the first Veil at the entry into the Tabernacle CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT Of the Altar of Burnt-offering and its Horns and Utensils Of the Court of the Tabernacle and its dimensions Of the Oil for the Lamp 1. AND thou shalt make an altar of shittim-wood five cubits long and five cubits broad the altar shall be four-square and the height thereof shall be three cubits 2. And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof his horns shall be of the same and thou shalt overlay it with brass 3. And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes and his shovels and his basons and his flesh-hooks and his fire-pans all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass 4. And thou shalt make for it a grate of net-work of brass and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof 5. And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath that the net may be even to the midst of the altar 6. And thou shalt make staves for the altar staves of shittim-wood and overlay them with brass 7. And the staves shall be put into the rings and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar to bear it 8. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it as it was shewed thee in the mount so shall they make it 9. And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle for the south-side south-ward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side 10. And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver 11. And likewise for the north-side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver 12. And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits their pillars ten and their sockets ten 13. And the breadth of the court on the east-side east-ward shall be fifty cubits 14. The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits their pillars three and their sockets three 15. And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits their pillars three and their sockets three 16. And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits of blue and purple and scarlet and fine twined linen wrought with needle-work and their pillars shall be four and their sockets four 17. All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of brass 18. The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits and the breadth fifty every where and the height five cubits of fine twined linen and their sockets of brass 19. All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof and all the pins thereof and all the pins of the court shall be of brass 20. And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light to cause the lamp to burn always 21. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail which is before the testimony Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel 1. FOur-square Viz. With respect to the length and breadth thereof Ezek. 43.16 2. The Horns of it These were certain Spices proceeding out of the four corners of the Altar which were hollow says Maimon and each of them five hand-breadths high Beth Habbech c. 2. They may be well supposed not onely for Ornament but for Life also And besides the keeping the Sacrifice from the falling off it hath been thought from Psal 118.27 they were set up that the Sacrifice might be tied and fastned to them the better to prevent the falling of it 3. Basons In which the bloud was received and out of which it was sprinkled ch 29.16 Flesh-hooks Forks or Instruments with teeth to lay hold of the flesh of the Sacrifice Fire-pans To take up Coals with for the Censer in which the Incense was burnt Levit. 9.1 and 16.12 4. A grate of net-work A plate full of holes on which the wood lay Vpon the net That the Net upon which was a continual fire may be carried separately from the rest of the Altar Exod. 38.5 with Numb 4.13 5. The compass of the Altar i. e. The square Compass of the whole Altar Midst of the Altar i. e. The midst of the height 8. It was shewed Heb. He shewed 9. Court This was an open part and the most outward of all which received the Israelites whereas into the Holy place none but Priests entered into the most Holy none but the High Priest once a year Hundred cubits It was so of each side v. 11. Which measure is double to the breadth of it v. 12. 10. Fillets They seem to be Plates encompassing the heads of the Pillars in which the Hooks were fastened 16. Twenty cubit These with the two Fifteens v. 14 15. on each side made up the fifty Cubits v. 12. 18. Fifty every-where Heb. Fifty by fifty 20. Pure Oil-olive beaten i. e. Oil of the Olive-tree and of the best and finer sort not the dregs which run from the Press To burn Heb. To ascend up 21. From evening to morning The Lamps were kept burning night and day ch 30.7 8. Levit 24.2 3. CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Aaron and his Sons are set a-part for the Priest's Office Their Priestly Garments Of the Ephod its Girdle and Onyx-stones Of the Breast-plate and the Stones thereunto belonging and of the Vrim and Thummim Of the Golden Bells and Pomegranates Of the Golden Plate Of the Coat Mitre and Girdle Of several Garments for the Sons of Aaron 1. AND take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office even Aaron Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar Aaron's sons 2. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty 3. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him that he may minister unto me in the priest's office 4. And these are the garments which they shall make a breast-plate and on ephod and a robe and a broidered coat a mitre and a girdle and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother and his sons that he may minister unto me in the priest's office 5. And they shall take gold and blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen 6. And they shall make the ephod of gold of blue and of purple of scarlet and fine twined linen with cunning work 7. It shall have
veil i. e. In the Holy Place before the Veil which was between that and the Holy of Holies ch 26.33 Mercy-seat Ch. 25.17 Where I will meet with thee I will be known unto thee there say the Greek 7. Sweet incense Heb. Incense of spices A Symbol of fervent and devout Prayers Ps 141.2 Rev. 5.8 and 8.3 When the Priest went in to offer Incense the People prayed without Luk. 1.10 8. Lighteth Or Setteth up Heb. Causeth to ascend At even Heb. Between the two evens Perpetual Without intermission which recommends to us constant times of Prayer at least every Morning and Evening 9. Strange incense i. e. Incense of another Composition than what is appointed v. 34. Nor burnt-sacrifice c. Which were to be offered upon the Altar of Brass appointed for that purpose 10. Make an atonement c. By the Blood of the Sin-offering he shall cleanse it from the pollution which it contracts because of the transgressions of the People Lev. 16.16 18. Once in the year That is on the day of Expiation the tenth day of the seventh Month Lev. 16.29 Most holy Ch. 23.37 12. When c. Num. 1.2 5. Their number Heb. Them that are to be numbered A ransom for his soul Or For his Life This was an homage paid to God as an acknowledgement of his redeeming them No plague As happened in David's time after he had numbred the People 13. After the shekel of the sanctuary Possibly in the Sanctuary the Standards were kept by which other Weights and Measures were to be examined though some have thought that the Expression implies a difference between the Common and Sacred Shekel A shekel c. Lev. 27.25 Num. 3.47 Ezek. 45.12 15. The rich c. Riches being of no account with God Give more Heb. Multiply Give less Heb. Diminish 18. The altar That is the Brazen-altar 20. That they die not viz. By the hand of God as Aaron's Sons did Lev. 20.2 23. Principal spices The best of the kind 24. Of the sanctuary See v. 13. An hin Vid. Ch. 29.40 25. An oyl Which signifies the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Act. 10.38 Luk. 4.21 Apothecary Or Perfumer 26. Thou shalt â—noint And by that means set apart to an holy use 29. Sanctifie Or By this means set a side to a Separate and Holy use 30. Anoint Aaron ' c. Who were by this anointing set apart to the Priesthood as by the Holy Spirit the Ministers of God are enabled to discharge their Office 31. This shall be The Jews understand it of this very Oyl which was made by Moses and not thâ—â— we read of repeated afterwards 33. Stranger i. e. Whoever is not a Priest or a King 34. Stactâ— The fatness or sweet Gum of a certain Balsamick-tree The Hebrew word imports dropping Onycha This was a certain Claw or sweet Hoof which was used in Perfumes says Maimon Galbanum This says Maimon is a Gum of a Tree in Greece like black Honey and is of a strong smell 35. Tempered Heb. Salted 36. Put of it before c. That is Offer it upon the golden Altar 37. To your selves c. i. e. To your own use v. 38. CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Bezaleel and Aholiab are chosen by God and fitted for building the Tabernacle and all things belonging thereunto The observation of the Sabbath is pressed upon the Israelites Moses receives two Tables of Stone written by God 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. See I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah 3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship 4. To divise cunning works to work in gold and in silver and in brass 5. And in cutting of stones to set them and in carving of timber to work in all manner of workmanship 6. And I behold I have given with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded thee 7. The tabernacle of the congregation and the ark of the testimony and the mercy-seat that is thereupon and all the furniture of the tabernacle 8. And the table and his furniture and the pure candlestick with all his furniture and the altar of incense 9. And the altar of burnt-offering with all his furniture and the laver and his foot 10. And the clothes of service and the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office 11. And the anointing oyl and sweet incense for the holy place according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do 12. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 13. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel saying Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctifie you 14. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doth any work therein that soul shall be cut off from among his people 15. Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest holy to the LORD whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath-day he shall surely be put to death 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant 17. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed 18. And he gave unto Moses when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai two tables of testimony tables of stone written with the finger of God 2. I have called by name i. e. I have particularly chosen and designed Vid. Esa 43.1 Son 1 Chron. 2.20 Of Hur Ch. 17.12 and 24.14 3. Spirit of God i. e. The gifts of the Spirit which follow 1 Cor. 12.4 8. 4. To devise cunning works To teach the Artificers says the Chaldee 5. Stones This the Chaldee understands truly of precious Stones See ch 28.21 7. Furniture Heb. Vessels 8. Pure candlestick Made of pure Gold and by the Priest's daily care to be kept clean and pure 10. Clothes of service These Clothes of Service as they stand here distinguished from the Priest's Holy Garments may possibly referr to those Clothes and Coverings which are mentioned Num. 4.7 8 9 11 12. 13. Verily my sabbaths c. Tho' this work were to be done as God had appointed yet not on the Sabbath Day A sign between me and you a token or acknowledgment that I am your God and that you worship the Creator of Heaven and Earth The Sabbath was afterward commanded as a Memorial of their Deliverance
His resisting the importunity of his Mistress is an Example of Vertue never to be forgotten He was then a Servant in a strange Country He was tempted by an imperious Woman If he complied he wou'd be sure of Concealment and of Rewards he wou'd be sure to enjoy his Place and be advanced If he resisted he wou'd however be sure to be accused and treated as a Criminal and must expect to be deprived of his Place of his Liberty of his Fame and perhaps of his Life too Yet all this prevails not He will rather submit to Chains to Ignominy to Death than be guilty of so foul a Crime and Sin against God V. We have also in this Book the severest Examples of God's displeasure and wrath against the Wickedness of Men. And two instances we have that are very awakening that of the Floud which over-whelmed an ungodly World and the over-throw of Sodom and Gomorrha for their Wickedness There 's nothing wanting in this Book to recommend it to the study and care of the well-disposed Reader It serves greatly to advance Piety and true Wisdom It gives the best account of the Origin of the World and of the Primitive Condition of Mankind It shews how we fell from God and shews us the way of our Recovery by the Messiah 'T is stored with conspicuous Examples of Piety and Vertue and gives us an occasion to adore the Power the Wisdom the Justice and Goodness and Providence of the great Creator of Heaven and of Earth NOTES ON THE Book of GENESIS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Creation of the World and the several parts of it as also of the order in which they were made and distinguished with the use and intention of them Here is also a particular account of the Creation of Man in the Image of God and of the food which his Creator appointed him 1. 4004. 1. IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 2. And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters 3. And God said Let there be light and there was light 4. And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness 5. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night and the evening and the morning were the first day 6. And God said Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters 7. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament and it was so 8. And God called the firmament Heaven and the evening and the morning were the second day 9. And God said Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so 10. And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good 11. And God said Let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the earth and it was so 12. And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good 13. And the evening and the morning were the third day 14. And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so 16. And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night he made the stars also 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth 18. And to rule over the day and over the night and to divide the light from the darkness and God saw that it was good 19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day 20. And God said Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven 21. And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good 22. And God blessed them saying Be fruitfull and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth 23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day 24. And God said Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind cattel and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind and it was so 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind and cattel after their kind and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and God saw that it was good 26. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth 29. And God said Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you it shall be for meat 30. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so 31. And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good And the evening and the morning were the sixth day 1. IN the beginning 1. 4004. That is in the beginning of time Heb. 1.10 Created That is made out of nothing Heb. 11.3 or gave a being to things which had no such being before The Heaven and the Earth or the World In the Scripture-phrase the Heaven and Earth are used to express what is otherwise called the World or Universe God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Act. 17.24 See
2 Pet. 3.5 6 7. 2. Without form and void That is a confused and indigested heap and not as yet replenished with its store and ornaments Jer. 4.23 Wisd 11.17 Isa 45.18 with which it was afterward adorned and replenished Gen. 2.1 Psalm 24.1 Face of the deep That is the Surface of the confused bulk and deep heap of Earth and Water The Spirit of God moved c. That is the Divine Spirit did by moving on the waters operate toward the order and ornament of what was confused before By his Spirit he hath garnished the Heavens says Job ch 26.13 What We render moved is observed to signifie a keeping warm or such a cherishing as feathered fowls afford unto their young Such an expression is not unsuitable to a Divine person Deut. 32.11 12. with Exod. 19.4 and agrees very well with what we are elsewhere taught of the Divine Spirit or Third Person of the Holy Trinity of whose over-shadowing and descending like a Dove we read elsewhere Matt. 3.16 Luk. 1.35 Compare Psal 104.30 3. Said That is commanded See v. 6 7. He spake and it was done Psal 33.9 he commanded and it stood fast Compare Psal 33.6 and Psal 148.5 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 11.3 Light That is some lucid body for the Lights or Luminaries were not created till the fourth day v. 14. 4. Saw i. e. He approved See v. 31. Good i. e. Agreeable to what he designed and for the use of the world Divided c. i. e. He placed the Light in a separate place from the rest of the Creation which remained dark 5. The evening and the morning That is the preceding darkness and following light Hence the Jews natural day began in the Evening Lev. 23.32 First day Or One day as in the Hebrew there being as yet no Second Though it be also very common in the holy Scripture that the Cardinal one c. is put for the Ordinal first c. number as in Gen. 8.5 Dan. 8.1 Joh. 20.1 6. A Firmament That is an extended Air stretched out like a Curtain Ps 104.2 Isa 40.22.42.5 7. Vnder the Firmament viz. in the Seas and Rivers c. Above the Firmament viz. in the Clouds which are said therefore to cover the Heaven Psal 147.8 Compare Prov. 8.28 that is the Air or lower Heaven Compare 2 Sam. 21.10 10. God saw that it was good These words referr to that work which God began on the Second day and do belong to that matter 11. Let the Earth bring forth c. The Earth that was void or empty v. 2. is now to be replenished Whose seed is in it self and is able therefore to propagate without distinction of Sex required in living creatures 14. For Signs and for Seasons That is to direct Men in their labour and husbandry and to that purpose to distinguish the several Seasons of the year Matt. 16.2 As also direct them afterwards in their solemn Festivals Thus are those words understood He appointeth the Moon for seasons Psal 104.19 See Ecclus 43.6 7. 16. Great So they are both in regard of their light and use as well as of their appearance To rule The Sun may be said to rule the day which receives its being from its rising its perfection from its advancing and its period from the setting thereof and also because the affairs of the day are transacted by the light which it affords and the Moon may be said to rule the night from which the Stars are not to be excluded Psal 136.9 because then the Moon gives a supply of light which the Sun then does not immediately afford Compare Job 31.26 and Jer. 31.35 17. Firmament i. e. the upper Firmament of which v. 14 15. 20. And fowl that may fly Or rather and let fowl fly as it may be rendred from the Hebrew For the fowl of the Air was formed out of the ground Gen. 2.19 not produced by the Waters however the ground were drenched by them v. 22. 21. Great Whales See Psalm 104.25 26. 26. Let us make Man Man is made by God immediately and not produced as other Creatures were v. 24. He was made also last when the World was stored and finished He was also made in such a manner as speaks him to be the work of great Wisdom and Counsel and as seems to intimate the concurrence of the Holy Trinity which cannot be incredible to him who duly considers the Note upon verse 2. and compares John 1.3 and Coloss 1.16 Man That is Mankind it follows Let them have dominion In our Image That is Spiritual wise and holy and having dominion over the other Creatures Col. 3.10 Ephes 4.24 1 Cor. 11.7 Him God thought fit to make one man to be the head and parent of the whole race of mankind that men might not boast and vaunt of their extraction and original as the Jews have observed and that they might think themselves under an obligation to love and assist each other as proceeding from the same original and common parent Act. 17.26 Male and female That is One male and one female and the female from the male Polygamy and divorce were not from the beginning Compare Matt. 19.3 4. 28. God blessed them i. e. Besides the excellent endowments which he bestowed on them he gave them power to multiply and increase their kind as it follows here See Ps 128.3 4. 29. To you i. e. To mankind as appears by comparing v. 28. The allowance was expresly enlarged after the floud Gen. 9.3 CHAP. II. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Sanctification of the Seventh day and of the more particular manner of the Creation Of the Garden of Eden the forbidding the tree of knowledge the naming of the creatures the making of the Woman and institution of Marriage 1. THus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them 2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made 4. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens 5. And every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every herb of the field before it grew for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth and there was not a man to till the ground 6. But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground 7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul 8. And the LORD God planted a garden east-ward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed 9. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow
be his wife 10. And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba and went toward Haran 11. And he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night because the sun was set and he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and lay down in that place to sleep 12. And he dreamed and behold a ladder set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it 13. And behold the LORD stood above it and said I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaac the land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed 14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed 15. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land for I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken to thee of 16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said Surely the LORD is in this place and I knew it not 17. And he was afraid and said How dreadfull is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven 18. And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it 19. And he called the name of that place Beth-el but the name of that city was called Luz at the first 20. And Jacob vowed a vow saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on 21. So that I come again to my father's house in peace then shall the LORD be my God 22. And this stone which I have sit for a pillar shall be God's house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee 1. BLessed him i. e. He renewed his Blessing and thereby confirmed his Title to it This was needfull Jacob having used Craft in procuring it and being shortly to meet with some trials Of Canaan See the Note on ch 24.3 Compare ch 12.7 and ch 27.46 2. Go Jacob is sent and not a Servant for him as Abraham appointed for Isaac ch 24. He went also meanly provided ch 32.10 and was a Servant Twenty years ch 31.42 and this journey of his is called a flight Hos 12.12 such afflictions befell him after he had with guile procured his Father's blessing Padan-Aram See ch 25.20 3. A multitude of people This Blessing is added to that ch 27.28 29. and was eminently fulfilled in the numerous Off-spring of Jacob and his Sons who were the Heads of the Tribes of Israel 4. Blessing of Abraham That Blessing not onely Temporal but Spiritual which was promised to Abraham ch 12.2 3. ch 17.19 ch 22.17 18. and was by God himself transferred to Isaac ch 25.11 and ch 26.3 and is here by Isaac assured unto Jacob and his seed Gave i. e. Granted The Vulgar renders it Promised See the Note on ch 13.17 9. Then went Esau c. The Motives that induced him are laid before us in the foregoing words v. 12. That Isaac sent Jacob to take a Wife of his kindred and had warned him against the Daughters of Canaan as those with whom he was not pleased and that Jacob had in this obeyed Isaac v. 6 7 8. Ishmael i. e. The Family or House of Ishmael For Ishmael was now dead Compare ch 25.17 with ch 27.2 And he had been dead about Fourteen years Compare ch 16.24 25. with ch 21.5 Mahalath She had another Name also viz. Bashemath ch 36.3 a thing not unusual nor to be wondred at Her Husband was called by two Names also Esau and Edom ch 36.1 11. Tarried there viz. Abroad He was not willing to be a Guest to any of the Canaanites says Josephus 12. A Ladder This representation was to instruct Jacob in the belief of God's special care and providence and is fitly done by a Ladder reaching from Earth to Heaven and the ascending and descending of Angels those ministring Spirits Compare Psal 113.5 6. with v. 13. and 15. of this Chapter Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 See also Gen. 32.1 2. This is also fairly applicable to the times of the Gospel and God's special providence over his Church and his divine Communications to it upon the account of the Mediation of Christ who was himself ministred unto by Angels and is the way by which the Divine Blessings descend upon the Church Compare Joh. 1.51.14.6 Mar. 1.13 Luk. 22.43 Joh. 20.12 Act. 1.10 11. 13. Lord Jehovah whose Ministers the Angels are Psal 91.11 and who is able to save the afflicted Instead of Lord the Chaldee hath the glory of the Lord vid. ch 17.22 15. Vntill i. e. Vnless as the Vulgar renders it 17. Dreadfull The appearance was so glorious that it struck a dread upon him Compare Matt. 17.6 Luk. 2.9 18. Poured Oil By this means separating it to a Religious use or making on it such an oblation as he was able to do Compare ch 35.14 19. Bethel In the Tribe of Benjamin Josh 18.22 20. A vow i. e. A solemn promise made unto God 21. Then shall He makes his Vow after the assurance given him v. 13. And this Vow was therefore Eucharistical 22. Tenth Chap. 14.20 CHAP. XXIX The ARGUMENT Jacob's journey He comes to the well of Haran rolls the stone from the mouth of it and acquaints himself with Rachel He is entertained into Laban's house and becomes his servant He contracts with Laban to serve him seven years for Rachel and is beguiled with Leah in her stead He agrees to serve other seven years for Rachel who was barren for some time Leah who was hated bears Reuben Simeon Levi and Judah 1. THen Jacob went on his journey and came into the land of the people of the east 2. And he looked and behold a well in the field and lo there were three flocks of sheep lying by it for out of that well they watered the flocks and a great stone was upon the well's mouth 3. And thither were all the flocks gathered and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the sheep and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place 4. And Jacob said unto them My brethren whence be ye and they said Of Haran are we 5. And he said unto them Know ye Laban the son of Nahor And they said We know him 6. And he said unto them Is he well and they said He is well and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep 7. And he said Lo it is yet high day neither is
unto the damsel 4. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor saying Get me this damsel to wife 5. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter now his sons were with his cattel in the field and Jacob held his peace untill they were come 6. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him 7. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it and the men were grieved and they were very wroth because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter which thing ought not to be done 8. And Hamor communed with them saying The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter I pray you give her him to wife 9. And make ye marriages with us and give your daughters unto us and take our daughters unto you 10. And ye shall dwell with us and the land shall be before you dwell and trade you therein and get you possessions therein 11. And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren Let me find grace in your eyes and what ye shall say unto me I will give 12. Ask me never so much dowry and gift and I will give according as ye shall say unto me but give me the damsel to wife 13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully and said because he had defiled Dinah their sister 14. And they said unto them We cannot do this thing to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach unto us 15. But in this will we consent unto you if ye will be as we be that every male of you be circumcised 16. Then will we give our daughters unto you and we will take your daughters to us and we will dwell with you and we will become one people 17. But if ye will not hearken unto us to be circumcised then will we take our daughter and we will be gone 18. And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem Hamor's son 19. And the young man deferred not to do the thing because he had delight in Jacob's daughter and he was more honourable then all the house of his father 20. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city and communed with the men if their city saying 21. These men are peaceable with us therefore let them dwell in the land and trade therein for the land behold it is large enough for them let us take their daughters to us for wives and let us give them our daughters 22. Onely herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us to be one people if every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised 23. Shall not their cattel and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours onely let us consent unto them and they will dwell with us 24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city and every male was circumcised all that went out of the gate of his city 25. And it came to pass on the third day when they were sore that two of the sons of Jacob Simeon and Levi Dinah's brethren took each man his sword and came upon the city boldly and slew all the males 26. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem's house and went out 27. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and spoiled the city because they had defiled their sister 28. They took their sheep and their oxen and their asses and that which was in the city and that which was in the field 29. And all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives took they captive and spoiled even all that was in the house 30. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land amongst the Canaanites and the Perizzites and I being few in number they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me and I shall be destroyed I and my house 31. And they said Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot 1. To see viz. The Ornaments of the Women of that place says Josephus who also tells us That it was at a certain Festival 'T is probable that she went alone and her going out seems to be mentioned as the Occasion of her being defiled Tit. 2.5 2. Took her By force according to Josephus and the Vulgar Defiled her Or Humbled her as in the Hebrew It is not the same word which is rendred Defiled v. 5. but the word imports That he afflicted her and seems to intimate his Violence as well as her Dissent and this is probable from what follows v. 3. That he spake kindly to her for comorted her what he could under her grief 4. Father To whom that care did belong 5. Held his peace He ruled over his own Spirit which spoke him better than his Sons who took the City Prov. 16.32 6. With him The Daughter being to be disposed of in marriage by the Father See v. 4. 7. He had wrought folly in Israel i. e. He had committed a vile and lewd practice in the Family of Jacob or Israel For Israel may well imply Jacob's Family ch 28.9 the name of Israel being given him as that name which was to be derived upon his Off-spring See the Note on ch 32.28 who were to be a separate and holy People Deut. 23.17 8. Your daughter i. e. The Daughter of your Family 11. I will give It was the custom to purchase Wives among some of the Eastern People ch 29.18 12. Dowry This is a Gift in consideration of marriage 13. Deceitfully Jacob was not privy to their Guile v. 30. and disclaimed it to the last ch 49.7 14. We cannot Here is a specious pretence of Religion with design to do an Injury 15. As we be And are obliged to be ch 17.10 20. Gate See the Note on ch 23.10 Communed The Arguments which they used to perswade them to Affinities with them were these I. Because they were peaceable men and so deserved well v. 21. II. There was room enough for them in that Country v. 21. III. That by this Affinity they should strengthen themselves v. 23. 25. Third day i. e. Probably from their being Circumcised It follows When they were sore They then took the advantage when the wounded and affected were in greatest danger and least able to resist Compare Josh 5.5 6 8. Brethren Both by Father and Mother Boldly The City being secure and the Men thereof unfit to resist 27. Sons of Jacob i. e. The other of his Sons Because they had defiled i. e. Shechem had and the rest of the City had not punished him for it Josh 17.11 12. 30. Make me to stink i. e. Render me odious as if I had been privy to your Craft and Cruelty 31. Should c. An answer that was fierce and
them that stood by him and he cried Cause every man to go out from me and there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren 2. And he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard 3. And Joseph said unto his brethren I am Joseph Doth my father yet live And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence 4. And Joseph said unto his brethren Come near to me I pray you and they came near and he said I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt 5. Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with your selves that ye sold me hither for God did send me before you to preserve life 6. For these two years hath the famine been in the land and yet there are five years in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance 8. So now it was not you that sent me hither but God and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt 9. Haste you and go up to my father and say unto him Thus saith thy son Joseph God hath made me lord of all Egypt come down unto me tarry not 10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen and thou shalt be near unto me thou and thy children and thy children's children and thy flocks and thy herds and all that thou hast 11. And there will I nourish thee for yet there are five years of famine lest thou and thy houshold and all that thou hast come to poverty 12. And behold your eyes see and the eyes of my brother Benjamin that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you 13. And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and of all that you have seen and ye shall hast and bring down my father hither 14. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept and Benjamin wept upon his neck 15. Moreover he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them and after that his brethren talked with him 16. And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house saying Joseph's brethren are come and it pleased Pharaoh well and his servants 17. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph Say unto thy brethren This do ye lade your beasts and go get you unto the land of Canaan 18. And take your father and your housholds and come unto me and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt and ye shall eat the fat of the land 19. Now thou art commanded this do ye Take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives and bring your father and come 20. Also regard not your stuff for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours 21. And the children of Israel did so and Joseph gave them wagons according to the commandment of Pharaoh and gave them provision for the way 22. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of raiment 23. And to his father he sent after this manner ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way 24. So he sent his brethren away and they departed and he said unto them See that ye fall not out by the way 25. And they went up out of Egypt and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father 26. And told him saying Joseph is yet alive and he is governour over all the land of Egypt And Jacob's heart fainted for he believed them not 27. And they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said unto them and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him the spirit of Jacob their father revived 28. And Israel said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive I will go and see him before I die 1. COuld not refrain himself i. e. He could no longer forbear being moved by the words of Judah Go out Joseph was not willing that any should be Witnesses of his own Passion or his Brethren's former Faults 2. The Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh i. e. The Egyptians who went out hearing it soon told it to the House of Pharaoh Compare v. 16. 4. Whom ye sold He tells them this to gain belief rather than to upbraid them 5. God did send c. i. e. I was sent hither not without the special Providence of God 8. Not you that sent me hither but God The good event of the thing was intirely to be imputed to God though the fault were theirs 10. Land of Goshen A fruitfull part of the Land of Egypt lying towards Canaan ch 46.28 29. 47.1 6 27. 12. That it is my mouth They might not onely discern some resemblance from his Countenance by which they might call him to mind but his speaking to them in their own Language without an Interpreter Compare v. 1. with ch 42.23 might farther confirm them 15. Talked with him Having now overcome their fears 16. The fame thereof c. Being quickly carried from one to another See the Note on v. 2. 18. Fat of the land i. e. The best of it Compare Ps 63.5 Numb 18.12 20. Regard not Let not your Eye spare Compare Deut. 7.16 22. Three hundred pieces of silver i. e. Three hundred Shekels See the Note on ch 20.16 24. See that ye fall not out by the way Be not angry as the Latin and Greek have it They would be apt to reproach each other now for their former cruelty to Joseph 26. Fainted Through his fear and distrust 27. Revived iâ— Jacob now believing the truth of what his Sons had said 28. It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive Two things his Sons told him viz. That Joseph was alive and that he was Governour of Egypt And the latter of the two Joseph required them to tell his Father v. 9. But for Joseph's Glory and Dominion Jacob does not rejoice as one greatly affected with it 'T was his Life gave him the Joy He said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive It is enough if Joseph be yet alive as the Vulgar Latin hath it See ch 46.30 CHAP. XLVI The ARGUMENT Jacob cometh to Beer-sheba God appears to him and encourageth his going into Egypt whence he with his Family goes down into Egypt A particular account of his Family which went thither Joseph meets his Father and instructs his Brethren what they should say unto Pharaoh 1. AND Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac 2. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night and said Jacob Jacob. And he said Here am I. 3.
by establishing his Covenant v. 4. and declares that he remembers his Covenant v. 5. And then follow these words Wherefore say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH and I will bring you out c. V. 6. with v. 7 8. For the farther clearing of this matter it is to be remembred That God is said to make himself known to those whom he takes into Covenant Thus in Judah is God known Psal 76.1 Again In the day when I chose Israel and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob and made my self known unto them in the land of Egypt when I lifted up my hand unto them saying I am the Lord your God In the day that I lifted up my hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them c. Ezek. 20.5 6. When God entred into Covenant with Abraham it was by the name of God Almighty Gen. 17.1 upon which he promiseth to his Seed the Land of Canaan v. 8. By this name Isaac blesseth Jacob and bestows on him the Blessing of Abraham ch 28.3 4. By this name Jacob blesseth Joseph ch 48.3.49.25 God lets them here know that he who had made a Promise to their Fathers by the name of God Almighty would now confirm His Covenant to them and make his Promise good by the name of JEHOVAH Say unto the children of Israel I am JEHOVAH i. e. I will make good to you what I promised by the name of God Almighty And ye shall know that I am JEHOVAH your God And I will bring you into the land concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob and I will give it you for an heritage I am JEHOVAH Exod. 6.6 7 8. 4. My covenant with them God promised Abraham the Land of Canaan Gen. 15. and renewed this promise afterward 6. Wherefore say c. i. e. Assure them I will make good my promise See v. 7 8. 8. I did swear H. Lift up my hand See Gen. 14.22 9. For anguish of spirit Heb. Shortness or Straitness They were dejected in their Spirits through their bondage and not prone to believe the tidings of their Deliverance See the LXXII 12. Vncircumcised lips That is not eloquent He complained before of an impediment which not being taken away he calls his Lips Uncircumcised 14. The sons of Reuben V. Gen. 46.9 1 Chron. 5.3 This following account is to make way to the stock of Moses and Aaron who descended from Levi the third Son of Jacob and hence it is that the following account of Reuben and Simeon is premised lest they should be thought to be contemned 15. And the sons 1 Chron. 4.24 16. Of the sons of Levi Num. 3.17 1 Chron. 6.1 18. Sons of Kohath Numb 26.57 1 Chron. 6.2 20. Amram V. ch 2.2 Numb 26.59 His father's sister See the Notes on ch 2.1 25. She bare him V. Numb 25.11 27. These are that Moses and Aaron See the Notes on v. 14. 29. I am the LORD The JEHOVAH v. 3. who am ready to accomplish what I have formerly promised 30. Vncircumcised See v. 12. CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT Moses is farther directed and encouraged in his Message to Pharaoh His Rod is turned into a Serpent The Magicians of Egypt do the like Pharaoh's Heart is hardened The Waters are turned into Blood The Magicians do so Pharaoh's Heart is hardened 1. AND the LORD said unto Moses See I have made thee a god to Pharaoh and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet 2. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh that he send the children of Israel out of his land 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt 4. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you that I may lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth mine armies and my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by great judgments 5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them 6. And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them so did they 7. And Moses was fourscore years old and Aaron fourscore and three years old when they spake unto Pharaoh 8. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 9. When Pharaoh shall speak unto you saying Shew a miracle for you then thou shalt say unto Aaron Take thy rod and cast it before Pharaoh and it shall become a serpent 10. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh and they did so as the LORD had commanded and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants and it became a serpent 11. Then Pharaoh also called the wisemen and the sorcerers now the magicians of Egypt they also did in like manner with their inchantments 12. For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods 13. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart that he hearkened not unto them as the LORD had said 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Pharaoh's heart is hardened he refuseth to let the people go 15. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning lo he goeth out unto the water and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand 16. And thou shalt say unto him The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying Let my people go that they may serve me in the wilderness and behold hitherto thou wouldest not hear 17. Thus saith the LORD In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD behold I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river and they shall be turned to blood 18. And the fish that is in the river shall die and the river shall stink and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river 19. And the LORD spake unto Moses Say unto Aaron Take thy rod and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt upon their streams upon their rivers and upon their ponds and upon all their pools of water that they may become blood and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone 20. And Moses and Aaron did so as the LORD commanded and he lift up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood 21. And the fish that was in the river died and the river stunk and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt 22. And the magicians of Egypt did so
The Chaldee understands it of the Shecinah or Divine Presence 10. I make Deut. 5.2 A terrible thing Such as speaks the Majesty and Power of God who is terrible in his doing toward the children of men Ps 66.5 12. Take heed Ch. 23.32 Deut. 7.2 13. Images Heb. Statues 14. Jealous Ch. 20.5 15. Go a whoring Idolatry is a spiritual Whoredom Ps 73.27 He that loves and honours the Creature instead of the Creator is guilty of it Jam. 4.4 And thou eat of his sacrifice And so have Communion with an Idol Num. 25.2 Ps 106.28 Ezek. 18.6.22.9 1 Cor. 10.20 Rev. 2.20 16. Their daughters 1 King 11.2 17. No molten They are specially warned against molten Gods they having transgressed so lately in the molten Calf ch 32.4 18. Vnleavened Ch. 23.15 Month Ch. 13.4 19. All Ch. 22.29 Ezek. 44.30 20. Lamb Or Kid. Empty Ch. 23.15 21. Six Ch. 23.12 Deut. 5.12 Luk. 13.14 22. And Ch. 23.16 Years end Heb. Revolution of the year 23. Thrice Ch. 23.14 17. Deut. 16.16 25. Thou c. Ch. 23.18 26. Kid Ch. 23.19 Deut. 14.21 27. Write thou these words Deut. 4.13 i. e. Do thou write them in a Book apart The ten Commandments onely were written in the two Tables and they were written by God v. 1. Deut. 10.2.4 28. And he Ch. 24.18 Deut. 9.9 And he wrote Not Moses but God See v. 27. Commandments Heb. Words 29. Shone Was glorious says the Greek which rendring agrees well with what we read 2 Cor. 3.7 While he talked with him These words express the cause why the Face of Moses did shine viz. from his converse with God 2 Cor. 3.18 30. Were afraid And by this means it is likely Moses came to the knowledge of it 33. He put Or He had put Viz. during the time that he spake with them A veil 2 Cor. 3.13 14. 34. He took the veil off 2 Cor. 3.16 35. With him That is With God as appears from v. 34. CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT The People are commanded to rest on the Sabbath-day Free-will Offerings for the Tabernacle to be received Both Men and Women offer Materials Bezaleel and Aholiab chosen for the Work 1. AND Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together and said unto them These are the words which the LORD hath commanded that ye should do them 2. Six days shall work be done but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day a sabbath of rest to the LORD whosoever doth work therein shall be put to death 3. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath-day 4. And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel saying This is the thing which the LORD commanded saying 5. Take ye from amongst you an offering unto the LORD Whosoever is of a willing heart let him bring it an offering of the LORD gold and silver and brass 6. And blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen and goats hair 7. And rams skins died red and badgers skins and shittim-wood 8. And oyl for the light and spices for anointing oyl and for the sweet incense 9. And onyx-stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate 10. And every wise-hearted among you shall come and make all that the LORD hath commanded 11. The tabernacle his tent and his covering his taches and his boards his bars his pillars and his sockets 12. The ark and the staves thereof with the mercy-seat and the veil of the covering 13. The table and his staves and all his vessels and the shew-bread 14. The candlestick also for the light and his furniture and his lamps with the oyl for the light 15. And the incense-altar and his staves and the anointing oyl and the sweet incense and the hanging for the door at the entring in of the tabernacle 16. The altar of burnt-offering with his brasen grate his staves and all his vessels the laver and his foot 17. The hangings of the court his pillars and their sockets and the hanging for the door of the court 18. The pins of the tabernacle and the pins of the court and their cords 19. The clothes of service to do service in the holy place the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons to minister in the priest's office 20. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses 21. And they came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation and for all his service and for the holy garments 22. And they came both men and women as many as were willing-hearted and brought bracelets and ear-rings and rings and tablets all jewels of gold and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD 23. And every man with whom was found blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen and goat's hair and red skins of rams and badgers skins brought them 24. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering and every man with whom was found shittim-wood for any work of the service brought it 25. And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands and brought that which they had spun both of blue and of purple and of scarlet and of fine linen 26. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goat's hair 27. And the rulers brought onyx-stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate 28. And spice and oyl for the light and for the anointing oyl and for the sweet incense 29. The children of Israel brought a willing-offering unto the LORD every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses 30. And Moses said unto the children of Israel See the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Vri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah 31. And he hath filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship 32. And to devise curious works to work in gold and in silver and in brass 33. And in the cutting of stones to set them and in carving of wood to make any manner of cunning work 34. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach both he and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work of the engraver and of the cunning workman and of the embroiderer in blue and in purple in scarlet and in fine linen and of the weaver even of them that do any work and of those that devise cunning work 2. Six days Ch. 20.9 Levit. 23.3 Deut. 5.12 Luk. 13.14 An holy day Heb. Holiness Put to
bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled 7. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation lest you die for the anointing oyl of the LORD is upon you And they did according to the word of Moses 8. And the LORD spake unto Aaron saying 9. Do not drink wine nor strong drink thou nor thy sons with thee when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregationâ— lest ye die It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations 10. And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean 11. And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses 12. And Moses spake unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar his sons that were left Take the meat-offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire and eat it without leaven beside the altar for it is most holy 13. And ye shall eat it in the holy place because it is thy due and thy son 's due of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire for so I am commanded 14. And the wave-breast and heave-shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place thou and thy sons and thy daughters with thee for they be thy due and thy son 's due which are given out of the sacrifices of peace-offerings of the children of Israel 15. The heave-shoulder and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat to wave it for a wave-offering before the LORD and it shall be thine and thy sons with thee by a statute for ever as the LORD hath commanded 16. And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering and behold it was burnt and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the sons of Aaron which were left alive saying 17. Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the holy place seeing it is most holy and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation to make atonement for them before the LORD 18. Behold the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place as I commanded 19. And Aaron said unto Moses Behold this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the LORD and such things have befallen me and if I had eaten the sin-offering to day should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD 20. And when Moses heard that he was content 1. NAdab Numb 3.4 and 26.61 1 Chron. 24.2 Censer That is a certain Vessel in which they put Coals of fire Strange fire i. e. Other fire than what they ought to have used Thus Incense which was not such as was prescribed and allowed is called strange Incense Exod. 30.9 God had appointed a continual Fire upon the Altar of Burnt-offering ch 6.12 This Fire as appears afterward was to be used in burning the Incense ch 16.12 with Rev. 8.5 And as it was upon the Altar it was separated to an holy use and 't is therefore probable that the fault of Nadab and Abihu was that they used Common Fire and not Fire from the Altar which God had required for the service of the Sanctuary And these Men had without all doubt been sufficiently directed in their duty Commanded them not Or had not prescribed and allowed Those words do not imply that God had not forbidden it See Jer. 32.35 2. From the LORD i. e. Which God sent whether from the Altar or from above Devoured them It stifled them or killed them as Lightning hath been known to do See v. 5. 3. Spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me The substance of this was said in these words And let the Priests also which come near to the LORD sanctifie themselves lest the LORD break forth upon them Exod. 19.22 See also Levit. 8.35 and Isa 58.11 I will be glorified That is my Justice shall be known in punishing Transgressors The substance of this was threatned Exod. 19.22 And God is glorified by the Justice of his Inflictions Exod. 14.4 Ezek. 28.22 Held his peace i. e. He murmured not but submitted Psal 39.9 4. Vncle Exod. 6.18 20. with Numb 3.19 6. Vncover not your heads The uncovering the Head whether it were by putting off the Tire and Ornament of the Head or by shaving off the Hair was a sign of Mourning which is that which is forbidden the Priest in this place Ezek. 24.17 23. Levit. 13.45 with Job 1.20 Isa 22.12 To which places may be added to the same purpose ch 13.45 and ch 21.1 10. Numb 6.5 6. Neither rend c. Rending of clothes was also a sign of Mourning Gen. 37.34 Levit. 21.10 Vpon all the people Who will suffer greatly by the loss of their Priests who were to bless them and make atonement for them 7. Oyl Which was a token of the Spirit of Joy as well as it was that by which they were set a-part to the Service of God Psal 45.7 9. Wine This was forbid during their ministration and that they might not be unfit for their service Prov. 31.5 Isa 28.7 See vers 10 11. As also 1 Tim. 3.3 8. and 5.23 10. Put difference Wine and strong Drink take away the power of discerning and would consequently make the Priests unfit for their Ministration vid. Ezek. 44.21 23. Jerem. 15.19 12. It is most holy Vid. Levit. 2.3 and the Note on that place and also the 13 Verse of this Chapter 14. The Wave-breast Exod. 29.24 In a clean place Not in an holy place they being not most holy as that v. 12. and might therefore be eaten in the Camp and afterward in the City of Jerusalem 16. The Goat Mentioned ch 9.15 18. Behold the blood of it was not brought in In that case the Priest was not allowed any part or share in it as we are expressly told Levit. 6.30 As I commanded chap. 6.26 19. Should it have been accepted c. Because of his sorrow which indisposed him for that service Deut. 12.7 c. ch 26.14 CHAP. XI The ARGUMENT Of the Beasts that may be eaten and those which may not Of the Fish and Fowls that may or may not be eaten Of the creeping things which are unclean 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron saying unto them 2. Speak unto the children of Israel saying These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beast that are on the earth 3. Whatsoever parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed and cheweth the cud among the beasts that shall ye eat 4. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that divide the hoof as the camel because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof he is unclean unto you 5. And the coney because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof he is unclean unto you 6. And the hare because he
clean and unclean Creatures The punishment of them that have familiar Spirits and of Wizards 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Again thou shalt say to the children of Israel Whosoever he be of the children of Israel or of the stranger that sojourn in Israel that giveth any of his seed unto Molech he shall surely be put to death the people of the land shall stone him with stones 3. And I will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he hath given of his seed unto Molech to defile my sanctuary and to profane my holy name 4. And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man when he giveth of his seed unto Molech and kill him not 5. Then I will set my face against that man and against his family and will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him to commit whoredom with Molech from among their people 6. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people 7. Sanctifie your selves therefore and be ye holy for I am the LORD your God 8. And ye shall keep my statutes and do them I am the LORD which sanctifie you 9. For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death he hath cursed his father or his mother his blood shall be upon him 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death 11. And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness both of them shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 12. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law both of them shall surely be put to death they have wrought confusion their blood shall be upon them 13. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman both of them have committed an abomination they shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 14. And if a man take a wife and her mother it is wickedness they shall be burnt with fire both he and they that there be no wickedness among you 15. And if a man lie with a beast he shall surely be put to death and ye shall slay the beast 16. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto thou shalt kill the woman and the beast they shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them 17. And if a man shall take his sister his father's daughter or his mother's daughter and see her nakedness and she see his nakedness it is a wicked thing and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness he shall bear his iniquity 18. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness and shall uncover her nakedness he hath discovered her fountain and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood and both of them shall be cut off from among their people 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister nor of thy father's sister for he uncovereth his near kin they shall bear their iniquity 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness they shall bear their sin they shall die childless 21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness they shall be childless 22. Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my judgments and do them that the land whither I bring you to dwell therein spue you not out 23. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation which I cast out before you for they committed all these things and therefore I abhorred them 24. But I have said unto you Ye shall inherit their land and I will give it unto you to possess it a land that floweth with milk and honey I am the LORD your God which have separated you from other people 25. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean and between unclean fowls and clean and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast or by fowl or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground which I have separated from you as unclean 26. And ye shall be holy unto me for I the LORD am holy and have severed you from other people that ye should be mine 27. A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit or that is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their blood shall be upon them 2. Again Ch. 18.21 Death The sin was forbid before ch 18.21 Here the punishment is laid down but yet he was not to die who was guilty of this sin till he were legally convicted Deut. 17.4 5 6. 3. And I will set my face c. That is In case a person be guilty and it be not known or cannot be proved by Witnesses and he do escape the Judges To defile my sanctuary The Sanctuary was appointed by God to be the place where all Sacrifices were to be offered up Levit. 17.4 This place was contemned and profaned when they offered their Sacrifices elsewhere and otherwise than God had appointed To profane my holy name He profanes the Name of God who contemns him And the Idolater who worships another God does so in a very high degree 5. My face Or My fury as the Chaldee hath it Ps 34.16 His family i. e. Those of them who were guilty with him as appears from the following words And will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him Whoredom Idolatry is a Spiritual Whoredom and is frequently expressed after that manner 6. Familiar spirits See the Notes on ch 19.31 7. Sanctifie Ch. 11.44 and 19.2 1 Pet. 1.16 8. Sanctifie you That is Separate and set you a-part for my service and to obey my Laws v. 24. 9. For Or If or When as the Hebrew Particle frequently signifies Curseth Or Revileth Exod. 21.17 Prov. 20.20 Matt. 15.4 Compare Act. 23.5 with Exod. 22.28 His blood shall be upon him i. e. He shall be guilty of his own death Vid. 2 Sam. 1.16 10. The man Deut. 22.22 Joh. 8.4 5. 11. And the man c. Ch. 18.8 12. Confusion It is a great confusion of Relation that the same Woman should be a Daughter and a Wife That the Son that might be born of such a Conjunction should be the Child and the Brother of the same Woman the Son and Nephew of the same Man and also supposing the Woman's Husband alive that the same Child should be reputed the Son and be the Brother of the same Man 13. If
that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter and her belly shall swell and her thigh shall rot and the woman shall be a curse among her people 28. And if the woman be not defiled but be clean then she shall be free and shall conceive seed 29. This is the law of jealousies when a wife goeth aside to another in stead of her husband and is defiled 30. Or when the spirit of jealousie cometh upon him and he be jealous over his wife and shall set the woman before the LORD and the priest shall execute upon her all this low 31. Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity and this woman shall bear her iniquity 2. Camp There were three several Camps as may be learnt from the foregoing Chapters and as the Jewish Writers observe I. The Shekinah or Sanctuary where God was said to dwell 2 Chron. 31.2 And to be especially present with the Israelites Exod. 29.42 43. II. The Camp of the Levites who with the Priests camped round about the Sanctuary chap. 3. III. The Camp of Israel which is described chap. 2. Of this Camp are those words understood which we find Deut. 23.10 11. Leper Levit. 13.3 It was required before that he should dwell alone and that his habitation should be without the Camp Levit. â—3 46 That Law was not practicable till the Camp was setled which was now done It is certain that the Leper was excluded out of each of the Camps above named for he was to dwell alone and therefore shut out of the Camp of Israel and out of the Cities afterward 2 Kings 7.3 Issue Levit. 15.2 He that was under this pollution though he might continue in the Camp of Israel and was not confined or obliged to dwell alone as the Leper was v. 5 6 7 8 9. yet he was not permitted to go into the Levite's Camp till he was clean Levit. 15.13 14. much less might he go into the Sanctuary Dead Levit. 21.1 This was still a lower degree of Uncleanness For he that was unclean by an Issue was upon that account to bring a Sacrifice for his Atonement Levit. 15.14 15. But he that had touched a dead Body was not obliged to bring an expiatory Sacrifice but to the use of the Water of Separation onely Numb 19.12 Now though he that was thus defiled with the touch of a dead Body were excluded from the Sanctuary 2 Chron. 23.19 Numb 19.13 into which no person might enter that was in any thing unclean yet have we no cause to suppose him excluded from any of the other Camps 3. I dwell Or Am more peculiarly present 6. When a man c. Levit. 6.3 That men commit i. e. Which they are ordinarily obnoxious to or overtaken with We have a more particular account of this matter Levit. 6. 7. Confess The Confession of Sin is required in order to Pardon Prov. 28.13 Job 33.27 28. And this Confession among the Jews was made in this form of words O God I have sinned I have done perversely I have trespassed before thee and I have done thus and thus and lo I repent and am ashamed of my doings and will never do so no more Maimon H. Teshub c. 1. His trespass i. e. The thing in which he hath trespassed or injured his Neighbour With the principal Or In the principal Levit. 6.5 Fifth â—ee the Notes on Levit. 6.5 8. No kinsman Which might frequently happ'n where the wronged persons were Proselytes Priest Whom God substitutes as his Receiver Ram of the atonement See Levit. 6.6 7. 9. Offering Or Heave-offering See Numb 18.8 10. Hallowed things Such were things separated by Vow Levit 27.21 Numb 18.14 and First-fruits Numb 18.12 His Levit. 10.13 12. A trespass This is to be understood of Disloyalty to her Husband and to be interpreted by the words which follow 13. No witness c. For in such cases she was to be put to death Levit. 20.10 Joh. 8.4 5. 14. The spirit of jealousie i. e. A jealous Mind or Affection As the spirit of meekness signifies a meek spirit or temper Gal. 6.1 15. The tenth part of an Ephah Or an Omer See the Notes on Exod. 16.36 Of Barley-meal he shall pour no oyl c. This Offering of Barley-meal without either Oyl or Frankincense betoken'd sorrow and a sense of guilt It was not an Offering of sweet savour as that is called which had both Oyl and Frankincense Levit. 2.2 But this is an Offering bringing iniquity to remembrance and therefore will admit neither of Oyl nor Frankincense Levit. 5.11 16. Her Or It i. e. The Offering not the Woman of whom in v. 18. Before the LORD See the Notes on Levit. 1.5 17. Holy water i. e. Water out of the Laver Exod. 30.18 Dust This was likewise a sign of sorrow Job 2.12 See the Notes on v. 15. 18. Vncover This is likewise another token of sorrow Levit 21.10 and v. 15. And the Woman's Fidelity and Chastity being questioned the Covering of her Head betokening her Subjection and Chastity 1 Cor. 11. was fitly taken away Bitter water Though we are told by the Jewish Writers that some bitter thing was put into this Water which made it bitter yet it might be truly called bitter from the Effect of it upon the guilty to whom bringing a Curse it was bitter in the End 19. Charge her by an oath Or adjure her as the Vulgar Latin hath it See the Notes on Levit. 5.1 With another instead of thy husband Or being in the power of thy husband Heb. Vnder thy husband 21. Charge See v. 19. An Oath An Example saith the Vulgar That is a common instance in forms of Execration which do accompany Oaths Rot Heb. Fall 22. Amen Or Be it so We have Amen here twice and that perhaps with a distinct reference to v. 19. and to what follows from v. 20. 23. These curses Those words from v. 20. at least In a book So a Scroll or Parchment or small Writing was called among the Jews Deut. 24.1 Blot c. i. e. Shall blot out the Curses with the Water and when he hath done so the Woman must drink that Water which was the Receiver of these words of Execration v. 24. 24. Bitter See verse 18. 28. Conceive seed Not by the virtue of the Water which hath a contrary effect upon the guilty but by the special Providence of God 30. Set the woman See v. 18. 31. Then shall the man be guiltless c. The Jews have from hence taught that the Water would not try the suspected Woman if her Husband were not innocent himself when he brought her to this tryal CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT Of the Vow of the Nazarites and of their Offering for their Separation The Form of the Priests Blessing the People 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite
Heb. From the eyes Manner Or Ordinance 27. If any soul i. e. If any private person Or any one of the common people as it is expressed Levit 4.27 29. Sinneth Heb. Doeth 30. Presumptuously Heb. With an high hand i. e. Wilfully and designedly and not through ignorance and inadvertence 31. Broken Not onely broken but disanulled and made void by Contemning that Authority upon which the Commandment stands His iniquity i. e. The punishment due upon account of his Sin 32. Gathered sticks Not onely gathered but bound them up together as the Hebrew word may well signifie Exod. 5.7 34. In ward Levit 24.12 It was not declared c. They knew that he who defiled the Sabbath was obnoxious to Death Exod. 31.14 ch 35.2 But the kind of death they were not taught and might be also at a loss whether what this Man did was such a work as was forbid and such as might be esteemed a defiling the Sabbath 38. Bid them Deut. 22.12 Matt. 23.5 39. A whoring This may be understood of Idolatry which is spiritual Whoredom CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT The Rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram The Israelites separate from their Tents The Earth swallows up Korah and those that belonged to him A Fire from Heaven consumes them that offered Incense The Censers are made into Plates The People murmur A Plague is sent among them Aaron makes Atonement for the People 1. NOW Korah the son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab and On the son of Peleth sons of Reuben took men 2. And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly famous in the congregation men of renown 3. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the LORD is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the congregation of the LORD 4. And when Moses heard it he fell upon his face 5. And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company saying Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him 6. This do Take you censers Korah and all his company 7. And put fire therein and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose he shall be holy ye take too much upon you ye sons of Levi. 8. And Moses said unto Korah Hear I pray you ye sons of Levi 9. Seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them 10. And he hath brought thee near to him and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the priesthood also 11. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD and what is Aaron that ye murmur against him 12. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab which said We will not come up 13. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness except thou make thy self altogether a prince over us 14. Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards wilt thou put out the eyes of these men we will not come up 15. And Moses was very wroth and said unto the LORD Respect not thou their offering I have not taken one ass from them neither have I hurt one of them 16. And Moses said unto Korah Be thou and all thy company before the LORD thou and they and Aaron to morrow 17. And take every man his censer and put incense in them and bring ye before the LORD every man his censor two hundred and fifty censers thou also and Aaron each of you his censer 18. And they took every man his censer and put fire in them and laid incense thereon and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron 19. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation 20. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 21. Separate your selves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment 22. And they fell upon their faces and said O God the God of the spirits of all flesh shall one man sin and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24. Speak unto the congregation saying Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram 25. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram and the elders of Israel followed him 26. And he spake unto the congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins 27. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram on every side and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents and their wives and their sons and their little children 28. And Moses said Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works for I have not done them of mine own mind 29. If these men die the common death of all men or if they be visited after the visitation of all men then the LORD hath not sent me 30. But if the LORD make a new thing and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up with all that appertain unto them and they go down quick into the pit then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words that the ground clave asunder that was under them 32. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods 33. They and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit and the earth closed upon them and they perished from among the congregation 34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them for they said Lest the earth swallow us up also 35. And there came out a fire from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense 36. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 37. Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest that he
l. 1. And thus are the People of Israel considered God commands Moses to say unto Pharaoh Israel is my son even my first-born and I say unto thee Let my son go Exod. 4.22 23. Again and called my son out of Egypt Hos 11.1 And agreeably hereunto is this passage cited by St. Matth. c. 2.15 and applied to the return of Jesus out of Egypt He hath i. e. Israel who hath God for his help An unicorn It is matter of great question what Creature the Hebrew word denotes and not fit to be debated here It is enough that it denotes one of eminent Power and known so to be in those Eastern Countries and early days of the World 23. No enchantment against Or in Jacob These senses are both true and very consistent with each other Enchantment and Divination was neither at this time practised in Israel nor could they prevail against them The first Sense is favoured by the Ancients the Second confirmed by the Context They despised these things putting their trust in the One Governour of the World De vit Mosis l. 1. These things were too weak to prevail against the Strength of Israel whatever feats they might do upon other People According to this time c. That is The time is now at hand when God shall do great things for Israel bringing them by his mighty Power into the promised Land 24. Behold c. These following words give an account of their vanquishing their Enemies 28. Peor An Hill whence Beth-Peor had its name Deut. 34.6 Jeshimon i. e. The Desart or Wilderness CHAP. XXIV The ARGUMENT Balaam leaves off Enchantments and foretells the Prosperity of the Israelites Balak is thereupon angry with him Balaam's Prophecy of the Star and sundry other matters 1. AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel he went not as at other times to seek for inchantments but he set his face toward the wilderness 2. And Balaam lift up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes and the spirit of God came upon him 3. And he took up his parable and said Balaam the son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said 4. He hath said which heard the words of God which saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open 5. How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel 6. As the valleys are they spread forth as gardens by the river's side as the trees of lign-aloes which the LORD hath planted and as cedar-trees beside the waters 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters and his king shall be higher then Agag and his kingdom shall be exalted 8. God brought him forth out of Egypt he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn he shall eat up the nations his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows 9. He couched he lay down as a lion and as a great lion who shall stir him up Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee 10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam and he smote his hands together and Balak said unto Balaam I called thee to curse mine enemies and behold thou hast altogether blessed them these three times 11. Therefore now flee thou to thy place I thought to promote thee unto great honour but lo the LORD hath kept thee back from honour 12. And Balaam said unto Balak Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me saying 13. If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or bad of mine own mind but what the LORD saith that will I speak 14. And now behold I go unto my people come therefore and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days 15. And he took up his parable and said Balaam the son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said 16. He hath said which heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the most High which saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance but having his eyes open 17. I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Seth. 18. And Edom shall be a possession Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly 19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city 20. And when he looked on Amalek he took up his parable and said Amalek was the first of the nations but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever 21. And he looked on the Kenites and took up his parable and said Strong is thy dwelling place and thou puttest thy nest in a rock 22. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted until Asshur shall carry thee away captive 23. And he took up his parable and said Alas who shall live when God doeth this 24. And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim and shall afflict Asshur and shall afflict Eber and he also shall perish for ever 25. And Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place and Balak also went his way 1. AS at other times Chap. 23.5 15. To seek for enchantments Heb. To the meeting of enchantments For tho' he offered Sacrifice to the true God yet he had also used Superstitious and Magical Rites which he had hitherto found ineffectual and therefore now he leaves them off as an unprofitable course See the Note on ch 23.1 Toward the wilderness That is Toward the place where Israel encamped as appears from v. 2. 2. The spirit of God came upon him The Divine Spirit the Spirit of Truth came upon him and directed him to foretell of the Messias c. So that the truth of what he foretells may be relyed upon 3. And he took up c. Ch. 23.7 18. Whose eyes are open Heb. Who had his eyes shut but now open That is Who is now enlightened though he were once stupid and blind See v. 1. and ch 22.34 4. Falling into a trance So those who prophesied were wont to do 1 Sam. 19.24 Ezek. 1.28 6. As the valleys c. The tents of Jacob he compares to things very goodly Such are the far extended Valleys Gardens well watered Trees bearing Spices of sweet smell lofty and tall Cedars planted by the Waters 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters These words are a Prophecy of the great encrease of Israel whose Posterity should be very numerous and powerfull This encrease of Posterity is in the
LORD 6. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 7. The daughters of Zelophehad speak right thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them 8. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying If a man die and have no son then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter 9. And if he have no daughter then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren 10. And if he have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren 11. And if his father have no brethren then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family and he shall possess it and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment as the LORD commanded Moses 12. And the LORD said unto Moses Get thee up into this mount Abarim and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel 13. And when thou hast seen it thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother was gathered 14. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desart of Zin in the strife of the congregation to sanctifie me at the water before their eyes that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin 15. And Moses spake unto the LORD saying 16. Let the LORD the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them and which may lead them out and which may bring them in that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd 18. And the LORD said unto Moses Take thee Joshua the son of Nâ—â— a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hand upon him 19. And set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient 21. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD at his word shall they go out and at his word they shall come in both he and all the children of Israel with him even all the congregation 22. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation 23. And he laid his hands upon him and gave him a charge as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses 1. ZElophehad Ch. 26.13 Josh 17.3 3. Died Chap. 14.35 and 26.64 65. Korah Chap. 16. In his own sin i. e. Not as a Ring-leader of any Rebellion or Sedition or as a more notorious Sinner than other Men but as a common and ordinary Sinner to whom yet Death is due 4. Done away Heb. Diminished Their Father being no notorious Sinner his Children might well plead for an Inheritance which these Women had a fair occasion to do in their Father's right at this time because the Summ of the People was just now taken in order to the dividing the Land among them chap. 26.53 5. Brought their cause before the LORD That is He enquired of God in this matter and to that purpose it is probable he went into the Tabernacle See chap. 7.89 and Exod. 25.22 9. Vnto his brethren That is Upon supposition that his Father be dead For if his Father be alive the Inheritance as the Jews say with great probability returns to him and comes not to his Brethren first excepting onely where the Widow of the deceased is married to a surviving Brother as may be collected from v. 10 11. The Father is supposed to be dead v. 10. it being very improbable otherwise that his Brethren should rather inherit than he especially when it is provided that the Inheritance should pass to him that is next of the Family of him who is deceased v. 11. And that the Brethren's claim is from the Father as they were his Children rather than as the Brethren of the deceased vid. Selden de Success cap. XI 12. Get thee up Deut. 32.49 Into this mount Abarim There were a Tract of Mountains so called in the Plains of Moab ch 33.47 This Mountain was called Nebo Deut. 32.49 And they are called Abarim it is like because they were near the passage which was over Jordan as the Hebrew word intimates 13. Aaron Chap. 20.24 14. Rebelled Ch. 20.24 See the Notes on ch 20.12 Water Exod. 17.7 17. Which may go out before them and which may go in before them i. e. Which may rule and govern them in War and Peace and lead them as a Shepherd doth his Flock Deut. 28.6 When Moses expressed his unfitness for Government he says I can no more go out and come in Deut. 31.2 See Psal 121.8 18. Spirit i. e. The Spirit of God enabling him for his great Office He was in this a Type of Jesus Christ Joh. 3.34 with Isa 11.2 Lay thine hand upon him i. e. By that Rite set him a-part to his Office See Numb 8.10 This laying on of Hands see v. 23. was followed with encrease of Gifts from God And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of Wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him Deut. 34.9 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him i. e. Thou shalt not treat him barely as a Servant but admit him forthwith as a Partner in the Government as becomes him who is the Elect Judge or Ruler of his People 21. Ask counsel viz. In weighty and important Matters After the judgment of Vrim Exod. 28.30 CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Of the daily or continual Burnt-offering Of the additional Sacrifice on the Sabbath-day Of that of the New Moons Of that of the Passeover and Feast of Vnleavened Bread Of that of the Feast of Weeks 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel and say unto them My offering and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire for a sweet savour unto me shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season 3. And thou shalt say unto them This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD two lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering 4. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even 5. And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat-offering mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oyl 6. It is a continual burnt-offering which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD 7. And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong
which is left to his own disposal 10. To pass through the fire See the Note upon Levit. 18.21 That useth divination or an observer of times or an Enchanter The Divination here forbid seems to be the foretelling things to come for the sake of gain or by means not allowed by the Law of God See Micah 3.11 for the observer of times and the Enchanter See the Note on Levit. 19.26 A witch See the Note upon Exod. 22.18 11. Charmer An Inchanter who by Society with evil Spirits and perhaps by a pretence to knowledge from the Conjunction of the Stars for the Hebrew Word imports Society or Conjunction amuses Men with his odd feats and predictions Or a consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard of these See the Note on Levit. 19.31 Necromancer i. e. one who seeks to the Dead See 1 Sam. 28.7 and Isa 8.19 13. Perfect i. e. Vpright or Sincere and not depart from his Precepts See v. 14. 15. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. The connexion is plainly this That they need not turn to Observers of Times to Diviners and Witches c. because God would send among them a Succession of Prophets but then here is also a promise of Christ Act. 3.22 and 7.37 which agrees perfectly to our Jesus who was a Prophet as he taught the Will of God Matth. 5. Luk. 4.19 and foretold things to come Matth. 26.75 Joh. 6.70 71. Matth. 16.21 Matth. 24. and was like unto Moses in his Meekness in his fasting forty days and forty nights in giving his Law from a Mountain Matt. 5. in his open declaring the Will of God Joh. 1.18 in his Mediatorship c. 19. I will require it i. e. I will punish him as a despiser of me and he shall be destroyed from among the people Act. 3.23 22. Speaketh in the name of the LORD c. That is undertakes to confirm his Mission by a Miracle or by predicting something to come The not being able to effect what he undertook and when the Event answered not the Prediction would prove him a false Prophet and not to be feared or regarded CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the cities of Refuge and the Manslayer The Murtherer must die The Land-mark may not be removed The insufficiency of a single Witness The Punishment of a False-witness 1. WHen the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee and thou succeedest them and dwellest in their cities and in their houses 2. Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way and divide the coasts of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit into three parts that every slayer may flee thither 4. And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither that he may live whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly whom he hated not in time past 5. As when a man goeth in the wood with his neighbour to hew wood and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree and the head slippeth from the helve and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die he shall flee unto one of those cities and live 6. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him because the way is long and slay him whereas he was not worthy of death in as much as he hated him not in time past 7. Wherefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate three cities for thee 8. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers 9. If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them which I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God and to walk ever in his ways then shalt thou add three cities more for thee beside these three 10. That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance and so blood be upon thee 11. But if any man hate his neighbour and lie in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him mortally that he die and fleeth into one of these cities 12. Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die 13. Thine eye shall not pity him but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with thee 14. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's land-mark which they of old time have set in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it 15. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin in any sin that he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established 16. If a false witness rise up against any man to testifie against him that which is wrong 17. Then both the men between whom the controversie is shall stand before the LORD before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days 18. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition and behold if the witness be a false witness and hath testified falsly against his brother 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother so shalt thou put the evil away from among you 20. And those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you 21. And thine eye shall not pity but life shall go for life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot 1. WHEN the LORD thy God c. It is from hence evident that they were not obliged to set aside these Cities of Refuge till they had subdued the Inhabitants of the Land and accordingly we find Joshua then taking care of it Josh 20.2 2. In the midst of thy land Or Within thy land For it is not to be supposed they were in the very middle of it but that they were so situated as might be most for the ease and security of the Man-slayer v. 6. and accordingly they were appointed in several Tribes as we read Josh 20.7 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way The meaning is that the way to these Cities should be made plain and easie that the Man-slayer might not be obstructed or retarded in his flight thither 4. And this is the case See Exod. 21.13 6. Lest the avenger c. It is evident that these words relate to what was said v. 3. of dividing the Coasts of the Land that the Slayer might flee to the City of Refuge with greater security which he could not do had not these Cities been dispersed in several Tribes 8. As he hath sworn
Expeditions Hear his voice O Lord when in his distress he shall call upon thee and bring him safely back from the Wars to his own People Strengthen his hands O Lord and save him from his Enemies It hath been thought that Simeon is here included though he be not expressed And that may the more reasonably be supposed because not onely Simeon's Inheritance was within the Inheritance of Judah Josh 19.1 but he was also joined with Judah in those Wars against the Canaanites in which the Divine Aid is implored for Judah here in those Words Hear Lord which words import the reason of Simeon's Name Compare Gen. 29.33 8. Let thy Thummim and thy Vrim be with thy holy one The Vrim and the Thummim were placed in the Breast-plate and this Breast-plate was appropriate to Aaron and to the succeeding High-Priests the Sons of Aaron Exod. 28.30 and the meaning of these words is q. d. Let the great Dignity of the High-Priesthood continue in the Posterity of Aaron who was of this Tribe of Levi and dignified with this separate and holy Office Whom thou didst prove at Massah viz. Whom thou hast sufficiently tried and proved Massah signifies Trial or Proof and is not a proper Name And the words may be rendred Whom in proving thou didst prove And this Sense is confirmed by the Greek Vulgar Latin and Chaldee and Syriac and the Hebrew Text narrowly considered gives great ground to preferr this Sense Because the Particle here which we have translated as signifies in and is not the same which we translate at in the following Words Thou didst strive i. e. Whom thou didst punish or chastise as that Hebrew word does signifie Isa 49.25 Jer. 2.9 but not deprive of the Dignity of the Priesthood At the waters of Meribah See Numb 20.13 9. Who said c. Which Tribe of Levi in that general Defection Exod. 32. did upon God's Command without all respect of persons or favour to their nearest Relations slay those who had been guilty of Idolatry v. 28 29. They have observed c. Compare Mal. 2.5 6. and Psal 99.7 10. They shall teach c. That is the Priests the Levites Compare Ezek. 44.23 24. Levit. 10.11 11. His substance That is his Store Compare Deut. 8.18 He had no Inheritance but yet had his Provisions allotted him by God 12. The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him i. e. Benjamin favoured of God shall have his Inheritance in a safe place viz. about Jerusalem the Holy City and the Temple or Place of God's special Residence among the Israelites Compare Josh 18.11 28. He shall dwell between his shoulders i. e. His Temple shall be situated in his land as the Chaldee renders the last Words Compare Numb 34.11 and Josh 15.10 13. For the deep c. i. e. for the Springs in the lower Parts of the Land 14. Brought forth Or ripened By the Moon Or Monthly 15. Lasting hills See the Note on Gen. 49.26 16. Of him that dwelt in the bush That is Of God who appeared in the Bush to Moses Exod 3.2 17. Like the firstling of his bullock viz. for Strength and Power See Ps 68.9 The ten thousands c. Gen. 48.19 18. Rejoice Zebulun c. See the Notes on Gen. 49. v. 13. and v. 15. 19. Vnto the mountain viz. Of God's House as appears from the following words Compare Isa 2.2 3. Sacrifices of righteousness i. e. Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving for the abundance of all things Compare Ps 4.5 with Psal 50.14 and 51.19 They shall suck i. e. They shall by their Traffick and Merchandise get great Riches which is expressed by the abundance of the Seas and treasures hid in the Sand Because their Wealth came to them from the Seas into their Ports or Sea-shoars 20. That enlargeth Gad That is who hath given him a large possession and will deliver him out of his straits See the Note on Gen. 49.19 As a lion and teareth c. These words speak his great Courage and Conquest over the Power of his Enemies Of both which see 1 Chron. 12.8 and 1 Chron. 5.8 with v. 19 20 21 22. 21. He provided the first part for himself That is he chose his Inheritance with the first on this side Jordan Numb 32.1 Portion of the Lawgiver i. e. That part of the Country which Moses the Lawgiver entred upon and which he divided Numb 32.33 Seated Heb. Cieled or hid They were protected in fenced Cities which they built for the security for their Wives and Children Num. 32.34 35 36. And he came c. That is after he had made provision for the safety of his Family and Cattel he accompanied the Leaders and Captains of the People and assisted them in conquering the Land and destroying the Inhabitants who were justly by God devoted to destruction Josh 1.14 22. Dan is a lion's whelp he shall leap from Bashan i. e. Dan is nimble and ready for Prey like a young Lion from Bashan a place of Flocks and Cattel that skips at the Lambs or other prey 23. Possess thou the west and the south His Tribe lay North and East but yet he was so situated that by Zebulun who lay next him and upon the Coast of the great Sea he could easily be possessed of the Commodities of the Sea which we here translate West Again lying upon the River Jordan Josh 19.33 he had the advantage of enjoying those Commodities which came down that River from the Southern parts of the Land 24. Dip his foot in oyl i. e. He shall have plenty of Oyl Compare Job 29.6 and Gen. 49.20 25. Thy shooes shall be iron c. Or under thy feet shall be iron Compare Deut. 8.9 As thy days so shall thy strength be i. e. Thy strength shall bear proportion to thy days That shall be great and they shall be many 26. Who rideth upon the heaven in thy help i. e. He does dispose the Heavens above for thy aid and assistance which he affords thee readily From the Clouds he sends Thunder and Lightning Hail and Tempest to the discomfiting his People's Enemies Thus had God done Exod. 9.23 and thus did he do afterward Josh 10.10 11. Compare Psal 18.9 10. In his excellency c. See Psal 68.33 34. 28. The fountain of Jacob i. e. Jacob's Posterity that came from him as from a Fountain which is here put for the Streams as in Psal 104.10 Compare Psal 68.26 and Isai 48.1 29. The sword of thy excellency i. e. It is not thy own Sword hath gotten thee the Victory and thy Renown but God's Assistance Thine enemies c. Such shall be thy Conquests and Success over the Power called here the high places of thine Enemies that they who are such shall yet not own their Enmity but at least yield a feigned subjection to thee Compare Deut. 32.13 Psal 44.18 and 66.3 CHAP. XXXIV The ARGUMENT Moses goeth up unto Mount Nebo and takes a view of the Land from thence He dieth there Of his Burial and Age and the time which the People mourned for him Joshua succeeds him Moses commended 1. AND Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho and the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan. 2. And all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea 3. And the south and the plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees unto Zoar. 4. And the LORD said unto him This is the land which I sware unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob saying I will give it unto thy seed I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes but thou shalt not go over thither 5. So Moses the servant of the the LORD died there in the land of Moab according to the word of the LORD 6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-Peor but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day 7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated 8. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended 9. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him and the children of Israel hearkened unto him and did as the LORD commanded Moses 10. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the LORD knew face to face 11. In all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land 12. And in all that mighty hand and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel 1. ALL the land of Gilead unto Dan i. e. The Land of Gilead on this side Jordan unto a place called afterwards Dan in the Northern Border of the Land of Canaan Josh 19.47 Judg. 18.29 2. Vtmost sea That is the Mediterranean-sea the Western Border of the Land See Deut. 11.24 5 According to the word c. That is as God had foretold he should 6. He buried him That is the Lord buried him by the Ministry of Angels or at least without imploying any of the Israelites therein Compare Gen. 7.16 No man knoweth of his sepulchre c. That there might be no occasion of Idolatry or Superstition given to the Israelites 8. Thirty days Compare Numb 20.29 9. Wisdom This is here mentioned as that which is very necessary in a Governour of others Compare 1 King 3.9 For Moses had laid his hands upon him The laying of the Hands of Moses is not brought in as a cause but as a sign of Joshua's Wisdom For Moses laid his Hands on him by God's direction and to make it known that he was the person appointed and fitted by God for the Employment he was called to Take thee Joshua the son of Nun a man in whom is the spirit and lay thine hands upon him Numb 27.18 10. There arose not a prophet c. See Numb 12.8 FINIS