ch 19. 1. stood yet before the Lord Jehovah This Abraham now knew V. 23. Drew near A signe and fruit of saith in prayer Heb. 7. 19. 10. 22. V. 24. Within the City Implying the like for the other three Cities V. 25. That be far from thee That the righteous should be as the wicked taken away in justice wrath and vengeance as the wicked Sodomites here were though in publick calamities they are sometimes taken away as the wheat is thrashed with the chaffe yet it is in mercy to them V. 32. Ten Jer. 5. 1. God offers mercy if there were but one Esay 65. 8. sometimes again he forbids his Prophets to pray for such Jer 15. 1. Ezech. 14. 14. CHAP. XIX Verse 1. TWo Angels Two of the three chap. 18. 2 22. in the gate As Abraham in the tent door ch 18. 1. Both entertain Angels at unawares Heb. 13. 2. V. 2. Behold now Now that the night is come on Nay To try his affection and haply they would have done so otherwise to see the behaviour of the people and their carriage ch 18. 21. V. 3. They turned in Upon his pressing of them A sleight invitation may be seriously refused and yet that which is pressing be accepted afterwards so Luke 24. 28 29. and this without Popish equivocation or mental reservation unleavened For haste And so unleavened is to be understood ch 18. 6. See Exod. 12. 39. V. 4. But before they lay down Likely the rare beauty of the two men Angels being soon noted and spread abroad occasioned this all the people So vile were they all V. 5. called unto Lot Esay 3. 9. proclaim their sin impudence know them Hence that sin is called Sodomy or Sodometry as from Simon is the name Simony Acts 8. 18. Jude v. 7. Rom. 1. 23 to 27. V. 7. Brethren In nature Act. 17. 26. Esay 58 7 Gen. 29. 4. 1 Sam. 30. 22 23. And in neighbourhood V. 8. Two daughters Virgins yet betrothed v. 14. This sinful in Lot Rom. 3. 8. Neither had he such power over his daughters nor ought they to have yielded to him herein Haply he might think and hope by this strange offer to take off their mindes qualifie their present heat by some delayes and alter them from their whole purpose by degrees As Reuben sought by his strange offer Gen. 42. 37. to alter his fathers minde and so indeed brought him at last to let Benjamin go with them chap. 43. 9 10. V. 9 Stand further Spoken in disdain as Esay 65. 5. needs be a Judge Now and heretofore 2 Pet. 7. 8. pressed sore To impudence they joyne violence as Judg. 19. 22. 20. 5. Their other sins are mentioned elsewhere as Ezech. 16. 49. V. 11. With blindnesse Such as they could not see the door though likely the house and the way to their owne houses so dazled such a blindnesse likely as that of those Aramites 2 Kings 6. 18. which could see to follow the Prophet though they could not distinctly discern who he was nor the way they went nor the City whereto they came v. 20. Mar. 8. 24. Luke 24. 16. wearied themselves Infinite impudence in sin V. 14. Which married Shortly should being about to marry them and already betrothed Deut. 22. v. 23 24. Mat. 1. 18 20 23 24 25. V. 15. Which are here Possibly he had other daughters which were married and were dead or else refused and perished with their husbands But this not so likely V. 16. Laid hold John 6. 44. V. 17. That he said Jehovah most likely by the passages in the ensuing verses He had now left Abraham met them and made himself known to Lot Look not Thou or any in thy company v. 26. Luke 17. 22. See Luke 9. 62. Mat. 24. 16 17 18. Phil. 3. 13 14. V. 19. I cannot escape to the mountain In so hasty a flight make so long a journey lest ere I get thither the judgement poured out should overtake me His infirmity of faith and fearfulnesse out of which he left Zoar also v. 30. V. 22. I cannot Mar. 6. 5. Exod. 32. 10. Deut. 9. 14. Gen. 32. 26. Zoar Little before Bela ch 14. 2. V. 23. The Sun was risen Hasty flight from break of day v. 15. to Sun-rising and speedy execution of justice V. 24. Then the Lord Jehovah from Jehovah Suites well with a plurality of persons in the unity of the Deity brimstone and fire Luke 17. 28 29 30. Fit judgement for their stinking burning lusts and fire unnaturally descending to punish their unnatural lusts And this but a forerunner of their everlasting punishment in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for ever Rev. 21. 8. Jude v 7. V 25. Overthrew these Cities Deut. 29. 23 Esay 13 19. Jer. 50. 40. Amos 4. 11. V. 26. From behinde him Either Lot going before and she following behinde him looked back or Lot coming hindmost to haste them forward she looked back behinde and beyond him a pillar of salt A statue of salt not such salt as will melt with raine and turne into water but a kinde of rockie mineral salt which will endure all weathers and serve for a lasting monument Numb 18. 19 2 Chron 13. 5. This place of this Plaine is called the salt sea ch 14. 3. Salt to season us with better wisdome Luke 17. 32. 9. 62. V. 27. Stood Ch. 18. 22. V. 28. The smoak Before it was as the Garden of the Lord ch 13. 10. but now fearfully destroyed Psal. 107. 34. V. 29. Remembred Abraham Ch. 12. 1. 14. 14. 16. 18. 23 c. yet this excludes not a regard had to the righteousnesse of Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. V. 30. In the mountain Whare the Lord appointed him first v. 17. so now he findes it had been best to have followed Gods Will at the first feared to dwell in Zoar and he dwelt in a cave Weaknesse of faith and other causes might occasion this feare two daughters Maidens v. 8. V. 31. In the earth She knew there were people in Zoar and saw the judgement to be particular not universal over the earth or Canaan and that Abraham and his family were not far off But she complaines as for the present mured up in a cave and in this solitary life without society of any but themselves like to be deprived of all hope of marriage and this feare and passion blinding her drives her to this desperate damnable course V. 32. Wine Which they had brought from Zoâ—r conceiving that unlesse drunk he would never sin so foully perceived not Drunkennesse drownes all understanding sense and conscience He did prostitute their chastity v. 8. They overthrow his This just as from God though evil in them He righteous in Sodom and almost Sodomitical here seed of our father They seem to be greedy of having children of their own kin and not of the faithlesse and cursed Nations And by giving the names of Moah and Ben-ammi v. 37 38. even to boast of
with desire into the mysteries of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 12. ministring unto him Mar. 1. 13. at his Tentation Mat. 4. 11. in his Passion Luke 22. 43. at his Resurrection John 20. 12. and Ascension Acts 1. 11. And ministring through him unto his people V. 13. The Lord stood Jehovah His Providence over us in Christ I am the Lord God of Abraham ch 17. 7. Heb. 11. 16. And this teacheth the Resurrection of the dead Luke 20. 37 38. to thee and to thy seed To thee in thy seed when yet he had no wife or childe V. 14. And thy seed Renewes the Promise to him and states it in him which was formerly made to Abraham and to Isaac Act. 3. 25. all the families So the Promise pertaines to us we may say with the Prophet God found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Hos. 12. 4. V. 15. I am with thee The like Promise made at his return ch 31 3. in all God giving his sonne doth with him give all things also Rom. 8. 32. 1 Tim 4. 8. not leave thee Josh. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5. untill Not excluding the time following As Mat. 28. 20. V. 16. And I knew it not Being awaked he perceived that God had appeared to him there admires at it and his goodnesse in it that not only in his Fathers house but even there God vouchsafed such Apparitions Job 9. 11. V. 17. Afraid Such glorious though gracious Apparitions affects mans frailty with feare because of his sin Mat. 17. 6. Luke 2. 9. 8. 35. Rev. 1. 17. See Annot. on ch 16. 13. the house of God He thinks this therefore a fit place for the building of an House to God v. 22. 1 Tim. 3. 15. V. 18. The stone Or heap of stones v. 11. or else some one of them pillar Some extemporary pile of stones raised by him afore on the sudden without tooles as a thankful memorial of Gods gracious Apparition in that place This likely being after demolished he erects about thirty yeares after a new pillar of stone upon another Apparition in the same place ch 35. 14 15. This here was a religious signe and monument as Altars also were Esay 19. 19. There were also pillars for civil monuments as Rachels pillar on her grave ch 35. 20. and Absaloms pillar 2 Sam. 18. 18. the pillar Galecd Gen. 31. 45 47 52. But when the Law was given by Moses pillars for religious use were forbidden Lev. 26. 1 Deut. 16. 22. in the margin Hos. 10. 1. And the pillars of idolaters commanded to be broken down Deut. 12 3. 7. 5. and poured oile Which he had for food or to anoint his body in travel Jacob poured it on the top or the pillar to consecrate it for holy use Thus oile of consecration in use before the Law of Moses So again ch 35. 14. As after in the Law there was an anointing oile to sanctifie the things used in Gods service Exod. 25. 6. 30. 22 25 29 to 34. 40. 9 to 16. Or rather here Jacob poured it as to an offering of thanksgiving to God having no other sacrifice at hand As David poured out the water of the Well of Bethlehem 2 Sam. 23. 16. See ch 35. 14. but these rites and manner of Worship with all the Levitical ceremonies and Consecrations of places persons and things to divine service are taken away by the Gospel John 4. 20. 1 Tim. 2. 8. Yet the rules of religious order and decency in the times places and particulars of Christian Worship are to be observed V. 19. Bethel The City Luz hard by this place and after hereupon called Bethel Bethel was on an high hill And therefore we read of Mount Bethel Josh. 16. 1. It was nigh to Hui or Ai and West of it Gen. 12. 8. Josh. 7. 2. ch 8â— 9. 12 ch 12. 9. And therefore the men of Bethel and Ai are joyned together Ezra 2. 28. Nehem. 7 32. Bethlehem and Shilo were not far from it Gen. 35. 16 19. Judg. 21 19. Abraham pitched his Tent close by it iâ— not there Gen. 12. 8. 13. 3. As Jacob had this dream and vision here whereupon he calls the name of the place Bethel so God himself bidding him returne from Laban is pleased to call himself the God of Bethel ch 31. 13. And upon his return God bids him go and dwell there which command he obeyes and here makes an Altar And upon a second vision and Promise made he the second time erects a pillar and renewes the name of Bethel ch 35. 1 3 4 5 6 9 13 14 15. Hos 12. 4. In Joshuths time it had a King Josh. 12. 16. Joshuah and after the house of Joseph conquered it Josh. 12. 16. Judg. 1. 22 23 24 25. It fell then by lot to the tribe of Benjamin Josh. 18. 22. There being another of the name it seems that fell to Ephraim 1 Chron. 7. 28. It is one of the three places whither Samuel rede circuit yearly and judged Israel 1 Sam 7. 16. Saul in his time met three men going up to God to Bethel â— Sam 10. 3. had two thousand men of his army with him there and in Micmash 1 Sam. 13. 2. David sent of the spoiles of the Amalckites to them of Bethel if under that name in that place Kiriah-jearim the House of God where the Ark then was and abode be not understood Jeroboam in his time set up here one of his golden Calves made an Altar and setled Priests 1 Kings 12. 28. 29 32 33. And hence Bethel the House of God seemes to be called Bethaven the house of vanity Hos. 4. 15. 5. 8. 10. 5. And yet there was another place properly called Bethaven and nigh to Bâ—thel Josh. 7. 2. 18. 12. 1 Sam. 13. 5. 14. 23. Thither came a man of God while Jeroboam stood by the Altar to burne incense and prophesied against it and healed the Kings hand that was dried up for stretching it out against him which Prophet was after slain by a Lion for suffering himself to be seduced by an old Prophet that dwelt in Bethel and came out of Samaria 1 Kings 13. 2 Kings 23. 18. Abijah the sonne of Rchoboam took from Jeroboam Bethel with the townes thereof 2 Chron. 13 9 whereupon and upon the captivity of the ten tribes Jeremie useth these words That the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence Jer. â—8 13. And before that captivity Hosea threatens that Bethel should do so unto them as Shalman had spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battel Hos 10. 14 15. In Ahaziah's time or rather Jehoram's Kings of Israel Elias comes thither with Elizcus immediately before his taking up into heaven And upon Elizcus his return thither the little children out of the city came and mocked him calling him Bald-head and fourty two of them were torne by beares 2 Kings 2. In the dayes of Jeroboam the second Amos the Prophet in scorn bids the ten tribes come to Bethel and
there 2 Sam. VI. 12 17. whereupon Zion is called the City of God Gods holy Hill The Northerne and lower part belonging to Benjamin wherein the Temple stood on Mount Moriah 2 Chon III. 1. Honourable things are spoken of this City Psal. LXXXVII 2 3. This City is called the City of God of the Lord of Hoasts of the great King the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High Psal. XLVI 4. and XLVIII 8. The Throne of the Lord Jer. III. 17. Jehovah-Shammah in that visionarie Description Ezek. XLVIII 35. It is called the City of Solemnities Esay XXXIII 20. a City of Righteousnesse Esay V. 26. a City of Truth Zech. VIII 3. a Faithful City Esay I. 26. a City sought out and not forsaken Esay LXII 12. The walls thereof are called Salvation and her gates Praise and they are ever in Gods sight Esay XLIX 16. and LX. 18. Hoham These other four Kings were all South of Jerusalem chapter X verse 3 And all five did after belong to the Tribe of Judah Lachish Of this City see the Annotations on Micah I. 13. The Lord said The Lord spake to Joshua verse 8 sometimes immediately by himself sometimes being consulted with by Urim and Thummim Hailestones God 's two Miracles in this battel verse 11 I. By wondrous Hailestones like those in Egypt Exod. IX 18 25. which killed more Amorites then were slaine by the sword braining likely the body of their hoast as they fled where they were thickest and those that were formost in the flight and not hurting the Pursuers who were intermingled yet likely mostwhat in the Reare of the enemy II. By the miraculous standing still upon Joshua's Prayer first privately made and granted after publikely pronounced in the sight of Israel of the Sunne and of the Moone and with them of the whole frame of Heaven about a whole day till the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies Jasher The Book of Jasher records the Miracle verse 13 No Heathen History being so ancient This Book seemes to be carried on and enlarged still with the story of things acted in after-ages For there is mention of it in Davids time 2 Sam. I. 18. And this Book being no part of Canonical inspired Scripture but a Civil Chronicle or Annals among the Jewes is since perished as divers others of like nature Among which are those books of Chronicles not Canonical but Civil so often cited in our two books of the Kings No day That day in Hezekiah's time verse 14 was in some things like this 2 King XX. 11. But that not till many ages after And this book first written Returned If Joshua here resolved to return to Gilgal verse 15 Yet many other victories in the Southern parts even from Kadesh-barnea unto Gaza in a short time intervened ver 16 42. before he actually returned thither ver 43. Ioshua And c. XI verse 36 31. Ioshua took Hebron or Kiriath-Arba and Debir or Kiriath-Sepher and cut off the Anakims Yet under the conduct of Caleb this was perfected Ioshua assigning him out of his army the Tribe of Iudah for his assistance therein Ch. XIV 6 15. and Ch. XV. 13 19. which thing seems to be repeated Iudg. I. 10 15. rather then a new Conquest made again after the death of Ioshua Goshen And Ch. XI verse 41 16. and Ch. XV. 51. This Goshen in Canaan differing from that in Egypt Sand Hyperbolees much used in Scripture chapter XI verse 4 So Gen. XXII 17. and XLI 49. Iudg. VII 12. and Ch. XX. 16. 1 Sam. XIII 5. 2 Sam. I. 23. 1 King I. 40. and IV. 20 29. 2 King XIX 24. 1 Chron. XII 8. and XVI 33. 2 Chron. I. 9. and XXVIII 9. Job XX. 6. and XXII 24. and XL. 23. Psal. VI. 6. Esay XXXIV 3 5 7 9. and XLVIII 19. Jer. IV. 24. and XV. 8. Ioel. III. 18. Amos II. 9. and IX 13. Iohn XXI 25. A long time After the battel at the waters of Merom verse 18 Ioshua did make warre a long time with all those Northern Kings in Canaan about sixe years as is gathered out of Ch. XIV 6 15. Arnon Arnon the River chapter XII verse 1 ariseth not farre from the head-spring of the River Iabbok and both from rocky Mountains that lie in the East part of the Tribe of Gad. It runneth Southward and falls into the North-East corner of the Dead Sea It is the border between Sihon or Reuben on the West and Ammon on the East and between Sihon or Reuben on the North and Moab on the South Iabbok Iabbok the River verse 2 ariseth as Arnon but runneth North a little and after turneth his streame West and falleth into Iordan a little below the Sea of Galilee It divided the Land of Gilead between Sihon and Og and afterwards between Gad on the South and halfe Manasseh on the North. Remaineth yet The Land both Conquered chapter XIII verse 1 and Unconquered was to be divided by Lot among the nine Tribes and a half so Iosh. XXIII 4 5. Begun at Gilgal Ch. XIV 6. and Ch. XV. and Ch. XVI and Ch. XVII Resumed and Perfected at Shiloh Ch. XVIII and XIX But we never read That they did Conquer the whole Land and all their several Shares and Lots through their own default and breach of Covenant with God by Disobedience Chapt. XXIII 13. Aroer The City Aroer was neere the Rise of the River Arnon verse 16 and in the confines between the Reubenites and Gadites as also Heshbon Dibon and Ataroth which being bordering Cities are said to belong to them both sometimes to the one sometimes to the other To Reuben Iosh. XIII 16 17. Num. XXXII 37. To Gad Iosh. XXI 39. Num. XXXII 34. 1 Chron. VI. 81. Distributed The whole Countrey chapter XIV verse 1 seemes to be divided into so many parts as there were Tribes to possesse them Yet so as that the Bounds of every part or Province were not so precisely limited before the Tribe had drawn the Lot but that afterwards they might be enlarged or lessened according to the greatnesse or smalnesse of the number that belonged to it Num. XXVI 53 56. and Chap. XXXIII 54. which last point of division was left to the wisdome of the High Priest Ioshua and the Elders whom God had appointed to divide it ver 1. and Ch. XVII 14 18. By lot Lots fell out providentialy to the twelve Tribes chapter XIV verse 2 in the Division of the Land in relations partly to their Birth partly to the Prophetical Blessings of them by Jacob Gen. XLIX and Moses Deut. XXXIII And so in the Cities of the Levites the Lot cast the thirteen Cities of the Priests in the Tribes of Judah Benjamin and Simeon which were nearest the Temple Josh. XXI 9 10 17. when it was builded Old Calebs age verse 7 when he was sent among the Spies from Kadesh-barnea was fourty At this Division of the Land eighty five So that fourty five years intervened viz. 38. in the
wildernesse and seven of Joshua's Government untill this time And Caleb here ver 9 14. And Joshua Ch. XIX 49 50. did both aske and both had certain inheritances given them two according to the word of the Lord. The City and Suburbs of Hebron were given to the Priests for a City of refuge The fields and Villages thereof to Caleb Ch. XXI 11 12 13. Caleb Not that Caleb chapter XV verse 16 1 Chron. II. 18 42. the sonne of Hezron unlesse by sonne we understand great-grand-childe But Caleb that is constantly called the sonne of Jephunne And Othniel constantly called the sonne of Kenaz are here yet called brethren And Othniel is again called the younger brother of Caleb Judg. I. 13. and III. 9. which could not be except by one mother But Othniel marrying the daughter of Caleb ver 17. And cosen-germans Nephews and the like being often called brethren in Scripture It is likely that either Iephunne and Kenaz were brethren and so Caleb and Othniel cosen-germans or that Caleb and Kenaz were brethren and so Othniel Calebs Nephew or that the Kenezite mentioned Num. XXXII 12. might be Grandfather to them both But no certainty appears for any further determination Separate The bordering Cities of the children of Ephraim chapter XVI verse 9 were between or among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh See also ch XVII 8 9. And as Ephraim had part in Manasseh so Manasseh had Cities in Issachar and in Asher ch XVII 11. The Portion Ten portions to Manasseh chapter XVII verse 5 that is five portions to the five sons mentioned ver 2. And the portion of the sixth son who was Hopher was divided into five portions among his grandchildren the daughters of Zelophahad which so made up ten portions though the five last were but as big as one of the former five One lot Both Ephraim and Manasseh seek for a larger portion and Lot then what did befall them in the General Division verse 14 Shiloh Shiloh was on the North-side of Bethel chapter XVIII verse 1 on the East-side of the high-way from Bethel to Shechem on the South of that Lebanon Judg. XXI 19. And so situated on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin yet belonged to Ephraim not to Benjamin Judg. XXI 1 21. There was the Tabernacle as was formerly said There were the Lots cast for seven Tribes Josh. XVIII 8. Thence were the two Tribes and a half dismissed to their Possessions after the warre Josh. XXII 9. And thither were the whole Congregation of Israel gathered to go up to warre against them upon a wrong surmise concerning the Altar Ed ver 12. Thither came all the other Tribes to aske counsel of the Lord in their warre against the Tribe of Benjamin and there was their Camp Judg. XX. 18. and XXI 12. and XIX 18. Thither came Elkanah and Hannah to worship and Samuel ministred there before the Lord 1 Sam. I. 3. and II. 11. and III. 21. And there the Prophet Ahijah dwelt in the dayes of the first Jeroboam 1 King XIV 2. Tabernacle The Tabernacle coming over Jordan was first set up in Gilgal Not that Gilgal of the Nations Josh. XII 23. Gen. XIV 1. Esay IX 1. whence haply Galilee might take its name But that Gilgal in the Tribe of Benjamin Josh. IV. 19 20. Afterwards in Joshua's time it was set up here in Shiloh in the Tribe of Ephraim near the Center of the Land which was by Sichem Ch. XXIV 1 25 26. And Bochim Judg. II. 1 5. may seeme to be conjoyned to it It may seeme to be fetched thence for a present use to that solemne Assembly at Shechem in Joshua's time Ch. XXIV 1 26. But being returned to Shiloh it continued there above three hundred years at least till the death of Eli 1 Sam. I. 3 9 24. and II. 14. and III. 3 21. and IV. 3. It may seeme to be again at Gilgal with the Ark in Samuel and Sauls time 1 Sam. X. 8. and Ch. XI 15. But soone after we surely finde it to be at Nob in the Tribe of Benjamin near Anathoth Neh. XI 32. when David came thither in his flight from Saul 1 Sam. XXI 1 9. After that sacrilegious slaughter of eighty five Priests by Saul at Nob 1 Sam XXII 18. it was soon removed in the dayes of David to Gibeon in the same Tribe of Benjamin and not farre from Bethel the City first of the wily Gibeonites Hivites but after given to the Priests Josh. IX and ch XXI 17. See 1 Chron. XVI 39 40. and XXI 29. and 2 Chron. I. 3 5 6 13. 1 King III. ver 4 5. And lastly when Solomon had built the Temple he brought the Tabernacle thence to Jerusalem 1 King VIII 4. 2 Chron. I. 3 5 6 13. and ch V. 5. And placed it likely in and among the Treasuries of the Temple For the Ark see the Observations on 1 Sam. IV. 3. Tabor A Mountain in the Tribe of Issachar chapter XIX verse 22 or bordering on it near to Mount Carmel See Joshua XIX 26 34. Here Barak was with his ten thousand men against Sisera Judg. IV. 6 12 14. See more of this in my Annotations on Hos. V. 1. Tyre Called the strong City verse 29 whence it hath its name Tsor in Hebrew signifying a Rock situate like Venice in the Sea A famous Port and Mart-town in Phoenicia the lower part of Syria whence the whole Countrey is supposed to take the name of Syria omitting the letter t in Tsor More of this see in my Annotations on Amos. I. 9. Bethshemesh A City in the Tribe of Naphtali verse 38 ver 32. and 39. Judg. I. 33. Another in the Tribe of Judah given to the Priests Josh. XXI 16. 1 Chron. VI. 59. 1 Sam. VI. 12. 2 King XIV 13. Another also in Egypt Jer. XLIII 13. the same as is supposed with On Gen. XLI 45. by the Greeks called Heliopolis and now Damiata The word signifies a City or House of the Sunne As also Kirharesheth a City in Moab Esay XVI 7. hath the same denomination And all because of Temples and Idol-service used there by the ancient inhabitants to the Sunne From which the Jewes sometimes were not altogether free 2 King XXIII 5 11. Cities of refuge The sixe Cities of refuge belonged to the Levites chapter XX verse 2 that is Hebron and Shechem to the Koathites Golan and Kedesh to the Gershonites Bezer and Ramoth to the Merarites Josh. XX. and XXI Chapters In Galilee Galilee is often mentioned in the Old Testament verse 7 See ch XXI 32. 1 King IX 11. 2 King XV. 29. 1 Chron. VI. 76. Esay IX 1. Galilee divided into the Upper in the Tribe of Naphtali and the Lower in the Tribe of Zabulon verse 11 both coasting about the beginning of Jordan The Upper is called Galilee of the Gentiles because both Populous and replenished with many Gentiles as lying nearest to them 1 King IX 11. Matth. XV. 21. Mar. VII 31. And so is Harosheth
the house of Dagon Thence to Gath Thence to Ekron And after they had kept it seven moneths they carried it to Beth-Shemesh a Citie in the Tribe of Judah given to the Priests 1 Chron. VI. 57 59. Josh. XXI 16. And it was fetched thence to Kiriath-jearim a Citie of Judah likewise 1 Chron. XIII 6. and Judg. XVIII 12. So called it may be from Kiriath-jearim the son of Shebal grand-childe of Caleb the son of Hur 1 Chron. II. 50 52 53. If Kiriath-jearim be there to be understood of the name of a man and not of the Citie Or thus called from its seate in a Wood or woody Countrey as the name signifieth See ou Psal. CXXXII 6. It was called also Kiriath-Baal Josh. XVIII 14 15. And Baalah Josh. XV. 9 10. 1 Chron. XIII 6. And Baale of Judah 2 Sam. VI. 2. It was brought thither into the house of Abinadab a Levite builded in the hill or Gibeah there 1 Sam. VII 1. 2 Sam. VI. 3 4. It abode there twenty years till the time of the Repentance and Reformation wrought by Samuel 1 Sam. VII 2 6. And after in the times of Saul it seems to be fetched thence to Giglal 1 Sam. X. 8. and Ch. XI 15. and ch XII 3. and chap. XIII 8 9. And after to Gibeah of Benjamin compare together 1 Sam. XIII 6. and chap. XIV 2 18. It may seeme to be thus fetched into extraordinary Assemblies upon extraordinary occasions both in Warre and Peace But being returned to Kiriath-jearim and the honse of Abinadab it was fetched thence by David 1 Chron. XIII 5. sixty seven years after it was first brought thither And was brought by him to the house of Obed-Edom 2 Sam. VI. 10. a Levite and Porter on the South-side of the Temple 1 Chron. XV. 18 24. and chap. XVI 38. and chap. XXVI 4 8 15. if not a Singer also 1 Chron. XV. 21. and chap XVI 5. And one of his race and name was treasurer in the Temple in the dayes of King Amatziah 2 Chron. XXV 24. He is called a Gittite likely because borne at Gath-Rimmon a Citie of the Kohathites Levites Josh. XXI 24 25. situated near Gath of the Philistines The Arke was there three moneths 2 Sam. VI. 11. 1 Chron. XIII 13 14. And then and thence fetched by David with great solemnity into the Tent which he prepared for it in the Citie of David in Jerusalem 1 Chron. XV. 1 29. and XVI 1. 2 Chron. I. 4. And thence seemes to be carried into Joabs Camp before Rabbah 2 Sam. XI 11. And begun to be carried with David in his flight from Absalom 2 Sam. XV. 24 25. And being returned to Davids Tent for it in Jerusalem Solomon as soone as he had builded the Temple brings it thence with great solemnity and placeth it in the Holy Oracle 2 Chron. V. 2 14. and chap. XXXV 3. about one hundred and twelve years after it first left Shiloh And last of all was burned with the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar And no more to be minded or remembred in the dayes of the Messiah Jer. III. 16. The hand of God The hand of God in Punishments upon the Philistines chapter V. VI. for detaining the Arke were Mice marring the Land chap. VI. 5. And in their bodies Emerods and some other disease or plague whereof most died chap. V. 12. The house of Dagon This Dagon was the Idol or God of the Philistines chapter V Judg. verse 2 XVI 22. They lived on the coast of the midland-Sea on the East-end of it from us This Dagon seemes to be a kinde of Sea-god having his name from Dag which signifies a Fish and is thought to be portraied like a Fish from the middle downward and his upper part like a man if not a maid 1 Sam. V. 4. Such Idols other Heathens worshipped as the gods of the Sea as Neptune Triton This House or Temple of Dagon was a marvellous House Judg. XVI 27. Hither the Philistines brought Sampson to make them sport and he brought down the House upon them Judg. XVI 30. Hither they brought the Ark of God as a captive in triumph to the honour of their Idol And Dagon fell down before the Ark broken in pieces 1 Sam. V. 3 4. And here they fastened the head of Saul whom they slew in Gilboa 1 Chron. X. 10. Bethshemesh Bethshemesh a Citie of the Priests chapter VI verse 9 in the Tribe of Judah on the North-border of it Iosh. II. 16. and XV. 10. 1. Chron. VI. 59. Here Amaziah of Iudah fighting against Iehoash of Israel was vanquished and taken 2 King XIV 2 Chron. XXV There was another Bethshemesh a fenced Citie of Naphtali Iosh XIX 38. Iudg. I. 33. Another Bethshemesh a prime Citie in Egypt Ier. XLIII 13. called anciently On in later times Damieta Bethshemesh signifies the house of the Sun and the Cities so called from the Temples of the Sun built therein and the idol-worship of the Sun by the ancient inhabitants practised there Fifty thousand and seventy men These were not all of the Citie Bethshemesh verse 19 but of the people also of neighbouring townes and places that came rejoycing ro see the Arke returned but over-boldly gazing on it bare and uncovered by the Philistines or by themselves contrary to the Law Num. IV. 5 20. If not prying presumptuously into it out of an impious curiosity or a pretence to see whether the Philistines had taken ought out of it or put any thing into it Kiriath-jearim A Citie chapter VII verse 1 not of the Levites or Priests and seated in the Tribe of Iudah Iosh. XV. 9 formerly called Kiriath-Baal ver 60. and XVIII 14. Of this Citie see more in the Observations on Ch. IV. 3. and on Psal. CXXXII 6. These Citizens fetched the Arke but borne and carried by the Priests of Bethshemesh Twenty yeeres Till this time of lamentation and repentance verse 2 and a long time after see the Observations on Iosh. VI. 6. Thundered By thunder here by hailstones verse 10 Iosh. X. 10 11. Now make us a King The danger by Nahash chapter VIII verse 5 as well as the wickednesse of Samuels sons made the Israelites ask a King 1 Sam. XII 12. which they might have done warrantably if they had waited patiently and faithfully as well for the time when as the person whom God should choose But not tumultuously and distrustfully as they did now 1 Sam. VIII 5 c. and Ch. XII 19. Hos. VIII 4. This will be the maner This maner of a King speaks in many things more then what is the lawful power verse 11 and duty of a good King more what he will do then what he ought to do The fourth part of a Shekel Samuel chapter IX verse 8 and God in him condescends to answer touching Saul's Asses As Ahijah did touching the sicknesse of Jeroboams childe 1 King XIV And Elias did also of Ahaziah 2. King 1. And Samuel in humility seems to accept of a trifle they having
Temple verse 12 which was burnt but fifty two years before wept at the laying of the foundation of this Temple either at the remembrance of the wondrous glory of the former Temple so burnt and consumed and considering the small Preparations and Meanes for the building and furnishing of this Ezra I. 4 6 68 69. and chap. VI. 8 9. and chap. VII 15 22. and chap. VIII 25 26 27. 33 34. Neh. VII 70 71 72. in comparison of those for the former Temple Hag. II. 3. In which case God comforts them Hag. II. 7 9. Zech. IV. 6 10. and VIII 6 9. Mal. III. 1. Or else seeing these foundation-stones not so goodly and precious as those were known to be that were in Solomons Temple 1 Kings VII 9 10. For as for the largenesse and compasse of the foundation it was not inferiour to that of Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. Yea far superiour if that Decree of Cyrus and the record of it found by Darius Ezra VI. 1 2 3. mistake not and the Cubits be the same Esar-haddon The sonne of Sennacherib chapter IV verse 2 2 Kings XIX 37. and grandchild of Salmaneser And this seemes to be the last of the Assyrian Kings And the same with Asnapper and to be him that carried Manasseh prisoner to Babylon then under the Assyrian Empire 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. And is likely the man whom Ptolomie calls Assaradinus and the Greeks Sardanapalus of Sar for Esar haddon and Pul Pul being much used in the names of the Assyrian and Chaldean Kings Brought us up hither So that those adversaries ver 1. seeme to be the race of those Samaritanes brought in by Salmanesar 2 Kings XVII 6 24. Or a second kinde of plantation by his grandchilde ver 9. which ever continued fierce enemies to the Jewes whatever they mischeivously pretend here John IV. 9. Luke IX 52 53. And this makes that Answer returned to them here ver 3. Darius Hystaspis Ahasuerus Ahasuerus seemes most probably to be the man whom Heathen Authors call Smerdis Magus verse 5 the sonne of Cyrus and younger brother of Cambyses verse 6 reigning a very short time Artaxerxes As they had formerly done in the dayes of this Artaxerxes verse 7 who most likely is Cambyses For to understand this of Artaxerxes Longimanus and much more of Artaxerxes Mnemon And the Temple to be builded in the dayes of Darius Nothus and much more of Darius Ochus will no wayes stand with these Scriptures and the notation of times contained in them Zech. III. 9. and Hag. II. 3. Syrian tongue Hebr. Aramite This was in ordinary use under the Assvrian Chaldean and Persian Monarchy Esay XXXVI 11. Dan. II. 4. This we commonly call the Chaldee tongue It differs from the Hebrew Dialect Esay XXVIII 11. and chap. XXXIII 13. and XXXVI 11. Yet in the dayes of our Saviour it grew common among the Jewes also and is in that regard called the Hebrew tongue in the New Testament John XIX 13 17. Acts XXI 40. and XXII 2. Rehum This verse 8 and all the rest to chap. VI. 19. is penned in the Chaldee Dialect And so chap. VII 11 -27. building the rebellious and the bad Citie So ver verse 12 13. and 16. They only went about to build the Temple the river So chap. V. 6. Jordan verse 16 or rather Euphrates ver 17. and 20. From Persia it is beyond the river work of the House of God Though their Letter verse 24 and the Kings Answer mention only the Citie yet they extend it here to the House of God Zechariah He is called the sonne chapter V verse 1 of Iddo And Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel ver 2. And they were indeed their grandchildren Zech. I. 1. 1 Chron. III. 17 18 19. Tatnai He verse 6 and Shethar-boznai deale more fairly and truly with the Jews in their letter to Darius then Rehum and Shimsai did in theirs to Artaxerxes chap. IV. 12 16. And they make mention only of the House of God and not of the Citie untill now But hindered and inhibited in the meane time verse 16 chap. IV. 21 22. in Babylon Or concerning Babylon chapter VI verse 1 Achmetha Called by Heathen Authors Ecbatana signifying a Summer seat for coole refreshing verse 2 In which Citie the Kings of Media kept their Court in the Summer season threescore Cubits Cubits likely are taken here for common Cubits half the length of sacred Cubits verse 3 which sacred Cubits were unknowne to Heathen And the number of them may be reckoned from the bottome of the foundation to the top on the outside and from the outsides of the Temple including the thicknesse of the walls and of the Chambers adjoyning And so this Temple will be lesse then Solomons 1 Kings VI. 2. 2 Chron. III. 3. according to that Hag. II. 3. See the Annotations on this text and the Observations on Ch. III. 12. three rowes This relates to the Courts of the Temple verse 4 Let timber The great zeale of this King for the Temple verse 11 appears in this and other passages and Decrees in this his Letter Artaxerxes Likely one of the seven that put down Smerdis Magus and in a sort verse 14 at the beginning was fellow in Empire with Darius Hystaspides finished About twenty two years after their Returne verse 15 about twenty since the foundation was laid Offered not comparable to that verse 17 1 Kings VIII 5 63. 2 Chron. VII 5. 7. And the children From this verse to Chap. VII ver 11. the Text again is Hebrew verse 19 Killed Each family verse 20 or master of family must not kill it themselves as they did in Egypt But Gods Ministers Priests and Levites must do it 2. Chron. XXX 15 16 17. separated themselves unto them Heathen Proselytes verse 21 King of Assyria See the Observations on 2 Chron. XXI 2. verse 22 Artaxerxes chapter VII verse 1 Longimanus Ezra See the Observations touching him in the beginning of this his Book Azariah Six generations here omitted verse 3 1 Chron. VI. ver 7 8 9 10 11. And three generations omitted between Jeroam and Pashur 1 Chron. IX 12. compared with Neh. XI 12. And so three generations are omitted between Joram and Ozias Matth. I. 8 And all done for brevity sake conceiving those Omissions to be things evidently known or not so material to be there inserted King granted Ezra's extraordinary power and authority was from the Kings grant verse 6 and not otherwayes went up So backward were the Jewes in returning back to Judea after the Proclamation of Cyrus yea verse 7 the Priests and Levites themselves See Esther VIII 8 9. first Four moneths in going verse 9 King of Kings Ezek. XXVI 7. Dan. II. 37. verse 12 This whole Letter is in the Chaldean tongue seven Counsellors So Esther I. 14. verse 14 freely offered great zeale verse 15 and forwardnesse here ver 20 26. and 28. and chap. 8. 25 26 27. as was formerly in Darius chap. VI. 11. canst finde Grants
subject matter of it agreeth much with ch XXIV This being a Prophecie of the destruction of the enemies of Gods people And more particularly of the Edomites in Idumea set forth in many hyperbolical expressions And all the hoast of heaven So strange and dreadful shall Gods judgements be verse 4 that the whole frame of the world shall seeme to be dissolved It is the maner of Gods Prophets in their descriptions of some extraordinary judgements to set them forth in such colours as if they were deciphering the face of that last universal judgement whereof such are in some sort resemblances and forerunners And again to set forth the restitution and restauration of Gods people out of greatest calamities in such termes as have occasioned many to be mistaken in them conceiving no other then the general and joyful resurrection at the last day to be described in them Unicorns Or Rhinocerots See the Observations on Num. XXIII 22. verse 7 for ever and ever Heb. verse 10 ever of evers The Cormorant See the like verse 11 Chap. XIII 18 22. and XIV 23. Zeph. II. 13 14. Apoc. XVIII 2. Seek ye out The certainty of this Prophecie verse 16 As if each thing here were entred into a roll of Record In the day of the execution of this judgement take this Book read this passage and see if any of these be found wanting then and there they shall These wilde creatures shall verse 17 This Chapter agreeth much with chap. chapter XXXV XXV And containes the joyful and glorious restitution exaltation and exultation of Gods people Sharon A fertil region verse 2 and pleasant lying beneath mount Lebanon in the Tribe of God and adjoyning unto Bashan 1 Chron. V. 16. There were the Roses mentioned Cant. II. 1. There had David his herds feeding 1 Chron. XXVII 29. Likely it is the same with Lassharon Josh. XII 18. Strengthen ye He incites them to hearten and encourge one another verse 3 with faith and patience to expect the accomplishment of those glorious promises Then the eyes of the blind Fulfilled in Christs time verse 5 both corporaly and spiritualy For in the wildernesse Literaly true in the Jewish Kingdome verse 6 being there â—n a Type of Christs And an high way They shall be blessed with peace verse 8 and safety the way of holinesse A Type of the way to heaven but it shall be for those Holy ones verse 5 6. No Lion shall be there As the way so plaine verse 9 so as free from danger This History is brought in to confirme and seale up the truth of some of the Prophecies and Predictions aforegoing This is recorded 2 Kings XVIII and XIX 2 Chron. XXXII came up Upon pretence likely of the Contribution with-held by Hezekiah chapter XXXVI verse 1 which his father Ahaz had paid to Tiglath-Pilezer 2 Kings XVI 7 9. and XVIII 7. without the Lord Heb. Jehovah verse 10 that sonne of four letters as the Hebrews call it used here by Rabshakeh six times in his Speech Syrian language See the Observations on Ezra IV. 7. verse 11 dung and pisse See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. verse 12 and take you away The maner of Conquerours to transplant the Natives verse 17 Sepharvaim Subdued before his time verse 19 2 Kings XVII 24. Eliakim Now in Shebna's office and place verse 22 And Shebna now the Scribe and so here is the beginning of his fall chap. XXII 20 21. chap. XXXVII 2. This Chapter the same in substance with 2 Kings XIX chapter XXXVII a rumor Verse 9. and 36. verse 7 So Rabshakeh returned Most likely leaving the armie still before Jerusalem verse 8 Libnah See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 22. Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. 13. Ethiopia See the Observations on Gen. II. 13. warre with thee Either to assist the Jewes verse 9 or in Assyria in the absence of Sennacherib and his forces Thus shall ye speak Instructions to his messengers verse 10 delivered to them in writing and so by them in writing to Hezekiah Likely as if he scorned to write himself to Hezekiah but sent him only a Copie of the Instructions Eden See the Observations on Gen. II. 8. verse 12 Cherubims See the Observations on Gen. III. 24. verse 16 And the Annotations on Ezek. IX 3. and on this text a Signe See the Observations on chap. VII 14. verse 30 and on Exod. III. 12. ye shall eate this yeare A confirmation of Sennacheribs sudden departure and returne home And also including in it an assurance of a comfortable provision of necessary food for them out of the Land notwithstanding all the havock that Sennacheribs armies had made in it and the coincident Sabbatical year for intermission of culture See the Observations on Lev. XXV 21. Then In that night verse 36 2 Kings XIX 35. the very next night after the message sent from God by Esay and smote The maner how is not expressed in the camp Likely both before Jerusalem and Libnah See Ch. XXXVI 2. and verse 8 9 14 33. of this Chapter all dead corpses All in a maner Yet some escaped and sled with Sennacherib himself See chap. XVII 14. Nineveh See the Annotations on Jonah I. 2. verse 37 and on this text his sonnes These words here written verse 38 are read in the margin but not written in the text 2 Kings XIX 37. Armenia Heb. Ararat on the mountains whereof the Arke rested Esarhaddon See the Observations on Ezra IV. 2. In those dayes chapter XXXVIII verse 1 Shortly after Sennacheribs defeat and departure shalt die Yet a secret reservation there was See Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. See the Observations on Jonah III. 4. to the wall Which haply might be towards the Temple verse 2 or by that withdrawing that he might with the more privacie and intention make his addresse to God remember now Humbly appealing to God verse 3 touching the integrity and sincerity of his heart and endeavours wept sâ—re One cause might be the want of a son Manasseh was not yet born And the State of Church and Common-wealth much unsetled Then Afore Esay was gone out into the middle Court verse 4 2 Kings XX. 4. where the text is Citie but the margin Court And the first Court of the Kings house that neerest the Palace and farthest from the street or Citie seemes here to be meant to thy dayes That he had lived already verse 5 fifteene years About the one half of his reigne verse 6 will deliver thee and this Citie The promise before made is again here renewed assuring him as of his life so of peace and tranquility to be continued to him with it that Sennacherib should not return or any Assyrian to molest him or this Citie 2 Chron. XXXII 22. which yet afterwards was done in the dayes of his son Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. a Signe Asked by Hezekiah ver 22. verse 7 and put to his choise 2 Kings XX. 8 10. So the Sunne returned ten
39. 5. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether Abel i. e. vanity And so indeed Abel was being slaine by his brother Vâ— 3. of the fruit of the ground an offering An Oblation or Meat-offering of fine flower or first-fruits in the eare in Levit. 2. and chap. 22. 14. Exod. 22. 29 23. 19. The Heathen Greeks and Romanes in their times did likewise Likely by an imitation of the Jewes V. 4. firstlings This afterwards by a special Law upon a special reason prescribed to the Jewes Exod. 13. 2. Num. 3. 13. and of the fat thereof In Moses time this expressely commanded Exod. 20. 13 22 25. Levit. 3. 3 4 5 9 10 11 14 15 16 17. The fat is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet favour unto the Lord. All the fat is the Lords neither Offerer nor Sacrificer nor yet in Civil use was any Jew to eate of it at leastwise of the fat of such cleane beasts as were fit for sacrifice Levit. 7. 23 24 25. The fat of the oile is mentioned Num. 18. 12. meaning the best of it And so of all things offered to the Lord the best is required which it seemes also that Abel here performed Not as those did Mal. 1. 13. By Faith Abel offered this Sacrifice Heb. 11. 4. And therefore it was no will-worship but grounded on Gods Word for his warrant revealed to Adam and by him likely to his sonnes had respect This was seene of Cain It is likely therefore that God shewed it by some visible signe as by fire from heaven consuming the Sacrifice as Levit. 9. 24. Judg. 6. 21. 1 Chron. 21. 26. 2 Chron. 7. 1. 1 Kings 18. 38. or it might be by some other wayes unto Abel and to his offering To the man first to the Offering for the mans sake as a fruit of his faith He righteous Matth. 23 35. V. 5. not respect Through his want of faith and sincerity in this service of God 1 John 3 12. very wroth At God and Abel both V. 7. Sinne lieth Sinne is anomâ—e or enormity and the punishment of sinne which like a Serjeant or they is couching and lieth watching ready to seize upon thee and tear thee And unto thee shall be his desire Subject to thee as to the first-borne as chap. 3. 16. This is to allay his wrath and incensed spirit V. 8. talked In a brotherly maner dissembling his hatred that he might get the better opportunity to kill him when Abel should not think of it See the Annotations on chap. 35. 22. V. 11. Cursed from the earth The earth shall plague thee that received thy brothers blood as is shewed in the next words V. 12. when thou tillest A punishment the more proper because he was a tiller of the ground and proper to Cains portion where ever he was not a second general curse upon all the earth a fugitive Cast out from society with thy kindred and acquaintance from Gods presence and the communion of his Church and pursued still with a guilty conscience So in ver 14 16. V. 14. Of the earth Of this earth where I now dwell with my Parents and Kindred Else he speaks like a man distracted by a guilty conscience He dilates his punishment that denied his sin Every one that findeth me shall slay me There might be many living by this time of Abels murther of whom he might stand in feare yea of them as yet unborn And his guilty conscience now feares every one as having made himself odious to every one And such flee when none pursueth yea the sound of a shaken leaf doth chase them And he might justly fear the beasts of the field Amongst the ancient Romanes Greeks and others such notorious offendors whosoever would might surely kill them And what large power is given to the revenger of blood by Gods Law we may see in Numb 35. 19 21. V. 15. Seven fold God would have him preserved alive though a life likely worse then death as a monument of his justice against murder and tratricide Psal. 59. 11. Not for love to Cain but to prevent future murder Mark a mark of protection and of ignominy too likely a kinde of palsie and ghastly look or some worse mark that made him an horrible spectacle of Gods vengeance against so hainous a crime V. 16. From the Presence of the Lord not of his general Providence but of his special Presence by grace in the place of his Worship and Service of which place and the Presence of the Lord there with Adam and his godly seed it might be said as Gen. 28. 17. This is no other but the House of God and this is the gate of Heaven Nod so called by Anticipation from his wandring there V. 17. Builded a City at last builded or rather was building began to build as the builders of Babel Gen. 11. as in many hundred years after he and his posterity well might and yet he be a vagabond in body and minde neverthelesse V. 19. Two wives The first bigamist and corrupter of wedlock V. 23 I have slain c. Beastingly he speaks of his valour and wrath to asray and appease the brawles of his wives between themselves and the vexing of him that he was a man that would not suffer the least injury of them or of any man but he would avenge himself and that fully Or vaunting himself to his wives of his valour to appease their feare of him lest hurt should come to him from others through his fiercenesse and boisterous violence bragging what heavy vengeance he would take of him that should set upon lamech many times more then God himself appointed to be taken for the avengement of Cain Or if he had slain a man and was wounded himself and thereupon his wives afraid of his life he seeks to appease them but in a fierce and insolent manner as scorning their feare of his danger and thinking it a disparagement to him and his valour and upon this reason too That he had a juster cause for what he had done then Cain had and therefore might be the more secure that if Cains death should be avenged much more his or rather in an Atheistical scorne vaunting That if God did set such a guard upon Cain surely Lamech they needed not to doubt should scape well enough Cains impunity might well serve for his security Thus variously may these vaunting words of this wrathful lustful man be understood and taken bearing himself haply the more proudly upon his sons inventions v. 20 21 22. V. 25. Seth borne when Adam was 130. years old ch 5. 3. Therefore in all probability Cain slew Abel not long before that time For God Eve rejoyceth that her whole number of children in him was filled up again For it is not imaginable that she had no more then Cain and Abel in all that time And it might be she foresaw by the Spirit of God that Seth should be like righteous faithful
one certain time and these two Evenings in the larger or stricter signification to be contiguous or continued rather to be that Communis terminus which couples the end of the day and the beginning of the night together or the two extremities of our Evening-tide whereof the former belongs to the end and shutting up of the natural day preceding and the later to the beginning of the night which leades on and ushers in the natural or civil day following as the first part of it So that this time is a participle of both or a Borderer betwixt both as the large Annotations fitly expresse it Two side-posts In this first Passeover each Head of a family served as a Priest verse 7 divers Rites were enjoyned which were not observed or required afterwards And the second moneth also allowed for it Num. IX 11 And other seven dayes 2 Chron. XXX 23. No maner of work On divers Feast-dayes of the Jewes it was not lawful for them to do any servile work verse 16 On others any kinde or maner of work save that which every man must eate But on the Sabbath day and so likely on the day of expiation that it self was unlawful or to kindle a fire on it Exod. XII 16. and Ch. XVI 5 23. and Ch. XXXV 2 3. And much more to do any maner of work upon it Neh. XIII v. 15 22. Jer. XVII 21 22. though for the making of the Tabernacle it self Exod. XXXI 11 12 13. or at any time in earing-time or harvest Exod. XXXIV 21. And that upon paine of death Exod. XXXV 2. For ever Many Legal Ceremonies verse 17 or Ordinances are enjoyned the Jewes to be observed throughout their generations for ever all which yet ended at the coming of Christ in the flesh And some such enjoyned in like termes yet ended in the year of Jubile Exod. XXI 6. Levit. XXV 40. Of this see more in the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. 430 years These do commence from the first Promise made to Abram verse 40 in Ur of the Chaldees whence 30 of the years are made up thus viz 5. in Haran 11 in Canaan when Ishmael was borne Gen XVI 3. And 14 years of Ishmaels age when Isaac was borne Gen. XVII 25. and Ch. XVIII 10. and XVI 16. and XXI 5. And the 400. begin from Isaacs birth as was shewed on Gen. XV. 13. By day in a Pillar of a cloud The Pillar of a cloud by day and of fire by night chapter XIII verse 21 may seem to be two Pillars Exod. XIII 21. 22. Nehem. IX 12 19. Num. XIV 14. Or rather seeme to be one Pillar Exod. XIV 19 20 24. Spread as a cloud by day to cover them from heat and gathered up into a Pillar of fire by night to guide them Out of which God spake unto them Psal. XCIX 7. Num. XII 5 10. Deut. XXXI 15. See the Annotations on Esay IV. 5. Migdol A strong City or Fort chapter XIV verse 2 situate in the territory of Bethshemesh in Egypt not farre from the Red-sea Num. XXXIII 7 8. Jer XLIV 1. Before the Testimony This command for Aaron to lay up the Pot of Manna before the Lord chapter XVI verse 34 was performed by him in laying it not before the Testimony not at this time of the Command here but after the Ark and two Tables of the Covenant were made Exod. XXXIII 29. and Ch. XXXVII 1 c. An Omer The Omer and Ephah here seeme quite altered in that Visionary New State of Israel chapter XVI verse 36 Ezek. XLV 11. Unlesse Gnomer and Chomer be two several measures which I rather incline unto and conceive the truth to be this That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. XVI 36. is the tenth part of an Ephah as is there set down whereunto accords that ver 16. it being the measure of the eating of Manna sufficient for a man by the day But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ezek. XLV containes ten Ephahs or Baths both being of the same measure v. 11. and 14. And hereunto accords that Esay V. 10. where one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the word is there written as it is in Ezek. XLV yeelds but one Ephah i. e. the tenth part of the seed it being a judgement of famine there denounced See also Levit. XXVII 16. And this may serve for the better explication of my Annotations upon that place of Ezekiel contained in the second Edition of the great Annotations printed 1651. Rock Rocks twice smitten chapter XVII verse 6 this Rock Exod. XVII 6. And that water going likely into the Red Sea and so failing them in the 32. Station at Ezion-gaber Upon their new murmuring another Rock was smitten 39 years after Num. 20. 1 13. And both called the waters of Meribah Went up Moses nine or ten times goes up to the Lord on Mount Sinai chapter XIX verse 3 See Exod. XIX 3 7 8 10 14 20 21 25. and Ch. XX. 21. and Ch. XXIV 3 12 13 15 18. and Ch. XXXII 7 15 30. and Ch. XXXIII 6 7 21. and Ch. XXXIV 2 29 34. Moses spake This speech verse 19 not mentioned what it was But seems to be that recorded Heb. XII 21. Priests So verse 22 v. 24. These Priests probably seeme to be the fathers of the families The young men Exod. XXIV 5. might possibly be of those Primogeniti or First-borne which God first challenged to himself within one quarter of a year before Exod. XIII 2. and Ch. XXII 29. And for them the Levites were taken in afterwards Num. III. 12 13 40 41 45. and Ch. VIII 18. Or else such as Moses pleased to imploy in slaying and dressing at least of these Sacrifices Called young men likely as those servants of the King of Assyria are called in the Original young men 2 King XIX 6. An Altar These Altars mentioned in this verse chapter XX verse 24 and v. 25 26. were allowed and appointed for the time much differing from those by appointment made when the Tabernacle and Temple were erected and builded Exod. XXVII 1 c. 2 Chron. IV. 1. Of Altars see more on Levit. XVII 3. In the seventh In the Seventh and Sabbatical year chapter XXI verse 2 beginning in September as the Iubile did The Book of the Law was to be read publikely and solemnly in the beginning of that year The Land was to rest from Culture Lendings vouchsafed to poor Hebrews and then due were to be released and intermitted if not clean remitted Luke VI. 35. Hebrew servants both men and women though bought if not redeemed before were to go out free if themselves would and that liberally furnished Exod. XXI 2 7. and XXIII 11 16. Levit. XXV 4 5 6 7 20 21 22. Deut. XV. 1 18. Jer. XXXIV 14. Who hath betrothed her to himself The Hebrew Text hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Not chapter XXI verse 8 and so runs thus Who hath not betroathed her But the Hebrew Criticks commonly called Masorets put for
Neh. XIII 23. A reason is given Deut. VII 4. Neh. XIII 26. Exod. XXXIV 16. The mischief of that marriage between Jehoram the sonne of Iehoshaphat King of Iudah and Athaliah the daughter of Ahab King of Israel is recorded 2 King VIII 18. Yet in case they became Proselytes Converts to the true Religion the marriage with all of them seemes lawful as in that case Deut. XXI 10 13. And in the case of Rahab and Ruth of the wife of Ioseph in Egypt of the wife of Moses of Maacah the daughter of the King of Geshur with David and of Pharaohs daughter with Solomon And this made Iacobs sonnes propound or pretend the condition of Circumcision to Shechem and the Shechemites Gen XXXIV 14 15 16. In the New Testament we read the prohibition 2 Cor. VI. 14. And the precept 1 Cor. VII 12 16. which rules touching Infidels seeme to serve for the case of grosse Hereticks and Apostates Against unlawful marriages see more Iudg. III. 6 7. and XIV 2 3. 1 King XI 2. Ezra IX and X. Chapters Neh. X. 30. and XIII 3 30. Rayment The rayment waxing not old on the Israelites in the Wildernesse chapter VIII verse 4 was a Miracle sufficient though it grew not greater still with the growing children Deut. XXIX 5. Neh. IX 21. This day Is taken somtimes properly somtimes as for a short time here Somtimes for a longer time indefinitely as Hester I. 18. And the Phrase since yesterday and the third day is sometimes taken properly or for a short time Gen. XXXI 2 5. Exod. IV. 10. and XXI 36. 2 Sam. III. 17. Iob. VIII 9. Sometimes for a long time 1 Sam. XIV 21. and XIX 7. 2 King XIII 5. 1 Chron XI 2. As likewise to morrow is taken sometimes for a short time as 1 Sam. XXVIII 19. Sometimes for a long time as Josh. IV. 6 21. Sometimes for never Iosh. III. 4. 1 Sam. IV. 7. Of to day and to morrow see Iosh. XXII 18. and IV. 6 21. Esay XXII 13. Matth. 6. 30. 1 Cor. XV. 32. Arke Besides that famous Arke for the Tables of the Covenant chapter X verse 1 4. Exod. XXXVII 1 c. There seemes here one formerly made for present use wherein the Tables by Gods commandment were first put And possibly this Arke with the Tables might be put into that famous Arke built afterwards Exod. XXXVII Deut. X 5. Journey These verses seeme to be as a Parenthesis inserted by Moses verse 6 9. And their journeys summarily mentioned v. 6 7. are more distinctly and orderly recorded Num. XXXIII 30 39. without any coming or returning again and again to one and the same place Altars Idolaters had their Priests chapter XII verse 3 Temples Altars Tables Lavers Pillars Groves Oaks Statues Images of wood stone and mettals carved graven molten in Cities and Townes in streets in fields and gardens in houses and on their tops in Gods house in chambers behinde the doores by rivers and rocks and caves upon high mountains and hills and valleys and under green trees with their several sorts of Scrifices and burnings even slaying their children to them Jer. VII 31. XIX 5. Ezek. XVI 20 21. and XX. 26 31. Feasts Incense costly cloathes and other services of them See Deut. VII 5. and XII 31. and sundry other places as Esay I. 29. and LVII 4 5 6 7 8. and LXV 3 4 11. and LXVI 3. Amos II. 8. 1 Cor. VIII 10. and X. 21. Jer. X. 9. XVII 2. And see their eager rage after idolatry Ezek. XVI 15 25 26 28 29 30 31. A poor man Private poor rather then publick beggars were chapter XV verse 7 11. and still will be among Gods people Matth. XXVI 11. For ever Ever hath reference verse 17 sometimes to a long time indefinitely Exod. XXI 6. 1 Sam. I. 22. and XXV II. 12. 2 King V. 27. 2 Chron. XIII 5. Psal. XXXVII 18 27. and LXXXIX 1 Esay XIII 20. and XIV 20. and XXV 8. and XXXIII 20. and XXXIV 10. Jer. VII and XVII 4 25. and XXV 5. and XXXI 40. and XXXV 19. and L. 39. and LI. 26 62. Lam. V. 20. Sometimes to the terme of a mans life 1 Kings I. 31. Dan. III. 9. Josh. 8. 28. Gen. XLIII 9. 1 Sam. I. 22. 1 Chron. XXVIII 4. Psal. XXXVII 27 29. and CXIX 44 98. Esay XXXII 17. Sometimes to the year of Jubile As in this Text and Exod. XXI 6. compared with Levit. XXV 40. Sometimes to so long as the conditions annexed to a thing are observed 2 Chron. XX. 7. 1 Sam. II. 30. Sometimes to the continuance of a State of politie Num. X. 8. See the Annotations on 1 Kings VIII 13. Sometimes to the Time and Coming of the Messiah 1 Chron. XV. 2. and XVII 12 14 22 23 27. and in many places of the Prophets Sometimes to eternity Exod. III. 15. and XV. 18. Deut. XXXII 40. Luke I. 33. And so never is taken sometimes for a long time sometimes for almost all times of a mans life Luke XV. 29. Sometimes for a mans life 2 Sam. XII 10. Sometimes for eternity The flock and the herd Oxen chapter XVI verse 2 Kids Sheep and Bulloks were used in the Feast of the Passeover that is in the Feast of Unleavened bread the bread of affliction for seven dayes Exod. XIII 6 7. Num. XXVIII 16 24. 2 Chron. XXXV 7 8. 9. and Ch. XXX 24. All which Festival time is called the Passeover and so Joh. XVIII 28. A Lamb or a Kid might be used for the Passeover properly so called on the fourteenth day at the going down of the Sunne Exod. XII 5. Deut. XVI 6. A matter too hard As Judges and Officers were to be appointed in all Cities in Canaan chapter XVII verse 8 13. Deut. XVI 18 19 20. So here the highest Court of Judicature over the whole Land in difficult Causes and for matters of Appeal was appointed to be in that one place which the Lord should choose which in after-times appeared to be the City Jerusalem And here it is not sure and evident whether this Supreme Court were to be one mixt of the Priests and the Civil Judge joyntly Or though this not so likely two distinct Courts Ecclesiastical and Civil both Supreme in their kinde Judgement of death was awarded upon presumptuous disobedience to their Sentence And more of this Supreme Court Moses doth not deliver Yet upon this the Jewes in after-ages grounded their great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and not upon the LXX Num. XI For those were onely added to assist Moses in his troublesome government of that unruly Campe of the Jewes in the Wildernesse as likewise those Rulers and Judges Exod. XVIII The Priests due Of the very great maintenance of the Priests verse 3 see on Num. chapter XVIII XVIII 24. Three Cities more Three other Cities of Refuge chapter XIX verse 9 over and above the six here allowed and conditionally enjoyned Yet we never read more of them that they were separated and set out
and Bathshebah are mentioned Now there being four hundred and eighty years from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt to the Building of the Temple in the fourth year of Solomon 1 Kings VI. 1. whereof fourty years were spent in the wildernesse and seventy in Davids life time 2 Sam. V. 4. and four in Solomons reigne The Remaining time between Rahabs receiving the Spies and Davids Birth must be 366. which may and must be made up in some such reckoning as this viz. Supposing Rahab to be eighteen years old when she received the Spies and sixty six when she did bear Boaz to Salmon then of necessity must Boaz beget Obed and Obed beget Iesse and Iesse beget David each about the age of 106. Which well considered evidenceth and evinceth these two things 1. That the years of the six Oppressors in the times of the Judges Ch. III. 8 14. and IV. 3. and VI. 1. and X. 8. and XIII 1. which amount to 111. years cannot be reckoned distinct and apart But are to be included within the years of the Judges and of the Rest of the Land For otherwise the years between Rahabs receiving the two Spies and Davids birth would rise to 477. which cannot be true And secondly that the years 480. which is that famous Link of time 1 King VI. 1. cannot possibly be forced to any more then 480. much lesse to 580. as some learned men of late would have it and contrary to that sacred text 1 King VI. 1. which never received any veriâ—â—s Lection and contrary to the clear evidence and notation of paâ—â—â—cular times set down in Scripture which exacty make up that summe of 480. as was now shewed viz. fourty in the Wildernesse seventeen in Ioshuah's Government 299. in the Judges times eighty in Eli Samuel and Sauls times fourty in Davids and four in Solomons Ark The Ark here leads the way before the hoast chapter III verse 3 into Iordan and Canaan without any more mention of the Pillar of Cloud and Fire Two thousand Cubits The distance of two thousand Cubits from the Ark verse 4 Josh. III. 4. was on either side of it and seemes to be the same distance that was kept from it in their Campings or Pitchings and in their Journeyings in the Wildernesse And may well be deemed to be the Sabbath-dayes journey mentioned Acts I. 12. Comparing together John XI 18. and Luke XXIV 50. Rose up upon an heap When the Israelites passed through Jordan verse 16 the waters were not as a wall unto them on the right hand and on the left as likely they were when Elias and Elizeus divided them with a mantle 2 King II. 8 14. And as certainly the waters of the red-sea were Exod. 14. 21 22. But God stopped the waters of the river that came down from above and they stood and rose upon an heap very farre from the City Adam And thereupon those waters that came down from Adam to the Salt and Dead Sea and Lake of Sodom and Asphaltites did run away failed were cut off Midst The often mentioning the midst of the river of Iordan to be the place where the Priests feet stood bearing the Ark of the Lord verse 17 the place where twelve stones were erected and the place whence twelve stones were taken to be set up in Gilgal Iosh. III. 17. and IV. 3 5 8 9 10 18. doth induce me to take the word midst in its proper signification having no maner of inconvenience in it for so doing rather then to transferre it to the Channel close by the further side and banck Passed over The place of their passage over Jordan chapter IV verse 1 may seeme to be called afterwards Beth-barah in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Jordan Judg. VII 24. And Bethabara John I. 28. not Bethania as the Trent-Bible erroneously there hath it where John baptized Jesus as well as others And Betharabah seemes to be a City not farre from the Passage on the other side a City of Benjamin bordering upon Judah Josh. XV. 6. 61. and XVIII 22. Though some not so rightly place the foresaid town higher upon the river more then twenty miles above Adam and farre off from the border of Judah At this Passage the Altar Ed seemes to be builded in the Tribe of Reuben Josh. XXII 11. Twelve men Reuben verse 2 and Gad are here included in the twelve though their Possessions were beyond Iordan And of these two Tribes and half Manasseh about fourty thousand armed men passed over Iordan to the warre ver 13. which were yet but a few more then one third part of their military men Num. XXVI 7 18 34. The rest stayed behinde for their many necessary occasions Came up They came over Iordan verse 19 on the tenth day of the first moneth were Circumcised the eleventh And did eate the Passeover on the fourteenth Ch. V. 2 10. Both which were omitted in the wildernesse at least since the Returne of the twelve Spies and after that Passeover at Mount Sinai Num. IX 5. See Iosh. V. 5 7. And on the XVI day Manna ceased ver 12. The second time Not that these were Circumcised once before chapter V verse 2 See ver 7. It was neglected or omitted many years for some reasons And at this time upon many reasons renewed and again injoyned by God See the Annotations upon this text Gilgal Of this place verse 9 see the Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. A man This Captain of the Lords hoast verse 13 was not Gabriel or any other created Angel but Michael the Archangel Iude 9. Michael the great Prince of Gods people Dan. X. 21. and XII 1. the Angel of the Covenant Mal. III. 1. Christ the Sonne of God Appearing here and sundry other times in the shape of man as a foregoing presage and prologue to typifie his future Incarnation And this appeareth by Ioshua's Adoration of him as his Lord Jehovah Ch. VI. 2. and by His acceptance of it which an Angel would have refused Apoc. XIX 10. by his Commanding Joshua to put off his shoes because the place was holy like to that Exod. III. 5. Not that the Place was capable of any inherent holinesse in it self but hallowed by Gods holy presence in it and in that relation onely so esteemed and which ceased so to be when his Presence was withdrawn from it This Captain instructs Joshua about the maner of besieging and conquering Jericho Ch. VI. 2 5. Seventh day chapter VI The Sabbath-day must needs be one of the seven wherein the Camp of Israel did march round about the walls of Jericho verse 4 if not the seventh wherein they compassed the Citie seven times and took it And this by the command of him who is the Sovereigne Lord of the Sabbath Priests shall blow with the Trumpets Priests not Levites And Priests not Levites carry the Ark. See the Observations on Num. X. 8. and on Ch. VII v. 1 9. Achan Achan is called also Achar chapter VII
verse 1 1 Chron. II. 7. which signifieth a Troubler and the Place of his execution is called the Valley of Achor v. 26. that is trouble He was Grand-childe of Zabdi otherwise called Zimri 1 Chron. II. 6. Ai Ai is called Hai verse 2 Gen. XII 8. and Aijah Neh. XI 31. in the tribe of Benjamin very near to Bethel Ezra II. 28. Neh. VII 32. and differs from that Ai situate between Heshbon and Rabbah in the tribe of God yet taken by the Ammonites whereof see Jeremie XLIX 3. Bethaven Bethaven and Bethel two distinct townes not farre asunder near the North bounds of the Tribe of Benjamin Yet Hosea calls Bethel by the name of Bethaven the house of vanity and vaine Idols in scorne and derision for Jeroboams golden Calf there set up Hos. IV. 15. and V. 8. and X. 5. See the Observations on 1 King XII 29 32. verse 14 Taketh By Divine instinct and command Lots are here used In which case their judgement is infallible Of Lots see my Annotations on Ionah I. 7. verse 24 And his sonnes Gods severe judgement upon his whole family ver 24 25. is warranted by Him who is sole Dispensor and Sovereigne Lord over his own Law Deut. XXIV 16. And at the most his Sacriledge was but the Occasion not the Cause of Gods judgement upon his family They having sinne enough in themselves otherwise for Gods justice to work upon though they had no hand in this sacrilegious act chapter VIII verse 2 Ambush God appoints both the End and the Means 1 Chron. XIV 14 15. And Gods people having the assurance of Gods Particular Promises do yet carefully use the Meanes as Josh. XI 7. and X. 9. Acts XXVII 24 31. Iudg. XX. 28 29. Stratagems in warre are lawful verse 3 Chose out Not likely that the 30000. did lie in wait behinde Ai Westward between Ai and Bethel but onely 5000. ver 12 17. Gibeon Gibeon was a great City chapter IX verse 3 a royal City of the Hivites and all the men mighty Ch. X. 2. and XI 19. allotted afterwards to Benjamin and out of that Tribe to the Priests Ch. XXI 13 17. The Tabernacle and Altar were here in Davids and Solomons time 1 Chron. XXI 20. 2 Chron. I. 3. David orders the service of it here 1 Chron. XVI 30. Solomon sacrificeth at this High Place God appears to him here And he brings the Tabernacle and Altar thence to the Treasuries of the Temple 1 King III. 4. Here Ioshua vanquished the five Kings of the Amorites Ch. X. And had the Sunne stand still upon his prayer Here David smote the Philistines 1 Chron. XIV 16. By the poole of Gibeon was that mortal fight between twelve of Abners and twelve of Ioabs men whence the place was called the field of strong men in Gibeon Here Abner in his flight slayeth Asabel the brother of Ioab And Ioab pursueth Abner by the way of the Wildernesse of Gibeon 2 Sam. II. 12 16 24. and Ch. III. 30. At the great stone in Gibeon Ioab slew Amasa his Cousen-german 2 Sam. XX. 8. And by the great waters that are in Gibeon Iohanan fighteth and puts to flight Ishmael Ier. XLI 12. The Gibeonites were Hivites Iosh. IX 7. yet called also by the more general name of Amorites 2 Sam. XXI 2. They were those which in after-times were called Nethinims c. that is Deodands given and devoted to that Drudgery ver 23 27. Of whom see 2 Sam. XXI 2. 1 Chron. IX 2. Ezra II. 43 58 62 70. and VII 7 24. and VIII 17 20. Neh. VII 46 60 73. and X. 28. and XI 3 21. Something like to these were those other of these Nations on whom Solomon did raise a tribute of Bondage 1 King IX 20 21. Of whom see more on that place The Oath and League made with the Gibeonites and their Cities ver 17. though surreptitiously and fraudulently gotten and also rashly granted yet seemes in the substance of it to be lawful otherwise an unlawful Oath should be broken whereas this was kept with all faithfulnesse Joshua fighting in their defence and that by the Lords approbation and encouragement Ch. X. 7 8. And this seemes lawful because they sued for Peace before they were besieged and willingly submitted to all Conditions without any reservation of their Lands Goods Lawes Liberties much lesse of their superstitions and idolatries which otherwise might have ensnared the Israelites but of their Lives onely and they to be employed in the Israelites service Cities and People of other Nations then these very farre off might be received upon farre easier termes and conditions But upon all these Conditions others of these Nations themselves might have been spared their lives Yet God in his providence so ordered That there was not a City that made peace with the Israelities saving these Hittites of Gibeon onely and their Cities All other they took in battel for it was of the Lord so to harden their hearts that they might be destroyed Ch. XI 19 20. And therefore the Congregation here murmured unjustly haply through ignorance against Joshua and the Princes for this League and Oath And Saul was justly punished and that grievously in his posterity and the Land also with famine many ages after this because he sought to slay and destroy them from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel contrary to this League and Oath though Soul did it in a pretended or wrong zeale to the children of Israel and Judah 2 Sam. XXI 1 6. Adoni-Zedek seemes chapter X verse 1 in after-ages to have succeeded that Melchizedeâ— Gen. XIV 18. But Adoni-bezeck Judg. I. 7. seemes not any successor to this Adonizedeek much lesse himself He himself being slaine ver 23 26. But Adoni-bezeck was Lord or King not of Jerusalem but of Bezeck in the Tribe of Judah where Saul numbred against Nahash 330000. men 1 Sam. XI 8. Jerusalem is called also Jebus Judg. XIX 10. 1 Chron. XI 4 5. of Jebusi the sonne of Canaan Gen. X. 16. And Salem Gen. XIV 18. Psal. LXXVI 2. The name seemes composed of them If not then of Jireh and Salem the place Salem Gen. XIV 18. Psal. LXXVI 2. where God appeared Gen. XXII 14. Or Jiereh Shalem signifying the Vision of Peace or Possession of Peace or Peace shall be seene or provided a place of providence Gen. XXII 14. See Hebr. VII 1 2. And it is of the Dual number being a double City belonging to two Tribes Judah and Benjamin Josh. XV. 8 63. and XVIII 28. Judg. I. 8 21. Jer. XXXIX 3. The Southern and higher part belonging to Judah wherein the strong hold of Zion was taken at last by David presently after his anointing King over all Israel and built and called his City 2 Sam. V. 6 9. 1 Chron. XI 4 8. And became the Burial-place of the Kings of Judah And Davids Sepulcher continued there till the Apostles times Acts II. 29. near 1100. years And the Ark for a time was placed
called Harosheth of the Gentiles Judg. IV. 2. as lying in that Tribe of Naphtali Thirteen Thirteen Cities with their Suburbs in title and dominion given to the Priests Josh. chapter XXI verse 19 XXI 4. See the Annotations on 1 Chron. VI. 59. Though one of them at that time was too much for their present use and habitation we reading but of three of them in number about fifty years before this time Called The two Tribes and a half dismist chapter XXII verse 1 likely at the end of sixe or seven years before the Division of the Land and stayed not fourteen yeers till after the Division which Division might yet possibly be made sooner then so Josh. XX. 11. Divide This Dividing the spoile with their brethren verse 8 those that stayed at home beyond Jordan seemes to relate to that Num. XXXI 27. And David seemes hereupon to revive and enact that Law of like Division 1 Saem XXX 24 25. Mention of the name The not naming of Idols is mentioned chapter XXIII verse 7 as here so Exod. XXIII 13. Deut. XII 3. Psal. XVI 4. And a like Ephes. V. 3. Yet the thing in it self is not simply and absolutely unlawful Shechem Shechem was a City in Mount Ephraim chapter XXIV verse 1 Josh. XX. 7. North-North-East from Shiloh and Bethel and close by Mount Gerizim and Ebal Judg. IX 7. Here Abraham and Jacob had sojourned And Jacobs two sonnes Simeon and Levi young men upon Dinah's ravishment murthered the Citizens Gen. XXXIV Here after Gideons death the Citizens worshipped Baal-Berith and rebelled with Abimelech and were after punished and spoyled by him Judg. IX This City in Ioshua's time was made a City of Refuge and given to the Kohathite-Levites Iosh. XXI 21. And here Ioshua made a Covenant with all the people to serve the Lord Chap. XXIV ver 25. The Mount Ephraim whereon the City stood was famous for Burials Here they buried Iosephs bones in Shechem in a parcel of ground which Iacob bought of the children of Hamor or Emor Josh. XXIV 32. Acts VII 16. Gen. XXXIII 19. Here was great Ioshua himself an Ephraimite buried in his inheritance in Timnath-Scrah or Here 's which is in Mount Ephraim on the North-side of the hill Goash Josh. XXIV 30. Judg. II. 9. And here was the High-Priest Eleazar buried in an Hill that pertained to Phineas his son which was given him in Mount Ephraim Josh. XXIV 33. Here Deborah dwelt Judg. IV. 5. And Tola the Judge ch X. 1. Hither came Rehoboam to be made King But Jeroboam was there made King in his stead who built or fortified the City and dwelt there 1 King XII 1 20 25. Judges THE Book of JUDGES contains an History not of four hundred and ten years but of two hundred ninty and nine years So Counting the years of the VI. Oppressors within the years and times of the Judges as I have shewed they necessarily must upon Rahabs marriage with Prince Salmon Josh. II. And so Expounding the Texts following according to the truth of the times thus That the Land had Rest by Othniel in the fourtieth year after it was first settled in Rest by Ioshua at his Death Judg. III. 11. not after the Death of Moses And again had Rest by Ehud in the eightieth year after the former Rest by Othniel Ch. III. 30. And again had Rest by Deborah in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Ehud Ch. V. 31. And again had Rest by Gideon in the fourtieth year after the former Rest by Deborah Ch. VIII 28. These make up two hundred years And then follow three of Abimelech twenty three of Tolah twenty two of Jair sixe of Jephthah seven of Ibzan ten of Elon eight of Abdon twenty of Sampson which make np the other ninty nine years in all two hunded ninty nine The text Judg. IV. 3 4. seemes to accord with rhis reckoning and to accompt Jabins Oppression within the years of Deborah But yet counting beside these the times of the VI. Oppressors distinctly over and above which amount to one hundred and eleven years and is according to the seeming letter of the texts And then fourty years of Eli being added thereunto the summe ariseth to those 450. years mentioned by Paul Acts XIII 20. But reading the words of Saint Paul as in order they stand there in the Original and after these things about four hundred and fifty years he gave them Judges untill Samuel the Prophet we may rather conceive the four hundred and fifty years to comprehend all the time from the choosing of the Fathers till the Division of the Land by Joshua it being four hundred fifty two from the Birth of Isaac and four hundred fourty seven from the Rejection of Ishmael both wayes about four hundred and fifty wherein those things mentioned ver 18 19 20. were done and accomplished And after that time he gave them Judges until Samuel the Prophet And after that time He gave them Kings And thus the most learned Primate of all Ireland hath it in his learned Annals This Book seemes written of and concerning the Judges as the Book of Ruth concerning Ruth And long after their times As may seeme to be gathered by those phrases remaine unto this day and the like Ch. I. 21 26. and VI. 24. and X. 4. and XV. 19. And Ch. XVIII 30. must needs have relation at soonest to the captivity of the Arke in the dayes of Samuel 1 Sam. IV. 17. Psal. LXXVIII 60 61. Asked They asked the Lord chapter I verse 1 by Phineas the High Priest who by Urim and Thummim makes answer Num. XXVII 21. Both which were on or in the Breastplate and the Breastplate was annexed to the Ephod Exod. XXVIII 28 30. and XXXIX 21. which made David call for the Ephod and High Priest thereby to enquire of the Lord 1 Sam. XXIII 9 10 11 12. and Ch. XXVIII 6. So Ezra II. 63. See more on 1 Sam. XXIII 9. Bezek Bezek a City in the tribe of Iudah verse 4 not farre from Ierusalem lying from it South-West and midway between 〈◊〉 and Bethlehem Adoni-Bezek verse 5 Of him see on Iosh. X. 1. Said verse 7 seventy Kings His seventy Kings subdued and mangled by him must needs be very pettie Kings of Provinces or Cities if not such Princes as are now in Germany where all the brethren of a Prince are called Princes likewise And these seventy were such as in the time of all his reigne and tyranny Adoni-bezek had subdued He was brought from Bezek to Ierusalem to be made a publike example there Ierusalem Iudah had taken Ierusalem verse 8 slaine the inhabitants and burnt the City i. e. that part of it which belonged to Iudah Iosh. XV. 8. yet so as the Jebusite still dwelt therein with the children of Iudah ver 63. even till Davids time 2 Sam. V. 6 7 8. And Benjamin did the like and no more with their part of Ierusalem Judg. I. 21. yet both had little hold in it
VII 8. 13 and of Saul slaine by them This deliverance was not perfected till Davids dayes Drink no Wine The mother is thus forbidden verse 7 ver 14. Likely because the infant was to receive hutriment and suck from her If the Lord A good plea and comfort verse 23 And a good example for our imitation to comfort us in sundry cases and conditions Sampson Sampson's Birth hath relation to that verse 24 Ch. X. 7. where the Philistines are mentioned before the Ammonites And he began to deliver Israel being young and died about fourty To move him Inspire him with magnanimous verse 25 heroical thoughts and indow him with miraculous strength Timnath In the Tribe of Dan chapter XIV verse 1 East from Ekron of the Philistines Here Sampson intended to have his first wife And Judah had his sheep-shearing Gen. XXXVIII 12. This Citie was given to the Tribe of Judah Josh. XV. 57. And after out of that Tribe to Dan Josh. XIX 43. But the Philistines most what possessed it And in the dayes of wicked Ahaz we read that they took it from him 2 Chron XXVIII 18. Some make this in Dan and that in Judah to be divers Cities Sampson Sampson by extraordinary motion of the Lord the lawfull Dispenser with his own Law seeks a marriage though a Nazarite with a Philistine had thirty of the Philistines brought as companions to be with him at the nuptial feast to honour him in shew but more in jealousie and fear of him seeing and noting some things extraordinary in his person His wife weeping before him the seven dayes while the Feast lasted but more after the third day and most upon the seventh and last day he expounds his Riddle to her and she to the companions He performes what he had promised thereupon And in anger for their fraud and her treachery he went away leaving them and her too behinde him Foxes The Lanâ— was full of them chapter XV verse 4 And besides his own art and industry by sundry meanes to take them he was not debarred the help of others and above all Gods providence eoncurring therein Hip Sampson hip and thigh verse 8 pell-mell haply with his leg and foot onely slew the Philistines with a great slaughter And afterwards slaying one thousand of them with Lehi that is the jaw-bone of an Asse upon that occasion he called the place jaw-bone or Lehi And at his prayer had a Well of water which he therefore calls En-hakkore springing in that place of Lehi to revive his spiri being near dead with thirst Rock Etam We read of a Citie of that name 1 Chron. IV. 32. Called also Ethar Josh XIX 7. in the Tribe of Simeon as it joynes to the Tribe of Dan and Judah in the North-East corner of Simeon and not very far from Zorah in the South-East corner of Dan where Sampson was borne ver 2. not meaning that Dan or that so farre distinct portion of Dan that lay in the North-bounds of the Land of Canaan Of Judah Iudah joyning to Dan verse 11 on the East-side of it Twenty years These twenty years verse 20 in the just computation of the times do fall in with the former half of Eli his fourty 1 Sam. IV. 18. Gaza See the Annotations on Amos I. chapter XVI 6. Harlot Sampsons sinne yet upon repentance pardoned and he registred among those Worthies Heb. XI 32. Took the doores His strength came up to a miracle verse 3 Before Hebron Not so farre as Hebron Of Hebron see the Observations on Gen. XXIII 2. Sorek The river or torrent of this name divides Dan verse 4 and Simeon Delilah The chief Passages of this part of the History are these That Delilah had a very great summe payed in hand for betraying of Sampson ver 5 18. whose strength yet lay not in his haire in the having of it or in the growing of it again the haire being but a ceremonial signe of it But in Gods presence with him And so his weaknesse not in the losing of his haire which here he lost unwittingly and unwillingly But in the Lords departing from him for his sinnes ver 20. The shaver might easily have cut his throat being asleep But Gods Providence was in and over all And blinde Sampson coming at last to see his sinnes and repent And being brought into the magnificent house and Idol-temple containing about three thousand persons spectators upon the roof of it verily a wondrous building is moved by an extraordinary instinct of Gods Spirit in his last act not to murder himself but to undervalue his own life so as he might therewithal as a Judge and publike person execute Gods mighty vengeance upon his own and Gods peoples enemies and oppressors ver 30. wherein many make him a Type of Christs victorious conquest over our spiritual enemies at and by his death Or at least do take an occasion to use an Allusion from the one to the other Dagon Dagon seemes to have his name from Dag verse 23 signifying a Fish in Hebrew And was portraied in the likenesse of a Fish from the middle downward and of a man from the middle upward 1 Sam. V. 4. A sea-Idol worshipped by them of Gaza and the Philistines that dwelt on the sea-coast as the Heathens did their Neptune or Triton And the Idolaters do here ascribe it to this Idol their god that he delivered Sampson into their hand and therefore offer a great sacrifice to him In his most stately Temple they fastened the head of King Saul 1 Chron. X. 10. And at Ashdod by Dagon in the house of Dagon for he had many Temples they placed the Arke of God 1 Sam. V. 2. Of this again you may see more in the Observations upon that text 1 Sam. V. 2. These five last Chapters of Iudges containe Histories of things done soone after the death of Ioshua chapter XVII and those Elders that out-lived him chapter XVIII Iudg. chapter XIX XX. XXI II. 7. soone after the Idolatry and Apostasie of the People mentioned Ch. II. 11 12 in the times if not before the times of all the Judges whose times and Histories are recorded Ch. III. and along to the XVII Chapter without any interruption And this appears by very many Passages in these five last Chapters Cursedst So Prov. chapter XVII verse 2 XXIX 24. That is didst adjure with an execration if an answer were not made in truth and fidelity Thus 1 King VIII 31. Levit. V. 1. Num. V. 21. And so it is expounded 1 Thes. V. 27. And so put to our Saviour Matth. XXVI 63. And so used 1 Sam. XIV 24. 2 Chron. XVIII 15. Neh. XIII 25. The Lord Micha's mother dedicated this silver to the Lord Jehovah verse 3 to make both a graven and a moulten Image Ch. XVIII 18. to worship Jehovah in and by them and not any false god For in this point of the Object or Thing worshipped the Idolatries of the Jewes and of the Heathens most what differed See
the roome of Joab 1 King II. 34 35. Of him see more 2 Sam. XXIII 20 21 22. This Benajah the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel is called also a chief Priest or Principal Officer 1 Chron. XXVII 5. Another Benajah a Pirathonite was one of Davids thirty Worthies 2 Sam. XXIII 30. And other Benajahs there were besides that were Priests and Levites And divers of the Captaines for the twelve moneths were of the number of Davids Worthies And among the thirty were a son of Achitophel Uriah the Hittite and the armour-bearer of Joab likewise Although my house Rather thus interrogatively verse 5 And is not my house so with God Seven years Seven years of famine here propounded to David chapter XXIV verse 13 And three years 1 Chron. XXI 12. that is three more to the three years of famine for the Gibeonites 2 Sam. XXI 1. To which three so lately past And Davids sinne of numbering the people being in the fourth year which was a Sabbatical year A new addition of other three makes up seven years of famine Yet the LXX read three in 2 Sam. XXIV 13. Of Famine see more on Lam. I. 11. and II. 11 12 19 20. and IV. 4 5 8 9 10. and V. 10. Ezek. IV. 9 16. and V. 16. I. Kings THE Books of Kings do most pursue the History of the Kings of Israel during the continuance of that Kingdome They seeme to be written after their dayes 1 King IX 13 21 and X. 12. and XII 19. 2 King II. 22. and VIII 22. and X. 27. and XIV 7. and XVI 6. and XVII 23 34 41. 1 Chron. IV. 41 and V. 26. 2 Chron. XXXVI 22 23. The first Book of Kings or III. contains an History of one hundred and eighteen years viz. of Solomon And after him Of Rehoboam Abia Asa Jehoshaphat Kings of Judah Jeroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri and Ahab Kings of Israel Acts of Solomon Rehoboam and Abijah are written in Books of Nathan the Prophet of Shemaiah the Prophet of the Prophecie of Ahijah the Shilomite of the Visions and story of Iddo the Seer and Prophet 2 Chron. IX 29. and XII 15. and XIII 22. which are lost and never were Canonical Scripture Yet those of Solomon seeme to some to be written by Nathan Ahijah and Iddo in the beginning of the first Book of Kings 2 Chron. I. 29. Adonijah The eldest sonne then living chapter I verse 5 2 Sam. III. 3 4 Chileab or Daniel 1 Chron. III. 1. being dead as Absolon was eldest when he formerly sought the Crowne begins with a Courtly traine and Life-guard as Absolon did But gets Joab and Abiathar to joyne with him in seeking to be King And that by a fairer way then Absolon did 2 Sam. XV. 1 King I. En-Rogel Or the Well of Rogel verse 9 This was nigh Jerusalem East and by South See Josh. XV. 7. 2 Sam. XVII 17. Gihon Gihon is a Mount verse 33 and a Rivolet close on the West-side of Jerusalem See 2 Chron. XXXII 30. and XXXIII 14. Hornes of the Altar And so chap. II. 28. verse 50 The Altar whereunto Adonijah and Joab fled seemes to be not any at Jerusalem but that with the Tabernacle at Gibeon 2 Chron. I. 3 6. Fourty years And so the years of his life chapter II verse 11 seventy when he dies of age For he was thirty when he began to reigne 2 Sam. V. 4. And yet Jesse was above one hundred when he begat him See on Rahab Josh. II. And we read not of any King of Judah or Israel after David that attained to his age Onely Vzziah and Manasseh came very near it I will not say thee nay Many Promises of God and Man verse 20 have their Provisoes and are to be understood conditionally as 1 Sam. II. 30. Ezek. XXXIII 13. 1 Chron. XVII 9. and chap. XXVIII 9. 2 Chron. VI. 16. Psal. CXXXII 12. 2 Chron. VII 17 22. As Gods manifold promises of Long Life and Temporal Blessings and Deliverances And many the like And so for Threatnings and Dooms Judg. X. 13. Jonah III. 4. See my Observations on that Text of Jonah Abiathar Abiathar the fourth from Eli verse 35 of the race of Ithamar the younger brother was High Priest till Solomon put Zadok in his roome being indeed the right heir of the right line of Eleazar and Phineas 1 Chron. VI. 3 c. Num. XXV 13. High places High places called so chapter III verse 2 because mostwhat on Mountains Esay LVII 7. whence named Bamah Ezek. XX. 28 29. There they built houses of the High Places Temples Chappels Altars c. and put their Idols and Images there and decked all with Tapistry and garments of divers colours They made Priests of the High places and there they sacrificed yea sometimes their children and burnt Incense 1 King XII 31 32. 2 King XVII 29 32. Ezek. XVI 16 17 18 24 25 31. Ier. XIX 5. The High places of Heathen Idolaters were alwayes abominable These High places God commands the Israelites to destroy and quite pluck down Num. XXXIII 52. While the Ark and Tabernacle were parted one from the other and both from Shiloh and removed from place to place till the building of the Temple and there fixed and setled We read of High places lawfully resorted to and used by Samuel 1 Sam. IX 12 13 14 19 25. and by others chap. X. 5 12 13. And not much unlawfully by these here 1 King III. 2 3. And Gibeon it self when the Tabernacle and Altar were there is called the Great High place 1 King III. 4. But when the Temple was since built then all other High places for Gods solemneworship and Ceremonial Services were counted abominable And in this sin the ten Tribes after the division of the Kingdomes by Ieroboam continualy abounded They made houses and Priests of High places in Mountains and in all the Cities of Samaria and their Altars were as heaps in the furrows of the fields 1 King XIII 32. Hos. XII 11. Yea and Solomon himself afore that in his later dayes fearfully offended in this kinde 1 King XI 7. 8. And Iudah it self fell into this sin even in Rehoboams reigne 1 King XIV 23. And in after-times They built High places to Baal and to the Idols of neighbouring Nations 2 Chr. XXV 14. in Tophet in the Valley of the sonne of Hinnom on Mount Olivet in Hierusalem in all the Cities of Iudah and in every street of the Cities Micah I. 5. 1 King XIV 23. Ier. VII 31. and XIX 5. and XXXII 35. Ezek. XVI 16 31. And this specialy in the reignes of Ahaz Ioram and Manasseh And in the reignes of divers good Kings of Iudah as Ioash Amatziah Vzziah Iotham it is recorded as a blemish in them That they did not take away the High places but the people sacrificed and burnt Incense in them Of good Asa it is said that he did and he did not take them away 1 King XV. 14 2 Chron. XV. 17. And so of
the Countrey five peeces of silver Or five silverings See these Observations on Exod. XXXVIII 24. said Said to the Elders chapter VII verse 1 to the Messinger and to the King Jehoram the son of Ahab ver 17. 18. a measure See my Observations on Gen XVIII 6. twilight In the evening verse 5 ver 9 12. Edom Edom revolts from Judah chapter VIII verse 20 1 King XXII 47. As Moab had done from Israel 2 King III. 5. Libna A Citie verse 22 which with the King thereof was destroyed by Joshuah Josh. X. 29. and XII 15. After fell by lot to the Tribe of Judah And given to the Priests Josh. XXI 13. 1 Chron. VI. 57. It rebelled wonder it should against Judah in the dayes of wicked Iehoram the son of good Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. XXI 10. Senacherib did warre against it in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XIX 8. Esay XXXVII 8. And there likely had his army or a great part of it slaine by the Angel of the Lord. There was another place called Libna the seventeenth Station of the Israelites mentioned Num. XXXIII 20 21. Sonne-in-law His father was so verse 27 And himself might be to that House Ramoth-Gilead A Citie of Refuge verse 28 in the Tribe of Gad given to the Merarites Deut. IV. 43. Josh. XIII 26. and chap. XXI 38. This was taken by the King of Syria And Ahab with the joynt forces of Jehoshaphat seeking to recover it yet failed of his purpose and was there slaine by Benhadad whose life he had unjustly spared 1 King XX. 30 42. and XXII 3 35. And Jehoram the sonne of Ahab with the joynt forces of Ahaziah King of Judah actualy recovered it from Hazael King of Syria But was wounded there And Jehu being left there as a Captaine under Jehoram to keep it was anointed there by command and direction of the Prophet Elisha to be King of Israel who thereupon soone slew both Jehoram and Ahaziah 2 King VIII 28 29. and chap. IX his sonnes chapter IX verse 26 Naboths sons slaine with him a draught-house Here the Masorets put a more cleanly word chapter X verse 27 in their Keri in the margin to be read then is the Cetib written in the Text as if they would prompt to the Holy Ghost a more manerly speech And so Deut. XXVIII 30. Jer. III. 2. Lesse marvaile then if they deale so with the words of Rabshakeh Esay XXXVI 12. And in Zechary speaking of Jerusalems destruction and womens usage by soldiers grosse to speak the Text telleth the terme to be seene the margin what they would have read And in Jer. XXXI 38. they leave a blanck in the Text with the vowel points underneath and place the head letters in the margin of a word which they suppose to be wanting Some various Readings seeme to be in the Hebrew Text. See the learned Annotations on Jer. IX 8. and on chap. XVII 13. And some learned seeme to grant some superfluous insertions as Jer. LI. 3 in the word bending and Jer. LII 19. in the word Cauldrons See the Annotations on those places Yet some other learned men assert the sacred Text to be absolutely entire and perfect without the least default or defect without altering a syllable letter or situation of a letter holding the margin-reading to be given with equal authority as the other which is in the Text and serving to expound it And the vowels and accents to have been ab origine in the Text and so of equal authority with it Insisting upon the Jews care for preservation of the Text in numbering the letters in every Book and naming the middle letter in it and the middle letter in the Law or Books of Moses And this done not only by the Masorets that lived five hundred years or more after Christ but also by those ancient Masorets that are called the men of the Great Synagogue and succeeded next to the last Prophets of the Old Testament of whom the Jewes make Ezra to be one And that in his time the whole number of the letters were reckoned in all the Law to be 600045. in the Prophets 815280. See more in my Observations on Eccles. IX 4. and on Ier. XXXII 12. Iehoiadah This Iehoiadah was a Priest and prime man chapter XI verse 4 2 Chron. XXIII 1 11 16 18 19 20. and chap. XXIV 6. seemes not to be the High Priest for he is no where so called in Scripture except he be understood in that place 2 Chron. XXIV 11. where yet he is not called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither is there any of his name in that Catalogue of the High Priests 1 Chron. III. 6 15. And yet this Priest Iehoiada marries King Iehorams daughter and King Ahaziah's sister 2 Chron. XXII 11. And gives wives to King Ioash 2 Chron. XXIV 3. And was buried among the Kings ver 16. Elisha or Elizeus prophesied in the reignes of six Kings of Israel chapter XIII verse 14 viz. Ahab Ahaziah Iehoram Iehu Iehoahaz and Ioash 1 King XIX 16 19. 2 King XIII ver 14. with Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. chapter XIV XV. verse 1 13. Azariah Called also Uzziah verse 19 and Ozias Matth. I 8 9. reigned in the times of six Kings of Israel viz. Ieroboam the second Zachariah Shallum Menahem Pekahiah Pekah 2 King XV. 1. 27 In which time the Kingdome of Israel was changed into four several stocks or families Pul Pul or Phul verse 19 1 Chron. V. 26. This Catalogue of the Assyrian Monarchs we finde in Scripture viz. Passing by Nimrod and Ashur in the ancientest times Gen. X. We meet with this Pul in the dayes of Menahem King of Israel Tiglath-Peleser or Tilgath-Pilneser in the dayes of Pekah King of Israel and of Ahaz King of Judah who carried away captives the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manasseh into Assyria 1 Chron. V. 26. And both helped and afflicted Ahaz 2 King 16. with Shalmanesar or Shalman Hos. X. 14. or Enemessar Tobit I. 2. 15. in the dayes of Hoshea King of Israel who subdued Hoshea beseiged and took Samaria carried Israel captive into Assyria and extirpated that Kingdome of Israel 2 King XVII 4 5 6. and XVIII 9 10. with Sargon mentioned Esay XX. 1. If he be not the same with Sennacherib with Sennacherib in the dayes of Hezekiah 2 King XVIII 13. whose hoast was slaine by the Angel of the Lord and himself by his owne sons 2 King 19. with Esarhaddon or Esar-Haddon who seemes to be called Asnapper Ezra IV. 10. and Sarchedonus Tobit 1. 21. with Another King of Assyria not named but living in the dayes of Iosiah in whose behalf Iosiah fighting against Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt at Megiddo was slaine there 2 King XXIII See this same with some little variations in my Observations on 1 Chron. V. 26. Kir This is Cyrene chapter XVI verse 9 mentioned Acts II. 10. Of this see the Annotations on Amos I. 5. and IX 7. If rather
XVIII 9 10. or Enemessar Tobit l. 2 15. Sennacharib who came against Hezekiah 2 King XVIII 13. Esarhaddon or Asnapper Esay XXXVII 38. 2 King XIX 37. Ezra IV. 2 10. called also Sarchedonus Tobit I. 22. And another King of Assyria against whom Pharaoh-Necho King of Egypt fights at Carchemish by Euphrates in the last year of King Josiah 2 King XXIII 29. 2 Chron. XXXV But many leave out Iareb as no proper name of a King and make Sargon to be the same with Senna harib And some place Iareb before Pul and Sargon after Shalmanesar And no doubt there were many Kings of Assyria it being the first Monarchy before Pul though their names be not in Scripture Though the Assyrians take the name from Ashur the sonne of Shem Gen. X. 22. 1 Chron. I. 17. yet the Kingdome seemes to be raised among them by the posterity of Cush the sonne of Cham Gen. X. 6 11. a Singer Heman chapter VI verse 33 of Kohath stood in the middest Asaph of Gershom on the right hand Ethan of Merari on the left ver 38 39 44 47. See more of the Singers 1 Chron. XV. ver 16 22. All their Cities The Kohathites had twenty three Cities verse 60 63. The Gershonites thirteen The Merarites twelve In all fourty eight Cities reckoned Issachar a numerous Tribe chapter VII Ephraim The line from Ephraim to Ioshuah verse 5 is Num. verse 20 I. 10. and chap. XXVI 35 1 Chron. VII 20 26 27. Shephuphan verse 5 and Huram chapter VIII verse 33 Either of these had three names Ner Ner had Kish the father of Saul and another sonne Ner the father of Abner 1 Sam. XIV 50 51. genealogies This Chapter chapter IX verse 1 and chap. III. 19 24. are some parcels of the last passages for History of the Old Testament See more on Neh. XII 10 11. David and Samuel David and Samuel the Seer though he died in the time of Sauls reigne ordained and ordered the Priests verse 22 and Levites Singers and Porters in their set Offices and Courses See ver 10 14 22 and Chapters XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him 1 Chron. XXIV 19. by the Spirit and by God and Nathan 1 Chron. XXVIII 12 19. 2 Chron. XXIX 25. and VIII 14. and XXXV 4 15. And Solomon did according to him 2 Chron. XXXV 4. Neh. XII 45. day and night verse 33 verse 9 The Singers imployed in that work day and night tydings unto their Idols Idolaters ascribe their Victories chapter X and prosperous successes to their Idols so Iudg. XVI 23 24. 1 King XX. 23. 2 Chron. XXVIII 23. Hab. I. 11. They bring their Idols to their Camps 1 Chron. XIV 12. As the Israelits the Ark 1 Sam. IV. 3. castle of Zion David took the Castle chapter XI verse 5 or strong hold of Zion dwelt in it built round about it called it the Citie of David And Ioab repaired the rest of the Citie 2 Sam. V. 9. came to David There came to David to Ziklag a great hoast chapter XII verse 1 like the hoast of God And to Hebron to make him King over all Israel 340822. And among them very many Priests and Levites ver 26 27 28. besides others intimated ver 32. Jehoiada verse 27 the Leader of the 3700. Aaronites that came to David to Hebron to make him King over all Israel 1 Chron. XII 27. Jehoiada a chief Priest 2 Chron. XXIV 6. married Iehoshabeath or Iehosheba the daughter of King Iehoram and sister of King Ahaziah 2 King XI 2 3. 2 Chron. XXII 11. He caused usurping and murthering Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Iezebel and wife of King Iehoram and mother of King Ahaziah 2 Chron. XXI 6. and XXII 1 2. to be murtheredher self 2 King XI 16. And caused Ioash grand-childe of Athaliah and his wives nephew and sonne and heir of Ahaziah to be crowned King when he was seven years old 2 King XI 11 12 21. 2 Chron XXIII 11. Of whom see more on 2 King XI 4. Iehoiada the sonne of Benaiah Davids Counseller next to Ahitophel 1 Chron. XXVII 34. bring again the Ark David so soone as ever he was setled upon his throne over all Israel chapter XIII verse 3 taketh the strong Fort of Zion from the Jebusites brings the Ark of God with all solemnity yet not after the due maner from Kiriath-jearim and the house of Abinadab And upon the death of Uzza by the way at the threshing floore of Nachon or Chidon he carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained three moneths 1 Chron. XIII Hiram sends to David messingers workmen and materials to build him an house in Zion And David takes more wives at Jerusalem and obtaines two victories against the Philistines chap. XIV And with great solemnity in the due maner he brings the Ark from Obed-Edoms house and sets it in the middest of the Tabernacle or Tent which he had prepared for it in the Citie of David in Zion chap. XV. where he offers Sacrifices Orders a Quire gives them a Psalme of Thanksgiving and appoints Ministers Porters Priests and Musicians to attend on the Ark continualy ch XVI In 2 Sam. V. David takes the strong Fort of Zion builds dwels in it hath messingers sent to him from Hiram King of Tyre with materials workmen for his building growes great takes moe wives and concubines at Jerusalem gets two victories over the Philistines in two set battels chap. V. And he brings up the Ark from Kiriath-Jearim and carries it aside into the house of Obed-Edom and after three moneths he brings it thence into the Citie of David with great solemnity and joy 2 Sam. VI Now whether the things contained in 1 Chr. XIV and 2 Sam. V. after the taking of Zion did intervene in that three moneths space while the Ark was in the house of Obed-Edom or were acted before the Ark was removed from Kiriath-Jearim is a matter of conjectural probabilities on either side yet I rather incline to the later opinion from Shihor of Egypt This Shihor chapter XIII verse 5 or Shichor or Sihor hath a notion of blacknesse in it And is not that rill or drill of water called by forraine writers Rhinocolura but is much rather the same with Nilus otherwise not once named in Scripture anciently by the Ethiopians called Siris by the Greeks Melas by the Latines Melo from the blacknesse of the water or rather of the mud and slime that it brings downe with it or the black colour of the grounds and soils it passeth through It is called by way of excellencie the River Esay XXIII 3. Ezek. XXIX 3 9. and the river or flood of Egypt Amos VIII 8. and chap. IX 5. This River rising in the South from unknown heads runs in one intire streame Northward to the Head Delta in Egypt where it divideth it self into two maine Channels and afterwards brancheth into seven several streames Esay XI 15. Emptying themselves
long before Davids death and his instructing and encouraging of Solomon to the building of the Temple and the making of him King and upward To fifty years verse 3 Num. IV. 3. After fifty they were freed from the service in the Temple and kept in their several Cities in their several Tribes to teach the people and to instruct and judge in matters brought before them as having best insight in the Judicial Lawes and the whole word of God David divided Chap. verse 6 XXV 1 As a Prophet and by the commandment of the Lord by Gad the Kings Seer and Nathan the Prophet 2 Chron. XXIX 25. And these Divisions and Courses his son Solomon punctually retaines 2 Chron. VIII 14. And Jehoiada 2 Chr. XXIII 18. and Josiah 2 Chron. XXXV 4. And so after the Return from the Babylonish Captivity Ezra III. 10. And so by Gods Spirit David had all the Patterns of the Temple which in writings he delivered to his sonne Solomon 1 Chron. XXVIII 12 19. 2 Chron. III. 3. of twenty years Num. verse 24 VIII 24. from twenty five years old they begin to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle Here David by new warrant enters them into the work for the Service of the Temple at twenty years of age likely more now being needful for this Service ver 27. 2 Chron. XXXI 17. yet they come not to the full possession and fruition of their Place and Office till thirty years of age 1 Chron. XXIII 3. Num. IV 3 4 7. And to offer At all offerings to fit and prepare the Sacrifices to the hands of the Priests verse 31 who were to offer them on the Altar The eighth to Abijah Zacharias the father of John Baptist was of this Course chapter XXIV verse 10 Luke I. 5. according to their maner To come on a Sabbath day verse 19 and to continue their services there in the Temple for that whole week Ch. IX 25. 2 King XI 5 6. over against their brethren That the first Course of Levites might attend on the first Course of the Priests verse 31 And so of the rest with Harps Much Musick used in Gods Service chapter XXV verse 1 8 See 1 Chron. IX 33. and XVI 4 5 6 41 42. 2 Chron. V. 12 13. and VII 6. and ch XXIX 30. Psal. LXVIII 24 25. and LXXXI 1 2 3. And so in the Tabernacle Num. X. 10. and XXIX 1. In bringing up the Arke 1 Chron. XIII 8. and chap. XV. 16 24. In going up to Gods House and coming from it 1 Sam. X. 3 5. Esay XXX 29. This musick was by skilful voice and by various Instruments both wind-instruments and hand-instruments And these both stringed and touched with fingers or struck over with quill or bow or else shaken or beaten with hand or stick Prophesie See the Observations on 1 Sam. verse 1 XVIII 10. and on Zeph. III. 4. Of Asaph See 1 Chron. verse 2 VI. 39. and chap. XV. 17 19. and XVI 5 7. And see the Annotations on 1 Chron. XXV 1 2 6 9. And see the Titles of sundry Psalmes Of Heman See the Annotations on 1 Chron VI. verse 4 33. See likewise 1 Chron. XV. 17. and chap. XVI 41. 2 Chron. V. 12. and XXIX 14. and Chap. XXXV 15. Jeduthun See 1 Chron. verse 6 XVI 41 42. 2 Chron. VI. 12. and chap. XXIX 14. and XXXV 15. And the Titles of Psal. XXXIX 62 77. The four and twentieth As many Courses and Companies of Musitians or Singers verse 31 as there were of Priests chap. XXIV 18. and of Levites attending on the Priests chap. XXIV 31. These as the others in their Weeks and courses attended Porters Of their Office chapter XXVI verse 1 see 2 Chron. XXIII 19. and the Annotations on this text Their number 1 Chron. XXIII 5. Korhites Descended from that Korah Num. XVI 1. great grand-childe of Levi From which Korah descended likewise Elkanah and Samuel the Prophet and Heman the singer 1 Chron. VI. 27. 33 37 38. 1 Sam. I. 1. treasures Many sorts of Treasures verse 20 and many Treasurers in Gods Temple ver 20 26. See the Annotations on this text All that Samuel Samuel verse 28 and Saul and Abner and Joab did dedicate part of the spoiles won in battells to maintaine the House of the Lord. Izbarites And Hebronites verse 29 ver 30 31 32. being Levites 1 Chr. XXIII 12. Num. III. 27. 1 Chron. XXIV 20 24. were imploied also for the outward businesse over Israel for Officers and Judges on this side Jordan Westward in all businesse of the Lord and in the service of the King And some of them made Rulers over the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and affairs of the King moneth by moneth David had twelve Captains for the twelve moneths chapter XXVII verse 1 each with their Companies in their several moneths and courses attending the King And Solomon had the like after him 1 King IV. Each Captain in Davids time had twenty four thousand under him which in all arise to 288000. Davids 〈…〉 and Husbandry a chief Priest The word so most usually signifieth 〈…〉 times it signifieth also a Prince verse 5 or Temporal Ruler And 〈◊〉 VIII 18. and XX. 26. and 1 King IV. 5. and 2 King X 11. And 〈◊〉 And the fathers-in-Law of Joseph Gen. XLI 45 and of Moses Exod. III. 1. were Princes for they would not marry the daughters of idolatrous Priests The word came thus to be used in both sense because the same persons at first were both Priests and Rulers as the firtst-borne before the Law Moses Psal. XCIX 6. and Eli. and Samuel under the Law And among the Heathen famous is that of Anius Rex idem Hominum chapter I Phoebique Sacerdos over the Tribes These are Commanders in Peace verse 16. 22. Princes or Rulers of the tribes where thirteen are named Or whom one is named of the Levites And another of the Aaronites One of the halfe tribe of Manasseh And another of the other halfe And Gad and Asher are left out stood up Being now well-nigh bedrid chapter XXVIII immediately before or immediately after Adonijah his conspiracie verse 2. II. Candlesticks of silver For the use of the Courts verse 15 Chambers c. yet young and tender Of Solomons age chapter XXIX verse 1 see the Observation on 1 King III. 7. three thousand See the observations on chap. verse 4 XXII 14. Thine Like the doxology of the Lords Prayer verse 11 Keep this Davids remarkable Prayer verse 18 the second time and anointed him The rather because the first anointing was in a time of tumult verse 22 when Adonia the next brother to Absalom sought to reigne 1 King I. 39. But whether the later Anointing was before or after Davids death It is not clear But sure it is that David himself was thrice anointed once at Bethlehem by Samuel and twice at Hebron 1 Sam. XVI 13. 2. Sam. II. 4. 1 Chron. XI
and oppressed chap. V. 11 12 13. And his heat and wrath against sinne chap. XIII 25. And his wonderful bounty chap. V. 14 15 17 18. are all very remarkable a time Twelve years verse 6 chap. V. 14. and XIII 6. Sanballat As the Samaritanes opposed and hindered Zerubbabâ—l in the Building of the Temple Ezra IV. So the Moabite Ammonite and Arabian disturbed Nehemiah in the building of the walls of the Citie Neh. II 10 19. and IV. 1 c. and VI. 1 c. Which were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m is used in the end of a word which never useth so to be And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 m proper to the end of a word is found in the middle in the beginning of Esay IX 7. Eliashib Eliashib the son of Jojakim chapter III grandchild of Jeshua which Jeshua came up with Zerubbabel Neh XII 10. Ezra II. 2. and lived to finish the Building of the Temple Hag. I. 14. was High Priest in the Beginning of Nehemiah's twelve years Government in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus Neh. III. 1. 20. as was said before about sixty years after the Temple was finished gate For the Gates of the Citie of Jerusalem we read of the Citie-gate 2 Chron. XXXII 6. the first Gate Zech. XIV 10. the Gate of Benjamin Jer. XXXVII 12 13. and XXXVIII 7. Zech. XIV 10. situate in the wall of the Citie in the Tribe of Benjamin Northward Yet said to be in the House of the Lord Jer. XX. 2. that is by it as the particle Beth is used Num. XXXIII 37. Josh. V. 13. and chap. XXIV ver 25 26 32. Jer. XIII 5. and XXXII 7. the Gate of Ephraim 2 Kings XIV 13. Neh. XII 39. the Corner Gate 2 Chron. XXV 23. and the Valley Gate 2 Chron. XXVI 9. the Fish Gate 2 Chron. XXXIII 14. The New Gate Jer. XXVI 10. because repaired new by Jotham 2 Kings XV. 35. 2 Chron. XXVII 3. Yet some make it the East Gate some the West Gate of the outer Court of the Temple wherein they will have the Sanhedrin to sit The Gate between two walls by the Kings Garden if this be a Gate of the Citie 2 Kings XXV 4. In Nehemiah's time at his new building of the Walls of the Citie we read of the Sheep Gate of the Fish Gate the Old Gate the East Gate Jer. XIX 2. the Valley Gate the Dung-Gate the Gate of the Fountain the Water Gate the Horse Gate the Gate Miphkad or Judicatory the Gate of Ephraim the Prison Gate Neh. II. 13 14. and chap. III. 1 3 6 13 14 15 26 28 31. and chap. XII 39. Zech. XIV 10. Besides Towers upon the Walls of both Cities the Tower of Meah the Tower of Hananeel Neh. XII 39. Zech. XIV 10. on the East side of the Citie between the Tower of Meah and the corner gate Neh. III. 1. the Tower of the Furnaces Neh. III. 1 11. and Ch. XII 38 39. and others And Valleys about it as Jer. XXXI 40. the Valley of the dead bodies under Mount Golgotha West-North-West of the Citie and the Valley of Ashes likely that came from the Altar of Burnt-Offerings the Valley of Jehoshaphat on the East and the Valley of the sons of Hinnom also the Valley of Savey or the Kings Vale or Dale on the South and the Valley of Rephaim or Gyants on the South-West And Fields mentioned about it the Fullers field on the South Esay VII 1. and the Porters field or Acheldama on the South-East Jer. XVIII 2. and XIX 2. and XXXI 40. Matth. XXVII 7. And Hills about Jerusalem were Mount Olivet on the East Mount Calverie or Golgotha on the West-North-west Mount Gihon West Mount Gareb North Ier. XXXI 39. The Brook Kidron did runne on the East-side of Jerusalem And the Fountain of Siloam or waters of Gihon on the West Pooles two of note were near Jerusalem Neh. III. 15 16. The upper Poole of Siloah called also the old Poole and Kings Poole on the South 2 Kings XVIII 17. Esay VII 2. and XXXVI 2. or South-West corner receiving its water from the river Gihon And the Lower of which Esay XXII 9. 2 Chron. XXXII 30. which was made long after Neh. III. 16. on the West and drew water from the upper sanctified it This sanctification of this Sheep-gate built by the High Priest and his brethren is deemed by some to be extraordinarily ratified and graced with that miraculous gift of healing from this time vouchsafed to the Poole of Bethesda close by this Gate of which mention is made John V. 2. cover not their iniquity See the Observations on Psal. chapter IV verse 5 CIX and the Annotations on this text of Nehemie unto the half Of the height of the Wall verse 6 a great cry Of Oppressions in three sorts chapter V set down in the three vers following Their needs and wants which made them liable to these oppressions being the more occasioned by their labours so much imploied in the publick work of the Walls usury Ver. 10. Of this see the inhibitions verse 7 Exod. XXII 25. Lev. XXV 36 37. Deut 23. 19 20. Ezek. XVIII 8. 13 17. And Gods judgements against it Prov. XXVIII 8. Ezek. XXII 12 13. Psal. XV. V. Yet the word is used sometimes in a larger sense and lawfull way as Matth. XXV 27. Luke XIX 23. And so Esay XXIV 2. Jer. XV. 10. And to a stranger the Jewes might lend upon usury Deut. XXIII 20. even this day Without delay verse 11 as Gen. XVII 23. hundreth part Which seemes to be that which they received for use and interest likely the hundreth part by the moneth of what they lent require nothing Here is more then was asked verse 12 or rather nothing more then what thou askest an oath See the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. Shook my lap See such like Rites used Luke IX 5. Acts XIII 51. and XVIII 6. 1 Kings IV. 29 30. verse 13 fourty Shekels Five pounds haply each day verse 15 taken and gathered from among them all daily Yet Solomons exceeded farre verse 18 1 Kings IV. 22 23. Ono A Valley chapter VI and a Citie in Benjamin chap. XI 35. 1 Chron. VIII 12. not farre from Jerusalem the fifth time Thinking to prevaile by impudent importunity verse 5 their King A charge of high treason verse 6 So Ezra IV. 12 13. John XIX 12. Shemajah His vile hypocrisie verse 10 false prophesie corruption by bribery so attempting strongly to hinder or destroy Nehemiah and his godly proceedings Elul About our August verse 15 in fifty and two dayes Wondrous speed See the Annotations This was in the twentieth or one and twentieth year of Artaxerxes and first year of Nehemiah's Government Nobles of Judah Guilty likely some way in the matter of marrying strange wives verse 17 ver 18. These are the children See the Observations on Ezra chapter VII verse 6 II. 2 60. And some These Contributions differ
dead before Nehemiah came as Governour into Judea verse 26 yea or Ezra with his Commission Dedication of the wall The former Genealogies and Records of the Priests and Levites seeme to be insisted upon verse 27 the rather because they had so prime an hand in the Dedication of the wall And therefore they are here so carefully gathered and brought together 27 28 29. And this seemes to be also in the first year of Nehemiah's Government purified See the Annotations verse 30 I brought up The maner of the Dedication of the wall was thus The wall was thick and broad verse 31 that divers went a breast on it Nehemiah appointed two great companies consisting of Priests Levites Princes and People They entred upon the wall about the middle of the West wall near the Dung-gate And there the two companies parted And each went as in Procession in this Order The one company had Ezra the Priest and Scribe before them And other Priests after him founding their Trumpets After them the Levites playing on sacred musical instruments and singers of them that sang with a loud voice All sounding forth Gods praise and their own thankfulnesse and joy ver 31 42. After them the Princes and Rulers After them the People And last of all some great Prince likely next in degree to Nehemiah And this company thus went on the right hand South-ward by the Fountain Gate and about the Citie of David and all along the South-wall even unto the Water-gate on the East The other company went in like equipage and Nehemiah himself the last of them And they made their Procession on the left hand North-wards from beyond the Tower of the Furnaces even unto the Broad wall And all along the North-side from above the Gate of Ephraim and above the Old-gate and above the Fish-gate and the Tower of Hananeel and the Tower of Meah even unto the Sheep-gate on the East And they stood still in the Prison-gate The two companies somewhat beyond this Gate met together that they might in order descend from this East-wall to go into the House of God And likely it was from the Water-gate on the East-wall For the street it opened upon was one of the eminentest and of greatest receipt in the Citie deemed to be that of Millo which lay between the Temple on Mount Morea and the Pallace on Mount Zion by which the King and Courtiers did usualy passe to and fro Neh. III. 26. and VIII 3 16. 2 Chron. XXIX 3 4. and XXXII 6. Ezra Some other Ezra verse 33 Ezra the Scribe That famous Ezra verse 36 Gate Of the Gates and Towers in this Procession mentioned verse 39 see the Observations on chap. III. 1. great sacrifices As in like cases of joy and thankfulnesse verse 43 So 1 Chr. XXIX 21. 1 Kings VIII 62 63. for the treasures 1 Chron. verse 44 IX 26. And so in Hezekiah's time 2 Chr. XXXI 4 5 11. See again Neh. XIII 12 13. And the Levites sanctified them unto The Levites paid to the Priests the tythes of all their tythes verse 47 Num. XVIII 26 30. On that day chapter XIII verse 1 Doubtful it is to what particular time this relates Yet most likely to that Interim of time which passed in the absence of Nehemiah between the end of the first and beginning of his second Government written Deut. XXIII 3. See the Observations on that text they met not As Melchizedek did verse 2 Gen. XIV 17. separated See that Ezra chap. verse 3 IX and X. and Neh. IX 2. and ch X. 30. and chap. XIII 23 30. So difficult was this point of the Reformation and so ready they to relapse into this sinne a great chamber Pulling down the Partitions verse 5 to make two or three into one I cast forth And so ver 9. verse 8 brought I again By my command and authority not in my person had not been given This verse 10 and other matters imply the Interim of Nehemiah's absence to have been more then a year Sabbath See the Annotations on Jer. verse 15 XVII 21 22 24 27. dark The sooner because of the hills about Jerusalem verse 19 and the Sabbath was to be kept from Even to Even some of my servants That the Merchants might not thrust in amongst those that came to the Service in the Temple the Gates The Gates of the Temple verse 22 by keeping out persons legaly unclean from the house and ordinances of God swear And so they had sworn before verse 25 chap. X. 29 30. sons of Jojada His grandchilde verse 28 called Menasche and brother of Jaddua the High Priest as Josephus writeth Antiq. lib. 11. c. 7. I chased him from me This argues this Nehemiah not to be that man mentioned Ezra II. 2. that came up with Zerubbabel and yet to live to a very great age whether he were the Penman of this Book or else this clause inserted by some other Prophet See the Observations on the beginning of this Book Remember me So likewise verse 31 ver 14. and 22. and chap. V. 19. He pleads not here any merit of his own but all he pleads is for Gods mercie sake all goodnesse in him still proceeding from Gods meere grace He doth chear up himself in this in the sincerity and integrity of his heart and the effects thereof as fruits and sound proofs of the truth of Gods graces in him whereupon he further with comfort expects more meere mercie to come from the Lord. Esther THE Book of Esther contains an History of nine years expressed in the reigne of Ahasuerus viz. the third of Ahasuerus chap. I. 3. the seventh chap. II. 16. and the twelfth chap. III. 7. In which twelfth year are mentioned the first moneth chap. III. 7 12. the third moneth chap. VIII ver 9. and the twelfth moneth chap. III. 7. 13. and chap. VIII 12. and chap. IX 1 13 14 15 17 21. And some more years in his reigne afterwards are noted indefinitely chap. X. In this Book only of all the Scripture there is no mention made of God nor his Name once used The Book of Canticles speaking much of Christ the Bridegroom Ahasuerus Heb. chapter I verse 1 Ahasuerosh It is doubted which of the Persian Monarchs this was The LXX still name him in their Translation Artaxerxes Others take him to be Xerxes Others fix their several fancies upon sundry others of the Persian Monarchs But the greatest probability is for Darius Hystaspis who first extended the bounds of that Empire so farre and wide and over so many Provinces and married Atossa the daughter of Cyrus called Vasthi ver 9 who was the third King of Persia omitting Darius the Mede before Cyrus and the Magus Smerdis not worthy the reckoning and was next before Xerxes that fourth and rich King Dan. XI 2. See the Observations on Esther II. 5. This Ahasuerus in his third year makes that Imperial Feast of one hundred eighty seven dayes And therein that good Law for drinking
1 King X. 11. He arken Matth. XVII 5. Rom. X. 17. verse 10 O daughter John I. 13. Apoc. XXI 9 10. forget also Luke IX 23. and XIV 26. Matth. X. 37. As Abraham did Gen. XII 1. and Ruth chap. I. 16 17. So shall Upon these termes verse 11 more and more greatly desire This true in Solomon But Christ loves his Spouse first 1 John IV. 10. Loves her in her blood Ezek. XVI 6. thy Lord 1 Pet. III. 6. Judg. XIX 26. And that no common or vulgar person In the highest degree is Christ so to his Spouse the Church even her Lord and God Worship thou him Pharaohs daughter was with civil worship to do it to Solomon with civil reverent incurvation and adoration The Church to Christ with religious worship of Tyre Of this Citie verse 12 see the Annotations on Amos I. 9. This rich Merchant-Citie the prime Mart for traffick should bring to Solomons Spouse gifts and nuptial presents And much more Tyre and all Heathen Nations should bring themselves and their Gifts with all offices of submission and subjection to the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 23. and LXVI 12. Psal. LXXXVII 4. the rich Esay LX. 3 10 11 16. glorious within 1 Pet. II. 4 5. verse 13 Not Helen without and Hecuba within This true in Solomons Spouse partly But in Christs Spouse true altogether by her bridegroomes donation and operation Ephes. V. 27. brought With pompe verse 14 joy and jubilation of needle-work As formerly costly for matter so here curious for Art and work As the like Exod. XXVIII 6 8 15 39. with gladnesse As is fit in marriage solemnities verse 15 they be brought The Spouse first the Virgins and brides maids following and waiting on her Cant. IV. 8. Apoc. XIX 7 8 9. 2 Cor. XI 2. palace As the wise Virgins Matt. XXV 10. thy children We read not that Pharaoh's daughter had any child by Solomon verse 16 But this is abundantly verified in the Church the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 18 21. and LIV. 1 2 3. Heb. II. 13. I will Saith the Psalmist by himself verse 17 and by informing others so to do thy Name The name of the Bridegroome therefore By my example as well as for all the reasons foregoing in this Psalme praise thee Christ the Bridegroome for ever and ever whereas Solomon by his foul fall worthily merited and inherited shame and dispraise present help Deliverer chapter XLVI verse 1 or Assistant will not we fear Though a natural fear as Prov. XIV 16. and XXII 3. verse 2 Matth. VIII 26. yet not a godlesse and faithlesse fear Here faith triumphs over such a fear though the earth Hyperbolical expressions usualy intimating the fearful alterations of States and Polities or the most dreadful dangers a river Alluding to that of Kidron Gihon verse 4 and Shiloah intending chiefly that Ezek. XLVII 1. Joel III. 18. Apoc. XXII 1. Or the meaning of this seemes best expounded in the next verse and in the two verses following He maketh Esay XLV 7. Amos III. 6. Psal. LXXVI 3. verse 9 Exalted Esay XXXIII 9 10. and XXX 15. verse 10 O clap A signe of joyful acclamation used at the coronation of Kings 2 Kings XI chapter XLVII verse 1 12. and upon other joyous occasions Ezek. XXV 6. See Psal. XCVIII 8. Esay LV. 12. Psal. LXVI 1. The Psalmist exhorteth all people to sing Praises unto God ver 1. 7. A thing usual in the Psalmes For the Lord Reasons from Gods nature and properties verse 2 appliable also to Christ terrible to the wicked his enemies and a great King above all earthly Kings Mal. I. 14. Matt. XXVIII 18. He shall subdue The Jewes enemies verse 3 And he had done so the Canaanites and others And he will do so the Churches enemies Christ will call the Nations and bring them into subjection under him and his Church Ezek. XX. 37. He shall choose He did choose Canaan for his people Israel Psal. LXXVIII 55. verse 4 And will choose and prepare that heavenly Canaan that inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. I. 4. for all that beleeve and hope in him for us The Jewes seeming here to include the Gentiles as called by Christ into the same communion of the Covenant for grace and glory John X. 16. Eph. II. 14. the excellencie of Jacob High and glorious excellencie whereby Jacobs posterity excelled Ezek. XXIV 21. Amos VI. 8. and VIII 7. Nahum II. 2. viz. the Temple Priesthood c. all those most excellent and precious promises and blessings made in Christ unto Iacob and his posterity God is gone up When the Ark was carried from Kiriathjearim to the house of Obed Edom verse 5 thence to the Citie of David thence by Solomon into the Oracle 1 Chron. XIII 8. and XV. 28. and 2 Chron. V. 13. Spiritualy and mysticaly when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven See Eph. IV. 8. Col. II. 15. the King of all the earth The universal Kingdome of God and of Christ. verse 7 So again verse 8. Differing from earthly Kings with understanding 1 Cor. XIV 15. The word Maschil is here used for Psalme which is the Title of sundry Psalmes signifying an instructing Psalme Thereby to instruct your selves and others of the Kingdome of God and Christ and of your duty of throne of his holinesse Psal. IX 4. Apoc. IV. 2. The Princes The voluntary verse 8 bounteous Princes and people subject themselves to this King of the God of Abraham His spiritual seed Luke III. 8. verse 9 John VIII 33. c. Rom. IV. 16 17. Sheilds He is the great Shield Gen. XV. 1. Psal. V. 12. and XVIII 35. the great conqueror and protector of all And Magistrates Sheilds under him Hos. IV. 18. Psal. LXXXIX 18. greatly exalted Psal. XCVII 9. A Song and Psalme chapter XLVIII Wherein both voice and instrument were used the voice began and the instrument after And where the Inscription is a Psalme and Song there likely the instrument began and the voice followed Of the former sort are as this Psalme to Psal. LXVI LXXXIII CVIII Of the later are Psal. LXVII LXVIII LXXV LXXXVII and XCII whole earth Or Land of Judea verse 2 As Exod. X. 15. and most likely Matth. XXVII 45. the sides of the North The Temple on Mount Moriah and the City of Jerusalem joyned North to Mount Sion Moriah is the North part of Sion So Esay XIV 13. the Kings were assembled The Philistian Princes 2 Sam. V. or those verse 4 in the dayes of Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. XX. or of Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII Upon some of which occasions this Psalme seemes to be composed and inspired Psal. XLVI 6. marvailed and were troubled At Sions beauty verse 5 and at her strength and their own overthrow Thou breakest As in a Shipwrack verse 6 so thou didst break them As 2 Sam. V. 20. Tarshish See the Observations on 1 Kings X. 22. East wind See Ezek. XVII 10. and XIX 12. Hos. XII 1. and Ch. XIII 15. Jonah
and was made a Sacrifice for sinne for us 2 Cor. V. 21. Esay LIII 6. Yet this may have a right understanding of Christs spiritual children who are subject to the lapses and infirmities of sinne 1 John I. 8. Rom. VII 15. sworne Of Oaths verse 35 see the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. as the Moone Which although it sometime waxeth verse 37 and sometime waineth and sometime seemes to be gone a fit resemblance of the state of Christs Church yet is continualy renewed and so stable Witnesse See Jer. XXXIII 20 21. And Christ is so called Apoc. I. 5. Esay LV. 4. But thou The Psalmist complaineth of the miseries of the Church verse 38 whereby all the former Promises seeme to be frustrated youth hast thou shortned Wherein by thy promises he should have flourished verse 45 and grown up as a youth how short How vaine verse 47 momentanie and uncertaine yet am I thy creature the footsteps of thine Anointed verse 51 This may be referred to Christ and his Offices and Works in us and for us or to Christians which follow his footsteps Blessed The voice of faith verse 52 and joy as finding an issue out of the temptation and rejoycing in the midst of tribulation This is the end of the third Book of Psalmes See the Observations on Psal. XLI ult and on LXXII ult of Moses This seemes inspired and penned by Moses for the use of the people chapter XC when upon the returne of the Spies they had murmured against God and he had sentenced to death all above twenty years old Num. XIV 22 23 29 34. Returne The body to the earth verse 3 the soul to God that gave it watch The night divided into four Watches verse 4 the evening midnight cock-crowing dawning threescore years and ten So for the most part verse 10 And so in David And none of the Kings of Judah or Israel after him attained to those years Or seventy here in regard of that judgement denounced Num. XIV 29. even according to thy fear verse 11 so is thy wrath Thy wrath is as thy feare teacheth it to be which teacheth us to fear thee for thy wrath But who knoweth the power of it to number They might number the utmost extent of them verse 12 upon that judgement Num. XIV But not how much sooner they might die establish Esay XXVI 12. verse 17 he shall deliver thee Having practised in the second verse what he taught in the first chapter XCI verse 3 Here he teacheth others to do the like applies his example to them not be afraid Esay XLIII 2. verse 5 emphatical expressions and rhetorical amplifications allowed in all humane Authors Not yet implying that we are actualy deliveâ—ed in all such dangers but that at least they shall work for our good if we be not delivered out of them Rom. VIII 28. his Angels charge over thee Alledged by the Devil to Christ verse 11 Mat. IV. 6. in all thy wayes Of holinesse and righteousnesse These words the Devil omits as making against his temptation which was against the minde of the text tread upon the lion Esay XI 6 9. verse 13 Hos. II. 18. without harme or damage Not as the Pope applied it to his treading upon the neck of the Emperour on high Safely above all perils and dangers verse 14 with long life If God shall see it good and fit for him verse 16 Otherwise a good man may be cut off by Plague or warre for the Sabbath day For the Rest on this day chapter XCII see the Observations on Exod. XII 16. For Hallowing it That was by an holy convocation by offering of Sacrifices singing Psalmes reading and expounding and hearing Scriptures Praying Disputing and Conferring by meditating on Gods word and works and doing works of mercy Exod. XX. 10. Esay LVIII 13. Jer. XVII 21 22. Levit. XXIII 3. Num XXVIII 9 10. Acts XIII 15. and XV. 21. and XVI 13. and XVII 2. and XVIII 4. Matth. XII 2 7 8 11 12. as the Palme tree The LXX read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 12 which signifies indeed a tree As the Hebrew word here doth And the meaning of the whole verse imports Yet hence many learned men taking it up one from another have raised that fable of a wondrous bird called a Phoenix which yet never was seene or known in the world holinesse becometh thy house In the services chapter XCIII verse 5 and servants of it and all professors of so holy a God The Lord knoweth Cited chapter XCIV verse 11 1 Cor. III. 20. But judgement shall returne unto righteousnesse Though they might seeme awhile parted verse 15 yet they shall returne and meet and the wicked shall be punished and the godly rewarded O come Davids Psalme chapter XCV verse 1 though without his Title as appears Heb. III. 7. and IV. 7. to day This extends to the whole time wherein Christ speaketh by his Gospel verse 7 Heb. III. 7. 13 15. and IV. 7 8. So 2 Cor. VI. 2. Provocation Meribah verse 8 in the Hebrew temptation Massah in the Hebrew See Exod. XVII 1 7. Num. XX. 1 3 13. Deut. VI. 16. tempted me Tempted Christ verse 9 1 Cor. X. 9. my work Works Heb. III. 9. of miraculous mercies and judgements I sware At Kadesh-barneah verse 11 Num. XIV 21 c. Heb. III. 17 19. my rest Canaan a Type of a better Rest Heb. IV. 3 8 9 11. O sing This Psalme chapter XCVI verse 1 and Psalme CV 1 15. with small alterations make up that Psalme composed by David upon the bringing of the Ark from Obed-Edoms house into the Citie of David 1 Chron. XVI 8 36. a new song See the Observations on Psal. XXXIII 3. beauty of holinesse In the glorious holy Sanctuary searoare In token of joy verse 9 the trees Humane affections ascribed to insensible creatures verse 11 thereby to set out mans duty verse 12 for the cometh Or when he cometh Which may relate to Christs coming into the world verse 13 Matth. XII 20. Acts X. 42. and ch XVII 31. Psal. XCVIII 9. and CX 6. Esay II. 4. and XI 3 4. and XVI 5. 2 Tim. IV. 1. Apoc. XIX 11. The Lord reighneth Here seemes the Kingdome chapter XCVII verse 1 both of God and of Christ to be majesticaly described a new song See the Observations on Psal. chapter XCVIII verse 1 XXXIII 3. made known Esay LII 10. Let the sea roare Psal. verse 2 XCVI 11. let the people tremble And so chapter XCIX verse 7 the earth be moved that is with a reverend fear at his Presence and appearance verse 1 Or though they be stirred up with anger Apoc. XI 17 18. Acts XVII 13. The Kings strength God mixeth his power with justice verse 4 Job XXXVI 5. Moses and Aaron among his Priests Moses did many things of the Priestly office verse 6 And the word Cohen here used doth signifie also a Prince and principal officer as 2 Sam. VIII 18. and in many other places
used of those aprons or girdings which of twigs twisted or wreathed rather then leaves sowed together our first parents made to cover their shame with a rent Or rags burning Sun-burning tanning gates Cities verse 26 Lam. I. 4. She The Land of Iurie or the mother-mother-City Ierusalem seven women Chap. chapter IV verse 2 III. 25. Such should be the paucity of men surviving as chap. XIII 2. that is uncouth immodest motion and sollicitation should fall out and finde place with them In that day After these calamities overpast when the Lord shall have washed c. as it is ver 4. the branch The Messias chap. XI 1. Zech. III. 8. and VI. 12. Jer. XXIII 5. and XXXIII 15. Yet some understand this here of the Church And so to the end of this short Chapter of the Lord The Messiah himself And likewise the Church and her beauty and holinesse and defence and shade and shelter come and spring all from the Lord. and the fruit of the land Literaly And may be applied spiritualy that remaineth The remnant that shall escape verse 3 be left and survive Altar The brazen Altar in the Court before the doore the voice of the Lord Not of the Seraphs I send The Unity of the Deity for us The Trinity of the Persons send me Being so fitted as formerly he now promptly offers himselfe make the heart of this people fat This God doth not by infusing any wickednesse or corruption of any kinde into them but indirectly and by accident and consequent thus By not hindering it but permitting it justly for their sinnes withholding or withdrawing his Restraining Grace which holds them in as a Grayhound is held in from an hare by a slip Denying his blessing to the meanes of Grace not vouchsafing his special and free grace and assistance to them but withdrawing the efficacy of his Spirit which things he is not bound to give to any and justly leaving them so both to all Satans tentations and his instruments And also to their owne vile lusts the inbred hardnesse of their hearts rebellion of their wills and the universal corruption of their natures which enslaves them to sinne and fires them after it yea the more for any opposition of Gods Commands Word or Works or any meanes else used to the contrary as we see Lime burne with water cast upon it Even so the Heathen could say Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimúsque negata according with that of the Apostle Rom. VII verse 8 13. Yea God justly suffering and presenting such objects and occasioning such things to fall out as are not simply evil in themselves yet through their default will prove stumbling-blocks unto them as whereupon their own wicked hearts will still work and improve their own induration excecation and irritation to further sinning Thus they willingly fall further into sinfull actions The power of doing which acts as they are acts are yet from God alone in whom we live and move and have our being but the obliquity malignity and evil of them is from the wicked Agent And all this God doth in a way of justice It is a just thing with God when men wilfully winkand shut their eyes against the light And when they harden their hearts and stop their eares against him his Word and Will and Works It is just with him in maner aforesaid to let them have and enjoy what they so love and desire to have and enjoy And so to punish sin with sin For all the premises see Deut. XXVIII 28. and XXIX 2 4. Psal. LXIX 23. and LXXVIII 32. and LXXXI 12. and CVI. 7. Esay XXVIII 13. and XXIX 10. and XLIV 18. Jer. V. 31. Ezek. II. 5 7. and III. 7. and XX. 25. Zech. VII 11 12. Matth. XIII 14. John XII 37. Acts XIV 16. Rom. I. 21 22 26 28. and II. 4 5. and Chap. VII ver 8 9 11 13 23. and XI 8. 10. 2 Cor. II. 15 16. 2 Thes. II. 10 11 12. 2 Tim. III. 13. Heb. VI. 4 6 7. Apoc. XVI 9 11. All this I say is just for Him who knoweth how and orders withal out of the infinitenesse of his wisdome and goodnesse so as to make them serve his providence for the producing of good out of evill the greetest good out of the greatest sinne as Acts IV. 28. See my Annotations on Ezek. III. 20. Lord verse 11 how long Shall this sad condition last utterly desolate Yet there is mention of a Reserve v. 13. farre away Into Assyria verse 12 and Chaldea yea some extend this to the last destruction by Vespasian and Hadrian the Romane Emperours But yet in it shall be a tenth God will still in his dreadfulest judgements preserve a small remnant verse 13 to continue his Church Thus he concludes with this comfort here as he likewise concluded his first and second Sermon a Teil-tree Or a Line-tree of goodly boughs and leaves and an oak So most do render the word whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves As in winter so the holy seed The seed of Saints The application of the similitude These God reserves by them to propagate his Church Rom. XI 15. And it came to passe chapter VII verse 1 The fifth Sermon in the dayes of Ahaz In the third or the beginning of the fourth yeare of his reigne For within the fourth of his reigne was Pekah slaine 2 Kings XV. 30 33. in the twentieth yeare of Jotham reckoning so both the four yeares of Jotham in his father Uzziahs life-time and the sixteen yeares of his reigne after the death of his father Or rather reckoning from the beginning of Jothams sixteen And so this will fall out in the fourth of Ahaz See my Observations on 2 King I. pag. 103. Of the death of Ahaz See chap. XIV 28. that Rezin Rezin and Pekah severaly by themselves had made some attempt against Iudah in the end of Iothams or the very beginning of the reigne of Ahaz and then mightily prevailed 2 Kings XV. 37. 2 Chron. XXVIII 5 8. But now joyntly they bend their forces together to make a full conquest yet in this prevaile not And so 2 Kings XVI 5. One Rezon was the first King of Syria 1 Kings XI 23. Syria See the Observations on 2 Sam. VIII 5. as the trees Their hearts quaked and quivered verse 2 as an aspin leafe And the rather because of what they had formerly suffered from them severaly Which put them instantly upon dispatching of messengers for aide unto the King of Assyria which God sends here to disswade them from 2 Kings XVI 7 8. Shear-jashub Signifies the remnant shall returne verse 3 This name given him in a prophetical way as that of his other sonne chap. VIII 3. and those of Hosheah chap. I. 4 6 9. Here brought with Esay because he was to make use of him in his message to Ahaz v. 16. upper poole The very place where Rabshakeh afterwards stood ch XXXVI 2. 2 Kings X. 17. See the
the words a Nation meting out and treading down arrogating so much to themselves and acting accordingly the rivers have spoiled The forces of the King of Assyria say some thus should spoile the land of the Ethiopians The others understanding here the land of the Assyrians conceive it here to be thus described by the rivers and the abundance and violence of them and their streams in it All ye inhabitants Esay calls all the world to observe verse 3 how remarkable and conspicuous Gods judgements and the execution of them by the Assyrians should be upon the Ethiopians say some Gods judgements upon and against the Assyrians say others And accordingly they apply what is set down in the 4 5 and 6. verses following the one for the Assyrian executing the judgement upon the Ethiopian the other for God executing his judgement upon the Assyrian asserting to himself the defence and security of his owne people In that time A prophecie of the Conversion of the Ethiopians to Christ verse 7 in the dayes of the Messias Acts VIII 27 39. As most hold shall the present be brought By the Ethiopians a present of their spiritual services Others expound it a present of the prey of Sennacheribs armie chap. XXXIII 23. consecrated to Gods service and in way of Thanksgiving to him Jer. LI. 44. of Egypt Of Egypt see the Observations on Gen. chapter XIX verse 1 XII 10. Of this burden of Egypt see likewise Jer. XLIII 10. and XLIV 30. and XLVI 2 13. Ezek. XXIX and XXX and XXXI 2 18. and XXXII swift cloud Swiftnesse for expedition cloud in an extraordinary manner for clouds are not ordinarily seen in Egypt Psal. CIV 3. a cruel Lord and a fierce King Which some understand of Sennacherib verse 4 some of Nebuchadnezzar some rather of one of their own Kings as namely Psammetichus who had beene a pettie King of one of the two Provinces into which Egypt had beene divided after the death of Sethon who had beene King of the whole Countrey before But this Psammetichus at last overpowering the rest made himselfe Lord of all Egypt and was the father of Nechoh who slew the good King Josias 2 Kings XXIII 29. See Herodotus lib. 2. Diodor. lib. 1. And the waters shall faile from the Sea This may imply the impeaching of their trade and traffick by Sea verse 5 and the river shall be wasted Nilus upon which the wealth and felicitie of Egypt did depend The miseries which should ensue upon the wasting and drying up of it are set downe in the five verses following of Zoan See Num. verse 11 XIII 22. Psal. LXXVIII 12. Land of Judah shall be a terror Judah's overthrow shall fright Egypt verse 17 left the like befall them and their own turne come next In that day five Cities A gracious prediction of the conversion of Egypt to God verse 18 and his service which principaly hath reference to the dayes of the Messias So againe Jer. XLVI 26. see the like comfortable closes chap. VI. 13. and XVII 7. and XVIII 7. and XXIII 17 18. one shall be called the Citie of destruction Or of Heres Or of the Sunne See the Observations on Josh. XIX 38. at the border thereof Alluding to that verse 19 Josh. XXII 10 24 25 27. a Saviour and a Great one Principaly the Lord Jesus verse 20 Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians Both serve the Lord. verse 23 And Israel be the third All three serve the Lord ver 24 25. In the yeare chapter XX The time when this Prophecie was delivered chapter I that Tartan One of the three that Sennacherib sent to Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 17. came to Ashdod Of Ashdod see the Annotations on Amos III. 9. When Sargon Of him see the Observations on 2 Kings XV. 19. and took it Some say in the twelfth year of Ezekiah some in the fourteenth some in the fourth But most likely about the eight or ninth year of Ezekiah after Shalmanezers decease And the Egyptians and Ethiopians coming to the relief of Ashdod were by the Assyrians defeated and carried captives in such scornful and despiteful manner as is described ver 4. the sackcloth Not here a mourning weed verse 2 but such an upper garment made of course and hairy stuff as the Prophets ordinarily were wont to weare 2 King I. 8. Zech. XIII 4. Mat. III 4. naked Not stark naked But stript of his Prophetical mantle As 1 Sam. XIX 24. Joh. XXI 7. Mic. I. 8. Act. XIX 16. As captives are wont to be led three yeares And well might the siege of Ashdod continue three yeares verse 3 as well as that of Samariah most likely the Prophet went so three dayes so fourty dayes for fourty years Num. XIV 33 34. Ezek IV. 4 5 6. upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia Judgements denounced upon them before severally upon Ethiopia Chap. XVIII upon Egypt Chap. XIX Here now upon them joyntly so shall The explication of the signe verse 4 It shall be so at the end of three yeares from the beginning of the siege of Ashdod And they shall be afraid both the Ashdodites verse 5 and Jews that relied so much upon their aid Isle See the Observations on Gen. X. 6. verse 6 of the desert of the sea chapter XXI verse 1 Another Sermon and prophecie against Babylon And so there are many Sermons against the Assyrians and also against the Egyptians by this Prophet Babylon and Caldea is here called the desert of the sea a desert because a large desert or wide Wildernesse lay between Caldea and Media or it self should be made so by the judgements ensuing Or the word here used signifieth a Plaine and in a plaine Babylon was built Gen. XI 2. And called a sea because of the great river Euphrates on the banks whereof Babylon was built and because of the vast lakes made out of the river And hence is Babylon said to sit upon many waters Jer. LI. 13. and ver 36. I will dry up the sea As whirlwindes such shall the violent irruptions be of the Medes and Persians breaking into Chaldea The treacherous dealer hath now his match verse 2 is now paid in his own coine Or the treacherous dealer dealing treacherously which some apply to the Chaldeans some to the Medes and Persians and the spoyler spoyleth Some apply only these words to the Medes and Persians O Elam The Persian all the sighing Wherewith Babylon made my people sigh Therefore loines Spoken in the person of the Babylonians verse 3 The night of my pleasure Even in their sestival night was Babylon taken by Cyrus Dan. verse 4 5. 1 30. hath he turned Though it were done about 170. years after This is an usual Prophetick phrase Prepare the table Most likely K. Belshazzars words verse 5 for the Feast and for the Watch. arise ye Princes Cyrus and Darius set a watchman Gods word to the Prophet verse 6 And that as if God willed him to stand as on a watch-tower to see what he
VII 8. 2 Sam. XV. 30. Job IX 24. Ezek. XII 6 12. Eliakim Invested verse 20 after the devesting of Shebna they shall hang upon him As things are wont to be hanged on a pin verse 24 his fathers house the off-spring and the issue All his kindred and allies as well small as great shall partake of his honour one way or other Or there should be nothing in the Kings house but should be under his power and have dependance on him fastened in a sure place As Shebna accounted himself to be verse 25 â—e cut downe Meaning Shebna Tyre Of Tyre See the Observations on Josh. XIX 29. And the Annotations on Amos I. 9. See the like Prophecies against this Towne and State Ier. XXV 22. and XLVII 4. Ezek. XXVI XXVII XXVIII chapters Amos II. 9. Zech. IX 2 4. Tarshish Of this see the Observations on 1 Kings X. chapter XXIII verse 1 22. from the Land of Chittim it is revealed to them It is revealed and the report is come unto them that formerly traded with Tyre how it fared with her that she is sacked so that now all harbour in Tyre or entrance into it is denied unto them Who these of the land of Chittim should be there are variable conjectures but little certainty inhabitants of the Isle Ye verse 2 Tyrians the seed of Sihor Tyre described here verse 3 by her traffick with Egypt as formerly with Sidon See Ezek. XXVII 7. By the great waters of the midland Sea the graine of Egypt and all the trade and commodities of it of Sihor that is Nilus were brought to Tyre Of this Sihor or Shichor and that it is Nilus see the large Annotations upon this Text. the Sea hath spoken Tyre verse 4 The Lord of Hoasts hath purposed it By his Agents to do it verse 9 By Nebuchadnezzar who spent thirteen years in the siege of it as Josephus against Appion lib. 1. doth testifie And by Alexander the Great long after in his rage as Curtius in his fourth Book IV. Chapter doth witnesse He The Lord. verse 11 Behold the Land of the Chaldeans This is verse 13 or shall be brought to ruine And therefore it is not impossible but Tyre may be so in that day Wherein Tyres calamities here foretold shall be accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar Ezek. verse 15 XXVI 7. seventy years During the same time of the Jewes captivity in Babylon dayes of one King One Kingdome as Dan. VII 17. and VIII 21. to wit in the dayes and reignes of Nebuchadnezzar and his sonne and his sonnes sonne Jer. XVII 7. sing as an harlot To renew her lovers her traders and traffickers turne to her hire Of trading and traffick with all the Kingdomes The amplitude of her commerce and trade ver 8. Holinesse to the Lord The conversion of the Tyrians to God verse 18 in the Kingdome of the Messias it shall not be treasured nor laid up Not reserved for any common or prophane use publike or private for themselves or their posterity that dwell before the Lord The Lords Ministers for their plentiful maintenance in food and clothing the earth empty Another Sermon or Prophecie chapter XXIV verse 1 continuing to the end of Chapter XXVII This is more General then those going before And comprehends Judea and the neighbouring Nations on every side And the judgements herein denounced to be executed partly by the Assyrians and partly by the Chaldeans and afterwards also by others upon them See the like Jer. XXV 15 38. and XXVII 2 8. as with the people c. All estates verse 2 and conditions should fare alike is defiled The reason of the former denunciations verse 5 The new wine He proceedeth in particular verse 7 to instance in some specialties of judgements The Citie Taken collectively as verse 10 chap. XXV 2. and XXVII 10. every house is shut up So as there is no going out or in as the shaking of an Olive-tree Few shall be left verse 13 yet this remnant shall be to praise the Lord ver 14. from the Sea The transmarine lands verse 14 and Sea-coasts in general God in the fires In the fires of tribulations verse 15 glorifie God by patient sufferings and depending upon him for deliverances uttermost The generality of the joy of this Remnant left verse 16 my leannesse my leannesse The Prophet breaks off here his relation of the gladsome joy and praises of the foresaid Remnant And falls into a passionate bemoaning of himself and regret for the miseries that were the mean while for their sins to befal the others the windows from on high are opened Gods vengeance surprizing them verse 18 both from above and from beneath as well over their heads as under their feet and as no shelter for them against the one so no steady standing for them against the other To amplifie which hyperbolies are here used the hoast of the high ones Such as the Assyrian verse 21 and Chaldean Monarchs were and after many dayes shall they be visited In favour and mercy verse 22 Verified of sundry States and Nations in the Gospel-times under the Messias Then the Moone c. Esay closeth this first part verse 23 after his wonted manner with a passage concerning the spiritual yet illustrious glory and majesty of Gods reigning in his Church in the times of the Gospel the brightnesse and splendor whereof should be such as no light of Sunne or Moone no glory or magnificence of any worldly estate should be comparable thereunto O Lord chapter XXV verse 1 c. Esay falleth into a solemne celebration and praising of God for his foresaid wonderful works as well of judgement as of mercy the Citie Collectively verse 3 of the terrible Nations That were a terrour to others shall then stand in awe of thee when the blast Even in times of most need verse 4 and greatest dangers And in this mountain Mount Zion verse 6 a Type of the Church unto all people As well Gentiles as Jewes wines on the lees Pure and strong wines The face of the covering That ignorance and obstinacy verse 7 wherewith the minds and hearts of the Gentiles were formerly possessed veil 2 Cor. III. 14 16. death The second benefit accrewing to the convert Nations verse 8 a freeing them from the power of death of death spiritual in victorie Or unto victory i. e. until an utter conquest be made of him So the LXX which the Apostle retaineth 1 Cor. XV. 54 because the sense is good and sound though it do not exactly render the letter for the Hebrew is for ever wipe away A third benefit accrewing to the godly converted ones fulfilled partly in this life and perfectly in the next Shall be said Their thankful and joyful acknowledgement for those his mercies and favours verse 9 For A reason of their rejoycing and triumphing verse 10 in this mountain Verse 6 7. Moab Put for the enemies of Gods people in general And he The Lord. verse 11 Swimmeth Stretcheth out his armes with
from the enemies verse 8 undertaking to secure them and make them successeful against all that should oppose them whom I have taken Abram from Ur of the Chaldees verse 9. 15. Sharp threshing instrument To thresh the mountains even thy greatest enemies I will open rivers Rather then my people shall want meanes of comfortable subsistance verse 18 the Cedar verse 19 c. God will by his providence and provision so accommodate them as if such things had been done Produce your cause God challengeth the Idolaters to produce the strongest pleas they can verse 21 in the behalf of their Idols and to prove the truth of their religion by producing the like works foretold first and effected afterwards by their Idols to those of his before mentioned when they shall see them accomplished and withal so long foretold from the North Cyrus verse 25 who was a Medo-Persian Media lying more Northerly and Persia more Easterly ver 2. He brought people and forces from both parts against Babylon shall he call upon my Name Or proclaime my name Ezra I. 1 2. who hath declared Which of your Idols verse 26 from the beginning Of old time near two hundred years before it shall come to passe he is righteous That so he may be rightly called a God The first shall say Or verse 27 I say first to Zion I am the first that signified ought to Zion concerning her deliverance or the destruction of Babylon and the persons by whom these should be effected which none of your Idols could do ver 26. amongst them Their Idols verse 28. 29. all vanity The conclusion of and against their Idols Another Sermon chapter XLII in this and the three Chapters following which are much of one Subject with the former Foretelling the Blessings that God would confer upon his people partly by Cyrus and principaly by Christ Discovering the vanity of Idols and sottishnesse of Idolaters Taxing his people for their incredulity blindnesse excesses and obstinacie the causes of their captivity and yet Promising pardon and restitution upon their sincere repentance my servant Christ the Messias verse 1 Matth. XII 14 18 19 20. Some weakly and in a low degree make also application of this and what follows to Cyrus in some sort herein as a Type of Christ. thee My Sonne verse 6. 8. the Messias neither my praise to graven Images By my failings in my Predictions and promises of the rock sing Of Petra verse 11. 13. the chief Citie of Arabia chap. XVI 1. The Lord shall go forth To warre against the enemies of his people I have The words of God himself verse 14 He long restrained his wrath but now will hasten the execution of it and lay desolate the whole Countrey of Chaldea and of those that were adjacent and adjutant to it the rivers Islands It was so done by Cyrus verse 15 in the siege of Babylon And I will bring the blinde Partly true verse 16 in the returne of the Jewes out of the Babylonish Captivity more true spiritualy in the Conversion of Jew and Gentile to grace in the Kingdome of Christ under the Gospel Hear ye deaf Jewes verse 18 of whom many still continued such notwithstanding all that God had said and done and they had heard and seene who is blinde A reason why he gave his own people those titles verse 19 ver 18. because they deserved them as well yea rather then any other as he that is perfect Should be so and hath best means to be so opening the eares In shew at least verse 20. 21. listening he will magnifie his Law He is pleased to magnifie his Law as well by execution of justice upon the transgressors of it as by making good his Promises unto those that observe it Or he magnified and dignified him with his Law But this is a people After all those favours and honours conferred upon them verse 22 yet see what calamities and miseries are befallen them for their sins will give eare to this To amend verse 23 and grow wiser for time to come laid it not to heart Their extreme stupidity verse 25 even in their present afflictions But now though a great part of my people continue still thus obstinate and impenitent chapter XLVIII verse 1 yet I will have care of my chosen ones among them whom I will protect in all dangers and in due time restore I gave Egypt for thy ransom Exod. verse 3 XIV 20 38. and XV. 9 10. Ethiopia and Seba for thee 2 Chron. XIV 9 15. bring thy seed by Cyrus temporaly verse 5. 8. by Christ spiritualy Bring forth the blinde people challenging the Gentiles who were blinde and deaf as their idols to see if they can yet produce ought in defence of their idols ver 9. who among them which of their idols could foretel those verse 9 or the like things It is truth that the Lord alone is the true God and they all but base idols ye are my witnesses ye my people verse 10 speaking thus to them that had plentiful and pregnant proofs of his divine power and providence and my servant the Messias and in some degree Cyrus that I am he the onely true God ver 12. whose cry is in the ships verse 14 They wanting water by Cyrus his draynings to carry them in their flight away Or they cry to the ships to the ships for safety as chap XXII 5. to the hils to the hils Yet some translate thus the Chaldeans together with their choise ships which they vaunt of which maketh a way in the sea Red-Sea verse 16. 17. and Jordan Chariot Pharaoh and his armie they shall lie together In the bottome of the Sea Exod. XV. 10. Remember ye not the fermer things in comparison of the New verse 18 the deliverance by Cyrus but principaly and spiritualy by Christ. I will even make a way I will fit verse 19 and furnish them in the way as they shall returne from Babylon they shall shew forth my praise Or at least should verse 21 It was their duty But thou Hast not beene so careful to worship me verse 22 But hast been weary of me and my service me But Idols verse 23 and strange gods I have not caused thee Not I but thine Idols have made thee at so much cost with them tyring thee out as a slave to them with such services But thou hast Hitherto of their Failings verse 24 now of their Faults And all this to shew that the deliverance of them from their thraldome was of his own free favour and mercie not for any merit of desert of theirs as in the two next verses Thy first father Or forefathers verse 27 and not you alone have sinned And therefore no cause in your selves or them why I should do you so great a favour as this is yet now Notwithstanding all their sinnes chapter XLVI verse 1 and his judgements and chastisements yet he would now at length relieve and refresh them restore them and cause
Sennacheribs army or to Cyrus further then as Types of Christ and his spiritual deliverance And Esay useth to slip from temporal deliverances in a close way unto spiritual and to close up the Prophecies of the one with the Promises of the other my Covenant Of sending the Redeemer to them verse 21 and of continuing his Word and Spirit to Zion his Church This Chapter containes the glorious state of the Church under the Messias chapter LX the abundant accesse of the Gentiles and their Kings and chief ones adjoyned to it and their riches endowments and services humbly submitted and chearfully yeelded unto it Thy light is come The night of affliction is over verse 1 and the day is dawning the light of the morning is risen upon thee glory of the Lord In thy deliverance and restauration But the Lord shall arise The Sunne of righteousnesse verse 2 Mal. IV. 2. And Gentiles To congratulate with thee verse 3 and to enjoy the light together with thee and thine heart shall fear With admiration verse 4 and joyes so sudden and excessive shall come in to thee By tendering both themselves verse 5 and whatsoever they are stored with unto thee and thy service Ephah The posterity of Midian verse 6 by his eldest sonne Gen. XXV 4. the praises of the Lord Repairing thither not for traffick but to worship Acts VIII 27. the house of my glory My Temple verse 7. 8. a Type of the Church what are these A question moved by Zion touching their multitude and speed Surely The Answer returned verse 9 first With the first or among the first their silver Ezra I. 4 6 11. ch LXVI 20. and LV. 5. Rom. XV. 16. sonnes of strangers Proselytes verse 10 Kings Cyrus and others his successors and I will make the place of my feet glorious The Ark verse 13 Temple Zion all resembling the Church verse 7. such the breasts of Kings Being as thy foster-fathers verse 16 chap. XLIX 23. and LXVI 12. For brasse Thy damages shall be repaired with advantage verse 17 thine exactors righteousnesse Overseers not such as shall pill and poll thee exact upon thee but deale most righteously moderately and mercifully thy walls salvation All should be safe with them verse 18 under Gods protection The Sunne Their chief and principal light and comfort should consist in such a plentiful enjoyment of Gods gracious love verse 19 favour and kindnesse that in comparison thereof the Sunne and Moone should be as of no account or regard This may relate to the glory of the life to come Thy Sunne Not clouded verse 20 or eclipsed but continualy shine without interruption Thy people Sanctified here verse 21 perfected hereafter inherit the land for ever The new world chap. LVII 13. and LXV 17 18. 2 Pet. III. 13. Apoc. XXI 5 7. Canaan was a Type of this the branch of my planting My in the margin his in the text The meaning may be this A branch of my plantations by way of eminencie and excellencie a work of my hands to glory in A like one A miraculous multiplication of the Church verse 22 in his time Speedily when its due time is come and till then they must expect chap. XIII 22 and XXVIII 16. and XXXVIII 18. Hab. II. 3. Luke I. 20. This Chapter is much of the same matter chapter LXI and to the like purpose with the former The Spirit of the Lord Christs calling to his Ministery verse 1 and the exercise of his Prophetical Office Shadowed out in that of Esay here Christ applieth this to himself Luke IV. 18. hath anointed me In a special maner above his fellowes Ps. XLV 7. Acts X. 38. Col. II. 3 9. Heb. I. 8. good tydings Whence our Gospel signifying not Gods-spel or Word but Good-spel Evangelium to proclaime liberty Temporal by Cyrus spiritual by Christ Luke IV. 8. year of the Lord Relating to the Jubile verse 2 of vengeance For his people of their Oppressors build the old wastes Upon their returne to their own countrey verse 4 reedifie the Cities and townes that had been ruinated during the captivity And strangers shall stand As servants waiting and attending on their Master verse 5 the Priests of the Lord In that repute verse 6 as they as near to God and in as honourable a condition as they 1 Pet. II. 9. Heb. XIII 15. Apoc. I. 6. and V. 10. For your shame verse 7 double Honour verse 6. as 1 Tim. V. 17. Zech. IX 12. possesse double Double in extent or double in worth upon Gods blessing when they returne to their land againe love judgement And therefore will right and repay the wrongs and dammages done to my people verse 8 and I will direct As verse 7. returning them a reward in lieu of their misery And directing their affairs in a successeful course in a prosperous way shall be known Eminently verse 9. 10. As Psal. LXXVI 1. I will greatly rejoyce A solemne acknowledgement made in the Churches name of the manifold blessings of God bestowed on her mentioned verse 3. and 7 For Zions sake Esay his resolution constantly to solicite God chapter LXII verse 1 for the compleat performance of his Churches restitution promised before chap. LX. and LXI thy righteousnesse The Prophet Esay turneth his speech to Zion verse 2 a new name Verse 4. chap. LXV 15. Hephzibah i. e. verse 4 my delight is in her Psal. XVI 2. Benlah i. e. married thy sonnes marry thee Thy sonnes shall as in marriage possesse thee verse 5 keep thee enjoy thee in such a chearful and comfortable maner thy God Christ God and Man I have set Spoken in the person of God verse 6 Have Or will Watchmen Prophets and Pastors make mention Are his remembrancers specialy by office and function arme Let me not be deemed Almighty verse 8 if c. Of which forme of an Oath see on chap V. 9. and XXII 14. Go through The gates of Babylon verse 10 to returne to your land as ch XLVIII 20. and LII 11. gather out the stones That nothing may hinder them in the way Proclaimed By Cyrus verse 11 thy salvation God thy Saviour as Luke II. 30. sought out Or chapter LXIII sought unto sought after Who is this This seemes to have relation to that verse 12. 1. chap. LXII 11. Esay asks this question to whom the sight or apparition was offered in a vision or extasie from Edom Idumea And Bozrah the head-Citie of it Put here for the enemies of Gods people died garments Verse 3. Apoc. XIX 13. glorious Gorgeous as great Commanders and Generals use in warre and returning in triumph from the slaughter See Psal. LXVIII 7 8 21 22 23. travelling Marching stalking with a stately gate as victor I Gods answer thou red Saith Esay againe I have troden Gods answer to Esay again verse 2 Somtimes he treads down thus Gods people themselves for their sins as Lam. I. 15. Somtimes the wine-presse of Gods wrath to expiate the sinnes of his people
17 In this Chapter Ieremie directs his speech and Sermon to the whole body of the State chapter II as in the name and person of God debating the case and expostulating with them thus viz. minding them of Gods mercies and favours towards them taxing them for their base and unworthy thy carriage towards him convincing them of their extreme folly and madnesse in bringing mischief and misery upon themselves and forewarning them of the sorry successe they should finde by relying on such as would not be able to relieve them the kindnesse of thy youth What kindnesse verse 2 and love God then had shewed them As Psal. CVI. 4. Esay XLVI 3. when thou wentest Gods kindnesse to them then even though they then did but ill deserve it Psal. CVI. 7 32 33. Amos V. 25 26. what iniquity No fault in God verse 5 that he is now changed towards them mine heritage As dear to me verse 7 as mine heritage and by me assigned to you for an heritage and with your childrens children will I plead As I formerly pleaded the cause with your forefathers verse 9 chap. VII 25. 2 Chron. XXXVI 14 15. Pleads here upon a new ground verse 10 11. Though they had no cause to plead with him v. 29. Kedar In Arabia verse 10 a kinde of savage people desolate Lose your lustre verse 12 Is Israel a servant That he is so servilely verse 14 slavishly used by his enemies The young lions Former judgements upon them verse 15 as by the Syrians and Assyrians Noph and Tahapanes Cities in Egypt verse 16 Sihor Nilus verse 18 river Euphrates The two broken Cisterns v. 13. when upon every high hill Notwithstanding thy Promises and engagements verse 20 see thy way in the valley God points them verse 23 as it were with his finger to the particular places of their idolatries dromedarie A swift beast whence in Greek it hath its name A lesser and lower kinde of Camel very rife in Arahia and much used by Curriers there Strabo l. 15. Diodore l. 2. c. 54. Leo Afric l. 9. A wilde Asse Male verse 24 or female For Genders in the names of beasts are often promiscuously used by the Hebrews And we finde both Genders used sometimes of the very self-same thing as Ezek. II. 9. Jonah I. 17. and II. 1. snuffeth up the winde Of lust after the male or female in her moneth they shall finde her When she is heavie with young goeth near her time and cannot so easily shift for her self withhold A wholesom admonition and Caveat verse 25 to break off their wicked courses in gadding after strange people and strange gods lest they suffer for it will I go Whatsoever comes of it And so they are past cure and past care to a stock The ignorant idolatrous Jew no worse then the ignorant idolatrous Papist verse 27 And the learned Papist not much differing herein from the learned idolatrous Jew Arise and save us Judges X. 10 13 14 15. of thy Cities verse 28 are thy gods Tutelar gods As Papists had their Tutelar Saints to every Citie Parish Corporation trade sicknesse c. See the Word of the Lord As verse 31 hear the rod Micah VI. 9. See Deut. XXIX 2 3 4. Prov. XX. 12. Eccles. I. 16. Psal. XVII 2. and LXVI 18. Jer. II. 19. we will come no more unto thee We have no further need now of thy support we can do well enough without thee forgotten me Their ornament verse 32 and attire why trimmest Esay LVII verse 33 9 10. thou also taught Wicked Harlots may learne of thee by thy evil example but upon all these The skirts of thy garments verse 34 it is openly to be seene to change thy way Ranging up and downe verse 36 to seek aide and auxiliaries abroad ashamed 2 Chron. XXVIII 20. from him Heb. verse 37 this place into captivity The five first verses seeme to belong to the former Chapter and Sermon chapter III shall he returne unto her againe Clearly No. verse 1 And the Law expressely forbids it Deut. XXIV 1 4. Neither could his heart brook it lien with So verse 2 Deut. XXVIII 30. In both places the over-mannerly Masorets check the Pen-men of Scripture in appointing an honester terme to be read in the roome of that they found written See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. as the Arabian As Thamar did Gen. XXXVIII 14. See Ezek. XVI 24 25 31. or to truck and trade with them from this time Of my Correcting thee verse 4 and admonishing thee v. 3. and chap. II. 25. My Father Lamenting as a childe to his father offended thou hast spoken As formerly verse 5 v. 4 5. and done evil things But still doest evily and wickedly as thou couldest Get opportunity and have ability As Micah II. 1. A new Sermon in Josiah's dayes verse 6 backsliding Israel The revolt of the then Tribes and Gods Bill of divorce thereupon given her her treacherous sister Judah Not fearing verse 7 or mending by that example proves worse then Israel v. 11. but feignedly In the dayes of good Josiah verse 10 For all that he could do yet the generality of the people never turned unto God with their whole heart as too well appeared by their sudden relapse and revolt presently after his death 2 Kings XXIII 32 37. 2 Chron. XXXVI 12 14. North Whither the ten Tribes were carried verse 12 Not that he was to go thither but to proclaime setting his face towards it So Ezek. XX. 46. and XXI 2. one of a Citie God would make such an exact enquirie and search for them verse 14 upon their sincere turning to him in all places of their dispersion that though there should be but some one only of them in a Citie or some two only in a whole Countrey yet he would c. See a parallel place Esay XXVII 12. in those dayes After the enlargement and growth of the Church under the Messias verse 16 The Arke An utter cessation of Legal Rites under the Messias Now they should have no misse of it no want or use of it at all Jerusalem Gods Church verse 17 whereof that was a Type Cal. IV. 26. Apoc. XXI 2. See Esay LX. 14. and all the Nations Esay II. 2. neither shall they Israelites or Proselyte-Gentiles Iudah walk with the house of Israel They shall be reconciled together verse 18 land of the North From Chaldea and Assyria The spiritual deliverance and restitution of them by Christ being shadowed out in these Prophetical Sermons by those temporal deliverances and restaurations So chap. XXXI and XXXIII Esay XI and LIV. and LX. But I said I had such thoughts as these with my self verse 19 How shall I Demanding of them how he should do so great things for them whenas they had dealt so perfidiously with him in times past verse 6 9 13 20. Somewhat like that Hosea VI. 4. and XI 8. and I said After such crosse thoughts to disswade me yet at length I resolved to