 12. which may also be intended here The Greeke translateth shal remember thy principality the Chaldee shal remember thee place or base seat meaning his office of butlership as the Greeke and Chaldee explaine it and is confirmed by verse 21. Vers. 14. this house this prison so the Greeke saith this hold Ioseph though patient in adversitie yet useth all good means to procure his liberty Vers. 15. stollen by stealth or indeed stollen Hebrew stealing stollen The Hebrews the land of Canaan wherein the children of Abraham dwelt who was called an Hebrue Gen. 14. 13. Thus Ioseph calleth it by faith in Gods promises In Zach. 2. 12. it is called the holy land dungeon or pit in Chaldee the house of prisoners Thus Ioseph pleadeth his innocency as Daniel also did Dan. 6. 22. and Paul Act. 24. 12. 13. 20. and 25. 10. 11. Vers. 16. saw this word the Greeke addeth I saw a dreame white or with holes for the Hebrew word signifieth both and may meane baskets made of white rods with holes as net-worke But the Greeke and Thargum Ierusalemy doe understand it of white bread or meats in them Vers. 19. lift-up or as the Greeke translateth it take away thine head in a contrary meaning to the former vers 13. but it may be understood of reckoning as before and putting this man out of the number of his officers a tree the Chaldee translateth it a Gallow tree or gybbet crosse such as that whereon Christ was crucified called sometime onely a tree as Act. 5. 30. and 10. 39. 1 Pet. 2. 24. After by the law such as dyed on tree had the curse of God upon them Deut. 21. 23 Vers. 20. a banquet Hebrew a drinking This custome to keepe banquets on birth dayes appeareth to be most ancient and it continued till Christs time on earth Mat. 14. 6. and so till this day lifted up the Chaldee translateth he remembred the head c. Vers. 22. hanged As Ioseph was in prison with these two malefactors and according to his word the one was restored to his former honour the other put to death so Christ was in the middest of two malefactors who one of them was restored to eternall life the other left to dye in his sinnes Luk. 23. 33. 39. 43 Vers. 23. forgat him which was both great unthankfulnesse and unto Ioseph a further exercise of faith and patience from the hand of God two yeares longer untill the time his word came Ps. 105. 19. So the scripture elsewhere taxeth forgetfulnesse of benefits and of the affliction of Ioseph Eccles 9. 15. 16. Amos 6. 6. CHAP. XLI 1 Pharaohs two dreames of seven kine and seven eares of corne 8 The wise men of Egypt could not interpret them 9 The Butler remembreth Ioseph and mentioneth him to Pharaoh 14 Who sendeth for Ioseph out of prison and propoundeth to him his dreames 25 Ioseph interpreteth them 29 Seven yeares of plenty are fore told and seven yeares of famine 33 Pharaoh is counselled to provide against the dearth 39 Ioseph is advanced to bee over Pharaohs house and over al the land of Egypt 45 He marieth Asenath 49 gathereth up much corne 50 begetteth two sons Manasses and Ephraim 54 The famine beginneth in Egypt and all lands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd it was at the end of two yeeres of dayes that Pharaoh dreamed and behold he was standing by the river And behold there came-up out of the river seven kine faire in sight and fat in flesh and they fed in a medow And behold seven other kine came-up after them out of the river ill in sight and leane in flesh and they stood by the other kine upon the brinke of the river And the kine that were ill in sight and leane in flesh did eat-up the seven kine that were faire in sight and fat and Pharaoh awoke And he slept and dreamed the second-time and behold seven eares of-corn came-up in one stalke fat and good And behold seven eares of corn thinn blasted with the east-wind sprang-up after them And the thinn eares swallowed-up the seven fat and full eares and Pharaoh awoke and behold it was a dreame And it was in the morning that his spirit was striken-amazed and he sent and called all the magicians of Egypt and all the wise men thereof and Pharaoh told them his dreame and there was no interpreter of them to Pharaoh And the chiefe of the butlers spake to Pharaoh saying I doe remember this day my sinnes Pharaoh was wroth with his servants and committed me into ward in the house of the Provost Marshall both mee the chiefe of the bakers And wee dreamed a dreame in one night I and he we dreamed each man according to the interpretatiō of his dreame And there was there with us a yong man an Hebrew servant to the Provost Marshall and we told him and hee interpreted to us our dreams to each man according to his dreame did he interpret And it was as he interpreted to us so it was me he restored unto my place and him he hanged And Pharaoh sent and called Ioseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himselfe changed his garments and came-in unto Pharaoh And Pharaoh said unto Ioseph I have dreamed a dreame and there is no interpreter of it and I doe heare say of thee thou wilt heare a dreame to interpret it And Ioseph answered Pharaoh saying It is not in mee God will answer the peace of Pharaoh And Pharaoh spake unto Ioseph In my dreame behold I was standing upon the brinke of the riuer And behold there came-up out of the river seven kine fat in flesh and faire in forme and they fed in a medow And behold seven other kine came-up after them poore and very ill in forme and lean in flesh I have not seene their like in all the land of Egypt for evilnesse And the leane and evill kine did eate up the first seven fat kine And they came into the inward-parts of them and it was not knowne that they were come into their inward-parts and their sight was evill as at the beginning and I awoke And I saw in my dreame and behold seven eares of-corne came-up in one stalke full good And behold seven eares of corne withered thinn blasted with an east-wind sprung up after them And the thinn ears
Gen. 2. 3. and 6. 20. Verse 16. it is the sinne c. or sinne is laid upon thy people It may be understood of the Egyptians as if the sinne or fault were theirs and so the Chaldee explaineth it Thy people sinneth against them that is against thy seruants the Israelites Or sinne and so punishment is laid upon thy people us the Israelites without cause and so the Greeke translateth wilt thou therefore wrong thy people Sinne is often used for punishment See Gen. 4. 7. Vers. 19. them in evill that is both themselves as the Greeke translateth it and the people over whom they were to be in an evill case saying vnderstand from verse 13. and 18. the taske-masters and the king also saying or after it was said see verse 14. Vers. 20. lighted upon that is met with as unlooked for or fell upon them with hard words as verse 21. It is the word used before in verse 3. and Gen. 28. 11. Vers. 21. judge the Chaldee saith be avenged An intemperate speech and an example of great infirmitie imputing the cause of their troubles to Gods ministers forgetting their former faith and thankefulnesse Exod. 4. 31. to stinke that is as the Greeke explaâ—neth it to be abhorred see Gen. 34. 30. to give or and hath given as to hold the arke 1 Chro. 13. 9. is expounded and held it 2 Sam. 6. 6. Vers. 23. delivering thou c. that is thou hast not at all delivered nor shewed any likelihood as yet thereof And here Moses himselfe bewraieth the remnants of his former infirmitie Exod. 4. 10. 13. CHAP. VI. 1 God comforteth Moses renewing his promise by his name Iehovah 5 and remembrance of his covenant 6 Hee sendeth him with these comforts unto Israel 9 but they hearken not unto him 11 He sendeth him againe to Pharaoh though Moses is loth to goe 14. The genealogie of Ruben 15 of Simeon 18 of Levi of whom came Moses and Aaron 28 A repeating of Moses mission to Pharaoh and his exception against it AND Iehovah said unto Moses Now shalt thou see what I will doe to Pharaoh for by a strong hand shall hee send them away and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AND God spake unto Moses and said unto him I am Iehovah And I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaak and unto Iakob by the name of God Almightie but by my name Iehovah was I not knowne to them And also I established my covenant with them to give unto them the land of Canaan the land of their sojournings in the which they sojourned And also I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel whom the Egyptians keepe in servitude and I have remembred my covenant Therefore say thou unto the sonnes of Israel I am Iehovah and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their servitude and I will redeeme you with a stretched out arme and with great judgments And I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God and yee shall know that I am Iehovah your God which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians And I will bring you in unto the land which I did lift up my hand to give it to Abraham to Isaak and to Iakob and I will give it to you for an heritage I am Iehovah And Moses spake so unto the sonnes of Israel but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit and for hard servitude And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Goe in speake unto Pharaoh King of Egypt that he send away the sonnes of Israel out of his land And Moses spake before Iehovah saying Behold the sonnes of Israel have not hearkened unto mee and how shall Pharaoh heare mee and I am of uncircumcised lips And Iehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron and gave them a charge unto the sonnes of Israel and unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt to bring forth the sonnes of Israel out of the land of Egypt These be the heads of their fathers houses the sonnes of Ruben the first-borne of Israel Enoch and Phallu Hezron and Carmi these be the families of Ruben And the sonnes of Simeon Iemuel and Iamin and Ohad Iachin Zohar Saul the sonne of a Canaanitesse these are the families of Simeon And these are the names of the sonnes of Levi acording to their generations Gershon and Kohath and Merari and the yeers of the life of Levi were an hundred seven and thirtie yeeres The sons of Gershon Libni Shimei according to their families And the sonnes of Kohath Amram and Ishar and Hebron and Vzziel and the yeeres of the life of Kohath were an hundred three and thirty yeers And the sons of Merari Mahali Mushi these are the families of Levi according to their generations And Amram tooke Iochebed his aunt unto him to wife and she bare to him Aaron and Moses and the yeeres of the life of Amram were an hundred seven and thirty yeeres And the sonnes of Ishar Korah and Nepheg and Zichri And the sonnes of Vzziell Misael and Elsaphan and Sithri And Aaron tooke Elisabet daughter of Amminadab sister of Naasson unto him to wife and shee and she bare unto him Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar And the sonnes of Korah Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph these are the families of the Korhite And Eleazar sonne of Aaron tooke unto him one of the daughters of Putiel unto him to wife and she bare unto him Phinehas these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families This is that Aaron and Moses unto whom Iehovah said Bring out the sonnes of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies These are they which spake to Pharaoh King of Egypt to bring out the sonnes of Israel from Egypt this Moses and Aaron And it was in the day when Iehovah spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt That Iehovah spake unto Moses saying I am Iehovah speake thou unto Pharaoh King of Egypt all that I speake unto thee And Moses said before Iehovah Behold I am of uncircumcised lips and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me Annotations BY a strong hand that is by force and constraint God even compelling him thereto by his judgments â—s verse 6. and Exod. 3. 20. This was fulfilled Exod. 12. 31. 33. and 13. 3. 9. celebrated alwaies after Deut. 6. 21. 22. and 26. 7. 8. Psal. 136. 10. 11. 12. Ier. 32. 20. 21. Dan. 9. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the fourteenth Section or Lecture of the Law called of the beginning of the third verse And I appeared See Gen. 6. 9. and 28. 10. Vers. 3. Almighty or Alsufficient see Gen. 17. 1. The Greeke translateth being theit God The two titles here expressed Ael God and Shaddai Almighty are not used in Scripture till Abrahams time and in speech to him Gen. 14. 18. and
following here shew as also to try the faith of his people which even here at first was turned to unbeleefe and rebellion verse 11. 12. Deut. 8. 2. Psalme 106. 7. Migdol in Greeke Magdol the name of a citie of the Egyptians Ier. 44. 1. by interpretation it signifieth a Tower Baal-zephon in Greeke Beelsepphon The Ierusalemy Thargum expoundeth it the idoll of Zephon and so it seemeth to be an idolatrous place or monument of the Egyptians as Baal-Pehor was the Idoll of the Moabites Num. 25. 3. and Baalmehon the name whereof the Israelites changed when it came into their possession Num. 32. 38. For as Israel passed from Egypt to Canaan God did let them see the abominations and idols of the nations whereof hee warned them to beware Deut. 29. 16. 17. 18. Vers. 3. intangled or perplexed not knowing what to doe as the Greeke translateth they wander or stray and the word is used in Ioel 1. 18. of cattell perplexed for want of pasture So Pharaoh seeing the Israelites to take this indirect way thought they were afraid of the wildernesse and in perplexity of mind whereupon he hardned himselfe to follow after and bring them againe into his bondage Vers. 4. make strong that is as the Greeke saith harden so after verse 8 17. See Exodus 4. 21. honoured or as the Greeke translateth gloried will get me honour by their destruction vers 17. 18. For God hath glory by wrath upon the wicked as by mercy upon the elect Roman 9. 22. 23. So Ezekiel 28. 22. Vers. 6. bound in Greeke joyned to wit the horses to his chariot made ready So Gen. 46. 29. Vers 7. captaines or Princes the third sort of governours in the kingdome having the name of three or third the Chaldee calleth them Mighties Vers. 8. a high hand that is powerfully openly and boldly like armed men as in Exod. 13. 18. and in the sight of the Egyptians Num. 33. 3. not like fâ—gitives So to sinne with a high hand Num. 15. 30. is to doe it boldly and openly The Chaldee changeth the phrase saving they went out with uncovered or open head which meaneth openly boldly cheerfully as the covering of the head signifieth sorrow and shame 2 Sam. 15. 30. Ier. 14. 4. Vers. 9. army Hebr. power used for an army or host as the Greeke here translateth it so in verse 17. 28. And here againe is to be understood they followed and overtooke them Vers. 10. were fore afraid or feared vehemently This was for want of faith and love towards God Matth. 8. 26. 1 Iohn 4. 18. But was occasioned by the straits they now were in the congregation of Israel was shut in from the foure parts of the world before them was the sea behind them followed the enemy and on each side of them were wildernesses full of fiery Serpents which did bite and kill men with their venome saith the Chaldee paraphrase upon Song 2. 14. Vers. 11. at all or none a double deniall shewing the earnest passion and distemperature of their unfaithfull and unthankfull minds Of this David said they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but rebelled at the sea at thered sea yet he saved them for his names sake Psal. 106. 7 8. Vers. 12. Let us alone or Cease from us They returne to their former rebellious cariage in Egypt mentioned in Exod. 6. 9. Vers. 13. feare not the Greeke saith be bold or of good comfort whom ye have seene or as the Greeke translateth so as ye sec meaning they should see them no more alive but dead as verse 30. not againe see Hebr. not adde to see By these promises God would stay their murmurings strengthen their faith and shew his grace to an undeserving people for which hee is after celebrated in Neh. 9. 9. thou heardest their cry by the red sea Vers. 14. shall hold your peace or shall bee silent shall cease from speaking or doing any thing in this battell The originall word is often used for ceasing to heare or speake as they that are deafe but applied also to actions signifieth silence or ceasing from deeds as they that neglect and sit still 2 Sam. 19. 11. Psal. 83. 2. and 50. 3. Esay 42. 14. 15. It may also be meant hold ye your peace that is cease from murmuring against God and me Verse 15. wherefore Hebr. what that is For what criest thou God encourageth Moses to goe on with the worke in hand which the peoples murmuring began to hinder So after in Exod. 17. 4 hee cried unto the Lord upon the like occasion Though here no words of prayer bee mentioned yet Moses might cry unto God by the Spirit which maketh intercession for the Saints with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. The Chaldee paraphrast turneth it I have accepted thy prayer speake to the sonnes of Israel c. as if he had cried our for feare of wrath to come upon them for their sinne as they deserved So elsewhere another Chaldee paraphrast on Song 1. 9. more plainly saith When Pharaoh and his host were drowned Israel also had likewise perished if Moses the Prophet had not stretched out his hands in prayer before the Lord and turned away the Lords wrath from them A like preservation of them by Moses prayer is after recorded in Deut. 9. 13. 14. 19. 20. Verse 16 thy rod where with miracles were done in Egypt Exod. 4. 2. and 7. 9. c. the rod of God Exod. 17. 9 it signified the Word of God which is the rod of his mouth wherewith hee smiteth the earth Esay 11. 4. but feedeth his people Mic. 7. 14 cleave it that is forcibly divide and as the Greeke translateth rent it It is a commandement implying a promise Vers. 17. honoured upon or as the Greeke turneth it glorified in Pharaoh get me glory and honour upon him The Lord knew that they dealt proudly against his people so hee made himselfe a name as it is this day Nehem. 9. 10. Vers. 19. the Angell that is Christ called Iehovah Exod. 13 21. So the Hebrew Doctors have acknowledged this Angell to be Michael the great Prince who was made a wall of fire betweene the Israelites and the Egyptians Pirkei R. Eliezer chap. 42. And others of them say this Angell was Shechinah the presence or Majestie of God and called an Angell and Prince of the world because the government of the world to by his hand R. Menachem upon this place This 19. verse and 20. and the 21. following have every of them in the Hebrew 72. letters from which the Hebrew Rabbines have their curious speculations of so many Angels concurring in this glorious worke of dividing the sea and leading Israel through it Vers. 20. a cloud and darknesse that is the cloud was thicke and darke to the Egyptians and made light or illumined the night to the Israelites And so the Chaldee paraphrase and Thargum Ierusalemy explaineth it the cloud was halfe light and halfe darknesse the light gave
he would have observed as mysticall As the Arke signified Gods presence and the Table with shewbread the Church standing before him so this Candlesticke signified his Law in the light whereof his people doe serve him Psal. 119. 105. Pro. 6. 23. 2 Pet. 1. 19. And the sundry branches bowles knops and flowers shew the varietie of things and of delivering them in the Scripture some easie some hard to be understood 2 Pet. 3. 16. some histories some prophesies some parables c. Vers. 33. made like almonds the Chaldee translateth figured and the Greeke figured with almond nuts and this some referre to those also which follow the knop and the flower as if they had that forme The Almond tree hath the name in Hebrew of hastie bringing forth blossomes and fruit and God likeneth the hastie performance of his word unto It Ier. 1. 11. 12. So Aarons rod miraculously bare almonds Num. 17. 8. Vers. 37. seven lamps or the lamps thereof seven which figured the seven spirits that is the manifold graces of the Spirit of God as is written there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God Revel 4. 5. be that is the priest as is expressed Exod. 27. 21. Lev. 24. 3. See the notes there to ascend that is as the Chaldee translateth to burne for that the flame ascends upward So in Exod. 27. 20. But the Greeke version here understands it of setting the lamps upon the top of the branches of the candlesticke◠〈◊〉 over against the face that is right forward or straight before it as the like phrase signifie 〈…〉 Ezek. 1. 9. 12. See also Numb 8. 2. Verse 39. a talene this is the greatest weight which 〈◊〉 use it contained three thousand sheâ—els of which were two sorts common and holy as is shewed on Gen. 20. 16. This talent as all other weights about the Sanctuary being sacred was an hundred and twenty pound weight or three thousand holy shekels See the notes on Exodus 38. 24. 26. Vers. 40. that thou make or and make to wit all these things mentioned in this Chapter and those which follow as the Apostle expoundeth it see that thou make all things according c. Heb. 8. 5. And of tentimes things set downe in this manner are expounded universally as 2 Chron 6. 30. thou onely knowest the heart of the sonnes of men that is of all the sonnes of men 1 King 8. 39. So the word shall be established Deuter. 19. 15. that is every word 2 Cor. 13. 1. and till I put thine enemies Psal. 110. 1. that is all of them 1 Cor. 15. 25. as wee for give our debtors Matth. 6. 12. that is every one indebted to us Luk. 11. 4. and many the like patterne in Greeke type hereupon the Apostle noteth that the priests of Israel served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things Hebr. 8. 5. So all this glorious furniture of the Tabernacle was not for worldly pompe but for spirituall mysterie of heavenly graces which should be injoyed by Christ whereof see Revel 4. and 21. chapters Neither might Moses alter the matter forme or fashion of any particular from the patterne shewed him but was strictly bound unto it and so did observe it Exodus 39. 42. 43. CHAP. XXVI 1 God commandeth to make a Tabernacle with ten curtaines embroidered 7 And a Tent over it of eleven certaines of Goats haire 14 And a covering for the Tent of Rams skinnes and a covering of Tachash skinnes 15. The boards of the Tabernacle of Shittim wood 19 The sockets of silver 26 The bars of Shittim wood 31 The embroidered vesle betweene the most holy place and the holy 36 The hanging vesle for the doore AND thou shalt make the Tabernacle with ten curtaines of fine linnen twined and blew and purple and scarlet with Cherubims the worke of a cunning workeman shalt thou make them The length of one curtaine shall be eight and twenty cubits and the bredth foure cubits of one curtaine one measure shall be for all the curtaines Five curtaines shall be coupled together one to another and five curtaines coupled together one to another And thou shalt make loopes of blew upon the edge of the one curtaine from the selvedge in the coupling so shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of the curtaine in the second coupling Fiftie loopes shalt thou make in the one curtaine and fiftie loopes shalt thou make in the selvedge of the curtaine which is in the second coupling the loopes being one right over against another And thou shalt make fiftie taches of gold and shalt couple together the curtaines one unto another with the taches and it shall bee one Tabernacle And thou shalt make curtaines of go 〈…〉 〈◊〉 for a Tent over the Tabernacle eleven curtaines shalt thou make them The length of one curtaine shall be thirtie cuâ—its and the bredth foure cubits of one curtaine one measure shall be for the eleven curtaines And thou shalt couple together five curtaines by themselves and sixe curtaines by themselves and shalt double the sixt curtaine in the forefront of the Tent. And thou shalt make fiftie loopes on the edge of the one curtaine the outmost in the coupling and fiftie loopes on the edge of the curtaine of the second coupling And thou shalt make fiftie taches of brasse shalt put the taches into the loops and shalt couple together the Tent and it shall be one And the overplus that remaineth of the curtaines of the Tent the halfe curtaine that remaineth shall hang over on the backe sides of the Tabernacle And a cubit on this side and a cubit on that side in the remainder in the length of the curtaines of the tent it shall bee hanging over on the sides of the Tabernacle on this side and on that side to cover it And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of Rams skins died red and a covering of Tachash skins above And thou shalt make boards for the Tabernacle of Shittim wood standing up Ten cubits shall be the length of a board and a cubit and halfe a cubit the bredth of one board Two tenons for one board set in order one against another so shalt thou make for all the boards of the Tabernacle And thou shalt make the boards for the Tabernacle twenty boards for the South â—â—de Southward And foâ—â—ie sockets of silver shalt thou make under the twenty boards two 〈…〉 undeâ— one board for his two tenons and two sockets under another 〈◊〉 for his 〈…〉 And for the second side of the 〈…〉 on the North side twenty 〈…〉 And theâ— fortie sockeâ—s of silver 〈…〉 〈…〉 one â—â—ard and two soc 〈…〉 another board And for the sides of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt â—ake 〈…〉 And two boards shalt thou make for th 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 in the two sides And they shall be equally joyned be 〈…〉 〈…〉 shall bee perfectly 〈…〉 the heâ—d of it unto one ring so 〈…〉
before them â—oth they shall bee for 〈…〉 And they shâ—ll bee eight 〈…〉 and thâ—â—◠〈…〉 of silver sixteene 〈…〉 two soâ—â—◠〈…〉 board and 〈…〉 under another board And thou shalt make barres of Shittim wood five for the boards of the one side of the Tabernacle And five barres for the boards of the second side of the Tabernacle and five barres for the boards of the side of the Tabernacle for the two sides Seaward And the mid 〈…〉 barre in the mids of the boards reaching from end to end And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold and their rings thou shalt make of gold places for the barres and thou shalt overlay the barres with gold And thou shalt reare up the Tabernacle according to the right fashion therof which thou wast shewed in the mount And thou shalt make a veile of blew and purple and scarlet and fine linnen twined the worke of a cunning workeman he shall make it with Cherubims And thou shalt hang it upon foure pillars of Shittim overlaid with gold their hookes shall be of gold upon the foure sockets of silver And thou shalt hang the veise under the taches and shalt bring in thither within the veile the Arke of the Testimonie and the veile shall divide unto you betweene the Holy place and the Holy of holies And thou shalt put the Covering-mercie-seat upon the Arke of the Testimony in the Holy of holies And thou shalt set the Table without the veile and the Candlesticke over against the table on the side of the Tabernacle toward the South and the table thou shalt put on the North side And thou shalt make an hanging-veile for the doore of the Tent of blew and purple and scarlet and fine linnen twined the worke of the Embroiderer And thou shalt make for the hanging-veile five pillars of Shittim and overlay them with gold their hookes gold and thou shalt cast for them five sockets of brasse Annotations 〈◊〉 or Habitacle which was for the foresaid Arke Table with shew-bread and Câ—â—dlâ—sticke to be placed in a figure of the Church wherein God dwelleth graciously with his people and inligh 〈…〉 them with his Law and the seven spirits which are before his throne See the annoâ—â—tions on the former Chapter twined or twisted after it was spunne and this was for more strength 〈◊〉 4. 12. In the Hebrew canons it is said Wheresoever fine linnâ—n twisted is spoken of in the 〈◊〉 it must be sixâ— double thred Maimony treat of the 〈…〉 of the Sanctuary chap. 8. Sect. 14. scarlet or double dyâ—d scarlet These colours represented the blood of Christ and the white 〈…〉 bysse his justice and so the vatietie of 〈…〉 erewith he and his Church is made glorious 〈…〉 he notes on Exod. â—5 4. Cheru 〈…〉 that is as the Chaldee explaineth it figures of 〈…〉 signifying heavenly affections in Christ a 〈…〉 his Church and the Angels ministers 〈◊〉 and about them See Exod. 25. 18. cun 〈…〉 or exquisite craftsman that skilfully deviseth and curiously worketh in any Arte Exod 35. 〈◊〉 33. 2 Chro. 26. 15. The Chaldee translateth it Craftsman the Greeke Weaver of which there is also mention in this worke of the Tabernacle Exod. 35. 35. and 39. 22. The Hebrew Doctors put a difference betweene this cunning workeâ—aâ— and the embroiderer in verse 36. Wheresoever it is said in the Law THE WORKE OF THE EMBROIDERER that is when the figures which are made in the weaving are seene but on the one side but THE WORKE OF THE CVNNING WORKEMAN is when the figures are seene on both sides before and after Maimony in 〈◊〉 of the Implements of the Sanctuarie chap. 8. Sect. 15. The veile of the most holy place being of this cunning workemanship verse 31. sheweth that both sides were wrought alike Vers. 2 cubits Hebr. by cubit that is measuring by the Cubit which is sixe hand-breadths or a foot and a halfe of one which may bee understood of every one as in 2 Chron. 9. 16. one shield it for every shield Or as the Greeke here translateth the curtaiâ—â—â— shall be one Vers. 3. one to anothâ—â— Hebr. woman to her sister which Heâ—â—aisme the Chaldee also translateth one 〈◊〉 another and the Greeke giveth the like sense and Moses himselfe so explaineth it in Exod. 36. 10. 12. where he saith one 〈◊〉 So after in verse 5. and 17. This signified the union of persons and of gâ—â—â—es in the Church by the Spirit Ephes. 4. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1 Cor. 12. 4. 5. 6. 12. 13. for in Christ all the building 〈◊〉 coupled together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord Ephes. 2. 21. 22. and 4. 16. Verâ— 4. â—dge Hebr. lip So in vers 10. the one or the first curtaine so in verse 5. So one is used for the first G 〈…〉 1. 5. second coupling or coupling of the 〈…〉 so in verse 5. Vers. 5. being one right oveâ— against another or â—eceiving one to another so holding by the taches one curtaine to another But both the Greeke and Chaldee version favoureth the first exposition Vers. 6. one Tabernacle or the Habitacle shall bee 〈…〉 is said for the Tent verse 〈◊〉 Howâ—â—â—â— because of the distinction by the veise there were after a sort two Tabernacles and so the Aposâ—â—e speaketh of the first called the Holy and after the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tabernacle called the Holy of holies 〈…〉 As the golden taches clasped in the blew oâ— heaven-coloured loopes made the ten 〈…〉 one Tent so by faith and love in Christ the Saints are fastened builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 22. where 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 mentioneth the unitie of the Spirit 〈…〉 peace the â—nitâ—e of the faith and our 〈…〉 together in love Ephes 4. 3. 13. Coâ—â—s 2 2. 〈◊〉 this is to be for all affaires both of peace and of warre Iudges 20. 11. Vers. 7. a Tent that is a Covering spred over so the Greek translateth it a Covering the Chaldee an overspreading See Exod. 40. 6. eleven wheras the embroidered curtaines were but ten verse 〈◊〉 So these were thirty cubits long verse 8 those but 28. cubits verse 2. Thus the Covering was larger in length and bredth then the thing covered The like may be thought by proportion of the two upper Coverings of skins in verse 14. that they also were larger theâ— this Tent of haire though for brevity their sise is not expressed And that this Goats haire was woven into cloath appeareth in that it was spunne by women as the other stuffe Exod. 35. 26. Verse 14. Tachash skinnes in Greeke Violet colour skinnes of them see Exod. 25. 5. These three sorts of Coverings served for the safetie of the Tent and things in the same from the injurie of the weather also by these covers and veils the people were kept from beholding the holy things as at the removing of the Tent likewise Num. 4. 5. 15. So they signified the safetie of Gods Church covered and hid
Exod. 30. 24. and that which he taketh away he casteth into the place of the ashes by the Altar and lighteth the lampe which was out and the lampe which he findeth not out he dresseth it The lampe which is middlemost when it is out he lights not it after it is made cleane but from the Altar in the Court but the rest of the lampes every one that is out he lighteth from the lampe that is next He lighteth not all the lampes at one time but lighteth five lampes and stayeth and doth the other service and afterwards commeth and lighteth the two that remaine He whose dutie it is to dresse the Candlesticke commeth with a vessell in his hand which is called Cuz and it is of gold like to a great pitcher to take away in it the wekes that are burnt out and the oile that remaineth iâ— the lampâ— and lighteth five of the lamps and leaveth the vessell there before the Candlesticke c. and goeth 〈◊〉 afterwards â—e commeth and lighteth the two lamps and taketh up the vessell in his hand and boweth himselfe downe to worship and goeth his way Maim treat of the daily Sacrifices c. 3. S. 12. 13. 16. 17. The like they have in other records as for the measure of oile in T 〈…〉 yl treat Menacheth chap. 10. fol. 88. Three lâ—gges of oile and a halfe for the Candlesticke 〈◊〉 a logge for every lampe And for the order in the same 〈◊〉 in Ioma c. 3. fol. 33. The cleansâ—â—g of the 〈◊〉 Altar was before the trimming of 〈◊〉 â—ive lamps and the triâ—â—â—ing of the five lamps before the blood of the daily sacrifice and the blood of the daily sâ—â—rifiâ—â— before the trimming of the two lamps and the trimming of the two lamps before the burning of incense c. This charge of the Priests to order the lamps signified how Christ and his ministers should continually looke unto the puritie of doctrine and preaching of the light of the Gospell from evening to morning in the darke place of this world till the day dawne the day-starre arise in our hearts Rev. 1. 13. and 2. 1. Deut. 33. 10. Ioh. 5. 35. Eph. 3. 8. 9. 2 Pet. 1. 19. 20. 21. Matth. 4. 16. CHAP. XXVIII 1 Aaron and his sonnes are set apart for the Priests office 2 Holy garments are appointed 6 The Ephodâ— 8 And the curious girdle of it 9 The two Beryll stones on the shoulders thereof on which the names of the twelve Tribes were graven 15 The Brestplate of judgement with twelve precious stones therein 21 on which the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel were graven 22 The golden chaines to fasten it 26 And the golden rings for the same 30 The Vrim and Thummim 31 The Robe of the Ephod with Pomgranats and Bels. 36 The golden plate of the Miter 39 The fine linnen Coate the Miter and the Girdle 40 The Coats for Aarons sonnes with their girdles and bonnets 42 and their linnen breeches 43. The Priests must we are their garments in their administration AND thou take neere unto thee Aaron thy Brother and his Sons with him from among the Sonnes of Israel that he may minister-in-the-Priests-office unto mee Aaron Nadab and Abâ—hu Eleazar and Ithamar Aarons Sonnes And thou shalt make garments of Holinesse for Aaron thy Brother for honour and for beautifull glory And thou speake unto all the wise hearted whomsoever I have filled with the spirit of wisedome and let them make Aarons garments to sanctifie him that he may minister-in-the Priests-office unto me And these are the garments which they shal make a Brestplate and an Ephod and a Robe and a Coat of circled-work a Miter and a Girdle and they shall make garments of Holinesse for Aaron thy brother and for his Sonnes that hee may minister-in-the-Priests-office unto mee And they shall take gold and blew and purple and scarlet and fine linnen And they shall make the Ephod of gold of blew and of purple of scarlet and fine linnen twined the worke of a cunning workeman It shall have the two shoulder-peeces joyning together at the two edges thereof and it shall bee joyned together And the curious girdle of his Ephod which is upon it shall be of the same according to the worke thereof of gold of blew and purple and scarlet and fine linnen twined And thou shalt take two Beryll stones and shalt grave on them the names of the Sonnes of Israel Six of their names on the one stone and the names of the fix that are remaining on the second stone according to their births The worke of an engraver in stone like the engravings of a signet shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the sonnes of Israel inclosed in ouches of gold shalt thou make them And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the Ephod stones of memoriall for the sons of Israel and Aaron shall beare their names before Iehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial And thou shalt make ouches of gold And two chaines of pure gold at the ends shalt thou make them of wreathen worke shalt fasten the wreathen chaines to the ouches And thou shalt make the Brest-plate of judgement the worke of a cunning workeman like the worke of the Ephod shalt thou make it of gold of blew purple scarlet and fine linnen twined shalt thou make it Foursquare shall it be doubled a spanne the length thereof and a span the bredth therof And thou shalt embosse in it embosment of stones foure rowes of stones a row a Sardius a Topaz a Smaragd the first row And the second row a Chalcedonie a Saphir a Sardonyx And the third row an Hyacinth a Chrysoprase and an Amethyst And the fourth row a Chrysolyte and a Beryll and a Iasper they shall be set in gold in their embosments And the stones shall be with the names of the Sons of Israel twelve according to their names like the engravings of a signet every man with his name they shall be according to the twelve Tribes And thou shalt make upon the Brestplate chains at the end of wreathen worke of pure gold And thou shaft make upon the Brestplate two rings of gold and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the Brestplate And thou shalt put the two wreathings of gold in the two rings on the ends of the Brestplate And the other two ends of the two wreathings thou shalt faâ—â—en on the two ouches and shalt put them on the shoulders of the Ephod before it And thou shalt make two rings of gold and shalt put them upon the two ends of the Brest-plate upon the border thereof which is in the side of the Ephod inward And thou shalt 〈◊〉 two other rings of gold and shalt put them on the two shoulders of the Ephod underneath towards the forepart thereof over-against the coupling thereof above the curious girdle of the Ephod And they shall binde the Brestplate by
sore pestilence to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof from God by some Prophet or a Priest or a Dreamer of dreames And as the High 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 was adorned in his 〈◊〉 with Vrim and Thummim translated in Greek Manifestation and Truth so among the Egyptians their high Priest is reported to have an ornament about his necke of a Saphire stone and the ornament was called Aletheia that is Truth as Aeliamâ— writeth in his Greeke History booke 14. After the losse of Vrim and Thummim and Prophets in Israel the godly Iewes held them to the Law of Moses as they were commanded by the last Prophet Mal. 4. 4. And hereunto Iesus sonne of Syrach in Ecclus. 33. 3. seemeth to have reference saying The Law is faithfull to him that understandeth as the asking of Dela that is as the Oracle of Vrim and Thummim for Vrim is translated into Greeke Dela 1 Sam. 28. 6. R. Moses bar Maimon saith They made in the second Temple Vrim and Thummim whereby he meaneth the Brestplate with the precious stones to the end they might make up all the High priests eight ornaments without which he might not administer although they did not enquire of God by them And wherefore did they not enquire by them Because the holy Ghost was not there And every Priest that speaketh not by the holy Ghost and on whom the Divine-majestie resteth not they inquire not by him Maimony treat of the Implements of the Sanctuary Chap. 10. Sect. 10. According to this phrase are those speeches to be understood in Ioh. 7. 39. The holy Ghost was not yet because Iesus 〈◊〉 not yet glorified and in Acts 19. 2. Wee have not so much as heard whether there be an holy Ghost Wherby is meant the gifts of the Spirit in Prophesie Tongues c. as there followeth in vers 6. T 〈…〉 holy Ghost came on them and they spake with Tongues and prophesied which gifts being before ceased were restored by the Gospell an evident proofe that the Christ was come Ioel 2. 28. 32. Acts 2. 4. 17. 18. And in Christ this mystery of Vrim and Thummim was fulfilled for in the heart of him our great High-priest were the gifts of the holy Ghost without measure 3. 34. unto all Light and Manifestation of the Truth with all perfection and integrity Iohn 1. 4. 9 17. and 3. 12. 13. and 18. 37. Coloss. 2. 3. whereby the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ is come unto us by whom the Spirit of Truth is sent into us to dwell with us and to abide with us for ever Iohn 14. 16. 17. who also hath given us to put on the Brestplate of Faith and Love 1. Thessalon 5. 8. Vers. 31. the Robe in Hebrew Megnil in Greek Hupodutes that is an Vnderclothing it was a long garment worne next under the Ephod The Hebrewes say Vpon the Robe was the Ephod and the Brestplate and he girded with the curious girdle of the Ephod upon the Robe under the Brestplate and therfore it is called the Robe of the Ephod because he girdâ—â— it with the Ephod Maimony in Implements of the Sanctuary Chap. 10. Sect. 3. See also Exodus 29. 5. and Levit. 8. 7. of the Ephod the Greeke here translateth it Poderee that is of the garment-downeto the foot So in Revel 1. 13. Christ appeareth 〈…〉 ed with a garment downe to the foot in the Gr. there Poderee to shew himselfe as High Priest for the Church Vers. 32. an hole called in Hebrew a mouth top Hebr. head a binding or welt called in Hebrew a lip woven worke Hebrew the work of the weaver Iosephus in his 3. booke of Antiquities Chap. 8. saith This coat was not of two peeces but woven in one without seames on shoulders or sides Maimony in treat of the Implements of the Sanctuary chap. 9. Sect. 3. saith The Robe was all of blew and the threds thereof were twelve times double and the hole thereof was woven at the beginning of the weaving And it had no sleeves but was divided into two skirts from the end of the necke unto beneath after the manner of all Robes and was not joyned together but about all the neck only The Gospell noteth of Christ how in the dayes of his flesh he wore a coat without seame woven from the top throughout Iohn 19. 23. Though that were not a priestly garment yet was it mysticall Vers. 33. Pomgranats that is similitudes of them so the Greeke translateth as it were Pomgranats of the flourishing pomegranat tree scarlet every sort of these three saith Maimony being twisted of eight threds as it is written upon the skirts of it twisted Exodies 39. 24. So the threds of these skirts were in all foure and twenty And hee made them like pomgranats which open not their mouth and hung them on the Robe Maimony treat of the Implements of the Sanct. Chap. 9. Sect. 4. Wheresoever this word TVVISTED is used alone as it is in Exod. 39. 24. it must be eight double threds Ibid. Chap 8. Sect. 14. The Greek version both here and in Exod. 39. 24. addeth the fourth stuffe and of fine linnen twined but the Hebrew wanteth this as also the Chaldee bells in number threescore and twelve as Maimony sheweth in the soresaid treatise chap. 9. Sect. 4. and they were hanged 36 on the one skirt and 36 on the other And in these 72 bells were 72 clappers all of gold and the bell together with the clapper in it is that which is called in Hebrew Pagnamon a Bell saith Maimony ibidem Vers. 35. to minister in the same or when hee ministreth sound or voice that is the sound of his bells Whereby was signified the voice of Christ which is heard of God in his prayer and mediation and heard of the people in his teaching and instruction Heb. 5. 7. and 7. 25. Deuter. 33. 10. Esay 58. 1. Mat. 12. 18. Therefore these Bels were of gold to signifie the purity and preciousnesse of the words of Christs accompanied with Pomgranats to signifie the fruits and comfortable effects of Christs both mediation and doctrine For Pomgranats were of the fruits of the holy Land Deut. 8. 8. and they with the wine that is in them signified the fruits and graces of the Saints Song 4. 〈◊〉 13. and 8. 2. Therefore many such were also in Solomons Temple 2 Chron. 3. 16. and 4. 13. And the care that this Robe should not be rent verse 32. signified the unity of the doctrine and faith of Christ which should bee among his people without rents or schismes 1 Cor. 1. 10 13. 1 Tim. 1. 3. goeth in c. that is publikely administreth as this phrase signifieth Numb 27. 17. 1 Chron. 27. 1. Acts 1. 21. that he dye not or and he shall not dye Vers. 36. Plate the Hebrew Tsits properly signifieth a floure the Greeke Petalon a leafe because it appeared faire and glorious after it is called the plate of the holy crowne
is the man that doth this and the sonne of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Maimony treat of the Sabbath chap. 30. Sect. 15. Vers. 14. that soule the Chaldee translateth that man shall be destroied This cutting off the Iewes understand to be untimely death by the hand of God when a man so violateth Gods Law as there are no witnesses whereby men should punish him See Gen. 17. 14. And of the Sabbath thus they write that for doing worke therein if a man doe it willingly and presumptuously he is guilty of cutting-off to perish by the hand of God and if there bee witnesses that see him he is to be stoned to death as was performed in Num. 15. 35. 36. and if he doe it of ignorance or errour he is bound to bring the sin offring appointed for the same according to the Law in Numb â—5 27. 30. Maimony in treat of the Sabbath chap. 1. Among the heathen Romanes their Flamins or Priests might see no work done on their holy daies but by a cryer gave men warning to the contrary and who so obeyed not was 〈…〉 ulcted and gave a beast for a sacrifice Albeit they might doe things whereof dammage would follow if they were omitted as to pull an oxe out of a ditch to underset an house ready to fall c. Macrob Saturn booke 1. chap. 16. Vers. 15. of Sabbathisme that is of cessation and rest See Exod. 16. 23. The Greeke translateth it a rest holy to the Lord. Vers. 16. to observe Hebrew to doe see the notes on Exod. 34. 22. Vers. 17. me the Chaldee translateth Betweene my Word and the sonnes of Israel that Word is Christ by whom the Sabbath is truely sanctified to his Church Hebrewes 4. From this Scripture the Hebrewes gather that onely Israel was charged with the sabbath day and not the nations of the world Talmud in Betsah chap. Iom tob So from Exod. 16. 29. Yet thus also they say It is unlawfull to speake to an Infidel to doe any worke for us on the Sabbath day although he be not charged to keepe the Sabbath and although he be spoken to before the Sabbath Maimony treat of the Sabbath chap. 6. Sect. 1. Howbeit this opinion of theirs seemeth not agreeable to Gods will for the Sabbath was to be kept before the Law was given at mount Sinai Exod. 16. 23. even from the Creation Gen. 2. 2. 3. therefore it was given to all the world was refreshed the Greeke and Chaldee doe translate hee ceased and rested This is spoken of God after the manner of men who are refreshed by rest from their workes Of such manner speeches see what is noted on Genesis 6. 6. Vers. 18. of stone that so the record of them might remaine for ever Iob 19. 24. These Tables were the worke of God even as the writing was the writing of God Exod. 32. 16. and these being broken in peeces Exod. 32. 19 two other tables of stone like them were hewed out by Moses but written againe by the Lord Exod. 34. 1. 4. After this Christ by the Spirit of God writeth his Law not in Tables of stone but in fleshly Tables of the hearâ— 2 Cor. 3. 3. and these fleshly tables are also the work of God as he saith I will take the stonie heart out of their bodies and I will give them an heart of flesh Ezek. 11. 19. The Minde and the Heart are the spirituall tables Heb. 8. 10. in the one such things are written as men should know and beleeve in the other such as should be done or omitted The first Tables which God made signified the stonic hearts which all men have by nature now corrupted in which notwithstanding God hath left his Law written so that they doe by nature the things of the Law and shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts Rom. 2. 14. 15. though still they continue hard and stonie and their sinfull nature is not changed The second tables of stone signified the heart of the Iewes hewed and polished by Moses and his legall ministerie in whose heart God also wrote his Law wherein they rested and made their boast of God and knew his will and had the information of knowledge and of the truth in the Law Rom. 1. 17. 18. 20. Howbeit their heart continued stonie and unchanged so that they which taught others taught not themselves neither could they stedfastly looke on Moses face nor see the end of that which iâ— abolished but their mindes were blinded and even to this day a veile is laid upon their heart Rom. 2. 21. 2 Cor. 3. 7. 13. 14. 15. The third which are tables of flesh is the worke of Christ by his Spirit giving us new hearts and writing his Lawes in them 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ezek. 36. 26. Heb. 8. 10. These things both of the weakenesse of Moses ministerie and of the grace of Christ the ancient Hebrew Doctors acknowledged as in their glosse upon Song 1. 1. Let him kisse me c. there mentioning that request of the people in Exod. 20. 19. Speake thou with us c. they say Moses taught them the Law and whatsoever they learned they forgat againe Then they came unto Moses and said O that God would shew him-selfe againe and kisse us with the kisses of his mouth that his doctrine might be fastened in our hearts Moses said unto them This cannot be done now but it shall be in the dayes of Christ as it is written Ier. 31. 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Midrash Cant. 1. 1. finger which signifieth Gods Spirit as I with the finger of God cast our divels Luk. 11. 20. which is expounded the Spirit of God in Matth. 12. 28. That which was written was according unto all the words which the Lord spake with Israel in the mount out of the midst of fire Exod. 20. Deut. 9. 10. CHAP. XXXII 1 The people in the absence of Moses cause Aaron to make a Calfe 6 They sacrifice thereunto 7 God certifieth Moses of their sinne 10 and his purpose to consume them therefore 11 Moses intreateth for the people 14 The Lord repenteth concerning the evill against them 15 Moses commeth down with the Tables 19 and upon sight of their sinne hee breaketh them 20 He destroyeth the Calfe 22 Aarons excuse for himselfe 25 Moses causeth the Idolaters to be slaine 28 The Levites are the executioners 31 Moses prayeth that either the sinne of Israel be forgiven or himselfe to be blotted out of the Booke of God 34 God spareth the people for the present but after plagueth them AND the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mountaine and the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him Rise-up make gods for us which may goe before us because this Moses the man which brought us up out of the land of Egypt we know not what is become of
in the Law another inward in the heart 2 Cor. 3. 13. 14. c. And as without a veil the people could not heare Moses so except the Law be veiled and hath as it were a new face upon it the naturall man cannot endure the glory of it so terrible it is to the conscience of sinners R. Menachem here observeth how the former Ancients of Israel at the reading of the Booke of the Law covered their faces and said hee that heareth from the mouth of the reader is as hee that heareth from the mouth of Moses Vers. 34. tooke off the veil whereof there was no use in the sight of God who doth not onely know himselfe the use and end of his Law but sheweth the same also to others which was likewise here figured for when men shall be turned to the Lord the veile shall be taken away 2 Cor. 3. 16. Vers. 35. put the veil againe on hereby signifying the continuall glory of his ministery and infirmity of the people till both of them be done a way Which is accomplished by the Gospell the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousnesse which exceeds in glory so that Moses ministery hath no glory in this respect for Christ taketh away the veil so that we may both stedfastly looke to the end of the Law which is abolished and all of us with unveiled face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 1 Cor. 5. 8. 18. CHAP. XXXV 1 Moses commandeth the people from the Lord to keepe the Sabbath 4 to bring willing offrings of gold silver brasse and other stuffe for the Tabernacle and furniture thereof 20 The people goe and bring voluntary gifts 22 Men and women bring their Iewels and ornaments and other stuffe such as they had 25. The wise women spin the stuffe 27 The Rulers bring precious stones and spices 30 Bezaleel and Aholiab are shewed to be the men whom God had filled with his Spirit and Wisedome to doe the worke of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd Moses gathered together all the Congregation of the sonnes of Israel and said unto them These are the words which Iehovah hath commanded to doe them Sixe dayes shall worke be done but on the seventh day there shall be to you holinesse a Sabbath of sabbatisme to Iehovah whosoever doth any worke therein shall be put-to-death Ye shall kindle no fire in any of your habitations upon the Sabbath day And Moses said unto all the Congregation of the sonnes of Israel saying this is the thing which Iehovah hath commanded saying Take yee from amongst you an offring unto Iehovah whosoever is willing in his heart let him bring it the offring of Iehovah Gold and silver brasse And blew and purple and scarlet and fine-linnen and Goats hayre And Rams skins dyed-red and Tachash skins and Shittim wood And oile for the Light and spices for the anointing oile and for the incense of sweet-spices And Beryll stones filling stones for the Ephod and for the Brest plate And every wise harted among you shall come and make all that Iehovah hath commanded The Tabernacle the tent thereof and the covering thereof the taches thereof and the boards thereof the bars thereof the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof The arke and the bars there of the Covering-mercy-seat and the veile of the covering The Table and the barres thereof and all the vessels thereof and the shew-bread And the Candlesticke for the Light and the vessels thereof and the lamps thereof and the oile for the Light And the Altar of incense and the bars thereof and the anointing oyle and the incense of sweet spices and the hanging veile of the doore for the doore of the Tabernacle The Altar of Burnt offring and the grate of brasse which is for it the bars thereof and all the vessels thereof the Laver and the foot thereof The tapestry-hangings of the Court the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof and the hanging-veile of the gate of the Court The pinnes of the Tabernacle and the pins of the Court and their coards The garments of ministery to minister in the holy-place the garments of holinesse for Aaron the Priest and the garments of his sonnes to minister-in-the-priests-office And all the congregation of the Sonnes of Israel departed from the presence of Moses And they came every man whose heart stirred him up and every one whose spirit made him willing they brought the offring of Iehovah for the worke of the Tent of the Congregation and for all the service thereof and for the garments of holinesse And they came the men with the women every-one that was willing hearted they brought bracelets and eare-rings and rings and tablets all jewels of gold and every man that offered offred an offring of gold unto Iehovah And every man with whom was found blew and purple and scarlet and fine-linnen and Goats hayre and Rammes skinnes dyed red and Tachash skinnes brought them Every one that offred an offring of silver and of brasse they brought the offring of Iehovah and every one with whom was found Shittim wood for any work of the service brought it And every woman that was wise hearted did spinne with her hands and they brought the spun-worke the blew and the purple and the scarlet and the fine-linnen And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisedome spunne Goats hayre And the Rulers brought Beryll stones and filling stones for the Ephod and for the Brest-plate And spice and oyle for the Light and for the anointing oyle and for the incense of sweet-spices Every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work which Iehovah had commanded to make by the hand of Moses the sonnes of Israel ◠brought a willing offring unto Iehovah And Moses said unto the sonnes of Israel See Iehovah hath called by name Bezaleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur of the tribe of Iudah And he hath filled him with the Spirit of God in wisedome in understanding and in knowledge and in all workmanship And to devise cunning-worke to worke in gold and in silver and in brasse And in ingraving of stone to fill and in carving of wood to work in all cunning works And hee hath given into his heart for to teach he and Aholiab the sonne of Ahisamach of the Tribe of Dan. He hath filled them with wisedome of heart to make all worke of the ingraver and of the cunning-workman and of the embroiderer in blew and in purple in scarlet and in fine-linnen and of the weaver even of them that doe any worke and that devise cunning workes Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HEre beginneth the 22 Section of the Law See Gen. 6. 9. and 28. 10. Vers. 2. holinesse that is a day of holinesse or an holy day and signe of holinesse from the Lord See Exod. 31. 13.
fire which is upon the altar And the inwards thereof and the legs thereof hee shall wash in water and the priest shall burne all upon the Altar it is a Burnt-offring a Fire offring of a favour of rest unto Iehovah And if his oblation be of the flocke of the sheepe or of the goats for a Burnt-offring he shall offer it a male perfect And he shall kill it at the side of the altar northward before Iehovah and the sonnes of Aaron the priests shall sprinkle the blood therof upon the altar round about And hee shall cut it into the pieces thereof and the head therof and the fat thereof and the Priest shall lay them in order upon the wood which is on the fire which is upon the altar And the inwards and the legs he shall wash in water and the Priest shall offer all and burne it upon the altar it is a Burnt-offring a Fire offring of a savour of rest unto Iehovah And if the Burnt-offring his oblation to Iehovah be of the fowle then hee shall offer his oblation of turtle-doves or of yong pigeons And the Priest shall bring it neere unto the altar and he shall cut-with his naile the head thereof and burne it on the altar and the blood thereof shall bee wrung out upon the side of the altar And hee shall plucke away the crop thereof with the feathers of the same and shall cast it beside the altar eastward into the place of the ashes And he shall cleave it with the wings therof he shal not divide it-asunder and the Priest shall burne it upon the altar upon the wood which is upon the fire it is a Burnt-offring a Fire offring of a savour of rest unto Iehovah Annotations LEviticus this name the booke hath from the Greeke translation because it chiefly treateth of the service and sacrifices which the Levites used in the Tabernacle The Hebrew name is of the first word of the booke Vajikra that is And he called See the like noted upon Genesis Exodus Vers. 1. And he namely the Lord whose glory had filled the Tabernacle Exod. 40. 35. called unto Moses So the Greeke also explaineth it and Thargum Ierusalemy thus And the word of the Lord called unto Moses This booke is by the word And joyned to the former as a continuance of the historie And here beginneth the 24. Section or lecture of the Law wherof see Gen. 6. 9. called The last letter of this word in Hebrew is written extraordinarily small where in the Hebrew Doctors suppose some mystery to bee implyed The manner of calling was by a voice from the mercy-seat upon the Arke Numb 7. 89. Exod. 25. 22. that being a figure of Christ signified how God by him would teach Israel how they should serve him in spirit and truth Ioh. 1. 17. Heb. 1. 1. And God spake not with a lowd thundering voice as he did on mount Sinai but with a soft low voice which the small letter seemeth to intimate The phrase he called and Iehovahs name being mentioned after is like that in Exod. 24. 1. he said come up unto Iehovah Tent or as the Chaldee translateth it Tabernacle where God and his people met at appointed times as he promised Exodus 25. 22. and 30. 36. In Greeke it is the Tent or Tabernacle of testimonie by which name Moses also calleth it in Numb 1. 53. and Stephen in Act. 7. 44. As the Tabernacle principally figured Christ Heb. 9. 11. Ioh. 2. 19 21. so God speaking now from it who before had spoken on mount Sinai signified how in the last dayes hee would speake unto us in the Sonne who by himselfe should purge our sins Heb. 1. 1. 2. 3. Vers. 2. offer an oblation or an offring or bring neere a gift called in Hebrew Korban of comming neere unto God thereby the Greek usually translateth it doron a gift and so doth the Holy Ghost in Mark 7. 11. Mat. 5. 23. and 8. 4. and 23. 18. Hebr. 5 1. And to bring-neere to weet unto God is to offer unto him for one of these is used for another as in 1 Chor. 16. 1. they brought neere Burnt-offrings for which in 2 Sam. 6. 17. is written David offred Burnt offrings These offrings under the Law were figures of Christs offring who gave himselfe for us Heb. 10. and by whom wee also present our bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God Rom. 12. 1. and doe draw nigh unto God Heb. 7. 19. and offer by him the sacrifice of praise unto God continually Heb. 9. 11. 12. 14. and 13. 15. For the legal sacrifices could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience Heb. 9. 9. And so the wise among the Hebrewes doe acknowledge their ignorance concerning the truth of these mysteries untill the spirit from above be powred out upon them yet supposing that they signified the offrings which Michael offreth of the soules of the just as saith R. Menachem on Levit. 1. But unto us the Apostles have opened these parables and shewed their full accomplishment by Michael that is Christ Heb. 7. and 8. and 9. and 10. Rev. 12. 7. the herd or the Beeves or Bulls as the Chaldee expounds them These cattel of the herd and flock were the principall sacrifices both among Iewes and Gentiles as the law here and Balaams historie Numb 23. 1. 14. 29. and heathen writers manifest Homer Iliad 1. flocke the word comprehendeth sheepe and goats as is explained in verse 10. No beasts might bee sacrificed to God but these three sorts beeves sheepe or goats nor any fowles but turtle-doves and pigeons verse 14. These five kindes of living creatures which onely might bee offred to God are of the most tame and meeke profitable and serviceable harmelesse sociable c. and so were fittest to signifie the like things in Christ and his people God appointed not that men should bee killed for sacrifices although the heathens and idolatrous Israelites sometimes killed such Psalme 106. 37. 38. because as it was not possible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats should take away sins Heb. 10. 4 so neither could the blood of men but God that is Christ was to purchase his Church with his owne blood Act. 20. 28. Verse 3. Burnt-offring called in Hebrew G 〈…〉 lah that is an Ascension in Greeke Holocautoma Hebrewes 10. 6. that is an whole-burnt-offring this was the first and principall sacrifice wherewith God was served every day by the Church of Israel Numbers 28. 3. The reason of the name is shewed on Genesis 8. 20. where also it appeareth that this kinde of sacrifice was not now first instituted but observed from the beginning and kept among the Gentiles Numbers 23. 1. 2. 3. 2 Kings 3. 27. and 5. 17. The signification was of Christ that through the eternall spirit offred himselfe unto God Hebrewes 9. 14. and 10. 8. 10. and of Christians that present their bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God
shut it up he shall be uncleane untill the evening And hee that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes And if the Priest comming shall come in and see and behold the plague hath not spred in the house after the house was plaistered then the Priest shall pronounce the house cleane because the plague is healed And he shall take to purifie the house two birds and Cedar wood and scarlet and hysope And he shall kill the one bird in an earthen vessell over living water And hee shall take the Cedar wood and the hysope and the scarlet and the living bird and dip them in the blood of the killed bird and in the living water and he shall sprinkle the house seven times And hee shall parifie the house with the blood of the bird and with the living water and with the living bird and with the Cedar wood and with the hysope and with the scarlet And he shall let-goe the living bird out of the citie upon the face of the field and shall make-atonement for the house and it shall be cleane This is the law for every plague of leprosie and skall And for the leprosie of a garment and of an house And for a swelling and for a scab and for a bright-spot To teach in the day of the uncleane and in the day of the clean this is the law of Leprosie Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the 28. section or lecture of the Law called in Hebrew Metsorangh that is the Leper See Gen. 6. 9. THat he shall be brought The leper dwelt without the host and in the day of his cleansing hee was brought to the utmost part of the host and in ages following to the gates of Ierusalem and the Priest went out thither to meet him and performed certaine rites for him and after that he came into the host or citie and so by degrees into the Sanctuarie as after is explained And this comming to the Priest was requisite for every leper though he were never so well healed wherefore Christ said to him whom hee had cured Goe shew thy selfe to the Priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded Matth. 8. 4. Vers. 3. be healed The Priest healed it not but looked upon it when it was healed and directed and assisted the patient in duties of thankefulnesse to God who is both the striker and the healer Deut. 32. 39. Exod. 15. 26. Neither doth the Law send the Leper to the Physician or prescribe salves or medicines to cure him but leaveth him unto the worke of Gods grace which should after bee fully manifested in Christ who himselfe tooke our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Matth. 8. 16. 17. And the rites and sacrifices following which were a profession of thankes unto God in Christ closely taught them this but the Gospell declareth the way of curing to be by faith as unto the Samaritane that was healed of his leprosie Christ said Thy faith hath made thee whole Luke 17. 19. which faith causeth Lepers though they stand a farre off to lift up their voices and cry unto Iesus for mercy Luk. 17. 12. 13. who sendeth his word and healeth them and delivereth them from their corruptions Psal. 107. 20. Matth. 10. 7. 8. For being moved with compassion hee putteth forth his hand toucheth and speaketh and immediately the leprosie departeth Mark 1. 41. 42. and so healeth he the soules of sinners that come unto him The Heb. say Leprosie is the finger of God therefore it is unlawfull to endevour to heale it c. the only healing of it is by the hand of the Priest that maketh atonement for by mercy atonement is made for iniquity Prov. 16. 6. even as uncleannesse which is not done away but by water R. Menachem on Levit. 13. This being the judgment of the Iewes themselves the Lepers whom Christ healed were a good testimonie against them that he was the son of God Matth. 8. 4. and by that and other like workes hee declared himselfe to be he that should come Matth. 11. 3 4. 5. And he is the Priest who cleanseth us all leprous sinners and bringeth us into the true Sanctuary being washed sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Vers. 4. and he shall take the Greeke saith and they shall take speaking indefinitely of the leper or any of his friends that might procure these things for his cleansing birds whether doves or turtles commonly used in sacrifices which are called birds in Gen. 15. 9. 10. or any other cleane fowles for the scripture determineth them not otherwise then that they must be cleane such as all are save those excepted in Lev. 11. 13. c. and all that are cleane for meat are called birds in Deut. 14. 11. The Hebrew canons say of these they must bee free birds that is such as are not tame or any mans owne but at libertie to flie from place to place and as God saith he shall take them for him so they expound it they must be taken in the name of cleansing of leprosie that is designed for that purpose onely Maimony in treat of Lepr chap. 11. sect 1. These two birds of which one was killed the other let goe alive were to figure out Christ who should be killed for our offences and rise againe for our justification Rom. 4. 25. The like was figured by the two goats on expiation day Levit. 16. Cedar wood or a Cedar sticke which the Hebrewes say was to be a cubit that is a foot and an halfe long and so thicke as the square foot of a bed Maimony ibidem and Thalmud Bab. in Negagnim chap. 14. sect 6. Cedar wood rotteth not the pitch that runneth out of it is said to keepe dead bodies from corrupting but corrupteth living bodies and it us good against the Leprosie and other foule ulcers Plinie hist. lib. 24. cap. 5. and Dioscorides l. 1. 〈◊〉 89. scarlet this the Iewes say was wooll died in scarlet or crimsin colour and so the Apostle in an other like case calleth it scarlet wooll Heb. 9. 19 and there was to be of it a shekel weight which weighed 320. graines of barley Maimony ibidem This scarlet colour resembled Christs blood and the essicacie therof in the soule restoring the naturall lively colour and vigour which the pale white leprosie of sinne had done away hysope or hyssope whereof see the notes on Exod. 12. 22. This was for length not to be lesse then an hand-bredth and they say it might not be Greeke hysope nor Roman hysope nor wilde hysope nor any other sort that was surnamed by the place but the common hysope that grew in gardens Talmud in Negagnim chap. 14. sect 6. These two plants were the greatest and the smallest that grew and so the Cedar is opposed to the bysope 1 King 4. 33. The Cedar that will not rot
halosin by Aquila an ancient interpreter So that the eating of such that is the communion with them is by this law forbidden such flesh was to be cast unto the dogge Exodus 22. 31. home borne the naturall Israelite or a stranger of the Proselytes as the Greeke translateth that is heathens converted to the faith the Church of Israel For if they were not joyned Proselytes the strangers in Israel might eat these things as Moses sheweth in Deuteronomie 14. 21. saying of the dead thing or carkasse thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates which the Chaldee there expoundeth the uncircumcised inhabitant that hee may eat it For the scripture mentioneth three sorts of strangers open Idolaters which might not dwell in the land of Israel others that practised not Idolatrie but yeelded to some chiefe grounds of true religion and such might dwell in the gates or cities of Israel and the third sort converts or proselytes which were bound to all the Law as the Iewes themselves and such are spoken of throughout this chapter Of all these three sorts see the annotations on Exodus 12. 43. 45. 48. his flesh or as the Greeke translateth his body which supply is here added from the next verse where Moses expresseth it the evening the end of the day and beginning of a new This washing and bathing figured a renewing by repentance and faith in Christ to remission of sinnes with sanctification by the spirit 1 Cor. 6. 11. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 10. 22. See the notes on Levit. 15. Vers. 16. his flesh his body with water saith the Grecke version so Paul speaketh of our bodies washed with pure water Heb. 10. 22. It figured their cleansing by repentance as Iohn said I baptise you with water unto repentance Matth. 3. 11. his iniquitie that is his guiltinesse and his punishment See the notes on Gen. 19. 15. CHAP. XVIII 1 God forbiddeth his people to doe after the manner of the beathens 6 Unlawfull mariages and copulations with neere kindred 19 Other unlawfull lusts 21 Idolatrie 23 and beastlinesse 24 wherewith the Canaanites were defiled and for which the land should spew them out 26 By whose example Israel is warned to keepe Gods statutes and judgments lest the like evils came upon them also ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto the sonnes of Israel and say unto them I am Iehovah your God After the doing of the land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt shall ye not doe and after the doing of the land of Canaan whither I bring you shall yee not doe and in their statutes ye shall not walke My judgements shall ye doe and my statutes shall yee keepe to walke in them I am Iehovah your God And ye shall keepe my statutes and my judgments which a man shall doe and shall live by them I am Iehovah None of you shall approach unto any neere-kinne of his flesh to uncover their nakednesse I am Iehovah The nakednesse of thy father and the nakednesse of thy mother shalt thou not uncover she is thy mother thou shalt not uncover her nakednesse The nakednesse of thy fathers wife shalt thou not uncover it is thy fathers nakednes The nakednesse of thy sister the daughter of thy father or the daughter of thy mother whether she be borne at home or borne abroad thou shalt not uncover their nakednesse The nakednesse of thy sonnes daughter or of thy daughters daughter thou shalt not uncover their nakednes for they are thy nakednesse The nakednes of thy fathers wives daughter begotten of thy father she is thy sister thou shalt not uncover her nakednes The nakednesse of thy fathers sister thou shalt not uncover she is thy fathers neere-kinne The nakednesse of thy mothers sister thou shalt not uncover for shee is thy mothers neere-kinne The nakednes of thy fathers brother thou shalt not uncover unto his wife thou shalt not approch she is thine aunt The nakednes of thy daughter-in-law thou shalt not uncover shee is thy sonnes wife thou shalt not uncover her nakednes The nakednes of thy brothers wife thou shalt not uncover it is thy brothers nakednes The nakednes of a woman and of her daughter thou shalt not uncover her sonnes daughter or her daughters daughter thou shalt not take to uncover her nakednes they are neere-kinne it is wickednes And a woman unto her sister thou shalt not take to vexe her to uncover her nakednes upon her in her life And unto a woman in the separation of her uncleannes thou shalt not approach to uncover her nakednes And unto thy neighbours wife thou shalt not give thy copulation for seed to defile thy selfe with her And of thy seed shalt thou not give to cause-to-passe-through the fire unto Molech and thou shalt not profane the name of thy God I am Iehovah With a male thou shalt not lye like copulation with a woman it is abomination Neither shalt thou give thy copulation with any beast to defile thy selfe therewith neither shall a woman stand before a beast to lye downe thereto it is confusion Be not ye defiled in any of these things for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast-out from your faces And the lands defiled and I doe visit the iniquitie thereof upon it and the land spueth out the inhabitants thereof You shall therefore keepe my statures and my judgments and shall not doe any of these abominations neither the homeborne nor the stranger that so journeth among you For all these abominations have the men of the land done which were before you and the land is defiled That the land spue not out you also when ye defile it as it spued out the nation which was before you For whosoever shall doe any of th 〈…〉 abominations even the soules that d 〈…〉 them shall be cut-off from among their people Therefore yee shall keepe my charge not to doe any of the statutes of abomi 〈…〉 tions which were done before you and ye shall not be defiled in them I am Iehovah your God Annotations DOing that is doings or actions as the Greek and Chaldee translate the singular number implieth all and everie one of their unlawfull practices land which the Chaldee explaineth the people of the land Of Egypt the scripture testifieth that it was an Idolatrous land and there Israel had beene defiled Ezek. 20. 7. 8. and 23. 8. Likewise of Canaan Levit. 20. 23. therefore these two are expresly named and all other implyed statutes or decrees ordinances described by their lawes either for religion or otherwise if they were superstitious The Hebrew doctors explaine it thus We may not walke in the statutes of the heathens nor bee like unto them either in apparell or in haire Lev. 19. 27. or any the like Lev. 18. 3. But Israel must be separated from them known by their apparell and their other workes as they are separated from them in their knowledge and opinions and so he saith Lev. 20. 26 I have separated
profaneth the Name of God and if it be before ten of Israel hee profaneth it publikely and he disanulleth the affirmative precept for sanctifiyng Gods name and transgresseth against the prohibition of profaning his name Maimony tom 1. in Iesudei hatorah ch 5. sect 4. Vers. 22. with a male or with man-kinde this was the sin of Sodom Gen. 19. 5. and of other heathens Rom. 1. 27. called the going after other flesh Iuce vers 7. They that thus sinned were by Moses Law to be stoned to death Lev. 20. 13. by the law of Christ they shall bee shut out of the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. like copulation with a woman Hebrew with the lyings or copulations of a woman Vers. 23. to lye downe thereto or that it may lye with her which sense the Greeke version also affordeth So in Lev. 20. 16. where such beastlinesse is punished with death And whether it be tame-beast or wild-beast or fowle all are to be stoned to death Maimony in Issureibiah ch 1. sect 16. confusion in Greeke a detestable thing Vers. 24. in any of these or in all these which Targum Ionathan expoundeth in any-one of all these every of which the Hebrewes call Nakednes after the scripture phrase and they say There are also other women which are forbidden by tradition and the doctrine of the Scribes these they call Secondaries as being second or next to the foresaid nakednesses and of them there be 20. women and they are these 1 The mothers mother and this is infinite as the mothers mothers mothers mother and so all upward are unlawfull 2 The mother of his mothers father onely and no further are forbidden 3 His fathers mother infinite as the fathers mothers mothers mother and all upward are unlawfull 4 The mother of his fathers father and no further 5 The wife of his fathers father infinite Though she were the wife of our father Iakob or Noe shee is unlawfull for every of us 6 The wife of his mothers father and no further 7 The wife of his fathers brother by the mother 8 The wife of his mothers brother whether by the mother or by the father 9 His sons daughter in law that is his sons sons wife infinite though it should be his sons sons sons sons wife even to the worlds end So that Noe if he were now living might never marry with any widow that had been wife to any of his sons 10 His daughters daughter in law or sonnes wife and no further 11 The daughter of his sons daughter no further 12 The daughter of his son son and no further 13 The daughter of his daughters daughter onely 14 The daughter of his daughters son onely 15 The daughter of his wives sons son onely 16 The daughter of his wives daughters daughter onely 17 The mother of his wives fathers mother onely 18 The mother of his wives mothers father only 19 The mother of his wives mothers mother onely 20 The mother of his wives fathers father onely So there are found of these which are secondarily unlawfull foure which are infinite The mothers mother and all upward The fathers mother and all upward The grandfathers wife and all upward The sons son wife and all downward Maimony in Ishoth or 〈…〉 of Wives ch 〈◊〉 sect 6. Vers. 25. doe visit or have visited that is punished or as the Greeke translateth recompensed the time past being used for the more certainty 〈…〉 the thing were already done spueth or v 〈…〉 teth out with â—othsomnesse and indignation 〈◊〉 the Greek explaineth it So after in Lev. 20. 〈◊〉 Vers. 26. any of these or any of all these abo 〈…〉 tions So in vers 29. stranger or sojourner 〈◊〉 Greeke proselyte Vers. 28. the nation in Greeke the nations 〈◊〉 Chaldee the peoples Vers. 29. the soules that is the persons 〈…〉 rooted out or destroyed as the Greeke and Chald 〈…〉 explaine it Of this judgement see Levit. 20. 〈◊〉 Gen. 17. 14. Vers. 30. my charge Hebrew my keeping or 〈…〉 die that is which I command to be kept In Greek my ordinances in Chaldee the custodie of my 〈◊〉 statutes of abominations that is most abo 〈…〉 statutes meaning their sinfull practices which 〈…〉 orow custome grew to be as a Law amongst them CHAP. XIX Sundry lawes teaching 2 holinesse 3 obed 〈…〉 4 and true religion To leave some of the fruits of the Land for the poore 11 Against lying swearing defraud 〈…〉 sing and unrighteousnesse 16 Against talebearing hate revenge 19 unlawfull mixtures and fornication 23 The law for uncircumcised fruits 26 Against observing heathenish manners 29 whoredome 31 familiar spirits 32 To honour the ancients 34 to love strangers 36 to have just ballances 37 and to observe all Gods statutes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto all the Congregation of the sonnes of Israel and say unto them Ye shall be holy for I Iehovah your God am holy Ye shall feare every-man his mother and his father and keepe my Sabbaths I am Iehovah your God Turne yee not unto Idols and make not to your-selves molten gods I am Iehovah your God And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of Peace offring unto Iehovah yee shall sacrifice it for your favourable acceptation In the day that ye sacrifice it it shall bee eaten and on the morrow and that which remaineth untill the third day shall bee burnt in the fire And if it be eaten at all in the third day it is a polluted-thing it shall not bee favourably-accepted And they that eate it every one shall beare his iniquity because he hath profaned the holy thing of Iehovah and that soule shall be cut-off-from his peoples And when ye reape the harvest of your land thou shalt not wholly-rid the corner of thy field in reaping neither shalt thou glean the gleaning of thy harvest And thou shalt not gather-the-single-grapes of thy vineyard nor gleane the grapes that are broken off of thy vineyard thou shalt leave them for the poore and for the stranger I am Iehovah your God Ye shall not steale neither falsly-deny nor deale-falsly any-man with his neighbour And ye shall not sweare by my name to falshood and thou shalt not profane the name of thy God I am Iehovah Thou shalt not fraudulently-oppresse thy neighbour neither rob him the work of him that is hired shall not abide-all-night with thee untill the morning Thou shalt not curse the deafe and before the blinde thou shalt not put a stumbling-blocke but thou shalt feare thy God I am Iehovah Ye shall not do unrighteousnesse in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honor the person of the great man in justice shalt thou judge thy neighbour Thou shalt not walke a talebearer among thy people thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour I am Iehovah Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart rebuking thou shalt rebuke thy neighbour and not beare sin for him
with dust on his feete or with bags of money about him And I need not speake how it is unlawfull to spit in any part of the mountaine of the House but he must wrap up his excrements in his handkerchiefe And he may not make the mount of the house a thorow-fare to goe in at one doore and out at another to shorten his way but must goe round about and not come in there save for the thing that is commanded And all that went in to the mount of the House went in by the way of the right hand and turned and went out by the way of the left except hee unto whom some thing had befallen for which he turned towards the left hand Therefore they asked him what is befallen thee the thou turnest towards the left hand If he said because I am a mourner they answered Hee that dwelleth in this House comfort thee If he said Because I have the Niddui that is the lesser excommunication upon me they answered Hee that dwelleth in this House give into thine heart that thou maist hearken unto the words of thy neighbours Whosoever had accomplished his service and went his way did not goe out with his backe to the Temple but went backward by little and little and went softly sidelong till he was out of the courtyard and so did the men that kept the watch and their courses and the Levites c. all this was for reverence of the Sanctuarie And whosoever assembled into the Courtyard went softly unto the place whither it was lawfull for him to come and he was to consider that he stood before the Lord as he hath said Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there all dayes 2 Chron. 7. 16. And he was to goe with dread and with feare and trembling And it was unlawfull for any man to sit in all the Courtyard neither was there any seat in the Courtyard s 〈…〉 for the Kings of Davids house onely as it is writtâ—â— And King David went in and sate before the 〈◊〉 1 Sam. 7. 18. And it is unlawfull for a man to make an house after the fashion of the Temple or a 〈◊〉 like the porch thereof or a courtyard like the câ—â—â—t thereof or a Table like the Table there or a C 〈…〉 cke like the C 〈…〉 lesticke thereof c. With these rites which were in Israel wee may compare the 〈◊〉 of our Saviour who for reverence of the Sanctuarie drove out the merchants from thence and the sheepe and the oxen and poured out the changers money and overthrew the Tables and said Make not my fathers house an house of merchandize Ioh. 2. 14. 15. 16. And he would not suffer that 〈◊〉 man should cary any vessell through the Temple Mark 11. 16. And for turning their backs towards the Sanctuarie see Ezek. 46. 9. and 8. 16. But as the Sanctuarie of God was chiefly a figure of the body of our Lord Iesus Iohn 2. 19. 21. Hebrewes 9. 11. so this precept hath chiefest respect unto him whom all ought to reverence and to honour the Son even as they honour the Father Ioh. 5. 23. Who when hee bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. Vers. 31. Turne not unto them the Chaldee saith after them and so the Greeke ye shall not follow So in Levit. 20. 6. Hereby is forbidden consulting with or 〈…〉 ing of them as Deut. 18. 11. that have 〈◊〉 spirits called in Hebrew Oboth of Ob which is a bottle Iob 32. 19. in Greeke Eggastri 〈◊〉 as speaking with an hollow voice out of the belly or as out of a bottle in Chaldee Biddin Pitâ—â—â—s These were spirits of divination as Act. 16. 16. Or which see the annotations on Deut. 18. 11. And Oâ—â—th is here for Baale oboth such as have familiar spirits as is expressed in 1 Sam. 28. 7. So Spirits are used for spirituall gifts and men that have them in 1 Cor. 14. 12. 32. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. wizarde or cunning persons so named of their knowledge which they pretended to have These are joyned to the familiar spirits aforesaid as like unto them in sinne and both of them were to be killed by the Magistrate Levit. 20. 27. See the notes on Deut. 18. 11. This precept is added next the former of reverencing Gods Sanctuarie which figured Christ even as in Deut. 18. when God calleth them â—â—om all such familiar spirits wizards c. he promiseth the Prophet Christ unto his people So here Chazkuni observeth ye shall reverence my Sâ—â—ctâ—â—rie therefore turne not to them that have familiar spirits and to wizards for what have you to doe with such behold you have a Sanctuarie wherein is V 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Thu 〈…〉 im Vers. 32. rise up in signe of honour 1 King 2. 19. the â—oary-head that is the man which hath an 〈◊〉 head or gray-hayres which as it is the ho 〈◊〉 of old-men Prov. 20. 29. so God would have such to be honoured The Greeke translateth it the 〈◊〉 headed the Chaldee him that is skilfull in the Lâ—â— And so it is holden by the Hebrewes that learned men are by this law to be reverenced as the aged and that when such came within foure 〈◊〉 the yongers were to rise up and so soone as they were past to sit downe againe of the old-man or of the elder which was a common name for aged persons and for Magistrates usually called Elders Deut. 22. 18. and 25. 7. both are to be honoured the one for their age the other for their office But for their sins the Lord threatned the contrary Deut. 28. 50. which Ieremy saw fulfilled and lamented that the faces of Elders were not honoured Lam. 5. 12. By the Hebrewes account a man at sixtie yeeres was Old and at seventie Hoarie or gray-headed The old man here is in Targum Ionathan expounded the wise man Vers. 33. a stranger in Greeke a proselyte this Law is here repeated from Exod. 22. 21. see the annotations there vexe him in Greeke afflict him and Targum Ionathan addeth with hard words So it is explained by Sol. Iarchi vexations of words as thou shalt not say unto him yesterday thou wast an idolater and now thou comest to learn the Law which was given from the mouth of the Power of God Vers. 34. as one homeborne that is as a naturall Israelite for affection towards him and not communion in the holy things of God see the notes on Exod. 12. 48. 49. as thy selfe the same which was commanded before touching the Israelites verse 18. The Hebrewes write hereof thus The love of the stranger which commeth and gathereth him-selfe under the wings of the Divine-Majestie is a twofold commandement first because he is among our generall neighbours and againe because he is a stranger and the law saith YE SHALL LOVE THE STRANGER Deut. 10. 19. He hath commanded the love of the stranger even as hee hath commanded the love of
men as they that are never content are said not to know satietie Esa. 56. 11. and when God withholdeth increase they eat but not to satietie Hag. 1. 6. Thus God fed them with Manna to the full Exod. 16. 8. and promiseth so to feed the poore meeke under Christ Psal. 13â— 15. and 22. 27. The just eateth to the satietie of his soule Pro. 13. 25. in confident safety or in hopefull securitie safely The Hebrew Betach signifieth trust hope or confidence Act. 2. 26. from Psalme 16 which ought to be in God Psal. 40. 5. whereupon followeth safety through his defense as the Greeke here translateth ye shall dwell in safety and so men are secure and bold without feare of disturbance Gen. 34. 25. as in Psal. 78. 53. Hee led them with confident safety and they dreaded not This as it is a blessing which God onely giveth Psal. 4. 9. so it is promised to the obedient Prov. 21. 33. and is performed to such as are in the sheepefold of Christ Ezek. 34. 25. 27. 28. Vers. 6. peace This though generally it signifieth all prosperitie yet sometime it is specially opposed to the sword Matth. 10. 34. and unto warre Psal. 120. 7. which seemeth to be that which is intended here as the former was against famine none shall make you afraid This God promiseth to fulfill under Christ Ieremie 30. 10. Ezekiel 34. 28. Mich. 4. 4. cause the evill beast to cease that is as the Greeke translateth I will destroy evill beasts one being put for a multitude or many and ceasing being used for utter abolishing as in Exod. 12. 15. Psal. 119. verse 119. or at least for repressing their rage and furie for in Israel Lions Beares and the like sometime destroyed the inhabitants 2 King 17. 25. 26. and 2. 24. This promise is applied also to the Church under the Gospell Ezek. 34. 25. So in Iob 5. 23. the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee The contrary followeth in verse 22. By the evill beasts R. Menachem here understandeth mystically vicious lusts the powers of uncleannesse which flew from the uncleane Spirit that they shal not prevaile to pollute the land which is on high So they seeme to call our nature regenerate as the Apostle calleth the Church Ierusalem which is on high Gal. 4. 26. the sword used ordinarily for warre when it is spoken of men but the Lords sword is explained to be the pestilence 1 Chro. 21. 12. which may specially be intended here and so God promiseth blessings opposed to his foure sore judgements which are the sword or warre the famine the evill beast and the pestilence mentioned in Ezek. 14. 21. and Revel 6. 8. Or if we understand this sword for warres then under peace aforesaid may the promise be implyed against the sword of the Lord the pestilence These blessings though they concerne this life yet the end of them is to lead to life eternall so the Hebrewes of old understood them as their later doctors though wandring out of the way of life doe witnesse saying The holy blesed God hath given us a Law which is the Tree of life and whosoever doth all that is written therein and knoweth him with a perfect knowledge shall thereby be made worthy of the life of the World to come c. And he hath promised us in the Law that if wee doe it with joy and goodnesse of soule and exercise our selves in the â—â—â—dome thereof continually he will remove from us al things that may let us from doing it as sicknesse and warre and famine and the like And he will supply us with all good things that may strengthen our 〈◊〉 to doe the Law as satietie and peace and store of silver and gold that we be not imployed all our dayes in the things which the body hath need of but may be made fit to 〈◊〉 wisedome and to doe the Commandements that we may be worthy of the life of the world to come Maimony in treat of Repentance chap. 9. sect 1. Thus they followed after the Law of righteousnesse but attained not to it because they sought it not by 〈◊〉 in Christ but as it were by the workes of the Law 〈◊〉 they have stumbled at the stumbling stone Roman 9. 31. 31. Vers. 8. five of you shall pursue a hundred This promise is inlarged in Ios. 23. 10. One man of you 〈◊〉 pursue a thousand and was notably performed it Davids Worthies 1 Chron. 11. of whom some one lift up his speare against eight hundred and slew three hundred at one time 2 Sam. 23. 8. 18. 1 Chro. 11. 11. Three men brake through the host of the Philistines 1 Chron. 11. 18. Of the Gadites there were men that had faces like the faces of Lyons and were as swift as the Roes of the mountaines 1 Chron. 12. 8. And David himselfe celebrateth this mercy I pursued mine enemies and overtooke them and turned not till I had consumed them Psal. 18. 38. 2 Sam. 22. 38. See also Deut. 32. 30. Vers. 9. I will have respect or turne my face in Greeke I will looke upon you and blesse you and the Chaldee expoundeth it I will have respect by my word to doe good unto you For this grace David prayed Psal. 25. 16. and 69. 17. and when God delivered Israel from their enemies it is said hee had respect unto them because of his covenant c. 2 King 13. 23. The contrary hereto is the hiding of Gods face Deut. 32. 20. fruitfull or to increase as he had done before in Egypt Exod. 1. 7. This blessing is acknowledged in Nehem. 9. 23. Their children thou multiplyest as the starres of heaven and promised to be again under Christ I will bring my sheepâ— againe to their folds and they shall be fruitfull and increase Ier. 23. 3. establish my covenant that is faithfully keepe and continue to doe the things which I have promised see the notes on Gen. 6. 18. Vers. 10. very-old in Greeke old of old things this respecteth the increase of their land as the 〈◊〉 did of their bodies See Levit. 25. 22. because of or as the Gr. translateth from the face of the new they should bring forth the old for want of roomth to lay up the new This fruitfulnesse of the land figured the many graces wherewith God would inrich the hearts of his people as in vers 4. For how ever God perswadeth his people by promise of outward blessings to keepe his Law yet the end of the commandement is love out of a pure hart end of a good conscience and of faith unfaigned 1 Tim. 1. 5. and such as for worldly benefits receive the word of the Lord when tribulation or persecution arisith because of the word by and by they â—are offended Matth. 13. 21. The Hebrewes say All love that dependeth on a thing when the thing ceaseth the love ceaseth He that serveth the blessed God to the end that his riches may be multiplied or his
your land V. 34. injoy accept as v. 41. or pay accomplish her Sabbathes meaning her seventh yeeres which the Chaldee calleth releases or remissions whereof see Lev. 25. 2. Deut. 15. 1. So the word is used for paying or accomplishing as in Ioh 14. 6. till hee accomplish as an hireling his day though there also it may meane a contented-acceptation and injoying of that which was desired V. 35. it shall rest or it shall keep-sabbath both from the people the unworthy inhabitants and from their tillage thereof as the law required Lev. 25. 4. Which being a precept figuring the sanctimonie of the church was not kept whiles they defiled the land by their iniquities as Lev. 18. 27. Wherefore whiles the land lay desolate it should as it were be well pleased and contentedly injoy the rest which God would give it from their sinning upon ii This was fulfilled when they were 70. yeeres captives in Babylon as appeareth by 2 Chron. 36. 21. where it is said Vntill the land had injoyed her Sabbathes as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath to fulfill seventie yeeres rested not in your sabbathes This sheweth that it was not the outward rest and intermission of the land which God chiefly intended by that law Lev. 25. for those Rests the land injoyed but the resting from sinne by the people that dwelt thereon even as the Sabbath day was also a signe of their sanctification See the notes on Levit. 25. 4. Vers. 36. a softnesse or tendernesse that is a faintnes or fearefulnesse and as the Chaldee translateth it a breaking or discouragement So softnesse is used for faintnesse or want of courage in Deut. 20. 3. Esa. 7. 4. 2 Chron. 13. 7. a driven-leafe or a tossed leafe which the Greeke translateth caried meaning with the winde and as in Thargum Ionathan it is explained a leafe that is plucked from the tree This judgement in Iob 15. 21. 22. is opened thus A sound of feares is in his eares in peace the destroyer will come upon him he beleeveth not to returne out of darkenesse and he is waited for of the sword c. as fleeing from a sword Hebr. the flight of a sword which the Greeke explaineth as they that flee from batteil and the Chaldee as a flight from before them that kill with the sword So Solomon saith The wicked fleeth where no man pursueth Prov. 28. 1. Vers. 37. shall fall or stumble-downe through weakenesse or through hast as they flee they shall fall one on another before a sword Chaldee before them that kill with sword power-to-stand Heb. standing or uprightnesse contrary to the blessing in verse 13. The Greeke translateth ye shall not be able to withstand your enemies Vers. 38. shall perish c. or shall be lost The fulfilling hereof is shewed in Ier. 50. 6. My people hath beene perishing or lost sheepe their sheepheards have caused them to goe astray c. Vnto this curse of the Law the promise of grace under the Gospell is opposed in Esa. 27. 13. They shall come which are perishing in the land of Assyria and the Outcasts in the land of Egypt and shall worship Iehovah in the 〈◊〉 at Ierusalem eat you up in Chalden conâ—ume you that it ye shall dye in the land of your captivine Vers. 39. pine away in Chaldee melt away to pine in iniquite is to consume and perish in the punishment for iniquitie whereupon this people complained If our transgressions and our sinnes be upon us and we pine away in them how should wee then live Ezek. 33. 10. See also Ezek 24. 23. It may likewise imply the beginning of grace in them that are left the remnant-according to the election of grace Romans 11. 5. who by their chastisements are brought to a sight and sorrow for their sins as in Ezek. 36. 31. ye shall lothe your selves in your own sight for your iniquities of their fathers the Chaldee expoundeth it in the sins of their evill fathers which they retain in their hands they shal melt-away with theÌ„ Vers. 40. And they shall that is And if they shall confesse as the word If is understood in Exod. 4. 23. Mat. 1. 2. and 3. 8. Such a confession Daniel made in Dan. 9. 3. 4. 5. c. and Nehemiah Neh. 1. 4. 5. 6. 7. c. and 9. 1. 2. 29. 30. c. when with fasting and prayer they confessed their owne and their forefathers sinnes And from hence the Hebrewes doe gather that they should humble themselves and fast certain daies in the yeere for the calamities that have befallen their forefathers such dayes as he spoken of in Zach. 7. 3. 5. and 8. 19. and other the like wherein they stir up their hearts unto repentan by memoriall of their owne evill deeds and the deedes of their fathers which caused those diffesses to come upon them Moreover they say W 〈…〉 o seeth the cities of Iudah in their desolation saith Thy holy cities are à wildernesse as in Esa. 64. 10 and re 〈…〉 his clothes If he see Ierusalem in her desolation be faith Ierusalem is a wildernesse c. If hee see the Sanctuarie desolate he saith Our holy and our beautifull house c. as in Esa. 64. 11. and rendeth his clothes Hee rendeth them with his hand all the clothes that are upon him untill he be naked down to the heart And he never soweth up those rent plico 〈…〉 But all their fasts they say shall cease in the â—â—yes of Christ and not so onely but they shall be 〈◊〉 a good day or festivitie and to dayes of joy and 〈…〉 as it is written in Zach. 8. 19. Thus saith the Lord hosts the fast of the fourth moneth and the fast of the fift and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Iudah joy and gladnesse and chear full solemne-feasts therefore love the truth and â—â—nce Maim tom 1. in Taanioth chap. 5. sect 1. 16. 19. Thus are the unbeleevers left to mourne and pine away in their iniquities and they fast not 〈◊〉 to the Lord but as he cried and they would 〈…〉 eate so they cry and he will not heare because they have refused Christ who is our Peace and whose glory dwelt amongst us full of grace and truth Zach. 7. 5. 13. Eph. 2. 14. Ioh. 1. 11. 14. against me in Chaldee against my word contrary Hebr. in conntrarietie Chaldee in hardnesse stubbornely as vers 21. 27. Vers. 41. uncircumcised heart which the Chaldee expoundeth grosse or foolish heart and Targum Ionathan their proud heart It meaneth also an unbleeving and disobedient heart which resisted the Spirit of God according to that saying Yee stiffe necked and uncircumcised in heart and earesâ— yee doeâ— alwaies resist the holy Ghost Act. 7. 51. This hee speaketh because the true circumcision is in the liners and in the spirit Romans 2. 29. whereupon the Prophet complaineth all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart Ierom.
she is defiled for upon testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—he were taken with the manner she was not to drinke but to dye by the Magistrate Levit. 20. 10. Ioâ— 8. 4 5. And whereas hee speaketh here singularly of a witnesse the Hebrews observe that 〈◊〉 there be but one witnesse against her who saith she 〈◊〉 〈…〉 d she is not to drinke Sol. Iarchi on Num. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unlawfull they say for her husband to com 〈…〉 with her for ever and doth not drinke but is put away without a dowry If two witnesses come together and one say she is defiled another say shee is not dâ—filed or if one say she is defiled and afterward two other come and say she is not defiled then shee drinketh Maim in Sotah c. 1. sect 14. 17. Vers. 14. the spirit of jealousie 〈…〉 sse upon him or passe over him the Greeke saith come upon him that he be affected with a jâ—alous mind as the wind is said to passe over the grasse when it is smitten or blasted with the wind Psal. 103. 15 16. which in Esai 40. 7. is said to blow â—pen it And the spirit of jealousie meaneth a jealous motion or affection of the minde wherewith it is caried as the Scriptures elsewhere speake of the spirit of wisdome the spirit of counsell the spirit of knowledge Esai 11. 2. Eph s. 1. 17. the spirit of fornications Hâ—s 4. 12 the spirit of feare 2. Tim. 1. 7. the spirit of mecknesse Gal. 6. 1. the spirit of 〈…〉 ber Rom. 11. 8. And in 1 Cor. 14. 12. spirits are put for the gifts and motions of the spirit 〈◊〉 or after the Greeke Zealousie a zealous affection which is sometime used in the good part sometime in the evill as Zeale also is sometimes good Ioh. 2. 17. 2. Cor. 7. 11. sometime evill Gal. 5 20. called bitter zeale Iam. 3. 14. So the Hebrewes have one word Kinah for zeale jealousie 〈◊〉 and â—mulation as Phineas was zealous for the Lord Num. 25. 11. Elias was jealous for him 1. King 19. 10. Iosuah â—â—vied for Moses sake Num. 11. 29. And jealousie is an affection hard or cruell as the gravâ— the coâ—les thereof are coâ—les of fire Song 8. 6. it is the rage of a man therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance Prov. 6. 34. This affection is said after the manner of men to be in God himself â—xod 20. 5. Paul was jealous for the Corinthians fearing leâ—t they should be corrupted 2. Cor. 11 2 3. upon him the husband who onely had the power to bring his wife to this triall Wherefore the Hebrewes write that if a man bee out of the countrey or in prison or the like and his wife have an evill report for lightnesse c. the Magistrates are to call her and say unto her bee not in secret with such a man If witnesses afterward come that shee was with him in secret so long as that shee might be defiled the Magistrates are to forbid her her husbands company ever after and rend her bâ—l of dowry And when her husband comes home or out of the prison he gives her a bill of divorce but hee cannot cause her to drinks because himselfe was not jealous of her Maimony in Sotah chap. 1. sect 11. Vers. 15. his wife unto the Priest who was in his office a figure of Christ by whoÌ„ God will judge the secrets of men Rom. 2. 16. the order of this action is said to be this The husband commeth to the Magistrates of his citie where hee dwelleth and saith unto them This my wife I am jealous of her for such a man and she hath been in secret with him and these are witnesses and loe she saith that shee is cleare and is willing to drinke for triall of the thing Then the Magistrates shall heare the words of the witnesses and they appoint two to be with the man to keepe him that he companie not with her before shee have dr 〈…〉 ke for she is unlawfull for him untill shee have drunke And they send him to Ierusalem for they cause not the suspected woman to drinke but in the great councell of seventy Elders in the Sanctuarie When they are come to Ierusalem the great Councell set her among them and they terrifie her and make her sore affraid that she should not drinke c. If she say I am defiled or I will not drinke she is put from her husband without a dowry But if shee stand in her cause that shee is cleare they bring her to the East gate of the Court-yard which is over against the most holy place c. If shee be arrayed in white garments they put upon her blacke or if she hath faire blacke clothes they put upon her clothes that are not faire and take off all ornaments of silver and gold that are on her And they gather a great company of women unto her for all the women there present are bound to see her as it is said in Ezek. 23. 48. That all women may bee taught not to doe after your lewdnesse And every man that will come and see may come and see And shee standeth among them without scarfe or veile onely in her clothes and her coyfe that is on her head as a woman within her house c. and afterward the Priest adjureth her in the language that she knoweth and understandeth Maimony in Sotah chap. 3. sect 1 2. c. of barley it might be of no other graine nor any other quantity than the tenth of an Ephah neither more nor lesse see the annotations on Levit. 2. 1. The Prophet Hoseah in a mystery bought an Adultresse for fifteene peeces of silver and an homer and an halfe of barley Hos. 3. 1 2. The Hebrews here note Meale not floure barley not wheat she hath done the act of a beast and her oblation is the meat of a beast Sol. Iarchi on Num. 5. not put Hebr. nor give frankincense oile figured grace which was wanting in her actions frankincense gave a sweet savour which her workes did not before God therefore both must be wanting as in all meat offrings that were for sinne See the notes on Levit. 5. 11. and 2. 2. The Hebrewes make these two distinct precepts so that he which transgresseth and putteth oile and frankincense is beaten for the oile in particular and for the frankincense in particular Maim in Sotah chap. 3. sect 13. a meat-offring of jealousies Hebr. a Minchah whereof see Levit. 2. 1. in Greeke a sacrifice of jealousie From this word the Hebrews say If a man be jealous of his wife for many men and she hath beene in secret with every one of them he is to bring but one Meat-offring for them all when hee causeth her to drinke for it is said It is A MEAT OFFRING OF IEALOVSIES one Meat-offring for many jealousies Maim in Sotah chap. 4. sect 16. making memoriall or causing iniquity to be remembred And this is the reason why it might
Phaddasour see Numb 1. 10. Verse 72. In the eleventh day so the Greeke translateth it which in the Hebrew and Chaldee phrase is In the day of eleven dayes So in ver 78. In the day of twelve dayes which the Greeke expoundeth In the twelfth day Pagiel in Greeke Phageel the sonne of Eâ—ran Verse 84. dedication of the Altar The Chaldee called sonathans expoundeth it the dedication of the anointing of the â—ltar Here God summeth up the offrings of the Princes the number of vessels and the weight of them and the number of all their sacrifices to shew how acceptable this their service was unto him which he so largely set downe in the particulars and in the generall And as the Altar now dedicated was a type of Christ so the oblations of the Princes of the twelve tribes shewed the faith hope and love of Israel towards God in Christ of whom the Apostle giveth this testimonie Now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers unto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come Acts 26. 6 7. And they are an example unto all Princes of the earth how they should honour the Lord with their persons and substance and willingly offer to the maintenance of his continuall publike service as is promised unto Ierusalem They shall bring gold and incense and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the flockes of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee they shall come up with acceptance upon 〈◊〉 Altar and I will glorifie the house of my glory And the sonnes of strangers shall build up thy wals and their kings shall minister unto thee Esai 60. 6 7 10. And the Nations of them which are saved shall walke in the light of it and the kings of the earth doe bring their glory and honour unto it Rev. 21. 24. See examples of the like liberality in Neh. 7. 70 71 72. Ez 2. 68 69. 1 Chr. 29. 6 7 8. Verse 85. Every Hebr. one 2400. shekels The reason of this exactnesse of their weight severally and joyntly was for the honour of the Lords Sanctuary and vessels of the same all which were holy for which cause also at the returne of the Iewes out of Babylon the vessels of the house of God were delivered by weight and received againe at Ierusalem by weight for they were holy and therefore warily to be kepâ— and they were taken by number and by weight of every one and all the weight was written at that time Ezr. 8. 25 27 28 29 30 33 34. Verse 86. an hundred and twentie so there was iust the twentieth part of the weight of all the silver vessels in these twelve golden cups And Ionathan in his Thargum maketh these 120 shekels answerable to the 120 yeeres of Moses life Verse 87. their meat-offering the Greeke version addeth their meat-offerings and their drinke-offerings which though they were not mentioned before yet were to be understood by the sacrifices that were offered For by the Law every burnt offering was to have with it a meat-offering of flower mingled with oyle and wine for a drinke-offering the appointed measure of them is to be seene in Num. 15. 3 12. Verse 88. sixtie so all the beasts which the 12 Princes offered at this dedication were two hundred fifty and two of which two hundred and foure were Peace offerings whereof themselves with the Priests did eat and so kept a feast with joy before the Lord for his mercy towards his people See Lev. 7. 15. 29 34. Verse 89. to speaker with him that is with God of him speaking or of one speaking which the Greeke translateth of the Lord speaking And Thargum Ionathan expoundeth it of the Spirit speaking Herein Moses excelled all other Prophets in that the Lord spake so familiarly with him See the notes on Num. 12. 8. the covering mercie seat thus the promise was fulfilled I will meet with thee there and I will speake with thee from above the covering mercie seat Exod. 25. 22. And hereupon the most holy Place of the Sanctuary where the Arke and the Mercie-seat was is called Debir the Oracle or speaking place 1 Kings 6. 23. And the Covering mercie seat or Propitiatorie being a figure of Christ Rom. 3. 25. as it is noted on Exod. 25. 17. it was a Testimonie of Gods grace to his Church in Christ his Sonne by whom hee alwayes spake unto our fathers but more clearely unto us in these last dayes Heb. 1. 2. And whereas it is said in Lev. 1. 1. the Lord spake unto Moses out of the Tabernacle this place sheweth how it is to be understood as Sol. Iarchi here saith Two Scriptures contradict one another the third commeth and decideth the case betweene them One Scripture saith The Lord spake unto him out of the Tabernacle which was without the veile and another Scripture saith I will speake unto thee from above the Mercy-seat This commeth and decideth it betweene them Moses went into the Tent and there he heard tho voyce that came from above the Mercy-seat The voyce came out from heaven to between the Cherubims froÌ„ thence it came out into the Tent of the congregaâ—on From hence also some of the Hebrews gather as Chazkuni here noteth that the beginning of the booke of Leviticus was when the dedication here spoken of was finished and he spake unto him the Hebrews observe how this HEE SPAKE VNTO HIM is doubled to shew that the voyce came from heaven to the mercie-seat and from thence spake with him for all the speech with Moses was from heaven in the day time and was heard from betweene the two Cherubims according to that in Deut. 4. 36. Out of heaven he made thee to heare his voyce c. and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire R. Menachem on Num. 7. CHAP. VIII 1 How the Lampes were to be lighted and what was the workemanship of the Candlesticke 5 A commandement to cleanse the Levites with sprinkling shaving and washing of cloathes 8 To offer two bullockes for a Burnt-offering and a Sin-offering to make atonement for them 10 The Israelites were to impose hands on them 11 And Aaron to wave them 14 The Levites are separated to serve in the Tabernacle in stead of all the first-borne of Israel 20 The commandement is performed concerning the Levites and they enter upon their service 23 The age and time when they were to begin and when to leave off their service 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto Aaron and say unto him when thou makest the lampes to ascend up the seven lamps shall give light over against the face of the Candlesticke And Aaron did so he made the lampes thereof to ascend up over against the face of the Candlesticke as Iehovah commanded Moses And this worke of the Candlesticke was
will I speake with him and in vision and not in darke speeches and the similitude of Iehovah shall hee behold and wherefore were yee not afraid to speake against my servant against Moses And the anger of Iehovah was kindled against them and he went away And the cloud departed from off the Tent and behold Marie became leprous as snow and Aaron looked upon Marie and behold she was leprous And Aaron said unto Moses Alas my lord I beseech thee lay not the sinne upon us wherein we have done foolishly and wherein we have sinned I beseech thee let her not be as one dead of whom when hee commeth out of his Mothers wombe halfe his flesh is even consumed And Moses cried out unto Iehovah saying O God I beseech thee heale her now And Iehovah said unto Moses And if her father had spitting spitted in her face should she not be ashamed seven dayes let her be shut seven dayes out from the campe and after let her be gathered in And Marie was shut out from the campe seven dayes and the people journeyed not till Marie was gathered in againe And afterward the people journeyed from Hazeroth and encamped in the Wildernesse of Pharan Annotations MArie in Hebrew Mirjam in Greeke Mariam she was a Prophetesse sister of Moses and Aaron Ex. 15. 20 she it was that began the quarrell as in the originall it appeareth Marie she spake therefore she not Aaron was plagued with leprosie v. 10. As Satan prevailed first with Eve then by her with Adam Gen. 1. 3. so here first with Marie and then by her with Aaron the high Priest And as the former sin of lust for flesh began among the baser sort Num. 11. 4. so this sin of ambition and vain glory began among the chiefest of the Church for these three Moses Aaron and Mary were the chief guides whom God sent before his people Mic. 6. 4. because or upon occasion for the sake Aethiopian Hebr. Cushite which the Greeke translateth Aethiopian This seemeth to be no other than Zipporah the Midianiresse who Moses had married Ex. 2. 16 21. because the Midianites dwelt in Cush his land they were called Cushites or Aethiopians and it may be also because they were tawny coloured like them For otherwise Cush was the son of Cham Gen. 10. 6. whereas Midian was the son of Abraham the son of Sem Gen. 25. 1 2. The Chaldee in stead of Cushith saith Faire which may be spoken by the contrary Iosephus Philo and some others take this wife not to be Sipporah but another Aethiopians taken to wit to wife that is married so in 1 Chron. 2. 19 21. 2 Chron. 11. 20. Nah. 6. 18. and 10 30. By this it seemeth the marrying of that woman who was not of the stocke of Israel and who hindred him from circumcising his son Exod. 4. 24 25 26. was the occasion of their murmuring Howbeit the Hebrew Doctors make his not companying with his wife to be the occasion for that he being a Prophet daily conversant with the Lord and frequenting his Tabernacle abstained from her lest he should have legall pollution which would have kept him from the Sanctuary Levit. 15. 16 31. Compare also Exod 19. 15. Thus the Chaldee expoundeth it for hee had put away or abstained from the faire wife which he had taken And Sol. Iarchi thus for he had taken a Cushite woman and had now put her away Verse 2. by Moses or in Moses as speaking of inward revelation by the Spirit The Targum called Ionathans paraphraseth thus Hath the Lord spoken onely indeed with Moses who is separated from copulation of the bed meaning with his wife also by us or in us as David said The spirit of Iehovah spake in me 2 Sam. 23. 2. Here Sol. Iarchi addeth for explanation hath he not spoken also by us and yet we have not separated our selves from the way of the earth meaning from mutuall societie such as is between man and wife a phrase taken from Gen. 19. 31. But it may be understood as before is noted that they would not have Moses esteemed the onely Prophet who had so stained himselfe by marriage with a strange woman Their drift was by disgracing Moses for his infirmitie to grace and advance themselves against which it is said Let us not be desirous of vaine-glory provoking one another envying one another Gal. 5. 26. heard it that is took notice of this their speech to reprove and punish it So of Reubens sin it is said Israel heard it Gen. 35. 22. Or God is said to heare it as a witnesse of that which it may be they murmured in secret as in Psal. 59 8. swords are in their lips for who say they doth heare and in Psal. 55. 20. God will heare and afflict them See also Psal. 94. 7 8 9. Vers. 3. meeke the originall word hath affinitie with affliction and lowlinesse for by affliction this vertue is furthered Lam. 3. 27 28 29 30. and is seated in the heart and spirit as the Apostle mentioneth a meeke and quiet spirit 1 Pet. 3. 4. As Moses so Christ is set forth for an example of meekenesse Mat. 21. 5. and 11. 29. It is a vertue which keepeth a meane in anger and avenging of our selves when we are offended wronged and contemned above all the men or more than any man This commendation the Spirit of God giveth of Moses though by Moses owne pen as the Apostle also writeth in his own behalfe 2 Cor. 11. 5 6 10 22 c. and 12. 11 12. although Moses is noted to have been very angry sundry times Exod. 11. 8. and 16. 20. and 32. 19. Levit. 10. 16 Num. 16. 15. and 31. 14. and 20. 10 11. compared with Psal. 106. 32 33. Vers. 4. said suddenly so shewing the greatnesse of his displeasure against them which suffered no delay Psal. 64. 7. Prov. 6. 15. Esai 30 13. and preventing any that mought thinke Moses complained to God and sought revenge Thus God who will be a swift witnesse against evill doers Mal. 3. 5. suddenly rose to plead the cause of his meekest servant Compare Psal. 50. 19 20 21. yee tâ—ree both parties are judicially summoned to appeare before the Lord in the Tent of his habitation as he riseth up to judgement to save all the meeke of the earth Psal. 76. 9 So in Num. 16. 16. Verse 5. came downe in Chaldee revealed him-selfe see Gen. 11. 5. of the cloud as the throne oâ— his glory out of which he used to appeare speake unto them Psal. 99. 7. Num. 16. 42. Vnto these apparitions those visions of Iohn hath reference Rev. 10. 1 2 3. and 14 14 c. Vers. 6. a Prophet among you or of you Hebr. your Prophet which the Chaldee expoundeth 〈◊〉 there shall be Prophets to or among you What this word Prophet meaneth see in the notes on Gen. 20. 7. Exod. 7. 1. I Iehovah so the Chaldee also explaineth it or it may be
Creator without dark speech without parable He it is of whom the Law testifieth APPARANTLY AND NOT IN DARKE SPEECHES Num. 12. 8. for hee prophesied not by darke speech but apparantly for he saw the thing concerning his Creator All the Prophets were afraid and troubled and fainted but Moses was not so for the Scripture saith As a man speaketh unto his friend Exod. 33. 11. as if he should say as a man is not troubled to heare the words of his friend so there was strength in the mind of Moses to understand the words of prophesie and he stood on his place safe and well None of the Prophets prophesied at all times when they would but Moses was otherwise for at any time when he would the holy Ghost clothed him and prophesie came upon him and he needed not to prepare his minde and make himselfe readie for it for he was prepared and readie and stood as the Angels of ministerie therefore he prophesied at all times as it is said Stand still and I will heare what the LORD will command concerning you Num. 9. 8. And this God caused him to trust upon as it is said But as for thee Stand thou here with me c Deut. 5. 31. whereby thou maist learne that all the Prophets when prophesie was taken up from them returned to their tents which was for things necessary to the body of them all as the rest of the people therefore they were not separated from their wives but Moses our master returned not to his first tent therefore hee was separated from his wife for ever and his minde was fast bound unto God the Rocke everlasting and his glory was never taken up from upon him but the skinne of his face shined and he was sanctified as the Angels Maimony in Misn. tom 1 in Iesude hattorah chap 7 sect 1. 6. Now as the Apostle compareth Christ with Moses and preferreth him before Moses Heb. 3. so in this gift of prophesie hee did excel him for the Lord God gave him the tongue of the learned that he knew how to speake a word in season Esai 50. 4. and this he learned not by dreams or visions nor by Angels nor by speech communicated mouth to mouth but by cleare seeing of God which no man ever did at any time and being in the bosome of the Father Ioh. 1. 18. and having the Spirit not by measure he testified what hee had seene and heard with his Father Iohn 3. 34. 32. and 8. 38. and in him all fulnesse dwelt even the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Coloss. 1. 19. and 2. 9. will I speake that is I usually speake the time to come is used to signifie a continued action in vision or by sight or appearance that is apparantly the Greeke translateth in an appearance or sight which word is opposed in 2 Cor. 5. 7. to faith which is of things not seene Hebr. 11. 1. and here the Lord opposeth it to darke speeches so it meaneth an apparant or cleare revelation Aben Ezra explaineth it thus I will show him the thing as it is as the forme of the Tabernacle Exod. 25. 40 and not in a darke speech or riddle like that in Ezek. 17. 2. a great Eagle with great wings c. darke speeches or hidden speeches riddles a 〈…〉 speech is called in Hebrew Chidah of sharpnes because it requireth sharpnesse of wit both to propound expound the same as we have example 〈◊〉 Sampsons riddle Iudg. 14. 13 14 c. it is of the nature of a parable as in Eze. 17. 2. 3. Son of man put forth a riddle speak a parable to the house of Israel A great Eagle with great wings long winged fullâ— feathers which had divers colors came unto Lebanan c. And all close and hidden doctrine is called a riddle Psal. 49. 5. And the holy Ghost translateth it in Greeke sometime Ainigma a riddle 1 Cor. 13. 12. as the common Greeke version hee hath sometime hidden things Mat. 13. 35. from Psal. 78. 2. and so the Chaldee of Ionathan expoundeth it here The Apostle sheweth the meaning of this word when he saith Now we see thorow a glasses a riddle that is darkly but then we shall see face to face 1 Corinth 13. 12. the similitude or the likenesse image which the Greeke interpreteth the glory of the Lord Sol. IIrchi saith This was the sight of Gods back-parts mentioned in Exod. 33. 23. And this prerogative Moses hâ—â— above all Israel which saw no similitude of God Deut. 4. 12. 15. and above all Prophets who saw no vision of God so cleare as hee did For even Moses himselfe could not see the face of God Exâ—â— 33 20. No man hath seene God at any time Iohn 1. 18. neither can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. against my servant against Moses a manner of speech both earnest and elegant like that in Gen. 21. 10. with my sonne with Isaack and that in 2 Sam. 7. 23. like thy people like Israel Sol. Iarchi noteth Hee saith not against my servant Moses but against my servent against Moses against my servant though he were not Moses against Moses for though he were not my servant it were meet yee should feare before him 〈◊〉 much more seeing he is my servant According to this the Apostle speaketh in 2 Pet. 2. 10. they are not afraid to speake evill of dignities Vers. 9. he went away withdrew the signe of his glorious presence not vouchsafing to locate their answer which was a token of his great dâ—pleasure Vers. 10. the cloud departed the cloud of the glory of the divine presence of the Lord saith Targum Ionathan leprous as snow that is leprous white as snow and this was the sorest leprosie and most incurable see Exod. 4. 6. 2 King 5. 27. and they that had this disease were put out of the Lords campe as uncleane Levit. 13. and therefore God departed now away for as Chazkuni here saith It is not the way of the earth that holinesse should stay in an unclean place This punishment was very memorable both for the suddennes and sorenesse of it wherefore it is after said Remember what Iehovah thy God did unto Marie by the way 〈…〉 ter that ye were come forth out of Egypt Deut. 24. 9 And if God did thus unto so great a woman for Moses sake what will he doe to such as rebell against Christ who is counted worthy of more glory than Moses Heb. 3. 3. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not 〈◊〉 escape if we turne away from him that speakth from heaven Hebr. 12. 25. For Christ is not the servant but the Sonne even the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15. 47. Verse 11. Alas my lord or Oh my lord Hebr. unto me to wit have respect the Chaldee explaineth it We pray thee my lord see this phrase in Gen. 43. 20. Aaron as unworthy of accesse himselfe unto God now departed maketh request unto Moses
God Exod. 4. 20. and 17. 9. might be kept also in the Sanctuary and after in verse 11. it is said Moses smote the rocke with his rod. speake ye unto the Rocke He saith not smite the rocke yet in verse 11. Moses smote the rocke and in vers 10. he spake to the people but it is not said that he spake to the rocke as here he was commanded Some others thinke that Gods intendment in bidding him Take the rod was to smite the Rocke with it and that he sinned not in smiting it but in unbeleefe for which he is blamed in vers 12. it shall give forth his water or the waters of it this promise of God was that whereon the faith of Moses and Aaron should have rested thou shalt bring forth God was he that brought forth and gave water to the people as is often mentioned to his glory He clave the Rockes in the wildernesse and gave drinke as out of the great deepes and brought forth streames out of the Rocke c. Psal. 78. 15 16. So in Psal. 105. 41. and 114. 8. Deut. 8. 15. Nehem. 9. 15 20. But that worke is here ascribed to Moses ministerially for that the waters should come out at his speaking So in other workes of grace the Ministers of the Word are called Saviours Obad. vers 21 for in the faithfull performance of their office they both save themselves and those that heare them 1 Tim. 4 16. Vers. 9. from before Jehovah that is out of the Tabernacle for so the phrase importeth as in Num. 17. 7. Exod. 16. 33 34. Vers. 10. Heare now ye rebels As here he speaketh to the people who was bidden speake to the Rocke vers 8. so the manner of his speech sheweth great passion of minde more than at other times and the Scripture noteth that now the people had bitterly provoked his spirit so that he spake unadvisedly uttering his anger with his lips Psal. 106. 33. shall we bring forth water a speech of doubting and unbeleefe both in Moses and Aaron as in vers 12. God blameth them because they beleeved not in him So before when Moses said Shall the flockes and the herds be slaine for them c. he was blamed with this answer Is the Lords hand waxed short Numb 11. 22 23. Moses was sore moved against this latter generation of Israelites who had seene so many miracles and their fathers perished for rebellion and yet they were not bettered hee might feare lest for their sinning like their fathers the Lord would leave them as he after speaketh in Numb 32. 14 15. Vers. 11. lifted up his hand another signe of indignation being joyned with smiting twice the doubling of his stroke shewed also the heat of his anger Sol. Iarchi on this place conjectureth that 〈◊〉 smote it twice because at first it brought forth bâ—â— drops of water because God had not bidden him smite it but speake unto it much water or many waters He clave the rockes in the wilderrasse and gave drinke as out of the great deeps Psal. 78. 15. The unbeleefe of man maketh not the faith of God without effect Rom. 3. 3. Moses and Aaron beleeved not God to sanctifie him vers 12. yet he faithfully kept his promise and sanctified himselfe vers 13. the Congregation dranke Thus the Lord know his people in the wildernesse in the land of droughts Hos. 13. 5. And they thirsted not when be led them thorow the desarts he caused the waters to flow out of the rockes for them he clave the rockes 〈…〉 so and the waters gushed out Esai 48. 21. The 〈◊〉 out of the Rocke besides the refreshing which it gave unto their bodies was also a spirituall 〈◊〉 from that spirituall Rock Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. who being smitten for our transgressions Esai 53. with the rod of the Law which worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. from him proceedeth the living water wherewith the Israel of God may quench their thirst for ever John 4. 10 14. For who so beleeveth in him out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water even the waters of the holy Ghost Ioh. 7. 38 39. To these waters every one that thirsteth is called to come freely Esai 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. their cattell that water which was both a naturall and spirituall refreshing to the people is given also to the beasts for their naturall thirst because the signes and seales of Gods grace are such in respect of the use of them to those unto whom they are sanctified of God for that purpose So the waters of Iordan were sanctified for Baptisme unto repentant and beleeving sinners Matth. 3. 6. which out of that use were common waters And now not only the Israelites cattell but the wilde beasts also of the wildernesse had benefit by this mercy of God to his people whereunto the Lord hath reference when he saith by his Prophet The beast of the field shall honour me the dragons and the owles because I give waters in the wildernesse rivers in the desart to give drinke to my people my chosen Esai 43. 20. Vers. 12. ye beleeved not in me the Chaldee expoundeth it ye beleeved not in my word Thus unbeleefe was here the chiefe sinne and cause of other sinnes as before in the people Numb 14. so here in Moses and Aaron who were 〈◊〉 partners in the transgression And this their sinne is called a rebellion against the mouth of the Lord Numb 27. 14. and a transgression Deut. 32. 51. which word as R. Menachem here noteth implieth salfhood as in Lev. 6. 2. it is joyned with false deniall and the Apostle saith Hee that beleeveth not God hath made him a lier 1 Ioh. 5. 10. to sanctifie me inwardly in the heart by faith outwardly by obedience to doe that which I commanded and by both to ascribe unto mee the glory of my truth and power So when it is said Sanctifie the Lord of hosts Esai 8. 13. the Apostle expoundeth it Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts 1 Pet. 3. 15. in the eyes the Greeke translateth it before the sons of Israel This seemeth to be the reason of Gods severity at this time against Moses and Aaron more than before when Moses bewrayed also his unbeleefe in Num. 11. 21 22 23. because he now publiquely dishonoured God before all the people which did aggravate the sin whereas the former time he did it not in their eyes but in private before the Lord. therefore Chazkuni observeth that this word implieth an oath Neither indeed could Moses repentance or prayer get this sentence to be reversed for when the Lord hath sworne he will not repent Psal. 110. 4. 〈◊〉 ye shall not bring This chastisement was grievous unto Moses so that he besought the Lord that he might goe over and see the good land but the Lord was wroth with him for the peoples sakes and would not heare him Deut. 3. 23 26. And as God here spake so it came to passe for Aaron died in
the land of Edom Iudg. 11. 18. For the Lord had charged them that they should not meddle with the sonnes of Esau or their possession Deut. 2. 4 5. So Targum Ionathan here paraphraseth they were commanded by the word of the God of heaven that they should not wage warre with them because the time was not yet come when hee would execute 〈◊〉 on Edom by their hands Thus Israel suffered patiently the unkindnesse of Edom and obeyed the Lord herein though the way which they after went thorow the wildernesse was very grievous unto them and their soules were much discouraged because of the same Numb 21. 4 5. Vers. 22. mount Hor a mount in the edge of the land of Eâ—ora and the next resting place which they came unto from Kadesh Num. 33. 37. The name it selfe signifieth a mount for Har in Hebrew is a mountaine and Sol. Iarchi here explaineth it a â—ountaine upon a mountaine 〈◊〉 argum Ionathan nameth it mount Omanos Vers. 24. gathered unto his people that is die and be buried and his soule be among the spirits of just men made perfect as Hebr. 12. 23. Gathering signifieth here taking away by death as in vers 26. and in Esai 57. 1. mercifull men are gathered that is taken away and that which is gathered is the spirit of man as in Psal. 104. 20. thou gatherest their spirit they give up the ghost and returne unto their dust The peoples meane the Fathers deceased as is spoken of David in Act. 13. 36. and in Judg. 2. 10. all that generation were gathered unto their fathers So his people 's here are Aarons godly forefathers as David desireth the contrary Gather not my soule with sinners Psal. 26. 9. See the Annotations on Gen. 25. 8. rebelled against my mouth that is against my word as the Chaldee expoundeth it the Greeke saith yee provoked me See before on vers 12. Vers. 26. strip Aaron or disaray Aaron of his garments meaning of his Priestly robes the garments of holinesse which Moses had made him for 〈◊〉 and for beautifull glory Exod. 28. 2. and which at his consecration to the Priesthood Moses had put upon him Levit. 8. 7 8 9. So Targum Io 〈…〉 expoundeth it strip Aaron of the honourable garments of the Priesthood The taking off of these garments and putting them upon Eleazar signified the taking away of his office and dignity and giving the same to another as by a like similitude God said unto Shebna the treasurer I will drive thee 〈◊〉 thy station and from thy state shall he pull thee downe And it shall be in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiaeh and I will cloath him with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle and I will commit thy gouernment â—â—to his hand and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of 〈◊〉 c. Esay 22. 15 19 20 21. As by Aarons offering for his owne sins first and then for the sinnes of the people Levit. 16. 6. 11. 15. the holy Ghost shewed the inability of the legall Priesthood in comparison with Christs to reconcile men unto God Hebr. 7. 26 27 28. so by this disaraying and death of Aaron hee signified the disanulling of that Priesthood for the weaknesse and unprofitablenesse thereof Hobr. 7. 11 18. When therefore the same hands of Moses which had put on the garments did pull them off now at this time for the sinne which the high Priest had committed vers 12. Deut. 32. 50 51. they and all the people were taught to expect a better Priesthood of the Sonne of God who is perfected for evermore Hebr. 7. 28. Eleazar his sonne This was a comfort to all especially to Aaron the father that the Priestly function ended not with the death of the Priest but was derived to his posterity and so continued thorow all ages till Christ came who is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek the true Eliazar that is the Helpe of God who is made not after the law of a carnall commandement but after the power of an endlesse life Heb. 7. 11. 16. Wherefore to signifie the continuance of his grace and love to the Church God promised that the Priests the Levites should not want a man before him to offer Burnt-offerings and to kindle Meat-offerings and to doe sacrifice continually Ier. 33. 18. So Aaron did behold in the cloathing of his sonne a type of his owne and of all Israels salvation that his death might not be bitter unto him but he might depart in peace because his eyes did see though as a farre off the salvation of God as Luke 2. 29 30. shall be gathered unto his peoples vers 24. and shall die Hee that before in the worke of his Priesthood made atonement for the people and stood betweene the dead and the living and the plague was stayed Numb 16. 47 48. now dieth himselfe for his own sin an evident demonstration of the insufficiencie of the Leviticall Priesthood Whereupon the Apostle teacheth that they were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But Christ because he continueth ever hath a priesthood which passeth not from one to another wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them Hebr. 7. 23 24 25. Vers. 28. Moses stripped Aaron The actions of Moses signified the effects of his ministery and Law 2 Cor. 3. 13. Whereas therefore he unvested Auron by reason of sinne and death which was to ensue it shewed that no Priest who was a sinner and under the power of death could satisfie the justice of the Law and avoid the wrath of God so the Legall Priesthood now might say He hath stript me of my glory and taken the crowne from my head Iob. 19. 9. Againe in putting the priestly garments upon Eleazar who was before this the Prince of the Princes of the Levites Numb 3. 32. he signified that the Law had a shadow of good things to come Heb. 10. 1 and therefore the blessings figured thereby should not be frustrate but continued under hope by succession till hee should come unto whom the right of the high Priesthood belonged even the Branch that should build the Temple of the Lord and should beare the glory and sit and rule upon his throne and should be a Priest upon his throne and the counsell of peace be betweene them both Zac. 6. 12 13. â—er 33. 18. Thus the Law was a Schoolemaster unto Christ Gal. 3. 24. It may also be observed how among the Gentiles their prophets and prophetesses who did weare some ornaments and ensignes of their dignity used solemnly to put them off before their death as resigning them up unto God and iudging it an unmeet thing to die in them as appeareth by the example of Cassandra in the Greeke Poet Aeschylus and of Amphi 〈…〉 s the Prophet in Statius
his arrowes He couched he lay downe as a renting Lion and as a couragious Lion who shall stirre him up Blessed be every one of them that blesse thee and cursed be every one of them that curse thee And Balaks 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 blessing thou hast blessed them these three times And now flee thou unto thy place I said honouring I will honour thee but loe Iehovah hath kept thee backe from honour And Balaam said unto Balak Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me saying If Balak would give me his housefull of silver and gold I cannot goe beyond the mouth of Iehovah to doe good or evill out of mine owne heart what Iehovah shall speake that will I speake And now behold I goe unto my people Come I will counsell thee what this people shall doe to thy people in the latter daies And hee tooke up his parable and said Balaam the sonne of Beor assuredly saith and the man whose eye is open assuredly saith Hee assuredly saith which heard the o 〈…〉 cles of God and knew the knowledge of the Most high which saw the vision of the Almightie falling and having his eyes uncovered I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh There shall proceed a starre out of Iakob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite thorow the corners of Moab and shall unwall all the sons of Seth. And Edom shall be a possession and Seir shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall doe valiantnesse And hee shall have dominion out of Iakob and shall destroy him that remaineth out of the citie And he looked on Amalek and he tooke up his parable and said Amalek was the first of the nations but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever And he looked on the Kenite and tooke up his parable and said Strong is thy dwelling place and thou puttest thy nest in a rock Neverthelesse Kain shall be wasted untill Ashur shall carry thee away captive And hee tooke up his parable and said Alas who shall live when God doth this And ships shall come from the coast of Kitim and shall afflict Asshur and shal afflict Heber and he also shall perish for ever And Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place and Balak also went to his way Annotations HE went not as at other times or not at this time as the time before which the Greeke translateth according to his custome to meet with inchantments This sheweth that all his former altars and sacrifices and consultations with the Lord were by that wicked art of inchantment or observing of fortunes such as the Prophets and diviners of the nations used Deut. 18. 10. 14. Which thing he now left as seeing it not availeable for his purpose but that his evill heart was not changed appeareth by his going with the King to mount Peor to see if from thence he might curse Israel by his commanding of altars and sacrifices as before Numb 23. 27 30. and by his pestilent counsell which he gave the king after this for the destruction of Gods people Numb 31. 16. Rev. 2. 14. set his face toward the wildernesse where Israel lay encamping that he might as it were prevent God and suddenly utter a curse against his people The Chaldee paraphraseth he set his face towards the Calfe that Israel had made in the wildernesse Exod. 32. as if looking upon their sinnes hee thought for them he might have cursed Israel and so in Targum Ierusalemy it is explained He set his face toward the wildernesse and remembred concerning them the worke of the Calfe and would have cursed Israel Vers 2. abiding in tents or dwelling which the Greeke translateth camping or having their armie or lâ—â—â—er The order wherein God had placed the armies of Israel about his sanctuary Numb 2. they alwaies kept when they pitched in the wildernesse the sight whereof astonished the enemie so that he could not curse them as hee desired but blessed them the third time the Spirit of God was upon him that is as the Chaldee explaineth it the spirit of prophesie from before the Lord rested upon him and as Sol. Iarchi here noteth it came into his heart that he should not curse them The like phrase was before in Numb 11. vers 26. the Spirit rested upon them and they prophesied and againe in vers 29. would God that all the Lords people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them This was Gods powerfull worke changing Balaams heart when he intended evill as when Saul and his messengers went with an evill purpose to have taken David in Naioth the Spirit of God was upon them and they also prophesied 1 Sam. 19. 19 20 23. And when wicked men being thus over-ruled uttered divine oracles as now Balaam did they spake not of themselves as it is said of the holy Prophets For prophesie came not at any time by the will of man but holy men of God spake being moved or carried by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. Vers. 3. he tooke up his parable that is prophesied see Numb 23. 7. assuredly saith or affirmeth averreth a word appropriate to the oracle of God which is a faithfull saying 1 Tim. 1. 15. See the Annotations on Gen. 22. 16. Here Balaam beginneth his third blessing with a solemne preface avouching the truth and constancie of it from God against whose will the more he strugleth the stronger he is resisted the man whose eye is open which the Chaldee expoundeth the man that is faire sighted that seeth well the Greeke translateth the true man hee seemeth hereby to signifie that he was a Prophet who in old time was called a Seer 1 Sam. 9. 9. Shethum the originall word used only here and in vers 15. is of contrary signification to Sethum that is closed or shut up howbeit some take it to be of the same meaning which may then be explained thus The man who had his eye shut but now open And eye is put for eyes understanding the eyes of his minde opened by the spirit of prophesie though some of the Hebrewes as Iarchi here observeth have from hence conjectured that Balaam was blinde of one eye Vers. 4. the oracles of God or the sayings of God as the Chaldee saith the word from before God but the Greeke translateth strong oracles because God in Hebrew El is so named of being strong or mightie vision of the Almightie or of the Alsufficient that is as the Greeke translateth of God falling understand into a trance or deep sleepe or falling on my face to the ground for even the holy men of God when they saw divine visions used to fall downe on their faces and into deep sleepes as dead men So a deepe sleepe or trance fâ—ll upon Abraham Gen. 15. 12.
inheritances by the name of Lets as Come up with me into my lot Iudg. 1. 3. And not lands onely but whatsoever befalleth unto men frō the hand of God is called a lot as This is the portion of them that spoile us and the lot of them that rob us Esay 17. 14. and Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter Act. 8. 21. and That they may receive forgivenesse of sins and a lot that is inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith c. Act. 26. 18. The part of the lot that is of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. So that in the Greek used by the Apostles Cleros a lot and Cleronomia a division by lot is the common name of an inheritance 1 Pet. 5. 3. Ephes. 1. 14. 18. Vers. 56. According to the lot Hebr. At or Vpon the mouth of the lot as the lot whereon the name of the tribe or of the inheritance is written shall speake This lot being of the Lord figured the diversities of gifts in the Church which the Spirit of God divideth to every man severally 〈◊〉 will 1 Cor. 12. 4. 11. as also the dispensation of his graces concerning our heavenly inheritance which the Election onely obtaineth that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of workes but of him that calleth Rom. 11. 7. and 9. 11. Vers. 57. of the Levites who though they had no inheritance in the land vers 62. yet were they to have 48 cities and their suburbs for their habitation Num. 35. which also fell unto them by lot Ios. 21. 4. c. Vers. 58. Korachites or Korhites of Korah the sonne of Izhar the sonne of Kohath the sonne of Levi Num. 16. 1. Korah himselfe died in the rebellion but his sonnes died not Num. 26. 11. therefore they are reckoned here for a familie in the fourth generation from Levi which is one degree further than the other families And whereas in Exod. 6. 16. c. there are reckoned of Gershon two sonnes Libni and Shimei here the familie of the Libnites is mustered but Shimei left out There Kohath hath foure sonnes Amram and Ishar and Hebron and Vzziel here Vzziel is omitted neither is Ishar named but in his sonnes the Korhites Vers. 59. she bare to Levi by she understand Levies wise or Iochebeds mother Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it his wise bare her in Egypt she bare to Amram that is Iochebed Amrams wife who was also his aunt bare to Amram Exo. 6. 20. Marie Hebr. Mirjam she was a prophetesse see Exod. 15. 20. Num. 12. 1. Vers. 60. unto Aaron was borne Here Moses children Gershon and Eliezer are againe omitted see the notes on Num. 3. 38. Vers. 61. and Abihu died and they had no sonnes Num. 3. 4. See the historie in Levit. 10. Vers. 62. 23 thousand who at the former numbring were but 22 thousand Num. 3. 39. So they increased in the wildernesse a thousand males Vers. 65. dying they shall die i. they shall surely die this was threatned for their rebellion refusing to go into the promised land Nū 14. and the fulfilling of Gods judgment is here shewed and Iosoua in Greeke Iesus the son of Naue these two survived because they faithfully followed the Lord Num. 14. 24. 38. See the Annotations there In that all the rest were dead save these two it sheweth that all the 600 thousand men now mustered which should conquer Canaan were a valiant company betweene 20 and 60 yeares of age none being above 60 but Caleb and Iosua and as they were in body so in minde being trained up these 38 yeares in the study of the Law and ordinances of God and beholding his workes having Moses and Aaron for their leaders and Gods good spirit for their instructer Neh. 9. 20. CHAP. XXVII 1 The daughters of Zelophehad sue for an inheritance 5 Moses bringeth their cause before the Lord who granteth their request 8 The Law of inheritances when a man dieth without a son 12 Moses is bidden goe up and see the land and is told of his death for his trespasse 15 He requesteth of the Lord that a man may be set governour in his place 18 The Lord appointeth Iosua to succeed him 22 And Moses by imposition of hands ordaineth him to his office THen came the daughters of Zelophehad the sonne of Hepher the son of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasses of the families of Manasses the son of Ioseph and these are the names of his daughters Machlah Noah Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the Priest and before the Princes and all the congregation at the doore of the Tent of the Congregation saying Our father died in the wildernesse and he was not among the Congregation of them that gathered themselves together against Iehovah in the congregation of Korah but in his sinne he died and hee had no sonnes Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family because he hath no sonne Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father And Moses brought their cause before Iehovah And Iehovah said unto Moses saying The daughters of Zelophehad speake right giving thou shalt give them a possession of an inheritance among the brethren of their father and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to passe unto them And thou shalt speake unto the sonnes of Israel saying If a man die and he have no sonne then ye shall cause his inheritance to passe unto his daughter And if hee have no daughter then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren And if he have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto the brethren of his father And if his father have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his familie and he shall inherit it it shal be unto the sonnes of Israel for a statute of judgement as Iehovah commanded Moses And Iehovah said unto Moses Go thou up into this mountaine of Abarim and see the land w ch I have given to the sons of Israel And thou shalt see it and thou also shalt be gathered unto thy peoples as Aaron thy brother was gathered For ye rebelled against my mouth in the wildernesse of Zin in the strife of the congregation to sanctifie me at the water before their eyes that is the water of Meribah of Kadesh in the wildernesse of Zin And Moses spake unto Iehovah saying Let Iehovah the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the congregation of Iehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd And Iehovah said unto Moses Take unto thee Iosua the son of Nun a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hand upon him And cause
rebellion see Num. 14. 2 3 c. Verse 27. In the hatred or for the hatred of Ie 〈…〉 wherwith he hateth us that is for that the Lord hateth us as in the Greeke version See 〈…〉 phrase in Gen. 19. 16. and 29. 20. Hos. 3. 〈…〉 evill saying Moses would not have to come 〈◊〉 of the mouth of their enemies Deut. 9. 28. and it sheweth the height of their sinne which impâ—â—ed that to hatred wherein God manifested his 〈◊〉 Deut. 4. 37. and 7. 8. Vers. 28. to melt that is discouraged or as the Chaldee translateth it broken The Greeke saith Have turned away our heart David amplifieth this 〈…〉 litude in Psal. 22. 15. My heart is as wax it 〈…〉 ten c. So Ios. 2. 11. and 7. 5. and 14. 8. Esâ—â— 19. 1. These brethren were ten of the twelve Spies sent to view the Land Num. 13. 28. c. 〈…〉 kims in Greeke and Chaldee Giants see Nâ—â— 13. 28. 33. where it is singular Anak Vers. 30. He the Chaldee paraphraseth his 〈◊〉 will fight for you Verse 31. bare thee this word meaneth not bearing of the body onely but bearing of their infirmities and suffering the evils and troubles in the education of them as a father doth in his children which the Greeke explaineth by etrophophsrese a word that Paul useth in Act. 13. 18. where the Syriak expoundeth it nourished or as some copies have it etropophorese hee suffered their manners Verse 32. yet in this thing or for this word notwithstanding this exhortation and encouragement you beleeved not in Iehovah Chald. in the word of the LORD This unbeleefe Paul noteth to be the cause why they entred not into the Lords rest Heb. 3. 1 2. 18. 19. Verse 33. Who went namely by his Arke Fire and Cloud the signes of his presence Numb 10. 33. 34. or who goeth to wit still before you Verse 35. If there shall that is surely there shall not as Paul openeth the phrase Heb. 3. 11. 18. Though Moses intreated for the people Num. 14. 13. 19. and the Lord pardoned them that they were not then destroyed Num. 14. 20. yet hee sware and so it was irrevocable and without repentance Psal. 110. 4. that they should not come into the promised land See the notes on Num. 14. see that is come into and enjoy as to see good is to enjoy the same Psal. 106. 5. Verse 36. Caleb one of the twelve Spies who was faithfull see Num. 13. 6. 30. and 14. 6. c. fully followed Hebr. fulfilled after Iehovah which the Greeke translateth followed the things pertaining to the Lord. This he did being guided by another spirit Num. 14. 24. Verse 37. with me with Aaron also for they both were in one transgression and punishment Num. 20. 10 12 24. for your sakes for the people provoked his spirit whereupon hee uttered his sinne with his lips Psal. 106. 32 33. his sinne proceeded also from unbeleefe see Num. 20. 12. Thus God shewed severity towards all after many provocations and by it the people were taught that not Moses Law but Iesus Gospel should bring them into their heavenly rest Vers. 38. Ioshuah or Iehoshuah in Greeke Iesus he was another of the Spies see Num. 13. 8. 16. and 14. 6. 38. standeth that is ministreth or is thy servant as the phrase meaneth Gen. 18. 8. and so hee is named Moses minister Ios. 1. 1. strengthen by word and signe which was imposition of hands whereby Moses put off his honour upon Iesus and hee was filled with the Spirit Num. 27. 18. 20. 23. Deut. 34. 9. Verse 39. for a prey to be spoiled and devoured of the enemy of this their speech see Num. 14. 3. they shall goe in after forty yeares wandring in the wildernesse and bearing their fathers whoredomes see Num. 14. 31. 33. So God sheweth grace to weaklings and babes in Christ 1 Cor. 1. 28. Mat. 11. 25. Verse 40. way of that is which leadeth towards the red sea where Israel had beene baptized Exod. 14. and whither they were now led againe to learn repentance and a new life See Num. 14. 25. Vers. 41. sinned The people mourned greatly when they heard that evill tidings from the Lord confessed their sinne and offered amendment Num. 14. 39 40. but their repentance was not according to God for presently they rushed into another extremity neither could they reverse the decree passed against them his weapons of war or the weapons of his warre which is an Hebrew phrase very common translated in Greeke his weapons of War so in Dan. 9. 24. citie of thy holinesse that is thy holy citie and the house of my praier Esay 56. 7. that is my house of praier and many the like pressed forward assayed of your owne accord or thronged as the Greeke translateth gathered together the Chaldee yee began The Hebrew word is used here onely in Num. 14. 44. there is said they loftily presumed or lifted up themselves answerable to their presumption here following Vers. 42. I am not the Chaldee expoundeth it my majestie or presence dwelleth not among you see Num. 14. 42. smitten in Greeke broken or crushed The Lord threatned their fall by the sword of the Amalekites and Canaanites Num. 14. 43. Verse 43. were presumptuous or were proud arrogant compare Num. 14. 44. The people having by their evil heart and unfaithful departed from the living God would returne to him by the workes of their own hands w ch was a presumptuous sin and shewed their repentance not to be sincere but that the flesh repined and strugled against the chastisements of God not willing to beare the punishment of their iniquitie See the notes on Num. 14. Verse 44. Amorite with the Amalekites See Numb 14. 45. Bees doe or Bees vse to doe which when they are angred get them together and flie on the faces of their provokers see Psal. 118. 12. Our sinnes are enemies like Bees many compact in the hive of the heart being troubled and provoked they become more eager and fierce sting and pursue us They cannot be subdued but by faith in Christ as they that were stung of Serpents were healed by him Num. 21. for by the workes of the Law no sinne can be expelled Rom. 7. 7 8. c. Hormah the Greeke saith from Seir unto Herma see Num. 14. 45. Verse 45. returned the Greeke saith yee sate downe and wept heard not Chaldee accepted not your praier This figured how Israel following the Law of justice could not attaine unto it because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9. 31 32. Verse 46. Kadesh a large wildernesse where Israel abode long as appeareth by Num. 13. 27. and 20. 1. 14 21. Iudg. 11. 17. Deut. 2. 14. CHAP. II. 1. The storie is continued that the Israelites were not suffered to meddle with the Edomites 9. nor with the Moabites 19. nor with the Ammonites 24. but with Sihon the Amorite who refusing peace and
Chaldee do interpret it the Burning a place so called because the people complaining there the fire of the Lord was kindled and consumed some of them See the historie in Num. 11. 1 2 3. Massah in English the tentation and so the Greek and Chaldee translate it A place at Rephidim in the wildernesse before they came to Horeb ten stations from Egypt in the first yeere of their travell where wanting water they tempted God saying Is the Lord amongst us or no and there he gave them water out of the Rocke Exod. 17. See the annotations there and Psal. 95. 8 9. Heb. 3. 8. c. Deut. 6. 16. Kibroth-hattaavah in English the Graves of lust so translated also by the Greeke Here a little from Taberah forementioned they loathed Manna and lusted for flesh God gave them Quailes but they died of a plague 〈◊〉 the flesh was yet betweene their teeth and 〈◊〉 buried there occasioned this name of the 〈◊〉 for a perpetuall memoriall See Num. 11. 4 34. and the annotations there Also Psal. 78. 〈◊〉 31. and 106. 14 15. Vers. 23. Kadesh-barnea where being come thorow the wildernesse of Pharan to the border of the land of Canaan they were commanded of God to goe take possession Then they sent spies who discouraged the people so through want of 〈◊〉 they durst not enter and were for it condem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 40. yeeres wandring in the wildernesse and 〈◊〉 ended their dayes See Numb 13. and 14. 〈◊〉 against the mouth that is against the 〈◊〉 or commandement in Greeke yee disobeyed 〈◊〉 word Vers. 24. that I knew you the Greeke expounds 〈…〉 the day that he was knowne unto you So he 〈…〉 deth with a generall charge of rebellion upon them shewing hereby the impossibility of the law and ministery thereof to bring men unto God for it causeth sinne and wrath to abound as 〈◊〉 4. 15. and 8 3. Gal. 3. 19 22. For besides these 〈…〉 lars they sinned many other times in the 〈…〉 nesse as is noted on Num. 14. 22. and in Psa. 〈◊〉 and 106. Vers. 25. I fell downe in Greeke I prayed Hee 〈…〉 th to speake of their reconciliation to God which was by the prayer of Moses as a mediatour 〈◊〉 figure of Christ by whom and not by our own deserts we have entrance into the kingdome of God Gal. 3. 22. 24. Rom. 3. 20 22. and 5. 1 2 c. as I fell downe to wit at the first as v. 18. or which I fell downe that is which I said before that I fell downe But the Hebrew asher which is sometimes used for as as in Ier. 48. 8. said for to destroy that is said that he would destroy you See the like phrases so expounded in Esay 49. 6. with Acts 13. 47. 1 Chron. 17. 4. with 2 Sam. 7. 5. Matt. 20. 19. with Mark 10. 33 34. Vers. 26. Lord Iehovoh in Greeke Lord Lord in Chaldee Lord God See the annotations on Gen. 15. 2. thy people this respecteth their adoption in Christ and justification 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. inheritance this implyeth their sanctification unto the obedience and service of God by the Spirit See Exod. 34. 9. through thy greatnes in Greek through thy great strength as v. 29. it implyeth also his great goodnesse and therefore is often spoken of his gracious workes for his people 1 Chron. 17. 19. Luke 1 49. Vers. 27. thy servants Hee meaneth Gods oath unto them to multiply their seed and to give them the land for an eternall inheritance as is expressed in this prayer before Exod. 32. 13. So the Greeke addeth here unto whom thou swarest by thy selfe hardnesse the naturall corruption whereby the heart is hardned that it cannot repent and beleeve the word of God from which the two evils following doe flow Rom. 2. 5. Vers. 28. the land that is as the Greeke and Chaldee both explaine the inhabitants of the land This reason is also alleaged in Exod. 32. 12. and Numb 14. 16. CHAP. X. 1 A rehearsall of Gods mercies in renuing the two tables of the Covenant 6 in leading the people forward towards Canaan and continuing the priest-hood after Aarons death 8 in separating the tribe of Levi unto the ministerie 10 in hearkning unto Moses his suit for the people 12 An exhortation unto obedience 14 because of Gods glorie 15 love unto Israel 17 justice towards all 21 his fearefull workes 22 and multiplication of his people AT that time Iehovah said unto mee Hew thee two tables of stone like the first and come up unto me into the mount and thou shalt make thee an Arke of wood And I will write on the tables the words which were on the first tables which thou brakest and thou shalt put them in the Arke And I made an Arke of Shittim wood and hewed two tables of stone like the first went up into the mount and the two tables in my hand And he wrote on the tables according to the first writing the ten words which Iehovah had spoken unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and Iehovah gave them unto me And I turned my self and came downe from the mount and I put the tables in the Arke which I had made and there they be as Iehovah commanded me And the sonnes of Israel journeyed from Beeroth of the sonnes of Iaakan from Moserah there Aaron dyed and was buried there and Eleazar his sonne administred the Priests office in his stead From thence they journeyed to Gudgodah and from Gudgodah to Iot-bath a land of rivers of waters At that time Iehovah separated the tribe of Levi to beare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah to stand before Iehovah to minister unto him and to blesse in his name unto this day Therefore Levi hath no part or inheritance with his brethren Iehovah he is his inheritance as Iehovah thy God spake unto him And I stood in the mount according to the former dayes fortie dayes and fortie nights and Iehovah hearkened unto me at that time also Iehovah would not destroy thee And Iehovah said unto me Arise goe in journey before the people that they may goe in and possesse the land which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them And now Israel what doth Iehovah thy God aske of thee but to feare Iehovah thy God to walke in all his waies and to love him and to serve Iehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule To keepe the commandements of Iehovah and his statutes which I command thee this day for good unto thee Behold unto Iehovah thy God belong the heavens and the heavens of heavens the earth and all that therein is Onely in thy fathers Iehovah had a delight to love them and he chose their seed after them even you above all peoples as it is this day Circumcise therefore the super fluous foreskinne of your heart and make not your necke stiffe any more For Iehovah your God
a day is naught such a day is fit for to doe such a worke such a yeere or moneth is evill for such a thing It is unlawfull to observe times though one doe no worke but make it knowne they are lyes which fooles imagine to bee true and to bee words of wise men c. Maim in treat of Idolatry chap. 11. sect 8. an observer of fortunes one that curiously searcheth observeth and telleth signes of good or evill luck which are learned by experience The Hebrew Nachash is to search and finde out by experience Gen. 30. 27. and 44. 5. whereupon Menachesh the word here used is one that too curiously observeth and abuseth things that doe fall out as luckie or unluckie signes as did the Augures and Soothsaiers among the heathens The Hebrewes describe it thus as if one should say Because the morsell of bread is fallen out of my mouth or my staffe out of mine hand I will not goe to such a place this day for if I goe I shall not speed of my businesse Because a Fox passed by on my right hand I will not goe out of my house this day for if I goe some deceitfull man will meet with mee And so if men heare the chattering of a bird and say it shall be so or not so it is good to doe such a thing or naught to doe such a thing c. And so hee that maketh signes for himselfe if it fall out so or so I will doe such a thing if it fall not out I will not doe it and all things of like sort these all are unlawfull and who-soever doth any act bacause of any of these things is to be beaten Maimony treat of Idolatry chap. 11. sect 4. This sinne was common among the heathens practised of the wisest Numb 24. 1. 1 King 20. 33. and it spread into Israel 2 King 17. 17. 2 Chron. 33. 6. and is at this day too common among Christians though Gods law plainly forbiddeth it here and in Levit. 19. 26. a witch or a sorcerer a magician in Hebrew Mecashsheph in Greeke Pharmakos of this kinde were Iannes and Iambres the sorcerers of Egypt see the notes on Exod. 7. 11. Such were esteemed among the wise and called to tell and interpret dreames Dan. 2. 2. By Gods Law a winch might not bee suffered to live Exod. 22. 18. yet did this evill prevaile in Israel 2 Chron. 33. 6. Ier. 27. 9. Mal. 3. 5. The Hebrews seeme to hold two sorts of these witches or sorcerers some that did hurt others that did hold the eies that is by jugling and sleights beguiled mens senses Mecashsheph the witch is to be stoned to death if be doe the act oft witchcraft but he that heldeth the dies and seemeth to doe that which he doth not is to be beaten Maimony treat of Idolatry ch 11. s. 15. Vers. 11. charmeth a charme or inchanteth an inchantment or conjureth conjuration The Hebrew Chober signifieth conjoyning or consociating the Chaldee name Ratim is of murmuring or mumbling the Greeke Epaidon of charming or inchanting This Charmer is said to be hee that speaketh words of a strange language and without sense and hee in his foolishnesse thinketh that these words are profitable That if one say so or so unto a Serpent or a Scorpion it cannot hurt a man and hee that saith so and so to a mâ—an be cannot be hurt c. He that whispereth over a wound or readeth a verse out of the Bible likewise he that readeth over an Infant that it may not be frighted or that layeth the booke of the Law the Bible or the Phylacteries upon a childe that it may sleepe such are not onely among inchanters or charmers but of those that generally denie the Law of God because they make the words of the Scripture medicine for the body whereas they are not but medicine for the soule as it is written in Prov. 3. 22. They shall be life unto thy soule Maimony 〈◊〉 of Idolatry chap. 11. sect 10. 12. of a familiar spirit called in Hebrew Ob which signifieth a bottle Ioh 32. 19. applied here and often to Magicians who possessed with an evill spirit speak with hollow voice as out of a bottell and as some say with swollen bellies whereupon the Greeke version usually calleth them Eggastrimuthoi as speaking out of the belly But the holy Ghost in Act. 16. 16. expoundeth it more fully the spirit of Pithon or of divination meaning of the Devill whose answers were given to the heathens by these meanes the chiefe whereof was called Pythius Apollo and his Temple Pythion and his feast Pythia kept to his honour who was faigned to kill the serpent Python The manner of this Oracle the Prophet sheweth to be with an hollow low voice as Thy speech shall bee low out of the dust and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit Esay 29. 4. The Hebrewes explaine it thus that hee which had a familiar spirit stood and burned incense and held a rod of mirtle tree in his hand and waved it And he spake certaine words in secret untill hee that inquired did heare one speake unto him and answer him touching that which hee inquired with words from under the earth with a very low voice c. Likewise one tooke a dead mans skull and burnt incense thereto and inchanted thereby till hee heard a very low voice c. Hee that did any of these acts was to be stoned to death Maim in treat of Idolatry c. 6. s. 1. This was Sauls sinne that he sought to a woman which had a familiar spirit the voice whereof he heard 1. Sam. 28. 7. 15. for which transgression the Lord killed him 1 Chron. 10. 13. and hath threatned to cut off all from among his people that doe inquire of such Levit. 20. 6 wizard or cunning man in Hebrew Iidgnoni so named of his knowledge or cunning and so the Greeke version in other places calleth him Gnostes of knowledge a Prognosticator but here the Greeke is Teratoskopos he that observeth wonders The Chaldee giveth him a name of remembrance Zecuru He is usually joyned with the former that hath a familiar spirit as in Levit. 19. 31. and 20. 6. 2 Chron. 33. 6. 1 Sam. 28. 3. and by the Law they were both of them to die Levit. 20. 27. Such were among the Egyptians and other heathens Esay 19. 3. it is likely therefore that their practise was alike abominable The Hebrewes describe him thus that hee put in his meuth a bone of a bird called Iaduangh burned incense did other workes untill he fell downe as with shame or modestie and spake with his mouth things that were to come to passe Maim treat of Idolatry ch 6. sect 2. that seeketh unto the dead or as the Chaldee and Greeke expound it that inquireth of the dead such wee call of the Greeke name a Necromancer Of him they say that he made himselfe hungry and went and lodged
among the graves that the dead might come unto him in a dreame and make knowne unto him that which he asked of him And others there were that clad themselves with clothes for that purpose and spake certaine words and burned incense for the purpose and slept by themselves that such a dead person might come and talke with them in a dreame Maimony in treat of Idolatry c. 11. s. 13. Vers. 13. perfect with Iehovah that is in faith and love seeke unto him onely and as he doth so abhorre thou all such wicked persons Perfection or Sinceritie Integritie respecteth our upright conversation in body and minde as is noted on Gen. 6. 9. and to be perfect with the Lord is expounded in Greeke before the Lord and the Chaldee saith in the feare of the Lord but our Saviour more fully openeth it Be yee perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matt. 5. 48. Vers. 14. not suffered thee Hebr. not given thee but hath taught thee better by his Law which the other nations want Psal. 147. 19 20. and will more fully informe thee by the Prophet whom he will raise up unto thee v. 15. So in Act. 14. 16. God in times past suffered all nations to walke in their owne waies Vers. 15. a Prophet so named of the Greeke Prophetes which signifieth a foreteller in Hebrew Nabi of uttering and interpreting the oracles of God as Aaron was Moses Prophet that is Interpreter Exod. 7. 1. and of seeing visions of God such a man was called a Seer 1 Sam. 9. 9. Vnto all the former Diviners Wizzards Charmers c. raised up to the heathens of the devill Moses here opposeth one Prophet to be raised up unto Israel of God and this was Christ raised up unto the Iewes as Peter applieth it saying Moses said â—â—to the fathers A Prophet will the Lord your God raise up unto you c. yee are the children of the Prophets and of the covenant c. Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Iesus sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities Act. 3. 22. 26. of thy brethren Christ was to be a man and of the stocke of the Iewes by promise because the people could not endure to heare the voice of God vers 16. and as in respect of his Prophesie so of his Priesthood For every high Priest is taken from among men Heb. 5. 1. and of his kingdome as in Deut. 17. 15. from among thy brethren shalt thou set a King over thee like unto me it is said There arose not a Prophet in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face in all the signes and wonders which the Lord sent him to doe c. Deut. 34. 10 11 12. This therefore cannot be understood of the ordinarie Prophets which were raised up in Israel but of Christ onely as the Apostles doe expound it Act. 3. 22. 26. And Christ was like unto Moses in respect of his office of mediation betweene God and the people Deut. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 2. 5. but greater than Moses as being the Mediator of a better Covenant or Testament which was established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. Like him in excellencie for as Moses excelled all the Prophets in speaking with God mouth to mouth Numb 12. 6 7 8. so Christ excelled him and all men in that being in the bosome of the Father he hath come downe from heaven and declared God unto us Ioh. 1. 18. and 3. 13. Like him in faithfulnesse but therein also excelling for Moses was faithfull in Gods house as a servant but Christ as the Son over his owne house Heb. 3. 2. 5. 6. And like him in signes and wonders wherein he also excelled Moses as the historie of the Gospell sheweth for he was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people Luk. 24. 19. a man approved of God among them by miracles wonders and signes which God did by him in the midst of theÌ„ Act. 2. 22. for he did among them the works wich none other man did Ioh. 15. 24. unto him that is not unto the Diviners Wizards or any such like but unto him and him onely as him thou shalt serve Deut. 6. 13. is expounded him onely Matt. 4. 10. And though this is principally meant of Christs person of whom God said heare him Matt. 17. 5. yet it implieth also his Ministers as himselfe said He that heareth you heareth mee Luk. 10. 16. Vers. 16. Horeb a mountaine called also Sinai Exod. 19. where the Law was given Deut. 5. 2. of the assembly or of the church when all Israel were assembled to heare the Law Exod. 19. 9 10 c. not heare againâ— Hebr. not adde to heare see Exod. 20. 19. where the people requested Moses to speake with them and not God of Iehovah the Chaldee translateth it of the word of the LORD that I die not or and let me not die as the Greeke translateth neither let us die Vers. 17. have well spoken or have done well in speaking The Greeke saith Rightly or Well all that they have spoken Although their speech proceeded from the spirit of bondage and feare manifested in them by the worke of the law in their consciences Rom. 8. 15. and they desired not Christ but Moses to speake unto them yet as the Law was a schoolemaster to leade them unto Christ Gal. 3. 14. so God tooke occasion hereby to preach and promise Christ unto them who is here not only in stead of all Diviners and Soothsayers but in stead of Moses himselfe who was the Minister of the Law which worketh wrath Rom. 4. 15. and was the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3. 7. But Christ hath redeemed us from the curse thereof Gal. 3. 13. and is here promised as a Prophet sent to blesse us Act. 3. 26. for the Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ Io. 1. 17 Vers. 18. A Prophet meaning Christ him-selfe the interpreter and declarer of the word of God as vers 15. of whom the multitude said This is Iesus the Prophet Matt. 21. 11. raise up this also the people confirmed saying A great Prophet is risen up amongst us Luk. 7. 16. will give that is will put and stablish as the word given 1 Chron. 17. 22. is the same that established 2 Sam. 7. 24. The Chaldee expoundeth it I will give my words of prophesie Accordingly Christ said to his Father I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me Ioh. 17. 8. his mouth to signifie this Christ appeared with a sharpe two-edged sword proceeding out of his mouth Rev. 1. 16. which figured the sword of the Spirit the word of God Eph. 6. 17. for God had made his mouth like a sharpe sword Esai 49. 2. therwith he smote his enemies and for the comforts wherewith he refresheth his people his lips are likened to lilies dropping sweet-smelling myrrh Song 5.
signifieth From is sometime put for unto by the interpretation of the Holy Ghost himselfe as from Baale of Iudah 2 Sam. 6. 2. is by another Prophet explained to Baalah 1 Chron. 13. 6. So the Deliverer shall come from or out of Sion Rom. 11. 26. is the same that hee shall come unto Sion Esay 59. 20. Min hashamajim from heaven 2 Chron. 6. 21. is El hashamajim unto or in heaven 1 King 8. 30. Thus Mikkedem is to the East or Eastward Gen. 13. 11. Mitstsâ—phon is Northward 1 Sam. 14. 5. and sundrie the like Sinai is a mountaine in Arabia Gal. 4. 25. where God gave his Law Exod. 19. from or out of that mountaine God came unto Israel and as the Chaldee interpreteth was revealed there unto them and from thence came with his people to conduct them towards Canaan Or came unto Sinai and to his people there And this is the first chiefe blessing unto Israel Gods Law Tabernacle Statutes and Iudgments given them at Sinai after which hee called them to journey towards the Land of promise Deut. 2. 6 7. rose up as the Sunne ariseth for of that rising the Hebrew word is properly used The Chaldee translateth it the brightnesse of his glory from Seir appeared unto us So Esaias prophesying grace to the Church saith The glory of Iehovah is risen as the Sunne upon thee And of the heavenly Ierusalem which Christ hath built it is said The Citie hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof Rev. 21. 23. from Seir the mountaine of the Edomites Deut. 2. 4. 5. As Israel compassed Edoms land they were stung with fiery serpents for their murmuring then God appointed the Brazen serpent a figure of Christ to be set up to heale them Num. 21 4. 9. And here was a second degree of grace whereby God shined unto them as he doth unto us by his Gospell after wee have beene under the Schoolemaster of his Law Rom. 7. 4 25. Gal. 3. 23 24 26. unto them or unto him meaning Israel therefore the Chaldee expoundeth it unto us shined forth or shined bright and cleare as the Sunne shineth in his strength This word is used for the cleare manifestation of Gods power in saving his people or punishing their enemies Psal. 82. and 94. 1. and 50. 2. The Greeke here translateth hee hastened from mount Pharan the Chaldee hee was revealed in his might upon mount Paran Pharan or Paran the name of a mount and of the wildernesse of the Ismaelites Gen. 21. 21. thorow which Israel travelled Num. 10. 12. Neere it Moses by the Spirit of God explained the law more cleerly repeated this booke of Deuteron Deut. 1. 1 c. So the Prophet after speaketh the Holy one came from mount Pharan Selah Habak 3. 3. Some of the Hebrewes understand these things otherwise thus Hee rose up from Seir unto them that is to the sonnes of Esan that they might receive the Law but they would not From thence hee went to the sonnes of Ismael that they might receive it but they would not And then he came unto Israel R. Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. So Ionathan in his Thargum on this place and R. Eliezer in Pirkei chap. 41. But unto us it sheweth the third degree of Gods grace who after wee are come unto Christ by faith doth sanctifie us by his Spirit informing us in his truth and waies and so prepareth us to enter into his heavenly rest as by Moses he prepared Israel to enter into the Land of Canaan Rom. 8. 2 3 11. Gal. 3. 2 14. and 4. 6. and 5. 16 18 of Saints Hebr. of sanctitie meaning spirits of sanctity which Ionathan in his Thargum expoundeth holy Angels So Stephen saith that Israel received the Law by thy disposition of Angels Act. 7. 53. and Paul calleth the Law the word spoken by Angels Heb. 2. 2. So wee by grace in Christ are come to ten thousands of Angels Heb. 12. 22. which are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall bee heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. Compare Psal. 68. 18. Or by Saints wee may understand the Israelites as in v. 3. with whom or for whom God came from Sinai from his right hand to wit went or at his right hand was the fire of the Law or of the ordinance Hebr. Esh dath of which word Dath the Greekes borrowed their word Tatto to order or ordaine the Legall fire or the fiery Law and it is so called because the Lord spake those words out of the midst of the fine Deut. 5. 22. and to shew the nature and effect of the Law which is like fire Ier. 23. 29. The Greeke translateth it Angels Angels with him the Chaldee thus his right hand wrote out of the midst of fire the Law he gave unto us Answerable to this Legall fire is that fire of the Law of the Spirit which was given with cloven tongues like fire Act. 2. 3 4. The Hebrewes say by tradition that the Law appeared written with blacke fire upon white fire before the Lord. R. Moses Gerundens and Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. which seemeth to be either mysticall or fabulous Vnto us the fire of the Law is the Spirit of God whiles wee being baptized with the holy Spirit and with fire Matth. 3. 11. are by the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus made free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8. 2. Vers. 3. Yea the lover of the peoples that is yea or certainly hee loveth or thou O God lovest the peoples or protectest them The Hebrew Chobeb signifieth a loving embracing or hiding as in the bosome and so implyeth Love and Protection And the peoples are meant of the tribes of Israel as in Iudg. 5. 14. after thee Benjamin among thy peoples and in Act. 4. 27. the peoples of Israel The Greeke translateth And he spared his people the Chaldee yea he loved them for tribes that is of his love chose and disposed them to be tribes It may imply also the strangers converted unto God And now in Christ there is neither Iew nor Greeke neither bond nor free for we are all one in him Gal. 3. 28. all his Saints that is the Saints of Israel as the Chaldee expoundeth all the Saints of the house of Israel Or the Saints of God as in Psal. 34. 10. Feare Iehovah yee his Saints So his Saints may be used for thy Saints as his commandements Dan. 9. 4. for thy commandements see the notes on Deut. 5. 10. in thine hand in thy power and custody under thy guidance care and protection Hand is often for power so the Chaldee here translateth with power hee brought them out of Egypt and in the hand is under the guidance and direction Num. 4. 28 33. so the Greeke here translateth and all the sanctified ones are under thine hand It noteth the safety of Gods
her husband so long as hee liveth but if the husband be dead she is loosed from the law of the husband So we also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that we should be to another even to him who is raised from the dead Rom. 7. 1 2 4. Therfore upon this death of Moses God speaketh unto Israel to go over Iordan into the Land Ios. 1. according to the mouth in Greeke and Ghaldee by the word The day of his death by the Iewes tradition was the seventh of Adar which we call February so Ionathan in his Thargum on this place saith On the seventh day of the moneth of Adar Moses the Master of Israel was borne and on the seventh day of the moneth of Adar he was taken out of the world Vers. 6. he buried him that is Iehovah buried him or Michael that is Christ who is Iehovah one with the Father Iude vers 9. Signifying that none but Christ should abolish the Law and Ordinances given by Moses Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 3. 13 14. Coloss. 2. 14 16 17. Heb. 9. 9 10 11 c. and 10. 1 9. And this was a speciall honour unto Moses person whom the Lord loved when he was dead and buried his corps which we finde not done to any man else in the world which he will also raise up incorruptible and glorious at the day of his appearing in a valley he died in the mountaine Deut. 32. 50. but was buried in a valley over against Beth-Pehor the Greeke saith neere to the house of Phogor of which place see Deut. 3. 28. no man knoweth God would not have Moses Sepulchre to be knowne though the devill contended with him hereabout Iude vers 9. because there should be no occasion of superstition or idolatry thereby as is thought of some Chazkuni saith that none which inquire of the dead as Deut. 18. 11. might seeke unto him The chiefe cause seemeth to be a mysterie that the Law whereof Moses was the minister being once dead and abrogated by Christ should never more be sought after but quite abolished out of the conscience of sinners that the grace of Christ may live raigne alone See Gal. 4. 9 10 11. and 5. 4. Also that the legall rudiments should by the comming of the Gospell be taken away from Israel never to be found or enjoyed by them any more For Christ destroyed both their Citie and Sanctuary as was foretold in Dan. 9. and they have been many daies without a King and without a Prince and without a sacrifice and without an image and without an Ephod and without Teraphim and so shall be untill they returne and seeke the Lord their God and the sonne of David their King Hos. 3. 4 5. Vers. 7. yeeres old Hebr. sonne of 120. yeeres so the yeere of his death fell out in the 2553. yeere of the world and his yeeres accord with Noes preaching and preparing of the Arke Genes 6. 3. his eye in Greeke his eyes his eye-sight failed him not as did Isaaks Gen. 27. 1. The eye is also used for the outward appearance and colour of a thing as Exod. 10. 5. Numb 11. 7. so it may be meant here also his visage was not wrinkled Chazkuni here expoundeth it the shining of his face mentioned in Ex. 34. 30. his naturall moisture his radicall humour wherein the life and strength of the body consisteth which when it is spent and dried up a man dieth The Greeke translateth his lips were not corrupted the Chaldee saith the brightnesse of the glory of his face was not changed having reference to Exod. 34. 30 c. sled that is departed from him Thus outwardly and inwardly Moses retained his vigour beauty and naturall strength that he died not through feeblenesse or defect of nature as most men did at his age though he had beene a man of sorrowes and broken with many cares for the people And hereby the continuall force of the Law is signified the power wherof decaieth not in the conscience of sinners by number of daies or multitude of workes till God take it away and abolish it by grace in Christ. The Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth whiles we are in the flesh the passions of sinnes which are by the Law do worke in our members to bring forth fruit unto death Rom. 7. 1 5. Vers. 8. the plaines of Moab in Greeke Araboth Moab by Iordan over against Iericho as v. 1. thirty daies so long they mourned also for Aaron see Num. 20. 28. Vers. 9. Iosua in Greeke Iesus the sonne of Nave of wisdome in Greek of understanding the spirit of wisdome meaneth wisdome ministred by the spirit of God wherein he was a figure of Iesus Christ who being full of the holy Spirit entred upon the worke of his ministration here on earth Luke 4. 1 c. On him the spirit of the Lord rested the spirit of wisedome and understanding the spirit of counsell and might the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord Esa. 11. 2. laid or imposed his hands upon him of this see Numb 27. 18 23. As Moses by imposition of hands authorized Iesus the sonne of Nun and bare record unto him so the Law of Moses which was in the heart and bowels of Iesus the sonne of God gave authority and bare record unto him Heb. 7. Acts 26. 22 23. Moses himselfe appeared talking with Iesus and speaking of his decease which he should accomplish at Ierusalem Luke 9. 30 31. hearkened unto him that is obeyed him as after also they promised in Ios. 1. 16. 17 18. See the notes on Num. 27. 20. Vers. 10. knew face to face the Chaldee saith was revealed unto him face to face So in Exod. 33. 11. it is said Iehovah spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend and in Num. 12. 8. he said with him will I speake mouth to mouth See the Annotations there Vers. 12. the mighty hand that is workes wrought with a mighty hand and powerfull government and administration according to that which is said Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God c. 1 Pet. 5. 6. great terrour that is workes done with great terrour which the Greeke translateth great marvels the Chaldee great visions These things doe magnifie Moses office and administration that the Lawes which he hath written confirmed by such signes and wonders might be acknowledged to be of God wherefore he and his writings are worthily celebrated thorowout the world confirmed of God himselfe Numb 12. 7 8. approved and expounded by all the Prophets after him by Christ himselfe and his Apostles so that they which heare not him will not be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16. 31. But unto us God hath raised up a Prophet like unto Moses as he promised Deu. 18. 18. Act. 3. 21. even Iesus the sonne of the Most high a man approved of God among
confessed to be exceeding great Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 1. And Claudius the Romane Emperour used to weare Emeralds and Sardonyches Plin. ibidem c. 6. so that the Latine Poets when they noted men for their statelinesse spake of their hands garnished with Sardonyches Martial l. 3. Iuvenal Sat. 6. and shew of what esteeme they were in saying gemma◠princeps Sardonychus loculis quae custoditur eburnis Iuvenal Sat. 13. The reason alleaged from Rev. 7. 5 8. that the tribes are there reckoned up by the Holy Ghost with omission of Dan otherwise than they are reckoned in any place of the old Testament weakneth not but rather confirmeth that which I have said For as there is no new person put in stead of any tribe or new name given to any tribe but such as was given before in the old Testament so neither is it likely that in Rev. 21. any other new stone should be placed than such as agreeth with the description of Moses so that the Sardonyx should be looked for in Exo. 28. among the rest Againe the omission of Dan in Rev. 7. accordeth very well with the old Testament for though Iosephs sonnes Ephraim and Manasses made two tribes Genes 48. 5 6. Num. 1. 10 33 35. so that after a sort there were thirteene yet the Scripture usually nameth and reckoneth them but twelve that the name of the twelve tribes is famous also in the new Testament Luke 22. 30. Act. 26. 7. Iam. 1. 1. Rev. 21. 12. And when they are reckoned by the Prophets one commonly is omitted for either Ioseph is named in stead of his two sonnes as in Gen. 49. or if they two be mentioned Levi for his separation to the Lords service in the Tabernacle is omitted as in Num. 13. and often or if both hee and they be expressed some one of the other is let passe as Simeon is unnamed in the blessing of the tribes Deut. 33. Accordingly the Spirit of God in Rev. 7. naming Levi and Manasses and Ioseph for his sonne Ephraim was to omit the name of some other unlesse hee should have counted 13. tribes contrary to the course of the Scriptures and scope of the matter there in hand Why Dan is not named in Revel 7. or Simeon in Deut. 33. belongeth not to this question it sufficeth that there is no new practise in Rev. 7. differing from the Prophets neither need we looke for any innovation among the precious stones Rev. 21. Thus have I according to the measure of knowledge which God hath given me and as the extreme infirmity of my body would permit made answer to the chiefe matters objected especially such as concerne the Scriptures and may by them be decided Other things wherein I have shewed either mine owne or other mens judgement I will not contend about Let not any thing which I have written be accepted without triall or further than it agreeth with the truth The learned which have interpreted and opened the Scriptures have had their second thoughts and altered both their versions and Expositions in sundry 〈◊〉 as all men know but in part For things wherein I have missed I humbly crave pardon of God and of his people to such as have the spirit in them that lusteth after envie I wish a better minde to such as love the truth encrease of knowledge and grace and for ought that is good and profitable in my labours the praise therefore be unto him that is Authour of every good gift and worke the benefit thereof unto those that love his Name which be blessed for ever Amen ANNOTATIONS VPON THE BOOKE OF PSALMES WHEREIN THE HEBREW WORDS and sentences are compared with and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions but chiefly by conference with the Holy Scriptures BY HENRY AINSWORTH 2 SAM 23. 1 2. David the sonne of Iesse said And the man who was raised up on high the anointed of the God of Iakob and the sweet Psalmist of Israel said The Spirit of Iehovah spake by me and his word was in my tongue LVKE 24. 44. All things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes LONDON Printed by John Haviland for John Bellamie and are to be sold at his shop neere the ROYALL EXCHANGE 1626. A PREFACE CONCERNING DAVID his Life and Acts. DAVID the sonne of Iesse of the tribe of Iudah of the linage of Abraham in the a 1 Chron. 2. Matth. 1. 1. 17. fourteenth generation was borne in Bethlehem a towne in the tribe of Iudah in the land of Canaan about 2917 yeares after the creation of the world in the daies when Samuel the Prophet was Iudge of Israel He was the b 1 Chro. 2. 15. seventh and youngest of all Iesses sonnes of least esteeme among them and set to keepe his fathers c 1 Sam. 16. 11. sheepe In the three and twentieth yeere of his life he was by Samuel the Prophet privately in Bethlehem anointed d 1 Sam. 16. 13. King over Israel in the midst of his brethren and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward He was e Vers. 12. ruddy of a beautifull countenance and goodly to looke to a f Vers. 18. cunning player on the Harpe a mightie valiant man of warre and prudent in speech and a comely person and the Lord was with him Who also gave him these testimonies and promises g Act. 13. 22. I have found David the sonne of Iesse a man after mine owne heart which shall fulfill 〈◊〉 my will h Psal. 89. 19. I have laid helpe on one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people with whom i Vers. 21. my hand shall be established mine arme also shall strengthen him I will k Vers. 23 c. beat downe his foes before his face and plague them that hate him In my name shall his horne be exalted I will set his hand in the sea and his right hand in the rivers I will make him my first-borne higher than the Kings of the earth My mercy will I keepe for him for ever and my covenant shall stand fast with him his seed will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the daies of heaven c. After Davids anointing in Bethlehem he went againe and fed his l 1 Sam. 16. 19. fathers sheep but the Spirit of God wrought mightily in him He killed m 1 Sam. 17. Goliath the Philistian Giant from whose face n Vers. 24. all the men of Israel fled away for feare David overcame him in the name of the Lord of hosts with a sling and with a stone He was a cunning Musitian and o 1 Sam. 16. 23. playing on his Harpe with his hand he refreshed King Saul tho was vexed with an evill spirit from the Lord. He was imployed in warres against 〈◊〉 Philistians and p 1 Sam. 18. 5. whither soever Saul sent him
12. and 132. 15. The Chaldee translateth which stablishest the world for the praises of Israel the praises in Greeke the praise of Israel that is art he to whom Israel singeth all praises for deliverances and of whom Israel gloriâ—th in all time of need So Moses said to Israel he is thy praise Deut. 10. 21. and Ier. 17. 14. Vers. 7. a worme that is weake as the Chaldee explaineth it wretched and trodden under foot So Iob 25. 6. Isa. 41. 14. Vers. 8. make a mow make an opening with the lip which may be taken both for mowing or thrusting out of the lip and for licentious opening thereof to speake reproach wag the head a signe also of scorne Esa. 37 22. Mat. 27. 39. Iob 16. 4. Psal. 44. 15. Lam. 2. 15. Vers. 9. He confidently turned or rolled that is trusted as in the New Testament this phrase is explained Mat. 27. 43. where they mocke at Christ. The Hebrew applieth this word roll or turne figuratively to a confident committing of ones selfe wayes or actions unto another as here so in Psal. 37. 5. Prov. 16. 3. and Gol properly is Roll thou but put for he rolled or trusted as the like phrase make the heart of this people fat c. Esa. 6. 10. is thus resolved this peoples heart is waxed fat c. Mat. 13. 15. or it is the indefinite to turne for he turned as in Esth. 9 16. to stand is used for they stood Vers. 11. beene cast from the wombe that is from my infancie committed to thy care and custodie So elsewhere he faith the Lord hath called me from the wombâ— c. Esa. 49. 1. Contrariwise the wicked are estranged from the wombe Psal. 58. 4. Vers. 13. bullocks chat is strong and lustie persons such as were the high Priests scribes c. that set against Christ. So the Chaldee expoundeth peoples like pushing buls mighty buls of Basan which was a fertile countrey good to feed cattell Num. 32. 4. and such as there fed were fat and strong Deu. 32. 14. Ezech. 39. 18. The Iewes were the buls of Basan as the Prophets foretold Deut. 32. 15. Amos 4. 1. Hos. 4. 16. and the historie sheweth Mat. 27. Here the word bulls is to be supplied unto the word mightie as also in Psal. 50. 13. and 68. 31. See the notes on Psal. 10. 10. Vers. 14. wide opened or gaped and this also is a signe of reproach and contempt Iob 16. 10. Lam. 3. 46. and 2. 16. Vers. 15. dispart themselves or are sundred that is out of joynt as wax that is tender and melting through faintnesse and feare Psal. 68. 3. and 57. 5. Like this is Iobs complaint God hath softned my heart Iob 23. 16. So the word following molten noteth feare and discouragement Iosh. 7. 5. and 14. 8. Deut. 20. 8. The Greeke translateth as molten wax Vers. 16. cleaveth or is made cleave to my jawes which phrase meaneth inabilitie to speake Psal. 137. 6. Iob 29. 10. Ezek. 3. 25. and sometime extremitie of thirst Lam. 4. 4. and so may have reference here to that thirst which our Saviour felt Ioh. 19. 28. hast brought me downe or set and bounded me in the dust of death meaning death it selfe or the grave which turneth men to dust Gen. 3. 19. the Chaldee turneth it the house of the grave See Psal. 7. 6. Vers. 17. dogges the Greeke addeth many dogs that is base and vile persons of rancorous disposition Iob 30. 1. Prov. 26. 11. Rev. 22. 15. Mat. 7. 6. Phil. 3. 2. Psal. 59. 7. 15. So the Chaldee paraphraseth a company of wicked sinners which are like to many dogs These were the high Priests and rulers of Israel of whom it is said that Pilate knew well that for envie they had delivered Iesus Mat. 27. 18. they Lion-like pierced The originall hath a double reading Caari like a lion and Caru they digged or pierced This latter the Greeke followeth but the Chaldee in the Masorites Bible keepeth both readings they did â—ite like a Lion This was fulfilled in the nailing of our Lord to the crosse by his feet and hands Mat. 27. 35. Ioh. 20. 25. Vers. 18. did view me or see in me namely their desire or lust or the affliction upon me they saw with delight See the like phrase Psal. 54. 9. and 59. 11. and 1187. Vers. 19. for my coat or my vesture The Souldiers when they had crucified Iesus tooke his garments and made foure parts to every Souldier a part and his coat and the coat was without seame woven from the top throughout Therefore they said one to another Let us not divide it but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the Scripture might be fulfilled c. Iob. 19. 23 24. Vers. 21. from the sword the Chaldee saith from them that kill with the sword my alonely soule which is one alone solitary and desolate So after in Psal. 35. 17. and 25. 16. and 68. 7. the Chaldee expounds it the spirit of my body hand of the dog the power of the devill the prince of this world who then came to Christ but had nought in him Iob 14. 30. Or dog is put for dogs meaning the malicious Iewes spoken of before verse 17. and hand is often put for power see Psal. 63. 11. Vers. 22. mouth of the Lion to the Devill is named 1 Pet. 5. 8. and wicked rulers Pro. 28. 15. Ier. 50. 17. The Chaldee here saith from the mouth of him that is strong as a Lion and from Kings mighty and proud like Vnicornes hornes of Vnicornes the Devils Angels principalities powers worldly governours princes of the darknesse of this world c. Ephe. 6. 12. The Vnicorne is so fierce and wild that he will not be tamed Iob 39. 12 13. c. and his strength and pride is in his horne See Psal. 92. 11. Num. 23. 22. Deut. 33. 17. Esa. 34. 7. thou hast answered for answer thou me a speech of faith inserted in his prayer therefore next followeth thanksgiving Answering is here used for safe delivering upon prayer as the Chaldee translateth hast accepted my prayer Vers. 23. to my brethren the disciples and beleevers of Christ for hee that sanctifieth and wee which are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call us brethren Heb. 2. 11 12. Ioh. 20. 17. the Church or Convocation Assembly Congregation Vers. 26. Of thee my praise or From with thee shall be my praise it shall begin and continue of thee thou art the cause and ground thereof the great Church either that assembly where Christ after his resurrection personally appeared to moe than five hundred brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 6. or the great Church of the Gentiles with whom Christ is spiritually present Mat. 28. 19 20. So after in Psal. 40. 10 11. Vers. 27. and be satisfied It was a curse of the Law that men should eat and not be satisfied Levit. 26. 26. Mic. 6. 14. but it is a
Psal. 78. 48 50 62. Deut. 23. 15. and 32. 30. Vers. 10. gnawen that is fretted and consumed as with wormes in Greeke troubled see Psalm 6. 8. Vers. 11. decayed or weakned so as one stumbleth and falleth downe through weaknesse Psal. 27. 2. So Psal. 109. 24. and 105. 17. with my iniquitie that is punishment due for iniquitie so the word often is used Gen. 19. 15. 2 King 7. 9. So whoredome for the punishment of whoredome Numb 14 33. Vers. 12. knowne acquaintance that is such as I knew respected and favoured and to whom I made knowne my minde estate c. my familiars Vers. 13. out of heart that is out of minde ot memory for the remembrance of the dead is forgotten Eccles. 9. 5. therefore the grave is the land of forgetfulnesse Psal. 88. 13. vessell of perdition that is a lost or broken vessell or instrument So Paul mentioneth vessels of perdition Rom. 9. 22. Or a vessell perishing that is ready to perish and be lost as a perishing sheepe Psal. 119. 176. Vers. 14. the infamy of many or the diffamation the ill report of mightie men The like complaint Ieremie maketh in his troubles Ier. 20. 10. fearfulnesse from every side or terrour round about In Hebrew Magor missabib which name Ieremie gave to Pashur the Priest signifying that he should be a terrour to himselfe and to all his friends Ier. 20. 3 4. This phrase Ieremie often useth Ier. 6. 25. and 46. 5. and 49. 29. Lam. 2. 22. when they plot or whiles they consult See Psal. 2. 2. Vers. 16. my times Hereby he meaneth that his many and sundry events troubles deliverances prosperities adversities life and death for all things have their appointed time Eccles. 3. 1 2. were in the hand and disposition of God Though times here as dayes in Psal. 119. 84. may chiefly be meant of his troubles as Psal. 9. 10. and 10. 1. but the Chaldee expoundeth it the times of my redemption So in 1 Chron. 29. 30. mention is made of the times that went over David and over Israel and over all the kingdomes of the lands Vers. 17. Make thy face to shine that is cause thy favourable countenance to appeare This is taken from the blessing prescribed Numb 6. 25. and is often used in requests for grace See Psal. 4. 7. and 67. 2. and 80. 4 8 20. and 119. 135. Vers. 18. silenced that is through shame and feare be confounded tamed quieted and made still The word is sometime used for cut off or destroyed and so may here be taken So Psalm 49. 13 21. The Greeke translateth let them be brought downe to hell vnderstand thrust downe to hell or to the grave as the Chaldee calleth it the house or place of buriall Vers. 19. an hard word or durable speech a reproach which lasteth long to a mans infamie The Hebrew Ghnathak signifieth durance hardnesse and antiquitie Psal. 6. 8 and respecteth both antique things long agoe 1 Chron. 4. 22. and things lasting or durable for time to come Prov. 8. 18. Isay 23. 18. And in speeches it is put for an old said saw takē up and applied to ones reproach and so during long and generally for any hard or stout speech 1 Sam. 2. 3. Psal. 94. 4. and 75. 6. The Greeke here expoundeth it iniquitie Vers. 21. Thou keepest them secret or hidest them in the hiding place of thy presence where thou alwaies lookest unto them in secret favour which the world knoweth not of rough prides or knots knobs rough troubles The Hebrew Racas signifieth Knitting or binding with knots Exod. 28. 28. and 39. 21. from which a word is derived in Isa. 40. 4. signifying knotty knobby or rough places opposed to smooth or plaine Here David useth it figuratively for rough affections or actions of men meaning their pride conspiracies or molestations as the Greek translateth from the trouble of men lay them up or hide them Hereupon Gods people are called his stored or hidden ones Psal. 83. 4. the strife of tongues plea or contradiction as the Greeke turneth it and the Apostle Iude vers 11. Vers. 22. made marvellous his mercy or marvellously severed it as Psalm 4. 4. shewed his mercy in marvellous and hidden manner As contrariwise God threatned to make marvellous the plagues of sinners Deut. 28. 59. of strong defence or of siege that is a fortified defenced citie as 2 Chron. 8. 5. or a besieged citie as 2 King 24. 10. The Hebrew Matso◠signifieth both a fort or skonce and a siege or leager Deut. 20. 20. and 28. 53. Vers. 23. my hastening away namely through amazement or feare as the word commonly intendeth Deut. 20. 3. Psal. 48. 6. 2 Sam. 4. 4. The Greeke calleth it an extasie or trance And that David hastened him away for feare is recorded 1 Sam. 23. 26. So Psal. 116. 11. cut downe Ionas in his affliction respected this speech of David and changing a letter for Nigrazti saith Nigrashti I am driven away from before thy face c. Ionas 2. 4. So the Greeke here translateth it I am cast away Vers. 24. the faithfull or keepeth fidelities as Isa. 26. 2. The originall word signifieth either faithfull persons or truths fidelities as Psal. 12. 2. The Greeke here hath truths payeth abundantly or to abundance with surplusage that doth haughtinesse This sense the Greek giveth The Hebrew may also thus be Englished he that is God doth haughtinesse that is high magnificent acts For the originall word Gaavah sometime noteth Gods high magnificence Psalm 68. 35. sometime mans haughtie pride Psal. 10. 2. Vers. 25. wax strong or he will strengthen See Psal. 27. 14. hopefully wait or persevere with hope and patience The word jachal implieth both a patient waiting Gen. 8. 10. and a hope or trusting as the holy Ghost expoundeth it Mat. 12. 21. from Isa. 42. 4. for Iehovah which the Chaldee expoundeth the word of the Lord. PSAL. XXXII David teacheth that blessednesse consisteth in remission of sinnes 3 Hiding of sinnes causeth trouble but confession giveth ease to the conscience 8 An instruction unto voluntary obedience 10 The different ends of the wicked and of the just An instructing Psalme of David O Blessed hee whose trespasse is forgiven whose sinne is covered O blessed is the man to whom Iehovah imputeth not iniquitie and in whose spirit is no deceit Because I ceased speaking my bones wore away with age in my roring all the day For day night thy hand was heavy upō me my moisture was turned into the droughts of summer Selah My sin I acknowledged to thee and my iniquitie I covered not I said I will confesse against me my trespasses to Iehovah and thou forgavest the iniquitie of my sinne Selah For this shall every gracious Saint pray unto thee at the time of finding surely at the floud of many waters unto him they shall not reach Thou art a secret place to me from distresse thou wilt preserve me with shouting songs of deliverance thou
of her odours better than all spices the smell of her garments as the odour of Lebanon shee being perfumed with myrrh and incense and all spices of the merchant Song 4. 10 11. and 3. 6. yet Christ himselfe is more odoriferous even wholly delectable for God hath not given him the spirit by measure Song 1. 2. and 5. 16. Ioh. 3. 34. And the Saints are said to make Christ joyfull for all his delight is in them Psal. 16. 3. Song 7. 6. Vers. 10. Kings daughters These the Chaldee interpreteth Countries of Kingdomes among thy precious ones that is with thy honourable women or in thy preciousnesse that is are in thy precious honourable ornaments or palaces set is the Queene or maried Queene the wife is placed at thy right hand that is in the most honourable place 1 King 2. 19. The Chaldee referreth this to the Booke of the Law at the right hand of the King The word Shegal is used here and Neh. 2. 6. Dan. 5. 23. for the Kings wife the Queene in fine gold that is as the Greeke explaineth it cloth of fine or glistering gold called Cethem a speciall name for the most pure and splendent gold Job 28. 16. 19. and 31. 24. Song 5. 11. Daniel 10. 5. Her of is Mictam Ps. 16. 1. of Ophir that is out of the land of Ophir who was the son of Iektan the son of Shē the son of Noach Gen. 10. 29. who dwelt in a part of India of him the countrey was called Ophir from thence was much Cethem or fine gold brought to Iudea and other coasts as appeareth 1 King 9. 28. and 10. 11. and 22. 48. 1 Chron. 29. 4. The gold it selfe was called by his name Ophir Iob 22. 24. Vers. 11. Heare O daughter Hee speaketh to the Queene fore-mentioned siguring the church or heavenly Ierusalem the Lambs wife Rev. 21. 9 10 c. And so the Chaldee paraphraseth Heare O congregation of Israel the law of his mouth and see his marvellous workes and bow thine eare to the words of the Law and forget the evill workes of the wicked of thy people and the house of Idols whom thou servedst in thy fathers house and thy fathers house As man and wife must leave their parents to cleave each to other Gen. 4. 24. and 31. 14. so must wee leave all to cleave unto Christ Matt. 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26. Vers. 12. will covet thy beauty will delight him-selfe in thy fairenesse thy sanctitie set forth in Song 1. 14. and 2. 14. and 4. 1 c. So the King is tied in the rafters Song 7. 5. and bow downe or therefore worship thou him Vers. 13. the daughter of Tyrus that is the people or Common-wealth of Tyre as daughter of Sion Psal. 9. 15. So the Chaldee expoundeth it They that dwell in the fort of Tyrus Tyre or Tyrus in Hebrew Tsor which signifieth a Rocke or Fortresse was a strong city appertaining to the tribe of Aser Ios. 19. 29. but possessed still by the heathens whose King Hiram became friend to David 2 Sam. 5. 11. and to Solomon his sonne 1 King 5. 1 2 c. yet afterwards Tyrus remembred not the brotherly covenant Amos 1. 9. but rejoyced at the desolation of Ierusalem Ezek. 26. 2. banded it selfe with other enemies against Israel Psal. 83. 8. was wasted of Nebuchadnezar King of Babel by Gods judgement 70. yeares Esai 23. 15. Ezek. 26. 7. It continued under idols till the Macchabees times and then had still Hercules for their chiefe God 2 Mac. 4. 18 19. This one city Tyre is here named in stead of other nations because it was the chiefe citie of traffique in the world being an I le in the sea whose merchandize and magnificence the Prophet largely describeth Ezek. 27. her merchants were princes her chapmen the nobles of the world Esai 23. 8. shee heaped up silver as dust and gold as the mire of the streets Zach. 9. 3. Of the subjection here prophesied which they should yeeld unto the Church we may see it fulfilled in the new Testament where many that dwelt about Tyre and Sidon flocked after Christ Mark 3. 8. and he resorted into their borders Mark 7. 24. and by their readinesse hee upbraided the backwardnesse of the Iewes Mat. 11. 20 21. and afterwards in the Apostle◠dayes there was a Church of zealous Christians in that city Act. 21. 3 4 5 c. See also Psal. 87. 4. carnestly beseeke thy face shall instantly pray or sue unto thee O Queene The originall word naturally signifieth to make sicke or sory and being joyned with the word face which oft is used for anger it meaneth to abate the anger by importunate praier and by humble sute to prevaile So after Psal. 119. 58. rich of the people the wealthy among them meaning of the Tyrians which were a wealthy nation and generally other peoples See Esa. 60. 1 3 5 11. and 49. 23. Rev. 21. 24 26. where the riches and honour of the Gentiles are brought to the Church Vers. 14. glorious within or honourable inward in the heart adorned with faith hope love c. or in the inner man as Eph. 3. 16. Here the Chaldee maketh this paraphrase Every thing that is praise-worthy faire to be desired the wealth of countries and treasuries of Kings which are laid up within shall they offer for oblations before the King and gifts unto the Priests whose garments are woven with fine gold purled works or grounds closures of gold such as precious stones are set in Exod. 28. 11 14. Compare also herewith Ezek. 16. 13. Vers. 15. In embroideries with broidered or needle wrought garments Hereby is meant the varietie of graces and embroidery of the spirit So Ezek. 16. 10. Vers. 17. In stead of thy fathers Here the Hebrew is of the masculine gender so these words are spoken to the King Though sometime the masculine is used in speech of women as Num. 27. 7. So lahem 1 King 22. 17. lahen 2 Chron. 18. 16. shall be thy sonnes thy children shall succeed meaning either all Christias that by the immortall seed of the word are begotten to Christ his Church he being the father this the mother of vs all Isa. 9. 6. Gal. 4. 26. or in speciall the Apostles may be intended See Heb. 2. 13. shalt put them shalt place constitute or appoint them for Princes As all Christians are called Kings Rev. 1. 6. and 5. 10. Or in speciall by the Fathers may be meant the 12 Patriarchs by the sonnes the 12 Apostles succeeding them as the heavenly Ierusalem hath at the 12 gates the names of the 12 tribes and in the foundations of the wall the names of the lambes 12 Apostles Rev. 21. 12 14. which Apostles were sent into all the nations of the world Mat. 28. 19. to goe and bring forth fruit and their fruit to remaine Ioh. 15. 16. Like this is the promise made for Sarah that Kings of peoples should come of her
Melchisedek Gen. 14. 18. afterwards called Ierusalem whereof see the notes on Psal. 51. 20. The Greeke translateth it in Peace which is the interpretation of the name Salem as the Apostle sheweth Heb. 7. 2. The Chaldee paraphrase saith Ierusalem his tabernacle or tent pavilion which is both a meane dwelling and a moveable Lev. 13. 42 43. Heb. 11. 9 10. For both Moses Tabernacle and Solomons Temple were meane cottages in respect of Gods glory 1 King 8. 27. Vers. 4. burning arrowes or fiery darts as the Apostle calleth the tentations of that wicked one Ephes. 6. 16. The Hebrew Riâ—â—phei is properly burning coles Song 8. 6. figuratively here the glistering brasse-beaded arrowes elsewhere the fiery thunder bolts Psal. 78. 48. and burning plague Deut. 32. 24. Habak 3. 5. likened to arrowes Ps. 91. 5. Here it may leade us to minde this Psalme to celebrate the victories against Satan figured by the vanquishing of the Assyrians and other enemies 2 King 19. 35. The Chaldee explaineth it thus When the house of Israel did his will he placed his divine majesty among them there brake hee the arrowes and bowes of people that warred shield and sword and battle-ray destroyed he for ever and the warre that is the army of warriers the battle-array See Psal. 27. 3. And thus Shalem or Peace is maintained by breaking all warlike instruments as Esa. 2. 4. Vers. 5. Bright made light that is Glorious speaking to God as vers 7. wondrous excellent magnificent see Psal. 8. 2. mounts of prey the mountaines of the Lions and Leopards Song 4. 8. meaning the kingdomes of this world which make prey and spoile one of another like wilde beasts Dan. 7. 4. 5 6 7. whom the Lambe on mount Sion excelleth in power and glory Revel 14. 1. and 17. 14. Or from the mounts of prey that is when thou commest from conquering the enemies which lie in the mountaines to make prey of thy people V. 6. mighty of heart or stout stubborn-hearted a title of the wicked that are farre from justice E 〈…〉 46. 12. called here in Greek unwise in heart their sleepe their eternall sleepe Ier. 51. 39 57. the slâ—â—pe of death Psa. 13. 4. So in the next verse none of Hebr. all or any have not found that is none found So 1 Ioh. 3. 15. every man-slayer hath not that is none hath life See also Psa. 143. 2. men of power able men for strength courage and riches in which last sense the Greeke taketh it here these did not resist or could not as Psal. 77. 5. They were not able as the Chaldee saith to take their weapons in their hands Vers. 7. thy rebuke that is punishment destruction see Ps. 9. 6. chariot that is Princes and Captaines riding on chariots horses on which they were wont of old to fight Iudg. 4. 3. 1 King 22. 31. 34. These all by Gods rebuke have beene slaine as in the campe of Asshur 2 King 19. 35. and the host of Antichrist Rev. 19. 18 21. Vers. 8. when thou art angry Hebr. from then that is from the time of thine anger after thine anger is once kindled Vers. 9. the earth or the land which the Chaldee understandeth thus the land of the heathens feared the land of Israel was quiet V. 11. shall confesse thee that is shall turne to thy praise when thy people are delivered from the rage of their foes the remnant or the reâ—â—under that is thy people which remaine and perish not in the rages of the wicked thou wilt gird to wit with joyfulnesse that they shall sing praise to thee as the Greek explaineth it shall keepe a feast to thee As in Ioel 1. 13. Gird ye there is understood with sorrow or sackcloth so here seemeth to be understood joy or gladnesse wherewith persons or things are said to be girded Ps. 30. 12. and 65. 13. or thou wilt gird with strength as Ps. 18. 40. Or if we referre it to the hot rage of the wicked the residue thereof thou wilt gird that is binde or restraine from attempting further evill Vers. 12. Vow ye men in danger or deliuered from it were wont to make vowes unto God Genes 28. 20. Iona 1. 16. Psal. 66. 13 14. round about him a description of his people as the twelve tribes pitched round about the Tabernacle Numb 2. 2. and the foure and twenty Elders were round about Gods throne Revel 4. 4. So the Chaldee expoundeth it ye that dwell about his Sanctuary to the feare that is the most fearefull God called Feare or Terrour for more reverence and excellency unto whom all feare is due as Isai. 8. 12. 13. Malach. 1. 6. So Iakob called God the Feare of his father Isaak Genes 31. 53. And this was performed when after Asshurs overthrow many brought offerings to the Lord 2 Chron. 32. 21 23. Vers. 13. To him that gathereth so the Greeke to him that taketh away or wee may reade Hee gathereth or Cutteth off as in vintage a similitude from grape-gatherers which cut off the clusters of the vines applied here to the cutting off the lives of men The like is in Rev. 14. 18 19 20. also in Iudg. 20. 45. The Chaldee explaineth it To him that represseth the pride of the spirit of governours God to be feared above all Kings of the earth ... Governours or Princes Captaines that leade and goe before the people So Gods Angell destroied all the valiant men and Princes and Captaines in the Campe of the King of Asshur 2 Chro. 32. 21. PSAL. LXXVII The Psalmist sheweth what fierce combat hee had with diffidence 11 The victory which he had by consideration of Gods great and gracious workes done of old To the Master of the Musicke to Ieduthun a Psalme of Asaph MY voice was to God and I cried out my voice was to God and he gave eare unto mee In day of my distresse I sought the Lord my hand by night reached out and ceased not my soule refused to be comforted I remembred God and made a troubled noise I meditated and my spirit was overwhelmed Selah Thou heldest the watches of mine eies I was stricken amazed and could not speake I recounted the daies of antiquity the yeeres of ancient times I remembred my melody in the night with my heart I meditated and my spirit searched diligently Will the Lord cast off to eternities and not adde favourably to accept any more Is his mercy ceased to perpetuity is his word ended to generation and generation Hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he shut up in anger his tender mercy Selah And I said doth this make me sicke the change of the right hand of the most high I will record the actions of Iah surely I will remember thy miracle from antiquity And I will meditate of all thy worke and will discourse of thy practises O God thy way is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as God Thou art the God that doest a marvellous worke thou hast
of brasse 1 Chron. 15. 19. the Harpes and Psalteries were of fine wood 2 Chro. 9. 11. These are called the instruments of musicke or of the song of the Lord 2 Chron. 7. 6. and David appointed them to be used continually before the Arke 1 Chron. 16. 4 5 6. and divided by lot the Levites which were Musicians into foure and twenty wards 1 Chron. 25. and they were by their courses to stand every morning to confesse and to praise the Lord and likewise at evening 1 Chron. 23. 30. And when Solomon had builded the Temple he continued therein the order set by David his father so that the Levites Singers and Musicians being arayed in white linnen having Cymbals and Psalteries and Harpes stood at the end of the Altar and with them an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with Trumpets and the Trumpeters and Singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and confessing to the Lord 2 Chron. 5. 12 13. and 7. 6. and 8. 14. This order when it was interrupted by the sinne of the Iewes King Ezekias restored 2 Chron. 30. 21. that when the Burnt-offering began the song of the Lord began also with the Trumpets and with the Instruments ordained by David King of Israel and all the Congregation worshipped and the Singers sang and the Trumpeters sounded all this continued untill the Burnt-offering was finished 2 Chron. 29. 27 28. The same order of song and musicke continued in the second Temple after their returne from Babylon as appeareth by Ezra 3. 10 11. and Nehem. 12. 24 27 35 36 42 45. In the Psalmes of David we finde mention also of Flutes or Pipes and Timbrels and other Instruments used with songs of praise unto God Psal. 149. 3. and 150. 3 4 5. The Hebrew Doctors have recorded some things more particularly thus They said the song over all the Burnt-offerings of the Congregation which they were bound to offer and over the Peace-offerings of the solemne assemblie at the time when the wine the Dring-offering was powred out But the voluntarie Burnt-offerings which the congregation offered and the Drinke-offerings brought for them they said not the song over them A Levite that mourned might not serve or sing And there might not be fewer then twelve Levites standing upon the banke or stage every day to say the song over the sacrifice but they might alwayes have moe so many as they would And they said not the song but by mouth without instrument For the root or foundation of the Musicke is that it be a service by mouth And there were others standing there playing with instruments of Musicke And they played on Psalteries and Pipes and Harpes and Trumpets and Cymball There might not bee fewer than two Psalteries nor moe than six not fewer than two Pipes nor moe than twelve not fewer than two Trumpets nor moe than an hundred and twenty so many as were at the dedication of the Temple 2 Chron. 5. 12. Not fewer than nine Harpes but as many moe as they would and but one Cymball onely In all the dayes of the solemne feasts and at the new Moones there were Priests blowing with Trumpets in the houre of the sacrifice Numb 10. 10. and the Levites said the song The Trumpets were of silver and it was not lawfull to have them of other metall The Pipes which they played on were of Cane or Reed The Psalterie Nebel was an instrument like a bottle and it had strings and they played thereon Twelve dayes in the yeere they played on the Pipe before the Altar at the killing of the first Passover and at the killing of the second Passover and in the first good day of the Passover and in the first good day of the Retention or Pentecost and in the eight dayes of the Feast of Tabernacles Maimony in Misn. tom 3. in Cle hammikdash chap. 3. and Thalmud Bab. in Erachin chap. 2. These ordinances being ended by the comming of Christ who was to destroy the Citie and the Sanctuary and to cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease Dan. 9. 26 27. it remaineth that now the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdome and that wee be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs singing with grace and making melodie in our hearts to the Lord Coloss. 3. 16. Ephesians 5. 18 19. SOLOMONS SONG OF SONGS IN ENGLISH METRE VVITH ANNOTATIONS AND REFERENCES TO OTHER SCRIPTVRES FOR THE EASIER VNDERSTANDING OF IT BY HENRY AINSWORTH PSAL. 45. 11. 12. 11 Heare ô daughter and see and bend thine eare and forget thy people and thy fathers house 12 And the King will covet thy beauty for he is thy Lord and bow-downe thy selfe to him EPHES. 5. 32. 23. 25. 26. 27. 32 This is a great mystery but I speake concerning Christ and concerning the Church 23 Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body 25 Christ also loved the Church and gave himselfe for it 26 That he might sanctifie and clense it with the washing of water by the word 27 That he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Imprinted in the yeere 1626. THE SONG OF SONGS CHAPTER I. The Song of Songs which is Solomons LEt him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loves are better then wine For the savour of thy good ointments thy name is an ointment powred-forth therefore the Virgins love thee Draw me wee will runne after thee the King hath brought me into his chambers wee will be glad and rejoyce in thee wee will remember thy loves more then wine the upright love thee I am blacke and comely ô ye daughters of Ierusalem as the tents of Kedar as the curtaines of Solomon Looke not upon me because I am blackish because the Sunne hath looked downe upon me the sonnes of my mother have beene angry with mee they made me the keeper of the Vine-yards my Vineyard which is mine I have not kept Tell me ô thou whom my soule loveth where thou feedest where thou makest to rest at noone for why should I be as one that turneth-aside unto the flockes of thy companions If thou know not ô thou fairest among women goe thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock and feed thy kiddes besides thy shepheards tents I have compared thee ô my love to the company-of-horses in the charrets of Pharaoh Thy cheekes are comely with rowes thy necke with chaines We will make for thee rowes of gold with speckes of silver While the King sitteth at his round-table my spikenard giveth forth the smell thereof A bundle of myrrh is my welbeloved unto me he shall lyeall-night betwixt my breasts A cluster of Cypres is my wel-beloved unto me in the Vineyards of Engedi Behold thou art faire my love behold thou art faire
thus wast thou decked with gold and silver Ezek. 16. 11. 12. 13. The spirituall signification according to either similitude is one and the same as after shall bee shewed rowes in Hebr. Torim which being of the singular Tor signifieth a disposition row or orderly course of things and hath affinity with Torah which hath the name of the Law in Hebrew and the one is put as an examplanation of the other as David said Is this the Law of man ô Lord God 2 Samuel 7. 19. which another Prophet relateth thus thou hast regarded me according to the order disposition or estate of a man of high degree ô Lord God 1 Chron. 17. 17. And indeed the Law of God is his ordinance or orderly disposition of his precepts the rules and canons of our life The same word Tor is also used for a Turtle-dove and Torim are Turtles as in the law of sacrifices Lev. 12. which some therefore take here to be jewels or ornaments that had the figures of Turtle doves And so the Greeke version here translateth How beautifull are thy cheekes as of a turtle dove But in the verse following where the same word is againe used the Greeke translateth We will make for thee similitudes of gold chaine 's in Heb. Charuzim a word not found but in this one place translated in Gr. collars or chaines and is interpreted by the Hebrew Doctors chaines or jewels hanged on a string like chaines to put about the necke These rowes and chaines signifie the Lawes and ordinances of God wherewith he adorneth the face and necke of his Church that in her profession practice and obedience she may bee comely and gracious in the sight of God and his people and being guided by them may vanquish her enemies Thus Solomon elsewhere saith there is gold and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel Proverb 20. 15. And againe My sonne heare the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thine head and chains about thy necke Proverb 1. 8. 9. They meane also the gracious effects which the Law and doctrine of God worketh in his people of humility reverence and other vertues as on the contrary pride and other like vices are said to compasse evill men about as a chaine and violence to cover them as a garment Psalme 73. 6. Likewise holy persons that teach instruct reprove and such as receive doctrine and reproofe Proverb 25. 12. and reproofes themselves are pearles Matth. 7. Thus also the Hebrewes understood this Scripture as the Chaldee paraphrase here saith When the Israelites went forth into the Wildernesse the Lord said unto Moses How fayre is this people that the words of the Law should bee given unto them that they may be as bridles in their jawes that they depart not out of the good way as an horse goeth not aside that hath a bridle in his jawes and how faire is their necke to beare the yoake of my precepts that they may bee upon them as a yoake on thenecke of a bullocke that ploweth in the field and feedeth both it selfe and the master thereof Vers. 11. We will make for thee A promise of encrease of graces to the Church by We is understood the mystery of the Trinity as in Genesis 1. 26. Let us make man So in Rev. 1. 4. 5. Grace and peace is wished from the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost and in 1 Corinth 12. 4. 5. 6. the diversities of gifts are noted to be of the Spirit the diversities of ministeries whereby those gifts are administred to be of the Lord Christ and the diversities of operations effected by the gifts and ministeries to bee of God the Father The Hebrewes also as Sol. larchi here interpret it I and my judgement hall by which phrase the Trinity of old was implyed though now the faithlesse deny the same for a judgement hall in Israel consisted of three at the least which in their close manner of speech they applyed unto GOD but their posterity understood it not Christ here teacheth his Church that every grace and good gift is from GOD as also the increase thereof Iames 1. 17. Ephes. 3. 16. that the spirituall ornaments are of his making who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Also that to him that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundance Matth. 13. 12. As in our bodies wee come naked into this world without clothes or ornaments so is the estate of our soules by nature naked and bare Ezek. 16. 4. 7. till Christ of his grace by his Spirit clotheth and adorneth us Revelation 3. 18. rowes of gold he spake before of rowes simply now he addeth of gold either to signifie more excellent ordinances and graces under the Gospell then under the Law as hee promiseth For brasse I will bring gold and for â—ron I will bring silver c. Esay 60. 17. that should proceed from faith and love and not from feare as when shee was under the bridle of the Law for wee should not bee like horse and mule whose jaw must bee bound with bit and bridle Psalme 32. 9. and yeeld obedience by constraint or it meaneth a new supply of graces so that we are changed into the image of God from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Corinth 3. 18. These promises may respect both the rules ordinances gifts and graces bestowed on his people Proverbes 20. 15. and the persons themselves that are furnished with those graces as the precious sonnes of Zion are said to bee comparable to fine gold Lament 4. 1. speckes of silver in Greeke markes of silver which word markes Stigmata Paul useth in Galatians 6. 17. speaking of the markes of the Lord Iesus by suffering for his Gospell Here it meaneth variety of graces in the communion of the Saints for their mutuall helpe comfort and delight as is opened in Proverb 25. 11. 12. A word fitly spoken is like Apples of gold with pictures of silver As an eare-ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient eare Where we are taught that both instructions and reproofes are the ornaments of the Saints when they are prudently uttered and obediently received Neither of which can bee without the speciall grace of God who both maketh these ornaments for us and maketh us fit to receive and put them on for The hearing eare and the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them Proverbs 20. 12. The Chaldee paraphrast expoundeth this verse of the Law which God gave unto Israel on the two tables by the hand of Moses But though the ordinances of the Law were likened to gold and silver wherewith the Church then was decked as God telleth them in Ezekiel 16. 13. and the law of his mouth was better to his people then thousands of gold and
in the eyes of Christ and when she obeyeth the voyce of God and forgetteth and forsaketh her owne naturall corruptions he taketh delight in her beauty as it is said Hearken ô daughter and consider and encline thine eare forget also thine owne people and thy fathers house so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty c. Psal. 45. 10. 11. Thus is the prophesie fulfilled with the joy of the Bridegroome over the Bride thy God will rejoyce over thee Esay 62. 5. doves so in Chap. 4. 1. These doves eyes wherewith the Spouse is beautified doe set forth the simplicity sincerity humility meeknesse but especially the spirituall chastity of the Church whose eyes are unto Christ alone looking unto him for life and salvation Matth. 10. 16. Psalme 123. Philip. 3. 7. 10. Esay 17. 7. 8. Ezekiel 18. 6. and 20. 7. observing his wayes Prov. 23. 26. not beholding evill nor looking on iniquity Habak 1. 13. Contrary to which are the lofty eyes Proverb 30. 13. eyes after idols Ezekiel 20. 24. eyes full of adultery 2 Peter 2. 14. eyes beholding strange women Prov. 23. 33. and the like Vers. 16. Thou art faire The Spouse returneth the prayse of beauty unto her beloved who is much fairer then the sonnes of Adam Psalme 45. 2. 3. from whom all her fairenesse is derived so that the prayse thereof belongeth not to her but unto him Psalme 115. 1. as the Apostle saith I live yet not I but Christ liveth in mee and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved me and gave himselfe for me Galat. 2. 20. Howbeit though Christ be most faire and beauty it selfe yet such was his basenesse and sufferings in the flesh as his visage was marred more then any man and his forme more then the sonnes of men Esay 52. 14. and 53. 2. 3. and such he often appeareth unto the world to be in the Church partaker of his afflictions But the eye of faith beholdeth his spirituall beauty through all tribulations and glorieth therein Roman 8. 35. 39. 1 Peter 1. 5. 6 and 4. 12. 13. 14. And when the mysteries of the Gospell are opened and the ordinances of Christ faithfully taught and practised then doth the Spouse behold the King in his beauty Esay 33. 17. And of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace Iohn 1. 16. yea pleasant or also pleasant amiable delightfull beautifull This is an addition unto the beauty of Christ in respect of his pleasant and gracious administration of his covenant doctrines reproofes c. For the Lords staffe called Beauty or Pleasantnesse signifieth his Covenant made with the people Zachar. 11 10. and David desired to remaine in the Lords house all the dayes of his life that he might behold the pleasantnesse or beauty of the Lord Psalme 27. 4. and Moses desireth that the pleasantnesse of the Lord might bee upon them in the performance of his covenant and promises Psalme 90. 17. And Solomon sheweth that pleasantnesse shall bee unto them that rebuke the wicked Proverb 24. 24. 25. All which and the like have their accomplishment in Christ teaching admonishing reproving comforting his people with words of grace whose pleasant words are as an honey combe sweet to the soule and health to the bones Prov. 16. 24. our bed or our bedstead Beds were used either to rest and sleepe upon as Psal. 132. 3. 4. or to sit upon when they did eate and banquet as we doe at tables Esth. 1. 5. 6. Amos 6. 4. Ezek. 23. 41. And figuratively the place of offring sacrifices is called a bed Esay 57. 7. greene or flourishing and fruitfull for it is not ment so much of colour as of flourishing growth and increase This word applied unto men meaneth prosperous and flourishing estate as Nebuchadnezar said I was at rest in my house and greene or flourishing in my palace Dan. 4. 4. and David likeneth himselfe to a greene or flourishing olive tree in the house of God Psal. 52. 10. where the Greeke translateth it a fruitfull olive Hereby then the Church signifieth that by her communion with Christ whether by the similitude of bed or board she became flourishing and fruitfull as is said of them that are planted in the Lords house They shall still bring forth fruit in hoary age they shall be fat and green Psal. 92. 13. 14. And this is the nature of the Gospell where it is received by faith that it bringeth forth fruit and maketh men fruitfull in every good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God Colos. 1. 6. 10. It may here also signifie the increase of the children of the Church which are begotten by the immortall seed of the word through the power of Christ giving a blessing to the ministery of the same The Chaldee Paraphrast expoundeth this speech thus The congregation of Israel answered before the Lord of the world how faire is the Majesty of thy holinesse in the time that thou dwellest amongst us and in favourable acceptation receivest our prayers and in the time that thou dwellest in our beloved bed and our children are multiplyed on the earth and we doe grow and multiply like a tree that is planted by a spring of waters whose leafe is faire and whose fruit is abundant Vers. 17. The beames or the rafters it meaneth the timber whereof beames or rafters are made which are called by this name when they are cut downe in the wood as in 2 Kings 6. 2. 5. houses or adifices so named of building Such figured the Churches of Christ as in a Timothy 3. 15. the house of God is expounded the Church of the living God and the faithfull Hebrewes were the house of Christ Hebrewes 3. 6. Cedars trees strong tall and durable the timber whereof is of sweet smell and it rotteth not To such Cedars the Saints of God are compared Psalme 92. 13. and the Tabernacles of Israel are by Balaam likened unto such for goodlinesse Numbers 24. 5. 6. This wood was used in Solomons Temple 1 King 6. 9. 36. and 7. 12. and he made it common in Israel he made Cedars like the Sycomore trees which are in the vale for abundance 1 Kings 10. 27. prefiguring the graces which should abound under Christ. galleries walking places named of running because they runne along by the house sides Elsewhere the word is used for gutters wherein waters runne Genesis 30. 38. 41. Exodus 2. 16. which may also have use here to signifie the pipes and conduits of Gods graces through which the waters of his Spirit are conveyed into their hearts But because she spake of houses this may rather be understood of galleries signifying the meanes of conversing with Christ in the communion of his graces See the notes on Song 7. 5. Brutine trees or Boratine trees The Hebrew Brothim is found onely in this place and seemeth to be that which in Latine is called Brute which is a tree like Cypres
sweet perfume Exod. 30. which perfume figured the mediation of Christ the Angell which offereth much incense w ch the prayers of all saints Rev. 8. 3. So through his death and intercession the Church hath her sweet smell and all her garments are Myrrh aloes and Cassia Psal. 45. with all powder or above all powder that is powders or spices of the Merchant That is with all other graces that Christ hath bestowed upon her by the preaching of his Gospell Or those forenamed Myrrh and Frankincense which shee hath from Christ are above all other graces and gifts which can be attained to in this word of the merchant or of the spice merchant as the word is englished in 1 Kin. 10. 15. But the Gr. interpreteth it Apothecarie or Ointment maker Such were of the Priests under the Law which made the ointment of the spices 1 Chron. 9. 30. and such now are the Ministers of the Gospell uttering the word and graces of the Spirit Ver. 7. Behold his bed which is Solomons an Hebrew manner of speech explained thus in Greeke Behold the bed of Solomon Some understand here his bed like that which was Solomons others above or better theÌ„ that which was Solomons The Spirit here calleth us to behold the guard which was about Solomons bed for his safety and security froÌ„ feare Solomon in his name Kingly office wisedome and royalty was a figure of Christ who is greater then Solomon Mat. 12. 42. and his bed is above Solomons Christs bed here seemeth to meane the hearts of the elect as in Song 1. 13. the Spouse said he shold lodge betwixt her brests in whose hearts Christ dwelleth by faith Ephes. 3. 17. and there taketh his repose and rest And this habitation or ledging was figured by the Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon 1 Cor. 6. 19. Therefore the Chaldee paraphrast who saw not Christ but in shadowes applyed this bed to the Temple which Solomon built 60. mightie ones or 60. valiants strong men Solomons bed was guarded with sixtie of the Valiants or mighty men of Israel that hee might bee safe from perill figuring the safe guarding and keeping of the hearts and minds of Gods elect both by their own diligent watch over their hearts and wayes as it is written Above all observation keepe thy heart for oâ—â— of it are the â—ssues of life Pro. 4. 23. wherein whiles they keepe sound wisedome and discretion when they lye downe they shall not be afraid yea they lye downe and their sleepe is sweet Pro. 3. 21. 24. as also by the safe keeping and protection of God by whose power the Saints are guarded or kept through faith unto salvation 1. Pet. 1. 5. so that they are not afraid for the terrour of the night or for the arrow that flyeth by day Psal. 91. 1. 5. the peace of God which passeth â—l understanding doth keep or guard their hearts and minds through Christ Iesus Phil. 4. 7. And in speciall this is done by the Ministers of Christ that watch and wake for the soules of his people Heb. 13. 17. Act. â—0 28. 31. as his servants of old did stand in the house of the Lord in the nights Psal. 134. 1. might it ones of Israel what mighty valiants were in Israel appeareth by Davids Worthies which helped him in his wars and are mentioned in 1 Chron. 11 10. 47. and 12. 1. 38. They figured such strong men as have the word of God abiding in them and doe overcome the wicked one 1 Ioh. 2. 14. V. 8. hold the sword or holden apprehended of the sword that is girded therewith The word of God is the sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6. 17. which men do then hold when they hold forth the word of life Phil. 2. 16. and therewith resist Satan and all enemies and by faith doe overcome 1 Ioh. 2. 14. and 5. 4. expert or learned taught as the Greeke translateth it being taught of God who teacheth the hands of his people to war 2. Sam. 22. 35. so that they fight the good fight of faith 1 Tim. 6. 12. and by long custome are inured and skilfull in the Lords battels and have their senses exercised to discerne good and evill Heb. 5. 14. Such in figure were the sons of Reuben Gad and Manasses 1 Chron 5. 18. his swordon his thigh by his side prepared and ready to fight as Exod. 32. 27. So unto Christ it is said Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O mighty one Psal. 45. 4. feare in the nights or dread terror in the nights the dreadfull evills that are secret and unseene and every night do endanger For thefts murders treasons and other mischiefes are often done in the night as experience and the scriptures testifie Iob 24. 14. Ier. 6. 5. Neh. 6. 10. Dan. 5. 30. 1 Cor. 11. 23. Mat. 13. 25. Prov. 7. 9. 22. and then it is needfull to watch stand ready armed Neh. 4. 22. Mat. 24. 43. and 26. 31. 41. So Christians which are to wrastle against manifold tentations and against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spirituall wickednesses in high places are willed to take unto them the whole armour of God and to stand having their loynes girded c. Ephes. 6. 12. 13. 14. V. 9. a charret The Hebrew Apirjon is not found but in this one place translated in the Greek Phoreion which is a thing to cary upon as a charet licter or the like but after the Hebrew it hath the name of fairenesse or gloriousnesse and of fruitfulnesse Some take it be a throne some a pallace some a bed Sol. Iarchi expounds it a secret chamber for honor to wit such as is made for the Bride Bridegoome The Chaldee expoundeth this of the temple which Solomon made of the wood of Lebanon but that temple was a figure of Christ and of his Church to which we may better referre it Of Christ it may be meant in respect of his human nature which was all glorious without spot of sinne which humanity he made and assumed to himselfe with all the glorious graces of the spirit for the salvation of his elect the daughters of Ierusalem Of the Ministers of Christ or the Church his mysticall body it may as I thinke rather here bee spoken which by the preaching profession and practise of the Gospell carieth Christ as a charret holding forth the word of truth and of salvation in the midst wherof Christ sitteth teaching governing and triumphing So the former similitude of the Bed signifieth the more secret state of the Church in times of danger this of the charret betokeneth the more open glory of the same by the publishing and practising of the Gospell wood or trees of LebanoÌ„ that is of Cedar wood that grew on LebanoÌ„ figuring the Saints likned to Cedars in Lebanon Ps. 92. 12. 13. of which as of the matter Christ maketh his Church Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Ver. 10. the pillars This if it be referred to persoÌ„s meaneth
14. which may also be meant here seeing after her haire is likened to purple and these were colours worne of Princes and great personages and so meet for this Princes daughter verse 1. and for the attire of her head on which she weareth the hope of salvation through the blood of Christ which these colours also prefigured for an helmet 1 Thes. 5. 8. hayre The originall word dallath is no where used for hayre but in this one place as the Greek also interpreteth it properly it signifieth slendernesse or tenuitie and so meaneth small and slender hayre Some take it for a small lace or head band wherewith the attire of the head was tyed This her hayre-like purple denoteth her cogitations and purposes to bee holy heavenly and as dyed in the blood of Christ. The Chaldee paraphrase applyeth the head here spoken of to the King the chiefe Governour in Israel and the slender hayre to the poore of the people which should bee clad in purple as was Daniel Mordecai c. See the notes on Song 4. 1. where the Spouses hayre was likened to a flocke of goats that description differing from this seemeth to imply a variety of estate for Gods people are not alwaies of like condition in this world though ever glorious in his eyes the King is bound in the galleries By the King in this Song is meant Solomon that is Christ. Reâ—atim which the Greeke here likewise translateth galleries is in Genesis 30. 38. 41. and Exod. 2. 16. gutters wherein waters runne for the flocke to drinke unto which some thinke this place hath reference but in Song 1. 17. rahitim are galleries that runne along the house sides and so it seemeth to meane here To bee bound in the galleries is to have a fixed habitation in the house of his Church where the King is retained and as it were tyed with the bands of love towards his Spouse so excellent in all her parts that now is fulfilled that which is elsewhere said unto her The King will covet thy beauty Psalme 45. 12. and that which is spoken of the lewd woman her hands are as bands Eccles. 7. 26. may have use here of the chast woman that her graces are such as doe not onely delight the King but hold him fast bound unto her in the bands of spirituall wedlocke no more to leave her but to abide with her for ever For so he hath promised I will betroth thee unto mee for ever Hosea 2. 19. the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be maried Esay 62. 4. my servant David shall be their Prince for ever and I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for ever more and the name of the City from that day shall bee The Lord is there Ezek. 37. 25. 26. and 48. 35. The throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall reigne for ever and ever Rev. 22. 3. 5. Vers. 6. and how pleasant This admiration of her beauty and pleasantnesse in all her parts cariage and administration sheweth the reason of the former speech why the King was bound in the galleries for that he was delighted and as it were ravished with her heavenly graces as before in Son 4. 9. 10. And as shee admired Christ for his fairenesse and pleasantnesse so now she is magnified for the like see the notes on Song 1. 15. 16. O love that is ô thou that art dearely loved thus they call her to signifie Christs great affection towards her for it is another and more forceable word then was used before in Song 1. 9. 15. and 2. 2. and 4. 1. 7. and 5. 2. and 6. 4. that betokening loving society and outward friendship this signifying inward charity and loving affection which is strong and servent Song 8. 6. 7. for delights or delicacies or with pleasures meaning full delight all manner pleasure so that all that love her may rejoyce with her and delight themselves in the brightnesse of her glory as Esay 66. 10. 11. Vers. 7. thy stature or thy height in Greeke thy greatnesse a palme-tree or a date tree called in Hebrew Thamar in Greeke Phoenix it is of tall and upright stature alwayes greene and flourishing bearing pleasant fruit Wherefore the just mans state is likened to this tree Psalme 92. 13. and figures of Palme trees signifying heavenly graces were made in the Temple 1 King 6. 29. and 7. 36. and foretold to bee also in the spirituall Temple under the Gospell Ezek. 41. 18. 19. and palm-branches caried in the hand or on the head were signes of victorie wherefore the Saints that by faith overcome the world appeared with palme-branches in their hands Rev. 7. 9. And the palme-tree is said to bee of such a nature that it will not bow downward or grow crooked though heavy weights be laid upon it but groweth still upright So this stature of the Spouse likened to a palme-tree sheweth her spirituall growth in the faith notwithstanding all her tribulations tending alwaies upward towards heaven till shee attaine unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ as Eph. 4. 13. For God hath now broken the slaves of her yoke and made her goe upright Lev. 26. 13. So the Kingdome of Israel whiles it flourished is likened to a tree whose stature was exalted among the thicke branches c. Ezek. 19. 11. clusters to wit of the Vine as in v. 8. signifying hereby that her breasts were not onely fashioned as in Ezek. 16. 7. but full of milke to nourish her children and of the wine of heavenly consolations which they that love her may suck and be satisfied as Esay 66. 11. So that now the state of the Church is not as when complaint was made there is no cluster to eate Mic. 7. 1. but as when new winâ— was found in the cluster and he said Destroy it not for a blessing is in it Esay 65. 8. Vers. 8. I will goe-up to or I will climb-up on the palme-tree meaning to gather the fruit thereof This purpose and promise if it bee spoken in the person of Christ implyeth his acceptation of the fruits of the Spirit in his Spouse as is noted on Son 5. 1. But it seemeth by that which followeth to be the speech of her friends aforesaid speaking collectively as one person to note their unity and joint co 〈…〉 to communicate with her graces as in Esay 66. 15. 11. For things of this sort are spoken both of God and of his people Esay 62. 5. the boughes thereof or the branches of it the Hebrew Sansinnim is no where used but in this place the Greeke translateth it the heightes thereof meaning the branches which are on high and which beare the fruit For the Palme-tree though it be very tall hath no boughes growing out by the sides of the bodie as other trees but on the very top the leaves which are long like swords spread abroad pleasant to behold
and the fruit groweth not among the leaves but on the top of the branches as historians doe record Pliny l. 13. c. 5. So Christ if it be understood of him going up and taking hold of the boughes both signifieth it to be his owne possession and sheweth his care and love to looke unto it and to purge the branches that they may beare more fruit as the Father doth the fruitfull branches of the Vine Ioh. 15. 1. 2. and likewise to injoy and accept of the gracious fruits of his Spouse with whom he will now continue Or taking it as before for the speech of the faithfull Company it meaneth their purpose and indeavor to partake of the heavenly fruits which this Church bringeth forth be as clusters or shall be as clusters and thus it is an assurance or promise of blessing to her from the Lord filling her with the juice or grace that shee shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Christ 〈◊〉 Pet. 1. 8. but as is promised He will cause them that come of Iakob to take root Israel shall blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit Esay 27. 6. But it may be taken also as a wish and let thy brests I pray thee be as clusters of the Vine that is have not thou a miscarrying womb and dry brests as Hos. 9. 14. but grow in grace and in knowledge be not an empty vine as Israel was of old Hos. 10. 1. Leave 〈◊〉 thy wine which cheereth God and man Iudg. 13. but be filled with the Spirit that we may sucke and be satisfied with the brests of thy consolations Esay 66. 11. the smell of thy nose 〈◊〉 apples her nose commended for the forme in vers 4. denoted her good cariage and courage for the truth The smell odour or sent the 〈◊〉 meaneth the good report and â—ame thereof 〈◊〉 broad which is comfortable as a sweet 〈◊〉 Or by the smell of her nose may be understood the breath comming out of her nostril that it should be sweet And so not onely her outward behaviour should be commendable but the hidden man of the heart uncorrupted that the breath or spirit proceeding from within be pure and God may manifest the smell or favour of his knowledge by her in every place 2 Cor. 2. 14. as the favour of life unto life and like the savour of apples which refresh those that languish and are sicke of the love of Christ as Song 〈◊〉 5. Vers. 9. thy palate or the roofe of thy mouth in Greeke thy throat The palate 〈◊〉 ones owne use is to 〈◊〉 and discerne 〈◊〉 in Iob 34. 3. the palate 〈◊〉 out for others it is the instrument of speech as in Prov. 8. 7. my palate shall speake truth This latter use seemeth here to be meant that her palate to weet her speech and doctrine should be like good wine to comfort and revive bitter and heavy hearts Prov. 31. 6. the good wine that is the best most excellent sweet and wholesome wine as the good oyle Psalm 133. 2. is the best sweetest and most precious oile The comfortable doctrines of the Gospell are likened to wine Esay 55. 1. 2. 3. Prov. 9. 2. 5. See the notes on Song 1. 2. that goeth to my beloved a commendation of the good wine from the effects that it is pleasing unto God and profitable unto men For by the Beloved usually in this Song is meant Christ by going to righteousnesses or according to righteousnesses that is going aright straightly or directly is signified the nature of pure wine manifesting the goodnesse by the moving and springing in the cup whereby it is discerned to bee the right and naturall wine and is pleasing to them that drinke it The like phrase Solomon used in Prov. 23. 31. Looke not on the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it goeth or walketh that is moveth it selfe in righteousnesses as there the nature of the most pure and generous wine is described whereby men are allured to drinke thereof so here the right wine the pure and wholesome doctrine out of the mouth of the Spouse is declared by the company of Beleevers to bee pleasing and right in the eyes of Christ their Beloved It may also intimate how the Spouse filled with the Spirit rather then with wine Ephes. 5. 18. her speeches should tend to lead all unto Christ and unto righteousnesses that is faith in him and righteous workes which he requireth us to walke in causing to speake that maketh to speake or giveth utterance to the lips of those that are a sleepe or speaking in the tips c. This is the other effect of the Spirit that as wine maketh men talkative Prov. 23. 29. so the Spirit maketh men to utter the mysteries of God as the disciples when some thought they were full of new wine prophesied and spake with other tongues the great workes of God as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 2. 4. 11. 13. c. By sleepers here are meant sinners awaked and quickned by the word preached as it is said Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes. 5. 14. And so it was promised Thy dead men shall live my dead bodies shall arise awake and fing ye that dwell in dust Esay 26. 19. And Fzekiel by prophesying raised to life the dead bones of the house of Israel Ezek. 37 which also the Chaldee paraphrast alledgeth in opening this place And not only dead men which are said to be asleepe Dan. 12. 2. but others also that live and through negligence or security fall asleepe as the Spouse acknowledgeth of her selfe in Song 5. 2. are inabled by this spirituall wine to speake for having drinke thereof they forget their poverty and remember their misery no more as Prov. 31. 6. 7. So God promising to restore comforts unto Israel and to his mourners saith that he createth the fruit of the lips peace peace c. Esay 57. 18. 19. Vers. 10. I am my Beloveds Here the Spouse as full of the wine of grace and consolation from the Lord testifieth her assurance by faith that shee is Christs and so an heire of salvation by promise Gal. 3. 19. See before in Song 2. 16. and 6. 3. his desire his desirous affection the Greeke interpreteth it his conversion or turning is towards me This manner of speech was used before when God chastning the woman for her sin said thy desire shall be unto thy husband Gen. 3. 16. but now this woman being renued by grace and espoused unto Christ as to an husband 2 Cor. 11. 2. rejoyceth that his desire is unto her And this appeareth by the whole scope of this Song and especially by those words in Chap. 2. 14. and 4. 9. 10. and 7. 5. So contrary each to other are our naturall sinfull state and our estate by grace in Christ. Verse 11. into the field or into the
that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. and is by him made perfect stablished strengthened setled as 1 Pet. 5. 10. This grace is foretold by the Prophet according to Gods first dealing with Israel when he put his holy Spirit within his people and led them through the deepe as an horse in the wildernesse they stumbled not As a beast goeth downe into the valley the Spirit of the Lord quietly led him so didst thou leade thy people to make thy selfe a glorious name Esa. 63. 11. 13. 14. I stirred thee up or I raised thee up They by the words of the Spouse speaking againe to her Beloved whom she stirred or raised up as out of sleepe by her earnest prayers as in Psal. 44. 24. Stirre up why sleepest thou Lord And they that give themselves to prayer are said also to stirre up themselves Esa. 64. 7. This raising up was under the Apple tree the tree of life and grace whose shadow and fruit had been delightfull and sweet unto her and to which tree Christ himselfe was likened Song 2. 3. So shee by faith taking hold on the covenant of grace promises of life in Christ called on his name in her for owes and stirred him up for her helpe comfort there under the Apple tree the faith and hope of salvation and life thy mother the faithfull company or the primitive Church who brought forth Christ into the world by preaching professing practising and suffering for his Gospell painefully brought thee forth travelled of thee with sorrow The bringing forth of Christ into the world by the preaching and witnessing of the Gospell that the childe might be borne unto us Esa. 9. 6. is set forth by the similitude of a woman in her painefull-travell Rev. 12. 1. 2. Gal. 4. 19. For as child-birth is accompanied with many pangs and sorrowes like bands that constraine forceably so is the bringing forth of Christ into the hearts and mindes of men that they may beleeve in him performed with much labour sorrow and difficulty In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tossings to and fro in labours in watchings in fastings c. 2 Cor. 6. 4. 5. and 4. 8. 11. Wherefore the Church signifying her sorrowes for the deliverance and salvation of her children saith Like as a woman with childe that draweth neere the time of her delivery is in paine cryeth out in her pangs so have we beene in thy sight O Lord. Wee have beene with childe wee have beene in paine wee have as it were brought forth winde we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth c. Esa. 26. 17. 18. Vers. 6. Set me or Put mee as a seale upon thine heart The Spouse desireth of Christ assurance and confirmation of his love towards her that she may be graven as the ingraving of a scale or signet upon his heart This hath reference to the high Priest of old who having the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel graven upon twelve precious stones like the ingravings of a signet or seale is said to beare the names of the sonnes of Israel in the Breast-plate of judgement upon his heart for a memoriall before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 21. 29. So shee desireth Christ to be her mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God Heb. 2. 17. that he would have a continuall care of her salvation mindfull of her himselfe and making a memoriall of her before God his Father and that this affection of love might not vanish away but be as a deepe impression in his heart for ever For a seale is used for a ratifying and confirming that which is spoken that it may not be disanulled Neh. 9. 38. Rom. 4. 11. And this God signified to Zerubbabel saying I will set thee as a seale for I have chosen thee Hag. 2. 23. and againe it is said The foundation of God standeth sure having this seale the Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. a seale upon thine arme The high Priest bare the names of the Tribes not onely upon his heart but the same names he also bare ingraven like a seale upon his shoulders before the Lord for a memoriall Exod. 28. 11. 12. And the Lord promising the daughter of Sion that hee would not forget her to have compassion on her saith Behold I have graven thee upon the plames of my hands thy walles are continually before me Esa. 49. 15. 16. But as the heart signifieth inward love so the arme of Christ signifieth his outward manifestation of love by helping bearing and supporting her in all her infirmities through his power wherfore it is said Thou redeemest thy people with the arme Psal. 77. 16. and thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arme of thy strength Psal. 89. 11. and unto Ierusalem he saith Behold the Lord will come with strong hand and his arme shall rule for him Hee will feed his flocke like a sheepheard hee will gather the Lambs with his arme and carry them in his bosome Esa. 40. 10. 11. love is strong as death as death is strong and overcommeth the strongest man Psal. 89. 48. so the love which I beare towards thee desiring to be united unto thee is a strong affection which cannot be subdued in me by any trouble or tentation zeale or gealousie zeale is love inflamed and â—ervent and is used sometime in good part as Ioh. 2. 17. sometime in the evill called bitter zeale or envying Iam. 3. 14. so is gealousie 2 Cor. 11. 2. Here it seemeth to bee meant of godly zeale or gealousie wherewith her heart was also affected towards Christ. hard as hell cruell fierce and inexorable as is hell it selfe that is the grave or state of death whereof see the notes on Gen. 37. 35. that as death and the grave devoureth all so love and gealous-zeale consumeth and eateth up not sparing for the love of Christ constraineth 2 Cor. 5. 14. and the zeale for his glory eateth up the godly Psal. 69. 9. the coales the fierie coales arrowes or fierie darts properly the word signifieth that which flieth and burneth is applyed sometimes to plagues judgements Deut. 32. 24. sometimes to arrowes Psal. 76. 3. here to burning coales or darts of love that pierce and inflame the heart and cannot be quenched flame of Iah the consuming flame of God Shalhebeth-jah noteth a vehement or consuming flame of Iah the Lord as the piercing and devouring lightning but meaneth the fire of his Spirit which is compared unto fire Matth. 3. 11. for the power and efficacie thereof in the hearts of the children of God Vers. 7. many waters By waters and floods are often meant afflictions troubles warres persecutions tentations wherewith the faith love patience of Christs people are exercised tried Psal. 69. 2. Esa. 8. 7. 8. and 59. 19. Dan. 9. 26. and 11. 12. So here is signified that the love of Christ wherewith the