Aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances 21. And Miriam answered them Sing ye to the LORD for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea 22. So Moses brought Israel from the Red-sea and they went out into the wilderness of Shur and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water 23. And when they came to Marah they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter therefore the name of it was called Marah 24. And the people murmured against Moses saying What shall we drink 25. And he cried unto the LORD and the LORD shewed him a tree which when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweet there he made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he proved them 26. And said If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God and wilt do that which is right in his sight and wilt give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I have brought upon the Egyptians for I am the LORD that healeth thee 27. And they came to Elim where were twelve wells of water and threescore and ten palm-trees and they encamped there by the waters 1. MOses Wisd 10.20 Vnto the LORD i. e. To his praise Vid. Psal 106.12 Rev. 15.2 3. 2. My strength To whose assistance this deliverance is to be ascribed Song i. e. The argument of my Praise and Thanksgiving Vid. Isa 12.2 And I will prepare him aâ— habitation Or I will glorifie him as the Greek and Vulgar render it 3. A man of War i. e. A great Warriour It is an Hebraism The Hebrew word which we translate Man is observed in Conjunction with another word to signifie some Excellency or Perfection Thus a man of Words signifies an eloquent Man Exod. 4.10 6. Thy right hand The Scripture speaks say the Jews in the language of the Children of Men. The right hand of a Man is the instrument by which he effects what he finds in his power Hence it is attributed to God when his Power is celebrated 8. With the blast of thy nostrils Or Wind of thine anger This may referr to that Wind ch 14.21 which made way for the destruction of the Egyptians Congealed i. e. Hardened as congealed Matter is so that the Hebrews went on dry-land 9. Destroy Or repossess 10. Blow with thy Wind See v. 8. and ch 14.21 27. 11. Gods Or mighty ones Fearfull in praises To be feared and reverenced when thy Name is celebrated or praised 12. The Earth swallowed them As they sunk into the Deep See Jon. 2.6 And possibly some of them were buried in the Sands brought on them by the violence of the returning Waters 13. Vnto thy holy habitation i. e. To the Land of Canaan the place of the Hebrews rest and the place in which God would reveal himself to them and where he would dwell with them Jer. 50.19 Psal 78.54 55. 14. The People Deut. 2.25 Josh 2.9 16. Fear Deut. 2.25 Josh 2.9 Still i. e. Stupified and so far over-powered with their fears that they shall not be able to defend themselves Pass over Viz. Into the promised Land Purchased Or Possessest 17. Which thou hast made for thee to dwell in This verse contains a description of Canaan as it was the place where God would dwell and that in a Sanctuary which being certainly to be built when God should command is spoken of as already done 20. The prophetess One to whom God revealed himself Vid. Num. 12.2 Gen. 20.7 and Mic. 6.4 21. Answered them i. e. She answered the Men who probably did sing the Song first And when they had sung then Miriam did repeat it 23. To Marah So called by anticipation as appears from the following words Marah That is Bitterness 25. A tree Ecclus 38.5 There he made for them a Statute c. The Jews commonly understand these words with reference to some particular Laws given in this place viz. Concerning the Sabbath honouring of Parents c. But we have no sufficient reason to credit this When 't is said He appointed them as the Hebrew word imports a Statute c. those words seem to refer to that monition which follows v. 26. which is so comprehensive as if obeyed would dispose them to obey all God's Laws 26. Healeth Ps 103.3 27. Elius Num. 33.9 CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT The Israelites come to Sin They murmur for want of Bread They are promised Bread from Heaven Quails are sent and Manna Rules to be observed concerning the Manna It was not to be found on the Sabbath day A Pot of Manna is reserved as a Memorial The Israelites are to eat of this Bread forty Years 1. AND they took their journey from Elim and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt 2. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness 3. And the children of Israel said unto them Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the flesh-pots and when we did eat bread to the full for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger 4. Then said the LORD unto Moses Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no. 5. And it shall come to pass that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily 6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel At even then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt 7. And in the morning then ye shall see the glory of the LORD for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD And what are we that ye murmur against us 8. And Moses said This shall be when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him And what are we your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD 9. And Moses spake unto Aaron Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel Come near before the LORD for he hath heard your murmurings 10. And it came to pass as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel that they looked toward the wilderness and behold the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud 11. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 12. I have heard the murmurings
with the People to desist from so great a sin Numb 16.4.20.6 Deut. 1.29 30. 6. Rent their clothes This they did in token of Sorrow 9. They are bread i. e. They will easily be devoured and destroyed by us Vid. ch 24.8 Ps 14.4 Their defence Heb. Shadow A Shadow being a defence against Heat is used here for defence or protection See Luk. 1.35 Ps 91.1 Isa 30.2 To which may be added Psal 121.5 6. The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night And it follows v. 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul Their Defence was God who hath now deserted them their Iniquities being now full Gen. 15.16 and it follows The LORD is with us 10. The glory of the LORD By it is meant some extraordinary light and brightness of the Cloud as a sign of God's more special Presence at this time in which his Servants were in danger of being stoned See Exod. 24.16 17. ch 40.34 Levit. 9.23 Numb 16.19 42.20.6 13. Moses said Exod. 32.11 14. Art seen face to face i. e. Art known to be present by a visible sign thereof see v. 10. Thy cloud Exod. 13.21 16. Able Deut. 9.18 17. Let the power of my Lord be great i. e. Let the greatness of thy Power appear in pardoning and forbearing this People 18. Long-suffering Exod. 34.6 Ps 103.8 Visiting the iniquity Exod. 20.5 and 34.7 19. Vntil now Or Hitherto 20. I have pardoned At least God remits when he does not slay them as one Man and all at once as the Israelites did deserve and God it is probable had threatned v. 15. with v. 12. though he did not wholly forgive the sin 21. All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD q. d. Although this People be not brought into the promised Land yet shall I be justified in my proceedings against them and by my mighty and righteous Works sufficiently provide for the Honour of my Name see v. 15 16. among all the Inhabitants of the Earth which shall hear of these things 22. Because c. The destruction of the Israelites will not redound to the dishonour of God because I. They had been disobedient to him they had tempted him and provoked him II. They were guilty of Rebellion against God after the greatest Mercies and proofs of God's Presence and Providence they had seen his Glory and his Miracles III. God did not punish them for their first fault but they had often tempted him which is here expressed by Ten times See Gen. 31.7 IV. None of them are devoted to destruction but those who provoked God v. 23 24 30. Nor are they destroyed suddenly 23. Surely they shall not see the land Heb. If they see the land 24. Caleb Josh 14.6 With whom Joshua is reckoned v. 30. Another spirit A Spirit of Courage and Truth which ten of the Spies wanted 25. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley God having consented upon the Request of Moses to spare the People or not to destroy them suddenly v. 20. does here give them notice of their danger at present from the Amalekites and Canaanites who at this time lay ready in the Valley to give them Battel By Canaanites may well be understood any of the Inhabitants of the Land Gen. 10.15 18. or else perhaps some particular People or Family for so the word Canaanite seems elsewhere to import Vid. Numb 13.29 And whereas it is said They dwelt in the valley we need not extend it any farther than that they were there at this time which does not contradict what is said v. 45. 28. As truly as I live Chap. 26.65 and 32.11 Deut. 1.35 29. From twenty years old and upward Thus were the People numbred ch 1. but the Levites were numbred from a Month old and upward ch 3.15 and are therefore not denounced against in the following words 30. Sware Heb. Lifted up my hand 33. Wander Or Feed like Herdsmen they shall shift from one place of the Desart to another Forty years These are to be reckoned from their coming out of Egypt from which this was the second Year Deut. 2.14 Whoredoms i. e. The punishment thereof Their departing from God especially their Idolatry is justly called a Spiritual Whoredom or Fornication ch 15.39 Deut. 32.16 34. Forty days Psal 95.10 Ezek. 4.6 My breach of promise Or Altering of my purpose God cannot be said to break his Promise or to alter his Purpose Nor do the ancient Versions favour such a rendring of this place The Hebrew word onely imports a making void or breaking off It imports here God's departure from this People who had first forsaken him and failed in their Obedience which gave them a title to the promised good things being the Condition on their part 37. Died by the plague 1 Cor. 10.10 Heb. 3.17 Jude v. 5. 40. We be here Deut. 1.40 41. The commandment Mentioned v. 25. 44. The ark of the covenant Their guide ch 10.33 45. The Cananites i. e. The Amorites Deut. 1.44 See the Notes on v. 25. Discomfited Deut. 1.44 Hormah See ch 21.3 So called here Proleptically or by way of Anticipation CHAP. XV. The ARGUMENT Of the Meat-offering and Drink-offering annexed to the Sâ—crifices The Proselyte is obliged to the same Law Of the Cake for an Heave-offering Of the Sacrifices for Sins of Ignorance Of the presumptuous Sinner Of him that gathered Sticks on the Sabbath Day Of the Fringes 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye be come into the land of your habitations which I give unto you 3. And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD a burnt-offering or a sacrifice in performing a vow or in a free-will-offering or in your solemn feasts to make a sweet savour unto the LORD of the herd or of the flock 4. Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat-offering of a tenth-deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oyl 5. And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink-offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt-offering or sacrifice for one lamb 6. Or for a ram thou shalt prepare for a meat-offering two tenth-deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oyl 7. And for a drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine for a sweet savour unto the LORD 8. And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt-offering or for a sacrifice in performing a vow or peace-offerings unto the LORD 9. Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat-offering of three tenth-deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oyl 10. And thou shalt bring for a drink-offering half an hin of wine for an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 11. Thus shall it be done for
from the woman's hand but he found her not 21. Then he asked the men of that place saying Where is the harlot that was openly by the way side and they said There was no harlot in this place 22. And he returned to Judah and said I cannot find her and also the men of the place said that there was no harlot in this place 23. And Judah said Let her take it to her lest we be shamed Behold I sent this kid and thou hast not found her 24. And it came to pass about three months after that it was told Judah saying Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot and also behold she is with child by whoredom and Judah said Bring her forth and let her be burnt 25. When she was brought forth she sent to her father in law saying By the man whose these are am I with child and she said Discern I pray thee whose are these the signet and bracelets and staff 26. And Judah acknowledged them and said She hath been more righteous then I because that I gave her not to Shelah my son and he knew her again no more 27. And it came to pass in the time of her travail that behold twins were in her womb 28. And it came to pass when she travailed that the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet threed saying This came out first 29. And it came to pass as he drew back his hand that behold his brother came out and she said How hast thou broken forth this breach be upon thee therefore his name was called Pharez 30. And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet threed upon his hand and his name was called Zarah 1. AT that time i. e. In that space of time between Jacob's coming from Padan-Aram into Canaan and his going into Egypt In this Chapter we have an account of several matters which fell out not all at once but successively And though the greater part of the Chapter report matters that happened about and after the time when Joseph was sold into Egypt yet Judah's marriage which leads to those things must have been before Joseph was sold Otherwise it is hardly conceivable that all those things should happen to Judah in the space of three and twenty years for it could not be longer before he went into Egypt after Joseph was sold which are reported viz. the birth of Er Onan and Shelah severally The marriage of Er and Onan The time which Tamar waited for Shelah which were many days v. 12. The birth of Pharez and Zarah by Tamar and after this the birth of Hezron and Hamul of Pharez ch 46.12 Compare Deut. 10.8 Adullamite So called from the City Adullam Josh 12.15 2. Canaanite The Chaldee renders the word by Merchant and so the word sometime signifies Prov. 31.24 And the Tigurin Version renders it so in this place But our English have translated it truly in this place as will appear by comparing 1 Chron. 2.3 It is true that Judah ought not to have married into that Race Compare ch 24.3 with 28.1 and the Notes on those places and that 't is like is the reason of the Chaldee's rendring It was an unlawfull and proved a very unhappy Marriage and there remained none of the Posterity of this Woman of Canaan Shuah The name of the Man as appears from the Hebrew Text and from 1 Chron. 2.3 3. He called Judah names the first-born his Wife gave names to the other two v. 4 5. 5. Chezib This place is called Achzib Jos 15.44 7. Wicked Remarkably so whatever his wickedness were and was therefore cut off betimes 8. Marry her This was afterward made into a Law Deut. 25.5 See the Notes on ch 7.2 But it was not lawfull where the Brother left Issue behind him Lev. 18.16.20.21 9. Should not be called his Or Should not be called by his name As the Chaldee renders it 〈◊〉 Thus Envy carries him to another great sin 11. A widow at thy father's house Compare Levit. 22.13 13. To shear his sheep Which was a time of feasting 2 Sam. 25.8 11. 14. Wrapped her self viz. To keep her self from being known Open place i. e. A place that was common Prov. 7.12.9.14 15. 15. Because she had covered This does not contain the proof of her being an Harlot but the reason why Judah did not know her v. 16. 18. Thy bracelets Or Thy scarf or girdle according to the Hebrew 23. Lest we be shamed Or Become a contempt as the Margent hath it By pursuing Judah would have occasioned the discovery of his own sin 24. Bring her forth Judah would have her brought to her tryal Adultery was afterwards punishable with death Deut. 22.22 23. and probably at this time and among this People it was so likewise See the Notes on ch 7.2 and Jer. 29.22 23. She is charged with Adultery because she was in truth the Wife of Shelah v. 11. compared with Deut. 22.23 c. Burnt As an Adulteress and probably according to the Custom of the place This in one Case was the punishment by the Law of Moses Lev. 21.9 26. Because I gave c. This neglect of his Promise was the occasion of this evil No more This abstaining from sin is necessary and without it we cannot be said to repent Job 34.31 29. This breach be upon thee i. e. Thou hast made this breach and accordingly he should in his name carry the remembrance of it CHAP. XXXIX The ARGUMENT Joseph made the Overseer of the Family of Potiphar who prospers thereupon Joseph is tempted by his Mistress He resisteth the Temptation He is falsely accused and cast into Prison God is with him in the Prison where he is entrusted and prospers 1. AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh captain of the guard an Egyptian bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites which had brought him down thither 2. And the LORD was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian 3. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him and he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hand 5. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house and over all that he had that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house and in the field 6. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand and he knew not ought he had save the bread which he did eat and Joseph was a goodly person and well-favoured 7. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said Lie with
Zipporah his daughter 22. And she bare him a son and he called his name Gershom for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land 23. And it came to pass in process of time that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage 24. And God heard their groaning and God remembred his covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. 25. And God looked upon the children of Israel and God had respect unto them 1. A Man Called Amram Exod 6.20 Numb 26.59 A daughter of Levi Her name was Jochebed and she was Amram's Father's Sister Exod. 6.20 The Family of Israel was as yet small and the Law of Marriages not yet given This was afterward forbid Lev. 18.12 2. A goodly child A beautifull Child Heb. 11.23 Act. 7.20 See Joseph Antiqu. l. 2. c. 5. 4. His sister viz. Miriam Exod. 15.20 5. The daughter of Pharaoh Called Thermuthis by Josephus 6. This is one of the Hebrews children She might very well thus judge not onely because he was circumcised as the Hebrews were but because she saw him thus exposed for fear of being discovered and killed according to the King's Command 7. His sister Who had placed her self so as she might see what became of her Brother 8. Go She was the more inclined not onely because the Child was beautifull but because she had none of her own as Josephus tells us 10. Her son Her adopted Son as the Vulgar hath it She called his name Moses i. e. Drawnout from a word that signifies to draw out See Ps 18.16 Josephus likewise tells us That Moses even among the Egyptians did signifie one saved from the Waters 11. Grown Not onely in Stature of which v. 10. but in Strength and Years He was now full forty years old Act. 7.23 12. He slew the Egyptian His example is not to be imitated by us who do not know what his Authority was However Moses supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them Act. 7.25 13. The second day i. e. The next day Act. 7.26 14. A prince Heb. a Man a Prince A ruler and a judge Act. 7.27 16. Priest Or Prince It is very possible he might be both Priest Prince also See Gen. 47.22 17. Drove them away Them i. e. not the Daughters it being the Masculin Gender in the Hebr. but the Flocks or some Servants who were under these Daughters 18. Reuel their father Reuel was Jethro's Father and their Grandfather And Jethro was also called Hobab See Numb 10.29 Judg. 4.11 It is usual in the Scripture to call the Grandfather Father See Gen. 24.48 V. M. B. Israel Concil in Exod. qu. 1. 21. Zipporah his daughter i. e. The Daughter of Jethro See the Greek v. 16. 22. Gershom Ch. 18.3 the former part of which word signifies a Stranger in the Hebr. 24. Covenant Gen. 15.14 and 46.4 25. God had respect unto them Heb. Knew them God had a mercifull regard to them See the Chaldee and Psal 1.6.31.7 CHAP. III. The ARGUMENT Moses keeps the Flock of Jethro and comes to Horeb. The burning Bush not consumed Moses is appointed by God to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt Of the Name of God The Message of Moses God fore-tells the Event or Success of his undertaking 1. NOW Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian and he led the flock to the back-side of the desart and came to the mountain of God even to Horeb. 2. And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and be looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed 3. And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burnt 4. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said Moses Moses And he said Here am I. 5. And he said Draw not nigh hither put off thy shooes from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground 6. Moreover he said I am the God of thy father the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God 7. And the LORD said I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their task-masters for I know their sorrows 8. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large unto a land flowing with milk and honey unto the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jeâ—â—sites 9. Now therefore behold the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them 10. Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt 11. And Moses said unto God Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt 12. And he said Certainly I will be with thee and this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent thee When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt ye shall serve God upon this mountain 13. And Moses said unto God Behold when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me What is his name What shall I say unto them 14. And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM And he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you 15. And God said moreover unto Moses Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you this is my name for ever and this is my memorial unto all generations 16. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them The LORD God of your fathers the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob appeared unto me saying I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt 17. And I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites unto a land flowing with milk and honey 18. And they shall hearken to thy voice and thou shalt come thou and the elders of Israel unto the king of Egypt and you shall say
he shall be as one that is born in the land for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof 49. One law shall be to him that is home-born and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you 50. Thus did all the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron so did they 51. And it came to pass the self-same day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies 1. SPake Sometime before the Israelites went out of Egypt and it is likely it might be before the Darkness 2. This month It is called Abib c. 13.4 And afterwards was called Nisan Esth 3.7 it answers to our March The first month of the year i. e. Of the Sacred not of the Civil Year It is certain the seventh Month or Tisri which answers to our September was even after this the first Month of the Year and very probable it is that it was so from the beginning in all respects insome accounts Tisri began the Civil Year and was reckoned the first Month with respect to the Sabbatical Year and Jubilee Vid. c. 23.16 c. 34.22 Lev. 25.8 9. But then this Month was the beginning of the Sacred or Ecclesiastical Year and with respect to the Holy Days and Festivals which God appointed To you Not in all respects but to you especially in the sense before explained and with a particular reference to their Redemption out of Egypt It was at this time that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for our Redemption Joh. 18.28 And there is a Tradition among the Jews That as they were redeemed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of Nisan so they should on the same day be redeemed by the Messias 3. Tenth day That they might have their Lamb in a readiness This seems peculiarly to belong to the Passover of Egypt and not to oblige them in future times It doth however fitly represent our Saviour's coming to Jerusalem on the tenth day of this Month Joh. 12.1 12. Lamb Or Kid. 4. According to the number c. There were wont to be ten at least and sometimes more at the eating of one Lamb Joseph Of the Wars of the Jews Book 7. c. 17. 5. Without blemish Or perfect Not diseased or maimed This was a Type of our Saviour 1 Pet. 1.19.2.22 A male The most excellent of its kind Mal. 1.14 and that which was required in the most perfect and complete Sacrifice which was the Holocaust or whole Burnt-offering Levit. 1.3 10. Of the first year Heb. Son of a year It must not exceed the first year if it be above a year old it must not be offered up Levit. 22.27 6. In the evening Heb. Between the two evenings i. e. In the Afternoon There was among the Jews a former and a latter Evening The Former began at Noon assoon as the Sun begins to decline The Latter was their Sun-set Judg. 13.8 9. compared with Josh 10.26 27 and Luk. 9.12 with Matth. 14.15 The time between the two Evenings when our Days and Nights are of an equal length is three a Clock in the Afternoon which answers to the ninth hour among the Jews and was among them a time of Prayer Act. 3.1 and of their daily Evening Sacrifice Numb 28.4 About this time the Passover was slain Vid. Pesa c. 1. m. 1. And about the same time of the day our Saviour died who is our Passover that was sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.7 Mark 15.34 37. compared with v. 42 43. 7 Vpper door-post But not on the Threshold Vid. Heb. 10.29 8. Vnleavened bread V. Luk. 12.1 1 Cor. 5.8 Bitter herbs To mind them of their grievous Bondage in Egypt 10. Vntill the morning It being an Eucharistical Sacrifice Levit. 7.15 11. Loins girded i. e. Like Travelling-men These things as well as what we read v. 7. were peculiar to the first Passover And hence it is very probable that it was at this time received standing Vid. Luk. 7.37 and 12.35 Ephes 6.14 15. 12. Gods Or Princes Possibly the Idols of the Egyptians were thrown down and such a Tradition there is among the Jewish Doctors Vid. Pirke R. Elieser c. 48. 13. A token viz. of safety Vid. Ezek. 9.4 To destroy Heb. For a destruction 14. For ever i. e. To the times of the Messiah or period of the Ceremonial-Law and Jewish Politie 1 Chron. 15.2 Numb 10.8 15. Cut off Vid. the Notes on Gen. 17.14 16. Man Heb. Soul 17. In this self same day Heb. Strength or body of this day 18. In the first Levit. 23.5 Numb 28.16 19. A stranger i. e. One that is not of the Race of Israel though he sojourn in their Land and be proselyted to their Religion 20. Shall ye eat i. e. When ever you eat Bread during that time it shall be unleavened 21. Lamb Or Kid. 22. And ye c. Heb. 11.28 None of you shall go out This seems also peculiarly to belong to this first Passover the reason not being the same afterwards 23. Pass through Be revealed says the Chaldee 26. And it c. Josh 4.6 29. And it came c. ch 11.4 At midnight At the silent time of the Night when Men are generally most secure 1 Thess 5.3 7. Matt. 25.5 6. What we read Numb 8.17 doth not contradict what is said here Day is put for Time indefinitely in these Sacred Writers See the Notes on Gen. 2.4 From the first-born Wisd 28.11 Dungeon Heb. House of the pit 34. Kneading-troughs Or Dough. 35. Jewels Ch. 3.22 and 11.2 37. To succoth Vid. Numb 33.3 This Journey the Israelites took the day after the Passover was slain This place might be called Succoth from the Booths which the Israelites made there at their first coming out of Egypt or perhaps from the Cloud that there began to cover them Psal 105.39 2513. 1491. 40. Now the sojourning c. Gen. 15.13 Act. 7.6 Gal. 3.17 Their sojourning in Egypt was not above half this time And therefore this space of time takes in the sojourning of them and their Fathers not onely in Egypt but elsewhere See the Greek From the Birth of Isaac to this time are 400 years The other 30 years were before the Birth of Isaac and commence from the first promise made to Abram in Vr of the Chaldees Act. 7.2 3. Now the 30 years are thus made up 5 years in Haran 11 in Canaan when Ishmael was born Gen. 16.3 And 14 years of Ishmael's Age when Isaac was born Gen. 17.25.18.10.16.16.21.5 See the Notes on Gen. 15.13 42. A night much to be observed Heb. A night of Observations 43. No stranger None that is not a Jew born or that is not of that Religion by his being proselyted and admitted by Circumcision Vid. Vers 44 45. 46. Neither shall ye break Numb 9.12 Joh. 19.36 47. Keep it Heb. Do it Stranger c. i. e. The Proselyte See the Greek CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT The First-born are to be set aside The Israelites are minded to preserve
heave-shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel 35. This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron and of the anointing of his sons out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office 36. Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel in the day that he anointed them by a statute for ever throughout their generations 37. This is the law of the burnt-offering of the meat-offering and of the sin-offering and of the trespass-offering and of the consecrations and of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings 38. Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai 1. TRespass-offering This Offering though in many things it was like the Sin-offering yet in other things it differed from it viz. 1. A Female was allowed in a Sin-offering but a Male was required in the Trespass-offering ch 4.28 with ch 6.6 2. The Blood of the Sin-offering was to be put upon the Horns of the Altar ch 4.34 that of the Trespass-offering was to be sprinkled round about upon the Altar v. 2. 3. The Sin-offering was sometime offered for the whole Congregation ch 4.13 The Trespass-offering for a single person 4. Two kidneys a Ch. 3.4 7. One law The difference between them is shewn on v. 1. Besides that they were alike in other things so in that which follows the Law was one and the same that the Priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it Lev. 6.26 8. The skin This was allowed to the Priest who ministred for he was not allowed any part of the Flesh this was intirely consumed upon the Altar upon which consideration he is allowed the Skin whence 't is reasonable to conclude That in all other cases the Skin belonged to the Offerer 9. In the pan Or On the flat plate or slice 10. And dry Ch. 5.11 12. For thanksgiving For some mercy received 13. He shall offer c. This leavened Bread is not said to be offered upon the Altar nor does the Text in the Original imply any such thing Vid. ch 2.11 It was prepared for the Priest and those who were allowed to eat of this Offering 14. An heave-offering So it is called because it was lifted up as the Hebrew word imports 15. Be eaten the same day It is not to be supposed that the Offerer should be obliged to eat it himself in so short a time and therefore he was obliged to invite others to his assistance and this Law recommended to the Offerer Mercy and Kindness to his Brethren when he came to give God thanks for the Mercies which he had received And this account Philo the Jew gives of this matter That they says he who have been partakers of opportune and ready Benefits might express their ready and undelayed Beneficence to others Phil. de Victim 16. A vow or a voluntary offering See the Notes on ch 3.1 And on the morrow These offeâ—ings not having respect to a mercy already received were allowed to be eaten by the Offerer two days together whereas that v. 15. was to be eaten the same day in which it was offered as a testimony of the Offerer's Bounty and Gratitude 17. Burnt with fire And not eaten lest it should in that space of time corrupt 18. An abomination Lev. 19.7 19. The flesh i. e. The Holy Flesh or Flesh of the Peace-offering 20. Having his uncleanness Ch. 15.3 with ch 11.24 21. Cut off See Notes on Gen. 17.14 23. Ye shall eat no c. Ch. 3.7 This is forbid as that which is God's part of the Sacrifice v. 25. 24. Beast Heb. Carkase 26. Moreover c. Gen. 9.4 ch 3.17 and 17.14 29. His oblation c. That is the Fat which was the Lord's and the Breast which was the Priest's portion out of his Peace-offering v. 30. 31. 30. The breast Exod. 29.24 Wave-offering See the Notes on Exod. 29.24 35. This is the portion c. See Exod. 29.27 28. 37. And of the consecrations Of which we have an account Exod. 29. 38. In mount Sinai Or near unto Mount Sinai as it may be rendred it follows In the wilderness of Sinai CHAP. VIII The ARGUMENT The Consecration of Aaron and his Sons Aaron and his Sons washed Aaron is cloathed with the Holy Garments The Tabernacle is anointed and Aaron and his Sons are cloathed The Sin-offering upon this occasion The Ram for the Burnt-offering The Ram of Consecration The Wave-offering Aaron's Sons anointed The Consecration continues seven days 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Take Aaron and his sons with him and the garments and the anointing oyl and a bullock for the sin-offering and two rams and a basket of unleavened bread 3. And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 4. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 5. And Moses said unto the congregation This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done 6. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water 7. And he put upon him the coat and girded him with the girdle and cloathed him with the robe and put the ephod upon him and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod and bound it unto him therewith 8. And he put the breast-plate upon him also he put in the breast-plate the Vrim and Thummim 9. And he put the mitre upon his head also upon the mitre even upon his forefront did he put the golden-plate the holy crown as the LORD commanded Moses 10. And Moses took the anointing oyl and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein and sanctified them 11. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all his vessels both the laver and his foot to sanctifie them 12. And he poured of the anointing oyl upon Aaron's head and anointed him to sanctifie him 13. And Moses brought Aaron's sons and put coats upon them and girded them with girdles and put bonnets upon them as the LORD commanded Moses 14. And he brought the bullock for the sin-offering and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin-offering 15. And he slew it and Moses took the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger and purified the altar and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar and sanctified it to make reconciliation upon it 16. And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards and the caul above the liver and the two kidneys and their
it and behold the plague hath not spread in the house after the house was plaistered then the priest shall pronounce the house clean because the plague is healed 49. And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds and cedar-wood and scarlet and hyssop 50. And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water 51. And he shall take the cedar-wood and the hyssop and the scarlet and the living bird and dip them in the blood of the slain bird and in the running water and sprinkle the house seven times 52. And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the running water and with the living bird and with the cedar-wood and with the hyssop and with the scarlet 53. But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields and make an atonement for the house and it shall be clean 54. This is the law for all manner plague of leprosie and scall 55. And for the leprosie of a garment and of an house 56. And for a rising and for a scab and for a bright spot 57. To teach when it is unclean and when it is clean this is the law of leprosie 2. Shall be brought Matt. 8.2 Mark 1.40 Luk. 5.12 The Leper was shut out of the Camp and after the Israelites possessed the promised Land out of the City In order to his being cleansed he was to be brought to a certain place near the Camp or City that the Priest might consider his case See Matth. 8.2 4. with Mark 1.42 and Luk. 5.14 4. Birds Or Sparrows as in our Marginal reading which agrees with the Vulgar Latin but is not to be admitted in this place The Hebrew word signifies Birds indefinitely Deut. 14.11.4.17 and in this place cannot signifie Sparrows for these Birds were by the Law clean or unclean If they were unclean they could not be meant in this place where clean Birds are required but if they were clean it would be needless to require that these should be clean when the whole kind was so Clean Such as may be lawfully eaten as the Vulgar hath it See ch 11. 5. Running water Or Spring Water 7. Into the open field Heb. Vpon the face of the field To shew that the Leper who is thus cleansed might freely now go into the Camp or City having cleansed and washed himself as is prescribed v. 8. 8. His tent Or Dwelling-place as the Hebrew word sometimes signifies Jos 22.4 Deut. 33.18 But this is here expressed by Tent and not House because when this Law was first given the Israelites dwelt in Tents And their Camp and Tents answered to their Cities and Houses in after-times 10. Of the first year Heb. The daughter of her year Three tenth-deals viz. Of an Ephah Num. 28.5 or three Omers Exod. 16.36 for each of the three Sacrifices above mentioned See the Notes on Exod. 16.36 Log That is about our half Pint. See the Notes on Exod. 29.40 12. Wave them Exod. 29.24 13. As the sin-offering Ch. 7.7 14. Tip of the right ear c. See Exod. 29.20 and Levit. 8.23 with the Note upon that place 16. Before the LORD that is Before the Sanctuary where God was more peculiarly present 17. Vpon the blood The Blood which is mentioned v. 14. 18. Oyl The Oyl is a figure of the Renovation as the Blood is of the Remission of a Sinner An atonement The Leprosie being considered as a Legal Pollution and an infliction for sin the Leper needed an Atonement See ch 13.2 21. Cannot get so much Heb. His hand reach not To be waved Heb. For a waving 34. And I put the plague c. These words seem to imply that this plague is supernatural and not any common Evil but a Divine Judgment upon the Jews for their sins in the Land of Canaan by which the Inhabitants of that Land were awakened to Repentance 36. Empty Or Prepare 38. Shut up That none may enter into it and be defiled 40. Vnclean place i. e. A place which receives the filth and polluted things of the City 45. He shall break down c. Which shall not be done till there be no remedy and till he have staid a considerable time He was to shut it up seven days verse 38. after that to remove the infected Stones verse 40. and to cause the House to be scraped v. 41. and that other Stones were put in the room of those which were taken away and that the House should be new plaistered v. 42. so great a care was prescribed where the loss would be so considerable as that of an House Besides the Leprous House may well be considered as representing the House of Israel out of which many that sinned were removed as the infected Stones by the Assyrians and Chaldaeans c. till at length for their growing and inveterate wickedness they were quite destroyed 48. Shall come in Heb. In coming in shall come in c. 53. An atonement for the house The effect whereof reached the Owner for whose sin the House was infected and was cleansed from that Infection by the Rites above prescribed 54. Scall Ch. 13.30 57. When it is unclean and when it is clean Heb. In the day of the unclean and in the day of the clean CHAP. XV. The ARGUMENT The Vncleanness of Men and Women in their Issues The effect of that Vncleanness as to its spreading its Pollution The Law and Rite of Cleansing and Purifying the Vnclean 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh because of his issue he is unclean 3. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue whether his flesh run with his issue or his flesh be stopped from his issue it is his uncleanness 4. Every bed whereon he lieth that hath the issue is unclean and every thing whereon he sitteth shall be unclean 5. And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the even 6. And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the even 7. And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the even 8. And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean then he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the even 9. And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean 10. And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the even 11. And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue and hath
to which the words v. 24. seem particularly to referr But the word Abomination is sometimes applied to those things which were forbid by a positive Law and that were not antecedently evil as in Levit. 11.10 20 40 41. Deut. 17.1 And the practice of any of the things forbidden from v. 7. might be reckoned as Abominations especially to the Israelites and Proselytes of Justice who were obliged to keep these Laws see v. 26. in the sense of that word 28. Spued out See v. 25. CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Obedience to Parents is required and observation of God's Sabbaths Idolatry is forbidden The Law of the Peace-offering A remainder for the Poor out of the Harvest and Vintage Theft Fraud and Perjury Inhumanity Vnjustice and Tale-bearing are forbid so are Revenge and Hatred and divers mixtures Several other Laws viz. Concerning the use of Bondwomen planting Trees of Fruit eating Blood c. 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say unto them Ye shall be holy for I the LORD your God am holy 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father and keep my sabbaths I am the LORD your God 4 Turn ye not unto idols nor make to your selves molten gods I am the LORD your God 5. And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD ye shall offer it at your own will 6. It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it and on the morrow and if ought remain until the third day it shall be burnt in the fire 7. And if it be eaten at all on the third day it is abominable it shall not be accepted 8. Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from among his people 9. And when ye reap the harvest of your land thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest 10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger I am the LORD your God 11. Ye shall not steal neither deal falsly neither lie one to another 12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsly neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God I am the LORD 13. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour neither rob him the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning 14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling-block before the blind but shalt fear thy God I am the LORD 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour I am the LORD 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him 18. Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self I am the LORD 19. Ye shall keep my statutes Thou shalt not let thy cattel gender with a diverse kind Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee 20. And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman that is a bond-maid betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed nor freedom given her she shall be scourged they shall not be put to death because she was not free 21. And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation even a ram for a trespass-offering 22. And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him 23. And when ye shall come into the land and shall have planted all manner of trees for food then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you it shall not be eaten of 24. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withall 25. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof that it may yield unto you the increase thereof I am the LORD your God 26. Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood neither shall ye use inchantment nor observe times 27. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard 28. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print any marks upon you I am the LORD 29. Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore lest the land fall to whoredom and the land become full of wickedness 30. Ye shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary I am the LORD 31. Regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the LORD your God 32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the LORD 33. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land ye shall not vex him 34. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born amongst you and thou shalt love him as thy self for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt I am the LORD your God 35. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment in mete-yard in weight or in measure 36. Just balances just weights a just ephah and a just hin shall ye have I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt 37. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them I am the LORD 2. Ye shall be holy Ch. 11.44 and 20.7 1 Pet. 1.16 3. Fear Or Reverence And this must be an inward Awe and Reverence and is due to the Mother who generally does not over-awe her Children as well as to the Father who hath greater Power and a superior Authority and is generally less despised Sabbaths Not onely the Seventh day but all other appointed times of rest ch 16.31 4. Idols The Hebrew word is observed to signifie things of nought and which have no true Being or Value See 1 Cor. 8.4 and ch 10.19 5. At your own will Or That it may be accepted i. e. Ye shall offer it as is appointed that so God may accept it This sense is confirmed by v. 7. and the Greek and Vulgar See Levit. 1.3 and 23.11 6. The same day If the Sacrifice of Peace-offering be for Thanksgiving ch 7.15 On the morrow If
allowed to be defiled for 12. Go out Ch. 10.7 Crown The anointing Oyl was that by which the High-priest was Crowned and separated to his Office Besides that on his Head he had that which is called a Crown elsewhere Exod. 39.6 Levit. 8.9 12. 14. Of his own people And not of a strange Nation 15. Profane Or vitiate and corrupt by foreign and forbidden Mixtures in Marriage 17. Bread Or Food 18. A blemish The general Heads of Blemishes are laid down here the Jews reckon under these general Heads many particulars to the number of 90. Superfluous Ch. 22.23 20. A dwarf Or too slender 21. Of the seed of Aaron i. e. Though he be of that seed 22. Of the most holy Such were the Sin and Trespass-offering the Meat-offering and Shew-bread Numb 18.9 Levit. 24.9 The holy Such were the Peace-offerings the Wave and Heave-offerings Numb 18.8 11. Levit. 10.14 24. To all It being the common interest of all that God should be served aright CHAP. XXII The ARGUMENT The Priests in their Vncleanness are prohibited to eat of Holy Things Of the Things which render them unclean and how they must be cleansed Who of the Priest's Family may eat of the Holy Things Of the Stranger that eats the Holy Things unwittingly The Sacrifices must be without blemish Of the Age of the Sacrifice and the Law of the Thanksgiving-offering 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto Aaron and to his sons that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me I am the LORD 3. Say unto them Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations that goeth unto the holy things which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD having his uncleanness upon him that soul shall be cut off from my presence I am the LORD 4. What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper or hath a running issue he shall not eat of the holy things untill he be clean And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead or a man whose seed goeth from him 5. Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing whereby he may be made unclean or a man of whom he may take uncleanness whatsoever uncleannese he hath 6. The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean untill even and shall not eat of the holy things unless he wash his flesh with water 7. And when the sun is down he shall be clean and shall afterward eat of the holy things because it is his food 8. That which dieth of it self or is torn with beasts he shall not eat to defile himself therewith I am the LORD 9. They shall therefore keep mine ordinance lest they bear sin for it and die therefore if they profane it I the LORD do sanctifie them 10. There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing a sojourner of the priest or an hired servant shall not eat of the holy thing 11. But if the priest buy any soul with his money he shall eat of it and he that is born in his house they shall eat of his meat 12. If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger she may not eat of an offering of the holy things 13. But if the priest's daughter be a widow or divorced and have no child and is returned unto her father's house as in her youth she shall eat of her father's meat but there shall no stranger eat thereof 14. And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing 15. And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel which they offer unto the LORD 16. Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass when they eat their holy things for I the LORD do sanctifie them 17. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 18. Speak unto Aaron and to his sons and unto all the children of Israel and say unto them Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel or of the strangers in Israel that will offer his oblation for all his vows and for all his free-will-offerings which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt-offering 19. Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish of the beeves of the sheep or of the goats 20. But whatsoever hath a blemish that shall ye not offer for it shall not be acceptable for you 21. And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow or a free-will-offering in beeves or sheep it shall be perfect to be accepted there shall be no blemish therein 22. Blind or broken or maimed or having a men or scurvy or scabbed ye shall not offer these unto the LORD nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD 23. Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts that mayest thou offer for a free-will-offering but for a vow it shall not be accepted 24. Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised or crushed or broken or cut neither shall you make any offering thereof in your land 25. Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these because their corruption is in them and blemishes be in them they shall not be accepted for you 26. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 27. When a bullock or a sheep or a goat is brought forth then it shall be seven days under the dam and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD 28. And whether it be now or ew ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day 29. And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving into the LORD offer it at your own will 30. On the same day it shall be eaten up ye shall leave none of it untill the morrow I am the LORD 31. Therefore shall ye keep my commandments and do them I am the LORD 32. Neither shall ye profane my holy name but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel I am the LORD which hallow you 33. That brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God I am the LORD 2. Separate themselves i. e. That they abstain from eating the Holy Things in their Uncleanness v. 6. Profane not my holy name God will be sanctified in them that come nigh him ch 10.3 And he is so when Men worship him with that Reverence and Holiness which he requires But when they come to him in their Uncleanness they profane his Holy Name v. 15 32. 3. That goeth unto Or that draweth nigh unto as it is in the Hebrew This is to be understood here of eating v. 6. 4. Of the seed of Aaron That is tho' he be of the
which was given about this time Exod. 19.1 16. At this time also the Holy Ghost descended Act. 2.1 2. A new meat-offering Viz. The first-fruits of Wheat-harvest Exod. 34.22 Hence this Feast is called the day of the first-fruits Numb 28.26 17. With leaven Ch. 2.11 and ch 7.13 21. Ye shall proclaim Or call and assemble the People together See v. 2. 22. When ye reap Ch. 19.9 Neither shalt thou Deut. 24.19 24. Seventh Numb 29.1 This Month the Jews reckoned the first Month with respect to their Sabbatical Years their Jubilees their Planting c. Rosh Hasshanah c. 1. A Sabbath A Festival or Day of rest from servile work v. 25. See the Notes on v. 11. Blowing of Trumpets To give them notice of this beginning of the Year and probably to awaken them to Repentance against the Day of Expiation 27. Also on the tenth Ch. 16.30 Numb 29.7 32. Celebrate Heb. Rest Sabbath See verse 11. and compare Isa 58.3 and verse 13. 34. The fifteenth Numb 29.12 The feast of Tabernacles So called because at that time the Jews dwelt in Booths or Tabernacles or certain moveable Tents Joh. 7.2 It is also called the Feast of in-gathering because it was kept at a time of year when they had gathered in their Harvest Exod. 23.16 Deut. 16.13 The design of this Feast seems to have been that they might remember the benefit which the Cloud afforded them when they went through the Wilderness as the Chaldee Paraphrast intimates on the 43 verse To which may be added That it was appointed that they might remember their Fore-fathers dwelling in Booths in the Wilderness v. 43. At their first coming out of Egypt they came to Succoth Exod. 12.37 which signifies Tabernacles and in Tabernacles they continued in the Wilderness Another End of this Feast seems to be this That they might praise God for the fruits of the past year which they had newly gathered in Deut. 16.13 14 15. 36. On the eighth day Called the great day of the feast Joh. 7.37 Solemn assembly Heb. Day of restraint 37. A sacrifice Whether sin or peace-offering 38. Gifts Such Offerings as were additional to what was precisely commanded and were brought according as Men were able and as God had prospered them Deut. 16.10 17. 39. When ye have c. When your Labour about your Harvest is at an end and you are at leisure The Feast of Pentecost was but one day they being then in their Harvest 40. Boughs Heb. Fruit. Boughs at least of fruitfull Trees or such Trees as were not dead and barren 43. That your generations c. See the Notes on v. 34. 44. Vnto the children of Israel Who where concerned as well as the Priests in these Laws CHAP. XXIV The ARGUMENT Of the Oyl for the Lamps and Shew-bread Of the Blasphemer and the Law concerning Blasphemy Of Murder and Damage The Blasphemer is stoned 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Command the children of Israel that they bring unto thee pure oyl-olive beaten for the light to cause the lamps to burn continually 3. Without the veil of the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually It shall be a statute for ever in your generations 4. He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually 5. And thou shalt take fine flour and bake twelve cakes thereof two tenth-deals shall be in one cake 6. And thou shalt set them in two rows six on a row upon the pure table before the LORD 7. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row that it may be on the bread for a memorial even an offering made by fire unto the LORD 8. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant 9. And it shall be Aaron's and his sons and they shall eat it in the holy place for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute 10. And the son of an Israelitish woman whose father was an Egyptian went out among the children of Israel and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp 11. And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the Name of the LORD and cursed and they brought him unto Moses and his mother's name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan 12. And they put him in ward that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them 13. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 14. Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head and let all the congregation stone him 15. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin 16. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD he shall surely be put to death and all the congregation shall certainly stone him as well the stranger as he that is born in the land when he blasphemeth the Name of the LORD shall be put to death 17. And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death 18. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good beast for beast 19. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour as he hath done so shall it be done unto him 20. Breach for breach eye for eye tooth for tooth as he hath caused a blemish in a man so shall it be done to him again 21. And he that killeth a beast he shall restore it and he that killeth a man he shall be put to death 22. Ye shall have one manner of law as well for the stranger as for one of your own countrey for I am the LORD your God 23. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp and stone him with stones and the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses 1. AND the LORD c. After the Precepts concerning the yearly Feasts he lets them know what is to be done in the Sanctuary Daily and Weekly 2. Command the children of Israel that they bring c. This Precept is given here in pursuance of what God had said unto Moses Exod. 27.20 and it is given to the Children of Israel because they were to be at the charge or cost For these things which follow being a part of the standing and publick service of the Tabernacle were to be provided for at the cost of the whole Congregation And it was accordingly provided that there should be a constant allowance to that purpose these Oblations being in behalf of the whole Congregation Exod. 23.15 and 27.21 and 30.13 16. To cause c. Heb. To cause to ascend 3. Veil of the testimony i. e. The Veil of the Ark of the Testimony Exod. 25.16 which parted the Holy place
bread again by weight and ye shall eat and not be satisfied 27. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me but walk contrary unto me 28. Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your sins 29. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat 30. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your images and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols and my soul shall abhor you 31. And I will make your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours 32. And I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it 33. And I will scatter you among the heathen and will draw out a sword after you and your land shall be desolate and your cities waste 34. Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it lieth desolate and ye be in your enemy's land even then shall the land rest and enjoy her sabbaths 35. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in your sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it 36. And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword and they shall fall when none pursueth 37. And they shall fall one upon another as it were before a sword when none pursueth and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies 38. And ye shall perish among the heathen and the land of your enemies shall eat you up 39. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemy's lands and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them 40. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their trespass which they trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary unto me 41. And that I also have walked contrary unto them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity 42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and I will remember the land 43. The land also shall be left of them and shall enjoy her sabbaths while she lieth desolate without them and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity because even because they despised my judgments and because their soul abhorred my statutes 44. And yet for all that when they be in the land of their enemies I will not cast them away neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly and to break my covenant with them for I am the LORD their God 45. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen that I might be then God I am the LORD 46. These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses 1. IDols See the Notes on ch 19.4 and Exod. 20.4 Deut. 5.8 and 16.12 Ps 97.7 Standing image or pillar viz. For Religious Worship Civil Monuments are not here forbid Gen. 35.20 2 Sam. 18.18 Image of stone Or Figured stone Heb. A stone of picture A Stone of Worship or Adoration as the Chaldee hath it 2. Ye shall c. See ch 19.30 3. If ye c. Deut. 28.1 4. I will give God is onely able to give it Jer. 14.22 In due season Deut. 28.12 and Jer. 5.24 5. Vnto the vintage This is an expression that imports great plenty The Threshing implies an old store this Vintage a present increase and at the same time a seasonable Seed-time fair hopes of a succeeding year Amos 9.13 This Promise is made to them upon condition of their Obedience and probably with a particular respect to the Precepts ch 25.4 11. See Verse 20 21 of that Chapter Dwell Job 11.18 and Lev. 25.18 6. Ye shall lie Job 11.19 Rid Heb. Cause to cease by destroying them or their enmity Job 5.23 Hos 2.18 Go through Namely to wast as appears from v. 7. 8. Five c. Josh 23.10 9. Establish That is keep and continue to do it Vid. Gen. 6.18 10. Because of the new Or Before the new i. e. The New shall be ready for you before ye have spent your Old Store See ch 25.22 11. I will set my tabernacle God promises them in token of his great Favour to them Rev. 21.3 that he would after a more peculiar manner be present with them in his Sanctuary And this was a token of a greater Favour still in sending the Messias who should take upon him our Flesh and Tabernacle among us Joh. 1.14 and ch 2.21 Colos 2.9 Ezek. 37.24 27. 12. I will walk c. 2 Cor. 6.16 God promises to be with them during their Journies in the Wilderness as well as to continue with them afterwards 13. Vpright As it were holding up your heads ye being delivered from the yoke and burden which did before depress and bow you down Exod. 14.8 Numb 33.3 They came out of Egypt not like Slaves but Free-men 14. But c. Deut. 28.15 Lam. 2.17 Mal. 2.2 16. Over you Heb. Vpon you 17. Ye shall flee Prov. 28.1 18. Seven times more for your sins i. e. As your Sins after the aforesaid Judgments will be greater so I will bring many more Evils upon you for your persisting in them Seven times may well be taken as signifying often a certain number being put for an uncertain See Gen. 4.24 ch 33.3 19. The pride of your power That power in which you boast and vaunt As iron i. e. Hard or dry as Iron affording no Rain v. 4. As brass i. e. As unfruitfull as Brass 21. Contrary unto me Or at all adventures with me And so v. 24. The ancient Versions favour the rendring which we retain in the Text And then the word according to that sense implies a Contumacy or continuing in Rebellion against God after he chastiseth Men for their Sin vid. Job 15.25 The Jews follow that sense of our Marginal reading and expound the place of them who when they are afflicted by God for their Sins are so far from making the right use of their Sufferings that they rather look upon them as casual and contingent Things than any Argument of God's Displeasure or of his Care and Providence That say of any Evil God inflicts That it is not His hand that smote us it was a chance that happened to us 1 Sam. 6.9 This latter sense is not inconsistent with
to separate themselves unto the LORD 3. He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine or vinegar of strong drink neither shall â—e drink any liquor of grapes nor eat moist grapes or dried 4. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine-tree from the kernels even to the husk 5. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head untill the days be fulfilled in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall be holy and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow 6. All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body 7. He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother for his brother or for his sister when they die because the consecration of his God is upon his head 8. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD 9. And if any man die very suddenly by him and he hath defiled the head of his consecration then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing on the seventh day shall he shave it 10. And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles or two young pigeons to the priest to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 11. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering and make an atonement for him for that he sinned by the dead and shall hallow his head that same day 12. And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering but the days that were before shall be lost because his separation was defiled 13. And this is the law of the Nazarite When the days of his separation are fulfilled he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation 14. And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD one he-lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt-offering and one ew-lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin-offering and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings 15. And a basket of unleavened bread cakes of fine flour mingled with oyl and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oyl and their meat-offering and their drink-offerings 16. And the priest shall bring them before the LORD and shall offer his sin-offering and his burnt-offering 17. And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD with the basket of unleavened bread the priest shall offer also his meat-offering and his drink-offering 18. And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and shall take the hair of the head of his separation and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace-offerings 19. And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram and one unleavened cake out of the basket and one unleavened wafer and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite after the hair of his sepâ—ration is shavâ—n 20. And the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD this is holy for the priest with the wave-breast and heave-shoulder and after that the Nazarite may drink wine 21. This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation besides that that his hand shall get according to the vow which he vowed so he must do after the law of his separation 22. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons saying On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel saying unto them 24. The LORD bless thee and keep thee 25. The LORD make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee 26. The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace 27. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel and I will bless them 2. A vow of a Nazarite i. e. A Religious promise of Abstinence for the Hebrew word signifies to separate or abstain Gen. 49.26 To separate themselves Or make themselves Nazarites Vnto the LORD By this Vow the Nazarite was separated to a greater measure of Sanctity and Obedience and therefore may be said to be separated unto the Lord As the Priests were whose Office and Employment required of them great degrees of Holiness 3. From wine and strong drink That is from Wine and any other Liquor that is apt to bring Drunkenness upon the drinker From new and old Wine says Onkelos The Priests are under the same Prohibition when they went into the Tabernacle Levit. 10.9 They who professed more than ordinary Sanctity were obliged to abstain from Wine as that which might make them forget the Law and might deprive them of the Power of judging of things a-right Prov. 31.5 Hos 4.11 Isa 28.7 with Levit. 10.10 11. 4. Separation Or Nazariteship See v. 1. Vine-tree Heb. Vine of the Wine 5. Rasor Judg. 13.5 1 Sam. 1.11 By Rasor here is meant any thing which took off the Hair Grow In token that he hath preserved himself from legal defilements For had he not he would have been obliged to cut off his Hair See v. 9. and Levit. 14.8 9. And therefore this is fitly subjoined to those words He shall be holy of which the growth of Hair was a proof 6. Dead body This was a Figure of dead Works which do really as a dead Body did legally defile the Man 7. He shall not make himself unclean c. This Law was also given to the Priest See the Notes on Levit. 21.1 Consecration Heb. Separation 9. Defiled Viz. By transgressing v. 6. His cleansing This day was the Seventh from his defilement according to the Law in this case Numb 19.11 12. 11. Sinned i. e. Contracted a Legal defilement by the Dead Hallow his head i. e. Sanctifie or separate his Head a-new 12. Lost Heb. Fall i. e. They shall not come into account as the Greek have it 14. His offering Both his Offering of Praise or Peace-offering for his having performed his Vow And also his Expiatory-offerings or Burnt and Sin-offerings in token of his need of God's Mercy and Pardon even when he had done his best 1 Cor. 4.4 15. Vnleavened bread See Levit. 7.12 And their meat-offering and their drink-offerings i. e. Besides what is mentioned before the ordinary Meat-offering and Drink-offerings of which see Numb 28. 18. And the Nazarite Act. 21.24 Shave This Shaving differs from that mentioned v. 9. which was for Uncleanness contracted whereas this was out of thankfulness for having fulfilled the Vow and for that reason the Hair was put into the fire under the Eucharistical or Peace-offering 19. The sodden shoulder This must be understood of the left shoulder because the right shoulder called the heave-shoulder Levit. 7.34 and in the 20th Verse of
one bullock or for one ram or for a lamb or a kid 12. According to the number that ye shall prepare so shall ye do to every one according to their number 13. All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner in offering an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD 14. And if a stranger sojourn with you or whosoever be among you in your generations and will offer an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the LORD as ye do so he shall do 15. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you an ordinance for ever in your generations as ye are so shall the stranger be before the LORD 16. One law and one manner shall be for you and for the stranger that sojourneth with you 17. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 18. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When ye come into the land whither I bring you 19. Then it shall be that when ye eat of the bread of the land ye shall offer up an heave-offering unto the LORD 20. Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave-offering as ye do the heave-offering of the threshing-floor so shall ye heave it 21. Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave-offering in your generations 22. And if ye have erred and not observed all these commandments which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses 23. Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and hence-forward among your generations 24. Then it shall be if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD with his meat-offering and his drink-offering according to the manner and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering 25. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel and it shall be forgiven them for it is ignorance and they shall bring their offering a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD and their sin-offering before the LORD for their ignorance 26. And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger that sojourneth among them seeing all the people were in ignorance 27. And if any soul sin through ignorance then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin-offering 28. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD to make an atonement for him and it shall be forgiven him 29. You shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance both for him that is born amongst the children of Israel and for the stranger that sojourneth among them 30. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from among his people 31. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD and hath broken his commandment that soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him 32. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath-day 33. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron and unto all the congregation 34. And they put him in ward because it was not declared what should be done to him 35. And the LORD said unto Moses The man shall be surely put to death all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp 36. And all the congregation brought him without the camp and stoned him with stones and he died as the LORD commanded Moses 37. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 38. Speak unto the children of Israel and hid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue 39. And it shall be unto you for a fringe that ye may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes after which ye use to go a whoring 40. That ye may remember and do all my commandments and be holy unto your God 41. I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God I am the LORD your God 2. Speak Levit. 23.10 When ye be come c. In these words they are given to understand that God would make good his Promise of giving the Land to their Children ch 14.31 notwithstanding their Diffidence and Murmurings for which they were sentenced to die in the Wilderness ch 14.29 3. An offering by fire This is a general expression of those Offerings which were in whole or part burnt upon the Altar A burnt-offering or a sacrifice These two are the kinds of Offerings by Fire to which the following Precept belongs This Precept which follows concerned the daily Burnt-offering as well as others Exod. 29.40 By Sacrifice here is meant a Peace-offering So the word Sacrifice does sometimes import v. g. Exod. 18.12 Levit. 17.5 8. ch 22.37 Deut. 12.27 And that it does so here is evident from the words which follow where we have mention of a Vow and Free-will-offering which are two of the distinct kinds contained under the general Head of Peace-offerings Levit. 7.16 ch 22.21 In performing Heb. In separating Levit. 22.21 Sweet Savour Exod. 29.18 4. Shall he Levit 2.1 A tenth-deal i. e. The tenth part of an Ephah as the Vulgar Latin and Greek have it here and is expressly said Numb 28.5 This tenth-deal of an Ephah is the same with an Omer See the Note on Exod. 16.36 An Hin This is a Measure of Liquids containing about the quantity of our Gallon 8. Or for a sacrifice See the Note on v. 3. Peace-offerings i. e. The one kind thereof called a Free-will-offering v. 3. 15. One ordinance Exod. 12.49 chap. 9.14 Before the LORD i. e. In matters relating to God's Service which are here spoken of 20. A cake of the first of your dough This Cake was not to be offered upon the Altar but to be given to the Priests to whom all Heave-offerings as well as the First-fruits were due ch 18.8 The giving it to them was giving it to the Lord v. 19 21. As ye do See Levit. 2.14 22. And not observed c. See Levit 4.13 That place speaks of doing that which ought not to be done This of not doing what ought to be done 24. Committed Or admitted For the word does not import this a Sin of Commission and from the Context it appears that a Sin of Omission is here spoken of Without the knowledge
Court of the Priests which with respect to the outer Court 2 Chron. 4.9 and much more to the Camp of Israel c. was a most holy Place as not receiving any but the most holy and separated sort of Persons Holy unto thee Consecrated to thee says the Vulgar That is None â—ut the Priest's Family might eat thereof Levit. 6.18 11. And this Here follows an account of what was the Priest's due from those Sacrifices which were less Holy which might be eaten by Women and Servants Levit. 22.10 11 12 13. with ch 10.14 Levit 7.34 12. Best Heb. Fat. Given thee Deut. 18.4 13. Which they shall bring i. e. Which they shall bring of their Good-will 14. Every thing devoted Lev. 27.28 15. The matrice Exod. 13.2 and 22.29 Lev. 27.26 chap. 3.13 And the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem If we look into the Book of Exodus we shall find it said Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem ch 13.13 This makes it highly probable that an Ass is put there for other Beasts which were unclean for Sacrifice See the Note on that place 16. From a month old See Numb 3.47 Which is twenty gerahs Exod. 30.13 Levit. 27.23 ch 3.47 Ezek. 45.12 17. Holy i. e. Separated or set a-part See Deut. 15.19 18. Wave-breast Exod. 29.26 19. A covenant of salt i. e. a sure and lasting one 2 Chron. 13.5 20. No Inheritance The Levites in the distribution of the Land had not a portion of the Land with the other Tribes but had their Cities to dwell in Josh 21.4 I am thy part Deut. 10.9.18.2 Josh 13.14 33. Ezek. 44.28 God may be said to be the part of the Priests both as he gave them those Gifts which were presented to him and as he would more especially bless them Deut. 18.1 Psal 73.26 21. For an inheritance i. e. instead of a Portion of the Land which the other Tribes received v. 23 24. 22. And die Heb. To die 26. For the LORD viz. To be given to the Priest who was the Lord's Receiver See v. 28. and the Note on v. 20. 27. And this your c. That is This payment of yours shall be accepted as well as if you had received Lands with the other Tribes and had paid the Tithe out of the Increase of them as they were obliged to do 29. Best Heb. Fat. 30. As the increase c. i. e. What remains shall be as much the Levites and as freely to be used by them as any other part of any Man's increase is at the owners liberty See v. 31. 32. And ye shall bear no sin c. i. e. Then ye shall be free from Guilt upon this account CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the Red Heifer burnt to Ashes The Water of Separation and the use of it for the Purification of the clean 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 2. This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded saying Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee a red heifer without spot wherein is no blemish and upon which never came yoke 3. And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest that he may bring her forth without the camp and one shall slay her before his face 4. And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times 5. And one shall burn the heifer in his sight her skin and her flesh and her blood with her dung shall he burn 6. And the priest shall take cedar-wood and hyssop and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer 7. Then the priest shall wash his clothes and he shall bathe his flesh in water and afterward he shall come into the camp and the priest shall be unclean until the even 8. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his flesh in water and shall be unclean until the even 9. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and lay them up without the camp in a clean place and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation it is a purification for sin 10. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the even and it shall be unto the children of Israel and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them for a statute for ever 11. He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days 12. He shall purifie himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day he shall be clean but if he purifie not himself the third day then the seventh day he shall not be clean 13. Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead and purifieth not himself defileth the tabernacle of the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from Israel because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him he shall be unclean his uncleanness is yet upon him 14. This is the law when a man dieth in a tent all that come into the tent and all that is in the tent shall be unclean seven days 15. And every open vessel which hath no covering bound upon it is unclean 16. And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields or a dead body or a bone of a man or a grave shall be unclean seven days 17. And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the 〈◊〉 heifer of purification for sin and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel 18. And a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the vessels and upon the persons that were there and upon him that touched a bone or one slain or one dead or a grave 19. And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day and on the seventh day he shall purifie himself and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and shall be clean at even 20. But the man that shall be unclean and shall not purifie himself that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him he is unclean 21. And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even 22. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even 2. Which the LORD hath commanded i. e. Which God commanded Moses before For the Law required that the Unclean should be kept out of the Camp ch 5. and it may well be supposed that the Water of Purification
Scripture represented by the flowing out of Waters Isa 48.1 Prov. 5.15 16 17 18. And many waters in the Scripture phrase are put for many people Rev. 17.15 Psal 144.7 Jer. 47.2 His king shall be higher then Agag The Amalekites were at this time a powerfull and daring People See v. 20. with Exod. 17.20 Agag was the common Name as hath been with great probability thought of the Kings of that People As Pharaoh and in after-times Ptolomy was of the Egyptian Kings and then these words foretell the great Power of the Israelites which should exceed that of their most potent Neighbours And with respect to the Amalekites also as the Israelites had in some measure overcome them Exod. 17. so they did it afterwards in the days of Saul 1 Sam. 15. and in the days of Mordecai Esther 3.1 with ch 7.10 8. God c. chap. 23.22 9. He couched Gen. 49.9 10. He smote his hands together In token of great Anger and Displeasure Ezek 21.17 and 22.13 14. Come therefore and I will advertise thee c. Or Come I will counsel thee The Chaldee so renders this Verse as that it does both express Balaam's Counsel as well as his Prediction of what should come to pass in after-times And though his Evil Counsel be not particularly set down here yet both Philo the Jew and Josephus tell us it thus viz. That Balaam upon his departure told Balak that the onely way to prevail upon this people would be to draw them into sin and to that purpose he counselled him to tempt them with their beautifull Women These were first to entice the Israelites with their Beauty and compliant Conversations and when they had entangled their Affections they were to consent to their Embraces upon condition that the Israelites would forsake their own Law and worship the God of the Moabites That this came to pass is evident from chap. 25.1 2 3. And that Balaam was the Author of this Advice is moreover confirmed from ch 31.16 where Moses speaking of the Women of Midian saith These caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Balaam is also said to have taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to Idols and to commit Fornication Rev. 2.14 In the latter days That is In time to come 17. I shall see him but not now c. Or I do see though at a great distance what I am now foretelling A Star out of Jacob A Star a King says the Chaldee And considering what follows Shall smite the corners of Moab it may very well referr to King David 2 Sam. 8.2 Psal 60.8 and the other Kings who subdued Moab 2 King 3.4 But then the Prophecy looks farther even to the Messias an eminent Type of whom David was Jer. 30.9 Ezek. 34.23 And well may he be called a Star here who is elsewhere called The Sun of righteousness Mal. 4.2 and the bright and morning Star Rev. 22.16 And the true light Joh. 1.9 and whose Birth was attended with a Star Matt. 2. And we find that the Jewish Writers acknowledge that Balaam does here foretell of the Messias A Scepter The Chaldee renders it Messias And a Rod or Scepter being the Ensign of a Ruler is put for the Person The Messias is elsewhere called a Ruler Isa 16.1 and chap. 22.23 compared with the Greek a Governour Jer. 30.21 Smite the corners of Moab Or Smite through the princes of Moab How this was verified in David may be learned from 2 Sam. 8.2 But the Messias wrought a greater Conquest than David his Dominion was to be from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth Ps 72.8 9 10. Ps 2.8 9. He vanquished the Superstition and Idolatry that had overspread the World he did smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of his lips Isa 11.4 Now as his Person was typified by David so the advancement of his Kingdom is represented here by his Conquests also over Moab and Edom c. It is said of David that he put Garrisons in Edom and all the Edomites became David's servants 1 Chron. 18.13 and upon this account David himself said Moab is my washpot over Edom will I cast out my shooe Ps 60.8 Compare Isa 63.1 2. All the children of Seth By the Jews this is understood of all Mankind which are called the children of Seth because derived from him Nizachon pag. 70. Abel was killed and we read of no Children he had The Children of Cain perished in the Flood those that escaped and from whom all Men proceeded were the Posterity of Seth and certain it is that the Messias was to have Dominion over the World However it is very probable that this is not the meaning of the place here and that by the Children of Seth is meant some particular People either part of Moab or Ammon or some other neighbouring Country then well known 18. And Edom shall c. See the Note on v. 17. to which add Amos 9.12 and Obadiah v. 18. 19. He that shall have dominion That is David and other powerfull Kings but especially the Messias Of the city particularly of the Edomites 1 King 11.15 And the Messias shall overcome the strongest Enemies of his Church 20. The first of the nations i. e. The first of the nations that warred against Israel Exod. 17. This sense the Chaldee gives of the place And the Victory the Israelites gained over Amalek was not onely a pledge of succeeding Victories over other Enemies but over Amalek also See Exod 17.16 Shall be that he perish for ever Or Shall be even to destruction This was in great measure fulfilled 1 Sam. 30.17 and farther afterward 2 Sam. 8.12 21. Kenites A People of whom was Jethro and who were mingled with the People of Midian and Amalek and that too in very secure places which rendered them secure as if they had been seated in a Rock Exod. 3.1 Judg. 1.16 1 Sam. 15.6 22. Nevertheless the Kenite Heb. Kein shall be wasted They shall from time to time suffer among the People with whom they were joined viz. That of Midian and Amalek c. Vntil Asshur shall carry thee away captive Or How long shall it be ere Asshur carry thee away captive The Kenites who lived in the Land of Israel Judg. 4.11 were involved in the Captivity by the King of Assyria as well as they in the two Tribes in that by the King of Babylon which is also called the King of Assyria Ezr. 6.22 See 1 Chron. 2.55 23. Alas who shall live These words imply that great will be the Calamity of the Times last predicted of 24. Ships shall come from the coast of Chittim Chittim was the Son of Javan who was one of the Sons of Japhet Gen. 10.4 From him
her soul 7. And her husband heard it and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it then her vows shall stand and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand 8. But if her husband disallow her on the day that he heard it then he shall make her vow which she vowed and that which she uttered with her lips wherewith she bound her soul of none effect and the LORD shall forgive her 9. But every vow of a widow and of her that is divorced wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand against her 10. And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath 11. And her husband heard it and held his peace at her and disallowed her not then all her vows shall stand and every bond wherewith she hound her soul shall stand 12. But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the bond of her soul shall not stand her husband hath made them void and the LORD shall forgive her 13. Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soul her husband may establish it or her husband may make it void 14. But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day then he establisheth all her vows or all her bonds which are upon her he confirmeth them because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them 15. But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them then he shall bear her iniquity 16. These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses between a man and his wife between the father and his daughter being yet in her youth in her father's house 1. UNto the heads of the tribes Who were to impart it to the rest of the People whom it concerned 2. A man This denotes both the Sex as appears from v. 3. and a competent age Vow a vow unto the LORD i. e. Make a Religious Promise unto the Lord. Swear an oath c. i. e. Confirm his Vow with an Oath by calling God to witness Break Heb. Profane He shall do c. Provided what he vows be a lawful thing Mark 6.23 3. A woman Who is in Subjection as appears from what follows And therefore the Law extends to other Subjects who are not to dispose of themselves without the consent of their just Superiors A Woman is named because she is most subject Being in her father's house in her youth That is Being in the Family and under the Government of her Father and not disposed of in Marriage See v. 6 9. 5. In the day that he heareth i. e. Forth-with after it is come to his knowledge See v. 8 9 14 15. Shall forgive her Or Will forgive her i. e. Will not impute her not performing such a Vow unto her 6. She vowed Heb. Her vows were upon her 9. Every vow 〈◊〉 widow i. e. Every Vow made in her Widowhood and when she had power to dispose of her self and Actions 10. And if she vowed in her husband's house i. e. If she that is now a Widow or divorced did make her Vow during her Husband's life or before she was divorced from him This sense which is very natural distinguisheth this Law from that in the sixth Verse 11. All her vows shall stand Those Vows which she then made shall oblige her in her Widowhood 13. To afflict the soul Such are Vows of Fasting or Abstinence Levit. 16.29 15. But if he shall any ways make them void c. i. e. If the Husband after he hath by his silence established the Vow of his Wife shall by his Power and Authority over her hinder her from performing such a Vow the sin in this case shall not be imputed to the Wife who was ready to perform her Vow but to her Husband who restrained her CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT The Israelites overcome the Midianites and slay Balaam They saved the Women alive at which Moses is offended and commands them what they shall do with them and also to purify themselves Of dividing the Prey and of the Lord's Tribute out of it 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people 3. And Moses spake unto the people saying Arm some of your selves unto the war and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD of Midian 4. Of every tribe a thousand throughout all the tribes of Israel shall ye send to the war 5. So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel a thousand of every tribe twelve thousand armed for war 6. And Moses sent them to the war a thousand of every tribe them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the war with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand 7. And they warred against the Midianites as the LORD commanded Moses and they slew all the males 8. And they slew the kings of Midian beside the rest of them that were slain namely Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba five kings of Midian Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword 9. And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives and their little ones and took the spoil of all their cattel and all their flocks and all their goods 10. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt and all their goodly castles with fire 11. And they took all the spoil and all the prey both of men and of beasts 12. And they brought the captives and the prey and the spoil unto Moses and Eleazar the priest and unto the congregation of the children of Israel unto the camp at the plains of Moab which are by Jordan near Jericho 13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the congregation went forth to meet them without the camp 14. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds which came from the battel 15. And Moses said unto them Have ye saved all the women alive 16. Behold these caused the children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD 17. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him 18. But all the women-children that have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for your selves 19. And do ye abide without the camp seven days whosoever hath killed any person and whosoever hath touched any slain purifie both your selves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day 20. And purifie all your raiment and all that is made of skins and all work of goats hair and all things
of wait 23. Or with any stone wherewith a man may die seeing him not and cast it upon him that he die and was not his enemy neither sought his harm 24. Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments 25. And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge whither he was fled and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high-priest which was anointed with the holy oyl 26. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge whither he was fled 27. And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge and the revenger of blood kill the slayer he shall not be guilty of blood 28. Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high-priest but after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession 29. So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings 30. Whoso killeth any person the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses but one witness shall not testifie against any person to cause him to die 31. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer which is guilty of death but he shall be surely put to death 32. And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that it fled to the city of his refuge that he should come again to dwell in the land until the death of the priest 33. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are for blood it defileth the land and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it 34. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit wherein I dwell for I the LORD dwell amâ—ng the children of Israel 2. Command Josh 21.2 4. A thousand cubits round about The Greek Interpreters say two thousand And this seems to agree best with what is said in the following Verse But the difficulty which ariseth from comparing these words with verse 5. may be solved without supposing any Error in the Hebrew Text in this place For supposing One thousand Cubits in length from each side of the City to be the extent of its Suburbs which is here affirmed the Two thousand Cubits v. 5. is but the Measure of the breadth of the Suburbs on each quarter of the City viz. On the East and South and West and North-sides of it Nor does it appear that the fifth Verse imports any more than the breadth of the several Sides or extremities of the Suburbs 6. Six cities for refuge Deut. 4.41 Josh 20.2 and 21.3 These were for the relief of the Man-slayer but not of the Murderer verse 21. To them ye shall add Heb. Above them ye shall give 8. He inheriteth Heb. They inherit 10. When Deut. 19.2 Josh 20.2 11. Vnawares Heb. By Error i. e. Without Malice or Design See v. 20 21. 12. From the avenger He is called The avenger of blood v. 19. The Hebrew signifies a Redeemer and because the right of Redemption of Estates belonged to the nearest of the kindred it imports such a Kinsman here Vntil he stand before the Congregation The City of Refuge protected the Innocent and such as were not condemned but it did not protect them from giving an account before the Judges This they were obliged to do at their entrance into the City of Refuge Josh 20.4 or in the place where the fact was committed 15. For the stranger Or Proselyte as the Greek have it i. e. One who undertakes the Religion of the Israelites and was thereby distinguished from the Sojourner who though he did not oblige himself to all their Laws was yet permitted to live among them 16. And if he smite him c. Exod. 21.14 Here are mentioned an Instrument of Iron a Stone and Hand-weapon of Wood because it is presumable that he who strikes with such killing Instruments does intend to take away life whereas it is indeed the Design and Enmity which speak a Man a Murderer v. 20 21. 17. With throwing a stone Heb. With a stone of the hand 19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer He may not onely do it lawfully but is obliged to see it be done by others at least for the Murderer ought not to live See v. 31. and the City of Refuge must not protect him Deut. 19.12 13. 20. If he Deut. 19.11 21. With his hand In this case where the Enmity is proved he that kills is a Murdererer whatever Instrument he used And on the other hand he that did not hate is no Murderer though he killed a Man with a killing Instrument See the Note on v. 16. 22. Without enmity Exod. 21.13 24. The congregation The Judges or Elders to whom such Causes belong See v. 12. and Josh 20.4 25. Vnto the death of the high-priest That being a time of publick mourning when their great Advocate died was a fit season for Men to lay aside their private Animosities and forget their particular Feuds and Quarrels Beside this does fairly intimate that our Redemption and our Liberty from the guilt of our sins is owing to the death of Christ our great High-priest 27. He shall not be guilty of blood Heb. No blood shall be to him 29. In all your dwellings That is In the whole Land which you are going to possess you shall observe this Law which did not oblige them out of their own Land See v. 10. 30. Mouth of witnesses Deut. 17.6 and 19.15 Matt. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 Heb. 10.28 31. Satisfaction Or Price Guilty of death Heb. Faulty to die 33. Pollute Or Make it guilty The land cannot be cleansed Heb. There can be no expiation for the land 34. Defile not Do not render unclean by your evil practices CHAP. XXXVI The ARGUMENT A Question put to Moses relating to the Inheritances of Daughters The Law concerning the Marriage of Heiresses The Marriage of the Daughters of Zelophehad agreeably to that Law 1. AND the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph came 〈◊〉 and spake before Moses and before the princes the chief fathers of the children of Israel 2. And they said The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophebad our brother unto his daughters 3. And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and shall be put to the inheritance of the
1. These Repetitions of Laws formerly given are such that they give a more clear and distinct meaning of those Laws than was to be collected from what had been said So that the Repetition does lay before the Reader an Explication of the repeated Law Of this I shall give some instances Exod. 21.16 He that stealeth a man c. shall surely be put to death Onkelos renders it He that stealeth one of the children of Israel I shou'd in this case be ready to suspect that Paraphrast as partial and giving too limited a sense of those words But when Moses repeats the Law he â—ixeth the Sense and confirms that Sense which that Paraphrast hath given For thus he hath it If a man be found stealing any of his â—rethren of the children of Israel Deut. 24.7 Again If thou buy an Hebrew servant six years it shall serve and in the seventh he shall go â—â—t free for nothing Exod. 21.2 This Law is repeated and explained in Deuteronomy There 't is said When thou sendest him out free from thee thou shalt not let him go away empty thou shall furnish him liberally out of thy flock c. chap. 15.12 13 14. Again If thou meet thine enemies ox or his ass going astray c. Exod. 23.5 c. This Law is repeated thus Thou shalt 〈◊〉 see thy brother's Ass c. Deut. 22.24 see Deut. 22.1 Which words determine the sense of that Law Exod. 23.15 And none shall apâ—ear before me empty This Law is farther explained Deut. 16.2 See the Note on that place The wages of him that is hired shall not 〈◊〉 with thee all night c. Levit. 19.13 This Law receives a great Explication from Deut. 24.14 15. Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy whether he be 〈◊〉 thy brethren or of thy strangers that are in â—â—y land c. At his day thou shalt give him â—â—s hire c. 2. Sometimes a Law is repeated with a Caution to the Israelites that they do not make an ill use of the Law Of this we have a remarkable instance Deut. 15. where there is a Repetition of the Law of Release mentioned Levit. 25 But there is added a Caution v. 9. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart saying The seventh year the year of release is at hand And thine eye be evil against thy poor brother and thou givest him nought and he cry unto the Lord against thee and it be sin unto thee 3. Sometimes new matter or a new reason is added to the repeated Law Thus it is in those Laws repeated from Exod. 20. in Deut. 5.15 16. Another instance we have to this purpose chap. 16.2 And another Deut. 18.3 where we have an addition granted towards the Maintenance of the Priests 4. Sometime we have a Dispensation allowed in some case as to a Temporal Law that was mentioned before Of this we have a remarkable instance Deut. 12.15 21. IV. These Repetitions do mightily engage the diligent and carefull Reader to compare Spiritual things with Spiritual God is not tied to our Rules and Methods to deliver his Laws as we teach Arts and Sciences by certain Rules which the Wit of Man hath devised 'T is enough that he deliver his Will as he thinks fit And if He think fit to do it by Parts and upon sundry Occasions 't will well become us to use the greater diligence in collecting and laying things together that we may by this means arrive at the sense and meaning of the whole Revelation If these things be duly considered we shall not find any force in this popular and loose Objection which is brought against this Book And I shall onely on this occasion add V. That if these Repetitions had not been written by Moses and had been put together by an uncertain Collector of some loose Papers they might have been omitted easily 'T is not very likely we had ever had these Books in this Order if Moses himself had not been the Author of them Here 's no shew of worldly Artifice or Craft nothing appears here like Artifice And the Way and Order in which these things are delivered will hardly allow us if we consider things with Application to call the Author or Authority of these Holy Books in question I am of belief that the little variety we find in the four Gospels is so far from being an Objection against those Books that they rather confirm us in the belief of them as Books that were not composâ—â— by Confederacy and Combination The sâ—me may be said of these Books The Repetitions and Varieties are no Objection against them or against their Author I return to this Book called Deuteronomy which lies before us A Book that hath all the Marks and Signatures of a Divine Original and an inspired Author as Moses was 'T is hardly possible for any man to read it with any care but he must be the better for it 'T is fraught with admirable Precepts of Piety Justice Charity Humanity and Fortitude These Precepts are backed with Motives to Obedieâ—ce that are strong and penetrating that are lively and poinant that are most pathetical and moving He must be very stupid and profligate that does not embrace it with the Highest Veneration How does Moses this Man of God Court the Israelites to be Obedient and Happy What wondrous Care does he shew He speaks as becomes the greatest Prophet and one Divinely inspired Take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen chap. 4.9 Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves v. 15. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God chap. 8.11 Take heed to your selves that your heart be not deceived chap. 11.16 He calls Heaven and Earth to witness against them He lays before them Life and Death Blessing and a Curse To conclude Here 's enough to engage the Reader that hath any sparks of Goodness left And for the Pious Reader his Heart must be melted down when he reads it and burn within him Here 's nothing required so much as an honest Mind The Book is generally plain and very easie to be understood God grant we may read it with due care and not put a bar to our profiting by it NOTES ON THE Book of DEUTERONOMY CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT The Speech of Moses to the Israelites at the end of the fortieth year He puts them in mind of God's Oath to their Fathers of his giving them Rulers and the sending the Spies to search the Land and of God's Anger for their Vnbelief 1. THese be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness in the plain over against the Red sea between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab 2. There are eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea 3. And it came to pass in the fortieth year in the eleventh month on
the great Stature of Og. After the cubit of a man That is according to the Cubit of a Man grown up and of an usual size which is about half a yard 12. The Cities Numb 32.33 Josh 13.8 c. 14. Havoth-jair Numb 32.41 15. Gilead viz. The half of it See verse 12. Vnto Machir That is to his Posterity 16. Half the valley For the right understanding of this place it is to be considered that the Hebrew word here translated Valley signifies sometimes a Valley and sometimes a River and in the latter sense is rendred in this Verse in the words immediately foregoing The river Arâ—â—â— And so it ought to be rendred here and so it is rendred by the Greek and Vulgar Latin in this place And what we render half the Valley imports as much as to the middle of the River viz. Emphatically of the River just before mentioned Their Land extended from Gilead unto the middle of the River Arnon The truth of this appears from other places viz. Josh 12.2 We have an account of the same place being the place where Sihon dwelt who is there said to have ruled from Aroer which is upon the bank of the river Arnon and from the middle of the river which last are the same words in the Hebrew which we find here rendred by half the Valley and from half Gilead Again Deut. 2.36 the same place is described viz. From Aroer which is by the brink of the river of Arnon and from the city that is by the river viz. Ar of Moab which stood within the River and which was a City they were not permitted to invade even unto Gilead And the border even unto the river Jabbok These words seem to be Elliptical The sense is And the border was even unto the river Jabbok 17. Vnder Ashdoth-Pisgah Or under the Springs of Pisgah or the Hill 18. Ye shall pass over c. Numb 32.20 Meet for the war Heb. Sons of power 20. Return Josh 22.4 21. Commanded Numb 27.18 24. Thy greatness and thy mighty hand viz. In giving us the Conquest over such powerfull Enemies as Sihon and Og. 25. I pray thee let me go over c. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Moses should think the Threatning of God reversible and it must needs be very desirable by him to see that Land which had been so long ago promised so much expected and so greatly vilified by them that had been sent from Kadesh-barnea to search the Land But besides this it may be said that he had a desire especially to see that place where God would choose to dwell which the Jews affirm is meant by the goodly Mountain as well as the remoter Parts of the promised Land in which was Lebanon 26. Was wroth Numb 20.12 chap. 1.37 27. Pisgah Or the Hill See Numb 27.12 Behold it This was a favour not granted to the Men that searched and that murmured 28. Charge Give him Commission to execute my Will Encourage i. e. Give him assurance of success 29. Beth-peor Or the house of Peor The name of a Place or City so called CHAP. IV. The ARGUMENT The Israelites are exhorted to Obedience by several great Motives Such as their own Interest and the Reasonableness of it They are particularly warned against Idolatry and that very powerfully They are obliged to teach the Law unto their Children Three Cities of Refuge are set a part by Moses 1. NOW therefore hearken O Israel unto the statutes and unto the judgments which I teach you for to do them that ye may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you 2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you 3. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor for all the men that followed Baal-peor the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you 4. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day 5. Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments even as the LORD my God commanded me that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people 7. For what nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for 8. And what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day 9. Onely take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons 10. Specially the day that thou stood'st before the LORD thy God in Horeb when the LORD said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their children 11. And ye came near and stood under the mountain and the mountain burnt with fire unto the midst of heaven with darkness clouds and thick darkness 12. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire ye heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude onely ye heard a voice 13. And he declared unto you his covenant which he commanded you to perform even ten commandments and he wrote them upon two tables of stone 14. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire 16. Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likeness of male or female 17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air 18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth 19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars even all the host of heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven 20. But the LORD hath taken you and brought you forth out of the iron furnace even out of Egypt to be unto him a people of inheritance as
ye are this day 21. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes and sware that I should not go over Jordan and that I should not go in unto that good land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance 22. But I must die in this land I must not go over Jordan but ye shall go over and possess that good land 23. Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee 24. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire even a jealous God 25. When thou shalt beget children and childrens children and shalt have remained long in the land and shall corrupt your selves and make a graven image or the likeness of any thing and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God to provoke him to anger 26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it ye shall not prolong your days upon it but shall utterly be destroyed 27. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen whither the LORD shall lead you 28. And there ye shall serve gods the work of mens hands wood and stone which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 30. When thou art in tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn to the LORD thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice 31. For the LORD thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them 32. For ask now of the days that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man upon the earth and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is or hath been heard like it 33. Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live 34. Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations by signs and by wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm and by great terrors according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes 35. Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God there is none else besides him 36. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice that he might instruct thee and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire 37. And because he loved thy fathers therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt 38. To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier then thou art to bring thee in to give thee their land for an inheritance as it is this day 39. Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart that the LORD he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is none else 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth which the LORD thy God giveth thee for ever 41. Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 42. That the slayer might flee thither which should kill his neighbour unawares and hated him not in times past and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live 43. Namely Bezer in the wilderness in the plain-country of the Reubenites and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites 44. And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel 45. These are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spake unto the children of Israel after they came forth out of Egypt 46. On this side Jordan in the valley over against Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they were come forth out of Egypt 47. And they possessed his land and the land of Og king of Bashan two kings of the Amorites which were on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 48. From Aroer which is by the bank of the river Arnon even unto mount Sion which is Hermon 49. And all the plain on this side Jordan east-ward even unto the sea of the plain under the springs of Pisgah 2. Ye shall not add c. chap. 12.32 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 It is fit to require that they should neither add to nor take from the Divine Precepts at the beginning of this Exhortation to Obedience because God had given them his Law for their Rule of Life and had annexed his Promises to their Universal Obedience thereunto 3. Because of Baal-peor Numb 25.4 c. Or against Baal-peor and his Worshippers as the Vulgar and Chaldee have it Compare Numb 25.5 and the words which follow here 6. Your wisdom It is a fruit of great wisdom to fear God and obey his Laws The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments Psal 111.10 Besides many of these Laws were such as the wiser Heathen could not but approve and did actually receive several of them into their own Laws 7. In all things that we call upon him for God shewed himself ready to hear the Prayers of his Servants upon all occasions Exod. 17.11 and to protect and defend them in all straits and dangers as appeared by the many Miracles which he had wrought 8. So righteous This speaks a Nation great For righteousness exalteth a nation Prov. 14.34 10. Thou stoodst The most aged among them were present at the giving of the Law 11. Mountain Exod. 19.18 Midst Heb. Heart which is well translated midst here not that it signifies the exact midst it is enough that it be in that in the midst of which it is said to be Of Heaven i. e. Of the Air or lower Heaven 12. Onely ye heard a voice Heb. Save a voice 14. Statutes and judgments i. e. The Judicial and Ceremonial Laws in contradistinction to the Moral mentioned v. 13. 15. Take ye therefore good heed c. They saw no Similitude when God gave his Law and are thereupon vehemently warned against Worshipping of God by any kind of Image
which I give them to possess it 32. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left 33. You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you that ye may live and that it may be well with you and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess 1. SAid unto them By their principal Men their Elders or Heads of their several Tribes See chap. 29.10 For Moses must be supposed to have spoken to the whole Congregation of all Israel after the same manner in which they are said to speak to him viz. By the Heads of their Tribes and by their Elders as is expressed in v. 23. of this Chapter where he says Ye came near unto me not that all the Men of Israel did so for it follows by way of Explication even all the Heads of your Tribes and your Elders Keep and do them Heb. Keep to do them This is the great End of their hearing and learning them 2. The LORD c. Exod. 19.5 3. With our fathers viz. With Abraham Isaac and Jacob. It is not said that God did not enter into Covenant with them but that he made not this Covenant with them viz. this at Horeb. Here God did more largely reveal his Will and thereupon solemnly entred into Covenant with the People and their Posterity as appears from the following words 4. Face to face i. e. Clearly and distinctly Numb 12.18 though not in any visible shape ch 4.12 5. I stood between the LORD and you viz. as a Mediator and at your request v. 27. to teach you the Statutes which were given after the Ten Commandments 6. I am the LORD Exod. 20.2 c. with the Notes on that Chapter Levit. 26.1 Psal 81.10 Bondage Heb. Servants 9. Visiting Exod. 34.7 10. And shewing mercy Jer. 32.18 12. Keep It is Remember Exod. 20. but that was in order to the keeping of it 14. Sabbath Gen. 2.2 Heb. 4.4 15. Therefore c. i. e. Thou art obliged upon the account of that Redemption which is mentioned as an argument to Obedience of these Laws v. 6. and Exod 20.2 as well as in Memory of the Creation to observe this day of rest 16. And that it may go well with thee These words are here added to what we read Exod. 20.12 as a farther motive to Obedience and we find the Apostle takes notice of it Eph. 6.3 Upon the whole Obedience to this Precept hath the promise not onely of a long but an happy Life 17. Thou shalt not kill Matt. 5.21 18. Neither c. Luk. 18.20 19. Neither Ro. 13.9 21. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife c. The words in this Verse contain the same Precept which we find in Exod. 20.17 It is delivered with some variety The most considerable is this That whereas Exod. 20.17 the coveting the Neighbour's House is first forbidden and then the coveting his Wife here on the other hand is first forbid the desire of his Wife and then the coveting his House c. which is a good argument that this Verse as also Exod. 20.17 to which it answers contains but one Commandment however some Men to serve their Ends have divided it into two For if it were two we could not distinguish between the Ninth and Tenth the one being first in one and the other in the other place Nor is it to be supposed that Moses would put the Tenth before the Ninth See the Note on Exod. 20.17 22. He added no more i. e. He did not deliver the following Laws which we find in Exod. ch XXI XXII c. as he did these Moral Precepts by an audible voice and the solemn manner in the midst of the Fire c. but he delivered them to Moses who imparted them to the People 24. We have heard Exod. 19.19 And he liveth Ch. 4.33 It appears that this was a case not to be parallelled and that though they had escaped hitherto yet they were very fearfull for the future v. 25 26. See Judg. 6.22 23. 25. Hear Heb. Add to hear 27. Speak thou unto us Exod. 20.19 29. O that there were such an heart c. These words do fully assure us that their Obedience and the happiness which would thence accrue to them were things greatly pleasing and acceptable to God the most sincere lover of Souls CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT An Exhortation to the Fear and Love of the One true God and to Obedience to his Laws and Instruction of their children They are warned not to forget God in their Prosperity and particularly against Idolatry 1. NOW these are the commandments the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God commanded to teach you that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it 2. That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I command thee thou and thy son and thy son's son all the days of thy life and that thy days may be prolonged 3. Hear therefore O Israel and observe to do it that it may be well with thee and that ye may increase mightily as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee in the land that floweth with milk and honey 4. Hear O Israel The LORD our God is one LORD 5. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might 6. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up 8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes 9. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates 10. And it shall be when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob to give thee great and goodly cities which thou buildedst not 11. And houses full of all good things which thou filledst not and wells digged which thou diggedst not vineyards and olive-trees which thou plantedst not when thou shalt have eaten and be full 12. Then beware lest thou forget the LORD which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage 13. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name 14. Ye shall not go after other gods of the gods of the people which are round about you 15. For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth 16. Ye shall not tempt the LORD
1. THou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock or sheep wherein is blemish or any evil-favouredness for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God 2. If there be found among you within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God in transgressing his covenant 3. And hath gone and served other gods and worshipped them either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven which I have not commanded 4. And it be told thee and thou hast heard of it and enquired diligently and behold it be true and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought in Israel 5. Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which have committed that wicked thing unto thy gates even that man or that woman and shalt stone them with stones till they die 6. At the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death 7. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterward the hands of all the people so thou shalt put the evil away from among you 8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood between plea and plea and between stroke and stroke being matters of controversie within thy gates then shalt thou arise and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose 9. And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites and unto the judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment 10. And thou shalt do according to the sentence which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee 11. According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee thou shalt do thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee to the right hand nor to the left 12. And the man that will do presumptuously and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God or unto the judge even that man shall die and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel 13. And all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously 14. When â—hou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee and shalt possess it and shalt dwell therein and shalt say I will set a king over me like as all the nations that are about me 15. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee whom the LORD thy God shall choose one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee thou mayest not set a stranger over thee which is not thy brother 16. But he shall not multiply horses to himself nor cause the people to return to Egypt to the end that he should multiply horses forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you Ye shall henceforth return no more that way 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself that his heart turn not away neither shall be greatly multiply to himself silver and gold 18. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites 19. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the LORD his God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them 20. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom he and his children in the midst of Israel 1. WHerein is blemish Of which see Levit. 22.20 with the Note on the 22th verse 2. In transgressing his covenant It is evident from v. 3. that Idolatry is the Wickedness supposed here to be wrought and is called The transgressing the covenant of the Lord and the Idolater may be said to transgress the Covenant of the Lord as he breaks his Faith given to God and renounceth his Authority and Service at once 3. Which I have not commanded That is which I have forbid It is usual that such negative Expressions as this in the Scripture Phrase should imply more than the bare words amount to and they do sometimes imply the contrary â— Cor. 10.5 Jer. 7.31 Prov. 10.2 6. At the mouth of two witnesses These must be Competent and Credible and must be therefore neither Children nor Fools nor Men of ill fame nor Mad-men but such as are capable of taking an Oath and such as cannot justly be suspected not to fear it 7. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him This is very reasonable in itself and serves to convince the People of the truth of their Evidence and was also a great restraint upon the Witnesses themselves who if they bore false witness would also be obliged to shed innocent Blood The hands of all the people In a matter of this nature all the People were obliged to testifie their detestation of Idolatry and their readiness to root it out 8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment These words belong to the Inferior and Subordinate Magistrates in their Cities They are supposed here to be at a loss in some difficult cases viz. such as follow Between blood and blood That is in the case of Murther whether it were voluntary or accidental Betweeen plea and plea That is in Causes depending between the Plaintiff and Defendant Between stroke and stroke That is in the case of Wounds inflicted by one Man upon another Exod. 21.20 22. 9. The priests the Levites That is the Priests of the Levitical Race as the Vulgar renders it who made a considerable part of the Sanhedrin or great Council of the Nation And unto the judge Or to wit unto the judge The Hebrew Particle which we render and is sometimes onely to be understood exegetically as in 1 Sam. 28.3 Zech. 9.9 2 Sam. 2.15 And the Greek Particle which answers to it and is here used by the LXXII is used in this sense in the New Testament Rom. 15.6 1 Cor. 2.10 Col. 1.3 1 Thess 1.3 The judge i. e. The Sanhedrin which tho' it consisted of many persons was yet the sole Judge of these doubtfull cases and yet with respect to the Members thereof is expressed by Judges Deut. 19.17 18. 10. Thou shalt do c. These words are directed to the Inferior Magistrates who are obliged to put in execution what the Sanhedrin determines and the parties concerned were obliged to
water 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God and into his oath which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day 13. That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that he may be unto thee a God as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 14. Neither with you onely do I make this covenant and this oath 15. But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God and also with him that is not here with us this day 16. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt and how we came through the nations which ye passed by 17. And ye have seen their abominations and their idols wood and stone silver and gold which were among them 18. Lest there should be among you man or woman or family or tribe whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood 19. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to add drankenness to thirst 20. The LORD will not spare him but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heavâ—â— 21. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law 22. So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you and the stranger that shall come from a fâ—â— land shall say when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it 23. And that the whole land thereof is brimstone and salt and burning that it is not sown nor beareth nor any grass groweth therein like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath 24. Even all nations shall say Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land What meaneth the heat of this great anger 25. Then men shall say Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which he made with them where he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt 26. For they went and served other gods and worshipped them gods whom they knew not and whom he had not given unto them 27. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book 28. And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation and cast them into another land as it is this day 29. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for even that we may do all the words of this law 1. BEside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. This is the same Covenant with that in Horeb But because they had broken that and because they are now just entring into the promised Land and Moses had given them a more full Explication of the Law and was ready to die he renews the Covenant which they had before entred into 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see c. That is God hath thought fit for your Sins and Provocations to leave you to your own Stupidity and Blindness of Heart God had done great things for them In his love and in his pity he redeemed c. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit Isa 63.9 10. And that they were utterly inexcusable will appear from what follows v. 5 6 7. In which words we are told that God took great care of them that they might be at leisure to consider For they were not distracted with the cares for Food and Raiment c. God having made a great and miraculous Provision for them 6. Bread i. e. Bread which required not any labour of plowing or sowing of threshing and grinding c. But Manna from Heaven prepared ready to your Hands Wine or strong Drink These would have required some considerable Pains Instead of that they were supplied with Water which followed them 7. We smote them We were not enfeebled for want of Wine and strong Drink nor left without the Divine Assistance 10. All of you They were all concerned and therefore all stood ready to renew their Covenant 11. The hewr c. i. e. The meanest Servant Jos 9.27 12. And into his Oath What is rendred Oath signifies rather a Curse which was generally annexed to an Oath See the LXXII and v. 19 20. And because this Covenant had Curses annexed which were solemnly denounced against Transgressours Chap. 27.14 15. The entring into Covenant and into the Curse in case of failure are here conjoined Nehem. 10.29 15. With him that is not here i. e. With your Posterity The promise was to Abraham and his Seed 16 17. These two Verses contain Motives to incline them to enter into Covenant with God viz. Both because God had brought them out of Egypt and throuh other Nations and because they had had the opportunity of discerning the Folly of these People in worshipping Idols which cannot help them 18. Lest there should be c. These words connect with that Declaration which God makes in order to prevent the Sinner's flattering himself in an Evil way v. 20. We may find a like Expression Gen. 3.22 23. A root that beareth gall and wormwood That is an Evil principle called an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 which will infect and poison the Mind and produce the Curses denounced which will be very bitter Compare Act. 8.23 Heb. 12.15 19. To add drunkenness to thirst That is to abound in all manner of Wickedness To add sin to sin Isa 30.1 And drink it up like water Job 34.7 which course of Wickedness does but begâ—t a greater Inclination to do wickedly still As Drunkenness does not 〈◊〉 but increase the Thirst Isa 56.12 20. Blot out his name i. e. Destroy him For Name is frequently put for the person to whom that Name does belong as hath been observed 21. Shall separate him unto Evil c. Whereas such a Sinner may think to escape in a Crowd and flatter himself that the Blessings promised to God's People among whom he lives shall be his Portion he shall be singled out and rendred a Monument of God's Displeasure 23. Burning i. e. Parched and dried up and made barren Psal 107.34 26. He had not given unto them See
and the Preserver of thy Life And so he is of thy Prosperity which Life sometimes signifies see v. 19. and all the Comforts of Life CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Moses does greatly encourage the Israelites and Joshua their Leader Moses delivers a Copy of the Law to the Priests with a command to read it every seventh Year God foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites and declares his displeasure thereupon He appoints a Song as a witness against them He encourageth Joshua The Law to be put into the Ark. Moses foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites 1. AND Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel 2. And he said unto them I am an hundred and twenty years old this day I can no more go out and come in also the LORD hath said unto me Thou shalt not go over this Jordan 3. The LORD thy God he will go over before thee and he will destroy these nations from before thee and thou shalt possess them and Joshua he shall go over before thee as the LORD hath said 4. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og kings of the Amorites and unto the land of them whom he destroyed 5. And the LORD shall give them up before your face that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you 6. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the LORD thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee 7. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto him in the sight of all Israel Be strong and of a good courage for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them and thou shalt cause them to inherit it 8. And the LORD he it is that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be dismayed 9. And Moses wrote this Law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD and unto all the elders of Israel 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of tabernacles 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the LORD your God and observe to do all the words of this law 13. And that their children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thy days approach that thou must die call Joshua and present your selves in the tabernacle of the congregation that I may give him a charge And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation 15. And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle 16. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers and this people will rise up and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they go to be among them and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them 17. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and I will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befall them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not amongst us 18. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought in that they are turned unto other gods 19. Now therefore write ye this song for you and teach it the children of Israel put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel 20. For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milk and honey and they shall have eaten and filled themselves and waxen fat then will they turn unto other gods and serve them and provoke me and break my covenant 21. And it shall come to pass when many evils and troubles are befallen them that this song shall testifie against them as a witness for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware 22. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day and taught it the children of Israel 23. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said Be strong and of a good courage for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee 24. And it came to pass when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished 25. That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD saying 26. Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee 27. For I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck behold while I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the LORD and how much more after my death 28. Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes and your officers that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to record against them 29. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befall you in the latter days because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song until they were ended 2. I can no more go out and come in See the Note on Numb 27.17 The strength of Moses was at present vigorous chap. 34.7 but he could not think it could last long besides this God had declared that he should not go over Jordan as it follows here 9. This law i. e. The whole body of it Vnto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. The fairest account of these words and the most unexceptionable is this That there is here an Ellipsis of