silver Psalme 119. 72. yet the doctrine of faith and ordinances of the Gospell with the graces accompanying them here promised are much more excellent and glorious 2 Corinthians 3. 7. 11. Vers. 12. While the King Here the Church speaketh of the fruits and effects of Christs former graces how in her and from her so adorned by her beloved the odour of the spirit of God in her flowed forth and spred abroad to the delight of her selfe and others By the King is meant Christ as in verse 4. by his round table which the Greeke translateth his sitting downe which was wont to be in a round or as in a ring 1 Samuel 16. 11. may bee understood the spirituall banquet of Christ with his Church feeding her with his word and graces as the table of the Lord in Malachy 1. 12. and 1 Corinth 10. 21. signifie the communion betweene him and his people as doth also the supping one with another Revelat. 3. 20. The Spikenard is one of the pleasant fruits in the garden of the Church Song 4. 13. 14. but here it seemeth to be the oyle or ointment made of Spikenard which is very precious which they used to poure out and anoint men with such as Mary anointed our Lord Iesus with as hee sate at table with his friends and the house was filled with the smell or odour of the ointment Iohn 12. 1. 2. 3. Spiritually it signifieth the sweet smelling fruits of repentance faith love prayer thanksgiving c. which the Church sheweth forth by the communion of Christ with her and in speciall of mortification and communion with Christs death buriall and resurrection Romanes 6. 3. 4. 5. c. as that which Marie did unto Christ was to anoint his body to the burying Marke 14. 8. Iohn 12. 7. Vers. 13. A bundle or A bagge of myrrh by myrrh is meant the sweet gumme that issueth from the myrrh tree which is gathered and bound up in bagges it was the first of the chiefe spices whereof the holy anointing oyle in the Sanctuary was made Exodus 30. 23. and that holy ointment figured the gâ—aces of the Spirit poured out upon Christ and by him upon his Church Esay 61. 1. Psalme 45. 8. 1 Iohn 2. 20. See the annotations on Exodus 30. 26. With myrrh and aloes the dead body of our Lord Iesus was imbalmed Iohn 19. 39. and with it the wisemen honoured him at his birth Matt. 2. Hereby the Church professeth her spirituall comfort which shee had in Christ taking our humanity filled with the Spirit of God without measure dying for her sinnes and rising againe for her justification the feeling whereof is as a sweet odour unto the beleeving heart A bundle or bagge is for to keepe safe things that are of worth as The Joule of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Iehovah thy God 1 Samuel 25. 29. So by this bag of myrrh shee signifieth her care to injoy and possesse the benefits of Christ and of his death to the remission of her sinnes which for his sake are all cast into the depths of the sea Mic. 7. 19. which otherwise without him should bee sealed up in a bag and reserved against her for punishment Iob. 14. 17. my welbeloved that is Christ whom she thus calleth not because she loved him but he loved her and gave himselfe to bee the propitiation for her sinnes whereupon she againe loveth him because hee loved her first 1 Iohn 4. 10. 19. So shee glorieth not in her owne righteousnesse but in that which her beloved is unto her who of God is made unto her wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Welbeloved in Hebrew Dod is written with the same letters that David whose name also signified Beloved hee was a figure of Christ and his father after the flesh Romanes 1. 3. and Christ is often called David as in Ier. 30. 9. Ezek. 34. 23. and 37. 24. Hos. 3. 5. unto mee A speech of faith applying the promises and graces of Christ unto her owne soule as the Apostle also teacheth by his owne example Gal. 2. 19. 20. he shall lye all night or he shall lodge shall abide The night usually signifieth the time of darknesse and affliction wherefore shee meaneth that Christ with his consolations should bee her continuall joy and comfort whom shee would hold fast by faith against all tentations and troubles of this present life and solace her selfe in him betwixt my brests dwelling in my heart by faith Ephes. 3. 17. The brests signifie also the ministery of the Church feeding the Saints with the sincere milke of the word that they may grow thereby 1 Peter 2. 2. whereupon the Prophet saith Rejoyce yee with Ierusalem c. that ye may sucke and be satisfied with the brests of her consolations that yee may milke out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory Esay 66. 10. 11. Vers. 14. A cluster of Cypres or of Camphire which is a sweet gumme but Cypres is a tree whose fruit groweth in clusters and is also sweet The Hebrew name Copher from which Caphura or Camphire as also the Cypres tree seemeth to bee derived usually signifieth Atenement Propitiation or Redemption according to which interpretation the holy Ghost here may have reference to the worke and fruit of Christs death whereby he became a cluster of redemption unto his Church being a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1 Iohn 2. 2. the sweetnesse whereof is resembled by a cluster which is of many berries compact together of the sweet Cypres for that his blood cleanseth us from all sinne 1 Iohn 1. 7. and is accompanied with all other graces Engeds the name of a place in the land of Cannan which fell to the tribe of Iudah and being neere the sea and watered with springs was a fruitfull soile for gardens and vineyards Iosua 15. 62. Ezek. 47. 10. it was called also Hazazon Tamar 2 Chr. 20. 2. where the enemies comming against Ichosaphat hee prayed unto God and was delivered Which victory may also be respected here as a figure of the victories which the Church obtaineth by faith in Christ. Vers. 15. thou art faire Christ here speaketh to his Church commending her beauty which she hath by his sanctification and cleansing with the washing of the water by the word Ephes. 5. 26. 27. as also by her constitution and order as mount Zion was beautifull for situation Psalm 48. 2. Of Tyrus a city of merchandise it is said Thy builders have perfected thy beauty Ezek. 27. 4. and of her Ancients wisemen mariners merchants men of warre c. it is likewise said they have made thy beauty perfect Ezekiel 27. 9. 10. 11. and in Ezek. 28. 7. he mentioneth the beauty of wisedome So the city and Church of God being builded by the doctrine of the Gospell furnished with men of gifts and graces and endued with wisedome from on high is truly faire and beautifull
The Watchmen or The Keepers Warders These signifie the officers or Ministers of the Church and Citie of God for the Priests and Leviâ—es kept of old the watch for charge of the Lord Numb 3. 7. 8. So in Esay 62. 6 it is said I have set watchmen upon thy wals 〈◊〉 Ierusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night c. found me It is not said thee sought thâ—m but they found her which phrase signifieth diligence rather on their part and 〈◊〉 thing unlooked for on hers So God is said to find his people in the wildernesse Deut. 32. 10. and afflictions doe find men as Psal. 116. 3. and 18. And this accordeth with the Watch-mens dutie to find out such as wander about the city in the nights After shee spâ—aketh of the like and more that the Watchmen found her and smoâ—e her c. Song 5. 7. Saw ye him She inquireth of them for Christ but here is no mention of any thing they said to her before nor of any answer they gave to her demand after It is problable by this their silence and her words following that they told her no tidings of her beloved Whether the fault were in them that they were such as are spoken of in Esa. 56. 10. blind watchmen dumbe dogs that could not barke or in her selfe that could not by the doctrine of the Ministers apprehend apply Christ unto her conscience and comfort Ver. 4. but a little or a very little meaning either time or distance of place passed from them so she stayed not with them because her beloved was not among them but continued seeking otherwhere For neither the society of brethren or Church or Ministers can comfort the afflicted conscience unlesse Christ himself be apprehended by faith but I found or untill I found here after much seeking without fainting or discouragement when meanes faile she findeth Christ to the Comfort of her conscience Thus the promise is fulfilled Seeke and yee shall find Mat. 7. 7. not let him goe or not leave him shewing herein Iakobs faith when he wrastled with the Angel Gen. 32. 26. I will not let thee go except thou blesse me This is done when the doctrines promises of the Gospel are by faith retained as it is said Take fast hold of instruction let her not goe Pro. 4. 13. my mothers house Hereby any chiefe City Politie or solemne place of assembly is signified 2 Sam. 20. 19. Esay 50. 1. Ier. 50. 12. Ezek. 19. 10. The mother is Ierusalem which is above the mother of us all which is figured by Sarah the Freewoman and signifieth the new Testament or covenant of Grace Gal. 4. 24. 26. The house and chamber wherein she conceiveth us by the preaching of the Gospell is outwardly the Church 1 Tim. 3. 5. inwardly the hart and conscience where faith dwelleth Rom. 10. 16. Gal. 4. 19. Thus by the Spirit she getteth unto her selfe more constant assurance of her election and salvation by Christ and by his presence through his Word Ordinances her state Church politie is set up and stablished So after in Song 8. 2. Vers. 5. I adjure you c. She having obtained Christ againe with constant purpose of heart to retaine him reneweth her contestation and charge of sanctification of life such as becommeth the Gospell and of patient suffering adversitie for his name that Christ bee not provoked by â—inne to leave his people For as Moses said unto Israel If ye turne away from after him hee will yet againe leave them in the wildernesse and yee shall destroy all this people Num. 32. 15. See the annotations on Song 2. 7. where this charge was first given in these same words Ver. 6. Who is this this woman speaking of the Church by the example of Israel who went up froÌ„ the wildernesse unto Canaan the promised inheritance Num. 10. 33. c. This seemeth to imply a new company oâ— state of a Church rising up in the world or it is the speech of strangers admiring the glory of the Spouse of Christ who was seene before of Christ by her faith and is now beholden of others by her order the two things most respected in the Church of God Collossians 2. 5. in which she marcheth through the widernesse of this world towards her heavenly rest So when Christ came riding into Ierusalem all the Citie was moved saying Who is this Mat. 21. 10. commeth up or ascendeth as the going into Aegypt is called a descending or going downe Genesis 42. 2. and 46. 3. 4. so the going out from thence is called ascending or going up Exod. 13. 18. and 33. 3. Deut. 9. 23. The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Pro. 15. 24. from the wildernesse the wildernesse of the land of Aegypt was a figure of the world as the Prophet teacheth us when he mentioneth the wildernesse of peoples Ezek. 20. 35. 36. So Christians are not of the world but he hath chosen them out of the world Ioh. 15. 19. pillars of smoake or vapours of smoake as the Holy Ghost translateth it in Greeke Act. 2. 19. from Iocl 2. 30. In Hebrew it hath the name of Palme trees such as the stature of the Church is likened unto in Song 7. 7. which are upright and tall like pillars and smoky vapours mounting upright are so called by similitude The Spouse of Christ is here likened to pillars of smoake because her journey tendeth right upward to heaven moved by the fire of Gods spirit And whereas in Ioel 2. 30. and Act. 2. 19. blood and fire and pillars of smoake are signes of Gods wrath against the contemners of his word and Church and smoke in the Scriptures is usually a signe of anger here also the like may bee implyed Againe as smoake is darke and hindereth from seeing and the cloudy pillar was darke to the Aegyptians Exo. 14. 20. so is the Church and glory thereof obscure unto the world by reason of her afflictions in this life which were resembled unto Abraham by a smoaking oven Gen. 15. 17. But chiefly this seemeth to denote the sanctification of the Church who as a spirituall sacrifice ascendeth upto God on the Altar Christ by the fire of the spirit resolving the earthly matter to ashes remaining beneath and the other unto smoake mounting up unto God perfumed or becensed with Myrrh the Church is perfumed and made of sweet odout by Christ 〈◊〉 agge of myrrh that lodgeth betweene 〈◊〉 bâ—â—sts Song 1. â—3 whose death was like myrrh biâ—ter in tast lot of sweet smell with this she was perfumed by knowing him and the power of his resurrection the fellowship of his suffrings being made conformable unto his death Phil. 3. 10. And with the odour of this incense she is comforted according to the Proverbe Ointment and perfume rejoyce the heart Prov. 27. 9. and frankincense Myrrh was used in the holy anointing oile and frankincense in the
accompanied with a promise of all carefull and loving duty acceptation and obedience on her part For to finde him without or in the street where the Wisedome of God crieth and teacheth Pro. 1. 20. Luk. 13. 26. signifieth her ready mind to goe forth to meete him as the virgins should to the Bridegroome Matth. 25. 6. and both lovingly boldly to entertaine and welcome him by receiving and obeying his Gospell as the sequell Shew 〈…〉 See also Song 3. 2. 4. would kisse thee a signe of love honour and of obedience as all are exhor 〈…〉 d to kisse the sonne Psal. 2. 12. See Song 1. 2. they should not despise me that is men should not or I should not be despised for so this manner of speech often importeth as is noted on Gen. 16. 4. Persons are despised or contemned when either they doe or are thought to doe that which is not honest or comely Gen. 38. 23. 2 Sam. 6. 16. or when they misse of their purpose and are laughed to 〈◊〉 with contempt Esa. 37. 22. Neither of these should befall her doing but her duty in 〈◊〉 and modest sort and obtaining Christ whom her soule desired What the state of a people is without Christ and how subject they are to shame and reproach the Lord himselfe sheweth in Esa. 54. 1. 4. 6. But them that honour God he will honour and they that despise him shall be lightly-esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. and if any man serve Christ 〈◊〉 will the Father honour Ioh. 12. 26. Vers. 2. I would leads thee to weet with honour and solemnity with joy and gladnesse for Kings and great personages are said to be sed brought along Esa. 60. 11. Psal. 45. 15. 16. Here that which the faithfull desire receive of God of Christ to be led and to be brought to his holy mountaine 〈◊〉 43. 3. they promise to doe unto Christ but the Lord doth it by the sight of his Word and Spirit Esa. 63. 14. Psal 143. 10. they doe it unto 〈◊〉 by earnest prayers stirring-up themselves to take hold on him Esa. 64. 1. 7. my mothers house the state of Ecclesiastical policie and publike assembly figured by the house or Temple of God in Ierusalem of old unto which the Chaldee paraphrase here referreth it but is fulfilled in Christian Churches which are Gods house and temple now Heb. 3 6. 2 Cor. 6. 16. especially in that Ierusalem which is the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. See Song 3. 4. thou should instruct me or shalt teach shalt learne me speaking to Christ whose instruction shee would gladly receive Thus also the Greeke interpreteth it thou shalt teach me and the Chaldee thou shalt teach me to feare before the Lord. It may also bee referred to the mother aforesaid shee that instructeth her but the former seemeth most agreeable and sheweth both her desire and the end of bringing Christ unto her home that shee might be further taught and builded up by the doctrines of his Gospell And thus it is prophesied how in the last daies many people should say Come and let us goe up to the house of the God of Iakob and hee will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes c. Esa 2. 2. 3. Mich. 4. 1. 2. of spiced wine wine sweeted with a mixture or confection of spices such in the Law were put into the holy incense and oile Exod. 30. 34. 35. 23. 25. such were also used at the buriall of the dead 2 Chronicles 16. 14. and for banquetting as this place sheweth the juyce or the new-liquor the sweet-wine which hath the name of treading or pressing out of the pomegranats or grapes Hereby she signifieth that the word should not be fruitlesse in her but that she would honour Christ with her graces and render unto him such fruits of faith as should bee sweetned spiced with his owne Spirit in her wrung out of her by the same whiles she hath fellowship in his afflictions For when Christ administreth the comforts of his Word and Spirit hee giveth us wine to drinke Prov. 9. 1. 5. Esa. 55. 1. 3. and when wee bring forth the fruits of his Spirit and with them doe glorifie him and edifie our brethren he counteth himselfe refreshed as with wine and taketh pleasure in his people See Song 4. 10. and 5. 1. This juyce and wine spiced with the truth faith grace and spirit of the Lord is contrary to that cup in the womans hand full of abhominations and filthiness of her fornication the heresies idolatries and other fruits of the flesh with which 〈◊〉 the inhabitants of the earth were made drunke Rev. 17. 2. 4. Vers. 3. under mine head understand it prayer-wise as before let it be under or should be under my head The Spouse privy to her owne infirmities and desirous of strength and comfort from Christ 〈…〉 eth that she may be sustained by him and find rest to her soule in the feeling of his love whose grace is sufficient for her whose strength is made per 〈…〉 weakenesse 2 Cor. 12. 9. See before in Song 26. where the like words are used Vers. 4. I adjure you or I charge you by an oath 〈…〉 here injoying Christ desireth the continuance of his grace and chargeth her friends that they should by no means disquiet provoke or grieve him as shee had adjured them twise before Song 2. 7. and 3. 5. See the annotations there why should yee stirre that is doe not stirre for it will not be for your profit before it was said if yee stirre in the like sense and there in Song 2. 7. and 3. 5. the Roes and Hindes of the field were mentioned which are not here Vers. 5. Who is this this woman This either implyeth the springing up of a new Church conducted by Christ through the wildernesse of this world or if it be understood of the former it sheweth the admiration of the daughters of Ierusalem at her increase strong faith patience holy order c. whiles she followeth and relyeth upon Christ. So before in Song 3. 6. the wildernesse the peoples of this world out of which the people of God are chosen and called Ezek. 20. 35. Ioh. 15. 19. It signifieth also her former misery under persecution or under the bondage of sinne and satan from which shee escapeth by Christ for the wildernesse was a dry and thirsty land a land of drought and of the shadow of death Ezek. 19. 13. Ier. 2. 6. that leaneth or leaning cleaving to adjoyning associating her selfe it is a word not elsewhere used in Scripture and is borrowed from the Arabian language the Greeke translateth it confirming or strengthening her selfe It signifieth her weakenesse in her selfe unable to sustaine her steppes but her strength in Christ her beloved on whom she leaning by faith is confirmed against all doubts fears dangers difficulties tentations and by her union with him is made partaker of all grace and comfort for hee
from the injuries of the world Esa. 4. 6. and 25. 4. Psal. 27. 5. that the Sâ—â—ne shall not light on them nor any heat Rev. 7. 16 and the state of the Church then which had the mysteries of Christ under shadowes and coverings now taken away Heb. 10. 1. Therefore the Tabernacle of the Gospell is described without any such veiles or covers in the open heaven where the most holy things even the Aâ—â—e of Gods Covenant is to bee seene Rev. 4 1. 6. and 11. 19. and 21. 2. 3. c. Vers. 15. boards these were to beare up the embroidered curtainâ—â— the Greeke calleth them styles or pillars and to these with the silver sockets wheron they stood verse 19. the Apostle alludeth when he calleâ—ly Gods House and Church the pillar and stay of the Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Vers. 17. tenons called in Hebrew hands for that they held fast in the mortaiâ—â—es of the sockets set in order or set ladder wise that is equally distant one from another as the staâ—es of a ladder Vers. 19. sockets or bases as the Greeke translateth them the 〈…〉 grounds that sustained the boards having hollow mortailâ—â— for the tenons of the boards to be fastened in Every one of these sockets was of a talent of silvâ—◠〈…〉 an â—â—â—dred and twenty pound weight 〈…〉 Vers. 20. twenty boards and every be and being a â—â—biâ— and an halfe broad verse â—6 〈…〉 of the whole Tabernacle appeareth to be â—0 cubiâ—s 〈◊〉 45. foot Vers. 22. S 〈…〉 d that is 〈◊〉 so vers 27. See the notes on Gen. 〈◊〉 8. Vers. 24. equally joyned or j 〈…〉 that is joyned alike to the boards that are 〈◊〉 the side and on the end of the Tabernacle so fastening them both together The Hebrew signifieth twinning or twins 〈…〉 in this sonse but here and againe 〈…〉 The Chaldee 〈…〉 reth it disposed or 〈◊〉 the Greeke thâ—â— shall be of equaâ—â—â—â—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together 〈◊〉 perfectly joyned or equally joyned The Hebrew though it differeth in forme yet is thought to be of like signifie at 〈…〉 with the former and so the Chaldee 〈◊〉 it as before and the Greeke varieth but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall be exisou of equalitie beneath and likewise they shall be isoi equall at the heads c. so in Exod 36. 19. Vers. 26. â—arres or â—afâ—ers which were for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—n the boards together Vers. 28. in the mids This â—ids seemeth to bee 〈◊〉 of the length of the boards not of the thicknesse as if this barre went through the boards which so must needs bee of an extraordinary thicknesse and weight but through rings put in the mids of the boards as the other barres went through rings put in the ends reaching or shooting through of this word the barre afore-said hath the name in Hebrew which signifieth â—â—eeing or speedy passing through Vers. 29. places Hebr. houses as Exod. 25. 27. The Greeke explaineth it thus into which thou shalt bring the barres Vers. 30. right fashion or just constitution Hebr. judgement which the Greeke translateth fashion or shape and Stephen calleth it a type Acts 7. 44. so it is the same in effect with Exod. 25. 40. Vers. 31. of a cunning workeman that is wrought or woven both sides alike see the notes on verse 1. he that is the workeman the Greeke saith as before thou shalt make Cherubiâ—s that is as the Chaldee â—â—presseth figures of Cherub 〈…〉 wrought in the veile Vers. 32. hang Hebrew giveâ— so verse 33. Shittim or â—edar wood that will not rot Exodâ—â— 25. 5. Vers. 33. of the testimony that is of the Tables where on the Law was written for a testimonie to Israel See Exod. 2â— 16. divide or separate This was the speciall use of this veile to deâ—arre men from entring yea or seeing into the most holy place or the Arke Exod. 40. 3. whereby as Paul saith the Holy Ghost signified this that the way into the Holies was not yet manifested while as the first Ta 〈…〉 had st 〈…〉 g Heb. 9. 8. that is the way 〈◊〉 heaven which the most holy place shadowed was not by those legall services but should be 〈◊〉 â—â—to 〈…〉 n by Christ first entring there 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 Heb. 9. 24 and 10. 19. Therefore 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 signified the flesh of Christ under 〈…〉 was veiled and through 〈…〉 death hee entred himselfe 〈…〉 also for us to enter into heaven Heb. 9. 19. 20. To 〈◊〉 this the veile of the Temple at the death of Christ was rent in 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Mattâ— â—7 51. So the curious embroiderie and glorious Cherubims of this 〈…〉 manifold graces of the Spirit 〈…〉 had in his 〈…〉 al 〈…〉 of his Word and Spi 〈…〉 which are in 〈…〉 understood 〈…〉 of Holinesses that 〈…〉 most holy place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 name Christ him 〈…〉 câ—â—â—ed 〈◊〉 9 â—4 but 〈◊〉 it figured Heaven into which Christ is entred in flesh we also now are by hope and shall also in our flesh at his appearing Heb. 6. 19. 20. and 9. 11. 12. 24. and 10. 19. Ioh. 14. 2. 3. It was also a type of the Churches estate under the Gospell wherein without veiles we enjoy the mysteries of Christ Revel 4. and 11. 19. This place in Solomons Temple was called Debir that is the Oracle because from thence Gods oracles were heard Num. 7. 89. 1 King 6. 19. where the Chaldee translateth it the house of propitiations Vers. 35. without signifying that the twelve Tribes of Israel represented by the Cakes upon that Table were yet without the open enjoying of the mysteries of the Gospell Heb. 9. 8. 9. 10. and 10. 19. and 11. 39. 40. and in respect of heaven it selfe we all in this life are yet without and enter in onely by the anker of hope Heb. 6. 18. 19. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. 3. c. the south which is the right hand both in respect of the world Psal. 89. 13. and of this Tabernacle where God from the most holy place betweene the Cherubims beheld his people worshipping with their faces towards the West the type of them on the table being on the Northside and the Candlesticke of his law burning with the seven lamps of his Spirit on the South side So the Word is above the Church Vers. 36. an hanging veile or covering as the word more properly signifieth This was another veile which hung as a doore at the entry of the Tabernacle through which the priests of the Law went every day to minister in the holy place but the people might not Heb. 9. â—2 6. Shewing also the restraint of the Iewish Chruch from such blessings as God hath opened unto us in Christ Heb. 9. 9. 10. c. and 10. â—9 20. embroiderer or weaver with tinsell worke who worketh curiously and with many colours figuring the variety of graces which God deeketh his Church with Ezek. 16. 10. Psal. 45. â—5 But the workmanship of this veile was infeâ—â—ouâ— to the former which had Cherubiâ—â—s See the notes
and all the vessels thereof the Laver and the foot thereof The tapestrie-hangings of the Court the pillars thereof and the sockets thereof and the hanging-veile for the gate of the court the cords thereof and the pins thereof and all the vessels of the service of the Tabernacle for the Tent of the Congregation The garments of ministery to minister in the Holy place the garments of holinesse for Aaron the Priest and the garments of his sons to minister-in-the-priests-office According to all that Iehovah commanded Moses so the sonnes of Israel made all the worke And Moses saw all the worke and behold they had done it as Iehovah had commanded so had they done and Moses blessed them Annotations OF ministery whereof see Exod. 31. 10. of holinesse that is the holy garments specified in Exodus 28. V. 2. Ephod described in Exod. 28. 6. c. V. 3. beat-thinne or spread abroad wiers or threds of those plates in the blew or in the midst of w ch the Gr. translateth with the blew c. For the gold thred was twisted with the blew with every of the other colors as is noted on Exodus 28. 6. Vers. 6. Beryl see Exod. 28. 9. Ver. 8. Brestplate whereof see Exod. 28. 15. c. V. 10. Smaragd or Emeraud see Exod. 28. 17. Vers. 22. woven worke Hebrew worke of the weaver see Exod. 28. 31. c. Ver. 24. twisted or twined the Greeke addeth and bysse that is fine linnen twined See the notes on Exod. 28. 33. Vers. 27. coats whereof see Exod. 28. 40. Ver. 28. goodly ornaments this words is sometime used for the Bonnets themselves as in Ezek. 44. 18. Vers. 30. crowne of holiness that is holy crowne or separation as both the Hebrew and Greeke signifieth see Exod 29. 6. and 28. 36. Vers. 32. so did they this hath respect unto the charge before given Ex. 25. 40. and for this cause the particulars have been repeated by Moses that all might see the care which he and the workmen had to make all things both for matter and forme according to the patterne and commandement given of God Such faithfulnesse also was in Christ Heb. 3. 2. and ought to be in all Christians concerning Gods heavenly ordinances in his Church whereof these things were a patterne and shadow Heb. 8. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. and 5. 21. Vers. 33. bars or barre an in Exod. â—5 11. Vers. 37. to be set in order Hebr. lamps of ordering or of disposition which the Priest were to trim every day see the notes on Exod. 27. 21. the Greeke translateth lamps of burning Vers. 38. of sweet spices in Greeke of composition that is the compounded incense Ver. 42. all the worke or all the service which the Gr. calleth Preparation or Furniture V. 43 saw or viewed as he that was charged with the oversight of this whole work Exodus 25. 40. the worke in Gr. works blessed them that is as Gods publike minister pronounced a blessing from the Lord upon these workmen see Gen. 14. 19. Herein Moses was a figure of Christ who will blesse them that faithfully observe the Commandements of God 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. for who so is a doer of the worke this man shall be blessed in his deed Iam. 1. 25. Hereupon the Hebr. say Worke is a great thing for Shecinah that is the Divine presence or Majestie of God in Christ dwelled not in Israel untill they had done the worke as it is written in Exod. 39. 43. AND MOSES SAVV ALL THE VVORKE c. AND MOSES BLESSED THEM And how did heè blesse them Hee said unto them The Lord vouchsafe that the Divine-presence Shecinah may dwell in the worke of your hands And so it came to passe as it is said in Exod. 40. 34. And the cloud covered the Tent. c. and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle R. Elias in Reshith chocmah fol 420. a. CHAP. XL. 1 The Lord commandeth the Tabernacle to be reared 4 and things to be set in order therein 8 and the Court to be set about it 9 The Tabernacle and all the vessells thereof the Altar and Laver to bee anointed with oile 12 Aaron and his sons to be washed cloathed anointed sanctified 16 Moses obeyeth and reareth up the Tabernacle 21 carieth in the Arke 22 placeth the Table 24 and the Candlesticke 26 and the golden Altar 29 and the brazen Altar 30 and the Laver 33 and reare 〈…〉 up the Court 34. A cloud covereth the Tabernacle and Gods glory filleth it 38. The cloud was on the Tabernacle by day and fire by night continually ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying In the day of the first moneth in the first of the moneth thou shalt reare-up the Tabernacle the Tent of the Congregation And thou shalt put there the Arke of the Testimony and cover the Arke with the veile And thou shalt bring in the Table and set-in-order the order therof and thou shalt bring-in the Candlesticke cause to ascend the lamps therof And thou shalt set the Altar of gold for the incense before the Arke of the testimony and put the hanging-veile of the doore to the Tabernacle And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt-offring before the doore of the Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation And thou shalt set the Laver between the Tent of the Congregation and the altar and shalt put water there And thou shalt set the Court round-about and put the hanging-veile at the gate of the Court. And thou shalt take the oile of anointing and anoint the Tabernacle and all that is therein and shalt sanctifie it and all the vessels therof and it shall be holy And thou shalt anoynt the Altar of the burnt-offring and all the vessels thereof and shalt sanctifie the Altar and the Altar shall bee Holy of holies And thou shalt anoynt the Laver and the foot thereof and sanctifie it And thou shalt bring-neere Aaron his sons unto the doore of the Tent of the congregation wash them with water And thou shalt cloth AaroÌ„ with the garmeÌ„ts of holinesse and shalt anoint him and sanctifie him he shall minister-in-the-priests-office unto me And thou shalt bring-neere his sons and clothe them with coats And thou shalt anoint them as thou didst anoint their father and they shall minister-in-the-priests-office unto me and their anoynting shall bee to bee unto them for an eternall priesthood throughout their generations And Moses did according to all that Iehovah commanded him so did he And it was in the first moneth in the second yeere in the first day of the moneth the Tabernacle was reared up And Moses reared-up the Tabernacle and set the sockets thereof and set-up the boards thereof and put-in the bars thereof and reared-up the pillars thereof And hee spread abroad the Tent over the Tabernacle and put the covering of the Tent upon it above as Iehovah commanded Moses And he tooke and put the Testimony into the Arke and set
of God is with men and he will dwell with them they shal be his people God himself wil be with them c. Rev. 21. 3. set or fastened Heb gave which is used for a firme setting or stablishing as is noted on Gen. 1. 17. This setting of the sockets with the boards bars and pillars signified the stability of the Church and members thereof grounded and stablished by faith in Christ Esay 33. 20. and 14. 32. 1. Tim. 3. 15. V. 19. the Tent in Gr. the curtaines which were of two sorts some of white blew purple and scarlet cunningly wrought with Cherubims coupled together others of Goats haire Exod. 26. 1. 7. the covering both that of rams skins and the other of Tachash skins Ex. 26. 14. This tent covering shadowed the heavenly graces wherewith Christ and his Church in him are adorned their uniting together by the Spirit through faith and love and their safe protection though these things veiled and obscure See the notes on Exod. 26. V. 20. the Testimonie the two tables of Gods law Ex. 25. 16. Covering-mercy-seat a figure of Christ in whose heart was Gods law by whom our transgressions of the Law are covered and the word of grace from God commeth unto us see Ex. 25. 17. V. 21. covered the Arke hid it with the veile hanged before it A figure of Christs flesh veiling the divine things in him till hee entred through it into the holy heavens and opened a way for his Church thereinto Heb. 10. 19. 20. Rev. 11. 19. Ver. 23. the order of bread that is the bread set in order called in Gr. the bread of proposition and so in Mat. 12. 4. but Paul nameth it the proposition of bread Heb. 9. 2. which we call Shew-bread twelve cakes representing the twelve tribes that is all beleevers presented pure unto God in Christ see Ex. 25. 30. Vers. 24. the Candlesticke a figure of the Law which giveth light to his people standing before God in his sanctuary Psal. 119. 105. See the notes on Exod 25. 31. c. Ver. 25. to ascend that is to burne and shine as v. 4. representing the seven Spirits of Christ whereby through the oile of his grace his word shineth unto his Church Rev. 4. 5. Ver. 26. Altar of gold figuring Christs mediation for his Church whereby they and their praiers are presented as sweet odours unto God See the notes on Ex. 30. These all being in the most holy and holy places hidden with veiles from the eies of the people signified the obscuritie of the heavenly mysteries of the Gospell before the veile of Christs flesh was rent the treasures of his grace more fully opened Heb. 10. 1. Rom. 16. 25. 26. Ephes. 3. 5. Ver. 29. the altar of burnt-offring the brazen Altar standing in the open Court for all to see wherupon the daily sacrifices figuring Christs death and sufferings were burned to lead the Church unto the expectation of his body to bee offred for us and our bodies by him unto God Heb. 10. 5. 6. 7. Rom. 12. 1. Ver. 30. The Laver a figure of the sanctification of the Church washed frō their sins by the blood of Christ that they may come neere unto God Heb. 10. 22. Rev. 1. 5. 6. Tit. 3. 5. Vers. 33. the Court an holy inclosure for the Church to be kept in pure when they came to appeare before God And here was the finishing of the worke of the sanctuary about which thus erected first the tribe of Levi Numb 1. 50. and behind them the other tribes of Israel pitched their Tents in holy order appointed of God in a foure square forme Num. 2. such as is the forme of the heavenly Ierusalem Revel 21. 16. which Tents were also holy might have no uncleane person within them Num. 5. 2. as nothing that defileth may be in the new Ierusalē the Church of Christ Rev. 21. 27. and unto which Tents or camp e the earthly Ierusalem the holy citie Neh. 11. 1. was answerable For some open uncleane might not be in the campe or citie others though in the campe might not come into the Lords Court of those in his court none entred into the sanctuary but the Priests of thē none into the most holy of the sanctuary but the high priest once in the yeer He. 9. 6. 7. because holines becōmeth the House of the Lord for ever Ps. 93. 5. and the neerer they come unto him the more they ought for to be sanctified Lev. 10. 2. 3. 16. 2. 3. c. So after that Israel came into Canaan and had there a temple they had degrees of holy places both of thē are de scribed by the Heb. thus Three Camps were in the wildernesse the campe of Israel which was in foure camps Num. 2. the camp of Levi Numb 1. 50. and the campe of the Divine Majestie which was from the doore of the Court of the Tabernacle of the congregation and forward And answerable unto thē in the ages following frō the gates of Ierusalem unto the mountaine of the Temple was as the camp of Israel from the gates of the mountain of the Temple unto the doore of the Court which was the gate of Nicanor was as the Campe of Levi and from the doore of the court forward was the camp of Gods Majesty Maim in Beth habchirah c. 7. s. 11. Other like differences of holinesse of places they also observe which are to be mentioned otherwhere V. 34. the cloud a testimony of Gods presence and approbation who thus took as it were possession of the Tabernacle to dwell therein amongst his people but with an hiding of his glory and power So when Solomon had builded the Temple the cloud filled the house then spake Solomon The LORD said that he would dwell in the thicke darknesse 1 Kin. 8. 10. 12. But when Gods presence was with displeasure for the sins of the people it was signified by a smoake filling the Temple Esa. 6. 4. Rev. 15. 8 for smoake was a signe of anger Psal. 18. 9. Esay 14 31. glorie a signe of Gods glorious presence who now came to dwell there as he had promised Exod. 25. 8. So in 2 Chron. 5. 14. and Ezek. 43. 4. 5. where it is opened by God himselfe thus Sonne of man the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever c. Ezek. 43. 7. So the holy Ierusalem hath the glory of God Rev. 21. 11. Vers. 35. dwelt that is abode or continued and as the Greeke translateth over-shadowed it And in that Moses could not now goe into the Tent nor the priests into the Temple 2 Chron. 5. 14. and 7. 2. it sheweth the weaknesse and unworthinesse of all flesh to come into the presence of God who therefore gave a Law that the high Priest himselfe should not at all times come into the holy place within
And hee shall wave the sheafe before Iehovah for your favourable-acceptation-on the morrow after the sabbath the Priest shall wave it And yee shall offer in the day that you wave the sheafe an hee-lambe perfect of his first yeare for a Burnt-offring unto Iehovah And the Meat-offring thereof shall be two tenth deales of fine flowre mingled with oile a Fire offring to Iehovah a savour of rest and the drink-offring thereof shall be wine the fourth part of an Hin And ye shall not eat bread or parched corne or green-eares untill this self same day untill ye have brought the oblation of your God it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings And ye shall number unto you from the morrow after the sabbath from the day that ye brought the sheafe of the wave offring seven sabbaths they shal be complete Vntill on the morrow after the seventh Sabbath ye shall number fifty dayes and ye shall offer a new Meat-offring unto Iehovah Out of your habitations ye shall bring bread for a wave offring two loaves of two tenth-deales they shal be of fine-flowre they shall be baken with leaven they are the first-fruits 〈…〉 o Iehovah And yee shall offer with the bread seven hee-lambes perfect of the first yere and one bullock a yongling of the herd and two rams they shall be a burnt-offring unto Iehovah their Meat-offring their drink-offrings a Fire offring of a savour of rest unto Iehovah And yee shall offer one goat-buck of the goats for a sin offring and two hee-lambes of the first yere for a sacrifice of Peace-offrings And the priest shall wave-them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave-offring before Iehovah with the two lambes holines shall they be unto Iehovah for the Priest And ye shall proclaime in this selfe same day a convocation of holines shall it be unto you ye shal not doe any servile worke it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations And when you reape the harvest of your land thou shalt not wholly-rid the corner of thy field when thou reapest neither shalt thou gleane the gleaning of thy harvest thou shalt leave them for the poore and for the stranger I am Iehovah your God And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speak unto the sons of Israel saying In the seventh moneth in the first day of the moneth ye shall have a Sabbatisme a memorial of blowing of trumpets a convocation of holines Ye shall not do any servile worke but ye shall offer a Fire offring unto Iehovah And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Also in the tenth day of this seveÌ„th moneth it shall be a day of Atonements a convocation of holines shal it be unto you and ye shal afflict your soules shall offer a fire offring unto Iehovah And ye shall not do any work in that same day for it is a day of atonemeÌ„ts to make atonement for you before Iehovah your God For every soule that shall not be afflicted in the seventh day he shall even be cut-off from his peoples And every soule that shall do any work in this self same day I will even destroy that soule from among his people Yee shall not doe any worke it shall bee a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings It shall be unto you a Sabbath of sabbatisme and yee shall afflict your souls in the ninth day of the moneth in the evening from evening unto evening ye shall rest your Sabbath And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Speake unto the sons of Israel saying In the fifteenth day of this seventh moneth shall be the feast of Boothes seven dayes unto Iehovah In the first day shall bee a convocation of holines ye shall not doe any servile worke Seven daies ye shall offer a Fire-offring unto Iehovah in the eight day a convocation of holinesse shall be unto you and ye shall offer a Fire offring unto Iehovah it is a solemne-assembly yee shall not do any servile worke These are the solemne feasts of Iehovah those which ye shall proclaime convocations of holinesse to offer a Fire offring unto Iehovah a Burnt-offring and a Meat-offring a sacrifice and drink-offrings the thing of a day in his day Beside the Sabbathes of Iehovah and beside your gifts and beside all your vowes and beside all your voluntary offrings which yee shall give unto Iehovah Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh moneth when yee have gathered-in the revenue of the land yee shall festivally-keep the feast of Iehovah seven daies in the first day shal be a sabbatisme and in the eight day a sabbatisme And yee shall take unto you in the first day the fruit of goodly trees boughes of Palme-trees and branches of thick trees and willowes of the brooke and ye shall reioyce before Iehovah your God seuen daies And yee shall festivally keepe it a feast unto Iehovah seven daies in the yeare it shall bee a statute for ever throughout your generations in the seventh moneth shall yee festivally-keepe it Ye shall dwell in Boothes seven daies every home-borne in Israel shal dwell in Boothes That your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel to dwell in boothes when I brought them out from the land of Egypt Iam Iehovah your God And Moses declared the solemne-feasts of Iehovah unto the sons of Israel Annotations SOlemne feasts The Hebrew Mâ—gned is generally a set-time or season Gen. 1. 14. 1 Sam. 13. 8. but applyed here and often to the solemne feasts in Israel which were appointed of God at their set-times in the yeere The Greeke here and in many other places translateth it Heorte a Feast somtime Paneguris a Generall-assembly both which words Paul useth in Col. 2. 26. Heb. 12. 23. The Lord having given lawes before concerning the sanctity of his Church doth now give order for the times and manner of publike professing and exercising holy duties appertaining to sanctification of shewing thankfulnes joy for former benefits with expectatioÌ„ of greater to come by Christ. shall proclaime or shall call convocations of holinesse that is holy convocations or meetings to boâ—sed for nourishment of faith and godlinesse all which now have their accomplishment in Christ Col. 2. 16. 17. V. 3. shall worke be done in Grâ—hou shalt do 〈◊〉 that is all thy works that thou hest to do as Ex 20 9 of Sabbatisme that is of resting in Gr. a rest see the notes on Ex. 16. 23. Thus the weekly Sabbâ—th 〈◊〉 are the first of the Lords solemne feasts and called his holy daies which should be of us called a delight and honourable Esay 58. 13. See Exod 20 8. 9. 10. any worke for other feasts the prohibitio 〈…〉 any servile worke ver 7. 8. 21. 25. 35. 36. But for the Sabbach day and the day of Atonement v. 28. 30. he for biddeth all manner of worke the rest was to be greater for on other
hundred Of the sonnes of Aser by their generations according to their families according to the house of their fathers by the number of the names from twentie yeeres old and upward every one that went forth with the armie Those that were mustered of them of the tribe of Aser were one and fortie thousand and five hundred The sonnes of Naphtali by their generations according to their families according to the house of their fathers by the number of the names from twentie yeeres old and upward every one that went forth with the armie Those that were mustered of them of the tribe of Naphtali were three and fiftie thousand and foure hundred These are those that were mustered which Moses mustered and Aaron and the Princes of Israel twelve men each one was for the house of his fathers And they were all those that were mustered of the sonnes of Israel according to the house of their fathers from twentie yeeres old and upward everyone that went forth with the armie in Israel Even all that were mustered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fiftie But the Levites according to the tribe of their fathers were not mustered among them For Iehovah had spoken unto Moses saying Onely the tribe of Levi thou shalt not muster neither take the summe of them among the sonnes of Israel But thou appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimonie and over all the vessels thereof and over all things that belong to it they shall beare the Tabernacle and all the vessels thereof and they sha 〈…〉 minister unto it and shall encampe round about the Tabernacle And when the Tabernacle setteth forward the Levites shall take it downe and when the Tabernacle is to be pitched the Levites shall set it up and the stranger that commeth nigh shall be put to death And the sonnes of Israel shall encampe every man by his owne campe and every man by his owne standard throughout their armies But the Levites shall encampe round about the Tabernacle of the Testimonie that there be no fervent wrath upon the congregation of the sonnes of Israel and the Levites shall keepe the charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie And the sonnes of Israel did so according to all that Iehovah commanded Moses so did they Annotations NVmbers This name is given unto this booke according to the Greeke title because the first chiefe thing here handled is the numbring of the tribes of Israel The Hebrewes give it no other name then of the first words Vajedabber that is And the LORD spake or Bemidbar that is In the wildernesse see the first annotations on Genesis and Exodus And here beginneth the 34. section or lecture of the Law whereof see Gen. 6. 9. Verse 1. Sinai the mount whereon the Law had beene given Exod. 19. by which mountaine Israel yet abode untill the twentieth day of this moneth Numb 10. 11. 12. the Tent or Tabernacle of meeting whither the people were to assemble at the times appointed and where God met with them as he promised Exod. 25. 22. It is called also the Tabernacle of Testimonie v. 43. and so the Greeke translateth it here the first Hebr. the one understanding day as in Mat. 26. 17. compared with Marke 14. 12. see the notes on Gen. 8. 13. And one is often put for first as is noted on Gen. 1. 5. And every first day of the moneth was a feast Numb 28. 11. c. second moneth which we now call Aprill so in Thargum Ionathan it is said the first of the moneth Ijar that is Aprill which is the second moneth In the Scripture it is named Ziv 1. King 6. 1. of the brightnesse and beautie of the flowers which then doe spring But God had spoken before unto them in the first moneth which is related after in Numb 9. 1. c. after their comming forth or of their departing seethe annotations on Exod. 16. 1. God having given them lawes for his service in Exodus and Leviticus doth now settle their church and commonwealth in order Vers. 2. the summe Hebr. the head which some vnderstand for heads that is the Rulers but the Chaldee expoundeth it the summe or count see the notes on Exod. 30. 12. This people was numbred by Moses three times in the first yeere after they came out of Egypt when every man gave a ransome for his soule whereby their redemption by Christ was figured Exod. 30. 11 12. c. 38. 25 26. In the second yeere when now they were to be set in order for their encamping about the Sanctuarie and journeying with it towards Canaan whereof the 4. first chapters of this booke doe treat The third and last muster was in the fortieth yeere the last of their travell when all this generation being dead their sonnes were numbred for to receive inheritance in the land of promise a Figure of the Kingdome of Heaven the sonnes of Israel the twelue tribes Gen. 49. 1. 2. 28. So all strangers are excluded from this numbring The Levites also were numbred apart vers 49. c. families or kindreds which next descended of those twelve tribes of which families see Numb 26. 5. c. house that is as the Greeke translateth houses and these were the next descent of the families aforesaid See Ios. 7. 14. Aben Esra here noteth that it is said the house of their fathers because the familie of the mother is not called a familie everymale whereby the females are excluded as also all children vers 3. their polles or their skulles that is as the Greeke translateth their heads meaning the particular persons so in Exod. 38. 26. V. 3. old Hebr. sonne of twentie yeeres that is going in his twentieth yeere of which phrase see the annotations on Gen. 5. 32. So all children and youths under 20. yeeres were not in this account upward some of the Hebrewes limit the time unto sixtie yeeres old R. Menachem on Numb 1. but the law setteth no such limitation that goeth forth to wit usually or is able to goe forth So all that were unable for the warre through old age sicknesse or other infirmities are not mustered here with Israel shall muster or shall number which in the Hebrew and Greeke hath the name of visiting This numbring of Israel signified Gods providence and care over them which extendeth not onely to their persons but to the very haires of their heads which are all numbred Luk. 12. 7. And in that they are numbred or mustred by their armies it shewed whereunto God had called them even to fight the good sight of faith 1 Tim. 6. 12. By the word of truth by the power of God by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand and on the lest 2 Cor. 6. 7. Therefore they were to follow the Lord and his Tabernacle going before them to fight against the Canaanites as in our spirituall warfare we are to follow Christ Reu. 12. 7. 19. 11. 14. And onely males
of Dan shal be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai And his armie and those that were mustered of them sixty and two thousand and seven hundred And they that encampe next unto him shal be the tribe of Aser and the captaine of the sonnes of Aser shal be Pâ—giel the sonne of Ocran And his armie and those that were mustered of them were one and fortie thousand and five hundred And the tribe of Naphtali and the captaine of the sonnes of Naphtali Ahira the sonne of Enan And his armie and those that were mustered of them were three and fiftie thousand and foure hundred All that were mustered of the campe of Dan were an hundred thousand and seven and fifty thousand and six hundred they shall set forth hindmost according to their standards These are those that were mustered of the sonnes of Israel according to the house of their fathers all that were mustered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty But the Levites were not mustered among the sonnes of Israel as Iehovah commanded Moses And the sonnes of Israel did according to all that Iehovah commanded Moses so they encamped according to their standards and so they set forward every man according to his families according to the house of his fathers Annotations SHall encampe or as the Greeke translateth let them encampe that is pitch their tents as an army about the Sanctuary of the Lord of hosts Here God having in the former chapter given charge to muster his warriers commandeth now to set them in order and under government as in the church all things ought to be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 40. his standard or his banner which the Greeke translateth his order and so the Chaldee calleth it Tekes a word borrowed of the Greeke Taxis Order And this phrase the Apostle useth from this place in 1 Cor. 15. 23. every man in his owne order Here it is properly a standard banner or flag such as is used in the warres which fitly denoteth the state of the Church in her spirituall warfare said therefore to be terrible as an armie with banners Song 6. 4. 10. and it signifieth her victory whereupon David saith we will shout in thy salvation and in the name of our God we will set up the banner Psal. 20. 6. See also Ier. 50. 2. and 51. 27. where the setting up of a standard is a signe of preparation unto warre against Babylon as here against the Canaanites with the ensignes or with the signes which were in the standards for discerning of one from an other What these were the Scripture sheweth not it is not unlikely that they were such colours as the precious stones had on Aarons brestplate Exod. 28. on which the tribes names were engraved In the Thargum called Ionathans upon this place it is said The standard of the campe of Iudah was of linnen of three colours according to the three precious stones in the Brestplate of the Chalcedonie Saphir and Sardonyx and in it were engraved and expressed the names of the three tribes Iudah Issachar and Zabulon and in the midst thereof was written from Num. 10. 35. Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee in it also was pourtrayed the forme of a Lion The standard of the campe of Reuben was of linnen of three colours answerable to the three precious stones in the Brestplate of the Sardine Topaz and Amethyst and therein were engraved and expressed the names of the three tribes Reuben Simeon God and in the midst thereof was written Heare ò Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one Deut. 6. 4. Therein also was pourtrayed the forme of an Hart c. So he proceedeth for the rest Howbeit that proportion will not hold in all seeing Levi who is not here among the other tribes was there one of the twelve and Ioseph there graved on the Beryl hath here two tribes Ephraim and Manasses unto whom two colours cannot be allowed from the brestplate as the Thargum here would Others therefore explaine it otherwise having herein no certainty Chazkuni on Num. 3. bringeth this exposition The pourtraiture of a man was on Roubens standard died after the colour of the Sardine set in the brest-plate for his name in signe of the Mandrakes which he found Gen. 30. 14. which are after the fashion of a man The pourtraiture of a Lion was on Iudahs standard who is called a Lion Gen. 49. 9. and it was dyed into the colour of a Chalcedoni The figure of a Bullocke or Oxe was on Ephraims standard whose father is likened to a bullocke Deut. 33. 17. It was dyed in colour like a Beryl The figure of an Eagle was on Dans standard dyed like an Hyacinth c. To this Aben Esra on Num. 2. agreeth saying There were signes in every stand 〈…〉 Ancestors have said that in Re 〈…〉 was the figure of a Man c. in Iu 〈…〉 figure of a Lion c. in Ephraims th 〈…〉 locke c. and in the standard of Dan the 〈…〉 Eagle so they were like the Ch 〈…〉 Prophet Ezekiel saw Ezek. 1. 10. Whaâ—â—â—ever the signes were which the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 concealeth this ordering of the people under their standards with ensignes taught all to abide in that state wherein God placed them and not to 〈◊〉 from tribe to tribe or from ensigne to ensigne but to continue every one under his governour for to stand for an ensigne of the people as is prophesied of Iesus the root of lesse Esai 11. 10. is 〈…〉 pounded by the Apostle to rule over the G 〈…〉 Rom. 15. 12. house in Greeke houses ouer against or from before it whereby is meant alooâ—e or a farre off as this word is explained in Psal. 38. 12. they stand from b 〈…〉 stroke and my neighbours stand a farre off ye 〈…〉 as they should view it and have their faces tow 〈…〉 it as the like phrase sheweth in 2 King 2. 7. Deâ—â— 32. 52. Gen. 21. 16. So that the doores of all 〈◊〉 tents were to be inward towards the T 〈…〉 cle to shew due respect thereto and y 〈…〉 in reverence of the holy place as in Exod. 3. 5. And the distance may be guessed to be two 〈…〉 sand cubites that is an English mile a 〈◊〉 dayes iourney whereof see the notes on 〈◊〉 16. 29. for such a space was betweene the A 〈…〉 and the people in Ios. 3. 4. So R. Solomon 〈◊〉 expoundeth it Over against that is a 〈…〉 a mile distance as it is said in Iosua yet ther 〈…〉 a space betweene you and it about two th 〈…〉 bits by measure round about so 〈…〉 Lord dwelt in the midst of his people and 〈◊〉 tents of the Saints were as a wall round about G 〈…〉 sanctuarie to guard it For as in Ier. 50. 2◠〈◊〉 camping against Babylon round about wâ—◠〈◊〉 none thereof might
escape so here they 〈…〉 ped about Gods sanctuarie for the safety the 〈…〉 According to which type the Christian chu 〈…〉 described in Reu. 4. 2. 4. c. where th 〈…〉 Throne in the middest answerable to the Tab 〈…〉 cle and Temple called Gods throne in Ezâ—◠〈…〉 and round about the throne are foure 〈…〉 thrones which is double the numb 〈…〉 twelve tribes here camping because th 〈…〉 increased under the gospel and the pl 〈…〉 tents enlarged Esai 54 2. And be 〈…〉 throne and the circuit round about the 〈◊〉 are foure liuing creatures full of eyes c. 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 the watchmen or ministers of the church 〈…〉 betweene the Lords Tent and the tents 〈…〉 the Levites camped in foure quarters wher 〈…〉 Num. chap. 3. and c. 1. v. 50. Herâ—upon the c 〈…〉 is described to be those that are 〈…〉 Lord Psal. 76. 12. V. 3. foremost or on the â—â—re part 〈…〉 loweth eastward or towards the Sun 〈…〉 the East is said to be before and the West 〈…〉 Esai 12. the South is called the 〈…〉 world Psal. 89. 13. and the North the 〈…〉 which Iob describeth by these names in Iob 23. 8 9. So R. Sol. Iarchi noteth on this place foremost or before is the east quarter and the west is called behinde the captaine or the Prince ruler as in Num. 1. 16. so after in this chapter Iudah the father of our Lord Christ after the flesh Luk. 3. he as he was most in number of all the tribes Num. 1. 27. so as a Lion whom none durst rouse up Gen. 49. 8 9. he is the chiefe standard-bearer and chiefe captaine of all the captaines of Israel camping in the first place as did Moses and Aaron the chiefest of the Levites in the same quarter betweene Iudah and the sanctuarie Numb 3. 38. Also when they marched Iudah went foremost Num. 10. 14. And after Iosuahs death Iudah went first up to fight against the Canaanites Iudg. 1. 1 2. He figured Christ the Lion of the tribe of Iudah who also is Michael that with his Angels fighteth against the Dragon and goeth before his heavenly armies Rev. 5. 5. and 12. 7. and 19. 11. 14. V. 5. Issachar and with him Zabulon vers 7. both younger brothers to Iudah that they might the more willingly be under his regiment all of them sonnes of Leah the free woman placed in this first quarter V. 7. The tribe of Zabulon understand from v. 5. shall encampe next so the Greeke explaineth it And they that encampe next c. So in vers 14. 22. 29. V. 9. an hundred thousand c. the greatest number of warriers by many were in this first quarter where Iudah was standard-bearer almost thirty thousand moc than in any other quarter The next in number to him was the last squadron where Dan bare the standard so they that went foremost and came hindmost had the greatest armies for the more safetie of the Sanctuarie which matched in the middest and of all Israel The number of every one may be viewed thus 1. In the campe of Iudah 186400. East 2. In the campe of Reuben 151450. South 3. In the campe of Ephraim 108100. West 4. In the campe of Dan 157600. North. set forward first or march and journey first when the host removeth Num. 10. 14. as they encamped in the first place Eastward before the doore of Gods Tabernacle V. 10. Southward the order proceedeth from East to South and so to the West North according to the course of the Sun and climates of the world And this second place is given to Reuben because he was the first borne though he lost his first birth-right Gen. 49. which Iudas and Ioseph had shared betweene them and he is put downe to the second place V. 12. Simeon Next brother to Reuben and of the same mother with whom is joyned God the first-borne of that mothers maid Zilpha vers 14. both for to keepe them the more easily in subjection and to nourish brotherly love V. 14. Reguel in Greeke Rago 〈…〉 hee was before called Deg 〈…〉 Num. 1 14. because theâ—â— Hebrew letters are like one another and often changed as is noted on Gen. 4. 18. V. 16. second in the second place see Num. 10. 18. V. 17. Tent of the congregation in Greeke the Tent of the Testimony the sanctuarie of God which was to set forward in the midst of the campes both to shew Gods presence among them and the honour againe that they should doe unto him As it is written of the church God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved Psal. 64. 5. See also Song 3. 7 8. The manner and order of carying the Tabernacle is shewed in Num. 10. 17 c. the campe the order of the Levites camping is shewed in Num. 3. their marching in Num. 10. V. 18. Ephraim he the younger brother is standard-bearer before his elder Manasses as Iakob prophesied his superioritie Gen. 48. 14. 20. sea-ward that is as the Chaldâ—â— expounds it Westward see the notes on Gen. 12. 8. V. 20. Manasses and next him Berjamin v. 22. so all Rachels sonnes encamped together on the west quarter of the Sanctuarie V. 24. an hundred thousand c. this was the smallest number of all the armieâ— almost 80 thousand fewer than in the standard oâ— Iudah v. 9. V. 25. Dan He was the first borne of the handmaids children and Iakobs fist sonne Gen. 30. 6. and by prophesie he was to judge his people as the other tribes Genes 49. 16. so God here appointeth him the standard and hee hath the greatest number of warriers saving Iudas V. 27. Aser the youngest sonne of the other handmaid Zilpha yet set next unto Dan as is noted on Num. 1. 15. with whom Naphtali Dans brother is joyned v. 29. so the three handmaids children were in the Northerne and hindmost quarter that in Gods ordering of the Tribes his wisdome might appeare We may behold the order of the Lords armies as they encamped thus 1. IVDAH Isachar and Zabulon in whose camps were 186400 warriours The Sanctuary and the Courtyard about it were in a long square twice so long as they were broad as their description in Exod. 26. and 27. sheweth But in what forme the campe of Israel was the Scripture expresseth not save that it was round about the Tabernacle Num. 2. 2. It is likely therefore to be in a square and so many thousand tents as Israel had could not be pitched in a little roomth Iosephus in Antiq. Iud. l. 3. c. 11. saith that betweene every tribe in the foure quarters there was a distant space and like a mart or fayre to buy and sell in their boothes with artificers in their shops as if it had beene a citie Ionathan in his Thargum on Num. 2. 3. saith The campe of Israel was twelve miles long and twelve miles broad Vnto this forme of the Church in the wildernesse the Scriptures after have reference both in the
name calling the beloved Citie the Camp of the Saints Rev. 20. 9. as in 2 Chron. 31. 2. the Temple is called the Campes of the LORD also for the manner of situation the heavenly Ierusalem is fouresquare the length as large as the bredth Revel 21. 16. which forme was likewise shewed in vision to Ezekiel Ezek. 48. 20. and is the most firme and setled against all troubles And as here Gods sanctuarie is walled about with the twelve tribes of Israel so the new Ierusalem hath a wall with twelve gates and names written thereon of the twelve tribes of the sonnes of Israel and the wall hath twelve foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lambe Rev. 21. 12. 14. As here there were three tribes on every quarter so Ierusalem hath three gates on the East three on the North three on the South and three on the West Rev. 21. 13. Ezek. 48. 31. 34. As these twelve tribes the walls of Gods Tabernacle had their fathers names graven on twelve sundrie precious stones Exod. 28. so the foundations of the wall of the heavenly citie is of the like stones Rev. 21. 19 20. As here betweene the Sanctuary and the Tribes of Israel were foure companies of Levites to watch and ward the holy place so betweene Gods Throne and the foure and twentie Elders compassing it there are foure Liuing creatures full of eyes glorifying God night and day after whom the twentie foure Elders fall downe and worship God Revel a. 6. 10. Finally as into this campe of the Lord in the wildernesse no uncleane persons might enter but were shut out Num. 5. 2 3 4. so into the new Ierusalem there may in no wise enter any thing that defileth c. Rev. 21. 27. And the earthly Ierusalem called the holy Citie Mat. 4. 5. Luke 4. 9. was in the ages following when Israel dwelt in Canaan answerable in holinesse to this campe of Israel as the Hebrewes record saying As was the Campe in the wildernesse such was the Campe in Ierusalem From Ierusalem gates to the mountaine of the House of the Lord the campe of Israel From the Mountaine of the House to the gate of Nicanor which was the East gate of the Temple the campe of Levi. From thence and forward the campe of the Diuine Majestie answerable to the tapestrie-hangings of the Lords court that were in the wildernesse Thalmud Bab. in Zebachim ch 14. in Gemara See also the annotations on Exod. 40. 33. In the second Temple the East gate of the court was called the gate of Nicanor as the comment on the foresaid place of the Thalmud sheweth And Maimony in Misn. tom 3. in Beth habchirah ch 5. sect 5. saith of it thus Every of the gates was ten cubits broad and twentie cubits high and had doores covered with gold except the East gate which was covered with brasse like gold and that gate was called the high gate 2 Chron. 27. 3. and that was the gate of Nicanor V. 29. And the tribe in Greeke And they that campe next shall be the tribe of Naphtali See vers 7. Thus God adjoyned to every of the foure standards two tribes and those the next of bloud inferiour unto them for to maintaine order and nourish love and to afford mutuall helpe Our Saviour also ordained among his Apostles a kinde of combination and fraternitie as is to be seene by the rehearsall of their names in Mat. 10. 2 3 4. 1. Simon Peter and Andrew his brother 2. Iames or Iacob sonne of Zebedee and Iohn his brother 3. Philip and Bartholmew 4. Thomas and Matthew the Publican 5. Iames sonne of Alpheus and Lebbeus or Iudas his brother Luk. 6. 16. Iude v. 1. 6. Simon Kananites or the zealous and Iudas Iscariot And these did Christ send forth by two and two Marke 6. 7. to warre the warfare of his Gospell as 1 Tim. 1. 18 And when Iscariot lost his office Matthias was chosen in his place Act. 1. 26. Afterward there were added Paul and Barnabas Act. 13. 2. Vers. 32. These are those mustered in Greeke This is the muster or visitation the house that is as the Greeke saith the houses so in vers 34. 〈◊〉 600. thousand c. the summe that was mentioned before in Num. 1. 46. See the notes there V. 34. so they camped or pitched their tents The holy Ghost commendeth unto us the obedience of Israel as before in the making of the Sanctuarie Exod. 39. 42 43. so here in their orderly camping about and marching before and after it That as Order in all things is beautifull and delectable so especially in the Church and things pertaining to the service of God wherefore the Apostle joyed to behold the order of the Church in Colosse and the stedfastnesse of their faith in Christ wherein he exhorted them still to walke in him 〈◊〉 Coloss. 2. 5 6. And Balaam when hee beheld this Campe of Israel from the top of the Rockes did not onely admire the multitude of them and the presence of the Lord among them but said How goodly are thy Tents ô Iakob thy Tabernacles ô Israel As the vallies are they spred forth as gardens by the rivers side c. Num. 23. 9. 10. 21. and 24. 5 6. And Solomon describeth the church to be beautifull as Tirzah a pleasant place where the King of Israel dwelt 1 King 14. 17. comely as Ierusalem which was also beautifull for situation Psal. 48. 2. and compact together Psal. 122. 3. terrible as an armie with banners Song 6. 4. CHAP. III. 1. The sonnes of Aaron the Priests 5. The Levites are given to the Priests for the service of the Tabernacle 11. Instead of the first-borne of Israel 14. The Levites are numbred by their families 21. The families number and charge of the Gershonites 27. Of the Kohathites 33. Of the Merarites 38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron 40. The first-borne of Israel are freed by the Levites 44. The overplus are redeemed ANd these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Iehovah spake with Moses in mount Sinai And these are the names of the sonnes of Aaron Nadab the first-borne and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron the Priests which were anointed whose hand he filled to minister in the Priests office And Nadab and Abihu died before Iehovah when they offered strange fire before Iehovah in the wildernesse of Sinai and they had no sonnes and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the Priests office in the sight of Aaron their father And Iehovah spake unto Moses saying Bring neere the tribe of Levi and present it before Aaron the Priest and they shall minister unto him And they shall keepe his charge and the charge of all the congregation before the Tent of the congregation to serve the service of the Tabernacle And they shall keepe all the instruments of the Tent of the congregation and the charge of the sonnes
them foure wagons according unto their service for to ease the cariage Num. 7. 5. 8. Vers. 38. foremost or as the Greeke translateth it Eastward see Num. 2. 3. Moses and Aaron The Hebrewes as Baal hatturim vpon this place doe observe that here is a pause or distinction betweene Moses and Aaron to teach that Moses pitched in one place by himselfe and Aaron and his sonnes in another place by themselves Thus Moses a Levite of Kohath was King in Ieshurun Deut. 33. 5. and Aaron his brother Priest as for Moses two sonnes Gershon and Eliezer Exod. 18. 3 4. here is no mention of them neither in Num. 26. neither had they any prerogative but were among the other Kohathites and named of the tribe of Levi that is common Levites 1 Chron. 24. 14. the charge or the custodie the watch of the Sanctuarie the Levites being assistants under them Num. 18. 2 3. Of the watch which was wont to be kept in the Sanctuary see the annotations on Num. 15. 8. the stranger that is any saving Aaron and his sonnes see verse 10. Vers. 39. and Aaron in the Hebrew there are many extraordinary pricks over the name of Aaron for speciall cause R. Sol. Iarchi saith they were to signifie that Aaron himselfe was not among the number of the Levites none of the 22000. here mentioned Observe Aarons dignitie Hee was the elder brother unto Moses the King Exod. 7. 7. Hee was by mariage brother to Naasson Prince of Iudah for hee had to wife Elisabeth his sister Exod. 6. 23. Hee was joyned with Moses in the government of Israel Psal. 77. 20. He had the prerogative to sacrifice for the whole Church 1 Chron. 23. 13. But Christ our King and Priest after the order of Melchisedek farre excelleth him Hâ—b 7. and 8. chap. two and twentie thousand This summe accordeth not with the former particulars for there were of Gershon 7500. of Kohath 8600. of Merari 6200. which make in all 22. thousand and three hundred But Aaron and the Priests as also the first-borne of the Levites were the Lords after a peculiar manner Exod. 13. 2. and therefore deducted from the rest which were all taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel So there were so many thousand Levites as there are Hebrew letters because they were aboue others to apply the studie of Gods Law Deut. 33. 10. which because they did not according to their dutie God so disposed that Iehozadak the Priest in the 22. generation after Aaron was caried captive with the people into Babylon 1 Chron. 6. 3. 15. And here againe Gods providence appeareth that the Levites increase should be by just thousands and the Priests and first-borne of Levi by hundreds without any broken number such as was among the first-borne of Israel vers 43. See the notes on Num. 1. 25. Againe whereas the least of all the other tribes of Israel from twenty yeeres old and upward had 32000. and 200. Num. 1. v. 34 35. and the greatest 54000. and 600. v. 27. here the Levites which were counted from a moneth old and upward were but 22000. so the Lords portion was the least Yea of these 22. thousand there were found but eight thousand five hundred and fourescore that were fit for to doe service in the Sanctuary Num. 4. 47 48. so small was the number of those that served God in his ministerie in comparison with the campes of Israel Vers. 40. Muster or Number moneth old Hebr. sonne of a moneth Vers. 41. for me or unto me as the Chaldee expounds it thou shalt bring neere the Levites before me every first-borne or all the first-borne which being appointed unto the Lords service the Lord taketh the Levites to serve him in their stead This was for the first-borne males of man and beast which the Israelites now had all the first-borne that came after this were to be redeemed or given to the Priest Num. 18. 15. See the notes on verse 12. and 13. Vers. 43. and seventie and three God 's speciall providence appeareth againe in this number of the first-borne that it should be so neere unto the number of the Levites taken in their stead whom God destinated from the womb unto his service and made the summes of them so neere A like worke of God is observed by Moses in Deut. 32. 8. how he had appointed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sonnes of Israel And whereas six hundred thousand men and moe Num. 1. 46. had but 22. thousand and 273. first-borne males in all their families it appeareth that the farre greater number of Israels first-borne were females who by reason of their sex were not fit to serve God in his sanctuary Which figured the small number of Gods elect among the many that are called Mat. 22. 14. Rom. 9. 6 7 8. For the elect are such as doe serve God day and night in his Temple Revel 7. 15. and are Priests unto God Rev. 5. 10. Vers. 45. shall be mine which the Chaldee explaineth shall minister before me Vers. 46. those that are to be redeemed Hebr. And the redeemed or as the Greeke translateth it And the redemptions or ransomes So after in vers 48 49 51. Here the overplus of the first-borne of man is reckoned and the summe of their ransome vers 50. but the overplus of cattle is not reckoned Vers. 47. five shekels a peece Heb. five five shekels which the Greeke translateth five shekels by the head These five shekels the price set here and in Num. 18. 16. was the value set in Lev. 27. 6. from a moneth old to five yeeres old and it was the least of all the valuations so that God burdened the Israelites with the ransomes as little as might be twentie geraâ—s or twentie pence the gerah was a peece of silver that weighed sixteene barley graines so the shekel weighed 320. graines see the notes on Exod. 30. 13. Vers. 48. the money Hebr. the silver so in vers 49 50 51. of the redeemed understand the money of those that are redeemed or as the Greeke translateth the redemptions of those that are moe Vers. 50. Of the first-borne in Hebrew Bâ—chor the First-borne is singular as spoken of one but translated in Greeke plurally as implying all And this seemeth to be taken not of particular persons as of them that were last numbred or any other for so the burden should have lien vnequally upon a few but of the church in generall Or to cut off contention it was done by lot as R. Solomon Iarchi saith he brought 22000. scrolles or papers according to the number of the Levites vers 39. and on every of them was written A son of Levi and 273. papers according to the number of the First-borne Israelites moe than the Levites vers 46. and on every of them was written Five shekels they mingled them and put them in a basket then said he unto them come draw your papers according to your lot Vers. 51.
that woman shall beare her iniquitie Annotations COmmand After that God had set his church and ministery in order he next giveth lawes for the puritie and holinesse of his church in that order by removing all sinne and uncleannesse from among them and after by appointing the exercises of godlinesse Of this he saith Command whereby the weight of the things here spoken of is signified that they send away or as the Greeke translateth and let them send away that is put out of the campe and there were three Campes the Sanctuary called the Campe or tents of the LORD 2 Chron. 31. 2. the Campe of the Levites Num. 3. and the Campe of Israel the twelve tribes Num. 2. See the annotations on Exod. 40. 33. And as the uncleane were to be put out of the Campe pitching about the Sanctuary so out of he campe which went to warre against their enemies Dâ—â—s 23. 10 11. The Campe of the Lords Sanctuary was most holy none which was unâ—leane in any thing might enter in 2 Chron. 23. 19. Leper who was defiled and uncleane all the dayes that the plague was upon him and was to dwell alone without the campe Lev. 13. 46. see the annotations there an issue the Law of their uncleannesse is given in Levit. 15. a soule that is a dead soule as Num. 6. 6. meaning a body the Chaldee here translateth by the bones of the soule of a man taking the soule for a dead carkasse as in Levit. 21. 1. there the Chaldee hath the dead Who so touched any dead man was uncleane seven dayes Num. 19. 11 c. whereas for touching other dead creatures they were uncleane but unâ—â—ll evening Lev. 11. 24. 39 40. These legall pollutions figured our pollution by sinne of all sorts as in their places is shewed and the removing of such out of the Lords campe figured the removall of unrepentant sinners out of the church into which any thing that defileth may in no wise enter Rev. 21. 27. the uncleane may not come into it Esai 52. 1. Vers. 3. male and female Hebr. From male unto female whereby he meaneth both sorts and as Chazkuni here observeth he saith not man and woman to teach that in case of uncleannesse the great and the small are alike Vpon this Law Marie the sister of Moses Aaron being striken with leprosie was put out of the Campe Num. 12 14 15. without the campe or to without that is to a place without the campe But were they all to be together in one place seeing the Lepers were to remaine alone Lev. 13. 46. The Hebrew doctors expound this Law thus There were three â—ampes the campe of the Divine Maiesty that is the Sanctuary about that the campe of the Levites and from thence unto the end the campe of the standards on all foure quarters that was the campe of Israel The Leper was put forth out of them all he that had an issue might be in the campe of Israel but was put forth out of the second and the defiled by the dead he might be even in Levâ—es campe and was 〈◊〉 put forth save from the campe of the Majestie of God Sol. Iarchion Num. 5. This though it seemeth contrary to Moses is the common opinion of the Hebrewes as may be seene in Thalmud Bâ—â— in Pesachim chap. 6. and Maimony in Misâ— in Bâ—ath hâ—mikdash ch 3. where he rendreth this reason The Leper because his uncleannesse is greater he is sent away further than his fellowes for every one whose uncleannesse is greater his putting forth is further than his neighbours Therefore they send forth the Leper out of the three campes which is out of Ierusalem because he defileth by entrance whereas â—e that hath an issue defileth not so And they send forth men and women that have issues the menstruous and women in childbed out of the two campes which is out of the mountaine of the house of God because they defile bed and seat which the uncleane by the dead doe not The Câ—el that is the Ramp 〈…〉 or Courtyard in the Temple which was more ouâ—ward than the womens court as the womens was more than the mens court they put forth out of it heathens and such as are defiled by the dead and 〈◊〉 by lying with the menstruous If a Leper 〈◊〉 into Ierusalem he 〈…〉 eaten with 40. stripes if 〈◊〉 come into the mountaine of the house of God â—e is beaten with fourescore stripes c. Wee may here note the difference and degrees of places and their holinesse which the Hebrewes say were ten within the Land of Canaan Ierusalem and the Temple 1. The walled townes 2. The city Ierusalem 3. The mountaine of Gods house mount Sion 4. The Chel or outmost court 5. The womens court which some thinke to be that which is called the new court 2 Chron. 20. 5. 6. The mens court 7. The Priests court 2 Chro. 4. 9. 8. The place betweene the Porch and the Altar 2 Chron. 8. 12. 9. The Temple or House it selfe 10. And the most holy place or Oracle within the Temple 1 King 6. 16. 17. 19. Of these it is written in the Bab. Thalmud in Celim ch 1. sect 6 c. and by Maimony in Mâ—sn in Beth hâ—â—chirah chap. 7. sect 12 c. thus All the land of Israel is holy above all other lands for they bring out of it the Sheafe and the Two loaves Lev. 23. 10. 17. and the First-fruits which they 〈◊〉 not out of other lands Ten holinesses are in the land of Israel one above another The walled townes are holier then the rest of the land for out of them they put the leprous neither doe they bury the dead within them without consent of seven good men of the city or of all the people of the city c. Ierusalem is holier then other walled cities for they eat the light holy things and the second tithes within the walies thereof The mountaine of Gods house is holier then it for none that have issues are menstruous or in childbed may come in thither The Chel or Rampart is holier than it for no heathens or defiled by the dead or that hath â—â—en with the menstruous may come in thither The womens court is holier then the Chel for none that is washed from his uncleanenesse that day before Sun setting as Levit. 15. 6. may come thereinto The court of the men of Israel 〈◊〉 holiâ—r than the womens court for none that hath not brought his offering for aâ—oxement though he be otherwise cleane as Levit. 12. 6. 7. and 14. 9. 10. and 15. 13 14 15. may come into it And the 〈◊〉 that commeth there into is guiltie of cutting off The Priests câ—â—rt is holier then that for no 〈◊〉 may come in thither saue at the time of their 〈…〉 ssities for imposing of hands or for atone 〈…〉 〈◊〉 for staying or for waving the Sacrifices 〈◊〉 the Porch and the Altar is holier than 〈◊〉 for none that are blemished
another as Ierub Baal who was Gedeon Iudg. 8. 35. and 9. 1. is called Ierub-Besheth 2 Sam. 11. 21. Esh-Baal 1 Chro. 8. 33. is called Ish-Bosheth 2 Sam. 2. 10. and Merib Baal 1 Chron. 8. 34. is Mephi-Bosheth 2 Sam. 9. 10. Hereupon it is said Ye set up Altars to that Shame even Altars to burne incense unto Baal Ier. â—1 13. Peor hath the signification of opening the m 〈…〉 th and was the name of this Idoll as some thinke of filthinesse and fornication committed together 〈◊〉 idolatry as this history sheweth and to be that which in other language was called Priapus But as Nebo the god of Babylon hath his name of Prophesying so Peor might likewise be so called of opening the mouth in speech and prophesie as the Scripture mentioneth the prophets of Baal 1 King 18. 22. and of the Prophets that prophesied by Baal Ier. 2. 8. and 23. 13. the anger of Iehovah They provoked him to indignation by their actions and the plague brake in upon them Psal. 106. 29. Thus Balaam by his counsell brought them into sin and so under wrath and curse through their owne default which he could not obtaine of God otherwise against them by any meanes Vers. 4. the heads that is as the Greeke translateth the captaines of the people such as were chiefe in the transgression hang them up the Greeke translateth it Make them a publike example the Chaldee Iudge kill him that is worthy to be killed but Targum Ionathan expoundeth it crucifie them The Law after saith he that is hanged is the curse of God that is accursed of God Deut. 21. 23. so the sinners brought the curse upon themselves before Iehovah or for or unto Iehovah to his honour in doing vengeance on his enemies Both these phrases are used as one in 2 Sam. 21. we will hang them up unto Iehovah v. 6. and they hanged them before â—ehovah vers 9. that the fierce anger or as the Greeke translateth and the fierce anger or heat of the anger of the Lord shall be turned away Signifying that the rooting out of sinners turneth away Gods anger from a people for to doe justice and judgement is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice Prov. 21. 3. Vers. 5. his men the men under his government as they were distributed in Exod. 18. 25. Although the Midianites were the beginners of this mischiefe yet God first punisheth and purgeth his Church and after he giveth order to destroy the Midianites vers 17. Num. 31. 2. for judgement must begin at the house of God 1 Pet. 4. 17. Ezek 9. 6. Compare herewith the judgement inflicted for the golden Calfe Exod. 32. 27 c Vers. 6. brought neere this word signifieth a bringing to commit fornication as in Gen. 20. 4. Abimelech had not come neare unto her See the Notes on Levit. 18. 6. they were weeping these circumstances shew the sinne to be done with an high hand in contempt of Moses of the congregation of God himselfe and his iudgements for which the people now wept and so of all religion and with a purpose to stirre up the people unto open rebellion Vers. 8. into the tent The originall word used here for a tent is not the ordinary name but such as signifieth a cave or hollow place and is thought to meane such a tent as was made for fornication and so it more sheweth the height of his impierie that erected such a place of wickednesse her belly in Chaldee her bowels in Greeke her wo 〈…〉 e or matrice the plague was stayed or was restrained this plague which the Chaldee calleth death seemeth to be a pestilence which God sent among the people as the like speech elsewhere sheweth Numb 16. 50. 1 Chron. 21. 22. as also in that David saith the plague brake in upon them Psal. 106. 29. Howbeit the word is sometime used for slaughter by the sword as in 1 Sam. 4. 17. Vers. 9. 24 thousand all the men that had followed Baal-Peor the Lord destroyed them from among his people Deut. 4. 3. The Apostle speaking hereof saith Neither let us commit fornication 〈◊〉 some of them committed and fell in one day three and twenty thousand 1 Cor. 10. 8. It seemeth that one thousand were slaine by the Iudges vers 5. and â—3 thousand by the hand of God of which latter number the Apostle speaketh or one thousand of the chiefe were hanged and the rest slaine by the sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here the Hebrewes begin the 41 Section or Lecture of the Law which they call Phinehas Vers. 11. hath turned away in Greeke hath caused my wrath to cease The fact of Phinehas who was but a Priests sonne no ordinary Magistrate and who proceeded not with the malefactors judicially but carried with zeale of God thrust them thorow suddenly might seeme blame-worthy in the eyes of men and might procure him much ill will considering the persons whom he killed the man being a Prince in Israel and the woman a Princes daughter of Midian therefore God here justifieth and rewardeth his work done by the motion of his Spirit hee was zealous with my zeale or he was jealous with my jealousie for Gods cause not his owne The Apostle hath a like speech I am jealous over you with jealousie of God that is with godly jealousie Zeale or jealousie both which are signified by one word in the Hebrew meaneth both a fervent indignation against the sinners and a fervent love unto the Lord shewed in his former act as Targum Ionathan addeth for explanation and hee killed the guilty among them in my zeale or in my jealousie it is the word before used and applied here to God as in Exod. 20. 5. and often Vers. 12. I give in Chaldee I decree of peace understand my covenant the covenant of peace so God saith of Levi my covenant was with him the covenant of life and peace and I gave them unto him for the feare where with he feared me c. Mal. 2. 5. So in this place Targum Ionathan paraphraseth Behold I decree unto him my covenant of peace I wil make him the messenger of my covenant and he shall live for ever to preach the Gospell of redemption in the end of dayes By which words Phinehas in his covenant was a figure of Christ who is called the messenger of the covenant Mal. 3. 1. and hath an everlasting priesthood after the power of an endlesse life Heb. 7. 16 17. and hath both wrought and preached redemption in these latter dayes Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Vers. 13. of an everlasting priesthood meaning untill Christs comming to whom the Priesthood of Aaron was to give place Heb. 7. 11. c. Phinehas himselfe lived to a great old age as appeareth by Iudg. 20. 28. his sonnes successively were high Priests till the captivitie of Babylon 1 Chron. 6. 4. 15. and at the returne out of captivitie Ezra the great Priest and Scribe was of his line Ezra 7. 1.
this song for you and teach it the sonnes of Israel put it in their mouthes that this song may be a witnesse for mee against the sonnes of Israel For I will bring them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milke and honey and they shall eat and be filled and be fat and they will turne unto other gods and serve them and despightfully provoke me and breake my covenant And it shall be when many evils and distresses have found them that this song shall answer before them for a witnesse for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed for I know their imagination which they doe this day before I have brought them in unto the land which I sware And Moses wrought this song in that day and taught it the sonnes of Israel And he charged Ioshua the sonne of Nun and said Be strong and couragious for thou shalt bring in the sonnes of Israel unto the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee And it was when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this Law in a booke untill they were finished That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah saying Take this booke of the Law and put it in the side of the Arke of the covenant of Iehovah your God that it may be there for a witnesse against thee For I know thy rebellion and thy stiffe necke Behold while I am yet alive with you this day yee have beene rebellious against Iehovah and how much more after my death Gather together unto mee all the Elders of your Tribes and your Officers that I may speake in their eares these words and call the heavens and the earth to witnesse against them For I know that after my death corrupting yee will corrupt your selves and will turne aside from the way which I have commanded you and evill will befall you in the latter daies because yee will doe evill in the eyes of Iehovah to provoke him to anger through the worke of your hands And Moses spake in the eares of all the Church of Israel the words of this song untill they were ended Annotations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here beginneth the two and fiftieth Section or Lecture of the Law See the notes on Gen. 6. 9. And here Moses setteth the state of Israel in order before his death OLd Hebr. sonne of an hundred and twenty yeeres of which phrase see Gen. 5. 32. So long while Noe preached to the world building the Arke Gen. 6. 3 14. 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. Of these 120. yeeres Moses lived 40. in Pharaohs court in Egypt Acts 7. 20 23. forty in the land of Madian Acts 7. 29 30. Exod. 7. 7. and 40. yeeres he governed Israel I can no more goe out that is no more administer in my office see the Annotations on Num. 27. 17. This inability of Moses was not so much for his age for his eye was not dim nor his naturall moisture fled Deut. 34. 7. as for the ordinance of God next mentioned and Iehovah or for Iehovah hath said as is shewed in Num. 20. 12. Deut. 3. 25 26. And is often in stead of For as is noted on Gen. 12. 19. Or it may be taken as another reason why Moses might no longer governe them Vers. 3. Ioshua in Greeke Iesus who was substitute in Moses place Num. 27. 16 17 18. c. A figure of our Lord Iesus who by grace and truth bringeth us into Gods eternall rest after the ending of Moses Law Iohn 1. 17. Rom. 10. 4. Thus the people are comforted in respect of their sorrow for Moses death by promise of the Lords presence among them and Ioshuahs succeeding government under him Vers. 4. of the Amorite that is of the Amorites as the Greeke translateth by whose destruction before mentioned in Numb 21. 23. c. Deut. 2. and 3. Israel is encouraged against their other enemies the land that is the people of the land Vers. 5. commanded you which was to root them out and let none remaine Deut. 20. 16 17. Vers. 6. Be ye strong or Be confirmed Hold fast to wit your faith in God in Greeke Quit you like men which word Paul useth in 1 Cor. 16. 13. So after in vers 7. couragious or be hardy strong valiant in heart and carriage This word is applied to the heart in Psal. 27. 14. and armes in Prov. 31. 17. and signifieth an increase and stedfastnesse Prov. 24. 5. Ruth 1. 18. The like exhortation is often used as Ios. 10. 25. 1 Chron. 22. 13. 2 Chron. 32. 7. hee it is in Chaldee his Word it is So in vers 8. faile thee or let thee goe leave thee to thy selfe but will hold thee fast So vers 8. and Ios. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 5. Vers. 7. strong and couragious or confirmed and strong as vers 6. Iosua being to beare the charge and toile of the people hath the same exhortation and promise in particular that was before unto all and it was in the eyes of all lest any after Moses death should deny his authority A like speech Davide made to Salomon 1 Chron. 28. 20. Vers. 8. he will be with thee the Chaldee paraphraseth his Word will be thy helpe Vers. 9. this Law in Greeke all the words of this Law in a booke which bare the Arke they had the chiefe charge to looke to the Arke and other holy things and though the Levites bare it as appeareth by Num. 3. 31. and 4. 15. and 10. 21. yet sometime the Priests themselves also bare it as when they passed over Iordan Ios. 3. 6 17. when they compassed Iericho Ios. 6. 12. So after in v. 25. Moses spake to the Levites the Elders the Magistrates as the Priests by teaching so the Elders by governing are to look that the Law of the Lord be observed Mal. 2. 7. Hos. 4. 6. Mich. 3. 1. 2 Chron. 19. 6 8 9 10. Vers. 10. of seven yeeres that is of every seventh yeere which was a yeere of release Deu. 15. 1. the solemnity or the set time as the Greeke and Chaldee translate it the time release of debts Deut. 15. 1 2 c. that being freed from worldly cares they might apply their mindes to Gods Law A figure of the yeere of grace and remission of our debts by Christ whereupon wee should give our selves to holinesse Luke 4. 18 19 21. Rom. 6. 10 11 12 13. Boothes or Tabernacles whereof see Lev. 23. Vers. 11. which he shall chuse to set his Arke and Tabernacle and so to place his name there Deut. 16. 2. thou shalt reade speaking to Israel generally and it was performed in speciall by the chiefest of them either the high Priest as Ezra the chiefe of them that returned from Babylon read it Nehem. 8. 1 2 3 c. or as the Hebrewes say the King himselfe when they had a King used to reade For this Commandement was to Ioshua
world to come Vers. 17. Feare thou not that is be not dismayed or overcome with feare The Hebrew phrase usually when it counselleth or prayeth against a thing meaneth the height full measure of it So feare not Gen. 50. 19. and grieve not Gen. 45. 5. that is be not overcome with griefe So lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 13. that is let us not be overcome with temptation 1 Cor. 10. 13. Therefore that which one Evangelist writeth Feare not Mat. 28. 5. another writeth be not astonied Mark 16. 6. nothing the excesse of feare Vers. 18. take any thing Hebr. take of all that is ought of all that he hath For we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that we can carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6. 7. Iob 1. 21. Vers. 19. Though in his life that is whiles he liveth So Psal. 63. 5. and 104. 33. and 146. 2. he blesseth his soule that is himselfe as it is written Soule thou hast much goods laid up for many yeares live at ease eat drinke and take thy pastime Luke 12. 19. will confesse thee will commend laud and celebrate thee doest good to thy selfe that is makest much of cherishest pamperest thy selfe So good is used for worldly pleasure and emoluments Psal. 4. 7. Vers. 20. It shall come to wit the soule forespoken of or the person or Thou shalt come to the generation of his fathers that is to his wicked predecessors that are dead and gone as the godly also at their death are gathered to their fathers and people Iudg. 2. 10. Deut. 32. 50. Or to the habitation of his fathers their house or lodge for so Dor is used for an habitation Esa. 38. 12. The Chaldee applieth this first branch to the just the latter to the wicked The memorie of the just shall come to the generation of the fathers but the wicked for ever and ever shall not see the light to continuall aye they shall not see or which for ever shall not see the light to wit the light of the living here on earth as Psal. 56. 14. Iob 33. 28 30. nor the light of joy in the world to come being cast out into the utter darkenesse Matth. 8. 12. Vers. 21. understandeth not or discerneth not wanting prudence A repetition of the 13. verse with a little change of jalin lodgeth into jabin understandeth which the Chaldee openeth thus A man a sinner when he is in honour and understandeth not when his honour is taken away he is like a beast and brought to nothing PSAL. L. The Majestie of God in the Church 5 His order to gather Saints 7. The pleasure of God is not in in legall sacrifices 14 but in sinceritie of obedience 16 The wicked are shut out from Gods Covenant 21 They abuse Gods patience to their destruction 23 but the godly shall see his salvation A Psalme of Asaph THe God of gods Iehovah speaketh and calleth the earth from the rising up of the Sun unto the going downe thereof Out of Sion the whole perfection of beauty God shineth clearely Our God come and not keepe silence a fire shall eat before him and round about him shall a storme be moved vehemently He will call to the heavens from above and to the earth to judge his people Gather yee to me my gracious Saints that have stricken my covenant with sacrifice And the heavens shall openly shew his justice for God he is judge Selah Heare O my people and I will speake O Israel and I will testifie to thee I am God thy God I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices for thy burnt offerings are before me continually I will not take a bullocke out of thine house goat buckes out of thy folds For every wilde beast of the wood is mine the beasts that bee on a thousand mountaines I know all the fowle of the mountaines and the store of beasts of the field is with me If I were hungry I would not tell it thee for mine is the world and the plenty thereof Will I eat the flesh of mightie buls and drinke the bloud of goat-bucks Sacrifice thou to God a confession and pay thy vowes to the most high And call on me in day of distresse I will release thee and thou shalt glorifie mee But to the wicked saith God what hast thou to doe to tell my statutes and that thou shouldest take up my covenant on thy mouth And thou hatest nurture and castest my words behind thee If thou seest a theefe then thou runnest with him and thy part is with the adulterers Thy mouth thou sendest out in evill and thy tongue joyneth together deceit Thou sittest thou speakest against thy brother against thy mothers sonne thou givest ill report These things thou hast done and I kept silence thou didst thinke that I was surely like thee I will reprove thee and set in order to thine eies O now consider this ye that forget God lest I teare and there be no reskewer Hee that sacrificeth confession honoureth me and hee that disposeth his way I will cause him to see the salvation of God Annotations A Psalme of Asaph that is made by him as the Chaldee saith An hymne by the hand of Asaph or to Asaph that is committed vnto him to sing For Asaph was a Seer or Prophet which made Psalms as did David 2 Chron. 29. 30. Also he and his sons were singers in Israel 1 Chron. 25. 2. The God of Gods that is God of all Angels Iudges and Rulers of the world or as the Chaldee saith The mighty God the God of Iehovah Three titles of God here used together Ael Aelohim Iehovah So in Iosh. 22. 22. the going downe that is the West where the Sunne setteth or after the Hebrew phrase goeth in as at the rising it is said to goe out or come forth Gen. 19. 23. Vers. 2. Out of Sion the state of the Church under the Gospell Heb. 12. 18. 22. Psal. 2. 6. therefore in this Psalme the legall sacrifices appointed at mount Sinai are reproved and the worship of God in spirit and truth commended the whole perfection or the Vniversality of beautie that is which is wholly and perfectly beautifull See the like praise of Sion Psal. 48. 3. Lam. 2. 15. shineth clearly as the Sunne shineth in his strength that is appeareth in glorious majestie This also is a signe of favour Iob 10. 3. Psal. 80. 2. So God shined from mount Paran Deut. 33. 3. Vers. 3. Our God come a praier to hasten his comming as in Rev. 22. 20. or as the former our God will come So the Chaldee paraphraseth The just shall say In the day of the great judgement our God will come and not silent to execute the vengeance of his people fire shall eat that is consume devoure So God is called an eating fire Deut. 4. 24. that is as the Apostle expoundeth it a consuming fire Heb. 12. 29. and the sight of his glory on mount Sinai was like eating