His resisting the importunity of his Mistress is an Example of Vertue never to be forgotten He was then a Servant in a strange Country He was tempted by an imperious Woman If he complied he wou'd be sure of Concealment and of Rewards he wou'd be sure to enjoy his Place and be advanced If he resisted he wou'd however be sure to be accused and treated as a Criminal and must expect to be deprived of his Place of his Liberty of his Fame and perhaps of his Life too Yet all this prevails not He will rather submit to Chains to Ignominy to Death than be guilty of so foul a Crime and Sin against God V. We have also in this Book the severest Examples of God's displeasure and wrath against the Wickedness of Men. And two instances we have that are very awakening that of the Floud which over-whelmed an ungodly World and the over-throw of Sodom and Gomorrha for their Wickedness There 's nothing wanting in this Book to recommend it to the study and care of the well-disposed Reader It serves greatly to advance Piety and true Wisdom It gives the best account of the Origin of the World and of the Primitive Condition of Mankind It shews how we fell from God and shews us the way of our Recovery by the Messiah 'T is stored with conspicuous Examples of Piety and Vertue and gives us an occasion to adore the Power the Wisdom the Justice and Goodness and Providence of the great Creator of Heaven and of Earth NOTES ON THE Book of GENESIS CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Creation of the World and the several parts of it as also of the order in which they were made and distinguished with the use and intention of them Here is also a particular account of the Creation of Man in the Image of God and of the food which his Creator appointed him 1. 4004. 1. IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 2. And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters 3. And God said Let there be light and there was light 4. And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness 5. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night and the evening and the morning were the first day 6. And God said Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters 7. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament and it was so 8. And God called the firmament Heaven and the evening and the morning were the second day 9. And God said Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear and it was so 10. And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good 11. And God said Let the earth bring forth grass the herb yielding seed and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it self upon the earth and it was so 12. And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kind and God saw that it was good 13. And the evening and the morning were the third day 14. And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so 16. And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night he made the stars also 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth 18. And to rule over the day and over the night and to divide the light from the darkness and God saw that it was good 19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day 20. And God said Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven 21. And God created great whales and every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind and God saw that it was good 22. And God blessed them saying Be fruitfull and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth 23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day 24. And God said Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind cattel and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind and it was so 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind and cattel after their kind and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and God saw that it was good 26. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth 29. And God said Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed to you it shall be for meat 30. And to every beast of the earth and to every fowl of the air and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life I have given every green herb for meat and it was so 31. And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good And the evening and the morning were the sixth day 1. IN the beginning 1. 4004. That is in the beginning of time Heb. 1.10 Created That is made out of nothing Heb. 11.3 or gave a being to things which had no such being before The Heaven and the Earth or the World In the Scripture-phrase the Heaven and Earth are used to express what is otherwise called the World or Universe God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Act. 17.24 See
2 Pet. 3.5 6 7. 2. Without form and void That is a confused and indigested heap and not as yet replenished with its store and ornaments Jer. 4.23 Wisd 11.17 Isa 45.18 with which it was afterward adorned and replenished Gen. 2.1 Psalm 24.1 Face of the deep That is the Surface of the confused bulk and deep heap of Earth and Water The Spirit of God moved c. That is the Divine Spirit did by moving on the waters operate toward the order and ornament of what was confused before By his Spirit he hath garnished the Heavens says Job ch 26.13 What We render moved is observed to signifie a keeping warm or such a cherishing as feathered fowls afford unto their young Such an expression is not unsuitable to a Divine person Deut. 32.11 12. with Exod. 19.4 and agrees very well with what we are elsewhere taught of the Divine Spirit or Third Person of the Holy Trinity of whose over-shadowing and descending like a Dove we read elsewhere Matt. 3.16 Luk. 1.35 Compare Psal 104.30 3. Said That is commanded See v. 6 7. He spake and it was done Psal 33.9 he commanded and it stood fast Compare Psal 33.6 and Psal 148.5 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 11.3 Light That is some lucid body for the Lights or Luminaries were not created till the fourth day v. 14. 4. Saw i. e. He approved See v. 31. Good i. e. Agreeable to what he designed and for the use of the world Divided c. i. e. He placed the Light in a separate place from the rest of the Creation which remained dark 5. The evening and the morning That is the preceding darkness and following light Hence the Jews natural day began in the Evening Lev. 23.32 First day Or One day as in the Hebrew there being as yet no Second Though it be also very common in the holy Scripture that the Cardinal one c. is put for the Ordinal first c. number as in Gen. 8.5 Dan. 8.1 Joh. 20.1 6. A Firmament That is an extended Air stretched out like a Curtain Ps 104.2 Isa 40.22.42.5 7. Vnder the Firmament viz. in the Seas and Rivers c. Above the Firmament viz. in the Clouds which are said therefore to cover the Heaven Psal 147.8 Compare Prov. 8.28 that is the Air or lower Heaven Compare 2 Sam. 21.10 10. God saw that it was good These words referr to that work which God began on the Second day and do belong to that matter 11. Let the Earth bring forth c. The Earth that was void or empty v. 2. is now to be replenished Whose seed is in it self and is able therefore to propagate without distinction of Sex required in living creatures 14. For Signs and for Seasons That is to direct Men in their labour and husbandry and to that purpose to distinguish the several Seasons of the year Matt. 16.2 As also direct them afterwards in their solemn Festivals Thus are those words understood He appointeth the Moon for seasons Psal 104.19 See Ecclus 43.6 7. 16. Great So they are both in regard of their light and use as well as of their appearance To rule The Sun may be said to rule the day which receives its being from its rising its perfection from its advancing and its period from the setting thereof and also because the affairs of the day are transacted by the light which it affords and the Moon may be said to rule the night from which the Stars are not to be excluded Psal 136.9 because then the Moon gives a supply of light which the Sun then does not immediately afford Compare Job 31.26 and Jer. 31.35 17. Firmament i. e. the upper Firmament of which v. 14 15. 20. And fowl that may fly Or rather and let fowl fly as it may be rendred from the Hebrew For the fowl of the Air was formed out of the ground Gen. 2.19 not produced by the Waters however the ground were drenched by them v. 22. 21. Great Whales See Psalm 104.25 26. 26. Let us make Man Man is made by God immediately and not produced as other Creatures were v. 24. He was made also last when the World was stored and finished He was also made in such a manner as speaks him to be the work of great Wisdom and Counsel and as seems to intimate the concurrence of the Holy Trinity which cannot be incredible to him who duly considers the Note upon verse 2. and compares John 1.3 and Coloss 1.16 Man That is Mankind it follows Let them have dominion In our Image That is Spiritual wise and holy and having dominion over the other Creatures Col. 3.10 Ephes 4.24 1 Cor. 11.7 Him God thought fit to make one man to be the head and parent of the whole race of mankind that men might not boast and vaunt of their extraction and original as the Jews have observed and that they might think themselves under an obligation to love and assist each other as proceeding from the same original and common parent Act. 17.26 Male and female That is One male and one female and the female from the male Polygamy and divorce were not from the beginning Compare Matt. 19.3 4. 28. God blessed them i. e. Besides the excellent endowments which he bestowed on them he gave them power to multiply and increase their kind as it follows here See Ps 128.3 4. 29. To you i. e. To mankind as appears by comparing v. 28. The allowance was expresly enlarged after the floud Gen. 9.3 CHAP. II. The ARGUMENT This Chapter gives an account of the Sanctification of the Seventh day and of the more particular manner of the Creation Of the Garden of Eden the forbidding the tree of knowledge the naming of the creatures the making of the Woman and institution of Marriage 1. THus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them 2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made 4. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens 5. And every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every herb of the field before it grew for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth and there was not a man to till the ground 6. But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground 7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul 8. And the LORD God planted a garden east-ward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed 9. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow
every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil 10. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden and from thence it was parted and became into four heads 11. The name of the first is Pison that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah where there is gold 12. And the gold of that land is good there is bdellium and the onyx-stone 13. And the name of the second river is Gihon the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia 14. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria And the fourth river is Euphrates 15. And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it 16. And the LORD God commanded the man saying Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die 18. And the LORD God said It is not good that the man should be alone I will make him an help-meet for him 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof 20. And Adam gave names to all cattel and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field but for Adam there was not found an help-meet for him 21. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in stead thereof 22. And the rib which the LORD God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man 23. And Adam said This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man 24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh 25. And they were both naked the man and his wife and were not ashamed 1. ALL the Host of them That is all that with which they were replenished and adorned The Sun Moon and Stars are called the Host of Heaven Deut. 4.19.17.3 Isa 34.4 And the Angels are so likewise 1 King 22.19 Luk. 2.13 Compare Psal 103.21 2. Ended Or had ended And so it follows He rested That is he ceased from works of Creation 3. Blessed the seventh day and sanctified it That is he set it a-part to an holy and separate use that he might therein be worshipped and acknowledged as the great Creator of the World 4. These are the generations c. i. e. This is the account of the generation or original c. In the day That is in the time So day is used in the Scripture-way of speaking Thus On the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt Numb 8.17 In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die v. 17. Compare Luk. 19.42 2 Cor. 6.2 5. And every plant of the field before c. That is as God made the Earth and the Heavens v. 4. so he also made every plant of the field and every herb For these plants and these herbs were not as yet in the Earth when that was first made but were as well as the other creatures made by God And that God did create the plants and herbs and that they were not at first the natural productions or growth of the Earth nor yet the effect of man's husbandry appears from this That they were made by God's Command chap. 1.11 on the third day 1. Before God had sent any rain upon the Earth And 2. before Man was made to till the ground chap. 2.15 6 7. But there went up a mist c. That is after this 1. the ground was watered v. 6. And 2. Man was formed of the dust of the ground v. 7. Breathed c. i. e. God the Father of Spirits bestowed life upon this lump of clay The Spirit of God hath made me says Elihu and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life 8. Planted Or had planted before he made Man whom he put in the Garden which he had planted as it is probable on the third day chap. 1.11 9. The tree of life That Tree the fruit whereof being eaten by Man would preserve him from death and diseases Life in the Scripture-phrase implies prosperity and freedom from Evils 1 Sam. 25.6 1 King 1.25 Exod. 20.12 Compared with Deut. 5.16 Eph. 6.3 1 Thess 3.8 And the tree of knowledge c. So called from the Event Man by Eating the fruit of this Tree made a sad experiment of the difference between his happy state of innocence and his miserable condition which ensued upon his fall Gen. 3.7 10. And a river c. Moses gives us an account of a certain place that did really exist and we are assured of this because he gives account of its Situation v. 8. its Store with which it was replenished v. 9. the River which watered it and the Name of its several Heads v. 10 11. and the Countries which these Heads did compass or border upon v. 11 12. A particular description of this place from the account which Moses gives may not be expected in these short Notes The inquisitive Reader will find this Argument handled at large in Sir W. Raleigh's History of the World Book I. ch 3. who placeth it in that Country where Babylon afterwards was 17. Thou shalt surely die i. e. Thou shalt be liable to death and misery Compare 1 King 2.37 Exod. 10.17 1 Sam. 25.37 2. Cor. 11.23 18. Not good That is not convenient or fit whether we consider the individual or the propagation of the kind Gen. 1.28 Eccl. 4.9 Prov. 18.22 Meet for him Of his own Kind fit for his Conversation and ready to help and assist him 19. Formed i. e. had formed chap. 1. 24 25. Every foul of the air See the Note on chap. 1.20 Brought them viz. both Sexes says Josephus 20. Gave Names In which he shewed his Dominion and Power Ps 147.4 5. and his Wisdom also in giving Names agreeable v. 19. Not found viz. In that great variety of Creatures which were brought to him and to whom he gave Names 21. One of his ribs Hereupon Adam said This is now bone of my bones v. 23. 23. Now That is for this once Hebr. for she should be otherwise produced afterward 24. Therefore shall c. i. e. Considering this first Original of the Woman there is no relation whatsoever either so ancient or so near as that of Man and Wife They were before Father and Mother Brother or Sister
12. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights 13. In the self-same day entered Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth the sons of Noah and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them into the ark 14. They and every beast after his kind and all the cattel after their kind and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind and every fowl after his kind every bird of every sort 15. And they went in unto Noah into the ark two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life 16. And they that went in went in male and female of all flesh as God had commanded him and the LORD shut him in 17. And the floud was forty days upon the earth and the waters increased and bare up the ark and it was lift up above the earth 18. And the waters prevailed and were increased greatly upon the earth and the ark went upon the face of the waters 19. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered 20. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail and the mountains were covered 21. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth both of fowl and of cattel and of beast and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth and every man 22. All in whose nostrils was the breath of life of all that was in the dry land died 23. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground both man and cattel and the creeping things and the fowl of the heaven and they were destroyed from the earth and Noah onely remained alive and they that were with him in the ark 24. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days 1. RIghteous c. i. e. Sincerely just Compare Luk. 16.15 Rom. 2.29 and Gen. 6.9 2. Clean beast i. e. Allowed for Sacrifice Compare chap. 8.20 Many things established afterwards in the Law of Moses obtained before that Law and were generally practised by the Worshippers of God v. g. Sacrifices Gen. 4.3 4.8.20.13.18 paying of Tithe Gen. 14.20 Circumcision Gen. 17.11 The Right of Primogeniture Gen. 25.33 Making Vows Gen. 28.20 ch 34.6 Marrying the Brothers's wife Gen. 38.8 And those things which Moses forbad were some of them forbidden before his Law As the eating of Bloud and Murder which was a capital Crime before the Law Gen. 9.4 6. And there is no doubt but that the difference of clean and unclean Beasts with respect to Sacrifice was known and observed before the Law of Moses and before the Floud Nor have we any cause to question but that the same were reputed clean before the Law which were declared to be so in the Law of Moses If so the number of Creatures that went into the Ark by Sevens was small and their provision being proportionable could not take up much room For by the Law of Moses onely Beeves and Sheep and Goats of the Beasts And Turtle-doves and Pigeons of the Fowls were allowed for Sacrifice Levit. 1.3 10 14. chap. 22.19 By sevens It is an opinion very ancient and commonly received that seven in number or three pairs for increase and a single one for Sacrifice is meant by this expression But yet it is probable that seven pairs or couples are meant by it because it follows here The male and his female And this latter sence is much confirmed by the Hebrew expression different from what follows of the Beasts not clean which were to be taken by two and also from v. 9 and 16. where the clean Beasts are said to have gone in two and two i. e. by pairs or couples See chap. 6.19 20. 3. Of fowls c. i. e. Of the clean by sevens as before of the unclean two and two as the Greek hath it here 4. For yet seven days i. e. Seven days hence as appears by comparing verse 10. The Earth The Fish of the Sea were exempted from destruction 6. Six hundred years c. This was from the Creation of the World the year One thousand six hundred fifty and six A. M. 1656. 2349. See chap. 5. Not as the Greek have it Two thousand two hundred forty and two 9. Two and two See the Note above on verse 2. 10. After seven days When Noah was now entered into the Ark. See v. 4. 11. Second month i. e. The second month of the year This answers to our October For Tisri or September was accounted the first month of the year The Ecclesiastical year among the Jews began indeed in March but this beginning of the year did not commence till after the Israelites came out of Egypt and that deliverance was the occasion of it Exod. 12.2 The Civil year began as of old in September Compare 1 Kings 8.2 with the Chaldee Paraphrast there Noah by this means had the advantage of gathering the fruits of the Earth Great deep viz. Which contained the Waters under the Earth Deut. 8.7 The depth of the Earth being stored with Waters Psal 33.7 Compare 2 Pet. 3.5 Windows of Heaven That is the Clouds from whence the Rain came in very great plenty Compare Psalm 78.23 and Mal. 3.10 12. Rain i. e. The violent Rain mentioned just before 14. Fowl and Bird The difference between these seems to be this That the word which we render Fowl denotes the larger kind and what we render Bird the smaller Gen. 15.9 10. Levit. 14.4 Or at least the first comprehends the larger sort Sort Or Wing as it is in the Hebrew text Some have feathered Wings others have more gristly and skinny ones which is one way of distinguishing the several sorts of Birds 16. The Lord shut him in That is God did probably by the Ministery of an Angel fasten and secure the door of the Ark into which Noah was entred from the danger from the Waters as well as against the attempts of those that might else have broken in upon him Compare 2 Kings 2.4 5. 17. The Floud i. e. The vehement Rain mentioned verse 12. 20. Fifteen cubits That is two and twenty foot and an half allowing a Cubit to contain but one foot and an half which is here but supposed but by no means granted See the Note on ch 6. v. 15. and consequently above the stature of the tallest of Men. 23. They that were with him They were in all but eight persons 24. Prevailed i. e. They kept above the surface of the Earth without decreasing to which sence it is rendred by the Greek They did not increase so long See chap. 8.3 An hundred and fifty days This space of time includes the forty days mentioned v. 12. so long it was before the Waters were abated Compare chap. 8. v. 3 4. CHAP. VIII The ARGUMENT After an hundred and fifty days from the beginning of the Floud the waters are abated The time and place of the resting of the Ark. Noah sends
shall not always continue but shall be destroyed in which words God threatens the drowning of Mankind by the floud of waters What we render strive is by the ancient Versions rendered by a word that signifies to continue or abide And what is rendred with Man in the Hebrew signifies as well in Man And then it will be easie to understand the importance of these words by comparing chap. 7.22 where it is said That all in whose nostrils was the breath of life Hebr. the breath of the spirit of life died Compare Gen. 2.7 Eccles 12.7 Heb. 12.9 For that he also is flesh i. e. For that he is a depraved mortal creature addicted to the works of the flesh Jud. v. 16 19. An hundred and twenty years i. e. So much time Men shall be allowed before the coming of the Floud to repent in Thus the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the Ark was a preparing 1 Pet. 3.20 Besides the World did not want a Preacher of Righteousness among them 2 Pet. 2.5 This warning began twenty years before the Birth of Japhet of whose Birth we have an account v. 10. in its due place For what is said chap. 5.32 is there added to complete the Genealogy which is the subject of that Chapter 4. Giants i. e. Not onely Men of great stature Numb 13.32 33. but of insolent tempers v. 5 11. and consequently such as struck a terror upon Men of smaller size and strength After that i. e. After that Race of Men last mentioned Mighty men i. e. Men of great power and force Of renown Or of great fame for their exploits in the wicked World 5. Every imagination c. i. e. All the secret thoughts and purposes of his mind were always bent upon Evil. Not onely the practices of Men were Evil as it is said that God saw that the wickedness of Man was great but the principles from whence those actions flowed were generally corrupted also 6. It repented God cannot properly be said to Repent 1 Sam. 15.29 The Scripture speaks in the language of the children of men as the Jews commonly express it and attribute many things to God which strictly speaking belong not to him Because when Men undoe what they had done they are said to repent God after this manner of Men is said to repent when he destroyeth that which he had made This in God does not imply any alteration or defect And it grieved him at his heart Or He was displeased and angry as the word in the Hebrew is observed to signifie See Gen. 34. v. 7. at the Evil heart of Man of which mention is made in the end of verse 5. 8. Found grace That is obtained favour Compare Heb. 11.7 9. Perfect in his generations i. e. He was an upright and sincere Man and unblameable in the midst of a wicked and ungodly World 11. The Earth That is the Inhabitants of it ch 11. v. 1. Violence Or Rapine They were irreligious toward God and unjust to one another 12. All flesh i. e. The whole Race of Mankind Compare Isai 40.5 with Psal 78.39 His way Or course of living But especially Religion which is the way of serving God and to happiness and is called the way Act. 22.4.18.26 14. Gopher-wood The Chaldee renders it by a word that signifies Cedar Whatever the Wood were it is certain that it was Wood fit for this purpose And the word in the Hebrew language seems to imply that the Wood was of a bituminous or pitchy nature which yet for the greater security was to be pitched within and without 15. Cubits Supposing a Cubit to be but a foot and half which hath been a commonly received opinion we shall not have any just cause to think that the Ark wanted any capacity for the reception of those creatures and that provision which was to be lodged there But we are not obliged to believe this common opinion which supposeth a Cubit to be but 18 inches Allowing it to be somewhat more than 21 the capacity of the Ark will be much greater But of this matter they who please may consult Dr. Cumberland's Book printed 1686. 16. A window Or a light possibly of some strong and Diaphanous stone to give light into the Ark. See the Note on Gen. 8.6 In a cubit c. i. e. Thou shalt raise the top of the Ark one Cubit that the Cover of it being sloping may the better conveigh the waters falling upon it Door By which Noah and his family and the living creatures were to enter With lower c. The Lower story was probably for the greater beasts The second for stowage of provision The third for Noah's family and the fowls and perhaps some of the smaller creatures 18. Covenant The word in this place signifies a promise to preserve Noah and his family c. though it generally signifie a mutual compact or agreement v. 19. And thus sometimes this word signifies See Numb 18.19 and chap. 25.12 13. 19. Two of every sort Not that there shall be but two of any sort compare ch 7. v. 2. but there must be two at least viz. male and female of every kind v. 20. 22. So did he Compare Heb. 11.7 CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT Noah and his Family by God's direction enter into the Ark The living Creatures do so likewise The time when the Floud began the great increase the effects and continuance of it 1. AND the LORD said unto Noah Come thou and all thy house into the ark for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation 2. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens the male and his female and of beasts that are not clean by two the male and his female 3. Of fowls also of the air by sevens the male and the female to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth 4. For yet seven days and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth 5. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him A. M. 1656. 2349. 6. And Noah was six hundred years old when the floud of waters was upon the earth 7. And Noah went in and his sons and his wife and his sons wives with him into the ark because of the waters of the floud 8. Of clean beasts and of beasts that are not clean and of fowls and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth 9. There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark the male and the female as God had commanded Noah 10. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the floud were upon the earth 11. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life in the second month the seventeenth day of the month the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven were opened
forth a Raven and a Dove to discover how far the Waters were abated The time in which the Earth was dried Noah and his Family go out of the Ark at God's command The living Creatures go out also Noah offers a Sacrifice to God who had preserved him which God accepts and promised that he would no more after this manner curse the Earth and destroy the living Creatures therein 1. AND God remembred Noah and every living thing and all the cattel that was with him in the ark and God made a wind to pass over the earth and the waters asswaged 2. The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained 3. And the waters returned from off the earth continually and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated 4. And the ark rested in the seventh month on the seventeenth day of the month upon the mountains of Ararat 5. And the waters decreased continually untill the tenth month in the tenth month on the first day of the month were the tops of the mountains seen 6. And it came to pass at the end of forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made 7. And he sent forth a raven which went forth to and fro untill the waters were dried up from off the earth 8. Also he sent forth a dove from him to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground 9. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot and she returned unto him into the ark for the waters were on the face of the whole earth Then he put forth his hand and took her and pulled her in unto him into the ark 10. And he stayed yet other seven days and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark 11. And the dove came in to him in the evening and lo in her mouth was an olive-leaf pluckt off So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth 12. And he stayed yet other seven days and sent forth the dove which returned not again unto him any more 13. And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year in the first month the first day of the month the waters were dried up from off the earth and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked and behold the face of the ground was dry 14. And in the second month on the seven and twentieth day of the month was the earth dried 15. And God spake unto Noah saying 16. Go forth of the ark thou and thy wife and thy sons and thy sons wives with thee 17. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh both of fowl and of cattel and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth that they may breed abundantly in the earth and be fruitfull and multiply upon the earth 18. And Noah went forth and his sons and his wife and his sons wives with him 19. Every Beast every creeping thing and every fowl and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth after their kinds went forth out of the ark 20. And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD and took of every clean beast and of every clean fowl and offered burnt-offerings on the altar 21. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour and the LORD said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done 22. While the earth remaineth seed-time and harvest and cold and heat and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease 1. REmembred This is spoken of God after the manner of Men. The meaning is that God shewed his care of Noah We are said to remember that which we take care of God is said to remember when he relieves and shews Mercy Heb. 6.10 Psal 136.23 A wind This was a Wind sent on purpose by God to remove the Waters from the Earth Exod. 14.21 2. The fountains c. As God by the Winds removed the Waters that were already upon the Earth so he had removed all the immediate Causes of the Floud having stopped the Fountains from beneath and the Heavens from above 3. Abated Or diminished They were asswaged before v. 1. But yet not so far taken away but that they did till this time continue above the Earth chap. 7 verse 24. 4. The seventh month on the seventeenth day i. e. The seventh month of the year This was exactly five months from the beginning of the floud of waters Gen. 7.11 Or an hundred and fifty days allowing thirty days to each month And hence it is evident that the forty days mentioned ch 7. v. 12. are part of the hundred and fifty mentioned v. 24. Vpon the mountains Or upon one of the mountains This is an elliptical way of speaking which is very usual in the Writings of the Jews And we have frequent examples in Scripture to this purpose Of Jephthah it is said that he was buried in the Cities of Gilead i. e. In one of the Cities as we render it Judg. 12.7 1 Sam. 18.21 Psal 1.3 Zechar. 9.9 Jon. 1.5 Compare Matt. 27.44 with Luk. 23.39 Joh. 6.45 Ararat i. e. Armenia That the Ark rested there Josephus affirms And it being a mountainous place hither it was that the Sons of Sennacherib fled for refuge Isa 37.38 Jer. 51.27 5. Tenth month i. e. The tenth month of the year First day i. e. Seventy three day after the above-named hundred and fifty Tops of the mountains seen i. e. The heads of the mountains as it is in the Hebrew were visible They were then considerably higher than the Waters 6. Window Or Casement It is not the same word which is used ch 6.16 And most probable it is by comparing the word used here by the Chaldee with Dan. 6.10 to be understood of some Shut or Casement which being easily removed gave a prospect abroad as well as a passage out for the Raven and Dove and for the rest of the Fowls afterwards 7. To and fro i. e. The Raven returned to the Ark for refuge but it does not appear that he was received into the Ark. 8. He sent forth He did this seven days after he had sent forth the Raven as seems to be intimated verse 10. where it is said that he staid yet other seven days 11. Olive-leaf Or rather an Olive-branch as the Hebrew word signifies See ch 3. v. 7. This being an argument that the Waters were sunk down below the tops of the Olive-trees 13. First month i. e. of the new year From off the Earth i. e. The surface of the ground was dry for so it follows the face of the ground was dry For the body of the ground it self is not said to be dry till the twenty-seventh day of the second month v. 14. 20. Altar
pass when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim and the curse upon mount Ebal 30. Are they not on the other side Jordan by the way where the sun goeth down in the land of the Canaanites which dwell in the champain over against Gilgal beside the plains of Moreh 31. For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you and ye shall possess it and dwell therein 32. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day 1. HIS charge i. e. What-ever he hath given in charge 2. Know i. e. Consider For that is the sense of the word here and in many other places Isa 1.3 Eccles 5.1 6. What he did unto Dathan c. Numb 16.31 and 27.3 Ps 106.17 This is mentioned here as a most remarkable Example of God's displeasure for their Rebellion Substance Or living substance That was in their possession The meaning is which followed them and appertained to them Heb. Was at their feet 7. But your eyes have seen They which came out of Egypt had seen all and others some of God's Acts. 10. Is not as the land of Egypt The comparing it with the Land of Egypt in this place is not designed with respect to the fruitfulness of it but to make them sensible that they ought immediately to depend upon God's good Providence and endeavour to please him who is onely able to send them fruitfull Seasons And wateredst it with thy foot That is by deriving Water from the River Nilus which was done either by digging Furrows in the Earth or by fetching Water both which speak the labour of the Feet And the Land of Canaan would set them free from this toil 11. And drinketh water of the rain of heaven There was little or no Rain in Egypt and therefore the Inhabitants depended upon the over-flowing of Nilus for their increase and derived Water thence to the Land which they had sowed with great labour The Land of Canaan was better provided for 'T was supplied without the labour and industry of Men and the Inhabitants taught to look up to God for seasonable showrs 12. Careth for Heb. Seeketh This imports a more peculiar Providence of God upon which the Inhabitants were taught to depend and not upon the labour and industry which though used in Egypt they would now be excused from 14. The first rain and the latter rain The first upon sowing the Seed that it might take root The latter before Harvest that the Ear might be filled See Jer. 5.24 15. Send Heb. Give 16. Be not deceived viz. By any artifice what-ever the Idolaters may make use of E. g. A pretence that they direct their Worship by their Images to the Supreme God and that they enjoy fruitfull Seasons as a reward of their Worship and such-like 18. Bind them Chap. 6.8 With the Note upon that place 19. And ye shall Ch. 4.10 and 6.7 21. As the days of heaven upon earth That is as long as the World endures Whiles the Heaven keeps its place over the Earth according to the Vulgar Latin Thus we read His seed will I make to endure for ever and then it follows And his throne as the days of heaven Psal 89.29 See Jer. 33.25 24. Every place Josh 1.3 This is to be understood I. With restriction to the bounds which follow here And II. With the condition above mentioned v. 22. Wilderness On the South Lebanon On the North. Euphrates On the East The uttermost sea On the West The Mid-land Sea was on the West of Canaan 27. A blessing Ch. 28.2 28. Curse Chap. 28.15 29. The blessing upon Gerizim c. Of this see chap. 27.12 13. Josh 8.33 32. To do Chap. 5.32 CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT Monuments of Idolatry are to be destroyed The place which God should choose for his Publick Service is to be resorted to and there the Sacrifices are to be offered Blood may not be eaten Holy things must be eaten in the place which God shall choose The Levite is to be kindly treated They are permitted to kill and eat Flesh in their several Habitations They are cautioned against Idolatry 1. THese are the statutes and judgments which ye shall observe to do in the land which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it all the days that ye live upon the earth 2. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every green tree 3. And you shall overthrow their altars and break their pillars and burn their groves with fire and you shall hew down the graven images of their gods and destroy the â—â—mes of them out of that place 4. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God 5. But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his â—â—mo there even unto his habitation shall ye seek and thither thou shalt come 6. And thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices and your tithes and heave-offerings of your hand and your vows and your free-will-offerings and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks 7. And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God and ye shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto ye and your housholds wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee 8. Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes 9. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God giveth you 10. But when ye go over Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about so that ye dwell in safety 11. Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there thither shall ye bring all that I command you your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices your tithes and the heave-offering of your hand and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD 12. And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God ye and your sons and your daughters and your men-servants and your maid-servants and the Levite that is within your gates forasmuch as he hath no part or inheritance with you 13. Take heed to thy self that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest 14. But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings and there thou shalt do all that I command thee 15. Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after according to the blessing of the LORD thy God
the Note on Chap. 4.19 29. The secret c. q. d. This severity of God towards his chosen People may be well supposed very amazing and surprizing especially considering his early and many and repeated Mercies to them and their Fathers from time to time his gracious Nature and Promises and his forbearance of others whose Sins were as great and who were not in Covenant with him But we are not too curiously to inquire into the Secrets of God's Providence Rom. 11.33 But on the other hand steadily to apply our selves to obey God's revealed Will as that which more peculiarly belongs to us and is the best preventive of such Calamities as are mentioned v. 23 27 28. CHAP. XXX The ARGUMENT God promiseth Mercy to the truly Penitent The Law of God was plainly laid before them Life and Death are set before them They are vehemently exhorted to be obedient and to be happy 1. AND it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee the blessing and the curse which I have set before thee and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee 2. And shalt return unto the LORD thy God and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day thou and thy children with all thine heart and with all thy soul 3. That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee 4. If any of thine be driven out unto the utmost parts of heaven from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee and from thence will he fetch thee 5. And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy fathers 6. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live 7. And the LOOD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies and on them that hate thee which persecuted thee 8. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD and do all his commandments which I command thee this day 9. And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy cattel and in the fruit of thy land for good for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good as he rejoiced over thy fathers 10. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God to â—eep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul 11. For this commandment which I command thee this day it is not hidden from thee neither is it for off 12. It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it 13. Neither is it beyond the sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it 14. But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it 15. See I have set before thee this day life and good and death and evil 16. In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments that thou mayest live and multiply and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it 17. But if thine heart turn away so that thou wilt not hear but shalt be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them 18. I denounce unto you this day and ye shall surely perish and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it 19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live 20. That thou mayest love the LORD thy God and that thou mayest obey his voice and that thou mayest cleave unto him for he is thy life and the length of thy days that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob to give them 1. AND thou shalt call them to mind i. e. Thou shalt consider or come thy self which is the first Step towards Repentance See Luke 15.17 1 King 8.47 If thou he think thy self That is the importance of the Hebrew and so it is rendred 1 Kings 8.47 2. And shalt return Here is a farther Description of true Repentance expressed by returning and by obeying God universally and heartily 3. Turn thy Captivity That is bring back thy Captives as appears from the following words and Captivity is sometimes used for Captives Psal 14.7 4. Vtmost parts of heaven That is the utmost parts of the Earth under the Heaven Behold I will gather them out of all Countries Jer. 32.37 What is expressed by from one end of the heaven to the other Matt. 24.31 is in a parallell place said from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13.27 Heaven some times signifies the Air in which we breath Gen. 1.8 6. Circumcise thine heart This is to be understood of that Spiritual Circumcision whereby the filthy Inclination of the Mind to evil is removed and pared away The Chaldee expresseth it by removing the folly of the heart and the Greek by cleansing it Coloss 2.11 Rom. 2.29 9. For good Plenty and Prosperity is to the hurt of evil Men and is onely good to them who are good and is therefore as such promised to them whose heart is circumcised 11. This Commandment viz. Of loving God v. 6. and sincere Obedience to his Revelation v. 8. which are also Evangelical Precepts Rom. 10.6 Not hidden i. e. It is not hard to be understood as those are which are said to be hidden and abstruse Far off Or out of thy reach that thou shouldest need pretend that thou canst not come at it 12. Not in heaven That is it is not looked up as a Secret there but revealed from thence 13. Beyond the Sea i. e. It is not at such a distance as will expose Men to great hazard to come at 14. In thy mouth and in thy heart i. e. It is very near thee indeed as that which thou ownest with thy Mouth and doest with thy Mind assent unto 19. I call heaven and earth c. See the Note on Chap. 4.26 20. He is thy life He is the Author
alive and greatly advanced in Egypt chap. 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. Jacob comes to Beersheba and is encouraged to go into Egypt and takes his Journey to it The Number of his Family that went with him Joseph meets his Father and instructs his Brethren what they should say to Pharaoh chap. 46. Joseph presents his Father and five of his Brethren to Pharaoh His Father and Brethren are placed in a good part of the Land The great encrease of the Famine in Egypt and what followed thereupon Jacob's Age He takes an Oath of Joseph to bury him with his Fathers Jacob blesseth Ephraim and Manasseh the two Sons of Joseph preferring the younger He fore-tells the Return of his Posterity into Canaan He blesseth his Children and predicts very particularly what shou'd befall the several Tribes in After-times and among many other things he Prophecies of the Messiah Jacob dies The Mourning for Jacob and his Burial Joseph dieth chap. 47 48 49 50. If what hath been said be reflected upon here is enough to be found in this excellent Book to recommend it to the Reader And it must needs be acceptable to all sorts of Readers that have a disposition to Knowledge or true Piety I. Here 's the best account of prime Antiquity Of the Original of the World and the Order in which the several Parts of it were framed Here 's the clearest account of the Destruction of the living Creatures by the Floud and of the Peopling the New World by the Sons of Noah Here we may find the most ancient Account of the several People who were the Heads of Families and Nations There 's nothing extant in the World that can vye with this Book in this respect Here we have also the most ancient Account of the true Worship of God and the first Formation of a Church and of the first Original of the Jewish Nation who were God's peculiar People and in Covenant with him II. Here we have also the best Account of our selves and are led to that knowledge of our selves wherein we are highly concerned We may learn hence whence our Bodies were framed and whence our immortal Souls came The happy condition in which Man was at first made and the great Misery into which Man plunged himself and his Posterity by his Disobedience and the Remedy which God provided for our restitution and recovery by the Promise of the Messiah under the Character of the Seed of the Woman who should break the Serpent's head The knowledge of these things is of vast moment to our Souls and tends to commend to us the necessity of a Saviour and Redeemer and leads us to him III. We have also in this Book very pregnant Proofs of God's Care and good Providence over Mankind and of his special Care of his Servants and Worshippers A firm belief of this is of great moment to us and a mighty support under the Miseries we feel and against those we fear The History of Cain and Abel does teach us this and so does the Account of the Ages and the Death of the Anti-diluvian Patriarchs We may learn it from the History of the Floud and Preservation of Righteous Noah and his Family We may learn it also from the Account we have of Abraham's Life and Peregrinations from that of Isaac and Jacob And especially from the Account we have of Joseph This History of Joseph is a mighty Proof of God's special care of his Servants and how vain those Men are who attempt to defeat the Counsel and Purpose of God who knows how to turn the Wickedness of Men to a good End and the Sufferings of his faithfull Servants to their good and advantage IV. We have also in this Book laid before us very great Examples of Piety and Vertue and these Examples are the more conspicuous as they lived before the giving of the Law where these things were required and encouraged and enforced by Rewards and Punishments The Divine Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews puts into his List among those who obtained a good report by Faith a considerable number of excellent Persons mentioned in this Book Heb. 11. I shall mention some of them and insist upon a few Abel was one of them who obtained a Divine Testimony that he was Righteous Heb. 11.4 Enoch was another who pleased God v. 5. being an example of repentance to all generations Ecclus 44.16 Noah was also a Man of singular Piety an heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith Heb. 11.7 A just Man and perfect in his Generations Gen. 6.9 A Man for his eximious Piety placed by the Prophet with Daniel and Job Ezek. 14.14 One who was taken in exchange for the World Ecclus 44.17 But not to insist upon others I add Abraham a Person most conspicuous for his Faith and Piety Hospitality and great Humaâ—ity and singular Justice and Meekness and care to instruct his Domesticks in the true Religioâ— and Worship of the great Creator of Heaven and Earth He was the Friend of God and for his Piety the Favourite of Heaven He was bred among Idolaters but he forsook his Country on God's Command Believed the Divine Promises how unlikely soever to come to pass to humane Reason He submitted to Circumcision when God commanded it how painfull soever it were to him And was ready to Sacrifice his Son the Son whom he loved and the Son of his Hopes and of his Old Age the Son of all the Promises and that was to inherit his Substance when God required him to do it Here is a Mirror of true Religion indeed one who deservedly bears the Name of the Father of the Faithfull In glory there was none like unto him and when he was proved he was found faithfull Ecclus 44.19 20. He propagated true Religion by his Example and Care It continued in his Family Isaac and Jacob are in that List of the Faithfull Heb. 11. Job is famous in the Old and New Testament and he is reckoned among his Descendants His Cousin Lot is also reckoned among the Righteous But let us consider how Exemplary his Wife and Servant were Sarah is reckoned among the Worthies Heb. 11. She is propounded as a great Pattern to married Women by St. Peter Whose daughters ye are says he as long as ye do well 1 Pet. 3.6 His Servant is a most conspicuous Example to all Servants Let Servants read Gen. 24. and they will soon see the truth of this matter He used in his Master's business all diligence shewed the greatest care and fidelity made the utmost dispatch preferred his Master's affair before his own ease and refreshment expressed his Trust in God for his success One Example more I will name and that is that of Joseph His Story is very wonderfull and his Life a great Pattern He shewed great Piety towards his Father Mercy and Forgiveness towards his Brethren He was a Man of singular Wisdom and dexterity in Business Of great Probity and inflexible Integrity
the Birth of Seth in that line did descend from Adam The word Book among the Ancients was applied to very small Writings or Chapters Thus the Bill of Divorcement is called Deut. 24.1 An Epistle 2 Sam. 11.14 A Register of Names Nehem. 7.5 2. Adam Or Man Gen. 1.27 3. An hundred and thirty years By years are meant Solar not Lunar years throughout the whole Chapter If a year were put for a month in these places then would Cainan Mahalaleel and Enoch be supposed to have had Children before they were six years old In his own lickness i. e. Like to him not onely in his faculties and bodily gifts and endowments but also in his mortality and the depravedness of his nature 5. All the days c. This very particular account which is given of Adam and his Descendants by Seth to the Floud serves to set forth the care and good providence of God And that it does I. As it assures us of God's blessing those Men in giving them Children both sons and daughters there not being any among them that was deprived of this Blessing II. By acquainting us with the long lives of those Men for the better replenishing of the Earth which God had made III. As it informs us of God's peculiar care of these good Men in exempting them from the Floud For it appears by computation that these righteous persons were not destroyed by the Floud which was brought upon the world of the ungodly 2 Pet. 2.5 There was not any one of them besides Noah whose Age reached unto the Floud And that seems to be the reason that the time of their death is precisely set down here which is not thus particularly done in the generations which are mentioned Gen. 11. 22. Walked with God i. e. Was a Religious Man he pleased God and had therefore a true faith in Him Heb. 11.5 6. and a firm belief of future rewards Jude v. 14 15. 24. He was not i. e. He was not found Heb. 11.5 viz. among the Inhabitants of this lower World God took him i. e. God took him to himself He was translated that he should not see death Heb. 11.5 29. Noah He was the tenth from Adam The Hebrew word signifies rest His Father fore-tells of him This same shall comfort us He brought comfort and rest to mankind By improving the Art of Husbandry he eased Men as to the toil of their hands ch 9. v. 20. He was also a means of saving Mankind from utter ruine by the Floud and upon his Oblations received assurance that God would not again curse the ground any more for man's sake ch 8. v. 21. 32. Shem Ham and Japheth Japheth was the eldest Shem the second and Ham the youngest See ch 7. v. 6. with ch 11. v. 10. ch 9. v. 24. ch 10. v. 21. The following Story being most concerned in the Off-spring of Shem and the Church of God being among his Off-spring he is here named in the first place CHAP. VI. The ARGUMENT The Causes which moved God to bring the Floud upon the World Noah findeth favour A character of him and an account of his Sons Noah is commanded to build an Ark. He is directed as to the Matter Form and End of it 1. AND it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them 2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose 3. And the LORD said My Spirit shall not always strive with man for that he also is flesh yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years 4. There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bare children to them the same became mighty men which were of old men of renown 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually 6. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart 7. And the LORD said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God 10. And Noah begat three sons Shem Ham and Japheth 11. The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence 12. And God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth 13. And God said unto Noah The end of all flesh is come before me for the earth is filled with violence through them and behold I will destroy them with the earth 14. Make thee an ark of Gopher-wood rooms shalt thou make in the ark and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch 15. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits the breadth of it fifty cubits and the height of it thirty cubits 16. A window shalt thou make to the ark and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof with lower second and third stories shalt thou make it 17. And behold I even I do bring a floud of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life from under heaven and every thing that is in the earth shall die 18. But with thee will I establish my covenant and thou shalt come into the ark thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy sons wives with thee 19. And of every living thing of all flesh two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark to keep them alive with thee they shall be male and female 20. Of fowls after their kind and of cattel after their kind of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind two of every sort shall come unto thee to keep them alive 21. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten and thou shalt gather it to thee and it shall be for food for thee and for them 22. Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him so did he 2. The Sons of God i. e. The Worshippers of God who were descended from Seth chap. 4. v. 26. These are called God's Children Compare Deut. 14.1 2 Cor. 6.18 with Isai 43.6 7.44.5.65.1 The daughters of men That is the daughters of the ungodly Race of Cain 1 Cor. 3.3 Chose Their choice was determined by Beauty whereas favour is deceitfull and beauty is vain Prov. 31.30 3. My Spirit shall not always strive with man i. e. Man
five and thirty years and begat Salah 13. And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 14. And Salah lived thirty years and begat Eber. 15. And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters 16. And Eber lived four and thirty years and begat Peleg 17. And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years and begat sons and daughters 18. And Peleg lived thirty years and begat Reu. 19. And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years and begat sons and daughters 20. And Reu lived two and thirty years and begat Serug 21. And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters 22. And Serug lived thirty years and begat Nahor 23. And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years and begat sons and daughters 24. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years and begat Terah 25. And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years and begat sons and daughters 2008. 1996. 26. And Terah lived seventy years and begat Abram Nahor and Haran 27. Now these are the generations of Terah Terah begat Abram Nahor and Haran and Haran begat Lot 28. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity in Vr of the Chaldees 29. And Abram and Nahor took them wives the name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah 30. But Sarai was barren she had no child 31. And Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran his sons son and Sarai his daughter in law his son Abram's wife and they went forth with them from Vr of the Chaldees to go into the land of Canaan and they came unto Haran and dwelt there 32. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years and Terah died in Haran 1. ONE language At this time the whole Race of Mankind spake one language Some think 't is probable it might be the Hebrew Tongue 2. From the East i. e. As they were journeying they came immediately from the East Shinar See Ch. 10. v. 10. Dwelt there By what follows it appears that they did intend to dwell there for the future contrary to God's command of replenishing the Earth ch 9.1 3. They said Nimrod very probably which Josephus affirms did encourage others of his Race and Temper to this contempt of God Brick The place being a Plain not affording Stone Slime A natural Cement to be found in Pits and lower Grounds 4. Build In this attempt they were guilty I. Of contempt of God's declared Will chap. 9. verse 1. which they endeavour to make void II. Of proudly seeking their own Fame and advancing their Power and Dominion Let us make us a Name They are by some also thought guilty III. Of a distrust of God's Truth who had declared that he would not drown the World any more whereas they are supposed to design a City and high Tower against the danger from another Floud To Heaven It is expressed Hyperbolically and imports a great height Deut. 9.1 A Name i. e. A Fame and Renown Compare Gen. 6.4 1 Chron. 17.8 with 2 Sam. 7.9 Lest we be Thus while they consult to defeat God's purpose they do that which was the occasion of bringing it to pass 5. Came down to see This is spoken after the manner of Men. God is then said to descend when he reveals himself by word or deed to us who live in this lower World The Chaldee renders it he appeared c. 6. Restrained They will give farther instances of their Rebellion and Tyranny if they be not defeated 7. Vs See Gen. 1.26 with the Note there 9. From thence From that very place which they intended to build to prevent their being scattered abroad v. 4. 10. These c. As ch 5. we have an account of the Generations from Adam to Noah who was the tenth from Adam So we have here an account from Noah to Abram who was the tenth from Noah And from hence we may learn that the Age of Man's life was much shortned after the Floud The whole time from the Floud to the Birth of Abram is but 352 years whereas from Adam's Creation to the Floud was no less than 1656. 26. Begat Abram Not that Abram was the first-born But he then began to beget Gen. 5.32 'T is supposed that Haran was the eldest and Abram the youngest That Abram was not the eldest is evident from this That Sarah the Daughter of Haran was but ten years younger than Abram and then Haran will be supposed to have begotten her when he was about nine years old Abram must be born the 130th year of Terah's life For Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran ch 12. v. 4. And this was after Terah's death 2008. 1996. who lived 205 years v. 32. 28. Before i. e. In Terah's life-time Vr of the Chaldees The name of a place in Mesopotamia Act. 7.2 It received its Name from the Chaldees who as they might subdue it at first so lived in it and gave it its denomination afterwards Vr in the Hebrew Tongue signifies Fire 29. Iscah The same with Sarai This is the opinion of the Jews nor is there cause to reject it 31. Terah took Abram c. Terah removed from his own Country with Abram who had received a Command from God to come out of it Gen. 12.1.15.7 Act. 7.3 And though this Command were the chief reason of this remove yet 't is thought that Terah was rendred inclinable to remove from the grief which he took at the Death of Haran there as well as at the Barrenness of Sarai v. 28 30. See Joseph Antiq. l. 1. c. 7. and Abravenel on the place Haran This is the name of a place in Mesopotamia Dwelt there It is likely that the occasion of their stay there was from the sickness or weakness of Terah When he was dead Abram went into Canaan CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT God calleth Abram from his own Country and encourageth his Remove with a promise to bless him and a particular promise of the Messias Abram's age when he left Haran He comes into the land of Canaan and sojourns there Vpon occasion of a famine in Canaan he goes into Egypt He owns Sarai as his Sister there Sarai is taken into the house of Pharaoh King of Egypt who by plagues was forced to restore her and dismisseth both Abram and Sarai and all that belonged to Abram 1. NOW the LORD had said unto Abram Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee 2. And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing 3. And I will bless them
for Sodom and in so doing and so frequently expressed a great Charity toward that sinfull people 26. I will spare This is an act of grace and favour God does not make it a Law to himself for the future Ezek. 14.18 33. The Lord went his way Or disappeared The glory of the Lord says the Chaldee See the Note on ch 17. v. 23. His place i. e. To the Plains of Mamre where the Lord is said to have appeared unto him v. 1. CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Lot entertains two Angels The wicked Sodomites are stricken with blindness Lot warns his Sons-in-law to quit Sodom who despise his admonition Lot with his Wife and Daughters is brought out of Sodom and escapes to Zoar. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed Lot's Wife becomes a Pillar of Salt The incestuous Original of Moab and Ammon 1. AND there came two angels to Sodom at even and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground 2. And he said Behold now my lords turn in I pray you into your sâ—â—vants house and tarry all night â—â—d wash your feet and ye shall riâ—â— up early and go on your ways And they said Nay but we will abide in the street all night 3. And he pressed upon them greatly and they turned in unto him and entred into his house and he made them a feast and did bake unleavened bread and they did eat 4. But before they lay down the men of the city even the men of Sodom compassed the house round both old and young all the people from every quarter 5. And they called unto Lot and said unto him Where are the men which came in to thee this night bring them out unto us that we may know them 6. And Lot went out at the door unto them and shut the door after him 7. And said I pray you brethren do not so wickedly 8. Behold now I have two daughters which have not known man let me I pray you bring them out unto you and do ye to them as is good in your eyes only unto these men do nothing for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof 9. And they said Stand back And they said again This one fellow came in to sojourn and he will needs be a judge Now will we deal worse with thee then with them And they pressed sore upon the man even Lot and came near to break the door 10. But the men put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door 11. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness both small and great so that they wearied themselves to find the door 12. And the men said unto Lot Hast thou here any besides son in law and thy sons and thy daughters and whatsoever thou hast in the city bring them out of this place 13. For we will destroy this place because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it 14. And Lot went out and spake unto his sons in law which married his daughters and said Vp get you out of this place for the LORD will destroy this city but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law 15. And when the morning arose then the angels hastened Lot saying Arise take thy wife and thy two daughters which are here lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city 16. And while he lingered the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters the LORD being mercifull unto him and they brought him forth and set him without the city 17. And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad that he said Escape for thy life look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed 18. And Lot said unto them Oh not so my lord 19. Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life and I cannot escape to the mountain lest some evil take me and I die 20. Behold now this city is near to flee unto and it is a little one Oh let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live 21. And he said unto him See I have accepted thee concerning this thing also that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken 22. Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entred into Zoar. 24. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven 25. And he overthrew those cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities and that which grew upon the ground 26. But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt 27. And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD 28. And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain and beheld and lo the smoak of the country went up as the smoak of a furnace 29. And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain that God remembred Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt 30. And Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain and his two daughters with him for he feared to dwell in Zoar and he dwelt in a cave he and his two daughters 31. And the first born said unto the younger Our father is old and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth 32. Come let us make our father drink wine and we will lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father 33. And they made their father drink wine that night and the first-born went in and lay with her father and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 34. And it came to pass on the morrow that the first-born said unto the younger Behold I lay yesternight with my father let us make him drink wine this night also and go thou in and lie with him that we may preserve seed of our father 35. And they made their father drink wine that night also and the younger arose and lay with him and he perceived not when she lay down nor when she arose 36. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father 37. And the first-born bare a son and called his name Moab the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day 38. And the younger
his Father's advice says Josephus and contrary to the direction of his Parents and Superiors see ch 24.3 and 27.46 and 28.1 6 8. and it is expressly said that this occasioned a grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebekah v. 35. CHAP. XXVII The ARGUMENT Isaac sendeth Esau for Venison with the hope of receiving his blessing Jacob being directed and assisted by his mother prevents his brother Esau and obtains the blessing Esau returns to his father from hunting with expectation of the blessing Isaac refuseth to reverse the blessing which he had given to Jacob. Esau hates Jacob and designs his death Jacob escapes by his mother's advice She is grieved at the daughters of Heth. 1. AND it came to pass that when Isaac was old 2245. 1760. and his eyes were dim so that he could not see he called Esau his eldest son and said unto him My son and he said unto him Behold here am I. 2. And he said Behold now I am old I know not the day of my death 3. Now therefore take I pray thee thy weapons thy quiver and thy bow and go out to the field and take me some venison 4. And make me savoury meat such as I love and bring it to me that I may eat that my soul may bless thee before I die 5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son and Esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it 6. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son saying Behold I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother saying 7. Bring venison and make me savoury meat that I may eat and bless thee before the LORD before my death 8. Now therefore my son obey my voice according to that which I command thee 9. Go now to the flock and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats and I will make them savoury meat for thy father such as he loveth 10. And thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death 11. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother Behold Esau my brother is an hairy man and I am a smooth man 12. My father peradventure will feel me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing 13. And his mother said unto him Vpon me be thy curse my son only obey my voice and go fetch me them 14. And he went and fetched and brought them to his mother and his mother made savoury meat such as his father loved 15. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau which were with her in the house and put them upon Jacob her younger son 16. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck 17. And she gave the savoury meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob. 18. And he came unto his father and said My father And he said Here am I who art thou my son 19. And Jacob said unto his father I am Esau thy first-born I have done according as thou badest me arise I pray thee sit and eat of my venison that thy soul may bless me 20. And Isaac said unto his son How is it that thou hast found it so quickly my son And he said Because the LORD thy God brought it to me 21. And Isaac said unto Jacob Come near I pray thee that I may feel thee my son whether thou be my very son Esau or not 22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father and he felt him and said The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau 23. And he discerned him not because his hands were hairy as his brother Esau's hands So he blessed him 24. And he said Art thou my very son Esau And he said I am 25. And he said Bring it near to me and I will eat of my son's venison that my soul may bless thee and he brought it near to him and he did eat and he brought him wine and he drank 26. And his father Isaac said unto him Come near now and kiss me my son 27. And he came near and kissed him and he smelled the smell of his raiment and blessed him and said See the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed 28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of corn and wine 29. Let people serve thee and nations bow down to thee be lord over thy brethren and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee cursed be every one that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee 30. And it came to pass assoon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father that Esau his brother came in from his hunting 31. And he also had made savoury meat and brought it unto his father and said unto his father Let my father arise and eat of his son's venison that thy soul may bless me 32. And Isaac his father said unto him Who art thou And he said I am thy son thy first-born Esau 33. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly and said Who where is he that hath taken venison and brought it me and I have eaten of all before thou camest and have blessed him yea and he shall be blessed 34. And when Esau heard the words of his father he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry and said unto his father Bless me even me also O my father 35. And he said Thy brother came with subtilty and hath taken away thy blessing 36. And he said Is not he rightly named Jacob for he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and he said hast thou not reserved a blessing for me 37. And Isaac answered and said unto Esau Behold I have made him thy lord and all his brethren have I given to him for servants and with corn and wine have I sustained him and what shall I do now unto thee my son 38. And Esau said unto his father Hast thou but one blessing my father bless me even me also O my father And Esau lift up his voice and wept 39. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him Behold thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above 40. And by the sword shalt thou live and shalt serve thy brother and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck 41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart The days of mourning for my father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob. 42. And these words of Esau her elder
be his wife 10. And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba and went toward Haran 11. And he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night because the sun was set and he took of the stones of that place and put them for his pillows and lay down in that place to sleep 12. And he dreamed and behold a ladder set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it 13. And behold the LORD stood above it and said I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father and the God of Isaac the land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed 14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed 15. And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land for I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken to thee of 16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said Surely the LORD is in this place and I knew it not 17. And he was afraid and said How dreadfull is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven 18. And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it 19. And he called the name of that place Beth-el but the name of that city was called Luz at the first 20. And Jacob vowed a vow saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on 21. So that I come again to my father's house in peace then shall the LORD be my God 22. And this stone which I have sit for a pillar shall be God's house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee 1. BLessed him i. e. He renewed his Blessing and thereby confirmed his Title to it This was needfull Jacob having used Craft in procuring it and being shortly to meet with some trials Of Canaan See the Note on ch 24.3 Compare ch 12.7 and ch 27.46 2. Go Jacob is sent and not a Servant for him as Abraham appointed for Isaac ch 24. He went also meanly provided ch 32.10 and was a Servant Twenty years ch 31.42 and this journey of his is called a flight Hos 12.12 such afflictions befell him after he had with guile procured his Father's blessing Padan-Aram See ch 25.20 3. A multitude of people This Blessing is added to that ch 27.28 29. and was eminently fulfilled in the numerous Off-spring of Jacob and his Sons who were the Heads of the Tribes of Israel 4. Blessing of Abraham That Blessing not onely Temporal but Spiritual which was promised to Abraham ch 12.2 3. ch 17.19 ch 22.17 18. and was by God himself transferred to Isaac ch 25.11 and ch 26.3 and is here by Isaac assured unto Jacob and his seed Gave i. e. Granted The Vulgar renders it Promised See the Note on ch 13.17 9. Then went Esau c. The Motives that induced him are laid before us in the foregoing words v. 12. That Isaac sent Jacob to take a Wife of his kindred and had warned him against the Daughters of Canaan as those with whom he was not pleased and that Jacob had in this obeyed Isaac v. 6 7 8. Ishmael i. e. The Family or House of Ishmael For Ishmael was now dead Compare ch 25.17 with ch 27.2 And he had been dead about Fourteen years Compare ch 16.24 25. with ch 21.5 Mahalath She had another Name also viz. Bashemath ch 36.3 a thing not unusual nor to be wondred at Her Husband was called by two Names also Esau and Edom ch 36.1 11. Tarried there viz. Abroad He was not willing to be a Guest to any of the Canaanites says Josephus 12. A Ladder This representation was to instruct Jacob in the belief of God's special care and providence and is fitly done by a Ladder reaching from Earth to Heaven and the ascending and descending of Angels those ministring Spirits Compare Psal 113.5 6. with v. 13. and 15. of this Chapter Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 See also Gen. 32.1 2. This is also fairly applicable to the times of the Gospel and God's special providence over his Church and his divine Communications to it upon the account of the Mediation of Christ who was himself ministred unto by Angels and is the way by which the Divine Blessings descend upon the Church Compare Joh. 1.51.14.6 Mar. 1.13 Luk. 22.43 Joh. 20.12 Act. 1.10 11. 13. Lord Jehovah whose Ministers the Angels are Psal 91.11 and who is able to save the afflicted Instead of Lord the Chaldee hath the glory of the Lord vid. ch 17.22 15. Vntill i. e. Vnless as the Vulgar renders it 17. Dreadfull The appearance was so glorious that it struck a dread upon him Compare Matt. 17.6 Luk. 2.9 18. Poured Oil By this means separating it to a Religious use or making on it such an oblation as he was able to do Compare ch 35.14 19. Bethel In the Tribe of Benjamin Josh 18.22 20. A vow i. e. A solemn promise made unto God 21. Then shall He makes his Vow after the assurance given him v. 13. And this Vow was therefore Eucharistical 22. Tenth Chap. 14.20 CHAP. XXIX The ARGUMENT Jacob's journey He comes to the well of Haran rolls the stone from the mouth of it and acquaints himself with Rachel He is entertained into Laban's house and becomes his servant He contracts with Laban to serve him seven years for Rachel and is beguiled with Leah in her stead He agrees to serve other seven years for Rachel who was barren for some time Leah who was hated bears Reuben Simeon Levi and Judah 1. THen Jacob went on his journey and came into the land of the people of the east 2. And he looked and behold a well in the field and lo there were three flocks of sheep lying by it for out of that well they watered the flocks and a great stone was upon the well's mouth 3. And thither were all the flocks gathered and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the sheep and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place 4. And Jacob said unto them My brethren whence be ye and they said Of Haran are we 5. And he said unto them Know ye Laban the son of Nahor And they said We know him 6. And he said unto them Is he well and they said He is well and behold Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep 7. And he said Lo it is yet high day neither is
and set them Bounds which he accordingly does God descends upon the Mount and sends Moses down to restrain the Priests and People from coming too near 1. IN the third month when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai 2. For they were departed from Rephidim and were come to the desart of Sinai and had pitched in the wilderness and there Israel camped before the mount 3. And Moses went up unto God and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain saying Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel 4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagles wings and brought you unto my self 5. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people for all the earth is mine 6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel 7. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him 8. And all the people answered together and said All that the LORD hath spoken we will do And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD 9. And the LORD said unto Moses Lo I come unto thee in a thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever And Moses told the words of the peole unto the LORD 10. And the LORD said unto Moses Go unto the people and sanctifie them to day and to morrow and let them wash their clothes 11. And be ready against the third day for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai 12. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about saying Take heed to your selves that ye go not up into the mount or touch the border of it whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death 13. There shall not an hand touch it but he shall surely be stoned or shot through whether it be beast or man it shall not live when the trumpet soundeth long they shall come up to the mount 14. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people and sanctified the people and they washed their clothes 15. And he said unto the people Be ready against the third day come not at your wives 16. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the people that was in the camp trembled 17. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God and they stood at the nether part of the mount 18. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly 19. And when the voice of the trumpet founded long and waxed louder and louder Moses spake and God answered him by a voice 20. And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai on the top of the mount and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount and Moses went up 21. And the LORD said unto Moses Go down charge the people lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish 22. And let the priests also which come near unto the LORD sanctifie themselves lest the LORD break forth upon them 23. And Moses said unto the LORD The people cannot come up to mount Sinai for thou chargedst us saying Set bounds about the mount and sanctifie it 24. And the LORD said unto him Away get thee down and thou shalt come up thou and Aaron with thee but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD lest he break forth upon them 25. So Moses went down unto the people and spake unto them 1. THE same day It hath been thought that by the same day is meant the third day of the month as this was the third month of the year But that word which we translate month signifies sometimes no more but the New-moon or first day of the month Num. 29.6 1 Sam. 20.24 27. And in that sense the same day signifies the first day of the month According to this account it was fifty days from the Israelites eating the Passover in Egypt to the giving of the Law which was done on the third day v. 11. For on the fourteenth day of the first month was that Passover eaten From that time reckoning inclusively the first and last day was to the third of this third month just fifty days 3. Moses Act. 7.38 Went up unto God i. e. He went up to the Mount where the Glory of God appeared 4. Ye have seen Deut. 29.2 On Eagles wings Deut. 32.11 12. This speaks the great care of God and the sure defence which the Israelites had thereby received Vid. Revel 12.14 Vnto my self i. e. To the place where I appear to you and am ready to give you my Laws 5. Now Deut. 5.2 All the Earth Deut. 10.14 Psal 24.1 The greater was the favour of God to the Israelites when he made choice of them for his peculiar People 6. A Kingdom of Priests 1 Pet. 2.9 Rev. 1.6 Not a profane State but such as shall worship God according to his Will and be thereupon exalted by him to great Dignity Ye shall be Kings and Priests See the Chaldee and Rev. 5.10 8. All Ch. 24.3 7. Deut. 5.27 and 26.17 9. I come unto thee i. e. I will appear unto thee after a glorious manner Told Or He had told See v. 8. 10. Sanctifie them i. e. Set them a-part and let them abstain from all evil and from every impurity And as a token of their being sanctified inwardly they were obliged also to wash their clothes 11. The third day Vid. Notes on v. 1. On this day the Law was given called a fiery Law Deut. 33.3 And this day was the day of Pentecost being fifty days after the Passover on which day the fiery Tongues were bestowed Act. 2. Will come down Or will reveal himself by a glorious Appearance 12. Set bounds Such bounds and limits as they might not pass lest for their curiosity and profaneness they die vid. 1 Sam. 6.19 Whosoever Heb. 12.20 13. Trumpet Or Cornet Soundeth long Or when it hath sounded long The Greek understand it of that time when the Trumpet ceased They shall come up to the mount The People shall come nearer at least to the foot of the Mount and Moses and Aaron and his Sons and the Elders of Israel shall go up into the Mount vid. ch 24.9 15. Wives 1 Sam. 21.4 Joel
out of Egypt Deut. 5.15 And it was a standing sign of that People's relation to God as their Maker and Deliverer Ezek. 20.20 That doth sanctifie you Or That doth set you apart to my Service and as a sign and token thereof the Sabbath was ordained for the service of God and rest from Worldly Occasions 14. Ye shall keep c. Ch. 20.8 Deut. 5.12 Ezek. 20.12 Be put to death The case was thus says Maimon among the Jews He that proudly and wittingly did work on the Sabbath was liable to be cut off i. e. To perish by the hand of God If he did it ignorantly he was obliged to bring his Sin-offering but if he were convicted by Witnesses he was to be stoned Num. 15.27.30 and 35. 15. Holy Heb. Holiness 17. In six days Gen. 1.13 and 2.2 18. Two tables Deut. 9.10 With the finger of God This is spoken after the manner of Men and is to be understood accordingly These Tables and the Writing on them were noâ— the work of a Man but were the work of God Vid. ch 31.16 Vid. More Nevochim p. 1. c. 66. CHAP. XXXII The ARGUMENT In the absence of Moses the Israelites prevail with Aaron to make a Calf They commit Idolatry God's great displeasure thereupon Moses intercedes with God on their behalf The Tables of Stone are broken Moses destroys the Calf and expostulates with Aaron The Sons of Levi slay many of the Israelites by the direction of Moses Moses minds the People of the greatness of their Sin He pleads with God on their behalf 1. AND when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said unto him Vp make us gods which shall go before us for as for this Moses the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt we wot not what is become of him 2. And Aaron said unto them Break off the golden ear-rings whâ—â—h are in the ears of your wives of your sons and of your daughters and bring them unto me 3. And all the people brake off the golden ear-rings which were in their ears and brought them unto Aaron 4. And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool after he had made it a molten calf and they said These be thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 5. And when Aaron saw it he built an altar before it and Aaron made proclamation and said To morrow is a feast to the LORD 6. And they rose up early on the morrow and offered burnt-offerings and brought peace-offerings and the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play 7. And the LORD said unto Moses Go get thee down for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves 8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them they have made them a molten calf and have worshipped it and have sacrificed thereunto and said These be thy gods O Israel which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 9. And the LORD said unto Moses I have seen this people and behold it is a stiff-necked people 10. Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them and I will make of thee a great nation 11. And Moses besought the LORD his God and said LORD why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand 12. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say For mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people 13. Remember Abraham Isaac and Israel thy servants to whom thou swarest by thine own self and saidest unto them I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed and they shall inherit it for ever 14. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people 15. And Moses turned and went down from the mount and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand the tables were written on both their sides on the one side and on the other were they written 16. And the tables were the work of God and the writing was the writing of God graven upon the tables 17. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted he said unto Moses There is a noise of war in the camp 18. And he said It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome but the noise of them that sing do I hear 19. And it came to pass assoon as he came nigh unto the camp that he saw the calf and the dancing and Moses's anger waxed hot and he cast the tables out of his hands and brake them beneath the mount 20. And he took the calf which they had made and burnt it in the fire and ground it to powder and strawed it upon the water and made the children of Israel drink of it 21. And Moses said unto Aaron What did this people unto thee that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them 22. And Aaron said Let not the anger of my lord wax hot thou knowest the people that they are set on mischief 23. For they said unto me Make us gods which shall go before us For as for this Moses the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt we wot not what is become of him 24. And I said unto them Whosoever hath any gold let them break it off So they gave it me then I cast it into the fire and there came out this calf 25. And when Moses saw that the people were naked for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame amongst their enemies 26. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said Who is on the LORD's side let him come unto me And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him 27. And he said unto them Thus saith the LORD God of Israel Put every man his sword by his side and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbour 28. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men 29. For Moses had said Consecrate your selves to day to the LORD even every man upon his son and upon his brother that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day 30. And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses said unto the people Ye have sinned a great sin and now I will
well become us to observe it But still we must do all we possibly can to exclude those from the participation of Holy Things who live in contradiction to the Precepts of our Holy Religion III. The Law concerning Restitution in case of a Trespass mentioned in the same Chapter This is of great use to us and shews us the absolute necessity of making restitution for any wrong or injury that we have done By this Law he that had done the wrong was obliged to make Restitution to the injured person and he is directed what to doe in case the injured person could not be found 'T was not his confessing his sin not his Sacrifice with that Confession that would procure his Pardon if he did not make Restitution as he is directed there This is the Doctrine of the Law and of the Prophets also Ezek. 33.15 as well as of the New Testament Luk. 18.8 Rom. 13.8 9. This is a most unquestionable truth and that the Reader ought to lay to Heart IV. The passages related ch 11 12. are of great moment towards the awakening us to avoid Murmuring Discontent and Sedition We have severe Examples related there of the sad effects of those sins and the Mischiefs that follow upon such Crimes are unspeakable No Man can tell where his Discontent will stop or what will be the effects of it Let us see how the Apostle applies this Neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10.10 11 12. V. The Account we have of the Spies sent into the Land of Canaan and of their Report of it and what followed thereupon ch 13 14. This represents to us the great mischief of Diffidence and Distrust and contempt of the Kingdom of Heaven Let us see how the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews applies this To whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it Heb. 3.18 19. and ch 4.1 It follows Let us therefore labour to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief v. 11. Those Men that went to see the Land owned it to be a good Land and brought some of the Fruit thereof thence But after all they discouraged the People from the difficulties that would attend their Conquest of it notwithstanding the many Experiences which they had received of the Power and Providence of God These Men died by the Plague in the Wilderness the murmuring Israelites wandered about in it till they were consumed and they were a sad example of Distrust and Unbelief VI. The account we have of the Rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram ch 16. This Relation is of great moment to keep Men from the like sin for the time to come These Men rebelled against Moses and Aaron whom God had chosen The Rebels were swallowed up by the Earth and consumed with Fire from Heaven and God took care for the perpetuating the Memory of their sin and asserting the Divine right of the Priesthood They envyed Moses in the Camp and Aaron the saint of the Lord. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram And a fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the wicked Ps 106.16 17 18. God would have the Israelites keep up the Memory of these things and learn from this sad example to have due regard to them whom he chose to Minister in Holy Things And to this purpose he commands that Plates should be made of the Censers of the Rebels for the Altar of Burnt-offering that so there might remain a Memorial of this fatal Rebellion in the view of the People He caused also Aaron's Rod to flourish and to be preserved as a token against the Rebels And upon that follows a most particular account ch 18. of the Honorary Maintenance of the Priests Such care God thought fit to take to vindicate the Priests his Servants and to keep up the Memory of this Relation VII The account we have of the People's being bitten with the Fiery Serpents and healed by looking upon the Brazen Serpent ch 21. This cure was as the Jews call it a Miracle in a Miracle The Brazen Serpent was a Type of the Death of Christ Joh. 3.14 by whose Stripes we are healed This Brazen Serpent is called by the Author of the Book of Wisdom A Sign of Salvation It was put upon a Pole or set up for a Sign and he that looked upon it lived i. e. Recovered of the harm he had received from the bite of the Fiery Serpent He that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing that he saw but by thee that art the Saviour of all Wisdom 16.6 7. Thus did God sending his own son in the likeness of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Rom. 8.3 VIII The account of Balak's sending to Balaam to curse the Israelites and his coming to him upon this occasion and what he said and did follows in Chapters 22 23 24. And that Relation is of great use to us and such as well deserves our serious reflecting upon It lets us know that we need not fear the Curses of a false Prophet nor the attempts of our most powerfull Enemies whiles we do adhere to God and keep his Laws God will so long defend us and then we need not fear what Man can do unto us We have also in that Relation many excellent Prophecies and one particularly of the Messias of which the Reader will find an account in the Notes in their proper place IX The account of the Whoredom and Idolatry of the People at Shittim ch 25. We have there a particular account of the sin and very exemplary punishment of the People for their Wickedness And the Reader will easily believe that this was contrived by Balaam from what hath been said to that purpose in the Noâ—es upon that History which follow Balaam could not prevail by Inchantments and Divination by Sacrifices or Magical Arts. He took the onely course that was left and that was to tempt them by the Women of Midian to Whoredom first and then to Idolatry The Beauty of the Women was the first snaâ—e and thence they were drawn on to commit Idolatry They called the people to the sacrifices of their Gods And the people did eat and bowed down to their Gods Thus were they joined unto Baal Peor and did eat the sacrifices of the dead Ps 106.28 Thus did the People fall by their own Wickedness whom Balaam and Balak could never have harmed
Heb. From the eyes Manner Or Ordinance 27. If any soul i. e. If any private person Or any one of the common people as it is expressed Levit 4.27 29. Sinneth Heb. Doeth 30. Presumptuously Heb. With an high hand i. e. Wilfully and designedly and not through ignorance and inadvertence 31. Broken Not onely broken but disanulled and made void by Contemning that Authority upon which the Commandment stands His iniquity i. e. The punishment due upon account of his Sin 32. Gathered sticks Not onely gathered but bound them up together as the Hebrew word may well signifie Exod. 5.7 34. In ward Levit 24.12 It was not declared c. They knew that he who defiled the Sabbath was obnoxious to Death Exod. 31.14 ch 35.2 But the kind of death they were not taught and might be also at a loss whether what this Man did was such a work as was forbid and such as might be esteemed a defiling the Sabbath 38. Bid them Deut. 22.12 Matt. 23.5 39. A whoring This may be understood of Idolatry which is spiritual Whoredom CHAP. XVI The ARGUMENT The Rebellion of Korah Dathan and Abiram The Israelites separate from their Tents The Earth swallows up Korah and those that belonged to him A Fire from Heaven consumes them that offered Incense The Censers are made into Plates The People murmur A Plague is sent among them Aaron makes Atonement for the People 1. NOW Korah the son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab and On the son of Peleth sons of Reuben took men 2. And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly famous in the congregation men of renown 3. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the LORD is among them wherefore then lift you up your selves above the congregation of the LORD 4. And when Moses heard it he fell upon his face 5. And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company saying Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his and who is holy and will cause him to come near unto him even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him 6. This do Take you censers Korah and all his company 7. And put fire therein and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose he shall be holy ye take too much upon you ye sons of Levi. 8. And Moses said unto Korah Hear I pray you ye sons of Levi 9. Seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them 10. And he hath brought thee near to him and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the priesthood also 11. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD and what is Aaron that ye murmur against him 12. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab which said We will not come up 13. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness except thou make thy self altogether a prince over us 14. Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards wilt thou put out the eyes of these men we will not come up 15. And Moses was very wroth and said unto the LORD Respect not thou their offering I have not taken one ass from them neither have I hurt one of them 16. And Moses said unto Korah Be thou and all thy company before the LORD thou and they and Aaron to morrow 17. And take every man his censer and put incense in them and bring ye before the LORD every man his censor two hundred and fifty censers thou also and Aaron each of you his censer 18. And they took every man his censer and put fire in them and laid incense thereon and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron 19. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation 20. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 21. Separate your selves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment 22. And they fell upon their faces and said O God the God of the spirits of all flesh shall one man sin and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation 23. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 24. Speak unto the congregation saying Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram 25. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram and the elders of Israel followed him 26. And he spake unto the congregation saying Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their sins 27. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram on every side and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents and their wives and their sons and their little children 28. And Moses said Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works for I have not done them of mine own mind 29. If these men die the common death of all men or if they be visited after the visitation of all men then the LORD hath not sent me 30. But if the LORD make a new thing and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up with all that appertain unto them and they go down quick into the pit then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words that the ground clave asunder that was under them 32. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods 33. They and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit and the earth closed upon them and they perished from among the congregation 34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them for they said Lest the earth swallow us up also 35. And there came out a fire from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense 36. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 37. Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest that he
the great Stature of Og. After the cubit of a man That is according to the Cubit of a Man grown up and of an usual size which is about half a yard 12. The Cities Numb 32.33 Josh 13.8 c. 14. Havoth-jair Numb 32.41 15. Gilead viz. The half of it See verse 12. Vnto Machir That is to his Posterity 16. Half the valley For the right understanding of this place it is to be considered that the Hebrew word here translated Valley signifies sometimes a Valley and sometimes a River and in the latter sense is rendred in this Verse in the words immediately foregoing The river Arâ—â—â— And so it ought to be rendred here and so it is rendred by the Greek and Vulgar Latin in this place And what we render half the Valley imports as much as to the middle of the River viz. Emphatically of the River just before mentioned Their Land extended from Gilead unto the middle of the River Arnon The truth of this appears from other places viz. Josh 12.2 We have an account of the same place being the place where Sihon dwelt who is there said to have ruled from Aroer which is upon the bank of the river Arnon and from the middle of the river which last are the same words in the Hebrew which we find here rendred by half the Valley and from half Gilead Again Deut. 2.36 the same place is described viz. From Aroer which is by the brink of the river of Arnon and from the city that is by the river viz. Ar of Moab which stood within the River and which was a City they were not permitted to invade even unto Gilead And the border even unto the river Jabbok These words seem to be Elliptical The sense is And the border was even unto the river Jabbok 17. Vnder Ashdoth-Pisgah Or under the Springs of Pisgah or the Hill 18. Ye shall pass over c. Numb 32.20 Meet for the war Heb. Sons of power 20. Return Josh 22.4 21. Commanded Numb 27.18 24. Thy greatness and thy mighty hand viz. In giving us the Conquest over such powerfull Enemies as Sihon and Og. 25. I pray thee let me go over c. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Moses should think the Threatning of God reversible and it must needs be very desirable by him to see that Land which had been so long ago promised so much expected and so greatly vilified by them that had been sent from Kadesh-barnea to search the Land But besides this it may be said that he had a desire especially to see that place where God would choose to dwell which the Jews affirm is meant by the goodly Mountain as well as the remoter Parts of the promised Land in which was Lebanon 26. Was wroth Numb 20.12 chap. 1.37 27. Pisgah Or the Hill See Numb 27.12 Behold it This was a favour not granted to the Men that searched and that murmured 28. Charge Give him Commission to execute my Will Encourage i. e. Give him assurance of success 29. Beth-peor Or the house of Peor The name of a Place or City so called CHAP. IV. The ARGUMENT The Israelites are exhorted to Obedience by several great Motives Such as their own Interest and the Reasonableness of it They are particularly warned against Idolatry and that very powerfully They are obliged to teach the Law unto their Children Three Cities of Refuge are set a part by Moses 1. NOW therefore hearken O Israel unto the statutes and unto the judgments which I teach you for to do them that ye may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you 2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you 3. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor for all the men that followed Baal-peor the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you 4. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day 5. Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments even as the LORD my God commanded me that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it 6. Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people 7. For what nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for 8. And what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day 9. Onely take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons 10. Specially the day that thou stood'st before the LORD thy God in Horeb when the LORD said unto me Gather me the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth and that they may teach their children 11. And ye came near and stood under the mountain and the mountain burnt with fire unto the midst of heaven with darkness clouds and thick darkness 12. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire ye heard the voice of the words but saw no similitude onely ye heard a voice 13. And he declared unto you his covenant which he commanded you to perform even ten commandments and he wrote them upon two tables of stone 14. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire 16. Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likeness of male or female 17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air 18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth 19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars even all the host of heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven 20. But the LORD hath taken you and brought you forth out of the iron furnace even out of Egypt to be unto him a people of inheritance as
ye are this day 21. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes and sware that I should not go over Jordan and that I should not go in unto that good land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance 22. But I must die in this land I must not go over Jordan but ye shall go over and possess that good land 23. Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God which he made with you and make you a graven image or the likeness of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee 24. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire even a jealous God 25. When thou shalt beget children and childrens children and shalt have remained long in the land and shall corrupt your selves and make a graven image or the likeness of any thing and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God to provoke him to anger 26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it ye shall not prolong your days upon it but shall utterly be destroyed 27. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen whither the LORD shall lead you 28. And there ye shall serve gods the work of mens hands wood and stone which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 30. When thou art in tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn to the LORD thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice 31. For the LORD thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them 32. For ask now of the days that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man upon the earth and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is or hath been heard like it 33. Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and live 34. Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations by signs and by wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm and by great terrors according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes 35. Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God there is none else besides him 36. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice that he might instruct thee and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire 37. And because he loved thy fathers therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt 38. To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier then thou art to bring thee in to give thee their land for an inheritance as it is this day 39. Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart that the LORD he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is none else 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth which the LORD thy God giveth thee for ever 41. Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 42. That the slayer might flee thither which should kill his neighbour unawares and hated him not in times past and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live 43. Namely Bezer in the wilderness in the plain-country of the Reubenites and Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites 44. And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel 45. These are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spake unto the children of Israel after they came forth out of Egypt 46. On this side Jordan in the valley over against Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt at Heshbon whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they were come forth out of Egypt 47. And they possessed his land and the land of Og king of Bashan two kings of the Amorites which were on this side Jordan toward the sun-rising 48. From Aroer which is by the bank of the river Arnon even unto mount Sion which is Hermon 49. And all the plain on this side Jordan east-ward even unto the sea of the plain under the springs of Pisgah 2. Ye shall not add c. chap. 12.32 Josh 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.18 It is fit to require that they should neither add to nor take from the Divine Precepts at the beginning of this Exhortation to Obedience because God had given them his Law for their Rule of Life and had annexed his Promises to their Universal Obedience thereunto 3. Because of Baal-peor Numb 25.4 c. Or against Baal-peor and his Worshippers as the Vulgar and Chaldee have it Compare Numb 25.5 and the words which follow here 6. Your wisdom It is a fruit of great wisdom to fear God and obey his Laws The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments Psal 111.10 Besides many of these Laws were such as the wiser Heathen could not but approve and did actually receive several of them into their own Laws 7. In all things that we call upon him for God shewed himself ready to hear the Prayers of his Servants upon all occasions Exod. 17.11 and to protect and defend them in all straits and dangers as appeared by the many Miracles which he had wrought 8. So righteous This speaks a Nation great For righteousness exalteth a nation Prov. 14.34 10. Thou stoodst The most aged among them were present at the giving of the Law 11. Mountain Exod. 19.18 Midst Heb. Heart which is well translated midst here not that it signifies the exact midst it is enough that it be in that in the midst of which it is said to be Of Heaven i. e. Of the Air or lower Heaven 12. Onely ye heard a voice Heb. Save a voice 14. Statutes and judgments i. e. The Judicial and Ceremonial Laws in contradistinction to the Moral mentioned v. 13. 15. Take ye therefore good heed c. They saw no Similitude when God gave his Law and are thereupon vehemently warned against Worshipping of God by any kind of Image
willing to name the People as those to whom the Curses belonged which were such as did reach other Nations and were not like the Blessings peculiar to the Israelites For the Blessing and Cursing here mentioned the most probable account is this viz. That as the Levites pronounced the following Curses v. 14. so for the Blessings upon Obedience mentioned chap. 28. they were repeated by the Tribes which were on Mount Gerizim and the Curses which follow in that Chapter were pronounced by the six other Tribes on Mount Ebal 14. The Levites i. e. Those of the Levites which bare the Ark and stood between the Tribes Josh 8.33 For the body of the Levites were among the Tribes on Mount Gerizim 15. In a secret place viz. Thinking to conceal his wickedness 16. That setteth light by c. The duty we owe to our Parents and Superiors stands in the Decalogue next to that which we owe to God Exod. 20.12 and a contempt of them is here placed next to Idolatry 17. That removeth This is an act of great injustice and fatal consequence See the Note on ch 19.14 18. That maketh the blind c. i. e. That misleads either the Blind or the Simple into danger or sin 20. With his father's wife c. See chap. 22.30 with the Note 23. With his mother-in-law Or with his daughter-in-law as the Greek render it 26. Confirmeth not i. e. Who does not obey Or that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.10 CHAP. XXVIII The ARGUMENT Many Blessings promised to the Israelites upon condition of their Obedience to the Law of God A great number of Evils threatened to those who should be disobedient 1. AND it shall come to pass if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth 2. And all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city and blessed shalt thou be in the field 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattel the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep 5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store 6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out 7. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face they shall come out against thee one way and flee before thee seven ways 8. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy store-houses and in all that thou settest thine hand unto and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee 9. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself as he hath sworn unto thee if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God and walk in his ways 10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD and they shall be afraid of thee 11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods in the fruit of thy body and in the fruit of thy cattel and in the fruit of thy ground in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee 12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season and to bless all the work of thine hand and thou shalt lend unto many nations and thou shalt not borrow 13. And the LORD shall make thee the head and not the tail and thou shalt be above onely and thou shalt not be beneath if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God which I command thee this day to observe and to do them 14. And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day to the right hand or to the left to go after other gods to serve them 15. But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee 16. Cursed shalt thou be in the city and cursed shalt thou be in the field 17. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store 18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land the increase of thy kine and the flocks of thy sheep 19. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out 20. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing vexation and rebuke in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do until thou be destroyed and until thou perish quickly because of the wickedness of thy doings whereby thou hast forsaken me 21. The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee until he have consumed thee from off the land whither thou goest to possess it 22. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption and with a fever and with an inflammation and with an extream burning and with the sword and with blasting and with mildew and they shall pursue thee until thou perish 23. And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass and the earth that is under thee shall be iron 24. The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust from heaven shall it come down upon thee until thou be destroyed 25. The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies thou shalt go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth 26. And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air and unto the beasts of the earth and no man shall fray them away 27. The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt and with the emerods and with the scab and with the itch whereof thou canst not be healed 28. The LORD shall smite thee with madness and blindness and astonishment of heart 29. And thou shalt grope at noon-day as the blind gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways and thou shalt be onely oppressed and spoiled evermore and no man shall save thee 30. Thou shalt betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her thou shalt build an house and thou shalt not dwell therein thou shalt plant a vineyard and shalt not gather the grapes thereof 31. Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes and thou shalt not eat thereof thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face and shall not be restored to thee thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies and thou shalt have none to rescue them 32. Thy sons
them with the poison of serpents of the dust 25. The sword without and terrour within shall destroy both the young man and the virgin the suckling also with the man of gray hairs 26. I said I would scatter them into corners I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men 27. Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely and lest they should say Our hand is high and the LORD hath not done all this 28. For they are a nation void of counsel neither is there any understanding in them 29. O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end 30. How should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight except their Rock had sold them and the LORD had shut them up 31. For their rock is not as our rock even our enemies themselves being judges 32. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah their grapes are grapes of gall their clusters are bitter 33. Their wine is the poison of dragons and the cruel venom of asps 34. Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my treasures 35. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence their foot shall slide in due time for the day of their calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make haste 36. For the LORD shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants When he seeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left 37. And he shall say Where are their gods their rock in whom they trusted 38. Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink-offerings let them rise up and help you and be your protection 39. See now that I even I am he and there is no god with me I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand 40. For I lift up my hand to heaven and say I live for ever 41. If I whet my glittering sword and mine hand take hold on judgment I will render vengeance to mine enemies and will reward them that hate me 42. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood and my sword shall devour flesh and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy 43. Rejoice O ye nations with his people for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to his adversaries and will be merciful unto his land and to his people 44. And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people he and Hoshea the son of Nun. 45. And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel 46. And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this law 47. For it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 48. And the LORD spake unto Moses that self same day saying 49. Get thee up into this mountain Abarim unto mount Nebo which is in the land of Moab that is over against Jericho and behold the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession 50. And die in the mount whither thou goest up and be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered unto his people 51. Because ye trespassed aginst me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel 52. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel 1. GIve ear O ye heavens c. Moses doth in these words what he promised chap. 31.28 call heaven and earth to record against them And this he does in the very entrance and beginning of this Song to raise and awaken in them the greater attention it being a matter of great moment when he solemnly calls upon the Heaven and the Earth to hear Isa 1.2 Compare chap. 4.26 and 30.19 Psal 50.4 Jer. 2.12 and 6.19 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain That is it shall be fitted to gain its end upon Men that are disposed to receive it as the Rain is for the fructifying the Earth Isa 55.10 11. 1 Cor. 3.6 7 8. 3. I will publish the name of the LORD i. e. I will proclaim as the Hebrew word signifies and is rendred Prov. 20.6 the Divine Perfections and this he does in the following Verse Ascribe ye c. It is your part to magnifie him as ye ought Psal 68.34 4. He is the rock c. i. e. God is the Rock he is stable and immutable and a sure Foundation to rest upon And his Works are without any flaw or fault his dealings with Men are just and unexceptionable he is true and sincere in all his Declarations In a word he is upright and just and one who never swerves from that which is right 5. They have corrupted themselves c. i. e. They have sinned as the Greek and Vulgar have it and have been so far from imitating God whose work is perfect c. that they have been most unlike him their Crimes being of so high a nature that they speak them to be not his peculiar People but a perverse and crooked Generation 6. That bought thee that hath redeemed thee out of Egypt Vid. Exod. 15.16 To this purpose the Psalmist Remember the congregation which thou hast purchased of old the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed Psal 74.2 This was a great aggravation of their sin that they denied the Lord which bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 Compare Isa 1.3 and 1 Cor. 6.20 Made thee The Hebrew word which we translate made is observed to signifie to advance and so it is rendred 1 Sam. 12.6 and this seems to be the import of it in this place God's creating them is implyed before in that he is said to be their Father Established thee i. e. Fixed and settled thee 8. Divided c. Of which see Gen. ch 10. and chap. 11. He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel i. e. He assigned to the Canaanites and the other Inhabitants of the Land called from them the Land of Canaan such a proportion of Land as would suffice the Israelites to whom it was designed when their Iniquities were full when they were come out of Egypt and were ready to possess it 9. The lot Heb. cord of his inheritance i. e. The Inheritance peculiarly belonging to him