they were on this to offer extraordinary Sacrisices over and above as we may see Numb 29. from 1. to 7. Upon the first day First Day therefore of the World God created the highest Heavens and together with them as 't is probable the invisible Host of Angels according to that of the Apostle Col. 1.16 By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible all things were created by him and for him The Psalmist also speaketh to the same purpose Psal 148.2 Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his Hosts let them praise the Name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created 'T is true Moses mentions not the creation of Angels and the reason thereof possibly may be that he intended as it seems to relate only the Creation of things corporeal and visible God having therefore finish'd as it were the Roof of this glorious Building he sell in hand with this lowermost Globe consisting of the Deep and of the Earth all the Choire of Angels singing together and magnifying his most glorious Name for this his wonderful Work as we read Job 38.7 Then the Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy The Earth that is the whole confused Chaos of Earth and Water was now without form and void of all Herbs Flowers and Trees and all living Creatures and was indeed nothing but a great and deep miry Mass cover'd all over with Waters and thick Darkness And the Spirit of God c Spiritus Sanctus vitali infuso Calore prolificam vim aquis largiebatur Menoch the Creator and Vpholder of all Creatures Psal 104.3 by his effectual quickning Power moved upon and gave virtue to that great Mass and Heap whereby it was fitted and prepared for the subsequent Productions On the middle of the first day God created Light d 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness and sever'd it from the Darkness so that whilst there was Light on one side of the Deep there was Darkness on the other And he called the one Day and the other Night And so Darkness being before Light the Darkness or Evening e In that phrase of Moses Gen. 1.5 The Evening and the Morning were the first Day there is a Synechdoche by which the beginning of the Night and of the Day is put for the whole Night and Day is reckoned the beginning or first part of the Natural day of Twenty four Hours Levit. 23.32 From Even unto Even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath c. Gen. 1. from 1. to 6. On the second day Second Day God created the Expansum commonly called the Firmament stretching out the Heavens as a Curtain and spreading them out as a Tent to dwell in Isa 40.22 By the Expanse or Firmament taken in a large sense we are to understand whatever is contain'd in that vast Space from the surface of the Earth to the uppermost Heavens For there are three Heavens First The Heaven of Heavens the highest Heaven called the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12.2 I knew a man caught up into the third Heaven So Isa 66.1 Thus saith the Lord Heaven is my Throne c. Secondly The Sky or Aether where the Stars are placed which is called the second Heaven or Coelum Stellatum Thirdly The Air under it which reacheth from thence to the surface of the Earth and Water whereof there are three Regions First The highest or uppermost which is clear and aethereal The second called the Middle Region where God hath placed the Clouds Job 26.8 He bindeth up the Waters in thick Clouds And the third or lower Region that wherein the Fowls do fly Now part of those Waters of the Deep fore-mentioned being lifted up by the Power of God and spread above and bound up in thick Clouds whilst others were disposed of here below to make up with the Earth one Globe God was pleased to order that that Expanse or lower Region of the Air called Gen. 1.20 The open Firmament of the Heaven should divide and sepâ—rate those Clouds and Waters above from those beneath And accordingly the Psalmist cries out Psal 148.4 Praise him ye Heavens of Heavens and ye Waters that be above the Heavens Thus God made a separation of the Waters above from the Waters beneath which are enclosed in the Earth and with it make one entire Globe But here is not added God saw that it was good which yet is doubled on the third day possibly because the separation of the Waters begun on this day was not perfected till the third day and is only once repeated on each of the other four days with addition of very good in the end of all Gen. 1. from 6. to 9. On the third day Third Day God commanded those Waters that were beneath to run together into one place and the dry Land to appear This confluence of Waters he called a Sea sending out from thence the Rivers which were to run thither again as Solomon speaks Eccles 1.7 All the Rivers run into the Sea yet the Sea is not full unto the place from whence they came thither they return again And he caused the Earth to bring forth all kinds of Herbs and Plants with Seeds and Fruits in perfection which before were not in the Earth nor could have been except he had given power to the Earth to produce them For there had not been as yet any of those ordinary means whereby the Earth is now made fruitful viz. Rain and the labour and help of Man who was not yet made neither had there so much as a Mist f Junius reddit ו non et sed aut Aut vapor ascendens â— terra c. Gen. 2.6 gone up to water the Earth Thus we see that God made them all by his own Almighty Power and that before the Sun was created that we might learn to ascribe the Production of the Fruits of the Earth to God originally and not to the Sun And thus he made ready all kind of Food and Provision for the living Creatures which he intended to create on the sixth day But above all he enriched the Garden of Eden g A Country in Thelassar the upper part of Chaldea as may be seen 2 Kings 19.12 Isaiah 37.12 and is distinguish'd from another Eden by Damascus in Syria Amos 1.5 and is Eastward from the Wilderness where 't is probable Moses wrote his History Eden juxta Haran seu Charras with variety of Plants This Garden is by the Greek Interpreters call'd Paradise and for the pleasantness of it made a Figure of Heaven Luke 23.43 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise 2 Cor. 12.4 He was caught up into Paradise In this Garden God planted the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil The one as it should seem to be a Sacramental Sign annexed to the Covenant of Works which he intended to
Hand O Lord is become Glorious in Power Thy right Hand hath broken and destroyed the Enemy and by thy glorious and excellent Power thou hast overthrown the Egyptians who in rising up against thy people did rise up against thee Thou didst send forth thy Wrath which consumed them utterly and speedily even as stubble is consumed by the fire With the blast of thy Nostrils the Waters were gathered together that is by a mighty Wind raised by thine Almighty Power accompanied with a great Noise (p) To this the Prophet seems to have reference Hab. 3. 10. the Sea was divided and the Waters were heaped up on either side and stood like congealed or compacted Walls in the heart of the Sea The Enemy said I will pursue overtake and divide the Spoil my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my Sword my Hand shall destroy them But thou O Lord didst soon confound their vain Imaginations For thou didst blow with a mighty Wind and immediately the Waters came together again and the Sea covered them they sank as lead in the deep Waters Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods who among all the false Gods of the Heathen or the mightiest men on the Earth is in any degree worthy to be compared to Thee who art glorious in holiness fearful in praises that is to be praised with a great measure of filial fear and awfulness doing Wonders Thou stretchedst out thy Hand and the Earth swallowed them that is those of them whose bodies were cast up by the Waves upon the shore were thrown into Pits by us and there buried Thou in thy great Mercy hast brought forth thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of the Land of Egypt and hast thus far led them by thine Almighty Power and Strength towards the Land of Canaan where thou hast determined to set up thy holy Temple thy resting Place Psal 132.14 The Place which thou hast chosen where thy holy Worship shall be set up and established and where thou hast promised to dwell that is to afford thy special Presence See 1 Kings 9. vers 3. The Second Part of this Song is Prophetical beginning at v. 14. The people shall hear and be afraid sorrow shall take hold on the Inhabitants of Palestina That is the report of this dreadful overthrow of Pharaoh shall so amaze and astonish the Inhabitants of Palestina the Dukes of Edom and the mighty men of Moab (q) See this Prophesie fulfilled Numb 22.3 Josh 2.9 5.1 and the Inhabitants of Canaan that their very hearts shall faint and melt with fear as wax does before the fire insomuch that they shall be as still as a stone and Israel shall pass over Jordan into Canaan without opposition Thou wilt bring them in and plant them in the Mountain of thine Inheritance that is in Canaan a mountanous Country Deut. 11.11 and particularly thou wilt bring them to Mount Moriah which thou hast chosen as thine Inheritance and where by thy own Hands and Power thou intendest to establish thy Sanctuary and where thou hast promised to dwell and to afford thy gracious Presence The Lord will Reign for ever and ever in spight of all his Enemies Miriam (r) She was the Sister of Moses also but her reference to Aaron was best known by reason of Moses's absence She is said to be the wife of Hur by the Hebrews the Sister of Aaron who had the Spirit of Prophesie Numb 12.2 and was one of the three Principal Guides which God gave his people Mich. 6.4 took a Timbrel in her hand and the Women followed her playing on their Timbrels also according to the Custom in publick Rejoycings Judg. 11.34 and they expressed their exultation and rapture of Mind by lively motions and tripudiations of their Bodies and when the Men had sang a Verse of this Song then She with the Women sung it over again at least they repeated the first Verse of it Sing to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea And possibly they added For his Mercy endureth for ever as 't is Psal 136. 2 Chron. 5.13 With this Song of Moses for Victory over the Egyptian-Pharaoh the Holy Ghost compares the Song of them that shall be Victorious over the Spiritual Pharaoh viz. the Beast and Antichrist Rev. 15. from 1. to 5. Exod. 15. from 1. to 22. SECT VI. THe Israelites being now come on the other side of the Red-Sea they marched three whole days thorow the Wilderness of Shur (s) Called also the Wilderness of Etham Numb 33.8 one might be the general name of the whole Wilderness and the other of some part of it It seems the Wilderness on both sides of the Red-Sea was called the Wilderness of Etham but found no water all the way As for Food 't is probable they were sustained with that unleavened Bread and other provisions they had brought with them out of Egypt At last they came to Marah their fifth Encamping where they found water indeed but it was so bitter they could not drink it hereupon they murmur against Moses asking him in a discontented mood What they should drink Moses upon this Cries unto the Lord who shewed him a Tree which when he had cast into the waters the waters were made sweet But the changing of the nature and tast of the waters was to be attributed to the Power of God and not to any vertue in that Tree After God had thus tried them and proved them not only by their want of water but by his present favourable dealing with them in not punishing them for their murmuring as he might justly have done He then admonishes them by Moses to take heed of this sin of murmuring against Him or distrusting of Him and to carry themselves more obediently towards Him for the future And so he made this a Statute and an Ordinance That if they would do that which was right in his sight and would obey his Commandments and keep all his Statutes he would bring none of those Diseases and Plagues upon them which he had brought on the Egyptians For He was their Healer (t) V. 26. Medicus quia ex omnibus periculis malis tam animarum quam corporum quae morbis morti saepe comparantur homines sibi confisos liberat Psal 103. v. 3. Glasius and could heal not only their Bodies but their Souls also by forgiving their sins and sanctifying their natures Exod. 15. from 22. to 27. SECT VII FRom Marah they removed to Elim their sixth Station famous for twelve Wells of water and 70 Palm-Trees And here it seems they stayed many days because the Place was so pleasant and convenient by reason of the waters and the shade Exod. 15. vers 27. SECT VIII FRom Elim they turned back again to the red-Red-Sea which was their seventh Station as appears from Numb 33.10 the Lord so ordering it as 't is probable that
Jordan and there Encamped that night Joshua commands them to sanctifie and prepare themselves by bringing their hearts into an holy frame that with reverence they might observe the great things God would do for them the next day He also gave Orders to the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant born by the Priests to remove they should then prepare to follow it but yet so as there should be a space of about 2000 Cubits interpos'd between it and them to teach them to fear the Lord their God of whose presence among them the Ark was a sign and that the Lord by the Ark that went before them might shew them a safe way for them to go in before they set one foot in the Channel and intimates to them they needed this Guidance having never passed this way before Now the Lord tells Joshua That He would that day magnifie him in the sight of all Israel that they might know that He was with him as He was with Moses Joshua then commanded the Priests to take up the Ark and when they came to the brink of the waters of Jordan they should make a little stand upon their first setting their feet into the waters which then overflowed * By reason probably of the melting of the Snow from the neighbouring Mountains the Banks vers 15. it being the time of Barley-Harvest (g) 'T is very observable that the Lord brought his people into Canaan in Harvest-time when the Land was ready furnished with the Fruits of the Earth that were to be for their provision and store the following year which in that Country was in the month Abib namely till of the Lord had miraculously divided the waters and opened a passage for them and the people to go thorow Then Joshua call'd the people together and said to them Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Nations that now possess this Land of Canaan behold the Ark of the Covenant even the Ark of the Lord of all the Earth passeth over before you into Jordan And take ye twelve men out of the Tribes of Israel out of every Tribe a man that they may go along with the Priests and may be present and Eye-witnesses of this miraculous Work of Gods dividing the River of Jordan For as soon as the soles of the Priests feet that bear the Ark shall rest in the waters of Jordan the waters that are above shall stand upon an heap firm as a wall swelling continually and rising higher and higher even as far backward (h) Psal 114.5 What aileth thee O Jordan that thou art driven back as from the City Adam that is besides Zaretan unto the place where you are to pass over And by reason of the successive coming down of the waters from above and their stay in that place you will discern that they were bounded and barred up by the Almighty Power of God And as for the waters below according to their ordinary course they shall pass away and run towards the dead-Dead-Sea and so shall fail being cut off as it were from and not supplied by the waters from above And accordingly it came to pass as Joshua foretold them And on the tenth day of the first month the Israelites by the leading of Joshua a Type of Jesus Christ went up out of the River of Jordan into the promised Land of Canaan a Type of Heaven In this passage the people hasted and passed over immediately to the other side right against Jericho But the Priests that bare the Ark stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan till all the people were passed over which commends the strength of their Faith Patience and Obedience in that they stirred not till Joshua call'd them to come up out of the River notwithstanding the dreadful sight of those hideous Mountains of water which were every minute ready to overwhelm them unless they had been miraculously stayed by the Hand of God When the people were all passed over Joshua by Gods direction appoints the twelve men before mentioned vers 12. to take out of the River of Jordan where the Priests feet stood twelve great stones and carrying them upon their Shoulders to Gilgal where they were to Incamp that night there to set them up in that place He also ordered twelve great stones to be set up in the midst of Jordan where the Priests stood which possibly at a low Ebb might be seen afterwards on the Shore Both these were to be a Monument to the Children of Israel that when their Children in after-times should ask their Fathers the meaning of them they should tell them These were a Memorial of this great Miracle which the Lord was pleased to work when he divided Jordan before the Ark that the twelve Tribes might pass over And they should say to them The Lord dried up the waters of Jordan before you vers 23. until ye were passed over as the Lord did formerly at the red-Red-Sea that is in as much as he did it for your Ancestors he did it for you who were then in their Loins And He did it that all the Earth might know his Almighty Power and that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever Thus as Moses had commanded Joshua to see that all things should be done according to the direction of the Lord so Joshua in this their passage over Jordan did all things as the Lord commanded The Children of Reuben and Gad and the half-Tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the Children of Israel as they had promised Moses they would do Numb 32.27 About forty thousand of them ready armed for battel passed over which were but few more than one third part of their military men see Numb 26.7 18 34. The rest stayed behind to defend their Wives and Children and to look to their Cattel In that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel and they feared and reverenc'd him as they did Moses all the days of his life All these things being done Joshua commanded the Priests that bare the Ark to come up out of Jordan which as soon as they had done the waters that were before restrain'd and kept back by the power of God flowed down according to their ordinary course and at last flowed over all the Banks as they did before When the Kings of the Amorites and Canaanites heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan for the Children of Israel to pass over their hearts fainted neither was there any more spirit or courage in them Joshua Ch. 3. whole Chapter Joshua Ch. 4. whole Chapter and Ch. 5. v. 1. SECT XCVI THe next day Joshua is commanded by God to renew the use of Circumcision which had been forborn and intermitted these forty years last past and to Circumcise (i) Sensus est revoca consuetudinem circumcidendi longo tempore in
Ester that is as 't is probable ordered Her to be brought to the Royal Seraglio of his Women to be fitted and prepared there for some time according to the custom of those Countries that the King might afterwards take her to wife see Ester 2.9 In the mean time Pharaoh was very kind and munificent to Abram for her sake and much inriched him by many great Gifts and Presents But now on a sudden God plagued Pharoah and his House What those Plagues were he inflicted on them the Scripture being silent 't is a foolish Curiosity too nicely to enquire but they were such (s) Plagae immissae quaecunque fuerunt ardorem ejus represserunt as by the over-ruling Providence of God preserved the Chastity of Sarai and brought Pharoah to understand that she was Abrams wife Whereupon He restored her to him again and quietly dismissed them giving his Servants charge to see them safely conducted out of his Dominions Gen. 12. from 10. to the end SECT III. UPon this Abram with Sarai his Wife and Lot his Nephew return again into the Southern parts of Canaan And here let us observe the wonderful and gracious Providence of God to Abram Abram intended by going down into Egypt only to keep himself from starving but behold he Returns very rich in Cattel and Silver and Gold so early did he experience the truth of Gods Promise to him Being entred now again into Canaan he marches on to the Place between Bethel and Ai where before he had pitched his Tent and had built an Altar and there again called upon the Name of the Lord. And Lot also who had still accompanied him being now returned into Canaan was very rich in Cattel so that they wanted Pasture and Water for so many Herds and Flocks as they had between them And thence arose a strife and quarrelling as is usual in such cases among their Herdsmen about Pastures and Water And they were the more straitned because the Canaanites and Perizzites that dwelt thereabout had taken up the greatest and best part of the Pasture for their own Cattel This matter being like to make a difference between them Abram though the Vncle and Superiour yet amicably spake to Lot desiring him there might be no strife between them for they were Brethren and that not only after the Flesh He being the Uncle and Lot his Nephew but after the Spirit they both sincerely serving one and the same true God And 't is like He set before Him how by such a contention they might give scandal to the Neighbouring Canaanites and draw a Reproach upon the true Worship of God and their own Profession Upon all which considerations Abram represents to him that he judged it convenient they should now separate one from the other and offers him his choice whither he would go to the right hand or to the left Not that Abram could give to Lot any title to the Land at that time For he himself had not then so much as to set his foot on Acts 7.5 and was afterwards forced to buy a Burying-place for his Family Ch. 21.11 But he desires Lot to chuse which quarter he pleased upon supposition that he could obtain the use of it upon fair and reasonable terms and with the consent of the Canaanites Then Lot taking notice and observing that all the plain of Jordan even unto Zoar was exceeding fruitful pleasant and well-watered even like to Paradise and to Egypt which by the overflowing of Nilus was ever esteemed a fruitful Countrey He chose that place and marching thither pitched his Tent near Sodom But thinking possibly to find the Place a Paradise he found it a Hell For the Sodomites were abominable Sinners before the Lord see Ezek. 16.49 50. Abram being now left alone with his Family the Lord appeared to him and comforted him and gave him a new Promise of that Land to him and his Seed for ever Now as the Heavenly Canaan is hereby typified so that clause for ever will be verified to the true seed of Abraham by whom it will be possessed for ever and ever But as the Promise has respect to that Canaan which Abram now beheld with his eyes so it is promised to the Israelites conditionally * Or for ever may be thus understood viz. to the coming of the Messiah where the promises of the Old Testament end Christ bringing in a new Age and beginning a date of new Blessings to the faithful Children of Abram usque in seculum Semini quidem Carnali quamdiu durabit politia Mosaica videlicet usque ad Christi exhibitionem Pisc vel quamdiu durabit respublica Hebraeorum Vox Olim non significat hic absolutam aeternitatem sed longum tempus soll usque ad adventum Messiae Et haec promissio erat limitata si Deo obtemperarent Cessante conditione cessat res ipsa Ipsi prius renunciaverunt Deus quod Justitia ejus imparubat fecit See Sect. 7. Note o provided they did obey and keep the Covenant God made with them but if they did degenerate and proved an unfaithful Seed then he would be no longer tied to his Promise see Deut. 4.25 26. Levit. 26.27 32 33. Ezek. 33.25 26. Levit. 18.28 God also further promises Abram that He will multiply his Seed as the dust of the Earth which may be understood both of the Children of his Body and of his Faith After this Abram went and dwelt in the plain of Mamre near unto Hebron where he built an Altar unto the Lord to Sacrifice thankfully to God for all his Mercies to Him Gen. 13. whole Chapter SECT IV. ABout this time Bera King of Sodom with the rest of the Petty Kings of Pentapolis shook off the Yoke of Chedorlaomer King of Elam to which they had been subject for 12 years Chedorlaomer hereupon and some other Confederate Princes that dwelt about the River Euphrates joyned their Forces together and resolv'd to Chastize those Kings that had revolted And having first overcome the Rephaims a people descended from Canaan Gen. 15.20 that dwelt in Astaroth-Carnaim a City beyond Jordan Deut. 1.4 and those people that inhabited all that Region which was afterwards possessed by the Moabites Deut. 2.9.10 and Edomites Deut. 2.22 and the Amalekites and the Amorites in the Vale of Siddim (t) Which was afterwards turned into a Lake or Sea of putrid and unsavory Waters and was therefore called the Salt Sea Josh 3.16 the whole tract of that plain abounding with salt or brackish Slime-pits vers 10. or the dead Sea because no Fish could live in it or Asphalites from its bituminous and pitchy Nature they gave battel to the Revolters and the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their Forces were vanquished and overthrown there and many of their Souldiers slain and many probably in the Rout fell into the Slime-pits but the King of Sodom himself escaped vers 17. Then they plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and seized upon Lot also who dwelt
their Gods also He had executed Judgment causing possibly some such notable accident to befal the Egyptian Idols as did the Philistines Dagon which fell down before the Ark see Exod. 12.12 Their second Station was Succoth their third Etham where the Lord began first to go before them by day in a Pillar of Cloud and by night in a Pillar of fire From Etham they turned unto Pihahiroth a narrow passage between two ledges of Mountains into which being entred Pharaoh overtook them with a great Army and thought they could not have escap'd him but God divided the Red-Sea which the Israelites passing thorow the Egyptians assayed to follow them and there were miserably drowned The Israelites having past thorow the Sea went three days journey in the Wilderness of Etham without any water and pitched in Marah Here they found the Waters very bitter insomuch that they began to murmur against Moses but God sweetened the Waters by the casting in of a Tree Exod. 15.23 From Marah they came to Elim where were twelve Fountains of Water From Elim they encamped by the red-Red-Sea †See Sect. 8. of this Book and from thence removed to the Wilderness of Sin so called from Sin a City in Egypt over against which this Wilderness lay Hither they came just a month after their departure from Rameses Here they murmur grievously for want of Food and God gave them Quails for one meal and Manna from Heaven which was continued till they came into Canaan From Sin they came to Dophkah and from thence to Alush and from thence to Rhepidim * See Sect. 10. of this Book where wanting water again they were ready to stone Moses but water was fetched for them miraculously out of a Rock in Horeb. Here they had a Victory over the Amalekites who set upon them From Rephidim they came to the Wilderness of Sinai Hither they came at the beginning of the third month Exod. 19.1 and stayed till the second day of the second month of the second year Numb 10.11 12. Here the Law was given and the Tabernacle framed and the people punished for making and worshipping a golden Calf and Nadab and Abihu smitten dead for offering strange fire Here the people were first numbred and then ordered as to their Encampings about the Tabernacle and in their Journeys towards the Land of Canaan From Sinai they marched by Taberah signifying a burning because there the fire of God till quenched by Moses's prayer consumed the hindermost in the Camp for their murmuring and so they came to Kibroth-Hattavah Here the people fell a lusting for Flesh again And God now gave them Quails for a whole month together in great abundance whereon they surfeited and died miserably with the flesh between their teeth Then they came to Hazeroth Here Aaron and Miriam murmured against Moses and she was smitten with Leprosie Numb 12. Then they came to Rithmath in the Wilderness of Paran near Kadesh-barnea whence Spies were sent to search the Land Upon the evil report of ten of them the people horribly murmur God was very wroth with them for it and appoints Moses to return again to the Red-Sea and declares That not one of that Generation save Caleb and Joshua should enter into Canaan Then they came to Rimmon-Parez and from thence to Libnah call'd Laban Deut. 1.1 and then to Rissah then to Kehelatha thence to Mount Shapher thence to Haradah and pitched in Makheloth signifying Assemblies so called as some think because of the mutinous Assemblies of Corah Dathan and Abiram in that place Thence to Tahath and pitched at Tarah thence to Mithcah and pitched at Hashmonah and encamped at Maseroth and then came to Bene-Jaakan and incamped at Hor-gidgad from thence to Jothathah a Land of Rivers of waters Deut. 10.7 Here the Rock Rephidim-water as it seems stopped its course * See Dr. Fuller's Pisgah-sight God suspending Miracles when he affords means and as 't is probable the Israelites drank of the water of the Country till they came to Kadesh Then they encamped at Ebronah from thence they marched to Eziongaber a place by the red-Red-Sea where was a Harbour for Ships in Edom's Land 1 Kings 9.26 From thence to Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin Here Miriam died The people in this place wanting water murmur again and had water again given them out of a Rock Here God was very angry with Moses and Aaron for their unbelief and here they had the Sentence of Death passed on them though reprieved for a time and rendred uncapable of entring into Canaan They came hither in the beginning of the 40th year and hence they sent to crave a passage thorow Edoms Land but it was denied them God Commands them not to force it but to find another way From Kadesh they removed to Mount Hor in the edge of the Land of Edom where Aaron died Then they came to Zalmonah so called possibly of Zolom an Image For this is thought to be the place where the Israelites for murmuring again for want of water and loathing Manna were stung with fiery Serpents and the brasen Serpent was by God's direction erected for their Cure and help As for their five following Stages viz. Punon Oboth Jie-abarim and Dibon-Gad so called because it was repaired and possessed by the Tribe of Gad Ch. 32.34 and Almon-Diblathaim we find no memorable accident happening at them Thence they came to the Mountains of Abarim and then to the Plains of Moab And here God commanded Moses to charge the Israelites to drive out the Inhabitants of the Land viz. by destroying them Deut. 7.22 23. and to destroy their Pictures and molten Images and High Places and to divide their Land by lot among themselves But if they did not take care to drive them out then he declares The Canaanites should be pricks in their Eyes and thorns in their Sides and a continual Vexation to them and He would bring that destruction on them for their Disobedience which he thought to bring on the Canaanites viz. root them out of the Land Numb 33. whole Chapter SECT LXXXIX THe Lord now by Moses declareth unto Israel the Bounds (a) V. 3. The Wilderness of Zin lay at the very East-end of the South-border in the corner whereof it joyned with the East-border right against the South-end of the Salt-Sea that is the Lake of Sodom called also the Dead-Sea see Gen. 14.3 V. 7. This was not that Mount Hor where Aaron died which was South-wâ—rd in the edge of Edoms Land Ch. 33.37 38. but another Mountain on the North-side of Canaan by some supposed to be Libanus and by other Mount Hermon and Limits of the Land of Canaan lying within Jordan which he intended to give them that they might be assured they should possess it and might know how far they were to proceed in their Conquests and where to stay and according to these Bounds and Limits might make a division of the Land among the nine
of the Giant Rapha Jonathan the son of Shimea called Shammah 1 Sam. 16.9 slew this vast Giant These four fell by the hands of David and his servants For though David did not kill any of them himself yet their death is ascrib'd to him as well as to his Captains because they fought in his quarrel and under his command 2 Sam. Ch. 21. from v. 15 to the end 1 Chron. Ch. 20. from v. 4 to the end SECT CC. DAvid being now delivered from all his enemies on every side both within and without his Kingdom and calling to mind Gods wonderful mercies to him he in a grateful remembrance of them composed a Triumphant Song or Psalm of Thanksgiving that God might have the glory of all that he had done for him This Song is the same for substance with the 18th Psalm only there are some clauses here that are exprest there in other words and in some places a clause is now and then added in one of them which is not in the other So that possibly this Psalm was penned by him many years before when he was delivered from his mighty potent enemy Saul and is here with some little alteration repeated again In this Song first he declares his firm confidence in God and that he might shew what an alsufficient defence he esteemed the Lord to be unto him he useth variety of expressions to set it forth as not being able by one or two to express it He calls the Lord his rock his fortress his deliverer his shield the horn (a) Horn signifies power and glory Christ is call'd the horn of salvation Luk. 1.69 of his salvation by whose assistance he had been enabled both to defend himself and push down his enemies his tower his refuge and his saviour whence he infers that he will still trust in him and call upon him who was worthy to be praised Secondly he sets forth the woful straits and dangers he had been in his enemies came upon him like violent floods of water and like waves rouling one upon the neck of another threatning present death to him he acknowledges their roaring rage made him afraid but that fear drave him to God He says that death-threatning sorrows and dangers so encompassed him that there seemed no more likelihood for him to escape than there is of a sick man that hath the pangs of death upon him he intimates that Saul and his other enemies had so subtilly contriv'd his death and laid their snares so cunningly for him that all means of escaping seem'd to be prevented In these my great distresses says he I cry'd unto the Lord and he heard me and appear'd for me out of his Temple * Heaven is call'd the Temple of God 1st as being the place of his special presence 2. In regard of the the exceeding glory of Heaven which to shadow forth the Temple was built so exceeding glorious 3. In regard of the transient holiness of heaven that is out of Heaven and from thence manifested his power for my deliverance Then the earth shook and trembled and the foundations of heaven mov'd and shook because he was wroth that is the Lord in his hot displeasure fought against my enemies and poured forth his vengeance upon them This vengeance he sets forth under the similitude of a prodigious storm or tempest when the earth quakes and the air is covered with thick black and dark mists and when the Heavens send forth wind rain thunder and lightning (b) David here in sublime expressions sets forth not what historically happened but an a Poetical manner Gods mighty assistance and concurrence with him in his victories over his enemies by all which he intimates that the wrath of the Lord was evidently seen and manifested in the destruction of his enemies as if he had sent such an horribla storm and tempest upon them and so visibly destroyed them The foundations of the heavens shook and were moved In the 18 Psalm v. 7. he says the foundations of the hills moved that is the hills were shaken from their very foundations or bottoms These hills are here call'd the foundations of heaven (a) Job 26.11 calls that the pillars of Heaven because the tops of high mountains seem to touch the clouds and the heavens seem to lean upon them There went up a smoke out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it that is he gave forth such testimonies of his anger and indignation against mine enemies so vehement was his wrath that even smoke seem'd to speak after the manner of men to come out of his nostrils and so hot a fire out of his mouth that even coals were kindled by it He bowed the heavens also and came down and darkness was under his feet that is the lower part of the heavens was so affected as if God to manifest his power had come down into it and if we may describe him according to our weak apprehensions under his feet in the lower region of the air there were dark mists and clouds He rode upon a cherub and did fly yea he did fly upon the wings of the wind * See Psal 18.10 that is he used the ministry of his holy Angels and by them he raised violent and strong winds He made darkness pavillions round about him dark waters and thick clouds of the skies that is as men are wont by Tents and Pavillions to shelter themselves and to hide themselves from the view of others so did the Lord cast darkness and thick clouds about the place of his appearance Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled that is the Lord sent out his flashes of lightning with the flames whereof much combustible matter was kindled The Lord thundered from heaven and the most high uttered his voice he sent out his arrows and scattered them that is his thunderbolts out of the clouds as arrows from his bow He sent out his lightning and discomfited them The channels of the Sea appeared the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke of the Lord at the blast of the breath of his nostrils that is by this raging tempest the waters and waves were raised up so high that the very channels and bottom of the Sea was discovered and laid bare By these Hyperbolical expressions he signifies and sets forth the fierce anger of God against his enemies then he comes to set forth the wonderfulness of his deliverance being like a man ready to be drowned and perish in deep waters had not God as it were with his arm stretched out from heaven pull'd him out of them God delivered me says he from many enemies yea from my strong enemies such as Goliath Doeg Saul and Achitophel who would have been too strong for me if he had not of his great mercy helped me In the day of calamity and distress they thought by their subtilty to prevent me from saving my self and to
Jacob rejoyces at the sight of the Waggons Sect. 43. Jacob goes into Egypt His joy to see his Son Joseph Sect. 44. Joseph brings five of his Brethren to Pharaoh Obtains Goshen for his Brethren Introduces his Father Sect. 45. Joseph's prudent administration in the severe famine He is sent for by his Father Sect. 46. Ephraim and Manasseh blest Jacob's gift to Joseph Sect. 47. Jacob blesses his Sons in order His death Sect. 48. The mourning for and burial of Jacob. Joseph's death Sect. 49. The History of Job Sect. 50. Levi and Amram die Sect. 51. Israel increases Task-masters appointed Sect. 52. Aaron's birth Sect. 53. The Midwives commanded to destroy the Male-children Sect. 54. Moses born He is taken up and educated by Pharaoh's daughter Sect. 55. Moses after forty years leaves the Court and flys into Midian Sect. 56. Moses's marriage His two Sons Sect. 57. Caleb's Birth Sect. 58. The Lord appears to Moses commissions him to deliver Israel enables him to work miracles Sect. 59. Moses confirm'd and encouraged commanded to go to Pharaoh Sect. 60. Moses stopt in his journey His Son circumcised Sect. 61. Aaron meets Moses They declare their commission to the Elders of Israel Sect. 62. They go to Pharaoh The oppression of the Israelites increased Sect. 63. Moses and Aaron go again to Pharaoh The Magicians call'd in Sect. 64. The ten Plagues Chap. IV. From the Israelites departure out of Egypt to the laying the foundation of Solomon's Temple Sect. 1. THe Israelites depart out of Egypt Sect. 2. The Paschal Lamb and Passover appointed Sect. 3. The Lord conducts the Israelites by a Pillar of cloud and fire Joseph's bones carried with them Sect. 4. They encamp at Pihahiroth Pass through the Red-sea The Egyptians drown'd Sect. 5. Moses's Song Miriam a Prophetess Sect. 6. The people marching through Shur murmur for want of water Sect. 7. The twelve Wells and seventy Palm-trees Sect. 8. They turn from Elim to the red-Red-sea Sect. 9. The people murmur Quails given for one meal Manna falls Sect. 10. Water gushes out of the rock Sect. 11. Moses praying Joshua fights Amalek The Altar call'd Jehova-Nissi Sect. 12. Jethro's story defer'd to Sect. 51. Sect. 13. Moses call'd up to the top of Mount Sinai The terrible sight Sect. 14. The Promulgation of the Law Sect. 15. The people in fear Moses encourages them Sect. 16. Similitudes of God forbidden The Materials for Altars Sect. 17. The Judicial or Political Laws Sect. 18. The Angel of the Covenant promised to guide them The bounds of Canaan Sect. 19. Moses erects an Altar and twelve Pillars Sect. 20. Moses continues in the Mount forty days and forty nights Sect. 21. Directions concerning the Tabernacle and all its utensils and appurtenances Sect. 22. The Golden Calf Sect. 23. Moses comes down breaks the Tables Gods anger Moses intercedes for the people and sees the glory of God Sect. 24. Two new Tables of stone Sect. 25. God renews the Covenant upon Moses's prayer Moses's face shines Sect. 26. The Sabbath anew enjoyned Contribution to the Tabernacle Sect. 27. Bezaleel and Aholihab appointed chief workmen of the Tabernacle Sect. 28. The Tabernacle finished being set up is filled with Gods Glory Sect. 29. Laws given concerning the several sorts of sacrifices Sect. 30. Aaron and his Sons consecrated Sect. 31. Aaron enters upon his office Fire from the Lord. Sect. 32. Nadab and Abihu slain by fire from heaven Sect. 33. Of clean and unclean creatures Sect. 34. Womens separation Sect. 35. Laws concerning Leprosie Sect. 36. Ceremonial uncleanness in men Sect. 37. The Passover celebrated Sect. 38. Several sorts of Laws given Sect. 39. Blasphemy punished in the Son of Shelomith The Law of retaliation Sect. 40. Divers other Laws given Sect. 41. Promises and threatnings More Laws given concerning divers matters Sect. 42. The Book of Numbers Sect. 43. The Encamping of the Tribes Sect. 44. The Levites Charge Sect. 45. The Levites consecrated Sect. 46. The Offerings of the Princes Sect. 47. Laws concerning Jealousie Sect. 48. Concerning Nazarites Sect. 49. The solemn blessing Sect. 50. The Silver Trumpets Sect. 51. Jethro's story and advice Sect. 52. The Camp of Israel marches Jethro leaves them Sect. 53. Upon the moving of the Ark Moses pronounces the blessing Sect. 54. The people murmur at Taberah Sect. 55. Quails given for the space of a month A Plague follows Sect. 56. Miriams Leprosie Sect. 57. Spies search the land Sect. 58. Their different report Sect. 59. The ten Spies smitten Sect. 60. Israel defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites Sect. 61. The ninetieth Psalm composed Sect. 62. Some Laws explained Sect. 63. The Rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram Sect. 64. Aaron's Red blossoming Sect. 65. The work and portion of the Priests and Levites Sect. 66. Water of Purification Sect. 67. Miriams death Sect. 68. They murmur at Kadesh for want of water Moses strikes the Rock in anger is doomed not to enter into Canaan Sect. 69. The King of Edom refuseth them passage Sect. 70. Aaron dies and is buried upon Mount Hor. Sect. 71. Arad the Canaanite vanquished Sect. 72. The Brazen Serpent Sect. 73. Several stations of the Israelites Sect. 74. The Miraculous Well Sect. 75. Sihon slain Sect. 76. Og totally subdued Sect. 77. The Encamping at Abel-shittim Sect. 78. Balaam sent for to curse the Israelites His Ass speaks Sect. 79. Balaam attempts to curse Israel Sect. 80. The Idolatry and Whoredom of the Israelites at Mount Peor Sect. 81. Midian Conquered Sect. 82. Moses and Eleazar number the people Sect. 83. Zelophehad's daughters Sect. 84. Joshua appointed Successor Sect. 85. A repetition of the Law of sacrificing Sect. 86. Laws concerning Vows Sect. 87. The Reubenites and Gadites desire a possession on that side Jordan Sect. 88. The Journal of Israels Travels Sect. 89. The Limits of Canaan Sect. 90. The Levites Cities Sect. 91. Orders concerning the Marriage of Zelophehad's daughters Sect. 92. The Book of Deuteronomy containing Moses's dying speech to Israel Sect. 93. Moses's death Israels mourning for him Sect. 94. Joshua begins his Government Sect. 95. They come near unto and pass the river Jordan Sect. 96. Circumcision enjoyned them Sect. 97. The first Passover in Canaan Manna ceases Sect. 98. Jericho taken burnt and cursed Sect. 99. The Israelites defeated at Ai. Sect. 100. Joshua marches against Ai. Sect. 101. A Monument of stone and an Altar erected and Blessings and Cursings pronounced at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal Sect. 102. The League with the Gibeonites Sect. 103. Adonizedek and his allies besiege Gibeon Their discomfiture Prodigious Hailstones The Sun and Moon stand still at the prayer of Joshua Sect. 104. Several Kings vanquished and their Cities taken Sect. 105. The rise of the Sabbatical year Sect. 106. Joshua's war with the Northern Kings His victory over them Sect. 107. Joshua's rest from war Sect. 108. Joshua divides the land Sect. 109. Joshua and the Elders proceed to divide the land Ephraim and Manasseh complain Sect. 110.
Curiosity of men may suggest about this whole matter may easily be answered by a serious consideration and belief of the infinite power and wisdom of God Noah being thus shut up in the Ark the Flood began with the bursting of the Fountains of the great Abyss from benath and a continual showring of rain from above 40 days and 40 nights together The waters encreased and prevailed on the Earth 150 days and rose to such a height that they covered the Mountains and all things that had life on the Earth perished Gen. 7. whole Chap. SECT X. UPon the 17th day of the seventh month the Waters abated and the Ark rested on one of the Mountains of Ararat in Armenia the greater not far from the caspian-Caspian-Sea and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the Mountains were seen And 40 days after namely upon the eleventh day of the eleventh month Noah opening the Window of the Ark sent forth a Raven who flew hither and thither fluttering about the Ark and resting on the top of it the waters being not yet dried up For the Raven being accustomed to live at large was weary of the straightness of his Cage and finding as 't is like dead bodies on the Mountains he was ravenous after such prey and would be no more confined to the Ark. Seven days after Noah sends out a Dove to try if the waters were abated but the Dove finding no rest for the sole of her foot the Mountain-tops though bare being yet very muddy returned to him again After seven days more he sent her forth again and in the evening she brought in her mouth an Olive-leaf which was a sign the waters were low and thereby God comforted Noah assuring him that his deliverance out of the Ark was near at hand And herein also the especial providence of God is to be observed in preserving the Olive together with the seminal virtue of other Trees Plants and Herbs though soak'd so long under waters for the replenishing the World with these kinds of Vegetables again there not being any seed of them preserved in the Ark that we read of Noah then staying yet seven days more he sent forth the same Dove (b) Of the sending forth of the Dove and her returning to Noah called by the Heathens Deucalion there is express mention in humane Writers particularly in Plutarch's Dialog de Solertia animalium again a third time which returned not to him any more having found food as it seems now for her self upon the Earth and taking content in the free Air and liberty This Dove no doubt soon after by the providence of God found her own Mate Gen. 8. from 1. to the 13. CHAP. II. The second Age of the World from the Flood to the promise made to Abraham inVr of the Chaldees containing the space of 422 years and ending in the 2078th year of the World SECT I. ON the first day of the first month of the six hundredth and first year of Noahs life he opened the Window that was in the covering of the Ark and looked about him and found that the waters were dried from off the face of the Earth yet so as it still remained moist and dirty having been so long a time soaked with such a quantity of moisture Therefore he stayed yet 55 days more namely to the 27th day of the second month and then he and all that were with him by the Commandment of God went forth out of the Ark having continued therein 375 days or a full (c) The solar year exceeds the lunar 11 days and consists of 365 days commonly though every fourth or leap-year consists of 366 days solar year and ten days more Gen. 8. from 13. to 20. SECT II. NOah when they were come out of the Ark built an Altar * Here is the first mention of an Altar and Burnt-Offerings long before Moses or the Levitical Law See Levit. 6.9 probably of Earth or Turf and offered Sacrifices and whole Burnt-Offerings thereon to the Lord of clean Beasts and Fowls according to that form of Worship which the Lord had before prescribed in a grateful acknowledgment of Gods great Goodness and Mercy to them in their preservation from the Flood And God smelled a sweet savour therefrom that is did graciously accept this Service Noah had performed and was highly pleased and delighted with his Faith and thankfulness And the Lord said He would not again Curse the Ground for man's sake nor destroy every living Creature thereon by a general deluge For he saw That the imagination of mans heart was evil from his youth and though that among other things justly provoked him before to destroy the World yet he saw that the Children of men being so corrupt by Nature if he should proceed against them according to their deserts and not according to the riches of his own Mercy he must be continually punishing and destroying of them therefore though he would deal as he thought fit with particular sinners yet he would not at one stroak destroy all Mankind any more And to confirm this his gracious Decree He promises that while the Earth remains Seed-time and Harvest Cold and Heat Summer and Winter Day and Night should not fail or cease that is generally it should be so but yet this did not hinder but that he might execute particular Judgments upon particular Places or Persons to the contrary Further God now declares That he was resolved to restore and repair the natures of things corrupted by the Flood And then blessing Noah and his Sons he bad them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth And he tells them That the fear and dread of them shall be upon all bruit Creatures even to the taming and over-awing the fiercest and strongest of them either by force or cunning Whence it is that the most savage of them do fear the face of man though sometimes by the just judgment of God they do as it were rebel and rise up against him and hurt him God also now permitteth to Noah and his Posterity to eat Flesh as freely for their food as Herbs which grew out of the ground So that now the Lord restores to Noah and his Children the lawful use of those things which were in a manner taken from them by the Flood yet there was this exception made to his general Grant that though they might freely eat of any of the Creatures that were fit for meat yet they might not eat Flesh with the blood or in the blood but the Beast must first be killed and cleansed of tâ— blood Which restraint was in all probability made to deter them from cruelty and shedding one anothers blood And to inforce the observance of this Command the more upon them he tells them that as to their own life-blood if it were at any time shed by a Beast of a Beast it should be required that is the Beast should be put to death for it See Exod.
viri mulieres inhabiles essent ad Concubitum illudque fuisse omnibus manifestum Notum est etiam Daemones ligamine conjuges saepe fraudasse ut se mutuo potiri non possent Forte muliebria loca obserata erant aut Coarctata Rivet they lay under was removed Gen. 20. whole Chapter SECT XI GOd having now visited Sarah with so much mercy as to give her power and strength to conceive upon her belief of his gracious Promise (k) Hereupon Isaac is said to be born by Promise Gal. 4.23 28. Heb. 11.11 and her full time being come she brought forth a Son to Abraham he being an 100 and she 90 years of age And as God had appointed Abraham Circumcised him on the eighth day and called his Name Isaac Ch. 17. 19. and Sarah greatly rejoyced and said God hath made me to laugh and others that hear of this thing will laugh also and rejoyce with me For says she Who would have thought that I should have born a Son or given suck (l) V. 7. Given Children suck the plural number for a singular sometimes used in Scripture see Ch. 46.7 23. Numb 26.8 in my old age So the Child grew and at a fit time was weaned and at his weaning Abraham made a great Feast a properer time for it as may be supposed than at his Birth or Circumcision At this Feast Sarah espied Ishmael now about 17 or 18 years old (m) Compare Ch. 17.24 25. 21.5 mocking and jeering at Isaac and possibly calling Him their young Master who forsooth must be heir of all whereas by right of Primogeniture He supposed the Inheritance belonged unto him and possibly his Mother Hagar might have some hand in it also by incouraging him therein And this mocking 't is like was accompanied with some expressions of hatred and bitterness of Spirit so that the Apostle calls it a Persecution Gal. 4.29 Sarah at this was so incensed that she said to Abraham doubtless by the motion of Gods Spirit for God himself afterwards confirms the Sentence Cast (n) Her saying was not only passionate but prophetical out this Bondwoman and her Son for he shall not be Heir (o) Under this Inheritance Heaven was figured with my Son This was very greivous to Abraham who was very loth to part with Hagar and Ishmael But God by a vision in the night commanded him to hearken to Sarah in this thing and the rather no doubt that Hagar and Ishmael by the misery of being cast out might be brought to a sense of their sin who in mocking at Isaac had in a sort despised the blessed Seed promised in him And the more to dispose Abraham to a willingness hereunto God tells him That in Isaac his Seed should be called (p) In Isaaco i. e. per Isaacum vocabitur h. e. existet tibi semen nempe illud numerosissimum quod tibi promisi praecipuè Christus that is from Isaac not from Ishmael shall spring the Messias and that numerous seed he had promised to him who shall be called the true Seed of Abraham and Gods own peculiar people with whom he will establish his Covenant Abraham therefore giving Hagar some bread and victuals and a bottel of Water to refresh her in her travel thorow the Wilderness towards Egypt he dismiss'd her and her Son When she came into the Wilderness she lost her way so that the bottel of Water being spent and her Son sick and fainting for thirst and she not able to supply him despairing of his life she left him under a bush and went and sat her self at a small distance from him as being loth to see him die and she lift up her voice and wept Upon this an Angel of God called unto her and ask'd her what she meant to take on in that sort having had experience of Gods Fatherly Care over her before and he bad her not to fear or be discouraged for God had heard the voice of the Youth who doubtless cryed no less than his mother in this their great extremity and bad her lift him up and hold him in her hand for God would make of him a great Nation Then the Angel shewed her a Well of water hard by which she did not see before and there she fill'd her bottel and gave her Son to drink He being refreshed thereby and rescued from this present danger of perishing by thirst God was afterwards very favourable to him and blessed him according to his promise with temporal things and He grew up and became an Archer that is a valiant Hunter and a Warrior shooting with the Bow used in War And he dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran next adjoyning to the desert of Sinai and his Mother chose (q) Observe the right of Parents yea of Mothers alone in bestowing their Children in Marriage an Egyptian Woman as her self was for a Wife for him About that time Abimelech spake to Abraham saying I perceive God doth wonderfully bless thee and therefore I desire to make a Covenant with thee and that thou wilt swear to me to deal kindly with me and my Children and Childrens Children and the Inhabitants of this Land wherein thou sojournest according to the kindness thou hast here received Abraham readily consented to it knowing that it was his Posterity only that was in time to come actually to enjoy that promised Land and that he himself was to live there only as a Stranger and Sojourner therefore he was willing to give him his Oath that as for himself he would no way hurt either him or his Son or his Sons Son But before he did it he expostulates with Him about a Well of Water of great use in that dry Country which he had digged and Abimelech's Servants had by violence taken from him Abimelech protests himself wholly ignorant thereof Then Abraham made a great Present to him of Sheep and Oxen by way of gratitude for the great kindness he had received from him And so they made a Covenant one with another And to prevent future Controversie about this Well Abraham gave him seven Ew-lambs as a valuable consideration and desires that they might be as a testimony (r) So an heap of stones made a witness Ch. 31. 48. that the Well though before taken from him was now acknowledged to be His And because at this Well they both sware and made a Covenant Abraham called the Place Beersheba (s) As Abraham dwelt here and made this Covenant and digged this Well so Isaac afterwards dwelt here and made a Covenant and digged this Well again and renews the Name Ch. 26.23 33. And Jacob dwelling there with his Father went thence to Laban in Haran and going into Egypt with all his Family comes thither and here Sacrifices and hath a Vision afterwards it was a Seat of some Solemn Idolatry Amos 8.14.5.5 that is the Well of the Oath Abraham now looking upon himself as like to settle here he planted
Moses regio more educatus calling him Moses because he was drawn out of the water and as he grew up and was capable she gave him such Princely Education as was suitable to her Son training him up in all the Learning and Wisdom of the Egyptians Acts 7.22 viz. In Arithmetick Geometry Astronomy Astrology natural Philosophy c. And thus the Lord by his secret Providence fitted Moses for those high Services which in after-times he intended to imploy him in his rare abilities his known Wisdom and singular Learning being afterwards no doubt a special means to make him more respected and honoured both among the Egyptians and his own People and every way the more able and fit for the Government of the Commonwealth of Israel He continued about forty years in the Court of Egypt as the adopted Son of Pharaoh's Daughter and became famous among them mighty both in Words and in Deeds as Stephen speaks Acts 7.22 that is of great Abilities both for discoursing and giving Counsel concerning any business propounded and for the wise and successful managing of any Affairs that he undertook Exod. 2. from 1. to 11. SECT LV. MOses being now come to the age of forty years began to think of abandoning his Honours in Pharaoh's Court and accordingly refused to be called The Son of Pharaoh's Daughter any longer chusing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God then enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season and having a lively Faith in the Promises of God made to his People He esteemed the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt for he had respect to the recompence of Reward that is He prefer'd the afflicted Condition of the people of God and esteemed the Reproaches that the Members of Christs Mystical Body unjustly suffer greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt For such Reproaches he knew would be recompenced with an exceeding great Reward and to this he had an Eye Heb. 11.24.25 26. Looking upon himself therefore as one of God's Israel he resolved to forsake the Honours and Pleasures of the Court and to joyn himself to the poor oppressed People of God of his own Nation and to afford them what help he possibly could for their Deliverance finding himself inwardly and by an especial instinct of Gods Spirit called thereunto Going therefore to visit his Country-men he saw to his great grief the excissive Burdens and Oppressions they groaned under and among other displeasing Sights he saw one of those rigid Egyptian-Taskers (r) Philo dicit fuisse unum ex Praefectis opprimentibus Israelitas smiting and cruelly beating one of his Brethren an Hebrew and He beat him so much that as 't is probable he almost killed him Moses seeing this and having doubtless some extraordinary Impulse Warrant and Call from God to do it and observing there was no other Egyptian by to take notice of it he fell upon this Egyptian and slew him (s) Interfecit eum non tantum ob percussionem sed adulterium quod ex iis altercantibus Moses novit Dicunt enim Hebraei haebraeum percussum ab Aegypto fuisse maritum Salomish mulieris pulcherrimae quam vitiavit Lightfoot and having killed him buried him in the Sand. By which act he meant to intimate to his Brethren the Hebrews that God intended to make Him in due time their Deliverer from their Egptian-Bondage though it seems at this time they understood it not Acts 7.25 This thing though done privately yet quickly came to be more known than Moses thought it had been For going forth the day after to visit his Brethren again he saw two Hebrews striving and fighting one with another He was much troubled at this and would have reconciled them and set them at one again Wherefore he said to him that did the wrong Why dost thou such a vile and wicked thing as to quarrel and fight with one of thy own Brethren He that was the Aggressor and the injurious Person malepertly replied Who made thee a Prince and a Judge (t) This refusal of Moses by one is imputed to the rest of the Israelites Acts 7.35 And God for their unthankfulness withdrew Moses from them 40 years before he sent him again to them Ainswor over us What dost thou intend to slay me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday Moses then perceived the thing he had done was blown abroad and in a short time it came to Pharaoh's ears who being greatly Incensed at it resolved to have his life for it if he could catch him Hereupon Moses thought it needful to consult his own safety and accordingly betook himself into the Land of Midian (u) That place Heb. 11.27 By Faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King must be understood of his leaving Egypt when he carried away the Israelites with him and not of his first leaving of it Exod. 2. from 11. to 16. SECT LVI BEing come into Midian a Country so called from Midian a Son of Abraham by Keturah Gen. 25.2 lying in Arabia Petraea near the Red-Sea he came at last to a Well where he sat down to refresh himself being as 't is probable attended with two or three Servants as became a Person that had been so great a Man in Egyt An eminent Priest in Midian whose Name was Jethro (x) It seems he had three Names Reuel v. 18. of this Chapter Jethro Ch. 3.1 and Hobab Judg. 4.11 and that Raguel the Midianite mentioned Numb 10.29 was his Father lived thereabout and had seven Daughters who according to the simplicity of that Age came to the Well to draw Water and fill the Troughs to water their Fathers Flocks and used great diligence that it might be done first before others came which possibly in that hot Country they did the more strive for because they that came last were sometimes scanted of water Presently some Shepherds came who rudely and uncivilly drave these Virgins and their Flocks away and with the water they had drawn sought to water their own Cattel and so to make them wait till they had done Moses seeing this injurious dealing withstood the Shepherds and stood up in the defence of the Virgins though a Stranger and helped them to water their Flocks (y) See the like of Jacob Gen. 29.2 10. When they came back to their Father he asked them How it happened that they had dispatched so soon They told him That a Stranger who by his habit seemed to be an Egyptian had been so Civil to them as to withstand the Shepherds and to draw water for them and had helped them to water their Flocks He asks them Why they had not brought him home with them and bids them go presently and invite him to come and eat bread with them Moses upon this Invitation comes and being admitted into Jethro's Family in a short time by their Converse together they were very well pleased the one with the other insomuch that Jethro
for seven days together who would then come to walk by the side of the River Nilus and to tell him That seeing he had refused to obey the Voice of the Lord he would bring a grievous Plague upon Him and his People They had shed the bloud of the Israelites Children and drowned them in that River Therefore God had commanded him to give order to Aaron with his Rod to smite the waters of the River and he accordingly stretched forth his Hand over the Rivers Streams and Ponds probably over some of them in the Name of the rest and striking those Waters they were immediately turned into bloud Yea by the influence of God's Almighty Power upon that percussion all their other Streams and Rivers Ponds and Pools yea Cisterns of water whether of Wood or Stone were turned into bloud for seven days together By which Plague the Fish that were in the River died whereby the Egyptians were deprived of that which was their chief Food (a) The Egyptians abstained from the flesh of many Beasts of Superstition especially such as the Hebrews used in Sacrifice as may be gathered from Numb 11.5 We remember the Fish that we did eat in Egypt freely and Isa 19.8 God threatens this as a great Judgment to Egypt The Fishers shall mourn and all that cast Angles into the Brooks shall lament and they that spread Nets upon the Waters shall languish So that this was a sore Plague on the Egyptians who fed much on Fish and traded much with them and maintained themselves by them And one great evil followed this also for hereupon the River stank so horribly that they could not drink of the waters of it which used to be their ordinary Beverage see Jer. 2.18 but were fain to dig Pits near the River that they might have some water to drink But all this did not work upon Pharaoh's obdurate heart For his Magicians and Sorcerers getting some water either from the Sea or out of the new-digged-Wells or from the houses of the Israelites dwelling here and there intermixed with them did by their Enchantments and the Devil's help get some blood whereby they tinctured the waters or else unperceiveably removed the water and substituted bloud in the place thereof Which when Pharaoh saw done by them he went away to his own house and heeded not nor laid to heart the foregoing Plague inflicted on him by Moses Exod. Ch. 7. from 14. to the end 2. God Commands Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh again Second Plague Frogs and to require him to let his People go and to tell Him That if he refused to do it He would smite all his Borders with Frogs They accordingly resolutely pursue their Commission and evidence their Courage and Fidelity in God's Cause notwithstanding the ill success they had had before But Pharaoh would not give ear to them Hereupon Aaron stretched forth his Rod (b) The Rod is called sometimes the Rod of Moses sometimes of Aaron sometimes of God to shew that it was the Instrument they all used in working these prodigious things over the Rivers (c) Non singulos adiit fluvios sed virga eminus eos intenta designavit extendit eam versus Nilum intentione versus omnes aqas Aegypti over the Streams and over the Ponds and the Frogs came up in great abundance upon the Land namely not only those that were in the Rivers before but an innumerable number of new ones were produced and they crawled into Pharaoh's house and into his Bed-Chamber (d) How easily can God cast contempt upon Princes and how favourable is he to men who by his ordinary Providence makes such Creatures loth to come where man hath to do which are so lothsome to him yea upon his Bed and into the Houses of his Courtiers and the rest of his people yea into their Ovens and Kneading-Troughs so that they were grievously annoyed with them Pharaoh calls for his Magicians to see if they could imitate this Miracle and they by stretching forth their Rods over the River did by the Power of the Devil (e) The Devil it seems much delights in their monstrous shape For we find in the Scripture three unclean Spirits like Frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon bring forth some true Frogs by unperceptible Conveyance to the place where the Contest was which possibly at this present was not covered with Frogs by Moses's Working though it is like they were but very few in comparison of those Moses and Aaron had produced And when they had brought them they could not remove them again Pharaoh and his people being thus grievously distressed with this Plague he began to stoop a little and to acknowledge God whom before he would not know and therefore desires Moses and Aaron to intreat the Lord to remove these Frogs and he would let the people go that they may Sacrifice unto the Lord their God Moses knowing that he was constituted as a God to Pharaoh Ch. 7. vers 1. to bring Judgments upon him and romove them at God's appointment and having in him the Faith of Miracles and being directed by the Spirit of God He told Pharaoh He would do him the honour (f) Honorem tibi sume ut des mihi tempus in quo orem pro te to let him appoint the time when he should pray to the Lord for him and by his power deliver him from this Plague And says he if my prayer take no effect then do thou glory over me and say I am no better than one of thy Magicians but if I do deliver thee then own and obey the great God of Heaven whose Servant I am Pharaoh desires the Frogs may be removed by the next Morning Moses Replies Be it according to thy word that thou mayst know that there is none like unto the Lord our God Moses then cried unto the Lord to remove this Plague from Pharaoh and the Lord heard him and immediately the Frogs died that were in the Houses Villages and Fields only some remained in the River and they gathered the dead Frogs together and cast them upon heaps so that the Land stank by reason of them But when this Plague was removed and Pharaoh saw there was some respite he hardened his heart and hearkened not to Moses and Aaron as the Lord had foretold Exod. Ch. 8. from vers 1. to 16. Third Plague Lice 3. Pharaoh having thus mocked God promising and not performing the Lord to manifest his Indignation against him Commands Moses now to strike him with a new Judgment without giving him any warning as at other times he had done Aaron therefore is commanded forthwith to stretch out his Rod and to strike the dust of the Land that it may become Lice through all the Land of Egypt Which Aaron accordingly doing abundance of Lice came on Men and Beasts the dust in very part of the Land that is a great deal of it turning into that
of Israel were fled from Etham and it was so represented to Him as if they had run away from thence being terrified whereas they marched back with an high Hand and with displayed Banners Pharaoh hearing this and that they were pitched at so inconvenient a place as Pihahiroth He and his Courtiers said among themselves They are entangled in the Land and the Wilderness hath shut them in Let us therefore pursue after them Pharaoh accordingly with his Horses and Chariots (h) Of old they used Chariots with Sithes at their sides to mow down men in their way They had other Chariots out of which they fought as men do now out of Ships But where had Pharooh horses seeing 't is said Ch. 9.6 All the Cattel of Egypt died Answ All here is taken for many See the Notes on that place of War to the Number of 600 all that could be got together on the suddain with his Horse-men and Army pursues after them and found them Encamped in those Streights near the Sea When Pharaoh with his Army drew nigh the Children of Israel were dreadfully affrighted Fly they could not having the Sea before them the Egyptians behind them and steep and unpassable Hills on either side of them Yet God so order'd it that the Egyptians overtook them not their Camps being parted by the Pillar of Cloud which from going before the Camp of Israel now removed and went behind them and it cast a great darkness on the Egyptians but gave light to the Israelites However the people being in great Consternation they Cry unto the Lord for help and cry out in a high discontent against Moses What say they were there no Graves in Egypt that thou hast brought us forth to die in the Wilderness Did we not desire thee to let us alone with our Bondage in Egypt rather then expose us to such dangers as these Moses desir'd them to be quiet fear not says he but stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord which he will shew you this day For the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them no more for ever The Lord will fight for you you need only to be quiet and hold your peace and to keep your selves from doubting or murmuring and humbly to trust in God whose help is readiest when the danger of his people is greatest However Moses though he firmly relied on God yet sent up many strong Cries and Ejaculations to the Lord mixed with some perturbation of Mind upon the peoples Clamour against him The Lord hereupon calls to him not to employ himself further in praying to him at that time but to march on directly with the people to the Red-Sea which he doth accordingly and coming thither the Lord bids him Stretch forth his Rod over the Sea and upon that action of his the Sea should divide it self Moses does as he was commanded and a strong East-wind blew and the Sea miraculously divided it self standing on heaps on each side Then the Israelites by God's Command Moses leading the way passed thorow it safe as upon dry ground and the Waters were a Wall unto them on the right hand and on the left (i) The Apostle says Heb. 11.29 That by Faith they passed thorow the Sea and 1 Cor. 10.2 That they were all baptized to Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea See Apostol History pag. 169. the explication hereof Pharaoh and his Host coming to the Sea and seeing it thus divided they thought they might pass thorow it as well as the Israelites and accordingly entred the passage (k) Quos excidio destinat occaecat Deus to follow them but they were much hindred in their march after them by the falling off of their Chariot wheels For the Lord in the Morning-Watch (l) Anciently the nights in stead of hours were divided into many Watches 1 Sam. 11.11 the number of which is not certainly known and the day into Morning Mid-day and Even looking out of the Pillar of Fire and Cloud upon the Egyptians testified his Displeasure against them by Lightnings and Thunder and Rain with which he much distressed and disorder'd them as David more largely relates Psal 77.18 19. Insomuch that many of the Egyptians themselves were now sensible that God appear'd against them and for the Israelites and therefore desired to retreat and not to pursue after them any further The Israelites at last got all safe to the other side of the shore viz. to the Desert of Etham and then God commanded Moses to stretch forth his Hand again over the Sea which being done the Waters came together again and so overwhelmed (m) This was a just Judgment of God upon the Egyptians who had cast the poor Infants of the Israelites into the water and had drowned them without remorse the whole Host of the Egyptians not one of them escaped The Israelites saw some of their Carcasses floating upon the Sea and cast upon the shore Thus God with an out-stretched Arm saved the Israelites that day out of the hands of the Egyptians and the people feared the Lord and believed in him and believed the word which Moses spake unto them in the Name of the Lord. Gen. 14. whole Chapter SECT V. THe Israelites being thus Miraculously delivered from the Egyptians Moses (n) See Rev. 15.3 compos'd a Song of Praise and Thanksgiving to God for this wonderful and transcendent Mercy and He and the Children of Israel sang it before the Lord. This Song is the first of that kind * Canticum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we find any where in the Scripture 'T is partly Historical setting forth a triumphant Narration of Gods admirable Mercy in destroying his and their Enemies partly Prophetical containing Prophesies of future Bessings assured to Israel set down not only in the Future but often in the Preter-tense for the greater Certainty First 'T is Historical It begins I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horses of the Egyptians and their Riders hath he thrown into the Sea The Lord is my strength and my Song that is we being weak in our selves He fought for us and subdued our Enemies 'T is the Lord therefore of whom we will sing and whose Praise we will set forth in our Song 'T is by him that we are saved and delivered out of the hands of our Enemies He is our God and we being his people He hath by the Spirit of Prophesie fore-shewed us that we shall build a Tabernacle for his Worship and Service He is our God and the God of our Fathers therefore we will lift up his high Praises and exalt him He is a mighty and all-powerful Warrior indeed Jehovah (o) See Annotations on Ch. 3.14 15. is his Name Pharaoh's Chariots and his Host hath he cast into the Sea his chosen Captains also are drowned in the Red-Sea The Depths have covered them they sank into the bottom as a stone Thy right
their eleventh station at Rephidim by Mount Sinai struck the Rock in Horeb as God commanded Him and water came forth And he named the place Massah or Meribah But here at this their 33th station 38 years after with Aaron's budded Rod having his spirit provoked by these rebellious people He smites the Rock twice without any such Command or Commission from God to smite it at all And he and Aaron likewise as it seems speak unadvisedly with their lips * See Psal 106.33 uttering words of passion and distrust possibly to this purpose Hear now ye Rebels must we fetch you water out of this Rock Never imagine that God will work such a Miracle for such a rebellious Crew as ye are However the Rock gave forth water abundantly God was very angry with Moses and Aaron that they had thus distrusted him and had not sanctified * V. 12. Ut sanctificaretis me alloquendo Petram Et miraculum cum fiducia praedicendo Ita mortem His interminatur ut populus intelligeret sibi non parciturum Deum qui viris tantis non pepercerit Porro haec Feri allegoria uti non Moses Hebraeos sed Joshua perduxit in Palestinam ita non Lex in caelum nos verum Christus evehit Demum hinc palam est quo spiritu haec Moses scripserit qui vitia net celet sua nec suorum Vide Cap. 12.1 Anonym in loc Publice peccarunt ideoque severius cum iis egit Deus quam alibi cum Moses infidelitatem proderet Numb 11.22 23. quia tum primum peccavit him inwardly in their hearts by trusting in Him 1 Pet. 3.15 nor glorified him outwardly by ascribing to him the glory of his truth and power before the Children of Israel and therefore He tells them They shall not bring that people into Canaan see Deut. 3.25 26. And as the former place at Rephidim was called Massah and Meribah viz. a place of Strife and Contention because the people there strove with the Lord that is contended with Moses his Servant which he accounts as contending with Himself so shall this also be called And thus the Lord was sanctified in them or among them that is among the Israelites by giving them water and thereby manifesting his Almighty Power Faithfulness and his Goodness and Compassion towards them notwithstanding their great Provocations Numb 20. from 1. to 14. SECT LXIX MOses now by Gods direction sends Messengers to the King of Edom to desire Him that He would please to permit them who were His own flesh and blood as being descended from Jacob Brother to Esau to pass thorow his Country that being the nearest and most convenient way into Canaan And they amiably desire this because God had charged them that they should not meddle with the Sons of Esau or their possession Deut. 2.4 5. He tells him He cannot but have heard of their sore and long Troubles and Oppressions which they suffered in Egypt and how upon their crying unto the Lord he sent his Angel viz. his own eternal Son the Angel or Mediator of the Covenant of Grace see Exod. 3.2 and Mal. 3.1 who conducted them in the way by a Cloud and Pillar of fire He tells him They would not turn aside into their Fields or Vineyards to do them any damage and would drink only of their Rivers that were common and not meddle with their Wells digged for their private use which were very precious in those hot and dry Countries without paying for it But the King of Edom would not consent to it so they were forc'd to fetch a compass thorow the Wilderness which lay about the Land of Edom. Notwithstanding as they went along their Coasts in the out-skirts of their Country the Edomites afforded them Victuals for their money Deut. 2.29 though they did not come forth to meet them with bread and water as men use to do who wish success and prosperity to those to whom they bring it see Deut. 23.3 4. Numb 20. from vers 14. to 22. SECT LXX FRom Kadesh the Camp removes to mount Hor. * A hill in Mosera Deut. 10.6 or whos 's other top was called Moscra From this Mount Hor the people that were driven out of this Country by Esau were called Horims Deut. 2.12 and Esau is called the Horite Gen. 36.20 Here God tells Moses That Aaron should be gathered unto his people that is his godly fore-Fathers that died before him see Gen. 25.8 Heb. 12.23 He commands him to bring Aaron and Eleazar his Son up to the top of Mount Hor. And they accordingly went up in the sight of all the Congregation Here Aaron being attired in all his glorious Vestments Moses strips him of them and puts them upon Eleazar his Son to shew that God had appointed him to succeed in his Fathers Office and that the High Priests eldest Son (k) Eleazar's Sons did succeed him to the time of the Judges Then the High Priesthood was translated to the Posterity of Ithamar the other Son of Aaron for Eli was of the stock of Ithamar or the next Heir of their Family unless rendred uncapable by some blemish was still to succed in that Office Thus on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after their coming out of Egypt Aaron being an 123 years old (l) See Numb 33.38 died seven months and seven days before Moses and was there buried and the whole Congregation mourned for him 30 days * So long they mourned for Moses Deut. 34.8 Numb 20. from vers 22. to the end SECT LXXI AT this time King Arad the Canaanite whose Country lay in the South of Canaan understanding by the Spies he had sent forth to observe the course of the Israelites V. 1. By the way of the Spies it might be a way so called and well known by that name at that time that they were turned back again from the Red-Sea and marched directly upon the South of Canaan not knowing of Moses's purpose to compass the Land of Edom he immediately marched forth with his Army as far as Mount Hor in the edge of the Desart where the Israelites now lay and there fought with them and took some of them Prisoners The Israelites intending to renew the battel and again once more to encounter Arad and his Army they call'd upon the Lord for help and vowed unto Him that if he would please to deliver these Enemies into their hands they would utterly destroy and burn their Cities and that nothing of their Goods should be reserved for their own private use The Lord was pleased to hear their prayer so that in the second battel they vanquish'd and overcame them But how could the Israelites being so far off in the Wilderness destroy their Cities lying in Canaan Numb 33.40 into which they came not till after Moses's death It seems the performance of this Vow was long after made viz. when they were come unto the Land For the King of
Arad is reckoned for one of those whom Joshua destroyed Joshua 12.14 Judg. 1.16 17. so that they now conquered the Canaanites Army that came out against them and devoted the Spoils which they took and afterwards * Therefore this clause seems here inserted either by Moses prophetically or some other holy men afterwards when their Cities came into their possession they utterly destroyed them and so paid their Vow which now they made From whence the place was call'd Hormah that is the place where the Vow of utterly destroying these Canaanites was performed Numb 21. from 1. to 4. SECT LXXII LEaving Mount Hor they fetch a compass about the Country of Edom the people being much vexed that they were forc'd to go so far about and on the East-side of it at Zalmona * So called from the Effigies or portraicture of a Serpent there set up they make their 35th station Here loathing Manna again as light bread and wanting also water they in a great discontent Expostulate with Moses and murmur against God †By God in this place Christ is meant see 1 Cor. 10.9 who is of the same divine Essence with the Father He it was that led the Israelites by day in the pillar of Cloud and by night in the pillar of fire see Exod. 20.21 Himself This was their wonted carriage in all their straights and difficulties (m) See Exod. 14.11 Exod. 15.24 Exod. 16.2 3. Exod. 17.2 3. Numb 11.1 4 5. Numb 16.13 14. Numb 20.3 4 5. The people murmuring in this manner the Lord sent fiery Serpents among them whose venemous biting caused a grievous burning in their bodies insomuch that multitudes of them by this Judgment perished Thus God with the venemous biting of fiery Serpents punishes the virulent and fiery Tongues of these murmuring Israelites The people hereupon come to Moses to beg of him that he would interceed with the Lord for them The Lord was pleas'd to appoint Moses to make an Effigies a Figure or Representation in Brass of one of those fiery Serpents wherewith they were stung and then to set it upon a pole in the Camp so that every man that was stung with those fiery Serpents might look upon this brasen Serpent and so be healed And this was an eminent Type of the promised Messiah as our Saviour himself shews Joh. 3.14 15. The Israelites carefully kept this brasen Serpent unto the days of Hezekiah but then in that age because the people burnt Incense to it that good King brake it in pieces 2 King 18.4 Numb 21. from vers 4. to 10. SECT LXXIII THeir 36th incamping was at Punon Numb 33.42 their 37th at Oboth Numb 21 10. and Ch. 33.43 their 38th at Ije-abarim Upon the borders of Moab Numb 33.44 to wit in that Desart which lieth over against the Land of Moab towards the East Numb 21.11 and is call'd the Coast of Moab Deut. 2.18 And when they removed thence to pass by the Valley or Brook of Zared God forbad them to make War upon Moab Deut. 2. from vers 8. to 13. And in the time since they encamped at Kadesh-barnea * In Kadesho annos 37 cum dimidio commorati sunt dimidium vero anni in itinere a Kadesh ad Zered insumpserunt Jun. viri belli vocantur qui 20 aetatis annum expleverant 38 years ago to this time the whole Race of those that mutined and rebelled against God from twenty years old and upwards were wholly extinct and dead see Deut. 2. from 13. to 16. Their 39th Encamping was at Dibon-Gad Numb 33.45 Their 40th at Almon Diblathaim vers 46. in the Wilderness of Moab The Israelites now coming to pass the borders of Moab at Ar and approaching the Country of the Ammonites God also forbad them to make any War upon them or to distress them or to seize upon their Land for He had given it unto the Children of Lot for a Possession Deut. 2.19 Then God commanded them to pass over the River Arnon which at that time divided the Country of the Amorites from the Land of the Moabites Indeed the Country beyond Arnon towards Jordan had been in the Possession of the Moabites but Sihon had taken it from them Which Moses notes to let us see how God by this means had provided this Country for the Israelites who might not else have medled with it if it had been still in the Moabites possession but not being so now the Israelites are commanded to take it from the Amorites Deut. 2.24 Moses also further to shew that the Israelites had good right to this Country cites a writing or Relation call'd the Book of the Wars of the Lord * Which probably was one of the Israelitish Annals and then passed among them but is since lost see Joshua 10.13 2 Sam. 1.18 wherein it seems the Victories which God gave the Israelites over their Enemies were largely described In that writing Moses shews it was related what God did at the Red-Sea and at the Brook of Arnon at the stream of the Brook that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar and lieth upon the border of Moab So that Arnon was at this present the border between the Land of Moab and the Land of the Amorites though formerly the Land beyond Arnon belonged also to the Moabites Numb 21. from vers 10. to 16. SECT LXXIV FRom thence they departed to Beer which signifies a Well Here the Lord did again miraculously supply them with water and that in the sight of all the people He stayed not now till they murmured again but of his own accord did appoint Moses to gather the people together and to set the Princes of the Tribes to dig with their Staves having as 't is probable little Spades or Paddles at the end of them promising them that a Well should thereupon miraculously spring up in that dry and barren place which accordingly came to pass And thereupon the people sang that gratulatory Song wherein with much joy and thankfulness to God they acknowledged the miraculous manner of the Wells springing up saying Spring up O well sing ye unto it that is sing Praises unto Him who gives it This it seems was that renowned Well call'd Beer-Elim Isa 15.8 that is The Well of the mighty Ones Numb 21. from 16. to 19. SECT LXXV FRom the Wilderness of Kedemoth Moses sent Messengers to Sihon the Amorite King of Heshbon praying him to permit them quietly to pass thorow his Country which was a shorter cut to the Fords of Jordan And they promise him they will not do any injury to him or his people by the way they would not turn into their Fields or Vineyards to do them any damage nor drink of their private Wells of water without paying for them * See paraphrase on Deut. 2. This possibly they did to make him the more inexcusable But he denying them passage and making War upon them He himself was slain and his Host discomfited
before them the Lords great goodness to them and the several gracious manifestations of his favour towards them as he conducted them along from Egypt to Canaan First He came and appeared to them from Sinai where he gave them his Law 2ly He further manifested Himself to them from Mount Seir when He commanded the brasen Serpent to be set up by which those among them were cured that were mortally bitten with fiery Serpents and thereby He gave them a notable Type of the promised Messiah 3ly He shined forth from Mount Paran that is repeated and explained the Law to them by the Ministry of Moses in the Wilderness of Paran who exhorted them to yield Obedience to it And when the Lord gave them his Law at Sinai He tells them He came attended with Royal Majesty with an infinite number of glorious Angels who are here called Saints because of their purity and holiness see Acts 7.53 From his right hand went a fiery Law for them that is He spake it to them out of the midst of the fire Deut. 5.22 And yet that giving them his Law was a singular effect of his special love to them He thereby testified his great kindness to them and so he did also in His protecting of them from their Enemies and therefore we may truly say All Israels Saints are under thy Care and Protection O Lord. They sat at thy feet they attended upon thee at the foot of Mount Sinai as Scholars at the feet of their Master and all that are true Israelites will receive instruction from thy words And such Israelites will readily declare That God gave them his Law by the ministry of Moses even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob that is which is as dear to them as an Inheritance is to any man They will declare That He gave it them as a rare and precious Treasure and not for their use only but for the use and instruction also of their Posterity after them And they do acknowledge that Moses was King in Jeshurun that is chief King and Magistrate in Israel by Gods own appointment when the Heads of the people and the Tribes were gathered together to receive the Law at Mount Sinai And they acknowledging Him to be a person so extraordinarily favoured guided and assisted by God could not but receive what he delivered unto them as spoken by God himself from vers 1. to 6. He comes now to bless the Tribes particularly He begins with Reuben Let Reuben live and not die and let not his men be few Jacob had prophesied of this Tribe that they should lose the Dignity of the Birth-right and should never come to any eminency among the Tribes either for number of people or any other excellency and that because of Reuben's Incest with his Fathers Concubine see Gen. 49.4 Now therefore for the comfort of this Tribe Moses pronounces this blessing upon them Let Reuben live that is though Reuben by his Incest brough that Curse upon him pronounced by his Father yea though by the sin of the Reubenites in adhering to Corah they deserved that God should utterly destroy them yet says he the Name and Tribe of Reuben shall still continue among the people of God and though for his sin he lost the glory of excelling the other Tribes in number of men which as the first-born he might otherwise have expected however he shall continue a numerous Tribe 2ly He comes next to Judah because the honour of the Birth-right was partly given from Reuben to Judah and in his Tribe the Regal Power was afterwards setled Hear Lord says he the voice of Judah * Audi Domine preces Jehudae scil cum egressus fuerit ad bellum reduc eum scil a bello incolumem ad fratres suos Oleaster that is the Prayers that this Tribe shall make to thee particularly that the promised Messiah may according to thy Promise come of their stock and that they may have Victory over their Enemies and grant them O Lord sufficient strength to stand in the day of battel thou being their Helper and when thou shalt suffer this Tribe with that of Benjamin to be carried by the Babylonians into Captivity bring them back again in thy due time to their people that is to the poor that were left in Judea to husband the Land Jer. 39.10 40.7 52.16 3ly He blesses Levi Let thy Vrim and thy Thummim be with thy holy one that is let the High Priesthood to which appertained the Breast-plate in which was the Vrim and Thummim Exod. 28.30 be continued in Aaron's Posterity and let them be furnished with those Gifts and Graces with that Knowledge and Piety which is requisite for their high Calling and signified by Vrim and Thummim Whom thou didst prove at Massah and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah that is whose Faith thou didst try at Meribah-Kadesh see Numb 20. and sharply reprove both Moses and Him for their Infidelity Who said to his Father and his Mother I have not seen him This may have reference either to the Law forbidding the High Priest to defile himself by mourning for the dead see Levit. 21.11 Neither shall he go into any dead body nor defile himself for his Father or Mother Or else to that notable fact of the Levites Exod. 32. who were so impartial in Gods Cause as not to spare any though nearly related to them who they found had worshipped the golden Calf For they observed thy Word and kept the Covenant which they made with thee Exod. 24.8 Let them therefore teach Jacob that is the Posterity of Jacob thy Judgments or Statutes and Israel thy Laws Let them put Incense before and whole Burnt-Offerings upon thy Altar Bless Lord their substance and accept the work of their hands that is bless them in their outward Estate and accept in good part the Work and Service they do for thee and thy people Smite thorow the loins of those that rise up against them and hate them that is break the Power of those that oppose them in the faithful discharge of their Duty and Office see Jer. 15.10 4ly He comes to Benjamin of whom he saith The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him that is as Benjamin was his Fathers darling when Joseph was supposed to be dead so he is much beloved of the Lord and therefore shall dwell safely by him that is near his Temple which was built in his portion and the Lord shall cover him all the day long that is protect and defend him and he shall dwell between his shoulders that is God will chuse for Himself an Habitation in the chief City of this Tribe For though the South part of Jerusalem where was Mount Sion * God is said to dwell in Mount Sion and thence some conceive his Temple was situate upon it but where it is so said the word Sion must not be taken strictly for the hill Sion but
Israel for an Inheritance Only that he should be careful to observe the Law that Moses gave him and not turn from it to the right hand or to the left He commands him to read over diligently the Copy * The original wrote by Moses was laid up by the side of the Ark Deut. 31.25 26. of this Law and to meditate thereon day and night that his heart being filled with the knowledge thereof in all his Judgments he might be able readily to judge and pronounce as it is in that Law determined and in all things might order himself according to the directions there given and this would be the way to prosper and have good success in all that he went about Joshua having received these Commands from God He sent out two Spies from Shittim where the Camp now lay to view the City of Jericho and the Country about it to see how the City was fortified and in what posture the people thereabout were The Spies passing over the Fords of Jordan and coming thither betook themselves to the house of Rahab an Hostess or Victualler (e) See Apostol History pag. 392. on Heb. 11.13 The news of this being brought to the King of Jericho he presently sent Messengers to Rahab charging her to bring forth the men that were come into her house But she having some intimation possibly by the muttering of her Neighbours that her house would be searched she presently took the two men and carried them to the roof of her house that was flat and there hid them under stalks of Flax. It seems she had heard of the great things the Lord had done for the Israelites and by a special and extraordinary perswasion of Gods Spirit she did verily believe that God had determined that this people should destroy the Inhabitants of Canaan and dwell in their room and therefore resolved to do what she could for the preserving of these Spies with whom 't is like she had had some Conference before and had been instructed about these matters though it were with the hazard of her self When the Kings Messengers came to her the told them There had been indeed two men in her house but whence they came she knew not They went away from her house a little before the shutting of the Gates when it was dark They were but newly gone and if they immediately pursued after them Her seeking to hide the Spies was an act of faith very pleasing to God but the manner of doing it with a Lye cannot be defended she supposed they would quickly overtake them The Messengers accordingly went presently in pursuit of them towards the Fords of Jordan Rahab before the Spies had been long laid down among the Flax came up to them and told them what had passed Then she said (f) As for their talking thus together being of two several Nations we need not wonder at it for the Language of the Canaanites and other Neighbouring-Nations was not in those times much different from that of the Hebrew as by many Names both of Men and Cities among the Canaanites is very evident unto them I am perswaded that the Lord hath given you this Land your Terrour is fallen upon us and the hearts of this people faint before you We have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the red-Red-Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two Kings of the Amorites Sihon and Og. The Report of these things hath made our hearts melt within us For the Lord your God He is God in heaven above and in the earth beneath and there is none like him Now therefore I pray you swear unto me by the Lord that since I have shewed you kindness you will shew kindness to my Fathers house and that ye will save alive my Father and Mother my Brethren and Sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death And give me a sign or token whereby we may make our selves known to you when you shall take this City and upon sight whereof you will be true and faithful to us and will save us from the general destruction The men answered Our life for yours This they spake as it seems by way of Oath or Execration as Rahab had desired of them vers 12. As if they should have said May destruction light upon us if we take not such order that you and yours shall be preserved provided none of you reveal this our business that is this our agreement and compact with you to spare your lives Rahab having obtained these terms of them she let them down by a Cord or Line made of Scarlet-thread thorow the Window her house being upon the City-Wall and bad them to get them to the Mountain lest the Pursuers should meet them and to hide themselves there three days These Spies thus let down giving Rahab as 't is like many thanks for her kindness to them told her That they would faithfully observe this Oath she had made them swear to her when they came to besiege the City provided she performed these three Conditions 1. The Line of Scarlet-thread whereby she had let them down should be tyed to the Window of her house as a Token by which the house should be known from others 2. Her Father and Mother and Kindred should come to her house and abide there and not stir out of doors 3. She should not discover this Agreement or Compact to any others whatsoever lest the Israelites should be deluded by others hanging out Scarlet-lines at their Windows as well as they She agrees to all and says According to your words so let it be Thus these two Spies escaped and came to Joshua and told him all that had happened to them and farther said Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the Land of Canaan for the hearts of the people faint for fear of us Joshua hearing these things He commands the Officers to go thorow the Camp and to tell the people That within three days they should pass over Jordan and therefore they should prepare themselves Victuals viz. all provisions fit for such a Journey excepting bread for Manna was yet continued to them and ceased not till after they came into Canaan He puts the Reubenites Gadites and the half-Tribe of Manasseh in mind of their promise made to Moses That they would assist their Brethren in the Conquering of the Land They promise a ready compliance with his Commands telling him That as they had hearkned unto Moses so they would hearken unto him and prayed unto the Lord to prosper him in all his proceedings as he prospered Moses And they tell him That if any man refuse to obey his Commands he shall be put to death therefore they intreat him to be of good courage Joshua Ch. 1. whole Chapter Joshua Ch. 2. whole Chapter SECT XCV THe next morning after this preparation they removed from Shittim and marched near to the River
and so would not go home to his own house but lay in the Court among the Kings houshold-servants And thus the Lord counterplotted David and would not suffer him to smother his sin as he earnestly endeavoured to have done David seeing that none of these devices would do resolves now upon a worse project than any of the former he writes a Letter to Joab and sends it by Vriah himself commanding him to set Vriah in the forefront of the hottest battel and to retire from him that he might be smitten and die Behold here the fearful progress of sin from one degree to another David whose conscience was once so tender that it smote him for cutting off the lap of Sauls garment being now left to himself groweth to such an hardness in sin that he scrupleth not to murder a faithful innocent and valiant subject and together with him divers others of his good subjects and draweth Joab also to partake with him in the same wickedness so great cause have we daily and earnestly to pray unto God not to lead us into temptation or not to leave us unto the power of it Joab having received these orders not regarding as it seems whither they were just or unjust right or wrong but resolving to please his Prince upon whose favour he depended whither he pleased God or no he sets himself to put them in execution and perhaps he hoped thereby to recover the Kings favour to the full height which had been much lessened and abated towards him since he had killed Abner and possibly he thought that David would be the more propitious to him when himself was become guilty in the like kind Observing therefore in what part of the City the stoutest Soldiers of the enemy manned the walls he assigned Vriah with a commanded party to that quarter and the City sallying out upon them several of them were slain and Vriah among the rest Then Joab sent a messenger to David to inform him how things went and put words into his mouth and instructed him what he should say if he found the King displeased at the loss of his men he tells him that possibly the King would be angry that they approached so near the walls of the City seeing they could not but think the enemy would shoot upon them from thence and would say what did they not remember how Abimelech the Son of Jerubbesheth (a) Call'd Jerubbaal Judg. 7.1 but here Jerubbesheth because the Hebrews detestation of Idols did expunge the word Baal out of their names and put Bosheth or Besheth in the room of it signifying an infamous thing as the Idol was Hos 9.10 compare 1 Chron. 8.33 with 2 Sam. 2.8 and 1 Chron. 8.34 with 2 Sam. 4.4 where Eshbaal and Meribaal in the one place are called Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth in the other or Gideon was slain Judg. 9.53 by venturing too near to the wall of Thebez He bids him that if the King expressed himself to him after this manner then he should forthwith say thy servant Vriah the Hittite is slain among the rest The messenger coming to David told him it seems only that the men of Rabbah had sallied out upon them and at first prevailed against them but they soon forced them to retreat and pursuing them too hotly even to the Gate of the City and the shooters shooting from the wall upon them they slew some of the Kings servants and among the rest his servant Vriah The King hearing this expressed no such displeasure at the loss of his men as Joab imagined he would do seeing Vriah whose death he mainly designed was taken off but bad the messenger tell Joab that he must not be over much troubled at this loss for the sword devoureth one as well as another therefore he must be content and bear with patience such accidents and take care to strengthen his siege for the future against the City that he might take it The King further bad the Messenger in his name to comfort and encourage Joab that he might go on chearfully with the war When Bathsheba heard that her husband Vriah was dead she put her self into mourning * The time of ordinary as Josephus writes lasted but seven days see Gen. 50.10 but their more solemn mournings lasted thirty days Deut. 34.8 for him the better to conceal her sin but whether she were inwardly grieved or no (a) Lacrymas non sponte cadentes effudit gemitusque expressit pectore laeto Lucan be sure she had cause enough of heart-bleeding and heart-breaking mourning if she considered that by her sin she had occasioned her husbands untimely death But when the time of her mourning (b) Tempus luctus quod Romanis mulieribus erat annus vel decem menses intra quod tempus nubere eis non licebat Haebreis in lege non erat constitutum was over which undoubtedly was as short as conveniently might be David sent for her and made her his wife that she might be thought to be with child by him after they were married but their adultery could not be so concealed for she soon was brought to bed of a Son and the thing that David had done highly displeased the Lord and he soon found the bitter effects of it 2 Sam. Ch. 11. whole Chapter SECT CXCIII IOab resolutely pursuing the siege of Rabbah at last he took that part of the City which was called the Royal City wherein the Kings Palace stood and the City of waters because it was invironed with waters both for safety and delight and knowing that the other part could not long stand out he sent to David to intreat him to come thither with some new forces that so he might have the honour of taking it and the glory and renown of this great enterprize For he knew that Kings were apt to be jealous and did not love that their subjects should eclipse their glory David accordingly went thither and took the City and with it their King Hanun and putting his Crown of State the weight whereof was a talent of Gold (c) A Crown of State and too weighty to be worn adorned with precious jewels upon his head and then taking it off they set it upon Davids to shew that the Royal dignity of that Nation was removed from him and conferred on David and then Hanun as 't is probable was either instantly deposed or put to death and his Brother made Governour of Rabbah under David whence it was that he shewed such respect to David when he fled from Absalom David was never so severe and cruel as at this time when he lay under the guilt of Adultery and murder Ch. 17.27 28. David having thus taken the City he brought forth the spoil of it in great abundance and took so many of the people as he thought fit to make exemplary and such of their Elders and Rulers as had been the chief ringleaders in all their vile and wicked actings and inflicted most severe
which was the whole breadth of the Oracle Their two inward wings touched each other and the two ends of their outward wings touched the wall of the house Under their two inward wings stood Moses's Ark and Cherubims These Cherubims were so made as the parts of them might be taken asunder See 2 Chron. 3.10 and they were the most splendid ornament of the whole Temple and carried away as 't is probable by the rapacious Babylonians at the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar 1 King 6. from 23. to 29. 2 Chron. 3. from 10. to the 14. These four Cherubims in the 1 Chron. 28.18 are likened to a Chariot of four wheels whereon the Divine Majesty did sit or ride and uttered intelligibly his Sacred Oracles See Psal 99.1 Thirdly Besides the Ark and these glorious Cherubims it appears from Heb. 9.4 that within the Holy of Holies was placed Aaron's Rod that budded and the pot of Manna * See the Apostolical History on Heb. 9.4 Numb 17.10 and the Golden Censer of Aaron Lastly In the time of Moses there was also the Book of the Law call'd by some Deuteronomion laid on the side of the Ark see Deut. 31.26 But whither it was placed there in Solomon's days we do not yet we find in Josiah's reign when the Temple was purged the Book of the Law was found in the Temple by Hilkiah the Priest though no express mention is made that it was found in the Oracle So that by the side of the Ark or before the Testimony in Solomon's Temple were placed as it seems the pot of Manna Aaron's Rod the Golden Censer and the Book of the Law as they had formerly been in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle 4. Of the Vessels in the Priests Court 1. There we find the Altar of Brass which was twenty cubits in length twenty in breadth and ten in height 2 Chron. 4.1 It s situation was before the Porch whereon the Sacrifices were daily offered to God 2 Chron. 8.12 As for the Sacrifices we read of many instruments that were used about them as flesh-hooks of Gold 1 Chron. 28.17 also pots shovels and basons of bright brass 1 King 7.45 2. The next vessel to be considered was the molten Sea a most rare and admirable piece of solid brass cast in the clay ground in the plains of Jordan It was five cubits high and ten over from side to side being round and thirty cubits in compass containing two thousand baths * A Bath contained about 8 gallons 4 baths made a barrel so that there were usually put into this Sea 500 barrels of water and if filled up to the brim it would contain 750. namely as they usually filled it for ordinary use but if it had been filled up to the brim it would then contain three thousand viz. a third part more 1 King 7.23.26 2 Chron. 4.5 therefore 't was called a Sea for the largeness thereof It 's brim was wrought about with Lilly-work under the brim thereof were brazen knobs round about resembling the heads of oxen These were cast together with the vessel It stood upon twelve brazen oxen which by four several Threes respected the four quarters of the world The use of this vessel was for the Priests to wash in 2 Chron. 4.6 10. that is by water derived to them by a pipe and cock out of it they did wash their hands and feet for that they did wash their whole bodies in it seems not very probable (a) See Mr. Lee pag. 86 'T is like the Gibeonites or Nethinims whose office it was to be drawers of water for the Congregation Josh 9.27 did out of the fountain of Siloam or pool of Bethesda hard by fill this Sea and furnished all other Lavatories with water about the Temple 3. In this Court also were placed ten lavers appointed for the washing of the Sacrifices in the Tabernacle there were none of these that single laver made by Moses for the Priests service answering only to the molten Sea These lavers of brass contained forty haths apiece each set op his basis with wheels for their more convenient removal if need were though generally their station was five on the one side and five on the other in the Court of the Priests and East of the covered Temple they were adorn'd with brazen borders engraven with Lions Oxen Cherubims and Palm-trees had pillars and wheels and other curiosities which we cannot well here describe 1 King 7. from v. 27 to 40. 5. Of the Furniture Utensils and Chambers in the outward Court In the outward Court or Court of Israel many no doubt were the utensils there used Tremellius thinks the brazen scaffold made by Solomon for himself to stand and pray upon 2 Chron. 6.12 13. with the Kings pillar was placed in this Court. Also Pulpits and Desks wherein the Priests expounded the Law to the people The Chambers in the outward Courts were severally imployed for sundry uses as for laying up of Tythes First-fruits Wood Salt and other requisites for the Sacrifices Of Salt a mass was spent in the Temple seeing no Offering was acceptable without it Mark 9.49 Some rooms 't is like were imployed to contain the Musical Instruments whereof thirteen sorts are mentioned and explained by Mr. Fuller Ch. 10. Book 3. In other Chambers undoubtedly the standards of all measures were carefully kept for we find that the inferiour Levites among other services had a superintendency over all manner of measures and sizes 1 Chron. 23.29 It belonged to their office to set out the pars quota the exact quantity of the meal oyl and wine that was to be used in their several sacrifices therefore they were highly concerned to be skilful in measures 'T is likely that the Book of the description of the land into several parts by lot as being of publick concernment and use was preserved in some room of the Temple See Josh 18.9 Some Chambers 't is like were for lodgings for the Priests and Levites that attendded on the holy service in the Temple and others for refectories and rooms wherein the Priests had their repast or hallowed food as on shew-bread c. which though shifted but once a week by Gods command Lev. 24.8 yet by his Providence was doubtless preserved that it lost nothing of its goodness There was also as it seems an Armory in the Temple furnished with weapons to guard the Treasure there kept David provided Spears and Bucklers and Shields for that purpose and Joash by the assistance of those weapons recovered the Crown Many other Vtensils were added to the Temple after Solomon's death by succeeding Kings as occasion did require as particularly that Chest which in the reign of King Jehoash was made by Jehoiada to receive the peoples free offerings for the repair of the Temple A Chest with an hole in the lid thereof 2 King 12.9 In after ages it was called Corban which signifies sometimes the gift it self sometimes the vessel
be God follow him The people answered nothing being afraid to offend the King Then Elijah said Behold there is not a Prophet of the Lords that doth openly appear for the true God and his worship besides my self But here are four hundred and fifty of Baals Prophets that are for Idolatry let them therefore give us two bullocks and let them choose which they will for themselves and let them cut it in pieces and lay it on wood and put no fire under and I will dress the other bullock and lay it on wood and put no fire under and let them call on their gods and I will call on the name of the Lord and the God that answereth by fire and consumeth the Sacrifice let him be acknowledged for the true God The people cried out it was well spoken they were willing to put it upon that trial Then Baals Priests took the bullock that was given them and dressed it and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon and said O Baal hear us But there was no voice nor any that answered Then they danced and skipped about the Altar they had made in a frantick manner as was usual in the worship of Baal And at noon when the time limited for their sacrifice was almost ended Elijah mocked them and bad them cry aloud for possibly their god Baal was at this time talking or pursuing his enemies or in a journey or perhaps he was asleep and must be rouzed up with very loud calling Baals Priests it is like were vext at these sharp taunts of the Prophet however they cried aloud and cut themselves with knives and lances till the blood gushed out as the heathens used to do in their great sorrows See Deut. 14.1 the more to move their God to have compassion on them and not to be wanting at this time to his own honour as well as theirs But no answer could they get notwithstanding they went on praying and calling upon Baal and with many strange gestures as men inspired sang the praises of their Idol-god labouring by all means possible to prevail with him to send fire to consume their Sacrifice but all in vain There was none that answered or regarded them Then Elijah called the people to come near and mount Carmel having been one of the high places whereon they us'd to sacrifice in former times unto the Lord there were still the ruins of an old Altar which the Idolatrous Israelites had broken down see Ch. 19.14 and this the Prophet did now repair thereby intimating to them that his design was to restore and set up the worship of the true God in the land Then he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve Tribes and with them he built an Altar in the name of the Lord to intimate to them that they ought all to be united in the worship of the God of their fathers or else it would be in vain for them to reckon themselves the Israel of God And he made a Trench about the Altar as great as would contain two measures of seed and he put the wood in order ahd cut the bullock in pieces and laid it on the wood and bad them fill four barrels with water out of the Sea that was near and pour it on the Sacrifice and on the wood He bad them do it three times which they accordingly did and the water ran about the Altar and filled the Trench so that it was evident that there was no fraud used to hide any fire secretly under the wood Then at the time of offering the Evening-sacrifice Elijah came and prayed saying Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob * To these three Patriarchs God made and ratified his promises of the good things which he did for Israel and God took this stile to himself Exod. 3.6 to move the Israelites that came from those Patriarchs to take him for their God and oft to call to mind his promises let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel and that I am thy servant and that I have done all these things at thy word and by thy command and direction Hear me O Lord I pray thee hear me that this people may know that thou art the Lord God and that thou hast appointed these things to be done to the end that their hearts may be turned from their Idols unto thee Immediately the fire of the Lord fell from heaven and consumed the Burnt-sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the Trench And when the people saw it they fell on their faces and cried out the Lord he is the God the Lord he is the God Elijah seeing them so wonderfully affected with this miracle and so clearly convinced of the juglings and deceits of Baals Priests He bad them presently apprehend those Prophets of Baal and to let none of them escape and to bring them down to the brook Kishon at the foot of Carmel and there to slay them The people being at this present under a great dread of the Majesty of God who by this miracle had testified so loudly against their Idolatry they without any fear of the King were ready to do whatever Elijah advised them unto and accordingly they took those Priests and carried them down to the brook Kishon that the place where Elijah had sacrific'd unto the Lord might not be defiled with their blood and slew them there according to the Law Deut. 13.5 18.20 The King as it seems thought it not adviseable to set himself against the torrent of the people's zeal at this time or possibly he tacitely consented to it upon hope that rain would presently be given thereupon These Prophets of Baal that were slain at this time seem to have been those that were dispersed up and down in the Villages and Towns and not the Prophets of the Groves who attended at Court and performed their Idolatrous service in the Groves planted by Ahab near Baals Temple in Samaria For after this we read Ch. 22.6 of 400 Prophets that were called together by Ahab Ahab having fasted all day to see the event of this business Elijah bids him now go eat and drink and refresh himself for he heard a sound or noise in the heavens that was some intimation to him that much rain was coming Ahab accordingly going to refresh himself the Prophet went up to the top of Carmel and there kneeling upon the ground and bowing his face down to his knees in this humble posture he earnestly prayed unto the Lord for rain For though he knew that the Lord had promised to send rain yet he knew also that it must be obtain'd by prayer Then he sent his servant seven times * He sent him seven several times to teach us that we must not be discouraged though we have not presently that which we pray for but must with patience be content to wait upon the Lord for it
thou maist set thy self up as their King according to the report that goes of thee And thou hast appointed Prophets to preach thee up at Jerusalem and to tell the people that there is now a King in Judah of their own Nation so that they shall not be in bondage any longer to forreign Princes And this will accordingly be reported to the King of Persia and so is like to bring great mischief on all us on this side the river therefore let us meet and take counsel together how we may prevent this great evil Nehemiah returned Sanballat this answer That there was nothing true of what he reported 't was all a fiction of his own head Thus the enemie sought to make them afraid by such reports as these but Nehemiah prayed to the Lord to disappoint their plots and to strengthen his own and his Countryment hands in the work The enemies of the Jews seeing their former plots did not take now betake themselves to a new stratagem viz. to hire false Prophets to terrifie Nehemiah with apprehensions of eminent danger to his own person Accordingly they hired Shemaiah and other false Prophets to assist them in their design Shemaiah was a Priest of the course of Delaiah 1 Chron. 24.18 and pretended to be a Prophet though he was a false one It seems he shut up himself thereby to signifie to Nehemiah that there was such danger approaching as there would be no safety in being abroad Accordingly he sends to Nehemiah to come to him who being come he perswades him to hide himself with him within the Temple and to shut up the doors for he tells him his enemies will seek to slay him yea that very night they would come to slay him Nehemiah replies Should such a man as I flee who am called of God to do what I do and being at present the chief Magistrate and Governour of this City am to take care for the defence of the people and to give them all possible encourageragement both by word and deed What good man is there that being in the place that I am would flee into the Temple to save his life Assure thy self I will not do it But for all his pretended Prophesies Nehemiah perceived the Lord had not sent him both by the nature of the advice he gave him which tended to terrifie him from the work God had called him unto as also from the event for the enemy did not come that night to seize him as Shemaiah prophesied he saw therefore that the enemy hired this false Prophet to make him afraid and to desist from his work and so sin against God in omitting his duty and that they might have matter for an evil report against him and so might reproach him Whereupon he humbly desires the Lord to think upon Tobiah and Sanballat and to deal with them answerably to these their evil works and so likewise with the Prophetess Noadiah who also was hired as it seems to prophesie to Nehemiah after the same manner and with the rest of the false Prophets who had conspired with Shemaiah to put him in fear But all that the enemies could do could not hinder the work for the whole work was finished on the 25th day of the month Elul agreeing with part of our August which shews that they began the work in the height of Summer when the days were at the longest and the season every way most fit for building and so all was dispatched in 52 days which was not full two months and this great dispatch need not seem incredible if we consider that the walls and towers of Jerusalem were not wholly demolished but only in many places broken down 2ly That there was a vast multitude of people that round about the City in several places at one time were employed in the work and did with all earnestness follow it 3ly And above all Gods more than ordinary blessing accompanying them and helping of them in the work I say if we consider all these things we need not wonder that it was finished to the astonishment of the enemy before they dreamed it could have been done see v. 16. so that they were forced to confess that there was more than an ordinary hand of God in it When Nehemiah had overcome all these difficulties he met with one more and that was this At that time some of the Nobles of Judah who possibly had married strange wives and so were something infected with the customs of the Heathen held correspondence with Tobiah and had bound themselves by oath to prosecute his designs he having married the daughter of Sheconiah some great man among the Jews and Johanan his Son having married the daughter of Meshullam * See the mischiefs of forbidden marriages and the hypocrisie of some who made a fair shew before men who had helped to build the wall Chap. 3.4 These men told Nehemiah fair stories of Tobiah and sent back what he said to Tobiah whereupon Tobiah sent threatning letters to him but he was not terrified by any thing that he wrote nor discouraged in his work Nehem. Ch. 6. whole Chapter See Deut. 20.5 Psal 30. the Title The wall being now finished Nehemiah and the Jews resolved to make a solemn dedication of it to the Lord praying unto him that he would please to make it a means of safety to his holy Temple and to the City and the inhabitants thereof Now because the Priests and Levites were to have a chief hand therein he first sets down their Genealogies that it might the better appear that they were true Priests and Levites And here are two pedigrees set down one of such as came up with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem and the other of such as were in the days of Joakim * The prime Priests that were then heads of Families are now set down in number only twenty from v. 12. to 21. yet the number of the courses of the Priests appointed by David was to be 24. See 1 Chron. 24. from 7 to 18. that the number of Priests was now but few that place Ezra â— 15 doth import the Son of Joshua The Priests and Levites being by their distinct orders set down in the former part of the Chapter the dedication it self is now related which was after this manner First they assembled all the Levites together from their several habitations to celebrate this dedication with gladness and thanksgivings and singing with Cymbals Psalteries and Harps and the Priests and Levites being called to this holy service first purified themselves by washing their clothes Exod. 19.10 and their flesh Numb 19.7 and by sprinkling themselves with that purifying water mentioned Numb 19.9 and by all other means both of moral and legal purifying Then they purified the people by such rites as they purified themselves by and purified the gates and the wall recommending them to Gods custody and protection with solemn prayer Then the wall being thick and broad so that many