stout And they seem to think it necessary thus to vindicate their Sister's Reputation who might else have been reputed as a Common Woman CHAP. XXXV The ARGUMENT Jacob is directed by God to go to Bethel and to build an Altar there He prepares his family in order thereunto and goes Deborah dieth God appears to Jacob calls his Name Israel and blesseth him and promiseth the Land of Canaan to his Posterity Jacob erects a Pillar Benjamin is born and Rachel dieth Reuben lieth with Bilhah The Sons of Jacob. The Age and Death of Isaac 1. AND God said unto Jacob Arise go up to Beth-el and dwell there and make there an Altar unto God that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother 2. Then Jacob said unto his houshold and to all that were with him Put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean and change your garments 3. And let us arise and go up to Beth-el and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went 4. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand and all their ear-rings which were in their ears and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem 5. And they journeyed and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6. So Jacob came to Luz which is in the land of Canaan that is Beth-el he and all the people that were with him 7. And he built there an Altar and called the place El-beth-el because there God appeared unto him when he fled from the face of his brother 8. But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth 9. And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padan-Aram and blessed him 10. And God said unto him Thy name is Jacob thy name shall not be called any more Jacob but Israel shall be thy name and he called his name Israel 11. And God said unto him I am God Almighty be fruitfull and multiply a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee and kings shall come out of thy loins 12. And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac to thee I will give it and to thy seed after thee will I give the land 13. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him 14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him even a pillar of stone and he poured a drink-offering thereon and he poured oyl thereon 15. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him Beth-el 16. And they journeyed from Beth-el and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath and Rachel travailed and she had hard labour 17. And it came to pass when she was in hard labour that the midwife said unto her Fear not thou shalt have this son also 18. And it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died that she called his name Benoni but his father called him Benjamin 19. And Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephrath which is Bethlehem 20. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day 21. And Israel journeyed and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar 22. And it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine and Israel heard it Now the sons of Jacob were twelve 23. The sons of Leah Reuben Jacob's first-born and Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun 24. The sons of Rachel Joseph and Benjamin 25. And the sons of Bilhah Rachel's hand-maid Dan and Naphtali 26. And the sons of Zilpah Leah's hand-maid Gad and Asher These are the sons of Jacob which were born to him in Padan-aram 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre unto the city of Arbah which is Hebron where Abraham and Isaac sojourned 28. And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years 29. And Isaac gave up the ghost and died and was gathered unto his people being old and full of days and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him 1. GOD said Jacob being now in great fear from the Inhabitants of the Country ch 34.30 2. Houshold Those of his own family All that were with him i. e. All his servants and dependants whatsoever Strange Gods i. e. Idols or Images by which God was worshipped whether the Teraphim which Rachel stole ch 31.19 or any other Images or Idols taken from the Shechemites or remaining with any of those who were taken Captives from them or who had followed Jacob from Padan Aram. Be clean viz. from the pollution of Idolatry Change your garments As an outward sign or token of an inward change 2 Sam. 12.20 Exod. 19.10 Ezek. 16.8 10. 3. Answered me By taking me into his protection Distress viz. When he fled from Esau unto Padan-Aram ch 28. where he staid Twenty years 4. Their Ear-rings The materials of Idolatry See Judg. 8.24 Hos 2.13 Possibly these Ear-rings might be taken from the Shechemites and might have some marks of Idolatry upon them Hid them From the knowledge of his people and the Greek adds that he abolished them Possibly he broke or melted them down Compare Exod. 32.20 2 Kings 18.4 Oak A Tree not likely to be suddenly digged up being Sacred in the esteem of Idolaters Isa 1.29 5. Terror of God Or a mighty Terror And this was from God who restrained the people from destroying Jacob and his Family notwithstanding their power and the provocation given by the slaughter of the Shechemites 7. The place See the Note on ch 23.20 God appeared The Angels of God says the Chaldee 8. Rebekah's nurse The Nurse who was sent with her from Padan-Aram ch 24.59 10. Israel See the Note on ch 32.28 This Name is a second time assigned him and thereby his Faith in God is confirmed 11. Be fruitfull The Blessing of Abraham is bestowed on him ch 28.3 4. And from his numerous Off-spring it appears that it was made good to him 13. God The glory of God says the Chaldee 14. Oyl See ch 28.18 16. Ephrath Which is Bethlehem v. 19. called Bethlehem Ephratah Micah 5.2 where Christ was born 20. A Pillar A lasting Monument Testimony of Jacob's affection 1 Sam. 10.2 21. Tower of Edar Or Tower of the flock as the Vulgar renders it Here probably the Shepherds were who received the tidings of Christ's birth Luk. 2.8 This place is called the Tower of the flock Micah 4.8 and mentioned there as a place that should be dignified at the appearance of the Messiah One Chaldee Paraphrast on this place tells us expressly that this is the place where the King Messiah was to be revealed
unto him and he sold his birth right unto Jacob. 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils and he did eat and drink and rose up and went his way thus Esau despised his birth-right 1. TOok a Wife Or a Concubine as she is called 1 Chron. 1.32 whose Children did not inherit v. 6. and ch 22.24 Abraham's taking this Wife contributed toward the fulfilling the promise made ch 17. v. 6. Now was Sarah dead and Isaac married 2. She bare By the particular and special blessing of God upon Abraham and in order to the fulfilling his promise ch 17. v. 6. Rom. 4.19 Midian See Numb 25.6 7. Shuah Job 2.11 3. Sheba Job 1.15 4. Epher From whom Africa is thought to be called Joseph Antiqu. l. 1. c. 16. 5. All that he had unto Isaac i. e. He made Isaac his Heir having in his life-time given gifts to his other Children and sent them away v. 6. See ch 24.36 and ch 21.12 6. From Isaac And by this means prevented a future quarrel about the inheritance East-country viz. Arabia the happy says Josephus 2183. 1821. 8. Gave up the ghost Or expired Several of the ancient Versions have so rendred it that they seem to imply that Abraham died an easie death A thing not improbable see ch 15.15 it being said that he died in a good old age Was gathered i. e. He passed into the state of the dead following his deceased Ancestors 9. Ishmael Who though he were sent away from Abraham's family and might not inherit yet was not so far removed but that he was at hand to attend upon his Father's funeral Machpelah See ch 23.9 11. Blessed his Son i. e. He entailed upon him the blessing and promise made to his Father ch 17.19 Lahai-roi See ch 16.14 and ch 24.62 12. Generations Or the account of the Off-spring of Ishmael as also of the fulfilling the promise made to his Father Abraham ch 17.19 13. Nebaioth Whence the Region Nabathaea was so called His Posterity dwelt in Arabia Isa 60.7 Kedar Compare Ezek. 27.21 Isa 21.16 14. Dumah Isa 21.11 15. Tema Hence the people called Temanites Job 2.11 Jetur 1 Chron. 5.19 16. By Or in which agrees well with the Hebrew and is confirmed by the Greek i. e. in their several Towns and Castles thus they were called Twelve Princes According to the promise ch 17.20 18. From Havilah unto Shur Havilah seems to be so called from Havilah the Son of Cush ch 10.7 Of Shur See ch 16.7 These two are put for the extreme borders of the Sons of Ishmael 1 Sam. 15.7 As thou goest Or as one goes from Egypt toward Assyria He died Or fell as it is in the Hebrew i. e. His lot or country was in the presence of his brethren We have an account of Ishmael's death before v. 17. and here of the Country where he dwelt The ancient Versions render the word to this sense He fell i. e. He dwelt say the Chaldee and the Greek The Hebrew word is used in this sense elsewhere Judg. 7.12 Numb 34.2 1 Sam. 29.3 Psal 78.55 According to this sense that is fulfilled which was fore-told of Ishmael that he should dwell in the presence of all his brethren ch 16.12 He might therefore be said there to fall where his dwelling or inheritance happened See Ezek. 47.22 As the words lie in the Hebrew Compare Psal 16.6 19. The generations i. e. The history not onely of his Off-spring but of what happened to him Compare ch 5.1 20. Syrian Aramite according to the Hebrew which signifies a Syrian Compare Luk. 4.27 with 2 King 1.1 Of Padan-Aram i. e. Of that part of Syria which was called Padan-Aram This is the same with Mesopotamia ch 24.10 and called onely Padan ch 48.7 and seems to be the most cultivated part of that Country it being called the Country or Field of Aram or Syria Compare Hos 12.12 21. For his Wife The Hebrew Text seems to imply that his Wife joined with him in his prayer 22. If it be so why am I thus q. d. If so that God hath heard our prayers why am I in this disorder Went to enquire Either by prayer or to some holy Man and possibly to Abraham who was now living v. 7. with v. 26. 23. Two Nations i. e. The heads of two Nations the Edomites and Israelites The Elder shall serve Rom. 9.12 This was in great measure fulfilled when the Edomites were made subject to the Israelites 2 Sam. 8.14 with 2 Chron. 25.11 12. which subjection continued some considerable time 2 Kings 8.20 25. Esau i. e. Made or perfected according to the Hebrew as if born more like to a Man than to a Babe This Birth of Esau and Jacob though it be mentioned after the Death of Abraham yet it came to pass about fifteen years afterwards as will evidently appear to the diligent Reader The Order of Time is not always observed in these Books See chap. XX. v. 1. As also chap. XXVI 26. Jacob i. e. A Supplanter His taking hold of his Brother's heel was the reason of that name as the Hebrew Text intimates and the Vulgar expressly affirms Compare ch 27. v. 36. 27. In Tents As Abraham did Heb. 11.9 31. Birth-right Of the advantages whereof see the Note on Gen. 49.3 33. He sold his birth-right He parted with it at so mean a price that he is said to despise it v. 34. and therefore called Profane Heb. 12.16 CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT Vpon occasion of a famine Isaac removes to Gerar. God appears to him forbids him to go into Egypt renews his Promise and his Oath made unto Abraham Isaac gives out that Rebekah was his Sister Abimelech discovers the pretence Isaac's prosperity at Gerar. He is hereupon envied and removes He diggeth Wells Of the Wells called Esek Sitnah and Rehoboth Isaac builds an Altar and enters into Covenant with Abimelech The Wives of Esau 1. AND there was a famine in the land besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham and Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2. And the LORD appeared unto him and said Go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of 3. Sojourn in this land and I will be with thee and will bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these countries and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father 4. And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give unto thy seed all these countries and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 5. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge my commandments my statutes and my laws 6. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7. And the men of the place asked him of his wife and he said She is my sister for he feared to say She is my wife lest said he the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah
not afterward through fear or pain disturb or defeat the work Abraham was about and not because Isaac was unwilling Laid him Disposed him in order to the execution of God's command Hence Abraham is said to have offered Isaac upon the Altar Jam. 2.21 10. To slay his son i. e. In order to the sacrificing him which he had done had he not been restrained by God and is therefore said to have offered him up Heb. 11.17 11. Angel of the Lord This person speaks as God v. 12. and v. 16. See the Notes on ch 16. v. 7. 12. Now I know Knowing in the Scripture-phrase sometimes signifies as much as discovering or making a thing known And this is the sense of the Hebrew word not onely here but in other places Thus God is said to prove the Israelites as he is said here to tempt Abraham to know whether they loved him i. e. to discover and make it known Deut. 13.3 with the Chaldee and Vulgar and the Psalmist prays Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts Psal 139.23 Where knowing imports as here discovering or making known For the Psalmist had said before v. 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and up-rising thou understandest my thought a-far off Compare Deut. 8.2 Exod. 33.5 2 Chron. 32.31 Abraham's Faith and Obedience was now made known 14. Jehovah-jireh i. e. The Lord will see or provide God having there provided a Ram for a Sacrifice in the stead of Isaac Compare v. 8. Hence in after-times it grew into a Proverb among the Hebrews as Hieronymus in his Questions on Genesis tells us that when they were in great straits and begged the Divine Aid they were wont to say In the mountain God will see or provide By which they expressed their Faith in God that he would be mercifull unto them as he was to their Father Abraham 16. By my self c. Because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself Heb. 6.13 Whence it is evident that it is God who swears 17. The gate i. e. The Gates and they are put for the Cities themselves according to the Version of the Chaldee and Greek which will be much confirmed by comparing Deut. 12.15 and Deut. 18.6 18. In thy seed i. e. In Christ Gal. 3.16 19. Beer-sheba See ch 21.31 20. Milcah She was Sarah's Sister and Abraham's Brother's Wife Compare ch 11. v. 29. 21. Aram Of the same name with Aram ch 10. v. 22. the Son of Shem from whom the Syrians had their Original and their Name 24. Concubine The Hebrew word imports division She was an half-wife not being taken with Dowry nor into the government of the family CHAP. XXIII The ARGUMENT Sarah's age and death Abraham's care of her burial To that purpose he buys a burying place of Ephron and buries her there 1. AND Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old these were the years of the life of Sarah 2. And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her 3. And Abraham stood up from before his dead and spake unto the sons of Heth saying 4. I am a stranger and a sojourner with you give me a possession of a burying place with you that I may bury my dead out of my sight 5. And the children of Heth answered Abraham saying unto him 6. Hear us my lord thou art a mighty prince amongst us in the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre but that thou mayest bury thy dead 7. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land even to the children of Heth. 8. And he communed with them saying If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight hear me and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar 9. That he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he hath which is in the end of his field for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a burying place amongst you 10. And Ephron dwelled amongst the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth even of all that went in at the gates of his city saying 11. Nay my lord hear me the field give I thee and the cave that is therein I give it thee in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee bury thy dead 12. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land 13. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land saying But if thou wilt give it I pray thee hear me I will give thee money for the field take it of me and I will bury my dead there 14. And Ephron answered Abraham saying unto him 15. My lord hearken unto me the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver what is that betwixt me and thee bury therefore thy dead 16. And Abraham hearkned unto Ephron and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth four hundred shekels of silver currant money with the merchant 17. And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah which was before Mamre the field and the cave which was therein and all the trees that were in the field that were in all the borders round about were made sure 18. Vnto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth before all that went in at the gate of his city 19. And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan 20. And the field and the cave that is therein were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth. 1. OF Sarah She is the onely Woman whose Age is reckon'd in the holy Scripture 2. Kirjath-arba Or the City of Arba. This place was in Abraham's time called Mamre v. 19. and afterwards Hebron as also Kirjath-arba from a Man called Arba Josh 14.15 This City was in the Hill-country of Judah Josh 21.11 The same is Hebron This is no objection against Moses his being the Pen-man of this book Joshua indeed does say that the name of Hebron before or in old time as that word is rendred Deut. 2.20 was Kirjath-arba Josh 14.15 But does not say that it was not called Hebron till his time nor does he give any account either of the time when or of the reason for which it was called Hebron Came to mourn Possibly into the Tent of Sarah where she died For as Lot had several Tents ch 13. v. 5. so had Abraham and one particularly for Sarah ch 24.67 See ch 31.33 Weep The excess of sorrow is onely forbid 1 Thess 4.13 it not being otherwise inconsistent with the greatest degree of faith Joh. 11.35 3. From
in a Siege of the Expiation of an uncertain Murder of a Captive Woman to be taken for a Wife of a Rebellious Son and of him that is hanged chap. 18 19 20 21. Of Brotherly-kindness distinction of Sex of the nest of Birds of Battlements to Houses of Confusion of Kinds of Fringes of him that slanders his Wife of several sorts of Uncleanness Of entring into the Congregation of Purity of the Fugitive Servant of Filthiness Usury Vows and Trespass of Divorce of the newly Married Pledges Man-stealing Leprosie Humanity and Charity chap. 22 23 24. Of the number of Stripes to be inflicted of Muzzling the Ox of raising Seed to a Brother of the immodest Woman of unjust Weights and the Destruction of Amalek The Words of him that presented his First-fruits and of him that had paid his third years Tithe the Covenant between God and the People Of Writing the Law on Stones and Building an Altar of the Division of the Tribes on Gerizim and Ebal the Curses pronounced The Blessings on Obedience and the Curses on Disobedience chap. 25 26 27 28. Moses proceeds to exhort the Israelites to Obedience and denounceth Wrath against him that should flatter himself in an Evil course and shews the Miseries which their Disobedience would bring upon them He encourageth the Penitent sets Life and Death before them and continues to exhort them with great vehemence to Obedience as the way to be happy chap. 29 30. Moses encourageth the Israelites delivers a Copy of the Law to the Priests with a Command to read it publickly every Seventh year He fore-tells the Apostasie of the Israelites and appoints a Song as a Witness against them The Song follows setting forth the Divine Perfections and God's Care of the Israelites as also the Rebellions of the People Moses is required to go up to Nebo to take a view of Canaan before his approaching Death He sets forth the glorious Majesty of God blesseth the Tribes shews the great Priviledge of the Israelites chap. 31 32 33. After Moses had taken a view of the Land he died We have after this an account of his â—â—â—ial and Age of the Mourning of the People of his Successor and an Encomium of Moses chap. 34. Among other Objections against these Books of Moses and which are advanced to shew that Moses was not the Author of them I find this is one That there are in it a great many repetitions which Moses would not be guilty of And therefore 't is supposed rather a Collection of several Hands and of Rolls misplaced than the Work of so great and accurate a Person as Moses Now because this Objection if it have any force will bear hardest upon this Book called Deuteronomy therefore I have reserved the Consideration of it to this place and shall consider it more particularly with relation to the following Book And to that purpose shall desire the Reader to consider the following Particulars in order to his satisfaction in this matter I. That though here are many Repetitions of things mentioned before yet here is to be found very much new matter that had not been mentioned at all in the foregoing Books And so far this Divine Book is unexceptionable as to the Charge brought against it I shall not enlarge here but just touch upon some Heads Though Idolatry were forbidden before yet we find not so express a Law concerning the Enticers to it and concerning the Apostate City as we find here chap. 13. The Laws of abiding by the determination of the Judges and of Electing a King chap. 17. are new Laws The Prediction of a Succession of Prophets is â—o likewise chap. 18. And so is the Law concerning the Punishment of False-witnesses chap. 19.16 And so are those Laws concerning the Priests and Officers in time of War and that relating to the besieging a City chap. 20. The same may be said of the Laws concerning the Expiation of an uncertain Murder of a Captive taken to Wife of the Right of the First-born of the rebellious Son and those that were hanged mentioned chap. 21. We shall find more such Laws not mentioned any-where before chap. 22. and chap. 23. and chap. 24. and chap. 25 and 26 and 27 and 31. The Song of Moses and the Blessing of the Tribes are not to be found in the foregoing Books Here is in this Book very much matter intirely new II. Another great part of this Book consists of Motives to Obedience And though something to this purpose had been said before yet nothing in comparison to what is said in this Book And thus far again this Book is unexceptionable as to the Charge brought against it Here are to be found the most pathetick and powerfull and pressing Motives to Obedience of which see chap. 4 6 8 10 11 and 29. And who ever will take the pains to go over the several Topicks here laid before us will own this to be true And the Ministers that labour in the Word and Doctrine may hence furnish themselves with very moving Arguments to perswade the People to obey the Laws of God and to be seriously Religious And this part of the Book did very well become the inspired Writer of it For this Man of God did pursue the great Purpose of his Mission not onely when he laid before the People the Divine Laws but when he perswaded them to obey them He was God's Embassador and 't was not onely his business to declare God's Will but to press those to whom he had done that to obey it For this Exhortation to Obedience hath a direct tendency to obtain the great End of the wise Law-giver For he must be supposed always to appoint his Laws in order to have them kept And to that purpose they who preach these Laws directly serve the End of their Ministry when they represent to the People how much it is their Interest and their Duty to yield a ready and unfeigned Obedience to them III. As to those parts of this Book that are Repetitions they are either Repetitions of Matters of Fact or they are Repetitions of Laws Of each of these 't is no difficult thing to give a very fair account First As to Repetitions of Matters of Fact with which this Book begins and we have such Repetitions in the first three Chapters of this Book But then these are not bare and jojune Repetitions but are made use of to a noble purpose as will appear to the diligent Reader viz. To encourage the People from the Consideration of what God had already done to hope and trust in him for the time to come So that here we have the Alpplication of the History of those Facts to anâ— excellent End and Purpose Secondly As to the Repetitions of Laws ' tâ—â— as easie to give an account of them also We shall find very great advantages in these Repetitions if we read these Holy Books with that diligence and application which we ought to do As for instance
LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there saying 13. Certain men the children of Belial are gone out from among you and have with-drawn the inhabitants of their city saying Let us go and serve other gods which ye have not known 14. Then shalt thou enquire and make search and ask diligently and behold if it be truth and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought among you 15. Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword destroying it utterly and all that is therein and the cattel thereof with the edge of the sword 16. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof and shalt burn with fire the city and all the spoil thereof every whit for the LORD thy God and it shall be an heap for ever it shall not be built again 17. And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and shew thee mercy and have compassion upon thee and multiply thee as he hath sworn unto thy fathers 18. When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God 1. GIveth thee a sign That is he foretells some wonderfull thing that shall come to pass which sense is confirmed from the following words 2. And the sign or the wonder c. The meaning is And what he foretold in confirmation of his impious Doctrine saying Let us go after other Gods shall come to pass as he foretold it 3. Proveth you He suffereth the false Prophet to give a sign and by the event to confirm his impious Doctrine to try whether you are sincere and stedfast in your love to him and your Obedience and that this your sincerity may be known to your selves and others 4. Cleave Chap. 10.4 5. Be put to death The reason of which follows in the next words which determine this death to the person seducing to Idolatry Because he hath spoken Heb. revolt against the Lord to turn you away from the LORD The evil Both the evil Thing or impious Doctrine that it spread no farther and the evil Person also See Deut. 21.21 1 Cor. 5.13 6. If thy brother c. Here is an Enumeration of the nearest and dearest Relatives to let them know that they ought to love God above all 9. But thou shalt surely kill him Ch. 17.7 i. e. Thou shalt discover him and bring him to condign punishment which is death in this case by the Sentence of the Magistrate Thine hand shall be first upon him viz. As the witness of his Crime ch 17.7 10. Bondage Heb. Bondmen 11. All Israel Ch. 17.13 13. The children of Belial Or naughty men This expression is often used in Scripture to denote profligate and vile persons who are ungovernable and without the fear of God and Men and such as will not bear the Yoke of good Order and Discipline Are gone out from among you That is are separated from you and refuse Communion with you in your Religious Services See 1 Joh. 2.19 For of a local Separation the words cannot be understood because these vile Men after their Separation are yet in the following words supposed to be in their City withdrawing the Inhabitants and saying Let us go and serve other gods 14. Inquire c. The Magistrate is to take care to examine strictly into the truth of matter of fact and especially of this high nature and importance for Men are not to be put to death without clear evidence of their being guilty of death And is a proof that the killing v. 9. is not to be meant of doing it privately but after sufficient proof and the Sentence of the Magistrate 15. All that is therein For it may well be supposed that those who dissented would withdraw from so vile a City 16. For the LORD thy God Or To the Lord thy God viz. To appease God's just Displeasure and in honour of his offended Justice 17. Cursed Or Devoted CHAP. XIV The ARGUMENT The Israelites may not disfigure themselves in Mourning for the Dead What Beasts Fish and Fowl may and may not be eaten Of their Tithes to be eaten in the place which God should choose and particularly of the Tithe of the Third Year 1. YE are the children of the LORD your God ye shall not cut your selves nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead 2. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the nations that are upon the earth 3. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing 4. These are the beasts which ye shall eat the ox the sheep and the goat 5. The hart and the roe-buck and the fallow-deer and the wild goat and the pygarg and the wild ox and the chamois 6. And every beast that parteth the hoof and cleaveth the cleft into two claws and cheweth the cud amongst the beasts that ye shall eat 7. Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud or of them that divide the cloven hoof as the camel and the hare and the coney for they chew the end but divide not the hoof therefore they are unclean unto you 8. And the swine because it divideth the hoof yet cheweth not the cud it is unclean unto you ye shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their dead carcase 9. These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters all that have fins and scales shall ye eat 10. And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat it is unclean unto you 11. Of all clean birds ye shall eat 12. But these are they of which ye shall not eat the eagle and the â—â—sifrage and the ospray 13. And the glede and the kite and the vulture after his kind 14. And every raven after his kind 15. And the owl and the night-hawk and the cuckow and the hawk after his kind 16. The little owl and the great owl and the swan 17. And the pelican and the gier-eagle and the cormorant 18. And the stork and the heron after her kind and the lapwing and the bat 19. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you they shall not be eaten 20. But of all clean fowls ye may eat 21. Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of it self thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates that he may eat it or thou mayest sell it unto an alien for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk 22. Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed that the field bringeth forth year by year 23. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose
Levit. 19.11 25. A Well of water Which in those dry and hot Countries was a matter of no small moment especially in the South-part of Canaan where Abraham now was Judg. 1.15 27. Gave In token of amity or as an expression of gratitude ch 20.14 30. Witness i. e. Thy acceptance of these seven Lambs shall be an acknowledgment that this Well which I have digged belongs to me ch 31. v. 48. 31. Beer-sheba i. e. The Well of the Oath Or the Well of Seven Hebr. This place seems to be so called for a double cause viz. Both because Abraham gave seven Lambs to Abimelech and because they swore there vid. Hieron quaest in Genes and then we may well suppose the words Elliptical and that of a copula before Because which is to be understood q. d. And because See examples to this purpose in Exod. 1.2 and Hab. 3.11 33. A Grove Or Tree By what follows it appears that he planted it for a Religious use 'T is very likely that from his example others affected to do the like till at length they which used to do so ran into superstition and a conceit that God was more peculiarly present in such places and that thereupon it was afterward forbidden in the Law of Moses See Deut. 12.2 3. and 16.21 CHAP. XXII The ARGUMENT Abraham's faith and obedience is tryed and approved by his readiness to offer up his Son Isaac at God's command He is restrained from doing it and offers up a Ram in his stead The name of the place where Abraham did it God's blessing to Abraham is renewed and confirmed by an oath He returns to Beer-sheba An account of Nahor's children by Milcah and by Reumah 2133. 1871. 1. AND it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham and said unto him Abraham And he said Behold here I am 2. And he said Take now thy son thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest and get thee unto the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of 3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning and sadled his ass and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son and clâ—ve the wood for the burnt-offering and rose up and went unto the place of which God had told him 4. Then on the third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place a far off 5. And Abraham said unto his young men Abide you here with the ass and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you 6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son and he took the fire in his hand and a knife and they went both of them together 7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said My father and he said Here am I my son And he said Behold the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering 8. And Abraham said My son God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering so they went both of them together 9. And they came to the place which God had told him of and Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son 11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven and said Abraham Abraham And he said Here am I. 12. And he said Lay not thine hand upon the lad neither do thou any thing unto him for now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine only son from me 13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son 14. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh as it is said to this day In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen 15. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time 16. And said By my self have I sworn saith the LORD for because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son thine only son 17. That in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is upon the sea shore and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies 18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voice 19. So Abraham returned unto his young men and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba 20. And it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham saying Behold Milcah she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor 21. Huz his first born and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram 22. And Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel 23. And Bethuel begat Rebekah these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor Abraham's brother 24. And his concubine whose name was Reumah she bare also Tebah and Gaham and Thahash and Maachah 1. TEmpt Or 2133. 1871. prove and try him as that word used here signifies Deut. 8.2 and 13.3 that it might be known to others what Abraham was See v. 12. 2. Thine onely Son He was the onely Son which he had by Sarah and his onely Heir and Ishmael being cast out the onely Son now in his family See Heb. 11.17 Gen. 21.10 14. Though it be also true that onely signifies no more than beloved sometime And in that sense the word may be taken here vid. 1 Chron. 29.1 The land of Moriah The high land as the Greek render it it being a mountainous place The Vulgar renders it a land of Vision the reason of which may be had from v. 14. And the Chaldee by a Prolepsis calls it the land of Worship For there Abraham worshipped v. 5 13. and there was afterwards built a Temple for the Worship of God 2 Chron. 3.1 Burnt-offering An Offering that was to be intirely consumed with fire Levit. 6.9 3. Early So forward was he in his Obedience to God 4. Third day i. e. From his setting out So long a time had Abraham to consider and deliberate 5. And come again to you Abraham believed that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead Heb. 11.19 6. Vpon Isaac Isaac was then Five and twenty years old saith Josephus In his bearing the Wood on which he was to be sacrificed he was as in many other things a Type of Christ who bore his Cross 8. God will provide He assures him of God's all-powerfull and wise Providence Nor was he deceived v. 13. From this Providence of God the place had its â—ame v. 14. 9. Bound That he might