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COLLECTION OF PURITAN AND
ENGLISH THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
jCS — " PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
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COMMENTARY
UPON THE
FirftBookof MOSES
CALLED- c "- ' '/ c ''''"' vM
GENESIS.
B Y
The Riohc Reverend Father in GOD,
'&
5" YMO N, Lord Bifhop of B L X
-
tEije Cljita €0tttoit CouTrtctJ
LONDON;
Printed for Rh C!;iiiB{H, at the Rofe and Crown in
St. rastFs Uurcb-Ttrd, MDCCIV.
•y *
OCT 6 }r^ ^
THE
PREFACE.
HAVING been perfwaded to put
together fame fcattered Notes ,
which I long ago made upon fe*
veral Places of Holy Scripture^ I
beoan the laji Tear to conftder fome Texts in
the Book ^GENESIS. Where I
foon found there would be a neceffuy of ma-
kjng an entire Comment ary, upon a good part
of it : And therefore J refolded to go through
the whole, in the fame manner as I had done
the three fir Jl Chapters.
After / had ftufj.d the better half of my
JTorl^, I was informed that Monfieur TCIcrk
had pnblifud a Critical Commentary upon
A the
TBe Preface.
the fame Bofi\: But whether 1 have concurred in
«»y thing ** h^or conned himJZ ot
came np0n me in thg gfjd r£ J ^ .»hcb
»/« under flood that a very UarneJ F^',
and Mother had put into thePefd^Zt
Konsnpm aU the Ftve BooKJ '/%££
But by communicating fome of\r 'p™™'
each other, me fomd there Jmld u**»
fin that etther of us p0uld , "'£
Deflgn ; but g0 on, in our fe^ral ll Z
make the Scriptures better underfiooT L
aU >'? f F"fo»< •■ ^r all helpi are )lttL
enough tn this Age , M feem *0 tl ™*
t::, betng igmram &f l -* 4-t
h which rre are fo particularly indeed by
Mofes as by no other Author, J by all the Z
i t1 ,7' °r h™ hen K»own Jto be Ja:t
^ the World. For to htm r»e ole the Kn^dTof
of Man^nd; the Inventers of Arts the ol /
rL- IfltMtdn °fL*™ 5 the Fountain of
Kdgious Rttes; Yea, of all the ancient M
^logy, and *b*b n' ^ „#"&%
means
The Preface.
means of propagating that Sen ft of God and of
Religion, which Mankind brought into the
World with them , and how it came ta be cor-
rupted.
There have been thofe who have tal^en the li-
berty to fay^That it is impojpble to give any tole-
rable Account of the Creation of the World, in
Six Days ; of the Situation of Paradifc, the Fall
of our frfi Parent s, by th: feduSlion of a Serpent,
&>c. But, Ihope^ I have made it appear, there
is no ground for fuch prefumptuotts Words : But
very good reafon to believe every thing that Mo-
ks hath reLted,without for falling the YiterriSence,
and betaking our felves toy I do not hgow what,
hllegov'icaMnterpretations.Particularlyyl find the
Truth of what I have noted coucerningF&radxfe,
very much confirmed by a Learned and Jnditi*
cus Dijcourfe of Monf. Huetius ; which I did
not meet withal, till I had made an end of theft
Commentaries: But then took^a review of what
I bad written, avd found caufe to correB what I
had noted out of Mr '.Carver, concerning the Spring
tf Tigris and Euphrates. / might alfobave given
a clearer Account of the Deluge, // I had obferved
forne things j which are come to my notice fitue
thefe fapers went to the Prefs : Bnt} 1 hipe, I
A 2 h
The P a e f a c e.
have fa id enough to evince that it is not fa incre*
dtble, as fome have pretended. For, having wade
the largefiConceJpons concerning the heigbtb of the
hfgheji Mountains, which ^according to the old 0-
pinion* I have allowed may be thirty Miles highy
Gen. VII 19. (whereas if infiead of thirty ,J had
f aid not above three perpendicular, I had had the
beji of the Modern Phtlofopbcrs to defend we} it
appears there might be Water enough to cover
the loftieSi of them ; as Mofcs hath rela-
ted.
Whofe account of the Families by whom the
Earth was peopled after the Flood, is fo furpri*
fingly agreeable to all the Records that remain in
any Language,ofthe fever al Nations of the Earthy
that it carries with it an uucontrouljble Evi-
dence of his Sincerity and truth, as well as of his
admirable Univerfal Knowledge. For as there
is no Writer that hath given us an Account of fa
many Nations ^and fo remote as he hath done : So
he hath not fatvsfied himfelf with naming them >
but acquainted us with their Original ; and told
ns at what time, and from what place, and on
what ouafion they were difperfed into far dijiant
Countries. And this with juch brevity, that he
hath informed us of more in one Chapter \than we
can find in the great Volumes of all other Authors :
Having
The Prefa c e.
Hiving fljown us from whom all tbofe People de-
fended, who are J pre ad over the Face of the
Larth, front the Cafpian and Perfun Sea, to
Hercules bis tillars (as the Annents fpeal^)
that is, all the World over.
In fhorty whatfoever is tnofi ancient in tbofe
Countries, "which are, fnrtheji from all Commerce
with bis own, is clearly explained by Mofes .*
whofe Writings therefore cannot but be highly 'va-
lued by all tbofe who will apply their Minds feri-
oufly to the Jhidy of them. Fcr if they^ who now
have no regard tobim* would but compare what
he hath written on the fore-named SnbjeEi, with
what they find in thoje Heathen Writers, whom
they have in the great efl veneration, they would
be forced to coxfefs him to be a Man of wonder-
ful TJnderflanding 5 avd could vet reafonably
doubt he had an exa£} kpowledye of the Truth
of tktfe things, whtraf be wrote. To this
pnrpofe* I rt member y the t& Rochari
fpeal^s, who hath given the we die A Light to
the Tenth of Cenefis , wherein tbtfethiros
delivered.
And truly, it is fume wouder\ That they who
fo much cry up the Egyptian laetrnsng, fbonldnot
eafily grant (nnlefs they will he
an s bat only tbofe whom W hat
Mofes
The Preface.
Mofes mufi needs be qualified^ even without the
help of Divine Revelation (which he cert ah ly
had J to write both of their Original, and of all
thofe who were related to them > being bred up in
their Country , nay, in their Court till he was XL
Tears old\ and well verfed in all the Wifdontfhat
was to be found among them, A&s VII. 22.
Whith V/ijdom of theirs, I doubt noi9 was much
augmented by Abraham'/ //w/zg among them,[as
1 have obferved upon XIII 2.) but efpecially by
JofcphV long Government of that Country for the
fpaee of LX X X Tears : Who was indued with fuch
an incomparable Spirit ^that the wifefl Men among
them learnt of him ; for he taught their Senators
Wifdom3 Ffalm CV. 22. And, in li\e manner %
Mofes lived XL Tears more among the Midia-
nites, where, it appears by Jethro, there wanted
not terfons of great Knowledge. And from thence
he might eafily be injiruSled in all that the A-
rabians knew : Who were no mean People (it ap-
pears by the Story of Job and his three Friends^
And Elihu, who is Jnppofed by fame to have
wrote that admirable Bool{) and were near
Neighbours to the mofi famous Nations of the
Eaftern Countries ; From whom^ it is evident
by this Hijiory, all Learnings Art s^ and Sciences
originaty came.
The Preface.
/ could add a great deal more to this purpofe ;
but the Reader , / hopey will find enough to fa-
tisfe him in the Commentary it/elf, Andthcre-
fore I /hall only make this one Kequeji to him,
That he would tahg his Bible and read every
Verfe intirely along with this Commentary •' For
I have not fet down every Word of the text , for
fear of fwelling this Worl\ unto too great a Bulk*
April 10. 1694.
\ 1 1
1
Chapter
I.
A
COMMENTARY
UPON THE
Firft Book oiMtfes,
CALLED
GENESIS.
THat MOSES wrote this and the Four fol-
lowing Books hath been fo conftantly be-
lieved, both by Jews, Christians, and Hea-
thens, that none, I think, denied it, till
Aben Ezra (a Jewifh Doftor, who lived not much
above five hundred Years ago) raifed fome Doubts
about it, irt his Notes upon the Firfi of Deuteronomy,
out of XII Paffages in thefe Books themfelves: Which
he pretended could not be his, but the Words of a
later Author. But when 1 meet with thofe places,
I (hall make it appear, that all fuch Exceptions are
very frivolous, and ought not to fhake our belief of
this Truth, That thefe Five Books were penned by
MOSES and no Body el fe.
The firft is called GENESIS, becaufe it con-
tains the Hiftory of the Creation of the World, with
B \v h
2 A COMMENTARY
Chapter which it begins $ and the Genealogy of the Patri-
I. archs, down to the Death of Jojeph, where it ends.
L/^WJ It comprehends an Hiftory of Two thoufand three
hundred and fixty nine Years, or thereabouts: The
truth of all which it was not difficult for Mofes to
know, becaufe it came down to his time, through
but a very few Hands. For from Adam to Noah,
there was one Man (Alethufelali) who lived fo long
as to fee them both. And io \t was from Noah to
Abraham: Shem convcrfed with both! As Ifaac did
with Abraham and Jojeph : From whom thefe things
might eafily be conveyed to Mofes, by Amram 5 who
lived long enough with Jofeph In (hort, Mofes
might have been confuted, if he had written any
thing but the Truth, by learned Men of other Na-
tions, who fprang from the fame Root, and had the
like means o£ being acquainted with the great things
here reported by Tradition from their Fore- fathers:
Who lived fo long in the beginning of the World,
that they more certainly tranfmitted Things to their
Pofterity. Befides, it is not reafonable to think, they
had not the ufe of Writing as we ha?e 5 whereby
they conveyed the knowledge of Times foregoing, to
thofe that came after.
Verfe 1. Verfe 1. In the beginning."] The World is not
eternal, but had a beginning, as all Philofophers ac-
knowledged before Ariftotle. So he himfelf informs
us, L. J. de Casio, cap, 2. (fpeaking of the ancient
Opinions concerning the Original of the World)
TivGjULiVQV f/Av Zv 3,7mv1i$ eT) (pctnVy they all J aid it had a
beginning : But fome thought it might have no End $
others judged it to be corruptiMe.
God created.~] He who is Eternal gave a Being to
this great Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, out of No-
thing,
upon GENESIS. 5
thing. It is obferved by Eufebius (in the beginning Chapter
of his Book De Prapar. Evang. p. 21, & 25. Edit. I.
Pari/.) That neither the ancient Hijiorians, nor the L^VNJ
Philofophcrs, do fo much as mention God. tlSi pivfi
lviuut\&., no, not fo far as to name him, when thty
write of the beginning of the World. But this Di-
vine Law-giver, defigning to hang the whole Frame
of his Polity, upon Piety towards God, and to
mike the Creator of all, the Founder of his Laws,
begins with him. Not after the manner of the £-
gyplians and Phoenicians, who beftowed this adora-
ble Name, upon a great Multitude: But puts in the
Front of his Work, the Name of the fole Caufe of
all Things : the Maker of whatfoever is feen or un-
feen. As if he hid told the Hebrew Nation; That he
who gave them the Law contained in thefe Books,
was the King an i Law giver of the whole World :
Which was, like a great City, governed by him.
Whom therefore he would have them look upon,
not only as the Enafter of their Laws $ but ofthofe
alfo whkh all Nature obeys. See L. VII. De Prapar.
Evang. c. 9, 10 & L. XII. c. \6.
The Heaven and the Earth."] The Hebrew Particle
Eth, put before both Heaven and Earth, fignifies as
much as with, if Maimonides underftood it aright}
and makes the Sence to be this : He created the Hea-
vens, with all things in the Heavens, and the Earth with
all things in the Earth 5 as his Words are in More Ae-
vochim, P. II. cap. 30. Certain it is thefe two
words, Heaven and Earth, comprehend the whole
vifible World. Some would have the AngeU compre-
hended in the word Heaven 5 particularly Epiphaniuf%
Hasrel. LXV.n.45. d/Ltct HggLv£ ^ yf k, "A-tfctei Ix-A^n-
rav. But others of the Fathers are ot a diffe.ent
B 2 Opi-
A COMMENTA RY
Opinion, as Petavins there obferves. It is a pretty
Conceit of Theophilns Antiochcntts, L.lf. ad Autolychnr,?^
That the Heavens are mentioned before the Earthy to
ihow that God's Works are not like ours : For he
begins at the top, we at the bottom: That is, he firft
made the firfi Stars and all beyond them, (To. I take
the word Heaven here to fignifie) for they had a
beginning, as well as this lower World, though they
do not feem to be comprehended in the fix days
IVorkj which relates only to this Planetary World, as
I may call it, which hath the SV/*for- its Center. And
thus Philo underftood the firft word Berefchith, in the
beginning, to refpeft the order wherein things were
create^. God began his Creation with the Heaven^
as-tfre moft noble Body, and ihen proceeded to the
Earth y. an account of which follows.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. And the Earth was without form, Sec] Some
conneft this Verfe with the foregoing, by tranflating
the firft Verfe in this manner, When God firfi created,
or began to create, the Heaven and the Earth, the Earth
was without form, &c. That is, at firft he only
created a rude Matter of thofe things, which after-
wards were fafliioned as we now fee them.
Without form.') A confufed, indigefted heap, with-
out any order or fhape.
And vo/d.'] Having no Beafts, nor Trees, nor Herbs,-
nor any thing elfe, wherewith we now behold it
adorned.
So thefe two words, Tohu Vabohu, are ufed in Scrip-
ture, where we meet with them ( which is not of- j
ten) for confufion and emptinefs, XXXIV. lfaiah n.
IV. Jer.23. Being a defcription of that which (he An-
cients called the CHAOS (of which the Barbart-
T*j had aNotionr no lefs than the Greeks) whereirv
the
upon GENESIS 5
Seed* and Principles of all things were blended Chapter
rher. This is called, in the ■' Language, by I.
hnirwus, irfvTLv (di'Z'\ the fir 't of fbe Gods: I
: -all things fprang out of this -0 which wasindeed
the hr(t of the Works of God, who, as M»fej (her
in the fequel, produced this beautiful World out
this CHAOS.
/ darknefs was upon the face of the deep."] No-
thing was to be feen, for want of Light : Which lay
buried, as all things elfe did, in that great Abyfs, or
vaft confuted heap of Matter before-mentioned. So
the Hebrew word Tehom fignifies (which we tratif-
late deep J tumult and turbid confufion : The firft Mat-
ter being very heterogeneous, as they (peak, i. e, of
various forts and kinds, hudled together without di-
(tinftion.
And the Spirit of God moved."] Men have been ex-
treamly fanfiful in the Expofition of thefe plain
Words: Some underftanding by the Spirit of God,
the Sun, which gives Spirit and Life ro all things up-
on Earth; others the Air, or the Wind: When as
yet there was no Sun in the Firmament, nor any Wind
that could (tir, without the Power of the Air
to excite it. This therefore we are to und
be here meant ^ The Infinite Wifdom, and I
of God, which made a vehement ( 1
mighty Fermentation (by raifingr.
Wind) upo,ithe Face of t'. . s ; Th
fluid Matter before-mentioned,
of it one from the other.
Waters.'] That which Mofes before * called 1
Deep, he now calls the Waters : Which plainly
that fome Parts of the confi;
light 3 as other Parts were and heavy. The i
vy
g A COMMENTARY
Chapter vy naturally funk, which he calls the Earth } and the
I. lighter Parrs got above them, which he calls the Wa-
L^^VVJ ters: For it is clearly intimated the Waters were up-
permoft.
The Word we here tranflate moved, fignifies lite-
rally brooded upon the Waters, as an Hen doth upon
her Eggs. So the ancient and modern Interpreters
have obferved : And Morimts, who oppofes it, hath
faid nothing to make us doubt of this Sence of the
Phrafe. From whence fome have, not unhappily,
conje&ured, the Ancients took their Notion of a
tt^QcVjiyovcv dlv, a fir(t laid Egg, out of which all
things were formed, That is, the CHAOS Tout
of which all the old Philofophers, before Ariftotle,
thought the World was produced) confifting ot Earth
and Water, of thicker and thinner Parts, as an Egg
doth of Ttf/^and White.
Now the Spirit of God thus moved upon the Wa-
ters, that by its incubation (as we may call it) it
might not only feparate, as I faid, thofe Parts which
were jumbled together 5 but give a vivifick Virtue
to them, to produce what was contained in them.
The Souls and Spirits, that is, of all living Crea-
tures, were produced by the Spirit of God, as Por-
phyry faith Nitmenius underftood it. For his Opini-
on, he tells us, was, That all things ame out of the
Water StOTw'to wli, being Divinely infpired : For
which he quoted thefe words of the Prophets, as he
called Mofes. See Porphyry, mp / tS N^p *Avrpks9 on
thofe words of Homer :
Which gives us to underftand, that the Spirits of all
living Creatures fwhich we call their Aftive Forms)
did
upon GENESIS. 7
did not drift out of Matter, for that is fhipid; butChai ur
proceeded from this other Principle, the Powerful 1.
Spirit of ( iod, which moved upon the Face or the l/"V\J
Waters, by £ vital Energy, (as St. Chryfoftont f|
fo that they wei\ n > lpngei (landing Water
*//ȣ, having c/^fc^J ti>x SWa/up, a certain living
Power in them. From whence we ma} ga-
ther, that the Spirits of" living Creaturesafe diftindt
things f orii Matter} which ol it felf cannot move
at all, and much lefs produce a Principle of Mo-
tion.
And thus indeed all the Ancient Philosophers ap-
prehended this Matter: And fome of them havemoft
lively exprefled it. For Lacrtius in the Life of Ana-
xagoras tells us5 that he taught among other things,
Ylxvlx ywyLCLla. w o/£«' tint N£s i?\Sa)V c/jurd SiiK0^nr,^i9
all things were hudled together : And then the Mind
came and fct them in order. And Thales before him
(asT)r//p informs us, L.I. de Nat. Deor.) Aquam dixit,
ejffe initium rerum : Deitm ant em earn went em qu<£ ex
aqn'l cunUa fingeret^ faid, Water was the beginning of
things : And God that Mind who formed all things out
of the li ater.
By the Spirit of God fome of the ancient Jews have
tmdetftood the Spirit of the Mejfiah, fas Hachjpan
obferves in his Cabala Judaica, n. LXV1. out of Baal
Hatturim, the Hicrufalcm Targum, &C.) which ex-
plains the EvangeliftSt. John, who in the beginning
of his Gofpel fays, all things were made by the Eter-
nal AOrOS or WORD of God, (the fame with
theN£$ of the ancient Philofophers) vvhofe Almighty
Spirit agitated the vaft confufed Mafs of Matter, and
put it into Form.
Ver.
8 A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 3. AndGodfaid-1 Thefe words are taken
I. notice of by Longinus, -mzX #4»$, as a truly lofty ex-
L/"WJ preflion 5 wherein appears the Wifdom of Mofes^
Verfe 3. vvho reprefents God like himfelf, commanding things
into Being by his 'Word 5 that is, by his Will: For
• wherefoever we read thefe words in the Hiftory of
the Creation, He/aid, the meaning mud be underftood
to be He willed, as Maiwonides interprets ir, More
Nev. P. I. cap. 65. This Ju/lin Martyr demonftrates
Orpheus had learnt out of Mofes his Books, when
' he fwears by the Heaven, the Work of the Great
and Wife God, and by the Word of the Father, which
hefpak? at firft, when he eftablifh'd all the World
by his Counfels, So his words are in Xla^.iv 699 a.) calls
dm ouitw iij dvf>\iov, becaufe it was not yet collected in-
to a Body, as it is now in the Sun. Ochers think it
to have been a dimmer fort of Light from the Sun,
not yet perfectly formed. Abarbinel (upon the XL
o\ Fxodus) takes this to be the SCHECHINAH,
the molt excellent of all created things, called, in
Holv Scripture, the Glory of the Lord 5 which God,
faith he, fealed up in his Treafures, after the Lumi-
naries were created, to ferve him upon fpecial Oc-
cafions, (for inftance, to lead the Ifraelitcs in the
Wildernefs, by a cloudy Pillar of FireJ when he
would make himfelf appear extraordinarily Prefent.
And becauie of the Perfection of thk Light he fanfies
it is that Mofes fays in the next Verfe, That God/aw
the Light ("repeating the word Light) that it mis
good : Whereas in all the reft of the Six Days Work,
he only fays, He/in? it was good, without naming a-
gain the thing he had made.
But it fcems to me mod rational by this Light, to
underftand, thofe Particles of Matter, which we call
Fire, (whofe two Properties, every one knows, are
Light and Heat) which the Almighty Spirit that
formed all things, produced as the great Inftrument,
for the Preparation and Digeftion of the reft of the
Mattery which was ftillmore vigoroudy moved and
agitated, from the top to the bottom, by this reft-
C lefs
io A COMMENTARY
Chapter lefs Element, till the purer and more (billing Parrs
I. of it, being feparated from the groffer, and united
lW*%J in a Body fit to retain them, became Light.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And God faw the Light, that it was good.']
He was pleafed in this Work of his, as agreeable to
his Defign. Which for the prefent was (we may
conceive) to influence the upper Parts of the CHA-
OS, and to be the Inftrument of Pvarefa&ion, Sepa-
ration, and all the reft of the Operations, which
were neceflary to mold.it into fuch Creatures, as
were afterwards made out of it.
And God divided the Light from the Darknefs7\ Ap-
pointed that they (hould conftantly fucceed one ano-
ther 5 as we fee they do now, that this Light is em-
bodied in the Sun 5 and as they did then, by the cir-
cular Motion of this firft Light of Fire, round a-
bout the CHAOS, in the fpace of Twenty-four
Hours ^ which made it Day to thofe Parts where it
(hined $ and Night, where it did not. It is remark-
able how Mofes afcribes every thing to God, the
Former of all things 5 who by making this Light move
round about the Chaos, ftill more prepared, and ex-
alted the remaining indigefted Parts of Matter, for
their feveral ufes.
Yerfe 5 Ver. 5. And God called the light, day } and the darh-
nefs he called Night,'] He fetled them (fthat is) in
fuch a conftant Courfe, that it gave them thefe di-
ftinft Names.
And the Evening and the Morning were the fir ft Day7\
In the Hebrew Language, Evening and Morning ilgni-
fie a whole Day $ which the Morion of this Light
made, if we conceive it to have been formed about
Noon, and to have gone round the fore-mentioned
Heap of Matter in Twenty-four Hours.
How
upon GENESIS. ,,
How long all things continued in mere Confufi* Chapter
on, after the CHAOS was created, before this I.
Light was extracted out of it, we aae not told. It l/V^vJ
might be (for any thing that is here revealed) a
great while \ and all that time the mighty Spirit was
making fuch Motions in it, as prepared, difpofed,
and ripened every Part of it, for fuch Productions
as were to appear fucceflively in fuch fpaces of time,
as are here, and afterward mentioned by Mofcs ;
who informs us, That after things were fo digefted,
and made ready (by long Fermentations perhaps)
to be wrought into Form, God produced every day,
for fix days together, fome Creature or other, till
all was finifhed , of which Light was the very firft.
This Ma'wionicles hath very happily illuftrated, in his
More Nevochiw, P. II. c. 30. where he obferving that
all things were created at once, and then were af-
terwards feparated one from another fucceflively $
he fays, their wife Men refemble this proceeding to
that of a Husbandman, who fows feveral Seeds in
the Earth at the fame moment 5 fome of which are
to come up after one day, others after two, and
others not till three days be paft 5 though the whole
fowing was in one and the fame moment. Thus
God made all things at the firft, which did not ap-
pear together ^ but, in the fpace of fix Days, were
formed and put in order one after another: Light
being the Work of the firft Day.
Ver. 6. And God /aid. Let there he a firmamentT^ Verfe 6.
The next thing that God commanded to come forth of
the Chaos , was the Air^ particularly, that Region next
to us, wherein the Fowls fly, as it is expounded after- •
wards, verfe zo. The Hebrew word Rachia properly
fignifies a Body expanded, or fpread forth, (as may be
C 2 feea
13 A COMME START
Chapter feen "in FW. XXXIX. $.Ifai. XL. 19. Jer.X.9. where
I. ic can have no other meaning) but is by the LXX.
tranilated s-gp^ct^t, and from thence by us, Firma-
ment 5 becaufe the Air, though vaftly extended and
fluid, yet continues firm and (table in its place.
In the midfl of the Waters, and let it divide the Wa-
ters from the Waters'] This Region of the Air, ma^
nijfeftly parts the Waters above it in the Clouds, from
thofe below it, here upon Earth $ the one of which
Waters bear a good proportion, and are in fome mea-
fure equal unto the other 5 for there are vaft Treafures
of Water in the Clouds,* from whence the Waters
here below, in Springs and Rivers are fupplied. This
appeared afterwards in the Deluge, which was partly
m-ide by continued Rains for many days. The great
Objection againft this Expofition is, That now there
were no Clouds, neither had it, after this, rained
on the Earth, Gen. II. 6. But itmuft be confidered,
That neither were the Waters below, as yet gathered
into one place r And therefore Mofes here fpeaks of
the Air% as a Body intended to be ftretched between
the Waters above and beneath, when they Chould be
formed.
That the Clouds above are called Waters in the
Scripture-Language, is plain enough from Pfalm CIV.
3. Jer.X. 13. and other places.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And God made the firmament, and di-
vided, &c.*] What his Divine Will ordered, his
Power effe&ed 5 by that Light which row led about
the CHAOS, and that Beat which was excited
within it 5 whereby fuch Exhalations were raifed, as
made the Firmament. That is, the thicker Parts of
them made this Region of the Air^ which is the low-
er firmament^ verfe 20. And the thinner Parts of
them
upon GENESIS 13
them made the /Etber9 or higher Firmament^ where- Chapter
in the Sun and the Planets are fcated, verfi 14, 15. I.
Ver. 8. And God called the firwan/eni Heaven r\ **'~s/'^i
Made it fo different from the reft of the Mais, cal- Verie ^.
led Earth, that it had the Name of Heavem^ to di-
fiinguilhit from the o-her. So all above the Earth
is called, as appears by the following part of the
Chapter, in the Verfes DOW mentioned And that's
the very import ot the word Scbamaimy which, in the
Arabic!^ Language, (as EiLben Ezra obferves) fignihes
height h or altitude.
And the Evening and the Morning were the fecond
Day.~] This was the Work of another whole Day.
Concerning which it is commonly noted, That it is
nor faid ofthis, as of all the Works of the other five
Days, Godfaw that it was good. What the reafon of
this (hould be, is enquired by all Interpreters 5 and
the moft folid Account that I can find of it, is this 5
That the Waters mentioned upon this Day, were not
yet feparated and diftinguifhed from the Earth : And
therefore in the next Day's Work, when he did ga-
ther the Waters together, verfe io. and when he com-
manded the Earth Cwhich was become dry) to bring
forth, verfe 12. thefe words, God faw that it was
good, are twice repeated. Which made Picherellus
and Ger.Vojfivs, think the two next Verfes (9, 10.)
belonged to the fecond Days Work ^ and that the firft
words of the ninth Verfe (hould be thus tranflated,
And God had faid, Let the Waters under the Hea-
ven, Sec. And fo the words in the end of the tenth
Verfe, Godfaw that it was good, relate to the fecond
Day. L.2.de Orig. IdoloL c. 67,
Ver.
i4 A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 9. And God /aid, Let the Waters under the
I. Heaven] All the Waters which continued mixed
\j/*\TSJ with the Earth, and covered the Surface of it.
Verfe 9. Be gathered together, Scc^) Colle&ed into one Bo-
dy by themfelves.
And let the dry Land appear."] Diftinft and feparate
from the Waters.
There being fuch large Portions of Matter drawn
out of the CHAOS, as made the Body of Fire and
Air before-mentioned, there remained in a great Bo-
dy, only Water and Earth 5 but they fo jumbled to-
gether, that they could not be diftinguifhed. It
was the Work therefore of the third Day, to make a
Separation between them ^ by comparing together all
the Particles which make the Earth, which before was
Mud and Dirt 3 and then, by railing it above the
Waters which covered its Superficies, (as the Pfal-
miji alfo defcribes this Work, Pfalm CIV. 6.) and,
laflly, by making fuch Caverns in it, as were fufficient
to receive the Waters into them. Now this we may
conceive to have been done by fuch Particles of Fire
as were left in the Bowels of the Earth : Whereby
fuch Nitro-ftilphureous Vapours were kindled, as
made an Earth-quake , which both lifted up the Earth,
and alfo made Receptacles for the Waters to run
into 5 as the Pfalmifl (other wife I (hould not ven-
ture to mention this) feems in the fore- mentioned
place to illuftrate it, Pfalm CIV. 7, where he fays,
At thy rebuke they (i.e. the Waters) fled 3 at the voice
of thy thunder they hajied away. And fo God himfelf
fpeaks, Job XXX VIII. 10. I brake up for i t (i.e. for
the Sea) my decreed place, and fet bars, and doors.
Hiftories alfo tell us, of Mountains that have been,
in feveral Ages, lifted up by Earth-quakes 5 nay,
Iflands
upon GENESIS.
Iiiands in the midft of the Sea : Which confirms thisCha]
Gbnjefture, That poffibly the Waters were, at the I.
firft, feparated by this means ^ and fo feparated, that L^V"NJ
they fhould not return to cover the Earth. For the
Word, in the beginning of th\slrerfe, which we tran-
slate gathered, comes from Kav, which fignifies a
Square, a Rifle, or 'perpendicular Line : And there! i
denotes they were moft exa&ly collected, and fo poi-
fed in Such juft Proportions, that they {hould not a-
gain overflow the dry Land.
This Work of God ( whereby the Waters were
fent down into their proper Channels, and the Earth
made dry, and fitted for the Habitation of fuch Crea-
tures, as were afterwards created) is obferved by
Strabo in his Geography, as an Aft of Divine Provi-
dence, L. XVII. Becaufe, fays he, the Water covered
the Earth, and Man is not (vv^^ju ££ov, a Creature
that can live in the Water, God made cJ£,o%£$ d* rjf
jj} -TsMaV }L &o%&9 &c. many Cavities and Recepta-
cles in the Earth for the Watery and raifed the Earth
above it, that it might be fit for Man's Habitation.
Ver. IO. And called the dry Land, Sec."] This is yerfe lQi
fufficiently explained, by what hath been faid upon
Vcrfe 5, & 8. only this may be added, That the word
Eretz>, Earth, in Arabic^, Signifies any thing that is low
and funk beneath, oppofite to Schamaim, Heavens,
which in that Language, as I noted before, Signifies
high and lifted up,
Ver. ii. And God faid, Let the Earth bring forth \^xk II
grafs, the Herb yielding, &c] Or, rather, it (hould
be tranflated, and the Herb yielding, Sec. though the
copula be omitted, which is ufual in Scripture : Parti-
cularly in Habak. HI. I*, the Sun, Moon, i. e. the Sun
and Moon.
M
%6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Mofes having (bown haw the firft Matter, (ver. 2.
I. and then the Elements of things, as we call them(z;er.
U'VSj 3,6,9, 10.) were produced, he proceeds to the Pro-
duction of more compounded Bodies. And here an
account is given of all forts of Vegetables^ which are
ranged under three Heads 5 Grajs, which comes up
every Year without fowing^ Herbs, bearing a Seed,
which comprehends (as Abarbinel here notes) all
fort of Corn, and whatfoever is fown^ and Trees,
which alfo bear Fruit. There are feveral kinds of
all thefe ^ which fome have cad into Eighteen, others
into Six and thirty Chffes; none of which could at the
firft fpring out of the Earth, of it felf, by the power
of external and internal Heat, and of the Water
mixed with it, (no, not fo much as one fingle Pile
of Grafs) without the Almighty Power and Wifdom
of God} who brought together thofe Parts of Mat-
ter, which were fitted to produce them 5 and then
formed every one of them, and determined their feve-
ral Species } and alfo provided for their continuance,
by bringing forth Seed to propagate their Species to
the end of all things. And here it is very remarka-
ble, how God hath fecured the Seeds of all Plants,
with lingular Care : Some of them being defended by
a double, nay, a treble inclofure.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. And the Earth brought forth Grafs, and the
Herb, Sec] Thefe things did not grow up out of
Seed, by fuch a long procefs, as is now required to
bring them to Maturity 5 but they fprung up in their
Perfection, in the fpace of a Day, with their Seeds
in them, compleatiy formed, to produce the like
throughout all Generations. Thus Mofes gives a
plain Account of the firfl: Produ&ion of rhings, ac-
cording to the natural Method : For fuppofing they
had
upon GENESIS. 17
had a Beginning, the Herb and the Tree muft natural- Chapter
ly be before the Seed they bear: As the Hen is be- I.
fore the Egg (lie lays. And to make a Queftion, L/"VNJ
which was fir ft (as fome of the Philolophers did) is
very frivolous , becaufe that Power which alone
could produce the Seeds of all things., could as eafi-
ly mike the things themfelves, with a power to pro
pagate their Kind, by Seed.
It is therefore moft judicioufly noted by Abarbi-
nel, a learned jfe»?, That the Production of Plants in
the beginning, differed from their Production ever
fince in thefe two things : F/rfl, That they have
fprung ever fince out of Seed, either fown by us, or
falling from the Plants themfelves ^ but at the be-
ginning were brought out of the Earth, with their
Seed in them, to propagate them ever after. And, Se-
condly, They need now, as they have done fince the
firft Creation, the influence of the Sun, to make them
fprout : But then they came forth by the Power of
God, before there was any Sun, which was not form-
ed till the next Day. Of this laft Theophilm Antio-
chenus, long before Abarbinel took notice, L. II. ad
Autolycnm, where he fays, God produced things in
this orders forefeeing the Vanity of Philofophers^
who, faying nothing of him, made all things to be
produced by the Sun, *&ro -PjS follow, out of the
Elements. Porphyry himfelf alfo (£. II. -m$jL ^re-
tfs) could obferve out of Theophraftus, That the
Earth brought forth Trees and Herbs before Beafts,
Sivfrgg. fjuh $> $$, tat^j 'Qla-jdv iviSuxji fi y^ Sec. Which
Eufebius remembers in his Prapar. Evang. L. I. c. 9.
p. 28.
Ver. 14. Let there be Lights.'] This is a different Verfe 24.
word from what we had, verfe 3. fignifying, as Paw
D lus
1 8 A COMMENTARY
Chapter I us Fagius obferves, that which is made out of Light ,*
I. Uminom Bodies, whereby Light is communicated to
W^r\j us : The Hebrew Particle, Mem, before a word, be-
ing ufed to exprefs the Inftrument of an Adtton :
And fo now we are to conceive, that the Light pro-
duced at firft, having for three Days circulated about
the Eanh, and that near unto it, to further the Pro-
duction of the things before-mentioned, was on this
fourth Day diftributed into feveral Luminaries, at a
great diftance from the Earth. So it follows $ In the
firmament of 'Heaven , in the upper Region, which we
call the JEther, or Sky* where the Sun and the Pla-
nets are placed.
To divide the Day from the Night."] By a conti-
nued circular Motion, finifhed in four and twenty
Hours; in one part of which, by the prefence of the
Sun, the Day is made ^ and in the other part, by
the Sun's abfence,. Night is made, in a conftant fuc-
cefiion.
And let them be for Signs and for Seafons^] That is,
for Signs of the Times or Seafons 5 as Ger. Vojjius ex-
pounds it, by the Figure of %v hi hjoTv. And by
Times are meant,: the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and
Winter : And, by confequence, the Seafons for
Ploughing, Sowing, Planting, Pruning, Reaping,
Vintage, Sailing, &c. L. de Scientiis MathemaK
c% g<8.
And for Days, andTears7\ By a fpeedy fvrift Mo-
tion round, \n twenty fourUouxs to make Days$ and
by a flower, longer Motion to make Years 5 and a
grateful variety of Seafons in the feveral Parts of the
Earth, which by this annual Motion are all vifited
with the Sun's Beams.
Ver,
upon GENES! S. i9
Ver. 15. And let them be for Light, fkc.~] i.e. Let Chapter
them there continue to give confront Light and I.
Warmth to the Earth : And fo they do immova- L/'V^sJ
bly. Vcrfc *5.
Ver. \6. And God made two great Lights'] ItisVerfe 16.
obfervable, that nothing is faid to have been created,
fince the firft Matter, out of which all things were
made OX formed. And the two great Lights, or Lu-
minaries, Inlightners, (as the word fignifies) are me
Sun, which inlightens us by Day 5 and the Moon,
which inlightens us by Night. The Moon indeed i:,
not (o great as the reft of the Planets, ("for it is the
leaft of all, except Mercury.*) but it affords the great-
eft Light to us ^ by reflecting the Beams of the Sun to
us, in its abfence } and thereby very much abating the
difconlblate Darknefs of the Night.
He made the Stars alfoT] That is, the reft of the
Planets, and their Attendants.
Ver. 1 7. And Godfet them in the firmament of He a- Verfe 17
ven, &cj By the repetition of this fo often, Mofes
intended to fix in the Peoples Mind this Notion ^
That though the heavenly Bodies be very Glorious,
yet they were but Creatures, made by God, and fet
or appointed by his Order, to rve us Light: And
therefore he alone is to 1 'orfhipped, not
they.
It is commonly taken notice .*, that there is no
mention of the Creation of Angels, in all this Hifto
ry$ nor was there any need of it. For the anci-
ent Idolatry confifting in the Worfhip of the Sun,
Moon, and Stars, (as appears from the very Names of
the molt ancient Idols in the Old Tcftjment^ fiK.h as
Moloch, Afttaroth, and the like,) which they believed
to be Eternal Beings : The great Defign of Mofes
D x was
20 A COMMENTARY
Chapter was to confute this Opinion, by reprefenting them?
I. (over and over) as the Work of the Eternal God $,
L/"V\J which (truck at the very Root of Idolatry. The wor-
(hip of Angels was a later Invention.
Verfe 18. ^er. ^' And to rule over the day, and over the
Night 7\ Some have fanfied, that the ancient Idolatry
fprung from this word Rule : Men looking upon thefe
glorious Lights, as having a Dominion over them.
Whence the Sun was called Baalt that is, Lord,or Go-
vernor, by the Eajiem People 5 and Moloch, that is,
King, by the Egyptians. But one word fure was not
the ground of fo foul an Error y when the Scope of
Mofes was to (how that thefe things were made by
an higher Being, and made not to rule over Men,
but over the Day and the Night ; which the Sun
makes when it rifes and fets, by the order and ap*
pointment of God.
And God faw that it was good."] He was pleafed
with this Work, asfuitable to the ends for which he
intended it. The firft Light was good (ver. 4 J for
the purpofe to which it ferved -y which was, by its
heat, to agitate, rarifie, and feparate the Matter of
the CHAOS, for the making of Air, and gather-
ing together the Waters, and drying the Earth, and
producing Grafs, Herbs, and Trees; which made it
necefTary it (hould continue fame Days near to the
Earth, that it might powerfully penetrate into the
Matter it was to digeft : But, if it fhould have con-
tinued longer fa near to the Earth, it would not have
been good for it 5 becaufe it would have burnt up-
all the Plants, that the Earth had brought forth 5
and, by its too fcorching heat, have hindred the Pro-
du&ion of thofe living Creatures, which were rea-
dy on the next Day to be made * or, at leaft, made
the
upon GENESIS. rr
the Earth unfit for their Habitation. For the Air, Chapter
which: all living things, even tithes themfelves, I.
need, fnay, the Plants alfo* which have Veflels for \S~sT\J
conveying Air to all their Parts,) would have been
fo very hot, that it would have afforded no refrefh-
menttothem: Therefore it was good that it fhould
be advanced into the Firmament of the Heaven,
and there embodied in thofe Luminaries, which, be-
ing removed further from us, give fuch a moderate
heat as is neceifary for the preservation of us, and
of all things living that dwell upon the Earth.
Ver. 19. And the Evening, &o] Thus the fourth Verfe 19.
Day concluded.
Ver. 20. And God /aid, Let the Waters, &c] Now Verfe
God proceeded to form the lower fort of Animals^
or living Creatures, viz* The Fiji), and the Fowl 5
which are in many refpefts inferior to Beafts* And
the Fifhes are called moving (\xv the Hebrew, creep-
ing) Creatures 5 becaufe their Bellies touch the Wa-
ter, as creeping things do the Earth. Both Fifhes
and Fowls were made out of the Waters 5 that is, out
of fuch Matter as was mixed with the Waters, which
contained in them many things befides fimple Wa-
ter 5 for the Sea and Rivers are ftill very richly fur-
nifhed with various Compounds, for the nourifhment
of an innumerable multitude of Fifhes. The great
congruity that there is between Fifh and Fowl in:
many particulars, will not let us doubt they had the
fame Original : For they are both oviparous, which
makes them more fruitful than the Beafts of the
Earth 5 neither of them have any Teats $ they both
direfl\ (and, as I may hy,fteer) their Courfe by their
Tail, &c. See Ger. Vojfi^, de Orig. & L'rogr. Idolol.
L. III. c. 78.
Bring
tt
A COMMENTARY
Chapter Bring forth abundantly, ~\ That is, various forts of
I. both kinds $ there being many hundred kinds of
.L/^VNJ Fijhes, and Birds, or Fowls ^ many of the latter of
which live in the Water, (which (hows their Origi-
nal co have been from thence,) and others of them
live both in the Air and Water. The Formation of
theieCieatures is, in every part of them, very won-
derful, efpecially in thole parts whereby they are
fitted to fvim, and to fly. Which demonftrate a
moil wife Agent, by whofe infinite Power they were
fo contrived, as to be able alfo to propagate their
Rind.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. And God created great Whales."] The vaft-
nefsof thefe Creatures, perhaps, made Mofes again
ufe the word Create, ("which he had not done hnce
the beginning of the Chapter,) not becaufe they were
made as the CHAOS was, out of Nothing ^ but
becaufe it required a greater Power to make out of
the precedent Matter, moving things of fo huge a
Bulk, and of fuch great Agility, than to make any
other thing hitherto formed.
The Hebrew word Tanim, which we tranflate
Whales , comprehends feveral forts of great Fifties, as
Bochartm obferves in his Hierozoic. P. I. L. I. c. 7.
where he ihows the prodigious bignefs of fome of
them. But he ftiould have added, that this word
alfo fignifies Crocodiles, which, he himfelf (hows, are
•fet forth in Job XLI. as the moft aftonilhing Work
of God. For Job Ludolphn, I think, hath demon-
ftrated, that nothing but the Crocodile can be meant
by this word Tanim, in Ezek XXIX. 3. and XXXII,
2. and fome other places. Vid. L. I. Comment, in
Hifior. Mthhp. Cap. XI. tt.S6. <
\
And
upon GENESIS. tf}
And God faw that it xc. js good.] Was pleafed with Chapter
the Stru&ure of thefc ie/eral Creatures : Of the I.
Bitdi, who were f> niihed with Wings to fly in the U^V^O
Air 5 and of the Fijbss^ vyhofe Tins ferve them to
(wim in the Watery and of Water-fowl, vvhofe
Feet are formed fo, as to ferve for the fame ufe ;
and fome ot them (fuch as dive under Water) co-
vered fo thick with Feathers, and thofe fo fmooth
and flippery, (as the Learned and Pious Mr. Ray
hath obferved) that the Bodies are thereby de-
fended from the cold of the Watery which cannot
penetrate or moiften them. SzzW ifdom of God in
the Creation, P. I p. 135.
Ver. 22. And God bleffed them, &c."] His bleffing Verfe 23
them, was giving them a Power to multiply and in-
creafe, till they had filled the Water with Fifb, and
the Air with Fowl. Which required a particular
Care ot Divine Providence, as Abarbinel obferves 5.
becaufe they do not bring forth young ones per-
fectly formed, as the Beafts do,- but lay their Eggs
in which they are formed, when they are out of
their Bodies. This, faith he, is a wonderful thing,
That when the Womb, as we may call it, is fepa-
rate from the Genitor, a living Creature like it felf
fhould be produced. Which is the reafon, he fan-
fies, that a Bleffing is here pronounced upon them, and
not on the Beafts, that were made the next Day.
The ancient Fathers are wont to obferve, That the
firjr Bleffing vras given to the Waters, as a Type of
Baptifm. Theophilus ad Autolyc. L. II. and Tertullian
de Baptifmo. cap. 3.
And let Fowl multiply in the Earth!] There, for
the moft part, they have their Habitation and their
Food y though fome live upon the Water,
Ven
s4 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 23. Seeverfe 19.
I. Ver. 24. And God faid, Let the Earth bring forth."]
\S*sT\J Thus by a gradual Proceis, the Divine Power pro-
Ver(e 2 3. duced Creatures ftill more Noble: The Matter be-
Verfe 24. Jng more digefted and prepared in five Days time,
than it was at firft. I do not know whether there
beany weight in the Note of Abarbinel, who obferves
that Mofes here ufes a new word, which we tran-
slate bring forth 5 to (how the difference between
Plants and Animals. The former of which fpring out
of the Earth indeed, but continue fix'd in it, and
perilh if they be feparated from it: Whereas Ani-
mals, though made out of the Earth, and living up-
on it, have a feparate exiftence, and do not dill ad-
here to it.
After hk kind.~\ Three forts of living Creatures
are immediately mentioned, which were formed out
of fuch Matter, as the Earth afforded, (not fimple
Earth, we muft undefftand, no more than before
fimple Water, for it was impregnated with many
other Principles 5) the firft of which, Behemah, which
we tranflate Cat fie, always fignifies the Flocks and
Herds of tame Beads, when it is diftinguifhed from
Chaja, which we tranflate in the end of the Verfe,
Beafis of the Earth, that is, wild Beads : Between
which two, he mentions a third kind of living Crea-
tures on the Earth, which he calls Rentefi, creeping
things 5 becaufe whatever Feet they have, they are
fo Ihort and fmall, that they feem to the naked Eye
to have none at all $ but to crawl on their Bellies up-
on the Ground. Of all thefe three kinds, there are
various forts wherewith God hath replenifhed the
Earth: And of every kind, fome vaflly great, and
others very little 3 as Abarbinel notes even among
Reptiles,
upon GENESIS. 2$
Reptile /, there being Serpents of a prodigious length, Chapter
and other creeping things far fmaller than Ants. I.
Ver. 25. And God wade, 6cc] The Earth did iV\^sJ
not bring them forth by Virtue of the Influence of Verfe 25.
Heaven, upon prepared Matter : Bin God framed
them out of the Matter fo prepared, and produced
them in their full perfe&ion, after their feveral
kinds.
And God faro it was good7\ Was pleafed with the
great variety of thefe Creatures, and their compleat
Strufture, fitting them for their feveral ufes.
Ver. 26. Let us make Man7\ God not only re- Verfe 26,
ferved Man for the lad of his Works 5 but doth, as it
were, advife and confult about his Production. Not to
fignihe any Deliberation within himfelf, or any Dif-
ficulty in the Work 5 but to reprefent to us the Dig-
nity of Man, and that he was made (as Abarbinel
glofles) with admirable Wifdom, and great Pru-
dence. To the fame purpofe S. Chryfoflom here fpeaks.
And fee Greg. Nyjfen, de Opificio Hominis, cap. 3.
and Orat. I. on thefe words: With Greg, tfazianzen.
Orat. XLIIl p. 699. who obferves that God brought
him into this World, as into a noble Palace, ready
furnilhed with all manner of things. Which is the No-
tion alfoof Methodius: SeeEpiphanius, Hur-
nilm foolifhly expounded thefe words, as hpiphanius
informs us, in the fore-named Hwef. p. 62. E-
dit. Parif. And Mofes Gerundenfis ftill more foolifh-
ly imagines God ipake to the Earth, that it (hould
bring forth Man, as it had done other Creatures.
But Maimomdes^ who magnifies that Saying of their
Matters, (That God doth nothing without his Coun-
cil,J is forced to acknowledge, (More Nevoch. P. If.
cap. 6.) That it is not to be underftood, as if he askt
their Advice, or was affifted by their Judgment, but
only that he ufed them as Instruments in the pro-
ducing of every thing, Which is dire&ly contrary
to the very words, which are not in the form of a
Command, but of a Confutation before Execution.
Others therefore think God fpeaks after the manner
of Rings 5 who advife with their Council, but do
things themfelves: And are wont to fpeak in the
Plu-
upon GENESIS, if
Plural Number, when they declare their Pleafurc. Chapter
But I take this to be a Cuftom much later than the I.
Days of Mofes 5 when they fpake as the Ring of E- l^\^NJ
gypt doth to Jofeph, Gen. XLI. 41, 44. 1 am Pharaoh ^
and fee I have fet thee (not ive have fet thee) over
the Land of Fgypt. In which Stile the Ring of Per-
fa writes long after this, Ezra VI. 8. / Darius make
a decree.
All thefe poor fhifts are a plain Confeffion, that
they found it very hard (as the Socinians do at this
day) to give any account of this way of fpeaking,
without granting a Plurality of Perfons in the God-
head. And therefore Menajfeh Ben Ifrael in his Con-
ciliator, mentions one of their Doctors, who, in Be-
refchith Rabba, fays, That when Mofes by God's Di-
rection was about to write thefe words, Let m make
Man, he cryed out, 0 Lord of the World, why wilt
thou give Men occafion to err, about thy moft fimple
Unity ? To which he received this Anfwer, Write as
I bid thee } and if any Man love to err, / 4 ; '
Th^ fame Story is told by Jofeph Albo. V
that their Doftors have been long puzz
manner of Speech, which unavoidably fu
their Thoughts, more than One Perfon in tl
ty : Which till they believe, they are at a k>]
to fay about it.
In our Image, after our likenefs.'] Two words ((o n
think) to exprefs the fame thing : Wi h this diffe-
rence only, as Abarbinel explains it, That the laft
words, after our lihgnefs, give us to understand, that
Man was not created properly and perfe&ly in the
Image of God 5 but in a refemblance of him. 1
he doth not fay, in our lil^nefs (fays that Author,) as
he had faid in our Image, but after our likem
E x Where
*8 A COMMENTARY
Chapter where the Caph of Similitude (as they call it) abates
I. fomething of the Sence of what follows ^ and makes
L^V^SJ it fignifie only an approach to the Divine Likenefs,
in TJndcrftanding^ freedom of Choice^ Spirituality, Im-
mortality^ Sec. Thus TertuUian explains it, Habent it-
las ntique line as Dei, qua immortalk anima, qua libe-
ra & fui arbitrii, qua prafcia pier urn que, qua rati on a-
lis, capax inteUeUus & fcienti and 'Opuoi'v-
fjut, Likenefs 5 becaufe, though God faid,2/er/ei6.Le*
us make Man in our Image, and after our Likenefs, yet
here he is faid to have made him only in his own
Image ^ and not, for the prefent, after his Likenefs.
For that, faith he, {Lib. IV. contra Celfutti) is refer-
ved to the other World 5 when, as St. John fays,
I Epifi. III. 2. Q/ULcioi cum£ imjuutd'cL, we /hall belike him.
But this feems too curious. No doubt God made
Man juft as he defigned, in fuch a compleat refem-
blance of himfelf, that there is no Creature like to
Man, no more than God hath any equal to himfelf:
As fome of the Hebrew Do&ors explain this Matter.
And therefore Mofes repeats it again, In the Image of
God created he him: To imprint upon the Minds of
Men, a Senfe of the great Dignity of Humane Na-
ture 5 which was foully debafed by worfbippingany
Creature.
Male
5o ^ COMMENTARY
Chapter Male and Female created he them7\ WzvcttAtWowan
I. the fame Day he made Man 5 as he did both Sexes
L/*V"NJ of all other living Creatures, and as he made Herbs
and Plants with Seed in them to propagate their
Species, on the fame Day they were produced. It is
plain by this alfo, That Woman as well as Man was
made in the Image of God. And it feems to be per-
tinently obferved by Abarbinel, That Mofes here
again ufes the word Create, (and that three times)
to denote the Original of Humane Souls 5 which are
not made out of pre-exiftent Matter, as our Bodies
are 5 but by the Power of God, when they had no
Being at all.
Verfe 28. Ver. 28. And God bleffed them, &c] The former
part of this Bleffing, be fruitful and multiply, God
had beftowed before (verfe 22.J upon other Crea-
tures: Unto which he adds two things here, replenijh
the Earth and fubdue it. He gives them the whole
Earth for their Pofleffion, with a Power to fubdue it:
That is, to make it fit for their Habitation, by bring-
ing under, or driving away wild Beafts. For, Se-
condly, he gives them the Dominion (unto which he
defigned them in their Creation) over all Oiher
Creatures 5 whether in the Water, Air, or Earth.
And he fpeaksto them in the Plural Number; which
is a demonftration, that Man and Woman were both
created, and received bis Bleffing, on the fame Day.
Verfe 29. Ver. 29. Behold, I have given you, tec.*] Here he
affigns them their Food 5 and makes no mention at
all of Beafts, but only of Plants and Fruits of the
Earth. For Beafts being made by pairs, in their fe-
veral Species, f we may well fuppofe) as Man and
Woman were, and not being yet multiplied 5 the
killing of Beafts, Birds, and Fifties, would have been
the
upon G E.N E S I S. ft
the Deftrufrion of the kind : Whereas there were Chapter
Plants innumerable, and great variety of Fruit for I.
their Suflenance. And therefore here being no grant L^V"NJ
made to them of Animals for their Food, though no
prohibition neither, it is very probable they abftained
from eating Flefh, till after the Hood, (when God
exprelly gave them every living thing for Meat, as
much as the Herbs, IX. 2.) unlets it were upon fome
fpecial occafions : As, perhaps, when they facrificed
living Creatures 5 which they did in procefs of time,
(IV. 4 ) though not at the firft.
Ver. 30. And to every Beaft, Sec.} Here he gives to Verfe 3c,
theBeafts, and Fowl, and Creeping things, all Herbs
for their Food, but faith nothing of Fruit 5 from
which we cannot well think the Birds would abftain:
And therefore they are included in the Phrafe, of
every green Herb.
Ver. 31. Very good.~\ From thefe words Epipha- Verfe 31*
nius confutes the Manichees, H ha-
ving focompleatly finilhed it, that there remained no
more to be done. An Emblem of the Reft that we
(hall have, when we have done our Work faithfully,
and left none undone, as Origens words are, L. VI.
contra Celfum.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And God blejed the /event h Day, and/anUi-
fiedit."] As God fan&ified Jeremiah in after- times
from
upon GENESIS. 33
from his Mother's Womb, (Jcr. I. 5.) by ordaining Chapter
himtobea Prophet.* Sohe now determined and ap- II.
pointed the Seventh Day, fromthe very beginning of L/WI
the World, to be obkrved in Memory of 'rs Creation.
And this letting it apart, and confecrating it to that
Holy Ufe, was bisblejjing it, or recommending ir to
be oblerved,asa Day ot bleiiing and praiiirg him,
in all his Works of wonder : And (I know not why
1 fhould not add) of his beftowing Blef lings upon
all his pious Worlivppers.
There is no mention, indeed, made oSAdamS, or
Abel\ See. obferving this Day ; which hath inclined
many to conclude thefe words to have been written
by way of anticipation : This D4y being let apart in
after-times by the Law of Mfifes for C 1 l's Service 5
but, in their Opinion, not till then. To which I can-
not agree } becaufe it feems to mc far more reasona-
ble to think, That God took Care to peferve the
Memory of the Creation in the Minds ok Mankind ^
and the Worlhip of Him, the One Only God, by
whom it was created .* Which could not be done by
anv means more etfettually, than by fetting apart
thin day for that purpofe. Which if he had not ap-
pointed, yet Men being made Religious Creatures, I
cannot but think they would have agreed upon
fome fet time for the Exercife of their Religion, as
wellasfome fet place (though that be not men-
tioned neither) where to meet for Divine Service .-
And what time more proper, wherein to Honour
their Creator,, with their Sacrifices, Praifec, and
Thanksgivings, than this Day? Which Philo well
ftiles y&x£(TfiAi yivitnzv, the birth- djy of the World :
Which was fo much obferved all the Wo: Id over,
(though they forgot the reafonj that the Seventh
F Day,
34. A COMMENTARY
Chapter Day, he obferves, may be truly called 'EofnJ FarJW
If. /tt@L,, theVniverfal Fefiival, kept by all People. Jo-
fephus fpeaks to the fame purpofe, and there is a great
deal more faid by Arifiobnlus a ?eripatetickt Philo-
sopher, out of Hejiod, Homer, and others, in Eufebi-
us his Pr£par. Evang. L. XIII. c. 12. concerning the
Sacrednefs of the Seventh Day. Which though
Mr. &W# (L. Ul.de Jure N. &G.cap. 17, &c)
endeavours to prove is meant of the Seventh Day of
the Month, not of the Seventh Day of the Wee^
yet we may look upon that as a Remain of this an-
cient Tradition. Which, in time^ Men forgot, as
they did the moft Natural Duties 5 having fo cor-
rupted their ways, (as we read Gen. VI. 10, 11.)
that there was nothing good among the generality
of them. And therefore no wonder if they did
not regard the Service of God, every Seventh Day s
To which I (hall (how in due place, Noah, the only-
righteous Man among them, had fome regard. Which
continued in the Family of Abraham after the Flood :
Mofes fpeaking of it, not long after their coming out
of Egypt) (where it is likely they were not fuffered
to obferve it, having no time free from their intole-
rable Labours,) as a Day known to them before the
giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, Exod. XVI. 23,
25, 26,
Which is not to beunderftood,as if the Patriarchs
before and after the Flood, kept fuch a Reft, as
Cod enjoyned the Ifraelites by Mofes : For that was
proper to them, for a peculiar reafon %. becaufe they
had been Slaves in Egypt 5 and therefore were com-
manded to keep the Sabbath, without doing any
manner of work^ upon that Day, Dent. V. 1 5. Which
is all the Chriftian Fathers mean, when they fay the
Pa-
upon GENESIS, 35
Patriarchs did not Sabbatizare, keep the Sabbath as Chapter
the jft'ir/did. (See Tertullian adv. Juddos, cap. 2, cJs I'.
4. lren as a
proper time for that Sacred Hymn ^ which
himfelf (L. III. de ufu partfam) fays, we fbould all
fingto the Creator of all 5 7/ ire our f elves fir ft lytc
and then tell others 5 oT@L /£*** <£Ji t^o cnpizv, See. /^n?
wonderful he is in U ifdom9 how great in Power, and
how rich in Goodncfs.
Bccaufe that in it he had rcjled from all hk WorhJ\
This is the reafon why this Day was diftinguifhed
from the other Six 5 That a remembrance of God's
refting from all his Works on this Day, might be pre-
ferved $ by Mens laying afide their other Employ-
ments fo long as to praife him Solemnly, by whom
this great World was made.
Which God created, and Made.'] Or, as the Hebrew
phrafe is, created to make, i. e. refted from all the Six
Day's Work. For he created fomething at the firft,out
of which to makfitW the reft, in fix Days fpace 5 and
now he ceafeth from all.
Ver. 4. Thcfe arc the generations, Sec.} That is, this Verfe 4.
is a faithful Account of the Original of the World.
Which Mofes here repeats, more deeply to imprint
on the PeoplesMinds, that the World was not a God,
bntf/;e Worl^ofGod: Which they were to acknow-
ledge every Seventh Day.
In the Day.'] i. e. At that time (fo Day often fig-
nifies^) when the LORD God made the Earth and the
Heavens. It is obferved by Tertnllian, That exindc
Domimis qui retro Dens tantum, 8cc. from hencefor-
ward (verfe 7, 8, 9, 15, &c.) he is called L o a D,
•who hitherto was called only God : Of which he
F 2 en-
36' A COMMENT 4 RY.
Chapter endeavours to give a reafon, L. adv. Hermog. cap. 3.
II. The Hebrew Do&ors obferve, that Jehovah Elohim
l/'WJ Lord God ) joyned together, is the full and per-
feS Name of God : And therefore fitly referved till
this place, when the Works of God were perfected,
and not before.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5. And every Plant in the Fields before it was
in the Earth, &c.] That is, before there was any
Seed to produce chem, God made them tofpringup,
with their Seed in rhem } as was faid before, in the
firfi: Chapter. And Mofes here mentions thefe alone,
becaufe they were rhe firrt Productions out of the
Earth 5 without whkh there had been no Food tor
living Creatures.
For the LORD God had not caufed it to rain on
the Earth , and there was not a Man to till the Ground."]
Here are two Reafons to confirm, that Plants were
not produced, in the way they are now .• For there
had been no fhowers of Rain 5 nor was there any
Man to prepare the Earth to receive the Seed, ("if
there had been anyj both which areneceffary in the
ordinary Method of Divine Providence, ever fince
the World was made. From hence fome colledt
there was no Pr&adamites, (People before Adam,')
for then Mofes could not have faid, there was no Man
to till the Earth.
Verfe 6. Ver.6. But there went up a Mift9kc.~\ Many think
this will beft cohere with what went before, b)' tran-
f!atirgit> nor did there ("taking the Particle tf? tot,
from the fore going Verfe, as is ufualj a Miji go tip
from the Earth. See Drufius, Levit. X. 6. and Hot-
linger in Hexapl. Parif p. 89. But I fee no necef-
fity of this ^ and think it mc^e likely there did fa
up a Fapurov Steam out of the Earth, when it cane
v* reek*
upon G E N E S r S. 37
reeking out otche Waters, (as was (aid upon Verfe 9. Chapter
of the 1. Chap.} to mo:(len the Superficies of it 5 be- II.
fore any Clouds were raifed, by the Power of the l/Y\J
Sun, to give Rain.
Ver. 7. Out of the Diift of the Ground.'] Not dry, Verfe 7.
but moift Duft,as the LXX. hiv.it, t aQ$% mmn 3
Shto ;*;. From whence rh - Apoftlecalls him %*&$*
jrtsxnr, 1 Corinth. XV. 47. vvliich teaches us this Duft
was mitft with Water : Vox fo ^ fignifies 5 limits,
as the Vulgar Latin hath it. Wh.^h agrees with the
Hebrew jatzar, formed 5 which is tiled concerning
Potters, who make their Veflels of Clay, not of d y
Earth. Diodorus Si cuius feems to have had fome
Notion of this, w hen he faith Man was made out of
the Sli we or Mud of Nik. Upon which Original of
Man's Body, the ancient Fathers make many Pious
Reflections : But none better or fhorter than that
of Nazianzens, who fays, it is to teach us, ufovuv
l7mi%'J>(A/iScL hxT qZkovx, Six t yy>v av^W^iJut^x^ that
when we are apt to be lifted up becaufe we are
made after God's Image, the thoughts of the Dirt out
of which we were taken, may humble and lay us
low.
AndGod breathed into hisNoflrils the breath of life.']
This being faid of no other Creature, leads us to con-
ceive not only that the Soul of Man is a diftinft
thing, of a different Original from his Bodv , but
that a more excellent Spirit was put into him by God
(as appears by its Operations ) than into other Ani-
mals. For though the fimp;e Speech of infpirwg him
with the breath of Life Would n >t pio-ethis yet Slcfes
fpeaking in the Plural Number, that God breathed
into him Nifchmath chajim, the Breath or Spirit of
Lifes, it plainly denotes not only that Spirit which
makes
38 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter makes Man breathe and move $ but thinks alfo reafon
II. and difcourfe.
WV\J yi;;^ he became a living Soul'] This is the imme-
diate refalt of the Union of the Soul with the Bo-
dy. Which Eufebius thus explains, L. VII. Prspar.
Evang. cap. io. Mofes having laid the Foundations
of Religion before- mentioned, viz. The Knowledge
of God, and of the Creation of the World, proceeds
to another Point of Doctrine moil neceffary to be
underftood 5 which is the Knowledge of a Man's
felf } to which he leads him by (bowing the diffe-
rence between his Soul and his Body : His Soul be-
ing an Intelligent Subftance, made after the Image
of God , his Body, only an Earthly Coveringof the
Soul. To which Afo/e/adds a third, <&vo!w ^om
r ivamxZul 7iva,, %, crujuet'srludu) ^uax/mv, &c. A certain
Vital Breath, whereby the other two are united and
linked together by a powerful Bond, or ftrong Tie.
His Soul, it is manifeft, did not come out of the
Earth, or any power of Matter 5 but from the Power
of God, who infufed it into him by his Divine In-
fpiration.
And this was the Original of Eves Soul alfo,
though it be not mentioned : For if her Soul had
been made out of Adam, as her Body was, he would
have faid not only, She is Bone of my Bone, but Soul
of my Soul $ which would have mightily ftrengthned
the Bond of Marriage, and exceedingly heightned
Conjugal Affedion.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And the LO RD Ood planted."] Or, had
planted 5 for it doth not feem to be a new thing.
A Garden."] A moft pleafant part of the Earth.
Eaftwards."] Or, as others tranilate it, before, in
■the beginning, viz. On the Third Day, when he made
all
upon GENESIS. 39
all Vegetables. And it cannot be denied that /.v/7<- Chapter
kedem may (Ignifie time, as well as place : Bur as the 11.
greateft part of Interpreters, Ancient and Modern, L/^v^NJ
take it here to lignifie place $ fo Mofes himfelf ufes it
in the following part of this Book, III. 24. XI. 2.
XII. 8. XIII. 11.
In EdcnT] A Country (as mod underfhnd it)
fo cdled, perhaps from its Pleafurc : Tbm SlapQ&p
9*77, ^izv-fic, cLi
magna fluminaefficiebant^ made four famous and great
Rivers. For all Divifions from the main Stream are
called the Heads of a Watery as Sir W \ Raleigh ob-
ferves out of Vlpianus. And it is indifferent whe-
ther the Water come out of a Fountain, or out of a
River, or a Lake.- For that part of the River (Tup-
pofej where the Branch forfakes the main Stream.,
is called the Head of that Branch 5 which becomes a
new Riyer. In like manner may Euphrates and Ti-
gris be called the Heads of that River which they
made at their meeting : As where they part again,
the beginnings (as the LXX. tranflate the word) of
the other two Rivers, Pifon and Gihon, are properly
called the Heads of them.
¥erfe 11. Ver. 11. The name of the firft is Pifon,. or Phi/on."]
This is that Branch which runs Wefterly $ and being
nearefl: to the place where Mofes wrote, on the other
fide of Jordan, is firft mentioned by him. It is a
long time fince both this River and Gihon have loft
thefe Names: The Greek, and Roman Writers cal-
ling them (till, after their parting, by the Names they
had before they met, Euphrates and Tigris. But
there was a remainder of the Name of Pifon > prefer-
ved in the Eaflerly River called Pafittgris, which is
the fame with Oroatis, as Salmafius obferves in his
Exerc,
upon GENESIS. 45
Exerc. VlimanA In Solin. p. 701, 702. And is called Chapter
("as Mr. Carver notes) by Xenophon (imply Phyfcus 3 II.
in which the Nime of Phifon is plainly enough re- L^v^NJ
tained. Which continued till the time of Alexander
the Great ; For. £t fortius, as he further notes, com-
monly calls Tigris it fclf, by the Name of Pha/is^nd
fays it was fo called by the Inhabitants thereabouts.
Which, in all probability, was at firft ihe Name of
this other River Phifon $ but loft by the many alte-
rations which were made, for a long time, in the
courfeof it, as Pliny tells us. For he fays, the Or-
cheni, and other neighbouring Nations, made great
and deep Cuts or Canals to carry the Water ot Eu-
phrates (meaning this River) into their Fields 5 and
fo it loft its courfe, and run through Tigris and the
Marfhesinto the Sea. Strabo faith the fame, that
from thefe Sicl^vyoy, as he calls them, deep Trenches
which carried the Water of Euphrates into Tigris^
came the Name ofPafitigris 3 that is, Tifon mixed
with Tigris. See Salmafius in the fore-named Ex-
ercitations, pag. 703. where he (hows this River was
not perfectly reftored to its Courfe till the times of
Alexander the Great.
That kit, which compajfeth the whole Land of Ha-
vilah.'] By finding where this Country was, we cer-
tainly find the River Phifon; Now Mofes makes
mention of two Havila/fs 5 one defcended from Cuft,
Gen. X. 7. and the other from Joel an, vcr. 29. The
latter of thefe cannot be here meant, for hisPofK-
rity were planted Eafiward^ but the former, who
were a more Weflern People, in that part of Arabia
Fcelix which bordered upon this Stream,. For the
ljhmaelites (who inhabited Arabia Defcrta) are de-
fcribed by Mofes 3 XXV. 1 8, as bounded by Shur to-
wards-
46 A COMMENT 4RY.
Chapter wards Egypt, and by Havilah in the way to Affyria.
II. And Saul found Havilah in after-times in the very
L/*V\J fame fituation, i Sam. XV. 7. And {till, much later,
Straho mentions the XacAo7a?oi f which are certainly
the Pofterity o(Chavilah') among the People of Ara-
bia. See Bochart's Phaleg. L. IV. c. it.
Where there is Gold."] Nothing is more famous
than the Gold of Arabia : Where Diodorus Siculus
fays it is digged up in great Lumps, as big as a Chef-
nut, L. II. p. 93. Edit. H Steph.
Verfe 12. ^er* I2* An^l the Gold of that Land is good."] i.e.
Is excellent : For the fore-named Author fays, it isof
fuch a flaming Colour, that it adds much to the
Luftre of precious Stones, that are fetin it.
There is Bdellium.'] The Hebrew word being Be*
dolach, fome have thought Bdellium to come from
thence, which is an Aromatic^ Gum. Others think
Bedolach to be Chryfial, otheis Amber 5 but bochart
rather thinks it (ignifies Pearl: Which he proves fin
his Hierozoic. P. II. L. V. c. 25.) from the Country
it felf here mentioned, viz. Havilah, which he looks
upon as that Part of Arabia, which lies upon the
Perfian Gulph : Where, zxCatipha, there is a great
Pearl-fijhing. The Manna alfo wherewith the Ifrae-
lites were fed in the Wildernefs, is defcribed Numb.
XL 7. to be round like Coriander-Seed, and of the
Colour of Bedolach. Now in his former Defcripti-
on Mofes fays it was white, Exod. XVI. 14. which
agrees to Pearls, as alfo doth roundnefs, but not to
the fweet Gum called Bdellium: Of which fee Sal-
mafim in his Exerc. Plin. p. 1 1 50.
And the Onyx Stone"] This Country alfo was fa-
mous for precious Stones 5 as appears by the Report
which Nearchus (Alexanders Admiral J made of the
Weflem
up™ O E N F, S I S. 47
IVefiem Coaftof the Perjian Gulph, in Si ?•..■/■». /. XVf. Chapter
But Draitn'nis (L. \\ De I e\lhn Sacerd. i Jebr cap. i3.) {I.
thinks Sciakdm (hould rather be tranflated the S*r- u^WJ
do tjfx. Which foever it be, Arabia was famotis both
for theO/zprand Sardonyx, as S aim a fins obferves out
of P/i/sr/, 7/>./>. 562, 563.
Ver. 13. The name of the fecond River hQihon^ Verfe 13.
There are no footftep* of this Name remaining that
• can find 5 but we are directed, by the Country it
is Laid to cornpais, to take it to be the Eaflern Stream
that aroie from the parting of Euphrates and Tigris ;
as Pi fan I (aid was the /I ejiem.
Con/pa ffcth, or rurtrrelh along by the whole I and of
/Ethiopia.-] Or ChJ/j: Who was feated more Eaflward
than his Sons, Havilah, Seba, and the reft, (menti-
oned Gen. X. 6, 7.) upon the Borders of this River.
For when People firft began to fpread themfelves,
they kept as near to great Rivers as they could 5
for the better communion one with another, and
affording mutual Succour and Afliftance. It is pro-
bable that he gave Name to the Country of Sufi an a 3
which the Greeks called Kiosm, and is now called by
the Perfians Chuzejian, i.e. The Province off////.
And when hisPofterity multiplied, they went more
IVejlward toward ffie Arabian Sea* From whence his
Brother Mitzraim pa (Ted into Egypt. Our Tran-
slators follow the LXX. in rendring the Hebrew
NameG//&, by /Ethiopia : Not meaning that in Afri-
ca, but this in Afia. For the Ancients frequently
mention a double /Ethiopia, as many haveoblerved :
particularly Job Ludolphits, who herein juftifies the
LXX. in great part, L. II. Comment, in Hiflor. Jmt
Cap. III. ». 16.
er-
48 A COMUE NtARY
Chapter Ver. 14. Tie name the third *r fS^/c^e/.] Whic(i
If. River eing Called by Daniel, X. 4. the great River \
cannot be, as many have fanfied, Nahar-malca: For
that was but a Cut, made by Trajan to waft his Ar-
my out of Euphrates into Tigris, (as Amwian. Mar*
cellinus tells ih,) and therefore Hiddekel, isTigris it
felf. Which, as Pliny fays, was called Diglito, in
thofe Parts where its Courfe was (low 5 and where it
began to be rapid, it took the Name of Tigris. And
fo the Arabians call this River Deglat, and Degela,
from the Hebrew word Hiddekel. Which Salmajius
derives from Hadda, or Chadda, (harp pointed 5 and
Kal, fwift ^ becaufe of its very quick and hafty Mo-
tion .• And thence the Greeks he obferves derive the
Name of Tigris, Scri ^ Q%JTh1&>, Exerc. inSolin.p. 6y? tS iS'aj'aTfc (pSop£ Slzjuiv&iv^ (L.
De In cam. Verbi,) he {hould not only die, but remain
in the Corruption of Death 5 as we {hould all have
done, had not the Second Adam obtained for us an
happy Refurre&ion.
I need not add, That Difeafes, Sickneffes, and
Pains, the fore-runners of Death, are included in this
Threatning.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And the LORD Godfaid.'] Or, had
/aid, as it is by fome tranflated ; the better to (how
that the foregoing Precept was given to both. And
to fay in this place, is as much as to refolve and de-
cree: As Melantthon well explains it, in one of his
Epiftles, Dicere, hoc loco fignifie at -, mirandafapientia,
fancire, & nobis hoc decretum tradere ^ to fay, here
fignifies to eftablifh with wonderful Wifdom, and to
deliver this Decree to us. L. I. Epift. 126. Where
he again repeats it, The LORD faidy that is, by his
wife Counfel and immutable Decree, he eflablifhed this
Order.
It is not good that the Man /hould be alone.'] Uncom-
fortable to want Society, and unfit there (hould not
be an increafe of Mankind. Concerning which Pla-
to hath left thefe wonderful Words, L. VI. De Legi-
bus : This is the Encouragement to Marriage, not on-
ly that humane Race may be perpetuated ^ but a
Man may, woudbis ^ctlSuv ae* n£ ©&<£ \jamp{7a$ dv&
cwnf
*p»n GENESIS. 53
rlvrj '&zog3i%bv'XJi leave Children* Children behind him Chapter
when he if gone, toferve God in his jl cad. H«
/ will m*k§ him an help.'] For all the Neceffities ^/^V^O
and Ules oi Life.
Meet for him ] In whofe Company he fhall take
Delight 5 fo the Hebrew Phrafe, as before him, imports }
taingas much as, anfwerable to him, every way fit-
ted tor him ^ not only in likenefs of Body, but of
Mind, Diipofition, and Affettion : Which laid the
Foundation of perpetual Familiarity and Friendfhip.
Or, as the Author of Cether Schem Tobh, mention'd by
Hackjpan, interprets it, She fl) all always be ready toob-
ferveandfervehim. For to {land before any one, in the
Hebrew Language, fignifies to do what is defired. See
more on verfe 25.
Ver. 19. And out of the Ground the LORD GodVtxk 1 9.
formed^ Or, had formed^ I. 20. 25.
Every Be aft of the Field , &c] The Ground here
muft be understood to comprehend the Water alfo$
out of which the Fowl were made.
And brought thent unto ADAM7] It is common-
ly thought that this Name of Adamy given to the
firft Man, fignifies as much as red Earth. But Job
Ludolphus hath made it tar more probable, that it
imports Elegant , or Beautiful. See his Hijior. JEthiop.
L. I. cap. 15. n. 17, 18. and his Commentaries upon
that Chapter, N. 107. How the Beafts and Birds were
brought to him, we are not told : But, it is likely, by
the Miniftry of Angels $ who were perpetual Atten-
dants upon the SCHECHINAHj or Divine Ma-
)efty>
To fee what he would call them7\ To exercife and
improve his Underftanding.
And
54 A COMMENTARY
Chapter And whatever Adam called, See/] God approved of
II. it.
KS\f^J. Ver. 20. And Adam gave Names, Stc/] Or, though
Verfe 20. Adam gave Names, to all Creatures 5 yet among them
all, when they were brought before him, there was
nor a fit Companion found for him. It doth not
•iollow from his giving Names, that he knew the Na-
ture of all thole Creatures : For the Names of them
in Scripture (which they who are of this Opinion
generally fuppofe were the Names given by Adam)
are taken from their Voice, their Colour, their Mag-
nitude, or fome fuch External Difference, and net
from their Nature. Therefore this impofing Names
upon them, denotes rather his Dominion, than his
Knowledge. The Anonymous Author of the Chron.
Excerpt a before Job. Antiochenus Malala fays, Th?t
Adam impofed Names upon all Creatures, \^\ai *X\Sv-
nv 088, by the Commandment of God, to 5° ouurd.
but his own Name and his Wife's were told him by an
Angel of the Lord.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. And the LORD God caufed a deep
jleep, Sec .3 Whereby he was made lefs fenfible of the
Pain, which otherwife he would have felt in the
opening his Side \ if his Mind had not been wholly
intent upon fomething elfe. As it was in this Sleep ,
which was accompanied with znEcflafie, (fothe LXX
translate this Word, and it is agreeable to what we
read Job IV. 13 J wherein was reprefented to his
Mind, both what was done to him, and the Myftery
of it 5 as appears by z>er/e 23,24. Vid. Epiphan.H Medic. Centur. V. cap. 1. It is fie here to be ob-
ferved, That God did not form Eve out of the
Ground, as he had done Adam \ but out of his Side :
That he might breed the greater Love between him
and her, as the Parrs of the fame Whole. Whereby he
alfo effectually recommended Marriage to all Man-
kind, as founded in Nature ^ and as the re-union of
Man and Woman. It is likewife obfervable, That
there is no mention here of his breathing a Soul into
her, as into him: For Mofes only explains what was
peculiar to Eve, ("which was her being made out
of his Side,) the reft is fuppofed in thofe Words,
verfe 19 I will make him an help meet for him 5 which
the vulgar Latin rightly tranflates //>/// e/, like unto
him. For fo the Hebrew word Kenegr/o is ufed by the
Jewifh Writers, particularly by Benjamin in his Iti-
nerary 5 where, (peaking of the Jews atGerm/tda, and
naming feveral, he fays there were manv move a
negdem, like unto them. And fo the word diA a-
mong the Greeks denotes likenefs and fiwilitude , as
well as contrary. Of which fee Conji. L Emftrti
Annot. in Benj.Tudel. p. 138. The Woman there-
fore was in all things like him ; only he made out
of the Earth, (he out of him : That he might cleave
to
^ A COMMENTARY
Chapter to her with the deareft Love and Affe&ion. It was
H, alio faid before this, I. 27. That both Man and Wo-
\-/"V**W man were made in the lil^enefs of God.
And do fid up the klefl), injtead thereof 7\ Made the
Flefh as firm, as it was before.
Verfe 22. Ver. 22. And the Rib+fkc made beWoman.'] Which
was as eafie for the Divine Power to do 5 as to make
the Man himfelf out of the Earth.
And brought her to htm ~] Not merely by con-
ducing her to the fame place where he was 3 but the
Divine Majefly (which now appeared to Eve) pre-
fented and gave her to him, to be his Wife. God
himfelf made the Efpoufals (if I may fo fpeak) be-
tween them, and joyned them together in Marriage.
Verfe 23. Ver. 23. And Adam fat d, &c] Now indeed I
have found, what I could not tee before among all
God's Creatures, another f elf
She (hall he called Woman, 8tc/) Partake of my
Name, as (he doth of my Nature. For he called her
Iffcha, as he was called Iffch. From whence Sepher
Cofri, and Abarhinel endeavour (in a very long Dif-
courfe^ to prove the Hebrew to be the Primitive Lan-
guage. And Abarbinel obferves the Chriftians to be of
the fame Opinion, quoting for a proof of it, St. Ah-
ftiris Book, De Civitate Dei.
Verfe 24. Ver. 24. Therefore foall a Man leave his Father and
Mother, and cleave to his Wife.'] Cohabit with her,
rather than with his Parents, (if they cannot all dwell
together,) and be joyned to her in the clofeft and
moft infeparable Affe&ion : As if they were but one
Perfon, and had but one Soul and one Body. That's
the meaning of the next words.
And
upon GENESIS 57
And they fia// be one Flejh.~] Mod intimately .on- Chapter
joyned in entire and infeparable Love. Which ar II.
from the lingular Union of the Fle(h of our firft l/VNJ
Parents ^ one of them being taken out of the other.
From whence Maimonides and other Hebrew Doftors
infer all mixture with Beafts to be contrary to Na-
ture 5 who are neither one Flefh with us, nor one
with another. For in this our Bodies, as well as our
Souls, have a preheminence above theirs 5 which
were not made one Flefh after ftich a manner as Man
and Woman were. They hence alfo conclude all
inceftuous Marriages, &c. to be unlawful, as may be
feen in Mr. Seldcn, D. Jure N. & G. Lib. 5. cap. 2.
Their Obfervation is more pertinent who take no-
tice, That God creating and joyning together but
one Man and one Woman in the beginning ^ intend-
ed Mankind fhould be fo propagated, and not by
Polygamy. Which in procefs of time indeed became
the general practice 5 but from the beginning it was not
fo^s our Saviour fpeaks in the Cafe of Divorces. Which
he concludes, from thefe very words, were againft
the Divine Inftitution, which made two to be one
Fie//), (Matth. XIX. 5,6, 8.) So he interprets thefe
words, C and St Paul doth the fame, 1 Cor. VI. 16. J
they jloall be one Fief/) : And fo doth Jonathans Para-
phrafe, and the Samaritan Code, as Mr. Selden ob-
serves in the place now named.
Ver. 25. And they were both naked, the Man and Verfe 25
his IVifi.'] They did not yet find any neceffity of
Cloths.
And they were not afiawed."] Did not blufh 5 no
more than little Children do, when they behold one
another naked and embrace with an innocent Af-
fection. Befides, there was no Body but they two
I who
1-8 A COMMENT ART
Chapter (who in effeft were as One) to behold them:
III. And therefore they had no more reafon to blufb,
t/^VXJ than a Man doth when he is naked alone by him-
felf.
CHAP. HI.
EVfebius obferves, (L. VII. Prxpar. Evang. cap.
9, 10.) That Mofes having fettled the great
Do&rines of the Creation of the World, and the Dig-
nity of Man, made in the Image of God g proceeds
very wifely to inftruft the Israelites, that there are
none fo happy, but without due Care and Watch-
fulnefs, may become mod miferable: There being
TI:va%j<; SbLiu&v, (as his words are) a wicked Dxmon
at every Man's Elbow, @£>&X(&J £ £
cb»§%viic*)v dz%Y\S*v £^7oaA@* ctdlY^JiaL^ envious, a ha-
ter of thofe that are good, and from the beginning
a wily underminer of Mens Salvation.
Now this following immediately after the relati-
on of the formation of Eve, hath made fome fanfie,
that our firft Parents fell the very fame day they
were made. And thus much, I think, muft be fup-
pofed, That they did not continue very long in their
happy ftate: For, if they had perfifted ftedfaftly in
their Duty, for a confiderable time 5 they would
have acquired fuch an habit of well-doing, as would
not have been fo eafily loft. But that they conti-
nued longer than a Day, there are many Circum-
ftances to induce us to believe. For it required fome
time for Adam to be acquainted with all other Crea-
tures, and to iqipofe Names upon them : And there
being
upon GENESIS. 59
being none of them a meet help for him, he flept Chapter
fome time, till Eve bad taken her Beginning out of I i I .
him. Whom, when hefaw, he received, and own'J l/^VNJ
her for his Wife 5 and no doubt made more Reflexi-
ons upon God's Wifdom, Power, and Goodnefs, than
are fet down in this Sacred Story. They both alfo
received a Command from God, not to eat of one
Tree in the Garden: Into which, when they were
brought, we cannot but think they walk'd about it,
and took fuch a view of it, as to be convinced, by
the bountiful Provifion God had made for them,
they had no reafon to complain of the fmall Reftraint
he laid upon them. All which could not be per-
formed fo fpeedily as fome have imagined $ for
though God can do what hepleafes in an inftant, yet
Man cannot ; and God himfelf did not in one Day
create the World. And, befides, that fome time was
neceffary for tranfa&ing all thefe things ^ it is not
likely the Devil would immediately fet upon Evey
as foon as the Command was laid upon them; but
rather let it be a little forgotten. And if the time
be obferved when he affaulted her, it will much con-
firm this Opinion, which was in the abfence of her
Husband 5 for that we cannot eafily believe to have
been upon the fame Day they were created. The
extraordinary Kindnefs they had one for the other,
will fcarce allow us to think it poffible, they (hould
be fo foon feparated. It is plain alfo, God fanSified
thefeventh Day before their fall : Which it is highly
probable they fpent in admiring and praifing the Al-
mighty Goodnefs.
Ver. I. Now the Serpent!] Or, that Serpent (as fome Verfe T
think it fhould be tranflated) which the Tempter
made ufe of, as his Inftrument to deceive.
i 2 ir
6o A COMMENTARY
Chapter Was more fubtilT] The whole Species of Serpents
III. is noted by Arijiotle (L.I. Hiftor. Animal c. i.) to be
L/^V'NJ fjLoLhjLfct %Jn€u?tf§u) extremely infididus: But this was
extraordinary wily. What fort it was, is not here
exprefTed : But all agree there is now none like it 5
the Curfe of God having degraded it. St. Bafil in
his Book of Paradife, (p. 627. J faith it was not a
'frightful Creature, as it is now, dThd wzjowhs % v/jut-
p©*, but mild and gentle: Not crawling and wind-
ing about, in a terrible manner, upon the Ground,
a'M5 6-fyiAos *Gri -TrhSuv /&&*. k, but lofty, and going
upright upon its Feet. Several of the Jews have
been of this Opinion 5 ana ur famous Mr. Mede in-
clines to it, Dijconrfe XXXVIII. p. 291, &c But I
take the conjeflure of another very learned Perfon,
now a Bifliop of our Church, to be far more proba-
ble: Which I (hall endeavour to ftrengthen. There
were (and Hill are in the Eaftem and Southern Parts
of the World,) Serpents having Wings, and (hi-
ning very brightly, like to Fire, So we read, IfaL
XIV. 29. of a flying fiery Serpent. Which fiery Ser-
pents are called Seraphims, in Numb. XXI. 6, 8. and
termed fiery, not merely with refpeft to their Ve-
nom, which made fore Inflammations in the Bodies
of thofe who were bitten by them 5 but becaufe they
appeared Alining like Fire, when they flew in the
Air.
Whence Seraphim is the Name alfo of the higheft
fort of Angels, (called the Angels of the Prefence,')
Jfai. VI. 2,6. Who appeared, I fuppofe, in fome
fuch form with flaming Wings. For otherwife, I
cannot think Serpents would have been honoured as
Sacred things in fo many Countries, as we find they
anciently were 3 unlefsthey had been the Symbols of
Angels
—
upon GENESIS. 61
Angels. The Devil therefore, I conceive, made ufe Chapter
of fome fuch Serpent, (but of a more furpa fling III.
brightnefs, than any now extant,) that he might re- L/*V~\J
femble one of the molt illuftrious Angels, who ap-
peared fometimes in the like (hape. Which moved
Eve the more readily to hearken unto the Voice of
the Serpent 5 taking it to be one of the heavenly
Seraphims, which (he had feen fometime, in fuch a
fplendid form, attend upon the Divine Glory, or Ma-
jefty : For the Angels always made a part of the
SeHECHINAH. And thus, one would think,
Tertullian underftood this matter, when he faid in
this Book De Prafcript. Hi-
phanius may be added, who mentions fome Hereticks
C who might have fome Truth among them) that
(aid, the Woman li fined to the Serpent, j£ frreiSif ok
14S 0«8, and believed him, or was perfuaded by him,
as the Son of God, Hwef. XXXVII. n. 25. And, one
would think, Rabbi Bechai had this Notion in his
Mind, when he faid (upon the 14th Verfe of this
Chapter,} this is the Secret (ox My fiery ) o£ the Holy
Language, that a Serpent is called SARAPH, as
an Angel is called SARAPH. For which he quotes
the fore-named place, Numb. XXI. 6. and then adds,
The Scripture calls Serpents Seraphim, becaufe they
were
ga A COMMENTARY
Chapter wereToledoth hanacaffj hakadmoni, the offfpring of
HI. this old Serpent : Underji and this, (fo he concludes,
{S*\f\J as our Saviour fpeaks in another Cafe, whofo readeth^
let him under (land,} as a Matter of great concernment.
Which can have no other meaning, I think, but this }
That the Devil ( whom St. 'John alfo calls the old
Serpent, i? eve/. XI L 9.) in this Se< pent here fpoken
of, counterfeited a glorious Seraphim^ and thereby
feduced £s>e to give Credit to him.
However this be, it is moft reasonable to fup-
pofe, it was fome beautiful Creature, whom Eve
thought an Angel, who wifh'd them well,difcourfed
with her: For (he was not fo fimple as to think that
Beafts could fpeak 5 much lefs, that they knew more
of God's Mind than her felf. Nor doth it feem at
all credible to me, that fhe (hould have been other-
ways deceived, but by fome Creature which appea-
red fo glorioufly, that (he took it for an heavenly Mi-
nifies who, (he thought, came to explain to them
the meaning of the Divine Command.
Tea, hath Godfaid."] T(his doth not look like the
beginning of a Difcourfe, but the conclusion : As the
Jews themfelves have obferved. And, it is not im-
probable, that the Tempter, before he fpake thefe
words, reprefented himfelf as one of the heavenly
Court} whocame,or was fent, to congratulate the hap-
pinefs that God had beftowed upon them in Paradife;
Which was fo great, that he could not eafily believe
he had denied them any of the Fruit of the Garden.
He defired therefore to be fatisfied from her own
Mouth, of the Truth of what he pretended to have
heard $ or to know how they underftood the Com-
mand of God. For fo thefe words may be transi-
ted, Is it true indeed^ hath God J aid, Ye /hall not eat
"f
upon GENESIS. 6%
of every Tree, 6cc. Which is a very ancient Inter- Chapter
pretation, and more probable than theirs, who would HI.
have the Hebrew Particles, aph kj% fignifie as rauch L/"VSJ
as ut ut : Although God hath [did, ye jh all not cat, not-
rvithjlandingye jhall not die. So they iuppofe he was
going to add, but before he had ipoken the latter
F>art of the Sentence, Eve interrupted him faying,
Vt may eat of the Fruit of the Free of the Garden*
This had been too grofs, flatly to contradict what
God had faid : Whereas the beginning of the Verfe
tells us, he went moxzfubtily to work.
Ver. 2. And the Woman faid unto the Serpent, We Verfe 2.
may eat of the Fruit of the Frees of the Garden.-] She
feems to have underftood him, as if he thought God
had forbid them to eat of any Fruit in the Garden.
And indeed the foregoing Queftion is ambiguous }
like thofe Oracles of his which made him be called
Aofias, (oblique or crooked J by the ancient Hea-
then $ becaufe they had two meanings. She truly
therefore reports the Sence of God's Prohibition, in
this and the following Verfe. Though there are thofe
who think, (he pronounced thefe word*, We may eat
of the Fruit, &c with fome admiration, that they
(hould be retrained from one Fruit, when God had
moft liberally granted them all the reft. The reafon
of which (he did not know, and (howed her defire
perhaps to underftand it.
Ver. 3. But of the Fruit of the Tree, which k in the Verb 5-
midjiofthe Garden, God hath faid, ye fhall not eat of
it, nor touch it, lefi ye die \] Some fanfie the Woman
here began to prevaricate in two things : Firtt, In
faving they might not touch it : Secondly, In faving
only there was danger, if they meddled with it, and
not an absolute threatning. Of which the Devil.
the
*4
A COMMENTARY
Chapter they think, took advantage ; and immediately af-
IH. fured her, there was no danger at all. This laft
\S~sf\J they ground upon the Hebrew Particle pen, which we
tranilate left, and exprefles a doubting. But I do
not think either of thefeObfervationsare folid : For
that Particle doth not always imply a Doubt, as we
may learn from the Second Pfalm, the laft Verfe, and
many other places : And the touching of the Fruit,
fignifies the plucking it off from the Tree, in order
to eat it : Which was exprefly forbidden.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Te ft all not furely die7\ You are under a
miftake : Death will not be the certain Confequence
of your eating this Fruit. For God is too Good
to inflifl: fuch an heavy Punifhment, for fo fmall a
Fault.
Verfe 5, Ver. y. For God, &c."] The Particle ki, which we
tranilate for, fignifies here as much as but, (as Abarbi-
nel and others obferve,) juft as in Pfalm CXV. 1.
So the meaning is, you fhall be in no danger, but
quite contrary, be great gainers by tafting of this
Fruit : As God himfelf knows, who only keeps you in
Awe by his Threatning, but will not be fo fevere
as to execute it 5 when he fees you much improved,
not impaired by eating it.
Then your Eyes foa/2 be opened^] For you will im-
mediately difcover abundance of things, whereof you
are now ignorant.
And ye ftull be as Gods7\ Like unto us, the An-
gels of God : Who are frequently called Elohim, i. e.
Gods, in Scripture. Thus Maimonides underftands
it. More Nevoch. Pars I. c. 2. and Onkelos, who
tranflates it Princes, meaning Angels, who are called
9A/r£a}9 Principalities and Powers^ &c.
K
norrnng
npott GENESIS 65
Knowing Good and BvilJ] i.e. All manner of Chapter
things. Or, as fonie of the Hebrews underftand it, III.
know what h fit for you to do, without any Advice or In- WX'V"*-'
jirutlion, and without any Reflriftion ; being JubjcH to
none, but enjoy freely what yon pleafe. For to know is
fometimes as much as to enjoy, in the Scripture- Lan-
guage : So that according to this Interpretation, he
promiles them likenefs to God himfelf 5 who is abfo-
lutely free, and fubjecl to none.
Butin this Suggeftion the Devil proved, what out
Saviour fays of him, That he was a Lyar from the begin-
ning : For there are no lefs than four Lyes (as fome
reckon them) in thefe two I rcrfes. Which makes it
feem ftrange that Eve fhould give Credit to thefe Sug-
geftions, which were very foolifh : It beingincredi-
ble that God fhould envy them any thing, who had
given them their Beings, and innumerable Bleffings.
I can give no account of it, but this : that when we
are fearching after the Reafon of things (as (he, I
fuppofe, was of this Prohibition ) and cannot find it 5
if one be fuggefted to us, which never came into our
Mind before, though in it felf unlikely, we are rea-
dy to catch at it, and to bepleafed with it. For when
the Mind is weary with enquiring, it is fatisfied with a
falfe Reafon, rather than have none. The Promife
alfo of Knowledge was very tempting ; efpecially of
fuch Knowledge as he gave her hope would raife and
advance her, to a more noble Condition. And it is
likely (he thought an heavenly Minilter (as (he took
him to be J might underftand God's meaning better
than her felf.
Ver. 6. And when the Woman j aw the Tret was Verfe 6
good, &c] This Verfe gives a further account of that
which feems very ftrange, the Difobedienceof our
K firft
A COMMENT ART
fir A Parents. She look'd fo long upon the forbid-
den Fruit, till (he not only had an Appetite to it, as
excellent Food, but was taken with its beautiful Co-
lour j and wasalfo ftrongly pcffeffed, by the perfua-
fion of the old Serpent, that her Mind would be no
lefs pleafed than her Palate, by an increafe in Know-
ledge and Wifdom. Thefe are powerful Tempta-
tions, (expreffed in thefe woYds, good for Food, pie a-
fant to the Eyes, a?id to be defired to make one wife,)
and fhe could fee no Evil in the thing it felf 5 it be-
ing the mere Pleafure of God, of which (he did not
apprehend the Reafon, that made the eating of it a
Crime. This Fruit alfo was planted, not in an ob-
fcure place, but in the ntidfi of the Garden, (Verfe 3, j>
near to the Tree of Life .* Which made it the more
inviting 5 by its being always in her Eye, as well as
very beautiful 5 and raifed, perhaps, the greater won-
der in her, that God (hould forbid a thing, which he
had made fo eminent for its Beauty. Hereupon (he
yielded, and (as it followsj took, of the Fruit thereof
and did eat.
And gave unto her Husband with her. ~] Who re-
turned to her, it is likely, as (he was eating the Fruit 3
and was foon perfuaded to bear her company 5 for it
immediately follows, and he did eat.
It is a queftion whether he debated the Matter
with her, till he was fatisfied with the Arguments
that moved her to eat ^ or, his great Affe&ion to her
drew him in, to do as fhe dkl ; Without any other
Confideration, perhaps, than this ; That he chofe ra-
ther to die, than out-live one, whom he loved mod
paffionately. To this laft, the Apoftle's words feem
to incline, 1 Tint. II. 14* Adam was not deceived 1
Though they do not neccflarily fignifie, it muft be-
con-
upon GENESIS. 6j
confefled, That he was not feduced by the Tempter's Chapter
Arguments, but only that Eve was firfr. feduced, IH.
and then help d co feduce him. So that he might be L/*V\J
wrought upon, both by thofe Arguments, and by his
Affe&ion alio to his Wife : But could have been de-
ved by neither, had he not been firft guilty of a
great iv^y^ix and pzSujuuz, ("as St. Chryfojiom Calls it)
.ilefnefs and non-attention, arifing from floth and
negligence. The Kefle&ion which GYcgtfr. Nazicnzen
makes upon her gazing upon the beautiful Fruit, is
this ^ &Juy*> uav tk; iu%Pjtz$ &$ r.tJi£;iurHq^\iit'jotj^vi
Sec. Orat. XLVUI./>. 700. D.
Ver. 7. And the Eyes of them Both were opened^] Not VerCe -
in the Senfe the Serpent promifed, but a very much
different: For they foon faw their Folly, and made
fad Refledions upon what they had done.
And they knew for feltj that they were naked ~\ A
cold (hivering feized on them $ and they perceived
alfo that they were ftript of their intelle&ual Orna-
ments, (as Athanafius expounds it, contra Gcntcs, p.
4.) and blufh'd alfo at their Bodily Nakednefs, of
which they were not before at all alhamed.
And they fewed Fig- leaves together.'] Or, twifted
the young Twigs of the Fig-tree, with the Leaves on
them : Which are very broadin the £*/?er« Countries
Pliny reckons this among the Trees that have the
iargeft Leaves, L. XVI. cap. 24, and cap. 76. where he
faith, it hath folium maximum, nmbroftifimumque, the
greateft and moft fhady Leaf of all other.
And made the mf elves Aprons 7] A Covering, which
they girt about them.
Ver. 8. And they heard the Voice of the L 0 R D Verfe 8,
walking in the Garden."] The Sound of the Majefiatick.
Prefence, or the Glory of the LORD , approaching
K 2 nearer
6% A COMMENTARY
Chapter nearer arrd nearer unto the place where they were. For
III. the walking may be referred to Voice, as well as to the
L/"V^ Lord: Signifying that the Sound, as I faid (for fo
Voice \s often ufed in Scripture) of the Divine Ma-
jeji/s approach, came ft ill nearer, and made a louder
Noile, to terrifie them. For thus the word walk is
applied to the Voice, (i* e. Sound J of the Trumpet at
the giving of the Law, when Mofes fays of it, (Exod.
XIX. i9/)ptrn ^h^ it walked or increafed, and grew
Jlronger,.
Juft fo, I conceive, the Sound which the Motion of
the SCHECHINAH made,, did. at this time. And
that,
In the cool of the Day^] When the Wind began to
rife, (foit is in the Hebrew, in the wind of the Day,)
that is, towards the Evening, asmoftunderftandiu
For then there was wont to bea gentle breath of
Wind ; as Ariftotle obferves of his Country, %!&$**
%p> *et£^t £&hluu iw&v, the Weft Wind was wont to
blow towards theclofe of the Day. Which being a
foft and gentle Gale, the Sound they heard was the
more aftoniftiing, which Teemed to threaten a dread*
ful Storm.
Onkelos thu¶phrafes the firfl: words, they heard
the Voice of the WO R D of the LORD: That is,
of theSon of God 5- who appeared in very glorious
Clouds $ or rather, in flaming Fire, of fuch an amaz-
ing BrightnefSj that they were not able to endure
the fight of it. For foit follows.*
Adam andhisWife hid tkemfelves from the prefence of
theLORDGod, &c.]' It's plain by this there was
the appearance of an extraordinary Pfefence .* Which
affrighted them, and made them run among the Trees of
theQarden, i.e. into the Thickets, or the clofeft
places they could find there . I
upon GENESIS. 69
I cannot but think the SCHECH IN A H, or Chapter
Divine \\ajefly, appeared quite otherwife than for- HI.
merly .• That is, not in fomild a Luftreas when they ^-v^>'
were firft acquainted with him 5 but in a more terri-
ble burning Light, as if it would coniume them. For
fo we read in after-times, that the fame Lord who
appeared unto Mofes in aflame of Fire out of the
midft of a Bu(h,(isxW. III. 2.) came down in a more
dreadful manner, at the giving of the Law, from
Mount Sinai. When the Mountain was altogether on
a fmoak, (Exod. XIX. 18.) becaufe the LORD de-
fended upon it in Fire : And that Fire fo great, that it
flamed unto the midft of Heaven, (Deut. IV. 1 1.) with
darknefs, clouds, andthit\ darknefs .
Ver. 9. And the LO RD God called unto Adam.~\Verfe 0.
As he did to Mofes out of the Bufti, Exod. III. 4.
and to Ifrael out of the mid ft of the Fire, Deut.
IV. 12.
And faid unto him."] With a Majeftick Voice, a-
gainft which he could not (top his Ears.
Where art thou?] Why dolt thou run into Co-
verts, like the wild Beafts ? Such Queftions do not
argue Ignorance in him that asks them 5 but are in-
tended to awaken the Guilty to a confeffion of their
Grimes. As appears from IV. 10. Where is Abel thy
Brother ? Of whom Cain ftubbornly refufingto give
an account, the Lord faid immediately, i fto fhow
h needed not to be informed,^) the Voice of thy Bro-
ther s Blood crieth unto me, from the Ground.
Ver. 10. And he. faid \ I heard thy Voice, and I wasy^k ic
afraid, becaufe I was naked, See] The very Sound of
the approach of thy Prefence, fo affrighted me, be-
caufe I found I had loft my Innocency, that I hid my
felf from thee. This was a foolifh. and vain attempt $
but
;o A COMMENT 4RY.
Chapter but as Guilt makes Men fearful, fo that bereaves thein
IIF. of all Confederation.
U^VNJ Ver. 1 1 . And he faid, Who told thee that thou waft
Verfe n* n*bed>? I Diverted of thoie noble Endowments,
which I befrowed on thee.
Haft thou eaten, &c] TranfgreiTed my Command-
ment ?
Verfe I 2. Ver. 1 2- Aid the Man faid, The Woman whom thon
gaveft, &o] I confefs my Guilt ,• into which I was
drawn by her, whom thou gaveft me for an help.
Thus we are apt to excufe and palliate our Faults ^
by laying that Load upon others, with which we
ought to charge our felves.
Verfe 13. Ver. 1 3. And the LORD God [aid unto the W**
man, &c] What moved thee to violate my Com-
mand }
Andfijefatd, The Serpent beguiled me7\ My Weak-
nefs was deceived, by theCunningof the Devil. Thus
(he alfo threw the blame upon another. But God, no
doubt, convinced them both, of the greatnefsof their
Guilt, and the miferable Condition into which they
were fain by their Tranfgreffion ^ before he ended
this Difcourfe with them. Which fhows the Infinite
Mercy of the Creator of all, who would not abandon
them $ but fought after them, to fave them, when
they had loft themfelves.
"Verfe 14. Ver. 14. And the LORD J aid unto the Serpent, Thou
art curfed, &T. j It is obferved by Tertnllian, That
though God inflicted Punifhmentson Adam and Eve,
vet he did not curfc them, as he did the Serpent, ut
refkitutionh candltatos, they (landing fair for a Refti-
tuticn to his Favour, L. II. adv. Marcion, c. 25. And
Tmay add, God did not begin with them; butfirft
uencesthe Serpent, before he proceeds to Judgment
upon
upon GENESIS. 71
upon them : Which denotes that he (the old Ser- Chapter
pent) was the great O. fender, being the firft Mover III,
to Sin ^ which made his Crime more grievous than L/~\~\S
theirs.
Now, to be Citrfcd, is to be deprived of what was
before enjoyed, and doomed to a miicrable wretch-
rd Condition of life : The particulars of" which fol-
low. The only Difficulty is, Why the Serpent (lite-
rally fo called) fhould becurfed, as it manifeOly is,
(though the Devil alfo, I (hall (how is intended )
being but an Inftrument which the Evil Spirit ufed
and had neither Will to Sin, nor yet under(hn::i
or Knowledge of what the Devil did ? It is com
monly anfwered, That this is no more than the Ciirfe
which God inflifted upon the Earth, (which was no!
capable of Sinning) for Adams fake, vcrfe 1 7. But
ftill the Reafon of that Curfe is required 5 which is
evident enough .• Man himfelf being punilhed by I
Curfe upon the Earth : Which did not yield its Fruit
fo plentifully and fo eafily, as it had done before his
Trinfgreffion. And the Reafon of this Curfe upon
the Serpent, may be the better difcerned by another
Inftance which we find Exad. XXI. 28. where an Ox
which gored a Manor a Woman, that they died, is
ordered to be ftoned, and his Flejh not to be eaten.
This Cure was to {how the great value God kt upon
Man's Life: Which he fecured alfo by this Punifh-
mem; which moved all Owners to look well to
their Beafts that might indanger it. Even lb was the
Serpent condemned, in Mercy to Adam irn) his Wife,
("whom, it is manifeft by what follows, God intended
to reftoreinto his Favour,) that thev might be e-
mindful of the foulnefs of their Gilt, and eye",
to Repentances by feeing a noble Creature, (who
7i A COMMENT ART
Chapter was but the Inftrumentofit,) fo extreamly debafed
HI, into a moft vile Condition.
^r^S~**~> Upon thy Belly fhah thou go."] This (hows the Serpent
was a more nobie Creature before this Faft .• But
changed after it, from a flying Seraph (^as the word is
Numb. XXI. 6.) into a foul creeping Serpent 5 not
moving aloft in the Air, but crawling upon the
Earth, and licking the Duft. So it follows.
And dufi fialt thou eat, all the days of thy life. ]
There is no viler Food than this .• Which doth not
fignifie the Serpent fhould feed upon nothing elfe.-
But that creeping on the Ground it cannot but lick
up much Dutt together with its Food, whatfoever
that be.
All this is literally the Curfe of the Serpent : But
as the Devil lay hidden under the Covert of the Ser-
pent, though he be not named } fo his Curfe is in-
tended in this Curfe of the Serpent, though it be not
feparately mentioned. As appears by the following
Verfe, which hath a peculiar refpeft to the Devil,
under the Name of the Serpent. And the Devils
Curfe in general was this $ to be thruft down further
than before, from his ancient Heavenly Habitation 5
and condemned to live in the lower fmoaky Regi-
on of the Air : Where he hath loft all relifh of Ce-
leftial Enjoyments, and pleafes himfelfonly in his
vile Endeavours to make Mankind as wicked as him-
fclf.
Verfe 15* Ver. 15. I will put enmity between thee and the Wo-
man, and between thy Seed and her Seed."] An irre-
concilable Feud, throughout all Generations. Which
is true of the Serpent, literally under ftood, between
whom and Mankind there is fuch an Antiparhy, that
i it difcovers it felf both in the natural and fenfitivt
Faculties
upon GENESIS. 73
Faculties of them both : Their Humours being; Poi- Chapter
fon to each other ^ and Man being aftonifhed at the II!
fight of a Serpent more than any other Creature r$ L^V^vJ
and the Serpent in like manner at the light of a Man,
efpecially (if Naturalifts fay true) of a naked Man
Thus Mr. Mede.DifcoHrfeXXXIX. p. 295. But this
is far more true and certain of the Spiritual Serpent,
the Devil, and his Angels, (who joyned with him in
his Apofta(te,J and the Woman and her Seed, in
whom thefe words are more literally fulfilled. For
Maimonidts juftly admires, that the Seed of the Wo*
man (hould be only mention'd, and not of Adam,
(^without whom floe could have no Seed 5 which
therefore muft be hk Seed, J and that it (hould be faid
of her Seed, not of /w", that it bruifed the Serpenc's
Head. MoreNevochiw, P. II. cap. 30. This, faith he,
is one of the Pajfages in Scripture which is moft won-
derful, and not to be underflood, according to the Letter ;
but contains greatWifdom in it. In which Words he
wrote more Truth than he was aware 5 but was not
able to unfold this hidden Wifdom, as we Chriftians,
blcfled be God, are able to do. For this Seed here
fpokenof is Chrift, as both the Targun/s (that afcri-
bed to Jonathan, and that called the Hierufalem) ex-
pound it 5 and as we are taught to underftand it, by
God's Words to Abraham, when he renewed this
Promife / In thy Seed (that is Chrift, faith the Apo-
ftle) fljall all Nations be bleffed, Gen. XXII. 18. Gal.
III. 8, 16. For he vanquished the Devil, who had
now vanquifhed Mankind. So it here follows.
Itjhallbruife thy Head."] i. e. That SEED of the
Woman (hall defpoil thee of thy Power, (meaning
the Devil,) and abolifh thy Tyranny. For in the
Head of the Serpent (to which there is here an allu-
L fion)
74 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter (ion) lies his ftrength : As Epaminondas reprefented
HI. to the Ihcbans, when he exhorted them to fet upon
a Band of Lacedemonians^ by fhowing them the Head
of a vafl Snake, which he had crufhed, 01 xa$z>Jjjq
t§ StazIz cnuf1^j,>\a>;.') faying, Lool^ye, the Body can do
no hurt, now the Head is gone /Meaning, That if they
routed the Lacedemonians, the reft of the Confede-
rates would fignifie nothing. Polyen. L. II. Strateg.
And therefore Mr.Mede hath rightly interpreted the
Serpent's Head, to fignifie the Devils Soveraignty,
(DifcovrfeXXV.p i43. and XXXIX. p. 298 J and
that Soveraignty, is the Power of Death : Which
Headfhip of the Devil, the Seed of the Woman ("that
is Chrift the Lord) hath broken in pieces, and at laft
will utterly deftroy, 1 Cor. XV. 25, 26.
There is a notable Example of this Enmity, in the
ftruggle between Chrift and the Devil for the Empire,
in Rev. XII. 7, 8. where Chrift deftroyed the Sove-
raignty of the Serpent in the Roman Empire fo ef-
fectually 5 that there was no more place fonndy for the
Dragon and his Angels, in Heaven 5 i.e. The Devil
utterly loft his Soveraignty in that State 3 as Mr. Med'e
interprets it.
And thou /halt bruife his Heel.'] This Vi&ory over
the Devil was not to be gotten without Blood : For
the Devil did all that he was able to deftroy this
Seed. But that was impoffible to be done 5 he could
only aflault his lower part, (called here the Heel,)
viz. His Body orFlefh : Which, by his Inftruments,
he perfecuted> defpitefully ufed, and at laft crucified.
By which very means (fo admirable was the Wif-
dom andGoodnefs of God) the Seed of the Woman
conquered the Devil as the Apoftle (hows, Heb. II.
14, 1 5. For itmuft be here noted, That Chrift was
pro-
upon G E N K S I S. N ;«;
properly and literally the Seed vf the Woman, andChapter
not at allot "the Man : Being horn, without him, JH
a pure Virgin. The tender Mercy of Cod alio mult L^Sr\J
here be acknowledged 5 which gave QCr firft Paren
hope of a recover y, as foon as they were fain : By
making them this mod gracious Promife. Whic
though here ibmething obfcurely delivered, grew
clearer and clearer, in every Age, till Chrift came.
It cannot be denied likewife, but that by Seed, may
beunderftood ^collectively) all the Faithful, who
by the Power of the Lord, vanquifh all the Pov,
of their Spiritual Enemy. (SeeL*^ 10. 19.) Yet lb,
that we mn ft confefs, there wis one limine fit Seed here
primarily intended, by whom they overcome. Un-
to whom another Seed is not here oppofed in tl
laft part of the Verfi, (as in the former part,) but
the Serpent himfelf: Which pointsat a (ingle Corn-
bate (fas I may call it) between, this promifed Seed
and the Devil. But if we will take in the other
Sencealfo, underftand by Seed, Chrift with all his
Members, then the brnifmg their Heel fignifies, fas
Mr. Mede expounds it,) the Devil's deceit and guik
in aflaulting us unawares: As they do who come behind
others, when they do not obferve them, and catch
•hold of their Heel. For that this is an Emblem ol
guile and deceitful dealing, appears from the Story
of Efau and Jacob 5 the latter of whom had his Name
from catching his Brother by the Heel at his Birth,
which Efau took for an indication of his beguiling
him, as he did two times. See Difcourfe XXXVII.
f. 184.
It is fit, I think, here to note further, (what the
learned Mr. Alix, hath obferved.) That God in this
Promife did a particular Kindnefs to our Father
L a Adam-
A COMMENTARY.
Adam. Who having been feduced by his Wife to
eat the forbidden Fruit, it might have eccafioned a
Breach between them , had not God taken Care to
prevent it, by making this gracious Promife of a
Redeemer, to depend upon this Union with his Wife „•
Froh^ whom, he allures them, one fliould defcend^
that (Tlould repair their Lofles.
The time likewife when this Promife was made is
remarkable : Which was, before God had reje&ed
Cam and preferred Seth to him $ and long before any
reftri&ion made to Noah's Family, or Sem\ (who
derived from him,) that all the World might look
upon the MB SSI AH asacommon Benefit to all
the Sons of Adam.
Yerfe i& Ver. \6. Vnto the Woman he fatd^ Next to the
Serpent, the Woman receives her Sentence, fas Mr.
Mede well notes,) becauie (he was more in the
fault than Adam : Reing guilty, as his words are
(Difcourfe XXXVIII. p. 287.) both of her own per-
gonal Sin, and of her Husband's alfo. Whence it is
that he* who had only finned himfelf, and not caufed
others to fin, had his Judgment laft of all. This
fhould be a little more considered than it is, by all
thofe, who not only do Evil themfelves, but draw
others into the fame Guilt.
J wtt greatly multiply thy forrow and conception^
i. e. Thy forrow in thy Conception .• Which in-
cludes all the time of Womens going with Child $
when they frequently naufeate all their Food ^ or
have troublefome Longings 5 and endure many a-
fcher things which are very grievous to them 5 efpe-
cially when they are in danger to mifcarry of their
Burden,
upon GENESIS. yy
In forrow /halt thou bring forth Children.] Brute Chapter
Creatures are obferved to bring forth their Young;, III.
with far lefs pain, and difficulty, and danger, than L/"V\J
Women commonly have in their Labour. Who, after
they are delivered of their Children, are ftill in dan-
ger, by many Accidents : Efpecially when that Hays
behind which fhould follow the Birth, (as ir iome-
times doth from various Caules, noted by Bartholin** ,
in his Hiftor. Anotom. & Medic. Cent. V. Hift.
XXXII. n. 3,) which occaiions fore Torments, and
puts their Lives in thegreateft fyazard.
And thy defire foall be to thy Husband."] That is, it
(hall be fubjedt to him 5 as the Vulgar Latin and
Aben Ezra expound this Phrafe : Which is fo ufed,
IV. 7.
And he /hall rule over thee.] Have Power to con-
troll thy Defire. This looks like putting her more
under the Will of her Husband, than was intended
in her firft formation : Becaufe (he had not given
a due regard to him ; but eaten the forbidden
Fruit, without flaying to confult him a'nd ask his
Advice.
Ver. 1.7. And unto Adam he faid, Becaufe thou haft Verfe 17,
hearkned to the voice of thy Wife, 8ttT) Been fo weak,
as to mind her more than me.
Car fed full the Ground be.] It fhall not bring
forth fo plentifully, nor fo eafiiy as it did.
For thy fake.] Becaufe of thy Sin 5 which (hail be
punifhed partly by its barrennefs.
In forrow /I) alt thou eat of it.] It fhall coft thee a
great deal of Labour and Toil, before thou reapeft
the Fruits of it.
All the days of thy life. ~] Every part of the Year,
(hall bring along with it new wearifom Labours.
Ver,
y% A COMMENT A Rt
Chapter Ver. 18. Thorns and Thiftles, Sec] It (hall coft thee
III. abundance of Pains to root up the Thorns, Thirties,
L/*V\J and unprofitable Weeds $ which (hall come up in (lead
Verfe 1 8- 0f better Plants.
And thou jhalt eat the Herl of the Field."] Be con-
tent with fuch things as the common Field produces 5
inftead of the delicious Fruits of Paradife. Here
the Rabbins cry out Mcnfura pro menfura, behold the
Juftice of God, who ferved Man in his kind. He
was not farisfied with the choice Fruits of the Gar-
den in which God put him ,• and therefore he took
them from him, and fent him to eat the ordinary
Food of Beads 5 and that not without hard Labour.
Maimon. More Nevoch. P. I. cap. 1.
» Verfe 19. Ver. 19. In thefweat of thy face, &C.] Some con-
clude from hence, that the Earth brought forth, be-
fore the Fall, without any Pains to cultivate it. And
indeed there needed none; all things being pro-
duced at the firft, by the Divine Power, in full Per-
fection. But what Labour would have been necef-
fary in time, if Man had continued Innocent, we do
not know : only thefe words fignifie, that lefs Toil
would have ferved than Men muft now take for their
Suftenance. %
Some of the Jews reckon up Nine Purii(hments be-
(ides Death, which God infli&ed upon Adam; and
as many upon Eve. See Pirke Eliefer^ cap. XIV. and
Vorjlins upon him.
Till thou return to the Ground.] h e. Till thou dieft,
and mouldrefl: into Duft.
For out of it thouwafi taken.] From whence thou
waft taken, as it is explained, verfe 23. which (bows
the Particle ki is not always to be tranflated for $
but fotnetime 2t?fc^e, oxrvhom^ as IV. 25. God hath
given
upon GENESIS.
given me another Seed in/lead of Abel, U1.1 >5 whom Chapter
Cain flew. III.
The reft of this Vtffi needs no Explication. l«^V~vj
Ver. 20. Called her nkmtEvci] Some think fhe vvas^L'ri "
called 7//t/^ before, and now he changed her Name
intofi^c; In belief that God would make her the
Mother of all Mankind $ and of the promifed Seed
particularly ^ by whom fas D. Chytr£us addsj he
hoped to be railed from the Dead, to immortal
Life.
Mother of all living.'] Of all Men that (hould live
hereafter, or of him that (hould give Life to Mankind.
So Havah may be interpreted, viva or vivificatrix:
Becaufe fhe was the Mother of all Mankind, or be-
came Mankind, now fentenced to death, were by her
Seed, to be made alive.
Ver. 2 1 . Unto Adam and hk Wife, did the LORD Verfe 2 1
God make coats of skjns, Sic] The firft Cloaths of
Mankind were of the Leaves of Trees, which they
made themfelves; being ready at hand, woven by-
Divine Art. The next were of the Skins ofBeafls ^
which were much warmer, and better able to defend
them from the injury of the Cold and Weather : And
thefe were made by God's Direction. Who having
made a mod gracious Covenant with our firft Pa-
rents, (verfe 15.) it feems not unreasonable to fup-
pofe, that healfo (ignified to them, they (hould, for
the confirmation of it, offer to him Sacrifices .• By
the Blood of which, Covenants were ratified in after-
times, from this Example. For it is not likely, that
the Beafts, of whofe Skins thefe Coats were made,
died ofthemfelves 5 or, that they were killed mere-
ly for this ufe, or for their food. And therefore
what is fo probable, as that, by God's Order, they
were
80 A COMMENTARY
Chapter were (lain for a Sacrifice to him, (the better tp re-
Ilf. prefent to them their Guilt, and that the promifed
t^V*\J Seed fhould vanquifh the Devil, and redeem them,
by (bedding his BloodJ and that of the Skins of
thole Beafts God directed Coats to be made, to cloath
them ? But whether, by dreffing them and making
Leather of them 5 or, only by drying them, and let-
ting the Hair (till continue on them, we cannot tell.
Certain it is, that this was a very ancient fort of
Cloathing 5 as we learn not only from Profane Au-
thors, but from the Sacred .• Particularly, Heb. XL
37. The Jemfb Do&ors have carried this Matter fo
far, as to fay, That Adam being a Prieft, thefe were
his Prieftly Garments. The Skin indeed of the
Burnt- Offering under the Law, is given to the Prieft,
Lev. VII. 8. buc not to make him Cloaths: And Eve,
if this were true, mull have been a Prieft alfo 5 for
(he had a Coat made of Skins, no lefs than Adam.
Who, they fanfie, left this Coat to his Pofterity 5 fo
that Noah, Abraham, and all the reft of the Patriarchs
(as Abel they faid didj facrificed in the very fame
Coat 5 till Aaron was made High-Prieft, and had fpe-
cial Garments appointed him by God. Among
which, one being called by this very Name of njro
(Exod. XXVIII J it gave ground to this idle Con-
ceit.
VerTe 22. Ver. 22. Behold the Man is become, &c] Man, in
this place, includes Woman: And thefe words are ge-
nerally thought to be fpoken Sarcaftically $ to reprove
their great Folly, in thinking to encreafe their Know-
ledge, whether God would or no.
Like one ofus.~] Thefe words plainly infinuate a
Plurality of Perfons in the Godhead ^ and all other
Explications of them, feem to be forced and unna-
$ tural :
^GENESIS Si
tural: That of Mr. Calvins being as disagreeable to Chapter
the Hebrew Phrafe, as that of Socinus to the Excellen- III.
cy ot the Divine Nature. This, I think, is well pro- L/"V"NJ
ved by Theodorick. Hac kj pan, Difput. IV. Dc Locut.
Sacris, n. 15, KC.
>:d now, left he put forth his Hand, Sec."] Thisfeen:s
an abrupt kind of Speech 5 fomething being kept
back: As, let us turn him our, (or fome fuch like-
words, ) left he take alfo of the free of Life, and live
for ever. Which many of the ancient Fathers look
upon as a merciful Difpenfation 3 that Man might
not be perpetuated in a State of Sin. So Iraneus,
I . til cap. 37. and Greg. Nazianzen. Or at, XXXVIII.
p. 619. God thus ordered, r;\va jjm dtizvxlcv S tc hj.-
yjv, }tj yx<{f) ^Xzifo^inz r\ ti{ACC£Jlz, Sec. That Sin
might not be Immortal \ and the Punifldment might be a
Kindnefs. Which he repeats, Orat. XLII. p. 681. So
Epiphanies alfo, HQia.v \jzro@i-
QMfjJ^ov, but fuggefted to them by a Divine Intimati-
on, L. I. Demotiflr. Evang. Cap. 10. Of which Plato
one would think had fome Notion * when he forbids
his Law-maker (in his Epmomis) to make any altera-
tion in the Rites of Sacrificing, becaufe, & Swuamv&Sk-
voLf rv\ Svrrcy ra-
ther than their own : Out of the great Love they
bare to their Children. Thus Nimrod called Nineveh
after the Name of his Son Ninus. Which the Pfal-
mifi
upon GENESIS.
ntift notes as a piece of the Vanity of Mankind, to
call their Lands fthat is, the Hoitfes where they dvv dr,
as R. Solomon Jarchi interprets it) h their oivn
Names, to be a lafting Monument of them and of
their Family.
Enoch.'] There were an ancient People called by
Pliny, Heniochi 5 by Mela, Eniochi 5 and by Lit can,
Enochii: Some of which lived fo far Eajlward, that
Sir IV. Raleigh fanfies they might be the Pofterity of
this Enoch.
Ver. 18. And unto Enoch was bom Irad, Scc.j It is Verf^ 18,
remarkable, that though Mofes gives us fome account
of the Defendants of Cairn* $ yet he faith not a word
of the Years that they lived, and carries their Ge-
nealogy but a litale way. Whereas he deduces the
Genealogy of Sdh down to the Flood, and fo to his
own time, &c. And alio relates particularly , (Chap.
V.) to what Age the Life of his principal Pofterity
was prolonged. It feems, he look'd upon Cains Pvace,
as fuch a Fveprobate Generation, that he would not
number them in the Book of the Livings as St. Cyril
fpeaks.
Ver. 19. Lamcch tool^nnto him two Wives.'] By a^efrc
fmill tranfpofition of Letters, Lamcch being the fame
with Malech, which fignifies a King $ fome of the
Jews fanfie him to have been a great Man : For none
but fuch, they fay, had two Wives in thofe ancient
Times .- Though they hold it was lawful ("as ScUlcv
(hows, L. V. De Jure N. & G. cap. 6.) for any B^dy
that could maintain them, to have had more. But
it is more likely that Lantech was the firft, that ad-
ventured to tranfgrefs the Original Inftitution:
Which was obferved even by the Cainites till this
time. When, perhaps, his earneft delire of feeing
that
io4 A COMMENTARY
Chapter that blejfed Seed which was promifed to Eve, might
IV. induce him to take more Wives than one: Hoping,
U^VNJ by multiplying his Pofterity, fome or other of them
might prove fo happy as to produce that Seed. And
this he might poffibly perfuade himfelf was the more
likely ^ becaufethe Right that was in Cam the Firft-
born, he might now conclude was revived in him-
felf .• Who being the Seventh from Cam, had fome
reafon to imagine the Curfe laid upon him, of being
pumfhed.fevenfold, i.e. for jeven Generations, was
now expired 5 and his Pofterity reftored to the Right
of fulfilling the Promife.
Verfie 20. Ver 20. He was the FatherT] The Hebrews call
him the Father of any thing 5 who was the firft In-
venter of it } or, a mo ft excellent Matter in that Art.
Such was Jabal in the Art of making Tents, folding
Flocks, and all other parts of Paftorage. Which
though begun by Abel, was not by him brought to
Perfe&ion; Or, if it were, Jabal was the firft in
the Family of Cam, that was Eminent in the follow-
ing Inventions,
Of fuch as dwell in Tents.~\ Taught Men to pitch
Tents 5 which were movable Houfes, that might ea-
fily be carried from place to place, when there was
occafion to remove for new Pafture. Under this is
comprehended all that belongs to the Care of Cattel,
in their breeding, feeding, and preferving, as appears
by whatfollows.
And of fitch as have CatteL'] In the Hebrew the
words are, andofCattel. Where the copulative Van,
which we tranflate and, (ignifies as much as with:
And fo the words are to be here tranflated, fuch as
dwelt m Tents, with CatteL Thus Bochartus obferves
it is ufed, 1 Sam. XIV. 18. The Ark^ of God was at
that
upon GENESIS. jo^
that t//;;c, irith the Children ofljrac! 3 as we, with the Cba|
Ancients, truly tranllate it. And io it fhould be
translated, Exod. I. 5. All the Souls that came out 0/'C/"V~v.
Jacob's Loins were feventy Souls, tvithjofeph. For Jo-
feph is not to be added ("as we fecm to underftand
it) unto the Seventy 5 but made up that Number, as
appears from GY//. XL- VI. 27. So that the Setup
this whole Verfe feems robe, That though Men feci
Cattel before in good Pa (hi res 5 yet Jabel was the
iirft that, by the Invention of Tents, made the more
Defart Countries ferviceable to them : Where, when
they had eaten up all the Grafs in one place, they
might in a little time take up their Tents, and fix
them in another. To this purpofe R. Solon/on Jarchi.
And in thefe Tents, it's likely, he taught them to de-
fend their Cattel, as well as themfelves, from Heat
and Cold, and all other Dangers to which they were
expofed in thofe Defart Places.
Ver. 2, 1 . Father of fitch as handle the Harp and Or- Verfe 2 it
gan.~\ Thefirft Inventer of Mufical Inftruments, and
that taught Men to play upon them. What Onnor is,
(which we tranflate Harp^tez in Bochartu* his Canaan,
L. II. cap. 7. p. 808. 1 believe the firft word includes in
it all Stringed, the latter all Wind Mufical Inftruments.
It is poffible that Apollo, or Linus, or Orpheus ("for
there are all thefe various Opinions) might be the
Inventer of the Harp among the Greeks: But it was
their Vanity that made them fanfie fuch Inftruments
had their Original, in their Country.
Ver. 22. Tubal-Cain.'] The Arabians ftill call a Plate Verfe 2:
of Iron or Brafs, by the Name of Tubal, fas Bochartus
obferves out of Avicenna, and others, L. III. Phaleg.
cap. 12.) who as it follows in the Text, was
P
io6 A COM MEN TART
Chapter An InftruUer of every Artificer in Br afs and Iron, 7]
\ y# f. e. Found the Arc of melting Metajs, an(J making
^-v^-» all forts of Weapons, Arms, and other Iflftruments
of Iron and Brafs. Many think that Vulcan is the
fame with Tubal-Cain, (their Names being not un-
like,) particularly Gerh. Vojjius, De Or/g. Idolol. L. I.
cap. 1 6.
His Sifters Name was Naamah."] Whom Vojjius,
(lb. cap. 17.) takes to have been the Heathen Miner-
va, or Venus. Her Name fignifies Beautiful, or Fair,
one of zfweet Afpeft : And the Arabians fay, (lie in-
vented Colours and Painting, as Jabal did Mufick. See
Elm acinus, p. 8.
Verfe 25. ^er' 23- Afod Lamech faid unto his Wives y &c
Hear my Voice, ye Wives of Lamech, hearken unto my
Speech.] Something had preceded thefe Words,
which was the occafion of them .- But it is hard to
find what it was. Jacobus Capellus indeed (in his
Hiftoria Sacra & Exotica) hath a Conceit that La*
mech was now in a vapouring Humour, being puffed
up with the glory of his Son's Inventions ^ to whofe
Mufickznd other Arts, he endeavoured to add Poetry :
Which he exprefled in the following Words, that
feem to him a Thrafonical Hymn, wherein he brags
what Feats he would do. For fo he reads the Words,
(with Ehen Ezra) not I have Jlain, but 7 will kjll a
Man with one blow of my Fift, &c. But I can fee
no warrant, for this Tranflation, without a Violence
to the Hebrew Text, and therefore we muftfeekfor
another Interpretation.
J have Jlain a Man to my wounding, 8cc.^ Thefe
words would have a plain Expofition, ("which other-
wife are difficult J » we could give Credit to the
Hebrew Tradition 3 which St. Hierom fays feveral
Chrifti-
upon GENESIS. 107
Chriftians followed : That Lantech being informed Chapter
by a certain Youth,ashewasaHunting.,that there was IV.
a wild Beaft lay lurking in a fecret place., went thi* -^v*^-/
ther } and unawares killed Cain, who lay hid there :
And then, in a Rage at what he had done, fell upon
the Youth that had occafion'd this Mithke, and beat
him to Death. But, as there is no certainty of this ^
fo it doth not agree with the next Verfe : Which
Teems tofuppofe Cainto be now alive. Therefore I nd.
cle £)/>//, following Onkelos, reads the Words by \ray
of Interrogation 5 Have I flam a Man ? Or, fo much
as a Boy ? that you (hould be affraid of my Life ? It
feems the ufcof Weapons being found out by one of
his Sons, and grown common 5 his Wives appre-
hended that force Body or other might make ufe of
them to ilay him. But he bids them comfort them-
felves, for he was not guilty of flaying any Body
himfelf^ and therefore might reafonably hope, no
Body would hurt him.
And then the Meaning of the ntyxVerfe is eafie.
Ver. 24, If Cain fl^ all be avenged feven fold, fr«/yVerfe 24,
Lantech feventy and feven fold.~] If God hath guarded
Cain fo ftrongly, who was a Murderer, as to threaten
great and long Punifliments to thofe that (lay him ^
he will punilh them far more, and purfue them with
a longer Vengeance, who (hall flay me, being aguilt-
lefsPerfon.
There are divers other Interpretations, which I
(hall not mention ; becaufe this is mod pertinent to
the preceding Difcourfe.
Ver. 25. Bare a Son."] The Jews think he was born Verfe 25
a Year after ^ie/was killed.
And called his Name Seth.'] Mothers anciently
gave Names to their Children, as well as the Fathers.
P 2 And
A COMMENTARY.
And Eve gave this Son, the Name of Seth 5 becaufe
(he look'd upon him as appointed (fo the word fig-
nifies) by God, to be what Cain, (he thought, (hould
have been 3 till God reje&ed his Sacrifice, and he
flew Abel. In whofe room (he believed God had
fubftituted this Son, to be the Seed from whom the
Redeemer of the World {hould come.
The Arabians fay, ("particularly Elmacinus, p. 7.)
Th^t Seth was the Inventer of Letters and Writing,
(as Jubal was of Mufick, and Tubal-Cain of Arms,)
which fo much furpaffed all other Inventions, that
fome fas Cedrenus tells us J called him, a God $ i. e*
the highefl: Benefa&or to Mankind. Which, if it
were true, we might think that thence his Children
were called the Sons of God, VI. 1. But it is mod
likely this miftake arofe from Symmachus hisTranfla-
tion of the 1 aft Words of the next Verfe, which, if
we may believe Suidas, was thus, Then began Seth to be
called by the Name of God. For which there is no
Foundation either there, or any where elfe in Scrip-
ture. For though it be faid that Mofes was made a
Cod to Pharaoh, yet he is never (imply called a God, as
Jacobus Capellus well obferves. Nor is any King, or
Prince called by that Name particularly, in Scripture,
though in general it fays of them all, That they are,
Gods.
Yerfe 26. Ver. 26. To him alfo was born a Son."] When he
was aa Hundred and five Years old, as we read,
V. 6.
And he called hk Name, Enos.~] Signifying the
weak and miferable Condition of Mankind } which
&e feemed, by giving him this Name, to deplore.
Then
upon GENESIS,
Then began Men to call upon the Name of t: ■ Chapl
LORD.~] This doth not import that Men did nut jV.
call upon the LO R D (which includes all his Wor- '*S\"\J
(hipand Service J before this time : But ti.at now
fas Jac. Capcllus conceives) they were awakened, by
the Confideration of their Infirmity before- menti-
oned, to be more ferious and frequent in Religi-
ous Offices; Or, rather, (as others underitand it,)
they began to hold more Publick Aifemblies. For
Families being now multiplied, to which Religion
was before confined, they joyned together and met
in larger Societies and Communion, for the folemn
Worfhip of God by Sacrifices, and other Religious
Services. Vox, to rail upon God, comprehends, as I laid,
all Religion : Which confifts in acknowledging him
to be the Lord of all ; in lauding all his Glorious
Perfe&ions ; giving him Thanks for his Benefits, and
befeeching the Continuance of them.
But it being fcarce credible, that Publick Affem-
blies were not held long before this, (it being pro-
bable that even when Cain and Abel facrificed, their
Families joyned together to worfhip God,) it hath.
moved fume Men of Note, (fuch.asBerfrnpaiad Hack:
fpan,) to follow our Marginal Tranilation \ then be-
gan Men (i.e. the Children of Sethi) to call them-
felves by the Name of the LORD: That is, the Ser-
vants or WorQiippers of the Lord § in diftinction
from the Cajnttes, and fuch prophane Perfons, as had
iorfaken him.
And indeed a great number of the Jerviff) Wri-
ters, with whom Mr. Sclc/en joyns,in his De Dils Syris,
Prolegom. 3. would have the Words expounded thus.
to (ignifie that Apoftafic 5 thin wds there Prvphanathn,
hy invoking the Name, of the L 0 R D. For the word
hoct
rro A COMMBl^TARr
Chapter bochal, which we here tranflate began, fignifying pro-
IV. phaned, in Lev. XIX. 12. (Thou fialt not prophane the
L/-VV) Name of the LORD thy God J they take Mofes his
meaning to be, That the ntofi Holy Name which belongs
to the Creator and Pojfejfor of Heaven and Earth aloney
was now impionjly given unto Creatures : Particularly
to the Sun. And thus the Arabick Interpreter, in Er*
penius his Edition, Then began Men to apoflatizefrom
the WorfUp of God. But a great Number of very
Learned Men have oppofed themfelves to this Inter-
pretation ^ and with much Judgment/ Mofes being
here fpeakingof the Pious Family of Scth, and not of
Impious Cains : And the word hoc hal (as Hakspan
obfervesj with the Prepofition le following in the
next word, being conftantly ufed in the Senfe of Be-
ginnings, not of ProphanationAnd therefore they con-
tent themfelves with our Marginal Tranflation .• Or,
elfe think that God was now firft called upon by the
Name of Jehovah :Or, that Liturgies, as we call them,
or Publick Forms of Wor (hip were now appointed, at
fet Hours : Or, fome other confiderable Improve-
ments made in Religious Offices. For the Arabian
Chriftians reprefent this Enos as an excellent Gover-
nor.-Who, while he lived, preferved his Family in
good order, and when he died, called them all toge-
ther 5 and gave them a Charge to keep God's Com-
mandments, and not to aflbciate themfelves with the
Children of Cain. So Elmacinus.
CHAP.
upon GENESIS.
CHAP. V.
Vcr. i/ | ^Hkk the Dool^ of the Generations of A- Verfe i.
I, dam.~] 7. e. Here follows a Catalogue
of the Pofterity of Adam. So the word Book Signi-
fies, Matth. I. i. An Account of thofe from whom
Chrift the Second Adamcamz; as here, an Account
of thofe who came from the Firji Adam. Yet not of
all, but of the principal Perfons, by whom in a Right
Line, the Succeffion was continued down to Noah,&c.
As for the Collateral Lines, which, no doubt, were
very many, by the other Sons and Daughters which
the Perfons here mentioned begot, they are omitted .•
Becaufe no more than I have faid, was pertinent to
Mofes his purpofe.
In the Day that God created Man.~] This is repeated
again, only to imprint on their Minds, that Adam was
not produced, like other Men, by Generation, but by
Creation.
In the likenefs of God created he him.'] This alfo is
again mentioned }to remember Men how highly God
had honoured them, and how (hamefully they had re-
quited him.
Ver. a. Male and Female created he them, Scc.^ Of Verfe 2.
different Sexes, to bejoyned together in Holy Marri-
age .• As Mofes had (hown, Chap. If. 22, 23, &c.
Called their Name Adam .H The common Name to
both Sexes 5 like Homo in Latin, 6cc.
Ver.
ii2 A COMME NTARY
Chapter Ver. y. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty
V. Tears."] This doth not afliire us he had no Children
L/"V%J but£W«and Abel till now : But only acquaints us
with his Age, when :cth was born.
And begat a Son in his oven likenefs, after his image 7]
Not fo perfect as him E when he was created $ but
with thofe Imperfections which impaired him, after
hehadearen the forbidden Fruit : That ft, inclined
to Sin, and iubjeft to Death. For his own Likenefs
and Image, wherein chis Son was begotten, feems to
be oppofed to the iJ^enefi and Image ofGod, wherein
Adamwas made, I 16. which, though not quite loft,
was lamentably defaced.
Maimonides will have this to refer to Seth's Wif-
dom and Goodnefs; he proving truly aManliketo
his Father Adam : Whereas the reft before him proved
rather Beafts. More Nevochim, Par. I. c. 7.
Called his Name Seth.] He intends to give here an
Account of thofe defcended from Seth alone, not of
his Pofterity by Cain, (who are only briefly men-
tioned in the foregoing Chapter, verfes 17, 18.J be-
caufe in Seth the Pofterity of Adam were preferved,
when all the Children of Cain perithed in the De-
luge.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And he begat, Sons and Daughters^] After
the Birth of Seth he begot more Children, fas he had
done, it's probable, many before) whofe Names are
not here recorded : Becaufe Mofes fets down only
that Race of Men, from whom Noah and Abraham,
("the Father of the Faithful,) and the Mefjlah were
derived.
Verfe 5, Ver. 5. Lived nine hundred and fifty Tears!] It is
not reafonable to take ameafure of the length of the
Lives of the Patriarchs, by the fliortnefs of ours.
For,
^GENESIS. 113
For, as Jofepbw well obferves, (L. I. A///'^. c*/>. 4. Chapter
and ouc of him. Fttfebius, L. IX. Pr L. VII. cap, 48. Nay, in
Q^ Time?
fi4 * COMMENT ART
Chapter Times nearer to us, there are Inftances of this kind,
V. as the Lord Bacon obferves in his Hift. Vit£ & Mor-
L/^fSJ lis ; and Bartholin, in his Hiftor. Anatom.Rarioruw^
Cent. V. Hi ff.z8.
But nothing is more remarkable than that which
Gajfendus reports in the Life of NicoL Peircskjus,
L. V. That he received a Letter from Aleppo, no lon-
ger ago than the Year 1636. of a Man then in Per-
fia, known to feveral Perfons worthy to be believed,
who was Four hundred Years old : Idque ipfis omnhib
ejje exploratum^ atque induhium : And the Perfons that
wrote this, were fully affured of the undoubted
Truth of it.
Such Inftances indeed are rare \ and there is one
that thinks Men did not generally live to fuch a great
Age in the old World. For Mahnonides is of Opi-
nion, That none attained to fo many Years as are
here mentioned 5 but only the particular Perfons ex-
prefly named by Mofes : All the reft of Mankind,
in thofeDays, living only the ordinary term, which
Man did in after-times. Or, in other words, this ex-
traordinary length of Days, was the Priviledge on-
ly of thefe fingular Individuals; either from their
accurate way of Living and Diet, or God's fpecial
Favour in Reward of their eminent Vertue and Pie-
ty, More Nevoch. Pars II. cap. 47. But Nachmamdes
(another great JewijIdDodtov) oppofes this with much
Reafon 5 For that their eminent Vertue was not the
Caufe they only had this Priviledge, appears by
Enochs the moft holy Man of them all, who did not
live to the Age of Four hundred Years. And as there
is no ground to believe thefe were the only Perfons
who lived exaftly Temperate in all things: So it is
manifeft Mofes doth not defign to give us an Ac-
count
upon G E N E S I 115
count of thofe that lived longed, but of thofe fromCha-
whom Noah defcended, and it is incredible that V.
they alone fhould be very long lived, and no Body L/'VSJ
elfe, though defcended from the fame Parents.
Ver. 6. And Scth lived an hundred and jive Tears , y>rr€ £
and begat Enos.] We mil ft not think he lived fo
long, before he begat any Children 5 No mere than
that Adam had none til! he was an Hundred and
thirty Years old, when he begat Scth, (verfe 3. J for
we know he had Cain and Abel, and, in all likelihood,
many others before. Therefore to explain this and
other things that follow, verfe 18. and 28. which
feem more ftrange (fox J arc d is faid to have lived an
Hundred fixty two Years, before he begat Enoch 5 and
Lantech an Hundred eighty two Years before he begat
Noah,) we muft confider, as was noted, verfe 4.
that Mofes fets down only thofe Perfons by whom
the Line of Noah was drawn from Seth, and Abraham's
Line from Noah, by thdr true Anceftors 5 whether
they were the Eldeft of the Family or no. Scth
it's likely had many other Children before Enos •
born, as Noah, we may be confident had before he
begat Sew, Ham, and Japhet : Which was not till he
was Five hundred Years old, verfe 32. As Lamech
alfo had feveral before Noah was born : Though ;
fes doth not mention them 5 becaufe he was here
concerned only to inform us, who was the Father of
Noah.
Begat Enos.'] The Arabian Chnftians, as I obferved
before, fiV. 2 6. J make him to hive bten a Man of
lingular Goodnefs.
Ver. 9. Begat Ca/nan.'] The f /riters repre- Verfe
fent him to have been like to his Father $ and fay, he
gave his Children a Charge not to mingle with the
Q. 2 Seed
n6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Seed of Cain. So Elmacinus. Yet there is but little
V. difference between his Name, and that of Cains $ no
L/"W? more than between Trad and Jared, and fame other
of Sems Pofterity and Cam's. Which may teach us,
fays Jac. Capellus, (in his Hifior. Sacra d> Exotica,}
Ne fat ale nefcio quod omen nominibus propriis effinga-
mus 5 that we (hould not fanfie there is, we do not
know what, fatal Omen in Proper Names. The
Wickednefs of 'judos- lfcariot did not make the other
Judas,- called by that Name, to think the worfe of
it. And therefore Jared feared not to call his Son
Enoch, by the very Name of Cain s eldeft Son, IV.17.
And Methufelah alfo gave his Son Lantech, the Name
of one of Cains Grand-children, IV. 18.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. Begat MahalaleeL~] This Name imports as
much as a Praifer of God : Which Cainan impofed upon
this Son of his. (as Jacobus Capellus fanfiesj becaufehe
was born after he had lived ten Weeks of Years, (i.e.
when he was Seventy Years old) in the beginning of
the Sabbatick^ Year : Which was the Eighth Jubilee
from the Creation. For, as there were Sacrifices, and
a diftin&ionof clean Beads and unclean-^ fo he con-
ceives there might be a diftribution of Years by &-
vens or Weeks, fas they fpake in after-times,J from
the very beginning of the World. But there is no
certainty of this : Nor of what the fore-named Ara-
bian Writers fay of this Mahalaleel, that he made his
Children fwear, by the Blood of Abel, (To Patri-
cides,) not to come down from the Mountainous
Country where they dwelt, to converfe with the
Children of Cain.
He is mentioned alfo by the Mahometans, zsHottin-
ger obferves in his Hifior. Orient, p. 20.
Ver,
upon GENESIS. 117
Ver. 15. Begat Jared.'] The fame Arabian Writers Chapter
make him alfo a ftridHy Pious Man, and an excellent V.
Governor: But fay, That in his Days fome of Sitb'% Ly^v^vj
Pofterity, (about an hundred in r.umber,J notwith- Verfe 15.
(landing all his Perfuafions to the contrary, would
go down and converfe with the Children of Cain ;
by whom they were corrupted. And thence they
fanfie he was called Jared, ("which fignifies defcend-
Ing \) eicher becaufe they went down from the Ho-
ly Mountain, as they call it, where Seth's Pofterity
dwelt $ or Piety, in his time, began very much to
decline. See Hottingers Smegma Orient. LA. cap. 8.
p. 235, &c.
Ver. 18. Begat Enocb.~\ Whom the Arabians call Verfe 18,
Edrk i and reprefent him as a very learned Man, as
well as a Prophet: And efpecially skilled in Agrono-
my. See Hottinger, Hi/lor. Orient. L. I. c. 3. and
Smegma Orient, p. 240. The Greeks anciently had the
fame Notion of him, as appears by a Difcourfe of
Eupolemus, which Eufebhts quotes out of Alexand.
Polyh/Jlor. L. IX. Pr£par. Evang. c^ 17. where he fays
Enoch was the firft who taught the knowlege of the
Stars, and that he himfelf was taught, Si "ArfiAw &tS,
by the Angels of 'God ^ and was the fame Perfon whom
the Greeks call Atlas. Certain it is his Story was not
altogether unknown to the ancient Greeks , as appears
in what they fay of 'Awa«/>$, or Kawaao;, which is the
fame with Enoch, whofe Name in Hebrew is Chanoch.
For Stephanus in his Book De Urbibus fays, that this
Annacm lived above Three hundred Years, and the
Oracle told the People, that when he died they (hould
all perifh \ as they did in the Flood of Deucalion :
In which he confounds theHiftory of Enochmd Me-
thiifelah, as Bochart well obferves, L.ll. Phale^.c.i^.
Ver
*tftj A CO MM EN TART
Chapter Ver. 21. Begat Methufelah.~) Enoch being a Pro
V. phet, (as we learn from St. Jade,*) and forefeeing the
.L/"VNJ Deftruclion that was coming upon the Earth by a
Verfe ^1. Deluge, immediately after the Death of this Son of
his, gave him this Name of Methufela, which im-
ports as much. For the firft part of it, Metlm, evi-
dently carries in it the Name of Death} being as
much as, he dies : And fela fignifies, the fending forth
of Vy ater, in JobV. 10. And therefore Methufela, is
as much, as when he is dead, flail enfue an en/ijjlon or
inundation of Waters, to the deftru&ion of the whole
Earth. V\ hich ingenious Conjefture of Bochartus, in
his Phaleg, L. II. c. 13. is far more probable than any
other Account of his Name.
Verfe 2 2. Ver. 22. Enoch walked with God after he begat Me-
thufelah.'] Of all the reft Mofes only fays, they li-
ved after they begat thofe Sons here mentioned 5 but
of this Man, that he walked with God: i. e. Was not
only fincerely Obedient to God, (as we fuppofe his
Fore-fathers to have been,) but of an extraordinary
Santtity, beyond the rate of other Holy Men 5 and
held on alfo in a long courfe of fuch fingular Piety,
notwithftanding the wickednefs of the Age, where-
in he lived. And the very fame Chara&er being gi-
-ven of Noah, VI. 9. it may incline us to believe,
That as Noah was a Preacher of Right eoufnefs ^ fo
Enoch, being a Prophet, was not only Exemplary in
his Life, but alfo feverely reproved the Wickednefs
of that Age, by his Word.
Verfe 24*1 Ver, 24. And Enoch walked with God.~] Perfevered
in that Courfe before-mentioned, to the end of his
Days.
And was not.']' He doth not fay, that he died, (as
he doth of the reft in this Chapter, both before and
after J
upon GENESIS. 119
after,) but that he was not, any longer among Men Chapter
in this World. For, V.
\ultool{ him.~\ Tranflated him to another place. L/^V^vJ
Which plainly fignifies the different manner of his
. ing this World 5 in fo much that the Apoftle
faith, he did not fee death, Heb. XI. 5. Which con-
futes the Conceit of /IbenEzra, and R. Solomon, and
others, who would have this word tool^to fignifie, that
he was fnatcht away by an untimely death. Contra-
ry to the Opinion of their other better Authors, parti-
cularly Menachem ; who in his Commentary on this
v faith 5 that God tookjrom Enoch In bodily Cloaihs,
and gave him Spiritual Raiment.
But whither he was tranilated we are not told.
The Author of thchodkoiEtclefaJiicHf, Chap.XLiV.
(according to the Vulgar Transition ,) faith into
Paradife. And upon this Supposition,* the Mthibphl^
Interpreter hath added thefe words co the Text :
God tranflated him into Paradife, as I udolplus ob-
ferves, L. III. Comment ar. in Mthicp. Hi(i. Cap. V. n.
40. And accordingly we find in the Calendar of that
Church, aFeftival upon jf//i) XXV. call cen*
fion 0/Enoch into • (for they were not fc foo-
lifh as to underftand by Paradife a place upon Earth,
but a Heavenly Manfion,) unto which he was ad-
vanced, S\ cLxscp d?zTY,; nK&LioaiV) (as EufebtHs fpeaks,,
L. VII. Prepar. Evang< cap, 8.) becaufe ofhis confum-
mate Vertue.
And it is no unreafonable C01 v, That God
was gracioufly pleafed to take him unto I at
this time, to fupport and Comfort Mankind ill
State of Mortality, (, the Father of A d!,
being dead not above fifty ifeven Years before.
the hope of abetter Lite, in the other World. I
whi
!20 A COMMENTARY
Chapter which reafon it is not improbable, that he was tran-
V. dated in forne fuch vifible manner, as Elijah afterward
\ty^Vm\J was, by a glorious Appearance of the SCHECH I-
N AH, from whence fome heavenly Minifters were
fent to carry him up above.
Verle 25. Ver. 25. Begat Lamech "] The fame Name with one
of Caws Pofterity, IV. 18. But, as he was of ano-
ther Race, fo he was the Grand-child and the Fa-
ther of the befl: Men in thofe Days, viz. Enoch and
Noah.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. All the days of Methufelah, &c/] What
was wanting in the Days of his Father, God, in fome
fort, made up in his Age: Which was extended to
the longeft term of all other Men. He died in the
very Year of the Deluge, according to the import of
his Name. See Verfe 21.
Verfe 29. Ver. 29. He called his Name Noah.] Which fig-
nifies Reft, or Refrefiment 5 which proceeds from Reft
and Quiet. Becaufe, fays he,
This fame ft all comfort us, concerning our worh^and
toil of our Hands.*] He expe&ed, fome think, that
he (hould be the bleffed Seed, promifed III. 15. Or,
that it {hould fpring immediately from him. But
the laft words, toil of our hands ■, feem to import fome
inferiourConfolation, which he expe&ed from No-
ah: And the Hebrew Interpreters generally expound
it thus } He (hall make our Labour in tilling the Earthy
more eafte and left toilfome tons. Which agrees to what
follows.
Becaufe of the Ground which the LO R D hath
curfedJ] There was a general Curfe upon it, for
the Sin of Adam^ and a particular upon fome part
of it, for the Sin of Cain : Now God, he foretells,
would take them both off in great meafure 5 and
blefs
upon G E N E S I S. 121
blefs the Earth to the Pofterity of this fame Man : Chapter
Who perfefted the Art of Husbandry, and found out V.
fitter Inftruments for plowing the Earth, than had l/^v^VJ
been known before. When Men being chiefly em-
ployed in digging and throwing up the Earth with
their own Hands, their labour was more difficult :
Which now is much abated, becaufe the pains lie
more upon Dcafls than upon Men. And indeed Noah
is called, IX. 20. Ifch haadamah, a Man of the Ground
(which we tranflate an Husbandman) one that im-
proved Agriculture, as other famous Men had done
Patforage, and found out other Arts, IV. 20, &c.
In the fame place alfo (IX. 20.) we read that Noah
planted a Vineyard : With refpett to which, if he was
the firft Inventer of making Wine, he might well be
faid here, to comfort them concerning their work, and
toil of their hands : Wine chearing the Heart, and re-
viving the Spirits of Men, that are fpent with Labour.
But if the laft Words of this Verfe be expounded
of the LORD's Curfing the Ground, by fending
Flood upon it, as Enoch had foretold } then Noab is
here called their Comforter, with : "fpeft to his being
the Reftorer of the World, after it had been difpeo-
pled by that Inundation. And fo Jacobus Cappefius,
not unreafonably interprets them to have relation to
both Curfes, a maleditlione, quam Terra infixit, & in-
flifturus eft Deus. He (hall give Men reft from the
Curfe whicn God hath inflifted, and intends further
to inflift upon the Earth. Hi ft. Sacra & Exot. ad
A.M. 1055.
Ver. 32. And Noah was Five hundred Tears old."] Verfe 32,
Set Verfe 6. where I have faid enough to (hew, it is
not reafonable to think he had no Children till this
Age of his Life.
R And
A COMMENT ART
And Noah begat Shew, Ham, and Japhet."] Here ends
the Line oiAdam, before the Flood. For though thefe
Three were married, it appears (VII. 13.) before the
Flood came $ yet they either had no Children, or
they did not live: For they carried none with them
into the Ark.
It doth not follow that Shem was the Eldeft of thefe
Three, becaufe he is here, and every where elfe in this
Book, mentioned firft: For I (hall (how plainly in its
due place that Japhet was the Eldeft. (X. 21.) ScalU
ger indeed would have this a fettled Rule, that, Hunc
Ordinem Filii in Scriptura habent, quern illk natura de-
dit. That Children are placed in Scripture, accord-
ing to the Order which Nature hath given them. But
it is apparent from many Inftances, that the Scripture
hath regard to their Dignity otherways, and not to the
Order of their Birth, As Abraham is mentioned be-
fore Nahor and Haran, merito excelientig^ with refpeft
to his Excellence (as St.Ahftjn fpeaks) to which God
raifed him, though he was not the Eldeft Son of Te-
rah, Gen. XL 28. Thus Jacob is mentioned before
Efan, Mai. L 1. and Ifaac before Ifimael, 1 Chron. I.
28. Thus Shems Eminence in other refpe&s, placed
him before Japhet, to whom he was inferiour in the
order of Nature : As appears even from their Genea-
logy both in Gen.X. and 1 Chron. L where Shem's Po-
fterity are placed below thofe of both his other Bro-
thers.
CHAP,
upon GENESIS. 123
Chapter
VI.
CHAP. VI.
Ver. l.\XTHcn Men began to Multiply.*) To en- Verfe 1
VV creafe exceeding faft $ for they were
multiplied before, but noc fo as to fill the Earth. Or
the Word Men may be limited to the Children of
Cain, (fee Verfe 2 ) who now began to be very nu-
merous.
And Daughters were born to thent.~] In great num-
bers: For Daughters no doubt they had before ^ but
now fo many more Daughters than Sons, that they
had not Matches for all ; No, though we (hould fup-
pofe they followed the ftepsof Lantech, (IV. 19.) and
took more Wives than one.
Ver. 2. The Sons of God."] There are two famous Verfe 2,
Interpretations of thefe Words, (befides that of fome
of the Ancients, who took them for Angels.) Some
underftand by the Sons of God, the great Men, No-
bles, Rulers, and Judges, whether they were of the
Family of Seth or of Cain: And fo indeed the word
Elohim fignifies in many places, Exod. XXI. 6. XXII.
28, &c. and the ancient Gree\ Verfion, which Philo
and St. Atijlin ufed, perhaps meant no more, where
thefe words are tranflated, el Zyy&ui 7S 0c5, The An-
gels of God, his great Minifters in this World 5 who
in after-times were miftaken for Angels in Heaven.
Thefe great Perfons were taken with the Beauty of
the Daughters of Men, i e. of the meaner fort, (tor
fo fometimes Men fignifies, PjaL XLIX. 2, &V.) and
took^ by Force and Violence, as many as (hey plea-
fed 5 being fo potent as to be able to do any thing
R * with
124 A COMMENT A KT
Chapter with impunity. For they that (hould have given a
VI. good Example, and punifhed Vice, were the great
L/"V*NJ Promoters of it.
But rhere are other ancient Interpreters, and moft
of ihe latter, who by the Sons of God underftand the
Pofterity of Seth% who were the Wor(hipp€rs of the
true God. IV.Vlt.
They jaw the Daughters of Men."] Converfed with
the Daughters of Cain. So Tbo. Aquinas himfelf in-
terprets it. Pars I. «g. 51. Art. 3. ad 6.
That they were Fair.'] Being exceedingly taken
with their Beauty.
And they took^ them Wives."] Made Matches with
them, and perhaps took more than one apiece.
Of all that they chofeJ] Whomfoever they liked,
(fo the word chafe is ufed in many places, Pfal. XXV.
12, &c.*) without regard to any thing elfe but their
Beauty. Some of the Hebrews by Daughters under-
ftand Virgins, which they diftinguifn from Nafir,?,
Wives or married Women 5 whom they alfo took
and abufed as they pleafed. But there is no evidence
of this. The plain Sence is, that they who had hi-
therto kept themfelves (unlefs it were fome few, fee
Verfei1).) unmingled with the Pofterity of Cain, ac-
cording to a Solemn Charge which their godly Fore-
fathers had given them, were now joined to them in
Marriage, and made one People with them. Which
was the greater Crime, if we can give any credit to
what an Arabic\ Writer faith, mentioned firft by Mr.
Selden'm his Book de Dih Syrk, Cap. 5. Prolegom. &
de Jure N. & G. L. V. Cap. B.f. 57&O that the Chil-
dren of Seth had fworn by the Blood of Abel, they
would never leave the mountainous Country which
they inhabited, to go down into the Valley where the
Children
upon GENESIS. 125
Children of Cain lived. The fame Author {viz. Pa- Chaprer
tricides with Elmacinm alio) fays, that they were VI.
inveigled to break this Oath, by the Beauty of Naa- U^V^wJ
mah before-mentioned, IV. 22. and the Mufick of her
Brother Jubal For the Cainites fpent their time in
Feafling, Mufick, Dancing, and Sports : Which al-
lured the Children of Seth to come down and marry
with them. Whereby all manner of Impurity, Impi-
ety, Idolatry, Rapine and Violence, filled the whole
Earth, and that with Impunity, as Eufebius obferves,
J . VII. Pr vifit Men for their Wickednefs : Which had ra-
ther encreafed, than been leflened, by his forbearing
them One hundred and twenty Years .• which no.v
we muft fuppofe, drew near to an end, Verjt 1 3
The obfervarion of fome of the Hebrew Doftors
perhaps is too curious, which is this : That the
Name of Jehovah, which we tranflate Lord, is u-
fe*lj;'crfe %. where the firft mention is made of this
matter ^ for it betokens the ckmtncy of the Divine
Majefty^ till the One hundred and twenty Years
were out, and then Mofes ufes the Word Elohim,
which is a Name of Judgment $ the time of which
was come.
For all Flefl, i. e. all Men, had corrupted his way upon
Earth.~] Wholly departed from the Rule of Rjghte-
oufneis} or had made their way of Life abominable
throughout the whole World.
Ver. 13. The end ofallflefo is come before vie7\ I Verfe 13.
am determined to make an end of, i.e. to deftroy
all Mankind fhortly, So it follows.
I will deftroy them with the Earth?^ i. e. With all
the Beafts and the Fruits of the Earth. Or, from the
Earth, as it is in the Margin.
Ver. 14. Make thee an ArkJ\ This Vefiel was not in Verfe 14
the form of one of our Ships, or Boats .- for it was
not made fharp forward to cut the Waves, but broad
S like
130 A COMMENTARY
Chapter like a Cheft 5 and therefore had a flat bottom, with a
VI. Cover or a Roof. We do not find it had any Rud-
U'V^SJ der, being (leered by Angels.
Of Gopher wood.] There are various Opinions
about Gopher, which fome take for Cedar, others for
Pine, &c. but our learned Nic. Fuller in his Mifcel-
tanies hath obferved, that it is nothing elfe but that
which the Greeks call Ku-to£/ut not on- C\J^S^
ly the Chinks were filled with it ^ but the whole
Body of the Ark feems to have been all over daub-
ed with it.
Within'] To give a wholfome Scent, fome think,
among fo many Beads.
And without^] To make the Ark more glib and flip-
pery, tofwim in the Water more eafily.
Ver. ij. And this tithe fajhi 'on , &c/] There are V^rfe 15.
thofe who take thefe for Geometrical Cubits 5 every
one of which contains Six of the common. But
there is no need of fuch .• For taking them for com-
mon Cubits, containing each only one Foot and an
half, it is demonftrable there might be room enough
in the Ark, for all forts of Beads and Birds, wiih
Noah's Family, and their neceflary provifion. See
Verfe 20. r ,
Ver. 16. AWindow (Isalt thou tnakcto the Ark~] ToVerle ldi
let in the Light into the feveral Apartments : For
which, (hould we conceive, that one great Window
might be fo contrived as to be fufficient ^ I do not
fee how that would exclude many little ones, here
and there, for greater convenience.
And in a Cubit fiall thou finifi it above.'] That is, fi-
nifb the Ark } which had a Cover it is plain from
VIII. 1 5. and was made fhelving, that the Rain might
Aide oft.
And the Door of the Ark fialt thou fet in the fide
thereof^] But on what fide, or whereabouts on the
fide, is not certain. It is probable on one of the long
fides, and in the middle of it. Patricides calls it the
Eajiern fide.
s 2 nth
A COMME NT ART
TViih lower, fecond, and third Stories, Sec"] That
Arabian Author, and Pirke Eliefer (cap. 25.) place
Noah and his Family in the uppermoft Story 5 the
Birds in the middle 5 and the Beafts in the loweft.
Buc they forget to leave a place for their Provifion .-
And therefore they make a better diftribution who
think the Beafts were beftowed m the lower Story,and
that the third ferved for the Birds, with AWjandhis*
Family :.. Thefecond between both, being left for the
Stores that were to be laid in of Meat and Drink for
them all. The creeping things, fome think, might well
live in the fpace between the lower Story, and the
bottom of the Ark.
Verfc 17. Ver. 17. And behold, I, even I, do bring a Flood of
Waters, &c] /. e. They (hall unavoidably be all
fwept away 5 for I my felf will bring a Deluge upon
themrNotan ordinary Flood, but one of which T will
appear to be the Author. All Nations, it plainly ap-
pears, by fuch Records as remain, had heard iomething
of this Flood. Lucian in his DeaSyriattWs a long (lo-
ry of it, out of the Archives of Hierapolis very like
to this of Mofes, only he puts the Name of Deuca-
lion inftead of Noah. Plutarch mentions the Dove
fent out of the Ark. And lb doth Abydenus^ men-
tioned by Eufebins, (X.1X. Pr£par. Evang. cap. 12.)
fpeakof Birdsin general^ which being fent out, re-
turned again to the Ship, finding no place to reft in
but there only. Jofephus mentions a great many more,
not only Berofus thtChald£an,but Hieronymus /Egypt ius
who wrote the Ancient Phoenician Hifiory, Mnafeas, Nz-
cholaus Dam afcenus, with many others. St.Cyril alfo.L.I.
againft Julian, quotes a paflage out of Alexander Po~
lyhijlar^ wherein is part of the Story -y only he calls
Noah by the Name of Xifitthros, (as Abydenns calls
him
npm GENESIS. 133
him Seifitbrvs) iff the Dialect of the A]fyri.ins, as fomeChapter
conje&ure. And now it appears that the Americans VI
have had a Tradition of it, (as credible Authors, L^\"-\J
Acoflar Htrrtra% and others inrorm us, ) which faidi
The whole Race of Mankind was deltr'oyed by the
Deluge, except fome few that efcaped. They are
the words or Augujiin Ccrata, concerning the Vcruvi-
in Tradition. And Lupus Qomara faith the fame from
thofe of Mexico. And if we can believe Mart* Xlar-
tinins his Hiftory of China, there is the like among
the People of that Country.
Ver. 18. And with thee I will cftablifl) ?;jy Coven ant 7\ Verfe 1 3.
I will make good the Fromife i have made to thee, to
preferve thee and all that are with thee in the Ark.
For fo the word Covenant is fometimes ufed : And it
is reafonable to think God made him fuch a Promife 5
which is plainly enough implied in verfe 8. Or, other-
wife, we muft underftand this of the Covenant about
the promifed Seed, III. 15. Which he faith he will e-
ftablifh with him 5 and confequently preferve him
from perifhing.
Thou, thy Sons, and thy Sons Wives with thee. ~]Th\S
Paflage (hows the Ark was not an hundred Years in
building, as fome have imagined : For none of thefe
Sons were born an hundred Years before the Flood }
and we muft allow fome Years for their growth, till
they were fit to take Wives. Compare V. 32. with
VII. 6. And, if wTeobferve how Sen/, though he had
a Wife before the Flood, yet had noChildren, (Tor
Arphaxad his firft Child was not born till two Years
aiterthe ^lood, XL 10 J it will incline us to think,
that Noah received the Command for building the
Ark, not long before the Flood came.
Ver.
Verfe 19.
A COMMENTARY.
Ver. 19. Two of every fort.'] u e. Of unclean Beafts,
as it is explained, VII. 2.
They fh all be Male and Female.^ To prefer ve the
Species. Lucian in his Book of the Syrian Goddefs,
where he defcribes the Flood, faith, all Creatures went
into the Ark, &4 £<£>5*«, by pairs.
Verfe 20. Ver. 20. Of howls after their kjnd, Sccf) In fuch
NurrUrs as is direfted afterward, VII. 3. Which
feetns to fome to be fo very great, there being ma-
ny forts of living Creatures, that they could not pot
fibly be crowded into the Ark 3 together with Food
fufficient for them. But fuch Perfons never diftinft-
lyconfidered fuch things asthefe./v'r/?, That all thofe
which could live in the Water, are excepted : And
fo can feveral Creatures befides Fifties. Secondly \ That
of the Species of Beafts, including alfo Serpents, there
are not certainly known ^nd defcribed above an hun-
dred and fifty, (as Mr. Ray hath obferved,) and the
Number of Birds above five hundred. Thirdly, That
that there are but a few Species of very vaft Creatures,
fuch as Elephants, Horfes, &c. And Fourthly, That
Birds are generally of fo fmalla bulk, that they take
up but little room. And, Fifthly, That if we fuppofe
creeping Infe&s ought to be included, they take up
Jefs, though very numerous. And, Laftty, That lefs
Provifion would ferve them all, when they were (hut
up clofe, and did not fpend themfelves by Motion ^
and befides, were in a continual confufed Agitation,
which palTd their Appetites. From all which, and
many more Gonfiderations, it is eafie to demonftrate
there was more than room enough, for all forts of
Creatures that God commanded to be brought into
the Ark .• And for their Food, during the time they
ftayed in it.
Two
upon GENESIS. 135
Two of every fort /ball come uniotbeey Sec] In the Chapter
foregoing Verfe he had faid, Two of > rtjbalt thou VI.
bring into the srl{. Whi( h he npoffible ; L/"WS
for by what means fhoui ill together?
Therefore here it is explained i I e \s}tbejfJbaU
come unto thee 3 bv Can God w! trie them
and moved them to it. It \e)
is commonly ceflfured for . .■ ;, 1 1 ' rf^-
vern every Species o r itnr r
But (Terting afHe c H -r -ly
pttfidii Creature < n-
oongfutty in a . thatC I, by Irvof
his Angels, broi m to the \ her
agrecabit u> the Holy Scriptures, •« I ' r
Divine Majefty, as employing t* ii en ceinallAf-
fairs here below.
Ver. 2 1 . Tdk$ unto thee of all Food i hat is eaten, &c] Verfe 2 1 .
Either by Man or Beaft Food fi ; very Crea-
ture. Among which, though there be many that
feed on Flefh $ yet other Food, as feveral Hiliories
teftifie, will go down with them, when they are ac-
cuftornd to it. See Philoftratus, L. V. c 15. izetzes
Chi I. V. Hiji. 9. Snlpit. Severns, De Monacho Thcbaid.
Dial. I. c. 7.
Ver. 12. Thus did AW;, according to alf that G^ Verfe 2 2
commanded him , Scc.^ He made the Ark of fuch
Dimenfions, and laid up Provifions for all Creatures,
as he was dire&ed. This he did when the hundred
and twenty Years drew towards an end. See Ver. iS.
CHAP
A COMMENT ART.
CHAP. VII.
Verfe I. Ver. i./^O/ae thou and all thy Houfe into the Ark']
\_j When the time of God's Patience was
expired, he required him to enter into the Ark which
he had prepared 5 and unco which all forts of Crea-
tures were gathered.
For I have fecn thee, Sec] I have observed thee fin-
cerely Obedient, when all the reft of the World
were impious.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. Of every clean Be aft ^ Sec] The diftin&ion
of Beafis clean and unclean being made by the Law
of Mofes, hath given fome a colour to fay that he
wrote this Book after they came out of Egypt and
received the Law : Which made him fpeak in that
Style. But it may be anfwered to this, That though
with refpeft to Mens Food the diftin&ion of clean
and unclean Creatures was not before the Law ^ yet
fome were accounted fit for Sacrifice, and others not
fit, from the beginning. And then clean Beafis in
this place, are fuch as are not rapacious } which were
not to be offered unto God. In fhort, the rite of
Sacrificing being before the Flood, this difference of
Beafts was alfo before it. The only Queftion is,
How Men came to make this difference > Some ima-
gine, That they confidered the Nature of Beafts, and
by common Reafon determined that ravenous Crea-
tures were unfit for Sacrifice: But it is more likely
that they had Directions from God for this, as thev
had for Sacrificing. Which though they be not re-
corded, yet I think, are rather to be fuppofed, than
imagine
1
upon G E N E S I S. i 37
►imagine Men were left in fuch Matters to their own Chapter
Dilcretion. Abarbincl indeed here fays, That Noah VII.
out of his profound W'ifdom d/fcemed clean from unclean ; L/^VNJ
And if he had ftop'd here, and not added, That he
difcerned the difference from their Natures, he had laid
the truth. For, he being a Prophet, may be thought
to have had Inftruttionsfrom above about fuch Mat-
ters ; though others, who firft were taught to facrifice
had them before him.
By fevens!} Seven couple, it is moft probable, that
they might have fufficient for Sacrifice when they
came out of the Ark } and, if need were, for Food
if other Provifion did not hold out.- At leaft for
Food, after the Flood, when God inlarged their for
mer Grant, IX. 3.
Ver. 4. For yet feven Days, Sec."] So much time he Verfe if
gave him for the difpofinghimfelf,and all things elfe
in the Ark.
Ver. 5. And Noah did according unto all that fta Verfe 5.
LORD commanded him.] He had faid the fame be-
fore, VI. 22. withrefpeft to the preparation of the
Ark, and provifion of Food *• And now repeats here
again with refpeft to his entring into it himfelf, with
all other Creatures. For fo it follows, verfe 7, 8,&c.
Ver. 6. Noah was fix hundred years old, Sec/] Cur- Verfe 6.
rent, as we fpeak, not compleat, as appears by com-
paring this with IX. 28, 29. where he is faid to have
lived three hundred and fifty Years after the Flood,
and in all nine hundred and fifty. Whereas it fhould
have been nine hundred fifty one, if he had been full
fix hundred Years old when the Flood began.
V. 1 o. And it came to pafs after feven Days, Sec] Ver[e 1 0t
Ashe had faid, verfe 4.
t Ver.
138 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 1 r. In thefecond Month."] Of the Year, and of
VII. theyZr hundrcthYear of Noah's Life : /. e. In October;
\S~y*s^ for anciently the Year began in September : Which
Verie 1 r. was changed, among the Ifraelites, in Memory of their
coming out of Egypt, into March, Exod. XII. 2.
Ihe feventeenth Day of the Month.'] Which was
the beginning of our November.
All the Fountains of the great deep were broken
up, Sec] Here are two Caufes affigned of the De-
luge.- Firji, The breaking up the Fountains of the
great Deep; And, Secondly, The opening the Windows
of Heaven. By the great Deep is meant, thofe Waters
that are contained in vaft quantit!es,within the Bowels
of the Earth. Which being prefled upward, by the
falling down of the Earth, or fome other Caufe un-
known to us, gufhed out violently at feveral parts of
the Earth, where they either found or made a vent*
For that's meant by breaking up the Fountains of the
great Deep : The great holes, or rather gaps that
were made in the Earth ^ at which thofe fubterrane-
ous Waters burft out. This joined with the continual
Rains for forty Days together, might well makefuch
a Flood, as is here defcribed. For Rain came down
not in ordinary Showers, but in Floods 5 which Mo-
calls opening the Windows, or Flood-gates of Hea-
ven ; And the LXX tranfhte Cataracts. Which they
can beft understand, who have feen thofe Fallings of
Waters in the Indies, called Spouts: Where Clouds
do not break into Drops, but fall with a terrible Vio-
ience, in a Torrent. In (hort, it is evident from this
Hifrory, that the Waters did once cover the Earth,
(we know not how deep,) fo that nothing of the
Earth could be feen, till God feparated them, and
. 1 fome into Clouds, and made the reft fall into
Chan*
upon GENESIS, 139
Channels, which were made for them, and comman- Chapter
ded dry Land to appear, Gen. 1. 2,7, 10. Thei \ il.
it is no wonder, if thefe Waters were raifed up again,
by fome means or other, to cover the Earth as before.*
Efpecially when the Waters above the Firmament,
came down to join with thofe below, as they did at
the beginning.
This fome wife Heathens look'd upon as apoffible
thing. For Seneca treating of that fatal Day, fas he
calls it, L. III. Nat. gueft. c. 27.) when the J
pall come, (Tor he fanfied it ftill Future,) qu .
how U may come to pals. Whether by the force of
the Ocean overflowing the Earth ^ or, by perper
Rains without intermiflion :, or, by the fw el ling
Rivers, and the opening of new Fountains 5 or, there
fhall not be one Caufe alone of fo great a mifchic
but all thefe things concur, nno agmme ad txitlum
bantam generis, in one Troop to the Deftru&ion of
ikind. Which laft Refolution, he thinks, is the
Truth, Loth there, and in the laft Chapter of that
Book. Where he hath thefe remarkable Words 5
When hath not Nature difpofed Moijture, to attach its
all fides, vrhen H pleafes ? In/ wanes funl in abdito
lacus, 8ce« c There are huge Lakes which we do not
* fee 5 much of the Sea, that lies hidden $ many Ri-
4 vers that Hide in fecret. So that there may be Caufes
1 of a Deluge on all fides, when fome Waters flow
1 in under the Earth 5 others flow round about it,
* which being long pent up overwhelm it; and Ri-
c vers join with Rivers, Pools with Po \ And
' as our Bodies fome times diflblve intoSweat, fo the
c Earth (hall melt, and without the help of other
c Caufes, (hall find in it felf, what will drown it, &c.
1 There being on a fudden. every where, op
T 2 c and
A COMMENT ART.
c and fecretly,from above, and from beneath, an E-
1 ruption of Waters. Which words are written as if
he had been diretted to make a Commentary upon
Mofes.
Verfe 12. ^er* l2: And the Ram was upon the Earth forty
Days, Scc.3 It continued raining fo long, without;
any intermiffion.'
Verfe -it* Ver. x3< InthefelffameDay, &C."] In that very
Day, when the Rain began, did Noah and his Fami-
ly, &c: finifh their going into the Ark, Which
could not be done in a Day or two , but required a,
good deal of time : And now he had compleated
it ^ the very laft Creature being there beftowed. For,
it is likely, he put in all other things firft 5 and then
went in himfelf, with his Wife, and Children, and?
their Wives .• Who were no fooner entred, but the
Waters brake in upon the Earth from beneath} and
came down pouring from above.
Verfe. 16'. Ver. 16. The LOR DJlwt him in.'] Or, fhut the
Door after him : Clofed itfo fafr, that the Waters
could not enter, though it was not pitched, as the
reft of the Ark. How this was done, we need not en-
quire. It is likely by an Angelical Power; which,
Ifuppofed before, conduced the feveral Creatures
into the Ark.
Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And the Flood was forty Days upon the.
Earth, 8ccJ After forty Days Rain, the Waters were
fo high $ that they bare up the Ark, fo that it did not-
touch the Earth.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And the Waters prevailed.'] By more Rain,
which fell after the forty Days, the Inundation grew
ftrong and mighty, fas the Hebrew word fignifies,) fa
ftrong, that the Waters bore down Houfes, and Trees,
as fome expound it.
And
upon GENESIS. 141
And were incrufed greatly."] He faid before, vcrfe Chapter
17. they were irtcreafed, but now, that they were VII.
greatly increased. Which muft be by more Pvain Qill fX>V^
tailing on the Earth $ though not in fuch uninterrup-
ted Showers, as during the forty Days.
And the Arkjccnt upon the face oft he Waters.] Moved
from place to place, as the Waves drove it.
Ver. 19. And the Waters prevailed exceedingly upon V
the Earthf] This is an higher Expreffion than before;
fignifying their rifing ftill toa greater pitch by conti-
nued Rains.
All the high Mountains y that were under the whole
Heaven, were covered.'] There were thofe anciently,
and they have their Succeffors now, who imagi-
ned the Flood was not Univerfal, a>A5 2* <5 0*
7B75 £v$*'j)7rci 9W, but only there, where Men then
dwelt 5 as the Author of the Queftions, Ad Ortho-
doxos, tells us, j^ 34. But they are confuted by thefc
Words, and by other PafTages, which fay all Flelh
died. Forthe Truth is, the World was then fully
peopled, as it is now, and not only inhabited in fome
Parts of it, as may be eafily demonftrated, if Men
would but confider, That in thefpace of One thou-
[and fix hundred fifty fix Years, when Men lived fo
long as they then did, their increafe could not but
be fix times more than hath been in the fpace of Five
thoufand Years fince Mens Lives are (hortned, as we
now fee them. Therefore it is a ftrange Weaknefs
to fanfie, that only PaUftine, Syria^ or Mefopotamia,
or fome fuch Country, was drowned by the Flood 5
no more of the Earth being then inhabited : For
thofe Countries could not have held the fortieth
part of the Inhabitants, which were produced be-
tween the Creation and the Flood : no, all the Earth
was
A COMMENTARY.
was not more than fufficient to contain them -0 as
many have clearly proved.
Plato fays, there were in his days, IT*A*/o} Myo^
ancient Traditions, which affirm'd there had been
fundry Deftru&ions of Mankind by Floods, as well
as other ways .* In which fc^^y n r$ dv^iroov Aet-
irto&aui 3*K§L, a fmall parcel of Mankind were left.
And particularly he faith concerning Floods, That
they were fo great, that only a/MK&i ^tpj^l, fome
very little Sparks of Mankind were laved, and thofe
upon the tops of Mountains : And the like he faith
of Beafts, That WwaTzrj'ra, very few of them were
left, to fupportthe life of Mankind. L. III. De-Le-
glb. p. 67 7. Edit. Semi. But this appears to have
been an imperfeft Tradition, the higher Mountains
having been covered with the Waters, as well as the
low Countries :, and that all the Earth over. Which
need not feem ftrange if we confider what was faid
before upon Verfe it. And withal obferve that the
^Diameter of the Earth being [even thoufand Miles,
and confequenrly from the Superficies to the Cen-
ter, no lefs than Three thoufand five hundred Miles, it
is not incredible, fas Sir W. Raleigh difcourfes, L. I.
c. 7. §. 6.) that there was Water enough in the
great Deep, which being forced up from thence,
might overflow the loftielt Mountains: Efpecially,
when Water came pouring down alfo from above fo
faft, that no Words can exprefs it. For there is no
Mountain above thirty Miles high, upright^ which
thirty Miles being found in the Depths of the Earth,
One hundred and fixteen times} why fhould we think
it incredible that the Waters in the Earth (Three
thoufand five hundred Miles deep) might be well able
to cover the fpace of thirty Miles in heighth ? It
would
upon GENESIS. ,.&
would help Men. unbelief, if they would Jil Chanter
conliderthe vaft Inundations, which are made yearly VII
in Egypt, only from the Rains ,| in . thio- u~/"U
•• And the likeOverflowings yearly in
ofrhe great River Orenoque h wh
i Flams, at other times inh e j^j
twenty Foot under . between May ai
her.
V.er- 2°- Fj('-'c" f '"' : ''■ «/ fmb. did the W, .- Verie 2c.
curA &c.] Mofis doth not here plainly fay That
the Waters prevaile,!. above' the highefl:
Mouma.ns h though I do not fee, but there might
be Water enough \ up> by the fore-mem
means, to cover them to high .• And the «
fce thus interpreted, The Waters prevailed fifteen C»-
upwards after the Mount. \d_ Uther.
wife, by the high Hills in the I i . we mufl.
understand only fuch fin ' r„[
Countries; and by Mountains in this 0fe
long Radges of "Hills (inch as j>
I which firetch themfch y hundred*
of Mdes, through a great part or trai. Se*
** hundred andjrfty day,,-]
to import, That whatfx :sther^
/ft Days. Otherw,!.
^Tr^'r ,norr i
monly fuppofe at for
not have prevailed .
would haveiunk much
fon of the Declivity of , ; ^
S44-
Chapter
VIII.
A COMMENTARY
were fo far from falling, that fas Mr. Ray hath ob-
fervedin his pious and learned DifcourfeoftheD//^-
Intioti of the World*) the tops of Mountains were not
Verfe n. feen^ tifl the beginning of the tenth Month $ that is,
till Two hundred andjeventy Days were pafled.
CHAP. VIII.
Verfe i. ' Ver.
I. \ ND God remembred Noah, Sec. J Took
Ji\ Compaflion upon him, and heard his
Prayers, which we may well fuppofe he made for
himfelf, and for all Creatures that were with him.
Thus the word remember is ufed, XIX. 19. XXX. 22.
The Hebrew Dottors here again take notice of the
word Elohim, fSee VI. 12.) which is the Name for
Judges $ and obferve that even God's Juftice was turn-
ed to Mercy. Juftice it felf was fatisfied, as Sol. Jar-
chi expreffes it.
And God made a Wind topafs over the Earth, &C/J
Some gather from hence, that during the fall of the
Rain, there was no Storm or violent Wind at all 5
but the Rain fell down-right. And confequently
the Ark was not driven far from the place where it
was built .• It having no Mafts, or Sails, but moving
as a Hulk or Body of a Ship, without a Rudder, up-
on a calm Sea. Vhilo indeed (in his Book De Abra-
hamo) gives a quite different Defcription of the De-
luge 5 reprefenting the inceflant Showers, to have
been accompanied with dreadful Thunder and Light-
ning, Storms and Tempefts. But there is not a word
in this Story to countenance it
This
upon GENESIS. 145
This Wind it is very probable was the North-wind, Chapter
which is very drying, and drives away Rain, (Prov. VII.
XXV. 13. ) which came, perhaps, out of the L^V^sJ
South, as I (aid upon VI. 14. Thus Ovid repre-
fents it in the Flood of Deucalion, where he faith
Jupiter,
Nub/la dkjecHy nimbifque Aquilonc rcmotn, &c.
And the Waters ^Jfwaged."] This drying Wind, and
the Sun, which now began to (hine, with great pow-
er, mule the Waters fall. For, if the Second Month,
when the Flood began, was part of our OBober and
November 5 then the Flood abated ("after an Hun-
dred and fifty Days) in the beginning of May, when
the Summer came on apace.
Ver. 2. The Fountains alfo of the Deep."] There Verfe 2.
was no further irruption or boiling up of the Wa-
ter out of the Bowels of the Earth.
And the Rain from Heaven was rejlrained.'] So that
the Rains ceafed at the end of an Hundred and fifty
Days.
Ver, 3. And the Waters returned from off the Earth Verfe 3.
continually, &c] The Waters rolling to and fro by
the Wind, fell by little and little : And after the end
of the Hundred and fifty Days began to decreafe. So
the Vulgar Latin well tranflates the latter end of this
Verfe, were abated^ i.e. began fenfibly to decreafe.
Ver. 4. And the Ark refiedin thefeventh Month, &c.] Verfe 4,
Of the Year, not of the Flood.
Upon the Mountains of Ararat."] i. e. Upon one of
the Mountains, as XIX. 29. God overthrew the Cities
in which Lot dwelt; i.e. In one of which he dwelt.
jf»^g. XII. 7. Jephtah was buried in the Cities ofGi-
, V lead;
i+6 A COMMENT ART
Chapter lead^Je. In one of the Cities. For there was no
VII. one Mountain called by this Name of Ararat : But it
belonged to a long Ridge of Mountains, like the Alps
or Pyrcn&an, which are Names appertaining, not to
oie, but to all. And Sir W.Raleigh, I think, truly
judges that all the long Ridge of Mountains, which
run through Armenia, Mefopotamia, AJfyria, Media,
Sufiana,&JZ. i. e. FvomCilicia to Paraponifus, are cal-
led by Mojes, Ararat, as by Pliny they are called Tau-
rus. And that Author thinks the Ark fettled in fome
of the Eafiern Parts of Taurus, becaufe Noah planted
himfelf in the Eaft after the Flood, ("and it is likely
did not travel far from the place where the Ark
refted,) as appears, he thinks, from Gen. XI. 2. where
we read his Pofterity, when they began to fpread,
went IVeJiivard and built Babel. The common Opi-
nion is, That the Ark refted in fome of the Moun-
tains of Armenia, as the Vulgar Latin translates tjje
word Ararat 5 i. e. faith St.Hierom, upon the higheft
part of Taurus. But Epiphanius (who was before
him) faith, upon the Gordi&au Mountains 5 and fo
Jonathan, and Onkelos, and the Nubknfian Geographer,
and many others mentioned by Bochartus : Who is-
of this Opinion, as having the moft Authority. Many
of which fay, That fome Relicks of the Ark were
remaining upon thofe Mountains: Which (as Theo-
doret obferves upon Ifa. XIV. 15.J were accounted
the higheft in the whole World. V. Pbaleg. L. II. c. 3;
and L.lV.c. 38.
There were fuch Remainders of this Hiftory among
the ancient Scythians, that in their difpute with the£-
gyptians about their Antiquity, they argue it partly
from hence 5 that if the Earth had ever been
drown'd, their Country muft needs be fir ft inhabited
agai&3
upon GENESIS. 1 47
again, becaufe it was firft clear'd from the Water } Chapter
being the higheft of all other Countries in the World. VII.
Thus their Argument runs in Jufliny L. II. cap. i. ^*^v~*~>
where he hath given us a brief relation of it, f if we
had Trogus, whom he Epitomizes, it's likely we fhould
have underftood their Tradition more perfeftly,)
in this manner, If all Countries were anciently drown d
in the Deep, profe&o editiflnmm quamque partem,
we muft needs grant the highefl parts of the Earth, were
firft uncovered of the Waters , that ran down from them ;
And the fo oner any part was dry, the fooner were Ani-
mals there generated, tfow Scythia is fo much raifed
above all other Countries, that all the Rivers which rife
there, run down into the Moeotis, and fo into the Pontick
an J Egyptian Sea, Sec.
Ver. 5. And the Waters decreafed continually until Verfe 5.
the tenth Month.'] For the Summer's heat mud needs
very much dry them up, when there was no Rain.
In the tenth Month were the tops of the Mountains
feenT) This (hows the Mountain on which the Ark
refted was the higheft, at lead in thofe Parts : Becaufe
it fettled there above two Months before the tops of
other Mountains were feen. And, perhaps, the Ark,
by its weight, might fettle there, while the top of
that Mountain was covered with Water : Which,
it's poffible, might not appear much before the
reft.
Ver. 6. At the end of forty days."] Forty Days after Verfe 6,
the tops of the Mountains appeared, i. e. on the ele-
venth Day of the eleventh Month > which was about
the end of our July.
Ver. 7. He fent forth a Raven."] For the fame End, Verfe 7.
no doubt, that the Dove was fent forth : To make
difcovery whether the Earth were dry : For if it
V 3 were
148 A COMMENTARY
Chapter were, the fmell of the dead Carcafes, he knew*,,
VII. would allure it to fly far from the Ark : Which it did
L/~^/~SJ not, but only hover'd about it, as it follows in the
next Words.
Went forth to and fro."] In the Hebrew more plain*
ly, going forth^ and returning. That is, it often went
from the Ark, and as often returned to it For af-
ter many flights, finding nothing but Water, it ftill
betook it felf unto the Ark : either entring into it,,
or fitting upon it ^ till at laft the Waters being dri-
ed up, it returned no more. That is, Fifty Days
after its firft going forth, Verfe 13. All which time
k fpent in going out, and coming back. Bochart
indeed approves of the Greek, Verfion 5 which makes
the Raven, not to have returned : For which he gives
fome fpecious Reafons, (L. II. cap. 12. P. II. Hierc-
zoic.) and hath fuch of the Hebrews to countenance
him, as R. Eliefer, who faith, (Pirke.cap. 23.) That
the Raven found a Car cafe of a Man upon a Mountain,
and fo would return no more.
But the next words (which in the Greeks and He-
brew are both alike) confute this Tranflation.
Until the Waters were dried up from the Earth.']
Which make this plain and eafie Sence, in connexion
with the foregoing, (as they run in the Hebrew,)
that while the Earth continued covered with Wa-
ter, tire Raven often flew from the Ark, but find-
ing no convenientplace to reft in, returned thither
again: Till the Ground was dry. Whereas, accord-
ing to the Greel^ we muftfuppofe the Raven to have
returned to the Ark, when the Waters were dried,
ap from the Ground. Which is very abfurd : For,
if it had fome time fat upon a Carcafe floating in
the Waters, before they were dried up; or upon the
upon GENESIS. 149
top of fome Mountain which already appeared : Chapter
what (hould make it return when all the Waters were VII.
gone every where, and not rather while they re- L^VSJ
mained upon the Ground >
Ver. 8. Alfo he fent forth a Dove.'] As a proper Crea- Verfe 8.
ture to make further Difcoveries : Being of a ftrong
flight, loving to feed upon the Ground, and pickup
Seeds ^ and conftantly returning to its reft, from the
remoteft places. Thefe two Birds, (the Raven and
the Dove,) fome imagine were fent forth upon one
and the fame Day, or but a Day between 5 as Bo-
chartus conjectures. But this doth not agree with
Verfe 10. where it is faid, Noah flayed yet other feven
Days, and then fent out the Dove again: Which
relates to feven Days preceding , which feem to
have pafled between the fending out of the Raven
and of the Dove*
Ver. 9. The Dove found no reft, fkc.~] For, though Verfe 9*
the tops of the Mountains appeared, yet they con-
tinued muddy, as fome conceive 3 or, they were fo
far off, that the Dove could not eafily reach them.
Ver. IO. And he fiaid yet other feven days."] It ap* Verfe 13.
pears by this, that on tht feventh Day, iV^Aexpe&ed
aBleffing rather than on another Day : It being the
Day devoted from the beginning to Religious Ser-
vices. Which he having (it is likely) performed,
thereupon fent out the Dove upon this Day, as he
had done before, with hope of good Tidings.
Ver. 11. And, lo, in her Month was an Olive -leaf (or Verfe ] 15
Branch the word fignifies) plnckf ojf.~) Bochart thinks
the Dove brought this out oiAffyria, which abounds
with Olive-Trees, and lay South of Ararat; the Wind
then blowing towards that Country from the North.
(See Hierezeic £, *. e. 6* p. a,) where he (bows out
ox
s5b A COMMET^TARY
Chapter of many Authors, that not only Olive-Trees, butfome
VII. other alfo, will live and be green under Water. All
^•\r\jthe difficulty is, how the Dove could break off a
Branch (as the Vulgar tranllates it) from the Tree.
But it is eafily folved, if we allow, as I have faid
before, that now it was Summer-time i which brought
new Shoots out of the Trees, that were eafily
ctopt.
60 he kpevo the Waters were abated^ The tops of
Mountains were feen before, verfe 5. but now he un~
derft^od the Waters had left the lower Grounds.
Yet not fo left them that the Dove would (lay ^ the
Earth it is likely, remaining very chill.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. And he Si aid yet other feven days.'] See
Verfe 10. The Obfervation there, being confirm'd by
what is repeated here.
Returned not again to him any more.'] There want-
ing neither Food, nor aNeft wherein to repofe it felf.
By which Noah underflood, the Earth was not only
dry, and fit to be inhabited : But that it was not
quite fpoiled by the Flood, but would afford Food
for all Creatures.
Verfe 15. Ver. 13. Noah removed the covering of the Arkf\
Some of the Boards on the top. For he could fee
further by looking out there, than ff he look'd out
at the Door, or the Window, which gave him a pro-
fpeft but one way.
The face of the Ground torn dry J] Quite freed from
Water, but yet fo foft and muddy, that it was not
fit to be inhabited : As appears by his (laying (till, al-
moft two Months more, before he thought fit to go
out. So the following Verfe tells us.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. In the fecond Month, Ike."} If their Months
were fuch as ours, twelve of which make Three hun-
dred
upon GENESIS i^i
dred fixty five Days, tfef] Noah Raid in the Ark a Chapter
whole Year and ten Days, as appears by comparing VII.
this I'trfc with Vil. ii. But it they were Lunar s-/^s^^y
Months, which is moft probable, then he was in the
Ark juft one of our Years: Going out on the Three
hundred and fixty fifth Day alter his entrance into it.
Was the Earth dried.'] Perfeftly dried, fo that no
moifrure remained 5 and Grafs, it is likely,was iprung
up for the Cattle.
It need not feem a wonder, that Mofes gives fo
pun ft ml and particular an Account of this whole
matter, and of all that follows } for he lived within
Eight hundred Years of the Flood : And therefore
might very well know what had been done within
that Period, and eafily tell how the World was peo-
pled by the Pofterity of Noah. Which could not
but be frefh in memory, when Men lived fo long 5
that not much above three Generations had parted,
from the Flood to Mofes. For Stkm* who faw the
Flood was contemporary with Abraham^ as he was.
with Jacob, whofe great Grand-child was the Fa-
ther of Mofes.
Ver. \6. Go forth cut of the Arl{T\ Though he faw Verfe 16,
the Earth was fit to be inhabited jj yet he waited for
God's Order to go out of the Ark, as he had it for his
entring into it.
Thou and thy Wife, Sccf] I do not think the Obferva-
tion of fome of the Jews is abfqrd 5 who by comparing
this Verfe with VII. 1 5. make this Col leftion : That
while they were in the Ark, the Men did not coha-
bit with their Wives 5 it being a time of great Af-
fliftion : And therefore they kept afunder in fep>
rate Apartments. So R. Elieferin his Pirke, Cap. XX II I.
where R. Levitas thus gathers it ; When they went
...CO
tf2 * COMMENTARY
Chapter into the Ark it is faid, VII. 1 3. Noah and his Sons en-
VII. tredi and then Noah's Wife, and his Sons Wives : Be-
iys/"\j hold, faith he, here the Men are put together, and
the Women together. But when they come out it
is here faid, Go forth, thou and thy Wife, and thy Sons,
and thy Sons Wives, with thee 3 lo, here they are cou-
pled together, as befcre they were feparated. And
io we find them again, verfe 18. where it is faid, Noah
went forth and his Wife, &C.
Verfe 17. Ver. 17. Bring forth evtry living Creature, &C. that
they n/ay breed, Sec.'} One would think, by this, that
no Creature bred in the Ark, no more than Men:
But now are fent forth to breed and multiply in the
Earth.
Verfe 20. Ver' 2a ^»A Noah built an Altar to the LOR D.}
* We never read of any built before this time: Though
we may reafonably conclude there was an Altar upon
which Cain and Abel offered 3 in the place appointed
for Divine Worfhip.
Offered Burnt- offerings 7\ He reflores the ancient
Rite of Divine Service $ which his Sons and their
Pofterity followed. Some think thefe Burnt-Offer-
ings had fomething in them of the Nature of a Pro-
pitiatory Sacrifice, as well as Eucharifiical, which
they certainly were for their Deliverance from
the Flood. Their Reafon is taken from what fol-
lows.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. The LORD fmelled a fxoeet favour \\
That is, as Munfier under ftands it, he ceafed from
his Anger and was appeafed. So the Syriack^zMo,
and Jofephvs, L.l.Antiq. c. 4. But it may fignifie no
more, but that his Thankfulnefs was as grateful to
God, as fweet Odors are to us.
And
upon GENESIS. 153
And the LORD faid in his hearth] He determi- Chapter
ned, or rcfolved in himfelf. The Vulgar underftands VIII.
this, as if the Lord fpake comfortably to Noah, wv-^
(which in the Hebrew Phrafe \s,fpcal{ing to ones heart)
and (aid,
/ will not again Ctirfe the Ground any more.'] i. e. Af-
ter this manner, with a Deluge.
For the in/agination of Alans heart is evil front his
youth,'] Such a proclivity there is in Men to evil,
that if I fhould fcourge them thus, as often as they
deferve, there would be no end of Deluges. But
the Words may have a quite different fence, being
connected with what went before in this manner } /
vo ill not cur fc the Ground any more for Man s fake 5 thd
Ik he fo very evilly difpofed, 8cc.
Thofe v\ ords, from his Youth, fignify a long radi-
cated corruption, as appears from many places, Ifa.
XLVH. 12, 15. Jerem. III. 25. E%e^ XXIH. 8,8cc.
Sol. Jarchi extends it fo far as to fignifie, from his Mo-
thers Womb.
Ver. 22. While the Earth remaineth.'] While Men Verfe 22.
fhall inhabit the Earth.
Seed-time and Harvejl, &C.3 There (hall not be
fuch a Year as this laft has been : In which there
was neither Sowing nor Reaping 5 nor any diftin&i-
ons of Seafons, till the Rain was done.
Day and Night floall not ceafeJ] One would think
by this Expreffion, that the Day did not much differ
from Night 3 while the Heavens were covered with
thick Clouds, which fell in difmal Floods of Rain.
CHAP.
A COMMENT ART
CHAP. IX.
Verfe I. Ver. I. AND God bleffed Noah and his Sons, &c]
jT\ The Divine Majefty appeared now to
Noah and his Sons 5 to affaire them of his Favour and
Prote&ion 5 and to renew the Blefling beftowed up-
on Adam fas after a new CreationJ faying, Inereafe
and Multiply. /
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. The fear of you, Jkc.*] He feems alfo to
confirm to them, the Dominion which God gave to
Adam, at firft, over all. Creatures, I. 26.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. Every moving thing that liveth fhall he meat
for you, &C.3 Here the firft Grant made to Mankind
concerning Food, is enlarged, as St. Bafil obferves, h
'arpoi'm vo[AA?te(#,p7r£v ^TQ^ouimv (rwui^dpn^ The
firft Legiflation granted to them the ufe of Fruits 3 but
now of all living Creatures^ which they are as free-
ly permitted to eat of, as formerly of all the Fruits
of the Garden. For God feeing Men to be ape^&k,
contumacious, as Greg. A^expreffes it (Tom\.p.i$jf)
^Qn yrxvmv r *$m\avnv atu/iydpyi^H^ conceded to them
the enjoyment of all things. This is the general fence
of the Jews, and of the Chrijiian Fathers, and of the
firft Reformers of Religion. They that would have
this only a renewal of fuch an old Charter, are of la-
ter (landing 5 and can (hew us no Charter, but are led
by fome reafonings of their own, not by the Scrip-
ture : Unlefs we will admit fuch a Criticifrn upon
Gen. I. 30. as feems to me very forced. And they
would have this alfo underftood only of clean Crea-
tures : But! do not find any Ground for the diftin-
ftion
upon GENESIS. 155
ftion of Clean and Unclean Creatures, withrefpect Chapter
to Food, but only to Sacrifice, as was laid before. IX.
The reafon why God now granted the liberty to .•"V"^-'
eat Fleft,;4A4r£/W thinks was, becaufeotherwife there
would not have been Food enough for Noah and his
Sons: The Fruits of the Earth, which before were a-
bundant, being all deftroyed 5 fochat for the prefent
there was not Sufficient for their Suftenance. Others
think the reafon of it was, becaule the Fruits of the
Earth, were not now fo nutritive as they had been,
before the Salt-water of the Sea very much fpoiled
the Soil.
Ver. 4. Butflcfl) with the life thereof, Sec.'] Here is Verfe 4.
one Exception to the foregoing large Grant, that the
Blood of'Beafts fhould not be eaten: Juft as at the
firft, one Fruit in the midft of the Garden was ex-
cepted, when all the reft were allowed. The He-
brew Do&ors generally underftand this to be a pro-
hibition to cut off any Limb of a living Creature,
and to eat it while the Life, that is, the Blood was
in it : Dum adhttc vivit, & palpitat, fen tremit, as a
Modern Interpreter truly reprefents their fence.
Which is followed by many Chriftians. See Mercer,
Mufculus, efpecially Mr. Selden, L. VII. c. 1. de Jure
N. & G. who think, as Maw/omdes doth, that there
were fome People in the old World fo fierce and
barbarous, that they eat raw Flefh, while it was yet
warm from the Bead out of whofe Body it was cut :
And he makes this to have been a part of their Ido-
latrous Worlhip. (See More NcvochintfiarslW. c.\%.)
But, fuppofing this to be true, there were fo few of
thefe People, we may well think, (for he himfelf
faith, it was the Guftom of the Gentile Kings to do
thus) that there needed not to have been a Precept
X 2 given
A COMMENT ART
given to all Mankind, to avoid that, unto which
Humane Nature is of it feif averfe.
St. Chryfoflom therefore expounds this,of not eating
things fir angled : And L. de Dieu of not eating that
which dkdofitfelf: For Nephef/j in Scripture fignifies
fometime a dead Carcafe. But it is manifeft, it was
not unlawful for all People to eat fuch things ^ for
God hirnfelf orders the Ifraelites, to give that which
died of it felf to a Stranger, or to fell it to an Ali-
en, Dent. XIV. 21. And therefore the fimplefl: fence
feems to be, that they fhould not eat the Blood of
any Creature: Which was a pofitive Precept, like
that of not eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good
and Evil. And the reafcn of it, perhaps, was, that
God intending in after-times to referve the Blood,
for the Expiation of Sin, required this early abfti-
nence from it, that they might be the better prepared
to fubmit to that Law, and underftand the reafon of
it: Whichwas, that it was the Life of the Beaft^ which
God accepted in ftead of their Life, when they had
forfeited it by their Sins.
And there is another plain Reafon given of this
Prohibition, immediately after it ^ that they might
be the more fearful of fhedding the Blood one of
another ^ when it was not lawful fo much as to tafte
the Blood of a Beaft.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5, Andfnr-ely7\ Or rather, for furely., as the
LXXa the Vulgar Lalin^ and a great number of learn-
ed Men, expound the Particle Van as a Caufd, not
as a Copulative in this place. So that the fence is this :
Therefore I command you to abftain from the Blood
of living Creatures, that you may be the farther off
from fhedding the Blood of Men. For that is fo pre-
cious in my account, that I will take care he be fe-
verely
upon GENESIS. 157
ly pnnifhed, by whom it is (bed 5 yea, the very Chapter
Beaft (hall dye that kills a Man, So it follows, IX.
At the hand of every Beajt will I require it.~] Not as ^~^""*-
if Beails were to blame, if they killed a Man 5 ("for
they are capable neither of Vice nor VerRieJ) but
this was ordained with refpeft to Men, for whole ufe
Beafts were created. For, rirji, fuch Owners as were
not careful to prevent fuch Mifchiefs were hereby pu-
nifhed : And, Secondly, others were admonilhed by
their example to be cautious: And, Thirdly, God
hereby inftrufted them that Murder was a moft grie-
vous Crime, wbofe Punifhment extended even to
Beafts. And Lastly, the Lives of Men were hereby
much fecured, by the killing fuch Beafts, as mighc
otherways have done the like Mifchief hereafter. See
Bochart in his Hierozo/c. P. I. L I. c. 40.
At the hands of every Mans brother, &C."] And
therefore much more will I require it at the Hand of
every Man, Whom he calls Brother, to fliow that
Murder is the more heinous upon this account 5 be-
caufe we are all Brethren, Or the meaning may be,
(as fome will have \t) that though he be as nearly re-
lated as a Brother, he fhall not go unpunifhed.
Ver. 6. Whofo beds Mans bloodr\ He repeats it o- Verfe 6*
ver again, to ena& this Law more ftrongly. Or, as the
Hebrews underftand it, he fpike before of the punifh-
ment he would inflict himfelf upon the Murderer ;
and now of the care we (hould take to punifli it.
By ManfhaUhk blood be fled") That is, by the
Magiftrate or Judges. For God had kept the pu-
nifhment of Murder in his own Hand till now 5
as we may gather from the (lory of Cain, whom he ba-
nifhed, but fuffered no Body to kill him. But here
gives authority to Judges to call every Body to an
account
, 58 A COMMENTARY
Chapter account for it, and put them to death. They rhat
IX. would fee more of the Senfe of the Jews about thefe
L/"V%J and t'ie foregoing words, may read Mr. Selden de
Jure N. & G. L. I. cap. 5. and L. IV. cap. 1. and de
Synedrik, L. I. cap. 5.
I will only add, That they rightly conclude, that
as Courts of Judicature were hereby authorized ; fo
what was thus ordained againft Murder, by a parity
of Reafon, was to be executed upon other great Of-
fenders 5 there being fome things which are no lefs
dear to us than Life } as Virginal Chaftity, and Ma-
trimonial Fidelity, &c.
For in the Image of God made he Man."] Notwith-
ftanding the Sin of Man, there remained fo much of
the Image of God in him, as intitled him to his pe-
culiar proteftion.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And ye, be y e fruit ful,1k.c.~] You need not
doubt therefore of the blefling I now beftowed upon
you, (Verfe 1.) for you fee what care I take of the
prefervation, as well as the propagation of Mankind.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. I will efiablifi my Covenant with you!] Be-
caufe Beafts cannot Covenant, moft underftand by
that Word fimply a Promife ^ as Jer. XXXIII. 25.
But there is no need of this Explication , the Cove-
nant being made dire&ly with Noah, including all o-
ther Creatures, who were to have the benefit of it.
Verfe io. Ver. 10. From all that go out of the Ark,, to every
Bea/i of the Earth."] That is, it (hall extend not only
to thofe which now go out of the Ark } but to all
their breed in future Ages.
Verfe n« Ver. IX* And I will effablijh my Covenant with you^
&C.3 Doubt not of it $ for I tell you again, I will
faithfully keep this folemn promife.
Any
upon GENESIS. i r
Any wore he a Flood to defhoy the Earth.] That U, Cha;
the whole Earthy tor p inicular Inundations tbtrt IX.
have been often. <^^r^>
Ver. 12. . \;:d the L 0 R D fa/d, This is the Token Verfe 12,
of 'the Covenant, &c] I do not only give you my
Word $ but a Token or Sign that I will keep it.
Ver. 13. I do fet my Bow in the Clouds, &c.1| Mod Verfe 13
think this doth not iignifie there never had been a
Rain- bow before the Flood $ for fince there was both
Sun and Clouds, it is likely, they fay, there was a
Rain-bow alfo : Only now it was appointed for a Sign,
which it was not before. But as this Opinion hath
nothing in Scripture to enforce it, fo grounds in Na
ture there are none to warrant it j unlefs we will af-
ferc this manifefl: untruth, That every difpofition of
the Air, or every Cloud is fitly difpofed to produce
a Rain-bow. They are the words of that great Di-
vine, Dr. Jackson, (Book I. upon the Creed, c. 16.)
who adds, That if other Natural Caufes, with their
Motions and Difpofitions depend upon the final fas
Scripture Philofophy teaches us) they who acknow-
ledge the Scripture, have no reafon to think that either
the Clouds or the Air had that peculiar difpofition be-
fore the Flood, which is required to the production
of the Rain-bow : When this wonderful Effeft had no
fuch ufe or end, as it hath had ever fince. For
it was appointed by God, to be a Witnefs of his Co-
venant with the new World 3 a Meflenger to feci
Mankind from Deftru&ion by Deluges. Now if it
had appeared before the Flood, the fight of it after
the Flood would have been but a poor comfort to
Noah and his timorous Pofterity: Whofe Fear leaft
the like Inundation might happen again, was greater
than could be taken away by a common or ufual
Sign,
l6o A COMMENTARY
Chapter Sign. The ancient Poets had a better Philofophy
IX. (though they knew not the original of it) when they
t/v^vJ feigned Irk to be the Daughter, or (as we would
now fpeak) the Mother of Wonderment, (Qav julolv1@o
ikyovov) theMeflenger of the great God Jupiter, and his
Goddefsjfotffl.* whom Homer ("as he obfervesj repre-
fents as fent with a peremptory command to Neptune
not to aid the Grecians } by the fwelling we may fup-
pofe, of Waters, which much annoyed thzTrojans.
My Bow.'] It is called His, not only becaufe he is
the Author of all things, which have Natural Cau-
fes, as there are of this : But becaufe He appointed it
to a fpecial end 5 as a fignification and an aflurance of
his Mercy to Mankind.
Verfe 14, Ver. 14. When I bring a Cloud over the Earth.~\
i. e. When there are great figns of the Rain, which
come out of the Clouds.
That the Bow [hall he feen in the Cloudy Not always
but at certain times ; often enough to put Men in
mind of this promife, and ftir up their belief of it.
For it doth as it were fay, I will not drown the Earth
again, though the Clouds have thickned as if they
threatned it. Common Philofophy teaches us, that
the Rain-how is a natural fign there will not be much
Rain after it appears $ but that the Clouds begin
to difperfe. For it is never made in a thick Cloud,
but in a thin : So that if it appear after Showers,
which come from thick Clouds, it is a Token that
now they grow thin. But the God of Nature
chofe this to be a fign, that he would never let
them thicken again to fuch a degree to bring a
Deluge upon the Earth. And indeed the admira-
ble Form or Compofition of this glorious Circle (as the
Son of Syrach calls it, Eccluf.XLllh \i.) bent by the
Hands
upon GENESIS. 161
Handsofthc mofl High, doth naturally exciteone to Chapter
look beyond the material and efficient caufe of it, un- IX.
to the final (as the fore-named Author fpeaks.) And L/*VNJ
now that we have Mofes his Commentary upon it,
we may fee in the mixt Colours of the Rain-bow,
thefe two things } the Deftruttion of the oldWorld by
Water, and the future Consumption of the prefent World'
by Fire ^ whofe flaming Brightnefs is predominant in
the waterifh Humour.
Ver. iy. And 1 will remember my Covenant, Sec."] Verfe 1 .5 .
Look upon it as a Token of my Faithfulnefs to my
Word.
Ver. 1 6. I will lool^upon it, that I may remem-y^rk l6»
her, Scc.3 This is fpoken after the manner of Men \
the more to confirm their belief, that God would not
go back with his Word.
Ver. 17. And Godfaid, This is the Token, &C.3 AsVerfe 17.
the Promife is repeated twice, to exprefs its certain-
ty, ver. 9, 1 1. So is the Token of it as oft repeated, for
the famereafon, ver. 12. and here ver. 17.
Ver. 18. And the Sons of Noah, Sec] They are here Verfe 18.
again named, with refpeft to what follows : But not
in their order, as fhall be proved in its proper place,
(X. 21. J *or Japhet was the Eldeft.
And Ham is the Father of Canaan."] This Son of Ham
is here all alone mentioned, becaufe he was concerned
in the following wicked Faft of his Father ; And his
Pofterity were thofe wicked People whofe Country
God gave to the Ifraelites.
Ver. 19. And of them was the whole Earth over- Verfe 1 9.
fpread."] By this it appears, that though Noah lived
above three hundred years after he came out of the
Ark, yet begat no more Children 5 or if he did,
none of them lived to have any Pofterity,
Y Ver.
itfa
Chapter
XL
L/"VNJ
Verfe 20.
Verfe 21
Verfe
A COMMENTARY
Ver. 20. Beg*/? / be an Husband manT] To im-
prove the Art of Husbandry ^ which was understood
before, but he much advanced it : There being
nothing in old rime, which the greateft Men
thought more worthy their ftudy % as we fee by the
Romans themfelves, 'till they were corrupted by the
Luxury which their Conquefts brought in among
them.
And he planted a Vineyard."] There were Pines here
and there before the Flood 5 but AWAfeems to have
been thefirft that made a Vineyard, and put them in
order. And the firft, perhaps, that invented Wine*
Freffes, toprefsout the Juice of the Grapes, and make
Wine. If he was not the Inventer of thefe two,
(planting of Vineyards , and making Wine) yet we may
well allow him to be the Improver of them, as he was
of Husbandry.
Ver. 21. And he drank of the Wine, and was drun-
ken7\ Being unacquainted with the ftrength of the
Liquor, fas feveral of the Fathers, as well as of the
Jewifk Dodtors, think) or elfe being old and unable
tobearits ftrength .• As Epiphanius underftands it.
See Haref. LXIII. n. 3. For it is manifeft, from what
follows, that this hapned a great while after the
Flood 5 Ham having a Son 5 nay more than one, for
Canaan was not his firft-born.
And he was uncovered in his Text."] The heat of the
Weather, or of the Wine, perhaps, made him throw
off the Clothes: Or he was negligent being not him-
felf.
22. Ver. 2x. And Ham the Father of Canaan, 8cc.*] There
are fome Circuniftances, which follow, that make
the Opinion of the Hebrew Do&ors not improbable ^
that Canaan firft faw Noah in this indecent pofture
and
upon GENESIS. 1(3
and made fport with it to his Father .• Who was fo Chaj
far from reproving him, as he ought to have doiuj,
thai he alio did the fame. L/^VNJ
And told his two Brethren without.*] In the Street,
publickly before the People,he proclaimed his Father's
fhame, and mock'd at it. For it is hard to think
that God curfed him meerly for his Irreverence, but
there was fomething of Derifion joined with it, and
perhaps of Prophanenefs and Irreligion : in laughing
(we may conceive) at the promife of the Mejjiah,
which, it is likely, he heard his Fatheroften fpeak of:,
but now thought him incapable to beget. For Ham
is generally thought to have been an impious Man 5
and fome take him to have been the firft Tnventer of
Idols after the Flood} nay, of Magick, which he
learnt of the wicked Cabntes before the Flood. Thus
Gafpar Schotttts, L. I. de Magia, cap. 3. Prolegom.
Where he endeavours to (how he was the fame with
him whom the Per/tans call Zoroafter.
Ver. 23. And Shem and Japhet took, a Garment, &cc.*] Verfe 2:5.
A great Argument of their Piety, and dutiful Affe&i-
on to their Father 5 which God therefore greatly re-
warded.
Ver. 24. And knew what his younger Son had ^/e.^ Verfe 24.
Finding himfelf covered with Clothes that were not
his own, he enquired, it is likely, how it came about .•
And was informed how he had been abufed by one of
his Sons, and honoured by the other.
His younger Son."] Some make this an Argument
that Canaan was the firft made himfelf merry with
his Grandfather : And is here called his younger or
little Son, (nothing being more common than to call
thofe the Sons of another, who were his Grand-Chil-
dren, as Coufin-Germans are called Brothers) for Ham
Y 2 was
>/*** made Hannibal, a Child of Canaan, cry out with a*
mazementof Soul, Agnofco fatum Carthaginis, I ac-
knowledge the Fate of Carthage. Livy, L. XXVII.
in fine.
Verfe 28. Ver. 28. And Noah lived after the Flood three hun-
dred andfifty Tears.'} Which was of great Advan-
tage for the certain Propagation of the Knowledge of
thofe thingsbeforc related, and of thofe that follow
in the next Chapter. For he died not above two and
thirty Years before Abraham was born.
C H A P. X.
Verfe 1. Ver. r. 1VT0 W thefe are the Generations of the Sons
l\l of Noah, 8co] As he had often before
mentioned the three Sons of Noah, fo now he men-
tions them again, being to give an Account of their
Children, by whom the Earth was peopled after the
Flood. And he reckons them in the fame order he
had always done, (VI. 10. VII. 13. IX. 18.) firft
Shew, then Ham, and laft of all Japhet. But itisob-
fervable, that in the next Verfe he gives an Account
firft of the Sons of Japhet : Who was indeed the el-
deft. There is great ufe of this Genealogy, as Mai*
monides (hows, (Par. III. More Nev. c. 50.) becaufe
tlje Do&rine of the Creation of the World, which is
the Foundation of the Law, (i. e. of Religion,^
would not have been fo eafily believed ^ if Mofes
had not given an Account of the Succeffion of Man-
v kind,
upon GENESIS. 169
kind, from the iirft Man to the Flood ; and from Chapter
the Flood to his own time .* Showing from whom X.
all Nations were derived, and how they came to be
difperfed.
Stem, is named firftof Noah's Sons, becaufethe
blefled Seed was to fpring out of his Family : In
which the true Religion was preferved : Which was
foon loft in the Pofterity of the other two ,• among
whom their Names remained in great Honour.
For,
Ham was the Heathen Jupiter, who was called
Hammon in Egypt, which, it will appear, was part of
Hams Portion, and is called the Land of Haw, as eve-
ry one knows, in many places of the Pfalms. And
accordingly the fame Country is called by Plutarch
Xnjudx.
Japhet alfo feems to have been the fame with Jape-
Us, whom the Greeks own to have been their Fa-
ther. Nor do they know any Name of greater An-
tiquity 5 which made them give it to decrepit Per-
fons, (as many, particularly Bochart, have obferved,)
and it became a Proverb in that Country, Older than
Japerus. Whom their Poets feign to have attempted
War againft Jupiter 5 becaufe of the Diflentions
which the unlikenefs of their Manners begat between
them. Which feems to be nothing but the Story in
Chapter IX. of this Book, verfe x2. For Ham, as I
Grid., is the Heathen Jupiter.
Ver. 2. The Sons of Japhet.'] Were feven 5 the -el-
ded of which, Gomer, had three Sons ^ and the fourth
Javan, had four ; Whole Names we have in the fol-
lowing Verfes.
Gomer.~] It's hard, at this diftance, to find what
Country was peopled by his Pofterity 5 but Bochar-
Z tus
170 A COMMElNtART.
Chapter ttts in his Phafeg hath made fuch probable Conje&ures,
X. about this and all that follow* from other Scriptures*
and from Neighbouring Places, and the Relicks of
their Names in ancient Geographers, and fuch like
things, that they carry a great appearance of Truth
in them. Our famous Camden (in his Account of
the firft Inhabitants of Britain) thinks that the Cim-
bri and Cimmerii defcended from this Gomei\ who
gave them their Name $ and that the old Britain*
came from him, becaufe they call themfelves YLnmero,
Cjmro^ and Humeri 5 which feems to denote them
the Pofterity of Gomer. But this, asalfo the Notion
oiLndov. Cappellus in his Chron. Sacra, p. i04.Cwho,
if this of Mr. Camdenht not accepted, propounds
another, of the Comari and Chomari, a People in Scy-
thia (mentioned by Ptolomy) within the Mountain
Imaus, near Baclriam,) is confuted by what we read
in Ezekieh who makes Gomer to have been a Neigh-
bour of Torgantah^ Ezek- XXXVIII. 6> And Torga-
mah wzs a Nation that ufaally went to the Marts of
2}re, XXVII. 14. and confequently were not feated
in thefurthermoft part of the North $ but, as will
appear afterward, not very far from Tyre. And in
fome Country thereabouts we mud feek for Gomer:
who, it's likely, gave Phrygia its Denomination. For
a part 6f it was called Ka7cm^ty>Uwf, by Diodonts
and Hefychius, becaufe it look'd as if it were burnt.
Such was all the Country about Cayfier, M£ander9.
and the City Philadelphia. Now this is the very,
fignification of Garner. For in the Hebrew Gamar is
to confume $ and fo the Chaldee and Syriack frequent-
ly ufe it.* Whence Gumra, or Gnmroha Coal. And
Phrygia is of the fame fignification, (for ygiyw in
6m\\$totorrifod which being the Name of part
of
upon GENESIS. iji
of the Country, ior time became the Name of the Chapter
whole. X.
Magog.'] The fecond Son of Japhet, was in all L/*VNJ
likely hood the Father of the Scythians ^ which is the
Opinion of Jofephus^ Theodoret, St. Hierow, and o-
thers. For all that is faid in Scripture about Magog
exa&ly agrees to them^ as Bocharttts hath fhown at
large, out of Ezekhl: L. III. Phaleg. c. 13.
Madai7\ From him the Country of Media took
its Name : Where he and his Children fettled. And
it is the farthermoft Country Eaftward, where any
of the Pofterity of Japhet inhabited. What is the
Name of this Country at prefent, is not eafie to tell ^
the ancient name and limits of Countries fo remote,
being quite worn out of memory. But it is no
improbable Conjefture of Bochartus, (L. III. c. 14. J
That the ancient Sarntate took their Name from this
Man, Sear ox Sar-Madai, being mChaldee^ as much
as the R dicks of Madai, or the Medes. Dr. -Jack?
fony I think, hath well obferved, (Book. I.r. 16. )
rhat Scythia or the North part of Aft 'a- Minor \ and o-
cher parts adjacent, were inhabited by the Sons of jfa-
phet, before they came into Greece, (where the next
Son fettled J or the other parts of Europe.
Javan.~] Planted himfel fin Greece ^ under which
word is comprehended, not only A/w^and thereP
of the Countries thereabout ^ but even Macedonia^
and the Nations neighbouring -to k, towards the
Weft : The Sea that wafhes them, being called the Jo-
man Sea. And indeed the Hebrew word .P1 taking
away the Vowels, may be either read Java** or Ion.
From whence the Iones ^ whom Homer calls Jaoness
which is -ne ir to Java* j which a Per/tan in Arifto-
phanes his Achartienfes pronounces Jaonau j As Gro-
Z 2 tins
rJ2 A COMMENTARY
Chapter tiftf obferves. Annot. in L. I. De V. R. C. Hence Dar
X. nhl calls Alexander, who came out of Macedonia, the
(^/■W, K-ingofJavan, VIII. 2j. And the CtaWeeParaphrafe-
hath here inftead oijavan, Macedonia. See Bochart,
L. III. r,*/?. 3.
7»£*/ ;^»J Mc/ferA.] Thefe two are conftandy
joyned together by Ezekjelm many places* XXVII.
13. XXXII. 26, &c. Which is a fign thefe two Bro-
thers planted themfelves not far from one another,
And noConjefture feems fo probable as that of Bo-
chartus, who takes ihefe to be the People, whom the
Greeks call Mofcki and Tibareni : who are as con-
(tantly joyned together in Herodotus, as Mofchech and
Tubal are in Ezekjel. And none need wonder that
Tubal was changed into Tubar, and then into Tibar :
For nothing was more common among the Greeks,
than to thange the Letter L into R, asBeAiap for Beli-
al, and $i%oip for Phicol, 8cc. The Mofcki inhabited
the Mountains called Mofchici, North-eaft of Cappador
cia, and all the Mountains fas Bochart thinks J from
the River Phajis to the Pontus-Cappadocicus. The J£-
bareniwerem the middle between the Trapezuntiizud
the Inhabitants of Armenia the lefs. So S/nf/w defcribes
them, who was born not far from thefe Countries,
and had reafon to know them. Nor is this a new
Opinion of Bocharfs, that the Tibareni came from
Tubol : For Epiphanius in his Ancorats, mentions a-
mongthe Descendants of Japhet, TtSae/m, together
with the Chalybes and Mojjynaci: whom our Brough-
ton follows.
Tiras."] Or, Thiras, the youngefl: of the Sons of
Japhet, poffeffed Thrace and Myfia, and the reft of Eu-
rope towards the North. For ©e££ is Thiras or Thras
by the change of the Letter Samech intoX; .• Which
in
Hpon GENESIS ,^
in the Greek. Alphabet- (received from the. P/^r/V* Chapter
ans) anUers to the LttM Sawe^ of X.
the Hchrews wrheTif aci* with an f, Tfrrajra : And a
llraciti* Woman is Lulled by the Greeks themfelves
0^'cvja and ©{ito*-: Which comes very near to
Ih'irds. And that great lA*n§ofb*rtus fays a greardeal
more to confirm this 5 which was the Opinion, he
(hows, of many ofthe Ancients, Pialeg* 1. Wl.c. 2.
And in late times, at LuJovivus Capcllus, who adds
that poffibly Tros and Troes were derived from this
Thiras.
Ver. 3. /W /Ae Sons cfGomer.~] Now follows aaVcrfc
Account ofthofe that defcended from the eldeft Son
of Jupbet. AJIj&naz was the eldeft Son of Comer ;
whofe Pofterity fettled in Bithynia, (where we find
the foot-fteps of his Name, in the Sinus Ajcanivs, and
Afcanius Lacus, and Amnis^) and in Troas, 2nd tht
ieffer Phrygia: In which is a Country and a City
called Aft aria, and A fcania 1 rnfuU. Into which Coun-
try the Offspring of AJhkenaz, brought Colonies from
Gamer, or the greater Phrygia : And exl them-
felves to the Sea. Which being called by the Peo-
ple upon the Coaft Afc en az, was pronounced by the
Greeks vA|sK§t. Which being an odious Name in
their Language, fignifying inhofpitable, they changed
it into the contrary, and called it Fxi^oy, the £*-
xin Sea. Seemoreinthe fore-named Author, L. III.
c. 9. Ludov. Capellns hapned upon the fame Con-
jecture. Kiphath, or Diphath, as it is written in
1 Chron. 1.6. whofe Pofterity JoO:;:i^ fh inks, tci have
inhibited Taphlagonia : which is a Co rar to
Phrygia, upon the Enxine Sea : And there are re-
mainders of the Name in feveral places, both ways
written, with Reft, or wnhDaleb j zsBochart (hows,
L. Ill,
i>4 tf COM MEVTAR T
Chapter L. HI.c. i o. Mela places the Riphaces in this Country
X. as Grotius obferves, Annot. in L. I. de V. R. C.
U^VXJ TogarmaL"] His Pofterity, it is manifeft, fettled
Northward of Jtidpt defolate, from the Torter of Syenc,
to the Border cfLufo, if we fhould underftand by Qffh
the Country of /Ejhiop/a, it will be as if he had
faid, from /Ethiopia -to /Ethiopia. For. every one
A a 2 knows
8o
A COMMENT ART
Chapter knows Sjene was the Border of Egypt towards Rithio*
X. pia ' And therefore here being two oppofite Borders,
it is manifeft that £«/&•> which is the oppofite term to
Syene, cannot be JEthiopia, but Arabia : Which
bounded that part of Egypt, which is moft remote
from JEthiopia. A great number of other Arguments,
out of the Scriptures, evince this: Which Bochariu*
hath collected, L. IV. Phalcg.c. 2. and Philip. Beroah
clus afferted the fame thing, before him.
Mtzraim7\ The Father of them iv ho inhabited 15-
gypt, whofe Metropolis [_Alcairo~] the Arabians at this
Day call Mefer $ and the fir ft Month among the an-
cient Egyptians was called Mefori : And Cedrenm calls
the Country it felf Meftra, as Grotim obferves in his
Annot. in L. I. De V. R. C. and Lud. Cappellus in his
Chron. Sacra p.- 109. And this word Mizraim be-
ing of the Dual Number, (which (hows it to be the
Name of the Country rather than of a Perfon,) de-
notes two Egypts, as Bochart obferves. For fo there
were, the higher and the lower. All that Coun-
try was called the higher, where Nile runs in one
Stream : The lower was that, where it is divided into
many : Which the Greeks call Delta^ from its trian-
gular form.
Phut."] All Africa was divided between Mizraim
and Phut, as Bochartus obferves. For all Egypt, and
feveral other parts of Africa, as far as the Lake-7W-
tonides, (which divides Africa into two almoft equal
parts) fell to Mizraim. The reft, beyond that Lake,
to the Atlantic^ Ocean, was the Portion of Phut.
Of which Name there are fome footfteps, in the City
Putea, which Ptolemy, LAW. c. 1. calls $8th$. And
the River called Phut, mentioned by Pliny, asGrotius
notes; and a Country, which St Hkrom'm his time
(ays
upon GENESIS. 181
fays was called Rcgio Phntenfis : Which lies not far Chapter
from Fez,. Another name of Africa is l..nb, which we X.
often meet withal in Scripture: Whence the Name of
Lybia. Concerning which, and a great many other
Proofs that Phut was planted in Africa, fee the famous
Bocharttts, L. IV. PbaJeg.c. 33.
Canaan,'] The yonngelt Son of Ham, everyone
knows, gave Name to that Country, which God gave
afterwards to the Ifmcl/tcs. Which the Phoenicians,
whodefcended from the Cmaanitcs, called Xva, by a
contraction of the word Canaan, as many have ob~
frrved out of Eufebivs, L. I. Pr who had Jive Sons: And the fourth of them
Verfe 7. had two.
Seba'] There were four Nations, that had the Name
of Seba or Shebah, as Bochart obferves, Z. II. r. 25.
Three of them are mentioned here in this Chapter.
The firft of them, this Son of Cujh is written with
Samechi, all the reft with Schin: viz. The Grandson
of G//S, who was the Son of Raamah or Rhcgma, in
the end of this / er/e. The third was the Son of
Jocktan, the Son of She;;/, verfe 28. And the fourth
was a Grand-Child of Abraham, by his Son Jo as fome read it, was the
youngeft Son of O/fi •*> except Nimrod, who is men-
tioned by himfelf. It is hard to find the place of
his Habitation : But the reft of the Sons of Cufi be-
ing feated about the Perjian Sea, (except Nimrod,
who, as Mofes tells us, went to Babylon) Bochartu*
thinks it reasonable to feek for him in that part of
Caramania, where there was a City called Samydace,
and a River Samydachui : Which, he thinks may have
come from Sabctecba, by the change of rhe Letter
B into M: Which was very frequent in Arabia, and
the Neighbouring Countries. Foj Merodach, is alfo
called Berodach, in the Book of Kings. And in
the Chaldee Paraphrafe, Bafan is called Bathnan and
Mathnan : And Ah an a (the famous River of Damas-
cus) is expounded Am ana : And Meccha and Bee
cha, are the fame City among the Arabians. In like
.manner Sabtecha or Sabithace, might be changed into
Samydace. Now into Caramania there was a foort
■ cut over the Streights of the Perjian Gulph, out of
Arabia. I fee nothing any where more probable than
this. Conjecture of that very Learned Man. I. IV.
-Phaleg, c. 4.
And
upon GENESIS. 185
And the Sons of 'Ram ah 3 Shcba and Dedan.") He Chapter
gives an Account of none of CttfVs other Sons po- X.
iterity,but only of this : Whofe two Sons were feated L/*V\J
near him, and one other. For the younger of them,
Dcdan, feems to have left his Name in a City now
called Dadan, hard by Rhcgma, upon the fame
Shore, Eafhvard. And from this Dad an the Coun-
try now hath its Name : Of which Ezekjel fpeaks,
XXVII. 15. as Bochart (hews plainly, L. IV. c. 6.
And Shcba for as others read it, Seba, or Saba) his
elder Brother, was feated in the fame Country, not
far from Dedan, where Pomponins mentions a Peo-
ple called Sab but for a potent Perfon : And as fome.
will have it, a more fevere Covernour than they had
been, who only exercifed Paternal Authority. For he
was the firft that put down the Government of Elder-
(hip, or Paternity (as Sir W.Raleigh fpeaksj and laid
the Foundation of Soveraign Rule.
Ver. 9. He was a mighty Hunter.] Or rather, Ver(V
mighty in Hunting : For the word tzid doth not lig-
nifie a Hunter, but Hunting. Which (hows by what
means he came to be fo great a Monarch. He hard-
ned himfelf to Labour by this Exercife (which
was very toilfomj) and drew together a great Com-
pany of robuft Young Men, to attend him in this
(port : Who were hereby alfo fitted to purfue Mer\,
as they had done wild Beafts. For this was lookt
upon in all Ages, as the rudiment of Warfare, (as
Bochart (hews out of a great many Authors, L. IV.
cap 12.) All the Heroes of old, fuch as Nefior, The-
feus, Calf or, Pollux, Vly/fes, Diomedes, Achilles, M-
r, &c. being all bred up to hunting, as Xenophon
informs us. And it was not without fome fuch rea-
ibn, that noble Families carry in their Coat of Arms
(as Enfignsof their valorous Achievements) lyons^
Bears, Tygers, &:. from their killing fuch like fierce
Creatures. For it muflc be farther noted, that in
this Age of Nimr§d1 the Exercife of Hunting might
I be the more highly efreemed, and win him the
Hearts of Mankind ; becaufe he delivered them,
this means, from thofe wild Beafts, whereby they
were much infefted, and very dan^eroufly expofed,
while they were but few, and lived (battered up
B b z
188 A COMMENTARY
Chapter and down, in the open Air, or in Tents, but weakly
X. defended. The deftroying of wild Beafts, (and per-
L/"VV) haps of Thieves whom he hunted alfo) was a great
Service in thofe times, and made many joyn with
him in greater Defigns which he had at lafi: 5 to fut>
due Men, and make himfelf Matter of the People,
who were his Neighbours, in Babylon, Suftana, and
Affyria. The memory of this Hunting of his, was
preferved by the Affyrians (who made Nimrod the
fame with Orion) who joyned the Dog and the Hare
(thefirft Creature perhaps that was hunted) with his
Conftellation. This Mr. Selden obferves in his Tz-
tles of Honour, Part. I. cap. 1. where he farther notes
that he is to this day called by the Arabians^ Alge-
bar, the mighty Man, or the Giant: From the He-
brew Gibbor here in the Text.
Before the LORD.~] i.e. To the higheft degree.
For fo, a great City to God, is a very great City, Jonah
III. 3. and a Child very beautiful is called d$£i@^
0e£ fair to, or before God, AUs VII. 20. Or the
meaning may be, he was truly fo, not only in com-
mon Opinion. For that is faid to be before God,
which really is : Becaufe God cannot be deceived
with falfe Appearances.
Wherefore it is faid, even as Nimrod the Mighty, Scc.^j
i. e. Thence came the common Proverb : Which Mofes
alledges as a proof of the Truth of what he deli-
vered. Nothing being more ufual in his days, than
for Men to fay when they would exprefs how
exceeding great any Man was, He is like Nimrod,
the mighty Hunter before the LO RD. Thus com-
mon Sayings are quoted in other places, nothing be-
ing more notorious than fuch Proverbial Speeches,
NHmb.XXl.zj. 1 Sam. X. 12.
It
upon GENESIS. 189
It is not improbable that Nimrod is the Tune Chapter
with him whom the Greeks calls Bacchus 5 wh< X.
Conquefls in the Eaji^ as far as India, are nothing L^V"NJ
elle but the Expeditions of Nimrod and hisSuccel-
fors. The very Name of Bacchus imports this, which
was made out of Bar-Chus the Son of G//Z>, as Dam-
mafel^ (i.Q.Damafcus^ was out of Darmafek- -
ny other Arguments for this, are collected by Bochar-
tus. L. I. Phalcg. cap. 2.
Ver. 10. The beginning of his King Jon/ re as Babel.'] Verle lO<
(See XI. 5,8.) Which, according to the Gentile Wri-
ters, was built by Belus, (the fame with Nimrod, who
was called Belus, as I noted before, from Baal, be-
caufe of his Dominion and large Empire, over which
he was an abfolute Lord.} They that fay, his Son
Ninus (or, as Philo-Byblius, his Son Babylon) was the
Builder, may be thus reconciled with the ibre-men-
tion'd Opinion } That Belus began it, and his Son
much augmented it. See VoJf.L. I. de Idol. cap. 24.
& L. VII. c. 9. There are thofe that fay it was
built by Semiramis, but as they have it only from Oe-
who is not to be relied on againft Berojus and
Abydenus, who wrote the Hiftory of that Country
out of the ancient Records, and fay Belus built it 5
fo if it be true, we muft underftand it of her re-
building it, after it was decayed, or adding greater
Splendor to it. And this alfo muft be underftood
not of the Wife of Ninus 5 for it is a queftion whe-
ther he had any Wife of that Name : Or, if he had,
(he was different from her whom the Greeks fo much
magnifie, who lived almoft Two thoufand Years after
the Son of Belus, as Salmafijs obferves (Exercit. in
Solin. p. 1128.) out of Philo-Byblius.
And
rpa A COMMENTARY
Chapter And Erec, Sec."] Having built Babel, which he
X. made the chief City of his Kingdom, he proceeded to
t^-V^J build three Cities more, in the fame Country. Which,
they that think he won by Conqueft, imagine alfo
that he made Babel the Head City, becaufe he won
it firft;, and then the other. And all this, fay feme
before the difperfion we read of in the next Chap-
ter : which others think hapned after the difperfion.
Erec feems to have been the City, which Ptolemy
calls Arecca^ and Am mi anus Arecha : Which lay in
the Country of Sufiana upon the River Tigris.
Whence the Areccai Camp in TibuBus, as Salmafius
obferves in his Exercit. in Solimtm* p. 1194. From
whence Huetius thinks the Country below it was
called lraque 5 mentioned by Alferganus^ and other
Arabian Writers.
AcchadS] It is an hard matter to give any account
of this City 5 but the LXX. calling it Arcbad9 from
"Xht'Chaldee Idiom, which is wont to change the
Daghes, which doubles a Letter, into R, fas Dar-
ntafek for Dammafe^ i. e. Damafcus 3 and by the
fame reafon, Archad for Acchad,) thefootfteps of this
Name may be thought to remain in Argad, a River
of SHtacene in Perjta. For nothing is more common,
than to change ch intog.
Chalne7\ It is fometimes called Chalno, Ifai.X. 9.
and Channe, Ezel^. XXVII. 25. From whence the
Country aAlzAChalomtk, ("mentioned by Pliny, and
Strabo, Polybius, and Dionyf. Periegetcs,) may well
be thought to have taken its Name : Whofe chief Ci-
ty was called Chalne, 6x€habfre\ (which is the fame J
and afterwards changed by Pacoms^ King of Perjta,
into Ctefiphon.
Ver.
upon G E N E S i ivji
Ver. 1 1. Out of that I and went This Chapter
Translation is not ib likely, .is ibtt in rhe Mtrgtn, X.
He 2Pcv/r Mr/ />r For M*/*j is fp&ktng ot l/VVJ
what Nirwr Son of Gtfh did, and pop of the Vcrte 1 1-
Sons of Shem, among whom Ajhur was one. Nor
is it agreeable to the order of Hiftory to tell us here
what Ajhur did, before there nii-n of his
Birth, which follows, verfe 22. tfei it wss not
peculiar to Ajlmr, the Son of Skew, that he went out
of the Land pf Shinar: For fo did ftlmoft all Men
who were difperfed from thence. Add to this, that
Affyria is called the Land of Nimrod by Mhtth, V. 5.
Ihey fljall wajie the Land of Affyria with the Sword,
and the Land of Nimrod with their Lances ; or, in
the entrance thereof, as we tranflate it. Therefore ic
is very reafonable to take Afow here, not for the
Name of a Man, but of a Place, as it is frequent-
ly: And expound the word Afhur, as it it were Le*-
flmr into Aflmr 5 z$beth in 1 Sam. VI. 10. is put for
lebeth ; other Examples there are of this, 2 Sam.
2. I Chron. XIX. 2. By goin^ forth into A/bur,
/thinks is meant Nimrod^ making; War there :
For fo the Hebrew Phrafe, eo forth, imports in 2 Sam,
XL I. Pfalm LX. 11. lfai. XL1I. ZacL X!V. *. So
Nimrod went forth into Afyvia, which be to
the Children of Shem : But was ufurped,
by this Son of Cufi 5 who had no i;. out
what he got by his Sword. If this be true, Mr.
Obfervation which I mentioned upon ve\
the foregoing Chapter, [That the Poftericv of C
never fubdued either thofe of Japhef, or i
muft be underftood of fuch large Conquers as they
;wo made over one another, and over him,
bed
,p3 A COMMENTARY
Chapter And builded Nineveh."] Which Nimrod fo called
X. from his Son Ninas: The very word Niniveth being
C/V'NJ as much as Ninus his habitation, rTO p. ThusCW*
built a City, and called it, not by his own, but his
Son's Name, IV. 17. This was the chief City of Affyria,
'and flourifhed in great Glory till it was utterly razed
by the Medes, and never again re-built. It ftood on
the Eaft-fide of Tygris.
Rehoboth."] There was a City of this Name upon
Euphrates, which was famous for the Birth of Said,
one of the Kings of Edom, Gen. XXXVI. 37. which
the Arabians call Rahabath-Melic, i. e. Rahabath of
the Kings, a little below Cercufium, at the Mouth of
the River Chaboras. But this being too far diftant
from Niniveh, (to which this and the two following
Cities were Neighbours) Bochans Conje&ure is not
unreafonable, That this is the City which Ptolemy
calls Birtha, on the Weft of Tigris, at the Mouth of
the River Lycus* For in the Chaldee Tongue Streets
are called Birtha 5 and that is the fignification of
Rehoboth, as the Margin of our Bible will inform the
Reader.
Calah, or CalachJ] Seems to have been the chief
City of the Country called Calachene ; about the
Fountain of the River Lycus : Which Strabo often
mentions.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. And Re/en, 8cc/] The fore- named great
Man conjectures this to have been the City, which
Xenophon calls Larijfa, fituate upon the Tigris: Which
Mofes might well call a great City. For fo Xenophon
fays it was, and defcribes the heighth of the Walls
to have been an hundred Foot, the breadth five and
twenty, and the compafs of it eight Miles about. The
Gne\s found it in Ruins, and uninhabited, when
they
upon GENESIS. 193
they came into thofe parts ^ being deftroyed by the Chapter
Per/tans, when they ipoiled the Medes of their Em- X.
pire. And it is poffible, as Bochart goes on, the L^\T\J
Greeks asking whofe City that was, and the Affyrians
anfwering Lercfen, i. e. Refen\ ( adding, asisufual,
le, the Note of the Genitive Cafe) they might thence
call it Lariffa. Such a Miftake, he (hows, there is in
the Vulgar Tranflation of the Bible ^ which takes
this Particle le for part of the Name. For, in 1 Chron.
V. 26. where it is faid the King of AJJyria, carried
the Ifraelites to Halah, the Vulgar fays unto Lahelah.
Whereas it is certain from 2 Kings XVII. 6. that it
(hould be unto Halah^ox Helah. However it is rea-
fonable to think, that thefe words, this is a great
City, belongs to Refen, not to Nineveh : Whofe great-
nefs as well as Babylon's was very well known 3 and
therefore thefe words feem to be added, to denote
Re/en to be a great deal bigger than the two before-
named, Rehoboth and Calah. See Bochart, L. IV. r. 23,
They vhat think NimroJ fettled his Kingdom in Ba-
bel before the Difperfion, by confufion of their Lan-
guages, imagine that he made this Expedition into
Ajjyria, (where he built Niniveh, and the reft of the
Cities here mentioned) after they were forced to
leave off their vain-glorious Building at Babel, and to
difperfe themfelves into other Countries.
Ver. 1 3. And Mizraim f the fecond Son of Cham) Verfe 1 3.
begat Ludim.'] By whom we are to underftand the
Jkthiopians, as Bochart hath proved by many Argu-
ments, f which I (hall not mention) and therefore
underftands by thefe words, that the /Ethiopians were
a. Colony of the Egyptians, L. IV. Phaleg, c. 26. For
it appears by Diodorus that they were near of kin 5
having many things common to both Nations 5 which
C c he
i94
Chapter
X,
A COMMENT a k /
he reckons up, and are fufficient to perfuade -thofc
who confider them, that they have the fame Original .-
The only difference among- them, being this? ; which
of them was of greateft Antiquity. The Egyptians
fanfied they were the firft of all Men 5 and the JE-
thiopians pretended that they living more Southerly,
had a ftronger Sun 5 which contributed more effica-
cioufly to natural Generation : And that Egypt was
a Cquntry thrown up by the Mudd which Niks
left, and fo got out of the Sea. But Mofes hath de-
termined this Controverfie in thefe words, and by
the reft of his Hiftory. Which (hows that the firft
Men after the Flood, came from the Mountains of
Armenia^ which is in the North 5 and confequently
they went to the Southerly Countries by degrees,
through Ajjyria, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt into /Ethi-
opia. And their difcourfe is ridiculous about the Ori-
ginal of Egypt, unto which we fee nothing added by
the Nile, in many Ages,
Anantint.~] Our Broughton takes thefe t$ be the
Nnmidians, among whom he finds Amtbis. Others
take them for the Anait& in /Ethiopia* But thefe Ana*-
mints being derived from Mizraim, we are rather to
feek them about Egypt : And the Opinion of Bochar-
tnsis probable, that they are the Nomades, who lived
about Ammon and Nafamonttis ^ and-called Anamil
from Anam, which fignifies zSheep among the ancient
Egyptians, as it doth among the Arabians. For the
Nomades fed Sheep, as Herodotus tells us, and lived
upon them, (whereas they abftained from eating Cotes
or Swine,*) and their Garments alfo, as he tells us,
were of Sheep-Skins.
Leha<
upon GENESIS. 195
Lchabim] Thcfe are thought to be the Lybians 5 Chapter
but that being a Name which belongs to the greateft X.
part of Africa, it cannot be well thought that fo great L^VNJ
a Portion feH to thisSon ot Mizraiw, or that fo ma-
ny People were defcendedfrom him. Therefore Bo-
chart with great reafon thinks the Lehabdi were not
all the Lybians } but thofe whom Ptolemy, Pliny, and
others call LybUgyptii : Becaufe they lived next to
Egypt on the Weft oiThebais, in a fandy, aduft Soil,
burnt by exceffive heat 5 from whence he thinks they
had the Name oiLehabim. For Lchaba fignifies both
a Flame and Heat. As in Joel I. 19. The flame (lcha-
ba in the Hebrew) or fcorching heat, hath burnt all the
trees of the field.
Naphtuhim.~] Thefe feem to be the People of
Nephthuah^ and what that is, we may learn from
Plutarch : Who in his Book De I fide & Of ride, fays,
the Egyptians call the Country and the Mountains
that lie upon the Sea, Nephthun, which may incline
us to think that the Naphtuhim were thofe People
that lived upon the (hoar of the Mediterranean in
Marmarha: For the People upon the Red Sea be-
longed to Arabia, not to Egypt. It is not improbable
that from hence came the Name of Neptune, who ori-
ginally was a Lybian God ; and known to none but
that People.
There was a City called Nepata by Pliny, which
Qrotius thinks may explain this Name: But it was in
/Ethiopia 3 and Mofes is fpeaking of the Sons of M/*-
raim.
Ver. T4. AndPathruftm7\ Who were the Inhabi- Verfe 14
tants, it is likely, of Patros : Which was a part of
Egypt $ though reprefented fometime in Scripture as
a Country diftintt from it : Juft as Thebais is in fome
Cc 2 Au-
A COMMENT ART
Authors faid to be, whereas it was the upper Egypt.
Bochart hath brought a great many Arguments to
prove this: Particularly from Ezekjel XXIX. 14.
which (hows clearly that Pathros belongs to Egypt :
For the Prophet foretelling that God would bring
again the Captivity of Egypt, he faith he would caufe
them to return into the Land of Pathros :, into the Land
of 'their Habitation^ or Nativity : That is, into The-
bais, which Nebuchadnezzar had principally afflifted
carrying moft of the Inhabitants of Thebes into Cap-,
tivity. This feems a more probable Account of the
Pathrufim, than theirs who take them to be the Pha*
ruff, fas Grotius doth J or Phautujii 5 who were a Peo-
ple of JEthiopia.
Cafluhim, or Cafluchim7\ Thefe were the Cotchi, who
though they lived far from Egypt, from whence they
are faid here to defcend, yet there are a great many
Arguments, that they had their Original from that
Country. For feveral ancient Authors fay fo, as He-
rodotns, Diadorus, Strabo, and Ammianus : All of great
Credit And there are many Reafons whereby He-
rodotus proves it, (as Bochart (hows in his admirable
Work, often mentioned, L. IV.Phnkg.c. 31.) they
agreeing in fo many things, efpecially in their Man-
ners and Language, that one can fcarcehave any doubt
of it. Thefe People were feated at the Eaft-end of the
Enxine Sea.
Out of whom came Philifiim.'] They were the Off-
fpring of the People of Colchis, as will appear in what
follows.
And Caphtorim.'] Thefe were a People near to
Colchis , as appears from hence 5 that the Vhitiftim%
who are faid here to come from Cafluchim, in other
places are faid to have come from Caphtor, Jer.
XLVIL
upon GENESIS. i9?
XLVII. 4. AmoslX. 7. And Mofes himfelf relates Chapter
how the Avims nigh to Gaza (a famous City of the X.
Philiflim) were driven out by the Caphtorim^ Dent.
II. 23. All the Ancients therefore are in the right,
who take the Caphtoriw, for the Cappadocians : Yet,
not all the Inhabitants of that Country, (part of
vrhich was pofleffed by other People, as was laid be-
fore) but that part of Cappadocia which was next
to Colchis, viz. About Trapezund, where Colchis end-
ed. For there we find the City called Side, and the
Country Sidene, mentioned by Strabo. Now Side in
Grec^fas BochartxngQnxouily obferves) fignifies the
fame with Caphtor in Hebrew, viz. Malum punicum :
And therefore in all likelihood, the fame Country was
called by the Hebrews Caphtor, and by the Greeks
Sidene.
What invited the Caphtorin? out of Egypt into this
Country, is hard to tell at this diftance of time.
But Strabo thinks it was the Fame of the Gold,
wherewith the Country abounded. And as this
drew them thither, fo perhaps the Coldnefs of the
Country very much different from that wherein they
were born 5 or elfe their Neighbours the Scythians,
and Mefech and Tubal, (viz. the Mofchi and Tibarcni)
who dwelt near them, and might be troublefome to
them, made them think of returning back again.
And in their way through Palefiine they fell upon
the Avim, whom they difpoffeffed of their Country,
and fettled there, (Dent. II. 23.) by the Name of
fhilijiiw.
Ver. 15. And Canaan!] Now follows an account Verfe 15
of. the PofterityofHrfwsyoungeftSon.
Sidon.] Was his Firft-born ; Who was the Foun
der of the famous City called by his Name, Sidon .•
Which
■5$ ST COMMENT/iRT.
Chapter Which Tr^*j faith was fo called from plenty of Fijh
X. on that Coaft. And fo the prefent Name of it,
a^-v*1*-' Said, fignifies Fijhing or Fifhery : As the Town in Ga-
lilee called Bethfaida, is as much as the place ofFifh-
ing : For that Sea upon which it lies, the Hebrews
fay, abounded with Fifh. However the Sidonians
came from this Son of Canaan 5 and fome of them,
("if he did not found it himfelf,) called the City by
this Name, in memory of him. It was far more an-
cient and famous than Tyre : For we read of it in
the Books of Mofes and Jojhua, and the Judges : But
nothing of 7}re till the Days of David. Nor doth
Homer mention Tyre 5 though hefpeaksof Sidon, and
the Sidonians in many places.
Heth.') His fecond Son, was the Father of the Hit-
tites, or the Children of Heth, often mentioned in
Scripture : Who dwelt about Hebron and Beerjheba,\n
the South of the Land of Canaan. They were a very
Warlike People, and ftruck a Terror into their Neigh-
bours .- From whence the word Hittha, feems to be
derived, which fignifies fright and fudden Conftema-
Hon x, fuch as came upon the Syrians, when they
thought the Kings of the Hittites were comingagainft
them, 2 Kings VII. 6. This was the Country of the
Anakims ; For from Arha, who was an Hittite, de-
fcended Anakj> and from him thofe three Giants, Ahi*
man, Shejhai, and Talmai, and the reft of the Ana-
k$ms, Numb. XIII. 22, 33. Jo/h. XV. 13, 14.
Verfe 16. VQU *6. The Jebufite7\ This People, who were
fituated near to the former, defcended from Jebus
the third Son of Canaan: And were a very Warlike
People alfo $ for they kept Jerufalem and the For-
treb of Zion, tothetimesof David $ notwithftand-
ing all the Power of the Benjamites. And when
David
upon GENESIS. \99
David befieged it, they mock'd at his Attempt, 2 Sam. Chapter
V. 8. X,
And 1 rift.'] They came from Etnor, the L/^\^NJ
fourth 'Soo 'bftffctftf**, and are commonly called A-
mortics : Who poflefled the Mountainous Parts of
JuLra 5 and many of them pafied over Jordan, and
making War upon the Moab/tes and Ammonites, iei-
zed upon B*jhan and Hefibon, and all the Country
between the Rjvers of JabloL and Amon, AW/7.
XIII: 29. Jojb. V. 1. In memory of which Vidto-
ry fome CanaanHt Poet made a Triumphing Song,
which Mofes hath recorded, Numb. XXI. 27. What
a mighty People thefe were we learn from Amos
II. 9.
Gcrgajite.~\ There was a Remnant of this People
about Gerafa or Gadara beyond Jordan in our Savi-
our's time, Mattb. VIII. 28. AIHV. 1. 1*^ VIII.
26. And they were called, perhaps, by this Name
from the fat, clayie Soil of the Country where they
lived $ for garges in Hebrew is n?£/7e C/^y.
Ver. 17. yfe^ fAc Hivite, or Heviter\ They lived Verfe 17
in and about Mount Hewton, as we read jf^/S. XI. 3.
which being toward the /?<*/? of the Land of Canaan,
they arecalTd Kadmonites,\. e. Orientals, or Eajlerlings,
Gen. XV. 19. The Gibeonites and Sichtmites were
Colonies for them, fjf^. XI. 19. Ge*. XXXIV.
2. J who dwelt more Wejiward : The former of
them, Neighbours to Jerufalem ; and the latter to &*-
Arkjte.~] This People, Bochart thinks, inhabited
Mount Libanns, where Ptolemy and Jofephus men-
tion a City called ^rc* or Ace : In which, he thinks,
was the Temple Veneris Architidis, worfhipped by
the Phoenicians, as Macrobius tells us, L. I. Saturn.
c.27>
COo A COMMENTARY
Chapter *■ ?7- Pliny alfo mentions ifroi among the Cities of
X. the Decapolitan Syria, and faith it was one of thofe
w*-v-^ which had a Royal Jurifdi&ion, under the Name of
a Tetrarchy, as Salmafius obferves in his Exerc. in
Solin. p. 576.
SiniteJ] St. Hierom faith, that not far from Area
there was a City called Sin $ where we may fuppofe
thefe People to have dwelt. But Bochart rather by
the Smites underftands the Feleujiots, whofe City was
called Sin^ which is of the very fame Ggnification
with Pelufinm.
Vorfe 18. Ver. 18. And the Arvadite.~] Thefe People are
the fame with the Aradii, who poffefled the Ifland
called Aradus upon the Coaft of Phoenicia, and part
of the Neighbouring Continent .• Where a place cal-
led Antaradus, oppofice to the Ifland, was feated.
Strabo and others fpeakof this Ifland, and mention
another of the fame Name in the Perfian Gulph, fas
Salmafms obferves upon Solinus, p. 1023.) whofe In-
habitants, faid, they were a Colony from this Ifland I
now fpeak of, and had the fame Religious Rites with
thefe Aradians. Who were very skilful in Naviga-
tion, and therefore joyned by Ezekjel with Zidon,
XXVII. 8. where he makes them alfo a Warlike Peo-
ple, verfe II.
Zemarite7\ They who make thefe the fame with
the Samaritans $ do not obferve that thefe Names
are written quite differently in the Hebrew. And that
the Samaritans fo much fpoken of in Scripture, had
their Name from Somron. And therefore Bochart
thinks thefe are the Samaritans mentioned by St. Hie-
rom, who fays, they inhabited the Noble City of
EdeJJa in Ccelojyria (it (hould be the City of Emefa
oxEmifa, which was in that Country, but Edeffa in
Mefo-
upon GENESIS. 201
Mefopotamia^ beyond Euphrates) and fo both the Chapter
Cbaldee Paraphrases have here for Zemarite, 1 % X.
But I do not fee why we fhould not rather think this (-•'WJ
Son of Canaan (Zemarus) from whom the Zemarites
came, was the Founder of the City of Zcmaraim,
CJoflj. XVIII. 22.) which fell to the Lot of the Tribe
ot" Benjamin.
Hamathite.'] Thefe were thePofterity of the laft
Son of Canaan : From whom the City and Country
of Hamath took its Name. Of which Name there
were Two 5 one called by the Greeks Antiocha, the
other Epiphania: The former called the Great, Amos
VI. 2. to diilinguilh it from this, which St. Hierom
fays in his time was called Epiphdnia, and by the A-
rabians (in the Nubian Geographer) Hama. This
is the City which is meant when we fo often read
that the bounds of Jud£a were to the Entrance of Ha-
math, Northward, Numb. XIII. zi. XXXlV. 8. and
other place?. For it is certain they did not reach to
Antiochia, but came near to Epiphania.
Afterwards were the Families of the Canaanites fpread
abroad.'] In proceft of time they enlarged their
bounds; For they pofleifed all the Country, which
lies from Idumaa and PaU'jline, to the Mouth of 0-
routes : Which they held for Seven hundred Years,
orthereaboi.it. Mofes indeed confines the Land of
tan in narrower bounds toward the North, fas
hath been faidj) but we muft a nfider that he 1
icribes only that part of Canaan, which God gave to
the IfraelUcs for their Portion. No'v* there
Elepe* Nations who had their Original (as appears
from this and the foregoing Verfes) from fo manv
Sonsof Canaan \ we do not find that the Ftrfi, 31
the Five laft were devoted by God to deftru&io
Dd
502 A COMMENTARY.
as the red: were. For we read nothing of the Z'r-
don'ians, Ar kites, Smites, Aradites, Zemarjtcs, and
tikmatkitesi among thofe Nations upon whom the
Sentence of Excifion was pronounced by God, and
their Country beftowed upon the IfraelHes. But we
read of Two others not here mentioned, who made
up the Seven Nations, whom God ordered to be
cutoff, viz. the Perizzites, and thofe who were pe-
culiarly called Canaanites, who fprang from fome of
the fore-named XI. Families } but we do not know
from which. We (hall meet with it in the XV. Chap-
ter of this Book.
Verfe 1 9. Ver. 1 9. And the border of the Canaamtres, &c.]]
Here Mofes defcribes the Bounds of that Country,
which was given by God to the Jews.
From Sidon.~] i. e. The Country of Sidon, which
extended it felf from the City, fo called, towards
xhzEaft, as far as Jordan, or near it. This there-
fore may be lookt upon as the Northern bounds of
the promifed Land,
As than comejl to Geras unto Gaza, &c.l Thefe
and all the reft belonging to the Southern bounds : For
thefe two were Cities near to the Philiftims. We
often read of Gaza 5 and Gerar was famous for Abra*
hams and Ifaacs fojourning there (Gen. XX. 1 .
XXVI. 1.) and for the overthrow of the CuflnUs^
2 Chron. XIV. 13.
Sodom and Gomorrha,&LC.~] Thefe Four Cities, are
famous for their deftruftion^ by Fire and Brimftone
from Heaven*
Even unto Lajhah.~\ Or Lafa, which St. Hierom
takes for Callirrhoe,* as doth Jonathan alfo : A place
famous for hot Waters, which run into the dead
Sea. Btit Bochartus (LAV. Phaleg, c. 37 .) doubts
of
upon GENESIS. Q03
of this, bzcaukCaUirrhoe was not in the Southern part Chapter
of Jnd£a, as Lafhah was : He propounds it there- X.
fore to consideration, whether it may not be a City L/*V\J
of the Arabs called Lufa: Which Ftolemy places in
the middle way, between the Dead Sea, and the
Red.
Ver. 20. Thefe are the forts of Ham, after their Fa- Verfe 20.
wiles, Sec] This is futficiently explained by what
was laid upon verfe 5. where Mofes concludes his
account of the Sons ot Japhet. Only it may be ob-
served in general, that thefe Four Sons of Ham and
their Children, had all Africa for their Portion
(Mmram having Egypt, and Phut the reft) and no
fmall part of Jfia which fell to the (hare of Cufb arid
Canaan.
Ver. 21. Vnto Shem alfo, the Father of all the C/j/7- Vel*re «•
dren ofEberT] That is, of the Hebrew Nation, whom
Mofes would have to know from what an illuftrious
Original they fprung} and therefore breaks off the
Thread of his Genealogy, to give a fhort touch of
it. I can give no reafon fo likely as this, why he
calls Shem the Father of Ebers Children, rather than
of any other defcended from him. He having told
them before, that Ham was the Father of Canaan,
(IX. 2z.) whom God curfed, and at the fame time
blefled Shew: He now tells them, that this bleflVd
Man was the Father from whom their Nat'on was
defcended 5 that they might comfort themfdves in
their noble Stock, and believe Canaan fhould be fub-
duedby them.
The Brother of Japhet the Elder."] Scaliger tran-
flites thefe words, Sew the Elder Brother of Japhet;
But the he which is prefixt to Gadol, f. e. Greater,
plainly direfts us to refer the word Greater or Elder
Dd 3 td
204 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter to him who was laft ipoken of, viz. Japhet. Who
X. may be plainly proved to have been the Eldeft Son
<^m^m^J- of Noah, from this obfervation, That Noah was Five
hundred years old, before any of his Three SonSj
86m\ Ham, and Japhet were born, V. 3.2. When he
was Six hundred Years old he entred into the Ark
with them, VII. 11. And when he came out, two
Years after the Flood, Shem begat Arphaxad, being
then an Hundred Years old, XI. 10. and consequent-
ly Noah was Six hundred and two. From whence it
follows, that Shem was born when Noah was Five
hundred and two Years old / And therefore Japhet
muft be Two Years older than he ^ for Noah began to
have Children when he was Five hundred. But God
preferred Shem before him 3 giving hereby an early
demonftration (of which there were many inftan-
ces afterward) that he would not be confined to the
order of Nature, in the difpofal of his Favours 5
which he frequently beftowed upon the younger
Children: As he did upon Jacob, and in after-times
upon David, who was the youngeft and meaneft of
all his Father's Children.
Even unto him were Children bornP^ Perhaps he
was the laft of his brethren that married $ and then
Mofes fhews in the following Verfes, had Five Sons :
the Progeny of Two of which are mentioned, but the
reft pafled over in filence.
Yerfe 22. Ver. 22. ElamT] Was his Firft-born^ from whom
came the Elamites, mentioned Affs If. 9. whofe Me-
tropolis was the famous City of Elymais. They lay
between the Medes and Mefopotamians (as Bochartus
fhows, L. II. Phaleg,c.7.) and were a very Warlike
and Fierce People, as Ifaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel
teftifie. The Sufians were a Neighbouring People,
* but
upon C E N E S I S. 205
but different from them .• And therefore when Dd- Chapter
nicl fays Sufi an was in the Province of Elam, he X.
takes VUim in a large fence 5 as Pliny and Vtokmy L/V\J
alio do, who mention Llav/itcs at the mouth of
the River EuIaus (Z)lai\n Dankl) which was be-
low Sufi and. See Salmajius Exerc. in Solin. p. 119?,
1 194. And thus Jofephts may be allowed to fay
the tlat/jjtcs were Yli^v d^r/Q, the Founders of
the Pprfians, who were a diltinet People from them ;
Though often comprehended under this Name of
El am.
Afinr7\ From whom came the People called a
fir ft AJfyres, and afterward Affyrians : Which was a
Name as large as their Empire, comprehending even
SyrUitfelf $ which in feveral Authors is the fame
with AJJyria. But in proper fpeaking it was only
that Country, whofeHead was l\inivehy called fome*
times Adiabene, and Aturia or AJJyria.
Arphaxad."] Many, following Jefephus^ make him
the Father of the Chaldecs. But I find no good rea-
fon for it; and it feems more probable that the Chal-
decs (in Hebrew^ Chafdim) came from Chefcd one of
Abrahams Brothers Sons, Gen. XXII. 11. which St,
Hierom pofitively affirms. Therefore iris more rea-
fonable to think Arphaxad gave Name to that Coun-
try, which Ptolemy calls Arraphuchitis : which was a
part of AJJyria.
Lud.~) Seems to have given Name to the Coun-
try of Lydia, which lay about Meander; and inclu-
ded in it Myjia and Caria, which lay on the So
fide of that River. Which having the mo ft
ings andTurningsin it, of any IViverinthe Wo.
(for it returns fometimes towards its Fountain)
Phoenicians call this Countrv, and another, viz. J£-
thai
so* A COMMENT ART
Chapter thiofia, that lay upon the Nile (which next to Ate-
X. ander is the mod crooked of all Rivers) by the Name
l/V\j of Lud: which in their Language Signified bending,
or crooked. See Bochart. L. II. Phaleg. c. 12.
Aram.'] From whom fprung the Syrians, wbofe
Name anciently was^«/Vs be-
fides this, one the Son of Nahor (Abrahams Brother J
Gen. XXII. 21. whofe Country was Aufitus in Ara-
bia Deferta ; The other was of the Pofterity of Edom9
Gen. XXXVI. 28.
Hull.'] Or ChuL Grothts obferves out of Ptole-
my that there was a City in Syria called LholU, which
he thinks might be founded by this fecund Son of
Aram. But Bochart more probably conjectures that
his Pofterity poffeffed the Country called Cholobetene,
which was a part of Armenia. For the Armenians,
and Arabians, and Syrians were much alike, as Stra-
ha faith, in their fhape of Body, Speech, and Man-
ner of Life. And there are divers Cities, which
Ptolemy places in this Country, that begin with
Hoi QT Choi $ ZSCholus, Choluata£holana : And 06*-
lobetem » (the Name of the Country) which in their
Language is Cholbeth, fignifies as much as the Honfe
ox Seat of Choi
Gether.~] It is hard to give any account of the
Country where his Pofterity (ettled, unlefs they gave
the River Getri its Namt, which the Greeks call
Kev7g>tTif 5 which runs between the Carduchi, and the
Armenians, as Xenophon tells us. This is Bochart s
Conje&ure, which is a little rvearer than that of
Grotius, (Annot, m JL I. de V, R. C) who explains
this
2o8 A COMMENT ART
Chapter this by the City Giniarus^ \n Ptolemy, and the Peo-
X. pie called by Pliny, Gindareni, in Ccelo Syria. But
U*"V"V; a^rer a^> it may feem as probable that Gadara, the
chief City of Peraa, which Ptolemy places in the
Decapolis of 'Ccelo Syria, had its Name and Original
from this Gather.
Majb!} Who is called Mefech, in i Chron. I. 17.
feated himfelf, as Borhart thinks, in Mefopotamia,
about the Mountain Mafins, (which is Grotiuss con-
jecture alfo) from whence there flowed a River
which Xenophon calls Mafia. The Inhabitants of
which Mountain Stephanus calls MaJ/£ni; and per-
haps the Mofiheni, whom Pliny fpeaks of, between
Adiabene and Armenia the greater, were defcended
yc f from this Mafi or Mefech.
24. Ver> 2^ j)jc£ frpfoxej yegat salah^j Having gi-
ven an account of the Pofterity of Shem% youngefi:
Son ^ he now telis us what People defcended from
his third Son.
SciUhT] In Hebrew Shelah. His Father being
born but two Years after the Flood, (XL 10.) feems
to have given this Name to his Son, to preferve the
Memory of that dreadful Punifhment : That his
Pofterity migh;: not incur the like by their Sins. For
Sela iignifies the letting forth of Waters, Job V. 10.
He is thought to have been the Father of the Sufi-
ani : The chief City of their Country, next to Sufa,
being called Sela, as we find in Ammian. Marcelli-
niis : Either becaufe he was the Founder of ir, or
in Memorv of him.
And SJuh begat Ebcr.~) The Father of thefe from
whom came the Hebrew Nation (as was laid before,
Ferfe 2i.v) Abraham being defcended from him in
the Six-h Generation. All other derivations of the
Name
upon GENESIS, 2 op
Name of Hebrew have great Objections lie again ft Chapter
them} but this hath none, that I can fee $ and is m .ft X.
agreeable to the Gran/mar of that Language, in which L/^VNj
all fuch Names ending in Jod (as HDy doth) are
noted to come either from a Place, or Country, or
People, or Author : Therefore fince there is no Coun-
or Place, from which the Name of Hebrew can
..erived, it is moft reafonable to deduce it from
the Author of this People, Heber. And it is autho-
rized by that Speech of Balaam, Numb. XXIV. 24.
Where as by Ajhut is meant the Ajjjna»s$ fo by i
ber, in all reaion, we are to underftand the j
bre:
Ver. 25. PekgJ] Either he, or fome of his Pofte- Verfe 25
rity in memory of him, it is not unlikely, gave
Name to a Town upon Euphrates, called Thalga ^ not
far from the place, where the River Chaboras runs into
it : Upon which Charrah ftood, built by Char an the
Brother of Abraham.
For in hk Days was the Earth divided.'] The great
Diiperfion, which we read of in the following L'hap-
fell out juft when he was born, which made his
Father call him by this Name, fignifying D/z'///W,and
Separation. Which it appear, by the Account gi
of his Anceftors, (XL. tiornverfe 10, to 16 ) hipned
in the hundred and fir (I Year after the Flood. In
that Year the Tower 01 i their Language
were confound: i • upon which neceflarily followed
ned. The Age that pre-
>d. from the Deluge to thi ifipn, is called
Ppcts% the Golden Sccbart
. 9 J ;_- Earth not be-
ing divided, they enjoyed all things in c<:
'o.w (whom tht governing
E e them.
sic A COMMENTARY
Chapter them, not as Kings do their Subje&s, but as Parents
X. their Children, not fo much with Fear and Dread, as.
L/"V\J wifh Love and Reverence to his Fatherly Authori-
ty 5 it made the World fo happy as it hath not been
fince.
Jokfan or Jcfyan.'] The Brother of Peleg, had a
numerous Offspring, of thirteen Sons $ all feated in
the inmoft parts of Arabia Fcelix. So the Arabians,
it is certain, derive their own Original : Who in this
may as well be credited, as the Europeans who de-
rive themfelves from Japetus^ or Japhet, and the Afri-
cans from Cham or Hammon, They call him Cahtan^
(as our Mr. Pocock^ as well as others, obfervesj by
which Name the A^i^Paraphrafl; upon this place,
explains that of Jektan. And this Cahtan they fay
exprefly was the Son of Eber, the Son of Salab, &c
From whence the Name o£Catanit which they (as was faid before) derive
from fektan himfelf; looking upon the Dialeft of
Chadramitk as barbarous. See Bochartns, L. II. Pha-
teg. c. 16. Where he obferves that Hatzermaveth in
Hebrew Signifies the Entrance of Death, and Hadhra-
mauth in Arabic\, the Region of Death : Becaufe the
Air of that Country was very thick and foggy, (and
E e 2 con-
zi2 A COMMENT A KY
Chapter confequently unwholfom) as Arrianus relates 5 who
X. faith, that the Frankincenfe and Myrrh, were there-
l/'VSw fore gathered only by the King's Slaves, and by con-
demned Perfons.
JtfUb^ or Jerach.'] From whom came the People
called Jerachdei, who lived near the Red-Sea $ called
by Agatharcides and others, 'KXiXahi, Alihei : Which
is the very fame in Arabic^ with the other in He-
brew. For Hilal is the Moon in that Language, as
Jerach is in Hebrew. And the Nvbienfian Geogra-
pher mentions a People about Mecha, who at this
day are called Bene- hilal, the Children of Jerach, as
the Hebrews would have exprefled it. It (eems they.
are come more towards the Eaft, when anciently
they dwelt in the South. Ptolemy mentions alfo an
Ifland, upon the Coaft of the AliUi, which he calls
~li£$.n6cv iyi • But it doth not fignifie the Ijle of
Hawks, (as the Greeks fanfied, who imagined all thefe
old words to come from their Tongue) but of the
Jzrach&i.
Verfe 27* Ver. 27. Hadoram'] He feems to have fixed his
Seat in the utmoft Corner of Arabia towards the Eajt'j
where there was a People, whom Pliny calls Driwa-
ti :■ A Name eafily made from Hadoramus. And the
extream Promontory of that Country is called by the
Greeks Corodamon, by tranfpofing the Letters D and
R from Hadoramws. I can find nothing more likely,
than this Conje&ure of that great Man Bochartm, who
hath out-done all that went before him in this Argu-
ment, L. II. Phaleg. c 20.
ZJzal.~] Abraham Zachitt, as he alfo obferves, fays
the Jews (who in his time dwelt there) called the
chief City of Aljeman, by the Name of ZJzal. Now
the Kingdom of Aljeman or Jeman, is the South-
fart
nfm GENESIS. si-
fdrt of Arabia lo:lix : As the very Name of ?<' >''•"'* Chapter
imports, which (ignWies both the [tight-hand and the X,
Sonth. (VV\J
l)}klah.~] Both in the Chalice and fyptec^ Lan-
guage D/iAf llgnifies a Palm, or a (J rove of Palms :
Which led Bochartw ro conclude that the Mimci
People of Arabia irj!;x\ when,1 Co'jf.u\ abounds with
fuch Trees, were the Pofterity oi this l)il
gypt, might have its Name from this Mm : For that is
too remote from the reft of thi* Man's Pofteritv : A
fo is AtxA?X&icv mentioned, as he obferves, I y 1'erodo-
tus, Chronolog. Sacra, p. 108.
Ver. 28. And ObaL'] Which in ihe Arabic^ Pro- Verfe 28*.
nunciation is Ajibal, as Cocab, a Star in Hebrew, ?s in
Ar'abich^Cancab, 5cc. The PoUerity of this Anbal or
Obdy Bochart thinks, patted over the Streights of the
Sinus Arabicns^ OUt of Arabia ixlix, into Arabia Tro~
glodytica; where we meet with this Name, in the£/-
nus Abalites, (which others call Aitalites) and in a
great Trading Town called by Arrlawto 'A'jaA&rr^ ^
and in a People who lived in that Sinus, called by
Ptolemy, 'AvztCircLf, and ' A^xXnoy 5 I believe it fhould
be 'A@x\rtcq from this ObaL
Abimael.~] Which the Arabians pronoun • J/,
i. e. the Father of Mali, or the
Arabia next to the Mfoefbefo oned. 7~;
phraftits faith, ill*// is the Mltr
Arabia the Spicy. From whence r'
Malit£, whom Ptolemy call
change of the Letter L into A7, as Sabonidus is the
fame with Labonidits^ &c. And it is .e that
r/j
al4 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Mali is the Contraction of Ablmali: Nothing being
X. more common than in compound Names to omit
IS^TSJ the firft part. At Sittim, Numb. XXV. i. for Abel-
SUtim, XXX. 49. Hermon very often for Baal- Her-
inon, Jftdg. III. 3. Nimrim for Beth-Nimrim, and
Salem for Jerufalem.
Sheba.~] From whom came the Sabsans, who fome-
times comprehend a great many People, but here
are to be taken ftri&ly tor thofe, upon the Red-Sea $
between the Mins'i and the Catabanes : Whofe Me-
troplis, which {'rood upon an high Mountain full of
Trees, is called by ancient Authors Saba and Sabai,
Sabo and Sabas, as Salmafus (hows out of Stephanus,
Agatharcides, and others ^ who fay that this City was
-.TraTtt) jg^tfusw, much the fatrcft of all in Arabia. Ex-
cere, in Solin. p. 491, 492, &c. In latter times this
Name was changed into Miriaba, the ancient Name
being loft, as the fame Salmafius there obferves, p.
497, 8c -11-18. Which Pliny faith fignifies as much
as Domino s omnium, the Lords of all : For froai
Rabba, to rule, comes Marab, which Ggmfies in their
Language, (as Bochart obferves) the Seat of thofe that
Rule .v That is, the Royal City, where their Kings
lived. The Nubienfian Geographer faith, the Queen
of Sheba came from hence to hear the Wifdom of
Solomon.
Werfe 29. Ver. 29. And OphfrT] Which the Arabians pro-
nounce Auphir, fignifying abundance: Gold being
found there in fuch plenty that they exchanged it
for Brafsand Iron, giving a double or triple propor-
tion of Gold for them. Bochart thinks he gave the
Name of 50^p« to an Ifland in the Red Sea, menti-
oned by Enpolemus in Eufebius. And obferves that
there were two Ophirs^ one belonging to India, whi-
ther
upon GENESIS- 21$
ther Solomons Ships went once in three Years, (which Chapter
he takes for Taprobana, now Zeilan) and the other X.
belonging to Arabia, where the Folleriry ot this 0- U'VNJ
pMr, here mentioned, ietled. Whole Country he
takes to have been near to the Sabaans their Bre-
thren 3 which Stcphamts and Ptolemy call Cajfanitk.
The fame in fenfe with 0/>/>/r 5 for Lhofan is a Trea-
fure, which the Arabians write CAv.
Whofi top may reach up unto Heaven.'] i. e. To the
Clouds. As much as to fay, an exceeding high Tow-
er. For the fame is faid of the Walls of the Cities
of Canaan, Deut.1. 28. IX. 1. and therefore can mean
no more here. And is an ufual Phrafe in Scripture 5
as when the Pfalmifi fays, They that fail upon the
Sea, are fometime lifted up to Heaven, CVII. 25.
which is a Language that other Authors fpeak 3 for
Homer mentions a Fir-tree which was >pQ[JWHH5'i ex-
tended to Heaven, 7. e. very tall. Which I note to
fhow the fenflefs fpite of Julian the Apoftate, who
endeavours to difcredit this Sacred Story, by the
Poetical Fi&ion of the Giants warring with Heaven :
As if there were no more Truth in the one, than in
the other. But St. Cyril in his Fourth Book againfr
him, truly obferves, That in Scripture, this Phrafe,
&k &°cfLvhv^ to Heaven, is put aVri tS IaJss, for that
which is highly elevated 5 as this Tower was. Which
being half a quarter of a Mile in breadth and length,
had another Tower ftood upon it 3 and a third up-
on that } and fo on, fJLt%£} * &7*> •jnlpjav, fas Hero-
dotus fpeaks,) till there were eight Towers in all :
Which made it of a vaftheighth,
A COMMEtiTAKT
Let us make us a Name, 8cc] Here he plainly a<**
quaints us with their Intention in building this City
and Tower : which was to be a perpetual Monu-
ment of their Fame. To fpread it far and wide,
while they were alive $ and that their Names might
live in this Monument when they were dead : AH
Pofterity faying, fuch and fuch Perfons were the
Founders of the Firft and Mother City of the World*
So David is faid to have got himfelf a Name, 2 Sam.
VIIL.13. '• *• extended his Fame by his great At-
chievements. And God is faid to do the fame, Ifai.
LXIII. 1 2, 14. Therefore there was no occafion for
afligning other Reafons for the building of this Tow-
er 5 when Mofes gives one fo clearly. That which
hath been commonly fanfied is, That they might fe-
cure themfelves againfl: another Inundation : From
which they were fecured by the Divine Promife, (if
they would believe it,) together with the addition
of a Sign to it, IX. n. And if they did not believe
it, why did they come down from the Mountains in-
to the plain Country, to build this Tower \ which
might more rationally have been erefted upon the
top of thehigheft Mountains, if their meaning had
been, by this means, to preferve themfelves from fu-
ture Floods. If there were any other meaning be-
fides that mentioned by Mofes, I (hould think that
moll: probable which I find in Dr. Jackson, (Book}*
on the Creed, c. 16.) That it might be a Refuge where-
unto they might refirt, and continue their Combination :
Something of which feems to be intimated in the next
words. There is a Conjefture alfo made by a mofl:
worthy Friend of mine, a good while ago, Dr. Tenh>
fin, now Archbifliop of Canterbury, in his Book of Ido-
latry (which is not inconfiftent with thefe,) That this
Tower
upon GENESIS. 125
Tower was confecratcd by the Builders of it to the Chapter
Sun, as the caute of drying up the Waters 6f the XL
Deluge (or rather, as the mod illuftrious and near- L^V^vJ
eft refemblance of the Schcch/nah, as I noted on
Chap. IV.) and that it was intended as an Altar
whereon to Sacrifice to it. But it is propounded
only as a Conjefture .• Which thofe Jews feem alfo
to have had in their Minds, who by the Word Shemy
(Name) underftand God : As if their meaning were.
Let us make us a God 5 and raifehim a Temple. And
perhaps future times did convert it to that ufe.
Leafl we be fcatttred abroad upon the Face of the
whole Earth.~] Here they fpeak. as if they feared a
Difperfion $ but it's hard to tell from what caufe, un-
lefs it were this, That Noah having proje&ed a divi-
(ion of the Earth among his Pofterity, (for it was a
deliberate bufinefs, as I noted upon X. 5 .J thefe
People had no mind to fubmit unto it; and there-
fore built this Fortrefs to defend themfelves in their
Refolution of not yielding to his defign. Thus the
mod learned ZJ/fter, ad A. M. 1757. But what they
dreaded, they brought upon themfelves by their
own vain attempt to avoid it: And now there is
no memory preferved of the Names of thofe that
confpired in this attempt. Thus what Solomon faith,
was long before verified, Prov. X. 24. The far of the
Wicked fiall come upon &i**.Rut this evil by God's Pro-
vidence was attended with a great Good .* For by this
difperfionthe whole Earth was peopled, and the foi
dation laid of feveral szreat Nations and Kingdo:
Ver. 5. And the LORD cawe down to fee, 8cc j Verfe 5.
This is an Accommodation to our Conceptions ^ and
means no more 5 but that by the effefts, he made it ap-
pear, that he obferved their Motions, and knew their
Intentions. G g Which
226 & COMMENTARY
Chapter Which the Children of Men builded7\ It is general-
XI. ly agreed that Children of Men in Scripture, isop-
lyVV' pofed to Children of God : As bad Men and Infidels,
are to the good and the Faithful. Which gives us to
underftand, that neither Noah, nor Shew, nor Arphax-
ad, Salahov Heber were engaged in this Work : But
fome of the worfer fort of People who degenera-
ted from the Piety of their Anceftors. It is pro-
bable fome of the Race of Ham ^ who its likely
carried much of the Spirit of Cam with him into
the Ark : Otherwife he could not have behaved
himfelffo vilely towards his Father after they came
out of it. For that terrible Judgment, it feems,
had not reformed him $ and then it is no wonder if
he grew more wicked after it was over. Jofephus
and others, take Nimrod (his Grand-child J to have
been the G^H^-ng, as his Word is, Ring-leader of
this Crew, who combined in this defign. But I take
it to be more probable that he came and fetled
here after the Difperfion. For there being not
much above an Hundred Years between the Flood
and this time, it is not likely fuch a great Kingdom
could be ere&ed in that fpace, as we read of, Gen.
X. 10. And therefore he grew fo great after this
Difperfion, when Jie came out of Arabia^ or fome
Neighbouring Country, and fetled here in Babel r
Which was called by this Name, upon occafion of
the Confufion of Languages, and had it not before.
Which is an Argument that what we read, X. 10, 11.
mud be underftood to have hapned after this time.
But, if all this be true that fome of Chams Race
began this defign, which other bad People were too-
much difpofed to follow, and that they who retain-
ed the true Keligion(from whom Abraham defcended)
were
upon GENESIS. 227
were not of the number, it is credible that they efcape d Chapter
the Punifhment here mentioned, (in the next Verfcs) XI.
retaining (Vill their ancient Seat, and the ancient Lan- U^V^vJ
guagealfo 5 which continued in the Family of Hcbcr,
and was called Hebrew
Ver.6. And the LORD fad, &e.J This Verfe Verfe 6.
only expreffes a Refolution to fpoil their Project 5
and the neceflity of fo doing.
Ver. 7. Let ;//.]The Rabbins fanfie this is fpoken Verfe 7*
to the Angels. But it is beyond the Angelical Power
to alter Mens Minds fo in a moment, that they (hall
not be able to underfhnd what they did before.
Therefore God fpake to himfelf: And this Phrafe
fuggefts to us more Perfons than One in the God-
head. In fhort, None but he who taught Men at
firft to fpeak, could, in an inftant, make that variety
of Speech, which is defcribed in the next words. No-
vatianus therefore anciently took it, that this was
fpoken by God to his Son.
Confound their Language."] The word Confound is
to be mark'd : For God did not make every one
fpeak a new different Language, but they had fuch
a confufed remembrance of the Original Language
which they fpake before, as made them fpeak it. very
differently.- So that by the various Inflexions, and
Terminations, and Pronunciations of divers Diale&s,
they could no more underfhnd one another, than
they who underfhnd Latin can underfhnd thofe who
fpeak French, Italian, or Spanifi 5 though thefe Lan-
guages arife out of it.
And yet it is not to be thought, there were as
many feveral Dialedb as there were Men 5 fo that
none of them underftood another : For this would
not meerly have difperfed Mankind, but deftroyed
G g 2 them.
aQ8 A COMMENTARY
Chapter them. It being impoffible to live without Society,
XI. or to have Society without underftanding one ano-
L/^VSJ ther : For if the Father could not have underftood
the Son, nor the Husband his Wife, there could have
been no comfort in living together. Therefore it is
likely that every Family had its peculiar Dialeft $
or rather the fame common Dialed (or way of
fpeaking) was given to thofe Families, whom God
would have to make one Colony in the following
Difperfion. Unto which Difperfion they were con-
drained by their not being able to have fuch Fami-
liarity as they had before with every body ; but
only with thofe who underftood their particular
Speech.
Into how many Languages they were divided,
none can determine. The Hebrews fanfie into LXX
which Opinion hath much prevailed .-Being grounded
upon the foregoing Chapter , where the Defendants
from the Sons of Noah are jufi foimny. The Greeks
Fathers make them LXXII. becaufe theGnee^Verfion
adds two more (Eli fa among the Sons of faphet, and
Cainan among the Sons of Shew) and the Latin Fa-
thers follow them. But this is a very weak Founda-
tion } it being apparent that many of the Sons of G-
naan ufed the very fame Language in their Country,
and fodid Javan and EUJhah in Greece : And in other
places fo many concurred in the life of the fame
Speech, thfrt fcarce Thirty remains of the Seventy to be
diftinft, zsBochart hath obferved. See Sclden,' L. IL
de Syne dr. cap. 9. Seil. I IF.
Yerfc 8. Ver. 8. So the LORD fcattered them?\ Broke
their Combination by making them fpeak (everal Lan-
guages 3 which cut off the common bond of on«
Society. For as the Unity of one common Lan-
guage
upon GENESIS. 229
guage (to ufe the Words of Mr. Mede,p. 362.) had Chapter
knit all Mankind into one Community : So God in XL
his Wifdom faw that Plurality of Languages was the u/'V^J
beft means to force them into a Plurality of Socie-
ties.
Abroad from thenre.~] Into all the B.egions of the
North South, and Wcjl: The Eaft being inhabited
before by Noah and luch of his Offspring as abode
with him. Which is not to be underftood as if they
were immediately fcattered into the rtmoteft places
from Babel : But firft into the neighbouring Coun-
tries ^ and by degrees into thofe which were further
ofT,according as their Families increafed.
How long thisDifperfion hapned after the Hood,
cannot be certainly determined. But we can de-
monftrateit was not much above 100 Years. For Pcleg
(in whofe days this came to pafs, X. 25.) was born
but an Hundred and one Years after ; As was ob-
ferved before upon that place. Now fome think this
Divifion was juft made at his Birth : Which St. Aujlm
takes to have been the reafon why his Father called
him Peleg^quiatunc einatuf eft, quandoper linguas ter-
ra div'tfa eji, becaufe he was then born to him, when
the Earth was divided by their Languages. But the
Text doth not make this out, for it only fays in his
Days the Earth was divided. And the Thirteen Sons
of Jofyan (Pe leg's Brother J who had their fbare in
this divifion, being not then born, wemufr conclude
that if this divifion began at Pelcgs Birth, it was not
finiflied till fome Years after. Elmacinns fays in the
Fortieth Year of Pe leg's Age 5 the Hebrews generally
fay at his Death.
See Hettinger $ Smgma Orient, p. 62. and 166.
q3g A COMMENTARY
Chapter And they left of to build the Tower."] I fee no rea-
XI. fo'n to believe that God over-turn'd it by a terrible
L/"VNJ Tern pe ft,* as Epiphanius exprefTes it, Thviripyov dviuav
SoAfl dvis-pz^zv. Which is the Opinion ot Jofephus^
L. he. 5. Antiq. and Abydemts mentioned by Eufe-
bius, L. IX. c. 4. Pr. 29.) Nimrod began to Reign in Babylon. And in
his days alfo he fays, the Egyptian Kingdom began.
Which need not feem ft range, though fcarcefnw hun-
dredYezrs were pa(Ted fincethe Flood, when we con-
fider the vafi increafe of People in thefe Ages, from
a few Planters, within fuch a compafs of time : And
likewife the extraordinary Fruitfulnefs which God
after the Flood be (lowed upon them for the Peo-
pling of the Earth, For he fays twice to Noah, and
his Sons, immediately after they came out of the Ark,
increafe and multiply, IX. r, 7. and replen/JJj the Earth.
From this Antiquity of thz Egyptian Kingdom, it is,
that the later Pharaohs called themfelves the Sons of
ancient Kings, Ifa. XIX. 11.
In Reus time alfo both the Egyptians and Babyloni-
ans now began to make Images and worfhip them, if
Patricides may be credited. See Hotting. Smegma.
Orient, cap. 8. n. 16.
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 233
Ver. 20. Begat Serug!] From whom (BochartUiOto\
thinks) fomeofhis Defendants might call theCi- XL
ty Sarug : which the Arabian Geographer fays was L/'WJ
near to Cbarr* or Haran. He firft began ro celebrate
every Year the Memory of famous Men, after they
were deal 5 and commanded them to be honoured as
Benefactors 5 if we may believe Suidas in the word
y£, and Damafcen, and a long Roll of other An-
thora mentioned by Jacobus Geufins^ Par.l.c* 2. Dc
■ mis Human) s.
Ver. 72. Begat Nahor.'} The fame Writers fay, Verfe 22.
That Idolatry increafing much in his days, there was
a great Earthquake f the firft that had been obierved)
which overturned their Temples, and broke their I-
mages in Arabia.
Ver. 24. Terah7\ Whom they make to have been Verfe 24
an Idolatrous Prieft ^ but to have repented and been
converted to the Worfhip of the True God. See
Verfc 3 1 .
Ver. 26. AndTerah lived feventy Years, and begat V^rL
Abraham^ Nahor, and Haran7\ i. e. He was feventy
Years old before he had any Children 5 and then
had three Sons one after another: Who are notfet
down in the order wherein they were born. For
Abrahams being firft named doth not prove him to
have been the eldeft Son of Terah 5 no more than
Shews being firft named among Noah's three Sons,
proves him to have been the Firft-born, IX. 18. For
there are good Reafons to prove that Abraham was
born//*/? Years after Bar an 5 who was the eldeft Son $
having two Daughters, married to his two Brothers,
Nahor and Abraham: Who feems to be the youngeft,
though named firft, both here and in the next Perfe,
becaufeof his preheminence. See Ferfi 32.
H h Ver.
A COMMENTARY
Ver. 28. Bdran died before hh Fathered] In his
own Country, (as it here follows^ out of which he
did not go, as the reft of this Family did.
Verfe :3, In TJt of the Cha\dees7\ That part ol Mefopotamia,
which was next to Affyria^ is called the Land of the
Chdldees. For Vr, as Abarbinel obferves, was in Me-
fopotamta : Lying in the w7ay from Tigris to Nifibis.
And therefore St. Stephen makes Mefopotamia and the
Land of the Chaldees the very fame, A3s VII. 2, 4.
Eufolemks indeed, as Bochart notes, places this Z)rr
from whence Abraham came, (Ter/e 3O *n Babylon :
But Ammianus fpeaks of an ur in Mefopotamia, fi-
tuated as before-mentioned , which we have reafon
to think was the place from whence Abraham came,
becaufe from thence to Canaan the way lay ftraight
through Charran (or Haran,) but it did not do fo,
if he came from Babylon. And no good account can
be given why he fhould go about through Mefopo-
tamia, and Charran $ when there was a (horter way
through Arabia, if he came from Babylon.
Verfe 29. ^er- 29# ^e ^at^er oflfcah7\ i. e. Of Sara?, whom
' Abraham married 5 (he being his eldeft Brother's
Daughter, Sifter to Lot. For Hat an had f/^ree Chil-
dren, Lot, verfe 27. and Milchah, whom Nahor mar-
ried, and 6Wrf/6 whom Abraham married. That is,
Haran dying, the two remaining Brethren married
his two Daughters. For if we (hould underftand
any Body elfe by Ifcah, but Sarah $ there is no ac-
count whence (he defcended : Which Mofes fure
would not have omitted 5 becaufe it very much con-
cerned his Nation to know from whom they came,
both by the Father's and the Mother's fide. It is no
wonder (he fhould have two Names 5 one perhaps be-
fore they came out o£Chald
XI. rah going from Vr to Canaan, 2nd ftaying in this
LXV% place, called the City x4f*f, (Charr*) after the Name
of his Son Ear an, (ox Char an) who died a little be-
fore, vcrfe 28. For botn the Greeks and Roman Wri-
ters call a City, famous for the death of Crajfus, by
the Name of Charra : Situate on a River of the fame
Name. It's likely from Abrahams Brother were de-
rived both the Name of the River and of the City,
which the Arabians to this day call Charan or Char-
ran.
And dwelt there.'] It's plain he intended to go to
Canaan, and not to fettle here: But being arretted
with the Sicknefs of which he died, could go no
further.
Verfe 32. Ver. 32. And the days ofTerah were two hundred
and five TearsP^ Mofes doth not fumm up the Years
of any Man's Life mentioned in this Chapter % fas he
doth in Chapter V.) but only of Terah's. Which he
doth on purpofe that we may know when this new
Period of Time began, fof Abraham's leaving his
own Country, and thereby becoming the Father of
the Faithful,) which we are not to count from the
time when Terah began to have Children, (Ver. 26.)
but from the time of his Death 5 immediately after
which Abraham went on towards Canaan. See ZJfier.
Chronol C. III. and C. VII.
From this alfo we learn when Abraham was born.
For, iffeventy five Years f which was Abraham's Age
when his Father died, and he went from Haran, XII.
4.) be fubdu&ed from Two hundred and five, it is
manifeft that he was born when his Father was an
Hundred and thirty Years old .• That is, Three/core
Years after his Brother Haran, as I faid on Verfe 26.
CHAP.
upon G E N E S I St 37
Chapter
_ XII.
CHAP. XII.
MAny ancient Authors fpeak of Abraham, as cjo-
fephus obferves, and out of him Eufebius : who
names others alfo, L. IX. Pr
by Virtue of the Divifion made among the Sons of
Noah : But the Children of Canaan had difpoflefled
them. So that thefe words, the Canaanite was then
in the Land, fignifies, they had already invaded this
Country, before Abraham'camz thither. To whom
God promifing to give it, he only reftored the Po-
fterityof Shem, (from whom Abr am defcended) un-
to that which the Children of Ham had wrongfully
feized.
By all which itiseafieto fee how frivolous their
Reafonings are,* who from this place conclude Mofes
did not write this Book : Becaufe thefe words feem
to
upon GENESIS. 243
to fignifie the Writer of them lived tftttthtCuutnites Chapter
were thrown out of this Land: Which was after XII.
Mofes his Death. t/V^J
If thefe Men had not a greater Inclination to Cavil,
than to find out the Truth, they would rather have
faid the meaning is, The Canaanite was poffefled of
this part of the Country in Abrahams time, though
thrown out of it by Jacob's Sons, (Ge//.XXXIV.) be-
fore the Times of Mofes. Which is another way of
explaining thefe words: Againft which I fee no Ob-
jection but this, That their Prince is called an Hivitey
XXXIV. 2. To which there is an Anfwer, verfe 3c.
which (hows. the People were partly Cannanitcs.
Ver. 7. And the LORD appeared unto Abram.~] Verfe J,
As he had done before, (Verfe 1) but now, it is
likely, in a more glorious manner 5 to eftabliftihim
in Faith and Obedience.
And faid unto him, &zc.~\ There was a Voice came
from the Shechinah, or Divine Glory, which now ap-
peared to him 5 .and told him this was the Country
he intended to bcftow upon his Pofterity. It is very
remarkable that he no fooner entred Canaan% but God
renewed his Promife to him, made before he came
out of his own Country.
And it is further obfervable, ( as we fhall fee in
the following Story ) that Abram's Obedience was
conftantly rewarded in kind, according to the qua-
lity of the Service he performed : Though in quan-
tity, the Reward far exceeded the Service. Thus
having left his own Country and Father's Houfe,
(which was the fir ft trial of his Obedience) God
promifes to give him. the whole Land of Canwn, and
to make his Pofrcritv a mighty Nation. See XVII. 6
XXII. 16.
I i 2 And
*4f & COMMENTARY
Chapter And there he buth an Altar, &c] This was fo glo-
XII. rious an Appearance, that it moved him to offer up
L/"W) a folemn Sacrifice to God} for which he built an
Altar here in Shhem. And it being the firft that he
built in this Country, it made this become the firft
place that was eftablilhed for Publick Worfhip, af-
ter the Israelites conquered the Land of Canaan. For
here was the San&uary of God in Jofhua's time, near
this very Grove where Ahram firft pitched his Tent,
and built an Altar, JoJh.XXlV. i, 25, 26. It conti-
nued famous alfo in after-times, as appears from
Judg. IX. 6.
Terfe &. Ver. 8. And he removed from thence unto a Moun*
tain,&c.~] Though the Lord here appeared to
him, yet he did not think fit to truft himfelf among
the Canaanites, (who were the chief of the wicked
Nations, that poffefled this LandJ or, he thought
fit to fee the reft of the Country, which God pro-
mifed to give him: And therefore came hither, which
was about twenty Miles further Southward.
And there he built an Altar 7\ Upon the Mountain 5
where they anciently chofe to facrifice, rather than in
other places. And, it is likely, God again appeared
to him here, to encourage and ftrengthen him againft
all his Fears. Which made him build a new Altar
and offer Sacrifices of Thankfgiving to God, to im-
plore his continued Favour.
And it is obfervable, That the: Promife which God
made in the former place, verfe 7. he renewed again
in this, and more at large, after became out of Egypt £.
XIII. 3;, 4, 14, 15,16.
On the Ea§ of Bethel.'] So it was called in after-
limes.
Ves.
npon C E N E S I X 24$
Ver. 9. And Abram journeyed, 8cc.j He did not Chapter
think tit to fix yet in the tore- named place : But XII.
made a further progrefs into the Southern parts of ^"Y^^
the Country. Yet, after he had been in Egypt, * e 9-
(the Story of which follows) he returned to this
place.
Ver. 10. A Famine in the Land."] Of Canaan. Verfe 10.
He went down.'] Egypt lay low in comparifon with
Canaan.
To JojoumT] Not to dwell there : For he doubted
not of God's Promife to him, of pofTeffing the Land
which he had left.
Ver. 1 1. Thou art a fair Woman, &ac."] She was now Verfe li«
three/core Years old : But having comely Features,
and being of a fair Complexion, (in comparifon with
the Egyptians, who were fallow) (he feemed to be
younger than (he was.
Ver. ii. They will hjll we."] Knowing them to Verfe 12.
be a libidinous People, he was afraid they might be
tempted to make him away 5 that they might have his
Wife.
Ver. 13. Say, thou art my Sifter.] He himfelf, upon Verfe 13.
another occafion, explains in what fence (he was fo,
XX. 12. Therefore he teaches her not to tell a Lye,
but to conceal the Truth.
Ver. 15. Pharaoh.'] The Egyptian Kingdom began Verfe 15.-
about three hundred Years before this, (in the days
of Ragau, XI. 18. if the Arabian Writers fay truej)
and now was grown to be very powerful, by the
means of fome King of this Name } which (it appears
by this place) was very ancient, and continued to
be the Name of all the Kings of Egypt, till the Cap-
tivity of Babylon $ and we know not how much lon-
ger. Juft as Ptolemy was their Name after the times
of
A COMMET^TAKY
of Alexander : And Cdtfar and Augujlus were the
Names of all the Emperours of Rome 5 and Candace of
all the Queens of JEthiopia 5 and the like may be ob-
ferved in feveral other Countries. Ludolphus takes
Pharaoh to be a compound word, fignifying as much
as Father of the Country : For that's the meaning of
Phar-ot^ in the JEthiopicl^ Language 3 as Fharmut is
Mother of the Country.
The Princes alfo, Sec.*] The Courtiers who ftudied
to gratify their Prince's Pleafure.
Was taken Into Pharaoh's Hottfe."] Into the Houfe
of the Women, it is probable, (for the Egyptian
Kings were now, as I laid, very great } likethofeof
Per/fa in after-times) intending to make her one of
his Concubines.
Verfe 16. Ver. 16. And he had Sheep and Oxen, &C.3 By the
Gift of the King 5 befides thofe he had of his own
before.
Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And he plagued Paraohy Sect] Some of
the Hebrews think they had grievous Ulcers in the
Secret Parts 5 which made both him and his Ser-
vants uncapable to enjoy either her, or any one
elfe.
HisHoufeT] His Courtiers partake of the Punifli-
ment} becaufe they were Partners in the intended
Sin.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. Why didft thou not tell me, &c] Some
think he fpeaks this fubtilly to Abraham, to fee what
he would fay ; not knowing yet that fhe was his
Wife. Or, that his Priefts and wife Men had con-
futed the Oracles about the Caufe of their Plagues.
But the fimpleft Account is, That Sarai being inter-
rogated about it, confefTed the whole Truth. Where-
upon he expoftulated thus with Abram^ who being
filent,
upon GENESIS. 247
filent, he took it for granted, that indeed (he was Chapter
his Wife. XIII.
- Ver. 19. Now therefore behold thy 11 ifc, &cf] He ^-\r^-*
difclaims all Intention of abuiing another Man's Wife, Verfe 19.
(fo Vertuous they were in thofe days) but would
have made her his own, (as he faith in the forego-
ing words, / might have taken her tome to Wife?)
that is, a fecondary Wife, as the manner was in thofe
days } for it is not likely he had no Wife at all
before.
Ver. 20. Pharaoh commanded his Men concerning Verfe 20,
him, &C.3 Gave ftrift Orders none (hould hurt him,
or any thing belonging to him .• But condudt him
fafely, whether he had a mind to go. And accord-
ingly the next words tell us they did.
They fent him away,&c] Not with Violence, but
gave him a fafe Conduft : Sending him away, per-
haps, with a Guard for his Security. Such was the
Generofity of the Egyptian Princes in thofe times.
chap. xin.
Ver. 1. TNto the South.] Into the Southern part of Verfe 1
X Canaan, where he had been before, XII. 9.
Ver. 2. Very rich. &c."] His Riches were increafed yerfe 2
fince he went into Egypt, by the Bounty of Pharaoh,
XII. 16. And, (if we could believe Jofephns, L. I.
Antiq. c. 8.) by the Rewards he had for teaching
them feveral Pieces of Learning, which he brought
out of Chaldxa. The Author of Scbalfck HakJ^ab.
quotes Eufebius his Pr£par. Evang, L. IX. c. <$ to prove
this. And indeed, I find Eufebius quoting Jofephns
in
Ip A COMMENTARY
Chapter in the XVI. Chapter of that Book } who feys he taught
XIII. Arithmetic^ and AJlrology, of which the Egyptians
{ym>/mSJ were ignorant before: And in the XVIIth Chapter
Eupolcmvs, who fays that Abram was familiarly con-
verfant with the Egyptian Priefts at Heliopolk^ (when
he went thither by reafon of the Famine in Canaan)
and taught them many things ^ particularly the C(e-
lefrial Sciences ^ which he calls Alirology^ i. e. the
Knowledge of the Stars.
Verfe- 3. Ver. 3. Unto Bethel^ Sec.'] Which was the fecond
Place wherein he dwelt, after his firft entrance into
Canaan ^ XII. 8.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Unto the place oj the Altar , Sec/] Thisfeems
to intimate that the Altar it felf, was either fain or
thrown down. Some think demolilhed by Abram
himfelf, when he left the place 5 others by the Canaa-
nites when he was gone.
And there Abram called on the Name of the LORD.']
Commended himfelf, and all he had, to God's Pro-
tedtion : Who had promifed to beftow this Country
upon him. Perhaps he built the Altar again, and of-
fered Sacrifice thereon.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5. And Lot alfo, Sec] God had bleffed him
likewife as a faithful Companion of Abraham \n his
Travels 5 and Partaker alfo of his Faith.
Verfe^d. Ver. 6. The Land was not able to bear him*> Sec.*]
There was not fufficient Pafturage for them both, in
that part of the Country.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And there was a flrife. Sec] Wealth com-
monly breeds Contentions. Yet here was no diffe-
rence between the Mafiers 5 but between their Ser-
vants: Each endeavouring to get the beft Paftures,
>and the beft watering Places for their Flocks.
And
upon GENESIS. 20
Artel the Canaanitc artel the Pcrtzztte, &c] This Chapter
part of the Country, was inhabited by the People, XIII.
peculiarly called Canaartitcs, and by the Pcr/zzHes, (a l/"V"VJ
very rugged and barbarous Nation. See XV. 20. )
among whom Contention would have been danger-
ous, at leaft very fcandalous.
Ver. 8. AbramfaidtoLot.'] The bed, the wifeft, Verfe 8.
and Men of greateft Experience in the World, are
moft inclined to Peace 3 and mod yielding in order
to it.
Let there he no flrife between me and thee.'] There
had been none yet 5 but their Servants Quarrel, might
have proved theirc at lad.
And between my Herds-men, &c."] And here, figni-
fiesor.- As XIX. 12. Exod. XII. 5.
For we are Brethren.'] Near Kinfmen, whom the
Hebrews call Brethren.
Ver. 9. Is not the Land before thee, &c] There is Verfe
room enough, though not here, yet in other parts of
the Country: Now, fince we cannot remain toge-
ther, take thy choice which way thou wilt go, &c
A wonderful Condefcenfion in Abram, to let the
younger, and leaft in Eftate, pleafe himfelf. And
he did not defire Lot to leave the Country, but only
to fettle himfelf in what part of it he liked beft 5
that he might be near to help him, as he did af-
terwards.
Ver. 10. Beheld all the Plain of Jordan, Sec.'] A Verfe 10.
fruitful and pleafant Country, well watered by the
Streams of Jordan: Which in many windings and
turnings run through it, and at fome times overflow-
ed it -y which made the Ground very rich. And
therefore Mofcs compares this Plain to the Garden
of Eden, (asmoftunderftand thofe words, the Garden
Kk of
2$o A COMMENTARY
Chapter of the LORD,) which was well watered by a Ri-
XIII. ver running through it : And to the Land of Egypt ^
L/"V"NJ >vhich is fatned by the overflowing of Nile, as this
was by the overflowing of Jordan.
As thou comeji to Zoar.~] Thefe words are not to
be referred to the Land of Egypt, immediately fore-
going, ("from which Zoar was at a great diftance,)
but to thofe words in the beginning, a Plain well wa-
tered every rchere ^ even to the utmoft Skirts of it,
which was Zoar.
Verfe tl. Ver. 11. And Lot chofe him all the Plain of Jordan.']
He was invited by the richnefs of the Soil 5 without
regard to the Manners of the People : Which proved
afterwards a great Affii&ion to him.
And Lot journeyed Ea(l.~] For the Plain of Jordan
lay Eaji from' Bethel, where they now were.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. And Abram dwelt in the Land of Canaan,
&c."] In that part of the Country, where the People
peculiarly called Canaanites (Jrerfe 7. and XII.6.) were
feated : Otherwife, if the Land of Canaan be ta-
ken largely, the Plain of Jordan was alio a part of
it.
Verfe 13. Ver. 13., The Men of Sodom were wicked, &c.]] Their
Sins were grown ripe for Punifhment ^ having been
brought (as it were) before the LO RD ; and fen-
tenced at his Tribunal, to the Judgment which fhortly
after befel them.
ffe 14. Ver. 14, And the LORD faid unto Abram%$bc."\
It is likely the Lord appeared again to him, fas
he had done formerly, XII. 7.) after Lot was iepa-
rated from him : Both to comfort him in his abfence,
by renewing his Promife in larger words ^ and to
aiTure him that his Pofterity, not Let's, (hould inherit
this Count ryc
Lift
upon GENESIS, 351
Lift up thine eyes, Sec] He dwelt now, it is like- Chapter
ly, upon the Mountain, which was on the Baft of XIII.
Bethel, (where he pitched his Tent before he went LXVNJ
into Bgypt, XII. 8. and returned to it when he came
from thence, Vtt. 3, 4. of this Chapter,') which ga\e
him the advantage of a fair and long profpett of the
Country every way.
Ver. 15. For all the Land thou fee ft, See. ~] ThatVerfe 15,
whole Country, fome Parts of which he faw a great
way, in every Quarter of it, and all the reft conti-
guous to them, were hereby aflured to him.
For ever."] It doth not fignifie ftriftly Time with-
out end : But a very long Period. The Jews indeed
fay that this word Olam, when it is written full, as
they fpeak ^ that is, with Vau, denotes Eternity 5
though without Van they confefs it fignifies only a
long time. But this fmall Obfervation is quite over-
thrown by many Examples to the contrary. For,
Exod. XV. 18. where the Lord is faid to reign for
evcr^ this word Olam is without a Van, and yet de*
notes Eternity. And Dent. XV. 17. where it is faid,
hefoall be thy Servant for ever 5 it is written with a
Van, and yet denotes only a term of fifty Years at
the moft.
Ver. 16. I will make thy Seed as the Auft of the Verfe 16.
Earth, Sec] More than could be contained in that
Land.
Ver. 17. Arife, walkthrough the Land, &zc.m] He Verfe 17
would have him, for his fatisfa&ion, go and view it
all more nearly, in every part of it. Or, he gives
him leave (if he defired to underftand more fully,
both the Quality and Quantity of the Inheritance he
beftowed on him) to go and furvey it : Promifing
he would protect and preferve him in his perambu-
K k 2 lation.
252 A COMMENT ART
Chapter lattorr; Nay, fome look upon this, as giving him a
XIII. Warrant to take poflfeffion of the Country, though
>w*v-^ he fhould not yet enjoy it.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. Then Abram removed hk Tent."] To a
place about Twenty four Miles from Bethel^ where he
was before.
And dwelt in the Plain.'] Here the word we had
before XIL6. is in the Plural Number 5 and is taken
by many for Oaks, h c. for an Oaken Grove : So the
Arabhk Interpreter. The LXX. tranflate it, 7m^ r
frpuo, by the Oak,y in the Singular Number } for there
feems to have been one Oak, more eminent than the
reft. Under which Abram pitched his Tent, and built
an Altar unto the Lord.
This is confirmed by XVIIL r. compared with
Verfe 8. And indeed the Ancients very much reve-
renced an Oaky aflc* thererefore planted this Tree very
frequently. Jacob buried the Idolatrous Trumpery
of his Family under an Oak, (XXXV. 4.) which was
by Schechem, where the place of Publick Worfhip
feems to have been fix'd in Jojhua's time, Jofh. XXIV.
1, 26. The Angel of the Lor d alfo appeared to
Gideon under an Oak^ Jndg. ¥1.11,19,25. IX. 6.
And of all other Trees, an Oak was held moft Sacred
by the Heathen 5- particularly by the Druids. See Pli-
ny, L. XVI. c. 44. Max. Tyrius, Differt. 34. And
Paufaniasm his Account of Arcadia fays, the Anci-
ents made the Images of their Gods of Oak» being the
moft durable Wood.
This-O^fome fanfie was m being in the time of
Confiantine, and there was great refort to it. See So*
zomtn, L.ll. cap. 4. Here Abram dwelt a long time,
and many great things pafled here, before he removed
to any other place,
Mamre,
upon GENESIS 253
MamreT] Was the Name of a Man among the Chapter
Amoritcs, as appears from the next Chapter, verfc XIII.
Which u in Hebron.'] Or rather, by or mar He-
Iron, (for fo the Particle Beth is often ufed,J which
was a very ancient City, built /even Years before
Zoar, i. e. the famous City of Tank in Egypt, Numb.
XIII. 22. It was called Aba, or Kfrjath-Arba at
the firft, XXIII. 2. butmMefes his time, Hebron*
There are thofe indeed who fay it was not called
Hebron till the time of Jo/huay who gave it to Caleb
for his Portion, Jofi. XV. 13, 15. And thence con-
clude this Paflage was not wrote by Mofes, but put
in by fome other Hand, after his time. But I fee not
the leaft proof of this Aflertion, that Caleb was the
firft who gave it this Name. His Grandfon, menti-
oned 1 Chron. II. 41, 43. may rather be thought to
have taken his Name from this Place, than to have
given a Name to it. Befides, there have been two
Occafions of giving one and the fame Name $ as ap-
pears by what is faid of Beerfieba, XXL 31. XXVI.
33. And therefore this City might have the Name
of Hebron in Mofes his time ^ and it might-be confirm-
ed in Jojfjnas,
CHAP,
Chapter
XIV.
Verfe i.
A COMMENTARY
CHAP. XIV.
Ver. i. \ ND it came to pafs, Sec] It is very ea-
±\ fie to give an account of this War, which
the Kings of the Eaft made upon the Ring of Sodom
and Gomorrah^ &c. if what was faid before, XII. 6.
be admitted 5 that the CanaanHes had invaded the
Rights of the Children oiShem, and gotten pofleffi-
on of a Country belonging to them 5 which they
now endeavoured to recover, (as they had attempted
before, verfe 4.) For Elam, of which Chedorleomer
was King, defcended from Shem, Gen. X. 22.
Amraphel King of ShinarT] i. e. King of Babylon,
as it is commonly underftood. But it cannot well be
thought that fo potent a King, as he is fuppofed to
have been in thofe days, thould need any Affociates
in a War againft fuch petty Princes, as thofe menti-
oned verfe 2. Or, that the King of Elam ( whofe
Quarrel this was, as appears from verfe 4.) (hould
not be able of himfelf to grapple with them : Or,
that the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrha,&c. durft have
adventured, with a handful of People in comparifon,
to rebel againft him, after he had brought them un-
der his fubje&ion. Therefore we muft either take
Amraphel to have been fome fmall Prince in the Coun-
try of Shinar, i. e. Affyria: Or, if he were King of
Babylon, that Monarchy was fiot very great in the
days of Abram. And we muft alfo look upon the
reft as Names of fome particular Places (like Sodom
and Qomorrha) over which Arioch and Chedorlaomer
reigned : Who were fuch Kings as thofe in Canaan
when
upon GENESIS. 25^
when Jo/Ijua conquered it: Or elfe, Commanders of Chapter
Colonies, which they had led out of Ajjjrid and Per- XIV.
//./, and fettling thereabouts endeavoured to in large V^WJ
their Plantations. As the manner was in thole and
in fucceeding Times 5 when the Captains of a Troop,
and Leaders of a fmall Body of Men, were called
Primes or Kings.
Arioch King of Eilafitr.'] There was a City (men-
tioned by Stephanas deVrbibtts) called Ellas, in Crlo-
Syria, on the Borders of Arabia 5 where Arioch per-
haps commanded.
Chcdorlaomcr KingofElam.'] Concerning this Coun-
try lee X. 2i, where Chedorlaomer was either Gover-
nor of fome little Province or City 5 or, a Comman-
der of fome Troop of that Nation.
Tidal King of Nations^] Some take Go'jim in this
place, which we tranflate Nations, for a Country or
City. But it is mere agreeable to the common ufe
of the word in Scripture, to take it to fignifie a Peo-
ple : Who either wanted a fixed Habitation, or were
gathered out of fundry Regions.
Thus part of Galilee being inhabited by a mixed
People of divers Countries, was thence called Galilee
of the Naticns, or Gentiles, Mattb. IV. 15*. There
were alfo, as Sir W, Raleigh obferves, feveral petty
Countries which adjoyned to Phoenicia, (viz. Palmy-
rena, Batanea, Apamena, Laodicene, &c. which lay to-
wards Mefopotamia on the North, and Arabia on the
Eaft,) over which we may fuppofe Tidal reigned.
Eupolcmuf, an ancient Greeks Writer, relating this Sto-
ry, calls them Armenians, who made this Inrode up-
on the Phoenicians, as Eufebius tells us out of Alexan-
der Poly biflor, L.IX. Pr£par. Evang, c. 17.
r,
2^6 A COMMll\T ART
Chapter Ver. 2* Thefe made War with Bera King of Sodom ;
XIV. Sec] They were Lords of the Country called Pen-
^•v-w tapolis, or five Cities. Which were fo (mail, that there
Verfe 2. was no great need to bring a great King from beyond
Tigris, with fuch a mighty Monarch as he oSBabylon,
is thought now to have been } and feveral other Na-
tions between thefe Kings and Euphrates, to fubdue
their petty Province. It had been madnefs alfo for
thefe Kings to refift fuch powerful Armies, as the Ea~
ftem Kings are commonly fuppofed to have brought
againft them. And therefore I think it reafonable
by the Kings in the firfi Verfe to underftand fome
fuch petty Princes as thefe mentioned in the fe-
cond.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. Valley of SiddimT^ The five Cities flood
in this goodly Valley, which now is the Salt-Sea or
Lake : Since the overthrow of thefe Cities by Fire
and Brimflone from Heaven. Some will not have
Siddsm a proper Name, buttranflate it ploughed Lands^
in which this Valley was very rich.
•Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Twelve Tears they ferved Chedorlaomeri&c.']
This (hows he was the Prtacipalin this War : And
if he had been King of all that Country called Elam,
we cannot think he would have paffed through fo
great a part of the World, as AJfiria, Mefopotamia,
and part of Arabia to conquer five Towns. All whofe
Riches could not countervail the Charge 5 though he
had fent only one of his Lieutenants, with a fmall
Force to bring them under.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5. Smote the Rephaims7\ In their way to So-
dom, they fubdued thefe Warlike People, who, it is
likely, oppofed their PafTage into Pentapolk. And
thefe Rephaims^ it appears by XV. 20. were a part of
Canaans Pofterity, fituate fas one may gather from
Jofi.
upon GENESIS. 257
Jo/I). XII. 4. XIII. 12.) on the other ' fide Jordan, in Chapter
Baflian, or Batanea. They were of a Giant-like Sta- JCIV.
ture : And therefore the LXX. here and in other pla- WV~\J
ces, inftead of Rephaim, hzveG/ants.
Afitaroth-Karnaint^] It is plain from the fore-
named place, and from Dent. 1.4. that Afitaroth was
a place in Bafhan. Whether fo called, becaufe the
Goddefs Aftarte, i. e. Diana or Juno, was here wor-
(hipped, no Body can refolve. Thev that are of this
Opinion fanfie that Karnaim, which in Hebrew fig-
nifies two horned^ denotes the New Moon. But this
word may as well note that Afitarotb was a City in
the form of a half Moon.
And the Zwlwu7\ Another Warlike People there-
abouts: Who, fome think, are the fame with the
Zaw%untmims, Dent. II. 10.
TlicEmlmsJ] It appears from Dent. II. 9, 10, Sec.
that thefe were alfo a Gigantick People, and near
Neighbours to the Horites, mentioned in the next
Verfe. YoxtfoEmims pofleffed Ar and the Field of
Karjath'jearim } and the Horites pofleffed Mount Seir 5
till the former were driven out by the Moabitcsy and
the latter by the Children of Efau : And then the
Country of the Emims was called Moab^ and the
Country of the Horites was called Edom.
Ver. 7. And they returned.'] From the Conqueft of Verfe 7.
the fore named People.
And came to En-ntifopat.'] Fell upon this Country,
which was called afterward by this Name ; becaufe
God forejudged the IfraelUes for their Murmurings,
and Contention with Mafes. From whence alfo it
was called Kadcfl), becaufe here the Lord was fantti-
fied among them, AW. XX. 13.
LI All
258 ^ COMMENTARY
Chapter AH the Country of the Amalek$tes^] The Country
XIV. which was afterwards poffeffed by the Amalehjtes^
U/"V*NJ who were not yet in being .• For they were the De-
scendants of Efw, as Mofes (hows, Gen. XXXVI. 16.
Avdalfothe Awcrites^ who dwelt in Hazcz>#K-Trtmar.~]
Which is the fame with En-Gaddi, near the dead Sea,
2 Chron. XX. 2.
Verfe ic. Ver. ic. Full ofSlhve-fits."] Into which they hoped
their Enemies might fall, and fo be broken : Which
made them draw up their Army, and wait for them
in this place.
And the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrhafled."] Were
routed, as we now fpeak. Of the word Slime fee
XL 3.
And fell there."] i.e. A great (laughter was made
of their Armies .- For they themfelves efcaped, it ap-
pears by the following part of the Story. Some will
have it, that many of them fell into thofe Slime-pits,
in which they hoped to have feen their Enemies
plunged. But the fimpleft Sence is $ many of them
wereflain, and the reft, as it follows, efcaped to the
Mountain. But made fuch ill ufe of their Prefervati-
on, from being killed with their Fellows, that they
only lived to fufFer a greater Vengeance.
Verfe 11. Ver. 11. And they tooh^all the Goods, 8cc] This is
a further proof that Chedorlaomer, and the reft of his
Confederates in this War, were but petty Princes,
(like the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrha, Sec.) for ha-
ving broken the Army of the five Kings, they refted
contented, and march'daway with the Prifoners and
Booty $ but took not one of their Cities: Which, if
they had been fuch great Kings, as is imagined, ihey
would have certainly fack'd, and perhaps burnt, if
they had not thought fit to keep them. But we read,
Verfe
upon GENESIS. 259
Verfe 17. the King of Sodom (Vill reigned after this Chapter
victory, and went out of his City, to meet A- XIV,
brant. U^-V~\J
Ver. 12. And they tool^Lot, &c/]Whois here cal- Verfe 12.
led his Brother s Son, and Verfe 14, and 16. Abram\
Brother. This was the Foundation of Afyravt's Quar-
rel with the Four Kings 5 whofe War was jufr againft
the King of Sodom and his Confederates: But they
unjullly feized upon Lot and his Goods 5 who was
but a Sojourner in that Country, and had no hand in
their Revolt.
Who dwelt in Sodom'] In the Country of Sodom,
where he hired fome Ground for his Cattel 5 but it is
not likely he yet dwelt in the City, ("for then he had
not been taken Captive,) but afterwards, for more fe-
curity, betook himfelf thither.
Ver. 13. Told Abram the Hebrew.'] Socalled from Verfe 13
his Anceftor, Heber, as was before obferved. To
which may be added, That if he had been called by
this Name, as many think, only from his pafljing over
Euphrates, (which the LXX. took to be fhe reofon,
when they tranflated it 7fi^im<; ) it would not have
delcended to all his Pofterity, who did not come
from beyond the R.iver. So little a thing as t}
would not have given a Name to a whole and emin
Nation 5 who are ufually denominated from fome e-
minent Progenitor.
And thefe were confederate with Abram."] The three
fore-named Families were near Neighbours to Abram ;
who, it is likely, farmed fas we now fpeak) fome
Ground of them: and fo entred into a League of
Mutual Defence, having the fame Intereft. I fhould
think alfo, that having the Priefr of themoft Hi:h
God not far from them, Verfe 18. they w^re good,
L 1 a pious
76o A COMMENTARY
Chapter pious People, (^rather than conclude, as I find fome
XIV. do, that they were utter ftrangers to the true Religi-
U^V\j on) which made Abram more forward to embrace,
it not to court, their Friepdfhip. For the Sins of the
Amorites being not yet full, (XV. 16.) there might
be fome remainders of true Piety among them : And
it is no Argument, that becaufe thefe three Familes
were of thatNation, they were wicked Idolaters.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Armed his framed Servants.'] Drew forth
a feleft number of his Servants, whom he had inftruft-
ed to handle Arms } in cafe of any Affaults by Rob-
bers or injurious Neighbours. We read before, XII.
5. of the Servants they brought with them from Haran;
and now they were more increafed, as their Cattel
were, fXII. 16. XIII, 2, 6.) fo that he might well
make a little Army out of them.
And pHrfued them to Dan.] As far as that place,
where one of the Heads or Springs of Jordan breaks
forth, called Dan,a$ Jofephus relates, where he fpeaks
of this very Hiftory, L. I. Antiq. c. 10. This plain
and (hort Account of this word Dan, overthrows the
Argument which Cavellers draw from hence to prove
that Mofes did not write this Book.
Verfe 15 . Ver. 1 5 . And he divided himfelf againfl them, he and
hit Servants by night.] The Vulgar Latin here reads,
His Companions being divided, he fell upon them by
Night : Minding rather the fence, than the words.
For here is no mention of any but Abram and his Ser-
vants : Though it appears by the laft Verfe of the
Chapter, that his Confederates before-mentioned,
Verfe 1 3. Aner, EJhcot, and Mamre, joyned wiih him
in this Expedition. Which they managed with great
Judgment, (for Stratagems in War were never want-
ing, from the beginning) Abram and his Servants
making
upon GENESIS. 261
making one Troop, or Battalion, (as they now fpeak) Chapter
and the Confederates making three more. Who, di- XIV.
viding themielves, fell upon the four Rings, in the/our L/"V^vJ
Quarters of their Camp: That they might the more
diltract them 5 and make them apprehend their For-
ces to be more numerous, than indeed they were.
They were put alfo into the greater Confufion, be-
caufe this Affault was made in the Ni^ht : When,
perhaps, they were buried both in Wine and in
Sleep.
Ver. 15. Unto Hobah.'] Which lav in the ValeVerfe 15,
between Libanus and Antilibanus : Called by Amos I.
5. the Valley of Aven, and Beth Eden, or the Seat of
Pleafure. In this Vale was Damafcus feated.
Ver. 16. He brought backall the Goods, Sec] AllVerfe 16.
the Prey, whether in Money, Cattle, or other things,
which the four Kings had carried away.
The Women alfo, and the People."] It feems they had
carried away all the People of Pentapolis, who did
not flee to the Mountains, or fenced Cities. And
Women, in thofe days, were a fpecial part of their
Booty.
Ver. 17. Went out to meet hint 7] To congratulate Verfe 17,
his Victory } and to defire his People might be refto-
red to him.
At the Valley of Shave h."] This feems to have been
a pleafant Place, wherein the King (that is Mclchize-
deck^, I guefs by what follows) took delight. Whence
it was called the Kings-Dale. In which the King of
Sodom met Abram -? and Melchizedcckzmen&'med him
with Bread and Wine.
Ver. 18. And Melchizedeck"} The Jews generally Verfe 18.
fay this was Shem, the Son of Noah. But we have
reafon to look upon this Opinion, as proceeding
from
762 A COMMENTARY
Chapter from their Pride and Vanity : Which could not en-
XIV. dure to think the Father of their Nation had any Su-
Ly"W> perior in another Nation, efpecially among :he Ca-
naanites. And therefore they will haV£ AhraMlo
have been bleffed by his great Anceftor Shem 5 to
whom alfo he paid Tithes: Which is a fancy ib plain-
ly confuted by the Apoftle to the Hebrews, that it is
ftrangeany Chriftiansfhould follow it. For he faiih
expreily, that Melchizedecl^ was not }SrsaAc^u*i(gL
ci| cujtSv, VU. 6. his Defcent, ox Pedigree, was not
counted from them : Which is not true of Shew. Nor
could Shem be laid to be without Father or Mother 5
whofe Genealogy is evident from Adam. Nor was
Shews Priefthood, if he had any, of a different Or-
der from Levis; who was in his Loins., as well as in
the Loins of Abram. And therefore it could not be
faid that Levi paid him Tithes in the Loins of Abram,
but it would be as true that he received Tithes in
the Loins of Shem : For, according to this Interpre-
tation, he was in the Loins both of him that received
Tithes, and of him that paid them $ and fo the whole
Argumentation of the Apoftle falls to the Ground.
But letting afide thefe and other Chriftian Reafons,
(^ which are ftrongly urged by Bochartm, L. II. Phaleg^
c. 1.) there is no Caufe, that we can difcern, why
Mofes thould call Shem (whom he fo often mentions)
bv anv other Name than his own .• Nor is it likely
that She fo reigned in the Land of Can a an*, which now
was in thepoffeilion of his Brother's Son /Nor could
Air am be faid to fojourn there as in a ftrange Country,
if his Noble AnceUor, Shem, had been a King there.
i Nor is this an ancienr Opinion among the Jews At leafl:
not conftantly believed .- For JoCephus fays exprefly,
■th.U M:lchizedeck was Xzvxvxizv ^wuu^n;, a Potentate
upon GENESIS. 263
ofthcCjtud;;'ics, I.VIi. dc Betid, Jud. c. 18. And Chapter
yet it wis foconmon that it went to the Samaritans, XIV.
as Epiphauius tells usf, H&ref LV. n. 6. fttipugh not L/*V"\J
to the Arabldnr. -rho fey he was the Son of Pcleg. £
Hotting. StoQgniA Orient. 256, 2.69, 306.) and many
ChriTrians have embraced it, merely (as far as I can
dtfcern] hecaufe they wotlld not acknowledge any
good Man to have been then imon<> the Canaavites.
Som neks held htm to be u*yz\ftJ0 nvx Xu/jx'julv,
as Eoi^lirnus tells us in the place fore-mentioned,
Num. I, Which was the Opinion of Hicracas, a great
Scholar and famous Phyfician \n Egypt ^ Hirb,y in the form of a Man, H■
To go childlefs.'] Is to die, (to go out of the
World without Children) as Luke XXII. 22. truly,
the Son of Man goeth, i. e. muft die (hortly. He doth
not flight God's Promifemade in the foregoing Verfe ;
but only defires him to be fo gracious as to give him a
Child for his Reward.,
And
upon GENESIS 269
I the Steward of my Houfi h this, &C."] He that Chapter
Uk-es are ofall I have, (and therefore defervesbeft of XV.
nae J is not of my Kindred; iVVNJ
Eliczcr of Dj;;j ifcurT] Some think this fignifies
no nure, but that i.e was born of a Syrian Wo-
man.
Ver. 3. And Mr am /aid, fxc] He repeats th* Verfe *,
fame again, out of a great Concern to have God's
l-romife fulfilled .• Which he did nor disbelieve, but
carnefrlv long'd for, more than for all the Riches in
theWorJd,
One boT7i inmyHonfe is an Herr.~] It is likely7, that
FMezer was one of thofe Souls (\. e. Servants ) gotten
in Haran, (XII. 5.) and had been fuch a wile and
faithful Manager ofall thtngscommirted ro his Care,
that Abram intended, before the Promife made to
him, to have left him his Heir : Thinking he fhould
have no Child of his own $ Sarah being barren, as
we read, XI. go.
Ver. 4. And behold, the Word of the LORD c awe to Verfe A.
Bm% Sec."] A new AfTurance is given him, from the
Srhevhinah, or Drome Majejiy, that he fhould have an
Heir begatten by himfelt.
Ver. 5. And he brought h}»r firth abroad, W Vejfe S«
/aid, 8cc] Ma'imonidcs thinks (More Nev. P. II. c. 46.)
that all this which follows was done in a Vifion. Bur
others will have it, that he was really condu&ed out
of his Tent into the open Air, and look'd upon the
Stars. The former Opinion is more probable, be-
caufe the Sun was not yet gone down, verfe 12. and
therefore the Stars were notro be feen with the E
but were represented only in a Vifion.
So flsaU thy Scedbe."] Neiem. IX. 2}. He nor only
promifes him an Heir 5 but that this Heir fho,
I fcVJC
ijo A COMMENT ART
Chapter have a numerous Pofterity. Which, as before XIII.
XV, 16. he compared to the Duft of the Earthy fohere
L/^VNJ he compares ro the Stars of Heaven. Showing (fay
fome of the Jews) by the former their Humiliation $
and by this their Exaltation and Advancement. And
indeed, in this Chapter, hefpeaksof both.
Verfe 6. Ver. 6. He believed in the LORD.'] Was fully
perfuaded that God both could and would perform
his Promife 5 though it feemed to be very difficult, if
not impoffible, according to the ordinary courfe of
Niture : He and Sarah both, being very old.
And he accounted it to him for Right eon \fnefs7\ The
Lord efceemed it a moft noble Aft, and high Expref-
fion of a pious Confidence in him, (as that Aft of
fihinew wasj, in after- times, Ffalm CVT. 31.) and
thereupon gracioufly owned him for a righteous Per-
ion .• Though he was not free from all Sin whatfo-
ever } but was guilty of fome that were not confident
with perfeft Righteoufnefs.
It is here to beconfidered, That Abram believed
this Promife before, ("XII. 1, 2, 3, 4.) but now his
Faith was the more remarkable^ becaufe, notwith-
ftanding fome time had paifed fince the firfc making
of the Promife, and he had noIlTue }he (till per fi (led
in the belief, that God would beftow a Son upon
him ^ though it grew every day more and more un-
likely.
>Verfe 7. Ver. 7. 1 am the LOR Dthat brought thee, &c.*] He
re-minds him of what he had already done for him 5
that he might confirm him in the belief of what he
promifed further to do.
To give thee this Land, fkc.~] To beftow it upon
thy Children for their Inheritance.
Ver.
upon GENESIS 271
Ver. 8. U hereby /I.hill I Ijtorr, ckc.^ This is not fpo- Chapter
ken doubtingly 5 for the ftrength of his Faith is high- XV.
ly c mmended ^ buthedefires to hive it more and iv^V^O
more ftrengthned and confirmed : Aslbmegood Men Vcrie 8.
did in after- times, when they were put upon very dif-
ficult Services. SoGideon,Jud^. VI. ij, &c.
Ver. 9. And he fiid unto hint* Tuk,c me an He/- Verfe 9.
/8r, &c."] /'. e. Offer unto me fib it mould be ren-
dered, as Mr. Mede obferves, £ta?4 II- />• 472. J the
following Creatures : Which are of four (ores. From
whence the Hebrew Doctors would perfuade us the
rife and the fall of the four Monarchies are fignified
in thefe words. But it is a better Obfervation^ That
God hereby fore- fignified their Sins mould be expia-
ted by Sacrifices. For thefe were the Creatures, and
thefe alone, which were appointed to be offered in
facrifice to God, by the LawofM^/e/. And it jufti-
fies their Opinion, who think there were clean and
unclean Beafts, with refpeft to Sacrifice, before the
Law 5 though not with refpect to Meat.
Yet here is fomething fingular, That God required
Abram to offer an Heifer of three Years old, with a
Goat and a Ram of the fame Age ; whereas after-
wards, under the Law, they were commonly of one
Tear old. I know not the reafon of this difference $
but certain it is, that a Ram of / -in its
full fkrength, and the vigour of its Age 5 zsBoch
obferves. Whence it is that Luc/an introduces G rne redreffed of the Wrong that is done me. See Lud.
de Dieu.
The Lord judge between me and thee.] Sometimes
thisPhrafe fignifies an Appeal to God, as the Aven-
ger of Wrongs: But here it feems only to denote her
committing the Equity of herCaufe to the Judgment
of God.
Verfe 6. Ver. 6. Behold, thy Maid is in thy hand.~] Is fubjeft
unto thee.
Do with her as pleafes thee.'] life her as thy Maidy
and not as my Wife.
And when Sarai dealt hardly with her.] Beat her
perhaps $ or, impofed on her, too much, or too fer-
vile Labour.
She fled from her face.] Runaway, to avoid her
cruel ufage.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And the Angel of the LOR D,8co] This
is the firft time that we read of the Appearance of an
Angel. By whom Maimonides will fcarce allow us ta
underftand more, than a Meflenger, (More Nevoch.
P. II. e. 42.) But fome Chriftians go fo far into the
other extream, as to underftand hereby, the Eternal
AOros, or Son of God. It feems to me more
reafonable, to think, that though the Schechinah^ or
Divine Majefty, did not appear to her 5 as it had of-
ten done to Abram: Yet one cf the heavenly Mini-
fters, who were Attendants upon it, and made a part
of ks Glory, was fent to ftop her Proceedings. And
a great Favour it was, that the Lord; would difpatch
fach a Meflenger after her: Who was fufficient to do
the bufinek
In
upon GENESIS. aS5
In the way to Shur.~] She was flying into Egypt ^ her Chapter
own Country, (upon which the Wildernefs of Shttr XVL
bordered) and only refted a while at this Fountain, to L/'V'NJ
h her felf.
Ver. 8. And he furl, Hagar, Struts Mud.'] He takes Verfe 8,
notice ot her being Sarai's Maid, rather than Abranfs
Wife 5 to put her in mind of her Duty 5 and that fhe
could not honeftly leave her Miftrefs without her
Confent : For fo it follows in the next Verfe.
Ver. 9, Return to thy Miftrefs, and JHbmit,&.c.') It is Verfe 9.
the fame word here tranflatedyA//>w77,with that Verfe 6.
where it is rendred dealt hardly : Signifying that (he
(hould be Patient, and indure the Hardihip of which
fhe complained, (or, fuffer her felf to be affiitted by
herj
Ver. 10. I will multiply, 8cc."] I will make thee par- Verfe ic.
taker of the Promife to have made to Abram, XV. 5.
The Angel delivers this Meffage to her, in the Name
of God, whofenthim.
Ver. 11. Behold, thou art with Child, Sec] Do not Verfe II.
doubt of what I lay 5 for thou art with Child of a
Son, who fhall be the Father of a great People. This
Promife was renewed to Ahram in the next Chapter,
XVII. 20. and we find was performed, XXV. iz.
Shalt call hk Name I//)n*ael.~] Some of the Jews
take notice of the Honour which was here done him,
in calling him by his Name before he was born :
There being but Six, they fay, who were thus diftin-
guilhed from others ^ the two firft were the Son9
of Abram^ (Ifl)/xaely and Ifaac,) and thelaft was the
Meffijs.
The LORD hath heard thy afflttfion.] Thy Com-
plaint under the Affii&ion thou haft endured from
thy Miftrefs, and here in the Wildernefs. This Paf-
O o z fage
a84 A COMMENT ART
Chapter &ge (hows it was an Angel which appeared and fpake
XVI. to her from the Lord, and not the Lord him-
Verfe 12. Ver* I2# A wild Man."\ The Hebrew word Phere
here joyned with Ma-n, fignifies a wild Afs. And fo is
well translated by Bochart, Tamferus quam onager^ as
wild as a wild Afs. Which loves to ramble in De-
farts } and is not eafily tamed, to live in Society.
His Hand Jhall be againji every Man, Sec/] He (hall
be very Warlike : And both infeft all his Neighbours,
and be infefted by them.
Hefhall dwell in the prefence of his Brethren^ Be a
Nation by himfelf} near to all his Brethren, whether
defcended from Ifaac, or from the reft of Abram's
Sons by Keturah: Who, though annoyed by him,
ftiall not be able to difpoflefs him. This is fuch an
exaft Defcription of the Pofterityof Ifimael, through-
out all Generations, that none but a Prophetick Spi-
rit could have made it 5 as Doftor Jackson truly ob-
ferves, (Book^\. on the Creed, c. XXV.) wildnefs be-
ing fo incorporated into their Nature, that no change
of Times hath made them grow tame.
Verfe 13. Ver. 13. She called the Name of the LORD that
fpake to her."] By his Angel, for (he look'd upon
the Prefence of the Angel, as a Token of the Di-
vine Prefence ,• though (he faw it not in its full
Glory.
Thou God feeji me7\ Takeft Care of me, where-
foever I am.
For Jhe faid, Have 1 alfo here looked after hint that
feeth me f\ There are various Interpretations of thefe
words : The plaineft is that of De Dieu: Who ob-
ferves that the word Halom always fignifies Place, not
Time^ or5 that which is done in any Place 5 and fa
we
upon GENESIS. 28$
we tranflate it by the word here. But there he makes Chapter
a ftop, after that word, by way of admiration ,• in XVI.
this manner : And even here alfo! Or, even thit* far! <^-v*v^
It had been lefs wonder, if God had taken care of me
in my Matter's Houle^ but doth he follow me with
his Favour even hither? This is wonderful. And
then the next words, (have I looked after him that
fecth me) carried this fence, Have I beheld God, who
taketh care of me? What a Favour is this that he
would fo far condefcend to me ? It ought never to be
forgotten 5 therefore (he called his Name, Thon God
feeji vie.
Ver. 14. Beer'lahai~roi.~) Some would have thisVerfe 14.
refer, both to Hagar, and to God : in this manner :
The Well of her that liveth, and of him that feeth, (/. e.
who preferves me in Life.) So it was an acknow-
ledgment that (he owed her Life and Safety to
God.
Ver. 15. Abr am called his Sons Name, Sec."] Ha- Verffe 15.
gar having told him at her return the foregoing Sto-
ry, he gave his Son this Name ^ in Obedience to the
Angels Command, Verfe 1 1.
Ver. 16. Four [core and fix years oldJ] He was Seven- Verfe 16,
tyfive Years old when he came into Canaan, XII. 4.
and had been ten Years there when he took Hagar to
Wife, (Verfe 3. of this Chapter) and therefore was
then eighty five Years old 5 and confequently eighty
fix the next Year, when Iflwtad was born,
G H A P.
i%6
Chapter
XVII.
Verfe
A COMMENTARY
Verfe
Verfe 3.
Verfe 4,
Verfe 5,
CHAP. XVII.
Ver. i.Y X THen Abram was ninety nine years old.']
V V Thirteen Years after IJbntaeV* Birth.
The LO & D appeared to Abram."] In a vifible Ma-
jefty 5 to fatisfie him-that the Promife made, (XV.4,
5 .) (hould not be fulfilled in Jfimael.
I am the Almighty GodT] Or, AU-fufficient. This
is the firft time we meet with this Name : Which
was moll fitly ufed here, when he ipeaks of a thing
very difficult to be done , but not beyond the Power
of God, who can do all things, and needs none to
affift him.
Walk before me7] Go on to pleafe me.
And be thou perfefl.'] Till thou haft compleated
thy Faith and Obedience.
Ver. 2. And I will make my Covenant, 8cc/] Efta-
blifh and perform my Covenant : For it was made be-
fore, and now only confirmed, by a Sign or Token
of it, verfe 11.
Ver. 3. Abram fell on his face.] Being aftonifhed
at the Brightnefs of that Majefty which appeared to
him, verfe 1.
Ver. 4. As for me, behold, my Covenant, &c] Be
not afraid, for it is I, who am conftant to my word,
and now again ingage my felf unto thee.
Thoujhalt be a Father of many Nations."] Not only
of Jews, and JJIjmaelites, and others $ but, in the
Spiritual Sence, of all thzGentile World.
Ver. f. Neither fluU "thy Name, &c.~] Abram is com-
monly interpreted, high Father^ and Abraham the
Father
upon GENESIS- 287
Fader of a Multitude* So the very Text expounds Chapter
the ajafon of tblS Name : For a Father of ma fry Nation* XVI f.
have I made thee. There are many ways of making L^VSJ
out this meanings but none feems to me to plain, as
that of HottittgtrS^ who makes it a compofition of
Ab, (a Father) and the old word Raham, which (till
in Arabick, fignifies a great Number, Smegma Orient.
cap. 8. § 19.
Ver. 6. And I re ill make thee exceeding fruitful, Sec/] Verfe 6.
1 obferved before, XII. 7. that Abrams Obedience
was conftantly rewarded in kind, &c. of which here
is a new proof. For upon his fubmiffion to be Cir-
cumcifed, (wherein his Obedience was next tried J
which might feem to weaken the power of Gene-
ration, (as Maimonides affirms it doth, MoreNcvoch.
P. III. c. 49 J God promifes that he would make him
fo exceeding Fruitful, that Nations and Kings fhould
proceed from him : As there did both by Ifrael,
Edom, and Ifimael, from whom the Saracens came,
&c.
Ver. 7. An everlajiing Covenant.] The word Olant, Verfe T,.
which we tranflate Everlajiing, hath often a limited
fignification, to the end of fuch a Period, (zsExod.
XXI. 6. a Servant for ever, is till the Year of Jubilee)
though with refpeft to the thing fignified, this Go*
venantis abfolntely everlafting^ and continues now
that the fign is abolilhed. The next words tell'
us what was fignified in this Covenant of Circum-
cifion.
To be a God unto thee, &c] I think Maimonides
hath truly obferved, that in Circumcilion, they co-
venanted with God, to have no other God but him :
Or, in his Phrafe, they covenanted concerning the be-
lief of the Unity of God, More Nevoch. P. III. cap. 49.
Who*
a88 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Who promifed to be their God $ that is, to beftow
XVII. all manner of Bleffings upon them, and at laft to
w\/ — * (end the Mejfiah.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And I will give thee, Sec.] Here he again
renews his Promife, (XII. 7. XIII. 15. XV. 18.) and
confirms it by this Covenant, to give him that Land,
wherein he was at prefent a Stranger, and to put his
Seed in pofleffion of it.
An everlafting poJfeffion.~] If they did not forfeit it
by their Difobedience to him.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. Thou fialt keep my Covenant therefore, 8tc.^]
Now follows Abrahams part of this Covenant, which
was mutual between God and him.
Verfe 10. Ver> 10. This is my Covenant^] Which the next
Verfe explains, by the Sign or Token of the Covenant.
As the Pafchal Lamb is called the Paffbver of the Lord,
Exod. XII. 11. That is, the memorial of the Angel's
paffing them by, when he killed the Egypt/an Chil-
dren, XIII. 9. But Circumcifion was fuch.a Sign,
that they entred thereby into a Covenant with God
to be his People. For it was not a mere Mark,
whereby they (hould be known to be Abraham's Seed,
and diftinguMhed from other Nations ; But they were
-made by this, the Children of the Covenant, and
intitled to the Bleffings of it. Though, if there had
been no more in it but tWs, That they who were of
the fame Faith, as Matmomdes fpeaks, (hould have
one certain Chara&er, whereby they fhould be known
and joyned one to another, without the mixture of
any other People^ it had been a very wife appoint-
ment. And this Mark was very fitly chofen, be-
caufe it was fuch a Token, as no Man would have
fet upon himfelf and upon his Children $ unlefs it
were for Faith and Religion fake. For it is not a
Brand
upon G E N E S I S. *fy
Brand upon the Arm, or an incifion in the Thigh; but Chapter
a tiling very hard, in a moft tender part : Which no XVII.
Body would have undertaken, but on the fore- named L/~V~\J
account, P. III. More Scv. c.49.
It may be proper here to add 5 That Covenants
were anciently made in thofe Eajlcrn Countries, by
dipping their Weapons in Blood, fas Xenophon tells
us; and by pricking the Flefh, and fucking each
others Blood, ns we read in Tacitus. Who obferves,
(L. XII. Annul.) that when Kings made a League,
they took each other by the Hand, and their Thumbs
being hard tied together, they prick'd them, when
the Blood was forced to extream parts, and each
Party lick'd it : Which he faith was accounted Area,-
nnm fedus, qnafiMutuo cruore facratum, a myfterious
Covenant, being made Sacred by their mutual Blood.
How old this Cuftom had been, we do not know :
But it is evident God's Covenant with Abraham was
folemnized on Abrahams part, by his own and his
Son Ifaafs Blood, and fo continued through all Ge-
nerations, by cutting off the Fore-skin of their Flefh,
fas it follows in the next Verfe) whereby as they
were made the Seleft People of God : So God in
conclufion, fenthis own Son, who by this very Ce-
remony of Circumcifion, was confecrated to be their
God and their Redeemer.
Ver. 1 1 . Yc flail circumcife the FleJJj ofyfar Foreskin^] Verfe 1 1 -
i. e. The Foreskin of your Flefh : For that Member,
which is the Inftrument of Generation, is peculiarly
called by the Name of Flefh, in many places, Lev.
XV. 2. Ezei. XVL 26. In which part of the'Body,
rather than in any other, God appointed the Mark of
his Covenant to be made 5 that they might be deno-
ted to be an Holj See d, confecrated to him from the
Pp be-
29o A COMMENTARY
Chapter beginning. The Pagans made Marks in feveral parts
XVI I. of their Bodies, (fome in one, fome in another)
U~V~\J whereby they were confecrated to their Gods : Bat
the Charafter which God would have imprinted up-
on his People, wasin one peculiar partand no other,
(from which they never varied,) vt£> In that part
which ferved for the Propagation of Mankind. Of
which fome have given Natural, others Moral Rea-
fons } but the moft plain and obvious is, That it
might be an apt Token of the Divine Covenant
made with Abraham and his Pofterity ; That God
would multiply their Seed, and make them as the Stars
of Heaven, XV. 5. It is probable alfo, that this part
was chofen, rather than any other 5 to make them
fenfible, that this was a Divine Sacrament : For no-
thing but God's Inftitution, could at firft engage
Men to lay that part bare, which Nature hath co-
vered.
It is of late indeed made a Queftion by fome
learned Men, whether this were the Original of Cir-
cumcifion: Which they fanfie the Jews borrowed
from the Egyptians, and not the Egyptians from the
Jews. Certain it is, that not only the Egyptians,
but feveral other Nations, did very anciently uieCir-
cumcifion. Now it is improbable, fay they, that the
Egyptians, (who feem to have had it the moft early
of all Nations5who fprang not from Abraham J would
borrow this Cuftom from the Hebrews, whom they
perfe#ly hated, (Shepherds being an abomination to
them, XL VI. 34.) and therefore they gave them-
felves the liberty to fay, That God did not now en-
joyn Abrahams new thing, when he ordered him to
tecircumcifed 5 but only made this a Sign of his
Covenant with him, which it was not with other
Na-
upon GENESIS. 291
Nations. But unlefs it can be proved that Circum- Chapter
cifion was in ufe before Abrahams time, (which doth XV1L
not appear from any good Authors, though fuch as L/V^SJ
Cclfus werefo bold as to affirm it, as we find in Ori-
gen, L. V.J fuch Arguments as thefe will not per-
fuade us to believe, that it came from the Egyptians
or any other Nation : But they had it, if not from
the Hebrews, yet from the Pofterity of Ifimacl, or
other People defcended from Abraham. Who being
highly beloved of God, it is not credible that God
would fetthe Mark of Ham% Race upon him and his
Pofterity : Much Iefs make it the Token of his Co-
venant with them. See J. Lndolphus, L. III. Comment.
in Hijior. lEthiop. c. 1. n. 3. The only Authority up-
on whom the broachers ot this Novelty rely is He-
rodotus : Who in hisSecond Book,, cap. 104. fays,
c The People of Colchis and the Egyptians, were the
c only Nations that were circumcifed , aV aV^vfc,
c from the beginning: The Syrians and Ph£nicians
c who live in Palefiinc acknowledging they had this
c Rite from them. Which is juft fuch a Tale as he
tells in ihz Second Chapter of that Book, that the £-
gyptians, were the firft inhabiters of the Earth, unlefs
perhaps the Phrygians. This Opinion proceeded
from their own vain Conceit 5 which made them
loath to confefs they received Circumcifion from
any other People. Though I think there is a con-
vincing Argument of it in Mofes himfelf ; who tells
us in Chapter X. 14. that the Philifiim came from
the Cajlucbimy i.e. the People of Colchis $ as that Peo-
ple came originally from Egypt. (So Herodotus him-
felf, Diodorus, and abundance of othercredible Au-
thors, teftifie.) This, it appears by what I noted
there, was before the time of Mofes^ nay, before
P p 2 Abra.-
*9i A COMMENTARY
Chapter Abraham : For the Philiflim had a King among them
XVII. *n his days : As we read in this Boo^ XX. and
L/"V\j XXVI. Now thefe Pbiliftim were an uncircumcifed
People, and therefore the People of Colchis-no doubt
wtre (o alio, when they went out of their Country,
a«d drove the Avim out of Palejiine. And confe-
quently the Egyptianshzd no fuch Rite among them,
when the Cajluchim came from Egypt $ but put a
gvois cheat upon Herodotus when they made him be-
lieve they had been circumcifed, «V *{$$, ^rom f^e
beginning. And, in like manner they impofed upon
him, who tokl him the Inhabitants of Palejiine^
('whom he calls Syrians and Phoenicians) conlefled
they received Circumcifion from the Egyptians. For
there were no Inhabitants of Palestine circumcifed
but the Jews, who ai ways profefled they received ft
from Abraham. Who, we may be confident was- the
firft Perfon in the World that was circumcifed /There
being nothing to induce any Body to ufe fuch a Rite,
unlefs they had been direfted to it by God, as Abrar
ham was. From whom the Ifimaelites received it ;
and from them the Arabians : And from thofe Coun-
tries, or from Abraham's Children by Keturah, it was
derived (as feems moft probable to mej» to the £-
gyptians : From whom the People of Colchis^ who
knew themfelves to be an Egyptian breed, unbraced
it 3 in imitation of their famous Anceftors. But, af-
ter Abraham's time, who found no fuch Rite among
thtPhilifiim^ a Colony of theirs ^ to whom in all
likelihood they would have communicated it, as the
Egyptians did to them, if k had been then ufcd in
that Country.
Vcrfe 12. Ver. L2. And he that is eight days old. Sec."] M*f-
' momdes thinks that if Circumcifion had not been*
per-
upon GENESIS. ^3
performed in their Infancv, it might have been in Chapter
danger to have been negle&ed afterward, tor an XVII.
Infant felt not fo much pain as an adult Perfon l/V\J
would have don^ 5 in whom the Flefh is more com-
part, and his Imagination ftronger. The Parents al-
io, fefpecially Fathers J) have not fo ftrong an Af-
fection to a Child when he is newly born, as they
have when he is grown up : And fo more eafily fub-
mitted to this harfh Kite, at their firit appearance in
the World 5 than they would have done, after thev
were more endeared to them. But the Child could
not be circumcifed before the eighth Day after his
Birth ^ became till then he was look'd upon as im-
perfect ,-and not yetfuftkiently cleanfed and purged /.
For which reafon Beafls were not accepted by God,
till feven Days were part, after their Birth, Exod.
XXII. 30. See More Nevoch. P. III. cap. 49.
And, as the Child was not to be circumcifed be-
fore the eighth Day, fo he was net (unlefs perhaps
in cafe of great weaknefs) to be kept uncircumcifed
beyond that Day. On which, if the Parents did not
caufe it to be circumcifed, the Houfe of Judgment, as
the Jews fpeak, were bound to do it. And if they
did not fbeing ignorant perhaps of the neglect) the
Child when he came of Age, (i.e. was thirteen Years
old) was bound himfelf to get it done. If he did
not, the Judges (if it were known to them) were
obliged to take care of it ; As Mr. Stlden Men 5,
L. I. de Synedr. cap. 6. p.g69^j.
Ver. 13. He that is born in thy Houfe, or bought with Verfr
Money, mufl needt be circumcifed \~\ Not whether tfc
would or no : For Men were not to be compelled to
Religion ^ which had been a profanation 01 this Co-
venant. But Abraham was to perfuade them to it 5
and,
ap4 A COMMENTARY
Chapter fand, if they confented not, to keep them no longer
XVII. inhisHoufe: But to fell them to fome other Peo-
L#^V%j"ple- So Matmonides expounds it, in his Book^of Gr~
cumd/ionCap. I. which is true both of Servants born
in the Houfe, and bought with Money .• But as for
the Children of thefe Slaves, they were to be cir-
cumcifed whether their Parents would or no; Be-
caufe they were the poffeffion of their Matters, not
of their Parents. For which cauft, when the Pa-
rents were fet free, their Children were left behind3
as their Mafters Goods, Exod. XXL 4.
Verfe 14, Ver. 14. That Soul [hall he cut off from his People7\
That is, if when he came to the Age of thirteen
Years, he did not caufe it to be done.
What it is to be cut off is very much difputed. The
fimpleft Sence feemstobe, he (hall not be accounted
one of God's People. But the Hebrew Doftors ge-
nerally take this to havebeem aPunifhment inflifted
by the Hand of Heaven^ i. e. of God : Though they
be- much divided in their Opinions about it. Of
which Mr. Selden treats at large in L. VII. De Jure
N. & G. c. 9. and De Synedr. L. I. c. 6. and more
briefly IJEmperenr in his Notes upon Cornel Ber~
tram De Republ. Jud. p\ 351. Some fay it was the
ihortning of the Man's Life 5 others fay it was the
making him Childlefs j fo that his Family and Name
perifhed in Ifrael. Maimonides would have it the
extin&ion both of Soul and Body, like a Brute. And
Abarbinelxzkzs it for the lofsof the Happinefs of the
World to come. Some Chriftiaus would haveit, to
be Excommunication : which cannot be, becaufe
fuch a Perfon never was a Member of the Church,
which he was to be made by Circumcifion. The
firft of thefe Opinions feems more probable than the
reft.-
upon GENESIS. 3^5
reft : For God himfelf faith of feveral Offenders, to Chapter
whom he threatens this Puniftiment, / will cut him XVII
off, and / will fet my face agamjl him, Lev. XVII. i : . i_/"V"\J
XX. 5, 6. XXIII. 50. Yet in other places, it mult
be confeiTed, this Ccrcth, or cutting off, lie nifies mi
. a Punifhment by the Judge, and not by the
Hand of God. And therefore the Ggnificai ion or it
muft be determined by the Matter, with which it is
joyned. Thus the violation of the Sabbath is threat-
ned with cutting off, Exod. XXXI. 14. which was to
be done by ftoning him : And fo were inceftuous
Perfons, Blafphemers, Idolaters, and others, to be ju-
dicially cut off by the Rulers.
Ver. 15. Sarahfiallbe her Namc.~] The fame Let- Verfe 15.
tcr is added to her Name, that was to Abrahams,
and for the fame reafon 5 for in the next Verfe it is
faid, floe fial! be a Mother of Nations.
Ver. 16. Give thee a Son alfo of her.~) Here now Verfe 16.
thepromifed Seed is determined to fpring from
rah. See XVI. 2.
Ver. 17. Abraham fell on his face."] WorfhippedGod Verfe 1 7
svith the humblefc Reverence.
And laughed7\ Not doubting of the Promife, (for
the Apoftle tells us quite contrary, Ram. IV. 19.;
but out of the exceeding great Joy wherewith he
was tranfported ; and the Admiration wherewith he
was furprized. Which produced the following Que-
ftions.
Shall a Child be bom unto him, who is an hundred
Tears old? &c] As if he had faid, ftrange ! that I
and Sarah at this Age (hould have a Child. What
joyful News is this ! Accordingly ihe ChaUue tr-n-
llates the word laughed 5 herejoyced.
Ver.
296 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 18. 0 that Jfomael might live before thee \~\ In
XVII. his Pofterity ^ as appears by God's Anfwer to this
L/"W> Petition, Verfe 20.
Verfe i3. Ver. 19. Call his Name Ifaac.'] He had this Name
Verte 1 9. from Abrahams, not from Sarahs Laughter: For that
was after this 5 and proceeded not from the fame
Gaufe with Abraham's.
Verfe 2c. Ver. 20. 1 have heard thce.~\ He (hall have a nu-
merous Pofterity. See DoS^ox Jackson s Firji Book^on
the Creed, c.26. where he fhows how the Uagerens
grew a mighty Nation ; And at laft (when they
were called Saracens ) became the Scourges of all
thefe parts of the World.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. But my Covenant will I efiablip with I-
faacT] The great Bleffings I have .promiied in the
Covenant I have made with thee, (hall come to thy
Pofterity by Ifaac% not by Jfhmael : Particularly the
Mejjiah.
Verfe 22. Ver. 22. And God went up from Abraham^ That
vifible Majefty wherein he appeared to him, (Verfe
1.) called often, in after-times, the Glory of the
LORD, went up to Heaven from whence it
came.
Verfe 25. Ver. 25. If/jmael was thirteenTears old, &c."] From
hence it was that the Saracens, defcended from him,
did not circumcife their Children till they were //>/>-
teen Years old. So it was in the days of Jofephns^
L. I. Antiq. c. 15. And the Saracens in Spain and
Africh^ obferved the fame Cuftom.
Verfe 26. Ver. 26. In the felffame day7\ The Jews will have
this to be the fame with the great Day of Expiati-
on, inftituted in Mofcs his time .• So that God every
Year remembred, fay they, the Covenant of Circum-
cifion. But this is an ungrounded Fancy.
Ver.
npon GENESIS, \9j
Ver. 27. And all the Men of his Honfe."] Mai wo- Chapter
nides underftands by the Men of his Houfe, thofe XVIII.
whom Abraham had converted from Idolatry, and L/VNJ
made Profelytes to the true Religion. So do others Verfe 27.
among the Jews (fee his Treatife of the Worfhip of
the Planets, c 1. § 9. But it is more proper to un-
derftand by the Men of Hh Houfe, all his Family in
general. Who were either (as it follows) born in
his Ronfc, f and therefore it is likely were bred up
in the true Religion, and fo eafily perfuaded to re-
ceive the Mark of Circumcifion) or bought with hit
Money ^ who fubmitted to Abrahams Arguments, not
to his Authority .• For Religion is to be chofen, not
compelled.
CHAR XVIII.
Ver. 1. A iV D the LORD appeared to him^ The Verfe 1.
±\ Glory of the L o a D, or the Divine
Majefty, which the Jews call the Schechinah, as it
had done lately, XVII. 1. And as the Lo a d then
appeared to eftablilh his Covenant with him, by Cir-
cumcifion .• So fome of the Jews imagine he again
appeared to vifit, comfort, and heal him, now that
he was very fore of his Circumcifion. Or, rather, I
fhould think, to teftifie by this illuftrious Manifefca-
tion of his Glory, {Verfe 2.) his high Approbation
of Abraham's ready Obedience to fo harfti a Com-
mand. So thejFeir/themfelvesefteem it, and there-
fore think that by receiving it, Abraham fulfilled
that Precept, which goes juft before it, XVII. 1. be
Qq the*
*9% A COMMENTARY
Chapter thou pevfeif. Which may have fome truth in it, if right-
X7 III. ly underftood .* For his Faith and Obedience grew
L/"V~SJ more perfetf^ by fubmitting to this Command 5 and
wascompleated, when he facrificed his Son.
However this be, I think it is plain from Vcrfe 10..
that this Appearance of the Divine Majefty, fwas not
long after the former.
In the Flaw.'] Or, the Oaks, of Mamre $ men-
tioned before, XHf. 18. This Place continued fa-
mous till the time of Conjlantine 5 both Jews^ Gentiles,
and Christians, meeting here once a Year, not only
fg$ Traffick, but for Pveligion .• Chriflians here calling
upon God £ and there being an Altar here alfo, on
which the Gentiles facrificed, and invoked, the An-
gels. Of which Superftition Conflantine being in-
formed by his Mother, hecaufed that Altar to be de-
rnolifhed, and a Church to be built in its place. See
Sozon/en, L.W.cap. ^.Eufeb. in vita Conjiant. L. III.
cap. 53.
And he fat in the Tent doorT] To obferve what Stran-
gers pafled that way.
In the heat of the DayT] In the Afternoon, when
Travellers fought for places of Refreshment.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. And he lift up his Eyes, and looked"] Having
fain down on his Face, (Ifnppofe) and worfhipped
the Divine Majefty, as he did, XVII. 17. he beheld,
when herofeupagain.
And lo, there flood three Men by him?] Three An-
gels, in thefhapeofMen, (forfothe Apoftle to the
Hebrews calls them, XIII. 2. And fo Mofes himfelf
calls two of them, XIX. 1) who were part of the
heavenly Retinue, as I may call it, waiting upon the
Divine Majefty, mentioned in the Verfe foregoing,
There is a maxim among the Jews that no Angel per-
forms
upon G E N E S I & -9
forms two Minijlerics, (is fent, that is, on two Meffa- Chapter
ges) nor are two Angels fent upon one Embaf), ("as XVIII.
Mai mo nidus fpeaks, More Xcvoch. P. II. cap. 6.) and L/"V*NJ
therefore they think thefe ftbret Angels were difpatch'd
for different purpofes $ one of them, and the prin-
cipal, to bring a Confirmation of the Birth of IJaac 5
another to bring Lot out of Sodom, and a third to
overthrow the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. And
therefore when one of thefe Angels had delivered
that Meffage to Abraham, there were but two that
went to Sodom, XIX. 1. and Lot fpeaks to one of
them , as taking a particular care of him, verfe 1 9, &c.
and then it is faid, The Lord rained Fire and Brim-
(lone from the Lord out of Heaven, verfe 24. That is,
that Angel of the Lord, who was fet by the Lo R d
of Heaven and Earth over that Work. Some of
them indeed aflign another Work for one of them,
(as we find in that Title of the Talmud called Bava-
Metzia,cap. 7.) but they agree in the main Nction,
That they had different Offices with which they weie
intruded. But fome Chriftians, and thofe of great
Authority, have made a Queftion whether they were
all created Angels 5 one of them at leaft, feeming to
be the L o r d of all. Nay, St. Cyril in his firft
Book againft Julian thinks there was a Reprefenta-
tion of the blefled, individed Trinity 5 for Abram
fpeaks to them, verfe 4. a>s &$ %rn$ oi rpSl^ as if the
three were but one. But St. Hilary s Opinion 'fand
Eufebius's, L. V. Demonflr. c. 9.) is more likely, That
the Son of God only appear'd with two Angels at-
tending on him : Which many think is evident from
verfe iz, and 25. of thU Chapter. Yet, I think, ano-
ther Account may be given of thofe Verfes^ and if
we (hould make that an Argument that one of them
Qq 2 was
3oo A COMMENTARY
Chapter was the increated LORD, another of them muflr
XV III. be fo alfo ; For he is called like wife by the Name of
t/VV> Jehovah,Gen. .XIX. 24. See St. Aujlin^L. II. de Trin.
cap.w. and L. Wl.cap. n. where he confutes the
fore- named Opinion.
And when he faw them , he ran to meet them.'] Was
forward to invite them to refrefh themfelves with
him: For he took them tobeconfiderable Perfons,as
appears by what follows.
And bowed hiwfelf towards the ground.] After the
manner of the Eaftern People 5 in Token of the Re-
fpeft and Honour he had for them. For this was- a
Civil A&ion f not Religious J it is manifeft by this -.-
That he did not know them to be Angels 5 but only
Perfons of Quality, (as we now fpeak) their Afpelt
and Habit, I fuppofe, being extraordinary.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. My Lord, If now I have found, Sccf] One
of them appeared more Honourable and Superior to
the other two ^ and therefore he makes his addrefs to
him, as the chief / Praying him, if he thought him
worthy of fuch a Favour, to honour him with their
Company.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And wajhyonr Feet."] i. e. To wafh your
Feet. For this was performed by Servants, and not
by the Guefts themfelves.
And reft your/elves under the Tree.] In an Arbour
under a great Tree : Where they were wont to eat,
forcoolnefs fake. See Dr. Hammond upon Pfalm
CXXVIIt j. St. Hkrom fometimes calls this Tree,an
Oaks fometimes a Turpentine-Tree, (zsJi-FHefd*
cut obferves , L. I. Selefl. c. 13.J Unlefs we will fay,
that he thought Abraham dwelt under the one , and
entertained them under the other. And ioEufebiui^
L* V. Demonjir. Evang* c. 9. exprefly relatesit> That
God
upon G E N E S I S. 30 1
God appeared to him under theO./^,where he dwelt: Chapter
And that he entertained the Angels under a Turpen- XVIII,
tine-Tree 5 which was had in great Honour in his T\J among the Greeks } though we fee by this and many
other places, it was an ancient Food among the Ea-
fiern People.
And he flood by them.] Waited upon them, and
miniftred to them. For he did notftand unmovable 5
but as Servants do that attend upon the Table, who,
as there is occafion, bring or take away, &c. See P.
Fagius on Dent. I. 38.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. And they faid unto him, Where is thy Wife The Angel fpake thefe
XVIII. words, but the words were the Lord's , (not his)
I^^V-SJ who was now prefent with the Angels,and in a little
time appeared without them, v. 17, &c.
^Verfe 14. Ver. 14. -At the time appointed will I return to thee!]
Take it from my felf,that what hath been told thee by
them, (hall be effe&ed.
Verfe IJ. Ver. 15. Sarah denied!] Fear (as it follcws)put
her into a confufion .• So that (he did not mind what
(he (aid. Otherwife (he would not have denied,
what (he might well think they knew* Therefore
(he is only made fenfible of her Fault , by a fimple
Affirmation, of what (he denied 5 without any further
Reproof.
Nay, but thou didji laugh."] The perfon that fpeaks
Teems to have turned to her, and laid, Do not deny,
what I know to be true.
Verfe 1 6. Ver. \6.L00ked toward Sodom!] As if they intended
to travel that way.
And Abraham went with them 5 to bring them otf the
way-'] A piece of Civility like the former : Having
entertained them , he accompanied them fo far as to
direft them in the Road to Sodom.
Verfe 17* Ver- * 7- And the L 0 R D faid."] The Divine
Majejly, mentioned Verfe 1. began now to difcourfe
plainly and openly with him.- not by the Miniftry
of Angels, but by himfelf. For, I take it , the three
Angels had now left Abraham alone : Who returning
towards his Tent, faw the Glory of the Lord , and
head him fpeak what follows.
Shall I hide from Abraham $Z£.7] Thefe words feem
to have been fpoken to Abraham : Otherwife , how
came he to expoftulate with the Lord, as he doth,
-■•verfe 23, &c unlefs we will conceive, (as we may)
verfe
upon GENESIS. 36$
Vcrfe 20, 91. to be the declaration of God's Intenti- Chapter
onto deftroy Sodom: And thefe words and the next, XVIll.
to be his resolution within himfelf, to acquaint Abra- l/V\l
ham with that Intention.
Ver. 18. Seeing that Abraham foall furcly,fkc.~\ ThisVerfe 18.
is one reafon why the Divine Majejiy refolves to ac-
quaint Abraham with his intended Proceedings: Be-
caufe he had already revealed to him greater things,
and made him moft gracious Promifes,
Ver. 19. For Iknow, 8CC-] This Vcrfe contains an o - Verfe 19.
ther reafon 5 becaufe he knew Abraham would ap-
prove himfelf fo faithful to him : That he would
not fail to enjoy all that he had promifed.
To keep the way of the LORD.'] Is to per fill: in
the True Religion and Worlhip of God.
To do Jujlice and Judgment."] Includes in them
all thofe Vertues which were oppofite to the Sins of
Sodom.
Ver. 20. Becaufe the cry.'] Of their Sins: Which Verfe 10.
are faid to cry, Firjl, To (how the enormous Greatnefs
and Impudency of them : For grandk abfque dubio
clamor efl, qui a terra afcendit ad ccektm s As Salvian
fpeaks. And, Secondly, to (how that the Goodnefs of
God could no longer bear with them 5 their Sins com-
pelling him, as one may fay, to punilh them. For De*
us eos noluerit perdere, fed ipji extorferint, ut perirent.
They not only called, but cried to him for Venge-
ance, as he alfo fpeaks, LX.de Gubern. Dei, p. \<^ 20.
Edit. Baluzii > and L. IV. p. 75. L. V. p. 113.
Of Sodom and Gomorrha.'] As they were the prin-
cipal and greateft Cities, fo they were the mod
wicked 5 and led the reft into all manner of Impie-
ty : Who therefore alfo periflied with them.
R r Very
&6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Very grievous.] Not to be tolerated any longer.
XVIII. There are prodigious Stories related of the Wicked-
wv-*-» nefs both of their Judges and of the People, in the
Gemara Sanhedrim, cap. XI. which are there alledged
as an Explication of this Verfe.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. I will go down now, Sec] He ufes the Lan-
guage of a good Judge, (Verfe 25.') who never pafles
Sentence, much lefs executes it, till he hath examined
the Caufe.
Whether they have done altogether , &c ] Whether
they are come to the higheft pitch of Wickednefs :
Or, (as de Dieu) whether they are fo refolved to go
on in Sin, that there is no hope of them.
If not, I will know.] That fo I may ufe means for
their Reformation.
Verfe 22* Ver. 22. And the Men'] The three Men menti-
oned Verfe 2. It is commonly faid that only two of
them went away from Abraham, and that the third
remained and held difcourfe with him. But I fee
no reafon for this: They that came in and eat with
him, and rofe up from the Table, (Verfe 16.) who
no doubt were all three, being the Perfons that are
here faid now, to have turned their Faces from thence^
h e. From the place where they had been entertain-
ed by Abraham : Or, where he parted with them.
And went towards Sodom.] As ~tftey intended,
Verfe 16.
But Abraham flood yet before the LORD.'] Not
before any of thofe three, but before the Divine Ma-
jefty : Who appeared to him, verfe 1. and had fpo-
kkn to him, verfe 13. and difcourfed with him, verji
17, 20. in whofe Prefence he ftill continued. Some
by flood underftand, he prayed : But that follows in
the" next Verfe.
Ver
upon GENESIS. 307
Ver. 23. Abraham drew near.'] Approached to- Chapter
wards the Divine Majcfly, to make his Addreffes by XVIII,
Prayer and Supplication to him. Perhaps the Di- IVWJ
vine M'tjefty remained in the place where it firfl: ap- Verfe 23,
peared, vnfi 1. and Abraham by conducing the three
Men (ome part of their way, being gone further from
it, now came nearer to it. Though the Phrafe doth
not neceflarily import it, to draw nigh to God, in
the Holy Language, fignifying no more but to wor-
(hip him.
/ 1 ilt thou destroy the righteous with the wielded f] As
much as to fay, I know thou wilt not. For fuchQue-
ftionsltrongly deny \ as in verfe 17.
Ver. 24 Fifty righteous within the City."] Of So* Verfe 24
don/, which was the Chief, and comprehended the
red of the Country of Pentapolts : Which one would
guefs, by Gen. XIV. 17. depended upon Sodom as the
Metropolis. So what is faid here of it, I take to refer
to the whole Region.
Wilt thou notfpare the place for the fifty, &c] He de-
fires two things of God. Firfl, That he would not
deftroy the Righteous with the Wicked. Secondly,
That he would fpirethe Wicked for the fake of the
Righteous 5 if any confiderable Number of them were
found among the Wicked.
Ver. 25. Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do Verfe 25.
right?] This refers (as we tranlhte it) only to
the firfl part of his Requeft, not to deflroy the Righte-
ous with the Wicked. Which w^s contrary to com-
mon Juftice, much more to that exaft Juftice,
which is adminiftred by the Supreme Lord of the
World : From whom there lies no Appeal. But, ac-
cording to the Vulgar Trantlation, which is this,
\Thon who jhdgcft all the Earth, wilt by no means exe-
R r 2 cute
joS A COMMENTARY
Chapter cute thk Judgment.'] it refers to the other part afto r-
XVIII. That God would not be fo fevere as to deftroy a
v-^v^^ whole Country $ whilft there were many good Men
Oil 1 remaining in it: And fo the word Right, in-
cludes in it Clemency. And indeed this Paffage feems
to relate to both parts of his Requeft : And is to be
interpreted thus 5 Shall not the Supreme Judge flow
Mercy., aswellasdojufiice?
Verfe 26, Ver. 26. And the LORDfaidr If I find fifty, &c.
then will Ifpare, Sec] This (hows the foregoing In-
terpretation to be right : God promifing moft gra-
cioufly to be merciful to -all, for the fake of a few, in
comparifon with the Multitude of Offenders.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. Who am but Dufi and Afies.] Very mean
and vile.
Verfe 2.8. Ver. 28. Lack five of the fifty righteous.'] A great
Argument of Abraham's Modefty 5 who durft not
prefume to ask too much at once 5 but by degrees
proceeds, in the following Verfes, to petition for grea-
ter Abatements .-And that with Fear and Trembling,
leaftthe Loan (hould be angry with his Importu-
nity.
Vsrfe 32. Veri^a.Iwil/notdefiroyitfortensfake.'] A won-
derful Reprefentation of the tender Mercy of the
moft High 5 who condefcended fo low as to grant
a Reprieve to the whole Country, for the fake of fo
fmall a Number, if they could have been found in
it. And his Mercy was ftiil greater, even beyond A-
brahams defire 5 for he fpared one of the five Cities :
For the fake of three ox four Perfons, as we read XIX.
20, 21.. «
We do not find* that Abraham makes exprefs men-
tion of Lot in any of the foregoing Petitions : But
it is glain from XIX, 29. that he was in his Thoughts*
which.
upon GENESIS, 309
which God knew 5 and he is comprehended in thofeChapter
words, Verfe 23. of this Chapter 5 Wilt thou deftroy XIX.
the righteous with the wicked $ Lrf^VNJ
Ver. 33. And the LO R D went his way.] The Verfe 33
Divine My 'cjiy, ox the Glory of the Lord, difappeared
(and afcended perhaps towards Heaven) alter this
Communication with Abraham was finifhed.
And Abraham returned to his place.'] In the Plain
of Mamre, verfe 1.
CHAP. XIX.
Ver. 1. \ND there came two Angels.'] There were Verfe 1
l\ three at the firft, (XVIII. 2.) but the
Chief of them was gone $ having difpatch'd hisMef-
fage to Abraham 5 unto whom he was peculiarly fent.
See XVIII.
At even!] They had been with Abraham in the
heat of the Day : And were now come to the Gates
of Sodom.
Lot fat in the Gate of Sodom.] The Hebrew Doftors
will have it, that he was made a Judge in this City ^
and the prime Judge of all : For they adventure to
name five (in Berefchith Rabba) and fay Lot was
the Prefident of the Court, which fate in the Gate of
the City. But this is only a fanfie of theirs : He ra-
ther fat in the Gate of this City, as Abraham did at
his Tent door 5 to invite Strangers to his- Houfe, fac-
cordingto the Hofpitality of thole days) which was
the greater Charity, becaufe he knew the City to be
fo wicked, that (if we may believe the Hebrew Do-
lors) they not only denied them all afliftarrce, but
abufed
3io A COMMENT A RT
Chapter abufed them, and were cruel to them* (fezGentara
XI X. Sanhedrim, C. XL Cif Pzrkc Eliefer, cap. 25.) for which
U/^nTNj laft, they quote thofe words of Ezefyel, XXII. 29/
they have oppreffed the fir anger wrongfully. Which are
fpoken of Ifrael, whom XVI. 49. he had compared
with Sodom : One of whofe Sins he fays was, want
of Compaffion to the poor and needy.
Rofe up to meet them, &C-3 Juft as Abraham did -y
whofe Civility he imitates, as well as his Charity.
For the bowing himfelf (o lowly, was a Token of the
great Honour he paid them : Who had the appearance
of great and noble Perfons. And therefore he calls
them Lords in the next Verfe.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. Turn in, I pray you, and tarry all 'night ,&C.1
It is late, and the Night draws on, take up your
Lodging with me, and refrefh your (elves 3 and go
away as early as you pleafe.
And theyfaid, Nay, Jkc] It was as great a Ci\ ility
in Strangers, not to be forward to accept, as it was
in him to imife. And therefore they refufe him at
firft, to try his Kindneis: But intending, no dcrabt,
to embrace his Offer, if he preffed them further. So
the following words are to be underftood.
We will abide in the fireet all night.] Unlefs you
perCft in. your Invitation. In thofe hot Countries,
it was not unufual to lie in the open Air, efpecially
in Summer. And in a City, they were fafe from being
infefted by wild Beads, or Robbers.
Concerning wafiing thefeetJ] See XVIII. 4.
Verfe 3. . Ver. 3. He preffed upon them greatly ."] Would not
be denied, but wasfo earneft that they yielded. It is
the fame word with that verfe 9.
Bal\e unleavened Bread."] Which would be fooneft
ready, that^fo they might, in good time, repofe them-
(elves. Ver.
«^ GENESIS, 311
Ver. 4. And before they lay downT] To take their Chapter
reft. XIX.
Both old and youngT] A manifeft Token of an uni- L/V%J
verlal Depravation ot Manners, and Diflblution of ^er^ 4*
Government.
From every quarter."] Or, as fome underftand it,
from the molt extream parts of the City : As in Pfalm
XIX. 4. One, it feems, told another, what goodly
Perfons were come to their City : And all ran to the
Houfe where they heard they were ^ with the fame
wicked Inclinations. This is a proof there were not
ten righteous Perfons in Sodom.
Ver. 5. That we may hjiow them.'] Amodeft word Verfe 5.
for a lewd Fad. Some indeed will have it underftood
(imply, of their examining what they were, whence
they came, and what their bufinefs was. Which might
perhaps be their pretence 5 but Lot's anfwer to them,
verfe 7, 8. interprets their meaning to be filthy.
Ver. 6. Went out at the door.~] To try if he could Verfe 6.
perfnade them to depart. From whence, perhaps,
the Jews gathered he was a Man of Authority among
them.
Ver. 7. Do not fo wickedly.'] As to break .the Verfe Jo
Rights of Hofpitality 5 and violate the Laws of Nv-
lure.
Ver. 8. Behold now, I have two Daughters^ >// GENESIS. 313
\ •. • .<• Daughters.] Had efpou- Chapter
fed rheni for their Wives, but had not yet conium- XIX.
mated the Marriage, as feme nnderftand it. O- LSV\S
-s will have it, that, Befides thafc two Virgin Verfe *4-
Daughters at home with him, he had other Daugh-
ters, who were actually married in the City. Which
. gather from the next Ferfe^ take thy Wife and
two Daughters, which are here : As ir he hid more
Daughters eliewhere. And R.Jehuda (in Ptrte
liefei\ c. 25.} names one of them married to one of
the great Men of Sodom, and calls her Pelothii. But
this Teems rather to have been the Name of one of
them who were faved by the Angels, and thence io
called : Tor it lignilies delivered, or fnatc/Sd from de-
(truftion.
He fee wed as one that mocked."] Who was not in
earned: 5 but only made fport with them, and fpake
in jelt. For it is the fame word from whence Ifaac
is derived, which fignifies Laughter.
Ver. 1 5. And when the morning arofe.] At break of Verfe 1 5
Day : For the Sun did not rife, till / ot was got into
Zoar, verfe 23.
Tak? thy Wife, and thy two Daughters, which are
here.] Thefelaft words, which are here, are not with-
out Emphafis : And paraphrafed thus by the ChaU
dee Interpreter, which are found faithful with thee : Are
not corrupted by the common Wickednefs of this
place ^ or, that believe what we threaten.
Ver. 16. While he lingred.] Being loth to leave Verfe 16.
his Goods, or his Sons-in-law, and Children: Or,
as foine think, praying God to fpare the City.
The Men laid hold upon his hand, &C-3 One of the
Angels laid hold upon him and his Wife} and the
other upon his two Daughters; Whom they pulled
S f out
314 <* COMMENT ART
Chapter out of the Houfe with fome kind of conftraint$ and
XIX. led them out of the City,
^y^ Ver. 17. Hefaid.] That Angel who had a pecu-
Verie 17- liar Charge of preferving Lot and his Family. See
XVIII. 2.
Efcapeforthy UfeT] Make hafte, if thou loveft thy
Life.
Look^ not behind thee.] To fee what becomes of
thy Goods \ or, as if thou waft loth to leave Sodom.
Make no delay, no not fo much as to turn about and
look back.
Neither If ay thou in the Plain.'] Do not reft, until
thou haft got out of the Plain : For every Place in
it is to be deftroyed.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And he J aid unto them, Sec] Both the An-
gels were ftill with him : But he feems particularly
to fpeak to him that led him and his Wife out o£
Sodom 5 who had fpoken before to him, and bid him
make hafte, verfe 17. But there are thofe (Franziu*
for inftance) who would have the word Adonai
tranflated not, my Lord, but my Lords, as if he fpake
to both.
Verfe 19* Ver. 19. / cannot efcape to the Mountain, Sec] He
that lingred before, verfe 16. now thought he could
not make hafte enough. Either being craxy^ or,
tired with fitting up all Night 5 or, fearing the de-
ftru&ion would overtake him, before he could reach
the Mountain $ and defiling, perhaps, to have a bet-
ter dwelling than that.
Verfe 20. Ver. 10. My Soul jhall live.*] Rejoyce, and be ex-
* ceeding thankful.
Verfe 21* Ver. 21. See7 1 have accepted thee."] Granted thy
Requeft.
I wilt
L
upon GENESIS. 31^
1 will not overthrow, &c] A wonderful Inftance ofChapter
the Divine Clemency : Which in the mid ft of Wrath XIX,
jemembred Mercy. C^Wl
Ver. n. Ha(lethee.~\ Make no more delaies .• No,Verfe 12.
not to make any further Petitions.
/ ca?f not do any thing till thon be come thither.'] Ha-
ving made thee this Promife, I mud defer the Venge-
ance till thou art fafe there.
Called Zoar.~] In after-times it had this Name t
from the fmalnefs of it 5 which he twice mentions,
verfe 20.
Ver. 24. The LORD rained from the LORD.'] Verfe 24.
It cannot be denied that here is an Intimation of a
Plurality of Perfons in the Deity. Yet there are ma-
ny both ancient and modern Interpreters, who think
the meaning is no more, than the LORD fent this
Rain from himfelf, it being the manner of the Scri-
pture Phrafe, to repeat the Noun inftead of the Pro-
noun ("as Grammarians fpeak) of wlvch Cocceitis (up-
on the Gcmara of the Sanhedrim, C. I V.J) gives thefe
Inftances, Gen. II. 20. 1 Sam.XU. 11. Zech. I. 16.
And there are others, which come nearer to thefe
words, Exod. XXIV. and he (i.e. the LORD, verfe
3.) faid unto Mofes, Come up unto the LORD. Hof.
I. 7. Iwillfave them by the LORD their God. Zech.
X. 12. I ir/lljrrengthcn them in the LORD.&z. The
Council of Sirmium indeed anathematizes thoie who
thus interprets thefe words, and do not lay, the Son
r. lined from the Father, Socrat. L. II. c. 30 Yet
St. ChryfoUom did not fear to fay this is an Idiom of
the Scriprure- Language, which intended only to
fhow, fa xju£i&> 9 niAweJixv fabytffc that the LORD
brought this Punithraent upon them. Others alfo
have obferved, that the Scripture-Phrjfe being very
S f 2 con-
A COMMENT ART
concife, by the LORD (in the beginning of the
Verfi) may be meant the Angel of the LORD. For
wherelbever mention is made of the LORD it is
to be underflood of him, VJn nm, and his- houfe of
judgment, (as the Jewiflj Do&ors fpeakj /. e. of the
Angels which attend his Divine Majefty. And thus
I find Arethas, for Andreas CJw htrtohs, as Diodorus fpeaks, noifom beyond ex-
preifion.
Ver. 29. Overthrew the Cities, wherein Lot dwelt. ."] Verfe 29.
In one of which he dwelt : Which is an ufual man-
ner of Speaking in Scripture, Gen. VIM. 4. the Arl{
refled on the Mountains, (i. e. on one of the Moun-
tains) of Ararat, Judg. XII. 7. Jeptbah wm buried in
the Cities (i. e. one of the Cities) of Gilead. Which
explains that of St. Matthew, XXVI. 8. when hk
Difciples, (i. e. one of his Difciples, Judas) faw it
he had indignation, Sec.
Ver. 30. And Let went up out of Zoar, Sec] It Verfe 30.
appears from heru:e, that this good Mm was very ti-
tnerous, not having fo ftrong a Faiuh as his Uncle A-
kwhant. For he that had lately obtain'd a Pardon
for this Place, becaufe he was afraid he fhould not
have time enough to get to the Mountain, now for-
fakesit: For fear, I fuppofe, a newShowre Chould
come from Heaven and deftroy it, after the reft 5
be-
52o A COMMENTARY
Chapter becaufe the Inhabitants, perhaps, continued irnre*
XIX. formed, though they had feen fuch a terrible Exam-
L/^V%J p!e of the Divine Vengeance upon their wicked
Neighbours. If his fear to dwell in Zoar proceeded
from this Caufe, it was the more reafonable 5 be-
caufe he might think, though God had fpared them
for the prefenr, yet they taking no warning by the
Calamity of their Country, would ffcortly perifh as
the reft had done. And fo Iheodoret and others
think this City was afterwards deftroyed : Of which
there is no certain Record 3 and if the Tradition be
true, it was not fpeedily fwallowed up, as they re-
port, but retained for fome time the Name of Zoar 3
being before called Bela, XIV. 2.
Dwelt in the Mountain.'] It is not £aid what Moun-
tain 3 but it is probable one of the Mountains in the
Country afterward called Moab 3 from one of his
Children, which he here begat. For Epiphanies H^ dfajidXs, &c. beyond the Salty or Dead Sea. See
Saint of. Ex ere. Pirn. p. 615.
Verfe 31. Ver. 31. There is not a Man in all the Earth."] Not
one remaining of their Kindred, that they knew:
For they were not much acquainted, we may fup-
pofe, beyond that Country which was deftroyed 3
and thofe of Zoar were fo wicked, that they look'd
upon them as Beads, rather than Men.
Verfe 32. Ver. 32. Let m make him drinks Wine.] Which
they brought with them out of Sodom, to fup-
port their Spirits in their flight} or, elfe got at Zo-
ar : Of which they invited their Father to drink
liberally, and chear himfelf under his cxtream great
Sorrow.
That
upon GENESIS. 321
That we r/tay prcferve Seed of our Fat I This Chapter
Faft of theirs being objected by Cclfus againftour XIX.
Pveligion, Origan gives this account of it, (Lib. IV. i^^VNJ
contra Cell?) That thefe two Maids having learnt
fomething of the Conflagration of the World, and
keing their own City and Country deftroyed by Fire,
imagined Xjinru^i 78 yq t$ 7$! avftp witw, that the Se-
m'n Viankind remained only in their Father and
m. And if what they did was upon this fnppofi-
tion, That th re was no other way to reftore the
Wcrld $ they did no worle than the Stoickj thought
their wife Men might do, if the Race of Mankind
were extinct, fo that none but he and his Daughter
were kf: alive. Jreiutus makes (he fame Excnfc for
them, and fays they did this innocently, and in their
fimplicity, believing all Mankind were deftroyed,
L. IV. cap. 51. But J take their Conjecture to be
highly pro. a. [e5 who conceive that the eager De-
fire, which then poffefied the Hearts of good Peo-
ple, to fulfil thePromifeof the Mejfiah, was that
which put them upon this, otherwife monftrous,
Crime. For which there are' t\u afons. Firft,
That they had lived fo chaftly in the mid ft of the
Impurities ot Sodom, that one cannot think a Spirit
of Uncleannefs now entred into them, and carried
them to this Aftion. And indeed. Secondly, Their
joyning together in this Contrivance, (whereas Mat-
ters of this Nature ufe to be carefully concealed
from the neareft Friends, or make them fall out, if
they find themfelves ingaged in the fame Intrigue)
(hows that they were afted by Counfel and Defign,
and not bybrutHh Luft. And, Thirdly. Their per-
petuaiing the Memory of this Fad, in the Names of
their Children, is a Demonftration there was fonie-
T t thing
3„ A COMMENT ART
Chapter thing extraordinary in it 5 and that they were not
XIX. afhamed of it, but rather gloried in it 5 defiring it
n^v^^ might be remembred that thefe Children were defen-
ded from Lot. Who they thought, perhaps, might
pretend to fulfil the Promife as well as Abraham $ Be-
ing the Son of Abrahams elder Brother ,• and called
out of Sodom by the Miniftry of Angels, as Abraham
was called out of Chald
and, as fome compute it, notmuchabove fix Miles
from Mamre.
Ver. 2. Abraham faid of Sarah, &c] Juft as he y- ,-
had done in Egypt, XII. 13. when there was greater er e
reafon for it 5 fhe being then thirty Years younger
than now •, when fhe was no lefs than ninety Years
old. But it feems her Beauty remained at this Age 5
being healthful, and having born and fuckled no
Children.* And Women in thofe days living fo long
that they were as frefh at ninety, as they are now at
forty or fifty. Where many that are of excellent Con-
ftitutions, and naturally handfom, continue very
lovely.
Ahimelech'] The Name of all the Kings of Pale-
stine •, as Pharaoh was of the King's of Egypt. It is
T t 2 not
324 A COMMENTARY
Chapter not improbable, as the Author of Tzemath David
. XX. conje&ures, that the fucceeding Kings took the Name
L/*VNJ of him who was the firft King of the Country .- Ad
A. M. 2600.
Sent and tool^Sarah.] By violence, fome think 5
but I fee no ground for it. He defired to have her ,
and might think Abraham would look upon it as a
great Honour , to have his Sifter become Wife to a
King : And Abraham it is likely ftiowed no unwil-
lingnefs, not being in a condition to deny him.
Verle X» Ver. 3. And God came to Abimelech in a dream by
Night."] Two differences are obferved by Maimo-
nides , between this manifeftation, which God made
of his Mind to Abimelech 5 and that which he made
to the Prophets. For it is only faid here , God came
to Abimelech , and that he came n a dream by night,
The very fame is faid oiLaban the Syrian, who doth
not feem to have been fo good a man as Abimelech,
XXXI. 24. But of Jacob it is faid, God fpake unto
Ifrael ' , and he ipake to him in thzVifions of the
Night , ("Not in a Dream J and faid , Jacob, Jacob,
XLVL 2. See More Nevoch, P. II. c. 41. God was
not a Stranger to other Nations, when he was pecu-
liarly kind to Abraham : But (pake to them in Dreams,
and fometimes in Vifions 5 as appears in EUphaz and
Elihu, JoblV. 131 XXIII. 14, 15, 8rc.
Thou art but a deadMan.~) viz, If thou dbfc not
reftore Abraham his Wife, verfe 7.
She is a Mans Wife.'] Or, married to a Husband,
(as wetranflate it in the Margin) fo compleatly,
that he hath enjoyed her as his Wife. For from this
place the Jewijh Do&ors prove , that the Marriage
Contraft was not perfected inthefe days, till the Par-
ties had lain together : After which if any other Per-
fon
upon GENESIS. 39
Ion lay with the Worrian^ he was to be put to death, Chapter
89' an Adulterer 5 but not, if he lay with her after XX.
the Contract , before it was confum mated by afhul v~/"WJ
Enjoyment. See Mr. Sdden, ckjurc N. &G. L. V,
r. 4. But Abimelcch had not come near her. j ToVerfe 4.
ule her s his Wi.
II lilt thou flay alfi a righteous Nut ion . ] He was
afraid (as me a pood Man and a good King)
left his People fhould furfa^upon his account } who
id this particular, had no Guilt upon them.
Ver. 5. Said be not unto «/e,&c.'] The Fault is in Verfe 5,
them, nor in me : For I had both their words for it,
that he was their Brother 5 and he fa id nothing of her
being his Wire.
In the integrity of my hearth] Not with any inten-
tion to Defile her 5 but to make her my Wife.
/ innocence of my hands.~] I did not take her
by Violence from Abraham 5 but he and !he confented
to it.
Ver. 6. And God fiid unto him in a dream,"] The Verfe
fame Expreflion is ftill retained , which we hud verfe
3. to (ho a' that this was a lower Degree of Divine
Manifeftation, than was in Abrahams Family.
I know thou didft thk in the integrity, fkc.~] i, ?.That
thou didft not defign any Evil.
For I //#, 8cc] Or, rather, And I Hhheld
thee. I dealt well with thee, becaufe of thy Integri-
ty. Some think he was withheld by a Difeafe in the
Secret Parts, verfe 17.
From finning again ft me.~] from Committing A-
dultery*
Ver. 7. He is a Prophet.'] he fir ft time we Verfe
meet with the word NUbi^ Prophet And AbraL
is
A COMMENTARY
is the firft that is honoured with this Name. Which
fignifies one familiar with God 5 who might come to
him , to confult him upon all occafions 5 and be au-
thorifed to declare God's Mind and Will to others 5
and alfo prevail with him by his Prayers for a Blef-
fing upon them. So it here follows.
He (Id all fray for thee.'] Obtain Life and Health to
thee. The greater any Prophet was, the more pow-
erful he was in Prayer .• As appears by the Stories of
Mofes, Elhti, and Samuel See Pfalm XCIX. 6.
It appears by this whole Hiftory of Abimelechjthzi
he was a Man of great Vertue in thofeDays: And
not an Idolater \ but a Worfhipper of the true God,
as Melchifedeckthe High-Prieft of that Country was :
Yet not fo well acquainted with Divine Revelations
as Abraham was.
Verfe 8, Ver. 8. Abimelech rofe up early in the mornzng.'JThis
is a farther Token of his Goodnefs, that he delayed
not to obey the Divine Command.
Called all his Servants.] His Privy Council, (as we
fpeakjwho were all of the fame Mind with him^That
this was a Divine Admonition 5 which it was notfafe
to difobey. From whence we may probably gather,
his Court was not fo corrupted , as Abraham fufpeft-
ed.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. What haft thou done unto usf] Into what
Danger haft thou brought us.
Thou haft brought on me and my Kingdom a great
Sin. ] Run me into the hazard of committing a
great Sin , or fuffering an heavy Punifhment , (for
fo Sin is fometimes taken) in not telling me the truth.
Thou haft done deeds unto me^ that ought not to be
done."] This is not fair dealing ; fuch as I might have
expe&ed from thee.
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 327
Ver. 10. IVhatfawefl //;//,&c] What did ft thou Chapter
obferve in my Country , that made thee think we XX.
would meddle with thy Wife ? What Tokens of In- ^^/"^
juftice,or Impurity didft thou lee among us ? Verfe 10.
Ver. 11. Becanfc I thought furely,fkc.~] The word Verfe 11.
Ral^ which we tranflatey#re/y,lignifies only .-and may
be thus well tranflited here , This only I faw wanting
in your Country ,/ he fear of God : u c. A Sence of RelU
gion , which retrains Men from all manner of Wick-
ednefs. It feems the People were not fo good as their
King.
Ver. ii. And yet indeed fie if my Sifter.'] Do not Verfe 12.
condemn me of telling a Lye 5 for (he is truly my
Sifter. Such was the Language of thofeDays, to
call their Wives, Sifters } and their Nephews , Bro-
thers. As he calls Lot, XIII. 8. who was his Nephew,
and the Brother of Sarah 5 as was obferved upon
XI. 29.
She is the Daughter of my Father^ i. e. His Father's
Grand-daughter ^ who are frequently in Scripture
called the Children of their Grand-fathers. For (he
was Daughter to Haran , elder Brother of Abra-
ham.
But not the Daughter of my Mother.~] It feems 7e-
rah had two Wives , by one of which he had Haran^
the Father of Lot and Sarahs and by the other he
had Abraham. So Sarah was Daughter to one who was
his Brother by his Father's fide , but not by his Mo-
ther : And with fuch a Niece they thought it not un-
lawful then to marry. No regard being had toCon-
fanguinity (if we may believe R. Solomon Jarchi) by
the Father's fide, before the Law of Mofes, but only
by the Mother's.
The
3a8 A COMM&NTART
Chapter The more received Opinion indeed of the Hebrew
XX. Dofrorsis, (as Mv.Selden obferves, L. V. de Jure N.
^yy%j & G. cap. 2.) that Sarah was indeed the Daughter
ofTerah by his fecond Wife, and fo Abrahams half
Sifter. And Said Batricides (Patriarch of Alexan-
dria above fever: hundred Years ago) in his Arabic!^
Hiftory, tells us the Name of Terah's firft Wife was
Jona 5 and the Name of his fecond Tevitha, by whom
he had Sarah. But there is no other Authority for
this.
'Verfe 13. Ver. 13. When God caufed me to wander^] The He-
brew word which we tranflate wander, being in
the Plural Number, the LXX. render the word Elo-
him (God) the Angels : Who by the Command of
God led him from his Fathers Houfe, through di-
vers Countries. But the Chaldee tranflates it, when
becaufe of the Idols of "Chaldaa I was called away from
my own Country, &c For fo the Gods, that is, the
Idol Gods, might befaid to caufe him to wander : Be-
caufe it was by reafon of them, that God would not
have him ftay any longer in his own Country. But
there is no need of thefe Devices: Nothing being
more ufual, in the Hebrew Language, than for the
Plural Number to be put inftead of the Singular $
efpecially when they fpeak of God, as Bochart ob-
fervesin many places, Gen. XXXV7. 7. Exod. XXXII.
^.Pfalm CXL1X, 2. Ecchf XII. 1. See Hierozoic.
P. 1. I. II. ir. 34. Nay, Hackspan ba«h rightly obfer-
ved, that there are Nouns of the Plural Number in
their Termination,which in fignification are Singular 5
with which it is ufual to joy n a l\rboi the Plural
Number, becaufe of the Piural Termination of the
Noun. A plain Example of which we have Gen. IV.
6. Why isthy Countenance (in the Hebrew Faces) fain.
The
upon GENESIS. 335;
The like he obferves in the Syriack Language, John Chapter
I. 4. The life (in the Syr inch, Itfes) *** the light of XX.
Mtn. c^WJ
Ver. 16. / have given thy Brother a thou/and pieces Verfe 16-
of Silver."] The word pieces is not in the Hebrew.
But by Cefcph Silver, all, in a manner, nnderlland She-
kels. For anciently there were no Shekels of Gold or
Brafs,but only of Silver. Vet there are thofe who think
he did not give him thus much in Money 5 but in the
Goods before-mentioned, verfe 14. which were worth
a thoufand Shekels. See XXIII. 16.
He is unto thee a covering of the Eyes, Scc.^ Thefe
words are very varioufly expounded, according as the
firft word hu is interpreted : Which may relate either
to the Gift before-mentioned, and be tranflated, this\
or, to Abraham, and be tranllated, he, as it is by us.
If they refer to the former, then the Sence is 5 1 have
given him that Sum of Money to buy thee a Veil, that
all who converfe with thee here, or in any other Country,
C where thou fialt come*) may know thee to be a married
Woman. For a Veil was worn in Token of Subjeftion
to the Power of the Husband 5 and that thereby their
Chaftity might be preferved fafe from the Snares of
others. As G. Vorjlins obferves upon Pirke Eliefer,
Cap. XXXII. Or, as others interpret it, This Money
wil/ be a covering to thine Eyes, ("that is, a defence to
thy Modefty) it being a tefiimony that Abimelech paid
dear for taking thee into his Hottfc.
If they refer to Abraham, then the meaning is j
Thonneedcjl no other defence of thy Modejiy and Chafli-
ty than he, nor hafl any reafon to fay hereafter, he is
thy Brother 5 for he is fo dear to God that God will
defend him, and he will defend thee, without fuch Jhifts
as this thou haflttfed : Nay, not only thee, but all that
V V arc
A COMMENT ART
are with thee $ and that even again ft ftr angers. \ omit
other Interpretations .• ^ And refer the Reader to L.
de Dieu.
Thus Jhe was reproved."] Or, inftruffed, (as fome
tran(lateit) not to diffemble her Condition. Or,
this was the Reprehenfion he gave her, for faying
Abraham was her Brother.
Verfe 17. Ver. 17. So Abraham frayed unto God, &c~] Be-
feeched God to re (lore them all to their Health, now
that his Wife was reftored to him, verfe 14.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. For the LORD had f aft clofed up, Sec]
By filch Swellings (fome underftand it) in the Se-
cret Parts, that the Men could neither enjoy their
Wives } nor the Women who were with Child, be
delivered.
CHAP. XXI.
Verfe 1. Ver- I; \ND the LO RDvifted Sarah, See.'] Be*
±\ (lowed upon her the Blefling he had
promifed her, I e. made her conceive. For fo the
word vifit fignifies ; either in a bad Sence to inflift
Punifhment, (Exod. XX. 5. J or, in a good Sence, to
confer Bleffings 5 as here, and Exod. III. 16. and ma-
ny other places.
And he did unto her as he had /pollen.'] Performed
his Promife, by making her bring forth a Child .• For
fo it is explained in the next Verfe, Sarah conceived
and bare Abraham a Son.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. Sarah conceived^ Sec] God not only made
her Womb fruitful, but brought the Fruit of it to
perfe&ion 5 and then brought it into the World.
At
upon GENESIS. 331
At the fit time, of which God had fpol^en to him'] Chapter
XVIII. 14. It is not (aid, where Jfaac was born. For XXI.
we are not tol J here, whether Abraham departed from L/^v^Vi
Gcrar into atiy other part of this Country, as Abimz-
Uch kindly offered and gave him liberty to do, XX.
1 5. But it appearing by the latter end of this Chapter,
that he continued a long time in Abimelech\ Country,
though not at Gerar ; it is probable Ifaac was born at
Becr/Jjeba, Verfe 31.
Ver. 6. God hath made me to laugh?] I. e. To rejoyce Verfe 6.
exceedingly.
So that all thai hear, will laugh with me.] All my
Friends and Neighbours, will congratulate my Hap-
pinells, and rejoyce with me.
Ver. 7. Give Children fne^] It is 11 fual to put the Verfe f\
Plural Number for the Singular, as was obferved be-
fore XIX. 29. Or, (he hoped perhaps to have more
Children after this. And her giving him fuck, was
a certain proof, that (he had brought him forth of her
own Womb $ and that he was not a fuppofititious
Child, as Menochius well obferves. Others note,
That the greateft Perfons in thofe ancient Days, fuck-
led their own Children: Which Favorinus, a Greek
Philofopher, prefled as a Duty upon a Noble Wo-
man by many ftrong Arguments : Which are record-
ed by A. Gellius, who was prefent at his difcourfe, L.
XII. Noct. Attic, cap. 1.
Ver. 8. The Child grew, and was weaned.] At the Verfe 8.
Age of Jive Years old, at St. Hierom reports the Opi-
nion of fome of the Hebrews.
Made a great Feafl the fame day."] Rather now, than
at his Nativity;, becaufe there was greater hope of
life, when he was grown fo ftrong, as to betaken from
his Mother's Breaft.
Vv 2 *%.
A COMMENTARY
Ver. 9. Sarah faw the Son ofHagar, See. mocking']
He laugh'd and jear'd, perhaps, at the great bulUe
which was made at Ifaav's weaning : Looking upon
himfelfas the FirlVborn, and by the right of that,
to have the privilege of fulfilling the Promife of the
Me(fiah. This gives a good account of Sarah's Ear-
neftnefs for the Expulfion, not only of him, but of
his Mother alfo} who, it's likely, flattered and bare
him up in thofe Pretentions. Many think he did
more than /?/0r4him,becau(eSt. P^/ calls it Perfection,
Gal. IV. 29. which St. Hierom takes for beating Ifaac :
Who, perhaps, refenting his Flouts, might fay fome-
thing that provoked Ijlwiatl to ftrike him. And it is
very probable his Mother^ encouraged him to this, or
maintained him in his Infolence : Which was the rea-
fon Sarah prefled to have them both turned out of
doors.
Some think he jetted upon his Name, and made it
a matter of Merriment. For fathe word is ufed, XIX.
U-
Verfe 10. Ver. 10. Cafi out, &zc~] Let them not dwell here
any longer, nor continue a part of thy Family.
Shall not be Heir, UC.] She judged, by what (he
had feen of his fierce and violent Spirit, that it would
not be fafe for her Son, to let Jfhmael have any (hare in
his Father's Inheritance.- For (he was afraid he would
make himfelf Mafter of all.
Verfe ir. ^er# ll' Grievous, becaufe of his Son."] His W\k\S
not here mentioned 5 becaufe his principal Concern
was for he* Son .- But it appears, by the next Verfe, he
had fome Confideration of her alfo.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. God faichwto Abraham, &c] By this he
was fatisfied that Sarah's Motion proceeded not merely
from her Anger -y but, from a Divine Incitation.
For
upon GENESIS. 333
For hi Ifaac jhall thy Seed be called.'] Here the Blef- Chapter
ting promifed to Abrahams Seed, XVII. 7, 8. is limi- XXI.
ted to the Pofterity of Ifaac: And the meaning of L^VNJ
the Phrafeis 5 they that defcend from Ifaac, and not
they that defcend from IJJjmacKhM be owned by me
for the Children of Abraham 3 particularly the Mef*
jiah fhall be one of his Seed.
Ver. 13. Alfa of the Son of thy hand- maid, &C.] He Verie 1%.
renews the Promifehe made him before^ XVII. 20.
that Ijhmael (hould have a numerous Pofterity : Be-
caufe he wasdefcended from Abraham.
Ver. 14. Rofe up early in the morning.'] Delayed Verfe 14*
not to fulfil the Divine Will.
Took Bread and a bottle of Water.] Which includes
all fort of Provifion for their prefent neceility : Till
they came to the place unto which, in all probabili-
ty, he direfted them to bend their Courfe. For it is
not reafonable to think, that he fent them to feek
their Fortune (aswefpeak) without any care what
became of them. It may feem ftrange rather, that he
did not fend a Servant to attend them, but let Hagar
carry the Provifionher felf: Which I fuppofe was.
done to humble her } and to fhow that her Son, was
to have no Portion of Abraham's Inheritance, nor of.
his Goods-:, of which Servants were apart. Dofror
Jack/on, Book^l. on the Creed, chap. 25. thinks that A-
tirmhMm would fcarce have fuffered them 10 go into a
tyildemcfs, fo poorly provided, when he had ftore of.
all things, unlefs he had been dire&ed by (bine iecret
Inftinft $ prefaging the rude and (harking kind of life,
unto which his Progeny was ordained. Yet, it is pro-
bable, he was as kind to him, as he was to the Sons he
had by Keturah, and fent him fome Tokens of his^
Love afterwards. See XXV. 6.
Vcr.
354 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 15. She caft the Child under one of the Shrubs.']
XXI. He being faint, and ready to die with Thirft. A Pre-
'^V^sJ fage (faith the great Man before-named) that his
Verfe i5.Pofterity fhould be pinched with the like Penury .-
Scantinefsof Water ( which was their beft DrinkJ
ftreightning their Territories in Arabia, zsS'trabo ob-
ferves, L. XVI. And after they had inlarged their
Bounds, even in Mefopotamia it felf, they were ftill
confined to the dry and barren Places of it.
Verfe 16. Ver. 16. And fie went gnd fat her down, Stc] Her
Strength carried her further than he could go.* But
her Affe&ion ftill kept her within fight of the place
where he was.
Verfe 17. Ver. 17. And God heard the Voice of the Lad.'}
Who cried, it feems, as well as his Mother.* And it
moved the Divine Pity to fend an Angel to their
Relief.
Fear not.] Do not think I come to terrifie thee .*
Or, do not fear the Death of thy Child.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. Lift up the Lad, Sec.*] It feems he was
fo faint, that he was not able to ftand without fup-
port.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Opened her Eyes.] Made her fee what (he
did not obferve before ; by reafon of her Tears, or
the great difturbance of her Mind.
Verfe 20. Ver. 20. And God was with the Lad.] Preferved
and profpered him : So that lie grew to be a
Man.
Became an Archer.] A skilful Hunter and Warri-
our alfo, with Bow and Arrows. Am. Marcellinusi
L. XIV. tells us, that the Saracens, who were of the
Pofterity of Ifhmael, never fet their Hands to the
Plough, but got their Living for the mod part,
by their Bow. For fuch as tney were themfelves,
fuch
upon GENESIS. 335
fuch was their Food, (J 'id us univerfis caro feri- Chapter
na, Sec.) they all lived upon wild tlefh, or Venifon, XXI.
and fuch wild Fowl as the Wildernefs afforded, with l*/"VNj
Herbs and Milk. Dr. Jackson obfervesthat he com-
pares them to Kites 3 ready to fpy a Prey, but fo wild
withal that they would not (lay by it, fas Crows or
other ravenous Birds do by Carrion J but prefently
fled with what they caught into their Nefts.
Ver. 21. He dwelt in the Wildernefs of Paran.~\ Verfe 21.
Which was near to Arabia : In which Country all
the Oriental Writers fay the Pofterity of Jflimael lived.
Particularly Patricides, who fays he went into the
Land of Jathreb -0 which is that part of Arabia, in
which is the City of Medina,
AMife out of Egypt.'] Out of her own Country,
where (he was beft acquainted.. The Jewifi Doftors
fay he had two Wives, whofe Names they tell us
were Aifchab and Phatimah : The firft of which re-
ceived Abraham chur\\tt\\y when he went to vifit his
Son ^ and therefore he put her away and took the
other, who proved more civil, when he made a fe-
cond Journey thither. Which, though it look like
a Fable, yet I think it not improbable that Abraham
might go to fee how his Son lived, and that Ifimael
might fometimes wait upon him, (as the Author of
Schalfchall.Hakab. and Pirke Eliefer affirm J for we
cannot think they were fo unnatural, as never to
have any correfpondence / Efpecially fince we read
that Iftmael, as well as Jfaac, took care of Abraham's
Funeral, XXV. 9. After which, it is not improba-
ble Hagar might have another Husband : Which is
the account Aben Ezra (upon P faint LXXXIII. 6.)
gives of the People called Hagarenes, who are there
mentioned as diftinft from the Ijhmaelites : They
were,
336 A COMMENTARY
Chapter were, faith he, defcended from Hagar by another
XXT. Husband, not by Abraham.
L^*V"NJ Ver. 22. Abimelech and Pichol, See] It is plain by
Verfe 22.this that Abraham fkill lived, if not in the Country of
Gerar^ yet very near it.
God is with thee in all that thon doJIC] They faw
him fo thriving and profperous, that th^y were afraid
he might grow too ftrong for them ; if he fbould
have a mind to difturb them.
Verfe 23. Ver. 23. Swear that thou wilt not deal fa> J/7/, Sec]
That as there hath been a long Friendfhip between
me and thee, fo thou wilt not violate it 5 but alway
preierve it, even when I am dead ; According to thy
frequent Profeilions, and (perhaps) Promifes.
According to the kindnefs, &C.~] Abimelech thought
he might claim this Oath from Abraham^ by Virtue of
the Obligations he had laid upon him.
Verfe 24, Ver. 24. I will /wear.] He was as forward to con-
firm his Promifes, as to make them.
Verfe 25. Ver. 25. And Abraham reproved Abimelech.'] But
before he fware, he thought it neceflary to fettle a
right Underftanding between them .• And therefore
argued with Abimelech ("as it may be rendred) about
a Well of Water digged by Abrahams Servants,
which Abimekch's had injurioufly taken from him.
This was Wifdom to complain of Wrongs now, be-
fore they entred into a Covenant, that they being
redrefied, there might remain no occafion of Quarrels
afterward.
Verfe 26. Ver. 26. Abimelech /aid, I wot not, fee.] This is
the fir ft time I heard of it. If thou hadft complained
before, I would have done thee right.
Ver. 11. And Abraham tool^Sheep, Sec."] Some think
they were a Prefent he made to Abimelech 5 in gra-
titude
upon GENESIS. 337
titude for what he had beftowed on him,(XX.T4.) or Chapter
in token of Friendfhip with him. But others think XXI
they were defigned for Sacrifice 5 by which they made L/^V\J
a Covenant one with another. At leaft^ fome of them
ftrved for that life.
Ver. 28. And he ft fven E\v- lambs by themfelves.*] Verfe 28.
The meaning of this is afterwards explained, verfe 30.
That though they were part of the Prefent he made
him ^ yet they (hould be underftood alfo (being fet
apart from the reft) to be a purchafe of a quiet poifef-
fion of that Well.
Ver. 30. A wit nefs unto me that I have digged this Verfe 3c,
Well.] By this Token it (hall be remembred hereafter,
that I digged this Well, and that thoudidft: grant me
quiet pofleffion of it.
Ver. 31. Called the place Beer-fieba7\ The Hebrew Verfe 31.
word Shcba fignifiesboth mOath, and aKofeven. Per-
haps for both reafons this Place had this Name. We
are fure for xhtfirft^ which is here mentioned .- Becaufe
they fware to each other.
Ver. 32. Thus they made a Covenantees] By giving Verfe 3*.
and excepting thofe Sheep and Oxen,mentioned^.2 7.
and perhaps by offering Sacrifices 5 or, at leaft, by eat-
ing and drinking together: As Ifaac and Abimelech
did in after-times, XXVI. 30.
Here fome obferve it was not unlawful, by the Law
of Nature, to make Covenants with Infidels and
Idolaters, for mutual Defence and Commerce, or fuch
like reafons. But I fee no proof that Abimelech was
fuch a Perfon. In future Ages the People of Canaan
were fo corrupted by this, as well as other Sins, that
God commanded them to be exterminated, and made
it unlawful to enter into a Covenant with them,
Exod. XXXIV. 15, But as the Philifiines were none
Xx of
33* A COMMENTARY
Chapter of them: So it ftill remained lawful to make Leagues
XXL with other Gentiles, who were not of the /even Na-
^^-V^ tions of Canaan, as we fee by the Examples of David
and Solomon, and others.
They returned into the Land of the Philiftines.'] Into
that part of the Country, where they dwelt : For both
Abimelech and Abraham were now in that Land, as ap-
pears from the laft Verfe of this Chapter.
Verfe 33. Ver. 33. Abraham planted a Grovel] For a folemn
and retired place wherein to worfhipGod. For, as&r-
vius fays upon the IX. JEneid. Nunqnam eft Lucusjine
Religione. There never was a Grove, in ancient times,
without Religion. And therefore here, we may well
fuppofe Abraham built an Altar : Which was fenced
and bounded withanInclofure,and (haded with Trees,
as Mr. Alede (Difcourfe XIX.) obferves their Profenctis
or Places of Prayer to have been in after-times. For that
this was intended for a Place of Prayer appears by the
following words* and called there on the Name of the
Lord, &c.
From hence, fome think, the Cuftom of planting
Groves was derived into all the Gentile World : Who
fo prophaned them by Images, and Filthinefs, and Sa*
crifices to Demons, that God commanded them, by
the Law of Mofes, to be cut down. But Abraham
made ufe of a Grove before this, XII. 6, 8. where we
find he built an Altar on a Mountain, which I que-
ftion not was compafled with Trees. See XIII. 18.
therefore Itake this only to have been the firft Grove
that he planted himfelf.
Called upon the Name of the LO RD, the ever loft-
ing GodS] 1-find that Maimonides in feveral places,
of his More Nevochim, tranflates the laft words, The
L 0 R D God of the World, or the LORD the Al-
mighty
upon GENESIS. 339
mighty Creator of the World For this was the great Chapter
Article of Faith in thofe Days, That God made the XXII.
World, Par. II. cap 30. & Par. III. c. 29. U^/NJ
Ver. 34. Sojourned many days, &tc.~] The word i)v\irded by the
Ratification of God's former Promife or Covenant,
by a mo ft: folemn Oath: By ??iy felf have I fworit, I
will multiply thy Seed, Sec. This was proftlffed before,
but not confirmed by an 0*th : And befides the ve-
ry Promife is now more Affectionate, fir I may fo
(Vile it) in blejfing I trill llefs thee,, and in multiplying
I will multiply thee, &c. In the latter end alfo of the
Blefling, there feems to be couched the higheft of all
BlefTingS, That God would make his own only Son fitch
a Sacrifice as Abraham was ready to have made his Son
Ifiaac : That all the Nations of the World f verfe 18. )
might be bleffedin him, i.e. all that would follow the
Faith of Abraham. So Avar bine I him felf interprets it
upon XII. 3.
Ver. 17. Pofiefs the Gate, that is, the Cities of his Verfe 17.
Enemies^ And confeqjently their Country. For
the Gates being taken, thereby they efitfed into their
Cities : And their Cities being furrendre J, the Coun-
try was conquered.
Ver. 18. In thy Seed ihall dll the Nations of the Earth Verfe 1 8 ;
be blejfed.~) God promiied to mike Abraham^ Seed
as numerous as the Stars of Heaven, XV. 5. which
Promife he allures him here fhall be fulfilled in Ifaac,
verfe 17. But moreover direfts him to expett after
the multiplying of his Pofterity, One particular
Seed, who (hould bring a Bieffing to all Mankind.
This
352 A COMMENT A KT
Chapter This Singularity St. Paul obferves and prefles very
XXII. much, Gal III. 16. applying it to the Mejfiah. And
L/"VNJ it is further obfervable, that there is an increafe of
Sence in thefe words, as there is in the former. For
he doth not (imply fay, HD2J, thzyfial/ be blejjed, but
iminnn, (hall bkfi themfelves^ or count themjelves blef-
fed in him : To (how, as Jacobus Altingius thinks, that
this Perfon (hould not ftand in need of any Blef-
fing himfelf, as the reft of Abrahams Seed did } But
be the Author of all Bleffings unto others, who
(hould derive them from him alone, L. II. Schilo.
c. 2.
Becaufe thou haft obeyed, &c*] As a Reward
("the word in the Hebrew fignifies) for obeying my
Voice.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Went together to Beer-J/jeba.'] Where he
had for fome time fetled his abode, XXI. 33.
Verfe 20. Ver. 20. Milcah
efpecially at the Funeral Solemnities ; when they made
great Lamentation. After Abraham had performed
the former, he made preparations for the latter : But
what the Riles of Mourning were in thofe days, we
do not know. It's likely they (hut tbemfelves up from
Company, neglefted the Care of their Bodies, ab-
Ihined from their ordinary Food .- Which, with ma-
ny others, were the Cuftom's of Abrahams Pofterity ,
who made it a part of their Religion, to mourn for
the dead.
7erfe 2. ^er. 5« AJ Abraham flood up from before his dead.]
By this it feems to be apparent, that in Abraham's
time
upon GENESIS. £g
time they fat upon the Ground while they mourned, Chapter
as it is certain they did in future Ages. In which Po- XXIII.
fture they continued till they had fatisfied natural Af- L^VNi
fettion, and the decent Cuftora of the Age and Coun-
try where they lived. Then they rofe upas Abralxtm
here did, to take care of the Interment of his Wife.
Seven Days, in after Ages, were the common time of
Mourning: And for illuftrious Perfons, they mourn-
ed thirty Days.
Spake unto the Sons of Heth.~] In whofe Country
he now lived .• Concerning whom fee X. 15. By
the Sons are meant the principal Perfons of that Na-
tion.
Ver. 4. I am a Stranger and a Sojourner withyou.~]Vak 4.
Though I am not a Native of your Country 5 yet I
have lived long enough among you, to be known to
you.
Give me poffejfion of a burying place, &£.*] I do not
defire any large Poffeffions among you, being but
a Sojourner, let me only have a place, which I may
call my own, wherein to bury thofeof my Family,
which dye.
Ver. 5. And the Children (or Sons) of Heth an- Verfe 5.
fmred, fcfc/] By one of their Body, who (pake in the
Name of the reft : As appears by thefirfb words of the
next Verfe. Hear us, my Lord : In which form they
were wont to addrefs themfelves to great Men, ver.
11, i}, 15, 16.
Ver. 6. Thou art a mighty Prince."] We have a great Verfe ft
Honour for thee.
In the choice of our Sepulchres, Scc.^ Make choice
of any one Sepulchre ^ and no Body will deny to
let thee have it. Every Family (at leaft great ones J
had their proper place for Burial ; Which, I fuppofe,
Zz 2 were.
3$6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter were fometime fo large, that they might fpare others
XXIII. a part of them 5 or, of the Ground wherein they
v-v*^-* were made.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. Abraham flood up."] It feems they had de-
fired him to fit down among them, while they trea-
ted this bufinefs : Which when they had granted, he
ftood up to thank them.
And bowed himfelf\ The Hebrew word fignifies
the bowing of the Body .• And there are other words
in that Language proper to the bowing of the Head^ or
of the Knee.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. Intreatfor me to Ephron, Sec] He defires
them to mediate between him and this Man (who per-
haps was not then prefentin the Aflembly) for a Pur-
chafe of a convenient Place in his Ground.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. Cave of MachpelahJ] We take this word
Machpelah for a proper Name, as many others do :
But the Talmudifts generally think it to have been
fpeluncam duplicem, (as the Vulgar Latin alfo, with the
LXX. underftand it) a double Cave. Yet they cannot
agree in what fenfe it wasfo ^ whether they went
through one Cave into another 5 or, there was one
above another. For that by zCave is meant, a Vault,
arched over with Stones, or Wood, which the An-
cients called Crypt. 556, &c. Certain it is that Abraham
was now an hundred and forty Years old : For he was
an hundred when Ifaacvws born, XXL 5. and Ifaac
wis forty when he married Rebel^ih, XXV. 20.
Ver. 2. And Abraham faid unto his eldejl Servant Vferfe 2»
of his Houfe.] Or, rather, as the LXX. tranflate n,He
faid to his Servant, the Elder of his Houfe : That is, the
Steward, or Governor of his Family, as the Hieruf
Targum tranflates it. See Mr. Selden, LA. de Synedr.
cap 14. p. 5 jo. And Dr. Hammond upon Aft. XL
not. b. All take this Servant to have been Eliezer, men-
tioned XV. 2.
Put thy Hand under my Thigh.] Some will have
this Phrafe to import no more than, Lift me up, that
1 may (land, and call God to witnefs. But Abraham, no
queftion, was now fo vigorous, as to be able to rife
of himfelf: Having many Children after this. O*
thers therefore follow the Opinion of the Jewip
Doftors, which is this, in (holt $ Before the giving of
the Law, the ancient FulReHs faor.e by the Covenant of
Circumcijion. Th^y are die A R. Elieferin his
Pirkc, cap. .49. A: id it is not improbable that thW
A a a m:
36z A COMMENTA KY
Chapter manner of Swearing, by putting the Hand under that
XXIV. part which was the fubjedt of Circumcifion, had re-
L/"VNJ fpeft to the Covenant God made with that Familv.
and their right to accomplifh the Promife of the Mcf
jiah. But this was not a Cuftom peculiar to Abrahams
Family, for we find it among other Eaflern People:
And therefore, it is likely, more ancient than Circum-
cifion. For which Caufe, Aben Ezra himfelf, thinks
putting the Hand under the Thigh, was a Token of
Subje&ion and Homage, done by a Servant to his
Lord.- He fitting, and the Servant putting his Hand
under him. Grotius imagines, that the Sword hang-
ing upon the Thigh, (PfalmXIN. g.J this was as
much as to fay, Iflfalfifie, k^U me. Which is very-
witty ^ but the ether feems plainer 5 fignifying as
much as, I am under thy powei\ and ready to do what
thou contmandejl.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3, Swear by the LOR D.~] It was not law-
ful to fwear by any Creature^ but only by him that
made them all. For they took the greateft Care to
declare, that they worlhipped him alone.
That thou wilt not take a Wife unto thy Son."] It feems
he intended to leave the Guardianfhipof his Son to
him, fif he fhould die, before he had difpofed of
him) as unto a wife and faithful Servant, who had
managed his Affairs zbovzfifty Years 5 and we do not
know how much longer.
Of the Daughters of the Canaanztes.] For though
there were fome good People among them, as ap-
pears by Melchizedeck, and Abimekch 5 yet he faw them
degenerating apace into all manner of Wickednefs 5
efpecially into Idolatry : Which would bring them,
he knew, to utter Defolation, when they had filled
up the meafure of their Iniquity, XV« 16.
Ver*
upon GENESIS. 363
Ver. 4. But go into my Country,'] /. c. Into Mefopo- Chapter
tamia, where he lived for fome time \n Haran, after XXIV.
he came from Vr : Which was alfo in that Country, L/^V\J
as I obferved upon XI. 31. It feems alfo his Brother Verf
had removed hither: Following his Father TtraWl
and Abrahams Example. See XI. 31.
And my kindredT] The Family of his Brother Na-
hor, which he heard lately was increafed, (fcXII.
20.) who, though they had fome Superftition among
them, retained the Worfhip of the True God 3 as ap-
pears from this very Chapter, verfe 31, 50.
And take a Wife unto my Son IfaacT] Which, no
doubt, was by Ifaac's Content, as well as his Father's
Command.
Ver. 5. Mufl I needs bring thy Son again into the Verfe
Land from whence thou cameji ?~] He defires (like a
confcientious Man) to underftand the full Obligation
of his Oath, before he took it. And his doubt was,
whether, if a Woman would not come with him in-
to Canaan, he (hould be bound to go again, a fecond
time, and carry Ifaac to her.
Ver. 6. Beware, that thou bring not my Son thither Verfe 6.
again.'] He would by no means his Son fhould go to
that Country, which God commanded him to for-
fake .• That Command obliging not only himfelf, but
his Pofterity. See Verfe 8.
Ver. 7. The LORD God of Heaven, &C.] He who Verfe 7.
rules all things above, as well as below, who brought
me from my own into this Country, and hath promi-
fed, and confirmed that Promife with an Oath, that
my Pofterity (hall inherit it, will profper thy Journey,
and difpofe fome of my Kindred to come hither, and
be married to my Son.
A a a a Send
364 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Send h/'s Angel before thee.'] Good Men were ever
XXIV\ very (enfible of God's Providence, governing all
L/"W/ things, and profpering their Proceedings by the Mi-
ni ft ry of Angels : Which Abrahams. Servant takes
particular notice of, verfe 40.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And if the Woman will not be willing iofol-
hw thee, &c] If it fall out othervvays than I hope,
thou haft done thy Duty : If thou bring not my Son
into that Country again. He fpeaks ("both here and
verfe 6.) as if Ifaac had once been there: Becaufe
Abraham himfelf came from thence, and this Servant
alfo, and a great many of his Family, ("XII. 5 ) who
if lfaac went to fettle there, mud have gone with
him, as part of his Subftance.
V^erie 10. Ver. 10. And the Servant took, ten Camels ,Scc.m] Ca-
mels were of great ufe in thofe Countries, as they are
at this day : Some of them being made for carriage
of Burdens:, and others for fwift travelling $ which
latter fort were called by a peculiar Name, Aepjuuihc,
Dromedaries, as Salmafius obfervesin his Plinian. Ex-
ercit.p. 987. Thefe perhaps were of that kind, for
the greater expedition: Like thofe-we read of 1 Sam.
XXX. 17.
For all the Goods of his Mafier were in his Hands 7\
He might chufe what Accommodations he pleafed for
his Journey 5 having every thing belonging to his
Matter at his Command .- Who being a great Perfon,
it was fit his principal Servant fliould be well attend-
ed, fas it appears he was, verfe ^1. J efpecially when
he went uponfuch an Errand, as to court a Wife for
hisMafter'sSom Mod: refer this to the Prefents he
carried along with him : And R. Solomon will have
it that he carried a Writing with him nnder his Ma-
r*s Hand, fan Inventory we call ifj fpecifying all
his
upon G E N E 8 I S. 364
his Goods and Riches, that they might know what a Chapter
great Match his Son was. XXIV
City of Sahor.^] Which was Hard*/, from whence L/"Y^vJ
Abraham came, XI. 31. and to which Jacob went to
find his Kindred, XXVI 1 1. 10. How far it was thi-
ther we are not told, nor how long they were go-
ing to it: And Mofcs omits alfo whatsoever pa/Ted in
the way, as not pertinent to his Storv.
Ver. 11. Camels kneel down?\ The Pofture wherein Verfe n.
:hey reft themfelves.
Ver. 12. 0 LORD God of my Matter Abra-Vzrfe !2.
ham, &CC-3 He had obferved the K/mdnefs of God to
have been fo great to Abraham, and Abraham to have
fuch a peculiar Intereft in his Favour 5 that in con-
fidence he would make good Abraham's words,
(ycrfi 7, & 40.) he not only begs he might have
good Succefs in his Journey, but defires a fign of it,
to confirm his Faith 5 and fuch a fign as was mofc
appolire to denote the Perfon that would make a
good Wife ^ by her Courtefie, Humility, Condefcen-
fion, Hofpitality, prompt and laborious Charity :
AH which are included in what he defires,. and 7.
did.
Ver. 14. Thereby flail 1 know that- thou hafl flowed Vzrk 14*
kjndncfs to my Mafttr.'] He had no Confidence tl
God would do any thing for his own fake, but
for his Matter's 3 whom God had mod: wonderful
bletfed.
Ver. 15. And it came to paft before f I > j-
fpcak?ng>&£-~\ This fhows it was by a Divine Sug-
geftion, that he made this Prayer; which was an-
fwered immediately. Such is rhe Divine Goodnefs 5
or, ruher, ftoufe the words of SamBtchi an
occafion of many fuch InftancesJ Sic tnm parata &
4
$66 * COMMENTARY
Chapter obvia ejfe folent Del beneficia, it a ut preces nofiras non
XXIV. tarn fequantur, quam occupant atque antecedant, P.I.
i+S>T\J Hierozoic. L. 2. cap. 49. So forward is God to be-
ftow his Benefits upon us, that they do not fo much
follow our Prayers, as prevent and go before them.
See Verfe 45.
With her Pitcher upon her Shoulder, ~\ Behold the Sim-
plicity, Frugality, and Induftry of that Age.
•Verfe 20. Ver. 2°- Drew for all his Camels.'] There were ten
of them, (verfe 10.) and they are a very thirfty
fort of Creatures : And therefore fhe took a great
deal of Pains to ferve him who was but a ftranger, in
this manner. Which (hewed extraordinary Goodnefs,
and a moft obliging Difpofition 5 at which he might
well be amazed, as it follows in the next Verfe.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. Wondring at her 5 held his peace , &c/] He
was fo aftonifh'd at her Kindnefs, readinefs to do
Good, and laborious Diligence, &c. and alfo at the
Providence of God in making things fall out fo pat to
his Defires ^ that for the prefent he could not fpeak :
Having his Mind employed in marking and obferving
every Paifage 5 where he might judge how to con-
clude, whether this was the Woman, or no, whcm
God defigned for his Matter's Son.
Verfe 22. Ver. 22. The Man tookf] Gave her, as the Phrafe
is often ufed. But he firft asked her whofe Daughter
(he was, as appears from verfe 47.
A golden Ear-ring."] Or, rather, (as the Margin
hath it) a Jewel for the Forehead. And fo we tran-
flate the Hebrew word, Ezek* XVI. 12. and this Per-
fon himfelf expounds it, verfe 47. I put the Ear-ring
or Jewels upon her Face, /. e. her Forehead. For fuch
Ornaments were ufed in thofe Times and Countries,
hanging down between the Eye-brows, over the Nofe.
Two
upon G E N E S I S. $67
Two Bracelets for her Hands.'] i.e. Wrefts. Chapter
Ver.26. Bowed hk Head, arid worfljipped the LORD.'] XXIV.
Give iblcmn Thanks to God for hearing his Prayer .• L^/^J
And acknowledged that by his Providence he was
conduced to the execution of his Defires^ as it fol-
lows in the next Vcrji.
Ver. 27, Mercy and Truth.] Mercy in promifing, Verfe 27
and Truth in performing: Or, hath truly been mer-
ciful to him according to hk Promife, verfe 7. See
/ rerfe 49.
The Houfe of my Mafiers Brethren.^] i. e. His near
Kindred.
Ver. 28. Told then of her Mother's Houfe.'] The Verfe 28.
Women in the Eafiem Countries, had their Apart-
ments by themfelves} as was before obferved, and
appears again, verfe 67. Thither it was proper for
Rebekah to go, and acquaint her Mother with what
had paffed.
Ver. 30. When hefam the Ear-ring, Sec."] This was Verfe 3c;
the reafon, why he ran to invite the Man to their
Houfe.
He flood by the Camels at the l¥eU.~] Expe&ing to
fee the iflue.
Ver. 31. Come in, thou blejfed of the LORD.~] Whom Verfe 31,
God favoureth, and I pray may ftill continue in his
Favour, For it refers both to the time paft and fu-
ture.
Ver. 31. Water to waff) hk Feet, &c] As the Cu- Verfe 32.
ftom was in thofe Countries. See XVIII. 4.
Ver. 33. I will not eat, Sec] An excellent Ser- Verfe 33,.
vant} who preferred his Matter's Profit, to his own
Pleafure,
Ver.
36S A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 35. The LORD hath blejfed my Mafter great-
XXI V. //, Sec] Inriched him exceedingly, fo that he is be-
LZ-VNJ come a Perfon of great Eminence, XXIII. 6.
Verfe 35. Ver. 36. Given all that he hath.'] Declared him his
Verfe 36. Heir, and fetled his whole Eftate upon him.
■Verfe 40. Ver. 40. The LORD before whom I walk;'] Whom
I worfnip and ftudy to pleafe , keeping a grateful re-
membrance of his Benefits always in my Mind. For fo
Abrahams own words are, verfe 7. The God which
brought me from my Father s Houfe, Sec.
•Verfe .41. Ver. .41. Thou Jhah be clear from this my Oath.'] Or
Curfe, as the Hebrew word imports : For all Oaths
were made anciently with fome Imprecations upon
themfelves, if they fware falily.
Verfe 42- Ver. 41. 0 LORD God of my Mafter, Abra-
ham, &c/] He doth not relate juft the very words
which he faid -0 but the Senfe of them, and moft of
the words.
Profper my way which I go.'] The Defign in which
I am engaged.
Verfe 48. Ver. 48. My Mafters Brother's Daughter.'] The
Grand-Daughter of hisJSrother Nahor.
Verfe 49. Ver. 49. If ye will deal kindly and truelyT] Be really
and fincerely kind.
That I may turn to the right-hand^ or to the leftT]
A kind of proverbial Speech} fignifying, that I may
take fome other courfe (which way God jhall direS^) to
fulfil my Mafters defire. It is the fancy of fome
of the Hebrew Doftors, that he meant, he might
go either to the Ifljmaelites, or the Children of
Lot.
Verfe 50. Ver. 50. Lab an andBeihueV] The chief Manager
of this Affair was Laban ; for Bethuel is not men-
tioned till now, becaufe, perhaps, he was old, and
unfit
upon G E N E S I S. 9
Unfit forBufjrwfs: But confents to all that isde-(
fired. XXIV,
The thing proceeds h from the LO R A] It appears L/^VNJ
to be the Divine Will and Plead
iktunto thee good or Lad.'] Noway
contradift it.
Ver. 51. Rebekah k before thee-'] Is by us delivered V
to thee, to be difpofed of according to thy defi
As the Phrafe is tiled XX. r f.
As the LO RD hathfpoken."] Declared, by tho
Signs which thou haft related to us.
Ver. 52. Worflsipped the LORD, to the Earth.'] Verfe 52.
Gave the mod humble Thanks unto Almighty God,
for his Goodnefs to him.
Ver. £ 5. Gave to her Brother and Mother. ~] Here is \ erfe 53.
no mention of the Father : Which hath made fome
think, as Jofephu* did, that the Father was dead 3 and
Beth/tcl, mentioned verfe 50. was her younger Bro-
ther. But I take it to be more likely, that her Fa-
ther being infirm, had committed the Care of his
Daughter to Laban and his Wile: Andfo appeared
no more, than was juft abfolutely neceflary in this
Treaty of Marriage. Which was carried on princi-
pally by Laban, who is mentioned therefore before
her Mother.
Precious things."] Prefents of great value.
Ver. 55. Let the Damfel abide with us a few sky/, Verfe J5«
at leap ten.] There is nothing more common in Scrip-
ture, than by Days to exprefs a Tear. And there-
fore we have exaftly tranllated thele words in the
Margin, afullYear, or ten Months. See IV. ^.Lev.
XXV. 19. 1 Sam. I. 3. compared with verfe 7, and
20. Some think this cannot be the meaning, b \
the Sen ant was in fuch ha Pre to return to his Mafl
Bbb
370 A COMMENTARY
Chapter But it was as fit for them to fhow their Love to Rebe-
XXIV. l^ah, as it was for him to fhow his Concern for his
w'v"**-' Matter. Befides, there was fomething of Decency in
it, the Cuftom being in all Countries, for her that
was efpoufed to a Husband, to ftay fome time with
her Parents, before the Confummation of the Marri-
age. And one would think the Cuftom then was,
for to keep her a Year or near it ^ which makes them
defire (he might ftay at leaft ten Months, that they
might not depart too far from the common Ufage,and
that fhe might have the longer time to fit her felf with
the ufual Nuptial Ornaments. Thus Onkelos it is cer-
tain underftood it, and the Paraphrafe of TJ%ielides,
and the Mauritanian Jews, as Mr. Selden obferves, JL.V\
de Jure N. & G. cap. 5.
Verfe 56. Ver. 56. That 1 r may goto my Majier.'] Whom he
would have to rejoyce with him.
Verfe 57... Ver. 57. Enqttire at her Mouthy Let her refolve
how it fhall be. St. Arnbrofe obferves upon this Paf-
fage,That they do not confult her about the Marriage,
for that belonged to the judgment of the Barents, but a-
bout the time of going to compleat it. Upon which
occafion he quotes the words of Hermione when (he
was courted by Qreftes^ (in Euripides\\\$> Andromachd)
which he thinks were taken from hence, Nvju/phpA-
Tbv (jAv r$ itxtiv TicLTJia i^s fM^jjuvctv gf&, x i>t itccov
*ei*w ™h. My Father will take care of my Marri-
age : Thefe things do not belong to my determinati-
on, Lib. I. de Abrahamo Patriarchal cap. nit.
Verfe 58. Ver. 58. Wilt thou go with this Man ?] That is, pre-
fently, as he defires. For that fhe fliould be Ifaac's
Wife was agreed already between them 3 and we are
to fuppofe (he had confented. The only Queftion
was, Whether fo foon as the Man defired ?
And
H^n GENESIS- 371
And fie fid, I mil.'] I agree to go, without any (3
delay : Which no doubt, very much indeared her to XXIV.
Ifatc. L^V%i
Ver. 59. And her Xttrfe.] Whofe Name was De- Verfe 5
borah, XXXV. 8. whodLl not iuckle her, perhaps :
But vvas (as we (peak) her Dry-Nurfe ; For whom,
it is likely, (he had a great Atfeftion. It being a piece
of ancient Piety and Gratitude, to keep fuch Per-
fons as long as they lived, who had taken ca^e ot
them in their Infancy. It is probable alfo (he was
remarkable for Prudence, and other eminent Quali-
ties 5 or, elfe Mofes would fcarce have let her Name,
and her Death and Burial had a place in this Hiftory,
XXXV. 8.
Ver. 60. And they blejfed Rebefah, 8cc.] Her Fa- Verfe 60.
ther and Mother, with all the reft of their Family
and Kindred, prayed God to make her exceeding
Fruitful 3 and to make her Pofterity Vi&orious over
their Enemies: Which were the great things they
defired in thofe days. The Hebrews look upon this
(as Mr. Selden obferves in the place before- named
on verfe 55.) asan Example of the folemn Benedi&ion,
which was wont to be given (even before the Law of
Mofes) when the Spoufe was carried to her Husband.
Thou art onr Sifter.'] Near Coujin OX Kinfvnman :
For all that were'near of Kin called one another Bro-
thers and Sifters.
Ver. 61. Her Dawfels.~] Who waited upon her 5 Verfe 61.
and were given as part of her Portion.
Ver. 62. Well of Ldhdi-rou"] Mentioned XVI. 14. Verfe 62.
By which it appears that Abraham, after the death of
Sarah, returned ro live at Beer-fleaa, or thereabouts*
for that was nigh this Well : And it is probable Abr*
ham and Ifaac were not parted.
B b b 2 Ver-
g72 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 63. To meditate, Scc.3 The cool of the Even-
XXlV. ing and Solitude, are great triends to Meditation.
vTT T}"Ter' ^' ^K H&hted off the Camel."] As they always
Verie °3«j-l(^ who met any Perfon whom they honoured.
\erie 64. Ver g$< Too^aFeiL] Not only out of Modefty,
Verle 65. but jp foken of her Subje&ion to him. Many will
have this to have been a peculiar Ornament belong-
ing to a Bride, called by the Romans hlameum, by
the Greeks ®tfnffZPy as Mr. Selden obferves, L. V. de
Jure N. & G. cap. 5. Whence thofe words of Ter-
tullian, de Veland. Virgin, c. 1 Etiam apitd Eihnicos
velat£, (i. e fponfg) ad virum ducuntur. Even among
Heathens, Brides are brought to their Husbands with
a Veil over their Faces.
Verfe 66, Ver. 66. And the Servant told Ifaac all things that he
had done?] How (he had confented to be his Wife.
Verfe 61 • Ver. 67. Brought her into his Mother Sarah's Tent.]
That Apartment wherein his Mother dwelt : Which
was diftinft from that of the Husband's.
And Ifaac was comforted after the death of his Mo-
ther!] The Love he had to his Wife helpt to alle-
viate the Sorrow he had conceived at his Mother's
death: Which was fo great/ that now it had conti-
nued three Years. Such was the pious affeftion Chil-
dren had for their Parents, in ancient Days.
Ifaac wtt forty Years old when he married RebekaK
(XXV. 20.) and, if we can believe the Jews, (in &•
der Olam) (he was but fourteen.
CHAP.
upon GENESIS. 373
Chapt- r
p .V.
'CHAP! XXV.
Ver. i/" 1 A HEN again Abraham took a fT//5r.]Verfe I
X Sarah being dead, and Agar long ago
fent away, and his Son ffaac lately married, he want-
ed a Companion in his old Age. For, having given
up Sarah's Tent unto Rebckah (XXIV. ////.) it is pro-
bable he gave up his own to Ifaac, and fo dwelt in a
Tent by himfelt } where he found it neceflary to have
a Wife to look after his Family.
And her Name was Keturah.'] We aie not told
what Family (he was of: But it is not unlikely (he
had been born and bred in his own Houfe, as Eliefer
his Steward was ^ and, perhaps, was Chief among
the Women, as he among the Men-Servants. Many
of the Jews will have her to be Hagar y whom (Sarah^
who was the Caufe of her Expulfion, being dead)
he now received again. So the Hierufalem Paraphrafe,
and Jonathan alfo : But Aben Ezra confutes this Opi-
nion with good reafon --, for no account can be given
of Abraham's having more Concubines than one (vcrfe
6.) unlefs we make Keturah diftin&from Hagar. Nor
can any Body tell why he (hould call Hagar by the
Name of Keturah here, v/hen he calls her by her own
Name,-z/erye 12.
Ver. 2. And jhe bare him.'] He was now an hnn- Verfe :
dred and forty Years old : But fo vigorous as to be-
get many Children. Which need not feem ftrange,
confidering the Age to which they then lived, (tor
he lived thirty and five Years after tli'r Marriage,
374 A COMMENTARY
Chapter verfe 7. and that now, in our time, Men have had
XXV. Children after they have bttxx feventy, nay eighty Years
WVNJ of Age.
To the Truth alfo of this Hiftory we have the Te-
flimony of Pagan Writers. For Alexander Pclyhijlor
(mentioned by Jofephus and by Eufebius, L. IX. Pr&*
par. Evang. cap. 20.) tells us that Cleodemus (called
by fome Malchas) writing the Hiftory of the Jews,
reports juft as Mofis doth, "On die Xst(s^ 'aS^lxju^
iyivovlo 1&CZI&; I^jlvoI. That Abraham had a good many
Children by Keturah : Three of which he mentions by
Name.
ZimranT] This Son of his, with all the reft of his
Brethren, were fent by Abraham into the Eaji Coun-
try (as we read verfe 6.) and therefore we mud: feek
for them in thofe Parts, viz. in Arabia, and the Coun-
tries thereabout 5 where fome footfteps of them have
remained for many Ages 5 particularly of Zimran,
from whom we may well think the Zamareni were
defcended, a People mentioned by Pliny, with their
Towns in Arabia Fxlix, L. VI. cap. 28.
And Jockshan.~] Concerning whom I can find no-
thing but only this, That Theophanes a Chronogra-
pher, in the beginning of the IX. Century ,after he hath
treated of the Ifomaelites and Madainites, (the latter
of which came from one of Keturah's Children) and
the Parts of Arabia where Mahomet was born :, im-
mediately adds, that there were other People, oUSin-
Zji9 more in the Bowels of Arabia, defcended from
Jeff an, called Amanita, that is Homerit£. Perhaps it
lhould be written Jokshan^ not Jeff an: For Phila-
jlorgius exprefly fays of the Homerites, 'E^i 3 ™ *$~
v&, 7$f dot XctW^s, &c. That they are one of the
Nations defcended from Keturah and Abraham, L. III.
Hilt.
upon GENESIS, 375
Hift. Ecclcf. § 4. where he relates a famous Embaffy Chapter
which Conftantius Cent to them, to win them to Chri- XXV.
ftianity, and the good fuecefs of it. And there is this L/'VXJ
ftrong proof of their defcent from fome of Abraham's
Family, that they retained the Kite of Circumcifion,
even when they were Idolaters. For he fays ex-
prefly, That it was a circumcifed Nation, tyrfci t- oy-
£&fa> TTt^t'lz/uLvOfM.Qcv yj/xi^v, and circumcifed alfo on the
eighth Day. Which was not the Cuftom of all the
Arabians, if we may believe Jofcplms, LA. Antiq.c.1%.
and Euftathius in Hexaemercn, Sec. who fay the Ara-
bians Itaid till they were thirteen Years old before they
were circumcifed.
MedanT] From whom the Country called Madia-
nia, in the Southern part of Arabia Foslix, it's likely,
had its Name.
Midian7\ From whom Midanitis, in Arabia ?<£-
ir&a, had its Denomination.
And lfobahf] I can find no Footfleps of his Pofte-
rity, unlefs it be in Bacafcami, which Pliny fays was
one of the Towns of the Zamareni-^ who delcended
from his eldeft Brother Zimran. There were a Peo-
ple alio hard by, called Bachilit or Aufitis, which lay upon the
Borders q$ Euphrates. See Bochart in his Phaleg. L.I V.
cap. 9.
And Dedan7\ There was one of this Name, fas I
faid before J the Son of Rhegma, Gen.X. 7. who gave
Name to a City upon the Perfian Sea, now called Da-
dan. But befides that, there was an Inland City
called Dedan in the Country of IduM
X. 22.
Ver. 4. And the Sons ofMidian, Ephah.'] The Name Verfe 4.
of Ephah, the eldeft Son ofMidian, continued a long
time 5 for thefe two are mentioned by Ifaiah as near
Neighbours, LX. 6. And not only Jofephus, Eufeb?-
us, and St. Hicrom, but the Nubienjian. Geographer
alfo, tells us of a City -called Madian in the Shoar of
the Red-Sea : Near to which was Ephah in the Pro-
vince of Madian. nsiy, Epha or Hipha is the fame
with that Place the Greeks call r'\irn(&, and Ptolo-
rny mentions both a Mountain and a Village of this
Name, on the fame Shoar, a little below Madiane
which is the Madian here mentioned, as Bochart ob-
ferves in his Hierozoic. P. I. L. 2. cap. 3.
And Epher ~] I can find no remainders of his Fa-
mily, unlefs it be among the Homerit£ before-men-
tioned, whofe Metropolis was called Txp/;/ her Children; though they were not
to htrir his Efrate. The Talmudifis indeed do not
perfectly agree in this matter: For though they all
agree (and prove it evidently) that they were real
Wives 5 yet fome fay they were made fo only by
Solemn Efpoufals, without aPny Marriage Settlement in
Writing, as the principal Wives had : Others think
they had a Writing alfo, but not with fuch Conditi-
ons as the principal Wives enjoyed. Abarbinel hath
an accurate Difcourfe about this, which Buxtorf hath
tranflated into his Book de Sponfalibus, n. 17. And
fee alfo Mr. Selden, I . V. de Jure N. & G. cap. 7.
p. 570, 8cc. and G. Sckicktrd, de Jure Regio, cap. 3.
p. 70.
Gave gifts."] Some Portion of his Money, or move-
able Goods: Or, perhaps, of both. Which, in all
probability, he gave to Ipjmael, as well as tothefeSons,
(though it be not mentioned Gen. XXI. 14.) becaufe
Mofes here faith, he gave Gifts to the Sons of hk
Concubines x, of which Hagar was one.
Into the Eafi Country!} Into Arabia and the adja-
cent Countries, as was faid before. For the Midia-
nites are called the Children of the Eaji in Judg. VI. 3,
33. VII. ix. VIII. 10.
Ver. 7. Thefe are the Days of the Tears of Abra- Verfe 7.
ham, &c] This is fpoken by anticipation, (to finifh
the Story of Abraham) for Ffau and Jacob were born
before he died : And were now fifteen Years old.
For Ifaac was but fixty Years old when they were
C c c 2 born.
-».8-o A COMMENT A RT
Chapter btorn» verfe 26. and feventy five when Abraham di-
XXV. ed : Who was an hundred Years old at Ifaac % birth,
n*^^^-/ and lived to the Age of one hundred feventy and five.
Verfe 8 Ver. 8. Abraham gave up \the ghoft.'] DiedofnoDif-
ea£e, but old Age.
In a good old Age7\ Without Pain, or Sicknefs.
- Full of Years. ~\ The Hebrew hath only the word
full. We add Tears to make up the Sence. Which
fome think rather to be this, That he wasfatisfied and
had enough of this World, defiring to live no lon-
ger. Like that Expreffion in Seneca, Epift. LXI. /^-
xi, Lucili ChariJJima, quantum fatis eft 5 mortem plenus
expeffo.
Gathered to hk People."] It doth not relate to his
Body, which was not buried with them 3 and there-
fore muft relate to his Soul, which is fuppofed by
this ftillto live in that place, where his pious Fore-
fathers were gone. Or elfe,.it is an Hebrew Idiotifm,
fignifying no more, but that he left this World as all
his Fathers had done before him*
Terfe 9, Ver. 9*. Hfs Sons, Ifaac and Iftmael, 8cc] By this it
appears that Ifaac and IJhmael were not (hangers one
to another. Nay, fome of the Orientals tell us, that
Abraham went to fee IJhmael at his Houfe, and that
IJhmael came to fee him after he was fent away :
Which is not at all improbable. For no doubt Abra-
ham provided for him fuitable to the Condition of
his Birth : And Ijljmael could not but be convinced
that the Inheritance of his Father belonged of right
to Ifaac, who was the Son of a Free- Woman, and he
only of a Bond- Woman. Nor could he weH be ig<-
norant that Ifaac, was to be Heir of Abraham's Eftate,
by God's Defignation.
In theFkld ofEpbron&c'] See XXIII. 17,
Veto
upon GENESIS 381
Ver. 11. IJddC divdt by the WAl Lahai roi7\ He Chapter
continued after Abraham'* death, his former Habita- XXV.
tion which he had when he married, XXIV. 62. w^-\z-s-*
Ver. 12. Now thefc are the Generations of 7/Z>- Verie II.
mael, Sec] Having mentioned^the Blefling of God Verie IX.
which went along with Ifaac, after his Feather's death
fin the foregoing Fcrfe) he takes this occasion to
fhow, that God was not unmindful of his Promite
made to Abraham concerning ljl?maclz\to, XVII. 20.
Ver. 13. Nebaioth."] As he was the firft-born ofVerfe 13.
Ifhmacl, lo his Pofterity gave the denomination to
the whole Country of Arabia Petr&a (in the beft
part of which, fee vcrfe 3. they inhabited) which
Pliny, Strabo, and Ptolomy call Kabatcea \ and fome-
times other Authors call Nabathis : As the Inhabitants
were called Nabat£i -, who are mentioned alio by £)/V
nyjius Periegetes in his Defcription of the World,
and by Plutarch in the Life of Demetrius x, who, he
faith, was fent to fubdue the Arabs called Nabatti,
(rb^ ^Aa/xiva; Na/3xWa$) where he was in great dan-
ger to perifh, by falling, &<; ihnxc, abv$pH$, into places
where there was no Water. Thefe are commonly
called in Scripture \fomaeliUs, as if they had been
the fole Heirs of their Progenitor.* And they dwelt
near to the Midianites, (their half Brethren) for in
the Story of Jofeph, he is faid in one place to be fold
unto the Ifimaelites, in another to the Midianites,
(Gen. XXXVII. 27, 28, 36.) they being Neighbours,
and Co-partners in Traffick. The Country oiMoab
alfo was near to thefe Nabat^i, as appears from Epi-
phanius, Hjref LOT. where fpeaking of the Coun-
tries that lay beyond the Dead-Sea he mentions this,
which he calls Na/Strn-t-i X»g^,the Region of Ncbaioth,
ltur£a, and Moabitk. S^tSalmafius^Plln. ExerciU p.6 1 5.
Kedar.-]
A COMMENTARY
Kedar."] His Pofterity called Kedareni were alfd
feated in Arabia Petraa, together with their elder
Brother. And their Name alio was fo famous, that
fome Authors call the whole Country Kedar. For
the Language of Kedar is the Arabian Language : And
when David complains that he had dwelt long in the
Tents of Kedar, the Chaldee expounds it, in the dwel-
ling of the Arabians. But thole Arabians called Sce-
nit£ were properly the People of Kedar. And yet
not all the Scenit£, (/. e. all the Arabs who dwelt in
Tents) but thofe only who dwelt in Arabia Petraa.
For there were divers kinds of them, fall called Sor-
w'3) fome near Euphrates, othersin Arabia Fcelix, &c.
as Salmafius (hows in his Plin Exercit. p. 484. Some
take them to be the fame with thofe whom Ptolomy
calls Pharanit£ : For what the Pfahnfi calls dwelling
among the Tents of Kedar, is called, 1 Sam. XXVL
I. dwelling in the V/ildernefs of Par an. Pliny only
fays Fharanitis bordered upon the Arabs, (in ora con-
ferwina gentk Arabia) and fo later Writers make
Pharan and Arabia Petr£a to be near Neighbours, as
the fame Salmapus (hows, p. 485.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Dutnah.'] He feems, by Ifaiah XXL *f.
to have been feated near Idunt£a.
Verfe 15. Ver. 15. Hadar.~] Some think the Athrit£ in Ara-
bia Fcelix came from him. In which likewife there
was a City called Tenta^ from the next Son of IJh-
ntaeh And Jetur the next Son to him, may well be
thought to have been the Father of the Itur£t in
C£lo*Syria. And Kedemah the laft of his Sons to
have dwelt near his Brother Kedar. Vox to jacobus
Capellus expounds thofe words, Jer. XLIX. 18. Go up
to Kedar, and fpoil the M$n of Kedem, ("which we
tranflate the Men of the Eajl.) And there are fome
other
upon GENESIS. 383
other People in thofe Countries, whofe Name found Chapter
fomething like the reft of the Sons of Ifimacl, but XXV.
not fo like as theie I have mentioned. Which makes ^x-v-^
me omit all further fearch after them, enough having
been faid to (how the truth of this Account which
Mofcs gives us of ljhmael\ Pofterity,
Ver. 16. Theft are their Names, by their Towns, T) Verfe 16*
Though fome of them dwelt in Tents f and thence
were called Scenitdt Arabes) yet they did not live
fo fcatteringly -y but pitched them together and made
a Town.
And their Caftles7\ They had even then Places of
Defence : Which may make it probable, that they
had alfo walled Towns, to which they reforted from
their Tents in the Fields, when they were in any
danger, Ifai. XLII. 11, For it muft be here noted,
That as there were divers People of this Name of Sce-
nit& Arabes $ fo there was this difference among
them fas Salmafius obferves in the fore-named placej
that fome of them were Nomades, who wandred
from place to place ,• others of them were not. Par-
ticularly the Sab
And fie went.'] The Struggling and Pangs, we muft
fuppofe, ceafed tor fome time : So that (he was able to
go and confultthe Divine Majefty, about this unuillal
Conteft.
To enquire of the LO R D."] There was fome Place
where the Divine Majefty ufed to appear, which was
the fetled Place of Worfbip. See IV. 3. Maimonides
will have it, that (he went to the School of Sew, or
Heber, who were Prophets, to defire them to confult
the Divine Majefty about her Cafe, MorcNevoch. P. II.
cap. 41. And it is very probable, that there was fome
divinely-infpired Perfon attending the SCHEC H I-
NA H wherefoever it was : Such as Melchizedel^ was
at Salem. Whom Patricides takes to have been the Per-
fon, to whomi?e£^/jreforted, for refolution of her
Doubt.
Ver. 23. And the LORD faid unto her.'] By Verfe 23,
Melchizede^ faith the fore-named Patricides : By an
Angel, faith Maimonides. Who tells us (in the place
now mentioned) their Matters are fo fettled in their
Opinion, that (he went to enquire of the fore-named
D d d 2 Pro-
3S8 A C0MMEN7A RY
Chapter Prophets, and that by the LO RD is meant his Ar>
XXV. gel j that they will have Heber to be him that
L/"Y^V) gave the anfwer, ( for Prophets, fay they, are fometimes
called Angels) or the Angel that (pake to Heber in this
Prophecy. But it is moft reafonable to think that the
Lo&D fpake to her by an Angel, from the SC HE-
CHIN AH
Two Nations are in thy W&mb."] The Heads of two
Nations.
Two manner of People foall be feparatedT] Greatly dif-
fering in their Difpofitions, Manners, courfe of Life,
and Country : Which will make them perpetually
difagree.
From thy Bowels."] Shall ifliie from thee.
The elder foall ferve the younger?] In his Posterity,
not in his own Perfon.
Verfe 24. Ver. 24. When her days to be delivered were fulfilled?]
This demonftrates, the time of her Delivery was not
come, when the ftrugling firft began.
Verfe 25. Ver. 25. Red all over .] Some will have it with
red Hair, not only on his Head, but all over his
Body.
Lik§ *n hairy Garment?] As rough as Hair- Cloth :
Juft as the Poets defcribe Satyrs. He was hirfutus 5 not
only hairy all over, but thofe Hairs as ftiff asBriftles 5
arguing greatftrength of Body : And a rough, fierce
Temper.
They called his Name Efau.] Which fignifying
made in Hebrew, that is commonly taken for the rea-
fon of his Name ^ that he was as full of Hairs when he
was born, as others are at Man's Eftate. But I think it
may as well denote his aftive Genius, which they
thought this prefaged,
Ver.
upon G F N E S I S. ^9
Ver. 26. Jacob."] He certainly had his Name, from Chapter
his taking his Brother by the Heel at his birth : As if XXV.
he would iupplant him$ as he afterwards did. y^r^'
Wm three/core Tears old.] God exercifed 7/^'sVerlc 26
Faith and Patience (juft as he had done Abrahams) for
the (pace of twenty Years, before he gave him a Child.
For he was forty Years old when he married (Verfe
20.J and now fixty.
Ver. 27. A cunning Hunter^] Had great Skill in Verfe 27,
Hunting, in which his aftive Genius delighted.
A Man of the Field.'] That took pleafure to be
abroad, purfuing wild Beafts, in Woods and Moun-
tains .* Where afterwards he had his Habitation.
A plain Man, dwelling in Tents ."] He loved not
violent Exercife, but kept at home 5 or lookt after
the Flocks of Sheep, and the Breed of Cartel.
Ver. 28. And Ifaac loved Efau, Sec] Not only Verfe zS.
becaufe he was his firft-born, and becaufe his love of
Hunting argued him to beaMan of great Activity and
Valour, who was likely to prove a great Perfon : But
becaufe he alfo took care frequently to entertain his
Father with Venifon, (which was of divers forts) and
afforded him fuch variety at his Table, as gave his Fa-
ther frequent occafion to commend him.
But Rebekah loved Jacob.'] Being a Man of a more
meek and quiet Temper, fuitable to her own Difpo-
fition j and more at home alfo with her5 than hfaa
was 5 and defigned by God to inherit the Promiie,
verfe 23. It is likely Ffan made great court fas we
fpeakj to his Father 5 and Jacob to his Mother :
Whereby they won their AfFe&ion.
Ver. 29. He was faint, .1 With too violent and long Verfe 29.
purfuit of his Sports.
Ver.
-gpo A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver.30. Feed nte, I pray thee, with that fame m/,&c]
XXV. It was made oiLentiles, as we learn from the laft Verfe
L/*V\J of this Chapter. And St. Auftin upon Pfalm XLVL
Verfe 30. faith they were Egyptian Lentiles ,• which were in great
efteem, and much commended by Athenaus, and A.
Gellius : And gave the Pottage, it is probable, a red
tin&ure. Some think Efau did not know what it was,
and therefore calls it only by its Colour ^ asking for
that red, that fame red, as it is in the Hebrew.
Therefore was hk Name called Edom.~] This repeated
eager delire of he knew not \*hat, for which he fold
his Birth-righc, gave him the Name of Edom : Which
fignifies red. Whence the City which he built, and
the whole Country his Pofterity inhabited, was cal-
led by the fame Name ^ and by the Greeks ldum£a }
bordering toward the South upon Juda?a, Arabia, and
Egypt.
"Verfe 31. Ver. 31. Sell me thk day thy Birth-right.~] Theeldefl;
Son had feveral Priviledges belonging to him above
s the reft : The chief of which was to have a double
Portion of his Father's Eftate. As for the right of
Priefthood, there are many reafbns to prove it did not
belong thereunto. But whatfoever they were, Jacob
cunningly made an Advantageof £/i//s Neceflity, to
purchafe them all for a fmall matter. In which fome
•think he did notamifs/ About which I (hall not dif-
ptite.
"Verfe 32. Ver. 32. What profit flal/ this Birth-right do to mef\
He fpeaks very (lightly, if not con tern ptuoufly of it :
Preferring the prefent Satisfaftion of his Appetite, be-
fore his future Dignity and Greatnefs. For fome are
of Opinion he pretended to be fainter than really he
was} out of a vehement longing for the Pottage 5
which, perhaps, was a rarity.
Ver.
upon G E N E S f SL I am with thee."] My fpecial Providence is over
thee 5 as was explained before, verfe 3.
Verfe 2 5. Ver. 25. Built an Altar there.] To offer Sacrifice
unto the L O K D.
Called upon the Name of the LO RD."] As Abraham
had done before him, in this very place, XXI. 33.
And pitched his Tent there."] Refolved to fettle in
this place.
Verfe 2(5. Ver. 26. Phicol.&Lc] The fame Name and the
fame Office that he had, who is mentioned XXI. 22.
but he was not the fame Man, no more than Abimelech
the fame King. It is probable this was a Name of
fome Dignity among them 5 like that of Tribunus or
Diftator among iht Romans .-Which palfed from one
to another.
Verfe 28. Ver, 28. Wefaw certainly the LORD -was with
thee^fkc] We have obferved fucha fpecial Provi-
dence over thee, that we come to eftablifh a perpe-
tual Friendfhip with thee, by a folemn Oath, if thou
wilt confent to our defire. They were afraid, it
feems, left being difobliged by their fending him out
of their Country, he (hould fall upon them one time
or other 3 being mightier than they, as they acknow-
ledged, verfe 18.
Verfe 29. Ver. 29. Havefent thee away in peace."] They re-
member him how they difmiffed him peaceably 3 and
did not go about to feize upon his Eftate, while he li-
ved among them : Which they make an Argument,
why he (hould contratt a nearer Friendlhip withfuch
Civil People.
Thou art now the bleffed of the LOR D.] This looks
like an high Complement, or flattering Expreflion.
Ver.
upon GENESIS 39^
Ver. 3c 1 them d Feafi) 8CC.*] So Covenants Ghaj
were made, by rating and drinking together. XXVI.
Ver. 32. Told him concerning the Well they hud di g - v-*~v~*^
gedj &cc] They had begun to Jig before Abi^/e/ech^^1^ 30.
and Pbrcol came.aer/e 55. -nd now they came at a^cr*e ?2,
Spring of Water.
Ver. 33. He called it Sheba.~] From the Oath which Verfe 33.
was lately made between him and Abimelcch. It had
been called fo before by Abraham, XXI. 31. but that
Name, perhaps, was forgotten, and fo he revived it,
as he had done others, verfe 18.
Ver. 34. The Daughter of Bceri the H'rttitcy ekef] Verfe 34,
Jofephus faith thefe two Men, Beer/ and Elon^ whofe
Daughters £/?*// married, were Dj/naf£, powerful
Men among the Hittites : Which is not improbable.
But his Father fure had given the fame Charge to
him5that Abraham had done concerning his own Mar-
riage, XXIV. 3. and then it was a very undutiful,
nay, an impious aftion, to marry with thofe People,
who were under the Curfe of God. The Scripture
might well call him prophane : Who feems not to
have regarded either the Curfe or the Bleffing of the
Almighty.
Ver. 35. A grief of mind."] His very marrying with Verfe 35.
them, forely afflifted his Father and Mother. Or, as
others interpret it, their Idolatry and bad Manners
extreamly grieved them.
CHAPc
4oo i COMMENTARY.
Chapter
XXVII. —
U*VNJ
CHAR XXVII.
Jen Jfaac was old] /
andfevenXzzxs old, as many have de-
Verfe i. Ver. i.Y X T Hen Jfaac was old] An hundred thirty
monftrated.
He J aid unto him \ My Son, &c] It appears by this
and what follows, that though Efan had difpleafed
him by his Marriage ; yet he retained his' natural Af-
fe&ionto him, which he had from the beginning*
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. Thy Quiver."] Some take the Hebrew word
to fignifie a Sword : Which was as neceflary for a
Huntfman, as a Bow and Arrows.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Make me favory meat^ &cf] To raife his
feeble Spirits, and enable him to deliver his laft and
folemn Benedi&ion, with the more vigour.
My Soul may blefs thee before I die/] It feetns Jfaac
didiiot underftand the Divine Oracle, XXV. 55. as
jRe£e4*&did} Or, (he had not acquainted him with
it. For he intended to beftow upon Efau the pro-
mifed Land } which was that God told Abraham he
would Wefshis Pofterity withal. Foi: the laft Bene-
diction of thefe great Men, was the fettling of their
Inheritance $ and making thofe their Heirs upon
whom they beftowed their Blefling. Now the
Birth-right which Efau had fold Jacob gave him
right only to thegreateft part of Jfaac $ Eftate .• But
not to the Land of Canaan, which was to be difpofed
of by Jfaac, according to Divine Dire&ion.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. And blefs thee before the LOR D.~] Thefe
words (how it was not a common Blefling, but a fo-
lemn
upon GENESIS. 401
lernn Benediftion, and by Divine Authority or Ap- Chapter
probation, which Ifaac meant to give his Son Efau. XXVil.
Ver. 8. Obey my Voice, 8cc] Rcbefab having juft v^v~v«*
reafon to conclude, that Ffau had forfeited the Blef-^rfc 8.
iing, which Ihe was defirous toprefervein her Fa-
mily, by marrying with the People of Canaan, who
were curfed by God ^ thought of this Device to get
Jacob preferred before him. And indeed, it cannot
be denied, that it was a prophane thing (as I noted
before) to marry with a Daughter of Heth. And
he feems afterwards to have had no good Defign in
marrying with a Daughter of Ijhmael, (XXVIII. y.)
for it looks as if he went about to fet up the Pretenti-
ons of that Family, againft Ifaac's.
Ver. 9. Two good Kids of the Goats7\ Two fat Verfe 0.
fucking Kids, as Abtn Ezra expounds this Phrafe, Kid
of the Goats, fupon Exod. XXIII. 19.) which in old
time were accounted very delicious Meat: A Prefent
fit for a King, 1 Saw. XVI. ao. and which Manoah
prepared for the Angel, whom he took for a Noble
Gueft, Judg. XIII. 15. And f which is moft proper
to be here confidered) allowed to decayed and weak
People, as an excellent Nourilhment.
Both thefe Kids were not prepared for Ifaac : But
(betook the moft tender and delicate parts of both>
and drefled them for him.
And I will make them favory Meat."] Drefs it fo,
as to pleafe his Palate ^and not to be diftinguilhed by
him for Venifon. For, we know, the natural tafte
of things may be quite altered, by various forts of
Seafonings, as we call them : And ordered in fuch
manner, that Bochartns fays, he knew skilful Hunts-
men take a Pafty made of Beef, for Venifon.
Fff Ver.
402 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. ir. An hairy Man.] In the Hebrew, ifchSair,
XXVII. a rough Man, hairy like a Goat. For the fame word
yy^ ft?*1 |gP$Ss a Goat, Gen. XXXVII. 31. Lez;. IX. 15.
e!le If'and other places.
Verfc 12 Ver. ix. A deceiver?] One that cheats his Father 5
impofing on his Age, and on his Blindnefs : Which,
he wifely confiders, would have been an high Pro-
vocation if it had been difcovered.
Verfe 13. Ver. 13. rOpon me be thyCurfe.] i.e. There is no
„ danger: I will warrant the fuccefs.
Verie 15. Ver. 15. Took goodly Raiment, &c] His beft
Clothes 5 which moil fuppoie were laid up in a Cheft,
among odoriferous Flowers, or other Perfumes *
Both to preferve them from Moths, and to comfort
the Brain when they were worn : For their Sftiel] is
inentioned^er/e 27. ft is a ground lefs Fanfie of the
Jews, that thefe were Sacerdotal Garments, fand the
very fame that Adam wore, which descended to
Noah, 8cc.) for. as there was no Sacrifice flow to be
made, fo the Primogeniture did not make him a
Prieft, more than Jacobs as was noted before. One
may rather fay, thefe were Garments belonging to
him, as Heir of the Family: Between whom and
the other Sons, it's very probable the Affection of
Parents was wont to make fome difference in their Ap-
parel.
V;. fe [ J. ~ Ver. 16. Put the Spinoff he Kids of the Goats?] It
isobferved by Bochartus^ That in the Eafiem Coun-
tries, Goats-Hair was very like to that of Men, P.I.
Hicrozoke L. 2. c. 5U So that Ifaac might eafily be
deceived, when his Eyes were dim, and his Feeling
no lefs decayed than his Sight.
Verfe 18* Ver- 18. Who art thou, my Son ?~] Hefufpe&ed him5
from his Voice, and returning fofoon from Hunting.
Ver.
up™ GENESIS. 405
Ver. 19. I amEfau thy firjh born, &c] Here are Chapter
many Untruths told by Jacob, beiides this, (lor his XXVII.
Father did not bid him go, get him iome Veniion, L/"V*XJ
nor did God bring this Meat to him, which he had^crfe \$*
prepared, dv.) which cannot be wholly excufed :
But it muft be confefled, he and his Mother were
poiTeffed with a falfe Opinion, That they might de-
ceiveTjjWjfor the good of his Family.
Ar'/fe, I fray thee, and Jit and eat, Sccf) He was
lying upon his Bed, one would guefs by this, being
aged and infirm .• And he irureats him to arite up
himfelf, and jit : Forfo they did in thofe Days fas
vvedonowO at their Meals. This appears after-
wards, when Jofeptis Brethlen/Jtl down t^ ear ;
XXXVIT. 25. and fat v\hen they e?.t with J
Egypt,XLlll. 33 And fo Vonnr n:akes all
ro's lit at their Feafts, as Athenwis obien
Cufh.m continued among the Mac^l
days of Alexander^ as Bochartus obferve* ii
rozozc.P. I. L. II. c. 50.
Ver. 21. Come near, 8cc] Ifaac ftill fufpedu
this long difcourfe with him, wherein he ofavfarvell
his Voice, that it wasnot Efm. And the Hebrews^
in Berefcbith Rabba fay, that he fell into a great fweat,
and his Heart melted in him like Wax, while he talked
with him .• So thai an Angel came to fupport him,
from falling down.
Ver. 23. So he i wj?\ After he had onceVerfe 23,
more askt him whevjtr h* was his very Son Efau,
which Jacob affirmed, verfi 24. who was punifhed
for this Deceit, when he was cheated himfelf by La-
ban, in the bufin^fs of his Wives, as well as in other
things : And ("as the Hebrews obferve) he that de-
ceived his Father by the Skins of the Kids of Goafs,
F f f 2 was
4o4 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter was deceived himfelf into a falfe opinion that JofepB
XXVII. was killed 5 by his Brethren dipping his Coat in the
UV\j Blood of a Rid of the Goats, Gen. XXXVII. 31.
Verfe 26. Ver. 26. Come now and kjfs me.~\ Some think he
had adefire to be fatisfied that way, whether he was
Efau or not. But I take it rather, to be a Token of
his great Love and AfFeftion, wherewith he beftowed
his Bleffingupon him.
Verfe 27* Ver. 27. He fmelled the Smell of his Raiment!] As
he embraced him, he perceived the Fragrancy of his
Garments.- Which he could not before, while he
flood remote 5 his Senfes being weak and dull. The
Jews who fanfie thefe to have been the Garments
wherein Adam minifired 5 imagine alfo that they re-
tained the fcent which they had Vn Paradife. So Be-
refchith Rabba, and R. Sol. Jarchi, as Braynins ob-
fcrves, L.l.de Veftib. Hebr. Sacerd. c. 4.
See thefmellofmy Son."] The apprehenfion of one
Senfe, is, in this Language, often ufed for the appre-
henfion of another, fas Maimonides fpeaks, P. I. More
Nevoch. cap. 46.) as, fee the Word of the LOR D, jfer.
II. gr.i. e» Hear his Word. And fo in this place, Seethe
finellis as much, as Smell the Odour of my Son, &c. But
it may fimply fignifie, Behold, or obferve 5 no Field that
God hath adorned with the great efi variety of the mofi
fragrant Flowers, fmells fweeter than my Son.
Verfe 18. Ver. 28. Therefore God give thee, &c.} I take it for
a fign that God will give thee, (for fo it may betfan-
dated, as a Prophecy, as well as a Prayer) the grea-
teft abundance .- Which proceeds from a rich Soil,
well- watered from Heaven, Thefe two are the Cau-
fes of Plenty*
upon GENESIS. 405-
The Dew of HeavenT] Rain fell only at certain Chapter
Seafons, in that Country .- But there was a recom- XXVIF,
pence for it by large Dews $ which very much re- t^-VSJ
frefhed the Earth j and are reprefented in Scripture
as a Divine Gift, Job XXXVIIL 28. Micah V. 7.
which God threatens fometimes to withhold, becaufe
of Mens Offences, 1 Kings XVII. 1.
Ver. 29. Let People Jerve thee, &c.~] As the former Verfe 29,
part of the Bleffing relates to Wealth : So this, to
Dominionand Empire: Which was iignally fulfil-
led in the days of David, when the Moabites, Ammo-
nites, Syrians, Philijlines, and Edomiier alio were
fubdued under him.
Let thy Mother s Sons how down to thec^] This is a
third part of the Bleffing, giving him a Prerogative
in his own Family : And in the next words he pro-
nounces a Bleffing upon all that fhould be Friends to
him 3 as on the contrary, a Gurfe upon his Enemies.
Ver. 33. Ifaac trembled very exceedingly^] What the Verfe 33.
Hebrews fay upon verfe 21. (fee there) had been more
proper here .• That his Heart melted 5 and he was rea-
dy to fwoon away.
Who?~] A broken form of Speech.
Tea, and he fljall be blejfedr] He had blefled him
fo ferioufly, and with fuch Affeftion, and (it is like-
ly) extraordinary Confidence in Gods Approbation,
that he would not revoke it. For he felt, as 1 take it,
the Spirit of Prophecy upon him, when he pronoun-
ced this Bleffing : And it inlightned him to under-
ftandthe Oracle formerly delivered, XXV. 23.
Ver. 35. Taken away thy Bleftng.] Which I intend- Verfe 35*
ed to have beftowed on thee ^ looking upon it s
thine, by the right of being my Fir ft- born.
Ver,
4o6 A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 37. All his Brethren.] His Kindred.
XXVII. What fo all I now do unto thee, my Son f\ Having
U^W I given Jacob fo much 5 it was but a fmall matter he
Verle 37. could do for him.
Verfe 39. Ver. 39. Behold, thy dwelling fhall he thefatnefs, &c]
Some have tranflated it, Thy dwelling fhali be without
the fatnefs of the Earth, and the Dew from above: But
by thy Sword (halt thou live, &c. i. e. He prophefies
that he (hould inhabit a poor Country/ But maintain
himfelf plentifully by his Sword. For, otherwife
C they think) hisBleffing would be the fame with J a-
cob's, verfe 28. But if we retain our Tranflation, there
is a manifeft difference between this and jf^i'sBene-
di&ion. For here he makes no mention of plenty of
Corn and Wine $ and gives him no fuch Dominion as
he did to Jacob, (the Jews obferve other differences )
and whatfoever/dtee/} was in the Soil of his Coun-
try, it did not laft, as appears by Mai I. 3.
Verfe 40. Ver. 40. By thy Sword fialt thou live.] Live upon
Spoil. Or, as others interpret it, be in perpetual War
to defend thy Country.-
Andfljaltfervvthy Brother."] Here Ifaac fpeaks out,
the very words of the Oracle mentioned before,
XXV. 23. which was fulfilled in the days of David,
2 Sam, VIII. 14. and 1 Chron.XVlll 13. (the Cir-
cumftances of which Conqueft are more fully de-
fcribed, 1 KingsXl. 15. &c] And again, after they
had recovered fome ftrength, Amaz7ah made great
flaughters among them, 2 Kings XIV. 7. As theM^-
cabees did afterwards, 1 Mace. V. 65. and at laft were
utterly difabled by Hircanns, the Son of Simon Mac*
cabeus, as we read in Jofephus9L. XIIL Antique. 17.
When
upon GENESIS. 407
. he Domhtion.j St. Ulerom and ChapJ
the L\X l tmderftahd this of their having any \\V!I,
Ddfthrnkm dvcT the Seed of ^crai, (which we never l/*W>
gaining Power to Blake
•-cVion to rh en, as it follows in the next words.
Tfjoxfhatt break bis To%e from off thy Neckf] Which
they did in the days of Joram% as we read, 2 Kings
VII ! -: lihron.XXL 8, &c.
^ r. 41. Apd Efau f aid in b'u Heart.'] Defigned and Verft 41.
lved within himfelf .• And, as it (hould feem, w
fd hill of it, that he could not contain his Purpofe
within his own Breaft, but in his Anger blurted it
tut ,u f< me Body 5 who told it to Rebefyih.
I t of Mourning for my tat her 0 &C.~] He will
die fhortly, (in which he was deceived, for he lived
three and forty Years after this) and then I will be re-
venged. He had fome regard to his Father dill re-
maining (whom he would not grieve J but no con-
federation of his Mother, who had helpt Jacob to
fupplant him.
Ver. 44. Tarry with him a few days7\ A Year orVerfe 44.
two. But herein (he alio was miftaken : For he did
not return in tmhfy Years rime.
Vntiltby Brother's Fnry.~] Time, in which various
things happen, very much allays Fury and Rage.
Ver. 45. And he forget, Beef] The memory of it be Verfe 45,
much worn out, and grown weak.
Why foould I he deprived of you both in cne day .]
She had reafon to think, that if Efau killed Jacob, and
thePublick Jufticedid nut punifhit (according to the
Precept, IX. 6. which had fetled Courts of judica-
ture) God himfeTf would profecute Efau with his
Vengeance, as he did Cain.
Ver.
4o8 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 46. I am weary of my life.becaufeoftheDaugh-
XXVIII. ters ofHeth.'] The two Wives of Efaub who were
Zf^tT^C Hittites, were fuch a continual Vexation to her 5 that
■■Verfe 4^° (he wifht rather to die, than to live among them.
If Jacob take a Wife, &c] She pretends only this
reafon for fending Jacob among her Kindred ^ and
fays not a word of the danger his Life was in : For
(he would not affiift her Husband 5 but only pre-
serve her Son.
What good fli all my life do me f] I had rather die
than live in fuch perpetual Vexation : Therefore let
him go and take a Wife, as Abraham did for thee, of
our Kindred.
C HAP. XXVIII.
Verfe 1. Ver. l. AN D Ifaac called Jacob.'] Sent for him to
±\ come to him.
And bleffed him.] Renewed and confirmed the Blef-
fing he had already given him : That it might not be
thought to be of lefs force, becaufe procured by Arti-
fice and Subtilty, XXVII. 35.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. To Padan-Aram] See XXV. 20.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And God Almighty blefs thee, &c] This is
the folemn Bleffing mentioned Verfe 1. wherein he
ratifies what he had done .- And more fully and di-
ftin&ly fettles the Land of Promife upon him 3 and
makes him the Father of the promifed Seed.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. Give thee the Bleffing of Abraham.] The
Bleffing of Abraham was, that he (hould inherit the
Land of Canaan ^ and that in his Seed all the Nations
of
upon GENESIS. 4 op
of the Earth (hould be blefled, Gen. XV. 18. XXII. Chapter
18: Both which he now confirms to Jacob. XX VII 1".
Ver. 5. And Ifaac fent axe ay Jacob.'] In fome hafle,<^V"*vj
as the LXX. tranlhte verfe x. Arffey flee, i.e. de-Vene 5.
pari without any delay. Which looks as if Rebe-
k-ih had at hit, luggefted fomething to him of the
Danger he was in.
And he went to Padan- A>\v;;.~) Prepared himfelf
to go, and let forward. Or, elfe it is fpoken by an-
ticipation 5 for he did not come thither till after fe-
vera! Pafiages 5 which are related in this and in the
next Chapter.
Son ofBethuel the Syrian.'] See XXV. 20.
Jacob's and Efaus Mother.] Now Jacob is put firft j
as being lately declared Ifaacs Heir, and Heir of all
(he Promifes.
Ver. 9. Then went Efau unto Ifowael, &c] To the Verfe
Family oilfhmael^ for he himfelf died fourteen Years
ago. And therefore Nebaioth (his eldeft Son, XXV.
1 j.) is here mentioned, as the prefent Head of the
Family: Whofe Sifter Efau married. Whereby he
fhowed himfelf not to have any great regard to the
Divine Revelation: Otherwife he could not but have
known, that this Family, being defcended from a
Bond- Woman, was not to inherit the Promifes made
to Abraham and Ifaac.
Ver. 10. Jacob went out from Beer- J/:eba,&LC.'] Quite Verfe 10.
alone, without any Servants to attend him, and with-
out anyPrefents to court a Wife, or gain the Kind-
nefs of Lab an : Neither of which were wanting,
when Abraham fent F liefer to take a Wife for Ifaac.
But as he was fent away in hafte, fas I noted before,
V€rfe 5 -) fo hereby the Anger of Efau was mitiga-
ted, who at prefent was left the fole Pofleflbr of
G g g alt
4?o A COMMENTARY
Chapter all Ifuics Riches, and faw Jacob depart in a poor Con*
XXV11I. dition. This alio was an aft of Divine Faith, that
c/^n/^V) God would take a lingular Care of him, and let
him want nothing. And as they could not but hope
that Laban, being fo near a Relation, would be glad
to fee him and entertain him: So it is probable he
might carry Letters of Credence with him, that
he was to be Heir to Ifaac j as Elkfer allured them
Ifaac was to be to Abraham, XXIV. 36. We are to ■
fuppofe likewife, that he was not fent without Mo-
ney to bear his Charges^ fas we fpeakj and had
fome Provifion with him: For we read of 0/7, verfe
18. which he poured on the. top of the Pillar.
Verfe IT. Ver. 11. And he lighted upon a certain place, Sec.]]
A convenient place ("(haded with lovely Trees,- fee
verfe 19.J to lodge in : Unto which he did not go
by defign $, buthapned (as wefpeak) upon it, when
he did not think of it.
And he took, of the Stones of that placed] One Stone,
from among many others that were there: As ap-i
pears from verfe 18. The fame form of Speech was
obferved before, XIX. 29; XXI. 7.
¥erfe 12* Ver.n. And he dreamed."] He had the following
Reprefentation made to him in a Dream.
Beholdy a Ladder, 8cc] It is judicioufly obferved
by Matmomdes in his Preface to More Nevochim.,
that there are two forts of Prophetick Parables (as he
calls them,) in one of which, every word hath fome
peculiar fignification : In the other, the whole Para-
ble reprefents the thing intended, but every word
hath not its weight * fome ferving only for Elegance.
Among the firft fort he reckons this/ In which the
Ladder may be thought to reprefent the Divine Pro-
vidence, which governs all things 3 and particularly
now
upon G E N E S I S. 4 n
row direfted Jacob in his Journey, every (Up ofChapt.r
which v.ms under God's Guidance. It [?eing fet «/>*XXVIIL
>/ / //j denoted, he thinks, the ftedfaftnefs ok \^V\J
Providence, which nothing is able to (hake. And
the top of it reaching to Heaven lignifies, that it ex-
tends it felf all the World over ^ to every thing,
great or fmall, high or low: And the feveral/?e/>/
in the Ladder, the Motions and Aftions of Divine
Providence. The Angels which went up and down,
fignifies that they are the great Mini Hers of God's
Providence, by whom he manages all things here be-
low: And that they are never idle, but always in
motion to ferve thofe efpecially who ferve God faith-
fully. Their ajcendlng represents their going to re-
ceive the Divine Orders and Commands 3 and their
defending, the execution of his Orders. Or, (with
a peculiar refpeft to Jacob's prefent Condition) the
one fignified, their fafe Conduft of him in his Jour-
ney to Parian-Aram^ and the other, their bringing
him fafe home again.
This is infinitely more folid, than the Conceit ol
almoft all the ancient Rabbins, that God reprefented
in this Ladder, the rife, and t\\tfall of the four great
Monarchies. For where is there any mention in this
Dream of four Angels ? Or, of feventy Steps repre-
fenting the feventy Years Captivity in Babylon ? Or,
of two and fifty Steps reprefenting the time of the
Reign of the four Kings of Perfia and Media, accord-
ing to their computation? Sec. All this is the pure
invention of idle Men, who dream upon the Holy
Scriptures.
Ver. 13. And behold the LORD pod above #.] Verfe 13
Finally, he fiw the Divine Majejiy or Glory, (To fhe
Targum here expounds it) as the immovable Mover
G g g 2 of
4ia A COMMENTARY
Chapter of all things. From whom all comes as the firft
XXVIII. Caufe, and to whom all returns, as the lad End.
L/V*\J lam the LORD God, &c] This is- the firft time
that we read of God's appearing to Jacob : And it
was only in a Dream. But it made fuch a deep im~
predion upon him, that he doubted not of theTruth
of what was now exprefly promifed him by God:
himfelf ^ that he (hould have the Ueffing of 'Abraham ,
as his Father had told him* verfe 4,
Verfe 15. Ver. 15. Behold I am with thee.} Or, will be with,
thee, 7. e. My peculiar Providence (hall be over thee,
and take Gare of thy fafety, zsMaimonides well ex-
pounds it 5 in his MoreNevoch.P. III. cap. 18.
I will' not leave thee, SccJ] This (hows the intent
of the Dream was to comfort Jacob, in his folitary
and poor Condition, by an aflurance that God's
watchful Providence (hould attend him, till he had
accomplifhed all his Promifesto him.
Verfe 16. Ver. 16. Surely The LORD is in this place."} By
his fpecial extraordinary Prefence : For. here he had
manifefted himfelf to him, and given him lingular
Aflfurances of his Favour^ and that the very firft
Night, after he went from home: Which made this
place more acceptable to him than his Father's Houfe.
For now he was become a Prophet, a-s Maimonides
obferves5 More Nevoch. P. II. cap. 45. where he fays,
That they who Prophecy in a Dream do not call it
a Dream after Prophecy, is come to them in a Dream,
but (imply fay, it was a Prophecy. Thus the Patri-
arch Jacob, after he awakned out of his Prophetick
Dream, (wherein he heard the LORD fpeak to him,
verfe 1 3, 14.) he doth not call it a Dream, but round-
ly fays, Surely the LORD is in this place> Sec.
And
upon GENESIS. 413
And I {new H not."\ I did not expefl: to meet with Chapter
fuch a Divine appearance and Revelation to me. XXVIII.
Ver. 17. And he wa$ afraid.] PofTelfed with a Re- WV~\J
ligious, Awful Apprehension of God. Which made Ver*e J7*
him fay,
How dreadful is this place?] With what Reverence
ought I here to behave my felf ?
This is none other but the Hoitfe of God."] The Di-
vine Majefiy dwells here : This is not a common
Place, but a Sacred 3 having a Divine Prefence in
it.
And this is the Gate of Heaven."] Here God keeps
his Court attended by his Holy Angels: Whom he
had feen come from Heaven hither, and go up from
hence thither. So Mr.Mede explains it, Book.ll. p.
436. The Prefence of God in one Place more than
another, confifts in his Train or Retinue. A King is
there, where his Court is : And fo God is there )/>e-
ciallj prcfent, where the Angels keep their Station.
Which is the meaning of the Gate of Heaven^ i. e.
Heaven's Court / For the Gate was wont to be the
Judgment-Hall, and the Place where Kings and Se-
nators ufed to fit, attended by their Guards and Mi-
nifters.
Ver. 1 8. Took the Stone andfet it up for a Pillar."] Up- Verfe 1 8.
on the top of fome other Stones, which he heaped
up together : That it might remain as a Monument
of the Divine Mercy to him } and preferve the Me-
mory of this Heavenly Vifion : And that by this
Token he might know this Place, when God brought
him back again, and commemorate his Goodnefs to
him here.
This Stone was held in great Veneration by the
Jews in future times, and tranflated to Jerufalem.
After.
4i4 A CO MM EN TART
Chapter After the deftruttion of which by Titus, they were
XXVIII. wont (fupon that Day when it was taken, which
e/"V%J was the only Day they were permitted to come thi-
ther) with great Lamentation and rending their
Garments, to go and anoint this Stone. Such is the
Power of fond Superftition. See Vqfftus, de Idolol.
Lib. VI. cap. 38.
Poured Oil on the top of it.~] Not in honour of
this Stone, (as Bonfrenus himfelf confefles) much
lefs of any Idol to which it was dedicated : But to
confecrate it as a Monument of God's great Mercy
to him, in the before-mentioned Celeftial Vifion.
Oil, it appears by this, was anciently ufed, in confe-
crating things, before the Law of Mofes .• And not on-
ly in this Family, but in others alfo it is probable ^ from
whence the Pagan Cuftom came of anointing Stones,
which by Theophraftus are called Ai7nt%o) AiSgi, upon
which Superftitious People were wont when they
met with them in the High-ways, to pour Oil and
fall down and worftiip. A great many Authors men-
tion them, which are collected by Elmenkorfiius \n
his Obfervations upon Arnohius, p. 37. They that
would be fatisfied how wretchedly fome of the Ro-
mjh Writers plead for the vporfhip of Images from this
very place, may read Dr. Jackson $ Treacife of the
Original of Unbelief, Chap. XXXV. where he excel-
lently explains this aftion of Jacob, n. 5, 6, 7.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. And he called the Name of that place Be*
thel~\ From this word Bethel, came the word ]ty-
"n>Ais (as Scaliger in his Animadv. upon Eufeb. p. 198.
and others think) among the Heathen ; Whereby
they denoted rude Stones, which they worfhipped
either as Symbols of Divinity, or as true Gods, ani-
mated by fome heavenly Power. Of which worlhip
fee
upon GENESIS. 41$
fee Photins in his BM'wthecA, CCXLII. Bat eiped- Chapter
ally Bihhdrtus, L. W.Cand.ui, cap* 1. where he (hows XXVIII,
the Phoenicians (at foftft as the jfearir think) firft vroo U^/~NJ
(hipped this very Stone which jf/zr^ anointed :
And afterward confecrated others, which they called
Bstylij, and Batyli, in memory of this Stone anoin-
ted at Bethel. See p. 785, 786. Certain it is, this
Idolatrous Praftice came very early into the World :
Which made Mofes forbid the ere&ing of fuch Pil-
lars, they being in his time converted to a prophane
ufe, Lev. XXVI. 1. Detf.XII.3. XVI. 22.
But the Name of that City.'] Which was near to
the place, where this Pillar was fet up.
Was Lhz at the firft."] So called, perhaps, from the
many Almond-trees which grew there, (for Luz,
fignihes an Almond, fee XXX. 37.) among which it
is probable Jacob took up his lodging, becaufe they
were a kind of Covering to him. Both this Luz in
the Tribe of Benjamin, and the other among the
Hittites in the Tribe otEphraim, Jttdg. I- x6. Bochart
doubts not had there Name from this Original, L. I.
Canaan, cap. 35.
Ver. 20. Jacob vowed aVowT] This is the firft Vow Verfe 20.
that we read of in Scripture : Which all Men allow
is a part of Religion, and fo was acknowledged by
the Law of Mofes, Dent. XXIII. 21. Pfdm L. 12.
Pfdm LXV. x, &c.
Perhaps Jacob was the firft, that in this manner ex-
preffed his devout Afteftion towards God.
If God rcill be with me, Sec] Perform his Promife
to me, verfe 15.
Give me Bread to eat, &c."] Support and maintain
me ; which is the explication of the Promife.
Ver,
4i6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 21. Then fhall the LORD be my God.'] T
XX VIII. will moft Keligioully worfhip and ferve him. Which
iV"V"%J doth not imply, that he would not worfhip him, if
Verfe 2i.he j^ not bring him home in Peace : But that, if
he did, he would perform fome fpecial Service to
him, and worfhip him with extraordinary Devotion :
Confecrating (as it follows)' this Place to his Ho-
nour 5 offering him Sacrifice, and giving him the
Tenths of all he had, to maintain his worfhip.
Verfe 2 2. Ver. 22. And thk Stone, which I have fet for a Pil-
lar.'] All Pillars were not unlawful, but fuch only
as were for Idolatrous ufes : As Maimonides re-
folves, L.de Idol. cap. VI. § 8. And therefore the
Jews fo expound thofe words, before mentioned,
ThoHJlmlt not fet thee up any Statue or Pillar, which
the LORD thy God hateth, Deul. XVI. 22. con-
cerning Pillars fet up for worpjip, not of thofe for
memorial.
Shall he God's Houfe.] Here will I fet apart
a Place for God's Solemn Worfhip and Ser-
vice: Build an Altar, and offer Sacrifice, &c. See
XXXV. 5.
Give the tenth unto thee.'] Av&rtw rffi Ttwropicr-
fdcvw, faith Jofephus, the Tithe of all his In-come 5
for the maintenance of Burnt-Sacrifices, and fuch like
pious Ufes 5 and, perhaps, for the relief of the Poor.
As for the Priefts we do not yet read of any Tithe
given to them: Though Mr. Selden (in his Hifioryof
Tithes, p. 4, &c. and Review, p. 451.) thinks they
were paid to Ifaac, who was then Prieft of the Fa-
mily. And fo Bifhop Montacute in his Book againft
him, p. 199. who obfervesthat we read only of Abra-
ham and Jacob paying Tithe, not of Ifaac $ Becaufe
Ifaac was a more fpecial Type of Chrift than either
of
upon GENESIS 417
of thefe. And Abraham and Jacob were Types of Chapter
thofe two People who were to have part in the true XX VIII.
Ifaac \ for Abraham was Father of all the Faithful ^^/*V^vJ
and Jacob was the Type of the Synagogue 5 as St. Am-
brofe handles thefe Matters in the Life of Abraham. Yet
the fame BifhopconfefTes, That many doubt whether
Jacob paid the Tenth of all to Ifaac, or immediately
to God : Becaufe Jacob alfo was a Prieft himfelf. See
p. 205, Sec.
This, I think, we may certainly conclude from chis
place, That Jacob, the Grand-child of Abraham,
vowing the Tenth of all, as Abraham had given the
Tenth of the Spoil, he was induced to it, by the Cu-
ftom, which was then among Religious People. How
they came to pitch upon this Portion, rather than a
Fifth, Sixth, or any other, is not fo eafie to be refol-
ved. But they feem to fpeak with much reafon,
who obferve that in this Number Ten, all Nations in
a manner end their Account (Ariftotle in his Pro-
blems, § XV. L.lll.) and then begin again with com-
pound Numbers. Or, as other phrafe it, This is the
end of lefs Numbers, and the beginning of greater.
So that it was lookt upon as the moft perfeft of all
orher 5 and accordingly had in great regard. But,
after all, it feems moft likely to me, that they had fome
Divine Direction for it, as they had for Sacrificing.
And it may be further noted, That what they gave
to their Kings was the Tenth Part, as well as what
they gave to God. And nothing more common a-
mongthe Gentiles chan Tenths paid to their Kings ;
an J that very anciently, for it appears from 1 Sam,
VIII, 14, 15, 17. that it was pare of the Jits Regi-
um among the Rafter n People. Anftotk himfelf men-
tions it under the Name of riaAzjc; »d/«@l, an anci-
H h h en:
418 A COMMENTARY
Chapter ent Law in Babylon : And it was alfo ufed in Athens,
XXIX. which was a Commonwealth, as Dr. Spencer (hows
L/"V"V; in his Learned Work, de Leg. Hebr. Ritual L. III.
cap. 10. § i. And Bifhop Mount ague (hows they were
paid among the Romans, p. 248, &c.
CHAP. XXIX.
Verfe 1. Ver. 1. \ND Jacob went on his Joumej."} Becaufe
ii the Hebrew Phrafe, for went on, is lift up
his feet $ fome will have ic that he proceeded moft
cheerfully in his Journey, after this Glorious Vifion.
Which we may believe to be true, though not figni-
fied by this manner of fpeaking.
To the People of the Eaft.'] To Mefopotamia, which
lay Eajlward from Canaan.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. A great Stone upon the Wells Mouth.'] To
keep the Water clean and cool.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5. Laban the Son of Nahor."] Grandfon of
Nahor: Who is mentioned rather than Bethuel$ be-
caufe he was the Head of the Family. .
Verfe 6, Ver. 6. Rachel his Daughter.] Her Name in He-
brew fignifies a Sheep,. For it was anciently the man-
ner to give Names, even unto Families, from Cattle
both great and fmall. So Varro tells us, Lib. II. de Re
Rujiica^ c. 1.
Multa nomina habemus ab utroque pecore, &C. a mi-
nore PORCIVS, OVILWS, CAPRILI-
VSb a majore, E§JJ1TIVS\ TAVRVS,
&c. See Bochart, P. I. Hierozoic. Lib. II, cap. 43.
Ver,
upon G E N E S I S 419
Ver. 7. // is yet high day, Sec] A great (Ual ofChapr.r
the Afternoan yet remains. It was the Ciiftoni of XXIX.
thole tLiftern Coutuues, where the: Sun ha J ^rtatu/^WJ
power in Summ'elf time, to bring their Flocks towards Veri
Noon into (hady places, where there was Water to
refreih thera : Othe.rwifc the extream Heat would
have killed chetn. There they refted (it appears by
many places of Scripture;, pdrueularly C^////V. I. 7O
till the Heat of the Day was Ov. J then having
watered them again, they canned them out to teed
till Sun fet.
Ver. 9. Forfi.)e!ieptthcm.~] It was a noble Employ- Verfe 9
tnent in thole Days to keep Sheep: Whence God
himfelf hath the Name of the Shepherd of ' Jfrucl. She
had thofe under her, we are zo fnppofe, who took
the greateft pains about them 5 but (he was the Chief
Shepherdefs, whoinfpetted themall.
Ver. 10. Went near, and rolled the Stone] HewasVerfe 10/
Wronger, or more dextrous at fuch things, than any
Body there: Or, the meaning is, he aflifted in this
Work 5 and, perhaps, was the firft that fet to his
Hand about it.
Ver. 11. Jacob kjffed Rachel.'] Having told her Verfe It.
who he was, and fatisfied her of the Truth of it,
then (after the Cuftom ufed among near Relati-
ons, at their firft meeting) he faluted her : And
that with more than ordinary Affe&ion, for he wept
for Joy to fee her. Laban in like manner kifled
him.
Ver. 12. Her Fathers Brother.'] So all near Rela- Verfe 12.
tions are called verfe 15.
Ver. 15. He told Laban all thefe things:] Which Verfe *3'
are mentioned in the foregoing and this Chapter:
Thereafon of his coming from home 5 God's Pro-
H h h 2 vidence
420 A COMMENTARY
Chapter videnceoverhimin his Journey ^and his happy meet-
XXIX. ing with Rachel.
V/W> Ver. 14. Surely thou art my Bone and my Fief/).']
Verfe 14.50 very near of Kin to me, that I can deny thee no-
thing.
Verfe 15. Ver« r5« B-ecaufe thou art.'] Or, as de D/eu tran-
slates the word Haci^ (and gives many Inftances of it J
Art thou not my Brother ? It is fit then, that thou
ftiouldft ferve me for nothing?
Vexfe 17- Ver. 17. Leah was tender-eyed.'] Some -trail date it,
had delicate Eyes. So the Chaldee : And then the mean-
ing is, All her Beauty lay in her Eyes*
Beautiful and well-favoured \~] Was every way ami*
able.- Being well (haped, having good Features, and
a fine Complexion.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. I will ferve thee feven years for Rachel9&c.m]
He had not brought Money enough with him to pur-
chafe a Wife, fas the manner was in thofe Days) and
therefore offers his Service, for feven Years, infkead
of it.
Verfe 19. Ver. l9- & * better that I give her thee, Sec] He
feems to anfwer cunningly : And yet one cannot but
take it for a Contract $ as it appears to have.been* by
verfe 21.
Verfe 26. Ver. 20. Theyfeemed ] unto him but a few Day '/.^ He
valued Rachel fo much, that the Price at which he
purchafed her feemed inconfiderable.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. Give me my Wife."] So (he had been by
Contract, ever finceit was made (verfe 19.) and he
doth not now demand that he might have her to Wife 5
but that he might enjoy her : Being already his Wife
by that folemn Agreement made feven Years ago.
Verfe 22. Ver. 22. Eakan gathered together the Men of the
pUce>~] All fuch private Contracts were compleated,
by
upon OENESI S\ 431
by the Elders or Governors of the Place, in the pre- Chapter
fence of all the People. We had an In fiance of this XXIX.
before in Abraham'* purchafe of a Sepulchre for his Fa- L/^NTNJ
mily, XXIH. u, 18. Which was a Sacred and Re-
ligious thing, as well as the Rites of Marriage -0 and
therefore both of them Publici Juris, as Cornel. Bertram
fpeaks, part of the Publick. Care.
Ver. 25. In the Evening.'] At Bed time. Verfe 23*'
Drought her to him?] The Modelly of thofe Times
made them bring the Bride to her Husband's Bed,
veiled, and without lights : So that it was the eafier
for Laban to deceive Jacob by bringing Leah to him.
Whom he could not hope fo readily to difpofe in
Marriage, as Rachel 5 becaufe fhe was homely.
Ver. 24. Gave unto his Daughter^ Zilpah his AI//W, Verfe 24,
&c.^) A very poor Portion : Yet all that he gave to
Rachel afterward, verfe 2^. which made them fay, That
he ufed them as Strangers, not as his Children $ put-
ting them off without any Portion, XXXI. 14, 15.
Ver. 26. It nui(i not be fo done in* our Country ,&c] Verfe 26.
We do not read of any fuch ancient Cuftom : And
therefore this feems a mere (hift, or a jeft. Or, if it
had been true, he fhould have told it Jacob before-
hand.
Ver. 27. Fulfil her wee^ tec.] Perfect this Marriage Verfe 2?.
with Leah by keeping a fevenD xyc Feaft, fes the Cu-
(tom was) and then thou (halt have Rachel alfo tor
he doth not fpeak of a Week of Tears, but of Days 5
asMr.5*eWe«fhows oucof-m.inv Authors, L.V. de Ju-
re N. & G. cap. 5. where he hath this plain Commen-
tary upon thefe words.
Marriages are to be celebrated, according to tnftom^
by afeven Days Feaji : Cor,; pic at this Marriage thou
bajl beg^n with Leah, and then upon Condition of ano-
ther -
4*i A COMMENTARY
Chapter ther feven Tears Service, thou (twit marry Rachel a!fo$
XX!X> dnd !{ccp her Wedding Feajl feven Days.
IVVNJ Ver. 30. Andferved with him yet other feven Tears "1
Verfe 3c, After he had folemnly married 'Rdi^et9' and bedded
her, (as we fpeak) for that he did, fven Days after
his Marriage with Leah was accomplifhed. So this
Verfe begins, And he went in alfo unto Rachel, and then
began his other feven Years Service. There was no
poiitive Law, as yet, againft fu'ch Marriages as this,
(with two SiftersJ which were afterwards exprefly
condemned: But at prefent indulged j as t&e Mar-
riage of a Man's own Sifter was in the beginning of
the World. Whence that faying of the Jews in the
Gemara Eierofol. upon the Title Sanhedrim, The World
was built by Indulgence, hud Jacob, it is very likely,
thought there was an unavoidable neceffity for his
marrying thefe two Sifters. For Rachel was his true
Wife ^ Leah being impofed upon him by a Cheat.
But, having known her, he concluded he could not
honeftly leave her 5 no more than he could Rachel,
to whom he was firft contracted.
Verfe 31. Ver. 31. Leah was hated."] Comparatively, not ab-
solutely. For Leah having joyned with her Father
to deceive him, he could not love her fo well as Ra-
chel $ to whom he had engaged his firft Affe&ion.
Verfe 92. Ver. 32. Reuben?] The Name of this Son, and of
all the reft that follow, are derived from the Hebrew
Tongue: Which (hows that Labans Family fpake the
fame Language with Abraham's 5 with fome little va-
riation, as appears afterward, XXXI. 47.
CHAP.
upon GENESIS. 423
Chaprer
:x.
CHAP. XXX.
Ver. u\~*Nvied her Sifter ?\ Was fo grieved, that \i Verfe 1
\Zj made her fret, into Impatience and Rage.
For it is a frantick Speech which follows.
Give me Children or 1 die.~] I fhall make my felf
away, (as we now fpeak) or die with Grief. See
here the great danger of too eager and impati-
ent Defires .• The fulfilling of which was her death
indeed.
Ver. 2. Jacob** Anger was lqndled.~\ He conceived Verfe :
a juft Indignation again'ft her Impatience, which he
expreffes with fome heat.
Am UnGod's ftead, &c] Is it in my power to
give what God thinks fit to deny > Thus he puts her
in mind of what the Pfalmift faid afterward, Children
art a tfft that comet h of the LORD, as the old Tranf-
lation hath it, CXXVII. 3.
Ver. 3. Behold my Maid Bilhath, go in unto herJ] Verfe :
She followed the fteps of Sarah,Jacofcs Grand-mother,
(JX VI. 1.) in adopting the Son of her Maid-Servant ;
Whom (he gave to Jacob out of the fame Principle,
that Sarah gave Hagar to be Abraham's Wife^ a vehe-
ment defire to fulfil the Promife, that their Seed (hould
ke as the Stars of Heaven ^ and efpecially the Promife
of the Mejjiah 5 which made them fo extreamly trou-
bled at Barrennefs.
She fiall bear upon my Knees."] Bring me a Child,
whom I may fet upon my Knees, as my own. For
io it follows.
That
4-4 * COMMENT ART
Chapter That 1 may have Children?] Though not by my
XXX. own Body, yet by her. For (he being Rachel's Ser-
U/"VNJ vant, the Children that were born of her, were Ra-
chel's Children, not her own.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And [Ik gave him Bilhah her hand- maid to
Wife."] Of fuch kind of Wives as this and Zilpah,
verfe 9. fee XXV. 6.
Verfe 6. Ver. 6. God hath judged me.") Decided the Con-
troverfie between me and my Sifter 5 and given Sen-
'•■ten^e on my fide.
She called his name Dan."] The Mothers fometimes
gave Names to their Children, ( as Leah had done to
hers, mentioned in the foregoing Chapter) but with
the Approbation of the Father, who fometime con-
trolled them, XXXV. 18.
Verfe B. Ver. 8. With great wreftlings, &c] I have drug-
led exceeding hard (i. e. in inceflant, vehement De-
< fires, and perhaps in Prayers to God) to have ano-
ther Child, before my Sifter $ and have prevailed.
Verfe 9 Ver. 9. Took Zilpah her Maid, and gave her to Ja-
cob to Wife?] Imitating her Sifter, and perhaps out of
the fame Principle 5 hoping fome or other of her
Children might be the Father of the Mejfiah : And
therefore the more Children fhe had, the more likely
iome of them might be fo happy.
v Verfe 11. Ver. 11. A troop cometh?] The Hebrew Writers ge-
nerally expound it, Good fortune cometh: as Mr. Sel-
den (hows in his Syntagm. de Dik Syris^ cap. i. And
theLXX. tranflateit e^ ™;#k ** <* lucky hour : And
.other Greek Verfions vM^m^ as in St. Chryfoftom,
(Horn. LVI. on this Book) who expounds it farhvgm
t5 my own Place, and to my Country 7\ h e. To his
XXX. Father's Houfe in Canaan : Which was his Country,
x*'"?'*^ becaufe he was born there.
Yer.e 26. yer> 2gt For thou knoweft what fervhe I have doze
thee.] He appeals tohimfelf, whether he had not
ferved him with all Diligence and Fidelity : And
therefore deferved to be difmified after fuch long
Labours.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. 1 have learned by experienced] Or, as the
Ancients underftood the word Nichajhti^ I have
found by Divination : And Aben-Ezra thinks he learnt
it by confulting with his Teraphim. But there need-
ed no fuch advice with them 5 the thing was plain
in.it felf, thatjiehad brought Profperity along with
him into his Houfe.
Verfe 29, Ver. 29. Thou knowefl how I have ferved thee.'} With
how much Care and Fidelity, as he had adfnonifhed
him before, verfe 26.
And how thy Cattle was with me 3 How they pro-
fpered under my Care,
V.erfe 30, Ver. 30. Blejfed thee Jince my coming.] So St. Hie-
rom explains the Hebrew Phrafe, at my Foot : Ever
lince I fet my Foot within thy Doors 5 or, fince I
entred into thy Service. Othersexpound it, Where*
foever I went, or by my leading thy Flock. But Mai-
monides fays this Phrafe, Leragll (at my Foot) figni-
fies, bee aufe of me, for my fake. And fo he explains
the like Phrafe, XXXIII. 14. P. l.MoreNcvoch.cap.28.
Verfe 31, Ver. 31. Thou (lyalt not give me anything, &c] I
will take nothing of thee at preient 5 but make this
following Bargain with thee, for the future.
¥>,rfe 32. Ver. 31. All thefpeckled andfpotted^c.'] In this
place, and in XXXI. 10. there zxzfour diftinft words
f]fed toexprefs whatfhould be his.,
The.
upon GENESIS. 4:9
Thefirftot rhcm is Nakpd, which we well tran- Chapter
(httfpcckfed. For the word fignifies little Points or XXX.
Pricks, which the GrecksxM g-i'yuccnz : As many have L/W>
obferved , particularly Bochart in his Hierozoic. P. I.
L. II. a 45.
The fecond is Talu, which fignifies broader and
larger Spots , which we frequently fee in Cattle.
The next is Ak?d, which fignifies fpotted with di-
vers Colours .- Butmoft properly, Spots, or rather
Circles, or Rings about the Feet or Legs (which we
tranflate Ring-firaked) fo Symmachus renders it A^C-
h^tbS&S, white-footed : And Onkelos and Jonathan, ha-
ving Marks on their Feet ; rather Lifts round their
Legs or Feet 5 for the word denotes binding oxtwi-
jling about any thing.
And then the laft word Barud fignifies whitiflSpott
like Hail. For Barud, in Hebrew, is Hail.
This flattie my hire J\ He doth not mean, that thofe
Cattle which were already [peeked and fpotted, &c.
fhould be given him : For that doth not agree with
what went before, thou flalt not give me any thing,
(i.e. I will take nothing that is now thine) and be-
lides, it would have been no wonder, if thofe that
were fpotted already, (hould bring forth others like
to themfelves. Thereofre the Sence is, That he
would feparate all the Spotted Sheep and Coats } and
then out of thofe which were of one Colour, he
would have all that fhould prove hereafter at all
marked with any of the fore-mentioned variety.
Now this was a thing fo unlikely to happerr, that La^
ban, in the next Verje, embraces the motion very gree-
diiy •' Thinking that white or black Cattle, would I
bring forth none but fuch as were like themfelves.
Ver,
43o A COMMENTS RY,
Chapter Ver. 33. So foall my Righteoufnefs, Sec] This fe-
XXX. paration being made, it would appear that if he had
L/*VNj znyfpotted, they were not taken from Laban's Flock ;
Verfe 33. but given to him by God out of them, as a Reward
of his boneft Diligence.
Verfe 34. Ver. 34. I would it might be according to thy word.']
He thought this fo good a Bargain, that he was afraid
Jacob would not ftand to it.
Verfe 35. Ver. 35. Into the hands of his Sons.~] /. e. of La-
bans Sons, who were now grown up .• Though, per-
haps, when Jacob firft came to him, they were fo lit-
tle as not to be able to look after the Flocks ; which
his Daughter therefore fed, XXIX. 9. As for Ja-
cob's Sons, the eldeft of them was fcarce/^c/2 Years
old 5 and therefore could not be fit for fuch Em-
ployment. Laban therefore went and feparated the
fpotted Cattle from the reft 5 and then, left Jacob
fhould get any of them to mix with thofe of one
Colour, he committed thsm to his own Sons, to be
fed apart by themfelves.- And, as it follows in the
next Verfe, made a diftanceof three days journey, be-
tween the one and the other 5 that none might be
in danger to ftray the Flock which was fed by Ja-
cob : Unto whofe Care were committed all that had
noSpotsatall.
V rfe 36- ^er* 3^# ^et t!jree daJs j°nmey> &c0 That they
might be fure, not to come near, fo much as to fee
one another.
Verfe 57. Ver- $7- Of the HafeV] The Hebrew word Luz
fignifies an Almond, as Bochart proves at large, out of
a great many Authors. And therefore St. Hierom
here rightly tranOates it, Virgas Amygdalinas. And
the Hebrew Interpreters, wKo will have it fignifie an
HafeUtree, confefs that herein they depart from the
Opinion
upon GENESIS.
Opinion of tboft chat went before them. :
Ezra inA Kfmfihii w ho both acknowledge that the
ancient Doftors expound it, Alu/on-rods.
i j :/Jed white firakes in tU»i.~] He had three Ar- verlc
tifices to comp.iishis end. The firft was this- To
I oft' the Bark fiom the Rods, at certain diftances.
till the white appeared between the Bark, which was
of a different Colour. And thefe Rods, thus dif-
coloured, he laid in the Channels of Water, at that
time when the Cattle were wont to rcouple, (as it
follows in the nextf^r/e) that their Fancies might be
painted with fuch divers Colours, as they faw in the
fvods. See verfe 40, 41.
Ver. 39. And the Flocks conceived before the Rods , Verfe 39.
and brought forth , &c] The Greeks Fathers afcribe
this to the miraculous Operation of God, as Bochart
obferves in his Hierozoic. P. I. L. II. cap. 49. But
the Latin Fathers, particularly St. Hierom, look upon
it as done by the natural Operation of the Imagina-
tion. For which he alledges the like thing done in
Spain among Hones and Mares t And brings gninfti-
lian and Hippocrates to juftifie the like Conceptions
in Women. Which he backs with a great Number
of Authorities, ouf of Galen and other Writers r
Who have obferved indelible Marks, to have been
impreffed upon Children, by the Objetts that were
prcfented to their Mother's Imagination, at the time
of her Conception.
And St. Aujhn fays the Egyptians, by the like De-
vice with this of Jacob's, had (till a new Apis, or Pied-
Bull, to (ucceed that which died .• To whom they
gave Divine Honour. But whatsoever Power there
might be in natural Imagination to produce fuch
Effe&s, it mutt be acknowledged that God gave an
extra-
432 A COMME N T A RT
Chapter extraordinary Bleffing to this Contrivance.- Asap-
XXX. pears by the Vifion which Jacob fays he had, where-
W"V*Sj in God ("who had directed him to this Invention)
promifed to give it fuccefs, XXXI. 10,11, i2.;For
Beafts have very rarely fuch a ftrong and vehement
Imagination, as produces fuch Effefts 5 unlefs it be
moved by fome unufual Paffion. And therefore we
muft confefs that God excited and ftirred up their
Imagination^ which otherwife would not have
wrought in that manner ^ at leaft, not in all the Ca-
tle. For, let any Shepherd now try this Device,
and he will not find it do, what ic did then by a
Divine Operation. Vide G. Vojfnts^ L. III. de Idolol.
cap. 22.
Verfe 40 Ver. 40. And Jacob did feparate the Lambs, &c/j
One Specks is put for all : And the meaning is, That
thofe young Cattle (whether Lambs, or Kids of the
Goats, &c.) which were thus brought forth fpotted,
he did not fuffer to remain with the Flock of Laban$
left he (hould fay that he did him wrong by letting
them mix together, and fo bring forth fpotted Cat-
tle, (and perhaps he might alfo think that they look-
ing upon Labans one-coloured Cattle, might bring
forth young ones like to them) But, inftead of this
way of inriching himfelf, he had a fecond Artifice $
which was to put the fpotted Cattle, (produced by
the former Device) foremo ft .• So that Labans Flock
fhould always look upon them, and thereby be the
more apt to conceive the like. And then it follows,
in the end of this Verfe.
He put his oven Flocks by thentfelves, and put then:
not to Labans CattU7\ Which looks like a repetition
of what was faid in the beginning of the Verfe : But
the meaning is, that thofe which brought forth
fpotted.
upon GENESIS. 435
ipotted, by this fecond Artifice, he alfo put by them- Chapter
felves * and fuffered them not to be mingled with La- XXX.
bans Cattle, as before he had feparated thofe that L/^VNJ
were brought forth fpotted, by looking upon the
Rods.
Vcr. i^.And it came to pafs, when theftronger Cattle Verfe 1 4.
did conceive, that Jacob, &c] This was his third Ar-
tifice: Which is thus expounded by the Chaldee and
a great number of other Authors, (which may be feen
in Bochart, P. I. Hicrozoic. L. II. cap. 46.) that he
laid the Rods before the Cattle only in the Spring-
time, when the Sun was afcending, and the Cattie
luftyand vigorous.- But let them alone when the
Cattle came together in September, or the declen-
fion of the Year, (Tor they bred twice a Year in
thofe Countries) at which time they were become
more feeble. If he had always laid the Rods before
the Cattle, there might have been none but fpotted,
and fo Lab an have been quite impoverifhed. There-
fore he chofe to do it only in their firft and prime
Copulation, which was in the Spring-time .• And o-
mittedit in the latter, which was in the Autumn.
Our famous Mr. Mede follows this Interpretation,
DifcourfeXLV. p. 355. But there is no certainty
in it : For Pliny and Columella prefer thefe begot in
Autumn, to thofe begot in the Spring. And there-
fore our Tranflation is moft proper, which reprefents
Jacob, asufingthis Artifice, of laying the Rods be-
fore them, only when the ftronger Cattle came toge-
ther, and not when the weaker. And fo the LXX.
underftood the words, without refpeft to the former
or latter breed : And fo the Hebrew words import, as
Ro.hartus (hows in the place before named, p. 514.
K k k Ver
434 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter Ver. 43. And the Man increafed exceedingly^ &c]
XXX L Some have made it a quefton, whether he got all thjs
L^W> Riches honeftly 5 becaufe Laban did not think of his
Verfe 43-ufingany Art, but only of barecafual Produ&ions.
But, as what was not dire&ly againft the Contrafr,
may be thought to be allowed by it 3 foit is certain
that Jacob might lawfully take what God beftowed
upon him .• Who feems to have dire&ed him by an
Angel to ufe this Artifice 5 or, at leaft, teftified his
Approbation of it : Intending to transfer unto Jacob
the Wealth of Laban^ as he gave the Riches of the
Egyptians to the Israelites Sox the World is his, and the
Fulnefs thereof ? And he may difpofe of every thing
in it, as he pleafes.
Maid-Servants, &c.} To look after his Cattle -y
and after his Camels and Affes, which he alfo pur-
chafed.
C H A P. XXXL
Verfe 1. Ver. i.T Tfi heard the words of Laban s Sons ^] Who
O uttered fuch difcontented or threatning
Speeches, as made him fear they would fall upon him
and do himraifchief. Tbi* was-the firft Caufe of his
Jefolved flights
Hath taken away all that was our Father s.~] They
(f eakof him, as if he had been a Thief : which made
him fufpeft they would ufe him accordingly.
All this Glory. ,] All thefe Riches, verfe 16,
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. And Jacob beheld the Countenance of La-
ban, &c.][ This was the fecond Caufe of his Refolu-
tion
upon GENESIS. 435
tionto be gone } That he faw by Labans looks things Chapter
were not likely to go well with him if he ftayed any XXXI.
longer. «*^\rw
Ver. 3. And the LOR Dfaid unto Jacob, fee] This Verfe 3.
was the third Caufe, the Divine Majejly appeared to
him, and bad him be gone. And as he had his War-
rant, fo hefeals it with his Promiie to proteft him in
his Return to his own Country.
Ver. 4. Jacob fent and called Rachel and Leah.] Verfe 4.
Rachel is firft mentioned as his chief Wife.- forfo
(he was in his defignment .• And fo the Pofterity of
Leah afterward acknowledged, naming her firft in the
Bkfling of UirfA, IV. 11.
To the Field unto his Flocl^] That he might dif-
courfe them privately .• Fearing alfo, it is likely, that
he might be feized by Laban and his Sons, if he went
to the Houfe.
Ver. 5. The God of my Fathers hath been with me.] Verfe 5.
Hath appeared to me, ( verfe 3. ) and bid me not fear
your Father.
Ver. 6. With all my power.'] I have omitted nothing Verfe 6.
that 1 could do, to promote hislntereft.
Ver. 7. Hath deceived meJ] Dealt unjuftly with Verfe 7.
me, in not ftanding to his Agreement.
Changed my Wages ten times."] i. e. Very often } as
many interpret it from like Expreffion in other
places, particularly Levit. XXVI. 26. where ten Wo-
men are put for a great number of Women. But
others think that he really changed Ms Wages, juft
test tlwcs. For he ferved him fix Years, after he
made the Agreement with him, mentioned in the
foregoing Chapter, verfe 31, &c. And the firft Year
he ftood to his Bargain: But feeing him thrive ex-
ceedingly, he altered the form of their Covenants,
K k k 2 at
43* A COMMENTARY
Chapter at the end of that Year. And in like manner, every
XXXI. ha4f Year, whenthe Ews brought forth young ones,
w-v^-» (which they did twice a Year) and he faw them fpot-
ted 3 he broke his Coritraft, and made a new one, lefs
advantageous to Jacob : Sometimes reftraining it to
one fort of Cattle, fometimes t^ another .• And not
letting him have the whole benefit of his Contrad*.
Which is not at all improbable .• For Jacob mentions
his ill dealing with him in the very fame words, verfe
41. And in the next Verfe to this he relates how
Laban would fometimes let him have only the /peda-
led 5 at another time, none but the ring-flraked 5
and fo we may fuppofe of the reft. See this
explained by St. Bieromin§>u
may be referred to the Ews as well as to the Rams.
And it is probable he had this Vifion before he made
his Agreement with Laban 5 whereby he was directed
to the Artifice of which he made ufe : Or, elfe God
reprefented to him afterward, that he approved it, and
would make it fucceisful.
Grizled.'] This word (Barud) is not ufed before :
But I took notice of it in the foregoing Chapter, verfe
32. that it fignifies as much as great white or grey
Spots, like to Hailflones. It is juft the quite contra*
ry to Nakpd, fpeckledor fprinkled, with little black
Spots, which were upon the Sheep that were white;
Asthefe were whitift or gri/led Spots, upon thofe that
were black.
Ver. 1 1. And the Angel of God fpake unto me, Sec]
In the Name of God, as his Ambaifadour : God bein2j Verfe it.
fuppofed to be prefenr, where his Angela, who are
his.Retinue, are faid to appear, as I have often noted.
See XXVIII. 17.
Ver. 12. Lift up now thine eyes.'] He fai3 verje io, Verfe I*,
that he did lift up his Eyes : Therefore the meaning
here is, Obferve now, and marb. what thou feeft.
I have feen al/ that Laban doth unto thee.~] Taken
fuch notice of it, that I will do thee Right.
Ver'
45$
1 COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 13. I am the God of Bethel.'] It is plain by
XXXI. this, that though the Angel only appeared, verfe 11.
w v-*.<* yet God hiiufelf was prefentand remembred him,how
Verfe 13. he had appeared unto him in Bethel, XXVIIL 11,
12, Sec. and how Jacob had anointed the Pillar , and
vowed avow unto htm. So Maimonides expounds it 5
for Jacob, no doubt, faith he, made the Vow to God,
and not to the Angel / And therefore the Angel
(as he underftands it) fpeaks here in the Name of
God and not of himfelf, More Nevoch. P. 1. cap. 27
See Chapter II. 11, 15. But I fee no reafon why*
we fhould not fuppofe the Divine Majejly himfelf to
have appeared alfo, as he did at Bethel : When Ja-
cob faw the Angels afcending and defcending upon
the Ladder, and the L o a D himfelf (landing at the
top, andfpeaking to him, as he doth here. For up-
on a ferious Confideration of all the Circumftances*
this Vifion, here mentioned, feems to me to be di-
ftinft from what was represented by an Angel in a
Dream, verfe 11. For he had that it is evident, at the
beginning of his laft/x Years Service 5 this, at the
conclufion of them .• But he puts them both together,
becaufethey belong to the fame Matter.
And God now remembers his Vbvo,to ftiow him that
he was well-pleafed with it 5 and to excite him to per-
form it, when he had brought him (as he affures
him he would) to that place again.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Racfjel and Leahanfwered,&cJ) They im-
mediately confented to go alongwithhim 3 and not
fo much as to acquaint their Father with it .• For they
knew he would give them nothing.
Is there any Portion, &c] We (hall get nothing by
ftaying withliim :The reafon of which follows.
Ver.
upon GENESI S. 439
Ver. IS- Are we not counted as Strangers f &LC.]He Chapter
hath not dealt with us as if we were his Children: XXXI.
But as if we were of fome other Family 5 whom he L/"V%J
had bought, and fold again. Verfe 15.
Sold us.] Not fo much giving us in Marriage 5 as
felling us for the Price of Jacob's Labour.
Quite devoured our Money,] Kept to himfelf all
the Money he got by thy Service ^ and given us not
a Farthing of it.
Ver. 16. For all the Riches, &c] God hath but Verfe 16.
given us that which was our own : And therefore
thou maift lawfully keep it, and go away vv ch it.
Ver. 17. Jacob rofe up. ~] Prepared himfelf for the Verfe 17.
Journey.
Andfet his Sons.'] As was but needful ; Reuben
his eldeft, being fczxcz fourteen Years old ,• and Jofeph
hisyoungeft, fcarce fix.
Vpon Camels."] They ufed to ride upon Camels in
the Eaft-Country } efpecially when they made long
Journeys. See XXIV. 10.
Ver. 18. He carried away all his Cattle."] But no- Verfe i80
thing of Labaris ; as Jofephus, without any reafon,
fanfies.
Ver. 19. Laban went to /hear his Sheep.~] Which gave Verfe 19,
Jacob the better opportunity to efcape, whilft he
was bufie about thaty and feafting, perhaps, his
Shearers.
And Rachel had ftolen7\lnz]\ lrkelyhood his Wives-
returned to the Houfe, to fetch what they had left
there, when Jacob fent to fpeak with them in the
Field, (verfe 4. J and then Rachel took away thefe
Images.
The Images that her Father had] Thefe Images in
the Hebrew are called TERAP HIM: Of which
we
44o A COMMENTARY
Chapter we read very often, afterward, in the Holy Scripture.
XXXI. Mercer and Simeon deMuis take it for an exotick
U'"V\J word .• But others derive it from the Hebrew word
Rapha, which fignifies to cure or heal $ as if thefe
were lookt upon as Salvatores, Saviours and Deli-
verers, or PreCervers from Mifchief.
There are other Derivations, of which there is no
certainty : But molt agree they were a kind of Pe-
natesy as the Romans called them, Honfoold Qoods : In
which ftyle Laban fpeaks of them, when he fays, verfe
30. Wherefore haft thou ftolen my Gods . But it is a
great Queftion among the Hebrew Doftors, Whether
in thefe ancient Times,they worlhipped them as Gods,
or only ufed them as Inftruments of Divination^ as
yix.Selden obferves, de Diis Syris Syntagm. I. cap. 2.
Where he (hows, that feveral of the Hebrew Do&ors
take them to have been Figures in Humane (bape,
(1 Sam; XIX. 13.) made by Aftrologers to be capa-
ble (as they fanfied) of the heavenly Influences.
And for this reafon, they think, Rachel ftole them,
that Laban might not enquire by them, which way
Jacob and his Family were gone. Hottinger alfo hath
many ingenious Arguments to prove, that they were
the fame with the Arabian Talifmans, in after times :
which were Images made uncjer fuch or fuch Con-
stellations, to receive the heavenly Influences : Either
tobea Phyla&ery, or an Oracle. See L. I. Hijior.
Orient, cap. 8.
But the Conjefture of Lud. de Dim upon this
place, feems to me far more probable, that they were
the R.eprefentations of fome Angelical Powers, (Te-
raphim and Seraphim being the very fame, by the
change only of a Letter) who, they imagined, de-
clared the Mind of God, by them. For, in thofe
Coun-
upon GENESIS. 44i
Countries where the SCHEC H INA H, or Pre- Chapter
fence of the Divine Majefty did not appear, as it did XXXI.
in Abraham's Family, they had at leaft fome Tradi- ^V^w
tion of it, and of the Angels that were its Atten-
dants: The refemblance of which they made, in
hope they might by that means have a Communica-
tion with them, and gain Intelligence from Heaven.
Of which, evil Spirits made their Advantage $ and
abufed Mankind by the lying Anfwers they gave to
their Enquiries. For there is no reafon to think that
God allowed, much lefs appointed the making of thefe
Teraph'w? : Which Gaffarel adventures to fay, were
Pioully ufed before the Law of Mofes, and God ma-
nifefted his Mind and Will by them. This had been
to lead Men into Idolatry, by Image- worfhip: Un-
to which they were too prone of themfelves.
Expofitors differ very much about Rachels Inten-
tion in dealing them. Some fanfie, (he ftill retained
a tang of Superftition : But I take it to be more like-
ly, that Jacob, who loved her extreamly, and was no
lefs beloved by her, had brought her off from the
ialfe Notions and bad Cuftoms of her Country. And
then fhe did not carry them away, for fear Lab an
fhould enquire by them, which way they were gone:
(for (he knew they were but vain Idols, which could
give no Direction) But, rather defigned to convince
her Father of his Superftition ^ by letting him fee,
that his Gods (as he called them) could not preferve
themfeives, much lefs do any fervice to him. Or,
perhaps, fhe intended to give her felf fome Portion
of his Goods, which (he thought juftly belonged to
her : And to took thefe Teraphiw, which were of
fome value [* though fmall ImjgesJ becaufe they are
generally fuppofed to have been madeof Silver.
L 1 1 Ver.
442 A COMMENtART
Chapter Ver. 20. Jacob ftole away unawares?] Without the
XXXI. Knowledge of Laban. For the word Heart fas it is
lW\J in the Hebrew) is here put for the Understanding and
Verfe 20.jfv##
Laban the Syrian!] There being no neceffity of
mentioning his Country, ( which was well known
from the preceding Story J fome think he is here
called the Syrian, to denote that as cunning as he was,
Jacob was too hard for him. For the Syrians, in an-
cient Authors, are obferved to have been a very craf-
ty, fubtil People. But there is no certainty of this }
there being a frequent redundance very obvious in
this Language. See verfe 2$.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. So hefled,fkc] Pack'd up his Baggage
(as we now fpeak) and made all ready forafpeedy
flight: And (as it follows) rofeup, and made all the
bade he could to get over the River.
And pajfed over the. River."] i.e. Euphrates, fre-
quently called in Scripture, the River, in regard of
its eminence.
Mount GileadT] So called'afterward, from what
Jacob and Laban did there, vqcfe 48. Injoyned to
Mount Libanus.
Verfe 22* Ver. 22. On the third day.] There was fuchadi*
"ftance between Jacob's Flock and his ( XXXII. 36 .)
that he could not hear fooner : Efpecially when he
was taken up with other bufinefs, (verfe 1 9O and did
not make enquiry.
Verfe 23* Ver. 23. Too^his Brethren.] Some of his near Kin-
dred.
They overtook him?] The Hebrew word imports,
They came clofe up to him.
Verfe 24. Ver. 24, And God came to Laban the Syrian in a
Dream, Sec] See concerning this Expreffion,XX. 3.
Speak
upon GENESIS. 443
Speal{ not to Jacob either good or bad.~] About his Chapter
return to thee. Unto which God charges him, he XXXI.
ihould neither allure him by Promises, nor affright L^V^NJ
him by Threats.
Ver. 25. Then Laban overtook Jacobs] This is a dif- Verfe 25.
ferent word from that in verfe 23. fignifying he came
near, or approached juft to him : So that they might
confer one with another.
Now Jacob had pitched his Tent, 8cc.*] For "Jacob
and Laban had both pitched their Tents in the fame
Mount: not far from one another. This Jcfephus
thinks they had done, in the Evening; when Laban
came up fo clofe to him, that if the Night had not
parted them, they might then have difcourfed toge-
ther : Which they did the next Morning, when they
came nearer one to another 3 after God had warned
Laban not to (top his Journey.
Here Gilead is redundant, as the word Syrian was
before in verfe 20, 2*4.
Ver. 2 6. As Captives taken with the Swordr\ As Prizes Verfe 26,
in War ; which are wont to be carried off with
force and violence.
Ver. x8. Thou haft novo done foolifily in fo doing.~]Vzxk 18-
He feems to pretend, that he would have been very
kind to him, if they had parted with mutual Con*
fent : And would have him think he had loft by
ftealing away, not only the Mufick and Merriment,
C before-mentioned, verfe 27 J but fuch Gifts as he
would have beftowed upon him.
Ver. 29. The God of your Father fpake unto me, &c ^ Verfe 29
There is no ground to think that the SCHEC HI-
NA Hi or Divine Majefly appeared to him x, for we
do not read either here or verfe 24. of bis feeing any
thrng, but hearing one fpeak to him, and that in a
L 1 1 2 Dream ;
444 A COMMENTS RT
Chapter Dream: Who told him, I fuppofe, that he was the
XXXI. God of Ifaacy and of Abraham. Or, if he faw a glo-
\S~\T\J rious Appearance, it was in his fleep only ^ not when
he was awake.
Verfe 50. Ver. 30. Stolen my Gods!] See verfe 19.
Verfe 31. Ver. 31. Becaufe I was afraid.] This is an An-
fwer to the firft part of Labans Expoftulation, verfe
26,27, Sec.
Verfe 32. Ver. 31. With whamfoever ihoufindefi, Sec.]] This is
an Anfwer to the laft part of it. From which fome
gather, that Theft was punifhed with death, in thofe
days. Sacrilege perhaps was.
Verfe 33. Ver. 33. Laban went into Jacob's Tent, &c] This
(hows that Men and Women had every one of them,
their diftinft Tents, apart by themfelves 3 as was no-
ted before, XXIV. nit.
Verfe 34. Ver. 34. Camels Furniture!] The Saddle upon which
they rode, or laid their Carriage.
Searched all their Tent.] Except that place where
ftie fat.
Verfe 35. Ver. 35. Let it not difpleafe.&c,"] She begs his
Pardon that (he did not ftand up to do him Reve-
rence, as became a Child to her Father .- And excufes
it, by an Infirmity which was upon her.
And he fearchedT] He looked all about the place
where (he fat.
Verfe 36. Ver. 36. Jacob anfwer ed and- faid, &C.] He pro-
ceeded farther in his Anfwer; and expoftulates with
Laban, as he had done with him .• Setting forth the
cauflefnefs of his Purfuit, the injuftice of Charging
him with Theft, and all his unkind ufage of him,
from the time he came to him, till his Departure 5
notwithftanding his faithful Services, which he re-
prefents moft admirably,
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 44$
Ver. 38. Thy Ews and She-(joats have not caft their Chapter
)Diing7\ I lookt fo carefully after them, and Inch was XXXl.
the Blefiing of God upon my Care, none of them (VN^^
mifcarried. A mofthigh Commendation of hisSer- ^erle 3°-
vice. Who would not have valued fuch a Servant,
for whofe fake God beftowed fuch an unwonted Fe-
cundity upon Labans Flock ?
The Rams of thy Flocl^have I not caten.~] Under
Rams are comprehended the Lambs alio : For if he
had eaten any of them, it had been no great Com-
mendation to abftain from the Rams. But he con-
tented himfelf with Pulfe, or fuch like mean Diet,
to promote his Matter's Profit.
Ver. 39. That which tvjs torn of Beajis, &c.*] And Verfe 39.
that alfo which was ftolen by Theft, was not brought
to Labans Account} but Jacob made them good.
Which was not only an unjuft exaftion, but an in
hurmne: For the mod careful Shepherd in the
World could not have his Eye every where, to pre-
vent fuch things, efpecially in the dark 5 as it fol-
lows.
Whether Jlolen by day or by night. 1 A moft barba-
rous ulage of a Nephew, and a Son-in-law, to make
him pay for that which wild Beafts devoured, or
Thieves ftole againft his will 5 when no Body could
fee their approach in the Night. .Some queftion
where Jacob got Money to pay for them. But it
is to be considered, that he did not come quite un-
provided, from his Father's Houfe } with which al-
io, we may reafonably think, he ftill held fome Cor--
refpondence.
Ver. 40. Thus was 1^ in the day the drought, &C, J Vetfe jc.
While I ferved thee, the Heat condimed rae in the
Day-time, and the Froft nipt me by Night. For in
thafc
446 A COMMENTARY
Chapter thofe Countries Shepherds were wonfto watch their
XXXI. Flocks } especially about the time that Ews were
U/^VNJ likely to yean : As we read Luke IL 8. See Bochart
in his Hierozorc. P. I. L. II. cap. 44.
My Sleep departed from mine Eyes."] Many times
he took no refi: $ being awakned by wild Beaft, or
by Thieves, or kept awake by his great folicitudefor
his Flock.
Verfe 41. Ver. 41. Thus have I been Twenty Tears in thy
Houfe.~] This hath been my manner of life, for no
lefs than twenty Years, that I have been a Servant in
thy Family.
Verfe 42. Ver. 42. The fear of Ifaac] The God whom Ifaac
feared 5 that is, worshipped : As the Chaldee inter-
prets it.
Thou had/ifent me away now empty.'] Without Goods,
Wives or Children ; For he feems to have been fo
barbarous, that if he had been left to himfelf, he
would have made them all his Slaves.
God hath feen my afflift/on..] How ill thou haft
treated me^ and taken care to relieve me. For
fo the word feen fignifies in many places 5 particular-
ly, XVI. 13^
'Verfe 43. Ver. 43. ihefe Cattle are my Cattle, &c] Becaufe
they belonged to his Daughters, and their Children,
therefore he calls them his. That is5 now he is in a
good mood, and pretends the fame Care of every
thing that "Jacob had, as if it were his own. So it
follows.
And wh.tt can I do this day unto thefe my Daugh-
ters . &c."] How can I do them any harm, when
they are fo very dear to me ?
Verfe 44. Ver. 44. Let m imk§ a Covenant, &c] Enter in-
to a ftrid League, by fome Monument or other ^
that
upon G E N E S I S. 447
that (ball remain as a Teftimony of our Friend- Chapter
(hip. XXXI.
Ver. 45. Set it up for a PtfldtJ] For a Monument of L^v^O
what Laban defired. Vcrle 45-
Ver. 46. Jacob faid to his Brethren gather Stones, &C."] Verfe 46.
He prays every one, whom Laban had brought with
him, to bring a Stone ^ and they did fo, and laid
them together on an heap 5 which was flat at the top
like a Table : So that they did eat upon it the next
Morning, verfe 54.
Ver. 47. Laban called it Jegar-Sahadutha, &C."] One Verfe 4 -
of them gave it a Syriac Name, fignifying the heap of
Jeflimony : The other an Hebrew, fignifying the heap
of Witnefs. For Gal is an Heap in Hebrew, and t
a Witnefs. Thefe two Languages were different :
But not fo much that they did not underftand one a-
nother, as appears by the whole Storv.
Ver. 48. This heap is a Witnefs between me and thee Verfe 48^
this day7\ It (hall remain as a Monument, that we
agree \ not to tranfgrefs thefe Bounds, as it is ex-
plained, verfe 52.
Ver. 49. Mizpah.*] A Watch-Tower. This (hows Verfe 4^.
th.U Laban underftood Hebrew as well as Syriac :
Or, rather, that thefe were two Dialects : Which
differed in pronunciation, and in many words, (as
thofe mentioned verfe 47.J but in moft, had the fame
common to them both.
The LORD watch between me andthee.^ Obfervs
how we behave ourfelves, when we cannot fee one
another. Here he ufes the Name of ]■ hovkh 5 wh
(hows he was acquainted with the Religion of J;
as well as his Language^ apd worfhipped, it's likely,
the LORD of Heaven and of Earth 5 though net
without fomefuperftitious mixtures,
Ver-
448 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 50. Ifthoujhalt afflitf my Daughter, Sec.} It
XXXL feems to be a (hort form of Speech, importing $ God
^y^' who obfervesall things will punilh thee for it.
Verfe 50. jjr t/JOfi ta^e oi./,er \yives yepfas My Daughter s."]
Which might have been worfe for them and their
Pofterity : And therefore he lays this reftraint upon
him.
No Man is with m, Sec."] Though here be no Man
betides ourfelves, to be Witnefs of this Agreement $
yet, confider that God (which is infinitely more)
knows it, and will punifh him that tranfgreffes it.
fn thefe two iaft Verfes, he difcourfes very Religi-
oufly 5 which revived alfo his natural Affeftion to
his Children.
Verfe 5 1. Ver. 5 2. Thk heap he witnefs, and this Pil/ar be wit-
nefs, Sec] It feems that Lab an and his Company fet
up an Heap, made of the Stones which every one
brought $ and Jacob fet up one fingle large Stone
(verfe 45.) in the form of a Pillar. And, it's likely,
his Pillar lookt towards the Land of Canaan $ and
their Heap towards Ear ant.
That I will not pafs over this heap ,&£.] As Stones
were fet in the Confines of Fields to be Boundaries,
and Land-marks fas we call them) to diftinguifh
Mens PofTeflions, and limit them from incroaching
one upon another: So were .this Heap, and this Pil-
lar intended to be in the nature of fuch Boundaries ^
beyond which neither of them (hould pafs armed, to
offend the other.
Verfe 53. Ver. 5*3. The God of Abraham, and the God of Na-
hor.~] Thefe two were Brethren, (for he doth not
mean, fure, their Grand-father, the Father of Te-
raJi,X.l. 24.) and before Abraham, was called out of
XV, they both worfbipped other Gods, Jofi.XXW.2.
But
upon GENESIS. 449
But then Abraham renounced thoft Gods, and vvor- Chapter
(hipped only the Creator of Heaven and Earth. As XXXI.
Nahor, I have formerly conje&ured, alfo did} when L/^V^NJ
he followed him to Haran. Therefore, I think, we
need not make a queftion by which of Abrahams
Gods Laban now fwears: For I take him to have been
bred up in the true Religion, which made Abraham
defire his Son (hould have a Wife out of his Family ^
for which reafon Ifaac alfo fent Jacob hither.
The God of their Father.'] As much as to fay, by the
God of our Anceftors: Who, after God's appearing
to Abraham and calling him out of his own Country,
became the Worftiippers of the LORD of Heaven
and Earth alone. See XI. 31.
Jacob five ar by the fear of his Father Ifaac."] By him
whom Ifaac worfhipped, verfe 42. He mentions the
fear of Ifaac rather than the God of Abraham^ to de-
clare more plainly and undoubtedly, by what God
he fware. For Abraham had been an Idolater 5 but
Ifaac never was.
Ver. 54. Jacob offered Sacrifice."] Peace- Offerings, Verfe 54*
(as they were afterward called) part of which were
eaten by him that offered them, and by his Friends.
This further (hows they were of the fame Religion,
by their partaking of the fame Sacrifice : Which Ja-
cob no doubt offered to the True God,
Called his Brethren to eat Bread."] Invited them to
Feaft uith him upon that Sacrifice : Whereby they
confirmed the Covenant lately made between them.
Ver. 55. Laban blcjfed them.'] Prayed God to pre- Verfe 55
ferve and profper them.
Returned to his place."] Viz. Haran,
Mmm CHAP-
45o A COMMENTARY
Chapter
XXXII.
t/*VSJ
CHAP. XXXII.
Verfe I. Ver. i.'~T~*HE Angels of God met him."] To in-
X courage and comfort him, with the af-
furance that God was with him. This is a remark-
able Paflage, (howing the Angular Care God had of
him : Who, as he appeared to him when he went
from Canaan 5 fo now appeared to him again in his
return thither 5 that he might depend upon the Pro-
mife he then made him, XXVIII. 13, 14, 15.
Verfe 2 . Ver. 2 . This k God's hoft.~] Which attend upon the
ScHECHINAH, or Divine Majefty 5 to execute his
Commands.
Mahanaim.] i. e. TwoHofts, or Camps, as it is in
the Margin. Either, becaufe there werefeveral Squa-
drons (aswefpeak) of the Angels $ drawn up like
an Armjv ready for his defence: Or, becaufe, befides
his own Family, which was pitched here in order
like a Camp, there was that of the Angels alfo. The
former feems moft probable, becaufe this Name re-
lates to God V Hojl, mentioned before 5 which con*
lifted of feveral Troops of Angels.
Verfe 5. Ver. 3. And facob fent Mejfengers before him, &C.*]
As he was about to pafs over Jordan (verfe 10.) he
fent fome to wait upon his Brother.
Unto the Land of Seir7\ Which Efan, it feems, had
conquered in Jacob's abfence, according to the Blef-
fing of his Father, XXVII. 40. By thy Sword fialt thon
live. This Jacob thought fit to congratulate to him 5
and at the fame time to try how he ftood affe&ed
t-owrrds himfel£.
The
upon GENESIS. 451
The Country of *Edom.] So it was called in Mofes Chapter
his time. XXXII.
Ver. 4. Thu* fiall ye fpeal^ to nty Lord Efau7\ He L^VNJ
calls him his Lord, that he might mollifie his Anger, Verfe 4,
if any remained, by humble Language. Which
founded as if he had no thoughts of the Birth-right
he had purchafed of him. This alfo was the Style
wherein others addreffed themfelves to Efau, afier
he had won the Principality of Seir.
Thy firvant Job."] Thefe are fubmiffive words
alfo, importing his Inferiority.
I have fojourned with Laban, 8cc/] This hath the
fame delign with the foregoing words 5 to infinuate
that he was much inferior to Efau } having been a
Servant a long time to Laban.
Ver. 5. And I have Oxen, Sec.] Yet he adds this, Verfc 5.
That he was plentifully provided for, left Efau (hould
think he came a begging, and might prove a burden
to him 5 fo the Hebrews underftand if. And Mai-
momdes obferves that he mentions only Oxen, Affes^
and Flocks, 0- e- °f Sheep and Goats) becaufr thefe
were the common Poffeflions of all Men, and in all
Countries, that had any thing. But Horfes and Ca-
mels, were not ordinary Goods, but the Polleffions
of a few great Perfons, and in (ome Countries only.
More Nevoch/w, Par. III. cap. 39. Jacob indeed had
Camels (verfc 7, 15. and XXXI. 17.) but, it is likely,
they were not many, and he had no great breed of
them.
Men-Servants and Maid -Servant s.~] Thefe were a
part of their Poireflions, as Oxen and Sheep were r,
which they bought and fold , and were no where
more plentiful than in Syria, f from whence Ja-
cob came) if it were then fuch a Country, as in
Mm m 2 vv
493 A COMME ST A R7
Chapter was in after-times, when the Roman Writers fay,
XXXII. they wzrzJervitHti nati, born to flavery.
LZ-V^Nj That I may find grace in thy fight. ~\ He courts his
Friendfimp, and deiires he would favour him, and
not hinder him in his Paflage to their old Father.
Verfe 6 Ver. 6. We came to thy Brother Ffau0 and alfo he
cometh to meet thee.'] They reported, no doubt, what
he reply'd to Jacob's Meffage $ and this coming to meet
him fignifies, that he gave them a civil reception :
And pretended, at leaft, to be glad to hear of his
Brother's return \ and therefore prepared to come
and welcome him into his own Country.
Four hundred Men with him."] Nobly attended ^
partly to (how his Greatnefs, and partly to do ho-
nour to Jacob by a Publick Salutation.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid^ &C."] Being
confciousto himfelf whatcaufe Efau had not to love
him. He interpreted his coming ro meet him, with
fuch a Number, otherwife than it was represented.
The Vifion of Angels indeed, who meet him, (verfe 1.)
might have fortified him againft all fear of Efaus
meeting him : But the firft Motions of fuch Paffions
cannot always be prevented.
He divided the People that were with him, &tc.~] Put
his Family and all belonging to him, in as good a
Pefture, as he was able.
Yerfe 9. Ver. 9. 0 God of my Father Abraham, Sec.] As he
had prudently difpofed all things for the prefer-
vation of his Family, at leaft of fome of them : So
he addrefies himfelf to God, ("of whofe Goodnefs
both Abraham and Jfaac had had very long experience)
without whofe Favour, he knew the Angels them-
selves could do nothing for him. For they are hn
Hofi, verfe 2. and aft only by his Command,
Return
upon GENESIS. 453
Return unto thy Country.'] He reprefems to Cod that Chapter
he was in the wav of Obedience to his Orders : And XXXII.
then remembers him of his gracious Promife, 1 n?/^'L^V^\J
deal well with thee.
Ver. 10. I am not worthy, 6ko] Next, he acknow- Verfe 10.
ledges what God had done for him already 5 and
how unworthy he was of the final left part of it.
With my Staff.'] As a poor Traveller, having no
more than I could carry about me. Travellers ufed
Staffs then, as they do now 5 fur their Eafe, and for
their Defence.
Ver. 11. The Mother with the Children.} i. e. My Verfe 1 1.
whole Family : Which could not confift with God's
Promife, mentioned in the next^cr/e.
Ver. 17. As the Sand of the Sea?) The words of Verfe 12.
God's Promife are as the > duft oj 'the Earth, XXVUL 14.
But that fignified the fame with what God had faid
to Abraham, XXH. 17. which this Promife authori-
zed him to apply to himfelf, as the Seed whom he
intended to blefs.
Ver. 13. He lodged there"] i.e. In Mahanaim, or Verfe M,
thereabouts : Where he hoped God would com-
mand the Angels, which he had feen, to proteft
him.
And tool^of that which came to his hand, &zc.~] Ac-
cording to this Tranflation, he took what he fir ft
light upon, without any choice 5 being ftill in a Paf-
fion of Fear. But the Hebrew Phrafe HO, that which
was in hk Hand, fignifics what was in h s Power to
prefent him withal, viz. Such Cattle as are after men-
tioned 5 though he had no Jewels, or precious Rai-
ment. And it appears that he chofe them with
great Confideration, irr exaft Proportions: For ha-
ving commended himfelf, upon fuchgood Grounds,
to
454 ^ COMMENTARY
diapter to the Prote&ion of the Almighty, his Fear va-
XXXII. nilhed.
(?'~rr**J Ver. 14. Two hundred She-Goat s9 and twenty He*
verte 14-G^j,&c] The Male* bear the proportion of on*
to ten Females. And fo it was in the Rams and Bulls $
which was the proportion Varro faith was obferved
in his Days and Country. See Bochart in his Hiero-
zoic. P. I. £. II. cap. 54.
Verfe 15. Ver. 15. Milch Camels!] Who had lately foaled :
For nothing was more delicious in thofe Countries
fas Bochart obferves out of Arijiotle, Pliny, and ma-
ny other Authors, lb. lib. II. cap. x J than Camels
Milk.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. It is a prefent.] With which he hoped
to fweeten him 5 there being a great Power in Gifts
to win Mens Hearts, even when they are difaffe&ed:
As the wife Man obferves in many places, Prov. XVII.
8. XVIII. 16, &c.
And behold he is behind us.] He would not have
Efate think that he was afraid to fee him.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Andfo he commanded the fecond, Sec/] He
therefore diftributed them into feveral Droves, that
they might make a greater appearance 3 and that he
might ftill be more and more pleafed, with the Re-
fpeft which was fhown him, and the Prefent intended
him. For every new Drove, and new Speech, made
a new Impreffion upon him.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. Lodged that night in the company."] Or,
Camp, u e. where he pitched the Tents for his Fa-
mily.
Verfe 2,2. Ver, 22. He rofe up that night fj Before it was Day 5
in the laft Watch of the Night.
His Eleven Sons.] i. e. All his Children ; For the
Daughter is comnrehended.
Pafid
upon GENESIS. 455
Pa/fed over the ford Jabbokf] This was a iicde Ri- Chapter
ver, flowing from the Country of the Ammonites, XXXII.
and falling into Jordan, where it comes out of the L/^sTSl
Lake of Gcnefireth. It was in one place fordable 5
and there Jacob firft patted over himlelf, to try the
depth of it.
Ver. 23. And he took thenty andfent them over \ &c.[] Verfe 23.
Having tried the Ford, he returned : and caufed
them all to pafs over : And fo (as it fc)]c^b) was
left alone, on the Eafl-fide of the Brc
Ver. 24. And there wrc(lled a Man with hlm7\ He Verfe 24.-
ftaid alone, in all likelihood, that he might commend
himfelf and his Family to God, by earneft Prayer.-
Which feems to be confirmed by the Prophet Hofea^
XII. 4. And as he was Praying, or when he had
done, a Man encountred him, with whom he gra-
pled 5 taking him, perhaps, for fome of Efaus Atten-
dants come to furpriie him. For it was fo dark,
that he could not fee what kind of Countenance he
had : Or, if he could, Angels were wont to appear
fo like to Men, that at the firft they did not difcern
the difference. Maimonides fanfies all this was done
in a Prophetick Vifion, More Nevoch. P. II cap. 42,
but the whole Narration confute* this. The only
queftion is, whetherthis was a created Angel, orthe
Eternal AOTOS, as many of the ancient Fathers
underftood it. Whofe Opinion is oppofed by St, Au-
fiin, fas I obferved upon the XVIIL Chapter) and
feems to me not fo probable, as that this Angel was
one oi God's Hofi, menrioned verfe 2. lent from the
SCHECHINAH, or Divine Majefiy : By whole
Order, and in whofe Prefence, he ftrove with Jacobs
in fuch manner, as is here defcribect In (hort, I
take him to be one of thofe whom the Jews call
45^ <* COMMENTARY
Chapter Angels of the Prefence -y that wait continually upon
XXXII. the Divwe Majefty, and make a part of his Retinue,
*>"v~ See XXXV. i o.
Verfe 25. Ver. 25, And when he fan that he prevailed not a-
gainft hint.] Though Jacob, no doubt, was extraor-
dinarily ftrengthned by God, in this Combat, (Hofea
XII. 5.) yet the Angel who reprefented God, could
have prevailed againft him, if his Orders had not
been to let Jacob have the better.
He touched the hollow of his Thigh."] The Angel
gave over the Combat ^ but made him know, by
this light touch, what he could have done, if he had
pleafed, /. e. quite overthrown him, as eafily as he
made him go limping. This difcovered to Jacob
that he was more than a Man, who wreftled with
him : And that he had not prevailed againft him
by his own Strength } but by the Power of God.
The hollow of Jacob's Thigh was out of joynt.~] The
Thigh- Bone ilipt out of the Cavity, or Socket, into
which it wasinferted.
"Verfe 16. Ver. 16. And he J aid \ Tet me go") Though the An-
gel ceafed to wreftleany longer, yet Jacob would not
let go his hold : And, the more to fet off his Vitto-
ry, the Angel feems not to be able to break from
him, without his Confent.
For the Day breaks.'] It is time for thee to follow
thy Family over the Brook.
And he f aid, I will not lei thee go, except thou blefs
meT] By this it plainly appears, Jacob began to un-
derftand who he was.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. What k thy Name .] f The Angel doth
not yet own his Quality ^ but fpeaks as if he were
unacquainted with Jacob.
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 457
Ver< 2 3. Thy Name JhaU be called no more Jacob, Chapter
but IfracLJ i. e. Not only Jacob, (as this Expreili- XXXII.
on is ufed i Saw. VIII. 7.) or not fo much Jacob, L^s^^^
as 0fo/. Which Name aboliftaed the other, in his Verfe l8
Pofterity: Who were called Israelites, but never jf *-
cobites.
tor as a Prince haft thou power with God, and with
Men?] Thefe words explain the End and Intention
of this Combat \ which was to (bow, That he having
fuch Power with God, as to prevail over one of his
Minillers, needed not fear his Brother Efau. So the
Vulgar Latin exprtfles it, If thou haft been ftrong againft
God, how much more fialt thou prevail with Men ? And
it is the Sence of our Tranfhtlon, which more lite-
rally renders the Hebrew voxels, Thou haft behaved thy
'f elf like a Prince (To the word Scharitha imports)
with God, and with Men, &c. That is, haft (howed
fuch an Heroick Spirit ("as wefpeakj in this Com-
bat, that thou needed not fear Efau and all his fol-
lowers. This Viftory is an aflurance that thou fhalt
get the better of him.
There is no Body skilled in the Original Lan-
guage, but eafily fees no other Derivation of the Name
of Ifrael is to be fought for, but what is contained
in this woxd Scbarttha : Which gives thereafon of it.
For Sar, as St. Hierom obferves, fignifies a Prince 5 and
the Jod in the beginning, is the common note of a
proper Name. So the meaning of Ifrael is as much
as a Prince with God.
Ver. 29. Jacob askf him and faid, Tell me, I prayVzrk 29
thee, thy Name.'] Jacob having told him his own
Name, defires him to requite him in the fame kind:
That thereby he might more certainly know, whe-
ther he was an Angel or a Man. For thefe word?
N n n feem
45*
A COMMENTARY.
Chapter feem to demonftrate, he did not think him to be God
XXXIL himfclf.
U^V^NJ Wherefore doji thou ask, after my Name .] Do not
enquire after it. Raj! thinks Angels changed their
Names according to the Offices and Fun&ions to
which they were affigned.
And he hlejfed him there!] Renewed the BJeffing
which God had promifed to Abraham and his Seed .-
Whereby Jacob was fully fatisfied who he was, For
he pronounced this Bleffing in the Name of God,
from whom he came.
Verfe 30. Ver. 30. / havefeen God face to- face.'] Been admit^
ted to the neareft Familiarity with him. For he
iookt upon this Angel, as a part of thzSCHECHI-
NAH$ which now alio, it's likely, vifibiy appeared,
and made him call this Place Penhl, the Face of God.
Which doth not import that the &CHECHINAH
appeared in an humane Figure, (for it never did J
but that he lookt upon it as a Token of the Divine
Prefence, and that it approached very near him 5 as
when one Friend fpeaks to another face to face, as the;
ancient Phrafe was.
And my life jspreferved."] Thisis commonly inter-
preted by the Opinion, which was in old time, that
if they faw one of the heavenly Mini fters., they were
iobe no longer Men of this World, but die prefent-
iy. But it may refer (zsMenochiits obferves) to the
principal Scope of the Combat, which was to con-
firm Jacob againft the fear of Efau : And fo themean^
ing is, I doubt not, lam fafe$ God will preferve me
from any hurt by Efau.
Verfe 31. Ver. 31 . He halted upon his Thigh.'] Becaufe the Hip-
Bone was out of its place. Many think thislafted
only for a time • And feme will have it, that the Ait-
gei
upon GENESIS. 459
gel cured him before he gat to Efau. But there is Chapter
nocertaintyof either of thefe Conjectures. XXXIII.
Ver. 32. Therefore the Children of Ifra:leat not of the v-^-v^-*
Sinew which firanl^ 6cc] That Sinew (or Tendon) Verfe 52.
which fallens the Hip-Bone in its Socket .• Which
comprehends the Flem ofthat Mufcle, which is con-
nected to it. He that eat of this was to be beaten,
as the J crvij!) Matters tell us. See Mr. Selden, Lib. II.
deSynedriisp. 552. Hottinger de Leg. Hebr. £ 3. Vor-
ftins upon Pirke Eliefer, p. 22 1.
CHAP. XXXIII.
Ver. i.'YA&b lifted up his Eyes, &c] Being come to Verfe t^
J his Family, (whom he fent before him
over the Brook, XXXII. 23.) and looking about
him, he beheld Efatt and his Train, at fome diftance !
And put himfelf, his Wives, and Children, in good
order to meet him.
Ver. 2. Jofeph hindcr»toft.~] As more dear to him, Verfe 2.
than anv of the reft: For he did not yet know that
the Mejflah was to proceed from Jndah, one of the
Sons of Leah.
Ver. 3. And he pajfed over before them7\ Put him- Verfe $,
felf in the front of chem.
Bowed himfelf to the Ground feven times.'] At fome
convenient diftance he began to bow 5 and fo, at
every other ftep, or more, he bowed again (feven
times J till he came nedr to hk Brother.] This was to
teftifie the great Honour he had for him : And to
take out of kfan\ Mind all fufpicion, that he lookt
upon himfelf, as the elder Brother.
N n n 2 Ver.
46o A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 4. Efanranto meet him.'] This declares the
XXXIII. forwardnefs of his Affe&ion : Which would not let
v^-v~%«j k;m proceed fo ceremonioully as Jacob did.
■vene. 4. Kijfed him7\ This word is mark'd in the Hebrew
Text (as fourteen other words in the Bible are) with
four xmuiuzl Points overk-r Todenote, as the He-
brew Doctors think, fome remarkable thing 5 which
fome of them take to be, the fincerity of Efaus Re-
conciliation to his Brother. And truly, if he hearti-
ly pardoned the Injury, which he conceived Jacob
had done him, it is much to be noted , and ought to
be lookt upon as a fignhe was become a good Man.
And fo Mart. Encer\ remember underftood it, in his
Commentaries upon the Epiftle to the Romans ;
Where he makes this an Argument thttEfau was not
a Reprobate, as fome are apt to imagine. It it be
laid that God deterred him from doing his Brother
any hurt, it is more than can be proved. For it is
recorded indeed that God threatned Lab an in fuch
a manner, that he durft not meddle with him .- But
no fuch thing is faid of Efau 5 though it would have
been of more concern to have recorded the fame here,
if Mofes had known of any fuch Divine Apparition
to him.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. jofeph and Rachel^] The Hebrzw Doftors
here obferve, that Jofeph goes before his Mother ^
but the Mothers of all the reft went before their
Children / Of which, I think, it is not needful to feek
areafon. For it is likely Mofes did not take care to
place his words exactly. Or, if he did, no more
ought to be made of it than this; that Jofeph being
a goodly Child, his Mother put him before her > as
we commonly do, when we would (how a Child to
advantage. Or, he being very young and a forward
Child,
upon GENESIS. 461
Child, ftept before his Mother 5 as Children are wont Chajr r
to do; whenfome fine fllQW appears which they ea- XXXIII.
gtrly defure to behold. L/~V"Vj
r, 3. What mtaneft thou by all this drove $ ckc] Vcrfe
The Servants, no doubr.. had told him, fas their M
fter had ordered, XXXII. 17; &c.) but he asks Jd-
cob, that he might have an opportunity to declare
how little he needed or defired 1 :h a Prefi
Thtfe areto ftndgrai 4 To
lie my refpeft to th'ee3 I may obtain 1! ] Fa-
vour and Good- will towards me. For Inferiors
were wont to approach to their Superiors u ith Pre-
fents, to make themfelves the mere kindly accep-
ted. And it is ible, thatas heandall hismade
fuch Obeyfance u as fignified he was his Ser-
vant, (as he calls himielf, verfe 5. J fo he (till Ho-
nours nfau by the Name of his Lord.
Ver. 9. 1 have enough, my Brother, &c] In this he Verfe 9.
(hovvs himfelf not to be of a covetous Humour : But
as free from that Vice, as from Revenge.
Ver. 10. If ' I have found grace in thy fight .] If thou Verfe 10.
loveft me.
As though I had feen the face of God.~] For EfanS
kind Reception of him, he could not but look upon
as a Token of the Divine Favour towards him. Some
think by God may be meant an Angel, or a great
Man .-Intowhofe prefence, Inferiors, as I faid, were
wont to approach with Prefents.
And thou vcafl pleafedrvith mc.~] Received me kindly. Verfe 1 1
Ver. 11. Take my Bleffing7\ i. c. My Prefent, as we
expound it in truj Margin of 1 Saw. XXV. 27.
I have enough.'] It is a larger word in the Hebri
than that ufed b\ Efa*, verfe 9. fignifying that he had
enough to (pare of all forts of things : And there-
fore
4fo 1A COMMENT ART
' Chapter fore Efau need not fear his impoverifhment, by ac-
XXXHI.cepting thisPrefent.
WV*w Ver. 12, And he f aid, Let us tabs our journey, &C.']
Verfe n.Efau inviteshim togo along with him, totheLand
of %, and there ref refh himfelf.
I will go before thee.] Show thee the way and con-
dud thee,
Verfe 13. Ver. 13. And be f did unto him, Sec."] i.e. Jacob
faid this in excufe, that he could not go fo faft as
Efau iy and therefore defired to follow after byeafie
Journies.
Children are tender."] Jofeph was not above fix or
/even Years old.
Flocks and Herds with young.] The Hebrew word
Alotb (in 1 Sam. VI. 7 J fignifies Kine that had fuck-
ing Calves. Unto which Sence Bochart inclines in this
place 5 and fodo Jonathan Onkelos, and other ancient
Interpreters. See his Hicrozojc. P. L Lib.U. cap. 30.
Are with me."] Muft be lookt after very carefully.
All the Floc\ will die'] /. e. All that are big with
young ^ or have newly brought forth young.
Verfe 14* 'Ver. 14. 1 will lead onfoftly."] Follow thee with a
gentle pace 5 fuch as the Flocks and Children can
bear.
According qs the Cattle that go before me.] It was ob-
ferved before, XXX. 30. that Maiwonides interprets
this Phrafe [Lerege!]for the fake : And fo he under-
ftapds it here, with refpeci to the Cattle and Children.
More Nevoch. P. I, cap. 28. Or, becaufc of the Cat-
tie, Sec. that they may not be over-driven.
%)ntil I come to my Lord, unto Seir.] Mofes omits
this Journey to Seir$ as hedothhisVifit to his Father,
Which one cannot think he deferred for fo many
e//)c.~] He repeats it again, to beget in them a vvv~^
confidence of a Settlement among them 5 in the En-
joyment of all their Rights and Privileges,- as much
as if they had tx en Natives.
And trade ye. "]Exercife what Traffick you pleafe up
and down the Country, without any Lett or Impedi-
ment.
And get you Pojfejfions therein.] Purchafe Land.
Ver. 11. let me find Grace in your Eyes. ~\ Grant Verfe 11
this Petition, which my Father makes in my behalf,
XXXIII. 15.
And what ye [full fay unto mey &c] Make your own
Terms, I will agree to them.
Ver. 12. Ask. me never fo much Dowry and Gift, T] Verfe 12,
This (hows more fully, That the Cuftom of thole
times was (as was noted upon XXIX. 18. J for Men
to give Money for their Wives. But there was a
greater reafon for a Dowry now, and a large one
too 5 that he might make Compenfation, for the
Wrong he had done. For there was a natural Equi-
ty in thofe Laws of Mofes^ (Exod. XXII. 16. Deut.
XXII. 28.) by which Men were bound to make Sa-
tisfaction to the Fathers 5 if either by Inticement or
Violence, they had abufed their Daughters.
Dowry and Gift, feem to be diftindt things : The
Dowry being given to the Parents } the Gifty to the
Kindred.
Ver. 13. The Sons of Jacob anfwercd, Sec] Hence Verfe 3.
fome infer that by the Cuftom of thofe Days, the
Confent of the Brethren was required, rather than
of the Parents .- For the Sons of Jacob here make
the Contraft, as Labanhzd done with Abraham' 'sSer-
O o o 2 vant
468 A COMMENTARY
Chapter vant XXIV. 50. But it is raore rcafonable to think,
XXXIV, that Jacob left ic to them to confider what was fit to
L/~V~Sj be done, in a matter which required great Delibera-
tion 5 and then to report their Opinion to him .- Who
had the greateft intereft in her, and right to difpofe
of her.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. We cannot do this thing.] It is again ft our
Religion. Which was partly true ^ for though Ja-
cob himfelf had married one whofe Father wasuntir-
cumcifed (as Ifaac had done before him) yet by de-
grees this Opinion prevailed among them j till it was
eftablifhed by the Law of Mofes.
For that were a reproach to us.'] They plead Honour,
as well as Confcience*
Verfe 15. Ver. 15. In this will we confent unto yon.] Upon
thefe Terms, we will agree to the Match.
Verfe 17. Ver. l7* Wewilltak^'our Daughter , and be gone."]
By this it appears they treated in their Father's Name,
as was noted before, Verfe 13,
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. And their words pleafed Hamor, &cf| It
may feem ftrange, they (houldfo eafilyconfent to be
circumcifed, till we confider how paffionately She-
chem loved Dinah, and the great Affe&ion Hamor had
to Shechem : Who was his beloved Son, verfe 19. Be-
fides, this was but a poor Prince, and his City little
and mean : Which he thought to inrich and ftrength-
en by Jacob's Family f who were very wealthy ) being
incorporated with them, verfe 23.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. He was more honourable.] In greater efteem
with his Father, and all the Family, than any other
belonging to it.
Verfe 20. Ver. 10. Came into the Gate of the City.'] Where all
Publick Affairs were tranfa&ed.
And
npm GENESIS. 46^
And communed :rJth the Men of the Citj.'] Such ChapN r^
great Matters could not be concluded without the XXXI V,
Publick Confent. See XXIII. 18. XXIX. 2:. u'W;,
Ver. 21. Thefe Men are peaceable.'] They uilj many Verfe 21
Arguments to perfuade the People to Content ; And
the JTrJl is that the Ifraehles had hitherto lived inof-
fepfivtly among them.
Let them dwell in the Land and trade therein.'] By a
Publick Decree, or Law.
For the Land *r large enough-'] This is the fe-
cond Argument, there was Land enough in their
Country uncultivated 5 which thefe Men would im-
prove.
Ver. 23. Shall not their Cattel, &c] This is the Verfe 2?,
greatelt Argument of all 5 taken from the Profit
they (hould have by them 5 the gain of no lefs than
all they had. Which is not to be understood, as if
they intended to over-power them, and ieize upon
all their Stock: But that by Inter-marriages, their E-
Oates would be inberted by them, as much as by the
Jfraelites.
Ver. 24. All that went out of the Gate of his City?] Verfe 24.
7. e. All the Citizens (XXIII. 18.) who were met to-
gether in the Common-Hall, (or Place of Publick
Aflemblies) and werefoon perfuaded to yield to the
Reafons, which had perfuaded their Rulers.
Ver. 25. On the thirdDay, when they were fore, ,] Verfe 15*
And began to be a little Feverifh. For the grea-
teft Pain and Anguilh, the Jews obferve, was upon
the third Day after Circumcifion 5 which very much
indifpofed them. See Pirke Elief cap. 29. and Vor*
fiius his Annotations, p. 195. And indeed HippO'
crates obferves the fame of all Wounds and Ulcers^
that
A COMMENTARY
Chapter chit they are then mod inflamed, by a conflux of fliarp
rs to them.
of th: Sous of Jacob, &c] With their Ser-
vants/ For they two alone, could not deftroy a
whole City, though but fmall.
Stew all the Males."] The Women and Children
in thefe Days were always fpared in the moft dead-
ly Wars : As when the Midianitcs were killed,
Numb. XXXf. 7, 9. and the Edomites, I Kings XI.
16. And ioMofes commanded they fhould do even
with the Canaanites,Deut.XX. 13, 14 SezBochart, PL
Hierozoic. L. II. c. 56. Selden de Jure N. & G. Zi£.
VI. r. 16. /?. 745. and de Synedr. L. I. p. 81.
Verfe 26. Ver. 26. Took,, Dinah out of Shechems EoufeT]
Where it feems (he remained after the Rape he had
committed, in hope of a Marriage.
And went out.] Carried her home.
Verfe 27. Ver.27. And the Sons of Jacob."] The reft of his
Sons (who were able to bear Arms) came after the
(laughter ; and helpt to plunder the City. Thus they
were all involved in the Guilt 5 which was very great
and manifold 5 as Bonfrerins, and, out of him, Meno-
chius have obferved.
Becaufe they had defiled."] Their Prince had defiled
her.- Whofe Fad, it feems, they did not difapprove .•
And therefore it is imputed to them all, as the caufe
of their (laughter.
Verfe 28 ^er' 2^# ^ t00^ f^eir ^eeh ^c*3 ^ *s a rea"
Yonable Conjefture of Bonfrerius^ That Jacob caufed
all thefe to be reftored to the Wives and Children of
the (lain .- Whom he fet at liberty.
And
upon GENESIS. 471
Artel fpoikcl even all that was in the Houfe'jQf Hamor C
MdSbechem : Which, perhaps, they kept to them- XXXIV.
felves, in eompenfitionof the Wrong he had done ^ \S*\T\J
and none of the Family, perhaps, furvivingto own
them.
Verfe 30. Ye have troubled me.'] Difturbed my Verfe 30.
Quiet, and made it unfafe for me to live in this
Country 5 where I hoped to have fettled.
Made me toflink^ See] Made me odious to all the
Country, as a Murderer, a Robber, and a Breaker of
my Faith.
Ver. 31. Should he deal with our Sifter, as with an Verfe 31.
Harlot f\ As with a common Whore, that profti-
tuted her felf to his Luft f If (he had done fo5 there
had been no ground for their Quarrel, (according to
the Hebrew Do&ors) becaufe Shechem had not then
offended againft the Laws of the Sons of Noah, (as
they fpeakj r.e. The right of Nations.- Which was
not violated by a Man's lying with a fingle Woman,
by her free Confent. But Dinah being forced and
violently ravifhed,(as they tak^the fence of verfe 1.
to be) they tell their Father they might right them-
felves by making War upon them. For there was no
other way to deal with Princes, whom they could not
implead in any Court 5 and therefore betook them-
felves to Arms. See Mr. Selden, L. VII. de Jure
& G.juxta Hebr. cap. 5.
CHAP,
472 A COMMENTARY
Chapter
XXXV. -
CHAP. XXXV.
Verfe. i. Ver. r. \N D God fald unto Jacob^ There were
X\ feveral ways, as Maimonldes obferves,
whereby God communicated himfelf unto the Pro-
phets. Unto whom he is (aid, fometimes to fpeak
by an Angel in a Dream, as he did to Jacob, XXXI.
ii. Sometimes by an Angel, without any mention
how k was, whether in a Dream or Vifion, or not :
Of which he takes this place to be an Inftance s and
verfe the 10th of this Chapter, and XXII. 15. Third-
ly, In other places there is no mention of an Angel,
but of God alone fpeaking ^ yet in a Vifion, or
Dream, XV. f. And, Laftly, Godisfaid to fpeak ab-
solutely, neither in a Dream, nor Vifion, nor by An-
gel, XII. 1. XXXI. 5. More Kevochim^ P. II. cap. 42.
In which ClafGs, I think he might have put this Apa-
rition to Jacob, as well as that laft mentioned.- For
there is no difference between them, but this 5 That
in the former place f XXXI. 3.) it is fold, The LORD
J aid unto Jacob 5 and here, God /aid unto Jacob.
Arife,go up to Bethel, and dwell there.'] By this ad-
vice God iliowed, he ftill took Care of him 5 and
delivered him from the Fear he was in of the Ganaa-
nites and Perizitcs. Who, one would think, de-
tefted theFaft of Shechem 5 or, elfe it may feem
ftrange that they did not immediately cut off Jacob
and his Family, who had taken fuch a terrible Re-
venge for it ^ but let them remove quietly to Bethel
•But Mofes gives us the true reafon of this, Verfe 5.
MaJg
upon GENESIS. 473
Make there an Altar \] Perform the Vow which Chapter
thou madeft in that place,XXVIII. 20,21, 22. Some XXXV.
wonder Jacob made no morehafte to this place, after L/'VNJ
his return to his own Country, (for now he had
been about nine Years in Canaan) and fome of the He-
brew Doftorsfanfie, God punifhed him for deferring
fo long to go thither (where he promifed to wor-
fhip him, if he profpered his Journey and brought
him back again in fafetyj by fuffering his Daughter
Dinah to be ravifhed. But it is more probable, that
he met with obftruftions, which made it not fate for
him, as yet, to go thither ^ or, that he waited till
God, who had conducted him hitherto, fhould direft
him to take his Journey to that place. For, it is
very probable, he enquired of him about his re-
moval.
Ver. 2. Then Jacob fad unto his houfiold, &c] Verfe 2.
Being to perform a folemn Sacrifice to God, he calls
upon his Family to prepare themfelves for it.
And to all that were with hi mi] Hired Servants who
lived with him.
V ut away the fir ange Gods."] Rachel had her Fa-
thers^ Teraphin/y which now, it is to be fuppofed, (he
confeffed. And he fufpefted there might be fome
among the Men-Servants and Maid-Servants, he
brought with him out of Mefopotamia, (XXXII. 5.)
where there was much Superftition : And that in
the facking of Shechcm they might bring away fome
Images with them (for the fake of the Silver and
Gold) which they kept fecretly among them.
And be clean."] Wa(h your Bodies, as Aben Ezra
truly interprets it : For this was the ancient Rite of
cleanfing. Wherein he feems to have followed Jo-
nathan, who thus paraphrafes it, Purifie jour felves
P p p front
474 A COMMENT ART
Chapter from the Solution of theflain^ whom you have touched $
XXXV*. referring it to the foregoing daughter of the People
yV\j of Shcchem.
And change your Garments^] Put on clean Cloaths.
Which was but a reafonable Injun&ion, being to
appear before the Divine Majefiy : In whofe Prefence
it was rudenefs to be feen in iordid Raiment: Efpe-
cially in thofe, wherein they had newly defiled them-
felves, by a bloody flaughter. Thefe two, I doubt
not, were pious Cuftoms, which their godly Ance- .
ftors, had obferved, from the beginning of offering
Solemn Sacrifices. It being very unfeemly to appear
before a great Man, in dirty Apparel, or with a
fweaty Body. And I do not fee, why we (hould
not look upon thefe, as an external Profeffion, of the
like Purity in their Minds and Hearts. All Nations
retained thefe Waflungs^ and white Raiment, when
they performed the Solemn Offices of Religion ?
Which Were not derived from Idolaters, but from
the pureft Antiquity.
Yerfe 4. Ver. 4 And they gave unto 'Jacob all the ftrange
Gods.'] Which, it feems by this Expreffion, were nu-
merous.
And the Ear-rings that were in their Ears^] In the
Ears of the Idols 3 for there was no harm in the Ear-
Rings they wore themfelves. So fome interpret it 5
not confidering, that befides the Ear-Rings which
vtiere Ornaments, there were others worn in the na-
ture of Amulets 5 or, for fome other fuperftitious
Ufes : Having the Effigies of fome God or other ^
or, fome Symbolical Notes, in which they fan (led
there was fome Power to preferve them from fede-
ral Mifchiefs. Maimonides in his Book of Idolatry^
£4p. 7. mentions fuch Idololatrical Rings, as were ut-
terly
Hpon GENESIS. 475
terly unlawful to be ufed } and Veffels marked with Chapter
the Image of the Sun, the Moon, or a Dragon ; Which XXXV.
j Symbols of Divinity among the Heathen ^ who L/~VNJ
made Marks alfo, in feveral parts of their Bodies.
And Jacob hid them.~\ Buried them in the Earth \
after he ha 1 firft broke them in pieces fas fome think)
or melted them, as Mofes and Hczekrah did, Exod.
XXXlf.20. 2 Kings Will. 4. Which, if it be true,
it is but a Tale which is told of the Samaritans $
that they digged upthefe Idols and worfhipped them.
See Hottinger Smegma Orient, p. 359,
Under an Oal^ which was by Shechem.'] It was fo
unknown under what Oak rtiis was, that there is no
ground for their Opinion, who think this was the
fame Oak mentioned in Jofi. XXIV. 26. For he in-
tended to abolidi the memory of thefe Idols 5 and
therefore hid them, where he thought no Body would
find them.
It took up fome time to do all this 5 and yet the
People of the Land did not fall upon Jacob's Family:
The Providence of God watching over him, as it
follows in the next/4r/e.
Ver. 5. And they journeyed : And the t err our of the Verfe 5.
LORD was upon the Cities round about them, Scc.^
Here is the true reafon why the Country did not, at
leaft, fall upon the Rear of Jacob's Family, when
they marched away: Becaufe God made 3 panick
Fear to fall upon them. Who, otherwife (one would
guefsby this) had an inclination to be revenged for
the deftruftion of Shechem. For, though they could
not juftihe the Fact of Shechem ^ yet they might think
Jacob's Sons too cruel in the Punifhment of it : For
their own Father was of that Opinion.
P p p 2 Ver
476 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 6. So Jacob came to Luz.~\ See XXVIII. 19.
XXXV- Ver. 7. Built there an Altar, 8cc] And offered Sa-
L/'VNJ crificesof Thankfgiving to God, for performing his
Verfe 6. promife to him, befeeching hini (till to continue his
Verfe 7. Care of him.
Verfe 8. Ver* 8. Deborah Rebekah's nnrfe diedS] She went
to attend Rebekah, when (he was married to Ifaac ;■
Which troubles the Jews to give an account how (he
came here into Jacob's Family. R. Solomon folves it
thus 5 That Rebekah having promifed Jacob when he
went away, to fend for him, f XXVII. 45.) (he per-
formed this Promife by Deborah : Whom (he fent ta
Vadan-Aram to invite him home 5 and in her return
(he died here. But it is more reafonable to fuppofe.,
that Jacob had been at his Father's Houfe, before this
time : And Rebekah being dead, ("whether before or
after, is uncertain) Deborah was defirous to live with
his Wives, who were her Country Women. And
that her death is here mentioned (though we read
nothing of Rebekab'sJ to give an account how
this Oak came by the Name of Atton-Bacuth^ in after-
times.
Under an OakT] There were many about Bethel ,-
Near to which there was a Wood, orForeft; out of
which the Bears came, who devoured the Children
that curfed Eli/ha, 2 Kings II. 2 3. And under an Oak
alfo, the old Prophet found the Man of God fitting,
as he went from Bethel, 1 Kings XIII. 14.
Ycrfe 9. Ver. 9. And God appeared unto Jacob again, Sec.}
The SCHECHINAH, or Divine Majefy, who
bad him go to Bethel, verfe 1 appeared to him when
he came there ^ in a moft glorious manner .• As he
had done when he lodged there in his Journey to
Padan ifr*«r, XXVIII. 13.
Ver,
upon GENESIS. 477
Ver. io. Ifrael flhill be thy Name7\ This is a far Chapter
more honourable Name than that of Jacob : And XXXV.
therefore by it thou fhalt be commonly called. For L^Wi
the Name of Jacob was given him from the fupplant- Verfe ic.
ing of his Brother, and getting the advantage of
him; But this of Ifrael from his prevalence over the
Angel of God.
And he called hk Name Ifrael.~] He folemnly con-
firmed that Name, which was given him before by
his Angel, XXXII. 28.
This feems to me to prove, That it was no more
than an Angel, who wreftled with Jacob, and told
him his Name (hould be changed. For, if it had
been God himfelf, Jacob, was as much fatisfied then,
as he could be now, that Ifrael (hould be his Name.
But I take it, God referved the declaration of it
from hisown Mouth, till this time : When he ratified
what he had before fpoken by his Angel.
And thus I find (fince I noted this) St. Hkrom
underftood this Paflage : Whofe words are thefe.
Dudum nequaquam el nomen ab Angelo imponitur, 6CC
Thk Name was not heretofore impofed on him by the
Angel 5 who only foretold that God would impofe it on
him ; That therefore which was there promifed foould
be, we are taught was fulfilled.
Ver. 11. lam God Almighty, &C.3 Here God re- Verfe \%
news his Promife to him, as he had often done to
Abraham. He had fir ft bleffed him by Ifaac, XVIII.
5. when he fent him from home, Then he himfelf
bleffed him when he appeared to him, the firft
Night of his Journey, verfe 1 3 . of that Chapter. And
now again, when he was come back to the very
fame pla^e^ where he bleffed him before. And he
fpeaks to him, by the Name of El-fhaddaL i. e, God
478 A COMMENTARY
Chapter All Efficient : The very fame whereby his Father had
XXXV. blefled him, XXVIII. 3. and whereby God blefied
^^y^^ Abraham, XVII. I.
Verfe 13. Ver. 1 3. And God went up from him.'] It is evident
by this, that a vifible Majefty or Glory appeared to
him at this time : From whence the foregoing words
were fpoken to him : Which being done, it went up
towards Heaven. In the Hebrew the words are,n?e#t
up from upon him, or, over him ^ and the very fame is
faid of Abraham, XVII. 22. as if the SCHECHI-
NA H appeared over his Head, in great Luftre ^
whilft he, perhaps, lay proftrate upon the Ground.
Verfe ^4. Ver. 14 Set up a pillar in that place."] To be a
Monument of the Divine Goodnefs^ Who there ap-
peared to him } and made him fuch gracious Pro-
mifes, as thofe before-mentioned, verfe 11, 12. And
to ferve for an Altar whereon to offer Sacrifice.
For fo the word Matzebah fignifies, Hofea III. 4. And
therefore Jfaiah feems to make an Altar and a Pillar
the fame thing, XIX. 19.
Poured a drink: offering thereon^] To confecrate it
unto the Solemn Service of God. For which end he
poured Oil upon it, as he had done upon the Stone,
(XXVIII. 18.) which, in all likelihood, was a prin-
cipal part of this Pillar. And having done all this,
we are to fuppofe he not only offered Sacrifice $ but
paid the Tenth of all that God had given him, ac-
cording to his Vow, XXVIII. ult.
Verfe 15. Ver. 15. Called the Name of the place."] Or, rather,
of that places that famous Place, which God hadmade
fo remarkable by his Goodnefs to him. For the He-
brews, not wi fliout Reafon, make the He before Ma-
kpm, to add an Emphafis to that word.
Bethel^
upon C E N E S I S. 479
Bcthcl.~] /'. c The Houfe of God. So he faid he Chapter
would make this Place, XXV1LI. 12. and now he is as XXXV.
good as his Word, by renewing the Name he had gi- L/*Wi
ven it thirty Years before, when he firft went into
Mefppotawia.
Ver. 16. And there was but a little rray to come to Verfe 16.
Ephrath.~] When they were come within a little of
Ephrath. The Hebrew word for a little is Chibrath :
Whofe precife fignification is uncertain. Benjamin
Tudelcnfts faith, this Place was within halt a Mile and
a little more of Ephrath. See his Itinerar.p. 47. and
Conjl. L. Empereur on the Place, p. 176.
Ver. 17. Fear not: Thou [halt have thk Son a!fo~]Vevfe 1 7.
The Midwife feems to comfort Rachel with her own
Prediction, XXX. 24.
Ver. 18. She called his Name Ben oni.~] Rachel feems Verfe 18,
to give her former Hopes of a fecond Son for loft ^
at leaft (he expe&ed no Comfort from him : Being
ready to expire. And therefore (he called him a Son
of Sorrow : His birth being her death.
But his Father called him Benjamin.'] To comfort
Rachelin her Sorrow, and to avert the finifter Omtn,
Jacob immediately changed his Name into Benjamin^
fignifyingTAe Son of his Right-hand, or of his Strength,
as it is commonly interpreted. Though others will
have it, The Son of Tears, i.e. of his old Age : or, put-
ting both together, the fupport and (by of his old
Age.
Names are oft-times flrangely adapted to things;
and the Prefages of Parents have anciently been ol-
(erved to be fulfilled.
— ~Heu nunquam vana parcntum
Augur la* -
Which.
4*o A COMMENTARY
Chapter Which is in no Inftance more verified than in this
XXXV. Child of Jacob's: Who did not bear either of thefe
v^v^ Names for nought. There being two very different
Fates of his Pofterity (as Dr. Jackson obferves in a
Difcourfe of his upon St. Matth.W. 17,18.) anfwera-
ble to the contrary importance of the Names given
him by his Father and his Mother, No Tribe in If
rael more Valorous, yet none fo fubjedt to forrow-
ful Difafters as this Tribe of Benjamin. It was al-
moft extirpated in the time of the Judges, XX. 35,
Sec. and yet before the conclulion of that Age, Ben-
jatnin became the Head of his Brethren : The firft
King of Ifrael being chofen out of that late defolate
Tribe. And though that King proved at laft but a
Ben-oni^ yet this Tribe ftuck clofe to Judah, when
all the reft revolted to his Brother Jofeph.
Verfe 20, Ver. 20. Jacob fet a p'dlar upon her Grave.") After
that Law was made (£)e#/. XVI. 22.J againft ere-
cting Pillars 5 the Jews did not think all Pillars un-
lawful } but only thofe for Superftitious Ufes : Not
thofe which were in Memory of fome thing} as MaU
monides his words are, L. de Idolol cap. 6.
Verfe 21. Ver. 21. And Ifrael jour neyed7\ This is the firft
time that Mofes calls him Ifrael $ after this Name was
given him by God. Which he repeats twice in the
wtYXVerfe : And then calls him Jacob again, in the
latter end of it* It is in vain to fearch for a Rea-
fon. Some of the Jews will have it, That he calls
him Ifrael, becaufe he bear the death of his beloved
Wife, with admirable Patience and Submiffion to
God's W11L But they cannot give fo good a Rea-
fon, why he immediately alters his Style, and calls
him Jacob again. See Verfe 12.
Beyond
^ GENESIS, 48 1
Beyond the Tower of Edar.~] i. e. The Torcer of the Chapter
Flock.-, as fome tranflate it. Who think there wasXXXV.
fuch a Tower near Jcrufalcm, becaufeof thofe words L/^V\J
of Micah, IV. 8. 0 tower of the Flock , the flrong-hold
of the Daughter ofZion. Which if it be true, it doth
not prove there was no Tower in Jacob's days called
by that Name.- But rather, that in future Ages this
Tower was renewed, in the fame, or a neighbouring
Place ^ and called by the ancient Name, which it had
in the days of Jacob.
Ver. 22, Went and lay with Bilhah, his Father *s Con- Verfe 12-
cubine."] She is called his Wife XXX. 4. and, accord-
ing to the Laws of thofe Times, was truly fo; as I
have often observed all thofe called Concubines were :
Though not the principal Wives,but of a lower Rank.
See Mr. Sejden, de Jure N.& G. L. V. cap. 7. p. 570,
571, Sec.
Andlfrael heard //.] And highly refented it, as we
find XLIX. 4. But in this (hort Hiftory Mofes partes
over Ifratf* Cenfure of this Inceft till he came to die :
Which (hows fuffkiently, how he was affetted when
the Fad was committed. Or, perhaps, thefe words,
Ifrael heard it, may fignifie^ That though Reuben
thought to have committed this Sin fo fecretly, as to
have concealed it from his Father $ yet he came to the
knowledge of it: And gave him fuch private Re-
bukes, as were fittings but proceeded not to Publick
Punifhment, to avoid Scandal.
Now the Sons of Jacob were twelve."] Their Number
being now compleated by the Birth of Benjamin^it^x:
whom he had no more Children $ Mofes thought good
here to enumerate them. And they being all born
(fave Benjamin alone)before he had the Name of 'Ifrael,
it may be the reafon, perhaps, why he calls him Jacob.
Qqq Ver.
482 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver.26. Which were born to him in Padan-Aram.lAU
XXXV. except Benjamin } who (as was faid juft before, verfe
VVNJ 18.) was bom in Canaan.
Verfe 26. Ver.27. Jacob came to Ifaac his Father, Sec] To
Verfe 27. dwell with him, and to be the Comfort of his old
Age, For it is not to be doubted, he had been with
him before, fince he came from Mefopotamia : But now
came to ftay with him, till Death parted them.
Vnto the CityofArba, Sec] Called Kirjath-Arbaf
XX II I. 2. from a great Man (Jojh. XIV. 1 5 ) among
the Analqms, whofe Name was Arba $ and either was
born, or dwelt, or ruled here. It was afterward cal-
led Hebron, where Abraham dwelt a long time, XIIL
18. and where he bought a Burying- place for his Fa-
mily, XXIII. 19.
Verfe 28. Ver. 28. The days of Ifaac were an hundred and four ~
fcore Tears.'} He lived five Years longer than his Fa-
ther Abraham, XXV. 7.
Verfe 29. ^er# 29m &** &ons ^faH an^ Jac°b buried."} As Ifaac
and IJhmael had done Abraham, ("XXV. 9 J and no
doubt in the fame place.3 He fojourning there fas
was faid before) as his Father had done before him.
By this it appears, the Friendfhip between Efau and
Jacob continued, after the interview they had at Ja~
cob's return into this Country.
CHAR
upon GENESIS. 485
Chapter
XXXVI.
chap, xxxvr.
Ver. 1/ I ^Hefe arc the Generations of Efan.'] Which Verfe
JL are here fet down, to (how how ef-
feltaal his Father's Blelling was, XXVII, 29. And,
as Maimonidcs thinks (P. III. c. 50. More Ncvoch!) to
prevent the deftruftion of any of the Family of £/*//,
but only thofe of Awaleck- Who defcended from the
Firft-born of Efau by a Concubine, the Sifter of Lo-
fd*, an Horite^ one of the ancient Inhabitants of Se/V,
Verfei2^ 21. His Defendants were to be deftroyed,
by an exprefs Precept, for a particular Offence, (Exod.
XVll.) but the Divine Juftice took Care of the reftr
by diftinguifhing them thus exattly from him: That
they might not perifli under the Name of Awale-
kjtcs.
Ver. 2. Efau took, bk Wives ^ Sec.-] The Names of Verfe
thefe Wives are not the fame with thofe, he is faid to
have married, XXV I. 34. Therefore it is probable
his former Wives died without Ifliie : And fo he took
another Daughter of Elon f when Judith was dead J
called Adah : And the Daughter of a Man called
Anah 5 by whom he had fuch Children as here fol-
low.
The Daughter of Zibeon7\ The word Daughter here
fignifies Neice$ or, (he is called Zibeons Daughter,
becaufe he bred her : As the Children of Michael are
mentioned, 2&W/.XXI.8. Though fhe had none at
all* but only educated the Children of her Sifter: As
Zibeon, perhaps, did his Brother Anab's Daughter,
verfe 20.
Q<] q a Ver.
484 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 3. Bafiemath, IfhmaePs Daughter .~] Sheiscal-
XXXVLled by another Name, XXVIII. 9. But it is likely-
L/-VNJ Efau changed her Name from Mahalah, which figni-
Verfe 3. fiesyfr/^ and infirm, into this oiBaflmath, which fig-
nifies Aromatic\ and Fragrant. Either becaufe the
Name better pleafed him, or he thought would bet-
ter pleafe his Father : Or, (he grew more healthy after
Marriage , or, perhaps, (he had two Names given her
at the firft.
Verfe 6. Ver. 6. Went into the Country from the face ofhjs Bro-
ther Jacob."] Into another Country out of the Land of
Canaan : Into which he lately came to bury his Father,
as we read in the latter end of the laft Chapter. Which
being done, he and Jacob, no doubt, agreed about the
divifion oflfaacs Eftate: Out of which a large (hare
came to Efau : Who had fomething alfo of his own
there before, (all his Sons before-mentioned being
born to him in Canaan, verfe 5.) befides what he had
in Seir.
His Brother Jacob!] He knew of no other Name his
Brother had 3 that of IJrael, it's likely, being not yet
publilhed, and commonly uftd.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. For their Riches were more than that they
might dwell together."] There was not room enough
in the Land of Canaan (where they were but fojour-
ners, and could have no more than the prefent Poffef-
fors would let to them) for fuch a vaft Stock as they
had between them: And therefore were conftrained to
feparate, as Abraham, for the fame reafon, had done
from Lot, XIII. 6, 8cc» And Efau having begun be-
fore to fettle in Seir, did not think fit to bring what
he had there hither .• But carried what his Father left
him thither. Where he had enlarged his Dominion,
fince Jacob's return to Canaan.
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 485
Ver. 8. Thus dwelt Efau in Mount Scir.~] It is a Que- Chapter
ftion how he could be laid to have gone to dwell in XXXVI.
Seir, upon this occafion : Seeing we find him there L^s^Vi
before, when Jacob car \^ out o^Wlefopotamia.XXXU^. Verie 8.
But the Anfwer is eafie, That then he had only fome
part of the Country, and not the be ft of it neither :
And therefore, perhaps, had fome of his Eftate ftill in
Canaan, while the reft of it was in Stir, And it feems
remarkable tome, that he isnotfaid till now, to dwell
in Mount Sdr, but only in the Land ofSeir, or barely
in Scir, to which he invited Jacob at his return,
(XXXII. 3. XXXIII. 14, 16.) This Mountainous
Country, which was richer than the other, he got
into his pofleffion after that time.
Efau is Edom.~] The Father of the Edomites, as it
follows, Verfe 9.
Ver. 12. She bare to Eliphaz, Amakckf] This was Verfe 12 .
necetfary to be fet down fas I obfervedon verfe i.J
that there might be a diftin&ion between the Amale-
kjtes, who were to be deftroyed, and the reft of the
Pofterity of Efau: Concerning whom it is faid, Thou
fialt not abhor an Edomite, becaufe he is thy Brother,
Dent. XXIII. 7. Thus Jofeph Albo. For, though
they made a diftind People from the Edomites, and
lived in a Neighbouring Country 3 yet they pofleflTed
that part of Mount Seir which was near Kadefi Bar-
net, as may be gathered from Numb. XIII. 29. and
XIV. 4 j.
Ver. 15. Thefe were Dukes.~] The word AUouphe, Verfe 15-
if we may believe R. Solomon jarchi, (ignifies Heads \
Chiefs, or Rulers of Families. Who may be called
Princes 5 though their Government was not yet Rx-|
gal, but a kind of Ariftocracy in the beginning.
Ver,
4S6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 16. Duke Korah.] He is not reckon d among
XXXVI. the Sons of Eliphaz, vcrfe n. but called the Son of
vO/"^ Aholibamah, verfe 14. and accordingly faid to Rule
over a Family defcended from hers, verfe 18. We
mult fuppofe therefore, there weretwo Koratist, one
the Son of Aholibamah 5 the other a Nephew of Eli-
phaz, byfomeof his Sons or Grand-Sons.- Who came
to be a great Ruler, and to get the Government of
fome of thefe Families: And, according to the Style
of Scripture, is reckoned for Eliphaz his Son.
Verfe 20. Ver. 20. Thefe are the Sons of Seir the Horite.] From
this Seir the Country had its Name/ But from whom
he defcended is not recorded.
Who inhabited the Land."] Who were the ancient
Inhabitants of this Country, before Efau conquered
it : And, perhaps, were the fir ft that poflefled it after
the Flood. Whofe Genealogy, I fuppofe, is here
mentioned, becaufe Efau% Pofterity married with
fome of them: Particularly his eldeft Son Eliphaz
took Timna, Sifter of Lot an (one of Seir s Sons) for
his Concubine, verfe 22. Yea, Efau himfelf feems to
have married one of his Family, viz. Aholibamah :
Whofe Father and Uncle are faid to be Hivites, ver. 2.
but here plainly called Horites : Being defcended
from Seir the Horite, though dwelling then among
the Hivites.
Verfe ii, Ver. 21. Thefe are the Dukes of the Horites.*] The
Heads of their Families $ who governed the Coun-
try, before Efan and his Pofterity difpdfletfed them s
And fettled themfelves in the fame form of Govern-
ment, which they found among thefe Horites.
In the LandofEdomT] So it was called in the days
of Mofes.
Ver,
upon G E N E S r S. 4S7
Ver. 24. Thk k that Anah, who found the Mattes in Chap: r
theWildermfs.\ Not by Accident, but by his Art and XXXV L
Induftry he invented (as we fpeak) this mixture, c^V"Nj
and produced this new kind of Creature. So it isVerfe 24,
commonly interpreted. But the word found, though
life d four hundred times in Scripture, never fignities
(zsBochart hath obferved, P.I. Hkrozoic. Lib. II. cap.
21.) the Invention of that which was not before 5
but the finding that which already is in being. Nor
doth Jtmint fignifie Ajfes in Scripture : And there-
fore others have read the Hebrew word as if it had
been written Jamim, (as St. Hierom obferves) ima-
gining that as Anah fed his Father's Affes, he found a
great colle&ion of Waters, (Tee VoJJiu*, L. III. de
ldolol. cap. 75.) vvhich fome fanfie to have been hot
Waters, or Baths, as the Vulgar Latin interprets it. But
then we muft read the Hebrew quite otherwife than
we do now : And Bochart gives other Reafons a-
gainft this Interpretation 5 and endeavours to efta-
blifh another Opinion. That by Jevrim we are to
underftand Emitn, a Gigantick fort of People, men-
tioned in Scripture, and next Neighbours to the Ho-
rites. Thefe Anah is faid to find, 7. e. to meet with-
al and incounter 3 or, rather, to havefall'n upon, on
a fudden and unexpectedly^ as this Phrafe he fhows
fignifies in Scripture. This Opinion he hath confirmed
with a great many Reafons 5 to which another late
learned Writer QVagenfeit) thinks an Anfwer may
be given : Though he inclines to it, if one thing
were not in the way ^ which makes him think, here
is rather meant fome Herb or Plant, called U/jl&v
which word the LXX. retains, not knowing how to -
tranflate it. And thus Aben Ezra affirms many In-'
terpreters of the Scripture have underftood it :
Which*
488 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Which feems to be the moft probable Conje&ure of
XXXVI. all others. See Wagenfeil in his Annot. upon that Ti-
WV-*-» tie of the Talmud, called Sota,p. 217, 218, &c.
As he fid the Ajfes ofZibeon his Father .~] The Sons
of Princes were wont to follow this Imployment, in
ancient Times, as Bochart fhows out of many Au-
thors: Particularly the Scholia!} upon Homer sOdyfes.
To 7m\ctjQv, it, ol r$ BauiMdev '&ziS)><; i7n)ijucLjV(^. Hiero-
zoic. P. I. L. II. Cap. 44.
Verfe 28, Ver. 28. The Children of "Difban are thefe : Vz, &c]
From this Man the whole Country, or a great part of
it, is called by the Name of Vz,Lament. IV. 21. which
was in Arabia Petr£a, in the Borders of the Land of
Canaan.
Verfe 3b. Ver. 30. Thefe are the Dukes that came of HoriT]
This Horl was the Anceftor of Seir $ by whom this
Country was firft planted.
Among their Dukes."] Or, according to their Fami-
lies 5 or Principalities.
Verfe 31. Ver. 31. And thefe are the Kings that reigned in
the Land of Edom7\ It appears by this, that after fe-
veral Dukes (as we tranflate it) had ruled the Coun-
try} the Edomites changed their Government into
a Monarchy, And here follows a Catalogue of their
Kings. For I can find no ground for the Opinion
of thz Hebrew Doftors, that Alluphy a Duke, differed
in nothing from Melech, a King ^ but that the latter
was crowned, the former not crowned.
Before there reigned any King over the Children of
Jfrad7\ Mofes having a little before this (XXXV. 1 1.)
mentioned the Promife of God to Jacob, That Kings
fiould come out of hk Loins 5 obferves it as a thing
remarkable, being a great exercife of their Faith,
that Efau* Pofterity fhould have fo many Kings :
And
upon GENESIS 4%
And there was yet no King in Ifracl when he wrote Chapter
this Book, nor (as it is commonly interpreted^ along XXXVI.
time after. This Mofes might well write without a ^^sr^^
Spirit of Prophecy } nor is there any reafon to fay,
this Paflage wasinferted by forae Body elfe, after the
death of Mofes. We might rather affirm, if it were
needful, that Mofes his meaning is, AUthefe were Kings
in Eclom, before his own time: Who was the firft King
in Ifracl, Dtmt. XXXIII. 5. For he truly exercifed
Royal Authority over them, as Mr Selden obferves,
L. II. de Syncdr. cap. I, z.
Ver. 32. The name of his City was Dinhabah'] Of^erfe 32.
which he was Governor, perhaps, before he was made
King } and wherein he reigned.
Ver. 35. OfBozrah."] Which was afterward the Verfe at.
principal City of the whole Country ^ as we read in
the Prophet lfaiah. XXXIV. 6. and Jeremiah XLIX.^.
and Amos I. 12.
It feems, by this Lift of their Kings, that the King-
dom at this time was Ele&ive 5 for the Father did
ifot fucceed the Son. Which may have been the
reafon, perhaps, why it lafted but awhile, before
their Government was altered again, verfe 40. Mai-
monides hath an Opinion different from all others,
that none of thefe Kings were of the Race of £-
fan } but ftrangers, who oppreffed the Edomites :
And and here fet down by Mofes to admonifh the
Ifraelites, to obferve that Precepr, Deut. XVII,
1 5T. Not to fet a flranger to be a King over them, who
is not their Brother, I c. One of their own Na-
tion.
Ver. 35. Who fmote Midi an in the Field of Moal>.~] Verfc 35,
The Midianites, perhaps, came to invade them •$ and
Hadad march'd out and met them in the Frontiers
R r r tof
4po A COMMENTARY.
Chapter of their Country, which ^oyned to that of Moab :
XXXVI. Where he got a great Vi&ory over them.
WWj Ver, 37. And Saul of'Rehoboth by the River reign-
Verfe 37. ed, &c] If by the i?/z;er we (hould underftand Eu-
phrates, fas it ufually fignifiesj near to which flood
the City of Rekoboth, (Gen. X. 11.) it may feem
ftrange that one fhould be chofen from fo remote a
Country, to be King of Edom: Unlefs we fuppofe
him to have been born there, but to have lived in
Edom : And by his great Atchievements, to have got
into the Throne. Otherwife, we muft take this for
fome other City 5 which Rood by the moil known
River of this Country.
Verfe 38. Ver. 38. Baal-hanan^] This Name is the reverfe
(asl may call it) of Hani-ball.
Verfe 39. Ver. 39. His Wifes name was Mehetabel, &c] None
of their Wives, much lefs their Pedigree, are named
befides this alone: Which ftiows (he was an eminent
Woman in thofe times, and that Country 5 either
for Wifdom, or Parentage, orEftate, or fome other
Excellence.
Verfe 40, Ver. 40. And thefe are the names of the Dukes that
came ofEfau."] They feem now to have returned to
their firfl: Conftitution $ and Rings were laid afide for
fome time. But in future Ages, we find they chang-
ed-again, and then Kings reigned fucceffively, the Son
after the Father, as they did in Ifrael. Some think,
thefe were the great Men, who ruled in Edom, in Mo*
fes his time.
According to their Families, &c] They were the
Heads of different Families 3 and lived in different
Places ; and, perhaps, reigned at the fame time, in fe-
veral Parts of the Country : So the words feem to
import,
Ver.
upon GENES! %$\
Ver. 43. /// the Land of their Ptiftjfion.'] In their (
own County^ whilft the Seed of Jacob fojoarned in a XXXVII
hrange Country, and pofleffed no Land of their own. ^"^""^
He is Efait, &c] He ends as he began. This is Vcric
the Account of Efnu ^ the Father of the People who
are now Called Edontites.
CHAP, XXXVII.
Ver. 1. \ND Jacob dwelt in the Land, fcftjj Ha- Verfe 1.
±\ ving given us an Account of Efatts re-
moval to Seir, ( XXXVI. 6, 7.) and of the Profperity
of his Family there ; He now goes on to tell us, that
Jacob (till continued in the Country, where his Fa-
ther had fojourned, in the Land of Canaan.
Ver. 2. Thefe are the Generations of Jacob."] Thefe * erfe 2,
words are to be connefted with the latter end of
XXXV. 23,24, &c. where he relates how many Sons
Jacob had 5 and then gives an account of the Family
of Efan, (in the XXVI Chapter) which being ended)
he returns to finifh the Hiftory of Jacob.
And the Lad was with the SonsofBilhah, Sec."] Thefe
words vehu naar, fignifie he was very young, in the
fimplicity of hisChildifli Years ^and comein by way
of a Parenthefis, in this manner. Jofcpb being ft-
venteen Years old, was feeding the Flock with his
Brethren, (and he was but a Youth, unexperienced,
and therefore called a Child, verfe 30.) with the Sons
ofBilbah, See. Which laft words are an Explication
of the former, (bowing with which of his Brethren
he was. Not with the Sons of Leah, but with the
Rrr 2 So
492 A COMMENTARY,
Chapter S ns of his Hand-Maids: Particularly with Bilhabs
XXX Vit when) we may look upon as a Mother to him, now
w/"V\J Rachel was dead, having waited upon her. And
Zilphas Sons were alfo mentioned in the fecond place,
asthofe, it is likely, who were thought tohavelefs
emulation to him, than the Sons of Leah. But we
fee by this, how much our greateft Prudence often
fails : For Reuben and Judahy the Children of Leahy
had more kindnefs for Jofeph than any of tbe
reft.
Theh evil report."] What evil Lives they led.
¥€rfe 2. ^er* %* Becaufe he was the Son of his old Age."] Ben-
jaminwzs more fo than he 5 and the reft were born
not many Years before him .• But he is fo called, be-
caufe he had been married a good while to Rachel
before he had him ; And he was the greateft Comfort
of his old Age 5 Benjamin not being yet grown up,
to give any proof of his future worth.
He made him a Coat of many Colours."] It is com-
monly thought to fignifie a Garment wrought with
Threds of divers Colours > or made up of pieces of
Silk or Stuff, which had much variety in them 5 or,
wrought, as fome think, with Figures of Fruit, or o-
ther things. See Salmafius upon Flav.Vopifcus, p. 396.
But Braunius (de Vefiib. Sacerd. Hebr. L. \,cap. 17.)
hath proved, I think, that the Hebrew word Rrffim
here fignifies a long Garment, down to the Heels or
Ankles ^ and with long Sleeves, down to the Wrefts.*
Which had a border at the bottom, and a Facing fas
we fpeak) at the Hands, of another Colour, ditferent
from the Garment. See verfe 23.
Terfe 4^ Ver. 4. Could not fpeak, peaceably to him.] In a kind
and friendly manner .• But churlifhly, and with evi-
dent figns of hatred. Abe* Ezra fanfies, they would
not
upon G E N E S I S. 4P4
not fo much as ialutehim, or wifhhim . Chapter
Phrafe then was, peace be tothee)or^ ask him how h.j XXX VII
did 5 as our Cuftom is. L/*"WJ
Vcr. 5. fofeph dreamed a Dream.] This was ufual Verfe 5.
among the ancient Patriarchs, and others alio, as ap-
pears by Elihu : Who fhows that all Dreams w-
not Illufions of Evil Spirits, jF^XXXUI. 14, 15, Sec.
And long before his time Abtmelech was warned by
Cod in a Dream, Chapter XX. of this Book, Vcrfe 3,
6, 7. Upon which Confederation, (as Dr. Jackson
well obferves) we fhould not miftruft the Reports
of feveral ancient Hiftorians 5 who tell us how
Princes and Fathers of Families have had Fore-warn-
ings of future Events : Either concerning themfelves,
their Kingdoms, or Pofterity,/?^ I.upon the Creed,
chap. 9.
He told his Brethren.'] This argues hisgreat Inno-
cence and Simplicity 5 that he had not yet under-
(landing enough to confider, how ill this Dream
might be expounded • or, not Prudence enough to
conceal, what might be ill interpreted by them.
They hated him yet more.] The fir ft ground of
their Hatred was, their Father's great Love to him 5
and then, his informing their Father of their bad Be-
haviour : Which was ftill increafed by the fine Clothes
his Father beftowed on him -, and now mod of all,
by this Dream 5 which they interpreted to (ignifie his
Superiority over them.
Ver. 7, Tonr Sheaves flood round about 5 and made Verfe
obeyfancc, Sccf) Or, gathered round about mine .-
Which was fulfilled, when they came for Corn inta
Egypt \ of which thefe Sheaves, fome think, were an
opt Reprefentatioru
Vei
4^4 A COM JViENT ART
Chapter Vei\ 8. Shalt thou indeed reign over us Thy Mother is dead, (which is fuf-
ficient to (how the vanity of this Dream) and thy
Father fure is not to truckle unto thee 5 no, nor thy
elder Brethren.
Verfe 11. Ver. 11. His Brethren envied him.] Though Ja-
'cob feemed to flight what he faid ; it incenfed his Bre-
thren againfthim.
But his Father obferved the Saying."] He ^did not
look upon it as a mere fancy ^ but thought there
might befomething in it. And therefore, though
he
upon GENESIS ^
brew, Thk Mafler of Dreams 5 or, a frequent Dreaner \
one that hath Dreams at command,
4S>6 A COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 20. Caft him into fomepitT] Which they were
X'XXVII.wont to dig frequently in thofe Countries, to hold
^y~^'' Rain-Water for their Cattle, when they could not
Verie 20. fin£ a Springs or were near (0 a River.
Verfe 21. Verfe z 1 . He delivered him oat of their Hands \\ Pre-
ferved him from being murdred by them, as they in-
tended : Which he did by the following Counfel.
Which feemed to have (bmething of Humanity in
it 5 and yet would effed what they refolved.
Verfe 22. Ver. 22. Caft him into this pit7\ That he might pe-
ri(h with Hunger.
And lay no hands upon him, &c] Let US not kill
him. This he faid that he might fave his Life ^ in-
tending fecretly to draw him out of the Pit, and re-
ftorehim fafe to his Father. By which piece of good
Service, Reuben, perhaps, hoped to reconcile his Fa-
thertohim 5 who was juftly angry with him, for de-
filing his Bed, XXXV. 22.
Verfe 23. Ver. 23. His Coat of many Colours.'] By this itfeems
he was diftinguifhed frpm-t-he reft of his Brethren .-
Being net yet grownup to fuch laborious Imploy-
ments as they followed abroad; and therefore in*
dulged to wear a richer fort of Garment, with his
Father at home. For, according to the common No-
tion, it was wrought, or embroidered with Flow-
ers 5 which was accounted Noble, as well as Beauti-
ful, in ancient Times. Asappears by Plato, who, com-
mending the Government then admired in Greece,
compares it to fuch a Garment that hath variety of
Colours in it, L. VIII. de Republ p. 557. Kiv$iw&Ut
^/tfufxj avh t^J 7ro?\.fl&i£v it) odgsote^ l/Ltotnav noltuXov 7m*
mv avSsoi 7Ti7roi?ii?{ijuuci>cv, utoi fy ~s Had we not better make Money of him ?
Verie 26. j#j conceal his Blood!] Though we (hould be able
to conceal his Murder $ which is not eafie to do.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. For he is our Brother, and our Flejfj.'] Na-
tural Affe&ion perfwaded to this 5 rather than to the
other.
And his Brethren were content!] As many of them
as were then prefent ^ for Reuben was not among
them at this Confutation.
Verfe 28. Ver. 28. Then paffed by Midianites.] They are cal-
led ljhmaelites)x\Vt before, verfe 25. And fo they are
immediately in this very Verfe, {Sold Jofepb to the Ifl>-
maelites.] For they were very rear Neighbours,
and joyned together in Trade, making now one Ca-
ravan, with a Joynt Stock, as this Story intimates.
Read fudg. VIII. 1,3, 22,23,24,26. and it will ap-
pear the Scripture fpeaks of them* as one and the
fame People, in after-times.
For twenty pieces of Silver.'] Mod underftand fo
many Shekels .- Which was a very (mall Price $ but
therefore demanded and no more, that the Bargain
might be clapt up the fooner.
Verfe 29. Ver. 29. Reuben returned to the pit.] He pretend-
ing fomebufinefs, had withdrawn himfelf from the
Company, with an intention, when his Brethren were
gone from the Pit, to come privately and take Jofeph
out, and carry him to his Father. Upon that Defign
he now came thither.
Rent his Clothes.] As they ufed to do, when they
mourned for the dead .• Whereby he expreffed his
real Grief for his Brother.
Ver.
upon GENESIS. 499
Ver. 30. The Child if rot!} He is dead ^ a3 this Chapter
Phrafe commonly fignifies. XXXVH
M bother /hall I go?] I know not whether to flee, L^VNJ
to hide my felf from my Father's Anger. Who might Verfe 30,
juftly expeft the eldeft Son (hould take the greateft
Care of him,
Ver. 31. And they tooKJofeplh Coat, &c] His Bre- Verfe 31.
thren it feemsperfwaded Reuben alfo, to joyn with
them, in concealing the Sale of Jofeph^ and making
their old Father believe he was devoured by fome
wild Beaft.
Ver. 32. Theyfent the Coat, &c."}They firftfent it Verfe 32.
by a MefTenger 5 and immediately followed theru-
felves, with the Tale which is here related.
Ver. 33. An evil Beafl.] Some wild Beaft, of which Verfe 33.
there were great ftore in thofe Countries, (fuch as Li-
ons, and Bears) for he could not fufpett his Brethren
would kill him.
Ver. 34. Rent his Clothes, and put Sackcloth on his Verfe 34.
Loins!] This was thehighefi degree of Mourning in
thofe Days. We read often of putting on Sackcloth
in future Ages, upon fudi fad Occafions .• But this is
the firft time we meet with it } which fhows the great
Antiquity of fuch Cuftoms.
Mourned for his Son many days. ~] Beyond the or-
dinary time of Mourning. Many Tear's (as the word
Days fometimes fignifies") perhaps, till he heard he was
alive. So the following Verfe feeras to denote } that
he refolvcd not to ceafe Mourning for him, as long as
he lived.
Ver. 35. All his Sons and Daughters.'] He had but Verfe 35.
one Daughter : Therefore the meaning is, his Sons,
Wives, or their Daughters.
S f f a I witt
5oo A COMMENT ART
Chapter 1 will go down into the Grave, 8tc3 If Scheol here
XXXVU.be expounded Grave, then the next words muft be
W xr^ thustrantkted, mourning for my Son x, as R. Solomon
interprets them. For Jofeph was not buried in a
Grave $ and therefore he could not think of going
down to him thither. And thus Chrijlophorus a Ca-
Jira upon thz Second of Baruch acknowledges Scheol
Ggnifies in this place, and interprets it in cthis man-
ner. Lugere non definam, donee me fepultur<£ deman-
detis. I will not ceafe to mourn, till you lay me
in my Grave. But if we follow our Translation,
which is moft common, / will go down to my Son,
then Scheol muft fignifie the State, or Place of the
Dead 5 as it often doth .• And particularly Ifaiah XIV.
f where the King of Babylon is exprefly denied the ho-
nour of a Grave, verfe i^~2U^Scire^l is faid, to be
moved for him, and to meet him, and to ftir up the dead
for him, Verfe 9.
Thus his Father wept for him.") Continued bis
Mournings not only by wearing Sackcloth, but in
fuch paffionate Expreffions as thefe.
Verfe 36. Ver. 36. And theMidiamtesT] In the Hebrew the
word is Medanim (a diftinft Name from thofe Verfe
38.) who were a People derived from Medan, one
of the Sons of Keiurah, and Brother to Midian,
XXV. 2. They and the Midianites lived near toge-
ther in Arabia, not far from the IJhmaelites : Who
all joy ned together in this Caravan, and made one
Society of Merchants }. confifting of Medanites, Mi-
dianites, and IJhmaelites.
. An Officer*"] The Hebrew word Saris> often times
Signifies an Eunuch : By whom the Eafiern Queens
were attended. But it likewife fignifies all the great
Courtiers, (as the Chatdee here tranflates it) fuch as
the
upon GENESIS- $01
the Bed Chamber- Men, the Lord Chamberlain, (as we Chapter
now fpeak) and fuch like Officers of State .• And XXXVII.
therefore is rightly tranllated here, for Potiphar had a
Wife. The truth is, this was the prime fignification
of the word : Till, in after times, the depravation
of Manners, and the jealoufie of the Eaflern Kings,
made them fet none but Slaves, who were caftra-
ted, to attend their Queens 5 by whom they were
preferred to great Offices } and focame to enjoy this
Name.
PharoahT] This was a common Name to all the
Kings of Egypt. See XII. 1 5.
Captain of the Guard.~\ The LXX. tranflate it, Ma-
fterCook^: And fo Epiphanius calls his Wife, t"t&'K<*-
^outyoApu, H£ref. XXVI. n. 17. Our Margin hath it,
thief of the Slaughter- wen, ox Executioners. But the
word Tabachim may better be translated Soldiers,
than Butclxrs, or Executioners : And here, fome think,
may denote him, whom we call the Provoft-Marfhal.
Others, will have it, The Mafter of the Horfe. But I
fee no more proper tranllation than ours, Captain of
the Guard : Or, rather, Chief Commander of the
Kings's Guard 5 fuch an one as Nebuzaradan was,
2 KingsXXV. 20. For Schar is more than one whom
we now call a Captain. See XL. 3. This Phrafe
Schar- Hatabachim is explained by Hettinger out of the
Etbiopicl^Tonguz. See Smegma Orient, p. 85.
CHA P,
502 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter
XXXVIII
L/V\J
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Verfe i. Ver. i. AT that time.~\ It is uncertain whether he
±\ mean at the time Jofeph was fold (which
is juft before-mentionedjor^at the time J acob return-
ed from Mefopotamia to live in Canaan, XXXIII. i8.or
when he went to fettle with his Father at Mamrey
XXXV. 27. But, take it any of thefe ways, there was'
time enough for all the Events following, before they
went inro Egypt $ fuppofing Judah's Children to have
married very young .• As may be feen in moft Inter-
preters.
Judah went down from his Brethren!] Either upon
fome bufinefs, or in fome difcontent.
Adul/amite.~] A Citizen of Adullam } which was a
femous Town or City, that fell afterwards to the
Tribe of Judah: Whofe King was (lain by Jofhua,
XII. 19. And where there was a famous Cave, in
which David hid himfelf, 1 Sam. XXII. 1.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. Judah faw there7\ So as to fall in- Love
with her. For, according to the old Saying, 'Ex rS
A Daughter of a certain Canaanite'] It was not fo
bad for a Man circumcifed to marry the Daughter of
one uncircumcifed 5 as it was to give their Daughters
in Marriage to an uncircumcifed Husband, ("XXXIV.
1 4 J For an uncircumcifed Man was accounted unclean,
though he had renounced Idolatry ; But a Woman
born of uncircumcifed Parents, was not fo accounted 5
if (he embraced the worfbip of the True God. Whence
Salmon
upon GENESIS 503
Salmon, a great Man in the Tribe of JuJah, married Chapter
Rahab who was a Catiatnite. Such a one we mull: (up- XXX VllI
pofe this Woman, whom Jndah married, to have^-^v^^-^
been 5 orelfe he had offended his Father, as much as
Efau did ]faacy by marrying the Daughters of Heth.
il'bofe name was Shuah."] Her Father's Name was
Shnah, verfe 12.
He toother.'] To be his Wife, verfe 12.
Ver. 5. And he was at Chezib when fie bare /vw.] Vtrfe 5.
Some think this Town the fame with Achzib, belong-
ing to Jttdah, Jofi. XV. 44. But why Mofes menti-
ons his Abfence when this Child was born, and why
he fets down the Place where he then was. we cannot
give an account: Though there was, no doubt, fome
fpecial Reafon for it. Perhaps it is to fhow, why (he
gave the Name to this and to her former Son, ("where-
as he himfelf named the firit, verfe 3 Jbecaufe he was
not at home when they were born.
Ver. 6. Whofe name wasTamar7\ She feems alfo to Verfe 6.
have been a Woman of Canaan 5 but not an Idolater.
Ver. 7. Was voiced in the fight of the LO R D.~\ Verfe 7.
i.e. Exceeding impious 3 and thatnotorioufly. Sec
Gen. X. 9. What particular Sins he was guilty of,
is but conje&ured. Some fanfie they were of the fame
Nature with his next Brothers. See Bonfrere, or Me-
nochtus out of him.
And the LOR D flew him.'] Cut him offfudden-
}y, by fome unufual ftroke.
Ver. 8. 60 in unto thy Brother s Wife, Sec] This Verfe 8.
(fay the Hebrew Do&orsJ was an ancient Cuftom, in
force by the Law of Mofes : Which only enafted
what had been formerly pradiifed, (Matwon. P. III.
cap. 49. More Nevoch.) that when a Man died with-
out Iffue, his next Brother fhould marry his Wife,
Dent.
504 ^ COMMENTARY.
Chapter Dent. XXV. 5. Which Cuftom afterward extended
XXXVIII to the next Coifin, if no Brother remained.
\y\T\J Andraife up Seed unto thy Brother. ~] Preferve thy
Brother's Name and Family , by begetting a Child,
which may be accounted his, and inherit his Eftate.
For fo the Law was; that the Firft-born offuch a
match was not to be lookt upon as a Child of him
that begat him * but as his Brother's, who was the
Mother's firft Husband, All the following Children
were to be his own.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. Onan knew that the Seed jhould not he Afr.]
i.e. The Firft-born (hould be reputed his Brother's
Child.
Left he Jljould give Seed to his Brother?] Or, left a
Child Jhould he born in the name of his Brother ', as the
Vulgar Latin interprets it very exaftly, according to
the Opinion of the Hebrews 5 as Mr. Selden obferves,
L. VII. de Jure N.&G. cap. 3.
Verfe io, Ver. 10. The thing which he did difpleafed the
LOR D.] This made his Sin the more heinous, that
he afted againft the Divine Promife made to Abraham,
concerning the multiplying of his Seed 5 Especial-
ly againft the Belief of the Promife of the Metfi ah 5
thztSeed for which all good Men longed.
Verfe 1 1 . Ver. 1 1 . Remain a Widow in thy Fathers Houfe, &C 3
It feems the Contraft of Marriage at firft, was fo un-
derstood in thofe Days, that if the Husband died
without Iffue, the Woman muft marry his next Bro-
ther 5 and, as long as any of his Brethren remained,
they were bound to marry his Wife, and preferve
their Brother's Memory ; Or, elfe Solemnly renounce
her, to their great infamy and difgrace. This was
fo well known, that there is nothing in the Law,
that enjoyns any new folemn Contraft in fuch a
Cafe .•
upon GENESIS, 505
Cafe: Becaufe the firfl: Husband being dead, (he and Chapter
the next Brother were Man and Wife, without anyXXXVHF.
further Agreement, by Virtue of the Original Law : lS*\T\j
Until he renounced her. Yet by the Conftitutions
afterwards made by their Elders, it was ordained,
that hefhould efpoufe and endow her folenmly be-
fore Witnefles: As Mr. Seldcn (hows in his Uxor
Hebr. Lib. I. cap. 12. and Lib. 2. cap. 2. and io.
But Judah thought Selah was too young to per-
form this contraft 5 and therefore defired her to ftay
till he was grown up.- And to abide in her own Fa-
ther's Houfe, rather than in his ^ that Selah might
not think of Marriage too foon.
For he f aid) Left per adventure he die alfo7\ This
fome make an Argument, that he never intended to
give her his Son. But it is more agreeable to verfe
24, and 26. to think that according to the Cuftom
of thofe Days, he could not refufe it. And there-
fore he thought it was their youthful Folly, which
made his two other Sons peri(h : Which made him
refolve to keep this till he had more Difcretion, and
was better inftrufted in his Duty. Or, if we imagine
their Sin was known to none but Tamar^ the mean-
ing may be, that he thought their marrying too young
was the caufe of their death : And therefore he de-
termined to keep this only remaining Son, till he
was of a riper Age.
Ver. n. In procefs of time \] In the Hebrew the Verfe 12.
words are, The Days were multiplied, i. e. after fome
Years.
To Timnath.'] A Town not far from Adullam^ it is
probable, for it was alfo within the Lot of the Tribe
of Judah, Jofh.XV.-57.
Ttt He
$c6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter He went up to Timnath.'] Some have made a diffi-
XXXVIU.culty about this Phrafe: For Sampfon is faid to have
*-/*VNj gone down to Tiwnath,Jndg.X\V> 5. But they fhould
have confidered (as Bochart obferves, P. I. Hiero-
zoic. L. III. cap. 4.) that thefe were two different
Places, one called Timnah, the other Timnathah :
This in the Tribe of Judah } the other in the Tribe
of Dan. To this they went up, becaufe it was in a
mountainous Country : To the other they went down,
becaufe it was in a Valley.
To hk Sheep -foe arers.'] It was the Cuftom at fuch
times to make a Feaft, (as we do now) and to in-
vite their Kindred and Friends to it, (as he doth his
Friend Hirali) which appears fufficiently from the
Story of Abfalom, 2 Sam. XIII. 2 3. For in thofe
Countries, where they had vaft Flocks, Sheep/hearing
was a kind of Harveft : Which made that time to
be obferved with fuch Joy, as there ufed to be in
Harveft. Whence David's Servants faid to Nabal,
that they were come to him on a good Day 5 for he
was (hearing Sheep, 1 Sam. XXV. 8. Accordingly
Judah having finiQied the time of mourning for his
Wife, went to recreate himfelf, with his Friends, atr
this Feftival Seafon.
Verfe 1 4. ^er. 1 4- Me put off her Widows Garments.'] In which,
itfeems, fuch Perfons continued, till they were mar-
ried to the next Brother. But (he, at this time, laid
them afide, that he might not have the lead fufpicion
fhe was the Perfon whom he courted.
Covered her with a Veil'] As all Women did, in
the Eafiern Countries, when they went abroad : And
there are Examples of it alfo in the Wejiern Parts
of the World ^ as Mr. Seldm at large (hows, in
his Uxor Hebraic a, L. IIL caf. 17* Where he pro-
duces
L
upon GENESIS. 507
duces feveral Paflages out of the Alcoran requiring Chapter
this. XXXVIII.
Wrapt her fclf] Muffled her Face with it, as we L/"V~V/
fpeak, that (he might not be known.
And fat in an open place."] Where two Ways met,
as the Hebrew words feem to import: Unlefs we take
it for a proper Name, as it is in the Margin of our
Bibles. Either way, itfignifies, in a Publick Place,
where every Body might fee her. It is commonly
noted, That there was lb much Modefty left, in thofe
ancient Days, that Harlots both went veiled, and
alfo fat without the Cities, (fee Origen L. IV. contra
Celftim, p. 206.) But, however the latter part of this
Obfervation be, the former part of it is not true.
For, as Bochartus obferves, (P.I. Hhrozoic. Lib. II
cap. 46.) Proprium fnit meretricum non velari, fed re-
velari 5 it was proper to Harlots not to be covered,
but to go bare-faced : As appears from Ifai. XLVII.
3. Nahum. III. 5, 8cc. All that can be anfwered to
this is, That it might be otherwife, in very ancient
Times. Which I do not take to be true : For all
Women, as I obferved before, were covered 5 and
therefore Harlots were diftinguirtied only by their
fitting in the High- ways, not by their Veils.
For fie faw that Selah was grown, and foe was not
given, &c] She refolved, if (he could, to have a
Child by one of this Family ^ and hoped, perhaps,
that Selah might come along with his Father, and
have the fame Defires his Father had : And in thofe
Days (as I noted before,) there were no fuch So-
lemnities required, as the Jews afterward^ ufed
(though the Law did notenjoynit) to the making
a Marriage with one's Brother's Wife. Which was
to be contf a&ed, they fay, before two Witneffes, and
T 1 1 x by
^08 A COMMENTARY
Chapter by giving a piece of Money, or a Writing: But this
XXXVIII. was ordained only by their Elders, not by the Ori-.
L/*"V*\J ginal Law. See verfe i r. And therefore (lie thought
if (he could have caught Selah by this Device, it
would have been held Lawful : But this Plot failing
her, fliefo far tranfgreffed, as to admit Jttdah himfelf
to lie with her.
Verfe if. Ver. 15. Becaufe fhe covered herface.'] This is not
the reafon why he took her for an Harlot 5 but why
he did not know her to be his Daughter-in-law, (as
Mr. Selden obferves in the place before-named, verfe
14.) becaufe he could not fee her Face : And he
thought her to be an Harlot, becaufe (he fat in tri-
vio, in the High-way 5 where (he publickly expofed
herfelf.
Verfe x6. Ver. 16. Let me come in unto thee,'] There was an
exprefs Law that there (hould be no Kedefiah for
Whore) among the Daughters of 7/JW, h e. none
who (hould proftitute her Body without Marriage,
Dent. XXIII. 18. Levit. XIX. 29. But before the
giving of the Law (faith Maimonides) if a Man
found a (ingle Woman in a Publick Place, and they
agreed on certain terms, to lie together without be-
ing married, they were not punitbed. See Mr. Sel-
deny L. V. de Jure N. &G. cap. 4.
What wilt thou give.we .3 That which made fuch-
Fafts not to be punifhed, was (faith the fame Mai-
monides) becaufe of the Contraft which pafled be-
tween them. This Reward which he gave the Har-
lot for the ufe of her Body, being like the Dowry a
Man gave his Wife, when he put her away : Which
being paid, it was thought he did her no wrong.
More Nevoch. P. III. cap. 49. They that would now
have their wicked Practices warranted by fuch Ex-
ampleS;
upon G E N E S I S. 50
amplest (hould conGder that every thing not punifh- Chapter
ed by Men, was not allowed by God: And that weXXXUIL
now live under another Dilpeniation, which expreily ^V*\J
forbids inch uncleannefs 5 and d - that not on-
ly Adulterers, but Whoremongers, God will judge, i. c.
punifh, Hebr. XIII. 4. See verfe 23.
Ver. 17. A Kid from the Flocks Which was lookt Verfe 17,
upon as a valuable Prefent, in thole Days 5 as I have
obferved before, XXVII. 9.
Wilt thou give me a Pledge, &c] A Pawn, as we
now fpeak, to be returned, when he Tent what he
promised.
Ver. 18. Tly Signet7\ His Ring, wherewith he Verfe 1 8.
fealed.
Thy Bracelets^] The Hebrews generally undcrftand
by this word, his Cloak, or fome fuch Garment. O-
thers, his Girdle.
And thy Staffs."] Which, it is likely, had fome-
thing in it, to diftinguifh it from other Mens Staffs,
And (he asks fo many things, that by. fome or other
of them fif not by all J it might be certainly known,
who was the Father, if (he proved with Child.
And he came in unto her."] Not publickly 5 but in
fome by place, to which they retired.
And fie conceived by him J Though he did not
know her, yet fhe knew him : Which aggravated her
Crime, and made it Incefi'm her, though only F01
cation in him. Unto which, one would think, fhe
was tampted, by her vehement defire to I
Child, by one of this Family 5 unto v. le Pro-
mife of the Mefjiah belonged. For though (he
to have been one of the Seed of Speak-
ing as one aftonilhed at his Eruption. For it was
without Example^ and therefore the Novelty of the
thing, made her break out into this Exclamation.
Though, if it be true which a learned Anatomift af-
firms 5 that where Twins are of the fame Sex, they
are wrapped in the very fame Stcundines, as they call
them, (whereas thofe that are of a different, are fepa-
rated by diftititt Inclofures) the other Son being
ftronger and more vigorous, might force his way the
more readily, when his Brother was nearer to the
Birth. Fernelius, L. VII. Phyfiolog. cap. 12.
This breach be upon thee.'] Take thy Name from this
Breach. Be thou ever called Eruption or Breach } as
Bochart interprets it. Hierozoic. P. 1. 1. II. cap. 3a
V v v Ver.
^i4 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 90 Called Zarah."] Which mod: think figni-
XXXIX. fiesas much as, he arifeth, (being ufed commonly of
^V"V■^o the Sun's riling) becaufe this Child appeared firft, by
Verfe go, putting out his Hand before the other.
CHAP. XXXIX.
Verfe i. Ver. 1. \^D J°feP^l Having ended this Story
l\ of Judah, he returns to that of Jofeph,
which he had begun before in the XXXVII Chapter $
repeating, where he left off, how he was fold to P-
tiphar.
Brought down."] It is a defcent from Jud
Ver. 17. Came in unto me to mocl^me.'] To offer Verfe if 7
Violence to me (as the Hebrew Phrafe fignifies) and
rob me of my Chaftity.
Ver. 18. He left his Garment with me."] Philo ob- Verfe 18.
ferves, that this was an Argument rather, that (he
laid hands on him : For he could have eafily taken
his Garment from her, if he had not fled haftily from
her Importunity. But her Husband's Jealoufie made
him credulous.
Ver. 20. JofepVs Mafter took, him, Sec] Caufed Verfe xc>
him to be apprehended, and carried to Prifon. Du-
ring his Anger, he would not hearken to the Apolo-
gy, which we cannot but think he offered to make
for himfelf. Unlefs we fuppofe (which is not un-
likelyj that his Mafter would not fo much as fee
him$ but ordered him immediacely to be hurried to
the GoaL
A place where the Kings Prifoners were bound.1}
Where the King himfelf caofed thofe, who had of-
fended
5JP9 "A COMMENT ART
Chapter fended him, to be committed. This (hows Potiphar
XXXIX. was a great' Man, (fee XL. 3 J and that he lookt up-
l/'VSJ on the Crime as very great : For this Prifon, we muft
think, was moft ftritHy guarded, that they who were
thrown into it, might notefcapePuniftiment. And
it appears by what the PfalmJJi fays, CV. 18. that the
Priioners were hardly ufed : And that Jofeph (XL.
15.) was thruft into the loweft part of the Prifon :
Which was the moft difmal 5 as well as of greateft
difficulty to make an efcape out of it.
And he was there in the Prifon.] His Mafter pro-
ceeded no further aga'mft him .- But there he left him.
Perhaps, jofeph found means to let him know the
truth ,• which made him not form any Procefs to
take away his Life, or inflift any other Punifhment on
him: And yet, to fa ve his Wife's Credit, he let him
lie in the Prifon.
Verfe ai. Ver. 21. The LORD was with Jofeph.'] The fame
Wifdom, and Vertue appeared in him, now he was
in Prifon : That his Mafter difcerned, when he came
firft into his Houfe, verfe 2.
Give him favour!] So that he had more liberty
than the reft, after fome (hort Confinement.
Keeper of the Prifon.] The Under- keeper, it ap-
pears from XL. 4.
Verfe 2 2. Ver. z 2 . Committed to Jofeph' s Hand, Sec!] His Fa-
vour increafed fo much fas it had done in his Ma-
tter's Houfe, verfe 4 .) that he, ineffeft, was the Kee-
per of the Prifon 3 not a Prifoner.
CHAP,
upon G E N E S I 1*9
Chapter
XL.
CHAP. xr.
Ver. iTJJ 7) offended their Lord.'] In the HcbrewVtik i„
li. is a word of the Plural Number for
Lord, viz. Adonim 5 ratione dignitatis, faith Bochar-
tus 5 becaufe of his high Authority. And fo it is ufed
not only, when he fpeaks of the King, but of great
Men 5 particularly otjofeph's Matter, XXXIX. 2.
Interpreters do butguefs at their Offence : Which
might as well be an attempt upon his Life, fby Poi-
fon, or other waysj as any thing elfe.
Ver. 2. Wrath againjl two of his Officers.'] They are Verfe %.
called by the fame Name of Dignity (vfaSaris) which
we met withal before, XXXVII. 36. For in all Courts
fuch Officers had a principal Place. See verfe 4
Chief Butler."] Or, Cup-bearer to the King, verfe 13.
He (imply named the Butler and Baker in the fore-
going Verfe : But now the Schar ("as the Hebrew word
\%) which in the nexttrerfe wetranflate Captain^ i. e.
the Principal Officer of thofe kinds. Which would
incline one to think, that fome Under-Butler and Ba-
ker wereaccufed of a great Fault, for which the Head-
Butler and Baker were toanfwer: Who,perhaps, were
difcovered to have ordered them to do what they
did.
Chief Baker!] Who took care of all baked Meats,
and Confeftions, &c. verfe 17.
Ver. 3. He put them in UW,ta.] To be kept Verfe 3
clofe Prifoners.
U
$so A COMMENTARY
Chapter In the Houfc of the Captain of the Guard, &c] In that
XL. Prifon, of which Potiphar had the chief Cuftody. Who
L/"V"NJ by this appears to have been fuch an Officer, as we call
Lieutenant of the Tower.
Into the Prifon, where Jofeph wot bound. ~\ Into that
very place where Jofeph had been bound. For now
he was at liberty, in the Prifon.
Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And the Captain of the Guard charged Jo-
feph, &c.]] By this it appears Potiphar % Anger was
mitigated towards him (having heard the Truth, it
is likely, before this time) and was of the fame Mind,
with the tinder- Keeper of the Prifon : Who intrud-
ed all in Jofeph3 s hand.
And he ferved thentT] Attended upon them (which
{hows they were great Perfons) to provide them
what they wanted, &c.
And they continued afiafbn.'] The Hebrew word is,
Jamim, i.e. Days : Which frequently fignifiesa Year;
as hath been obferved before, XXIV. 55.
■Verfe 5» Ver. 5. Each Man according to the Interpretation of
• his Dream.'] Suitable to the Office which he had held 5
and to the Events, which were (hortly to befal them.
Verfe (S. Ver. 6. Jofeph came unto them in the Morning."] To
fee that they were fafe, and to know wliat they
wanted.
And behold they were fad!} It was very extraordina-
ry, that they (hould both of them dream, in the fame
Night, fuch Dreams as had a great refemblance, one to
the other; and feemed to import a great Change in
their Condition : Which made fuch a deep Impreffion
upon them, that they were felicitous to know the
meaning.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. We have dreamed a Dream, and there is no
Interpreter of it.] i.e. Here in Prifon, we have not
the
upon GENESIS, $?i
the opportunity, of getting them interpreted. If they Chapter
hid been at liberty, there were Men in thofe Coun- XL.
tries who pretended to the Skill of Interpreting
Dreams. Which for the mod part were not to be re-
garded 5 but fome Dreams carried fuch lively repre-
sentations in them, and fo fuitable to their prefent
Condition, and made likewife fo great a Commotion
in their Spirits ^ that they could not but attend to
them : Nay, think God had fentthem, and therefore
defire to know the meaning of them.
Thus we find Achilles advifing Agamemnon (in Ho-
Homers Iliadl.) to confult with the Interpreters of
their Gods, for what Offence they had fent the Plague
among them 5 faying, To what Prieji, or to what lJro»
phetfiall we go $
*H K, h&ejTnXoV) % yz£ r wag &%. Aiq$ 'fay.
Or to what vender of Dreams . For even Dreams come
from Jupiter.
Do not Interpretations belong to God?] Who can
fhow the meaning of Dreams, but he that fent them ?
viz. God. This (hows that God did fometimeadmo-
ni(h other Nations (as we faw XX. 6. XXXI. 24.)
as well as the Jews by Dreams .• Until they forgot (as
Dr. Jack/on judicioufly fpeaks) that Interpretations
were from God, and laboured to find out an art of In-
terpreting.] Then they either ceafed, or were fo mix-
ed with delufions, that they could not be difcerned .•
Or, if their Events were in fome fort forefeen 5 yet
Men, being ignorant of God's Providence, common-
ly made choice of fuch means for their avoidance, as
brought upon them the Events which they feared,
Book}, on the Creed, chap. 9.
X x x . • Ver.
r,2 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter Ver. 12. The three Branches, are three Days."] i.e..
XL Signifie three Days. So he underftood their meaning
U^V^vj to be, rather than Months or Tears $ becau'e of their
Verfe 12. fudden budding, bloffoming, knitting, and ripening
of the Crapes, verfe 10.
Verfe 13, Ver. 13. Shall lift up thy Head.~]i. e. Advancethee j
or, asitisin the Margin, reckon thee } number thee
among his Servants (as thePhrafeisufed, Exod.XXXl.
12.) For there being a Roll, or Catalogue of all the
Officers of the Court, with their feveral Salaries, they
were all called over on fome certain Day (it fhould
feem by verfe 10. before the Rings Birth- Day) and
fummoned to give their Attendance. And then fuch
as the Ring was offended withal, were (truck out, and
punifhed according to their deferts 5 or pardoned and
gracioufly reftored to their Places. This Expofition
bed: agrees with the Event, verfe 2c. where the Heads
of both thefe Officers are faid to be lifted up : Though
one of them only, was advanced to his former Sta-
tion.
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. But thinh^on nit, when it /hall be well with
thee, 8cc/] When my Predi&ion is come to pafs, I
ask no other Reward of thee, but that thou wilt
be an Inftrument of delivering me from my Im-
prifonment. Jofeph was not only grown expert in
interpreting Dreams, (which he was not before he
came into Egypt, XXXVII. 6, Sec.) but fully affured
he knew the right meaning ofrthem 5 as appears by
this Paflage. And fuch kind of Predictions by
Dreams were frequent in ancient Times, among the
Heathen , as well as among the Hebrews : Though in
after Ages they grew rare in both. For (as Dr. Jack-
fon admirably fpeaks, in the place before-named^) the
increafe of Wickgdnefs in the World y multiplicity of
Bujtnefs ^
upon GENESIS ?a;
Bufmefs \ folicitude of Mind about worldly Affairs } Chapter
and Mens too much defending on Politicly Devices to XL.
accomplilh their Ends ^ caufed the defeft of true ^^^^^
Dreams, and of other Divine Admonitions, for the wel-
fare of Mankind.
Ver. 15. Iwasfiolen.'] Carried away by Violence, Verfe ijf.
without the knowledge of my Father > and fold for
a Slave. His Brethren, in felling him, committed
that Crime, which the Latins call Plagium. For,
Qti'ihominem liberum vendit, flagiarius eji.
Out of the Land of the Hebrews^] Some Men would
have it thought, that thefe words were added by Jo-
fiua, or tome other, after Mofes his time ; Becaufe
Canaan was not called the Land of the Hebrews in his
days, much lefs in JefepVs. But they (hould have
confidered, that Jofephdoth not call all the Land of
Canaan by this Name , but only that part of it.
where Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob had very long li-
ved, viz. about Hebron. There Abraham ( who was
the firft that is called an Hebrew) fettled with his Fa-
mily, when he came out of Chald^v^^-^
growth of the Fertil) but by their remaining Lean,
as if they had eaten nothing : Which reprefents what
often happens in Famine : that Men eat greedily,
but are not fatisfied : Becaufe God breaks the Staff of
Bread, Lcvit.XXVl. 26. /. e . takes away its nourilh-
ing Virtue 5 as Bochart expounds it, Hierozorc. P. \.
Lib. II. cap. 4.1. But this feems to be a (training of that
Phrafe, break, the Staff of Bread : Which fignifies no
more, than want of Bread to fupport Man's Life. And
all that can be gathered from this part of the Dream,
is 5 That there fhould be fuch exceeding great fear-
city, that Men (hould hive but juft enough to keep
them alive.
Ver. 25. The Dream of Pharaoh is one J] One and Verfe 25*.
the fame thing is reprefented, by two feveral Fi-
gures.
God hathfiewn Pharaoh what he is about to doJ] God
hath in thefe Dreams revealed by Pharaoh, what he
intends (hortlyto bring to pafs.
Ver. 26. The feven good kjne, &c] He reprefents Verfe 26.
in this, and in the following Verfe, how one thing is
(ignified by two Dreams. Seven good Kine, and fe-
ven Good Ears, reprefenting feven Years of plenty 3
and feven lean Kine, and feven empty Ears, as many
Years of fcarcity.
Ver. 28. This is the thing which I have fpoken, &c] Verfe 28.
I have told the King in (hort, \vh3t the Divine Pro-
vidence is about to effeft.
Ver. 29. Behold there come feven Tears, &C."] I will Verfe 29*
repeat it more at large. Take notice then, that in
the next feven Years to this, there (hall be very
Y y y 2 great
A COMMENT ART
great crops of Corn, every where, throughout the
whole Country.
Ver. 30. And there fhall arife after them,&cc7\ And
Verfe 50. immediately after they are ended, (hall follow feven
Years as barren as the former were fruitful 5 the Earth
bringing forth little or no Corn. Which will make
fo great a Famine, that there (hall be no memory of
the foregoing plenty ^ for there (hall be no Corn
left, but all eaten up, throughout all the Land of
Egypt.
Verfe 31. Ver; jr. And the plenty full not be hriown, Sec."] I'
fay, there (hall be no mark remaining of the fore-
going Plenty 5 by reafon of the extream Scarcity, in
the following Years, which will be very heavy.
Verfe 32.. Ver. 3 2 . And for that the Dream was doubled 5&c, ]The
repetition of the Dream fignifies the certainty of what
I fay: God having fo determined 5 who will fhortly
juftifie the Truth of my Predi&ions. But here,
and in the foregoing Difcourfe, verfe 25, 28. he dir
re&s Pharaoh to look up unto God, as the Author of
a[l thefe Events ^ and that not in an ordinary, but
extraordinary manner. For fuch Fertilty, and fuch
Famine did not proceed from mere Natural Caufes 3
but from an Over-ruling Providence. It is obferved
by Pliny, L. V. Nat. Hilt. cap. 9. that when Nile rofe
only twelve Cubits, a Famine followed ^ When thir-
teen, great Scarcity .-When fourteen, they had a good
Year : V/h^n fifteen, a very good .• And if it rofe fix?
teen, it mzde delicias, luxuriant Plenty .• And the
greateft increafe they ever knew, was to eighteen Cu-
bits. Now that this River ifaould overflow fo large-
ly for feven Years together, as to makevaft Plenty *
and then for the next feven Years not to overflow
its Banks at all or very little, and fo make a fore
and
upon GENESIS. 533
and long Famine; could be afcribed to nothing but Chapter
an extraordinary Hand of God ^ it being quite out XLI.
of thecourfe of Nature. And indeed the Dream ^-^"V^^
feemsto fignifie fomething beyond that,- for it is
unnatural tor Oxen to devour one another.
Ver. 33. Lookout a Man difcrcet and wife."] One Verfc 33.
fit to manage fo great an Affair. He that could fore-
tel fuch Events, was fit to advife what was to be
done upon the forefight of them .• But, it's probable,
he did not prefume to give fuch Directions, till he
was askt his Opinion. \
Ver. 34. Let Pharaoh do thU.'] When this is Verfc 34.
done.
Let him appoint Officers^] Let that chief Ruler ap-
point Officers under him, in the feveral Provinces
of the Kingdom.- Such as the Romans called Prtfetfos
Annona.
Take up a fifth partr\ Some have askt why not the
half, fince there were to be as many Years of Famine,
as of Plenty. To which fuch anfwers as thefe have
been given by Interpreters : That the greater and
richer fort were wont in time of Plenty to fill their
Store-Houfes $ as a Provifion againft a fcarcer Year,
which fometimeshapned. And, Secondly, That in
time of Famine, Men are wont to live more frugal-
ly 5 and not fpend fo much as they do in better times.
And, Thirdly, That even in thofe Years of greatefl:
Famine, fomething might be fown .- at lead near the
Banks of Nile. But the plained Anfwcr is, That ten
Parts being the Tribute due to Kings in many Coun-
tries, and it is likely here, (as I obferved upon
XXVIII. h/O Pharaoh was advifed to double this
Charge, in the Years of extraordinary Plenty :When
the fifth Part was not more than the tenth in other
Years
534 A COMMENT ART
Chapter Years. Or, (which is rather to be fuppofed from
XLI. a good Ring and a good Counce)Ior)tobuy as much
^v*wmore as was his Tribute ^ Which he might do at
an eafie rate, when vaft Plenty made Corn very
cheap.
Verfe 35. Ver. 35. Gather all the Food of thofe good Tears that
cotneT] The fifth Part of the growth of the next fe-
ven Years.
And lay up Corn?] In places provided for that pur-
pofe.
Under the Hand of Pharaoh."] Not to be medled
withal, but kept by Pharaoh's order 5 to be difpenfed
hereafter, as need (hall require.
And let them keep Food in the Cities."] Let this
Food be referved in the feveral Cities of the King-
dom.
Verfe 36. Ver. 36. And that Food /hall be for fioreT] Shall not
be f pent 5 but laid up and preferved again ft the time
of Famine.
That the Land, &c] The People of the Land do
ttotperilb.
Verfe 37* Ver. 37. And the thing was good in the Eyes, &c]
The King and all the Court were pleafed with this
Advice. Butfomemay wonder that Pharaoh and his
Minifters (hould fo readily believe a young Man,
and a ftranger ^ of a Nation whom they did not con-
verfe withal, and lately accufed of a great Crime.
But they may be fatisfied, by confidering, thztjofeph
had cleared himfelf in the Opinion of the Keeper of
the Prifon 5 where he had been known already to
have interpreted Dreams exaftly according to? the
Event! iii two notorious Cafes, which the chief But-
ler had reported, vtrfe 12, 13. And befides, his Ex-
pofition of the Figures which Pharaoh faw in his
Dream,
upon GENESIS. 535
Dream, was fo natural, that it was apt to beget be- Chapter
lief, if he had not been an Expounder of Dreams XLI.
before. And above all it is to be confiderei, that L/"V"\J
God who fent the Dreams, and made th< ' in
Pharaoh's Thoughts, difpofed his V.«-
ceive the Interpretation, with a deep SenCe of its
Truth.
Ver. 38. Pharaoh Jaid to his Servants.] The gre:.t Verfe 38.
Minifters of the Kingdom, and Officers of the Court,
who ftood about him.
In whom is the Spirit of ( rod.] Without which, he
could not forefee and foretel fuch things.
Ver. 39. And Pharaoh [aid unto JofephT] It feems Verfe 39.
all his Servants were of Pharaoh's Mind, andconfen-
ted to whathefaid .• Being amazed at the Wifdom,
which appeared in Jofeph.
Farafmuch as God hath foewed thee all this.] God
wrought in him the higheft Opinion of Jofcph^ as a
Man Divinely infpired.
There is none fo difcreet and wife as thou art.] Thou
thy felf art the only Perfon, whom thou advifeft me
to fetover the Land, verfe 33.
Ver. 40. Thou fialt be over my Houfe.] Be the chief Verfe 4c.
Minifter in my Court .• For that is meant by his
Houfe.
Aid according to thy word.'] As thou (halt give
Orders.
Shall all my People be ruled.'] The Margin tran-
ilates it armed ^ as if he put the whole Militia of the
Kingdom into his Hands : But this feems too narrow
aSence 3 nor was there any thoughts of War at this
time, but of the Government of the Kingdom in
time of Peace. And therefore we alfo tranflate it
kjfs, i. e. obey, as the LXX and Fulmar well tranil3te
it ;
536 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter it $ and as it fignifies in Pfalm II. ult. kjfs the Son,
X-LI. i- e. fubmit to him, and obey him.
L/^\T\J Only in the Throne will 1 be greater than thou.'] Thou
fhalt have no Superiour, but only my felf.
Verfe 41. Ver. 41, See, I havefet thee over al/ the Land of E-
gyptT] He had advifed Pharaoh only to feta Man to
be the chief Infpe&orof the Stores of Corn, verfe
33. (for which Pharaoh thought none fo fit as Jofeph
himkXfjverfe 39.) but he now constitutes him Chief
Governor, under him, in all Affairs of the whole
Country.
Verfe 42. Ver. 42. Took offhisRing^ &c] This is well ex-
plained by Vojfius^ Lib. I. de Orig. & Progr. IdoloL
cap, 9. in thefe words, Turn ut Symbolum dignitatis,
turn ad liter as & diplomat a publico no wine pgnandas :
Both in Token of the Dignity to which he was pre-
ferred 5 and that he might feal Letters and Patents in
the Kings Name.
Veflure of fine Linnen.] So the Hebrew word Schefch
fignihes, rather than Silk* ("as it is tranllated in the
Margin3 though not the common Linen, but that
which the Ancients called Byjfus : Which Pollux faith
was hfva 7z^@c, a fort of Linen, very pure, and
foft 5 and very dear ^ becaufe it did not grow every
where. Linum tenui\fimum& pretiojrjjimum, zsBrau-
nius (hows, Lib.l.deFeflib. Sacerdot. Hebr. cap. 6. In
Garments made of this, great Men only, not the
Vulgar People, were cloathed.- Kings themfelves,
it appears by Solomon, being arrayed in fuch Ve-
ftures.
Put a gold Chain about his Neck/] Another Token
of the higheft Dignity.
Verfe 43. Ver. 43. Made him ride in the fecond Chariot which
he had.] In the belt of the King's Coaches (as we
now
upon GENESIS- 537
now fpeak) except one, which Pharaoh referved for Chapter
himfelf : And attended, no doubt, with a fuitable XLl.
Equipage, of Foot-men, and Horie-riKn, perhaps, L/*VNJ
for a Guard to his Perfon.
Cried before him% Bow the Knee.*] They that uent
i Chariot, to make way for him, required all
lo him fuch Reverence, as they did to the King
himfelf, when he appeared.* Which was by bowing
r Knees or their Body. The word they ufed to
this purpoie, as they went along, was Ahrech: Which
we tranllate bow the Kneey deriving it from the He-
p word Barach, which hath that Signification.
Though others will have it to fignifie the Either of
the King : For Rack in the Syrian Language fignifies
a King, if we may believe R. Solomon. Others tran-
llate it, a tender Father -, viz^ Of the Councrv .. hich
he had preferved. ("See Vojfim, L. I. de Idolcl.
And Hottinger will have it as much as God fave the
lOffg^ or, a Blejjing light on yon. See Smtgm a Ori-
ent, p. 131. But unlels we underftood the old Egyp-
tian Language, I think we had as good reft in the
Hebrew Derivation, as in any othe; ; *: ording to
our own Tranflation.
And he made him Ruler over all the Land of Egypt.']
After this manner he conftituted him Suoreme Gover
nor of the whole Country, under himfelf.- Accord-
ing to his Refolution, verfe 41.
Ver.44. lam Pharaoh.'] This is my Will and Verfc 44.
Pleafure 5 who am King of Egypt.
Without thee fiall no Man lift up his hand or fc
See") A Proverbial Speech. Let no Man prelume to
do the ftnalleft thing, in Publick Affairs, without thy
Order.
Z z t Ver.
rfi% A> COMMENT ART
Chapter Ver. 45. And Pharaoh called Jofeph's Name^ He
LXI. gave him a new Name 5 partly, becaufe he was a Fo-
L/^VNJ reigner^ and, partly, to honour him;, and yet tode-
Verfe 45. note him to be his Subjeft, though Ruler of every
Body elfe. We find Nebuchadnezzar -did the fame \m
Babylon, Dan. J. 7. And it is ftill the Cuftom in the
Eafiern Countries .-, Where the Mogul never advances ;
any Man, but he gives him a new Name$ and that:
fignificant of fomething belonging to him. As not-:
long ago* he called his Brother-in-law Afaph Chan,
the gathering, or the rich Lord : And his Phyfician
MacrodChan^ the Lord of my Health, £cc as Peter de
la Valle relates in his- Travels, .p. 465; where he ob-
ferves-the fame of his Wives; p. 470.
Zaphnath Paaneah.] WhichSt* Hierom interprets,
the Saviour of the World. Butt the whole* Stream of
Interpreters carry it for another Signification; which
is the Interpreter of Secret s^ or the Revealer of future
things v See Sixt. Ant ansa, and Athan-. Kirker his Pro*
diontmi cap. 5* - and our Countryman J. Gregory ^hap.
16. of his Observations. Who, wich Mr. Calvin^
thinks it is ridiculous to attempt to make this Senfeout .
of the Hebrew Language: And yet there are thbfe who
think they have done it with fuccefs. Tzaphan being.
to hide or cover 5 .whence Tzaphnath, that which is-
hidden, or fecret ,a And P^nah fignifying^ to look into
or contemplate. So that Can/peg. Vitrigna thinks Jo*
fephm and P&/0 not to have ill interpreted this word,
^OmpoKZ/TK and xpvsftSv kvfkrrH,. (Obferv. Sacr. Lib. I.
cap. 5.) an Interpreter of Dreams, and a Finder out of
things hidden. But as Jacchiades obfervesupon DanA.j.
that the Egyptian and Perfian Kings gives Names, for
Honour and Glory, fin token of their Supreme Great-
nefsand Authority) fo it was moft for their Glory,
to
upon GENESIS. 539
to give them out of their own Language. And there- Chapter
fore if this be the meaning of Zaph-nath Paancah, the XLI.
Egyptian Tongue and the Hebrew had a great Affinity V^VNJ
one to the other.
And he gave him to Wife.} Either the King then
difpofed of the great Noble-Mens Daughters, when
their Parents were dead, (as our Kings lately did of
their Wards) or Afcnath was of Pharaoh's Kindred,
and fo he provided her a Husband, and gave her a
Portion. Or, the meaning fimply is 5 he made this
match for him.
The Daughter of Poi/pherah.'] This is a different
Name from his, who was Captain of the Guard ^ and
was of a different Quality. And therefore there is no
reafon from fome likenefs in their Names, to think
that Jofeph married the Daughter of him who had
been his Matter : For he would have abhorr'd to
match with one, that was born of fo lewd a Woman
as his Miftrefs, as Voffim well obferves in the place
fore-named.
Prhfl of On.'] Or, Prince of 0«, (as the Margin
hath it) tor the word Cohen fignifies both Prieft and
Frince, (fee x Sam. VIII. */f.) Priefts being anciently
the Prime Men of the Kingdom j for Kings themfelves
were Priefts.
On was a famous City in Egypt ^ called afterwards
Heliopolk : Which gave Name to one of the Nfyui,
i. e. Provinces of fcgypt, whereof this Pot/pherah
was Governor, or Lieutenant. Concerning which Pro-
vince, and Afinafk, and Potupherah^ fee Mr. Selden,
£,. III. de Synedrih^ p. 406.
And Jofeph went out over all the Land of Egypt."] To
fee what places were fitted: for Stores.
Zzzi Ver.
ij4o A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. $$• Jofeph was thirty Tears old."] So he had
LXl. been out of his own Country thirteen Years ;, for he
uO/^vj was but feventem Years old ( XXXVII. 2.) when he
Verte 46. was [0\& jnto Egypt. In which time, we may well
think, he had learnt the Language of that Country,
and gained much Experience 5 but never fent to his
Father : In which there is vifibly a fpecial Providence
of God ^ for his Father might have ufed means for
his Deliverance, and then he had never come to this
Greatnefs.
When he flood before Pharaoh.'] When Pharaoh made
him his Prime Minifter. For the great Counfellors
and Minifters alone, were admitted into the King's
Prefcnce, (m the Eaftem Countries, and, it's like, the
fame State, was kept here J and are faid to flank be-
fore the King, Dan. I. 29* and to fee the King's Face,
Eflher I. 14.
And went throughout all- the Land of Egypt 7] He
feems to have only taken a general view of the Coun-
try before, verfe 45. but now a more particular; to
give Ordersfor the Building of Store-H'oufes, againft
the plenteous Years came.
Terfe 47. Ver. 47. Brought forth by h'andfuls.] Such large
Ears, that a few of them would make a Sheaf : Which
our Tranflation feems here to mean hy handfnls :
For Sheaves are bound up with Mens Hands. And
fo it may be interpreted, it brought forth Sheaves,
or Heaps :■ Or, more literally, handfuls upon one
Stalky /. e. vaft abundance. Some conceive the Corn
was laid up in Sheaves, heaped up very high }
and not thrafh'd out : For fo it would keep the lon-
( ger-
Verfe 48. Ver. 48. And he gathered up all the Food."} The fifth
Part, as he had propofed, verfe 34. i. e. he bought it ^
which
upon GENESIS, 541
which he might do at a (mall Price, when there was Chapter
unufual Plenty. XLT.
And laid up the Food in the Cities.'] It is very pro- l/V\)
bafrle he laid it up, as it was gathered, unthrafh'd :
Th.it there might be Food for the Cattle alfo. So
the Vulgar, In manifnlos reduclx fegetes congregate
funt in horrea. And what wras laid up in the firft:
Year of Plenty 5 it is reafonable to think was dif-
penfed in the firft Year of Famine, &c.
Round every City.'] This was very wifely ordered 5
for it was lefs charge to Pharaoh for the prefent, and
more eafie to the Country, when they wanted Pro-
vifion.
Ver. 49. Gathered Corn as the Sand of the Sea.~] The Verfe 49.
following words explain this Hyperbolical Expreffi-
on. And the reafon of his heaping up fo much was,
that there might be futficient to fupply the Neceffities
of other Countries, as well asof Egypt.
Ver. 5 1 . God hath made me forget all my toil.'] The Verfe 5 I .
great Affli&ion, and hard Labour he endured inPri--
fon.
And all my Father s Floufe."] The Unkindnefs of his
Brethren, who were the caufe of all his Trouble.
By impofing this Name on his Firft-born, he admo-
nifhed himfelf in themidft of his Proiperity, of his
former Adverfity ; Which he now thought of with
Pleafure.
Ver. 52. In the Land of my Affliction.'] In the Coun- Verfe %i,
try where I have fuffered much Affiiftion.
Ver. 53. Andthefeven Years of Plenteoufnefs, were Verfe yg.
ended?] It was befide the Intention of Mofes to re-
late any of the Affairs of that Country, but what be-
longing to this Matter : And therefore he paffes over
all other Tranfaftions of thefe feven Years ^ as he
doth
$4* ■<* 'COMMENTARY
Chapter doth all the things that hapned in Jacob's Family, ever
XLl. fince fofeph came from it.
L#^VNJ Ver. 54. The Dearth was in all Lands!] In all the
Verfe 54. Countries thereabouts, Canaan, Syria, Sec. It feems
there was a general want of Rain.
Bnt in all the Land of Egypt there was Bread.] They
did not feel the Famine prefently, becaufe they had
much to fpare from the former Years of plenty.
Verfe 55. Ver. 55. And when all the Land of Egypt was fans jjh-
ed~\ When they had eaten up all their own Stores :
Which, we may fuppofc, failed in two Years time.
The People cried to Pharaoh, &cc] Made earneft Peti-
tions to the King, for relief of their Neceffities.
Verfe 56. Ver. 56. And the Famine was over all the face of the
Earth!] Grew ftill greater in all the Neighbouring
Countries.
And the Famine waxed fore in the Land of Egypt !]
For the Egyptian s themfelves, having (pent all their
own Stores, were forely pinch'd.
Verfe $7. Ver. 57. And all Countries came to buy Corn, &c.]|
£. e. The Neighbouring Countries, as was faid before,
verfe 54. For,if the moft diftant had come, the Store-
Houfes had been foon emptied.
Becaufe the Famine was fore in all Lands."] It in-
creafed more and more, in thofe Countries before-
named : Which were grievoufly affli&ed by it.
CHAR
upon G F N E S I ST $43
Chapter
— xlil
G H A P. XLIL
Ver. 1 . \ ND when Jacob faw that there was no Corn m Verfe 1 r
Xi'%^,&c,] He faw, perhaps, fome pafs
by laden with Corn,' which they had bought there.
Or, one Senfe (as is frequent in Scripture) is put
for another : Seeing for Hearing 3 as it is exprefled,
verfe 2.
1 1 hy do ye look^one upon another.?] As idle People ufe *
to do, while none of them will ftir to feek Relief.
Or, rather, as Men that know not what courfe to
take, expelling who- would begin to advife for their
Prefervation.
Ver. 2. That we may live, and not die."] He excites Verfe 2i
them to make no further delay, by the great Necefiity
wherein they were 3 no lefs than danger of perifh-
ihg.
Ver. 4. Left ntifchief befal hint.'] He being, as yet, Verfe 4,
but young, and not ufed to travel, Jacob was afraid
the Journey might be hazardous to him. Befides, he
could not but defire to have fome of their Company 5
though this was not his principal Reafon.
Ver. 5. Came- to buy Corn Among thofe that came J] Peo- Verfe 5*.
pie came from all Parts thereabout, upon the fame
bufinefs: And Jacob's Sons among others 5 whom,;
perhaps, they met withal upon the Road.
Ver. 6. And Jofeph rctsthe Governor ,Stc/) The He- Verfe 6<
brew word Schallit fignifies fometimes, one that hath
abfolute Power : And feems to be ufed here to fet
forth the high Authority which jfajfyA exercifed un-
der Pharaoh.
Ffr*
$44 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Fie it was- that fold to all the People of the Land?]
XLIL Appointed at what Rates Corn fhould be fold, in
U^VNJ every Part of the Country, For it is not to be fnp-
pofed that he in Prifon, could treat with every Man
that came to buy : But he, by his Deputies, who ob-
ferved his Orders.
And Jofeptis Brethren came."] It fhould feem by
this, that ail Foreigners, were ordered to come to
him 5 in the Royal City, where he refided : Or, at
leaft, their Names were brought to him, that he might
fpeak with fuch as he thought fit : And thereby get
the better Intelligence of the State of their feveral
Countries^ and be fure to fee his Brethren, who, he
knew, would be conftrained to come thither.
They bowed themfelves before him, &c ~] Unwitting-
ly fulfilled his Dream. This feems to have been done
after the manner of their own and other Bajiern
Countries-, not of Egypt 9 where they only bowed
the Knee, XL!. 40.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. Spake roughly to them.'] Gave them hard
words, as we fpeak. Or, fpake in harfti Tone to
them, and with a ftern Countenance.
•Verfe 8. Ver. 8. And- they kfiew not him?] They had not feen
him in twenty Years : In which time a Youth alters
far more than grown Men do 5 fo that, though he
knew them, they might not know him. Who ap-
peared alfo in fuch Pomp and State, that it made
them not think of him : And he fpake alfo to them
by an Interpreter, verfe 23. Which reprefented him
as a Stranger to them.
Verfe 9. Ver. 9. Te are Spies."] He did not think they were
Xuch Perfons, but faid this to provoke them, to give
-an account of themfelves, and of his Father. Nor
"is there any reafori to look upon this as a Lye. For
they
upon GENESIS. ^45
they are not words of Affirmation, butofPrc' Chapter
or Trial: Such as Judges ufe, when the
led Perfons, or Inquire into a Crime, of ' Inch :VWJ
Men are accufed. And therefore have the force of
an Interrogation } Are ye not Spies i Or, I muft take
you tor Spies, till you prove the contrary.
To fee the nakednefs of the Land are ye come7\ The
weak Places of the Country 5 which are leaft defen-
fible. Or, as others will have it, the Secrets of the
Land : For it is the fame word that is ufed to exprefb
the Privy Parts.
Ver. 1 1. We are all one Mans Sons7\ There reeded Verfe 1 r -
no more than this to take off his Sufpicion. For no •
Man would have fent bis Sons, but rather his Ser-
vants, if they had come upon an ill Defign : Or, at
leaft, not all his Sons ^ or, not all of them together
in a Company: But difperfed them rather about the
Country. Nor was it probable, that one Man could
have a Defign upon Egypt ^ but all the great Men of
Canaan muft have joyned in it : And then they
would have fent Men of different Families, not all of
one alone.
We are true AIen.~) This was a good Argument,
that they faid true, when they told him (verfe 10.J
they had no other bufinefs in Egypt but to buy Corn.
Ver. 12. And he faid unto them, Nay, &C-3 Unlefe Verfe 1 2.
you have better Arguments than this, I muft take you
for Spies. He flights their Argument, as great Men
fometimes do, when they know not prefently how
to anfwer it. He had a mind alfo to have them give
a further account of their Family, that he might be
informed what was become of his Brother Benjamin.
A a a a Ver.
^6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 13. Thy Servants are twelve Brethren, Sec]
LXII. They inforce their former Argument, by relating
L/"W> their Condition more fully and diftin&ly. But
Verfe 13. rtill it amounts to no more than this 5 That it was
not likely a Parent would venture all his Children,
in fuch a Defign, as they were fufpeftcd to come a-
hout.
Theyoungejl k this day with our Father?] This was
the thing he defired to know.
And one is not."] Is dead. So they thought, ber
caufe they had heard nothing of htm in twenty Years
fpace.
Verfe 14. Ver. I4S ^** that Iff ake unto you, Sec."] This
confirms what I faid, and gives me juft ground for
fufpicion, that you are Spies : Becaufe you pretend
to have another Brother, which is not likely 5 for
why ftiould not your Father fend all, as well as fo
many > This was but Cavil 5 but ferved to compafs
his end : Which was to fee his Brother.
¥erfe !$• Ver. 15. Hereby JbaUye be proved."] By this very
thing (hall you be tried 3 whether you be honeft Men^
or no.
By the Life of Pharaoh, 8cc."] As fure as Pharaoh
lives 5 or, itafalvtnfit, fo let Pharaoh be fafe and in
health, as I will keep you here, till I fee your youn-
ger Brother. Others expound it, If Pharaoh have
any Authority here, i.e. be King of thisCountty, you
ftiall not ftir from hence, @c. But moft Authors
take this for an Oath .• The Original of which is weH
explained by Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour,
p. 45. where he obferves, that the Name of Gods be-
iftg given to Kings very early, Sf c?p*T% \0$p&q*1wj
fas Arijiotle fpeaks, L. VI. Ethic, cap. i.J from the
excellence of their Heroick Vertue, which made
them
upon GENESIS- <;4;
them anciently great Benefa&ors to Mankind : Thence Chapter
arofethe Cuftom of Swearing by them } which Abtn XL!!.
Ezra faith continued in his time (about 1170.) when L/"V^\J
Egypt was governed by Caliphs. If any Man fwore
by the King's Head, and was found to have fworn
falfly, he was punilhed capitally. And then Schach
Ifwael, the firft Sophi, got the Per/tan Empire, no
Oath was held fo Sacred (as heundavius reports) a3
to Swear by his Head, /. e. in effett, by his Life.
But St. Bafil will not have this to be an Oath : But
a folemn Afleveration to perfwade Belief. For faith
he, Tom. I. Horn, in Pfal. XV. p. 15^.) *Eiw ?k; Ao-
■yoi yjwuvTzt jjiXv opnuv i^ovU^ «^ op^oi 3 &7*$,&c. There
are certain Speeches which have thetafbion of Oaths,
and yet are not Oaths : But 3fg$c7r&ia itzjs ru$ ax£-
qvIcls, ferve only to perfwade the Auditors. Such he
takes this to be ^ and that of St. Paul, NA r y\imt^.v
f&tlXYinv,, by our rejoycingy 1 Corinth. XV. 31. where he
faith the Apoftle was not unmindful of the Evange-
lical Commandment, not to fwear : But by a Speech,
in form of an Oath, he would have them believe
that his glorying in them for rather in Chrift) was
dearer to him than any thing elfe. And the truth is,
Judah feems to have taken thefe words of fofeph, on-
ly for a folemn Proteftation, XLIH. 3. wherein he
expofed the Life of Pharaoh (which was moft dear
to himj unco Execration, if he was not as good as
his word. So G. Calixtus underftands it
Ver. 16. Send one of you, and let him fetch ^«rVerfe 1 6,
Brother^] At firft he propofed, that only one of
them (hould return home, to bring their Brother to
him $ and all the reft remain, in the mean time, Pri-
foners in Egypt.
A a a a 2 Ver,
^8 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Ver. 1 7 . And he put them all together into Ward, &C.3
LXII. That they might confult one with another, which of
L/^VVUhetn (hould go to fetch Benjamin 5 about which, it
Verfe I7*feems, they could not agree: Every one fearing to
be the Meflenger of fuch fad Tidings to their Father 5
who might fufpe&they were all loft,
Verfe 18* Ver- I& Jofeph /aid unto them the third day, &C."]
I have ilo mind to deftroy you : For I know there is
a God, who will punifh all Injuftice and Cruelty,
Therefore I make this new Propofition to you.
Verfe. 1 9. Ver. 19. Let one of your Brethren, &c] This fhaJI
be the proof of your Honefty. Inftead of fending
one of you to your Father, you (hall all go but one 5
who (hall remain bound in Prifon till you bring your
younger Brother.- And in the mean time carry Pro-
vifion for your Families.
Verfe 2Q. ., Ver. 20. But bring your youngefi Br 'other, &c.^] Fail
not to let me fee your youngeft Brother : And fo (hall
you juftifie your felves to be no Spies 5 and fuffer no-
thing.
And they did fo."] They confented to this Pro- -
pofah
"fork 21. Ver. 2 1* And they /aid one to another^ They that
had the chief Hand, in the Confpiracy againft jfy/epA,
began upon this occafion to make the following Re-
flexions on it.
We are verily guilty \ 8cc] See the Power of Con-
fcience, which flies in their Face and reproaches them
for a Fa6fc committed above Twenty Years ago.
In that wefaw the anguifo of his Soul, &c.J We
would have no pity, when he befought us with Tears^
and now, nothing that we can fay, will move this
Man. They obferve their Guilt in their PunMhment.
ForD as they had thrown Jofeph into a Pit, fo they
• had
upon GENESIS. $49
been thrown into a Prifon themfelves : And asChaptef
nothing he could fay, would incline them to fpare XLII.
him, fo now they found Jofcph inexorable to them. V-^^VNJ
This Anguilh of his Soul, and his Entreaties are not
mentioned before, (Chap. XXXVII.) but could not
but be fuppofed, if they had not been mentioned
here.
Ver. 22. And Reuben anfwered them, 8tc] YouVerfe X*
ftiould have hearkned unto me, and then you had not
come into this Diftrefs.
Behold alfo, his Blood is required.'] You killed him,
and now you muft pay for it with the lofs of your
Lives. For he thought him to be dead.
Ver. 23. Spake to them by an Interpreter.'] This (hows Verfe 2;
the Egyptian Tongue and the Hebrew were different 5
though in fome words they might agree.
Ver. 24. And he turned himfelf about from ?/6e/?/.3 Verfe %*
And went into fome other Room.
And wept."] Natural Affe&ion was too ftrong for
the Perfon he put on : And would not fuffer him to
counterfeit any longer.
Returned to them, and communed with them."] When
he had vented his Paffion, and compofed himlelf to
his former Temper, he repeated to them what he had
told them before: But added withal, That if they
brought Benjamin with them, they might Traffick in
the Land, Verfe 34.
And tooh^ from them Simeon. ~\ Who, the Hebrews
fay, was the Perfon that put Jofeph into the Pit : And
therefore was now ferved in his kind. This, I think,
may be fairly conjectured, That Reuben being refol-
ved to five him, and Judah alfo inclined to favour
him^ \£ Simeon had joyned with them, their Autho-
rity might have prevailed to deliver him.
-
55o A COMMENTARY
Chapter And bound him before their eyes.'] Caufed him to
XLU. be bound in their prefence 3 to ftrike the greater
L^V\J Terror into them.
Verfe 25. Ver. 25. To give them Provifon for the way \] That
they might carry what they bought intire, for the ufe
of their Family.
And thus he did unto themT] Thus the Perfon, to
whom Jofeph gave that Command, did unto them.
Verfe 26. Ver. 26. And they laded their AJfes with Corn^ &C.]
It is not faid how many Afles they laded ,• but one
would guefs by what follows, only each Man one.
For they went only to fetch a prefent Supply: Not
thinking of providing againft a long Famine.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27« ^n^ M one °f ^em opened his Sack, &C.3
Wherein was their Provifion for the way, verfe 25.
Verfe 28. Ver. 28. He faid unto his Brethren, &c] Who all
preftmly opened their Sacks, and found their Money
there. For fo the Story is told by Judab at their re-
turn to Egypt, XLIII. ii. And both by that place
and this, it appears this hapned to them when they
came unto their Inn, to reft themfelves, in their firft
day's Journey.
And their Heart failed them^cJ} Their Guilt made
them afraid $ otherwife they would have rejoyced.
But all things terrific an evil Confciencc : Which
made them think fome Defign was laid to undo them
all.
What is this that God hath done unto us f\ Now God
was in all their Thoughts, as the Chief Governour of
all things $ whofoever was the Inftrument.
Verfe 30. Ver. 30. The Man who is the Lord of the Land."]
By this it appears Jofeph was little lefs than a King, i.e.
in his Authority and Sway, which he bare in that
Country.
Took,
\
upon C E N E S I S. 551
Took, us for Spies.] In the Hebrew it is, He gave us, Chapter
/. c treated us as Spies 5 by delivering us to be put XLII.
in Prifon. L^V^J
Ver. 34. i4fJ ye flj.il/ traffic!^ in the Land.'] Buy Verfe 34*
Corn, or any thing elfe the Country affords 5 with-
out any lett or impediment.
Ver. 35. When both they and their Fathers faw the Verfe 3?«
bundles of Money , &c] They had feen the Tame be-
fore: Therefore this is fet down to exprefs the Fear
which Jacob himfelf was in, at the fight of the Mo-
ney ^ though we may well fuppofe their Fear was in-
creased, when they perceived him to have the fame
Apprehenfions which they had, of fome defign that
might be laid againft their Lives, when they returned
to Egypt, though they brought their younger Brother
with them.
Ver. 36. Simeon is not. ~\ He lookt upon him as Verfe 360
dead 5 being in the power of fo rough a Man, as
they defcribed the Lord of the Land to be : Efpecially
if he did not fend Benjamin thither, as, for the pre-
fent he was refolved not to do.
All thefe things are againtf me7] Or, upon me, as
the Hebrew words carry it. Thofeare heavy Burdens,
which lie upon me, not upon you : Who can be
content to have Benjamin go, after I have loft two
of my Sons already.
Ver. 37. Slay my two Sons if I bring him not to yerfe 27,
theeJ] Nothing could be more foolifhly faid § for
what Good would it do Jacob f nay, what an in-
creafe of his Affii&ion would it have been) to lofe
two Grand-children, after he had loft another
Son? But it was fpoken out of a pafTionate Defire
to redeem Simeon, and to make more Provifion for
their Family : Being confident that Jofeph ( who
pro-
552 A COMMENTARY
Chapter profefied to fear God, verfe 1 8.) would be as good as
XLIIL his word.
l/AJ Ver. 38. He is left alone.] The only Child of his
Verfe 38, Mother.
Bring down my grey Hairs withforrow to the Grave."]
You will make me, who am worn away already, die
with Grief.
C H A P. XLIIL
Verfe 1. Ver. 1. AJVD the Famine -was fore,&c7] Still in-
±\ creafed to a greater Scarcity.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. When they had eaten up the €orn^ that they
brought out of Egypt."] So that they had nothing to
live upon, but only the poor Crop, that their own
Country produced: Which could not long fuftain
them.
Buy w a little Food.'] He hoped, it is likely, the
next Year would be better 5 and fo only defired a
fupply of their prefent Neceffity.
Verfe 3. Ver. 3. And Judahfpake unto him^ Bcc.*] Reuben
had fpoken to him in vain, fXLII. 37, 38.J and Le-
vi, perhaps, had not yet recovered his Intereft in him,
fince the barbarous Aftion at Shechem : And therefore
Judah took upon him to perfwade his Father 5 being
next in Birth, and of no fmall Authority among his
Brethren.
Te fhall not fee my Face.] But be taken for Spies $
and (6 lofe their Lives.
Verfe 5. Ver. 5. We will not go down.1] Becaufe it would not
only have been to no purpofe : But alfo indangered
their Lives.
Ver*
^GENESIS, 553
Ver. 6. Wherefore dealt ye fo ill with me, &c] It was Chapter
unkindly done of you, to tell him of another Bro- XLIII.
ther. For what need was there to fay any thing of L/^/^NJ
one who was not with you > Verfe 6.
Ver. 7. The Man askt nsftraitly, Sec] They having Verfe 7.
told him, they were all one Man* Sons, XLII. 1 1. he
might well ask them, what Mans >And whether there
were any more of them > And whether their Father
and Brother were yet living?
And we told him according to tl)e tenor of thefe words.']
Anfwered every queftion, as Truth required.
Ver. 8. Send the Lad with me.~] Tritjl him with mc. Verfe 8.
He calls him Lad, becaufe he was the youngeft of
them all , and one of whom his Father was as tender,
as if he had been a little Child : Though indeed he
had Children of his own, XLVI. 21.
That we may live, 8cc/] Thefe were very moving Ar-
guments } the Prefervation of a whole Family ^ Benja-
min and all .• who, if he went, might return in fafety 5
but if he ftaid at home, muft perifh with all the reft.
Ver. 9. Lwilibe furcty for him.~) Be bound in what Verfe 9.
Penalty thou pleafeft, to bring him back.
Of my handfloalt thou require him7\ Punifh me (who
will be anfwerable for him) if hemifcarry.
Bear the blame for ever."] Lye under thy Difpleafure,
as long as I live. All this fignifies only, that he would
do his utmoft to fecure him : And rather fufifer the
hcavieft thing himfelf, than lofe Benjamin.
Ver.iQ.F0r except we had l;ngred,lkc.][f thon had ft Verfe 10.
not hindred us by thefe Scruples about Benjamin, we
had been there and at home again, by this time.
Ver. 11. Take ofthebcjl Fruits. ~] The Hebrew word Verfe 11.
Mizzimrath fignifies, of the moft praifed j or, as Bochart
more literally interprets it, qit
feems to have been f/jrceTablcs.One, where he fat alone V^rfe 31'
in State $ another where his Brethren fat 5 and a third * erle 32.
where the great Men of Egypt were entertained.
For the bgyptians wight not eat Bread with the He-
brews, &c] Becaufe the Hebrews (faith Jonathan) d\d
eat thofe Beads which the Egyptians worfhipped. And
to the fame purpofe writes Onkelos. In which regard
the Egyptians were as fcrupulousto eat with a Grecian
in after times, as now with an Hebrew. So Bochart ob-
ferves out of AtbdneusL.VU. Deipnof. where Anaxan-
dridcs.z Comedianjeers \\\zEgyptians for worfhipping
an Eel, as a great God, whom we, faith he, think to be
moft excellent Meat. And out of Herodotus , who in his
Euterpe, cap. 41. faith, no Egyptian Man or Woman
would kifs the Mouth of a Gree^ nor make ufe of a
Knife, a Spit, or a Pot belonging to them , nor take a
bit of Beef cut with a Greeks Knife. See Bocharfs Hie-
rozoic.P. I. Lib. II. cap. 5-3. And Dr. Spencer, de Rit.
Hebr.p. 125. But though it appear by fuch Paflages,
that in the time of Herodotus, and other fore-named
Writers,feveral Animals were held fo Sacred among the
Egyptians, that they would not eat them. yet it may well
be queftioned whether it were foin the days uijofeph.
For there is not the leaft fign of it in this ftorv 5 much
Iefs of their wordiipping fuch Creatures .- The wor-
fhip of the famous Ox, called Apk, being a much later
Invention, as many learned Men have demonftrated .-
And fome of them havinggiven probable Reafons that
Jjfeph himfelf was the Perfon at firft reprelented by
that Figure under the Name of Ah, i. e. Father of his
Country, See Ger. Vo(Jius, £, I. de Idol. cap. 29.
There-
v&
A COMMENTARY. f
Chapter Therefore it is mod: likely that this Abhorrence,is to
XLIII. berefolvedonly into the very different Manners of the
L/V^J Hebrews from the Egyptians.-Pmicnforly at their Meals,
in the way of drefling their Meat, or in their eating.
For we know fome of the Jews themfelves afterwards
icrupled to eat with thofe who had unwa(hen Hands 5
and feveralNations have avoided fuch familiarity with
others,merely on the account of their different cuftom?.
Of which the Egyptians were exceeding tenacious, as
Herodotus himfelf informs us^particularly in their eat-
ing. For he concludes his Difcourfe about their Feafls
with this Obfervation, (in his Book before-mention'd,
cap. 28.) Tlctl^JtOKn 3 %pio&jJAvci vQjuuom , £?hov &£tva *Qrt-
* *7*'ei>£).llfing their own Country Cuftoms,they receive
no other. And in the Ninety fir/l Chapter of the fame
BookM faith,that as they would ufe noGr^cuftoms,
fo(to fpeakall in a word) jm^iT^w /*M&z/uLci,8zc.Nei'
ther would they ufe the Customs of any other Men in the
World whatfoever.N&y, one part of Egypt differed ex-
treamly from another .-For in the Theban Province they
ablhined from Sheep,and facrificed Goats $ but, in the
Mendeftan, quite contrary, they abftained from Goats,
and facrificed Sheep.- As he tells us in his Euterpe^ cap.
42. And the wifeft of them were fo nicely Superfti*
tious, that fome of them thought it unlawful to eat
of the Head of any living Creature 5 others of the
Shoulder-blade 5 others of the Feet 5 others of fome like
part. So SextusEntpiricus tells US, L. HI. Pyrrh. Hypol.
c. 24. hvyjitllw'^ r$ ovp£v *T) vo/lu^ojimodV^ of /jl&vtusm^'
lately ufed them very roughly.
Ver. 34. And hetook^andfent meffes, &CC ~] Ordered Verfe 34,
thofe that waited to take and carry Meffes from his
own Table, unto theirs. For fuch was the ancient Cu-
ftom, for great Men to honour fuch as were in their
Favour, by fending Difties to them, which were hrft
ferved up to themfelves : From whence they were cal-
led MISSA, Meffes, things fent.The ancient way of eat-
ing alfo is to be obferved, which was not like ours .•
As appears by Plutarch in his Sywpof. L. II. ^ult.
where he difputes, which was the better Cuftom, to
eat out of one common Difli $ or every one to have a
Difh to himfelf : As the manner was in old time.
When all the Meat being fet on the Table, the Mafter
of the Feaft diftributed to every one their Portion.
Benjamins Mefs was five times as much, Sec.]] He had
five Dithes to their one : Which was intended as a pe-
culiar refpeft to him. Or, as others underftand it,
there was five times as much Meat in his Mefs, as in
one of theirs. Which might well be part of the caufe
of their wonder, verfe 33.
And they drank^] After they had dined, plenty of
Wine was brought in, for every one to drink as much
as they pleafed .For fuch is the Cuftom of the Abyjjines
at this Day } not to drink or talk at Dinner ^ but after
the Meat is taken away .• As Ludotphus afTures us from
TeleziHs. Who takes it to have been the ancient
Cuftom among other Nations $ particularly the Ro-
wans: For which he alledges thofe Verfes of Virgil^
JfLneid, I.
fojl-
5do A COMMEHTART.
Chapter
XLIV. Pofiquam prima quies epulis , menf^que remote
U^VNJ Crater as magnas jlatuunt, & vino. coronant.
I mention Wine here in Egypt :For though Herodotus
faith in his days they had noFines^but ufed drink made
of Barley, i.e. fuch as ours, (Lib.Wcap.jj^ztm the
time of Jofeph it feems to have been otherwife. For it
it is not likely the chief Butler would have dreamt of a
Vineznd Grapes, and preffing them into PharaotisCup,
("XL. 9, 10, nO if he had never feen them m Egypt,
And were merry with him.~] So we well tranflate the
lafl: words of this Chapter-, which fignifies their drink-
ing plentifully 5 more liberally than at home: Not till
they were drunk (as R. Soloman faith fome ufed to a-
bufe this place, to countenance that Vice) but till they
were very cheerful. For they could not be fo fenflefs,
as before fo great a Man, in a ftrange place, where
they were alfo full of fear, to make themfelves drunk.
CHAP. XLIV.
Verfe 1. Ver. 1 -T~?IH the Mens Sacks with Food, as much as
1/ they can carry."] This feems to be an or-
der, to load them more liberally than at their firft
coming, XLII. 25*.
Verfe 2. Ver. i. And put my G/>,&c."]The Hebrew word (?<*-
hiah fignifies an embofled Cup, (as we now fpeakj or
a Bowl ;ox Goblet with a great Belly : which St. Hierom
tranflates Scyphns.This he ordered hisSte ward to puc in
Benjamins Sack, that he might make a trial of his Bre-
threns Concern for him3and Affedtion both to him and
to
upon GE N E S I S. 561
to their Father : And whether they would difcover Chapter
any Envy to Benjamin, becaufe of his extraordinary XLIV.
Kindnefs to him. l/V\J
Ver. 3. The Men were fen t away.~] Had a Pais, we Verfe 3.
may fuppofe, from Jofeph 3 to carry fo much Corn out
of the Country, as their Afles were loaded withal.
Ver. 4. W here fore have ye rewarded evil for good ?~] Verfe 4.
Being entertained fo kindly at my Matter's Table 5
why have ye flole his Cup ?
Ver. 5. Is not this it, wherein my Lord drinketh jft Verfe 5.
Did you not think, this would be prefently enquired
after ?
And whereby indeed he divineth .^The Hebrew word
Nacha//),\vh\ch we tranllate Divine,\t\s very likely was
anciently of an inditferenr fignification. And therefore
Grotius thinks that Jofeph meant by this Speech, that he
ufed this Cup in his D rink- Offerings ; when he facri-
ficed, to prepare himfelf to receive Divine Prefages.
But, I think, we had better fay, there was a kind of Di-
vination by Cup.->(though we know not what it was)
as! we are certain there was by many other things among
the Greeks, (who borrowed much of their Religion
from the Egyptians) than give thisj or other fuch like
Interpretation of thefe words .• Particularly, their ob-
ferving the fparkling of the Wine in their Libations.
For it feems plain to me,that Jofeph fpeaks of the Cup
he ufed at his own Table/And it is not probable that
he ufed the fame in Sacrifices to God. Such Veflelsas
were ufed in Divine Service, were not ufed in their
own:Beingheld Sacred, and therefore feparated from
common ufe 5 and kept fo fafe, no doubt, that it was
not eafie to fteal them. He fpeaks therefore of fome
Divination that was ufed at their Meals .• Which doth
notfignifie that Jofeph pra&ifed it,nor doth hisSteward
C c c c fay
562 A COMMENT ART
Chapter fay he did $ but only asks fuch aQpeftion, a Scc.^ We do not read y
that they had faid this to Jofeph before 5 but only that
the youngefl: was with their Father,XLU. 13, 32. But
no doubt, Judah remembers him now of nothing, but
what had been then delivered , but related more
briefly than it is here.
Verfe 27. Ver. 27. My Wife bear me two Sons.] He called Ra~
chel his Wife 5 as if he had no other .• Becaufe fhe was
the only Perfon he defigned to marry 3 and was by
confequencehis principal Wife. Ver.
npon GENESIS. 765
Ver. 30. His life is bound up in the Lad's life.! It lo Chnpter
depends upon the Life of his Son 5 that if he think XLV.
he be dead, he will die with Grief alfo. <^"y at that good
News.
And they could hot m ni(h*. Vox they colrld not but
refleft upon their cruel ufege of him 5 and now faw
him in full Power topunilh them.
Ver. 4. Come near to me, I pray you.~] This, I think, Verfe 4.
fignifies, that they had ftarted hack, as Men affrighted :
And therefore he invites them kindly to approach him.
I amjofephyonr Brother.'] This word Brother, ad-
ded to what he faid before, verfe 3. was a Comfort to
them. For it (howed that his Greatnefs did not make
him forget his Relation.
Whom you fold into Egypt 7] Nor their Unkindnefs
alienated his Affeftion from them.
Ver. 5. AW therefore be not grieved, Sec.]] Do not Verfe
affiift your felves too much for your Sin .• Becaufe
God hath turned it into Good:
God fent me before you, fkc.~] When you thought on-
ly to be rid' of me, God intended another thing.-
Which is now come to pafs. For he hat' me an
Inftrument of preferving all your Lives. A molt
happy Event of a mod wicked Deed.
Ver. 6. Neither earing, nor hxr:>efi.~] Or, no Plough- Verfe 6.
ing, Sowing, or Harveft. For to whu purpofe fhould
they fow, when they knew (if they believed Jofiph)
that nothing would come of it.
Ver. 7. And God fent me before you, Scc~] He repeats Verfe 7.
what he had faid/i/cr/e 5 concerning the Hand of God
in this bufinefs.'That by fixing their Thoughts upon his
Pre-
^68 A COMMENTARY,
Chapter Providence, they might be the lefs oppreffed with the
XLV. weight of their own Guilt.
L/"V\J To fave your lives by a great deliverance.'] In a won-
derful manner.
Verfe 8. Ver. 8. It was not you but God, Sec] He mentions
this a third time, that they might fee he did not think
fo much on their Unkindnefs, as on God's great
Goodnefs: And therefore be confident, he would
not remember what they had done to him $ but
what God had done for them all.
Hath made a Father unto Tharao Z>]Given me the Au-
thority of a Father with him .• So that he Honours me,
and doth nothing without my Advice and Counfel.
And there was very good Reafon for it, his Wifdom
being fo great and experienced ,U* non ab hominefid a
Deo refponfa dart viderentur, (as Trogus, an ancient Hi-
ftorian among the Heathen, obferves) that his Anfwers
feemed not to be given by a Man, but by God. Which
made him Regi Vercharum, very dear to the King, as
the fame Author relates : Who tells alfo the Story of
his being fold by his Brethren, who envied his ex-
cellent Wit. See Juftin, Lib. XXXVI. cap. 2.
LvrdofallhisHoufe.JThe principal Perfon in hisCourt.
And Ruler throughout all the Land of Egypt.'] Chief
Governor of the whole Country ; In which were fe-
veral Provinces, which had diftindl Governors 5 who
were all under the Government ofjofeph.
Verfe 10. Ver. 10. Thou flalt dwell in the Land ofGofhen]Th\$
was that part of the lower Egypt> which lay next to
Arabia and Palejline 5 abounding with fair Paftures :
•Being watred by many Streams from the Nile. Certain
it is, ic lay next to Canaan ^ for Jacob went dire&ly
thither, when he came into Egypt ; and ftaid there
ixWJofeph came to him, XL VI. 28.
And
upon GENESIS. k>6$
And thou flab be near unto me7\ Therefore the Royal Chapter
City (where Jofepb refided, that he might be always XLV.
near to Pharaoh') was at this time in the lower Egypt, L/"V\J
at Zodnt Pfalm LXKVIII. 43. which other Authors call
tank. Which was fituated, not far from that Mouth of
Nile which Plutarch calls iztymniv rouct. For that part of
Egypt is called the higher , where Nile runs only in one
Stream: That the lower, where it divides into many ^
and from its triangular Form is called by the Greeks
AUra, In the Eaflern Part of which, or very near it,
toward the Red Sea, was this Country, called the Land
of G often.
This argues the great Authority of Jofeph, that he
makes fuch Promifes as thefe, before he had askt the
Confent of Pharaoh.
Ver. n. And behold, your Eyes fee,^c.'] You cannot Ver^e l7-
but be convinced, by the Lineaments you fee in my Face, -
and by the Language which I fpeak, and by all the
things which I have related concerning the ftate of our
Family^ that indeed it is your Brother Jofeph, who
fpeaks to you. Or, more (imply 5 you have it not by
Hear-fay, which might deceive you 5 but are Eye-wit-
nefles that I am alive, and fay thefe things to you.
Ver. 13. Tell my Father of all my glory.'] Of the great Vecfe 13.
Honour which is done me in Egypt.
Ver. 15. Hk Brethren talked with him. 7\ After their Verfc 15.
fright was over, and he had fo affecYionateiy embraced
them } they converfed freely and familiarly with him:
Acknowledging, it's likely, their Crime $ and acquaint-
ing him with what had pafled in their Family fince they
committed it.
Ver. 16. And the fame thereof Sec] All the Court Verfe 16.
rang (as we fpeak) with the News ofjofeph's Brethren
being come, and that they were to fetch their Father
D d d d -*nd
tpo A COMMENTA RT
Chapter and fettle in Egypt. For Jofeph (it appears by the next
XLV. Verfe) went and acquainted Pharaoh with his Defire.
L/"W) And it pleafed Pharaoh well, and hk Servants."] No
wonder that Pharaoh, who had raifed Jofeph fo high,
was pleafed to be kind to his Father and Family : And
the Court follows the Pleafure of the King.
Verfe 1 7. Ver.i 7. Pharaoh faid unto Jofeph finer] This, no doubt
was the Anfwer Pharaoh made to 'jofeplh Petition :
Wherein he grants him not only what he askt 5 but all
conducing to it.
Verfe 18. Ver. 18. J will give yon the good of the Land, See."]
The richeft Part of the Country, which produces the
nobleft Fruits.
Verfe 19. Ver. 19. Now thou art commanded.] Now that thou
haft my Warrant for it, go about it prefently.
Verfe 20. Ver. 20. Regard not your fluff.] If there be not Wag-
gons enough, to bring all your Stuff, do not matter it y
you (hall have better here. But the Vulgar feems to
take it in a quite contrary Senfe y as if he had faid,
Leave nothing behind you 5 but bring all you have with
you, if you think good : Though whatfoever the Land
oi Egypt affords, is all yours.
All the good of the Land of Egypt, &c] You fhall
not want when you come hither, if it be to be had in
Egypt.
Verfe 21. Ver. 2 1. Gave them Waggons!] And Horfes, no doubt,
to draw them ; with which Egypt abounded.
Terfe 22. Ver. 2 2. To each Man changes of Raiment.'] Two Vefts±
or Robes^ as St. Hierom tranllates it: Otherwife there
would not have been a change. Thefe were part of the
ancient Riches, as much as Money.
Verfe 23. Ver. 23. After this manner!] The Hebrew word Ce-
%oth fignifies, according to that which he had given to
Benjamin^ i%e* Money, and feveral changes of Raiment .-
Be-
upon GENESIS. <57i
Befides what follows, ten Affes laden with the good //>///£/ Chi pter
of Egypt, See. XL V.
Bread and Meat."] i. e. All manner of Proviilon. L/"WJ
Ver. 24. See that je fall not out, See] About what you Verfe 24.
have formerly done to me^ or, any thing elfe, that I
havefaid to you. But when you reflect upon your fel-
ling me, adore the Providence of God ,• which by that
means brought about your Happinefsand mine.
Ver. 16. Hte Heart fainted^] At the mention of jf^- Verfe 16.
feph's Name, he fell into a Swoon: Being fully per-
fwaded he was dead, and giving no Credit to what
they faid of his being alive.
Ver. 27. And they told hi w all the words of Jofeph. "]Vevfe 27.
When he was come to himfelf, they related all that had
pafled between them and Jofeph : How great a Man he
was, and how defirous to fee him, &c. vcrfe 13.
And when he jaw the Waggons.] Had not only heard
their Relation, but faw alfo thofe Carriages (which, no
doubt, were fplendid, and fu i table to Jofeptts Quality)
that were come to bring him \x\toEgyft, he lookt upon
them as a fufficient Confirmation of the good News.
The Spirit of Jacob revived."] Which Bochart tran-
flates Priftino vigori reftitntus eft, he was reftored to
his former Vigor. Not only recovered perfeftly from
his fainting Fit 5 but raifed to a greater Liveliness than
he had felt fince the lofs of Jofeph.
Ver. 28. It is enough, &c] I with for no more, but Verfe 28.
to live to fee him 5 and then I fhall be content to die.
D d d d * CHAP.
t[72 A COMMENTARY
Chapter
XLVI.
C H A P. XLVL
Verfe I. Ver. i.f~^An?e to Beerjheba.~] Which was in his way
V_y from Hebron ( where he now lived,
XXXV. 27.) into Egypt: Lying in the moft Southerly
Parts of Canaan 5 near that Wildernefs through whichx
the Ifraelites went, when they came from Egypt.
And offered facrificeT] Recommended himfelf and his
Family, unto God's Protection in his Journey to Egypt ^
and unto his Prefervation, when he came there. And
he the rather called upon' God in this place, becaufe
both his Father and Grand-Father had found Favour
with him here, XXI. 33. XXVI. 23;
Unto the God of his Father Ifaac."] Who was his
immediate Anceftor, and had conferred the Bleffing pf
Abraham upon him : And therefore he mentions him ra-
ther than Abraham.
Verfe 2. Ver. 2. In the Fifions of the Night. ~\ See upon XX. 3.
Jacob , Jaco&{] He redoubles his Name to awaken his
Attention V and he calls him Jacob rather than Ifrael^
(as he is called in the beginning of the Verfe J) to re-
member him what he was originally, and that by his
Favour he was made IffaeL
Verf# g Ver. 3-. Fear not to go down into Egypt /J He was afraid,
perhaps, that if Jofeph (hould die, his Fatuity might be
made Slaves. For which he had fome reafon, from
what was faid to Abraham^ in a likfc Vifion, XV. 13.
I mil make of thee a great Nation.'] He renews the
Promife, which at the fame time was made to Abraham^
That his Seed (hould be ?s numerous as the Stars of
Heaven, XV. 5.
Ver.
upon GENESIS, 573
Ver. 4. / will go down with thee, &■:.] Take care of Chapter
thee in thy Journey, that no Evil fhall befal thee 5 and XLVI.
preferve thee and thy Family there. ^/"*y'"vj
And bring thee up again.] i. c His Pofterity, who Verfe 4.
fhould multiply there : For the Scripture ipeaks of Pa-
rents and Children, as one Perfon.
Pitt hk Hands upon thine Eyes.'] Be with thee when
thou leaved this World s and take care of thy Funeral,
when thou art dead. For this was the firft thing that
was done, when one expired, tociofe his Eyes: Which
was performed both among Greeks and Romans (as ma-
ny Authors inform us) by the neareft Relations, or
deareft Friends. See Mr. Selden, L. II. de Synedr. rap. 7.
v. 11. and Menochius, de Repub. Hebr. L. VIII. cap. 4.
in his days, though they abftain'd from fome Animals,
yet they eat of others, both Fifh and Birds, Euterpe, r.78.
And Diodorus giving an account after what manner
their Kings lived, faith they ufed a fimple Diet, eating
Veal and Gcefe, &C. L. I. $ 2. p. 45. Edit. Steph.
Jof. Scaliger therefore thinks this fort of Men were
abominable, becaufe they had often raifed Rebellion in
Egypt, and made a King of their own 5 who erefted
that which is called the Pajloral Kingdom. This is em-
braced by many great Men, who have only the Au-
thority of Manetho for it $ who fays thefe were Phoe-
nician Shepherds (as Jofephus tells us, L. I. contra Appi-
on.) who reigned in Egypt, and burnt their Cities,
threw down their Temples $ in fhort, omitted no
fort of Cruelties. Upon this account the famous Bar
chartus {Lib. IV. Canaan, cap. 4.) thinks it poffible the
Egyptians hated Shepherds* who had done fo much
Mifchief: And, I may add, the Hebrew Shepherds Jo-
feph-might think would be more abominated, becaufe
they came out of that very Country, from whence
thofe Phoenician Rovers made their Invafion. But as
it doth not appear that they who did the fore-named
Mifchief were all Foreigners 3 fo the time which is af-
figned for this Pajioral Kingdom, doth not agree with
the Scripture Story. For it is faid to have been in the
One thoufand one hundred and twelfth Year before the
Ifraelites going out of Egypt } in the XVth Dynajly, as
they call it.v That is, about Two andfortyYears after the
Flood, when Mizraim the Father of the Egyptians was
fcarce born, or was very young.
Our great Primate Vffer endeavours to avoid this ab-
furdityr by placing this Invafion (which he thinks was
out
upon GENESIS. 581
out of Arabia ) three hundred Years after the Flood : Chapter
When they took Memphis ; Over-run all the lower XLVI.
Egypt } and their firft King, there reigned nineteen years. L/^N^NJ
But I have this to except 5 that Abraham coming a good
while after this into Egypt, was well entertained there }
though he was as much a Shepherd as his Grand-child
Jacob. SeeGe*. XII.
From whence I conclude, That if this Story of Ma-
netho be true, it hapned after the time of Abraham 5 and
lb was frefti in their memory. Such a third Rebellion
of the Shepherds the fame Manet ho mentions, within lefs
than two hundred Years before the Children of Jfracl's
departure out of Egypt. But this feems to be a Story
framed, from that departure of the Ifraelites themfelves
(who were Shepherds) out of Egypt under the Con-
duct of Mofes. And fo fofephus, and feveral of the an-
cient Chriftians (Tatianus, Jufi'm Martyr, and Clem. A*
lexand.) underftood it. See'cJ^r. ad An. M. 2179.
All this confidered Gaulmin (in his Notes upon the
Book called the Life of Mofes, p. 267, &c.) hath more
probably conjeftured, that this averfation to Shepherds
arofe from their being generally addifted, in thofe
parts, to Robbery : Which way of Life made them a-
bominable. This he juftifies out of Helhdorus, L. I. and
Achilles Tatius, L. III. who defcribe the Seat of thefe
B^ifcoAsi and Xlolfjutv^ (whom the Egyptians called Hyfcli)
and the manner of their Life. To which Opinion I find
Bochartus himfelf inclined before he died, and confirms
it fin his Hierozoic. L. II. c. 44. P.I.J by many Proofs,
that Shepherds anciently were fitrax homimim genus, a
thievifh fort of People 5 which made them odious. A-
gainft which I fee no exception but this $ that Aulas
Gztiius tells us (Lib. XI. cap. 18.) out of an ancient
Lawyer, That the old Egyptians held all manner of
Thefts
$82 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Thefts to be lawful, and did not punifh them. And
XL VI. Diodort/s Sicnlm mentions this Law among them, That
L/"V\J they who would live by Robbery, were to enter their
Names, and bring what they ftole, immediately to the
Pried:, who mul& the Man that was robb'd a fourth
part 5 and gave it to the Thief. By which means all
Thefts were difcovered, and Men were made mere
careful, to look well after their Goods. But one cannot
believe this Law was of fuch Antiquity, as the Times
of Jofeph : Or, if it was, thofe Out- Laws (as I may call
them) who robbed upon the Borders, were not con-
cern'd in it : Nor had their Neighbours, who were no
lefs addifted to Theft, the benefit of it. Particularly
thofe in Pateftine, from whence Jacob came $ one would
guefs by what we read i Chron.VW. 21, 22. were then
much addi&ed to Robbery. For, before this Genera-
tion ended, we are told there the Men ofGath flew fe-
veralofthe Sons of Ephraim, (who himfelf was then
alive) for they came down to take their Cattle , faith that
holy Writer,* that is, to get what Plunder they could
in Goften; Where the Ephramites defending their Cat-
tle, were fome of them killed by the Philiftines, to the
great grief of their Father. The Ethiopians alfo are
noted by Strabo (Lib. XVII. p. 787 J to live for the
moft part, UojumSikZs %'&ropw, after a very poor, (hark-
ing, roving manner, by feeding Cattle, where they
could find Food for them. And immediately adds, To?^
3s' Aiyjwfiois a7ntv1^r^>
Ver. 3 1 . And Ijracl bowed himfclf upon the Bed's head.'] Verfe 3 1
Railed up hisHead from his Pillow, and bowed : Either
to Jofeph, in Thankfulnefs for his Promife \ or, to God,
for the Affurance he had received, that he fhould be bu-
ried with his Pious Fore- fathers : Or, elfe this bowing
was the'ufual Ceremony, wherewith an Oath was at-
tended. The Chaldee Paraphraft thinks the Divine Glo-
ry now appeared 5 which Jacob devoutly worfhipped.
But, if the Author to the Hebrews had not underftood
his bowing to be an ad of Worfnip, the Interpretation
of forae modern Writers might, perhaps, have been
thought reafonable : Who tranflate thefe words thus,
He laid himfclf down upon his Pillow : As weak Men are
wont to do 5 after they have fat up a while, to difpatch
fome buiinefs. For the Hebrew word Schacah, which
fignifies to bow the Body ^ fignifies alfo to fall down upon
the Earth : And therefore might here be tranflated lie
down. But the Apoftle, as I faid, hath over-ruled all
fuch Conceits, if we fuppoie him to tranflate this Paf-
fage, Heb- XI. 21. Which to me indeed doth not feera
evident. For the Apoftle is there fpeaking of another
thing $ not of what Jacob did now, when Jofeph fware
tohim; but of what hedid after thefehhings^ (XLVIII.
1.) when he bleffed Jofeph's Sons. Then the Apoftle
fa vs., heworffjipped upon the top of his Staff. Which is not
the Tranflation of Mofes his words in this place .• But
words of his own, whereby he explains the following
Story £ and fhows how ftrong his Faith was, when his
Body was fo weak that hewssno able to bowhimfelf
and worlhip, without the help of his Staff. This clear-
ly removes all the difficulty, which Interpreters have
made,.
592 A COMMENTARY.
Chapte r made about reconciling the words of Mofes here in
XLVIIL this Ferfe, to the Apoftle's words in that.
l/Y\; But however this be, Jacob's bowing here, I doubt
not,fignifies worlhipping ^ as t\\
which his Sons took unjuftlyand cruelly (and not from
the i4w0/v7c/,butthe Hivites) without his knowledge,and
contrary to his will.* But that piece of Land, which he
bought of Hamor the Father of Shech^-\ Gen. XXXIII.
1 9. compared with St. John IV. 5. Which feems to be
the reafon why fofeph v/as himfelf here buried in his
own Ground, given by his Father, Joft. XXIV. 32.
and not in the Cave of Machpelah. The only difficulty
is, how he could fay, that he took this Land from the
Am or it e by his Sword, and by his Bono, ( which comprehend
all warlike Instruments) when he bought it for an
hundred Pieces of Silver of Hamor the Hlvite. It is to
be fuppofed therefore that he took it, i. e. recovered it
from the Amorites, who hadfeized on it, after his remo-
val to another part of Canaan, and would notreftoreit,
butconftrain'd him to drive them out by force. We
read nothing indeed in the foregoing Hiftory, either of
their invading his Poffeflion, or his expelling them
thence .• But the Scripture relates many things to have
been done, without mentioning the circumftances of
Time and Place } as Bochartns obferves. And among
other Inftances gives that in XXXVI. 24. wheYe Ana is
faid to have met with the Emims (fo he understands it)
in the Wildernefs : Of which encounter we find no
mention in any other place. See his Hlerozoic. P. II.
L. IV. cap. 13. And, as I takeit, we have a plainer In-
'hnceintheplacea little before mentioned, Hebr. XI
21. where the Apoftle fays, Jacob, when he was a dy-
ing, blefled both the Sons of Jofeph and worfiipped,
leaning
6oo
A COMMENT ART
Chapter leaning upon the top of his Staffs Of which there is not
XLIX. a word in this Hiftory, but only of his blefling them,
verfe 20.
There arethofe who, with St. Hierom, underftand by
Sword and Bow, hir Money .• Which he calls by thofe
warlike Names, to fignifie this was the only Inftrument
he ufed to acquire any thing. Juftas the Romans, when
they would fignifie they had got any thing, without a-
ny other help, but their own Induftry alone, fay they
obtained in Proprio Marte $ ufinga fimilitude from Mili-
tary Expences and Labours. If this do not feem harfti. it
is not hard to give an account why he calls thofe Amo-
rites, who before were called Hivites : For Amorites
feems to have been the general Name of all the feven
Nations of Canaan, they being the Chief $ juft as all the
People of the feven united Provinces, are now com-
monly called Hollanders^ who are the moft Potent of
allthe reft.
C H A P. XLIX.
Verfe I. iVer. 1 .TAceb culled unto his SonsT] When he had done
J fpeaking with Jofeph, perceiving his end ap-
proaching, hefent one to call the reft of his Sons to
come to him.
Gather your felves together^] Come all in a Body to
me. Let me fee you all together before I die.
What ftf ail be in the laft Days.'] The Condition of your
Pofterity in future Times. Jacob is the firft, that we
read of, who particularly declared the future ftate of
'everyone of his Sons, when he left the World. But it
hath been an ancient Opinion, That the Souls of all
excellent
upon GENESIS. 60 1
silent Men, the nearer they approached t-> their de- Chap!
m hence, the more Divine they and XL!X*
er profpeft ■• \ things to come. Whence U/"VNJ
I . Vlli makes his CjrM* fay, when he was
nd, That the Souls of Men, at the point of
ipfxtick. Which mcver wasnniverfal-
; For Prophecy is not a natural thing ^ nor
1 excellent Men partakers of it $ and God corn-
it in what meafures he pleated, to thofe v. '
I any thing of it 5 and to Jacob more than had been
beftowed upon his great Anceftors. for thefe lad
words of his, may be called Prophecies rather than
Ben is : Some of them containing no Blefting in
n^ but all of them Predictions.
Ver. z. Gather your felves together.'] This is repeated, Vet ie :.„
to haften them 5 as the two next words, hear and bear-
ken, are ufed to excite their Attention. It was the man
ner of good Men among the Hebrews, to call all th.
Children before them, and give them good Couniel,
together with their Blefling, when they drew near to
their end: The words then fpoken, being likely to
flick fad in their Mind.
Ver. 3. Reuben, &c.j It is commonly obferved, thatVerfo g.
the Style wherein he fpeaks to his Sons, is much more
lofty than that hitherto ufed in this Book. Which hath
made fome fanfie that Jacob did not deliver thefe ve-
ry words $ but Mofes put the Senfe of what he faid
into fuch Poetical Expreflions. But it feems more
reafonable to me, to think that the Spirit of Prophe-
cy now coming upon him, raifed his Style as well as
his Underftanding: As it did Afo/e/salfo: who de-
livered his Benedictions (in Deut. XXXIII.) in a ftra'ua
more fublime, than his other Writings.
H h h h ThoH
6cz A* COMMENT A R T
Chapter Thou art my fir jl- bom.] So we read XXIX. 32. To
XLIX. whom the Jews commonly obferve belonged three Pre-
L/'W) locatives, a double Portion of the Father's Eftate, the
Priefthood, and the Kingdom, (fas they fpeak) r. e. chief
Authority among his Brethren. The firft of thefe, faith
the Chaldee Paraphraft was given to Jofcph, the fecond
to Levi, the third to Jadah, becaule Reuben had for-
feited all the Rights of his Primogeniture, by his Inceft
with his Father's Wife. But Mr. Selden himfelf (who
gives a full account of the Jews Opinion in this mat-
ter) acknowledges the Priefthood was not confined
to the Firft-born before the Law, as appears by Abel's
offering Sacrifice as well as Cam, and Mofes being a
Prieft as well as Aaron (Pfalm XC1X. 6.) unlefs we
underftand thereby the Office of Chief Prieft. And fo
Jonathan here reports the ancient Opinion of the Jews,
that Reuben loft the High-Priejihood. L. I. de Synedr.
cap. 16. p. 643, See.
My might"] Whom I begot, when I was in my full
Vigour.
The beginning (or the fir ft- fruits) of my Jirengih.']
The fame thing, in more words. Or, it may be in-
terpreted, the prime fnpport of my Family. The Firft-
born is called, the beginning of fircngth in Deut. XXL
ij.PfalmCV. 36.
The Excellency of Dignity'] Who hadft the Prehe-
tninence among thy Brethren, (being the Firft-born)
if thou hadft not fall'n from it by thy Folly 5 as it fol-
lows afterwards.
And the Excellency of Power.'] Who waft born to the
higheft Authority among them. The Hebrews refer
Dignity to the -Priefthood, and Power to the Kingdom.
But there being no folid ground to think the Prieft-
bood, as I faid before, was confined to the eldeft Bro-
ther ;
upon GENESIS. 603
ther:, I take Dignity to fig ni fie the double Portion of Chapter
Eftate^ and Power, Authority among them, while XLIX.
they remained in one Family. *W"VJ
r. 4. VttjlMe as Water.'] The Hebrew word Pa- Vcrie 4-
:, nullifying hajie, and in the Chuldee having the fig-
nificatton of leaping $ the Interpretation of St. Bicrom
ieems moft reafonable ^ which is, poured out like Water
out of a VefTel upon the Ground. And then it denotes
Reubens falling from his Dignity, and lofing his Pre-
heminence^ as Water fuddenly difappears, when it is
poured out on the Earth, and fuckt up into it. Many
refer it, particularly Ca. Vitringa in his late Sacred Ob-
fervations, {Ub. I. cap. 12.) unto his unbounded Luft;
But that is taken notice of in the latter part of this
Verfe, and given as a reafon of his being degraded. O-
thers therefore tranllate the Hebrew word Pachaz by
the Latin word, Levis; a light ox vain Perfon fas we
fpeak at this day) and then the meaning (till is, Water
is not more prone to flow, when it is poured out, than thou
waji to lofe thy Dignity So Georg. Calixtus.
Thottjljalt not excel.'] There is nothing Great faid to
be done by this Tribe in Scripture. And they were
not fo numerous (to which the Vulgar Latin refers
this J by more than a third' part, as the Tribe of Jh-
dah fto whom God gave part of Reubens Preroga-
tive,) when Mofes by God's Command took the Sum
of all the Congregation, Numb. I. 21, 27.
Becaufe thou wenteft up to thy Father s Bed."] Commit-
tedQ Inceft with my Wife, XXXV. 22.
Then defiledfl thou it : He went up to my Couch.] Or,
rather, When thou dejiledft my Couch, it vanifhed, i.e. his
Excellency departed. For the "word Halah, which is
here tranflated to go up, fignifies often in Scripture, to
vanift oxperijh. As in Pfalm CTI. 25*. 7/7?. V. 24. which
Hhhh 2 makes
604 A COMMENTARY
Chapter makes the eafieft Senfe of this place, in thismannen, c Ext
XLIX. c quo polluifyi thorum meum0 afeendit.ut vapor ant fumus -
L/"V*NJ c excellent ia & l dignitas tua, i. e. dilapfaeft, extinSa eft,
c evanmt. From the time that thoa defiledfl my Couch,
c thy Excellency and Dignity went up like a Vapour or <
c Smoak: i.e. it Old away, it was extinft, it vanifhed.
They are rhe words of the fore-named Calixtus. Who
well obier ves thai this is explained in i Chron.V. i.
>*fe "v ^er* '-?* Simeon and Levi are Brethren^] So were all
the reft • btat the meaning is, they are alike in their Dif-
poiuious and linkt together ia the fame wicked De-
iigns$ for fo the word Brother fometimes figniffes, a ■,
Companion or Affociat% that agrees in the fame Inclinati-
ons or Undertakings with others. As Prov. XVIII. 9.
Injir'uments of Cruelty are* in, their Habitations,'] The
word Mecheroth (which we tranflate Habitations) is no
where elfe found -0 nor is there any root in the Hebrew
Language, from whence it may derive that Signification.
Therefore Lud.duDieuy from the Mthiopkk Language,
translates it Counjels: For fo the word Signifies in that
Tongue 5 and in an ill Senfe, Confpirations, Machina-
tions, or mifchieyous .Devices, This Job Ludolphus ap-
proves of, and tranflates this Sentence after this manner,
Gonfilia eorum nihil funt nifi vis & arma : Their Coun-
fels are nothing, but Forceand Arras, Vid< Comment, in
HiffoforJEthiop. Lib. I. cap. 1 £. n. iq6. Aben Ezra is
not much different, who tranflates it, their CompaSs :■
As G.Vorfliw notes upon Pirke Eliefer^cap. 58. where
there are other various Interpretations : With which
I (ball not trouble the Reader, becaufe.I have given
that which I think moft natural,
fttk 6. Ver,6..,0 my Soul, come not thpu, &c.^ He utterly de-
claims all knowledge of their wicked Fadt before-hand :
or, approbation of it afterward. For by Soul is meant
him-
upon GENESIS. 60$
himfelf* and fo the word fi )r Glory fcems to Chapter
mean, in the following words 5 which are J^ut a Re- XLIX.
petition of this. Or, elfc it figniiies the Tongue^ as inL«/Wi
many places of Scripture, (particularly Pfalm XXX.
ia.J and the meaning is, H. never in Thought, much
lefs in Word affented to what they did. They gloried
in the (laughter they made 5 but God forbid that I
Itaould fo much as approve it.
Secret fignifying the fame with AJfembly is, in reafon,
to be interpreted a Secret place, or CIofet$ where Cabals
(as we now fpeakj are wont to be held.
Shew a Man."] i.e. Shechem^ a great Man: Or, the
Singular Number is put for the Plural.
In their felf-will.'] The Hebrew word Ratfon may well
be tranOated Humour. When they were in a Fit of
' Rage.
They digged down a Wall7\ Broke into Hamors Houfe,
where Shechem was. In the Margin we trandate it hough-
ed Oxen: And indeed the Hebrew word Scbor (ignifies
an Ox, not z Wall $ which they call Shur. Yet the Vul-
gar, the Syriack-i Arabic/^, Chaldee ,znd a great number of
the Hebrew Authors interpret it a Wall. And though
the LXX. tranflate it ^Aj^jycoTmuxtv twj%jv, they ham-
firing d an Ox j yet the Author of the Greek, Scholion
(as Bochart acknowledges^ tranflates it i%t£p!£mu» WJ-
£@u, they undermi?id a Wall. The truth is, we read of
neither in the Story, but only of their taking their Sheep
and their Oxeny XXXI V. 28. which fignifies not their
houghing them 5 but their driving them away. Perhaps,
they both broke down a Wall to come at their Flocks 5
and alfo houghed thofe which they were afraid would
other wife have efcaped their hands and got awa
Ver.7. Curfed be their Anger7\ Their Fury was moft ex- Verfe 7,
ecrable, and deteftable : And brought a Curfe upon
them> . Far
6o6 itf COMMENT ART
Chapter For it was fierce."] Outragious 5 or, as the Vulgar
XLIX. tranilates jt, pertinacious. Not a fudden, impetuous
W~V~SJ Paffion, that was foon over: But a fetled, inflexible
Rage. So he condemns them upon a double account.
Firft, that they had fuch an implacable define of Re-
venge 5 and then, that .their Revenge was too cruel.
I will divide them in Jacob^Scc."] This is the Punilh-
raent, which by a Prophetick Spirit he foretells God
would inflirt upon them : That they who were aflb-
ciated in Wicked nefs, (hould be disjoyned one from
another ^ when his Children came -to inherit the Land
of Canaan. And fo it fell out } for Simeons Pofterity
had not a feparate Inheritance bv themfelves, but only
a Portion in the mid ft of the Tribe oijndah^ as we read
Joft. XIX. 1,9, and accordingly we find them aflifting
one another, to enlarge tjieir Border, Jndg. I. 3,17. and
their Portion being too ftrait for them, we read how in
after- times they acquired PofTefliotis, where they could,
far from the reft of their Brethren.- Five hundred of
this Tribe, under feveral Captains, going to Mount
Seh\ and there fetling themfelves, 1 Chron. IV. 39,42.
It is a conftant Tradition alio among the Hebrews (as
P. Fagrus obferves) that a great many of this Tribe
wanting a livelihood applied themfelves to the teach-
ing of Children ^ and were employed as School-Ma-
fters in all the other Tribes of Ifrael: Where few fol-
lowed this Employment but Simeoniies. If this be true,
it is a further Proof of their fcattered Condition.
As for the Tribe of Levi, it is manifeft they had no
Inheritance allotted to them, among their Brethren^ but
were difperfed among all the Tribes: Having certain
Cities alEgned to therti, with a little Land about them*
This indeed did not prove a Curfe to them ^ they ha-
ving the Tenth of all the Increafeof the Land, through-:
out
upon G F N E S I 9. 6oy
out ihe whole Country, For this Curfe feems to have Chapter
upon thaf eminei n XLIX.
fillin G ldenCa]f$ andu/'V^
thereby cqnfecrating theipfelvi Lo a d,
CII.26^29.. Qf>on which acco in McflcS
this Tribe, a little before he died, Dent. XXXIII. 9.
whereas he give? no Bleffing at all to the Tribe of Si-
on; but leaves them under this Curfe: A great ring-
leader of the Idolatry with Bat mg a Prince
of this Tribe } whom Phineas, of the Tribe of Levi,
ilew in his Zeal for the Lord bfi$mb. XXV. it, 14.
Ver. 8. Judah, thou art he whom thy Bn /W/Verfe 8.
praife. ~] Or, thou art Judah 5 and well maiil thou be fo
called, for thy Brethren fhall praifethee. The Name*
Judith (ignifies Praife, unco which his Father alludes. It
was given him by his Mother, in Thankfulnefs to God
for him, XXIX. 35. and now his Father gives another
reafon of his Name 5 becaufe all his Brethren (hould
applaud his worthy Afrs, and praife God for them.
Which is not fpoken ofjudab's Perfon ^ but of his
Family, or Tribe : Who in future times were very
famoirs
Tljy Hand fhall he in the Neck °f thy Enenttes.'] Tc
overthrow them, and bring them 1 Which \w
eminently fulfilled in David, as he hioifelf acknow-
ledges, Pfalm XVlH. 4T. And fo were the foregoing
words , when all the Daughter* of
their Cities finging his Praifes in train, as
offended Saul, I SW. XVIII. <
Thy Father s Children ffc \ down to fhe?.'] Ac-
knowledge thee their Super;
Ver. 9. Judah k a Dons \\ He fets it] Verfe 4 •
ibis Verfe, the Warlike Temper ; a nd their
undaunted Courage, and Terriblenefs to their Enemies.
And
/
6o8 A COMMENT ART
Chapter And he feems to exprefs the beginning, increafe, and
XLIX. full growth of their Power $ by a young Lion yaJLftff,
U/"V"VJ and a Lionefs ; which is the fierceft of all other.
A Lions Whelp'] This Tribe gave early proof of
their Valour $ being the firft that went- to fight againft
the Canaanites, after the Death of Jojhu a, rjudg.l. 1, 2.
And David, who was of this Tribe, when he was
but a Youth, killed a Lion, and a Bear, and the great
Giant Goliah.
From the prey, my Son, thou art gone up.] He fpeaks
as if hefaw them returning in Triiimph^ with the
Spoils of their Enemies: Alluding unto Lions, who
having gotten their Prey in the Plain, return fatiated
to the Mountains. hs.Bochart.uf oblerves, P. I. L. IlL
cap. 2. Hierozoic.
Hefioopeth down, he coucheth as a Lion."] The Hehr ew
word Ari fignifies a grown lion,comz to his full ftrength.
By whofeftooping down (bending his Knees the Hebrew
word fignifies J and couching to take his reft, (which
all four-footed Beads do, but the Lion is obferved, to
fleep whole days in his Den, or in Thickets, that he
may be frefher for his Prey in the Night) Jacob fets
forth the Eafe and Quiet that Judah (hould enjoy af-
ter their Viftories, without any fear of Difturbance.
And as an old Lion.] I think Bochart hath plainly de-
monftrated that Labi, fignifies a Lionefs: Which is ra-
ther fiercer than a Lion^ as he obferves out of Herodo-
tus, and other Authors, P. I. Hierozoic. Lib. III. c. 1.
Who {hall roufe him up f] Having overcome his Ene-
mies, he (hall live in fecure Peace 5 free from their In-
curfions: None daring to invade him, no more than
to ftir up a fleepy Lion.
Verfe IO. Ver. 10. The Scepter JhaU not depart from Judah, &ccr\
That the firft word Schebet is rightly translated Scepter^
we
upon GENESIS. 60 )
we have the unanimous Tedimony of the three Targtwii Chapter
of the ancient Book Rabboth, with a great many of the XLIX.
modern Rabbins, (Tuch as Chaskani, Tkcbai, Abarbi- L/"V*V>
nel, &ci) who all think the word fignifiesa Scepter, and
not a Tribe, as fomefew would have it ; Wbtjm fome
ChriiVians follow 5 particularly Jac Altingius hath lately
afferted it in Schilo; but, in my Judgment, againft
the cleared evidence for the other fignification. For,
as Schcbct doth not originally fignifiea Tribe, but a Rod
or Wand (hooting from the Root of a Tree, (from
whence it was tranllated to fignifie a Tribe, who f pring
out of a common Stock, i.e. the Father of the Family)
fo the Verfe foregoing being a plain Prediction of Ju-
dah's Dominion, not only over external Enemies; but
over his Brethren, what can we fo reafonably think to
be the Defign of this Verfe, as to foretel the Continu-
ance and Duration of that great Power and Authority
promifed in the foregoing? ft isobfervable alfo, that the
very fame Phrafe is ufed in this Sence, and cannot have
another, Zachar. X. 1 1 . The Scepter of Egypt JJjall de-
part away: Where there are two of the words here
ufed 3 fignifying the Dominion, which the Egyptians
then exercifed over the poor Jews, fhould quite ceafe.
And if Mofes had meant a Tribe in this place, he would
nof have faid theTribefliall not depart from Jndah, but
the Tribe ofJiidahfiaUnot ceafe : For the former looks
like a tautology.
The meaningof this word then being fetled, it isma-
nifeft Jacobhere gives jf//<^/jthehighed Superiority over
his Brethren 3 and informs them, that from the time his
Authority (hould be eftablifhed, there fhould continue
a Form of Government in this Tribe, till the coming of
the Mejfiah. The word Scepter is more ufed in ancient
Times (as Mr. Seldcn obferves in his Titles of Honour)
I i i i to
■tfio A COM M ENT A RY
Chapter to fignifie Kingly Power, than either Crown or Diadem*
XLIX. which have been ufed more in latter times. And there-
fore the LXX tranflate it rA/r£
Judg.V.g, 14 who were not indued with an abfolute
Power, but depended on the Power of another. And
thus R. Solomon Jarchi expreily fays (in his Commentaries
on the Sanhedrim) that as Schebet fignifies the higheft
Authority, fo Mechokek. fignifies a lefTer Magiftrate or
Ruler ^ who was fet over the People by tfae Authority
and Licence of the Kings of Perpa. For this kind of
Power, was fettled among them, at their return from Ba-
bylon, when Zerobabel was made their Governor. Arid
afterfthey were invaded by the Seleucid/, Pacific^, ProfperoHJjmd confeq»ient!y Renowned,Ax
gufl, to whom Gf/fi or Offerings Hull be nude, as /?.
Solomon takes it 5 othtTS, zr/w/e ;\r, viz. the Kingdom)
the Mclfiah or Chrift is certainly hereby meant : As all
the three Targnms agree: and the Talmud in the Title
Sanhedrim, cap. XI. and Baal- Hat t;:rim, Bert] chit- Rabbit f
and many ether ancient and modern jfimr. I will men-
tion only the words of R. Bcchai -\ whoconfelTes, // is
right to underfland this Terfe of the Ship ah, the taji Re-
deemer. l Which is meant when it Cairn, till Shilo come
1 r.e. his Son, proceeding from his Seed; And the rea-
1 Con why the word beno is not -u (ed in this Prophecy,
* hot Shilo, is, becaufe he would emphatically expreCs a
* Son, who fhould be brought forth of his Mother's
1 "Womb, after the manner of all thofe, that are born of
* a Woman. Of this Interpretation they are fo con- -
vinced, that to evade the Argument we urge from hence,
to prove the Meffiah is come, they have invented a great
many Tales of the Power they have (Yiil in fome re-
mote Parts of the World. There is a Book written on
purpofe, called, The Voice if glad Tiding*, wherein th
labour to prove, they have a Kingdom t c ill remaining.
Which if it fhould be granted, fignifies nothing ; for
this Prophecy is concerning their Government in their
own ..Country, the Land of Canaan : As they themfelves
very
6i4 A COMMETSlTARr
Chapter verY w*ll know $ which makes them fo defirous tore-
XLIX. turn thither again, that the Hand of Judah may be up-
L/'V'Nj on the Neck of his Enemies, and he may go up from the
prey like a Lion, and tie his Afs to the Fine, and wafo his
Garments in Wine, &c. as the words are in the reft of
this Prophecy. And whatfoever fome of them are plea-
fed to fay concerning their Power, no Body knows
where 5 they arefometimes in a contrary humour ; For
in the Gemar a Sanhedrim they fay, Cap. XL $ 32. There
fo all not be the leaji Magi fir ate in Ifrael, when the Mejjiah
comes.
Unto him full the gathering of the People be7\ So this
Claufe is expounded by Abarbinel himfelf, whofe words
are -0 The People of the Nations /hall be gathered to worfoip
him, i. e. the Mejjiah. See L Empereur in Jacchiad. p.
164. and Codex Middoth,p. 106, 107. Wagenfeil indeed
thinks the moft literal Interpretation to be this, To him
/hall be the Obedience of the People : Which is the Inter-
pretation Of Onkelos and the Hierufalem Paraphraft.
Kimchtelto (Lib. Radic.) fo expounds it, The People
foal/ obey him i> taking upon them to obferve what hefoall
command them. And in Pro v. XXX. 17. which is the
only place befides this, where this word Jikk*h is found,
it feems tofignifie Obedience.
See Confut. Carm. R. Lipmanni}p. 295. where Wagen-
feil after the examination of every particular word in
this Verfe^ thus fumms up the Sence of it in this Pa-
raphrafe.
That Royal Power and Authority which foal/ be ejiablifoed
in the Pofierity of Judah,foall not be taken from them 5 or,
at leaji, they foal/ not be deflitute of Rulers and Governors,
no not when they are in their declining Condition : Until
the coming of the Mejjiah. But when he is come, there
fojall be no difference between the Jews and other Nations ;
Who
upon GENESIS. <5i5
Who flail all be obedient unto the Melfiah. And after that Chapter
the Pojicrity ofjudih Jhall have neither King, nor Ruler. XLIX.
of their own : But the whole Commonwealth of ]i\<\,\\\J1)alI \^/^VJ
quite lofc all Form 5 and never recover again.
The Truth of this Expoluion appears exactly from
their Hiftory : Of which it will be ufeful here to give
an account. For from David to the Captivity of Baby-
lon they held the Scepter, forfive vvhole Ages and more,
as I observed above. After which, when feventy Years
were finifhed in that Captivity, they lived by their own
Laws in their own Country.- But had noabfolute Au-
thority ot rheir own, independent upon others }, nor
ever enjoyed a full Liberty. For they were at ficft un-
der the Per ft an Monarchs : Afterwards, upon the Con-
queft made by Alexander, under the Greeks; And then
under the Kings of Aft a Minor and Egypt 5 till the Roman
Yoke was impoftd upon them. Yet all this time, while
they were under the Empire of others, they enjoyed
Governors or Rulers of their own .- Who adminiftred
their Affairs, under thole Monarchs. The firft was Ze-
robabel, called the Captain,ox Prince ofjudah, HaggaiJ. r.
After him Ezra and Nehetniah. And before them it
is likely there were fome others, as Jof.Scaliger gathers
from Nehem. V. 15. After the deaih of Nehemiah the
Government came into the Hands of the High Priefts,
as appears from Jofephas, L. XI. cap. 8. where he (hows
how Jaddus the High-Prieft met Alexander in his Expe»
dition againft Perfta : Which Power was confirmed in
that Order, by the Maccabees, as we commonly call them,
It begain in Mattathias 5 and was continued in his Sons.
Thethird of which, Simon, railed it tofucha Splendor,
that he looked like a Prince, as the Reader may fee it
defcribedin 1 Maccab. XIV. From whence his Grand*
Child Arijiobttlus feems to have taken occafion to arfeft
the
616 A COMMENT A KY
Chapter the Name of King : Though he had but the Shadow of
XLIX0 that Power. Yet hisPofterity kept that Name, to the
U^V'SJ time of Herod .-Who ftript them of all their Power,
and deftroyed their Family. After his deaththe King-
dom was divided by Augujlus into Tetrarchies ■ : Arche-
hits being made Tetrarch ofjudga 5 and the reft of the
Country divided between Philip and Antipas. But Ar-
cheUits afisbehaving himfelf, he was deprived of hi* Go-
vernment, and b,mi(hed to Vienne in brance : And then
Judta was reduced into the Form of a Province, and
ruled by Roman Governors. After which there was no
Ring*, nor Ethnarch of jnd£a : So that after this time
we may fafely conclude, the Jews loft even their Mc^
chokl^mox Governors \ as they had long ago loft the
Scepter: And had no Power remaining among them, of
adminiftring the Atfairs of their Commonwealth.
Now at this time our bleffed Lord and Saviour, Je-
fus Chrift, the true Shiloh came : Who was the Founder
- of a new and heavenly Kingdom. And nothing more
was left to be done for the fulfilling of this Prophecyv
but after his Crucifying, to deftroy Jerufalem and the
Temple, and therewith the whole Form of their Go-
vernment, both Civil and Sacred.Then all Power was in-
tirely taken from Jndah, when Chrid had erefted his
Throne in the Heavens, and brought many People, in
feveral Parts of the Earth, unto his Obedience, and*
made them Members of his Celeftial Kingdom. Till
which time this Prophecy was not compleatly fulfilled :
Which may be the reafon pol!ibly,that it is notalledged
by Chriftand his Apoftles ■$ becaufe the Jews might have
faid, We have ftill a Government among us .• Which
could not be pretended after the deftru&ion by Ti-
tus. Which is now above, Sixteen hundred Years
ago. And there is not the leaft fign of their reftitution.
Which
upon GENESIS. 6\y
Which fo perplexed R. Samuel Maroccanus, that it Chapter
made him write thus to a Friend oi his, above Six XLIX.
hundred Years fince. v*/-\^v-#
vtldf tin learn from thee, out of the Tefti monies of
the Lax, and the Prophets, and other Scriptures, why the
. s are thus f mitt en in this Captivity wherein we are :
Which may be properly called, the P ERPETV AL
A HOE R 0 F G 0 D, Lecaufe it hath no end. For it
is now above aThcuJand Tears, Jince we were carried cap-
tive by T I T U S } and yet our bathers who worfoipped
Idols, IqWd the Prophets, and caft tlx Law ibehind their
Back, wrc onb purified with a Seventy Tears Captivity,
audthen brought home again: But now there is no end
of our Calamities, nor do the Prophets promife any.
if this Argument was hard to be anfwered then in
his days, it is much harder now in ours : Who ftill
fee them purfued by God's Vengeance ^ which can be
for nothing elfe but rejecting, and crucifying the Mef
fiah, the Saviour of the World.
Ver. ii. Binding his Foal unto the Vine, &c.^ ThisVerfe If.
verfe fets forth the great Fertilty of JudalSs Country
(abounding with Vineyards and Paftures) by two Hy-
perbolical Expreffions. Firfl, That Vines fhould be as
common there, as Thorn-Hedges in other places } fo
that they might tie AfTes, with their Colts to them :
Or, asfomewill have it, lade an Afs with the Fruit of
one Vine. Secondly, That Wine fhould be as common
as Water $ fo that they fhould have enough, not on-
ly to drink, but to wafb their Clothes in it. Which
doth not imply, that they made it ferve for that ufe $
but only denotes its plenty .* Which was fo very
great, that in treading the Grapes, and prefling out
the Juice, their Garments were all fprinkled with
Wine 5 which one might wring out of them.
K k k k Choice
6i8 A COM MEN 7 ART
Chapter Choice Vine^ The Vine of Sore\ (which we here
XLIX. tranflate choke, and in Jerem. II. II. noble Vine) was the
v^ v^-> mod excellent in all that Country. For Sorek was a
place, not above half a Mile from the Valley of Efchol $
from whence tfce Spies brought the large Bunches, as
a Sample of the Fruitfulnefs of the Country. See Bo-
chart, P. i. Hierozoic. Lib. III. cap. 13.
Verfe 12. Ver. 12. His Eyes Jhatt be red with Wine, &c] This
Verfe fets forth the Healthfulnefs and Vigour of the In-
habitants of that fertile Country. But Dr. Caftell thinks
this not to be a good Tranflation 5 becaufe it can be faid
of none but a Drunkard, that his Eyes are red with Wine.
And therefore it ought to be tranflated his Eyes (ox his
Countenance, for fo Eyes fometimes fignifies) ftiall be
brighter and more finning than Wine. So the word we
render red fignifies in the Arabick Tongue, as he fhows
in his Oratio in Schol.Theolog. p. 31. and in his Lexicon,
Yet the fame word in the Proverbs, XXIlf. 19. cannot
have any other fignification than red y and the red Co-
lour of the Eyes, anfwers well here tothzwhitenefs of
theTeeth, which follows $ and there is no more rea-
fon to think he means, they (hould make their Eyes
red with drinking Wine, than that they (hould wafo
their Clothes in it .• But it may only exprefs the great
abundance of Wine 3 to ferve not only their neceffi-
ty, butexcefs.
And his Teeth white with Milfc] Milk doth not make
the Teeth white 3, but gives fuch an excellent Nourifh-
ment, thatthey who live upon it are healthy and ftrong :
And their Teeth ^iot fo apt to rot, as theirs who feed;
upon greater Dainties. So the meaning is, the rich Pa-
ftu fes in that Country, (hould feed great Flocks, and
confequently they (hould have abundance of Milk, fo
good and nourifhing, that the Teeth of the Country-
men
upon GENESIS. 61?
men who lived upon it, (hould be as white as the Chapter
Milk they drank. Or, if the foregoing words be XLlX.
translated, His Fycs flull be brighter than \\ ine , thefe t^VNJ
8 to be tranihted, HkTeeth whiter than M'dk-
Out of thele three Verfes foregoing, Bochartus thinks
whole Story of Silenus was forged by the Po
See his Canaan, Lib. I. cap. 1 8. p. 482.
Ver. 15. Zcbulun fhalldmll at the Haven of the Sea. ^^k I3«
Near the Lake of Tiberias , called in Scripture -the
of Galilee. %
He fliali be an Haven for Ships."] The Lot that fell to
him extended from thence to the Mediterranean :
Where there were Ports for Ships.
His border fl?all be unto Zidon!] lie doth not mean
the City of Ztdony for the Tribe of Zebuhin did not
extend themfelves beyond Mount Carwcl, which is forty
Miles at leaft from thence : But the Country of Zidon%
7. e. Phowicia, (as Bochart obferves in his Phaleg. L. IV.
cap. 54. ) which the Zebulonitcs touched. For as the
Phoenicians were called Syrians from 5«r, i. e. Tyre:
fo they were called Sidonians from Sidon^ as Hefychius
tells us. Who interprets Z«&5rw«, by Qi'mx*;. Whence
the LXX have Phoenicians for Sidonians, Deut. III. 9.
and PhaznicetoxSidon, Jfa. XXIIL 2.
It is very much to be admired, That Jacob (bould
foretel fo many Years before hand, the Situation of his
Pofterity in the Landoi Canaan 5 when their feverai
Portions fell to them by Lot, and not by their own
choice, Joft. XIX. 10, it. This could not have been,
but by the Spirit of Prophecy. And it is remarkable
alfo, that he mentions Z^ebnlon before Ijfachar, who was
his elder Brother, (XXX. ii.) for no other reafon, that
I can difcern, but becaufe Zebttlons Lot was to come up
before Tffachars^ in the Divifion of the Land : His be-
lt k k k 2 ing
6ao A COMMENTARY.
Chapter ing the third, and Ijfachar $ thz fourth, Jofi.XIX. to, 17,
XLIX. By this they were taught that their Habitation in the
C/'VNJ Land of Canaan, was the Gift of God 5- and did not
come by chance: Their Fore-father having fo long be-
fore, predi&ed the very Portion they ftiould inherit,
Verfe 14. Ver. 14. Ijfachar is a firong Afs.'} As he compared Ju~
dah to a Lion, becaufe of his Valour, fo he compares
Ijfachar to an Afs, and a firong Afs, becaufe he fore-
faw they would be very patient and unwearied ia
ruftical Labours .• It* which Affes were principally
employed iirthofe Countries.
Couching down between two> burdens.'] There are vari-
ous Opinions about the Signification of that word,
which we tranflate Burdens. But none feem to me fo
apt as that, to exprefs the great ftrength of an Afs-:
Which Iks down, with its Load hanging- down on
both fides. Wtoice a (he Afs is called Athon fas
Bochart obferves ^ from the word Ethan $ which fig-
nifies Strength : Becaufe noBeafl of that, bignefe can
carry fuch heavy Burdens.
Verfe iji Ver. if. And he faw that reft was good.] Or, a*
fome will have it, their refiing. place 5 the Country
that fell to their (harein the Land of Canaan; no part
of which was more fruitful, than fome parts of Ijfa-
char s Portion. Which way foever we take it, he feems
to foretel they would chufe to follow Husbandry ra-
ther than Merchandize fas Zebulon did) and love
Quiet and Peace* as Husbandmen do/ Efpecially when
they live in a richSoily as this Tribe did. For fo it
follows*
And the Land that it was pleafant.'} The famous Val-
ley of Jezreel was in this Tribe .• Whofe Border ex-
tended as far as Jordan 5 where there was a very
pleafant Country, Jojh. XIX. 18, 22.
Bowed
upon GENESIS. 62 I
Bowed his Shoulder to bear."] Taking any Pains to till Chapter
the Land 5 and to carry in the Corn, with other XLlX.
Fruits of the Earth, U^V^vJ
And became a Servant unto Tribute.'] Submitting to the
heavieft Taxes, rather thanlofe their Repofe. For the
Prefervation of which they were content to give any
Money $ that they might redeem their Services in the
Wars, orotherways, by large Contributions.
Ver.. 16. Dan [hall judge his People, 8cc] In the word Verfe 16.
Judgeht alludes to the Name of Dan : Which fignifies
Judging, i.e. Ruling and Governing. A great many fol-
low Onk$los, who expounds it thus } A Man ffjall arife
out of the Tribe of Dan, Inwhofe days the People flj all be
deliveredy &c. And accordingly we read that Sampfon,
who wa3 of this Tribe judged Ifrael twenty Years. So
she meaning is, the Tribe of Dan (hall have theHonour
to produce a Judge, as well as other Tribes. But there
is this Exception to this Interpretation 5 that all the
Tribes did not produce Judges : And all Ifrael (whom
the Judges governed) cannot be faid to be Dans Peo-
ple. But by his People (whom he is faid here to judged
are properly meant thofe of his- Tribe* And therefore
Jacob's meaning is, that though he were the Son of
a Concubine, yet hifrPofterity faould be governed by
a Head of their own Tribe 5 as the other Tribes of
Ifrael were. So by this he took away all diftin&ton
between the Sons of his Concubines ("of whom Dan
wasthefirll) and thofe which, he had by Leah and
Rachel
Ver. 17. Dan fiallbe a Serpent by the way] The next
words (how-,- what kind of Serpent he fhould be like,
an Adder in tfre Path. The Hebrew word Schephiphon9
feme take for a Bafilis^ others for an Afpy or a Viper 5
othtrs z Snake >ox Adder, Sec The Vulgar tranflates it
grt A COMMENT ART.
Chapter Ceraftes, which is a kind of Viper : Apd Bqchartus (In
XLIX. Ws Rhrc%ohon, P. II. L. HI. r. 12.) hath confirmed this
t/"V"\J Tranflation 5 by (bowing how well it agreefrto the Cha-
rafters which Authors give of it.- That it lies in Sand,
andin the Ruts, which Cart-wheels make in the High-
way 5 and fo is ready to bite Travellers, or their
Horfes. Which is the harder to be avoided, becaufe it
is of a Sandy Colour } fo that 01 ttd^oi
which is alfo a. trxnfitory Salv.ition 5 bnt 1 expect the Re*
demotion of Chrift, the Son /David, Sec. Jonathan and
the Hiemfalem Targum lay the fame. And if we take all
this Prophecy to belong to the whole Tribe, (as I be-
lieve it doth) that doth not exclude fuch a Senfe. But
Jacob forefeeingthe Diftrefles wherein they would be,
Cjf^.XIX.47. Judg. I. 54 J prays God to help them,
and deliver them, and teach them to look up to him
in all their Straits and Neceflities ; And efpecially to
wait for the Mejjiah. Yet after all, I think, the words
may have another meaning, which is this. Jacob per-
ceiving his approaching death, and hisSpirits beginning
to fail him, in the middle of his Speech to his Sons,
breaks out into this Exclamation, (which belongs to
none of them) faying, I wait, 0 LORD, for a hap-
py Deliverance out of this World, into a better Place.
And then having refted himfelf a while, to recover
his Strength, he proceeded to blefs the reft of his
Sons.
Ver. 1 9. Gad, a Troop fiall overcome him.'] Or, invade Verfe 1 9,
him. There is an Allufion in every Word to the Name
of Gad 1 Whofe Inheritance being in a Frontier Country
beyond Jordan, was very much expofed to the Incurfions
of the Ammonites, and Moabites, and the reft of thofe en-
vious Neighbours, that dwelt in or near Arabia. And
fome think the word Troop hath a great Propriety in
it y. fignifying not a juft Army, but a Party, as wefpeak,
a Band of Men, that came oft-times, to rob and Ipoil.
Butit appears by the Prophet Jeremiah', XLIX. r/that
the Ammonites fometime poflefled themfelves of the
Country of Gad, or, at leaft, of fome part of it, and
ex-
<524 ACOMMENTART
Chapter exercifed great Cruelties there, Amos I. 13. Long be-
XLIX. fore which the Book of Judges informs us, how they
w v*w wereopprefledby this People for eighteen Years toge*
ther, X. 8. and came with a great Army and encamped
in Gilead (verfe 17.J which was in the Tribe of Gad.
But he {hall overcome at the lafl7\ This was eminently
fulfilled, wkmjfephtha the Gileadite, fought with the
Children of Amnion, and fuhdued them he/ore the Children
oflfrael, Judg.YA.^. and when this Tribe (together
with their Brethren of Reuben and Manaffeh) made
War with the Hagarites, and poffeifed themfelvesof
their Country .• /Which they kept till the Captivity,
hecaufethe War was* of God, 1 Chron. V. 22.
Verfe 20. yer. 2Q. Out of After. ,] /. e. Of his Country.
His Bread foall he fat."] Shall be excellent Provision,
of all forts, for the Suftenance of Humane Life, for
Bread .comprehends not only Corn, but Wine and
Oil, and.all forts of Vi&uals, XXI. 14.
And he Jh all yield royal dawties7\ His Country (hall
afford. not only all things neceffary $ but the choiceft
Fruits, fit to beferved up to the Table of Kings. For
part of it lay about Carmel, (Jofi. XIX. 26.J where
there was a moft delicious Valley.
Verfe 21. Ver 2 1. Naphtali is a Hind let locfeT] As he had com-
pared Judah toa Lion, aqd Ijfachar to an Afs^ and Dan
to a Serpent 5 fo he compares this Son to a Hind, which
is not confined within P^les ox Walls.- But runs at
Luge, whether itpleafeth. Whereby is Signified that
this Tribewould.be great Lovers of Liberty.
He groeth goodly (or pleafwg) r$ords7\ Which denotes
their Addrefs(as we now fpeakj charming Language,
and Affability, to win the Favour of others .: And there-
by preferve their Peace and Liberty. Mercer makes
.this Verfe to fignifie their fpeed and fwiftnefs in difpatch
of
upon GENESIS. 62$
of Bufinefs '■> and their fmoothnefs in the management of Chapter
it.- which might render them acceptable to all Men. XLIX.
There are no Inftances indeed in Scripture to make out ^^^^
this Character.- For Barak* who was of this Tribe, was
very ilow in undertaking the Deliverance of Ifrael.
Nor do we read they were more zealous Afferrors of
Liberty than others. But yet this will not warrant us
to alter the pun&ation of the words (as Bochart doth
P.I. Hierozoic.L. WX.cap. 18.) to make a quite different
fence, which is this ; Naphtali is a well-fpreadTree, which
puts out beautiful branches. For we do not find that
they were either more beautiful, or numerous than
other Tribes : But we find, quite contrary, that Simeon^
Judah, Iffachar, Zcbulon, and Dan^ were all more nu-
merous than they when Mofes took an account of
them, Nu/xb.l. 23,27,29,31,39. Befides,this Interpretati-
on makes thisaer/e, in a manner, the very fame with the
next, concerning Jofeph. Therefore though the LXX.
agree to Bochart's Verfion, we had better ftick to our
own } which makes a Sence clear and proper enough.
Ver. 21. Jofephis a fruitful Bough.'] Or, young Plant. \rerfe 22
It is an Allufion to his Name } which imports growth
and increafe : And may well be under ftood of the great
Dignity to which he was rifen in Egypt. Unto which
he was advanced in a fhort time, after Pharaoh took no-
tice of him .• Like a Bough or young plant, which (hoots
up apace 3 and thence compared in the next words to
A fruitful Bough by a Well.'] Or, Spring of Water.-
which in thofe dry Countries, made the Plants which
were fet near them, to grow the fafter, and to a greater
heighth, (PfaL I. 3 J and therefore figntfies his extra-
ordinary advancement.
Whofe Branches run over the Wall.] Cover the Will
that furrounds the Spring 5 or, the Wall againft which
LI 11 the-
6i6 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter the Tree is planted, Which feems to denote the two
XLIX. Tribes of Ephrain: a -J Manajfeb \ which fprang from
Vw^V^Sj him, and were very flouriftiing : As appears from Jofh.
XVII. 14,17. where they teli him, they were a great
People, whom the LORD bad blejfed hitherto. And
JoJIjua there acknowledges as much, tfaying, Ihou art a
great People, and haft great Power : And therefore afligns
them a larger Portion of Land, than they had at firft.
The Hebrew word Banoth, which we tranflate Boughs
literally Signifying Daughters 5 fome think that as he
fpeaksof the Sons of Jofeph in the foregoing part of
the Verfe 5 fo in this he fpeaks of his Daughters that
they (hould go to the Wall, i- e. faith Dr. Lightfoot, even
to the Enemy : To repair the Hoftile Tribe of Benja-
min 5 which otherwifehad decayed for want of Wives.
For fothe word Schur fignifies, and is tranflated by us
an Enemy : Pfalm XCII. 11. And D. Chytrsus under-
ftands hereby Daughters^ the Cities of the Tribe of E-
phraim which (hould be well governed, though fome
fhould fetthemfelvesagainft it.
Terfe 23. Ver. 25. The Archers."] In the Hebrew the words
Baale chitfim fignifie Matters in the Art of Shooting 5
and therefore denotes thofe here fpoken of; to be skilful
in doing Mifchief: Such were his Brethren, who were
full not only of Envy, but Hatred to him, XXXVIII. 4^
5, Eft. Some refer it alfo to Potiphars Wife 3 who
wickedly flandered him. And others to the whole
Tribe of Ephraim 5 who were incompaffed with Ene-
mies (who in general are meant by Archers') when the
Kingdom was fettled in them, over the ten Tribes.
'Have for ely grieved him,'] By their unkind, or rather
churlifh Behaviour towards him 5 for they could not
fpea/^ peaceably to him^ (XXXIII. 4.) and, it's like-
ly, they reviled him, ^and threw out bitter words a-
gainft
upon GENESIS. 6*7
gainft htm: which were properly compared to Ac Chapter
rows, Pfalm LXIV. 3. XL1X.
And foot at himT] Defigned to deftrov him 5 and v^sr^-#
did actually throw him into fore AHiittions, XXXVIII.
22, 24. 28.
.1 bated him.'] Which arofe from their hatred to
him.
Ver. 24. But his Bow abode in Jirength.~) He armed Verfe 24.
himfelf with invincible Patience 5 having nothing elfe
tooppofe unto their malicious Contrivances. It Teems
to be a Metaphor from thofe Soldiers, who have Bows
fo well made, that though often, never fo often bent,
they neither break, nor grow weak. Such was the
Temper of Jofeptis Mind.
And the Arms of his Hands were ma-dejlrong.~] i. e. He
was ftrengthned and fupported : Being like to a ftre-
nuous Archer, the Mufcles and Sinews of whofe Arms
are fo firm and compaft, that though his Hands draw
his Bow continually, he is not weary.
By the Hands of the mighty God of Jacob.~] Which
Fortitude he had not from himfelf, but from the Al-
mighty } who had fupported Jacob in all his Adverfi-
ties; and made all that Jofeph did (when he was fold
andimprifoned) to profper in his Huids, XXXIX. 5.
22, 13. The Hebrew word Abh\ which fignifies Potent
or Powerful, and we tranihte mighty One, is as much as
the LO RD of Jacob. For from Power it comes to
fignifie Potcflas, Authority and Dominion alfo, as Bo*
chart obferves.
From them:e.~] From the Divine Providence over
him, before-mentioned.
Is the Shepherd^] Jofcph became the Feeder and Nou-
rifher of his Father, and of his Family, and of their
Flocks and Herds .• Preferving them all from being fa-
mi (hed. LI 1 1 2 And
6a9 A COMMENTARY.
Chapter And the Stone of Ifrael^] Who upheld them all, and
XLIX. kept them from being ruin'd. Or, Shepherd may figni-
fie his being made Governor of all the Land of Egypt 5
and the Stone of Ifrael, the Support of his Family. For
Shepherd is a Name of Dignity and Authority.- And
Stone fignifies the Foundation (as Aharhinel here ex-
pounds it) upon which the whole Building relies.-
As Jacob and all his Children did upon fofefb lor
their Suftenance.
Some I find (particularly D. Chytr&ni) refer the*
words from thence unto Jofeph :. And then by the Shep*
herd and Stone of Ifrael underftand thofe excellent Men
who by their Wifdom and valour fupported the Com-
naon-wealth of Ifrael. Such as Jofhtta, the Captain of the
Lord's Hoft, and Abdon, onexrf the Judges, who were
of the Tribe of Ephratm: And Gideon, Jafr, and Jeph-
thahy who were of the Tribe of Manajfeh. But the fol-
lowing words incline rather to the former Sence.
"^erfe 2 5, Ver. 2 5. Even by the God of thy Father. ] Or, from him
that bleffed me, and advanced thee, to be the Support
of my Family. For it refers to all that went before.
Who fiall help thee.] Having faid what God had al-
ready done for him 5 he now foretels what he would
do hereafter .• which relates to all his Pofterity 3 whom
God would Protett and Defend.
And by the Almighty?] Or, from him who is aU-fuffi-
cient ; by which Name he revealed himfelf unto Abra-
ham, when he entred into Covenant with him and
with his Seed, XVII. 1.
And blefs thee with the bkffings of heaven above, blejjlngs
of the deep that lieth underT] The meaning feems to be,
that his Pofterity fhould be planted in a very fertile
Soil .* watred from above with the Dew of Heaven
and with Showers of Rain 5 and watered beneath with
Springs
upon GENESIS. 6i9
Springs and Rivers. As G Vo\fius well interprets if, Chaptei
L. I. dc IdoloL cap. 77. XLIX.
Blcjjingsofthe Breafls, and of the Womb,'] A promife L^VNJ
of a numerous and thriving Progeny. Or, ot a vaft
increafe of Cattle, io well fed, that they (hculd bring
up their Young proiperoufly, as well as bring them
forth abundantly.
Ver. 16. The blejflngs of thy Father.'] Either the Blef- Verfe 26.
fingsbel\owed by God upon Jacob 5 or, the Bleflings
Jacob conferred on his Son Jojcph.
Have prevailed.] Are greater.
Above the blejjings of my Progenitors."] Than the Blef-
fings God beftowed upon Abraham and Ifaac : who
had not fomany Sons, as God had blefTcd him withal :
Upon every one ofwhomalfo he conferred a (hare
in the Inheritance of the Land of Canaan ^ whereas
Ifimael was excluded by Abraham, and Efau by Jfaac.
Or, the meaning may be, I have done more for thee, than •
they for me, i.e. thou (halt be happier than 1. For
Jacob led an unfettled Life ^ but Jofeph flourifhed in
great Splendour in Egypt, to the end of his davs.
Unto the utmofl bounds of the everlafling Hills.] As long
a* the World (hall laft. For perpetuity is exprefled in
Scripture by the durablenefsof Mountains, Ifai. LIV. io..,
And here he feems to allude to the noble Mountains
which fell to be the Portion of Jofeph's Children, viz,
Bajljan and Mount Ephraim. But there are thofe who
think, he hath not refpeft to the durablenefs of thefe
Mountains 5 but to their fruitfulnefs ,• tranflating the
Hebrew word Tavath not Bounds, but Dejircs, as the Vul-
gar Latin doth. And then theSenceis, Unto all that h
mofi defireabky in thofe ancient Hills } which abounded
with the moft: excellent Fruit. And this Tranihtion is .
grounded on Mofe s h\s Bleffing, which leems-to be an ,
la-
6%o A C OMMENT ART
Chapter Interpretation of Jacob's, Dent. XXXIII. 15. where he
XLIX. bleffeshim^ for the chief things of the ancient Mom*
W* V~w tains ^ and for the precious things of the lafting Hills*
Of him that was feparate from his Brethren.'] The word
Nazir, which we tranflate feparate 3 fignifies one that is
feparated from others, vel Voto, vel Dignitate, fas Bo-
chart obferves, P. II. Hierozoic. L. V. cap. 6.) either by a
Vow, or by his Dignity. And in the latter fence Jofeph
is called Nazir, becaufeof his eminent Dignity \ where-
by he was advanced above all his Brethrem : Being the
Vice- Roy of Egypt.
Verfe 2 7. ^er- 2 7* Benjamin foall raven as a Wolf."] This fets forth
'the warlike Temper of this Tribe .• A Wolf being both
a ftrong and undaunted, and alfo a very rapacious Crea-
ture .• And thence in after times dedicated to Mars.
From whence Wolves are called Martii and Martiales
in Virgil and in Horace : And warlike Men are called by
the Greeks AvHxxp&m, of a Wolf-like Temper. And the
Hiftory jullifies this Chara&er : The Tribe of Benjamin
alone maintaining a War with all the other Tribes 5 in
which they overcame them in two Battles, though they
had fixteen to one againft them. And they killed then
more Men of Ifrael, then they had in their whole Ar-
my. See Bochart^ P. I. Hierozoic. L. III. cap. 10.
In the morning he Jhall devour the prey, and at night he
jhall divide the fpotL] This doth not fignifie (as the
fore-named Author obferves, in the fame place) the
whole Day, but the whole Night : One part of which
js the Evening, and the other the Morning. And there-
fore the Particle and fignifies here as much as after : And
this is'the fence. The Tribe ofB?.n)aminJhaiJ be like a ra-
vening Wolf\ who foall have his prey to eat till morning
light 5 after he hath divided it in the evening* For the
divifion ofthe Prey, goes before the eating of it. This
Paflage
upon GENESIS. 6$i
Pafiage is like that J'ojh. VII. They 'burnt them with Chapter
fir*9 and foned them with f ones, i.e. burnt them, after XLIX.
they had ftoned them \ as we there rightly tranflate it. ^VNJ
And this applyed to Benjamin^ fignifies fuch iuccefs in
their Wars, that they fhould come home loaded with
the Spoils of their Enemies.
I omit the fancy of the Talmudfts, who imagine
Benjamin is compared to a \Volf\ becaufe the Altar of
Burnt-offering, where the Morning and Evening Sa-
crifices were daily confumed, flood in this Tribe.
They that would know what they fay of this, may
look into Codex Mid-loth, cap. 3. § 1. and LEmpe-
reurs Annotations there-
Ver. 28. All theft are the twelve Tribes oflfrael.] From Verfe 28.
thefe fprang the Twelve Tribes of Iff ad: Or, thefe are
the BlelFings of the Twelve Tribes: For thefe words
plainly fhow, that what he had faid, was not to be ful-
filled in their Perfons, but hi their Pofterity.
And hlcffed them 5 every one according to his bleffing,
&c3 He did not give -them a new Bleffing after all
this.- But the meaning is, he bleffed them fin the man-
ner fore-goingj every one according to the Bleffing
defigned by God for them. There feems indeed to
be no Benediction beOowed on the three firft Tribes 5
but that it is to be underftood only comparatively : For
he provided for them all a Portion in the Land of
C anna an.
Ver. 29. I am to be gathered to my Peopled] Mud Verfe 29.
die (hortly.
Bury me with my Fathers, Sec."] The reafon of this In-
junction is well explained by Slercer 5 to whom I re-
fer the Reader.
Ver. 30. In the Cave that is, &;.] He defcribes the Verfe goo.
place fo particularly, in this and the two next Yerfes 5
becaufe
6^7 AC OMMENT ART
Chapter becaufe he would not have them miftake it, when they
XLIX. went to bury him : And that he might (how his Title
^V-w to ;t) jf the Inhabitants of Canaan (from which he had
' been abfent fome Years) (hould difpute the laying his
Body there.
Verfe 33. Ver. 33. When Jacob had made an end of command-
ing his SonsT] Concerning his Burial 5 which he brief-
ly added to his Prophecy.
He gathered up his Feet into the BedJ] The Hebrews
think that out of Reverence to God he fat up when he
pronounced a Bleffing on his Sons .• His Feet hanging
down upon the Ground. And indeed it is very pro-
bable he endeavoured to put himfelf into a Pofture of
Authority at leaft : And therefore fat on his Bed-fide
while he fpake. And now the Prophetick Spirit, which
had raifed his Natural Spirits above their ordinary
pitch, departing from him, they prefently funk fo
much the lower 3 and in a fhorttime he expired.
Yielded up the Ghofir\ The Hebrews will have it to
exprefs an eafie death.
And was gathered to his People.^ To his Anceftors.
From whence there are fome (particularly Theodoret*)
whojnfer the belief they had, in thofe days, of ano-
ther Life : In fociety with thofe who were departed
out of this Life. For Brutes are never faid to be ga-
thered to thofe of their Kind, that died before them.
CH A P.
upon GENESIS. 633
Chapter
L. /
CHAP. L.
Ver. i.YOfeph fell on his Father s face.'] He was trataf- Verfe 1
J ported by his AfFeftion, to the tendered: Ex-
preffions of it : Though he was a Man in great Dig-
nity and Authority.
And kjffed html} It is likely he firft clofed his Eyes,
as God promifed he (hould do, XLVI. 4. (and as* the
Cuftom was J and then parted from his Body with a
Kifs. Of which we find many Examples both among
Heathen and Chriftian People: But they will not war-
rant us to fay that it was done by every Body -, for all
that I have obferved were fuch near Relations as Jo-
feph was to Jacob. Thus Ovid reprefents Niobe as kif-
fing her (lain Sons-, and Meleagefs Sifters kiffing him
when he lay dead : And Corippus reprefents Jufrin the
younger falling upon JuStinian, and weeping, and kif-
fing him, juft as Jofeph did here :
Z)t prim ingrediens corpus venerabile vidit;
Incubuit lachrymans, atque ofcnla frigida carpfh
Divini patrk.
Yet Dtonyf. Areopag. cap. 7. Ecclef. Hierarch. defcribing
the Funeral of Chriftians, faith, the Bifhop prayed o-
ver the Corps when it was brought into the Church,
and after Prayer, 'Air>fos iam?if) r xakgi/jw/mw, 6cc. both
he himfelf luffed the dead petfon, and after him all that
were prefent did the fame : So it feems to have been their
taking a folemn leave of the Dead, till they met in
another World.
M m m m Ver.
6^ a commentary
Chapter Ver. 2. His Servants the Phyficians.'] Great Men an-
L. ciently, among other Servants that waited on them, had
L/*V\J a Phyfician. And Jofeph, being Vice- Roy of Egypt,
Verfe 2. may well be fuppofed to have kept more than one in
his Retinue.
To embalm his Father.'] Of which there was now the
greater neceffity } becaufe his Body was to be carried a
great way to its Sepulchre. And both Herodotus and
Diodorus Si cuius tell us, there were thofe in Egypt who
profefled the Art of Preferving Bodies from Corrupti-
on. Which, it is likely, was part of their Phyficians Em-
ployment : For the word Ropheim ("which we tranflate
Phyficians') conftantly fignifies in Scripture, fuch as cure
or heal fick Bodies. But the LXX. here aptly enough
tranllate it e*7*p«ts'a$, (thofe that prepared and fitted
Bodies for their Interment, by embalming them, as we
tranflate it) becaufe this now was their proper bufinefs.
Whence it is that Pliny faith, Lib.Xl. cap. 37. Mos es
JEgyptm cadavera ajfervare medicata, it is the CuftotB
of the Egyptians to preferve dead Bodies ordered by the
Phyficians Art. In which Art they excelled all other
People .* Bodies of their Embalming remaining to this
Day 5 and are often brought into thefe Countries, un-
der the name of Mummy: Concerning which a late
German Phyfician (Joach. Struppius) hath written a
peculiar Treatife.
And the Phyficians embalmed IfraeW] The fore-named
Authors (Herodotus and Diodorus Si cuius) tell us the
manner how it was performed 5 and at what Rates :
There being three feveral Prices, according to the Coft
that Men would beftow upon their Fiends. Upon the
firft Rank of Funerals they fpent a Talent of Silver :
The fecond coft about Twenty pound : About the third
ihey made foall Expence, as 2>Wm*/exprefly tells us,
JL. 1*
— T*
upon GENESIS. 63$
h. l.§ 2.^.57. Edit, Hen. Steph. And Herodotus in three Chapter
diftintt Chapters, (hows how they ordered the Bodies L.
of the better, middle, and meaner, fo as* to preferve l^YM
them * and yet with a greater or lefler Expence. Vid.
Euterpe, cap. 86, 87, 88. If things were thus in Jofeph's
Days, it is not to be thought that he would fpare any
coft, but had his Father's Body embalmed in the no-
bleft manner.
Ver. 3. And forty days were fulfilled for him7\ That is, Verfe 3.
for his Embalming: Which could not be finifhed in a
little time ; For Diodorus tells us of feveral Officers
who were employed about it, one after another : And
fays exprefly, they fpent more than thirty Days in it.
Which differs fomething from what is here related : But
it is likely, in future times (when Diodorus lived) they
might have attained to a greater Perfection in this Art^
and made their Spices penetrate the whole Body in left
than forty Days, but more than thirty. And Herodotus
doth not really differ from this, when he faith, in the
place before-named, Tav-nt 7rcmouv7^, when they had
done thefe things, (ftuft the Body with Myrrh, Cajfia,
and other Spices, except Frank^ncenfe) m&txdoxn nt^oo,
k#j<\av1v; »/**&<; *S^/>wW7a, they pickled it in Nitre,
where it lay foakingyez/e*//^ Days. That is, thirty Days
more 5 till the forty were made up feventy : Longer than
which neither the Bodies of the better, nor the meaner
fort were to be faked. But after that they were wrapped
in fine Linnen and Gums ^ to make it ftick like glue :
And fo they delivered the Body to the Kindred of the
deceafed intire (as Diodorus writes^ p. 58.) in all its Fea-
tures, the very Hairs of the Eye-lids being preferved.
There have been fome fo morofe, as to cenfiu e Jofeph
for following the perverfe Cuftoms, as they call thereof
the Egypilvjs : Who fpent too much upon dead Bodies-
M m m m z But
6^6 A COMMENTARY
Chapter Bat they Qiould have confidered how much more
L. perverfe it is, not to follow the decent Cuftoms of the
fc/VNJ Country where we live: And that dead Bodies, efpe-
cially of the Faithful, are not to be neglefted, but trea-
ted (as St. Auflin fpeaks, L. l.deOv. Dei, cap. 13. J as
the Organs of the Holy Ghoft: Which the Ancients,
he thinks, did well to carry to their Funerals, officios^
Pietate.
And the Egyptians mourned for him feventy days."] i. e.
All th3t time they were preparing his Body, in the man-
ner before related, for its Funeral : Which Herodotus
fays, was juft feventy Days, He alfo and Diodorus de-
scribe their manner of Mourning 5 and fay that they
daubed their Heads with Mud (as the Jews fprinkled
A(hes on their Heads) and went about lamenting till
the Corps was buried : Abftaining from Bathing, and
from Wine, and from all delicate Food, or fine Clothes.
Which latter part of their Mourning, it's likely, might
be in ufe in Jofeph's time 5 though not the former, of
befmearing their Heads and Faces with Mud. But it is
Sufficient to fay that they appeared in the Habit of
Mourners, (all the time the Body was Embalming^
which. was very various in different times and places:
And continued in fome Countries a great many Days
longer than in others. This time of feventy Days may
feem to fome too long: but Jacobus CapeUus propoies
this to their Confederation (Hift.Exot. & Sacra, ad A.
M. 1310.) thztjofeph being next to their King, the£-
gyptians honoured his Father with a Royal Funeral,and
a Mourning oi feventy days 5 which he thinks is a round
Number for Seventy two: For Diodorus fays fo many
were the Days of Mourning for their King. c It feem-
c ing reasonable to them, that as they gave the Fifth
K pare, of theincreafe of their Land, to their King when
€ he
upon GENESIS. 637
• he was alive :, fo they (hould beftow the fifth part of Chapter
c the Year upon him, in Mourning for him when he L.
4 was dead .* which was juft Seventy two, not reckon- L/PV\J
c ing the five odd Days, which did not come into their
c account. As to thofe who objeft, that this was im-
1 moderate Mourning, having more of Ambition than
1 Piety in it 5 his Anfwer is, That (granting it to be
c true) Jofcph did not bring in this Cuftom-., and had
c peculiar reafon to follow what he found in ufe there :
c That they might be the more condemned who vex-
c ed the innocent Pofterity 5 on whofe Parent they
1 had beftowed Royal Honours. Befides, there is
4 fomething due to Rings and great Men, to diftin-
c guifh them from the Dregs of the People.
Ver. 4, And when the Days of Mourning were pafi7\ Verfe 4.1
That is, thzfeventy Days before- named.
Jofeph fpake unto the Houfe ofPharaoh.~] To the great
Officers of the Court, unto whom, it is moft probable,
hefpakeby a Meflenger: Strift Mourners (fuch as Jo*
feph was) ufing to keep clofe in their Chambers, and
not to appear in Publick, or make Vifits. At leaft it
was againft the Cuftom to appear in the Court ( if the
fame ufage was there in thefe Days, which was in the
Perfian Court in Mordeca/'s time 5 and fuch rational
Cuftoms one cannot but think were very ancientj in
the Habit of a Mourner, EJlb. IV. i, 2. For which
reafon he did not go himfelf to make the following
Requeft to Pharaoh : They who were in the (late of
Mourning being lookt upon as defiled.
Ver. 5. My Father made me fwear, &c] See XL VI I. Verfe 5,
29, 30. where Jacob engaged him by an Oath to carry
his Body into Canaan, to be buried there : That he
might keep up fome Claim to that Country, by Ver-
tue of the Sepulchre, which his Grand-father had
there.
d58 A COMMENT ART
Chapter there purchafed $ and where his Father Ifaac lay bu-
L. ried.
U^VNJ Which I have digged for me.'] In the Cave that A-
braham had bought, Gen. XXIII. ("which was a large
place) J acob, itfeems, had taken care to have a Grave
digged for himfelf. From which and fuch like Ex-
- amples St. Aujiin argues (in the place quoted above, on
verfe 3.) the Bodies of the dead, efpecially of good
Men, are to be treated with fuch a Regard, as they
themfelves thought was due to them.
Verfe 6. Ver. 6. According as he made thee fwear.~\ The Re-
ligion of an Oath, it appears from hence, was in thofe
Days fo Sacred, that the King who had not fworn
himfelf, would not have another Man violate it, for
his fake .• Who might have pretended he could not
fpare Jofeph fo long from his bufinefs, being his Chief
Minifter in the Land of Egypt. Such Heathen Kings as
thefe will rife up in Judgment againft thofe Chriftian
Princes, who make a Jeft of their Oaths.
Verfe 7. Ver. 7. All the Servants of Pharaoh."] This feems to
be explain'd by the next words, the Elders of his Houfe;
the Principal Officers of Court. For the word all muft
be underftood with fome limitation, as ufually in
Scripture : Some being left behind, no doubt, to wait
upon the King. Thus in Matth. Ill 5. alljttd■/>* * and lb did his Brethren, to their dying
Day. And, no doubt, made his Word good to them:
Being one of the greateft Examples of Heroxk Ver-
tue: To which none can arrive, unlefs they be meek
and placable as he was. For Nihil eft magnum, qnod
non idem fit placidum^ as Seneca truly faid.
Jofeph lived an hundred and ten Tcars7\ Not fo long
as his Fore-fathers 5 for he was the Son of his Father's
old Age, and lived a great part of his time full of
Thought and Care : Having the Weight of a great
Kingdoms Affairs lying on him. For eighty of thefe
Years he fpent in Egypt, fbeing but thirty Years old
when he firft ftood before Pharaoh) in great Profperi-
ty indeed 5 but in no lefs Solicitude to difcharge fo
great a Truft as was committed to him.
Ver. 23. Ephr aim's Children of the third Generat7on.~]Vzvfc 2^
i.e. His great Grand-Children. In which Jacob's Predi-
ction began to be fulfilled, XLVIII.i9,20.XLlX.x5.We
find indeed that after Jofeph's death (I fuppofe) Ephraim
had fome of his Children (lain, 1 Chron.Vll.iifxz. But
God fo bleffed thofe who remained, that when Mofes
took an account of them after their coming out of E-
gypt 5 they were increafed to above eight thoufand, more
than the Children of Manaffeh, Numb. I. 33, 35,
Brought up upon Jofeph' s Knees."] He lived to em-
brace and dandle them fas we now fpeak) in which
old Men and Women much delight. Machh had on-
ly Gilead by his firft Wife ^ but he had more Chil-
dren by a fecond, as we read 1 Chron. VII. 16. All
which were born before Jofeph died 3 and, perhaps,
646 X COMMENTARY
Chapter by Children he means the Children of his Grand-Chil-
L. dren.
WVNJ Jofeph's great Authority, and his Children's great
Increafe, over-awed his Brethren Co that they never
durft difpute their Father's Will : In which he gave a
double Portion unto them. Which one would guefs
by their Temper, was as difpleafing to them, as their
Father's Kindnefs to Jofepb anciently had been: But
they durft not oppofe it 3 nor do we find they quar-
relled at it.
Verfe 24. Ver. 24. God will furely vifit yon."] He explains his
meaning by what follows $ and bring yon ont of this
Land, &c. For the word vifit is ufed indifferent-
ly either for beftowing good things, or infli&ing
evil. Thus he died in the fame Faith with his An-
ceftors: That God would make good his Promifes
to them.
Verfe 2,5. Ver. 25. Andjofeph toek, an Oath.'] As his Father
had done of him, XLVII. 30, 31.
Of the Children of IfraeW] Not only of his Brethren
mentioned before, verfe 24. but of all their Fami-
ly, who were to fucceed them ^ and might live
(when his Brethren were dead) to carry his Body out
of Egypt ^ which hedefired, for the fame reafon his
Father had done.
Carry up my Bones from hence7\ He did not defire to
be carried immediately after his Death, as his Father
was when his Embalming was finifhed ^ but that they
fhould carry him when they themfelves returned to
Canaan: By which time he knew his Flefh would be
quite dried up, and nothing left but Bones. The rea-
fon why he did not defire to be carried away prefent-
ly, was, that his Body remaining with them, they
might look upon it as a Pledge and Security of the
Promife
upon O E N E S I S. 647
FromifeGod had made, of giving them tile PoffefTi- Chapter
on of Mat Land 5 wherein he defired to be buried, L.
or not buried at all. But he had repeated it twice, U'V^
tMt God would furely vijit them, verje 24, 25.) and
was fo confident of it, that he defired to be kept un-
buried, till the time of that Vifitation. Perhaps alfo
mlidered that they could not be of fuch Authori-
ty, as hehacl been 5 to prevail to have his Bpfiy carried
to Canaan, as his Father's was: And therefore defired
them not to think of laying him there $ till that time
came, when they (hould make a folemn and universal
departure thither.
W> ftdtlrfrtg what became of the reft of his
Brethren, bttt Jofephvs faith they were all carried in-
to the Land ot Canaan to be buried : For they had the
fame defire, in all likelihood, and gave the fame charge
concerning their Bodies; to keep Pofterity in hope,
that God would certainly bring them thither. Which
the words of St. Stephen alfo may feem to import :
when he faith Ads VII. 15, 16. Jacob died, and our
Fathers, and were carried over into Sic hen/, &C. though
we read of none of their Fathers befide Jofiph, yet it
feems the Tradition was, that they were all carried
thither, after his Example. And fo St. Hierom faith,
That he faw at Sichem the Sepulchres of the XIK ??. ■
triarchs. Epitaph. Vault, cap. 6.
Ver. 16. So Jojeph dicd.~] After he had taken the Verfe 26.
fore-named Oath of them, and aflured them again of
the Truth of God's Promife: Which were the laft
things he did.
Some, perhaps, may think it ftrange that fo wife and
great a Man asjofeph, whofe dying words, one cannot
but think, would have left a deep ImprefTion upon his
Brethren, (hould not give them abundance of good
Counf:
6fi A COMMENTARY
Chapter Counfel at his departure from this World : And lay
L. fome other Charge upon them, befides this of carry-
L/'VNJ ing up his Bones to the Land of Canaan. But Mofes
did not intend to write all that excellent Men faid and
did : And we may very well think, when he decla-
red his ftedfaft Faith in the Promife made to Abraham
(which the Apoftle takes notice of, Hebr. XI. 2 2. J
and aflured them God would perform it $ he enlarged
himfelf on that Subjeft, in more words than are here
related .
Being an hundred and ten Tears old.'] This was faid
'before, verfe 21. but here repeated to fignifie he did
not live a Year beyond it:, and fo died juft fifty four
Years after his Father 5 and an hundred forty four Years
before their departure out of Egypt.
And they embalmed him.] His Brethren took the fame
care of his Body, that he had done of his Father's, v.i.
See there. For that Jofeph died before any of his Bre-
thren, the Jews gather from Exod. 1. 6. where it's faid,
Jofeph died, and all his Brethren. Hefirft, and they fol-
lowed him. But not content with this, fome of them
adventure to tell us how many Years every one of
them lived 5 nay, the very Month and Day of their
Birth, as may be feen in R. Bechai. Reuben, for in-
ftance, they fay was born the XIV. Day of Cifleu, and
died when he was CXXV. Years old,dv.
And he was put in a Coffin in Egypt."] To be pre-
ferved in that Chejl or Ark* (as the Hebrew word is
commonly tranflated) till they themfelves went from
thence. Herodotus ill the Book above-named {Euterpe
cap. 86, 90. ) fpeaks of the 0tfx.
15,;.) chat it was kept in the River Nile. Which aro(e,
perhips, from a mi (lake of the Relation which that
Author had met withal, of the Place where they laid
their Bodies.* Which were let down very deep Wtlls%
or Faults fome call them (Tome of which were not fai
from the River Nile) and fo put into a Cave, which
was at the bottom of thofe Wells. For fo F. Fdfjfleb
and others, who have gone to fearch for Mummies,
defcribe the Places jwhere they lye .• And tell us they
found fome of the Coffins made of Wood (not putre-
fied to this Day ) and others of Clothes pafted toge-
ther, forty times double 5 which were as ftrong as
Wood, and not at all rotten.
The Reader cannot but obferve, That from the time
of JofepfSs advancement to the Government, till the
time of his Death, i. e. for eighty Years, there is no
mention of the Death of any King in Egypt. For it
was not Mafes his Intention to write the Hiftory of
that Kingdom, or to give us the Series of their Kings .*
But only to acquaint us with the Series of the Patri-
archs, and give fome account of them, from the Crea-
tion to his own time. All other things muft be learnt
out of other Authors. And, according to Eufebius, whom
jac. Capellus follows, the firft King of the XVHIth
Dynafly f when the Egyptian Hiftory he makes account
ceafed to be fabulousj was Amos : Whofe Dream Jo-
fepb interpreted, as was by him preferred. After he
had feigned XXV Years he left the Kingdom to Che-
bros 5 who reigned XIII Years. Next to whom was
Amenophis (as much as to fay, a Servant of Noph, i.e.
6000 Mem-
6^Q A COMMEtiTARY, &c.
Chapter Memphis) who reigned XXI Years .- And then left
L. the Kingdom to Mephres, who held it XI I Years. To
whom Jofephus^ out oiManetho^ fubftitutes Amerfis, and
fays he reigned XII Years. And then fucceeded Me.*
phraMHthofis, who reigned XXVI Years :. In the begin-
ning of whofe time Jofeph died.
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SCRIPTORUM ECCLESIASTICORUM Hijhria Literaria facili & per*
fpicu.i metbodo digejla. Pars Altera. Qi<;.
W';.t; fan's Si rmons in Lambeth Chappel, before Archbifliop Sancroft, in the
Year 1688, 1689, 1690. In 2 Vol. 2v\ with his Life. Second Edit. 1700.
A new account of India and Perfu, being Nine Years Travels, began 1672
and finifhed i5Si. Containing obfervations made or thofe Countries : Name-
ly, Of their Government, Religion, Laws, Cuiloras : Of their Soil, Climates^
SeafoBs>
bs, Health, Difeafes. Of their Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, Jewefs*
Ot their Houfiftg, Cloathing, Manufactures, Trades, Commodities. And of the
Coins, Weights and Meafures uied in the principal places of Trade in thole
Parts. By John Fryer, M, D. Cant abridge and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Folio. 1698.
The Lite of Henry Chichele, Archbiftop of Canterbury, in which there is par-
ticular Relation of many Remarkable Paffages in the Reigns of Henry V. and
VI. Kings of England : Written in Latin by Dr. Arthur Vuc^. L. L.D Chan-
cellor of the Diocefs of London, and Advocate of the Court of Honour , "Now
made Eng lift), and a Table of Contents annexed. Svo, 1699.
Short Memorials of Thomas Lord Fairfax, Written by himfelf. Publimed lopo.
The Life of John Whit gift Archbifliopof Canterbury, in the times of queen £-
hxabeth aud King James 1. Written by Sir Geo. Paul, Comptroler of his Graces
Houlhold. To which is annexed a Treatife Entituled, Confpiracy for pretend-
ed Reformation. Written in the Year 1591. By Richard Cofin. L. L. D. Dean
of the Arches, and Official Principal to Bifhop Whitgift. 2vo. 1600.
The Works of Jofephus, the Learned Jew, Containing, 1. The Life of
Jofephus, by himfelf. 2. The Jewifl) Antiquities, in. Twenty Books. 3. The
Wars with the- Remans, in feven Books. 4. Hi? Book againft Apion, in de-
fence of the Antiquities of the Jews, in two Parts. 5. The Martyrdom of
the Maccabes : As alfo, 6, Philo's EmbalTy from the Jews of Alexandria to
Caius Caligula. Compared with the Original Greek, and illuftrated with 1
new Map of the Holy Land, and divers other Sculptures. Folio. 1701.
The Third Part of Mr. Rufhwortffs Hiftorical Collections; Containing the
Principal Matters which happened from the meeting of the Parliament
Novemb. 3. 1540. to the end of the Year 1644. Wherein is a particular ac-
count of the Rife and Progrcfs of the Civil War to that Period. With Alpha-
betical Tables. In Two Vol. Fol.
The Fourth and laft Part of Mr. Rufimrth's Hiftorical Collections, Contain-
ing the principal Matters which happen d from the beginning of the Year
1 $4$. ("where the third Part ended J to the Death of King Charles the Firft
Jan.$o 1548. Intwo Vol. Fol. 1701.
The Trial of Thomas Earl of Stafford, upon an Impeachment of High
Treafon by the Commons in Parliament, in the Names of themfelves and all
the Commons of England, 1641. fhewing the Form of Parliamentary Proceed-
ings in an Impeachment of Treafon. Publimed by John Rufhworth Efq; The
Second Edition. Folio. 1700.
The Memoires of the Reign of King Charles 1. With a Continuation to
the Reftauration of King Charles II. By Sir Phillip Warwick Knight.
■8w. 1 70 1.
An Expofition of the 39 Articles of the Church of England, By Dr. Burnet
Bifhop of S arum. Fol. 2d Edition, 1 ?o2.
A Treatife concerning the Caufes of the prefent Corruption of Chriftians*
and the Remedies thereof. 2d Edition. 1701.
Directions for leading a Devout Life. Written by a Lady i2mo. 1702.
Eliflm Coles Englifi- Latin, and Lat'm-Englifh Dictionary. The Fifth Edi-
tion Enlarged. 1703.
Wilhelmi Schiclqtrdi Horologium Ebr&um Edith ultimo Prioribus omnibus at*
matioriy pleniori Linguarum Grata Latins nee nm Anglicans em Habraka
harmtnia hcupl*tat4« 1 703.
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